#like opening and ending of chapter 1 is all written out that was easy from the get go

[emily-mooon]

For the record, I have not given up on the Jancy Rear Window AU fic. It's just that right now I'm stuck in two parts and it requires some planning and rewatching

[simpee9000]

Not Just Friends - 2 -

Prologue : Chapter 1 : Not edited : 3.4k words : M.List

Childhood best friends turned into something more, at least with the label. Katsuki Bakugo, a fast-rising hero and fast-learning guy who is ever so slow in getting attached to and loving someone. Even three long years into a relationship, and your friends even forget you're even dating. Nothing happening, spare a few kisses.. like 3 kisses, during high school. Graduated and living together, and you guys have done absolutely nothing to further the relationship. Are you sure you're not just friends? CW: Smut, brief domestic violence discussion, virginity loss, aggressive flirting from creeps, gore with pro hero stuff (lmk if i missed any) Applies to all chapters regardless of it is in said chapter.

---

-suit colors -can shut my quirk completely off -isn't a piece of shit -password. -others cant turn my shit off either      -katsuki

The note Katsuki left was majority scribbles, clearly written the second he left. You found it right when you were leaving, the crumpled sticky note being placed next to your keys.

Getting the watch set up and made for him would be difficult. Mainly making sure others can't tamper with his quirk. Everything else would be easy. Two weeks tops. Simply needed to take the same material used for his gloves and gauntlets and use it for his watch. The password and personal quirk disabled features would also be easy, just using the same techniques that normal quirk handcuffs use.

When you got to your office you immediately got to work. Drawing up the design and adding in the small details you wanted to add. You went through your email as well, getting the details Izuku sent you about what he wants. Unluckily for him, you would have to order the stuff he needs, everything Katsuki needed was already in the building. His case was personally yours so you saved up any left over materials from his suit. The quirk removing feature would take more time to set up though.

---

"Hey!" someone shouted, tacking your name to the end.

You just entered Katsuki's hero agency for lunch, talking with the sweet old receptionist. Ignoring the shout, you thanked the lady for buzzing you up. Walking over to the elevators and pushing the button to go up.

"Don't ignore me!" The voice whined. You rolled your eyes stepping into the elevator and frantically clicking the button to close the doors.

The doors almost shut completely, a hand stopping it a second to late and getting crushed.

"Fuckin' christ!" You opened the door as quick as you could, trying to make sure they weren't injured. They were doubled over, holding their hand to their chest. "Are you okay?" You asked, grabbing their shoulder to lift them away, attempting to see the injury.

They started shaking and panic ran through you, before you could yell to the receptionist to call paramedics they started laughing. Standing up straight and smiling, placing their 'injured hand' on your shoulder to support their laughter.

"Oh go fuck yourself," you brushed them off. Pressing the elevator open again.

"I'm sorry it was too easy!" He smiled. Moving to stand next to you again.

You ignored him once again. Stepping into the elevator that he unfortunately joined. Looking at the door that previously crushed his hand. "You broke the door," you pointed out, crossing your arms.

"Holy shit, Bakugo is going to kill me," he paled.

"That's what you get for activating your quirk between metal, Kirishima," you commented.

"Ouch, last name?" he feigned pain, clutching a hand to his heart, "Come on, how was I supposed to know?"

You glanced at him briefly, "You nickname your quirk unbreakable, what did you expect?" You deadpanned.

"Not that!"

"Be serious, I know you're not that dumb," you said, stepping out of the elevator at Katsuki's floor. Beginning the path to his office.

"I just wanted to talk to you," he complained, "but you ignored me completely."

"I wonder why."

"Come on," he pleaded, "I said I was sorry."

"Don't care," you knocked on Katsuki's office.

"Please," he begged.

"No."

Just as Kirishima opened his mouth to beg more, Katsuki opened his door. "The fuck are you two bitching about?" Katsuki looked at you for an answer. Which you shrugged and made your way inside. Sitting in his desk chair and sorting through the food he ordered for you two.

Katsuki turned his head to Kirishima, wanting an answer. "She won't talk to me," he pointed at you like a child.

Katsuki turned to you, raising an eyebrow, "Really?"

Before he could start getting to you about acting like a child you pointed back at Kirishima, "He broke your elevator."

He glared at the red head.

"I was just trying to talk to her!"

"And you needed to break my elevator to do that?"

Kirishima paused his comeback, knowing anything he wanted to say would be flawed. You choked back a laugh, cause Katsuki to turn to you.

"Don't act like you're innocent," he pointed, "All ya had to do was to talk him and my door wouldn't be broken."

"Nah, he broke my shit," you shrugged.

"I said I was sorry!"

"Yet now you just broke his shit too," you backed.

"What else did he break?" Katsuki asked.

You pointed towards Kirishima, and his hero outfit, "He broke his shoulder guards, again. I've fixed them five times this month because of the stupid shit he is doing."

"Whatever, out," Katsuki motioned for Kirishima to leave. Which he did, with a pout on his face. Katsuki shut the door and walked over. "Why do you insist on stealing my chair everytime?"

"The other ones aren't comfortable," you answered, handing him his food and opening yours to start eating. "Oh!" You perked up, "I finished the design for your watch, just need everything ordered and I'll start on it."

He took a break from his food, looking up at you, "How long?"

"Shipment should get here in two days, they just had a huge order and have a ton of left overs, so I'm using the stuff they have extras of. Wanna see the design?" You smiled, pulling up a picture on your phone when he nodded.

He looked over the notes you wrote down, zooming in on the smaller details, "looks good."

"Good!" You smiled.

His office door opened, "I forgot, we're having a little get together at Denki's place Saturday," Kirishima smiled before shutting the door again.

"No."

"Come on Kats," you begged, trying to meet his eyes.

"Nuh uh," he took a bite of his food, looking up briefly and meeting your eyes.

"Please! We haven't hung out with them in forever!" You pointed out.

"We hung out last night."

"Yeah, with Z', not with your friends."

"No."

He glared at you until he felt your hand rest on the top of his, "Please?"

"Fuckin' fine," he brushed off your hand and continued eating.

---

"This is lot more then a little get together," Katsuki grumbled right after pushing the door open. Disregarding a knock all together and walking straight in, taking a pause in his step.

You took a glance over his shoulder, since he took up the majority of the small hallway that started off the apartment, seeing the solid twenty or more people that crowded Denki's and Sero's apartment. "It's fine, it's not like we are forced to stay long," you pushed his back lightly, getting him to walk in entirely.

"Kacchan! Surprised you came!" Denki smiled once he saw Katsuki leave the hallway, you stepping out from behind him. "Thanks for dragging him here," Denki came up to you, giving you a one armed hug since his other hand was holding a beer.

"What else am I good for," you joked, "Didn't you say this was a small get together?"

"I was just trying to increase the odds of #2 pro hero coming in," he shrugged, Katsuki shooting him a glare and you a look, saying he wished he never came. "Now make yourselves at home, I gotta make sure Mina doesn't eat all the jello shots."

You watched Denki skip to the kitchen, instantly yelling at a stuffed faced Mina. Looking around the room you saw Sero sitting in a chair with two open spots next to it, turning back to Katsuki, he already knew your look, "Go, I'll get you a drink."

Sero saw you heading his way and gave you a wave. He was sitting in a recliner and had a loveseat spaced next to it. You took the loveseat and leaned on the armrest close to him, kicking your feet unto the other half of the couch to prevent someone stealing Kats spot.

"How's work?" Sero asked once you gave him your attention.

"Good, busy as always. But I've been ahead of the game lately, I think I can start branching out more on my own soon," you smiled.

"Exciting," he smiled, " I see you got the grump outside for once," he nodded to Katsuki, who was being badgered by some of Denki's sidekicks/partners.

You laughed, "Yeah, you're not the first to tell me that tonight, but I'm not surpised. He went out with me last night to Z' as well."

"Did you drug him? I won't snitch."

"No, I think his mom yelled at him or something," you pretended to expose. Hiding the truth behind Katsuki's behavior, which was likely the civilian death he had to deal with recently. "But how's your work?"

"Meh, it's hero work," he drank from his cup, "Recently had to deal with a spider villain so it was weird. It was like fighting myself if I had eight legs and eyes."

The two of you continue to talk about work or recent things between friends. Briefly discussing Kirishima and Mina's budding relationship that's been going on for years. Just before Sero could question your own relationship, Katsuki came back.

"Fuckin' nerds wouldn't leave me alone," he grumbled picking up your legs and sitting on the couch with you, handing you a drink.

"You love the attention," you bumped him with your knee, "and careful, might summon them again."

Casual conversation formed once again, banter between you and Katsuki, and annoyance from him to Sero. On the heated topic of old heroes. With Sero caring less, and just wanting to rile him up.

You smiled along with their conversation, more focus on Katsuki. He's rested into the chair despite being annoyed at the conversation. Having a hand rested on your knee and the other rested on the armrest, holding a low carb beer. Which he took a sip of every once in a while before he had to tell Sero he was wrong again. You admired every move of his, from his sharp jaw, to defined cheekbones, and his bright red eyes. Only stopping when Sero called you out.

"Stop eye fucking in front of me," Sero gagged.

"The fuck?" Katsuki question, not ever aware of what you were doing, "We're not."

"You might not be," Sero smirked.

"Oh fuck you, Sero," you rolled your eyes. Ignoring the blush you felt heating your face.

"Don't push your feelings onto me," Sero teased.

"Oh my god," you groaned, " I give up." Sero crackled as he laughed at you. "Shouldn't you be talking about your dumbass celebrity crush in America?"

"Who's that?" Katsuki questioned, willing to change the topic of conversation again.

"He has a crush on an actor, Ryan Reynolds. The one that reenacts the old anti-hero Deadpool," you informed.

"It's normal in America! Every guy loves him, even the straightest!" Sero defends.

"You do know the murders that Deadpool committed right?" Katsuki questioned, wanting to get on the topic of heroes, a topic he knew everything about.

The debate between whether Deadpool committed crimes for good or not was easily started. Giving yourself another chance to look at Katsuki. Not wanting to be caught you looked at the hand rested on your knee. Reaching out your own hand to trace over his. Soft and smooth from his sweat but rough from the work day. He let his hand lose the soft grip on your knee, letting you hold his entire hand freely. You traced over the rough pads of his fingers that you knew would turn soft again in the morning. Rubbing your thumb over his knuckles and the veins that lined the top of his hand. Remembering how a few years ago he would freak out if you tried to do this exact thing. Only this year has he started to let you hold his hand for longer than five minutes.

Yet he still wasn't perfect. Eventually he pulled his hand from your grip and wiped his hands off on his pants. It seemed like he didn't want your touch on him, it stung. You knew that was unlikely, but the thought couldn't leave your mind. you folded up. Crossing your arms slowly and turning your attention back onto Sero. Which caused his eyes to flicker between you and Katsuki, clearly reading your face. Before he could ask anything, he gave him a slight shake of your head.

Eventually Kirishima dragged Katsuki away from the conversation, wanting him as a partner for cup flipping.

"How come you aren't flirting with girls, Sero?" you asked, used to him normally parading the party rooms for someone to flirt with.

"Denki called dibs on everyone here basically," Sero shrugged. He sat up from his slouched sitting, " Now, what the fuck was that?" Sero motioned from you to where Katsuki was now playing games with Kirishima.

Play dumb.

"Whatcha mean?" you took a sip of your drink.

"Don't play that shit with me, He pulled away from you completely," he pointed out.

"I know, he always does that," you pointed out, wanting to stress that this wasn't a big deal.

"Always? You're kidding"

"Nope," you took a sip, "He's actually improved."

"You're saying it used to be worse," His jaw basically dropped.

"It's Katsuki you're talking about right now," you deadplanned, "Speaking of which, we never talked about this. He doesn't know it bugs me and he doesn't need to."

"Yes he does," Sero stressed.

"No he doesn't," you hissed, " I don't want him knowing. It's fine."

"Come on-"

"Sero, stop."

Before he could push forward someone entered your peripheral, standing in front of Katsuki's spot. Turning your head towards him you gave a guarded smile.

"This seat takin?" he somewhat slurred.

"Yeah it-"

"Kidding! I know it's not. No one has sat here for a good 10 minutes from what I've seen," The guy plopped down on the couch, giving you barely enough time to kick your feet off the couch and scoot over the crowd the armrest into order to not touch the guy. You and Sero shared a look. "So, what's a girl like you doing here alone," The guy smiled, slapping a hand down on your thigh to gain your attention back from Sero.

"I'm not alone?" you peeled his hand from your thigh, dropping it back onto his lap, "I was actually just talk to my friend here abo-"

He put his hand back on your thigh, "I was asking why you had no boyfriend here, you're so pretty."

"I do have one-" you tried to cut in.

"I'll be your boyfriend, names Mason," he smiled weirdly.

Once again, you peeled his hand off your leg, "No thanks."

"Is it cause the name? I'm from America, I'm not lying about my name to sound cool," he hurried out, replacing his hand on your thigh.

"Trust me, I know you're not trying to sound cool," you spoke out disgust, "Now could you please not?" Sero and you shared another look, his asking if he should step in, but you shook your head. You could handle this just fine.

He pondered for a moment, "It's cause you don't know me right? Well, I'm from America. Here to learn about the Japanese heroes-"

"Dude," you cut him off, "I could give less of a fuck, please leave me alone."

"Don't play hard to get," he grabbed onto your leg harder.

Just before Sero jumped in-

"I leave for five fucking minutes," Katsuki spits out.

The guy looked over the back of the couch, "Sorry, did you plan to make a move? I swung first sorry dude, better luck next time."

"No, I fuckin' plan to swing first on the dude that's holding onto my fuckin' girlfriend."

You took the opportunity of the guy being distracted to get his hands off you, and to leave the couch.

"Hey, babe don't leave yet, the guys just being an ass, he'll leave soon," the creep called out to you.

Everyone's attention was on the guy now. Staring at him baffled that he called #2 pro hero an ass right in front of him and his girlfriend. You stepped closer to Sero, prepared for what was about to happen.

"That's it," Katsuki grabbed the hair on the back of the guys head and yanked him down. Couch flipping over with the guy. A quick stomp on the dude stomach had him rolling over in enough pain.

"My couch!" Denki yelped.

"Fuck your couch and fuck your party," Katsuki walked up to you, grabbed your hand and pulled you to leave.

"Gimme a second, I want to say bye," you tugged on his hold when he got to the hallway that lead to the front entrance.

He looked at you baffled, "You just got felt up, they could care less if you said bye right now."

"Kats, I'm fine. I would of handled it if you didn't."

"Fine, say bye," he waved you off, crossing his arms and guarding the exit.

You walked up to where Kirishima, Sero, and Denki were standing watching drunk Mina lecture the creep.

"Hey, I'm heading out," you spoke from behind them, getting their attention.

"That's fine girl, Imma kick his ass more for you," Mina slurred as she jumped to hug you, almost knocking you off your feet. She pulled back from the hug and held onto your shoulders, "You okay?"

"Yeah," you nodded, getting her out of your hold and pushing her into Kirishima, "Make sure she doesn't do something stupid."

"I will, I'll deal with the guy too. What he did was fucking gross," you flinched, it was rare to hear Kirishima curse.

"I bet you will," laughed off. Hugging Sero and thanking Denki for inviting you, all of them double checking if you were okay. It warmed your heart that they were heroes, it was truly the right career. So after confirming that you were fine, you walked back to Katsuki.

"Done?"

"Yep," you put your shoes back on and left the apartment together.

Once in his car, Katsuki turned to you. "You sure you're okay? I'll go put the guy in fucking jail."

You laughed, "I'm fine, Kirishima has it handled."

"You sure?"

"It's not the worst thing a guy has said to me," you shrugged, "Can we get some fast food?"

"The fuck else has a guy said to you?"

"Nothing important Kats, can we drop it? I'm fine."

He eyed you warily, trying to find the correct way to go about this. He sighed and gave in, "What fast food?"

"I don't know, I want a shake."

---

The two of you got the food and cozied on your couch, digging in once you had a random Netflix movie playing. With half of your attention on the movie, and half on the situation, you decided to bring it up. "Is it weird that what the guy did doesn't bug me much?"

Katsuki glance your way, "No? Everyone has different reactions to everything."

"The main thing that bugs me is that people can't tell we are dating, like ever," you said honestly. "Like the dude didn't buy I had a boyfriend in general."

He hummed in reply.

"Our own friends forget half the time, like I wish they knew we were together, and took my word for it," you sighed.

"I know how you feel," Katsuki looked down at his hands, that held his half eaten burger.

"Even you feel that way?" you grabbed a couple fries to eat.

He looked at you, "The other night with that Nana girl, just wished it was more obvious."

"We can't blame them though, it's not like we act like a traditional couple," you shrugged and took a sip of your shake.

"Sorry," shame filled his voice.

You turned to him with you're full attention, "Why are you sorry? You haven't done anything?

"That's the issue," he crossed his arms," I don't do anything, I fucking brush you off me," he dropped his arms again. resting them on his knees and putting his face in his hands.

"Hey," you reached for his shoulder. Stopping when he flinched away from you, "Sorry," you mumbled. Forgetting he hates being sneaked up on or touched when he isn't paying attention.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about, I don't do anything but pull away from you. And you're honestly telling me you're fucking happy in this relationship?" Katsuki looked at you. Getting up to pace when you just stared at him, confused by his outburst.

"Are you not?" you asked, watching him pace the room.

He paused, "Why wouldn't I be? You give me everything I need. I don't even fucking acknowledge your primary love language while you hit every goal of mine."

"Kats, what I said to the girls the other night is the truth, I'm okay with it. The things you need are just as important, and if that's to not touch, that's fine."

"Fucking bullshit-"

"Katsuki," you said his name sharply, "I mean it."

"I don't know how-"

"That doesn't matter, you're worried I'm unhappy and I'm telling you that I am happy. Because I am, now can we please not get into this right now? Tonight already hasn't gone well."

"Fuck, you're right, I'm sorry," he rubbed his hands over his face and went back to his spot of the couch. leaving his food half touched. He opened his arms, "You can lay on me if you want."

"Katsuki, I told you, no physical touch is-"

"That's not what I'm getting at, c'mere," he motioned towards himself. And who were you to refuse, quickly curling up into his side and watching a movie to wash the bad day off you're mind.

-Next Part-

In them m.list of this fic comment if you want to be added into a tag list <3

I'll no longer add people to the taglist if they haven't commented there. It's too much to keep up with all the new part. Hope you understand <3

[dp-marvel94]

Real -Chapter 1

Summary:

While hiding from his parents in Gotham, an ill-timed encounter with his neighbor, Jason, has Danny pretending to be his own twin. Fortunately for Danny, the more he pretends the easier it gets. Until he is not pretending at all. Or: Danny names a duplicate and via ghost logic, said duplicate ends up becoming real.

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Notes:

This story was written thanks to @jackdaw-sprite who commented on a Tumblr post a wrote asking what I should write next with "I haven't read nearly as many of your works as I'd like to before saying which ones I'd like to see continued, but there's one where Danny names a duplicate, and because of ghost logic, the duplicate becomes real. It feels like such a neat idea to play with!" So here I am writing a whole fic about it! Structurally, this is still very much half-fic outline with some important scenes written out. I'm not planning on expanding it beyond what it is. Still, I hope you enjoy the story. :) A note for readers, those here for the DC content especially: this is very much a Danny heavy fic. The focus will be on Danny and Jamie's relationship as the clone goes from just a duplicate without its own life, to a real person with his own identity. The Bats, Jason especially, will be present, and important for Jamie becoming his own person. But those relationships are definitely secondary to Danny and Jamie's.

After a reveal gone wrong, Danny runs from his parents and the GIW. Soon, he finds himself living in a crummy apartment and trying to keep a low profile. He doesn't have very much, so he is very excited to find an actually in decent shape couch that someone was throwing out. It's late so, figuring no one will see him, Danny duplicates to have two pairs of hands to get the furniture up the stairs and into his apartment. 

Of course, Danny does get spotted by his neighbor, Jason, who offers to hold doors open and help with the unwieldy couch. Names are exchanged: Danny and, after a pause as Danny realizes he has to come up with something for his duplicate, Jamie. The "three" manage to get the couch inside. But now Jason is worried about what appears to be a pair of twins, 16 years old at the most, living alone in the apartment with one ratty couch and a bookbag between them. Jason isn't pushy or overly concerned, but he does make a point to check on his new neighbors regularly. 

After the second time running into Jason and being asked about "Jaime," Danny realizes he's going to have to pretend to be his own twin. Duplication is very helpful for that, though he tries not to do it too often and for too long; it does use a lot of energy. He'll just have the "twins" make regular, short appearances together. It's not like he's trying to get close to anyone in Gotham 

But inevitably, short appearances escalate into having dinner with Jason. The first is a one off; man claimed he made too much and Danny didn't really have money for food. Plus it was really good. Accepting the hospitality just this once wouldn't be that bad. Of course, "Jamie" has come to dinner too.

One dinner leads to more meals with his neighbor, to Jason trying to teach "the twins" to cook more than easy mac. 

Jason's youngest brother meets the "twins" when he pounds on the door during dinner and barges in, complaining that "Father is being unreasonable" and had ground him.

Damian and "the twins" end up huddling in Jason's apartment during Danny's first rogue attack since he arrived in Gotham. Jason ran off as soon as the alert went off, claiming that he was needed at the fire station where he worked. He pointedly says that Damian can stay and look after his non-Gothamite neighbors since he's grounded. The preteen is prickly but does stay put. Danny starts to get restless, unable to re-merge and starting to fear that his energy will waver and "Jamie" will pop out of existence. He nervously eyes the door and Damian threatens to stab him if he tries to leave, saying that "Todd is apparently fond of you both and will be quite peeved" with Damian if something happens to Danny and Jamie. 

Well.... Jamie will definitely disappear if Damian stabs him. So Danny manages to maintain his duplicate for five hours, more than twice as long as any time before. By the time the threat is over and Danny can go back to his apartment, he is straining, desperately trying to hide how exhausted and shaky he is from the excursion. He loses hold of the duplicate as soon as the door is closed.

Despite the hardship, maintaining a duplicate is somehow so much easier after that. He can stay duplicated for longer and gradually, he realizes controlling the secondary body is becoming easier. At the beginning, he needed a lot of effort and control to pilot the duplicate, having to mentally direct it to speak or move. He played "Jamie" as being shy and quiet, so there was less talking to dictate. But overtime, the need for mental prompting becomes less and less. Playing "Jamie" became more automatic, more instinctual. Almost like the duplicate runs on auto-pilot, mostly acting how Danny himself would, though more reserved. To an outside perspective, it looks like "Jamie" is finally getting comfortable and coming out of his shell. But to Danny, this was a relief, spending less energy running his duplicate and less time worrying about being found out.

Slowly, Danny meets more of Jason's family. One of Jay's brothers, Tim, runs into him at his coffee shop job and, blinking sleepily, asks which twin he is, before realizing that Danny is wearing a name tag. This leads to Danny's coworkers finding out about "Jamie" and his "twin" visiting him at work.

As the act grows and more people end up meeting "the twins," Danny spends more and more time pretending to be a pair of twins in more and more ridiculous situations. Playing both of them gets easier and easier, more and more comfortable until the twins can banter, share inside jokes, and tell stories from their childhood. Maybe it is intentional, maybe it's subconscious. But slowly, differences develop to differentiate the twins. "Jamie" is growing out his hair. He loves toast and watching documentaries about history. Danny, more and more convincingly, pretends to have a brother until at some points... it no longer feels like he is pretending.

Despite his new friends, Danny is still so lonely. The apartment is still almost bare, the money he gets from his job barely enough. It's never the job he wanted; he wants to be in school now, applying to colleges so he can get into NASA. But he can't do anything to draw attention to  himself, not with the government breathing down his neck or the danger of the vigilantes running him out for being a “meta”. And he misses his friends and sister so badly.

One particularly hard night, when he is heartbroken and hurting, Danny lies on his second-hand mattress in the dark, weeping. He mourns his parents turning on him, his heart aching for Sam, Tucker, and Jazz. He wishes more than anything that he was not alone right now.

Suddenly, there is a yanking on his core that leaves his gasping. A full body pulling sensation that almost feels like being peeled, except somehow it does not hurt. A second later, it is over and through his blurry eyes, Danny can barely make out a figure kneeling in front of him. Arms coax him into sitting up and pull him into a hug. Danny cries for a long while, not thinking about what just happened, not thinking about what... or who... is holding him. He just accepts the comfort, savors the feeling that he is not alone.

Finally, after the tears slow, Danny pulls back and looks. He lets himself realize what he is looking at. And as he takes in eyes like his, the feeling is something between awe and fear. There is a light in the blue eyes, a spark that he does not recognize. 

And as the brow wrinkles in confusion and the mouth slowly works, words spiral out. Words that Danny could never have predicted.

"If we... if you keep doing this..." Each word is slow and deliberate, as if each takes great effort. "This...." One hand motions slowly, vaguely, as if un-used to movement. "Jamie won't be a lie anymore."

Danny is stunned. He stares for a long while, unable to process. He does not understand what the words mean, why the spark in those eyes makes him just as elated as it makes him afraid.

So he takes the duplicate's hand and pulls the ecto-energy back inside himself. He reabsorbs it and "Jamie" disappears. And Danny thinks.

Slowly, he realizes how easy staying duplicated has become, how distant and foggy memories from his duplicate's perspective are. He replays the words in his head. 'If you keep doing this... Jamie won't be a lie anymore.' He wonders if they mean what they suggest, and most startlingly.... he wonders where they had come from, if not from himself.

For a few days, he avoids anyone who has met the twins or claims that his "twin" is busy whenever someone asks. But inevitably, his trusty neighbor Jason notices the avoidance and invites himself over to cook dinner. Reluctantly, Danny duplicates; there is clearly no avoiding this conversation.

The dinner is awkward. Danny has a hard time looking at Jason.... and an even harder time looking at his seeming twin. None of the three say much and by the end, their neighbor huffs a sigh and says his piece. 

“Look. I know that no one, especially two teens, live in a shitty apartment in Crime Alley if they can avoid it. I don't know if you got kicked out, ran away from home, are hiding from something. And I don’t care. I won't ask. But I was an alley kid. I lost my mom younger than both of you, ended up on the street. I know what it's like just scraping by, trying to survive all on my own.  That's why I look out for the kids here. I want to help you guys, no matter what your story is.”

Danny stammers out a disbelieving thanks. He is touched, really, despite the fear of discovery, of vulnerability quivering in his heart. Jason is a good guy and it feels good to have someone who cares. But... the maybe-not-a-lie sits on the couch beside him. A story he could never hope to explain...

Jason smiles, ruffling both of the twin's hairs. He stands to leave. "Take care," he says, almost afterthought. "You're lucky to have each other."

"Jamie" seems to lean, just the tiniest bit closer to Danny at the words. 

Jason leaves and it is just Danny and his duplicate. The half ghost releases a breath, letting some of the tension release. He reaches to reabsorb his double and-

A shaky hand grips his forearm. Danny looks, meeting the blue eyes. The spark is back, just the smallest hint in the posture that something is different. Slowly, the brow wrinkles, becoming something worried.

"What is it?" Danny finds himself saying, as if he expects a real response.

"Have... each other." Again, the words are slow as if just the act of thinking is hard. "Not a lie."

Now Danny's brow is wrinkled. "Not a lie? Are you saying that's true? Or asking if it is?"

"Not a lie." The words repeat. "Jamie not a lie."

Danny's stomach knots. He’s heard his duplicate speak dozens of times, even been surprised by some offered puns. But this…

“Not a lie.” One more repeat, this one faster, surer, almost desperate.

Danny looks up again. “Jamie.” He says the name. He’s spoken to his double before in front of other people, as part of the act. But this… it feels as bizarre as it feels right. “Jamie…. Are you… real?”

For just a second, there is something like hope in the other’s eyes. Then, the brow furrows in great effort. “Yes… No….” One more longer, unsure pause. “Becoming.”

“You’re… becoming real?” The words are breathy. Danny isn’t sure whether they make him feel that same hope, or if he feels sick.

The half ghost looks away, staring down at his lap. He doesn’t know what this is, how this is  happening. A moment of panic stabs. Is he sick or insane? Or… is it a trick? A trap?

Danny reaches with his mind, trying to feel. A parasite infecting him? Another ghost, trying to overshadow. There is a connection, a bundle of a dozen fine threads. It is a link to… something not quite separate. Danny feels the almost presence at the end, the not-quite himself he is speaking with. And… It is like cradling a baby bird. Small, fragile, and so young. No malice, just pure innocence.

The half ghost looks up again. His hand shifts, feeling the cold flesh. His fingers press, the almost flutter of a heart beneath the skin.

The awe from that late night rises, a question echoing in his head. What happens if he lets this  continue? 

He… won’t be alone. Danny remembers that night, crying on his mattress and desperately wanting comfort. And all those times hanging out with Jason. The jokes and banter started as an act to sell the lie. But… weren't they so much more now? Danny had pretended to have a brother and in pretending had imagined one… Now that brother, that twin sat beside him. 

But at the same time… fear spiked. What would happen if he didn’t stop this? Could he even stop this if he wanted to? It feels inevitable, unstoppable. Not if he stays living next to Jason. But… if he tells the truth? Or if he runs, starts again somewhere else. He could reabsorb his duplicate now and let this whole thing fade into memory. Jamie would disappear…

A wave of fear surges from outside himself. Danny meets terrified eyes. Something in him softens, crumples.

“Jamie?” Danny asks again and can almost feel the heart-flutter solidifying. “Do you want to be real?”

There is a pause, the fearful face becoming something narrowed eyes and sure. “Yes.” So much determination. Danny feels the one thread of dozens snap.

“Alright then.” Danny heaves a sigh, deciding. 

He will hold out as long as he can. He will stay duplicated, keep Jamie here until he’s not a duplicate at all. Jamie will be real.

[mrsriddlenott]

<<Prev SIX

[Series Masterlist][Main Masterlist]

Ex-Sneaky Link!JJ Maybank x Kook!Reader

After months of hooking up with JJ in secret, you both began developing deep feelings for each other, but when his friends, Kie especially, learn of your relationship and plot on it's downfall JJ leaves you reeling and confused as he enters a relationship with his best friend leaving you to wonder what you did to push him away so quickly. Unbeknownst to you however. the blonde was struggling more than he let on, wanting nothing more than to go his own path but feeling trapped with those who used to make him feel free. The only person he can think of now that makes him feel as open as he once did is.... you.

Warnings: cheating, mentions of addiction, fighting, lying, and general angst. No happy ending(yet). This Chapter is the end of part 1 of “Oh, It’s You”. I have some plans for more, but I wanna work it out before I "promise" it.

Word Count: 6.7k

It took me a while to get this part out because it is a finale of sorts and I kept thinking of stuff that could be fixed or changed. I think I got it how I want it now so please lmk what y’all think.

~~~~

When JJ woke up surrounded by your scent in your bed with you lying beside him, it felt like he was floating. If it weren’t for his throbbing headache, he would have thought it was a dream. You looked cozy, snuggled under a different blanket, your head peacefully lying on a different pillow, clearly trying to keep your distance. But you were facing him, and he thought you looked beautiful like this.

On instinct, his hand moved up to drag a piece of hair out of your face, caressing your cheek slightly as he watched you breathe in deeply, stirring from your peaceful sleep. His head pounded still, but his smile grew as your eyes fluttered open, staring up at him like nothing was wrong. Like this was morally correct.

“Goodmorning,” He whispers, looking into your sleep-riddled eyes, reminding him of all the nights you two spent together in his bed. “You look absolutely gorgeous. You have no idea how much this means to me.” 

Your heart ached as you looked into his eyes, a sweet smile growing on his face while he let his eyes bounce between yours.

“Goodmorning, Jay.” You try to keep a steady, trained voice, shifting to get up as JJ pulls back slightly shocked. He thought everything would be okay now, his heart sinking as you shifted to get out of the bed. His eyes linger on you as you make your way to your bathroom door.

“Do you still want me to keep my distance?” He asks, his voice shaking with nerves, halting your hand on the doorknob.

“I think that’s for the best, yeah, you’re with Kie and-“

“Come on y/n, I know you know that if you say the word-“ JJ doesn’t say the rest, watching how you turn to him with anger written all over your face.

“How could you say that?” You snap, staring at him as he makes his way out of your bed and over to you.

“Because you’re the one I want, y/n, you always have been,” JJ sighs, stepping closer to you slowly like someone approaching a wounded animal, “Because you make me happier than anyone ever has.”

“If this were the other way around again, would it be that easy to just up and leave me? How could I ever trust that you won’t get bored with me again?” You snap, staring at his confused face. You were deflecting, you knew that, you wanted to hear these words for so long, but everything was different now.

JJ could never know about your past.

“What, no, of course not.” JJ sounded angry at the thought, “You can trust me, you know me.”

“Do I? Cause right now I don’t think I do.” You avoid his eyes as you slowly start to pace in front of him. Thinking of all the horrible ways he could react to what he doesn't know.

“What are you talking about, y/n? You know damn well I would be loyal to you.” His eyes find yours for only a second before you’re avoiding them again.

“How do I know that? You weren’t the first time.” You snap, finally walking past him, avoiding any physical contact. You couldn’t look at him without all the horrible things he could say when he finds out swimming through your mind. 

“Yes, I was! We weren’t even really together, and I was loyal to you.”

“Just because you didn’t fuck anyone else doesn’t mean you weren’t disloyal, choosing Kie and your friends over me makes you disloyal in my eyes, you led me on and made me think something was going to happen and then up and left me.” You sigh, trying to release all your pent-up emotions without taking them out on him. You stare at JJ with rage-filled eyes, “And now you want me to trust you again?”

JJ stares at you wide-eyed and open-mouthed. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say, what he could say to that. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He stuttered out, knowing it was weak but having nothing else.

“Well you did JJ,” You yell, an exasperated look on your face as you turn away from him again, “Look I get it, they were there for you your whole life and I’m not going to tell you to choose because that would be unfair, but I can’t keep acting like this, what we’re doing here isn’t entirely fucked up of us.”

“So what do you want me to do?” JJ asks, his voice so soft and small. You could tell he was truly upset, but you had to push forward, and then maybe you could move on.

“I think you should leave.” You don’t look at him, you stay standing facing away from him, unable to face him.

“If I will never have a real conversation with you ever again after I leave here, then-” He pauses, stepping closer to you as he takes a deep breath, “I need to do something.”

In a split second, his hand is on your shoulder, spinning you around and tugging you close to him. Your eyes find his as his hands grip your waist, your own hands resting against his chest to stay upright, “You can’t.” You whisper, trying to believe your own words despite wanting nothing more than to continue.

“Yes, I can, I’ll do what you say, I’ll leave you alone and just do what I have to do, I’ll avoid you, even at work. I won't step foot in your life again until you ask me to, so please just let me do this.” His pleading eyes lock onto yours, and you know that if you were to say no, he would leave without a fight, and you may never have this opportunity again.

“Okay.” You whisper, his lips so close to yours you could almost feel them on you already, and slowly he leaned in. For a second, it felt like nothing about this was wrong, like you were truly his. His hands were gripping your waist like they were desperate to, and they probably were. His lips were soft on yours, displaying none of his raging want and need for the taste of you, because he wanted, no, needed this one to be right. You felt his tears fall down his cheeks and against yours, his lips separating from yours for only a second before falling back into them faster this time. His breath stutters against your lips as he cries, unashamed and desperately wishing you were two different people who didn’t need to worry about everything that was wrong about them being together. 

You break away from the kiss, letting your head fall to his chest as your arms encircle each other. “I’ll find a way to fix this, but for now, goodbye y/n,” He stated simply before unknotting himself from you and turning to take his leave the same way he had come the night before, without looking at you again. Knowing if he saw the look he knew to be in your eyes, he would want to stay forever.

____

JJ avoided not only you but everyone as he wallowed in his self-pity throughout the remainder of the weekend. He hated himself for ever leaving you in the first place, for letting everything get as fucked up as it was. He knew he was an idiot, but this felt different somehow. His phone was full of texts and missed calls, but none of them were from you, so he left them unanswered. When Monday came around, he contemplated calling into Barnes’ office to say he quit and didn’t care if he needed to give a warning, but upon reminding himself that it may be the only way he will ever see you again, he rolled out of bed anyway.

You watched JJ work throughout most of the day, and he watched you; it almost felt calm. A vague sense of acceptance had fallen between you now, like acknowledging that you couldn’t be together yet made it hurt less. But you knew it didn't. The day went by quickly, and the office slowly lost people as they left for their various security details. The calm between you two lasted, and JJ began to hope he could genuinely find a way to fix it. 

Until she showed up.

Kie came crashing through the doors like a storm, eyes locked onto you like you had personally wronged her. Because you had.

“Why are you here, and where is JJ?” Kie spat, eyeing you at your desk so intently she had entirely missed her boyfriend in the corner working on a light.

“Kie, what the hell are you doing here?” JJ asked through gritted teeth, slowly walking up behind her, eyeing the few remaining men with no security detail today, who eagerly listened into the conversation.

“Why didn’t you tell me she worked here?” Kie snapped at JJ, causing a scene as necks slowly craned around to see what was up. Mr.Barnes was out today, and you knew if he were here, he wouldn’t stand for this in his lobby, but as you eyed the two in front of you, you couldn’t bring yourself to say anything at all. Like you knew you had no defense.

“I thought you knew, she has worked here for damn near three years Kie.” JJ states simply, “I wasn’t trying to hide it.”

“So you knew when you got the job?” Kie scoffs, “God, you two just can’t stay away from each other, can you? I warned you about her, and you still keep going after her. She’s poison, she ruins people’s lives and then acts innocent like she’s the victim.”

“Kie, you sound crazy, can we please just do this later when I’m done working? I get off in a few minutes.” JJ pleads, seeing your discomfort as you start to sink in on yourself out of embarrassment.

“Why? To protect her?” Kie laughs, a genuine laugh that sends chills down your spine, “You don’t know half of the person she is.” Kie scoffs as she turns to leave. JJ turned to you with pleading eyes, you could tell he had no clue what he was supposed to do in this situation. You gave him a nod in Kie’s direction, surprising yourself and him in one go.

“This isn’t fair to anyone Jay, it doesnt matter who you have feelings for right now,” You start in a whisper so small only JJ could hear, “You’re with Kie, you made a promise to her when you started dating and before anything moves forward with us you need to talk to her.” JJ almost couldn't believe your words as you spoke, you didn't say you two were impossible, you didn't yell at him for embarrassing you, even though you had that right. You understood his mistake, and you were going to let him fix it. 

“I am going to fix this for us all,” He said, his voice breathless as he started walking quickly, voice rising slightly, “I promise, I'm gonna fix it.” JJ practically ran away, crashing through the doors and into the parking lot. Of course, as though it was karma for all his wrongdoings to her, Kie had already sped from the lot. A bit of a chase ensued as JJ mounted his bike and raced off in the direction of Kie’s house for what may be the last time in a long and complicated friendship, turned relationship, turned possible hatred.

____

JJ couldn’t even remember the drive there, his mind racing with everything he may need to say. Everything he needed to set straight and apologize for. His heart pounded in tandem with his fist beats on her door, and in what felt like only seconds, she answered. As JJ made his way into her living room, hearing the sound of the door shutting behind him as he turned to look at her, he could tell by the look on her face, she was expecting this conversation to go very differently. 

“I wanted to start this by saying I am so sorry,” he started to pace as his excess energy desperately tried to find a place to go, “I genuinly did not mean to hurt you which I have found myself saying a few too many times to a few too many people but I mean it.”

Kie’s eyes darted to follow him, her face shifting, picking up on the way this conversation was inevitably heading. But she stayed silent, letting him continue as she watched him attempt to unravel his anxious web of thoughts. 

“When we first became friends, I thought I was in love with you,” JJ started, his breath uneven but his mind certain of the path he was choosing, “But that was before I knew what love felt like. What it feels like not to be able to resist someone, to feel so connected to someone that when you are apart, it hurts.” 

JJ saw how Kie’s breath hitched, and his heart ached for her, but he knew he couldn’t continue to hide how he felt to save others. His eyes met hers, and he pushed on, “I shouldn’t have wronged you. I betrayed your trust and hurt you, and I wish I could take that back because you were one of my best friends, Kie, and I ruined that.” 

“Did you sleep with her while you were with me?’ Kie asked, tears falling freely down her cheeks as her voice cracked. 

“Not like that, no,” JJ breathes, preparing himself to confess what he knew he now had to, “We’ve been talking again, confiding in each other. I slept in her bed and we kissed, but that is as far as it went. She stopped it.”

Kie scoffs with a shake of her head, turning away from him as she tries to process the information he gave her. He didn’t know if he was supposed to continue, but he did anyway, knowing he had to get it done before he backed out. 

“I love her, Kie, and I know I should have told you when I started to realize, but I felt so much pressure to be perfect for you.” His voice cracked as he pushed on, standing his ground and talking from his heart like he so rarely did, “You chose me, and I wasn’t good enough. I’m not good enough for either of you, but I should have tried harder to be good enough because it’s up to me to be better.”

“And what?” Kie scoffs, anger and sadness evident in her voice, ‘You can try harder now, but not for me, for her?”

“I didn’t mean for it to sound that way. I know I can’t fix what I have ruined between us, but I don’t want to hurt you.” JJ maintains a soft voice as he continues, “What I mean is when something is right, it will work out no matter how much you go through together, and every time we fight, we both come out worse than we were before. We hurt each other and we never get better, we should be growing and coming back into each other after every argument to fix it, but we don’t, because deep down we both know this is wrong.”

Kie’s face softens as she listens to the sound of his voice. JJ watched her intently as she started to speak again, “You’re right, we’re probably not right for each other, and I have tried to force it for too long, but that does not mean I am wrong about her JJ. I am not trying to hurt you when I say there is a lot you do not know about her, and you can’t love someone who won’t let you know the real them. Be careful with her, and get out of my house.”

Her voice was soft and eerie and stuck in his head as he sped through the roads that would lead him to your house. His head flooded with ideas of what you could be hiding from him, what you could have done that you thought he couldn't know. Various heartbreaking scenarios played behind his eyes as he tried to shove them all aside. He would not let Kie ruin this for him, he wanted the moment he finally got to make you his to be perfect. After so many fuck ups and so many road blocks he could almost taste the happiness he wanted to build with you. And as he turned onto your street, his face broke into a smile, the sight of your house getting closer and closer, and the thoughts of doubt slipping further and further behind. 

JJ felt ecstatic, like he was actively riding into his future with you. He allowed himself to imagine a happy life with you, with no distractions and no fucks ups. He would be good to you and your children, he would be better than his father and your father. Everything was lining itself up perfectly, and JJ could feel his smile growing into a full-blown grin as he parked his motorcycle and quickly rounded the house to the side with your window. He scaled the side of your house in record time, not even wasting a second before knocking on the glass panel of your window. JJ hung off the side of your house, eagerly awaiting your acceptance. 

Your heart leaped in your chest, making you almost immediately jump up from where you sat on your bed to rush to open the window. The pounding of your heart picked up and stopped you. Everything you wanted for so long was waiting for you. Kept back by only a thin curtain and a weak panel of glass. But for some reason, your hands went clammy and shot back into your chest instead of tugging the window open. Anything could happen now. If you’re right in your assumption, he’s here to tell you he and Kie are over. But if you’re wrong, all the hope you have built up comes crashing down. 

And even if he is here to choose you, how long until he finds out everything and learns he doesn’t want you at all?

You paced your room for what felt like hours, but in reality, it was only a minute before you rushed forward to let him into your room and your heart again. Eventually, you could tell him, eventually he would be ready to understand, but now wasn’t the time to drop it on him. And leaving him dangling from your window simply wasn’t an option. JJ fumbled into the room. A storm of excitement and passion empties onto your floor with him as he trips and falls onto your rug with a groan. Popping up almost immediately with a look a joy on his face that drew a smile of your own against your will. 

JJ rushed forward, tugging you into him by your hand with a smile and a glint of happiness in his eyes that you had never seen before. How could you ruin this with a confession? 

“We need to talk.” His words came out rushed and out of breath, his eyes were filled with worry, but his hand gripped yours softly, soothing the worry that shot through you at his choice of words.

“I talked to her,” He was breathless still, and even though he didn’t say the name, you knew. “She seemed….understanding, hurt, but not as angry as I was expecting.” His breath hit your lips as he spoke, voice so soft it soothed the raging storm of worry and anxiety in your chest. His lips brushed yours lightly, a soft feather-light kiss that conveyed everything his words couldn’t say, a tingle ran up your spine and warmed your chest as your smile grew and broke the intimate moment.

“So what does this mean for us, Jay?” Your lips still caressed his as you spoke, JJ’s hands instinctively tugging you closer to him as though you would turn and run with his heart if he didn’t hold on. His eyes bore into yours, the ocean that swam in them slowly darkening as his pupils started to eclipse it at the look on your face.

“Come with me?” JJ asked, his voice a beg that betrayed his worry and his wish for this to go perfectly.

“Can’t we just stay here?” You ask with a giggle, eyeing JJ in front of you as he watches your face. He was lost in you, and he didn’t care if you could tell. He could feel how close he was to finally having the happiness he had denied himself long ago, and he wasn’t going to run again.

“No, I think this conversation warrants a more important location,” JJ spoke through a smirk, “Don’t you?” He asked teasingly, urging you to take the risk and come away with him into the night.

“And how are we going to get to this mystery location, Maybank?” You tease, rising from your position on your bed to change into more appropriate clothes, intentionally brushing against him in the process. JJ emits a groan from deep in his chest as his eyes follow you across the room, your legs showing in your short nightgown and teasing him further. 

“Don’t worry, I have my bike.” Your eyes meet his with a glint of mischief, and he smiles at you, knowing you had missed this. Late nights spent with him, not caring who knew where you were or what you were doing together.

“So were you just going to stand there and watch me change, or were you gonna’ be a gentleman and wait outside for me?” His eyes meet yours, a darker blue than usual and pupils fully blown out, a smirk taking over his mouth. 

“You used to like it when I acted improperly for you.” He states matter-of-factly as though it wasn't an entirely inappropriate comment, said so simply. You smiled back at him and wasted no time in dropping your nightgown from your shoulders, revealing your mismatched underwear and bra that practically made JJ drool before quickly covering them again with a simple shirt and loose shorts. 

“You’re gorgeous, you know that, right?” Your cheeks flash red as you approach him, taking his hand in yours and meeting his eyes before leaning in to steal his lips into a soft, sweet kiss. 

“Thank you, Jay, no one has ever said the things you say to me before.” JJ smiles, your lips still ghosting against his when he tugs you toward the window with him, forcing a sequel from you in your surprise. “Where are you taking me, Jay?” You asked between giggles as he turned to slowly descend the side of your house. His motions halt for a split second, and his eyes shoot up to look at you as you lean out your window, your hair swaying slightly in the wind, reminding him of a fairytale princess residing in her beautiful castle. 

“You’ll see,” His voice calm despite the raging storm inside him, “Let me get to the ground first, then follow, I want to make sure you don’t fall.”

“What a gentleman.” You joke, watching him chuckle so softly it was barely audible as he continues his descent. In a matter of seconds, he was eyeing you from the ground, and you were turning to start descending the side, too. You took extra care to sway your hips more than necessary, knowing he would be watching the way your shorts ride up slightly. You laugh to yourself at the feeling of his hands gripping your hips to tug you the rest of the way down as soon as you are within his reach. “I take it back, you are no gentleman.” 

You fall into a fit of giggles before he spins you around in his arms, silencing you when his lips crash into yours, demanding your attention. His hands pull you flush into his chest as your hands link themselves behind his neck, tugging him impossibly closer to you. Your back hits the side of your house, forcing a gasp out of your lips, giving him the perfect opportunity to shove his tongue past them, battling you for dominance as his hands roam over your body, gripping your flesh everywhere he can as though he were starved of you. His right hand runs up your abdomen, caressing your chest as it finds its way to your chin, tugging you away from his lips and forcing a whine from you when he drops his lips down to explore your neck. You laugh breathlessly, dragging your hands down and across his broad shoulders before speaking, “Didn’t you have somewhere to take me, Jay?”

JJ groaned against your neck, the taste of you more distracting than he had expected it to be. He pulled back only slightly, catching your lips with his and trapping them in a slow, sweet kiss before pulling away again. “You’re right, we’ll have plenty of time for more of this when we get there.” He took your hand in his to lead you to his bike, where you both quickly mounted. Both missing the times when you spent hours going nowhere together on this seat, your arms latched around him like muscle memory, hands caressing his chest and letting your nails scratch him softly through the fabric of his shirt. The sensation sent shivers down JJ’s spine, his smile wide on his face as he quickly took the turns he knew well, despite having not been there since you two called everything off. 

“I know where you’re taking me,” You giggle, nipping at his neck with your teeth as you lean in to whisper in his ear, “You always did love your secret little hideouts.” 

“This one more than the others,” He sighed, the feeling of your lips tickling up and down his neck forcing him to slow the speed of his bike to focus, “I haven’t been there since-.”

“Neither have I.” You state matter-of-factly, leaving one final kiss to his cheek before straightening your back to feel the wind against your face, letting him speed up again. The sight of the small, secluded beach area up ahead gave you a jolt of excitement and happiness. Finally allowing yourself to believe that this was actually happening, that this would be your future, and you two could be happy with each other. JJ parked quickly and basically hopped off the bike with excitement, tugging you along with him toward the furthest corner of your small beach, forgotten by the rest of the world. A large alcove created by a vast wall of stone that was once long ago sand under some long-gone human’s feet loomed over you as you approached. The memories of the night he chose them over you flooded your head. This was your spot, where you two would always go when the world was too much for both of you, this spot that shielded you from everything except the other. 

“I missed this place,” You sighed, turning to catch those blue eyes with yours, “I missed being here with you.”

“I missed everything about you y/n,” JJ’s voice was so soft you almost couldn’t hear him, he stepped close quickly, grabbing your hand in both of his as he continued, “I want to be with you so badly, I have wanted it ever since we first started….whatever it was that we had back then, I was just too much of a coward to admit it to you, to my friends, and myself. I was wrong to hide you, and I was wrong to up and leave when it got hard. I will never be able to make up for that.”

“You don’t have to, Jay, I already forgive you.” Your voice was soft and comforting as JJ tugged you closer to him, pulling you into a loving embrace. 

“You’re amazing, the best woman on the planet,” JJ said in a near whisper against your lips, sighing into you as his lips steal yours for a slow, electrifying kiss. “I should have made you mine forever ago.”

“And just to be clear, you and Kie are officially-” You start to ask at the risk of ruining the moment.

“Over,” JJ states quickly, his voice a mix of desperation and relief, “We never should have happened in the first place because it has always been you. Before I knew how much it hurts to be separated from you, I thought people were stupid for falling in love, but I was wrong, because I can’t help it, it’s not a choice where you can just pick someone because you think it will be easier than fessing up. Easier than just telling you that every time I see you, I feel more than I did before.” His voice hitches as he tries to continue, and your hand shoots out to rub soothingly up and down his arm.

“I’m in love with you, I have been for a lot longer than I realized. “His eyes fell to the sandy ground as he pushed forward, his voice cracking like he didn’t want to say the rest, “But-”

You heard the shift in his voice as he tried to continue, for a beat, it felt like he was going to drop the topic, but when his eyes met yours he pushed forward with a worrisome look on his face. You stepped back from him to observe his face; you could tell, as the moonlight hit him, that something was bothering him greatly. He had pushed it aside for your happiness, you stood in the same spot where he had once broken your heart, and it was as if part of him knew the storm that would come upon asking the question lingering on the tip of his tongue. 

“What is it, Jay?” He heard the shake of your voice and knew that even if he wanted to, he would not be able to stop the conversation from coming now.

“She said something before I left her place that I have been ignoring,” JJ started, and your soaring heart dropped. “She said there’s a lot I don’t know about you, that if you don’t let me know the real you, I can’t love you properly, and I agree y/n.” JJ’s words send your eyes dropping to the sand at your feet, you pull back from him, avoiding his eyes and trying to avoid the conversation as a whole. 

“You know me better than anyone, Jay.” Your voice breaks, and your eyes meet his again. The look in his eyes hurts as he so desperately tries to connect to you in the one way you can’t, you wish more than anything that you could be brave enough to tell the truth. But you can’t bring yourself to.

“I can feel that there is something you are holding back.” JJ says as he steps close to you again, “The way she talks about you is so…so angry. I have never heard her as angry as she is when she talks about you, I need to know.” JJ’s calloused hands lightly grab your shoulders, forcing your eyes up to him before he continues. “Why does she hate you so much, y/n?” It was almost like you could physically feel the memories hit you. How much pain you were in, how lost you felt, and how everyone who cared about you left you to drown.

“We used to be friends, she, Sarah, and I all were freshman year and….it just didn’t work out okay.” You couldn't bring yourself to say the words; once you did, everything would change, and you would lose him for good, just like you lost them. Like you almost lost everyone. 

“Come on, y/n,” JJ almost begged, “I need to know what happened, please, I don’t know if I am selfish for asking, but I need to know.” The look of pure desperation on his face broke your resolve, and like a dam breaking, everything came rushing back in. Everything you tried to forget and change coming to the surface all at once like an ugly parasite forever stuck inside you, unchanging and unwilling to leave.

“I was going through a difficult time with my dad back then, and instead of doing the smart thing and telling someone I bottled it up and eventually it came back out,” You tried to look at him as you spoke but couldn’t, sighing and turning away from him before you continuted, “But it wasn’t directed at the right people. I wasn’t a good daughter, and I was a worse friend.”

“Trust me when I say I understand,” JJ tries in a comforting voice as he steps up behind you, “I have been there and I know you, you wouldn’t have done anything to hurt them on purpose.” 

“Except I did hurt them, JJ, I may not have meant to, but I hurt them and I hurt myself because I couldn’t hurt the man who was hurting me.” You let your tears fall as you turned back to face him, your chest tight with worry as he watched your face intently. “Eventually, they found out what was going on, and instead of letting them in, I pushed them away.” You flinched slightly as JJ rushed to wrap his arms around you, tugging you to his chest in a warm embrace that pulled a shaky sigh from you.

“And when they finally started understanding I had already started talking to Rafe and let my anger get the best of me,” your words kept slipping out as if it were that night again and you were begging to be chosen, “I got lost in a different world for a while and I rubbed it in their face and Kie never forgave me. She had a thing for Rafe back then, and she still blames me for what happened after-“

“Wait a second, you did date Rafe?” JJ cuts you off ignoring the rest of your story with a scoff as he roughly pulls away from you and takes a few steps back, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me when I asked you?”

“It was years ago, I was stupid, and it was not dating. We were close, he was all I had back then except….” JJ’s brows furrowed with anger while he stared at you, your throat clenched, trying to will yourself to speak.

“What aren’t you saying y/n?” He snaps, “What else are you hiding from me?”

“I was an addict, Jay, I still am in a way, just like he is, but I’m clean now. And for a long time, Rafe was the only person who understood what I was going through.” You knew how he felt about Rafe and drugs and addiction. That’s why you couldn’t bring yourself to say the words for so long, you didn’t want him to look at you like he was in this moment. Because you knew that look he was giving you, and it made you want to shrink into a shell you didn’t have. He looked at his father like that, your mother looked at you like that until very recently. You turned away from him as he eyed you; you couldn’t stand it from him. 

“You know how I feel about him.” His voice sounded so different, so full of hurt and anger, you had heard him yell like this before, but you had never once thought you would ever be on the receiving end. JJ could feel himself slipping, but he didn’t hold on; if he had, he would have stopped. Thought it through a bit more and realized how wrong he was. But he didn't think, he couldn't, his mind was clouded with jealousy and a sense of betrayal. His chest started to feel empty, his throat constricting as he thought of everything else you could be keeping from him instead of everything you could have gone through that led you to have this reaction.

 “You told me there wasn’t anything going on between you two.” His voice breaks when he speaks now, his eyes glossing over slightly as he looks at you under the moonlight. You looked so beautiful it hurt, even with your eyes reddened and your hair tousled from the wind. It hurt to think of everyone with a good pair of eyes being able to see you as he did; he wanted to be your only admirer. No matter how crazy it sounded. 

“Well, there isn’t Jay,” You say with a humorless, nervous laugh, “We talked for a bit when I was 16, but it wasn’t dating. He was too old for me and I only started it to piss off my friends and my dad in one go. But it became more than that. And-” You choke on the words, tears welling in your eyes as you try to force yourself to make the confession you had never made to anyone but your therapist. 

“It was my fault he got into drugs; it was my idea. I was having fun, and he wanted to know what it felt like. We got close from shared trauma, but I never felt anything more than friendship for him.” You speak over your shoulder, eyeing the way his brows shoot up in surprise. You turn as you see his face shift into a look of desperate sadness before quickly being masked with an anger you never saw from him. “I know it was stupid, but I was jealous Sarah and Kie chose you guys over me, and then it all snowballed, I got stuck in that world, and part of me truly liked it for a long time.”

“Oh wow,” JJ says with a scoff, your words hitting him so hard he swore his ears were ringing, memories of the night he called everything off swimming back into his mind again.

“I know the type of person she is, JJ, and she will only bring you down just like your Dad,” Kie spat at him, “She’s using you to get back at me, I know her better than you do.” She sighed, “And trust me, I know I’m right, she’s done this before and she’d do it again. That’s what people like her do.”

Kie’s words echoed in his head while he eyed you, the weight of them changing as he looked at you entirely differently now. “I should have fuckin’ known.” JJ snaps, making you flinch backwards from him.

“Should’ve known what? We never even did anything serious. We both just….got caught up in it all.” JJ could hear the desperation in your voice but ignored it, his anger blinding him from seeing the truth directly in front of his face.

“How could you possibly know what you did with him if you were high out of your mind the whole time?” He spat, the words stabbing you directly in your chest as he continues, “How am I supposed to accept that the woman I love is the reason the man who tormented me throughout high school was the menace he was?” JJ’s voice only got louder and more full of anger as he continued. “You could have told me the entire time, and instead you lied to me, like you knew how much it would hurt me.” JJ almost yells, turning and walking off towards his motorcycle, ignoring you while you yell after him to listen the same way you did the first time. You stood watching in almost the exact space you stood that night, watching him choose his pride over you once again.

“Are you serious, JJ? This is how you react to my mistakes after everything I did to help you with yours.” He barely looks at you over his shoulder as he settles onto his bike. “Fine, if that’s what you want to do, then go ahead and leave me again. Just don’t come back this time.”

JJ watches you turn towards the direction of your house, a sense of panic rising in his chest. But the anger blocking him from responding stayed, forcing him to watch as you left his life seemingly for the last time before he sped off alone.

____

~ Taglist ~ (Ask To Be Added❤️)

@slut4-gojo @cali-888 @marley1773 @agnxstic @apeachtea @juno2369 @bee-43 @definitelymentallyderanged @smokahontas-113

[baronessvonglitter]

🔥Vulgar Display of Power🔥

(Part 1 of "The Assistant From Hell")

Marcus Moreno x OFC Cat Cruz | WC: 4.9K

Summary: Being Marcus Moreno's assistant is an easy gig for Cat Cruz. Until she makes an impulsive decision to show she's more than meets the eye.

WARNINGS: 18+ Only! M for Mature. Allusions to smut. Adult language. First person narrative and maybe even an unreliable narrator? Mentions of pyromania. Petty violence. Brief allusions to kinks. One vulgar (but also pretty cool) display of power. Cat is basically a walking Intrusive Thought.

A/n: Hi my name is Adriana, and one time when I was a kid I ate an entire bag of miniature Milky Ways and then I threw up. We were on a road trip and I was reading while the car was in motion.. so that's how I found out I get motion sickness 😎

A couple months ago I was really stuck on a couple of fics I was working on, and so to get unstuck I started a stream of consciousness exercise, written entirely in first person. This is the result - with some polishing and editing lol. Cat's story is going to be told through parts rather than chapters, because it might be one of those stories that doesn't really have a true end, just a collection of adventures. I plan on sprinkling in a few P-bois in later chapters (and this one!)

dividers by @kodaswrld 👑

MARCUS MORENO MASTERLIST | FULL MASTERLIST

You can call me Cat.

Not Catherine. Only cops and judges call me that.

And don't you dare start with Cathy or the godforsaken Kitty.

The last man who called me Kitty.. well..

To put it lightly, that man is no longer among the living on this earth.

To put it darkly I jammed an ice pick through the base of his skull.

But let's not get caught up in that. I tend to get easily distracted, so bear with me.

Anyway it's a typical fucking Monday and because I live in a society I'm driving my shitty canary yellow Saturn SW to my job at Heroics HQ instead of relaxing on a nude beach somewhere getting tan all over or partying somewhere in Dubai and getting a billionaire to give over all his money.

It sucks being an adult. But you already know this. I'm not here to tell you things you know, I'm here to tell a story. So be quiet and listen.

😊

I pick up a couple drinks at Starbucks and cruise into my assigned parking space at work. Mine says Employee of the Year in thick black marker, as it has since the day I started working there and wrote it in thick black marker. It should say Milennium instead of Year, but there's not enough space on the sign and I always forget how to spell 'milennium.' Anyone else who tries to park here mysteriously gets their tires slashed. It's a crazy and sad world we live in. Some people just don't have any sense of right and wrong.

Anyway, I haven't had to slash anyone's tires in awhile, which has made for a boring few weeks. Did I mention how boring my job is? But it's safe, and it pays really well. Plus my boss.. well, you'll see..

I saunter into the office and--

Did I mention my outfit? I didn't, did I? Well I look fucking good. 😉

Much of my paycheck goes to keep me dressed in L'ecole des Femmes, which isn't cheap, but holy fuck have you seen the clothes?? Today I'm in my usual Belle de Jour dress with the oh-so-necessary black Louboutins (genuine, thank you very much!) with white ruffle socks and my hair in a high ponytail with a black bow. My hair's dark so the bow doesn't always show, but I like knowing it's there, making me look very coquette. The red lips and black winged liner let everyone know I'm not to be fucked with.

Here we go.

I waltz in, drink holder in hand as I flash my badge and am given entry to the building. Blowing the security guard a kiss, I make my way to the elevator bank, the doors gliding right open for me as if they know I'm here. The ride goes by so damn slow but no one in this building seems to give a damn. They're all a fit bunch who take the stairs. Well la-dee-da my preferred cardio is--

Eep. Fourth floor. My heart rate speeds up a little bit. Adrenaline courses through my veins, waking up every sense, firing off neurons left and right. I feel all tingly, like my spider senses are activated.

He's here! I can already hear his voice from out here in the hallway.

Sauntering into the office (by the way, have you ever "sauntered" in Louboutins? It ain't easy work, honey. It's a goddamn art, which I have perfected. Most people would probably fall and break their nose trying to walk a mile in my shoes but that's okay because I am Cat Full of Grace and I am a rarity among all).

Fuck, I got sidetracked. Okay, so I saunter into the office and am met with the sight of my boss, arms crossed as he leans against the doorway of his office, speaking with one of the other employees.

Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears starts playing in my head and as if in slow motion he turns to look at me, a little smile on his face.

"You're late, Miss Cruz," he says, a bit sternly.

"Fashionably so," I do a little spin in my outfit, hoping he'll get excited by how short my skirt is.

"It's ten thirty. You're supposed to start work at eight." He is most definitely not looking at my legs. Bummer.

"I'm late because I stopped to get you a drink," I hand him a cup, lighting up when our fingers touch.

"What is it?" he asks, looking pleasantly surprised that I'd thought about him on my morning commute.

"Actually, I'm not sure. But surprises are the spice of life, am I right?" I take the cup from him and sip it, swishing it around in my mouth for a bit before swallowing. "Mocha latte, extra whip," I proudly announce, handing him back the warm cup of coffee. He stares at the ruby bloom of my lipstick stain on the lid.

"Did you know they just make a bunch of drinks and then leave them out on the counter, completely unattended?" I giggle as I put my purse away, finally taking a sip of my own drink and getting a big gulp of matcha. Ugh. Well, at least it was free.

A confused look crosses his face as he pieces together what I'm saying. "Cat, I think these are mobile orders for other people. You literally stole drinks off the counter."

"I prefer 'swiped' over 'stole'," I correct him. "And anyway, those lazy fuckers can just go through the drive-through or wait in line like everyone else. I swear, some people are so self-righteous and egotistical."

The look on his face is priceless. His deep brown eyes get all big behind his glasses (did I mention he wears glasses? Rawr, people are a thousand percent hotter with glasses) and his lips get all pouty and o-shaped beneath his mustache--

Okay, stop. I know what you're thinking.

No, I don't have a crush on my boss. That's ridiculous and I'd laugh right in your face if you were here right now.

Marcus Moreno is conventionally attractive. That's all. Stop giving me that look.

Do you know how many hot guys I see every day? I work with goddamn superheroes. The abundance of testosterone makes every one of my coworkers a little more attractive. It's a pull on the pheromones or the ovaries or something, I'm not a scientist.

He's standing there, watching me with that adorably clueless look and I'm standing there like an idiot, watching him because he's so cute.

"Don't you have some work to do? While you're still employed by us?" he says, a little smirk on those lips that I definitely don't dream about kissing or imagine how soft they'd be on my skin.

"I'm right on top of that, Rose!" I say cheerfully. Marcus just gives me a blank look.

I put my hands on my hips, feigning annoyance. "Haven't you ever seen Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead?"

"Umm.." his lips pout as he genuinely tries to remember.

"Dude. that movie's like thirty years old by now. Do you not watch movies?"

"Of course, I watch movies with Missy all the time," he says a little defensively as he speaks about his daughter.

"I don't mean Pixar movies." I roll my eyes.

"Miss Cruz. Back to work," he says, a tinge of iron in his voice.

"Yes, sir." Jesus, when he says it like that, I can't help but follow orders.

I need to start on something to do, but I immediately start browsing Dolls Kill. There's a sale on platform heels! I think Marcus wouldn't mind if I get settled in before going through all those boring emails.

My nameplate says, I put the Ass in Assistant on the side that faces me. The other side just says Admin Assistant. (I've asked Accounting for a new one, but the department head is a bitch and says only team leaders are allowed personalized nameplates. But she has one. I asked if she's a team leader and she said no, just a department head. So I asked why she has a personalized nameplate. She said no, she's just a department head and I said well why do you get to have one, that doesn't seem fair, and she had no reply, just stared at me open-mouthed like a bass caught on a fishing pole.)

So yeah I started a small fire in her office, but she was okay and all the other accountants were at lunch, so nobody else would've gotten hurt anyway.

See? I got sidetracked again. C'mon, I need you to keep me from doing that!

God, it's boring. Does anyone else have a problem just diving into work? Who would dive headfirst into a pit of needes? I need to merge my way into this evil Monday morning.

I spin in my chair, sliding to my left to get a view of Marcus, who's typing something on his computer. His brows are knitted together, a small stray strand of hair falling over his forehead which he doesn't seem to notice. He looks so Clark Kent right now. Seriously, you'd love him.

Not that I do. Shut up!

Typically I wile the work day away as Marcus's personal assistant. I answer the phone and respond to emails, and I'm also in charge of his schedule, both work and personal.

He never has anything in his personal schedule. It makes me really sad for him. The most exciting thing he has planned this week is price comparing Roombas. (Yes, he actually carved out time just for that. Isn't that adorable?)

I line up work meetings, sometimes snoop around at his music collection. (I don't think he knows it's paired to my Bluetooth.) And often I'll play songs on my speaker that are his own playlist and he'll peek his head out of his office and say something cute like "Is that 'Porcelain' by Moby? I love that song!" and I know he loves it because I'm playing his playlist.

Right before lunch is when I feel it: like a fire in my bones (I'm not attempting to be poetic, that's really how it feels!) and a buzzing in my brain. My hearing goes all staticky and it's a battle just to keep control of my faculties.

'Hello, darling.'

Aw, damn it.

"What the fuck do you want?" I whisper to the voice in my head.

'Quite a rude way to greet an old friend, isn't it? Whatever happened to hello, how are you?'

"Get out of my head!" I whisper harshly. I hear Marcus's fingers abruptly stop typing.

'Thinking about that man's hands again, aren't you? They'd make a good necklace, wouldn't they?' the voice teases. 'I know you've always enjoyed the rough stuff.'

I hurry out of my seat and past Marcus's office. "Hey, you okay?" he calls out.

"Fine! Period emergency!" I shout back, making haste to the corner of the front hallway where no one goes.

"Seriously, dude, you need to leave me alone!" I whisper-hiss to the evil voice.

'You used to like when I come into your mind like this..' I can almost hear the pout in his voice.

"You're not welcome here!"

'Too late.'

My stomach heaves when he says that because it means he's actually near.

The elevator dings and the doors open up on my floor to reveal him -- the bane of my existence, the curse of all good things.

Come on, we've all had that ex.

"Not now!" I whisper

But he's already here, his entire personality taking up so much space in the hallway, brown curls falling over soulful dark eyes, a cigarette between his lips. There's no smoking allowed in the building, but what do I care, I started an office fire, remember?

"Why is that damn elevator so slow? Hey, don't I get a hug?" He opens his arms wide, his watercolor print shirt rising up a little to show his tummy.

"You can get fucked for all I care," is my stone cold reply as I cross my arms, not making a move towards him, showing him I Mean Business. "Go away! I didn't call you. How'd you even get past security?"

"You don't need to call me. I know when I'm needed. And I have my ways of getting in to where I want to be. You know that, Kitty Kat." He sidles up to me anyway, and I wince when he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

I groan at the nickname. "It's just Cat, with a C. And by the way, I need you like I need a limp dick."

"Classy as always, Cat-With-a-C." He makes himself at home in a chair in the empty waiting room. His cigarette never ashes, never gets used up or goes out. If he flicks it away he simply makes a new one appear and starts over again.

"I need you like I need a UTI. Speaking of which, how's the new wife?"

He groans. "Darling, you can't keep bringing up old shit. I thought we were past that."

"I am past it. You're the one who came to me." My arms are crossed, not relenting even a little, not even when he appraises my outfit. I already know what he's thinking.

"Something important is going to happen today," he says, grinning at me like a fool.

I sigh deeply. "What exactly?"

He says in that singsong voice I've come to loathe: "Don't pretend like you don't know..."

I pause, my body so still I swear I can feel the thrum of my heartbeat in every part of my body. "No.. no, please!" I whisper.

"I am afraid, darling, that it's not up to me. You forget that I know everything that's going to happen."

"Not true. You've always been a liar."

"And so are you. You're an extension of me. Aren't you tired of pretending, Cat? Don't you want to show everyone what you're truly capable of?"

Just then Marcus approaches, and I back away from my unwanted and uninvited guest as if to let him know hell no I'm not with this dude.

He appraises us with a look of concern, his dark gaze flitting between me and the disheveled goon smoking like a chimney.

"Is everything okay here?" Marcus asks. "Miss Cruz?" He looks at me, those big puppy dog eyes full of concern. It's so heartwarming.

He must have heard us from his office. Damn his supernatural sense of hearing.

"He was just leaving." I smile.

But nooo, this idiot decides to introduce himself to my boss. He extends a hand towards Marcus. "How's it going? My name is Lu-"

"Lucien," I interrupt. "This is Lucien, my...uncle?" I hate the idea of introducing Lucien as someone I've ever been romantically involved with.

There's an evil gleam in Lucien's eyes (when is there ever not?) and he plays along with it. "That's right, I'm her uncle," he says as Marcus tentatively shakes his hand.

"I'm Marcus Moreno," my boss introduces himself.

"Good to finally meet you." Lucien's eyes light up as he glances my way and I give him an imperceptible shake of my head. "Kitty talks about you a lot. You should hear some of the things she says about you."

"Oh, that's enough out of you!" I laugh and try to shuffle Lucien down the hallway. "Don't listen to him, Marcus. He's had a recent brain injury. He says things that aren't true."

I have to give credit to Marcus, he's incredibly calm during all this, though I can sense he has a million questions on the tip of his tongue.

Nope, don't think about his tongue. Or his lips, which are right now curving into a smile as I continue to push Lucien out the door. "It's a pleasure to get to meet you, Mr. Cruz," he says politely. "Your niece has been a great addition to our team."

"Mr. Cruz?" Lucien whispers to me, barely containing his gleeful laughter. "It's DeLeon to you, and a thousand happy returns, my good man!"

"Shut up," I hiss at him, grabbing him and walking him back to the elevator. "Get the fuck out. Don't come here ever again. Don't tap into my brain or I will perform the necessary task to get rid of you for good," I threaten him.

There's a brief flash of fear in his dark eyes, just a flash, but it's there before he resumes his usual sagacious demeanor.

(Sagacious is my word of the day. I think self-improvement in one's vocabulary is a wonderful thing. But I still enjoy saying "fuck" a lot.)

"You will see me again," Lucien promises. "No matter what, you and I are bound together. Forever."

He takes his leave right before I get the chance to punch him or kick him in the balls. I watch him from the window, making sure he's really gone. He gets into a jet black Ferrari Testarossa and speeds away.

I miss that car.

"He seems nice," Marcus says, appearing at my side, also watching Lucien burn rubber on the road.

"He's Satan Incarnate," I say glumly.

Mondays suck and this is the suckiest Monday ever to Monday, but this particular Monday sucks for another reason: team meetings.

Everybody hates them, probably none moreso than me. Meetings suck, Mondays suck. Why clump them together? I've asked Marcus but he says it's on the orders of the higher ups.

At two p.m. we begin the journey to the main board room. During our walk Marcus practices his "no nonsense" look. But no matter how hard he tries I can tell he'll definitely tolerate some nonsense. He's just too good of a guy.

When I realize there's no backtalk in my brain, that means Lucien really is gone. My thoughts are my own again. Thank the gods. Now I can concentrate on how cute Marcus looks, that little crease between his brows deepens as he likely thinks over what he's going to say to the others.

"Good luck, gorgeous." I wink at him before we go in, and smile just as I see a faint pink blush rise in his face.

"I'll need it. Thanks," he mutters. As we enter the room, one by one the other team members turn to look at him, their looks varying from annoyance to disappointment and disdain.

I keep my smile on even as I glare back at them. The disrespect is blatant in their eyes and I will not tolerate it. Marcus may be a good guy, but I take no such fuckery lightly. I have complete faith in Marcus's ability to get them to agree.

I'm starting to see the reason for Lucien's appearance. He's only around when something bad is about to go down. People fight, argue, kill each other when he's around, and it seems the very air he breathed out has now infected the rest of the team. They're a fidgety, pompous lot. Superheroes are perceived through the media in a very positive light. Let me tell you, they're actually all dicks. And poor Marcus has had to handle their bullshit on a daily basis.

He stands at the head of the table and I sit at the side of the room near the door. First one out in case there's a fire. (Seriously, I've told you about the random acts of pyromania that go on around here.)

Marcus stands at the head of the table, a confident and serious expression on his face. "All right, let's just get straight to it, shall we? I'm sure you're all aware that I've been out of the field for some time now."

"We're aware!" someone yells from the back. "You leave the field then think you can make all these changes! We won't take it!"

My boss's gaze darkens but he keeps his composure and I mentally applaud him for that. "I'm well aware of your concerns, however, despite not being on the field as much, it doesn't make me any less of a leader."

"A leader should be with the team during battle! When's the last time you did that?" another complains.

I can already see the vein in Marcus's forehead start to twitch and my own body tenses up with anger in a purely empathetic response.

"Before my wife passed away and I was left to raise my daughter on my own.." he says quietly. "That was the last time I fought alongside you all."

Oof. He really just played the dead wife card. Not a fun card to play. He must be able to zone in on my thoughts, though, because his eyes seek out mine and I feel as if my heart is on full display for him when our gazes meet. I start to rise from my seat, my first instinct to pull him away from this stupid meeting and just make him feel better.

"It's not the same," another hero says with less ire in their voice. "We need a leader who's out there with us, not just up here calling the shots."

Marcus nods in acknowledgement. "I understand your concerns, however, my duty as leader has shifted. I look after operations, training, public relations, and Miss Cruz has been an adept assistant at my side the whole time."

I stand and do a little curtsy in honor of being recognized so kindly. I must give Marcus a proper thank you when the meeting's done. If you know what I mean..

Anyway, Marcus is continuing, so let's listen.

"...but each and every one of you have something in common. You're not just heroes.. you're all egotistical, arrogant bastards."

The whole room erupts in chaos. People rise from their chairs, papers are strewn, threats are made, basically it's a mess. This group is calling for Marcus's head on a stick and it's then that I realize that I can't sit back any longer.

"STOP!" I bellow, the power I so rarely get to use is surging within me. The heroes freeze in place, literally unable to move except for Marcus.

It's the most satisfying thing to see the looks of horror and shock on their faces as I keep them in thrall to me. "Marcus is right. You're all a bunch of egotistical bastards. So for once in your fortunate lives, sit down and shut up!"

I smile, pleased when they have no choice but to obey my command. "You're going to listen and discuss with respect for your team leader.. or I'll explode all of your fucking heads." I smirk.

The group is silent but for a few puttering sighs and pathetic groans. "God damn," Marcus mutters, obviously taken aback by my sudden revelation that I'm not that different from the rest of this crowd.

"They're going to behave now, Mr. Moreno," I announce, releasing them from my hypnotic spell. "Aren't you?" I growl to them.

The heroes all nod instantly, not wishing to challenge me again. Their thoughts come to me unbidden. They're scared, most are angry, some impressed and even aroused by my display of power. But they're going to comply out of straight fear of what I might do next.

Marcus's thoughts are the hardest to ignore. He's thinking about my confidence, my scent, the way my clothing clings to my curves.. I've just silenced an entire room of supernaturally gifted people and the first thing he's thinking is he wants to fuck me.

The meeting goes by smoothly, no further incidents. I was pleased that Marcus's ideas were presented with little objection. And when the heroes leave I feel waves of deference, curiosity, fear, even jealousy as they pass me to exit the room. I smile and drink it all up like a Diet Cherry Coke on a hot August day.

"Successful meeting," I nod to Marcus, who's picking up the loose papers off the ground. With a wave of my hand I sweep them all up into a tidy pile then burn them to ash in less than a millisecond. They were all petitions to demote Marcus from team leader. We can't have that.

"Very successful.. thanks to you." He won't look me in the eye, despite the absolute wave of desire I felt coming off him when I'd shut up his inferiors.

He pauses before we leave. "You know this means you probably won't be able to work here anymore, right?"

My stomach sinks and a it feels like an icy blast hits me right in the chest. "What? Why?"

He shakes his head. "It's against policy to use your powers on others. Some of them could sue saying they were harmed, or under duress in making a critical decision for the future of this enterprise."

Shit. I hadn't thought of that. As usual I'd acted on impulse. And in that moment of reckless impulsivity I may have done irreparable damage to my career.

(Okay, that's the most adult-y thing I've ever said and I'm pretty proud of myself.)

"That's not fucking fair!" I whine. (Annnd there goes my shining moment of maturity down the drain.)

"I know," he soothes, pushing his glasses up on his nose. Oh god damn, I love when he does that. "But it's not my decision. It'll be left up to the higher powers."

"Fuck them! I helped you! You have to tell them that I helped you, Marcus.."

For a moment I can feel the mixed emotions he's going through, regret and sorrow mainly. "Did you.." he starts to say, and my heart skips many beats because I already know the question burning in his mind.

He clears his throat and looks at me with those baby cow eyes behind those glasses. "Did you ever use your powers on me?" He pauses because he senses my struggle. "The truth, Cat," he insists, voice soft, like we're talking friend-to-friend instead of boss-to-employee.

"No," I lie, schooling my features into the epitome of innocence: eyes wide, forehead slightly creased as if to say I would never.

But I did. (I'll get to that part later.)

Marcus looks relieved. "I appreciate your candor, Miss Cruz." (Oh, I guess we're back to boss/employee status again.)

"Yeah, anytime," I mutter, glancing around the room and making sure it's tidy before we leave.

Not even five minutes after I get back to my desk Marcus comes out from his office, a harried look on his face, and he's unable to meet my eyes. He gives no reference as to where he's going but I can already tell. He's off to a meeting. About me. About my sudden and rather vulgar display of power.

I don't often feel anxious but this is one of those scenarios where I actually do, and that anxiety sits like a rock in the pit of my stomach. No matter how many times I check my lipstick in the mirror or update my social media apps, the brief peace I'm granted dissipates and I feel like I'm going to throw up.

The clock makes its interminable half-moon from the twelve to the six and that's when Marcus returns, his footsteps not as hurried as before, yet anxious energy emanates from him like radioactivity. I try not to look too hopeful. What if they've decided to fire me?

Or worse. they could ask me to work with them, buddy up on missions. No thank you.

"What'd the jury say?" I ask as he comes around to my side of the desk.

He's quiet a moment before he nods. "The higher-ups think it's best if you take a couple days vacation."

"With pay?"

"No," he says, and his countenance grows stern as he adds, "and don't try to Jedi mind-trick me into saying yes. It's not my decision. And frankly watching you do that is kind of creepy."

I flash back briefly to the bright burst of lust I'd read in his brain shortly after telling off the damned Heroics. Does he know I know? Was it just a knee-jerk reaction? Does he not like me back that way?

Again, not that I like him that way, it just feels nice to be crushed on.

But if he finds me creepy, that's almost as good.

"Okay, fine. But Marcus, do I still have a job here?"

He can't bullshit me and he knows it. "I don't know. When you come back on Friday you'll be expected to give your own account of what happened, along with some tests they want to run.. your abilities and all that. And a thorough background check. It appears we never gave you one."

Oh, they did one all right, I just made damn sure it turned out completely in my favor.

"So that's it? A little slap on the wrist? 'Bad girl, Cat, mind your manners better next time Cat'?" I ask hopefully. When Marcus blushes I take a little peek into his mind hoping to see him imagining giving me a spanking, but then suddenly he blocks me out.

"I told you to stop that," he warns.

He's pretty sexy when he's strict.

"Alright, alright," I relent, backing off. "But I'm serious.. if they want to go hard on me then you've gotta swing for me, Marcus."

"I can't promise anything," he says with a sigh. "But I'll try."

"Do, or do not. There is no try," I say in my Yoda voice.

He scoffs, turning a little pink. "It's going to be very quiet and very boring without you here. I'll do what I can.."

tagging the peeps who showed interest when this baby was a wip: @itwasntimethatdidit40 @burntheedges @sunshinehaze1 @joelalorian @604to647 @almostfoxglove @inept-the-magnificent

@la-vie-est-une-fleur29 @puddles221b @bunniboo0015

@happylove1223 @angiewatson

Comments and reblogs appreciated!! 🖤🖤

[danieyells]

Rui mizuki’s lines from Tokyo debunker if you haven’t yet PLEASE I will love you for all eternity

They’re edging me with the rui crumbs every chapter I can’t take it anymore

One flirty reaper coming right up!! And by right up i mean almost a week after you asked hhahaha

BUT YEAH WE DO GET A LITTLE OF HIM HERE AND THERE i wonder why he pops up so much. Especially for someone who allegedly tries not to be around other people much due to his deadly touch? Kinda sus--

also this is the first time i've posted all of someone's lines! not that i don't always end up posting 95% of them anyway, but for some reason some of Rui's were ordered weird(they're normally not entirely in order but they're usually sectioned properly, but for some reason one of his affinity chats was way in the wrong place) and I ended up closely paying attention to which one i was looking at and before i knew it i posted all of them lmao. . . .

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"{PC}, hey! Here's to another day vibing our way through curse twin life!"

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"Huh? Did you know you've got unread messages? Oh, that's why you've been leaving me on delivered! Ahaha!"

no that's just because my adhd makes me hyperfocus on things and it refuses to allow me to attempt to allot attention or energy to things it deems me not having enough attention span or energy or time for and i'm sorry--

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"Aw c'mon Ed, again? Why does he always leave his socks on the floor... It's actually exhausting picking up after him all the time..."

lazy sloppy vampire lol

"You look kind of tired {PC}, you doing okay? Why don't you stop by the bar later? I can be your shoulder to cry on."

"Hey! You on break now? If you're super nice and you're gonna come chill with me now, put your hands up!"

"{PC}...were you just checking me out? Hey, it's all good, don't be embarrassed!"

"Oof, Ed popped out of nowhere so I accidentally touched him and he died again. Now I have to carry him all the way back to the dorm..."

i love the face he makes when he says this lmao like he is so tired of Ed's carelessness!

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"{PC}! Did you come here to see me first thing? No way! You just made my day!"

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Aw c'mon, Ed, what are you doing sleeping out here? Didn't you just take a nap, old man? You're gonna catch a cold!"

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Oh hey, it's {PC}! Can't believe I ran into you here, so random! Guess we've gotta go on a date now, huh? It's like, written in the stars!"

i love flirty characters like rui lolol just. there's always More Going On there. and Rui starts off with More right off the bat.

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"I can touch the plants as long as I have gloves on! I mean yeah, I'm pretty sure the same goes for people, but don't you think it'd be scary to test it out?"

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Come swing by the bar later! I'd rather watch a pretty face like yours while I work instead of a bunch of drunk guys."

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"What? Ed was praising my good looks? I mean he's right, right? People always tell me my face is my only redeeming feature!"

but rui works so hard!? who's saying that!!

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Oh sorry, I don't do the whole class thing! You go, I'm all good here!"

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Ouch! Aw man, that rose thorn just scratched my arm... Wait, nooo! My rose bushes are wilting!!"

it's so easy for him to accidentally kill anything lmaoooo

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Are you out here by yourself, {PC}? Isn't that like not super dangerous? ...Wait, did that make sense? Whatever, let me walk you back!"

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Sorry! A drunk customer broke a glass, so I'm cleaning it up! Everyone's a little pent-up lately, I guess."

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"Watering plants in the AM is such a mood lift, right? Whoa, everything's blooming like crazy out here! Better get my pruning shears."

it's a testament to how well he takes care of these plants that they grow super well in permanently-night Obscuary, i think. 8'D

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Huh? Look, you've got loose threads on your uniform. Give it to me, I'll fix it for you!"

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Hey, {PC}, did you eat yet? My door's always open! You can just stay the night after!"

damn already inviting you to stay over at affinity 13--just don't share the bed, you'll wake up super dead

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"(yawn) Wow, I am dead tired... but I've gotta take a shower, make breakfast, and do the laundry before those two sleepyheads get up."

it takes a real man to be a single mother. . . .

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"Oh hey, what's your poison? Wait, I mean, morning! Man, I tried to take my friend's drink order when we were hanging out yesterday too, occupational hazard I guess."

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"A mission? I'm good, thanks though! Oh hey, you should invite Lyca! He'd totally be into that!"

Lyca also probably needs them to pass the grade lol

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"No way, look at the time! Wish I could keep listening to you talk... Wanna stay over?"

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"Oh man, I'm sorry! I'm closing early, I've got plans with a friend tonight. It'd be awesome if you could come by tomorrow!"

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Congrats on making it through another day, {PC}! I seriously admire you for working so hard. You're not doing this all for me, are you?"

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"Morning! Whoa, you wanna help me with the housework, {PC}? It's all good, thanks though! The thought's more than enough for me."

c'mon, refusing help at affinity 20? let the pc be your little helper at least!

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Obscuary looks like it'd be full of downers, but it's actually pretty lively in there, right? Not gonna lie, I def prefer it that way."

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Lyca's an open book, but the flip side is he says the darndest things... I feel like watching him is bad for my heart..."

he talks so much about his teammates, he really is such a mom. . . .

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"My eyes are red? Huh, that's weird... Oh yeah, I was cutting onions just now when I was preparing the appetizers for the bar!"

. . .idk this is pretty high affinity. . .you were crying about something weren't you rui. . .or romeo paid you in weed and you were getting tweaked up in the back of the bar

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Oh, don't worry about me, I always sleep late! I'm down to chat till you drift off to dreamland."

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"Sometimes I wish I could've met you as a regular guy. I guess you wouldn't have given me the time of day if I had though, ahaha."

is it just me or. . .does it feel like he gets a little more distant as his affinity gets higher? like after affinity 17 it feels like he gets a little less flirty and a little more at arms length. . .like he knows his feelings are getting so strong that he might not be able to resist touching you, but he's too scared to do it even with the gloves on. . .so he tries to keep you a little further away. . .and then he admits it, he wishes he could be with you like a normal person, but if he were just some flirt in the street none of this would have ever happened. Poor Rui, he's cursed to be beloved but unable to give love how he wants in return.

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"Oh man, so nice... The weather's like perfect this time of year, right? Wish we could just chill like this forever."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Man, you wouldn't even know it was spring with how bleak it is in Obscuary! Aren't there any cuter anomalous plants out there?"

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"I feel like Ed's getting more senile every day... Maybe I should confiscate his tablet."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"So, what do you think of my spring-inspired cocktail? Almost as cute as you, right? I'm gonna add it to the menu!"

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"C'mon! It's summer, how can the sun never rise in Obscuary!? I wanna get a tan!"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"It's not summer if you don't hit the beach! I used to go all the time back when I surfed. And then I'd pick up girls on my way home... Just kidding, I promise!"

why 'just kidding' lolol you're not together! this relationship is not monogamous even if you were!

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Ta-da! I've got sparklers! Fireworks are fun and all, but there's something special about holding a light that only sparkles for a hot moment."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"It's so hot out, I bet the bar's gonna be a ghost town... Guess I'll send Harurin and Romi a PR message!"

reaching out to the local population of alcoholic ghouls to remind them to give him business lol

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"There's so many dead leaves this time of year, it's a nightmare keeping on top of them! But you can use them to make a fire and roast stuff. Gotta look on the brights!"

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Hey {PC}, when are you free? I have a date idea for us—a romantic walk to admire the fall leaves! I'll pack us a lunch!"

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Oh damn! You look so cute all bundled up like that, {PC}! We've gotta take a selfie together!"

direct contrast to romeo who sees you in winterwear and calls you a fat slug kekw

(between 8pm and 5am)

"That piano anomaly makes the soundtrack for the bar! The song picks really tug at the heartstrings, right?"

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"You're a little late today, huh? If you can't get up in the cold, I could be your alarm!"

just gotta be really loud since he'd be too afraid to touch you awake, since he actually wants you to y'know wake up--

(between 11am and 4pm)

"Oh man, how is Lyca so full of energy when it's this cold? You should take him to Frostheim and see if he runs around in the snow like a puppy."

rui pointing at lyca: that dog is my son please take care of him

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Nothing like winter to make you miss the warmth of human touch... Oh, I'm good! Just getting to talk like this is all I need!"

BBY WE ARE ALL BUNDLED UP. YOU CAN HUG YOU'VE BOTH PROBABLY GOT ON AT LEAST TWO LAYERS JUST DON'T TOUCH FACES.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"Here, this Rui-original hot cocktail will warm you up! I'll blow on it for you, free of charge!"

is this the next step after gamer bathwater. host club host breath.

His birthday: (March 14th)

"Yeah, it's my birthday today! Oh damn, you're gonna celebrate it with me!? No way, I'm like, super touched right now!!"

Your birthday:

"{PC}... Happy birthday!! C'mon, birthday girl, sit down and chill out! This is your day, you should take it easy!"

New Years: (January 1st)

"Happy New Year! Want to start the year off on a high and come on a shrine date with me?"

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"Oh damn, are these for me? My heart! Is this your way of professing your love to me? Do I have a shot here?"

White Day: (March 14th)

"Ta-da! Happy White Day! This is for you! What's inside? You've gotta open it and find out!"

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"Guess what!? I finally broke my curse! Let's hold hands... just kidding! April Fools!"

this feels more like a joke on him than on you. . .a mean one at that lol

Halloween: (October 31st)

"Happy happy happy Halloween!! Trick or treat! Obviously I'm picking trick, ahaha!"

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Merry Christmas, {PC}! Oh man, I must be like, super blessed to get to spend it with you!"

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Hey, hey, hey! We finally get to spend some time together, it's illegal to take your eyes off me!"

(13 affinity and above)

"{PC}? You seem kind of busy, guess I'll take this chance to get some work done…"

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"{PC}, you're back! I was worried you'd forgotten about me!!"

he's so flirty and clingy, but also he can't be clingy because he's scared you'll die if he touches you, even if he's wearing gloves. . .also surely your curse would cancel out his? Then again I'm sure a reaper i stronger than any other [living] anomaly out there. . . .

but. yeah. rui's a darling haha he just. he's another one of the 'i just wanna be a regular person, i wanna go back to normal' characters whose desire to just be a guy makes him special in a more fantastical world. i'm really looking forward to seeing the Obscuary chapter--probably like a month away, right? 'u'

[thepinkpanther83]

Hey, I was just curious if you would put all the chapters of "The Stray" together as an all-in-one, the way you did with "The Girl Next Door". Just for convenience's sake, you know? Because it's such a short story and all? If not, just ignore this message. I just thought I'd put the idea out there.

The Stray

Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

This is a short 4-chapter story, written for and inspired by my good friend @justalotoffanfiction.

This story is already posted on my Tumblr and AO3; this is just all of them posted together as one chapter to fulfill the Anony request above.

The story idea is my friend's, I just ran with it (with her consent 😘). Her blurb that inspired this story:

Find me on AO3.

Find this story on AO3.

Click "Keep Reading" below the cut to read. 😘

The Stray (Part 1)

Late Autumn, 1986

Eddie hadn’t meant to get involved. Not really. He just happened to be in the right place… no, the wrong place… at the right time. Outside the gas station just past Forest Hill, trying to coax his van into not dying completely, when he saw you.

At first, he didn’t even recognize you. You were hunched over near the payphone, arms wrapped tight around yourself despite the thin coat that clearly wasn’t yours. Too big, too worn, and not in a fashionable way. You looked small. Tired. Like you’d been crying for a long time but had run out of tears.

Then you looked up.

Recognition hit him like a jolt of electricity to the spine. “Shit.”

You were that sweet, pretty girl from his government class last year. Always polite, always with a smile when you passed him in the halls, even when no one else dared to. He remembered the boyfriend, too. Some golden boy from the track team with a temper that was anything but golden. Rumors swirled. Eddie always figured they were true, but never had proof.

Until now.

He didn’t even think before walking over, voice soft, eyes scanning for bruises. "Hey... you okay?"

You blinked at him, dazed, like you hadn’t even realized anyone was there. Your mouth opened, but no words came out. Just a soft noise, half apology, half relief.

"Alright," Eddie said gently, already taking off his denim jacket, "that’s a no. C’mon, sweetheart. You’re freezing."

You didn't argue.

By the time he got you home… his home… you’d said maybe ten words total. But it didn’t matter. Uncle Wayne was working the night shift again, and Eddie knew how to play nursemaid better than most people would think. He gave you a blanket, some dry clothes, and a mug of cocoa so sweet it was more sugar than chocolate.

You sat curled up on the far end of the couch, looking like a kicked puppy, while Eddie paced. Fuming. Not at you. At the asshole who had clearly left marks you were trying to hide.

"You don’t have to tell me anything," he finally said, rubbing a hand over his face. "But... if you want to stay here tonight… hell, longer… I’m not gonna kick you out. Wayne won’t either. Man’s a sucker for sad doe eyes and broken souls."

You looked up at him, startled.

Eddie grinned faintly. "That’s how he ended up with me, after all."

Wayne came home just past three in the morning. Eddie had fallen asleep in the recliner, a book half-open on his chest. You were still on the couch, curled into the blanket like you were trying to disappear. The TV buzzed softly with static.

Wayne stood in the doorway for a second, taking it in. Then he sighed, loud and fond.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “Another stray?”

You blinked awake, looking panicked, but he just gave you a small nod and trudged toward the kitchen for coffee. “S’alright, darlin’. You don’t gotta run. Just tell me you don’t eat like Eddie… boy puts ketchup on spaghetti.”

“One time!” Eddie groaned from the recliner, not even opening his eyes.

Wayne just chuckled, warm and easy, like it was the most natural thing in the world to find someone new asleep in their living room.

And maybe... maybe it was.

The Stray (Part 2)

(Morning After)

The sound of Wayne’s boots retreating down the porch steps faded into the hush of early morning. A thin thread of autumn light filtered through the kitchen curtains, dust motes drifting lazily in the air. The smell of coffee lingered, comforting and faintly bitter.

You stood barefoot on the tile, Eddie’s borrowed flannel swallowing your frame. It smelled like him: campfire, motor oil, and something sharp and clean that made your chest ache in a way you couldn’t quite name.

Eddie was across the kitchen, hunched over the stove with his hair tied back in a low, messy bun. He wore a pair of threadbare sweats and a vintage Metallica tee with a hole near the collar. His concentration was fixed on the frying pan in front of him on the stove.

"Are you actually cooking?" you asked, your voice still rough with sleep but lighter than it had been in days.

He looked up, startled, but pleasantly so. "I cook more than you’d think. Wayne taught me. Told me a man should know how to feed himself in case no one else will."

You gave a soft smile. "Smart man."

"Yeah," Eddie agreed, cracking an egg into the pan one-handed. He smirked at you over his shoulder. "Also thinks I’m a human raccoon who can survive off Pop-Tarts and rage alone, so… the jury’s still out."

You chuckled, and for the first time since yesterday, it wasn’t hollow.

Eddie turned the burner down and moved to pour you a cup of coffee. He held it out without a word. Your fingers brushed his when you took it, and neither of you pulled away for a second too long.

"Thanks," you murmured, curling your hands around the warmth of the mug.

Eddie leaned against the counter beside you, sipping his own coffee. The silence stretched between you, but not awkward, not tense, just soft. Like the whole trailer park was still waking up, and you were sharing the moment in quiet agreement.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked eventually, his voice low.

You shook your head slowly. "Not yet."

"Okay." He didn’t press. Just nodded like that was good enough. Like you were good enough, just as you were.

After a few sips of coffee, you nudged him gently with your elbow. "You didn’t have to let me stay, y’know."

"Didn’t even think about it," he said honestly. "Saw you there, lookin’ like the whole damn world sat on your chest. Couldn’t just walk away."

You looked down at your mug, cheeks warm. “Well… thanks for being a soft place to land.”

Eddie smiled then, soft and a little crooked. “Guess we’re both strays, huh?”

"Wayne’s gonna need a bigger house," you teased.

That made Eddie laugh, like really laugh, and the sound of it made something shift in your chest. Something old and scared, that hadn’t believed anyone would care enough to make you breakfast or let you cry on their couch.

Eddie noticed the shift too, the quiet glimmer of something in your eyes. He ducked his head, bashful all of a sudden. "Weird thing for me to say, but... I’m kinda glad you’re here."

You tilted your head, watching him carefully. "Even if I eat all your cereal and hog your blankets?"

He grinned. "Especially then. It means you're staying long enough to get comfortable."

Your heart stuttered at that. Not because it was a declaration, but because it wasn’t. It was something quieter. Kinder. The way someone looks at a scared animal and holds out a hand, palm up.

And for the first time in a long while, you thought maybe you could reach back.

The Stray (Part 3)

(Confrontation)

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the driveway, painting the gravel gold. You were out front, hanging clothes on the line, Wayne insisted it saved money and made things smell better than any dryer sheet ever could. It was peaceful. Healing. Quiet in a way your life hadn’t been in a long time.

Until the engine of a too familiar car growled into the drive.

Eddie was in the back, wiping oil off his hands, humming along to Dio on the tiny beat-up radio when he heard it. The rumble of tires on gravel. The slam of a car door. Voices… a voice. His voice.

And then yours. Caught between startled and small.

Eddie didn’t hesitate. He tossed the rag, wiped his palms once on his jeans, and strode toward the sound, his jaw already set.

You were on the porch, arms crossed over your chest, trying to shrink into the wood as your ex stood a step below you, hands gesturing, voice raised, not enough to yell, but loud enough that Eddie heard every bitter word.

“You think running off and playing house with the town freak is gonna fix your shit?” he sneered. “You really think he even cares about you? C’mon, babe. You need me. Who else is gonna put up with all your—”

“Hey!” Eddie’s voice cracked across the yard like a whip.

Both heads turned. Your ex scoffed. “Great. Here comes the white knight act.”

Eddie didn’t rise to it. Not with words.

He stepped up onto the porch, slipped in beside you, not touching you, not yet, but his body radiated warmth and certainty. Safety. His eyes didn’t leave the other man for a second.

“She told you to leave,” Eddie said flatly. He wasn’t sure if it was true, but he wanted him gone off his property.

“I’m not talking to you, freak.”

“Well, you’re on my porch,” Eddie snapped, his voice dropping into something dangerous. “In front of my house. Where she lives now. So yeah, you are.”

Your ex laughed, ugly and humorless. “What, you her boyfriend now?”

Eddie glanced at you for the briefest second, something unreadable in his eyes, but his answer came without hesitation.

“No. But I will be, if you keep giving her reasons to want better.”

Your ex stepped forward like he meant to puff himself up, but Eddie didn’t flinch. He smiled. A slow, sharp smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Let me tell you something, man,” Eddie said, voice low and cold. “You ever show up here again… talk to her like that again… I won’t just ask you to leave. I will make you.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Your ex looked between the two of you, realization dawning that whatever control he used to have over you was long gone. You weren’t flinching anymore. You were standing straighter now, eyes burning.

“Fuck this,” he muttered, turning toward the car.

Eddie watched him go. Watched the car kick up dust as it peeled down the road.

Only when the sound was gone did he look at you.

“You okay?” he asked, quiet now.

You nodded slowly, then looked at him with wide eyes. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” Eddie said. “Guy talks to you like that, he doesn’t deserve to know your name. Let alone think he still has a claim on you.”

You swallowed, blinking fast. The fight or flight had drained out of you all at once, leaving something tender and raw behind.

And then Eddie did touch you. Just a gentle brush of his fingers along your wrist. Nothing pushy. Nothing more than you could handle.

“Thanks,” you whispered.

Eddie smiled at you, like really smiled, and tucked a lock of your hair behind your ear. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s go inside. I think Wayne left us the last two cherry Pop-Tarts, and I feel like we’ve earned ’em.”

The Stray (Part 4)

(After the Storm)

Back inside the house, the silence felt like a warm blanket rather than an empty one. Eddie set the kettle on the stove, humming a tune under his breath as he grabbed a mug from the cabinet and popped the last two cherry Pop-Tarts into the toaster.

You stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms loosely wrapped around yourself, watching him. He looked so at home there, shirt rumpled, curls a little frizzy from the humidity, fingers still faintly stained with grease. And yet, he’d stood between you and the worst part of your past like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like he’d always do it.

Eddie glanced back and caught you looking.

“What?” he asked, grinning. “Do I have Pop-Tart crumbs on my face already?”

You let out a soft laugh and shook your head. “Just thinking.”

“Dangerous,” he teased. “What kind of thoughts?”

You hesitated for a beat, then stepped closer, sliding onto the stool across from him at the counter.

“I’ve never… had anyone stand up for me like that,” you admitted quietly. “Not my family. Not anyone I dated. It always felt like I had to deal with things alone.”

Eddie’s playful expression softened, his smile fading into something more serious.

“Well, you don’t have to anymore,” he said, voice gentle. “Not here. Not with me.”

The kettle started to whistle lowly, but neither of you moved. You just watched each other, the moment stretching, deepening.

“You always bring strays home?” you asked, lips twitching with the ghost of a smile.

Eddie chuckled, his eyes flickering with affection. “Only the ones worth keeping.”

The Pop-Tarts popped up, and he finally turned to grab them, sliding one onto a napkin and handing it to you.

“Thanks,” you murmured, fingers brushing his.

The touch lingered, just a moment too long to be casual.

You looked up at him, eyes searching his face. “What if… what if I want to stay?” Your voice was quiet but steady… sure. “Not just for now. Not just until I get on my feet. What if I want to be here… with you?”

Eddie’s brows lifted slightly, surprised, but the kind of surprised that comes with hope blooming behind his eyes.

“I’d like that,” he said softly. “A lot.”

You both stood there for a breathless second, that space between friendship and something more narrowing, pulling tighter around you.

And then… slowly, like he didn’t want to spook you… Eddie leaned in. His hand came to rest on your cheek, thumb brushing lightly against your skin. He paused a hair’s breadth away from your lips.

“Okay?” he asked, voice barely audible.

You nodded.

And when he kissed you, it wasn’t desperate or hurried. It was sweet, careful, like a promise: You’re safe here. You’re wanted. You matter.

When you finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against yours, and both of you smiled.

The kettle screamed louder behind him.

“Guess we forgot the tea,” you whispered.

“Later,” Eddie said, his thumb still brushing your cheek. “We’ve got time.”

Outside, the storm clouds had passed. Sunlight began filtering through the window, casting golden rays across the table, the walls, and the two of you standing in the middle of this quiet, imperfect house.

Home.

Who loves Eddie Munson, show of hands! 😂 Let me know if you want to be added to my tag list! @justalotoffanfiction, @yorshie, @jackalope-in-a-storm, @v1per1ne, @daveythorntonslocker, @cokepowder55, @kelsiegrin, @ash-stardust, @meankenna, @kellsck, @chronicles-of-koystee, @micheledawn1975, @fckyeahlames, @cantstandya2000

Masterlist

[bishovapls]

Hold On - Part 5: All you gotta do is say please, baby.

Pairing: Yelena Belova & Kate Bishop

Chapter Summary: Kate and Yelena are finally heading back to New York, but not before Clint calls Kate out on the real reason she came to Iowa in the first place. The journey home is slow and weighed down by tough conversations and emotions, but they manage to lean on each other through it. And when Yelena’s surprise is finally revealed, Kate’s way of saying thank you turns the moment into something neither of them will forget.

Warnings: Mentions of a previous suicide attempt, Red Room training/abuse flashbacks and thoughts, hysterectomy, very brief allusions to sexual abuse in the Red Room, and smut (It is pretty soft tbh).

A/N: It has taken me so long to get this chapter out, ahh. I’ve written and rewritten it so many times, I just couldn’t get the flow right, and I still don’t feel like it’s fully there. Originally, this chapter was so much longer, but I had to cut it down, and I don’t think it helped with the flow at all. Also, my girlfriend currently has me acting as Bob the Builder, fixing stuff up around the house ready for her guests that will be here next week, so I really needed to stop obsessing over this. It’s being posted as-is, and I really hope it’s good enough😅.

Also, we all know Google Translate loves to mess things up, so if any of the Russian is off, just pretend you didn’t see it.

Word count: 15k

Part 5 begins below the cut, you can also find the fic on AO3. I also have a masterlist.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Since the rather awkward but well-meaning ‘shovel talk’ with the Bartons, Yelena and Kate had ended up staying at the Barton family farm for an entire week longer than originally planned. What had been intended as a few days of refuge had quietly extended itself into something far gentler, far warmer, than either of them had expected. There was something disarmingly soothing about the rhythm of life on the farm, the quiet hum of daily chores, the wide-open skies, and the simple, grounding presence of people who truly cared. It gave them both a rare chance to breathe, to just exist for a while without the weight of New York pressing down on their shoulders.

But while it had seemed, from the outside, like they were merely resting, Yelena had been anything but idle. Beneath her calm exterior, she had been working tirelessly, almost obsessively, with Sonya and their trusted legal contact to untangle the complicated mess that Kate’s life had become in the wake of her mother’s downfall. Eleanor Bishop’s surrender of her assets had been swifter and more complete than anyone could have anticipated. Every account, every share, every property, Eleanor had signed them all over, as though ridding herself of a burden too heavy to carry. It felt almost too easy, and Kate, naturally, had been suspicious.

More than once, she had shot Yelena a wary glance over her laptop screen, voicing her concern in cautious, half-whispered words. "Lena, are we... sure this is legal?" she had asked, worry creasing her brow. But Yelena, who had seen far murkier corners of the world, had only given her that quietly assured look and a faint smile, saying softly, “Trust me, detka (babe).” And Kate had, because Yelena had become the one person in the world Kate trusted without hesitation, even when it made her stomach twist with nerves.

So now, officially, Kate had it all. More money than she would ever need, full ownership of Bishop Securities, and the penthouse. But while the money and the company had been practical victories, the penthouse remained a heavy weight chained to her chest. Yelena could see it in her eyes every time the topic came up, that tightness in her expression, the way her lips would press together just a little too firmly, like she was swallowing back the memories it dredged up. Memories of her mother, of loneliness, of a life that no longer felt like her own.

What Kate didn’t know, however, was that Yelena had been working quietly, almost obsessively, behind the scenes to fix that as well. She had spent stolen moments on hushed phone calls, slipping away under the guise of errands or casual strolls, laying the groundwork for a surprise that she hoped would soften Kate’s return to the city. She had no intention of letting Kate step back into a place that made her heart ache. 

As for the two of them, well, their fledgling relationship had blossomed into something far sweeter, far steadier, than either had dared hope. They were almost inseparable now, moving through the days with a natural, easy closeness that felt like breathing. When Yelena wasn’t off plotting her secret surprise, she and Kate spent nearly every moment together, as if making up for all the time they had lost to danger and uncertainty.

Every night, without fail, they curled up together in bed, their bodies instinctively gravitating toward one another. Yelena, despite her usual bravado, had slipped quite happily into the role of little spoon, tucking herself securely against Kate’s chest, as if Kate alone could keep the world at bay. Kate never once complained. She held Yelena close like she was something fragile and precious, pressing absent-minded kisses to her hair as they drifted off to sleep.

On the two nights that Kate’s nightmares resurfaced, Yelena didn't let her face them alone. She would sit up, bleary-eyed but determined, and throw on a movie until the shadows retreated from Kate’s mind. They’d stay awake together, wrapped in each other’s arms beneath the dim glow of the laptop screen, until exhaustion finally pulled them under.

But it wasn’t just the quiet, intimate moments that wove them closer. Their days had become something out of a dream. They tried everything the countryside could offer, throwing themselves into each moment with reckless abandon. When they weren’t in school, Clint’s kids had roped them into backyard games that became rambunctious affairs since Yelena, competitive to the bone, was determined not to let anyone, not even a child, beat her at capture the flag. 

Kate, of course, took this as a challenge, and the two of them ended up diving across the grass, tangled together in breathless laughter as Lucky barked encouragement from the sidelines.

They spent sunny afternoons sprawled out on blankets beneath the wide, open sky, making daisy chains and pretending not to care who could make the longest one, though both of them absolutely did. 

There were early mornings too, when Kate would let herself be coaxed out of bed just to watch the sun rise over the fields. She’d grumble the whole way, burying her face in Yelena’s shoulder, but the moment the sky blushed pink and gold, she’d quietly admit it was worth it. Yelena would kiss her temple in reply, smiling into her hair, and Kate’s complaints would fade into contented silence.

Their walks turned into playful races, always ending with them breathless and triumphant, collapsing into the long grass and staring up at the sky as if they had all the time in the world. Clint and Laura watched them from a distance with soft smiles, seeing not just two young women who had survived too much, but two people who, finally, were learning how to live.

It wasn’t perfect. There were still shadows that lingered at the edges, ghosts of fear and memory they hadn’t yet outrun. But, for the first time in what felt like forever, they’d found something that resembled home, a fragile, precious thing that made them believe, even if only quietly, that they could build something lasting. And that was exactly why, eventually, it had to end. 

They couldn’t stay with the Bartons forever. They had lives waiting for them, roads that needed to be walked. Kate had a business to mend, a city to reclaim, and Yelena had sisters to free, a mission that still burned bright beneath her ribs. As comforting as it was to stay wrapped in the warmth of family, borrowed as it was, they knew deep down it couldn’t last.

So, over breakfast on a sleepy Sunday morning, Kate finally broke the news. She set down her coffee cup and, with a quiet kind of resolve, told the Bartons they’d be leaving that evening. It felt heavy and right all at once.

Later, as they were packing, Clint appeared in the doorway of what had become Kate’s room, and now, unmistakably, Yelena’s too. He lingered for a second, awkward, almost like he didn’t know where to place himself. His fingers tapped against the doorframe before he spoke, a nervous edge to his voice.

“Kate,” he began, clearing his throat, eyes flicking between her and Yelena. “Could we, uh… could we talk? You know… privately? Before you go?”

Kate blinked, caught off guard. A flicker of worry pinched at her brow. Why couldn’t Yelena hear this too? What did he need to say that wasn’t for both of us? But still, she nodded, a tight little motion, and set down the jumper she’d been folding. With a glance at Yelena, she followed Clint out of the room, her heart thudding a little faster than before.

They had made their way to the dining table, and Clint had wordlessly set a cup of coffee in front of Kate. They sat across from one another, the space between them somehow vast and suffocating all at once. The silence felt brittle, stretched too thin, and Clint’s discomfort was obvious in the way his gaze darted to the window, to the table, to anything but her. He seemed to struggle with where to begin, the words knotting in his throat.

“Clint… what is it?” Kate’s voice cracked as she tried to make it sound lighter, a nervous little chuckle slipping through her lips, though it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest. “You’re scaring me.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, his brows pulling together as he exhaled a long, shaky breath. When he looked back at her, there was something fragile in his expression, something that made her stomach twist.

“I know you’re probably not going to want to hear this,” he began, his voice rough and uneven, tripping over the weight of his own words. “But I need you to understand… I wouldn’t bring it up if I weren’t worried. I am worried. I just…I need to be sure you’re going to be okay.”

The moment the words left him, her heart lurched to her throat. Her breath caught, brittle and sharp, and her hands instinctively curled around the warm mug in front of her, as if it could somehow ground her.

“Laura told you,” she whispered, her voice barely there, a hollow breath against the growing storm inside her chest. It wasn’t a question, it didn’t need to be. She felt her pulse thunder in her ears, anxiety clawing its way up like a rising tide.

Clint gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. His eyes were glassy, rimmed red as he swallowed against the swell of emotion. “She did,” he admitted, his voice tight. “She was worried, Kate. You’re going back there, and last time, you just…” He faltered, his breath catching as he tried to gather the words that had been gnawing at him. “You cut us off. Completely. And I thought—” his voice broke, and he pressed his lips together for a beat, forcing the lump in his throat down. “I thought we made it clear you mattered to us. I thought you knew how much you mattered. I’m so sorry, Kate. We should’ve made it clear.”

Kate’s eyes stung with unshed tears as she shook her head, her chest aching. She could see him fighting against the tears clouding his vision, see the cracks in his usually steady composure.

“Clint,” she breathed, her voice trembling, “stop. Please. Don’t apologise. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She swallowed hard, her throat raw. “I knew you cared. I always did. It’s just… God, Clint, it wasn’t about that. No matter what you or Laura said, or did, or tried… it felt like time. I didn’t see any other way. I didn’t plan to stay, no matter what.”

Her confession hung heavy in the air between them, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, a single tear slipped free down Clint’s cheek, his breath shuddering as he blinked hard, like he could will the rest away.

“We could’ve lost you, Kate,” he rasped, his voice thick with grief and fear that hadn’t eased with time. His fingers curled into fists on the table. “We could’ve lost you and I—” He stopped himself, shook his head as if the thought alone was too much to bear. “I don’t want you to go back to New York,” he said hoarsely. “We don’t want you to go. You’re safe here. You’re safe with us.”

His voice cracked on the last word, and Kate’s lips parted, but the words tangled in her throat, caught between the crushing guilt and the fragile tenderness of what Clint was saying. 

Her eyes burned, and she blinked fast, but it did nothing to stop the tears that blurred her vision. She hated this feeling, this raw exposure, this vulnerability that made her feel like her chest had been split wide open, but more than that, she hated how right he was. How much it hurt to hear the truth spoken out loud.

“I know,” she rasped, her voice unsteady as she pushed the words free. “I know you don’t want me to go. And maybe part of me doesn’t want to either.” Her hands tightened around the mug, knuckles pale. “But I can’t hide here forever, Clint. I can’t stay safe in this house and pretend like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, forcing back the sob that clawed at her chest. “I have to face it. I have to try, even if it’s terrifying. Even if I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

Clint’s eyes searched hers, as if he could somehow shoulder the weight of her fears if he just looked hard enough. “You are strong enough,” he said, his voice rough but certain. “But you don’t have to do it alone, Katie. You never have to do it alone again.”

Her heart clenched painfully at the nickname, at the way he said it like she was still that same stubborn, reckless girl who followed him into danger without thinking. She let out a shaky breath, and a tear slipped free, trailing down her cheek. “I’m not alone,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Not anymore.”

As if summoned by her words, there was a soft sound behind them, a light, almost hesitant knock against the doorframe. Kate turned her head, blinking through her tears to see Yelena standing there. She looked out of place in the doorway, her usual sharp confidence softened by something gentler, more uncertain. Her gaze flicked between them, lingering on Kate’s tear-streaked face, her brows knitting with quiet concern.

“Am I interrupting?” Yelena asked, though her voice was quiet, and it was obvious she already knew the answer. “I just…I had a feeling and wanted to check...”

Kate’s chest tightened at the sight of her, at the warmth and the worry in her eyes. She shook her head, her breath catching in her throat. “No,” she managed, her voice breaking. “No, you’re not.”

Clint followed her gaze, and something in his expression shifted, a realisation, a kind of fragile relief. He cleared his throat and wiped at his cheek with the back of his hand, trying to pull himself together. “Never,” he said hoarsely. “Because I think you’re part of this too.”

Yelena stepped further into the room, her eyes never leaving Kate. Without needing to be asked, she came to her side, her presence grounding and steady. She didn’t say anything right away, just placed a gentle hand on Kate’s shoulder, her thumb brushing in quiet circles against her skin. It was such a small gesture, but it sent a wave of warmth through Kate’s chest, steadying the storm just a little.

Kate exhaled shakily, leaning into the touch. “I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “I’m so scared.”

Yelena’s brows softened, and she crouched slightly so she could meet Kate’s eyes, her hand never leaving her shoulder. “I know,” she said simply. “But you do not have to be scared alone.”

There was no hesitation in her words, no uncertainty. Just quiet, unwavering resolve. And somehow, it was exactly what Kate needed to hear.

Clint watched them for a moment longer, his own heart aching, but there was a glimmer of comfort in his gaze now. He could see it,  the way Kate’s breathing had steadied, the way her shoulders had relaxed beneath Yelena’s touch. She wasn’t alone. Not anymore.

“You’ve got people in your corner, Katie,” Clint said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “You always will.”

Kate breathed out slowly, she felt herself slowly, gently, start to unravel, not in the way she used to, not like she was falling apart, but like she was letting the walls down at last, brick by careful brick. Her eyes, still glassy with tears, drifted from Yelena’s steady, grounding presence back to Clint, whose expression had softened into something achingly familiar. Protective. Warm. Family.

Without thinking, she reached across the table and took his hand. Clint’s eyes flickered in surprise, but his fingers curled around hers almost immediately, rough and calloused but comforting all the same. 

For a moment, they just sat there like that. No one spoke. No one needed to. The sunlight filtered in weakly through the window, catching on the glisten of Kate’s tears, on the rough edges of Clint’s worry, and the silent protectiveness in Yelena’s gaze. 

Clint was the first to break the quiet, “You promise you’ll call?” he asked, and despite himself, his voice cracked at the end of the sentence.

Kate gave a soft, trembling laugh through her own tears. “I promise,” she said. Then she tilted her head towards Yelena with a teasing edge that didn’t quite hide the affection beneath it. “Actually, you’ll probably be begging me to stop calling. We’re gonna annoy you so much.”

Yelena, catching on immediately, flashed the smallest, mischievous smile. “I will make sure she calls every day,” she said, deadpan. “Maybe two times. Possibly three. Don’t worry, Barton, I will make sure you are stuck with her. ”

Kate let out a wet laugh, her chest tightening with something warm and golden, and Clint chuckled low in his throat, shaking his head like he already knew they weren’t joking. “I’ll take it,” he said, voice thick with emotion, a tearful smile breaking through. “As long as it means she doesn’t disappear on me again.”

“I won’t let her,” Yelena said quickly, her tone still light but threaded with quiet certainty. “I mean, I know where she lives. She has no chance of disappearing, not on my watch. I’ll keep an eye on her, like a… hawk.” Her smirk lingered, the joke deliberate with two Hawkeyes right there, but beneath the mischief was something steadier, an unspoken promise, offered straight to Clint. She would be there. Kate wouldn’t be alone again. Not if Yelena had anything to say about it.

Kate rolled her eyes at the truly terrible joke, but Clint didn’t flinch. He saw it for what it was and nodded, a soft smile tugging at his lips. He trusted Yelena, trusted her word, regardless of her past or the fact that she was a Widow trained to deceive. None of that mattered. What mattered was the way she looked at Kate, the way she spoke with quiet conviction. Clint knew, deep down, that Yelena cared. Really cared. And she wouldn’t let Kate slip away without a fight.

They stayed like that for a little while longer, but eventually, Laura drifted into the room too, sensing the quiet aftermath of emotion, and she said nothing at first. She simply crossed to Clint’s side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, her gaze soft and full of understanding as she took in the scene.

Yelena was the one who broke the moment, lifting her hand to gently nudge Kate’s cheek with her knuckles, wiping away the last of her tears. “Come,” she said softly. “We still have packing to do.”

Kate swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. She rose from her chair, giving Clint’s hand one final squeeze before letting go, and Clint caught her in a rough, protective hug that she gladly melted into. He held her tightly for a moment, and when they pulled apart, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“You’ll always have a place here,” he said, his voice thick. “Always.”

Kate didn’t trust her voice to work, so she just nodded, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. Yelena, standing close at her side, brushed her fingers along Kate’s arm before lacing their hands together as they stepped away from the table. 

-----

As they moved to finish packing, there was a softness in the air between them, a quiet understanding that no matter how heavy this moment felt, they were not carrying it alone. Yelena kept close to Kate’s side as they gathered her things, not in the way of someone hovering, but as though she were quietly anchoring Kate, offering her steadiness without words, her presence a silent promise: You’re not alone in this.

Downstairs, the Barton kids were waiting, lingering in the living room like they didn’t quite know what to do with themselves. Lila was twisting a hair tie around her fingers, her eyes red-rimmed though she tried to mask it with a brave, lopsided smile. Cooper stood awkwardly near the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets, while Nathaniel clung to his mother’s hand, his gaze solemn.

Kate’s chest ached at the sight of them. She swallowed hard against the lump rising in her throat and managed a small smile as she stepped forward, her bag slung over her shoulder. “Hey, guys,” she said softly, her voice catching just a little.

“You sure you have to go?” Lila asked, her voice wobbly but determined. She tried to play it off with a lightness that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I mean, we were finally getting you trained for family game night.”

Kate let out a breathy laugh, even as her vision blurred with tears. She set her bag down for a moment and crossed to Lila, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you so much,” she whispered, her voice raw with honesty.

Lila clung back fiercely, like she never wanted to let go. “I already miss you,” she whispered back.

When they parted, Cooper was already stepping forward, his usual cool composure cracked at the edges. He didn’t say anything at first, just pulled Kate into a quick, awkward hug that lingered longer than expected. “Don’t be a stranger, okay?” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

“I won’t,” Kate promised, her throat tight.

Nathaniel, still holding Laura’s hand, looked up at her with wide, earnest eyes. “Will you come back for Christmas?” he asked, his voice so small, so hopeful, it nearly broke her heart.

Kate crouched down to his level, brushing a hand through his hair gently. “Of course,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Then, to her surprise, Nathaniel turned shyly toward Yelena, his gaze flicking between her and his mother as though unsure if it was okay. Laura gave him a gentle nudge, and he stepped forward. Without a word, he wrapped his little arms around Yelena in a spontaneous, childlike hug.

Yelena froze, blinking down at him as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening. Her arms hovered in the air, stiff and unsure, before she awkwardly lowered them and rested her hands on his back, her touch gentle but uncertain. She glanced at Kate, a flicker of bewilderment in her eyes, but Kate just offered her a small, encouraging smile.

When Nathaniel let go, Lila stepped up next. “You’re family now, too, you know,” she said, her voice wobbling with emotion. Without waiting for a response, she threw her arms around Yelena’s waist, squeezing tightly.

This time, Yelena’s arms came up a little more naturally, hesitantly at first, then with growing warmth as she let herself return the hug properly. Something unfamiliar bloomed in her chest, sharp, aching, but not unpleasant. She didn’t know what to say, but Lila didn’t seem to need words.

Even Cooper, awkward and a bit shy, gave her a quick, one-armed hug before stepping back, clearing his throat like he wasn’t entirely sure how to handle his own emotions.

Yelena, blinking in astonishment, could only nod, her throat tight with things she didn’t know how to express.

Laura stepped forward then, her gaze soft but steady, and for a moment, Yelena thought she might simply offer a nod of farewell. But instead, Laura’s arms wrapped around her in a warm, full embrace, with no hesitation at all.

And Yelena… melted. Her breath caught in her chest as she felt something inside her crack wide open, something old and defensive and brittle. She sank into the hug without thinking, her hands clutching the back of Laura’s sweater, her eyes fluttering shut as she allowed herself, just for a heartbeat, to be held, to feel it. No tactics, no calculation. Just warmth.

Laura’s voice was quiet in her ear. “You take care of her,” she murmured, full of quiet strength. “And yourself, okay?”

Yelena’s reply was immediate, fierce and true. “I will,” she said, her voice rough.

Laura stepped towards Kate next, her gaze soft but steady as she pulled Kate into a firm hug. She didn’t say anything at first, just held her tight, as though that could say everything she needed. When she finally spoke, her voice was warm and low in Kate’s ear. “You’re always welcome here. Any time, for any reason.”

“I know,” Kate whispered, blinking back fresh tears. “Thank you… for everything.”

With the goodbyes nearly said, Kate and Yelena turned to Clint one last time. He stood by the door, arms crossed over his chest like he was trying to hold himself together. His eyes were red but proud, a complicated mix of emotions etched across his face.

Kate crossed to him, and without a word, they wrapped each other in a tight embrace. It wasn’t a quick hug, or one of obligation,  it was long, full of everything they couldn’t quite say aloud. Gratitude. Fear. Love. Hope. 

When they finally drew apart, Clint’s hands stayed steady on her shoulders, grounding her. His eyes were misted but unwavering, the kind of look that made promises without needing to be loud about it.

“Remember what I said,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “There’s nowhere too far, no hour too late. You need us, Kate, you call. You will call. Don’t shut us out again.”

Her throat tightened, but she nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “I will,” she said, and she meant it with every bruised, mending piece of her.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Clint turned toward Yelena, his expression softening. For a beat, she thought he might offer only a nod or a handshake, something safe, something she expected.

But instead, Clint stepped forward and pulled her into a firm, rough-edged hug. Yelena’s eyes widened in surprise, her body stiffening instinctively, not knowing how to respond. But as Clint held her, solid and sure, something within her eased, and she found herself returning the embrace, albeit a little awkwardly.

“You’re stuck with us now,” he said gruffly, his voice thick with feeling. “Whether you like it or not.”

Yelena huffed a quiet, unsteady breath that might have been a laugh, blinking fast against a sudden sting behind her eyes. “I like it,” she admitted, so quietly she wasn’t even sure she’d said it out loud.

Finally, with her bag slung back over her shoulder and Yelena and Lucky at her side, Kate made her way to the door. She paused on the threshold, her eyes sweeping over the familiar walls, the family that had become her own, the place that had caught her when she was at her lowest. She felt Yelena’s hand slip into hers, grounding her, and she tightened her grip like it was a lifeline.

With one last lingering look, Kate stepped outside. The air was cool and fresh, carrying with it the promise of something new. Yelena followed close beside her, their hands still entwined, with Lucky trotting beside them as they walked toward the car waiting at the edge of the drive.

-----

The car ride was quiet at first. Not tense, just still, like the whole world had exhaled and now sat in that long, lingering breath before anything else could be said. The hum of the engine was the only sound for a while, and even that felt hushed beneath the weight of everything they’d just left behind.

Kate sat slouched in the passenger seat, her forehead resting near the window. She wasn’t watching the scenery so much as letting it blur past, grey trees and fading light bleeding together as if the world outside were holding its breath too. Her fingers worked absently at the zipper of her coat, tugging it up and down in small, repetitive motions. Her eyes were distant, not quite teary, but heavy with the kind of sadness that sat deep in the chest, the kind that didn’t need an excuse anymore.

Yelena didn’t speak. She kept her eyes on the road, both hands on the wheel, but her attention was split, always aware of the woman beside her. She didn’t know what Kate needed yet: space, comfort, or distraction? Yelena had never been good at guessing with emotions, so instead she just tried to be steady, solid. Present.

But her mind wasn’t quiet. The warmth of the Barton household still clung to her like something she didn’t know how to wear, too soft, too kind, like slipping into borrowed clothes. It had all left a strange, aching feeling in her chest. Not bad. Just unfamiliar.

Every so often, Yelena flicked her gaze sideways, sneaking glances at Kate when she thought she wouldn’t notice. She watched the way Kate’s shoulders curled in on themselves, how her forehead leaned just a little toward the glass, like she needed the coolness against her skin to keep from fraying at the edges.

“You okay?” Yelena asked at last, her voice low and softer than usual, careful not to disturb the fragile peace between them.

Kate didn’t look at her. She blinked slowly, lashes thick and heavy. Her voice came a moment later, quiet and thin around the edges. “I think so. Just…” Her shoulders lifted in a half-hearted shrug. “It hurts. Saying goodbye to something that felt like home.”

Yelena nodded slowly, her jaw tightening. “It is home,” she said, simply. 

Kate exhaled a soft chuckle, the kind that wasn’t really a laugh, just the sound of something caught in her throat. “Not anymore,” she murmured, her voice fragile, barely audible. “I guess, I knew it couldn’t last, but I let myself pretend it could.”

Yelena’s throat tightened at the words, the weight of them settling over her like a familiar ache. She understood how it was easier to hold on to something, even if you knew it was slipping through your fingers. The pretending was comforting. The hope, however fragile, was easier than facing the emptiness. She wanted to say it out loud, but the words felt foreign, trapped somewhere between Russian and English, like they couldn’t fully exist in either language.

Instead, Yelena reached across the centre console, her movements slow, deliberate. Her fingers brushed against Kate’s lightly, just a touch, an unspoken question, a quiet offer. When Kate didn’t pull away, Yelena’s fingers curled into hers, tentative but warm, like the simple act of holding on to something could bridge the space between them.

Their fingers fit together as if they had done it a thousand times, a natural closeness that spoke louder than words ever could. Kate turned toward her then, just a little, her eyes searching Yelena’s face, as if bracing herself for a truth she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.

Yelena kept her gaze ahead, focusing on the road, but her voice, when it came, was calm, like she was setting something delicate and important between them, something fragile, but real. “For so long, home to me was just… a place,” she said, her voice quiet, the words wrapped in layers of thought. “Walls, furniture, somewhere to sleep. You know? But... that’s not home. Home is the people. It’s the feeling. The safety. The knowing you’re protected, you’re not alone.”

Kate didn’t say anything, but her posture shifted slightly, her shoulders relaxing a fraction, as if the words were reaching her slowly, like the warmth of sunlight breaking through clouds. Yelena’s words, though soft, held weight; they were not just comforting, but profound, the kind of wisdom earned from loss and quiet reflection.

Yelena breathed in again, her gaze still fixed ahead. “And trust me, Kate… I was young, but I remember how it felt to lose everything. To lose Ohio, to lose home. It’s not something you forget. So I know how you’re feeling. I know how your mind is loud with the dark thoughts, that they’re telling you that you have nothing left again.”

Kate blinked hard, her lips pressing together, the rawness of the words hitting deeper than she expected. She wanted to respond, to say something, but the knot in her throat tightened.

Yelena’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, not in a hurry, just a steady, grounding presence. “But that’s not true,” she said, her tone firming, but still gentle, as if she was holding Kate’s heart in her hands and didn’t want to break it. “You still have a home, Kate. You still have Clint. And the Bartons. They are your home. Even if they’re not with you right now. They’re still there. They’re a part of you, and that doesn’t change because you’re not in the same place.”

Kate’s gaze flicked to Yelena, and for the first time since they’d left, she found herself meeting her eyes, searching, trying to find the truth there. Her breath caught in her chest, a slight tremor in her fingers as she held Yelena’s hand.

“You just have to let them stay,” Yelena said gently, her voice laced with something ancient and quiet and steady, not just comfort, but the kind of truth you only speak after surviving its opposite. “Don’t shut them out, Kate. Don’t let the physical location convince you that you’ve lost your home. You still have a home. That part of your life is still yours. They are still yours.”

Kate didn’t respond right away. Her gaze dropped to their hands, still lightly joined, resting between them, their fingers twined so naturally it felt like they’d never learned how to be apart. There was something sacred in the simplicity of it. The warmth of Yelena’s skin, the stillness between them, the way their hands just… fit. And yet, her voice, when it came, was small and hesitant, barely above a breath. “You… you’re saying them,” she said softly. “You’re still mine, right?”

Yelena let out a quiet laugh, more of a gentle exhale through her nose, not mocking, more like she was amused by how unnecessary the question felt to her. “I think I’ve made that very clear, no?” she said, giving Kate’s hand a tender squeeze. “I’m yours. Even in New York. I will be there. Maybe not in the same way… maybe in a slightly different capacity, but still there.”

That last part made Kate’s stomach turn, something unpleasant curling in her chest. She shifted to face her more fully, brows drawing together. “Different capacity?” she repeated, her voice laced with a sudden unease. A thread of panic began to wind its way through her ribs. “But… you said you didn’t have to take contracts. You said you could stay. We worked it all out! You said you’d stay, Yelena. You promised.” Her voice cracked as it rose, urgency bleeding through. “You said you wouldn’t leave.”

Yelena glanced at her quickly, guilt flickering across her face before she looked back at the road. “Hey, hey, malyshka (baby)…shhh. I’m not leaving, okay?” she said carefully, her voice calm but firm. “I’ll be in New York. I just meant things will be different now. We won’t be living together anymore, not like at the Bartons.”

Kate froze, breath catching. “Wait… what?” she said, blinking hard. “Why wouldn’t we live together?”

Yelena looked at her, startled by the question, genuinely confused. “Because…” she said slowly, choosing her words with care, “that’s not the custom, is it? People don’t usually live together unless they are family, or married, or something more formal. I just assumed you would want to wait.” She gave a small, helpless shrug. “I was trying to respect that.”

And it hit Kate then, sharp and sudden, a wave of aching clarity crashing over her. Yelena wasn’t pulling away because she wanted distance. She wasn’t looking for an exit. She just didn’t understand that she already belonged there, that Kate didn’t need her to wait, didn’t want her to step back out of politeness or cultural confusion. Yelena was just trying to honour boundaries she didn’t realise didn’t exist.

Kate let out a breath, half sob, half laugh, thick with feeling. “Yelena,” she said, her voice trembling under the weight of something she couldn’t hold back anymore, “it’s not customary to fall in love with the person who tried to kill your mentor either… but I did.”

She hadn’t planned to say it, hadn’t even known it was coming. But the moment it left her mouth, something irreversible shifted in the air around them.

Yelena went still. Every muscle in her body locked up, her spine snapping straight like a string had been yanked. Her hand, still resting loosely in Kate’s, twitched violently then recoiled. Not with force. Not with intent. Just instinct. Sharp, sudden, automatic. Her body reacting before her mind could catch up.

And Kate felt it. The loss of that touch, that small, steady tether, was like ice water rushing over her skin.

Yelena didn’t speak. Didn’t look at her. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead, wide and unfocused, her breath starting to come faster in shallow little pulls. Her shoulders curved inwards slightly, her posture folding in on itself like she was trying to become smaller or bracing for something invisible, something inevitable.

Because in her head, something had already struck. The Red Room wasn’t just a memory, it was a sensation. It was present. It was there in the cold that settled along her spine, in the tightening of her jaw, in the way her heart screamed danger at the idea of being loved. Love had never been something she was allowed to keep. From the moment they’d taken her, she’d been taught that love was weakness. That it would cost her everything.

She remembered the beatings, girls forced to kneel while their bodies were broken for even looking too long at someone with softness in their eyes. She remembered the punishments for loyalty, for comfort, for friendship. And worst of all, she remembered Natasha. The one person she had ever let herself love, and the way it had ended. In death. In unbearable, unfixable loss.

The problem was, Yelena knew she was in love, not in theory, not as some distant concept, but in the quiet, intimate moments that made up life with Kate. She felt it every time Kate touched her without hesitation, every time she laughed mid-argument or dozed off with her head on Yelena’s shoulder like she trusted her with everything. She knew. But she refused to name it. She’d dressed it up as care, loyalty, fondness, softer words, safer ones. Even when Laura had called it what it was, gently and without judgment, Yelena had sidestepped it. Because naming it made it real. Naming it made it dangerous.

Yelena had promised herself she wouldn’t make the same mistake as Natasha. That was why she’d allowed this, allowed herself to have Kate, allowed herself to have them. She’d chosen not to run. She understood now that survival didn’t mean cutting herself off from feeling.

But understanding wasn’t the same as saying it. Actually putting a name to the feeling, and acknowledging it out loud was something else entirely. That word still lit up all the old wires in her brain, still made her skin feel too tight, her chest pound and her body ache. 

But now Kate had said it, and that meant she was loved. It meant it was real. It meant she had something to lose. And no matter how much she wanted it, how much she already had it, the moment the word was spoken, something in her buckled. Because once it was named, it couldn’t be stuffed back into a box.

She didn’t even notice her hand rising to her neck, didn’t register her fingers digging into the pressure points, not hard enough to bruise, but tight. Pressing. Containing. Controlling. Squeezing like she could choke the emotion down, shove it back into the depths where it couldn’t hurt her. 

Until she felt Kate’s hand. 

Kate had reached out, her fingers curling lightly over Yelena’s, gently pulling her hand away from her neck. No pressure. No force. Just touch. Just presence.

“I’m not asking you to say it,” Kate whispered. “I never even meant to… but I’m not going to take it back, Yelena.  And I get it, this is new. Just… take your time.”

Yelena’s eyes flicked to her, and for a moment, she looked lost, undone in a way she rarely allowed herself to be. Her breathing was uneven, eyes glassy and wide, lips parted but unable to form words.

When she finally spoke, her voice was low and hoarse and broken at the edges. “I feel it too,” she whispered, avoiding the words she was still too afraid to say.

Kate smiled, a smile so full of quiet understanding. “I know,” she said simply, like that was enough. “It’s okay.”

And somehow, that warmth in Kate’s gaze anchored Yelena, not like a rescue, not like a cure, but like a rope tied around her waist in the middle of a raging storm. Just enough to keep her tethered. Just enough to remind her she wasn’t lost.

The silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but delicate. Yelena had turned the music on low, some indie playlist Kate had made, and was humming faintly along now, her body just a touch looser, her jaw no longer clenched. It looked almost like peace.

But Kate couldn't sit still, a question burned a hole behind her teeth. She tried not to speak. Tried to let it pass like she always did. Eventually, she couldn’t hold it back.

“Lena?” she asked softly, cautiously, after a few minutes.

Yelena flicked her gaze over, eyebrow arched in quiet acknowledgement. “Hmm?”

Kate took a steadying breath, her voice careful. “I wanted to ask you something. I’ve seen it a few times now, and I know I probably shouldn’t… I mean, I get that it’s not my place, maybe it’s just a thing you do and I’m overthinking…I just… if it’s important, I don’t want to keep ignoring it. And you don’t always like talking about things, which is okay, but—”

“Kate,” Yelena interrupted, gently but firmly, “you are rambling. What is it, Little Hawk?”

Kate pressed her lips together, cheeks flushed with tension, and then finally just blurted it out. “Why do you do that thing with your neck?”

The words hung there, naked and vulnerable in the quiet cabin of the car. She forced herself to stay silent after that, to not ramble, to give Yelena space to respond without pressure.

Yelena didn’t answer right away. She inhaled sharply, and for a second it looked like she might speak, her lips parted, her brow tight with thought, but then her phone rang through the car as it was connected, the screen lighting up with an unlisted number. No name. No text. But she knew.

Yelena didn’t hesitate. She reached for the screen on the dashboard, pressing the answer button with a swift motion. Kate noticed the subtle shift in Yelena’s posture, the faintest adjustment, like a wall going up.

Yelena greeted the caller in Russian, her voice smooth and composed. “Privet (Hello),” she said, the word feeling like a barrier between them. Kate’s brow furrowed as she listened, already aware that Yelena was using Russian to keep the conversation private. It wasn’t a new tactic; Yelena had done this before, especially when she couldn't leave the room to speak to whoever it was. It wasn’t malicious, just... practical.

From the speaker, a voice crackled, speaking quickly in Russian. “Vse gotovo. YA zapolnil kholodil'nik i shkafy. Vash Malen'kiy Yastreb budet khorosho podgotovlen na nekotoroye vremya (Everything is ready. I’ve stocked the fridge and cupboards. Your Little Hawk will be well prepared for a while).”

Yelena’s posture softened just slightly at the words, and Kate couldn’t help but watch her closely. She didn’t understand the words, but she could see the change in Yelena’s expression, a relaxation of her features, a small smile that crept onto her lips. It was a look Kate wasn’t used to seeing from Yelena towards someone else. It was... warm.

“Spasibo, sestra. YA tvoy dolzhnik (Thank you, sister. I owe you),” Yelena replied, her voice light, tinged with affection. 

Kate knew sestra meant sister. She’d heard it before when Yelena spoke about Natasha or the other widows. There was something deeply human in the way Yelena referred to them as her sisters. It was a bond Kate didn’t fully understand, but she could feel its significance.

The warmth in Yelena’s voice, however, made Kate feel... left out. She hated the feeling, but there was no denying it. She wanted to know what they were talking about, to share in this private moment, but there was no way to break through the language barrier. Not without understanding Russian, which she didn’t.

The voice from the speaker came again, faster this time. “Ty mne nichego ne dolzhen, eto ya tvoy dolzhnik (You do not owe me anything, I am in your debt).”

Yelena rolled her eyes, a playful sigh escaping her as she responded, “Zatknis'. Ty zhe znayesh', chto eto ne tak (Shut up, you know that’s not true).”

Kate smiled at the teasing tone in Yelena’s voice, but it only made her more curious. Who was this person? And why did Yelena sound so relaxed, so at ease with them? Kate could feel a knot twisting in her chest, that familiar pang of being left out, of not knowing. 

It was clear that this person was someone important to Yelena, someone she was close to. Maybe it was Sonya? Yelena had mentioned Sonya in passing before, especially when talking about her business and mother. But Kate had never heard Sonya’s voice. She couldn’t be sure.

“Nu i ladno, kogda ya smogu uvidet' Malen'kogo Yastreba (Whatever, when can I meet the Little Hawk?)”

Kate noticed Yelena stiffen at the question, her posture tightening, becoming just a little more guarded. There was something about the way she reacted that made Kate wonder what had been said. 

Yelena’s fingers tapped on the steering wheel as she responded, sighing lightly. “YA zavtra zayedu v konspirativnuyu kvartiru, mne nuzhny moi veshchi. Mozhet, ya yeye privezu (I’ll stop by the safe house tomorrow, I need my things. Maybe I’ll bring her).”

Kate tilted her head, trying to piece the conversation together. The words felt like an unsolved puzzle. She could sense the tension in Yelena’s voice, the slight tightness in her shoulders as she spoke. Kate’s concern deepened, though she had no idea what was really going on.

“YA znala, chto ty srazu zhe dvinesh'sya! Chto sluchilos' s ozhidaniyem (I knew you’d move in right away! What happened to waiting?)” The voice on the other end laughed, warm and teasing, and Kate could feel the lightheartedness of the moment, even though she didn’t understand the words. It was clear the person knew Yelena well.

Yelena’s voice softened once again, a faint smile tugging at her lips, but there was something deeper behind it. A sense of resignation, like she was admitting to something she hadn’t planned to. “Ona khotela, chtoby ya ostalsya (She wanted me to stay).”

Kate’s heart skipped at the sudden vulnerability in Yelena’s voice, something that felt rare, especially from someone as guarded as her. She wanted to ask, to check in, something…but before she could, the voice from the speaker came back, more genuine now, though still with a teasing edge. “YA rada za tebya, sestra. Ty etogo zasluzhivayesh' (I’m happy for you, sister. You deserve it).

Yelena’s fingers relaxed on the wheel, her whole body seeming to loosen. The conversation had gone on long enough now that it was beginning to blur together in Kate’s mind, a constant stream of words she couldn’t follow. But there was something comforting about it, the rhythm of Yelena’s voice, even if Kate didn’t understand everything. In that moment, Kate didn’t need to understand. She just needed to be here, next to Yelena, in this quiet, private space.

After a while, Kate’s eyelids grew heavy. She couldn’t keep her focus, the soothing sound of Yelena’s voice and the murmur of the conversation becoming a lullaby of sorts. She curled into her seat, closing her eyes for just a moment, her question from earlier momentarily forgotten. The words faded into the background, and before she knew it, Kate had fallen asleep, comforted by Yelena’s presence even if she couldn’t understand a single thing being said.

-----

They drove through the night and the next day, the road stretching on as Yelena stubbornly refused to let Kate take the wheel, again. Instead, she handed her a snack, gave her knee a reassuring pat, and said with a grin, “Relax, Kate Bishop. I’ve got this.” And she did, all the way. Between eating, blasting music, and teasing Yelena just to see her reaction, Kate let herself drift into short naps to make the journey feel faster. The deep conversations were put on hold for the rest of the journey, but Kate had promised herself she’d ask about the woman, about the strange way Yelena had squeezed her neck, but she’d wait until they were settled.

While Kate slept, Yelena remained ever watchful, her eyes scanning the road with focus. Every now and then, her gaze would flicker over to Kate, her sleeping form a serene image, head resting against the window, lips slightly parted, so peaceful it made Yelena’s chest tighten with something soft and unspoken, a moment she wished she could capture and hold onto forever.

As they finally pulled into the familiar car park by Kate’s old building, Yelena reached over and gave Kate’s hand a gentle squeeze, her touch both comforting and intimate.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Yelena’s voice was low and soothing, the faintest trace of a smile in her tone. “We’re here.”

Kate’s eyelids fluttered open, her groggy mind scrambling to make sense of her surroundings. She looked out the window and blinked, recognising the familiar car park of her old building. The puzzle pieces clicked together, and a rush of confusion followed.

“Wait…” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. “I thought we were going to the penthouse?”

Yelena just looked at her, the faintest glimmer of a proud smirk playing on her lips. She reached across the car, squeezing Kate’s hand with reassuring confidence. “Just trust me.”

Kate frowned, a little disoriented as she followed Yelena out of the car. Lucky happily trotted behind them, his tail wagging as he padded alongside. Kate's body was still fogged with sleep, but a creeping sense of anticipation began to tug at her.

They reached the pizza shop at the bottom of the building, and Kate opened her mouth to say something, but Yelena was already stepping forward, gesturing to a sleek, high-tech panel now seamlessly integrated into the back wall. The old door was now a pantry, and as Yelena placed Kate’s palm against the panel, a faint click sounded, followed by a mechanical hum as the panel scanned her fingerprints, then her retina in one smooth motion (courtesy of the Bishop securities database).

“Wait. Hold on. Yelena, this… this wasn’t here before,” Kate said, her voice cracking with disbelief as she took in the new tech. “You did this…? While we were in Iowa? I mean, who did this? How?”

Yelena’s smirk was almost playful, but there was something deeper in her eyes. “I had some help. I pulled in many favours.” She then smirked. “Plus, I’m just really good,” she added, winking.

“And always so modest,” Kate chuckled, but she couldn’t help but feel her heart constrict at the thought that Yelena had pulled in favours, all for her.

Yelena didn’t answer. She just grinned as she pushed open the secondary door that led to the stairs and the loft. As they walked in, Kate saw that every surface gleamed like new, the walls freshly painted. Kate’s breath hitched as they stepped inside, and her eyes swept over the space in wonder. It wasn’t just restored, it was better. Her favourite purples touched everything, from the throw pillows to the plush area rug beneath the sleek, modern couch.

“It’s… It’s perfect,” Kate breathed, barely able to get the words out.

Yelena’s grin only grew wider as she led her inside fully, Lucky bounding past in excitement. “Check this out,” she said, tapping another discreet panel by the door. A series of sleek monitors lit up, displaying live feeds from cameras placed at every angle outside the building. “Full perimeter surveillance. Motion sensors. Fingerprint and retina locks, only yours work until you give other people access.” She gestured to the windows proudly. “Bulletproof, blast-resistant glass. Top of the line. Thermal and acoustic insulation too. No one listens, no one shoots. And no one’s getting in without you knowing. Not even me.”

Kate’s jaw dropped slightly as she ran her fingers along the panel. “Oh my God…”

“That’s not all,” Yelena continued, excitement bubbling in her voice as she guided Kate toward the kitchen. “Your kitchen, enlarged. You may actually be able to cook now!”

Kate laughed breathlessly, still overwhelmed. She noted the polished countertops, the double oven, the neatly arranged cupboards, and then Yelena threw open a drawer full of neatly stacked, gleaming cutlery.

“A normal amount of forks,” Yelena quipped, looking far too pleased with herself. “You are welcome.”

Kate let out a disbelieving laugh. “I am one person!”

Yelena rolled her eyes, folding her arms. “Maybe so, but it was sad, Kate Bishop. Pathetic, really. Your guests need cutlery!”

Kate couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up from her chest, the sound bright and warm in a way that Yelena had sorely missed. They moved on to the living area, where Kate’s eyes grew impossibly wider at the sight of the colossal TV mounted on the wall, flanked by sleek bookcases and shelves filled with games and consoles.

“Okay, now you’re just showing off,” Kate teased, a smile tugging at her lips.

Yelena shrugged, though her grin remained. “Maybe a little.”

Kate turned to her, eyes still bright with wonder, but now tinged with something softer, something deeper. “Why did you do all this?”

Yelena’s smile faltered, softening into something far more serious as she met Kate’s gaze. The playfulness slipped away from her expression, replaced by a quiet intensity. “Because you didn’t need to go back to that penthouse,” she said, her voice low but firm, like a promise. “You needed somewhere that feels like you. Somewhere safe. Somewhere that is yours and not your mother’s.”

Kate’s heart skipped a beat. The words hit harder than she’d expected, a weight in her chest that she hadn’t anticipated. Without even realising it, she was moving toward Yelena. She looked at Yelena, really looked at her, as if trying to see through her, through everything, to understand the woman standing before her.

“Somewhere that is ours, Yelena,” she said softly, the words almost breathless, as if admitting them meant something bigger than she could express.

Yelena’s eyes widened, and she beamed, that signature smile returning for a brief, bright moment. “Then yes, somewhere that is ours, Kate Bishop,” she replied, the lightness in her voice betraying how much this meant to her, too. 

The room around them felt suddenly too small, and Kate found herself staring at Yelena, really staring as if seeing her for the first time. The kindness, the care, the ways she’d pulled Kate from the brink, giving her a home, a life, a future. Yelena had been a force of nature, coming out of nowhere to fix what Kate couldn’t even see. She’d pulled her back from the darkest corners, from her loneliest thoughts.

Kate blinked hard, fighting the surge of emotion that threatened to spill over. She didn’t have the words, but she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “Seriously, Lena…” Kate’s voice cracked, and she quickly cleared her throat, trying again, her tone quieter but far more earnest. “Thank you for this. You have no idea how much this means to me. Everything you’ve done… I don’t even know how to… I don’t know how to tell you how much it’s all changed things for me.”

Yelena’s eyes softened, the smile she’d been wearing slipping into something more tender, something full of understanding. “Anything for you, my Little Hawk,” she murmured, the affection in her voice sending a flutter through Kate’s chest.

But Kate couldn’t stand it anymore. Yelena had done so much, had been there when Kate felt like she was losing everything, when she was too lost in her own darkness to see what was right in front of her. It wasn’t just about the apartment. It wasn’t just about the things Yelena had fixed or done for her. It was about everything.

She reached for Yelena, her hands finding the soft curve of her face, and without thinking, without hesitation, she pulled her in. Their lips met, hard and urgent, and Kate felt a fire she hadn’t even known was there. A hunger, raw and desperate, as if everything she’d been holding back in her chest was finally spilling over, everything Yelena had been to her, everything she was to her.

Yelena’s breath caught in her throat, her body freezing for a brief moment before she melted into Kate’s touch, her hands threading into Kate’s hair as she kissed her back with an equal, frantic intensity. The kiss was desperate, untamed, as if they both needed it more than air. The world around them seemed to disappear, the hum of the city outside, the quiet of the room, all of it was swallowed up by the storm of passion between them. 

Their kiss deepened, messy and heated, every touch igniting something in both of them, something that they could no longer ignore. Kate’s fingers tightened on Yelena’s face, as if to hold her there, to keep her in this moment. Yelena was precious to her in ways Kate couldn’t quite explain, but she didn’t need to; she felt it in the way their lips met, in the urgency of their movements.

They lost themselves in each other, yet again. This was nothing new, another stolen moment in a week filled with them since they’d started dating, but this time it felt different. More intense. They both knew why. Neither of them had let it go further than this, hadn’t crossed that line yet out of respect for Clint, for the family. But here, with their bodies pressed together, hands roaming with an urgency that spoke volumes, it was as if they couldn’t hold back any longer, and they didn't have to. 

Kate’s heart was pounding in her chest, her senses overwhelmed by the feel of Yelena’s body under her hands, her lips, her breath. And then, before she even realised it, she had Yelena pressed against the wall. The soft thud of her spine hitting the surface barely registered as Kate pinned her there, deepening the kiss, drowning in the connection.

Yelena’s breath came in quick, shallow bursts, her chest rising and falling against Kate’s. They were both gasping for air, the heat between them building to a point where it felt like they might combust.

“Yebat'(Fuck), Kate,” Yelena rasped, her voice rough and full of pure want, her accent thicker than usual, her eyes dark with need.

Kate, of course, knew what that word meant, and she grinned against her lips, teasing and mischievous. She nipped at Yelena’s bottom lip before pulling back just enough to speak, her voice low and deliciously dangerous. “Maybe you should show me our new bedroom,” she murmured, a teasing lilt to her words.

What Kate didn’t expect, what made her stomach flip and heat pool low in her belly was the soft, helpless sound that escaped Yelena’s lips. A whine. A genuine, needy, utterly unguarded whine, thick with frustration and arousal.

Kate’s eyes darkened instantly, her grin sharpening into something positively wicked. “Mmm… that’s a new sound,” she teased, her breath hot against Yelena’s flushed skin. “I want to hear it again.”

Yelena groaned, her cheeks burning crimson as she threw her head back against the wall with a breathless laugh. She’d grown far too fond of this side of Kate, this confident, commanding Kate that only emerged in moments like these, when they were teetering on the edge of losing control.

Kate’s chest swelled with heat and affection, her fingers lacing through Yelena’s as she tugged her away from the wall. “Come with me, baby,” she whispered, her voice dark and sultry but still threaded with something so warm it made Yelena’s heart ache.

As Kate led her towards the stairs, she glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “I assume it’s in the same place? Or did you make a secret bunker somewhere in the remodel?”

Yelena’s brain had entirely melted by this point, and all she could do was nod again, swallowing thickly. Her mouth felt too dry to form words, her body thrumming with a pulse that only grew louder as they climbed the stairs together.

-----

By the time they stumbled into the bedroom, both of them breathless from their kisses and laughter, everything outside their small bubble felt like it had vanished. Yelena kicked the door shut behind them, ensuring that Lucky would not disturb them, but before she could say a word, Kate was already on top of her, pushing her back onto the bed with a grin.

Yelena’s breath hitched, the sudden shift in energy leaving her momentarily stunned. Kate hovered over her, their eyes locking, as if silently asking permission. And Yelena, her pulse racing, couldn’t look away, she just nodded. Without another thought, Kate leaned down, her lips crashing into Yelena’s with an intensity that left them both breathless, dizzy. 

Their bodies tangled together on the plush bedspread, both of them fumbling with clothes in a rush. Kate’s hands were relentless, slipping beneath Yelena’s shirt, fingers grazing over skin that seemed to spark beneath her touch. Yelena’s own hands were equally desperate, tugging at the hem of Kate’s shirt, her fingers shaking with need as they explored her back, the heat between them thickening with every movement until they were both bare to one another.

Kate’s lips moved down, her kisses now trailing over Yelena’s jaw and neck, slow and deliberate. Yelena arched under her, gasping at the soft press of her mouth against her skin. Every kiss sent a shiver through her, every caress deepening the tension that had been simmering for so long. Kate’s breath was hot against her ear, her voice a low, teasing whisper. “You are always so easy to rile up, Belova.”

Yelena's body reacted without thinking, her hands finding Kate’s shoulders and pulling her closer. “You are so cocky,” Yelena managed to say, though her voice wavered with the heat of the moment. “Just remember, I can turn the tables if I want.” Her tone was confident, but her breathless state betrayed her.

Kate smirked, a low laugh escaping her lips. She trailed a finger down Yelena’s neck, drawing patterns on her skin, before letting her finger slip lower, following the curve of her collarbone. “You probably could, but you won’t…” Kate’s voice was teasing, almost knowing. She paused, her gaze locking with Yelena’s as she let her words hang in the air. “Because you like this, don’t you, baby?”

Yelena swallowed hard, the change in Kate almost intoxicating. She couldn’t understand how Kate switched into such a confident, cocky version of herself when, in any other situation, she was a shy, rambling mess. But this side of Kate always did something to Yelena, igniting a fire she couldn't deny. Her cheeks burned red, her breath hitching, but she tried to force herself to appear unaffected. Rolling her eyes, she huffed, "Shut up, and get on with it."

Kate laughed, the sound deep and satisfying. She didn’t wait for another word before lowering her lips to Yelena’s neck, kissing her with a new intensity that had Yelena shivering. Kate’s lips trailed down, her kisses lingering on the sensitive skin of Yelena’s collarbone, while her hands continued to roam, slow and deliberate, exploring every inch of her.

“You can be patient, right? This is the first time I get to properly explore,” Kate murmured with a crooked grin, mischief curling the corners of her lips as she hovered over Yelena, her breath warm against flushed skin as she pressed a kiss beneath her jaw, then another lower down, tracing the edge of her neck with a kind of affection that felt almost reverent.

Yelena arched into her instinctively, breath hitching, her whole body already strung tight with anticipation. “Don’t want to be patient,” she whispered, voice hoarse with need, dragging Kate back down by her neck into a kiss that was far from gentle. It was messy and clumsy and real, teeth clashing, tongues tangling, fingers fisted in dark hair like she could hold her there forever.

But Kate was determined. She eased back with a smile so soft it nearly undid Yelena completely. Her hands roamed with purpose, trailing slowly over ribs, stomach, sides, like she was mapping her inch by inch. Each scar was kissed like a vow, every freckle noted. Kate treated them like something sacred, something beautiful.

So when her lips brushed lower, when she reached the scar just beneath Yelena’s abdomen, a thin line drawn by hands that had taken without permission, she didn’t even pause. She just kissed it, tender as all the others, because she didn’t know that this one was different.

And Yelena went still.

Her entire body locked, chest rising too fast, fists curling into the sheets. It felt like being split open, raw and exposed and suddenly sixteen again, back in that cold room with the sterile light and voices that told her what would happen to her body.

“No.” The word broke from her like a snap, sharp and cutting and so much heavier than it should have been.

Kate pulled back instantly, her eyes wide, concern flooding her expression like a wave. “Baby?” she said, voice low and careful, no longer playful. “What’s wrong?”

Yelena couldn’t speak for a second. Her jaw clenched. Her gaze was locked on the ceiling, like if she just stared hard enough, she could blink herself into somewhere else. “Not there,” she said finally, the words tight and quiet.

Kate froze. Her hands stilled above Yelena’s skin, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to understand. It was just a scar, like so many others…but something about this one… something clearly hurt.

“Oh.” Kate’s voice dropped instantly, all the mischief draining from her like it had never been there. “Okay. I hear you. I won’t do that again. I’m sorry.”

Yelena gave a small, silent nod, still staring up at the ceiling, her body taut with tension. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, panic clawing just beneath the surface as her hand lifted to her neck, her pointer finger and thumb squeezing as she forced herself to calm down in the only way she knew how.

Kate didn’t move right away. She stayed still, watching her, eyes soft with worry. Then, slowly, she began to ease back, every motion quiet, deliberate, like she was backing away from a startled animal. “Hey,” she said gently, voice barely above a whisper as she shifted to the side. “Let’s get comfy, yeah? We can put something dumb on and just… curl up for a bit. I’ll make popcorn. Extra butter.”

But before she could fully move away, Yelena’s hand moved from her neck and caught her wrist, quick and firm, not with force, but with something urgent. “Wait,” she said, eyes darting to meet Kate’s. There was confusion there. Guilt. Fear. “I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.” Her voice wavered. “You… you don’t want to carry on?”

Kate’s expression crumpled, not with frustration, but with heartbreak. Gentle, unexpected heartbreak. She sank back down, her hand immediately going to Yelena’s face, cupping her cheek. “God, no. Lena, you didn’t ruin anything,” she whispered. “You said no. That’s all I need to hear. I didn’t want to keep going if you weren’t okay. All I care about is your comfort.”

Yelena stared at her, confusion swirling in her eyes. The words were so simple. So ordinary. But they struck something deep inside her. No one had ever asked her what she wanted. But Kate had stopped. Had offered her an out. Had given her something Yelena wasn’t sure she even knew how to accept.

A choice.

And it felt… powerful.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. Her eyes lifted. They were glassy, but steady now. There was still fear in them, but there was strength too. “I still want to,” she said, quiet but sure. “I just… I needed to say no to that. Not everything.”

Kate blinked, almost startled by the honesty in her voice. Her hand was still on Yelena’s cheek, thumb brushing gently beneath her eye. “You sure?” she asked softly, searching her face for even the slightest doubt. “Promise me you will tell me to stop if you aren't okay?” 

Yelena nodded, eyes steady now, voice low but sure. “I’m sure, and I promise,” she breathed, before tugging Kate back on top of her like she weighed nothing at all, like she belonged there. The kiss that followed was immediate, demanding, and so full of want it almost hurt. Yelena deepened it instantly, hands fisted in Kate’s hair, her trust spilling out through every breathless sound she made, every desperate press of her mouth to Kate’s. The lust was building, yes, but so was something warmer, quieter. Something safe.

They were both panting by the time Kate pulled away, her lips flushed, her pupils so blown the blue of her eyes had almost vanished. She stared down at Yelena like she was trying to commit her to memory, before her smirk slowly returned. “In that case,” Kate murmured, her voice playful and husky all at once, “if you still want to… I think you should say please.”

Yelena scoffed, narrowing her eyes despite how wrecked she already sounded. “I am not going to beg you, Kate. I’m not that desperate.”

It was, quite obviously, a lie. Kate’s grin deepened. “Fine,” she said sweetly, and began to shift down her body, settling between Yelena’s thighs with deliberate slowness. She met Yelena’s gaze, checking, and when Yelena gave the faintest nod, she dipped her head and pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh.

Then another. And another. She trailed kisses down to Yelena’s knees, then back up, maddeningly slow, never quite where Yelena needed her most. All the while, her eyes stayed locked on Yelena’s face, watching the way her breath hitched, the way her fingers twisted in the sheets, her hips shifting helplessly.

“Just one little word,” Kate whispered between kisses, voice feather-light. “All you gotta do is say please, baby.”

Yelena whined and tried her best not to sound utterly undone. But Kate’s mouth was unrelenting, brushing kisses along the sensitive skin of her thighs until she was squirming, her restraint unravelling thread by thread.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Yelena muttered it, it was so quiet, guttural, almost a growl. “Please.”

Kate’s head snapped up with mock innocence. “Hmm? What was that?”

Yelena glared at her through flushed cheeks and clenched teeth. “I said, please.”

And Kate beamed like she’d just won the lottery. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”

“You are insufferable,” Yelena muttered, trying not to smile, failing entirely.

Kate chuckled as she finally leaned in, hands firm at Yelena’s hips to hold her still. “You really shouldn’t say that to the one person who’s about to give you everything you want.”

With that, Kate moved down further as she pushed Yelena’s legs further apart gaining a perfect view of Yelena’s cunt that was glistening for her. “So wet for me, baby girl”, she whispered, almost reverently, as if seeing this was something holy. 

Yelena blushed, her cheeks flushing even more than they had been previously. Between the teasing and the begging, Yelena was already completely flustered, but hearing those words from Kate’s mouth sent her reeling. 

Kate leaned in to place a long teasing lick right down her slit. Kate moaned from the taste while Yelena’s hips jolted up, begging for more friction, more pressure, something.

Kate understood, and her hands came up, around the back of Yelena’s thighs, before roughly pulling Yelena’s centre closer to her face. Yelena didn't even get a chance to react before Kate’s mouth was back on her, her face stuffed into Yelena’s cunt, eating her like a woman starved. 

Yelena’s hips moved instinctively, chasing every flicker of contact, the friction and heat mounting with each pulse of pleasure. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her fingers curled tightly in Kate’s hair, anchoring herself to something as the pressure inside her climbed higher. But it still wasn’t enough. She needed more. 

“Please, Kate,” she gasped, the words breaking from her lips in a desperate, breathless whimper. “I need more.”

Kate slowed, just slightly, pulling back enough to look up at her, and when she did? That look on Yelena’s face, flushed, open, and trembling on the edge of something vast. It knocked the wind out of her for a second. But then the smirk returned, dark and teasing, because Kate was helpless to resist just how beautiful Yelena was when she was falling apart like this.

“More?” Kate repeated, her voice low, teasing as it vibrated against Yelena’s skin. “So needy, maybe I should stop altogether, hm?”

Yelena let out a frustrated, wrecked little noise, a half-whine, half growl as her hips jerked again, seeking out the contact that had been so cruelly interrupted. Her hands tugged at Kate’s hair in protest, begging her to continue.

Kate’s smirk widened, pleased and playful and just a little bit wicked, as she let her hands glide slowly up Yelena’s trembling thighs, fingertips brushing deliberately light, making her shiver. “Can you tell me exactly what you need?” she asked, voice low and velvet-smooth, laced with challenge. 

Yelena groaned, dragging a hand over her face like she could hide the sheer need pulsing through her body. She wasn’t used to this, to wanting like this, but Kate had made it feel like she could be that. Like she wouldn’t be judged for wanting, for craving, for falling apart beneath someone who looked at her like she was something to be cherished.

Still, the words stuck. They caught in her throat, thick and humiliating, and her pride, sharp and stubborn kicked back even as her hips lifted again, searching. “You know what I need,” she said finally, her voice rough, teeth clenched around the edge of a growl.

Kate only laughed, warm and maddening and far too pleased with herself. “Oh, I do,” she said sweetly, fingers ghosting closer, brushing just shy of where Yelena was aching. “But I want to hear you say it.”

Yelena let out a shaking breath, her eyes fluttering shut as her head tilted back into the pillows. She was blushing furiously now, half from frustration, half from how undone she felt under Kate’s touch, her voice, her goddamn grin. 

“I need your fingers,” she said finally, hoarse and broken, her jaw tight like it cost her something. “I need you to fuck me with your fingers, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Kate blinked. Then, slowly, she grinned, soft, stunned, and absolutely wrecked by the admission. “Jesus Christ, Yelena,” she breathed, the cocky smirk dissolving into something much, much hungrier. “Yeah, that’ll do it. That is exactly what I wanted.”

And with that, she sank back down, and this time, there was no teasing. No pulling away. Her mouth attached to Yelena’s clit, as her fingers dropped lower to ghost above her entrance. Seeking out consent one final time, Kate looked into Yelena’s eyes, but found nothing but pure, unbridled hunger staring back at her, so Kate made her move. 

Kate pushed two fingers deep inside, filling her completely without another thought. Yelena squeezed her eyes shut, the sensation overwhelming, and a raw, unfiltered moan tore from her lips before she could stop it. 

Kate’s voice came next, it was low, sultry, and coaxing like a velvet drag down her spine. “Open your eyes for me, baby,” she murmured, her breath hot against Yelena’s skin. “I want to see you fall apart. I want to watch it happen.”

The words hit Yelena like a spark to dry kindling, a fresh wave of heat rolling through her as her lashes fluttered open, eyes locking with Kate’s like she couldn’t look anywhere else.

“Good girl,” Kate purred, her voice a rich, honeyed drawl.

Yelena’s body betrayed her instantly, her cunt clenched onto Kate’s fingers, her hips twitching, breath stuttering, her fingers tightening in Kate’s hair.

Kate noticed. Of course she noticed. Her grin turned downright sinful. “Ohhh,” she drawled, her tone dripping with delight. “You like that, huh? You like it when I praise you, pretty girl?”

Yelena huffed, rolling her eyes in a half-hearted attempt to seem unaffected, but it was hopeless. Kates fingers were pumping inside her, curling at just the right spot, and whenever she wasnt speaking, her tongue was attached to her clit. 

Every shift, every movement sent Yelena’s body twisting and arching, betraying her with each desperate motion. Kate’s soft chuckle vibrated against her skin, only making things worse. And what made it even harder for Yelena to deny was the heat, the flush that spread from her chest to her cheeks, a deep, vivid red that smouldered under Kate’s gaze.

Kate raised an eyebrow, a quiet, knowing challenge in her expression. It was all it took. Yelena gave in. She nodded, small and embarrassed, but there was no hiding the way her body still trembled, the way her lips parted in silent surrender.

Kate chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through the air like a promise of more to come. Her lips brushed the inside of Yelena’s thigh, sending a shiver through her body. “Yeah… that’s what I thought,” Kate purred, her voice low and teasing, before she doubled her efforts.

Yelena’s breath hitched, and her hands clenched the sheets beneath her, her fingers digging into the fabric in an attempt to ground herself. Every inch of her skin burned, every nerve ending alive with sensation. She couldn’t stop the moans and whines pouring out of her mouth, the screams of ecstasy. 

At one point, all that could be heard was a chant of “uh, uh, uh,” Yelena couldn’t seem to catch her breath, couldn’t focus on anything but Kate, the way she moved, the way she made her feel like she was unravelling, thread by thread. 

Kate’s attention was unrelenting, each movement deliberate, bringing Yelena to the edge, and then pulling her back. And Kate loved it. Loved the power she held, loved how Yelena’s body responded like a beautiful, fragile thing, desperate for release.

“Please, Kate,” Yelena breathed, her voice shaky with a mix of need and frustration. The overwhelming sensation inside her made it hard to think clearly, but the ache was undeniable, her body demanding release.

Kate’s eyes softened as she watched Yelena, noticing the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. “Please, what?” she asked, her voice gentle but teasing, coaxing her without pressure.

Yelena shut her eyes briefly, trying to push the overwhelming emotions away, but it was no use. She wasn’t entirely sure what she needed to feel complete, or how to get there, but she knew she was in safe hands with Kate. “I just…I wanna cum, Kate. Please. Please!” she whined.

Kate’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she shifted slightly, but still continuing her assault on Yelena’s cunt with her fingers, her voice was light. “Look at you, so reluctant to beg earlier, and now look. What happened to turning the tables, hmm?” she teased, but her tone was softer now.��

Yelena didn’t have the strength to argue, her body aching with a need she couldn’t express. She felt vulnerable, her breath hitching as she spoke again, quieter this time. “I can’t… I just need… please,” she whispered, the words a quiet plea that broke through the walls she’d built up.

Kate kept up her pace with her fingers, using her thumb to apply the right amount of pressure to Yelena’s clit in place of her mouth as she instead placed kisses all over Yelena’s chest and neck. She knew Yelena was close, she could feel it, and she would make damn sure that Yelena fell over that edge. 

“You’re doing so well for me, Lena. So, so well,” Kate whispered, her voice thick with pride and affection as she leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Just a little more, baby.” 

Yelena nodded, the motion small but desperate, her eyes locked onto Kate’s with a silent plea that said everything her voice couldn’t. There was a raw intensity in her gaze, wide, glassy, full of longing, like she was holding on by a thread and trusting Kate to catch her. 

Instead of pleading, instead of making noise like she had previously, Yelena went quiet. Every breath she took shuddered through her, her body drawn tight like a bowstring, trembling as she edged closer and closer to the precipice.

Kate's expression softened, reverent and awed all at once. She brushed a hand across Yelena’s cheek, her thumb tracing lightly along her jaw. “I’ve got you,” she murmured again, steady and certain. “Just let go. I’m right here.”

Yelena’s fingers clutched at the sheets, at Kate, anything she could find to ground herself in that moment. Her heart was pounding. Her skin felt like it was glowing, every nerve lit up and singing with sensation.

And when Yelena finally tipped over the edge, the silence ended, her cry was loud, it was raw, vibrating through the loft like something that had never been given space before now. Something Kate had pulled from her with nothing but gentleness and fire.

Kate felt a wave of quiet satisfaction wash over her as she watched the serenity settle over Yelena’s face, the tension in her body slowly giving way to something softer, calmer. There was a kind of wonder in the way her features relaxed, eyes half-lidded and lips parted with the ghost of a breathless smile. 

Kate slowed instinctively, giving Yelena time to ride the climax she had just experienced, not wanting to rush a single second of it, just soaking in the sight of someone she adored looking so at peace, so safe.

But then Yelena let out a faint, breathy whine and gave her a gentle push, not forceful, just a nudge, a signal, her body speaking for her when her mouth clearly could not. 

Kate’s smile softened into something tender the moment she felt Yelena’s gentle nudge. There was no hesitation, no teasing left, just quiet understanding. She moved slowly, carefully, as if handling something fragile, pulling out and easing back with deliberate grace to give Yelena space to breathe. Then she leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to Yelena’s cheek, her lips lingering there just a moment longer than necessary.

She gathered Yelena into her arms like she was something rare, something irreplaceable. Kate’s arms circled her gently but securely, holding her close in that space between passion and peace, where only comfort remained.

Yelena curled in tighter without a word, seeking warmth and safety in Kate’s embrace. One arm snaked tightly around Kate’s waist, the other sliding under her, anchoring them together. Their legs tangled naturally beneath the blankets, like they’d always belonged that way.

Yelena’s breathing was still uneven, her chest rising and falling as her heart gradually settled. Her lashes were damp, her eyes glassy, the storm inside her quieting but not quite gone. And yet, somewhere in the haze, she managed a small, breathless laugh, almost disbelieving. “I hate you a little bit,” she whispered, voice hoarse and teasing, though there was no heat behind it.

Kate grinned against her skin, smug in the gentlest way, her mouth brushing over Yelena’s temple before pressing a kiss just beside her eyebrow. The kiss was full of fondness, warmth, and a quiet pride, like she already knew the truth. “No, you don’t,” she whispered, her breath soft against Yelena’s skin.

Yelena sighed through her smile, her body still tucked close, utterly relaxed in Kate’s arms. “...Yeah. No, I don’t.” The words came easier now, her voice laced with affection, and she no longer felt the need to hide. And then, just like that, her expression shifted, her smirk returning with full force as her eyes darkened with something playful and deliberate.

“Now it’s my turn,” she said, and before Kate could react, Yelena slipped from her hold and rolled on top of her in one smooth motion, straddling her with ease.

Kate let out a surprised laugh, half startled, half delighted. Her hands instinctively found Yelena’s hips, holding her there like she never wanted to let go. “I’m not going to say no,” she breathed, eyes wide and completely captivated. 

-----

They spent the rest of the night in a tangle of sheets, laughter, moans and soft gasps, taking turns exploring and exchanging every bit of pent-up tension that had built between them. There was no rush, no expectations. Just hands and lips and whispered words, shared breath and flushed skin, tangled limbs and slow-burning smiles. 

By the time they collapsed into the pillows, limbs heavy and tangled, Yelena was barely conscious, a soft, sleepy smile tugging at her lips as she blinked up at the ceiling. Her body was boneless, spent, and thoroughly satisfied. She expected to fall asleep right there, curled into the sheets, too exhausted to move.

But Kate wasn’t done. Kate slowly untangled herself, rising onto one elbow. She didn’t say anything at first, just studied Yelena’s face with a softness in her eyes that made Yelena's stomach flip. Then she leaned in, brushed a kiss to her temple, and quietly said, “Need to get cleaned up, beautiful.”

Yelena frowned, too tired to understand. “What?”

Kate didn’t answer with words. Instead, she carefully scooped her up, one arm under her knees, the other behind her shoulders, lifting her from the bed like it was nothing. Yelena made a startled sound, half-protest, half-laugh. “Kate, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Kate interrupted gently, adjusting her hold as she carried her across the room. Her voice was calm, sure, as if it wasn’t even a question. “Let me take care of you.”

That silenced Yelena completely. The bathroom light was soft and low, Kate nudged the door open with her foot and carefully lowered Yelena onto the edge of the tub while reaching for the taps. The bath was quick but comforting, warm water, gentle touches, Kate making sure every bit of her was taken care of without a single complaint. There was something quietly intimate about it, the way Kate wrapped her hair up into a messy bun to keep it dry, how she kissed the top of her head when she sank deeper into the water.

Later, wrapped in fresh towels and then swapped for oversized sleep shirts and soft pyjama bottoms, they found their way back to bed. Kate slipped in first and opened her arms without a word. Yelena didn’t hesitate. She crawled in close, curling up against her, head tucked under Kate’s chin. Kate’s arms came around her immediately, holding her close, like something too precious to let go. Yelena felt her body ache with that pleasant kind of exhaustion as she settled down.

Yelena lay in silence, her breathing slow and even but still not quite settled. Her cheek was pressed over Kate’s heart, the steady thrum of it grounding her in a way she didn’t have words for. Her fingers curled into the hem of Kate’s shirt, holding it like an anchor, tight, like she didn’t trust it to stay unless she kept it close. The cotton was warm against her skin, familiar and safe, and Kate’s arms around her didn’t loosen, not even a little. If anything, they tightened. Like a shield. Like a promise.

Kate held her like she was something fragile but not broken, like she wasn’t afraid of the sharp edges. And that was what stunned Yelena more than anything, not the night, not the vulnerability or the touches or the laughter, it was this. The quiet after. The weight of being held and knowing that someone wanted to. That someone chose to.

Her voice came out barely more than a whisper, hesitant and raw. “Kate?”

Kate didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t need to. Her hand moved slowly, brushing over Yelena’s spine, steady and reassuring. “Mm?”

There was a pause. Yelena swallowed hard. “…Why’d you do all that?”

Kate’s brows knit together, just slightly, her gaze drifting over the darkened ceiling as she let the question settle in her chest. It caught her off guard, not because she didn’t know the answer, but because it hadn’t even occurred to her to question it. 

Of course she’d done all that. Of course she’d carried Yelena to the bath, washed her hair, held her close. To her, it was instinct. Care shouldn’t have to be earned. Yelena mattered, was hers and of course she deserved softness after everything.

But the longer Kate sat with the question, the heavier it became. The implication behind it. The quiet disbelief in Yelena’s voice. That no one else had done this for her. That no one else had ever stayed after the storm passed and chosen to make her feel safe after. And that hurt, deep and low in Kate’s chest like something sharp had been pressed against her heart.

She shifted slowly, lowering her head with purpose, with care, and pressed a kiss to the crown of Yelena’s head. Gentle, reverent. Like a promise. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but steady, full of unshaken certainty. Like she’d been carrying the words with her all night, waiting for the right moment to give them breath.

“Because you matter to me. Because I want you to be comfortable.” She let her fingers curl around Yelena’s side a little tighter, grounding both of them. “And because someone should have done this for you already. But clearly they didn’t. So I will.”

Yelena didn’t move, didn’t say anything at first. But something shifted in her, something deep and unfamiliar that she couldn’t name. She blinked fast, her throat suddenly tight, and then slowly, like her body made the decision before her mind caught up, she burrowed closer, hiding her face in the hollow of Kate’s chest. Her fingers gripped tighter in the fabric, and her other hand slipped around Kate’s waist, pulling her in like she was trying to crawl inside her skin.

“…You’re such a sap,” she mumbled, the words muffled but not unkind.

Kate grinned, her lips brushing her hairline. “Takes one to know one.”

They didn’t speak after that. They didn’t need to. Words would’ve only cluttered the quiet, and what passed between them now didn’t require sound. The silence wrapped around them like something sacred, thick with comfort, with trust, with the unspoken knowledge that for once, they didn’t have to keep their guards up. That they were safe, here, with each other.

Kate’s hand moved in lazy, gentle patterns across Yelena’s back, fingertips tracing soothing lines like she was trying to memorise her. And slowly, with every breath they shared, their bodies grew heavier, hearts syncing in rhythm until even the shadows in the room seemed to exhale. Sleep found them like that, curled into each other, peaceful, held.

-----

A/N: So, they’re back in New York! They’ve had some important conversations, Kate’s said "I love you" (and definitely noticed the significance of the neck thing), and most importantly….drumroll please….they’ve finally done the deed! Whoop whoop. The fire is officially burning. Anyway, in the next chapter, we’ve got a surprise visit from someone who meddles, leading to Kate seeing a side of Yelena that she’s tried to keep buried. It could either bring them closer or tear everything apart…but either way, it will be angsty, so strap in.

Part 6

[milykins]

Master Post

Hello, everyone. As I've stated before in my bio, this blog is rated 18+. My content may not be appropriate for all audiences and I will add warnings where appropriate. I will list my stories here with links for easy navigating. So far, I'll be keeping it to the TMNT fandom. The content I write could be from any iteration of TMNT but the look likely will be Bayverse because I just love them.

Thank you to everyone who's stopped by and has given me likes, reblogs and followed this page. I hope not to disappoint. Please keep reading if you would like to make a request or find other stuff I've written, I've put it all in one place.

Asks have been re-opened! Please click keep reading to see what I will and won't write.

Considering writing prompts and requests. I will do my best to fulfill them. If I get too many I will have to close it. Also the requests CAN be smut. Please keep in mind that there are certain topics and tropes that I will not write.

I will write:

Anything pertaining to the TMNT fandom. This is all I'm interested in writing currently.

Romance, smut, anything to do with love, friendship or otherwise.

Angst, as long as it resolves itself in the end.

Anything, silly, fun, fluffy.

LIGHT bdsm (spanking, blindfolding, sensory deprivation, rope-play or role-play, nothing too extreme)

Heterosexual pairings but I could also do nonbinary.

I will NOT write:

Hard bdsm, I don't engage in it personally and find it pretty difficult to write.

Anything non-con, all encounters written are consensual. I do not play around with that.

'Bully' romance or 'dark' romance.

Anything underage, all characters must be aged up.

Degrading language - I know it can be considered 'sexy' but it just doesn't do it for me personally. For example "You're my little b*tch." that kind of thing.

Certain kinks, I will let you know. Stuff like asking the guys to call the female OC 'mommy' that icks me out as does the 'daddy' kink.

Tcest or anything related.

Extreme violence

Character death

Headcanons

Hot Drinks

When You're Sick

When They're Sick

When You're On Your Period

Owning a Business

Dad HCs

Poly-Dad HCs

Cursing During Sex

Living on the Surface for the First TIme

Losing Their Virginity Series

Mikey's Story

Raph's Story

Leo's Story

Donnie's Story

List of Requests/Asks

Worthy

Cold Hands

Just My Type

Golden Mornings - Contains mature themes

PopTarts

One-Shots

Halloween Hotness - contains smut and mild sexual harassment

Sunshine

One More Night - Contains abusive themes

Hacked

Balancing Act - Contains smut and naked shenanigans

Multi-Chaptered Works

Second Chances Part 1

Second Chances Part 2

Second Chances Part 3 - Contains smut and talk of pregnancy loss

AO3 Stories

Rooftops and Invitations Chapter 1

Rooftops and Invitations Chapter 2

Thank you, and Happy Reading!

Master Tag List

Here

Please ask if you'd like to be added!

[exolocke]

Zenless Zone Zero: Immortalized (Male Reader fanfic)

A/N: This prologue takes place under a couple of POV’s none of them being (Y/N) this is more giving contexts of how Civilians see you or in this case the identity of the masked hero you are and your effects on the world around you. Chapter 1 will have you getting into story events from your/(Y/N) perspective.

It’s not just an OC tagged as X Reader

Wattpad Currently has all the Prologue + Chapter 1 and 2 as well as an attempt at a power set/kit description like agents in the game have.

This is my first time posting any of my written work so suggestions for improvement would be appreciated.

Prologue: Just an Urban Legend

Location: Twelfth Street, Janus Quarter

New Eridu is many things, the last city on Earth, constantly under threat from apocalyptic space time anomalies, but it's also brave, and her people are strong despite the constant threats, standing side by side against the potential end of everything. With every day being more a gift then a promise, one thing the people of New Eridu love is passing on their rich cultures. From recipes, to beliefs, even combat techniques, people made sure to pass knowledge down, to stop them from being lost to time. But an easy favourite were stories, from past times, or just to pass time, Urban Legends, Folk Tales, Comics, and Movies. (a promise of a brighter day some would say)...

Within a apartment complex in the Janus Quarter, under the bright light of a kitchen, as the last hints of sunlight hang in the sky. The sound of typing on a keyboard slows eventually stopping... the man sitting at his laptop ran a hand through his unwashed hair, leans back, and sighs.

"Still stuck?" A soft voice asks, coming from just behind him.

Glancing over at the TV in the living room across from him the man watches the news broadcast. Having been silenced a while ago but the Headline in big red letters was still visible on the screen.

"New Companion Hollow Erupted-20 People Still Missing"

Feeling his wife's arms wrap around him from behind finally gives him the final push he needs to say what he's thinking. "People need hope... I write these articles so that people don't give up... but the more this happens the more it feels like I'm just covering the same points with different words. And each time it gets harder to do."

Taking a deep breathe and resting her head on her husbands shoulder, she took some time thinking of what to say, looking at what her husband typed so far. Urban Legends... "Maybe you just need to take it from a different point of view... give them a story, instead of reiterating the H.I.A. has it under control."

"And how should I go about getting this different point of view?"

"Why don't you go tell Sonya a bedtime story and see how you feel when you come back?"

Taking off his glasses and rubbing his face. "Yeah... I can do that, maybe it will get me out of this rut."

A tired smile graces his wife's face. "Good, having her home from school all day has her wired... so good luck." Giving him a strong peck on his cheek before watching her husband getting up and heading to their daughters room.

Approaching his daughters bedroom he slips back on his glasses as he gets to the door.

"Knock Knock darling." He said while rapping on the door with his knuckles. He heard some giggling coming from her room before his daughter called out. "Come innnnn Papa." With a chuckle he opened the door to Sonya's room.

As he stepped into his daughters room he found Sonya laying on her stomach at the foot of her bed colouring a drawing intently.

"Darling, time to go to sleep , I know you want to finish your drawing but it's bedtime now." His daughters gaze immediately shooting up to him from the page in front of her, a pleading look in her eye. "Sorry Darling but you can finish it tomorrow... on the bright side, I've been sent to tell you a story."

As he watched a big smile break out across his daughters face. "Can it be about The Saint!?!"

He couldn't help the sigh that escaped him... before a mirthful smile graced his face. "Of course it can but you need to get in bed first." Watching as Sonya immediately leapt up from the floor, putting her crayons and drawing on her desk and flinging herself onto her bed as fast as she could.possibly ... now waiting with an expectant look on her face

"Under the covers." He said with a chuckle, as he watched his daughter wriggle herself under her blankets.

"Ok.. good now let's see... last time we did Saint v.s. The Corrupted Subway didn't we?" Looking over at his daughter as she nodded expectantly, he decided to walk over and take a seat at his daughters desk in front of her.

As she held the obviously handmade Saint doll tightly to her chest. "How about... how about instead of Saint v.s. something we do Saint saves the day?"

————————————————————————

Location: Lemnian Companion Hollow, (Unnamed)

Footsteps thundered behind us as we ran as fast as we could, weaving between construction supplies and equipment. Taking a quick glance over my shoulder at my pursuers... "Fuck!!" Eight Ethereals-!? *THUMP* slamming into Jace in front of me, I looked up at the three massive walls surrounding us on all sides... "A Dead End!?! DOUBLE FUCK!!!" I hissed.

"Come on get up!!" Caleb grunted pulling both Jace and I back onto our feet. "We have to get out of here before they cut us off!" He stated, but before we could even turn around we heard it. "RHAAAAH!!!" a screech cut through the air behind us, spinning on my heels I looked back the way we came.

We were already surrounded... "Triple Fuck." Those two words barely left my lips before the first Ethereal charged at us. It was nearly on me in an instant, two bladed arms shooting out at me. For a moment I thought I saw a blurring of movement just off to the right, but it didn't matter, this was it. This is how it ends—

*BANG* The sound rang out louder than a gunshot. In a blur of Blue and Gray the Ethereal was slammed into the wall on my left. Cracks spiralling outwards from the impact. And there, standing in the settling dust was a man clad in Gray and Blue tactical gear. Gray cargo pants tucked into black combat boots, what could only be described as a utility belt with countless pouches on it, a gray armoured vest over some sort of blue metallic shirt, and brown leather bracers.

"You're The Saint." Caleb all but whispered.

"You- you're real?" I stuttered out, more a question than a statement.

"Holy shit." Jace echoed his disbelief.

Everything felt like it was standing still for a moment, the Ethereals processing this new threat as he pulled his tower shield free of the wall he used to flatten the first Ethereal, it was beautiful, shaped like two overlapping wings, a beautiful blue metal. There was barely a second to appreciate the craftmanship before combat erupted again.

An Ethereal with clubbed hands charged and swung wildly at The Saint, moving with practiced ease he weaved under the blow and getting behind the first Ethereal and planting a hefty kick to its back, sending it tumbling to the ground.

Quickly following the first, two Ethereals were already on top of him, parrying one with his shield using its momentum to sling it into the wall on our right, before the third could get close enough to attack, Saint reached behind him, pulling his weapon off his back, it looked like some kind of Drill-Lance hybrid. As it started to spin and shift into gear in his hand, he dashed forward with terrifying speed, driving the lance through the chest of the third Ethereal, with so much force his strike carried them back into the fourth Ethereal behind it, shredding the both of them to bits with the drilling function.

The fifth and sixth Ethereal's barely stood a chance, both charging up Ether shots, bursting against The Saints shield with little effect, neither of them got a chance for a second shot. Saint launched himself into the air with a massive leap, immediately closing the distance on Ethereal #6 and bringing the bottom of his down on its head, crushing it into a burst of Ether energy. Immediately swinging his lance to the left in a wide arc, more akin to a great sword as the spinning body of the Lance chewed into the fifth Ethereal like a paper shredder as it shuddered and crumpled to the ground.

By now both the first and second Ethereal had recovered, the second Ethereal reached The Saint first, using his shield to throw it into the air above him as the first Ethereal swung at his exposed right flank, in a flash of speed he brought up his lance to parry, grinding through the clubbed hands of the Ethereal, following up with a slash parting its torso from its waist, quickly spinning around to the Second Ethereal still laid out on the floor, driving the Drill Lance directly through it and into the ground in an eruption of multicoloured sparks.

We stood there for... a while, slack jawed as The Saint slung his Lance and Shield onto his back.

<\\You kids alright?//> his voice rung out, but it was altered, slightly garbled like a filter had been put on it... a Voice Changer..?

Looking up at him now facing us, finally getting to take in all the details of his suit. The shirt under the vest actually seemed to be some sort of scale-mail, stylized in the shape of feathers, the brown leather bracers covering his forearms and hands seeming to have more advanced tech hidden within upon closer inspection. With him now facing us I could see the mask that covered the bottom half of his face, which must be why his voice sounded odd. But the thing that stood out the most... was his glowing electric blue eyes.

Caleb was the first person to really gather his bearings. "Uh.. yes! yes we're good."

As he walked up to us I took into account just how massive he was, he had to be somewhere around 6'9. Reaching into one of the pouches on his belt he pulled out a pill bottle and tossed it to me. <\\You three have been in this Hollow a while, I suggest you each take two//> he stated.

"These are..?" I asked confused.

<\\Anti Corruption Meds//> He said, gesturing with his hand to hurry up.

"Dope." Jace whispered from behind me.

<\\Hey, that's all of them, right?//> He called over his shoulder to someone behind him.

Shortly after that a Bangboo with an knitted orange scarf came into view.

"Yes these are the last 3, we should gather with the others and make our way out of the Hollow while the carrot is still good." A relatively female voice came from the Bangboo, surprisingly, not using the typical bangboo language.

As we listened to their conversation the three of us took our Anti Corruption medication, which was particularly unpleasant without water, but hey we're alive!

"So- a Bangboo with an orange scarf?" Jace started.

"Don't PubSec and H.S.O. sources believe the Bangboo with an orange scarf belongs to the Legendary Proxy Phaethon?" I asked looking at Jace and Caleb for confirmation.

"So that's how you stay so untraceable within the hollows." Caleb mused, gesturing to the Bangboo. "The Saint and the Legendary Proxy Phaethon are a team."

The Bangboo quickly turned around to look at Caleb, almost in a panic. An impressed whistle left Saints mouth, sounding a little odd with the voice mod on his mask. <\\You put that together fast//> he seemed genuinely impressed.

"That's so Fuckin Cool!" Jace exclaimed, leaping up into the air like an excited kid. The Bangboo chimed in as it waddled up to us.

"While we appreciate the adoration you seem to hold for us, I hope you can understand how dangerous that information is." Now, a much more distinctly male voice coming from the Bangboo. As it looked over at Saint.

<\\Yeah... as much as I can appreciate how exciting it would be to go and tell everyone you know, Phaethon and I operate in the shadows doing this, so the less details the authorities have the better//>

As the Bangboo waddled back over and past Saint, Caleb spoke up. "Because your technically classified as Hollow Raiders right? Unless it's an accident that gets someone stuck in a Hollow, it's only supposed to be Law Enforcement or other Hollow related organizations in here. Which makes you being here a crime."

As Jace listened to what Caleb said he almost looked offended on Saints behalf. "But he's not a Raider, he fights Raiders! And he comes here and saves people! He isn't running a crime syndicate from here! He's more like a Hollow— oh what's the word?" Looking over to Jace I suggest. "Vigilante?"

Jace snaps his fingers shooting me finger guns. "Exactly! He helps people!"

<\\While I may be here to help, your friend is right, we are illegally in this Hollow. So just less details keep it safer for us to do our work. Vague description of features, no mention of Phaethon, etc//>

"Oh of course!! Your secret is safe with us!" Jace exclaimed, a dopey grin on his face and holding two thumbs up.

<\\Good, then we should collect the others survivors and get you all out of this Hollow//> he turned around and gestured for us to follow. <\\Follow me//> Saint called.

"I'm the one with the Carrot here Mr. so your all following me... technically." The Bangboo teased. Seemingly back to the original female voice.

————————————————————————

After about a ten minute walk we reached what seemed to be a small hardware store swallowed up by the Hollow, this is where Saint seemed to have gathered the rest of the survivors to hide, once we had got there, I counted over a dozen people, people that Saint saved.

I watched him move amongst the group of civilians, checking the on children, and elderly, along with any wounded. What caught my attention most though was his movements, they almost felt like a dancer... he wasn't dancing but he moved so elegantly, beyond how a normal person would. Always seeming to be aware of where his big freaking shield and lance were hanging when he turned, and how to not knock into anything or one, but beyond that he moved silently even with all that heavy gear, every move was purposeful and were of his surroundings. Further than that even with all that tactical gear on him, he didn't make a sound when moving, like he could be walking directly behind you and you would never know.

As he finished his rounds checking on everybody he walked back over to Jace, Caleb and I, holding a young boy in his arms, looking at the kid his clothes were covered in dried dirt, the only clean parts of him were his face and his right leg up to his knee, both seeming to have been cleaned with water and a cloth. His leg had gauze wrapped around a lot of his calf.

"How bad is he?" Caleb asked.

<\\He'll be just fine, though he won't be able to walk//> Saint paused, a look almost like guilt flashing across his face. <\\Would one of you be able to carry him? It's best for me to keep my hands free in case we face anymore danger//>

Immediately Jace stepped up in front of Saint. "I can do it, definitely." He said reaching out and scooping up the mostly dirty young boy.

<\\His name is Quinn, watch out for him//> he said a hint of relief in his voice.

With that we all gathered together and followed Saint and Phaethon in the direction they said the exit to the Hollow was.

————————————————————————

As Quinn babbled to Caleb and Jace it gave me some time to think, and that thinking led to so many questions. Saint was walking at the front of the group, not horribly far in front of us, so I sped up a bit to try and talk to him.

As I made my way up beside him, taking a deep breath I asked. "Is it ok... to ask a few questions before we get out?"

He glanced at me out the side of his eyes, before taking a sweeping look at the landscape around us. Maybe looking for threats. <[sighs]> <\\I assume these questions are about the proxies and I//>

As he asked that I glanced back at Caleb, Jace, and now Quinn as well. Seeing how they and all the other people with us were just acting like it was a casual day for a stroll.

"Why keep your existence a secret?" I questioned, deciding to rip the bandaid off right away.

"Look how safe everyone feels with you around?" "We are in a Hollow and nobody is even scared!" "People tell stories about you like they tell stories about Section 6, or- or even the Void Hunters! You give so many people hope... your a hero... but you refuse to even let them know your real." It all came spilling out so fast.

I looked up to find him looking at me... he looked sorry almost. <\\Yeah, that's a fair ask//> As he ran a hand through his hair he looked like I just added an extra hundred pounds onto his shoulders.

<\\I know it looks simple from what you've seen today and the stories that are told... but that's only the surface people know about what we do... and why we do it//> He glanced over to Phaethon's bangboo. It wasn't looking at us, but I can tell it was listening in, it had slowed its pace a small amount to walk closer to us.

<\\We never intended to play hero, saving people from Hollows. This started to find answers to something I can't tell you about. For your safety//> his tone took on a more serious weight then it had all day, he had kept up beat, to relieve us of our worries.

<\\They can't be in Hollows for long, having a low Ether Aptitude, unlike me. So Phaethon focused on learning how to navigate the Hollows, and I took it upon myself to become strong, strong enough to go into the Hollows to gather the information we needed.//> Saint seemed to be struggling to choose the right words.

"You didn't want to be some legendary hero?" I asked.

<\\Legendary is a strong word. But no, the intention was... not this. We set out to find answers to a secret...//> He paused for a moment taking a shaky breath. <\\A secret that looking into already cost people their lives. So we stay in the shadows while we look for these answers... it's safer that way//>

Now I was just confused. "If you aren't seeking to be a hero, or save people—"

<\\Why are we here//> Saint said, glancing at me as he finished my thought.

<\\Because its the right thing to do. We have the strength and skills to help, so when people are in danger we show up cause we can save lives. But there's no hunger for the glory or renown that can come with these acts of "Legendary Heroism"//> Making air quotes with his hands.

I was about to ask another question but Phaethon... or their Bangboo came to a stop.

"We're here." We were stopped in front of a car repair shop, specifically one of its garage doors. Saint stepped up to it, sticking out his hand, as a sound between a rip, and a crackle sounded out through the air, and a fissure appeared. A swirling vortex of mostly different shades of purple, but it had some pinks, blues, and other colours.

"A Fissure!" Someone in and amongst our group gasped.

<\\Looks like we made it folks, if you could all file out in a neat and orderly fashion that would be amazing. Don't want to get injured now that you basically made it out//> And there it was. His cheerful and inspiring attitude was back. As all the survivors slowly filed out of the Hollow he gave me a knowing look.

<\\Knowledge is power, the less people know about what we do the safer it is for all of us//> I nodded as he said this.

"Understood." He patted me on the shoulder, and then my friends and I, plus Quinn filed into the fissure and out of the Hollow.

As the lurching in my stomach subsided, and my eyes adjusted to the lights shining in my face we found ourself just outside of the Hollow, seeming spat out right in front of an Pubsec Encampment outside of the Hollow. H.S.O., H.I.A., and PubSec personnel were rushing around, checking the survivors that had come out first for injuries and ether sickness symptoms. Someone seemed to notice my friends and I, and was now quickly making their way to us.

————————————————————————

Location: Twelfth Street, Janus Quarter

As I finishing narrating Sonya's bedtime story, watching her sleep peacefully, silently as I could I made my way over to her, brushing some hair out of her face and kissing her forehead. I then worked my way out of her room and quietly closed the door behind me, making my way back to the living room, I was greeted to my wife curled up under a blanket reading a book. The sun had finally set completely and the room was filled with the warm glow from the floor lamp in the room. Making my way behind her I placed a kiss to the top of her head, and looked at the TV, the news broadcast, still silent but with new information glowed on the screen.

"All missing people(s) found and accounted for" but what really caught my attention was the scrolling text at the bottom of the screen.

"Claims of the Saint saving the missing people(s) and add to growing speculation on if The Saint truly exists. PubSec Officials still resolute in the claims The Saint seeming to be some sort of Shared Ether Induced Hallucination as they "Have no Evidence" that he or she truly exist."

My wife moved to slip her bookmark into her book before looking up at me. "Did you find any inspiration while you were putting Sonya to bed?"

As I chucked, leaning down to peck my wife's lips now she was facing me. "I think I might just have an idea." I whisper, moving back over to my laptop at the kitchen table.

Within an apartment complex in the Janus Quarter, under the warm light of a floor lamp, as the warped face of a moon, scarred by Hollows, climbs into the night sky the sound of typing on a keyboard resumes. This time with a certainty that could only convey a strengthened hope for a better day.

GAME START

@jacenradio7

[thewriterthatghostedyou]

Chapter 1

Not sure how I feel about this chapter tbh, it’s been a longgggg time since I’ve written smut so please let me know what you think about it! And idk if In-ho feels ooc since he is hard to write for me (I’m not sure if i made him too mean, and I may need to rewrite the chapter but we’ll see) but hopefully you enjoy! Sorry for the long wait, school is school but summer is almost here. (Thank god)

Warnings: This is really dark, like seriously. The dove has definitely decayed. Non/dub con, sexual content, really mean In-ho, dirty talk, cussing, and manipulation

Word Count: 3,470

All dividers by @steddiecameraroll-graphics

When you were seventeen your therapist had tried talking you through how to meditate. Tried being the key word. Back then you had been too fidgety and too stuck in your teenage angst to care, at least for the most part. But there was one day you had listened.

Dr. Nolan had bribed you with a king sized chocolate bar to at least give the process a go and you had rolled your eyes, but your love for chocolate won you over in the end. He had said you had to try, not that it had to work after all.

So in a pitch dark room, you had laid down on a mat on the floor and tried to tune out the chintzy music he had decided to play. The sounds of the wind chimes and harps feeling strange and off putting to your ears. It was surprisingly easy to do when you got a quick glance at the clock and saw that there were 20 minutes left in your court-ordered session.

Perhaps you’d go to the mall with Maeve, your best friend since you were in diapers, was that something that would look normal enough to your foster parents for them to convince the court to end these sessions? You had hoped so, and plus it had been a while since you had seen Maeve. You may not have been the most present since the… incident.

“Now, I want you to take deep breaths in and out Y/n, try to imagine your spine aligning with the ground.” You rolled your eyes. Though the action was unseen by Dr. Nolan as he laid on the floor across the room from you, trying to allow you some space in the cramped office. But you straighten your back as he had asked. Free chocolate was free chocolate after all.

“Good, now I want you to feel your legs growing heavier. The sensation traveling up to your arms before reaching your head.” Maybe Maeve would be down to get pizza before hitting the mall. It had been a while since you had an obscenely greasy slice since your latest foster mother was a health nut. Oddly enough, as your mind floated away on thoughts of junk food you found your legs growing heavier as instructed and your breathing evened.

The feeling wasn’t… entirely unpleasant, and you found yourself focusing on your body. The slowed heartbeat felt like a gentle percussion against your chest and you could practically feel each breath entering your lungs. You were beginning to enjoy the calm, the quiet that settled over your mind that usually was full of jumbled, angry thoughts. Or rather, memories of what had happened.

It was why you had a full body flinch when the lights turned on abruptly and a familiar grating sound interrupted you. “Time’s up!” Your social worker had exclaimed with a cheery voice. Your heart began beating brutally against your chest and you had wondered if you had actually gotten a heart attack from the woman’s scare.

“Elizabeth!” You vaguely heard Dr. Nolan scolding the woman as you tried to regain your composure, frowning as pins and needles traveled up your legs and causing you to wince slightly.

The feeling of waking up from whatever drug the triangle guard had given you had put that discomfort to shame.

Your eyes fluttered open softly, and a dim light above you slowly started to sharpen in your vision.

“What the fuck…” You groaned slightly, fighting against the invisible weight your limbs still had from the drug, before heaving in a deep breath at the feeling of pins and needles prickling up your body.

As your breathing slowly stabilized, you went silent as heavy footsteps echoed outside your door. Your hopes that they were only passing by were dashed when the sound of a lock clicked and the door handle turned.

Adrenaline coursed through your veins, your previous fatigue vanished instantly as you shot up in the bed you had been laying on. You blinked in surprise as you felt the soft, buttery satin sheets slide across your shins. Now that you were awake you realized two things. You were still in your player uniform, the dirty, sweaty garment sticking out against your second observation.

You were in a bedroom, a luxurious bedroom that seemed like something out of a high stakes casino hotel. The walls were relatively plain, save for the large flat screen anchored to the wall, and there was little furniture outside of the bed you were sitting on and a leather couch in front of the flat screen. And you caught a quick glance of what appeared to be an equally luxurious bathroom with black tiles lining the floors and an ambient amber lighting lit your surroundings.

“You're awake.” A robotic voice broke the eerie silence of the room and you snapped your head back to the door to see a tall figure dressed in a dark grey uniform with an oddly shaped geometrical black mask. It was full of sharp lines and angles, yet still resembled a human face with spaces for the eyes visible upon a closer look.

You said nothing, not knowing what to say in such a situation but backing against the metal headboard as the masked man approached you. “I hope you weren’t left waiting too long.” The man continued, walking right past you and making himself comfortable on the couch. “I would have been here sooner however there were some… unfortunate occurrences that had to be dealt with.”

“Who are you?” You squeaked out quickly, finally finding your voice as you kept your gaze on the strange man. “And why am I… what’s going on?”

The masked man tilted his head at you before straightening his posture as if he had just remembered something. “Ah… yes…” With practiced precision, he flipped back his hood and unclipped his mask, placing it neatly at his side before turning to you with an expectant look.

He was an older man, at least older than you, and in any other circumstance you would have found him handsome, like a movie star, but the only thought running through your head was that you saw his face. Anyone who’d ever seen a true crime documentary knew what that meant. There was no way you were leaving this room alive.

“I am the Frontman.” The older man reclined deeper into the back of the couch as he spoke, his eyes lazily trained on your terrified form, yet his face betraying nothing. “I am responsible for overseeing all of the operations that make up the games.”

“Oh.” You said softly, not one hundred percent sure what that means but not wanting to provoke him somehow.

“But I didn’t bring you here to talk about me, I’ve been watching you. We always try to monitor players who vote to leave, you were so desperate… to leave that is. Which is why I was surprised by your choice to come back.” He huffed out a small chuckle as he seemed to remember something. “And throwing the marble game? I hadn’t expected you to take yourself out like that.”

You twisted the soft, satiny sheet between your fingers, feeling unease spread throughout your body as he spoke. His gaze seemed to pierce you as if it were a bullet. More accurately, the bullet that was supposed to kill you when you had failed.

“Did you mean it?” he asked, leaning forward to rest, his elbows on his knees as he studied you intently.

“Mean what?” You finally spoke, breaking your silence.

“What you said, to Player 067, about her surviving being what’s ‘right’. Do you really hold such a low regard for your own life?”

You didn’t answer, looking down at your hands and not sure how to proceed. “I don’t want to die. If that’s what you’re asking… I just-“ you paused, your words escaping you slightly before continuing again. “She’s my friend.” Your voice became slightly stronger yet still controlled. “And… and she has someone she needs to take care of, someone who can’t survive without her.”

“How noble.” The older man shook his head with a slight smile on his face. “You should count yourself lucky that I had taken an interest in you when I did. I suppose it’s not much of a surprise you couldn’t win, you aren’t like the other players. You’re too soft. Sentimental.”

You winced at his harsh words. Though they were true, he didn’t have to say them like that.

The older man must’ve seen your expression, so he spoke softer than before. “My apologies that was… harsher than I intended. What I mean to say is although you weren’t cut out for the games, you still may be more useful to me alive.”

You raised an eyebrow at his remark, only now realizing that the clinical stare he had fixated on you was not clinical at all, but one that seemed to peel you open for his prying gaze. One that scanned your body too comfortably for your liking.

“You want me to sleep with you. Don’t you?” You asked, clenching your fists tight enough that you felt your nails dig into the palms of your hands.

The man gave you a smug grin and cocked his head to the side. “I do.” You released a shuddering breath at the admission and felt coldness sweep over you as he continued. “Part of the services we offer here is to have people available to entertain our VIPs. But you-”

“VIPs?” You interjected.

“The people who’ve been watching you all play the games. Mostly the one percent of the population.” The man clarified. “You didn’t think we organized such a spectacle for no reason did you?”

“No… I suppose that makes sense…” You trailed off, unnerved by the thought of unseen eyes watching you and your friends’ every moment with malicious fascination. “And if I… if I sleep with these VIPs you’ll let me leave?” You weren’t sure if you could do it in all honesty, the thought made you sick to think about and perhaps you would have preferred the bullet in the brain to this.

The man huffed out an offended huff. “God no, they can make do with the people we already provide them. I want to fuck you myself.” At this he stood up and stalked towards you slowly, seemingly done with whatever introduction he had planned. He walked like a predator circling his prey.

One man. One was a lot better than multiple. You reasoned to yourself. No matter how desperate you had been in the past you had never once considered prostituting yourself out to someone. You had wanted to save your first time for someone special. Someone kind, even if you were dumb enough to believe that someone like that existed in this world. Maybe Sae-Byeok if you had met under different circumstances. But you couldn’t do that if you were dead.

You nodded softly, making room on the bed for the man to sit next to you. It was just one time anyways and he wasn’t unattractive. Perhaps you could pretend he was a kind stranger you had met in a cafe or a colleague you had been flirting with for months. “O-okay I’ll do it.” You said finally. “Just this one time right? And then you’ll let me leave? I swear I won’t tell anyone anything about the island. You saw that I didn’t say anything to anyone the last time when everyone voted to leave.”

You let out a surprised squeak as the man moved faster than you could blink and pulled you closer to him by the ankles until he was firmly in between your hips. He chuckled darkly as his hands slid over your thighs towards the waistband of your pants. “I’m glad you’ve decided to behave, although this was always going to happen whether you agreed to it or not.” You flinched as he sharply tugged down your pants and underwear and fully exposed you to his view.

Your eyes widened at his admission and as he tugged your shirt off, leaving you vulnerable in only your bra while he was still fully clothed. Fear got the better of you as you started to struggle against his grip before you felt his warm hand grip your wrists tightly above your head. “Wait… just… just slow down. I changed my mind.” You weren’t thinking of any consequences of refusing him, only that you wanted him to leave, his words having deeply unsettled you. He was leaning over you now, he had to be to keep a firm grip on your wrists as his eyes focused on your exposed pussy. You felt tears start to form in the corner of your eyes as he caressed his free hand on your thighs, his smile widening as he watched your flesh move when he squeezed them tightly.

He only chuckled again in response as his long fingers started to circle your exposed pearl, causing a jolt of pleasure to race throughout your body. “Don’t be irrational, Y/n.” He chided slightly, with a hint of amusement in his voice. “Your life belongs to me now, and I’ll do what I wish with you.”

Your heart started racing and you tried to fight his grip when you noticed the telltale bulge in his black slacks. “No… I’m not… I-”

He sighed, exasperated with your efforts before continuing his sinful ministrations against your clit, causing you to whine in response. “The only reason you are alive is because of me.” He spit out harshly, stopping his movements right as your back began to arch. “Because I saved your pathetic little life.” You let out an embarrassing moan when he slipped a finger inside of you, slowly exploring your pussy and curving to reach a spot that you didn’t know existed. “You may not accept the fact that your only purpose now is to please me whenever I wish but you will. I’ll be sure to fuck the idea into your pretty little head you can be sure of that.”

You felt heat burn across your cheeks as he easily inserted a second finger inside you, not finding any resistance due to the moisture gushing around his fingers. “You like this don’t you, you little slut?”

“N-No. I don’t I-” You let out another moan as his fingers brush against your g spot in a way that had you seeing stars.

“Very convincing.” His smug grin never left his face as he looked you deeply in the eyes. “I fucking knew you’d be a good little whore since I watched you and 456 in dalgona.” As he spread his fingers apart inside you, you had thought back to the second game. You had been stupid enough to pick the star leaving you stuck with the second hardest cookie. If it hadn’t been for Gi-Hun’s brilliant idea to lick the cookie free you would have most definitely cracked it.

You were brought back to the present as his fingers left your core achingly empty. He shushed you mockingly as he sucked the evidence of your arousal off of his fingers and started to reach for his zipper. “Please…” You begged, as he quickly pulled out his cock.

“Hmmmm, you sound so sweet when you’re begging for me.” He spoke huskily as he pumped himself a few times before starting to align himself with your entrance. “Now be a good girl and fucking take it.”

Your eyes widened as he slowly started to push in and you let out a strangled cry as his thick, hard length went deeper inside you. “Fucking- Please stop, it's not going to fit. I can’t-”

“Shut the fuck up.” He hissed harshly, his eyes fluttering closed as he pushed in deeper against your tight walls. You could feel all of him as he bottomed out inside you, the sensations too much as he was a snug fit, his balls rubbing slightly against your pearl and his cock stretching you so fully that you felt your legs shake when he shifted slightly.

“God you’re so fucking tight.” He groaned out, gently pushing himself further in and then slightly out of your body, seeming to test how it felt to be inside your gummy walls. “Yeah, you’re just my pretty little cum dump, huh? My little whore.” He groaned again as he started to snap his hips against yours.

Tears were freely falling down your cheeks as he started to pick up speed, creating a vulgar slapping sound of skin against skin that echoed throughout the small room. You found yourself clenching around him as his balls rubbed against your clit with every thrust sending waves of pleasure throughout your legs.

Your eyes fluttered as you felt a powerful wave build inside of you and your release rapidly approached. “Say you want more.” He demanded suddenly, “Beg for me, I want to hear you fucking beg to cum.”

Through the haze of the pleasure you were feeling you did as he asked. “Please, oh god please…sir-”

“In-ho,” The man above you, In-ho, said while still rocking your hips up and down his length like you were weightless. “I want you to say my name.”

You nodded quickly, your back arching slightly as he hit the spongy spot inside of you.. “In-ho please, I need- I need you to make me cum, please.”

“Good girl.” He murmured lowly, his hand returning to your clit and rubbing it as his thrusts grew sloppier and more intense. “Go on, cum for me.” You felt him twitch inside you as you were overcome by your orgasm, not even realizing that he had let go of your wrists to caress your waist.

Your moans quieted as the effects started to slowly leave you and your legs quivered at the overstimulation of In-ho’s fingers on your clit. “There we go.” He huffed out, gripping your hips tightly with both hands as he rolled his hips against yours in a sloppy motion, but remaining deep inside you as he came. You cringed slightly as you felt his member twitch inside you before a warm gush spread through you. In-Ho breathed heavily above you and still remained inside you, looking at the point where your bodies were combined with a critical eye. With a soft sob you finally broke the silence. “You came in me.” Your voice sounded weak and pathetic and you hated how whiny it sounded.

“Ah yes.” He grunted as he pulled out of you, the sensation eliciting a hiss through your teeth to escape. “I had an implant placed while you were out.” You winced in pain as he tapped your arm.

You found yourself grateful for his ability to think ahead, because god knows that getting pregnant was the worst thing that could happen in this fucked up scenario. He rolled his neck and stretched his shoulders back as he walked into the small bathroom that was connected to your room and you watched him closely, waiting for him to just leave you alone. You already felt guilt bubbling up inside you for not trying harder and if you had to wallow in that guilt you wanted to do it alone.

You stared as In-ho threw a washcloth he must have used to clean himself further into the bathroom before tucking himself back into his slacks and grabbing his mask from the bedside table. “I suppose I should let you rest.” He stopped in front of the door he had come in from to look at your ruined body with a proud grin. “The room’s yours. Shower, sleep, do whatever the hell you want. Someone will bring new sheets and clothes in a little bit along with dinner.”

You nodded numbly at what he said and flinched as he walked back over gripping your chin tightly enough for his knuckles to turn white. “What you are not going to do is misbehave. If I hear from my colleague that you try to escape or attack him I will make your life here a personal hell. You may not believe me but I’m being rather reasonable right now. Don’t make me regret it, am I clear?” His eyes bore deeply into your own and you felt the beginnings of bruises forming on your chin from how tight his grip was.

“Yes sir.” You choked out.

“Good.” He released you from his grip with a gentle caress behind your ear before putting on his mask once again. The distorted voice sent shivers down your spine as he left you with one more parting instruction.

“Get some rest if you can. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Tag List 🏷️

Let me know if you’d like to be added or removed!

@moonaarts

[roguegambitweek]

Romy Discord FanFic Rec List

In honor of Rogue/Gambit Week, some of the writers from the Romy Discord wanted to share some fics that we’ve written. 

With so much Romy love to share, we hope y’all find a new favorite or rediscover an old one. 

💚💖 Thanks for reading! 💖💚

Takes Two To Tango (or take down a Wild Sentinel) @aldreantreuperi by AldreanTreuPeri [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: XtAS’97 | Words: 1,521 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: A battle is as much a dance as anything achieved on a dance floor…and having the proper partner can literally keep you alive… Episode 5 fix-it fic.

But Here We Are by AppleJ @applejacks1552 [ao3] 

Rating: M | Universe: Comics | Words: 32,978 | Chapters: 30 | Status: Complete 

Summary: They never thought this would be possible, but Rogue is uneXpectedly eXpecting. Yet nothing is ever THAT simple in the life of an X-Man. What secret will Gambit discover that complicates their happily-ever-after?

AppleJ says: Hmmmm ... why I wrote that fic in particular: First, because I wanted to make the fan theory that the twins (Maxime & Manon) were Romy kiddos real. Second, because I KNOW it will be a cold day in hell before Marvel ever gives Romy kids in the main 616 (like maybe long after I'm dead & they're out of storylines & they've already split/reunited them 5 times over?), so it seemed like fertile ground (pun intended). And third, because they say to write what you know & I wanted a pregnancy/birth story that reflected the reality that it isn't all sunshine & rainbows & certainty for many of us & that's okay too.

Mighty Thin Ice by Cajun_Hawk @cajunhawk [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: E | Universe: Comics | Words: 138,942 | Chapters: 11 | Status: WIP 

Summary: Rogue is working hard to get her powers under control while she and Gambit have decided to take their relationship to the next level, in hopes of having something normal very soon. 

The Legacy of Dark Cerebro by Chellerbelle @chellerbelles [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: Movies | Words: 45,064 | Chapters: 12 | Status: Complete 

Summary: What if X2 had ended differently? What if the X-Men hadn’t gotten to Professor Xavier in time and all the humans had died? Takes place 5 years after this alternate ending (exception of the prologue). 

Chelle says: After much indecision, I decided on The Legacy of Dark Cerebro. The opening scene had a special place in my heart, and New Sun vs Phoenix was on my fanfic bucket list for a long time. 🙂Also, this story seems a bit more “new reader” friendly than some of my other favourites, haha.

Risk and Reward by DayenuRose @dayenurose [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 47,518 | Chapters: 13 | Status: Complete

Summary: There’s an old adage that goes, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. As a thief, Remy LeBeau know full well that oftentimes the greatest risks come with the greatest rewards. When he starts to fall for the enigmatic Rogue, Remy must decide if the risks are worth the possible reward. 

Rose says: This was one of the first Romy fics I’ve written. It was a real entry into Romy fandom for me. Everyone was so welcoming and kind in the comments. And during the process of writing this, it helped me come to a better understand of Gambit, Rogue, and their relationship. 💜

LeBeau’s Eleven by Ilargikat @ilargikat [ao3]

Rating: G | Universe: Comics | Words: 14,182 | Chapters: 6 | Status: WIP

Summary: Planning a heist is not easy, especially when you need special skills to pull it off. The luck of being an X-Men is that the skills are within reach, maybe not people willing to commit a heist.

Once. Now. Before. Always. by lovethelebeaux @lovethelebeaux [ao3]

Rating: M | Universe: Comics | Words: 10,179 | Chapters: 4 | Status: Complete

Summary: Four vignettes from four different time periods over the course of Rogue and Gambit’s relationship. 

Lovethelebeax says: Heehee I've only written like four things so this will be easier for me than most 😅 it's this one, my first in 20 years

The Tailor & The Seamstress by Ludi_Ling @ludi-ling [ao3] [ff.net]

Rating: M | Universe: X-Men |Words: 58,659 | Chapters: 13 | Status: Complete

Summary: Remy LeBeau is the creative lead at a waning fashion house in 1910 New York. Over the street is his employer’s rival, where a pretty and talented seamstress happens to work. Romance ensues, of course - in-between a friendly rivalry, that is. 

Ludi says: It was a tough call on which fic to choose, but I settled on this one because the last fic I write is always the one I'm most proud of, and this is the last one I completed! Last summer @narwhallove challenged me to write a Romy fic that played on my love of both them and of historical fashion. She threw some ideas at me, and I wrote nearly an entire chapter. Then, X-Men '97 starts, and I read back on what I wrote in July '23, and suddenly the rest of the story unfolds before me. I had a blast writing it! And I hope you have fun reading it too 😉

But I Can’t Trace Time by Sandmans_Raven @sandmansraven [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 8,998 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: After a battle with the time-traveling mutant-hunter known as Ahab, Rogue is sent into the future. To get back, she must rely on old friends and put a stop to Ahab’s plans. 

Toys by Spaceorphan @spaceorphan18 [ao3]

Rating: T | Universe: Comics | Words: 1,619 | Chapters: 1 | Status: Oneshot 

Summary: Romy catches Remy playing with toy action figures of the X-Men. Shenanigans. Set in the 616 verse, but some fun meta-y references to XM97.

[messessentialist]

start by pulling him out of the fire

A Steddie fanfiction written by @messessentialist for the @steddiebang, with art by @hellfiredemon and @maikaartwork. 85k. Rated E.

Read it on AO3

Summary:

Eddie Munson died on March 27th, 1986. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. No, wait. That’s not right. That’s Hitchhiker's Guide. Or was it Restaurant at the End of the Universe? Whatever, not important. Eddie Munson died on March 27th, 1986. Except…he didn’t. He couldn’t have. Because Eddie Munson is currently arguing with himself in his fucking head about sci-fi quotes, which doesn’t feel especially like something that a dead person would have the capacity to do. The bats had killed him. There had been pain, and the sick sensation of tearing flesh. He’d had to swallow past a mouthful of his own blood to tell Henderson he loved him. Surely those were symptoms of imminent death. And yet. On April 1st, 1986, Eddie Munson opens his eyes in a dim hospital room. There’s a gasp from his left, and he tries to turn his head towards the source. “Easy there, kid. They’ve got you trussed up pretty good.” Eddie doesn’t need to see him. He’d know that voice anywhere, in any universe, hell dimension or otherwise. “Uncle Wayne?” A story about the families we find and the love that finds us.

Artwork by Hellfiredemon

Artwork by Maika

And of course I have to thank the rest of the team who helped to make this possible!

Beta by @flintandfuss and @wynnyfryd

Emotional support services by @wormdebut

It's finally time to start sharing this bad boy with the world!!! Project 070 for the Steddie Big Bang 2023. Writing this and getting to work with Conrad and Maika have been incredible joys, and I feel so very lucky. I hope you all love it as much as I do!

Chapter 1: In Which Wayne Acquires a Child

Chapter 2: In Which Wayne Becomes a Parent

Chapter 3: In Which the Munsons Become a Family

Chapter 4: In Which Eddie Lives, Bitch

Chapter 5: In Which Eddie Goes Home...Sort Of

Chapter 6: In Which Everyone's a Little Bit Gay

Chapter 7: In Which Eddie Sees Stars

Chapter 8: In Which There is Cause for Celebration

Chapter 9: In Which It Takes a Village

Chapter 10: In Which There is a Soft Epilogue

[hopeswriting]

Top KHR fanfics

hi nonny, thank you for the ask!

okay so i obviously haven't read all the khr fics out there, so this will be by no means an exhaustive list. but from the ones i've read? *crack knuckles* let's go through my bookmarks in no particular order!

also adding this after i finished answering the ask, but this just ended up being a list of arco fics and/or tsuna fics (+ the 10th gen and/or reborn). but like. are we surprised zfsdfdsf.

on ao3:

flip a coin [head for villain, tail for hero] by petroltogo

Superhero/Supervillain AU: All Sawada Tsunayoshi wants to do is help people. Considering his occupation as a Vongola Inc. superhero, you'd think that wouldn't be much of a problem. You'd be wrong. [Of course 'people' isn't supposed to include wanted supervillains. But it's hardly Tsuna's fault that the training manual doesn't specify that, is it.] Along the way, he learns to help himself.

this series is just so, so good! all the works in it are simply *chef's kiss*. the worldbuilding is amazing, the characters so in character and complex and with so many layers and depth to them. also it's obviously planned down to the last detail, so it's incredibly fun to follow along and try to piece the puzzle along with the various characters' pov.

The Boy in the Ice by eloquentelegance

A mysterious pillar of ice drops out of the sky and fuses with the grounds of Yuuei. It's not the strangest thing to happen, especially for this school. But the boy, frozen within, is strange - yes, very strange indeed.

haven't read chapter 2 yet, but i have no doubt it won't disappoint whenever i'll be able to get to it. as for chapter 1? a fucking masterpiece. it's a khr x bnha crossover, and i don't usually read crossover, but boy, am i glad this is one of the few i gave a chance to haha.

Yugen by Little_Miss_Bunny

In one world, Tsuna sacrificed his life to save the Arcobaleno. As soon as he drew his last breath, he opened his eyes again to see beaten students cowering in front of him and a bloody hammer in his hand.

it's been a while since i've reread this one, but i still have the reaction of "oh, this one was so, so good!!" whenever i come across it lol, so yeah. what i do remember is i absolutely love the depiction of hibari in this one as well as his dynamic with tsuna. also little miss bunny is one of my favorite khr writers, they're so good at crafting the different aus they come up with and making them feel real while still keeping the characters in character, i love it.

Target Acquired: Wicked Jester by poorasdirt

Colonnello has always been a military man. He understood what led to him being cursed. He understood why the others had been cursed. Or, well, why most of the others had been cursed. Skull's motivations had always been a mystery to him. Now that the curse had been lifted, Colonnello could finally sit back and try to puzzle it out. If only it were that easy. Or Colonnello's instincts were telling him something wasn't right and curiosity only kills cats.

i know for a fact i've already recc this one before, and i'm doing it again because it's just that good. <3 it's another one heavy on worldbuilding, which is funny because usually worldbuilding isn't exactly my thing, but how can i say no to them when they're all so well written like this. anyway it's a skull-centric fic through nello's pov, so of course i was all for it zfsegfdsds.

Starstruck by Little_Miss_Bunny

All Tsuna wanted was his siblings to be happy. So, he didn't see a problem attending a fan signing for one of the hottest bands to date, even if he had no clue who they were. He did start seeing a problem when more idols started appearing in his life. It got even worse when they just wouldn't leave him alone.

i love this one so, soo much! this is my favorite work of theirs. it's currently at 153k words tho, so not too sure how to summarize it lol, but just trust me on this one! it's more on the lighthearted one compared to their other works, tho still touch on serious stuff and do it well, but i'd still consider it a comfort (and funny) fic.

Scorching Ember by Little_Miss_Bunny

When the revered Sky Priestess suddenly passes away, everyone mourns. However, the world is soon engulfed by darkness, giving rise to creatures that seemed to only exist in folktales. With the gods mysteriously absent, there is no one to keep everything from descending into ruins—until a hunter finds a curious object in a barren creek.

another one from little miss bunny that i love so much!! maybe or maybe not because nello is the first arco to appear, so there's certainly no shortage of nello & tsuna interactions. more seriously tho zrfsdfds, this is another one where the worldbuilding has obviously been given a lot of care, and the characters are written so well, tsuna first of all, and it's just super fun to read.

Forever Family, Forever Vongola by AnimationNut

They're a group of insane, energetic, destructive and hyper people. But they also love each other, whether some are willing to admit it or not. Family sticks together, through thick, thin, and crazy.

the ultimate platonic/familial khr fic! with how many chapters it already has (57 for 195k words), you're bound to find more than one you'll love. some are connected, most are not. some are lighthearted fluff, some more on the heavy, serious side of things. but all chapters are written so well, and at their cores it's all about how much these guys love each other.

The Hottest of Flames can Melt the Strongest of Chains by Luki (KelpieCodyne)

I'm not a liar, but I close my eyes a lot by Seito

another incredible series that is just so, soo good! it's about tsuna not wanting to become vongola decimo and doing what he can so it won't happen. no happy endings yet, but the series isn't marked complete yet either, so we'll see.

It started with bang. A bullet casing falling to the ground; the clatter echoing off the walls. It started with Tsuna putting a bullet through the head of his enemy, unflinchingly. Blood spattered, flying, rolling down Tsuna's cheek. Brown eyes burn with orange fire, yet so, so, so cold. In another world, Reborn would have smiled. In this world, Reborn flinched.

i haven't reread this one in a long while, so i honestly... don't quite remember how it goes zqdsfds, but i still remember it was an amazing read all the same!! i mean, the summary alone is so good? also this writer is one of the best in the fandom imo, so yeah.

ozymandias was a punkass bitch (but he had the right idea) by Seito

“You want Vongola? You can have it,” Tsuna says serenely.

loved this one too! badass tsuna is always a treat, and i always love to see it.

last to fade by Trilies

Mammon's last breath is of rain and gunpowder. Before they make their choice, they consider lives lost and the options they have. There's not a lot. Set during the Millefiore timeline.

a look at what mammon's last moment could have been like. super well-written.

Striking Once by istilllikekhr

A peek into the universe where Nana Sawada was given the Lightning Mare Ring.

this one has an unsual pairing (byakuran & nana), but you'll be missing out if you don't give it a chance because of it. i also didn't have a clue what to expect when i first clicked on it, but when i tell you it did not disappoint. and the ending? oughhh. please give this a chance!

Sunny Skies Ahead by Ourliazo

Reborn is not yet the world's greatest hitman, not quite a proper Sky, and definitely doesn't want these ridiculous Guardians that he keeps running into.

sky arco reborn who does not want to be the sky arco? it's just as chaotic and funny as you might think zqefdddsf. the interactions in this are absolute gold, and it's just such a fun ride to see all the bonding happen despite reborn's best efforts lmao. also ourliazo is another one of my favorite khr writers. the way they write the arco and tsuna (and every other khr characters tbh)? absolute peak. and then you add their humor, and i will simply never be tired of their writing.

Sincerely, Scattered Shards by You_Light_The_Sky

Tsuna’s the foolish type to give a bit of his heart to anyone he meets. No one ever wanted his ugly heart shards until he met his Guardians. No one ever treasured his heart shards until them either. Hints of All27 and R27.

heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. i actually had forgotten i had this one in my bookmarks, as well as the fic as a whole tbh 😅, but it all instantly came back to me like a punch in the gut. there's so much love in this one guys. the kind that hurts and the kind that heals and the kind that makes it all worth it in the end.

Forgotten Memories of a Broken Soldier by Maintenant

The Arcobaleno arrive at their collective house after their yearly meeting turned mission. Skull had been left there to cook them a warm meal for their return, seeing as he is useless in a mission, but it is not Skull they find when they return. Rather, it is, but it is not. For this Skull has cold eyes and harsher threats, and he doesn't know the rest of the Arcobaleno. Perhaps more importantly, the Arcobaleno find, is that they don't know Skull.

i love this one for the ending and the build up to it. it's a wip, but the first chapter can be read as a one shot (imo) so it works well. it's a skull is harry potter fic, and like i already said i don't usually read crossover fics, but this is another one i'm glad i gave a chance to.

Never Will Forget by Squoxie

Tell the ones, the ones I loved I never will forget

a song fic about skull surviving the rest of the arco. the summary alone always pulls at my heartstrings whenever i read it.

Beginnings And Middles But No Ends In Sight by Ourliazo

A compilation of the various chaotic missions that the Arcobaleno take on pre-curse - as well as the many dumb things they throw themselves into even without being paid for it. [Fon tries to trap a cockroach with a tissue, but it runs up his sleeve. Reborn watches as Fon flips his shit, rips off his sleeve, and punches the cockroach to death. Reborn is still laughing by the time Fon comes back from disposing of the corpse and washing his hands. "Thank you," Fon says pointedly, rather upset by the entire experience. Reborn is crying.]

this is the daily life arc - arco version fic as i like to call it. an absolute fucking ride as you can imagine. love it to fucking bits.

don't look at the child underneath the floorboards by Kosaji

Happiness is based on a just discrimination of what is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive, and what is destructive. - The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas Ursula K. Le Guin In which truths are realized and a choice is made.

the one where tsuna is freed from vongola thanks to his guardians. love it a lot.

Those Last Few Memories by Ourliazo

In one future, the Arcobaleno band together and try to fight off the Anti Tri-ni-set radiation.

the way my heart squeezes whenever i think of this fic. so heartbreaking and so well written. and the ending? oughhh. you just have to read this one!

on ff.net:

Rage Vs Hope By: ariathal2410

The order was to kill anything that moved, the city was too far gone to hope for survivors. But if there was one thing Colonnello didn't sign up for, it was killing kids. (28 Weeks Later AU, eventually merges into a semi-au) eventual all27?

zombies au that is both nello and tsuna centric! alternate between both their povs too. there's other canonical characters as well as ocs, but they're written well and enjoyable to read about too.

How to Survive the Fae By: MikeLamp

As the trees around them collapse, Tsuna's eyes don't stray from the human trembling before him, "So tell me," he hisses, eyes glowing, "where is your King now?" She whimpers instead of answering. In a world where the fae haunt the overgrown forests and angels control the cities with an iron fist, Tsuna doesn't want to just survive anymore.

another fantasy au that still manages to keep the characters true to themselves and is super well written. it's arco27 (seems to be anyway), with skull and who is likely fon in the last chapter being the only arco who appeared so far. and the skull & tsuna interactions in this? *chef's kiss* i love them.

Just Another Tuesday By: ariathal2410

Tsuna doesn't know why all this supernatural shit started happening in his life, but he'd really like it to stop now please. Mild Arco27

this is one of my favorite khr comfort fics. funny and fluffy with just the right amount of protectiveness and possessiveness from the arco (as well as flirtiness tbh lol).

come get me By: MakeItVoid

Reborn waits a little impatiently for someone to come get him. He doesn't know what to do now. The fire is creeping closer. (Reborn doesn't want to die like this.)

this is imo one of the best written reborn i've ever read about. maybe even the best one? either way i just love so, so much the way he's written in this fic, i couldn't not have added it to this list.

Gokudera Hayato By: rynoa29

It hurts more than you think it would, but your face can't help but to beam with pride.

a look at gokudera and his dynamic with the key people around him throughout his life. a lovely and well written exploration of his character.

and that was the last fic of the list! by which i mean there's actually more haha, but these are the cream of the crop among my favorite khr fics.

[naushtheaspiringauthor]

~Invisible String~

Bob Reynolds x Narissa Andersen (oc!)

Chapter -2

Chapter-1

Warnings - Poorly written fight scene (it's so cool and easy to imagine them but so damn difficult to write😭😭) Summary - This was supposed to be the last job she was going to do for Valentina, or at least that's what Nessa had thought. The mission however, takes a completely unprecedented turn. A/N- I'm so sorry for the delay in this chapter school's been hell the past couple days and my laptop crashed 😭😭. But I'm back now and will hopefully post more frequently now. And I'll be adding chapter summaries from now on (forgot in the first one🥲) Let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist! And I'd love it if you leave any form of feedback;)) Word count - 1,466

The vault was high up on a plateau-like land, a never ending round path leading to it. After what felt like ages, Nessa finally reached the top.

The fabric of  her tactical suit clung to her body, dampened by sweat. 

She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead as she stood in front of the facility.

This was supposed to be the last time, the last job she did for yet another power hungry narcissist.

“Just get it over with” she mumbled to herself.

Nessa closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.

She went inside.

Valentina had mentioned that her biometrics had been added to the gate, so she was able to enter with ease.

She could sense the energy pulsating around her, could feel the familiar hum on her skin as she approached one of the elevators.

The moment the elevator’s door opened, she could hear faint sounds of grunts and thuds inside.

He isn’t alone, she realised

Nessa took slow, careful steps towards the main part of the vault.

There he was, her target.

John Walker

Nessa could make out two other people inside.

He was about to charge towards another figure, when Nessa surged her arms forward, sending a wave of energy towards him that made him crash into a stack of boxes.

Nessa charged towards him, sending another blast his way.

She registered the shock on his face the moment he saw her. “Andersen?” he said, his voice surprisingly high-pitched.

“What the hell are you doing here!?”.

Nessa tilted her head briefly, “My job”.

Before she could charge at him again, a sharp pain shot throughout her body. There was a heavy weight on her lower abdomen as she crashed into a wall.

 A masked woman stood in front of her,  ready to charge at her.

Nessa stood up quickly, spreading out her arms briefly as she ran, summoning every bit of energy she could and directed the blast towards the masked woman.

But she was quick to block it with her shield, sliding backwards from the impact.

She threw her shield at Nessa.

It almost made contact with her skull, but she ducked sideways, rolling to a side. 

Nessa had no idea as to why so many people were at this place, and why the woman was trying to kill her.

But she didn’t have time to register all her doubts.

She had a job, and she was going to finish it.

There was a blonde woman towards whom Walker was charging.

Nessa threw a burst of energy towards him, hurling him sideways.

But he quickly jumped back on his feet. He rushed towards Nessa, throwing a punch to her jaw.

 She ducked downwards, gripping his arm as she kicked his calf, making him stumble. She rolled his arm behind his back as she spun around, hitting the back of his head with her elbow. She grabbed him by the torso, pushing him backwards.

She then kicked him in his abdomen. He lost his footing and fell down.

Nessa was about to charge towards him, before she saw a figure appear in her peripheral vision.

Before she could react, a cold hard fist made contact with her jaw. Her head jerked sideways. The masked woman threw another punch at her.

Nessa lost her footing.

She threw a kick in Nessa’s abdomen, making her topple backwards.

Nessa slid down on one knee, steading herself.

She ran towards the woman, the vibrations of the energy pulsating through her palms as she summoned it.

She threw collective waves in the woman’s direction, most of which she blocked with her shield. Nessa used her other hand, adding more force to the blast that she hurled towards her.

 The last wave finally made her lose her footing and topple backwards. But she quickly rolled back on her feet, and threw her shield at Nessa again.

Nessa ducked downwards to dodge it

She threw simultaneous blasts towards the woman. 

The woman got back on her feet quickly and charged towards Nessa.

Nessa took out her baton from her back, extending it just as she came in contact with the woman. 

She hit the woman in her calf, then again to the back of her leg.

Nessa thrashed her baton upwards, but the woman countered it with her own, the weapons crashing into each other.

Nesa gritted her teeth as she pushed the weapon with as much force as she could. She pushed the woman's weapon away and spun round as the weapons collided again.

Nessa hooked her leg with the woman's, sweeping it. She spun around, hitting the woman in the back of her head with her baton.

The woman stumbled forwards.

But before she could charge again, another masked figure appeared, as if she’d formed out of thin air. She lunged at the masked woman, making her topple.

“There you are,” Said the blonde woman, as she charged at the newly appeared figure.

Nessa didn’t waste another moment and lunged at Walker, sending a massive arch of energy in his direction.

He quickly turned towards it, blocking it with his shield as he slid backwards.

He threw his shield at her, she rolled sideways, bracing the impact with her knee as she blocked it.

She quickly pushed back on her feet, running in his direction.

He took out a gun and fired repeated shots in her direction.

 But she summoned a wave, creating a barrier between her and the bullets as she ran towards him.

She threw her weight at him and hurled him to the ground. She took out a small knife, thrashing it directly on his neck as she knelt on top of him.

But he was quick to stop the knife with both hands.

He gritted his teeth as he used all his strength to stop Nessa who only pushed the weapon further.

“I know we got off on the wrong foot,” He began, still struggling with the weapon. “But damn!”.

“Told you dude” Nessa spoke as she grunted. “Just-” she attempted to push the knife further, the pressure making her muscles ache.

“doin my job”.

Before she could register the confused look on Walker’s face, the sound of a gunshot echoed.

She snapped her head back, still keeping her grip on the knife.

The masked woman had dropped to the ground, the phasing woman standing with a gun still pointed in where the masked woman had just been.

The phasing woman removed her mask to reveal a brunette with a cocky grin on her face as she observed the woman she’d just killed.

Nessa recalled hearing about a woman back at SHIELD, someone who could phase through solids.

Ghost, she’d called herself.

The blonde woman was crouched in another corner, shock registered on her face as she looked at the body.

Before any of them could further react, Nessa heard low grunts and moans coming from a far corner.

She turned her attention to the sound just as the others did.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Walker kicked her in the leg, making her fall backwards as he got back up.

Nessa quickly got back on her feet, pointing her gun at the other three people simultaneously who were also pointing their guns at each other.

She then looked at the blonde woman, really looked at her.

“You’re…” Nessa frowned her brows, parting her lips. “You’re Yelena” she said, the sentence coming out more like a statement than a question.

Natasha was sitting beside her, phone in one hand.

Her voice broke the long lasting silence as she spoke, “My sister” she said, passing the phone to Nessa.

A melancholic expression washed over her features like an unexpected tide.

Nessa’s gaze softened.

She understood

The blonde tilted her head, furrowing her brows, “Yeah” she said, confused by Nessa’s reaction.

Before Nessa could speak again, a loud crash sound from a corner of the room.

They all pointed their guns in the direction of the sound.

Nessa tilted her head in confusion as she took in the sight in front of her.

A man in grey hospital clothes crawled out from one of the boxes with a grunt.

“Is she actually de-” he pointed at the masked woman with a hole in her head.

He suddenly bolted, but the door shut the second he reached it.

He halted, nearly crashing into it

Several loud thuds sounded simultaneously.

Nessa snapped her head around to see all of the doors shutting one by one, trapping them all inside.

They pointed their guns at the man again as he began strolling forward.

He stopped dead in his tracks, raising his hands in defense. “Woah- woah- no” he stammered.

“H- hi hi” he let out a loose chuckle.

“I’m-I’m Bob” he said.

Taglist - @sunflower-0180 @unavoidabledirewolf

[formula-nyoom]

Stars Racing Past-1

Summary: Dispute between the Republic and Trade Federations had not been going well. Sent to try and negotiate, Jedi Masters Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen end up crash landing on the desert planet of Tatooine. The last thing they expect to find is a young girl that may be prophesized to bring balance to The Force

Warnings: Violence, Minor character death, mentions of/implied abuse, slavery

A/N: This got away from me, fast. Like I thought this would be one single thing but it’s multiple chapters now and I’m not upset by that.  This is inspired by @fangirl-dot-com Across The Universe fic. Go check them out, they have written some amazing fic series. All relationships in this fic series(except for one) are meant to be platonic and going off this fic's inspiration the reader is meant to be female. Happy Star Wars Day and I hope you enjoy this first chapter in my new series!

~~~

Seb always prided himself on being a master negotiator. But to say the Trade Federation wasn’t willing to negotiate was an understatement.

It was a simple task. The Supreme Chancellor of the Republic had requested that Seb and his fellow Jedi Master, Master Kimi Räikkönen, try to negotiate with the leader of the Trade Federation in hopes of stopping their blockade of the planet Naboo. He told Kimi the negotiations would be short. Seb expected them to come to a mutual agreement and settle things peacefully. What Seb didn’t expect was for the leader of the Trade Federation to try and kill them.

 “You were right, Seb. The negotiations were short.” Kimi said as he and Seb deflected blaster fire with their lightsabers. 

“I didn’t expect them to resort to violence.” Seb told his companion as he sent a blaster bolt back at a battle droid. The two continued to back up down the hallway as the battle droids continued to advance.

“Unless you think they’ll be open to talking again, I think we should head back to the ship and get out of here.” Kimi said, outstretching his hand and using The Force to send a couple battle droids toppling over.

 “Agreed.” Seb nodded, doing the same before the two Jedi took off towards the direction of their parked ship. 

Elsewhere, the Trade Federation’s Leader watched from the control room as the two Jedi made their way to the docking bay. He let out a frustrated yell.

 “They’re going to escape!” He exclaimed, before turning to a projection displayed on his navigation table of a floating head with a hood covering the person’s face. “You said they would be easy to kill!”

“I never said that they would be easy to kill. I expected the Chancellor to send someone else for such a trivial matter.” The hooded person said, though he did not seem shocked or frustrated at the current circumstance. He actually seemed to smile. 

“Send out my apprentice then, if you simply can’t handle two Jedi.” The hooded man said. The Trade Federation Leader looked over at another hooded figure that was in the room with him. A shiver ran down his spine as he stared at them but swallowed it down with snarl.

 “Go after them and make sure they don’t escape!” He ordered the hood figure. The hooded figure silently got up and left the room. The hologram let out a chuckle.

 “Why so frustrated? I assure you, you will get what you want.” He said. The Trade Federation Leader ignored the hologram, focusing back on the camera footage in front of him. 

Entering the docking bay, Seb and Kimi quickly made their way to their ship, with Kimi making haste on getting them out of there. Moments later, Kimi was navigating their SF-16 out of the docking bay and straight towards the stars. But their escape attempt did not go unnoticed, as almost a dozen enemy fighter ships launched after them. Kimi did his best to navigate the now oncoming fire from the fighters.

 “Remind me why we didn’t take the ship that had weapon artillery with it?” Kimi asked

“Because we were tasked with a diplomatic mission. I at least thought our ship wouldn’t have to resort to violence.” Seb shot back. He lurched to the side as Kimi made a sharp left to avoid an oncoming fighter. It was easy to tell that these fighters were being manned by the same battle droids they had previously encountered. Despite them being robotic, they weren’t very smart when it came to ship navigation or artillery, as they missed the SF-16 multiple times and Kimi was able to navigate their ship in a way to lead the enemy fighters to actually crash into one another. 

 “Besides, who really needs weapons when you’re behind the wheel, Räikkönen.” Seb smiled. Kimi didn’t even spare Seb a glance as he maintained concentration on getting them out and away from all the fighting. There were only a few fighter ships left, enough to where Kimi could make the jump to lightspeed safely and not have to worry about being followed. But one fighter was giving him difficulty, causing him to have to constantly dodge its incoming fire.

The ship didn’t move in the same way others did, no it seemed to move like it was being operated by a humanoid instead of one of the Federation’s battle droids. 

 “I’m having difficulty trying to shake this one.” Kimi said as he swerved the ship again to avoid the fighter’s incoming fire.

“Do you think we can jump to lightspeed and deal with them if they follow?”

 “It’s possible but it’s risky.” The ship suddenly jerked forward as it was struck by a shot from the fighter chasing them.

“Well we either keep going until they lose interest or we jump to lightspeed now and hope they don’t follow.” Seb said, lurching again as Kimi tried to avoid another hit. He was unsuccessful. 

Wordlessly, Kimi began to chart their lightspeed jump and entered their desired destination of Corusant. Just as Kimi hit the switch for lightspeed, their ship jerked as it was hit by more oncoming fire. Lights were now flashing and warnings were blaring on various screens. The ship continued to shake and it soon became very clear that their hyperspeed jump was going to send them somewhere that wasn’t their desired destination. The stars in front of them began to blur and stretch out before the ship gave one final shake and disappeared from the current star system.

But not without taking another ship with it.

~~~

The air on the desert planet was hot and dry. That was what Seb was met with when he first stepped out after the ship’s crash landing. Seb wouldn’t say crashed exactly. Kimi was able to land the ship in one piece and everything seemed to be fine, but Kimi was still looking over to see what exactly was damaged. Seb had decided to see what their surroundings were like or see if he could spot anyone nearby to help.

“The ship’s hyperdrive is busted.” Kimi said as he stepped out to join Seb in assessing their surroundings.

 “Is there a way to fix it?”

“Not with anything we currently have. The good news is that our navigation still works so we know which planet we’re on. Tatoonie.” Kimi told him. Seb looked at the sand dunes that seemed to stretch for miles and miles. It was just sand for miles on end.

 “Well I suppose we could pick one direction and go until we find any form of civilization. From what I’ve heard of Tatoonie, it’s not a complete desert wasteland.” Seb told Kimi.

“Do you think that’s wise? Tatooine is on the edge of the Republic star system. Whatever civilization we may find may not be welcome to us.”

 “I think as long as we stick together and trust in The Force, we’ll be fine.” Seb told Kimi as the two set out.

It took roughly an hour of walking before Seb and Kimi came across a settlement known as Mos Espa. Not many people gave the two men glances, either accustomed to travelers coming in and out or they didn’t want anything to do with the two men. But others gave them glares or simply just stared at them. Maybe those people were looking for a fight. 

 “Do you think we should ask around?” Seb asked Kimi

“I don’t know if the locals would be very welcoming to us.” Kimi said as he made eye contact with a particularly rough looking man, who sneered before going about his business.

Something in Seb started to stir as he and Kimi moved further into town. It was very faint, as if pricking on the edge of his senses but too far to fully grasp. But he welcomed the feeling, for he thought it may be helpful. And it was, as it led Seb and Kimi to a shop that may have the ship parts they needed without them having to ask anyone for help. 

The feeling that faintly stirred in Seb’s gut seemed to triple the second his foot crossed the shop’s threshold. This feeling seemed to only be felt inward, but also seemed to hover around his arms, legs and head. It was a very familiar feeling, one that he spent his life channeling. The Force. Seb felt it around him, but also that it was somewhere farther in the shop, he just couldn’t hone in on exactly where it was coming from.

 “What can I help you with?” A woman said as she stood behind a counter polishing a piece of metal. Seb hadn’t even realized she was there til she spoke. Kimi nudged Seb's side, obviously wanting him to do the talking. 

 “Hello.” Seb greeted the woman with a smile. She didn’t look up at Seb, a scowl forming on her face. “Me and my compatriot’s ship has a broken hyper driver and I’m wondering if you may have the parts necessary for us to fix it.”

The woman sighed.

 “(Y/N)!” She yelled for someone, as if ordering an employee, still not looking up from what she was polishing. As the moments passed, Sebastian felt the presence of The Force increase, as if it was getting closer, before a curtain was swept aside and a young girl stepped into the room. The presence of the Force was now almost overwhelming. It radiated from the girl as if it made up almost every fiber of her being. 

“Yes?” The girl quietly spoke.

 “These men need new parts to fix a hyper drive. Get the parts for them.” The woman ordered, motioning her head in the direction of Seb and Kimi. The girl nodded before looking at the two men. She stared at them, but Seb couldn’t tell if she was sensing them same thing that he was.

 “Follow me.” She said before turning around and heading behind the curtain again. Seb and Kimi glanced at each other before following the girl. They entered a room lined with rows of crates filled with various mechanical parts. Whether it be for a ship or droid, this room seemed to have it all. 

“Do you need a completely new hyper drive or just certain parts to fix it?” The girl asked as she grabbed an empty crate.

 “Just a couple of parts. The hyperdrive isn’t completely destroyed, but the main parts are non-functional.” Kimi explained. 

“Did you overload it or get into a scuffle? Some of the scrappers around here talk about getting into ship fights with pirates.” The girl said as she grabbed a part from a nearby bin and placed it into the empty crate.

 “We did get shot at by a ship if that gives you a good idea of the state of our hyperdrive.” Seb said. The girl grabbed another part before glancing at the two men again.

“Are you guys pirates?” She asked

 “We’re peacekeepers. My name is Sebastian and this is my friend Kimi.” Seb said. At that, the girl turned around to get a full look at the two men. She looked at them curiously before her eyes landed on the lightsaber peeking out from under Seb’s cloak.

 “Are you two…Jedi?” She quietly asked.

“You’ve heard of the Jedi?” Seb asked. Trying to hone back in on the feeling, Seb could feel the girl carry an air of nervousness as she fidgeted with the crate in her hands.

 “Stories of the Jedi make their way out here from the people that come by. The depictions of the Jedi differ from person to person.” She said, now looking at the floor.

“What have you heard?” Seb asked. The girl turned around, focusing on grabbing a part from a high shelf.

 “Some say they’re mystical people that fight with laser swords for the good of others. Others say that they can make people and objects float with just a thought.”

The girl stood on the tips of her toes as she tried to grasp at the part that laid on a shelf much too high for her to properly reach. Kimi was about to assist her when the part suddenly flew into her hand. Both Seb and Kimi felt a wave of the Force emanate off the girl as she placed the part into the crate. She turned back towards the two men. 

 “What was your name again?” Seb asked.

“(Y/N).” The girl said. Seb walked closer to the girl, kneeling a bit to be eye level with the girl.

 “Do you know anything about The Force, (Y/N).” Seb asked. The girl hesitated before nodding her head.

“Yea. It’s the main reason Mr and Mrs (L/N) bought me.” (Y/N) said, continuing to look at the floor. Seb was shocked. 

 “You’re a slave.” Kimi said behind him. (Y/N) glared at him.

 “I’m not a slave. I’m a person.” She said, there was now an air of defiance around her.

  “(Y/N), what do you mean The Force is the reason Mr and Mrs (L/N) bought you?” Seb gently asked.

“The…the trader who originally owned me, he only supplied people with ‘force sensitive’ kids, that’s what he referred to us as. Mr and Mrs (L/N) wanted me because I would make it easier to help around the shop.” (Y/N) explained.

Seb took in the girl’s appearance. The clothes she wore seemed to be a bit too big. A mixture of dirt and bruises littered her arms. Seb looked at her face and saw how young she was. She couldn’t be more than 11 years old.

 “Are they nice people?” He quietly asked. (Y/N) now gripped the crate tightly and was about to speak when-

“(Y/N)! Hurry it up! There’s repairs you’ve got to help with!” The woman at the front of the store, Mrs (L/N) as Seb and Kimi now knew as, yelled. (Y/N) flinched.

 “I’ll be right there!” She yelled back. She tightly clutched the crate full of parts, heading over to another shelf and grabbing one more part before heading back to the front. Seb and Kimi watched her as the curtain fell back down.

 “You felt it too, right?” Seb asked Kimi.

“Yes.” Kimi said.

 “Do you think she could be The One?” Seb asked.

“It’s very much possible. The Force seems to flow through her like a running river.” Kimi said. “But she could just be very in tune with it too. That prophecy is centuries old. It could still just be fiction.”

 “But we’re both in agreement that this is a terrible environment for her to be in, right?”

Kimi nodded.

“Do you think you’ll be able to negotiate to convince the woman to let (Y/N) come with us back to The Temple? Or will we have to use a different method?” He asked.

 “Always negotiate first. I don’t want to have to resort to tricks like that unless absolutely necessary.” Seb said before drawing the curtain back and stepping back into the front of the store.

The woman was still at the front counter, now taking parts out of the crate (Y/N) had previously carried and jotted down numbers on a pad of paper. (Y/N) now stood at a repair table that was in the corner, next to a man. (Y/N) briefly glanced at Kimi and Seb as she held a pair of wires for the man to solder together. Seb walked up to the counter.

“How much for the hyperdrive parts and the girl?” Seb asked. He hated the words as soon as they came out of his mouth. Referring to a living person as just some object to buy disgusted him, but it was necessary in hopes of being able to get (Y/N) out of her current situation. He needed to use his negotiation skills to the best of his abilities for this to work. Everyone’s eyes seemed to be on Seb now. 

 “She’s not for sale.” The man said, putting his tool down and placing a hand on (Y/N)’s shoulder, gripping a bit too tight. Seb wouldn’t have noticed if it wasn’t for the wince of pain that showed on (Y/N)’s face. 

 “I have the credits. To pay for both the parts and the girl.” Seb said calmly, turning his attention to the man. The man walked over to Seb.

 “The parts are for sale. The girl isn’t.” The man said, getting into Seb’s face. 

 “I employ you to reconsider.” Seb adjusted his cloak to reveal his lightsaber.

“You’re threatening me, Jedi." The man spat. “You may think you hold authority but your kind aren’t welcome here. Now either make your purchase or get out!”

Negotiating wasn’t working for Seb for the second time today. There was something else Seb could try, but he knew that if it backfired then he and Kimi wouldn’t get the girl or the hyper drive parts. And Kimi and him sadly knew which one was more important at the moment. Kimi was right that it could just be some prophecy collecting dust back at the Temple. Seb glared at the man before sighing.

 “We’ll take the parts.” Seb said, he turned around and placed an amount of credits on the counter. He didn’t dare glance at the woman as she handed him the parts. As him and Kimi left, Seb turned around to get one last look at the girl. He looked at the girl, heartbroken, as she wore a look of both devastation and resignation. The only other way to get her out of this situation were not the ways of the Jedi. He knew that the only other peaceful option he had was to leave without her and hope that he could find a way to come back and get her out of there properly.

 “May the Force be with you, (Y/N).” Seb said. He then turned around and left the parts shop.

Seb trusted that The Force would allow for his path to cross with the girl again. 

~~~

(Y/N) couldn’t tell if the stars were brighter or dimmer tonight as she glanced up at the night sky. She hoped they would be brighter, considering the encounter with the two men she had today. They were a nice change from the regular people she encountered on Tatoonie. They were nice. Something about them made (Y/N) feel safe. And Sebastian asked if he could buy her, but (Y/N) could tell it wasn’t in a malicious way, he wanted to get (Y/N) out of her bad circumstances. But it didn’t work and Sebastian and Kimi had to leave. 

(Y/N) looked from the stars to the speeder she was repairing as she continued to think about the two Jedi. She had heard stories about how the Jedi fought to bring peace and good to those around them. She wished Sebastian had fought a bit harder to allow her to leave with them, either with words or the weapon strapped to his belt. But then again, (Y/N) never expected anyone to stand up for her. She was just a slave to two cruel people. (Y/N) looked back up at the stars. They were definitely dimmer tonight. 

“We’re closed!” (Y/N) heard Mr (L/N) yell from inside the repair shop. (Y/N) went back to repairing the speeder. It was probably just a late night traveler who needed their ship fixed. (Y/N) knew they would unfortunately need to wait till tomorrow to get any type of part or repairs. Mr and Mrs (L/N) were strict with their business hours. They were strict with a lot of things. 

“I already told your two buddies who came in here earlier that your kind aren’t welcome here!” (Y/N) turned around so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. Did Sebastian and Kimi come back for her? She quickly placed her tools down and headed back inside the repair shop.

 “My husband already told you, we’re closed!” Mrs (L/N) voice drifted from the entryway as (Y/N) peaked her head out to see who they were talking to. A figure dressed all in black stood at the entrance, a hood covering his face. He held a weapon in his hand. It looked similar to the one Sebastian and Kimi had, but more sinister. There was one other thing about the figure that (Y/N) could sense. His presence was like Sebeastian and Kimi’s, but it didn’t seem friendly at all. It felt dark and sinister like the weapon he held in his hand. He reminded her of a phantom.

The figure ignited his weapon, casting a red hue over the dark room as a bright red blade made of light appeared out of the end of the weapon. (Y/N) felt a chill run down her spine.

 “You think that scares me?” Mr (L/N) asked, walking over to the figure. “I told you we’re clos-”

The bright red blade skewered straight through Mr (L/N)’s chest as the figure cut off the man speaking. (Y/N) let out a gasp as Mrs (L/N) let out a scream. The figure withdrew his weapon from the man’s chest and the body fell to the floor. Mrs (L/N) continued to scream but was quickly silenced as the figure advanced on her and struck her down with his blade. Her body crumpled to the floor next to her husband. (Y/N) stood frozen in shock and fear as she stared at the two bodies. Even if they weren’t good people, (Y/N) would have never wished them to be dead. But now they were. She was brought out of her thoughts as she made eye contact with the figure. Sinister yellow eyes stared back at her (e/c) ones. 

Run!

(Y/N) felt as if the universe was screaming at her but she didn’t need to be told twice as she turned around and bolted in the direction of her speeder. She had no doubt that the figure was following behind her and she tried to send various shelves crashing down behind her in hopes of slowing him down. Some of them she didn’t even touch and yet they fell anyway. 

Scrambling onto the speeder, (Y/N) didn’t have time to worry about if it was fully repaired or not, she just continuously turned the key and pleaded with the universe that the speeder would start. On the third turn the speeder’s engine sputtered and roared to life. (Y/N) quickly looked behind her to see the figure shove a fallen shelf out of the way and advance towards her. Adrenaline rushed through the girl’s body as she desperately pushed down on the gas pedal and started to speed away from the figure and out into the desert before her. (Y/N) didn’t have time to worry about not having goggles, or gear or anything for that matter as sand dunes barrelled past her vision. She only focused on trying to breathe and getting far away from the phantom that was chasing her. 

On top of the mixture of fear, adrenaline, and panic, (Y/N) felt something else. Something pulling her in a certain direction and (Y/N) decided to trust it, hoping it would lead her to help or safety. 

~~~

Kimi had hoped he could get the repairs done before nightfall, but the sun had set long ago as he continued to fix the hyperdrive. Seb on the other hand had managed to contact the Order back on Coruscant and update them on their current situation.

“Unfortunately, the Trade Federation was not up for negotiating and we ended up crash landing on the planet known as Tatoonie after they tried to shoot us down. Kimi’s currently fixing the hyperdrive and we should be able to depart shortly.” Seb explained. In front of him was a small hologram of an older gentleman wearing similar robes to Seb and Kimi’s as he sat in a chair.

 “I’m sorry the negotiations didn’t work out but I’m happy to hear that you two are alive,” The man said.

 “There’s something else, Fernando.” Seb said. “Do you remember that prophecy? About one that will bring balance to The Force?”

The man nodded, but shrugged his shoulders.

 “Yes, but that prophecy hasn’t been spoken about in a long time.” He said. Seb’s eyes glanced out the ship’s front window, staring out at the sand dunes before shifting his attention back to Fernando.

“I believe that me and Kimi may have found them here on Tatooine. A girl who’s about 11 years old.”

 “And how can you be so certain?” Fernando asked.

“Her presence with the Force is something I’ve never felt before. And she used it with such subtlety and ease that not many untrained in The Force could manage” Seb said. “Unfortunately her “owners” wouldn’t let her come with us. I hate the idea of leaving her behind, especially with her current living circumstances, but The Jedi don’t hold much authority here on Tatooine.”

Fernando started to explain something about Tatoonie not having much of a government for the Republic to warrant sending Jedi to help with the planet’s matters, but Seb’s eyes and ears were more focused on the sand dunes outside. There was a distant roar from something Seb couldn’t identify, but as he squinted he saw something appear on the horizon. It seemed to get bigger and bigger as Seb realized it was heading in the direction of their ship. As it continued to get closer and closer, Seb felt the same feeling he felt when he and Kimi first entered Mos Espa.

 “Fernando, I need to call you back.” Seb said, ending the call before the man could respond as he hurriedly exited the SF-16. 

By now Seb could make out what was coming towards the ship: someone on a speeder. He didn’t need to wait for it to get closer to identify who was on the speeder. He knew it was (Y/N). But as her speeder got closer, so too did something else as Seb noticed another speeder chasing behind her. (Y/N) seemed to be miles ahead of the person chasing her, but Seb knew that miles could turn into seconds quickly.

 “(Y/N)!” Seb called out to her, waving his hands in hopes of encouraging the girl to go faster. (Y/N) didn’t need any encouragement, pressing her foot harder on the throttle as soon as her eyes landed on Seb. But as her speeder got closer, the person chasing (Y/N) threw out his hand in front of him. Suddenly (Y/N)’s speeder took a nose dive into the sand, sending the girl flying and crashing into the sand.

By now, Seb’s yelling had caused Kimi to step outside the ship to see what warranted the commotion. He noticed the girl in the sand and then the speeder with a black robed figure getting closer and closer to her.

 “Seb, get to the girl and get back to the ship. I’ll slow the other one down.” Kimi directed before taking off towards the two. Seb didn’t have time to question his friend as he took off towards the girl.

(Y/N) wiped the sand from her eyes as she tried to get up, but the daze from being sent flying off a moving speeder did not shake easily. She managed to find her bearings and sat up but then remembered why she was all the way out in the middle of the desert in the first place and quickly looked behind her to see the speeder that was chasing her come closer and closer. (Y/N) tried to scramble up into a standing position, but her franticness made her feet continually sink into the sand. Just as the figure was getting to be seconds away from the girl, his own speeder took a nosedive. But instead of being sent forward, he was sent flying backwards. The figure managed to plant his feet in the stand and skidded back, still standing.

 “(Y/N)!” A hand landed on (Y/N)’s shoulder and she looked to see Sebastian next to her. (Y/N) felt relief flow through her at the sight of the man.

“Sebastian! He’s after me! I don’t know what he wants but he killed them! They’re dead!” (Y/N) exclaimed as she clutched Seb’s arm. 

 “Come on. We need to get you inside!” He quickly helped her up and ushered her towards the ship as Kimi unclipped the lightsaber from his belt and slowly stalked towards the figure, who ignited his red bladed lightsaber. 

 “Here, sit down.” Seb ushered the girl to one of the seats on the ship once they were inside. “Take some deep breaths. Are you hurt?”

The girl shook her head.

 “Ok. That’s good to hear.” Seb gave the girl’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and then regretted it when the girl winced and quickly let out an apology. Seb looked over his shoulder to see that Kimi was now engaged in combat with the phantom figure. Seb focused on the red lightsaber that swung and deflected Kimi’s attacks and he knew that they needed to get away quickly.

 “Buckle up. We’re getting you out of here.” Seb said to the girl before heading over the console to power up the ship. Seb hoped that Kimi had finished fixing the hyperdrive because they were going to need to use it very soon. 

(Y/N) fumbled with the seatbelt before managing to click it into place. (Y/N) chanced  a glance out the ship’s open door and saw Kimi fighting the phantom-like figure that had chased her. Kimi’s blue lightsaber clashed with the figure’s red one as he swung and easily dodged the phantom’s incoming attacks. (Y/N) was in awe at the Jedi’s combat abilities as Kimi feinted his attack in time to almost land a solid hit. But the phantom seemed to be just as quick and was able to side step out of the way.

By now, Seb had fully powered up the ship and got it ready for take off. He ran to the open door and called out to Kimi.

“Kimi! Come on!” Seb yelled. Kimi deflected an incoming slash from the phantom and thrusted his hand out in front of him, sending the figure flying backwards before he turned around and ran towards the ship. Seb was already in his seat, buckling himself in by the time Kimi shut the door and got into the pilot’s seat. 

 “Did you fix the hyperdrive?” Seb asked.

“We don’t have time to worry about that right now.” Kimi said as the ship lifted off the ground and Kimi piloted it towards the night sky. (Y/N) clutched the edge of her seat tightly as she felt the effects of G-Force caused by the steady ascension through Tatoonie’s atmosphere, her heart still hammering in her chest. The ship rose higher and higher until it was far enough away from the phantom and Tatoonie’s own gravity as the ship now floated amongst the stars.

(Y/N)’ stared ahead and leaned forward in her seat. Stretching out into the vast infinity of the universe, she’d never seen this many stars in her life. Tatoonie made the stars feel so far away. But now, as she sat in this ship, with two men who just saved her life, (Y/N) had never been so close to the stars until now. It was beautiful

Sebastian looked at the awe struck girl as she took in the view in front of her and he couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it.” He quietly said. “I marvel at it every time I lay my eyes on the stars.”

 “They’re so much brighter from up here.” She whispered, her eyes still filled with stars. There was peaceful silence between the three for a couple of moments before Kimi placed his hand on the hyperdrive accelerator.

 “Moment of truth.” He said, pushing the stick forward. (Y/N) watched as the stars began to bleed together into lines, stretching faster and faster as the ship dipped forward and everything felt like it was being pulled before the SF-16 blinked out and away from Tatooine.