#like when echo handed her the energy bow i was skipping

[aethslove]

omega being a ranged shooter like crosshair is so special to me. if you even care.

[atzaurora]

Can I request an Ateez Yeosang where the reader is at the concert and after send off Yeosang notices a blood stain on her skirt and pull her to the side and take her to his hotel. As they get to his room her cramps are unbearable so he fingers her and then fucks her until she feels better?

[˗ˏˋ ´ˎ˗] crimson nights

❥ 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓: Yeosang

➤ 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: fem!fan!reader x idol!yeosang

➤ 𝒕𝒚𝒑𝒆: imagine (smut)

➤ 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑: strangers to ?, idol x fan

.ᐟ.ᐟ𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.ᐟ.ᐟ: 18+/smut/suggestive content, MDNI!!!

➤ 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚: Who knew that her period during a concert would actually be something positive? As Yeosang takes her back to his hotel room due to the visible stain on her skirt, the atmosphere quickly shifts and leads to something far more exciting...

➤ 𝒘/𝒄: 3.0k

➤ 𝒂/𝒏: I have a few open requests and I'm trying to get them all done!! so in case you have requested something, it is being worked on <3 always feel free to leave requests, I love writing them ! enjoyyy

if you have any ideas or wishes let me know, requests are open

here's my [𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕]!

[𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕] here!

[about me] + [guidelines]!

In the throbbing heart of the stadium, the electric air buzzed with the excitement of thousands of fans, their energy almost tangible. The concert’s final notes resonated through the space, a sweet symphony of voices and instruments that seemed to hang in the atmosphere, lingering in every corner of the vast venue. As the lights dimmed, the cheers rose to a deafening crescendo, and the eight figures on stage took their final bows, sweat glistening on their faces like stardust under the glow of the stage lights. Amid the sea of waving lightsticks and reaching hands, you stood with your heart pounding, the thrill of the music still pulsing through your veins.

As the sea of fans began to disperse, you caught fleeting glimpses of ATEEZ as they made their way toward the exit, waving and smiling at the devoted crowd. Your eyes locked with Yeosang’s for a brief, electrifying moment, and his smile grew a notch wider as he heard your cheering from the mass of people. You called out to them, expressing your admiration and telling them how much you enjoyed the performance. Being so close to them felt surreal—like a dream—but the energy between you and Yeosang made it feel incredibly real.

When the send-off concluded, the crowd slowly began to dissipate, leaving behind only echoes of excitement and the harsh lights of reality. You lingered at the edge of the stadium, allowing the rush of people to fade before you followed. Organizing your belongings, you made sure everything was accounted for, taking your time before heading out. The stadium grew quieter as the majority of Atinys made their way home, leaving a hushed atmosphere in their wake. You were about to join them when you felt a soft touch on your shoulder.

Startled, you turned quickly, your heart skipping a beat as you faced the person before you. Your breath caught in your throat—it was Yeosang. Your bias, standing right in front of you, his hand resting gently on your shoulder. "Yeosang? What—" Words failed you as your mind raced to catch up with the situation. "Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you," he apologized, pulling his hand away with a soft, reassuring smile.

"Oh, no, it’s fine," you quickly reassured him, trying to steady your nerves.

His smile deepened, and he continued, "I just wanted to let you know that you have a blood stain on your skirt. I assume it’s... you know, that time of the month?" He chuckled softly, the sound like music to your ears.

Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but you were grateful for his honesty. "Oh my God, thank you for telling me. Yeah, I’ve been on my period since yesterday," you admitted, quickly wrapping your hoodie around your waist to cover the stain.

Yeosang’s expression remained kind and understanding, and he didn’t shy away from the conversation. Ever the gentleman, he offered a solution that made your heart skip a beat. "I’m staying at a hotel nearby," he said. "If you’d like, I could take you there so you can freshen up a bit." His tone was casual, but the offer felt incredibly personal.

You nodded without hesitation, still not fully believing this was happening. "Yes, that would be great," you agreed, your voice laced with excitement and disbelief.

The car ride to the hotel was a blur of nerves and awkward laughter, the tension between you thick enough to cut with a knife. You sat there, acutely aware of the fabric of your skirt sticking to your skin, your mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. Yeosang, ever considerate, made sure to help you out of the car while keeping your skirt discreetly covered, shielding you from any potential embarrassment. He walked beside you, guiding you from the car, through the hotel’s entrance, and into the elevator that would take you to his room.

The hotel suite was a stunning contrast to the chaos of the stadium—vast, luxurious, and filled with a quiet elegance that put you at ease. As Yeosang led you inside, his eyes met yours with a silent question, his concern for you palpable. He gently guided you to the bathroom, his hand resting lightly on your back, offering comfort as you battled the sharp cramps that had been a constant, dull throb throughout the concert. You bit your lip, trying to mask the pain, but Yeosang noticed immediately, his gaze darkening with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine care. You nodded, attempting to downplay the pain, but the tremor in your voice betrayed you.

Without another word, Yeosang scooped you into his arms, lifting you as if you weighed nothing. Your heart raced, both from the pain and the surreal nature of the situation. He carried you to the bed, laying you down with a tenderness that made your breath hitch. His hands smoothed over your stomach, warm and comforting, as he whispered, "You’re in pain."

You nodded, tears welling up in your eyes, the overwhelming combination of pain and his kindness making you emotional. Yeosang didn’t hesitate—he disappeared into the bathroom, returning moments later with a glass of water and painkillers. You took them gratefully, your eyes following his every move as he tended to you with a quiet efficiency that spoke volumes about his character.

As the medication began to take the edge off your cramps, the tension in the room shifted, growing thick with unspoken emotions. Yeosang sat beside you, his eyes dark and intense as he reached out, tracing the line of your jaw with his thumb, his touch feather-light yet electrifying. "I can help," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down your spine. You looked at him in surprise, but before you could respond, he leaned in, capturing your mouth in a bruising kiss.

The pain of your cramps momentarily faded into the background as he claimed you, his tongue dancing with yours in a passionate exchange that left you breathless. Yeosang pulled away just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes searching yours as he reached for the hem of your skirt. You lifted your hips in silent agreement, allowing him to slide the fabric down your legs, the material whispering against your skin.

He paused for a moment, his gaze darkening as he took in the sight of your underwear, stained with crimson. But instead of pulling away, his expression grew more heated, and you felt a thrill of desire coil low in your belly. He leaned in, his breath hot against your skin as he began to press soft kisses along your inner thigh, his hands sliding up to cup you with gentle reverence. "You’re so brave," he murmured, his voice a sweet balm to your nerves. "So strong."

His lips hovered just above the stain, and with a soft, sensual kiss, he pressed his mouth against the fabric, his tongue swirling around the cloth in a gesture that made you gasp, your hips jerking upwards involuntarily. Taking this as an invitation, Yeosang moved higher, trailing kisses along your thighs, slowly working his way toward your most sensitive areas. When he reached your clit, he circled it with his thumb, watching your face intently as you squirmed beneath his touch.

"Does this feel good?" he asked, his voice rich with desire.

You could only nod in response, your breaths coming in short, shallow pants as the pain in your abdomen receded, replaced by a different, more intoxicating ache. Yeosang’s fingers slipped beneath the fabric of your underwear, his touch cool against your heated flesh. He teased you, sliding his fingers in and out in a slow, deliberate rhythm that had you clutching at the bedsheets, your body arching into his touch.

"Yeosang," you moaned, your voice trembling with need. He responded by sucking on your neck, leaving a trail of dark, possessive marks that you knew would linger for days.

As your orgasm built, he added another finger, his touch becoming more demanding, rougher in a way that only heightened your pleasure. You could feel yourself tightening around him, the pressure in your belly growing, twisting into a knot of pure ecstasy. He kissed you again, hard and deep, his tongue mimicking the movements of his hand. With a cry that was a mixture of pleasure and pain, you shattered in his arms, your body convulsing as your orgasm tore through you.

The tension in your muscles finally broke, leaving you trembling and breathless as the room filled with the sound of your ragged breathing. Yeosang pulled back slightly, his fingers still buried inside you, his eyes watching you intently. "Is the pain still there?" he asked, his voice cutting through the haze of pleasure that clouded your mind.

You nodded slowly, your body still tingling from the aftershocks of your orgasm. "It’s a little better, but it still hurts," you admitted, your voice worn out from the intensity of the moment.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Yeosang’s lips as he curled his fingers inside you, making you groan with satisfaction. "Mhm, in that case, we might need another round," he teased, his voice low and sultry as he began to move his hand again.

Your abdomen, which had been tight with pain, began to loosen under his ministrations, the cramps giving way to a different kind of tension. Yeosang’s eyes remained locked on yours, watching the way your body responded to his touch, seeing how close you were to the edge once more.

"Come on, let it out, baby," he urged, his voice both commanding and encouraging. The intensity of his touch, the way his fingers expertly curled and pressed against your sweet spot, sent you spiraling toward another climax. The tension within you snapped like a tightly wound coil, and you came with a cry, your body convulsing around his hand as waves of pleasure washed over you.

Yeosang watched with a look of deep satisfaction as you fell apart under his touch, his own breathing heavy as he maintained his focus on you. "Better?," he asked, his voice a husky whisper as he slowly withdrew his fingers, leaving you feeling achingly empty.

You nodded, still trying to catch your breath, but the answer was clear in the way your body relaxed, the pain of your cramps nearly forgotten. He took this as his cue, stripping off his own clothes with deliberate precision, each movement revealing more of his toned, muscular body. He was a sight to behold, his skin glowing in the soft light of the room, every muscle defined and rippling as he moved.

As he positioned himself between your legs, you couldn’t tear your eyes away from him. The anticipation built, your body humming with a renewed sense of desire. When he finally slid into you, filling you completely, you gasped at the sensation, your body stretching to accommodate him. The fullness of him inside you was overwhelming, pushing all thoughts of pain far from your mind.

Yeosang set a rhythm that was both slow and deliberate, each thrust deep and measured as if he were savoring every moment, every sensation. The earlier urgency was replaced by a languid intensity that only heightened the connection between you. He kissed along your neck, his lips leaving a trail of heated marks on your skin, his teeth grazing your flesh just enough to send shivers down your spine.

You wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper, eliciting a deep groan from him as his hips snapped forward, meeting yours with each thrust. His hands gripped your hips, holding you in place as he drove into you with a powerful rhythm that had you arching off the bed, your nails digging into his shoulders.

With every thrust, you felt yourself climbing higher, the pleasure coiling tighter and tighter within you until it was all-consuming. His words, low and breathless, were a constant stream of praises and sweet nothings whispered in your ear, each one sending you further over the edge. You were lost in the sensation, the world around you narrowing down to the feel of his body moving against yours, the sound of his voice, and the intense pleasure that radiated through you.

As you neared your climax, the tension within you became almost unbearable, your body tightening around him as the pressure built. Yeosang, sensing how close you were, increased his pace, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he too approached his peak. "You’re so tight," he murmured, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. "I’m going to come."

And with those words, he did, his body tensing as he released deep inside you, filling you with his warmth. The sensation triggered your own orgasm, and you cried out, your body shaking with the force of it as you clenched around him, milking him for every last drop. The two of you stayed locked together for a moment, breathing heavily as the intensity of the moment slowly ebbed away, leaving behind a deep sense of satisfaction.

Yeosang eventually pulled out, leaving you with a sense of loss, but before you could even begin to protest, he was moving between your legs again. This time, his mouth replaced his cock, and you cried out at the overwhelming sensation. Your body was still sensitive from the previous orgasms, and the feeling of his tongue teasing your swollen clit was almost too much to bear.

He licked and sucked with a focused intensity, his eyes never leaving yours, watching every reaction, every tremor that passed through you. Your body bucked against his mouth, your nails digging into the sheets as you tried to hold on to the last threads of your sanity. "Yeosang, oh my God," you breathed, your voice hoarse from crying out his name.

He chuckled against your clit, the vibration sending a jolt of pleasure through you that made your toes curl. His hand gripped your thigh, holding you firmly in place as he continued his assault on your senses. The pleasure was overwhelming, almost painful in its intensity, and before you knew it, you were coming again, this time even harder than before. Your body convulsed under him, your cries filling the room as you were pushed over the edge once more.

Yeosang didn’t stop until you were completely spent, your body trembling and sensitive, every nerve ending alive with the aftershocks of your release. When he finally slid back up your body, he kissed you deeply, sharing the taste of yourself with you. The kiss was slow, sensual, and filled with a level of intimacy that made your heart flutter.

You could feel his hardness pressing against your thigh, and instinctively, your hand reached down to stroke him, wanting to give him the same pleasure he had given you. But he stopped you, placing his hand over yours with a gentle but firm pressure. "Let me," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet intensity.

You nodded, your eyes locked on his as he positioned himself at your entrance once more. This time, when he entered you, it was slower, more deliberate, as if he wanted to savor every second, every sensation. He stared into your eyes as he filled you, his gaze unwavering, and you could see the depth of his desire mirrored in his dark eyes.

The rhythm he set was slow and deep, each stroke sending waves of pleasure through your already sensitive body. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer, needing to feel him, to connect with him on every possible level. He kissed you, his lips moving against yours with a tenderness that contrasted with the intensity of his thrusts.

The world around you faded away, leaving only the two of you in a cocoon of warmth and pleasure. The slow, deliberate pace allowed you to feel every inch of him, every movement, and it wasn’t long before you felt another orgasm building, this one slow and powerful, coiling tighter and tighter in your belly.

Yeosang’s breathing grew more labored, his thrusts becoming more forceful as he neared his release. "You’re so tight," he murmured, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. "I’m close."

His words pushed you over the edge, and with a final, deep thrust, he sent you spiraling into another orgasm, your body clenching around him, milking his cock as he came with a low, guttural groan. His seed spilled inside you, filling you with a warmth that spread through your entire body, leaving you both utterly spent.

Yeosang collapsed onto the bed beside you, pulling you into his arms, his breath hot against your skin. "You’re amazing," he whispered, his voice soft and filled with genuine admiration. You felt your cheeks heat up, a blush creeping up your neck at his words.

"Thank you," you murmured back, your voice shaky but filled with contentment. He kissed the top of your head, his hand stroking your hair gently as you both lay there, basking in the afterglow of your passionate encounter.

After a moment, Yeosang shifted, his hand trailing down your back as he suggested, "Let’s get you cleaned up." He helped you to the bathroom, his touch always gentle, always considerate.

The warm water of the shower washed away the evidence of your time together, but the memories remained vivid in your mind. As he held you under the spray, his hands moving tenderly over your body, you felt a connection with him that went beyond the physical. This wasn’t just a fantasy come to life—it was something deeper, something real.

You stepped out of the shower, feeling more alive than you had in months. Yeosang handed you a towel, his eyes lingering on your naked body. You dressed in the clean clothes he'd laid out for you, feeling like Cinderella after the ball. But this wasn't a fairy tale; it was real. And as he walked you to the door, the promise in his eyes was all too clear. This wouldn't be the last time you'd be in his room, feeling his touch, hearing his praises.

[blissfulstarsfics]

Black and White Chapter 9

Read on AO3

Chapter Rating: E

Pairing: A!A X Female Tav (Non-abusive fic.)

Summary: Tav contemplates what it would mean to become Astarion's spawn. Meanwhile, he makes a discovery about her past.

Summer was now in full swing for the Sword Coast. The reprieve of cool nights from the hot, humid days were now gone. Denizens were left with a sticky, sweltering heat around the clock that drained them of precious energy. This left a certain vampire lord crankier than usual. Months had passed and the bidding war had come to its conclusion, leaving Astarion the victor. Now, his plans were moving at a snail’s pace thanks to seasonal weather. Tav was doing what she could to encourage patience with varying degrees of success. 

“You have eternity, one season is hardly a setback,” she would remind him. It wasn’t as though she didn’t understand his excitement. She felt it too. Astarion practically skipped through the halls of the Crimson Palace when the purchases in the Lower City went through. Step one of the master plan had succeeded, but the start of step two hit a snag. 

This setback turned into a small boon for Tav. With his thoughts preoccupied, Astarion didn’t have time to bring up the subject of her becoming a vampire. It gave her the time she needed to weigh the situation. When Astarion made his offer of eternity, her mind echoed with the warnings her friends repeated ad nauseum. 

He will enslave you.

It’s only a matter of time.

He’s a vampire, he cannot love you.

You will be his puppet like he was Cazador’s.

For twenty years she lived under the thumb of a cruel, old man. Day after day she was instructed on how to look, when to speak, where to sit, how much or how little to eat - it was a regimented nonexistence. Personhood was something that man never afforded her. Why would she ever wish to go back to such lifelessness? To be danced around like a puppet on strings, performing in a play written by her master. She had escaped one monster, why would she submit to the cruelty of another? The very thought made her numb.

But, would he be cruel to her? Ever since she walked into his home, she had been treated like a highborn lady. He made sure she wanted for nothing, providing only the best for his beloved.  Furthermore, he valued her input. Valued her. They plotted together, schemed together, devised stratagems to take down their rivals. Even when he disagreed with her ideas, he never treated them as lesser. A maelstrom of thoughts swirled in her mind, leaving her no closer to a course of action. 

“This is the wrong tea. She prefers the Kozakuran blend.” Tav heard Astarion’s voice echo up to her room. 

“Not again,” she sighed. The letter she was writing to Gale would have to wait. With haste, she set down her quill and made her way to the scene of the commotion. A newly hired maid was bowing her head apologetically while Astarion berated her for perceived incompetence. Tav delicately placed her hands on his shoulder, ready to diffuse the situation. Everyone could tell by how his shoulders slacked that her touch had an immediate effect. 

“Astarion, is everything alright?”

“Yes, my love, you needn’t worry,” he glared at the maid, “I am simply reminding the staff on how to do their jobs.” Beads of sweat were pouring down the girl’s face. Occurrences like this were becoming commonplace. More and more, she was finding herself pacifying him when the staff did something for her that he deemed unacceptable. Tav couldn’t blame the poor girl for being so afraid. 

“What tea am I having this morning?” she politely asked. The maid swallowed hard, fearing her employment would be in jeopardy upon giving her answer. Little did she know that employment was the least of her worries.

“Black tea, my lady,” she quavered. Not Tav’s favorite, but she didn’t dislike it.

“I see. Are we out of the Kozakuran blend?”

“Yes,” she nodded, “I was told to use regular black when the Kozakuran was out. The butler said something about plant diseases in the region causing shortages. I’m terribly sorry, my lady.” An unavoidable matter, as she suspected. Tav dismissed the girl, then turned her attention back to Astarion. She took a quick glance to make sure they were alone.

“We need to talk.” Tav looked sternly into his ruby eyes, “You can’t keep doing this to the help, Astarion. Last tenday, you nearly ripped the cook apart when my dinner wasn’t ready on time. Before that, you threatened to ruin a seamstress’s career over a barely noticeable thread out of place on one of my new dresses. Not to mention the maid you let your spawn kill. Now this? What’s going on?”

Astarion pulled away from her, glowering, “And here I thought I was showing restraint. And what would you,” he pointed, “have me do? Allow you to be disrespected with ineptitude? No. You are my intended and you will be treated with due deference.” 

“Being unable to acquire a blend of tea due to forces of nature is not ineptitude! And she found a solution. These things happen, Astarion! You’re behaving abysmally toward them.” She knew by his expression that he couldn’t care less about the quality of life of those under him. They existed to serve him and serve him they would. 

Rephrasing was in order, “Fine, consider this: If our staff keeps disappearing or quitting, people will begin to ask questions. What happens, o great vampire lord, when people ask questions?” If an appeal to emotion would not work, perhaps an appeal to logic would. 

And it did make him stop to consider. Sometimes, Astarion needed help seeing a bigger picture. Patriars didn’t like having their business poked into, and vampires even less so. She knew the last thing he wanted was for a squadron of paladins to barge through his gates. 

“Perhaps you’re right, as you so often are,” he turned his head to a porcelain vase full of fresh flowers perched on a table, pretending to have interest in their full blooms, “Fine. What will put my pet at ease?”

“Let me handle situations like this. I am the lady of the house, am I not? It should fall to me to manage these things.” 

To any other noble, this wasn’t a big ask. Ladies took care of the day to day management of households, lords took care of business ventures. Tav knew that Astarion wouldn’t see what she was asking as a mere request to fulfill her social obligations, she was asking Astarion to relinquish a small measure of control to her. For a vampire, power and control were part of their essence. 

“I’ll think about it.” The way his lips snarled under his furrowed brow gave away that he had no intention of assenting. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one leg. The butler attempted to cut through to the pantry, but a sharp look from Tav made him turn on heel. 

The ascendant scowled at her, “Godsdammit!” He popped a bloom off its stem in exasperation, “I don’t know what else to do, Tav. How else would you have me show my desire, my willingness, to take care of you for all time?” The way he spoke was a departure from his usual proud, arrogant demeanor. Astarion was desperate, afraid. 

“You already do,” she kissed him softly, “Every day. And I’m grateful.” Tav threw her arms around his shoulders, staring lovingly into his eyes with a comforting smile. 

“Are you happy, my love?” He was trying hard to keep his mask on, but she could see the self-doubt in his eyes. She knew his insecurities, how even after the ritual his fear had never left. Two centuries of hell taught him how fleeting moments of bliss can be. 

“Very happy, my lord,” she answered truly. Feeling bold, she reached between his legs and grabbed his cock, “Do you want me to show you how happy you make me?” 

There was a function he needed to be at that morning, but Tav’s soft tongue running up his neck convinced him that he could be fashionably late. She got on her knees and unlaced his trousers, her eyes still reverently fixed on his. Right now, she knew of no gods but the vampire ascendant. 

Astarion let out a low groan when she took his throbbing cock into her mouth. She dutifully sucked hard on him in her act of worship, licking him with her agile tongue. All those years of performing now seemed like practice for her one true purpose; the glorification of her new deity. He leaned against the wall, head back and eyes closed, running a hand through her silken hair.

"Gods, yes," he moaned, tensing up. Tav took the entirety of him in her mouth as he came, catching every drop of his seed down the back of her throat.  

She remained on her knees for a time after, resting her head against him in a lust filled daze. For some reason or another, she was overcome with desire for him today. If only it wasn’t a work day, then she might have tried begging him to spend the day in bed with her. 

The vampire pulled out a pocket watch to check the time and sighed, “I suppose it’s time for me to make my grand entrance at the charity auction.” He rolled his eyes, “Keeping up appearances can be so tedious.” Breathing deep, he fixed his attire, “I’d much rather stay here and reciprocate your affections,” he patted her head, “Later then, little love.”

Forever with Astarion didn’t seem so bad right this second. But, inevitably, the doubts would worm their way back in one by one. Not only the matter of her autonomy, but another that she was terrified of discussing. A subject that she felt Astarion might not be on board with. 

~~~~~

For whatever reason, the organizers of the auction thought it best to hold the event in an outdoor venue. Astarion was grateful that his lowered core temperature gave him a slight shield against the oppressive heat. He absentmindedly wandered up and down the rows of wares to be bid on. It didn’t matter to him what he took home that day. Attendees were expected to show up, make a purchase, and brag to each other about how wonderfully selfless they were to part with their pocket change for the less fortunate. He intended to do just that. Today, they were helping fund a clinic in the Outer City.

Astarion’s thoughts were far from the trinkets up for auction today. It had been months since he proposed to Tav and she still hadn’t given him a proper response. He was growing increasingly concerned as to whether or not he had offered immortality too soon, or if he came on too strong. He couldn’t lose her. He would not lose her. 

As more time passed, rejection ceased to be his greatest fear. The thought of seeing her in another’s arms made him seethe. Day after day he had seen her  in correspondence with Gale. What if he was trying to spirit her away? The wizard could be quite charming, he had to admit. He needed to win her over, to show her that he wouldn’t rest unless she was content. But how? All his attempts were failing and it filled him with self loathing. He is the vampire ascendant, godsdammit, and he should be able to get what he wants.

He had walked through rows of statues, furniture, and books. Nothing suited his fancy, then again he was barely paying attention. Perhaps a musical instrument for Tav? Maybe, but first was the row of paintings. The subjects of the first few were as expected. Devils, angels, gods and goddesses, the macabre, and cityscapes. As he neared the end of the row, one made him stop dead in his tracks. 

It was a lord and a lady. While that in of itself wasn’t out of the ordinary, who was in the picture was. Astarion ran his fingers over the lady’s face. An elf maiden with black hair and pale lilac eyes. 

“I see you have excellent taste, my lord. This portrait was donated by the Silvershield family and is the last commission of the halfling painter, Flyndal Humbleberry,” an auction house attendant came up from behind to merrily talk up the portrait, “I never tire of looking at that man’s works! Why, look at the precision in the brush-”

“Yes, yes. Tell me, who is this lady?” Astarion was disinterested in an art lesson. The attendant cleared his throat.

“Ah, yes, this is an old portrait of Lord Loren Mastsar and his second wife, Lady Elia. Most are unfamiliar with the man, his house rose and fell with him. Didn’t even survive a generation. Such a pity. He was a devoted paladin of Lathander and a legend against the undead. Poor man met his end near Waterdeep with that lovely wife of his.”

Elia. So, that was her old name. The vampire fixated on the painting and let her name quietly form on his lips. Lady Elia bore a lifeless, dead expression. The kind that he used to mask his fear of failing Cazador. As for Lord Mastsar, even in his old age he was an imposing figure. Tav looked so small sitting under him while he stood tall with an iron grip on her shoulder. 

Astarion scoffed at the man. A formidable warrior brought to his grave by the demure, little missus that he sorely underestimated. What’s more, she killed a bane against his kind. He couldn’t be more proud. Regarding the painting itself, it would be his. He didn’t relish the idea of his beloved’s frightened visage gracing another’s palace. What would be done with it after, he would leave for Tav.

Bidding went off without a hitch. Few people had their eyes on the painting, preferring the pieces that would make better conversation pieces. It went for a middling sum and would be delivered to the Crimson Palace on the morrow. Now, Astarion would need to return home and inform Tav. He stood by his decision, believing it for the best in the long term, but he knew she would most likely not take well to seeing a relic from her old life. 

At the end of the auction, there was a pit in the vampire’s stomach. He had known dread before, but not like this. Cazador showed him what it meant to dread for himself, Tav’s extended trip to Avernus taught him how to dread for another. Now, he felt the dread of knowing he could potentially be hurting the one he loved. 

As the carriage approached the palace, the sweet sound of old elvish tunes echoed from the courtyard. A few townspeople huddled outside the mansion's walls, listening peacefully to the impromptu concert. Not that he could blame them. Tav’s music had a pied piper effect.

Inside, the mansion was in a good mood. The staff was keeping busy with smiling faces, skipping along from one room to the next. A mirthful atmosphere wasn’t quite to his liking, but he had more pressing matters. He made his way to the courtyard. Tav stopped in the middle of a song when she saw him, to the dismay of her spur-of-the-moment audience. 

“There you are,” she set down her harp to greet him with a kiss, “How did it go?” She was in high spirits, which made this feel worse. 

“It went well. I suppose.” The midafternoon heat gave her cheeks a rosy glow. Hesitating, he looked around at the bushes rustling in the wind, “I won a painting.”

“Oh? I suppose we could always use more artwork. Where were you thinking of hanging it?” 

“I’m not. I have no intention of it seeing the light of day.” There was a hint of disgust in his voice. Tav lightly chuckled.

“I’m confused. Why get an item you don’t want?”

“It was said to be the last portrait made by a halfling named Humbleberry.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her hands nervously come together, folding at her waist. Tav had connected the dots. “You can decide what to do with it. Smash it, burn it, rip it apart,” he reestablished contact with her tear filled eyes, “Whatever you want.” Wordless, she walked back into the palace. 

~~~~~

Tav lay on her bed, curled up. All of her efforts to push her emotions aside had so far failed. She had only sat with that bastard to be painted once. At that moment, the memory was defilingly vivid. She couldn't fathom why anyone would want the painting, no matter who the artist was. Knowing the finished product was still out there made her feel violated, exposed, and small. It was a grotesque piece that should have been left to rot. Being made aware that someone out there had it hanging in their mansion for the last eighty years made her ill.  

A warm breeze swept through the window, over her body and through her raven locks. How long she had been sulking like this, she could not say. Orange rays were now dancing and distorting in the room, indicating the sun was setting. Astarion’s spawn would be stirring about the mansion soon to fulfill whatever orders he issued that evening.

Knock. Knock.

Two knocks, his signature. Without moving, she granted him permission to enter. She heard the twist of the door knob, his silent steps, and the clack of the knob relatching. The bed depressed behind her as he sat next to her, tracing his finger over her arm.

“It’s not even dusk and you’re ready for bed.” 

Due to the heat, Tav had discarded her top layers of clothing in favor of lighter undergarments. It was far too stuffy in her room to remain in proper dress. Besides, who was going to be around to see her?

“Are you complaining?” The question came out snappier than intended. He abruptly stopped tracing her arm.

“You’re angry with me.” A statement, not an inquiry.

“No,” she held his hand tight, “I’m grateful. I hate that I’ve been displayed for the world to see at my weakest like that. You stopped that. Thank you.” Astarion laid down behind her, enveloping her in his arms, saying nothing. The coolness of his body soothed her heated flesh. 

“Will you hate me when I tell you part of the reason why I helped you ascend was revenge? Revenge on him, the city who turned a blind eye to my plight, and to his god who he so righteously served?” 

He softly chuckled, “Not at all, my love, I am happy to be your instrument of vengeance. I would burn down the world if it pleased you and watch the flames dance in your smiling eyes.”

“Why?” She twisted around. The day’s events left her feeling drained and deficient, as though her entire worth had vanished. Tav caressed his face in adoration, “You are the most powerful vampire to have ever existed. You could have the most powerful, wealthy, influential, beautiful people to share all this with, but you chose me . You chose someone with nothing to offer.” 

He laughed.

Here she was pouring her heart out, and he was laughing at her.

“Oh darling,” he sighed, “Do you remember when we met that Gur hunter not long after we became infected with the parasites?” When she nodded, he continued, “Do you recall how he told you I was a vampire spawn and your first thought was to play the scared damsel to distract him long enough for me to slit his throat?”

“Heh, then we threw his body into the bog,” she snickered. 

“That we did. And do you remember when that foul drow wanted me to drink her putrid blood for a potion? Do you remember how she refused to take ‘no’ for an answer until you shoved her and told her to back off? Or how livid you were when she asked if I belonged to you?”

“Well, you’re your own person!”

“Then we come to the ritual. When Cazador fastened me in place on the altar. You threw aside your own safety to get me out. After the battle, could barely stand and you still helped me copy my scars onto him.”

“And then you carried me out of the defiled chapel.”

“If you weren’t in need of a healer, I would have carried you into one of the bedchambers. Gods, everything was so heightened after I completed the rite!” He caught himself digressing, “Eh, back to the topic. 

Would anyone else have done for me what you have? In two centuries, you were the only person to look at me and not see a monster or an object for sex. You wanted to know who I am as a man and not what kind of useful tool I could be. You are the only one who sees and accepts me as I am. I know you have my back and I yours. Is that not reason enough for me to choose an eternity with you?”

Tav was flabbergasted. Astarion always held his cards close to his chest, never wanting to be seen as weak, so she never expected such a heartfelt admission. She half expected him to shy away after his speech, but he stayed there with her, cradling her in his arms.

“I love you,” she whispered. Time stood still. They knew how they felt about each other, but this was the first time she had said it out loud. A reddish tinge flashed upon the ascendant’s pale face. 

“It’s quite warm. Perhaps I should have waited to feed,” he coughed. Tav thought it was undeniably cute how he was trying to play it off. Trying to save his dignity, she decided to address one of her other concerns.

“Astarion?”

“Yes?” He smiled cooly, pretending his cheeks weren’t still flushed.

“Did you learn my name?”

“I did. I never would have expected it to be non-elvish.” That didn’t surprise her. She had no idea who actually gave her the name.  

“Say it.” Tav couldn’t remember a single instance where her birth name was spoken without ill will. It was used against her as a means of control or to denigrate. Still, she wanted to hear him say it. She wanted to hear how her name sounded on his lips.

“Elia,” he drawled, sending her heart aflutter. It was nice. Yes, she liked it very much. Tav pulled him closer, showering him with fiery kisses. He responded to her  enthusiasm in turn, tearing at his clothes, leaving it in tatters on the floor. The shirt and vest may have once been two of his favorites, but they dared to get in the way of taking care of his lady’s needs. 

“Elia,” he growled, prodding his tip against her mound. For so long she hated the name she was given. Fascinating how one man could change her entire perspective on it. No matter, she wanted to finish what they started that morning.

“Say it again,” she demanded. Astarion’s whole face grinned at her attempts to command him. He pinned her by the wrists, letting her know he was still in charge. Nevertheless, he thought after all that happened his little love deserved a treat. He positioned himself on his knees and pulled her hips to his, roughly thrusting into her. Howling and moaning, Tav gave herself to his direction. She liked it better when he took control. 

Astarion moaned her name repeatedly through his parted lips. Reaching down, he teased at her breasts, pinching her nipples. 

“I am yours, my lord,” she declared, “I am your Elia.” 

“That you are. Now,” he resumed his hold on her hips, “show me you’re mine. Elia.” The vampire grinded himself against her most sensitive spots, sending her into climax, “There you are. Good,” he growled. 

“I..” she started to say, but the rush of blood to her head coupled with the intensity of her orgasm threatened to make her faint. As her sight started to blacken, she felt a final, hard thrust accompanied by a loud grunt.

Tav felt her body lower onto the bed. He had outdone himself this time. A cold hand rubbed against her sternum, bringing her back from the brink of unconsciousness. Opening her eyes, she saw him kneeling over her. Astarion seemed proud of his work, of how he undid her so completely. 

After a time, he sank into the sheets next to her, still smug. Should he be? Desire was already creeping back into Tav’s core. Once was not going to be enough for her. She ran her hand deliberately down his chest to his cock. There were no objections from the vampire lord. It would seem his lady’s needs were great that evening. That’s all right, the night was still young. Very young. 

Thank you for reading. As always, feel free to like, reblog, or comment.

[oceansssblue]

[THE BAD BATCH]— "CANVAS"

ECHO/OFC 💖

OMEGA HAS THE BEST IDEA. SHE HAS BEEN EYING THE ARTIST ACROSS CID'S SALON FOR OVER A WEEK NOW; AND SHE'S FINALLY GOING TO ORDER THE BEST PRESENT EVER FOR ECHO.

WARNINGS: FLEETING MENTIONS OF ECHO'S BODY ISSUES&EXPERIENCE (NOTHING EXPLICIT). 99% FLUFF.

ONE-SHOT INSPIRED BY THIS WONDERFUL @cloned-eyes ART PIECE OF TATTOED ECHO! 💙✨

Omega counts the credits in her hands. She has been saving them for months, now; no more unnecessary mantel mix or cool accesories for her bow even if they make her momentarily happy. She's sure Echo's reaction will top all of that; and she has finally collected enough to buy the present she has being eying since she discovered the small tattoo parlour across Cid's salon. It's a cool place; full of bright neon lights and colourful images and shapes painted all over the walls. She has never actually entered the parlour; but she has seen enough through the displays of the window. She wasn't actively looking for a place like that at all, to start with; but once discovered, Omega couldn't think about anything else.

It's not just tattoos that the artist makes; but she draws and paints on every single surface imaginable too. Omega has seen a long line of clients bringing her all sort of pieces for her to decorate, to give some life to; house accesories, jewelry, books, speeders... Everything is a canvas for her. Omega's favourite one was probably a landscape design painted in a beautiful modern style on the back of a datapad.

She's got talent, the young woman that works with his collague in the shop. While she does the main art, her co-worker seems to take care of supplies and management. He helps with purely ink-on-skin jobs too. They're both not human, though they're not too far off anatomically speaking. They're definitely on the humanoid range; just small variations to their features and a whole different set of colour palette. Omega wonders if they came to Ord Mantell together from their native planet or if their encounter here was a mere coincidence. She's always curious; even about strangers that have nothing to do with her.

Their skin has a natural faint purplish tint, and they have big eyes with a pronounced double circled iris –the inner layer a darker lilac colour, the outer one a vibrant gold– and washed-out white marks on their neck and face. She has short purple hair, barely grazing her chin, and always wears six or more small braids that sometimes join together in beautiful ways. A bunch of earings hang of each of her slightly pointed ears; and tattoos roam all over her arms and the sides of her neck. She has two small ones on one cheek as well; black figures and dots Omega's not sure if they hold meaning or not. His co-worker looks and dresses in a similar way; comfortable cargo pants with military-like boots, a red T-shirt and black vest. They both look so cool Omega hasn't grown tired of staring at them yet.

The young teenager half skips happily to the parlour; a replica of Echo's prosthetics inside the bag hanging heavily on her shoulder. She had asked Tech to build them a week and a half ago; explaining her idea to the goggled clone and inmediately achieving his aproval. Tech had told her it was a very considerate and original gift. He had jumped at the challenge of building a copy of Echo's three main prosthetics –his scomp, and both of his cybernetic legs– in record time and without any of the others noticing it. Well, except Hunter, who had obviously heard his quiet screwing in the middle of the night and had quickly been informed of the plan.

Omega radiated energy when she opened the door to the parlour. Her big eyes quickly found their way to the artist that would make her idea come true, and she walked towards the front desk with a spring to her step.

"Hi! I love your work, and I'd like you to draw a bunch of stuff for me, please" she blurted out, her enthusiastic innocent voice inmediately catching the attention of the humanoid.

The artist tilted her head to the side, examining the young girl up and down. The new comer looked to be around thirteen or so; a shock of beautiful blond hair complementing her tanned skin. Her purplish-golden eyes sparkled with curiosity and humour.

"You're a bit young to get your skin inked, kid" she answered with a small chuckle. "Luckyly for you I don't really have an age minimum 'round here. Don't come crying next week when you change your mind, though. Erasing is always a torture, and a loss of my time. You sure?"

Omega's eyes widenned comically. She laughed while shaking her head vigorously to the sides, one hand coming up in a clear sign of rejection.

"Oh, no! No. I don't want to get a tattoo!" she frowned, the posibility passing through her head a second later before she nochalantly shrugged it away. "At least not now. I actually brought you some pieces for you to customize? Like you did with some of your other clients?"

The woman chuckles at Omega's lively personality. She points at the heavy bag hanging of her shoulder.

"I'm assuming they're in there?" She guesses, and Omega quickly nods and carefully places the bag in the floor, opening it up for the artist to see.

The woman crouches down and curiously peers into it. She frowns in confussion, and one hand cautiously hovers over one of the pieces while she tries to make the shape of the pile of cramped metal in her head. She realises what the girl is carrying and tilts her head up to her with clear surprise in her face.

"Are these prosthetics?"

Omega nod's proudly.

"Yeah! My brother Tech managed to make an extra improved pair for Echo –he's my other brother– in no time and I wanted you to decorate them before I give them to him. He's had his own for a while now, but I know he's not fully comfortable with them yet, even if he tries not to show it. So I thought personalizing them a bit would make him feel like they're more him, you know?"

Omega waits for the womans aproval. Tech said it was a good idea, so it must be, right? Anyhow, she kinda wants the opinion of the artist herself too. She makes a living of this; of giving soul and personality to pieces that form a part of others lifes.

To her relief, the woman seems gladly surprised. She slowly takes out one of the leg prosthetics and turns it carefully in her hand, examining the surface and caressing it here and there in an almost distracted way.

"It sounds like a cool idea, kid" she hesitates, not wanting to be the one to break the young girl's heart. "But customizing such large complex pieces is pretty expensive, specially if you want to add specific details yourself. Do you have the money?"

Omega nods proudly and takes the credits out of her pocket. She shows them to her with a smile.

"Yup! I have been saving for weeks now. It's enough, right?"

Omega sees the expression on the artist face fall, and her eyes widen. She looks back and forth between the credits on her hands and the artist; knowing what's going on.

"Is it that much more expensive?" She asks, worried, nibbling on her lower lip, trying to think of a solution to it. "I-maybe I can ask Tech and Hunter for more, uh maybe Wrecker, or I can sell some stuff around and..."

The artist interrumpts her rumbling with a hand on her shoulder, standing up besides her.

"Look, sweetheart... I can't use all my current materials in this pieces for this price, but I must have some old stock somewhere in the back. Outdated stuff is much cheaper, and we can forget about my personal fee as well, so you won't have to pay the extra. Or my time of work. Just the pure old raw materials, that should cut the price drastically" she eyes her expectant expression and the hope in her big eyes and sighs, pulling up a smile. "You can give me what you want and we'll call it a deal, alright?"

"Really?" the blonde nearly squeals, knees bouncing up and down, and the artist's smile widens.

"Yeah. Take the pieces to the front desk and lay them out. Do you have a clear idea of what you want to do with them?"

Omega quickly follows and she inmediately grabs her datapad –one of Tech's old ones– and starts pulling up photos and ideas of designs she had been investigating these last few days. She turns the datapad to the woman and grins.

"I've got loads!"

The artist smiles in amusement and pats the chair next to her. Omega hops on it and tilts her face to her, expectantly. The humanoid nods and points at the datapad with a vague gesture.

"Okay. Let's hear it, then".

(•••)

Viana didn't make a habit of being underpayed. Every inch of the fee for her job was perfectly detailed and taken into consideration; materials, time, number of details, backgrounds, how large was the piece, if it required a special varnish to seal the art, colours, layers... It wasn't the same customizing a watch with barely more than the first letter of someone's name than to decorate someone's speeder; so her prices really varied depending on each request.

The girl's –Omega, she had after learned– story had moved her enough to do a little favor for her. Just an exception to her usual strict rules. The blonde had showed her several images on her datapad –pointing out his brother Tech had runned a check up on her and decided she could be trusted with said information– and the woman had quickly put two plus two together. Those guys were clones, and not the ones that followed the laws of the Empire. These were guys that still remember what was honour, respect, doing the right thing. Viana still remembered how Rak and her had been able to escape their home planet with their help.

Truth is the saasra has always admired them. They were great soldiers, great men; and she had come from a tribe of warriors herself. She had long left those years behind; but she still payed attention to the same things. Plus, Echo's particular story was something else. Omega hadn't really gotten into details; just quickly passing of a coment on how he had been gravely injured in battle and how his body looked like now. Viana had read into the images shown before said change; the proud posture of the ARC trooper surrounded by his brothers and friends. She couldn't imagine what he had been forced to push through; not only accepting his own new body, but coping with the loss of so many dear people too.

She hand't been able to think on anything else after Omega left her workshop. The feeling of a new exciting project surged within her, ideas and splashes of colours and shapes constantly popping in her mind. Viana knew she wouldn't be able to sleep that night unless she started with this unusual project; so she had begun with the initial designs.

She always follows the same process. She draws a lazy sketch; absolutely everything she thinks could go well with the piece. Then she picks them out; re-doing them in better shapes and lines on a new datapad canvas. Once that is done, she meassures the original piece and replicates the dimensions on her app; moving her figures and details and overlapping them in layers so everything is taken to it's destined spot. She plays with colours and details –nothing too specific– in her datapad too; and then she moves onto the real piece. She draws the final selected sketch on it and then it's all a matter of colours and definition; swirls and micro-details. It's her favourite part; watching her ideas finally take life. Making dull pieces stand out.

Three days after Omega's arrival on her parlour, Viana has already drawn the main sketches out. She wanted to personalize everything to the detail, like Omega had requested; every inch of the former soldier's cybernetics was perfectly planned out. Though Omega would probably like something vibrant and jazzy best, the saasra knew it had to be something discreet enough so it wouldn't interfere with Echo's posible future misions. Viana didn't exactly knew what they did for a living, or what the future held for them; but she could get an idea. Times were difficult now, dangerous. She couldn't make the prosthetics striking enough to catch people's attention. It had to be somewhat subtle.

With that main reason in mind, she had designed a background of greys, blacks and reds for all of the three pieces in her hands. The lines parted separetly on the top of the scomp prosthetic before travelling down and crossing each other and swirling at the end; joining together in a splash of dark red. The same went for the legs; full opalascent black for were the top part attached to real skin and slowly switching to a gradient grey as they went down to the feet. Small streaks of dark red also swirled around each other as they went; almost following the shapes of human muscles in soft and precises curves. Not wanting them to look too perfectly made –he was a soldier, after all, not an inmaculate coruscanti model– she added some groundge details too; smearing some black and grey paint together here and there without any particular shape, and with her metalic sharp brushes, simulating scratches and dips on the surface.

Once that was out of the way –she had chosen those reds, greys and blacks to match the rest of the clone's armour by Omega's pictures– she followed with the small details. Viana had given it much thought. She wanted the prosthetics to really feel part of Echo, as Omega had in mind too. She wanted to give him something with which he could feel like himself. That right after he tried them on, he'd feel more confident and reassured. And not just because it was a –poorly– payed comissioned job.

Viana decided on a mix of what seemed to be the clone's most important aspects of his life. Omega had more or less explained parts of his life to her, so she could understand what to work with. Viana knew she needed to include five main pieces of Echo's life in these; the Jedi, Clone Force 99 –Omega's brothers, herself included now–, Captain Rex, the Domino Squad, and his twin Fives.

For the Jedi, Viana drew tiny light-sabers on the edges of each prothesis that at first glance looked like a line of simple stiches. She couldn't plant something on the surfaced that screamed "hey, Empire, right here, i'm your enemy" after all, so it was an unasumming little thing. No-one would find out unless they specifically looked for it. Hell, Echo might not even realise it himself.

For Clone Force 99, she designs four washed-out white skulls to compliment the one already etched on the top left of his chest plate. She adds a very carefully hand-drawn detail for each one, so it represents the rest of the members of the squad; one skull crossed by a delicate black bow, another with a stripe across the head for the long-haired clone's bandana, one with the crosshair on the right eye and the last one with a myriad of scars coming from the left side of the skull and ending on the left.

She adds a splash of a hand print for Captain Rex around the prothesis holding the scomp. The blue sticks up too much with the rest of the colour pattern, though, even if its a dark shade with some black in between; so Viana adds some minor swirls and slashes of the same tone here and there.

Following Omega's idea, she draws five small domino's in black and grey around one of the cybernetic's ankles; tying them up to each other with a thin line of scarlet red. A black five is a perfect replica of one of Omega's pictures on the other ankle; red and greys and blues swirling around the number as if trying to cling to it.

Viana gives a few extra last touches and examines the three pieces in front of her. Satisfied and proud, she gives them a final varnish so they hold all kind of atmospheric adversities; and two weeks after Omega's request, the woman has her art ready to be send on it's way.

(•••)

Viana makes her way to where Omega told her their ship would be docked with her request carefully placed inside a box with the parlour's purple logo. It's heavy, but not as much as she first imagine the prothesis would be; she's able to carry them without much effort til she's standing right in front of the Marauder –Omega's home–.

She examines the external appearence of the ship with intrigue. Omega's a bubbly thing, and she couldn't stop talking in excitement when she visited her workplace. Viana had half-listened distractedly while she pulled out basic designs and drew quick sketches for the blonde to sway in one direction or the other. By the way her eyes filled with warmth and her smile widened while talking of this ship, the saarsa knew it wasn't just a ship for them at all.

There's two men standing on the outside, one crouched down while examining something with a pack of wrenchers and tools by his side; the other observing with his arms crossed. After spending a few hours of the last two weeks staring at Omega's pics, they're easily recognizable; the one with the long hair and red bandana is obviously Hunter, while the one doing the repairs is Tech. She can't see the other two –Wrecker and Echo himself– so she asumes they're either inside or somewhere else in Ord Mantell.

Hunter's eyes flicker around his surroudings before they land on her. It's like he noticed someone staring; she wondered if she had been doing that with too much intensity. To show she's not a threat –this guy is clearly ready and alert– she shows a small gentle smile and hesitantly takes a step towards them.

"Can we help you?" Hunter asks, frowning unconsciously, his stance widening slightly while turning towards her.

Tech glances up and his eyes quickly roams over the newcomer's appearance, quickly drawing the right conclusions by the expresion on his face.

"Oh! You must be the artist from Omega's most recent quest" he nods as a way of hello, standing up and adjusting the right lense of his goggles before continuing talking with her. "I asume that you bring the final results?"

Viana nods and brings the box in her hands up as a demonstration. Hunter relaxes and Tech nods, curiously walking towards her.

"May I have a look?"

They're really polite, and really handsome too. Most clones are, of course. It's no wonder people used to like going to clone's pubs before.

"Sure" Viana answers, her mere observation not making her shy away in the slightest.

She patiently waits while Tech lifts the lid of the box up and takes a peak inside. Hunter can't hold back his curiosity either and follows him. They both stay silent for so long that Viana starts to feel a bit nervous and hesitant about her work.

"Is it... Is it what Omega hoped for?"

She's usually very confident about herself; but Echo's situation is delicate, and the details she has added in the cybernetics, albeit by Omega's request, are too personal for a stranger to play with. She hopes she hasn't overstepped.

"It exceeds my expectations, in fact" points out Tech, to her inmediate relief. "And I am sure Omega's as well. I'm particularly surprised at how detailed and lively this are without drawing too much attention to it, nothing too vibrant or extravagant. It should work perfectly well with our kind of lifestyle. Congratulations are in order, I believe".

Tech has a weird way of speaking; Viana's lips almost tugging upwards in another smile. She feels proud and happy at his observarions, though; and Hunter thinks the same as well by his firm grateful nod.

"Thank you for doing this" the latest says, his voice slightly rougher than the average clone but equally gentle. "I know for a fact Omega doesn't have enough credits to pay for this. She can be very persuasive, I should know. We can pay you a bit extra ourselves".

The offer is tempting, and Viana has spent a lof of her free time doing this; but she wouldn't feel good if she took the credits in. She feels this project has been made personal –there's always one of those once in a while– and she just feels lucky and proud to have produced such an important piece. It's obvious these guys don't have much themselves considering they don't even have a proper house; and she's sure they've already been through a lot. A bit of generosity and genuine compassion wouldn't hurt them.

"Save it for your family" she answers, then. "It has been a fun experience for me. Plus, I'm glad I'm able to do something for you lot".

Hunter watches her in surprise. They're different enough from the original clone templates that people don't usually associate them with clones, specially with a kid by their side; furthermore, they don't usually find people grateful for their service anymore.

Viana smiles.

"I'm native from Saar" she explains, and Hunter inmediately recognises the planet's name. "I remember".

A heavy silence falls between the three of them. Saar was completely destroyed by the Separatists back then; the army of warriors ruled by King Jarelan refusing to lay down their weapons after their monarch's death. They had called for the Republic's help; and two battalions of clones had been sent to them. They hand't been enough to save the planet form the separatist wrath; but they had saved uncountable lives, and the saarsa's had been able to relocate in another planet with the help of the Senate.

In that moment, someone walks down the Marauder towards them. Viana's attention is quickly snapped to the new presence; inmediately recognising the soldier in front of her. He frowns in confussion at the stranger talking with his brothers; but Echo quickly asumes she's just another woman swayed by Hunter's –or maybe Tech's– appeal and doesn't pay her too much attention while he turns to him.

"Hey, Sarge, I'm gonna go replenish our suplies now" he notifies, feeling a bit restless under the stranger's attentive purple and gold eyes. "Com's open, if you need something. Be back in a few".

Hunter nods, gives a small worded agreement and Echo's eyes glance one last time at the woman before walking away. Viana is sure he has some body issues like Omega explained; but right now he looks so confident and handsome –every bit of the perfect soldier– that the saarsa can't help but feel intrigued and attracted to him.

"Always this interested in your clients?" Hunter quietly asks, amused.

Viana tears his eyes from Echo's retreating figure and laughs.

"Not usually, no" she answers calmly, unashamed of being caught by them. "But you can learn a lot about a person from customising their things. And I had a lot of pics and details from him from that blonde girl of yours."

"So you are interested in him, then?" Tech pops in, and Viana shrugs while a telling smile makes her way on her face.

"He's hot, isn't he?" she places the box in Tech's hands, and decides it's time to return to her shop. "Tell Omega I said hi."

Hunter hums thoughtfully while watching her leave.

(•••)

Echo makes his way to the tattoo parlour with a mess of emotions twirling inside his mind. He couldn't even describe what he first felt when he opened Omega's present and his eyes landed on a new customized set of prosthetics; couldn't explain how it felt trying them on. Every swirl of paint, every line and detail... It was all him, the batch's reds and greys and Legion's 501 blue's; the brave people he had sworn to serve and his two families etched on his second skin now, both Force Clone 99 with each of their distinctives, and his Domino brothers. And Fives. Oh, Fives. He would have thought his prosthetics to be the coolest shit ever if he had been there to see him.

Echo had always had a tough time getting used to his cybernetics. He had been forced to accept them pretty quickly, mind you –inmediately jumping back to the fight in Anaxes and after that–; but there had always been a residual disgust and sense of inedequancy in the silence of his mind, after all was set and done. Suddenly half droid, it had been difficult to adjust; even if his new abilities were actually valuable to the team now. This prosthetics, on the other hand... They carried so much meaning. They hold little parts of his story, of his people; and he had felt inmediately conected to them. Echo opened the doors of the shop with a mess on his mind but feeling confident in his steps like never before.

His eyes inmediately found the stranger from the day before and he aproached her in contemplative silence. She was working on something, eyes stuck to her datapad and one of those tech-pencils on her right hand; brow furrowed and lips pursed in concentration.

"We're not taking any more clients for today" she barely mumbled, without taking a glance at the newcomer. "Come back tomorrow, please".

Echo studied her. She resembled a human, but she was undeniably different; her skin a faint purple and her eyes shining brightly even when pointed down at her datapad. His eyes wondered over each mark on her face.

"I just wanted to personally thank you" he voiced, patiently. "You did a great job with these".

She took a fleeting glance at him, nodding distractedly; inmediately abandoning her current sketch when she recognised who he was and straightening in her chair.

"Echo!" she exclaimed, surprised. He gave her a small nod and smile, and tried to stay still while her bright eyes roamed over him.

She hummed appreciately and showed him a wonderfull grin.

"You make a good-looking canvas, soldier".

Echo chuckles, left hand shyly travelling to the back of his neck, and pulls a smile as well.

Gathering up his courage, he tilts his head.

"Fancy going out for a drink, now that your closing the shop?"

Viana is momentarily stunned; but she melts and quickly nods, eager. Hunter and Tech must have pointed out her interest to him; but she doesn't really care. Echo is hot –undeniably so wearing her work–and she hasn't got any other plans for tonight.

"Give me five to close this up and we'll go" she asks.

Echo is surprised –and at the same time, relieved– at how easily all of this is; and waits patiently for Viana to finish her sketch and lock the doors. They walk to none other than Cid's salon chatting with each other and stealing glances along the way.

Maybe he can have some luck after all.

THE END.

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

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

DAMN, THAT WAS A LONG ONE! I FELT SO INSPIREEEED. I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT CAME OUT. DID YOU LIKE IT TOO? LET ME KNOW! HELPS ME STAY MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE WRITING : )

REBLOG IF YOU CAN!

REQUEST/PROMPTS OPENED. WHAT WOULD U LIKE TO READ NEXT?

MORE CLONE WARS & ARCANE CONTENT COMING!

Xx,

Sky.

[photogirl894]

"Sun and Rain Part 2: Age of the Empire"

Chapter 14

"Trust Issues"

A "Bad Batch" fanfic!

Pairing: Hunter x fem OC, Echo (more best friend pairing)

A/N: So this is where things with the story are gonna deviate just a little. First of all, I'm skipping episode 6 for reasons that do coincide with the story, but also I can't stand the Martez sisters and I just know my strong dislike would manifest itself into the story lol plus I couldn't think of anything involving Kimber that would change things enough, so I'm just bypassing it. Plus, after that, there's gonna be original mission shenanigans soon to ensue, so that's gonna be fun! 😁

Until then, enjoy this chapter! 💜

Taglist: @the-sad-batch , @nimata-beroya , @intrepidmare , @cole-kenxbi , @tech-aficionado , @ladykatakuri , @d1n0-dan , @sammi9498 , @darthzero22 , @scarlettrose9901 , @tech-deck , @thebadbatchscyare , @chxpsi , @ilikemymendarkandfictional , @4pplecider , @locitapurplepink , @l-lend , @nekotaetae , @eternalwaffle , @merkitty49 , @avathebestx

《 Chapter 13

》 Chapter 15

All chapters (Part 2) (Part 1)

Explanation: The Bad Batch get their promised info from Cid and call upon old friends to help them out.

Together, Hunter and Kimber made their way around to where they could hear Muchi roaring, Hunter holding tightly onto Kimber’s hand to help ease her discomfort and offer her a sense of security after what she’d just endured. They came around a corner to find Tech standing off to the side, watching Wrecker going at with Muchi and throwing punches.

“Kimber, you are all right,” said Tech upon seeing them, a touch of relief in his voice. After she nodded in reply, he stated, “That was a foolhardy and bold decision you made…yet I cannot discount the mettle you displayed in the face of the situation. That was indeed admirable.”

“Thanks, Tech,” Kimber replied.

Right then, they heard the sound of an engine approaching and saw Echo pulling up next to them on a speederbike with Omega sitting behind him, a Zygerrian energy bow on her arm. Omega jumped off first, wandering closer to where Wrecker and Muchi were brawling and getting curious about the fight.

As Echo dismounted the bike, Hunter called to him, gesturing to the slave collar still on Kimber’s neck, “Echo, get her out of this thing.”

Right away, Echo came over and started drilling into the back of the collar with his scomp. “Kim, what were you thinking back there? Have you forgotten the promise you made me about not making such reckless decisions with your life anymore?” he chided her as he worked the collar.

“Apparently, I about broke two promises,” she thought to herself. Then she said back, “I was more concerned with you boys getting freed. Omega needs her brothers and you can’t help her when you’re prisoners.”

“She needs you, too, and so do we,” he countered just as the collar came undone and he removed it from her neck, prompting her to face him as he did so. “Your intentions were good, but you promised you wouldn’t take unnecessary risks with your life like that again. I never want to see you willingly put yourself back into slavery, okay? We didn’t save you from captivity just for you to go back for any reason.”

She lowered her eyes guiltily.

Then he added, "Besides, did you really think he would've honored his word after he was done torturing you? He's a slaver and they don't give up what they deem their property for anything. Despite what you intended to happen, there's no way he would've given us up. Not even for you."

Kimber's eyes squeezed tightly shut and she inhaled sharply. Echo was right. How could she have overlooked that and thought her plan would work? It would've only made things worse, especially for Omega if all of them had been taken. Then she definitely would've never forgiven herself for what she'd done.

“I hadn't thought of that…I’m so sorry. Can you guys forgive me?” she asked, looking to Echo, Hunter and Tech.

“Of course, we can,” answered Echo, laying his hand on her shoulder.

“I thought that was obvious,” Tech added.

That brought a smile of relief to Kimber’s face.

Echo then looked at Wrecker, who was starting to falter and get slower in his punches with the Rancor, who was also getting tired. “How long’s he been at this?” Echo asked, turning back to Tech.

Tech simply answered, “Too long. He’s losing his touch.”

They all continued to watch as Wrecker and Muchi kept swinging and missing each other, both of them getting fatigued and tired from the fight. Finally, Muchi caved in first and collapsed to the ground shortly before Wrecker, who fell on top of the Rancor.

“Go to sleep…there we go,” Wrecker groaned, patting the Rancor who was drifting off to sleep.

“Aw, she’s kind of cute up close,” Omega pointed out.

Kimber chuckled. “If you say so,” she commented.

"Nicely handled, Wrecker," Hunter praised him, who just gave the Sergeant a tired thumbs up in return.

"All right, the real question now is: how are we going to get a sleeping Rancor back to Cid's?” Kimber then asked.

Tapping things out on his datapad, Tech suggested, “We could get her back into her cage and then secure it magnetically to the underside of our ship.”

“She’s asleep. How are we supposed to put her back into her cage?” asked Echo.

“We shall carry her, with Wrecker bearing the brunt of the weight,” answered Tech.

Wrecker groaned as he stood back up, “Oh goody….”

The task of getting Muchi into her cage and then secured to the Marauder was no easy task by any means, but the Bad Batch managed to do it nonetheless. Once the cargo was ready, they returned to Cid’s bar, where a male Twi’lek was waiting outside with some Gammorean guards to collect Muchi. He seemed pleased to see the Rancor, gave Cid a case with the payment and wasted no time in leaving with Muchi.

Once they were gone, Cid commented to the group, “Gotta say, fellas: I wasn’t sure you could pull this job off.”

“You could have told us we were going after a Rancor,” Echo chided her.

“Hmm…must’ve slipped my mind,” she casually answered. Then she pointed at Hunter. “You, dark and broody. My office.” Then she turned around and made her way towards the stairs to her parlor.

Hunter, while perplexed at what Cid had called him, gave a nod to the others.

Then they heard Cid call over her shoulder, “And bring the Missus with you!”

Kimber immediately felt all eyes on her. “Excuse me?” she thought.

“I think she means you,” Echo said to her, grinning from ear to ear and lightly elbowing her in the arm.

Now she felt even more conflicted at being nicknamed “the Missus”, especially since she and Hunter weren’t married yet. Cid must’ve assumed they were, for some reason. Nevertheless, she took Hunter’s hand and the two of them followed behind Cid to the parlor and then to her office in the back.

Cid pulled up on her holotable a hologram once again of the bounty hunter from Pantora and informed Hunter and Kimber, “Your bounty hunter is Fennec Shand. She's new to the scene but has already proven herself to be cunning and ruthless.”

“Who hired her?” Hunter asked, his eyes narrowing at the image.

“Unknown,” said Cid.

“Wasn’t that the entire point of this?” Kimber questioned her, irritated. “We did a job for you and you find out who hired the bounty hunter.”

Cid leered at her and snapped back, “Hey, if this information was easy to get, you wouldn’t need me in the first place, Dollface.”

Kimber just glared at the Trandoshan and Hunter gave Kimber a look that warned her to be careful.

Then Cid went on, “Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, my sources in the Guild say she's working on a direct commission. With someone like her nipping at your heels, you're going to need two things: friends and money. Mostly money.”

“Well, we're not swimming in either at the moment,” Hunter responded.

“I guess it's a good thing ya met me then, isn't it?” said Cid.

When Cid turned her back to pick up the case she’d gotten from the Twi’lek, Kimber whispered to Hunter, “We have the Koriena Force. Maybe they can help us.”

“We’ll comm them when we get back to the ship,” he said quietly back.

Cid put the case up onto her desk and opened it, revealing it to be full of credits. “Here's your cut. There's more where that came from... if you're looking for work,” she offered them.

Hunter stole a look at Kimber first and then simply replied, “I'll think about it.”

The two of them turned to leave the room, but then stopped when they heard Cid speak cunningly behind them, “It's interesting…a bounty hunter of Fennec's caliber being after you. You fellas must be pretty valuable.”

They exchanged apprehensive looks. Cid’s statement sounded on the verge of threatening and they both flipped back around, their eyes narrowing at Cid suspiciously.

However, Cid just gave them a conniving grin and said, “Don't worry. I'm good with secrets.”

Kimber, however, wasn’t convinced and she didn’t trust Cid at all, especially after her comment on how “valuable” they must be. With her eyes still carefully trained on Cid, she fired back, “You had better be…or else your parlor’s going to need a new proprietor.”

“No need to get your blacks in a twist. As long as you guys help bring in some good money, your secret’s safe with me,” Cid said.

“And what if we don’t?” inquired Kimber.

“Well…better hope we don’t find out, then,” Cid replied, sitting down at her desk. “Now get out, I’ve got things to do.”

Without hesitating, Kimber whipped around, her braid almost hitting Hunter, and stormed from the room, Hunter right on her heels. Once the door was shut and they were back out in the empty parlor, she stopped, turned to Hunter and stated in a hushed voice, “I do not trust her, Hunter. We got what we needed, let’s just leave and go elsewhere before she has the chance to sell us out. We can meet up with the Koriena Force somewhere and figure things out on our own, but we don’t need her.”

“I told her I would think about it,” Hunter said.

“What’s there to think about?” she asked back. “She basically insinuated she’d sell us out for money without outright saying it and she’s going to hold our secret over our heads to get what she wants from us. People like that can’t be trusted.”

“We don’t have much of a choice right now, love,” he replied.

She stepped closer to him. “Yes, we do. We can find someone else. The girls may even have connections.”

“Their connections would be just as questionable,” he refuted. He brought his hands up to her arms and softly caressed them. “I understand your suspicion, I do…but we’re in a bind right now and we’re going to have to make hard choices.”

“But at what cost? Our own safety? Omega’s safety?”

“Kimber, listen to me.” Hunter gripped her shoulders a little tighter. “You know I would never endanger my squad like that. I want to run this option by the boys first before making a final decision. If they feel it’s what we should do, then that’ll be it.”

Kimber’s expression hardened. “What about me? What about what I think?” she questioned.

“You’ve made it pretty clear what you think,” he said, “but I still want input from the others and we’ll see what the majority rules.”

She wanted to say more, but just felt too fatigued and defeated to find the right words, so instead she just exhaled loudly and put a hand up to her forehead.

Then she felt Hunter’s hand smooth her hair on her head and he said to her, “We don’t have to worry about this now. You went through a lot today. Let’s get back to the ship so you can rest and I’ll reach out to the girls to see if they can come help us.”

In reply, she just tiredly nodded.

He pulled her into his arms and her head fell into the crook of his neck, her body slumping against him. “I’m not discounting your opinion, you know,” he said softly. “I care very much what you think, sweetheart. You know that.”

“I know, darling,” she sighed. “I’m just afraid of this drastic of a change and what it might mean for us.”

“Do you remember what I said to you when we left Saleucami?” he went on to ask her. “As long as I’m by your side and you're at mine, we can weather any storm together. I believe that…do you?”

She raised her head to meet his gaze. “You know I do.”

“Then there’s no need to be afraid,” he reassured her, running his hand along her cheek, his loving gaze filling her with the sense of calm she needed before he kissed her sweetly on the lips.

The moment, however, was then broken by the sound of Cid’s voice crying out, “For crying out loud, in the middle of my parlor? Really?”

Hunter and Kimber came apart, flinching slightly in surprise, and Kimber responded, “There’s no one even in here!”

“I’m in here,” Cid retaliated. “Now go smooch somewhere else.”

Kimber groaned with exasperation and Hunter just rolled his eyes as the two of them turned away and made their way out of the parlor and back outside. They first relayed the information Cid had given them about Fennec Shand and then they all walked back to the ship, needing some rest. Hunter stayed with Kimber until she was fast asleep and then asked Echo to keep his eyes and ears open in case she started having nightmares while he went to call the girls, which Echo gladly obliged to. Hunter took the encrypted comm Kimber had, went outside, put in Rina’s frequency and waited for her to answer.

It didn’t take long for Rina’s holographic form to appear. “Hey there, boss la--oh! Well, you weren’t who I was expecting, Sarge,” she greeted him.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” he replied.

“I’d make a comment about seeing your pretty face, but I’m pretty sure Boss Lady would skin me if I did,” she said back, eliciting a snicker from Hunter. “Where is she, by the way? She okay?”

“Kimber’s fine. She’s just resting right now, but she wanted me to reach out to you,” he told her.

“Mmm figured you were calling on her behalf and not just for a friendly chat.” Rina lifted her vape mod up to her mouth for a second and then went on to ask, “Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of a call from you, lover boy?”

Hunter shook his head slightly at hearing her nickname for him again, but then proceeded to inform her about Fennec Shand. “Our contact says, with someone like her after us, we need friends and money,” he explained.

“And for which reason are you calling me?” asked Rina, flourishing her mod.

He half-smirked and responded, “Friends, of course.”

“Hey, for all I know, you could be asking for money. Doesn’t hurt to check,” she said back. “Where did you guys land?”

“Ord Mantell.”

“Yeah, that’s about as seedy as they come. If your contact is telling you ‘friends and money’, I’d imagine she’s in some shady business, especially on Ord Mantell. Sadly, any contacts we’ve got won’t be any better and much less reliable, especially for money. If you’ve got this one offering you a chance to make money, I would suggest you take it. It’s better than nothing, even if it is questionable.”

“I’m going to run the option by everyone. We don’t have very many people we can rely on, but you ladies are the few we can. Anyone else, we don’t know where they are. Will you help us?”

Rina took another inhale of sweetblossom, her arms folded and a contemplative look on her face. “To tell you the truth, Sarge, we’re gonna need some help, too,” she relayed to him, “so maybe we can all help each other.”

That concerned him to hear. “What happened?” he asked.

“Some things went down on Pantora shortly after you guys split,” she said. “We were having to hide from the police after chasing that bounty hunter and then more Empire troops showed up. Things got…pretty ugly.” Her voice sounded on the verge of sad as she said the last sentence and her gaze averted to the ground.

Something about that didn’t sit well with Hunter. Something seemed off about her, he could somehow sense it. Now even more concerned, he inquired of her, “Rina…is everything okay? Did something else happen?”

She blinked, lifted her head and was back in better spirits as she answered, “Well, we’re not dead. That’s the important thing. To sum up, we weren’t safe and didn’t want to stick around, so we’ve just been drifting since then.” She inhaled on her mod one more time. “If you guys are in a bind, then we’ll help you, Sarge. I’m sure the girls won’t have any objections. It’ll take us a day or two to get to Ord Mantell, but we’ll be there. Tell the boss lady her Koriena ladies are coming.”

With a pleased grin, he responded, “I knew we could count on you. I’ll send you our coordinates.”

“Catch you soon, Sarge,” she said back, giving him a salute, before the hologram disappeared.

A couple days had passed and Kimber found that her condition since suffering a slew of shocks and whippings was actually getting worse. The day after, she’d been a bit sore and felt she just needed to relax while the Batch took time to figure things out and discuss working for Cid, but by the second day, her pain hadn’t lessened. If anything, she almost felt worse. Having acclimated to not being whipped and tortured like she used to, the consequences of it felt pretty painful and it seemed to last longer than she thought. It seemed what she’d suffered at the hands of the Zygerrians took more of a toll on her than she thought and she wondered if she’d be able to handle another mission right away. It was times like these that reminded her that her physical endurance and pain tolerance was different than the Clones’ because they all were completely fine.

She woke up that second day, feeling miserable, and found that she was alone. Hunter wasn’t in the room and instead, she found a datapad on the side where he usually slept. Sleepily, she picked it up, rubbed at her eyes so she could see what was on it and saw there was a note typed out on the screen.

I didn’t want to wake you and, after how difficult things were for you yesterday, I thought I’d give you the chance to rest as much as possible. When you wake up, we’re back at Cid’s. Omega wanted to try out her new bow. I’m sure she’d love for you to come watch.

Counting down the seconds until I see you.

H

Kimber smiled to herself, realizing it had been a while since Hunter had said that last phrase to her. He really was such a romantic. Unfortunately, it was a bit painful even getting out of the bed and she had a feeling it was going to be quite a trek for her over to Cid’s. Feeling the way she did, she knew getting her armor on was going to be a chore and it probably wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing it. For the time being, she was just going to put on some civvie clothes that were more comfortable and simpler to wear, so she slipped on the red and dark gray dress Hunter had gotten her on Kuat and the leggings that came with it. Once she was dressed and her hair re-braided, she made her way back to Cid’s.

She walked in just in time to get narrowly missed by an energy arrow in the doorway, which startled her. She saw the wide-eyed looks of Omega and the boys all looking her way just as the arrow made contact with the wall next to the door.

“Sorry!” Omega cried out.

“Goodness, if I wasn’t awake already, I certainly am now,” Kimber commented through a nervous chuckle.

As she made her way into the parlor, she noticed there was a makeshift target on the other side of the room that Omega was shooting at as well as several holes in the wall around it while there were only a couple on the actual target. It seemed like target practice was going…interestingly. Echo was standing behind Omega, instructing her on how to use the bow, while Hunter, Wrecker and Tech watched.

She walked past Wrecker, who was sitting atop a holotable, as well as the Weequay and Ithorian--whose names they’d found out were Bolo and Ketch--who were enjoying watching and taunting Omega. They paid her no mind, but Wrecker gave her a pat on the back and a smile as she walked by him. Then she moved next to Hunter who immediately put his arm around her shoulders.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, giving her a gentle squeeze.

She groaned, “In a lot of pain, actually.”

“Still? Aw, man,” said Wrecker.

Right at that moment, Omega fired her bow and the shot landed just to the right of the bullseye, hitting the target. She was excited and cheered that she’d made the hit.

“Well done, Omega,” said Kimber, putting on a smile for the kid.

That made Omega’s eyes light up even more, but then Echo told her to fire again. “But I’ve already hit the target three times,” she argued.

“Out of twelve,” Echo corrected her. “That’s luck, Omega, not skill. Soldiers need to be consistent.”

She then proceeded to take two more shots, missing widely each time. One of the shots even went so sideways, it hit one of the holotables. Bolo and Ketch were still taunting her and taking bets on whether or not she’d hit the target, which irritated her a lot. Echo tried his best to reassure her, but it wasn’t really working.

“Not exactly a natural, is she?” commented Wrecker to Hunter, who just shrugged indifferently.

Right after that, however, Cid came in and declared she wanted to talk business, shooing Bolo and Ketch out of the parlor in the process. First, she asked if the Clones knew what a tactical Droid was and Tech tried superseding her explanation, despite the fact everyone else indicated they knew what she was talking about. Though, she hushed his explanation, calling him “Goggles” in the process. Then she shoved Wrecker off the holotable he was sitting on and pulled up a hologram first of a tactical Droid and then a decommissioning facility that she said was on the planet, Corellia, saying she wanted them to get one of these Droids for her before they were all destroyed.

“We haven’t decided if we’re gonna work for you or not,” Hunter countered with.

“Allow me to decide for you. You’re in!” Cid declared.

Kimber’s hands clenched tightly into fists at her sides. “That’s not how this works,” she said to Cid, shooting her a glare.

“It is when you’re in my house, Dollface,” Cid shot back. Then she looked to Hunter as well as the others, telling them, “I'm talking a mutually beneficial arrangement. You make money, I make money, and I watch your back. With the heat on you, it's the best option you've got.”

Still suspicious of the Trandoshan, Kimber cast a look to Hunter, silently showing him she didn’t like the idea. The others, however, just appeared indifferent.

Hunter released a sigh and said back, “I guess we’re in.”

Kimber had to grit her teeth together to keep from saying something. She didn’t feel good about their arrangement at all, but it seemed Hunter had made up his mind, despite it really being forced by Cid.

“I know you’re in. I just told you you’re in,” said Cid, only making Kimber even more irritated.

Seeing her getting agitated, Hunter gently pulled her aside away from the others and he said quietly to her, “Look, sweetheart, I know you’re not happy about this.”

“You’re right, I’m not,” she snapped. “This is a bad idea.”

“Cid is right: she’s the best option we’ve got and we might not find anything else this easily,” he argued.

“We won’t know unless we try,” she said.

“Kimber, even Rina told me this is the best move,” he reminded her. “Any contacts she or the girls would have would be less reliable than what we need.” He held her arms gingerly and told her, “I know you don’t trust Cid; believe me, I really don’t either…but trust me, all right? This wasn’t a choice I made lightly.”

She sighed loudly in defeat, knowing him asking her to trust him got her every time. “All right,” she conceded.

He rubbed her arms consolingly. “On that same subject, I think you should sit this mission out,” he stated.

“What?” she asked, taken aback.

All of a sudden, Tech appeared beside them, having heard the last thing Hunter said and declared, “Hunter is right, Kimber. Your physical state is still not at peak condition, given what you suffered at the hands of the slavers. If you go on this mission, you will not regain the strength you need to get better and you run the risk of potentially compromising the mission.”

Kimber wanted to argue, but she also knew immediately that Tech and Hunter were right. She was in too much pain to properly function on any mission right now. Even though she hated the idea of the boys going off without her and being separated from them, she knew it was for the best.

“You’re right. I’ll stay,” she said, not attempting to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Just then, her commlink beeped and she heard a familiar female voice come through, “The Koriena Force is approaching Ord Mantell…and by the way, we got a new ride. You’ll know it when you see it. We’d better see you guys at the spaceport, boss lady.”

Taking out her comm, she replied with a pleased smile, “Well, the boys are heading out on a mission, so you’ll get to see them briefly before they take off. We’ll see you soon.” Then she announced to everyone else, “The girls are almost here!”

“Oh yeah! Let’s go!” exclaimed Wrecker, pumping his fist as he almost skipped over to the door. Of everyone there, he was the most excited for the girls to arrive, to no one’s surprise.

The others followed after him, but Hunter and Kimber lingered behind for a moment. “I’m sorry,” Hunter said.

Kimber shook her head. “No, I understand and you’re both right. I’m in no condition to go with you.”

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “At least the girls are here now. That should help keep you occupied.”

“I’m sure,” she replied.

“Hey, dark and broody! Will you and the Missus get a move on already?” cried out Cid from behind the bar.

They both rolled their eyes in annoyance at Cid’s pushiness and left the bar, jogging to catch up with the rest of the squad.

A few minutes passed after the Batch all made it to the spaceport when they saw a ship entering the atmosphere and they were astonished to see a shiny, platinum-colored starship come flying in towards the spaceport.

“If that’s them…they completely missed the point of ‘lying low’,” Echo commented.

Tech tapped some things out on his datapad and then stated aloud, “That is an H-type Nubian yacht, a leisure transport.”

“Hmm curious,” Hunter muttered.

Sure enough, the Nubian starship landed in a port nearby and when they moved closer, they saw the ramp to the ship open up and Rina was standing inside along with Irys.

Upon seeing Kimber, Rina called out, “Told you you hadn’t seen the last of us, boss lady!”

A smile immediately overtook Kimber’s whole expression as the two ladies descended the ramp. “I never doubted you for a second,” she replied, grasping Rina’s outstretched hand.

Right after that, Rina was suddenly swept up off the ground by Wrecker, making her cry out in surprise, and spun in a circle. “Welcome back, Rina!” he exclaimed.

As he set her back down on the ground, Rina grinned and said in return, “Boy, am I glad to see you, Wrecker.”

Irys gave a nod to the other Clones. “A pleasure seeing you all again,” she said. Then she smirked at Tech and added, knowing it was going to get under his skin, “Especially you, hotshot.”

He grimaced slightly. “I wish I could say the feeling was mutual,” he grumbled.

“Where’s Kida and Lex?” Kimber asked.

“Lex is finishing something,” answered Irys.

Then Rina added, “Kida is getting the smol, so she should be out any moment.”

“Smol?” Hunter repeated, confused.

Before anyone could answer, they heard Kida’s voice cry out from inside the ship, “I heard my name, you better not wear it out!”

Then Kimber saw her coming down with little Kori swaddled up in a wrap that she wore around her torso. The fun contrast about her was the fact that she was wearing a leather combat suit underneath the baby wrap and had blasters holstered on her hips. Clearly, being a mother wasn’t going to stop her from being a fighter.

“That’s quite a look for you, Kida. I like it,” Kimber complimented her.

“You know me: everything I do, I do in style,” she said, flourishing her hand.

“Hence why you have one of the shiniest ships in the galaxy, apparently,” Kimber commented.

Kida looked back at the ship and grinned. “Yeah, my dad bought this ship from some higher-ups on Naboo years ago. We had to steal it so we could escape Pantora, so he’s probably going to be mad, but I don’t care.”

“It’s our ship now,” Irys put in.

“My family called it the Paramount, but we felt that didn’t fit for us,” Kida explained, “so we’ve re-christened it the Aurora.”

Rina chuckled and added a bit sarcastically, “Because we’re such a bright and colorful group.”

“I love it. It’s perfect,” Kimber replied proudly. She then looked down at the little baby nestled up against Kida’s chest, his golden-brown eyes looking up at her with curiosity. “Hello again, little one,” she said, caressing the blonde fuzz on his head as light as a feather.

When she turned to look at the Clones, she had to suppress a laugh at the looks of absolute stunned shock she saw on their faces, their widened eyes looking like they were about to pop from their sockets.

“Um…why does Kida have a baby?” inquired Wrecker.

Nonchalantly, Kida answered with a grin, “This is my son.”

“Your son?” Echo repeated in astonishment.

Omega eagerly ran up right away and to get a peek at the baby and Tech immediately went to typing things out on his datapad.

Rina stepped up and proclaimed, “Don’t worry, guys. Unless you’ve seen Kida naked, the smol’s not yours to worry about.” Then she gestured to the other women and said, “We don’t count either.”

The Clones all furrowed their brows in confusion.

“What? We live together. It happens,” Rina simply said with a shrug. “You’re all brothers. Haven’t you guys seen each other naked?”

Immediately, the others all looked incredibly awkward and refused to look at each other. Kimber once again had to put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at how timid the boys were at Rina’s question.

“Well…guess Clones do things differently,” Rina commented.

Hunter was the first of the boys to step forward to see the baby and Kimber noticed his eyes subtly light up at seeing him, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “What’s his name?” he asked Kida.

“Kori. From the word ‘Koriena’,” she told him.

His expression softened hearing the meaning behind the child’s name. “A very strong and fitting name,” he said.

Then Tech spoke up, “Kida, if I may inquire: how old is the child?”

She took a second to think before answering, “A few weeks…almost a month old.”

“And you carried him to full term?” he then asked.

“Yes…,” she replied, wondering where he was going with these questions.

He tapped one last thing on his datapad before declaring with certainty, “Just as I suspected. I know who the boy’s father is.”

Everyone’s heads whipped around in his direction, perplexed. Kida simply folded her arms, interested to see if Tech would correctly deduce the answer, and Kimber was just as curious.

“How could you possibly know that, Tech?” Hunter asked.

Returning his attention to his datapad, Tech explained, “If my calculations are correct, with the child being born nearly a month ago and having been carried the full gestation period of nine months, that would place his conception ten months prior…around the time when we were rescued by the Eradicators.” Then his astute eyes returned to Kida. “And during that timeframe, there was only one male who was ever with Kida alone whose phenotypes are already clearly visible in the baby’s appearance.”

Echo was the first to pick up on Tech’s facts and he was almost struck dumb with shock.

“Rex…!” he gasped out, remembering he had asked Kimber after they had been rescued if there was anything between Kida and Rex after observing their behavior with each other. Then he took notice of the baby’s blonde hair and that confirmed everything. One of his closest brothers was the father of Kida’s child!

“Well, I thought it was obvious,” Tech responded, seeing Echo's astonishment.

The others all turned and looked wide-eyed at Kida, waiting for her to confirm or deny Tech's hypothesis.

She smirked deviously, lifting up a hand and placing a fingertip on her chin. “You certainly live up to your reputation as the exceptionally-minded one, Tech. You’re right,” she confirmed.

“It really is Rex?” Hunter questioned.

“Yes,” she said, “and he doesn’t know yet.”

Then Wrecker, after standing there dumbfounded and speechless, finally spoke, “Wait…so Rex has seen you naked?”

Just as everyone began to realize he didn’t quite understand, Omega only made things worse by saying, “But what does that have to do with the baby? Aren’t all babies grown in tubes?”

Everyone all groaned sheepishly, wondering how they were going to get through this awkward situation.

Irys put a hand to her forehead and muttered, “I forgot she grew up on Kamino.”

Rina leaned over and whispered to Kimber, “You wanna take the lead on this one, boss lady?”

“Not really,” Kimber replied nervously, even though she knew someone had to do it. She stepped forward and went on to say, “Omega, Wrecker…regular humanoid children are created differently than Clones are.”

“They’re made by just seeing someone naked?” Omega inquired, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

Then Wrecker asked along with her, “It’s that easy?”

“N--no, it’s uh…more than that,” said Kimber, scrambling to find the words to help them understand, even though she was desperately not wanting to have this conversation at the moment.

Then Hunter stepped in and said, “A woman isn’t going to get pregnant because you see her naked.”

With a slight amused snicker, Echo then folded his arms across his chest and made the comment, “If that were the case, we would’ve needed a bigger ship by now.”

In response to that, knowing exactly what Echo was implying, a strangled cry emitted from Hunter’s throat that he tried to stifle and Kimber pursed her lips and cast Echo a threatening look that said “I’m going to kill you!”

“Wait, what does that mean?” Wrecker questioned.

To speed things along, Kimber just stated, “Hunter will explain it to you on the way to Corellia, won’t you, darling?” As he stuttered in reply, flabbergasted at her throwing the heat on him, she immediately went on, gesturing towards the Marauder, “Speaking of which, you guys should be going right now, so you’d best be on your way before Cid finds out you’re still here.”

As Echo and Tech simply gave waves to the three Koriena Force ladies, Echo happened to look up at the ship and saw Lex was actually standing at the top of the ramp, leaning up against the wall inside and twirling her vibroblade in her hand, much like what Hunter did on occasion. She was in her usual red tank top, leather corset, black trousers and boots, but he noticed that she now had a full arm glove on her left arm. It was a curious fashion choice, but he thought it was intriguing. Her eyes caught his for a moment and she ceased playing with her knife. There was no emotion in her face; it was just a simple stare as if she was trying to read him for some reason. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, wondering if something was wrong. However, a few seconds later, she just raised up two fingers and gave him a salute. Brushing that off as nothing, Echo returned the gesture with a nod and proceeded to follow Tech towards the ship.

Wrecker directed his attention to Rina, waved at her and said, “I’ll see you later, Rina!”

Rina called back, “At least this time, I’ll be here when you get back.”

“I know! I’m excited!” he shouted over his shoulder, making Rina blush.

Hunter sauntered over to Kimber, a faint displeased look on his face mixed with a devious smirk. “You owe me big time for this, sweetheart,” he said, pointing a finger at her.

She chuckled, knowing he was referring to the earlier topic. “Sorry about that,” she said as he approached. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.” He placed his hands on her arms and she laid her hands on his chestpiece. “Please be careful.”

“We will,” he said.

“I just…I don’t like the thought of you boys going on a mission without me,” she admitted sadly. “What if something happens to you that could’ve been prevented had I been there? What if something happens to Omega?”

He lessened the distance between them, bringing her close to him and touching his forehead to hers comfortingly. “Don’t think like that, love,” he assured her. “We’ll be okay. Worrying won’t make you feel any better.”

“I know,” she replied, leaning into him a little more. “I can’t help but worry over you just as you worry over me. That and it’s been a long time since I sat out on a mission."

"You're gonna be okay. You've got the girls here now." He lightly nuzzled her. "I'll come back to you."

"You always do."

She leaned in and captured his lips in a sweet parting kiss, savoring the feel of his lips to carry with her through his absence.

After which, Hunter gave Kimber one last loving smile before turning away and jogging after the rest of the Bad Batch. Her hand came up to his credit necklace and clutched it tightly against her chest.

"You two are so dramatic," she heard the voice of Lex speak behind her. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw Lex coming down the ramp to join her and the other girls, a smirk on her face.

"There you are, Lex!" she cried. Then she took notice of the full arm glove Lex was wearing. "That's new," she pointed out.

Lex side-eyed the glove and just shrugged. "A new fashion statement I'm trying out," she said.

"It looks good," said Kimber.

Rina muttered something under her breath and Kimber saw her turn away, lifting her mod up to her mouth. When Kimber watched her, it seemed like something was bothering Rina. Then she looked back at Lex and Lex, too, seemed off and irritated.

"Is everything okay?" Kimber asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, I'm just tired," Lex answered. "I haven't been sleeping well the last few nights."

"If that's true, then you should go rest," Kimber said to her. "We'll have plenty of time to catch up."

Lex simply nodded and obliged without any second thoughts, turning on her heel and going back up the ramp to the ship.

After she left, Rina stated, gesturing with her thumb at the ship, "Well, boss lady, come on up and we'll show you our new digs in the Aurora." Without waiting, she too proceeded up the ramp of the ship.

Waiting until Rina was out of earshot, Kimber asked Kida and Irys, "Are those two all right? They seem…different."

Irys answered her, "They've been fighting recently, to put it simply."

"I wouldn't bring it up to them, though," said Kida. "It's a bit of a touchy subject right now, but they'll be okay eventually."

Kimber didn't like that answer and it made her worried and concerned for her friends. She wanted to talk to Rina or Lex about what was going on with them and find a way to help them. Though, if Kida said they'd get things figured out eventually and not to say anything, then she just had to trust that things would all work themselves out.

Just then, Kori started to get a little fussy and squirmed in his wrap. Kida bent her head down and placed a kiss on top of his head.

"I think it's about time for this little guy to eat," Kida observed. "Let's go in and we can all take time to relax."

"I definitely could use that. My whole body is in a lot of pain, hence why I'm still here," said Kimber as they all made their way up into the ship.

Kida's head whipped over to her. "My dear, if you're hurting, I've got some things that can help. You leave your pain relief to me." Then she said to Irys, "Would you mind feeding Kori for me while I tend to our fearless leader?"

"As long as Rina is the one to put him down for his nap," Irys replied.

"I'll be sure to pass along the message," said Kida.

Kimber giggled to herself. It was good to have her Koriena Force back and it was going to be even better now that they were going to be on Ord Mantell for the foreseeable future.

[luvulyy]

Hella, can i request a Denji x Male reader, reader is a vocalist on denji's favorite metal band and they meet after a concert so they kinda hit it off from there?

𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓? ✷

𝖣𝖤𝖭𝖩𝖨 𝖷 𝖬𝖠𝖫𝖤 𝖱𝖤𝖠𝖣𝖤𝖱

𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 𝐍/𝐀

Denji didn't care much for music or celebrities. They were all irrelevant, something that didn't affect his goals. They were for normal people, those who didn't need to constantly fight for their dreams. Really, he couldn't care less.

But you were different.

From the moment he heard your voice, he was hooked. He'd never even remotely thought he'd be a metal fan but the way you screamed, the absolute energy you radiated was addicting.

It was a secret comfort to him. He'd hum your songs while working, driving everyone else insane as he sang the same ones repeatedly. Your voice was like a warm hug after a long day, always there as he finally lay down to rest.

He'd secretly buy your merch, your cd's, and listen to your band at every possible opportunity. He'd try to be subtle and deny everything with red cheeks whenever Power teased him about it.

It had taken countless attempts of bribery and offers to do the chores to convince her to come to the concert with him. The days leading up he'd been noticably distracted, practically vibrating with excitement.

The concert itself was better than he could even dream. You seemed to glow on stage, like it was where you were born to be. It was hypnotising how confident you were up there, swinging around as you sang, your throaty voice mesmerising. It was over far too soon for Denji's liking, he could listen to you for hours.

He danced and sang along until his voice was hoarse. He'd never felt so at peace, jumping along to the volume. He was out of breath by the end, sweaty but unable to hide his joy.

He was still basking in your sound when the concert had ended and people were milling about, drinking and chatting. The music was still echoing in his head, so absorbed he didn't notice the band coming to mingle in the crowd.

When you walked past Denji's heart skipped a beat. You met his eyes and instantly, he froze.

He didn't believe in love at first sight or anything but seeing you right in front of him, looking at him, after being a fan for so long left him starstruck. Power had wandered off somewhere, probably looking for food so it was just you and him.

'Hey.' You smiled warmly at him and his stomach flipped. He simply gaped at you, unable to believe this was really happening.

You took a step closer, brows lightly furrowed. 'You alright?'

Your voice was even more musical when you spoke, clear but soft as it rang out. He didn't know what to say, as if fanboying was a good answer. 'Yeah, yeah... I am.'

The boy in front of you looked a little off, eyes completely alert. You couldn't help but move closer to him, concerned. It didn't hurt that he was... really cute. He looked your age, and radiated boyish charm. His scruffy blond hair was wild and spiky, it was clear he'd been banging along to the music.

You licked your lips as you watched his reactions. 'Mind telling me a bit about yourself, sweetheart?'

He flushed beautifully, clearly not used to the attention. 'I'm Denji. I'm here with my friend Power... and I'm a Devil Hunter?'

Now it was your eyes that widened as you stepped forward and grabbed his hands excitedly. It was adorable how your eyes lit up. 'Woah, that's so cool! I don't think I've ever spoken to one before. Thank you for your hard work.' You bowed your head as Denji proudly grinned.

Denji was a goner. Absolutely head over heels. You dressed so punk, sang like a fallen angel but your personality? You'd been nothing but postively sweet since you'd started talking. If it was anyone else it would be sickening but with you, your smiles were nothing but natural and enchanting.

As he watched you with puppy eyes you couldn't help but reach into your pockets and pull out a ticket. 'Hey, I hope this doesnt sound conceited but you listen? It's the least I can do.'

His jaw dropped wordlessly as he stared at the slip in your hand hungrily. Could you not feel the absolute awe exuding from him? 'Yeah... yeah I do.'

You grinned as you held it out for him to take, smile only widening as he took it gently, not able to believe it was real.

'It's a VIP for tomorrow's show. I don't think you'll mind hearing it again.' You winked openly at him. 'Plus I'd love to talk to you some more.'

Denji nodded, gobsmacked. Whatever had made the universe be so generous he didnt know, but he sure as hell was going to take the opportunity. 'Sure. Same here.'

You patted him on the head and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek as you walked pass. Electricity ran down his spine at the contact.

'I'll be looking for you!'

It was only as you walked away he realised he never got an autograph. He beamed cheek to cheek as he touched where your lips had ghosted, unable to believe his luck. He'd just have to ask tomorrow.

[lady-charinette]

Sweet Dreams - Mariblanc

The lovely @xhanisai got a totally innocent ask and my brain went and slaughtered that idea. I'm so sorry for the anon who wrote the cute idea. Here's the original, less angsty version of this.

@xhanisai This is what you get for baiting me :3 ^_^ 🤣😇

Warnings: hallucinations, blood, nightmares, injury, trauma, angst 

There was laughter, her laughter.

The tranquil water was only disturbed by the kicking of their feet, splashes and giggles echoing in the vacant rubble of what used to be the ice-skating rink. A place they used to visit what seemed a lifetime ago.

“Can’t you stay for a little while longer, Marinette?” her kitty had a pout on his lips and Marinette laughed.

“Sorry kitty, my parents will wonder where I am by now,” she was about to stand, but her kitty was faster, quick to lend her his hand and help her to her feet. Marinette dusted herself off, a bright smile on her lips but her gaze filled with sadness. “I’m really sorry Chat Blanc, I really wish I could stay for longer.”

Chat Blanc understood, she had family to return to, even though he knew she had more fun with him, felt happier with him.

With a thoughtful expression on his face and amusement in his eyes, Chat Blanc waved his hand. “Watch this purrincess!”

With a single flick of his wrist, a pure white ball of energy crashed into a building, leaving it in nothing but rubble and dust. Marinette liked it, she clapped and laughed, when he bowed and inspected his claws in triumph, when the remains of the building sank into the water.

Marinette always smiled and laughed around him and that was all he ever wanted.

They skipped stones and small pieces of rubble at the vast body of water surrounding them, they danced in the shallower puddles and swam in the deeper ones. In these empty plains of white, Marinette was the only color in his life.

Sometimes, her expression would change, but he would blame it on his eyes playing tricks.

Her smiles would vanish, flicker like a failing light. Her eyes would be filled with joy in one moment, then in tears the next. 

Sometimes, when he gripped her hand or wrist, he could swear he saw blood on them, but when he looked at his hands, they were pure white.

In this world full of emptiness, Marinette’s ever-changing form was a source of comfort for him.

She would smile at him, but when he blinked, she was doing everything in her power to get away from him. 

He found these games of hers entertaining, a fun activity they could do together. No harm would ever come to her, she would always safely return back into his arms.

Marinette would sometimes yelp or cry out playfully, complaining how his hug was too tight. He would only hug her tighter, kissing the top of her head sweetly as she struggled.

He always liked these games of theirs, where she pretended to run away or be scared and he would indulge her, knowing she would always be safe with him.

Sometimes, he would see blood on her, her blood, but it would disappear on the blink of an eye. A figment of his imagination. 

She would smile at him again, with trembling lips and quivering knees.

He blamed it on all the running they did. No matter how fast she ran, he always caught her.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dreams of that incident visited her every night, when the lights were turned off and the full moon was the only source of light.

Marinette turned and twisted, trying to get away, get away from him.

Her dreams, no, her nightmares were always the same.

There would be a portal, Bunnix’s portal, and he would come for her and take her into his world.

She would tremble at the sight of his icy blue eyes, sometimes vacant and staring off into the distance, other times nearly manic and elated at her presence.

Sometimes, he would not let her go.

They would spend the day playing in puddles, in the ocean that filled every space, walking on the edge of ruined buildings, a dangerous game Marinette played to ensure he would be happy.

And she would smile and laugh, just like he would, to conceal the budding terror in her heart and the urge to flee.

And he would always ask, in every nightmare she had, if she couldn’t stay a little while longer.

She would see the broken boy singing to himself on a rooftop, a hint of her partner’s genuine emotion somewhere behind those blue eyes, but it would vanish as quickly as it came.

She would always say she was sorry, she couldn’t stay, no matter how much she wished, with a promise to see him the next day. She would run towards the portal, desperate to escape the frozen hell he was equally as desperate to keep her in.

He would give chase sometimes, he said it was fun. 

Exciting. 

A game he loved to play. A game he thought she loved too, oblivious to the pounding of her heart and the burn in her legs.

Marinette would run as fast as her legs could carry her, but she could never escape him.

It made her cry.

But it always made him laugh.

Her ears still ring with his cold honeyed voice, filled with manic affection and detached awareness. She never left her window open, but she still experienced chills every night.

Tikki was always there when she woke up, rubbing her cheek and whispering sweet reassurances, the words would always be the same.

‘It’s okay, you’re alright, you’re safe.’

‘It’s over, Marinette.’

‘He’s not coming back.’

Oh, but he was, he was there when she closed her eyes, he was there when she fell back into bed to sleep.

He was there whenever she saw the dark butterfly coming dangerously close to Chat Noir. Too close.

Chat Blanc was there in her nightmares, every night since the incident. Tikki would try to reassure her it were only bad dreams, that he couldn’t hurt her.

But it did. It hurt so much.

Her dreams were always filled with colors of white and blue. Not black, never black, not the familiar color of his suit or the darkness that claimed her in sleep.

There was only white and blue.

And red, so much red.

[yostresswritinggirl]

request for your event? you being klee's older sibling and having to look after her, but when no one's around you're just as mischievous as her :))

It is time to give love to the cutest child in the game, the chaos incarnate herself skdbslbwka I always love these types of scenarios, and with a lot of material available, I went haywire sksksks

Geronimo!

Snippets of angst here and there, but Klee always makes things better! (masterlist)

Responsible, reliable, strong.

Strength seems to run in your family, as well the familiarity with the element of Pyro. Ever since your mother Alice left to venture into the world after the appearance of Albedo, things had been busier and tiring on your end.

You had to fend for you and Klee outside of the little pension the Knights provide. Unlike Klee and Alice, you were no Knight of Favonius, just a normal citizen that does commissions for the Adventurer's Guild while delving into whatever your heart desires. Because of your lack of connection, most of the income you get are from your own work and the bits of mora your mother has left in your care. Your Spark Knight little sister is well in the hands of the Knights, all accommodation handled by them.

A lot of the Knights and even citizens are quite fond of her anyways, and so in multiple care she's not neglected the slightest.

Your mind is at ease knowing that your sister is enjoying a comfortable life while you deal with the loss of a parental figure in silence.

One night as you slip in next to your little sister in her room within the headquarters, the room your mother had occupied before she left, Klee begged you in her half-conscious state to spend the day with her tomorrow even if just for the afternoon. Klee was no spoiled child, she barely asks for anything nor forces others to do her bidding, and this desperation of hers had you crumble as you agreed.

That night you felt more tired than usual. Questioning to yourself, 'have you been neglecting the last family you had?'

Jean felt more than relief when she heard that you'd taking Klee under your care for the day, offering your deepest apologies and gratitude for continuing to look after her in your place. But as Jean waves you two goodbye, she was naive to the chaos she had allowed to come together.

Instead of skipping commissions like you had planned, under the coaxing of your sister, you ended up doing them with her. "It would be fun, Klee will be good and help out too!" And she did, especially when it comes to disposing the creatures around the city.

You watched a Hilichurl fly up from a huge explosion, body spread out as it disappears behind a line of trees in the background. When you looked back down after the smoke disperses, there's a huge crater in the middle of the Hilichurl camp and many unconscious Hilichurls in general.

"Let me try it too!" "Yeeey, go, big sibling!" Picking up one of her smaller bombs she'd laid out on the ground for easy access, you pulled out your bow and hanged the bomb by its head with a piece of string.

"Do a spin, a 360!" "Whatever my sister wants," you started as you started shifting your body in a turn, arrow and string pulled back and ready for release, "Sheeee gets!" When you saw the familiar view of the camp, you angled your shot slightly upwards and released, arrow piercing through the air before immediately turning downward with the weight of the bomb.

You two looked over the cliff to watch the fire show below, arm wrapped around her form to make sure she doesn't fall, as the supposed tiny bomb produced a huge mushroom cloud that sent a gale of black smoke up to where you two watched.

"That was so cool!" "So cool!" You gave your sister a high five, both of your hair disheveled from the force with ashes littered all over your body.

Gliding down the cliff, you didn't give the charred camp much attention as you two sped past to your next commission.

Once you'd went with her to a faraway river when she said she wanted some fish toast. Not wanting her to use her bomb and cause some kind of fish extinction in Mondstadt, you eagerly jumped in the pond after discarding some of your important items and outer clothing, an arrow in hand as you chased and stab the bigger fish.

"Wah, big sis/bro! Behind you! A green scary fish is about to bite you!" "A what now?!"

After you turned, you've ended up wrestling against the jaws of a giant crocodile that strayed into the stream. It took a few minutes before Klee finally stepped in with her Pyro catalyst.

You swimmed a little more to wash away the ashes, cleaning up your sister's face with a wet cloth too from the earlier Hilichurl extermination.

You're not as popular or in the limelight as your sister, many Mondstadtians only ever know you as a simple citizens who deals with commissions, and so very few (select few knights too) know of your connections with the Spark Knight.

When Klee isn't rambling about her bombs, confinement or Albedo, she likes to brag about you. The best and hardworking family, always responsible and witty that you manage to get away with anything. She proudly announces she wants to be as smart as you too, both clauses somehow sending worry to the Knights in fear of Klee and whatever you're capable of.

Despite your respectful smiles and composed appearance, your energy and genius stems from your unhinged mother. The best and worst part about it tho, is that you don't need to report to any higher ups about your experimentations and findings.

"If we lure in a Cryo slime here," you said with a gesture to the net set up by the catapult, "this catapult would sling it over to the field fire the whopperflower made!"

"Do you get it?" "Yes, yes! Klee will deliver a nice and big Cryo slime!" You watched as she took off with that cute run of hers, and not even a minute passes that she comes running back over the slope-

"That's one- two, three, four- five?! KLEE WE ONLY NEEDED ONE SLIME- AHHHHH!"

An adult and a baby Cryo slime got caught in the net which immediately triggered the catapult's mechanism. In the distance you watched them bounce off the flames, also effectively crushing the flower itself under their weight.

Leaving you two to deal with remaining slimes, which was easy with your precise shots and Klee's destructive power. You two escaped death with a few bruises from the bouncing abominations, your catapult broken amidst the encounter.

"(Y/N) is the best big sibling I could ever have! So fun to play with especially! Even if Klee misses them a lot, Klee knows that they're doing it for the best!" Kaeya and Jean awed at the way Klee speaks so fondly of you after getting cleaned up for rest, while you showered during this time in her room's bath. "Klee wants to be as cool as them!"

"What's this?" You emerged from the doorway with a towel around your shoulder, your appearance causing your little sister to jump down from Kaeya's arms to run into yours. "You little mischief, sneaking out of the room to disturb the Acting Grand Master and the Captain!"

"I wanted to talk to them about how fun and cool you are!" Klee giggled when you booped noses, the two older figures in the room chuckling fondly at the sweet scene.

"Perhaps you could look into joining our ranks? There's always a room for you in the Knights, someone as reliable as you would be helpful in protecting Mondstadt," Jean's smile echoes through her words of offer as she looks at you inquisitively, making you gulp at the idea.

You wanted to refuse, for many, many reasons really. But Klee's bright, wide eyes at the thought of finally being in the same place as you for possibly 24/7, tells you you couldn't really refuse.

It was only three months after being a knight that Jean finally realized the deep and ashen crater by Starsnatch Cliff was created by you and Klee's combined efforts. She stares warily as she sees your form pass by the cracked open door to her office, Klee towed behind you as you walk hand in hand with big smiles.

Mondstadt's walls shook that day.

Klee is actually my little sister's favorite character in Genshin. I was tempted to merge this with another ask, but no, I must hold myself.

@moaa @dandelion-dreams @witchsungie @lehra @zelos-simp @legionqueensav @snackgod @rxsalinee @cala-ran @wind-wheel @lilydewi22 @yellowflowre @traveler-lumine @nonniechan @creation-magician @hanniejji @gojos-baby @just-some-stars @volleybloop

[userholland]

all for her [4]

pairing: bartender!dad!tom x female!reader

summary: a single-dad bartender, a supportive best friend and their continuous, unrequited love noticed by his optimistic daughter. is it possible to break a heart they never knew they had?

word count: 10.2k!

a/n: it’s been more than a month... again... but i really hope you guys enjoy the bow to tie this series together. i do apologize this was more dad!tom than it was bartender!tom... i wish i got to spend so much more time on it with school going on, but i’m really proud of it!!! and i’m so grateful and happy for all the feedback i’ve gotten on it. thank y’all so much and your support means so much for my love for writing! if you want a epilogue, please let me know!

— masterlist ☆彡

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

There was something about the morning that was so peaceful. The warm light of the sun peered through the curtains and trailed onto the duvet and part of your arm, moving across your body until it beamed in your tired eyes. Your hair had a musty smell from the rain last night, not having the energy to shower after what happened. You ran your hand over Tom’s side of the bed, the cotton sheets soft against your palm until you pressed your weight onto it to lift yourself up.

The cracks in your back echoed the room, running your fingers through your hair to push it out of your face before putting it up to not be overwhelmed by the smell. As you stretched the rest of your body, you slid over the sheets until your toes hit the cold wooden floor. You got a jolt up your spine before grabbing Tom’s grey sweatshirt on the back of his desk chair, quickly slipping it over your body to warm up from the chilliness of the fall. You could tell winter was upon you, excited to get a light blanket of snow soon.

When you walked over to the dresser, your hands held on each of the drawer handles about to pull until you took a second look at the picture set on the top. A small smile painted on your lips, reminiscing the fond memory like the picture was moving in real life. It was Summer’s first snowfall and despite her name, she loved the winter. 

You bought her a big, pink coat with gloves dangled by end of the sleeves that paired with a knitted hat that covered her ears. The three of you were stood outside of the apartment and propped the camera on a window seal as the big flurries fell. With Summer on Tom’s shoulders, you stood close to him and wore his denim jacket and black beanie. Tom liked to keep it, remembering it was one of the first times his life felt whole again since he was gifted with Summer.

After brisking through Tom’s top drawer, not believing how he didn’t organize his socks, you found white, crew socks and slipped them on before walking to the door and carefully turned the doorknob. The sounds of chirping birds could be heard from behind the windows in the living room and no honking cars to wake up the neighborhood, as if everything had fallen back into it’s perfect place.

Summer’s door was cracked open, enough that when you peaked in, you could see her and Tom snuggled on her twin bed. It made Tom look bigger than he was, seeing the pink duvet covering them and his arms were wrapped around her. You were happy to see them together, better than having to walk past an empty room again and Tom asleep on the couch.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

She sobbed when she got home, relieved to be home and she missed Tom so much. Her arms were tight around his neck and her legs were squeezing around his waist, so it was almost impossible for him to put her down. With her head tucked in his shoulder, the somber cries she whimpered broke his heart as they walked into the apartment. At first they sat on the couch and he ran his hand over her damp hair till it air-dried, forgetting that it was in the middle of the night and all of you needed to go to bed.

“Daddy, can you sleep with me? Please.” Summer asked, her voice so innocent and tired.

“Of course. Of course…” Tom trailed, kissing her temple and rubbing her back. His tears wouldn’t stop either, trailing down his cheeks as he continued to embrace her while they sat together.

They were parted for a month, but it felt like years to them.

“I’m gonna warm up some clothes for her and give her bath, okay?” You put your hand on Tom’s shoulder, rubbing it as he nodded in response.

Summer instantly attached to you when you pulled her away from Tom, uncoiling her arms from his touch and she held you like she was hanging in mid-air. You carried her to the bathroom, closing the door behind the two of you. After wrapping her casted arm in saran wrap and a plastic bag, you helped her get in the bath then shampooed her hair gently and gave her rag to wash up. 

She was getting older now, wanting to already be more independent, but you wanted to make sure she didn’t drown if she fell asleep or hit her head on the side of the tub. With her small eyes heavy and body like jello, you were careful with her as she yawned every two minutes. Her sniffling made your heart tremble, but you’re relieved that she just had your number and was able to call. You admired how smart she was and couldn’t believe she was growing up so fast.

After warming her favorite pajamas in the dryer, you helped her change in her bedroom and combed through her wet hair with a comb. She was sat on the bed, but her eyes kept fluttering at the relaxing feeling of the brush massaging against her scalp. Putting some fuzzy socks on her feet, you tucked her into bed. The whole time, Tom had to stay in the living room trying to compose himself, his hands pressed against his temples and his head down. 

You carefully closed Summer’s door, but not all the way, just so the hall light didn’t peak in. When you walked over and saw Tom, you slowly approached him and squated down to be face to face with him. Tom had his hands on his face, still unable to process everything that happened. His clothes were soaked and his hair was wet, but you still ran your hands through it to comfort him.

“Hey… she’s okay. She’s already asleep.” You reassured him, placing your hand on his knee.

Tom lifted his head, his eyes were red around the waterline and the whites of them were bloodshot. Your thumb gently ran on his tinted cheek, sealing your lips as you waited for him to say anything.

“I don’t know what to do.” He sniffed, running his hand over his wet curls, slicking them back.

Your eyes glossed, “What do you mean? Tom, she’s back home.”

Tom sniffled, his wrist against his nose to rub off his tears and his hand trembling, “Yeah, but, w-what if this isn’t enough? What if she… is taken again? What happens then?” His breath shaky, already overwhelmed.

Your heart kept breaking, seeing him fall even more apart. “You got her, she’s here now. There’s nothing else you need to do other than go in there because all she wants right now is her dad. Okay?” You softly told him, running your hand along his knee.

“I just can’t lose her again.”

You shook your head, “No, no, You won’t. You won’t and I’ll tell you that a thousand times more. You love her and no matter what happens, you’re gonna find a way. We’re gonna find a way.”

Tom nodded, your foreheads gently pressed together before you cupped his cheek, your lips trembling as they planted a light kiss on his nose and trailed to his lips. You felt Tom’s hand place on the back of your hair, raking his fingers through it as you nuzzled your face into his neck with your arms wrapped around him. Both of you sniffled, complete messes, but you had to pull yourselves together for Summer and be there for her now that she was home.

“Get changed then get some sleep, okay?” You told him, getting back on your feet and reaching a hand out to him. After he lifted up on his feet, you playfully pushed his back as he started walking away. A sigh of relief left your lips as you plopped on the couch, taking some time to come down from the adrenaline as well. It could be compared to the end of a classic symphony, when the cymbals rhythmic banging and high notes of the violins all come to a halt followed by the final boom of the drums. It was all over.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

The warm sunshine beamed against the pale yellow walls of Summer’s room when you peaked in. You glared at the two of them in their still slumber, not wanting to disturb them this early so you carefully closed the door. You held the doorknob to the left, slowly letting it go until you heard the click of the the bolt.

Tom wasn’t able to tell you the conversation last night between him and Maggie, but it didn’t feel important since he was able to have Summer back. While you spited her and wanted to hate her, you didn’t want to butt your life into his past. You knew that if it really bothered Tom, he would tell you, but all that mattered was that your girl was home and you both couldn’t have been happier about it.

An hour later, Tom appeared from the bedroom with Summer on his hip. With her head rested on his shoulder and a pout on her lips, you chuckled as you admired their mirrored, tired expressions.

“The resemblance is uncanny.” You jeered, leaning with your back toward the counter with a cup of tea in your hands.

Tom’s lazy smile was angelic, a half-grin on his lips before he pressed a soft kiss against your temple.

“Good morning, babe.” He said in a groggy tone.

“Morning.” You grinned, smiling and running your hand gently over the top of Summer’s hair, “She must be exhausted. We’re you both able to sleep at all last night?”

“Yeah, but I think she can skip school today. I’ll call in a few minutes... I wanna stay here for the rest of the day with her or at least, until I have work.” Tom said at a whisper, setting Summer on the couch and she stirred in her light sleep. He placed the blanket on the arm of the sofa over her body, tucking it between her and the couch to keep her warm.

“I think that’s great. It was a long night for her.” You sighed as Tom walked back over to you, “God, I can’t get her voice out of my head when I heard her on the phone... When she asked for us to come pick her up, I panicked and I just-”

“You did the right thing, babe. I got it all taken care of… well, at least a bit right now… Crap, I almost forget, I have to make sure her follow up appointment for her arm is next Wednesday.” Tom comforted you, rubbing your shoulders before his hands cupped your face. He left another kiss on the center of your forehead before he sat at the kitchen table. You set a cup of tea infront of him and he wrapped his hand around the mug handle, bringing it to his lips and the strong scent of lemon waking him up.

You placed your cup on the counter, wrapping your arms around Tom’s neck from behind, still stood while he relaxed his back against the chair.

“Is your dad gonna call later?” You asked him, kissing the top of his head and laying your cheek against his hair.

He nodded as he took another sip, “Yeah, we’re gonna talk about the lawyer stuff. Maybe I can ask him what I can do about… Summer and dealing with custody.” Tom said, a bit unsure with a furrowed brow.

His hand gently came up, rubbing your forearm as you still had your arms around him. His thumb smoothly ran over your soft skin as you leaned your head down, pressing a kiss on his cheek.

“We’ll figure it all out.” You whispered against his ear, “And if all else fails, we’ll move to Europe and change our identities.”

Tom’s chuckle erupted, his smile gleaming as he bought the palm of your hand up to kiss.

“You know, I need your jokes sometimes. Just to realize how much you hold me down.” Tom jeered, but meant what he said.

As you unwound your arms from him, your hand ran across his shoulders before you looked down at him and tilted his chin up. Everything about him was taken with time, his eyes were a beautiful shade of brown and the features in his face were carved in perfectly. You loved the crinkles by his eyes when he smiled wide or laughed hard, remembering it was one of the reasons you loved to make him laugh.

“I’m gonna take a quick shower. Ready to be back in dad mode?” You grinned, rubbing his back.

“As much as I can be.”

With that, you turned around and his eyes followed you down the hall. From the way you stood on your tippy toes to reach the top shelf for linens and how you put your tongue between your lips, he could list a million different reasons to be in love with you. He couldn’t have found a fatal flaw other than being too nice when it wasn’t necessary. You had so much love to give and Tom had known that since you were kids, thinking about the times you left animal crackers by the weeping willow by the playground at school. You’d hope the fun-shaped crackers would give it some nutrients, making it not be sad anymore and Tom, only nine years old, didn’t have the heart to tell you that squirrels would steal them.

That attitude hadn’t changed as you got older, always seeing you pull through your worst and most stressful times. Especially throughout college, Tom had tried to be as much as he could to be your best friend without letting his feelings shift platonic affection. He didn’t expect you to stay around much when Summer appeared on his doorstep, wondering if you would push away from the sudden commitment he took on. But, he laid down one day and realized it wasn’t like you to keep your distance when something this drastic happened. What he didn’t know is that you were all in from the start. Since the day you met until right here and right now, you weren’t leaving each other no matter what or who tried to come between you.

As Tom finished his tea and you were in the shower, Summer slowly stirred out of her sleep and got up from the couch. In her matching, lavender pajamas, she pushed her hair out of her face before walking up to Tom. He chuckled at her lazy daze, but he opened his arms and she crawled into them to sit on his lap.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” He chuckled, kissing her temple repeatedly.

“Good morning, daddy.” She mumbled and wiped her eyes with the back of her non-casted hand.

“What are we feeling this morning? Cereal? Pancakes? Maybe that oatmeal you like, the cinnamon and apples flavor?” Tom asked her, wanting to spoil her with anything he could.

“Can I have pears with cinnamon, please?” Summer asked, looking into her father’s eyes.

Tom lifted her as he stood up, “Of course, you can. Whatever your little heart desires.” He smiled, placing her in the chair and kissing the top of her messy hair.

When he walked over to the fruit bowl by the corner of the kitchen counter, Summer shifted to sitting on her knees with her elbows against the table so she could watch Tom make her breakfast.

“Daddy?” She asked, her voice so benevolent.

“Yes?” Tom replied with his back still toward her.

“Do I have to go back there? To the lady’s house? Because… I don’t wanna go back there. That lady was mean and I didn’t like her.” She summarized, tracing her short and tiny fingers along the wood of the kitchen table.

Tom turned around, pausing his chopping and he didn’t know what to say in the first few seconds.

“You never have to go back there unless you want to, okay? I promise you. We keep our promises, remember?” Tom reminded her with a soft tone.

“You promised I didn’t have to stay there, but you left me there.” She pouted, not making eye contact with him.

A chill ran up his spine, this conversation worrying him since the day he dropped her off and made that unforeseen promise. The first promise he didn’t know he would break. He didn’t want to lie to her, but even with the sake of that being for Maggie’s benefit, he still knew he lied. Tom presumed Summer would forget that he promised not to leave her there, remembering how assured she was it was just a weekend, but it had been a month and Tom wondered what went through her mind now.

“I know, sweetheart… but, I promise. You’re here for good.” Tom walked back over and she finally looked up at him, her eyes glassy.

“Okay, daddy.” She muttered, but he had to hug her. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to second guess everything and get too comfortable before something worse could happen.

“I love you, kid.” Tom said, kissing the top of her head again.

After Tom gave Summer her breakfast, she could barely keep her head up to bring the fork to her mouth. He knew she was overtired from the night before, so he brought her back to the couch to rest and leave on some cartoons at a low volume. He laid down too, of course, her on top of him and her head was against his chest. Oddly, she laid flat against him and she was stiff as a board, her hair in her face and her mouth slightly gapped. A few times she’d twitch in her sleep and it made Tom nervous, thinking something was wrong, but it was his heightened protectiveness and he knew he couldn’t keep remaining on edge about her being taken away again. It was hard to not think that now, but Tom knew once she got used to the feeling of home again, everything will go back to normal. Blood or not, she was his daughter and he was her father and no one could take that away from them.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

A few hours pass and Tom expected a call from his dad any second so, he suggested that you and Summer go out for a bit to avoid the conversation. After she got dressed and you put on her jacket, the two of you got your shoes on by the door. Summer sat on the ground, grabbing the black and white converses off the shoe rack and carefully used the bunny ears technique on her laces.

“Loop… loop and pull.” She mumbled, pulling at the thread coils.

As you slipped on your sneakers, Tom walked out from the bathroom and smiled at Summer sat, her face contorting as she concentrated on the knot.

“Daddy, look, I did it!”

“Good job, kid!” He chuckled, helping her on her feet, “So, did you and Y/N find out what you’re gonna do?”

“We’re gonna see the duckies!” She giggled and you nodded to her statement.

“Ah, sounds like fun. I wish I could come, but maybe this weekend. We can go after your doctor’s appointment.” Tom proposed and Summer nodded frantically, her hair bouncing and moving around.

You grinned, “Alright, we’re gonna go. You need anything while we’re out?”

Tom’s eyes gleamed at the sight of your smile, “No, I’m good.”

“Okay, We’ll see you soon.” You grin, giving him a light kiss.

Summer giggled to herself before she grabbed your hand, leading the way out the door. Tom chuckled before he shut the door behind you and he sighed, starting to feel the pieces fall back together. Throughout the time Summer was away, he didn’t realize in the moment how you stayed. It was just that simple and even imagining the future, he saw your face. Everything between you two had lead up to this moment and he knew it in his heart that there was a reason for something bringing the both of you together. He wasn’t sure if the feeling was mutual or he’d let too many movies get to his head, but somehow fate seemed in his favor. He wished he could have changed some things to please others with the bridges he’s burnt through his life and with his family, but he wouldn’t change his entire life if it didn’t have you or Summer in it.

As you strolled to the park, you couldn’t stop smiling as you talked to Summer. She went on about how she wanted to make Christmas cookies already and how many people had signed her cast, almost no room to even squeeze in another. She was an extrovert by heart, just like her dad and how charismatic he could be once he opens up. You held her hand when you crossed streets and you followed her close when you wondered around the market to get the bread to feed the ducks. After checking out, you two walked to your favorite park, the one she missed so much, to the bench you always sat at that was a few feet away from the pond.

“That one’s name is… Marty.” She said, squatting by the edge of the grass.

You were sat in the grass with your legs crossed, “And that one’s name?” You pointed to the duck with a white tail.

“...Allen.” She giggled, tossing another piece of bread in the water.

You chuckled, “And which one is your favorite?”

“I like Dorothy and Duke because they’re a couple.” She said as she ripped up another piece of bread.

“How do you know they’re together?”

“Because they kiss sometimes. They love each other, just like you and daddy.” Summer replied, looking at the bread as she bunched it up and threw it in the water.

A heat rose to your cheeks, “I guess you’re right.” You chuckled a bit as you watched her keep throwing the bread, watching the ducks swoop it up with their beaks as they passed by.

She turned to you, “Y/N.”

“Summer.” You smiled.

“Are you and my daddy gonna get married? You guys kiss now and people who get married kiss too.” She said in her explanation of what love was to her.

“Well… We’re together now, but we’re not getting married.” You tried to explain in a soft tone, wanting her to understand.

“But, I want you to be my mommy.” She squinted her eyes looking toward you because the sun was in her eyes, her nose scrunched as well.

You sighed, “I’m your best friend and I’m always gonna be here for you.” You could promise her that much, but you didn’t want to say what you really thought, not wanting her to get an permanent image in her head.

She pouted, but didn’t respond at first. It’s like she was gathering her thoughts together before saying what was on her mind.

“I hate that lady I stayed with. She was mean and didn’t tell me bedtime stories.” She mumbled as she sat with you, gently pulling at the grass.

You nodded, “You don’t hate her.”

“I did! She was mean. She’s not my mommy. She’s like the evil queen in Snow White.” She protested, her eyes widening as her voice emphasized.

“Summer, she’s your mom.” You sighed.

“Cinderella’s mommy was mean.” She pointed out.

It almost made you chuckle at how persistent she was, but nevertheless, you told her, “Well, you don’t have to see her until you want to, okay? Your dad isn’t gonna let that happen again, neither will I.”

Summer got up, pushing her hands against the grass before she moved closer to you. She rested her head against your shoulder as she coiled her arm around yours, holding you tight as the two of you watched the ducks float by, some of them swimming alongside their ducklings. The light breeze kept you cool, blowing your hair out of your face, and the kids laughing as they ran around.

Meanwhile, Tom was pacing the kitchen with his phone practically glued to his ear. His dad told him about his options, laying out the routes they could take for this settlement to be as easy as it could be without there being any loopholes. With Tom’s bruises healing, he still had to go to follow up appointments for his concussion and his dad thinks it’s enough to let Tom be heard by the judge.

His court appearance was coming up, but Tom’s dad would come with him to make sure everything went as they were planning. It was nice to feel connected to his dad again, maybe not under these circumstances, but he felt supported again and maybe he was all this time. Tom’s anger had masked that his dad did genuinely care for him, it was his stepmom’s doing that wedged them apart and Tom was still trying to figure out how to deal with her, but he wanted to maintain his relationship with his dad as well as try to mend the shifty one with his mom.

“So, we’ll meet at the courthouse on the 20th, 10a.m.” Tom stated.

His dad nodded, “Sounds good to me.”

Tom chuckled, “Thanks so much… for everything.”

“I’m your dad, you don’t have to thank me. If you did, it would be your first words.” His dad jeered, sitting back in his office chair.

“Yeah…” Tom trailed, “Hey, are you guys doing… anything big for Thanksgiving?”

His dad was surprised, his eyebrows raised as he replied, “Uh, yeah. Have a few friends over, maybe your uncle Ted and Aunt Lorriane. There’s always room for more.” His dad smiled.

“Well, I was thinking that, maybe, me and Y/N came come… and Summer, of course.” Tom gulped, tucking his hand under his other arm as he leaned against the counter.

“Yeah, we’d love to have you. Of course, we’d love to have you.” His dad was surprised by how open-minded Tom was becoming.

“I think it would be great after… all this. You know? And I want you guys to meet Y/N.” Tom shrugged.

“We’d love that too… how are things with her after everything?” Tom’s dad followed up, smiling to himself.

Tom bit his bottom lip, “She’s been so… supportive. It’s crazy how supportive she’s been… I don’t think I could have gotten through all of this without her. She’s always been there for Summer and… I think I want her in my life forever.” He chuckled, finally admitting it out loud and even surprising himself.

Tom’s dad chuckled, “You sound pretty serious.”

“I really am… I’m gushing, but I don’t think I could have gotten through any of this if I didn’t have her.” Tom trailed, tracing his finger along the table.

“Well it’s nice to have someone have your back through something tough like this and she’s a nice girl… and Summer is comfortable with her?”

“Yeah, they’re actually hanging out at the park right now.”

His dad smiled to himself for a few seconds, turning in his chair to face his desk, “I remember when your mom and I met, it was the year before you were born.

Tom arched his eyebrow, “Wow, you guys got married that… fast?”

“Yeah, yeah. I took the morning train to this internship I had in Massachusetts. When I had to get home, she worked at the ticketing booth for a few weeks, but I thought she was cute so… instead of getting one of those reusable cards, I just went to her every night for the train back home. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I kept asking for a ticket that went the opposite way of where I actually lived.”

“Sappy.” Tom chuckled, surprised and not knowing this. He realized he never really asked since his parents had been separated more years than they were together.

“Once I told her, we went on a few dates, I got a card and… we got married six months later, I think. Then, we had you less than a year later.”

“But, didn’t you guys… miss out on just being in your twenties?” Tom replied, biting the inside of his cheek.

His dad shrugged, the memories all surging in at once, “Well, we knew we loved each other… at the time. We would have rather gotten married then and figured out if we were meant to be than to not do it at all, I guess… and we got a great kid out of it.”

A smile curled up on Tom’s lips, surprised by how his dad felt about his mom or at least how they used to feel about one another. He always imagined that they lived an ordinary lives, pretending that they used to be in love when they don’t talk unless it’s through Tom. He knew there was probably more to their story, but from what he just heard now, Tom believed that there’s a reason for you in his life more than co-parenting or being his best friend. There’s a reason why you’re still together throughout all this. Why it took so long to realize that he loved you more than “just platonic”. You had faith in each other.

“I’m sure your mom remembers it more than me, but we had fun.” His dad added, clicking his pen.

“Yeah, I should probably call her soon. I don’t even know where she is.”

“Paris… I talked to her the other day about the whole… well, your situation and I didn’t want to say anything but, she was thinking of surprising you... She wanted to take time off because of what I told her..” Tom’s dad spilled.

Tom felt his face heart up from the sudden announcement, “Well, that’s mom.”

“She’ll be excited to know everything’s going okay, I’m sure.”

Tom smiled, “Yeah… everything’s perfect.”

After the lengthy conversation Tom had with his dad, they eventually hung up and there was a silence that fell in the apartment. Instead of feeling the loneliness he did for those few weeks, he was anticipated for you two to come home and all three of you could have dinner, maybe talk about what your plans were for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There was so much he looked forward to now, even more so now that he was assured that you were the one for him, but he was scared that there was some chance he wasn’t the one for you. It’s not like favors worked for him through life, so it was easy to be skeptical about this, but all that mattered was the risk of taking a shot and trying not to let the universe get to him.

His wandering thoughts paused when the front door unlocked, already seeing Summer slipping through and she practically jumped into Tom’s arms while he was still sat down. She crawled on top of him and she wrapped her arms around his neck, his arms wrapped around her as well.

“How was the park?” He chuckled, glancing at you coming in.

You set your purse and Summer’s backpack on the wall hooks, “Good, saw the duckies and even some turtles… and we named each one of them.” You grinned, walking over and leaning against the counter.

“You should have come, daddy! There were so many!” Summer giggled, her loose tooth crooked on the front, bottom teeth.

“Ah, well, they’ll be there tomorrow and the day after that and even the day after that. We can go next week too, kid.” He grinned and she hugged him tight, leaning on him and their faces pressed together. Tom felt the instant warmth Summer radiated, even if it was cold outside.

“Promise?” She asked.

“Pinky swear.” He said, holding out his hand with his fingers tucked into his hand with just his pinky out.

She held hers out, carefully wrapping it around his and he chuckled, giving her a quick eskimo kiss before Summer crawled off of him.

“Hey, why don’t you wash your hands… make sure you don’t get water in the cast. Then, we can have an early dinner in front of the TV. How does that sound?” Tom suggested and you nodded in agreement.

“Okay, daddy.” Summer nodded back, her eyes sparkling and she took off into the bathroom. You two heard her take the stool out, the wood shifting against the tiled bathroom before the sink turned on.

Tom turned to you as he got up, a warm smile painted on his lips as he stood toe to toe with you.

“Why are you smiling so much? Good news, I assume.” You grinned, crossing your arms and leaning more against the counter.

“I can’t smile at my beautiful and lovely girlfriend?” Tom swooned.

As you wrapped your arms around his neck, he ran his hands down your side before placing them on your hips. You couldn’t hide your smile either, leaning in without thinking twice about it and brushing your nose against his. As your lips pressed together, slowly and tenderly, his hands slid into the back pockets of your jeans to pull you closer. It wasn’t a passionate kiss, nothing too harsh, but you could feel his warmth curling around you, squeezing your body gently and feeling this instant sense of complete comfortable.

You giggled against his lips, pulling away and he slightly tilted his head, moving your stray hair behind your ear to see your face. The two of you didn’t need words when every piece seemed to be falling back into place.

“Okay, my hands are clean!” Summer yelled from the bathroom, making you two break your kiss with more laughter. She ran from the bathroom and into the kitchen, running up to Tom and leaning on his leg.

Tom smiled as he leaned down, wrapping his arm around Summer’s torso and pulled her up as if she weighed like nothing. Her giggles sent him happiness, ever since she was a baby and could only wrap her hand around his finger. She sat on his hip, coiled around her dad like adhesive and you couldn’t help but grin and rub her back.

“Can we have mac and cheese?” She asked Tom.

“You can have whatever your little heart desires, kid.” Tom kissed her temple, setting her back down.

“Really?”

“Really, really.” Tom promised, his hand tickling her stomach and a warm burst of laugh left her mouth.

Her sneakers touched the floor, watching her run to the cabinet with the pots and pans. As you watched them collect what they needed to start dinner, their voices seemed to fade away, like they were in another room and a wall stood tall between. A muffling to their tones as they stood in front of the stove, but you leaned by the kitchen door frame with your arms crossed. You were happy, more than over the moon to see Summer back where she belonged, but how long would it be until another conflict arose? What if Tom couldn’t claim custody… would he crumble again and you would have to help him pick up the pieces all over again? If he wasn’t her biological father, where did that leave you? You wanted what was best for the both of them, but you didn’t want it to lead to arguments and more confusion for her if she couldn’t even stand her own mother.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

Tossing and turning, the mattress creaked beneath you while trying to fall asleep. Your brows furrowed, trying to settle your head into the pillow but it was like trying to slumber on a rocky sea. You laid your back flat once you gave up, staring at the ceiling with the strip of light from the streetlight outside. It’s like you could hear anything from a five-mile radius, suddenly you picked up on the tiniest sound and it was like someone poking your neck with a needle. Trying to drown out the noises, you heard the deadbolt unlock from the creak you left in the door. You felt frozen, hearing the keys drop on the table by the door. 

Tom sighed, a long breath passing his lips as he run his hands through soft, brown curls. The clock on the wall told 2:45 a.m., not expecting to stay out this late, but he was making such good tips that it would have been silly to leave. As he entered the bedroom, his tired brown eyes laid on you, under the covers. His hand dug into his back pocket, pulling out the wad of dollar bills and placing them on the dresser.

You still closed your eyes, hearing his belt buckle unclip and the dressers open, his hands rummaging through some of his clothes. You wondered if you should say something, anything, knowing your mind was filled to the brim with thoughts, enough that it couldn’t let you go to sleep.

The weight lifted off Tom’s sore feet, his body sinking into the bed as he carefully shifted himself under the covers, trying not to wake you. With your back turned to him, Tom got comfortable and warm with the duvet insulating him, moving his hands under his head. Silence fell in the room, nothing but the crickets chirping in the night.

You slowly turned on your other side, facing Tom with your face snug against your pillow. Seeing him made you forget all of those heavy thoughts, the ones about him and your future, but you couldn’t just make it go away from the sight of his pretty eyes.

“Hey, sorry, did I wake you?” His voice groggy.

“No, I’ve been up for a while..” You trailed, your hands by your chest.

“What’s keeping you up?”

Tom turned on his side, his hand against his head as his elbow pushed into the pillow.

You sighed, “You know I love you, right?” You sealed your lips, trying to keep eye contact with him.

He chuckled, crinkles by the sides of his eyes, “I love you too… What’s going on?”

Tom’s fingers moved your hair from your forehead, his hand planting to your cheek and his thumb brushing against your cheek, “What’s going through your head, babe?” He asked, his voice always comforting.

You placed your hand on top of his, moving your intertwined hands to your chest, “Whatever happens with Summer, I want you to know that… I’m there for you. I know I’ve said it a million times before, but… I’m not her mom. I’m her best-friend… but, I don’t know if I can be a mom.” You trailed, squeezing his hand.

“But, you’re practically-”

“I’m not. At the end of the day, I’ve helped you.. I’ve done everything I can for her. But, you’re her father. Even if the papers don’t say it, deep down and full-heartedly, you’re her father, but… she has a mom.”

Tom gave your hand a squeeze, “You want me to keep Maggie in Summer’s life?... No, no way. She didn’t care for her until now and it was all because she was selfish.” 

“Exactly. I know you don’t see it now but, she needs to have some connection to her mom. If it doesn’t work out that way then… that’s fair. I think things just got off the wrong foot the more I think about it. I mean, what if I’m not enough and-”

“Hey, hey… you are enough. You’re more than enough.” Tom said, his tone soft.

You barely grimaced, still holding his hand as if he was slipping through your fingers. Suddenly, everything went quiet and it was just the two of you in your own little world. His hand securely locked yours and was against your chest, feeling your heart pound for the first few seconds until it went back to its steady beat. 

“One day at a time. You and me.” Tom promised.

You replied with a nod and Tom kissed the center of your forehead, trailing to your nose before you shifted closer to him and curled up to embrace the warmness between your bodies. His arm moved behind your neck and around your shoulder, like being in a safety net. 

For a few minutes, his fingers slowly carded through the back of your hair, a relaxing comfort as you fell into a deep sleep with knowing you were protected in his arms. Tom stayed up longer than he should have, watching the red-lit minutes change on the clock by his bedside, but he wanted to make sure you were asleep because you needed the rest. A few times, you’d nuzzle your face against his chest, shifting your arms around him and he adjusted his grip around you with the shift of your position.

“I love you.” He whispered, even though he knew you were asleep. 

It wasn’t so scary to say out loud anymore. He was so happy about it, he lazily smiled while his eyes began to feel heavy and they fluttered as he also fell asleep right next to you. For once, his world truly was at peace and looking up. The grin on his face lost the tension on the corners of his mouth, light snores between the two of you. Until, he suddenly jolted out of his slumber when there was a light touch on his back shoulder.

Tom shot his head up, a quick breath through his nose before his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He saw Summer standing by his bed, her hair in a bun with her fly-aways highlighted from the streetlight coming in from the window behind her. Just like her dad, she had the same exhausted look on her small face and all she wanted was to be with him. As much as she thought she wanted to be on her own, her thinking six was practically grown, Summer couldn’t deny she was a daddy’s girl.

“Daddy…” She whispered.

“W-What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Tom cleared his throat, carefully leaning over to the other side of the bed.

“Can I sleep with you and Y/N? I had a bad dream...” Summer maintained her whisper.

“Of course… hop in. Get between us.”

Summer pulled herself up, crawling over Tom as he pulled down the covers between the two of you. Your sleep was deep enough that you didn’t budge but, Summer still slid in carefully and faced toward Tom. He wrapped his arm around her, facing her and you and he realized how long it had passed since that’d done this. He knew his days of checking for monsters in the closet and under the bed would run up soon, as well as walking her up to school and holding her hand. The more he thought about how much he cared about her, the less the paternity test meant to him. It couldn’t erase all the memories they’ve made and the hardships they faced. Moments like this were the reason he was her father, not some test.

Of course, he was filled with anxieties and dread that she would push away if he told her the truth, but he couldn’t worry about that now because she was and will always be his family. He’d rather him than a deadbeat be her father, happy to protect her from the evil and bad and there to sing her a lullaby if the night seemed to dark and mysterious, filled with make believe beings that she thought were so real or even holding her hand tight as she stepped over cracks on the sidewalk. Happy, sad, angry, sick, anything, Tom wanted to be there for every moment and even when she has her own family.

The thought of her growing up in the blink of an eye could make him tear up when she fit so perfectly in his arms, so small and delicate and more than ready to see the world even though Tom thought the world wasn’t ready fo her.

“Daddy, too tight.” She warned, her voice muffled in his chest.

“Sorry.” He chuckled, kissing the top of her head.

A few hours later, the sun slowly rose over the horizon and shined through the windows by each side of the bed. The birds chirped, some landing on the fire escape outside, while the cars drove on the street below along with occasional dogs barking from passing one another.

As you moved your face against the pillow, your eyes fluttered open as a small smile curled up on your tired face. Waking up to the sight of Summer asleep on top of Tom was something you could get used to. You reached out, running your hand over her back before pushing her hair out of her face. Her cheek was against his chest, making her lips a bit pursed and eyebrows rested. You leaned your head against Tom’s shoulder, nuzzling your face into his neck and giving him a light kiss on the start of his jaw.

After a few minutes, Tom stirred out of his sleep, comfortable when he woke up next to his two girls. You lifted your head to look at him, smiling with both of you sharing lazy glances.

“Good morning… How’d you sleep?” You asked him, low enough to not wake Summer.

“Perfect.” Tom grinned, leaning in to kiss your forehead.

The morning went by quickly and the next moment, the three of you were in the car and driving to Summer’s school. Tom’s knuckles were practically snow white from how tight he was gripping the stirring wheel and his back straight against the seat as if he were being tailed by someone but the roads were mostly empty.

His jaw clenched, a nervousness building up in his gut the closer he got to the school. When Tom eventually stopped at a red light, you cautiously placed your hand on his leg, “Why are you so anxious, baby?” You asked, watching him place his hand on top of yours.

“I’m not, just tired.” He faked a grin, giving your hand a light squeeze.

You tilted your head, “Really?” 

Tom’s eyes moved to the rearview mirror, glancing at Summer with her headphones on, flattening the top of her hair, as she played with her iPad.

He turned to you, “Just like having her back is all.”

But you knew he was scared about having to let her go for a few hours. It may have felt overreactive, but Tom thought if it could happen once, the idea of a second time easily creeped its way up in his head.

Your eyes glossed, “Nothing bad is gonna happen, okay? Trust me, I don’t think we’ll let anyone take our girl unless they kill us over it… not to be completely dramatic.” You joked, just to see him smile.

Even though you felt like a bit of a broken record, but you didn’t blame him for worrying. What Maggie did was unforgivable, leaving Tom with an anxiety in his chest like no other, but all you could do was be there for him and remind him that abandonment wasn’t around the corner. You had to keep him hopeful, almost making Tom himself feel guilty for constantly being on his toes, but he knew you were his anchor to keep him from drifting away to drown in his own doubts.

“Thanks.” He said, glancing down at your hands.

When you got to school, you waited in the car while Tom walked Summer to the front door. Some of the parents wondered where he went, but they passed by with their friendly greetings before the two of them got to the sidewalk.

Tom kneeled down, “You have your lunch?”

“Yes.” Summer nodded.

“Water? Books? Everything you need?” He fixed the collar of her t-shirt.

“Yes, daddy.” She giggled, thinking he was acting silly.

He cracked a smile, “Okay. I’ll see you after school and maybe you can show me the duckies.”

Summer nodded with excitement, giving Tom a quick hug and his hand held hers for a few seconds until it slipped through his fingers. She ran up to the teacher escorting the kids in as he got back on his feet, his eyes not leaving her till Summer turned back around by the door frame and gave a quick wave.

Just seeing that reminded him of living in the moment now is what was important. Not the past, not the future, just being there to see her beautiful smile.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

The courthouse’s walls felt like they were closing in even though the ceilings were high and the halls were grand. Well-dressed people passed by with their phones glued to their ears and others pressed tissues to their eyes, holding them to catch their tears and mascara. Sounds of heels clicked against the granite floors, loudly echoing as they sauntered by you and Tom.

“Hey, it’s gonna go okay. There’s no way they won’t give you any compensation.” You reassured him, adjusting his black tie and laying it flat against his white button up.

“Yeah, I know. It’s just kind of loud in here… and hot.” Tom looked down, rubbing the back of his neck.

You knew it was because his dad wasn’t here yet. It meant a lot to him, even if he didn’t want to admit it, but if there was some chance of it happening, you had to keep him cheery. You moved your hands down the front of his suit jacket, brushing off anything, but you looked back into his eyes.

“Hey… Tommy, look at me.” You softly asked. It was something you said to him often, trying to remind him that you were there completely. He just needed a bit of a reminder sometimes that he didn’t have to be alone in everything.

Tom glanced up at you, those brown eyes glimmering. Your glance shifted to the light bruise faded under his eye along with the scar by his cheek, almost gone but you knew it left more than a scar for him. It was just a reminder of the hardest and most confusing time of his life, maybe, but this was all you assumed. He never knew what was going through Tom’s head as equally as knowing just from the look on his face or in his eyes.  Just like right now.

“It’s gonna be fine and you don’t even need to say much. That’s why we have lawyers.” You grinned, a giggle following and he cracked a smile back.

“I love you, you know that?” He asked.

You stood close to him, your heads angled at one another, “I love you too.”

Before you could say something else, you both Tom’s dad’s voice which made you turn around to the hall behind you. His dad walked up with his lawyer, obviously both of them close from how they smiled and chuckled from their conversation. Tom said his dad knew him for a long time, even helping with the separation of his parents a few years ago. Tom thought if his dad trusted this guy enough, so could he.

“Hey son, you look good.” His dad smiled, giving you and Tom quick hugs before both of you shook hands with the lawyer.

“Y/N, this is Joseph, Tom’s lawyer today.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Make sure you keep him sane.” You jeered.

“He’ll be fine.” Joseph grinned, patting Tom’s shoulder.

Tom sealed his lips, then the corners of his mouth lifting up to quickly smile. You grinned back, rubbing his back before kissing his cheek.

“We’ll be waiting out here.” Tom’s dad told him.

It wasn’t easy watching him go in without you even though you’d just spent a few minutes calming him down. You didn’t think this wouldn’t fall through, still grateful he wasn’t more hurt from this, but you didn’t know what would come after this. His fingers slipped away from yours, your stomach dropped and goosebumps ran over your skin as if a chill suddenly blew in. Hiding your distress, all you could do was sit on the bench and wait for him.

“He’ll be okay in there. There’s no question.” His dad assured you, seeing the same details in his face as Tom does like the crinkles by his eyes or the freckles along his nose.

“Thanks. I don’t know why I’m nervous.” You shrugged, crossing your leg over the other.

“You guys have been through a lot. But, this should make things smooth over for a bit while you get back on your feet.”

You nodded, “I was scared because he’s the most stable person I know, but after these past weeks? I had never seen him fall apart so quickly.”

“Well, he told me you helped him throughout that.”

You chuckled, “We help each other. I don’t know what I’d do without him either.”

“That just shows you guys care about each other. Won’t leave each other hanging… You need that right now more than anything.” Tom’s dad spoke from his experiences with his past marriage, happy to hear that his son was not only being supportive, but also being supported by someone who obviously loved him.

You sniffled, “We really do… I’ve been having to take him to his… concussion appointments and they put him in this big machine and make him do all these tests and…” You nodded, “I was already thinking of what the next step was if something bad happened. I mean, luckily, everything has been fine… I guess it’s just assuming something else can hit us while we’re already down… but, I’m okay because I know we have each other’s backs.”

He wasn’t sure to impose, but his dad still reached out for your shoulder and gave a comforting rub. You appreciated it although you didn’t know Tom’s dad that well, you can see where he got his kindness and confidence from clear as day, just even the tone of his voice was similar that you knew Tom always admired his father despite their parted relationship recently.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

After an hour or two, most of your time was spent people watching and observing them from where you sat, feeling like you couldn’t do much else. You tried not to pick at your nails or shake your leg, but you felt like you were itching out of your own skin from what was going on behind that thick door. A few times you thought it was opening, making you turn your head constantly at any noise from that way.

Finally, Tom walked out, his lawyer by his side, and his smile was bright which made you reflect one right back.

“I got the compensation.” He chuckled in relief, his arms around wrapping around you and lifting you off your feet.

Tears filled both your eyes, the small accomplishment feeling like a weight slowly being taken off your chest and giving you more hope for whatever came next.

Tom placed you back on your feet, leaning over to bear hug his dad and they shared a few chuckles.

“How much was it?” His dad asked.

“A little over $9,000. Enough to pay for some bills, Summer’s school, savings.” Tom trailed, wiping his tears with the side of his hand.

His dad grinned, “I’d say that’s a call for a little celebration for you two.”

“I agree.” Tom turned to you.

“Well, we’ll leave you two to have some fun. Y/N, it was nice to see you.” His dad grinned, giving you a quick embrace with your head on his shoulder.

“You too.”

“See you later, dad.” Tom gave a pat on his dad’s shoulder, nodding to the lawyer before the two of them walked away.

Your arm was wrapped around Tom’s waist tight as he kissed your temple, pulling you even closer. His smile painted on his lips and pressed another soft kiss to your cheek. You ran your hand over his chest, looking up at his caramel brown eyes.

“Since I’ve come into a bit of money, I think we should go on a date.” Tom grinned, biting his bottom lip to conceal how big his smile was.

You blushed, “You think?”

“Well, I mean, we should go on a date. You, me, a nice restaurant and maybe ice cream or whatever your sweet tooth is craving after.” He smiled.

“What about Summer?”

“I can cover it. My mom is gonna watch her while she’s in town. She’s said she has a lot of grandma time to make up for.” Tom chuckled and put his arm around you, pulling you closer to him.

“Well, as long as she’s willing to do it… I’m all in.” You giggled as you nuzzled your head against his shoulder.

“Thank God, I was scared that we were moving too fast.” He jeered back, kissing the top of your head once more.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

After the drama had digested over the past few days, you could see how everything fell into place. At least, for a bit of time until the rent bill came up in your emails again. While you hadn’t spent much time at your apartment, it was seen as storage for your clothes when you’d been at Tom’s for the past two months with Summer. Even though you had been dating for that same amount of time, you didn’t know how to bring it up without feeling like you were rushing things.

Yes, you’d known each other than most couples you were friends with, but you had never been so scared to take the next step and actually moving in together. The thought of finally clashing your lives together and attempt to start another life made your heart skip a beat. These feelings couldn’t be ignored by how strong they were, probably building up after all these years, but you knew Tom had a responsibility of Summer and starting to adoption process.

You were nervous to bring the question up to Tom, wondering how it would pan out and not wanting to assume the worst would happen when you knew in the back of your head that you loved one another more than anything in the world, but nothing has come perfect to you.

As you turned the key in the lock, you pushed open the door, but the lights were all out. You furrowed your eyebrows before your hand searched the wall, finding the switch and flicking it on only to see a few decorations put up.

You froze when you saw red, yellow and white roses scattered around in vases along with plastic, white and pink balloons hanging around the ceiling and settled on the couch and chairs. At first, you wondered if you forget about an anniversary or birthday, but Tom walked out with Summer trailing him.

“Shoot… I didn’t know you were coming home early.” Tom chuckled while Summer ran up to you, wrapping her arms around your leg.

“What’s with the party decorations?” You smiled, glancing around.

Tom sighed, a light smile still on his face before he took your hand, guiding you over to the center of the living room. Heat rose to your cheeks, wondering what he was up to, but Summer stood by his side and she looked up at you with glassy eyes.

“Do you remember when we were younger... and you said the only way you’d want to be proposed to is in a rose garden?”

Your heart dropped, losing the feeling in your whole body as your smile faded, “...Possibly...”

Tom slowly got on one knee while reaching into his pocket, keeping eye contact with you as he lowered to the ground and the tears welled up in your eyes, thinking this was easily a dream.

“Well, I couldn’t find a close rose garden but, I hope this could suffice.” Tom smiled, his cheeks tinted pink.

Summer stood next to Tom, watching him open the small, black velvet box. The ring sat perfectly in the center of it, gleaming from the light coming down and you let out a relieved sigh with a smile on your lips. You quickly wiped your eyes, your bottom lip beginning to quiver as Tom took a deep breath to say his next words.

“I don’t want another few years to go by before I notice that… I was dumb for not doing something and that I love you so much. I want you to be in my life and I want to officially make our own… together forever. I want to love you everyday and a little bit after that.” He chuckled, a few tears trailing his cheeks, “So, Y/N, will you marry me?”

You sealed your lips, not able to hide your smile, but you turned to Summer.

“What do you think, Summer?” You jeered at her, both of you sharing smiles.

“Y/N, I want you to be my mommy.” She said sweetly.

You turned to Tom, beaming at him, both of your eyes filled with tears still, “That sounds great to me.”

He chuckled, gently taking the ring and slipping it on your finger before you practically pulled him up to his feet to embrace him. The tightness of the hug didn’t give you much air, but you didn’t care. Tom ran his fingers through the back of your hair, light laughs coming from the both of you and Summer tried to coil her arms around the both of you from how low she was.

The world finally was complete.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜

tags/taglist: @felicityparkers @dhtomholland @duskholland @sinisterspidey@itstaskeen @tomhollandsgirlfriend @bi-writes @infinite-imagination @honeyspidey @hollandcrush @sunsetholland @pparkersbitch @namoreno @calltothewild @spideyspeaches @veryholland @osterfieldshollandgirl @slutforsebstan @bi-lmg @sunshinepeterparkr @annathesillyfriend @madmadmilk @antigoneidk @hollandcreep @wierdflowerpower @heavenlyholland @determined-overthinker @white-wolf1940 @thexplosivegirl​ 

[canary3d-obsessed]

Restless Rewatch: The Untamed, Episode 26, part two

(Masterpost) (Other Canary Stuff)

Warning! Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Content note: This episode has a lot of lightning, but this post does not have lightning flashes--I’m using mostly stills for those parts, or I’ve snipped out the unfriendly frames before giffing.

Qing-Jie

Having successfully ruined Jin Guangshan’s party plan to get the Yin Tiger seal, Wei Wuxian dashes off to tell Wen Qing where her brother is. She hops up to hit the road with him, but then sorta-faints because she’s starving. In a rare moment of tenderness between these two, he catches her and gently sits her down again. 

Normally they’re busy out-toughing each other, both before and after this moment, but right now Wen Qing is openly vulnerable. Wei Wuxian responds to that, predictably, with all of his kindness and with his usual slew of unwise, impossible-to-keep promises.

As she eats the bread he’s brought her--a parallel to an important piece of bread in his early life--he says they have to believe in Wen Ning’s survival. Cut to: Wen Ning, not surviving. 

I mean, yes, yes, he’s only mostly dead, but he’s never going to be fully alive again, so.  

24 Hour Party People

Back at the party, Jin Guangyao, deliberately, I think, goes to offer his pops a drink while his pops is still super furious and looking for someone to take it out on. The servant lady is like, better you than me, pal, and helps JGY get his drink ready. Pops, predictably, knocks the drink onto Jin Guangyao.

(more behind the cut)

Lan Xichen is standing by with a hanky and a face full of worry. Lan Xichen is so Lanny that he thinks JGY needs to go change clothes after getting clear alcohol spilled on him, rather than just letting it evaporate and smelling pleasantly of booze for the rest of the evening like a normal party guest. 

JGY launches into a criticism of Wei Wuxian, which Lan Wangji listens to very carefully, frowning. Lan Xichen, Nie Huasang and Jiang Cheng listen as well, and don’t speak up. 

A Clear Conscience

Then Lan Wangji *literally* steps out of his brother’s shadow, and speaks in defense of Wei Wuxian. This right here is Lan Wangji’s turning point, as far as I’m concerned. Xichen is gazing at JGY, totally on board with JGY’s spin of the situation, and his shadow falls away from Lan Wangji’s face as LWJ steps forward.

Lan Wangji says, isn’t what WWX said true? JGY puts on his customer service smile and says that the truth isn’t something you’re supposed to go around saying out loud. 

I’d like to say this is what’s wrong with cultivator society but this is really a universal human thing; every society has rules about upsetting the social order, and they are very frequently at odds with basic compassion and morality. 

Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng stay silent but Lan Xichen goes and throws Wei Wuxian under the bus carriage, saying his character has changed. 

Lan Wangji nods decisively at this, and bows to Lan Xichen, silently asking permission to follow Wei Wuxian. Lan Xichen grants permission, telling Lan Wangji to do his best. Lan Xichen probably thinks he and Lan Wangji are in agreement, in this moment, but that nod of Lan Wangji’s was nothing of the kind.

That nod was Lan Wangji agreeing with himself; he is going to try to bring Wei Wuxian back but he is also going to listen to him.  Meanwhile Lan Xichen is tying himself in knots to appease Jin Guangyao. The divergence between the brothers will just grow, from this point onwards.

Lan Wangji leaves to go follow his boyfriend conscience, while Jiang Cheng continues to silently listen to the commentary of others, and gets so mad he crushes a wine cup.

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night.

Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian arrive at the prison camp, and the first person they encounter is Granny, with a defaced Wen Banner in her hand and Wen Yuan on her back. 

Whenever I read a meta or a fic that talks about how the juniors are so sweet partly because they are “untouched by the war” I want to point to this moment. A-Yuan endures an absolute truckload of war trauma by the time he’s four years old, and while Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji both deserve a lot of credit for saving him at great risk to themselves, Granny and Uncle Four are the first heroes of A-Yuan’s story. His kind, mellow personality has a lot in common with theirs. 

This is followed by an eternity of Wen Qing running around asking if anyone’s seen her brother. Eventually Wei Wuxian gets tired of this and gathers the guards together, threatening them with Chenqing. 

He doesn’t need to play it; just holding it up has every Jin dude instantly kneeling and scared. 

The guards send him and Wen Qing go to a giant field of corpses, where Wen Qing runs around checking to see if any of them is her brother. Wei Wuxian starts off kind of detached and angry, but eventually snaps out of it, tucks away his flute and starts helping her to search. 

Wen Qing finds Wen Ning, mostly-dead with a lure flag speared into his belly. Wei Wuxian grimly takes in the situation from across the field of corpses. 

When he arrives at Wen Qing’s side he sees this talisman in Wen Ning’s hand. 

This is the talisman that Wei Wuxian made for Wen Ning back in Gusu summer school, before the war. It’s the one that Wen Ning was wearing at his waist when they met up after the massacre of Lotus Pier. It’s supposed to literally protect Wen Ning from having his spiritual consciousness snatched, as well as being a symbol of Wei Wuxian’s sense of responsibility for, and affection for, Wen Ning. 

Wei Wuxian, understandably, loses his shit at this point. Less understandably, he is about to decide that the best way to express his sorrow and rage is to re-animate the corpse of his friend, right in front of the corpse’s sister. Like, seriously, dude. Dude. 

Ghost General

This super-questionable decision leads to one of the most badass sequences in the show, which is unfortunately chock full of lightning flashes, so not everyone can watch it. Wei Wuxian and his flute and swirls of resentful energy come marching out of the darkness of the corpse field, back to the guards. 

The guards have decided to slaughter all of the prisoners and then run away, which would be a good plan except they should really have skipped right to the running away part of things. When Wei Wuxian accuses them of killing the prisoner in the corpse field, they claim that the Wens have a habit of falling off of a hill and dying. Wei Wuxian can relate. 

At this point Wei Wuxian summons up Wen Ning 2.0, ultra badass edition, who comes flying through the air with his odd, straight-armed fighting stance and cool solid-black eyes and rock-and-roll hair. 

Soundtrack: *Four Sticks*

Wen Ning proceeds to whale on the guards and scare the shit out of his relatives.

Then Wen Qing shows up and begs Wei Wuxian to stop. She explains that Wen Ning is only mostly dead. Like, if he was fully dead would she be okay with this? 

Wei Wuxian tries to reel Wen Ning in and realizes that he is not actually in control of Wen Ning. Ok, see, right from the first day of Wen Ning 2.0, WWX is aware that his control is iffy. Why does he think he’s going to be able to control him later? 

Anyway, this is where we learn Wen Ning’s grown-up name is Wen Qionglin. Wei Wuxian yells this name, and Wen Ning looks up like a cat hearing the “food noise,” and then proceeds to get control of himself. 

This is such a nice symbolic moment, that will be replayed later in the temple, when Wen Ning saves Jin Ling from Baxia. 

Wen Ning has a remote-code-execution OS vulnerability throughout the story; his soul is at risk of being stolen, and he is magically controlled by Wei Wuxian, Xue Yang, Su She, and Baxia.  Meanwhile Wen Qing, Wei Wuxian, and random kids on the street mostly treat him as a child, despite his clear adult capabilities. Wen Ning’s journey in The Untamed is at least partly about asserting his full adulthood, and his ability to overcome magical control is directly connected to that journey.  

After getting Wen Ning to chill, Wei Wuxian calls the floating resentful energy back into his own body, which looks about as comfortable as swallowing a burp. 

On the plus side, apparently resentful energy keeps your hair dry even when it’s raining.

Wei Wuxian should take a page from the guards’ book and slaughter all the Jin witnesses to this situation, but he decides to be the better person and let them live. They go running off down the road, where they encounter Lan Wangji and give him the 411, saying that Wei Wuxian resurrected dead people.

Meanwhile Wei Wuxian collects Wen Qing--half-fainted, again, in an echo of the start of their journey--and collects the Dafan Mountain Wen group, who are hiding, wisely. When they see Wen Ning, Uncle Four and some others start to freak out, but Wei Wuxian tells them that fierce corpses are cool, and they all grab horses and mount up.

Where Are You Going?

Lan Wangji is waiting for them, nonconfrontationally indulging in some visual poetry while he waits. 

In a show where every prop is exquisitely, carefully designed to enhance our understanding character, his Gusu-toned umbrella reveals surprising red and yellow threads woven in, right above his eye line as he looks at Wei Wuxian. 

Wei Wuxian speaks first, saying “you came to stop me?” Lan Wangji doesn’t answer, but asks him where he’s going. Then Lan Wangji warns him that he’s about to abandon orthodoxy forever, if he follows through. 

Wei Wuxian challenges this idea of orthodoxy, asking if Lan Wangji remembers the promise they made together, back in Gusu. It’s worth noting that they both appear to think of it as a co-promise, even though Lan Wangji didn’t speak aloud at the time. 

The conversation will continue in the next episode, because what’s better than a rainy romantic cliffhanger?

Soundtrack: Four Sticks by Led Zeppelin

[minachuuu]

The Colors of The Night

❣The Colors of the Night❣

❤ Pairing: Jinsoul x Fem!Reader

❤ Genre: Fluff (And maybe just a lil dramatic, but not angst as such)

❤ Word Count: 7.2k

❤ Song Suggestions: Singing in the Rain by Jinsoul & She by Dodie

A splash, deafening to her ears, Jinsoul opened her eyes to find herself floating in a black sea. But nothing about it felt cold or wet, but a warmth surrounded her body as she sank even further. Gray scaled, she looked at her own reflection on a mirror made of water below her, void of color or even depth for that matter. 

Jinsoul’s hand tried to reach in front of her, in case she found something to touch, something to feel. But instead she noticed her skin was a pale shade of gray. Her feet moving one behind the other create ripples in the air as she moves forward hoping to find something to see, something to hear. 

“Hello?” She whispered, but the dark nothing surrounding her amplified her quiet call with each echo. The sound bounces so at least it meant this place wasn’t endless, she thought.

But what is logic to the realm of dreams? What is and what isn’t? Some people say it’s just your mind playing games, some say dreams are everything your heart wishes.

Rings of waves expanding away from her bare feet touching the surface of the crystal water, distorting her own image as she shook her head away from it. What is this place? Where to go when the black extends infinitely around? 

“Jinsoul?” An echo far away responded to her, almost like a familiar song, making her head bolt up to search for the source. Urgency filled her veins, what she heard was no stranger’s voice, but one she couldn’t mistake.

“Y/n?” 

A drop of water fell on Jinsoul’s cheek, running cold down her skin. Her finger carefully wiped it away, and raised so her eyes could analyze it. Color, the wet skin over her finger had color once again. She looked down to the water mirror, the route the drop had travelled down her cheek was colorful again.

“Jinsoul?” She heard again but closer this time, maybe a little to close. Almost as if you were just mere inches away from her face. The only thought of that action made her cheeks spark in heat, but as much as her eyes searched for you she couldn’t find you.

“Y/n…” She gasped as you finally stepped out of the shadows, floating just above the water mirror below her. “What is going on?”

Your skin was void of color, only available to a gradient of light and dark grays, but she noticed a ring of light all around you pulsating in shades of blue, that illuminated enough so you could see each other, as if the rest of the void wasn’t there. Her breath halted as your hand cupped her cheek, the warmth of your skin roaming down to her neck. 

“We’re here.” You whispered as you got closer and closer to her, your hand not losing grip of her face. The rattling ideas in her brain urgently raced to her heart, accelerating its beats.

“But where is here?” She squinted her eyes, hoping that you didn’t realize how much they moved their focus from your eyes to your lips and from your lips to your eyes.

“Uh- the plaza?” 

A fresh breath of air attacked Jinsoul’s lungs as the void, the water mirror and you all disappeared in front of her eyes. Black turned into a gray film behind her eyelids, as a shadow moved back and forward and her ears filled with the sounds of a busy street, muffled behind the closed windows of the groups’ van.

The car had finally come to a full stop on the side of the road, blinking lights that reflected on the white snow left to be melted at the new warmth of the spring arriving. All that was left was to wait for Jinsoul to wake up and realize you had arrived at your destination.

“Oh my god,” Hyejoo gasped from the back seat, shaking Jinsoul’s shoulders strongly. “Unnie died again! Nooooo! Jinsoul Unnie! Whyyyyyyyy?!”

“Hyejoo!” Chaewon slapped the younger girl’s arm playfully as you and Yeojin chuckled at her exaggerated wail. “Don’t say that!”

It wasn’t new for her, she noticed that you were becoming a resident in her dreams. Maybe it was a sign of missing you after all the hussle of the preparations of a comeback and promotions, she always said to herself. It started with once a week, then twice, three times, everyday. 

Sometimes she just found you like a background character, offering her back that loving smile that she was so familiar with and adored. And other times it was just you and her. But every time that happened, her heart woke up agitated, her brain unable to get you out of there.

“Don’t say… don’t say what?” Jinsoul mumbled as her eyes opened, adjusting to the light on this side of her slumber. Her eyes slowly widening at the sight of your face just in front of her, as she raised her hands up to her increasingly heating cheeks.

“Oh-” Hyejoo cleared her throat as she straightened herself in her place. “Nevermind.”

“Welcome back.” You whispered, gently putting one of her stray hairs behind her ear. “We’re here but if you’re tired, we can go back to the dor-”

“No way!” Her energy suddenly jumped in hopes to deflect your attention away, gathering her stuff as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “We’re already here!”

Your eyes found her bandmates who just shrugged and nodded their heads back at you as she opened the door to the van. She scrambled to get her coat on clumsily and the sight got a sigh out of you, a smile adorning your lips as you shook your head. 

“Are- are you sure?” You stuttered.

“We’ve waited enough to try this new place, I’m sure!” Jinsoul waved at the manager in the driver seat as she jumped out of the van. “Thank you for the ride Manager-nim!”

You quickly followed behind, gratefully bowing your head at her managers and bandmates. Jinsoul took your hand in hers while helping you out of the van, but refused to let it go once you were out.

“Ah, why did you have to make only two reservations?” Yeojin sulked on the front seat as she turned around to face the others. “We could all use a good massage after our schedules lately, right?”

“I’m not coming near any of you when it comes to massages.” She pouted back, making everyone giggle. “Not after the last time you tried pinning me down forcefully to the ground.”

“I didn’t make the reservation, Y/n did!” Jinsoul pointed at Yeojin with her free hand, winking confidently. “I’ll bring all the members when we finish promotions, I promise.”

“Ah, your word Unnie!” Yeojin gasped, “And Y/n-Unnie is here as a witness!.”

“It’s fairly new, so we’ll try it first.” You chuckled as the van door started closing in front of you, your free hand waving back the girls. “And then I’ll make sure she tells you the truth.”

“Word!” Yeojin pointed back at both of you. “See you later!”

“Enjoy your date!” Hyejoo blurted out as the automatic door was almost closed, when you heard a sudden sharp slap come out of the van. “Ow! What was that for?!”

You chuckled at the last thing you heard before the door clicked and the engine on the car started. The manager offered you both a warm smile before his eyes were back on the road and the van was driving away. Both of you turned around as Jinsoul turned your intertwined hands into intertwined arms. 

“I’m sorry for falling asleep on the way here.” Jinsoul admitted as your feet started moving towards the modern building in front of you. “Most have been a quiet or awkward drive for you, you should have woken me up…”

“I don’t think one can have a quiet drive when Yeojin is in the car,” You chuckled, shaking your head. “Besides, I know you are still in the middle of promotions and I figured you could be tired, so I just thought you preferred a little nap.”

Jinsoul's cheeks blushing again caught her by surprise, as she turned her face to the other side so you wouldn’t notice it. Quick to brush it away, she shook her head, skipping in her place. 

“But isn’t that why we are here today? So we can relax and just spend a peaceful night together?” She cheered on. “By the way, thank you for inviting me, I’m sorry I made you wait so much but you know-”

“I wouldn’t dare trying a new place without my best friend, you know it’s our thing!” You admitted, taking pride in your bond and traditions. “And because it was your turn to choose last time, for mine I decided that a spa would be a really good option.”

“Casually after I told you the other day that all I wanted was a massage more than anything?” Jinsoul chuckled, tugging at your arm.

“Yes, it was merely a coincidence.” You tried sounding as serious as possible, barely hiding your real intentions. 

Jinsoul could easily have told you that she was way too tired or was busy to hang out with you tonight, it wouldn’t be rare for any of you. Usually when she was in the middle of promotions, you waited until she was free to see each other, but this time around you were a little surprised that she was the one that insisted on seeing you. Of course, you thought of something that would be good for her, something relaxing. 

You didn’t realize that your eyes were fixed on the girl intertwined at your arm, as a smile kept growing over your lips. It was her eyes looking back at yours as she giggled that brought you back into reality in a second.

“Hey, our reservations are at eight.” You cleared your throat, fixing your eyes to the front. “I think we have time to grab a little snack before getting there.”

“I think there’s a little store that way,” Jinsoul pointed farther into your path and your eyes fixed on the distance, where a little stall with a warm yellow light illuminated a fruit stall on its front. “The snacks are on me!”

You chuckled back at her as you both excitedly accelerated your walk, getting to the corner of the block and to the front of the store. 

You opened the door and let her go inside when something of a bright pinkish-orange sparkled in the corner of your eye. Peaches, they looked almost like fake ones of how bright they shined. 

You picked up a couple, eager to show them to Jinsoul and excited for the taste of something fresh. As you entered the store, shaking away the cold wind of the night behind, you looked through the aisles, searching for your friend until you finally found her on the back, her eyes roaming through the refrigerators and the drinks inside them.

“Ah, found you.” You closed in, bouncing lightly with every step. “The peaches looked really good for not being in season, so I grabbed a couple.” 

“And I got you this too.” She shook a bottle of apple juice as she closed the fridge. “Is it okay?”

“Yes!... Do I really get that all the time?” You chuckled as Jinsoul nodded, “You know me way too much, I bet I’m made of seventy percent apple juice by now.”

And maybe you taste like it too. Jinsoul jumped startled at her own thoughts, immediately turning around in her place, afraid that her eyes or reddening cheeks gave them away.

“Should we go pay now?” Her voice trembled as she ran towards the counter. You followed her closely and put the two peaches on the counter, aside of your drinks and chips. 

The man tending the store was scanning the items, as you rested your head over Jinsoul’s shoulder. The gesture grabbed her by surprise, as she shook her head. Why did a common gesture between you and her suddenly make her heart jump and yearn for more like never before?

You grabbed the items once she paid for them, and headed out of the store. You walked silently side by side through the street at your own calm pace as you snacked on your chosen food. 

Out of everything that Jinsoul tried to do to avoid getting more and more confused about her feelings towards you, her eyes insisting on landing over you did not help at all. The warm and cold lights of the melting snow and the lanterns rested like heavenly light over your face. She could swear time slowed down and her lungs forgot how to work correctly.

“Hey-” You started a conversation that you tried holding until an appropriate moment, your voice bringing Jinsoul back from her own trance. “What were you dreaming about in the car on the way here?”

“How do you know I was dreaming?” She squinted her eyes towards you. You couldn’t contain your smile at her pouty lips mouthing her question as her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Well, you were kind of twitching on your place, and mumbling stuff under your breath…”

“It was a weird dream to be honest.” Jinsoul hesitated, still not sure on what it meant or how to feel about it. “It looked a lot like a possible nightmare…”

“Really?” A displeased gasp was heard in your tone as you bolted your eyes away from her. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, cause…” Her eyes wandered around trying to find a good alternative to her actual dream, especially now that she was unsure how’d you take it if your name slipped out of her mouth after saying it looked more like a nightmare. So she went to her other best option, the first that came to her mind. “I dreamt that I was blonde again.”

A hard laugh escaped your mouth that made some people turn their heads at you, as your head shook at her response. You remember vividly those times, and you know she didn't enjoy some parts of it but not quite to classify it as a nightmare.

“You didn’t even look bad when you were blonde!” You launched back at her as you calmed down. “C’mon Jinsoul, you’re so pretty, everything suits you well.”

“Tell that to my scalp!” Jinsoul sneered back hoping that your laugh and her comment distract you from her red cheeks after you commented. “Even you said that you liked me better with dark hair!”

“And I do! I just thought... I heard you calling my name when you were dreaming and I was curious.” You sighed, your eyes capturing hers for a second. Jinsoul’s eyes avoided yours as they grew wider, the red on her cheeks intensifying. “But, I just misheard it in between your mumbles...”

“No, not at all!” She panicked, her hands fidgeting as she hid them in the sleeves of her long sweater. “Well, I mean, maybe-”

“Oh look!” You interrupted, your feet halting as your hand pointed at a stall beside you. “We’re finally here.”

You reached a clear glass door, your hand grabbing a cold metal handle that you pushed and let Jinsoul pass first into the lighted heat of the building. A little bell rang your entrances, as warmth hit your faces when you closed the door behind you, instantly making your coats useless. 

A waterfall fountain adorned a marbled wall on the other side of the room, plants climbing on both sides of it. A polished and wavy wooden counter sat in front of it, aromatic candles sitting on top of it whose flame danced in a soothing and amicable wave.

“Welcome, welcome! You can leave your coats on the hanger right beside you!” The lady behind the counter on the other side of the room greeted both of you in, waving gently. “Can I have the name of your reservation?”

“Of course, it’s Y/n Y/L/n, I made a reservation at 8.” You approached the counter after hanging both your coats, the lady searching for your name on the screen at her desk.

“Ah! Here it is.” She smiled as she read the information. “A Couple Package reservation for Jung Jinsoul and Y/n Y/L/n. Is that right?”

“It is!” You responded as you handed your credit card to the lady.

“C-Couple?” Jinsoul stuttered as her head tilted in curiosity.

“It was almost the same price as two separate reservations. But we get to use the Couple installations, a box of chocolates, and best of all...” You chuckled as you turned around, excited for the last benefit. “Matching slippers that we get to take home!”

“They have your initials embroidered!” The lady added to your enthusiasm as she handled your card back. 

“AND they have our initials embroidered!” You repeated even more excitedly as you nudged her arm playfully. “Your members say we always act like an old married couple anyways so why not take advantage of that?”

She laughed at your sparkling eyes and the slight bounce on your feet. She always loved your child-like spirit, mostly because she was just like you. You both made each other feel like it was okay to get excited at little or apparently insignificant things in life, like… matching embroidered slippers.

The woman nodded, signaling you both to follow her. She showed you the way to your changing rooms, but with each step, Jinsoul’s heart suddenly started ramping up.

She was sure not that kind of person, but she couldn’t deny that she was getting a bit mad with all of this. Friendship worth half a lifetime, unconditional. Nothing of this sort was out of the ordinary for any of you, the holding of hands, the intertwined arms, the subtle skin touches, changing clothes with the other around, daily messages. She was used to seeing your lemongrass scent, the sparkle in your eyes, your wide smile and singsong laugh. 

Why all of a sudden all those little gestures made her mind fly away and her heart jump in circles?

With her numbed and cloudy mind, she didn’t realize when you both were already laying down the massage beds until she felt a warm hand travel through her back with strength in its grip. Her eyes recognized her surroundings, calming down when they laid over your silhouette just parallel to hers. 

“You seem like a young couple,” One of the ladies preparing something on a table on the other side of the room asked, “How long have you been together?”

Both your cheeks harmonized in hues of red and pink, as you locked your eyes with each other, trying to find any word to answer to that.

“We’re not together!” Jinsoul spitted out. “We’re just friends… really good friends.”

“Really good friends?” The lady laughed as she repeated to herself, you chuckled as Jinsoul realized that emphasizing that phrase might have been a little too much. “I could have sworn... there’s such sincerity in your eyes, you look like a just married couple.”

“Eh, other friends say we sometimes act like an old married couple.” You giggled. “So I guess you aren’t that far from the truth.”

“Well, one can never know what the future holds.” The woman turned around from her table, a tray with hot towels and facial masks prepared, leaving it on a counter that separated you and Jinsoul. “Finishing the massage, I’ll proceed with your desired facials. Meanwhile, enjoy the massage. Don’t worry if you fall asleep in the process, the best thing you can do is relax.”

“Thank you!” You answered, as the woman bowed and exited the room. 

Jinsoul couldn’t help but repeat that entire conversation over in her head, but was brought over again to this reality when you extended your hand across the little gap that separated both. She grabbed back your hand, intertwining your fingers as you closed your eyes, willing to submit yourself to the relaxing atmosphere.

But Jinsoul refused to close hers. They didn’t want to leave the sweet image of your hand resting with hers, but she also feared that everytime she closed them she woke up seeing you in a whole different light, colors surrounding you that she was unsure that she wanted to explore any further.

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

A splash, deafening to her ears, Jinsoul opened her eyes to find herself floating in a black sea, again. Nothing about it felt cold or wet, but a warmth surrounded her body as she sank even further. Gray scaled, she looked at her own reflection on a mirror made of water below her, void of color or even depth for that matter. 

Jinsoul’s hand tried to reach in front of her, but she already knew there was nothing to touch, something to feel. Her skin was a pale shade of gray and her feet moving one behind the other created ripples in the air as she moved forward hoping to find the only one she knew that was here to see, to hear. 

“Y/n?” She whispered, but the dark nothing surrounding her amplified her quiet call with each echo. The sound bounced back to her ears as she hoped to find you in the endless void again.

“Jinsoul?” An echo far away responded to her, like a familiar song, making her head bolt up to where you appeared last time.

“Y/n!” 

A drop of water fell on Jinsoul’s cheek, running cold down her skin. Her finger carefully wiped it away, and raised so her eyes could analyze it. Color, the wet skin over her finger had color once again. She looked down to the water mirror, the route the drop had travelled down her cheek was colorful again.

“Jinsoul?” She heard again but closer this time, a little to close. 

“Y/n…” She gasped as you finally stepped out of the shadows, floating just above the water mirror below her. “Here you are.”

Your skin was void of color, only available to a gradient of light and dark grays, but she noticed a ring of light all around you pulsating in shades of blue, that illuminated enough so you could see each other, as if the rest of the void wasn’t there. Her breath halted as your hand cupped her cheek, the warmth of your skin roaming down to her neck. 

“I’m here.” You whispered as you got closer and closer to her, your hand not losing grip of her face. The rattling ideas in her brain urgently raced to her heart, accelerating its beats. She squinted her eyes, hoping that you didn’t realize how much they moved their focus from your eyes to your lips and from your lips to your eyes. 

But this time she decided not to stop the natural path of her instincts, letting herself get closer to you with each second. 

But a second drop of water came down over her, as it caressed it’s way down her face leaving a colorful path behind her like it’s sister before. She took a step back, startled. But then a third drop came down, now landing on your face. A fourth, a fifth, more and quicker landing on top of you and the void around you, uncovering behind them a complete and colorful path behind them.

She looked down, discovering that her gray gown only turned a deep dark blue as each drop decorated their way through. Your laugh echoed through the endless void, as your smile complemented your now colored, blushed cheeks and pastel blue gown. The drops started illuminating up the emptiness around, each of them turning into a star as they froze in space and shined with this cyan hue over them. 

Jinsoul’s eyes vaulted up to catch you running across the stars, raining all around you as you splashed your feet over the water mirror, now a path, a rainbow of hues of blue that reflected your radiance.

“Let’s go!” You signaled back to Jinsoul as you took off running in a direction by yourself.

“Y/n! Wait!” Jinsoul ran behind you, trying her best to reach out for you. Her hand only barely grazed yours as she tried to keep up with your pace.

“What are you waiting for then?” You shouted as you kept your feet dashing through the water, making your reflections almost unrecognizable in the ripples that you left on your path.

“I- I don’t know!” She yelled back, her hand only barely grazed yours as she tried to keep up with your pace. 

Where did you get your speed from to run away from her that quickly? She started losing speed as her legs gave up on her. Her feet halted as she raised her face to the sky, the raining stars softly showering her skin.

Violins and a piano in the distance accompanying the constant beating of her heart that acted as a drum to this scene that looked out of a painting. She let herself enjoy the sight for a second, enough for you to stop running away from her and come back to her.

“Is this what you want?” You giggled through your tired breath, holding your arms to the sky.

Her head tilted at the confusing question, shutting her eyes closed, letting her lungs catch back their breath, shaking her head clear of any mudding thought. But after opening her eyes, everything was still there.

The way you played with the rain of stars around you. The blue glow landing and perfecting your silhouette, as it cooled down your skin and painted your cheeks purple. It was only you in front of her, bearing that smile that wrinkles your eyes that she loved so much.

Maybe it clicked in her mind at that precise moment, but she wanted to be the reason for that smile someday.

“Yes…” She launched herself into your arms, holding you closely to her body. Close enough so she could feel your beating heart against hers. You tied your arms around her back, as her hand travelled to your chin and turned it towards her. Her lips urged on closing the gap left to reach yours, as she whispered back against them. “Yes, this is everything I want.”

“JINSOUL UNNIE!”

Jinsoul jumped on her own seat, her hands flying in self defense, hitting against the window beside the couch she was napping on. 

“AH!” She gasped at the impact, taking her hands back to her stomach where she curled around them.

“Told you it worked!” Hyejoo chuckled in the front seat now. 

“We’re almost there unnie,” Heejin was seated beside her on the back seat of the van, quickly packing her stuff up on her bag. “Finally home.”

A strong sigh escaped out of Jinsoul’s mouth as she threw her head back into the headrest, her hands rubbing her eyes as she was welcomed back into this reality.

“What were you dreaming about over there?” Sooyoung asked from the seat in front of her. 

“Oh c’mon!” She groaned as she grabbed her bag and scanned for items to clean up. “Why does everybody know when I’m dreaming things?”

“Because you talk in your sleep.” A chorus filled the van as Heejin, Sooyoung, Hyunjin and Hyejoo responded at the same time.

“I… I do?”

“Yep, and honestly it’s kind of cute sometimes.” Hyunjin turned around to face her, resting her chin on the back of the seat. “Other times it’s a little scary, depending on what your mumbling about”

“I- I was dreaming with Y/n.” Jinsoul sighed, quietly and hoping nobody really listened to her. 

The car filled with silence let her breathe for a second, as she gathered her stuff around. Her phone, earplugs, wallet-

Her eyes paused for a second as she opened the wallet up, resting over a polaroid picture of one of your escapades together to a theme park. A tender smile drew over her lips as she stared, only to be brought back by Sooyoung’s voice.

“When are you going to tell her?” Sooyoung had adopted the same pose as Hyunjin, Hyejoo’s face peeking from all the way up the front, and Heejin laying close beside her. All eyes over her made her cheeks light up like fire as she fumbled her words.

“I- I barely just accepted that I have a crush on her!” She defended herself as she shoved her wallet back in her bag. “There’s no need to rush things up.”

“Rush?” Hyejoo sneered as she turned around, facing back the front. “You call eating each other with the eyes for two years ‘rushing things up’?”

The girls in the car chuckled at her comment, but it only made Jinsoul pout as the thought sank further into her mind. The car arrived at the front of their dorm, just in time for this conversation to be forgotten. 

All the girls rushed out of the van, eager to finally be able to sleep for an entire night. But Jinsoul took her time, mostly because her mind wasn’t really into leaving the van but constantly reminding her of you and what she would do now that she was finally free and inevitable you would see each other again.

But a loud sound got her out of her cloudy confusion. A thunder rumbling through the skies as she walked her way to the front door. 

“But it’s just spring, why is it thundering?” Sooyoung asked, waiting for her as she held the door open. “Do you think it will rain?”

“I don’t think so.” Jinsoul answered plainly. 

Yves shrugged as she closed the door behind her, both of them walking the stairs up to their dorm floor. And as they opened the door, the sight behind it was different from any other day that you could imagine. 

The usual chaos one could imagine that a twelve person house could bare, was nowhere to be seen as every corner you encountered there was one girl just laying down on whatever surface they found comfortable enough to do so. A special sight only available at the end of a harsh and intensive promotion period.

“I’ll see if there’s something in the kitchen that we can eat,” Sooyoung told everyone as she left her bag on the floor beside Yeojin. “Or would you be alright with ordering something?”

“TAKEOUT!” A chorus of not less than seven girls filled the air, some not even on a visual range and probably already laying over their beds.

Sooyoung just nodded and walked her way to the kitchen, as Jinsoul threw her entire body on the couch beside Yerim. She got her phone out, leaving her bag on the floor. Turned it on to browse for a while until her eyes were heavy enough, only to realize she had unread messages from you.

‘You’ve done so good this comeback, I’m so proud of you. Last day of promotions! Hwaiting!’

‘Saw the broadcast, beautiful as always. Text me back when you get home, you’ve done great!’

She was ready to dial your number up when a sudden knock on the door was heard, making all the girls around raise their heads.

“Is anyone missing?” Vivi started counting the girls around, counting the ones she already knew that were in their bedrooms. 

“No, everyone’s here. We were the last van.” Jinsoul answered back.

“Maybe it’s a manager?” Jiwoo screamed from her bedroom, as the knocking sounded again.

“Is anybody going to get the door?” Haseul shouted from the kitchen.

“Fine, I’ll get it.” Jinsoul moaned as she got up from the couch. It was only enough for her to get close to the door when a familiar scent invaded her senses. Lemongrass.

She already knew who laid on the other side of the door, and still the image of your silhouette standing right in front of her as she opened the door surprised her. She stood there for a second, a second that felt like hours to her just staring at you. The beating on her heart speeding up, her cheeks blushing as for once she was thankful for not having taken all her makeup off.

“Hi!” You cheered up with your shoulders and usual smile. Raising up your hands, they were occupied by large plastic bags filled with containers full of food. “I figured neither you or the girls would have any energy left to cook anything, so I brought you this as a congratulating gift.”

“Y/n…” A swift whisper was the only thing that she could get out of her lips, her eyes scanning you up and down, until it hit her. “YOU ARE SOAKING WET!”

“...Yes.” You shrunk your arms as you lowered the bags of food, a little heavy to keep carrying them up. “I thought it wouldn't be such a big deal, it never rains in the first days of spring. I was cruelly proved wrong.”

“Please come in! Warm up!” She insisted. 

“No! Don’t worry about it, I just got out of work so I’m just passing by quickly on my way home.” You shook your head, chuckling at the whole situation. You noticed the heads of the rest of her members start popping up from behind her, curious at the scene. “I wouldn’t want you to take care of this right now, you all must be tired. I’ll just go back to the car for something...”

Jinsoul’s mind lit up a thousand ideas on it’s own, cornering her into making a decision. She turned around, to which the other girls quickly averted their gaze somewhere else.

“Hyejoo!” She called loudly.

“WhAT?” She snapped her head towards you two, sinking her body farther on the couch.

“Come here!”

“Unnieeeeee!” She whined, covering her face with her arms. “WHy ME?!”

“Do you want food or not?!” Jinsoul grabbed one of the bags and shaked it up almost like a prize to a well trained pet.

You chuckled at the exchange, not really surprised, since you hung out with them fairly often. A silent pause filled the air as you watched the girl on the far end of the hallway heavily raise her body from the couch.

“I’m coming!” She groaned. Hyejoo offered you a smile and a nod in her usual way of greeting as she took one bag on each hand, her tired eyes moving back and forth between you and Jinsoul. 

Sensing the tension in between both of you, she politely bowed at you and rushed back into the house, as Jinsoul grabbed a coat from the hanger on the side of the door and quickly put it on.

“Let’s go!” She gasped as she grabbed the nob behind her.

“What are you doing? You’re going to get soaked!” You tried holding her back, but hesitated into touching her to not wet her with your dripping clothes. “I just have to grab something from the car, bring it and I’m out, I swear”

“Well, maybe you want some company on the way down the stairs?” She shrugged as she crossed her arms over her chest, evading your eyes as she started to regret her ideas one by one. “My… company?”

Your cheeks reddened at the sight of a flustered Jinsoul in front of you, and with her eyes sparkling back at you, you could never deny you loved her company every second you could.

“S- Sure.” You stuttered, getting caught by surprise when she intertwined her arm with yours. “You’re going to get we-”

“It doesn’t matter.” She cut you up plainly. 

The rest of the way down the stairs was strangely quiet and quick. You wanted to ask her how everything went, maybe how you weren’t able to get her out of your mind for the last three weeks since you last saw each other. She was very serious and you thought it was because she was really tired. Totally understandable after a month and a half of promotions. 

But inside of her she was trying to build a courage that she didn’t even know she had in her. 

Opening the door to the main building, you managed to free yourself from her hold. Together you stood under the roof of the porch as you sighed, mentally preparing yourself to brace the rain once again. Uselessly, you raised the soaked hood on your jacket up to your head as you walked down the stairs as Jinsoul was already exploding with a thousand words to say.

“Y/n!” 

She shouted as you were already halfway, immediately regretting her decision when she saw you halting and turning, standing and waiting for her to keep talking right under the pouring rain.

“I- I like you!” She felt her body almost giving up under her when the words spluttered out of her mouth. Her hands were shaking as she waited for your response, but she could only see your eyes squinting back.

“What!?” You had barely listened to her words under the loud rain surrounding you, and of course it didn’t help that Jinsoul barely whispered them.

Jinsoul's eyes shut as she shook her head. Maybe later that night she would grow to regret what she was about to do, but it wasn’t everyday that she got an opportunity like the one in front of her. 

She stepped out of the porch, each step getting her closer and closer to you as she crossed her arms on top of her chest. But all she could do against the nerves rattling her body was to keep spitting words that just came into her mind.

“Look, I didn’t want to tell you this way. I didn’t even think that I was going to tell you today, soon or ever to be honest, but here we are.” She started. Rings of waves expanding away from her feet touching the surface of the crystal water, distorting her own image as she shook her head away from it. “I have been dreaming each and every night, every nap, and every second it’s you. You’re there and it’s something that makes me happy. It makes me wish that I didn’t have to wake up.”

“Jinsoul-”

“And one can only bear so much without wondering what it all means. Why do I count the hours of everyday just to be able to hear your voice through the phone or receive a text from you?” She was closing in on you, and the least of her worries right now was the rain pouring on top of her, she just wanted to get everything out of her mind. “But it’s your colors that bring me peace at night, they let me find my way through the dark… This doesn’t make any sense, why would you know what all of this means if I don’t?!”

Only then she dared look up at you, only to be met with a painting coming straight out of her dreams.

The drops illuminated the emptiness around, each of them turning into a star, reflecting the street light around as they froze in space and shined with this cyan hue over them. And there you were in the middle of it all, the way the rain of stars looked like it jumped around you. The blue glow landing and perfecting your silhouette, as it cooled down your skin and painted your cheeks purple. It was only you in front of her, bearing that smile that wrinkles your eyes that she loved so much.

“Why are you smiling at me?” She shrunk in her place, just hoping that a miracle happened and you weren't able to listen to everything she just splurged out of her mouth. “It was nothing, really-”

“Oh Jinsoul.” You chuckled, capturing her attention. She noticed a ring of light all around you pulsating in shades of blue, that illuminated enough so you could see each other, as if the rest of the void wasn’t there. Her breath halted as your hand cupped her cheek, the warmth of your skin roaming down to her neck. “Because I know what you’re talking about.”

“What?” She let her arms fall down to her side as layer behind layer started to fade from her soul, bringing her closer to you. “You understand?”

“Every word of it.” You whispered, a secret well kept between two souls that waited for each other mere inches apart. “I thought I was the only one that couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

“That means…”

“Jinsoul, I like you too. I have for a long time!” You giggled through your tired breath, holding your arms to the sky. “And I have dreamed that I told you this a hundred times already but still woke up and everything was exactly the same!”

“There’s a way to know if it is a dream or not…” She gasped, her mind clearing for the first time since this crush on you muddied her thoughts. The rattling ideas in her brain urgently raced to her heart, accelerating its beats. She squinted her eyes, hoping that you didn’t realize how much they moved their focus from your eyes to your lips and from your lips to your eyes. 

“And what is that?” 

“Because if this is a dream, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Jinsoul launched herself into your arms, her hands cupping your face as her lips urgently closed the gap on yours. Startled at first, you body tensed up taking a step back to counter her body weight over yours. But just as moved away from you, your arms hurried to her waist, bringing her back to you.

She was right that other night, your lips tasted like apple juice and peach, a sweet combination that she could never be tired of tasting for the rest of her life. Your skin was as soft and tender under her touch, with the tips of her fingers tingling like if they were gracing down a silk made rainbow. 

And your eyes, how she could stare at them forever. It was just for a second that you pulled apart for air, but it was just enough for her to notice all the variety of colored nebulas and stars that shined on them only for her.

How could she convince herself it wasn’t a dream? The cold wetness of the rain dripping down both your bodies, fighting with the warmth of your embrace, it was not comparable to the ghostly sensations that dreams offered her.

“You know-” You sighed, anything in the world unable to erase the smile off your face. “I think I will accept your offer of coming in and warming up.”

“Yeah,” She chuckled back, shyness returning into her face as she loosened her grip over you. “It doesn’t sound like a bad idea right now.”

You offered your hand to her, and she didn’t hesitate a second as she intertwined her fingers with yours. Not forgetting the last bag of food waiting on your car, you chuckled as you returned to the safe, warm and dry interior of her dorm. 

She could stop staring back at you, making sure you were still there by her side, and no one around tried to wake her up and away from in any way.

Because for once, her thoughts weren’t cloudy or cluttered, but bright and surrounded in a blue hue that always seemed to follow you around in the night. Maybe for the first time, Jinsoul was sure what her favorite color was.

[phoenixblack89]

Fera Ingris

Chapter 2: Fuck My Life

So I skipped Vatos. Couldn't get it to work at all the way I wanted it to but did get this finished. Next chapter will probably be out in 2 weeks. It's done but needs editing.

Anyhooo. Enjoy. If ya wanna be tagged so ya don't miss please message me or comment on this! Also up on a03.

Tags: @lilythemadqueen @writingdeadangel @boondoctorwho @fandomsaremykryponite @browneyes528 @darylsgirl

Daryl was pissed. Beyond pissed. The whole rescue Merle plan was nothing but a shit show from the start. First finding Merle's hand and no body attached to it. And no meds for the girl. Then Glenn being nabbed. Then the Vatos and that whole carry on. He was not in the best mood when they discovered the van had been stolen and they had to run back to camp. 

"Stupid Merle. Why didn't ya wait asshole?" Daryl grumbled to himself, panting as he followed the three in front of him and hoped he got back before something else bad happened as the sky began to darken. 

*

The walkers had somehow snuck into camp. Shrieks from the children, cries of pain and the vicious sounds of heads being bashed in or blowed out by bullets was all she could hear as she tore through the woods to help. She had gone out to check the snares she and Daryl had left further out in the woods early this afternoon and had found a fair few with small rabbits or birds in them, which she had slung from a rope hanging from her shoulder. Each step causing the critters to bash against her ribs, her two headed axe bashing painfully into her back. The screams and noise grew as she got closer. 

She shoved her bow over her shoulder and whipped out her axe and slowed her running. She came to a dead stop as the growls of eight walkers echoed loudly around her. She'd run straight into a group of the undead bastards without realising. 

"Fuck my life" She muttered as she started swinging her axe at the nearest walker, swirling it over her head. 

*

"Come on! Hurry!" Rick yelled from in front of Daryl, their ears being assaulted by the sounds of the camp being attacked. Daryl shouldered his crossbow and accepted the rifle from Glenn as they ran up the hill. The chaos in front of him made his blood race as he started shooting at everything in camp, taking care not to hit any one living. His eyes scanning continously for the young woman he had begun to enjoy spending time with, hunting and not. 

In what seemed to Daryl as hours, but was only 15 minutes, the camp had been cleared. 

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Rick thanked Shane for protecting his family as others grieved the loss of theirs. Daryl walked around camp quickly, eyes lingering on every corpse, his heart pounding his ribs in fear as he realised Phoenix was no where to be seen. 

"Shane!? Dale?! Where's Phoenix?! Ya see her anywhere!?" He demanded, storming up to the former police officer having checked every bloody body on the ground. Shane ran his hand over his head and shrugged his shoulders. 

"Nah man, last I saw her was this mornin' when I took over watch." Shane said quietly, his heart now worriedly gripped by fear for the Brit too. 

Jacqui slowly made her way over, hands shaking in shock still. 

"I saw her this afternoon, not long after we had to stop Jim. She said something about checking some snares or something. I wasn't paying much attention, I was busy. Maybe she's still out checking?" She said, grabbing hold of her crucifix around her neck in worry. 

Daryl grunted and began scanning the tree lines for his, possibly only, friend. He turned to speak to Rick about going to find her when a scream came from the woods. He glanced at Rick and took off in the direction of the woods. Rick, Shane, T-Dog and Glenn followed after him. 

*

5 down, 3 to go...

Phoenix thought her breath coming in short sharp gasps as she pivoted to face the next walker. Her axe gracefully span around the top of her head as she threw all her remaining strength into her swing. The sharp curve of the double blade head making cutting through flesh and bone like butter. She grunted as the head splattered into a waterfall of crimson and black. Her arms ached, her head was lightly throbbing with adrenaline and her energy was fading quicker and quicker. She span on her heels as growls grew around her once more. Another walker fell to her axe and sheer brutal anger. 

The last walker was formerly a large male, his stomach as wide as he was tall, making T-Dog and Shane look short; she tugged at the axe still inside the previous walker's skull but it wouldn't come. 

"Oh shit." She muttered, her fingers fumbling with the latch to separate her axe into 2 shorter and one handed weapons, the wound on her hand began to throb and pulse painfully. The walker got closer and she dropped her axe and slid to her knees, kicking out to knock the walker down. Unfortunately the beast's size worked against her and it fell onto her. She screamed as this was the first time in a long while she had been so close to one and without a weapon in her hand. 

Her hands quickly and harshly shoved the gnarled face and life ending teeth away from her body. Her arms felt like jelly holding the enormous weight off her. 

"You ugly fucker." She growled, arms already wobbling and shaking with effort. She needed to somehow roll the creature off her and get a hand free to pull her buck knife, her knife being painfully trapped between her thigh and the walker's massive stomach. She pulled one of her legs free and wrapped it around the waist of the heavy weight man and tried to flip them. It was no good. It was just too heavy for her slightly smaller frame to do. 

"Fuckkk" 

Her hands had begun to slip, her injured one burning fiercely and getting weaker faster, the wound beginning to ooze blood slowly. Her whole arm was burning, almost as if the flames were still licking along her skin, her chest ached from the weight, she could almost feel her ribs starting to crack as she struggled to breathe. She sighed and pushed with all her might. The teeth slowly getting closer and closer to her face as her vision started to swim towards the inky blackness. She turned her head and screwed her eyes up so she didn't have to see the disgusting pieces of rotten flesh trapped between its teeth, praying to a god she wasn't sure she still believed in that come the opening of her eyes she'd be reunited with her boys. 

A whoosh zipped through the air and the next second the full weight of the walker crashed down onto her far smaller and warmer body, pushing all the air out of her in a big gasp. She waited on baited breath for the feel of teeth taking a chunk out of her and it never came. She slowly opened one eye and realised the body on top of her had gone completely still. Footsteps near her had her twisting against the dead walker to face them, dark red-brown boots slowly came into sight as they walked closer and knelt down near her head. 

"Wha'd I tell ya 'bout comin' out 'ere on ya own?!" Daryl snarled down at her, before a half smile raised the corner of his lip with a small chuckle. She gave a short sharp laugh of her own before glaring at him.

"Ya cozy down there? Do ya need a moment alone wit' ya new beau?" 

"Screw you Dixon and get this fat fucker offer me!" 

Daryl smirked and stood up, using his foot to roll the walker off her. She slowly sat up, and took a huge gulp of air. Shane and Rick held their hands out to help her stand, she waved them away and stood. Her head throbbed and she swayed slightly to one side. Daryl put his hand on her arm to steady her and quietly regarded her. 

"You alright?" Glenn asked, his face pale as he looked around at the mess her frenzy had caused, blood splattered the trees and the ground, brain matter and bone fell in chunks on the tree trunks and the dry soil. She nodded at Glenn, giving Daryl a look and grabbing hold of her axe to tug it free. 

It refused to budge. 

Glenn, T-Dog and Shane began to make their way back towards camp. 

"Come on you sucker." She growled, grabbing the shaft of her axe with two hands and pulling. It finally flew free and she landed hard on her butt. Daryl barked out a laugh and shook his head. "Shut it Dixon!" She huffed and stormed ahead back to camp as the sun began to slowly rise over the treetop. 

"She's a fire ball that one. Might wanna watch yourself Daryl." Rick chuckled as the pair began to follow, Daryl gave him a look and raised his eyebrow in question. Rick shrugged and smiled slightly. "Just saying! Get too close to fire and you get burnt." 

Daryl ducked his head and smiled slightly to himself.

I wouldn't mind getting burnt by her, not at all he thought to himself, watching the girl's rear as she stormed in front of him. 

*

Phoenix stopped suddenly as camp came into her line of sight. 

So much blood and destruction. 

Carol, Sophia and Andrea were sobbing and clinging to their fallen loved ones. Tents were ablaze and being snuffed out by others. The Morales children clung to their mother and father as did Carl to Lori. Dale stood atop the RV on guard. 

"Oh fuck." 

Shane and the other members of camp were busy doing a headcount or putting the tents that were on fire out. She felt relieved Daryl had saved her once again but at what cost? How many more did they have to loose before everything stopped? Before the dead were actually dead and stayed that way? Until society and law and natural order was restored. Why would her god, a supposedly loving, kind god allow such a thing? Her heart felt heavy enough, this was such sheer cruelty and brutality. 

A hand clamped down on her shoulder and she jumped, her buck knife quickly leaving its sheath. Another grabbed the blade before it hit home and a grunt sounded behind her. 

"Stop tryin' t' gut me girl." Daryl hissed as he removed his hands from her. "Come on, we got grunt work t' do." He gave her a little nod and walked away. 

*

They'd worked through the morning to get some sort of order back into what was their safe little haven from the plague gripping the world. Sweat, blood and tears were falling to the ground with every step of every man and woman able to help with the clear up. Andrea laid her head bent low on her poor deceased sister's chest. Carol and Lori had settled the children down to sleep in the Grimes tent, Carol's being covered floor to roof in Ed's blood and other gory remains. 

What was left was being carried to the pile where Daryl and Phoenix were making sure they stayed dead, Daryl with a pick axe and Phoenix using her own custom made axe. Carol approaches the pair silently and almost immediately the pair stop their actions and watch her come to a slow halt. 

"I'll do it. He was my husband" her voice weak with the tremble of unshed tears, despite being an arse hole and abusive, Carol had loved Ed. 

The evidence of that being the little girl who slept soundly inside the Grimes tent despite the trauma of the night before. Daryl shares a quick glance at Phoenix, who watches almost cautiously and she gives a tiny almost unseen tilt of her head. Daryl handed Carol the axe he had been using and stands slightly back, closer to the other hunter and watches as Carol heaves the heavy weapon to her shoulders and with a cry throws it down into Ed's remains over and over again. 

The gore splattered around the former's head is almost a therapy for the small grey haired woman who had suffered so much at his hand. Carol is heaving in air as she stops and stands straight, wiping tears from her face as she silently hands Daryl the ax, as quickly as she came she leaves. 

Phoenix smiled bitterly and reached for the feet of Ed as Daryl took the ruined face under his arm, holding him by the shoulders. They carry him towards the fire where T-Dog and Glenn are burning the walkers bodies. Glenn looks up as they approach and stands. 

"No." He says quietly. Daryl and Phoenix drop Ed's body with matching grunts and wipe their arms across their faces.

"What?"

"We bury our dead." The Asian man says defiantly, pointing at Ed. Daryl raises his eyebrow and glares. 

"Don't matter. He ain't gonna feel it." Daryl huffs. 

"He's dead, don't matter what we do to the body. He's already burnin' in Hell, his fucking useless carcass should burn as well. Fucker deserves it!" Phoenix hisses, she agrees with Daryl. Who knows how long the virus or whatever it is that makes the dead rise would survive without a host. Last thing the world needs is it sitting in the ground and poisoning the land itself. 

"NO! We bury them. They're not monsters! We are people. People bury their dead. To honor them. If we don't... We might as well give up our humanity."  Glenn exclaims passionately, glancing around at the group, who had fallen silent and were watching the exchange. Phoenix glares down at the ground and walks away. Her head spinning and her hand throbbing again. 

Damn Merle, couldn't even get me some meds she thinks, her vision starting to grow blurrier by the second. She walks to her bike and sits down, leaning lightly against its dark green frame. Daryl joins her soon after. 

"Hey" 

She shields her eyes with her arm as the sun gives the older man a halo of light. "Hello angel" She smirks up at him and nods. 

"You okay?" He asked, shuffling from one foot to the other. A nervous habit she found quite funny as her mind thought of another she knew with the same habit. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair, it felt filthy and coated in grime and god knows what else. "Rick says we're gonna head t' the CDC."

"Hmm"

"I know we ain't the most... We ain't friends or anythin'" 

"Oh DD! Here's me thinking we were!" She laughed lightly, as he sat down on his haunches beside her. He gave a slight chuckle at her as she nudges his leg and he lands on his backside beside her. She gives him a small side smile and gets one in return.

"Yea maybe." He shuffles around anxious about what he's about to say next. "I ain't sure but thought... Maybe... If ya... If ya want... Ya could ride wit' me, in the truck." He chews his lip and waits for the rejection he's sure is coming. "'s okay if ya don't." 

"Actually, I think it might be for the best Dixon." His eyebrows shoot off into his hair at the quiet mummer he hears. "I ain't feeling too hot." She says as her head feels heavier and her eyes grow dimmer despite the bright light in front of her. She turns her head to the man beside her and he becomes a blur of shapes as she loses consciousness. Daryl quickly grabbing her before her head made contact with the ground and laying it across his lap, worried beyond anything, his fingers running over her arm gently as he chewed his lip to bleeding point. 

*

Groans fill the cab of the faded blue truck as she begins to stir. An arm is around her waist and is pulling her into the cab. 

"Wah?!" 

"Shh girlie. Let me get ya settled." Daryl says quietly, sitting her on the bench seat and putting the seat belt over her shoulder. "Ya passed out."

"Huh." She replies, feeling sleep call her backwards once again. "My bike... Tent..." 

"I got it."

She mumbles something that Daryl is sure sounded an awful lot like Murph before gently closing the door. He sighs and walks over to T-Dog. The large man looks up as he nears and nods. 

"She okay man?" Daryl nods, eyes darting to the RV where Jim lays dying from the bite wound. "Her hand is getting worse ain't it?" 

"Merle was gettin' 'er some meds. Didn't see any when y'all came back." 

"Don't worry man. We're gonna be at CDC soon. They'll have something they can give her."

"I ain't worried. She's a fighter. She faced worse and got through it." 

Both men are quiet for a while, Daryl remembering that awful day that earned the girl the huge cut along her eye and the fear she felt around everyone. "Gimme a hand wit' her stuff will ya?"

"Course man." 

The pair quickly gather the bags strapped to the back of her dirt bike and throw them into the rear of the cab along side her bow and axe. Daryl wonders why she kept the large duffel bags on the bike all the time and why it weighed so much but it wasn't his place to go through it so he ignored it and returned to her tent. He felt a touch guilty about being in her safe space while she wasn't with him, especially knowing he was about to touch her belongings. He grabbed the open duffel and began to pack it with the pile of clean clothes beside her bed roll. He blushed as some of it fell and a lacy purple bra and panties set fell onto the ground near his feet. 

Damn, ain't gonna be able t' look at her t' same, not that ya ain't been lookin' already he thought as he stared at the delicate items. He felt his cock twitch the longer he stared and quickly grabbed them and stuffed them into the bag. His cheeks still slightly red as T-Dog opened the flap. 

"You got another chain on your truck?" 

"Yea, let me just finish in here. Then we'll get her bike up beside Merle's" he ducked his head more to hide his embarrassed and slightly turned on face from the man, grabbing the lantern and boots from around him. Shoving them into the bag quickly, T-Dog entered and began to roll the blankets and sleeping bag up. The pair made quick work of packing Phoenix's tent up, even taking it down and rolling it up. It and her bags thrown into the back of the cab next to Daryl's own scant belongings. The bike proved to be easier moved than the pair thought, it sat perfectly in the small gap between the two walls of the truck bed and Merle's monstrous Triumph, secured down with a long metal chain that also held Merle's down. Daryl quickly checked nothing of his or the sleeping girl's had been left scattered about before turning to his own tent.

*

The group gathered near to the RV as they neared readiness to leave. Phoenix sat in Daryl's truck, quiet and dizzy, her head was hurting something awful and she could barely stay awake. She could see the group talking and saying goodbye to the Morales family but couldn't hear them. After a few minutes Daryl stormed up to the truck, climbed into the bed and russled around near Merle's bike before climbing in beside her. He put a hand gently on her shoulder holding out a bottle of water. She gave him a sleepy smile in return, her hand shaking as she took it. He held it steady as she took a sip. 

"Here."

He fished an orange prescription bottle in her direction, his face starting to heat up. She took the pills from him and balanced the water between her knees. Quickly reading the label she smiled. Painkillers. She struggled with the child proof lock on the cap for a few minutes before Daryl reached over and helped her. He slid 2 pills out and dropped them in her hand. 

"Don't tell the others about those. Don't want 'em comin' t' me asking fer meds fer a paper cut." He growled harshly. She nodded and swallowed the meds with a mouthful of water. Daryl looked on as she closed the bottle of water and her eyes. The truck moved slowly out of the quarry with the rest of the convoy, horns calling out as the Morales family went a different way.

*

That night, the convoy pulled into the side of a quiet wooded road and made plans. Phoenix dozed in the truck while others stood watch. Jim's moans coming quietly from inside the RV put everyone on edge. No one complained of their hunger but they all felt it. The children especially. Daryl stood in the truck bed, crossbow raised as his eyes scanned around. Occasionally kneeling down to peer through the rear window at the pale girl in his truck. He and Merle had both decided she was a Dixon, not by blood or marriage but by deed. She had the Dixon spirit and like hell was he gonna let her go. 

She's a fighter, baby brother but she needs us. She's our baby sis now, got it? We gotta protect 'er. Merle's voice said in his head as he turned to look at her once again. 

She's more to you than a sister Daryl, just admit it t' yaself he thought a small smile on his face as she hugged his winged vest closer to her chest. He'd given it to her as the late summer wind began to chill the inside of the truck. He sighed and stood once more, knowing even if he admitted his feelings he couldn't be with her. He wasn't good enough and she didn't see him that way. Even if she did, the scars would disgust her the second she saw them. She deserves someone who could be everything he wasn't. He was worthless and she was worth so much more. 

Don't mean ya can't look, baby brother. 

Daryl chuckled at that and looked once again to the girl, nodding to himself. 

Ain't no harm in lookin' he mused, looking forward to the girl waking up properly. 

*

The horn of the RV honked loudly in front of Daryl's truck and Phoenix raised her eyebrow in question. She felt slightly better after the sleep but still weak, she hopped out of the truck and felt her knees almost give out. She held on to the side of the truck slowly making her way to the rest of the group. Jim was laid against a tree a little bit up a bank at the side of the road and seemed to want to be left behind. His face was pale and sweaty, under his eyes darkened with sickness. 

Daryl came to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her up the bank to say goodbye. She sank to her knees and placed her hand on top of Jim's. 

"Hey. I can... If you want... I got a silencer. It'll be quick. I'll sent you on your way with my family prayer." She whispered to him, Daryl waiting at the bottom of the bank with Rick and Shane. Jim smiled tightly as another cramp ripped through him, he coughed up a little blood and Phoenix grimaced. 

"No. It's your corrupt we claim, remember?" He laughed, taking her hand in his as Phoenix's face dropped. 

How did he know? 

"How - ?" 

"I saw you. I was in Boston that day, he'd killed my cousin." He smiled slightly, gripping her hand. "I know why you didn't say anything... I'm glad you did it... And don't give up on this group, protect them, they need you. That's your new mission." He burst into a coughing fit and tears dropped down her face as she shuffled away.

She stood slowly and wobbled over to Daryl, he reached an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his chest. The only comfort he could offer. He felt awkward and uncomfortable but he was trying. He felt angry at Jim for causing her tears for a guilt inducing moment but he knew it was natural to seeing someone die. Rick offered Jim a gun which he declined and Jim met Daryl's eyes, Daryl nodded with a grim smile and lead the girl back to his truck. He helped her climb in and secured the seat belt around her as she silently cried. He gave her shoulder a squeeze before getting into the driver's seat and following after the RV. The girl passing out soon after. 

*

Phoenix was thankful when her head started to clear and her energy returned as the huge Atlanta skyline began to grow closer and closer. Daryl chewed his thumb, another nervous habit it seemed he shared with the man she'd once known. He glanced at her as the sky began to darken. 

"Feel better?" 

 "Yea, sorry for going dark on you back there." She whispered, sitting up straighter to glance through the rear window at her bike. "Thanks for taking care of my stuff. Appreciate it." 

She smiled at him as the RV started slowing in front of them. The cars all slowed down and stopped beside a road. In front of them was the CDC, its huge glass exterior mostly undamaged except for the expected gore. The barricades and army trucks had been coated with bodies of the fallen soldiers. 

She raised herself to her knees and leaned over the seat, grabbing her bow and quiver and throwing them over her shoulder. She climbed out and glanced around as the group began to move towards the building. Rick reached the door and shook it.

Daryl and Phoenix stood side by side, glancing at the shadows that darkened with every minute as the sun began to go down. She pointed towards the barricade as walkers began to approach. She nocked an arrow and let it fly, killing the walker with ease. Her blood pounding as adrenaline kicked it. She blocked the noise of the group out and focused on protecting them. Daryl also shooting at the walkers as the group got louder and louder. Three more walkers fell to her arrows when she felt Daryl tug her arm and try to pull her away. 

She spun suddenly as Rick yelled. 

"You're killing us! You're killing us!" 

Shane began pulling Rick away as a groan of the shutters sounded loudly in the dead city. A blinding light causing the whole group to stop and stare.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER *** NEXT

[wlntrsldler]

unrequited (draco malfoy/ cedric diggory series)

PROMPT: You and Cedric grew up together. After the tragedy of the Triwizard Tournament, you’re left feeling empty without your best friend. Draco Malfoy steps into the picture. Will the feelings be reciprocated? Or will it be unrequited?

WARNINGS: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, angst, fluff, sadness???

PAIRING: draco malfoy x reader and cedric diggory x reader; hufflepuff reader

WC: 2.8K+

UNREQUITED MASTERLIST

-

PART 7

Everyone around the table discussed their holiday plans. You managed to slip out of the Hufflepuff table and you were sitting comfortably with the Gryffindors. Hermione and Harry gushed about missing Mrs. Weasley and her positive energy. They talked about last Christmas and how festive the Burrow was. 

“It’s more festive than Hogwarts, if you could believe that!” Fred would exclaim every year. You knew it was probably true. You felt like the ambience of the Weasley home made the holidays feel even better than the expensive decorations of Hogwarts. That’s what the holidays are about, anyway: family, celebration, comfort. 

This year was a bit different. Usually you’d spend your holidays with Cedric and his father. You’d wake up on Christmas day with Cedric silently reading at the foot of your bed- he always woke up at the first sign of light during the holidays. He’d have two mugs of hot chocolate, topped with crushed candy canes and whipped cream. He’d never touch his, no matter how tempted he was to do so, just so he could take his first sip with you. You’d exchange presents in your room, savoring your alone time before Mr. Diggory would barge into your room with Christmas pancakes and you three would happily skip downstairs where you celebrated for the day. Then, when the snow fell, you’d make them watch Muggle holiday movies and Cedric would question exactly why Muggles always made their lives more difficult than needed. 

But now you don’t have Cedric and it would be awkward to spend it with his father. It wasn’t the same. You decided to stay in school for the holidays, not really knowing where else to go. 

Fred waved his hands in front of your face, “Helloooo, Y/N?”

“Yes, Fred?” 

“We asked what you’re doing for the holidays.” Hermione asked, taking a sip of her drink. 

You shrugged, picking at the food on your plate, “I’m staying here for the holidays. I usually spend it with the Diggory’s but well, y’know..”

“Nonsense! You can spend it with us!” George grinned.

“Mother and father wouldn’t mind.” Fred added on. 

“I wouldn’t want to intrude.” You blushed, a sheepish look on your face. 

“Hermione and Harry intrude every year.” Ron chuckled, wincing in pain when Hermione hit his arm. “If you’d let me finish, Merlin, Hermione. You’ve got a heavy hand. Anyway, we love their intrusion every year. You should come.” 

“Are you sure?” You asked, making sure that they weren’t just saying it out of pity. 

“Well, of course!” Fred said. “There’s nothing like a Weasley Christmas.” 

You nodded, happy that you didn’t have to spend it alone. It would be a bit odd this year not having Cedric beside you. But things were changing and you knew you had to adapt. Things were never going to be the same. Things were different now. 

Speaking of different- things between you and Draco changed ever since the day you saw him with Myrtle. You two didn’t speak on it, but deep down you both knew something about each other that neither of you expected to learn. There’s this energy between you and Draco that you couldn’t put your finger on. Every time he walked past you and your friends, he’d offer a warm smile and a small wave of acknowledgement. He stopped teasing the Trio and even snickered at some of the twins’ jokes at times, but only when nobody but you was paying attention to him. He’d greet you when he sits behind you in Potions, not scared to ask you for help when he needs it. Sometimes you even catch him staring in the Great Hall. You’ve gotten used to his lingering eyes. 

That’s why it felt like there was something missing when you searched for the blond in the Great Hall during dinner and found him nowhere. Usually he’d be sitting beside Crabbe and Goyle, picking at his food and offering patient laughs at Crabbe’s jokes. Tonight, however, he was missing from his usual spot, his absence obviously taking a toll on the Slytherin table. You searched for him, twisting and turning your body to see if he decided to sit somewhere else for once. Draco was nowhere to be found. 

George finished his joke and the entire table roared in laughter, bringing you back to your present conversations. Ron had to clasp a hand over his mouth to stop him from spitting out his drink, finding his brothers’ jokes so hilarious. Hermione sat beside you, her head thrown back in laughter, directly parallel from Harry, who hid his face in the crease of his elbow. Fred sat across from you, eyebrows furrowing once he noticed that you weren’t present in the conversation. 

“You alright there, Y/N?” He whispered, trying not to cause attention. The rest of the group continued on, oblivious to your conversation. 

“I’m fine.” You lied, giving him a tight-lipped smile. “Just tired.” 

You knew Fred didn’t buy it. He knew you too well but he nodded anyway and cleared his throat, “You should go up and rest, Y/N.”

You thanked him silently, knowing that the rest of the group heard it. You didn’t have to explain yourself to the rest of them now that Fred has your back. You said your goodbye’s and was met with farewells as you walked out of the Great Hall. You didn’t even know where you’re heading. Hell, you didn’t even know if Draco was still on school grounds. You didn’t have classes with him today. 

You turned the corner, seeing a few people scattered all over the place. None of them sported the blond hair that you’re searching for. You saw a few Slytherin robes tucked in the crevices of the castle, kissing noises echoing in the space. You grimaced and stayed away from them. 

“Are you looking for Draco?”

You turned your head like a deer caught in headlights. Your eyes fell on Luna, who sat on the floor with a book on her lap. Her eyes twinkled under the lights, her voice soft and pure. You replied, “Am I that obvious?” 

“No,” She reassured. “I’m just observant.” 

You blushed, unable to form a coherent sentence in response. “Yeah, uhm… have you seen him?”

“Yes I have. He went towards the Astronomy Tower after Charms.” She stood up, dusting off her robe as she pointed to the direction of the tower. “I haven’t seen him pass by since then.”

You nodded, not knowing what to say back. “Alright. Well, thank you, Luna.”

You took a few steps towards the direction of the Tower, mentally cursing yourself for staring at Draco so obviously. Luna called for you one more time before you disappeared from her vision. You turned and she smiled at you, “Don’t wait too long this time around.” 

Her words rung in your head. What did she mean by that? The whole time to the tower, you pondered what her words meant. You were so focused on thought that you almost missed the entrance to the staircase, having to walk backwards to get to the right destination. You walked up, trying to be as quiet as possible, just in case there was a teacher there ready to get you in trouble. 

Once you reached the top, you felt a sense of relief wash over you when you saw the head of blond you’ve been searching for, leaning against the barricade, the same way he was the first time you saw him up here. There were tear stains on his cheeks, eyes bloodshot red. His lips were bright pink, quivering ever so slightly. You didn’t know if it was because of the cold or because of his emotions. Or maybe both. 

“Draco?” You called, emerging from the stairs. 

Draco faced you, eyes widening when he realized you found him. He quickly wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve, subconsciously tugging on it as he approached you towards the middle of the room. “Y/N, what are you doing here?”

“You weren’t there at dinner.” You stated simply. You watched him fidget with his robe, uncomfortable that you found him during one of his most vulnerable moments. “I got a little worried.” 

“I’m fine.” He dismissed, sniffling. He bit his bottom lip, walking back to where he first stood. “You’re like the fifth person to walk up here. I guess it’s not as secret as I thought.” 

You let out a chuckle, following his footsteps and planting yourself beside him. You watched him hold back tears, nostrils flaring to keep his tears at bay. “Are you okay, Draco?”

He looked at you, a lopsided smile making its way to his lips. His eyes, however, were screaming, begging for help. It was a miserable sight. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Out of habit, you placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. He tensed under your touch, freezing as if your touch burned him. Draco looked at your hand on his body as if he’s never been touched like this before. You rubbed your thumb against his robe, watching as he relaxed under your touch. He let out a breath of relief, closing his eyes for a brief second. 

“It’s okay if you’re not okay.” 

“Okay.” 

A comfortable silence fell upon the both of you. You recalled your hand after a few moments, not missing the way he followed it, missing the comfort it provided him already. Draco stared off into the skyline, eyes counting the stars that were bright enough to see. He counted them like sheep to help him calm down. You stared at him, admiring his features.

Draco was really handsome, you knew that, but this was the first time you got to take a good look at him. The curve of his nose, his cupid’s bow, his eyes- beautiful in color but sorrowful in story- and his cheeks, blushed pink in it’s high points. His jawline was sharp but he didn’t look intimidating like this. He looked peaceful. It almost didn’t look like the Draco Malfoy everyone knew of. 

“You loved him, didn’t you?” He asked after a while of silence. He cocked his head to the side, waiting for you to answer. “Cedric, I mean. You loved him?”

You pursed your lips, not knowing where this conversation was going. “Yes.”

“Do you still love him?”

“Yes, I do.” You responded, not missing a beat. “I think a part of me always will.” 

“Hm.” 

“Why do you ask?” You wondered out loud, inching closer to him. 

“I was just curious.” Draco paused before continuing his sentence. “Did you ever tell him?”

“Not exactly,” You confessed, picking at your nails. “One of my biggest regrets, actually. But I like to think he knew that I did.” 

“I don’t think he knew.” 

“What makes you say that?” You inquired, truly curious as to why Draco would say that. As far as you knew, he didn’t know you or Cedric in that way. It was odd that he was speaking about it like he knew the story. You didn’t mind- it just took you by surprise.

“I think-” He paused again, rephrasing his sentence. “I know that if he knew how you felt, you two would’ve been together.” Draco bit his lip. “I don’t think anyone who’s in love with you who knew you felt the same way, would hide their affections. They would scream it from the top of their lungs.” 

“Oh.” You didn’t know what to say. Was that a compliment? You didn’t know. You couldn’t be too sure. The way he worded things was trivial. Although, maybe that was the point. Keep his mysterious side going, per se, rather than coming right out and saying what he is he wants to say, leaving you to guess his meaning. 

Draco cleared his throat, “Any holiday plans?” 

“I’m spending it with the Weasleys.” 

You half-expected him to grimace at the Weasley name, but he let his lips quirk up a bit. He looked down, shuffling his feet. Draco could only imagine how lively their household must be. He knew the Weasley’s were a neverending bloodline and they often brought over friends to celebrate the holidays with them. He was sure it was a clear contrast from the holidays at the Malfoy Manor- quiet, reserved, tense. Nothing like what the holidays should feel like. 

“That’s lovely.” 

You nudged him with your elbow, “And yourself?”

“I’m going home.” His voice sounded strained, as if the word “home” was painful to say. Then he chuckled bitterly, sarcasm dripping from his tongue. “You never want to miss a holiday at Malfoy Manor.” 

You gulped, “I’m sorry, Draco.” 

Before he could reply, you were interrupted by the sounds of kisses and giggling. Two Ravenclaws made their way up the stairs, oblivious that you and Draco were already there. They giggled under each other’s touch, ties being undone, and sexual tension running high. 

“Bloody hell,” Draco cursed, annoyance in his voice. “They always come up here.”

You didn’t even think before you grabbed his hand. In surprise, you looked up at him and his face mirrored yours. His hands were cold, too cold, almost. He stared at your intertwined fingers, breath hitched in his throat. He could feel your heat radiating off of your hand. He’s never held anyone’s hand before. 

“Come,” You pulled him along, trying to ignore the tingling sensation. “I know a better place.” 

You let his hand go once you two were half-way down the stairs. When your back was facing him, he stared at his hand, unable to wipe the smile on his face. You held his hand. Nobody ever does that. You took a glance at him, blushing when you saw the goofy grin on his face as he stared at his hand. Draco never smiles. He has a beautiful smile. 

You led him to the secret passageway, looking around to make sure there was nobody around to see you. You instructed him to stay back as you opened it, as you’ve done a million times before. 

“Is this where you were going the night I caught you?” 

“Yeah,” You confessed, shutting the door behind you once he entered. “Me and Cedric used to come down through here when we just needed to get away.” 

“Where does it lead you?” 

“The middle of the meadows, a bit outside of the castle grounds.” You said, taking a right turn. You knew this place like the back of your hand. “It’s private. Peaceful.” 

The rest of the time, you two were quiet until you got to your destination. You sighed in content, plopping down on the field, a look of serenity etched on your face. He joined you, a few meters away, sitting criss-crossed. Draco watched you get comfortable, as if you’ve done this all your life. 

“I didn’t know there was a way here that’s different from the main road.” He said. “I thought I saw you here a few days ago but I figured it wasn’t you since I didn’t see you come down.” 

“You were here.” You mumbled, moving closer to him. “I thought I saw you. What were you doing out here?”

“My father needed to see me.” He looked down, clearing his throat to change the subject. “I didn’t know you knew Myrtle.” 

“I could say the same about you.”

“Yeah,” He chuckled. “I don’t usually tell people that.” 

“Of course, the Slytherin Prince has a reputation to uphold.” 

“You know it.” He joked but his tone told you something else. He sounded tired, almost as if he didn’t want to be that anymore. “I have a question.”

“Mhm?”

“Don’t hex me, alright?”

You froze a bit, knowing what question will come next, but you let him ask it anyway. “No promises.” 

“What house are you supposed to be in?” 

“I think you know.” 

“Why didn’t you want to be a Slytherin?”

You sighed, staring at the sky for a second before answering. “My father was a Slytherin. He came from a pure blood family but then he met my mother. She’s a Muggle and it caused problems when they fell in love. He was disowned from his family. He made me take my mother’s maiden name, fearing for my life. He made us hide. It was one of my first memories. They killed him and found my mother. I was left with the Diggory’s so I was safe the night she died. I lived with my mother’s sister in the Muggle world but spent my summers with Cedric so I stayed in touch with my Wizard side.”

“Why did they want him dead?”

“He didn’t want to serve the Dark Lord. He-”

“Stop talking.” Draco quickly cut you off, suddenly getting up from his spot. “Stop.” 

“What?”

“Don’t…” He breathed out, already making his way back to the passageway. “Don’t tell me that.”

“Draco?”

“Y/N.” He said sternly. “I said stop talking. The less I know the better.” 

You kept your mouth shut the rest of the night, the tension thick in the air.

-

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[zuffer-weird-girl]

Hello, I like it when you write angst, I would like to request a scenario. Chisaki and angel have a daughter, so one day while Chisaki works, his wife and daughter decide to go out because it is a good day. When his wife and daughter go back home, both dead, the author of his death was a leader of a rival yakuza.

Angsty yes, yes, YESSSSSSSS

Warnings: mentions of rape, beating, blood. Carefull. Really. Dont read this was one I detailed.

I blame Law and Order for this.

"Papa!" To anyone else whose saw Chisaki pn that specific moment, they would think that he had an annoyed look towards the little girl running after him. But not even his wife could spot the smile and the fondness at the girl whose attached to his leg.

"Hey brat. Your mother got tired of you already?" He asked in a nonchantly tone but ruffled the dark brow hair his daughter had, messing the pigtails she was wearing as she scolded.

"Papa no! My hair!" She whined as she, with a pout on her lips, took off the hair bows. Giggling at when Chisaki messed her hair with two of his gloved hands now.

"Mama!" She squealed your name out loud while giggling, going to you and being picked up as she showed her tongue to her father who's wonky arched one eyebrow at her childishness.

"Cant anyone of you take a break on getting onto each other's nerves?" You giggled as Yua mumbled in a pout that if her dad attacked then she would do the same.

"You cant complain since she got your attitude." He sighed as if it wa a bother, but you knew exactly how much your husband held pure love and affection towards that little smart little girl.

That's what her name was about...binding love and affection. Chisaki himself chose the name after Yua was born.

"Did you told tell daddy what we are doing today?" You put Yua down as she gasped.

"Girls day!!!" She extended her arms open as Kai only raised an eyebrow again.

"We will go shopping, just that." You giggled "Yua needs some new clothes anyway, and she was begging me to take her to enjoy some new strawberry flavored ice cream or something." You sighed. "Wanna come with us honey?"

"No. Papa cant go, is only girls night mama." Yua spoke nonchantly as you gasped preparing to lecture her but Chisaki beated you on that.

"Can't deny that I was wounded by this brat words but I have work to do anyways." He sighed with crossed arms and closed eyes, opening them a bit when he felt his daughter hug his legs and tugging on his jacket.

"I'm sowwy papa..." her golden eyes locked with his as he sighed and crouched down to flip her forehead, one which she learned that was one of the most affectionate things her father was able to do.

"After lunch I guess you both will be going out then?" He asked with a grunt when he got up as you nodded.

"Nemoto agreed to leave us on the shopping and pick up us both later."

"I will call uncle Nemoto right now." Nefore you or your husband could say something, Yua ran before tripping and falling on the ground... Mumbling insults towards the "Bad dirty floor" before walking away.

"She got my attitude but the rest is all "kai chisaki energy" on my opinion." You giggled as Kai chuffed.

"Wouldn't it be my daughter if she hadn't something from me. At least she knows the importance of cleaning."

"Sure. Threw a fit when Rappa dropped chips on the floor, and I thought she was going to do the same thing as you do with the poor guy."

"... That's my daughter." You laughed at the bit of pride he carried on the sentence as he chuckled and accompanied you to lunch.

.

.

.

"Yua." He called "Come here."

The said girl come in one blink of a eye, asking cutely what was it.

"There." He crouched down to show a a flower she hadn't know of.

"What flower is that Papa?"

"Is a lilie." He twirled the flower on his gloved fingers with boredoom "I gave once a rose to your mother, and now I am giving you this one simply because represents purity of the soul, innocence and intelligence. It is said, therefore, that nothing better than a lily to tell a woman that she is ideal and superior to all others.... So I am giving this one to you." He put the flower on a little box of glass and closed it, using his quirk to prevent close and pressed against the flower to not decay.

"You and your mother are above of all things and people on the world for me." He smirked at the adoration on her little golden eyes as she jumped on him to give him a hug.

"I knew it you loved us!" She squealed when he pinched her to get off of him.

"Go with your mother already you brat." He ruffled her hair with a nonchantly look as Yua stormes off "Hey put that flower on your room dont carry it everywhere you go!"

Soon you entered his office to give him your good byes and wishes of a good day. Begrudily he allowed to a simple kiss, not ever admiring how he usually craved for those as he wished a good day for you as well... jumping on a pile of work and waiting for the hour both of his girls would be back.

.

.

.

"Slow down pumpkin!" You giggled as you walked hand on hand with Yua... well, actually you were being dragged by the little girl.

"The ice cream stand will close mama if we slow down." She looked up at you with the same look Chisaki gave to you when you asked "stupid things" as he said.

"Fine fine." You picked her up with a huff before nuzzling your nose agaisnt her, making her giggle "Straberey flavor huh?"

"Yep!" She nodded "Just like daddy!"

You smiled at sign as she talked politely with the man whose was selling the ice cream.

"My my." You yelped and twirled around, scaring your daughter accidentaly without wanting "Isn't this a pretty sign my boys?"

A man with a tuxedo was surrounded by younger males as you brought your daughter closer to you as she wrapped her arms around your neck, sensing that this was not a start of a good talk.

"Is not everyday we get to see Overhaul's plaything and a failed abortion walking around." You growles at them as Yua clinged to you tighter.

"If you wouldn't mind sir. We are doing nothing to annoy you or your minor gang. So excuse me and let me and my Yua alone, will you?" You give your back to then with a huff, thanking the man and handing the ice cream to your daughter, whose was playing with the little molded flower she had just been gifted by her father.

The man took his cigarette out of his mouth with a huff. The other males staring at him expectantly before he chuckled.

"Get them."

.

.

.

"No master Overhaul. They didn't come back yet."

"Sorry man. Hadn't see them all day."

"Didn't saw (Y/n)-sama neither Yua-chan all day sir."

"I'm sorry master but (Y/n)-sama didn't called me back."

He was almost going crazy. Your phone went straight to the mail. Nemoto hadn't gotten a message for him to pick you up and Yua... Heavens what the hell happened with his wife and girl?

"Chisaki stay calm my boy. Maybe they just are enjoying some time between mother and daughter." Pops tried to calm his sucessor down, trying his nest to not freak out as well at his daughter in law and granddaughter dissapearing.

"(Y/n) is not one to turn off her phone Pops." He got up abruptly and picked his jacket and tossing over his shoulder "I will go look for then, call me if anything old man."

"Will do my boy. If anything I will send some of the guys to look after these two."

With one nod he got out, not caring if it was starting to rain...

.

.

.

"We searched the whole place Chisaki they're not here." Chrono pointed out regretfully as Kai checked his phone at each two minutes.

"If not here then where would these two would have gotten..?" He mumbled under hsi breath while walking. His phone buzzed on hsi pocket and hsi heart skipped a beat at the thought of finally being you to tell him you were okay, that Yua was okay, to hear his little blgirl chip in the phone to tell him about the walk like she usually did despites his scoldings to not interrupt his mother.

Although when he took off the phone of his pocket there was only two messages. One of Mimic and one of Pops.

Mimic

Dont come here dude... for your sake.

Pops

Kid... please come back home.

What the hell happened...?

.

.

.

The moment his car was turning on the street he braked brutally when he saw police cars parked in front of Shie Hassaikai.

"FUCK THAT BITCH KNOCKED ME WHAT WAS THAT K ... Kai ..?" when Chrono recovered from the fright of the friar he was able to see the face of his childhood friend, pale as a ghost.

Not only police cars but he had a car that he would never think of seeing in his life ... a funeral card.

He accidentaly overhauled the door of the car. Ignoring the calls of the cops and hurting one that got in his process where he was walking...

He then saw a black send toilet loaded on a table and another but much smaller ... Pops arrived at him but what he said did not make sense ... he barely knew what to do or look until he saw a little arm outside bag ... dropping something very familiar to him.

The flower he picked up. The lily he gave to his daughter ...

He let out a scary scream that even scared the police after he accidentally overhauled the guard's arm that was preventing him from passing

When he used his quirk to open the two bags and his golden eyes widened on the almost unrecognizable faces of his wife and daughter.

They broke your nose ... you was stabbed and he wanted to vomit when he heard from a coroner that you were raped ... while his poor daughter had her body burned and beaten ... also with evidence of rape.

"NO!" he cried and screamed. an act of despair when using the overhaul to at least try but the guards caught him just when he was going to use touching the dead body of his child and wife.

"LEAVE ME YOUR DISCRAFTS IS MY DAUGHTER AND MY WIFE THERE FOR GOD'S SAKE FUCK-!" He cried as Pops almost begged him to calm down while the coroners took the bodies to the funeral van and closed the doors.

The screams and cries echoing of Overhaul were able to even leave each policeman, hero dying the death of a mother and child.

.

.

.

He was sitted with his head in his hands, eyes still wide open as Pops talked with the officer.

"We will do our best to discover whose were responsible for-"

"WHAT FOR SINCE NONE OF YOU DO SHIT ON YOUR LIFES?!" he punched the wall behind him as he glared daggers at the young hero.

"Forgive my-"

"NO. DONT "forgive my son" BULLSHIT POPS! I WILL FIND MYSELF THE RESPONSIBLES AND THEY WILL FUCKING PAY FOR EVEN TOUCHING ONE FINGER ON MY WIFE! MY DAUGHTER! MY FAMILY!"

Nd with that he stormed out of the room...

.

.

.

He stood on a pile of blood soaked floor with bodies around him... the fluid of the bastards dripping from his hands and face... he panted tiredly as he kicked with enough force, to send the mafia boss's head flying to the wall of the place.

He brought his hands to see the mess he had made... sobs got stuck on his throat. Flashbacks of his daughter and wife's smiles and laughter.

His throat was sore... yet he didn't cared anymore when he shouted until he had no voice anymore...

[destiniesfic]

132 Hours, Chapter 10

It is not better in the morning.

Previous

Read chapter 10 on AO3 or read below (but be warned, there’s mature content in this one):

Once again, it’s hard to sleep. I dream of kissing Cardan, who is actually Locke, and I am wearing Taryn’s pink prom dress. And that’s the tamest of them; I have more graphic nightmares that I won’t recount here, except to say that they are awful. Every time I wake up I am either too hot or too cold. I eventually decide I am most comfortable with one leg pushed outside of the blankets and fall into a light doze.

About two hours into my botched attempt at sleeping, I awaken to some odd noises and realize that Cardan is also awake. A moment later, I realize he must think I am still asleep, because when I look over at him there can be no other explanation for what he is doing.

As before, he is in slightly sharper focus than everything else in the room. I thought I’d find him lying down, but he is sitting up with his back against the wall, and his head is bowed forward. He is definitely trying to be quiet, but it is very clear to me from his weird breathing and the sound of skin on skin and the movement of his hand what is going on.

I shouldn’t watch. I know I shouldn’t. But I woke up turned on my side toward him and I can’t turn over or he might realize I’m awake. I can’t even imagine what would happen then. Would he stop? Would he come over? Would I invite him over? I don’t know which possibility terrifies me more.

His breathing grows more labored and he brings his free hand up to his mouth to muffle the sounds that fall out of it. I hate the way my heartbeat skips at every one, the way every muscle in my body clenches with want, with need. I stay quiet, though, watching with hungry curiosity as he curls over himself and makes a strangled sound, almost but not entirely swallowed up by his palm. His shoulders shake.

When it’s over—and I am marveling at how I just watched him jerk off—he sighs, a long, exhausted sigh that somehow really endears him to me. I want to crawl over to him and nuzzle at his neck. I want to drape my body over his body so we can keep each other warm. I want to lick his hand clean, a thought that I recoil from even as I have it. That can’t possibly taste good, and yet—

“Ah, shit,” he whispers. He’s looking down at his hand, and my delusional omega brain wonders if I should go offer to lick it. But then he pulls off one of his already dirty socks and uses that. He got a shower today, but being stuck in a dirty room the size of my stepmother’s walk-in closet negates that fast. Honestly, after being stuck down here for days, I’m not sure we’ll ever be clean again.

Cardan’s head falls back against the wall. His clean hand grabs for something at his side, and when he presses it to his face, I realize it’s my sweatshirt. He exhales again, and it must be my imagination, but it sounds suspiciously like my name. He takes a few, deep breaths, then puts it back down and curls up on his side, using it as a pillow.

I feel like I have been holding my breath this entire time, but I keep holding it a little longer, just in case. There is a pulsing, demanding heat in me, concentrated between my thighs, but, as I always do, I push it to the side. I curl my knees to my chest, and hope it will be better in the morning.

---

It is not better in the morning.

When I open my eyes, it is to the migraine that threatened me yesterday finally breaking, like someone’s jammed a railroad spike into my left eye. The fever is roaring, too, and I pull my leg back inside the blankets and wrap myself up tight, but my shivering doesn’t stop. My muscles have acquired a dull ache that makes me think they’d be bruised if I could peel my skin back and look.

I think I half-expected to find that Cardan had crawled on top of me in his sleep. Then I would wake up, then he would do it, and it would be an awkward thing to work around while kidnapped but at least the worst of my symptoms would abate. But Cardan is still by his corner where I’d seen him fall asleep last night, except now he’s curled up in a ball around my sweatshirt. So there would be no morning hump session, which is good, because I am not yet at the point where that seems more alluring than scary, awkward, intimidating.

My mouth is dry, and I turn over to reach for the water bottle, but it is empty. When had it emptied? Did I empty it?

“Cardan,” I whisper. That’s all it takes to jolt him out of sleep. He sits up, and rubs his eyes, which then widen when he looks at me so I must look really terrible.

“Shit,” he says again, which brings back echoes of him saying it in the night, which just makes my entire body seize up because he’d been jerking off—over me? or over the situation?—and there was an increasingly urgent part of my brain wondering why he’d had his dick in his hand when he could have put it in me. And then, ow, a cramp on top of everything else. As if everything else weren’t enough.

I paw for the pills the Bomb left me and swallow them dry, hoping for some relief from the headache, even though it won’t be immediate. Then I start to push up to my hands and knees.

“No, no,” says Cardan, shoving out a hand but not coming any closer. “No, you just— just wait, I’ll get them. I’ll get you more water.”

“I can do it,” I insist, but it’s taken so much effort just to get this far up and I’m trembling holding myself in place.

“Jude, you look—” He trails off and shakes his head. It must really be that bad. I want to tell him he doesn’t look much better. The circles under Cardan’s eyes have deepened, and he’s already sweating so much that his curls cling to his forehead. But he just sets his mouth in a line and says, “Let me do it.”

In almost any other circumstance I would hate being bossed around by him, but I just flop onto my belly and groan, “Fine.”

Cardan, however, is wired. He must feel as jagged and sleep-deprived as I do, but I can see the extra jittery energy in his every step. I did make that joke about thrusting, but what happens when you box an alpha in rut in a basement with no outlet? Where does that energy go?

Apparently into his fist, because when he pounds on the door it’s so loud that I nearly jump off the mattress. My head throbs. “Hey!” he calls. “Jude needs water!”

There is no answer for a solid thirty seconds. When Cardan glances at me, I am frowning. “They’re usually right outside,” I say, and my stomach plummets at the thought that we’ve been locked in here and just left with no food or water.

“They’re coming,” Cardan replies, probably to reassure himself. He bangs on the door again, this time with even more urgency. “Hey!”

A few seconds later the door opens, and it is not the Bomb standing there, but the Ghost, dressed in black, his face an inscrutable mask. “Alright, I heard you.”

Cardan takes a half-step back from the door, toward me. I pull the blankets tighter around myself and flatten my back against the wall. This was the outcome we had worried about. Everything Cardan had said and done yesterday was to keep our captors out, and especially to keep the Ghost away from me.

“You need to leave,” Cardan snarls, his hands balling into fists at his sides. I am surprised at the ferocity in his voice. I’ve seen him angry. I’ve seen him hurt people with a shove or a cruel word. I have never seen him like this.

But the Ghost is unimpressed. Probably because if it came down to a fight between the two of them, he would definitely win, even though Cardan has more muscle. “You can relax,” the Ghost says. “I’m a beta.”

Cardan blinks, and so do I. But then his eyes narrow. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

The Ghost sighs. “Ask your girlfriend if I smell like anything. Her receptors are on overdrive. Even maskers wouldn’t help.”

I expect Cardan to protest that I’m not his girlfriend, and I’m about to open my mouth to say he isn’t my boyfriend, when he looks at me and asks, softly, “Jude?”

The urge to deny anything is knocked right out of me, and I inhale, concentrating. It’s difficult to get anything beyond Cardan’s scent and mine, both of which hang heavy in the stagnant air, but I do pick out something. I look up at Cardan. “Just hand soap. He smells like hand soap.”

Cardan looks skeptical.

“I’m less of a danger to her than you are in this state,” the Ghost says. “I can help her out of the room. Let me.”

In this state. He has to know, then. Uneasily, Cardan moves aside to let the Ghost into the room, tracking him as he walks over and crouches at my side. The Ghost presses a cool hand to my forehead while looking at my sweaty, tangled hair.

“Why didn’t you say you’re a beta?” I ask, shivering.

“Wasn’t relevant. When did you last take medicine?”

“A few minutes ago. What about the Roach and the Bomb?”

“Do you introduce yourself to people by telling them you’re an omega?” It’s a rhetorical question, because he then says, “We have to get you into the shower. I’ll help you up.”

I nod. I know what I look like and what I smell like, and I am not so proud that I won’t accept his help.

“Hey,” Cardan begins, when the Ghost reaches out to put an arm around my shoulder, but I give him a look and he doesn’t say anything else, although the set of his jaw tells me he’s unhappy. He crosses his arms.

“Cardan,” the Ghost says, “can you go turn the water on for her? The old heater takes a while to get started. Make it warm to start, not hot. She can turn it up if she needs to.”

“Right,” Cardan says, and over the Ghost’s shoulder I see him nod and leave.

“He listened to you,” I marvel as the Ghost peels the blankets from my body and helps me to my feet. I should feel more self-conscious that I’m wearing only a tank top and underwear and my thighs are definitely crusty with residue, but he isn’t making a big deal of it, so neither am I. Besides, between my shaky legs and my bad ankle, I am a little distracted by the effort of not toppling over.

“Alphas. Temperamental, but they like to feel like they’re doing something.” It seems like a joke, but he doesn’t smile when he says it. He supports my weight easily, and with his help I hobble out of the room.

“You really don’t smell like much,” I inform him. “It’s weird.”

“I’m used to it.”

“Right.” Mentally, I kick myself. And the Ghost doesn’t say anything else, so I don’t either.

As he helps me across the little room, I am very conscious of my body pressed against his and his arm around my shoulder. My hormonal brain, ecstatic that I am being touched, is swimming, trying to tell me I am attracted to him. Am I attracted to him? I mean, I think he’s handsome, objectively. Should I have sex with the Ghost? I probably shouldn’t have sex with the Ghost.

But, of course, those images are provided to me unbidden because the omega part of me is ecstatic that I am willing to actually entertain my horniness. What if the Ghost helped me into the shower and he stayed there with me? And Cardan also stayed? And then what? My rational brain scolds. I don’t know anything about the logistics of having a threesome in a shower. It seems like an easy way to get more injured than I already am.

And while having sex with the Ghost would be simpler from an emotional standpoint because I barely know him, he is a beta, so it would not actually solve any of my current, heat-related problems. Also, Cardan would be sad.

Do I care that Cardan would be sad? That’s an uncomfortable thought.

“Oh, thank god,” I say, when we finally reach the bathroom and I see Cardan pacing back and forth in the little hallway and hear the shower stream hitting the old yellow tile in the bathroom. I can’t wait to be clean. I can’t wait for these heat-induced intrusive thoughts to go away either, but unfortunately that’ll take a little longer.

“Do you need any help getting undressed?” the Ghost asks, in a tone so dispassionate that even my omega hindbrain wilts at how obviously uninterested he is.

“I think I can manage,” I say, mostly because I can, but also because Cardan looks like he’s on the verge of tearing the Ghost’s throat out, and I still think the Ghost would win that fight but I’m suddenly not sure. We’ll all be glad when this is over.

So I limp into the bathroom, close and lock the door behind me, and tear off my sweat-soaked tank top and my underwear. Instead of standing in the shower, I grab the soap and sit right down, not caring if the floor is gross. I nearly start crying when the water hits my skin, and am almost surprised it doesn’t start steaming around me. It feels cool, so I turn it up a little until I’m comfortable. Then I begin scrubbing myself all over.

It takes a long time before I feel clean. My body still reacts to the lingering traces of Cardan’s scent that cling to my skin and hair. But I discover that someone’s stocked the shower with a set of floral shampoo and conditioner that claims to be “scent-dampening.” Small text on the back advises that they “may have diminished effect during periods of heat or rut,” but I pour a good third of the bottles out into my hands and wash and condition my hair, detangling it with my fingers. I wash my pubic hair, too, just in case it’ll help.

When I step out of the shower, feeling much better, I eye my gross clothes and dread putting them back on. But on the closed toilet, neatly folded, someone has left me an alternative: one of those loose maxi dresses you can find hanging on a rack in the back of a Walgreens, for cheap. I pull it over my head; it’s olive green, and too long, but it fits okay otherwise. There are also some soft black shorts, which I put on under the dress. There’s no replacement for my underwear, so I wash it in the sink, wringing it out as best I can, and leave it to hang dry on the towel bar.

When I step out, Cardan, who has now taken to pacing the main area with his head bowed sulkily forward, perks up. “Hey,” he says. “You look… wow, a lot better. Your scent’s— you’re better.” His nose wrinkles. “The shampoo’s a little weird, though.”

“Not a fan of lavender?”

“It just doesn’t really…” He gestures vaguely. “...like, go with you. It’s the opposite of what you are.”

I limp over to an empty chair and ease myself into it. Because I am so tired that my filter is totally worn away, I ask, “What do I smell like to you, anyway?”

“It’s…” He stuffs his hands in his pockets and fidgets. I notice his feet are still bare, and nearly blush, remembering what had happened to his sock. “It’s hard to explain. I mean, I probably smell like a lot of things at once to you, too, right?”

I nod. “But if you had to choose,” I press, and brace myself, trying to anticipate the worst thing he could say. Methane gas, rotten fish, a dump?

“Cinnamon, I guess,” Cardan admits.

“What?” I sit forward in my chair. “You hate the smell of cinnamon?”

“No, I.” He looks flustered, but tries to channel it back into haughty and irritable. “Don’t be stupid. I’m going to go shower.”

“But—” I begin, perplexed, but Cardan has already disappeared.

The Ghost, who had been leaning silently against the wall, pushes off of it to approach me. “I should change your bandages,” he says, crouching down to expect them. I open my mouth, but he anticipates me and looks up, adding, “I know you have questions, but I’m only going through this once. Better wait until Cardan gets back.”

I press my lips into a thin line. I can be patient when it’s important, but I am feeling frayed right now. As he is re-wrapping my leg, I blurt out, “How do you know what to do if you’re a beta?”

“What, with your leg?”

“No, with—” I look down at him and find him raising his eyebrows. He had been joking. I sit back in my chair, pouting.

“My dad was an omega,” he explains. “My mom was an alpha. I saw all sides of it growing up, even if I didn’t go through it. Three days every few months I’d be on my own.”

“Was that hard?”

“It was what it was.” He gives me another look. “Now wait.”

I scowl at him. “Can I have a mandarin?”

Maybe happy not to be talking, he gets up to get one from a bag slumped on top of the mini-fridge. I catch it when he tosses it to me, and alternate between picking at it and taking sips from a fresh water bottle until Cardan emerges from the shower, damp and cleansed of sweat. He sits down across from me, and I scrunch up my nose. Lavender doesn’t really suit him either.

“I told Jude I’d only go through this once,” says the Ghost, who seems happier to remain standing. “But I think I can guess your first question. Yes, we all knew what was going on. Pretty much from the get-go. We didn’t say anything because you guys were being cagey for some reason, but we figured we could get you the supplies you needed anyway, no harm done. I only said something because I’m the only one here, and Cardan wasn’t going to give me access otherwise.”

Cardan shifts. I ask, “Why are you the only one here?”

The Ghost blinks at me. That wasn’t the follow-up he was expecting. “The Bomb and the Roach were called away.” He shrugs. “Might be good news, might be bad. Hard to say. They figured I could handle things alone while you were in heat. It’s not like either of you are in a state to go anywhere.”

“So, what, you’re all betas?” Cardan asks, cutting me off before I can follow up.

“Yes.”

He frowns. “We thought you were using maskers.”

“It wasn’t a bad assumption,” the Ghost says. “People in our line of work often do, so we can’t be traced by scent. Betas make good spies, too. Any profession that requires stealth.”

I hadn’t thought about that, but it makes sense. “So were you recruited because you were a beta, or…” My stomach sinks as I consider another possibility. “You were all, like, born… nobody made you this way, right?”

The Ghost hesitates, then says, “I was, yes. The others’ stories aren’t mine to tell.”

Cardan gawps at me. “You’re thinking they were… what, de-designated? Why? To make them better at… crime?”

I shudder. Forcible de-designations were categorized as human rights violations by the United Nations in the early 1970s after certain unethical human experiments came to light. Sure, there are de-designation therapies out there for people whose designations cause extreme dysphoria or health complications, but they take months. The forcible de-designations are quick, and brutal, and painful, and if the subject survives the physical complications, they might not survive the psychological.

“I hope not,” I say, quietly, telling myself that my discomfort is brought around by the idea of anyone suffering such a painful ordeal, not because I like our abductors. I change the subject. “But you were recruited?”

“Yes.”

Man of few words. I hug my arms around my stomach. “Must be nice.”

“The job opportunities or being a beta?”

“Not having to deal with…” I peel one hand away from my abdomen and gesture vaguely.

“No, I don’t envy that.” The Ghost looks between us. “Although I do sometimes wonder what I’m missing out on.”

I glance at Cardan, who, to my surprise, actually looks angry. “If you had fresh clothes for Jude the whole time, why didn’t you give them to her?” he demands. “Why didn’t anybody stay with her? She was stuck in her gross clothes and she was alone, all day.”

Again, the Ghost looks slightly taken aback, although he smooths his face into his usual inscrutable mask in an instant. “The Bomb got these for her yesterday, but she was curled up in her nest and we didn’t know if she’d want to move or be bothered.”

“My nest?” I frown. “No, that’s not right. I don’t have a—”

“It’s a sad nest, but you did pile all the bedding in the room up in one corner.”

“No, that wasn’t—I mean, I didn’t—” I look at Cardan in horror, as he is the one who put all the blankets and pillows on me, but he is looking away from me. I shake my head, and some wet hair falls into my face. “It’s okay that I was alone. I think it was better. Don’t worry about it.”

I feel the Ghost watching me closely, and shift in my seat. “It’s not shameful, what’s happening to you,” he says at last. “Plenty of people go through it all the time.”

“Not you,” I retort.

“Maybe not, but I’ve been around long enough and seen enough to know there are upsides to being an omega.”

“Oh, yeah?” I ask. “Like what?”

The Ghost’s eyebrows shoot up. “You want me to tell you?”

“Yeah.” I glance at Cardan, who’s slouching in his chair and pretending to ignore both of us. “Tell me how my life doesn’t totally suck right now.”

He looks at me, then at Cardan, then says, “I guess I don’t have anything better to do.”

Next

[california-raccoon]

eye’s on the sparrow

He just stares at her, like he’d been wishing for his mom but she appeared instead. This belief - in wishing, in divine intervention, in fate - is probably the reason why he chooses to believe in her. BLEACH / AU / ICHIRUKI • [← PART 1 ○ PART 2: A study of Rukia Kuchiki] 

III.

Of all the things Rukia considers herself as, fortunate is not one of them. Though the echoes of fortune haunt everything she sees and touches, she considers she’d rather do without it all. When she looks in the mirror, she recognizes herself, but it’s in a vague way. She knows what she looks like, but she doesn’t actually know who she is.

It isn’t that she’s ungrateful for what she has.

Her parents love her as much as any daughter; her childhood with them is filled with memories of picnics in the park, trips to museums… the annual cherry blossom festival where she’d walk down the rows of trees, warmth on her face and always two hands to hold.

They have always been kind, giving, and extremely passionate about their work. It seeps into her blood, as if they were related, to work twice as hard, to shine twice as bright. Rukia wears her last name like a medal she’s won and lets it define her completely.

Her father is her pride. He works tirelessly at the Kuchiki enterprises, recently inheriting the company from their now-retired Uncle. She learns importance of proper etiquette and strategy from him. Her mother is her heart, working at a non-profit that finds shelter for the homeless. Rukia used to ask her why she worked, not really in need of anything given their status, but her mom just ruffles her hair, and tells her there’s more to life than money. Rukia understands, because what else had she ever wanted besides the two of them?

Adjusting the hem on her black dress with a tug, she takes one last look at herself before leaving her room.

She is thirteen when she attends her mother’s funeral.

Her mother looks asleep in the coffin, make-up caked on, her giving her an artificial glow like she’s just sleeping. Rukia thinks it’s a pointless gesture, but she appreciates it anyway. She’d like the last look of Hisana not to be the pale image she used to visit in the hospital to say goodbye. The cancer came quickly, too late when they found out. They’ve already been grieving for months.

The event is small and intimate, mostly filled with family and friends. Her grandparents and cousins hug her and keep her soft, reminding her of everything her mother was. When they share their stories of Hisana, they reveal sides of her mother that she’d never known: when she and her friends got lost traveling around Japan during their last high school summer, her first big win gaining a successful client at the office, one of her first dates with Byakuya retold by her best friend. She was adventurous, determined and loved fiercely, they say; she will be missed. Rukia cries. It’s the first time she’s cried since she’d been adopted.

Her dad takes it the worst. After the funeral he floats around like his gravity’s been taken from him, no longer tethered to Earth. To counter this, he chains himself to his desk, focusing on his work to keep himself grounded. She comes home from school to an empty house.

If this is the cost of having a family, Rukia thinks, she isn’t sure it was worth the price. The loss she feels in her chest is too heavy; six years of happiness ending so abruptly that no fortunate person could ever experience.

So Rukia lets herself float. She skips classes and spends the day in arcades, in parks, talking to homeless people and stalking cats.  

It takes her back to another time, hazy infinite summers sneaking out of the orphanage and playing by the river. It gives her the idea.

On a fair winter morning, Rukia takes a train to Karakura. The ride itself doesn’t take too long, and she hides her school uniform with her coat so as not to seem suspicious.

Walking around the streets, the town is quiet and serene. It feels like a dream. The buildings don’t seem as tall as they used to, the distance of things having shrunk between her steps. The river flows beside her at a constant ebb that floods her with nostalgia.

When she reaches the hill, she takes a moment to take it all in. Overgrown foliage and forest trees surround the Torii, weathered and dulled by time. It welcomes her like the arms of the birth mother she never met, but she ignores them in favor of the off-beaten path to the side of it, leading to the gate of a traditional-style house.

The laughter she hears from the children stops her cold on her feet. Rukia hides behind the gate and stands there, watching. The boys are running, all pranks and belly laughs with one another and the girls are gathering the toys to fight back at them. They were playing house when the boys had usurped the game with a declaration of war. There’s one kid, a little too scrawny and too short, who joins in the fight anyway, scrappy and unwavering.

She watches till she realizes her cheeks are wet, tears coming undone at the sight of it all, guilty for everything she’s built up in her head. These kids are tenacious, hoping for a better life that’s out of their control as foolhardy as it is. She was once that child, until fortune smiled upon her and gave her everything she wanted. Who was she to refuse it now when it was all she had asked for?

Rukia’s family may be broken, but it doesn’t mean she can’t try to mend what she has, to be grateful. Her mother was everything to her - to them - and she doesn’t regret anything about her life with her. She thinks of her mother, her ferocity for living, and keeps the spirit close to her heart.

Stepping away from the orphanage, she walks back to the station with renewed energy. The town itself seems to come alive with her. It’s the late afternoon and there are kids playing by the river, others biking past her in their school uniforms.

She deep in thought when a glint of orange across the street that catches her eye. She knows him, she realizes. He looks a little menacing, with a crinkle between his brows and a frown that’s permanently taken residence on his face. The look doesn’t suit him, too angry for someone so young. She doesn’t think she’d recognize him if it wasn’t for his hair. It has to be him though, right?

Rukia thinks she should say something. Hey. Hi. It’s been too long. Didn’t we used to write to each other? …it’s been years. Do you even remember me? The thoughts spill into her head all at once and jumble into a pit in her stomach.

What should she say? What would he think?

She stops walking and settles for a polite wave and a firm “Hello” deciding not to yell across the street. Panic calcifies in her chest when she can’t remember his name.

In the end, he doesn’t notice her. He’s got his earbuds on and when he’s closer she swears she can hear him humming a fast tune. They cross each other on the street with little fanfare.

The moment it’s over, Rukia just laughs, the sound foreign as it escapes her lips. She thinks herself silly for even trying.

Rukia’s mind wanders as she watches the landscape from the train windows morph from open fields back to the compact buildings she’s familiar with. She wonders what happened to him. She wonders if she’s changed as much as him.

-

Back home, she cooks a dinner big enough for two and waits for her dad to come home. He finally arrives two hours past his usual office hours. If he’s shocked by her gesture, its marginally expressed. The stovetop ticks to a lively fire as she reheats the food while he hangs his coat in the foyer. She’s laid the dishes out onto the table into a traditional setting she knows he’d appreciate.

“We can’t do this to her,” Rukia breaks the silence during the meal, fire in her words. “She would hate what you’ve become.”

“She’d hate what you’ve become too, skipping classes all the time.” He responds with ice, eyes low. “Don’t think I didn’t know. Your school’s called me every day this week.”

“You’re right and I’m sorry, but—” She grimaces, gesturing a slight bow to apologize.

“It’s hard to lose someone, isn’t it?” He says softly. “I don’t blame you for taking some time for yourself, but tell me next time… I know your mom usually handled these sort of things better, but…”

Rukia’s eyes are wide, her heart gutted at seeing her dad this way.

“I’ll make a deal with you. No more skipping classes but you have to come home for dinner.”

“I can’t help the office has been busy lately—“

“No excuses.” Rukia interrupts, strengthening her resolve, but her voice cracks. “I hate coming home to this empty house every day.”

There’s no response from him then, but his brows lift slightly in an expression she’s not used to.

“I visited the orphanage today.” Rukia says, the implication unfolding before him. She looks at him and his brows are still raised. “I just - I just wanted to see… to remember that time. I’m grateful for everything you’ve both done and given me, but.”

She takes a breath. There’s no fire in her now, just the calmness of knowing. “I forgot what it was like. Not to have parents. Or anyone. I don’t want to lose it again.”

The chopsticks clink against the porcelain of her dad’s bowl as he puts it down. He looks at her with a warmth that she’s never seen from him.

“I’m sorry… You have a deal.”

They don’t shake on the agreement and neither really speak much after the talk, but she feels the shift in him after dinner. Over the weekend they buy a frame and candles and set up a shrine by the dinner table. They buy flowers every week for Hisana. It’s not a lot, but they’re trying, and it’s enough.

Still, sometimes, she’ll take a train every once in a while back to Karakura.