#maybe i want to be close to someone and clothes make even the tightest embrace feel not close enough

[unityrain24]

wish people could be normal about naked intimacy that is not sex or sexual whatsoever

[robinofinashiro]

request from anonymous: I was wondering if you could do a NSFW reinerxreader fic where he gets back from Marley and sees how much the reader has changed (for the better) and falls in love with her all over again (let's just say they had a crush on each other since they were kids) hehehe

request status: CLOSED 

NOTE: i’m so sorry but NSFW reqs are off now. i didn’t feel confident in the writing so i took it off from an option but i hope i gave the rest of the imagine some justice. 

pairing: reiner braun x fem! reader

when signing up for the Marley Warrior Program, you didn’t sign yourself up for it. you felt as though you didn’t have what it took to become a warrior or make it through the training so you didn’t even bother to sign yourself up. 

however, you were a honorary Marleyan through one of your parents. Pieck and Reiner were some of the friends you had when they signed themselves up for the program. Reiner was your closest friend throughout your childhood so when you heard that he was picked to inherit the Armored Titan, you felt a bit bittersweet about it. 

you knew what the implications were when kids chose to be warriors. they only had so many years to live before the titan powers essentially killed them. they would be gone for YEARS at a time and have the possibility of not returning back home. 

the announcement of the warriors finally returning home from Paradis was news ringing throughout the city. the heroic effort from Gabi Braun was the latest thing being talked about as it finally gave all warriors and the candidates a chance to come home. 

“mother, I’ll be back, I’m going to watch everyone welcome them back,” you told her. she nodded, giving you a smile knowing that the only person you wanted to see back was Reiner. 

the adults talked amongst themselves when the two of you were kids about how you two were perfect for each other. you were attached to the hip when he wasn’t with Bertholdt and the day before he left to Paradis was a day you wouldn’t forget. 

the two of you were under a tree, Reiner speaking about how nervous he had became over the course of the last few days. leaving his mom, you, and missing life in general were thoughts running through his head. you had no idea what to do or say considering you weren’t in the position to even give him advice. 

the night was already crawling in when Reiner had offered to walk you back home. you were holding onto his arm a bit tightly as you knew this would be the last time you’d see him for a few years. 

you reached your home, giving Reiner a tight hug before whispering to him that he’d be okay. once you pulled away, you could see conflict inside of Reiner’s head before he grabbed you by the shoulders and basically smashing your lips with his. 

after Reiner pulled away, you couldn’t help but laugh. you knew Reiner was the last person to know anything about kissing anyone. Reiner internally freaked out, thinking what he did was wrong. 

“Reiner, relax,” you whispered before grabbing him by the hand and pulling him towards you. you cupped his cheek softly with your hand and returned the kiss back but a lot more gently. Reiner sighed in relief, letting you take the lead.

once you finally pulled away, you looked at him in the eye seriously. 

“come back to me alive, Reiner.” 

he gulped nervously and nodded before giving you a quick hug and running back towards his home. 

you wore the clothes you thought would be the most eye appealing to Reiner. you hadn’t seen him in years, the two of you fully grown adults by now and you honestly had no idea if Reiner would even care to see you anymore. 

all those years in Paradis must’ve changed him as a person. being surrounded by them probably made him a stonewall and who knew, maybe you were just some after thought to him now. 

you walked to where everyone was meeting the warriors and candidates. you stood next to a couple awaiting their kid as the doors finally opened and you felt your heart started to race seeing everyone sitting in the back of the horses. 

“exciting right?” the woman said happily. you nodded, “waiting for someone in specific?” she asked. 

you nodded, taking the photo of you and Reiner from the back pocket of your skirt. 

“Vice Chief Braun was a close friend of mine from childhood.” 

her eyes nodded seeing the photo, “wow,” was all she managed to say before screams erupted even louder as the horses that held Pieck, Porco, Colt Reiner, Gabi, and a few others finally entered. 

you clapped softly, trying not to draw too much attention to yourself as you laughed at the way Gabi was celebrating for herself. 

Reiner scanned the crowd, hoping to see his mom when his movements came to a halt. his eyes landed on you. he was at a stuck for words. you were beautiful to say the least. you were now a bit taller. grew into your figure a bit more and although he hadn’t spoken to you, a part of his heart ached hoping that within those years he was gone, you hadn’t found someone else. 

Reiner knew it was a bit ridiculous to bank on that hope. he was gone for years and you were at home, probably gaining an education, meeting entirely new people and probably having people fall in love with you left and right but regardless, he still hoped that the feelings you had for him as a kid were still there all these years later. 

you gave yourself a few minutes, deciding not to bother Reiner’s reunion with his mom and his close family. you had went to a nearby food stall for tea to keep yourself occupied.

“hi, can I order one medium tea please?” the man nodded, before turning quickly to make your tea. you tapped on the wood, anxiously waiting for your tea before deciding to see if it was okay to see Reiner, “here ya go,” the man said handing you the cup.

you reached into your bag for the money before you heard someone clear his throat. you turned around, wondering who it was that made that rude noise. 

“I’ll pay for her.” 

the man quickly discarded the charge, telling Reiner it was no charge for you if you were with him. Reiner nodded before the two moved so the next people in line could order. 

“Vice Chief Braun.”

you had no idea what else to say. the two of you remained looking at each other for a while. finally, you let the best of you crawl up and embrace him in one of the tightest hugs you had ever did. 

Reiner sighed, hugging back instantly, accidentally making your tea fall on the ground, spilling everywhere. the tea was your last thought as you hugged Reiner even tighter when you felt a few tears drop onto your button up shirt. 

“I can’t believe you’re finally back,” you whispered to him, “you’ve grown so much Vice Chief Braun.” 

he shook his head no, making you confused. 

“it’s Reiner to you. it’s always been Reiner.” 

you laughed, “of course Reiner,” you giggled. Reiner sighed, feeling a sense of normalcy in your voice and laugh, “I’m glad you still waited all these years for me,” Reiner whispered. 

you looked at him in the eyes, seeing the teary gaze still in his eyes. 

“when I told you to come back alive, that was my promise that I’d wait for you.” 

Reiner nodded, instantly feeling the love he felt for you as kid rush back to you. the idea that you waited all these years for him and promised him and yourself that you wouldn’t bat an eye at another man until he returned was more than Reiner could ask for. 

this time, Reiner cupped your cheek, a bit harsher than he intended and kissed you. you felt yourself yelp at the gesture before relaxing into the kiss. the kiss from back then felt like child’s play in comparison to now. 

this kiss was blood, sweat, and tears in the making. Reiner was a lot more confident now compared to how he was back then as his arms instantly snaked around your waist to deepen it. your arms went around his neck, feeling Reiner’s tongue enter your mouth. 

truth be told, you felt a bit weirded out to be so open with the kiss you were having but eventually, you heard Reiner’s cousin, Gabi scream for him. you pulled away from the kiss, Reiner now a bit sad that it had to be cut off. 

“Reiner, your mom is looking for you! she wants you to know that dinner is going to be ready in an hour!” 

she looked too Reiner before looking to you and smiling. 

“you’re Reiner’s girlfriend, right? I like you!”

you were a bit taken back but nevertheless, you smiled and thanked her as she ran back to her friends and family. 

“you’ll come to dinner, right?” he asked, “I’m not finished with you just yet.” 

you could help but laughed, “of course. I became friends with your mom while you were gone so it shouldn’t be too weird,” you joked as Reiner locked his hand with yours before heading back to your place to reintroduce himself to your mom and siblings. 

[cowboyjen68]

Recently I’ve been debating getting top surgery. I know that some butches get top surgery and seem happy with the results but I’ve also met some who grew out of their discomfort with time. So I guess I’m debating if I should wait to see if maybe the discomfort around my chest will ease with age or if I should look into getting top surgery. The ones I’ve talked to also had this discomfort about their breast growing during puberty but they said after some time it decreased but for mines it seems like a problem that hasn’t gone away.

I am so sorry for the delay, seems work and side gigs are taking up a lot of my time lately. 

I can only speak from my experience with my body and from other lesbians I talk to... and I talk to a lot. I have many friends across generations. Many of my younger friends are butch but not all. My older friends are a myriad of types of lesbians and as diverse as the greater population. This weekend now that we are all vaccinated we had a campfire with 12 lesbian, 5 butches present. We have definitely had discussions about our breasts, discomfort, and the mourning over loosing breasts to cancer (or the danger of cancer).  Most of my buddies, from 19 to 68 share similar stories about learning to be at least “okay” with their bodies in a world where our physical attributes are often used to define our personality, and our worth. 

One thing we ALL share, as women, not just lesbians, is that we were at best dissatisfied that we have breasts starting as soon as they begin to form. I was 7 when mom told me I had to wear a shirt outside. Wow was I pissed. AND as a 7 years old I knew it had nothing to do with me but everyone seemed just fine with the fact that men were the issue but since we can’t change them we must change our own behavior.

 I remember thinking “how is me not wearing a shirt a problem”. Breasts had been neutral for me at that point. Just another part of my body. Once I realized “they” made me different, more vulnerable, more controlled, less “human” than those around me without breasts I turned my hate on my body instead of the people who really were to blame. Just like I was taught, I can’t control the men but I perhaps I could control my body. 

I have raised at least 10 teenage daughters (2 are lesbians now) my youngest adopted is 15 and when her other mom told her to put on a shirt in the summer of her 8th birthday, even in our rural yard she looked at me dead in the eye and said “why haven’t you fixed this yet?” (meaning women’s bodies being subject to the eyes and opinions of men). I wonder.. why haven’t we? She is the youngest, but all the others grew from hating their breasts to at least neutral, some really love their bodies and that is lovely. 

Lesbians are unique in our dealings of men’s opinions because we never need or want the approval of men in relation to our bodies. The opposite in fact.. we would prefer they see us void of anything they find sexual. Many women, straight, bi, lesbian eventually either learn to give no shits about the opinions of men or they learn to work around that feeling.

Ok.. all that being said, my story. My breasts are B cups, perhaps C’s when I was a bit heavier weight wise. I wore regular bras WITH padding and always as tight as a could to make them less noticeable. When I came out i switched to sports bras because i was embracing being butch and no longer wanted to play the game of wearing  “pretty bra” . I never wore tight shirts, always baggy. I wore the tightest bra I could wear to keep my breasts smaller, less visible. FOR YEARS. 

Going to a women’s festival opened my eyes to the many ways bodies can be. The many ways BUTCH bodies can exist. Women went topless and NO one sexualized them. (except when appropriate-- like while flirting etc when it was welcomed). Thousands of people, many topless and no one, not one person was oogled, cat called, teased, or otherwise treated as different than someone wearing a shirt.  What did they all share? Why was it different than in other places? Women. All women and mostly lesbians. However that did not automatically translate to “I am going back to the real world and giving no fucks about the reality of existing with breasts in our world”. It took time.

I no longer wear a bra just an undershirt. BUT I am in control of where I go, who I interact with most of the time. If I was still at my retail job, I’d probably still wear a bra. I no longer dislike my breasts. I love them. They bring me pleasure, they bring my girlfriend pleasure. They are a lovely part of me BUT that does not mean I am not very aware in public of my nipples being visible or of people noticing I am braless. And I imagine it is harder for women with larger breasts. 

Had binders been a “thing”, had I had access to a double  mastectomy, or the idea of it i cannot say that would have pursued either. The pattern suggests I would have. But again., neither were on my radar, not options presented to me or encouraged as a way to solve my discomfort.

 I have  three friends who have had elective double mastectomies. And many who had one to prevent or remove cancer. Several of them suffer consistent and painful nerve damage that is not treatable, is quite common, is unpredictable (they can’t know who will have it) and possibly life long. Of the three who were trying to alleviate the distress of dysphoria, all three regret the decision and none of them are over 30 yet. These women are all lesbians. Those who had the surgery because of cancer are thrilled to be happy and alive with less worry, although they do deal with nerve issues and mourn the loss of a part of their body. 

I have a few trans men friends, although we are not close. A  couple of them have had double mastectomies but their thoughts or feelings have not come up, we are just not close enough for such a personal discussion and none have had the surgery for more than 2 years.  I have had lots of older lesbians friends (and a few younger) who did get breast reduction surgery and their health and mental health were both improved. Their backs are better, their clothes fit better and they feel more active, less self conscious with out the physical risks of a full mastectomy. 

The easy answer and what I WANT to say, is be patient, find lots of older lesbians friends to show you your body is neutral, men are the problem. Give yourself time to understand that your breasts are as butch as the rest of you. They are a natural part of your body and how you are meant to be. Also, I know there is not an easy answer. Men will continue to exist. They will continue to sexualize lesbians (with or without breasts). I didn’t outgrow wishing my breasts could just disappear(in public settings) until my 40′s but it got easier and easier to sort of “live with it”. I am many times over grateful for my healthy breasts now. 

Seek therapy.. and not someone who will just go along with what ever you say. My therapists works me hard. She makes me answer the hard questions. She has me vocalize things that I don’t even want to admit in my head let alone out loud. Find one like that. Find one who is willing to explore all the reasons your breasts cause you distress. Then, if you decide to proceed, you can do so knowing you were worth the hard work and you can feel more confident in making an informed decision. Don’t make any decisions based on the opinions of men. Your body. YOUR decision. Write that down on a post it and keep it somewhere you will see it. 

If you would like to speak to some others who are struggling with how you feel or want to talk to lesbians who can tell you about their double mastectomies, DM me, perhaps I can connect you. 

If  anyone wants to add their experience in the notes please be kind. No judgement for anyone making such a difficult decision. 

One last thing to this long post. From one butch to another.  I care about you and I am saddened and angry at  bull shit you have to wade through in this world. I get it. You are not alone. 

[arctickat2400]

Dancing in the Rain <> Bucky Barnes

“Where are we going?” You giggled as Bucky helped you out of the car, blindfold on, and his hands on your waist, guiding you towards some secret place.

“Just a second. You’ll see.” You could hear the smile in his voice. You could hear some soft 40s music that Bucky had introduced you to from his time as he stopped you, gently untying the blindfold. You open your eyes to see a beautiful sight. A white gazebo, surrounded with roses and fairy lights brightening up the area as the sun begins to set. In the middle, a blanket lay with a basket, some wine set aside, and some pillows. A few tears build up in your eyes as you recognize this as the place where you and Bucky first met.

You were on your daily run, and it was a particularly hot day unfortunately, and as you were becoming light headed, you stopped, your vision blurred. You tried to look for something to lean on, with no avail, although someone came to your rescue.

He held onto your arm gently, “Are you okay? What can I do?” You heard that voice that you knew would forever be in your mind. “I-I need... I need to…” But you just couldn’t find the words. Luckily, he understood what was going on and he brought you over to the steps of the gazebo you passed by everyday on your run. After catching your breath, you looked up into those icy blue eyes.

And that was it. The day you fell in love with James Buchanan Barnes.

“Happy Anniversary, my love.” Bucky held you against him, his arms gently wound around your waist.

“Baby, it’s beautiful.” You spoke as you slowly made your way up the stairs, Bucky’s hands slipping from your waist. You take note of the small light bulb string lights inside the gazebo. They lit up everything so perfectly. Bucky followed behind you, watching your every move. He swore to himself that the day he dies, he’ll die looking at you.

After gazing around, you met eyes with Bucky. He strolled around the blanket, held his hand out for you to take, and helped you settle down onto the blanket.

“So, I wanted to make tonight especially special, considering it’s been exactly one year since we’ve been together,” Bucky states. “I didn’t know exactly what to do for food, so I asked Nat and she said to get you your favorite food. It’s nothing fancy, but…” Bucky pulls out two burgers and a set of fries to share from your favorite diner. You couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“Bucky, this is absolutely perfect. And it smells delicious. Thank you,” You had a look of pure adoration in your eyes as you leaned towards him, meeting him halfway, and sharing a passionate kiss.

For the next while, you ate and talked about anything and everything, sharing laughs and all the special moments you’ve shared over the years since you’ve known each other. It was a chilly evening; the sun had gone down and the stars brilliantly lit up the dark night sky.

“You cold, baby girl?” Bucky questioned. He noticed everything, especially when it came to you, and in this case, he noticed the shiver that ran through your body. “Just a little,” You offered him a small, side smirk. You wore an off-shoulder white floral dress that reached mid-thigh, not covering much. Bucky, knowing this might happen, took his suit jacket from laying on the pillows behind him, leaving him in a crisp, white button up with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of skinny black pants, and draped it around your shoulders. You pulled it tight around you, a blush coating your cheeks, reminiscing in his scent.

Bucky laid you back against the pillows, his arm around your shoulders, your head on his chest as you looked up at the stars through the small glass opening in the roof. Conversation followed for a bit until Bucky realized you’d become quiet. It was nearing midnight and he could tell you were becoming tired. Bucky packed everything up, bringing everything to the car as you stayed in the gazebo, leaning against one of the wooden posts, staring out at the firefly-filled park.

“Did I ever tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” Bucky whispers in your ear, his hands smoothing over your waist. You turned in his arms, wrapping yours around his neck.

“Did I ever tell you how handsome you look tonight?” You gave him a smug, but sweet smile, receiving one in return as he leant down and pressed his lips to yours.

Taking your hand in his, Bucky leads you down the stairs and down the path towards his car. You held onto his arm, your head on his shoulder as you slowly walked, enjoying your time together and not wanting it to end.

Suddenly, Bucky stopped as you slid from him. He caught your hand in his, pulling you back to him. “Everything okay?”

“Y/N,” Bucky started, your hands in his as he looked you in the eye, deep into your soul. “I have done so much wrong in my lifetime, but, once meeting you, it all stopped.”

“Bucky, all that “bad stuff” you did, it wasn’t you,” You interrupted him, but he placed his hand on your cheek, placing his thumb over your lips and continued.

“Shh... my love. The day we met, since then, I can’t imagine a life without you in it. You are both my strength and my weakness. Before you, I didn’t know what my life could turn into, I didn’t know where my life was going. But, when I met you, right in this spot,” You looked around and realized, it was, indeed, the exact spot you stopped and he came to help you. A tear slid down your cheek as you looked back into Bucky’s eyes. “My life changed. I don’t know what I could possibly say other than I love you. I love you so much, Katie, and I would surely die if I didn’t have you to hold in my arms.

“So,” You gasped, covering your mouth in surprise as Bucky took a small black velvet box from his pocket and knelt down on one knee in front of you. “If you’ll have me,” He opened the box and you were met with the most beautiful ring you have ever seen or could ever see. “Would you, Y/Full/N, make me the luckiest man alive and marry me?”

A waterfall of tears cascaded down your cheeks as you nodded, sniffling. “Yes. Yes, Bucky! I’ll marry you!” You almost shouted too loud, but, you could never be too loud when announcing your forever love to the only man you could ever love. Bucky’s smile shines brighter than a million stars when he heard that come from your mouth. He takes the ring from the box and slides it carefully onto your finger, standing up. You jumped into his arms, embracing him in the tightest hug you didn’t even know you had the strength to do.

Bucky held you at the waist, pulling apart only to bring you back, placing his hands on either side of your face, and sealing his love for you with the most passionate kiss you would ever experience. You held on tight to his shirt in your fists, never wanting to let go. You pulled apart, begging for air, your eyes locked together.

“I love you so much, Bucky. I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.” You smiled up at him as he wiped away some of your tears with his thumbs.

Just then, a drop of water fell on your nose, startling you and you gasped. You both look up as it starts raining. Bucky is quick to hurry you to the car, but you stop him in the grass. “Y/N, what’re you doing? You’re going to get sick.” He looked at you confused, but your smile never left your face.

“I don’t care.” You chuckle at Bucky’s panic. You take your wedges off  and pull Bucky back to you, placing his hands on your waist, locking your arms around his neck. “Dance with me. Besides, you know how much I love the rain.” You smile as Bucky offers one in return.

You sway in Bucky’s arms as the rain pours harder, but you still don’t care. You placed your head on his chest, one hand sliding to hold onto his bicep, the other holding onto his neck. Bucky places a sweet kiss to the top of your head before his cheek laying on top. You are soaked through your clothes as Bucky feels a shiver run down your spine.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get you home.” Bucky looks in your eyes with a sweet smile, tucks your hair behind your ear, places a kiss to your nose, and guides you the rest of the way to the car. Pulling into the driveway, Bucky met Y/N on her side. He picked her up bridal style, and carried her inside and up to the bath to warm her and clean her muddy feet.

Bucky placed Y/N inside the bath and helped her out of her soaking wet dress. Turning on the water to just the right temperature for her liking, Bucky helps Y/N to sit down, takes off his soaking wet shirt, and begins to run his hands through her hair, warming her from the freezing rain. She leans her head back and smiles at the relaxing feeling of Bucky’s gentle touch.

Bucky adds some soap to Y/N’s puff, taking her feet and ridding them of the mud. Once finished, Bucky wraps a large, warm towel around Y/N, helping her step out of the shower. He dries her off a bit before taking her into his arms, leaning her head on his chest, holding her tight against him.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Spoil you ridiculously and love you to the moon and back. Maybe even further.” Bucky chuckles, and feels Y/N giggle against him. She looks up at him, placing a kiss to his chest, resting her chin there, and smiles up at him.

“I cannot tell you how much I love you, my one and only. All I ask is for you to be here with me, no matter what.”

Bucky’s smile, though small, is as bright as ever. “I could never leave you, my love. I’m with you till the end.” He kisses her forehead, her eyes closing to reminisce in this precious moment. He holds her in his arms as if it was impossible to let go.

[mountainsluna]

good intentions

request: Seonghwa scenario in which the reader falls into bad habits after breaking up, if u want to you can make it fluff at the end

pairing: seonghwa x reader

genre: angst + fluff ending

word count: 1.9k

✩ [author’s note] this...this hurt :’( i love seonghwa so much my soft hearted baby :’(

✩ masterlist

✩ requests : check bio or masterlist ♡

Seonghwa always had the best intentions when it came to you. He wanted you happy whether that was with or without him. When you came into his life, he knew you were absolutely everything he had ever wanted. But good things could only last so long.

After he started his new job he ended up being a lot busier than he thought he’d be, traveling to different cities and countries nearly every week. It led to him only ever seeing you once a month or so. He couldn’t stand it, he hated feeling like he was neglecting you, no matter how much you reassured him that things would be okay he didn’t listen.

“Y/n I’m sorry, I just can’t put you through this anymore...You don’t deserve it. You deserve someone who can be there for you whenever you need them and I can’t be that.” His eyes were already glossing over as he spoke to you.

“Hwa, I’ve been okay these past nine months... No it’s not ideal but it’s worth it to be with you. I love you so much and I know you love me too, it doesn’t make sense for us to break up like this.” You pleaded to him at your apartment door. He hadn’t even wanted to come inside, worried he’d cave and not say what he went there to say.

“I do love you, so much. That’s why I have to do this. It’d be selfish of me to keep you... I’m so sorry.” His hands that were wrapped around yours, now letting them down slowly.

“Seonghwa...please...” You breathed shakily, tears already streaming down your face. Seonghwa couldn’t bare to look at you as he turned away. Leaving you a sobbing, heartbroken mess at your own doorstep.

You hated to admit you cried for nearly two days straight after your breakup. The shock and denial of it all was taking a toll on you in the worst ways. As the weekend approached your friends decided you needed to get out, dragging you to a local club to loosen you up a bit. You hadn’t been much of drinker, letting yourself get tipsy only on occasion but maybe this was what you needed.

The first sip of alcohol had your body warming up nicely, filling you with the relief you had been dying for as it coursed through your veins. After about three more drinks, the memory of your ex boyfriend was nearly forgotten.

The next morning you were definitely regretting your drink choices from the night before. But by that evening you were ready to go again, craving the break the alcohol brought from your thoughts.

When Monday arrived, your classes had been extra rough on you. On your walk home you decided to stop at the convenient store for food. Your eyes skimming over the wine section. You grabbed a couple of bottles, thinking they’d hold you for the next month or so.

But the bottles only lasted about four days. Not including Wednesday because Yeosang and Wooyoung had invited you to happy hour at their favorite bar and you had agreed a bit too eagerly.

Now it was the weekend and you were ready to go out again.

Seonghwa noticed your frequent outings that first weekend. He was friends with your friends on social media and although you had blocked him, he saw everything through Wooyoung and Yeosang’s profiles.

He hated to admit that after the second night of seeing videos of you downing several hard liquors and shots he was worried. But he knew he was in no position to scold you. He had left you, but he honestly hadn’t expected it to be this hard on you.

That Tuesday he saw Wooyoung’s story, a picture of two wine glasses with you tagged in the second one, letting him know you were drinking again. Then Wednesday when he saw you taking shots of whiskey with the two boys at a local bar. He decided he needed to call you. Whether you listened to him or not, it was getting out of hand. But you didn’t answer.

He even attempted to reach out to your friends but Wooyoung ignored him as well. All he got from Yeosang was a ‘you’re talking to the wrong person. text her, not me.’ When he informed the blonde haired boy that you weren’t responding, Yeosang told him he should ‘take the hint then’ and left it at that.

He was out of town all that week but he wanted so bad to go to your house and beg you to stop, to just stop, He wanted to hold you in his arms again and tell you that you were too precious and important to be doing the things you were doing to yourself but he couldn’t.

Seonghwa was on edge during all of his meetings that Friday, fully expecting to see you getting drunk with your friends again and sure enough, by 10pm on Wooyoung’s story. There you were, dressed in the tightest gray dress he had ever seen you in, downing drinks like a pro as the boys hyped you up. He threw his phone to the other side of the hotel bed. His head falling into his palms as he sighed in frustration.

This whole time he thought he had chosen what was best for you both but maybe he hadn’t. It’s not like had ever stopped loving you. He loved you to death and he missed you more than he could bear. Part of him only watched your friend’s stories so he could catch glimpses of your face. Missing the way you’d smile up at him and how he would pull you into a kiss, loving the way you'd giggle against his lips the longer he’d kiss you.

It wasn’t until Sunday night that he decided enough was enough. He saw a story pop up from a mutual friend of yours, Mingi, who hadn’t come around in awhile. It was a video of a blunt being passed around. The video didn’t show your faces but he recognized your body instantly as you were sitting between Yeosang and Wooyoung in a circle. A shot glass in one hand, as Yeosang handed you the blunt that you took with the other.

He was riding back to his apartment from the airport when he saw it and he knew he had to see you. As soon as he set his bags down, he called another cab to take him straight to your apartment.

It was nearly 1am but he was more determined than he had ever been to be with you. When he knocked on the door there was no answer. He sat on the ground, leaning back against your door as he recalled the events that occurred the last time he was here. He wanted to kick himself for being so stupid. He thought keeping you was selfish but now he knew trying to push you away was only hurting you both.

He constantly refreshed his feed, until a new story popped up, and he could see you in the backseat of Yeosang’s car, high and drunk off your ass and he nearly started sobbing. He could only pray that Yeosang was bringing you here and not to his or Wooyoung’s apartment.

About twenty minutes had passed when he heard voices coming up the stairs to your floor. He stood up quickly already recognizing Wooyoung’s loud voice. A few seconds later he saw you. Your arms slung over the two boy’s shoulders as they helped you stumble to your apartment.

Yeosang scoffed as he made eye contact with Seonghwa, not paying him any more attention than that. He left you to dangle from Wooyoung’s shoulder as he took your key from your purse to unlock your door.

Wooyoung was the only one to acknowledge Seonghwa. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Seonghwa didn’t really know how to answer the boy. “I-I came to make sure she was okay.”

“What you’re finally feeling guilty or what?” He slurred back at the taller boy. Yeosang told Wooyoung he’d wait for him in the car, not wanting to be in Seonghwa’s presence any longer. He helped you onto your couch, your head hanging low not even realizing Seonghwa was even there.

“Wooyoung...I can take care of her for the night...If you don’t mind..”

The smaller boy looked at him hesitantly not wanting to leave you alone with him at all.

“I...really want to be with her...I miss her so much... I can’t believe I let this happen.”

Wooyoung watched as he caressed your drunken face. Your eyes closed, indefinitely passed out. Even in his own drunken state, he could see the regret Seonghwa had in his eyes, silently pleading to him as they made eye contact.

After a few moments of silence while Wooyoung mulled it over in his head, he agreed. But not after a few select threats from him as he made his way out of the door.

Seonghwa helped you out of your heels and into your bedroom, talking to you in the softest voice. Wanting to make up for all the bad feelings he had caused you. While he was helping you into your sleeping clothes he heard you mumble softly.

“S...Seonghwa?” Your head lulling back as the room began to spin whenever you opened your eyes.

“Shhh, yes my love it’s me. I’m here. Let me lay you down, angel.” You grumbled in response but let him guide you to your pillows, he himself making his way beside you under the covers. Resting your head against him as he stroked your hair, leaving soft kisses on your head, mumbling apologies into your hair.

You woke up the next morning in Seonghwa’s embrace, the feeling of his arms around you startling you as you sat up quickly. Your movements waking Seonghwa as well. “Baby what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Y..you...you’re here?” You stuttered out softly. Wondering if you were still dreaming, you reached up to hold his face. His hand coming up to wrap around your arm.

“Yes my love... I’m here.” He pulled you into his chest, and you accepted, your arm coming to wrap around his abdomen. “I’m here now baby everything’s gonna be okay I promise.” He kissed your head and you nearly teared up at his words, hugging him even tighter. “But...how are you feeling?”

The shock of his presence subsiding as you felt the pang of a hangover in your skull. “I...I have a slight headache but I’ll be okay.”

“My love....I’ll get you some medicine and some water, okay?” He moved to get up but you pulled him against you, not wanting him to leave your side just yet.

“Please...please don’t ever leave me again.” You said against his chest, your eyes closed tightly. You wanted to stay in his arms forever.

He hugged you back with all the strength he could muster without hurting you. “I won’t, angel, I promise. You’re the love of my life, I’m sorry I was so stupid.” He held your head to his chest, breathing out a small sigh of relief knowing you wanted him to stay as much as he wanted to. “God, I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Hwa.” You picked up your head, kissing him with all the energy you had, making up for every day you two had missed together.

[xumos-hoe]

K so a little bit of a weird request but uh how about headcanons of the mlqc boys getting back from a business trip or a dangerous mission (looking at u Gavin) and the mc is just very happy to see them that she just hugs them and like,, accidentally shoves them into her chest...Does that make sense? I hope it does,,just thought it would be cute/funny to see the boys flustered because of the mc for a change 🤧

OOO not weird at all, IN FACT, I LOVE THIS LMAOOO thank you so much anon for requesting this!!!💖

Hope you enjoy boo💕

MLQC crew to getting accidentally shoved into MC’s chest

~~~~~~~~

Victor:

As the voice at the intercom seemed to become more and more nasally, the time of Victor’s arrival drew closer—after 4 hours of listening closely to the same routine of departures and arrivals, you never thought you’d be so anxious to hear it.

Today marked three entire months since Victor had left to Dubai; something about establishing LFG there—you weren’t entirely sure because you’d been so upset when he solemnly announced the trip.

Your gaze never left the gate he was scheduled to emerge from, but every so often, you’d catch a glimpse of someone who looked just like him only to avert your eyes dispondantly.

As if in cue, the intercom rang out one more time, announcing that the flight Victor was in had landed at last. You stood up and searched for a seat closer to the gate, waiting even more restlessly, until the gate—once scarce—flooded with passengers.

You rose one more time and searched anxiously for Victor amongst the sea of people, but even once that seemed to fan out—he still hadn’t appeared.

At least, not until you felt a tap on your shoulder.

Whirling towards the source of contact, the man you’d been looking forward to seeing after 3 months of separation, stood before you.

“You were waiting by the wrong gate, dummy.” The ridicule in his voice didn’t quite match grin on his face, a smile you almost teared up upon seeing.

Without warning, you dragged him down for a hug.

It was possibly, the tightest hug you’d ever given any one—especially Victor. The briefcase he’d been holding slipped from his grip as soon as he was crushed into an embrace unlike any he’d ever received from you. Even the hug the two of you shared before his departure hadn’t been as vigorous.

But it seemed time fueled passion.

Though Vic had a funny way of showing it, the last thing he’d ever want was to break away. It hadn’t been until the moment your warmth collided with his, pulling at his heartstrings, did he realize how much he had truly missed you over the last few months.

Only after a few more seconds of being tackled into your vice grip did the positioning start to become...a little awkward. Maybe you hadn’t noticed yet, but when Victor’s neck began to feel a little sore after being held in the same position for so long, did he finally realize what the softness beneath his head really was...

It was even more flustering considering that the shirt you’d chosen was particularly thin and he could feel the lacy material of your bra poking through—even caught a whiff of the perfume you had dabbed there.

Victor felt as though he was on fire—and absolutely nothing about the summer heat outside had anything to do with it.

“MC.”

You, on the other hand, were too lost in your daydreams to hear what he had just said—that, and his face was squished so thoroughly against your chest, you almost didn’t hear him a second time.

“Huh? Oh!”

You released him immediately, sensing his discomfort and straightened out your shirt as he straightened out his own clothing. But even as he did, his eyes were still trained on the section of your top that was still quite wrinkled, only fueling his embarrassment further.

You smiled sheepishly and reached out to adjust his tie. “Sorry about that I just...missed you so much.”

Now, the color in his face wasn’t just a consequnce of where it’d been squished against earlier.

There was even a bit of pink in your own face, a face that had never slipped his mind ever since being separated from it.

Victor reached down to grab his briefcase before his fingers intertwined with yours. He smiled, and the two of you began walking towards the exit where a driver would be waiting.

You smiled contentedly and leaned against his body before stepping out into the bright sunshine.

Lucien

To think, it hadn’t been very long since the last time the two of you had been together, but nonetheless, it still felt much longer.

It’d only been 3 weeks! Perhaps longer, if you hadn’t flown out to see his award ceremony in person because the award he was receiving was extremely prestigious and you wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Only afterwards did you arrive back in Loveland to take care of the company while Lucien remained in Tokyo.

But he continued sending pictures of the local flora and attractions, almost hourly if he wasn’t too busy—each picture seemed to convey his longing for your company, though it was only a few weeks until the two of you could see each other in person.

And those few weeks were finally up! But instead of waiting at the airport as you usually would’ve, Lucien asked you to wait by his apartment.

So as nighttime fell across Loveland and almost half an hour had passed since Lucien’s flight arrived, you waited by your own apartment door for sight of his familiar figure emerging from the elevator.

Before the elevator doors opened an inch, you’d already slipped from your apartment and skipped over to his. But to your suprise—it wasn’t Lucien that arrived, but rather, an older tennent that lived a few doors down.

It was impossible that he hadn’t arrived yet. You checked the time to make sure it was right, and even your messages in case he had sent over any news of a potential delay.

Instead, there was nothing.

But as you were busily fiddling through your phone, Lucien’s door suddenly swung open and an arm reached out, pulling you in.

You almost didn’t react as soon as a pair of supple, warm lips captured your own and you realized Lucien had somehow been here the whole time.

He laughed against your mouth before pulling away as abruptly as he had kissed you, and you stared back, entirely dumbfounded.

“Lucien, how did y—”

He tipped his head back and laughed wholeheartedly before cupping your cheek with his hand. “Surprised? Then I suppose my plan worked.”

You almost wanted to be angry at him for scaring you so much, but instead, you were reminded of how much you missed him and returned his affections with an embrace.

There was a glimmer of suprise in his eyes when you pulled him down towards your smaller form, disappearing quickly as his face collided with the wrinkles in your outfit. It didn’t take long before Lucien’s arms wrapped snug against your waist and he pulled you in even tighter.

His face was more than a little warm where it lay against the cleavage in your dress, but in your excitement, you didn’t register where exactly it was in contact with. You stroked the back of his head, and the two of you stood there, inhaling each other’s sweet scents for what felt like hours.

Lucien was the first to pull away—just enough to crane his face upwards and fit it in the crook of your neck, where the first thing that you felt was his breath and lips. He kept a steady trail of kisses along your neck and cheekbones, where it led to your lips. You mouth was already open and waiting for him as soon as he reached there.

With his weight folded over yours, you stumbled back against the wall, refusing to breakaway as the kissing became more intense and heated before Lucien did something that caught you by suprise.

He delved face first into your chest, tracing the swell of your breasts with even more kisses as he peered up at you with mischievous eyes.

“Be careful where you hug me, MC, or I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back.”

Kiro

More often than not, you’d accompany Kiro to wherever he needed to be.

Sometimes he was in Europe to shoot music-videos, visiting America to film an interview, or touring anywhere else

mr worldwide

However—this was one of the “not” instances where you stayed behind in Loveland while he was overseas. And this particular soujourn required his presence for a little over 6 months and there was absolutely no way you could drop your work to travel with him for so long no matter how much you would miss him.

Technically, it’d be the longest the two of you were separated, but each passing day was filled with cheesy, romantic text messages and pictures with short captions to fill you in on his day. The constant flow of updates on his social media served to fill the emptiness thoroughly. But not entirely.

And, finally, after half a year abroad, Kiro returned to Loveland with a glamorous entourage following behind him.

You bolted out of your seat the moment you caught sight of the golden tendrils of hair across the airport lobby, and even distance couldn’t conceal the bright grin on Kiro’s face when he spotted you.

Savin shouted something to Kiro just as he was beginning to sprint towards you, arms wide open, but all that went unheard in his excitement.

“Miss Chips!”

You fell into a pair of strong arms and squeezed your eyes tight, as though it took all your strength to preserve this moment in your memories forever. A few onlookers smiled and blushed, like they were watching a scene from a movie, but the only thing you wanted to focus on was the sense of warmth that’d been missing from your life for so long.

“Ah, Miss Chips—too tight!” Kiro inhaled deeply, expecting you to let go of him, but instead you pulled him closer until his body was flush against your own.

So close, you didn’t realize where exactly he was positioned.

He almost said something the moment you smushed him against your chest, instead, he was silenced when his face made contact with the softness—almost helplessly.

let him breathe pls

And when you finally pulled away, after God-knows-how-long the two of you were hugging in the middle of the airport, to Savin’s embarrassment, Kiro wasn’t entirely sure if the sudden color in his face was from the closelness of your breasts or the lack of oxygen.

“You must’ve missed me a lot, didn’t you, Miss Chips.”

You rolled your eyes and fought against the urge to hug him again before Savin interjected, after having witnessed what took place seconds ago.

“MC, good to see you. Kiro, welcome back home, but we’re still on a schedule.”

Kiro glared in his direction before turning back to you with a teasing glimmer in his eyes, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips.

“I’ll call you tonight and...if you’d like, we could continue where we left off.”

You were confused as to what he meant by that, but before you could ask, Kiro had already walked away with Savin and the rest of his entourage into the sea of paparazzi that had likely caught every moment of your sweet reunion.

Of course, you didn’t have to wonder too long because later that night, Kiro was thorough with his explanation.

Gavin

When Gavin left for missions—at least, you knew he was leaving. But you never had an idea of when he would return.

If he returned at all.

It was truly a wonder that you managed to sleep at all some nights when he disappeared. But this particular night, your anxiety was doing jumping jacks, so rather than sleep—you lingered in bed and watched the tiny motes of dust dance within the moonlight filtering through the tree branches and onto the floor of your bedroom.

After several long hours of silence and staring at the same scene over and over again, there was a sudden change. Like something had interrupted the moonlight from shining through and momentarily filled the room with darkness—but so briefly, you could’ve blinked and missed it.

A squirrel. Maybe a bird or a passing cloud. You didn’t think much of it until it happened again, but for much longer and much more intensely than a critter or cloud could cause.

And suddenly, a dark silhouette appeared outside your window.

You almost screamed, scrambling up in your sheets and watching the silhouette closely before it began to resemble someone. But a bit of moonlight illuminated the silhouette and a familiar face stared back at you.

Gavin.

You bolted out of bed and stepped towards the window to find that it really was Gavin, and as we watched you, his mouth pulled into a weak smile.

“Gavin!”

You unlocked the window immediately and watched as the figure of your boyfriend tumbled through with a grunt, but his smiling eyes never left yours.

“I’m sorry. Did I scare you?” He recalled your frightened expression earlier and a pang of guilt erupted in his chest.

You laughed off his concern and opened your arms to pull him into a hug. He was much colder than you had expected, which only made you want to hold him tighter. So tightly—the two of you tumbled onto your bed.

Gavin’s body fell flat over yours, slipping slightly in your grip so that his face wound up in the place you would’ve least expected—between your breasts, braless and extremely prominent through the thin material of your pajamas.

Suddenly, Gavin wasn’t so cold anymore...

The two of you took a second to react to the awkward positioning, but just as Gavin scrambled up, his hands accidentally came into full contact with your breasts. Not even the darkness could hide the horror and embarrassment in his expression.

You almost wanted to laugh as Gavin backed away, but instead, pulled him right back towards you. At least he wasn’t touching your boobs this time, but the position was enough to make you both blush bright. In your excitement to have Gavin back, you cuddled a bit closer pressed and small kiss to his forehead.

rip Gavin’s heart

“I missed you.” was all you could manage before leaning into his arms and finally feeling the sleepiness creep up on you. He patted the back of your head softly and found himself too exhausted to say anything more.

Besides, the two of you had an entire morning to catch up.

[goth-girlfriend]

hi! can i ask for a matchup with a male character pls? i’m a soft 🥺🥺 girl and the baby in my friend groups, kinda shy at first & may look like a snob because i’m not sure if they’re saying hi to me or the person behind me 👉👈 but i open up really quickly if u decide u want to be friends, i’m chill and relaxed but i’m also down to do anything, i usually match my vibe with the people i’m with, quiet night in? i’m down! wanna impulsively do something at 3 am? i’m in! i’m naturally clingy and

(2/2) affectionate since my love languages are physical touch and quality time, which can lead to many people mistaking my platonic actions (hugs, handholding, head on your shoulder) as flirting when i’m just expressing my love for my friends 🥺🥺, i’m a procrastinator but i also plan my day in an organized manner so idk how i’m still cramming my deadlines, i love doing yoga, reading, painting and calligraphy, i’m a horrible cook oops but it somehow ends up good and edible in the end :))

(( I used the name Patricia, since it’s your username 😅))

💜💜💜 💜💜💜💜 💜💜💜💜 💜💜💜

Shoji

(Sorry,I couldn’t find a great picture, but much love ❤️ for our good octo-boi)

Shoji, does not see you as a snob or anything....mostly because he didn’t look down the first time he ‘met’ you, didn’t even see you in fact.

The second time he meets you, he realizes he likes the soft shy nature. So he tries to strike up a conversation, apparently this man knows no fear, at least when it comes to talk to new people.

Mezo, loves how you can match his mode at almost any given instant, but, he loves it even more when you tell him, what you really want.

Not everyone agrees but, I feel like this boy is lacking in the physical affection area due to insecurities.... SO! It’s the moment you start to snuggle into his side under his arms, hugging his arm/s (True lovers will take the challenge to hug all three), hugging his waist and pressing your cheek into his chest. He will hold you in the tightest embrace and make sure no one will ever hurt the thing he holds closest to him.

Ever felt self conscious? He will crush those insecurities the way he crushes weight lifting. No body makes his girl cry, and if they do, he’s not going to hurt them...bad.

So how did you go from friends to dating? Well, it was the moment your platonic actions made him realize. “......This, it’s nice being the one who’s held, and not holding someone else.” Struck a heart string for him.

Alone it wasn’t just the soft and intimate touches, it was the small things, when you sat by his side, dropped your head against his shoulder, took a hand between both of yours and talked about your day, all the good, bad, lunch, anything, he loved your voice and hearing you be open. He loved how you complained sometimes that you did everything by the schedule, but still, somehow somewhere time slipped away form you. But he realized he loved it more when you cared enough to ask him about his day, and his feelings.

Admires the works of art you create, loves watching you sketch and paint creating something beautiful out of nothing. Cooking? He worries a bit when he sees you struggling, and wants to help, but doesn’t want you to feel insecure. So he sits back and encumourgaes you with words, praying to whoever is listening that it’ll be good. When things get a bit serious, he’ll try to slyly help you, and you’ll accept it because what’s more romantic then cooking with your boyfriend?

Shoji, loves you deeply, seeks out your soft touches and hushed whispers, will gladly hold you on his chest while he lays back on his bed, even though he knows he should approve of your procrastination.

“Hey! Shoji!” Patricia whispered screamed while knocking his door.

The sound of shuffling was heard and soon she came face to chest with the white haired male that had come to be her friend.

“I need help,” she entered his room as he stepped aside letting her in, “Momo wants me to study more but I can’t! I’m tired.” She plopped down on a cushion she had left in his room the other night when she brought tea.

He simply nodded and closed the door, “I won’t hide you for long, just a break.”

It was a lie, the afternoon turned late, followed by early night, and here they were talking in whispers about something that happened in Patricia’s past.

“It was embarrassing! I literally blew snot on my crush, he didn’t even talk to me or look at me! Luckily my crush didn’t last more than two weeks so I got over it quick.”

Patricia turned onto her left side to face Shoji, he was laying on his back, head turned to look at her. His left arms supporting his head and tight arms stretch out. Patricia lowered her head to rest on his shoulder and sighed, content and smiled. “Shoji, you probably know this already but you are the best.”

Her left arm stayed tucked by her side as her right arm hugged his broad chest, his free arms coming to hold her waist and shoulders pulling her closer.

“You’re the only one to tell me.” He said still looking down at her.

“Well, I’ll just have to say it more then.” She tried to squeeze him failing due to his hardened muscular structure.

“Maybe I should work out.” She mumbled looking down at her tummy, it wasn’t a models body, but to Shoji? It belonged to the most beautiful lady he’s met so far in his life, (mom excluded for survival reasons.)

“I think you’re beautiful,” the mouth moved before he realized what he was going to say out loud.

Patricia felt the heat in her cheeks, sure she’d been complimented before but this felt, different, she closed her eyes and smiled, “Thank you Shoji, I think you’re quite handsome.”

He quickly turned his face the other way glad his mask covered majority of his face.

You laid there, wiggling your way closer to his side taking his warmth, but truth be told, without you, he’d feel just as cold as he did before. Maybe now would be the time to tell you, how madly I love he thinks he is in with you. To tell you how he loves watching you mumble into his chest when you sleep on him when he’s at your dorm watching a movie up at three in the morning when you have early classes the next day. The way he ties your hair back when your painting your best or writing your finest print. The way your brows furrow as you mix ingredients, and then how your eyes widen and you blush’s heepishky realizing you may have messed up. How even when your booked all day, you procrastinate and use that time to busy up his free time.

“Let’s get you to your dorm before you fall asleep.” Was all he said as he lifted you and himself.

Carrying anyone bridal style was a simple task, the man could carry the hero endeavor on one side and all might on the other, people often forget with one side he can life a thousand pounds easy. But, you always felt a bit self conscious, but when would your weight ever compare to 1000 pounds? Even if you did, he’d do everything he could to make sure you love yourself.

Making it to your room, he took your kept and opened the door. Once inside he was hit with the wave of a familiar scent. It was the smell of faint sweets and mint. It wasn’t strong, just noticeable. He walked in you yawned in his arms. You gave his neck a tight hug and thanked him for what did. He simply nodded, not liking the reaction you grabbed his neck and pulled him down into you.

He quickly readjusted so his weight wouldn’t crush you, here he was, laying on his back having forced you into his chest, he held you safe with all his arms, you yawned resting your head on his cheek. “Don’t go Mezo.”

He sighed and squeezed you, “I shouldn’t spend the night.”

“Please?” You yawned again.

He tried to fight but he couldn’t, “once.”

Fell asleep on his chest, but woke up in panic when he turned to his side, you almost fell of the bed, but he caught you. He pulled you into his chest now chest to chest on your sides you held him, your eyes held lidded as you wanted to stay awake but sleep was much better.

“I should tell you something.” His voice was low and smooth.

“Mhmm,” you hummed enjoying his voice.

“I think, I’ve grown emotionally attracted to you.”

You didn’t process it to easy, emotionally attached? Oooo big words, big guy makes sense. The problem with being half weak, was that you didn’t process it. But your lips moved on their own as you pushed you self up to get level with him, kissing his cheek you nuzzled his clothed cheek, “Shoji I have confession.”

“I think I love you.” Patricia mumbled and continued to try and get closer to the boy.

He let out a single laughed and squeezed her closer, “Well talk when your awake.”

“Mkay, Good night Shoji, love you.” You yawned, and let your eyes close still catching his faint whispered into the darkness as his chin rested on your head, “Good night, I..... love you.”

Your heart warmed up at his soft whispered and you smield feeling yourself finally sleep, so soft, so sweet.

💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙

I hope you like it 🖤

Thank you for the request and being patient with me lol.

My ask box is open, and Anon is on. Remember to stay hydrated, and stay caught up with work!

Love to everyone 💛 Stay safe!

[mystic-shadows42]

Against the Odds {Part 2}

Warnings: Language, Sexual Content

Aslaug had invited you to accompany her on a walk around Kattegatt. You were dreading the walk you two were sharing currently.

“So, I see you and my son are still...seeing each other.”

“I broke it off with Hvitserk.”

Though you did do that, Hvitserk and you still came back to each other. He usually shakes off your attempts on leaving.

“...but you still managed to find your way on your back.”

You had your head down. There was no need to discuss such a topic in public.

“You must have the tightest cunt he’s ever been inside of to still find his way back to you.” She spoke about it as if discussing the weather.

“Queen Aslaug,” you uttered in disbelief.

“I don’t know what he see’s in you. You have nothing to offer him other than what’s between your legs.”

“We care for each other.”

You weren’t sure if you said that to convince her or yourself.

“I’ll admit that you’ve lasted longer than the others but he’ll grow tired of you. Hvitserk will marry a noblewoman one day and maybe just maybe he’ll keep you as his mistress, but nothing more.”

“Hvitserk has a choice. You can’t plan out his life for him.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The two of you stopped walking, locking eyes with each other with intense gazes. You hadn’t realized that you and Aslaug found yourselves on the beach where the boys were laying down talking. 

Ivar spotted you two first and hit Hvitserk. He turned to look back at you two standing up.

“Mother I didn’t realize you were bringing company.” He kissed his mother’s cheek while eyeing you.

“I shall be going. Excuse me,” you said not wanting to be in the presence of Aslaug any longer.

“I’ll walk you back.”

“Surely she can find her way.” 

“What kind of man would I be without escorting a lady?” He said backing up while looking at his mother. Aslaug simply smiled but her eyes were stern. Once you and Hvitserk were a ways ahead you looked over towards Hvitserk.

“Your mother has been hammering me all morning.”

“I didn’t think she’d do that. What else did she say?”

“Apparently, I must have the tightest cunt that keeps making you come back.”

Hvitserk cracked a smile and snickered. “She did not.”

“Yes, she did. I need to get my mind off your mother. What did you talk about with your brothers?”

“Your tight cunt.” He laughed as he started to run off while you chased him trying to hit him. He ran in the woods hiding behind a tree.

“You’re not getting any after this!” You yelled hoping nobody else was in the woods with you both. You kept walking and crushing twigs on your path.

“I know what’ll get your attention.” You started to undo the laces on your dress. There was a hidden hot spring in the woods where you first met Hvitserk.

You remember the day like yesterday.

You had found the hot springs by pure accident and decided to bathe in it.

Though it was discovered by someone by none other than Hvitserk. He had watched you bathe, hidden by a tree.

He got hard when he saw you run your hands through your hair exposing your breasts in the cool air. He approached cautiously and took your clothes.

When you finished bathing you looked to grab your clothes to see they weren’t there anymore. Before you started to panic you heard a whistle.

“That was a great display of entertainment.” He smirked holding your clothes in his hands.

“Prince Hvitserk.” You covered your breasts and flushed in embarrassment. “May I have my clothes back?”

He looked at your clothes in distaste. “You look so much better without them on.”

That irritated you making you throw a rock at him. He dodged it looking back where it landed. When he looked back towards you, he fell backwards with you on top. He grabbed your hips touching your soft skin. He was in a position he used to.

“You princes make me so angry. Walking all over Kattegat getting whatever you want while others are left to work harder and clean up after you all.”

He stared at your swaying breasts above him. You wrapped your hand around his throat with pressure causing him to look at your eyes.

“You Hvitserk are nothing but a filthy pig! Using women. You disgust me!”

He listened and knew what you spoke was true yet he couldn’t help himself. He kissed your lips. He had his hand behind your head deepening it. You scrambled off him and snatched your clothes putting them on quickly.

“I can’t believe you kissed me.” His lips were soft and warm. You wanted more but he wasn’t a good man. All women in Kattegat heard the rumors and most were true.

“There’s more where that came from.”

“Leave me alone! I don’t want my name associated with a Ragnarsson,” you seethed, walking away hoping he’d just leave you alone.

“The chase is so much fun.” He said under his breath going after you.

Once you undid your laces you shimmied out of your dress and walked into the hot spring. Hvitserk appeared from the woods watching you as he approached. He immediately pulled over his shirt and dropped his trousers.

He was confident of his body and the pleasures it brought. He got in pulling you towards him. You both embraced each other then kissed.

He kept you distracted while his fingers worked their way inside you. You jumped a little going to protest when he slipped his tongue in your mouth, silencing your words.

He pumped his fingers into you working your body up. You grinded onto his fingers moaning. He broke the kiss wanting to watch you come undone with just his fingers. He would go slow then pick up the pace just when you thought you’d reach your high.

You started to pant when he started to go faster. You grabbed onto his shoulders lifting yourself up when you felt yourself clamp on his fingers. You moaned out loud running your fingers over his hair.

Hvitserk smirked. He curled his fingers in you dragging them out.

“I knew I’d be irresistible to you.”

“Oh yeah,” you panted. “Stay here.” He nodded and laid back closing his eyes as he waited for your return. You got dressed in your clothes and decided to return the favor to Hvitserk.

“Well, that was a great display of entertainment.” You had repeated the words he had told you when he first caught you bathing.

He opened his eyes seeing you dressed and with his clothes. He smiled back at you amused. He rested his head on his arms watching you.

“I don’t need clothes. You know I’ll walk back like this.”

“I know you will.”

He abruptly got out and started running after you. Startled that he’d even do that, you ran. He caught you and picked you up. Hvitserk turned you to face him and spread your legs for him to enter you.

You slapped Hvitserk’s back trying to get his attention. He looked at your face to see your eyes trained on something behind him.

Five men approached slowly. Hvitserk let you down and snatched his trousers taking out a dagger. He was naked with only a small weapon in his hand.

Hvitserk put you behind him as you both backed up. Before anyone could attack you both. The five men were attacked from behind. It was Aslaug’s guards.

Hvitserk turned your head into his chest so you wouldn’t have to see those men die. He knew you weren’t exposed to such gruesome scenes like he was. They were disposed of quickly when one of the guards approached.

“Both of you head back. We’ll clean up this mess.”

You nodded and held Hvitserk’s hand pulling him away. Hvitserk quickly dressed in his clothes with a stoic look on his face.

“Your mother had people watching us.”

“Don’t you think I know that?!”

“She’s doing too much all because she doesn’t like me.”

“I don’t like what she did but our lives were saved because of my mother. Just go home. We’ll talk later.” He exhaled walking away.

[samthemarvelfan]

Goodbyes: Chapter Eight

Summary: Ella Monroe is the Avengers newest recruit, handpicked by Steve Rogers himself. Indebted to him for reasons unknown, Cap pairs her up with Bucky Barnes. He is tasked with training her to relearn and hone the skills that have long since rusted. Bucky is cold and distant, and Ella can’t seem to break through the wall he’s built up for decades. He sees something in her though, and it scares him to death. Has the fate of these two strangers been sealed? …or will they always be longing…

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OFC, feat Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark

Warnings: ANGST, Bucky is a dick, mutual pining, self sabotage, slow burn, alcohol, flirting, swearing. I think that’s it!  Def not following a specific MCU canon or timeline.

A/N: I legit can’t believe the love from you all! Gosh my lil heart might burst! Please stick with me after this chapter and please don’t hate me! Patience is a virtue after all. Thank you for every comment, like, message and reblog. Love you endlessly. <3

Taglist: @iheartsebastianstan @jjlizz @stuckysbabe @sk493494 @lefoutoir @nickangel13 @marvelismysafezone @lilulo-12 @warmvanillafeels @heartofagamotto @ravenesque @pinknerdpanda (strikethrough means the tag didn’t work! I’m sorry!)  (strikethrough means the tag didn’t work! I’m sorry! Tags are OPEN!)

Three fucking weeks.

At this point, you were almost positive you were losing your mind.

Everyone was still in Romania, and you hadn’t had any actual contact with the team. Sam occasionally gave you the smallest of updates, usual in the form of a message that said “we’re alive.”

Gotta love that detail.

Wanda had checked on you too, making sure you were eating, as you had a tendency to forget to when you were stressed.

What drove you mad more than anything was that you hadn’t heard from Bucky. Was it really all in your head? The two of you connecting finally, and then he just vanished without a word?

Sure, maybe you were being irrational and needy. He was working; risking his life for the greater good after all. That doesn’t make it hurt any less, though.

“Miss Monroe, you’re receiving a call.” FRIDAY’s voice announced.

You jumped off the couch and ran to comm beacon in the middle of the table.

“Hello?” You ask, hopeful.

“Hey, Punchline! Miss me?” Sam’s humorous tone asked.

You couldn’t even speak, the only sound escaping your lips was an almost sob of relief.

You hear Steve chuckle in the background. “I’ll take that as a yes, meet us on the roof in 5?”

“You bet.” You reply quickly.

You pull your gray, half-zip hoodie over your head as you jog to the elevator. “Flight deck.” You announce as you enter.

The doors close and you hear and feel the rumble of the Quinjet docking. “Finally.” You whisper to yourself.

You get to the roof and see the bay doors opening as the ramp drops. Steve is the first one out, followed swiftly by Sam.

“You guys look the shit.” You jest, running at Steve with open arms.

He wraps you in the tightest hug, “Missed you too, Ella.” He laughs.

“How ‘bout me?” Sam asks. You turn to him with a smile, and he embraced you too.

“Is everyone alright? Did you...did you guys...is it done?” You couldn’t really formulate a thought, your mind still wondering how the hell they survived.

Steve nodded. “Every ounce of data we could extract, we did. That base wasn’t even close to inactive. In fact, it was the hub for HYDRA’s new order.”

Your mouth dropped, “What?”

Sam spoke, “Don’t worry, there’s a debriefing tomorrow, we’ll let you know everything we know.”

Your eyes glance behind Steve and Sam. You see Wanda and Vision exit the plane, relieved that they’re okay. You were chewing on your bottom lip, feeling the impatience take hold of you.

Where the hell is he? You thought.

“Hey Ella, listen—“ Sam said, but you tuned him out, hearing more footsteps on the ramp.

There he was, Bucky, safe and—what?

He was holding someone. A woman. Carrying her like a parent does their child after they’ve fallen asleep in the car.

She was stunning. Milky skin with gorgeous red locks. You knew who this was without a doubt, recalling her photo from the file you’d read months ago. Natasha, the Black Widow.

She was smiling. He was smiling. A real, genuine, happy look graced his face as he walked towards you all.

“Barnes, you can put me down now.” She laughed.

He shook his head, “Not a chance, Kitten. Can’t have you runnin’ off on me again can we?”

She pushed some hair out of his face, “I’m not going anywhere this time. I found what I was looking for, and I don’t intend on letting it go.” She smirked her perfect lips at him, causing him to blush.

Bucky places her gently on her feet before looking at you. His eyes looked panicked as he took in the expression on your face.

“You must be Ella! Nice to meet you, I’m Nat. Steve’s told me so much about you.” She smiled, pulling you in for a hug.

Why didn’t Bucky tell you about me? You think begrudgingly.

A smile graced your face nonetheless as you return the hug. “Its an honor, you’re a legend.” You say in an attempt to control your tone. It was true, too. Natasha Romanoff was infamous in your line of work.

“Don’t boost her ego, Kid.” Tony says walking by you.

You smiled politely, eager to escape to your room. “Well you guys must be exhausted, I’ll let you—“

“Hell no. I need a drink and I need one now.” Sam said as he walked towards the door leading back inside.

“You think you get to drink alone, Wilson? I don’t believe that’s how this relationship works.” Tony said as he completed his retinal scan by the keypad.

“We’re gonna have a ‘hey look at that, none of us died’ dinner tonight. Pizza, beer, booze, music. 8 o’clock in the lounge.” Tony said disappearing inside.

You turned around to see Bucky whispering in Natasha’s ear, both laughing like giddy fucking schoolgirls.

Are they...does he...is she... you’re brain tried to think, but it couldn’t seem to complete a thought.

You wanted to punch him in that smug face of his. He didn’t even have the balls to say goodbye to you when he left, and now that he’s back he has the audacity to not say two words to you?

“I’m always down for pizza, how ‘bout you Ella?” Steve asked, swinging an arm around your shoulder and leading you back inside.

Bucky eyed Steve with a curious look, but you couldn’t help smiling at your friend, “Is that even a question, Steve? Pizza is a main food group in my opinion, you know that.”

He and Nat were swiftly on you heels. “You sure about that Els? You look exhausted, have you been sleeping?” Bucky asks from behind you.

You stop suddenly and turn on your heel. Is he serious? The first thing he says to you is basically ‘you look like shit’ and ‘please don’t come to this party’.

“Now that you mention it, Sergeant, I haven’t been sleeping. I was worried about my friends. Wondering when and if I’d see them again, I’d hate to leave thing left unsaid,”

You grab Steve’s and Sam’s hand in each of yours and lift them, “But it looks like everyone I care about made it back on one piece.”

You turn back around and head into the elevator with everyone.

You stood in your room, fuming.

Is this really who you’ve become? This pathetic teenager pining after someone who will never be hers?

It sure seems that way.

Your stomach churns at the image of he and Nat...together.

An excessive groan leaves your lips as you flop on the bed, ready to let yourself wallow.

Your plans, however, are interrupted by a knock on your door. “What?!” You scream.

The door opens slowly, “I thought you’d have missed me?” Wanda says.

You shoot up, and smile like an idiot. “Of course I missed you, Wan. I’m so glad you’re back!” You embrace her.

The two of you had become quite close recently, and it was so nice to have a girl friend around again.

“Then why do I get the feeling I interrupted a wallowing session, hm?” She said slyly.

You raise an eyebrow at her, “Wan...” You scold.

“I know, I know—stay outta your head. But Ella, your thoughts are so loud I can barely hear my own!” She laughed.

You sigh and sit on the edge of your bed, Wanda joining you.

“I’m just mad. I’m mad at myself for acting like a love struck teenager, I’m mad at him for yoyo-ing me all the damn time. I’m just...”

“In love.” She finished your sentence.

You laugh aloud, “Wan, you have to know someone to love them. That big oaf of a man is too damn stubborn to let anyone in! Besides, I don’t think it’s me he wants.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?” She asked.

You stand heading to your closet, looking through clothes to wear for tonight.

“Nothing. Forget I mentioned it.”

Wanda’s footsteps followed you, “I know you say Bucky’s stubborn, but so are you, Ella.” She smiled softly, her nimble fingers landing on a black velvet dress.

“This one.” She says. The long sleeved, deep v dress was your absolute favorite, and also very fancy.

“Isn’t that a bit much?” You ask.

She raised her eyebrows at you. “Uh, have you met Tony? He says ‘pizza and beer’ but he means a gala... with less people.”

“Fine, but I swear to God if you don’t dress up too then I’m coming back here and putting on pajamas.” You hold your pinky out to her.

She hooks it with a smile, “Deal.”

8 o’clock comes far too fast in your opinion.

You’d spent the last two hours in your bathroom doing your makeup and hair, and you look damn good.

The dress rested a bit below mid-thigh, and fit you perfectly. You make a mental not to thank Wanda later for forcing you into it.

“Breathe, Ella.” You say to yourself as the elevator carries you to the lounge floor.

Your black heels click through the corridor, the sound softening as your ears fill with classic rock from the end of the hall.

You slowly push the wooden door open, and spot everyone mingling. Maria Hill was there, as was Rhodey, and another man you’d never met before.

“Oh shoot! I didn’t know we had a supermodel living with us!” Sam shouts.

You laugh, “Oh shut up, you’ve clearly already been drinking.”

He shook his head, “So what? I still got eyes, don’t I?”

“You look beautiful.” Steve says cutting Sam off, placing a kiss on your cheek.

You blush, “Thank you, Steve. You boys clean up pretty nice too. I don’t think we’ve ever seen each other like this.”

Steve shakes his head, “Not exactly the suit I’m most comfortable in.” He took a sip of what you assume is scotch. “What are you drinkin’, sweetheart?” He asks.

“Honestly? Anything with vodka. Then I’ll have a shot or two.” You say, taking a seat at the high top table next to him.

“Coming right up, Sam why don’t you come with me fore you dig a deeper hole for yourself?”

You hear Sam grumbling as Steve drags him away, and you suddenly feel yourself being watched.

You scan the room, and spot him almost instantly. He’s standing with Nat, her back to you, leaning on the bar.

Bucky’s eyes, though glassy from the booze no doubt, had never been more focused.

His gaze roamed your body from your feet to your face. He licked his lips slowly, before capturing his bottom one in his teeth.

Shaking your head, you look away from him. “Don’t even think about it, buddy.” You mutter to yourself. You glance at him quickly one final time and see Nat waving her hand in front of his face.

Bucky’s trance seems to get broken and he falls back into conversation with her with ease.

“Moscow Mule? I think that’s what the bartender called it.” Steve says approaching you.

A light bulb suddenly goes off in your head.

“Steve? Can I ask for a favor?” You say, squeezing the lime into your drink

He nods, “Anything, what’s on your mind?”

You let out a large breath. “Okay, please don’t think I’m immature but I’ve been thoroughly pissed at your best pal over there,” you gesture with a nod of your head.

“and I’d really like to get him back for all the shit he’s put me through.”

Steve sips his drink again, as Sam places 3 shot of Jameson on the table. “What did you have in mind?”

Bucky’s breathing stopped the moment he saw her. He didn’t think she could get anymore beautiful.

Turns out he was incredibly, outstandingly wrong.

He felt his heat racing and his blood pumping, drowning out whatever Nat was telling him about her plans for the evening.

Ella’s eyes were everything to him. They bared her soul and showed him her heart at the same time. He’d never been able to see a future for himself, until she fell into his life.

He worried about her constantly. Not being able to see her or talk to her or hear her voice for nearly 3 weeks drove him crazy. Then seeing her in the state she was in, so obviously sleep deprived and stressed. He hated himself for making her worry so much, and it was clear she wasn’t too happy with him when he got back this morning.

“Hello, Earth to Barnes? Did you hear me?” Nat said, waving her hand.

Bucky shook his head, “No sorry, what was that?”

Nat smiled slyly. “Mhm, your girls got you in a tizzy, that’s for sure.” She said, sipping her martini.

Bucky smiled shyly. “She’s not my girl, no matter how much I wish she was.”

Nat slapped his lapel, “So what the fuck are you doing fuck standing here with me?!”

“Ow! Okay, okay! Christ, shouldn’t you be fucking Banner in a utility closet or something?” He laughed stepping away from her.

“All in good time, Barnes. Now go get your girl.” She said spinning away from him.

Bucky’s eyes traveled to where she was standing, but she wasn’t there. Sam was in her spot, downing a shot Bucky was sure he’d regret in the morning.

He maneuvered around the groups of people, searching for her. The soft rock music playing poignantly through the speakers, he sees a few couples dancing.

He scoots around them and spots Steve.

Good for him. He thought happily to himself.

When Steve sways around with his partner, he sees its not a random guest he’s dancing with. Steve is dancing with a beautiful girl, a woman, Bucky’s girl.

Bucky wants to throw up and kick his ass all at once.

But then he sees Ella.

She’s smiling, and comfortable. She’s happy as she rests her head on Steve’s chest, and sways to the rhythm of the song.

The alcohol in his system doesn’t make these feelings any easier to handle. His vibranium fist clenching and unclenching.

A whirring sound get both Steve and your attention. That’s when you see Bucky standing about 10 feet away from the two of you as he watches dance.

“Hey Buck, wh—“

“Shut the fuck up, Steve.” Bucky slurs.

Your eyes widen at the words he says to his friend. Bucky is visibly shaking, and obviously drunk—probably more so than you, and that’s saying something since Sam kept the shots coming.

“Bucky, stop.” You say before your mind can stop you.

He lets out a sarcastic laugh, “Not fucking him, huh?” He spat in anger as he pushed by you, leaving the lounge all together.

Steve looked to the door, then to you. Your eyes brimming with tears as you swallowed a sob.

He looks at you with a sad smile, and nods his head toward the door. “Go get him.”

Chapter Nine: Seen

[angryteapot]

Murphy’s Law v. Bruce Banner

Characters: Reader, Natasha Romanoff, Bucky Barnes, Vision, Helen Cho (mentioned), Bruce Banner

Word Count: 1740

Warnings: None, I think? Let me know if I need to add anything. 

Summary: Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong; but can Bruce Banner reverse that law and make you happy? 

A/N: Anon requested “Bruce Banner where he sees her cry for the first time and he’s like ‘no no no please don’t cry’ cause he thinks he did something wrong but it’s really because he makes her so happy? maybe involving a first kiss?” 

Prompt bolded in text, hope you like this, sweet anon! <3

You know that whole ‘whatever can go wrong, will go wrong’ thing? Yep, Murphy’s law was in full effect for you today. You woke up agitated and in pain from sleeping wrong, stubbed your toe on the leg of the bed, and very nearly fell in the shower but twinged your ankle in the process of trying not to fall.

While most of your clothes were in need of a wash, at least your favorite shirt and legging were clean. Well, they might have been clean, but you soon discovered that there were a few holes that needed mending. Wonderful.

Walking down the silent hallways to the main kitchen, you were hopeful that some coffee and perhaps a muffin would put your day back on track. You arrived to find Nat slumped over the counter with her eyes closed, Bucky cooking eggs and bacon, and Vision making a fresh pot of coffee.

Rubbing your tired eyes you greeted, “Morning guys. Where’s the rest of the team?”

Nat didn’t even bother opening her eyes before grumbling out, “Short notice PR event. We weren’t invited.”

“Good. Ain’t in a mood to deal with squabbling idiots anyways,” Bucky spoke what you were thinking, harshly flipping the sizzling bacon as he grouched.

You slumped down next to Nat at the bar counter, using her arm as a pillow. She pat your head limply as Vision set down a steaming cup of coffee in front of you.

“Mmm, thanks Vis, just what I needed.” You hummed your appreciation at him as you took your first sip. Blegh. You nearly spit out the ‘coffee’ as you choked down the sip. It was incredibly watered down, yet still managed to taste like tar. You sighed and discreetly pushed the mug a ways away from you. So much for your hopes of coffee uplifting your mood.

Nat gave you a sympathetic smile while Bucky just silently laughed from his place at the stove.

“How’s the breakfast comin’, Barnes?” You lay your cheek on the cooled countertop, wishing for a delicious breakfast for your grumbling stomach.

Bucky winced, looking slightly put out. “I dunno doll, it’s not lookin’ so great. Eggs look rubbery and bacon is mostly fat. Sorry sweetheart.”

You slid off the stool, ruffled Nat’s hair and walked around the counter to grab a muffin. “‘S okay Buck, it’s the thought that counts. Thanks for the coffee, Vis.” You side-hugged a pouting Bucky and oblivious Vision before shuffling your way back to your room, a mystery muffin in hand.

You took a bite of the muffin, gagging in angry disappointment - it was a bran muffin. You were going to punch Tony when he came back for even thinking of buying those bland monstrosities.

Tossing the muffin in the trash can as you walked into your room, you flopped on the bed, playing a few games and reading, until your alarm went off, signaling that it was time to spar with Nat. You sighed wearily and changed into your gear.

* * *

Well then… today was definitely not your day. The ankle you twinged in the shower? Yeah it was definitely bruised and swollen now. Your shoulder was slightly out of place, and you probably had a bruised rib or two.

Sparring hadn’t been any more brutal than usual, but your hadn’t been focused, and you got sloppy and made mistakes that led to injuries. Trying to look on the bright side of things, you told yourself that at least you would get to see Bruce in the med bay.

* * *

You were pouting. You knew it wasn’t dignified, but you were frustrated. Bruce hadn’t been in the med bay, and it was Dr. Cho that had scolded you for being so careless. You liked Helen, but Bruce held a special place in your heart and always made you smile.

All in all, it was just an awful day and you were in no mood to socialize. The others had come back from the PR event and declared a movie night, but you didn’t feel like joining them, instead opting to sulk in your bed for the rest of the night.

You were barely getting settled in when you heard a soft knock on your door. Close to tears of frustration, you groaned and shuffled over to answer it, opening the door to reveal… Bruce.

Bruce - with a sweet smile, holding a tray with two mugs of hot tea and a plate of, what looked like, his rarely-made scratch cookies. Bruce’s gentle, hesitant voice was like a soothing balm to your ears, “I hope I’m not bothering, I just heard you were having a bad day, and I wanted to cheer you up. Is that okay?”

Now let’s get one thing straight - you never cried. You hated crying. You tell everyone that you were dead inside that you ‘lost your tear ducts in the war.’ But with all the frustration of the day, and this sweet gesture from your favorite person? Yep - waterfalls here we come.

Bruce looked shocked, and rightfully so, because he had never seen you cry before. Not once, not even when you had fractured nearly every bone in your body, on that one mission everyone refused to talk about.

“Oh, no no no, please don’t cry sweetheart, I can’t stand to see you cry.” Bruce quickly put the tray on your desk and wrapped you in the warmest, tightest hug you’d ever received.

He said it so tenderly, so sincerely, words fierce with affection and worry. His warm hug and puppy dog eyes, paired with the sweet nickname, had you clinging to him and crying harder. He picked you up effortlessly and laid you on the bed, still in his embrace, swaddling the both of you in your softest blanket. You tried, and failed, to not focus on how strong and sweet he was.

Bruce held you tightly, and you cried into his shoulder until the tea went cold and your tears finally abated. He looked down at you with a sad smile, and you nearly cried again at how tender and worried his gaze was, and god, you were so hopelessly in love with him.

He saw the tears well up in your eyes again, pain gripping at his heart as he stroked the tears away with his thumb. He felt so helpless, seeing you hurting, and there was nothing he wanted more than to kiss your pain and frustration away.

Bruce’s mind was racing a mile a minute, weighing to pros and cons of his next decision. It would change everything. You were his best friend, one of the few who saw Hulk as part of him, not as a separate monster that needed curing. When Bruce was feeling frustrated and overworked, you were the one who breezed into his lab with a joke and a sandwich for him, looking over his notes.

You were to the one that casually pointed out his mistakes and fixed equations, the one that stayed up with him after Hulked-out missions and brought him down from his nauseous, nightmare-filled mindset in the aftermath. You never saw him as a monster, or as someone replaceable. You didn’t see the scientist with seven PHDs, you didn’t see a giant green rage monster, you saw him. Bruce steeled his nerves and decided to take the plunge, hoping he wouldn’t ruin everything.

Hugging you tighter, his hands soothingly stroking your back, his gentle voice broke the silence. “I know you’ve been having a rough day, and I don’t want to add on to it, but I can’t hold back anymore. Not with those pretty eyes staring up at me while you’re finally in my arms.”

Your breath caught in your throat, heart pounding at the implication of his words, but you kept your hope carefully caged.

Bruce took a shaky breath, steeling himself for his next words, the ones that would change everything. “I - I love you. So much more than I could ever put into words, and it hurts me to see you sad. I want to kiss all the pain away from the sad pout.”

He ran a trembling finger over your bottom lip with such reverence. “I understand if you don’t feel the same, I really do, but I just couldn’t hold it in anymore. I know it doesn’t make much sense - you and I - but I promise that I’ll never stop trying to make you happy. But if you want to forget this ever happened, we can do that too, go back to being best friends and nothing more.”

He warily looked at you, internally facepalming himself at his rambling, afraid that he just ruined his friendship with you.

Your heart was about to beat out of your chest, sadness long forgotten, joy filling you with the knowledge that he loved you too. You smiled up at him through glassy eyes and whispered, “Y’know, for being a genius, you can be pretty oblivious sometimes.”

His affronted look was soon transformed into shock as you tightened your arms around him and softly met his lips with your own.

Bruce froze for a few seconds before his brain came back online, deceptively strong arms tightening around you as he kissed back, pouring all his long-held emotions into the passionate kiss.

Was saying ‘I love you’ bold and too soon, seeing as how he’d never really been in a serious relationship? Probably. Was bruce acting wildly out of character, declaring his love and being affectionate? Most definitely, but being so close to you was making him loopy, and he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Were you both going to panic about the new change in your relationship later? Probably. But for now, you continued to sweetly kiss until you were both smiling too much to continue.

After stealing another quick kiss, because he could do that now, Bruce went to reheat the tea and cookies he had brought. While he was gone doing that, you took the moment to do an excited wiggle, laughing to yourself that you finally landed the stupidly sweet scientist you had been pining after for years.

A little while later, with full bellies and content smiles, you both lay swaddled in blankets and each other’s arms, slowly drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

Your day may have started off badly, but it had ended in the greatest joy you’ve experienced - being loved by Bruce Banner.

[onbartonspringsfic]

Chapter 80

Standing in front of the full length mirror in the master suite, you slip on your new dress, run your fingers through your hair to smooth it down and examine your reflection from every angle. You really do love it. The shape is flattering and comfortable and the color is gorgeous, but you just aren’t sure about the plunging neckline. It’s not that it looks bad, it’s just different. Your small chest has always made you a bit self-conscious and wearing something that draws attention to it feels strange, rather like you’re trying to pretend to be someone or something you’re not. You tilt your head and frown slightly at the deep narrow V, still unsure.

“Babe, have you seen my… “ Dave stops in mid-sentence upon seeing you as he strides into the room. “Whoa.”

“Your what?” you ask, furrowing your brow.

“Is that what you bought today?” he asks, stepping toward you slowly and motioning at the dress.

“Yep. What do you think? I like it, but I feel strange in it.” Turning back to frown in the mirror again, you glance over your shoulders’ reflection at the still approaching Dave. He takes you by the hand and spins you around like a ballet dancer to face him. Putting both hands on your hips, he takes a small step back to look at you from head to toe.

“You look beautiful.” His voice is soft, deep and slightly lusty. He runs his index, middle and ring fingers delicately across your bare cleavage causing you to shiver a little. You smile and drop your chin. “Actually, better than that. Ali was right. You have to go shopping with her more often.” His fingers move from your chest to your chin and tilts your face up toward his.

“You like it, then?”

He grins. You melt. It never ceases to amaze you how that smile of his makes you melt.

“Alison said it would be perfect for me to wear to one of your fancier parties or events. Which freaks me out a little.”

“Why?”

“It still seems weird to assume I’ll be going to stuff like that with you. I guess in a way, this still doesn’t seem real. I don’t expect you to take me to places like that. I’m content to just wait in the wings for you. I’m not about all that stuff. This isn’t me.”

He laughs and pulls you closer. You swear you can feel his heart beating through his shirt.

“Penny, you’re my girl now. I love you. More than you seem to understand. I will be proud and honored to have you on my arm and show you off anywhere. I don’t care what you wear - shorts and a t-shirt or a fancy dress. But you look incredible in that dress.”

The butterflies in your stomach feel like they are attending a rave as he wraps you in his arms and kisses you.

“Actually,” you whisper with a coy smile, “the main reason I bought it is so that you could take it off.” He raises his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Oh stop!” you giggle. “It’s your fault my mind falls into the gutter so easily. I never used to be an easy little tramp till I met you.” Sliding a hand between you, you grip the erection he’s been pressing against your groin and give it a gentle squeeze. “Filthy fucking rock star.”

“I will take full responsibility for corrupting you. Now. I want to see what that dress looks like draped over that chair,” he growls, his eyes glued to you while motioning to the lounge chaise in the corner with a nod of his head, “and how you look draped all over me.”

His calloused fingers tickle down your side as he lowers the zipper to your waist and carefully slips your arms out of the bodice. He kisses you deeply as it falls to the floor, his lips moving from your mouth to your neck, collarbone and chest before hastily snatching up the dress and placing it carefully over the chair. You smile at this courtesy and wait patiently, lunging at him when he starts back over to you.

Sliding both hands under his shirt, you begin to tug it off and, as he pulls it over his head, you begin unbuckling his belt. Before you know it you’re both naked, horizontal and have become an entangled mess of sheets, flesh and hair. To Dave’s surprise, you push him flat on his back, straddle him and, pressing your breasts against his chest, begin to kiss is neck gently. A quiet sign escapes his parted lips as you slowly rock your hips front to back, feeling the delicious, wet friction between your legs. A couple of extra strategic moves guides him inside you and you sit upright, sinking him as far in as you possibly can. He grabs your hips and thrusts upward while simultaneously pulling you into him. You squeal loudly in both pleasure and surprise and he grins at you again. He laces his fingers with yours.

“I honestly think this gets better every time we do it,” he says, matter-of-fact. “But what happened to that shy, self-conscious girl from before?”

“Which one?” You raise an eyebrow at him and try not to smile. “The one that agreed to spend the night with you fifteen minutes after she met you, the one that spontaneously kissed you in the elevator on the way to soundcheck or the one who fucked you side stage in front of everyone in Zilker Park?”

You wait while he considers this. “Did you like her better?” He cracks another smile.

“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it.” He’s smiling but sounds completely serious. “I just mean you’ve changed a little since we met. In a positive way. You’ve got more confidence. You’re more assertive. I’m proud of you. Plus, it’s very sexy.”

Smiling, you look away, turning your head enough to hide the side of your face behind your hair. You’re flattered but a little embarrassed. Prying your left hand from his right, you delicately run your index finger over the feather tattoo you love so much.  

“There’s the girl I fell in love with,” he says with a little laugh. He continues to hold both of your hands, fumbling with your fingers and your grandmother’s ring while watching your face.

Sitting up tall again, you look down into his eyes and begin grinding into him again. “And there’s the girl I’m still falling in love with. Fuck me, are you wet!” He rolls his eyes before closing them, both hands letting yours go and grabbing hold of your breasts. Using your upper thighs for support, you slowly begin riding him again.  

“Fuck me hard,” he orders in his usual growl. “Show me how fuckin’ much you want it. Make yourself cum. Let’s break the bed frame this time.”

--------

“Penny,” Alison whispers softly over her glass of red wine. She’s sat directly across the dinner table from you and is quietly trying to get your attention as the conversation you have been having with Pat, Dave and Nate begins to slow. Reaching for your water goblet, you make eye contact with her and take a sip. She cuts her eyes sharply to her left and quickly looks back at you. Casually, you glance in the same direction to find Chris staring directly at you. You hold his gaze for several seconds before looking back at what’s left of the piece of pepperoni and mushroom pizza on your plate. A few moments later, a casual glance to your right at Dave reveals that he is staring directly at Chris. You watch him for an uncomfortable moment and, as you peek briefly at Chris again, Dave’s hand gives your knee a squeeze and you look at him again to find him smiling at you. All of the discomfort disappears.

“How’s your slice, babe?” he asks, leaning over so that you can hear him over the crowded pizzeria noise.

You nod enthusiastically as you chew and he smiles warmly. After another sip of water, you start to ask how his pizza is and notice that he hasn’t touched it or the pint of beer he’d ordered upon arrival.

“What’s wrong?” you ask with a hint of concern.

“I’m just not hungry,” he says, shaking his head and pushing his plate away from him. “I dunno.” He looks at you again, his features soft, loving and a bit sad. “Would you be mad at me if I got out of here?”

“Yeah, we can go,” you say without hesitation as you start to get up. He presses the hand on your knee down gently.

“You don’t have to leave. I don’t mind if you stay and hang out. They’re your friends now too, you know.”

“Dave, honey, what’s wrong?”

“I just wanna get out of here, go back to the room,” he says, shaking his head slightly. “I’m sorry.”

You toss the cloth napkin from your lap onto the table. “I’ll go with you… unless you just don’t want me to. Do you need some alone time?”

“No, I’d love it if you come too. I just don’t want to make you leave if you aren’t ready. Alison’s here and I know how much you love all these guys…” his eyes dart around before landing on you again. You wonder if he is still watching Chris, but you don’t dare look away.

“Ali, we’re heading out,” you say loudly enough to get her attention. You notice that it’s also gotten Chris’ attention. Ali frowns and sets down her wine. “All of today’s excitement has worn him out. We’re gonna turn in early.”

You leave the room to a series of goodnight shouts, step into the chilly evening air and hail a cab. Moments later you are creeping along in traffic in the back seat with Dave’s arm around you. He gives you a gentle squeeze, a kiss on the temple and you smile at the warmth of his embrace and the tickle of his beard on your cheek.

“Thanks for coming with me.” He still sounds tired or maybe even sad. “You really didn’t have to. I wouldn’t have minded if you’d stayed. I’m really glad that you get on so well with everyone. And they really like you too. I told you you’d make some friends.” After a moment he quietly adds, “But I’m really grateful you left with me.”

You slide an arm across his belly, grabbing his side and give him the tightest hug you can muster. You aren’t sure where all of this is coming from or what’s going on, but you don’t ask again. If he wants to talk about it, he’ll do it in his own time.

“I love you,” you murmur into his coat.

“I love you more,” he retorts, his voice deep, warm and dreamy.

The hotel is cozy and welcoming and, while you enjoyed hanging out with the others, it felt good to be out of the noise and cold. Dave collapses silently on the sofa and, after hanging up both of your coats, you fall in next to him. You look at him sideways without saying anything. He seems totally spaced out and you place a hand on his thigh. He picks up your fingers, lacing them with his, lazily tilts his head to the side and gives you a small smile. He looks beautiful, his face soft and framed by his long dark hair. Your stomach does a bit of a flip flop and you carefully slip one leg across his lap and have a seat, looking at him face to face. He pushes a lock of hair behind your ear.

“Penny, can I ask you something?” He sounds worn out, exhausted from such an exciting, full first day on the set.

“Of course, sweetie. Always.”

“Do you promise you’ll tell me the truth, no matter how much you think it’s gonna hurt me, or make me angry?”

Taken aback, your heart sinks a little. Alison was right. The thing between you and Chris is obvious and Dave has picked up on it.

“What we have was built on honesty. I wouldn’t break that trust now.”

“Are you in love with Chris? Are you two seeing each other behind my back? Just tell me if you are. I need to know.”

Not especially wanting to have this conversation in this particular position, you start to get up but he grabs your hips to keep you in your provocative seat.

“Don’t run off. Just please talk to me.” He takes both of your hands in his and looks down into his lap, like he is afraid to look at you.

“I wasn’t leaving, I was just going to change seats,” you promise, relaxing and trying to watch his face. “Chris and I are not seeing each other.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“Chris and I got close in Austin and he’s one of my best friends. I love him, but I don’t know that I am in love with him. I do know, however, that I am very much head over heels stupid crazy in love with you. What makes you ask this all of a sudden?”

He finally looks you in the eye. “You two have just been acting weird. And every time I look at him, he’s staring at you. But I haven’t seen you staring at him, so I wasn’t sure. Is there something I need to know?”

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” You are very matter-of-fact in this, surprised that this doesn’t make you as uneasy as you might have expected. You haven’t cheated on Dave, and you’ve made your intentions clear with Chris. There was nothing to hide, so there was nothing to be nervous about.

“I want to know everything that you guys haven’t already told me.”

You attempt to rise again and this time he allows it, his eyes sadly following you to the other side of the coffee table to where you take a new seat on the opposite sofa.

“Okay… I’ll start at the hotel in Austin.”

[annequinox]

Traveling With a Lonely Immortal

Part 2/? [part 1] [part 3] Pairing: Zeref and Lucy Rating: T Word count: 5,453 Status: Ongoing A/N: Wah! Finally! I thought I would never be able to finish this part. It was so long and well, I tried not to rush the romance. And it still isn’t! You’ll have to wait until the next part for their kisses (maybe?) and such! Hahaha anyway, I hope you enjoy this part!

Summary: When Lucy is given a chance to save her mother, she takes it, unbeknownst to her that the cost will be leaving the Heartfilia family forever. In addition to that, she has to spend the rest of her life with the most evil mage of all time and accompany him until her last breath.

He smiled. “That’s right.”

Lucy looked at him, her breath caught up in her throat. It wasn’t easy getting here, she knew that. But this moment—this reality, it felt very much surreal. Like perhaps, it was all just a dream.

“Y-You… You’re actually here,” she breathed, disbelieving. “Just like they said you would be.”

Zeref furrowed his eyebrows and took a step back, bringing a hand to his head as he massaged his temples. “You were just lucky. I don’t usually help mortals, much less young girls like you.”

“W-Why did you show up then?”

He paused, eyes lowering. “I don’t know.”

Lucy stared at him and noticed, for the first time, that although he was known as the darkest mage in all of Ishgar, he didn’t look that evil. He looked like a young boy, lost and alone—just like her. But first impressions weren’t accurate all the time anyway.

She hid her hands behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t notice that she was trembling. “M-My mother…”

“What about her?”

“A curse was placed on her,” she replied, biting her lip. Her nerves were killing her but he merely nodded, urging her to continue. “I—only you can lift it.”

Zeref seemed to think about this, but it was more like he dropped his head and closed his eyes. She couldn’t tell if he was actually laughing at her or if he was even considering her pleas. And yet, she hoped with all her might that he did. She prayed to the skies that they grant her wish, even if it could may as well be her last one.

He lifted his head and looked at her. “You’re from…?”

“F-Fiore.”

Stunned, he held her gaze for a long time. “That’s at the opposite end of this continent, you know.”

Lucy flushed. “Yes, I know.” She did know. Home was beyond her grasp, barely even touching the tips of her fingertips. It had been months since she left—five? Six? She wasn’t entirely certain, but she knew it could be longer than that, not less. “Please, I only have so little time left. Lift the curse that was placed on my mother, I beg you!”

He pressed his lips into a thin line. “I will help you.”

She froze. “Y-You will?”

“But on one condition.”

Lucy’s heart dropped in a second. She was frightened. She knew though that whatever he threw at her, she would gladly accept. If it meant healing her mother, then she was going to do whatever he wanted her to do.

She gave him a nod. “What—sure, o-okay.”

Suddenly he was directly in front of her, their faces inches apart as his eyes stared deep into her soul. His smile was cruel. “You will accompany me. Be my companion for the rest of your life or else your mother dies.”

She didn’t let even a heartbeat pass.

“I accept.”

約

Lucy watched from a distance as Zeref made his presence known to the Heartfilia Konzern. The mansion was in a frenzy, barricading windows, locking doors, closing all the lights—they were making him a significant guest even though most would have attacked him on sight.

She smiled sadly, looking on as her mother and father bowed deeply to the greatest mage of all time. She missed home. This was where she was meant to be and here she was, her journey at an end. And yet, she couldn’t even let them know that she was alive, that she was here. She couldn’t even tell them about her travels or how she wished she could visit them for at least once a year.

“Where is my daughter?” she heard Layla ask, her voice weak and shaky. “W-Where’s Lucy?”

Zeref remained stoic. “The girl is dead. It is a curse that I also have—any living being that approaches me or is around me dies when my magic goes rampant.”

There was a silence that seemed louder than anything she had ever heard of.

“You are fortunate to have her. If she hadn’t begged me to save your life, I would have turned her down, regardless of whether or not she would die.”

Lucy closed her eyes, shielding herself of the view of her parents breaking down. It was one of their deals—no one from the Heartfilias could know that she was still alive. Because whether it was her decision or not, they were going to go after her. One way or another, they would want to have her back.

She supposed she saw the logic in that. She didn’t want her parents to think that she left them on purpose too, so this was better. She didn’t really have much of a choice.

It was only a few minutes later when Layla was cured. Zeref didn’t take too long. The removal of the curse was hasty and simple for a dark mage like him. Within moments, her mother was already walking, her skin healthy as though she was never ill. The bruises on her skin were gone, leaving no scars behind. Even her father couldn’t believe it and already had his wife in his arms, embracing her with so much love that Lucy didn’t feel any regret at all.

Although she would no longer be in the picture, she wished for them eternal happiness.

As soon as the ritual was finished, the household began to offer him gifts as thanks. Zeref took that as his cue to leave and vanished in a haze of dark wisps. He reappeared beside her, patting his robes down before meeting her eyes. It was only for a brief second before he decided to look away, and she took this chance.

“Can we…” she paused, swallowing. “C-Can I at least stay for my funeral?”

“Okay.”

She smiled tearfully. “Thank you.”

The wake lasted for about three days. Cousins and distant relatives visited her, crying over how she had so much left to do and yet she died at such a young age. She found it ironic how she knew none of them but they still lamented for her, as if they had the tightest bond that no one could break. Perhaps there were some who wished they had at least tried to talk to her. Somehow, it made her regret that she was never that close with her cousins. Nevertheless, it was saving them the grief, not knowing her much.

No one questioned why the casket was empty. No one even mentioned the fact that her mother was fine, like a miracle had occurred. Just a few months ago she was a ticking time bomb and was bedridden. Seeing her walk around the mansion like she was never sick to begin with raised suspicions, but no one dared to ask due to the sullen atmosphere.

It was a depressing occasion. The mansion was packed with people from daylight to nighttime and the families occupied nearly all of the rooms to stay for the burial. It was odd, watching them mourn for her death. Was this really how funerals worked? It seemed fake, like maybe everyone was just pretending to be miserable. It felt peculiar, watching people pray for her when she was just there—alive and breathing. But no one could know. No one could know that Lucy Heartfilia was never really dead to begin with.

And so she was no longer a Heartfilia. Only Lucy.

On the fourth day, it rained. She didn’t know if it was Zeref’s doing or the heavens, but it was a heavy downpour while they gathered outside for her burial. Every person wore black clothing and it was a solemn ceremony, something she did not want. Truthfully, she wanted an upbeat funeral. She wanted people to remember her through happy moments and smile through those times. But she was only fifteen. And fifteen years wasn’t much of an experience for some, so they could only cry over her wasted years.

When the funeral was over and her relatives were beginning to leave, Lucy decided that it was time to start another journey. But where to, she didn’t know. It was up to Zeref this time.

It was no longer her choice to make.

勇

The route they were taking was different from hers. It should be easier, since Zeref had the power to teleport if he wanted to, but she noticed that he avoided this and joined her in the magical vehicle. Sometimes when her magic began to dilute, he would take her place and drive the four wheeler.

“Let’s stop by Tenrou Island after Crocus,” he told her and she merely nodded, the conversation at an end.

Lucy leaned against the windowsill and watched another sunset. It was strange, having to watch it with someone else. She was still cautious around Zeref though and they didn’t have much of a relationship—only travelers in the same vehicle. She didn’t attempt to make little talk with him, afraid of how he would react. He wasn’t exactly being friendly to her.

Breathing in deeply, she opted to busy herself with the map. They went west this time, going around Fiore and crossing the ocean to get to Caelum. She wasn’t planning on asking him why he chose this path, but she seldom felt like she needed to.

“Do you wish to rest for the night?”

She stared at the back of his head in surprise. Blinking herself out of her stupor, she cleared her throat and said, “I d-don’t mind if you wish to continue traveling, Lord Zeref.”

She thought she may have heard him huff. “I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

She lowered her gaze to her lap, clenching her fists. “But…”

“Zeref is fine,” he explained, sighing as he looked over his shoulder. “Get some sleep. We’ll switch in a few hours.”

Lucy chose to stay quiet and lied on the long bench, turning to her side. She thought it would be impossible to fall asleep with this situation. But within seconds, she was deep into slumber, the dark mage keeping a careful eye on her so she wouldn’t fall.

勇

Crocus was lovely. She thought she would never be able to look around the cities and towns if she was to accompany him. He was turning out to be kinder than most people made him seem like. Smiling to herself, she took the liberty of throwing away her old clothes and bought herself a fresh set, along with a cloak. Zeref had advised her to get one if she were to travel with him.

“A magical cloak would be better,” he had told her. “I can enchant it to keep you hidden when needed.”

Munching on a hamburger, she reminisced about the events that unfolded this year. She thought about how in just a few months, she would be turning sixteen. Her spirits had argued with her a lot with what happened, especially Aquarius. They even refused to be summoned for some time, which complicated things when she trained. Eventually they warmed up to her once again and decided to let it be.

When they left the Heartfilia Konzern, they didn’t begin their journey immediately. It took Zeref a while before he agreed that they were to start traveling. After her funeral, they spent three to four months in a cave in Mt. Hakobe. It was freezing day and night, and the Vulcans attacked nonstop.

One day, she had asked him why they were wasting time in some icy mountain.

“If you’re to travel with me, you need to get used to being in danger around the clock,” he had said, shaking his head before leaving her to train some more.

She did not complain afterwards, despite of the ache in her back from sleeping on the rocky ground and that she couldn’t wash her clothes as often as she wanted to. When Zeref deemed her ready, they left the cave. And now here they were at Crocus, the capital of Fiore.

He wasn’t really with her though. He couldn’t risk being spotted in such a populated kingdom, so he chose to stay in the forests to wait for her. And she couldn’t think of why he would trust her that much. She could run away any minute now and leave him (she was sure he would find her though) or she could disobey him and ignore the errands that he had given her.

Fortunately, Lucy wasn’t like that and she liked to keep her word.

She was back in the forest in no time. She found Zeref reading a book inside of the four wheeler, a handful of dead flowers beside him on the floor.

Lucy looked at him before taking a seat on one of the benches. “I… uh, bought a cloak just like you advised me to,” she announced, rummaging through her knapsack for the said clothing.

“Good,” he commented, flipping a page. “I’ll enchant it later.”

She blinked and nodded, pushing her bag to the end of the bench and resting her head on it. She stretched and yawned, listening to Zeref’s unconscious humming while she lifted one of his books to her face and began to read.

Halfway into a page, the book was snatched away from her hands. She jolted upright, staring at Zeref who seemed to be panicking.

“W-What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

He glanced at her before saying, “No. Don’t—just… read something else.” He released a frustrated sigh and handed her a novel. “Here.”

“O-Okay,” Lucy mumbled, scratching her neck. She took the book from his hands and resumed her position, trying to ignore the fact that she had been terrified then, thinking that she had done something wrong.

Dismissing the thought, she turned to the next page and continued reading.

共

Lucy stared at the massive tree in front of them, flabbergasted and sweating from the warm weather.

“What are we doing here?” she asked, turning to Zeref who had begun to put on his black robes. She found it slightly amusing that even the strongest mage couldn’t resist the heat.

“I’m just going to drop by an old friend and say hi,” he answered, his tone dismissive.

Deciding that it would be best to remain quiet, Lucy followed him into the island. It was getting cooler now, a better state than when they were on the ocean with the sun nearly burning her skin off, so she chose to put on her shirt as well.

She clasped her hands behind her and yawned silently. She was tired from their trip but she didn’t want him to know. Whoever this friend of his was, he or she seemed very important, for Zeref to drop by. She didn’t think he was that kind of guy. Rather, she assumed he had no friends at all, no matter how unpleasant that sounded like. Hence, she didn’t want to ruin his visit by declaring that she needed to nap first.

They were deep into the forest when he began to speak. “Do you know of the guild called Fairy Tail?” he inquired, genuine curiosity laced in his voice.

“Yeah.” It was her dream guild. “They’re the best guild in Fiore, so naturally everyone knows them. Unless they’re living under a rock or something,” she rambled, oblivious that Zeref had stopped to give her his full attention.

Resuming his walk, he smiled fondly at a thought that he was having. “They might be going here in two years,” he replied softly, and in his eyes flashed with an emotion that no one had ever seen before. “We’ll return when they come, for I have something I must do when they arrive. But for now, I suppose we can stay somewhere in the east.”

Lucy, who naturally didn’t have it in her to drop the conversation, decided to change the topic. “Do you ever… I don’t know—do you ever think about your mortality? Or the lack thereof.”

“Sometimes,” he admitted, not sounding too offended or angered by her question. He slowed his pace, walking in step with her as he glanced at her. “When you’re immortal, you have all the time to think about many things. Mostly they come after the curse has been activated and everything around me has died. I think about what I could have been if I weren’t me. I think about all the people that I met in four hundred years and how they all come and go.”

Speechless, Lucy could only stare at the dark mage. He was staring longingly straight ahead, his face holding a hint of sadness. “It didn’t take a hundred years to realize that this was truly a curse, or even a few months. It took only a day. When I entered a room and everyone had died, that’s when it hit me—that I’ll never be normal again, that this curse would be stuck with me forever.”

“And… you don’t mind telling me this?” she whispered, stunned that he would open up his heart to her. A stranger.

He shrugged. “You’re going to spend your whole life with me. Might as well, don’t you think?”

“I suppose…” she muttered in confusion. Did it really work that way? She wasn’t sure. “I guess we shouldn’t be strangers for 70 years or so.”

He hummed in agreement and they sunk into silence. However, within minutes they slowed into a stop, standing in front of a grave. Zeref smiled fondly and sat in front of it, touching the headstone and patting away the dust that had gathered.

Lucy flushed and pressed her lips together. “I, uh, I think I’ll go explore a bit more,” she stuttered nervously. When he said nothing, she began to walk away. She felt like she was disturbing something important with how he looked at the grave. It wasn’t her intention to intrude on a special visit like that.

She didn’t really go that far though, only a hundred steps away or so. She only made sure that she couldn’t understand whatever he was saying, reading the book he lent her while he talked to his old friend. The forest here seemed livable and she already knew that they would be staying for a while. Perhaps until he felt like leaving.  

It was nightfall by the time he was finished. Lucy had just woken up from a nap when she heard him approach, his face passive and lacking of emotions that he had earlier.

She frowned and opened her mouth—closed it instead. She couldn’t bring herself to ask him if he was fine.

“Let’s go,” he mumbled low under his breath. Whether she like it or not, she had to get back on the road again. Or the ocean, rather.

Halfway through packing her things, he spoke again. “No,” he said loudly, almost shouting, and she stopped, blinking. “I meant let’s set camp somewhere else. Not here.”

Oh.

Embarrassed, she ducked her head and gripped the straps of her backpack. They decided to stay the farthest possible place from the grave. He didn’t tell her why nor did she ask, but she could tell that something had happened that made his mood turn sour.

“Is everything—”

“Sleep,” he cut her off, his head turned away from her as he leaned against a tree trunk. “You haven’t had much of it.”

Mouth upturned, Lucy decided to drop the topic and turned to her side, the flickering of the flame behind her the only sound that could be heard. She closed her eyes with a sigh.

“Goodnight, Zeref,” she resolved to say, after a month’s worth of debates.

There was a deafening silence and he didn’t answer. But when his fingers touched the crown of her head and he began to run them through her hair, she decided that she didn’t particularly mind.

共

“Lucy,” Zeref called, head in his hands. “Stay back.”

She looked at him, lips pressed into a firm white line and nodded, stepping a certain distance away from the mage. In an instant the plants around him withered and the ground thundered with the force of magic. When the effects of the curse faded and Lucy could finally approach him, he raised his hand to stop her.

“Find yourself food to eat,” he rasped weakly. “This may take a while.”

Pained, Lucy could only obey. She left him to himself, sobbing against the withered trees and questioning the life that he had. The urge to kill himself was growing stronger every time the curse activated, and yet he couldn’t do it. He didn’t have the strength to.

In spite of this, it wasn’t his immortality that prevented him from suicide—it was an entirely different thing, one that he wished would remain the depths of his mind. It was something that he didn’t know how to deal with.

Lucy returned with a handful of berries after some time. She ignored the chaos around him, moving past the still bodies of animals and the crushed flowers. Sitting beside the mage, she popped a berry in her mouth and offered him some.

“I don’t want any,” he grated tiredly.

“Eat,” she told him, separating an equal amount of berries for the both of them. “Maybe it’ll make you feel better.”

His eyes narrowed, snapping towards her dangerously. “Nothing will make me feel better.”

“Really?”

Their eyes met each other and Zeref didn’t look away. “They told me that nothing would be able to cure my mother but you did,” she pointed out, their faces so close she was finding it difficult to focus. “Nothing is impossible, you know.”

“I’ve discovered that there is.”

Lucy smiled crookedly. “You don’t know that yet.”

He directed his gaze to the ground, a hand tangled in his hair. “I have always wondered,” he paused, swallowing. “What made you do it?”

Movements stopping, she chewed slowly and gulped down the food. “What made me do what?” she repeated, handing him his share while she finished hers.

“What made you look for me?”

Heart slowing into a soft thumping, Lucy found herself unable to look when he focused his attention towards her. “Well, to put it simply, I just loved my mother too much,” she answered, smiling sheepishly. Her eyes fogged up with emotions and she blinked them away. “I had always wanted to leave home, but never like that. I wanted to be a member of some guild and travel the continent. And then things happened and I had to save my mother first before caring for myself.

“But it’s okay. I may not be in a guild, but I’m traveling right now and I get to train. By the way, I never got to thank you for saving her.” Her eyelids fluttered close. “Thank you. You don’t know how grateful I am that you agreed to heal her. You don’t know how long it took to find you. At some point, I thought it was bordering impossible, too,” she confessed, laughing softly.

“But you found me,” he breathed, eyes never leaving her face. “You found me.”

Finally gathering her courage, she lifted her head to return his gaze and smiled. “I did.”

共

After nearly two years of traveling with Zeref, Lucy had discovered several things. Mostly why he was evil and why he created his demons. She couldn’t say for sure that she fully understood him, though a part of her did. She didn’t think he was right with whatever he was doing, nor did she think he was wrong. She merely supported his decisions as his companion and turned a blind eye to his plans.

Thankfully, her parents were doing fine. Zeref had allowed her to visit secretly one day and they now had a son. They named him Lucas in tribute to her. He had the same blond hair and warm brown eyes—just like her. She wished she could go back and take care of him but she knew it was hopeless. In addition to that, she had already given up on returning. She was happy with where she was now, despite the odds.

Her grave, surprisingly, was never vacant. There were always flowers and she caught her father reading her favorite storybook to her at night. They kept her bedroom clean, her personal belongings still present and the walls filled with photographs.

She truly was deceased and it felt strange, seeing her grave once again after the funeral and realizing that people still loved her even though she was gone. That made her smile.

She and Zeref chose to stay in the mountains in Pergrande. They resided beside a lake where they bathed in turns, close to the city so they could easily buy anything they might need. Though Lucy did most of the shopping and left him to himself. He would disappear sometimes, she didn’t know where to, but he would return after a few days. Sometimes late in the night. And when he did, he would ruffle her hair. It was a greeting that she had grown to love.

Lucy didn’t know what they were. Friends, perhaps. Companions, that was for sure. And yet there was something. She couldn’t name it exactly, but she could feel it—a fluttering inside her stomach whenever he smiled at her. It was unusual.

“Our return to Tenrou is in a month,” Zeref reminded her, folding his legs as he studied the maps and scrolls laid out in front of him. “Grimoire Heart should be there a few days after our arrival.”

“Really?” she questioned, raising a brow. “I thought they stayed out of the other guilds’ way.”

He nodded. “Yes, but not this time. They seem to be trying to contact me, which I think is a bit ridiculous.”

Laughing, Lucy shook her head and handed him a bowl of stew. “And you’re going to entertain them?”

“Might as well,” he replied, pinching the bridge of his nose. “They could ruin my plan.”

“Of meeting Natsu?”

“Yes.”

Lucy failed to tell him that she had met the guy before but decided long ago that it would be best not to let him know. Clearing her throat, she said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to join you this time.”

“Nonsense.” Zeref handed her back his bowl, already finished. “You need to be there if something happens to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re immortal. You’ll be fine.”

He sighed, watching her helplessly as she stood up to clear their makeshift table (which was just a huge slab of stone on top of four corner rocks) and fiddled with the maps. He grabbed her wrist before she could bypass him. “You’re going with me to Tenrou,” he commanded, frowning.

Lucy cocked her head to the side, thrown off-guard. After a few seconds of staring at each other, she leaned closer and patted his head. “Don’t be mean! I was going to go anyway,” she reassured, shaking away his grip. He let go immediately.

“Okay,” he concluded, putting away his scrolls and folding his arms on the table. He placed his chin on top and listened to the rustling of the leaves, feeling at peace.

“Hey, Lucy.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

He weighed his options in his mind, debating whether or not he should ask her. In the end, he could only suck in a deep breath.

“Nothing,” he replied, ignoring the way her stare was digging into his side.

共

Lucy pulled the hood of her cloak further over her face, hopefully hiding her identity from the masses. The market was bustling with people, the merchants beckoning her over to look at their goods and the vendors offering her free tastes. Pergrande didn’t fail at being the trading capital of Ishgar. It was indeed a hustle and bustle every day to get first-class products. So it was only reasonable for her to hate errand day, when all of their food had run out and she was tasked to do Zeref’s orders.

Sporting a barely contained grimace, she weaved through the crowd of buyers and sellers. Today she was tasked to do three things: One, restock their food supply; two, buy Zeref white cloth for his robes (since his was apparently a hundred years too old); and three, find herself a new key ring. Her collection was growing, mostly with silver keys, but they couldn’t fit the old one anymore.

She was looking through a handful of rings when she heard the screams.

Alarmed, she picked the biggest one out of the selection and gave the woman a large amount of jewels. “Sorry! I have to go!” she shrieked, immediately running through the alleyways to avoid the mayhem.

She heard the explosion of magic and cursed. Zeref was right. She was going to be attacked, though by who, he didn’t specify. He only told her to get them off her trail and return to him. Then they would be on their way. He also made her promise not to attack them, for they could place a mark on her to track them down and they didn’t want that. Run. Distract. Run. Go to Zeref. Leave.

Easy—she could do that.

Lucy nibbled on her bottom lip timidly and kept her eyes straight ahead. If she turned right, she could run straight for the forest, make a turn to get to Zeref, and then they could drive straight out of here. It wasn’t the best plan but it was all her told her to do anyway—run.

Just as she was nearing the end of the alley, it was blocked by two men whose faces were hidden behind masks. She skidded into a stop, hissing.

“Get out of my way,” she snapped angrily, hand gripping onto her Fleuve d'étoiles. “Or else.”

One of them scoffed. “You can’t scare us, girl.”

The other nodded in agreement, stepping closer to her. “Now lead us to Zeref!”

Eyes narrowing, she uncoiled her whip and snapped it against the floor, making them jump back. She took this opportunity and grabbed one of her keys, raising it above her head. “Gate of the Lyre, I open thee!” She slammed her hand down. “Lyra!”

The spirit appeared in a puff of white and bowed to Lucy, smiling. “What can I do for you today?”

“Put them to sleep,” she ordered.

Lyra winked. “Got’cha!”

As the spirit began to sing a lullaby and the two men were beginning to get groggy, Lucy took out her communications lacrima. She tried contacting Zeref but he wouldn’t answer. She groaned—he had to give her such a hard time.

With her enemies finally sleeping on the floor, she dismissed Lyra and continued running to the forest. She whispered a spell beneath her breath and enchanted her cloak. Even with the invisibility spell activated earlier, they still saw her. Hopefully now they wouldn’t be able to even smell her.

She found Zeref passed out on the grass, breathing heavily.

“Zeref!” she shouted, hurrying to his side. She lifted his head and rested it on her lap, tapping his cheek repeatedly. “Come on, wake up! We have to leave,” she whispered restlessly.

When she got no response, her heartbeat picked up. She knew worrying was useless—he was immortal. He wasn’t going to die anytime soon, so why was her blood pounding so fast? Was it the adrenaline? The exhaustion? Or was it something else?

But a moment later, he was coughing. “Lucy… my cloak. Get—get my cloak.”

“Alright. Okay,” she said with a nod. She fetched for the said article of clothing in the magical vehicle and helped him put it on. “Do you need anything? Why are you so weak?”

“The curse.”

Lucy flinched, finally understanding the situation. Usually whenever his black magic activated, he felt rubbish. He wouldn’t be able to function until he was at peace with himself. He would have awful migraines that would only leave if she made Lyra sing a song to put him to sleep, but she couldn’t do that now. She had just summoned the spirit and she was unavailable until next week. Lips pressing into a firm line, she ran her fingers through her hair.

“Zeref, we have to go,” she reminded him weakly, eyes saddening at the sight of him whimpering.

“Okay,” he breathed, panting. “Okay—I’ll teleport us to Tenrou Island.”

She nodded. “And our things?”

“We’ll just have to leave them behind,” he croaked, leaning against her. “Ready?”

“Of course.”

“Okay,” Zeref whispered, stretching his hand out. He recited a spell under his breath and together they vanished, leaving behind only a trail of black smoke.

There are three kanjis for this part this time.

約 - promise 勇 - brave 共 - together

So, there you have it! There are a lot of changes to the Lucy we know in FT canon ofc. But since she didn’t meet up with Fairy Tail, she is different in many ways. Like with her spirits—since she never got involved with Nirvana, she still doesn’t have Aries. And since she never went to Fairy Tail, she never got to save Loke. Sad, but things have to happen.

And yes, Zeref’s curse. I switched it up I guess. I supposed it would affect him a little bit if he tries so hard to suppress it, now that Lucy’s in the picture. I hope you don’t mind that tiny little detail. 

The year they are in now is x784, so you can all do your research and guess what happens next! Well then, until the next part! Bye!

P.S If you have any questions, just drop an ask on my profile :)