#once again drug use & drug abuse are elided to no useful end

[elephantbitterhead]

"Shinty provides a positive alternative to drug use."

Hmm . . . I'm thinking no it does not.

[abraxos-is-toothless]

Undercover- Throne of Glass AU (5)

This one starts with a bit of Manon’s POV from last chapter when she and Dorian goes upstairs.

WARNINGS: Manon speaks about things such as suicide, rape, abuse and human trafficking. It’s nothing that’s in detail, it’s just mentioned. If I have missed a warning, please do let me know so I can change this!!

Full Masterlist.

Undercover Masterlist.

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Manon knew Dorian was in the room with her, he would always be by her side when she got like this, but still, part of her felt alone, cold, empty and dead. She was sitting at the foot of their bed and was vaguely aware that he’d come to crouch between her knees to clean off her hands, but she didn’t want to look at him, she didn’t want him to see what was going on inside of her head.

They’d met about a year and a half ago on Tower Bridge. It was the anniversary of her Thirteen’s- her best friends in life, the ones who had always been there -death and she'd been ready to jump that night until he’d showed up. It wasn’t particularly busy considering it was around three in the morning, only a few cars passing her. Of course they’d passed though, she was half dressed and stumbling all over the place, a bottle of vodka in hand as she stood on that ledge. The jump may not have killed her she knew, but it was extremely cold that night and that freezing water would have. People probably thought she was a drug addicted prostitute that deserved what she was about to do. It was almost true, she wasn’t drug addicted but was most definitely a prostitute but after all of this time, she’d accepted that what happened wasn’t her fault and dying wouldn’t change anything. One car had stopped though, very suddenly, sometimes she could still hear the tyres screeching. There was a woman’s voice, shouting, telling someone to get back in the car and then there was a soft, melodic voice saying “Ma’am? It’s quite cold out tonight, how about we get you down and somewhere warm, huh?”

His voice sounded like heaven and she’d found herself turning towards it, her foot slipping on the edge slightly causing her to lose her balance. Much of it was a blur after that and hard to piece together, but she remembered crying out and having arms wrapped around her. Dorian, or mystery man as he was, looked beautiful back dropped by fuzzy streetlights and she couldn’t help the words that had dropped from her mouth. “Are you my Prince Charming?” And then she’d blacked out, waking up hours later with a dreadful hangover and a woman telling her that she could have a home if she wanted it, she could have a purpose. It would have been dumb to say no, considering her circumstances if she had, and the rest was history.

They had never really talked about that night, not really, but the prince thing was an ongoing joke between them. Dorian brought it up whenever she wasn’t feeling the best, saying that ‘her prince had come to save her.’ He was ridiculously dramatic, loving and sweet, she hadn’t realised she’d fallen in love with him until it had crept up behind her.

Manon was brought out of her reverie when there were three gentle taps to her knee, and then Dorian had pushed himself up onto his knees so that his face was directly in front of hers. She tried to look away, but his hand cupped her cheek, pulling her back until her gold eyes met his blue ones and he started speaking in soft tones. “Don’t do that. We stopped hiding from one another long ago, sweetheart. Let me in Manon, let me help.”

She took several deep breaths before pushing forward a little and pressing her forehead against his, linking their fingers together and taking her comfort from the feel of his skin on hers.

“They knew they were about to die and so I think they were taunting me, hoping that somehow I’d end their lives fast. It didn’t work; it just made me go slower. I took out the one Aelin carved up first, he was the rapist. He said things, horrible things about the girls he’d...” She didn’t want to talk about it, but she had to, had to tell him or the thoughts would eat her alive. His face hadn’t changed, still the soft and loving expression he’d worn since she’d come home. “It reminded me of the things those bastards would whisper into my ear, about what they’d do to Asterin, to the others if I kept fighting them.” Her breathing turned ragged and her hands shook a little; she hated talking about what was done to them.

“Hey, shh. It’s alright, I’ve got you, I’m right here.” He whispered the words into the space between their lips and Manon wanted nothing more to fall into his arms, just letting him hold her close but she had to push forward.

“I took out the trafficker next. He sold girls and boys off to whomever paid the highest price. Fucking prick sold them. How can you do that? They were children.” She could feel the tears building behind her eyelids but she blinked them away. “The last one, the one who gave Aelin the information, he was an abusive bastard. He said that women like me held too much power, that we should be beaten into submission. That all men need women for was to use them as some broodmare for breeding.”

She really did start crying then, at the onslaught of memories the pieces of shits had brought back. The sound of her friends’ screams and the sound of Asterin’s final words to her before she’d pushed Manon through that door. We will meet again, in a better world.

Dorian’s arms wrapped around her as he leaned back, pulling her down and onto his lap, cradling her against his chest and tucking her head into his neck. She cried, cried, cried until they turned into broken sobs and from there, just small, hiccupping sniffles. The whole time he just rocked back and forth, murmuring soothing words into her ear whilst he rubbed a hand up and down her back. They stayed together in the peaceful quiet of their room Dorian occasionally mumbling how much he loved her, until a voice, Chaol, called out from downstairs.

“Manon! Dor! Boss wants everyone downstairs.”

She pulled back from Dorian’s neck, staring up into bright blue eyes as he tucked a strand of her white hair behind her ear. “You don’t have to come down love, I’m sure she’d understand if you want to stay up here. You could shower and sleep, it would do you good.”

Manon shook her head before reaching up and holding his hand to her cheek, revelling in the warmth it gave her. “No, I’ll come down, it could be something important.”

He nodded and leaned in to brush their lips together, a soft whisper of a kiss that held promises of what later would bring when they were finally alone. Dorian stood, holding his hands out to help her up and she tangled their fingers and tugged gently, unable to stop herself from saying, “Let’s go then, my Prince.”

She would savour the chuckle he let out as they walked through the door until her last dying breath.

oOoOo

Aelin waited until everyone was inside of her office until she finally answered the phone. Elide, Lys and Lorcan had finally gotten back, Elide saying she’d fill her in on everything later. Manon seemed to be in better spirits, her face no longer dead and blank. As for Rowan, she didn’t know what to think of him. Visibly he looked better when he stepped through the doors, but she knew that was just what he was showing on the surface. Their moment in the garden had done something to her and she couldn’t quite figure out what. He’d basically pulled his heart from his chest and handed it to her. She wasn’t meant to get attached to people like this and yet, deep down inside of her, she knew it was inevitable that she would.

As soon as she tapped accept on the call, she gestured for Elide to start tracing it, everyone holding their breaths as she said, “Sardothien. What do you want?”

There was a slow, lazy drawl from the other end of the line and it made Aelin’s spine go taut. She could see that Lysandra was just the same; neither of them had heard that voice in years. “Now, now, is that anyway to speak to an old friend?”

“We were never friends, Arobynn, we were never anything. Now tell me what you want.”

He laughed gently, as a lover would, making her blood turn cold. Aelin met pine green eyes from across the room, and watched as they went hard and unfeeling at the sound.

“You know what I want, what I’ve always wanted. We could have everything, if only you let yourself realise what you truly want in life.” She couldn’t help the sneer that settled over her face, hands clenched into fists. Aedion received a glare when he moved as if to comfort her; she didn’t need that right now.

“I’ve told you once and I’ll tell you again. I will not be your Queen,” she spat the word out, tasting like ash on her tongue, “I will not give you heirs. There will be no us.”

There was more laughter and it made her want to stab something.

“You will come to see that it is what’s best soon enough. How’s the pregnant one by the way? I heard my men were unsuccessful but no matter, I left you a present, hoping you might come around. If not, you know I’m not above forcing you to come home, Aelin.” Son of a fucking bitch. Everyone’s eyes widened around the room, the newbies clearly confused by the name, but she couldn’t focus on that right now, she’d deal with it later.

“What present?” She forced the words through gritted teeth, knowing it was most likely a trap for something but she had to know.

“Out in your dingy little apartment in Poplar, yes I know about that one, I left it there. I do hope it’ll persuade you to change your mind. All of my love.” And then the line went dead. She turned her head sharply to look at Elide, the other woman shaking her head saying that she couldn’t trace it. She upturned her desk, sending its contents flying and making a few of the others to let out sounds of shock.

“I thought I was fucking done with that pile of shit! It’ll get worse now, if I accept this ‘gift’ and don’t go home. He’ll say I’m being ungrateful and go after all of you.” Aelin sighed and rubbed her hand across her forehead, wishing for the headache that was now brewing would just fuck off. She looked up when Lysandra spoke from the other side of the room, voice steady and determined.

“You aren’t going back to that hell hole, Ace, you aren’t going back to him. We’ll go see if there’s actually anything at the apartment and then we’ll deal with everything else. Do you understand me?”

She sighed and nodded at her friend, wanting to get this over with so they could finally sleep. Her plans and schemes were better after she rested and she could think rationally. Slipping into their boss, their leader, she ordered, “Blackbeak, Havilliard, Salvaterre and Whitehorn. You’re all coming with me. We move out in ten minutes so get all of your gear together fast. We have to be prepared for everything.” They all nodded in consent and everyone began filing out of the room but not before added on, “Keep your wits about you, just in case he knows about this place too.”

Aelin went to start cleaning up and jumped slightly, realising that Rowan was still in the room. He was looking at her weirdly, but she didn’t have time to think about it before the look disappeared and he walked over to stand in front of her. Tentatively, he brought his hand up in front over her face, hesitating a little and searching her eyes for an answer. Words weren’t working for her and she could feel the heat of him in the space between them, and so she simply leaned into his hand. Rowan let out what seemed to be a sigh of relief, cupping her jaw and rubbing a thumb along her cheekbone. “Are you alright? What he said, what he was asking for, that was...”

He trailed off knowing that what Arobynn had said could only be taken one way. “I’m alright, I promise. You didn’t have to stay, you know, I won’t break.”

His smile was soft, happy and his eyes were full of something she couldn’t place, looking as though they sparkled a little in the dim lights of her office. “I don’t think anyone could break you, Aelin. What’s up with that anyway?”

She rolled her eyes at him, raising a hand to hold his wrist, squeezing lightly. “I’ll tell you, but later, we have things to do. Now go.”

The backs of his fingers stroked down her cheek, sending shivers down her spine before he pulled away. Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch but when she opened them again he was gone. Gods, he was making her feel things she’d never felt before, not even those days with Sam had made her feel like this. Aelin shook her head to clear it of the thoughts of silver hair and green eyes. She would deal with all of that another time.

Right now, she had to go deal with the wannabe King’s bullshit. By the end, she’d make him pay for every last atrocity he’d committed, and then revel in the aftermath.

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Oooo Arobynn his being a little fucker... If you want to be added/removed from the tags then just give me a shout! I’m not sure iff all of the tags are working so if not I’ll keep trying to fix it:) More insight on the boys next week!!

Tags: @bryaxisthefaceofnightmares @fancyclodpaintercookie @empress-sei @acourtofterrasenandvelaris @tswaney17 @queen-of-glass @thesirenwashere @awkward-avocado-s @b00kworm @http-itsrebecca @eatmysandwiches @poisonous00 @flowersinvegas @julemmaes @mu-si-ca-l @spyofthenightcourt  @sis-it-dont-add-up  @mad-madeline-ace @df3ndyr  @jesstargaryenqueen @notyournymphetish @carbconnoisseur @aelinfeyreeleven945tbln

@superspiritfestival

[modernbookfae]

Elide x Lorcan- hurt/comfort modern au. Lorcan as a cop Elide as a victim of abuse. I know it seems rough but it is so satisfying. 10/10

Here you are dear anon~!  Elide has just fought her way out of an abusive home, but she has lost so much, but officer Salvaterre offers a brighter outlook of tomorrow.

Lorcan was never the one to comfort. His squad knew that. He was always the one to serve justice by force and never by a gentle hand. But this woman – Elide – made him want to try.

“You can talk about it,” Lorcan coaxed. “No one is going to hurt you anymore. I promise.”

Read on AO3 | TAGS: hurt, comfort, abuse, modern au, Officer Salvaterre

Flashing red and blue lights danced across Elide’s eyes as she stared at the crumbled smoking walls that once were her uncle’s home. But to Elide it was a prison.

No…it was hell.

Her ankle throbbed terribly at the memory. The years she was given custody to uncle Vernon after her parent’s death had took its toll. She broke her legs on his stairs when she was only a little girl and he never let her be taken to the doctor. Never even let her step more than twenty feet out his front door.

Elide was given a tight leash that eventually turned into a chain. And then that chain became a reality the day Elide tried to escape. Vernon was quick to show that Elide would never be allowed to leave while he was still breathing.

From that day forth Elide’s life changed from bad to worse. Her ankle was injured to an extent that she couldn’t walk without limping and pain crawling up her leg.

It wasn’t until today that she welcomed that throbbing sensation. It meant she was alive.

A group of firefighter’s walked by after dousing the flames that had consumed the home all thanks to Kaltain, another woman in a long line of those who had suffered by Vernon’s hands.

Kaltain was fighter. She fought until her dying breath when she lit that house on fire in the hopes of burning Vernon and his thugs to the ground.

Elide was the avenger. She stabbed Vernon in the heart when he shot Kaltain as she tried to help Elide to safety. With all Elide’s strength she pulled Kaltain out the front door for the first time in years. The sun was rising and it poured over Elide in a basking light as she held Kaltain’s hand in a crushing grip.

But help had come too late for Kaltain. Elide begged her to stay alive as she pushed her palm into Kaltain’s wound to stop the bleeding. Kaltain smiled one last time before her dying breath drifted on a phantom wind.

Another life was extinguished in Elide’s existence.

When the first responders arrived to the fire they brought Elide oxygen and checked her vitals. The fire department worked to douse the roaring flames which took hours to control.

Through it all Elide mechanically answered the questions that bombarded her by police and EMTs.

Her eyes focused on the smoldering building. She would later find out that there were no survivors. Vernon was forever gone along with the rest of the people who…did terrible things.

“Elide Lochan.” A deep voice said and sat down beside her in the ambulance.

She blinked. That voice pulled her away from the horrific scene and she found herself staring up into dark eyes belonging to a massive man with equally dark hair. Elide felt incredibly small next to him. His police uniform did nothing to hide the muscles of his body.

He could easily hurt her if he wished. Elide narrowed her eyes at him in distrust. She wouldn’t cower, because she had done enough of that over the past few years she had been locked up.

“You are Miss Lochan correct? Niece to Vernon Lochan, the owner of this residence?” The man asked as if he wished to be elsewhere. As though he had better things to do then questioning a witness when he could be helping Whitethorn and the others on a drug raid in a neighboring town.

“Don’t say that,” Elide hissed. “I don’t want to be tied to that– that monster.” Her eyes seethed in anger at knowing she was family with such a wretched man. She wished she could drain every last drop that was tied to him, but then that meant losing her connection to her father. And Elide loved her father. She just couldn’t understand how he and Vernon could be brothers when Cal Lochan was a kind man while Vernon was the opposite.

The police officer watched her closely. He could see that the young woman’s mind was racing with thoughts behind her onyx eyes. She clearly was troubled and shaken by the ordeal she had went through.

“I’m officer Salvaterre,” the man paused. “But you can call me Lorcan.”

His only response was a numb nod from the woman beside him. Her bloody fingers fidgeted until she tried to wipe the blood off on her jeans.

“Were you hurt?” Lorcan motioned to her fingers.

“No,” Elide said. “Well I mean not from today, but –” Elide stopped abruptly.

Lorcan was never the one to comfort. His squad knew that. He was always the one to serve justice by force and never by a gentle hand. But this woman – Elide – made him want to try.

“You can talk about it,” Lorcan coaxed. “No one is going to hurt you anymore. I promise.”

Elide bit her trembling lip. She didn’t know this man, but he seemed genuinely concerned and didn’t look at her with pitying glances like so many other people at the crime scene.

“She wanted to save us,” Elide whispered. “Kaltain was my only friend and now…she’s gone.”

Lorcan knew the other female victim was DOA and there was nothing the medics could do to resuscitate her.

“What was she trying to save you from?” Lorcan asked. Though he and many other officers suspected Vernon, a known criminal for drug and sex trafficking, was a cause behind today’s events.

Lorcan could only hope that Elide was spared, even though that dark tendril of instincts told him otherwise.

“He did horrible things,” Elide diverted her attention to her fingers with Vernon’s dried blood on them. She started wiping her hands vigorously on her pants. Yet no matter what she did the blood wouldn’t come off.

“I – I just wanted to leave, but he wouldn’t let me. He kept me here and I couldn’t get out. I tried and he-” Elide choked on a sob. “It hurt so much. He used the chain and his friends tried to…hurt me like the others they brought in screaming. People were always screaming.”

“Elide,” Lorcan tried to calm her frantic hands that continually attempted to rid themselves of the blood. His hands gently grabbed her wrists and she jolted up to escape the memories his touch brought.

She stumbled as her ankle gave out and with a cry she fell to the floor of the ambulance.

But before her knees hit the metal she was scooped up against a broad warm chest. She froze in fear, but relaxed when Lorcan settled her on the stretcher. He sat down beside her and grabbed one of the antiseptic wipes from the medical kit.

Then Lorcan Salvaterre, the most withdrawn and hardened officer in the precinct, tenderly began wiping the blood off Elide.

Silence filled the space. Elide’s eyes trained on Lorcan’s steady motions. His hand easily covered her own and provided an odd sense of warmth that Elide didn’t even know she was missing. What had been deprived from her since her early childhood.

“You’re going to make it through this,” Lorcan said. His attention shifted to her eyes. “There are going to be tough days, but you are strong. Don’t ever let anyone say otherwise.”

“But what if they try,” Elide blinked away the tears that form in her eyes. “What if more people like Vernon-” Elide swallowed and couldn’t say the words that lodged in her throat.

“Then you will fight with everything you got,” Lorcan stated as if it was obvious. “Because that’s what you are. A fighter. And one that doesn’t give up.”

A heartbeat.

“And I will be there if you ever need me,” Lorcan said.

“Really?” Elide looked up in shock. “But why? You don’t know me.”

Lorcan shrugged. “It’s my job as an officer to protect others.”

“Oh.” Elide contemplated his words. Her pause was long before she finally spoke again. “Could I do that?”

“Do what?” Lorcan questioned having finished washing the dried blood off her fingers.

“Get a job that protect others,” Elide answered.

Lorcan stopped and looked down at the woman. Her dark tangled hair splayed on the stretcher with bruises and cuts underneath the dirt and blood that covered her in body. She was broken and bleeding. But she was a survivor. One that he could immediately tell would be a warrior until the end of her days. Much like him.

With ease Lorcan clasped her hand in his. The length of his fingers easily covered hers in warmth.

“You can do anything you wish,” Lorcan said with such vehement honesty that Elide’s eyes widened. “And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

In that moment Elide saw light in a man that was surrounded by darkness each day he faced. A man who faced monsters with every new dawn like she had for the past years. She didn’t realize it at that moment, but the light in his eyes reflected her own.

Lorcan could see the hope rise in Elide. And he felt the need to keep that hope aflame and burning bright.

And so they sat in that ambulance together. Knowing that whatever the next day brought they would welcome it with fierceness that mirrored each other.

For Elide was the light and Lorcan was the dark. And together they would conquer the demons of their past, the beasts of today and the horrors of tomorrow.

And they would do so with smiles upon their faces.