#second chapter shouldn't take a million years

[etoilesombre]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Black Sails Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Captain Flint | James McGraw/John Silver Characters: Captain Flint | James McGraw, John Silver Additional Tags: Demon AU, Monsterfucking, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Episode Related, 2.7, Flint is very tormented, and Silver is always looking for an angle, because someone around here has to have common sense when dealing with the supernatural, (sex tags will kick in in second chapter) Summary:

The hour has grown late, but Flint is still awake, seated alone in his command tent. He greets Silver's entrance with a raised eyebrow and a menacing smirk. “You’re still here.”

Cold shivers trickle down Silver's spine. “Would you have killed me, if I had tried to leave?”

“Probably,” Flint says. His smile widens, revealing teeth that gleam sharper and more numerous than they strictly should, though when Silver looks again he can pinpoint nothing irregular. “But I had a feeling you wouldn’t.”

Silver stares, too mesmerized to be subtle. Now that he knows what to look for, the image of Flint before him seems to ripple and break like a reflection on water, revealing glimpses of what lies beneath: pupils that have narrowed to unnerving slits, the surrounding green glowing more brightly than can be accounted for by the candlelight; shadows that are larger than any Flint should cast, not quite man shaped. Silver has the strong impression of a leathery wing, and heat.

[ymechi]

Who is the real Creator?

I had to edit and remove some parts for this to make sense, I hope it is coherent if not please tell me so I can fix it and explain everything better. I did not expect people to be interested in this au so I was surprised! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

-TW: cult au, yandere, impostor au, mentions of being hunted down, mentions of trauma, mentions of character injuring themselves (nothing major)

-Gn reader and darling (please tell me if I mess this up message me and I will fix it)

Part 1, This is part 2, part 3, part 4

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Reader ushered Darling inside giving them the blanket which they used to dry their wet self. They sort of reminded Reader of what a wet sad cat one of their neighbors used to own looked like after a rainy day. Darling sat on the kitchen table as Reader once again prepared some tea. Reader really should get a nice tea set soon, they mentally put that on their shopping list the next time they are going to the market.

Darling sat quietly at the table sniffing and not saying much, Reader had no idea what to say before it would have been so easy they knew each other in and out. Yet now. . . it was as if a hundred years had passed, a million things had happened. Reader was now not sure what to say.

They weren't sure if they even wanted to comfort Darling. Shouldn't Darling be comforting Reader? All they got was that half-assed hospital meeting.

If Darling is upset wasn't there a league of followers, acolytes, servants heck even Archons who would comfort them why come to them now out of all times and alone? Clearly something serious happened that they had to runaway alone to them out of all people.

Reader inwardly sighed.

They bought out a pan. One thing they knew how to lighten the mood up was pancakes, it was easy and they knew how to do that . In fact, they might get a master's degree in making pancakes, Reader should ask Nahida if that is possible.

(They tried not to think that it was Darling's favourite meal to eat after being sad.)

"So. . . What happened?" Reader tried to start.

Darling did not respond for a while just quietly staring at them. Their eyes were a bit dull and exhaustion was evident on their face. They seemed to contemplate what to say before they started.

"I. . . I asked to wield a sword, at first they were against it but I wanted to try y'know?"

There was no question who they were, the crazy cultist acolytes. Reader shuddered at some of their past interactions with them, they were good weapon wielders reader would give them that. . . Reader had first-hand experience after all.

Yet Darling was alone with the trigger-happy acolytes all this time.

Although Darling was the supposed Creator, they should have been fine, Reader looked over at them and they lacked any surface wounds.

They should have been fine right?

"It was fine at first they taught me proper stances but then I got a bit touchy with the sword, you know me how I get with stuff like that and then I," she sighed, "I cut myself like an idiot."

Reader rubbed their head and thought about it, they would not be here for a cut something else went on and they waited for Darling to finish.

"Then I bled," Darling was quiet for a moment, "it was red."

Hey, it rhymed Reader wanted to say to break the tension but Reader refrained. They did not get it at all. What was so wrong with red blood? Wasn't blood supposed to be red.

Darling must have caught on and they looked like they finally understood something. It was they who wanted to understand what was going on!

"Uhm yeah you maybe don't know but the Creator is supposed to bleed gold."

Oh.

"Oh."

That is all they could say really. They felt dumb for a second there they had been actively avoiding taking any religious classes or any mention of religion for their own mental health's sake. Perhaps if they did not avoid it as much they would have understood what was going on much easier but for now the single religious book they owned remained hidden and untouched in their drawer.

Now that they finally understood the problem it was quite the conundrum. Darling was supposed to be the Creator yet now they were not because of some gold blood requirement. What would happen to Darling? Would they accuse them of harming the "real Creator"? Hunt them down like they did to Reader? Would they come and hunt down Reader again?

Although they doubted they would be hunted down again as the "blessings of the Creator" thing, whatever that meant, Nahida told everyone else seemed to work and placate them.

"Now what?" A reader asked tiredly.

"I don't know I managed to sneak out while they were distracted but I guess they will find out soon to come and get me."

Reader grimaced and turned around to prepare to finally whisk the ingredients they were too distracted to do while they listened to Darling.

"So like did they hurt you after they found out or something?" Reader cringed at their wording. They could have said that better considering it was a serious topic.

"No they didn't they just healed me and left me in my room," Darling paused, "You should have seen some of the looks on their faces, like I killed their puppy or something. . ."

Reader tried to imagine what it was like worshipping someone only for that person not to be the god they worshiped. It must have gone bad for both parties involved. Darling was told she was a god only to be looked at in disappointment. The followers who eagerly awaited for their beloved Creator only for it to be an illusion.

"Yikes, I can't imagine it was pleasant."

"It wasn't."

They went quiet after that soon the pancakes were ready and Reader went out to serve them along with the tea. Reader had to admit they could make some good mean pancakes because Darling looked a bit better with some of the color returning to their face.

There was another knock at the door.

Another visitor? Who would come- They looked at Darling, oh right.

Darling once again looked pale and the grip on their utensils was trembling. What had they done to shake them up this much? Reader wasn't doing better either their heartbeat going frantic as unpleasant memories resurfaced. Damnit they thought they had gotten better.

"Reader it is me Nahida we need to talk, I am sorry but it is urgent."

Reader inhaled, thank the stars it was only Nahida.

They relaxed their shoulders and opened the door. Despite the rain, the Archon looked dry and Reader wondered what sort of magic they used and if they could learn it as well.

"I am sorry to interfere," she looked behind Reader, "but it seems you have the person we have been searching for," Nahida said while looking genuinely sorry.

Right, the only person Darling knew besides the acolytes in this world was the Reader. No wonder they were found out so quickly.

"Uhm- uh- How about some pancakes first?"

Nahida looked the the back of Darling who was hunched over and relented. She must have seen something as she agreed rather quickly. Reader closed the door as the Archon entered their home. Nahida approached Darling they did an elegant bow and Reader was suddenly hit that Darling was or now was the creator. Darling got someone as well respected as Nahida to bow.

Reader had seen the way people behaved in respect and reverence at Nahida and how the scholars, the Emirates, and merchants would listen and take in her input. So someone like Nahida bowing. . .

Reader never fully understood the weight and status of that position the so-called "Creator" held even after being hunted down over it.

Yet now it seemed very heavy.

How did Darling live with that?

Darling face grimaced as she saw the bow. Nahida looked worried.

"Is there something going on your grace?"

This was going to be an awkward conversation. How to explain to someone you were not the god you thought they were?

Darling looked at Reader before looking back at their untouched pancakes.

"I am not your grace Nahida I bleed red like the rest."

A tense silence followed.

Nahida to her credit seemed calm with the revelation. She had her point finger touching her mouth in a contemplative gesture.

"I see and that is why you are here."

The room was quiet for a while. Reader awkwardly wrung her hands and it was surprisingly Darling, the least stable person who spoke up again.

"Did you know?" Darling said in an accusing tone their eyebrows narrowed. Reader thought they almost looked angry. Where did that come from? How could Nahida have known if no one else including them knew?

"To be honest your-," she paused," I had my suspicions.

Wait what- That was the first Reader heard about this.

"And you did not bother to tell me! To tell anyone?!" Darling jumped up from the chair.

"Was it funny watching me being led on, all those expectations, all those promises my whole world getting fucked up - fuck can I even go back home to my family?!"

Reader jumped between them hiding Nahida behind them trying to calm Darling down who looked to be on the verge of crying or a breakdown.

"Look Darling I know you are upset, it's messed up but she didn't have anything to do with it okay? I am sure she had her reasons."

Darling took one glance at Reader's eyes and fell down on the chair, they hid their face in their arms.

"I am. . . Sorry. . . Shit."

That de-escalated quickly just as it erupted. They worry about Darling's mental health at this point.

"It is fine, I suppose this is a very difficult situation for everyone involved," said Nahida.

Reader wrung their hands together.

"Hey I know it's not the time but I did make extra pancakes let's eat first?" They tried not to sound pathetic.

The silence was their reply.

"You and your damn pancakes," Darling said and snorted.

"Hey! I only do it because I know it cheers you up!" they said and huffed.

Nahida who looked at them laughed, the previous suffocating tension was gone and Reader went up to get a plate for Nahida as well. Finally both Reader and the Archon sat down on their seat they all ate in relative silence but it wasn't as awkward as it could have been.

Once finished Reader poured some hot tea.

"Thank you Reader the pancakes were delicious I will have to ask you to let me eat them again sometime."

Reader smiled at the Archon.

"Of course, you are welcome any time."

Darling who watched them snorted. Reader looked at them with questioning eyes.

"What are you laughing at," Reader said in an accusing tone. Was Darling mocking them again?

"You speak like them now," Darling said with an amused glint in their eyes as they looked at Reader.

"Ohh, I guess I kind of do. . ."

"Nerd."

"Hey!"

Nahida once again took a look at them and laughed. Both snapped out of their bubble and looked at the Archon sheepishly.

"I am glad to see you two are getting along well, I hope both of you don't mind the topic changing to a more serious one," she looked at both of them and both nodded,"Before we start, I have a question for you Darling."

Darling looked apprehensive but nodded.

"Do the others know about you not being the creator?"

". . .Yeah they do," Darling said and looked at their empty plate.

"I see that does make things easier it is better it is out now that later knowing how overzealous some acolytes and followers can get."

Reader grimaced and Darling looked a bit defeated at the statement.

"How much do you both know about the creator?"

Reader and Darling looked at each other and it was Reader who started to speak.

"Honestly not much I avoid religious talk at all cost."

Nahida looked at Reader with sympathy.

"I guess I am the opposite I got to learn a lot, basically in each new era the creator descends into a new incarnation, and their vessel is not always the same," she paused thinking about what to say next, "They like to live peacefully with their people because of that they don't always have their powers with them but they can gain them over time, something like that"

"Yes that is most of it, it is presumed in this era the creator chose to be a normal human which we thought was you Darling. We also thought that the Creator's presence and powers were weak due to being a normal human in this incarnation. Despite you not being the Creator some part of what I said is true.

"Which part?" Darling asked.

"The part where the creator chose to be an ordinary human, despite having such a faint presence me being so attuned to Irminsul could still feel it, yet it was weak. That is why I was confused. Rather than being the Creator you Darling had gotten a blessing from the Creator."

"But how I have never met them" Darling interjected.

Nahida stared at Reader and once again Reader was reminded of those intense stares directed at them as if trying to solve a puzzle piece.

"No, the creator was - is still quite close to you."

"Wait really?" Darling looked at Nahida in confusion inching closer towards the Archon as if they went closer physically they would solve the mystery.

"Yes we are sitting beside them after all."

There was no question about who Nahida meant both she and Darling were staring at Reader.

No.

That is what Reader replied with.

Nahida shook her head.

"I am afraid it is true.

No way.

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Taglist: @resident-cryptid @probablynoposts @esthelily @mitsukashi @charming-mage @chaoticfivesworld @irisxiel @dulcedelechenginamo

[yuzurins]

# to tell you the truth

04 — strangers with memories

smau masterlist ∗ previous chapter ∗ next chapter

was it foolish for you to assume that you wouldn’t encounter anyone you knew while working at a bookstore less than a kilometre away from your university? 

probably.

be it anyone else, you most definitely wouldn’t have reacted this dramatically. but of course it had to be itoshi rin, coincidentally the one guy you wanted to avoid at all costs. you haven't seen the guy in person since high school graduation, and this was definitely not how you expected it to go.

when you first realized it was him back at the bookstore, you quickly bowed and turned around to pack up your belongings, hoping he got the message. it irked you to even spare a single glance at his face, as his features dug up memories that you worked too hard to bury. knowing rin, you expected him to leave immediately after to avoid interacting with you, but to your surprise, the athlete walked over expressionless and casually placed 2 books down.

“these two," he pauses and inhales, "please.”

you held back a very strong urge to gasp; never in a million years would you have ever believed that the itoshi rin would ever say that 6 letter word to you. what was this guy up to? was he trying to deploy reverse psychology or something?

“okay.” you pursed your lips, and scanned his books. “are you signed up for our membership program?”

he merely nods.

you raise an eyebrow. so it isn’t his first time here?

as he punches in his phone number, you take the moment to examine his figure out of curiosity, though not much as changed about him since high school. you do notice that his eyes seem half-lidded, and you hate it so much how the first thought that comes to mind is the fact that it’s past his regular bedtime. 

"what are you even doing here..." you mumble subconsciously a little too loudly, widening your eyes immediately after as if you had asked yourself that question. (though it wasn't really a question and more of a complaint)

rin scoffs, breaking his stupid act. "buying books? obviously?"

"did you have to come to this store?" the receipt starts coming out and you place it in a bag with the books, handing it over to him reluctantly after. "and this late too?"

he snatches the bag from you with more force than needed. "why does it matter to you? shouldn't you be grateful i'm even giving you business?"

"gee. wow. thanks."

"you better be."

you roll your eyes at him. "thought you still slept at 8 like an old person.”

"thought you were smarter than to assume nothing's changed." rin furrows his brows, narrowing his eyes at you.

shrugging, you rest your head on the back of your palm and stare at him. "i just thought you still had no life. and i'm not wrong about that, am i?"

he grits his teeth and you find yourself smirking at his exasperation, until he says, "at least what i do with my life gets me results, miss second place."

he did not just say that.

you retract your arm from the desk to cross them, a scowl adorning your face. "watch your words, itoshi. you better savour that moment as much as you can because it's not happening again."

rin smiles sarcastically before turning around and leaving. you scoff, but it isn’t until you hear the bell of the door ring that you feel safe enough to exhale. there was no way that that just happened right now. you were so focused on not trying not embarrass yourself in front of rin that it slipped your mind what books he bought, but it didn’t matter anyway. why did you even care if you embarrassed yourself in front of him? every memory about what happened then has been locked away, and you swear that you wouldn't hold a childish grudge anymore. the only reason why you still act bitter to him is because he suddenly keeps scoring higher than you, and your pride refuses to back down to him.

rin’s just an annoying guy who just keeps getting lucky in school, that’s all. 

a notification from reo brings you back to reality, reminding you that you’re technically working overtime now and you need to close up as soon as possible. 

as you walk out of the door, you fish out your phone and respond to incoming texts from the groupchat, humming to yourself as music played in your ears. the route home is more than familiar enough to you, but you still take a glance at the area around the bookstore just in case. there’s a park, a ramen store, an aesthetic cafe, and a convenience store that someone dressed in all black is exiting. that’s unusual, you think, because it’s late, and this neighbourhood is fairly secluded.

then you remember who was just at your store and would be in the proximity of the area. 

hurriedly, you turn around and speedwalk in the direction of your apartment. he shouldn’t have seen you, right?

there’s a slight rustling of leaves and you warily steal a quick glance behind you without thinking.

why on earth is itoshi rin walking behind you now?

notes: hi sorry it’s late i fg LOL n e ways i don't like this !!! but writer block is killing me and i need to write something so bear with this t-t you get the idea anyways (barely proof but its ok)

pairing ∗ itoshi rin x f!reader

synopsis — all you wanted was a peaceful and productive uni life, but despite your pleas, your plans start crumbling when the star of the football team, itoshi rin, begins to beat you in every aspect possible. as you confront the inevitable, what happens when you uncover secrets behind an unforgettable event from the past?

taglist ∗ send an ask / comment to be added or removed

@kitorin @starthz @jleijl @rintosei @strawberrypockybox @beanxiv @ode2rin @h4nman @hanmastattoos @kaitfae @idk-bro-gay @piichuu @wishiknewwhatiwasdoingwithmylife @invictax @chaosinanutshell @exatse @kirameki-kumo @heartsoji @mellozhi @certaindreampost @limerence-lu @nutsinspector @kawaii-angelanne @rroxii @saesins @anngelllla @anurst @y-sabell-a @hellothere9597 @evilenchantresss @msameikanevaeh (if your name is in bold it means i can't tag you)

[tired-teacher-blog]

Characters : Tattoo artist Aizawa/ Florist fem reader

Featuring : Eri/ Hizashi Yamada/ Nemuri Kayama/ Oboro Shirakumo/ Emi Fukukado

Warnings and Genre : Fluff/ Romance/ Smut and Angst in future chapters/ Multi Chaptered Story

Summary : In a desperate attempt to get closer to the tattoo artist dominating every speck of your brain, you decide to pay him a visit one evening as a client seeking his service. This encounter will prove to be the beginning of something much bigger between you two, but will this new found passion be enough to stand against the difficulties your future holds?

Notes : Loosely inspired by this/ Art below is by the wonderful @/ael-draw who gifted me this gorgeous piece.

Masterlist|Second Masterlist|Third Masterlist

Chapter Count : Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5 • Part 6 • Part 7 • Part 8 • Part 9 • Part 10 • Part 11

It has been a week already since that fateful day, and during the time nothing has really changed for you, you still get up early to go to work and spend the day relishing the happy smiles and cute stories of your customers as they rave about their dear ones who'd be receiving the fragrant blooms.

You still watch out the window for the locked tattoo studio across the street, breathing heavily as time nears his arrival.

You still roam the fictional realm you've built for yourself and the artist named Aizawa, your heart still skips a beat whenever your eyes meet with his black ones, and your mind still goes blank every evening when he greets you.

One thing has changed since then though, and it's the beautiful red rose traced on your skin.

You smile melancholically as you run your fingers along it, it's healing nicely but your heart is not, so maybe you will have to finally let go of your delusions, you -at least- have a reminder of him engraved in your skin now, and that's more than you can dream of attaining.

_ "Hello." a voice brings you back to your senses, a new costumer perhaps.

_ "Welcom.." you start as you shake off your innermost thoughts and prepare to receive the mysterious person, but this person is not mysterious at all, "Mr Aizawa." this person is him.

He stands a bit awkwardly at the door, smiling sheepishly while shoving his hands in his pants' pockets.

He looks almost cute, it's a new side of him that you're not used to seeing, but you love it.

_ "Please come in," you round the counter in a hurry to reach him, almost tripping over your own two feet in the process, "welcome to my humble shop."

You have never seen him under the illumination of daylight before, but now that you have, your amazement is only growing and your wish to take in every small detail of his handsome face is dominating your whole body.

_ "This place is beautiful, really soothing and serene." his eyes travel across every cozy corner of your little shop, lingering on the gorgeous flowers as they stood proudly in their vases.

_ "That's.. so nice of you, thank you, it really means a lot." never in a million years would you have thought to hear him mention your shop, let alone visit it, and it feels like a dream.

_ "So, you must be wondering why I'm here," he clears his throat before uttering, running a hand through his luscious locks as he continues, "I wanted to check in on you and see if you're healing well," he continues while glancing at your arm.

_ "Oh! Yeah.. yes, it feels so much better, it's almost completely healed actually," you are caught off guard by his statement, bringing your arm up slightly and staring at your new tattoo just so you wouldn't look at him, since the blush creeping up your cheeks is now too bright to hide.

_ "Great, and it looks good on you by the way." he replies softly, and you can clearly sense a smile in his words, but you're still too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

The air is strangely pleasant and comfortable around you, even though it probably shouldn't be, considering the circumstances, but you've always felt this way with him near, and you've always found it weird, that the mere thought of him is enough to calm your heart.

_ "Mr Aizawa!" your head snaps up abruptly, and your eyes sparkle as you call out his name -perhaps a bit louder than you have hoped- before running to the section of your shop where the dark pink roses are displayed, and leaving the stunned man behind.

His mouth falls slightly open, and his eyes blink in confusion while watching you skillfully cut the fresh blooms at a perfect angle and gather them in a stunning bouquet before walking back to him.

_ "These are for you," you hold out the roses for him, a shy smile appears on your face as you do, "the dark pink ones are a sign of appreciation and gratitude, and this is exactly how I feel right now," you lower your head again as your blush deepens, "you were so sweet and patient with me when I came to your studio, I will never forget that."

He takes the bouquet from your extended hands and holds it close to himself, but for once he seems lost for words as his eyes move between you and the sweet scented flowers, so you continue, "I know this is probably not something that would normally interest you, but I hope you don't hate them too much." and you giggle shyly while fiddling with your fingers.

_ "I love them, they're as beautiful as you are." his gaze is trained on you as he breathes out, and he does not miss the slight shiver shaking your body when hearing his words.

He pauses for a moment, contemplating what to say next before it turns awkward around you.

_ "So, there is something that I want to ask you," his tone turns into a serious one, prompting a hitch in your breathing as you eagerly await for him to continue, and he does, "would you like to go out with me for dinner sometime?"

He's asking you out, he actually is, this isn't a dream is it? What if you're misunderstanding? He can't possibly mean for it to be anything intimate or romantic like you hope it would be, right? There is no way..

_ "You mean.." you have to make sure, but the words refuse to leave your mouth.

_ "I mean, would you like to go on a date with me?" there, he said it for you.

A rush of emotions ripples through you as your mouth falls open and your eyes widen in sheer surprise, you have always dreamt of this moment and even built it up in your brain ever since you laid eyes on him, yet never have you ever thought it would come to be, but this isn't a fantasy anymore, this is real.

_ "Yes, yes I'd love that."

To be continued..

[violetswritingg]

Thunderstruck

Tyler Owens x OFC!

Description: When cowgirl meets cowboy after a year of no-contact and chaos ensues during storm season!

Rating: M (Mentions of blood and death in Tornadoes and storms alike, angst and loss of loved ones, car accidents, Tornado aftermath, and injury to characters, slight age gap (5 years))

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

3

May, 2024

Oklahoma

There was something about Oklahoma during storm season, the smell in the air, like the promise death and destruction but wrapped up in the sweet scent of rain. A spring in Tornado Alley was never gonna be a peaceful one and no one knew that better that two groups of people, the people who lived there and the people who were stupid enough to chase the storms.

Riley St. James had unintentionally fallen into the second category. She blamed her genetics. Having someone like Jo Harding and her dad in her life all but guaranteed she would end up here. The rest stop they had decided to stop to gas up at apparently had been a popular choice. Other teams, all varying levels of profession, camped out just waiting for a storm. Some faces she recognized others she didn't. There were a lot more new faces than before, for a multitude of reasons she didn't want to think about.

She was one of them, she had to admit that, her celebrity in the community and among the middle of America was pretty strong. She hated it.

"Hey! Everything okay? What's it looking like out there?" Sarah Mitchell, Riley's research partner and best friend asked, sidling up next to the blonde. "I wish I could see what you see, it's kind of freaky."

"I wish I couldn't." Riley chuckled, "If you want I can give it to ya."

"Nah, it's what makes you, you. I could never take that from ya, love ya too much." Sarah joked as she threw her arm around Riley's shoulder, pulling the girl into her side and off balance. "Besides I don't think anyone would be able to handle just how awesome I would be if I had my brains and your instincts. I would be unstoppable."

"So humble."

"I try to be, it's not easy. I'll tell ya that."

"I bet."

"But really, what's it looking like out there right now?" Sarah sobered up a bit and they both went into work mode. Talking about the cells forming in the west and the lone wolf to the east.

"Look, the one to the east isn't going to produce anything. It's just not. The cap is way too strong. I've seen it happen a million times, you get close, it's about to touch down but there's not enough updraft for it to touch down and it just poofs out of existence. Trust me. Not worth our time."

"So, we go west then."

"You bet'cha." Riley grinned, passing off her tablet to a passing undergrad with a thanks and looking over just in time to see Javi roll up, a blonde woman in his front seat. "I really wish they weren't here. We're gonna be battling it out that's for sure. Why is nothing ever easy?"

"Because then life wouldn't be worth living." Sarah shrugged with a bright grin, looking down at Riley and laughed at the blonde as she groaned and flopped her head onto the slightly taller woman's shoulder.

"But why does it have to be so hard then? Shouldn't there be like an easy mode or somethin'?" Riley kept going and Sarah was more than happy to play along.

"I don't think it works like that unfortunately. Heads up." Sarah stood up straighter and made herself look busy with Dororthy.

"Is that-" A soft voice started, startled as Riley turned and locked eyes with another blonde woman. Her drown doe eyes wide as they locked onto Dorothy.

"Dorothy 6, had her since I was 18, a present from my aunt for my first official chase as an adult." Riley grinned a bit, "I haven't seen you around here, what's your name?"

"Kate. Your aunt?"

"Jo Harding. Riley St. James. Nice to meet you Kate," Riley looked to Javi with a strange look, at least to Kate, "You enjoying your time with Storm Par?"

Kate was taken aback and left reeling.

"I've read all of your papers." Kate blurted, eyes going wide, her cheeks heating up. Looking at Riely like she was some kind of unearthly being. Like Riley was better than her and while Riley had gotten used to the admiration and awe people would usually hold in their eyes this was different. She shifted a bit and rolled her shoulders back.

"Thanks. Did you like them?"

"Most of them were crazy, in a good way," Kate quickly corrected, holding out a hand in front of her palm up to clear the air of any miscommunication, "I mean you must have gotten a couple grants, at least, big ones."

"I did. Thankfully the money hasn't run out just yet, even though it looks worse for wear Dorothy here is a trooper. So is the Warlock."

"I believe it, aren't the doors alone like-"

"800 pounds each, we have to use the hydraulics system to get them open." Riley chuckled, "Thankfully that's never gone out, not yet anyway."

"Don't speak that into existence! Why would you say that?!" Sarah snapped, slapping Riley's shoulder, the blonde feigning injury and laughing when Sarah glared. "Seriously not funny! You think I wanna suffocate int there when the air runs out?"

"Sorry, sorry, I take it back."

"Thank you." Sarah huffed and crossed her arms, looking much younger than her real age at this moment.

"Sorry about her, she used to be a theatre major before meteorology corrupted her." Riley waved her hand and Sarah balked with an offended look and put a hand on her chest.

"I'll have you know, I was a theatre major with a creative writing minor... Get it right, and you call yourself my best friend, for shame." Sarah just shook her head, disappointment painted across every feature until it slips just a bit and she starts to laugh and Riley starts to laugh, but then they both went shock still and stood up straight. Clearing their throats and Kate looked to Javi, the man looking back to her with a winced smile.

"Look Riley, I just wanted to introduce you to Kate, she's the smartest person I know other than you. And I thought you two might hit it off, work well together." Javi explained with a hopeful smile, as if she wasn't here with the Warlock and a small army of underpaid and definitely overworked undergrads who couldn't be happier to be here.

"I already told you no Javi, and if you can't tell, I kind of already have my own team. Can't exactly leave them without their fearless leader. Sarah wouldn't be able to handle all the pressure on her own. They need me." Riley shrugged, as if to say, 'nothing I could do.'

"Yes, yes we do." Sarah agreed, moving shoulder to shoulder with Riley and nodding.

"And the only person I work for Javi, is me." Kate was very confused with the look shared between Javi and Riley that held a thousand words all while giving nothing away.

"What are you working on right now?" Kate blurted out, quickly raising a hand to her mouth and apologizing under her breath. Riley just looked at her with an unreadable look, and Kate started to shift awkwardly.

"Unfortunately I can't tell you that, but keep your eyes peeled." Riley winked and Kate's cheeks turned a shade pinker, knowing how silly she looked. Probably like every other fangirl. It was embarrassing. She had always wanted to meet the Riley St. James, pick her brain, ask her a million questions. She's seen more tornadoes in person than probably anyone else alive right now and lived through an F5. Like her. and kept chasing, kept fighting.

The conversation was interrupted by music blaring.

Ain't no love in Oklahoma....

The red truck made Riley freeze, Sarah shooting her a questioning glance before looking back to the truck, more specifically to the mad standing on the raised ledge of the driver's side door. Leading the group in a very familiar chant.

"What was that?! If ya feel it!"

"Chase it!" The crowd roared back and then cheered when her held up his fist in celebration. Shirts had begun to be sold, other merch items and Riley wanted to smile. But the feeling in her stomach, seeing Tyler be so Tyler. In the year she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him, he had not changed a bit. It was comforting in a way. A constant she didn't know she needed in her life until he wasn't there.

It felt like there was a bull standing on her chest. Watching him smile and autograph literally anything. She had pre-done that, and left two very trustworthy undergrad manning the table where all of that was held. Last she checked they were already sold out of the signed t-shirts she had done.

"Who are they?" Kate asked, leaning into her hip and crossing her arms over her chest. Watching the spectacle in fascination.

"Chasers out of Arkansas." Javi answered while Riley couldn't take her eyes off the blonde man going through the dog and pony show for his audience. He always had been a crowd pleaser. Knew how to work a crowd.

"Hillbillies with a YouTube channel." Sarah scoffed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

"Takes one to know one." Riley smirked, doing her best to fight her demons privately.

"You know if you weren't my best friend and boss, I would so smack you right now." Sarah huffs and Riley's smirk grew into a small grin. One of the few that met her eyes. The dark cloud receding just a bit. "I'm just saying. That whole rig and he doesn't even use it to conduct research. What a waste." Sarah buckled down, tossing an arm in the tornado wrangler's direction. One of the undergrads she had working for her motioned Riley over to Dorothy and she frowned. Laying a hand on Sarah's wrist, looking to Kate and Javi, grin still in place, but it was a little dimmer.

"Okay, it was great to meet you Kate. Javi. If you'll excuse us, we're on the clock." She pulled Sarah with her as Javi called her name. She ignored him and took the tablet from the intern reading the information on the screen and sighing. Looking up at the sky while listening to him explain the readings Dorothy was giving were a little weird and they should probably look at the software.

"Sarah, that's you. Grab Isaac and John, work it out in the next fifteen minutes." Her eyes stayed transfixed where they were as she handed the tablet to Sarah, "We've gotta get moving. Daniel last check on the barrels, don't make it obvious, you know the drill. And tell Jenney she needs to do the final checks in the van before we head out."

"You got it boss." Daniel nodded and took off. Riley sighed and laid a hand on Dorothy.

"Don't give up on me yet girl. Just a couple more, and then we can retire you. I promise."

"I thought I told you just because you talk to it like it's real doesn't mean it is." Sarah looked up from the tablet slightly. Looking at Riley through her lashes before focusing on the numbers on the screen again.

Riley licked her lips before clicking her tongue, "And I thought I told you to go get Isaac and John to crunch the number and figure out what was wrong with our lovely Dorothy here. Don't worry Dorothy, Sarah is gonna go work with the very smart undergrads we have with us and make you all better, okay?" Riley baby talked the piece of technology before looking to Sarah with feign innocence. Batting her eyelashes behind her aviators, Sarah couldn't see it because of how dark the lenses were, but she knew, "We're running out of time, tick tock."

Sarah just chuckled and shook her head, doing as told but before fully leaving. She turned over her shoulder and whisper-shouted, "You know if I weren't mad at you right now, I would warn you about the hunky cowboy storm chaser coming over here right now like a man on a mission. But I am, so I won't." With that she turns on her heel and all but sprints to the van that held all their monitors and receivers. Being constantly monitored by three of the undergrads.

Riley doesn't need to look back to hear the click of his boots, the same ones he's worn since she got them for him on their six-month anniversary. The slight jingle of the spurs giving them away. She wasn't dealing with this right now. She looked around, purposefully not in Tyler's approaching position, looking for an escape. Seeing Kate standing off to the side, watching the woman crouch down to pick a dandelion.

Riley's head tilted to the side and a soft grin came across her lips as she took off.

"Rile-" Tyler's voice was taken by the wind as she was too far by the time he got to where she used to be.

"My dad taught me to do that. All the tech is nice but uh, sometimes the old ways are just better ya know?" Riley shrugged, the older woman still looking at her like she was a god among men. She would take the ego boost, but it was a little much. "Compare wind direction versus cloud movement. Get a feel for the sheer. Where are you from?"

"New York."

Riley took in her answer for a second, pulled down her aviators to the tip of her nose and looked at Kate up and down. The older woman shocked to see startingly blue eyes, brighter blue than what she thought was natural.

"New York, huh? Long way from home." Riley pulled her glasses back up and crossed her arms over her chest. Settling into her hip.

"Yep." Kate was internally screaming, telling herself to say anything, something intelligent maybe? Hopefully.

"What do you see?" Riley nodded to the sky. The darker blonde taking a couple steps forward, leaving Kate to watch her back. White, high collared tank top giving way to toned arms and shoulders hit heavy with sun. Stray hairs curling at the nape of her neck out of her ponytail, the tied-up strands getting shifted by the wind. Kate swallowed hard and took a breath before meeting Riley where she was at.

"Two cells in the west. One in the East which on radar has better numbers and has the sky all to herself and good shear. Plenty of instability." Kate held her breath, looking at Riley out of the corner of her eye, waiting.

"Nice. I saw that too, but..." Riley lolled her head to the side before turning to look to Kate, hands on her hips.

"Cap is way-"

"-Too strong. I agree." Riley finished and smirked when Kate smiled at her. A light shining way back there in the depth. "You're good." The veteran chaser whistled, laughing when Kate looked down at her feet, rocking back on her heels. "What made you stop?"

Kate's head snapped up and she froze.

"You avoiding me Riley? I'll admit, that kinda hurt my feelings." Riley, on instinct turned around. Big mistake. Tyler Owens was right there in front of her, seston hat her dad had gotten him for a birthday of his, anniversary boots, million-watt smile as he squinted in the sun down at her. 

~~*~~

A/N: Hello! I wanted to give you guys some chapters to read with this one, I know it's still in theaters and I have now seen it three times, will probably need to see it another three to finish what I have planned for this bad boy. SO, hold your caps, it's gonna be a wild ride. 

And I will get the chapters out as quickly as I can, I promise! (I wish I could put like a thumbs up emoji here - but I can't it lowkey makes me sad) 

[bts-story]

LOVE IS CHAOS

Previous chapters

CHAPTER 14 — CHOICES

Every beat in Niragi's chest was nervous. Nothing could hold him back anymore. 

He had a terrible headache, which no medicine seemed to be able to cure. He didn't know how long it had been since he had slept, but he didn't even want to think about it. Niragi was alone, more alone than he had ever been before. In fact, it had been a while since he had felt like this. And it was scary, terrifying. 

Yet you were right there, in front of him, only inches away. But your eyes were closed, already in an almost deep sleep. The sound of your heavy breathing echoed through the room to Niragi's ears, and he couldn't erase the infernal memory of the heart game from his mind. He had his fingers on the trigger, and he could see your face twisting with apprehension. He had fired, and your body had burst on the floor in a pool of blood. 

It was quiet, the room was silent, and yet he could hear himself screaming, his hoarse voice ringing in his ears. The pain that gripped his heart was too much to bear.

Niragi had never seen so much blood before. It was impressive and he didn't like it. He had always hated the sight of blood, as far back as he could remember. It hadn't gotten any better growing up, even with the almost daily sight of his own every time he fought one of his high school bullies who had followed him to college. 

He was slumped in the battered hotel room chair, elbows on the armrests as he absently played with that hunting knife he'd kept from the game of clubs. He turned the blade over and over between his fingers, making the blade scrape against his skin, almost to the point of cutting. His hands were still stained with your blood, dried, which draped his forearms with an aura even more threatening than his eternal scowl. 

But his eyes were fixed on you, asleep on the bed. 

You had your arms by your side, sleeping peacefully with your shirt off. The bandage that Chishiya had made was already soaked with blood, and Niragi had to change them before you could sleep. It was not an easy task, but he managed to do it. 

Your face looked so calm, far from all the torment that was currently going on in Niragi's head. He hated this world with all his being. 

If he had ever been asked, he would have said loud and clear that he would rather die than have to shoot you, threatening your existence between life and death. It was an inconceivable idea to him, an impossibility such that he would never for a second have doubted his own loyalty. 

And yet. 

And yet, here we were. In that moment, if there was one thing Niragi hated more than the reason you were here, it was his own self. It was ironic, because he had spent so many years learning to love himself again, to enjoy life again, to appreciate the little moments of everyday life, only to have it all shattered into a million pieces in the space of one little second.

He hated himself for that. It was the truth.

Niragi jumped to his feet. He knew he shouldn't leave you alone for a second, but he had something important to do. It may not have been more important than watching over you to make sure you made it through the night, but it deserved a lot of attention just the same. 

Discreetly so as not to wake you up, he closed the bedroom door with a heavy click that he insulted under his breath. Niragi knew very well what he looked like. He was stained with blood, your blood, and he most certainly looked like a serial killer straight out of an American television show. The sound of music echoed through the walls of the hotel, the eternal party that went on every night at The Beach was making Niragi's headache worse. 

He had to take matters into his own hands. It was one thing to steal a machine gun from an executive to get taken seriously, but he had to step up his game. This was crucial. 

Reaching the top of the stairs that led to the hotel pool, Niragi scanned the crowd of players dancing, laughing, and drinking before his eyes. Many were returning from their own arena, looking for plenty of alcohol to take their minds off the nightmare they were in. The others were already either drunk or stoned, but Niragi didn't try to join them for a second. 

Laughter could be heard in his ears, girls singing at the top of their lungs to the music, and most of all, the few worried looks of those who had noticed him. Obviously, he ignored each of them, studying the crowd to find what he had come for. 

"Hey, it's you, I recognize you," a voice came to his ears. A small, shy, unwelcoming voice that belonged to a young man with glasses, hair brushed ridiculously to the side. 

Niragi ignored it, he had no time for whoever it was. Not only did he have better things to do, he had to get back to watching you as soon as possible. Girls were jumping into the pool laughing, or maybe they had been pushed by teasing boys looking to hit on them in a completely cheesy way. 

"My arm still hurts, but I think it should be fine. I have a girl friend who helped me stitch it up. She did two years as a caregiver in a nursing home. It's not much, but at least she was able to help me," the youngster laughed shyly, scratching the back of his head absently at Niragi's total indifference.

He was rolling his eyes internally, annoyed by this guy who was getting on his nerves. He tried to disregard every word that came out of his mouth, but that little voice was piercing his eardrums too unpleasantly to continue ignoring it. 

"How... How's your girlfriend? She saved my life and I hope that Chishiya was able to —"

Niragi's head snapped back to him so quickly that he was a second away from breaking his neck. How could he have forgotten? It was that young man with whom he had shared the game of hearts, the one who had shot himself in the bicep. The same boy who had helped him bring you back here, and who had gone to get Chishiya for him. 

Niragi should thank him for that. He should offer him a smile and tell him that you were fine, that you weren't out of the woods yet but that he believed that you would be fine, and that you would make it. But Niragi's eyes did not transgress anything more than the usual aggressiveness he showed all the time.

The young man had interrupted his sentence in front of this imposing look. No more sound came out of his mouth because Niragi had been quick to block his hand against the boy's mouth, preventing him from uttering a single word. He had dragged him a little further onto the terrace, not completely out of sight, but enough to find some privacy. The back of the young man was facing Niragi's chest, so that he could not see his face, impossible for him to struggle. 

Instantly, the other player's eyes widened with fear, afraid of having upset Niragi. He might not have heard of Niragi's antics around The Beach yet, but he would soon know what he was capable of. He tried to scream under Niragi's hand which blocked his mouth with force. 

The music was far too loud to really attract anyone's attention, but Niragi reassured him all the same, "Shh, shh, calm down, calm down." The young man's frantic gaze glared at him apprehensively, and he was right. 

Niragi had much more strength than he did, fortunately. If he hadn't, it would have been difficult for him to block the boy and reach that particular hunting knife that he had hidden in his pants pocket again. 

"You know, Chishiya has a secret," Niragi whispered in his ear, and if the boy tried to struggle, it was futile against Niragi's strength around him. He brought the knife to his prey's throat, pressing the blade down hard enough to immobilize him. Niragi knew he would not attempt to struggle for fear of the knife going down his throat. "And Chishiya wouldn't like his secret to get out."

Niragi knew that what the young man was trying to mumble under his hand could most likely mean that he was swearing he wouldn't tell anyone. That he swore to forget about this game and that he wasn't looking for trouble, that Chishiya's secret would be safe and that he would never, ever dare to tell anyone. 

Niragi believed that. He knew that this player would not risk anything. 

But Niragi would not risk anything either. He had no mercy for anyone in this world, except for you. And you were the reason why he was acting like this, here. You were the only one that made him do all those things he never thought he could do before. It was all about you, and protecting you. There was no going back, anyway. It had to be done for you. To protect you. 

So he pressed that blade deep into that young man's throat. He sliced through the carotid artery with great force, but it sank into the skin like butter. Blood spurted everywhere and mixed with the dry blood on Niragi's hands. The boy's body convulsed for a few moments before he collapsed to the ground with a loud noise. 

Lifeless, with empty eyes, the dead silhouette of the slain player laid on the ground. Niragi breathed out an insult, catching his breath. "'Fuckin' hell,' it didn't feel so good to take another life, but here was a collateral damage he had no choice but to take.

Niragi shook his hands to drain the blood which had soaked him. It was then that he noticed something, there, locked between the fingers of his victim. A small white card, the five of hearts. It was easy for Niragi to retrieve the card, and as he examined it, he wondered if this player had come here to give it to the Hatter before interrupting himself to chat with him.

A small gasp was heard behind him, and when Niragi looked over his shoulder, he came upon a young girl. Hand over her mouth, eyes wide, skin livid. "What the fuck are you looking at?" 

The girl ran off, afraid of receiving the same fate as the poor boy. Niragi shook his head, he could have laughed at the girl's reaction, if it wasn't for all the blood that was starting to pool on his hands. 

He knew that what he had just done would quickly enrich his little reputation, and he would not hide from it. If Niragi went to such lengths to make himself feared and respected, it was certainly not to deny everything he could be accused of. Guilty, that he was. 

When his eyes finally found the thing he had come here for too, Niragi passed the crowd of dancers without caring if he was jostling them or stepping on their feet. He twirled the card between his fingers before slamming it with the palm of his hand hard on the wood of the coffee table. 

Empty and half-filled glasses shook at the impact, but no incident occurred. The Hatter didn't even look up for a second, too absorbed by the lips of a barely grown-up girl who was devouring his lips. 

The Hatter was sitting on one of those benches near the pool with exactly four girls in swimsuits around him. They were all rushing to pamper him; a massage, kisses on the neck and Niragi wouldn't be surprised if one of them started sucking him off, right there and then. 

He had discovered that it wasn't very harmless to come across exhibitionists here, as the laws of the real world had been taken away from them. There were no limits, no shame, no rules. 

Niragi took place in front of the Hatter, ignoring the intrigued look of the chicks who were sticking to him. At first, he didn't make himself noticed, but as he placed his knife on the coffee table with a thud, the Hatter finally turned his head towards what interrupted him. "Niragi," he began, caressing the buttocks of the girl to his left, "How do you like the Beach so far? You like it, I hope?" 

A smile tugged at the corner of Niragi's lips. No, he couldn't say he liked it here, or even this world for that matter. He hated everything about this country, every blade of grass, every wall and corner of the city. Every wild animal, every game and every arena. He hated the other players just as much. Every man, every woman and that fucking Hatter. 

He moved the five of hearts card a little closer to the Hatter with two bloody fingers, before bringing his elbows back to his knees, looking serious and grim. 

When his eyes landed on the five little red hearts, the Hatter broke free of his embrace with those girls to better examine the card. A very wide smile appeared on his face while Niragi remained unmoved. "This is amazing! You don't know how rare hearts are around here..." 

The Hatter's enthusiasm was exactly what Niragi was looking for. He knew that this card would more than hold up to the threats he was about to say, once again. "From now on, [Y/N] and I are executives." His tone was firm, commanding, and the Hatter's smile faded. "You want to be number one, whatever. Aguni is your number two, I'm fine with that. But from now on, [Y/N] will be number three, and I will be number four." 

Hatter said nothing. In fact, he was so stunned by Niragi's audacity that he froze like a statue. No one here had ever dared to speak to him like that before. 

"You can tell anyone after your list that they've been demoted," Niragi continued in a stern voice, looking far too comfortable for what was coming out of his mouth. The Hatter was gazing at Niragi's bloody forearms, almost unimpressed by the scarlet color. 

It was now something familiar to see blood in this world. Some games required no sacrifice, others required a lot. It didn't matter to the Hatter whose blood it was, as long as the five of hearts card was brought back to him. 

Niragi's good faith had been proven, just by that. His loyalty and total devotion to the Beach was represented in this small white card that the Hatter hastened to secure in the pocket of his bathing suit. 

The Hatter could trust him - well, as much as he could. Niragi was not a trustworthy man, but for now, he would have to make do. Niragi slumped into the cushions behind him, taking a comfortable seat by resting his feet on the small table in front of him. 

He had finished his little monologue, finished his threats and what he expected from the leader of The Beach, but he wanted to push his arrogance a little longer. Just to make sure he was understood. "I have something to offer you too, Niragi." 

What Niragi had asked was anything but a proposal, but still, he sketched an inviting smile, without saying a word. If the Hatter had something to offer him, so be it. He was (almost) never closed to listen to anything, that didn't block him in any way. It did not force him to do anything.

Hatter disentangled himself from the girls' embrace, straightening his back as he approached Niragi a little closer. "This morning... I caught a few gamblers trying to collect cards on their own." Niragi tilted his head, intrigued. "So I decided to create a third rule for The Beach: death for all traitors." 

Now that was something Niragi was interested in. Every less player in this world was one less competitor. He was quickly getting used to the idea that violence was the only currency in this world, and that anything was needed to survive here. Murder, assault, brutality, torture. Name it, he was not afraid of anything.

"Aguni is putting together a team of activists to keep order here. I propose you to be his second man. You will be... the second in command of the second in command!" Hatter burst out laughing at these last words, truly amused by the quip he had just made. Niragi wasn't amused in the least, but he needed to know a little more about this proposal before he knew if it was futile or brilliant.

"And what's in it for me?" Niragi asked with a raised eyebrow. He was not an easy man to impress, let alone bribe. 

"You'll have access to the armory," The Hatter knew full well what those words implied, no matter how Niragi literally licked his lips. "And your duty will be... shall we say... to keep order. Do you think you are capable of that task?" 

Oh, Niragi was more than capable. He had been ready for this for a long time, since the moment he had set foot in this world. From the moment he had understood the difficulty with which he had to survive. It was a dangerous game. So very dangerous. And Niragi was rubbing his hands in anticipation, he could feel the metal of those weapons under his fingers already quivering.

Niragi's smile did not fade for a second. On the contrary, it grew until it reached his ears. Of course this proposal was tempting. Anyone would be a fucking idiot to refuse it. 

"You'll be number four, if that's important to you, and your girlfriend will be number three, fine. You'll be free to kill whoever you want...punch whoever you want, all of it. You can fuck whoever you want, I don't give a fuck. You'll just have to answer to Aguni and follow his orders, okay?" Hatter held out his hand towards Niragi, waiting for him to seal their arrangement with a handshake. 

Niragi looked at that hand for a second, before rising from his seat to catch it between his fingers. Firmly, he shook. "Deal." 

It was done. Niragi almost had full power, it was real now. He didn't need it, but it would make his task of conquering The Beach easier. He didn't really care, but his devotion to getting you out of here as quickly as possible remained his number one priority.

Hatter grimaced at the feel of blood on his fingers, wiping his hands in disgust against the pillows beside him. The girls around resumed their work as soon as he found his place at the bottom of the cushions again, new kisses on his neck and caresses on his naked chest. 

Niragi, him, took back the knife of the coffee table, and without addressing any more interest, he left. Anyway, the Hatter had already forgotten about him, diving too deeply into the prominent tits of one of the girls. Again, he crossed the crowd of dancers, pushing anyone who wouldn't let him pass. 

He still had that unbearable headache that the loud music didn't help. But Niragi ignored what was pounding his brain to concentrate on his path. At the bottom of the stairs, he froze. Chishiya stood straight and proud at the top of the terrace, a clean sweatshirt and that condescending look still stuck to his unbearable face. 

When their eyes met, it would have been impossible for anyone to decipher what was going on between them. Chishiya's eyes shone with a dreadful malice, something hostile in the way he stood. Back straight, hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt (why was he always in a sweatshirt when it was the middle of August?!) and of course, this little sneer on his lips that could mirror the one that Niragi was so often wearing.

Niragi, on the other hand, was burning with an agonizing uncertainty. He didn't like Chishiya, he didn't like him in the least. He hated him down to his ridiculous blond hair, even though he had just saved your life. 

Niragi walked up the few steps of the terrace, and stopped at the other man's level. There wasn't really a war of ego going on, but a battle of arrogance. The way Chishiya looked at Niragi with raised eyebrows made him tense. Every muscle in his body tightened, every fiber and every nerve burned with the desire to harm this man.

Niragi grabbed in the back pocket of his jeans his smashed cigarette pack. He pulled out one that was much more beaten up than he was and raised it to his lips. After only three tries, his lighter ignited and the flame burned the end of the cigarette. Still without breaking their eye contact, Niragi inhaled strongly and released the smoke on Chishiya's nose. 

This was pure and proper provocation.

But Chishiya didn't say anything, not a sound came out of his mouth and Niragi went on his way, not without giving him a last threatening look. It was so hard not to succumb to the urge to rip his face off. He could do it, if he wanted to. He knew that very well. But for now, as long as you weren't out of trouble yet, he would need him in case there was any complication. 

Chishiya wouldn't want to interfere with your recovery any longer, but Niragi was sure that a new death threat would help him change his mind.

When Niragi returned to the hotel room and closed the door with the same thud as when he left, you were still sleeping. He had stubbed out the end of his cigarette on the hallway carpet, uninterested in smoking inside or defacing hotel equipment.

Your eyes were deeply closed, and you hadn't moved a muscle. Your ribcage was slowly rising and falling with each breath, and Niragi was trying not to crack the wood hidden by the carpet under his feet. 

Niragi approached the bed slowly, and he suddenly had the urge to caress every inch of your body. To hold you so tightly in his arms and feel the beat of your heart against his chest. Everything had happened so fast, the night had been so long and so short at the same time. It was a strange feeling, as if time was no longer running properly. 

But with his hands still full of blood, it was impossible for him to be able to do any of this. "W-where —?" Your shaky voice filled his ears. Too immersed in his thoughts, he hadn't noticed your eyes flashing open, or even the way you were trying to get up with difficulty. 

"Shh, what are you doing? Lie down, are you out of your mind or what?" Niragi pushed you back against the cushions of the bed, ignoring the feeble strength with which you had tried to get up. He shrugged off your question, instead pulling the blanket back over your legs that had moved with you. "You need to rest, where are you trying to go like this?" 

It was a question he didn't want answered, he didn't want to force you to talk for nothing. On the contrary, he wanted to preserve you as much as possible. Your wound was still far too fresh to do anything.

On your side, it was too frustrating not to be able to talk and ask him the thousand questions that were bothering your brain. And the fatigue was so great, as if weakness had taken over your whole body. Every movement was so difficult to make, every breath seemed impossible and just blinking your eyes required immeasurable strength. 

Not to mention the pain of your wound that could make you forget your own name. It was only slightly better than when the bullet was still lodged in it, and yes, the painkillers had made quite a bit of improvement but it was still so painful that you couldn't ignore the damn curse. 

In turn, you didn't answer the question that Niragi had asked. It didn't matter, it didn't really deserve an answer anyway. You rested on the not very soft pillow, already annoyed by the little strength you had. Your eyelids were heavy, so heavy, but as Niragi slumped back into the broken armchair at the foot of the bed, your eyes fell on his hands. 

Niragi followed your gaze, and sighing, he said wearily, "Yes, I know, I'll go take a shower." He looked exhausted, as if he too, somehow, had no strength left. He had rested his head on his right hand, which was leaning on the armrest, rubbing his forehead with pain, his eyes closed. 

It was a miracle what he had managed to do. Keeping you alive all the way to The Beach was impossible, but somehow he had done it. When your number had appeared on the big screen, back in the game, and the second image had stopped on the belly, your heart could have given out. 

You knew that a wound like that was fatal, and that no one could survive it without quick medical attention. But you didn't know how, you were there after all. Back in this shitty world, and forced to survive to get your old life back. 

So Chishiya had agreed to help you. It was a desperate choice, after all, to ask for his help. Chishiya was not someone who was willing to help others immediately, despite his background as a doctor. He was selfish, narcissistic and despised everyone around him. That was the main reason your small history didn't work out. 

Oh yes, it was so long ago. Was it really a story at all? Maybe it was just a fling, or a crush, you wouldn't even know how to describe it. A romance, maybe. Whatever it was, it was so long ago that you couldn't give it any importance, whatever it was. 

If only Niragi wasn't snooping around the stuff that was hurting him.

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I know, I know, this chapter a little smaller but it was necessary to make my transition!

So… so… Well Chishiya would be an ex-boyfriend but the story doesn't revolve around that, you told me you didn't want a love triangle On the other hand, I need him to feed Niragi's jealousy and add to the suspense of the story

Well, let's get to work on the next chapter now!

Nageoire

[f4ll-for-you]

Thank you a million times to @arcielee who consistently puts up with my ramblings and makes my stories readable. I am forever in your debt💛

Series Masterlist

Chapter Two: Lost and Found

When Danera woke up the next morning, she tried not to give much thought to the night before. She knew it was just Aegon's drunken state that influenced his words and he’d likely just lost his way to a servant girl's rooms.

Although she did everything in her power to push Aegon out of her mind, the pain and desire laced in his words infected her. Part of her wondering if they would ever be true. 

A knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. A servant girl came in, she looked a similar age to Danera, with long black hair braided down her back. 

"Sorry for the intrusion, my lady. I am Elena, I will be your lady whilst here in the castle. Would you like me to help you dress?" 

Elena had a kind face, she looked young, but her demeanour was older, as if she knew too much for her age. 

"Do you have plans for the day, my lady?" Elena pulled the strings of Danera’s dress tightly. 

"I would like to take a walk around the gardens," Danera replied. 

"Sounds wonderful, it is a beautiful day outside," Elena smiled at her, her eyes gentle and kind. "All done, my lady. You will be expected at breakfast with the Queen.”

Meanwhile, Aegon woke up the next morning with a blistering headache. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence for him, but he never got used to it. 

The usual medicine waiting for him was next to his bedside, left by the Maesters the night before. He reached over, not remembering much of the previous night's adventures. As he sat up, he felt a sickening feeling, he remembered. 

After everyone had left dinner, he drowned himself in his cups to try and stop his thoughts about Danera, her eyes, her long hair, her lips. However, on his way back to his chambers, he decided he needed just one look at her and with that he stumbled down the corridor, as their rooms were not far apart. He wanted to speak to her, make friends, but of course, he'd fucked that up as well. 

He laid in his bed, angry at himself for ruining another thing in his life. He wanted to be better. The sight of her made him want to be better. He was tired of the drinking and the whoring, he wanted to be loved.

Danera walked into the dining hall, luckily there was no sign of Aegon, in fact, there was no sign of anyone. 

"Sorry there are so few this morning, mother asked me to apologise, our father is unwell and needs tending to," Aemond explained, moving towards the table and sitting down nonchalantly. It was a common occurrence these days for the King to be so sick. 

"Aren't you hungry?" He spoke, looking up at her when she didn't reply. 

She sat down, taking some bread for her plate, clearly feeling the strain of past events. Danera hadn’t spoken to Aemond in years, their friendship broken in one night. The confusion and pain coming back to her all at once. 

Aemond looked at her, his face lined with guilt, "I, I never apologised.” 

"For what," she looked confused, needing him to say the words, to admit to the pain he’d caused her. 

"You tried to help me that night and I pushed you away. We were friends and I shouldn't have treated you like that," he looked up, an apologetic look now covering his features.

"It's in the past, we have all grown up," she smiled, hoping it looked like she meant it.

The pair looked down for a moment, their eyes meeting again a second later; the pain and loss of the last few years, fading around them.

As children, she never got along with her brothers. She was jealous of the love they received from their mother. She was also a forgotten second born, just like Aemond, and that was how their friendship was forged.

Aemond and Danera left breakfast together, laughing about their childhood and filling each other in on what they had missed. 

"Aegon hasn't changed," Danera admitted with an expression of frustration.

 "I'm afraid not," Aemond said with a sigh, "I'm not sure he ever will". 

They walked further into the gardens, silence brewing awkwardly.

"Apologies my lady, as much as it's nice to speak to you again, I have to go train." 

"It's alright, I wanted a walk in the gardens today," Danera gave him a genuine smile.

Aemond somewhat returned the gesture, with the slight curl of his lips, and they parted ways. Danera walked further into the large gardens, one of her favourite things within the Red Keep. She walked for a while, wrapped up in her own thoughts of dragons and suitors, before a servant caught up with her. 

"The queen has asked for you, my lady," she said out of breath. 

"Of course, I will make my way there now," Danera nodded her lips pursed with a forced smile

She wasn't sure how she could face the queen alone after the previous night. 

Walking back inside, she vaguely remembered her way around the large castle alone. It didn't take her long to find herself outside the doors to the queen's chambers. 

"The queen requested my presence," she explained to the guards outside, who promptly stood aside and let her in without a word.

"Ah my dear, you found your way," Alicent spoke softly to her, smiling and patting the seat next to her. "How has your first morning here been? I am so sorry to have missed breakfast, but I assume you must know of the king's…health"

"Do not worry, I would rather my grandsire be well," Danera forced herself to look into Alicent’s eyes. 

"Now, I know your mother and I do not see eye to eye, but I want you to feel you can come to me whenever you need. I want to find you a suitor who will make you happy," Danera was taken aback by Alicents words, the honey-like kindness laced through them. 

Although Danera did not know what to expect from the meeting, she was not sure whether to trust that these were words of truth from the queen. 

"Myself and your mother were once the closest of friends, and I miss her greatly” the queen seemed almost as if she were talking to herself, hesitantly, she continued, “how is she doing back on Dragonstone?" 

"She is well, her pregnancy with my brother was rough towards the end, but it was worth it for young Joffrey," Danera smiled, trying to match Alicent’s demeanour. 

The conversation felt like a game, as if Danera’s words would grant her trust, or just as easily take it away. In that moment, she decided if she were to survive here, one person she would need on her side would be the queen. 

They spoke for an hour or so about Dragonstone and her mother, Danera being careful not to give too much away. Alicent explained there was to be a tourney in the coming weeks to celebrate the princess, and for any man interested to show his favour.

As Danera made her way back to her chambers, her head filled with a buzz of confusion. Not focusing, she walked around the corner to her corridor, walking straight into Aegon. Flustered, she tried to push past him, her eyes focused on the stones beneath her feet, until he grabbed her arm. 

Immediately, Danera turned, her eyes flashed red with anger, not usually one to keep her temper under control. Although Aegon wanted to speak, only silence grew between the pair. Aegon could only stare at her, his emotions burning throughout his body. 

"What?" she demanded harshly. 

"I wanted to apologise," Aegon rushed, almost too quietly for her to hear, "I was drunk…it was unbecoming of me.”

Before Danera could comprehend the words he had spoken, Aegon had gone, his cloak flowing down the corridor as he left.

Taglist:

@heavenly1927 @watercoloursky @sylas-the-grim @arcielee @foxee-d-or

[mangatxt]

20 questions for fic writers

tagged by @creativenicocorner; thanks nico!!

tagging @kreauxlighe @tomezeme @mosshook @carriecmoney and anyone else who wants to do this. no pressure!

answers under the cut

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

23

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

489k. i want that half-million by year's end.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

currently, i only write mp100 fics. my ao3 has some older fics from hq!! and a couple other fandoms I used to write for.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

i'm not gonna list them out because they're all older stuff i'm less enthusiastic about recommending now. the top four are daisuga (hq!!) fics I wrote in college, and the fifth is an inukoko fic I wrote before tokrev ended.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to keep up with them. It means a lot to me when people take time out of their day to send me their thoughts, and I've made a lot of friends from it! But I get overwhelmed and behind on it sometimes, and then I'm like... I probably shouldn't respond to this until I post a new chapter. oops.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

hands down, weekly consultation (mp100, gen, mcd).

second place goes to the one for the road (tr, kokoinu), which ends in a breakup.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

most of my fics have happy endings.

the parachute candidate (mp100, serirei) has a pretty happy ending. so do halo effect (mp100, serirei) and phototropic (mp100, gen).

but i think the happiest ending is probably the twelfth annual rising sun spiritual union holiday decoration contest (mp100, serirei), because reigen wins money instead of more time with roshuuto.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

i've been super lucky to have overwhelmingly positive reception to my fics. i didn't love all the foot commentary on that one tokrev fic, but it is what it is.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

i do. very serious smut only, like dick hanahaki and schrödinger's office smut and slow-motion trainwreck sex column

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

i wrote a short haikyuu!! x fullmetal alchemist fic for daisuga week a long time ago. that's probably the craziest one.

in medias res (mp100, gen) is the little match girl isekai, so that probably counts too. reigen literally crosses over.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not to my knowledge

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

a few offers, but i'm not sure if they were completed

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

i have been responsible for the prose output of all of my fics, but i've had a lot of help for various plots. for example, i feel that half the blame credit for bringing flora obscura into being should go to @crownorclover

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

serirei (mp100). it has two characters i adore individually, a setting with so much canonical room for shenanigans, and a lot of open-endedness to the development of the relationship that makes it fun to speculate over.

i'm still partial to kokoinu (tokrev) too. both kokoinu and serirei have that bodyguard/loyalty trope to them and are often written within a greater found family. it's good stuff.

i also like the inherent appalling messiness of reishuuto but it's not that serious

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

that novelist!hawks fic i started once. rip.

16. What are your writing strengths?

i like an off-the-wall premise, and i am incredibly committed to the bit.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

i tend to overwrite things. need to work on brevity.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

for the manga series i write for, i try to write in scanlation/fansub language for the most part. that's how i interacted with them originally, so that's how the character voices sound in my head. not everything in one language has a 1:1 translation into another.

mp100 has a lot of cultural/wordplay jokes that don't translate well into english. i have a lot of wordplay in my fics to match the tone, but i've only managed to make a wordplay joke that translates both ways once. so much respect for translators who figure out how to make that work on a regular basis.

i try to do as much research as possible to get things right, but i know i'll make mistakes. for that reason, i really appreciate people who beta read for me, who put together writing resources and other research materials, or who are kind enough to leave constructive feedback.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

pokémon.

i can't find it anymore but at one point, my 12-year-old ass wrote a fic where gym leader chuck's wife is like "chuck you spend all your time with the waterfall. i want a divorce." laksjdlkasj

i'd totally write it again.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

the parachute candidate.

(i think i'll like sage advice a lot more when i finish it)

[dedahblog]

Personal Retrospective on the final chapter mess and the never ending feeling of frustration

I just wanted to write how I found closure with all this mess. Even though it's adressed to IR fans, this post is mosty anti bleach ending coded. It's not an ichiruki meta.

Warning long post

I guess in order to follow my train of thoughts, I'll have to establish first that I'm certain that Kubo was lying about this being his intended ending. My proof is simply comparing both endings Bleach and his previous manga Zombie Powder.

Why is he lying ? Two reasons. First, he's still on contract with his bosses. Second, he's too proud, he would rather have us hate him than take pity for him.

If you're not convinced, I guess you'll waste your time reading my post because it's based on that general idea.

It's so easy to rant about the ending to the point that it becomes ridiculous

"Ichigo and Rukia are important to each other, but not as important as Orhime and Reji are to them ! They are the love of their life !!"

Meanwhile, during the arc that officialized those pairings, Ichigo doesn't consider the abduction of the said love of his life a moment where he felt despair ( not #1 place not #2 place not even in "the bunch of other moments from there to there" place )

and Rukia doesn't recall one single happy memory with the said love of her life whom she had known for +100 years. ( She had only one significant moment with Orhime where the latter expressed her vulnerability to her and by that scene alone, Orihme out-bested that jobber and people are comparing that shit pairing to ichiruki let's see at first if it can out pass rukihhime then we will talk)

"Ichiruki fans are so toxic. The reason Ichigo and Rukia's feeling aren't as explicit as Reji's and Orhime's is because Bleach is not a shojo !! Kubo was also short in time he couldn't solve all those plot holes, let alone romance. Anyway, he doesn't know how to write romance to begin with. It's not like he can sum up the feeling of love and devotion in like two panels"

Meanwhile Kubo :

If you're interested, here is my favorite anti ending meta o n e / t w o

Anyway, what I mean, you can state 1000 problems with this ending, and it's still never enough to the point that I asked myself : what am I really trying to prove ?

Do I have to prove that ending was intentionally bad ?

No. All the Bleach fans who had at least one brain cell either cried, got frustrated or tried to smash their computer/smart phone when reading the last chapter. You don't have to be Einstein to understand that even when a writer was short on time even if he was crawling himself because of his sickness, there are million alternative ways to end a manga than this panel.

If people can't comprehend the malice and the utter disrespect towards fans to end a 15 year running manga with this expression, then they should be go back to elementary school to learn basic comprehension skills

The point is, all the sane bleach fans ( yeah I’m shading myself) left this fandom months afterwards because they felt insulted and alienated by this end and swore to never speak about this manga again. They're a vast majority but they don't want to talk about it on social media. Why ? because why bother ? Even if they complain, what's going to change? Who are they trying to convince ? The only one whose opinion is crucial is Kubo and he showed them by that panel how blatantly he was aware he was writing cr0ap. So what’s the point anyway ?

Do I have to teach the new IR fans that they shouldn't accept this end easily and they have every reason to love ichiruki ?

No, simply because I'm not a preacher. Whether they accept it or not, it won't change my feelings for IR.

Do I have teach the new readers to not let the official end influence their reading experience ?

Well, putting my self in their shoes, it’s hard to fathom that a writer could do scorched earth policy on his life achievement out of pettiness. It's obvious for some of us since we have known him for years, read every one of his controversial statements. However, it will be miracle to convince new readers. Moreover, I can't understand how can people choose to read a 696 chapter manga that has no story resolution ...like...have some ... self-love ? 

(the +10 chapters are Turn Back the Pendulum arc btw)

Do I have to paint myself as the good and wise Ichiruki fan in front of people who "don't like ichiruki because of the shippers" ?

This is the most ridiculous argument to hate a pairing. Just say you don't dare to go against the wave and get out. As far as I'm concerned, the essence of shipping has always been egocentric people self inserting themselves in a fictional character and imposing feelings on them based on one’s mindset and reading comprehension. Whatever is the pairing, shipping fandom will never not be unhinged.

As a matter of fact, when I realized that ichiruki might be one of the aspects that interests to me the most in Bleach, I read some IR vs IH forums and I was disgusted by the offensive language from both sides : people insulting each other over lines on papers was beyond me.

However, I didn't think ill of the pairing itself because no one understands it better than Kubo. So all I did was re-reading their scenes comparing them to other relationships and Kawaichappy was a true blessing. She / he made me love Ichiruki more that I could ever imagine.

I refuse to be a pawn in this viscous circle that Kubo set us to. I think the best solution to cut this chain is not forgiving him or feeling pity for him but to stop holding a grudge against him (even though you have every right to) and just let it go. That's why, I chose to see the good side of things.

1)

When Bleach was getting cancelled, Kubo could have saved his ass by making ichiruki p0rk and throwing an IR baby at us. While the majority of fans won’t be happy with the plot holes like it's the case with the official end, a good portion could derive some satisfaction for this sort of conclusion thanks to Ichigo and Rukia's undeniable chemistry.

Moreover, more than half of merchandise were ichiruki coded at that time and even now btw . But he didn't do that, and for that reason alone, he has my respect and I never spoke ill of him. As far as I'm concerned, if he did make IR p0rk, I won't even send him "death threats", I will fly to Japan, strangle him and honeslty will never speak about IR or bleach ever again.

2)

The second reason why I don’t hold any grudge towards him is thanks to this

You guys can’t even understand how much this page made me happy.

As you know, the "All Stars" double page is drawn at the beginning of every volume and the pictures used above the name of the main characters of every volume are obviously panels featured in the same volume.

However, volume 74 was the exception. Orhime and Rukia's panels are not in this book. Oihime's innocent smile is from volume 73 and Rukia's defiant look from volume 59 (chapter 628) !!!

This can’t not be unintentional.

It basically means that Rukia and Orhime were not featured in this volume. The characters posing as them in volume 74 are imposters.

This is so ridiculously funny. Every time, I read 'xx married xxx', I respond smugly " you sure about that ? based on your precious final canon volume, the last time we saw Rukia is in volume 59 and Orhime in 73."

He's basically saying :" this is Rukia Kuchiki the brave and fierce woman you have always loved, don't let that cheap representation fools you. "

And " This is Orhime Inoue the innocent girl you knew all along, who is selfishly ignoring she is basically in a battlefield, beaming from happiness like a child because she is yearning from all her heart to feel loved and validated. Don't let that cheap representation fools you"

Honestly, Kubo didn't need to do that. The fact that he still cared about my favorite character Rukia to the point of explicitly dissociating her along with Orhime from this mess still makes me so happy to this day.

I love Ichiruki but I like Orhime more than Ichigo. So Kubo not bothering with Ichigo doesn't annoy me one bit. It's rather hilarious

3)

The third and final reason is the final volume cover, I made a meta about it years ago

IR fam, some of you may think you got the shortest end of the stick with this ending. But, believe me you have the greatest advantage of all. :

you don't have to associate yourself with anything about that ending.

You don't have to associate yourself with this :

The execution place that represents Soul Society corruption and rotten system became more menacing than it ever was

but you will always be linked to Ichigo being the hero who will" pass even through 100 billion blades" to save Rukia unshamedly defying million years of corruption.

You don't have to associate yourself with a pairing where the girl has known the guy for 100 years and he has never made her happy one micro second for all those years.

And you certainly don't have to associate yourself with a pairing that got canon in the same page as this abomination was written

and whose child is undoubtedly getting molested by his aunt probably explains why he's a creep btw

People doesn't even realize how insulting it is for Bleach that Yuzu, out of all the characters, was represented this way in the final conclusion

In the first chapter, Ichigo was hesitant to let Rukia stab him with her sword. He was scared shitless even though his family were literaly half dead and Rukia was injured because of him ... yep your hero ladies and gentlemen. It was Yuzu's bravery, selflessness and love for her brother that made him accept this life changing decision.

When the guy didn't have the courage to be the main character and to start off the manga in the first place but it was his little sisters' bravery that inspired him to take the first step then it was Rukia's ethics in the second chapter that shaped his idea of how an ideal hero should be.

Don't you love it when Bleach was supporting women supremacy ?

... Good old days indeed.

The second reason why you shouldn't feel petty about your otp not being canon in this fake ending is you know who should be frustated ? Kubo. 

He may act tough, shitposting himself and pulling cr*p from there to there but you can't convince me that seeing his manga torn and burned, getting insults from everywhere (even though he deserves it) didn't have any effect on him.

Obviously, we felt alienated reading the last chapter but imagine the guy who created those characters that had been living in his mind for 15 years, imagine feeling alienated by what you had created.

I remember reading somewhere that during Fade to Black writting process, he sat in a corner, was frustrated with himself because he couldn't figure out what kind of name Rukia would think is suitable for those siblings. He was determined to dive into Rukia's character and find out what kind of name SHE would like. He cared so much about staying true to her character.

Sure he was frustrated, angry at everyone. Sure he wanted to burn everything down before getting cancelled. But you can't convince me that the love he once had for his life achievement vanished completly

You can't convince me that he didn't hope that things were concluded in better circumstances.

In a way, you may feel sad for IR not having a decent closure. But bear in mind, no one is more petty than Kubo and his constant self sabotage since 2016 is the proof.

Final conclusion, ichiruki is one of the best fictional pairing ever written and it deserved the best and obviously not to be linked to that ending.

We have always been fans of the love, whether platonic or romantic, that Rukia and Ichigo have for each other. The love they shared together that made them have the desire to love themselves and the courage to hope.

I guess the best tribute for this kind of relationship is to express our love for them how much they meant to us and not to succumb to negativity

Because negativity is only reserved to the man who doomed his life achievement.

[austinsgirl]

Rather Die | Chapter 9

word count: 2061

warnings: talks of sex, faking sex, language

cross posted on wattpad

master list

————————————————————————

"Um, did you just say Ashton??" Eliana questions Victoria.

"Yes, yes I did." Vic responds.

"You went on a date with MY ex?! How could you?!"

"Eliana, for the last fucking time. We're not friends anymore. You took Austin right from underneath me. If I want to date Ashton, I can. You can deal with it if it really bothers you that much."

"God, you're such a bitch." Eliana scoffs.

"Takes one to know one."

"Hey, can you not treat my girl like that?" Austin asks Vic.

"Why? I'm just treating her the way she's treating me. She shouldn't even be on set."

Austin didn't say anything because he knew she was right.

Everyone headed off to set to take their places, Eliana stayed off to the side to watch.

"You know, why can't you girls just learn to get along for the sake of the movie so we don't have to be so miserable on set?" Austin asks Vic as they take places.

"Look, Austin. I would be perfectly fine with being civil but she's the one that's always starting shit, and I'm not letting her get away with it like I did when we were friends."

"Are you sure you're not the one starting things?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Because she's always telling me that it's you."

"Well, somehow you're rarely ever around when she starts it, so you're not there to actually see it. Oh, and by the way, I'd keep my eye on her. I saw her checking out one of the extras."

"She wouldn't. She loves me too much."

"She loves your dick & good looks. That's about it."

"How could you be so sure?"

"That's how it is with everyone she dates. Trust me. And I feel like I've told you this before."

"Ha, yeah. Okay."

"Don't come crying to me when you catch her cheating, saying "I told you so.""

"I won't, because she won't do that."

"Mhm."

"Alright, everyone places! We're rolling in 30 seconds!" Anna shouts.

Austin & Victoria deliver their scenes and get their takes.

"Great work guys. I'm sure as you both read in the script & in the schedule, tomorrow we're doing the sex scene. I hope you guys can really bring your A game tomorrow for it. Do what you have to do to bring that passion." Anna tells them before they go off for break.

"Wanna meet up and rehearse later?" Austin smirks, really giving a fuck boy look.

"I would never in a million years have sex with you." Victoria says in response as she walks off set.

"We'll see about that."

Victoria rolls her eyes & heads to Mila's trailer.

"Austin really thinks we'll end up fucking." she says to Mila, walking in.

"What? How?"

"Well we have to film that scene tomorrow & he's like 'Wanna rehearse later?' like ew no, I would never. And he's like 'We'll see about that.' being all cocky in shit like ew stop."

"He's so gross."

"Tell me about it." Vic rolls her eyes. "After lunch we have to film the club scene and I'm so not ready to make out with him & dance all sexy."

"I do not blame you. But I'm sure it'll be fun either way."

"Only because I have you to help me through it."

"Awww stop. I love you."

"Love you too. I really don't know what Id do without you."

After lunch, everyone got changed into their club scene outfits & got into the correct hair and makeup, then headed onto set.

"Alright, so we're gonna have the music playing, everyone just dance and groove along. Victoria & Austin, the main focus on you both. I don't care when, but just kiss at some point. Keep it steamy." Anna says before calling action.

The music starts playing, everyone's dancing. Victoria and Austin keep it as steamy as they can, spite their feuding relationship.

Vic has her arms wrapped around his neck, and Austin has his hands on her hip & ass. They rock back & forth to the beat of the music.

"Oh, this is nice- Wait no. Don't fall into his trap Victoria." Vic thought to herself. "He's just being super extra handsy right now to get me to 'rehearse'."

She turns around and Austin pulls her into him. Victoria grinds herself against him. He puts his lips on her neck. She tries to fight enjoying it, but she does, until she gets a flashback to that night where everything went down, which lead her to have a mini panic attack.

"Wait, wait, wait. I need a second. Excuse me." Victoria removes herself from set to go take a breather. Mila follows behind her to make sure she's okay.

"Hey, hey, hey. Are you okay? What happened?" Mila asks her as they go outside.

"I just got a flashback to that night where everything went down, and it just kinda sent me into a panic." Victoria explains to her.

"I'm sorry babe. Do you need anything?"

"Yeah, she needs to suck up whatever this is and get back in there. What the hell, Vic?" Austin says coming outside.

"Are you serious right now, Austin?" Victoria asks him. "I wouldn't have panicked if it wasn't for your whore ass."

"What do you mean?" he asks confused.

"This scene was like that night all over again. We danced just like that before you went & fucked things up."

"Again, I'm sorry that I did that. But this is our job, we can't let the past effect us."

"Well, I'm sorry that it effected me because you're a two timing man whore."

"You're so dramatic."

"Can you fucking not right now? And just fuck off? I'm not gonna be able to compose myself if you're just feeding into it."

"Fine. I'll fuck off."

"Good. Bye."

"Anna wants us back in no more than ten minutes." Austin says before heads back inside.

"God, he's such a dick. I don't know if I can handle another few weeks working with him." Vic says to Mila.

"Hey, you'll be okay. You've gotten this far. I know it's hard, but you got this. Don't let this asshole ruin your big break."

"I know, I know. He's just making it so hard. Especially having Eliana around."

"I know. But if he tries shit again, I will fight & lose my job. I don't care. No one messes with my best friend."

"Thanks, Mila. Again, I don't know what I'd do without you."

The girls went back inside & continued to film.

Austin & Victoria we're facing each other, dancing. They kept looking at each others lips, getting ready to go in for the kiss.

"God, those lips are so lucious. NO stop Vic. Don't think like that."

Austin goes in for the kiss, Victoria follows his lead.

"Wow, this is actually an enjoyable kiss because I can't taste Eliana on them. Fuck, he's such a good kisser. NO shut up brain. We are not doing this."

Anna calls cut & we were done for the day.

Austin clears his throat, "Good work, Williams."

"Yeah, uh, same to you Butler."

"Hey, we should probably practice for tomorrow." he says.

"Why? Can't we just wing it?"

"Well, I mean, we'll rehearse it before we film it with the intimacy coordinator but I mean, we should ourselves so we're more prepared."

"No, I know you & I know you'd actually try to bang and that's NOT happening."

"No, we wouldn't."

"Yes we would. If we're rehearsing, it's here on set witu the coordinator. That's it."

"Cmon, Vic. You don't want to be with me?"

"Id rather die than to ever be with you." Vic says, attempting to storm off.

Austin grabs her wrist and pulls her in, & kisses her.

She gets lost in him for a moment before she realizes what's going on.

"Oh my god, Austin. No." she shoves him off of her. "We're not fucking, we're not kissing, we're not doing shit unless it's for this film. You're with Eliana, right? Use her for your fucking & kissing needs, not me."

"Fine then. Our scene will just suck."

"If it sucks, it sucks. I really don't care."

Victoria walks off set & goes to her trailer to grab her things.

"Vic, you ready to go?" Mila pops her head in.

"Yep, let's go." she says, in a passive tone.

"What's wrong?"

"Austin kissed me. Trying to get me to have sex with him to "rehearse" again." she rolls her eyes.

"Ew."

"I know. I cant with him."

The next day on set...

Austin & Victoria meet up with Casey, the intimacy coordinator in a closed office space that's set up as a bedroom.

"Okay, the scene starts with Allison jumping into Jake's arms, kissing very passionately. Jake carries Allison into the bedroom. I was thinking from there, Jake will throw Allison onto the bed before hovering over her, continuing the makeout. Jake will remove Allison's dress leaving her in her underwear, then his shirt comes off, he pulls down his bottoms, her panties come off, and they go at it kind of rough, but passionate. All that sound good?" Casey asks Austin & Vic as she's done explaining the scene.

They both nod their head in agreement, although they don't want to.

"Perfect. I'll have you guys get into your nudity wear stuff. It makes it all look real, without any genitalia touching. Once you guys are ready, we'll go over it, then we'll go to set and shoot."

"Ready to have your mind blown?" Austin asks Victoria all cocky.

"Please, Austin. It's not like we're going to have actual intercourse."

"If you say so."

"God, he's so annoying." she thought to herself.

The actors went off to get prepped and into costume.

Once they we're ready, they went back into the room to go over it.

Victoria jumps into Austin's arms and starts making out with him. He throws her onto the bed as directed, and hovers over her kissing her.

He removes her dress and tosses it to the side, then removes his shirt & tosses it. He pulls his pants down and removes her panties, then "goes inside of her", mimicking the actions. They both make the faces and sounds of pleasure, does whatever feels right for the scene.

"Cut! That was perfect guys. It's a super short scene, but it was great. Let's head off to set and do the exact same thing."

They all go off to set, and do their thing, of course doing the dialogue that leads up to it.

After Anna calls cut, Austin lays down next to Vic. They're both out of breath like they were actually doing it. And they'd be lying to themselves if they weren't turned on by each other right now, which they're hating on themselves for.

"Good job, Butler." Vic says to Austin.

"You too, Williams."

They get up from the bed and put their robes on.

Victoria heads off to her trailer to get dressed and break for lunch.

On Austin's way back to his trailer, he sees something that Victoria tried warning him about, but just brushed to the side, not wanting to believe it. Now that he sees it, he believes it.

"Eliana??" he says, catching her making out with that extra, as they were trying to hide in a corner of a building but it wasn't working out very well.

"Oh my god, Austin! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen." Eliana goes on.

"Save it. I should have listened to Victoria. She was right about you. And I should have never kissed you that night. I lost the girl who I had thought was the best I ever met, and now I'm losing the other girl who I thought was the best."

"Austin! Please! I love you."

"No you don't. You never really did, and I know that now. You only wanted me for my looks like Victoria said. It's over Eliana. You can get your stuff out of my trailer after break. Id rather not see you again."

"Fine. If you want to be over, then we'll be over. You weren't that good at sex anyways."

"Whatever, Eliana."

Austin walks away, regretting so many decisions he's made in the past few weeks.

Maybe he should have listened to Victoria. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten with Eliana in the first place.

Only time will tell what will happen next.

—————————————————————

[sushiosims]

Billy and Morgan - Chapter 5

As Morgan makes her way to The Bluffs a million thoughts are going through her head at once... What if she gets caught? Her mum will actually freak out. She feels bad too, her mum is only trying to give her a good life, but it's not the life she wants.

A vice grip of panic clutches her stomach as she wonders what Bruce would say if he found out? I mean technically she wasn't cheating, but still, meeting a boy nightly to look at the stars? If the boot was on the other foot...

She can only imagine what he would do

Her head and heart are wrestling with one another now. She knows that she has not cheated on Bruce, not physically, but every time she meets Billy, every second she thinks of him, she is emotionally cheating

She can't bare Bruce kissing her, he is always accusing her of being frigid, and she was beginning to believe him, but now all she can think of is Billy kissing her, and...more...she flushes

Maybe she should just go home, text Billy, say her mum caught her. She shouldn't be doing this. She is about to turn and go home...

'Cheer up, it might never happen' comes a cheeky voice from above

'Hey, you stole my seat...and my line' she laughs up at him

And then, she isn't thinking of Bruce anymore, she isn't thinking about her mum, she is just looking up at Billy's carefree happy face, and everything else is just gone.

'Coming up?'

'Careful Fyre, its kinda slippy!' Billy warns, concern crossing his face as Morgan jumps up and grabs the beam

'Relax Billy Boy, I have been doing this since I was 11 years old' she says, and swings up onto the beam

Then, she's on the beam, and they are face to face. Literally inches away from each other, its like time freezes and they just look at each other. The air is heavy and electric, and its like everything else just stops. None of them even dare to take a breath

After what feels like an eternity, Morgan takes a deep breath, and with all her willpower pulls back...

Billy, although gutted, swings his legs round and tries to act normal, as if his heart wasn't pounding out his chest 'So, I have a confession' he says

'Spill' Morgan laughs overly brightly, trying to mask the tension that was palpable between them, her heart still jackhammering

'You just jumped up there, like it was nothing' he said smirking self deprecatingly 'It took me 20 minutes to get up here, and I nearly fell...twice, now I need to get down...my nuts are killing...I just don't know how to get down'

They both burst out laughing and fall back into an easy banter

The next morning Morgan wakes up smiling, as her first thought turns to last night. They didn't hang around at the Bluffs. Billy just walked her home, the 20 minute journey took them 2 hours, she made him stop before they were in view of her house, she feels weird about him seeing it

The smile falls from her face as she picks up her phone, opening her messages she sees 20+ unread from Bruce. She opens them and sighs. The first half, nasty, vile messages, followed by the love bombing. It was a constant cycle. She texts him back, scowling, amazed at how fast her mood changed

Morgan - Meet me in therapy room before class

Bruce is there waiting, a concerned look on his face

'Babe! What's going on? Please don't be mad at me, it's just because I love you so much, I get crazy with jealousy! Let me make it up to you! I will take you shopping before prom, get you anything you like' he implores, a desperate look on his face

Her voice shakes as she answers him 'No Bruce, I can buy myself anything I like, you know that...I just can't do this anymore, it's exhausting. You have pushed me too far this time, it's over' Looking at him defiantly she adds 'It was over the minute you laid your hands on me'

He looks shell-shocked 'No, Babe. You don't mean this...I mean, it's us. We're the most popular people in school. You can't dump me?!' he protests Morgan sees him trying to quell the anger that is starting to glint in his eyes, and knows she has to leave. Soon.

'See Bruce this is why it's over, you only care that we're popular, you don't care about me! This town and it's stupid politics. Aren't you fed up with being so....superior?!' she shouts, her own anger building. Before he has a chance to argue, she turns, and runs from the room

Morgan heads to the bathroom, and sinks down on the floor feeling both empowered and terrified. She is supposed to be in PE, but both Bruce and Billy are in her class, and she just can't just now...her head is a mess. She just needs some quiet...suddenly her peace is shattered

Luna is in the doorway, out of breath

'Bruce...' she pants 'Billy....fight...' she gasps for breath, and points to the door 'Gym'

Morgan gets up and flees towards the gymnasium, panic sitting in her stomach

'I don't give a fuck what you say Junkrat, I know you have been with Morgan, I can smell you off her, she's rotten now, I don't even want her anymore' Bruce is spitting in Billy's face, seething with rage, shoving Billy

'Dude, I haven't even been with her!' Billy is protesting

'If Morgan has finished with you its due to you being an abusive piece of shit' Billy bites back, trying to keep his temper in check.

The sound of Morgan shouting his name distracted him, and as he turned around Bruce punched him hard, winding him, knocking him to the ground

Bruce gets down and keeps punching Billy when he is down, as his classmates watch in horror

'Bruce stop it!' Morgan shouts as she runs across toward them

Billy pulls himself up, and immediately lunges for Bruce, just as Morgan reaches them, she puts herself between the two of them.

'Stop it! Both of you!' she cries 'Bruce, calm down, Billy, back off, please!' her voice breaks as she pleads, and Billy backs off, like she asked

'Make your choice Morgan' Bruce says venomously, 'A life with me and everything you desire, or scurry away with your rat'

'He's my friend Bruce, you are being pathetic! I finished it because you were treating me like shit' Morgan snaps back at him, still standing between them, aware of how close Billy is to her

Cassandra turns round to Greta...

'OMG, did you hear that, Morgan has dumped Bruce!' everyone in the hall starts to whisper among themselves as the gossip starts to spread, as it does

Wolfgang is laughing heartily, 'Looks like she made her choice Patman'

Bruce snaps round angrily, hearing the sniggers of Wolfgang, Sidney and others

'Shut the fuck up, some mates you are' he yells

Wolfgang laughs again, 'Oh, we're Morgan's mates, we only tolerated you, glad we can quit that'

Bruce starts to walk away, shaking with anger 'This isn't over' he says 'You two belong together, the Junkrat and the trash'

With one move Billy has Bruce on the floor, and is holding him down, fist pulled back ready to hit him 'You ever call her trash again, or even look at her again, I won't hold myself back' he is saying quietly 'How does it feel fighting someone you're own size for once Patman?'

As Bruce lies on the floor groaning, Billy heads over to Morgan, who is crying quietly, watching as everything unfold, he takes her into his arms without even thinking

'Shhh, shhh you'll be ok' he says

Just then, the PA crackles to life 'Billy Mason to the principals office'

For Chapter 6 Clicky Clicky right...HERE

[soil-just-needs-water-to-be]

Chapter 20

Word count : 2942

I think I may actually adore this chapter it’s adorable and everything about it is just so awkward and cute and fluffy , no warning needed , I hope you enjoy it

Matty's POV

I don't take my phone out again until I get up stairs after having a small conversation with my mum about how work was, I said I'd be more open with her so telling her that I got a little stressed but made my way through it is being open right, she gave me a hug and told me to get some sleep because we're going to try to get me back into school tomorrow even if it's just for one lesson , which I made sure to tell her I'll go in all day I'm not "that broken".

Once I open my phone again I notice that there's a small message from George only emojis of the phone , so I text him with a smile on my face "someone is needy tonight huh 🤣", I throw my

Phone onto my bed and strip my shirt and look around for my rucksack because I really need to study and it's not that late so I could do a little bit tonight. I riffle through my rucksack and find my English work because that will bring me the least amount of stress. I pull the work out of my rucksack and place them on my desk then the text alert comes through my phone and I smile to myself and blush when I see it's from George the knot in my stomach that I feel tightens everytime I get a message from him

"Only for you 😉, so can we?", God , this man , Jesus , Im constantly in awe of him all the time, This smile I'm currently sporting never seems to leave my face when I'm talking to him, I bring my phone over to my desk and take a seat as I type my reply

"I really have to study tonight darlin" , I place my phone back down as I hear the sending tone go through, and open my textbook preparing to read through everything I've gone over through the last few years. Without even a second to read it a Snapchat message comes through. This time a picture message from George, he's just sat there at his desk I believe , with his bottom lip perturding outwards, like he's sulking, so I send him the same picture back captioned "don't be like that darlin , I can call you once I've finished" . He reads it instantly so I don't put my phone down and watch his little icon appear on in the corner , even his icon is cute the reply comes through instantaneously

"How long will that be then?", I roll my eyes at this message , affectionately though I have no issue with it it's precious really. So I send back telling him that I shouldn't be too long it all depends how long it takes for me to pull my hair out but also ask what he's being so needy tonight. "I just miss you Matty"

"I miss you too darlin , how about we call but you gotta be quiet while I study , can you do that for me?" , I smile again as I see his little icon pop back up in the corner with and immediate

"YES THAT I CAN DO"

"Go ahead then but shush okay", at this I wait for his call to come through and start going over my last analysis of "The death of a salesmen" text. It takes no less than a second for his call to come through when I answer his face is beaming he's smiling to brightly "heya love"

"Hiya Darlin" , I smile at him before I get myself stuck into my work, I understand he's want to talk but I really need to get in the headspace of studying , as I'm studying I hear tapping from his end his Xbox remote in hand and I want to ask him what he's playing but I shake my head to get myself to concentrate and get back to my book, I've gone over this thing a million times I know it forwards , backwards and sideways but I can do English so if I know it all properly I have a better chance at passing at least one exam you know. After a further ten minutes of reading over the script. I feel like I'm being watched "darlin your starin"

"Nah I ain't" , I look up at him and he is indeed staring, looking at me like I'm the only human in the world that's ever existed

"You most definitely are"

"Aren't you supposed to be studying, sounds like your the one talking, you asked me to be quiet you didn't say I couldn't watch you" , he's smiling at me again looking like such a cheeky fucker that he is

"Alright fine, but stop distracting me okay?, play your game alright" , I sit and watch him smirk at me while he continues clicking away at his game , which gets me to continue with my studying , making notes about all the metaphors and symbolism throughout the text , for a while we just get our stuff done just living in our own worlds but with each other company, when he got bored of his game I'm pretty sure he left for a while but came back with the biggest bowl I've ever seen but I tried to not let him know I noticed he was gone because I'm supposed to be concentrating but I keep finding myself zoning out and just watching him doing his own thing , this last about half an hour just working away at my desk before I zone out completely and find myself just staring at the wall infront of me.

"You tryna shot lasers out your eyes there Matty?" , his voice cracking through the screen startled me out of my day dream

"Huh!", pulling me out of my day dream I shake my head again a little as my hair bounces and look at him just staring at me giggling. "Sorry was just daydreaming"

He puts his bowl into his desk and turn to look at me properly "what you studying , maybe I could help you stay focused?". I roll my eyes and giggle at him again

"I'm doing English, I would be concentrating fine but my heads still banging , and I can't fuckin read it properly cuz I ain't wearing my glasses and can't find my contacts"

"Why aren't you wearing them love, your heads gunna hurt if your straining your eyes"

"I hate them, they just make light lighter and that hurts my eyes so either way somethings gunna hurt", sighing I hold my head in my hands again and shove my books away from my view. "I'll finish it another time, how are feeling anyway darlin?"

"Yeh I'm doing alright", he picks up his bowl again shovelling noodles into his mouth waiting for himself to finish then he continues on "my dads doing my head in now though", that fact that he's really enjoying those noodles makes me smile,I make a mental note to remember that if he's ever here to make sure I have some.

"Why's that Darlin?", just watching him talking about what's bothering him and not being able to just be there for him, he told me about how he hadn't gone to school that day and his dad was just on his back about it really making him not want to go even more. Which I get because I hate it when you get told to do something repeatedly. "I'm sorry Darlin , is there anything I can do to help?"

"No love it's okay , just being here in your company is help enough", I know what it can be like and I understand where he's coming from, I just feel so calm when I'm around him , is that codependency already maybe , but I don't want to change it. "I've wanted to talk to you all day, and just hearing your voice has made the day so much better Matty honestly"

"We spoke earlier darlin , are you sure your okay?", I could get used to needy George so long as it doesn't mean he's upset, I adore this boy more than anything. After asking my question I get up from my seat stretching my legs and it relaxes me so much once all my muscles are stretched out. Picking up my books to return them to my rucksack and come back to the seat. I can feel his eyes on me the whole time which makes me smile.

He's smiling again and cheeks blushed because he knows I caught him "yeh love I'm alright , I...I don't ...I just wanted to hear your voice again....after earlier I suppose...I just feel a little needy right now is all"

"Can I talk to you about earlier actually?", I don't want him to think I wasn't enjoying it as much as he was because Jesus I was but there's a lot going on with me and I need to be sure that he understands "but don't worry about it, I just need to explain stuff."

"Sure thing love , what's up"

"Well , first off please don't think I wasn't as interested as you because , yes I did I want too like really wanted too but um...I was on all these meds for stuff and it just messed me up a little, just made it hard for anything to work...my labido has been kinda none existent for a while , but , but uh , man I don't know what I'm saying, I wanna try with you"

"I didn't think you weren't interested love , you had work and I was just feeling the way I was , don't feel like you have to be that way with me every-time I do", he's moving his hands around like people do when there having an awkward conversation "I'm interested in you but I'd never force sexual stuff on you"

"But..but I...I want too, like I really want too", I'm blushing due to the nature of the conversation and the honesty but also because of how precious his little face is.

"We'll we can , when your ready love, just let me know" , he's got the biggest smile plastered on his face and he looks amazing "you know ...you never have to explain anything to me love..I just wanna be around all the time"

I nod at him while I pick up my laptop and take it over to my bed yawning, I remove my shirt and slip into bed getting cosy. Today has been so busy my muscles are stiff and being in bed really helps me relax.

"Are you tired love ?, I can go if you'd like?" , he still looks wide awake and I swear he's got other things to be getting on with instead of looking after me right , but I just don't want him to go.

"I'm tired yeh but I'm not going to sleep yet, you can stay if you like , but if you've got other stuff to do, then your allowed to go"

"No , I don't want to go yet , I just don't want to keep you awake", he mirrors my actions gets himself into bed "we can watch something if you'd like"

"Oh, oh , oh, have you seen game of thrones , we can watch that if you want", I'm sure everyone has seen that show by now but I love it and the world it surrounds amazes me

"I have seen bits of it yeh , We can watch anything you like love, want me to screen share or can you do it ?", he looks so cute wrapped up in all those darn blankets he has on his bed and it makes me smile and totally forget to answer "Matty?"

"Huh!" , I release my gaze from his face for a second and try to gather what he had asked "oh sorry um yeh , no , um I'll do it", I pull my laptop closer to me to work the screen , while I'm typing away getting the show ready I can see him in the corner of my screen just staring. This in turn makes me blush and roll my eyes "your doing it again", with that I pull up Netflix and share it with him getting ready to play.

"I can't say I know what your talking about love" , we both settle down smiling like madmen and blushing as the title screen plays. The theme tunes send me into a complete other dimension I swear and I love it so much. It makes my smile so much bigger , which makes him giggle "someone's a little obsessed with this ain't they"

"Shush it's playing", he smiles at me again a big toothy grin this time and rolls his eyes. But does start paying attention to it. His eyes grow wide at a few point when something unexpected happens. I get overly excited at certain parts asking him if he understands what's going on which he replies with a nod as if to say he's heard me but isn't listening also he's engrossed and I swear it's amazing. We steal a few glances every now and then and blushing like teenage girls when we catch the other doing it. When the first one ends I ask if he wants to watch the next one which he gladly accepts, midway through the next one I see his eyes start to drop slightly as our mine "Darlin you still with me?"

"Mhm", he shakes his head a little and rubs his eyes trying to look more awake as he continues watching, his eyes still slowly dropping every few moments

"Darlin, we can watch this tommrow if you like, your tired ", I pause the episode and wait for him to reply as I yawn myself.

"I was enjoy it though" . He pours at me like a petulant child hoping I'd continue to play it but I can't keep him up and we both need sleep

"We can come back to it tommrow Darlin get your head down and we can get some sleep yeh?"

"Okay then if you say so". He moves his laptop to the other side of his bed so he can get properly comfortable in bed and lays down on his pillow his eyes shutting almost instantly "goodnight love" he blows me a kiss and turns over.

"Good night darlin" , I watch his back rise and fall for a little while hopefully he's asleep because I really need to talk to Ross. Once he's sure I'm asleep. I pick up my phone and send Ross a quick text to check if he's awake "DEFCON 5 ROSS , DEFCON 5". I move my laptop onto the other side of my bed also and sit up a little bit. A text from Ross doesn't take to long to come back "call me then dickhead"

I quickly pull him up on the offer and click the call button and bring the phone to my ear and start biting my nails while I wait for him to answer which doesn't take to long to come through.

"What's up ?" , he sounds a little groggy like I awoke him up.

"Did I wake you ?"

"No I'm just tired but I was on call with John and saw your message and thought I should call you", told you hes a fuckin gem "so what's up Matty?"

"I think I'm down bad Ross , like really down bad" , I continue bitting on my nails which makes the senatnce come out a little mumbled but he still catches onto what I'm saying.

"For George?", the fact that Ross remembers his name is a good start.

"Mhm" is all I can muster up the strength to say right now.

"What do you want me to do about it. I don't know him, Just talk to him Matty, he's seems like a good bloke"

"But how do I tell him"

"With your words Matty , you know use your voice box that thing that I've never known for you to close since I met you , you numpty" , I roll my eyes at this response because it's the most Ross response I have ever heard to a question

"But what do I say I meant , you dickead"

"Just tell him you like him or something I don't know"

"Much help Ross much help"

"Man honestly just go for it, if he makes you happy just let him know , I'm made up for you lad but you need to take the steps for yourself and I'm sure if he's a grand bloke he'll like you too why shouldn't he?"

"I don't know , he seems to like me but I'm scared it's to early"

"It might be , but all you can do is talk it through bro its can't go too wrong right ?"

"I'll try , anyway, I'll let you get back to your lover man ey , don't do anything I wouldn't yeh?" , I can physically feel him rolling his eyes at me.

"Ha-ha , very funny , but alright lad , I'll see you tommrow yeh?, and we can talk about it tommrow"

"Alright see ya"

"See you tommrow lad" , we both hand up and i through my phone into charge after I sent my alarm for school, with this I lay down properly and pull my blanket up to my chin to feel the warmth engulf me and I go back to watching George's back rise and fall . Which helps lul me to sleep. But what I didn't realise was while I was having Thai conversation George wasn't fully asleep yet and heard everything and was just laying there with the biggest grin on his face.

[lookformyvoice]

Corporate Affair : 1

Jungkook didn't think presentations could surprise him anymore. That is until he witnessed the presentation of his new team member. (nsfw) (ft. Park Jimin)

━ jungkook x female!oc

━ 3.3k words.

━ 18+

━ smut, fluff, slow burn, corporate au, workplace romance au

━ warning/s: explicit sexual content

A/n: Hey, everyone! Here is the first chapter to Corporate Affair. It's been at least one and a half years since I have jotted down some fiction and not going to lie, my brain was so dead in the creative sense that from gathering words, ideas to even willpower, everything was an Achilles heel for me, haha. But anyways, I’m getting into writing again, though slowly. But better something than nothing. 

I genuinely hope readers find this story interesting ('cause I'm doubting this so much). It's going to be a slow burn so if you're looking for some immediate relief, this ain't it lol.

And, my rant ends here. Peace out!

Masterlist I Next

Jungkook can't resist it. He simply can't. It’s quite a momentary action, won’t even take that long honestly but he couldn’t risk it in case the feeling escalates and he has to take more than a second to recompose himself. After all, a moment or two change everything when one’s behind the wheel.

But alas, he gave in. Gave in to the sheer annoyance coursing through his veins as soon as he saw a familiar caller ID flashing on his car screen. And he, gasp, rolled his eyes so deep it’s a wonder they didn’t get stuck in there.

"It hasn't even been two weeks since you left," Jungkook's right hand swiftly handled the wheel as the other rested on his lap. "Why-” The interrogatory word came out too harsh and he really wouldn’t have allowed his tone to be like that any other time but this person had really crossed a line here. “-have you called me five times already?"

"Aww, you're keeping a count, huh?" Jimin's cooing proved to one of the million reasons why Jungkook can't stand his colleague/friend (Or so he says). “I just want to make sure you are not missing me.”

“Oh, rest assured, nobody’s missing you. Not even Tae-” Jungkook’s retort was interrupted when he heard laughter from the the other end. “Hyung? You there?”

It took one more ‘hyung’ from Jungkook for the said man to return, “Sorry, man. So, what was it? Yeah, I didn’t want you to miss m-” 

"If you don't have anything important to say, I'm hanging up."

"Yah, the four times I called-"

"Five."

Jimin groaned, "Yeah, yeah. Well, was any of it for non-work purposes?"

"It’s never just work with you, hyung. It’s all meshed in, so yeah, there was both-" Jungkook halted to a pause when the loud noises interrupted him again.

He waited for it to die down and focused entirely on the road ahead him. In moments, Jimin returned. "And... Sorry, what were we talking about again?"

Jungkook didn't bother reminding him, it was the usual bantering anyways. "You seem to be having fun over there."

He felt Jimin smile from the other end, "Man, it's fucking amazing. Tokyo is wow. The whole team went out for drinking yesterday and there was this bar with the most amazing sushi. And then we went out for karaoke too. I got home at two, can you believe it? I didn't think I had it in me anymore but looks like I still got it."

The younger man sighed at Jimin's jolly tone, "Hyung, you're in a superior's capacity there. Shouldn't you be behaving a bit responsibly?" And he lightly tilted the steering to the right which had the Mercedes glide into the underground parking lot.

"Ugh, shut up. It was my welcoming party, well, a super-delayed one but they really insisted on throwing one so I couldn't just not go. And unlike some people, I happen to enjoy mingling with people." That felt like a dig at Jungkook and he was sure it was meant to be one. "And my colleagues don't seem to mind my company either."

"Why would they mind it? They’re currying favours by spending more time with you, if it wasn't that obvious already. Plus, if their boss himself is slacking around, it gives them more the excuse when they fuck up themselves later-"  

"Yah, dongsaeng-ah," Jimin emphasized the word to remind the sharp-tongued maknae of the age gap between them that the latter never gave two fucks about. "I didn't call to have you bite my ears off. Just reminding that the new member is joining today."

Silence followed, which was unusual since Jungkook always had a comeback to literally anything and everything Jimin said. "Jungkook-ah, you there?"

"Yeah, yeah. I was just parking the car."

Jimin rolled his eyes at the non-committal response. As if Jungkook needed to be so focused during something as mundane as parking a car considering how good he was at driving, "Yeah, well, the new member is coming-"

"I heard that. And I remember it too." Jungkook finally put the car at rest and leaned back on his seat.

Jungkook and Jimin worked at one of the top multinational consulting firms, Maverick & Park but in different teams. Today there was a new team member joining Jimin's Conflict Resolution and Negotiations team (Or CRN team, as was the lingo at the firm) but he was away in Japan for a three-months project. And hence, along with looking after Jimin's team, Jungkook was also to oversee the new consultant's onboarding and so forth.

"Just make sure to give a good welcome, okay. It's bad enough her actual team leader isn't there for that." .

A crease formed on Jungkook’s forehead when he heard this. Jimin had mentioned her in literally all five calls he had made since he had left and Jungkook really wondered why he is so insistent on it. Not only was Jungkook obviously going to make sure the new team member settles in well- it was his fucking job after all- but also that this continuous persistence for being a good host was baffling to Jungkook considering how commonplace the event of onboarding a new consultant was. 

So he voiced his thoughts, "There isn’t any need to feel bad, hyung, you aren't playing hooky over there or something. You’re there for work after all." Jimin felt slightly allayed with the maknae's words. It didn't last long. "Or at least I hope you are."

The older ignored the last comment, "Yeah but you know how important she is. Everyone wanted her on their team but damn, I guess the best one won."

"There are basically just three conflict resolution teams at our branch. Barely an everyone."

"Tsk! You're such a party-pooper. Whatever. Just make sure to-"

"I said I will." Jungkook checked himself in the car's mirror before glancing at his watch, "Is there anything else other than the obvious? 'Cause I gotta run and-"

Ugh, he’s such a brat, "Yeah, fine. That was it." Just as he was about to end the call he heard Jungkook's words,

"And get some sleep. Geez."

A smile formed on Jimin’s lips. "Alright. Bye then."

He’s a cute brat though.

A week later, Jungkook was running a glance through his mailbox before one of his personal reminders on his other desktop screen reminded him of the meeting he had with the CRN team at 1:20pm. He checked the Rolex strapped on his wrist and got off the swivel chair before strutting out of his office. He languidly paced towards the conference room as he utilized this ten-minutes window not only to give his body a much-needed break from the 90-degreed posture he had sat in for the past hour but also to mentally revise the meeting’s agenda. And just then he spotted a certain figure entering the meeting room round the corner.

Lee Areum. Jungkook recognised the figure with ease, having grown used to it in the past few days. The consultant because of whom Jungkook had been subjected to Jimin’s torturous calls every morning. But after she joined, he realized Jimin wasn’t the only one obsessed with making her the subject of their conversation. Jungkook’s own Strategy and Intelligence team (SnI) and the rest of the divisions on the 23rd and 24th floor were all whispering about her so much that it came to even Jungkook’s notice, who mostly stayed aloof at work.

The attention Lee Areum was getting wasn’t exactly surprising though. Considering how close-knitted the Korean community is, a mere fresher joining work made news too. But apart from the obvious novelty, Lee Areum herself, as a person, wasn’t exactly that inconspicuous either. Her tied-up raven hair, where most Korean female employees chose to leave theirs open and her stylish attire, that impressively stood out from most of the already-fashionable crowd at Maverick & Park- all this definitely physically set her apart.

But there was more too. Lee Areum’s mannerisms- how she spoke, walked and even something as bare minimum as the way she stood, it all felt different. Charming even, as some had put it. And all this had led many to believe that she probably belonged to a wealthy family but there was no way to confirm it. Lee is a terribly ordinary last name to get any useful leads from and when asked directly, Lee Areum had denied the rumour outright, which confirmed the suspicions of many. Well, she obviously can’t admit it, you know. They are supposed to keep these kinds of things a secret. Is what the employees-turned-sherlock-holmes had reasoned.

Then why the fuck would you ask her anyways? Were Jungkook’s thoughts when this had reached his ears. Yeah, Jungkook wasn’t a big fan of the gossip flying around around Lee Areum. This was such a routine thing at the firm that he knew within a few weeks, people will find a new target and all this talk will have dust sitting over it. The only thing that Jungkook cared about was that as long as this Lee Areum's being different didn’t pose any issue, there was no need to be interested in anything other than her professional life.

What Jungkook didn’t know was that his nonchalant attitude, which surely wasn’t wrong, was going to come and bite his ass in precisely six minutes.

Fuck! Jungkook desperately and (hopefully) subtly squirmed in his chair as he mentally praised whoever that came up with the idea of dimming down the lights during a presentation. Though this didn't help his situation at all, it at least promised some privacy against his junior colleagues. Oh god. He winced as he ran the word through his mind since it held far great importance than one could imagine, especially at this moment. 

After all, how mortifying would it be if these hoobaes get to know that their interim team leader- Jeon Jungkook, one of the most impressive consultants at the Seoul branch, got a fucking boner in the middle of a presentation.

And if that wasn't enough, the cherry on top was that he got hard because of the presentation. 

Fucking shit! Jungkook kept chanting similar vulgar incantations in his mind and shifted in his chair from time to time but that was it. What else could he do anyways? Running out was impossible, his dick was too hard to do anything of that sort, plus the walk to the restroom would be terribly embarrassing. And the other alternative? Getting off. Yeah, so you get it, he really had no option but just to remain engulfed in this... this confusing state of reverie where he was panicking so hard at the situation he was in but also loved the ripples spreading through his body.

Oh god. This wave was stronger, so much that Jungkook had to bring his fingers near his mouth to seal it in the most inconspicuous way possible in order to avoid any lewd noises escaping his lips. Shit, shit. Shit! 

This wasn’t on the agenda. Oh, this so wasn’t. You know what was? Choi Heejin giving updates about her soon-to-be-finished report on a deal she had recently closed. Do Jinhyeok and Son Seokmin informing of the recent developments in their respective cases. Jungkook asking them the necessary questions about their progress and them asking him doubts that he would be glad to resolve. Both the parties contributing amicably to maintain the quality of the projects. This was on the agenda. Not getting hard at the most inappropriate time like some horny teenager. And who the fuck gets hard during a godforsaken presentation!? A presentation!?

Anyways.

Don't blame Jungkook for this entirely though because this wasn’t something that happened involuntarily. Not as if Jungkook’s dick just went ‘Top of the morning to ya!’ and sprang up. No. There was an instigation, and it was when Nam Doyun and the latest addition to the CRN team, Lee Areum started off their presentation on the case they had been jointly assigned to work on. Doyun’s part was nothing out of unexpected plus Jungkook was working with him for the past few weeks already, so he was familiar with the guy.

Lee Areum though. Daaaaamn. This literally went off in his mind in under fifteen seconds of her speaking. She was explaining how she and Doyun were planning on undertaking the case and it was clear (quite expected too) that their research and planning was fantastic. The project seemed like it would sail through in the smoothest way possible. And the pair seemed to make an exceptionally compatible team in spite of having met each other just a few days ago. 

But the number of studied observations Jungkook made decreased with time as he listened to Lee Areum and then went down to none as his focus began centering around the alluring person in front of him. His eyes felt a pull, a freaking pull, towards her and the already dimmed down surroundings somehow dulled further as if next to her, everything else was so worthless that it could and should only fade away because really, staying in her shadows was the only way anything could ever coexist with her.

What is it? Is it her intricately woven speech that makes the statistics she is mentioning sound like a ballad? Or is it the utter lack of filler words while she speaks? Is it her eyes? How they make you feel as if she could convince you to jump off a cliff the moment you stared into them? Or was it her confidence? Oh god, why does she look at me like she’s staring at my freaking soul? Okay, got it. The eyes and the confidence for sure. But was that all? Oh no.

What had really intrigued Jungkook was actually a very commonplace detail. Everybody has it more or less. But as someone who appreciates the magic of sounds, Jungkook found Lee Areum’s voice to be the most beautiful sound he had ever heard in an office setting. It’s not as if he hadn’t heard her talk before, she did participate by giving inputs during meetings but consultants usually had considerable autonomy while on projects so unless it was for those meetings, he didn’t have as many opportunities to take notice of it. 

Turns out, not listening to her enough beforehand had turned out to be the lethal mistake that led to his demise. He hadn't heard her speak at length before especially not with her being the only object of his attention and fuck, how had he missed her beautiful, deep voice? She wasn't a full-blown contralto, no, the lightness lacing her tone made sure she wasn't, but she wasn't a mezzo either. Her voice lied somewhere in between and oh god, what he wouldn’t give to just hear her serenade him for his entire life as she writhed beneath him.

He drew a sharp breath as he painted that scenario in his head. She would never be quiet, she’ll never hold back her moans. She seemed too confident for that. Huh. Would she even concede me the control then? Damn! Oh god, will she ride me? She will, won’t she? Of course she will, what was I thinking? Someone like her will never stay under, hell no. Jungkook’s brows furrowed and with a clenched jaw he imagined her rising and then slapping hard on his lap. Fuck, she'll keep bouncing, huh, always meeting my eyes and never shy away. And she’ll moan lusty nothings into the air and- Oh wait. Team leader. Fuck, I want her to say team leader while she fucks me and uses me to make herself feel good. Say it again and again, in that deep voice of hers-

"Team Leader?"

Yes, say it. Exactly like that-

"Team Leader Jeon?"

Jungkook broke out of his trance and his head snapped to the voice that had called out to him, "Huh? Oh, yes, Miss Choi?"

Heejin smiled awkwardly at the wide-eyed, whiplashed Jungkook, "Uh, Miss Lee asked if there are any questions since the presentation's over."

It took him some seconds to understand what was going on and everything that had faded away earlier firmly reclaimed their position. Everything came back to him accompanied with the horrifying realization of the shit he had just pulled Or hadn't... yet. And as if that self-realization wasn’t enough, the awkward glances of his team members just left a sinking feeling in his heart. 

And to top it all, Lee Areum just stood there in the front as she stared at him with sheer disbelief and his heart dropped. Nobody knew he was hard, including her, but there was a good reason why Lee Areum seemed so distressed. Everyone knew how important the first presentation at a new place was in terms of setting a precedence and so he knew exactly what ran through her head. That she sucked so bad her team leader zoned out during her bare five-minutes long talk. If she couldn’t keep him engaged for such little time, who's to say the clients will be at all convinced by the ideas she is pitching them.  If, at all, they give her enough attention to even be convinced.

Oh, no, no, no. Goddammit! Jungkook knew the word will spread out fast about his reaction to her and everyone will consider it to be the ultimate judgement because bosses are apparently always fucking right and since this seemed much more gossip-worthy than just thinking that Jungkook was actually spacing out.

But fuck all that, he would come out clear and clarify the incident himself in case the hell unleashes but the last thing he wanted was for someone as capable as her to think low of herself,

"Yes, of course.” He replied while composing himself. “That was- Miss Lee, it was a great presentation." She nodded but he saw her gulp hard and realized she probably thought he said it just for the sake of it. "It was. The research was on-point but your reasoning on how to handle the conflict between the clients was excellent. I noticed the inputs from your previous experience with mergers and I’m sure they’d help you immensely on this case."

Jungkook watched her lips part in awe, probably surprised that he had indeed paid attention but he wasn't going to stop just there. He felt extremely guilty for letting her feel, even for a second, that she wasn't good. If she felt so but just in case she did, "But most importantly, your presentation style is commendable. It keeps one intrigued till they very end and I am sure your clients won't be able to resist your power either. I can see why team leader Park spoke so highly of you. Keep it up."

Everything went silent for a while, it wasn’t just Areum who was in shock, the rest of the team was too as they didn't expect the esteemed Jeon Jungkook, who mostly kept to himself, to be so vocal about Areum's performance. But they were glad their teammate did well and they voiced it to her, chirping loud compliments as Areum bowed politely to all of them.

And now, for the most important thing. “All right, then. That wraps up the meeting. Mr. Nam and Miss Lee, all the best on your case, we hope you have a safe flight on Monday. Others too, great work. Hoping to see the paperwork completed as per the deadlines.” They (again) loudly thanked him for his words and Jungkook was convinced Jimin’s influence was the reason why the entire CRN team was so loud. “Now scram. I have to go over some stuff here.”

In between bowing and wishing goodbyes, Jungkook felt an attractive dark gaze focused on him and when he faced it, its owner smiled softly before bowing lightly again and then finally departing which is when Jungkook realized something.

Lee Areum had done a lot of things to him today- had his dick riled up under a minute or so, made him out to be an almost-laughingstock in front of his colleagues, instigated panic and guilt, and had him break out of his ‘man-of-a-few-words’ persona to profoundly compliment her.

All of this was so unexpected but even when combined, it came nowhere near to what he felt when she smiled at him just now.

Ahem, alright. Jungkook dismissed his elevated heartbeat quickly. No time for this. He sighed loudly and began typing on his phone to push his schedule by fifteen minutes before going quiet in his chair as he waited for the still raging storm to die down.

Damn, He somehow had an instinct, these three months are not gonna be easy.

Masterlist l Next

[caparrucia]

🎯🥰📈

🎯 Have any of your readers accurately guessed major plot points? Care to share which?

Yes! A couple times! Notable ones were:

People 100% clocked in the fact Cor was going to propose to Nyx, in the sun is out, the day is new.

People were also immediately suspicious of the role Giratina was going to play, as soon as I introduced her in i've battled hard with the face in the mirror, though I do think the Spectrier red herring threw most of them off the scent until Cynthia showed up the second to last chapter.

Bonus round, though, for the pseudoanon (I guess? They signed their anon comments, but they didn't seem to have an AO3 account) person who reached the first half of the Crown Tundra shenanigans and was very happy to see that Leon had not done "anything reckless or stupid", and I had to sit on my hands and very politely word around that because... well. See the chapter that comes immediately AFTER that. I consider that a good guess!

🥰 How do you feel about reader interaction? Are you open to receiving questions about your fics?

I love reader interactions! I love comments and questions and I make a point to try and answer comments in AO3. I don't mind chatting with people in good faith about stuff, though I'm very self-conscious about my older fic and have trouble talking about because I don't want to dismiss people who like it, but also I want to curl up into a little ball and die a little when I remember it exists.

That's 100% a me problem, btw, because my brain is a dick and there's a nebulous, can't quite pin down the logic for it, boundary past which all my old fic is profoundly embarrassing and bad and awful, and if I look at it too long I'll get the urge to delete it and rewrite it because it's so BAD, can't you see this is so old I didn't know how to punctuate shit properly? It's awful, bad, no good and it shouldn't exist!

I recognize this is 100% my problem and I try my best to not make it someone else's problem. I will not be rude if people want to talk about my older work, because I understand that I've been doing this for 24 whole years now, and a story can be meaningful to you, if it's the right words at the right time, the "quality" of the writing is irrelevant. And I'm forever humbled when people tell me they liked my stories and they found value in them. I would feel like a monster if I ever make someone feel bad for liking them, just because my brain is a dipshit about things.

So yeah, 100% hit me up if you like my work and want to talk about it or have questions or want me to go spelunking in depth about worldbuilding or the writing choices or the more technical aspect of writing. I'm here for it.

Just bear in mind if it's about something older than a toddler, I'm going to take a lot of breaks and flush and hide under my shirt because I'm flattered genuinely, but also dying because I've gotten so much better, I promise, I swear I learned how to punctuate quotation marks now!

📈 How many fics do you have?

A lot of them! I mean, I have to. I have an 8.3M word count as of December 2021. That's M as in Millions, yes. That's the number of words I've written since 1998. Fiction only, no one needs to word count every dipshit thought in my head I insist on writing a fucking essay about. But yeah, that's a lot of words! And that's a lot of stories.

I used to keep a scrupulous record of my writing, at least from 2003 onwards, in my different LJs, but then LJ did... y'know, that, and while I migrated everything into DW, I chose to keep it private. A personal record, if you will.

English is not my first language, and a lot of my early writing is genuinely an attempt to learn the language better. Most of the first ten years of my writing presence online revolved around me writing off prompts, where the prompts were worlds picked at random from a dictionary, and my attempts to use them in a story to make sense of them. That's how I learned to write English, honestly. Just, every day a random word and then a tiny ficbit of whatever my favorite piece of media was at the time. Favorites I remember to this day are "phalange" which I will always prefer to "phalanx" and I wrote a small Alien inspired ficlet about, and "concussive" that I wrote a Beyblade fic about.

I have a lot of fic. I've been writing a ficlet a day since 1998. Some of it is just a couple sentences, some of it is thousands of words long. Back in 2006, before the enormous depressive spiral, I used to write a solid 15K a day. Then I became a blob and went down to maybe 40 words a day. But I still kept writing. And then I got out of the depression hole enough to be a person again, back in 2018-ish, in great part to the cowriting I did with a friend and all the editing and socializing she bullied me into until I sort of became a person again. These days I do anywhere between 2000 and 5000 words a day, on a good day. I have a job and five pets to look after, so I can't just write.

Today you can find 121 fics I've written, in AO3. The rest of the archive is either in my backups or on DW, made private. Actual fics, that I'd cared to share with others, were about 500, on top of the AO3 ones. My daily writing exercises are far, far more numerous and distinct from the actual fic I write to post/share with people. I'm currently on entry 8134, on that. I was curious and went looking and while I've missed some days, I'm still pretty on track! (The earliest date of my writing journal/exercises is June 10th, 1998.)

[jonnyparable]

Cottage Hills : The Vanishing of Basil Reed, End of Book 7

Dawn of a New Spring

It's just a few minutes to sunrise. On top of venerable Mother's Hill, the villagers gather, having made the trek up its slopes in the dark of pre dawn. After a night of revelry, comes the solemnity of greeting a new dawn. This tradition dates back to the town's founding, when after the Eternal Winter was ended, the founders came to the top of this hill to see the sun rise for the first time.

These days, it's just a fun, but meaningful tradition the villagers have. They believe greeting the first sunrise of the year with respect is a great way to properly start the year on the right footing. Saibara, the second oldest person in town, leads the villagers. It will be his duty to announce the new spring. As is tradition, the villagers wait in the cold, in respectful silence.

As they take the quiet moment to reflect on those in their lives and the past year, Saibara calls out to them.

Saibara :

"Here it is everyone! Behold, a new dawn, the first sunrise of spring, and the coming of a new year! Praise the Goddess, for the ending of another winter!"

The sun of a new year and a new spring rises majestically out from behind the mountains in the distance, and bathes the town in a golden glow. Everyone echoes out after Saibara.

"Praise the Goddess!"

Watching the sunrise together certainly makes the trek up the hill worth it. Its a sight to behold, and the villagers cannot imagine starting a new year without it. As they watch in awe, they are filled with warmth, and gratitude. Surrounded by the people most important to them, and closest to their heart, they are ready to welcome a new year. Mary watches the dawn with her father and Gray by her side for the first time in twenty years. As she looks at her father, she smiles, knowing she can finally close this chapter in her life, and look forward to a brighter future, together.

Mary:

"Is beautiful, isn't it? It's one of my favourite things about Cottage Hills."

Basil :

"It truly is. I'm grateful to be able to share it with you. It's a new day, Mary."

Mary:

"Yes, father. It certainly is!"

In the Misty Woods...

Even as the sun begins to warm up the world and thaw the winter's frost, down below in the misty woods, deep inside the forests, it is still dark and cold. The rising sun's light hasn't yet reached the deep recesses of the woods.

Kano lies, resting in a bed. He had last stumbled into the woods and gotten lost, before being found by someone. Just what had happened to him? Kano stirs. His eyes open and he gets up. His body aches, and there's a sharp pain in his back. He's hurt. Kano wonders where he is. Suddenly, Kano realises he's not alone.

Voice :

"You're awake."

Meanwhile...

Far away, out at sea, Kai watches the same sun rise on his part of the world, from the deck of a steamship. He watches with an uneasy look on his face. The only sounds are of the wind in his ears and the ocean crashing against the sides of the ship below, as it careens through the waves.

In the fall, he had received a strange letter, claiming to be from his father, saying that he wanted to meet him in Saqhaba. Kai wonders now if it is wise of him to make this journey. As he looks out at the sea, he starts to question if the letter was real. And if so, why would his father suddenly reach out to him now, and what he's like. A million questions flood his mind. Then, he feels a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Popuri:

"Hey, there you are honey. Good morning. Penny for your thoughts?"

Kai:

"Oh, sorry dear, good morning. Were you looking for me?"

Popuri:

"Its alright. The captain said we should be reaching in a couple of days. Maybe a week or so....having second thoughts?"

Kai:

"Do you think he's really there? What if its some kind of trick? It's dangerous, Popuri. You shouldn't have come with me."

Popuri:

"Kai. When I married you, it, wasn't to abandon you. I can tell you need me here. I said I'd go anywhere with you remember?"

Kai:

"I do. I'm so nervous... I have never met my father. I had always thought he died. I wonder what awaits us in Saqhaba. What do you think he wants to tell me?"

Popuri:

"Well, whatever it is, we'll face it. Together."

[kylosgenesis]

Teardrops on Fire

Synopsis:

Steve Rogers is the last Alpha of the an almost extinct Lycan pack. With only less than 100 members left. Steve must produce an heir to ensure the species survival and reduce the chance of attacks from others. Omegas are rare, and betas have a hard time producing children. Steves reality is finally setting in as his obligation of producing an heir faces a major set back.

Reader is the last suitable omega to mate with Steve, due to the fear of her daughters fate in the pack, her mother kept her hidden from the pack after her own exile. Only her mother, and Bucky's family know of her existence. Bucky is Steve's right hand man, and the packs best warrior! He and the reader developed a friendship and bond over the years, but age forced them to become distant.

What happens when she presents and her first heat cycle comes? Her body is in excruciating pain and a strong fever quickly overcomes her body. Facing the fear of her daughters possible death, her mom calls on the only person who can save her at this point, Alpha Steve! Bucky and the alphas friendship will be tested. The reader will be faced with her love for Bucky or her duty to the pack.

Warnings: Mentions of death , A/B/O dynamics

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/gennyzoe/playlist/7xFIhRFa8o2Ae4QJpD1Hp9?si=gWsZ__YOQdKCS81X21jZqw

Chapter 4: I found

Hours had gone by! Bucky was caught of guard with the smell of fire. Faint...but distinct enough he knew it wasn’t his imagination. The chilled air dragged a whiff of the combined scents of fog, smoke, and very faintly in the background... HER!

She was close! He could feel it! This wasn’t new territory to him, but he wondered how she’d ended up hours from her home. He followed the wind, blowing ashes by his face. Leaving a trail, that called to him as if nature was guiding him to her. All the odds were against her tonight, but the forest smelled safe! It was like it protect her from the evil of the elements.

After a couple of minutes on the trail, it hit him! The smell blew the air out of his lungs, he approached the small faded fire with caution. Not wanting to scare her off. As he got closer he noticed her small frame. She was attempting to stand up, but doing so knocked her directly into the fading red embers of where a fire used to be.

The world disappeared for him at that moment! It was her! Just him and her!

And she smelled delicious! Everything is his being screaming to make her his in this very spot, and vanish with her. Nobody to find them! As long as she was there, there was nothing he’d want in this life or another! She was the trophy and the torture, that cursed through him. To love, but never poses. How could he even be thinking of love right now? He hadn’t even looked into her eyes yet.

What if she hated him?

What if she didn’t recognize him?

How was he gonna explain what’s going on to her? She has to know what her body wants right now, what it’s craving for her to do! And how much he wishes to not crave her in the same way.

He bolted to her with all his might, and caught her calling frame. As her eyes slowly faded into unconsciousness, peace resonated in her eyes. He’d dreamed of those eyes for years! And as her body went limp on his arms all he could do was hold her close and pray for the strength to keep her alive and safe... from himself!

She opened her eyes as they adjusted to the moonlight above her. Her body was covered in a warm flannel, she didn’t recognize the source of it.She remembered the eyes she saw before losing consciousness.

Had it all been a dream?

She felt like her limbs were on fire! They responded to every bit of stimulation the flannel was rubbing upon her body. She realized it wasn’t the flannel that was causing her body to jolt up at the feeling of touch; It was that it smelled like an alpha. Her body was trying to absorb as much of him as it could! She was unconsciously reacting to him and granting him access to her.

Hearing a branch break from behind the forest bush, she sprung up as quickly as her body allowed her to react and grabbed a beach from her side.

“Who’s there?” She was in full alarm, she also noticed the fire she had started had been reignited, and was fully blazing and strong!

“What do you want from me? And for the love of... “

She noticed that the reason she had the flannel on was for her own modesty, because underneath the flannel she was as naked as she was brought into the world.

“ Why am I naked? ”

Bucky noticed her panic as he approached the camp again. He’d gone out to get some more firewood and clay to dress her wounds. He wasn't expecting for her to be so recovered.

“I’m sorry ... I didn’t mean to startle you! I'm here to help.”

He put his arms up, to show her he wasn’t a threat, dropping the contest of his arms to the ground! “I was just getting us some more fire, and you need something for your wound... it doesn’t look good!” he fixed his hair back with one of his free hands, a nervous habit he had kept since childhood.

She furrowed her brow, and took a swing of the branch startling him and forcing him to step back. ” I bet you would you know what wound need tending to?” She replied with a cocky attitude! She imagined he would’ve had to look at her body while he took her clothes off, but the realization that her body was not in display contrition made her blush for a moment.

Ignoring the heat rising to her cheeks, and the small pit of embarrassment in the pit of her stomach. She put on a brave face! As he got closer her body reacted to his presence.

He was tall! Always had been, but despite the fact she’s grown since he last saw her, he still sported a good foot above her. She lowered her stance and let go of her makeshift weapon.

Taking a step back, she tripped, and stumbled back. Bucky tried catching her, but before he could he lost his own footing and tackled her body to the ground.

There she was!

Looking like a goddess underneath him, in a flannel, with her little confused doe eyes! She didn’t even try to fight him off. They just stared at each other's eyes, for a small eternity that what theirs to have.

They could both see their changing features, the fire’s light shone on Bucky to reveal his dark black hair. There were messy strays surrounding his face, but the rest was neatly tucked behind his ears. Stubble framed his face, and his jaw was the jaw of a man. It was also an awkward time to notice how much muscle he’d gained in the last 10 years. His body was solid on top of her, even through his shirt, his body told his story! He was a man of work! His body was that of a man who did hard labor, a man who was outside for long periods of time. Which was something she could tell as she noticed the tan in his upper neck had begun fading as the weather grew colder.

His muscles responded to her stare in ways she couldn’t pinpoint!

He on the other hand noticed her delicate face, the way she had grown into her childhood innocence and beauty. Her frame was so small and breakable compared to him. He for a moment thought he could easily crush her, and tried to ease his weight to make it lighter on her.

Her hair was gorgeously long! It surrounded her like a halo, fit for her like an angel. And her eyes where large and expressive. He could’ve read those eyes a million ways years ago, but now! He couldn’t help but wonder what they were trying to say.

He couldn’t stop himself as the word slipped from his lips.

“Doll!”

He placed his knee between her legs and pushed on the palm of his hands in an effort to lift his body weight off of her.

“Don’t call me that! Haven’t heard that in a long time”... she wiggled under his body and pushed him off her “ that name used to be special to me”

She tried to stand up, but a dizzy spell forced her to remain seated on the ground. Looking at his hurt expression a few more seconds that she wanted to.

“ I really missed you!” Her eyes filled with tears that threatened to roll down her cheek as she tried to stare forward, but he would still read her pained face. “ When you caught me. I thought I was dying! ..and you weren't real”

“ Im sorry! Im so sorry! I shouldn’t have left you just like that!”

He sat down next to her frame, he noticed how her body was shivering, even close to the fire. Her smell was spiking up. He knew that once morning came he’d have to rush her to Steve as soon as possible! But for now, he just wanted to enjoy her! Just enjoy her own smell one last time.

“I never stopped thinking about you!” He lowered his face to the palms of his hands. It was there when she noticed. One of his hands wasn't quite his. It was a lusterly metal, but it still radiated his energy, and warmth.

“I'm sorry too! I shouldn't have interrupted whatever it is you guys do in the village...” she was guarded! Her body tensed up as she talked, a knife in her words ” a lowlife like me getting lost... that’s what it took for you to care again” the tears began to fall, a combination of her hormones, and now shock!

Her body was changing and she couldn’t do anything about it, and now the ghost of her former best friend was back. She didn’t know how to process. She was stronger than this! Why was her body dissolving her to her nature?

Bucky wanted to embrace her! To say so many things, but nothing felt like enough to him.

“Listen now it’s not the time for... ” as he stood up he heard her let out a pain filled grunt. Her hand reached out to grab his thigh, as she doubled over to the ground in pain.

He quickly reacted to her pain, and kneeled down next to where she now laid doubled over on the cold moist ground.

“No, no ,no , no listen to me doll... you have to pull through!” He positioned his body as comfortably as he could for her “ I can’t help you... I’m not supposed to...”

He’d made a mistake! He’d coated her in his smell from the moment he held her in his arms. Her body was screaming for an alpha and it was only going to get worse till an alpha helps her body respond to it’s needs.

From the little life she had a few minutes ago, this little omega at his feet was shaking, and frail!

“I’m sorry, doll…” he looked around in distress “please just stay with me! We have to make it till morning! Please just look at me...tell me you’re alright! “ he cradled her small body and held her close to him.

As a strong wave of her scent hit his nostrils, and a small seizure overcame her body.

Bucky knew what he had to do!

But he wanted to make sure he had well enough exhausted all of his options. It would be selfish of him not to admit he wanted to help her.

“ Bucky... am I gonna die? ” she looked up at him with pained eyes, she was suffering! He used his shirt to wipe down the trails of blood exiting her nose. He wanted to help her so badly! She was nuzzled up against his body, shivering and looking more lifeless by the moment.

Her body was rejecting her omega change!

Bucky knew the fever wasn’t a good sign! But with the seizures that were now overtaking her body every few minutes, it was confirmed to him that she was moments away from collapsing upon herself. An alpha made an omega stronger! It was in their nature!

She needed an alpha !

As he held her in the heart of the forest, illuminated by the light of the moonlight, he could see the teardrops of red leave her eyes. Tears the color of fire!

And when the moon was above then at its brightest, Bucky looked up at the sky, and then down at her “Im sorry doll! I'm about to let you down one more time... I hope you can forgive me one day” as he exposed her neck to him, her untouched mating gland on full display to him.He carefully extracted his canines, and like a soft kiss, he bit her!

He knew Steve wasn’t going to be happy, and quite frankly he was even more scared of her finding out he’d taken away her choice!

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