#she told us that there were no lesson plans left behind and that she doesn’t know what happened

[simplydannie]

Previous: The Set Up || The Set Up: Rescued

A small story inspired by, and written for @grinnworld!

An accident occurred at the Rage Dome taking Veneers life. Floyd is left distraught, his colors fading. He has a chance to leave… but he has one twin left… and he can’t leave her behind.

Floyd could hear his brothers call out his name as he slid through the opening of the door. Branch and Clay could escape with the gray Trolls that released them…. He had another mission in mind… find Velvet, and get her out.

He hid under any furniture he ran into, he wasn’t going to risk getting caught, not again…. He needed to get her out, he couldn’t loose her too.

As he ran to find her, tears began to sting his eyes, his colors almost diminished… his thoughts went to what happened at the Rage Dome....

“VENEER!” Velvet had cried out as the platform he was on snapped in half. He remembered seeing her stretching out her arms in hopes she’d catch him. He remembered seeing Veneers terrified face as he fell to the depths below….

“I’m sorry Vennie…” Floyd whispered to himself as he wiped the tears away, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.”…

Voices were heard coming down the hallway. He came to a halt as he realized there was nothing to hide behind. Looking up he spotted an air vent…perfect, it was big enough for him to fit through. Using his hair, he lassoed himself up into the vent. Floyd peered down to two staff Rageons walking and talking amongst each other.

“They found him dude.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“It ain’t. They found him dead. I wonder if they’re going to sue the Rage Dome for this.”

“They have too…Faulty tech lead to his death…It’s all over the news now.”

Floyd leaned his head against the walls of the vent. He tried to restrain the tears that wanted to come out. Mistress had told Velvet the truth…he was dead…but was that the entire truth? The blame was on faulty tech, but he knew it was the cunning plans of the Mistress that ultimately lead Veneer to his death. What was her gain? Why him? Was it because she couldn’t fully control him?

Whatever the matter, he had to put those thoughts aside to find Velvet. He decided to continue down the path of the vent, peering through openings till he could find the right one. He had to hurry. It would only be a matter of time before someone went back to find the Trolls gone. As Floyd ventured he heard the sound of distant footsteps…but they weren’t coming from below, they were coming from the vents. He turned to find Branch and Clay heading towards him.

“You guys followed me?”

“Of course we did! Come on we got to get out of here. We got to go find Bruce and John Dory. The Bergens didn’t have them, that means they have had to escape.” Branch said.

“No. You go. I’ll find my way to you. I have to go find Velvet.”

“The girl? Floyd, she tormented you! Used you. Abused you! Why are you going back and risking everything for her?” Clay asked.

“Because she’s family….and right now I’m all she has…” Floyd looked towards his brothers, “I’m done running out on family. I learned my lesson…I’m so sorry Bitty B.” Tears began to fill Branches eyes as he spoke, “I should have never left you like I did. You were to young, to innocent. You endured so much all alone. I should’ve been there….We all should have. I practically walked out on these kids too. Like you, they were too young and innocent, and i walked out on them. Now look.” Floyd began crying, “One of them is dead. If I had just brought them out with me like I promised, he would still be here. I can’t do that to Velvet now….” Floyd fell silent as he couldn’t get any more words across…

Breathing heavily, swallowing his tears, Branch walked up to Floyd placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked his brother in the eye, “Then go get her. We’ll know how to find you. Just please, don’t get caught again.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

Velvet sat at the foot of her bed. Her legs were curled to her chest, her face buried within her knees. The TV was on, the dreaded words were repeated over and over again….

Pop Sensation Veneer Found Dead After Rage Dome Incident. Agency and Sister Have Yet to Release Any Comments.

Pop sensation Veneer found dead….

Veneer found dead…..

Found dead…..

Dead….

The words echoed in her mind….Her brother was gone, and he wasn’t coming back. There was no closure, no goodbye, he was taken away from her just like that. Velvet buried her face again as she screamed, tears stinging her eyes. There was no comfort from anyone…She was just sent to her room to mourn alone.

Veneer would’ve come, he would’ve comforted her, he would tell her that everything would work out…that everything would be okay…But he wasn’t here to do that anymore…Just the memory of a ghost now.

“….I’m so sorry Vennie….” She cried, “I’m sorry….I love you….I never told you enough…” Her sobs grew deeper and harder as she couldn’t control herself. Then again she didn’t want to. All Velvet felt right now was hurt and pain. She pulled at her hair screaming into the air. Digging her nails into her head, she began rocking back and forth. She just wanted this nightmare to end, she wanted to see her brother walk in through that door.

“Velvet?” She heard a soft voice.

“Vennie?” She looked up towards the door…but there was no one…Only a small little Troll standing aways from her, “What happened to your colors?”

Floyd looked down at himself, “…There gone… Once I heard what happened too…” He paused, Floyd couldn’t bring himself to say it again.

An anger rushed over her, “WHOSE FAULT IS THAT! WHO WAS THE ONE WHO WAS GOING TO WALK OUT ON US! LEAVE US! WHO FLOYD?!”

“I know Vels, I know. And I am so sorry… It’s something I am going to regret for the rest of my life.” He told her.

“Get out! Go away! You’ve caused me enough pain already!” She curled herself into a tight ball, hoping that it would cause her pain and this world to vanish.

“I’m not leaving you…Not again. I’m here for you Vels.”

“I don’t need you….I need Vennie…..I want him back…I want him back so badly…I want to hear his stupid voice again, his stupid little face….I want my brother back.” Her shoulders shook as she cried again. Floyd wanted to say something…but what could he say…she didn’t trust him anymore, she didn’t want him. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her foot.

“Get away!” She attempted to kick him off.

“I’m not going anywhere. As much as you hate me, as much as you want me away. I am not leaving you…I’m not making that same mistake again…I don’t want to leave you alone Vels, I want to be here for you…Ven wouldn’t wanted you alone..”

“He wanted us to be a family. And look what happened!” She looked at him…A pink hue glowing around her eyes.

Floyd should his head, “No, don’t do this. I don’t want to loose you too. Listen to my voice and come back. Come back to me please.”

The pink glowing brighter as her feelings grew stronger, “He’s gone. He’s gone and he’s not coming back. I don’t have anyone now. Not mom, not dad, not Vennie. I’m alone…I’m alone…I don’t want to be alone.” She dug her nails into her head again, pulling at her hair as if somehow that would take this wretched pain away.

“Hey! Listen to me! You’re not alone! I’m here! I came back for you. I couldn’t flee with my brothers without you, I couldn’t.”

Pink still around her eyes, she began to rock back and forth, “…..You loved Veneer more���.You always did….Of course you would….He was more open to you than I had ever been… He adored you… he was your favorite.” She closed her eyes and turned away from the Troll. “You never cared for me the way you cared for him…”

Floyd lingered in silence for a moment, could his heart break anymore? All this time, she had thought Veneer was the favorite? “Oh Velvet, no, no, no. I care for you both of you just the same! I’m sorry. I’m sorry if it seemed that way! I never intended… oh my god, I’m so sorry Velvet!” He couldn’t look at her in the eye, he felt so ashamed…He could tell she wasn’t use to this. From what the twins had spoken, their parents loved them both the same and showed it.

“I failed you Velvet…. I’m so sorry….” He began to cry, “Forgive me? Please. I will never know if Veneer forgave me, but I hope you will. I thought I was doing good… I thought you knew I loved you both..” He bent down hugging his knees crying his heart out. “I’m so sorry…”

Moments passed as he felt himself gently being lifted. He looked up to see he was now at eye level with Velvet. “I’m sorry too…” She whispered, finically looking at him in the eye, “I miss him Floyd.”

“…me too…but your not alone. I’m here for you.” As he was close, he noticed something on her lap. Velvet looked down to see what he was staring at. With a pout on her lip, she brought it out to show him.

“…it’s his stupid purple beanie…” Her lip quivered, “His stupid purple beanie he would never take off…” she held it to her heart and hugged it tight. Velvet brought the small Troll close to her, holding him tight along with Veneers old beanie… she imagined him there along with them… embracing them….a small little family again. Floyd leaned on her, extending his arms as far as he could. Hector small fingers brushed against the beanie, the last little remnant they had of Ven.

“I’m here Vels… it’s going to be okay…it’s just us now. And I got you.” He said. The grayness in his body began to go away as his color was slowly coming back… this is what he needed, “I love you Vels, always know that. I love you.”

Velvet let out a small sigh of relief at the words she heard, at the words she needed to hear. “I love you too….”

“Let’s get out of here. Let’s leave this wretched place.” Floyd exclaimed.

“No. Not yet.” Velvet sniffed wiped her eyes. “I don’t believe what the news is saying.”

“What do you mean?”

“…. This wasn’t an accident…. That bitch is going to pay.” She said with a determination crossing her eyes.

Normally Floyd wasn’t one to hear her cuss or encourage such thoughts and behavior… but this was the last straw. Mistress had gotten away with to much, she wasn’t going to get away with this. Floyd smiled looking up at Velvet.

“That’s my girl.”

[eddiediazismyhusband]

😈 pretty please :D

😈 - "I Don't Wanna Miss You Like This (Come Back, Be Here)" or the 'Homophobic!Marisol' fic!

(okay, so yes, homophobic marisol is a big part of this fic, but I'm posting a scene of Helena's A+ parenting instead because plot <3)

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When she came by to pick Chris up, he had told Pepa he was having a serious conversation with Marisol, the woman letting out a relieved sigh of ‘Gran Dios Todopoderoso! Por fin!’ She wished him luck, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, followed by a soft pat, before reminding him that she loves him.

Thanking her once more for taking Chirstopher, he shut the door behind them, and immediately began to stress-pace the living room. He had gotten a text from her earlier saying she was going to be a little late- she had apparently gotten a little more hands-on on the job today than originally planned and she wanted to go home and take a shower beforehand.

He walked around the living room- nervously tidying up things that didn’t necessarily need to be tidied up, but Eddie was about to tell his girlfriend of four months that she needed to more-or-less back off, so excuse him for being a little fidgety. He was in the middle of organizing the stack of magazines on the coffee table when he heard a knock on the door. 

He made his way over to the door, opening it to reveal Helena standing on his doorstep.

“Mom-” he blinked- noting that it was only her and not both of his parents. “What are you doing here? Where’s Papá?”

“Your father was in the shower at the hotel when I left,” Helena told him. “I wanted us to have a chat- one on one.”

“Marisol is coming over soon,” Eddie told her, desperately trying to avoid another thing preventing him from having this talk with her.

“I won’t be long,” Helena sighed. “I know that Josephina has Christopher, so I can imagine what you’re going to be doing tonight.”

Eddie cringed at the implication. He wanted so badly to say no, but he knew she wouldn’t leave without a fight, and honestly Eddie didn’t have it in him for that at that moment, so he simply moved aside with a sigh, allowing her entry.

She looked around at the immaculate living room in front of her- noting the results of Eddie’s stress-cleaning. She glanced over at him with a scrutinizing glare. 

“You cleaned,” she pointed out.

“I clean when I’m nervous,” Eddie muttered. “I’ve done that since middle school.”

“What do you have to be nervous about?” Helena hummed, arching an eyebrow as she sat down on the couch- Eddie in the armchair across from her.

“I told you that Marisol was coming over,” Eddie replied. “We’re having a pretty serious conversation about our relationship, and I’m trying not to psych myself out about it.”

Helena frowned. “Seriously, Eddie? Your son was in the hospital two days ago and you’re sleeping with your girlfriend for the first time now?”

Eddie’s eyes grew wide as his face scrunched up at that. 

“Wha-?” he shook his head. “No, absolutely not!”

“Eddie, I thought Shannon was a lesson to you about that,” Helena scoffed. “Even with protection it’s not 100% effective.”

“I am not having sex with Marisol, mom,” Eddie sighed. “Ay, Dios- even if I was, it would be none of your business. What I do with my life doesn’t concern you.”

“But it does concern your son,” Helena clapped back. “You aren’t the only one affected by this, Eddie. Your son needs a stable environment to be raised in.”

“And I have given him that stable environment since the day his mother left the first time,” Eddie snapped. “I have done everything to make sure Christopher has the best upbringing I can give him.”

“But is it the best upbringing he can have, Eddie?” Helena asked, crossing her arms. “You work long, varying hours- you’ve almost died on the job multiple times- you were shot in the middle of LA. Think of how that is affecting Christopher? He has to live every day wondering if his dad is going to come home. And Marisol? Don’t get me wrong Eddie, she is a sweet girl, and I think the two of you would make a beautiful home together, but this is not the time for any of that. And then all of this nonsense with Buck- Christopher can’t handle all of this at once.”

“You don’t know my son,” Eddie seethed, “You don’t know who he has grown into since we left El Paso. You don’t get to tell me what he can or cannot handle, and you most certainly don’t get to tell me when and what decisions I make for our lives.”

“I just want what’s best for him-” Helena started.

“I’m what’s best for him, mom!” Eddie shouted. “Me! No, I’m not a perfect father. In fact I fuck up in some way every day! Just yesterday, I realized I had forgotten to pick up the cereal he likes when I was at the store. This morning, I had forgotten to put a signed permission slip in his bookbag and had to drive to the school to give it to them.”

“He needs his family, Eddie,” Helena argued. 

“He has his family,” Eddie spat. “He has me. He has Bobby and Athena who are more grandparents to him than you’ve ever been. He has Hen and Karen- Chimney and Maddie. I may not have Buck, but Chris has him. All of them are his family- our family. And this is where he belongs. With me.”

Helena stared at him for a moment, her hands balled in fists at her side as she stared at him- jaw clenched and eyes raging. She shut her eyes as she took a steady calming breath before fixing him with an icy glare.

“I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this, Edmundo,” Helena said, calmly. “But If we have to, your father and I will take you to court. You’ve played this game with Christopher’s life for too long, and we won’t sit by and watch you drag him down with you. I said that to you once before you ran away- obviously the message didn’t take.”

It took everything in Eddie to bite his tongue before lashing out at her again. Instead, he took his own calming breath before walking over to the front door and opening it. 

“Get out,” he told her. “Don’t you ever come back unless I say you can. You aren’t welcome near me or my son anymore.”

Helena looked at him for a few moments of silence before storming out of the house, pulling the door closed sharply behind her. A few moments later he heard her rental car door slam before she was driving away. Eddie stood behind the door for a few moments, banging on it with his fist once before turning and looking at the living room- still spotless as it had been. 

Before he had a chance to stop and think, he walked over into the living room, glancing around at it for a moment, before shoving the tray of magazines off the coffee table and dropping down onto the footstool of the armchair. He dropped his head into his hands as he began to let violent sobs rip through his body- feeling every single emotion drain out of him as he sat wrecked in his living room.

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[hurtcomfortficstilltheend]

Mateine is the new caffeine

Wednesday Addams x gn! argentinian! Reader

Summary: Wednesday tries mate for the first time, by the hand of her partner, Reader.

Warnings: None! Only fluff! There is no use of "(Y/N)".

If you are not argentinian or southamerican, I explain the whole "mate" thing at the end. You just need to know that it's a very popular (non alcoholic) social drink in some countries in Latin America.

(Also, you don't need to be latinamerican to read this ofc)

A/N: Very self indulgent as always ;D Soft!Wednesday ahead!

Word Count: 1178

Your eyes were locked to the screen of your tiny laptop, your fingertips tapping incessantly on the keyboard, and your headphones on tight, blasting Brahms' second symphony. You had left a super important essay for the last minute (you were upset but not surprised), and now you were fighting against the clock to finish it on time for the first lesson tomorrow morning. Or today. 

After a quick wrist watch check- 3:54. Great. For the first lesson today then.

Your hand reaches instinctively for your hot water flask and serves another mate. You reread the last paragraph written on the open docs while sipping the lukewarm beverage. You swallow the liquid with a slight wince and keep writing.

You had once been ashamed that it took this amount of different sourced input to get anything school related done, but after some time, you just accepted that mateine, loud instrumental music, and leg bouncing was your only way, and that was okay.

Once you reread the whole thing again (and whisper a prayer to any coherence-and-cohesion god out there), you adjust the format of the document and send it to print in the principal’s office. Very proud of yourself for actually finishing it on time, you pick up your mate set to remake, get up with a jump and turn around-

-to find Wednesday standing right behind you, staring at you like you owe her something. As expected, you let out a squeak and accidentally drop the mate on the wooden floor. You hold on to the thermos like a lifeline, fully opened eyes pointing to the floor and then up to your girlfriend again.

“Mierda. Carajo.” Wednesday just stands there unmoving, as you throw yourself to the floor to pick up the yerba mess. The plant stains very bad, very quickly, so you end up (once again) in a rush against time itself to get some wet tissue paper and scrub the floor before it is too late. 

Now, with the headphones resting uncomfortably on your neck and the floor as-clean-as-it's-gonna-get, you take a deep breath and stand in front of the waiting girl. “Hi” After a beat, you lean closer to her and plant a small kiss on her cheek for good measure.

She blinks once, and you understand that’s her way of greeting. “What is that?” With a subtle head movement she points to the mate set now resting undone on your desk. 

“That’s the mate set my dad brought me from Argentina for parents’ weekend. The super cool gift I told you about?” It doesn’t seem to ring a bell. “Come on, I’ll show you how to make the best mates ever”

“Do you even know what time it is?” She asks with a slightly arched eyebrow.

“I have no forking idea, now come on” You guide her to your bathroom, and your makeshift kitchen counter.

.

“You have to put cold water first, so the leaves don’t burn, and then pour the hot water on the little hole we made” You guide Wednesday through the steps until you are only left with the last one. 

“So, I’ll do this, so you don’t gross out too much” You take the first two sips through the straw and immediately spit it out in the sink. She makes no comment, and both of you head out to your bed. The sun is starting to come up.

You get comfortable on top of your quilt and so does Wednesday. You pour the first mate and drink it yourself as an act of mercy. “What brings you here, by the way?”

“I was planning on silently watching you sleep until you woke up, so then we could go to class together, but I see you haven’t slept at all” She says matter of factly. You hand her the mate, but she doesn’t take it, as if waiting for instructions.

“Just try it out, if you don’t like it, no worries. It tastes bitter and it might be too hot, so be careful” She goes to grab it with both hands and you giggle, rambling about an ongoing joke in your family, of newbies using the bombilla as a gearshift.

You get yourself into the rabbit hole that is explaining the social rules of mate in gatherings, and how some people from Argentina and Uruguay drink it as often as coffee, or even more. You fail to notice your girlfriend’s face starting to morph into a frown. When you look up you feel like you messed up big time. 

“Oh god, you hate it. Let me get you some water. Do you want toothpaste?, I have som-” as you’re standing up to get a glass, you are stopped by Wednesday softly grabbing your wrist. Her eyes glint with something as close to fascination as you’ve seen on her. 

“It’s… magnificent. There is not a trail of sweetness, I could even guarantee it’s as bitter as my dark and cold soul” You can’t stop the huge and shining smile that takes over your face.

“So you like it?!” You pour yourself a mate and drink it before leaving the set in your nightstand and jumping up from your bed. “I’m so excited! I haven’t asked principal weems if I can take it to class, but I bet she will have no problem! My mom used to tell me that a good mate is the best companion for studying, it’s been so long since I’ve shared mate with someone!” 

A small smile starts to creep its way onto Wednesday’s face when seeing you so excited about your culture. She turns to look at your direction, still sitting on the edge of your bed. “You are clearly sleep deprived, and I’m certain this drink is going to trigger an insomnia episode if you remain drinking it at such ungodly hours, but-” 

“You’re gonna be my mate buddy?!”

“It’s whatever.” You can almost see a blush covering her cheeks. Almost. “Now, breakfast starts in five minutes, so get ready if you wish to be there on time. And don’t think you’re about to get away with an all-nighter. After lunch you’re getting rest willingly, or I’ll make you”

You roll your eyes playfully and hand her the basket with the set inside. “So bossy..” You give her another peck on the cheek and change into your school uniform in a flash.

.

Bonus: 

Enid finds you and Wednesday sharing mates at the library a few days later, and after insisting that she’s gonna surely love it, she pulls such a grimace when the drink touches her tongue that you almost feel offended. 

You appear the next day with two different sets: one of mate, for you and your girlfriend; and one of tereré for Enid. Your friend likes the sweet and cold version so much better, and from then on asks you very often to prepare it for her.

You also show them and the gang the wonders of dulce de leche, Rogel cake, and every single argentinian tea time good you can get your hands on.

.

A/N: I totally devoured the series, and I'm obsessed, so expect more of Wednesday to come. Comments are greatly appreciated as always, I want to know what you think!

About the "Mate" depicted in this fic: It's a weird kind of infusion (here's a pic for reference)

that seems to be prepared backwards (you have a cup with the herb -yerba mate- to which you pour hot water, opposite from tea I guess), you have to sip through that metal straw -called bombilla- that has a filter, and it's usually drunk in groups or social events, or as a way to replace the caffeine that coffee may provide. It's highly energetic and bitter, although some people add sugar or sweeteners to taste.

The first mate is usually the most bitter one, cause it's filled with the dust of the yerba, so drinking the first mate yourself can sometimes be an act of heroism lol.

I also mentioned "Tereré", which is similar, but (where I live) only drunk in hot weather. It's prepared with cold juice instead of hot water and it's definitely less bitter.

Yerba mate also stains like a bitch, even linolium floors, so if you are to spill some, you have to clean it up quickly before it dries.

By the way, we use mate(s) as a countable AND uncountable noun, so don't come at me about grammar please hahdghfkv

I hope you liked this crash course of mates!

[bullet-prooflove]

UC!Series Part Two: Grit - Jubal Valentine x Reader

Tagging: @crazy4chickennuggets @kmc1989 @oureternalbond  @darqchilddaydreamz @trublu2u @greenies-green @proceduralpassion @burningpeachpuppy @evee87 @delightfulheroshoeflap @iworldlywriter @helsinkibaby @penguin876 @justamadgirlinabox @a-noni-love @brownskinbaby22

Living without you is an adjustment for Jubal.

You’ve been a part of his life for a long time, even before the two of you got together. Two weeks in, he’s still removing both mugs from his cupboard first thing in the morning. It’s a stark reminder that you’re not in his life right now.

He tries to fill his time the best way he knows how, with work and his kids. His takes on additional shifts, covering other Special Agents in Charge and spends weekends up in Scottsdale, immersing himself in Tyler and Abigail’s lives.

His ex-wife Sam knows that something’s up. She’s always been able to read him, especially when it comes to you. She’s the one that realised he had feelings for you way back when. The one that encouraged him to make a move when the time was right, to stop delaying his happiness because he deserved a little light in his life.

He doesn’t tell her all of the details, but she knows enough about the work he does to read between the lines. Your sudden disappearance from his life, the tender way in which he talks about you. She knows it’s an assignment, not a breakup. She can see that he’s hurting right now, trying to keep the pieces of his life together by sheer force of will.

“How are you holding up?” She asks him, sitting down in one of the patio chairs that her husband Alan bought for the back yard. Jubal’s eyes remain fixed on the kids, the two of them chasing each other with bubble wands.

Jubal shrugs his shoulders in response to Sam’s question.

“Some days are better than others.” He says quietly, his hands slipping into the pockets of his jacket. “I keep wondering how she’s doing, if she’s being safe.”

It’s ridiculous to think like that, he knows it. You’re a decorated FBI agent with years of UC experience under your belt, and the thing is, you’re good, really good.

The first time he’d met you, he’d been trying to purchase several cases of assault rifles and you had been the one arranging the buy. At the time he remembered thinking it was somewhat refreshing to meet a female arms dealer.

Nikki Delphino, you had introduced yourself, when he handed over the cash.

He’d looked you up after the arrest. Daniel Moreno’s partner in crime. The guy had put a bullet in two federal agents who had been escorting the original shipment before it was hijacked. His plan had been to flip you, to leverage the charges, the relationship, whatever else he could so they could get their hands on Moreno. The two of you had sat across from each other in that interview room for hours, he went at you with everything he had but you, you were something else. Evasive, cold, and if he was honest, a bit of a smartass. It was infuriating.

It wasn’t until your handler made an appearance that they realised you were one of them. His frustration had turned to respect because game recognises game, and you, you didn’t fucking flinch.

An agreement was struck after that. You would catch up with Moreno, try and lobby a confession about the murders. It was dicey, they weren’t sure if news of your arrest had hit yet. Jubal admired your dedication, when you saw the mess that Moreno had left behind at the site of the hijacking, you’d been eager to help.

They watched it play out over a camera affixed to the necklace you were wearing. It was a lesson in manipulation, something they could use at the academy. You used your sex appeal to draw out the details, teasing, cajoling, pouting until he told you exactly what you wanted to know.

“I never asked…” Jubal had said after the arrest. “What’s your real name?”

“Stefani.” You tell him, the left side of your mouth tipping up into a smile. “Stefani Romano.”

“Welcome back Stefani.” He says holding out his hand to shake yours.

“You have no idea how good it is to hear someone actually use my real name.” You tell him as you clasp his hand. There’s a spark, one that he feels the instant the two of you touch. He doesn’t know it in that moment, but his life has just changed dramatically.

“She’s got grit.” Dana says when the two of them are sitting in her office at the end of the day. “I like her.”

“Yea.” Jubal remembers saying as Dana signs off on the transfer paperwork. “I like her too.”

“You’re not used to the shoe being on the other foot.” Sam remarks, drawing him out of this reverie. “Being the one that’s left behind. You’re used to being in control, knowing everything.”

“Yea, there’s probably something in that.” He says, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown as he considers Sam’s words.

Part of the problem is that he’s out of the loop and he hates that. He’s used to having the information at his fingertips but right now he’s in the dark and that’s a shitty place to be.

“I could say it gets easier…” Sam tells him before shaking her head. “But it doesn’t.”

“And I have a new appreciation for some of the stuff I put you through.” Jubal tells her, rubbing his hands over his features. “I guess I just didn’t realise it would be this hard.”

“You gotta have faith.” Sam says quietly, squeezing his arm lightly. “In yourself, in her. Trust that she will do anything to come back to you. That’s how I used to get through it, no matter what happened, I knew you’d do everything possible to get back to me and the kids.”

“Yea.” He says, his gaze straying back towards Tyler as he tries to pop the bubbles that Amelia blows in his direction. “Yea, you’re right.”

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[m-jelly]

Learning to blossom - Chapter 9

Stunning banner created by the wonderful @ladycheesington 💕

Pairing: Levi x Fem!Reader

Genre and tags: Romance, fluff, modern AU, Uni AU, confessions, tattooed Levi, drama, flustered Levi, smut, oral, multiple positions and orgasms, loving, dom Levi, spanking, bites, love.

Concept: Hwan reveals his true intentions to you shocking you and others. Levi takes you home and shows you body-shaking love. Levi gets his famous undercut haircut which you fawn over. You both become playful and snuggle together in bed.

AO3 link

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

Levi held your hips as he pressed you against the wall in the hall. He tugged on your bottom lip with his teeth before pushing his tongue into your mouth. He hummed in delight as he kissed you with all the love and passion in his heart. He ignored people walking past and just focused on you. You’d both reaffirmed your love for each other. You’d comforted Levi as he confessed the troubles in his heart and mind.

He pulled back and lightly kissed your lips. “Enjoy your lecture, okay?”

You cupped his face. “I will and remember, you are loved by me, I am going to marry you and you are perfect.”

He nodded. “I’ll remember.”

You lifted his left hand and kissed his ring. “Mine.”

He blushed. “Yours.”

“Have a lovely lecture and please tell me all about it after. I want to know how your business plans are going.”

He hummed a laugh as he thought about the future you had planned together. He smiled fondly. “I’ll tell you all about it.” He kissed your hands. “Off you go beautiful.”

You giggled. “You’ll need to let go of my hands.”

He blushed hard. “I’m working on it.”

You pulled your hands out of his grip finally. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Okay…”

You giggled. “Levi.”

He groaned. “I’m going.”

You waved to him as he walked away. You released a long sigh before turning and slipping into your lecture hall and finding your seat. You got everything out and stretched a little as you thought about Levi and going home. You couldn’t wait to just go home and wrap your arms around your man. You were in desperate need of a nap and love.

“Sup.”

You turned your head and smiled at Hwan. “Hey.”

He looked down at your work. “Still not using a laptop.”

“I like writing things down.”

He eyed your phone to see Athena’s nap pop up. “How are things?”

You texted Athena back. “Pretty good. How are things for you?”

“Not bad.” He hummed. “So, about the BBQ and beer, I suggested the other day…”

You looked over at Hwan. “Oh yeah, sorry we didn’t do it but I had a dinner date with Levi.”

“It’s okay, so I was thinking we do it today or this weekend. You could invite Athena.”

You frowned a little. “Do you know her?”

Hwan nodded. “She does odd jobs for people with their computers. She fixed my laptop for me.”

You smiled a little. “I could as her if she wanted to come along.”

“Great. It’s so your fiancé is okay and doesn’t get upset.”

You hummed a laugh. “Sure thing.”

You both looked ahead at your professor and listened to her talk. You made notes and joked a little with Hwan and talked with him. You enjoyed the lesson and texted Athena and Levi now and then. You noticed that Hwan kept looking over at you and staring at you. Whenever you looked over he’d look away from you. You would frown a little and carry on doing what you were doing.

You gathered up your things at the end of the lesson and walked with Hwan out of the lecture. “So, what are your plans for winter break?”

Hwan stopped in the hall and gazed down at you. “Hang out with you.”

You laughed. “Funny.”

He placed his hand on the wall by your head and leaned closer. “I’m not joking.”

You gulped hard. “Hwan, that’s not funny at all.”

“I told you. I’m. Not. Joking.”

You whined a little. “I’m with Levi.”

He frowned a moment. “Wait, did you think I’m into you?”

You looked behind Hwan to see Athena. “W-Well…”

He laughed at you. “Wow, that’s funny.” He shook his head and sighed. “I would never want you. Have you seen you? I don’t even understand why Levi does. Seriously, he deserves better.”

You welled up. “What?”

He grabbed your neck and gripped it. “You’re an ugly stupid bitch. I’m only talking to you to get to Athena and you keep dragging your fucking heels. You’re just her ugly fat friend, that’s all you are. You’re pathetic. How self-centred can you be to think someone as good-looking as me would want something disgusting like you?”

You winced a little. “You’re hurting me.”

He released you making you cough and touch your neck. “God, you annoy me. You’re so pathetic. I hated having to be friends with you. I’m done. I’m just going to go straight to Athena. Maybe I should spread rumours about you so Levi gets some sense and leaves you. He really should leave you.”

Athena stormed over after the shock disappeared. “I’ve heard enough, you piece of shit!”

Hwan jumped at Athena’s tone. He turned to her and gave her a strained smile as he held his hands up. “Athena! Let me explain.”

Athena punched Hwan hard in the face before pulling you into her arms and holding you. “You’re a piece of shit. How can you not see how beautiful she is? Plus, using her to get to me? You’re fucking disgusting.” She looked down at you and smiled. “This little cupcake is the sweetest and yummiest piece of ass there is!”

You pulled Athena’s arms from you. “It’s fine, Athena. I don’t care how he sees me. I only want Levi to find me attractive. I don’t like that he tried using me to get to you. Insult me all you like Hwan, but I won’t let you strangle me and try to fuck my friend.” You slapped Hwan hard. “You’re an asshole.”

Hwan touched his cheek. “Cheap whores.”

Athena flipped him off as he walked away. “Dickhead! Go take your tiny infected dick elsewhere!” She sighed and pushed you along. “What an asswipe. I’m sorry.”

You lightly touched your neck. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not though.”

You smiled a little at her. “It could have been worse.”

She moved your hand and inspected your neck. “You have a mark. Levi will ask about this. We’ve got to tell him what happened.”

You nibbled your lip and whined. “Could you tell him?”

“Sure.” She put her arm around you and squeezed you. “I’m sorry this happened.”

You leaned against her. “I just want to forget about this all.”

“I understand.” She looked ahead to see Erwin and Levi walking over as they chatted. “I’ll go chat with Levi, you hang out with Erwin.”

“Okay.”

Athena ran over to Levi and grabbed his arm. “Need you!”

You waved to Levi as he was dragged off. You looked up at Erwin and smiled. “Hey.”

Erwin ruffled your hair. “You all right?”

You hummed in response. “Kind of.”

“What happened?”

You sighed as you walked with Erwin. “Found out Hwan was just using me to get to Athena. He called me a lot of names and gripped my neck a bit. Athena heard him and we both ripped into him.”

Erwin shook his head. “What a piece of shit.”

You hummed a laugh. “Sorry, I’m not used to you swearing.”

Erwin smiled a little. “My girlfriend will tell you otherwise.”

You smirked. “I’m sure.”

He blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “So, what are you going to do with this lecture? He’s going to be in it probably.”

“Sit away from him. I’m just going to stay away from him.”

“Seems the best.” He looked over at Levi. “Looks like he wants a word.”

You smiled at Levi. “Hey.” You squealed as he tackled you into a hug. “Levi.”

He lifted you and held you as if you were precious and could break. “I’m so sorry he hurt you. I should have been here. How dare he say all those horrible things! You’re stunning, cute and sweet. I love you more than anything in this world. You are perfect and I don’t deserve you. I want to marry you.”

You blushed at his words. “Levi, I know you love me. I have no doubts about us. I’m just in shock that I was used and didn’t even know it. I feel stupid.”

Levi covered your face in kisses. “You’re not stupid! You’re wonderful.” He stopped kissing your face and noticed the marks on your neck. “Tch, I’ll kill him.”

“He’s not worth it. He’s really not worth it.”

He let out a long sigh. “You’re right.” He turned and carried you out of the building with his friends leading the way. “Let’s go home.”

You blushed a little as he carried you. “You don’t need to carry me.”

“I want to.” He squeezed you. “I want to hit him so badly. Hwan is a piece of shit.” He shoved his way through the front door and stormed upstairs as his friends went to their rooms. Levi sat you on the bed and kissed you. “Let me look at your neck, okay?”

You pulled your winter things off and held your head high. “I don’t think it’s that bad.”

Levi lightly touched your neck and whined. “He marked you.” He growled a little. “Only I can mark you.”

You giggled as Levi kissed and nipped your neck. “I love you, Levi. Thank you for making me smile again.”

He pulled back and slowly pushed you down on the bed. “Can I make love to you?”

You blushed bright red. “R-Really?”

He whined a little. “I just…I want to show you love. I want to remind you I adore you.”

You slowly pulled down the zip on Levi’s hoodie. “Lock the door.”

Levi ran over to the bedroom door and locked it. He yanked his jacket off and tossed it onto the office chair. He slowly dragged his shirt off and smiled at you as you blushed. “You are so incredibly beautiful.”

You smiled and pulled your jumper off making your skin prickle at the cold air. “You’re so handsome.”

Levi crawled up the bed towards you. “Are you cold, my bunny?”

You nodded as you linked your arms around his neck. “I am. So, why don’t you come closer and warm me up?”

Levi smiled as he tilted his head. “Happily.” He pressed his lips against yours and sighed through his nose. “Mm, you’re delicious. I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I’m being spoiled to get you as my wife.”

You giggled as he growled and nibbled at your jawline. “I’m the spoiled one.” You released a sighing moan as he licked your neck. “Levi.”

He kissed down your body and paused at your jeans. He undid them and slowly dragged them down your legs along with your underwear. He tossed it all to the floor and purred at you. “So soft, so delicious, so perfect.”

You squeaked as Levi’s grabbed the underside of your thighs and pushed your legs against your chest. “Le-Levi.”

He licked his lips as he stared at your pussy and clit. “What a delectable soaked in such perfect honey. I must eat you like this and then push my cock slowly into you.” He flicked his gaze to your blushing face. “You love being fucked like this, don’t you?”

You whined. “Y-Yes.”

He dragged his tongue up your slit so slowly it made you whimper and pout. He smirked at you and knew he was teasing. He leaned closer again and started softly kissing your clit over and over. He smiled as he felt you wiggle under him desperate for more. He wanted to tease you as much as he could because he knew that if he did, your orgasm would be incredible.

He flicked your clit with his tongue a few times making you buck a little. He traced your bundle of nerves with his tongue making you shiver in delight. He took your clit into his mouth and sucked hard. He gripped your thighs as he moved his tongue against your plump bud and sucked with all the passion in his heart. He massaged your skin as you panted and moaned below him.

You reached down and pushed your fingers into Levi’s hair. You tugged a little making Levi growl against you. You clenched your legs a little as you whined at the vibrations that went through you. Your heart skipped a beat as you cast your gaze down at Levi as he passionately devoured your clit. You mewled at Levi causing him to pay attention to you. You blushed as he looked up at you and smiled a little.

You leaned your head back as you felt a full-body blush at the way Levi looked at you. You nibbled your lip as you felt your coil tighten. You clenched your toes tightly and whimpered as you felt your orgasm rushing closer. Your voice cracked as you moaned in delight. You shivered as you felt the heat of your bliss rush through every inch of your body.

Levi leaned up with his tongue sticking out a little making him look adorable to you. He licked his lips and smiled softly. “Good? Did I do good?”

You nodded and hummed in happiness. “Amazing.”

He nuzzled against your face and smiled. “I’m glad.”

You giggled at how sweet he was. “You always make me feel good.” You cupped his face. “How about you put your cock in me now.”

Levi released your legs. “Don’t move your legs, okay?”

You hugged your legs to your chest as you grinned. “Yes.”

Levi pulled his trousers and boxers off. He held his thick and hard erection in his hand and began running his plump sensitive tip up and down your wet lips. He moved against your clit making you whine at him. “So sensitive.”

You whimpered. “Levi, don’t tease. You’re supposed to be nice to me.”

He hummed a laugh. “No more teasing.” He pushed his tip into your pulsing pussy opening and slowly pressed himself in. He held your thighs and gave them a playful squeeze. “You’re so hot and wet.”

You shivered as you felt Levi’s thick cock slowly stretch you and slide deep into you. You looked down to see your pussy wrapped around Levi’s cock. You felt yourself drooling at the sight of him slowly disappearing into you. You moaned in delight when all of him was deep inside you and his pelvis was pressed against your lips. You reached down and parted yourself to enjoy the view more.

Levi growled at the view. “Delicious, right?”

You nodded and mewled in response. “You look so good inside me.”

“I do and it feels so good to be inside you.” He leaned down and kissed you. “You take me so well each time. My cock was made for you.”

You cupped his face. “Yes. We were made for each other.”

Levi shifted his legs and began pumping his cock in and out of you. He gripped your thighs hard and shivered in delight at how your pussy walls dragged him back in. He smiled at you as he moved nice and slow for you so you could both enjoy how he moved in and out of you. He felt a tingle of pleasure burn through his spine. He was in pure ecstasy as your silken walls massaged his thick cock. He adored you and loved you more than words could describe.

You felt so delicate and loved as Levi dragged himself in and out of you. You moved your hand from parting yourself and began touching your clit. You clenched up instantly making Levi grunt above you. You blushed a little and gave him your love-filled doe eyes asking for forgiveness. Levi instantly melted above you. You giggled as he leaned down and crashed his lips against yours. You hummed in delight as Levi kissed you with all the love and passion in his heart.

Levi’s teeth tugged on your bottom lip. He smiled before pushing his tongue into your mouth he pressed your legs against your chest. He pulled back a little to speak against your lips. “I love you.”

You whimpered. “I love you too.”

“I love you so much.” He turned his head and bit your leg. “Good girl. You’re taking me perfectly.”

You whimpered. “Levi, your cock is so good.”

He panted and smiled at your declaration. “Is my cock going to make you cum?”

You nodded and mewled at him. “Y-Yes.”

“Cum for me. I want to feel the moment you break.”

You threw your head back and cried out as your wall broke. Your legs shook between you and Levi as your orgasm rushed through you. You felt like you were drooling as you were consumed with spine-tingling pleasure. “Levi.” You panted as he slowed down. “I love you.”

He shifted and released your legs so they could flop down. “I love you so much, my sweet bunny.”

You ran your hand down Levi’s chest and purred at him. “You’re so handsome.”

Levi tangled his fingers in your hair as he slowly rocked his hips against you. “Thank you. Now, how to pleasure you next.” He covered your face in kisses. “On your stomach, little bunny.”

You shivered as Levi dragged his cock out of you. You shifted and rolled onto your stomach and giggled. “You going prone?”

“Later I am, but first…”

You squeaked as Levi yanked you onto your knees and pressed his hand on your shoulder. “Levi.”

He slammed his cock into you making you both moan. “But first, my little bunny, I’m going to ravage you.” He spanked you hard and smirked at your cry of pleasure. “Good girl. Want me to fuck you and spank you?”

You nodded against the bed. “P-Please.”

Your eyes rolled back in your head as Levi bucked hard and fast against you. The room filled with the sound of Levi’s pelvis slapping hard against your buttocks. Lewd noises of your wet pussy taking his thick throbbing cock rang out. Levi’s elegant hand collided with a sharp slap against your buttocks. Levi’s hand gripped your shoulder tightly as he showed you the power and dominance that you craved from him. He was dominating you but you felt in control. One word from you and he’d stop.

Levi leaned over you as he opened his mouth a little he snarled a moment before biting the back of your neck. He smirked as you squealed out in pleasure as he rutted his cock into you. He grunted and whined against you as you clenched his cock so tightly with your pussy. You gripped the bedsheet hard below you as you drooled and moaned in pure ecstasy at how Levi was ravaging you. Your legs were shaking from you kneeling for so long and from the pleasure pulsing through you.

Your pussy was dripping and coating your thighs and the bed. You were drowning in your own pleasure and Levi was too. He was gripping you hard as he tried to control himself. Levi wanted to last, he wanted to make you cum a few more times before he filled you to the brim with his hot sticky cum. He released the back of your neck and knelt up. He gripped your hips and began pounding his cock into you as fast and as hard as he could.

Levi grunted. “Fuck, you’re so tight bunny.” He moaned. “You take me so well. Good girl.”

You whimpered. “Le-Levi.”

He panted and smiled. “Tell me whom your pussy belongs to!”

“Y-You!”

He gripped you. “Tell me who fucks you good!”

Your eyes rolled back. “You!”

He smiled as he felt your wall quiver around him. “Tell me who can only fuck you and make you cum.”

“You!”

“Good girl. Now cum.”

You screamed in pleasure as tears ran down your cheeks at the body-shaking euphoria that ripped through your body. You collapsed against the bed as you twitched and bucked as your nerve endings went into overdrive. You shivered and whimpered against the bed as you rode out your incredible high. “Mm.”

Levi kissed his way up your back and nuzzled against your cheek and the crook of your neck. “Want to stop?”

You shook your head. “N-no. I want to feel you cum inside me.”

Levi blushed hard. “Do…do you like that?”

You smiled at him. “I love it when you fill me with cum.” You whined. “I need it.” You rolled your hips as best as you could. “Please, Levi, give me all your cum.”

Levi lay his body against yours and hid his face against the crook of your neck as he started grinding deep into you. “I’ll give you everything I have, bunny.”

You entwined your fingers with Levi’s and moved a little with him as he humped your sensitive pussy. You turned your head and captured Levi’s lips in a passionate kiss. Your tongue moved with his as you both wanted badly to cum together. You knew it wouldn’t take long for you both. You were tired and your coils were wound tightly. You wanted to melt together in a puddle of pleasure. You moved together as if your bodies were one being instead of two. You were joined together in pure love.

Levi pushed both his hands under your squished body. One hand gripped your breast as the other lightly moved against your clit. He massaged your breast in his hand as he kissed and nibbled your back. He smiled as you panted and sighed against the bed as you felt like Levi was showering you in love. His dominating persona was gone and now he was just showing you just how much he loved and adored you. He was holding you so tightly in his arms and giving you everything he could.

You both whimpered together indicating that you were close to cumming. You both gasped in delight as Levi’s cock rubbed your g-spot a lot. He was rubbing you so much that it was close to overstimulation. You arched your back against Levi a little and mewled as you felt you’d body give in to pleasure. You gasped as your walls collapsed and your orgasm burned through every inch of your body. You wiggled under Levi and mewled in delight as you felt yourself burning.

Levi gripped you tightly as he lost his rhythm fully. He snapped his hips against you a few tips before slamming his cock deep into you. His cock twitched inside your pussy as he poured his cum deep into you. His moan was high in pitch, almost needy. He nuzzled the crook of your neck and whimpered as he bucked again so he could get all his cum deep inside you. His hot pants heated your neck as he twitched above you.  

You smiled a little and reached up to pet Levi’s head. You ruffled his hair and hummed a laugh. “You okay?”

Levi nodded and nipped your shoulder. “Mm.”

“Do you need a moment?”

“Mm.”

You hummed a laugh. “Can I just say, that moan you let out when you came inside of me was the single most attractive sound in the entire world.”

He nuzzled the crook of your neck and kissed. “Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too.” You sighed as you felt relaxed and at peace. “Could you roll over so I can face you? I want to snuggle.”

Levi pulled his cock from you and lay on his side. “Okay.”

You shuffled onto your side and opened your arms. “Come here. Snuggle against me. I’ll be the big spoon.”

Levi pressed his face against your breasts. “Mm.”

You gently played with his hair as you hummed a song to him. “My sweet bear.”

“How are you feeling? Are you better than earlier?”

“I am.” You kissed the top of his head. “Thank you.”

He squeezed you and nuzzled. “I just love you so much.”

“I love you too. You’re my everything.”

Levi lifted his head from you and gaze at you with his big doe eyes. “You’re my world.”

Levi pulled his beanie down and hurried through the streets as he slowly made his way home to you. It was winter break and you both decided to spend it together as a couple. Kuchel was with Kenny, your parents went on holiday but missed you terribly. You called both Kuchel and your parents as often as possible, but most of the time you and Levi were left alone so you could be a sweet couple.

Levi jogged across the road in the snow and huffed. He smiled at his hot breath curling in the cold air. He shivered a little and looked at the house getting closer. Erwin and his girlfriend were staying for winter as well, so there were just four of you in the house. You were so wrapped up in your partners that you didn’t hang out much over the winter holidays compared to any other time. You all wanted to be with the person you loved.

He unlocked the front door and kicked off the snow on his shoes. He pulled his winter things off and slipped his shoes off. He walked by the living room and waved at Erwin and his girlfriend cuddling on the sofa. He waved at the two of them and said his hellos before running up the stairs and to the front big bedroom. He paused when he heard the soft sounds of you playing a game.

He pushed the bedroom door open and smiled at you snuggled up on the seat with a blanket as you played your game. “Tch, cute.”

You looked over at Levi and smiled. “Hey, bear! You okay?”

He nodded and walked over to you. He slumped into the chair next to you with pink cheeks. “Mm.”

You paused your game and gazed at your fiancé. “Show me.”

He reached up and gripped his beanie. “I uh…”

You placed your hand on his thigh and gave him a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, show me.”

He pouted a little. “But…you really love my fluffy hair.”

You moved closer. “Levi, I will love you no matter what. I am sure you look incredible. So, show me your new hair!”

He whined a bit. “Okay.” He slowly dragged his beanie off to reveal his new haircut. He ruffled his hair and sighed. “Here is the undercut.”

You gazed at Levi with a sparkle in your eyes. “Levi…”

“You hate it, don’t you? I shouldn’t have gotten it done. I know I mentioned it before, but I made a mistake. I’m sorry. I just wanted to look handsome for you and more grown up.”

You launched at Levi and grabbed the beanie from him. “Don’t put that back on!”

He blushed at your tone. “Wh-why not?”

You purred at him. “Because you look so good!”

His eyes widened. “Really? I do?”

You walked over to Levi and straddled him on his chair. “So good.”

He smiled a little as he touched his hair. “I’m glad you like it.”

You reached closer and whined. “I want to run my fingers through your hair!”

“G-Go head.”

You shoved your fingers through Levi’s hair and shivered as you felt the shaven part. You scratched the shaven part and moaned in delight at how it felt under your fingers. “So good…”

Levi shivered in delight. “Mm…” He closed his eyes as he relaxed. “Nice.”

You leaned closer and kissed up his cheek to his ear. “You’re so soft. I love this look on you!” You pushed his hair back from his face and blushed hard. “You’re so cute and handsome!”

Levi chuckled. “So, the new haircut was a good thing?”

“Very!”

“I’m glad.” You sighed in delight. “Can I keep doing this all day?”

He laughed a little. “You’re like a cat wanting to knead.”

You blushed a bit. “I’m not.”

He cupped your face. “Maybe I should start calling you kitten instead of bunny?”

You wrapped your arms around him and hid your face. “Mm.”

He rubbed your back as he laughed. “Did I fluster you?”

You squeezed him. “N-No.”

He ran his hands down your body. “Don’t worry, my love” he gripped your ass and yanked you close to him causing you to gasp. He looked up at you and smiled. “I’ll call you anything you want me to as long as you scream my name all night long.”

You covered your face with your hands. “Le-Levi!”

He tilted his head and licked your neck. “Or do you prefer good girl?”

You pulled your shirt up and hid your face. “N-No fair. My heart can’t handle this!”

He bounced you on his lap a little and purred at you. “Such a cute thing.” He smirked as you climbed off his lap and got under the covers. “You hiding?”

“Yes!”

He growled at you and stalked closer. “I like it when we play this game.”

You squeaked and shuffled under the cover. “Evil kinky man.”

He dove under the covers. “Come here little bunny.”

“No one is home!”

He chuckled and grabbed your ankle and yanked you down the bed until you were under him. “Hi.”

You whimpered. “B-Bear.”

He growled at you. “I’m a hungry bear.”

You giggled nervously. “How hungry?”

“Starved.”

You squealed as he tickled you and nibbled your neck. “Mercy, please!”

He hummed a laugh and looked down at you with the soft winter sun lighting him up a little. “You are so adorable.”

You smiled and cupped Levi’s face. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He closed his eyes and hummed. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“And you to me.”

He lay on his side and wrapped you up in his arms and hummed in happiness. “Can we just spoon here all day?”

You closed your eyes. “Yes.”

Levi petted your head and hummed. “Your game is paused.”

You sat up quickly. “I have to save!”

Levi watched you leap out of bed and return to your game. “Bunny?”

You played a bit of your game. “Give me a moment.”

He pouted as he watched you. “Bunnyyyyy.”

You glanced over at Levi. “I’m just gonna play it to the next checkpoint!”

He got out of bed and walked over to you. He leaned over the back of the chair and grabbed your controller. “Bunny.”

You gasped and reached for the controller. “Just one more minute.”

He saved the game for you before turning on a show you both liked. “Come to bed.”

Your cheeks burned at his words. “Y-Yes.”

He lifted you out of your seat and carried you to bed. He wrapped you up in his arms and the blanket. He nuzzled the back of your neck as you both watched your shows. “Good girl.”

“What do you want to do for your birthday?”

He hummed in thought as he lightly traced the underside of your breasts. “I just want to do this.”

You frowned and rolled onto your back so you could look up at Levi. “You want to just lie in bed all day?”

“Yes.”

You lightly scratched his undercut. “You sure you don’t want anything else or something special?”

He smiled at you. “I just want a lazy day with you, that’s all.”

“Are you sure?”

He smiled at you. “Very.” He leaned down and kissed you. “I love you and I just want you.”

You pouted a little. “You are too cute for your own good.”

“That’s my line.”

You giggled as he tickled you. “I adore you.”

He wrapped you up in his arms and hummed. “Mine.”

You squeaked as he bit you. “You’re like a cat.”

“That good?”

You nodded and played with his hair. “Yes. You’re perfect, Levi. I love you for everything you are and more.”

He smiled softly. “Good. I always thought I was like a dog because I follow you around and get sad when you go, as well as get excited when you return.”

You kissed him and sighed. “You’re right, you’re a dog too. You’re just wonderful.”

“You too, my darling love.”

[chidoroki]

182 Days of TPN - Day 119

Chapter 119: “Encounter”

Ever since the escape, the WM pen gave Emma hope, insight and a sense of direction, so seeing her drop something she held onto so tightly now that Norman is back is kinda satisfying I guess? He checks off all those boxes for her sorta. She doesn’t ditch it completely though as we see it used later on before the GF raid.

Goes without saying but the reunion was done so much better in manga. All the emotion from Emma reflecting on their time apart hits so hard and of course seeing all the tears they’re shedding contributes to all that too. Also love how they decided to give this moment a double spread as it helps convey that there’s no longer any space between them. The only thing that would’ve made this scene better (for me) is if Emma had knocked ‘em both down to the floor. I know Norman became taller and probably a bit stronger physically since Lambda, but with the amount of speed and force Emma is putting into that hug I’m surprised he’s still standing.

At least the anime remembered his squishy cheeks.

I know this is a very touching moment but honey, why do you gotta say this so causally?? You’re sure as hell ain’t gonna get it back either!

I guess another reason why the manga handles this whole reunion better is that it includes everyone, not just Emma & Ray. Yeah the anime had the escapees see Norman later at that temple they were hiding at, but it didn’t feel the same. As much as I can appreciate the fullscore trio having their own little moment for themselves, I like seeing everyone’s reactions all at once since there’s a wide range of emotions on display here. Emma also looks so pleased with herself with how large their family has become.

I wish there were more chapters focusing on Norman’s time at Lambda. With how closely he was being watched, I can’t help but wonder how he managed to efficiently communicate with Vincent and Smee and how he orchestrated the whole escape without raising suspicions from the demons and Ratri clan working there. (remember when i said no human (on our side) has killed another? well, i forgot about this whole scheme.. so it seems norman has quite the kill count, even if those were done indirectly by an explosion.)

Few chapters ago I wondered if Hayato & Jin knew to look for the escapees based on seeing Norman’s ID or if he told them both what to look for, and though I believed the latter was the valid reason, I can’t doubt the first option now either since his number is in plain sight. I know he typically hides it when outside paradise when attacking farms and making deals with demons so perhaps that’s why I even questioned it in the first place.

Big history lesson incoming.

Favorite panel/moment:

And to absolutely no one’s surprise, of course Ray slapping the hell outta Norman is my favorite. The anime pales in comparison to the sheer amount of power and lowkey rage behind manga!Ray knocking this boy on his ass. The shock on everyone’s face is hilarious as well. At least Norman is a good sport about it.

The rest of this moment is still sweet though, like Norman quoting the letter he left Emma and seeing my boy finally break and have some tears flowing makes me wanna hug him.

To hear the boy who cursed his life and had plans to end it all come around and say he’s happy to be alive is just.. aaahh so so very important!!!!

I do like how the anime gave us a better look at his face with this line though.

And I got nothing against the panel of Emma down below (because it is adorable how she questions her sudden inclusion in the hug), but I love how relieved she is upon hearing such words from Ray.

Stupid is a term of endearment. And I wish I could say we can never let this trio be separated ever again but.. you know. Stuff happens.

[carrion-carry-on]

Whumptober No. 26

No one left behind - Separated & “Why did you save me?”

I decided to try combining the prompts for this one, mainly because it fit very well with the story I wanted to tell. This takes place after my short consecutive story following The Bad Batch after Tech nearly got whacked. The squad is trying to repay Rexyl, and they have a bit of help in the form of a banged up clone deserter named Shift and a reformatted R2 unit R2-CZ (or Zee/Zeta). This first part is mainly told from Shift’s perspective.

To get the gist, Shift lost his squad and was rescued/repaired by Rexyl a while ago. His injuries required poking around in his head, during which point Rexyl identified a foreign object (the chip) and removed it without thinking too hard about it. Zee is Shift’s friend - he bought and repaired her himself, adding to the number of upgrades over time. She has a vocalizer and speaks using something similar to TTS (think Soundwave from original G1 Transformers cartoon).

Sorry for the info dump lol. Here’s the fic/

AO3 Link

In the time that Shift has spent in the underworld, he’s had to learn a few things. Some of them through unpleasant lessons. One thing he’d been taught early on was that no one cared about you. No one could afford to. You’re on your own. And the people you trust can and might make you wish you didn’t.

It’s nothing like his old life. Back when he’d had his brothers to count on. When he’d had a family to feel at peace with. When he’d had friends to talk to. He doesn’t have that, and he thought he’d never again feel the same.

In recent times, he’s come to rely on and trust Zee more than anyone else. She’s a droid, yes, but at least he knows where her motives lie. Most of the time anyway. She has her moments when he thinks she may be hiding something. But he hides things from her, too. Just like any other person.

This is different. Shift is working with a squad again. A strange squad - one that didn’t fit regulation, and all of them deserters like himself (though theirs is more recent). They are working together, because they apparently owe Rexyl, just like he does.

They’d come to this planet - Shift had not bothered to remember its name - to fetch something for their mutual creditor. This situation was about par for the course when working on one of Rexyl’s hunts. It didn’t matter how much info had been provided. Something would go wrong, usually the result of the crazy Feeorin forgetting to mention vital information (venom, traveled in packs, etc.). Then Shift would be stuck running for his life. He’d tried to say as much to this squad. They were still underprepared when it happened.

The engineer - Tech his brothers called him - had pulled up all available information on the creature they’d been sent for. Located on a backwater planet’s moon in the Outer Rim making a home out of swamp and marshland; the bolwog. They were big reptomammals, with tough scaled hides and a sprout of fur along their backs and tail. Their diet consisted of native flora, particularly underwater tube-roots. Each of their four limbs ended in heavy-set four-fingered paws, one swipe held enough power to separate head from body. And their horns, dual set and blunted, were known to impale predators and rivals alike. Equally renowned was a wounded bolwog’s fight for vengeance. And a slight against these animals turned into a one against the herd.

Knowing all of this Hunter, their sergeant (thereby Shift’s de facto leader as well as the squad’s), set about a plan to separate one from the herd. They had spent the previous day mapping out the land and gaining local insight to herd patterns. The best time for them to hunt was at night when the animals were slowest and could not see as well. They’d have to stalk the herd, and, when in position, spook them enough to send them running. Once they had an individual picked out and separate, they could use headlamps to flash-blind it and take it down.

Tech was in charge of scaring the herd. Using recordings of local speak, then a predator’s hounding call, the bolwogs were stirred up enough to start running. Shift had been put alongside Hunter and Echo (a “regular” clone fitted with a large number of cybernetics) chasing their quarry, eventually succeeding in separating it from the rest. Zee flashed the lights. Wrecker, burly beast that he was, waited to finish the job. That was the plan at least.

Their ad’ika, or the one whom they treated as such, Omega, was eager to help. She was a bright-eyed, hardy young girl who voiced her many, many questions without hesitancy. Shift hadn’t been sure what to make of her. Knowing how dangerous this job was to be, he didn’t think taking her along was what classified as a “good idea.” But the others seemed confident in her, and a bit protective.

Omega had been placed with Wrecker and Zee. They all agreed it was one of the safer places. They hadn’t been wrong. Nothing had bothered the three of them when it came down to the wire. Their bolwog went down. And then they had the herd to deal with.

Tech and Echo were nearest each other the last Shift had seen. And he was with Hunter. Omega had shouted - and that was nearly all the warning they received. Then Hunter was moving, dragging Shift along and nearly out of the way of the swinging horn. It would have easily gored him through his cuirass if not for the save. That didn’t spare the fact Shift didn’t quite make it away.

The pain is intense. It’s bleeding all through his side, tearing up one arm. The wound is hot and it feels like there’s a weight on him suddenly. He struggles to move. He is no stranger to pain. But that was always blaster fire, electric volts, or flames, not blunt piercing trauma.

Hunter still has his hands on Shift’s armor. He struggles to move, to help Hunter move him. They’re scrambling to one of the few trees that manage to grow from the choking water and weeds. Every footstep arcs more electric, hot pain up Shift’s spine. Every pulse from his rapidly beating heart forces new blood out from the wounds and into the world. Hunter half-shoves, half-drags Shift up the tree.

They’re alone for now. Alone, but not really alone. The bolwogs that followed them are milling around at the base of their tree. Shift might chuckle if he had the energy. All that stands between them and annihilation, their final bastion - a rickety tree. He can’t see where the rest of Hunter’s squad is. Hopefully they found cover.

“You saved me,” Shift says, trying to keep his voice even despite the pain. It’s not a question.

Hunter grunts in reply. Shift can tell something’s bothering him.

“What is it?”

“Should’ve heard it coming,” the sergeant whispers.

Shift vaguely remembers Omega explaining it to him. Hunter has superior senses, it’s part of his enhancements. She was so proud as she spoke, puffing her chest slightly - her brothers are the most amazing, most brilliant. He could reason that, with so many lifeforms around, and so much going on, even the best of senses could be confused.

He waves a hand, dismissive, and says, “You still got me out... Thank you for that.”

Hunter is huffing again, then stops and says, “You’re welcome. Now, let’s see what we can do ‘bout that scrape.”

[punkscowardschampions]

Jali pt.1

Ali: Are you awake?

Ali: You looked like you were going to fall back asleep when I left

Johnny: No

Ali: No you’re not awake or

Ali: You should go back to bed then, this isn’t going to make you feel any better

Johnny: What isn’t?

Ali: It’s such bullshit, I debated if it was even worth telling you, or if they’d have lost their resolve by tomorrow

Ali: my parents are deciding to parent, suddenly

Johnny: Your eye decided for ‘em

Ali: I told them it was an accident, ‘cos it was 

Ali: but apparently everyone here has been saying how concerned they are behind my back so they’d not listen to a word I had to say in my own defence

Johnny: But you’re not under their lock and key you’re under mine

Ali: I should have stayed with you

Johnny: Be none left of your dress if you’d stayed, you needed some to keep hold of away from me

Ali: I’ll need it to turn into a rope to climb out of this tower I’m locked in

Ali: They’re never serious, not like this, ma especially has lost the plot

Johnny: I’ll see to freeing you

Johnny: What match’s she to how serious I am

Ali: You can’t come on your bike

Johnny: Plenty else here to drive

Ali: She’s all but had your name given to her, I’d kill Joe, if he wasn’t locked up himself

Johnny: Has she sense to not go about speaking it?

Ali: Only if I do as I’m told

Ali: or appear to be, anyway

Johnny: You’ll do as you’ve been told by me, smart girl

Johnny: bring no trouble

Ali: I’m not

Ali: she doesn’t know who you are

Johnny: You’ll not, you’ve all the knowing, who I am and how you’re to act, I’ve trust in you

Ali: But I hate being away from you

Johnny: You’re never to be sent away the now, you’re mine

Johnny: and I’m to keep you, we’ve to be more careful

Ali: Tell me how

Johnny: Busy yourself with what she wants, it’ll not last

Ali: You want the list?

Ali: I had to repeat it back like we’re in the army now

Johnny: Gorjas don’t mean what they say, she’s all only talk

Ali: I’ll see if she actually bothers taking me through the school gates tomorrow, I guess

Johnny: I’ll have my eye out

Ali: 😍

Ali: Promise?

Johnny: Every day ‘til your last through ‘em

Ali: Just makes me want to get out of here even faster

Ali: and I already think about that all the time

Johnny: There’s a job I can take

Johnny: thought a risk before but I’d call what they’re asking a worthy one enough to speed our plans up

Ali: What sort of risk?

Johnny: Sort where it’s best you don’t get told

Ali: I trust you, you don’t make rash decisions, you’re careful

Johnny: If it goes wrong your parents finally bothering themselves to look after you, I’ll worry less

Ali: That’s not an option, only you

Johnny: Be waiting for us and I’ll come home

Ali: Where do you go to church?

Johnny: [tell her]

Ali: With all your lessons, I’m sure I’ll be able to convince them I’m going to Bible study, be free in no time

Ali: I only have to seem like anyone’s word but yours matters to me 

Johnny: Divine guidance was important to you yesterday, had my man Jesus and your man both fooled, is it?

Ali: There’s no secrets between us

Ali: Unless your secret is you’re all-seeing as your man Jesus

Johnny: Maybe

Ali: I’ve felt it, I just don’t know how else you manage it but divine powers

Ali: which we’re gonna need

Johnny: My word’s final as his and I’ve said I’ve need of you

Ali: I wish I could just tell them the truth

Ali: they don’t understand me, what I want

Johnny: We’d that in common from the off

Johnny: the truth and understanding’s only ours, between us

Ali: We recognised it in each other without need of speaking 

Ali: it’s ours to live, I can’t live this bullshit she wants for me like it’s real

Ali: School and homework and pills and no you 

Johnny: Pills? That’s a disgrace

Ali: Well, THE pill

Ali: no mention of the mental kind yet but I wouldn’t be surprised 

Johnny: I know where [the psych ward Joe is at] is, they drop you off I’ll pick you up

Ali: They aren’t going to make it that easy for you

Johnny: No matter how hard it’s made

Ali: I don’t need to ask if that’s a promise

Johnny: I’ve sworn others enough

Ali: Luckily, I do know you

Ali: way she’s carrying on about how I’m being used is enough to give a weaker girl a complex

Johnny: Being held up against the example of Moses and lads like him, who she’s got her knowing of and from, would give a weaker lad one

Johnny: but it’s nothing I’ve not heard everywhere I’ve been

Ali: It’s my da I feel sorry for

Ali: if he’s not convinced you that not every man is your father or your firstborn’s father, what are you still doing together, how is that fair

Johnny: His work’s never to be done by the sounds of

Ali: Hers here is half-hearted when your name has been on me for… how much longer than this bruise

Ali: It’s too late, I’m yours

Johnny: Your daddy’s just a man on his own, singular, and she’s a mammy eager her baby don’t repeat her mistakes, faulting them too hard’d not be fair of you

Ali: You’re fair to a fault

Ali: another thing she doesn’t know about you 

Ali: I know it but she’s just pissing me off, acting like she doesn’t have 4 sons of her own who couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried

Johnny: Respect’s due for what they’ve given you, and me, that don’t mean we let the rest be taken off us on their say

Ali: It should be mutual

Ali: it will be or I’m not talking until it is

Johnny: They’re in the wrong but we can’t make it right

Ali: Not right now

Johnny: Keeping ourselves on the path is what we can & will do

Ali: I suppose I’ll have to go to school then 😒😣

Ali: do what she wants so hopefully she lets me out and I can see you after work

Johnny: And keep on with your paper job

Ali: You’ve changed your mind

Johnny: No

Johnny: circumstances have

Ali: You did say you’d do it with me 

Johnny: So if they’ll not following you along to every door, sure

Ali: Might be 2 down but there’s still 6 of us kids and 1 still a proper baby

Ali: they can’t be that committed to just me, not at [the ridiculous AM a paper round usually is]

Johnny: A proper eye on the girls cuts the numbers down, but it’d do us no favours me telling your parents how to

Ali: Mm, think on

Ali: Bea’s perfect and Ro is never out of their sight so 

Johnny: You’re perfect, they don’t know how to handle you’s what it is

Ali: I’m what

Johnny: You’ve had more schooling than us, read it

Ali: I don’t know if you’ve ever called me that before

Ali: maybe when I’m giving you loads of reason to

Johnny: This here’s a reason, don’t forget who you’re behaving for when your parents reckon it’s them

Ali: I could never forget

Johnny: What’s to happen’s the same

Johnny: we’ll go as we’ve said

Ali: Nothing could change my mind

Ali: that was never in question

Johnny: We can’t force your family into the right no more than mine but we’re doing what’s right for ourselves

Ali: But don’t you find it infuriating like me?

Ali: I want all the things your family value

Ali: and I’d be safer and happier than mine can even imagine with you

Johnny: You know how I find it

Ali: Neither of us gets a chance to prove ourselves

Johnny: I’ll prove myself to you, that’s all what matters

Ali: You’ll keep proving yourself, you already have

Johnny: We’ll a family of our own, as we want it

Ali: 13

Johnny: From as soon as you are

Ali: By your birthday

Johnny: Timing’s set by him to be as perfect as you

Ali: As long as we can dance together then, I don’t need anything else

Johnny: We can dance together whenever

Ali: You remember last night, right?

Johnny: I remember that

Ali: You’re an adorable drunk

Johnny: Ah, give over

Johnny: I weren’t neither of them things

Ali: but you’re ALWAYS adorable

Johnny: You’re never serious, girl

Ali: I’m always serious about you, boy

Ali: my room doesn’t feel like mine now, like it does but mine from the past

Johnny: You’re not their little girl, you’re mine

Ali: You’re home now, wherever you are

Johnny: I’ve been in that room where you are

Ali: Oh, I remember

Johnny: You remember all I said?

Ali: I like reminders

Johnny: Your reminder you’re not to swallow that pill every day

Ali: I’d never hurt our babies, not for anyone

Johnny: [tell her she’ll be a good mother in your gypsy lingo because you basically said it in her room on that day but not as directly as you are now and she knows the word for mother already so she’ll be able to work it out]

Ali: You’re already an incredible father 

Johnny: I’m what?

Ali: [be nice/evil depending how you look at it and say it again as a voice note]

Johnny: You know

Johnny: how important you are to me & that what’s to be handled, I’ll handle to see you taken care of

Ali: I’m thinking he knew the need I had of you, it’s the only explanation that makes sense

Ali: I don’t deserve you but I’ll work to make it so I do

Johnny: You’ve already done what’s needed to deserve me

Ali: We’ll look after each other, it’ll make us the best parents we can be

Johnny: We’re made for it and each other, we can’t do wrong

Ali: I only want it with you, you’re not allowed to do it with someone else

Johnny: I’d be going against God and what he wants for us

Ali: And what we want

Johnny: Right, this is what I have to do

Ali: But say it

Johnny: [send her a voice note back obvs]

Ali: Jesus

Ali: your voice is now the one in my head but when it’s really from you it’s even better

Johnny: Your name on me’s why I can cope with you away but I’m still troubled by missing you harder than I can stand

Ali: It’s like you’ve taken parts of me, you have, I don’t feel whole away from you

Johnny: Maybe you’d feel whole with a baby in you but there’s no testing it, you’ll not be out my sight then

Ali: That you’d trust me, with that much of you

Johnny: You’ve proved yourself to be trusted, a good girl you are

Ali: You deserve the best

Johnny: A son 1st, even if the other 12 are girls

Ali: You can have 7 to 6

Ali: It doesn’t matter to me, as long as they’re like you

Johnny: 13 of each we’ve said

Ali: See, so fair

Ali: What’s the biggest family you’ve ever known, for real?

Johnny: [give her the tea of different families you’ve known cos idk but I bet some peeps are still wilding even if it’s not like way back in the day hence not as cray as y’all are saying you’ll be]

Johnny: ours’ll be the biggest

Ali: Twins run in mine

Ali: My da is 1 of 10 too

Johnny: Goes to prove again you were made for me, exact as I want

Ali: I felt that the minute I laid eyes on you, that connection, no way to put words to it yet

Johnny: Be why you kept putting yourself under my eyes

Ali: I’m not gonna be sorry about that

Johnny: You can’t

Ali: It’s you, it always has been

Johnny: It has to be

Ali: I’m so in love with you

Johnny: When can I come for you?

Ali: I don’t know

Ali: how long do you think I need to give dutiful daughter? 

Ali: things are still pretty tense here

Johnny: Dutiful to them’s a while yet

Ali: But we’ve only been apart [however many hours it’d be] since we got back together

Johnny: I could watch you in their house for [the same number of hours]

Ali: 😳 I can see the benefit for me but won’t you be bored?

Johnny: You’d not let me

Ali: That wouldn’t be nice of me, no

Ali: and you know what window is mine, once they’re sleeping

Johnny: I’ll be there in [however long it takes him], you know

Ali: Enough time to get pretty

Johnny: Time enough to send another message with how you’re dressed

Ali: I won’t pick one of the two dresses I already know you like, be cheating

Johnny: Play fair even though your parents don’t, we’re better

Ali: They don’t know how many reminders of you there are in this place, how unfair that is

Johnny: How long’d you sit on the stairs?

Ali: Whole time she was going on, it was the only way to stop myself telling the truth of it all

Johnny: Be none left to the inside of your mouth

Ali: You’ll have to feel the bite marks, and take my word that I was even wetter than I am now

Johnny: Only fair adding my own, that’s how we’re playing

Ali: I still need the marks everywhere only your eyes see

Johnny: You need proper clothes to cover you everywhere

Ali: Only my eyes showing, yeah

Ali: different conversion

Johnny: More or less

Johnny: they’ll like you dressing for winter, I’ve been telling you ages now

Ali: It’s the only thing that could be public and now I can’t even have that

Johnny: Nobody has need of looking at you but me

Ali: They look at me and know my body's not my own, definitely can’t be theirs

Johnny: Whoever don’t know it I’ll teach the way of things fast enough

Ali: Everyone else may as well be invisible

Ali: no one registers

Johnny: I’ll key my name into you 11 more times before we go from here

Ali: Please

Johnny: You’re losing nothing never, long as I’ve say in it

Ali: Your word is law to me, you know that

Ali: like your name is holy

Johnny: How are we to think of 26 names?

Ali: They’ll come to us too

Ali: if not when we’re making them, when they’re growing 

Johnny: Inside you

Ali: Inside me, from you, growing between us

Johnny: Maybe that’s already happening

Ali: Maybe

Ali: I won’t check

Johnny: I’ll let you, if you’ve a want to

Ali: It’s fate, whenever it happens, I figure

Ali: you only check if you need to do something about it

Johnny: I’ll check looking at you the start of each day whilst you’re throwing papers at other gorjas

Ali: 😍 I’ll try not to get fat, make it awkward for us all

Johnny: You’ve need of fitting in your dress

Ali: Can only look the other way if you’re not looking a total show, ‘course

Johnny: Holy show, for a reason

Ali: Will you see if you can feel it, when you’re here

Ali: I think I’m just driving myself mad here

Johnny: What’ve you felt?

Ali: Not kicks, nothing that big

Ali: but it’s like… fluttering, maybe you’d hear something too if you laid there, that I can’t

Johnny: I’m after hearing that

Ali: I don’t promise, ‘cos I know how bad I want it that it might not be so yet

Johnny: I know it about you, what your word means

Ali: and I know you’ll be able to tell me the truth

Johnny: We’re able to keep on with trying, if there’s no baby now

Ali: We’re not stopping even if there is

Ali: if I’ve any say in the matter

Johnny: Gently maybe, I can’t risk the hurt of either of yous

Ali: The baby, maybe

Johnny: You’re my [the secret lingo word for baby] too

Ali: But you know that I like it, whatever everyone else thinks

Johnny: Your body’ll be getting ready for them, I need to be careful with it

Ali: Hmm

Johnny: You don’t with mine

Ali: That’s not playing fair 

Johnny: S’not a game, what you’re doing for me

Ali: You’re doing it for me too, it’s all real, what we want

Johnny: I’m praying the baby’s real

Ali: I have

Ali: but maybe not properly, you’ll have to tell me how you do it

Johnny: I’ll show you, we can go to [the name of his church] together

Ali: Yeah?

Johnny: You should have knowing of your bible for more than a cover story, you’re to raise my babies

Ali: I don’t know nothing, like

Ali: I just have had it taught to me in different ways than you

Johnny: Go on, tell it to me

Ali: All 783,137 words?

Johnny: I don’t know about you having all those words at hand or in your heart

Johnny: what you do, like

Ali: You got me, I’m not quite that good

Johnny: Close enough for me

Ali: I remember what you called me

Johnny: I stand by it

Ali: All of it?

Johnny: Yeah

Ali: Me too

Johnny: I remember all of last night

Johnny: stand by what I said then too

Ali: You knew I didn’t want to ask

Johnny: I’d say it again for your asking

Ali: Will you say it again, please

Johnny: [voice note her what is only your 2nd ILY ever]

Ali: Johnny

Johnny: I love you, I can’t not

Ali: You tried

Johnny: I’m more after trying to do right by you, love you in the ways that are proper

Ali: We’ve got our whole lives to get it right

Johnny: How long’ve we got ‘til your birthday?

Ali: [do it in days]

Ali: That sounds like forever

Johnny: Feels like

Ali: I’m sorry

Johnny: Can’t be helped, by you least of

Ali: I could be older

Johnny: You remember what I said you are, say it back

Ali: Can’t I talk about you instead?

Johnny: No

Ali: 🥺 but, you’re the best boyfriend I’ve ever had

Johnny: You’ve had no others

Ali: Still true

Johnny: So’s what I called you, say it, Ali

Ali: [say it, can hear the 😳 in your voice]

Johnny: That’s my girl

Ali: I’m going to think of all the things I can do here, for the caravan, give me things to do and ways to try not to spend all my time just missing you

Johnny: Whenever I’m not busying myself working I’ll put some in there

Johnny: Oh and I near forgot [sending her a pic of his work in progress DIY project, which we’ve said since is the crib, that he’s done some more of]

Ali: [the secret lingo word for daddy specifically]

Ali: It’s really beautiful

Johnny: Have to make another if the babies are twins 1st but I’d let you help with that 1

Ali: You’ll need all my help, there’s so much to be done for us to be ready

Johnny: Think of them all and make them known to me

Ali: I can already picture your serious face

Ali: We will be ready, no one wants this more than us

Johnny: We’re ready in loads of the ways

Ali: You’re good with kids, I’ve seen you about with your family

Johnny: It’s not what boys are meant to do with themselves but I like it

Johnny: my mammy’s always let me

Ali: You’ll be a better father for it, that’s important

Ali: I think it’s lovely, you are

Johnny: From the start she’s told us the same

Ali: She sounds smart

Johnny: Like you, there’s reminders for me of her in you

Johnny: I’d have her know you, if I could

Ali: I’d love to get to know her, if we could, all your family

Ali: I feel bad, that I can’t give you that

Johnny: You’re giving all you can

Johnny: a family that’s our own

Ali: All I want’s you to be the happiest

Johnny: I am with you

Ali: Good

Ali: you won’t leave me then

Johnny: I’d need to be in my grave to

Ali: No graves, only weddings and christenings and all the other mad Catholic ones you do

Ali: I can’t lose you ever

Johnny: [talk about how you’re gonna have this girl baptised or whatever it is called before you get married, I cannot because I don’t know enough about it but just know he’s been thinking about it and he has it planned quite a lot in his head]

Ali: Do I get to have the dress?

Ali: We can go shopping

Johnny: You can have whatever you ask for, s’your special day

Ali: I liked having you dress me

Johnny: Your turn this time, you’re to pick out my church clothes so’s I look nice for you

Ali: You’re so good-looking

Ali: who else can say they’re covert back into Catholicism handsome

Johnny: I’d cut my hair on your say, only yours

Ali: I would NEVER say that

Ali: your hair is so high up my list of favourite things

Johnny: I’ll grow it on your say then, like our man Jesus

Ali: Jesus is hot, are we allowed to think that?

Ali: I assume it’s on purpose, like

Johnny: Don’t go thinking it in front of me

Johnny: I’d commit the sin of pulling him down from his cross off the wall there, be damning us in his house so you would

Ali: Why is that the hottest thing you’ve ever said?

Ali: Sorry to that man and his daddy but

Johnny: No sorry, you’re mine before you’re his or his daddy’s

Ali: You own more than my soul

Johnny: I’ve given you more than he’s done, he’s only guided my hand some since I told him of you

Ali: You’ve given me everything, all your two hands can provide

Johnny: It’s my duty to

Ali: No one else keeps their little girl as well as you do

Ali: I’m so thankful

Johnny: I’d have you kept as a princess is

Ali: Your locking in feels good

Ali: I love waiting for you like that

Johnny: The key’s to be swallowed before getting handed over to anybody else

Ali: There’ll never be anyone else, not like you

Johnny: The key to our place too, we can’t give it over

Ali: It’s been christened ours a thousand times over, we can’t lose that

Johnny: They’re coming into my head, our memories one after the other

Ali: I want to live in it, until there are too many babies

Ali: then we’ll come back when we’re old and just us two again

Johnny: We have to

Ali: You said you’re happy there, like nowhere else, me too

Ali: you’re my person, that’s our place

Johnny: [talk about how many babies you think you could fit in there which is not a realistic amount because gypsies do be living like that especially traditionally when they had the tiny old school caravans, and we know that old school is his vibe, just basically telling her they never have to move]

Ali: Can we only do it in the day?

Ali: That’s my main concern here

Johnny: You’ll keep on doing what you’re told, you’ve no concerns to trouble yourself with

Ali: You know how loud you make me

Johnny: I can quiet you

Ali: So you promise you’ll still look after me, however crowded the room?

Johnny: [drop a bible quote that means yes, as if you’re starting her lessons rn, I’m not gonna go find one but we know the vibes]

Ali: I’d have you teach me every word yourself, fuck

Johnny: Maybe I will

Ali: Please, please, please

Johnny: I’d have you more than 783,137 times, there’s no enough

Ali: Your name on me that much there’d be nothing left but that still feels right

Johnny: I’d give you my name that much, marry you ‘til we’ve no churches left we’ve not spoke vows in

Ali: I do, I always will, yours ‘til forever is over

Johnny: It’ll never be, there’ll be generations of us

Johnny: they’ll all talk of the love they was born out of

Ali: You’ll see it, in the way they hold themselves, the confidence and the knowing who they are, who we were

Johnny: Nothing could feel righter than that

Ali: This is all meant for us, everything we give and get from each other

Johnny: You’re a convert true enough

Ali: You didn’t need to get me on my knees but I’ll greet you down there every day if that’s what you need

Johnny: I need it 

Ali: My poor mother going on like you hadn’t pinned my head to the front door was a welcomed reminder of how little she knows about who I am and what I need

Johnny: When am I to be of what my lot don’t?

Ali: When you rescue me and take me home

Ali: Your name has never been moaned louder, despite both our attempts

Johnny: I’m here outside your old home, your enemy neighbour’s grass is putting us up

Ali: [rushing to your window to see him, waving so !! it’s almost comical but you’re too in it to even laugh, deadly serious with our extraness right now]

Ali: You can piss on it, they let their dog shit all over the street

Johnny: [do another circle across this grass in whatever vehicle you have brought (definitely one that needs fixing and is therefore leaking oil and the like as well) because the vibe is that you’ve been driving over and over it to fuck it up as much as possible because you know she hates this gal, waving back as he does, obvs then parking up and getting out to piss when he reads that while grinning up at her window]

Ali: [jumping up on your window sill to watch him even closer, lowkey Mae Mobley in this window like how close can I get, hoping your heart eyes read from all the way down there, pressing your palms and your forehead to the glass for a moment like a kiss]

Ali: You’re dreamy, you ever heard that?

Johnny: [blow her a kiss which you have never done in your life before even in a pisstakey manner to anyone so that’s another first happening and we love to see it, mouthing ILY even though she probably can’t decode it from there]

Johnny: I dreamt about you last night

Ali: [when you can see her GASP it’s truly that dramatic because of course she did and of course, we’re not used to it or over it ever, mouthing it back with the biggest heart eyes smile]

Ali: What did you dream about me?

Johnny: [putting a hand to his chest, touching where they both know her name is despite whatever clothes he’s wearing]

Johnny: We was on the bike riding away same as before but you had a baby on you, against your chest to carry it, wrapped up tight how you’d on halloween

Ali: [lifting whatever top you have on up to expose your stomach and pressing it to the window like he has x-ray super-vision and can see if you’re pregnant from there too, touching his name on you right back]

Ali: That costume would make a really good sling, if you ignore it being covered in your fake blood, which I can’t 

Ali: can we go for a ride, anywhere, even if we can’t stay away like before, I miss the bike

Johnny: [the way he’s trying to look so seriously as if he can see, god bless you lads]

Johnny: [also planning some different bike routes they can go on without it being a full roadtrip moment again that would have mcvickers fuming]

Ali: I’ll make a friend that can cover

Ali: 📖📏🧮✏️ dates, how can they refuse?

Johnny: You’ve got that brother I’ve seen you go about with & his mate who’d cover, no? 

Johnny: or was he one who joined in the witch hunt?

Ali: Tommy, nah, not on purpose

Ali: He’d cover for me but he already has been, I don’t know if I should keep asking

Johnny: You’d know best if your parents have sense for the timing of your new friend

Ali: You know I have lots of friends, you hate it

Johnny: This your plan so’s I hate it less, is it?

Ali: I’ve told you I’d do anything to be with you, that’s the only plan

Johnny: An answer I don’t hate

Ali: [still sat in this window watching him so intently]

Ali: I hate that you aren’t in here with me

Ali: but it’s better being able to see you

Johnny: [catch this boy getting on and sitting comfy on this car’s roof so that they’re closer and can see each other better, very romcom of you sir]

Ali: Shame a boombox isn’t very inconspicuous 

Johnny: [nevertheless, turn some music on via your phone to play through this car, 10000% the song(s) they danced to when they were dancing at his brother’s bday, soz not soz to Leesha’s fam, I hope you’re out rn or her dad and/or brothers will be coming out to try and fight him]

Ali: [you know we’re OBSESSED with how bold a move this is for all these reasons]

Ali: it hurts, my feet are trying to run to you

Johnny: Trying to dance to me

Ali: I like dancing with you more than I like dancing alone

Ali: and I loved that before

Johnny: [throw out a mem of her doing exactly that long before y’all were ever a thing, just because we can and we know he noticed her ages before anything happened like she also did him, giving that you remember how much she loved it and what a slay it was with these details you recall]

Ali: I thought you only looked at me because you thought I was mental

Johnny: You are but no

Ali: You need my kind of mental

Johnny: Meet all my needs you do

Ali: I intend to, for the rest of our lives

Johnny: I’ve said you’ll be decent at it

Ali: That’s why this punishment is dumb, what you want is what they should want for me

Ali: would they rather I’m going ‘round with unserious boys like Caleb or Moses or what

Johnny: They’d rather you grow yourself up and only go to school

Ali: They need to be realistic 

Johnny: It’s the culture clash, gorjas feel shame in their daughters being married and having kids when they reckon they still are, some of our lot are the same way now living ‘round yous

Ali: Nah, it’s her own shame and mistakes being made mine to fix

Ali: I get it but I’m not going to, I can’t and I don’t want to, she needs to get that

Johnny: Least the shame’s hers, my daddy would have me take on and fix Moses’ as if it’s my own

Ali: He knows the likelihood of it happening with the boy himself, I guess

Ali: Reward you get for being so reliable, like

Johnny: Oldest boy of more than just [however many brothers and sisters he has]

Ali: You’re really good at it, I almost can’t blame them for leaning on you but

Ali: only means you need looking after just as much in return, by someone

Johnny: By you

Ali: Has to be

Johnny: You’ve your uses, even behind glass

Ali: Charming as always, babe

Ali: What can I do for you right now though, make this less boring 

Johnny: Do a spell, like

Ali: Aside from the love one you’re still under, you mean

Johnny: Am I?

Ali: [scowling dramatically out this window for comedic effect]

Ali: Aren’t you?

Johnny: I thought I had some of my own say in it

Ali: I’d never use magic for evil, well, not now I’m grown up

Ali: but you love to say it’s all your idea so I’ll take this finally admitting it’s 50/50

Johnny: 70/30 to me, maybe, I’ll admit to

Ali: 😏

Ali: you should be flattered that I made the first move

Johnny: Come on now, I made it

Ali: How do you reckon that, boy?

Johnny: How do you different?

Ali: Because I remember telling you that I wanted you, needed

Ali: and you were having none of it

Johnny: You remember having the knowing I wanted you before either of us said words, where’d you get it from if not me?

Ali: Would you have said it though

Johnny: Maybe

Ali: Would it have still happened, what did

Johnny: How am I to answer what ifs?

Ali: I just think about them, can’t help it

Johnny: So do I, but I don’t know for the thinking

Ali: It scares me, the alternative to what we have, what could be instead

Johnny: What we have’s safe, no alternative’s to happen

Ali: You’re my safety, I’m yours

Johnny: I’d catch you, if you’re after going out the window to me

Ali: I’ll find my wings

Ali: but also see what my parents are up to without alerting them

Johnny: More good answers

Ali: If I can’t get out, I can get you in, easy

Ali: their room and the kid’s are downstairs, no need to bother me if I’m busy doing my homework in mine

Johnny: I’ll move the car, point’s been made with the state of her grass

Ali: You remembered she’s my enemy

Johnny: ‘Course, she told you you was weird looking, I’ve not forgotten it

Ali: Fuck it, I’m finding a way out

Ali: I need to kiss you there

Johnny: I wrote your name when I pissed there

Ali: 🥺 is it still there?

Johnny: [send a picture like can you see it or no]

Johnny: when you’re down show us what car’s her daddy’s & we’ll key whatever you think they need telling into the side

Ali: I can sorta but I wanna watch you do it close up next time

Ali: you being mine is all that’s in my head but I’ll work on clearing it, being smart

Johnny: Bring a drink out, I can do it while you clear your head

Ali: How’s that gonna clear my head 😳

Johnny: It’ll be full of how I think you look, how in the wrong she is for what she said

Ali: You don’t care what I look like, you like me in ways no one else does

Johnny: No, I do, but I love what you look like

Ali: Yeah but I mean

Ali: not just in the way other boys do

Johnny: Body and soul, not just the 1st one

Ali: [come hopping over your fence having successfully got out of your room and out the back garden undetected, running over to him partly from necessity of being sneaky and not being seen loitering by your house but also from the necessity of running to him, of course]

Johnny: [pick her up mid run and carry her bridal style across Leesha’s lawn until they’re wherever he pissed on it which is giving right in the middle tbh, because he simply must, no notes]

Ali: [no one deserves this vandalism/blatant jealousy you would feel if you are seeing this scene unfurl more, not soz and not soz again because we are SO deep in our feelings here on this day because he came not knowing if you would be able to get out or not, kissing his whole face and anywhere else you can on his upper body like you have been locked in your room for hundreds of years, pressing your cheek against his and he can feel you smiling so big ‘I missed you, I missed you’]

Johnny: [kissing her back as if it’s been a million years because any time apart feels like that to y’all, not only pressing his opposite cheek against hers so they’ve both be done, one each, but pressing his forehead against hers so hard as he’s listening to her speak and taking it in that they fall onto this grass right into the mud he’s churned up with his tires, no fucks given it has gotta be done, putting all his weight on her how he likes to do once they are down there, I hope the grass and therefore mud isn’t really wet or she’ll be covered in it already, haha by which I mean I do sure hope it rained earlier when y’all were talking, defs say ILY in gypsy lingo, I’ll leave it up to my boo to decide if she wants Alison to have been taught that by Carly or not]

Ali: [making happy noises like he also needs to listen to this/you must at how he’s nuzzling you and you are him back, could not be being more soft, inappropriately so for being on the street but you do not care and never will, my boo says wouldn’t it be a shame if y’all got covered in mud tehe and she’s so right for that, at least the way he’s squashing you hides you from sight kinda lol, not that concern is being given, if your mother wants to drag you away she’ll have to at this point; Carly’s lessons were giving more saucy ‘cos that’s what the energy was assumed to be but you could have also heard other people on the site saying it so I’m on the fence, I think the energy would give a lot of context tbh so we’ll assume that’s what you said even if we’re not sure, LOOKING up at him with huge eyes and kissing the tip of his nose which imma say has mud on it so you then have to wipe it off your lips with your fingertips]

Johnny: [Imagine if Tess dragged her in, we obvs won’t do it but IMAGINE, I’m cackling, how heartbreakingly accurate that Carly wouldn’t know the word for love, I’m FINE, must distract myself by focusing on his adorable lil nod like yeah that’s what it means, exactly what you think, before saying it again slower, practically against the lips she’s just wiped clean, like he’s teaching her how to say it and fully expecting her to say it back to him because he is, which sends me because the PROGRESS of this, he’s essentially letting her be one of them]

Ali: [be here taking this lesson so seriously and loving every second of it, trying really hard to get it spot on and put the appropriate emotion and FEELING into this phrase, adding a husband type endearment that you’ve remembered from before too with a smile like aren’t you proud of me]

Johnny: [this boy is so heart eyes about this because it’s so serious to him and we love that she’s taking it as seriously, hence absolutely must LAUNCH himself at her to kiss her the likes of which he hasn’t done since the early days with the amount of !! in the movement but despite the fact he’s lowkey crushing her the actual kiss is so soft and romantic and he’s smiling SO so big into it as well as doing a happy sigh at her as he barely pulls back]

Ali: [when your hands are pushing down into this muddy ground to steady y’all and leaving dramatic handprints like you’ve not seen since the fake blood and body paint of Halloween so you’re pressing up into this kiss with some !! energy as you try to keep it soft and wholesome, again, like it’s appropriate when it never is, unthinkingly stroking his cheek with your muddy hand then having to brush it away with the top of your head like oh no, giggling a little] 

Johnny: [I love a dramatic handprint, impeccable vibes thank you boo, hence 0 hesitation in this boy putting his hands over hers to push them down into the mud even harder like when they’ve done a dramatic handhold before, tutting into her mouth which he literally hasn’t done since the first hookup convo but there’s such an affectionate oh you to it this time, shaking his own head and letting his hair which is loose today and unponytailed, because why not, tickle her face to make her giggle more]

Ali: [looking down at your joined hands in the mud, pushing harder like you’re making a cast here and it’s going to be memorialised right here on Leesha’s front lawn, your eyes darting back to find his like that’s why he was tutting at you, making a excuse me !! sort of noise and kissing him a little bit harder to make up for it, finding a lock of his hair and twisting it around your finger]

Johnny: [telling her about where they can get some concrete from exactly the same way that he told her where they could get a touring caravan from before because we love to live in a fantasy and why wouldn’t we pretend that we actually are gonna immortalise these handprints on her neighbour’s lawn forever, maintaining the eye contact she initiated the entire time he talks about this]

Ali: [pushing your forehead into his so your eyes are practically touching with this EYE CONTACT at this point ‘you would’ for all the reasons, you love me that much and you also would fuck up this girl’s garden and worse for us if we wanted you to because you love me that much, being obvious that y’all are laying here being a nuisance and he’s fucked the whole place up with his car already]

Johnny: [lowkey having a fight with their eyelashes which hilariously is something I said in their first hookup convo, I believe it was, how random that we’re back here lol ‘I’ll’ meaning make no mistake and no joke whatsoever, he will and in this moment fully intends to because no fucks given except giving her what she wants, always but in this moment especially, have treated that like a full sentence but adding ‘fetch it when you get yourself inside’ because y’all don’t wanna think about that time coming but if you inevitably must then we’re giving her something to look forward to with it] 

Ali: [full circle moment baby, you love to see it, we are making a grumpy noise about the prospect of having to go inside, like y’all can lay here on the cold hard ground forever, shaking your head/lowkey headbutting him with the closeness there like no, no, SQUEEZING his hand harder]

Johnny: [after pressing both her hands further into the mud with so much !! we’ll all as per amazed they don’t break each other’s fingers, he’s gotta, as if to say I didn’t mean go in right now this second, pull her even closer to him (somehow) with her top which lifts it a lil bit as it scrunches in his hand so that reminds him of the fact he immediately needs to lift it more so her stomach is exposed and LOOK at it so intensely as if he’ll be able to see if she’s preggo or not now that she isn’t at her window]

Ali: [doing a little whimper because he can pull you closer to him but you can’t pull him closer to you with your hands in the mud, making a more !! noise when he remembers and thus so do you, watching him and waiting for his reaction as if he has any real authority on this matter and can tell if you’re with child for real just by looking, now being the most silent in contrast to 5 seconds ago]

Johnny: [soz that y’all can’t actually tell one way or another by LOOKING alone but that won’t stop him doing so for what would feel like forever as he’s the most serious and intense he’s EVER been, nor will it stop him putting the side of his face in close proximity to her stomach, not touching but almost, to see if he can hear anything like she said, imagine how sinister it would be if he could rn, love that y’all are still on her neighbour’s lawn having this super feelsy moment btw]

Ali: [my boo says time and place? And truly, no thought in where you are and the fact you’re very much on borrowed time whether someone from this house comes out or someone from hers spots this gal being missing lmao, soz we’ve never been more serious, stopping our breathing and would stop our own heartbeat if that were possible for you to hear something because really do think we are and want to be, soz guys]

Johnny: [There’s never any thought to where they are or other people and I love that for them and the consistency from us, catch this boy saying something in gypsy lingo that’s giving the tone how you would talk to a kid if you wanted them to get a move on on the school run/get out of your way, like he’s annoyed at this fictional child not announcing their presence immediately lol, whatever he’s saying has come on energy to it but there’s also affection]

Ali: [you always been those girls, hence it’s amazing you’ve made it this far not being caught lmao, playing with fire and not even being conscious of it whilst you are because you only care about each other, love to see it as does this gal with this energy he’s bringing because even if you don’t get the words it’s unmistakably daddy energy in the truest sense, going to stroke his hair and realising how caked your fingers are by this point so resorting to nuzzling him with your head so dramatically]

Johnny: [I was trying to find where in the re-read there’s a moment that he leaves a handprint on her stomach (in blood I think?) so I could re-read it and do a parallel here with him putting her hand on her stomach rn to leave a muddy handprint but I can’t find it, I’m gonna keep looking a sec because I may have gone insane, anyway I’m sure it happened and a parallel is here and now, being the point *note to future Jemily that my boo found it and it’s after bonfire night]

Ali: [it definitely did somewhere and thus this is not lost on us even slightly, putting a hand over his so seriously, making eye contact as you apply just slightly more pressure pushing into your stomach but not like HARD ‘it’s all real, isn’t it?’ the whisper you’re only hearing with this proximity because the way we don’t want to put our voice to the notion it might not be]

Johnny: [SUCH a serious nod back because this is all real even if she isn’t pregnant rn which jemily knows she isn’t, everything else is and as far as he’s concerned she will be soon if she isn’t already, tis just a matter of time, oh lads if only you knew how hardcore this is gonna blow up and what the future looks like but obvs in this moment you have no way to and are just in love, hence kissing her like you’re vowing it all at the altar because not the first time this boy has done that kind of smooch and I doubt it’ll be the last]

Ali: [here doing your wedding smooching once more like you’re not out in the street on the cold hard ground and we’re not going to put you through hell, so evil, like you are being a bit delulu thinking you can marry this boy but we could at least let you be with him but nay nay; here and now be trying to say the secret lingo ILY but getting it slightly wrong because you’re kissing him and not focusing enough to be spot on]

Johnny: [that’s on her being literally 12 which is wild and I forget all the time just how young she is because he’s older and the normal kind of age range we tend to do, I saw a vid of Dakota at different ages and at 11 which is not that much older than she is now she looked like a literal tiny baby still and at 14 she had braces, I die, Alison is just a child, ANYWAY, he’ll be here grinning into this kiss at her trying to say it but making a mistake and breaking the kiss just enough that he can say it correctly against her lips instead of just fully into her mouth incoherently, saying ‘you love me’ in the secret lingo with a hot lol before his ILY correction, just to throw more gypsy lingo out]

Ali: [I saw that video too, it’s wild because then she was like 15 in the runaways and looked basically how she does now but yes, let him correct you and do your own laugh even if you’re pouting at getting it wrong like oh no, saying it right this time and adding ‘-so much’ to the end in English]

Johnny: [the jump from tiny dot to teenager looking the same was insane and she was so good in that film but I digress, saying ‘so much’ or an equivalent of it in his own lingo because he do and so she can learn it because the more he can teach her the happier he’ll be]

Ali: [repeating it back even though you’re getting distracted kissing him again, still holding his hand where it is on your stomach]

Johnny: [this boy absolutely buzzing because she got that right first time without him having to repeat it or say it slower or anything and it’s just adding to how fated this feels to y’all and how good of a wife and mother etc he thinks she’ll be, so here kissing her back with all the intensity of those feelings as if they have all the time in the world to be making out]

Ali: [when you can feel how pleased he is about it and that makes you happy yourself, grinning into a kiss like an insane person you can’t even help it ‘you’ll come back for me?’ like don’t leave me here grounded and bored because it really is too little too late fam, lived a thousands lives since then and it feels ridiculous to us at this point]

Johnny: [‘I’ll come to live in the car right here before I leave you up there without me’ dramatic but truly how he feels in this moment, imagine, soz not soz Leesha’s parents]

Ali: [‘she’d love that’ not clear who she is but could be Leesha or her mother, we know lmao, scowling at the thought of them objectifying your mans, holding him closer like no ‘you can live in the attic’ not an actual feasible plan but we would like to pretend it is in this moment thank you]

Johnny: [so here for her scowl and everything it means that he can’t help smiling about it but in contrast to that he’s v seriously likewise pulling her closer to him because we’re deadly serious about everything relating to this gal ‘I don’t know about living in no house’ but he’s saying it with the tone that he 1000% would and is willing to learn in this moment, looking up towards the attic and then back at her so !! like okay then to this plan]

Ali: [‘wasn’t it cosy though?’ because you spent a whole night up there at this point and it would be giving caravan as much as it could because a small space that is just full of things she thinks are a vibe, cuddling your head onto his chest like you probably did then like remember, you thinking about the logistics of hiding this boy sending me like you probably could which is troubling but he would need to go to work and such and also use the bathroom and you can’t make him skulk around that hard even though the urge is real ‘can’t I just-’ struggling to verbalise because you know the answer is no so shrugging a shoulder ‘- I wish I could’]

[crossroadsdimension]

Cross was surprised to find out that Zero had set up a domain as a place for voidsent to flee from the archfiends, or any other cruel masters they’d been forced to serve. Marking them as “hers” was a bit...well, Cross wasn’t sure about it, but she was glad that at least Zero and the others weren't going to attack them.

Zero was curious enough to follow Cross around as she made the rounds, talking with the voidsent in an attempt to gain information. Her authority in this domain certainly helped.

(Cross kept glancing at the statue in the middle of the courtyard as they moved around. There was something about it...a figure standing, shield raised, against a foe. Zero claimed she didn’t know where it had come from, but...it made Cross wonder. Maybe it was a memory long-buried? Zero was only part voidsent, by her own admission.)

And then the wind fiend had shown up, dragging her domain with her. She admitted to having eaten of a dragon’s aether, identified Vrtra, and decided she wanted to feast on more of it.

Well, Cross didn't give her the chance, and neither did Zero. While Cross wasn’t able to trigger an Echo vision (apparently she needed more practice getting that to work), Zero did collapse, which gave them cause to move -- not only out of Barbariccia’s domain, but out of the Thirteenth entirely.

Zero recovered her strength, and while she did have a brief scare with Nidhana, thinking her a fiend, she was soon up and about and having a look at Radz-at-Han with Cross and Vrtra.

(”We do have other kinds of meals you could eat,” Cross said as they left the eatery behind. “Fruit and vegetables don’t come from living creatures, just local flora. If you’re interested in something more hearty, we keep livestock. And that doesn’t even cover the sweets we can make!”

“Hm.” Zero didn’t seem to know what to think of that.)

Learning that they didn’t think much of tomestones made Cross look sheepish.

(”There’s old stories and information on them,” Cross explained as they left the markets. “Some people find value in that, and exchange them for things adventurers like me would want or need. Like better weapons, or armor.” She nodded back to her black mage staff, back on her back. She hadn’t been able to use it against Barbariccia, on account of how fast-paced the battle was, but she liked the look of the Manderville weapon. Besides, the staff was more comfortable against her back than a bow.

“Voidsent have no use for such things,” Zero said dully. “You mortals are...strange.”

“To you, I don’t doubt it. Everyone’s a little strange to somebody.”)

After the tour, apparently Zero decided that she needed to balance things out by giving them something in return -- a history lesson of the Thirteenth, and why everything had gone so wrong there...and what her power to turn voidsent into crystals was. It was something the heroes of eld had been able to do, her mother included...before the Flood of Darkness.

Calling the primals “eidolons” was interesting, though. There was another word to throw around.

And then, when Zero said she’d given up on saving her world, Y’shtola had to go and throw the half-voidsent’s worldview on its head, by filling her in on everything that had happened to make the worlds as they were, and caused her world to fall.

(Something about her “can’t save a lost world” attitude dredged up memories of Ardbert. It made Cross wonder, but she kept such thoughts to herself. Zero was her own person, after all, and Cross wasn’t looking to become whole soul that Azem was. That wasn’t her goal in life.)

The look of shock on Zero’s face as they filled her in had Cross grinning, and she made sure to bring up the two on the First who were also looking for a way to restore their home, if they could.

(Cross made sure that Zero knew she planned to linger in Radz-at-Han for a time before she left, after that conversation. “It’s like I told you -- I’m picking up those tomestones for gear, and currently, the best gear I can find is right here in the city bazaar. If you ever want to come find me, I’ll likely be somewhere around there, if I’m not out scouring the world.”

Zero gave Cross a long look, then nodded. “I will keep that in mind. Thank you.”

“Freely given,” Cross added. At Zero’s startled confusion, Cross explained, “You’re a stranger here, and if you need advice or help or anything, I’m willing to give that to you freely. I don’t need to hold any debts over you. But if it helps, you can consider it a continued deposit towards what we’re planning to do on your world.”

Zero stared, wide-eyed.

“Think on it? Please?”)

Cross hoped Zero would think about it. Living people didn’t function the same way voidsent did, after all. Not entirely, at least.

[lucifer-is-a-bag-of-dicks]

Grabbing Smoke

As much time as Sam spent with her best friends, sometimes she enjoyed a little bit of time alone.

Tucker was helping his mother bake cookies for some kind of fundraiser for the hospital, and Danny was busy visiting Pandora for fighting lessons. Apparently they were using swords today.

As fun as it sounded, Sam opted to stay behind, it had been a while since she'd been down to the park to feed the ducks. She didn't get quiet moments like that very often any more.

There was an uncharacteristic skip to her gait as she walked to the park, a canvas tote bag swinging from her arm.

Living in Amity Park, and especially hanging around with Danny, gave her an eerie sense to when something was amiss. Nothing quite like Danny's ghost sense, but she'd learned to detect a particular chill to the air, a prickling at the back of her neck. It could easily be mistaken for a chilly breeze, but Sam knew better. The crunch of gravel under Sam's boots was the only sound permeating the still air, not even the trees were rustling.

She continued her walk through the park, past the wishing fountain and through a trail where the trees grew slightly more dense.

The trail opened up to a large pond, it wasn't anything especially picturesque, the reeds were a little overgrown, the ground was muddy, but there were a few simple weather worn benches by the path that looped around the water.

Sam took a seat, pulling out a bag of frozen peas. She opened it, tipped a few into her hand and tossed them into the water.

The ducks immediately sped across the pond toward her, fighting for the peas that the turtles hadn't already gotten to.

Instead of grabbing another handful, she held the bag out to the empty seat to her left, waiting for a moment before shaking the bag impatiently.

A green hand slipped into the bag, pulling out a handful of peas before tossing them into the water.

"How'd you know I was here?" Kitty asked, now sitting visibly on the other end of the bench as Sam poured out more peas for both of them.

"I have my ways." Sam smirked. "What I want to know is why you've been following me all week."

"You knew for that long and you didn't say nothin'?" Kitty huffed. "Damn, I gotta up my game."

A duck waddled up and nibbled on her boot.

"Alright alright, ya hungry little doofus." Kitty lowered a hand full of peas and cooed as the duck happily ate from her palm. "Aww these guys aren't shy at all, do you come here a lot?"

"When I can." Sam tossed a few more peas into the water for the turtles. "So why are you following me?"

Kitty sat back and pressed her lips together, thinking.

"Look it's just... I don't remember much from when I was livin', you know? It's all sorta grey and fuzzy, I can't remember what anyone looked like, except Johnny." she tossed some peas to a smaller duck at the back of the group. "But as soon as I showed up here in town and I saw your face, I thought I felt... I dunno, somethin'. Like I'd seen you before, or maybe you just reminded me of someone, but I can't remember who, it's like grabbing smoke."

She lobbed a few peas a little harder than was necessary at the water. The turtles sucked them up greedily.

"So you've just been following me hoping you might remember something else?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," Kitty sighed. "But it's not working."

Sam swung her foot idly between a pair of scuffling ducks, splitting them up before tossing out some more peas.

"Maybe I'm related to someone you knew. Where did you grow up?"

Kitty frowned down at the water.

"I... I don't know." she said, deflating somewhat. "I didn't even realise I forgot that."

Sam couldn't help but feel for her, Danny had told her that ghosts would often forget things from their past, especially once they'd been dead for longer than they'd been alive. Somehow she had never really considered how terrifying that must be.

"You know..." Sam started carefully. "I could show you some old family photos. Maybe you'll recognise someone?"

Kitty looked up, eyes shining brightly.

"Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Why not?" Sam shrugged. "If you were here to cause trouble you would have done it by now."

"Aw, I never thought you'd wanna do something like that for me." said Kitty, smiling brightly. "You always seemed like such a bitch."

Sam laughed.

"If you'd spent a week being someone that wasn't Paulina, I would probably have seemed like less of a bitch."

"So you guys are big rivals or somethin'?" Kitty asked, grabbing some more peas and giggling as three ducks tried to eat from her hand at once.

"It's more that we have... conflicting ideologies. She thinks that appearances and reputation are the most important things in life, just like my parents." Sam lobbed some more peas into the water, they both watched them disappear as the turtles quickly snapped them up. "It's shallow and stupid, and I don't get why they have to push that shit on everyone. I don't care what people think, I just want to be whoever the hell I wanna be without having to fight for it all the time."

Kitty's face turned contemplative as she tapped her nails on the back of the bench.

"I think... I was like that." she said, slowly. "I wanted to feel fun and exciting, but my parents..."

She trailed off, frowning.

"My parents... I didn't like them. They didn't like me bein' the way I was, I can't really remember why."

Sam emptied out the last of the peas and scattered them over the ground, she scrunched up the empty packet and shoved it back into her tote bag.

"You know, if we went to school together we would probably have gotten along." said Sam as she stood up, gesturing toward the path. "Let's go check out those photos."

Instead of floating invisibly behind, Kitty walked by Sam's side as they headed back to her house. She idly waved at people as they drove past, grinning when someone stared a little too long and almost ran a red light.

"You know, it's nice bein' able to walk around in the day." Kitty said, skipping a little. "Wish I could do it more often."

"What's stopping you?"

"What do you think?" Kitty's lip pulled up in disgust. "Any time I show up your dumb friend sucks me up in his stupid thermos. Only reason I can walk around right now is because I got you as my get out of jail free card."

"Danny doesn't care if you just want to walk around." Sam scoffed. "He lets ghosts wander around town all the time, he only gets involved when you start breaking things."

"Uggghhh but just walking around is so boring." Kitty pouted. "I mean yeah it's nice and I like it but it gets old real quick."

"Then you'll have to get used to getting tossed back in the ghost zone. Do not pass go, do not collect $200."

"Don't you ever get sick of his goody goody attitude?" Kitty asked. "I mean you and I aren't so different right? You're all about the rebel gig, don't you ever feel like keyin' some asshole's car, or takin' a baseball bat to some mail boxes?"

"Only if they deserve it." said Sam with a smirk. "But I feel like you aren't especially picky about whose stuff you're breaking."

They approached the door to the Manson mansion, Sam hopped up the steps and stuck the key in the lock. She touched the mezuzah on the doorpost without a second thought before opening the door and standing aside to invite Kitty in.

The ghost stared up at her warily.

"I can't get past it."

"Past what?" Sam asked.

"The mezuzah, it keeps me out."

"What?" Sam frowned. "It hasn't stopped other ghosts from getting in."

"Well it stops me." Kitty insisted. "I think it's got somethin' to do with what we believed in when we were alive. I haven't got a problem with churches but when Johnny tried to ride his bike through one he couldn't get in. His mom raised him Catholic, he says he doesn't believe in any of that stuff, but I think he still does, deep down."

"So does that mean you were Jewish?" Sam asked, smiling curiously.

"I AM Jewish." Kitty crossed her arms. "Bein' a ghost hasn't changed that, it just... means that we got a few things a little wrong."

Sam thought about that for a moment, before stepping aside and gesturing toward the door again.

"Well, if you've been invited and you're not going to cause any trouble, then I don't see why you shouldn't be able to come in."

Kitty climbed the steps slowly, fingers reaching out and cautiously brushing over the mezuzah, she didn't feel anything unusual, no zap or burn or pain. She took a step through the doorway and passed the threshold without issue, no invisible force or barrier like the last time she tried to follow Sam inside.

"Well, what do you know." she said, grinning.

Sam lead her into a large, open planned kitchen and dining area, the tiles were bright white save for the specks of mud Sam's boots tracked through the room. The decor was minimalist, the atmosphere bland and sterile, she could smell some kind of citrus surface cleaner.

The back wall was all windows, leading to a patio surrounded by perfectly trimmed grass. As they approached, Sam turned, heading towards a door to their right.

The next room felt a lot more friendly, it was full of bookshelves and red tones. The lounges looked soft and inviting, a fireplace sat cold and empty against the back wall, but Kitty didn't have to try hard to imagine it roaring to life, filling the room with its warm glow.

"This is basically my Grandma's part of the house." Sam informed her, voice low. "Her bedroom is just through there, she's usually napping around this time of day so try not to make too much noise."

Kitty slipped off her jacket and laid it over the back of the lounge, already feeling at home in the cosy little room. She looked over the books as Sam fussed around some kind of large ornate chest.

"Here it is." She hefted a large photo album from the chest, carefully closing and latching it again. "Let's see if you recognise anyone in here."

Kitty sat down beside Sam as she opened up the pristine book, the outer cover was beige with the name Manson inscribed in golden cursive on the front. The first page was full of old faded photos, in greyscale or sepia tones.

"Ugh, I'm not that old." said Kitty, flicking ahead a few pages.

The pictures were colourful now, but still grainy, there was a young blonde boy in seventies style jeans leaning casually against a Chevrolet.

"Wait hold up," Kitty pointed at the boy. "Him, I feel like I've seen him before."

"That's my dad." said Sam, surprised. "His name is Jeremy, did you know him?"

Kitty hummed a little, gently tracing a finger over the picture.

"Jeremy... Jeremy, I'm not sure," she frowned. "But he definitely looks familiar."

They continued through the book, when suddenly Kitty slapped her hand down roughly on a photo of a pair of young women.

"Her! I know her! She was a mega bitch!"

"Shhh keep it down." Sam hissed.

"Sorry," Kitty pointed to the blonde girl in the photo. "That one! I don't know how I knew her, but I definitely knew her. She was a total brat."

Sam slipped the photo out of its sleeve and read the neat cursive on the back.

"This is... my Aunt Caroline, in 1985. She's my dad's sister." Sam looked up at Kitty, amused. "I can't believe you had beef with my family."

"Your family are snobs." Kitty sniffed. "Carrie was such a ditz, she thought she was sooo bitchin' because her daddy bought her a Mercedes."

"Yeah, that sounds about right." Sam grimaced. "Did you guys go to school together or something?"

"Maybe..." Kitty took the photo from Sam's hand, staring intently. "I'm pretty sure I skipped school a lot, I hated it there. It was a private school, we had to wear uniforms, barf."

"I would never have guessed you were a private school kid." Sam shook her head. "But most people would say that about me so it's not like I can judge."

"You went to private school?" Kitty asked, "How'd you end up in that Casper High dump?"

"Got myself expelled." said Sam, voice thick with pride. "Elementary, middle and high school, got kicked out of all three."

"Damn, you're good."

Sam grinned, slipping the photo back in its sleeve and continuing to the next page.

Kitty pointed to a few other photos, remarking on their familiarity, but not quite able to grasp how she knew them, the memories only flickered in her periphery.

"Wait," Kitty whispered, fingers brushing over a polaroid containing three people. "This is..."

The picture looked as though it were taken at some kind of party, a man and a woman faced the camera, each with a glass of champagne raised in their hands. The woman's other hand rested on the shoulder of a teenage girl with auburn hair, pulled into a tidy braid. She stared glumly at the camera.

"That's Katherine." Sam said, pointing to the girl. "She was my dad's cousin, but she got hit by a car when she was-"

Sam paused, looking over at Kitty's wide eyes and then back to the photo.

"Noooo way." Sam pulled the photo out of the sleeve. "Is this you?"

Kitty took the photo in trembling hands.

"I... I forgot I used to look like that." she fiddled with a lock of her green, teased hair. "I remember this party, I didn't want to go but mom and dad threatened to take away all my records and cassettes if I didn't."

Sam stared at Kitty, mouth agape.

"You're Car Crash Katherine?! My dad talks about you all the time! He always told me about the shit you used to get up to, he'd tell me that any kind of 'rebellious behaviour' was a slippery slope to 'dying on the back of some delinquent's motorcycle'." Sam put a hand on Kitty's shoulder. "You were my bad influence role model."

Kitty's red eyes shone with tears, photo still in hand, she wrapped her arms around Sam.

"This is majorly wicked! My legacy lives on! Corrupting the youth from beyond the grave!" Kitty laughed. "My parents would go totally mental."

She stopped laughing, her face turning forlorn as she drew back from Sam and stared down at the picture.

"Are they still alive?" she asked, a tremble in her voice.

"Yeah..." said Sam. "They live in a retirement home in Florida. They don't come around very often."

Kitty traced a finger over their faces.

"I wonder if they miss me." she said quietly. "Or if they were glad to be rid of the family embarrassment."

Sam didn't answer, she had wondered the same thing herself, if her parents would even care if she died. They hadn't given her a lot of reason to think they would.

She rested a sympathetic hand on Kitty's arm.

"Oh, you have a friend over bubbeleh?" a croaky voice spoke from the bedroom doorway.

Sam and Kitty both turned to see Ida Manson shuffling into the room, cleaning her glasses with her sleeve.

"Sorry Grandma, we didn't mean to be too loud." Sam apologised. "This is my... um, friend, Kitty. Kitty this is my Grandma Ida-"

"Ida?!" Kitty shot to her feet, staring in shock at the old woman. "Aunt Ida?!"

Ida squinted at Kitty, before quickly setting her glasses back on her face.

"Well as I live and breath, is that you Kathy?"

"Oh my god this is getting super weird." Sam whispered.

Kitty leapt over the ottoman to wrap Ida up in a tight hug, the old woman was surprised for a moment, but held her warmly in return.

"It's me Aunt Ida! Not really living or breathing but it's me!" Kitty laughed breathlessly.

"Oh my goodness, when all the ghosts started showing up all over town I wondered if I would ever see someone I knew." She rubbed comforting circles on Kitty's back as the ghost choked on a few sobs. "It's good to see you again Kathy."

Ida pulled away and wiped a tear from Kitty's face.

"And I'm so glad you aren't stuck wearing what your parents buried you in."

Kitty couldn't help but laugh through her tears.

"Let me guess, it was that putrid blue dress, wasn't it?"

"The dress wasn't nearly as bad as what they did to your hair." Ida snickered, patting Kitty's hand. "It had little ribbons in it and everything."

"I almost forgot you." Kitty placed her palm gently against Ida's face. "You were the only one in the family who ever loved me for being me, and I almost forgot you. I'm so sorry, I should have come to find you sooner but I just-"

"Shhhh, it's okay bubbeleh." Ida grasped her hand tight. "I think being dead is a pretty good excuse for forgetting a few things."

Sam stood beside the lounge, watching the two in shock, she wasn't entirely certain whether or not to intrude. Whatever she had been expecting to discover with Kitty today, it certainly hadn't been this.

Though in hindsight, it did explain Kitty's familiarity with Sam, people always said she had taken after her Grandma.

Ida let go of Kitty and hobbled over to the photo album still sitting on the lounge.

"Oh you don't want to look at that album." she said, as she shoved it onto the coffee table. She wandered to the other side of the room and began rummaging around in a small cupboard. "You want this one."

She pulled out a book with well worn, peeling edges. Pieces of the plastic sleeves had cracked off and crumbled away. It was old, and weatherbeaten, it was obvious that Ida had looked through it many many times.

"Here we go." she sat down in the middle of the lounge, gesturing for the two girls to come sit beside her. "These are the forbidden photos."

She opened the pages, the photos inside were entirely different from the 'official' album, there were no perfectly poised, prim and proper photos of people in nice, presentable clothes. They were all candid shots, people in the middle of eating or laughing, some were stumbling around blind drunk, a few were smoking joints. There were pictures from parties and protest rallies, in backyards and drive ins.

There was a picture of Jeremy as a young boy, grinning with one of his front teeth missing and grass in his hair.

"Only in this family would losing your baby teeth make a photo 'unsavoury'." Ida grizzled as she continued through the album. "I saved so many pictures that my husband would have thrown out otherwise."

"Ugh, Uncle Peter was such a prude, he wouldn't even let me in the house if I didn't have my shoulders covered up." Kitty rolled her eyes.

"He used to be so much more relaxed when we were young." Ida sighed. "He changed when he inherited his father's business, he forgot how to have fun."

A few pages later Kitty squealed in excitement.

"Oh my god! That's Frankie! She was my best friend, we used to do everything together!"

The Kitty in the photo looked far more like the Kitty Sam knew. Her hair was teased up, and she was wearing a crop top and a miniskirt. The other girl, Frankie, had short curled hair and a leather jacket. They each had an arm around the others' shoulder and grinned wildly.

"I love this one." Ida smiled as she pulled the picture out of the sleeve. "That was the night I gave you a lift to that concert."

"Oh that show was sooo good! I got my nose pierced there! It got so infected, Mom grounded me for a month." Kitty laughed.

"Man, and I thought I was cool for skipping school to go see Circus Gothica." Sam grinned. "I'm gonna have to come home with a tattoo next time."

"I can't believe I forgot about Frankie, I can't believe I forgot about all of this." Kitty held the photo close to her chest, a few tears running down her face. "I'm so glad it's not gone for good."

She kept the photo in hand as they looked through the rest of the album. There were many pictures of Ida, all of them with other people of all walks of life.

"Oh this was when you took us to that pride parade!" Kitty smiled. "You made Frankie so happy, and you knew a lot of the drag queens there, like a LOT."

"Grandma took me to a drag show when I was 10," said Sam. "Even took me backstage to meet them all, my parents thought we went to the theatre to see Romeo and Juliet."

"Oh I have photos from that." Ida flipped through the pages, getting closer to the end of the album. "Here we are, oh Evelyn just LOVED you."

Sam looked at the picture of Evelyn, frowning slightly.

"Oh weird, she kinda looks like Mr Lancer's sister, he keeps her photo on his desk..." Sam paused as she processed what she just said. "That's not his sister is it?"

"You probably shouldn't bring it up." said Ida gently. "Teachers can get in trouble for associating with this sort of thing."

"That's so bogus!" Kitty cried. "I really thought this kinda stuff would be better in the future!"

"It is," Ida assured her. "But we're a long way from perfect."

Ida flipped back through the album, searching for more pictures of Kitty and Frankie. There were a good few of them, each one Ida pulled out and passed over for Kitty to look at and hold onto.

"Oh woah, is that Johnny?" Sam pointed to a picture of Kitty sitting on the back of a motorcycle with a blonde boy. "He looks exactly the same, just a little less pale."

"Oh, did Johnny come back as a ghost too?" Ida asked.

"Yeah! We've been together all this time, in sickness and in death." Kitty beamed. "Mom and dad blamed him for everything I did, even if he wasn't around when I did it. They said him and Frankie were 'corrupting' me."

She rolled her eyes.

"I bet they blamed him for my death too. They'd be so mad if they knew we were still together."

"Just goes to show they had no chance of keeping you two apart." Ida said. "Not even death could do that."

Kitty held the photo tight in both hands, her shoulders began to shake slightly.

"It was my fault you know." she said with a trembling little giggle. "Funny huh? My parents always blamed him for everything, but in the end it was my fault we got hit. We were havin' a fight over somethin' stupid and I distracted him-"

Ida wrapped an arm around Kitty, patting her head comfortingly as she laid it against the old woman's shoulder.

"I think you're being too hard on yourself bubbeleh." Ida whispered gently into her hair. "It was raining, the truck that hit you was running a red light, the driver was charged for both your deaths. Even if you did distract him, you weren't the only card at play that night."

She gave Kitty a light shake.

"And don't think I didn't see the way Johnny used to drive that thing, he was reckless. I have no doubt that he wasn't paying as much attention as he should have been." She placed a kiss on the girl's forehead and squeezed her tight. "It's not fair to hold all of that responsibility on yourself, even if you both did everything right, that truck still would have run that red light, it still would have been raining. It was just pure rotten luck."

Sam had never heard a ghost talk about their death before, even Danny didn't like talking about his accident, and asking about it was incredibly taboo. Sam had been pushing her luck earlier just by mentioning the car crash.

It said a lot about Kitty's love for Ida that she chose to open up about it. Sam couldn't say she was surprised, her Grandma had always been like that. Never anything but an endless well of love and support, and the occasional kick in the pants if you needed it.

"Johnny's always had rotten luck." Kitty sniffed. "Follows him like a shadow."

"Literally." Sam snorted.

After a few more moments, Ida pulled herself away from Kitty, she got up and began rooting through the cupboards, muttering to herself.

"Aha, here it is."

She brought over an empty photo album, it was roughly the size of a small pocketbook, containing only one photo sleeve per page.

"I meant to fill this with photos for Sam to keep." Ida admitted as she shuffled back over to the girls. "But I don't think she'll mind donating it to a good cause."

She winked at Sam, who nodded back.

"Here," Ida pressed the little album into Kitty's hands. "Memories are a fickle thing, but photos are forever."

"I can't take these!" Kitty insisted, pushing the album back. "They're your memories too!"

"Oh my god you're both so old." Sam laughed, "Dad has a printer/scanner. I can make copies."

As Sam took the polaroids to her dad's office, Ida and Kitty pored over the rest of the album, Kitty picking out more photos to copy. She chose a few of Ida and Sam, and even one of Carrie.

"She was a total loser and I hated her but I don't hate remembering her, you know? I want to remember everything, even the bad stuff."

She took a photo of her parents, just one.

When Sam came back with the last batch of photos, Ida finished slipping them into the little album.

"There's still a few sleeves left." Sam pointed out, holding up her phone with a smile. "We've got room for a couple of family reunion pics."

The two girls squished up against Ida as Sam snapped as many shots as she could. Ones where they smiled, ones where they laughed, ones where they laid haphazardly across the lounge together.

Then Sam took a few candids of just Kitty and Ida, as they looked through the new album they'd just made together. Capturing Kitty laughing at something as Ida looked at her with a soft, loving smile.

Kitty clutched the album to her chest as she gave Ida a long, drawn out hug.

"Thank you so much." she said, her voice thick with gratitude. "It's like I can see my life in colour again."

She left the house with the assurance that she would always be welcome back, at any time, and a promise that she would always be looking out for her 'new favourite cousin'.

Sam flicked through the photos she took on her phone, she would have to make sure to have copies printed by the time Kitty returned to visit.

She knew Kitty coming over regularly was going to make things complicated, her apparent newfound protectiveness over Sam could potentially backfire in many spectacular ways, she was petty and troublesome when in the right mood.

But then again, so was Ida, and so was Sam.

At least she had better things to do now than beat up strangers' mail boxes, Danny was certainly going to be glad to hear that.

[captains-simp]

hey! so i love wanda and i was wondering if you could write one kind of enemies to lovers or something like that where reader and wanda don't get along well, jealous scene or maybe a very suggestive fight. very angst but happy fluffy ending please

Enemies to lovers owns my whole gay heart and I CANNOT write it without there being sexual tension so xksksjsks smut alert

@g-cordelia hope it's okay to combine your request with this too so there's a healthy dose of angst and fluff with it

"Please don't go."

"Don't you fucking lie to me."

Warnings: choking, fingering, spanking, strap on sex, mentions of oral and hints at mild injury

6k words

[ masterlist ]

Buy me a coffee ☕

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Your actions jeopardised the whole mission." Steve said sternly before raising his voice when he saw he received no reaction from you or the redhead. "Whatever is going on between you has to stop!"

"You say that like it's ever been any different." Natasha added.

The pair that usually felt like the protective big brother and sister of the team where acing the role of disappointed parents. Admittedly that did make you feel bad, but Wanda showed no signs of giving an apology and you would be damned if you did first.

Natasha and Steve waited for any kind of response from either of you and got nothing. You and Wanda continued to glare at each other from opposite sides of the table, your stubnorness stopping either of you from looking at the two standing at the head of the table.

"Just write up your reports." Steve sighed, giving into the tension of the room before anyone else. If it had been just you, Wanda and Natasha there was no telling how long you'd be in there.

You both got up from the table at the same time, still refusing to break eye contact.

"Y/n stay behind a minute." Oh so they're switching it up to disappointed teachers now. Your attention fell to Steve in a look of confusion although that didn't mean you missed the smirk that played on the corner of Wanda's lips. You cursed her like a sailor in your head and hoped she heard but her back was to you and she was strolling out the room.

"I thought you guys were getting better." Steve sighed as he leant against the table.

"We were when we didn't have to talk to each other." You said honestly. There had been a few weeks prior where you and Wanda had had no missions together and therefore had no reason to talk or train with one another.

"You can't resort to avoiding each other as a way to solve your problems. All that does is make things escalate even more when you're actually together which will inevitably happen. Because believe it or not you two are on the same side and have to act like it." Natasha said sternly. You stared down at the table and thought about how how her words were. But it wasn't like you had that warning before.

When the pair infront of you knew you weren't going to say anything in response Steve filled the silence once again. "You're both suspended from missions until you can learn to work together." He decided.

"What?!" You cried as you snapped your head towards them and stood up. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly." Natasha said. You looked frantically between the two in disbelief.

"Alright." You said finally and clenched your jaw. You turned around and left the room without objection from the two Avengers, heading straight towards Wanda's room.

You never really knew why you and Wanda never got on. Maybe it was because she reminded you so much of the popular girls in high school you always envied while wanting them in your bed...no, it definetly couldn't be that. You just didn't know what.

It didn't take long to get there when you were walking like you were out for blood, that wouldn't be an unexpected result of what you planned. You banged on her door several times in a closed fist so it didn't take her long to answer.

She looked concerned when she opened the door and as soon as she realised it was you that same smirk from the meeting room fell back into place.

"Did they ground you?" She asked as she leant against the doorframe.

"Suspended." You spat. A shit eating grin started to appear but you wiped that off her face instantly. "Both of us."

"What the fuck? I didn't-"

"Yes you fucking did and now I'm paying for it too. You wanna know the best part? We can't go back in the field until we can work together nicely." You said bitterly.

"Why don't they just keep us on separate missions?"

"You can go ask them that later. Right now we're training." You said simply and you grabbed her forearm and pulled her out of her room down the corridor.

"We just got back." Wanda argued but followed you anyway after slapping your hand off her.

"Not prepared to put the work in, witchy?" You mocked, not looking at her as you marched through the compound.

"Don't call me that?" Wanda warned as she kept your pace.

"What are you gonna do? Read my mind?" You continued to taunt as you arrived in the gym and made your way to the mats.

Wanda put her red jacket on the floor and stepped away to take up her position as she eyed you. "I could snap all your bones into pieces so small they could be mistaken for ash." Wanda said stoicly.

"I don't think that's gonna get you another mission." You replied calmly, knowing that while there was a truth to Wanda's words she would never give you more than a split lip or bloody nose in the worst training sessions.

"Don't be a smartass y/n, it doesn't suit you." Your jaw clenched at her words.

Without warning, the entirety of your right arm lit up in flames and was aimed at Wanda in an instant.

You sent a wave of fire her way that she swiftly engulfed in her powers and sent back towards you. She looked less than impressed from your warningless attack.

"That was tacky." She said.

"I know, seemed fitting for you." You grinned but stopped when the red mist surrounded your body and lifted you into the air before a larger wave of fire was sent hurtling down to the redhead. The wall of fire blocked her view of you and subsequently dropped you to the ground as she dealt with the flames.

As soon as you landed and the fire parted you sent another blast Wanda's way only for her to do the exact same thing. You both ducked at the same time, your powers hitting opposite walls and leaving marks Tony would be on your asses about when he found out.

Wanda was clearly thinking the same thing. "We can't use our powers in an enclosed space, especially not yours." She said, her accent thickly woven into her voice.

"Okay then, let's see if Natasha's lessons have paid off." You said as you raised your fists and got into your defensive stance. Wanda mirrored you the way she had been taught and narrowed her eyes.

"They definelty have." She insisted as her eyes flickered over your form to try and identify your weak points already in a very obvious way.

"Just try to keep up." You mocked and swiftly moved to swipe her legs out from under her but she was surprisingly prepared. She jumped up to avoid your attack and kicked her leg out mid air and landed it on the center of your chest. You stumbled back in shock while Wanda looked very proud of herself. The last time you saw Wanda train it was clear she wasn't familiar with close range hand to hand combat. You hadn't expected her to improve so significantly in such a short amount of time.

You gritted your teeth and went for her stomach this time which she easily avoided but wasn't expecting another attack to follow so quickly. She blocked the continuous blows from you until you saw your moments and kicked one of her legs out from under her. Your mistake was thinking you succeeded the moment she was down because she spun around and kicked both of your legs out. You caught yourself partly as Wanda stood up so you were on kneeling.

Wanda's smirk was quick to take place when she saw your position, not missing the opportunity. "You look good when you're on your knees." She quipped.

Your eyes widened at her boldness and a heat rose up your neck that you knew wasn't your powers. You rolled back on the balls of your feet and swiftly stood up to look anywhere but the smug redhead infront of you.

"No snarky remark for that?" She challenged and you charged at her again. Anger feuled your attacks making them miscordinated and all round bad.

"Shut the fuck up, Maximoff." You huffed and made her grin even more at the clear signs that she was getting to you.

One of your punches was pushed to the side and Wanda took the chance to show you just how much she had learnt from Nat. You weren't entirely sure how she even did it it was so quick. Your arm was outstretched behind your back painfully due to Wanda's unrelenting grip on it and made it that much easier to push one of your legs down onto the floor. She held you like that for longer than necessary, soaking up the view of you struggling in her grasp.

"Get off." You snapped and winced when she pulled your arm back more.

"What's the magic word?" She teased.

"Now." You demanded. She tutted and pulled harder. "Maximoff!" You ordered through the pain. She leaned down beside you as her voice dropped to a low whisper.

"Beg." It was one word but you couldn't deny the effect it had on you. It was as though her light breath on your ear shot throughout your body and settled in a place you really didn't want it to.

You were about to object and tell her to stop being a bitch but her grip tightened and she pulled to a point where you thought your arm might just snap off under any more pressure.

"Please." You cried through gritted teeth. She instantly let go all too quickly and you collapsed onto the mat on your front. You heard her chuckle menacingly but cut herself off when Nat appeared in the doorway.

"We told you to write up your reports, not train." Natasha scolded as she watched you massage your shoulder and glare at Wanda.

"Sorry, just got a bit carried away." Wanda smiled, her innocent and sweet act that she put up for everyone except you returning. "Y/n's had enough now anyway." She smirked to herself.

"Fucking psycho." You muttered loud enough for her to hear but not Nat. Her jaw visibly clenched from that making you revel in the small victory as you finally got up from the mat.

"Just get on with the reports." Nat sighed and turned to leave as Wanda called out.

"On it."

"Aww, you trying to be a good girl, Maximoff?" You mocked as the pain subsided and your need to overrule what had happened came through.

"I don't have the time to stress over that, not when I'm busy putting brats in their place." Wanda said as she advanced towards you with a look you had only ever seen aimed at those you were fighting against.

"What?" You whispered as you backed up and felt your back hit the wall. Wanda's hand came up suddenly and wrapped itself around your throat firmly and cut off your breathing. Your eyes widened as you grabbed at her hands but she didn't budge. She looked amused at your efforts as her head tilted slightly to the side.

"And you certainly need to learn your place." She took her hand away and left you gasping for air for a split second before grabbing your arm and pulling you out of the gym.

You stumbled a little as you tried to keep up with Wanda's long strides you could usually match. Your whole body was already trembling in anticipation, more so by the tension filled silence between you both as you travelled through the compound and ended up outside the redhead's room.

She opened her door and shoved you into her room swiftly. You didn't have much chance to take in your surroundings because the Sokovian gripped the back of your neck and forced you to lay on your stomach on her bed.

She made quick work of your clothes, discarding them to some soon forgotten about corner.

You turned your head to the side and gripped the sheets as you felt Wanda's slim fingers trialing up the back of your thighs before she gripped them roughly and forced them apart and lifted your lower half up. Her fingers returned and glided along your drippikg folds, collecting your arousal as she reveled in the effect she had on you.

"What was it that made you this wet, slut? Was it being on your knees for me? Begging me? Or did you enjoy the pain? I bet you enjoyed me choking you too." She chuckled darkly and didn't wait for you to respond.

She slipped two fingers inside your soaking cunt without warning making you gasp out in pleasure. Her fingers curled inside you beautifully, brushing some kind of nerve ending every second they were buried inside you. She had you a moaning, quivering mess in no time.

"Wanda...fuck! Right there, oh God!" She snickered against your skin as she worked her fingers expertly. Even then she wanted to test you. Well it was more that she was setting you up for failure.

"Shut the fuck up. I don't want to hear another sound from that whiny mouth." She ordered and you couldn't help but shiver from her dominant nature.

Of course it didn't last long. Her fingers felt so damn perfect inside you and you couldn't help but moan at the unspeakable pleasure.

She brought her hand down fast and landed it on your ass with a harsh smack that echoed through the room. She did it to both of your asscheeks until they were bright red and you were trembling. The sadistic redhead didn't stop there, she continued to rain down smacks that edged you further to your edge with the pleasurable pain.

Soon, you were moaning into the air as you came around Wanda's slim fingers, desperatly clenching around them in an attempt to prolong the pleasure. Thankfully, she kept pumping her fingers inside you, not caring when the overstimulation kicked in. She even started scissoring her fingers inside you, stretching your walls in a way that has you whimper loudly.

"Gotta stretch you a little to get you ready for my piece, sweetheart." She said in a sinister tone. "There's no way you'd be able to take it otherwise, it's already going to reck you with its size." She husked into your ear and withdrew her fingers, spanking you again when you whined.

Wanda got off the bed and disappeared into her closet, shortly returning with a large strap secured around her waist and pointed at you. You whimpered at the sight of it, not sure you could handle its size.

The Sokovian kneeled behind you and gripped your hips with both her hands as she lined up the strap with your entrance.

"I'm going to fill you up so nicely, Princess. Gonna have your cumming in no time." She husked, her voice dripping with lust.

A scream was ripped from your throat when Wanda thrust the entirety of the strap into your pussy. She set about her harsh, abusing pace instantly and preened at the sound of the pleasure filled cries that left you.

She grabbed a fistful of your hair and slammed your head down into the pillows on your side do she could still hear all of your desperate moans. The rough action earned the redhead a cry of her name.

Her pace was unrelenting, everytime she thrust back into you she somehow managed to hit deeper, pounding the toy against the most sensitive and pleasurable part of your cunt.

"Mommy!" You moaned loudly, not realising your slip up until the words left your lips. Your eyes widened and you feared Wanda's response, but what you got was a smack from the redhead that stung your ass in the best way. Her fucked you with increasing vigor too, wanting you title to spill from your lips again. And it did. Over and over, each time going straight to Wanda's pussy.

"Fuck, I'm gonna cum." You whimpered as you gripped onto the sheets tighter to prepare yourself for your release. But Wanda pulled the strap out the the very tip and held it there as she leant over to whisper in your ear.

"Beg me." She ordered and you whimpered again. It wasn't like you hadn't already submitted to the red head you hated but begging would be something that would loom over you for a while.

Your thoughts clashed with the overwhelming need from your pussy as it desleratly tried to clamp down on the tip that didn't provide nearly enough pleasure.

"Please, Wanda." You whispered.

"Please who?" She asked sweetly, clearly testing you making you groan.

"Please, mommy just let me cum." You whined and Wanda smacked your ass hard. She edged the dildo in further ever so slowly and stopped again.

"Mommy, please! I need to cum." You tried again, desperation seeping into your voice. Wanda hummed.

"I can see that." She mused as she rubbed small circles on your throbbing and soaked clit. "I just don't see why I should, brat." She punctuated the name with a harsh slap to your ass again and you caught onto what she was hinting at.

"Please, I'll...I'll be so good for you, mommy."

"Yeah, baby?"

"Yes! Please mommy I'll be so so good for you. Just please please let me c-" You were abruptly cut off by your own whorish moan as Wanda snapped her hips forwards and filled you up entirely.

One of her hands tangled itself in your hair and forced your head down into the pillows, not stopping your incoherent babbles filling the room along with the sound of your pussy being fucked by Wanda and her thighs slapping against yours.

The Sokovian tugged on your hair again so your head was off the pillow.

"I'm gonna cum!" You cried out into the air.

"That's it, baby. Soak my fucking cock." And with that demand you came harder than you ever had around Wanda's strap and moaned continuously as the redhead prolonged your pleasure by continuing to pound into you.

But it soon became too much for your sensitive pussy. You squirmed away from Wanda but she placed one hand on the middle of your back to keep you flat against the bed.

"Too much." You managed to say, however the redhead didn't seem to care.

"I'm nowhere near done with you, Princess."

*

Laying panting and gripping onto Wanda's bedsheets like a lifeline wasn't exactly what you expected to be doing on a Thursday night. You were drenched in sweat and although Wanda had pulled out the toy minutes prior, you were sure you could still feel it filling you up, the faint throbbing a forewarning of what was to come.

It took you a while to gather the strength to get up. With anyone else you probably would have just stayed the night in their bed, but you weren't sure you could do that with Wanda. Although she wouldn't kick you out, you didn't like the thought of sleeping beside the redhead. It seemed far too...soft? Whatever it was, you were sure Wanda would agree.

You searched for your clothes while she took a most likely deliberately long shower, images of her naked figure covered in water invading your mind.

Once you cursed them away they were just replaced with flashes of what you had been doing for all those hours, remembering how she pulled on your hair as she praised you when you went down on her. Of course you did that while on your knees.

What happened between you and Wanda wasn't a one time thing. In fact it became increasingly common until you were in each other's beds almost every night. You would have been fuck buddies if you had considered each other a friend.

It worked. You and Wanda were able to work out your pent up frustration towards each other in a way that didn't hurt one another....well, if that didn't include the scratches along Wanda's back and the constant aching between your legs.

You didn't even make snide comments about each other in meetings or during training. You were able to keep everything in the bedroom.

The success of what you two had going forced you to ignore the noteable change in feelings you had towards Wanda. You saw her differently but couldn't quite tell how. Sometimes it was as though the unplaceable emotion you had towards her from from start spiked and other times you were purely confused.

It was always most prominent after she made you crash over the edge of bliss or when she came undone beneath you. Those moments when your bodies went limp and you were caught up in each other's embrace because you didn't have the energy to move. Hearing her exhausted breathing match her rising and falling chest and faint heartbeat if you had your head on her chest. Those tender moments were the ones that caught you off guard.

You refused to make a big deal out of it though. You refused to investigate your feelings or even acknowledge them. What you had with Wanda was the most efficient thing you could do. You didn't want to muck it up but you knew it couldn't go on forever. Another labelless feeling emerged at that thought.

Natasha was the only one who knew what you were doing. Neither of you told her, the spy was able to figure it all out on her own quickly and confronted you both about it once, only saying to be careful. That was the only time she addressed it verbally but you could always feel her watching you both carefully when you trained.

You thought it was going great. You and Wanda had finally been cleared for a mission that you would both be on, the team certainly needed the man power. That was until Nat told you otherwise.

"What do you mean I'm not going?!" You exclaimed across the room. You had seen Nat in the meeting room looking up something on her tablet and had gone in to enquire something about the mission that was long forgotten.

"I've thought about it and you and Wanda still aren't deemed the most reliable when put together for a mission, with this one being as important as it is we can't afford to make mistakes." Natasha sighed.

"So why don't you take Wanda off the mission? I have more experience."

"Her powers are perfectly fitted to this mission, we need her."

"And not me." You knew you came across as petty, but you had been dying to go back into the field.

"Y/n." Nat tried but you scoffed and glared at the screens with those assigned to the mission. Your eyes found Wanda's picture first and your jaw clenched at the sight of her ridiculously attractive face.

"What did she say to you?" You demanded as something clicked in your brain.

"She didn't say anything, this is my judgement." Natasha began but you didn't buy it.

"We both know if it was you you would have told me as soon as you decided it. You had no issue with me and Wanda being on this mission before. Hell, you cleared us both for the field." Nat glanced down at her tablet guiltily as she searched her brain for another hopeless lie.

"This is unbelievable." You scoffed and turned sharply on your heels to storm out of the room, ignoring your name being called by Nat.

You soon found Wanda in the kitchen making herself a coffee as she hummed softly. You willed your brain to ignore the warmth you got from seeing the redhead in her own, peaceful world.

"Do you have a problem with me?" You demanded, snapping her out of her trance. She visibly figited when she saw you approach her and lean on the edge of the kitchen island on you hands with an expectant look.

"No?" She said, seeming unsure.

"Don't you fucking lie to me." She seemed startled by your increasing aggression.

"What are you talking about?" She asked as she stirred her drink.

"Don't play dumb with me, Maximoff. You got me off the mission!" Wanda stopped her movements as she froze, clearly caught off guard by your discovery. Given how Nat had acted you guessed you weren't meant to find out it was Wanda who said something.

"It's for the best." She finally said but avoided your eye.

"It is not your place to decide what's best for me, you don't get to do that." You argued.

"There should only be a few people on the mission." She tried.

"I know that, I've seen the intel. But we already discussed that those people should be powered. Why am I being taken off?" You demanded again.

"It's dangerous." She muttered as she stared down at her drink.

"It's my fucking job. You think I don't know that."

"Of course you do, but there's a bigger risk than the usual missions we've been on. A bigger risk of you getting hurt." She muttered the last bit, like she wasn't entirely sure she wanted you to hear her. Granted, Wanda showing concern for your safety was new.

"Any one of us could get hurt." You said, lowering your voice marginally.

"But it's you I'm worried about." She insisted. It was your turn to become uncomfortable, shifting slightly under her gaze that held something new.

"I can take care of myself." You said as you crossed your arms, feeling a sudden defensive need to protect yourself.

"I know... but I care about you." You exhaled slowly, becoming increasingly uncomfortable at the tone of her voice. "If something happened to you..." She continued, "I don't know what I would do." Her voice was barely above a whisper, the softness laced in it undeniable. It sparked something in you. Something you didn't want to accept.

"Good luck on your mission, Maximoff." You said through gritted teeth and went to leave but Wanda was behind you instantly and took ahold of your hand to pull you back.

"Wait, I wasn't done-"

"Well I am." You snapped and yanked your hand out of her grip.

"What..?" She said slowly.

"If you don't want to work with me then we won't, no need to keep fucking anymore." You huffed and went to walk away.

"That wasn't what I-"

"Stop!" It wasn't a cry of anger. It was pure desperation. Your pleading look took Wanda by surprise and pained her to see. "Just stop before you say something you can't unsay." You said shakily. Your unspoken message was received. You didn't want to hear about Wanda's feelings towards you. She just didn't know it was because you were afraid that it would uncover what you had been feeling all along. You couldn't handle it. You were scared.

Wanda nodded, defeated, and let you go. You were filled with grief as you walked away, your footsteps feeling heavier than usual. You wanted to look back, to go back to her. But you couldn't.

*

You distracted yourself with a particularly ruthless training session the day of Wanda's mission. Carol showed you no mercy in sparring, weight lifting and boxing - even encouraging power use every now and then. But your mind still wandered to the redhead the way it usually did.

When you finally collapsed on the mat in defeat Carol chuckled and tossed you your waterbottle before encouraging an ice bath and strolling out of the gym for her evening flight.

You stayed on the floor for a while after you finished your water, only stopping staring up at the ceiling when Nat's outline blocked the lights. You sat up and looked at her hopefully, seeing that she was back from monitoring the mission and didn't seem distraught or upset.

"How did it go?" You asked as she sat down across from you.

"It was a success." She said but she didn't seem all that happy.

"And everyone's okay?" You asked cautiously. Nat gave a half shug and sighed lightly.

"There was ice - a lot if it and it was so cold. Dangerously cold." Nat started. You tried not to clench your jaw or show any signs of annoyance, knowing there was no need to point out that mission was fitted for you and your powers that would have guaranteed everyone's safety.

"Wanda got a little cut up, it was impossible to fight on that ground." You eyed the door and bit your lip, refraining from giving in to the urge to go see her.

"She doesn't want to talk to anyone right now, but she needs seeing to the cut." Nat said as she placed a first aid kit down infront of you. She was back already? And why did you have the kit?

"She won't see anyone either." Nat said before you could verbally question her. It took a moment for you to understand what she was saying.

"I don't think she wants to see me, Nat." You said as you pushed it back her way only for her to toss it into your lap.

"Goddmit, y/n. Can you two stop dancing around each other and actually talk?!" She exclaimed.

"We tried that-"

"Talking, y/n, not shouting or arguing. Talking." She said firmly and got up before you could protest further.

You pondered over what Natasha said for a while. You knew she had a good point, that talking was exactly what you should have done from the start, but it was just another thing that frightened you.

"Your job is facing your fears." You muttered aloud to yourself.

You finally got up from the ground, first aid kit in hand, and trudged along the compound towards Wanda's room. You tried to figure out what you could say on the way. But it all came out a jumbled mess that made no sense. Multiple times you stopped in the hallways and considered turning back before convincing yourself to keep going.

You knocked softly on Wanda's door and was surprised that it opened for you. The redhead in question was sat on her bed with a pillow in her lap, fiddling with her hands the way she always did when she was anxious or deep in thought. That evening it was both.

She glanced up at you as you closed the door but turned back to her pillow quickly when you gave her a short smile that didn't quite meet your eyes.

Regardless, you cautiously walked towards her bed and sat down next to her with the small box between you. You brought one of your legs up under you so you could face Wanda and eyed the cut above her eyebrow in concern. She still didn't say anything, neither did you.

You opened up the small box and got out a pack of wound closure strips and carefully unwrapped one. Wanda didn't object to you gently holding the area around her cut as you placed the strip on and lightly smoothed over the edges until you were sure it would stay on.

"I let my emotions cloud my judgement." She mumbled as you prepped another strip.

"It happens to all of us." You said.

"But I didn't listen to you. I should have." You sighed and stopped unwrapping the strip to look up at the redhead and watch her closely. She looked back at you with a guilty and pained expression that was full of regret.

"Yeah." You nodded slowly as you went back to the medical tape and raised your hands to put it on but the Sokovian held your wrist to stop you. "What's done is done, so just let me put these on and we're good." You said but she still didn't let go.

"Just like that?" She questioned.

"The mission was a success. If I'd had been there you wouldn't have gotten hurt, that's all."

"You were really mad though." She continued and you put your hands down to rest them, not failing to notice that Wanda was still holding your wrist but with a much lighter grip.

"It's hard to stay mad at you." You admitted.

"You've always been mad at me."

"Well it wasn't exactly like you were the friendliest person to me." You pointed out. "I was never mad at you, Wanda. I just hated that... that you made me feel something I've never trusted, so I didn't trust you. It was never your fault, I was unfair." You admitted as you stared down at the tape the whole time, afraid to meet the redhead's eyes.

"What did you feel?" Wanda asked, her voice void of emotion making it more difficult for you to say. You gulped as you continued to stare at the tape, willing yourself to give Wanda the answer she needed. The answer she deserved.

"Love." You voice shook. "I loved... love you." You were shaking more as you finally looked up at Wanda. Her eyes were wide and her lips slightly parted like there was a million thoughts trying to be heard but without the ability to.

She didn't say anything for a while. A long while. She stared at you in disbelief then at her pillow as though it would give her all the answers.

Tears rushed to your eyes that you tried to blink away as your head swam with curses to yourself for admitting your feelings. You had opened up and been vulnerable to Wanda, and the result was the exact reason you had sworn to never do it again.

Once you were sure she wasn't going to say anything to you, you took it as your cue to leave. To leave so Wanda could prepare her rejection speech for you. However, as soon as you put your hand to the door she spoke out.

"Please don't go."

You turned around slowly and met her light brown eyes you had always found impossible not to get lost in when you had your fingers or tongue inside her. You timidly went back to the bed and paused before sitting down next to her, facing the wall instead of her this time.

"I thought it was one sided." She started and you felt yourself begin to shake with nerves again. "I thought you didn't love me back." You looked to Wanda quickly and searched her features for any signs of a lie, any signs that she was setting you up to push you down but she was gazing back at you longingly with tears glistening in her eyes.

"When you confronted me about the mission, I was going to say it then, you knew that." You squeezed your eyes shut and nodded, remembering the fear you felt in that moment.

"I wasn't ready, I thought I wouldn't ever be but," You took a deep breath "I want to try, for you." You took ahold of Wanda's hand to reiterate your point. "I care about you too Wanda, so much. More than I could ever express or even handle and I didn't know what to do about it. I mean we've tried a fair few things now," You both laughed a little, "but it I don't think any of them are going to work as well as accepting it and...and I don't know." You looked to her for guidance because fuck did you need it. You needed Wanda to guide you down whatever path you chose to take, as long as she was there with you.

"Maybe we could start with something small." She suggested with a small smile that made her eyes shine.

"Like a coffee date?" You tried.

"Exactly like that." She confirmed, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Then I'll pick you up around 2." You said cheesily making Wanda laugh. "But first, I have to finish tending to this cut." You declared as you turned around to face her entirely and crossed your legs under you, pausing for a moment to give Wanda a short and sweet kiss.

[feyre-darling92]

The little secret

 Cassian Andor x reader

Warnings: fluff, brief mention of death, bad writing, let me know if I missed anything

Word count: 653

For the first time in weeks, you and Cassian had a day off. And of course, you tried to spend it to the fullest.

This meant breakfast in bed, which almost ended up in a disaster, but of course, you didn’t care, a nice morning walk, your hand in his holding tight and never letting go, a great lunch at a local restaurant, and again another walk this time at the sunset.

You watched this wonderful view sitting against a tree your back against his chest, his arms wrapped around you.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” you almost whispered slightly turning your head to face him.

“Yeah, but I know someone more beautiful” he smiled looking into your eyes.

You looked at his. In the brown color, there were many more, the sunset reflecting into them, making you want to get lost in them.

“After my parents died” you sighed “After their funeral, it was the only thing that helped me calm down”

Your husband rested his chin on the top of your head after gently placing a kiss on your head.

“I didn’t know that. I am sorry”

“It’s ok. I want to think that they’re looking after us”

“Yeah, I think so too”

“Also, my mother had already loved you”

“What?” he laughed.

“Yeah, she wanted me to marry you” you smiled at the memory.

Your parents were at the resistance and died after an attack, but not before they had met Cassian.

It was your first mission together and before you left your mother had come to say goodbye. It was something she always did.

After she saw you and the Captain she teased you a lot about how suitable you were for each other etc.

“Why did you keep it a secret?” His voice put you out of your thoughts.

“I don’t know. I just wish she had seen us at our wedding” a tear ran down your cheek.

Cassian gently brushed it away and kissed your forehead.

“Do you remember our wedding day?” he grinned and you laughed.

This wedding had started on the wrong foot.

You had arranged your wedding in a small forest next to the base. There was only you and Cassian, K2 of course, and a couple of close friends.

K2 was responsible for the wedding rings and somehow he managed to lose them.

Cassian learned it and started threatening the robot that he would reprogram it and you couldn’t stop laughing.

You finally found them.

You almost forgot your vows, and by speaking from your heart you made both you and Cassian cry, then he gave you the wrong hand to put the ring on and you both burst laughing.

In the end, K2 gave the weirdest and most emotional speech a droid could give reminding you of all the times you had fought about a plan or how awkward you two were.

“K2 spoke from the heart” you laughed.

“Honey, he doesn’t have a heart!” he placed a strand of your hair behind your ear,

“That’s why it was a bit weird. But, hey! I told you a secret you must tell me one too!”

“Alright,” he sighed. “Let’s see, um- do you remember a mission before we were together when I punched a guy?”

“Yeah” you replied a bit suspiciously.

“He said that you were very beautiful. I said that you had a boyfriend, he replied that he didn’t see him around and it would be ok”

“Maker did you do that?” you asked surprised.

“I- he was- he started it!”

“Oh, I don’t believe you Cassian. You could just tell me”

“It was one way to show you that I loved you”

“Really? You know you might need some lessons about how to express your feelings” you joked and he lifted you up making you scream.

“CASSIAN JERON ANDOR PUT ME DOWN”

“Nope!” he grinned.

“Maker, I love you”

“I love you too”

[the-bau-quinjet]

Seven Drinks

Bucky x f!reader

Summary: There's a reason Y/N has never had more than 3 drinks around the other avengers, and they're about to find out.

Warnings: depression, thoughts of suicide, panic attacks, angst (don't worry there's fluff too)

Word Count: 4322

a/n: This is inspired by that episode of Brooklyn 99 with 6 drink Amy (I adopted that concept!) and also Halsey's album Manic. :) I hope you like it. Anything in bold is a lyric from one of the songs on the album!

Please let me know if I messed up the trigger warning tags! I've never written anything like this before, so I just want to make sure I do it right.

Masterlist

"We're having a party tonight." Tony's announcement was met with the usual groans of annoyance at having to schmooze with the typical socialites that attended Tony's party. "You know, you are so ungrateful sometimes. here I am trying to throw you a party, and you're complaining!"

"Tony, we all appreciate the effort you go to, but- at least speaking for me- I don't like people." Y/N's response was effortless, swiftly calming Tony and explaining the reactions.

"That is why-" Tony stuttered when he actually registered the words you said. "That doesn't sound like you at all. And besides, this is a party for just us. It'll be more like team building, but without any pre-planned activities. No "smarmy, rich people" to deal with." He directed his last sentence at Bucky, Steve, and Sam.

The team actually seemed excited at the prospect, albeit skeptical of Tony's motivations.

Unsurprisingly, Nat worked up the courage to question him on it first, "what's the catch?"

"No catch. Just friends, food, and lots of alcohol." His grin quickly shifted into a smirk as the entire room turned to look at you.

You groaned slightly, not wanting all the attention. "Look, there is a reason I cap myself at 3 drinks." Holding up one finger, you started to explain, "One drink Y/N is barely any different from my sober self."

Wanda quickly cut you off, "not true! You get louder." She smirked, happy to have added that tidbit of information.

"Fine." With a laugh, you admitted she was right. "I might get the tiniest bit louder." You held up a second finger to continue your explanation, but were once again cut off.

"It's not a bad thing. It's just your happy, bubbly, and slightly louder than normal personality shining through!" Nat added, seeing an opportunity to tease you for being so positive all the time.

"Thanks Nat. Anyway," emphasizing the rudeness of being interrupted twice, you continued, "two drink Y/N is more touchy feely than normal. Not in a creepy way though!"

"I love two drink Y/N. She gives the best hugs!" Thor eagerly added to the conversation, glad to have dropped by when he did.

"Thanks Thor." With a small smile in his direction, you held up a third finger. "Three drink Y/N is the perfect amount of just past tipsy to have fun without doing anything extremely embarrassing. It makes the most sense to stop there." You finished her little speech with your typical smile and a resolute nod of your head.

"Seriously, you need to relax. Just let loose this one time!" Sam tried to encourage you. With the eyes of nearly every avenger set on you, your resolve didn't last very long.

"Fine! Maybe I'll have a fourth drink." You were met with cheers as you rose from your spot on the couch, trying to prepare for the night that was to come.

--

As soon as you stepped off the elevator, you had a drink in your hand. Clearly your friends were going to make sure you got a fourth drink. even Steve seemed excited when he saw you, although his golden boy personality didn't disappear completely.

"You sure about this? I don't want you to feel pressured!" Bucky nodded, weirdly enthusiastically, before adding, "Yeah doll, don't drink more than you want to."

"You two are too sweet. Sam's right, but don't tell him I said that." You winked at the two super soldiers, emphasizing the joke. "I should let myself relax sometimes. I'm in a safe place, with friends who won't let anything happen to me. What could a few more drinks really do?" You couldn't help but smile at how true that was. You were surrounded by people who care about you.

"Oh, so now it's a few more drinks? What are we talking here, six drink Y/N? Seven?" Bucky teased.

"You'll have to wait and see, Ducky." You teased right back, knowing how flustered he got at the pet name. Steve laughed at his friend as you walked away, ready for your second drink.

--

Before long, you had your fourth drink in your hand. It was slightly odd how literally everyone was staring at you, but your were three drink Y/N at the time, so you were drunk enough not to care.

You downed the fourth drink, unprepared for the consequences.

"So, Y/N... how do you feel?" Clint braved the waters, everyone eagerly awaiting your reaction.

"That is so nice of you to ask! I feel great! I don't think I've ever been this happy." You jumped up and down, hugging Clint with a huge smile on your face.

"How did you get even happier?" Tony chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

"Do you not like it?" Like a switch had been flipped, you were nearly crying.

"What?! No!" Tony was so taken aback at the tears pooling in your eyes, he froze, unsure how to fix it. He looked around the room for help, but everyone else was just as shocked as him.

"I'll fix it!" You were at the bar, fixing another drink before anyone fully comprehended your mood swing.

You walked back up to the group, sipping from your fifth drink as if nothing happened. "What?" You questioned the odd looks, but before receiving an answer you squealed, again jumping up and down. "Let's dance!" You turned around, ready to move to the more open area before looking back over your shoulder, "Wanda! Nat! Pepper! Come on!"

The women shared a look, ultimately shrugging before joining you on the makeshift dance floor.

-

"Bucky, you've been staring at her for 20 straight minutes. When are you finally gonna talk to her?" Steve couldn't help but pester him about his feelings.

"I can't help it. I've never seen her dance so much. I mean, I know she's always happy, but this is a whole new level." He didn't take his eyes off of you, even when he was responding. "I can't tell her tonight, though. This is the most she's had to drink in years."

He watched as you moved back over to the bar, needing another drink after dancing so much.

"Here we go, six drink Y/N." Bucky gestured to the bar. Steve shook his head, but allowed the change of topic.

-

About five minutes after your sixth drink, you were somehow bounding around with even more energy. You were nearly running around the room, trying to talk to everyone at once.

"Ducky! Have I ever told you I took gymnastics lessons for 7 years when I was younger?" You were bouncing with pent up energy, excited to be sharing more information about yourself.

"No, you've actually never mentioned that." He smiled, enraptured by your childlike enthusiasm, so enraptured that he didn't notice the mischief in your eyes.

"Well, I did! Watch this." You handed a confused Bucky your now empty glass, turning and throwing your arms up. Bucky realized two late what was happening, and with both yours and his glasses in his hands, he couldn't physically stop you.

"Y/N, wait!" His shout had everyone turn and look as you flawlessly executed two cartwheels in a row.

Bucky would swear your smile got even bigger as you turned around to look at him again.

"Normally I can do more, but" you hiccuped, then lowered your voice to a really terrible whisper, "I'm a little drunk." You leaned into him, laughing as if you just told a joke.

Wanda walked up to you with a seventh drink, hoping seven drink Y/N had a little less energy, but happy to see you having so much fun. "Here ya go! One more of your favorites, just like you asked."

"Thank youuuuuu!" You shifted to hug Wanda, leaving Bucky to miss your added warmth.

-

You sipped your seventh drink slower than the rest, quickly running out of energy. Sliding the empty glass across the bar, you slipped out of the party unnoticed, making your way to the kitchen for some pickles- your favorite drunk food.

Your seventh drink hit you just after you opened the pickles. Gone was the happy, bubbly persona you showed the world. The mask slipped away, leaving you alone to contemplate your life choices.

You made your way to to the lounge just outside of the kitchen, choosing to lay on the floor behind the couch and stare out of the large floor to ceiling windows.

-

"Where's Y/N?" Bucky glanced around the room, an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

"Huh? Oh, she said she wanted a snack." A very drunk Wanda turned to look at where the food was set up, scrunching her face in confusion when she couldn't find you. "Weird. Maybe she went to the bathroom?"

Bucky, having noticed your absence 8 minutes ago, didn't think you left for a bathroom break. "Maybe." Plus, you always took the girls to the bathroom with you. His eyes flitted about the room, taking one more glance before deciding to go look for you.

He decided to head for the kitchen since Wanda said you wanted a snack. He laughed at the open jar of pickles, knowing you at least passed through this room. He put the pickles away before popping his head into the lounge area.

"Y/N?" He called out, figuring this was the most likely location for you to end up.

You hummed in response, not moving from your spot on the floor. Bucky walked further into the room, slightly confused as to why he could hear you but not see you. That is, until he realized you were laying on the floor behind the couch.

"Why are you on the floor?" He smiled when he found you.

"I'm just looking at the sky." Your voice held a melancholy air as it floated through the room. Bucky's smile faltered, not used to hearing you sad. In the three years he's known you, he's only ever seen you sad because of a movie or tv show. Otherwise, you were quite literally always happy.

"Why-" he faltered, unsure how to check on you. "Is everything okay?" he nearly choked the words out, feeling slightly stressed at your sudden gloominess.

"Yeah." You took a deep breath, slowly letting it out in a deep sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... I don't know." You sigh again, still looking at the sky.

Bucky chances another question, wanting to get you talking since you're acting so off. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel... so sorry." You words were so soft that Bucky could barely hear them.

"Sorry?" He tried to hide his confusion, matching your soft tone as he sat down a few feet away from you. "About what doll?"

"Just... because I feel so sad." Tears pooled in your eyes, but you didn't stop staring at the sky.

"What are you sad about?" It's taking everything in him for Bucky not to hold you right now. He doesn't want to make you even more upset, especially because he's never seen you like this.

"No one around me knows who I am..." He watched as a tear rolled down your cheek, shining in the light from the moon.

Bucky moves closer, just close enough for him to reach out and hold your hand. You squeeze it, instant relief flooding through him that he hasn't crossed any boundaries.

He goes to speak, but you cut him off. "I'm not breaking. I won't take it. And I won't ever feel this way again." Your voice is harder, as if your angry with yourself.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay to have feelings. You're allowed to feel like this. Don't push it away. Talk to me. Why don't you think anyone knows who you are? We're all here for you, Y/N." He rubs his thumb over the back of your hand, trying to convey how serious he is.

You let out a dry laugh, wiping the the tears from your cheek. "My self preservation..." Bucky can tell there's more to, choosing to wait for you to continue. "All of my reservations..." You sigh again, sitting up, you scoot closer until you can lean your forehead against his shoulder. "I bottle it up. I'm my own biggest enemy." You let out another dry laugh, shaking your head without moving it from its resting place on Bucky's shoulder.

Bucky wraps his arm around you and leans his cheek against your head. "Take your time. You can talk to me." He whispered, trying to keep you talking without getting mad at yourself again.

"Well, I'd like to tell you that my sky is not blue, it's violent rain." The sounds of your sniffles break his heart. "I just pretend everything's fine because that's what I had to do when I was younger." Rather then interrupting, Bucky continues to rub small circles on your hand and your back, encouraging you to continue when you're ready. "Can I tell you a story? I... I think it'll help explain some of it."

"Of course. Anything you need, doll." He curses himself for the pet name, not wanting you to think he's joking. He just can't help it when it comes to you.

"Thank you, ducky." You chuckle, but your words are just as sincere as his. "You know I have two sisters, and I love them with all my heart, but sometimes growing up with them was hard. My older sister, she put so much pressure on herself to succeed. And, she did. She was so good at everything she did, that I felt like I had to be just as perfect.

With my younger sister, it was like it was effortless. She put just as much, if not more pressure on herself. but, she could do anything she tried to, with almost no learning curve. I always felt this crazy amount of pressure to be just as good.

My parents, they didn't really help with that. I mean, they were so supportive and I'm so grateful to them, but it was a lot of pressure. The summer between my junior and senior year of college, I wanted to get an internship. Ya know, to get some experience. It would set me up better for getting a job after graduation.

I spent months looking and applying, but nothing was working out. So, I went home for the summer. My mom would come home everyday and ask me if I got a job yet.

I spent nearly every waking hour looking for a job, even just a part time one for the summer. So one day, when we sat down for dinner and she asked if I got a job yet..."

Bucky could feel how tense you were telling this story, but he knew you needed to get it out.

"I told her, 'no, not yet' and she just seemed so disappointed. She asked if I was even applying and I snapped.

I yelled at her, something that had never really happened before. I told her I was trying. I was doing everything I could. She yelled at me for yelling and said it wasn't unreasonable to ask for updates.

I yelled right back. I kept saying I spend all day everyday trying and just when I finally get a break, she walks in and brings it all up again. I was stressed enough without her constant reminders.

I ended up running away from the table, in tears. I hid in the bathroom, there... there was a pair of scissors on the counter and I really thought about killing myself that day."

The tears are pouring out of you at this point. Bucky threw caution to the wind. He picked you up, maneuvering you to sit across his lap and lean your head on his chest. He kept rubbing circles into your back, murmuring words of encouragement.

"My younger sister tried to check on me, but I wouldn't open the door. My mom stomped down the hallway to her bedroom. I was full on having a panic attack in the hallway bathroom. I think I stayed in there for an hour before I went back to the dinner table.

My dad was in the kitchen. He put my plate in the microwave to heat up dinner for me. I ate through near constant tears, it only got worse every time he tried to ask me what happened. Why I snapped like that.

I wanted to apologize to my mom for yelling, so after I ate I went to her room. I knocked, and when she told me to come in I opened the door. I just remember her looking so angry.

I apologized. I told her I was sorry for yelling. She said something about not being unreasonable again. I cried again. When she asked what was wrong, I told her I was scared.

I couldn't put it into words though, so when she asked me 'of what?' I just shrugged. Then, she asked me if I was on my period.

God. I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell at her again, To make her understand 'I only wanna die some days. But if I decide to break, who will fill the empty space?' I decided that day that I would never try to tell anyone how I actually felt."

Bucky holds you as you cry. You're not sure how long it's been when you can finally breathe enough to talk again.

"I just, so many people have bigger problems then me. I grew up in a loving household. I went to college and made friends. I got a job after I graduated. So why am I so sad sometimes? I just wanna scream but what’s the use? At night, I lay awake and I stare at the door, I just can’t take it no more."

Bucky continues comforting you when he speaks again. "Just because other people have problems, doesn't mean yours are irrelevant. You are 100% allowed to feel however you feel, even if it seems like there's no reason for it. Have you ever thought about talking to someone about all of this? I know you just said you haven't told anyone how you actually feel for years, but I think it could help." He smiled nervously when you raised your head to look at him.

"I have actually. I joked about it a lot with my roommate right out of college. I always used to say 'everybody needs therapy' as a joke. Of course, I meant it. Most people probably do need therapy." You laughed, moving your arms around Bucky's neck to hug him. "Thank you for listening to me. I like talking to you."

Of course, Bucky noticed your smile didn't reach your eyes. He was confident in his words when he spoke again. "You can always talk to me. I'll always be there to listen." He followed that with a less confident "What's been bothering you today?"

"Oh, nothing that serious. It's just all pent up inside, ya know?" You smiled again, hiding your face so he couldn't see your lies.

Of course, he could still hear it in your voice. "Y/N, you can tell me. I want to be here for you."

"I... It's just, my insecurities are hurting me." You laughed at yourself. "Here we go with the fucking riddles, again. On the plus side, I think I've cried so much I'm back to one drink Y/N."

"Well, it has been 3 hours since I left to come find you." You were grateful for Bucky's joke, needing something to lift the mood a bit. "But, don't try and change the subject. I still want to know what's got you all sad." His words were light, but you knew how serious he was.

You took a deep breath, burying your head in his neck. "How could somebody ever love me?" You spoke into his shirt, not moving your head back even an inch.

"You know I can't understand you when you talk into my neck like that." Bucky tried joking, but even he knew it would do little to calm your fears.

You moved back, lips still grazing his skin when you repeated yourself, "how could somebody ever love me?"

Bucky wanted to scream. He wanted to tell you how much he loves you. He would gladly spend every day of his life loving you, but he didn't think this was the right time. Not when you just poured your heart out to him. So he settled for the almost truth.

"Anyone would be lucky to love you. You are selfless. You put everyone else first, no matter what. You always make sure everyone has a reason to smile, even when things aren't going right. You tell the best jokes. You're great at cuddling." He squeezes you closer to him, emphasizing the point. "You are beautiful, inside and out. Everyone who comes into contact with you automatically has a better day. You are incredibly strong and independent. I've never met anyone so incredibly good. Even Steve. Anyone would be lucky to be loved by you."

His words brought more tears to your eyes, pooling in the corners. "Then how come everyone that I’ve dated says they hate it cause they don’t know what to do with me? I feel broken."

"They were all idiots. You're not broken. Not even a little bit. You're learning how to express your feelings. You just need someone who would take it slow." He pressed a kiss to your forehead, struggling not to tell you everything.

"I wonder if you’d take it slow." Your eyes go wide when that slips out. You hadn't meant to make things uncomfortable. One look at Bucky's face has you freaking out. He looks stunned. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to say that. It just slipped out! Oh god, you've been there for me all night and I go and fuck it up by admitting I'm in love with you."

Your eyes grow even larger. You would move out of his lap, but his arms are still holding you in place. "Shit! Maybe I'm still drunk because apparently I have no filter." You say the last part more to yourself, but he can still hear you.

"Y/N?" Your name comes out of his mouth in a soft whisper.

"Yes?" You cringe internally at messing everything up.

"I would take it slow." He smiles, leaning his forehead against yours while he waits for you to absorb his words.

"Yeah?" You whisper back, a smile ghosting your lips.

"Yeah." You both lean in, exchanging soft, slow kisses and sleepy smiles.

--

The two of you ended up falling asleep leaning against the back of the couch. The sun streaming through the windows, combined with the noise of the other avengers in the kitchen, wakes you up.

You nudge Bucky, grinning when he pulls you closer.

"C'mon. Let's get some breakfast." He groans again, but eventually stands up.

The two of you walk into the nearly full kitchen, surprising everyone by coming from the lounge rather than the elevators. They share amused expressions, unaware of the emotional hurdles you jumped last night.

You head right for Sam, hugging him tightly before moving on to hug everyone else.

"I just wanted to thank you all. For encouraging me to live a little last night, but also for being there for me." Tears spring to your eyes again, shocking everyone but Bucky. "You're all like a family to me and I'm so glad I have you all to lean on." You made your way back to Bucky, leaning into his side while he poured both of you some cereal.

You smile when you look at him, kissing his cheek before sliding into the stool next to his.

As if broken out of a day dream, Sam sputters out a question. "What the hell did seven drink Y/N do last night?" Thrown off both by your behaviour with Bucky and the short emotional speech.

"Oh, seven drink Y/N is an emotional little bitch. I think I cried eight years of suppressed tears." You laughed, grinning at Bucky when he squeezed your hand. "Also, I think I need a therapist." Your casual admission has Tony spitting out his breakfast.

"What the hell happened last night after you disappeared from the party?" He guffaws, trying to put the pieces together.

"Also, why aren't you even a little bit hungover?" Nat chimed in, upset at missing out on seeing you anything but cheery.

"Well, to answer Nat first, I don't get hungover. Never have, even the one time I blackout out." You shrugged at everyone's slightly jealous expressions. "To answer Tony, I had an emotional breakthrough. Bucky helped me talk through it, something I never thought I'd be able to do. Long story short, i'm going to learn how to share my feelings instead of suppressing them all."

"Suppressing them? What are you talking about? I've literally never felt anything but happiness from you before?" Wanda questioned the new development.

"Well, that's because I'm really good at hiding how I feel. I'd rather not go through it all again, so just watch the security footage from the lounge last night, yeah? I want you all to know, even if it took seven drink Y/N to share it." You quickly finished eating, pulling Bucky to the doorway.

"While you do that, we're going out. Bye!" Before they could question anything else, you ran to the elevator, dragging a very willing Bucky behind you.

"We're going out?" He questioned when the elevator doors shut.

"Yep. Get dressed, I want to see all your favorite places in New York. Even if they're different now. Take me to all your favorite spots." You both smiled, sharing another soft kiss before parting to change for the day.

"Hey," Bucky called, causing you to turn over your shoulder, "I love you."

"I love you too."

[sunder-soul]

As requested, a Part II to the prompt from @riddles-wifey​​ about jealous Tom!

PART I HERE! 💖

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.

Jealousy

Summary: Reader tries to avoid Tom following their strange confrontation, fails miserable, a very different kind of confrontation ensues.

Word count: 1.5k Content warning: making out, nothing too serious.

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.

“Something weird happened,” you say bluntly, falling into the seat next to Margot in Transfiguration the next morning.

She immediately looks up from her textbook.

“With Riddle,” you add quietly, glancing around the classroom to check for onlookers and potential eavesdroppers.

Margot’s brows shoot up and a wide grin splits her face. “Are you serious?” she whispers excitedly, leaning in.

“Yeah,” you mutter, pulling out your Transfiguration textbook and some parchment. “I think he thought that me and Varrowe were dating…”

“And?” Margot says immediately, so focused on you that she doesn’t notice Dumbledore stride into the room (which is rather impressive considering he’s dressed in vibrant lime green robes with glittering gold fastenings.)

“He got all mad last night when he saw us together, but then when I told him that I was Varrowe’s tutor, he…” You trail off, twirling your quill in your fingers, very unsure how to even describe what had happened.

“Yes?” Margot prompts, still grinning.

“He got all up close and… intense,” you mumble with a wave of your hand, feeling your cheeks grow warm.

Margot looks delighted. “And?”

“And nothing,” you shrug, dejectedly writing the date at the top of your parchment. “After that he just… left.”

“Sweet Snidgets above,” Margot says, shaking her head with a wry smile on her face. “You snagged Riddle.”

“I haven’t snagged anyone!” you whisper hastily, glancing around again. “And keep your voice down!”

“I’m so proud of you,” she says theatrically, completely ignoring your panic. “Merlin’s beard, wait until poor Olive Hornby finds out, she’s been planning their wedding since first year –”

“She’s not going to find out anything,” you say pointedly, narrowing your eyes, “because there’s nothing to find out!”

“Sure, sure,” Margot winks, “so what are you going to do?”

“Dunno,” you mutter, “I guess just avoid him for the rest of time.”

“Avoid him?” she repeats, looking scandalised. “Are you completely stupid? Why would you –”

“My deepest apologies, Miss Droope,” Dumbledore calls from the front of the room, making the both of you jump and wheel around in your seats as the entire class turns to look at you. “I’m afraid I must interrupt your conversation with the minor inconvenience of today’s lesson,” he continues with a sparkle in his eye. “Perhaps you two might find a time outside of class to continue your discussion.”

“Sorry Professor,” you both mutter, hastily bending over your notes.

Dumbledore resumes the class, but the side-eye grin that Margot shoots you assures you that you are most definitely not off the hook yet.

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ.

Your plan to avoid Riddle works right up until the exact moment that it doesn’t.

It’s a rainy Monday night about a week after the strange conversation with Riddle and you’re holed up in the library with the most gruelling History of Magic assignment you’ve ever had – a sixty inch dissertation on the contributing factors of the Giant Wars.

You throw your quill down and sigh, staring up at the droplets trickling down the dark window and listening to the relentless thrum of the rain. Your eyes are aching and your brain feels like fuzz – it’s definitely time for a break.

You get up and wander down the nearby shelves, vaguely searching for a particular text and fully intending on taking as long as possible to find it, when just like that you round the corner and see Riddle standing in the middle of the aisle.

You freeze.

He hasn’t seen you yet, peering attentively at a text open in one hand as the other traces down its table of contents. You take a slow step back, and right as you think you might get away without drawing his attention, his head swivels around and his eyes flash to yours.

There’s a very loaded pause in which you must look a lot like a deer caught in headlights.

“Evening,” Riddle says smoothly, snapping his book shut with one hand and sliding it back onto the shelf.

“Hi,” you say awkwardly.

“I haven’t seen you around very much lately,” Riddle says casually, leaning against the bookshelf beside him.

“I’ve been busy,” you mutter, avoiding his even gaze as you scan the shelves for the book you’re looking for.

“Oh I’m sure,” he says softly.

You grit your teeth and squint at the books in front of you, determined to ignore him.

“What are you looking for?” Riddle asks.

“Modern Gigantomachy,” you say reluctantly.

“Which edition?”

You glance around at him. He’s still leaning against the bookshelf, looking annoyingly attractive, the waves of his black hair contrasting with his skin, the fine angles of his brows above his dark eyes, the knowing curl on his lips as he watches you –

“Fourth,” you say quickly before you can get too distracted.

Riddle pushes off the bookshelf and is suddenly mere inches in front of you. Your heart immediately lurches as you take an instinctive step away and your back hits the shelf behind you. Riddle delicately arches a brow at your reaction, his eyes fixed on yours as he slowly reaches up to a shelf far above you and slides a book off of it. He hands it to you and you take it automatically.

“Thanks,” you breathe, staring at him wide-eyed.

“Of course,” Riddle says softly.

There’s another silence. Neither of you have moved an inch, and you begin to wonder exactly how many times you’re going to end a hair’s breadth away Riddle before one of you finally caves –

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he murmurs, a smirk building on his lips.

Your heart stops for a second. “You were jealous of Varrowe,” you blurt out.

Riddle’s smirk falls. He lifts a hand to rest on the shelf above your head, leaning over you very unnervingly. “Jealous?” he repeats sharply

“Yeah,” you breathe, slightly horrified that you’d actually said it out loud. “You were.”

Something works in Riddle’s jaw as he glares down at you, and you hug the book he gave you closer to your chest.

“And why would I be jealous of Varrowe?” he whispers.

You blink at him. Riddle is close, too close, his eyes raking across your face as he looms over you, something almost possessive about his hand above your head. There’s no mistaking the sudden shift in the air between you.

You’re leaning up onto the balls of your feet without thinking twice.

Your lips brush against his, so softly that the kiss is barely there, but enough to send your heart hammering as you pull back just far enough to check his reaction. Your cheeks are aflame and your lips are tingling, unable to believe what you’ve just done as the silence stretches on and on, as Riddle stares back at you, frozen in place with something you can’t recognise burning in his dark eyes.

The faintest frown appears between Riddle’s brow, and then slowly, very slowly, he’s leaning down towards you. Your breath hitches. His lips meet yours at the exact same moment that he steps in closer, crowding you back against the shelf, soft and warm, kissing you with a smooth, relentless pressure and you’re leaning up into it without even realising what you’re doing, thoughts swirling, heat on your skin, stomach twisting –

Riddle is pulling the book from your hands and carelessly dropping it to the floor, taking you by the waist and lifting you up as he steps in again, pinning you to against the bookshelf without breaking the kiss. Your hands card into the soft waves of his hair and his grip on your waist tightens as you wrap your legs around him. The first touch of his tongue makes you gasp against his lips, and Riddle’s fingers immediately tangle in your hair to pull you harder against him. Riddle’s mouth is moving against yours, hungry and unyielding, and you’re getting dizzy as heat curls in your stomach –

He pulls away very suddenly. You stare at him in surprise, breathing hard. Riddle’s lips are slick and his eyes have gone black, one of his hands still buried in your hair and the other gripping your hip so tightly that you’re sure that you’ll have bruises in the pattern of his fingers tomorrow.

“We are in the middle of the library,” he murmurs against your lips. It takes a lot to resist shivering at the sound of his voice.

“We… could… go somewhere else…” you manage to say, your heart racing so hard that he can surely hear it.

A small smirk builds on his face. “What about your essay?” he says smoothly, so close that your lips start aching to close the scant distance between you –

“I think technically I just had my textbook confiscated by a prefect,” you whisper with a flicker of a smile, “so there’s my alibi.”

Riddle breathes a laugh, and then his lips are on yours once more.

Thanks for asking for a sequel @bluehydrangea-cherry​ and @the-almond-dinger 💖

[creativeashproductions]

Proceed With Caution // Evan Buckley

IN WHICH: The reader doesn’t expect to become involved in a hostage situation with her fiance’s older sister, the older sister’s best friend and the best friend’s date from hell. With the addition of a SWAT member, how will the taking of dispatch change?

Warnings: Swearing, blood, threats, angst, guns, hostage/kidnapping

Words: 5.9k

A/N: Recently got into the tv show 9-1-1 and completely fell in love with Buck so here I am writing for him as well. This takes place during the season three episode ‘The Taking of Dispatch 9-1-1’. Reader and Buck are already in an established relationship.

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Masterlist

The apartment was quiet as the sound of your keys clattered in the bowl on the countertop. It was pretty early in the morning, so you had no doubts that Buck would be just waking up. On his days off, he would use the first day to catch up on sleep; based on prior times, he would be up in half an hour.

“Buck?” You called out from the kitchen. You heard a groan from the loft where Buck was in the process of waking up, “I forgot to drop off that book Maddie wants to borrow. When I get back, do you want to get breakfast?”

A grumble you somehow translated to approval was what you received in response. You jogged up the stairs to the loft to grab the book from your bookshelf. Buck’s bare leg stretched out from underneath the comforter on your side. The soft sighs Buck made in his sleepy state tugged at your heart; the sighs grew louder when you bent to kiss his head.

“See you in a bit.” You whispered to the sleepy soft male. He sleepily grinned in response before curling into your pillow.

The sound of your footsteps softened on the steps back to the main level of the apartment. Your keys snagged from the bowl before you gently closed the door behind you. The sun was gorgeous to be awake to see and had Buck not worked a long shift, you’d have adored watching it with him.

Your car pulled out of the parking spot in the Los Angeles Service Center’s direction that Maddie worked at. Your lips quirked as the radio spewed out the station that Christopher listened to in the car. You could even pick up the book in the backseat where he called his spot. The book could be found in Buck’s Jeep as well.

It had maybe three days since you’d seen the young Diaz, and damn did you miss the kid. Christopher has his enigmatic quality that demanded you love him for all that made him simply Christopher. The second you’d met him, you knew he would mean a lot to you.

You hummed in time with the song that was currently Christopher’s absolute favourite. Slowly you went from humming to singing along when the light turned green. A handful of songs came and went on the admittedly long drive due to traffic.

It was about forty minutes after leaving your apartment that you parked next to Maddie’s car in the parking lot. Lucy was sitting at the front office with a grin you matched. The woman buzzed you before she clocked out with her reprieve Jake.

“Hey, Sue!” You grinned at the older redhead. Sue had absolutely no problem seeing you, given that you were welcome in the building.

Sue’s first interaction was when you came to the centre to pick up Maddie when she came to work sick. Maddie had managed to keep it under wraps for an hour before Sue caught on. Ever since, Sue was fond of asking Maddie about her brother and you.

“Maddie’s not in just yet.” Sue spoke with a kind smile, “If you’ll excuse me, I have to meet with one of our sit alongs.”

You nodded towards her while beelining for the woman’s bathroom, hoping to catch Maddie after using it. You’d drank too much water on your run earlier this morning. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate in the time you’d entered the bathroom, several things happened. Lucy ended her shift, Jake started his shift, and a group of strangers entered the building.

Your hand went to push open the door when through the crack, you saw two men you’d never seen before. Years of your job gave you enough feeling to know that something wasn’t right. That being said, you eased the door closed and attempted to find a hiding spot.

The garbage was too narrow and had no lid. The few seconds you had left, you glanced up. The ceiling hadn’t been renovated in many years. Rectangular sheets could be raised. Thankful of the rock climbing lessons you’d done with Maddie, you managed to crawl into the ceiling just as the two men entered.

“Nobody’s here.” The one-man with his head as pale and shiny as a cue ball. He gave off the most creepy vibe; the shorter Hispanic man wasn’t as violent looking, “Kinda hoping someone tries something. I’ve wanted to try out this.”

The man waved the large gun in his hand with a sick smile that twisted your stomach. That was the moment you’d realized something was very wrong. The second they left, you gently dropped back on the ground. Your first instinct was to send a message to Athena, but there was a fatal flaw. You’d expected to be in and out of the building quickly, so you’d left your phone in the car.

“Fuck.” You swore. One hand roughly running over your forehead as you contemplated figuring out a plan.

The building had many cameras throughout that you knew the blindspots for. The year after high school and during the summers, you’d worked in the building. Despite having worked here when you were younger, it was never during Sue’s shift. Over the years, you’d come to know the blind spots and a few cameras that were decoys. You even remembered Maddie and her friend Josh complaining about three cameras not fixed yet.

“Think.” You breathed, making a pattern of pacing, “They’ll need a lookout. They’ll take out the security guard first. The front doors are out. It’s a team, so they’ll also need eyes on the building. Terry is definitely a hostage.”

Of course, you’d end up in a volatile situation during the first half of your day before your shift started. The only comforting thing about the situation was the holstered gun on your hip and the badge on your belt. Maybe you should backtrack to why you had a gun and badge; you were an LAPD member, specifically SWAT.

“The changeroom.” You breathed, recalling it was down the hall with no camera. All you needed to do was pretend to be a dispatcher. The changeroom, now mostly a file room, had a few extra maroon and blue uniform shirts.

You timed it. The man holding Sue’s tablet was in the process of talking with his cohort, so you dashed to the room. You took no time in changing into a loose maroon shirt with your thick sweater overtop to hide the gun in the small of your back.

Your holster, badge and personal shirt tucked in the bottom of a box for safekeeping. As soon as you saw your entry, you sat with the group of hostages a hall over. A few looked surprised but let it go when you raised one finger to your lips.

“Y/N? What are you doing here?” Maddie hissed from the other side of a startled Josh. Both of them were surprised at seeing you here, “Oh my god. Buck is going to kill me.”

“I was dropping off your book before I get breakfast with Buck, but it appears my small bladder saved my life.” You snarked with your eyes scanning the room, “What’s going on?”

“That is my date from hell, Greg.” Josh inconspicuously pointed towards the man, clearly giving orders. The anger flared inside you, “You need to get out.”

“Josh, no offence, but I’m an officer with the LAPD. I work with SWAT. I’m your best bet of making it out alive.” You informed the dispatch duo, who went still as Cue Ball patrolled the hallway with a sadistic glint in his eyes.

“They took control of the building for a reason we don’t know about. We’re still working but under strict monitoring. They said it will be an hour, but we’ve seen their faces.”

“No witnesses.” You finished for Maddie with a deep sigh, “Unfortunately I left my phone in the car. Did they take yours-”

“They took Linda’s EpiPen. Of course, we don’t have phones.” Maddie sighed, leaning back to rest her head against the wall. Not even having a SWAT member by her side was comforting; your badge put a more significant target on you.

“We have to warn someone.” Josh mumbled to both Maddie and you, “You’re on shift Y/N?”

“Not for a few hours. I was supposed to drop off the book and get breakfast with Buck before my shift. This was supposed to be five minutes tops, so I left my phone in my car.”

“I already did.” Maddie spoke with a sad look on her face that overtook the fear, “I just hope he gets the message.”

Your hand reached out to squeeze the woman you’d had a hand in raising Buck more than their parents. Maddie had become family when you first started dating Buck. The in-law part of her familial relationship to you never crossed your minds; you were simply sisters to each other.

“Who?”

“Chim. I told him I loved him.” Maddie finished with a teary gaze. It made you sick seeing that look again after Doug.

You remembered seeing that haunted look when she stumbled out of the thicker woods covered in blood. You’d stayed by Athena’s side when Buck clutched her so tight and sobbed with her. It had been before you’d become serious with the man, but it was that frightening day that Buck fell for you. You’d just finished a taxing shift with your team when you heard about Maddie was missing, and Chim was in the hospital. You’d ignored the exhaustion to search high and low through your work contacts before narrowing the search area.

“Good thing Chimney obsesses over the little things.” You spoke, slouching down against the wall, “We’ll get throu-”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” Maddie warned you with her brows furrowed together, and you saw what she was doing. Despite your years of experience and the gun you had, she pushed her fear down behind the concern that a big sister shows her young siblings.

“I won’t.”

At 8am, Buck was just entering the apartment building from grabbing the mail addressed to both you and him when Chim had called.

“Yup, go for Buck.” Buck spoke, opening the door to the apartment he’d only temporarily left. His morning had been late after his long shift the night before. The most productive thing was dressing for his breakfast date with you and grabbing the mail.

“How come 9-1-1 doesn’t respond when I call?” Chimney questioned the younger, now confused male.

“Uh, is that some kind of riddle? Like who watches the watchmen?” Buck asked, closing the door behind him. His eyes scanned around for any indication you’d returned home, but the bowl was vacant of your keys.

“Neither of those things are riddles. Okay, I just tried calling 9-1-1, and I got the high call volume message. Did I miss an earthquake or something?”

“Nope, pretty chill morning.” Buck responded as he closed the fridge door with a bottle of water in hand. The entire conversation wasn’t concerning to him, given that Chimney was often like this.

“Where’s Y/N? She’s the police she’ll know-”

“She’s not home right now. Wait, why are you calling 9-1-1? Is everything okay?” Buck slowly asked with his brows coming together. The sigh of frustration from Chimney was answer enough.

“Your sister said that she loved me.”

“Yeah. Wasn’t that uh, the whole point in that big date you had last night?” Buck inquired on his way to the table. He had a feeling this was going to be a long conversation that would hopefully pass the time until you got home.

“You declare your love, and she declares hers? That’s how it went with Y/N and me.”

“Yeah, I know, okay, but she didn’t, all right? At least not last night. Look, she made this big deal saying that she couldn’t say those words, and then this morning, she blurts them out and hangs up on me.” Chimney speaks, pacing in his own apartment. The side by the side of Chimney and Buck’s separate apartments told different tales of their states.

“It’s still not quite sounding like an emergency.”

“’Cause I sound insane.” Chimney spoke, staring up at the ceiling with a battle in his mind. He wants Buck to talk him out of this, but he also wants Buck to agree with him, “She’s at the call centre. What could happen there? You know what, forget it, I’ll try Y/N again.”

“Again?” Buck questioned just as his co-worker ended the call. Buck tugged his phone away from his ear to stare at it confused.

You always answered the phone if you weren’t working at the moment, but given you still had hours, he found it unsettling. After seeing the news report with the ladder truck on top of him, calls weren’t ignored between you two. That feeling of concern grew when you didn’t answer his call either. Nor the second one.

“Nah, she’s probably talking with Maddie.” Buck spoke, but that second-guessing feeling didn’t dissipate. 

In the call centre, you’d been marched to one of the stations with a deep hope that you’d remember everything. It had been years by then since you’d worked as a dispatcher. It didn’t help with the gunmen patrolling the room.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” You calmly questioned the caller.

“Hi, my cat is up the tree by my house. Could you send someone?”

“Can I get your name?” You went through the motions of getting her name and address before you informed the woman, “Okay, the LAFD and LAPD no longer respond to calls of cats in trees. The cat will make its way down on its own. If the tree is in your backyard, I’d use the time to garden or read a book on this beautiful day.”

“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“It’s no problem. Having a wonderful day Susan.”

In no time at all, you’d been rotated into the board room away from Josh and Maddie. It gave you time to inspect everyone you hadn’t made contact with yet. No one appeared harmed other than in distress with the situation.

“Downtown. They don’t want anyone downtown.” Linda whispered as Maddie was guided onto the floor by the elbow. You’d only gathered her name from her near-silent introduction to you when the hired guns had been far from your area.

“Let’s go.” Greg snapped, roughly pushing you towards the conference room. Something deep in your gut already predicted that someone was going to be stupid.

It was your sharp eyesight catching the minuscule agitation in Greg’s interactions with the Cue Ball guy. The slight tightening of his grip on the gun, the tension in the room growing stifling. And everyone knows that when emotions run high stupid things happen.

“Why do they keep moving us around like this?” The man beside Maddie questioned. He was definitely the most shaken of the group. He was basically shaking like a chihuahua.

“To disorient us.” Maddie spoke, staring at the group monitoring the dispatchers currently in play. Her eyes refused to leave them.

“So, we can’t make a plan.” You finished for your sister-in-law. Objectively out of everyone, Maddie, Sue and you were the most collected individuals for various reasons.

Maddie had lived in a volatile house with a man that could be unpredictable if a situation called for it in his mind. Sue had been working in the centre for years to navigate the emergency while you walked into dangerous situations.

“Jamal.” The shaking man spoke, holding his hand out towards you, “Are you new?”

“No.” You spoke as you shook his hand, “I’m Y/N. Maddie’s sister-in-law. I’m filling in as a favour for Sue.”

The lie slipped off your lips a little too quickly. You decided to come to this hostage situation as if you were undercover. It meant having to ignore that Maddie was in the situation with you.  

“Worst day for a favour.” Jamal snorted with his eyes pinned on one of the armed men holding all your lives in their hands. You’d have spoken, but Jamal checked out mentally from the conversation waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The shoe dropped when the IT Specialist announced numbly, “Jake’s dead. They shot him.”

It didn’t matter how long you’d been working for the LAPD, any death, whether it was a civilian or a criminal, it was still was startling. Jake, the security guard that alternated shifts with Lucy, wasn’t someone you spoke with. He was on shift when you weren’t here or just missed the shift change.

“We need to get a message out.” Jamal spoke, glancing at the only people in the right state of mind, and those were Maddie, Josh and you. Terry had seen the violence these men had no issues with.

“I did.” Josh breathed, thinking of the arguably cute security guard he sometimes liked to stare at, “A woman called about onions in an omelette. I dispatched an officer.”

“To the restaurant?” Maddie inquired with her pinkie connected with yours for comfort. Both of you would prefer your SO’s hand instead.

“Not exactly.” Josh replied, staring at his best friend with a glimpse of hope in his brown eyes.

Hope may be the only way you could get out of this without hurting anyone in your admittedly surface level plan.

“Buck will think something is up.” You added 

Buck had begun pacing the kitchen of the apartment with Chim adamantly telling his friend his plan to go to the centre. Buck had joined Chimney in the concerned department when you had failed to return to the apartment, return calls and to make matters worse, so was Maddie. His texts had gone unanswered as well, not even having the read receipt on.

“She’s not picking up either. I tried Y/N and Josh, but neither replied. When I tried Maddie and Josh, it went straight to voicemail.”

“Now, I’m definitely going.” Chimney announced, shoving his wallet into his pocket just as someone began knocking on his door.

“What if something is wrong? I know Y/N is a member of SWAT but radio silence? No text to let me know she was called in early?” Buck thought aloud with his finger dragging along his thigh, “Maybe we should call the police.”

“I...think someone already did.” Chimney informed Buck as he stared at the sudden appearance of Sergeant Athena Grant at his door.

“What? What do you mean?” Buck hastily questioned, leaning against the kitchen island. He could just faintly hear Athena speaking on Chimney’s end of the phone, “Chimney? What’s going on?”

“Athena was sent to my apartment. Hang on, Buck, I’m just gonna tell Athena what’s going on.”

Buck stepped away from the island to settle on the stairs to the loft, impatiently waiting for Chimney to finish speaking. That fear of losing pieces of his life expanded deep in his gut, just like the times Maddie left in his childhood. That fear of being left behind.

“What’s she’s saying now?”

“She’s making her case.” Chim whispered as he continued to eavesdrop on Athena’s call with her higher-ups, “Now she’s folding like a cheap suit.”

“All right, let me talk to Athena.” Buck demanded antsy to figure out the situation that clearly had something wrong. That fear he’d thought of early flared catching the tail end of Athena’s conversation, “No! No, no. We can’t just send in SWAT. If there is someone inside the call centre doing something, they’ll know we’re onto them.”

Unfortunately, Buck was correct in this thought process, all thanks to living with a SWAT member. He knew these things after the years he’d been with you.

“Maddie? I think I can sneak up to Terry’s computer. Maybe get eyes on the place-”

“No!” Terry nearly shouted, stiffening when Cue Ball hesitated in the doorway at his sudden shouts. You all held your breath for his reaction, but thankfully he was called away by one of the men, “They have-”

“Terry, I need you to calm down. I’m familiar with these types of situations. I’m SWAT. I need to get on top of this. Don’t be a hero.”

Maddie’s head began to shake when your arm was roughly grabbed by Greg, “Your turn.”

You were separated from Josh and Maddie, but instead of being pushed into one of the dispatcher seats, you were pulled to the original hallway.

“I don’t like how friendly you are with them.” Greg spat, shoving you to rest against the wall, “Don’t move.” 

You catch the eyes of Maddie with an apologetic expression before you used the pacing routine to sneak away. You didn’t release your breath until you were attaching your holder to your hip in the change room. By now, your team would be aware that something was wrong, Hondo would be hell-bent on finding you.

Until you had help, you were on your own.

You used each blindspot of the cameras in the halls to the stairwell, and you used a broom to adjust the cameras. The cameras not kept you from view but not appearing suspicious. Once at the floor where Terry was practically always at you softly closed the door. 

You’d only started to sit down when you heard the ding of the elevator, “Shit.”

You slipped into the closest containing extra parts if anything broke. Through the crack, you saw Terry being held at gunpoint. The gunman that had been holding the tablet on the floor, Ellis as you’d heard.

“You’re telling me every cop in the city has just disappeared?” Ellis demanded as Terry, and he disappeared around one of the corners. The tapping of a screen indicating Ellis was searching for something with Terry’s involuntary help.

“I’m telling you, I don’t know!” Terry snapped back, creating even more tension in the room, but Ellis didn’t move to grab his gun.

Ellis appeared to the only one reluctant to discharge your weapon, unlike Cue Ball, who just happened to join the party.

“Figure it out!” Ellis spat, turning on his heel at the sound of approaching footsteps. You could see him roll his eyes at his team member walking into the room.

“What’s going on here?” Cue ball questioned the duo in different kinds of distress, and you swore Cue Ball enjoyed the intimidation from his teammate and the IT specialist.

“That police car’s not the only one that’s gone dark.” Ellis nervously spoke, stiffening for the volatile reaction that one could expect from Foster.

“You think they know we’re here?” 

“Foster, it could be a system glitch.” Ellis offered keeping one eye on Cue Ball while monitoring Terry’s work as well.

Cue Ball spoke a sentence that sent chills up your spine, “Time to cut our losses.”

As Foster and Ellis began going over their personal plans made out of Greg’s knowledge, you noticed Terry glance over. His eyes widened slightly before quickly looking away when you raised a finger across your lips.

“We can go down the back stairs. I have a car waiting around the corner, we split the art up between the five of us, and we go our separate ways.” Foster spoke, revealing his plan to double-cross Greg, which in all honesty made sense. Greg was ill-fitting to be in charge of their operation, unable to control his lackeys.

“I like that part of the deal.” Ellis breathed, skirting around the trigger happy criminal only to halt in his steps, “Wait, you’ve got a car parked down the street? You were always gonna double-cross Greg.”

“You weren’t?”

“If we’re gonna do this, you can’t just sell famous works of art on eBay.”

“You can’t sell them from prison either.”

At that moment, something almost shifted in the area, something that made you pull your gun from your holster. Your body telling you something was about to happen. It happened in a split second. Foster fled the room leaving only Ellis just outside. With Terry frantically shaking his head, you tiptoed to the unsuspecting criminal.

“LAPD!” You shouted, pointing your gun towards the shocked man, “Put the gun down and put your hands up.”

“Aren’t you a dispatcher?” Ellis questioned, blinking in surprise.

“Aren’t you supposed to be intelligent? Next time check the schedule I haven’t worked here in years.” You spat, keeping your gun pointed on him, “Do I say-”

The sound of two guns going off made Terry flinch and scream as he instinctively dropped to the ground. IT was supposed to be safe, but Terry had now heard three gunshots in under two hours. He really didn’t want to see the outcome of the shots.

A moan coaxed Terry to peek out through the privacy glass. Ellis was on the ground while you kept your gun on him. He didn’t see anything else when the power went out. He didn’t see you drop to your knees, but he heard you.

“Terry...get down. Lay on your stomach with your hands insight, and don’t move.” You informed the terrified IT just as the floor was swarmed.

“Put the gun down!” The sound of Tan’s voice was welcoming as you slowly placed the gun on the ground. “25-David I have Y/L/N. The suspect is down, need medical.”

You got back to your feet when Tan nodded his head, “Thank god. There’s a possible body in the IT room along with the It Specialist Terry.”

“You got your badge on you?” Tan questioned as he cuffed the moaning Ellis up, “Street can you escort her down?”

Street nodded from his position, watching Tan’s back before guiding you to the stairs with hawk eyes. Even off duty, you kept your head on a swivel.

“You caused quite the commotion.” Street spoke halfway down the stairs when you barely mumbled. He caught you as you went down like a sack of potatoes, “Y/N!”

“Adrenaline is crashing.” You moaned, looking at your shoulder where the maroon had grown darker, “I think he shot me.”

“26-David I’m in the stairway. Prepare a medic.” Street spoke into his radio before he strapped the gun away and swept you into his arms, “Think you can have my back?”

“When don’t I?” You wheezed, with the sweat starting to bead on your forehead. As you crashed from adrenaline, you barely noticed being placed on the ground at the main entrance.

A paramedic cutting your borrowed shirt to reveal the bullet hole in your shoulder courtesy of Ellis, the only member who’d thought wouldn’t shoot his gun. You could vaguely hear Maddie calling out your name as you were loaded onto a gurney.

“M-Maddie?” You spoke, tilting your head to see Chris holding Maddie back from, “Chris! That’s my sister in law.”

Chris only let Maddie go when Hondo gave the all-clear, and you were so thankful when Maddie’s hand encased yours.

“Don’t close your eyes.” Maddie pleaded sick with the amount of blood on your skin and soaking through the gauze, “Who’s gonna help me put up with my little brother?”

“Buck.” You breathed sluggishly, blinking as the artificial lights changed to natural with the gun shining through the glass front doors.

“You didn’t let me close mine in that ambulance, so I need you to do the same. Don’t close them. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” Maddie cried as an officer pulled her aside as you were stopped. You wouldn’t remember it, but Maddie had to watch as you coded right in front of her.

Maddie had to watch them perform CPR on you and fight for a pulse. She had to think of how’d she’d tell her little brother she’d killed his fiance. The counting of the paramedics sounded as if underwater, and as they did, the world went quiet. Her mind checked out as the trauma settled in.

Maddie stumbled out of the building into a zoo of officers, medics, and news reporters almost robotically. She barely felt Chimney hug her, but she wrapped her arms around him and sobbed.

“It’s all my fault.” Maddie gasped, collapsing against him, “If I had-”

“Maddie?”

Chimney felt Maddie stiffen at the sound of Buck’s voice amidst the multiple voices milling around. Maddie raised her gaze to meet Buck’s blue eyes dripping in relief and question.

“Buck.”

“Maddie, where’s Y/N? Her car…” Buck trailed off, catching the utter heartbreak in his big sister’s eyes. A look he’d come to know in his line of work as a firefighter. The utter devastation that came with watching someone you love die, “No. No.”

“I got a pulse!” Came from the nearest ambulance, and Buck skirted around his sister and Chimney, “Ready to transport!” 

Your eyes slowly blinked at the white ceiling of the ambulance with pain in your midsection courtesy of chest compressions. Breathing came painful, and the bullet wound throbbed, but it all faded when you saw blue eyes above you.

“Buck.” You sobbed, more like groaned, as he was urged to sit on the bench holding your hand, “Maddie?”

“She’s okay. Chim’s got her. Can you keep your eyes on me? I need to see those big beautiful e/c eyes.” Buck soothed, bringing your hand to his lips, “Did I ever tell you my favourite colour?”

Despite Buck’s best attempts, you continued fading in and out of consciousness but continued to be stable. He spoke about the funny video Eddie had shown him of Christopher at the end of their shift last night. He talked about everything and anything under the sun during the short ride to the hospital.

The last thing you saw was Buck being held back as the paramedics pushed the gurney into the ER. Everything turned black.

The beeping was the first thing you heard before your eyes fluttered open to a stark white room and that unmistakable hospital scent. You noticed the second thing as Buck holding your hand in both of his with his forehead pressed against them.

“Buck?” You moaned to the one person you had wished to see. The man whose eyes were bloodshot from crying, “What’s wrong?”

“Your heart stopped beating twice. I thought I was gonna lose you.” Buck cried with his lips pressed against your hand, “I was so worried.”

“Hey. I’m fine. I’m here.” You cooed, tugging one hand away to run through his messy hair with a soft smile. His blue eyes brighten at the familiar feeling of your digits in his hair, “I’m not going anywhere. This isn’t here for decoration.”

His eyes found the ring he’d gently placed back on your finger from when the nurses had removed it. It only left your finger when you were on duty, in which it was slung on a necklace hidden under your uniform.

“Better not be.”

“Does the hospital have a chapel?” You questioned out of the blue leading to Buck snorting as you giggled, “I’m serious. When I was bleeding in that building, all I could think about was you. If Maddie is anything like you, she’s waiting in the waiting room with Chimney.”

“You aren’t wrong. All the chairs are taken. Our family was waiting for you to wake up.” Buck breathed, leaning closer to press a sweet kiss to your lips, “Are you sure?”

“About marrying you?” You softly questioned the man who couldn’t help but believe this was a dream. How he’d somehow got the girl of his dreams to agree to marry his ass, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. All I want to share is your last name for the rest of my life. You are it for me, Evan Buckley. All the flaws you see are beautiful to me.”

“Only you would want to get married after being shot mere hours ago.” Buck chuckled with a sigh pulled from his pink lips, “I’ll get the doctor for you and find out if we can be married here.”

While you were checked out, Buck left the room to go back to the waiting room where the 118 and your co-workers waited. Everyone perked up at his appearance, Christopher asleep on Eddie’s lap.

“Is she okay?” Bobby questioned as the tension in the room grew more and more. It shattered into relief when Buck grinned.

“She’s sore as expected. She’s gonna catch some sleep, but she’d like to see Maddie.” Buck replied, pinning his gaze on his big sister with her curled into Chimney’s body. Her cheeks flooded with tears of absolute relief, “C’mon.”

The waiting room started emptying with Buck’s promise to keep everyone updated, but before Bobby could step away, Buck asked for him.

“Do you need a few days off?” Bobby questioned just as Buck came closer to the seasoned firefighter.

“No. But could you spare an hour?” The expression on Buck’s face was enough for Bobby not to ask any further questions. He simply followed Buck back towards your hospital room, where Maddie and Chim waited.

“What’s going on?” Bobby inquired, with the addition of the hospital assigned Priest holding the standard bible. Chimney could only shrug in response to whatever was going on.

“I know there have been times we haven’t seen eye to eye, but Bobby, you’re like a father to me. You gave me chance after chance when anyone else would have given up. You guided me on how to be a man. Y/N and I would like it if you’d be here for this.”

“Wait, are you getting married? What about the wedding?” Maddie spluttered, flicking her gaze between her brother and you. Her question surprised her boyfriend and Bobby.

“We’ll still have it. But I want to marry her without the pressure of our parents. Just a private ceremony with some of the people that mean the most to us.” Buck answered for the two of you, “Would you stay?”

“Of course.” Maddie softly spoke with a slideshow of memories playing in her mind of watching Buck grow up.

Watching Evan go through all kinds of injuries, all in the name of attention but never getting it the way he deserved it. She remembered giving him advice for asking out Donna and holding him when he was rejected. The little toddler with the impish grin somehow turned into an idiot in the hospital.

Maddie saw the man her little brother had turned into with the help of the 118 and you.

Buck’s fingers made quick work of buttoning his short-sleeve uniform with the sudden appearance of his friend.

“That’s new.” Eddie spoke from his opened locker holding his uniform and a picture of his family on the door. It was a picture of Christopher, Buck, you and Eddie from the zoo a couple months back.

Buck looked over at his best friend, “Hm?”

“The ring.” Eddie snorted dramatically, looking at the ring that had been living on his finger since he married you five days ago, “Did my invite get lost in the mail?”

“Nah, we just got married in the hospital. We’re still planning the wedding to appease both sides of our family. And I promised Christopher he could be in the wedding. With Y/N on medical leave, the planning will be faster. She’s going stir crazy after five days.” Buck finished tucking in the shirt into his work-issued pants. Lastly, he slid his ring onto the metal chain he had bought recently.

Like you did, he would wear it around his neck when working for safety reasons.

“I’m happy for you, man.” Eddie told his friend just as the bell rang, “You’ll have to tell me how you’re liking the married life.”

“But first, we have a job to do.” Buck supplied all the while jogging to suit up in his turnout gear with Hen and Chimney.

[astaroth1357]

Demigod MC Series: Athena

So. I have to deal with the virgin goddesses… By mythos, there really shouldn't ever be children of Artemis, Hestia, or Athena (yes, Athena was a virgin goddess). PJ got past that by making it canon that Annabeth and her siblings were born from cracking open Athena's skull (yes, that's also more or less the canon explanation). They gloss over it real quick but I remember, Rick. I've always remembered and that mental image has haunted me for years...

I can't, in good conscience, ignore the history around Athena's worship (call it an academic restraint) but I REFUSE to do the skull thing. So, since I make the rules here, I'm going with magic adoption. They still get magic powers, they're just more human than demigod. Cool? Cool.

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter, Athena

Lucifer

The human that popped out of the portal seemed to have enough sense not to attack everyone in the room for a change, but even Lucifer could tell that was more of a strategic choice than for lack of ability...

Their very existence was highly unusual… and quite worrisome. He wasn't even aware Athena could have "children" of her own, but apparently she had been taking in some particularly bright humans to raise and train like her own...

Unbeknownst to him, a surprising amount of human scholars, diplomats, and generals have her to thank for their trade… and that alone should speak to the level of intrigue at play here. 

Was this an accident or Athena's attempt to plant an Olympian spy in the Devildom too…? Either way, he didn't trust them from the get go…

Look, Lucifer isn’t stupid. Athena is a goddess of Wisdom and War and war happens on more than just the battlefield… 

Since they've shown up records have been going missing, official documents keep getting misplaced, and he swears that there's some kind of bug in the student council room...!

It's infuriating watching the MC suck up to Diavolo when he's almost certain that they're running their own agenda behind the scenes! And he can't prove any of it!! They cover their tracks too well!

Lucifer has one of those corkboards covered in newspapers and string in a secret wing of the Castle - 100% dedicated to just tracking the MC's activities…. The longer they're there, the more obsessed he becomes...

He swears between Simeon, Solomon, and MC he feels like a shepherd wondering why the sheep are growling… The Devildom has never been in more danger than it is right now... Send help.

Mammon

To be honest, he kind of thought that they were just going to be Satan 2.0 but that's not really true.

They're more than just a book sponge! Though they do read, like a lot. Let’s just say from one schemer to another… Game recognizes Game.

They come up with plans and ideas soooo fast, it’s insane! Honestly, there are times where he has a new money-making plot and he just brings it to the MC first to run it over. 

Nine times out of ten, not only do they sniff out any problems but they have a solution for him in a matter of minutes! His scheme game has been on point since they’ve shown up!!

They’re also even better tutoring than Satan is, so he’s even managed to get a couple A’s for the first time in his life! Lucifer actually told him he was proud (which he secretly recorded and now uses as a ringtone much to his brother’s regret...)

So yeah, he likes them... buuut that doesn’t keep him from thinking they act a little weird sometimes... 

Mammon: *points to a unused tower close to the RAD building* Over there is the Tower of Sorrow. We use it for storage.

MC: Ah. Interesting… *starts writing in a notebook, muttering* It may need a few minor tweaks but the location is defensible...

Mammon: *stops* Ya say somethin’?

MC: *looks back up* Nope! Say, you’ve been to the Castle a lot haven’t you? Do you know any good ways in?

Mammon: Uhm… Why do ya want to know that…? *starts looking around for Lucifer*

MC: In case of emergencies. I like being prepared. 🙂

Mammon: Look, I don’t know what Lucifer might’a told ya…

MC: I’ll pay you a thousand Grimm for it.

Mammon: Well shit, ya want those maps with or without color?

... Yeeeah, that’s pretty weird… But it’s probably fine. I mean, as long as they keep giving him money, who’s he to complain? 🤷‍♀️

Leviathan

Also thought that they’d be a lot more like Satan but was pleasantly surprised that they were into more than books.

What else did they like exactly? Military strategy!!

It’s been a looong time since he’s been able to talk to someone who’s actually interested in all the battles he’s fought, both in the Celestial Realm and the Devildom, and their curiosity is kind of flattering...! Not a lot of people take his strategic prowess all that seriously anymore...

Plus, they are the BEST partner to have any turn-based strategy game. Hands down. He once got stuck on a level of D-COM for weeks until the MC walked in and mopped the floor with the AI!! They have a serious head for probability and tactics.

The House once made the mistake of letting these two be on the same team during a Hell Game and they absolutely demolished the competition. Mammon didn’t even get a single shot off before half his team was lost to a rigged paint grenade… It took a whole day to clean up… 

However, Levi’s also noticed some odd things about the human… He likes that they’re interested in his past but maybe they’re a little… too interested?

Levi: -and that’s how we defeated the Four Horsemen before they escaped from Purgatory. 

MC: Wow, Levi that’s seriously impressive!! *furiously scribbling on a notebook*

Levi: Well t-thanks… 😅 But, uhm... are you writing that down…?

MC: Hm? Oh no, just doodling. *they lift up the notebook to show a bunch of cute little sketches on the page… and not the magic-based invisible ink all over them…*

Levi: Oh you draw too? Can you do fanart???

MC: Eh, sometimes. But say Levi, can you tell me about your naval ranks again? I’m still really curious… *gets the pen ready again with a smile*

Satan

Oh, it's been a long game of cat-and-mouse between these two… and unfortunately, it’s been pretty addicting too.

He honestly had every intention of tricking the human into making a huge mess do he could bother Lucifer, but at every turn they proved just a hair too clever for him...

He once gave them a cursed book to “lend” to Lucifer, but they saw through it the moment they touched it and lifted the spell before handing it over.

He rigged a podium to spray glitter during one of Lucifer's speeches but the MC disconnected the trigger mic before he even got on stage. It was pretty dang frustrating...

At one point he got so desperate that, just as a test, he tried to trap them in the House's Music Room. Fortunately for them, it only took a few minutes to work out an escape. They even passed by him in the hallway with a wink!

It's confounding! It's infuriating!! 

...and it's so damn sexy... He should be furious but he’s just in awe!!

Add on that they know their art, literature, and multiple different crafts thanks to the tutelage of their adopted mother and that’s it. He’s finished. This boy is in love.

Truthfully though, a part of him is 90% sure that they’re also gathering state secrets… Like, they’re watching Barbs and Diavolo far too close for comfort - but he just can't bring himself to care. 🤷‍♀️

The MC could walk into his room one day and say, "Hey, do you want to help overthrow the monarchy with me?" and he dreads it because deep down he knows that he wouldn’t say no…

Take some notes, kids. Some bad influences get you to drink or do drugs. Others pull you into a centuries long conspiracy to destabilize and topple rival realms from within… But he has fallen for their brain hard. Devil help them all…

Asmodeus 

They’re pretty clever, he’ll give them that, but uh… Are they a little off to anybody else?

Asmo is a charmer by birthright so he has a bit of nose for when someone’s just a liiittttle too nice… Not much of a nose mind you, because he can be thrown off by compliments himself, but enough to think that the MC might be a little too… “kind” for their own good...

First off, who wants to spend that much time with Levi?? They don’t even seem that interested in anime! They just keeping asking him for old war stories…

Then all the sucking up they do to Diavolo and Barbatos? Look, he gets it. Diavolo is a delicious piece of man-hunk and his butler could give him a lesson or two in sweet-talk (and he has), but they seem to be just a little too… nosy.

Of course, Asmo’s suspicions disappear pretty quickly after they start to spoil him with spa nights and beauty secrets they picked up from “casual research” into the subject.

And you know, get a little Demonus in Asmo and start massaging his back? Oh, sweetie he’ll sing like a bird!! … with gossip. Singing with gossip.

Asmo: So I’ve heard that Lucifer has been spending more time at RAD than usual… His whole club is talking about it, they think he’s meeting with some witch!

MC: Hm, is that so? *works on a knot near his shoulder blades* What do you think?

Asmo: Ooh~! Right there, MC! *purrs and lays his head on his arms* Well come on, this is Lucifer we’re talking about! I’m sure he’s just working.

Asmo: Hmm... though come to think of it, I think I heard him asking Barbatos for the spare keys to the Tower of Sorrow…

MC: Oh really? Huh. *works out the knot and gets up* I just remembered that I left some papers with Satan... I’ll be right back.

Asmo: You’re going already??

MC: *waves him off quickly* I’ll be right back, Asmo. *hurries out the door to do totally on-the-up-and-up things… surely*

Beelzebub 

Honestly he doesn't like this one… But not for the reasons you'd expect.

He agrees with everyone else that they seem a little shady, but Solomon and Simeon are too so it's not like that's anything new... 🤷‍♀️

No, no. He dislikes them because they're the person who FINALLY figured out how to keep him from eating all the food in the kitchen!!

Turns out that the trick was to put a teleportation charm on the fridge door that would send all the food away if it’s opened after a certain time of night… 

And where does it go? The Purgatory Hall fridge. And where does the Purgatory Hall food go…? The HoL fridge…

It doesn’t sound so bad until you remember that it means half of their fridge is now Solomon’s leftovers…. 🤢

After they put the same kind of spell on the pantry, it was all over… He couldn't get midnight snacks from the House anymore… Everything was contaminated by Solomon…

The MC is a nice enough person, he doesn’t have a lot of complaints about them, but he wants them to leave. Now. This is inexcusable… He’s so hungry… and he doesn’t want to die by “goulash” or whatever Solomon calls his latest culinary catastrophe… He’s still too young for death… 😓

Belphegor 

In a way, he absolutely could not have asked for a better person to help him get out of that attic.

… In another way, he got one of the worst possible people to try and kill... Like. They saw through his scheme sooo fast…

How was he supposed to know that the human had training in body language and sniffing out lies???

Getting the door open was a piece of cake for them. They knew enough magic to undo the seals and just rummaged around Lucifer's stuff long enough to find the key to the door. He could not have found a more competent individual for a break out, really.

It’s just… well he didn’t expect to go from locked in a room like a prisoner to tied up in enchanted rope, still like a prisoner but now mobile. 😑 

They even used his own hug ruse against him! They caught his wrists when they got close and tied him up before he could shake them off...

Admittedly, it wasn't exactly the best look for them either - what with walking Belphegor downstairs to the others like a one-man-prison-caravan but they're as silver-tongued as they are sly so they talked their way out of it beautifully… 

And like hell was he going to trust them after that!! And not even Beel liked them so something had to be up...

Well, you want a detective? Look no farther than Belphie (no seriously, it’s in the canon). He can put things together pretty fast when he puts his mind to it and watching the MC for a while gave him enough proof to work off of...

He always knew that, humans were bad news and the MC just proved it to him all over again. They are bad news, bad bad news and they’re going to-!

Overthrow… Diavolo…? Is that what he is getting from them…? Huh…

Wait a second, MC. You might just have him interested… 😏