#sir. sir please come home. I want to commit murder with you

[ingo-appreciation]

I mean, there's more grid options if you got a sync pair at 5/5, only very few characters have an expansion, in which Ingo was but not so for Emmet.

Ohhhh shit! I never knew about this, this is good to know!

[ID: three screenshots from bulbapedia. The first one reads:

“Additional six tiles

Some sync pairs with expanded grids may receive six additional grid tiles on top of that. There are two ways this can apply:

Horizontal expansions add tiles to the left and right of the sync stone.

Vertical expansions add tiles above and below the sync stone.”

The next two screenshots feature a table listing sync pairs that have gotten a sync expansion from oldest to most recent. Each row shows the sync pair, when they got their expanded sync grid, if and when they got a horizontal expansion, and if and when they got a vertical expansion.

Ingo and Emmet’s default sync pairs both got an expanded grid on June 30, 2021. Ingo got a vertical expansion on August 12, 2023. Emmet got no additional expansions. End ID.]

I’m sure the actual reason is because it’s so recent and Ingo’s the one on the current banner, and emmet will be getting his soon (which ooo? Emmet rerun? Hopefully?) but the implications are so funny dhkshdkd

“Let’s expand ingo’s sync grid, he needs an extra buff, why not!”

“Emmet doesn’t get one. He’s too powerful already. He likes winning battles too much-”

[cieloclercs]

what would you say (if i told you i love you)? — charles leclerc

PART: 5/? (read part 4 here)

summary. in which childhood best friends blur the lines between what they’ve always known, and something more

pairing. charles leclerc x artsy!reader

warnings. it’s GROVELLING time !! sad charles, sad reader, swearing, everyone still kind of hates charles (as they should) angst but not quite as angsty as the last part

face claim. tara michelle

author’s note. i hope this is enough suffering for you guys 😭 i’m weak tho so there’s a tinyyy bit of progress at the end 👀 i feel like this one’s a bit messy so i’m sorry about that?? it’s also kind of just setting up the next part but oh well 😭 anyways, LAST PART COMING UP NEXT ☹️ i’m gonna miss this series :’(

NOW PLAYING | Singapore 2023 post-FP1 interview: Charles Leclerc

COMMENTS 32k

username i’m still charles’ number 1 hater rn but he looked so sad at the end… ☹️

username girl no we need to be strong! don’t fall for the sad puppy dog eyes (i know he’s cute but srsly don’t) 🫠

username you’re right, you’re right 😔 haters until the end 🫡

username sir don’t try and blame your shitty mistakes on y/n 😭😭

username HE LOOKS SO SAD I CANT 🥲

username i really hope y/n sees this and realises he’s actually sorry

username no way that’s too easy. charles needs to apologise properly !!

username oh my GOD the way he started smiling when he said y/n is his ‘lucky charm’ AND THEN THE WAY IT DROPPED WHEN HE REMEMBERED THEY’RE NOT FRIENDS ANYMORE IM GONNA SCREAM 😭😭😭💔💔💔

username charles do you see what you’re doing to us charlesy/n stans?? PLEASE JUST TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL FFS 😫

username i swear if these two don’t pull their heads out of their asses soon I WILL COMMIT MURDER

username so real bestie 😔

username it’s such an invasion of privacy to ask about this though 😭

username fr the press don’t know when to keep out of it 😒

username i think he knows he’s in love with her now, he’s just not sure how to fix things ☹️

username i’m scared this feels like right person wrong time you know? 😃

username don’t say that 🫣 i’m just praying y/n forgives him. as soon as he apologises properly ofc, can’t make it too easy for him mwahahah

username i want to keep hating him but i’ve never seen him look that sad 🥲

username CHARLES YOU DONT GET TO ACT LIKE THE VICTIM WHEN YOU’RE THE ONE THAT’S CAUSED THIS

username so true. he needs to stop feeling sorry for himself and apologise 🙄

liked by yourfriend and 47,837 others

yourusername always on my mind ☁️💫

view all comments…

username SHE’S BACK IN MONACO GUYS EVERYBODY STAY CALM

username MOTHER HAS RETURNED !!!

username wait is that f1 she’s watching on her phone? 🤨

username omg it is 🤭

username SHE WATCHED THE RACE OMFG

username charles podium as well 😩😩

username it’s like he knew she was watching 🥹

username i hate how quickly everyone’s switching up on the charles situation just because of that interview but at the same time i can’t deal with my parents fighting anymore i need them to make up 😫

leclerc_pascale Bienvenue à la maison, ma fille ❤️ / welcome home, my girl

yourusername 🥰

arthur_leclerc YOU’RE BACK

yourusername did you forget? i literally saw you twenty minutes ago 😭

username the caption 🤔

username we can all agree she’s talking about charles, right?

yourfriend ma femme 🤩 / my wife

yourusername mon amour 😘

username she is everything.

username forget her art SHE IS THE ART RIGHT THERE

charles_leclerc belle / beautiful

username EXCUSE ME??

username SIR WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE PHAHAHA

username charles get tf out of here 😭

username i love how y/n’s just straight up ignoring him 😭

username CHARLES IS HERE GUYS HOW ARE WE FEELING

username i’m so conflicted rn

username like i want them to make up but at the same time he needs to SUFFER like he made y/n suffer

username fr, make him squirm a little 😌

username idk guys, if charles leclerc commented ‘belle’ on MY instagram, i’d be on my knees in an instant 🫣

username girl please 😭

username charles babe please go away you’re ruining the vibes x

username i swear to god if he’s here just to fuck with y/n’s head again i’ll fucking kill him

username he wouldn’t do that

username @charles_leclerc if you want to win her back this is NOT the way to do it

arthur_leclerc @charles_leclerc what did i tell you? 👀

username HAHAHA ARTHUR STOP

joris_trouche @charles_leclerc you should listen to our advice mate 😃

yourfriend @arthur_leclerc @joris_trouche shut up both of you 😒

joris_trouche yes ma’am 🫡

username they’re all ganging up on him 😭

liked by formula1updates and 9,736 others

f1gossip Charles Leclerc and Y/N Y/L/N spotted at the same night club in Monaco 👀

view all comments…

username OH MY GOD IS IT HAPPENING??

username there’s no way this is coincidence charles is boutta beg for forgiveness i’m calling it

username y/n’s actually smiling tho 😭 charles please don’t ruin it x

username we need y/f/n to scare him off before he can ruin her night 🤞

username AHAHAHA YES

username what i’d give to be in that club rn 😔

username fr y/n better be roasting him 😭

➜ part 6

taglist: @cxcewg @incoherenciass @formula1mount @allywthsr @meabhcavanagh @driveswiftly13 @zzblooda @gaslysainz @be-your-coffee-pot @siovhanroy

[jqmalikhsgib]

quest

three

when emily received your phone call she knew immediately she had to inform jj. telling her everything. from where you’ve been this entire time to why you’re in jail.

jj was shocked and a bit pissed she kept this from her. she was close to you as well. but she understood why. she would not agree with you keeping your pregnancy away from hotch and constantly tell you that.

but now she had to tell the team. she knew she’d have to inform hotch first before they flew to houston texas and figure out why they’ve arrested you for a crime they know you could never commit.

jj sighs as she walks to hotches office and knocks. “come in.”

jj gives him a look and he knew they have a case.

“ill inform the team.”

“wait! this isn’t just some case hotch. it’s about yn.”

hotch heart starts to beat out of his chest. what could this be about? were you okay? where exactly were you this whole time? had you been alive? fuck! he hoped the last thing you remembered wasn’t him cheating. he couldn’t bare that.

“just—just tell me she’s alive jj?!”

“she’s alive.”

he breaths a sigh of relief.

“but she was arrested for murder charges last night. she’s currently in houston texas.”

“murder?! we know she didn’t do this!”

“yes! we know her well. but she was near the body, blood all over her clothes, and the weapon had her fingerprints on it. she looks good for the crime.”

“what do we know?!”

“we should get the team together and discuss. but first there’s something else you should know.”

“this is insane! yn won’t hurt a fly! how could they possibly believe she’s the killer?!” derek shakes his head.

“guys! we gotta focus. we all care about yn but she needs our help more than anything. penelope what have you found on the victim?”

“oh, yes sir. robert kelp. he’s the ceo of a dna company. he has helped many families find so many lost loved ones. he’s donated to plenty of charities to stop human trafficking and even helped sex workers get back on their feet if needed. oh. he was a very kind man. says he’s—oh, sir. it says that he started the business because long ago he’s fallen in love but was sent to afghanistan. his lover at the time let him know she was pregnant but lost the baby. when he got home he tried to find her. after years of searching he found out she ended her life though her father. she couldn’t take the lost of her baby.”

“could you find any records of the woman, baby girl?”

“um—i found her name. sarah wilson. but—”

“what is it?”

“there’s no death certificate. and—oh, god!”

“what? what is it p?”

“sarah jones. currently married to a darius y/l/n.”

“that’s—”

“holy shit!”

i love leaving you all in suspense!

anyway i got a person on my taglist for stone cold.

please let me know if you want to be added or unadded <3

taglist:

@ivebeenthearchersstuff

[peterbarnes]

Dating Eddie Munson Would Include...

A/N: School’s over. Summer’s here. Im back bitchess...and obsessed with ST4

Masterlist

Eddie Munson Sticker Etsy

You met at a drug deal of course

The drugs weren’t even for you, your friend just didn’t want to interact with the resident “freak of Hawkins”

Cue a vicious eye roll from you

So there you sat on the janky wooden bench in the middle of the woods 

“This is straight out of a horror movie”

“Don’t worry I won’t murder you”

Your head whipped around to where Eddie Munson leaned against a tree

He tried to seem cool by crossing his tattooed arms over his chest 

And you had to admit his ink-kissed skin did make your heart flutter

but then his foot slipped on a leaf and he almost fell

His cheeks flushed as he regained his balance

“I genuinely cannot believe that people are intimidated by you”

He shrugged before making his way over to you and sitting on the table instead of the adjacent bench

“What? You don’t find me mean and scary”

His smile lit up the dark woods and you committed the quirk of his lips, his bright eyes, and squished cheeks to memory

He was goddamn adorable

“Why thank you, princess”

Please god tell me I did not say that out loud

“But I must say I didn’t take you for the crackhead type” he added

“I’m not,” you sputtered, still flustered. “It’s for my friend”

“Ah so she thought I was mean and scary”

“Who knows what goes on in her head” 

The silence weighed you down as he slipped a wooden box out of his backpack and gently placed it on the table 

Your eyes stuck on the cool metal wrapped around his finger

“You like them?” He asked

His tone wasn’t laced with desire or an eagerness to conquer you, which is all you’d gotten from other guys

He was genuine, soft

And suddenly being in the middle of the woods with a guy you barely knew didn’t seem so scary anymore

This is batshit

“You know, I’ve always thought you were kind of cool” he said hesitantly

You scoffed

“Oh please, I’m no Nancy Wheeler”

“Even better”

You both let out horrendous laughs that sounded more like honks

Eddie slapped the table lightly as he tried to calm his ragged breaths

“Come on, she’s not that bad”

He shot you a look that clearly read really?

“So she’s not a priss?” He edged

Your voice caught in your throat as you chose your words carefully

“No?”

Eddie snorted, “you don’t sound too sure about that”

“I’m not”

Hours passed before you two even realized the sun had slowly descended below the horizon, casting a familiar darkness over Hawkins

“Come on, we should get going”

As Eddie got up from the creaking bench, he stretched his hand out toward you, nodding his head toward the parking lot where his car sat parked 

“Are you offering me a ride?”

“Why, of course, my lady. A true gentleman would never let you walk home alone at this hour”

“How kind of you, good sir”

After that you were inseparable

Eddie would memorize your schedule and surprise you by waiting outside your classes

And you’d come to all his Hellfire Club meetings

He loves to see you bonding with all the kids, especially Dustin

They call you guys Mom and Dad

Eddie’s very into spontaneous dates

A nice candlelit dinner isn’t his speed (he’s very much an “eat the rich” guy)

He’ll take you to the lake and you’ll just swim in it for hours

He loves water fights

He also loves seeing you in a bathing suit

Despite being 19, he acts like a pre-pubescent boy

He’s always touching you in some way

Hand on your hip, around your shoulders, on your thigh

And he loves to snuggle his head into your neck 

He’s scared of coming off too clingy so he needs constant reassurance

But he’s just touch starved

Before you, it was just him and his uncle who was barely around

He never felt love or comfort from anyone

That’s part of the reason why he turned to drugs and acting out 

It was so much more than him wanting to be “edgy”

He had an endless pit of darkness inside him from years of abandonment and isolation

But that day in the woods the cracks slowly started to seal, warming his forgotten heart

Which is why he never does anything to risk your trust or your love towards him

It’s like his lifeline

Sometimes he worries that he loves you more than you love him

But then he’ll be lying on your chest, with your fingers gently tangled in his hair, soothing his scalp

And he can tell simply by how you touch him, that you’re just as in love as he is

But that love isn’t all sunshine and rainbows

When you two get pulled into the lore of the upside-down, your feelings for each other make you reckless

Eddie literally jumped in front of a demo-bat for you

Which would’ve been romantic if it hadn’t nearly killed him

“Fucking hell, Eddie! Why would you do that?!”

“I’m sorry was I supposed to let you get killed by that chunk of grey shit?”

“And I’d rather you not get killed, dipshit!”

Any of your little lovers' quarrels end with an exasperated Steve interrupting you

You’ll distance yourselves for a few minutes before your feet naturally inch toward each other until your hand's brush

It’s muscle memory at this point, the way you two are drawn to each other

You hear him let out a relieved breath as his fingers intertwine with yours

This man would die for you

And you would die for him

But you knew you would fight like hell to make sure that both of you made it home safe

So that you could melt into each other’s embraces and finally fall into a peaceful sleep

[sweetestofchaos]

Run From Me - Four | K.TH

p. vampire!taehyung x vampire hunter!reader

g. soulmates - enemies to lovers - reincarnation

r. 18+

w. flashback - blood drinking - illusions to sex - murder - witch hunts

wc. 5.2k

an. divider and support banner made by @benkeibear. betaed by the lovely @theharrowing.

fic masterlist

previous | next

Spring of 1692…

If one were to believe in luck then Taehyung (who certainly did not believe) would have at the very moment his foot touched the soil of The New World. There was a pull at his heart, a rope wrapped around the muscle and tugged him in one direction. He had no choice but to follow as his mind conjured up different scenarios of meeting his fated after all this time. 

Would you remember him? Would you fall into his arms weeping and begging for him to never leave your side? Have you looked for him too?

Taehyung, in his frenzy to find you, left a trail of bodies. He had wanted to look his best, a picture perfect image of his past self with a few modifications. His hair that was always kept long was now shortened to frame his face and hung in his eyes. Gone were the grandiose fabrics, jewels and homes. Now he wore the clothing of laborers to avoid unwanted attention and slept beside the common folk. 

He played the part of a simple man, a man of strong faith and sound mind. He kept his funds and higher quality clothing stashed away in different locations and investments. Taehyung made sure that no matter what, you would never go without once he found you.

As he followed the invisible line that led to you, he came to Salem Village. A fairly sizable village in the state of Massachusetts that was run by Reverend Matthews and a few others on his council. As Taehyung had come to town with a small group of travelers looking for work, he was easily accepted into the town. Taehyung was given a room in old man Peck’s home. The older man had lost his wife and son to a fever in the winter, so he offered his home with melancholy eyes and a kindly smile.

Taehyung had yet to see you but his heart ached, clenched in his chest tighter and tighter. You were so close, he could smell your creamy sandalwood and cardamom spice. If he focused hard enough, green citrus would tickle his nose and burn the back of his throat. He searched for you, from sunrise to sunset. He followed that all too familiar scent and yet, you were always out of reach. The sun to his moon, destined to never hold each other again. Taehyung wondered if he had finally lost his mind. The longing in his heart had led him here but where were you? Couldn’t you feel him nearby? Had he mistaken his own feelings?

It was in the evening when he first saw you. He had been chatting with Reverend Matthews about the next church service when your summer scent wrapped around him in a fine mist. His words trailed off as he saw you three cabin’s down holding the hands of two young girls. Reverend Matthews offered up your information without any prompting and Taehyung committed every word to memory.

“Did you fetch the water like I asked?” 

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good. Fill the wash bin and call the girls to supper.”

You bowed your head and spun on your heels to leave the cabin of Reverend Matthews. Outside the air was crisp with the promise of a new beginning, spring was finally here. Gravel crunched beneath your shoes as you followed the beaten path to the field of flowers where all the young girls played. Ella and Pagie, Reverend Matthews’ daughters, were sitting in a circle with a few of the other girls creating daisy chains. You smiled at the sight and walked over, while humming a song.

Paige, who was the younger of the sisters spotted you first and nudged Ella’s arm. You beckoned them to come along and Paige pouted while Ella just shook her head.

“Just a little longer, please?” Ella whined and held up her bracelet. “We’re almost finished.”

“Supper is ready and your father is waiting.” The girls both started to whine and you tisked at them lightly. “Come on girls. You can finish your project once you have had your meal.”

“You promise?” Paige sulked, her eyes watery and you nodded your head holding out your pinkie finger.

The girls jumped to their feet and ran over to you, linking your fingers together while giggling. They said goodbye to their friends and followed you back to the cabin where you helped them wash their hands and face. At the head of the table, Reverend Matthews sat and waited while you placed their meals before them. He held his arm out, palms face upward and the girls placed their hands in his.

“Let us say grace before we eat this wonderful meal.”

You stood nearby and silently watched as the family of three blessed the food together. Once the prayer was over, you scooped some stew into your own bowl and bowed your head.

“Enjoy your meal.”

You excused yourself to your room in the back of the cabin and sat alone at the table in the corner. You gave thanks to God and a chill ran down your spin. You looked at the window of your room and frowned; it was open. You liked to sleep with your window open at night but you always closed it during the day. Maybe you forgot? You stared at the tree line that acted as a barrier around the town and shivered. 

As the days grew warmer, you spent more time outside of the cabin with the young girls in the town. Mayar often helped you with the children since her charges were among the young ladies. The two of you taught them girls how to braid, how to stop the bleeding of a minor cut, and a fun rhyme to sing while they danced around with each other. 

While you spent your time outdoors, the chill in your bones never seemed to go away. Even with the warmth of the sun, goosebumps would randomly appear on your body. There was news of a newcomer to the town but you had yet to see the young man around. He and a few other men had apparently been looking for work and Reverend Matthews was more than willing to hire him. You heard that the young man, Taehyung, stayed with old man Peck and you prayed that this newcomer's presence would pull the old man from his grief.

“Ella be careful on that tree!” You called as the girl continued to climb the large apple tree with another of the girls. They were having a race to the top and you knew that Ella would most likely be the victor. You would often find Ella lost in the tree tops since she liked to watch the town from up above. It made you worry for her safety all the time, but Ella was a natural. She knew falling from such a height would surely break a bone or two. 

You could see the ripe apples at the top from your place in the grass as you sat with Paige in your lap. One of her braids had come undone and she had begged you to fix it for her. Ella and the other girl, Mary were arguing about cheating as they climbed and you shouted another warning to be careful. 

A shiver crept down your spin and you turned your head towards the forest. Your eyes darted over the tree line but you saw no one. A scream grabbed your attention and you watched in horror as Ella’s foot slipped and she went crashing to the ground.

You jumped to your feet and rushed to her side with Mayar and the other girls behind you. Ella wailed in pain and you shushed her, seeing the ugly way her arm bent at the elbow. You knew something had broken, and as you looked over the rest of her body, you saw her leg was bent oddly as well.

“Get the doctor!” You ordered and one of the older girls ran off.

Mary came down the tree shortly after but you paid her no mind as Ella cried louder.

“Mayar take the girls home and-”

“I heard crying…is everything okay?” 

A voice cut into your words and your mind went fuzzy quiet. Your words were stuck on your tongue as you blinked up at the man. The sun casted a warm halo around him and you swore you had heard his voice before. 

Warm brown eyes stared down at you in worry and you shook your head, your thoughts scattered and piercing together as you looked away. Mayar and the other girls were nowhere to be round, only the young man stood before you and Paige.

“P-Please help! Ella fell and I-I don’t want to-”

“Easy now, dear one.” The man spoke with such a firm reassurance that put your worry at ease. He knelt down beside you and ran a hand over Ella’s brow before he started to hum, a tune so deep and low. He scooped Ella from the ground and she whined as he clung to him. “Lead the way.”

You scrambled to your feet, not caring for the dirt on your skirt and led the man into town with Paige hanging close. Reverend Matthews and the doctor were rushing towards you, worry twisted on their faces as they took in the state of Ella.

“What happened?” Reverend Matthews demanded as he stared at the blood and weird angle of his daughter’s limbs..

“S-She fell from the apple tree, Sir.” You explain with Paige hidden behind your skirt.

“Get her inside,” the Reverend motioned for the young man to follow the doctor before he turned his attention back to you. “I’ll deal with you later.” His voice left no room for argument and you ducked your head low, staring at the ground. Reverend Matthews hurried after his daughter and Paige cried into your skirts.

“Hush now child,” You squatted down and patted the girl’s head. “Ella will be okay.”

“S-She didn’t fall!” Paige cried and you wrapped your arms around her. “She was pushed, Mary pushed her!”

You hushed Paige once more and carried her to the cabin where you then sat in the rocking chair and sang until she calmed down. You saw Mary with your own eyes, she was nowhere near Ella and couldn’t have pushed her from the tree. Your gut turned and a sour taste sat in the back of your throat as you thought over Paige’s words.

Two days had passed since Ella fell from the apple tree and the girl had yet to wake up. You kept a close eye on her along with Paige, but Reverend Matthews was worried. The doctor couldn’t explain why she had not woken up…that was until Paige told her father what she saw. You tried to tell him that Paige had seen it wrong, you knew Mary didn’t push Ella but he wouldn’t hear it.

“If you say that she was not near, and yet my daughter saw her, then what? No one can be in two places at once!”

“Sir, please-”

“I will speak to the other girls and see what happened.”

You told Pagie to sit with her sister and hurried out of the cabin to try and stop the Reverend, but he was out of sight. Someone nearby cleared their throat and you saw the young man from before. You bowed your head and he walked over, standing two feet in front of you.

“Forgive me for not introducing myself, and thank you for helping us.”

“I wished to have meant you under better circumstances, but I am relieved to see that you are unharmed.”

“Unharmed?” The Reverend’s words echoed in your head about ‘dealing with you later’ and you quickly shook your head. “Oh, you misunderstood. Reverend Matthews would never.”

The man smiled, his lips pressed into a tight line before he bowed deeply to you, “I’m Taehyung and it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”

It started with Paige’s accusation of Mary pushing Ella from the tree. Next it was Paige waking up with night terrors claiming that Mary had threatened to kill her for telling on her. The last straw was Paige being unable to eat anything. Everything made her vomit, and whispers of witches began lingering all around town.

Mary’s whole family had been put on trail, and the grandmother was found guilty of being a witch. Days later, the old woman was hanged in front of the whole town. 

That very night, Ella woke up and Mary’s family was chased out of town. Things settled down for a while and you were able to spend more time outside now that Ella was awake. You ran into Taehyung often when you went out for errands, and you were always polite. The young man was indeed very handsome, his midnight hair often became a curtain for his piercing whisky eyes that always seemed to find you. 

You found yourself dreaming of Taehyung late at night, and a few times you woke yourself up, moaning his name. He made it a point to visit you in the evening for a walk around town, which you accepted after Reverend Matthews gave you this blessing. Being with Taehyung felt like playing with fire, his very being burned your soul. His voice caressed your mind and his eyes opened a door in your heart that you never knew was there.

Women and men alike started to appear in town wearing more layers than they should be. When questioned, they all said they were coming down with something. The doctor was in over his head and sent for help. So many people were cold and Reverend Matthews grew concerned. Did he have an epidemic on his hands or something more sinister? 

He shadowed the doctor in his exams and every person who fell sick had small cuts along their neck and inner arms, along the main veins. The cuts were no longer than two inches and thin enough to think nothing of. Once the doctor confirmed that every patient had the marks, Matthews knew something ill-omened and foul had plagued the village.

The first time Taehyung touched you, you worried that he had come down with the sickness that had spread within the village. His skin was cold, much too cold for the summer heat that had rolled in. He hadn’t meant to touch you, the two of you were walking side by side in the fields and your ankle rolled over a rock. Taehyung had grabbed your arm and steadied you before you could fall. He forced you to sit on the side of the road as he removed your shoes and checked your ankle. 

His fingers were so cold but they felt wonderful on your burning skin. Heat coursed through your body as he examined your exposed ankles. It was improper and he apologized for his forwardness, but he had to make sure you were okay. As he looked over your ankle, Taehyung assured you that he was fine and that he always ran cold no matter what time of the season it was. He explained that he was born with low iron, so his blood didn’t run as hot.

Your ankle was fine and Taehyung offered to walk you back to the cabin to rest in case your ankle started to hurt later on. You agreed and Taehyung offered his arm to which you linked elbows. Heat seemed to permanently warm your face, and you leaned into the coolness of Taehyung’s body. It was heavenly in the summer heat. 

At the gate out front of the cabin, Taehyung parted from you, holding your hand in his. He bent slightly at the waist and raised your hand to his lips. 

Your stomach flipped and tumbled as his lips touched the skin of your knuckles. Even his breath was cool and you stuttered over your words as you bid Taehyung farewell. You hurried into the cabin and Revend Matthews raised an eyebrow at your flustered state before he turned his attention back to the book in his lap.

“I am holding a council meeting once the new doctor arrives in the morning. Please keep an eye on the girls and keep them close.”

“Is everything okay, Sir?”

Matthews sighed and rubbed at his temples, “There is an evil swallowing this village and I will bring it to light by the grace of the Lord.”

You nodded your head in understanding and made the cross over your body. “By the grace of the Lord.”

The warmth of your body weighed deeply on Taehyung’s mind. He could still smell you on his clothes and a flame simmered deep in his stomach. 

He needed to feed. He could not wait any longer, consequences be damned. Your very being called to him, and Taehyung knew better. He would not put you in harm's way, not if he could help it.

Finding his next meal was easy enough. Taehyung was a walking temptation and he used that to his advantage. He had the names and faces of those who looked at him memorized. It was to lure them in with sweet words and an even sweeter touch. He picked his targets and followed them early enough in the evening for no one to question his motives. He would request a meeting and they would make a show of visiting old man Peck, offering their condolences and baskets filled with sweet breads, jams and smoked meats. 

Old man Peck was sickly himself, often bedridden as his health steadily declined. Taehyung had such luck when he moved into the old man’s home. The village people were so trusting of his handsome face, and that is where Taehyung took advantage. He had his victims cut themselves with a sewing needle and he did the rest. The venom in his saliva acted as a blood thinner and the flow came faster, easier as he sucked at the broken skin. He never bit anyone, that would have left proof of his existence, after all.

In the comfort of his room, Taehyung seduced widow Melody and ravaged her body. The warmth of her skin, the pounding of her heart, and the soft sounds she made as he rocked against her were dizzying. 

Taehyung’s fangs ached, and in a fit of pleasure he rolled their bodies, so that Melody was now on top. His hands grabbed her hips and he bounced her in his lap. The woman threw her head back and Taehyung could smell the sweet tang of her blood. His gums pulsed and he tightened his grip on her hips. His fingers dug into the skin hard enough to bruise, and as her fingers tangled into his hair, Melody pulled his face to her skin.

“Mark me, make me yours!” She begged, and Taehyung lost himself. His fangs pierced the tender flesh of her throat and blood flowed into his mouth quickly. It was messy as Taehyung was a little out of practice. 

Blood spilled down the side of Melody’s neck to the front of her bare chest and made her all the more slippery as it mixed with their body sweat. Melody’s voice sang Taehyung’s name as she succumbed to the pleasure, and Taehyung felt her walls tighten around him. He ripped his mouth away from her neck and moaned loudly as he came, his grip so tight that it broke the skin and nearly pressed the bones into dust.

Melody had started to cry but Taehyung was quick to shush her as fear widened the pupils of her eyes. Her body shook and Taehyung dove back into her neck, a new place where his fangs had not touched before. He slurped and gulped loudly, moaning even more at the taste as he sucked the life from Melody’s veins. 

Pulling away once more, Taehyung gasped, his face flushed and body warm from the nice meal he enjoyed. Melody’s head dropped backwards and Taehyung shoved her body off his lap. It fell to the side of the bed, lifeless, and Taehyung ran a hand through his messy hair. 

He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand and licked his lips. A knock at the door caught his attention and before he could cover up, old man Peck stood in the doorway. The smile on his face was gone in an instant the moment he saw the blood all over Taehyung. Taehyung sighed and frowned deeply at the old man. In the heat of his meal, he forgot to keep his control on Peck’s mind. A grave mistake. 

Taehyung rushed from the bed and slapped at hand over Peck’s mouth and apologized to the old man before he sunk his fangs into his neck. He never liked the taste of older blood, so he ripped the old man’s throat out and helped him fall to the floor. As the old man gurgled and choked on his own blood, Taehyung groaned and looked at Melody’s dead body on his bed. A grave mistake, indeed.

Taehyung felt tired, the adrenaline and sweet high that came from drinking blood had vanished from his body the moment he murdered his kind host. A knock at the front door made Taehyung wince. He had no time to clean up his mess and needed to get out of the cabin. Quickly, he pulled on a fresh set of clothes and wiped himself off as best he could. 

He had to take you with him. He couldn’t leave you here in this crazy village.

The front door opened and footsteps echoed through the air. “Peck! Taehyung!”

It was Reverend Matthews and Taehyung cursed. If that man was in the cabin, that meant that you were home alone with his daughters. As the footfalls grew closer, Taehyung groaned. He needed to leave, now. 

Ducking out of the window, Taehyung bowed his head and hurried out towards the forest where the rest of the villagers refused to go. He kept close to the treeline and rounded over to your cabin. Your window was closed and Taehyung glanced around. No one was in sight, so he sprinted to your window and peeked inside. You sat in a chair in the corner reading a book. You were a portrait of peace and beauty.

Taehyung knocked on the window and you jumped, the book in your hands tumbled to the ground. You looked at the window and smiled when you saw Taehyung. You opened the window without a second thought, and Taehyung grabbed your face with his hands.

“I have to go now, dear one. Come with me?”

“W-What? What are you saying Taehyung?”

“I don’t have time to explain. Please? Come with me!”

A metallic scent came from Taehyung’s mouth as he spoke and his hands were so much warmer than they had ever been. His eyes seemed brighter and his skin was flushed. He looked like he had been kissed by God.

“T-Taehyung…”

Voices shouted from outside and you tried to turn your head, but Taehyung wouldn’t let go of your face.

“Dear one, please?”

“I-I cannot go with you Taehyung-”

The voices were closer now, and Taehyung’s eyes flickered in a swirl of emotions that you couldn’t unwind in time before they fell dull. Taehyung licked his lips and rested his forehead against yours as he spoke.

“Forgive me, dear one. I will find you again.”

His lips were petal soft and oven warm, a heat like never before scorched your very soul and you gasped into the kiss. You could taste something unwelcome on his tongue as it slipped into your mouth, but it didn’t deter you from seeking more of Taehyung’s lips. 

“I swear I will find you again.” 

Taehyung’s words were muffled as he spoke into your mouth and you nodded your head, your mind foggy as he slipped from your view and melted into the treeline. Shouts grew louder yet, and you made your way to the front of the cabin where the girls were peeking out the window.

“What has happened?” You questioned and the girls turned towards you, their eyes widened in terror.

“Witch!”

“Devil’s whore!”

The girls screamed at you and your heart froze. What was the meaning of their words? Witch? Never. 

The front door was kicked in and a mob of people flooded the home. You screamed as men grabbed your arms and dragged you out of the house. You called for Reverend Matthews with tears in your eyes. The grip on your arms was too tight, you could feel their fingers digging into your bones. Everyone around you spit at the ground by your feet and sneered as you were dragged away towards the lake. 

What was the meaning of this? What had you done to deserve such treatment?

At the lake, you saw Reverend Matthews, the two doctors, and the rest of the town. Reverend Matthews’ eyes were narrowed, darkend in disgust as he opened the bible in his hands. You were thrown to the Reverend's feet and your arms were tied tightly behind your back.

“You are accused of witchcraft and summoning a demon to our village. How do you plead?” Reverend Matthews stared down at you and you shook your head. His words did not make any sense in your mind. Witchcraft? 

“The laborer Taehyung has murdered the widow Melody and Old Man Peck in cold blood! What say you?”

“H-He would never!” 

“I have seen it with my own eyes! And now those who have fallen sick, have come forward with clear memories of Taehyung seducing them in the night. He forced their own hands to harm themselves before he fed off their life’s essence.”

You didn’t believe the Reverend's words. Taehyung wasn’t a demon, he was just a man. He was being blamed for something that was utterly preposterous.

“You were seen in town with the demon Taehyung. Do you deny this claim?” 

You stared at the ground before you. You knew that no matter what you said, the Revered would not listen. 

“Taehyung had courted you, isn’t that so? You were in love with the demon?”

“He is not a demon!” You shouted, unable to hear such slander. “T-Taehyung is a good man! He would not harm anyone in this village! Nor would I, sir! I have raised your children when they were just babes! H-how can you accuse me of such horrors?” 

“Enough!” Reverend Matthews cleared his throat and opened the bible in his hand. “My child, you have been led astray from God’s graces. You have welcomed the devil into your heart and summoned a devil to our village. Our people have been attacked and plagued by unseeable nightmares…” 

You tried to pull your arms free of the ropes but it was no use, they were tied tightly.

“You harmed my children and all of the children in this village. I cannot forgive such crimes, nor look past the vile evil that has tempted you into its arms.” The Reverend ducked his head and started to read from the bible. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Tears rolled down your face as the men lifted you from the ground and sat you in a wooden chair. Your legs were tied down and your arms secured to the back before they carried you to the edge of the dock. 

All around, the village people screamed and cried as they threw rocks your way. A jagged rock slammed into your temple and you cried as you felt the throbbing pain spread along the back of your head. The broken skin bleed freely like your tears, and you shook your head once more.

“Reverend please! I-I have committed no crime!”

“You would defend that demon even in your last moments of life?”

You thought over the Reverend's words and your last moments with Taehyung in your room. He had been panicked and so very, very warm. The late night walks, the sweet touches…the dreams. Your heart quickened its pace as you fought to discern the truth from the lies. 

Was Taehyung a demon? Had he tricked you into falling in love with him?

“Admit your sins and the All Mighty above will grant you forgiveness.”

“...I am sorry, Sir.” You whispered, unable to lie to everyone for their own piece of mind. “Drown me if that will put your hearts at ease but know that I speak the truth. I have never given into the temptation of the devil and I will pray that God has mercy on your misguided souls.” 

“Kill the witch!”

“Die!”

“Harlot!”

Voices screamed around you, and as you looked at the village people, you thought for a moment that Taehyung was hidden in the crowd.

“Taehyung?” You tried to clear your vision as it started to blur from the pain in your head. “Taehyung…”

“Kill her!”

“She calls for her demon lover!”

“Kill the witch!”

The chair jostled as the men lifted it up and you inhaled a shaky breath as you looked at Reverend Matthews for the last time. His face was void of all emotion but his eyes were filled with conflicting emotions.

“Admit your sins.”

“Is it a sin to love someone?”

Reverend Matthews pressed his lips into a firm line and gave one single nod. Tears streamed down your face as you were thrown into the air and gravity pulled you quickly into the lake. 

You were sinking, deeper and deeper. Your lungs flooded with water as you inhaled against your better judgment. One single name fell from your lips and it fell on deaf ears, drowned by the water. No one would listen to what you had said. Fear was a dangerous emotion that created so many deaths in the village. The images of the people above started to distort and the light dimmed. You cried as the chair you were tied to hit the bottom of the lake. 

Cold. 

You felt the icy fingers of the grim reaper wrap around your wrists. You wanted to pull away, you wanted to swim to shore and run far, far away. At the bottom of the lake, your eyes burned but you couldn’t look away from the fish picked bones that surrounded you. You were going to die. You were going to die and no one cared. You screamed and screamed, repeatedly, but no one came to your aid. The last of the air in your lungs pushed out and replaced by the cold dark water.

Darkness coiled in your heart, the tender touch of his embrace meant nothing now. You were alone, drowning at the bottom of the lake for loving him. 

Where had he run off to? Doubt started to cloud your mind as memories of Taehyung flickered behind your eyes. Did he plan this? Were you merely a plaything to pass the time before you became his scapegoat? Your eyes grew heavy, weighed down by the water. 

From above, the air bubbles that frantically rose to the surface slowly came far and few in between until not one broke the water. The silence stretched on as Reverend Matthews inhaled deeply before he sighed.

“May God have mercy on her soul.”

[moeblob]

You know what. Since I really can't spend my entire life drawing every fishing misfortune for Asmodeus♡ I think I'll tell you all some key points. To truly emphasize what I mean with bad RNG.

In Spring, 2 days in a row were raining. I fished nearly all of both days and failed to get a catfish. The next day I was able to buy a catfish from the traveling salesperson (for 1000g). Two days after buying the catfish for the community center, Linus sent me a letter saying thanks for being nice.... and gave me a catfish. Thanks.

Out of the requests I have had for fishing, I have to emphasize the fact Maru's request was honestly so aggressive it made me debate doing it. But. I had to. For the affection and money.

That is the most aggressive fish needing I have ever seen.

Spring 18 (one of the rainy days) I got a dinosaur egg from a treasure chest while fishing. I had no coop at the time. I still don't have a big coop. I cannot hatch the dino egg I caught in the rain over a month ago. It's just chilling in a storage chest in my house.

I had about a week without requests, figured I would just get fishing when they came back, and opted to upgrade my pick axe in the mean time. So, while fishing while the pick axe is upgrading, I figured MAY AS WELL EAT MY THREE CAVE CARROTS since what else am I spending stamina on.

The pick axe is completed! I see a new request! Sebastian wants a cave carrot. I'm going to commit murder. So I go to the mines and spend forever in there, barely getting home before I pass out in game. The next day I'm on my way BACK to the mines to do my best to get a cave carrot for Sebastian and pause in front of Pierre's.... because there's a new request. I know it. I know what it is. I look and yup! "I need a largemouth bass". I sigh and accept it for the next day. I fail the cave carrot quest which further plummets me into Town Fisher status. And after Sebastian's request expired, while I had Clint's active for the largemouth bass, Willy posts a request for "need to keep the fishing scene alive! please catch two largemouth bass". Both large mouth bass obtained + one handed over to Clint...

I sold a lot of fish to Willy over the course of the file and Elliott has since informed me that the anchovy he bought "had a unique taste. not sure where you got it." SIR FROM THE WATERS BY YOUR SHACK. SQUARE UP BUDDY.

(Harvey and Penny have also commented on my mediocre fish they bought from Willy. As if this is my fault they go for the low quality and NOT the iridium fish I've sold to him. Like this is MY FARMER'S FAULT that they don't know how to buy quality fish.)

It's not even fall yet and Asmo is fishing level 8. Still no big coop or barn but there has been a house upgrade recently. And Asmo bought a fish pond for his farm because may as well own up to being the town fisherman (he hates it here, he wants Pelican Town to adore him and it's now his life goal to make them all love him out of petty spite).

It's honestly been the funniest bad RNG I have ever experienced.

The one game file I make without a fish-named farmer. And this is what happens. Designated town fisher.

"Surely you don't HAVE to do all the fishing requests. You know this right?" Yeah but how else am I gonna make the town need my dumbass farmer if they don't need anything but fish! How will I make the town actually appreciate his talents if the only talent he has is fishing!

Also somehow I still don't have any rings on Asmo. Like I usually get a glow ring or something while going down the mines but I am at level 30 and there have been zero rings obtained. I think I have to actually go do the night fishing bundle to get a glow ring WHICH IS HILARIOUSLY .... fishing. This is truly the only logical solution for the file so I shoulda seen it coming. Gotta wait for Fall though in order to complete that bundle.

[michellesmusing]

Risky Business - Chapter 2

This Chapter is packed with Action!!! Taylor is getting in trouble because of her uncle as Mr. FBI Shows up to the car repair shop!! Hope you'll like it, it wasn't easy to write it and that's why I'm keeping it preciously! I rarely write action scenes like these ones!!

Did you miss The Intro and Chapter 1?

👉 HERE for Chapter 1

👉HERE for The Intro 🤣

Dark Stranger

Taylor glanced at the calendar in the mechanics shop and sighed as she realized that November was already there… A Week had passed since she had witnessed the murder committed by her uncle, and the thought of going to the cops after work crossed her mind. She couldn’t even sleep anymore since that night. The swollen bags underneath her eyes were pretty obvious and the young woman couldn’t live with this any longer.

Tony, one of the mechanics, walked toward her and asked her what they were doing with the stalled engine.

“I’ll call the customer in a few…” She wasn’t in the mood at all to call the customer and to announce to him that his short block had to be changed. She was exhausted and just couldn’t wait to go home and sleep, at least she’d try.

“Alright, here’s the estimation of the cost for this repair, let me know if he wants to order the parts or not..” Taylor nodded at the mechanics. She then spotted her uncle entering inside the shop.

“Come on, we need more work!!!” Taylor locked her blue eyes on that hideous face belonging to her uncle. She couldn’t stand his voice anymore. Everytime he was speaking, she just wanted to bang his head with a baseball bat.

“What are you looking at?” He asked her. She kept looking at him, only in the hope of provoking him.

“I’m looking at you, isn’t it obvious? Or are you blind??” He approached her and leaned over her desk. Just as he was about to catch the neck of her shirt, a customer was seen entering the shop and Thomas aborted his movement at her.

“Keep on fucking with me and you’ll see what will happen!!” Once again Thomas threatened his niece and the young woman glanced at the female customer standing not far from her uncle.

“Hello Ma’am, you’re having an appointment?” Taylor kept on discussing with the customer and opened her work order as the woman wanted a mechanic to do an inspection of her brakes.

“Sure, no problem, please take a seat in the waiting room and one of my mechanics will gladly do an inspection…” Taylor returned back to her front desk and prepared the estimation for the customer with an engine failure.

She took a sip from her water bottle and immediately drifted her eyes on the tall man entering the shop. It was probably a businessman, thought Taylor as he was well dressed in business attire, topped with a dark trench coat. His dark hair was contrasting with his green eyes, and he was probably in his early 50’s… Taylor had kinda guessed his age by looking down at his large hands, which were obviously displaying strength and experience.

“Hi Sir, are you having an appointment?” She smiled at the man as he answered her in his deep voice.

“Nope, I’m not here for this, my car is doing just fine. I’m here to see the owner of this place!” The man gently smiled at Taylor. She couldn’t believe how tall he was, surely around 6’4” as Taylor stood up from her desk and realized how small she was next to him.

“Oh, yes, it’s my uncle! I’ll go get him, he’s in his office!” Taylor gulped and for some reason, she had a bad feeling about this man. Taylor reached for her uncle’s office and knocked on his door.

“There’s someone for you!!” She knocked again and Thomas violently opened the door.

“The fuck you want??” Taylor sighed as her uncle once again spoke to her like shit.

“There's a man for you at the entrance. Seems important!” Thomas stormed out of his office, almost pushing Taylor out of his way. The young woman followed him behind and returned to her desk…

“Yes, I’m Thomas Bradley, the owner of this place, who are you??” Taylor noticed the arrogance in her uncle’s tone of voice and knew it was a bad idea.

“I’m Special Agent Aleksander Colin from the FBI. I’m having some questions concerning Mark Thompson.”

Taylor’s eyes were glued on the FBI agent who was displaying his FBI badge to her uncle, now she was understanding why he was all dressed in that perfect dark suit. She felt her heart pace increasing through her chest and it’s at this precise moment she knew she was in some deep shit. She knew she should’ve gone to the cops.

“Yes, of course, Mr. Thompson, a good friend of mine! Did something happen to him?” Taylor just wanted to scream out loud that her uncle was just a big fat liar. She couldn’t believe how calm he was in front of the tall FBI agent.

“I think we should discuss this matter in your office Mr. Bradley.” Taylor caught the regard of the FBI agent and she was hoping he had seen the distress in her eyes. Both men headed to Thomas’ office and Taylor suddenly felt nauseous with the presence of this man of law in the building.

She rushed to the toilet in the shop and locked the door before throwing up her lunch in the toilet bowl. Once she was done, she splashed some cold water on her face above the sink and had to talk to herself in order to calm down.

“Come on, come on Taylor. Nobody is going to arrest you, you haven’t killed anyone, it’s your uncle who did it!!” She had so much trouble breathing properly, even though it was ridiculous, Taylor knew that this FBI man wasn’t there to waste his time and he probably had a good reason to be here in the first place.

Taylor’s eyes spotted the ventilation grill on the wall, above the toilet. She narrowed her eyes and decided to climb on the toilet bowl. She could hear her uncle speaking with the FBI agent through the grill, and to her surprise, she could even see what was going on in her uncle’s office through the ventilation grill.

“I don’t know why his girlfriend said that Mark came to my shop a week ago, I haven't seen him for two weeks.” Taylor listened to her uncle speaking, once again lying to the FBI agent. It was a complete lie as Mark had indeed been in this shop a week ago.

“Any video footage I could look at?” The FBI agent wanted to check the security cameras from the building. Thomas shook his head at the FBI agent.

“That would be useless, the cams inside the place have been out of service since a while, but you can still check the outdoor footage from a week ago…” Taylor was hoping that the cams outside had recorded something that would help the FBI agent with his investigation.

5 minutes later, Taylor was still locked in the bathroom, spying on both men from the grimy toilet bowl. She wasn’t tall and was on the tip of her toes, feeling the muscles in her calves shaking.

“Can I Rewind? We’re seeing a car leaving your entrance at high speed…” Taylor couldn’t see the screen on which the men were looking at the security footage, so she didn’t know which car the FBI agent was talking about.

The video was then rewinded and Thomas sighed loudly, acting as if he was annoyed.

“That’s Taylor’s car, my niece, the one you met at the entrance… She’s got a 2006 Red Subaru WRX!” Taylor’s jaws dropped as her uncle pointed out that the Subaru seen in the footage was the one of her niece. She couldn’t even believe it, once again he betrayed her.

“Any ideas what your niece was doing at your shop while it was closed?” Of course Thomas kept pretending as he shrugged his shoulders at the FBI Agent.

“To be honest sir, I have no idea at all! I will have to ask her. She’s a bit of a thief and well, I have to keep an eye on her! I can bring her in here if you wish!” Taylor clenched her teeth at her uncle, and there’s no way she was going to be mixed into this!! She knew she had not a chance against her uncle, he was a damn hypocrite and would probably deny everything at this point.

The young woman returned back on the floor of the bathroom and rapidly walked to her desk to retrieve her smartphone and her small backpack. She didn’t warn anyone that she was leaving, and realized that the timing was perfect as she spotted her uncle coming out of his office with the FBI Special Agent.

“HEY, TAYLOR!! COME BACK HERE!!” Her uncle yelled at her, and the young woman showed him the middle finger before pushing the door of the shop. Aleksander, the FBI agent was just behind Thomas as he realized that the young woman was leaving quite in a hurry. Thomas even tried to catch her back by running after her, but the young woman had reached her car in no time and was already hitting the road with the modified Subaru WRX.

“Damn lil cunt!!!” Exclaimed Thomas through clenched teeth. Aleksander narrowed his eyes toward Thomas, a bit surprised by the language used by him to describe his niece.

“I will find her back…” Explained the FBI agent in a calm tone as he strolled toward his black Ford Police Interceptor. She was of course now on the suspects list, because her car had been seen on the footage and the fact that she was running away, was almost a way of saying that she was guilty, or that she had something to do with this. Aleksander started the car and was seen leaving the parking lot of the mechanics shop.

Aleksander grabbed the police CB Radio microphone and warned every cop in Clark County about Taylor Bradley. He actually didn’t have her whole name, but the description of the red Subaru WRX would be quite enough to at least be able to spot her

“Pay attention, a 2006 Red WRX STI Subaru, driven by a woman in her early twenties. The suspect could be armed and dangerous. The FBI is looking for her, as she’s a suspect. I repeat, a Red Subaru WRX STI’ year 2006, I have no name plate, but it’s driven by a woman with short pale blonde hair, in her early twenties, name is Taylor but unsure about last name…” Aleksander then ended the communication on the CB. He didn’t think she’d be spotted quickly but Aleksander’s CB became quite alive as a cop had spotted Taylor’s car.

“A Red WRX has been spotted near South Decatur Blvd, looks like to be in a hurry…”

Thomas’ garage was on South Decatur as well, meaning that Taylor hadn’t yet changed direction and perhaps he could catch her before she’d disappear.

“Fine, don’t try to approach her, just inform me of her direction.” Asked Aleksander to the cop on the CB radio.

“Fine, we won’t approach her… Still going down south, she’s passing by Taqueria la casa del pastor Restaurant.” It didn't take long for Aleksander to finally approach Taylor on the road, the young woman was going down Decatur Boulevard, and it was obvious that she was in a hurry. His car was obviously very hard to miss since it was a black Ford Taurus, a Police Interceptor pack, and she had probably spotted him as Taylor’s car was seen accelerating.

“Damn!! I think I will need some help here!” Aleksander asked the cop on the CB radio if he could get some help with catching Taylor.

“We can follow her from afar…” Aleksander sighed as he kept driving, he had 318 HP under the hood, compared to Taylor’s Subaru who only had 278 HP.

“I’m getting closer to her right now, don’t turn on the lights…” Aleksander didn’t want to scare her, he simply wanted to speak to her and see why she had been seen on the footage of the security cams. She was of course being suspected by now, because she had been seen and she had decided to run away in her car, which was somehow a strange behavior.

He finally arrived at a red light, and Taylor was right next to him in her car. He pushed on the electronic button to slide down the front passenger side window and spoke to Taylor, who already had her window rolled down.

“Taylor, I just want to speak with you. How about going to the FBI headquarters, so we can discuss it?” He didn’t want to scare her and tried to talk to her in a gentle tone of voice.

“I have nothing to do with this, the only one who’s responsible for all of this, is my uncle himself! Leave me alone now!!” He wasn’t surprised to see that she didn’t want to cooperate, but why? He wanted to understand everything and especially, he wanted to clear her off from his list of suspects.

“Taylor? I have a job to do, the only way for me to leave you alone is to understand what happened that night, you understand?” He caught her eyes looking up at her rearview mirror in her car, he knew at this precise moment that he wasn’t yet done with her. He had a feeling that she had some surprises in store for him.

As the red light turned green, Aleksander pressed on the pedal gas to accelerate, whereas Taylor was seen backing up away from him as the young woman had shifted in reverse and then brought the front of the car on the opposite side by pulling on the handbrake

“Dammit!!” She was now running away from him again and this time, Aleksander was starting to grow impatient with Taylor. He had to do a U turn in order to go in the same direction as her, almost impressed with her driving skills as he caught her doing one of those maneuvers that only an experienced driver would’ve done. Not someone in her 20’s like her… He began to believe that she wasn’t to be underestimated.

She was speeding between cars on Decatur Boulevard, and Aleksander had no other choice but to warn the other cops in the area about her. He certainly didn’t want her to hit someone or cause a serious accident.

“A Red 2006 Subaru WRX is seen speeding down Decatur Boulevard, toward North. Woman in her twenties named Taylor, she needs to be stopped before an accident happens.” Aleksander announced on the microphone of the CB radio in his car. He then turned on the red and blue strobes lights hidden behind his windshield. The cops in the area confirmed Aleksander they had received his instructions.

Aleksander accelerated as well, not wanting to lose sight of her car, while being cautious at not getting into an accident. She once again surprised him as she burned a red light, once again using the handbrake in order to bring the car in the opposite lane and avoiding getting hit by cars coming from the other lanes.

She was by now going down south on Decatur. Unlike her, Aleksander didn’t have a manual handbrake in his car, but an electronic one, and he just couldn’t do what she was doing with the Subaru. Looked like Taylor wasn’t impressed by his strobes lights, she was still accelerating and Aleksander almost lost eye contact with her car as she turned in another street. That’s when he realized that he was getting owned by a woman that was young enough to be his daughter…

“We’re having her, coming right at us on West El Parque Avenue.” One of the cops mentioned throughout the radio that Taylor was coming right at them.

“Alright, I’m coming right on El Parque Avenue, we’ll try to stop her, or at least slow her down!!” Aleksander wasn’t in a good mood anymore, Taylor was trying to escape him and she was refusing to even speak with him and for what reasons??

The other cops car realized that it was going to be hard to stop her as the Red Subaru sped nearby them. At least they got her license plate and could gather more info on her.

“We’re following her from behind, and we’re having much more information about her. License Plate is SUBIKID Complete name is Taylor Elizabeth Bradley, D.O.B November 21, 1999 and she lives at 6155 Oakey Boulevard. This car is registered under her name and in the state of Nevada. Not stolen!” As the cops informed him about Taylor, Aleksander almost rolled his eyes when the cop on the radio mentioned that the car wasn’t stolen, but belonged to the young woman.

“I can see this…” He said to the cop. It was quite obvious that it was her car. Especially that the transmission was manual and she was capable of driving it and controlling the car as if it was part of her. Aleksander accelerated as well and turned at high speed in the same street as Taylor, burning a bit of the tires underneath his car.

“I’m near her, almost behind her I could say!” Aleksander transmitted the information to the other cops, while he had finally reached the Subaru, but he had other plans. He’d try to stop her by blocking her car with his at a red light. He knew she’d try to burn the light again, and just like he wished, Taylor had no other choice, but to brake when Aleksander abruptly placed his car in the middle of the street at the red light.

This time she couldn’t reverse as other cars were rolling down in the opposite lanes. He knew she wasn’t stupid enough to try this.

“I’m blocking her right now, I’d need some help here. Come here as fast as you can, she needs to be trapped!!!” Aleksander was growing furious with Taylor. He didn’t want her to be involved in a car accident, and nor did he want this for himself. The other cop's car wasn’t fast enough, and it didn’t take long for Taylor to get back on the road by going down on El Parque Avenue and she then reached for South Valley View Blvd.

“Jesus Christ!! I almost got her!!” Furious, Aleksander swore at the cops on his radio.

“We’ve asked for help. Other cars are deployed in the area, we’ll stop her!” Mentioned one of the cops through the radio.

Aleksander kept on following as Taylor was driving at high speed on South Valley View Boulevard, which was a Boulevard parallel to the train's track going up north and south Las Vegas. When he saw the locomotive with its 100 wagons attached behind, he quickly understood what was Taylor’s plan.

“She's crazy!! Come on guys, Hurry up! I don’t know what she’s got under the hood, but I’m losing her. She’s still on South Valley View Boulevard.” But Taylor had other surprises in store for Aleksander as she turned abruptly on Losee road 3 minutes later.

The train could be seen coming from afar, and Aleksander fathomed what she had in mind. Not only was he after her, but there were 5 other cops cars speeding behind her as well. The train was on its way to cross Losee road and he didn’t want to believe that Taylor would be as suicidal as this. She would never have time to cross the track before the train, but there she was, accelerating again with the red Subaru, and the next thing Aleksander knew, he had to brake harshly in order to avoid getting hit by the train coming at high speed, while Taylor was already on the other side of the track.

The cops cars were seen braking behind Aleksander’ Ford and the 51 years old man stepped out of his car and watched The red Subaru speeding away from them as she had crossed the track before the train, and we’re talking about a matter of seconds here.

He had this irritated look on his face as he had lost Taylor. His teeth were clenched behind his closed lips.

“2 more seconds, and she would be history!!” Aleksander closed his green eyes for a second, trying to think of another plan as Taylor was already far away from them.

“You gotta admit, she’s a skilled driver!” One of the cops came out of his car and commented about Taylor’s driving. Aleksander turned around and the look on his face was obviously showing that he wasn’t in the mood for this kind of joke.

“She’s a suspect and I lost her!” Aleksander placed his hands on his hips and turned around another cop.

“Give me her address again, I will stop by and see if she’s having in mind to stop at her place…” Of course Aleksander wasn’t going to park right in her driveway. He’d make sure to hide himself and catch her off guard. He had no ideas if she wanted to stop at her place though, and that it was just a risk he was taking.

One of the cops gave the exact address of her apartment to Aleksander and the FBI agent also demanded the cops to keep an eye on her.

6 Hours had passed since Aleksander had lost track of Taylor, he still went to her apartment and parked far enough, so he wouldn’t be spotted. No signs of Taylor as 8 PM clocked in. He waited 4 more hours in his car, and it was around midnight that the unique noise belonging to the Red WRX Subaru aroused him from his tiredness. He narrowed his green eyes and there she was as she stepped out of her car.

She was seen climbing to the second story of the building to her apartment. He waited until she got inside her place to step out of his car and approached her Red Subaru, where he placed a small GPS tracker underneath her car. He then went to her porch on the second floor and the window in her kitchen was half opened and he could hear her speaking over the phone to someone.

“I really need to leave Las Vegas, and like right fucking now! I can’t explain why over the phone, but because of my uncle, I’m in some deep shit!!”

He listened to her conversation with rapt attention, wondering if she’d say something that could help him with the investigation.

“I need to get my car wrapped. For christ sake, I got the FBI after me, some tall dude named Aleksander, driving a damn fucking Ford!!!” He almost chuckled when Taylor described him as a tall dude. He didn’t know if he should be flattered, but for sure, she didn’t like his Ford…

“I got money for the car wraps. I really need to change its color, every fucking cops are looking for me right now! I’m almost surprised they didn’t show up at my place. Give me at least 6 hours to reach Carson City..”

He didn’t know who she was speaking to over the phone, but she had in mind to leave for Carson City, but he would make sure it wouldn’t happen. He was tempted to believe that Taylor knew something, but that she didn’t want to share this information with him. He backed up a bit on a porch and stood tall in a dark corner and waited for the young woman to come out of her apartment. He knew that she was in a rush and wouldn’t last long inside her place, knowing well that she was exposing herself.

2 minutes later, Taylor was seen storming out of her apartment with a backpack on her back. She was locking the door of her apartment, oblivious to the fact that Aleksander was standing a few feet from her in a dark corner.

“I’m afraid to inform you that you're wrong, young lady… It’d take around 7 hours to reach Carson City..” He indeed startled her with his deep voice, and especially his tall silhouette as he came out of the dark. She was trapped at this point and couldn’t really run away from him now. She stood there, speechless and aware that she was in trouble.

“You gave me quite a hard time today on the road, Taylor! I must say that I’m impressed with your driving Skills!” She looked up at him, still speechless, as if someone had glued her lips together as he told her in all seriousness that her driving skills gave him quite a headache.

“I got nothing to do with this, you’re after the wrong person!!” She finally spoke up to him, he could tell she was tired and terrified. The look in her pale blue eyes spoke for itself.

“Then why are you running away like this?” She was on the verge to say something, but instead, she backed away from him and the next thing Aleksander knew, Taylor jumped on the small garden table next to her apartment door, reaching for the roof above her porch.

“HEY!! COME BACK HERE!” Aleksander was exhausted as well and wasn’t really in the mood to run again after her. There she was, reaching for the rooftop of the apartment building.

“FUCK YOU!!” She yelled at him while once again running away from him on the rooftop of her apartment building. Where the hell was she going, pondered Aleksander. He didn't do like her, but instead, returned back on the turf and headed in her direction toward the private backyard of the apartment building.

There was a pool behind the building, he could even hear the pool filter functionning. He couldn’t access the private property since the gate was locked.

His green eyes looked up above as he caught Taylor jumping from the roof, straight into the deep end of the pool. She had made sure to toss her backpack on the grass before jumping so as not to wet it.

“She’s crazy!” Thought Aleksander. It was just a matter of time until she’d hurt herself, or be involved in a car accident. Aleksander climbed over the gate, with the hope of retrieving her backpack, alas for him, the young woman had been faster than him. She caught her backpack in a hurry and rushed toward the gate while leaving wet footsteps behind her, opposed to where Aleksander was standing. He ran after her, but she quickly got him as she passed underneath a part of the gate that was broken.

She was smaller than him, and he wasn’t able to pass under the gate like her. There she was, slipping out of his hands, once again. Desperated, Aleksander sighed furiously, but still went after her after climbing down the gate. He ran toward her Car, but the next thing he knew, the young woman was already gone in her Subaru WRX.

He placed his large hands on his hips and shook his head in despair, once again fooled by a 24 years old woman!!

He pulled out a smartphone from his long coat and dialed a phone number.

“Bad news, I lost her again… She’s quite something!!! I got owned by a little girl!!” He chuckled over the phone as he was amused by the fact that this woman was as cunning as a fox and owned him good.

“Just like you asked me, I’ve placed the GPS tracker underneath her car… She’s headed to Carson City, unless she changes her mind. She knows I know! I have to catch her, she knows something, but she won’t spit out her piece!!” Aleksander ended the call on his smartphone and looked down at his watch as the night was getting late.

He was exhausted but he had to go after Taylor. She was a big part of his investigation by now, and couldn’t let go of her. At least he had placed the GPS tracker and would be able to track her down. She’d also need to get some rest, she was still a human being after all…

The FBI Agent headed back to his place, where he got some rest for like 4 hours and as the day rose up slowly over Vegas, the FBI agent packed himself some clothes and personal stuff in his gym bag. He opened an app on his phone to check where Taylor’s car was.

To his surprise, the young woman was in Indian Springs, a small city located 42 minutes from Vegas. He was a bit confused, wondering why she had stopped there. He wondered if her wonderful little Subie had given her some troubles. Even though the car looked to be in good shape, it was still a 2006…

“Well, perhaps, I will finally have the chance to get my hands on you!”

[ed-frankward]

Detective Beaumont

Suzie walked up the street, strayed into a dark alley, and returned to the street as The Killer. The Killer went home.

Detective Beaumont arrived at the scene. "Has there been a murder?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do we know who did it?"

"No, sir."

"Not again!" Beaumont shook his head. "How is it that we are never there when the murder occurs so we can see it occurring?" Beaumont left, not expecting an answer.

He traveled uptown. When he reached the top, he entered a restaurant and sat across from a telephone. He picked it up. "You won't believe what's happened."

"Yes. Your gazpacho is getting cold, Beaumont."

"Please call me Jack."

"We're past that. I've sold all your things. Or had you not noticed?" Beaumont had not. "I’ve moved to Switzerland. Goodbye." His partner hung up. Beaumont shook his head.

He returned to his no longer shared apartment. No coffee machine, no printer, no small table on which to set a printer. Someone had even painted the once off-white walls pure white. He reached to pull out his phone but pulled out a receipt for the sale of his phone. Oh, Beaumont thought.

The Killer entered the police station and nodded at the maitre d'. "I've committed a crime and would like to make amends."

"Please take a number and be seated."

The Killer removed a paper ticket from the machine. The use of a virtual queue was welcome. In a place like this you wouldn't want to make it easy to cut in line. That may illicit a negative response from the individuals in the room, ruffians. There was The Burglar (a knock-off Hermès handbag), The Swindler (posing as a lawyer), The Planned Obsolescencer (got off), The Teacher (taught bad stuff), and Frank (picking up The Forger). They all had names like Frank once. Maybe something more like Franc for The Forger, or Francine, not Franz. The Killer held on to the paper ticket tightly.

"You come here often?" The Burglar asked.

"Not as often as I should." The Killer responded.

"I used to be like-"

Beaumont entered the station in a huff. "A glass of red if you please," he called to the maitre d'. "Who's processing these self-alleged criminals?"

"The Intern."

Beaumont looked over the assemblage. "Are any of you perhaps responsible for the death of a person in an alley?"

The Killer stood up.

"Thank you," Beaumont said. "Meet me in examining room 2. In your own time." He motioned to remove his felt hat and retrieve his felt pen, but neither were on his head.

The Killer entered examining room 2 and exited A Killer. A Killer was summarily rehabilitated and became Suzie. Beaumont received a commendation. "For your steadfast pursuit of Suzie" it said.

Who's Suzie? he wondered. Beaumont shook his head.

[number1paimonstan]

Murderer: Any last words?

Ray: Do you think I'm cute? Be honest.

Ray and Y/n: *writing a letter*

Ray and Y/n : Dear Santa,

I'm writing to let you know I've been naughty...

And it was worth it you fat, judgemental bastard.

Ray, Thomas, and Y/n: Don't joke about murder. I was murdered once and it offends me.

Y/n and Thomas: I have yet to encounter a problem where a sword didn't factor into the solution at least in some way.

Ray: *stares with envy*

Ray and Y/n: Hey, quick question. How petty am I allowed to be?

Ray: I see the red flags, I acknowledge that they're there, and then I completely ignore them.

Thomas, in a high voice, holding barbie: hey ken! I was thinking about going back to school and starting a career!

Ray, in a deep voice, holding ken: nonsense, barbie. you’re staying home and having my kids

Y/n: what the fuck are you guys doing?

Both Ray and Thomas: playing systemic oppression

Y/n: Do not come over to my house. If the house is on fire you may knock once, if I don’t answer assume I set the fire and I want to burn to death.

Ray Y/n Thomas: *watching their house burn down*

Ray Y/n Thomas: ....

Ray: *starts filming* Waddup, guys, welcome to my vlog, today's topic: how to get away with accidentally committing arson because you forgot Spaghetti O's cans are metal and thus non-microwavable! Step one: deny everything.

Y/n: *Disappointed but not suprised*

Thomas: *Standing there awkwardly*

Ray and Y/n: You seem familiar... have I threatened you before?

Ray: Yum, thanks!

Kidnapper: *puts more tape over their mouth* I said stop eating it.

Y/n: Ray and I were crossing the street, and this dude drove by and honked at us

Zashi: *Sighing* What did Ray do?

Y/n: They chased him to the next red light, then reached into his window and...

Ray: Who wants a steering wheel?

Ray: I can’t believe you live nearby, and you won’t let anyone crash at your place.

Y/n: You people already know too much about me.

Thomas: We know exactly three facts about you, and one of them is that you won’t let any of us crash at your place.

Y/n, working at McDonald's: Sorry sir, we don't serve a McFuck here, so either you throw that one slice of pickle out or we're gonna have a McProblem.

Ray, looking at their watch: It has been 2 hours and sixteen minutes since I’ve been insulted.

Ray: It’s been about 5 seconds since I’ve been assaulted, but let’s not talk about that.

Ray, Y/n, and Thomas: My ultimate goal is to punch God in the eye, just to spite him one last time.

Y/n: If karma doesn't hit you, I fucking will.

Ray: Do you know that we are made out of atoms?

Ray: And atoms never touch each other.

Ray: So in my defense, officer. I did not punch this kid.

Ray: *Pointing at Zenitsu*

Ray, Y/n, and Thomas: Pros and cons of dating me.

Ray, Y/n, and Thomas: Pros. You'll be the cute one.

Ray, Y/n, and Thomas: Cons. Holy shit, where do I begin-

Ray: I just found out that humans are capable of fitting a light bulb into their mouth with ease but can’t take it out without shattering it, and now I have to physically restrain myself from putting a light bulb in my mouth

Kokushibo/Muzan, Akaza, and Douma: Hey, I took your soul last month and-

Ray, Y/n, and Thomas: No returns.

Kokushibo/Muzan, Akaza, and Douma: *sobbing* But it's making me sad...

Ray: I have met some of the most insufferable people. But they also met me.

Store Worker: Would a (your race). Y/n please come to the front desk?

Y/n, arriving at the desk: Hello, is there a problem?

Store Worker: points to Ray and Thomas

Store Worker: I believe they belong to you?

Ray and Thomas, simultaneously: We got lost :(

Y/n: I didn’t even bring you guys here with me-

[wonderswritings]

When World's Collide: Broken Universe

Summary: Five years ago, the world changed. Eight months ago, with a snap of fingers it changed again. Now we’re dealing with the aftermath of those actions. It was supposed to be simple now, peaceful. But it's never that simple.

Warnings: No Way Home Spoilers, Angst,

Pairings: TASM!Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

When Worlds Collide Masterlist

Queen: YN, what were you thinking? Admitting to murder? What would possess you to do such a thing?”

Witch: I was helping my friends.

Queen: You’re friends who you grew up without. You’re an adult now YN. You can’t just do whatever you want.

Witch: I think that means I can.

Queen: Not without consequences you can’t.

Witch: And it’s because I'm an adult that I did what I did. They’re just kids.

Queen: What would your father say?

Witch: He’d give me a high five and say good job.

Queen: YN

Witch: He’d also be proud. Why can’t you?

I huffed, cutting my phone off, sitting it on the table as Matt walked around the table.

“They’re not pressing charges. And the previous charges have been dropped.”

“That’s good.”

Matt sighed, sitting down across from me.

“YN-”

I shook my head, looking over at Matt.

“Thank you, for doing this. It- someone could say it’s a conflict of interest since you represented Peter and-”

“Peter’s no longer my client since his charges have been cleared. There’s no conflict here.”

I nodded, looking down at the table.

“Right.”

“YN, you know I can sense that something’s wrong. What is it?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“YN.”

“It’s not even my problem. I’m fine.”

“YN-”

My phone started to ring, causing me to make a face as I picked it up.

“Peter? What’s wrong?”

“You did what?!”

“I sorta kinda, maybe went to Doctor Strange for help.”

I tilted my head to the side, making a face.

“Doctor Strange?”

“Yes.”

“For help.”

“Yes.”

“Time altering help.”

Peter nodded slowly, taking a step back.

“Yes.”

“So Peter, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Right um, I’m really sorry to bother you sir, but-”

“Please. We saved half the universe together. I think we’re beyond calling me sir.”

“Okay uh, Stephen.”

“That feels weird, but I’ll allow it.”

“When, when Mysterio revealed my identity, my entire life got screwed up and I was wondering, I mean, I don’t even know if this would actually work, but I was wondering if maybe you could go back in time and make it so that he never did?”

“Peter, we tampered with the stability of space-time to resurrect countless lives. You wanna do it again now just because yours got messy?”

Peter shook his head, slightly making a face.

“This isn’t, it’s not about me. I mean, this is really hurting a lot of people. My- my Aunt May, Happy, my best friend, my girlfriend, their futures are ruined just because they know me and, they’ve done nothing wrong. And YN, she just confessed to the world to a crime she didn’t commit. She’s putting everything she has on the line, for me.”

Strange tilted his head to the side, looking over at Peter.

“Stark’s kid?”

Peter nodded, sighing softly.

“Yeah.”

“I am sorry but, even if I wanted to, I don’t have the Time Stone anymore.”

Peter sighed, nodding.

“That’s right. I’m really sorry if I wasted your time.”

“You didn’t-”

Peter shook his head, turning.

“Just forget about it.”

“He will.”

Peter jumped slightly, watching as Wong created a portal.

“He’s really good at forgetting things.”

“Wong. You’ve actually generated a good idea.”

Wong stopped throwing his bags through the portal, making a face.

“What?”

“The runes of Cafkal.”

“The runes of Cafkal?”

Strange looked over at Peter, nodding.

“Oh, it’s just a standard spell of forgetting. Won’t turn back time, but at least people will forget that you were ever Spiderman.”

“Seriously?”

“No. Not seriously. That spell travels the dark borders between known and unknown reality. It’s too dangerous.”

“God, we’ve used it for a lot less. Do you remember the full moon party in Karma-Taj?”

“No.”

“Exactly. Come on Wong. Hasn’t he been through enough?”

Wong scoffed, shaking his head.

“Just leave me out of this.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

“I’m sorry, you expect me to believe that Dr. Strange, the guy with a stick so far up his ass that even he could see it, agreed to help you change people’s memories?”

“Yes. Technically it was his idea.”

“I’m sorry, did being gone for five years make his brain short circuit?”

Peter rubbed the back of his head, shrugging slightly.

“Ah, no? I don’t know.”

He shook his head, huffing slightly.

“But long story short it didn’t work and that’s not why I’m here.”

“It’s not.”

“No. I- Mr. Strange said that I should call MIT and plead my case with them.”

I made a face, tilting my head to the side.

“Isn’t that what I told you to do earlier?”

“Yes. But you were gonna do it for me. I just- I think this is something I need to do, myself.”

He looked over at me, his eyes wide as he shook his head.

“Not to say I’m not appreciative of everything you’ve done and all, but-”

“Peter, take a breath. It’s fine.”

He tilted his head to the side, shooting me his puppy dog eyes.

“Really?”

I laughed, nodding.

“Yes Pete, really.”

I turned, grabbing a piece of paper, writing information down. I turned, handing it to Peter.

“Here.”

Peter took the paper, making a face.

“It’s the assistant vice chancellor of MIT. She’ll be able to help you.”

Peter looked up at me, his eyes wide.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Peter surged forward, wrapping his arms around me.

“Thank you.”

I smiled, returning the hug.

“Anytime Pete, you know that.”

“I know this is my mess, and I swear to you that I’ll fix it, but I’m gonna need some help.”

Strange scoffed, waving his hand around.

“Go.”

Peter nodded, moving towards the door when Strange yelled out.

“No Starks!”

Peter stopped, turning back towards Strange, his eyes wide.

“What? Why not? YN can help! She will help!”

“She’s dangerous.”

“And she doesn’t like you.”

“That too.”

Strange pointed at Peter, shaking his head.

“No Stark.”

Peter nodded, turning as he yelled over his shoulder.

“Sure.”

“As of now, you have detected zero multiversal trespassers, so get on your phones, scour the internet, and scooby-doo this shit.”

MJ scoffed, turning towards Strange.

“You’re telling us what to do, even though it was your spell that got screwed up. Meaning that all of this is kind of your mess. You know, I know a couple of magic words myself, starting with the word ‘please.”

Strange huffed, rolling his eyes.

“Please, scooby-doo this shit. You can work in the undercroft.”

“The undercroft?”

Strange waved his hands, taking all of them to the undercroft, Ned gasping as he looked around.

“Badass.”

“Guys, listen. Bout this whole spell thing-”

“It’s totally okay.”

Peter made a face, tilting his head to the side.

“Wait, really?”

MJ nodded, offering him a small smile.

“Yeah. I mean, I get it. You were just trying to fix things. And so, maybe just run it by us next time, you know? That way when you’re thinking, ‘Hey, I’m about to do something that could break the universe’, we could like, help you. Workshop something, or brainstorm ideas.”

Peter smiled, nodding.

“Deal.”

He turned, looking over at Ned.

“Ned?”

“Oh, dude. I don’t care. And seriously, not a big deal.”

Ned grinned, walking towards the machine.

“Ooh a torture rack.”

“That is a pilates machine.”

“That is-”

“The crypt.”

“Okay, so we get the rest of the guys. You zap them, Doctor Magic will send them back. And when we get into MIT, round of stale donuts, my treat.”

“Let’s catch some multiverse men.”

MJ made a face, tilting her head to the side.

“Wait, where’s YN?”

Ned nodded, looking over at Peter.

“Yeah. I figured she would’ve been one of the ones to stop you and Strange from doing the spell.”

Peter winced, nodding.

“Yeah, well Mr. Strange said she couldn’t come here.”

“Why?”

“He said she’s dangerous.”

MJ grinned, tilting her head to the side.

“She doesn’t like him.”

Peter nodded, sighing.

“And she doesn’t like him.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple as I leaned back in my seat.

“Karen, do not tell me you can’t comply with my wishes. Just tell me what I want to know.”

“I’m sorry, Miss. But Peter has given me specific instructions.”

“My dad created you! He put me in charge of all the A.I’s! That includes you! All you have to do is tell me where Peter is.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Come on, Karen. I saw the fight on the bridge. Peter’s in trouble.”

“He’s a smart kid.”

“I never said he wasn’t Karen. Listen, this is getting old. So we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you Miss.”

I nodded, clapping my hands together.

“Hard way it is then.”

“Miss, what are you doing?”

“Changing your program. If Pete can change your code, then so can I.”

“Miss, I don’t really think-”

“Nope. You lost that right when you decided not to tell me where Peter is.”

I stood outside the Sanctum Sanctorum, glaring at the doors as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“I hate this place.”

I walked up the steps, pushing the doors open. They slammed shut behind me as I walked further into Sanctum, looking around.

“Alright, now where are you?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

I turned, my hand lighting with my powers.

“You can put that away.”

I scoffed as Strange appeared at the top of the staircase, glaring down at me as I lowered my hand.

“Where is he?”

Strange shook his head as I walked up the stairs, huffing.

“I specifically said you weren’t to be here.”

“Good thing he didn’t ask me to be here then.”

Strange made a face, tilting his head to the side.

“He didn’t?”

“No, he didn’t. Which will be one of the many things I rage about once I see him. For now, you’ll just have to do.”

I stopped in front of him, glaring up at him.

“What the hell made you think it was a good idea to change people’s memories?!”

“The kid asked for help.”

“He didn’t know any better!”

I lifted my hand, poking his chest.

“You did!”

Strange looked down at my hand, raising a brow.

“Put the powers away Stark.”

I huffed, shaking my head.

“Where is Peter?”

Strange smirked as he moved his hands, a portal opening underneath me, causing me to fall. I huffed when I landed, glaring up at him.

“Fuck you Strange!”

He grinned, waving as he closed the portal.

“Asshole.”

I looked up, my eyes widening when I saw MJ and Ned, sitting at a table. They jumped when they saw me, slamming something down as I stood up.

“Where’s Peter?”

Ned and MJ shared a look before they looked back at me, speaking at the same time as I walked towards them.

“He’s in the bathroom.”

“He’s at the store.”

I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest as I stopped in front of them.

“He’s in the bathroom and the store?”

MJ slightly glared at Ned before she turned towards me, nodding.

“Yep. He had to go to the bathroom and then he was gonna go to the store.”

“Right.”

I nodded towards the guy with the tentacle arms, tilting my head to the side.

“Who’s that guy?”

Ned made a face, shaking his head as he laughed.

“Who’s what guy? There’s no guy.”

“Really? Hey tentacle guy, who are you?”

He stopped pacing, slightly tilting his head to the side.

“Dr. Otto Octavius.”

I nodded, looking back over at Ned.

“You were saying?”

“Peter’s still not here.”

“Where is he?”

Ned shrugged, shaking his head.

“Don’t know.”

MJ sighed, looking over at me.

“He’s trying to find the other multiverse men.”

“Multiverse?”

“Peter came to Dr. Strange for a spell-”

I nodded, slightly making a face.

“Yeah, I know all of that. He told me after it happened.”

“It backfired.”

Next

When Worlds Collide:

@nyx2021

@puredicks

@xoxabs88xox

@multi-fandom-lover7667

Everything Tags:

@sweetlittlegingy

@cevans-winchester @rafecameronswhore

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[bakugosbratx]

Baby Eyes | Mafia Katsuki Bakugo x Fem! Reader

Warning: 18+ Content. Some non-con, blood, murder, Mafia Bakugo, Fem! Reader, bdsm, sexual intercourse, size kink, degrading, orgasm denial, Stockholm syndrome, yandere themes, etc.

Words: 2,896

A/N: thank you so much to @daisy-bakugo for letting me participate. It is really fun doing this collaboration with you. Daisy’s Event

Tags: @awilddreamerwrites @peachsenpie @miriobaby @milkthistletea @idfkwtfgof click here to see my other works

Vegas.

Many dream of this city. The gambling, the drinks, the money, the night life. It has it all. Your dreams and worse nightmares can be made here all within a single night. The world may be cruel, but Vegas is even crueler. At least, it is for Y/N.

Your pistol was held tight in your trembling little hand. You have not been properly trained for this moment since in your late teens. The weapon felt foreign to the touch. You are now in your twenties and you are usually not doing this line of work, but since you wanted to disturb your significant other while he was working, he handed you the gun for you to handle.

“Since you want to be such a fucking cry baby, here.” He growled, shoving the pistol into your pounding chest. You gasped.

“S-Sir, I—“ You stammered, using the name he loved to be called by you. You would help it lessen your punishment, but the man did not budge.

“Don’t keep me waiting, brat. Finish this piece of shit off swiftly and quit your damn crying.”

You watched as he left into the city lights of Vegas before turning your attention back to the male before you. The man begged for mercy beneath you and your mouth feels dry.

“P-Please, ma’am. I-I have a w-wife and t-three beautiful c-children. I’ll g-give you your m-money next week. I-I promise.” The fearful man stammered amongst the abandoned dark alleyway. You have heard this speech by many like him when Katsuki brought you on his missions. It should just fall on deaf ears, but tears still brimmed your eyes as memories flooded back to the forefront of your damaged mind.

These memories are the reason you are in this predicament. You begged and squealed, running towards Katsuki and hanging onto his arm when he directed you to stay in the car. You two could have been gone by now, but you decided to intervene. Now you are here, about to commit another murder.

Your father was in this same position a few years ago. Begging for mercy before Katsuki slaughtered him right in front of you. Your cries still echo this alleyway during late, breezy nights. People think you have been disposed of as well. That is what eventually happened to the remainder of your family, but you are just under a new identity.

The barrel of the gun digs deeper into the victim’s temple. You attempt to find your strength to pull the trigger. You need to before Katsuki returns. He does not like waiting and you really are pushing what is left of his buttons today.

“I’m sorry.” You whimper out, closing your sorrow filled eyes and pressing down on the trigger. The feeling of blood splattering amongst your cold skin brought back even more unwanted memories. Falling to your knees, you began to cry hysterically in front of the fallen corpse.

Heavy footsteps came up behind you after a few moments. Katsuki has been watching the whole time and you know it. This is what made the experience even worse. You know his judgment is coming. He gave you a task and although you succeeded, it isn’t good enough. He hates your emotional ways. ‘Baby eyes’ as he would say. Always crying over something or someone.

A big calloused hand entangling into your hair with a deep sigh following. You could not look up at him. You hate him right now. You need to, at least, but the feeling of his large fingers stroking your scalp delivered comfort. A comfort he gives and takes away on a whim.

“Took you long enough.” Katsuki grumbled. You gaze up at him with a pitiful look he knows all too well. There was a certain aura to you that changed when your mind drifted to that night. The night he murdered your family right in front of you and all you could do is watch in terror.

“I-I’m sorry.” You muttered out, already accepting that Katsuki is annoyed with you. This is not your first murder and sure will not be your last. He has groomed you long enough for you to know your role.

Katsuki kicked the man’s head with his large foot so he could see the man’s pleading face. Katsuki is cruel in that way. He loved seeing his victim’s expressions in their final moments. Especially when his beautiful woman killed them.

Digging into the man’s pockets, he grabbed his pack of cigarettes and black leather wallet to review what was contained inside it. The little cash the man held is now in Katsuki’s possession.

“Marlboro Reds,” Katsuki commented as he slipped the cigarette in between his moist lips and lit it up, “nice.”

Turning around to face you after letting the nicotine enter his system, he looks down at you. Grabbing your chin, you are forced to meet his gaze. You tremble under his touch.

“What did I say about that crying shit?” Katsuki recalls one of your many lectures.

“I’m sorry!” You exclaimed, a little too loud for your own good. Katsuki’s eyebrows furrowed together, not pleased with your tone. His hand found a way to your neck, giving you a nice squeeze as he guides you up to your feet.

“Let’s go.” Katsuki growls, his red orbs shooting venom into you. Your arm is now tight into his grip as he leads you to the parked all black Lamborghini.

You climb into the passenger seat while Katsuki climbs into the driver’s. You used the napkins in the glove compartment to clean up your soiled face. Katsuki is already on his second cigarette as he drives to the mansion you both share. Considering how fed up he is with you and your antics, you are surprised that half of the box is not gone by now. You know you are in for it once you arrive home.

Katsuki pulled up to the house after some time. Your tears did not pause once the whole way there which only agitated Katsuki even more. He did not say a word as you know to follow the tall man inside. Straight up the spiral marble staircase to the master bedroom, you begin undressing as Katsuki does not appreciate the mess in his living space. Along with the fact you are always to be naked within the bedroom. That rule was set once you turned eighteen years of age.

You sat on the edge of the bed, not enjoying the look in Katsuki’s angry eyes. His muscular arms folded against his chest as he leaned against the wall, glaring into you. You feel small — as usual — within his presence. He is making sure you remember your place.

“What the hell were you thinking out there, Y/N?” Katsuki begins after moments have passed.

“I-I don’t know.” You mumbled, twiddling your thumbs in your bare lap. Your insides are curling with each passing second. You are not sure why you did what you did, honestly. You have seen numerous people plead for forgiveness at Katsuki’s feet, but Katsuki is always going to be a merciless man. Your body acted before your brain could compute. You just wanted to save him. Salvage your loved ones death in some way, shape, or form, but it can never be done.

“You have to give me a better excuse than that. This little rebellion you're on lately isn’t doing nothing but getting you into heaps of trouble.”

“It’s not a rebellion!” You snap back, tears still spilling from your orbs. “You killed my family, Katsuki!”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, used to this statement coming from you. “Here we go again.” He scoffs with a tsk following shortly after. “We’ve been over this, Y/N. Your father sold you and your family out for cash. If anything, you should be fucking grateful I even let you live.”

“Grateful?” You repeat in disbelief, a half hearted chuckle escaping your lips. Maybe it was because Katsuki let you take another life, maybe your parents' spirits are coming through, or maybe you’re just so fed up with him, but a sudden burst of confidence runs through you.

You stand up, strolling over to the man before you. His jaw is clenching as he examines each cowardly step you take towards him. You glare up to the man before you, quivering before his mighty presence.

“You killed my family, Katsuki,” you repeat through gritted teeth and clenched fists, “I’ll never forgive you for that.”

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki challenged, his profound amused smirk appearing. The look in your glossy irises said all the words you didn’t have the courage to speak. “Good thing I really don’t give a fuck about your forgiveness, princess.”

Katsuki’s words soaked into your veins like venom. His smug looks always made you want to beat it off of him. Ever since you have met him. You both know you have no match against him. He will always win. Always.

You have been stuck with him since you were fifteen years old. You two never had any relationship or any sexual conduct until you were the legal age of eighteen. You would be lying if you said you didn’t fall for him over the years. He is all you know and Katsuki grew to like you over the years. Though he trained you to be the woman he wants you to be for him, you do throw a tantrum or two when needed.

“I hate you.” You sniveled.

“Sure you do. Let’s clean up that pretty face of yours so I can stuff it, eh?” Katsuki chuckled, cupping your chin with one hand so he can wipe your nose with a handkerchief with the other. You attempted to break loose of his firm grasp, but the male was not even phased.

“I don’t want your dick anywhere near me.” You admit allowed, still keeping the same angry tone within your words.

Katsuki arched his eyebrow, releasing your face from his grip and discarding the used cloth into the waste bin. “Considering the show you put on out there tonight, you’re lucky I’m not doing worse to you. I can always make that pretty ass of yours bruised too if you’d like?”

You immediately shake your head no. Your bottom is still a bit sore from two weeks ago when Katsuki put you over his knee. You are just now able to sit normal again. You do not need to go back to that.

“No, sir.” You stutter out, backing away from him and putting your hands behind your back. Katsuki is already pouring himself some whiskey into a whiskey glass that you make sure is always waiting on his dresser. He always enjoys a good drink after a long mission.

You take his black suit jacket off of him like expected and lay it on the dirty laundry hamper. Katsuki is already sitting on the bed, sipping on his alcoholic beverage, waiting for you to get to work. Kneeling before him, you begin unzipping his slacks and tugging down his underwear to reveal his erected cock. You take a moment to contemplate your future actions. You really did not want his dick in your mouth, but like Katsuki said before, you do not have a choice in the matter.

Your train of thought is derailed when Katsuki tugs on your hair. “Isn’t going to suck itself, brat. Get to work.”

Mentally groaning, your tongue swipes his length before placing kisses on the tip. Slowly, you begin taking in inch—by—inch. Saliva slid down his cock by the time you had it in your throat. Choking noises fed Katsuki’s already inflated ego.

“Can’t talk much with my cock down your throat, huh?” He teased, taking another sip of his whiskey. “For someone who claimed they didn’t want my cock to begin with, you sure are deep throating it rather quickly.”

You ignored his usual insults as you came up for air. You let out small coughs then go in for more, every vein being pleased with your tongue as you take it all in. Katsuki groans in pleasure as you pick up the speed. His cock is coated in your saliva as you did not slow down once to catch air. It wasn’t worth the ego boost he would feel from knowing he is too big for you.

Katsuki’s whiskey went unfinished as he could not focus on drinking it. Cum soon fills your hollow cheeks and down your throat as he releases into you. Not a drop was missed as you milked his cock. You were rewarded with a head pat.

“On the bed,” Katsuki instructs, “all fours.”

“Do I have to?” You whine. Katsuki vigorously grabs your chin, staring down into you. The room is dark, but his crimson eyes seemed to glow.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get on this fucking bed and shut your Goddamn mouth.” Katsuki hisses, sending chills down your spine. You do as you are told like he taught you. Arching your back, your ass is now in his perfect viewing. Katsuki’s clothes discarded to the hardwood floor below, his dick already erected at the sight of you.

“See? That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” Katsuki asked, rhetorically. He spreads you open more for his personal view. “Yeah, that’s it.” He comments, overviewing all of you. One of his hands stroked his cock while the other pressed on your begging clit. You let out a soft moan, hoping he didn’t hear.

Placing his hands on your hips, he drags you closer to him. Leveling you with his cock, the tip slowly slips into your entrance then proceeding to pick up full speed. Your cunt swallows all of him, hugging his cock with each rhythmic thrust. You can feel your tight walls get stretched by his girth with each entry he makes, not even giving you time to get used to his size as he exits to repeat the same process. No matter how many times you two have sex, you will never get used to Katsuki’s length and size.

“Katsuki—“ You sob in pleasure and in pain.

“Shut it, slut. You’re going to take all of my fucking cock and like it. I’m going to fuck the brat out of you tonight.” Katsuki demands, pressing down on your spine so your ass is more perked up for him to smack periodically. Your cries and moans are muffled into the European satin sheets below. You grip onto them for support as Katsuki does not slow down once.

Your pussy pulsates with each thrust. It was about to give out on you and cum all over his cock. Though you did not want to give him the satisfaction, your cunt had other plans as it became tighter around Katsuki’s length.

“Aw, is someone going to cum?” Katsuki coo’s condescendingly, beginning to go agonizingly slow.

You lift your head to beg for sweet release. “Please let me cum, sir. Pretty please. I need to oh so badly.” You sobbed. His silence made your insides do flips. His slow strokes did not once stop and his nails dug into your thighs.

“No.” Katsuki finally denies as he knows you cannot take anymore. You gasp, your heart stopping for a split second.

“Katsuki, please.” You hiccuped. “I really need to.”

“Should’ve thought about that before throwing a tantrum today. Good girls get to cum.” Katsuki shrugged, using his long muscular arm to push your head back into the mattress. “Now shut the hell up while I fuck you senseless.”

Just like Katsuki stated, he fucked you until his high was met. Of course, he did not make it easy as he was about to bust, he would go slower to edge himself. He wanted this to be a punishment to remember. The whole time, you behaved and did not cum. No matter how many times Katsuki tried to get you to slip, you refused.

“C’mon and cum, brat. Y’know you wanna.” Katsuki would tease with immaturity. All you could say was incoherent “no thank you’s.” A soft rub on your ass was telling you that you passed his test.

Countless minutes, maybe even hours, have passed until Katsuki decided he was ready to release himself. “You can cum now.” He finally grants. You did not get to even process his words as your pussy released onto his cock. Babbles of pleasure and gratitude escaped from your lips.

“Good fuckin’ girl.” Katsuki praises, his cock now removed from you. You whine at the hollowness you felt.

“Lay on your back.” He instructs, doing his best to keep it together. You follow his request and switch over to your back. “Play with your tits.”

Your fingers grab onto your sensitive nipples, swirling on them before giving them a nice little pinch. Katsuki stood over you, stroking his cock that is covered in his pre-cum.

“Yeah, that’s it. Good girl.” Katsuki praised once more, analyzing your lewd faces as your fingers played with your breast.

“Mm, cover me with your cum.” You encouraged, rubbing your thighs together and pushing your breast closer to one another. Katsuki became feral as cum squirted onto your chest and stomach. Just the sight of you is making Katsuki forget today ever happened.

Just like always, baby eyes.

©bakugosbratx

All Rights Reserved

[ghostria]

| cm men x gn!freezing!reader |

summary: its been a long week at work, but unfortunately, you get stuck in the rain, and your co-workers come to your rescue

warnings: none / language

Paring: Spencer Reid, Aaron Hotchner, Derek Morgan

𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊 Spencer Reid 𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊

“are you fucking kidding me?!” you exclaimed in frustration. The last bus just left the station, leaving you in pouring rain. You thought about booking an uber home, but after the case you were working on, that was the last thing you wanted to.

as you were getting more soaked by the minute, you decided to walk home, because you thought it would be easier. That’s when a familiar car drove up beside you. It was Spencer’s vehicle.

“Y/N? What are you doing out in the rain?” Spencer asked curiously.

“The bus just left the station, and the next one leaving is leaving in 2 hours, so I figured it would be easier to walk home” you answered.

“do you need a lift? I have an extra sweater in the trunk, you can put on if you want to. I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Spencer said. You didn’t hesitate one bit and got into his car.

“thanks a lot Reid, I was afraid I was going to freeze to death while walking home” you said jokingly while putting his extra sweater on.

𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊 Aaron Hotchner 𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊

“I swear to God if my car doesn’t start within the next 2 minutes i’m going to commit mass murder” you thought to yourself as your car wasn’t starting.

you got out to call a tow truck, but just as you were about to close the door, you saw your keys hanging in the keyhole.

you know those moment where you’re about to do something, and then you realise you fucked up but you can’t stop because your body and brain is already in motion? you just had one of those moments. shit.

“mass murder is looking really nice right about now” you mumbled to yourself as it started dripping from the skies.

“what did you say about mass murder?” a familiar voice asked. Your boss, Aaron Hotchner.

“Sir, i don’t know what you’re talking about!” you exclaimed a little too fast, and your boss just chuckled at you.

“do you need a ride home? I’ll call a tow truck and we can get your car looked at tomorrow.” He asked.

“if it’s not troubling you, yes please” you sighed and clapped your hands together in relief.

“hop in then” Aaron said with a slight smile on his face.

𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊 Derek Morgan 𖡼𖤣𖥧𓍊

“Morgan don’t, i’ll just call my roommate, it’s not that late anyways”

“Y/N… it’s 2AM? they’re probably sleeping by now. Please, let me drive you home”

you really didn’t want to bother Morgan since he’d been driving you home since Tuesday, because your car had broken down multiple times

“Morgan, I don’t want to trouble you”

“Trouble? who said anything about trouble? Y/N, you live 5 minutes from my house teddybear”

he really was persistent in driving you home. and you hated it.

“fine, but at least let me pay you”

“not. a. chance. it’s such a small thing, it’s pouring down, just get in the god damn car Y/N”

[barnesbabee]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ- ᴡ��ɴᴅᴇʀʟᴀɴᴅ

WONDERLAND MASTERLIST ⇜ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ - ꜰᴏᴜʀ-  ɴᴇxᴛ ⟿

CHARACTER LIST:

White Rabbit - Choi Jongho Absolem (Blue Catterpilar) - Kang Yeosang Cheshire Cat - Kim Hongjoong Mad Hatter - Choi San Haigha (March Hare) - Jung Wooyoung Tweedle Dee - Song Mingi Tweedle Dum - Jeong Yunho Bloody Red King - Park Seonghwa

[Send me a DM, an ask or comment to be added to the tag list] Big thanks to my dear friend @smallfrye for making the banner <3

“She, my friends, is going to trick the King.”

The room echoed with gasps from the crowd.

"Aaaabsolem," the Hatter sang "are you trying to take my place as the mad one? That is not very nice!"

"I'm dead serious. The King has obviously taken a liking to her, she came back to us with a dress and with her head still attached to her body. The King took her for a stroll in the garden! She's the only one that can get close to him. Get close to him, and kill him."

You tilted your head and furrowed your eyebrows as you looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious?

"Sir, or whatever it is I'm supposed to call a caterpillar, I'm not about to kill someone."

"Tell me, what are you going to do?"

You gulped. You didn't know what to do. You didn't know where you were, you weren't even sure you were alive. But from not knowing what to do to committing murder, it went a long, long way.

"I can help you get close to him. That is as far as I'll go. I don't know the laws of this place or the morals anyone has, but where I'm from you can't just kill someone."

The hatter walked closer to you and caressed your cheek.

"My dear, the only law in Wonderland is that you can't disrespect the King's wishes."

"And does the King wish to die?"

The Hatter laughed loudly.

"I supposed not... Sucks to be him I guess! Off you go!" The Hatter said, grabbing your old dress and pushing you into a room to get dressed back into the horrid black and red, heart-decorated dress.

Once you came back all of their faces scrunched in disgust. The King really had ruined red for everyone...

"Alright beautiful, hmm here's the deal," Cheshire told you, twirling and swirling around in the air before settling right beside you "I have so kindly volunteered to take you to the castle. You're not entering thought, you will lay right outside under one of the trees, and you will pretend to be passed out, as our dear Tweedles inform the King that they saw a pretty lady with a black and red dress passed out not far from the castle. The card Knights will bring you in and you will tell the King you were scared when he started yelling. Apologize. You have to apologize, make sure he knows that you think you're in the wrong, because if he starts thinking that you blame him for something he'll lose his mind... And you'll lose your head!"

His tongue grazed along his sharp teeth and he chuckled lowly.

"And that's where Hatter comes in. After a few days, you tell him that he should get a new crown, a bigger one, and you suggest him to commission one from your good friend Hatter. And when Hatter tries to get the measurements, he'll kill the king. Make sure you find the witch in the castle, the King keeps her locked in a cage where she can't perform her magic."

You looked around the room, meeting everyone's expectant (and slightly insane) eyes.

"Fine, but you have to promise that while I'm away you find a way out of here, to send me back home."

The Wonderlanders looked around, with uncertainty in their eyes. They agreed to the promise they knew they would never be able to accomplish. They didn't even know where to start! But if lying was a step closer to their freedom, then so be it.

After going over the plan once more, Cheshire escorted you to the palace. The trip was mostly quiet, aside from his incessant humming and occasional curious questions about your origins. Cheshire kind of scared you... Although he was quite small compared to everyone else you had met, something about him made him very eerie. Maybe it was the way he smiled so widely, maybe it was his sharp teeth or the way his fearless eyes stared at everyone with a seemingly ghoulish look, but the fact was that he scared you beyond belief.

"Hmm, we're here darling." Cheshire sang in his creepy, mellow voice.

You looked at him briefly and watched him disappear into thin air without so much as a goodbye.

You laid under the big tree. The stump was purple and its blue leaves formed a big heart (unsurprisingly), and the soft foliage slowly fell beside you as you tried your best to seem passed out. Soon enough you heard the familiar heavy footsteps and rustling of armor, and you assumed the card Knights were near.

"Miss?" A raspy, deep voice called, as the owner poked you with his sharp spear.

Classy.

You slowly opened your eyes and pretended to be confused with your surroundings.

"Miss it appears you have passed out. The King requires your immediate presence in the castle."

The faceless card Knight commanded two other Knights to pick you up, and so they did, carrying you to the castle not so gently. Once you were past the big, heavy gates you could see the King anxiously (or furiously, you couldn't quite tell) pacing around the big garden decorating the front of the castle.

"Here she is, my King."

The cards released you roughly, nearly pushing you onto the ground.

"Careful! Idiots!" The King yelled and scurried to help you.

He looked into your fearful eyes, and although he could not recognize emotions to save a life, he could tell something wasn't right.

"Should we go for a stroll? I must talk to you..."

You accepted the King's request by taking the hand he extended to you.

"I-I'm sorry for running away, I shouldn't have done that."

You looked down at the grass as you apologized, too afraid to look him in the eye.

"Do I scare you?"

You stopped dead in your tracks and glanced briefly at the King. His eyes were not evil but showed curiosity and hurt instead.

There was a conflict in you, between wanting to be honest and wanting to keep your head. You flinched suddenly as the King's cold hands held yours.

"Please be honest, if the reply must be yes I promise there will be no consequences..."

You gulped.

"Well... Yes, you do scare me a little."

The King looked at the ground, with an adorably confused expression and scrunched nose.

"I guess I could have guessed that... But please, what scared you? What can I do to... not scare you?"

You were baffled that the tyrant King of this land was willing to change for someone like you.

"You must calm down Seonghwa, the way you yelled at someone because of the roses really scared me... Especially the way you asked to get them killed."

The King looked genuinely confused.

"But darling, don't they look so much better in red? Besides, what am I supposed to do to the incompetent peasants?"

"Well, maybe you could reward the people who do well, so the people who don't do well will work harder!"

The King had a disgusted face as you suggested that.

"My darling they are hardly people..."

You looked at him apprehensively.

"Fine, I'll consider your proposal, but only if you join me for dinner. I want to get to know you better."

"I accept your invitation, I have some questions myself."

The King took your hand and lead you inside the palace and up the slippery marble stairs. Everything in the castle was adorned with gold, and every wall had a painting of the King. Both of your shoes clicked against the floor in a movie-like way as you made your way into the big dining hall, that had all types of expensive-looking food.

"Where should I sit?"

The King stood behind a chair right on the other end of the table.

"Here, of course, opposed to me."

You cocked your head and looked at him as if he was stupid.

"Seonghwa how are we supposed to talk if we're so far away?"

"Hm..." The King thought for a second, tapping his chin with his index finger "Well I suppose you could sit next to me."

You smiled and took a seat next to the one where the King sat. It was pretty obvious from the extravagant, unique chair that it was there where he usually sat to have his meals.

"Well, I don't mean to sound rude but I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"

You watched a frogman served the King a couple of slices of whatever animal was roasted and served in a silver platter in front of you. You hadn't even realized he didn't know your name.

"Y/N, my name is Y/N."

"Oh! What a peculiar name! Tell me, Y/N, what is it that you want to ask me?"

[cardiophileanonymous]

Late Night Errands Chapter 1

Mulder x Reader

Summary: The reader is a paralegal preparing to help defend her client on trial in a week. The stress has finally convinced her to go out and get a stethoscope to help calm her down. Little does she know a certain agent was watching her out while she was out late at night, and it makes her a prime suspect in his eyes.

Y/n= your name

Y/f/n Y/l/n= your first and last name

B/f/n= your best friend’s name

...

Y/n slammed the door shut then started to punch the sides of the steering wheel. What in the world was going through her mind? Of course this store wouldn’t have any stethoscopes! Even if it was a pharmacy. People don’t have stuff like that lying around in their homes. Not normal people, anyway. What was she gonna say to the employee when they inevitably asked why she was looking for one? “Oh, I don’t need one, I just want it for my weird-ass heartbeat kink!” Yeah, that was one conversation she didn’t want to have.

She silently stared at the moon for a few brief moments. Why couldn’t she have a normal kink like everyone else? Like feet, maybe. It still would’ve been weird, but dammit, at least she’d be able to find porn of it. The best she could find easily was cardiophilia fanfiction, and even then, it was scarce.

She snuck glances around the parking lot. Nobody in sight. So hopefully, nobody would notice the blush on her face when she brought up an hour long “asmr heartbeat” video for the sake of calming herself down.

She smiled in bliss. When a heartbeat was in the background, it was like everything melted away. She groaned in frustration when she heard a text from her friend, B/f/n.

Don’t forget we’re having lunch tomorrow! I’m taking your mind off that trial if it’s the last thing I do!

She was double pissed now that the stress of last week filled her head. She was a paralegal, and one of her clients was set to go on trial less than a week from now. It was the oddest case she’d ever seen. The case of Bill Brown.

The man had killed exactly one-hundred people in the span of less than half a year. And the details he gave were chilling. They were vivid and graphic. So, he must’ve been a sociopath or something, right? Well he was super remorseful. And upon turning himself in, that’s right, turning himself in, he sobbed for three days straight. What’s strangest was he claimed he didn’t know they happened until the memories came back to him that night.

She wouldn’t have believed it either, if he didn’t point to bodies that hadn’t been found yet. He helped officers uncover at least a quarter of his victims.

It gave everyone working in his defense a headache. Argue innocence and a false confession? He flat out admitted details the public didn’t know. Did they argue insanity? He seemed pretty fucking sane during interviews and psych evaluations. Self defense? Not in a million years.

What got at her was the genuine feeling he was innocent, and that someone, or something, could be out there. The idea of being out there in the city alone with it out and about gave her the creeps.

“Whatever,” she whispered, turning the audio up so she could return to her blissful ignorant state. Where everything melted away. Where she was actually pretty happy with a smile on her face. With that, she began to drive away.

…

All she could think about when she finished getting dressed was the trial. The trial, the trial, the trial. This was gonna be the biggest train wreck she would ever see in her career, and she had only become a paralegal a mere three years ago. She didn’t envy the defense attorneys she was working under.

Her thoughts were interrupted by three knocks at the door. Strange, she wasn’t expecting anyone today, except for B/f/n, and she was always late for everything.

She looked through the peephole to see two people in fancy clothing outside. She opened the door just a crack.

“H-hello…?”

“Y/f/n Y/l/n,” the man asked. Y/n nodded hesitantly. The man speaking held up the badge and the woman behind him did the same. “Agents Mulder and Skully, FBI. We have a few questions about your client. The one who’s set to go on trial next week.”

She turned her head to the side.

“I’m sorry, I think you might be mistaken. I-I’m not an attorney, I’m just a paralegal.”

“Oh, we’re not mistaken. That’s exactly why we wanted to talk to you.”

She looked inside her apartment real quick, then back at them.

“Okay… come on in. Just come in quickly so the cat doesn’t get out. She has a habit of running outside.”

She was internally grateful that her friend talked her into going out for lunch. She would’ve felt embarrassed if she had had to talk to these well dressed professionals in her pajamas. Skully knelt down, petting Y/n’s cat that had just walked up to the two.

“Um… would you like tea or anything? I’m about to make some for myself now.”

Skully lifted up one of her hands while she let the small animal nuzzle into her other one.

“That won’t be necessary. We plan to be out as soon as possible.”

“O-okay… um... I’m guessing you’re here to ask about Bill Brown?”

Mulder nodded.

“That’s correct.”

“I… don’t really understand. He’s set to go on trial less than a week from now. Why is the FBI getting involved? I thought this was settled, more or less.”

“We think he may be the wrong guy. We’re investigating a series of murders strikingly similar to the ones he supposedly committed a year and a half ago. We need to look at some of the previous evidence and cross examine it with the crimes happening now.”

She still seemed unconvinced.

“Why haven’t you gone to my firm? Or better yet, the police? I-I’m sure they have everything on file.”

Mulder shook his head.

“The lawyers won’t speak to us. And the police department doesn’t want to reopen the investigation when they’re so close to closing it. They don’t want to cause panic.”

She nodded. That actually wasn’t that hard a story to believe, considering the people she worked with on a daily basis. She just looked around the room.

“Okay… you might want to rethink my offer about the tea, then. And have a seat. Because this’ll take a long time.”

...

She presented them with a long list of documents. Some images, most legal papers. She pulled out the two things that were most of interest to her, a map of where the killings took place as well as a few images of supposed murder weapons.

“I’m not really sure what you’re looking for, so here's everything, I guess.”

Skully started flipping through the legal papers, reading passages of the man’s confession. Y/n’s cat slipped under Skully’s arms and laid on her lap as she continued to read. Mulder took a keen eye to the map.

“When did these murders take place?”

“Um, September 14th through February 10th, sir.”

“And he moved here the day these murders started, correct?”

“C-c-correct. You… didn’t already know this?”

“Oh I did. I just wanted to make sure you did. Encyclopedic knowledge of a case is the sign of a good paralegal, don’t you think?”

“Oh!” She let out an embarrassed chuckle. “Thanks…”

“Tell me, Y/n. What do you think happened?”

“Well, the evidence clearly shows he’s guilty, so… we are going to be arguing that he did these crimes due to mania and insanity.”

“No, Y/n. What do you really think?”

She looked down, and started to get finicky. She sat up straight.

“I think he’s innocent… and I have a theory about what happened. But… I don’t think anyone would believe me.”

Skully raised an eyebrow.

“Why haven’t you brought it up with any of the defense attorneys?”

She looked away, then back at the both of them.

“You won’t… tell anyone, right? I don’t wanna lose my job because everyone thinks I’m crazy.”

Mulder nodded expectantly.

“Of course not. Now, what did you find?”

She flipped through the papers.

“While they were at his house… they found a lot of these DVDs.” She was somewhat mumbling under her breath. When she pulled out the image she presented it to Mulder. “I’ve looked them up and they’re all from a lesser known hypnotist.”

Mulder read the bottom of the DVD covers.

“Hannah Martin?”

“...yes. I’ve tried to find those specific DVDs myself, on her website or Amazon or whatnot, but, uh, I can’t find them.”

“Why do you find these significant?”

“Um… Skully, was it? May I please have the written interview?”

She handed it to her. Now that her hands were free, Skully began to pet the cat sitting on her legs, who purred in appreciation. She cleared her throat and began to read.

“Bill said ‘I moved to start a new life, I tried to smile every day, I helped my neighbors, I listened to hypnosis videos every night before bed to make me a better person. I did my best to turn my life around… but I guess I was a monster this whole time. Last night, my memories came back to me in my dreams. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…’”

Mulder nodded.

“So you think that the hypnosis videos he watched before bed may have mind controlled or influenced him into committing these crimes overnight?”

Her face began to turn red and a wave of feeling stupid hit her.

“I’m sorry! I know that sounds insane!”

“No, not to me.” She was in awe. He was actually entertaining her insane supernatural idea? “How far have you looked into this Hanna Martin?”

“You have to pay at least five-hundred dollars for her to create a hundred and fifty custom sessions to send to you personally through DVDs. Um, the first alleged murder was one hundred and forty-nine days before the last alleged murder. That day he confessed would be day one hundred and fifty.”

Mulder seemed incredibly interested. He gazed down at the image he was holding.

“Thank you for bringing this information to my attention. Can you please scan this and make a copy for me? I want to see if I can track down these DVDs.”

“O-okay!”

She was a little excited that her idea was being entertained. And, aside from that, this agent was very cute! So he was cute and as conspiracy crazy as she was?! She smiled like a dope when she was no longer being watched, her back to the two. She began making the copy.

“Another question for you, Y/n.”

She gulped. Something about this man saying her name made her stomach drop.

“Y-yeah…?”

“Do you go out at night often?”

The feeling of her stomach dropping was now from fear.

“What do you mean?”

“I saw your car parked outside the local drugstore late last night, any reason for it?”

She swallowed, hard. She was going for ulterior motives, but she was relieved she had something to fall back on.

“I was getting my medication. Um, I can show you if you want proof?”

“There’s no need to. But midnight is fairly late to be running errands like that, don’t you think?”

She breathed in.

“I couldn’t sleep. So I thought I might as well do something productive.”

He nodded. She turned to look at him, but she couldn’t quite read his face. Was he insinuating what she thought he was? Or was this all in her head? If he thought she was involved, he was probably crazy. She just laid out all this evidence to prove her client innocent, and possibly even helped point to the real killer, yet he thought she might be the guilty one?

“Did you happen to purchase anything from this hypnotist?”

“No, I don’t have that kind of money… and besides, i-if I am right, I don’t know if I would want to get anything from her.”

“Mhm.”

Her dopey smile and blush was gone by the time she handed the copied image to Mulder.

“I’m not sure about the legality of this…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll deal with it.”

She was a bit angry when they left. B/f/n was a bit confused walking in.

“What happened?”

“Ugh! The stupid FBI is involved in the case now. They wanted to see some stuff.”

She tilted her head to the side and her nose crinkled in disbelief.

“The FBI?”

“I don’t know either! Just… help me pick up these papers. Actually, don’t! I need to make sure they’re all in order before court in a few days!”

She nodded as Y/n began to put everything as they were supposed to be.

“...that guy was kind of cute.”

She sighed.

“I thought that, too. But actually, he’s a dick.”

[fleckcmscott]

Stepping Stones - Chapter 2

Chapter links: 1

Summary: Y/N and Arthur share a delightful life, one that isn’t perfect but wholly theirs. When his struggles take a serious turn, she's surprised by the toll it exacts. Though the steps they'll have to take aren't easy, walking them together makes all the difference.

Warnings: Angst, Swearing, Struggles with mental illness

Words: 3,739

A/N: Once again, a heartfelt thanks to @sweet-nothings04​ for offering to beta-read this story and her encouragement. Her contributions have been invaluable! Also, thank you guys for your support! I hope you continue to enjoy this story. And don’t worry: there may be angst - but there’s love, too. 

If you have any thoughts or questions, please comment, feel free to message me, or send me an ask! I’m still working on requests and Way Back Home!

Y/N wasn't used to being searched. It'd last happened at the District Courthouse when she'd gotten in the wrong line and nearly wound up in the jury room for a murder trial. At least the stout woman in Arkham's visitor entrance lobby was more pleasant than the bailiffs.

Unassuming in a white polo shirt and black pants, her nametag introduced her as Gladys, and the split "I Can Help!" sticker along the top cemented her as a fixture. She was friendly for a Gothamite, commenting on the sunny weather while unceremoniously dumping the contents of Y/N's handbag onto a plastic table pad. Asking about the ride over as she politely ignored tampons and confiscated a nail file. She spelled Y/N's name back to her before jotting it on the sign-in sheet and offered a genuine smile. "You have a nice time with your husband, dear. Just check out with me before you leave."

Visitor's badge pinned above her left breast, Y/N adjusted the collar of her red silk blouse, ensured the heart pendent around her neck was centered, and pushed through the door marked "Visitation."

Her kitten heels click-clacked across the checkerboard linoleum floor. The cafeteria was large, like an elementary school gymnasium without the scoreboards. Lack of funding had turned the once pristine walls to the off-white of a bathtub that had seen too few scrubbings. Large windows dotted them in sets of two, each covered with grate from the inside. Metal fans were riveted to their frames, a poor attempt to compensate for the lack of fresh air. To her left, six rows of steel tables stretched halfway across the room, about a third full of staff and patients, family members and friends. A metal buffet stood to her right, along with a sign stating a menu of beef cutlets and gravy would be served at 5:30 PM. A pony wall separated a family area on the far end. She spotted a patient with his wife and daughter watching cartoons together, ones that were old enough for Y/N to have grown up on.

It struck her how average the place felt, similar to the hospital back home she'd spent far too many hours in. It made sense: the people here were patients like any other, even if they were under lock and key. When she headed to the aluminum coffee urn on a rickety steel cart, there was a woman, around thirty, making conversation with a new wave chick, holding a ragged teddy bear and pulling her hair. Their eyes met and Y/N attempted a friendly smile. Once she'd purchased two cups, she sat by a window and crossed her legs, foot swinging back and forth as she sipped the stale liquid.

She tried to quell her nervous anticipation. Due to his time of admittance, Arthur's forty-eight-hour observation period had stretched late into Thursday night, well after visiting hours. Tasks big and small had punctuated the wait. One of Arthur's clients called to confirm a birthday party, and Y/N, hazy from lack of sleep, explained there'd been a family emergency.

Then it dawned on her that she'd have to find Arthur's gig list, which meant rummaging through his desk, a private space she'd respected since presenting him with it for their anniversary. Thank god he no longer locked the drawers, because she had no idea where he kept the key. (There were only so many hiding places in their three-room apartment, but she had no desire to search every nook and cranny.) The yellow legal pad resided in the top left drawer, under a prop catalog and kraft paper notebook. After ringing Gary and asking him to fill in ("I'm not sure I can do all these, but I can mention them at HaHa's." "That'd be great but don't get yourself in trouble. And, please, leave out Randall."), she telephoned eight households and three businesses with his contact information and apologies.

She worked extra hours in the evening to make up for the time she'd inevitably take off when Arthur was home, an arrangement that wasn't strictly legal, but she didn't see the harm in. Her colleagues graciously ignored the number of personal calls she made, to ask how Arthur was doing and learn about policies. While he wasn't yet rational, staff said, he was cooperative. Well, mostly cooperative. He'd eaten breakfast and referred to everyone as sir or ma'am, but he'd also caused a ruckus when he'd come to and found his wedding ring missing. They'd made an exception to the no jewelry rule and given it back. Personal clothing wasn't permitted, either, besides underwear, and toiletries were out of the question. It irked her - he deserved the dignity of his own hairbrush - but she didn't want to single him out by arguing for further favors. So she shuttled over a week's worth of briefs on her lunch break, chest tight as she gave it to the man with headphones at reception.

Despite the setting, despite the weight of not knowing what mood he'd be in, a thrill bubbled through her veins. Whenever a silhouette appeared behind the glue chip glass of the patient entrance, her pulse skipped. Y/N knew it was silly to expect a lot this first visit but she couldn't help it. She missed him. She missed him. Like it had been thirty days instead of three.

It took about six minutes for the door to crack an inch, and a full ten seconds for it to open completely. An orderly propped his weight against it, pointing in her general direction with his head. She stood and smoothed her palm down her A-line skirt, ensured the hem was at her knee. Maybe it was selfish, perhaps even foolish, but she hoped the surprise would be a highlight of Arthur's day, make him feel better, and she hoped seeing him would be one of hers. He was still her partner, after all. Still her Arthur. That would never change.

Clad in white scrubs and white shoes and about twenty feet away, Arthur stepped over the threshold and scanned the room. She gave him a modest wave when she caught his eye. His approach was more tentative than she would have liked, his steps shorter than usual, fists balled at his sides. As he drew closer, she noted the oiliness of his hair, the two-day black and grey stubble on his chin. His crow's feet had grown deeper, his eyelids slightly purple. Exhaustion dripped from every pore. The cut on his forehead had scabbed over into a thin line, quite modest considering its origin and how much he'd bled.

But he was as beautiful to her as always. The hint of a smile tipped her mouth. "Hi, Arthur."

"Hi," he said lowly. A reservation she barely recognized clouded his light green irises.

Part of her began to suspect popping in like this had been a mistake. Giving up wasn't in her nature, however, especially when it came to the love of her life. She forged ahead, closing the gap between them. Dr. Kellerman had advised her to let Arthur set the pace of their visits, to offer support while respecting his boundaries. Yet, touching him had become as vital to her as breathing, and it didn't occur to her to ask for permission before she reached to cup his face.

His skin felt papery under her fingertips, and red, flakey spots of dermatitis bloomed next to his nose and below his eye. He smelled of cheap bar soap and detergent, though whiffs of his woodsy masculine scent lurked underneath. But his clothes were clean and fit him well, better than half his own wardrobe. "I'm so happy to see you," she said, tracing his sharpened cheeks.

He nodded weakly, lips pursed into a grimace of disbelief. "Good."

"I got us some coffee. We can sit here or on one of the sofas."

"Here's fine."

She took his hand and led him to their table, itching for him to entwine their fingers, lamenting a little when he didn't. While he followed closely, his posture radiated tension like an oven radiated heat. Rather than the gait they'd adopted over the years, he moved as if he was afraid to touch her, as if he feared she'd disappear. Or reject him. Once he was situated and stirring sugar into his cup, she sat beside him and bumped their legs, refusing to let his fears go unchallenged. "How's your room?"

"It's okay. Just me. I'm not there much." He blew lightly on his steaming brew. "I haven't seen this part of the hospital before."

Y/N arched her brow. "No?"

"Penny had trouble getting over here to visit. When I had episodes."

Flabbergasted, a huff of disapproval escaped her. Arthur had been in out Arkham six or seven times, and Penny hadn't made it over once? According to Arthur, she'd been sick for a while, but what about twenty years ago? Even later, they hadn't had any money, which meant she would've had to care for herself while he was away. If she had had the wherewithal to go through the process of committing her son, couldn't she have at least called a cab? Y/N pushed her ire aside, not wanting it to affect Arthur. "Did you see your therapist today?"

"Mhm."

"Is he good? Does he listen to you?"

"He's fine."

She took a long drink. "Did you get the underwear I brought over?"

"Yeah." he sighed, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling. "They wrote my name on the waistband."

"I'll get new ones," she said, tapping her chin in contemplation, opting for a little cheer. "Donahue's has a racy number from Mad Mod. How'd you feel about zig-zag bikinis in maroon?" Instead of the laugh she'd craved, the incredulous smirk he saved for ridiculous suggestions, his knees quaked, bouncing and bouncing, freshly wound springs in bleached cotton.

None of this was going as she'd pictured.

Self-consciousness was atypical for her, a personality trait she'd shed in her late twenties after a failed marriage and the beginning of her parents' declines. Being with Arthur felt secure, open, even during his worst days. When he'd discovered his mother's Arkham file, learned the details of his abuse. Or the weeks after she'd passed and any chance of finding out more about himself, the truth about his father and chance to get a crumb of paternal affection, had died along with her.

Gathered at this table with her husband and bad coffee, old insecurities returned with the force of a subway careening at full speed. She sought to encourage him but didn't want to dismiss his feelings, harken back when he'd been burdened with "Happy." Her questions were obviously getting on his nerves - she was at a loss as to how he'd react to more of them. Their banter had vanished. The clues she had to follow were based on an old map, comprised of well-worn paths to joy she could walk with her eyes closed. Now those paths were overgrown with weeds.

But she wouldn't stop trying to trim them. Some shears were in reach: a woman's magazine lay abandoned on a nearby table, famous for its relationship quizzes and bedroom advice. She snagged it, scooted her chair closer to Arthur, and flipped through the glossy pages until the headline "Are You Meant To Be?" screamed in bright pink font. She cleared her throat and read aloud. "'You and your husband are shipwrecked on a desert island. You can take any household item with you. What item would you bring?'" She paused, then went with what first came to mind. "Toothbrush. I can't expect you to kiss me when I-"

"Why are you acting like this?"

Her gaze locked on him. "Like what?"

"Like I haven't fucked everything up."

Automatically, she reached for his thigh, not heeding the angry twitch of his jaw. "You haven-"

He batted her arm away, inadvertently knocking the magazine to the floor. "Don't lie to me," he rasped. "I don't like you seeing me like this. I don't want you to have to come visit and pretend." He wiped his nose with the back of his hand, an anger she recognized as shame dripping from every word. "Can you please just go?"

Pain lanced through her, pain she hadn't felt since her father, deep in the throes of dementia, had accused her of stealing from him. Her lashes lowered to hide her hurt. Arthur acting like this was proof of how out of sorts he was, how much he was struggling with his illnesses. But it didn't make his behavior any easier to take, even if she firmly believed it should. She had to try to accept him as he was in the moment. To forgive him and herself for pressing him too far, too quickly. To listen to his request for time, the way he'd listened to hers after the Murray show, giving her the gift of patience and understanding. A gift he also deserved.

Pushing herself to stand, she glanced at the orderly and lay a gentle palm on Arthur's back. To her relief, he didn't retreat. "I'm here if you need me," she said softly. "If you feel up to it, give me a ring. We could both use a joke or two." Fingertips caressed his distended shoulder, and she pecked the crown of his head, breathed in the oily musk of his scalp. Not entirely pleasant but him all the same. "We'll see each other soon. Get some rest and remember I love you."

~~~~~

"This woman wandered in off the street the other day. Pointy-toed shoes, fur coat, pillbox hat like she thinks she's Jackie Kennedy..." Perched on Y/N's side of the bed, Patricia dunked her orange pekoe teabag, gave it a good squeeze, laid it on her saucer. "She wanted to sue the Wayne Estate for damages to her Bentley, because Thomas Wayne had broken a legally binding oral agreement - she must have read a legal thriller and gotten haughty - to fix the potholes in Old Gotham when he was mayor. I told her to complain to Public Works, but she decided to camp out at your old desk to clip her nails. Finally, Matt had enough and offered her a phone call to Gotham PD or ten bucks for her trouble." She shook her head with a chuckle. "What a jackass. Retirement can't come soon enough."

"Don't wish your life away," Y/N retorted, inadvertently quoting a pamphlet she'd gotten from the Arkham gift shop, "Care for the Caregiver." The title had made her balk: Arthur bathed himself, fed himself, knew who she was. But it had been a straw to hold onto, albeit feebly. She retrieved a curved, wooden hanger from the closet and stuck one end in the arm of her freshly ironed blouse. "Besides, you've been working since you were sixteen, right? I give it a year before you'd go stir-crazy."

"Actually, I've been thinking about taking a class or two at the learning center," said Patricia.

"Oh, really? What kind? Pottery, advanced baking, conversational Spanish?"

"How to find nicer friends."

Hand on her hip, Y/N smirked over her shoulder to find Patricia's teacup raised for a toast. "Let me know what you learn," Y/N said, hoisting the laundry basket onto the bed. "I could use a few pointers." She batted the older woman with a dress sock, then fished for its companion. She shook them out. Aligned the cuffs and toes, smoothed the nylon with the side of her hand, folded the fabric into thirds. The top drawer's left ball-bearing slide stuck when she tried to pull it open, and she made a mental note to ask Arthur to take a look at it.

Without warning, a profound sense of loss swept over her, flushing her cheeks, her forehead. He'd been gone almost a week, the longest they'd been apart aside from conferences and training. Her days had been blessedly busy but dragged on nonetheless, slow as the secondhand on her watch when the battery had to be replaced.

Arthur had gotten in the habit of leaving a note whenever he had an early gig or errand to run, just a few words stating where he was, that he'd be home later, that he loved her. Though she knew he was in Arkham, she couldn't stop her heart from expecting one when she made morning coffee. She ached to pull him inside before he lit a second cigarette, and for his teasing kisses when he'd resist. The way he brushed his teeth from side-to-side, eschewing her method of small circles and daily flossing. Last night, a hot flash had kept her awake, and she'd longed for the feel of his strong, slender hands rubbing refrigerated lotion into her calves, a trick he'd learned to quiet his mother when she'd gone through what he politely referred to as The Change.

Y/N had never wanted to love someone so much she needed them, but Arthur had made it safe. And now here she was, anguishing over a stubborn piece of furniture. She gave the knob another good, hard heave until it popped off into her palm. With a groan, she slapped it on the top of the dresser, between his wallet and her jewelry box.

A gentle hold on her elbow halted her. "The clothes'll keep," Patricia said.

The compassion in her voice, subtle chords that would sound like judgement to others, loosened Y/N's stance. Granted permission for her to take a break from coping and give into grief. Slinking down onto the mattress, she picked up Arthur's blue house pants from the mound of panties and trousers and hugged them to her breast.

"Your anniversary is coming up," Patricia continued. "Will Arthur be home for it?"

"Yes. Three weeks is all the insurance will pay for, and Dr. Kellerman said we were lucky to get that." Most patients were discharged after two, even if they had nowhere else to go.

"How is he? Do you think he'll be ready then?"

"I'm not sure. He barely comes to the phone." She'd tried letters, too. Written on her office letterhead, declarations of her support and affection that were as stilted as the motions she regularly drafted. Something for him to read when they couldn't speak, when they couldn't touch. But he hadn't responded.

Although Y/N was the sole person he'd added to his list of allowed visitors, he hadn't signed the release. Sure, she'd learn the details of his care if a court remanded him, but she wasn't about to have him declared legally incompetent, not unless everything went to shit. But she had deduced his schedule by calling and asking if he could come to the phone. He's in group, Mrs. Fleck, the charge nurse had let slip. Or, You can try in an hour. He should be out of one-on-one by then.

Therapy three times a day. Safety and daily living skills. Goal setting before bed. No wonder he hadn't had the energy to say good night.

"I know what you're going through," Patricia said. She stretched to put her empty teacup on the nightstand. "When Robert got back from Korea, he kept his distance. Buried himself in starting his business, was gone most nights on extra late repair jobs, worked, worked, worked. It was nearly a year before he really came home. But he made it and Arthur will, too."

The intimacy behind the disclosure was a welcome invitation, a hook that tugged at Y/N's core and confirmed honesty would be all right. She drew a shaky breath, fiddled with a loose thread on the hem of Arthur's pajamas. "I thought I'd seen everything. Losing my mother, going out of my mind with my father. Those were finalities I couldn't prevent." Rapid blinking fought the wetness of her eyes. She swiped at them with the heel of her hand. "If you had seen him, Patricia... I just hope Arthur understands. I don't want him to think I wanted him to leave."

"Listen to me." Patricia adopted her mentor tone and hugged her tight around the middle. "There's no way he'd believe that. Remember when we doubled at Kao Wah? When we were in the restroom, and he ordered your favorite dish without having to ask what it was? He adores you." She swept her hand through the air as if she could sweep away Y/N's woes. "You promised to take care of him through everything. You did what you had to to keep him safe. You couldn't have done anything else, Y/N. Don't doubt yourself."

After some moments Y/N nodded. "You know, my parents had a swimming hole on our property. When I was young, I used to skip stones across it and make wishes. For my doll's arm to mend, for my parents to say safe, for my sister's surgeries to go well." She chuckled and dabbed at her cheeks with Arthur's house pants. "I guess it was like praying, which I never had use for." The slightest smile edging her lips, she turned to Patricia. "Let's go to Gotham Park and throw some rocks."

~~~~~

The next morning, eleven percent of her worries cast away by a currently sore right arm, Y/N walked past Sherwood Florist, a closet of a shop around the corner from her office. Storefront freshly washed, robust floral arrangements on display in large, spotless windows, and an owner in horn-rimmed glasses checking the temperature of the nearest cooler, she decided to stop in. Yes, the florist told her, an expression of dubious curiosity on his face. They delivered to Arkham. Just include the patient's full name and ward in the address, and it'd be sent this afternoon.

She chose a squat, plastic vase filled with daisies and a yellow enclosure card with a bumblebee in the lower left corner. A bit cutsie for her taste, but it was the only neutral choice among birthdays and congratulations. She pondered what to write, pushing back the urge to ask him to reach out. A minute later, she put her pen to the cardstock. "I miss you like thread misses a needle. (Good thing you're the comedian - that was terrible.) You're not alone in this. You have my whole heart. - Y/N."

~~~~~

Tag list (Let me know if you want to be added!): @harmonioussolve @ithinkimaperson @sweet-nothings04 @stephieraptorr @rommies @fallenstarsabyss @gruffle1 @octopus-plasma @tsukiakarinobara​ @arthur-flecks-lovely-smile @another-day-in-chuckletown​ @hhandley80​ @jokerownsmysoul​ @rafaelbottom​ @ralugraphics​ @iartsometimes​

[noitsbecky127]

rebecca watches tos: the cloud minders

they are on their way to ardana

wtf is a cloud city

beaming down to the standard Trek Planet

the city is flying?? how????

something is about to jump out at them isn’t it

ah the intro is louder!

terribly choreographed fight scene time!!!

who are these guys

what exactly is a troglyte

hello ma’am, nice outfit, I’m guessing you’re Jim’s girl of the week

yeah ok what are these guys’ demands, they’re gonna be totally reasonable aren’t they

“captain kirk and his very attractive officer” her gaydar does not work

the disruptor comes out looking like the sympathetic one in that scene so I’m further convinced that their demands are reasonable

“your movements awakened me” sir you were not sleeping

who’s the girl watching

spock don’t cheat on jim

random girl is about to commit a murder

but of course she fails because it’s james tiberius kirk

“I find this rather enjoyable” so jim likes women who want to kill him?

the juxtaposition of spock being straight with kirk fighting this girl is amazing

true, cargo transport is a strange duty for the federation flagship

ah ok it’s an allegory

“perfectly balanced” it’s really not

the surface is violent bc you put a class of people there, oppressed them, and forced them to do all your labor

that is such a weird form of torture but I’m guessing it’s really bad

ugh the way plasus is talking is just AWFUL

plasus: why are you so concerned with this disruptor’s well-being?

dad: ‘cause she’s HOT!

they’re beaming up. but no doubt they’ll be back

medical analysis says they’re inferior? wonder who ran that analysis

their intellect ratings are probably lower bc they don’t get education

ohhhh so zenite fucks up your mind, and these people have been constantly exposed to it for presumably generations

all this mask talk hits real close to home these days

yeah plasus is worried they’ll work and make the troglytes more capable of rebellion

yep jim’s beaming back down

vanna please. vanna an entire planet is about to die

what is that eye shadow she’s wearing?

wtf is the sentinel wearing

guess it’s not star trek without stupid costumes

VANNA WHY

they dig with their bare hands??? that’s just cruel and unusual

why did jim just phaser the cave

to…lock them in? why?

ahhh kirk’s gonna bring plasus here to prove a point

imagine you’re talking to your daughter whose crush just left and then you get teleported

oh nvm not yet, too close

I love how Kirk was right there but Droxine went “no I want the space elf”

the zenite definitely seems to be affecting jim

terribly choreographed fight scene 2: electric boogaloo

shoutout to vanna for getting them all beamed up, they probably would’ve died otherwise

man kirk is a MESS

time for a revolution on ardana!!!

interesting episode, certainly very prescient