#swipe card access control

[mvrkieboo]

Old Bloodhounds

P18 | not tonight please 🩷

You walked to where Jaehyun was standing and when he finally saw you, walking toward him, he started to gather his bags. He looked a little startled when he saw your face. After you got to him, you tried to take his baggage but he quickly snatched it away before you could even touch it. As if he couldn't bear watching you touch his belongings.

Back then, he really was touchy when you would take his stuff without asking him first. But this time, he made it as if your hands were too dirty to be touching his belongings.

“I can carry it.” He spoke through gritted teeth, and you can't help but think he looked ridiculous with one duffel bag on one shoulder and two more on the other while pulling on his baggage.

He hated you so much, he was willing to carry all of that by himself? If you weren't so hurt, you would've laughed at his stubborn ass. A security guard—whom you were very familiar with—walked up to you and Jaehyun, wearing a pleasant smile.

“Good evening, Ms. y/n. Does your friend need some help?” You wiped away any downcast expression you were wearing and put on a pleasant smile that matched his.

“Good evening, Sungwoo. Can you take two of his duffel bags?” He nodded, the smile still painted across his face.

You felt your smile and whole body freezing when Jaehyun gladly gave two duffel bags to Sungwoo. You coached yourself and controlled your feelings as you swiped your card at the elevator buttons.

The ride up was awkward, to say the least. It was leaning more to tense. Jaehyun was obviously tired from his day and you were still feeling the effects of downing 6 bottles of hard liquor and crying your eyes out from yesterday—the headache was still there. Sungwoo, knowing the lines he shouldn't cross, placed the the duffel bags at the entrance and said his farewells to you before taking off.

You closed the door with a click and turned around to see Jaehyun was already back with his bullshit, carrying all four bags by himself. You gritted your teeth and walked past him.

“Follow me.” You spoke to him, leading him to where his room was.

You opened the door for him and turned on the lights. Jaehyun's room was just opposite of yours, and his room had a wall of sightseeing windows facing the city like your room does too. Jaehyun entered the room quickly and thoughtlessly threw his duffel bags on the queen bed. You walked into the room and clicked on the button of his closet wall to open it.

“This condo rarely has power outages, so don't worry about not being able to open your closet if the power goes out. There's a plug right next to your nightstand to charge your phone, and I don't really mind if you wanna plug in an extension. The bathroom is on your left once you get out of this room, and there's a wall of shelves in there, so place your toiletries nicely. Also, there's a door right next to the fridge in the kitchen area that'll lead to the laundry room, equipped with a washing machine and a dryer. There's an installed ironing board right next to your closet, you can figure that out.” You spoke robotically, beating down your overwhelming emotions after you took in the sight of your estranged older brother under your roof.

“And—and here's your access card, make sure you have it with you at all times. There'll be some nights where I take late night shifts for my job, so I won't be here to open the door for you if you forget your access card and come home at ass o'clock in the dead of the night. Do you have any questions?” Crossing your arms, you made it seem like you were totally unaffected with this sudden sibling reunion.

“How’s the security here?” Jaehyun asked quietly, then rubbing his eyes at the exhaustion taking over his body.

“24-hour security with shift rotations.”

He nodded and quietly muttered his thanks as he started to unpack. You nodded back, after he was already not looking at you anymore. You went to exit his room, but once you got to his doorway, you paused for a second and looked back at him. His back was to you, bent over the bed as he unzipped his duffel bags one by one.

Yuno looked so far away from you.

Once you wholly exited his room, you quietly closed the door. When he was certain you were out of his room and he was out of your sight, Jaehyun stopped what he was doing and stood straight up again, running his hand through his hair before it went to rubbing his face, a sigh exiting his mouth.

When he saw you at the lobby, he had noted that you looked really sick, and how swollen your eyes were.

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A/N : THAT'S RIGHT, SURPRISE DOUBLE UPDATE Y'ALL 😜

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[xhoneywheatx]

NSFW Alphabet (Levi Ackerman)

18+, Levi Ackerman x fem! black reader, MDNI

A- Aftercare 

To everyone else besides you, Levi has been described as a short and grumpy old man. He doesn't want to hear about your day, what your plans are, or how you slept last night. He's the epitome of a bad mood. However, when it comes to intimate moments with his "annoying brat," he can really flip the switch. Levi was never one to know much about intimacy and emotions, but you helped him learn. 

Once he graciously swiped his "V" card (as did you), he simply asked you what you needed. You requested a shower first, lots of cuddles, and a cup of tea. Shortly after, you two would share more intimate moments, prompting him to figure out what you need to feel comfy. He'll happily be the big spoon and run his fingers through your kinky hair. If you've styled it in braids or even cornrows, he'll opt for placing his fingers where they fit. In all honesty, he loves your hair in every which way. So, getting to touch it and just be curious is his aftercare. 

If you two fool around midday or in the early hours of the morning, Levi will help you shower and bring you to sit in the kitchen with him while he cooks you breakfast or lunch. He remains shirtless so you can view your masterpiece of red welts and scratch marks along his defined back. Morning, afternoon, or night, Levi will take care of his brat and make sure you feel like the queen you are. 

B-Body Part 

Being one of the few dark people on Paradis really makes you stand out. Your skin absorbs the sun more graciously, your hair defies gravity, and everything else is different. That includes your body. You're much curvier than the other women on this island, and the black leggings and matching tank top you wear for a uniform only highlights it even more. 

Upon meeting you for the first time, Levi had to use every last bit of strength in his fucking body to keep his eyes to himself. You had such a nice ass. He's a respectful man, but fuck, you just made him want to forget respect. You were an innocent little thing back then and was assigned to his squad. Having joined later in your twenties, you two were only a few years apart when this happened. He tried his damned best to keep to himself, but when you approached him late at night wanting to talk about something he couldn't remember in a pair of modest night shorts and a tank top, he lost control. 

Next thing you knew, Levi had you bent over his desk taking everything he had to offer. He kept his hands on your ass and made sure to put you in every position that it was easily accessible. You rode him, did 69, rode his face, and everything in between. He wore you out!

When you two first started dating, nothing changed. Well, the amount of times he rearranged your guts increased significantly, but other than that, Levi still could hardly control himself. Knowing that he could have that ass bouncing on his dick at any given moment just made it so much fucking worse for him. Let's just say, you opted for a more loose-fitting pair of sweatpants after getting together with him. 

C-Cum

We all know Levi hates making a mess as well as when other people make messes around him. If you think that applies in the bedroom, you're completely wrong. Levi could give less of a fuck if you squirt on the sheets, cum so much that it's dripping on the duvet, or sweat the sheets out. He loves making sure that you know you're his. He does that by cumming inside of you whether it's in your mouth or that sweet pussy of yours. 

Seeing you full of his cum makes him love you even more. Your chocolate skin painted white is his favorite thing to look at. He won't wait for you to swallow it either. Levi will turn you over and fuck you again until you're dripping cum from both ends. If he cums inside of you, he'll grab a fist full of your braids and shove his dick down your throat. All that milky white will be seeping from your pussy onto the sheets and neither of you could care less. 

If you two aren't careful enough, there's gonna be some little Levi's running around pretty soon. It's a miracle it hasn't happened yet. 

D-Dick 

For a short man, Levi is swinging a third leg. How he manages to keep himself tucked away on expeditions is beyond you. When you first saw it, you nearly cried from the thought of it stretching you out. He made you feel like a fucking virgin again. He's just so big in every aspect. He knows how to fucking use it too. 

Levi is a menace. He will opt for going slow sex instead of fast like most men. He wants you to feel how big his dick is. How well he's bullying your cervix to point where it's almost painful. You find yourself trying to run from him when it gets too much which will always end up with your arms pinned above you. 

E-Experience 

Levi doesn't have much outside of you. The only type of sex he's had, if you call it that, was with his own hand. There aren't many books out there for the world to read, but his hand dandy phone came in clutch when taking your virginity. He tried to figure out what to do to get you ready for him. He knew his dick was pretty large, so he didn't want to risk hurting you. 

The way he kissed and teased your inexperienced body made it seem like he knew what he was doing. On the inside, he was nervous. He wanted to impress you. He was confident in every other aspect and you knew this. Levi teased and played with your body figuring out what made you moan louder and what made your legs start trembling.  

When it came time for him to pop your cherry, he kissed you through the pain. Fuck, he had to distract himself too. He was so sensitive, but you would've never known. After properly making love to you for the first time, he admitted with a flushed face of his lack of experience. When you asked how he knew what to do, he buried his face in your neck out of embarrassment. 

Whatever he did, he did it well. 

F-Favorite Position 

Levi is a messy man when it comes to you miss lady. Please ride his face. God, it will get him so turned on that he could give you a mouth full of his cum after a few minutes of this if you so much as touch him. However, you're far too fucked out at this point to form a coherent sentence. Levi will meticulously do this to you to make sure you can't fight him away when you've given him a taste of your milky essence. 

A close second of his is the classic cowgirl. Levi loves seeing your face when he's kissing your cervix. He doesn't mind when you take control either. Your legs would already be quivering from having come down from a mind-numbing orgasm, so you'd ride him slower. The way your tight pussy squeezes him like this would drive him absolutely insane. From this position and this position only would you see him make those sexy love faces of his. 

You also have access to his very sensitive neck. Leave a few hickies here and expect to feel his skilled fingers digging into your bottom to use you. He'll groan and moan in your ear until you're both shaking from ecstasy. 

G-G-Spot

Levi may be new to this whole sex thing, but he's not dumb. He knows where it is and how to stimulate it to the point where you're crying and running away from him. He will hold you down and angle his hips to hit that spot every fucking time he ruts into you. It has you seeing starts and immensely embarrassed from cumming around his thick length within minutes of him taking you to pound town.

Once he finds it, you may as well have your pussy write her will because he's fucking killing her. He knows he found it when your moans get an octave higher and your body becomes rigid beneath or on top of him. You'll squirt and cum all over him and he won't stop til he's through with you. 

H-Horny

When Levi gets horny, he usually tries to keep it to himself. He's just too focused on trying to make sure his little crew of misfits were okay. He could usually ignore the feeling and completely forget about it when in high stress situations. 

During low stress environments within the walls, Levi will sometimes let himself succumb to his desires. If you're around, he'll be a bit touchier with you. Not necessarily feeling your ass or anything for the sake of everyone else, but just touching you more. He will find an excuse to adjust your straps and belts, brush up against your shoulder when walking by, or even let his hands linger on your hips when moving you out of the way. 

If you don't pick up on his little hints, he'll opt for calling you into his office to discuss "the new formations Erwin wants to do in the next expedition." Let's just say that those formations leave you a quivering mess beneath him. He's rougher on you and a lot meaner since you failed to notice him. Sometimes you do notice, but you choose not to in order to get that rough lovin' he's an expert at giving. 

In the confines of your home, Levi will be a little more forward with his advances. His hands will trail down, down, down until they're sitting on that perfect chocolate booty of yours. Sometimes, he'll flat out say what he wants. He always gets what he wants, that's why he married you of course. 

I-Intimacy

Levi isn't great with expressing himself. Poor man damn near had a nervous breakdown when trying to ask you on a date. It took a whole lot of courage and cracking at the walls around his heart to get his words out, but you listened nonetheless and graciously accepted. From there, you quickly figured out Levi told you he loved you through his actions. He'd make you a cup of tea in the morning without you asking, make you breakfast in the morning, untangle your straps in your ODM gear and even go to the store to refill your beauty products when they seem empty. 

He does all that to show you that he loves you without telling you. 

He does the same thing during sex. When he wants to make love to you, dammit he fucking does it. Flower petals, candles, soft music, and the whole nine yards. Levi will break your body as gracefully as he can. It's during these times, he can find his voice to tell you how he feels. He'll whisper sweet nothings in your ear and hold you so close to him that you couldn't even fit a piece of paper between you two. 

He's lost so many important people in his life that he doesn't want to risk losing you and not tell you how much you've changed him. How much he loves and cares about you. You'd be in tears the whole time from his sweet words and from how good he's fucking you. These nights usually come a couple times a month just to remind you how much of a softie he is behind that pouty frown he wears all day. 

J-Jealous Sex

Levi knows for a fact that you're his and only his. He doesn't worry about you being unfaithful or scandalous behind his back. What he doesn't like is other men and women trying to make a move on you. You're just so damn friendly that it just seems to fly right over your pretty head. Guys will inch a bit closer to you and get a whiff of that sexy perfume Levi loves and start panting over you like a fucking dog. 

Levi will always come to your aid when said man or woman doesn't get the hint you drop and often chastises them for failing to notice that rock on your left ring finger. You watch him talk seeing his tense shoulders and occasionally squeezing his thumb between his fingers indicating he's close to his breaking point. 

From there, you usually pull him back to your car to get him to calm down. Instead, he takes it out on you! No, he's not yelling or screaming at you, let alone argue with you. What he is doing is splitting you down the middle as you ride him in the front seat. His hand wrapped around your braids, pulling them back so your head is tilted back while the other is tightly gripping your hip. 

He accuses you of entertaining it and just fucks you that much harder. 

K-Kink

His guilty pleasure... domination. Levi loves showing you who the fuck you belong to. You're just this submissive little thing that he can fuck and use whenever he likes, and you let him. Even when you're riding him, he's still dominating you with his presence itself. His steel grey eyes bore into your soul while you fuck yourself on him. 

You do any and everything he says. If he tells you to cum four times, you cum four times. He loves when you listen to him, it drives him up the wall. Sometimes, this bleeds into the scout life as well. You're known for having a pretty bratty attitude towards any and everyone, including him. You'd purposely get under his skin just to have him deal with you later. 

L-Location

Levi prefers to fuck you in the bedroom. He feels as if it's the safest for him to be vulnerable around you. From here, he can let his cheeks bloom pink and let his eyes roll to the back of his head while you ride his so effortlessly. He can moan and grunt as loud as he wants and so can you. He'd rather hold himself back and talk you through your orgasms. Plus, you two can get as naked as you want. Out in public or somewhere else secluded, he doesn't really like fucking you without seeing your beautiful body. 

When he's through destroying you, it's an easy walk to the bathroom to clean up, since it's connected to your room, instead of having to wait if he's at work or you two pervs decided to tarnish another family bathroom, much to his dismay. Levi likes making you a mess not fucking in one. Wherever it's clean, he's okay with it. The bedroom is just a given. 

M-Marriage 

Levi is a respectful man. That and he's never had sex before you, so it wasn't hard for him to wait a year after getting engaged to fucking ravish you. Of course, he had dirty thoughts and got painfully hard thinking about how your body looked under him while he's balls deep inside of you, but he waited. God it was so hard sleeping next to you at times. Your body was so soft against him and the plush of your ass just rubbed him the right way every fucking night. He had to suggest being little spoon so he could actually fucking breathe right. 

As soon as you closed the doors to your suite in Italy, for your Honeymoon, Levi was all over you. Your white gown was long forgotten on the floor along with his suit pants and dress shirt. Fuck, you were just so damn perfect and pure for him. He split you open so deliciously and left so many damn hickies it was laughable. You just sat there and took everything, crying, cussing, and screaming all night long. When you woke up the next morning, you woke to the feeling of him picking up where he left off the night prior. 

The first two days of your honeymoon were spent exploring each other's bodies and getting lost in euphoria. It was fucking amazing, and you both wouldn't have wanted it any other way. 

N-Nasty 

Levi doesn't have much experience with sex, so he's still exploring what he likes and what gets you to cum all over his dick. He's starting to get the hang of it though! From what he's done so far, he figured out that he likes spitting on your pussy while eating her for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He loves making a mess out of her. His spit mixed with your essence just makes the most obscene noises and he fucking loves it. It'll drip down his chin and he won't care to wipe it away. 

Levi has also figured out that you like taking it in the backdoor. It was only supposed to be a question at first, but then it turned into the real thing. The pride he has from being the only man to cum in every one of your holes is immense. He'll cum in your mouth first, then your pussy, then fill your tight ass with it too.

Maybe when you two decide to talk about trying new things, he'll get a bit nastier. But this is all you'll get from our sweet boy so far, and you wouldn't have it any other way. 

O-Oral

Levi prefers to lap you up over him. He gets his satisfaction from your satisfaction. Plus, he's pussy drunk off you. Once he starts, he can't stop. You quite literally have to beg him to stop eating you out from the painful overstimulation after cumming at least three times in his mouth. He'll just keep going. Fingering you, rubbing that swollen clit while he's sucking on those fat pussy lips of yours., dipping his tongue in it too. 

Even when you start squirting, he'll pull away initially but will suck on your clit some more to keep it coming. Every time he does that it sends you to another dimension. You've passed out plenty of times to only be brought back to life with his soft kisses on you face and plenty of praises to keep you going. 

When he does allow you to suck him off, Levi turns into such a hot panting mess for you. God it's so sexy. His moans are deep, and he breathes so heavily. You try to take the entire thing down your throat, but he's too big. His hand will always be on the back of your head either tangled in your fro or braids just holding you. 

You suck his dick so sloppy. Spit get everywhere and your right hand is always just as wet as your mouth with it. The noises you make while doing it drive him insane. He can't help but watch you make a mess out of him. His eyes are locked on to yours. When he's cumming, you'll see the whites of his eyes as his mouth lulls open to let out the sexiest moans you've ever heard. 

As much as he loves receiving, he just doesn't have the heart to ask you to do something like that just yet. Poor baby. 

P- Pregnant

When you gave Levi the news that you were going to have his child, he was both excited and scared. He's never thought of bringing a life into this fucked up world he lives in, but that didn't mean he wasn't happy. He was elated to have a piece of him and you mix into his future child. After claiming that his eyes were sweating from the news, he took you out to dinner and made love to you. 

Since finding out, Levi has been pretty gentle during sex, only going harder and being rougher when you ask him to, although he's very hesitant at first. He just doesn't want you to feel discomfort of any sort while dicking you down. He'd rather die than let you be hurt because of him. 

When you start showing more, Levi hasn't allowed you to be on top to preserve your energy. You're carrying so much extra weight that he's noticed how tired you've been, so he'd rather take care of you these last few months. Missionary and from the side are what you're gonna get. Even though he doesn't mind eating you out still while you're round with his child, you don't let him do it as much as he wants since you can't even see him anymore. 

He was quite pouty about it, but fingers you instead as an alternative. It doesn't feel nearly as good as his mouth, but way better than your own fingers. Being pregnant does not stop him from ravishing you. 

Q-Quickie

He has a love hate relationship with quickies. He loves fucking you any and everywhere, but he'd hate to get fired or something like that for sexual conduct during work hours. Erwin knows you two are together and allowed it given that it's the first time he saw a genuine smile on his dear friend's face. He also made it very clear to keep things as professional as possible. 

So, fucking you in the janitor's closet, having you suck his dick under his desk, taking you on the roof of the HQ building was not what Erwin meant by keeping it professional. But he just can't keep his hands to himself. He tries so damn hard, but when you get in the mood, it's hard for you to ignore it like he does. You want him. You want him to help you get rid of these inappropriate feelings. Knowing your ass is his weakness, you'll use it against him. Literally. 

He can never say no to you but will always shove his cravat down your throat or cover your mouth with his hand to keep you quiet. 

R-Rough 

Levi is what we call a switch. There is no in between. He's either rough or soft. After expeditions, Levi will opt for soft sex for comfort. He always loses someone or has to cheer up the recruits which take a huge toll on his mental. He needs you to comfort him and make him understand that you're not going anywhere. He'll kiss you more during soft sex and allow you to tell him how beautiful he is. 

If he's just wanting to fuck you or had an annoying day.... say goodbye to training for a few days. Levi is such an asshole. God, his personality seems to seep through to his dick when he's being rough with you. Levi will stuff his cravat in your throat as proceed to fuck you like you stole something. He's left plenty of bruises on your pretty dark skin and made it where you couldn't even stand up on your own for a full day. 

He loves pulling your hair. You love it too. Levi will get off on being able to wrap his hand around your braids or shove his hand in your kinky fro and pull you back up to his chest while delivering those immaculate backshots. Handprints cover your thighs and ass during these rough loving sessions. 

Don't worry, it's all consensual. 

S-Shower Sex

Make sure you get everything you need to get done before he joins you. Levi does not care what you're doing in there. You could be washing your kinky hair, detangling it and putting your hair mask on to sit for a few minutes or simply enjoying the hot spray over your tired body. In a matter of seconds, your back will be arching off the cold tiles with your pretty chocolate legs wrapped around his waist. 

He'd support the both of you so you won't fall. He will fuck you against the tiles so good that you'd need another shower when he's through with you. Your puffy pussy will be leaking cum all over the floor while you attempt to take his entire dick down your throat. This is the only place where Levi will clean you up just to make a mess out of you again. 

There's no harm in showering again right?

T-Toys

Levi isn't really a fan of toys. He doesn't mind you having a clitoral vibrator for your own guilty pleasure, but he won't use it in the bedroom. He's more of a prop guy. He likes tying your hands up or putting a pillow under your hips. He is a firm believer in wanting his dick to be the only thing that makes you feel good. He doesn't have toys for himself either. He rarely ever jacks off, and when he does, it's usually in front of you while you play with those pretty puffy lips between your legs. 

What he does like is bondage type toys. Anything to enhance your submissiveness is a yes from him! He even put together a harness that gets tucked away in a little black bag hanging on the door frame of your bedroom. You guys have tried this out in so many ways he's almost disgusted by the thought. You've supported your weight with your arms while your legs are wrapped around his waist from behind while he decimates your pussy. You've been completely suspended in the air from the front and back too. 

Don't worry, he lets you tie him up too, but not too much. He doesn't like giving up his dominance over you. There's been times where he broke free of his restraints and just took it out on you. 

U-Underwear

Levi will have sex with you no matter what you wear when he's ready. He never asks you to wear something in particular, having not found the words or too embarrassed to express his thoughts. You wore a nice set for him one time and you swear he had hearts in his eyes. He was much gentler with you during this time, and he even let you keep it on while you fucked. He didn't dare tear or break the flimsy material. The whole time, he whispered to you how much he loved your body and you. 

Not long after this intimate moment with him, you told Levi to lay something out for bed after a long week. When you got out of the shower, you were met with the same lingerie set on your side of the bed. You couldn't help but giggle at his insinuation. You knew he wouldn't tell you to dress like this for him, but his actions more that definitely spoke louder than his words. 

From that day, you bought a few more sets in different colors and wear them for him when you feel like he's deserved to be spoiled.  

V-Volume 

Levi isn't particularly loud when he's lost in ecstasy, but he is rather vocal. He will talk you through your orgasms and put his mouth near your ear so you can hear just how good you're making him feel. He knows you like when he moans for you, so he does just that. At first, he was a bit shy being so vulnerable around you, but you eventually loosened him up. 

His voice is so gruff and sexy. It honestly brings you closer that just him fucking you. It's such a turn on for you. Often times, Levi will get you there from talking you through a little foreplay. His slick hands will be buried in your panties with your back against his chest. From this position, he will whisper sweet nothings in your ear or tell you how much of a 'dirty girl' you are for him. 

W-Wet Dream 

Levi doesn't sleep much from the insomnia he's acquired over the years of being in the scouts. However, lying beside you makes it so much easier to rest. He went from sleeping for maybe an hour at times to staying asleep for a few. On the rare occasion, he'll stay asleep for the whole night. Dreaming isn't really something he's experienced. He'll have a few nightmares here and there, but rarely does he ever dream. 

When he does dream, he sometimes has dreams of you being especially naughty. This will happen maybe once every couple of months. When he wakes up with his dick straining painfully in his pajamas, he'll do one of two things. Knowing he'll be up after, Levi will go take a cold shower and handle it himself as to not disturb you. On the other hand, if he's not up for getting up, he will nudge you awake and present you his problem with blush-stained cheeks. 

Your answer is always results in him filling you up with his essence. Soft sex always solves his little problem. You'll lay there all pretty and panting for him to put you back to sleep. Don't encourage him too much, it'll end up being the exact opposite. So be careful! 

X-X-Videos

Levi doesn't really like the idea of making videos of you two having sex. Hell, he isn't even really into watching porn. He believes sex is an intimate thing and should be treated as such. He knows they'll stay safe on his or your phone, but there's always a risk when doing stuff like that. You only brought the idea up in case he gets lonely while you're away or vice-versa. 

He doesn't send nudes either with the same thought process as the videos. He could accidentally send someone else the intimate photo. He doesn't ask you to send them either, but that doesn't stop you from doing it. If he gets one, he will lock it away in his private photos and rub one off if he feels the need to. Once he'd done though, he'll immediately delete them for good. 

He's too innocent for his own good. 

Y-Yearn

Levi made it all the way to his 30s without ever touching a woman. If you're gone for a while, it won't kill him. It will never be a bad as it was while he waited to fuck the shit out of you after your wedding. His dick was so hard that he nearly cried from how painful it was. Yes, he will miss you, and he will call you when he feels the need, but he has more self-control than you think. 

Plus, your hand always feels better than his own. Even if he tries to rub one off, it wouldn't feel the same. You're usually there to swallow his hot cum and proceed to sit on his dick right after. Don't worry, when you get back, he's going to show you just how much he actually missed you. You'll fuck for hours, taking a short water break in between if you remember. Don't get your hopes up either, he'll wake you up in the morning to continue fucking your brain cells loose. 

Z-Zzzs

After making sure you cum for the last time and following right behind you, Levi will clean the both of you up and cuddle you and lull you to sleep with his sweet voice. He doesn't get much sleep at night, only staying asleep for a few hours at a time, so he'll just be up running his fingers through your hair, beneath your bonnet, and occasionally kissing your forehead. Sometimes, he'll whisper meaningless things to your sleeping form just to pass the time. 

You're just so pretty and small cuddled up under him. His legs are tangled with yours and your cheek squished on his bare chest. If you wear him out after sex, Levi will be the first to fall asleep after your aftercare routines are finished. You of course, don't mind. The fact that he's finally getting some good sleep is enough to make you happy. His little snores are so cute, even though he swears he doesn't. 

First Levi Ackerman story. Guys... I know I said this was a Naruto page, but CAN YOU BLAME ME???? Levi is just so fucking hot. Don't worry, I'll still post Naruto content, but just let me get this Levi brain rot out! >.<

[jintaka-hane]

Sir Crocodile dealing with the Marine Time Clock Machine

Masterlist

Summary: Back at the time when he was still a warlord. Sir Crocodile doesn't like being controlled. And he won't be. Word count: 700

A distinctive and dense smell of cigar smoke wafted into the reception area of the Marine Headquarters, the pervasive aroma signaling the unmistakable presence of Sir Crocodile as he made his way towards the offices.

The cadet grew nervous, promptly rising from his workstation chair and straightening his slightly crumpled uniform after hours of work. Taking deep breaths to maintain composure in the presence of such an imposing visitor, he proceeded to the entrance to greet him.

The door swung open, and the haughty warlord strode in with his expressionless demeanor, his outrageously expensive attire, and his meticulously slicked-back hair. As always, he clutched a cigar between his teeth, with a cloud of smoke trailing him wherever he went.

The warlord didn't spare a glance at the cadet upon entering, ignoring his presence and striding past to seek out the vice admiral with whom he was scheduled to meet.

"Sir Croc..." the cadet nervously cleared his throat, swallowing hard. "Sir Crocodile, Sir... welcome to The Marine Headquarters, the main division of the Marine organization that has jurisdiction over the Grand Line."

Sir Crocodile came to a silent halt and turned to look at him, surprised to find a presence, albeit insignificant, beside him. Lowering his chin, he regarded the cadet disinterestedly, who began to sweat and swallowed again, the nervousness causing saliva to accumulate in his mouth.

"Sir Crocodile," the cadet continued, "I must inform you that there has been a change in Marine policy. All... Marine personnel, including warlords even if they are not regular office workers, are required to use the entry machine to confirm their attendance to their workplace."

The Warlord looked at him in silence, his pupils narrowed in a contemptuous glare. The cadet pressed on.

"The aim is... to ensure that all employees adhere to their work schedule properly, that no one... arrives late or leaves before the designated time. To do this, we all have a personal access card," he pulled a white card from his pocket and extended it to Sir Crocodile with a trembling hand, "which must be swiped at the entry machine every time you enter the building. If you leave for any reason, such as for lunch, you'll need to swipe it again."

The warlord took the card, holding it between his index and middle finger, and raised it to examine it closely. It was a small card with his name written on it and a magnetic strip on one side. His mouth twisted into a wry smile, his eyebrows rising, giving him an air of amused interest. The cadet continued.

"The machine has a slot where you need to insert the card. You must always insert it with the magnetic strip facing up for it to work correctly. If it doesn't work on the first try, you should take it out and blow a bit of... sand, which might have dirtied the strip before inserting it again. It's a personal and non-transferable card, so we kindly ask that you please do not lose it. In the event of loss, a replacement could be issued, but the expenses would be incurred by the cardholder to avoid burdening the Marine." As he finished speaking, he watched cautiously for his reaction.

"I see," the Warlord said dryly, still holding the card in front of his eyes.

"Please, sir, I ask that you go to the entrance and use it for the first time to register your attendance at the offices today. Would you like me to accompany you in case you have any doubts?"

Sir Crocodile shifted his gaze from the card to the cadet's eyes, shaking his head. "That won't be necessary, thank you," he replied as he disappeared towards the entrance of the building, leaving the door open behind him.

When he lost sight of him, the cadet breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it hadn't gone so badly. He returned to his chair, sat down, and before he could start working again, a huge explosion that shook the walls and office furniture shocked him violently.

The air filled with thick black smoke, carrying the scent of burning, as several nuts, bolts, and bits of microchips came rolling through the door, crashing against the walls. Following the electronic bits came the warlord, who, with a sarcastic smile, walked past, disdainfully tossing the white card to the floor.

"The machine is broken."

[arvensimp]

your father should know, pt. 2

Arven leaves you with something more than either of you bargained for when he goes off to Kalos for an internship, and through a series of miscommunications and heartbreak, he returns a few years later to learn that he actually has a child.

arven x reader, nsfw content, pregnancy, angst, and stupid miscommunications

[part 1]

thanks for your patience waiting for this part!! also thank you to my beautiful betas for helping me <3

~

You're very grateful to Nemona, for having her nearby back when the doctor first confirmed your pregnancy. As excitable as she is, her Type A personality proved pretty handy in the moment. Yes, she got you home safe and sound, but she was also able to get appointments scheduled for you right then and there for whatever choice you decided to make moving forward.

You were hoping to have Arven with you to help you make a choice on what to do, but... Well, he has other things to focus on, and you're not going to begrudge him that. You won't let yourself think about it any further.

So you sit at your kitchen table with two different appointment cards in front of you to see your OBGYN's office. One is for a termination, the other is to go over...whatever you'll need to do if you decide you don't want to go through with the former appointment.

You have to cancel one of them. The fridge thrums behind you, a monotonous white noise that you wish you could focus on instead of the task ahead.

You press your forehead into your fingertips.

Okay.

Can you do this?

You're a champion of Paldea. One of the most beloved figures of the Pokemon scene in the region. You're powerful, with financial security to spare to be a single mother.

Can you be a mom?

Well...you feel like your Pokemon love you well enough. You love them like babies. Obviously a human is different. Especially if it's yours and...well, yeah. You think you can be a mom.

Lastly then, the question becomes: do you want to do this? At the end of the day, no one is forcing you one way or another. That's one blessing, at least, about being abandoned. Not abandoned. That's one blessing of being independent. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

You think... You think you've been thinking about this for a long time, as you have all the other questions. You do want this. You want to have a baby, your own sweet little one. They'll be so cute. They have to be, given their parentage.

…You try not to dwell on that part too much, but it's a little difficult.

Is it wrong to carry his baby without him? What if he doesn't want a child out there? Well. No. He must not care. If he did, he'd have said something. You don't have to worry about this being a betrayal of trust on your part.

Moving forward, you only need to worry about betraying the trust of the tiny life growing within you.

And...well, that thought gives you pause.

You finally allow your fingers to linger featherlight over your abdomen. You're nowhere near showing, nor can you feel anything substantial or physical there, but... You feel something.

Attachment. Devotion. Loyalty.

You don't know if this little thing is even the size of an oran berry yet, but... You've got a fierce love for it already just after thinking about it a little bit.

If your mind wasn't already made up, that would have made the decision for you.

You’re a mother now.

In the morning you call your OBGYN and cancel the tentative appointment to terminate. You'll be by later in the week to go over needs and expectations.

-

The automatic doors to the league slide open with a swipe of your access card, and stark white greets you. This isn't an easy conversation, and it's one that you can't put off for much longer. Beyond the fact that you'll start showing soon, Nemona has been chomping at the bit to talk about the baby at work and with anyone who'll listen. She's just so excited to be a tía, and if you don't tell La Primera soon, then you won't have control of the news when it eventually breaks.

You sit in the chair opposite her desk, feeling entirely too nervous, your hands clasped in your lap, thumbs twiddling. "Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today, Geeta." You start.

"Absolutely." She responds with her usual, impassive smile. "How can I be of service?"

"I, uh. I need to give you an advance notice of..." You swallow. "Of some need for medical leave."

Your boss tilts her head just slightly to the side, her massive mane of hair shimmering like an oil slick in the florescent light with just the smallest movement. "Oh?" You still can't read her true emotion well, but she's projecting the idea of concern. "Is everything alright?"

You will yourself not to touch your abdomen as you had been doing absent mindedly more and more often as of late. The habit grew on you more quickly than you'd expected. "Yes. I just, uh. Well... I'll be having a baby in a few months, and I know I'll be out of commission for a while."

"I see." Geeta's eyes flick almost imperceptibly down to your hands. Truth be told it's a movement that you would have missed if you hadn't spent countless hours learning to read her for the slightest tells through her battling. You feel a flush burn through your cheeks. Should you start wearing a ring?

"Congratulations and thank you for letting me know." Geeta is smiling at you again. "I completely understand. I'll see about having HR send you all the necessary paperwork, so we can get you all sorted. If I remember correctly, we offer a few flexible plans for expectant parents. Just choose whichever suits you best, and we can go from there." She's already turned to her computer and opened up an email, likely to the HR rep.

"Thank you," You reply, breathing a small sigh of relief. This really wasn't as painful as you were expecting.

"Just... One thing." Geeta adds, not looking back at you from her computer until she continues with a sigh. "We're going to want to keep you away from participation in field research tasks, the Ace Academy Tournament, and Championship testing for a short while."

She raises a single gloved hand in time with your cry of "What?!"

"You and I both know you are more than capable of holding your own, but..." She sighs. "Battling can still be dangerous, and we both know that Paldea still isn't the most well-known for its love of Pokemon. We're still building the league up. You know I trust you, but Arceus forbid something...unpleasant were to happen while on League business..." She pauses, and you nod, already resigned.

"I understand, Geeta. Better safe than sorry. I'd hate to hold the League back in any way at all." It feels weird saying it, but it isn't a lie? Firstly, you obviously don't want to hurt your little tamato berry (that's apparently how big it is now!), but also you genuinely wouldn't want anything to be associated with the League on the off chance that the unthinkable happened. "So... What will you have me do?"

Geeta leans forward, resting her chin in her gloved hands with a frown. "We've always got more paperwork."

-

The rest of the week is spent working closely with Geeta to wrap up your current research assignments that you owe to Jacq. There's nothing terribly dangerous or strenuous in what he'd had you doing, but...

"Are you serious?!" He nearly shouts when you give him the news. Jacq adjusts his glasses and eyes your body up and down in a way that would make you feel far more uncomfortable if not for the fact that you know he's very clearly looking for a bump, examining you in that way that only scientists seem to do without shame. 

"Yup..." You tell him, shifting awkwardly under his stare.

"Well, congrats! Who's the lucky dad?" He asks, clapping your shoulder jovially. 

You swallow. This has been easier to tell your doctor. Jacq is a friend. Your old teacher. You know him.

He picks up on your silence and lets his hand drop from you, going to scratch the back of his head uncomfortably. "Ah... Sorry about that! Anyway," He moves on quickly, turning to the board with his notes. "It's no big deal! You've given me plenty to work with. I can definitely just do data analysis for a while... And maybe one of the other champions can help me with some of the Area Zero research we're looking to do..."

Your heart squeezes. You're usually the one who gets sent into Area Zero. Most other champions don't have the constitution for solo trips or are too busy with other assignments.

You sigh. "Sorry, Jacq. It won't be forever though?"

He smiles back at you warmly. "Oh definitely! Don't worry about it, really! And congratulations! I'm super excited for you. Lemme know if you need anything, okay?"

You give him a smaller smile in response, still not feeling great about it all, and head to the door.

"Definitely."

You haven't even made it back to the entrance hall before you hear another familiar voice.

"Ah! Well, if it isn't one of our most illustrious champions."

"Director." You steel yourself and greet him with a nod.

Clavell catches up with you quickly. "It's been a minute since we've had you in the halls, hasn't it? To what do we owe the pleasure?" He asks, gesturing for you to follow him as he walks.

"Um. Yeah... It has," You say, moving at a bit of a faster clip to keep up with the director. "I was just checking in with Jacq on the latest for his research." 

"Is that so?" He says in that kind way that somehow also feels like he knows more than he's letting on.

You laugh a little nervously. "Yup! Just a check in..." Does he already know? Who would have told him? Geeta? Nemona? That would have been an invasion of privacy, right? "I, uh... I won't be able to be out in the field for a minute, so..."

Clavell raises an eyebrow as he looks down at you, still walking. "Should we continue this conversation in my office?"

"Sure?"

It's strange sitting in front of Clavell's desk again, especially like this. You're not his student anymore, yet you still feel like you're in trouble or about to get a lecture.

"So you're stepping back from fieldwork?" He asks you, looking genuinely concerned. "Did something happen?"

"Well..." You wriggle uncomfortably in the plush leather seat. "I'm actually pregnant, and La Primera and I decided it'd be for the best if I--"

"Congratulations!" The director interrupts, rather uncharacteristically. "That's marvelous news. I hadn't even known you were in a relationship."

You look down. "Yeah..."

From your peripheral you can see Clavell adjust his glasses on his nose. "So the father...?"

You feel a lump forming in your throat. This wouldn't be quite as hard if not for the fact that you had just gone through it with Jacq, and you still feel pretty raw about it. "He... Um. He doesn't seem to want to be involved, I guess..."

Clavell clears his throat. "I see... Well. I hope you know you have every resource here at the academy at your disposal, should you ever need anything."

The lump sitting there just above your vocal folds get impossibly tighter, so you just nod, squeezing your hands into fists on your knees.

Clavell tsks softly, standing and moving around. When he offers his spread arms in a hug, you take him up on it.

He won't tell if you happened to cry a little bit.

He's dealt with struggling single parents in his office before, and it's never easy.

-

So you end up working office duty with the League.

It's quiet, mostly, but the offices are nice. Larry gives you the low down on everything you need to know and then leaves you alone. You go to either him or to Rika if you have any questions about certain forms or which things go where.

All in all it's not bad. Not...exciting. Definitely not your preferred way to spend the rest of your life, but... Well, you know it isn't permanent.

Plus, as you get bigger and start having to walk less and waddle more, the ease of a desk job is kind of nice. Far better than riding a dragon at least.

You're sitting at your desk one day when the most delicious smell wafts through the office, and it nearly gets you drooling.

Whatever it is... You...you have to have it. You want it so bad it almost makes you want to cry.

What the fuck...

With a sigh and a bit of a grunt you stand and peak out the door to your office, following the smell to the break room.

Larry spots you from his seat at the table almost immediately, looking up at you from beneath his massive, bushy brows.

"Good afternoon." He shuts the tupperware containing his lunch. "I apologize if the smell was a little strong. I didn't intend for it to be. I can move outside if--"

"No!" You interrupt, entirely too loudly. "It smells really, really good actually." You swallow, eyeing the container reverently. "Super good. Uh... What is it?" Can I have it, can I have it? Let me have it, I want it, I want it, I need it NOW.

"Oh." Larry opens up the tupperware once more, and you actually feel the sting of your mouth salivating anew. "Just some grilled rice balls. Remember the ones from the gym challenge? Same ones, extra lemon."

"...Oh..." Did you lick your lips? You don't know. You may have. All you know is that the food there sounds...so good.

Larry calls your name in his usual dull monotone, breaking you from your craving trance. "Would you like some?"

You're in the chair across from him faster than you care to admit, and Larry smiles a small, tired kind of smile at you.

From then on, he seems to make a habit to bring along extra food to work. He keeps a pint of ice cream for you in the freezer too, just in case you have a day where things feel bad. He says ice cream can usually help with that sort of thing.

In fact, not too long later, he imagines you might be having one of those days. Larry isn't really one to pry. He likes to come in, do work, take his 15 minute break, work some more, take his lunch, work, take another break, then go home. But...with a pregnant lady in the office, he can't help but secretly fret just a little bit. Not in a weird way or something, but he keeps an ear out, just in case.

So when he hears soft sniffling coming from your office one day after you'd come back from some appointment or other he's a little nervous. He doesn't actually want you talking to him or crying on him or something... But you're clearly upset. Not upset enough to just go home, so it can't be that bad, but...

He goes back to the break room, grabs the ice cream and a spoon, sets them both outside your door, knocks gently, then leaves.

Ice cream should help.

That said, he still bristles when you inevitably knock on his door a few minutes later, the spoon in your mouth and the pint of raspberry cheesecake ice cream in your hands.

"...Thank you..." You say miserably around the metal in your mouth, eyes cast to the floor.

"No problem. ...Is it helping?" Larry asks, trying to focus on the spreadsheet he's working on. Stupid pivot tables.

"Yeah..." You come in uninvited and sit in the seat across from him. This isn't really what he was hoping to deal with, but it's fine. He can listen.

Except you don't talk. You just sit with him, slowly spooning more of the treat into your mouth. Eventually Larry hazards a look at you. Your eyes are rimmed red, but you don't look too terrible, honestly.

He sighs but it doesn't sound agitated. "How can I help?"

Now that you've been prompted, you reach into your pocket and reveal several tiny squares of paper, lining them up on his desk.

"Look!" You tell him, the sound coming out kinda wet and sad.

They're...ultrasound photos?

"Uh... Very nice?" Larry asks you.

"Aren't they beautiful?" You hiccup around the spoon.

At that time Rika just happens to be making her afternoon rounds, when she picks up on your whimpering and storms into the office.

"Hey! Is this geezer giving you a hard time, Mama?" She asks you affectionately, rubbing your shoulders.

"Come on now," Larry says, exasperated, as you shake your head.

"I'm just being silly." You tell her, gesturing to the pictures. "They did a little photoshoot today." The sentence is punctuated with a loud sniffle.

Rika scoops up the lot and overdramatically coos over them. She doesn't seem much like one for kids herself, but she's been very nice to you since you've been put on desk duty. She asks how you're feeling regularly and offers you decaf coffee or tea whenever she goes to make some for herself. From time to time she also walks out of the building with you, just making sure you get to a cab safely.

"Yeah, I dunno entirely what I'm looking at, but I'm positive it's cute." She points to a particular splotch on a photo. "Like that? That's it, right? The little bun you got baking in there? Kinda looks like a clodsire!"

"Rika..." Larry interjects, glancing at you. Truth be told he can kinda see the clodsire-ish shape? But he's never actually been one to be able to read an ink blot test, much less something as complicated as an ultrasound.

You laugh. "Wanna keep it?" You ask her. "I had them print a ton."

Rika pockets the photo. "Hell yeah I wanna keep it. I'm betting this lil bean a'yers is basically gonna be the next Poppy, so I'm gonna be its biggest fan from before day 1."

You can't help but laugh again. "Thank you..."

Rika slides a photo over to Larry. "You're gonna be its fan, too, right?" She smiles wide and somewhat menacing, but who's to say if there's any real malice behind it.

Larry takes the picture gingerly from her. "Of course."

And for some reason that has you blubbering wetly all over again.

"Thank you both..."

"Oh, just eat your ice cream..." Larry tells you, and when he says it, it's not harsh or mean. Just kind of paternal, as if the treat will fix your hormones.

"C'mon, Mama," Rika tells you, helping you to your feet with a shocking bit of strength for her lanky frame. "I think Larry can only handle so many tears in one sitting. Let's go give a photo to La Primera, yeah?"

You nod and are led out of the office.

Only then does Larry give a sigh of relief.

He pins the little black and white photo up on his corkboard later. He can't tell anything about what's actually in it. Like what's a foot or a nose or something, but...well it makes him happy somehow. Something about the future and all that.

-

Rika's the first one who feels the baby kick. Nemona swore up and down that it would be her, but it just so happens that Rika's around when you're feeling those fluttery jumbles inside one day. You'd, of course, been feeling them for a while now, but no one else had been able to pick up on it, much to your... Well, you weren't sure if it was satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Up until now, your little potato had only been yours, but when someone else is eventually able to feel it...then it's not just yours anymore, is it? What a strange feeling.

Regardless, Rika had asked if you were down for a light match, just some training between some of your younger pokemon, parts of your teams that you were hoping to train up for the future.

"But La Primera..."

"The Boss told you not to take part in any serious battling. I saw your plan. I'm basically HR here, remember?" She shoots you a wink. "No pressure if you don't wanna, but I know I'd be itching to battle if I were you." It's true... Nemona's been taking some of your heavier hitters out for work outs from time to time, as had Dendra once, but you really miss being in the driver's seat.

You hum thoughtfully. "Lemme go through my boxes and think about it?"

"Sure thing." Rika plops down in your office chair, opposite your desk and starts playing on her rotom phone while you scroll through your boxes.

...You'd been thinking at one point about working out an all paradox team, but that's out of the question right now. You couldn't handle a crazy time-loopy volcarona if it got too wild.

There are a few water types you were thinking about training up, but that also feels unfair specifically to Rika who specializes in ground... Then something catches your eye.

An egg. You don't entirely remember when you'd put it in a box or where it came from, but the growing maternal part of you screams to let it come be part of the family, so you send for it along with a teddiursa you'd caught a few months back.

All in all, the battling itself isn't terribly exciting by your typical standards. You and Teddiursa barely know each other after all, and it isn't quite ready to lend you its full trust, but you know it has sass and spark. The two of you go up against one of Rika's younger wooper, not really battling to faint. Just to have some fun.

The shouting and excitement must do something for the baby though because it jolts inside you, knocking you off balance and kicking the air from your lungs. You stagger a bit, gripping your midsection with an unladylike grunt, and Rika dashes to you quick as a Cinderace.

"Hey hey hey, what's up?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just got sucker punched or kicked, I think? Here, wanna feel? That was pretty strong." It's such a bizarre experience you don't even think about the weirdness of asking Rika if she wants to touch you. She just takes you up on the offer, laying both hands on the roundness of your abdomen.

She stands still like that for a moment, then two, then three before you feel your baby wiggling around again, and her eyes go wide as a jigglypuff's. "Holy shit that's weird," She says with a laugh, pressing a bit against the feeling to see if she can get the baby to respond more. "Hey! You in there?" She says to them. "Seems like you might wanna battle some day. Well, don't let your Auntie Nemona know, kay? She'll never let you go a day without it."

The baby kicks solidly against one of her hands, and she laughs, pulling back.

"Kid's got fire! We like to see it!"

-

"The Kickening" as it comes to be known, kind of creates a silly sort of mock-rivalry between Rika and Nemona for who they think will make the best auntie/tía, which rises to a fever pitch between them when it comes to planning your baby shower. That said, you insist to the pair that you don't want to make any huge sort of fuss. Maybe a small party, no major gifts. You just need some essentials. Things like diapers, maybe some formula, and that's it. You feel like you've been a burden already, slowing down Jacq's research, not able to contribute to the league as you usually do, even unable to train your team as you want.

Nemona vehemently disagrees, but Rika seems to calm her down. "We should listen to the mama on this one." She throws a wink your way. "How about this, Nemona. Why don't I take our sweet girl out for a day of pampering instead?"

"Hey, what?" You and Nemona both cry at once, but Rika is already dragging you to the door, a grin evident on her features.

"C'mon... I'm sure Nems can see herself out."

And somehow it works?

Rika gets you out of the house that morning in your sweats and into one of those cute, trendy maternity stores that you'd sort of been avoiding because you were putting off buying new clothes for yourself when you knew there was still so much to buy for the baby... But then again you also hadn't been buying terribly much on that front either, having only just completed your research and created the list of which products you want.

So you get squeezed? Actually not squeezed. Actually comfortably fit! Into a nice flowy dress that makes you look and feel super cute. Your reflection smiles back at you from the mirror, and you look down to your bump which looks very comfortable and snug as a bug in the shapewear you've got on beneath the dress. You do a little swish for yourself, admiring the way the fabric flows a bit. The skirt of the dress isn't terribly over-the-top flowy, but it's got that nice amount of swing to it.

You feel pretty. Not that you have felt particularly bad lately, but... Well, you hadn't thought much about yourself. You haven't had the time.

Before you leave the shop, Rika also buys you one of those popular L&D dresses that you can wear in the hospital rather than a drab and shapeless gown. It's apparently got all the bits and bobs and holes and whatever that you'll need to...have a baby and look cute doing it? You're not totally sure, but the dress looks nice enough, and the fabric feels soft and cool on your fingers.

Next up on your little day of pampering is a pre-natal massage at a spa. You try to tell Rika that this is way too much, that you can't accept something so fancy, but she just laughs and pushes you forward, tipping your massage therapist before you even go back to undress, telling the woman that you're "a very important woman to the region."

Your therapist is incredible, working away tension that you hadn't realized you developed in your shoulders and lower back. She speaks softly and kindly, with one of those voices that you might expect to hear in an ASMR video. She doesn't even care when you accidentally moan a little bit when she worked out a particular knot in your shoulder that you hadn't realized was bugging you.

By the time you're back on your feet, you feel like you might actually have grown 2 or 3 centimeters.

You waddle back out to Rika with a blissed out smile on your face.

"That good?"

You just nod.

"Good. We're not done though."

Next thing you know you're being taken to a local birthing center where they're starting up a session of Lamaze classes.

Truth be told you've been interested in taking classes like these but were too nervous to sign up since...well, you don't have a partner.

Rika slips a companionable arm around your shoulder.

"Feel free to say no to this if you don't want to, but one of the tenents of their practice here is advocacy for the birthing person in L&D, and I thought you might like that? I can be with you every step of the way, too. If you want, 'course." She sniffs casually.

"Like...you'll take the class too?" You ask, wincing. She's really okay with that?

"Hell yeah. Only if you want though. There's absolutely no pressure. Yeah?"

And because she's Rika, ever casual, you know she means it.

You nod.

"Yeah. This...this should be good."

And it is! It's only an introductory class, and you'll be back over for the next few weeks to learn more, but it feels good to be learning something in a group setting.

You also wouldn't say this if you were prompted, but it's nice not to feel alone. Sure, Rika isn't your girlfriend or your wife, but she makes for a great partner, solid and steady as the ground, funnily enough.

The two of you leave class, arms linked, laughing over what the instructor told the class about stupid things that dads say in the delivery room. 

"Are you here to seduce my wife?" Rika says in a mockingly deep voice.

"Darling, the term is induce." You reply in a similarly silly voice, your tone wavering with the effort it takes not to giggle

"Well, either way, I'm not so sure I like it!"

Conversation falls back to light and easy topics from there as you make your way together back to your place.

"You really didn't have to walk me all this way home, y'know," You tell Rika as you unlock the door.

"Eh, it's fine. Gotta make sure you get home safe and all that." She replies, reaching over you to prop open the door for you to enter once your key leaves the lock.

"Yeah, yeah, precious cargo and all that. Come on in. At least have something to drink before you go."

You flip on the light to your entryway and living room space.

"SURPRISE!"

You screech (and truth be told you might even pee a little, but no one has to know that part).

In your living room is nearly everyone you care about in the damn region, decked out in pinks, blues, and yellows with super gaudy and over the top baby shower decor littering your entire apartment.

Nemona tackles you about as gently as a pregnant woman can be tackled.

"Don't be mad, don't be mad, don't be mad! We all just wanted to celebrate you and the baby, okay?!" She's biting her lip and hopping up and down excitedly.

"Are you guys for real?" You ask, and you're not totally sure what emotion you're feeling in the moment.

"Of course," Rika tells you, slinging her arm over your shoulder. "We all love you, y'know?"

"Actually," Larry speaks up from his seat on your sofa, where he's wearing a soft pink party hat with a tiny yellow puff ball. "I'd like to maintain a friendly working relationship here, but I was outvot--" 

Hassel elbows him jovially in the gut. He's already crying. "Don't worry aboud him." He sniffles, "We're all jus' so habby for you!" Brassius is on his other side, patting his knee.

And maybe it's Hassel? Maybe it's just the entire day's kindness and goodness, but the tears start flowing then and there. Big, ugly sobs wracking through your chest even though you're smiling and thanking everybody.

Nemona and Rika are of course hugging you, but a few others join in on the group hug as well, including Hassel, Salvatore, Saguaro, and Katy.

When you seem to have calmed down a bit (at least enough to form sentences again), Nemona takes your hands. "Here. Lemme show you what we did."

She guides you to the spare bedroom that you kept telling yourself would be the nursery for the baby...and inside... It's like Christmas morning for how many gifts litter the place. It's no longer your spare room for your camping equipment (you'll need to ask Nemona where she or whoever else put that). It's...it's a nursery now.

The crib that you wanted is there, assembled and everything. The car seat/stroller combo you'd been eyeing is also sitting in a corner, and there are so many other gifts, you're not quite sure what to do.

"Do... Do I open them now?" You ask, blinking back more tears. "I need to find stationary!"

"Already gotcha covered," Nemona tells you, notepad in hand. She assigns herself the task of noting down who has gifted you what for thank you note writing purposes later.

As it turns out, the crib is a gift from La Primera herself, lovingly assembled by the leaders of Team Star who leave not long after you thank them profusely. Penny also throws in a state-of-the-art baby monitor that she promises to show you how to use later. The car seat/stroller combo is Nemona's gift.

"I'm telling you, I want to find an engineer or someone who can figure out a way to create a baby side car that we can hook up to Raidon! But no one will take me up on the offer..."

"Yeah, Nems... I believe you..."

Hassel gifts you with a gorgeously refurbished, antique rocking chair with a beautiful swirling design etched into the sides of the arms and the rockers, while Brassius made a tiny mobile that hangs above the crib with little sunkerns and applins dancing in a circle.

"Special commission for a special champion." He tells you with a wink. "Not entirely Avant Garde, but we'll start the baby's art education young."

Larry goes next, opting to give you his gift, so he can politely excuse himself. "I know they're not very fun," He says with a shrug, depositing the massive box of diapers in an appropriate place. "But you'd probably have more fun shopping for fun things than I would anyway."

You give him a quick side hug and release him from his social obligation.

Saguaro's gift, a fancy pink high chair, is actually in the kitchen next to your dining table, near all the pastries that Katy brought for you and everyone. He shows you all of the different adjustments and things on it, but also makes sure that you know where he put the assembly guide which has instructions as well.

At this point, Salvatore is nearly bouncing with excitement to give you his gifts. Firstly, his wife wanted to be sure you got a little baby saucer for the baby to play in, but more importantly. "Baby sign language is the future!" Salvatore tells you, thrusting the book into your hands. "You'll be able to communicate with one another so much sooner than you could with words! Isn't that wonderful?"

Jacq also ends up giving you a ton of baby books, as well as a small bookshelf "To grow their library!" Included are some of those fabric page books that can't be torn or plastic books that can be taken in the bath, as well as some with buttons or finger puppets included. It's pretty clear that Jacq had a blast going through the children's section at the bookstore.

When you open up the gift from Tulip (which was also hastily signed as being from Dendra and Miriam as well) you're a bit confused. "Thank you so much. This is all...skincare and body care?"

"Of course," Tulip tells you in that beautiful twinkling voice of hers. "A good mother is one who takes care of herself, too. You can't pour from a cup that's empty. Remember that, okay?"

You nod and make a silent promise to take her words to heart.

Lastly, Director Clavell approaches you with two different gift bags. The first contains a few books on parenting that he claims were very useful to him "back in the day," and the other....

"'Love Clive?'" You ask with a smile. Clavell adjusts his glasses on the bridge of his nose. 

"Of course. Your good buddy Clive sends his best regards and wanted to let you know to, ahem, 'Stay cheugy.'"

That gets the younger crowd absolutely roaring with laughter, much to Clavell's confusion, but he lets it slide.

Inside the gift bag is a tiny leather jacket, perfect for a little rocker baby. You stick out your lower lip as you run your thumbs across the tidy stitching. "Oh my goodness..." You hold it tight to your chest. It's so small, and you don't want to cry again, but Hassel's loud sniffling is making it difficult.

Clavell coughs into his fist. "A-actually, you know what, Clive might want to return the jacket..." He tells you, reaching for it.

"What, why?" You ask before noticing that several faces in the room have turned red from folks holding back laughter. You look down at the little garment again and turn it over in your hands.

On the back is a massive sewn-on patch with a winking brown coil and word art that stretches above and below it reading 'Poo Monster.'

"O-Oh no!" You cry, shaking with laughter as the rest of the room bursts out with you.

Clavell, for his part, looks suitably mortified, mumbling about how he had no idea about the art on the back, but you insist it gives the jacket even more charm, not daring to let him take it back.

The rest of the party goes well enough with games and snacks. Dendra and Nemona get a little too intense when it comes to competition, but it's all in good fun.

At one point, Miriam takes you aside and starts drilling you a bit. Nothing mean, but she wants to be sure you're prepared for what's to come in L&D.

She's about to launch into another horror story when Tulip stops her. "I think you've scared our darling champion enough for today, Dearest. This is a party, after all."

Miriam looks almost appropriately apologetic. "Sorry! Was I really scaring you? You know it's totally normal if you--"

Dendra butts in, pulling her girlfriend away. "That's enough for now, ossu!"

You definitely have questions for the teacher next time you and Rika go to class, but you push (don't say push) the thought to the back of your mind for now.

The evening winds down with just you, Nemona, and Rika lounging around. You're sprawled across your sofa, trying not to fall asleep in front of company, a cookie from Katy's patisserie propped on your tummy. Rika is in an armchair, scrolling through social media, and Nemona is tidying up off and on, trying to leave you with as little mess as possible.

"Was it a good surprise, bestie?" She asks you from the kitchen where she's just finished putting away all the extra food you've been left with.

"Yeah... Thank you both. Really. I didn't think I'd want something like this, but it was really nice..." You're teetering on the edge of tears again, so you try to keep from saying anything else.

"Of course, babes," Rika tells you, not looking up from her phone. "You know you got us here every step of the way."

"Yeah!" Nemona shouts from where she'd gone into the nursery to pick up wrapping paper. "Fuck Arven! Who needs that asshole anyway!"

"Arven?" Rika asks. "So that's the sperm donor's name?" She shrugs. 

But you can't help crying at the mention of his name, not when you're already so emotional after everything that's happened.

Rika looks up to see you blubbering pathetically and stands. "Awww... C'mon now. You don't gotta do that. It's okay." She kneels by you, gathering you as best she can in her lithe arms.

"I-It's not his fault!" You whimper. "He needs to go live his life... I-I just wanted to be a part of it... I wanted him to want to be part of mine too..." You put a hand on your tummy. "Ours..."

"Hey!" Rika tells you, holding your wrists. "Fuck him! If he's too dense or too cowardly to want any part of your incredible life? That's his loss."

By now Nemona's made her way back into the living room. "What? Awww no, bestie! Don't cry! I'm sorry I even mentioned him! For real! He's absolute trash! Don't even worry about him and the stupid Kalosian floozies he's probably hanging out with!"

You sob all over again.

"Nemona!" Rika hisses.

"What?"

In the end, the pair of them end up calming you down with stupid PokeTube videos and more pastries.

They spend the night with you, just in case you need anything, but you can't bring yourself to tell either of how much you're craving a sandwich...along with the person who makes them for you best.

-

The last week or so leading up to your due date is, in a word, frustrating. You feel overly warm, overly sensitive, overly achey, and overly oval. You expected phantom contractions, and you were fine with them at first, but at this point it's almost as though you've been having light-ish menstrual cramps off and on for two weeks. That, on top of everything, else just has you nearly constantly on edge. After a day or so of the pains, you called your doctor who took you in, just in case. She assured you that things were normal, that you still had some time left to bake, and let you know to come back when the contractions became more intense and closer together or if you felt something was off.

So you waddled off and went back to life as best you could.

Key words there being "as best you could."

At this point though, you're frustrated to the point of tears, taking walks along your neighborhood, eating spicy foods, bouncing on a yoga ball, doing basically whatever you can think of to speed up your little potato's birthday.

You even drop by the League, but Rika stops you at the door, turns you around and walks you home.

"Absolutely not." She says. "Go rest. Go officially be on maternity leave or something. You're going to pop any second now, and you know it."

"Please, Rika," You plead. "I can't sleep, I can barely nap. I just need... I dunno. I don't even know what I need!" Stupid hormones get you crying again. "I just wanna be done! I don't know what to do with myself... "

"Hey, c'mon..." She tells you, pulling you in for a gentle hug. "You know better than anyone that you're almost there, right? Just... Just wait it out a bit longer. Your little bean'll know when they're done cooking."

"Yeah..." You sniffle into her shoulder. "You're right."

"I know I am," She says coolly. "But also I'm here for you to cry on and complain to any time, okay? Keep me in the loop on every little detail."

The two of you stand like that for a long moment as you try to will yourself back to calmness and go back home. Unfortunately...

"...Rika?"

"Yeah, Mama?"

"I think my water just broke."

-

As it turns out, you'd basically been in labor for the past little while and hadn't realized it, so by the time you and Rika get to the hospital, things start moving quickly.

She has the wits about her to text Nemona to grab your things from your apartment, which were thankfully already pre-packed and waiting in a bag, and within a few (okay, maybe more than just a few) hours, you have a sweetly bundled little baby boy in your arms, dozing softly.

The hospital put him in a little purple hat, but when you initially saw him, during that first moment where they brought him to your breast for that first moment of skin to skin contact, even with his tamped down hair still wet with everything, you could tell... He has two-toned hair.

The resemblances don't stop there, you think, but everyone else who sees him (at least with his hat on) thinks he's your little doppelganger. You're not sure. He looks just like Arven to you, and as much as that makes your heart ache, you're also so overwhelmingly filled with love, adoration, affection, warmth, relief, and utter devotion to this little baby.

You name him Basil. It suits him.

Even though you imagine your number is still blocked on his phone, you text Arven a picture when you and Basil have a moment alone together, just the two of you, later on that day.

He's here. I don't know if you care, necessarily? But... I love him so much, and I don't understand how you couldn't, so I thought I should share.

There's a near immediate response.

Message unable to be delivered.

[beardedmrbean]

Embattled “Dolton Dictator” Mayor Tiffany Henyard and other officials lost their power to swipe freely on the Illinois village’s credit cards when the board voted Monday to freeze the municipal plastic after a spending frenzy.

Dolton’s director of administrative services will only be allowed to use the village credit card after the board approves of the purchases, trustees said, according to reports — in a blow to Henyard’s control.

“This village has so many people with so many credit cards, they’re swiping like crazy and that’s why it had to come to a complete halt,” said lawyer Michael McGrath, who is representing Dolton’s trustees, according to WGNTV.

“There’s thousands and thousands of dollars for Amazon purchases, for PayPal, for Target, for Walgreens, for Jewel-[Osco] in the hundreds and thousands of dollars,” he added. The latter is a regional supermarket chain.

Another lawyer for the trustees, Burt Odelson, said the main goal was to “cut off her access and other operators in the municipality,” the station reported.

Henyard has faced accusations of misappropriating taxpayer money to cover personal expenses, including lavish travel and security that wasn’t necessary.

The self-proclaimed “super mayor” is in the midst of a federal probe that started months ago.

The feds have requested a trove of documents from the village, as well as a restaurant Henyard owns and other ventures, according to reports.  

The controversial leader has angered colleagues and residents, including on Monday night.

“Watching as this village is being run into the ground by this woman is pissing me off,” one longtime resident said at the meeting, according to Fox 32.

“We deserve a mayor that truly cares about our village and not a mayor who sees our village as her personal playground,” another resident said, per ABC 7 Chicago.

Before the meeting started, attendees already seated were forced to get back up and go through the metal detectors that weren’t initially working.

During the meeting, a handful of village jobs were slashed following a 4-1 vote, but Henyard, who has described herself as Dolton’s “Super Mayor,” argued the layoffs were “political retaliation” by the trustees, according to the Chicago Tribune.

She said the workers who were supposedly cut would “still be employed in the village of Dolton.”

Trustees claimed the employment decisions were strictly business.

“The village is bleeding,” Trustee Brittney Norwood said, per the newspaper. “If residents knew the truth, they’d hit the roof.”

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was hired to probe Henyard and the village, is scheduled to present her findings Thursday.

[formula1fanfiction]

Esteban Ocon / Fernando Alonso

Title: No amount of words, will ever be enough

Pairing: Esteban Ocon / Fernando Alonso

Characters: Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon

Prompt: Ocon won the 2021 Hungarian gp thanks to huge help of Alonso and Ocon be sure that Alonso get his credit to his defense. Top Alonso

"I guess congratulations is in order?" Fernando pulls him into a tight hug, patting him on the back. Esteban feels on top of the world right now, high on victory and champagne.

"I should be thanking you, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you." Fernando gives a little shrug. "You're welcome, I guess."

"Will you let me thank you properly?" Maybe the champagne has gone straight to his brain or perhaps it's the high of the race win, either way Esteban doesn't care, he has his whole win to thank to this man and there is nothing he won't do for him.

"What did you have in mind?" Fernando's eyes widen as Esteban presses his key card for his hotel room into his hand and smiles. "Come and find out."

*

Esteban wants this to be as perfect as possible for Fernando so he uses his spare time to get himself ready.  He takes his lube out of his suitcase and heads into the bathroom. Esteban places his leg on the toilet seat, to give himself better access. He pours a generous amount onto his fingers, he hasn't had anyone inside of him for a while. The first finger slides inside with little resistance, he twists and turns the single finger before adding a second one. It's a lot tighter and there is a little bit of discomfort but it soon turns into a burn of pleasure. He works his way up three fingers and only then does he deem himself ready for Fernando.   

He's only just managed to prepare himself before he hears the swipe of the key card and Fernando opening and closing the door. Esteban slowly makes his way over to the older man. "Can I help you out of your clothes?" Fernando nods shyly and Esteban makes quick work of Fernando's Alpine team gear and tosses it into a corner.

"So are you ready for your thank you." Esteban wraps his arms around Fernando's strong shoulders and kisses him slowly. He hadn't expected to kiss him but the moment has taken over him and Fernando doesn't pull away from it, instead he deepens the kiss and pushes his tongue into Esteban's warm wet mouth and explores until his knees shake with need and want.

"Please, I want you inside of me." Esteban breaks the kiss to back Fernando onto the bed and slowly pushes him down onto the plush mattress. Esteban quickly joins him on the bed and straddles those strong Spanish thighs.

"Wait, don't you need to prepare first?" Esteban takes Fernando's fingers and guides them down to his hole. "There's no need, I am already ready." Esteban nudges the head of Fernando's cock against his entrance and smiles down at the older man. "This is a thank you, just sit back relax and enjoy."  

Esteban digs his fingers into Fernando's shoulder blades and slowly starts to sink down, he moves slowly only take in an inch at a time, until he finally he bottoms out, both of them moaning in pure pleasure. He stalls for a few moments, just to give himself time adjust. Fernando grips his hips and waits patiently.

"I owe my whole win to you." Esteban groans he takes his time, sliding all the way out, only to drop back down again, feeling himself open up more and more every time.  He soon settles into a steady rhythm, squatting over Fernando's cock and pulling himself up and down on the hard member. Neither can control every moan and gasp falling from their lips in pure bliss.  

"You feel so good Esteban, fuck. I'm so proud of you." Fernando holds his hips and helps him guide him up and down, taking the pressure of Esteban's shaking thighs.

"Let me." Fernando flips Esteban onto his back, despite his protests. "You've thanked me, now let's celebrate your win." Esteban wraps his legs around Fernando's waist and the older man starts thrusting instantly in a hard but steady rhythm.

"Fuck." Esteban growls, this feels so much better he throws his head back into the pillows and grips tightly onto the bed sheets as Fernando roughly fucks into him, sinking deeper and deeper with every thrust until all too soon he hits that bundle of nerves inside of him.

"Again, Fernando, Again." And Fernando does, he slams into with every thrust while wrapping his hand around Esteban's hard leaking cock and strokes him to the same pace as his thrusts. He doesn't even try and keep quiet as his orgasm rips through him, he all but screams as he spills his load over Fernando's fist.

"Good boy, well done." Fernando fucks into him with all his might, panting as he reaches his own orgasm, holding Esteban's hips in a tight grip as he eventually loses and spills inside of him, painting his walls a milky white.

"You should have let me thank you." Esteban throws his arm over his eyes and pants trying to regain his breath. Fernando pulls out of him, watching the white trickle leak out of his hole.

"You did thank me, I just thought you deserved the reward a little bit more." Fernando smiles as he presses his lips against Esteban's.

"Congratulation's race winner."

[numinousmysteries]

Dancing the Tandava (10/10)

We've reached the end. Thank you for all your kind words, likes, and reblogs. I'm so happy you enjoyed this story and I'm thankful this fandom is still alive and kicking <3

[on Ao3] @today-in-fic

Geneva, Switzerland 2023

The rumbling stops abruptly. Mulder opens his eyes and sees that light, both from the fluorescent overhead and the window, has returned to the room. He’s still huddled under the desk with Scully and Hannah but there’s no longer any debris strewn on the floor.

“What the hell was that?” Scully says, her voice taking on the high-pitched tone he knows she only uses when she’s faced with something she truly can’t explain.

Equally baffled, he shrugs as the three of them get up from the floor. They’re in the same office as they were before, but there’s no sign the room was just rocked by a seismic quake. Instead, the desk is neatly organized. The messy piles of paper are gone, along with the bael tree in the corner of the room.

“Look at this,” Hannah says, holding up a framed photo on the desk. Bellona is in the picture alongside an olive-skinned woman around his age and three teenagers who must be their children. All five are dressed in hiking gear, smiling atop a mountain.

Mulder tries the door again and this time it opens easily. Hannah and Scully follow him out into the hallway. There’s no sign of Bellona or any of his followers. The door closes behind them and he notices the nameplate bearing Bellona’s name is gone and is replaced with one that reads “Dr. Samita Shah.”

Hannah and Scully spot the nameplate as well and the three of them stare at each other in bewilderment.

“We should check the collider tunnel,” Hannah says.

Hannah doesn’t have the authority to access the LHC tunnel as an intern, but after a few texts to her friend Emmanuelle from the control center, she’s able to swipe her ID card at the ATLAS entry point. Her card grants her access to the elevator, too. The giant elevator lurches into action and they begin their long descent hundreds of feet underground.

The elevator opens into the tunnel that houses the LHC. There’s a narrow walkway along the side of the curved wall, tracing the body of the collider that extends for miles ahead of them.

Mulder spots movement up ahead and the three of them sprint down the walkway toward the shadowy shape.

“It’s William,” Scully shouts as they get closer. Mulder steps aside to let her reach William first.

Their son is on his hands and knees with his head bowed.

“Don’t move,” Scully cautions, as she checks him for signs of injury. “Did you hit your head?”

“No, I don’t think so,” he says. “I’m okay.”

Mulder joins Scully as they gently help him up to his feet. “I’m in the LHC tunnel? At CERN?” He asks.

“Yeah, buddy,” Mulder says.

“And it’s 2023?”

Mulder confirms the year for him as Scully keeps a firm grip on William’s forearm, both to keep him steady and ensure he won’t disappear again.

“Mom,” William pulls her into a hug. “You saved the world.”

“She has a habit of doing that,” Mulder says, embracing both of them.. He’s reminded of the night William was born, finding Scully and the baby in that dilapidated room, and feeling so overwhelmed by fear and love. His heart hammers as he squeezes his family tighter, unwilling to let them go.

“William!” He hears Hannah shouting and heading towards them.

William frees himself of his parents’ grasp and runs past them along the walkway to meet Hannah. Mulder and Scully watch as Hannah goes to hug him but William takes her face in his hands and kisses her on the lips. They can see Hannah’s shock melting into joy as she grabs him around the waist and draws him in closer. Their lips draw apart but their faces stay close as they whisper to each other. Mulder can’t hear everything they’re saying but he can make out a few “missed yous” and “love yous”

“They make a good team,” Scully says quietly.

“They remind me of us. I guess declarations of love following near-death time-travel experiences run in the family.”

She smirks at him but rises on her tip toes to kiss his cheek, imprinting the spot where she once landed a right hook on a ghost ship. Her lips are warm and soft on his skin, a far gentler sensation than the one her sharp knuckles left back in 1939.

William turns back towards them and calls out, “Let’s get out here.”

William and Hannah walk back to the elevator holding hands. Mulder smiles at Scully, happy to see the relief in her eyes, then guides her in the direction they came from with his hand on the small of her back.

***

Once Scully feels confident that William doesn’t have a head injury or other serious physical damage from his disappearance, the foursome make their way to CERN’s Restaurant 1 cafeteria for dinner. William fills them in on his trip to Camp Hero in 1993. A Google search on Hannah’s phone fails to turn up any articles on Samita Shah’s death. Instead, she’s currently listed as a visiting scientist at CERN, on a one-year fellowship while her husband, Vincent Bellona, continues his work as a tenured physics professor at Princeton.

“It worked, mom,” William says to Scully, smiling. “You convinced Dr. Shah not to join the project.”

“Apparently,” Scully says. “But what I don’t understand is, why do we have no memory of this? If we were able to change the past by altering Shah and Bellona’s timeline, why don’t dad and I remember meeting you in the past? Or any of this happening in 1993?”

“They must’ve wiped our memory before we left Camp Hero,” Mulder says. “The military had that technology back then. They did it to me at Ellens Air Base on one of our very first cases together.”

“Or we could be dealing with a multiverse scenario,” Hannah says.

William looks at her agape. “We must be if you’re seriously proposing that. I think I like you even more in this universe.”

“Ha, ha,” Hannah intones sarcastically and William winks back at her.

“Anyway, I can’t believe how young the two of you looked,” William says to his parents in between bites of his burger. “And even though you were just partners, I could totally tell you liked each other. It was kind of cute.”

“Oh, William,” Scully says. “I can only imagine which ridiculous suit I was wearing, or what tie your dad had on. We must’ve seemed terminally uncool.”

“Well, I wouldn’t really call you guys cool now,” William counters. Mulder playfully flicks a piece of paper straw wrapper at his son. William adeptly dodges it and the balled-up paper flies over this shoulder.

Hannah pokes Wiliam’s bicep with her finger. “Don’t tease them,” she says. “Your parents are awesome. Look how they helped me find you, and how they helped you back in 1993 when they didn’t even know you.”

“They got to know me,” William says, smiling wryly at Mulder. “It took my mom a little more time to believe me, but she got there.”

Scully glances down and Mulder rests a hand on her thigh trying to comfort her. “I wouldn’t have expected any less,” he says.

“It’s just that now—” Scully starts, her voice breaking as a breath catches in her throat. “I couldn’t imagine life without you. We were so scared when you disappeared.”

The mood of the table sombers until William stands up and comes around to the other side to hug his mother. Still seated, she rests her head against his stomach and embraces him around the waist. “I would love you in any universe,” she whispers, pulling back slightly to wipe tears from her eyes.

“I know,” William says, smoothing down her auburn hair. “I think we’d always recognize each other. You too, dad.” He smiles at Mulder then over the table at Hannah. “And you too, Hannah.” Across their trays of half-eaten food, Mulder sees Hannah blushing.

Since finding out William had disappeared, Mulder’s been running on adrenaline, not giving himself a moment to pause and consider the possibility that they’d never see their son again. Now, the relief washes over him like a crashing wave and he doesn’t fight the tears as they come.

So much has changed in thirty years since a skeptical, red-headed spy sauntered into his office haughty with the confidence that comes from never seeing the supposedly immutable laws of nature mutate before your eyes. They tested and challenged each other and forged an elemental bond that couldn’t be shattered with all the energy the world’s largest particle accelerator could muster.

So much has changed for the better. They have a miracle of a son. He just heard Scully essentially admit to believing in alternate universes, although he has no intention of pointing that out to her. He hasn’t abandoned his quest for answers, but he’s found that unraveling the mysteries of the universe can coexist with loving and being loved. It’s more than he ever thought he deserved, and it’s all he could ever want for his son.

[anonymousewrites]

A Study of the Heart and Brain (Book 2) Chapter Twelve

Father Figure! Sherlock Holmes x Teen! Reader

Chapter Twelve: Drugged Visions

Summary: (Y/N) hallucinates but then solves some issues.

            As the low growl echoed in the empty laboratory, (Y/N) and John spun and flashed their flashlight beams across the area, but there was nothing. Not wasting any time, (Y/N) and John ran to the next door and swiped their IDs. Again, it read “Access Denied.”

            “Damn it,” muttered (Y/N).

            “No, no, come on,” muttered John, swiping his card over and over unsuccessfully. Furiously, he picked up his phone and tried to make a call, but there was no answer. “Nothing.”

            “We…We need to find a way out,” said (Y/N), taking a deep breath and steeling themself. They felt like all their senses were on fire; the input out of control.

            “Right,” agreed John.

            Slowly and carefully, they advanced through the lab. They froze as the sound of claws skittering on the ground. John and (Y/N) spun wildly, but again their flashlights found nothing. A snarl echoed beside them, and the pair bolted for the next door.

            “Shit, shit, shit,” muttered John, furiously swiping his ID to no avail.

            “John!” gasped (Y/N) as they heard claws scratching against the ground, growing closer. A low growl rumbled through the lab.

            John grabbed their arm and made a break for the cages as the snarls grew closer. Pulling them inside an empty one, he closed the door to hopefully keep them safe from the creature growing closer. (Y/N) grabbed the sheet and tugged it down over them to hide them.

            Taking deep breaths, (Y/N) desperately tried to keep their senses under control, but they felt like they had no ability to control themself. They sobbed lightly, burrowing into their purple sweater for comfort.

            A snarl sounded next to their head, and they jumped, pulling themself to the other side of the cage in fear.

            John desperately pulled his phone out and again rang Sherlock. This time, he answered. “It’s here, Sherlock. It’s right here.”

            “Where are you?” asked Sherlock.

            “Sherlock, you’ve got to help! It’s in the big lab, the first lab that we saw!” shouted John.

            A loud growl sounded as it circled the cage. (Y/N) clamped their hands over their ears. No, no, no! I don’t want this, I don’t want this!

            “Now, Sherlock, please!” cried John.

            “What are you seeing?” questioned Sherlock.

            John peered through the folds of the fabric. “I don’t know, I don’t know!”

            “Stay calm, what do you see?” asked Sherlock.

            (Y/N) squeezed their eyes shut and shook their head. Don’t want to, don’t want to, no, no, no!

            John swallowed. “Y-yes! It’s glowing! Oh, god, it’s got red eyes, and it’s big, and it’s glowing!”

            “Dad!” cried (Y/N).

            There was a pause. “(Y/N)? You’re…You’re not supposed to be there.” From where he was hauled up making the call, Sherlock was frozen. He had wanted them to come to him after they searched the grounds. (Y/N)…Oh, god, (Y/N) wasn’t supposed to be affected by the drugs.

            “Dad, help, please!” cried (Y/N) desperately.

            “I’m coming, I’m coming,” said Sherlock, running for the lab.

            (Y/N) curled in on themself, desperately trying to ignore the sounds of the creature outside. They cried out when the cover of the cage they were hiding in was pulled away. Their fear gave way to relief when they saw Sherlock looking down at them.

            He opened the door of the cage, and they scrambled out to run into his arms. Sherlock wrapped his arms around them, pulling them close. “You’re alright, you’re alright,” he murmured.

            “Dad,” they whimpered.

            “It was here, Sherlock,” panted John, trying to regain his composure. “It was here, I swear. It must…it must.”

            “Didn’t you see it?” asked (Y/N), their voice muffled from being pressed into Sherlock’s coat.

            “It’s alright,” he said soothingly.

            “No, it’s not! It was here, we saw it, we were wrong!” shouted John.

            “Well, let’s not jump to conclusions,” said Sherlock.

            “…What?” asked (Y/N), confused and still shaking.

            “John, what did you see?” asked Sherlock. He wouldn’t force (Y/N) to speak. They were fragile.

            “I told you: the hound,” said John angrily.

            “Huge, red eyes?” asked Sherlock.

            “Yes,” said John.

            “Glowing?” continued Sherlock.

            “Yes!” shouted John.

            “No,” countered Sherlock.

            “What?” asked John in confusion.

            “I made up the bit about glowing. You saw what you expected to see because I told you,” said Sherlock. “You were…” He cleared his throat. “Drugged. We’ve all been drugged.” (Y/N) gagged, and Sherlock tightened his hold on them.

            “It…it makes sense,” said (Y/N), taking a deep breath and trying to focus on logical to steady themself. “Drugs are everywhere here. It would be…easy to convince people there was a hound with some drugs.”

            “I’m so sorry,” murmured Sherlock. “I thought you’d come to me; I didn’t realize you’d follow John. I didn’t want you to be drugged; I wanted you safe.”

            “I know,” said (Y/N), their grip on him tightening.

            Sherlock sighed slightly. They were alright; they forgave him. “Come. I need to think.” Keeping a firm grip on (Y/N)’s shoulders, he guided them out of the lab.

            “How did we get drugged?” asked (Y/N).

            “I’m not sure. I thought the sugar in Henry’s house was laced, so I gave John coffee with sugar I stole form him, but you were affected,” said Sherlock.

            “Oh, thanks, Sherlock,” grumbled John.

            Sherlock ignored him. “Evidently, I was incorrect.” He huffed. “We need to go to our mind palaces and think. The answer must be in the name: hound. Why ‘hound?’ ”

            John sighed. “I’m guessing I have to make sure no one disturbs you two?”

            “That’s your job,” said Sherlock.

            “Fine, but only because (Y/N) wants to figure this out. I’m annoyed at you,” muttered John.

            He sat down and watched as Sherlock and (Y/N) settled down on some chairs and closed their eyes. In contemplative silence, they sat still for several minutes before Sherlock’s eyes snapped out.

            “Liberty, Indiana. Project H.O.U.N.D,” he said suddenly.

            (Y/N) blinked. Evidently, this was before their time since they had no clue what he was talking about. “A government experiment?” they surmised.

            “Yes,” said Sherlock.

            “And it has the words Henry’s been remembering,” murmured (Y/N).

            “Let’s go. I need access to experimental records,” said Sherlock.

            “How are you going to get those? Don’t think Mycroft will let you through this time,” said John.

            “Oh, I’m just going to ask one of the scientists,” said Sherlock.

            (Y/N) smiled mischievously. “We do have something on Dr. Stapleton, after all.”

l

            “Oh, back again?” asked Stapleton as the trio walked into her lab. “What’s on your mind this time?”

            “Murder, Dr. Stapleton. Refined, cold-blooded murder,” said Sherlock. He switched the lights of the room off, and a rabbit in a cage beside them began to glow a pale green before he turned the lights back on.

            “Will you tell little Kirsty what happened to Bluebell or should I?” said (Y/N) with a threatening smile.

            Stapleton gritted her teeth. “Fine. What do you want?”

            “Your ID,” said Sherlock.

l

            “John,” said Sherlock, gesturing the door of Major Barrymore’s office.

            “Yeah, I’m on it,” said John, standing watch. Stapleton sat down at the computer and began logging in.

            “Project HOUND. Must have read about it and stored it away. An experiment in a CIA facility in Liberty, Indiana,” said Sherlock.

            (Y/N) shrugged. “Before my time, I’m guessing.”

            “Yes,” said Sherlock. They wouldn’t have been born yet. He looked over at Stapleton, who was at the search bar. “H, O, U, N, D.”

            Stapleton nodded and copied the letters in. When she hit enter, though, a message popped up saying “No Access. CIA classified.” It also requested an authorization code.

            “That’s as far as my access goes, I’m afraid,” said Stapleton.

            “Well, there must be an override and password,” said John.

            “I imagine so, but that’d be Major Barrymore’s,” said Stapleton.

            (Y/N) turned and surveyed his office. They may not know anything about Project HOUND, but they could be helpful. “He was here when he came up with it,” they murmured. “Describe him to me.”

            “You’ve seen him,” said Stapleton.

            “Describe him,” repeated (Y/N).

            “Er, he’s a bloody martinet, a throw-back, the sort of man they’d have sent into Suez,” said Stapleton.

            “Alright,” said (Y/N). “Old-fashioned, traditionalist…so he wouldn’t use his children’s names as passwords. He loves his job, he’s proud of it, and this is work related.” They tilted their head. “So what would he be looking at.” Books, books, books. “Jane’s Defense Weekly, Hannibal, Wellington, Rommel, all four volumes of Churchill’s ‘History of the English-Speaking Peoples’. Five separate biographies of Thatcher.” They gestured to the picture of Barrymore with an older man. “Mid 1980s. Barrymore senior. Medal for distinguished service. What veteran would he be, John?”

            “That date? I’d say Falkland’s veteran,” said John.

            “Thatcher’s more likely, then,” decided (Y/N).

            Sherlock smiled to himself, watching them work. He was proud of how far they’d come. It had been difficult to get them to open up and be confident in their intelligence at first, but here they were, confident and self-assured. Sherlock looked at them fondly. That’s my kid.

            “So what’s the password?” asked Stapleton.

            “The type of guy Barrymore is, first name terms, definitely,” said (Y/N). They leaned over the computer and typed in “Margaret” before pausing. They cocked their head before replacing it with “Maggie.” (Y/N) pressed enter.

            The computer beeped pleasantly, and a message popped up saying “Override 300/421 Accepted. Loading…”

            (Y/N) smiled, pleased with themselves, and turned to Sherlock, who nodded in approval. They straightened, proud.

            The computer screen switched to a page regarding Project HOUND. The phrases that stuck out the most were “extreme suggestibility,” “fear and stimulus,” “conditioned terror,” and “aerosol dispersal.”

            Definitely fits what happened with us, thought (Y/N). They shivered at the reminder of the way the drug had manipulated their senses. It made them queasy. They ignored the feeling and scrolled down to find a photo of the project team with their names beside it.

            Leonard Hansen. Jack O’Mara. Mary Uslowski. Rick Nader. Elaine Dyson.

            Leonard Hansen. Jack O’Mara. Mary Uslowski. Rick Nader. Elaine Dyson.

            “HOUND,” breathed Stapleton, staring in horror at the further highlighted effects of the drugs involved in the project.

            Paranoia. Severe frontal love damage. Blood-brain. Gross cranial trauma. Dangerous acceleration. Multiple homicide.

            “Jesus,” said John softly.

            “Project HOUND: a new deliriant drug which rendered its users incredibly suggestible. They wanted to use it as an anti-personnel weapon to totally disorientate the enemy using fear and stimulus, but they shut it down and hit it away in 1986,” read Sherlock.

            “Because of the effects on the subjects,” murmured (Y/N).

            Sherlock nodded. “And what they did to others. Prolonged exposure drove them insane—made them almost uncontrollably aggressive.”

            “So someone’s been doing it again—carrying on the experiments?” asked John.

            “Attempting to refine it, perhaps, for the last twenty years,” said Sherlock.

            “Who?” questioned Stapleton.

            “Those names mean anything to you?” asked (Y/N).

            “No, not a thing,” said Stapleton.

            “Alright, then,” said (Y/N), turning to the computer and the photo. “Five principal scientists, twenty years ago, would be older now…” They zoomed in before smirked. “And would be someone who says cellphone because of time spent in America.” They looked at Sherlock and John. “Remember?”

            “Mhm,” said John, nodding. He pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket. “He gave us his number in case we needed him.” The card said “Bob Frankland.”

            “Oh my god,” gasped Stapleton. “Bob Frankland. But Bob doesn’t even work on—I mean, he’s a virologist. This was chemical warfare.”

            “It’s where he started, though, and he’s never lost the certainty, the obsession that the drug really could work. Nice of him to give us his number. Let’s arrange a little meeting,” said Sherlock, taking Frankland’s card from John.

            John looked closely at the computer when his phone went off. “Hello?” He frowned. “Who’s this?” His eyes widened, and he whirled on Sherlock and (Y/N). “It’s Louise Mortimer. Louise, what’s wrong?”

            Henry’s therapist? That can’t be good, thought (Y/N).

            “What?” John frowned. “Where-where are you? Right, stay there. We’ll get someone to you, okay?” He hung up.

            “Henry?” asked (Y/N), because what else could the issue be?

            “He’s attacked her,” said John grimly.

            “Gone?” questioned Sherlock. John nodded, and Sherlock pulled out his phone. “There’s only one place he’ll go to—back to where it all started.” He held his phone to his ear. “Lestrade. Get to the Hollow. Dewer’s Hollow. Now. And bring a gun.”

            It’s not a hound we’ll be facing. It’s Henry, driven mad by exposure to the drug, and Frankland, its murderous creator, thought (Y/N).

Taglist:

@stilesstilinskiforlife-blog

@im-making-an-effort

@ilse235

@schrodingers-intelligence

[fionayao2008]

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[justplainwhump]

Job satisfaction

Tyler struggles to keep a facade in front of his colleagues and learns the whereabouts of Tara's informant.

Written for @whumptober 2022. Will be continued soon.

This is for Day 16, "no way out" and day 19, knees buckling.

A part of Tyler's arc.

Cw for BBU, institutionalised whump, facility whump, a bunch of professionally horrible people (WRU handlers and managers), referenced dehumanisation, (newly) reluctant whumper pov, shortly referenced noncon/dubcon (WRU romantic training), referenced torture

Tyler took the bus to work. He'd drunk too much vodka last night to be able to drive safely. He pressed his forehead to the window, greenish suburbs passing by the windows in a blur until the gray buildings of the industrial zone took over. Facility 002 was located far outside the city.

Hard to reach. Easy to control.

In his pocket, his fingers fiddled with his access card. It didn't say his name, didn't even say the company name, just a plain number, but still he had always kept it hidden. Odd, he realized. He'd told himself over and over again that he just did a job. People in his generation did what earned them money, and tried to be good at it. Nobody identified with what they did, or their employer, he was just like them, right?

Then why had he never told anyone? Even when it had all technically been legal, when he'd been working with voluntary acquisitions. Security, that's what he'd said when asked about his job. Corporate security for some high tech lab. Nobody had ever waited to know more.

The bus' doors opened with a hiss. "Industry Park South Entrance," the automated voice announced. "Last stop. This bus terminates here."

Tyler started, needed a second to find orientation, before he grabbed his backpack and got off. There were just a handful of other passengers left. All here for the same destination. A janitor, a receptionist. Did they tell others where they worked, he wondered.

Did it matter? They didn't do what he did. They weren't handlers. He remembered 238's screams last night, played to her over and over by him. He remembered the countless times he'd slept with her. He remembered her brown eyes, serious and solemn, when she'd told him 'I don't think I signed up for this'.

He'd taught her to never say it again.

Tyler wanted to scream. Instead, he put on an easy smile, nodded to the security officer at the entry, as he swiped his card. It hurt. The edges of the plastic card had cut into his palm, after clutching it too tightly. The pain felt oddly comforting.

"You're late."

Tyler looked up, meeting the gaze of Alex from Client Relations. Squinted dark eyes took him in critically, no doubt noticing the rings underneath Tyler's eyes, the slight trembling of his hands.

"Had a long shift yesterday," he mumbled. "Didn't sleep well."

"I know. Log out at 12.37 am," Alex said without even looking somewhere to check. They weirded him out. "No idea what you did that long, nor do I want to know, honestly. Anyway. Senior Handler Nguyen wants a word before you go in. He's in his office."

Shit.

Tyler nodded numbly. "Yeah. Uh. Thanks."

When he turned towards the office floor, Alex' hand stopped him. "I really don't care," they said. "But he didn't seem like he'd care much, either."

Tyler frowned at them, but they'd already pulled back their hand and were staring at their tablet.

"Oh. Important call. First product specification with Judge Nicholls." They rolled their eyes. "It's her fourth pet, and she's always such a diva. Anyway." Alex' looked Tyler down once again. "If you're sick, don't stay too close to me. There's a cabinet full of prescription drugs at Doctor Wood's office. She'll get you up to peak performance in no time."

"I'm goo-"

"Shhh." Alex was on the phone already, gesturing for him to shut up and pointing impatiently at Alan's office.

*

"238's a mess today," Alan said, without any preface. He didn't even look up from his papers. It felt odd, standing here still in civilian clothes and waiting for a uniformed handler to judge him. "You deviated from protocol, Parker. Why?"

Because it was easier to beat her and cause her pain than to fuck her while she pretended to enjoy it. Because like that, at least, they'd both known it was fucking wrong what was happening.

"Protocol for her current training phase is to simulate a domestic environment, Sir." Tyler crossed his hands in front of him and looked at the tips of his sneakers, hoping Alan wouldn't watch him too closely. His boss was insanely good at spotting a lie. Tyler could just hope that right now, he wasn't looking for one. "I've read her file and that on her prospective owner's other pet. He'd use pain in a domestic environment. So I prepared her for that."

"Huh." The rustling of paper indicated that Alan had put the file down. He hadn't been reading it anyway, Tyler wagered. Alan was playing mind games, always. And even though Tyler saw it happening, he usually got caught in them anyway. Alan was a master on his playing field.

He remembered, that on their first meeting, he had aspired to be like Alan one day. It felt ages ago. "I appreciate the initiative. Bold move though, to not discuss it with me beforehand." He paused. "Bold move especially, coming from you, Parker."

"I… I like to do things right. This, um. This didn't seem bold to me. It was within my scope of decision. I thought."

Alan chuckled quietly. "Well that does sound more like you for sure. Next time, write that reasoning down in your report, too."

Tyler nodded, trying to hide the relief in his voice. "Of course."

"I ordered solitary for her for two days or three. The uncomfortable kind. I think your intuition was right. She needs to take any attention her owner gives her as affection. So we lock her up, let her crave any human touch, and you'll get back to her the day after tomorrow and give her both. Fuck her and hurt her. Fuck her hard. And if she doesn't get it, she'll get one more day of solitary, and we'll try again."

Tyler felt a hard knot in his stomach. Fuck her and hurt her. Again and again and again. That was his job. In contrast to her, he had signed up for it.

Alan didn't seem to register his discomfort. "We have all the time, her prospective is overseas for the next six weeks."

"Good."

It wasn't enough, it seemed, because Alan paused for a moment. "Everything alright, Parker? I'm giving you praise, and a break for today. You're unusually passive about it."

Tyler cleared his throat. "Bad night. Personal, Sir."

"Huh. Don't let it interfere with your work." Alan tilted his head. "I was thinking about filling you in on one of my other cases today. But in that case, let's postpone it. You can go ask Handler Thompson if she's got some work for you while 238 is on hold. Heard her bragging about some special assignment."

Carly. Tyler had to hold back not to grimace. He'd tried to befriend her, in the beginning. Always important to be on good terms with the colleagues, after all. But she was… something else. Something he never wanted to be. He should've understood back then, already.

"Sir, maybe I should-"

"Her methods are very different from mine. I don't think highly of her. But you can learn from her nonetheless."

Tyler swallowed. "I… Sir, I thought I might just call in sick for the day."

"Huh." Alan raised an eyebrow. "Well. If it's that bad, I guess there's no better day than today either. Good work, in any case." Something fell on his shoulder, and Tyler flinched before he realized it was Alan's hand, in a rare gesture of reassurance. "You're on a good path, Parker. Keep that private life separate from work and vice versa, look closely at how things work in this facility, and your next career move won't take long to come. You have a lot of potential. Use it."

Tyler didn't feel like it.

*

He managed to pull himself together as he left the office. Still in his civilian clothes, he felt the weight of his phone in the pocket of his jeans. He'd go home and call Tara. He'd meet her and come clean with her and he'd convince her to be safe.

"Hey, T!"

Tyler almost flinched when he heard Carly's voice. She was sitting in Alex' office, lounging in the visitor chair with her feet on their desk, pointedly ignoring their eye roll. "Short day, or have you pulled an all nighter with that raunchy trainee of yours? She as flexible as she looks?"

"Very," Tyler said.

Carly grinned. "Too bad your boss doesn't let me touch her. I'd love to give her some... specialty training." She put two fingers to her mouth and finished the gesture with a slow flick of her tongue. As if they wouldn't have understood before.

"Not on her training plan," Alex' voice was flat, almost a little bored, but Tyler still noted some annoyance. "She's in the box today anyway. Tyler is off duty. In contrast to you."

Tyler raised his eyebrows, but didn't inquire, how the hell Alex managed to get their hands on information that quickly.

"Oh, I have plenty time." Carly smirked. "Got my pet lib bitch strung up in a nice little stress position. She's going to be soft as a kitten when I get back with her."

"Technically, she's not pet lib," Alex corrected coldly. "These potential sign-ups she made trouble about, they weren't pets. She's anti WRU. There's a distinction."

"She messed with our business. And she is working with pet lib, I'm sure about that. Two or three hours more with her, and I promise she'll spit out some names."

Tyler leaned to the door frame as casually as he could. He feared his legs would give out. "Who -?"

"002242. Our latest acquisition. Social worker. Seriously interfered with recruitment down town."

'My informant was arrested', Tara's voice echoed in his head. 'WRU recruiters all but hunting homeless kids. Tried to do something about it. Now she's gone.'

He didn't feel well.

"We...," Tyler cleared his throat. "I thought involuntary acquisitions meant custom orders."

"It is a custom order. Internal one. Director Fisher's. He's unhappy with pet lib and anti WRU sentiment in this town. Need to smother some voices, re-educate some others. Luckily, it's just a small number compared to the ones that actually bring us money. Financially, each of these trainees is a disaster. Can't offer them via our website, can't give them to anyone who keeps their pets in public - at least nobody local, and shipping pets overseas is such a hassle."

"Your perspective is so cold, Al." Carly rolled her eyes, ignoring Alex' quiet correction, "Alex."

"Talking like they're objects, not people, with real feelings." She swung her legs off the table to lean in. "Feelings, Al. Pain. Despair. Fucking bleak and hopeless sadness. And that little, devastating moment when they understand that this is it." She all but moaned. "Fuck, I could drink that in with a straw."

She checked her watch and got to her feet. "Time to work on that, I guess. Cheers, Al. T, you coming? I could need a hand."

"Actually, Tyler has signed o-"

"Sure." Tyler talked over Alex, feigning a grin of his own. "Yeah. I'm in."

Carly bumped her fist into his shoulder. "Great, buddy. I promise, working with these assholes before the Drip, it's even better than fucking them later." She let out a chuckle. "And doing it both? Man, that's the real thing. Fuck, I love my job."

I don't, Tyler thought, with the dawning realisation it was far too late for that.

[bluiex]

I got another idea for a scene for my au, this time with how Grian uses inside information to help the resistance.

Before that, a little more info on them: Grian is mainly infectious by touch and it’s slow acting. Due to this he constantly wears gloves, although it’s also because some of his veins are looking a little too purple. He tells the others that he wears them because he’s worried about getting turned by touching something infested. They bought into it. As you’d expect of the Father Spore, Scar is very infectious. Pretty much every part of him is infectious to some degree. That’s what makes him so dangerous, how easily he can infect someone if they’re not prepared.

————————

Grian walks up to the ‘secret’ lab of the HEP. The resistance knew of its existence for a long time now, it’s just been a little too guarded for them to take it down. Of course being able to access guard schedules and what’s being researched makes it a lot easier. It still took a lot of planning to figure out the best time to attack and how to do it.

Grian takes a deep breath as he walks up to the guard at the door, there’s a lot at stake here. “Hello!” He greets cheerily, reaching into his pocket, “I’m here to check in on how things are going.”

The guard looks at him in confusion, having had no idea he was coming, obviously. Before he can respond though, Grian pulls out a mushroom and shakes it in front of him, sending a cloud of spores directing into his face. While Grian is infectious himself, it’s no where near as fast acting as he needs it to be, thankfully there are plenty of mushrooms that do that job for him.

The guard coughs as he inhales the spores. His eyes go hazy, and he backs into the wall, slowly sliding to the ground. It won’t take long for him to fully succumb and join them.

Until then, Grian reaches down and plucks a keycard from him, giving him complete access to the facility. Or, more specifically, giving Father Spore complete access.

It doesn’t take long for him to arrive, grinning at Grian when he does, “excellent work!”

The avian mirrors it, swiping the card to unlock the door. He enters the building and gestures for Scar to follow. “This place is heavily ventilated, but it’s rather easy to shut that down if you know how to. And once we do, we’ll easily take over this whole place.”

“Lead the way, my songbird,” Scar replies, cheerful. Grian nods and begins leading the way, although they walk side by side. He can feel the spores that Scar naturally emits surround them, but the ventilation in the lab makes sure they don’t stick around for long.

They only have one incident on the way to the server room, running into a guard who was thankfully caught off guard enough by their presence that Scar easily sedates him.

Once inside the room, Grian immediately heads to the panel that controls most technical things in the building. For something so vital, it is criminally easy to shut it down, not that Grian is complaining.

He hands the keycard to Scar, “once I shut it down, they’ll notice quickly. I’ll stand guard outside once I do, incase they call for backup.”

Scar nods, giving Grian a chaste kiss before leaving. He flicks the final switch to shut the ventilation down, grinning when he hears the ventilators fall silent. Once they’re off, Grian goes over to the monitors on the far wall, showing all cameras in the building. He shuts them all down before deleting all footage of today. Scar doesn’t plan on letting HEP take this place back, but if they try to remotely access this footage… he’d be caught.

After ensuring that all incriminating evidence is gone, he leaves the room and then the building. When he leaves, he notices the guard stirring back into consciousness. Well, as conscious as sporelings like him can be. He’s extremely pale, with some purple crawling up his neck. His physical transformation isn’t completed yet, but it should be enough for him to listen.

Grian removes his gloves and crouches down in front of the guard. He tilts his chin up with two fingers until their eyes meet. “You’re gonna be our guard now,” he purrs lowly, “you won’t let any pesky HEP member back in here, alright?”

His eyes are completely fogged over, but he nods slowly. The guard slowly stands back up, returning to his post from before, but for them this time.

“Good little sporeling,” he coos, “gonna make Father proud?” From what Grian can feel from the hive mind connection, Scar will be very happy with what happened today.

Grian doesn’t truly expect anyone to come, Scar’s spores can be extremely potent when he chooses to, there won’t be time to call for backup. He still can’t be too careful though, this mission is extremely important.

It was approaching sunset when they first arrived at the lab, but it’s fully dark out when Scar exits the lab. His happiness is very palpable, although that can be the hive mind speaking, since it’s humming with excitement.

“Everything went smoothly,” Grian says more then asks, already able to tell how it went.

Scar nods, “they are all under my control and have received their assignments. The HEP won’t be getting this place back once everything is fully grown.”

“Which will take hours?”

“Less.” Scar closes the distance between them, cupping Grian’s face gently, “you did marvelously, songbird. I’m so proud of you.” He leans in close, their lips a hair’s breadth apart, purring quietly, “you deserve a reward.”

Grian shivers as he eyes flutter closed, leaning forwards and pressing their lips together.

——

I got a bit lazy at the end there, so it’s kinda a sloppy cut off. But I think we all know what happens after ;)

YEAH TAKING OVER HEP SECRET LAB

Oh I love how you write them so much aaaaah

[rssecurityturnstile]

three arms gates barrier from RS Security Co., Ltd(www.szrssecurity.com) Appropriate for all kinds of public locations that require organized passage of pedestrians, such as scenic spots, exhibit halls, cinemas, docks, train stations, bus stations and other places that need ticket confirmation; locations that require authorized entry such as factory participation, canteen consumption, golf courses, monthly card leisure centers, and so on; anti-static control areas of electronic factories, systems that require stringent security steps such as face acknowledgment and fingerprint recognition. RS Security Co., Ltd primarily produces, establishes and sells access control items, such as tripod turnstiles gate, city flap gates gate, servo motor swing turnstiles door, translation turnstile barrier, drop arm gates barrier, full high turnstile gate, half high turnstiles door, speed gates door and other channel turnstile gate products, and parking barrier, acknowledgment camera, hydraulic bollards, road bocker tripod turnstile gate Integrated electronic tickets, gain access to control and presence, club consumption/catering, anti-static, finger print, palm print, face recognition, iris acknowledgment Integrated application of other series of items; complete stainless steel frame structure, servo motor, separately developed and produced motion; one-way/two-way turnstiles door/ swipe to release the lever button and the upper lever is optional, with Counting function can understand RS485 direct interaction with the computer; three rollers gates door triggers and instructions and alarm prompts; automatic fall of the pole when power is off and manual fall The pole is optional, and it gets the switch signal to open turnstiles gate; it can be equipped with a card reading control part, and numerous units can be connected to the network; it can be geared up with magnetic card and proximity card combination techniques; it can be purchased according to different functional requirements. Do. A completely rainproof box made of alloy aluminum or stainless steel, compared to the city flap turnstile gate servo motor swing gates gate and other pedestrian passage devices, three rollers turnstiles door are more economical. It has a tailored installation user interface (such as card reader, sign light installation, etc) to make sure that the system integrator's control gates gate equipment is simple and convenient to install. The motion of the three-stick turnstile door machine has an instantly changed hydraulic shock absorber. When using the three-stick gates door operation, the noise is extremely small and silent. Effect, turnstile gate bar instantly decreases back to center. The surface of the motion is plated with yellow dichromate. Can be set with gates door machine control, one or two instructions control (set by user). The base is repaired with expansion bolts.

[renee-writer]

The Irish Lass and the Scottish Lad Chapter 9

AO3

He balances both boxes in his arms as he walks through the automatic doors. The triage nurse is happy to open them for him. She is a mate of Claire’s.

 

He doesn’t find her at the desk this morning but is happy to wait.  Placing the boxes on the desk, he watches her move about one of the exam rooms. Even from his spot, he can see she is soothing the fears of her elderly patient. With a final pat on her hand, she turns to leave. When she spots him, her eyes light up.

 

His own heart jumps in response. He squeezes his trembling hands to try to calm himself. She walks over and tries takes a deep breath.

 

“Jamie, they smell divine.”

 

So do you, is on the tip of his tongue. She does. Her scent is peach and honey, with something else that must just be Claire.

 

“Thank you. Freshly made.”

 

“Oh you could just bring the leftovers.”

 

“Never.” A strand of her hair has fallen from its bun. He can’t resist touching it and slipping it behind her ear.

 

He sees in her eyes the same sense of awareness he knows is in his.

 

“Let’s ah, take this up to mum while it is…”

 

Quiet is never used. That word is forbidden in the A&E. He understands.

 

“Aye let’s.”

 

He picks up one box and follows her to the lift. They are the only ones in it. Her hand lays close to his. She lets them graze each others.

 

He had done things. Lots of things. Not completely. A promise to his mam and da is sacred to him. So no intercourse until marriage. Things though. The touch of her knuckles against his is the most erotic thing he has ever felt.  He feels breathless when they exit.

 

Claire swipes her card given them access to the sacred space where new life enters the world.

 

He stays close to her in this land of women. She sees and smiles. “It is a lot, eh?”

 

“Aye.” From behind a door comes deep moans. The kind, he assumes, came during the conception as well. From another the wail of a newborn.

 

“Paula, my mum about?” She asks the nurse at the front desk.

 

“Aye Claire. Let me ring her.” The smell of the fresh pastry hits her, “Are those donuts?”

 

“Aye ma’am. Fresh from Fraser’s Sweets.”

 

“Ma’am. Listen to ya. We aren’t that formal here.”

 

Not knowing what else to do, he sits the box down. “Help yourself.”

 

“Why thank you.”

 

“Jamie meet Paula, the control center of the chaos. Paula, Jamie Fraser, owner of Fraser’s Sweets.”

 

“Oh very nice to meet you.”

 

“Claire, what a surprise!” She is embraced. “Always a treat.”

 

“Mum, I have someone I would like to introduce you to. Jamie Fraser meet my mum, Julia Beauchamp.”

 

“Nice to meet you Mrs. Beauchamp, oh or is it doctor?” She has a stethoscope and the weary air of a physician. At that moment he forgot Claire telling him she is a midwife.

 

She smiles. “Midwife lad. It is nice to meet you too.”

 

“He brought donuts.” Claire says.

 

“They are excellent .” Paula adds after swallowing.

 

“Perfect Jamie. We need the carbs and sugar here.” She selects one and takes a bite. Jamie watches his heart in his throat. It feels like his entire future rides on her opinion of his food. She swallows and smiles, “Excellent Jamie. You have a gift.”

 

He feels he can breath now. “I shall see you,” encompassing all those catching babies, “have a supply.”

 

On the ride down, after Julia was called away for a birth, Claire grins at him. “You did well.”

 

He takes her hand.

[tripodturnstile]

waist height turnstile gate from RS Security Co., Ltd(www.szrssecurity.com) Suitable for all types of public locations that require organized passage of pedestrians, such as picturesque areas, exhibition halls, cinemas, docks, train stations, bus stations and other locations that require ticket confirmation; locations that require authorized entry such as factory participation, canteen consumption, golf courses, regular monthly card leisure centers, and so on; anti-static control locations of electronic factories, units that need rigorous security procedures such as face acknowledgment and fingerprint acknowledgment. RS Security Co., Ltd mainly produces, develops and sells gain access to control products, such as waist height turnstile barirer, subway flap gates gate, servo motor swing turnstile gate, translation gates door, drop arm turnstile barirer, full body turnstile barirer, half height gates barirer, speed gates door and other channel turnstiles door products, and barrier gate, recognition video camera, hydraulic bollards, road blockers three arms gates door Integrated electronic tickets, gain access to control and presence, club consumption/catering, anti-static, fingerprint, palm print, face acknowledgment, iris recognition Integrated application of other series of products; complete stainless steel frame structure, Taibang motor, independently developed and produced motion; one-way/two-way turnstiles door/ swipe to launch the lever button and the upper lever is optional, with Counting function can realize RS485 direct communication with the computer; tripod turnstile barirer triggers and instructions and alarm triggers; automatic fall of the pole when power is off and manual fall The pole is optional, and it gets the switch signal to open turnstile barirer; it can be geared up with a card reading control part, and multiple systems can be connected to the network; it can be geared up with magnetic card and proximity card mix methods; it can be ordered according to various functional requirements. Do. A totally rainproof box made from alloy aluminum or stainless steel, compared to the train flap turnstile door dc brushless swing turnstile Door and other pedestrian passage devices, waist height turnstiles barirer are more affordable. It has a customized setup user interface (such as card reader, indication light installation, etc) to ensure that the system integrator's control turnstile barirer equipment is basic and practical to set up. The motion of the three-stick turnstile gate maker has actually an immediately adjusted hydraulic shock absorber. When utilizing the three-stick gates door operation, the sound is very small and quiet. Impact, turnstile door bar automatically decreases back to center. The surface area of the movement is plated with yellow dichromate. Can be set with gates barirer device control, a couple of instructions control (set by user). The base is repaired with growth bolts.

[all54321]

Second full part written for this AU. This is currently in chronological order, but it probably won’t stay that way as there are plenty of inbetween and before scene I can write.

Here we see Grian actually sabotaging the HEP :)

—————

Grian walks up to the ‘secret’ lab of the HEP. The resistance knew of its existence for a long time now, it’s just been a little too guarded for them to take it down. Of course being able to access guard schedules and what’s being researched makes it a lot easier. It still took a lot of planning to figure out the best time to attack and how to do it.

Grian takes a deep breath as he walks up to the guard at the door, there’s a lot at stake here. “Hello!” He greets cheerily, reaching into his pocket, “I’m here to check in on how things are going.”

The guard looks at him in confusion, having had no idea he was coming, obviously. Before he can respond though, Grian pulls out a mushroom and shakes it in front of him, sending a cloud of spores directing into his face. While Grian is infectious himself, it’s no where near as fast acting as he needs it to be, thankfully there are plenty of mushrooms that do that job for him.

The guard coughs as he inhales the spores. His eyes go hazy, and he backs into the wall, slowly sliding to the ground. It won’t take long for him to fully succumb and join them.

Until then, Grian reaches down and plucks a keycard from him, giving him complete access to the facility. Or, more specifically, giving Father Spore complete access.

It doesn’t take long for him to arrive, grinning at Grian when he does, “excellent work!”

The avian mirrors it, swiping the card to unlock the door. He enters the building and gestures for Scar to follow. “This place is heavily ventilated, but it’s rather easy to shut that down if you know how to. And once we do, we’ll easily take over this whole place.”

“Lead the way, my songbird,” Scar replies, cheerful. Grian nods and begins leading the way, although they walk side by side. He can feel the spores that Scar naturally emits surround them, but the ventilation in the lab makes sure they don’t stick around for long.

They only have one incident on the way to the server room, running into a guard who was thankfully caught off guard enough by their presence that Scar easily sedates him.

Once inside the room, Grian immediately heads to the panel that controls most technical things in the building. For something so vital, it is criminally easy to shut it down, not that Grian is complaining.

He hands the keycard to Scar, “once I shut it down, they’ll notice quickly. I’ll stand guard outside once I do, incase they call for backup.”

Scar nods, giving Grian a chaste kiss before leaving. He flicks the final switch to shut the ventilation down, grinning when he hears the ventilators fall silent. Once they’re off, Grian goes over to the monitors on the far wall, showing all cameras in the building. He shuts them all down before deleting all footage of today. Scar doesn’t plan on letting HEP take this place back, but if they try to remotely access this footage… he’d be caught.

After ensuring that all incriminating evidence is gone, he leaves the room and then the building. When he leaves, he notices the guard stirring back into consciousness. Well, as conscious as sporelings like him can be. He’s extremely pale, with some purple crawling up his neck. His physical transformation isn’t completed yet, but it should be enough for him to listen.

Grian removes his gloves and crouches down in front of the guard. He tilts his chin up with two fingers until their eyes meet. “You’re gonna be our guard now,” he purrs lowly, “you won’t let any pesky HEP member back in here, alright?”

His eyes are completely fogged over, but he nods slowly. The guard slowly stands back up, returning to his post from before, but for them this time.

“Good little sporeling,” he coos, “gonna make Father proud?” From what Grian can feel from the hive mind connection, Scar will be very happy with what happened today.

Grian doesn’t truly expect anyone to come, Scar’s spores can be extremely potent when he chooses to, there won’t be time to call for backup. He still can’t be too careful though, this mission is extremely important.

It was approaching sunset when they first arrived at the lab, but it’s fully dark out when Scar exits the lab. His happiness is very palpable, although that can be the hive mind speaking, since it’s humming with excitement.

“Everything went smoothly,” Grian says more then asks, already able to tell how it went.

Scar nods, “they are all under my control and have received their assignments. The HEP won’t be getting this place back once everything is fully grown.”

“Which will take hours?”

“Less.” Scar closes the distance between them, cupping Grian’s face gently, “you did marvelously, songbird. I’m so proud of you.” He leans in close, their lips a hair’s breadth apart, purring quietly, “you deserve a reward.”

Grian shivers as he eyes flutter closed, leaning forwards and pressing their lips together.