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astaroth1357 · 3 years

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Demigod MC Series: Ares

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter, Athena, Hades Pt. 2, Poseidon, Ares

Lucifer

He cannot overstate what kind of damage this mortal was able to do in their first few seconds in the Devildom...

The instant they got to their feet, they had managed to incapacitate Satan and knock down Beel. Lucifer himself tried to get between them and Diavolo but…

If he hadn’t moved his head, if he was standing just ONE INCH to the left… he wouldn’t have a head anymore. Barbatos was there to intervene, but had he not they could have probably taken out the Avatar of Pride and done critical damage to the Demon Prince himself in one strike...

Frankly, Lucifer prefers not to dwell on that moment... He's sure Ares must be proud of this one...

He pretty much treats the mortal like a live bomb afterward, if he can get away with not interacting with them at all, that’s what he’ll do.

He’s NOT scared of them... much... It’s just that they have a bullish and uncooperative attitude at best and since they know they can take any of them, they don't even consider him - Lucifer, the eldest demon brother - a threat...

But you know what the most frustrating thing is? They won't give him an inch of respect, but they'll always listen to Levi! Levi!!

Look, Lucifer knows he may not hold a rank among the Hell's army and he might not have been a major player in the Celestial/Demonic wars of the day, but he's still the strongest demons here, dammit!! 😡

Lucifer finds nothing is more embarrassing than having to ask Levi of all people to keep the mortal in line because he can't... Oh, the humiliation… He hopes they leave soon...

Mammon

At first, he thought they were scary. But in time he thought they were scary… and also pretty damn awkward.

Mammon wasn’t there when they more or less wiped out the majority of his brothers in the Conference Hall but when he finally showed up he'd never seen Lucifer look so pale… If THAT doesn't make you shit your pants, he doesn't know what will.

Naturally, he kind of toned it down on the "stupid human" stuff real quick after seeing that…

But here's the thing. After the two made a pact together, Mammon started to notice that the MC wasn't all that mean, they were just… violent?

He legitimately thought that they couldn’t stand him for a while until one day a guy on the street called him a dirtbag. The MC threw a punch right there! No questions asked, they just decked that guy!!

It was kind of touching… and messy. Very messy. Did he mention that they’re terrifying yet? 😥

As it turns out, the MC has apparently spent a lot of their life just fighting things and being asked to fight things so they're not very used to showing non-violent affection…

It took him awhile, but he realized that their way of saying, "I like you," is, "I will attack your enemies." So now all he does when his brothers tease him is say, "I'm telling MC!'' and they'll stop immediately. It's great!! 😁

Considers them to be his bodyguard when he goes out to gamble in some… shadier places. Most of the time not even the bouncers want to take on the MC, ain't nobody getting paid enough to lose that many teeth…

Leviathan

Okay, so. It's not very obvious anymore, but he USED to be on the front lines of the war against demons in the Celestial Realm. He was in charge of battle strategies, he led armies, and even now he still holds the highest rank of the royal navy!

So leave it to the kid of a war god to sniff all that out about him, huh…? They appeared to know all about his record the instant they saw him and they actually seemed to respect him for it!

For context, this mortal tells pretty much everybody to shove off but any time he’s around they call him “Admiral” or “sir” and actually pay attention to what he says! He can tell it drives Lucifer insane, but honestly? It’s a bit of an ego boost. 😌

It’s sort of cute when they come to him asking for tactical advice… They get just as into it as he does with his anime and any time he points out something that they haven't seen before they get so excited it's like they're a kid watching a magic trick. HUGE ego boost. 😏

Speaking of anime, it’s hit or miss whether or not they can watch any of it. Anything with good fight scenes (and let’s be honest, not that much talking) they’re on board for. But if the hero and the villain talk to each other for like an episode before throwing punches then the MC will just rant...

MC: “The enemy is distracted... Why aren’t they attacking yet??”

Levi: “Because the villain killed the hero’s best friend and they’re-”

MC: “They could avenge their friend right now if they ended things right here!”

Levi: “MC, we’ve been over this... That’s not how plot works.”

MC: “And now he got away!! See?? They should have killed him when they had the chance!”

Levi: “*sigh*... Let’s just play some CoD.”

Satan

The last thing he remembered when the “human” hopped out of the portal was a sharp pain to the side of the temple and Asmo wailing as he fell unconscious…

Yeeeeah, not great. And unfortunately for the mortal the Avatar of Wrath tends to hold a grudge…

For a comparatively brief moment in time, all of Satan’s considerable ire had shifted away from Lucifer and to their new housemate. They found their bed, clothes, pillows, food, and even their toothbrush cursed!

… But Ares kids must be built from some strong stuff, because half of what he employed didn’t even faze them! He even put an explosive spell on their backpack and not only did they tank the blast, it didn’t hurt them at all!! It was like they’re damn near immortal!

Annnnd they kind of are. Apparently the MC had taken a dip in the River Styx at some point before and became nigh invulnerable…

Was it maybe a little terrifying to know that they had kidnapped a nearly invincible demigod on the level of Achilles? Yes. Did that also mean that they must have had a weakness too? In theory....

Satan honestly devoted a depressing amount of time trying to uncover the “Achilles’ Heel” of his new sworn enemy… until…

The MC was walking with him and Asmo to RAD one morning when they passed by a group of lesser demons harassing a small puppy. Now Satan may be more of a cat man, but NO ONE fucks with animals while he’s around.

He was right about to go over and rip those demons a new one but the MC actually beat him to it! Apparently, the second that they realized what was happening, they launched themselves forward and started bashing the abusers' heads into a wall!

… Live by violence, forgive by violence because in that very moment Satan decided they weren’t so bad after all. He even joined in!

Oh, Asmo gave them both shit all day for the bloodstains on their uniforms and the scratches on their… everywhere, but it’s not like either of them cared. Righteous justice had been served and it was glorious!!

100% would team up with the MC in some kind of vigilante “punish-all-animal-abusers” gig. They have but to ask. 😌

Asmodeus

Oh they TERRIFIED Asmo when they first showed up! How else was he supposed to react?? They brought down his brothers like they were made of cardboard!!

Though he had to admit that the confident, battle-ready look they had about them was sexy as hell, he knew better than to go bear poking! 😣 He avoided them like plague until they finally asked him for a pact.

And then he discovered something… something very unexpected….

They're actually adorable!!!

Okay, like, not in appearance (they look like they could pile drive Cerberus for Pete’s sake!) but he discovered that they have NO CLUE how to handle physical affection. Like zero!!

The first time Asmo actually got the courage to try and hug them he expected them to toss him off, but instead they just stood there like a malfunctioning doll, all flustered and confused… It was so cute!!! 🥰

From that point on, Asmo would take every chance he could to wrap his arms around them or kiss their cheeks just to watch them try and fail to handle it. It's more fun than picking on Levi!!

It took two months for them to finally attempt any kind of reciprocation and even that was adorable! They pecked him on the forehead without thinking about it then nearly passed out from the realization. Apparently, they had never felt like kissing anyone before so he was quite honored!

The brothers know that if the MC's looking too mad to listen to Levi, they just need to call Asmo. A nigh invincible warrior becomes a LOT less scary after you’ve cuddled them into submission! 🤭

Beelzebub

Beel didn't like them one bit, at least not at the beginning. They had managed to get past him and actually attack Lucifer which was NOT a great first impression on their part...

He honestly saw them as a threat for a while, but unlike the rest of his brothers he didn’t avoid them. He just kept an eye on them.... constantly….

Look. Beel is a big guy. Stealth is not his strong suit… If he's tailing you, you're probably going to know about it because there's a six-foot something behemoth in orange following you around while pounding down bags of chips. He's not very subtle…

That being said, after following them around for a while the two finally got to talking and he realized that they didn’t want to hurt anybody or anything. They were just acting on instinct before.

After making the MC promise not to hurt any of his family, they got on much better terms. Hell, he actually got them into fangol!

Beel's sport of choice is pretty much just ultra-violent American football so the MC took a liking to it instantly! After enough begging, the coach let them try out and they got onto his team immediately.

He likes having them as a teammate! They're very good at the game, uh... even if they take it a little too seriously…

They once tried to convince his teammates to decorate the team bus with "the helmets of their fallen foes." They're REALLY into the sport… But hey, they haven't lost a game since they’ve joined. It’ll be fine!... Probably.

Belphegor

Hahaha… He’s in danger… 😥

It took one look at this mortal to make him rethink the whole, “Trick the Human” plan… Since when have humans looked like that?? They could crush his skull under their heel!!

It took all he had in him to play it cool when they first met because his internal monologue was nothing but screaming… THIS was the "human" he had to use to get him out of there?? How in the WORLD was he going to kill them?!

Admittedly, he had to think about it for a while. Belphie's a clever guy… and a demon. So who needs an honorable fight, anyway? If he can’t win one-on-one, then he’ll cheat!

He waited until the MC got the door open and didn't attempt a frontal assault… No laughter, no gloating. He just waited for them to turn their back, claws ready to dig out their heart, and then-!

MC: "Do you really want to try that?"

The MC must have had some kind of danger sense, because they didn't even have to turn around to know what Belphie was doing…

MC: "Look. I like Beel and you're his twin brother… So I'm willing to let this slide. But if you really want to try me…"

MC: *looks over their shoulder with the glare of a bona fide killer* "I won't hold back."

That was... very persuasive.

The MC brought Belphie down to the others peacefully with his tail between his legs and honestly Lucifer was more relieved that he wasn’t a bloodstain on the floor than he was mad… They could have killed him sooo easily…

They did, indeed, forgive and forget about the whole “attempted murder” thing, though Belphie was never quite able to shake off how frightening they were in that moment… He had nightmares for a while.

Thankfully, Asmo clued him in that the MC would melt into a harmless puddle of fluff if they got even the slightest bit of physical affection... Oh, the sweet payback he could dish out... It’s cuddle time. 😏

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me demigods #obey me headcanons

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mviswidow · 3 years

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not now, not ever

Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Word Count: 2,172

TW: blood, R was stabbed, cursing

Summary: R and Wanda spend a month on a mission together, going from hotel room to hotel room and sleeping in the same bed. R gets hurt because she does something stupid and Wanda is mad at her, but they have a hard time staying away from each other.

You flinched away from Bruce when he cleaned the cut on your cheek with peroxide. “Sorry,” You mumbled, tearing your eyes away from Wanda talking to Steve at the front of the quinjet.

“It’s fine,” Bruce offered a small smile. His voice lowered, “You scared the shit out of her, (Y/n/n). I’m not surprised that she’s mad.”

“What was I supposed to do, let her get stabbed?” You scoffed. “You know me better to think I’d let that happen.”

Bruce nodded and sighed, “I know, I’m just saying that she was bound to be upset. You passed out in her lap, she called us crying. Wanda cares about you a lot.”

“I know,” Your eyes flicked back to Wanda, she’d been looking at you but quickly turned away.

You finally noticed that your hand felt warmer than it was a few minutes ago and you looked down at the cloth you’d been holding over the gash in your stomach. Your skin tight uniform shirt had been removed as soon as you got in the quinjet so Bruce could fix up what he could, leaving you just in your sports bra and tactical pants.

Bruce noticed, too, and left to get you a fresh cloth that hadn’t been bled through. He stopped by the driver's seat to talk to Steve for a moment and you watched Wanda frown at whatever he had said before all three of them turned to look at you.

Steve spoke first, “(Y/n) how do you feel about Banner giving you stitches in here?”

Your eyes widened and you watched the way Wanda tensed up.

Bruce looked confused and his head snapped towards Steve, “No, Steve that’s not what I-“

“Look at her,” Steve interrupted Bruce before he could finish. “No offense, kid, but you look horrible right now.”

You shook your head, “But Cho is visiting, isn’t she? She can just use her fancy skin plastic thing.”

“We’re still fifteen minutes out from the tower and you’ve already lost a lot of blood. You guys are so lucky this mission was just in Maine or you’d be dead, (Y/n).”

You heard Wanda sigh and shifted uncomfortably, “Okay, fine, does anyone have Advil or something?”

“You’re way past Advil already, (Y/n),” Wanda rolled her eyes, and you didn’t miss the way she paused for the smallest moment before using your name instead of the sweet nicknames she would usually call you.

“Okay, whatever, let’s just get this over with.”

———

You limped out of the quinjet with your arm around Wanda’s shoulders for support, but you knew she was still pissed at you. She’d hardly said anything and you knew she was only doing this because Bruce and Steve were too tall, and she didn’t want you to rip out one of the stitches.

It was frustrating. Everything had been going so well. The mission went very smoothly up until the end, you and Wanda spent every day together without conflict, the two of you going from hotel to hotel and sleeping in the same bed every night.

There was obvious pining going on between you guys, but neither of you really wanted to address it. Not because of the fear of rejection, it was pretty obvious what you liked each other, even to the two of you, but the mission didn’t really seem like the most romantic time to start dating or the most appropriate time to have the conversation you both wanted to have.

It stung to see her so upset at you for something that you couldn’t not do. This was your job, and hers too, and you expected her to understand.

Steve wanted you on bed rest for the rest of the day and possibly the next two, but he knew you wouldn’t listen to him.

Wanda left your side as soon as Natasha came to find you, letting her help support your body weight, even though you insisted you barely needed help, a worried expression on her face when she saw the stitches on your stomach.

You spent most of the day with Natasha, except for when you went to go eat lunch in the kitchen while she left to train with Steve for an hour.

Your heartbeat sped up when you saw Wanda’s tearful expression as she sat on the kitchen counter eating a sandwich.

“Are you okay?” You asked, wincing when she jumped off and scoffed at you.

“Shut up.” Was all she replied.

“Can you stop it with your attitude already, Wanda?”

“You did this to yourself, (Y/n),” She said pointedly.

“Oh my god,” you laughed sarcastically. “What was I supposed to do? If it wasn’t me it would have been you, and you’re the one with powers. You literally took everyone out after I got stabbed so what does it even matter? We finished the mission, I just got stabbed, it’s happened before.”

“That’s the point, you don't have powers! I would have been fine-“

“Oh, please, you aren’t invincible, Wanda. You would have also almost bled out had it been you,” You rolled your eyes and opened the fridge to get a bottle of water and the container of strawberries kept in there, you planned on eating in the kitchen at first, but there was no way you were going to stay out here after this.

“Maybe, but I can clearly take care of myself well enough to not make stupid decisions that could kill me.” She retorted.

“Are you kidding me? I literally might have saved your life, you weren’t paying attention and you almost got stabbed, that’s on you,” you could hear voices down the hall from the direction you came in and realized that you probably should have eaten earlier because Steve and Nat were coming back from training.

“I didn’t ask you to, (Y/n)! This was so foolish of you, how do you not understand that?”

“Will you stop?” Your voice raised. “Stop acting like I’m fucking weak and inferior to you, Wanda. You would have done the same thing and we both know it.” You huffed and blinked at her for a second before turning around and retreating back to your room, pushing past Natasha and Steve, who were standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

———

At night, you lied looking up at the ceiling, quiet music playing from your phone. You glanced over at the clock on your nightstand and saw that it read 12:42 AM.

You sighed softly and clicked your tongue and snapped your fingers mindlessly for a few seconds before getting bored of that.

You heard footsteps outside your door in the hall and they seemed to stop when they got to your door.

As you reached over to your nightstand to turn off your music, the door opened and you could see Wanda standing at the doorway, the light from the common room illuminating part of her face. You could see the rest of it though, you kept a night light in your room, the darkness in it was too much to handle sometimes.

The two of you stared at each other for a few seconds, Wanda’s lip caught in between her teeth. She was wearing the grey sweatpants you had given her for Christmas and the oversized graphic t-shirt the two of you shared at night while on the mission that had winnie the pooh on it.

“I heard the music when I was outside the door so I assumed you were still awake.”

You nodded, not really knowing what to say.

She looked nervous, like she thought you were going to tell her off or tell her to leave you alone. “I can’t sleep when you’re not beside me,” Wanda said quietly, and you swore your heart could have melted on the spot. You were still hurt because of the way she’d been acting towards you all day, but you couldn’t bring yourself to ask her to leave. Not when you couldn’t fall asleep either, probably for the same reason.

You slowly sat up more, trying to be mindful of your stitches, and still annoyed because if Cho had just used her cradle you would be fine by now, and scooched over on your bed so Wanda would have space.

At the soft expression of relief that washed over her features, your heart ached. She closed the door behind her and looked at you with teary eyes before clearing her throat quietly and getting into bed beside you.

It only took a few seconds for you guys to get situated. You brought yourself back down and laid on your back, slightly annoyed that you didn't feel well enough to sleep on your side.

You felt Wanda looking at you and sighed, “I don’t bite, Wands.”

With that, Wanda moved closer to you and settled between your chest and your arm, once you lifted it so she could be right at your side. She tangled her legs in yours and carefully draped her arm over your bare stomach the way you usually did when the two of you had spent countless nights cuddling during the past month. You were wearing a different sports bra, this one less tight, you’d attempted wearing a t-shirt earlier but the material rubbing against your stomach was bothering you too much.

You closed your eyes for a few seconds before you heard a soft sniffle come from Wanda. You gently rubbed her arm with the hand that had been behind her before speaking quietly, “You okay?”

Wanda shook softly and you felt a few tears fall onto your shoulder before she shook her head ‘no’, “I’m so sorry, (Y/n/n)” she choked out.

“It’s fine, Wanda. I’m not mad.”

“Yes you are,” She let out a whimper and you could swear that your heart tore in two. “I don’t have to read your mind to tell,” She paused. “I was really scared.”

You moved the hand that wasn’t rubbing Wanda’s side to her face to wipe away her tears and she looked up at you with bleary eyes before her lip began trembling and you sighed softly, squeezing her arm to let her know it was alright.

“When it happened, I - I started to panic and I didn’t know what to do. And you crumbled to the ground and laid in my lap and you looked like you were in so much pain and then you stopped responding to me and then you -“ She choked down a sob and her breathing stuttered for a moment. “You closed your eyes and I thought you were dead for a few seconds until I called Steve and he told me to check your pulse. I sat there for twenty minutes with your blood on my hands, and - and he told me to keep pressure on it and it just was so horrible (Y/n/n), all I wanted was to be able to talk to you and listen to you tell me that everything was going to be fine, but I couldn’t because you were dying and it was because of me.”

“Hey, no,” you chided. “Wands, this isn’t your fault, I swear to you. I’m still here. I’m just fine and I’m not leaving you. I’m sorry that you had to do that, it’s our job, but it isn’t fair. But I refuse to apologize for doing what I did,” She opened her mouth to talk for a second but you shook your head. “I have zero regrets, Wanda. I care about you more than you know and I don’t know what I would have done with myself if you had been killed.”

“I understand. I get why you did it, and you were right, I would have done the same thing. You’re just really important to me and I can't bear to lose you. Not now, not ever. I was upset at myself because I almost let you die and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.”

You gave her a small smile and nodded, “I forgive you, bug.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile at the pet name you liked to use for her and sniffled, but the way she looked up at you with pure adoration in her eyes afterwards made your heart sing.

“It’s late,” Wanda hummed, letting her face fall into the side of your breast, her lips brushing against your skin as she spoke.

“I know, we can talk more in the morning. About us.”

You felt her tense up in your arms and started to worry, but you relaxed when you felt her smile.

“I would like that a lot,” Wanda nodded sleepily, moving her hand that was draped over you down so she could rub the skin below your stitches, far away enough for it to not cause any discomfort.

“Good,” You smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Good,” She repeated, and pressed her own kiss to your collarbone.

#wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff imagine #wanda maximoff oneshot #wlw imagine #reader insert #sapphic

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existslikepristin · 3 years

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Definitely Real Medicine

More backlog from AFF: https://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/1470220/definitely-real-medicine

Tags: TheLounge, G-Idle, Yuqi, maleOC"you", blowjob, Yuqi's beautiful overconfidence, cum is not medicine people

~~~~~

Yuqi texted you that she’d woken up much earlier than she should have that morning. Her voice was still hoarse from her sleep, even by noon, when you met up with her at G-IDLE’s dorm.

You had wandered into the dining room to see her sitting at the table, sipping tea from a mug and slowly filling out a sudoku puzzle. She was dressed in loose, robe-style pajamas. The makeup she wore to the party she texted you from the previous night was still smudged on her face, and her long, dark brown hair was in a messy ponytail. You could tell she was having a rough time by the way she squinted at the paper.

Yuqi stretched when you called out to her, further smudging her makeup as she rubbed the back of her hand against her eyes and yawned. She opened her arms to you, and you sat down beside her with your arms around her neck, teasing her by playing with her hair and lightly pulling on it. She moaned softly, then suddenly pushed you away. Your confusion dissolved as she turned her head to the side and started coughing like her throat was made of sandpaper.

When she stopped a few seconds later, she turned to you with a pouty face. "I’m pretty sure I’m getting sick, sorry. I wasn’t expecting to ruin our lunch plans."

“Awww. I thought Yuqi Power made you invincible.” You hugged her again.

Yuqi hissed her annoyance and gave you a threatening glare, but quickly changed her demeanor back to a happy, albeit miserable-looking one. “You want me to get you sick too?” She took a deep breath as if she was going to cough directly in your face.

You let her go and recoiled back, but she just laughed. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I won’t really get you sick. Intentionally. But, uh… you’ll want to wash your hands.”

She grabbed one of your hands and pulled it to her mouth. There, she started sucking on your fingers.

"See? This is very good for your throat," Yuqi said, slightly muffled. "I’m out of medicine, but I can do this."

"Yeah, I don't think that’s..." You trailed off, unable to continue speaking when she started licking the flesh between your thumb and pointer finger.

She looked up at you for a moment. "Nah. It’s definitely good to suck on things when you have a sore throat like this. What do you think they make lozenges for? You know what would be really good though? Sucking your cock."

Your eyes shot wide open. Sex definitely isn’t the first thing on your mind whenever you’re sick, but Yuqi is a unique kind of person.

“Oh yeah? Would it really?” You smiled as she kept her eyes locked with yours.

Yuqi scooted her chair back and slid off, to land on her knees, and between yours.

She groaned. "I honestly just want to stick my tongue in your mouth, but I can’t right now. This sucks so much." She pouted and grabbed at your pants pockets to tug at them.

You rolled your eyes to reveal your sarcasm. "Okay, I’ll let you suck my dick to help your throat feel better."

“Perfect!” Yuqi bounced on her heels. “Off with your pants, please!”

You pushed your chair back so that you could stand up and do as she says. Your dick was already hard from the finger sucking, and now floated above her head. Her robe-pajamas fell to the floor around her as she wiggled the shoulders off.

Sat back down on the chair, Yuqi coughed a few times off to the side, but then lay her cheek against your inner thigh. This was something she’d done before, and you took the hint, stroking her other cheek with your thumb. She purred with contentment, but the tone was even lower than normal. You wondered if she should really be giving you a blowjob if her throat was feeling so bad, but you knew Yuqi’s mind was impossible to change.

After a few moments, Yuqi picked her head back up and opened her mouth, sticking her tongue out and inching toward you.

You couldn’t articulate words for a second when she wrapped her lips around your cock. When you regained your senses, you said, "How come you're the one that's sick, but I'm the one getting spoiled here?"

She momentarily pulled her mouth away, using her hand to stroke you slowly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about! This is all for my benefit. My throat is going to feel fantastic after this!" She flicked the tip of your dick with her tongue before continuing her probably-misguided medical treatment.

Chuckling, you pulled her hair a little, not to take her further onto your shaft, but just as a light tease. She moaned onto you, almost making you shudder from the vibrations it sent through you. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she pushed herself deeper and faster, continuing to use her tongue to stroke you inside her hot mouth.

You put your hands on her shoulders, hoping that a less than obvious massage will actually do her a little bit more good than a blowjob. But she’s obviously committed to giving herself some respite in her own way.

But you had to admit, it was some good respite she was giving. You couldn't decide if you should have her finish you off, or take her elsewhere for a ride on the couch or her bed. You figured you'd wait it out and see if she had anything to say about either option. You were pulled from the vivid image of your potential future plan when she took you all the way into her mouth and held you there, still stroking whatever her tongue could reach with its movement restricted because you were filling her mouth and throat.

"Yuqi, that feels so good." You groaned, trying not to buck your hips up into her face. Her eyes twinkled as she looked up at you, and she didn't stop for an instant.

"If you plan on continuing,” you say with a bit of a struggle, “I hope you're of the opinion that swallowing will be good for your throat too, otherwise you better get yourself on top of me."

She slowed down her motions, but didn't stop. You sighed and looked up at the ceiling, both in anticipation and frustration. You weren't entirely sure what that answer meant, but you were comfortable knowing you'd be coming deep inside her throat shortly.

Yuqi’s mouth continued to move more and more slowly, but she didn't decrease the depth or enthusiasm with which she moved her head back and forth, swallowing the entire length of your cock each time before pulling away, her tongue still swirling around inside her mouth as she sucked.

You looked down to catch her eye again, and saw in her pleading eyes how desperately she wanted this, whatever it really was. You were just about ready to come, and that look she gave you really did you in.

"Soon," you muttered.

The corners of Yuqi’s mouth curled up as much as they could, wrapped around you. She hummed as she continued at her slow, steady pace. The amazing sensations of her mouth wrapped around your cock made you start to twitch. You couldn’t hold out any longer.

You erupted into her mouth, jizz surging up and between her lips. She giggled, muffled, as she locked her lips in place, using her tongue to keep stimulating you as you came. Not a single drop escaped her as she attempted to draw every last bit out of your balls.

Eventually it stopped, and you leaned your head back. “Well, happy now Yuqi?”

She gulped loudly before she spoke again. “Yup! I can already tell that I’m feeling b--”

Suddenly, she broke out into another coughing fit. You bent over her and slowly rubbed her back as she got it out of her system.

“Okay, I lied,” she said sheepishly.

You chuckled and helped her stand up, allowing yourself a look up and down her completely nude body that you hadn’t had the chance to spend any time to appreciate while she was between your legs. But you lifted her pajamas back up around her shoulders and tied the belt around her waist without feeling too bad about it.

“It’s all good Yuqi. I’m not going to complain about everything that just happened. In fact, I feel a little indebted. Can I at least make you some soup?”

Yuqi pressed her face up against your chest, hands wrapped around your waist. “Will you tuck me in and feed it to me in bed?”

“How could I say no to someone and something that adorable?”

#gidle smut #yuqi #male reader insert #kpop smut

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wannabe-fic-writer · 3 years

Text

Natasha Romanoff x Reader : Let’s Get Away

Summary: It’s due time for Natasha to take a break.

Genre: Fluff

Request: Yes / No

Word Count: 3,899

“ty mne ne doveryayesh’?” - “do you trust me?”

* * * * * *

The other side of the bed is cold when you wake up, void of the body that had been keeping you warm at night.

Sleepy eyes scan the room and even though you know she’s gone again, you still feel disappointed to find her combat suit missing from the closet.

Knowing that your worry for her isn’t going to allow you to go back to sleep, you toss the covers away from your body and trudge out of bed. After brushing your teeth, you grab the first aid kit and head to the common room.

Two and a half cups of tea and a partially burnt bagel later, you hear the tell tale sound of Natasha coming home.

Not only does FRIDAY announce her arrival, Natasha herself lets out a pain induced groan.

Having known your fiancé for more than ten years, you can even hear the difference in her footsteps, the way her feet shuffle across the floor instead of her usually confident strut. She’s exhausted, bruised and beaten, but not in the least bit ready to admit to needing a break.

It’s dead silent between the two of you.

Natasha was really hoping you’d still be asleep, most nights she’d been able to slip back into bed without you noticing, until you saw the fresh scars and bruises in the morning.

Tonight is different though, and she can tell. In the way you quietly rise from the couch and walk over to her, the way you sigh when taking her hand in yours and seeing her newly bruised knuckles, the way you aren’t able to look her in the eyes even after you’ve pulled her to sit down and start to tend to her wounds.

Every touch is soft, some could say overly delicate. You touch her as if one wrong brush of the alcohol soaked cotton will hurt her or break her completely. You know it won’t, she’s the Black Widow for Christ sake, she’s had far worse injuries than these and her pain tolerance is high, that doesn’t stop you from being gentle with her.

Even though the atmosphere is tense, Natasha can’t help but to remember that this is exactly how you were with her when you’d begun to develop feelings for her.

Being a medic at S.H.I.E.L.D since before she was recruited meant you weren’t new to dealing with the injuries of the agents that came through. When she was brought to you the first time, with a gunshot wound to her thigh, you were the perfect picture of calm, cool, and collected. While you weren’t aggressive or rough with her, there was a noticeable difference in her first visit and how you would later treat her.

Despite her incredible skill, Natasha ended up taking a lot of trips to the med bay, all of which lead to you two getting closer. Which in turn lead to the development of your feelings for each other. Each one, she felt you becoming softer with her, she started to see the worry in your eyes when she would come in. There was something about the way you treated her as if she wasn’t invincible that drew her to you, she was always the badass Black Widow to majority of the people she knew, it was a breath of fresh air to have someone treat her like she’s just Natasha.

Natasha sighs heavily,“ I’m sorry.” She mumbles, but you hear it in the quiet of the compound.

For a moment she thinks you’re pissed at her, what with the lack of a quick reply. In reality you’re just focusing on pulling the tiny shard of glass out of her knuckle, cleaning, and wrapping it.

Once you’re done, you set everything you’d used to the side, opting out of painkillers since it won’t do much to her enhanced dna anyway.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?” You ask softly, finally looking up into her eyes. It surprises you to see the amount of guilt in her eyes that you do. A frown forms on your face.

“I-” she swallows, breathing heavily,“ I don’t mean to worry you so much.” That guilt in her eyes mixes with a troubled expression and it breaks your heart.

“Then why keep going out there?” You turn to face her completely, legs folding as you play with your fingers.“ If you keep it up the NYPD are gonna be out of jobs.” You try to tease, hoping a little joke will take that look off her face.

God you hate seeing anything other than a smile on her face.

Natasha shakes her head and the tears that spring into her eyes after her prolonged silence takes your breath away.“ I don’t know what I am outside of being an Avenger,” she confesses. When a tear escapes, you reach up and swipe it away, leaving your thumb there to caress her cheek.“ There’s always been a mission, a threat, a purpose.”

Listening to the way she says it, you know what she actually means to say. She had a purpose. The fact that the Avengers dismantling has left her feeling so lost wasn’t something you knew. It affected her hugely. Tony and Clint both stepping away to be with their families, Thor switching over to the Guardians, Bruce going back to do whatever he had been doing after Thanos’ snap, and Steve choosing to go back to be with Peggy only to return and pass the Captain America mantle to Sam.

If you were in Natasha’s position there’s no way you wouldn’t be affected by that. Everyone was moving on, everyone seemed to have their purpose outside of the Avengers, everyone left her behind.

You take a deep breath, tilting your head to catch her eyes,“ not knowing what to do is hard,” you see her shoulders drop at your words, as if she’s relieved to hear that you understand.“ But it doesn’t mean you don’t know who you are.”

That makes her freeze, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Her head tilts to draw her gaze from the floor to your face.

“Nat, honey, you were an Avenger. And I know what that means to you. But being an Avenger was only part of who you are.” A gentle smile forms on your lips at just the thought of how extraordinary this woman is.“ You’re a loyal friend, an incredible aunt, a hero,” she chuckles softly at that,“ and you are the most amazing fiancé.”

Soft green eyes bore into yours, tears brimming her eyes again but for a different reason all together.“ I love you so much.” She says, turning to press a kiss to your palm.

Pulling your hand away, you open your arms to her and she happily obliges to your invitation for a cuddle. A grunt of pain escapes her when she twists to lay between your legs, her body freezing up for a second, before she nearly slumps into you.

Her back presses into your front, your arms circling her waist. You press a soft, lingering kiss to her temple and she laces her fingers with yours, taking in a deep calming breath.

“The last few years have been hectic, and even before all of that, it seemed like we never slowed down,” you tighten your hold on her,“ but right now, we don’t have those kinds of threats looming over our heads.”

“You’re saying I should stop.”

With a frown, you shake your head and lean over to look her in the eye,“ no, god no. I told you, a hero is part of who you are. What kind of fiancé would I be if I told you to stop doing what you were meant to do? Not a very good one right?” She answers with a nod and a chuckle.“ nor would I be a good fiancé if I let you keep going without telling you to take a break.”

As if her body picks up on that phrase alone, a long, loud, yawn leaves her lips. You can’t help but smile at how cute she looks, her nose all scrunched, eyes shut. The second the yawn ends she blinks back the tired tears and snuggles closer.

She says something but it’s muffled by another yawn and by the time that one ends, her eyes are shut, and she’s fast asleep.

* * * * * *

When Natasha wakes up in the morning, she’s in bed and she’s alone.

The emptiness of the space beside her does something to her heart and she can’t help but wonder if you got this feeling whenever you woke up and she was gone.

Some of that guilt from last night creeps back up and she groans, turning to bury her face into your pillow. While your scent usually calms her down, now it only serves in reminding her of just how dumb she feels.

You’ve always been the most understanding and loving with her, more than anyone she’s known. Just like last night proved, you’ve always known that saving people even though it put her in danger was what she was meant to do. You knew how important it was for her to clean her ledger, you even understood when she went to Russia for months to shut down the Red Room and make amends with her family.

The second she came back you didn’t have to ask if she’d done what she set out to do, you could just tell and it translated through the following days. You took even greater care of her just to ensure that she was truly okay both physically and emotionally.

After all of that, after all you’ve done for her, she’s still making you worry by throwing herself into danger she doesn’t have to be involved in. Somehow you even understand that.

This time she groans, squeezing the pillow as frustrated tears pool in her eyes.

“That does not sound like someone who’s having a good morning.” Your teasing voice hits Natasha’s ears and through her frustration she can’t help but roll her eyes. Then moving to sit up, resting her back against the headboard.“ Wh-what’s wrong? Does something hurt?”

You rush to her side, hands and eyes instantly starting to roam her body for any signs of injury worse than what you found last night.

“I-I’m fine, physically.” That just makes your frown deepen.“ I just realized I’m the worst fiancé in the world.”

Figuring this has to do with last night, you climb over her legs and sit beside her.“ As your fiancé I think I’m the one to determine whether that’s true or not.” She raises an eyebrow at you and you know to drop all the teasing.“ Okay okay. Why do you feel that you’re the worst?”

“Aren’t you tired of me?” She turns to look at you directly.“ I’ve always been in danger and you’ve understood and now I’ve been blatantly throwing myself head first into danger and yet you still understand?”

You cock your head to the side with love in your eyes.“ I’m far from tired of you Romanoff. Am I fond of the idea of you being beaten up and shot at, no. But I love you and I know you’re more than capable of handling yourself. And I’m going to worry about you because that comes with loving you. You could work with puppies, or babies, or I don’t know what a safe job is, either way, I’d still worry about you.”

A sigh falls from her lips,“ that makes me feel a little better.”

“I know how you can make it up to me.” Hopeful eyes look back at you.“ Get your cute little ass out of bed, get ready, and meet me out front.” You smack a kiss to her cheek before hopping out of bed, leaving Natasha to watch you nearly bounce away in excitement.

Curiosity is the main driving force in Natasha’s actions. She does in fact get out of bed, taking a much needed hot shower afterwards and changing into a pair black stretch pants and one of your sweatshirts.

The last thing she’s expecting when she meets you outside is to find you leaning against a very new looking silver sports car. It being a convertible allows her to see the red leather interior.

“Is that my sweater?” You ask, brows pinched together with a finger pointed at her chest.

“We’re getting married medovyy, what's yours is mine.” A sweet smile hits her lips. You weren’t going to ask her to change anyway cause you love seeing her in your clothes, but had you been considering it, that smile would’ve done you in.

Humming, you shake your head,“ that aside. Let’s go.” You reach back to grab the handle and pull the door open for your fiancé.

“Go where?” She takes a hesitant step forward.

You smirk, reaching up to cup her cheek and ghost your lips over hers,“ ty mne ne doveryayesh'?” You whisper.

Dammit she’s a sucker for you speaking Russian. Had she known when you started learning in your first years of dating that it would become a weakness, she would’ve stopped you. You already had a hold on her, that just made it tighter.

It’s why she nods, seemingly in a trance. Only easing into the seat after you’ve given her a proper kiss.

The door shuts after her and you round the car, jumping over the door and into the driver’s seat. You look over at her,“ I’ve always wanted to do that.” You say giddily, before clicking your seatbelt into place.

With a shake of her head, she puts her seatbelt on as well, and gets comfortable in her seat.

“The final destination is a surprise, but you can know that we’re going to that little diner you love so much in Greenwich.”

She can’t help but smile at you. She couldn’t get more lucky if she tried.

“One last thing,” you reach across her lap to the glove compartment, pulling it open and retrieving two pairs of sunglasses. Setting them in your lap, you lean towards her and reach up, fingers deftly combing the braid from her hair, and then you slip the glasses onto her face.

Winking at her, you slip your own pair on and start the car. It purrs to life and right before you pull away from the compound, you flick the radio on.

The quiet that settles over the two of you is full of contentment. Music plays softly as Natasha holds your free hand in hers, fingers occasionally playing with the engagement ring on your finger.

That feeling remains as you open the door for her and escort her into the diner. You let her slide into the booth first and she takes your hand and tugs you down into the seat beside her.

An amused smile plays on your lips that makes the redhead give you a look, her eyebrow raised at you.“ What?” She asks.

“Nothing I just-” you chuckle shortly,“ I remember a time when you’d only let me sit across from you. I could hold your hand but sitting next to you, that was a no. Wasn’t until a year after we made things official that you let me sit next to you. I couldn’t help but wonder if that meant I was special.”

Her finger presses into the side of your jaw and she gently turns your head to face her,“ you are special. Especially to me.” And then she kisses you so sweetly you think it might give you a cavity.

Your breakfast date passes with flirty remarks, quietly spoken affections, and soft kisses between bites of food and sips of tea and coffee. After which you settle the bill and head back out to the convertible.

The next destination is unknown to Natasha but, unlike usual, she finds herself excited about the unknown. It’s an odd feeling but she welcomes it, letting herself feel free of worrying about what’s next. And you revel in seeing her like that.

Sending an occasional glance in her direction just to watch her long red tresses flow with the wind, to smile softly at the way she shuts her eyes and let’s the breeze caress her skin, and to chuckle when her hand raises to create a wave against the wind.

More than ten years you’ve known her, majority of which you’ve had the privilege of calling her yours. If there’s one thing being with her has taught you, through every obstacle you two faced together be it arguing about if tea was better than coffee to the many many life threatening missions she’s been on, it’s that moments like these were precious.

There’s never any way of telling when the next world or universe threatening event will occur, if it’ll be the one to take Natasha away from you, so it became abundantly important that you get these chances to bask in being with her.

Your thoughts lead you to subconsciously taking her hand in yours, raising it to press your lips against the back.

Natasha smiles. She swears your lips feel like rose petals. Nothing compares to your kisses.

“I love you,” you say blissfully.

Nothing except that.

“I love you too,” she squeezes your hand.

The look of excitement that lights across your face makes her eyebrows raise. It’s not the same as the usual look you get when hearing her say those words, your expression is usually softer. Which is why she follows your line of sight when you look away from her.

Her eyes are met with the view of a beautiful lake house and she quickly snaps her gaze back to you.

“You’ve given the NYPD a break these past couple of months, I think you’re in need of one.” A wink finishes your statement and she surges forward, hands on your face to pull you into a searing kiss. It expresses her love for you more than words ever could.

With the cutest most beautiful smile you’ve ever laid eyes on, she throws her door open and excitedly tells you to come on. And you’re more than happy to follow.

Leaving the bags you secretly packed in the trunk, you accept Natasha’s outstretched hand, and allow her to guide you around the grounds.

The view of the lake and everything beyond looks even better than the pictures let on. For a last minute trip to Jersey, this was considerably good.

Despite how tempting it is to stroll down the dock and hold Natasha in your arms like the clichés you read about, you save that for later, instead following the still curiously excited redhead towards the house.

In one action you scoop your fiancé up into your arms after having unlocked the back door. Her arms wrap around your neck and she raises her eyebrows at you in question.

“Figured I could get some practice.” Your teasing tone is back, your words bringing a coy smile to her lips.

“Are you still excited?” She asks as you step into the house, careful to not bang her head on the door.“ I know we’ve pushed it off a few times.”

You gingerly set her down.

Postponing the wedding was never due to a lack of wanting to be married.

The first plan was thrown out the window when Lagos happened and the team fell apart. Neither of you were sure about getting married while on the run, your family no longer around. But you’d found yourselves in the city of love, completely taken by the atmosphere, and decided that there was no need to wait. Then Thanos came. Losing half of your family to his homicidal plan hit you both incredibly hard.

Three and a half years it took for you both to realize that maybe you couldn’t get everyone back, which also made you appreciate that through everything you’ve always had each other. While there was nothing you could do about the past, you had a say over your present and you wanted to spend as much of that as wives as you could. Only for Scott Lang to show up in the midst of planning with the idea of the Time Heist.

All of that happened, you got everyone back and were blessed with your family again. So when things settled you both got back to planning. A year and six months after the final battle against Thanos, where Thor “went for the head”, you were finally a mere two months away from making the woman that is the love of your life your wife.

“Am I excited to become a Romanoff?” Your question trails off with a pondering gaze to the ceiling. Natasha’s eyebrows pinch together at your need to think about it and seeing her frown makes you laugh.“ After three failed attempts I think it’s safe to say I’m pretty damn excited.”

The redhead smacks your arm in annoyance at your constantly playful behavior and you wrap your arms around her waist, laughing once again.“ You’re incorrigible.”

“Oh absolutely,” you wink,“ but I think that’s one of the many things you love about me.”

Her eyes narrow and her lips press together in a thin line, a hum of uncertainty leaving her lips. That makes your jaw drop and this time Natasha laughs. When she raises a brow at you, you nod in understanding.

A beat of silence passes before you both set off to do something, Natasha offering to make tea and you go to grab the luggage from the car. Taking both straight to the bedroom before going back to join Natasha.

She raises the cup of tea to her lips, eyes focused on the view outside the window. You slip behind her and wrap your arms around her waist, resting your chin on her shoulder and looking out the window as well.

You know something’s on her mind but you’d learned a long time ago to let her open up herself as opposed to prying.

“Do you think everyone will be able to make it?” She finally speaks up.

Biting your lip in thought, you take a deep breath,“ I think everyone is going to try their best to be here but things come up. Everyone has RSVP'd so they want to be there that’s for sure.” You’re taken aback when you turn and find those green eyes staring back at you.

The most intense emotions swirl in those angel eyes.

“I know I keep saying it but, I love you, so much.” Her free hand raises to rest on your cheek.

“And I, you my love.”

Adjusting herself back into your hold completely, she returns her gaze to the lake.“ Thank you for this trip as well.”

“I figured if I brought you out here I could get lucky.”

That statement seems to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Natasha slips from your grasp and heads towards the back door.“ Wait no, I’m sorry. I meant to say that I did it cause I love you and I wanted to spend time with you!” You call after her, only for her to continue to walk away.

For the rest of this trip, Natasha knows you’re going to continue to be a pain in her ass but she also knows that for every annoying and teasing comment, there are ten times as many affirmations of love and whispers of sweet nothings.

You whisked her away to give her the break she so greatly needs and deserves and you plan to make sure she enjoys it in full.

* * * * * *

Taglist: @owloftheshadows

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff fluff #mcu #mcu x reader #marvel #marvel x reader #reader insert #black widow #black widow x reader #natasha romanova #natasha romanova x reader

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cowboy-turtle · 3 years

Text

Feels like the First Time

Part of CT's Halloween Spooktacular

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Friday the 13th teen camp counselor Marcus Pike x f!Reader

Words: 5.8k

Tags: Smut: first time sex/loss of virginity, oral (f receiving); Horror: gore, blood, secondary character death, violence; slut shaming (fuck that horror trope, Marcus P is sex positive)

A/N: Are y'all ready for the spooky weekend? I certainly am lol, so I'm marking the occasion with the first of four oneshots set in horror universes. Please heed the warnings, if horror isn't your cup of tea then feel free to scroll past.

Crystal Lake, Illinois - 1979

It’s the summer before your senior year of high school, Donna Summer’s Bad Girls is dominating the radio waves, and you feel invincible. You’re so close to your eighteenth birthday, so close to freedom you can almost taste it. You’re lucky enough you’re able to convince your overbearing parents to let you work over the summer, preaching responsibility and financial independence. And maybe you fail to mention the sleepaway camp you’re hired at just so happens to be the same one your boyfriend has worked for two summers in a row.

You and Marcus had finally agreed to go steady at the end of the school year, skirting around your attraction to each other between homeroom and chemistry. You both decided to play it by ear, not knowing what next summer would bring with college acceptances opening the world up for you.

But you can’t help how much you’ve fallen head over heels for him already. He was the picture perfect boyfriend, helping your little sister with her math homework before you came downstairs for a date, getting you home earlier than curfew so he could shake your father’s hand and kiss your cheek goodbye. He never pushed you further than what you were comfortable with, any heavy petting in your car over before clothes came off. Even though you wanted to do more, the timing never felt right.

He always listened to you if you needed to vent your problems, never complaining himself if you talked his ear off. Hell, he’d even helped you lug a gym bag full of heavy baseball bats across the campground to your car so you could return them to the sports rental shop in town tomorrow morning. He could tell you hadn’t had the best day, your campers making fun of you for how bad your swing was when you demonstrated how to hit the ball. He listened to you let out your frustrations, carrying the brunt of the bag that swung between you.

He’d done this all right before his dinner shift, manning the griddle as hungry kids lined up with their blue meal trays. It’s Breakfast for Dinner night, his favorite, and he’s got a spatula in both hands to turn over the dozens of pancake requests. They laugh as he does crazy pancake flips to their applause, complimenting them on their topping choices and making the chocolate chip ones into smiley faces.

When he’s done he makes his way to the counselors’ tables, to the spot on the bench reserved for him next to you. His hand covers your eyes and you hear a plate being slid in front of you.

“Made a special one for you,” he smiles from behind, withdrawing his hand so you see the stack of pancakes now on your placemat. The chocolate chips are arranged in a heart, making the other girls sitting around you melt into coos and sighs. He holds up a finger.

“Almost forgot the finishing touch,” he says, backing up and fast-walking to the kitchen. The girls giggle and heckle you good-naturedly. All of them except for one. You don’t know what you did to get on Darla’s bad side, but she glares at you from further down the row.

Marcus returns with a can of whipped cream, presenting it with a wiggle of his hand as he bounds back to your table. He’s stopped by someone pulling on his elbow, Darla arching her chest out as she curls to the side to smile up at him.

“A couple of us are going to the lake after lights out if you want to come,” she bats her eyelashes. “I’ll be the lifeguard on duty and I’m CPR-certified if you need…” she trails her arm up, squeezing his bicep with a wink, “mouth to mouth.”

Marcus pulls his arm away with a polite smile. “No thank you, Darla. I appreciate the invite though.” He steps back before she can make another pass, a genuine grin returning as he nears you. He straddles the bench, facing you as he shakes the canister.

“Thanks for waiting,” he says while he swirls whipped cream atop your pancakes, your delighted eyes watching him before looking up to say thank you. A mischievous glint crosses his eyes and he dips forward, spraying a dab of whipped cream onto your nose. You rear back with a squeal before pulling him into a kiss, smearing your nose across his face and making him laugh. You hear a groan from nearby as Marcus shakes out a napkin to clean you up.

“God, get a room you two,” Darla rolls her eyes, getting up from the table with a huff. “It’s disgusting.”

“Ignore her,” Marcus tells you, wiping your face while he shakes his head. He cleans off his cheeks and sets the napkin down, clearing his throat while he leans towards you.

“Actually,” he whispers in your ear, “my roommate’s on nurse duty tonight. I’ll have the cabin to myself...if you want to come over.”

He straightens to face you fully, letting his offer sink in. You swallow, your pulse thrumming under your skin as you bite your lip and nod.

His face blooms into a wide smile. “Yeah?”

“Yes,” you return his smile and then look down at the whipped cream can he’s still holding. “As long as you bring that back to your place.” You look back up at him, setting your eyes into your best attempt at a smolder. “I have some...ideas.”

Marcus visibly swallows, his eyes growing dark with a hungry look but he only kisses your cheek quickly, burying his barely contained desire in a quick inhale of your hair before he’s turning away.

Later that night, after you’ve enforced lights out to a rather rambunctious gaggle of preteens who didn’t think flashlights would beam so bright behind quilted blankets, you sneak away to Marcus’s cabin that sits at the edge of the semi-circle of counselor quarters. You’ve changed out of the regulated beige camp uniform and into a more comfortable pair of shorts and a simple tank top, pulling at the hem of it to bite back nerves when you knock. Marcus answers the door eagerly, ushering you into the small room occupied by two standard-issued twin beds and band posters covering the log walls. You can only guess which side is his by the neatly folded laundry sitting in its basket over the heaping pile of dirty socks kicked under the fallen covers of his roommate’s bed frame.

He’s rummaging through his backpack as you skim the titles of the library books stacked on his nightstand when he softly calls your name. You turn and he presents the can of whipped cream, the boyish grin adorning his face making you laugh as you cross the room to pull him into a kiss. He sets the can down on his desk to pull you in closer, arms wrapping around your waist as yours seek purchase in the locks of his brown hair. He’d buzzed it short at the beginning of summer much to your chagrin, and you’re glad you’ve gotten to the point where it’s long enough for you to tug again, eliciting a moan from his lips that makes you tremble.

“Marcus,” you breathe against his mouth when his hands barely pass over the material covering your butt. “I think…” you swallow when he pulls away to check in on you with endearingly soft eyes. “I think I’m ready.”

“Yeah?” he asks, excitement barely contained. “Are, are you sure?”

You nod and he smiles, cupping your face to bring you in for another light kiss.

“What do we do now?” you ask sheepishly when he draws away again. He steps back and breathes, assessing the situation.

“Well, we could take off our clothes,” he suggests. He notices the way your fingers fidget against each other and slowly encapsulates them, drawing your hand back up to his face to press his lips against your palm. He steps away from you then, taking the lead by gripping the hem of his faded green shirt and pulling it up past his broad shoulders.

You’ve seen the sight of his bare chest before, shoulders square and defined from years on the swim team, but still your mouth goes dry as you trace down to the happy trail that disappears beneath his gray leisure sweatpants, the camp’s logo scrawled up the side of it.

You follow his lead and pull your top off, followed by your shorts unzipping and dropping to the floor. His eyes hungrily devour your plain bra and simple cotton panties, the poster child of virginal innocence you want to burn. He finally hooks his thumbs under his waistband and pulls them down, your breath catching in your throat at the tent he’s pitching behind his plaid boxers. He steps towards you, gauging your reaction until you reach for him, sighing into his mouth when his arms wrap around you. He leads you to the bed, sinking you down gently as his reassuring warmth hovers over you.

His hands have just started traveling south, tongue dipping into your mouth to slide against yours, when you’re interrupted by a spine-chilling shriek outside. You both bolt up, your hands instinctively pulling his blanket up to cover your chest.

“What was that?” you whisper, waiting for any other sounds from the dead silence waiting just past his door. Marcus doesn’t answer at first, instead rising up to start pulling his jeans on. When you say his name in a panic he turns back to you, hair now mussied by the shirt he’s pulled over his head.

“Whatever it is, I need to make sure everyone is safe.” He grabs a flashlight and his counselor’s lanyard, whistle and bear spray dangling from the keychain. “Lock the door behind me, okay?”

“No!” you bolt up, grabbing your shorts and sending him a pleading look. “Don’t go out there alone, I’ll come with you.”

He says your name to implore you to stay, but you’re already halfway dressed. “You need someone to watch your back, Marcus.” You grab your own lanyard off his dresser, keys jingling as you steel your face with determination.

He hands you the flashlight without another word, leading you out into the inky blackness of the night. It’s like nature itself has run away from fright, the chirping crickets and haunting call of a lone owl now quiet as you trudge through the campground for any signs of life.

Marcus wants to check the lake house where he thinks he’s heard the scream come from. If anything, hopefully Darla and the other counselors out for a swim will be able to band together with your search party.

You call out Darla’s name in the girl’s locker room to no answer. You soon find out why, swinging the exit door open and letting out a bloodcurdling scream. Darla’s feet dangle inches off the ground, a long-range arrow from the archery range sticking through her torso, keeping her lifeless body pinned up on the door. Her face is frozen in absolute terror, glassy eyes stretched wide at whatever she saw moments before her demise. A note is pinned by the arrow to the messy carnage of her chest, jagged letters ripped out of magazines and newspapers reading out:

SEXUAL DEVIANTS MUST DIE

You almost slip on the pool of blood dripping underneath her when you skitter back, bile rising in your throat so quickly you press a shaking hand to your mouth. You don’t even hear Marcus calling your name in alarm until he’s by your side, covering you in his arms and drawing your face away from the dead body.

“Marcus, I…” you can’t think straight for a second, your world spinning out until you feel the gentle squeeze of his hands on your shoulders grounding you back to earth. You look up at him. “We need to get help. Now.”

He swallows, fear apparent in the crease of his brow. “The phone lines are dead, I tried when I saw…” He looks away, taking a deep breath. “Just don’t look down at the docks, okay? We’ll take the other route.”

“Other route to where?”

“The parking lot. We need to get to town to find help.”

But the town was still half an hour away through the dark forest by car. And that was assuming you’d even get there in one piece.

“I don’t know if it’s safe,” you can’t stop the tremble in your voice as Marcus hugs you closer. Just then, the lights of the boathouse flicker menacingly and then die altogether, leaving you in pitch darkness until the flashlight turns on in your trembling hand. You bite back a scream when you think you see a towering figure in the corner, only for you to swing the beam of light towards it and reveal a coat rack.

“We’ll stick to the forest then,” Marcus tells you as he guides you out into the weak moonlight towards the barrier of dense trees. “Whoever’s out there won’t find us as easily if we stay off the path.”

You follow his lead, gripping onto his hand as you stumble over hidden roots and branches on the forest floor. You listen for any more screams in the night, ears on high alert for breaking twigs or falling footsteps around you. When the shimmer of the lake disappears behind you, you finally feel comfortable enough to break the silence.

“Did you read the sign they left on Darla?”

Marcus sighs. “I did.”

“At least we didn’t follow through with that tonight,” you offer a shaky laugh. “Thank god we’re both virgins, right?”

At Marcus’s silence you look up at him, but the back of his head offers no insight to his thoughts.

“About that…” he finally says, and you drop his hand to stop in your tracks. He turns to you, deepest apology written all over his face.

“I know I should have told you earlier. I...I was with Darla the summer before I met you. It was just a summer fling, it didn’t mean anything. She tried winning me back this year but I wouldn’t hear of it.” He reaches for you but you step back, shock and anger battling through your system. “I told her I was with you, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Suddenly your perfect boyfriend wasn’t so flawless, cracks in his knight-in-shining-armor facade appearing between you. You had never openly discussed your history about these types of things, but you always just kind of assumed…

“I’m so sorry,” he tries again, heart breaking in his eyes. “I should have told you sooner.”

“Yeah,” your voice finally finds you. “Yeah, you should have.” You shoulder past him, glaring as you pass. “Now I’m really glad we didn’t have sex.”

You take the lead and stomp through the forest, wrath overtaking fear as you hurry to escape this hellish nightmare. Marcus remains quiet for his own good, letting you work through the bomb he’s just dropped on your fairytale relationship.

The trees begin to thin out as moss and dirt turn to gravel, then asphalt underneath your feet. Your car is on the other end of the parking lot, a beat-up hand-me-down that you suddenly remember was having engine trouble earlier today.

You’re so focused on racing towards your escape, the dark figure standing there waiting for you at the edge of the lot almost blends into the dark silhouetted trees. You jolt, screaming as they begin approaching, their footsteps lit up by the sparks of their ax dragging behind them.

Marcus pushes you forward and you almost stumble, panicked as you look back at him.

“Go! Get help!” He shouts, backtracking to create space between you. “I’ll distract them.”

“What—“ your words die in your throat, screaming as the figure seemingly materializes closer to you when you were distracted, the hockey mask covering their identity streaked in dried blood. They haul their ax off the ground and you take off running, tripping over your anxious steps towards your escape. Your hand wraps around the rusted handle when a shrill cry breaks through the air, Marcus waving his arms frantically as he blows his whistle.

“Hey asshole!” he shouts. “Come and get me!”

The assailant jerks their head toward him, lopping footsteps turning in pursuit. You scramble through the keys on your keyring as Marcus backs up to the edge of the pavement, taunting as they draw ever closer. Just when you’ve found the right one, it slips through your shaking sweaty fingers and clangs onto the ground. You hear the boom of the ax striking contact before you can look up, only to let out a shaky sigh to see he’s hit pavement, Marcus dodging out of the way in time.

You blessedly get the door unlocked, racing against the clock as you jam the key into the ignition. You curse waiting for your dilapidated engine to turn over, its wheezes and coughs catching the killer’s attention until Marcus yells again. This time the ax swing is much closer, Marcus almost stumbling backwards when he jumps out of the way. You gasp and almost launch out of the car, but have to stop yourself. Marcus told you to get help. But how could you leave him behind? You can’t even bring yourself to start the car at that thought. All it took was one wrong move for this to be over, and you wonder why he hasn’t just run away yet when you see his eyes dart towards you, checking to make sure you’ll escape safely.

He’s so focused on looking over at your car he doesn’t notice the uneven crack in the pavement behind him, catching on the end of his shoe when he steps back. He fumbles then hits the pavement hard, momentarily breathless as the killer stalks towards him. You scream, leaning hard into the key to get your blasted car to start so you can run this monster over. But the engine doesn’t relent, and your panicked eyes scan for another savior. You catch the glint from your backseat in the rearview mirror, a baseball bat peeking out of the overfilled gym bag.

You’re out of your car before your brain can catch up, the night air biting your cheeks as you’re sprinting towards them as fast as you can, your hand gripping the handle of the bat. You watch Marcus clamber for the bear spray on his lanyard, spraying it at the killer’s face to no reaction as they rear up their ax.

You’re running on pure adrenaline, trying to get there before the ax falls. Suddenly you recall how the campers had made fun of you earlier today, their taunts and jabs at your poor aim and feeble swing pounding in your ears. What if you weren’t strong enough to make a difference? What if you’re too late? You pray to the malevolent god putting you through this that whatever you can muster right now will save Marcus.

Your brutal scream pulls you back into the moment, all of your fury towards someone who would try to hurt Marcus pummeling into the swing of the bat, which connects perfectly with the base of their skull. You hear a sickening crunch and they falter, stumbling to the side. They turn towards you and before you can think you’re swinging again, striking the bat hard against their jaw.

You watch their body jerk rigid, collapsing on the ground from the knockout. The metal bat clangs onto the ground as you fall to your knees, Marcus shuffling up to pull you into his arms. You don’t know how long you stay in a heap together like that, flashing red and blue lights and the sound of sirens and screeching tires eventually filling the parking lot.

To say your first summer job had been a disaster would be an understatement. Your parents wanted you home immediately, but the local police needed you to stay a few days longer for questioning. All the campers had been sent home safe, but they’re keeping you and the other counselors up in a motel until you’re released. You’d slept in Marcus’s room the night before, his roommate swapping into your room without a question as you held onto each other through the night.

It’s the next day when you finally find the words to speak, Marcus having just returned from the station downtown. He’s cleared to go home the next morning, but not before he cradles you in his arms on this motel bed one last time.

He breathes into your hair, petting down your arms when he whispers, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Darla.” He draws away to meet your eye. “That wasn’t okay for me to do.”

Your fingers brush along his cheek. “It’s okay,” you whisper back, “I forgive you. How could I stay mad at you when you almost…”

You can’t finish the sentence and he shushes you softly, leaning down to give you a gentle comforting kiss. You sigh and shift away. “And maybe I’ll never be ready for sex then, if it just ends up getting you killed.”

“Hey, no,” he says, suddenly stern. “Don’t let anyone tell you what to do with your body. Even if they’re axe murderers. No one holds that power except for you, okay?”

He waits for you to accept his words, a small nod as you murmur, “Okay.”

“And besides...” he continues. “If you’re not ready, we don’t have to do anything. That’s perfectly good with me.”

“No, that’s not it.” You sit up then, eye level with him. “I...I want to.” You feel more resolute, more clear in your intent. “I want you.”

He stares back at you with his deep brown eyes, drinking you in as he whispers back, “Well, I want you, too.”

You shuffle closer, bringing your face in until he meets you halfway, hungry lips capturing yours as your eyes close in a sigh. He takes his time kissing you, easing you into more and it’s not long until you’re gasping against his tongue, fisting your hands into his shirt to pull him in closer. You help him pull it over his head, and soon afterwards your shorts are being flung off the mattress. His fingers glide between your legs and you hear his breath hitch, yours caught in your throat in a small whimper. Your thigh brushes against the bulge in his jeans and you move to straddle him but he shifts you down, guiding you to lie on the bed as he turns to hover over you.

“Is this okay?” he asks, adoring eyes scanning your face.

“Yes,” you breathe out, guiding his hand under your shirt. “Please, baby, more.”

He groans at the term of endearment, sliding his hand the rest of the way up to cup your breast. He squeezes it gently and you shiver when he pinches a nipple, the same warmth crawling up your body that you’ve felt when things turned heated in the back row of movie theaters.

Your shirt’s ridden up from his actions and he ducks down to kiss your exposed tummy, making you squirm and giggle at the tickle. He starts kissing down your body and you try to guide him back up to your face, but he only goes lower to your hip.

“Marcus...what..?”

“It’s okay,” he says, spreading your legs open as you burn with the knowledge of the wet patch visible on your underwear. He kisses the inside of your thigh tenderly. “This might help with the...stretch.”

You shiver at the implication as his fingers skim the band of your underwear, eyes searching yours for permission. You give a tiny nod, letting out a shaky breath and he leans up to place another kiss on your stomach. “I just need you to relax, okay, baby? Let me take care of you.”

Slowly he glides your panties off, letting your legs fall open on either side of his lying body as you bite down on a fingernail. His jaw slackens around a moan, staring at the apex of your thighs before glancing up at you with dark eyes.

“Can I kiss you?” he asks breathlessly.

“Yes, of course,” you smile and then he grins, ducking his head down. Your question is cut off with a gasp, his plush lips brushing against your most private area almost making you startle away. The feeling of it had been so different, and new, and you want him to do it again.

His firm hand comes around to encase your lower stomach. “Marcus!” your sharp cry comes out warbled as you feel his tongue slowly slide and part your folds, teasing against you before drawing back down.

“Oh...oh my god…” is all you can get out, eyes closing as your head falls back. He leisurely laps at you like that in a slow up-and-down motion, moaning his approval when your hips start shifting in time. Your toes curl, one foot jerking to hang over his shoulder when you feel him ease a finger inside of you, working you open as he hums in encouragement.

He swirls his tongue against the peak of your pussy and you wrench up into his mouth, gripping the sheets at the shock of pleasure. A small oh! escapes your lips and, embarrassed, you peek down at Marcus. He’s completely focused on the task at hand, the fringe of his lashes fluttering against his cheeks as the glimpse of his wet tongue teases you every time he makes a pass upwards.

He must notice the way your thighs shake around his ears because he looks up, taking in your wrecked expression and he groans into you. He reaches up for the hand twisted into the sheets and holds it, bringing it down to his head until his fingers guide yours to grip onto his hair. He nods encouragingly, pressing his mouth back onto you in a small suckle.

You hold onto the locks of his hair for dear life at the unfamiliar sensations he was pulling out of you, your body reacting in a heightened way you’ve never experienced. His capable finger strokes your inner walls with such tenderness you quiver underneath him. He watches your face as he adds in a second finger inside you, stopping when you wince. You nod down at him, giving him the okay as he steadily starts to pick back up his tempo. The stretch burned through you, but in a way that warmed your insides, kept you wanting more.

Marcus denotes the movements that give him the loudest whimpers and sighs and zeroes in on them, tongue alternating between quick circling flicks and long, languid swipes. The steady pump of his fingers fill the room with lewd sounds, but you’re past the point of modesty as your body seems to tighten in on itself for some type of release. It’s like you can feel your heart beat pleasure in concentrated waves to the exact point Marcus is joined to you, and soon it starts to overwhelm you.

“Marcus...I…” you can barely get out, breath quickening with each heavier wave. “I think…”

His mouth latches onto you as his buzzing affirmation, a low mhmm that vibrates through your pussy, floods your senses and coaxes you over the edge. You shudder and writhe beneath him, your sob caught somewhere between your chest and your throat when he tries to stay attached to your lurching body. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, like the fireworks from last week’s Fourth of July spectacular but dialed up to a hundred inside the deep of your belly, spiraling and fizzling through your nerve endings all the way to your fingertips gripping onto his hair.

He slows as you come back down to earth, heart pumping in your ears as you lull your head to the side. He grins up at you, mouth slick from his recent deeds that makes a delayed shiver run through your body.

You can barely get out a quiet “God, is it always like that?”

He laughs. “It can be.”

You feel like a satiated puddle melting into the sheets, and yet your blood still runs hot in pursuit of more. You reach for him, pulling him up for a kiss that dissolves into a moan at the taste of you lingering on his lips. You cup him gently over his jeans and he shudders, your fingers starting to work against his zipper.

“Do you…” you ask between kisses. “Do you have—”

He nods, hopping off the mattress and returning a moment later with a foil packet. He stays at the corner of the bed, undoing his jeans and bending to slide it down to the floor, his boxers leaving with it. More than one part of him stands at attention when he straightens up, and your mouth runs dry at the sight of him.

He smiles shyly at your blatant reaction, ripping open the wrapper and unfurling the condom on. You reach for the bottom of your shirt and pull it up over you, hands falling to your side to take in the way he devours your breasts with his eyes. He sinks back down over you, arms sliding under your shoulders as your legs spread around him as if on instinct, like it’s the most natural thing in the world you’ve ever done.

“Are you ready?” he asks, pressing kisses to your cheek. You meet his eye and nod, biting your lip.

“I’ll go slow,” he promises, and you feel the fat blunt head of him press against the rim of your opening. You tense and he waits, distracting you with light kisses along your temple, down your jaw to your neck until you relax underneath him. Slowly he enters you, and you gasp at the pressure and the stretch of him. Even if his previous measures were meant to aid the strain, you have no idea how you were going to be able to fit all of him.

He watches your face with his own pinched expression, shuffling to shove a pillow underneath your head before he checks in from above after another inch slides in.

“How are you doing?” his voice cracks.

“Good,” you smile, cupping his face. “Keep going, please.”

He moans and drops his head down, all of his attention focused on the steady push of his hips into you. It burns, but it’s a good burn, coiling up from your core to alight your stomach and chest.

Your hands fall from his shoulders to his side when he rests fully inside you, his breath labored. You squeeze him softly.

“Marcus, are you okay?”

“Yeah-huh,” his voice almost sounds edged with pain, his arms trembling on either side of your head. “It’s just…shit, honey, you’re just very tight.” He groans at the word, squeezing his eyes closed. “Give me a second.”

It’s your turn to lean upwards, kissing against his cheek and neck and making him smile until you gasp and clutch against his skin, an experimental small thrust of his hips pushing him in deeper. Your knees instinctively clamp around him and he offers soft words of encouragement.

“You’re doing so well for me,” he whispers, finger dipping down between you to tease against your sensitive bud and making another flow of arousal ease his passage, “but you tell me if I need to stop, alright?”

“No,” you mewl, wanting to feel more of him. “N-need more, Marcus. Need you.”

You gasp into his mouth as he slides halfway way out, then pushes slowly back in. “You have me,” he whispers lovingly, and your fingers curl into his hair for another kiss as he starts to build up a steady pace.

The cheap bed creaks underneath you but you pay it no mind, legs hooking around Marcus’s waist as he holds you in his arms, fucking you gentle and slow until you’re crying against him for more. He cups your face, whispering how beautiful you are, how strong, how you saved him, you saved him.

“I love you,” you whimper against his lips, sliding your hands behind his neck to pull him down deeper.

He gives you that and more, peppering kisses to your cheek, your jaw, giving you a small lovebite on your neck that has you arching into him. He straightens up, tender eyes addressing you in boundless adoration. “Baby, I love you so much.”

The wet pummel of his hips fills the space between you, the pain having dulled to a throb and being overtaken by pleasure. Your pebbled nipples ache for attention and you slide your hands over them, pinching and rolling as you bite back a cry. Marcus drops his chin down and groans at the spread you’re offering him, thighs tensing over yours.

His rhythm falters then as he sucks in a breath. “I-I’m close,” he stutters, brows pinching together. “Fuck...I…”

“Let go,” you urge, squeezing your legs around him tighter. He captures your mouth as he moans low and stuttered, jerking into you in one final push as he spills into the condom.

You stay like that for a while, panting together in a warm cocoon of embracing arms and bent legs. Eventually he slides out and you shudder at the loss. How you’d gone so long without having him inside of you, to suddenly feeling empty without him there you’ll never know. He disposes the rubber in the plastic trash can and mentions that you should probably use the bathroom after, helping you get up on shaky legs to go to the toilet.

When you return to the bedroom he’s already under the covers, flinging the comforter back to pat the space next to him. You smile and ease into his arms, sighing at the warmth of his bare skin rubbing against yours. You trace your fingers against his chest absentmindedly.

“Well, now what?” you dare to ask.

“Well,” he smiles down at you, “my summer has suddenly freed up. Why don’t we catch that new movie this weekend?”

You crinkle your nose. “Ugh, that slasher flick? Hard pass.”

He laughs and relents, turning on the old television to settle in for a classic movie.

The sun has long died behind the horizon, sleep overtaking both you and Marcus peacefully in each other’s arms, when a late night news crawl flickers across the screen. The person they’d apprehended at the campground parking lot has escaped custody, the news anchor tells your slumbering ears, the car they’ve stolen last seen turning down a backroad. The very same backroad of this very same motel.

Sleep tight.

Taglist: @1800-fight-me @microsoftcraint @thisgirl-knm @arahxdjarin @triggerhappyflygirl @phandoz @queen0fchaos @sunnshineeexoxo @mrsudontknowme @rosethornxs @wyofabdoms @mandosmistress @kissasith @cmc1014 @morenhoe @anaaaispunk

#ct's halloween spooktacular #marcus pike x reader #marcus pike x you #marcus pike #the mentalist #the mentalist fanfiction #friday the 13th #friday the 13th AU

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holylulusworld · 3 years

Text

Her substitute (4) - Back Home

Summary: Once you were her best friend. Now her widower seeks shelter in your arms.

Square Filled: Bonham Walker for @walker-bingo

Ship: Cordell Walker x fem!Reader, Cordell Walker x Emily Walker (widowed)

Characters: Bonham Walker, Stella Walker, August Walker, Abeline Walker

Rating: Mature

Warnings: angst, language, mentions of loss of a loved one, remorse, awkward situations, idiots in love, Walkers family is the best, arguments, implied smut

Word Count: 1,6 k

Her substitute masterlist

2021 Walker Bingo masterlist

Divider by @firefly-graphics

<< Part 3

“Y/N,” Stella clings to you, refuses to let go of you. The moment you got out of your old truck she jumped at you, crying as you came back. “You’re back.”

“Yeah,” you swallow thickly when Stella tells you how much she has missed you. For now, you will hide you still don’t know if you will stay or go back to New York. “How have you been? I know my departure was—sudden.”

“It was his fault, wasn’t it?” she chokes out, looking up at you. “Why can’t he just admit he wants to go out with you? Dad should stop being so stubborn.”

“Your father and I, we are friends and partners. It’s complicated, you know. Maybe it would be easier if I wasn’t your mom’s best friend. I think Cor—I mean your dad doesn’t know how to express his feelings. And I don’t know if it’s a good idea that I stay here.”

“Why? You are family, Y/N. Please don’t leave us again. August, he doesn’t show it but he’s missing you too. He’s as stubborn as dad,” Stella sighs when you run your hand over her hair. “Dad is an idiot for not seeing how much you care about him.”

“There she is, the long-lost daughter,” Bonham smirks when you walk toward the house, Stella hot on your heels. She refused to leave your side since you are back in town, even followed you home when you tried to change clothing.

“Hi,” you let Cordell’s father wrap you in a hug. “How have things been since I’ve been gone? Do you still drive your wife crazy?” he snickers at your words.

“So, you’ve become an important FBI agent now?” he looks at you, searching your face while hoping you will come back. “I heard about Cordell and you. Why didn’t you tell me you are about to become our new daughter-in-law?”

“Bonham,” you sigh, shaking your head lightly, “this is all a misunderstanding. Cordell and I are only friends and partners.”

“Do you want to tell me you left your home, your family for a job you don’t want out of the blue? I know about the blind date and that you left town right after you canceled, the party,” he slings one arm around your shoulders to lead you into the house. “I am an old man, not blind nor stupid.”

“Love is out of the question for Cordell and me,” Bonham doesn’t say a word. He guides you into the house, biting his tongue. “Emily was the woman he loved, and it will always be her for him. I don’t think he will be able to open his heart for someone else.”

“How about we save the heavy topics for later and have dinner? Abeline made your favorite, and she made a pie to die for, Y/N,” you hate to say no to Bonham, so you nod silently, swallowing the lump in your throat. “You know, if he doesn’t man up and asks you out, I’ll handle this for him.”

“Bonham,” he laughs when you try to stop him from playing the matchmaker for you and his son. “Please don’t try to change his mind. Cordell is—”

“A stubborn man, but he has feelings for you, my dear. He’s like his old man,” Bonham ends your sentence. “Y/N, he’s a good man, with a broken heart. He just needs a little push. Let me push him if I must.”

“That’s delicious Abeline,” you try to break the awkward tension in the dining room. While Stella and August won’t stop asking questions about New York, the FBI and your training Cordell sits opposite you, frowning anytime you say something, “as always.”

“Thank you, Y/N,” Cordell’s mother gives you a soft smile, offering another slice of the pie to you. “You are always welcome to join us for dinner. Cordell should invite you more often.”

“Mom,” Cordell clears his throat, eyes drifting toward you again. Tonight, he sticks to water, doesn’t even touch the beer his father offered to him. “Y/N will come around when she finds the time. She has her own life…maybe even in New York.”

“Dad,” Stella drops her fork. She grimaces, pointing her finger at you. “Do you want her to leave town again? Why don’t you ask her out? If you can go out with that other woman, you can go out with Y/N!”

“Stella,” August tries to spare you another hurtful scene. He’s grown for his age, and you give him a weak smile. “We talked about this, didn’t we?”

“Fine,” grasping for her water Stella glares at her father. “If she leaves all of us because of you, I will never forgive you.”

“I think that is enough,” Bonham speaks up. “Y/N doesn’t owe you anything, Stella. She is important to all of us, but this doesn’t mean she must stay in town and work as a Texas Ranger, not when she has the chance to become an FBI agent.”

“Grandpa,” Stella sniffs, looking at him, pleadingly. “Please. I don’t want to lose her too. He can’t ruin everything for us. Mom died because—”

“Enough,” this time you drop the fork. “It was my fault too. We arrested that man together. I was the one not wanting to give up and your mom and Jason paid the price. The guilt almost ate me up and your father was the one catching my fall,” you admit, pushing the tears away.

“What?” Stella inhales sharply. She always believed you are like Wonder Woman. Invincible and strong-willed. “But—but you seem so strong and…”

“Even the mightest people fall sometimes. It’s no shame to accept help from someone,” you clear your throat, eyes drifting toward Cordell. You know he’s ashamed Geri called you and that you saw him drunk once again. “Some people might say you are even stronger for accepting help.”

“Hi—erm, can I help you?” watching you clean the dishes Cordell awkwardly stands in the kitchen. “Mom said the dishwasher needs fixing. Let me lend you a hand.” He stands behind you to subtle sniff at your hair.

You can feel his chest press against your back when he tries to take the first plate out of your hand. “I—I can do this,” voice a little shaky you try to focus on the warm water soaking your hands, not the heat coming out of Cordell’s body. “How about you go back and chat a little or something.”

“Y/N, will it always be like that from now on? I want you to look at me the way you did before you left for New York,” he begins. “Please at least look at me. Even if you give me a dirty look. Just talk to me.”

“Do you think you are the only person thinking about shit all the time,” you place the plate back into the sink. “I think about Jason and Emily all the fucking time,” you turn around to jab your finger into his chest.

“Baby girl,” you whimper at the pet name. “I’m sorry—” he runs his large hands up and down your arms to calm you. “I should have stayed away from you, but I can’t. Y/N, I feel guilt too.” You huff at his words, not believing he feels sorry at all.

“Oh, you feel guilty for fucking me?” you retort, letting out a frustrated huff. “Do you know why I feel guilty, huh?” he shakes his head, swallowing thickly when tears well up to your eyes. “I feel guilty for getting them killed. I feel guilty for fucking my best friend’s husband. I feel guilty for hiding whatever we have from our families and friends. And I feel guilty for wanting you so bad that I can’t think straight when you are close to me.”

“Baby girl,” he gently cups your face, stroking your skin with his thumbs, “I’m so sorry for being an insensitive asshole. I should’ve told you how I feel a long time ago.” His lips softly press against your forehead, and you sigh deeply, hating he makes you feel weak all over again. “Please, give me a chance to show you I can be better.”

“I need to…I need to go,” you duck under his arm to escape the painful situation. Before you flee out of the house you look back over your shoulder to give Cordell one last glance. “Give me a few days to sort my thoughts, Cord. I just can’t be with you right now.”

“Hey, Ems,” you sit in front of your friend’s grave. “Do you think I should go back to New York? I-I know it’s wrong to love your husband, but I can’t stop my heart from beating only for him.” you sniff, wiping your eyes. “Shit, I can still feel his hands on me. He’s just—fuck. Cordell gets under my skin, Emily.”

Silence is a good friend tonight, so you sit there in front of her grave, drinking your favorite beer. “Do you remember when we first met? I thought you hate me, and you believed I am too cool to hang out with you. But the truth is, back then, I thought you are the coolest girl I ever met.”

“Shit, I wish you were here with me, Emily. I swear, nothing would’ve happened between me and Cordell if you were here. I could’ve never done such a shady thing,” you sip at your beer, sighing deeply.

“...and even now, I think about him and his fucking hands. God, his hands all over me and his lips against my throat. I love when he calls me baby girl. It drives me crazy, and I believe that I will lose my mind.”

“Coming,” Cordell grumbles, reluctantly opening the door to his house. “Y/N?” he gasps when you grab his shirt to bring him down for a messy kiss. “Baby girl.”

“Just shut up,” cupping the back of his neck, you kiss him again, this time slow and gentle. “I-I don’t know what to do. I only know that I want you.”

“I want you too—” you find yourself in his arms, your legs around his waist as he carries you inside his house. “Let me show you how much, baby girl…”

>> Part 5

Walker Tags

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#Her substitute (4) - Back Home #cordell walker #walkerbingo #cordell walker x reader #cordell x reader #cordell walker fanfiction #cordell walker x fem!reader #angst #tension #idiots in love

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snow-and-scarlet · 2 years

Text

Dancing with Destiny

"No."

"But I-"

"My answer was no yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. It's always going to be no."

"But what if-"

"Still no! Do you know why? Because no matter how you finish that sentence, it won't make me want to go to the dance with you! What part of that don't you get? Now go ask someone else and leave… me… alone."

Weiss shut the door firmly — she did not slam it, thank you very much — in Jaune's face and turned to stalk back over to her bed, where she sat down heavily with a frustrated humph. What nerve he had! As if she hadn't made it abundantly clear she had no interest in him whatsoever… it was bad enough that he was woefully unqualified to be there at Beacon — or even one of the junior combat academies for that matter! — bad enough that he had all the social graces of a boarbatusk, but worse by far was how terribly envious she was of him. He got to spend every night training with Pyrrha Nikos. He got to study with her, fight alongside her, eat with her, laugh with her, smile with her, sleep with her — she felt her cheeks warming — not like that; in a bed beside hers! Still… what she wouldn't give to be in his place… and if she were, then maybe…

Weiss groaned and threw herself onto the bed, then rolled over and grabbed onto her pillow tightly to scream into it, kicking her feet petulantly all the while. Why!? Why couldn't it have been her!? Why did she have to freeze up like that, to fall back on her icy persona? Sure, she'd been a little starstruck — okay fine, more than a little — but she knew Pyrrha would be there… that was half the reason she chose Beacon to begin with.

She'd been harbouring a crush for some time, and yes, celebrity crushes come and go, but she could feel how alike they were from the interviews, the look in the Invincible Girl's eyes and just… she had to try, right? But despite all the rehearsing, all that she did to shed her nervous energy, the moment the real Pyrrha Nikos was there before her, and Weiss could see the emerald depth of her eyes and the way the sunlight played off her hair and seemed to light her skin from within, she just had to freeze and revert to the haughty little princess her father expected and ruin everything. And maybe if it weren't for Jaune Arc she could've still salvaged things, could've caught up to Pyrrha in the forest once the panic of seeing her smile fade at Weiss' behaviour had subsided. Maybe if it weren't for his absolute lack of… well, of anything Pyrrha wouldn't have had to rescue him from certain death — such a kind woman she was, truly remarkable! — and taken the burden of him onto herself. But maybe didn't happen; Jaune Arc had bumbled his way here, had ruined any chance Weiss had to fix her first impression with Pyrrha, and was now not only aggravating her with his constant invitations to the dance but preventing her from inviting Pyrrha with his very presence because of course he was!!

Weiss screamed into her pillow again, as loud as she could.

I shouldn't have come…

Pyrrha sighed as she looked out across the dance floor where couples twirled and swayed, her head dipping a bit further than it already was along with her mood. She had fretted about it for awhile — long enough to arrive late, even — but in the end decided to come to the party in the hope that although no one had invited her, perhaps she could still enjoy the evening… and maybe, just maybe, there might be someone there waiting for her after all.

She'd been wrong, of course. It had only been a few minutes now but already her heart was sinking, the sight of happy couples dancing and smiling only serving as a painful reminder of that which she lacked. There were others who had come alone, naturally — Jaune, who seemed to have finally found Ruby at the punch bowl, Neptune Vasilias, Weiss Schnee oddly enough — but she suspected that, save perhaps for Ruby, in none of their cases was it for lack of offers. For Pyrrha it was different… no one had even asked, and she knew no one well enough to ask herself that wasn't already claimed or obviously infatuated with another.

Pyrrha made her way through the crowd to the staircase and up, out to the balcony to rest her hands upon the railing, gazing up to the night sky.

Is this truly my destiny? Am I to be forever alone, the Invincible, Isolated Girl? No… no, I cannot believe that. There must be someone, somewhere who-

"Pyrrha?"

Pyrrha blinked at the interruption to her thoughts and the tentative tapping of approaching steps.

"Oh, hello Weiss."

"Are you alright? You look… well, wonderful, but also very lonely."

"Thank you…" Pyrrha turned back to the balcony to cover the fall in her expression; she wished she could do the same for her voice.

"Did your date stand you up?," Weiss asked as she stepped over to lean against the railing as well.

Pyrrha sighed, hanging her head slightly. "Not exactly."

Weiss blinked. "You mean he actually brought you here and ditched you!?"

Pyrrha turned to Weiss and shook her head. "I never had a date."

Weiss' jaw dropped. "What?? How could you not have a date!?"

"Nobody asked me," Pyrrha explained with a sad shake of her head.

"But… but you're Pyrrha Nikos! You're…! How could nobody ask you!?" Weiss looked for all the world like a robot in one of those old movies, whose head was about to explode when presented with a paradox.

Pyrrha's eyes lingered on Weiss for a long moment, as though gauging what to say, before she shook her head. "You wouldn't understand." She began to turn back toward the door.

That seemed to shake Weiss out of her shock, and she extended a hand to gently touch Pyrrha's arm. "Try me." She smiled warmly up to the taller girl. "We haven't spoken much, and I know my first impression… wasn't great, but I wouldn't be here if I was just the spoiled princess everyone thinks I am."

Pyrrha looked down to the hand at her arm, then to Weiss' eyes. What she said… it made some sense. Her first impression had been rather dreadful, but if that truly was the extent of Weiss Schnee why bother coming to Beacon? She turned back to Weiss and nodded slightly.

"I've been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. Everyone assumes I'm too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any sort of meaningful relationship with people. No one sees me for me, they see the Champion of Mistral, the Invincible Girl, and nobody will ask her to a dance."

Weiss nodded slowly. "I do understand, sort of. I may not be the Invincible Girl, but… all anyone sees when they look at me is my name, and all they want are the connections it brings."

"I suppose you do," Pyrrha replied softly. "Is that why you came alone tonight? You believe that anyone who asked was only interested in your name?"

Weiss shook her head. "No… I know your partner isn't like that, but he does need to learn to take 'no' for an answer. He's just not my type."

"And no one else asked you? You are Weiss Schnee after all."

"Others did…" Weiss looked away a little sheepishly at the admission given Pyrrha's lack of invitations, "but not the person I wanted to."

"You didn't invite him? Forgive me, but you don't seem like someone who would stand aside as the chance slipped away."

"Yeah, about that… by the time I could've possibly asked, I kind of assumed that she already had a date?" Weiss nervously bit her lip.

"Oh." Why did Weiss just assume everyone had a date? Was that normal for Atlesian socialites?

An uncomfortable silence lingered.

"But better late than never, right? So, would you, uh… like to go to the dance with me, Pyrrha? No titles, no masks, just the real us." Weiss held her hand out in offer, her eyes hopeful.

"… Oh!" Pyrrha's cheeks flushed bright red as Weiss' question shed entirely new light on their interactions thus far, the little lingering looks she'd thought were scheming to take advantage of her talents, the envious glances toward Jaune she assumed were fuelled by Weiss' ambition. "I…" Her head reeled; she had never even considered Weiss as a date, not least of all because of their initial meeting, but… but Weiss was right, or at least she deserved the chance to prove that she was, that like Pyrrha herself there was more to her than her name and her mask. She reached to take Weiss' hand, smiling for the first time that evening, and nodded. "Yes, that would be lovely."

Over the course of the ensuing night of dancing and revelry, Pyrrha came to understand many things about Weiss, and about herself. She learnt that Weiss was indeed not simply the icy princess but quite warm and caring, that she knew all too well what it was like not to be seen, that loneliness gripped her heart as it did Pyrrha's. She discovered that Weiss was an excellent dancer — she rather enjoyed spinning and swaying and sashaying with the smaller girl, and simply holding her and being held in turn — and that she quite liked talking and smiling and laughing with her — the real Weiss had a subtly different voice than the persona she adopted, livelier to match the light in her eyes that was never there in the heiress'.

As the night wore on and the partygoers began to leave neither Pyrrha nor Weiss felt ready to retire, and so the pair found themselves atop the roof exchanging stories of childhood, sharing dreams gone by and those yet held dear. By the time the girls watched the first light of dawn creep over the horizon, a singular thought came to the forefront of Pyrrha's mind, a thought which brought with it a smile.

Perhaps solitude is not my destiny after all.

Weiss was giddy. The night had gone better than she could have possibly expected, and while she couldn't be entirely sure whether certain parts actually happened or her mind had added them in during the few hours of sleep she managed between finally returning to the RWBY dorm and being awoken by Yang — had she really kissed Pyrrha? Much as she'd like to think so, she'd better assume that part was a dream until she knew otherwise — she was certain she'd made up for her first impression, and then some. They had really connected, she felt it and she was sure Pyrrha did too; why else would she have stayed out so late? Even news of Ruby's encounter last night couldn't dampen Weiss' spirits, nothing could, and now she and her teammates were on the way to the auditorium where she would undoubtedly see Pyrrha again, and things could only get better and-

"Weiss!"

Weiss turned to see Jaune running up from behind. Alone. She looked around momentarily for the rest of his team whilst the rest of hers simply prepared for the by-now-expected failed courting attempt.

"Can, uh… can we talk?" Jaune looked to the rest of team RWBY, drawing a chorus of curious looks; this was new.

"… Sure." Weiss turned back to the others. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up."

"Are you sure?," asked Ruby.

"We don't mind waiting," Yang added with a glance to Blake, who nodded in confirmation.

"Absolutely. Besides," Weiss smiled to them, "if you don't get there soon, all the good seats will be taken." And I won't get to sit close to Pyrrha.

Ruby hesitated briefly, then nodded and turned to continue toward the auditorium, Blake and Yang following along, and Weiss turned back to Jaune, waiting for him to speak.

It took him a few nervous moments to do so. "So, uh… great party last night, huh? You looked really nice."

"… Really?" Weiss folded her arms and somehow looked down her nose at him despite being a full head shorter even in heels. "Still? Even after you saw me dancing with Pyrrha??" She scoffed and threw her hands up in exasperation, turning to walk away.

"Wait!" Jaune rushed around in a panic to get in front of her again, holding his hands out pleadingly. "Please, just… I'm sorry, that came out all wrong. That's what I really wanted to talk to you about — Pyrrha, I mean."

Weiss stopped and gave him a look. "What about her? Is she okay?"

"Y-yeah, she's… great, actually. She's been smiling all morning, and dancing around when she doesn't think we're looking. It's, uh… kinda adorable, really." Jaune looked away, lifting a hand to rub at the back of his head.

Weiss blinked, suddenly picturing the usually-reserved Pyrrha as giddy as she herself felt, dancing through the halls, and couldn't quite suppress the giggle that rose within her though she did cover her mouth with her hand.

"I think this is the first time I've seen her genuinely happy," Jaune continued, smiling a little himself now and looking back to Weiss. "She deserves that, and you gave it to her. Thank you…"

Weiss' smile grew, and she found her eyes growing a bit misty. "She does. I'd like to make a habit of it, if she'll let me."

Jaune gave her a bigger smile in return. "I won't get in your way. I'm sorry I've been such a… well, an ass, but not anymore. Friend hug?" He spread his arms.

Weiss nodded and stepped closer to hug him.

"We should get to the auditorium; everyone'll be waiting for us. Buuut if you want, I'll make sure you can sit next to Pyr."

Weiss looked up to Jaune, her eyes widening a little. "You'd do that for me?"

"Hey, team leader's prerogative where to sit, right?"

Things were getting better already!

"… and he caught me in the air by my face and slammed me into the ground. From there things get a little blurry…" Weiss' brow furrowed a little in thought and she shook her head. "I still can't remember exactly. I woke up in another car with Blake and Yang, and we climbed up top with Ruby and Dr. Oobleck, and I had just enough Aura to put up some ice around us to take some of the impact from the crash; you know the rest, you were there."

"Oh my…" Pyrrha looked upon her with concern, wishing more than ever that she'd been with team RWBY on their mission. Weiss had nearly died…twice! And it sounded as though Yang and Ruby had very close calls as well.

"Yeah…" Weiss looked down to her hands where they sat folded in her lap. "You know the funny thing though? I'm a huntress in training, and we were on that train racing toward the city knowing it would bring the Grimm, but when he grabbed me like that and I thought I was going to die it wasn't Vale I was thinking about." She smiled softly and glanced over to Pyrrha. "It was you. I thought about how I was going to miss our date… how I'd never see you again, never get to make you smile again, just when I finally managed to." Her eyes grew misty and she looked back down, lifting a hand to wipe at them.

Pyrrha blushed and fidgeted a little. She didn't know what to say; on the one hand that was hardly becoming for a huntress — she should always put the lives of civilians first — but on the other it set her heart aflutter to hear that what would've been Weiss' final thoughts were of her, that she held Pyrrha so dear as to value her happiness over her own life. It was just so romantic!

The girls were seated on a bench in one of Vale's numerous parks — not the date they had planned, but after Weiss' near-death experience and early return, waiting was unthinkable and something simple where they could just talk suited both.

"Thankfully, that didn't happen," Pyrrha finally replied as she reached to gently take Weiss' hand. "You came back. Here you are, and here I am, and I'm smiling." Indeed she was, though there was a tension there as well. "But… please don't do that again. When we arrived and saw the wreckage and the Grimm, I thought… I feared I'd…, " her voice broke and she shook her head a little.

"Pyrrha?" Weiss turned toward her, looking up to her eyes.

Pyrrha turned as well, to fully face Weiss, lifting her hand to Weiss' shoulder. "I told you, that night at the dance, that nobody sees me for me. I've waited my entire life to meet someone who did, someone who would treat me the same as anybody else, someone to whom I was just Pyrrha. I waited and waited, and I had begun to believe that I would never find someone like that, that I would forever be alone. And then… then I met you, the real you, and now I realise that it isn't what I was waiting for after all. That's part of it, but I was also waiting for someone who… who could understand me, who knew what it's like to be seen for what you are rather than who you are. Someone who knew what it feels like to be burdened by the expectations of everyone you meet, to never have the luxury of anonymity no matter where you may go. Someone… like you."

Pyrrha leaned forward to softly touch her brow to Weiss' and her hand drifted upward a little to cup her cheek. "And then, just when I found you, I almost lost you. I…I don't think I could bear it…" A soft sob shook her body at the thought and she wrapped her other arm around Weiss' shoulders. "So please, Weiss… promise me you won't do that again… that you won't leave me alone…"

It was Weiss' turn to blush at the tender touches and heartfelt words, her own slim arms wrapping around Pyrrha in kind. "Pyrrha, I… you know I can't promise that nothing will ever happen to me, even if I wish I could for you." She pulled back gently, raising a hand to brush hair from Pyrrha's face so she could gaze deeply into her eyes. "But I promise you, with all my heart, if there's anything I can possibly do about it I will never, ever leave you alone." She smiled softly, and after a moment so did Pyrrha.

At first she didn't notice herself being drawn slowly closer to Weiss. It was an odd feeling, not like using Polarity on her own armour — perhaps if someone were made entirely of metal, and she were using it subtly on them, they might feel thus. No, she was too mesmerised by the blue eyes into which she gazed, the warm breath upon her skin, to notice herself drawing closer until she felt the touch of her lips against Weiss'. She gave a slight start, as did Weiss; neither seemed aware of just who had initiated the contact, both blushed profusely.

So soft…

"I'm sorry," Pyrrha murmured.

"N-no, don't… apologise…" Weiss sucked her lip and fidgeted momentarily.

"But-"

Weiss turned and leaned in, pausing just long enough for Pyrrha to turn away or push her aside if she so chose — she did not — before kissing her more fully, her lips cutting off any further words and muffling the little sound of surprise that rose in Pyrrha's throat.

Later, Pyrrha would have to fend off paparazzi even more than usual. Later, rumours would circulate through the entire school that brought even more looks, even more remarks, even more jealousy and of an entirely new sort. Later, she would learn that even her and Weiss' teammates' good natured teasing could grow quite tiresome. But just then, on that bench, nothing mattered but those lips, the girl they belonged to, and the electricity they were sending through Pyrrha's body and soul.

Pyrrha sat forlornly against the wall, lost to her thoughts. How could she not be, with all that was happening? She was the sole remaining Vytal finalist for Beacon after Yang's disqualification, and the pressure and shock and sympathy alone would have been enough but right now they were the least of her concerns. Of far greater import were the secrets Professor Ozpin and the others had revealed to her… and the choice they laid before her.

Maidens? Magic? Fairy tales made real? It was all so mind-boggling, but the worst part… the worst was what they asked of her. To have the Aura of this Amber woman — her very soul — shoved into herself…what would it do to her? How much of Pyrrha would be left? At the start of the year, her decision would have been an easy one… what would it have mattered if there was nothing left of Pyrrha Nikos, when Pyrrha Nikos was nothing more than an embodiment of victory and a tool to save others? She would not have hesitated, would have simply accepted then and there as another step toward the culmination of her destiny, and if the price were herself it would have been a small one. But now… things were different. Now she had friends who cared for her, friends for whom she cared deeply. Now she had hopes and dreams beyond just her destiny. Now…now she had Weiss.

It had been over a month now since the dance, over a month that she and Weiss had officially been dating; not so long in the scheme of things and yet it felt like a whole new life, as though everything before had been a colourless, muted dream. She knew Weiss felt similarly — she'd said as much, but more importantly Pyrrha could see it in her eyes, in her smile, the smile that only came out for her. Would Weiss still smile like that if Amber's Aura changed her? If Pyrrha ceased to be, would Weiss' eyes lose their shine forever? If she rejected Professor Ozpin's request she chose possible danger for all humanity, but she was only his first choice; surely there must be another candidate? If she accepted, she made the choice not only on her own behalf but Weiss' and her friends' as well, without them even knowing. Vacuan roulette to keep terrible power out of dangerous hands… even if the gamble succeeded, could she be forgiven for taking that risk? Would she deserve to be?

So preoccupied was she that Pyrrha didn't notice she wasn't alone until she felt a soft touch upon her shoulder. She blinked several times in rapid succession, looking over to find Weiss looming over her — a rare sight indeed given how she usually towered over her dearest — worry writ large on her face.

"Are you… okay?" Weiss looked into Pyrrha's eyes, as if by looking deep enough she could see the thoughts that so troubled her.

"Weiss." Pyrrha smiled, if only a little, before the sight of her brought the turmoil surging right back, and higher than ever. "I… just have a lot on my mind."

Weiss frowned as she saw the smile fade. "I see that," she replied whilst moving to sit beside Pyrrha and gently, comfortingly taking her hand. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Pyrrha sighed and turned her gaze downward where the breeze teased a few autumn leaves along the ground nearby. "I wish I could, truly. It would make everything so much easier…"

Weiss' worry only grew at that, and she turned and leaned closer, lifting her opposite hand to urge Pyrrha's face to turn and meet her gaze. "Whatever's going on, whatever this is, you can trust me… you know that, right? You don't have to face it alone; I don't care if it's someone from your past or the evil wizard Goldemort or the brothers themselves, I'll be right there beside you." She smiled that smile that said she was trying to reassure Pyrrha, but inside was terrified — it was the same smile she'd worn when she'd first asked Pyrrha to the dance, at the dance.

"Thank you…" Pyrrha found her eyes growing wet. Oh, how she wished she could tell Weiss… she yearned so badly to tell her, to ask what she should do, but how could she? She would sound crazy, and moreover Ozpin and the others were very clear that this was not to be spread. But how could she not and still make this decision? Slowly, she leaned over to rest against Weiss, and the smaller girl wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple just below her circlet.

"Please, Pyr…," Weiss said after a long silence, "please don't shut me out… I promised I would never leave you alone, remember? What can I do to help?"

"You're already doing it." Pyrrha's eyes drifted closed and a small smile slowly returned to her as she nestled against Weiss, simply basking in her presence. If she accepted the request, it may be one of her final memories after all…

Weiss' expression didn't lighten nearly so much — she couldn't help but enjoy the cuddling, however with whatever was bothering Pyrrha so still a mystery she was ill at ease. Still, she raised her hand to gently stroke Pyrrha's hair, to do what little she could in the circumstances to provide comfort at least. And for quite some time that was how they sat, until Weiss had lost all feeling in one arm and the other burned and she had begun to wonder if Pyrrha had fallen asleep.

"I don't know what to do, Weiss." Pyrrha's voice was barely above a whisper, and quavered with fear.

That in itself sent a chill down Weiss' spine. She had only heard Pyrrha frightened once before, when she had asked Weiss to promise not to leave her alone; what could possibly do so like this that she couldn't speak of? "What do you mean?" It took her a moment to respond, and when she did her voice was soft but betrayed her worry.

Pyrrha sat up straighter, gazing skyward in thought momentarily. "Do you believe in destiny?"

Weiss blinked, not having expected that. "You mean like… fate?" She brought her arms back and pushed herself up a little, suppressing a wince as returning feeling brought pins and needles.

Pyrrha shook her head. "When I think of destiny, I don't think of a predetermined fate you can't escape. But rather… some sort of final goal, something you work towards your entire life."

"Oh. Well, I've never heard it put that way before but yeah, I believe in that."

"Well… what would you do if something came along that you… never expected? Something that had the potential to stand between you and your destiny?" Pyrrha glanced to Weiss as she spoke, her voice growing more nervous toward the end.

"Uh… depends on the something?" Weiss looked terribly confused.

Pyrrha didn't quite wait for Weiss to answer fully before continuing. "Or what if you could suddenly fulfil your destiny in an instant, but at the cost of who you were?"

"Whoa, Pyrrha, slow down! You're really scaring me now… seriously, what's going on?" Weiss reached for her arm, to lay a calming touch there, but Pyrrha stood and stepped away, holding herself and trembling.

"I'm scared too, Weiss… this isn't how things were supposed to happen."

Weiss rose as well and took a tentative step closer, practically in tears. "Then let me help you! Tell me what's wrong, what this is all about… tell me something, please…I don't want to lose you…" She gesticulated as she spoke, her voice breaking toward the end as her hand moved to clutch at her heart.

Pyrrha took a deep, steadying breath. "I've always felt as though I was destined to become a Huntress — to protect the world…," she sighed, "and it's become increasingly clear to me that my feelings were right. But…" she turned back toward Weiss, her eyes shining with tears, "…I don't know if I can do it."

Weiss frowned, then shook her head resolutely. "No."

Pyrrha was taken aback by that, both the speed of the answer and the certainty with which it had been given. Did… Weiss not believe she had what it took to be a Huntress? "No?"

"No. That's not what's bothering you," Weiss declared, stepping closer, close enough to reach out and touch her now. "You wouldn't be here at all, acing every class, if you didn't know you wanted to be a Huntress. You were already doing that last week and you weren't feeling conflicted like this. This is something new, something in the last few days." She slowly reached out to take Pyrrha's hands lest she withdraw again. "Please, just trust me… I've been trusted with corporate and state secrets, whatever it is, I promise you it stays between us."

Pyrrha hesitated — how much could she say? She had to say something… Weiss had a right to know, as much pain as it could cause her — before finally, carefully speaking. "I've been given an offer… an offer that carries a great deal of responsibility and the potential to fulfil my destiny immediately, to protect the world from enormous danger…"

Weiss held Pyrrha's gaze, peering through emerald windows to the soul beyond in search of what she wasn't saying. "But?"

"But… it also carries significant risk. I would be targeted by great evil all my life, and…" Pyrrha hesitated, but Weiss only waited, her eyes imploring Pyrrha to continue. "And by accepting the offer… I may lose my soul…"

Weiss blinked. "Lose your soul? You mean like… it's a really sketchy deal?" Her eyes narrowed. "Wait, is this something my father is doing?"

Pyrrha shook her head. "No, Weiss… I mean my actual soul… the Pyrrha you know may cease to exist…"

Weiss' eyes widened and she paled, no small feat for someone so white already. "Cease to… N-no! No, that isn't fair! Why would you do that!?"

"If I don't, the world will be in grave danger. You will be in grave danger."

"Then we can face it together! There must be another way, someone else that can take that responsibility! General Ironwood, o-or Professor Ozpin, or-!"

"They can't." Pyrrha stepped closer to wrap Weiss in an embrace and buried her face in the shorter girl's hair, her voice breaking with a sob.

"Someone can! There has to be someone!!" Weiss was frantic now. "Please, Pyr… don't do this… there are other ways to reach your destiny. I'll help you get there, I swear I will… I-I'll do anything, just please don't throw your life away…" She sniffled against Pyrrha's chest, clinging to her and trembling.

That was it then. She couldn't do that to Weiss, not after everything she'd done, after she'd given Pyrrha the one thing she never had: real happiness. "Alright…," she whispered, absolutely drained. She gave Weiss a gentle squeeze and nuzzled her hair. "I'll tell them tomorrow… I'll tell them… that they need to find someone else…" She couldn't help the guilt from seeping into her voice.

"Thank you…" The tension melting off Weiss was palpable — not all of it, certainly not, but the greater part; she trusted Pyrrha not to lie to her.

I'm sorry, Professor… I'm so, so sorry…

This was madness. Absolute, unthinkable madness. Grimm and White Fang attacking the festival, working together somehow? It simply wasn't possible!

She'd been in the stands with Jaune, Nora, and Ren, watching Pyrrha's match and cheering her on, as much as she could muster cheer after their earlier conversation. In all honesty she had wished Pyrrha's name hadn't been called — Pyrrha felt the same, she knew, but the matches were random and alas she had been — and they could have just gone back to the dorms to rest; the others would understand that she needed to stay with Pyrrha tonight, their relationship was no secret. Nevertheless, everything had been going well enough; even fatigued by her lack of sleep and emotional state, even with her mind in turmoil, Pyrrha was winning and then… and then someone did something to Pyrrha that made her kill that poor girl Penny — she never would've done it intentionally, not ever, of that Weiss was absolutely certain. Then Ruby was there, and General Ironwood, and before she knew it she was on a ship with everyone else headed for Beacon to join the fight. Now here she was, gliding on glyphs past Jaune as he slashed at an ursa, past Pyrrha cleaving through several beowolves, to skewer a boarbatusk with her blade.

"This is crazy!" Weiss moved to regroup with JNPR at a quick step. "Since when do Grimm work with people!?"

"Since today apparently," Sun replied, leading his team over to join them.

A roar from above drew their attention to a great wyvern passing overhead, dropping globs of a viscous black goo in the courtyard nearby. Almost as soon as they splattered upon the ground, Grimm began to rise from their inky depths.

"Oh, come on!" Jaune gestured in exasperation at the newly-formed group beginning to charge them.

"Aw, don't be like that; just think of it as team building!," Nora replied with a laugh, launching a grenade into the midst of the Grimm.

Weiss was more inclined to agree with Jaune, especially once she saw the look in Pyrrha's eyes as their gazes met. That look wasn't just worried, or stressed, or even frightened… that look was apologetic. This had something to do with the 'great evil' or 'enormous danger' Pyrrha mentioned before, or at least she thought it did.

Pyrrha looked away then and wilted a little; Weiss began to step closer when a shot whizzed past her face. She looked to see a squad of Atlesian Knights firing on the students — really!? Now their allies were turning on them too? — and launched a few ice shards at them, then turned back to Pyrrha only to find that she was no longer there.

"Pyrrha?" Fear gripped Weiss' heart and she cast her gaze around frantically.

"Where's she going?," she heard Nora say, spinning to follow her friend's gaze. There! Pyrrha was approaching Ozpin at the base of the CCT tower.

"I'll go with her!," Weiss called back over her shoulder, already at a run to catch up; she wasn't about to let Pyrrha go off on her own — and as far as she was concerned, right now, if she wasn't with Weiss or her teammates, she was on her own.

"Miss Schnee," Ozpin looked at her over his glasses, his voice serious rather than its usual friendly tone, "you will be most helpful out there with the others."

"So will Pyrrha," Weiss countered just as firmly, "or is there something you're not telling me, Professor?"

Ozpin glanced to Pyrrha, who looked away sadly. "Miss Nikos has a different role to play, I'm afraid."

"Then so do I."

"Miss Schnee-"

"Where she goes, I go." Weiss gave the professor her very best glare, just like Winter taught her.

Ozpin held her gaze impassively for a moment, then huffed. "We haven't the time for this. Very well, this way." He turned and led them to the lift.

As they walked, Weiss looked over to Pyrrha meaningfully, only for Pyrrha to turn her eyes away guiltily. Weiss frowned. "This is it, isn't it?," she whispered; Pyrrha hung her head, all the answer she needed. "Don't do this!"

"I have to," Pyrrha whispered back dejectedly. "Look at what's happening out there."

"That doesn't mean-!"

"Ahem," Ozpin gave Weiss a very disapproving look — one she gave right back — as he ushered them through the door. "Miss Schnee, I will thank you not to make this any more difficult for Miss Nikos than it already is."

Weiss' eyes widened with outrage at that, and as they began to descend she exploded. "I'm making it difficult!? What about you!? You're the one asking her to do whatever this is, risking her soul, keeping everything so secret she can't even talk to the people she loves about what's going on!!"

"Miss Sch-"

"You're the one that wants to put her in constant danger for the rest of her life!! You're the one asking a teenage girl to take the fate of the world in her hands!! But you don't even care, do you!? You don't even care what that does to her!! You don't even care if she's still Pyrrha!! You don't care what happens to her!! You don't care about her at all, you just want your protector!!"

Weiss was trembling with fury, seething; Pyrrha was shocked, her hands covering her mouth.

"Are you finished?," Ozpin asked calmly after a silent moment. When he received no response save Weiss' livid glare, he sighed. "Your accusations are not without some merit, Miss Schnee. Indeed I have asked these things of Miss Nikos," he looked to Pyrrha apologetically, "and it is my failure that has led us into the present situation. For that I am truly sorry. However," he took both girls in with his gaze, "my guilt does not change the circumstances, and the simple truth is that we have run out of time. You may hate me if you wish, you may lay your blame upon me, I will not deny its due, but the enemy is at the gate and whether or not any of us survive to see morning may well hinge upon this decision." The weight of his words hung in the air briefly before a soft ding announced the stopping of the lift.

"We are not finished!," Weiss snapped at Ozpin with a pointed finger for emphasis before turning to run alongside Pyrrha toward a pair of strange pods on the other side of the enormous vault. Why was there a massive vault here? What could a school possibly need something like this for? Why was there another girl in one of the pods!?

"No, Miss Schnee, I didn't expect we were…," Ozpin murmured mostly to himself before dashing off with the girls.

Weiss looked warily toward the pod with the unconscious girl, then to Pyrrha. "Are you sure about this? You heard him, he screws up; maybe he's wrong now!"

Pyrrha shook her head. "I can't take that chance… you saw what's going on; if it continues all of Vale will be destroyed. I'm sorry, Weiss… I have to do this."

They slowed to a stop as they reached the pods and Weiss tearfully took Pyrrha's hands in her own, gazing up into her eyes. "Pyr, please… I can't lose you…"

Pyrrha smiled down to her, her own eyes glistening wetly. "Then be my anchor… believe in me, and hold me here."

"Always." Weiss choked up, returning her smile despite the fear.

"Miss Nikos… it's time to choose." Ozpin stood at the controls for the pods, looking toward the girls. Pyrrha took a deep, steadying breath, then nodded. "Thank you." Ozpin pressed a button and the second pod opened. "Then, if you please?"

Pyrrha began to turn toward the pod, but Weiss held her arm. "Wait."

"Miss Schnee, this isn't the-"

Weiss leapt up to kiss Pyrrha deeply, catching her by surprise, then sinking back to her tiptoes as Pyrrha leaned over with her. For a long moment they stayed there, then finally Weiss pulled back. "To help anchor you." Pyrrha smiled and gave her a little nod, then turned and climbed into the pod, which closed over her.

Weiss turned to Ozpin. "If this is her last memory, it's going to be a good one," she murmured softly, moving over then. "This better work."

"I sincerely hope it does," Ozpin replied. "If you'd like to help, make sure nothing happens to the pods until the transfer is completed."

Weiss nodded, drawing her weapon and summoning a number of glyphs around the pods, gravity to turn aside any projectiles and ice to trap anyone who might try and approach — or which she could activate to create a barrier if need be.

Ozpin pressed a few more buttons, then looked to Pyrrha. "Are you ready?" She gave a small, slow nod. "I… need to hear you say it." Weiss shot him a look.

Don't act like you suddenly care. One way or another you're going to make this up to her.

Pyrrha took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Very well." Ozpin pressed a few more buttons and the other pod raised up, an orange glow suffusing the unconscious girl and her eyelids beginning to flutter. The glow travelled along the pipes connecting the pods, then surrounded Pyrrha, who begun to scream in agony.

"PYRRHA!!" Weiss' eyes were wide with panic and she stepped toward Pyrrha's pod, but was stopped by Ozpin, who looked away sadly. "I'm… so sorry."

Weiss frantically tried to push past, to no avail, then shoved herself away from him. "Sorry!? You're sorry!? What does that mean!? What-!?"

The sound of glass being pierced followed immediately by a dull thunk drew their attention to the other pod, where the shaft of a black arrow stood out from the glass. Weiss' breath caught in her throat; she was supposed to protect the pods… what would happen if something interrupted the process? Would Pyrrha be lost for certain?

Oh no… oh no, no no no please gods no!

For a few agonising heartbeats, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. Weiss called a half-dozen glyphs to fully cover the pod as she rushed to look. The arrow had buried itself in the back of the pod, having nicked the unconscious girl's ear along the way — a small trickle of blood was just beginning to stain her neck.

Weiss released the breath she hadn't realised she held, just in time for another arrow to break through her glyph and slam into her shoulder, what would've been a heart—piercing shot adjusted for the effects of her gravity glyph. Even with her Aura it spun her around and threw her against the pod, and she saw Ozpin rushing forward, his cane held much as she would her rapier, to engage their assailant. Faintly over the sound of her own hammering heart and Pyrrha's soul-wrenching screams she heard him calling out to her to protect the pods.

Until my very last breath.

She activated the ice glyphs to form a wall between the pods and the duel, risking a glance over at Pyrrha's pod — those screams tore at her heart… oh, how she wished to never hear their like — and the control panel with all its holographic buttons and readouts.

No… no, this wasn't right. She didn't know how to operate this machine; she didn't even know what this machine was. Professor Ozpin should be here so that he could monitor its progress and make sure everything went well, so that he could respond to complications and keep Pyrrha… Pyrrha. It should be Weiss out there keeping that woman at bay.

Weiss took a deep breath, then called a glyph to propel her up and over the ice wall and another to launch herself sword-first toward the woman — Cinder? But why? — who easily evaded the attack.

"What are you doing!? I told you to protect the pods!"

"I know, but I don't know how to use that thing!" Weiss parried a strike and dodged another, but it was very clear to her that she was no match for Cinder alone, only given room to breathe by Ozpin's counterattack landing solidly. If Ozpin relented and left her to fight, the only victory she could hope to find was to hold out long enough for the transfer to finish. "Pyrrha needs you back there."

"But-"

Weiss turned a pleading look to her headmaster. "I've got this." If I don't… make it worth it. Make sure she comes out herself.

Ozpin hesitated, but nodded — whether he cared about how important this was to her or just didn't think it was worth the argument she couldn't say — and withdrew, leaping over the ice wall with the aid of a glyph.

"Is that so?"

Weiss turned back to Cinder, who circled slowly, flourishing her obsidian scimitars. "That's right. I don't care who you are, you're not getting to those pods. Not while I'm alive."

"Oh," Cinder smirked, "well I guess I'll just have to kill you then." She pounced like lightning, her blades weaving a deadly pattern through the air. Weiss desperately gave ground and parried, but even so Cinder's blades slashed at her Aura; she couldn't find time, let alone an opening, to attack.

This won't work! You can't just keep retreating, she'll have you too soon!

Weiss leapt back as far as she could, creating an ice glyph in front of her as she did so — Cinder punished her for the lapse in defence, even with Aura she felt that one — and trapped her opponent's feet; it bought her only a moment before Cinder freed herself with a cut, but enough time to call up more glyphs and rapidly launch herself from one to the next to the next, striking a blinding flurry from dizzying angles. She landed a decent hit, a pair of grazing blows… everything else was intercepted by Cinder's flashing blades, which lashed out at Weiss during her assault as well; she took as many hits as she gave.

"This is how you're going to stop me?" Cinder's tone dripped amusement. "You should just take down your little wall and leave, you're not even worth killing."

"Never." Weiss feinted a high thrust at Cinder's throat, dropping it to her abdomen at the last instant; she was rewarded with a parry and a cut to her sword arm… her Aura was getting low now, she could feel it. "I won't let you touch her!"

"'Her' is it? How sweet." Cinder chuckled, throwing a quick flurry to break Weiss' defence and nip at her Aura a bit more, then viciously kicking her in her exposed middle and sending her to the floor. "Last chance… drop it and I'll kill her quickly. If I have to kill you… I'll make her suffer."

Weiss clenched her teeth and scrambled to her feet — Cinder let her, she knew… she was playing with her — and held her weapon at the ready once more, calling up one last glyph. This was it. This was her last stand, her last trick, her last chance to stall, to put up a fight, to hold Cinder off for a few more seconds. I hope it's enough… please be enough. "She would never forgive me if I gave up."

Cinder frowned. "Have it your way." She spun her swords once, then rushed in like lightning, no longer playing, but something was different. Every slash was met with a parry and a blindingly fast riposte, not all of which she managed to catch. "What?"

Weiss pushed herself to the limit: thrust, parry, parry, riposte, slash — she even threw in a kick here and there — but it was a pace she couldn't maintain. Her time dilation glyph was one of her best, but came with a terrible drawback… the instant it wore off, she would be slowed to a crawl, absolutely defenceless in the face of Cinder's wrath, and her Aura was nearly gone. When her speed ran out, her life ran out.

Make the most of it, make it count! This is for Pyrrha!

She pushed Cinder back, back away from the ice wall, back toward the lift, chipping at her Aura all the while. For those few glorious moments Weiss felt as though she might actually pull it off, as though she might, against all odds, defeat this demon and save her princess like some sort of storybook hero. But this was not a storybook, it was reality; she was not a hero, she was but a student; and her princess was not waiting to be saved so they could live happily ever after, she was screaming in unspeakable pain when she could draw breath at all as her soul was torn asunder and stitched back together.

The slow-motion of the world began to speed back up.

No, not yet!

Cinder's movements rapidly accelerated to match Weiss' speed…

Please, just a little more time!

…then surpass it…

No! No, they're not done yet!

And suddenly the world was a blur to Weiss, and Cinder the blurriest of all.

I'm sorry, Pyr… I'm so sorry…

Weiss couldn't even tell which blows landed first, or how many there were for that matter. Her Aura shattered like so much glass and the swords bit deeply into her, throwing her back with a cry to land in a limp heap as her own weapon skittered away.

I tried… I gave everything I had… until my… last… breath…

The ice wall crumbled and fell, and as its rumbles and the echoes of Weiss' voice faded, for a brief moment the vault was silent. No sounds of combat… no agonised screams. Cinder stalked over toward the pods, hidden in the fog left by the dissipated ice.

"You should leave."

Ozpin's voice stopped Cinder in her tracks, her blades held at guard before her. "And why would I do that?"

"Because you're too late." Ozpin stepped forward so that she could see him in the fog. "The transfer is complete. There is a new Fall Maiden, one who will not be so easily bested." His gaze darkened. "And that," he gestured to the still form of Weiss, "is the girl she loves."

Cinder tensed. Fighting a new half-Maiden was one thing… fighting one who was enraged and out for her head whilst also fighting Ozpin, with a damaged Aura, and finishing it before reinforcements could arrive was something else entirely. A growl rose in her throat. "This is not over."

"No, I don't suspect it is."

Cinder glared, then turned and ran for the lift.

Once Cinder was gone Ozpin relaxed and sighed, looking mournfully to the fallen Weiss, to the pod where Pyrrha lay unconscious. It was fortunate the ice wall's passing had left that fog… although defeated Weiss had succeeded. He went to check on her — still breathing, but barely… faint and ragged, and that was a lot of blood — then took out his scroll and called General Ironwood.

"Oz?"

"It's done."

"You mean…"

"Yes… the procedure was successful, but…"

"But?"

"We need a medical team, immediately. A very good one."

"Of course." There was a brief pause. "They're on the way now. What happened?"

"There was an… altercation. A student was gravely injured… I don't know that she'll survive."

Ironwood's countenance fell. "I'm sorry. It wasn't-"

"No, the Maiden is secure. But James…"

"Hmm?"

"Your adjutant may wish to be here as well."

Ironwood looked puzzled. "Winter? Why would she-," then it struck him and his eyes widened slightly. "You mean… oh no."

"I'm afraid so."

"… Nikos?"

Pyrrha sat in Professor Ozpin’s temporary office - his normal one had been damaged in the battle and not yet repaired — with her head hanging, a pensive look upon her face.

"Are you alright?"

With her, aside from Ozpin himself, were General Ironwood, Professor Goodwitch, and Winter Schnee, who had been admitted at the General’s insistence given the near-fatal incident with her sister; to say she was unhappy would be a great understatement.

"Miss Nikos?"

Finally Pyrrha lifted her head to meet Ozpin’s gaze and found all eyes on her, with concerned expressions.

"I was asking you how you’re feeling?"

"Oh. I’m sorry. I feel… horrible."

The others shared a glance.

"Your vitals are all excellent…," Professor Goodwitch noted.

"And your Aura is strong and shows no sign of degradation from the procedure," added the General.

Pyrrha shook her head. "No, not… physically…"

"Ah." Ozpin tented his fingers. "You’re referring to Miss Schnee."

Pyrrha nodded morosely.

"What happened… wasn’t your fault. She made a choice, as did you; she insisted on accompanying you, and when Cinder Fall presented a threat, she insisted that I monitor the procedure to give you the best chance of a positive outcome." A small, sad smile came to him. "She cares a great deal for you, Miss Nikos… though her injuries are regrettable, we were very fortunate she was there."

Winter grew visibly more upset seemingly by the word, finally losing her decorum. "Fortunate? You were fortunate!? If you had anywhere near the security you should for something so important Cinder Fall never would have seen that vault, let alone-!"

"Schnee!" Ironwood barked the name with the sternness befitting his rank, and Winter’s tirade immediately ceased with an audible click of her teeth as her jaw clenched. He gave her a disapproving look, then turned his gaze to Ozpin.

"My apologies for her outburst, Oz; it won’t happen again." He glanced back to Winter at that last before returning his attention to his fellow headmaster. "That said, she’s right. We’ve been on the back foot for too long, that’s become painfully clear. Amber, the CCT tower, Mountain Glenn, and now this, an attack in broad daylight on the Vytal Festival?"

Ozpin frowned. "What are you saying, James?"

"I’m saying it’s time we go on the offensive."

Glynda’s eyes widened. "You want to start a war?"

"We’re already at war!"

"A shadow war, not open combat!"

"Don’t be naïve!," Ironwood exclaimed, gesturing to the window for emphasis. "Look out there. Do you see that smoke? Those are people’s homes, people’s lives. Your people! How many died over the past two days? How many students did you lose?" He turned to Pyrrha. "How many friends?"

Her breath caught for a moment. Thankfully, none of her team had been lost, nor team RWBY, but some of the others… she’d seen faces she knew among the fallen. Faces she would never see again. A hand rose to cover her mouth at the thought.

"That isn’t fair, don’t bring her into this," Glynda protested.

"She’s already in it," Ironwood countered, and they all knew he was right. She was already in it… whether she wanted to be or not, she would be in it for the rest of her life. She was their new Fall Maiden, intrinsically linked to this conflict. He turned back to Ozpin. "I know it sounds like I’m blaming this all on you. I’m not; my ship was taken too, my Knights and Paladins killed some of those people out there. Their blood is on my hands, and I’ll never forgive myself for it. As soon as I get back to Atlas, the entire force is getting refitted; this will never happen again."

"Then how do you expect to fight your war?" Ozpin arched a brow.

"Our war. They won’t be out of commission for long. In the meantime the most promising students in the Specialist program can be fast-tracked."

"Your war. I’m afraid I cannot condone this, James; it will only bring more panic, and panic is already higher than ever after this latest attack."

Ironwood sighed. "I’m not asking permission, Oz. I’d like for you to join me in this — you know her better than anyone — but the war is here. If you want to hide and wait for her to come for you, that’s fine; Atlas is taking the fight to her." He turned to Pyrrha then. "What about you, Miss Nikos?"

Pyrrha didn’t know all of what they were talking about — who was this ‘her’ they kept referring to? — but she knew some… she knew enough.

But they talked over her anyway. "She needs to stay here," Ozpin replied firmly.

Weiss wasn’t staying here, she was being taken home to Atlas for treatment.

"Shouldn’t she have the choice?," countered Ironwood.

Professor Ozpin had told her she had a choice.

"I want to go…"

"She is the Fall Maiden, she must remain here; you know that."

Pyrrha stood up. "I’m going to Atlas." The General gave her a small smile and a nod.

Ozpin, on the other hand, looked over his glasses in that manner by which elders would explain to the youth why something they didn’t like was for their own good. "Miss Nikos…I’m sorry, but that simply isn’t possible. You must understand the pivotal role you now play in safeguarding the world, and to play that role you must stay nearby so that we can protect you."

"Except you can’t, can you?" Pyrrha felt her heartbeat quickening. "You couldn’t even protect me in the heart of Beacon when you stood beside me yourself, Weiss had to-" Her voice broke as her melancholy began to give way to the hurt and anger she’d been suppressing. Anger at Cinder Fall for nearly killing her dear Weiss, at Cinder's associates for actually killing so many others and destroying so much of this place she’d come to call home. Anger at Ozpin for his failure to protect them, for allowing this to happen, both to Beacon and to Weiss. But most of all by far, anger at herself… for allowing herself to be deceived and bringing the Grimm to Vale, for heeding the Professor’s request and bringing Weiss down to that place, for being too weak to complete the transfer sooner. Weiss had been right, she could have done more good on the surface; all that she did in that vault was scream and pass out, and the worst of the battle was over by the time she awoke. Perhaps if she’d listened and rejected Ozpin’s request, she could’ve saved some of those lost. Perhaps Weiss wouldn’t now be lying in a hospital bed fighting to stay alive.

Pyrrha took a breath to calm herself. "General Ironwood is right, no fight can be won by defence alone."

"Miss Nikos-"

"I will be far safer surrounded by the Atlesian military than I will be here."

"Pyrrha-," Glynda began.

"I am going!" The others seemed shocked, though the General less so. Not because Maidenfire had suddenly flared up around her eye, except in Winter’s case — no, that was to be expected when a newly-minted Maiden became emotional — but because soft-spoken Pyrrha, chosen in part for her malleability, was shouting her defiance.

Ozpin sighed. "There is nothing I can do to dissuade you?" Perhaps in his many lifetimes, he had grown too far detached from humanity to account for just how strongly a teenage girl’s heartstrings could bond to another.

Pyrrha shook her head. "I’m afraid not." She turned her gaze to Ironwood. "It’s as you said: we are at war, I am already involved. But to win a war you need soldiers. I don’t know who this enemy is, but I know that Cinder Fall is among them and she has the other half of this power inside me; let me be your champion and take it back." Let me make her pay for what she’s done!

Pyrrha’s understanding of what soldiers were might be a little out of date — several thousand years or so — but it still elicited a smile and a chuckle from Ironwood. "Atlas will be glad to have you."

"I’m sorry to hear that." Ozpin sighed, seeming somehow older. "Then it seems we have no more to discuss. Good luck in your new home, Miss Nikos."

Pyrrha gave him a slow nod, then turned to leave along with Ironwood and Winter.

"Oh, and Miss Nikos?"

Pyrrha stopped just before stepping past the doors, half-turning to look back to the headmaster.

"Do be careful."

His words, or rather his tone, sent a shiver down Pyrrha’s spine — she couldn’t say why — but she tried not to dwell on it as she turned back to step on with the Atlesians, making a point not to meet Ozpin’s gaze as the doors closed.

#my writing #fanfic #schneekos #rwby #pyrrha nikos #pyrrha x weiss #weiss schnee #rwby weiss #rwby pyrrha #rwby au

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ramp-it-up · 3 years

Text

Fresh Squeeze, Pt. 6

Pairing: Daveed Diggs x OFC Linden Marshall

Set in 2023, post-pandemic

Warnings: Cursing, Wild Thoughts™️, Angst, Yearning, 18+, Walmart shopping, Anime discussion, Anthony Ramos. Lots of Plot

Word Count: 2.8 K

Plot: Linden Marshall just finished law school at Columbia University in NYC. Daveed Diggs is still creating magic with his platonic life partner Rafael Casal in the form of their Blindspotting musical, Bay Boys. Linden’s boyfriend WAS Mark Monaco, star of the superhero movie series Invincible. They were together for years, and her trauma and his addictions were toxic. She knows now that wasn’t love.

A/N: Keep in mind that this the same AU as Arrivals, with Holly Woods, but is BEFORE Rafa and Holly get together.

Read the previous chapter.

==================

Isabela, Puerto Rico, May 2023

“We are about 30 minutes from our destination. Please stay seated with your seatbelts fastened. The pilot will let you know when it is safe to do otherwise. Enjoy the rest of the flight.”

The flight attendant’s announcement woke up Daveed. He felt warm and happy. And he had you in his arms.

Daveed moved his head down into your curls, and kissed the top of your head., checking to see if anyone was watching. Everyone was knocked the fuck out.

You had fallen asleep on his shoulder about 45 minutes into the flight after passing around champagne bottles. You were so cute, but he could tell that your neck was gonna be wrecked when you awoke.

Daveed had carefully maneuvered you so that he could pull up the armrest without waking you. You were dead to the world, so you waking up wasn’t a problem.

Then, he pulled you to his chest, situating the blanket around you two and leaning back. If he wanted anything from you right now, at the top of the list would be to be able to hold you like this and to show love.

He questioned that word in his mind. Love, really? He did love you, even if it was only as a good friend. But could it be more? Were you ready for that? Was he?

Daveed looked around to see Craig watching him and giving a thumbs up. No one else noticed, Rafa was on his laptop and he could have sworn that Anthony and Jasmine were doing something nasty under their blanket behind you.

He settled back into this feeling of being with you and fell asleep too, happy and content.

You woke up to a strange rhythm under your ear. It was a blue covered heartbeat, you recognized as you opened one eye, and it was insistent and hard, yet warm and safe. You shifted, held Daveed’s torso tighter and tried to drift back off. His arms tightened around you in response.

Then your eyes popped open.

“Oh shit!” You realized what was going on. You sat up slowly and squinted at Daveed’s smile and his damn low sexy voice.

“Hey sleepyhead.”

“Hey.”

You blushed and wiped your mouth.

“Shit, I’m sorry…” you wiped at his onesie. “I think I drooled all over your…”

You didn’t finish the sentence when you glanced at Daveed and caught his eye.

What you said that night came back to both of you. D’s eyes darkened and he licked his lips. For a minute, you were trapped by the static energy of your attraction. Daveed could do a lot with those lips right now if you’d let him.

But of course you fought it.

You took a deep breath and sat up, separating from Daveed more fully. You had to get it together. You reached for your phone and checked your face, making sure you weren’t too crusty.

“Practically perfect in every way.” Daveed was watching you.

“That’s your first mistake.” You clicked your camera off. “ Anything that’s perfect isn’t real. Or alive.” You had learned a lot in therapy.

“Truth.” Daveed looked at you appraisingly. “Such wisdom from a young one.” He leaned close to you. “That’s why I said, ‘practically.’” He was staring at your lips, not wanting to give up on meeting them again.

“I’m not a ‘young one.’ I’m thirty in two days.”

You lifted your chin as a child would do, Daveed noted. It was appropriate, because you were being stubborn as fuck right now.

He chuckled and stayed close, not letting you off the hook.

“And I’m 40. I could be your…”

The timbre of his voice was causing your pussy to vibrate. Holy fuck.

“...Daddy,” you said, huskily.

You opened your mouth to breathe, as Daveed grunted quietly in his throat. God, you wanted to fuck him. You remembered that you knew how big he was. Your eyes widened and you watched his mouth.

Daveed would teach you about Daddy. He wanted to rail you until your pussy curved to his dick. Got damn.

Daveed wanted you and you wanted him. It was crystal clear. He began to reach for you under the blanket when the flight attendant’s voice intruded on your vibe.

“We are beginning our descent into Rafael Hernández Airport, please stay seated with your seatbelts fastened and bring your tray tables and seats to an upright and locked position. The temperature is 75 degrees and the current time is 12:47 am. We should be at our gate shortly. Thank you.”

That’s it. The moment was gone. You reached for your water bottle and took a drink to cool down. You were grateful.

Daveed was frustrated, as he sat back, brought his seat up, but held the blanket on his lap for a little while longer. It wasn’t fair, he almost had you. He closed his eyes. Now he felt like a child.

---------

The crew finally arrived in town around 2 am, after the two hour flight and renting a couple of cars to get to Isabela, a village on the seaside.

Loud music was playing to avoid falling asleep, Rafael driving one car and Ant the other.

Arriving in town, the two cars headed straight to the Walmart to get some food and things. It was almost 2 am, but everyone was re-energized and playing around, glad to be free for the time being on the island.

Daveed had to concentrate to read the titles in the video section. His mind kept going back to the moment on the airplane. But he vowed not to chase you up and down this island. He didn’t want to crowd you. It had to be your decision.

You had to come to him. And the thought of you made him want to cum. He’d have you to think about in the shower tonight, or today, whatever.

He needed to stop thinking about it.

Daveed was looking for Black Dynamite to watch in the condo in case it rained. He knew better than to think that Walmart had it, but he tried anyway.

He did see Afro Samurai tho… He picked it up as Rafa approached him with a toy xylophone and a big grin.

==================

Puerto Rico did something to all of you. It was like some weird no inhibitions pollen or something. When you stepped off the plane you decided to not overthink shit. You were just going to respond naturally, fuck the consequences.

This was your weekend, after all.

You walked into the entertainment section and heard some vaguely familiar music. As you got closer, you realized what it was.

Daveed was in the book section rapping “Rubber Duckie” as Rafa played a toy xylophone.

I got my rubber duckie

I'm in the tub with bubblies

He isn't very fuzzy

I know my duckie loves me

Call up my homie Ernie,

You know the orange one, ya heard me

D was going in, being silly and laughing with his bestie. He was fucking adorable. You grinned at them and turned down the dvd aisle.

“I can’t believe they don’t have Cowboy Bebop.”

You shook your head as Daveed and Rafa walked up and flanked you at the display, a shopping cart by Daveed’s side.

“It’s a classic. Children will be referencing the War on Titan and it's after effects a hundred years from now."

Rafa just nodded and stroked his chin, having enough sense to be quiet.

“Wait, Attack on Titan is right here Lindy…” Daveed reached for a dvd and held it up in front of you.

Rafa shook his head and covered it with his hand.

"Spike Spiegel wasn't in Attack on Titan. That's an entirely different anime series, my dude."

The sardonic wit in your voice. Daveed just nodded, face on the floor, and put the blu ray down.

You squinted at what D had in his hand.

"Afro Samurai is 20 years old as well. You know that and not Cowboy Bebop? You put shame on your house. Old Man.”

You gave him a sexy grin and sauntered away shaking your head.

Rafa had been watching the scene, head on a swivel. All he had to say after you left was, “Boom. Roasted.”

Daveed just chuckled, surprised and exhilarated at the same time. It seemed that you were up to letting loose a little bit.

He looked at Rafa who just watched Daveed falling. He couldn’t catch him this time.

"Man. Tonight looks like the beginning of an EPIC weekend,” Rafa said as he pushed some more dvds into Daveed’s cart.

Then he pulled a pack of Magnum XLs off the shelf that he had been hiding under his arm from you.

Daveed looked at him. Rafa stared back.

“What? All these beautiful women on this island. I’m not gonna be unprepared or take any chances.”

Daveed shook his head, grimaced and looked around to see where you went, but you were nowhere to be found.

----

You were busy eating some Hot Cheetos that you’d grabbed on the chip aisle and were turning down the candy aisle when you saw Grumpy Care Bear standing there with a basket full of food, dvds and shit, looking at some sour patch kids.

"Oh hell," you said as you turned right back around.

"Ay, yo. Lindy. You can get your candy. I'm not going to assault you with my inferior anime knowledge."

He laughed that sexy laugh and held up his hands. He sort of regretted calling you back because you walking away...Damn. Even in the Pikachu onesie.

Daveed continued to hold up his hands to show he didn't intend any harm, a smile on the lips that were your weakness earlier. Fuck me, you thought.

You smiled back at him and went for the Jelly Bellys. You crunched loudly on your Cheetos as you clocked him out on the low. You felt bad. A little.

"Look, I'm sorry about that in the dvds. I'm just passionate about what I like."

Daveed wondered if you liked him. Like liked him liked him. He allowed himself to go there.

You sucked the Cheeto dust off your fingers and it was making D feel some kinda way as he watched your fingers go in and out of your mouth. His eyes began to slide down your body.

He needed to stop. Daveed cleared his throat and looked at your face.

"No problem. I get it. It's all good."

Diggs unconsciously licked his lips and grinned, causing you to stare for a second at his casual hotness. This couldn't continue. You frowned.

Daveed sensed the change in mood, grabbed his Sour Patch kids and backed away.

“I’ll leave you to it.”

That was a close call you thought as you felt some weird pang of disappointment at him leaving. But it was what it was.

Soon enough, you all left the store. Rafa stole some of your Jelly Belly’s. You just handed over the pack to him and pulled out some more. You were prepared.

==================

When the crew finally got to the house, you dropped your bags and ran to the beach, celebrating four days of freedom from work, acting, fame, fortune, and expectations.

After a few minutes of staring at the waves, y’all made your way back up to the house.

When you walked in before Jazzy turned the lights on, you recognized a large dark expanse which seemed to be the back wall. As your eyes got adjusted, you noticed the white rolls of the waves on the shore.

The back wall was floor to ceiling glass. When the lights came up, it turned into a mirror and 6 characters in onesies stared back at you.

You were at the back of an open concept space with a huge u-shaped sectional sofa and a beautiful, big kitchen with a bar.

Daaaammmmmmnnn! This place is gorgeous! Craig’s mouth was hanging open. You reached over and closed it.

“Welcome to our home away from home!” Anthony was bleary eyed and smiling wide.

He pointed to the right of the house.

“Me and Jazzy’s room is over there,” he then pointed to the right of the house.

“The birthday girl’s room is opposite over there, a mirror of the master,” then he pointed to the back of the house behind you and to the right, “and the other four bedrooms are here.”

Ant started pulling their luggage toward their room, talking over his shoulder.

“Everybody gets their own room, even me, when I fuck up.”

All of you cracked up laughing whole Jasmine nodded her head.

It was almost 4 am, so you all were tired. You gladly pulled your suitcase to your room, feeling grateful and warm for being the guest of honor of your friends. Your room was the bomb.

You walked into a spacious room with bamboo wood floors,and exposed wooden beam ceilings and several floor to ceiling windows. There was a huge fluffy white rug under a comfortable king sized bed in the middle of the room.

Two uniquely designed bamboo lounge chairs and white pillow ottomans faced a window where you could look through and see the pool and beach.

It was a luxury get away and right now, all you wanted was a shower and the bed.

You put your suitcase on the floor and got down and opened it. You shook your head at what you saw.

“HOLY FUCK GOT DAMN SHIT!!!!”

Daveed, Craig and Jasmine came running at your screams. Rafa and Ant were behind.

“What happened.”

You were embarrassed. But so irritated.

“Craig. You got the wrong suitcase. This is Mark’s shit that he never came to get. None of my clothes are here. I have nothing to wear.” You felt like crying.

“I’m sorry Lindy, you said that your summer clothes and bathing suits were in the rolling soft Louis bag…”

I mean the large one. This is the medium one. It’s okay, Craig.

“You have nothing to wear hunh?”

Daveed was smirking at you and you ignored it, crossing your arms and tapping your foot.

“But it’s perfect!” You looked at Jasmine and her chipper British accent.

“We can go shopping for your birthday tomorrow. Treat yourself!”

You couldn’t help but smile at Jazzy’s happiness. She was right. Rafa and Ant went away and left y’all to that talk. Daveed was glued to his spot.

“OOooooh. Good Idea.” Craig was in.

“Ok.I’m tired as fuck. I just wanna shower and sleep now. I’ll not need anything tonight.

Daveed couldn’t get the image of you in the shower and naked in bed out of his head now. He cleared his throat.

“I can give you something to wear shopping tomorrow, Lindy.”

His voice was soft. You smiled at him and he was a goner.

“Man, you are like three times bigger than she is?” Jasmine didn’t understand.

“Hold up. Are you willing to sacrifice, D? Can we cut up one of your t-shirts and jeans?”

Daveed felt pain. The only t-shirts he had were Oaklandish.

“Let’s compromise. You can cut my jeans all you want, but not the shirt.”

Craig smiled wide. “Deal, if you throw in a belt.”

“Damn, Diggs…” was all that Jasmine said, smiling and shaking her head.

“Thank you Daveed. I appreciate it.” You were blown away.

Daveed played it off. “No problem…” And then he just turned around and walked out of your room.

“Girlllllllll!!!!” Craig and Jasmine squealed at you and it took you a minute to get them out of your room.

You walked into the en suite bathroom and marveled at its beauty. It was large, with a huge tub and a walk in glass encased shower with an overhead waterfall shower head.

You turned on the shower to get it hot, stripped off your onesie and your underwear, wrapped yourself in a towel and went back into the bedroom.

You stopped short, because there was Daveed standing in your room, clothes in hand.

He had immediately gone to find his least favorite jeans and the Oakland shirt that would suit you the best. He decided that you would look beautiful in blue.

You just in a towel was a sight to behold. He was sure that underneath that towel was paradise.

You stared at each other for a minute, Your eyes were glued to his.

“Th-thank you again Daveed.” He couldn’t discern if your hesitant, sexy voice was for him or from embarrassment.

“Sorry, I…. didn’t think you’d be… sorry.” He put his hands up and backed out of the room.

“Daveed.” You called, softly. “Stop.”

You approached him with a smile on your face. Daveed’s eyes were wide, not knowing what was going to happen.

“Thank you. I mean it.”

You stood on your tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, your lips lingering. Daveed closed his eyes and fought the urge to grab you and hold you close to him.

“You’re welcome.” His smile wrinkled his eyes as he smiled down at you.

“Goodnight, Linden. Have sweet dreams for me.”

You just stared at him as he turned and left the room.

Daveed was just outside your door when he heard your reply.

“Yes, Sir.”

==================

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Tagging: @einfachniemand @sillyteecup @commandersmiley @ohsoverykeri @theselilwonders @theatrenerd86 @sebastianabucknettastan @imatyoursurrvicesurr @riiyy @ivycomet @lonelydance @curtainremote @biafbunny @id-do-it-for-free-babe

#Daveed Diggs #daveed #daveed diggs angst #Daveed Diggs fluff #daveed diggs x reader #daveed diggs x black reader #daveed diggs x ofc reader #Daveed diggs x ofc black reader #Daveed x Lindy #daveed diggs fic #fresh squeeze fic #Rafael Casal #Jasmine Cephas Jones #anthony ramos

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satan-ruler-of-hells · 3 years

Text

A Million Little Things

Who’s ready for the longest thing I've ever posted? So most of the time when you write, you have a character in mind first right? Because that makes sense. My dumbass however came up with this whole thing without a single name or descriptor and it didn't have one before 5 minutes ago. So if the characterization is off that would be why but I hope you all enjoy nonetheless!

A HUGE thank you to @thisnoodlewritesao3 and @pies-writes-and-more for all of their help and being patient while I freaked out over who to put in XD I love you guys.

"Why are you with him?"

If you had even a penny for every time someone asked you that question you could've afforded the tuition of Shiratorizawa single handedly.

"He's an asshole" or your personal favorite, "He's just using you to pass the time."

Usually you just let it roll off your shoulders, sticks and stones you know? But today you'd just have had a rough day. Between the frustration of not grasping a concept you were learning in class , and spilling the entirety of your bag out in the hall and your water bottle exploding you'd just about reached your limit. Naturally that meant you had to deal with someone’s uninvited options on your relationship.

"All you are ever going to be to him is a pass time, he's never going to actually love you. Why would he?"

The girl's face looks all too innocent except for the slight smirk playing at her lips. It's like she could see right through you and could see your deepest insecurity but you'd be damned letting her know that she got to you.

"Well maybe you're right but at least he actually gives me the time of day."

You walked away before you could hear her response and as soon as you walked out the door, the cool, fresh air hitting your face, the tears started slipping. You knew you were supposed to stop by the gym before walking home but you couldn't let Semi see you like this. Instead you walked home and immediately crashed into bed taking a nap hoping it would ease the knot in your stomach and the tightness in your chest.

You woke up feeling very warm and a hand playing with your hair.

Looking up through your eyelashes you saw your boyfriend idly scrolling in his phone. He must've sensed your eyes on him because he started speaking,

"You were supposed to stop by and see me before coming home."

It wasn't phrased like a question but you knew Semi well enough to know that he wanted an explanation. You opened your mouth to respond but nothing would come out. How were you supposed to explain that you were scared to talk to him? Tell him what had been said for fear that maybe it was true. You'd always known Semi Eita was too good for you. He was beautiful, talented, funny and he made you feel invincible. You had nothing to offer him except your love. But you knew all too well that it wasn't always enough.

"Just wasn't feeling well. Didn't want to worry you that's all."

His brown eyes pierced yours.

"Nice try when your mom let me in she told me you were crying when you came home. What happened today?"

You sat up looking away from him.

"Baby talk to me," you heard him move behind you, " I can't make it better if I don't know what's wrong." His unusually gentle voice had you falling apart almost immediately, spilling everything that had happened throughout the day ending with what the girl said to you. Pulling your knees to your chest you sobbed, Semi grabbed you, pulling you to sit in his lap so he could hold you. He didn't say a word, just letting you get out all the emotions you'd bottled up for so long rubbing soothing circles into your back, head resting on yours, occasionally pressing a gentle kiss into your hair. You stayed like that until, eventually you ran out of tears.

"You hate mornings, mostly because you can’t sleep at night so you never feel ready for them. You don’t eat breakfasts because you say it’s nauseating eating that early in the morning. You hate wearing your hair up but can’t concentrate when it’s down so you always end up pulling it into a messy ponytail. You can’t help singing in the car to yourself even when you think no one can hear you and your favorite time of day is when the sky is a million different colors at sunset. You worry so much about everyone else but the second someone worries about you it’s completely unacceptable. There’s probably a million more little things you think no one notices because you don’t feel worthy of being noticed but I do. Do you want to know why?”

He turned you around so your eyes met his, cupping your face in his hands.

“Because I love you and only you. This isn’t exactly how I planned on telling you but it’s the truth. You’re everything I could’ve ever wanted and never knew I needed. Being with you and seeing how compassionate and caring you are makes me want to be the best version of myself, because then, maybe, I'll be at least half way to deserving you. Baby you are the only one I see, my first thought when I wake up and the last one before I fall asleep. Nothing and no one could ever change that, least of all petty bitches who wear way too much make up and smell like a perfume factory exploded on them.”

You both shared a small laugh at the last part and you sniffled as he wiped away the last traces of tears from your cheeks. “There’s my princess.” Semi smiled and kissed your forehead, cheeks, and nose. You wrapped your arms around his neck and he pulled you into a sweet, gentle kiss.

“I love you too by the way.”

A gentle smile playing on your lips, the words feeling as natural as breathing. Running your fingers through his hair, you rested your head on his shoulders, content to soak in his presence and this moment though messy, was perfect. You knew in this moment what it was like to be truly seen and to be loved without ever realizing it.

“Thank you for coming and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything earlier. I didn’t realize how much everything was actually bothering me.”

Semi's arms wrapped around you tighter and he pressed a kiss to your head. “I always want you to tell me when these things happen, when anything happens regardless if it’s bothering you at the moment or not. Let me be there for you, if you can let me rant about volleyball for forever then I think I can handle hearing about your day.” You could practically see his eyes rolling without ever lifting your head and you chuckled softly.

“Fair enough.” He pulls away from you for a moment, just looking at you.

You knew you looked like a wreck, because even though the tears had stopped, your eyes were no doubt red and puffy and your hair a mess from your nap. But seeing the way Semi looked at you? It’s like he was seeing something ethereal, the intensity of it made your cheeks warm and you squirmed in his lap.

You looked away, unable to keep his gaze but his hand gently grabbed your chin bringing it back and he kissed you. You laced your fingers in his ashy blonde hair, breathless, you pulled away and the grin on his face was brighter than any sun and his eyes sparkling bright enough to put whole galaxies to shame.

The next time someone asked why you were with him? Well simple, you were helplessly in love with him. But the best part was that he felt the same. It wasn’t going to be easy, nothing that’s worth it ever was. However by some miracle the universe gave you a man that looked at you like you’d single handedly hung the stars in the sky, you’d be damned if you’d throw that away.

#semi #semi eita #semi x reader #semi x y/n #semi x you #haikyuu!!#haikyuu x y/n #haikyuu x you #haikyuu x reader

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somedayonbroadway · 3 years

Note

hii it’s me again and im obsessed with the nerve au- i was wondering if you could do a sprace version, please?

Hi, love! Of course I can! Sorry, this is so late :)

Characters

Racetrack Higgins (@racer) — Vee

Spot Conlon (@kingofbrooklyn) — Ian

Jack Kelly — Tommy

Albert DaSilva (@redhotal) — Sydney

Kid Blink (@ublinked) — Ty

JoJo De La Guerra — Wes

Crutchie Morris — Liv

Oscar Morris — JP

Katherine Pulitzer — Hacker Kween

Okay so…

Race is a foster kid. For most of his life, the poor boy did his best to fade into the background, to be the perfect, adoptable child. He avoids risks, he keeps to himself and the few friends he has. He doesn’t want to lose a spot at the table. He doesn’t want to put himself out there. After all, his parents were everything he wasn’t. They’d had him young. They took risks. They went on adventures. And one day, they never came back.

Even after Race is placed in a good foster home, even after he meets his foster brothers and mother and feels like he’s part of a family, he’s still scared to step outside of his bubble of comfort even though his brothers were a bit more social. Race was adopted right before he started high school. He was fourteen. Jack was fifteen and Specs was seventeen.

Three years later, they were hit by a drunk driver. Specs didn’t make it.

Race’s senior year wasn’t quite the same after that.

Race wants to travel. He wants to go to culinary school in Italy. So he applies. And he gets in. But he doesn’t accept the application. He’s terrified to leave Medda and Jack alone without Spencer. The pain hasn’t quite faded yet.

After seeing the acceptance letter, Race sets it aside before school and goes online instead, stalking a boy online that he’s had a crush on for years. Oscar Delancey. Jack thinks he’s a jerk. Race thinks he’s misunderstood.

That’s when his best friend FaceTimes him. Albert DaSilva has been Race’s best friend since he was first taken into Medda’s place and he is always looking for some extra attention. Race doesn’t mind so much, but sometimes it can get exhausting.

Albert tells Race to stop stalking Oscar on Instagram and, instead, sign up to watch Albert play Nerve, an online game where people get dared and have to perform those dares for their “watchers” for money and fame. Race scoffs at the game and tells Albert that it sounds ridiculous before he leaves for school.

Jack drives him. Race tries to tell him about Italy, but he chickens out. Instead, he goes to school where Albert gets his first dare.

Race’s other friends, Crutchie and JoJo record Albert on his own phone as he runs across the football field during a rally, buck naked. To no one's surprise Albert is suspended later that day. Despite this, while out for milkshakes after school, Albert informs Race that he will still be playing Nerve in hopes of becoming famous.

Jack, who meets the other kids at the restaurant, tells Albert he’s being ridiculous. This causes Albert to turn the tables on Race and tell him he could never be a player on Nerve and then all of his friends vote on a date for him with Jack being the only no. They dare him to talk to Oscar, a simple task that will just push him slightly out of his comfort zone. Race chickens out.

So Albert does it for him, only for Oscar to tell him that he’s not interested in Race. Race stands and storms out and Jack stops Albert from following him, telling him that he just hurt his little brother and better think about what he’s doing next time before Jack decides to punch in the nose.

Race rushes back home where he finds that he never closed the Nerve window on his computer. He watches the video on his screen where he finds out the rules of the game. There’s only three:

1. all dares must be recorded on the player's phone

2. any earned money will be revoked if a player fails or bails on a dare

3. "snitches get stitches."

It’s sketchy as hell but Race has a point to prove. When the question comes up “Watcher or Player,” against all of the boy’s instincts, he makes a decision. Player.

Race is running down the stairs when Jack gets home. He has his first dare. He needs Jack to drive him to Jacobi’s Diner. Jack does, because Race asked him to. That doesn’t stop Jack from giving Race a lecture on how stupid he’s being. Still, Race is determined to prove he isn’t a coward.

His dare is to kiss a stranger for five seconds. Jack records it for him as they eventually find someone reading a book that Specs had read to him once when he was going through an insomnia spell. To The Lighthouse. Race kisses the other boy for a lot longer than he had to and eventually stumbles away says “thank you!” and runs back to Jack.

Jack tells him that he needs to quit now after Race gets one hundred dollars for playing the game. Race almost concedes before he hears someone singing. The boy he’d just kissed walks over to him and sings to him, asking him to run away with him.

Jack realizes it’s a dare and tries to pull Race up and out of the diner, but the boy sits with them and tells him that some kid brought him that book and told him to sit and wait. Jack comments that it sounds like he responds well to puppy commands and starts calling him Spot. Spot doesn’t correct him.

Another dare comes. The watchers want Race and Spot to run away together, run away to the center of the city. Jack tries to stop them. But Race didn’t know how much he was longing for an adventure until that moment.

Race rides with Spot on his motorcycle to a very expensive store in the center of Manhattan where Spot goes in before him and Race is dared to try on a very expensive suit that he looked very good in. He changes on camera. Jack watches him, terrified to look away as he tries to follow him and stop him from getting himself killed. Apparently some kid died in Santa Fe playing Nerve.

Race doesn’t listen to his warnings and continues to take dares with Spot until they are dared to leave the store after their clothes have been stolen. Race says he won’t shoplift, but Spot is insistent. So Race comes up with a compromise.

They run out of the store in nothing but their underwear. Their watchers get a kick out of it. One of them even buys them the clothes they tried on, letting them keep them.

Jack decides he’s watched for long enough and calls someone for help. A dear friend of his. Okay, it’s his girlfriend, and maybe she’s a little older than him, but hey, who’s keeping track? He asks her for access to the dark web and she reluctantly gives it to him. When he has access, he finds all he can on Spot, previously known as Sean Conlon, a kid who played the game in Santa Fe.

He doesn’t seem like an upstanding citizen.

Albert is trying his best to get into the top ten, to win the whole game, but his watchers won’t give him any real dares. He’s out with Crutchie and JoJo when they find out that Race is playing the game. Albert is shocked and a bit jealous at how fast Race is moving up in the game.

Becoming a pair in this game, Race is dared to get a tattoo of Spot’s choosing and, though terrified of getting a tattoo at the wrath of his mother, accepts the dare and lets Spot calm him down with some music while he gets the thing, to later find out that it’s a lighthouse, for To The Lighthouse. After Race manages to complete this dare, the watchers move forward with a dare for Spot. He has to get to sixty miles per hour on his motorcycle while blindfolded.

Race almost bails on him because of it, because he’s terrified, but Spot manages to convince him to help and Race guides him while they get to sixty in five minutes. They barely make it and then they almost crash, and then they kiss, feeling invincible.

Jack can hardly watch, fearing his little brother might die and then his mother calls, asking why the hell money is being deposited into Race’s account and where it’s coming from, so Jack has to deal with that while he’s still trying to look for his brother.

Spot takes Race to a carousel. They mess around on it while Race tells Spot about Specs, about how Specs was fearless, about how Specs pushed him to do things he would’ve never done otherwise. Spot tells him it’s a shame he never met him. He thinks they would’ve gotten along. Race agrees with him before Albert tries calling him.

Albert has been at a party with the rest of their friends. They’re all watching Race play Nerve live on a big screen. He sees Race reject his call. He hears Race call him annoying, frustrating, attention demanding. It hurts. And everyone else gets to hear it too.

Spot suggests they go to the party that Albert’s at to show everyone that he’s not who they thought, to show people that he got a tattoo and his own opinions. However, when they get there, they find that Albert has bailed on a dare after the watchers found out he was scared of heights. He nearly fell from a ladder suspended above ten stories.

He’s pissed that his best friend wasn’t there to talk him out of it. This sparks an argument between Race and Albert. Race eventually tells Albert to sign up and watch him from now on if he wants to know where he is. Then he accepts his next dare, to finish Albert’s. He walks across the ladder only to be met with his big brother who tells him that Spot set him up, that he took a dare to get him to the party to fight with Albert. Race shoves him away and finds Spot, demanding to know if that’s true.

Spot pulls him into the elevator and tries to explain. But Race won’t let him. He’s had enough. He runs out of the building. He finds a cop and tries to tell him about Nerve. He needs someone to shut it down. But he gets distracted by a call from his mother, telling him that everything they had was gone, that their savings had been drained and photos were showing up on her and Jack’s social media page that shouldn’t be. Before Race can respond, he’s knocked out cold by a player who has been around the whole time, someone Race suspected Spot knew.

When he wakes up, he finds himself in a metal cage with the words “Snitches get Stitches” scrawled out on the walls. A computer lights up and tells Race that he is now their prisoner. A prisoner of the game. A flash of Jack comes across the screen. Then one of Albert. Terrified, Race tries to break out only for Spot to show up and pick the lock for him.

Spot explains to Race that he’s a prisoner of Nerve too and that the watchers control his whole life, and not just that, they control his family’s life. His sisters and his mother too. The only money they get is money the watchers give them after they messed with his mom’s job and his sisters’ futures have been destroyed. He explains that they’re going to give Race an impossible dare and that they sent Spot here after him to finish it for him if he can’t.

Down the hall, muffled voices are heard and Race walks into a new room to find Jack and Albert tied up and gagged on chairs and a gun sitting in between them. He’s dared to choose who lives and who dies.

Race is obviously scared and refuses to choose, trying to bail, but Spot stops him, telling him that if he bails, he’ll be a prisoner until the game comes around again. He has to win to get out. So Race takes the gun and aims it at his own head, causing the watchers to tell him to stop. They need someone to control. So Race stops and Spot unties the other boys and helps them out finding a secluded parking lot to drop them off before he rushes off to complete his next dare, trying to make sure he was the one in the finals with Race instead of Blink, the other boy who he was made prisoner with after going to the cops when their friend died playing the game.

Spot takes the same dare that got his friend killed, hanging one handed from a construction crane. He manages to do it, putting himself in the finals.

Jack, Race and Albert pull together and form a plan, calling some backup in and going to The Cloud, a place Katherine often hangs out. He asks her and her hacker friends to try and gain control of the boys controlling the game and she does. Jack takes Albert there after Albert makes a call at a pay phone. They try to hack the game while Jack gets a call from his panicking mother whom he tells to meet him at The Cloud.

Race goes to the finals and is given another gun. When he sees Spot across this mysterious arena, he tries to run to him, having fallen for him over the course of all of these insane events, but the watchers tell them to stop and take their marks. The first to shoot their opponent wins.

Spot tells Race to shoot him in the shoulder. Race almost complies, but shoots the ground, telling him that he can’t do this. He tries to walk away but someone from the crowd says that he’ll take the challenge instead.

Blink jumps into the arena.

Medda gets to The Cloud just in time to watch the whole thing.

The watchers vote for Blink to shoot Race. And he does.

Medda can’t fathom the fact that she’s lost another child.

But Jack just tells Katherine to blow it up as Race falls into Spot’s arms.

Spot begs him to wake up as the anonymous players phones reveal their real names and tell them their accessories to murder. Everyone begins to sign off.

Spot cries over Race, completely horrified and tries to shoot Blink before Race shoots up in his arms, telling him that he was alright, that it was all fake. So Spot hugs him and begs him to never do that again.

But he’s so happy that he’s finally free.

Race immediately calls Jack and Medda and they cry together. So Spot takes him to them.

Jack and Medda encourage Race to go to Italy and Spot and him end up in a committed relationship. Albert and Race makeup and Jack is still overprotective as ever and they heal from the loss of Specs and are able to actually love on.

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yehet-about-it · 3 years

Photo

I Like Me Better | 17 - Apology

~ A Wayv Social Media AU Series ~

< Prev || Series Masterlist || Next >

Synopsis: You’ve just moved into a new apartment with your best friend Yangyang, but you’re immediately faced with a problem: your incredibly noisy upstairs neighbour Xiao Dejun, or to friends, Xiaojun. You spend the first few weeks of your acquaintance hating his guts, but after a sincere apology and a fascinating revelation about his passions and motivations you slowly begin to see past his cold exterior to discover the real him. What will happen as you get closer to this troubled boy and how will those closest to you react?

Pairing: Reader x Xiaojun

Themes and Warnings: Explicit language, mild sexual content, mild violence and references to drinking/alcohol. Deals with themes of toxic masculinity, insecurity, gaslighting (sort of), and jealousy…

Disclaimer: All work is fictional, and not an accurate depiction of any real people mentioned within the story, nor is it intended to be an accurate or realistic depiction of said people.

Words: 2.2k

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“Hey.”

“Hey.” The atmosphere was awkward as you stood in the lobby of your apartment building having agreed to talk with Xiaojun. You had slipped out unnoticed by Yangyang, who would most likely be none too pleased at your willingness to spend time with the man who had inadvertently given you a bruised neck during his drunken tirade, and not in the pleasant way.

You turned left out of your building, following Xiaojun in silence until he spoke up again. “Are you okay to walk? I know it’s hot but there’s this place I know a mile or two away I thought we could go to.” You confirmed you were okay, having dressed appropriately in shorts and sneakers and sidled up to Xiaojun so you were walking side by side. You were thankful for the noise of the city as you walked, the both of you hesitant to start the conversation you knew you needed to have. “So uh.” Xiaojun chewed on his lip as he tried to find the right words to start, a habit he’d picked up over the years when he was nervous. “I really am sorry about the other night y/n. I really regret what I said, it was awful and I was drunk and- and just angry about some stuff, so I understand if you don’t like me, but I really want to make things right.” You nodded slowly, taking in his words. “Yeah, it was pretty awful… but I don’t think you’re a bad guy Xiaojun, you’re just- just kina frustrating. I think I can forgive you, but I just wanna know why you lashed out like that…” Since that day you went to his café, you had realised Xiaojun wasn’t just the stoney, cold bad boy he seemed to be on the surface; that there was a much softer and gentler side to him. When you saw his face light up at the sight of Bella, and the genuine carefree smile on his face when he held her, to the serene look on his face as he strummed on his guitar. It all told you there was something more to this boy, and you wanted to find out what. You wanted to find out why he was such a stubborn ass, when he was clearly a softie deep down. And you wanted to know why he fought with his friends so much. Xiaojun sighed deeply at your request. “Lucas,” he said grimly, shoving his hands in his pockets. “He was going on at me about… stuff. He’s one of my best friends but he can be a right jerk.” You scoffed at the irony and Xiaojun looked at you. “Yeah takes one to know one right? But you know, he’s this big ripped model and thinks he’s invincible, while I’m just this scrawny little nobody… He’s always bragging about girls and telling me how useless I am when it comes to that, and the other night he just took it too far. I guess he got in my head and I didn’t handle it well, and I took it out on you, so I’m sorry…”

Your eyes softened a little as you listened to Xiaojun rant. You never imagined that he’d be holding on to insecurities like that, let alone that one of his own best friends would be rubbing it in his face. You knew boys bantered over stuff like that, but it’s small things like that which can trigger peoples insecurities and produce some grim results, so you could understand where Xiaojun was coming from. “Oh… Lucas did mention something like that…” Xiaojun looked at you in annoyance. “Of course he did,” he grumbled. There was a pause before Xiaojun spoke again. “So, do you think you can forgive me? And I promise I’ll keep my music down or wear headphones from now on too.” You chuckled at his last statement. “Yeah, I think so. I get why you were annoyed, Lucas is a bit… much. But you shouldn’t have brought my friends into it. And next time? Maybe go a little easier on the liquor.” “Next time?” Xiaojun said playfully, his expression turning into a smirk, to which you rolled your eyes. “Yeah, sorry, I know. I promise it won’t happen again y/n.” “Well thank you, apology accepted.” A small smile played on Xiaojun’s lips as you answered, mostly out of relief, but also out of astonishment at your forgiveness. In truth, he’d been a complete and utter asshole, and he wouldn’t have been surprised if you despised him and had said you never wanted anything to do with him ever again, but mercifully, you hadn’t.

You continued the rest of your walk quietly, making small talk about how long he’d lived in Hannam, who Renjun was and so forth. Eventually you came to a small trail on a hill around the back of the infamous “Hannam The Hill” complex, that led to a small viewpoint, shrouded in trees. “Wow, I never knew this was here…” You breathed as Xiaojun led you out onto the platform, overlooking most of Seoul. “Yeah, not many people know about it. I come here when I need to think,” Xiaojun admitted leaning forwad on the wooden barrier. “It’s beautiful, you can see so much of the city…” You stopped gazing out across the city as you caught your breath from the climb. Who knew Xiaojun was the sort to come somewhere as pretty as this in his down time? Really you were humbled that he trusted you enough to bring him to such a private place for him. “Heh, yeah it’s pretty nice, especially at night. Helps me clear my head.”

You spent the next few moments in comfortable silence, appreciating the view, feeling the warm sun oon your face. You’d just closed your eyes, embracing the little bit of fresh air you were getting as a change from the usual stuffy dusty air of the city when Xiaojun spoke again. “Thank you y/n…” You blinked back at him. “For what?” You asked, puzzled. “For being so patient, and giving me another chance. Not many people do…” Your heart pounded in your chest, stunned by the moment of sincerity. “You don’t need to thank me Dejun, everyone deserves a second chance,” you said, smiling softly back at him. “I think you’ve given me more than two chances. And I really mean it. You’ve been more patient than most. I mean, you even came to see me sing at that dumb café. That… really meant a lot. My musical career hasn’t exactly taken off and at this point I’ll take all the audience I can get….” You looked Xiaojun in the eyes to respond sincerely, but saw an indescribable sadness in them that made your heart sink. “Really it mas my pleasure but… that must be hard,” you whispered. “You could say that. Doesn’t help when your dad and brother are always on your case about why you’re not getting anywhere, telling you ‘you’re wasting your life in Korea’, and that ‘if you’re still working at that coffee bar in 12 months you’re coming back to China’… Just because they’re big hotshots in the industry back home.” Here was the baggage you had been looking for. You had guessed he had more on his plate than he let on, and clearly this was it. You didn’t know why he was trusting you with all this, but you were glad he was. “Wow… That’s rough, I can’t believe they’d say that to you…” Your brows furrowed as you took in everything Xiaojun was saying, and you couldn’t help but feel sympathy towards him. “Yeah well I’ve dealt with it most of my life. The successful favorite brother. I’m just the failure. You know, your friend called me that, ‘a failed musician’…” “He did what?!” Your eyes widened at what Xiaojun had just told you. You couldn’t believe that Kun of all people would say that to him. You were definitely having words. “Heh, don’t worry I’ve been called worse, I’m used to it…” Xiaojun snorted indignantly. “No, no that’s not okay… Kun should know better…” You shook your head, genuinely feeling a little guilty. “Really its fine, it was a heat of the moment thing. And I guess after what I said on Saturday it can be forgiven…” You nodded. “Still, he shouldn’t have said that. It’s a hard industry to get into and you’re trying your best. Your voice is incredible Xiaojun, any label would be lucky to snap you up. It just takes a little more exposure, putting yourself out there, and I’m sure you’ll make it.” Xiaojun looked genuinely taken aback. “Well it’s definitely not as simple as that, but thanks.” There was a bashful smile on his face as he thanked you, seeming genuinely grateful for your compliment.

As the conversation stilled, you stood against the wooden fence of the observation deck, taking in the view of the city in silence and feeling the cool breeze trickling through your hair, providing some relief from the hot sun. Then you had a thought, as you realised there was still something you hadn’t cleared up. “By the way,” you looked up at Xiaojun, a small smirk on your face. “It’s really not like that with me and Kun…” Xiaojun looked at you quizzically. “He’s pretty much like my big brother. I’ve known him since I was in middle school. His parents are friends with mine and he went to school with my brother… I guess he’s always just looked out for me like a little sister. He looks out for all of us. So you can drop the whole sugar daddy thing.” Xiaojun snickered. “Heh yeah. Sorry about that… Guess I was just jealous,” he admitted, much to your surprise. “Oh…” you said, flushing a little and clearing your throat. “You know, I think if you two gave eachother a chance, you might get on.” You brushed Xiaojun’s comment off choosing to ignore it and work on reconciling him and Kun. Xiaojun scoffed. “I don’t think he’ll be willing to give me another chance after everything, especially that,” he said pointing to the bruise on your neck. “Well I don’t know, I have,” you shrugged. “Kun’s a good guy, he doesn’t hold grudges for long unless you really deserve it.” You paused, contemplating whether to tell Xiaojun what you were going to say next. “He’s a producer you know...” “What?” Xiaojun looked at you in surprise. “Kinda big time. He’s worked on some pretty big songs.” You knew Kun was going to be utterly mad at you for attempting to use him to help this guy, but nevertheless you wanted to try and give Xiaojun at least a little bit of hope, something positive to pull him out of his head. “Woah. Didn’t really have him down as the musical type.” “Oh really? What type did you have him down as then?” You said, playfully challenging Xiaojun to make another quip about Kun. “Honestly I don’t know. I didn’t put that much thought into it to be honest.” You both laughed, the glowing sun lighting up Xiaojun’s face as his eyes creased in genuine, happy laughter. “Well, maybe one day I can introduce you properly, he might be able to help you”. “Yeah one day. Let’s just focus on getting him to not hate me first,” Xiaojun said cynically, but with a tone of amusement in his voice.

You laughed, relieved that you could no longer feel the tension that had been between the two of you earlier, and that Xiaojun now seemed to have a genuine smile on his face. All the angst that had been clouding his aura before was now gone for the most part, and you happily enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, chatting and embracing the peace of Xiaojun’s little sanctuary. And when you got home, despite Yangyang’s nagging, you were filled with a resolve to actually make an effort with Xiaojun and get to know your mysterious neighbour.

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yandere-daydreams · 4 years

Note

Can I get a headcanon request about bakugou finding out that his darling is a huge fan of his and getting kidnapped was one of her darker fantasies sorry thats it's weird

Clearly, you haven’t been around here very long. We’re all a little horny for Katsuki, so it’s only a matter of time until his Darling starts to be, too.

TW: Emotional Abuse, Physical Violence, and Implied Neglect.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

You couldn’t say this hadn’t been your goal, when you and Katsuki met. You’d been Ground Zero’s biggest fan since his debut, and dutifully taken in every bit of content you could find with his name attached. You were a creature of consumption, when it came to him, absorbing everything you could find. Art, fan-made merchandise, creative writing, both appropriate and… otherwise.

Mostly otherwise. A lot of otherwise.

Obsession, complete obsession, was just a concept you played around with. It wasn’t unheard of in the more niche parts of his fanbase, and while most of the fantasies and fanfictions focused on jealousy and possession and ethically-dubious sex, you’d always been attracted to those that took a more domestic approach. Even after meeting Katsuki, asking for his number and getting coffee and doing all the things normal, well-adjusted people do when they meet their idol, it was hard not to picture him as a begrudging caretaker, a loving protector, albeit one that coddled with a grimace. You’d been buzzing when you woke up in his spare bedroom, a shock collar around your neck and those red eyes you so adored burning into you. Sure, you’d cried and lamented and gone through the motions, but you hadn’t really cared. Who would’ve, in your position? When everything they’d worked for was so close, just on the other end of a well-used riding crop.

You’d been proud of yourself for not struggling, not truly struggling. Only appearing to. You could’ve slipped through the cracks dozens of times, before Katsuki realized he had to seal them up.

You weren’t sure if you regretted that or not, now. You thought you might be starting to, by the time your back hit the tiled floor.

The impact knocked the wind out of your lungs, something in your spine cracking as it made contact with the unforgiving surface. The cold didn’t waste time, seeping through your thin clothes and embedding itself underneath your skin, intimately acquainting you with the constant chill every part of Katsuki’s home seemed to maintain. You weren’t sure whether it was the pain or the frustration that brought tears to your eyes, but the heel lodging itself your diaphragm did little to improve either feeling. You didn’t know why he bothered pinning you down anymore, honestly. You never tried to get up, not until he made it clear you were allowed to.

Above you, Katsuki was silent, staying quiet and breathing heavily and gritting his teeth, his rage utterly alien in the kitchen’s homey lights. If you knew he was going to do this, you would’ve left them off, allowed yourself to bask in the darkness before he came home, hostile and violent. That would’ve been appropriate, thematic. This just felt wrong.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He growled, his voice hoarse and tired. It must’ve been a bad day, judging by how harshly he spat the words, one where he had to deal with a sidekick he didn’t care for or patrol a neighborhood with too many journalists. You’d assigned yourself the duty of helping him relax, early on, greeting him fondly and running too many hot baths to count, but you stopped after the fifth lecture on the dangers of faucet-based burns. You figured he just wasn’t used to being doted on, but with a steady pain blossoming in your chest, it was hard not to think he just liked feeling big. “I give you one rule, one rule, and what’s the first thing you fuckin’ do? Break it like a goddamn brat.” He paused, making a point of grinding you down into the floor. “Apparently, you’re too much of a dumbass to stay in your bedroom. I should turn that collar up a few notches. Maybe you’ll finally take me seriously, once you see what it’s like when I really want you to suffer.”

You weren’t inexperienced when it came to his temper, but you still found yourself cringing, averting your eyes as he spoke. You opened your mouth, an apology already playing on your tongue, but Katsuki only shifted more of his weight onto your lungs, forcing you to choke. Your breath hitched in your throat, and you tried to cough the blockage away, but all you could do was sputter and suffocate until he oh-so-mercifully let you go, lowering himself to better crouch at your side. Closeness wasn’t a comfort, though, not when the first thing he did was burrow his nails into your scalp, jerking you upward and letting you squirm as he stared on, as apathetic as he was sadistic.

“I don’t want an excuse,” He said, his tone suddenly unfaltering. As if he had the right to be rational when the sole of his shoe was already engraved into your skin. “Give me a damn good reason not to punish you, or don’t expect to see anything but the inside of the smallest closet I can find for the next week. The next month, if you throw another fit.”

You hesitated, but your confession came easily. You were too sore to lie, honestly. “I… I was hungry, Bakugo,” You admitted, flicking as his grip loosened. Luckily, he pulled away from you, taking to petting back your hair, instead. You just lulled into the soft touch, glad to have some reprieve before he decided you didn’t deserve it. “I’m sorry. I know I’m not supposed to, but… you leave so early, and we didn’t get to have breakfast today, I was just so--”

“I would’ve gotten you something when I came home.” He cut you off without a second thought, and you curled into yourself. You almost wish he hadn’t made you sit up, if only so you’d have an excuse to feel so weak. “You know that. All you had to do was ask.”

“You weren’t home,” You mumble, weakly. It was pitiful, but true, and Kasuki narrowed his eyes. You swallowed down something thick and jagged before continuing. “I was just planning to grab something. I wasn’t even going to cook, I promise.”

He let out a heavy sigh, another hand coming up to cup your cheek. You bowed your head reflexively, letting him pout and think as you wallowed in your own self-pity, biting your tongue to keep from telling him there was nothing to think about, he was the one who overreacted. You weren’t at fault, but that never seemed to matter, these days. “We’ve both got to make sacrifices, baby,” He explained, the words dripping with sympathy. You couldn’t bring yourself to decide if it was genuine or not. “I’m a Pro-Hero. It’s my job to keep you safe, but to do that, I need to know you’re not putting yourself at risk. Someone might see you down here, and they’ll take you away. You might slip and get hurt and I won’t come in time to help. I don’t want to lock you up any more than I have to, but I’ll have to, if you keep running around like you’re invincible.” He stopped, holding you still and kissing your forehead. “You see why you can’t do this kind of shit, right? I need you to tell me you do.”

You nodded. It was the only reaction you could think of that wouldn’t upset him. “Can I go back to my room, now?”

At that, he laughed, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you into his chest, resting his chin on your shoulder. He must’ve said something, but you didn’t bother listening. You were still starving, still freezing, still in pain, and Katsuki didn’t seem to have any interest in changing that

You knew you wouldn’t be happy. It wasn’t about being happy. You wanted to be protected, and taken care of and loved, even if you knew Katsuki would never say it out loud.

But, you didn’t feel loved. You didn’t feel protected, either.

It was hard to feel much of anything, when you were so busy being miserable.

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unlocktxt · 4 years

Text

more than just a memory | c.s.b

Choi Soobin

❦ genre: angst, fluff, ghost soobin!au, soobin x reader

❦ description: moving into your new house, you expected to be met with peace and quiet, but everything doesn’t seem to go according to plan when your met with a tall lonely ghost named soobin.

❦ word count: 5.6k

❦ warning‼️: this includes/mentions death, loss, heartbreak, afterlife, and swearing

The burning sun could be felt on your skin, tanning it as you ran down the never ending street. You checked your digital watch to see that you were now five minutes late to your moving in get together. Your absence would be evident to your close family and friends. The thought of your parents nagging about your tardiness only motivated you to move faster. You were running so fast that you just barely managed to dodge an old woman and her barking chihuahua. “Watch where you’re going before you kill someone’s dog!” You didn’t have to look at her to know that she was pointing her angry accusing finger at you. “Sorry miss!” You quickly turned the corner, finally on your street. You were relieved to know that the old woman wasn’t your neighbor. With the house in your sights you ran even faster, those years spent in track finally paying off. Practically feeling like a cheetah, it was hard for you to stop yourself as you approached the house. Trying to slow down was a useless attempt as you tripped. The stupid rock causing you to fly forward, foot hurting like a bitch. Your reflexes didn’t seem to be enough, but they still managed to get you to crash into the parked car, rather than the pavement. As if things couldn’t get any worse, the car alarm started blaring. At that moment, you were willing to dismantle that moving money eater. The car alarm suddenly stopped, causing you to face the small group of people on the porch. Well shit. Waving with a big smile on your face, you fought the urge to laugh at yourself and feigned innocent. This clearly didn’t work because when you made eye contact with your parents, you could practically feel the disappointment. Good thing you have your own house now.

You made your way over to your favorite people, still out of breath from running. “Hi guys! So sorry I’m late. I uh... I had to go help this elderly woman catch her chihuahua that got loose.” You decided against telling them that you managed to get lost walking around the many, many blocks. Nodding your head in satisfaction, you thanked the old woman and her dog for saving you from the wrath of your parents. The only person who didn’t seem to fall for this was your friend, Taehyun, who shook his head in disapproval, although you knew he found it funny. “Let’s get this party started!” You ushered everyone inside as you made your way over to Taehyun and Beomgyu. “Okay so what the hell were you actually doing?” Taehyun raised an eyebrow at you, basically staring you down. You let out a sigh, knowing they would make fun of you. “I went out for a walk because I got spooked... and then I got lost.” Beomgyu immediately started laughing. “You- You got lost in your own neighborhood!” He couldn’t help his laughter, you were just too oblivious of your surroundings. Taehyun, who actually listened carefully, had more questions. “So why did you get scared in the first place?” Taehyun seemed interested in what you had to say, giving you the confidence you needed. “Well... the house is always kind of cold you know... and they say it could be because it’s haunted. I didn’t really mind it, but I swear I saw a reflection in the mirror.” You shivered just thinking about it. This caused Beomgyu to look around with wide eyes. “No way... your house is haunted!” Beomgyu shouted, causing Taehyun to put his hand over the loud man’s mouth. “She probably just isn’t used to being home alone, so she got paranoid.” Taehyun shrugged. To be fair... it does sound more reasonable, however, you could’ve sworn you saw a tall figure staring at you. Then again it only lasted for a split second. “Your parents brought cake, come on.” Taehyun got us back on track, but not before Beomgyu mouthed we should totally go ghost hunting. Ignoring the heavy feeling on your chest, you followed after them. What couldn’t be seen, was how Soobin lit up. So she did see me, he thought. After months of having an empty feeling, he finally felt something. Hope. He now made it his mission to get your oblivious self to notice him.

“I can’t believe our child is all grown up now.” Your mom’s eyes glossed over as she looked at you. “Mom don’t cry,” you chuckled at her pouty face, “you’re acting like I’m never going to visit you.” Shaking your head, you realized that you were going to be all alone in this house. Like a slap to the face, the thought of having to be completely independent hit you. The sudden realization scared you, but you knew it was about time to grow up. “I think that you’re still our little one, after all I’ll just be glad you don’t burn the house down.” Your dad’s joke had everyone laughing, they all knew how much he wanted to see you everyday. The memories of your childhood seemed to flash through your mind - the time your dad would always set you on the tree until you were able to climb up it just like him- or the time your mom chased you around the yard, trying to tickle your small self. These are the memories you would cling onto for the rest of your life. “I’m not that bad of a cook!” Sure you had caught noodles on fire, but that was like three years ago. You’ve improved since then, or so you thought. “There’s a reason no one asks you to cook.” Your mom admitted, to which you puffed your cheeks. You were being called out and your friends just nodded in agreement. The ultimate betrayal. “Then it’s a good thing I had you to take care of me. I probably picked up a few of your tricks.” Key word probably.

Your parents weren’t going to stay long, that way you and your friends could have some fun. Just when you turned to walk your parents to the door, the plastic cup moved an inch. Soobin, who had moved it, quickly turned to look at you with a big, proud smile. “I just did that!” He was excited about his achievement that took ten minutes to pull off, but as he looked at your back facing him, his face fell. “You have got to be kidding me.” The poor invisible Soobin really wanted to take out his frustration, but as his fist went to collide with the wooden table, it went straight through. An exasperating sigh came from Soobin as he moved onto plan b. Having not seen this, you waved your parents goodbye, slowly closing the door before turning to your two friends. “I call the dog!” Beomgyu ran to the monopoly board that Taehyun set up, diving for the little piece. You happily scurried over to your friends as you grabbed the shoe before Taehyun could. “Oh I’m definitely going to make you go bankrupt for that one.” Taehyun grabbed the car, sending glares. From past experiences, the three of you decided to put away the hammers and any potential weapon. Rolling the dice to see who’s first, you punched the air as you rolled a 6, higher than the two of them combined. As you did so you could’ve sworn your hand brushed against something cold, but maybe it was just the air conditioning. Soobin, sitting directly beside you, jumped as a result of your fist going straight through him. Was monopoly really this exciting, Soobin wondered, now wanting to play along. The three of you, not noticing the ghost boy, started the game with you rolling the dice. Your game face was now on. You decided to buy the first property you landed on. Taehyun went next, landing on the same color, his face told you that he wasn’t planning on letting you go that easily. “Don’t you dare buy that property!” You wanted all of the greens, but Taehyun wasn’t letting you have that chance as he bought the property. “Fine then... I’ll just make you go bankrupt.” You were now going to make them pay.

When the game ended you felt defeated. The look on Taehyuns face scared you. He truly was the monopoly master. “I can’t believe you took all of my money.” Beomgyu whined. It was now eleven at night, the game had lasted a while. “We should probably get going.” Taehyun said as he grabbed his stuff, taking a slice of cake with him. “Okay be safe on the way home.” You walked them to the door, waving their car goodbye.

Sighing, you couldn’t help but notice how chilly it was in the house. “Does the thermostat even work?” After messing with it a bit, you decided to just get a blanket, however, as you leaned over to grab one you met eyes with a man who looked similar to a bunny. “Get out before I call the cops!” You turned around quickly as you ran to the kitchen, grabbing a knife. You could tell he was caught off guard as his eyes seemed to enlarge. He definitely wasn’t very good at whatever he’s doing. As you turned on your phone, he seemed to get the gist. He came running at you, panicking. You were terrified and did the first thing you could think of- stab him. Your hands shook as your eyes trembled, you didn’t know what to do, but you did know you were terrified. Your hand and knife just went straight through him. Now that Soobin knew you could see him, he put all his energy into taking your phone. You were stuck in shock at what was happening. When you finally gained enough sense to move, you backed up. “P-please don’t kill me!” You were helpless against an invincible man.

Soobin knew he shouldn’t scare you, but he wanted to have some fun before reassuring you, after all... he used to joke about haunting people. He slowly approached your cowering figure, trapping you against the wall with his body. His arms were placed beside your head and he stared, you didn’t have anywhere to go. This is when you got this brilliant idea, if the knife could go straight through him maybe you could too! His face was a little too close for comfort, so you quickly tried to catch him off guard and lean forward, however, when you expected your face to fall right through him, you ended up meeting with something hard. Not only did this shock you, but also Soobin. He did not expect you to lean in and kiss him... the warmth of your lips sparking a fire within him. You were now highly embarrassed on top of fearing for your life. “I... I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! You know I just thought that I would go right through you... but that didn’t work. Please don’t kill me... just tell me what you want!” You rambled trying to get him to spare your life. Soobin had just gotten over the shock, now enjoying your flustered state. He smirked as he leaned closer, “Maybe another kiss.” That surely was not what you expected. Is that really what he wanted... or was it a trick? The tall black haired boy started laughing as he backed away from you. You were confused, but relieved as you finally let out the breath you were holding.

“I actually want you to help me see my friends and family. You see... you’ve probably already guessed, but I’m a ghost and I’d like to say goodbye to them one last time.” His whole demeanor had changed and you were now looking at a very cute guy. You opened your mouth to speak, but he continued. “My names Soobin. I actually used to live here or well... still kind of do. Surprise you have a dead roommate because I can’t seem to leave the house.” This was not normal... at all. When you decided to live here, you didn’t think it was haunted. “May I ask when you died?” You couldn’t help yourself, you were curious. Besides if you were going to help him then you’d need to know if these people were still alive. The humor he had before seemed to be a mask because once you asked this he had a distant look on his face. “If I remember correctly it was three months ago.” Something seemed to hit you, now looking at him you felt pity towards the ghost. You don’t know if you would’ve had a different reaction had he said something else, but you were now fighting the urge to cry due to his tragic situation. He was alone for three months, knowing that his loved ones were in pain missing him. The lump in your throat formed, “why don’t we sit down?” You grabbed his hand, almost retracting yours from the ice cold feeling. When you looked up at him, your eyes seemed like a mirror, reflecting the light as a burning feeling reached your nose. Don’t cry, you reminded yourself. Soobin, who had longed for the warm feeling, unconsciously tightened his grip on your hand as he moved closer. Noticing this warmed your heart, it relieved you that he seemed to enjoy your contrasting temperature. You wanted to give him the warmth he needed, so you placed another hand on his. The two of you smiled at each other before heading to the living room. His smile contained so much kindness, you wish you knew him before he had passed away.

Soobin had talked on and on about his plan to get his friends and parents here. You could tell he was excited and thought a lot about how to this this, however, it didn’t seem that he thought of the consequences. It was a wholesome plan, but you just didn’t think it would work out. Although his plan wasn’t all that great, you knew that the reason he couldn’t find peace was because he didn’t get to say goodbye. You had to compromise. “Soobin,” you took a deep breath before looking him in the eyes, “I don’t think telling your loved ones that you’re a ghost is a good idea.” You were met with Soobin’s confusion. “Well they obviously won’t believe you at first, but that’s where I come-”

“No Soobin... I don’t think they should know that you’re still somewhat on this earth.” The hurt on his face tore you to shreds, he felt betrayed. “And why not? I thought you were going to help me.” Soobin released his grip on your hands, confusion turning into anger. His narrowed eyes were locked on you. “I still want to help you Soobin... it’s just... they have been adjusting to your death for three months. In other words, they are three months into grieving.” You hoped he would understand as you reached for his hand. Soobin’s pale face tensed up as he pulled his hand further away. “As if you would know. My parents need to know that I’m okay! You don’t know what it’s like, so keep your shitty opinion to yourself. If you won’t help me then I’ll figure out another way.” Venom was laced in his voice and you noticed he seemed to be going in and out of transparency. You stayed calm, “I could never know what you’re going through, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help. We can think of another way. By telling them you’re a ghost, you’d be giving them hope to be with you again. They’d have to lose you all over again, who knows what could happen to you as a ghost. I’m sure it would hurt them to know that this whole time you were alone and not in a better place.” You hadn’t looked away from Soobin, so you were able to see his expression change. His furrowed brows seemed to drop as he looked at the ground, clearly upset. He looked lost, his hope of saying goodbye being stripped from him. You felt guilty that you were the one to make him like this, but it was the right thing to do. Or were you just telling yourself that?

“What am I supposed to do now?” Soobin felt defeated, he was stuck in a place he didn’t belong. You slowly leaned into Soobin, looking for any sign of disapproval, and hugged him. The warmth that enveloped Soobin like a blanket was still able to give him comfort. “You could always write a letter and pretend you wrote it before you died.” You talked softly, scared that any harsher of a tone would break him even more. Soobin escaped from your hug with newly found hope, his red puffy eyes looking at your pity filled ones. “That’s a brilliant idea!” Soobin was sad that he wouldn’t get to have a conversation, but at least this would cause less pain. Looking at his excited self made you wish you thought of this plan sooner. You had just met this man, but you were completely willing to make him happy. You assumed it was just the fact that you’d want the same done for you. “Well let’s get some rest and then we can start on that tomorrow.” Soobin nodded, he didn’t need any sleep, but knew that it was important for you. You still managed to get the couch comfortable for him, even putting a heavy blanket over him just in case it would work. Although Soobin knew blankets would do nothing to ease the cold feeling, he felt warm on the inside as you tried to take care of him.

When you fell asleep Soobin hesistantly walked through the wall and into your room. His eyes softened as he looked at your relaxed form. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was scared. Scared that if he didn’t stay beside you, he would be forgotten. Which led him to sitting beside your bed, holding your hand for the warmth.

You could smell something delicious, making your mouth water as you woke up. With eyes halfway open, you made your way to the smell that was coming from the kitchen. “Oh you’re awake!” Soobin turned towards you, hearing your dragging steps. Seeing him like this made you feel like you lived with him for a while. You’re once tired eyes opened wide as you realized he was cooking. “You cook?” You asked as you walked over to him. “I cooked here and there when I was alive. I heard that you’re not a really good cook and thought that I could pay you back for your help.” Soobin’s small smile and words left your cheeks tinted red. “You didn’t have to do this.” You couldn’t help your watery mouth when you looked at the fresh pancakes. When Soobin looked at you he was overjoyed seeing your shining eyes looking at the pancakes. “Yeah I know, but I wanted to. Besides I thought you’d be hungry.” He slid the last pancake onto the plate as he brought it to the table. “I’m not that hungry...” You tried to play it off, but the rumble coming from your stomach betrayed you. Soobin chuckeled, “eat up. I can’t really eat.” You we’re stuck looking at Soobin. You didn’t even think about it... he couldn’t really enjoy pancakes anymore. Shaking away this thought, you spread the syrup and grabbed the fork in excitement. As you went to dig in, you saw Soobin staring at you with a smile on his face, causing you to slow down.

“So when do you want to start writing?” You swallowed a big piece of the pancake as you waiting for an answer. “I’ve actually started already. The problem is that I keep throwing them away because I don’t know what to say.” Soobin sighed, resting his chin on his palm. “Why don’t you try writing from the heart?” The words flowed out of your mouth, too busy focusing on your almost finished pancakes. Soobin looked at you, clearly unimpressed. “Why didn’t I think of that? Oh wait... I did.” You laughed a bit at his sarcastic tone, now putting up the dirty plate. Soobin came up behind you, grabbing your arm and swinging it. “I need help.” He pouted. “Well... have you tried starting with the memories you’ve shared? That way you can work your way up and really know what it is you want to say.” You used to write a lot of letters for your friends and this had always helped you.

Soobin nodded, heading over to the small table where tons of paper were sprawled about. By the time you got over there Soobin had already picked up the pen and started writing. Being the nosy person you are, you read over his shoulder, giggling at the cute memories he wrote down.

“No way... did you really set your couch on fire and try to hide it?” You were hunched over trying to catch your breath as you visualized a tiny Soobin sitting on the burnt fabric, never getting up in attempt to hide it. Soobin, watching your fit of laughter, smiles fondly. Your laughter was beautiful and he never wanted to let it go. “Says the one who nearly burnt her house down trying to cook.” Soobin added in, causing your laughter to come to a halt. “You weren’t supposed to know about that.” You cursed your dad in your head.

You started to learn a lot about Soobin from reading about his life, to talking with each other. The longer Soobin was around, the more your head was filled with thoughts of him, but you blamed it on the fact that he was in the same room as you. “Ugh... I finally finished and need a break.” Without thinking about it, Soobin grabbed your hands and placed them on his chest. He couldn’t help but long for your warm touch. you were now pressed up against the chair and his back, leaving your face awfully close to his. The close proximity made your face heat up and when Soobin turned to look at you, you panicked. Coughing you withdrew your hands and backed up a bit. “Then let’s talk.” You pulled a chair next to Soobin and sat down. Soobin knew that he flustered you and he couldn’t help but enjoy it. He knew he was being selfish, but the feeling of his fake heart beating told him that he was starting to see you as more than the living girl willing to help him. You on the other hand, wouldn’t allow yourself to admit the reason behind your not so subtle glances at him that made your heart flutter. When you looked at him now he seemed different. He seemed... happy. Looking at him like this, you could easily mistake him for an everyday attractive boy. Couldn’t the two of you just stick together? The selfish thought of yours shocked you. If you did that then you’d be forcing him to live without his friends and family. Couldn’t you be enough? You quickly disregarded these thoughts, Soobin needed to find peace and you were not going to be the one to stop him.

You didn’t notice your eyes getting watery until a single tear streamed down your cheek. Soobin managed to see this. “Maybe we should talk about this whole thing.” He suggested, leading you to the couch as you quickly wiped the tear away. He ended up laying his head on his thighs as you ran your fingers through his hair. “Okay... what about it?” You asked with a heavy heart. “I know you’ve been wondering what I think about this whole situation.” You nodded your head, admitting to your prying mind. “I’m a little scared.” You could see where this was going, the look on his face showing concern as his eyes darted around. “I can’t help but wonder what comes next.” He took a deep breath in. “What if I get stuck here or if wherever I’m going isn’t as nice as it seems?” After telling this to you, Soobin felt the weight lift off of his shoulders, but you were stuck thinking about how he was going to go into the unknown. “Well... I don’t know. It depends what you believe, but what I do know is that you won’t have to feel out of place anymore. You’ll probably be comforted by the big bright light.” You yourself didn’t know what you believed, but Soobin’s glow was enough to reassure you he’d be alright.

There was a soothing silence before Soobin spoke up once more. “I don’t want to be just another memory that gets forgotten.” Soobin was now looking at your eyes that were focusing on his hair. “You would never be just a memory, nor would you be forgotten. You lived Soobin and in everyone’s hearts you will stay alive.” His hands grabbed yours, placing them where his heart should be. This caused you to look into his ocean blue eyes. The eyes that once lacked life were filled with emotions, causing a fire to ignite within you. You couldn’t lie to yourself anymore, you were falling for him. A forbidden relationship that should never exist. Maybe you didn’t want to admit this to yourself because you knew it would end in heartbreak, but you couldn’t seem to lie to yourself anymore. “Thank you.” Soobin wanted so badly to confess to you, but he was dead. He wanted to stay for you, but he knew it would only hold you back, so he kept his feelings to himself. He could tell you were being distant, so he made sure to continue. “You know... when I first saw you I knew there was something different about you, so I kept trying to get your attention.” Soobin wore a smile now, and you noticed that he was slightly glowing. He was ready to accept death completely and you had to live with that. “Well I’m glad I was finally able to meet you.” You successfully hid your sadness behind a smile. In order to stop himself from saying something he shouldn’t, he decided to get the show on the road. “I guess you should head to Yeonjun’s house now.” Soobin hesitantly mentioned. The two of you looked at eachother in silence, both having so much to say, but keeping it all in. “Yeah... I guess so. Bye Soobin... I’m glad I could help you.” You quickly grabbed the envelopes as you left in a heartbeat.

When you arrived at Yeonjun’s house, you didn’t think you would be this nervous. Hesistantly knocking on the door, you were trying to shake your nerves away. Maybe you should’ve mailed them. Your breath hitched while watching the wooden door open. The man who had opened it was young, blonde, and very handsome. “Hi, I’m looking for someone named Yeonjun. I found this letter left behind from the house I just moved into. Your address was on it.” The exact words that you rehearsed on your way here were hard to get out. “Okay well... I’m Yeonjun.” He looked at you weirdly, probably ready to call the cops if anything went south. “It says it’s from Soobin.” With that one name Yeonjun’s happy exterior seemed to deflate. “Oh... thank you.” His shaky voice broke your heart, you knew they’ve been best friends for the longest. “I hate to ask this... but there’s also one for someone named Hueningkai.” The boy infront of you clearly was having a hard time dealing with Soobin’s death. “He’s actually here right now. I’ll take it to him.” You handed him the other letter, reluctant to leave. “You know, you look like his type.” You looked up at the blond best friend with a raised eyebrow. “Who?”

“Soobin.” His answer left a bitter sweet feeling in you as you just smiled and nodded before walking away. You were close to tears, but wanted to be strong for Soobin. Seeing his parents could potentially break your heart even more, but you knew it was for the best. You used everything you could to distract yourself from the sad thought, now choosing to look at the different colors of the pavement. You must’ve been so distracted that you managed to forget about the world around you, that was until the unfamiliar door opened. You were now looking at a man that resembled Soobin in many ways, just older. It was obvious this was his dad. His sunken eyes were a little too noticeable and you were correct, your heart was breaking piece by piece. It was almost like you were reliving the life that was lost. Just seeing the people he wrote about left images of what the memories looked like to you. Why did the world have to take away this young twenty-two year old? Holding back the tears, you once again said what was rehearsed, like a broken record. “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but these two notes were left behind from where I just moved. They had your address on them and it’s from someone named Soobin.” His already sad eyes seemed to fall deeper in the darkness as he shakily took the letters, with a faint thank you. Before he could close the door you couldn’t help yourself and went off script. “Your son must really love you. I bet he’d want you to live a nice, long, and happy life.” You could tell he considered your words, finally walking into the house with his shoulders raised. The moment the door shut was when you realized that Soobin should’ve found peace by now. Instead of crying, you decided to hold it all in.

You didn’t realize how lonely you could feel until you opened the door. You kept reminding yourself that he had found peace, but you just felt numb. that was until you saw the tall black haired ghost looking at you with a frown. You wish your heart didn’t flip when you saw him. You wish that you didn’t hope to see him one last time. Although you wanted to be happy for this moment with him, you panicked. “What are you doing here? You should’ve found peace!” Did something go wrong? “Y/N... the reason I can’t move on yet is... is because of you.” You didn’t know how to react. His words sent a surge of emotions through you, causing you to lash out. “Soobin you can’t stay here! There’s nothing keeping you here! I’m okay with you leaving!” The lies left your mouth, anything to have him move on. Soobin didn’t say anything as he walked over to you, strongly pulling you against him. His hand pushed your head against his chest as he rubbed your back. “Please...” the anger left your body as you struggled to keep your tears back. “I couldn’t leave yet because it didn’t feel right. I never gave you a proper goodbye. Now... it’s okay to cry, I’ll miss you too.” He seemed to hug you tighter, his words relieving you. “Why did you have to die?” Tears ran down your cheeks as you started to shake from your choked sobs. “I don’t want to lose you, but I can’t keep you here.” Soobin’s shirt was getting drenched as you continued to cry into it.

He pushed you back a little so he could look into your eyes. “I like you Y/N and I’m sorry that we had to meet like this.” His eyes were red and puffy, but you didn’t have time to say anything before he leaned in, placing his cold, soft lips against yours. The kiss was passionate, the two of you never wanting to let go of this moment. You grew to enjoy his cold comforting touch, but it was slowly disappearing. When your lips left eachother Soobin made sure to put his hand over your eyes. “Please... just keep your eyes closed.” You listened to his last wish, shaking as you choked out a goodbye. The little trace of cold was replaced by warmth, causing you to fall to your knees as your eyes opened. You were met with an empty living room. For once, the house felt warm, but this could never make up for the internal warmth that had been stripped from you.

The next day was hard. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion and you seemed to zone out the whole day. People continued on with their lives as if nothing happened, but you knew and that was enough. You were able to say goodbye and you were grateful for that. When you got home and tossed your keys on the dresser, you became aware of the white envelope with Soobin’s handwriting. You were delicate with the envelope, not wanting to rip it. This letter was to you, the last thing you had of Soobin.

Dear Y/N,

You told me to write about my memories and work my way up. Sadly, we didn’t have much time together, however, every moment spent with you meant a lot to me. The days can get hard, but life is worth living. Even when everything seems to be going wrong, there is always something good right around the corner. Anyways, I’m sorry for scaring you that night, although I wish I could’ve messed with you some more before I leave...or left. I’ve never met someone who has made me feel the way you do. If you’re willing, I’d like to meet you in another life. Our time together was too short. I want to thank you as well. Thank you for helping me move on and for finally being able to save me from the cold. Please don’t cling onto me, I’d like you to move on as well. Let’s both be happy. Thank you for keeping me alive in your heart.

Love, your ghost boy Soobinie

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