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lilsunflower95 · 9 months

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Cursed: Part 1 ~ A Mysterious Murder

Pairing: Jungkook x OC(f), Jimin x OC(f)

Genre: Smut, vampire au, medieval au

Rating: M - NSFW

Word Count: 7,148

Warnings: Discussion of suspected vampirism, discussion of deceased person, bathing, prostitution, military enlistment, loosing virginity, unprotected sex (be safe), groping, fingering, hand job, multiple partners, pain curiosity.

Disclaimers: this is just fiction and not my true view of anyone

Summary: Dr. Park solicits a prostitue for his adoptive brother after giving a grim discovery.

A/N: Hi everyone! This is a repost from my old account.

m.list | AO3 | Wattpad

Ji-Yeong walked under the mossy wood and stone archway with her skirts clenched tightly to her as a gust of wind swirled rain around her body, sending a wave of goosebumps up her slender legs. Flashes of lightning illuminated the sky in bursts of white and purple over the nearby mountains, giving a preview of what was coming.

Looking around, she saw the surplus of people that had come into the city to partake in the nation’s celebrations. The city center was housed in a valley between two vast mountain ranges that were purple even on the brightest of days. This area was where the multi-level castle was located in the northern most part and sat upon a hill with a sea of orange trees along its base, giving it a whimsical appearance in the spring and summer when the white flowers blossomed and perfumed the city.

In the southern part, tucked into the side of a mountain was the inn she worked at. The lanterns hung outside made it glow, urging weary travelers to come and rest or partake in scandalous delights they would never speak of once they left.

The rest of the city was dedicated to government buildings, a school, a shrine, and several homes for the wealthy residents. There was a circular park in the center of everything with a bridge over a small pond she had visited often as a child and sometimes, when her mind was dark, would visit still. She liked to think the statue of an angel that sat praying in the center would pray for her and the other residents of the city.

It perhaps was a silly idea, but at least she didn’t feel quite so alone.

Despite the storm and surplus of people, there was an eerie silence along the outskirts of the city.

No crickets, no cicadas, no owls.

Not even the scurrying of mice, trying to sneak food away from the street vendors.

That night would be the first of the week-long festival celebrating Prince Seokjin’s 30th birthday. Banners depicting his likeness and name were hung outside of several shops the Prince was known to frequent, being a large fan of the community. He was the People’s Prince. Everywhere he traveled, he was sure to mention his love for his city in his speech. It made him very well liked with royalty outside of the small country, which meant that everyone was hopeful for an engagement to be announced soon, now that the Prince had completed his military service and formal education.

The city should be louder and yet, even the guards seemed on edge from their perch high above on the city walls. She watched two of them speaking quietly as she turned the corner and collided with a lean, but solid body. She cried out and caught herself against the stone wall before she could fall.

A pair of warm hands braced her shoulders and brought her upright. She looked up into his warm eyes and let out a soft sigh as she smoothed her hands down her bodice and skirts then gave a slight curtsey. “Oh! Doctor Park. Good evening.”

“Pardon me, Ji-Yeong. I should have been more aware of my surroundings. Are you alright? Did you get hurt?” He took her small hands in his and turned them over to inspect her palms.

“No, doctor, I’m fine, but thank you.” She gave him a small smile and held her hands lightly before her. She looked around at the decorations, but felt her smile falter despite her best intentions. “I was just thinking… this is an odd evening, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

Ji-Yeong looked up at the guards briefly. “This is a most joyous occasion, and yet, there’s a sense of dread hanging heavy in the air. Do you not feel it?”

He inhaled deeply as his eyes shifted to the left and grew distant. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded slowly. “I hesitate telling you this, but I think you should know so you can be careful.”

Her brow raised as he took her by the elbow and guided her away from a small group of foreign dignitaries that were visiting to celebrate with the Prince on behalf of their Imperial Highnesses. The sounds of their discussion and laughter fell away as they went deeper into the darkness. He glanced around at the barren shrubs and moss covered stone wall of a guard tower before looking at her.

“Doctor Park, now I’m growing alarmed.” Ji-Yeong admitted as a large drop of rain hit the nape of her neck and sent a shiver down her back. She frowned up at the sky and towards the tavern she worked at glowing over the small hill in the distance. “What has happened?”

He lowered his voice and stepped closer to her, nearly pinning her to the wall. “There was a death this evening. A young stable boy found a man dead in a stall. He had two small puncture marks on the side of his neck that were bloodless. It’s suspected he was bled dry, but there was no blood where his body was found.”

Ji-Yeong hummed and frowned as she watched the drops of rain that clung to the slender branch of an orange tree behind the doctor. “I wonder though, could the man have been killed elsewhere and disposed of in the stables to draw attention away from his killer? Perhaps there was a robbery or a sordid affair where the husband caught the duo red handed but didn’t want to face the consequences?”

“Your theory is a good one and has happened before and I’m sure, regrettably, will happen again. But, unfortunately, no. This man was most definitely killed in the stable. There were signs of a struggle in the stall he was found in. No, Ji-Yeong. I’ve seen this before. Only once when I was an apprentice on the mainland. If I'm right, the killer is the perfect predator. I suspect it to be a blood sucker.”

“A vampire? Here?” Ji-Yeong looked around in the darkness for any movement or sign they were being watched by the glowing red eyes that haunted her nightmares as a child. “Do you suspect this is an attack on His Highness? An assassination attempt of sorts? One that got out of control?”

He shook his head and pulled his bottom lip between his teeth for a second. “I don’t know for sure, but I want you to be careful. If you see anything suspicious, get a guard as quickly as possible.”

“What about garlic?”

“That’s a myth. It may not like the smell, but it’s not pungent enough to be a deterrent. Not that I know of, anyway. The only way to protect yourself is to kill it. They die just like any other person. You can use anything you have available to protect yourself: your fan, your shoes, anything you can get your hands on. You mustn’t be afraid to fight if you have to. Do you understand?”

Ji-Yeong bowed her head though the thunder in her chest disagreed with her. “Yes, Doctor Park. I understand completely.”

“Good. Good. That’s very good.” The doctor nodded and heaved a sigh through his nose as a moment of silence passed between them. He shifted his eyes to her again, letting them roam up and down the length of her body as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I wonder…."

Ji-Yeong tipped her head to the side, patiently waiting for him to continue. He shook his head and brushed the back of his finger across his lips as he turned away from her. "Doctor? Please. Continue."

Jimin’s turned towards her, his eyes on the ground as he wrapped his plush lips over his teeth for a second. A call sounded to their right, signaling the changing of the guards. "Forgive me. The inquiry I have is rather crass and apathetic considering the news I’ve just imparted. I wonder if you could help me with something work related.”

“What is it?” She began to anticipate asking the other women she worked with to prepare for annual exams or if any were experiencing unsavory symptoms he was maybe too shy to ask them directly.

“My brother, Jungkook, has been called to serve and you know how military men are.”

She gave a light chuckle and nodded, relief flooding her system, suddenly understanding where this request was going. “They’re some of my best customers.”

“Exactly. Jungkook is sweet, innocent… shy. The idea of him going away to serve and finding himself in a brothel far from home and being teased for being untouched hurts me. He’ll be leaving next week and I wondered if you might help him so he knows what to do?”

Ji-Yeong gave a soft smile and lowered her eyes to the doctor’s shoes. Jungkook was quite sweet, soft spoken, helpful, stoic… and incredibly handsome with his strong shoulders and chest and cinched waist. She had often wondered what he would be like in bed, but dismissed the idea of him coming to her tavern when he acted cute or shied away from advances she'd seen him receive in the market. She looked back up at the doctor and nodded. “It would be an honor, Jimin’s. I would be certain to take very good care of him.”

“Thank you Ji-Yeong. I trust you. You are one of the few people I trust above all others.” He gave a tight smile and regarded her for a moment as he brushed an errant strand of hair from her face. There was so much he wanted to say and do in that moment, but guided her back to the city center instead, turning to gaze into her eyes once more. “I won’t keep you long. Remember to be mindful of anything suspicious. Please stay safe. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help. Good evening, Ji-Yeong.”

Ji-Yeong bowed her head again with a small smile. “Good evening, doctor.”

The two parted ways as the rain began to fall harder, spurring Ji-Yeong on. She clutched her skirts tight to her body as she did the best she could to walk quickly but as quietly as her wooden shoes would permit. The stone walkway curved around the pond and, for a split second, Ji-Yeong thought she saw a figure standing there alone, but was pulled away when the dark green double doors of her tavern swung open and a pair of men shuffled out with their arms slung over each other’s shoulders as they sang drunkenly together. She waited for them to pass her by before entering the tavern and taking in the raucous crowd.

“There you are!” Kasumi pulled her away from the crowd and up a narrow wooden staircase against the wall that was hidden behind a red silk cloth with gold embroidery. “There’s so much going on tonight. So many people, mostly the guards, are acting strangely.”

“Strange how?” The girl was young, there was no point in frightening her.

“It’s as though they’re scared.” The younger woman explained as they reached the top floor and walked down a hallway, ignoring the moans and cries that emanated from behind closed doors. “Like something has happened, but no one is willing to speak on it.”

Damn.

Ji-Yeong stopped in her tracks and sighed quietly before taking the girl’s wrist and lowering her voice.

“Something did happen. I spoke with Doctor Park about it just a few moments ago. There was a peculiar murder tonight that has scared some people. You’ll be safe here as long as you keep your wits about you. You have a good intuition. If anything should seem wrong or you get the sense that you’re in danger, please do not hesitate to fetch a guard. At least until the murderer has been apprehended.” Kasumi lowered her large eyes and bowed her head. Perhaps a change of topic would help the girl stay focused. “I’ll need some help, if you can spare a few moments.”

“Of course.” The younger woman followed Ji-Yeong into her room where several small candles were already burning in the corner in anticipation of her arrival.

“Thank you, Kasumi.” She went to the full length mirror that was tucked away in a small alcove behind a curtain. “Doctor Park’s younger brother will likely be joining me tonight. I want to make tonight special for him. Would you gather some hot water for a bath, please?”

“Yes, Ji-Yeong. Should I do that now?”

She helped Ji-Yeong out of her soaked dress and folded it carefully over her arm. “Yes, I dare say he’ll be joining soon. Thank you, Kasumi.”

The younger woman slipped out of the room, allowing Ji-Yeong to change into a soft pink silk robe that accented the tone of her skin. She took a book from the shelf and went to the chair by the window where she sat and began to read.

She hadn’t gotten far into her book before Kasumi came to the door and motioned for a tall, well-muscled man to enter. He hesitantly stepped inside, holding his hat in both hands before him, gripping it as though his life depended on it. His large doe eyes carefully avoided Ji-Yeong as she stood and walked to him.

“Good evening Jungkook. It’s an honor to host you at this tavern.” She lowered her head and closed her eyes. He bowed his head in return and drew his lips back in a tight smile, one he had learned after Doctor Park’s family had taken him in as a child.

“Good evening Ji-Yeong.” He kept his wide eyes away from her and swallowed hard.

“I’ve had Kasumi draw you a nice, hot bath. If you’d follow me, please?” He swallowed hard again and followed her obediently to the bathing room where a large wooden tub was full of steaming water. Ji-Yeong closed the curtain and moved to stand in front of Jungkook, smiling up at his dark eyes. “Allow me.”

She reached out and began to undress him, working diligently to untie the knot in his loose linen shirt he had pulled too taut that morning. She glanced up at him with a soft smile before removing each item of clothing to slowly reveal a well sculpted physique that she wouldn’t have guessed existed under all the layers he chose to wear.

Once he stood bare before her, she ran the tips of her fingers down his full chest, admiring the scars that marred his otherwise perfect body. “You’re so handsome, Jungkook. Have you ever been kissed?” He shook his head, diverting his eyes until she hooked her finger under his chin and gently brought his attention back to her. “Would you like to be?”

He nodded eagerly and watched her take his hands and place them on her hips before smoothing her hands up his stomach and chest to rest on his shoulders. She gave him a gentle gaze and allowed her eyes to shift to his lips then raised her head. He was confident he could kiss. He’d seen Jimin’s and a friend of his kiss on accident before when they thought they had been alone.

She was warm in his arms and her hips felt good in his hands. He pulled her to him and smiled nervously down at her.

He needed to stay in control. Jimin’s had told him that. The first few times would be over fast, but he could learn to slow it down. Women liked that. That’s what Jimin’s had said. They liked to be touched gently. Everything gently and slowly. It showed they were loved and appreciated.

That’s what Jungkook wanted to show Ji-Yeong. That he was appreciative of her patiently and kindly sharing her body with him that night even though it was awkward.

He lowered his head and allowed his lips to brush against hers. She gave a small hum and let her hands drift up the sides of his neck and into his hair. He pressed his lips against hers and splayed his hands flat against the small of her back. It was a nice sensation to be in a quiet, warm room and comfortable in another person’s arms as they kissed you while rain pattered at the window.

He kissed her again just as slowly over and over, moving his head from one side to the other before getting bold and letting his tongue sweep over her bottom lip. He gasped and clutched her close when he felt her tongue slip against his.

He hadn’t expected her to be alright with that.

The surprise faded as his tongue met hers and allowed her to silently teach him what to do. She moved her tongue slowly against his while her hands moved from his hair, over the shell of his ears, down his neck, his chest and to his sides. She held him close to her and it was nice to feel wanted like that.

If he had been honest, he had been a little worried she would see him, feel his awkward energy and refuse him.

He grew concerned when she pulled away breathlessly. He tried to chase after her and pouted when she put her hands on his chest and held him away with a soft smile.

“The water for your bath will turn cold.”

He swallowed hard and chuckled, looking down at his feet as she pulled her sleeve back and picked up a small wood cup. He watched her scoop water from a small pooll. She poured the water over his shoulders and watched it roll down his chest, drawing his dark nipples taut. His eyes stayed on her as she continued pouring water over him then took up a large round of soap and rubbed it between her hands.

He took a steadying breath as he watched the suds accumulate quickly and she put the soap back on the rough rock. His heart began to race as he realized she was going to humble herself by washing his dirty body with her bare hands. Jimin’s had told him this was a normal service provided by the tavern, but he still couldn’t help fidgeting.

This caught her eye and she looked up at him with a soft grin and knowing eyes as he began to pant softly. “Are you nervous?”

He shrugged and nodded slowly. “Yes, but I’ll be alright.”

She eased her hands on his right shoulder, letting the weight of them rest fully on his tense muscles. “Well, if I do or say anything that displeases you or makes you uncomfortable, all you have to do is ask me to stop and I will without judgment.” She let her hands slide down his arm, appreciating the way the muscles rippled below his warm skin. “Tonight is entirely about bringing you pleasure.”

He nodded again and watched her move from his arm to his shoulder. She disappeared behind him and washed his back, slowly appreciating his ox-like back before moving to his left shoulder. He looked around the room and allowed himself to become preoccupied by the candles that were glowing all around them.

He gasped when her hands smoothed over his backside firmly.

“Have you ever been touched before, Jungkook?” Her voice was soft and gentle as she spoke, har hands smoothing over his hips and up his sides. He closed his eyes and let his head lull back slightly as he allowed a barely audible groan escape his lips. It felt like he had stepped over the threshold in that moment as his cock began to harden.

“No.”

“Do you touch yourself?”

His cheeks flushed at how easily it was for her to ask such a thing and to touch him so boldly. He wished he could have been that strong. He inhaled and nodded as she knelt down behind him to clean his legs. “Sometimes.”

“Do you like to do it?”

His heart was thundering as he glanced down and saw he was now nearly entirely hard. He licked his lips. “Yes.”

She stood and moved to the pool to gather some water then poured it over him, his eyes finding the candles again as the water ran down his body that felt like it was practically vibrating with excitement. He imagined what would happen next. Jimin’s said it depended on each individual customer. He imagined that now he was clean, he could relax in the bath next. What would happen there? Would she tease him further? Would she touch him?

Would she join him?

His eyes went wide at the idea of her silk robes slipping from her body to reveal a perfect set of full breasts with hard nipples that would bounce when her thumbs ran over them. Jimin’s had said Ji-Yeong had a beautiful body that was soft and nice to touch.

He hadn’t been wrong.

“Go ahead and step in the bath while it’s still hot.” Her voice brought him back to reality. His eyes snapped open and looked around to find her standing to the left of him with her hand motioning to the wooden tub that was steaming.

Jungkook nodded and eased himself into the water, slowly breathing out as he sank up to his shoulders in the water. After a few moments, he sighed and closed his eyes as he reclined back against the tub. He looked over when he felt Ji-Yeong stroke his thick black hair back from his brow.

She was kneeling beside him, her face gentle as a small smile played on her lips. “Is the water nice?”

He nodded and watched her curiously, anxious to know what would happen next. He wanted to pounce on her. He knew the general gist of sex after all, but his friends and Jimin’s had told him there was more than just that, but had shared a laugh together instead of educating him, leaving him frustrated and confused.

“Have you touched a woman?” He shook his head as she stood and moved back towards the window next to a group of candles that seemed drawn towards her. “What part of me would you like to touch the most?”

His brain faltered. He wanted to touch all of her all at once. He wanted to consume her. His eyes fell to her body as she began to disrobe slowly, allowing one part of her to become exposed at a time. He felt his mouth water when the fabric slid off her breasts, then down to her wide hips to reveal her sex then her thighs and calves. He reached his hand out silently and took the weight of her breast when she approached him.

She had anticipated that would be what he wanted to touch first. It's what a majority of her clients wanted first. A subconscious bit of maternal comfort before they gave in to animalistic tendencies.

His hand was large, warm, and gentle as he simply appreciated touching her for a moment before gliding his hand up her chest to her collarbone and down the side of her breast, exploring the shape of it as he shifted to his knees and knelt before her. He moved his thumb to the outskirts of her nipple and hesitated, glancing up at her as if asking for permission to continue. She cupped the back of his head with a gentle smile and nodded. She watched him trace her nipple with the pad of his thumb lightly and gave a small moan.

His eyes went wide and looked up at her.

"That feels very nice, Jungkook. I like it when you touch me like that. Do you like it too?" He nodded with his mouth agape. He looked back down at her to watch her nipple bounce when he ran his thumb over it then took the other breast in his free hand.

"They're softer than I thought they'd be." He admitted, testing to see if there was a difference in weight as his cock stiffened between his stomach and the side of the tub. He wondered suddenly what they would taste like and took a nipple between his lips to swirl his tongue around. She moaned and stroked her fingers through his hair, lightly scratching his scalp as he sucked on the bud. Spurred on by her response, he moved to suck on the other nipple, squeezing her breast as he did. "They taste nice too."

"You like them?" She grinned and watched him look her body over. He nodded and touched her soft stomach with his index finger, tracing the slight outline of her ribs that fell to the pronounced bones of her hips. "Have you tried touching your own nipples?"

He paused in thought and shook his head. He watched her reach out and pinch his nipple between two knuckles with the back of her hand resting against his chest. He breathed in and knitted his brow as a shock went through him. How had he not thought to try this before? It was incredible.

Satisfied with his hard nub, she slid her knuckles across his chest to the other nipple where she repeated the action. He whimpered and looked up again at the candles.

"I noticed you were looking at my candles often tonight. Are they pleasing to you?"

He hesitated, shuddering when she skimmed the tips of her fingers up his chest to the tendon of his throat then up to pinch his earlobe. He whimpered again and shifted his eye to the ground ashamed of the sounds falling from his lips. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. I am here to mentor you, so please feel free to ask any questions you have without hesitation."

He swallowed hard and sat back in the tub, holding his hands over his erection the best he could as his mind churned with lust and curiosity. "Not long ago, I was cleaning a lantern and tilted it too far. Some wax fell on me, but instead of it hurting, I thought it felt good." He bit his lip and rubbed his chest over his heart. "Is that normal?"

She regarded him for a moment before sitting on the edge of the tub and stroking her hand through his hair. "People like a wide variety of things, Jungkook. Our bodies are sensitive to different forms of stimulation and if you like it, then it is normal. Sex is more complex than simply inserting a penis into a hole and thrusting to climax. Everybody is different. Many people don't derive pleasure from something that is generally considered painful. Many people, like you, do."

"So…" his mind swarmed with questions. "People use candles during sex?"

Ji-Yeong hummed and nodded. "Yes, if they are comfortable with it. One partner can pour wax on the other partner."

"Do you like it?"

She shook her head. "No, I find it painful." She glanced down at his cock and grinned. He was larger than she thought, but with a good upward curve that made her body contract. "Perhaps we can experiment with that another time if you like what happens with me tonight."

"I would like that." The worry was fading from his eyes as they took her in as though he were committing every inch of her body to memory. She held her arms out and turned for him slowly, glancing at him from over her shoulder. "You're very beautiful."

"Thank you, Jungkook.” There was a hint of blush on her cheeks as she shyly looked away for a moment. “ Would you like to get dried off now? We can explore more of each other in bed."

"I-in b-bed?"

Ji-Yeong smiled to herself - he hadn't outgrown his nervous stutter.

His eyes grew wide again as she nodded and approached him, pulling his hand from the water and placing it on her breast. He whimpered as he squeezed it firmly. "Would you like that, Jungkook?"

"Y-yes."

He nearly leapt up and out of the tub while she had her back turned to him. He covered his erection again while she unfolded a thick sheet of wool while walking back to him. She smiled and dried him thoroughly then led him to the bedroom where she motioned to a bed with green sheets that had been neatly made.

"Please make yourself comfortable. Would you like a drink?" He nodded and watched her pour two small crystal glasses full of a ruby red liquid as he sat and enjoyed the heat of the fireplace. She handed one to him and sat beside him, sipping at her drink.

He downed the drink in one go, hoping at first it was alcohol, then being grateful for the sweet taste of red wine rolling down his throat and warming his chest. She took his glass and set both glasses off to the side.

He watched her move to be beside him until he could feel the heat emanating from her body. He took in a deep, steady breath as he followed her line of sight to his cock. "Jungkook, may I touch you?"

His heart thundered in his chest so hard he thought it might burst as his mouth fell open, thoughts left his mind, and air left his lungs until they screamed for more. "You would do that?"

"Only if you'd like me to." She waited, watching him carefully as his ears grew red and his nostrils flared in an attempt to accommodate his heavy breathing. He nodded as she moved to sit in front of him and reached out to take him in her small hand, tilting her head as she admired him. "Look at how beautiful and thick you are, Jungkook. This is quite the impressive member."

“Thank you.” He was breathless as he watched a woman, a beautiful woman, hold his most private possession. She took his hand and sat it on hers.

"Show me how you like to do it."

He closed his hand over hers until the pressure right then moved her hand steadily up and down. After a moment he let go and watched her continue on her own.

His mouth fell open as he stared down. It was incredible, almost as if he were in a dream, to realize he was feeling so good because someone else was touching him. She twisted her wrist and the movement made him moan without realizing the sound had come from him until she looked up with a quirked brow.

“Do you like this?” He nodded slowly, watching intently as she continued to draw moans from him for several moments.

“Can I touch you like this?”

Her rhythm slowed as she looked up at him and offered a soft grin. “Would you like to?”

He nodded and watched her move to sit with her legs together as she laid back on her forearms. His eyes moved to her slender knees as they parted, exposing her core to him. He sucked in a breath as he eagerly moved on to his knees, one hand on her smooth leg as he reached for her, using his index and middle fingers to stroke her slit and shuddered. “You’re so soft and wet.”

He swallowed hard and moved to lay on his stomach between her legs, his face close to her as he used his left thumb to part her lips. He groaned as his brain shut down at the sight of her gleaming sex before him. He moved his right thumb to trace over her clit, gently, like Jimin’s had told him to. She sighed and nodded when he glanced up at her. He was doing fine. Curiously, he added a little more pressure, his eyes flicking up to her, then moved a little faster. She moaned and moved her hand to her breast, her nipple slipping between her fingers. “Is this okay?”

“Yes, it’s good.”

He continued stroking her, his eyes flicking from her slick heat, to her hand massaging her breast, and her face. He took note of her reddened ears, her flushed lips, and how dark her eyes had become. He could feel his heart pulsing in the base of his throat and felt compelled to have release. “Noona… I’m so hard it hurts.”

Ji-Yeong reached for his upper arm and pulled him towards her as she laid back. “Join with me, Jungkook. Push yourself into me here.”

He panted as his brows knitted and his mouth went dry. He felt her take him in her hand and guide him to her core as she wrapped her legs around his hips. The moment the tip of him felt her opening, he plunged himself into her with a whimper.

“You’re so hot.” He cursed under his breath as he braced himself on his forearms. He scrunched his face with a whimper and buried his face against her neck. Even though everyone had told him his first time would be fast, it was still embarrassing. He didn’t want to be done so fast. He wanted to be better than that. He took a deep breath and kissed her neck as she held him close, patiently waiting for something to happen. “So tight. It’s like having the best hug of my life.”

She moaned and stroked her fingers through his hair. “Take your time. There’s no rush.”

After several moments, he shook his head and dared to pull his hips back, the sensation throbbing through his body before he pushed back into her with a groan. He cursed and kissed her neck again. He waited a few moments before moving again, earning another groan from her. He took several breaths then set a steady pace, biting his bottom lip and clenching his fists under her shoulders. Her body and sounds were making him feel drunk as he forced himself to hold his orgasm back.

It wasn’t long before his mind went silent and his body became electrified. “Noona. I-I c-c-can’t!”

“Come for me, Jungkook, let it go. Let me hear you.” Her voice was strained as she splayed her hands over his shoulders, her fingertips digging into the flesh of his back.

He cried out and dropped down on her when the strength in his arms gave out. He panted as he became aware of every inch of his body and shuddered then rolled off her onto his back beside her.

He stared up at the chandelier as his breaths became deep and even. It was getting harder to open his eyes each time he blinked.

He yawned and moved to hold her, wrapping his arm around her warm waist.

He kissed her neck and nestled his head against a pillow.

She drew her legs up as he rested his hand on his chest, amazed at the feelings that were flooding him. She looked over at him and raised a brow while offering a small smile. “Did you like it?”

He pursed his lips into an ‘o’ and pushed a heavy breath out. “Yeah, that was… wow. No one told me it would be that good.”

She nodded and looked back up at the ceiling. “I’m happy your first time was pleasant.”

He looked over at her as his fingertips brushed over his softening nipples. “Can we do it again sometime?”

She nodded with a grin, her eyes on the lanterns above them. “Yes, that would be nice. I think there’s a lot for us to explore.”

“I won’t be so fast next time.” His voice was low, solemn as he spoke. “I promise.”

She reached over and took his hand, entwining her fingers with his. “Don’t worry about that, Jungkook. Everyone’s first time is fast. We develop endurance the more often we join with our partners.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as they listened to the rain and held hands.

“What happens now?” Jungkook glanced over with a raised brow.

“Now?” Ji-Yeong glanced at the door with a sigh. The first time was typically emotional. Having to turn people away afterwards, when all they wanted to do was to be cuddled and adored, to be assured their emotions and psyche were also appreciated and respected, was difficult. “Now, we get dressed and go to bed.”

“I can stay?” His eyes went wide with excitement.

There was too much hope and eagerness in his voice. Her eyes sank shut in regret and sighed quietly before she sat up as much as she dared. “No, Jungkook. I’m truly very sorry. I wish you could stay, but Mother has rules. One of them is that there are no overnight guests.”

“But I can pay for more time.”

“You can pay for another hour, but she won’t let you stay past that.” He sat up, shaking his head, his large doe eyes full of hurt and confusion. She lowered her voice and rested her hand on his as she gazed into his eyes apologetically. “She worries a relationship will form if too much time is spent together. Sex is very intimate and can lead to feelings that can last. If one of us gets taken away, she loses out on a stream of income.”

“Oh. I understand.” He looked down at the floor, chewing on his bottom lip. She stood, squeezing her thighs together as much as she could and helped him up. He gazed down into her eyes then brushed her hair over her ear. “Thank you for tonight. For being patient and helpful.”

“It was an honor, Jungkook.” She smiled softly at him before walking awkwardly to the door in a desperate attempt to keep his seed from running down her thighs. “Kasumi, our clothes, please.”

Jungkook covered himself with both of his hands and bowed his head until his hair fell into his eyes as the girl came into the room, handing Ji-Yeong her clothes and a damp cloth then handed Jungkook his neatly folded clothes. He took them one hand, pulling his lips back in a tight smile as he looked up at her through his lashes.

"It's nothing I haven't already seen." She whispered to him with a kind smile. "You made my lady quite happy tonight. You should be proud of your body."

"Thank you." Jungkook whispered and straightened up slightly.

Ji-Yeong thanked her as she left the room quickly, keeping her eyes on the floor.

The two dressed then regarded one another for a moment before she offered her arm to him and smiled up at him when he linked his arm with hers. She guided him out the door and down the hallway. They walked down the staircase, descending down into the ruckus of drunkards happily playing poker or laughing with one another at the large round tables. Ji-Yeong caught Jimin’s’s warm eyes as he sat at the bar and gave him a nod of recognition then turned to Jungkook, seeing Mayumi glowering at her with her arms crossed in the shadows under another set of stairs. She gave a small bow to Jungkook, which he returned then smiled at him before leaving him for the night.

She made her way up the stairs, longing for some tea and fried octopus, when Mayumi stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop. Mayumi crossed her arms, the dark burgundy silk of her robe hanging almost to the floor as her narrowed eyes bore down on to her.

“Who said you could have Jungkook?”

This. This again. Ji-Yeong’s eyes sank shut as she groaned in frustration. “Doctor Park asked me to take him.”

“I don’t care what the doctor wants. I’m the best worker here. I get the first timers. I always get the first timers.”

“There is nothing to fight over. You will always be the most popular, always the best.”

“Yes, and I prove my worth with repeat customers. First timers are always repeat customers. You took that from me!” Mayumi struck her with the back of her hand.

Stunned, Ji-Yeong touched her burning cheek before tilting her head, her eyes narrowing as the Mother hurried towards them, the sound of her cane clicking on the floor. “Obviously, Doctor Park doesn’t think you’re worth the gold piece you charge. Maybe you shouldn’t forget your long term customers.”

“You!” Mayumi pulled her hand back, intending on slapping her harder this time, but stopped when Mother’s cane hooked around her wrist and brought her arm tightly over her chest.

“What does it matter who fucks who, Mayumi? Mr. Park may very well be your next client. This girl does not run this tavern. She does not dictate who belongs to whom. Calm yourself or you will be back on the streets.”

Mother yanked her cane free and moved to clearly see both women with her puffy, narrowed eyes and shook her head, cursing quickly under her breath before tutting at them and leaving.

Mayumi watched with dark eyes until Mother was descending down the stairs before shooking Ji-Yeong one last glare then left, hitting her shoulder against Ji-Yeong’s.

Ji-Yeong inhaled deeply and shook her head, then took only a few steps before running into Doctor Park, who was turning the corner. His face was glowing in the light of the lantern as he smiled down at her shyly. She bowed her head and returned his smile. “Doctor Park. It’s lovely to see you again tonight.”

“Hello, Ji-Yeong.” He returned her bow. “Jungkook said he enjoyed himself tonight and I wanted to thank you again personally.”

Ji-Yeong shook her head, her smile remaining. “It was an honor. He was a delight.”

She swallowed hard as he stepped close enough for her to feel the heat of his body. She kept the smile on her face as her eyes lowered to his neck where she could see his pulse at the notch between his collarbones.

Instinctively, she knew what would come next. Her breath hitched as her body flooded with electricity. Her still throbbing core clenched at nothing as her fingertips grew cold while the rest of her caught fire.

“May I thank you personally?” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek.

She gave a slight nod before he hooked his finger under her chin and drew her head up. He gazed into her eyes, the warmth of them making her weak as he pressed his full, soft lips to hers..

She sighed against him and wrapped her arms around his waist, stumbling back as she guided him to her room that Kasumi was just departing, her arms full of the green sheets that smelled of the perfumed water used to bathe Jungkook.

Ji-Yeong only cared about the way Jimin’s tongue moved across hers as he tried in vain to draw her closer before pulling her down with him onto the fresh red sheets.

next ⏭

Thanks for reading. I hope you've enjoyed it.

#bts #bts fic #bts smut #bts fanfic #bts fanfiction #bts scenarios #jungkook #jimin #bts vampire au #vampire jungkook #jin #jungkook smut #jimin smut #angst #bts angst

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softsnzstuff · 1 year

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I bring questions 🍊

Favorite fictional world?

What’s a food you want to try?

What was the last book you read?

What’s a movie you wish you could see for the first time again?

If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Favorite ice cream flavor and toppings (if any)?

Do you collect anything?

Favorite candy bar?

What’s your phone case?

What’s your favorite condiment?

(I have a google doc full of questions that I use for daily polls in a server I run lmao 😭)

Hello bestie! Don’t think I forgot about you. I’ve just been pondering my answers to these amazing questions!

•Favorite Fictional world?

Okay THIS is the question I’ve been hung up on for an hour because damn.

I thought the answer was easy - wizarding world - because who doesn’t want to be a wizard?? But there’s like. So many good options here.

SO my official answer is actually Doctor Who. Which is kinda silly bc it takes place legit on earth?? But I’d just have the ability to be the companion and travel? Like the 11th Doctor IS my comfort character. He makes me feel safe. He makes me feel special and loved and that’s so silly to say out loud lmfao rip but he’s all I had when I was having a rough time like ages 13-17 and so yeah. That’s my final answer. Doctor Who reality.

•A food you want to try?

I have never tried a macaron??? And they look so good but I have no idea what to expect!? So I really want to try one I’m just scared it’ll disappoint lol.

•Last book you read?

“All This Time” by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott

I finished it in like three hours. Ending was….something.

•A movie you wish you could see again for the first time?

Damn this is a good one. For the very first time????

“Wet, Hot, American Summer” is a contender because it’s funny as shit always, but it hit different that first time. I was on the floor laughing my ass off. Like that film? Peak comedy for real.

But if I’m going for a more serious option… maybe “Rent” (2005) or “Harry Potter”.

•What superpower would I have and why?

Listen I’ve thought about this for YEARS. Because at first it was flying and then it was invisibility and then it was telekinesis.

But like in terms of cool shit - maybe something like Wanda Maximoff where I can dream walk and make people see things or let myself see things?

•Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?

I’m usually a milkshake gal. Either classic cookies n cream with the hot fudge drizzle OR peanut butter chocolate ((but only if I’m at Baskin Robbins)).

HOWEVER if we’re talking exclusive ice cream only - it’s a tie between “Circus animal cookie” from this local shop by my house OR “chocolate malted crunch” from the Thrifty’s inside RiteAid lol

•Do you collect anything?

Too many things. I collect certain coins - mostly diff variations of the quarters. I have a display book that has all of the 50 states series. Then I have a second display book with 49/50 state national parks ((looking for that last one god dammit)) and now I’m collecting the new series of historical women!! And it’s so cool bc the George Washington on the front is a different one than the other quarters! I also have like a silver penny and some other random rare ones from the past that were gifts.

I also collect Featherly Friends birds from Target ☠️ they have me in a chokehold, what can I say?

•Fave candy bar?

Chocolate candy bar? Twix. Hands down. But candy in general I actually go for strawberry or cherry sour punch straws. 🤤

•Phone case?

Okay so this do be my mental illness but I can never ever decide on one theme or pattern for a phone case and most of the decorative ones seem flimsy?? So deadass mine is a two-toned pink otterbox case 🤣

And before this it was a two toned purple otter box case. And even before that. A two toned blue otter box case 🤡 I’m just very clumsy okay

•Fave condiment?

It’s gotta be a tie between Ketchup and Ranch - however I think ketchup is more versatile? Idk it’s pretty even but I’m usually satisfied with one of those

(Pls note. Get out of here with that Fuckin Kranch shit I don’t want that here 🤣🤣))

#Kb speaks #these are such good questions

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vmccombs · 2 years

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MC Prior Relationship History Tag Game

"Basically the idea is to briefly (or not) describe what kinds of intimate relationships (platonic, romantic, sexual, or otherwise) your MCs have had PRIOR TO THE BOOK STARTING. Have they had their hearts ripped out before jumping into your fluffy romance? Are they aro/ace and have never been in a long-term relationship before? I WANNA KNOW GDI" (by @mjjune)

@ezestreet tagged me on this, and I decided I wanted to play. I’m going to try to not give too much of my story away, so here is a character whose prior relationships don’t reveal too many answers to the questions raised by my sci-fi mystery novella, Your Artificial Afterlife Awaits.

Tagging anyone who wants to try this. Just let me know so I can make sure I get to see what you do. 😊

Frankie Allen is an eight-year-old technopathic prodigy who has spent a good portion of her life in her grandmother’s labs, taking tests and demonstrating her abilities. She’s also brilliant with tech in general, causing her grandfather to treat her like his protégé.

Gladys Allen is a medical doctor/slash/geneticist and Frankie’s grandmother. She’s a genius, a high-level figure in the oligarchy that rules Abidance, and a national hero who helped save Abidance’s citizenry from a devastating bio-weapon. As a result, she knows her worth and can cut a person down to nothing using only a handful of words.

Frankie glories in getting praise from her, knowing it’s the rarest of commodities. She also sees how everyone treats her grandmother like a queen, so she tries to act like her and thus can be a condescending little know-it-all, even to the people who care about her.

Jack Allen is a tech wizard and Frankie’s grandfather. Like his wife, he also helped save Abidance, by taking her biologically-based countermeasure, and figuring out a way to disperse it by embedding it in the system of force fields that protect Abidance, what the citizens call the Great Defensive Dome. He’s more interested in tech than people, but he loves his granddaughter and beams like a solar flare whenever she visits his lab. They work together on their various projects, but they also play games and watch holos and act silly together.

Jack is the one person in the world who makes Frankie feel like she’s safe and loved just for who she is, not what she can do. She can lower her protective shell of condescension around him and just be a child. Unfortunately, he gets tasked with top secret projects on a regular basis, which require him to travel to secret locations, so she doesn’t get to see him as much as she’d like.

Thomas Allen is Frankie’s father. He was torn between his parents’ wetware and hardware worlds, ultimately deciding that he was better at biology. Both of his parents held him to high standards, but in joining up with his mother, he doomed himself. His father was too distracted by his work to see the way his wife nagged their son to constantly do better, so ultimately it was both of their faults when Thomas finally folded under the pressure and had a nervous breakdown.

Thomas rightfully blamed his parents for his pain and disgrace, and since his parents were national heroes, he decided his best revenge was defecting to Abidance’s enemies. He took with him knowledge of his parents’ projects. Plus something he learned about the oligarchy that his mother knows and his father does not.

Frankie doesn’t really remember her father since he defected when she was a very young child. However, he is the reason she feels she needs to protect herself, primarily because he’s sent a variety of kidnappers to try to capture her down through the years. She thinks it’s just because of her technopathic abilities. She doesn’t know that it’s really because of something far more sinister.

Caro Allen is Frankie’s mother. She’s no genius, just the haughty, socialite daughter of one of the oligarchic families. She was considered a good match for the Allen family, a way of “civilizing” this family of chaotic, scientific geniuses. Instead, she got pulled into their toxic dynamic and is now just trying her best to survive.

Frankie feels very little towards her mother, viewing her mostly with contempt, thanks to her grandparents taking over raising her. She sees her as someone who just goes to parties, hosts gatherings, and then brags about it to the people who pay attention to her on her Feeder device. Someone useless and worthless who Frankie is forced to interact with. More of an annoying acquaintance than an actual family member.

ND31 is a Safebot who has been assigned to protect Frankie from her father and her father’s minions. Safebots are created using dead human body parts, which have been reanimated and strengthened to make them tougher and stronger than regular human bodies. They are then implanted with an artificial intelligence which does the actual strategizing and fighting when needed, and a preprogrammed personality that interacts with the Safebot’s charges, providing a buffer between them and the AI’s more abrasive way of doing things.

Frankie’s had ND31 with her ever since she was five, and it took her about a year to decide she didn’t want to be coddled and soothed by “the personality.” She demanded that the AI, Kee, talk to her and tell her the truth about the situations they were going into and what it was doing to protect her. Kee has been very abrasive with her as a result—she knows he doesn’t like the way she disrespects the “ND” personality—but he complies with her demands and she can tell he’s impressed with her, almost despite himself.

She also suspects he’s still keeping some secrets from her. She’s determined to figure out exactly what they are. 😊

#WIP: Your Artificial Afterlife Awaits #indie author #Writeblr #Writing game #my posts

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danigrayextendeduniverse · 1 year

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This blog is a work in progress!

Hello! My name is Dani Gray, and welcome to the Dani Gray Extended Universe! What's the Dani Gray Extended Universe, or the DGEU? Well, it's basically where I put all my OCs and AUs for those OCs—I'm a writer with a lot of ideas, a lot of creativity, but I also like reusing OCs rather than making new ones (I make new OCs as well but I have a select few who are near and dear to my heart).

As this blog is fairly new, I'm still working on setting it up and introducing my characters (and also my main universe). I will be adding a list of some of my primary/most recurring characters underneath the read more below, but it'll be fairly underdeveloped. In the meantime, here's a few facts about me and a brief DNI:

Name: Dani Gray

Pronouns: Any neopronouns

DNI: racists, queerphobes, MAPs/pedophiles, roleplay blogs (asking a question is fine, but I don't use this blog to roleplay)

I reserve the right to block anyone and to ignore asks that I find inappropriate or that I don’t want to answer.

I'm a Tumblr veteran (been here for... a while) but I still struggle with what tags I should use when it comes to original content, so if you have any tips please let me know!

Recurring characters in the DGEU

Daniel Nation: Probably my first official OC who wasn't created for a fandom. The main character in my original story, he's got a lot of development and has been through so many changes. I'm absolutely enamored by him, he's my bestest boy.

Diana Bullock: Daniel's best friend and a general manic pixie dream girl (though that's not the role she plays). Was created around the same time as Daniel, they should not be separated by any means.

Cameron Scale: Daniel's partner! This character has definitely gone through a lot of changes, but the basic rundown for them is that they're a deaf activist.

Amanda Skies: Diana's girlfriend. Still being developed, she was originally supposed to be a mean girl and an antagonist. Not sure when her story changed, but very Amity Blight from The Owl House coded (though she was created way before The Owl House was even a show).

Adam Nation: Daniel's biological father who was originally supposed to die when Daniel was very young. Not sure when or why he came back to life, but his presence as a character definitely changed the direction of Daniel's story. A good father in every aspect, he's a school counselor.

Vincent Strange: Daniel's father and Adam's longest romantic partner. Not gonna lie, a lot of his inspiration came from Doctor Strange (hence the name and also a lot of his backstory). He's a surgeon, debating if I want to put him through an accident like in the Doctor Strange canon. In some universes he does have an accident, but in the main story he doesn't.

Indrid Cold: Surprisingly not the Mothman nor inspired by the character from TAZ: Ammesty (though I do love that podcast). Daniel's father and a late addition to Adam and Vincent's relationship, though the three of them have been friends for a long time. Indrid works as a museum tour guide and is very autistic about it. He's a silly, goofy daddy who loves Daniel to smithereens and cried on Daniel's first day of school.

Evelyn Kamiyama: Wasn't originally going to add her because she's not that recurring, but I love her too much to leave her out. Plus, she was very involved in Daniel's upbringing. Daniel's surrogate mother and the owner of a sushi restaurant. Absolute badass of a woman who takes no shit. Has a complicated relationship with her family but doesn't let that get in the way of how she treats Daniel. Also she and Adam are fuck buddies.

#pinned post #original character #original story #original writer #daniel nation #diana bullock #cameron scale #amanda skies #adam nation #vincent strange #indrid cold #evelyn kamiyama

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zukkaoru · 3 years

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hello all! today is the one year anniversary of me posting plum blossom aka my first oneshot to cross not only the 10k word mark but also the 20k word mark. it's also still holding it's spot as my most popular fic by both hits and kudos and it genuinely stuns me that something that started out as a silly little idea i had right after watching boiling rock is still getting reads and kudos

so anyways, to celebrate one year and to thank everyone who has read and left kudos/comments on it, may i offer you a little snippet from the Sokka POV rewrite i started shortly after posting plum blossom and never ended up finishing?👀💞

(it starts during the white lotus meeting when toph takes zuko to talk to jeong-jeong)

“Gossip doesn’t suit you,” Pakku states. His voice is steady, but underlined with a harshness Sokka doesn’t like. “It doesn’t do well to talk about the Fire Lord behind his back.”

“He’s my nephew,” Iroh replies in the same calm but also somehow harsh tone. “I would not ask you to refrain from ever speaking of your family when they are elsewhere.” Iroh sips his tea.

He and Pakku stare at each other in silence until Jeong-Jeong returns, trailed by Zuko and Toph. Jeong-Jeong and Zuko both look shaken up while Toph looks proud of herself.

“Thanks for letting us interrupt the Old Man Meeting!” Toph says.

Sokka tries to meet Zuko’s gaze, but his eyes are unfocused, almost glazed over. As Toph shoves him out the door, Sokka jumps up and follows them. Pakku tries to pretest, but Piandao silences him.

“Wait, Zuko!”

Zuko tenses, but once his eyes focus on Sokka, he relaxes.

“I just wanted to say bye.”

Zuko smiles. “Oh. Right. Sorry for showing up unannounced - Toph kind of neglected to mention you might be here.” He steps closer, and Sokka knows that means he wants to hug Sokka. Sokka, of course, obliges and pulls Zuko into a hug. Zuko’s breathing is shaky, but that’s to be expected with how off he’s looked since he and Toph first showed up. There’s something bothering him, but Sokka doesn’t want to pry. Not yet, at least. Not right now.

Instead, he just whispers, “I know we just saw each other a few days ago, but I’ve missed you.”

Zuko’s arms tighten around Sokka. “I missed you too.”

Sokka is studying the swords hanging on Piandao’s wall while he waits for Pakku to finish discussing whatever with Jeong-Jeong, when Toph bursts in through the door. She looks frantic beyond belief, and almost like she’s been crying.

“Are Sokka and Iroh still here?”

Sokka’s blood runs cold. Something is very, very, wrong.

Sokka feels a firm hand on his shoulder, which he realizes belongs to Iroh. “What is it, Toph?”

“It’s Zuko.”

“What?” Sokka cries. He doesn’t even care about what everyone else will think at this point. Toph never calls anyone by their actual names. Zuko is always ‘Sparky’ or ‘Fire Lord Hotman’ if she wants to mix it up. “Toph, what happened?!”

Toph shakes her head. “Not here.”

Sokka can’t get out of the house fast enough, but Toph waits until she, Sokka, and Iroh are seated outside and she’s sure no one else is listening in before she speaks.

“He passed out,” she starts. “He wanted to visit Azula--” she must feel Sokka tense, because she quickly adds, “it wasn’t Azula’s fault, though! He was really persistent on visiting her once we left the meeting, though, and you know how he gets. But anyways, he passed out while he was talking to her, and he--” Toph seems to have an internal battle with herself for a moment. “He’s fine now. That’s what the doctors told me. But I really think you two should stay in the palace, or at least the Fire Nation, so he can talk to you once he wakes up. ...I think he has some really important things he wants to say to both of you.”

Iroh nods. “I do believe that would be best. Sokka, I am sure Pakku will inform your family of your change of plans.”

Sokka comprehends what Iroh says, but he can’t figure out how to respond. His voice isn’t quite working, and he doesn’t even know if he can nod. The only thing he can think is Zuko.

“Snoozles, come on,” Toph says.

“Your eyes are red,” is what he ends up telling her.

“My eyes are white,” she snaps. “I’m blind.”

“No. You were crying. What happened, Toph?!” It takes everything in Sokka to not reach forward and grip Toph’s shirt. She would just throw rocks at his head or something if he tried that.

“I told you! He passed out!”

“TOPH.”

“Fine!” She crosses her arms. “Fine. It’s kind of, sort of, possible he passed out because he couldn’t breathe. I don’t-- he just--”

“Couldn’t breathe?” Sokka feels like he can’t breathe. “Couldn’t breathe?” he stands up. “Will they let me see him?”

Toph must realize that there’s no way Sokka will sleep unless he can at least see Zuko, so she all but barges them into the hospital where Azula was put and the doctors point them towards an infirmary room. It’s empty except for the bed Zuko’s lying in and a waterbender standing at his side. As soon as the door opens, the waterbender looks up. She starts, rearranges Zuko’s blankets, and then makes her way out of the room. She drops something in the trash can on her way out.

Sokka rushes over to Zuko.

He’s lying on his back, and his face is paler than it should be, but he’s breathing. Sokka can see his chest clearly rising and falling, though it does seem a bit unsteady.

“What aren’t you guys telling me?” Sokka asks. He doesn’t look back at Toph and Iroh; just keeps staring at Zuko. Like if he looks away, Zuko’s breathing will stop.

“It’s not our place to say.” Toph’s words echo Iroh’s from earlier. There’s something going on with Zuko, something that both Toph and Iroh know about.

And Sokka won’t lie, it kind of stings that Zuko hasn’t told him. He just spent several days in the Fire Nation, and there were plenty of instances where the two of them were alone with each other. Zuko should know he can tell Sokka anything.

But Zuko isn’t good at talking about himself. Sokka knows this. Iroh and Toph tend to find things out, whether you tell them or not. Toph has her seismic senses to alert her when anyone’s heartbeat is even slightly off and Iroh might as well be able to read minds with how he figures things out about people. So Sokka shouldn’t be hurt, but he still wants to know why Zuko didn’t talk to him.

Sokka reaches forward and brushes a strand of hair out of Zuko’s face.

+ bonus: after zuko confesses

And it makes sense now, why Zuko didn’t turn to Sokka. And why Iroh and Toph were so adamant about not telling Sokka the full truth. He can’t even be mad, really, because there’s nothing to be mad or hurt about. Except maybe Ozai raising Zuko to think he was worthless, but Sokka can dwell on that later. And if he accidentally wanders into the prison where Ozai is being held captive and accidentally punches him in the face, that is absolutely nobody’s business at all.

“What are you thinking?” Zuko asks. He’s rubbing his thumb over the back of Sokka’s hand.

“About how a lot of things suddenly make a lot of sense.” Sokka leans forward and presses his forehead against Zuko’s. “Also about how I really want to kiss you again.”

Zuko doesn’t say anything; he just tilts his head enough so he can press his lips against Sokka’s. Sokka sighs into the kiss and he feels Zuko smile. Sokka brings a hand up to Zuko’s hair, running his fingers through it. He could honestly stay like this forever.

#this has been sitting in my google docs for almost a year and i did not edit it so my apologies if it sucks #i originally wanted to write a full length sokka pov rewrite but that did not happen and i'm not sure it ever will #bc i have way too many other ideas #but i figured i could at least share some of what i have that is decent #and i wanted to do something to celebrate the one year anniversary of posting this fic bc it's still my baby #there are a lot of parts i don't stand by / would change entirely if i wrote it now but #this fic rewired the hard drive of my mind. was my first oneshot to cross the 10k & 20k marks. was my first fic to get a podfic.#it was my first fic to break 100 bookmarks and now it's at 525????#it blows me away how much love this fic got and i am greatly appreciative of it 🥺💞💓🌸#zukka #atla #grace's writing tag

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gotnofucks · 4 years

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Master of His Own Fate-2

Pairing: dark!Steve x Reader, dark!Bucky x Reader

Words: 4.3k

Warnings: Non-con/dub-con, smut, jealousy, spanking, 18+ ONLY

A/N: Probably gonna be a four-part series.

Part 1

MASTERLIST

+++++

Why did it feel like everyone had to do their shopping exactly when you had to? You’d bet it was not this crowed earlier. Or maybe it had something to do with the two super-soldiers flanking you that drew people in. You should have just ordered stuff online since this was super embarrassing. Steve’s hand was in the back pocket of your jeans and Bucky was on your other side, pushing the shopping cart with one hand while holding your waist with other. You’re sure you must have made quite a picture, a little woman sandwiched between them.

“Can you remove your hand?” You asked Steve under your breath and he looked away from the cereals he was perusing to glance at you.

“No” He answered and then pinched your ass for good measure. You jumped, your face flushing and you vowed to look at the floor until you left. You had no desire to see what other people thought about you.

“Why are they so colourful? Why can’t it be simple? There are too many!” Bucky exclaimed and you almost snorted. The cereal aisle was like wonderland for Bucky and you’d been walking back and forth here for 10 minutes now.

“I’m gonna go with this” Steve said throwing in a pack of Cap’n Crunch and you rolled your eyes.

“Then maybe Bucky can get Frosted Flakes and we can leave?” You suggested. Steve chuckled, leaning down to press an affectionate kiss on your head while Bucky took your advice and got Frosted Flakes.

“I’m gonna eat them off of you” He muttered in your ear and you bit your lip, flushing dark. You let them lead you around the store, checking off items off their list. It was so domestic you felt sick. This was not normal, and you unconsciously kept scratching your soulmark hidden under a wristband. You tried not to look at it if at all possible.

Bucky had stopped in front of the shelves containing condoms and quirked an eyebrow at you.

“Chocolate or strawberry?” He asked with a sinful grin and you wiggled until free of their holds. You had to bear their presence at home anyway, anymore and you’ll be smothered.

“We’ve forgotten the cheese dips. I’ll go get some while you finish here.” You said and turned away before they could say anything. You heard them chuckling softly behind you and willed your tears of frustration away.

Your life had changed drastically in the past few months since the night Steve and Bucky marked you as theirs. Try as you might, you couldn’t escape them, not when they are two of the most powerful and influential people in the world. You lived with them in their apartment at the compound now, and to say life was hell would be an understatement. Steve and Bucky have separate rooms but most nights you’re sandwiched between them in one bed since neither wants to spend a night away. You’d had more sex in these few months than people probably did in years.

You veered left into the sauces and spreads aisle, absentmindedly looking at the display. It wouldn’t matter what flavor you got, it would end up spread all over you and licked by your two lovers. You randomly took a jar off the shelf and were about to go back when you bumped into someone standing behind you.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” You apologized to the man behind you. His hand took hold of your elbow for a second to steady you before he stepped away and shook his head.

“It’s alright miss, not a problem.” He said with a small smile. You got a look at his face and your heart skipped a beat. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair, his genuine smile framed by a well-groomed beard. You saw his eyes dart to the jar in your hand and his lips twitched in amusement.

“I’d advise against this” He said pointing to the jar and you looked down at your hands in confusion. “While one may handle blue cheese, you don’t want to try its dip.”

You winced once you realized what you had picked and the man behind you laughed a little as he saw you put it back.

“What will you suggest?” You asked him. This was probably the only normal interaction you had had in a long time outside of work. It did help that this man was what some would call daddy.

“Oh, I am not a good cook. I just stick to the basics you know, less chances of messing up a dish.” He answered and handed you a classic cheese dip. You took it from him with a smile and thanked him. You lingered a moment, for some reason wanting to stay. It seemed like he had the same idea for even though he had picked his own jar, he didn’t leave.

“You, uh – you should get nachos to go with this. They have them on sale.” You said and internally cringed.

“Oh, alright then. Will you show me the way?” He asked and you nodded, leading him around as he followed with his cart.

“You new in the area?” You asked him since all locals knew the store layout pretty well.

“Ah yes, just moved here from Newton, Massachusetts. My name is Andy Barber” The man said and offered you a hand. Your smile vanished even as you mechanically accepted his hand and shook it. Andy Barber. AB. Like the initials on your wrist. Your hand squeezed around your wristband, your heart beating a mile an hour.

“Hey, you okay?” Andy asked and you realized he’d been speaking to you.

“Ah yes, yes I’m okay. Just lost in thought. Here we are, nachos.” You said and uselessly pointed at the display. You told yourself you were being silly, a lot of people with same initials existed. He may not even have a soulmark. Yet as you looked at him selecting his flavors, you couldn’t help but feel lighter than you had in months. You felt belonged, stupid as that may sound.

“So, you live around here?” You wished Andy would stop talking. The more he spoke, the more you wanted to stay and talk the rest of your life away with him.

“Yes, I am a doctor at the Avenger Tower.” You managed to say and saw his eyebrows raise appreciatively.

“Damn, that’s so cool” He said, and you couldn’t help but grin. “I am a lawyer, starting as a professor in NYU from next term.”

“Damn, that’s so cool” you mimicked him and you both breathed out a laugh. You didn’t realize it as you spoke to him that you were walking aimlessly with him around the store, telling him about the sites he absolutely must visit in New York and the best places to get coffee and hotdogs from. You had circled back to the spreads section and stood awkwardly facing each other.

“Uh, it may seem a little forward, but will you show me around the city?” Andy asked, fiddling with the cuffs on his shirt. You wanted him to take it off and see if your initials were tattooed in his skin like his were in yours. You were about to open your mouth when a hand wrapped around your waist from behind.

“There you are sweetie, you had us worried.” Steve’s words felt like a splash of cold water. For a few glorious moments you had forgotten your predicament, lost as you were in conversation with Andy. Your eyes met Andy’s and you saw him frown, his gaze narrowing on Steve’s arm around you and noticing how you tried to get out of it.

“I – uh, couldn’t decide so settled with the classic.” You showed Steve the cheese dip, but his eyes were fixed on Andy whose face was clouded with suspicion.

“Steve Rogers” He offered his hand to Andy, a useless introduction since most people recognized him with ease. You thought Andy would almost decline the handshake but, in the end, politely shook it.

“Pleased to meet you. Thank you for your service to the nation and the world.” His words were polite and yet there was a mistrustful edge to it. You hoped that he wouldn’t say anything and just walk away. You knew how Steve and Bucky could get about other men in your life, and right now you wanted Andy far away from here.

“Don’t mention it” Steve said preening and you took off his hand from your waist and laced your fingers together, trying to pull him away.

“We gotta go, lots to do back home. Thanks for the suggestion mister” You unnecessarily pointed at the jar again and tried to move back but Steve stood still. You were careful not to mention Andy’s name in front of him and you prayed with everything in you that this interaction would be over soon enough.

“Steve, you find her yet?” You closed your eyes in defeat and shame as Bucky walked from the other side and joined your little party. He closed in on you, hands cupping your face and drawing you in a deep kiss. You kept your eyes downcast, not looking at Andy and hoping the Earth will swallow you whole.

“Yeah, she’s was just having some trouble selecting the flavor until this gentleman here helped her.” Steve said and Bucky turned to look at Andy who was frowning harder than ever now. Andy’s eyes were searching yours, but you couldn’t let yourself meet his. Your shame and fear were profound and all you wanted was to leave.

Bucky’s eyes moved from Andy to Steve to you and he straightened, his arm curling around your shoulder, hand resting near your left collarbone just inches away from the scarred initials of him and Steve.

“Thank you, our girl here can be a little iffy when it comes to food” Bucky remarked affectionately but his emphasis on ‘our’ was not lost on either of you.

“Not a problem.” Andy finally nodded and took hold of his cart, ready to wheel it away. You almost sighed in relief, but your heart broke a little when he started retreating. Your eyes met for a brief moment and it seemed as if he would stop but then you looked away and he continued moving.

“What are we going to do with you Y/n?” Bucky muttered once Andy was out of sight. They didn’t care they were in a public place, both of them standing almost on top of you.

“I don’t know what you mean” You whispered and felt Bucky’s metal hand tighten over your arm. You hissed and tried to pull away but found your chin being raised up to face him with rough hands.

“Do you want another lesson on how to behave around strange men?” Bucky asked and your eyes widened, head shaking in negation.

“No, no Buck. Please, nothing happened. We were just talking” You begged, trying to convince him. You watched in horror as one of his hand outright cupped your left boob, fingers splayed so they pressed into the scars over your heart.

“You sure? I can show the whole store who you belong to my love.”

You were ready to start bawling when Bucky started fiddling with the neckline of your top, but it was Steve who saved the day. He gently pried Bucky’s hands from you and tucked you under his arm, pushing your head in his chest with a hand while the other kept Bucky away.

“Not here Buck, look at her. Honestly!” Steve started a swift walk towards the exit with you at his side and you couldn’t help but look back. It was one of those situations where you found the precious thing lost within a sea of garbage when you spotted Andy, his eyes not on you but your arm. You followed his gaze and suppressed a sob as you saw your wristband had shifted after your struggle with Bucky, bringing into view the initials that made your soulmark.

ASB: Andrew S Barber

You didn’t know his middle name but you couldn’t be any more sure of who your soulmate was when Andy’s eyes darted to his own covered wrist the moment Bucky shouted, “Steven Rogers and Y/n Y/l/n you both come back here this very second!”

Bucky was getting your stuff checked out, standing at the cashiers with his grumpy dad face on. Steve ignored him and continued dragging you away towards the exit. Your eyes watered and you tried to stem their flow so you could have one last glance at Andy without tears blurring your vision. You both stared at each other and just before you walked out the doors, even from the distance you saw Andy mouth a promise:

I will come for you

+++++

Fate was a cruel bastard, and you cursed your destiny as you lay curled in Steve’s lap after dinner. No one spoke much once you got home but you knew it was only a matter of time before shit hit the fan. You were wearing a short nightie, Bucky’s favorite and Steve’s hands were absently massaging you as he read through a new mission briefing.

“Wanda was asking about you again” Steve said, and you blinked at him. Just another thing you loved that they had snatched away from you. Wanda was obviously very suspicious when you announced you’ll be shifting from your apartment to Steve and Bucky’s since she knew you wanted to wait for your soulmate to show up. You would have confided in her had you not been aware of the damage your lovers could cause if displeased. Bucky had strictly ordered you to keep away from her until you were in control of your thoughts, which he was afraid Wanda would read. You had looked to help from Steve, who was softer out of the two, but he agreed with Bucky, “Better she not know anything than us having to eliminate her if she did.” They talked of death and violence with such ease it made your skin crawl.

“Can I see her now? I don’t think my texts are keeping her satisfied.” If only you could get a few hours away from their stifling presence maybe it would be more tolerable. The both of them clung to you like a babe to his mum, and your only respite were the hours you spent working.

“Do you think you’re ready to see her now?” Steve questioned you, finally looking up from his mission briefing. Before you could answer Bucky came behind you and plucked you from Steve’s arms like you weighed nothing and perched you in his own lap. Steve rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything.

“The better question would be if you think you deserve to see her.” Bucky commented, his hand fondling your behind under the silk nightie. You shifted under his touch and gaze, uncomfortable under the stern look.

“I’m minding my thoughts, I promise.” You whined and Bucky’s hand cracked against your ass suddenly. You squealed and he held you down with one hand, the second blow even harder than the first.

“You and I both know that’s not what I meant. I don’t like it when you act dumb.” Bucky snarled and you flinched as he raised his hand again. To your surprise, the slap barely had any force behind it and Bucky rubbed your ass softly as if in apology. You turned your face to peek at him and saw him and Steve locked in one of those silent eye contact conversations that you absolutely loathed. Steve was almost glaring at Bucky as if displeased and Bucky had enough grace to look a little ashamed.

“I wasn’t!” Bucky cried out suddenly, throwing his hands in the air and huffing. It was as if they were continuing a conversation that went from telepathy to verbal and your mouth parted in awe when Steve continued speaking too.

“You would have if I didn’t stop you.”

Your gaze moved from one man to another, confused beyond measure. In a flash Bucky was gathering you in his arms, holding you to himself like he was afraid papa Steve would take away his favorite toy.

“I know my limits Steve. She’s mine as much as yours. Stop it.”

You were sure if you tilted your head up you would see Bucky pouting but instead you observed Steve who was in classic captain pose with hands on his hips and disapproval on his face.

“Do you really? Because it sure seemed like you were about to strip her naked in a supermarket of all places.”

“I wouldn’t! I was teasing her.” Bucky said, his head buried in your neck. He took your hand and placed it on his head and you slowly scratched with your nails, making him purr in satisfaction. Steve didn’t look the least bit convinced and his eyes kept bouncing between you and Bucky. Finally, he heaved a deep sigh before getting up.

“She is sleeping in my room tonight.” Your head snapped up just as Bucky’s hold tightened around you in rejection of the idea.

“No, you can’t take her from me.” Bucky snapped and you resisted the urge to slap them both. It bothered you how they went on talking about you like you weren’t even present here.

“I’m not taking her away from you, pal. Just like she learns her lessons when she fucks up, so will you.”

Bucky didn’t look like he would want a lesson, but it didn’t seem like the first time they were having this talk because he said nothing more. He almost didn’t let you leave when Steve took your arm to take you away but finally relented.

“When can I have her back?” Yep, he was definitely pouting.

“When you learn that teasing is pinching her ass in public, not stripping her bare in front of strangers.”

+++++

It had been a while since there were two people in bed and not three. You stretched your feet out, glad to have some extra space. Even cuddled up in Steve’s massive arms, your thoughts returned to Andy. You had finally found him after years of searching, only to lose him on the same day. It was a cosmic joke to have you cross paths now when it was too late to do anything. Your hand unconsciously traced the letters on your wrist, a slight thrill running down your spine as you finally realized what and who these initials stood for.

It wasn’t just a legend anymore. They were right when they said that soulmates completed you. In those precious few moments you had spent with Andy, all your worries had fallen away. You both had built a bubble around yourself where the outer world was nothing but a distant blur and you saw only each other. Conversation didn’t sound strained and you felt so connected despite having just met. You wished you knew he existed a few months ago. How different would life have been then if you were laying in his arms and not Steve and Bucky’s?

You bit your lip when you felt Steve take your hand in his from behind you, his fingers too tracing the initials on your wrist. You stiffened and held yourself back from snatching your hand away. It was never a very good idea to resist when it came to them both.

“Bucky doesn’t know yet” Steve murmured in your ear as he tapped your wrist. You felt your heart drop in your stomach, your fingers curling in your palm. “He thinks it was just some man you were speaking to. His jealousy makes him sloppy and he doesn’t notice details.”

You were turned around to face him, your eyes locking on Steve’s which were a vibrant blue even in the dark. His hands played at the hem of your nightie, teasing it.

“I noticed of course. How could I not, I have never seen you smile the way you smiled at him” You didn’t seem capable of speaking or protesting when Steve’s hands slipped up your clothing and caressed your thighs and belly. His hands were moving but his eyes were fixed on you and try as you might you couldn’t look away. Slowly, gently like one does to precious cargo you were stripped, your body baring itself inch by delicious inch. The calluses on his fingers rubbed against your nipples and you let out a moan, your slick coating your walls and thighs. Your lips met his in a desperate kiss and you couldn’t help but make pathetic mewls as his tongue raced across your throat. He came to rest above your heart, tracing the scar over it. JBB and SGR

“How are these any different to those on your wrist?” He questioned as he entered you slowly, looking deep into your eyes like trying to search your soul. “If we carve your name on our body, would that make you look at us like you looked at him?”

You couldn’t answer if you wanted to, the heat of Steve warming your insides. You met in a familiar dance, bodies slapping, and moaning together until pleasure took over every cell in your body. Steve pulled out and released on your thighs, rubbing his essence in your skin, his breath warm on your cheek.

“I don’t think I need to tell you what will happen if I find you talking to that man again” It was not a question and you shook your head, tears travelling down the sides of your face and getting lost in your hair. “Good girl. We can forget it and Bucky will never know. Because if that happens, even I won’t be able to help you.”

You reminded yourself that Steve was just as much of a monster as Bucky was. He had taken you against your will too, and while he may as well be the lesser of the two evils, you could not trust him. You turned to your side, automatically curling into Steve out of habit when he held you. That is what this relationship felt like. A habit. It was a routine you were stuck in with no way out. You closed your eyes, seeking the escape of sleep and tried to sooth your broken heart over a love it may never find again.

+++++

Bucky was a terrible stalker and you wondered how he remained a ‘ghost story’ for all those decades. Steve had been hoarding you in his room for nearly a week and you knew Bucky was at his wit’s end. He wasn’t even pretending to hide anymore; he’d just stand across the med bay and ogle you like a roadway creep. You didn’t even know what to do, who should you listen to. Being caught in the crossfire between them is not fun.

You finally had enough and made your way over to him. You were a few feet away when he snatched you in his arms, crushing you to his frame and kissing you soundly. Pulling away, he put his forehead on yours and bit your lip.

“I’ve missed you baby.” He cooed and you sighed.

“Is that why you’re lurking here and scaring my nursing staff away?” Bucky nodded, pecking your lips once more before you moved away.

“I’m sorry about the other day you know. I just…lost control.” It was rare that he would apologize, and you were too smart to reject this small consolation. He will probably be kind and soft for the coming few days and you took what you can. You smiled at him, promising him you forgave him.

“I have just one public hour and then we can go home together. Sounds good?” You asked and Bucky’s smile was almost shy when he agreed. Sometimes you believed it when they say they loved you, but how can someone hurt whom they love?

“You asked me once what I see in you, but have you ever looked at yourself the way I look at you? Here you are, one of the most accomplished doctors working for the Avengers, and yet you give your time to general public to treat their common cold and flu. That’s what I see in you. Your kindness, that light, it guides me away from the darkness in me.” Bucky confessed and you looked away from him. He could be so sweet when he has to be. Both him and Steve. You wonder again if they could always be like that, will you be able to love them.

“I – uh, I’ll see you in an hour, okay? Wait in the common room for me.”

You watched Bucky go and returned with a perturbed mind. The hot and cold behavior almost gives you a whiplash. In the past few months, you have spent several nights crying, but just as many moaning in pleasure. Maybe it could have been easier if you’d given in and just accepted them, but love does not come by force. They can carve their names in your skin a hundred times over, and yet it won’t leave a mark on your soul.

Your assistant entered, informing you that general patients were waiting for you and you nodded. Tony gave you an hour free every day to treat patients outside the tower for free. You believed being a doctor your job should be more than saving just superheroes. One by one your patients trickled in, most with common diseases. Some you prescribed for additional testing; all costs covered by the Stark Industries.

“Your last patient ma’am”

You nodded to let your assistant know you heard her and entered the room. You were looking over a report as you entered, the door shutting itself behind you automatically.

“Hello, how can I help you today?” You looked up and the report fell out of your hand. Sitting in front of you was Andy Barber, his eyes crinkled at the sides due to the wide smile he supported.

“I believe I have a heart problem doctor. A beautiful lady stole mine.”

+++++

Taglist is open for all characters

#dark!steve x reader #dark!bucky x reader #dark!steve rogers x reader #dark!bucky barnes x reader #dark!steve rogers #dark!bucky barnes #steve x reader #bucky x reader #andy barber x reader #andy x reader #soulmate au

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theynanigans · 3 years

Text

octopath traveler / birthday headcanon #2

for some reason i’m on a roll so here’s another one of these (and this time i’ll actually get straight to the point because the last post was longer than anticipated) -- our next traveler in line (actually, there’s no line, but. let’s ignore that for now) for my silly birthday headcanons everyone’s favorite medicine guy... al. alf. alfie. alfyboi. alfyn romeo. alfosaurus rex. al- nevermind, i’ll stop here. you get the point. hopefully.

the birthday i picked out for alfyn is june 8th because: - there’s a large bunch of obscure national holidays set on that date, including these: national best friends day (and he’s the bestest of friends) national upsy daisy day (yay, positivity) national call your doctor day (only this year but i’m including it anyway because it’s funny) national jelly-filled doughnut day (this was foreshadowed in my last post... thanks, fabi /s) and, last but not least, national name your poison day ...the latter being the main reason i picked this day due to the “pick your poison!” line he says when using empoison on an enemy (which is by far one of my favorites, since it’s so witty and can be interpreted in a number of different ways) - say what you want about geminis but i actually quite like the idea of alfyn being one??? it suits his character - inquisitive, outgoing, adaptable, adventurous, affectionate, charming and clever, though somewhat unpredictable at times - on top of that it adds onto the entire opposites thing he has going on with therion (opposite magic, inverted color scheme, contrasting personality + opposite zodiac sign? heck yes.) - gemini and sagittarius also have great chemistry which brings me lots of joy - plus, june is nice and warm, just like his personality! :D -- and now, back to researching peculiar holidays that nobody knows about so i can make more of these... hooray??

#octopath traveler #octopath #octopath alfyn #alfyn greengrass #alfyn #headcanon #hc #birthday #alfion

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aristidetwain · 3 years

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The Shared Dalek Universe of the 1960s: A Case Study

In 2011 (a little over ten years ago!), El Sandifer cited my dearly-beloved 1960s Who Annuals as examples of stories which ended up influencing the TV series many years down the line despite making an unrepentant hash of continuity.

Her first example is that the Doctor is called Dr. Who, and that he alternates between being from Earth on one page, and not being from Earth three pages later. I would point out that TV was doing much the same thing in those days, and went on flip-flopping basically until Jon Pertwee, so it’s not a terribly good argument to begin with.

However, she spends more time pondering the Daleks of the comics. These Daleks, she notes, are very different from those on television at the time. There are hordes of them, they travel in fleets of saucers, and they’re ruled by the Emperor. This contradiction, she argues, later fed back into the TV series in the RTD era, when huge fleets of Daleks became the norm and, earlier but still well after the first burst of Annuals, in the form of Patrick Troughton facing a very different Dalek Emperor in The Evil of the Daleks.

In no way do I wish to undermine Sandifer’s ultimate conclusion that “canon” in the sense of diegetic consistency is a red herring of little importance, and what matters for any sane definition of ‘canon’ is whether a story is referenced at all, not whether it’s contradicted.

However.

Having gone back to 1966′s The Dalek Outer Space Book, I have made a very startling discovery, in the story entitled The Secret of the Emperor. The rest is after the cut; I will leave you with a delightful panel from this story, showing the “bewildered” Dalek Emperor being bullied by knights at the Battle of Agincourt. (This is one of my favourite Doctor Who images ever, and if it doesn’t put a smile on your face I am not sure I want to take you seriously.)

So, famously, when he debuted in the comics, the Dalek Emperor was not the giant, static Dalek later shown on television in The Evil of the Daleks and The Bad Wolf of the Ways; instead, he was golden, squat, and had a bulbous head; to house all the ego, one expects.

Thus, most people will point at the fact that when the Doctor met “the Emperor” in The Evil of the Daleks, he resided in a huge tower-like casing in the Dalek City, as evidence that although ideas received a first treatment in the comics which later made it to screens, no direct continuity was intended; the comics’ Emperor was an alternate, a first draft, to be discarded once a more definitive TV portrayal emerged.

And yet, of course, it is somehow appealing to think of the two as the same Dalek, isn’t it? John Peel (Dalek writer voted most likely to be a 19th century Victorian man who stumbled into a time eddy; it’s mostly the remarkable sideburns) spent a lot of time in his Dalek novels establishing the life story of the Dalek Prime, the First Dalek Ever, who transitioned from the globe-headed casing to the towery Evil one and then deeply regretted it, what with the “getting killed by his own infighting troops with no way to escape”.

But this is usually viewed as a retcon. A cute retcon, an admirable retcon even, but a retcon. My good friend and esteemed fellow canon-welder, @rassilon-imprimatur, espoused such a view four years ago:

Well, all of this is, if you’ll pardon my French, bollocks. John Peel didn’t make anything up, except for the snappy name of “the Dalek Prime” as a designation for the individual. The Dalek Emperor in Evil of the Daleks was always the Emperor of the 1960s comics, and there is a very good reason for his seemingly-contradictory change of appearance. What’s more, I am not talking about murky authorial intent: these are things that the discerning Dalek fan in 1967 was meant to have known.

Let me wind back the clock to 1966. A Dalek master-plan is unfurling, a multi-media agenda spanning several years, more ambitious perhaps than even Time Lord Victorious in its scope; for the ultimate aim of a small cabal of men including David Whitaker, Terry Nation and Brad Ashton is nothing less than spinning the Daleks out of Doctor Who and into their own non-BBC TV show — to be made in America, and in colour, if you please!

For over a year now, a Dalek story arc has been running in the pages of TV Century 21, tracking the early rise of the Dalek Empire and its early interactions with 2060s humanity. Though the Daleks encroach over other parts of the book, including the headline stories, the bulk of this story arc comes in the form of weekly one-page comics making up one long serialised history of the Daleks, under the minimalist title of The Daleks.

Also under the solo brand of “The Daleks”: Annuals, an exclusive audio story, and, of course, toys. Time for Phase Two. It is time to end the Daleks’ endless confrontations with Dr Who on television, and set the stage for a new status quo able to support the TV series Nation dreams about.

Important background: Terry Nation, famously, does not like the Dalek Emperor. Whitaker made him up without consulting Nation, who maintains that the highest rank in the Dalek hierarchy should be the Dalek Supreme. The Emperor was hard to do away with in the comics, since he was basically the protagonist of the TV21 strip, but one imagines Nation was keen to jettison him from the world of the planned TV series.

I am speculating, of course, but I picture Nation sitting in his office, pondering the two great thorns in the side of the Independant Daleks Masterplan.

Thorn one: the Daleks are entangled with the Doctor both diegetically and symbolically; unless something can be done, the Daleks will remain “the Doctor’s enemies”, and a show where they commit evil and the Doctor fails to show up would ring false with the kids watching. The Daleks must be removed from Doctor Who in a sensational and definitive manner, or the whole enterprise is a nonstarter.

Thorn two: I, Terry Nation, have foolishly allowed David Whitaker to shape the lore of the Daleks, and he has made this Dalek Emperor guy very central to early Dalek history, leading up to the 22nd century Dalek Invasion of Earth that most of the Doctor’s subsequent conflicts with the Daleks have stemmed from. But I do not like the Dalek Emperor. I wish I could get rid of him in my new status quo.

…………Aha.

A triumphant Terry Nation adds a post-it note to the ever-widening corkboard representing the multimedia Dalek Masterplan setting up the TV series, which must already include things like “convince Jean Marsh to come back as Sara Kingdom”. Notes distilled from this corkboard will form the backbone of The Dalek Outer Space Book, this year’s Dalek annual, which exists principally to set up the prospective main characters of the new TV series: Sara Kingdom and Agent Mark Seven, of the Space Security Service.

The new post-it note reads:

Construe the Daleks’ enmity with the Doctor as a personal enmity between the Doctor and the Emperor, a la Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. Have the Doctor triumph over the Emperor on TV in a big ‘event’ story.

Result: the Doctor-vs-Daleks storyline is over; the Emperor is dead; I get everything I ever wanted.

(Except maybe a pony.)

Then he phones David Whitaker, smirking all the while like an evil genie preparing to grant a badly-worded wish.

“Good news, old chap, I’ve decided you can write a new Dalek story for the BBC, all by yourself. I promise I won’t interfere.”

*confused and delighted David Whitaker noises*

“ And you can even bring in that Dalek Emperor of yours. Yes, you heard me!”

*Whitaker enthusiasm intensifies*

“Ahhh, but there’s a catch. The Dalek Emperor must DIE.”

Of course, like all good Faustian bargains, this is irresistible even though it is ruinous and the victim knows it to be ruinous. Whitaker agrees to the scheme. He and Nation begin planning out the events of the great finale of the Dalek-Doctor confrontation, which will hit the screens in 1967 as the mildly racist, but otherwise quite well-loved, ‘The Evil of the Daleks’.

Quickly enough, it is decided that Patrick Troughton crouching to berate the short and bubble-headed Golden Emperor would look silly. If the Emperor appears on TV, alongside human performers, then it should tower over them. Besides, this is to be the archvillainous Dalek Emperor’s last stand, and certain traditions must be followed.

Hence another task is added to the bucketlist of the Dalek Outer Space Book: tell the story of how the Emperor transformed from the globe-headed dwarf to some huge and terrible towering form under the Dalek City, for the Doctor to stumble onto later. This rebuilt Emperor may be teased, but must not be truly seen or truly defeated in the book; that would defeat the whole idea.

Hence, The Secret of the Emperor, a story which sees the Emperor becoming self-conscious about his own efficiency and letting the Scientist Daleks rebuild his casing from scratch. The final page is a splash panel, a delightfully nonsensical diagram of the mechanical components of the new casing.

The almost surreal array of colours and shapes is so arresting as to obscure an important detai. Many have seen this page over and over, and yet still missed it. The recent(ish) ‘Anatomy of the New Dalek Emperor’ artwork from Time Lord Victorious clearly looked at this page for reference, in spite of the fact that the TLV Emperor is much more inspired by the old Emperor than the rebuilt one.

Let me spell it out for you: look at the Scientist Daleks in the top right and centre-left. Look at them.

The new Emperor is huge.

And what else?

That Scientist on the left is plugging huge wires snaking from the wall into the tower-casing.

He now resides in the Great Hall of the Dalek City.

The background wall is a weird checkered pattern.

In addition, the following facts are seeded throughout the earlier pages of The Secret of the Emperor.

The point of moving to the new casing was to grant the Emperor increased brain capacity (suitable for concocting masterplans).

He acquired said increased brain capacity to help the Daleks attempt to overcome humanity once and for all.

The Emperor has recently had a trautmatic but eye-opening experience with time travel.

Ignore the fact that the Emperor was here depicted with what appears to be a still fairly bulbous, and golden, head, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this is very, very direct setup for how the Doctor finds the Dalek Emperor in The Evil of the Daleks — tower-like, in an imperial throneroom in the Dalek City, with a checkered wall pattern, planning out a complicated scheme to harness time travel as a means of defeating humanity once and for all!

Yes, the designs don’t quite match — but how could the artist behind the visuals of Secret of the Emperor have known precisely what Shawcraft would build, a year later, based on the same basic description by Nation & Whitaker? The parallels far outweigh the minor differences in execution. (It’s worth noting that elsewhere in the Outer Space Book a different artist drew what was clearly intended to be the Golden Emperor as a large, golden, but normally-proportioned Dalek, so it’s not like the visual descriptions of these scripts were exceedingly precise…)

The rebuilt Emperor is never seen in the Outer Space Book outside of this ‘dissection’: he is heard throughout The Brain Tappers but kept carefully off-panel, and his new and dangerous new casing is pointedly not destroyed in the story’s conclusion. Well, of course not. That’s what Dr Who is for.

tl;dr: it is not a post hoc retcon, or even a secret, that the round-headed Emperor of the comics became the Dalek Emperor of Evil of the Daleks. A holistic view of the state of Dalek media in 1966-1967 shows that, in fact, it was the whole point that this be the Emperor of the comics; and that the comics had begun setting this up long before Patrick Troughton encountered Edward Waterfield on TV.

And thus, to circle back to Sandifer’s 2011 post, it is not enough to simply say that the “seemingly non-canon” comics inspired the show down the line. In fact in this instance, what appeared on Doctor Who existed for the benefit of the Daleks spin-off — not vice-versa!

#Daleks #Canon-Welding #Doctor Who #Analysis #Doctor Who Meta #Dalek Emperor #Dalek Prime #The Evil of the Daleks #Terry Nation #David Whitaker #Brad Ashton #The Secret of the Emperor #El Sandifer #Canon #Jacob Black

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thisbluespirit · 3 years

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@basiltheratatouille linked me to this (and quite rightly, it’s exactly the silly sort of fannish thing I like doing):

Go to the following website https://www.random.org/lists/ and type in 15 different characters from any Fandom (they can be in the same fandom). Then it will give you an order, after shuffling the characters. You must answer the following in the order they give you!

Fandoms: Dracula (1968), OUaT, Sapphire & Steel, Blake’s 7, Doctor Who, Press Gang, Adam Adamant Lives!, Spooks, The Shadow of the Tower.

Your rival: John Seward. Yay, possibly the only character I could be in a rivalry and have a chance of winning. Even I can get stuff done while he’s fainting and sobbing. Or is this love rival? In which case, well, I’m fairly sure Lucy would be willing to seduce me, anyway, no problem, but she’s a vampire. Excuse me, now I also need to sob and faint. This was a bad idea after all! (look, he’s very amenable, do we have to fight? I can just run away with him and see how detachable his fake whiskers are!)

Played 7 Minutes in Heaven with: Regina Mills. I had to look up 7 minutes in heaven, but oh. 0_o !!!! Well, I think this depends on if she’s evil or not? Because if she’s evil, that’s going to be seven minutes of verbally and alas deservedly demolishing me in every department of my life for lack of style, taste etc etc, or some sort of curse, but it would be entertaining. Or. well. OMG. Would 100% take the risk. Even if this meme was real!

Your boyfriend/girlfriend: Silver. Okay, possibly time will eat me in the end, and he’s an element so he’s probably up to something, because they’re not really into humans, but honestly Silver is probably a more reasonable proposition than anyone actually human or wanting a normal relationship or anything. I’ll take it. Maybe I’ll even get out alive who knows?

Mom/Dad: Servalan. 0_o Please send he--- /dies, stabbed in back.

The random person you meet at the bar: Clara Oswald. Okay, I’m up for that. If I ever went in bars.

Your boss: Vila Restal. Can work with that; he’s not likely to be strict or present or bothered about whatever I’m actually doing. Best worst boss ever!

Haunts you: Dayna Mellanby. Not a restful spirit! Poor Dayna. Still, could be worse! Also in metaphorical terms, true of a lot of B7 characters.

Drunk singing karaoke with: Charley Pollard. Possibly at the bar with Clara? Make it a date! It’ll be fun.

Gave you your fave dessert: Ruth Evershed. OMG, I didn’t think this meme could make a Ruth answer seem sinister, because Ruth! I love her! She’s not even evil or anything! But. Ruth. Just gave me my favourite dessert. For no reason! Why how what. If I’m lucky, I’m just being vetted or something. Just please pray Harry Pearce doesn’t want to dispose of me because he’s seen my Google history and it’s vital for national security.

Your sibling: Lynda Day. Yeah, no. Lynda is an only child for a reason!

Gave you your first kiss: Georgina Jones. Well, okay, why not? I keep meeting time travellers, anything could happen.

Your best friend: Tegan Jovanka. Aw. I would be happy with that. Tegan’s fun when she’s not busy keeping the Doctor accountable and she’s a great person to have on your side.

Grandma/Grandpa: Seventh Doctor. Yeah. Um. No. I mean, he’d be a great grandparent, up until the moment when everything went to hell because of evil from the dawn of time that he organised, forgot about, and let get out of control, and has manoeuvred me into piano lessons because it’s vital for defeating it by piano playing or something. This is not really ideal grandparently behaviour. At least other Doctors would give me sweets first. /holds Tegan’s hand and faints again.

Proposed to you: Leela. Please don’t kill me - I accept, of course I accept! Who could refuse? (As I’m pretty sure Andred once said.)

Ex: Henry VII. Fair. I think that’s probably the safest thing for him to be, really. Bye, Henry, go find Elizabeth! Be grateful this meme did nothing weirder!

Tagging anyone who likes generating nonsense & wants to play!

#fannish nonsense #memes #basiltheratatouille #also i think i lost to my rival #if it was a fainting contest #this is not really the kind of eventful life i'm built for #thanks! <3

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magnoliapip · 3 years

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The Storm Inside

Title : The Storm Inside

Book : Open Heart series (Choices - Pixelberry)

Description : Casey has been pushing everyone away and spiraling since the attack on the hospital and her loved ones are concerned.

Pairing : none established / ambiguous

Characters : Open Heart FMC (Casey Valentine), Sienna Trinh, Bryce Lahela, Jackie Varma, Rafael Aviero, Elijah Greene, Aurora Emery, Kyra Santana, Danny (mentioned), Bobby (mentioned)

Warnings : mention of death, mental health

Prompt : “What’s the weather outside your window doing right now?...”

Casey stared vacantly out the floor length windows into the night sky above Boston from her seat against them on the living room floor. The sky was as clear as could be, a rarity for the area, but in a city as populous as Boston seeing the stars was a gift they were never granted. She stretched out her cramping legs to a different position as she leaned her head and left shoulder against the cool glass.

She looked out of windows with alarming frequency now. She had never really done so before, preferring to always be doing other things. She’d always thought of herself as a social person who enjoyed others company, though she could be either out dancing in a packed club or relaxing away a quiet night in with the same level of enjoyment. Friends and loved ones was all she really needed.

The attack on Edenbrook had changed everything, down to her very bones.

Some days her mood was somber but calm, like a cloudy day. Those were her best days and the ones she liked best. The cloudy days could be darker with threat of rain or lighter with the sun just missing the opportunity to come out. It was the closest to her old self she could feel. Unfortunately for her, those days were not only fleeting and the least common, they were becoming a rarity.

More often, her moods were a range of levels of sadness. All the way from a misting drizzle, enough to coat everything in water and make the air humid, to a torrentially pouring rain. Buckets from heavens and flash floods. The only thing those floods never seemed to leave clean was herself.

Other times she was cold. So, so cold. The best of those days were accompanied with a blizzard. Cold, but manageable with a shovel. On the days where she left her heart covered in an inch thick layer of ice and brandished her words like weaponized icicles, frigid and sharp, the people around her knew to steer clear. She was getting a little too good and stabbing them where it hurt.

Her worst moods felt like she should alert the National Weather Service. Tornado warnings and hurricane evacuations were a courtesy she never felt up to extending, adding to her already astronomical guilt. Like a twister, she could feel so angry and out of control she would tear through everyone in her path with no regard for who or what was in it. She had hurt people, especially the ones she loved, deeply but couldn’t bring herself to stop. It was like watching her body act with someone else at the controls.

It was just one more thing about herself to hate lately, and it had a long line to stand in.

The weather in reality never matched what she felt inside. It fascinated and disgusted her in equal measure. It had been sunny (mostly) since the funeral. It was repulsive.

Bobby was dead. Danny was dead. Raf had almost died and would have god knew how many long term problems ahead because of the illness. She had nearly died. And the world just kept spinning.

Couldn’t they see? Couldn’t any of them see that she was stuck there in that room. That she had never recovered. That she couldn’t recover.

At first, when her friends had noticed her strange new affinity for gazing outside for hours every night, they tried to pull her away. Distract her with things like herbal teas, chocolate ice cream and support. They tried to shower her with her favorite pastimes from before. They tried dancing around the apartment to silly pop songs and playing video games with her. But they didn’t understand. And they didn’t stop.

So she bit them. Hard.

Now they left her alone.

She was an awful person. She shouldn’t have been allowed to live. Someone should have realized it at the hospital and just let her die.

She could feel the tears well up again, stinging her eyes as her inner clouds started to rain again. The night sky outside stayed perfectly cloudy.

It was going to be a long night.

Sienna stood around the corner, watching her best friend shatter silently, as she had done every night for over a month. She whispered to those behind her, “Don’t you all see? Nothing is helping and she’s getting worse. After the last time she panicked when I reached out, I thought I’d give her space. We all did. But it’s not working. Does anyone have any suggestions?”

The gathered assembly of those in the cramped penthouse hallway who loved a young doctor named Casey watched her crumble, weeping without making a sound...and no one said anything. Some of the smartest doctors in the nation, and no one had an answer.

Not Bryce, who stood off to the side watching the pain on the face of the first true friend he’d made while at Edenbrook. Someone who had looked past the brash, self-confidence he used as a shield. The first person he hadn’t been afraid of discovering his past.

Not Rafael, who stood at the back of the crowd, down the hall, not able to stand to look at the person who made him believe he was worth as much to her as these intelligent, talented and more well off friends of hers. Not as she could no longer see how much she was worth.

Not Jackie, who was used to facing her problems by cackling at them until they scurried off with tails between legs or tearing them out with her teeth. But this was a problem that required delicacy, the type she had been shown by the very woman who now needed it.

Not Ethan, who leaned against the wall as he saw his protégé, the first person he’d ever believed in this much, destroy herself. She had forced herself, her goodness, into his life and helped fix his hurt self. Now it was his turn and he, for the first time, found himself at a loss.

Not Aurora, her rival turned friend who showed her at her loneliest that having friend was worth something after all. Not Elijah, a beacon of positivity who felt entirely inadequate with this situation that left her emotionally impaired. Not Kyra, desperate to find some way to give Casey the support she had given. Not Sienna, whose heart broke as she watched her very best friend, her dolphin, her rock in many ways fall further and further into herself.

Each one of them loved her. Each one of them cared for her. Each of them had a purpose and a reason to be at Edenbrook, but Casey was the glue that had held them all together. That glue, their foundation, was compromised. This time, they needed to find a way to save her. This time, she couldn’t waltz her way into a miracle seemingly handed down by the divines themselves to fix the situation.

Giving voice to their silent thoughts, Bryce whispered softer than before, “She needs us. She has to know it. She has to know we’re here somewhere inside, but can’t ask. Won’t ask.”

“We’ve already lost so much because of the attack,” Sienna said quietly. “We can’t lose her now. I can’t.”

“None of us can,” Rafael replied softly.

There was practically a flashing beacon over Casey’s head, screaming help me please. It was long overdue for them to stop ignoring it. For a few pregnant minutes, they all looked around at each other and back to her. This mismatched band of misfits and nerds, bound this night by their affection for one single woman. They stared at each other, desperate for answers…

Until the one who loved her most went rigid. Then stepped toward the rest, speaking slowly.

“I...may have an idea.”

[BREAK]

Notes : I left the ending open for interpretation on purpose. This story is not intended to be expanded on or have a second part. Y’all can decide who the person who loves her most is (and if that person isn’t presently named in my story, you can put them there yourself :D)

Also, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing writers I’ve talking to lately. Due to some truly awful comments and the way they were affecting me mentally, I recently purged all of my works but a few from fanfiction.net, AO3, and here on tumblr. Talking to, interacting with, and just seeing you lovelies in action has led me to believe I should start to do this again.

Huge shout out to @jerzwriter and @lovealexhunt for being the lovely souls they are. You may have no idea who I am, especially on this blog rather than my main, but I will never stop being grateful for the positivity you put into the world. Thank you.

#choices #open heart #choices open heart #open heart mc #casey valentine #ethan ramsey #bryce lahela #jackie varma #rafael aveiro #sienna trinh #elijah greene #aurora emery #kyra santana #magnoliapip

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queercapwriting · 3 years

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Hi Cap! I've really missed your weekly Sanvers drabbles. How about something cute with them doing a secret santa and they draw each other's name? Maybe they aren't even together yet but by the end of the gift exchange, they get a great/perfect gift plus a girfriend! :D

Maggie had no idea how her name even got added to this God-forsaken drawing, but she strongly suspected M’gann.

“Was this you?” she asked, halfway through her third round of beer. M’gann paused in wiping down the camera, face the picture of mild curiosity and innocence.

Maggie was pretty sure she knew better.

She flashed her phone toward the bartender, details of the DEO’s Secret Santa exchange on it. M’gann heaved the most affected shrug Maggie had ever seen.

“Was what me?”

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“It paired me with Danvers, M’gann. I suppose that was you, too?”

“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” M’gann nodded at someone down on the other side of the bar. “But I did hear her sister talking about how much Danvers used to like surfing.”

Maggie most certainly did not picture Alex Danvers soaking wet in the ocean.

No, she most certainly did not.

+++

“Kara.” Alex was lying on her back in her little sister’s living room, with her feet up on the couch. An open box of pizza was sitting on her stomach. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Maybe start with sitting up while you eat, Alex, you know what happened with that pop tart when you were a senior in high school.”

Alex scowled. “It was a defective pop tart.”

“Alex.”

“I don’t even know what kinds of things she likes.”

Kara plopped onto the couch and swiped the box of pizza off Alex’s stomach. Alex glared, but worked her way up onto the couch. She took the pizza box back.

“Sure you do, you’ve been spending all that time playing pool together at the bar. And working all those cases. You can’t possibly only talk about work, Alex.”

Alex squinted. “I mean, we pretty much can. And do. She... she’s from Nebraska. And she... likes aliens? Not like in a fetishizing way, I mean, just - it - and guns. She likes guns? Sort of? It’s complicated. But she does like scotch. And beer. And -”

“And you are not getting her an alien or a gun for Christmas, so maybe we can do more brainstorming.”

+++

“Danvers.” Maggie tried to keep her tone even the next day, working some scene or another with Alex. Normally, she’d know everything about everything about where she was and what she was doing. Today, she was coasting on prior knowledge and the ability to... well, to detect.

Because if Alex Danvers was distracting under normal circumstances, well, knowing she’d have to give her a damn present at the end of the week was a whole new layer of brain scatteredness.

“Sawyer.” She thought maybe there was a smile in Alex’s voice - who did she get for Secret Santa? - but no, she was definitely projecting. Wishful thinking. Alex wasn’t even into girls. M’gann was being ridiculous. Sweet, but ridiculous. Because even if Alex was into girls, this was Alex damn Danvers. So far out of Maggie’s league.

“What’ve we got?”

She tried to follow Alex’s words rather than just the pitch of her voice and the way her body moved. The way she squinted her eyes almost like a glare when she was concentrating, or pushed her hair out of her face almost like she was annoyed by it when she was trying to see something closer. Or the way she licked her lips sometimes, and she’d probably taste like -

No, no, nope, absolutely not.

“So Danvers, um. Doing anything special for the holidays? You going home for Chanukah, or?”

“Pfft, no.”

Maggie tilted her head, but said nothing. She just passed Alex the dusting powder she’d been looking for, wordless, because more and more these days, they weren’t needing words.

Alex sighed. “My mom and I aren’t a great combination around the holidays. Especially since my dad’s been. Um, gone.”

“I’m sorry, Danvers.”

Alex smiled, more with her eyes than with her mouth. It made Maggie’s heart break and heal at the same time.

“We’ll get together when it’s not the holidays - less intense, less expectations. But I will miss the ocean. It’s always nice, going home to the ocean.”

Maggie watched something like regret flicker across her face. But only for a moment.

“What about you, Maggie? Going home?”

She ignored the way her stomach always flipped when Alex used her first name. When Alex just existed at all.

She made herself chuckle. “No, definitely not. Wouldn’t be welcome even if I wanted to. Home... home is wherever I happen to be at any given time, which is pretty much everywhere and nowhere all at once.”

“Sounds lonely.” Alex paused her analysis of whatever it was she was examining - Maggie had long since lost track of their scene - and met her eyes.

“Not all the time.” She said it while she held Alex’s gaze. She said it before she could think. Dammit. Now Alex was going to -

“Good. You don’t deserve to be lonely.”

Maggie wasn’t sure if she was grateful or enraged when the rookie she was training ambled up to them, asking for guidance on how to file one piece of evidence or another.

She thought Alex looked disappointed, but she was almost definitely projecting.

+++

“Merry holidays, Danvers.”

The sound of Maggie’s voice made her jump way too high to just be startled. She wished, not for the first time, that she had a much higher degree of chill around this woman.

“Sawyer.” Oh crap, did her voice squeak? Who was she, Winn? “What uh, what are you doing here?”

She glanced around the DEO like Maggie was about to be tackled by -

“Vasquez let me in.”

Ah. No tackling, then.

“Is everything okay, what -”

“Yeah, no, I just um. You’ve all got that holiday party thing tonight, and parties really aren’t my thing, so honestly, I’m gonna skip it, but I - I got put into that Secret Santa thing, and I got your name, so I just wanted to um -”

How Alex hadn’t noticed that Maggie had been holding something behind her back the whole time, she had no clue. Maybe because her hair was down, and she was fidgeting a little and it was more than a little bit cute, and -

“Happy Chanukah, Danvers. Or, Christmakuah, or whatever.”

She was pressing something into Alex’s hands, and she was smiling that little titled smile, and she was walking away, and -

“Wait, you’re not coming tonight?”

Maggie stopped but didn’t turn around, not all the way.

“They’re not really my thing, Danvers.”

“But how will you get the gift from whoever drew your name?”

“M’gann’s going. I asked her if she would -”

“I don’t want to give your present to M’gann.”

Dammit. Had she sounded desperate, or ridiculous, or -

Maggie turned fully around, now. “You drew my name, too?”

“Um. Yes. Merry Christmas?”

Maggie laughed. Alex tried not to hate how much she loved that sound.

“You’re not a party person? Fine. Take this -” Alex held out the package Maggie had pressed into her hands without looking at it. “And bring it to the bar tonight, before the party. We’ll exchange our gifts then. Okay?”

“Okay.”

+++

“You didn’t only enter my name in the damn pool, you arranged it so Alex and I would pull each other’s names?”

“Maggie, I really have no idea what you’re going on about, but I’d love it if you put some of those motorcycle mechanic skills to use on the ice machine right now,” M’gann said without looking at her, keeping her eyes on the garland she was stringing along the tops of the bar.

She thought about arguing with her only friend - well, maybe except Alex Danvers - in National City. She thought better of it, and contented herself to muttering under her breath while she fixed the ice machine and waited for Alex.

At least it gave her something to do.

“So you’re the person we all have to thank when M’gann can put ice in our drinks?”

Alex’s voice made her jump so hard she hit her head on the damn machine.

“Oh, Maggie, no, I’m sorry, come here.”

Before she could so much as say “ow,” Alex’s hands were on her, tracing the spot where Maggie had banged her forehead, so gently it was easy to forget how easily - and happily - this woman carried a gun.

Because of course - she was a doctor, too. Why wouldn’t she be a little bit of everything intoxicating?

“I’m okay, Danvers.”

“You’re okay when I say you’re okay,” Alex muttered, almost more to herself than to Maggie. But there was a small smile on her lips.

“Alright then. You think I’ll make it, doc?”

“Only time will tell. But you’re good enough for now to at least give me my present.”

Maggie hated the way it felt when Alex took her hands away from her. She would gladly conk her head and dignity on an ice machine every day if it meant Alex’s hands on her. Well. Maybe there were less painful ways... no. No no no nope. Just a gift exchange. Nothing more.

“So it’s pretty silly, really, but you said you miss the beach. So um.”

Maggie shoved the small package back into Alex’s hands and pretended not to hold her breath.

It turned out that watching Alex’s eyes mist over with the sensation of home was all Maggie wanted to do, like... ever.

“You like it?” she asked. Her voice didn’t sound like her own, but it also had never sounded more like her.

“Maggie,” Alex whispered. Maggie gulped, and smiled - because yeah, she’d actually done a pretty cool job.

It was a snow globe - sort of. Sand globe? Something.

She’d commissioned Brian to make it - the artistry he pulled off planet tended to look like magic on Earth, and that was exactly what she’d been going for - he’d owed her more than a few favors, anyway.

The snow globe was an exact miniature of a beach, complete with seagulls and sand dunes and way too much seaweed accumulating on the shore. She hoped that maybe, it looked like home.

“If you put your hands on the glass, it should transmit -”

“How is that possible?” Alex asked. The awe in her voice told Maggie it was working. Maybe she was the one who owed Brian a favor, now.

Because if the look on Alex’s face was any indication, the sound and smells of the beach were flooding her senses through touching the glass - just like she was there.

“It’s not much, but it’s -”

“It’s perfect. Thank you. Thank you. It’s... you...” Maggie’s heart leapt. Alex cleared her throat. “You’re going to have to explain exactly how it works to me.”

“Nerd.”

“Wait!” Alex set the globe down reverently, reluctantly, it seemed, which made Maggie happier than she’d care to admit. “Your turn.”

She gingerly placed a little red bag onto the table between them, looking anywhere but Maggie’s eyes as she opened it.

“Do you like it?” Alex asked, way too soon. Because speaking was not something Maggie remembered how to do, just then.

It was a Triumph, a perfect little replica, with gears that Maggie could already tell actually worked. With a license plate that spelled home, with an earth label instead of a particular state. Maggie held it close to her face, examining it with a reverence she didn’t know how to explain.

“It works, of course. There’s a neural link, in the bag, that you can just kind of put on your temple, and you can drive it around with your thoughts, sort of. It’ll connect to your real life one, too, in case you ever need your bike to come to you. And it says home, you know, as planet earth instead of just one state because yeah, it can be really lonely to feel like nowhere is home, but I don’t want you to feel alone, or lonely, and it also means that you’re your own home, and that’s actually pretty badass, and amazing, because if you were my home, that would be amazing, and oh my God please make me stop talking now -”

“Danvers.”

“Oh, thank Rao.”

“Why did you do this for me?”

“Because you’re my Secret Santa?”

“Danvers.”

“Sawyer.”

Maggie wanted to ask if she could kiss her. She wanted to ask if she could kiss her, and not stop, and take her home, and kiss her some more. She wanted to ask if she could show her exactly how perfect she found Alex’s ridiculous rambling, how perfect she found... her.

She wanted to ask, but this was good, this was amazing, and if she asked, it would ruin everything, and -

And then Alex’s lips were on hers, because Alex Danvers was nothing if not act first, talk later.

A whoop from across the bar sounded suspiciously both like Supergirl and Alex’s kid sister Kara. She smiled into Alex’s mouth.

“This is okay?” Alex asked, shyer than Maggie had ever heard her.

“Yes.”

“The present was good then?”

“The present isn’t why I’m kissing you, Danvers.”

Alex pulled back. “So it wasn’t good?”

“Oh my God, Alex, it’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

She leaned her forehead onto Alex’s, because as much as she needed to keep kissing her, she also needed to breathe.

But it was the holidays, and they had motorcycles and beaches and each other, and there would be time for all of it.

“Worked better than mistletoe,” she thought she heard M’gann mutter, and honestly, she couldn’t disagree.

#sanvers #sanvers fic #sanvers holidays #oh wow it's been a while #fuck now this song is in my head #anyway #remember all this?

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clean-bands-dirty-stories · 4 years

Text

Breathe ~ the Doctor (part 8)

A/n: So I tried to go lighter with this one and failed a bit not gonna lie? Just... bare with me I forgot that Mr. Connolly was like THAT and I absolutely had to address it. This one goes on a bit because of that, sorry.

Word Count: 12,000+

Warnings: Implied physical/mental abuse, past homophobia, backlash of PTSD (light), possibly upsetting memories, discussion of abuse

MASTERLIST

"How does this look?" Y/n had changed out of what originally been planned for him this time. He didn't like layers like the Doctor did unless it was quite cold, and it wasn't, so he'd lessened the whole thing by ditching the blazer, looking overly casual like he usually did. The suit pants were blue, close to but just a bit nicer than the jeans he'd mostly been wearing up until now. He'd absolutely refused to do his hair like the Doctor had, so it was loose and messy instead - different than the way he did it every other day, but all he could manage after the gel had hardened the strands. Rose had tried to get Y/n to comply and it had failed for both of them. He felt too casual to be wearing dress pants, and his hair looked weird to him in the mirror. He was thinking about taking a quick shower and going for an entirely different look.

When he looked at Rose and the Doctor for input though, the two looked back at him with eyes widened, lips parted. Upon realizing they were staring, the Doctor looked away. Rose just smirked. Y/n went quite red. "You look fantastic," Rose complimented. "I didn't realize you could pull off messy so well."

"You pull off everything well," the Doctor followed up softly. It was unsure if he'd meant to keep it in his head and slipped, or had wanted to say it louder but didn't have the confidence. Y/n thanked him, but the Doctor just nodded dismissively, a blush of his own coloring his skin before he nodded to the TARDIS door. "You both ready?"

As always, Rose was first. She pulled the door open, popping outside to may her skirts swish. It was becoming quickly apparent she was in love with how her dress moved. "I thought we'd be going for the Vegas era. You know, the white flares and the-" she did a sort of growl, and Y/n raised an eyebrow but realized she'd been mocking rather than being genuine. He was going to say - if she was into that, she was out of luck with her current partners.

Like an echo of Y/n's thoughts, the Doctor leaned around the TARDIS door, his shoulder pressing against Y/n's chest. "You're kidding aren't you? If you want to see Elvis you go to the late '50's! The time before burgers!" He dipped back in and Y/n leaned against the doorway, keeping both of the other two in view. "When they called him "the Pelvis" and he still had a waist!" The Doctor continued from inside. "What's more, you see him in style!" Y/n saw it first from his vantage point in the doorway, and thankfully so because as the Doctor rolled out of the TARDIS in a fully functioning moped, Y/n would have been run over if he hadn't gotten out of the way quickly. He circled before stopping, looking at Rose with an amused smirk. "You going my way Doll?" He said in a low voice. It was a bad attempt at Elvis and made Y/n laugh.

Rose pulled out a pair of glasses that matched her dress. "Is there anyway to go, daddy o?" She shot back, her voice higher and more nasally. She approached the Doctor with an added, "Straight from the fridge, man!"

The Doctor grinned. "Hey, you speak the lingo!" He held out a helmet for her. Y/n was amused to see that it was pink, like her glasses, so it also matched her skirt. Y/n dipped inside as they continued their back and forth, looking around before he saw what he was looking for. A bike! It wouldn't be as fast as the moped mechanically but he was down to coast. Also he had a secret: he was a devil when it came to bicycling. Rose had refused to stop biking with him for a few years now; she could never keep up well enough and tired easily if she tried.

When Y/n rolled out on the bike, the Doctor rose an eyebrow. Y/n closed the TARDIS door behind him, grinning. "Don't give me that look," he dismissed. "Just lead the way. If you can keep up." Rose and Y/n laughed as he took off on the bike, surprising the Doctor with how fast he actually went. After a bit of joking, the Doctor did slow down a bit to keep pace with Y/n, the three chatting - or, the usual, which was that Rose and the Doctor chatted mostly and Y/n inputted every so often - on the way.

"Where we off to?" Rose asked at one point.

"Ed Sullivan TV studios," the Doctor yelled back in response, having to be loud over the sound of the motor. "Elvis did Hound Dog on one of the shows. There were loads of complaints. Bit of luck, we'll just catch it."

"And that would be the TV studios in, what, New York?" Rose inquired further.

Y/n immediately saw where she was going with that. The Doctor did not. "That's the one!"

The trio paused at a four-way stop as a bus passed. Rose laughed. Y/n smiled, soft and fond. "I don't think we're in New York, Doctor." And indeed it was anything but. All around them was small town views. The sky was clear and the buildings were all very similar: one story, brick, two windows, one door, colored red. There wasn't even much traffic.

"Well," the Doctor mumbled. "This could still be New York. I mean, this looks very New York to me."

Y/n rolled his eyes. "And you've memorized New York have you?" The Doctor shrugged, but before he could speak Y/n got to it first. "You forget how well I know you, Doctor. I know you have general ideas of how certain places on each planet work and that's why you usually end up in the general same place every time you come to Earth. You probably would think we were on a different planet if you went to... Australia, or France. Have you ever really been to America before?"

The Doctor glowered, but without any offense or anger. Just the cutest irritation a being called out. After all, you couldn't get mad at someone just because they were right. "I've got a lot going on in this head of mine."

A smirk rose to Y/n's face. "Is that why we always get lost?"

Rose cut in. "What are all the flags for?" And indeed, she had a point.

The first thing he noticed other than the very not-New York state of the very London town, were the flags hung above the streets. Y/n could appreciate pride for one's country, but there were flags EVERYWHERE he looked. It seemed a little odd that a town so small you could see it even in the way people talked to each other, would hang a bunch of flags around every inch of every place. What, was the Queen coming to visit?

They parked the bike and moped, going around to get a closer look and understand exactly what was going on. In their wanderings, they came across a man at the back of a truck, and boys next to him who seemed to be picking up and moving a TV. The older man said something. "There you go sir." Y/n noticed another man who was older than the boys but younger than the older gent. Maybe the father. "All wired up for the great occasion."

The Doctor approached. "Great occasion? What do you mean?"

"Where you've been living eh?" the older man asked as the boys and their father left with the TV. "Out in the colonies? The coronation of course."

Unfortunately, that didn't clear up much for the group. "And what coronation's that then?" the Doctor asked in favor of all of their cluelessness.

The older man stopped, looking at them like they were insane. Nervous, even. Skiddish. Y/n watched him, that familiar feeling twisting in his chest. Something was about to happen, and it wasn't good. "What do you mean?" the older man asked. "The Coronation."

"It's the Queen's," Rose realized. "Queen Elizabeth." Y/n felt silly then. Of course! He was getting as bad at the space man over there, so much other knowledge in his head making him forget how his own planet worked.

"Oh!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Is this 1953?"

"Last time I looked," the older man affirmed. "Time for a lovely bit of pomp and circumstance. What we do best."

Rose was looking around, her voice next distracting from the older man with his van. "Look at all the TV aerials. Looks like everyone's got one. Which is so weird, because my mum said tellies were so rare, they all had to pile into one house."

"Not round here, Love," the older man cheerily corrected. "Magpie's Marvelous Tellies." He pointed to the side of his truck, feigning proud. Pride that should have been real but so obviously wasn't. Pride that was, for some reason, very obviously strained when Y/n looked at him. Magpie - Y/n assumed that was the man's name, as the branding suggested - caught Y/n giving him an analyzing look and turned away. Hiding. "Only five quid a pop."

Before Y/n could push, the Doctor chirped, "Oh but this is a brilliant year! Classic! Technicolor! Everest climbed! Everything off the ration! A nation throwing off the shackles of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!" Rose laughed, and Y/n almost dismissed his weird feeling and grinned along.

Then there was screaming.

"Someone help me! Please!" The trio spun to the sound of the woman's voice. "Ted! Leave him alone, he's my husband!" The Doctor shot off, triggering Rose to follow close behind. Y/n stayed back, something eating at him. "PLEASE!" the woman begged as the other two got onto the scene where two men in black suits were pushing what seemed to be a man. It couldn't be sure because he had a blanket over his head, and he was rushed into a long black car, but the woman had called him Ted so...

"What's going on?" the Doctor demanded.

"Oi! What are you doing?" A young boy continued when the Doctor was ignored.

"Police business," was what they all got. "Get out of the way, sir." That was directed at the Doctor, who was scrambling to find some way to either intervene or understand. Y/n looked away though, his eyes drawn by some reason to Mr. Magpie, just in time to see the man's face wrought with regret and self hatred. He seemed intensely distressed, and nearly tripped over himself to leave the scene when he met Y/n's gaze. As Magpie peeled from the scene in one direction, Rose and the Doctor chasing the black car on the moped in the opposite direction, Y/n had two thoughts.

One, this happened a lot.

Two, this town was either very tight knit, which didn't seem to be the case as no one but the boy from before had tried to come to Tom's rescue. Even the boy had been pulled inside by his parents, who seemed eager to ignore the situation entirely. So if that wasn't the case, how upset he'd been only made sense if... he was somehow involved in what was going wrong with these people. Or knew something about it.

There was a scream coming from the house where the boy from earlier had disappeared into that caught Y/n's attention first. His instincts perked up, his defenses quickly activating. It had been muffled, like maybe a window was cracked and that alone was why he could hear the conversation inside, but it was enough to set him on edge. Before he could orient himself enough to go after Magpie, Rose and the Doctor pulled up and caught him up on losing the back car to a dead end, as well as their plan to ask around to the neighbors about what was happening.

When the Doctor noticed Y/n's gaze returning time and time again to the house the yelling had come from, he put a hand on Y/n's shoulder. "You okay?"

"There was yelling," Y/n explained softly. He switched gears upon hearing the frail note in his voice. "It was where the boy from earlier disappeared. I think we should look into them."

Unsure if the other two had caught onto the real reason Y/n was suddenly a little out of it, he followed along as the other two lead the way toward the house and inside. Something about how they were there in the name of the Queen, which seemed to work well enough. They were inside at least.

"Very nice," the Doctor complimented as the three filtered into the house. "Very well kept. I have to congratulate you, Mrs...?" Y/n was astonished at the Doctor's ability to slip in so easily and effortlessly, like he really was here for what he said he was here for.

The woman smiled warmly, flattered by the Doctor's praise. "Mrs. Connolly," she answered in response to his prompting question.

"Now then Rita," the man who'd answered the door dismissed. Y/n recognized his voice - he had been the one to yell. "I can handle this. These gentlemen are proper representatives." Y/n was instantly put off by the way he dismissed both of the women in the room - Rose and his wife. How he referred to the gentlemen, which would be Y/n and the Doctor, and not the woman who was with them. How he shut up his wife who was only responding to being directly spoken to. Y/n hated him immediately. "Don't mind the wife. She rattles on a bit." This he said to the Doctor, ignoring Y/n as he leaned into the back of the room and stayed quiet. That was even more annoying as it seemed he'd been trying to weed out the alpha male in the group since they walked in and address that person only. Rose was a woman and Y/n was quiet, so he addressed only the Doctor, as if he was the only stranger in the house right now.

"Well maybe she should rattle on a bit more," the Doctor responded quite easily. "I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty. Those flags." His eyes fell to a box of flags on the ground. "Why are they not flying?"

Mr. Connolly, who'd looked horrified at the Doctor suggesting he wasn't being patriotic, now rushed to prove how good of a citizen he was and Y/n had to swallow a laugh to hide it. "There we are, Rita, I told you." Mrs. Connolly seemed to be suddenly upset, and Y/n felt a burning urge to step in between the two of them. He held his place only because the Doctor shot him a warning look. "Get them up. Queen and country."

"I'm sorry," Rita apologized to the Doctor.

Before she could continue, Mr. Connolly ordered, "Get it done. Do it now."

Y/n's hands tightened into fists but the Doctor was already stepping forward. "Hold on a minute." Mr. Connolly kept talking and the Doctor spoke again over him, repeating, "Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mr. Connolly. Two big hands! Then why is that your wife's job?"

Mr. Connolly seemed derailed again, and Y/n and Rose exchanged thrilled expressions. "Well it's housework, isn't it?" It seemed like it was supposed to be expected. A simple question with an obvious answer. And, I suppose in a world where men were aggressive and angry and hard and women did what they were told and everyone else was ripped apart, it was a simple answer.

"And that's women's work?" The Doctor continued casually.

"Of course it is!" Mr. Connolly spat, astounded.

That seemed to be exactly what the Doctor wanted him to say. "Mr. Connolly, what gender is the Queen?"

Immediately Mr. Connolly was uncomfortable. "She's female."

"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" A thick silence fell like cement into the room, and Y/n accidentally made eye contact with the boy from earlier. They shared two repressed smiles, and Y/n winked at him.

Finally, the Doctor's question was given an answer. "No!" Mr. Connolly gasped, incredulous. "Not at all!"

The Doctor reached down and scooped up one of the flag lines, handing it to Mr. Connolly. "Then get busy."

"Right, yes sir," the stupid man mumbled as he took the line, moving to the wall to hang it up. "You'll be proud of us sir. We'll have union jacks left, right and center."

Rose, who'd taken a seat at some point, now stood up again. "Excuse me Mr. Connoly. Hang on a minute. Union Jacks?"

Mr. Connolly froze, looking back at her with a stunned expression, taken far aback by her hot headedness and strong voice coming from a woman. "Yes, that's right, isn't it?"

"That's the Union flag," she continued. Her voice got angry and Y/n's eyes widened, his attraction to her sky rocketing. "It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea."

"Oh," Mr. Connolly nearly whimpered. "I'm sorry. I do apologize."

Y/n smirked, turning away from Mr. Connolly so he wouldn't see. Rose wasn't about to go easy on the man though, and Y/n appreciated that. "Well, don't get it wrong again. There's a good man. Now get to it!" She snapped the last bit, spinning around again when she'd finished with a satisfied smile on her face and moving back to the couch to sit down. Y/n stepped forward so he was leaning on the back of the couch, behind the pair.

"Right then," the Doctor continued with eyes wide and impressed. "Nice and comfy. At her majesty's leisure." When they were settled the Doctor turned to Rose with a very quiet whispered, "Union Flag?"

Rose was eager to explain. "Mum went out with a sailor."

The Doctor chuckled gleefully and Y/n shook his head, amused. "I bet she did." In a normal voice he turned to Mrs. Connolly. "Anyway, I'm the Doctor, then there's Rose and Y/n." He introduced them all to Mrs. Connolly, Rose and Y/n giving a nod or a wave respectively when they were mentioned. "And you are?" That he said to the kid.

"Tommy," the kid responded, looking at the trio like they were something amazing.

The Doctor and Rose pushed apart to make room for someone to sit between them. "Well, sit yourself down, Tommy." The Doctor pat the spot between them for Tommy, and then the chair next to the couch to encourage Mrs. Connolly to sit down as well. Y/n moved around to lean against the wall next to the fireplace, slipping his hands in his pockets and trying to seem as least threatening as possible. "Have a look at this," the Doctor continued when everyone was settled, turning attention to the TV. "I love telly, don't you?"

"Yeah, I think it's brilliant," Tommy agreed with a smile.

"Good man," the Doctor complimented. After a beat he leaned back to add, "Keep working, Mr. C!" and then leaned forward to watch the black and white program. Or, that's what Y/n thought he was doing before the Doctor suddenly turned to Mrs. Connolly with a low, soft, quiet voice that Mr. Connolly wouldn't be able to hear. "Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong?" His voice wasn't forceful but comforting, and he looked at her with a soft concern. He was open and tender - ready to help and slow to disbelieve, dismiss, or judge.

Mrs. Connolly responded to it immediately. "Did you say you were a Doctor?"

Y/n felt his heart seize, knowing what it meant when the Doctor confirmed, "Yes I am."

"Can you help her?" Y/n noticed the desperation on the woman's face. The way her hair fell out of her hairdo, and her hands clasped together, stress and every line of her face. "Oh please. Can you hep her, Doctor?"

Like an unwanted Lego you step on while walking through your house, Mr. Connolly spoke up again. "Now Rita, I don't think the gentleman needs to know.

"Yes he does." It was the first thing Y/n had said the entire time, and when Mr. Connolly looked at him to argue, the look on Y/n's face shut him down immediately. "There's something going wrong, but the Doctor can help. He can fix whatever problem you have, because he's absolutely amazing like that." He turned to Mrs. Connolly with a softer expression. "Please, continue."

Mrs. Connolly suddenly broke, raising a hand to cover her mouth as she began to cry. Rose stood up to move to her side and comfort her. "It's all right," she eased. "It's all right, come here." She hugged Mrs. Connolly, keeping the older woman against her side. "Oh, it's okay. It's alright."

"Hold on a minute," Mr. Connolly seemed to realize, fiddling with the flags still in his hand. "Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house." His voice was rising and Y/n locked up immediately. "What the..." He looked at the flags in his hand before tossing them aside. "What the hell am I doing?" He locked eyes with the Doctor, who was almost smirking. The smug look was tainted with a threatening darkness in his eyes that seemed to be brewing. A storm about to hit hard. "Now you listen here Doctor," Mr. Connolly continued. This was a man who was never questioned or put in his place, and it made Y/n begin to come undone. "You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business."

"No it's not."

Mr. Connolly turned to face Y/n with a rage in his features, but Y/n wasn't having any of it. He'd lost something suddenly. The thing that kept him quiet when he was afraid. That made him step back and close his eyes and hide. The thing that had driven him to run every time he'd been chased by things he was afraid of when he was small. Because you know what, he wasn't small anymore and Mr. Connolly was not even semi close to the scariest thing he'd seen.

"You," Mr. Connolly seethed.

"Me," Y/n confirmed, stepping forward. He glared, his eyes burning with wild, hot fire. "Am I the type of man you like to be around? The type that's easy to push around and get what you want from? Is that why you've ignored me for so long, and turned to me so quickly, because the Doctor is scarier and bigger and you know that despite the fact you shouldn't be afraid of him, you are?" Y/n pushed off the wall, standing to his full height. "You act like because you live in this house it's your special little place where you're in control and nothing can stop you? Well let me tell you," Y/n sneered, stepping forward again, his eyes narrowing. "This might be your house, but it is not up to you to control everything in it, because your wife and your son are their own people and not objects for you to put into the places that you want them and you will learn that or your son will grow up hating you and your wife will wait for the day you die, and every day of your life will be spent playing pretend king and trying to ignore how absolutely miserable you are."

Mr. Connolly seemed to be stunned, seeing nothing but truth that terrified him when he looked into Y/n's eyes. "Who are you?"

Y/n finally calmed, becoming even more terrifying by doing so. "Your worst nightmare." All of the blood drained from Mr. Connolly's face as a shadow passed over Y/n's expression that sent a chill down Mr. Connolly's spine.

"Now-" the Doctor began, but he was interrupted by Mr. Connolly turning around weakly and demanding-

"Get out."

"Excuse me?" The Doctor hissed.

"Get out!" He sounded less angry and more terrified, but scared animals were always more volatile than angry ones.

"I'm trying to-"

Mr. Connolly snapped. "I am talking!"

The Doctor shot to his feet, getting into Mr. Connolly's face. "And I'm not listening!" Mr. Connolly finally shut up, eyes wide and hands shaking. "Now you Mr. Connolly, you've dismissed my friend over there but I'm about to tell you, you will absolutely not dismiss me. You are staring into a deep, dark pit of trouble if you don't let me help. Now I'm ordering you, sir-" he spit the word, mocking rather than respectful. "-Tell me what is going on!"

Before anyone could say anything or bounce back from the Doctor absolutely losing it on this idiotic man, there was suddenly a thumping sound over head. Like someone was banging a stick on the floor above them. The family in the room finally broke, even Mr. Connolly finally looking at the Doctor with fear in his eyes and saying, "She won't stop." The paused and the rhythmic thudding came again. Four slow thuds. "She never stops," Mr. Connolly added, shifting uncomfortably.

Tommy sat forward. "We started hearing stories all round the place," he began. The Doctor turned to face him, Rose only having to look over to move her attention to the boy. Y/n's eyes had shot to the stairs when the banging had started and had not moved away. "People who have changed. Families keeping it secret because they were scared. Then the police started finding out. We don't know how, no one does. They just turn up. They come to the door and take them. Any time of the day or night."

At some point Y/n had moved from his spot before o the bottom of the steps, and when he got there, he paused only a second before he took a step up, and then another, and then another. The Doctor told Tommy one thing: "Show me." But by the time the group moved to get the key and went up the stairs so the Doctor could see what was going on, Y/n was already standing in front of the door with a distant, glassy look on his face. "Y/n?" The Doctor's voice was soft, concerned.

Y/n didn't respond. He raised a hand and it hovered over the door. He almost touched it... there was something, almost calling to him. Drawing him in. Y/n forced himself to focus. Ripped himself away from the thing that was pulling his body around without his permission. The last time this had happened, he had felt the death of hundreds and hundreds of people all being so horrified and agonized that it killed them. He couldn't feel something like that again. So he stepped back, using his other hand to force the one reaching for the door to his chest. away from the wood. He leaned against the banister behind him, a grim expression on his face. Rose and the Doctor shared worried expressions before moving to the door to unlock it and see what was going on. It was always the first step to solving the problem.

The door opened with Tommy entering the room first. They'd all agreed it would be best if she saw someone she knew first, so he was the one who greeted her. "Gran? It's Tommy. It's alright Gran. I've brought help." The door opened wider, revealing a dark room light only by the moon outside coming in through the window. There was someone inside, but only her silhouette could be seen. She began to walk toward the group coming into the room, and Y/n felt his heart seize in his chest. He wanted to reach out and pull the Doctor and Rose back, but he couldn't move.

Tommy turned the light on.

The woman in the room was revealed, in pristine, perfect condition... except that her face was gone. She had no mouth or eyes or even a nose. There light dents where all those things should be, but weren't. She just stood there, as if looking at them. But she couldn't.

Rose and the Doctor moved to her after a second. The Doctor got very close, eyebrows creasing. "Her face is completely gone." He rose his screwdriver to scan her. "Scarcely an electrical impulse left," he told them. "Almost complete neural shutdown. It's just ticking over. It's like her brain's been..." He seemed to struggle for a second. "Wiped clean."

"What are we gonna do Doctor?" Tommy asked, desperation in his voice. That was what got Y/n to move. He stepped toward the boy, his hand reaching out to comfort Tommy. Before he got there, his shoulder brushed Mr. Connolly's and a realization hit him like a freight train. He spun to face the man as Tommy added, "We can't even feed her."

Y/n made eye contact with Mr. Connolly. The men were the only ones out of the room, and therefore no one heard him when he whispered, "This is your fault."

"What?" Mr. Connolly spit.

Just then, the door downstairs banged open, and heavy footsteps could be heard on the stairs. "We've got company," Rose nearly groaned, too upset by the faceless woman to be as sassy as she usually was.

"They've come for her!" Rita lamented, clinging to her son and looking at the Doctor with desperation.

The Doctor jumped into action. "What was she doing before this happened to her?" He demanded. When Rita and Tommy looked at him with stunned confusion, he snapped, "Tell me, quickly! Think!"

"I can't think!" Tommy snapped back. "She doesn't leave the house! She was just..." He reached out to his mother as she covered her face, his words fading as men in suits suddenly surged into the room.

Stepping between the men and the grandma, the Doctor held up his hands to stop this from happening. "Hold on! There are three important, brilliant and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One-"

He was cut off before he could finish, by the man closest to him snagging him with a solid right hook. The Doctor went flying to the floor and Rose scrambled after him, screaming, "Doctor!" The men threw a blanket over the old woman's head and began to lead her out of the room.

Rita tried to stop them; bless the woman. "Leave her alone!" She demanded, pulling weakly on one of the men's arms. "You'll hurt her! Mum!" She was shoved off by one of the men and Tommy rushed to help her land safely and get back up again. Which left Y/n as the one standing. But he didn't do anything. He stood as Mr. Connolly guided the men out of the house, and he followed behind slowly. Rita and Tommy were after them much faster. "Don't hurt her!" Rita begged. She followed them all the way outside, Tommy right behind her. Once outside the commotion kept up, but Y/n at the top of the stairs didn't hear it. He did however jump into action upon hearing Rita begin to cry.

Whatever spell he was under shattered and he shoved past Mr. Connolly with force, running to the moped the Doctor had left behind to go into the house, kicking it into gear and revving the engine, watching the car with the old woman inside begin to pull away. He paused only to lock eyes with Mr. Connolly yet again, accusation set in his eyes with a cold tone that made the man step back into the house to hide from it. Unfortunately for him, Tommy saw the look as well.

The moment allowed the Doctor to catch up, slipping on the bike behind Y/n and pulling his feet up just in time for TY/n to surge forward, leaving them only a beat behind the car ahead. They chased the vehicle until it turned a corner... a corner that lead to what seemed to be a dead end. There was a closed gate and a cart in front of it. Even a boy swept the street in front of the cart, seeming as if the whole operation had been there for ages.

"Oh, very good," the Doctor congratulated the two men, smirking. The man sweeping smirked back. It clicked in Y/n's head immediately. "It was like this last time too," the Doctor explained anyway. "I chased it and ended up right here, on this street, in front of that gate, with those two people set up in front of it."

"Set up indeed," Y/n sighed, shaking his head.

They settled on a simple solution. They parked the moped and went around the back, walking around the enclosure to find any other entrances or weakened points on the gate. Of course, they found it. It was a door into the building. Something small, too small to be used by people as an entrance. Big enough to be used if one had to though, and no lock was scary enough to go against the sonic screwdriver. They were inside with no problem at all.

It seemed to be some sort of factory. There was the clattering of chains in the distance that they followed into a big room with a a gated enclosure in the middle. Inside the enclosure was dozens of people, all missing their faces. The clattering was coming from the men who had come to the house, who were now locking the grandma inside as well before locking the gate again. They waited for the men to leave before jogging up to the enclosure. The Doctor took out his screwdriver, busted the lock, and they were inside. It seemed a little more complex than it had from a distance though because after opening the first gate, there was a second one that lead to where everyone was actually held. Y/n wondered briefly why there were two gates as the Doctor opened the second and the pair moved into that room, pushing their way into the crowd gently to get a closer look at the faceless people.

They were dormant at first, but as the Doctor took out a torch and began to shine the light on them, their bodies began to twitch and move. Hands began to curl into claws, heads tilting threateningly. And they all turned to Y/n and the Doctor, closing in and pressing the two men against one of the gated walls. They crowded and pushed but didn't harm, and that surprised Y/n at first. Unfortunately, they did cause a commotion, which only occurred to the men when a huge light came on behind both of them, from outside the gate. They tried to see who had turned it on and saw only two silhouettes. A man's voice rung out, "Stay where you are."

They were pulled out of the enclosure and taken to two different rooms, sat in chairs, and faced with who seemed to be detectives. The man interrogating Y/n was rather calm and pleasant. "So who are you then?"

Y/n found himself sighing. "My name is Y/n."

The officer smiled, seeming pleased with Y/n's cooperative approach. "What are you doing here?"

"We're trying to figure out what's happening, so we can help and stop it," Y/n answered without hesitating. He said it with conviction, his body so relaxed but his eyes so full of honesty that there was simply no room to doubt him. He was telling the whole truth, and nothing else.

It was the best move to make, and it went over well. "What do you know?"

"Probably as much as you guys do. Bunch of people. Faces missing. What you might not know is that their brains are basically shut off. Like someone's taken their entire consciousness. A body with no person inside it, thinking and feeling and walking. It's a wisp of a ghost of humanity. No one's manning the controls." His shoulders dropped. "They're dormant."

Fairly enough, it was upsetting to the detective as well. "That's all you know?"

Y/n scoffed. "Maybe if you did less interrogating and tying me to chairs, I could be out there figuring out what's going on. My partner, where is he? We need to start working on this. Sitting around asking someone who knows barely more than you do is getting neither of us anywhere."

Sitting back, the officer gave a sort of amused smirk. "Down to business then. Alright, let the man go."

"But sir," one of the other men questioned. "Shouldn't we wait for the DI?"

The officer shook his head. "We need to find them and reunite these men who are here to help us. Come along, we've got work to do." And with that, Y/n was untied and they all headed to where the Doctor was being kept. A man who Y/n suspected was the DI was sat with the Doctor, looking non too far off from where the man who's been with Y/n had ended up - perplexed but trusting.

When they came into the room, the Doctor grinned upon seeing Y/n. "I can always count on you to get them to trust us, Y/n. Why do people listen to you so much better?"

"I'm approachable?" Y/n offered.

The Doctor nodded. "No that sounds about right."

Once the Doctor was untied as well, they all moved into the office where the DI began to catch up the other two men. "We started finding them about a month ago. Persons left 'sans visage'. Heads just... blank."

"Any sort of pattern?" The Doctor asked, eager to get down to business.

"It's spreading out from North London, all over the city. Men, women, kids, grannies. Only real lead is, there's been quite a large number in-"

The Doctor cut him off as he began to riffle through papers, finding the information himself. "-Florizel Street," he finished. His brow was creased in the way that it did when he was thinking and trying to understand. Looking at information and dissecting it. Taking it all in and organizing it to make sense of any kind of madness. It was a look Y/n had come to look on fondly.

There was a knock at the door to the office and Y/n went from admiring to in pain rather quickly.

"Found another one sir."

All eyes turned as the DI gave a half hearted, "Oh, good man, Crabtree. Here we are, Doctor. See what you can deduce." Y/n noticed that it was a woman immediately. There was a blanket over her head, but she was wearing a skirt. A pink skirt. A pink skirt that Y/n had seen recently, and could recognize almost immediately.

No.

No!

The one who had walked the woman into the room took the blanket off of her head, revealing-

"Rose," the Doctor lamented weakly.

Y/n's body went weak. He trailed after the Doctor, moving closer to her in order to reach out and touch her cheek. If she were normal, she would have leaned into it, a smile on her face. Maybe even winked at Y/n. But now... her face was blank, all features gone, leaving only shallow dents where they all should be.

"Do you two know her?" The DI asked.

"Know her? She..." The Doctor trailed off, a tension to his face as he struggled to voice what Y/n so often did. That she was his girlfriend, or companion, or maybe something else that explained what they all were better, in stronger words that painted the picture more clearly and drove home the feelings they shared. That he so much more than just knew her.

When he said nothing else, Y/n offered something. "She's out partner. We travel together." He wished he hadn't said anything. That he'd stopped as the Doctor had, because those words weren't sufficient, but he also knew he had no right to speak for the Doctor's feelings when he couldn't even admit them to himself. And... I mean, would these old fashioned people understand it anyway, when they couldn't even be okay with the Doctor and Y/n being together, let alone Rose as well?

To fill the sudden painful silence in the room, the man who'd brought Rose in began to fill in missing information. "They found her in the street apparently, down by Damascus Road. Just abandoned. That's unusual. That's the first one out in the open." He went to talk more, but Y/n was finished right there.

"I'm sorry say that again?"

"Sorry?" the DI offered, not sure as to what part Y/n had meant.

The Doctor spoke again. "Where did you say they left her?" He kept his eyes on Rose, his features being replaced with anger where the concentration and focus and puzzle piecing had been before. Gears turned now so much faster, the fire that drove him burning brighter. He was the sort of man that moved slower when angry, because every single move counted. It was when he was soft and slow that the Doctor was most dangerous.

The other men in the room seemed to sense that. "Just... in the street."

"In the street," the Doctor repeated, his face relaxing as he rose his eyebrows. "They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street." His voice was dropping, the anger curling around his words as his body relaxed. All his hesitations that usually kept him so in line melted away and he was calmer than he ever was. "And as a result, that makes things..." He paused, eyes still trained on where Rose's face should be. "- Simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?" He took his glasses off, finally looking away from Rose in favor of turning to face the others in the room.

"No," the DI answered, his nervousness plain.

"Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop" the Doctor seethed. "There is no power on this Earth that can stop me." He looked at Y/n. "You ready?"

Anger had a vastly different effect on Y/n. Unlike with the Doctor where anger calmed him, anger fueled Y/n. It drove him, energized him. I suppose it was because the Doctor was a man capable of great evil, and therefore a man who had many rules that usually held him back. These rules locked that potential up tight so he could channel it into good things. When he was angry, those rules flew out the window and let him loose so that he had no inhibitions or hesitations. His potential, either good or evil, was at full capacity and would be stopped by no one. Y/n was the exact opposite. He was always calm, always level headed. His mind was a machine, and it flowed smoothly. He never felt the need to lead, only to support and pop in when it was necessary. But when he was angry? Oh, when he was angry, it blinded him and clogged those gears so the machine was stopped. All the energy that usually went into keeping him calm and level headed went into charging his mind to think better and harder, and his body into working faster and going further.

Usually, the Doctor was a man of great power and goodness and when he slipped or needed help, Y/n was there to keep the peace and fill in holes the Doctor had missed and pick up the slack. The Doctor pulled the chariot and Y/n picked up the things that fell out.

Now, Y/n was unhinged and the Doctor was unleashed and neither were about to stop the other. There were only two men on the path of vengeance for someone who had hurt the woman they both loved, and nothing - NOTHING - was going to get in the way of them getting her back.

Y/n smiled. "Always."

So they were off.

They headed out, blazing a trail of fire behind them, headed right back where they'd come from. The sun was up, and Tommy Connolly opened the door to find Y/n and the Doctor. "Tommy," the Doctor said in a voice that left no room for negotiation. "Talk to me." Tommy threw a glance to the inside of the house before coming out, closing the door behind him. "I need to know exactly what happened inside your house."

It was then Mr. Connolly decided to intervene. "What the blazes do you think you're doing?" the pathetic man spat at his son.

"I wanna help, Dad!" Tommy begged weakly.

"Mr. Connolly-" the Doctor began.

And then Mr. Connolly made a huge error. He turned to the Doctor and sneered, "Shut your face, you."

Y/n reacted immediately. He surged forward, ramming Mr. Connolly against the wall of the house. Their noses almost touched, and Y/n practically growled, "I've had enough of you. You think you're bigger than you are and I've had enough of it. You're going to stop intervening and you're going to stop disrespecting your family and the Doctor and myself, and you're going to let your son be helpful like the decent human being he is and you're going to be grateful that Tommy didn't turn out anything like you did, do you understand me?"

There was something in Y/n's eyes. Something that made Mr. Connolly genuinely cower. The Doctor put a hand on Y/n's shoulder and the man backed down immediately, letting Mr. Connolly go. "You don't understand," Mr. Connolly groaned. "You two are ruining everything! I have a position to maintain. People around here respect me. You don't care what people think of you and that's fine, but those successful know that it matters what people think!"

"Is that why you did it, Dad?" All eyes turned to Tommy.

"Did what?" Mr. Connolly asked his voice tinged with panic. "You ratted on Gran," Tommy accused. "How else would the police know where to look? Unless a coward told them."

"How dare you," Mr. Connolly hissed quietly, still beaten down by Y/n's previous actions, but fueled again by Tommy's insult. "You think I fought a war just so a mouthy scum like you could call me a coward?"

Tommy was having none of that though. "You don't get it do you? You fought against fascism, remember? People telling you how to live. Who you could be friends with. Who you could fall in love with. Who could live and who had to die. Don't you get it? You were fighting so that little twerps like me could do what we want. Say what we want. Now you've become just like them. You've been informing on everyone, haven't you? Even Gran. All to protect your precious reputation!"

"You'll learn, Mr. Connolly," Y/n said in a low voice. "It doesn't matter what OTHER people say or think about you. It matters what your friends and family think. It matters that you go to bed at night with a clear conscious and look at yourself in the mirror and see someone you like. Be honest. Have you been able to look yourself in the eye since you started tell the police where everyone was? Since you betrayed your own family, all so you could look good to what you think people wanted you to be? Cause I can tell you now, no one's going to like you for this. For taking away their family and ratting on them. For making everyone scared in their homes. On their own streets."

"Everyone who matters will appreciate what I did," Mr. Connolly spat defensively.

"So it's true then." The door opened, revealing Mrs. Connolly. Mr. Connolly reached out for her but she pulled away.

"I did it for us, Rita," Mr. Connolly explained, panicking at the betrayed look on the poor woman's face. "She was filthy! A filthy, disgusting thing!"

Y/n took a step back, and then another. He tripped on the second step as he hit the end of the concrete, but was thankfully far enough out of view that no one saw. But he saw. And what he saw... He wished he hadn’t.

"I wish people like that wouldn't go about. It's disgusting."

"Oh look away dear, it means nothing to you."

"It's just gross! Can't they do it somewhere else?"

"They're only holding hands."

"She kissed her cheek!"

"And?"

"And it's not right. I'm trying to spend time with my family. Why can't they be normal? Look, even Y/n looks upset by it."

"Are you upset, Y/n? We can go."

Y/n looked at his parents, feeling small. He was small, but he had never felt small. He'd always quite big, actually. Too big to hide in the spaces he wished he'd fit better in. Too big to run as fast and as far as he wanted to. Too big to fade away and be gone from this moment. Too big, in the middle of a quart yard, feeling like every set of eyes that could see him did. That was how he usually felt. But now... now he felt so small that he was terrified of being stepped on. He looked into his father's eyes, soft but distant. Too far away to reach. Too dislodged to understand. Y/n looked at his mother next. The way she looked at the two women who had eventually felt her stare and looked back, leaving to escape the horrible feeling her nasty glare left under their skin. Y/n wished he could go with them. How could one person hate two people being happy so much that it made one's skin crawl? That it made people run, just with the power of the look in her eyes alone. Why did she feel the need to say anything at all? Why couldn't she be pleasant and far away like dad?

A hand rested on Y/n's shoulder and he was pulled into the present. He looked over at the Doctor, who had a very knowing expression on his face at that moment. They exchanged a look and Y/n nodded, both to recognize that they would talk about it later and that he would be okay until then. For now, they had much more important things to worry about.

With that clear, they both turned their attention back to Tommy and his parents. It seemed Y/n had missed something, as the door was now closed. With the way Mr. Connolly was yelling anguished cries for his wife to open the door, Y/n got the feeling that Mr. Connolly's world had just come crashing down.

"Tommy," the Doctor said, reaching out for the boy. Tommy moved closer to him, and those two, Y/n, and DI Bishop all left Mr. Connolly at the door. They had important business to get to, and Tommy had a lot to catch them up on. As they walked, the Doctor got to business. "Tell me about that night. The night she changed."

As they walked, Tommy watched his feet, trying to remember. "She was just watching the telly," he offered weakly, obviously feeling guilty as not giving what was being looked for. How wrong he was though.

"Rose said it," the Doctor realized. He spun around, eyes shooting to all the different antenna. Too many dishes for this year, this time. "She said it from the start. All these aeriels in one little street. How come?" He settled on looking at Tommy for an answer.

The boy delivered. "The bloke Mr. Magpie. He's selling them up the street?" The Doctor and Y/n looked at each other before taking off, Tommy and the DI pausing only a second before kicking into gear after the Doctor yelled at them. The four made it to Magpie's place, the Doctor breaking the window on the door to reach through and unlock it, pushing inside. The DI actually tried to stop him - which was fair since he was a cop and all -but the Doctor wasn't listening.

The second they were inside, the Doctor was at the desk in a flash, ringing the little desk bell heatedly. "If you're here, come out and talk to me!" the Doctor screamed. "MAGPIE!"

Y/n skipped the desk and went directly behind, searching the whole place for any signs of the man, vengeance in his eyes. Luckily for Magpie, he didn't appear to be in. "No one," Y/n announced as he went back to the front, in answer o the Doctor's heated, questioning gaze.

The Doctor went behind the desk as well, beginning to dig through the drawers for any hints of clues. He was successful as always. "Oh hello," he grumbled, pulling out a sort of portable television, from what it seemed to be. It was rectangular shaped, but almost like an etch-a-sketch, with dials below a blank, dark screen.

Moving to the Doctor's shoulders, Y/n squinted his eyes as he got a better look at the thing. "That's not supposed to be here." Y/n tilted his head. "Not on Earth. Not anywhere near humans. That's too advanced for hundreds of years from now, let alone 1970's or wherever."

In response, the Doctor licked the device. "Tastes like iron." He looked at Y/n. "Bakelite." He put the thing on the counter in front of him, pulling out his sonic screwdriver to scan it. "Put together by human hands, I'll give that. But you're right, the design itself..." The sonic sounded, following by the Doctor making a noise of appreciative surprise. "Oh, beautiful work. That is so simple."

"That's incredible," DI Bishop mused. "It's like a television, but portable. A portable television." Y/n almost smiled at the amazement in his voice. He briefly wondered how the man would react to Netflix.

The thought was derailed as the Doctor lifted the screwdriver to eye level, and tellies began to switch on around them in the room. Each screen was just filled with white static, but the fact that they'd reacted so strongly to the signal in the first place wasn't the greatest of signs. "That's not the only signal in this room," the Doctor told the others. Suddenly the static died and the screens cleared, the static falling away to reveal a bunch of faces. Just faces on dark screens, all sad or scared. Some screaming, some crying, some silently shaking as they looked into a void and tried to find a way out. It was only a few seconds, each clip, and it repeated, so that people were stuck in two or three seconds of utter fear.

Y/n launched forward, eyes scanning each screen frantically until he squatted down, pausing as his hands rested on either side of a screen with the face of a girl screaming one word over and over again. It was Rose, and she was calling for the Doctor. When Y/n felt a presence beside him he scooted over to let the Doctor squat beside him, both men looking at Rose call for help over and over and over again. She looked so afraid, and in the blackness of the screen around her was reflected two expressions. One, the Doctor, whose eyes were full of pain and whose face was lined with love and worry. It was a sad expression, easy and delicate and affectionate. The other face was Y/n's, which was curled in anger. Not like it had been before, where it was hot and unforgiving and hard and terrifying. No, this anger was painful to look at. Like he was about to cry. He reached out a hand and gently touched the screen, wishing he could touch Rose's face and tell her everything was going to be okay.

Next to him, the Doctor reached out a hand too, to touch the other side of the screen that Y/n did. "We're coming," the Doctor promised.

The sound of beads being moved sounded. The same sound that had happened when Y/n had rushed into the back, searching for Magpie. Because there was a curtain of beads in the doorframe-

"What do you think you're doing?" Y/n and the Doctor looked at Magpie at the same time, pain being replaced with that anger from before. Merciless anger that could only be described as wrath.

The Doctor stood, marching toward Magpie with determination, every move fast and full of threat. "I want my friends restored and I think that's beyond a little back street electrician, so tell me, who's really in charge here?" Y/n backed him up, both of them leaning into Magpie who looked downright terrified.

Suddenly there was a voice. "Yoohoo!" It was such a shock because it was a woman's voice. A voice which shouldn't be possible as all men were in the room. Everyone turned to see a new woman on one of the screens. Except she wasn't just a face, she was hair and a body and a dress and arms as well. She sat on the telly as if she was a program, except her smile was too smug and her eyes were too cold. It probably was even more of a give away when she added, "That would probably be me," in what was definitely a response to the Doctor's question. A question she shouldn't be able to hear as she should have been a recording of something that had happened weeks ago. "Ooh," the woman hummed. "This one's smart as paint. And look at his little guard dog, ready to bite." She almost chuckled, the laugh sitting on her face even as the noise didn't come out.

"Is she talking to us?" DI Bishop asked.

"I'm sorry gentleman, I'm afraid you brought this on yourselves," Magpie apologized rather pathetically. "May I introduce you to my new-" he cut off, probably choking as he finished, "Friend." He swallowed and Y/n almost rolled his eyes.

"Truly nice to meet you," the woman on the screen greeted.

"Oh my god it's here," DI Bishop exclaimed. "That woman on the telly."

The Doctor's expression was dark. "No. It's just using her image."

"What?" Tommy asked, dumbfounded and confused. "What are you?" he asked the woman when neither the Doctor nor Y/n responded to his first question.

"I'm The Wire," the not-woman responded. "And I will gobble you up, pretty boy." On instinct Y/n pushed Tommy behind him; Tommy didn't resist. When Tommy was gone, the Wire's eyes moved up to look at Y/n instead. "Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow kind denied me." As she spoke, the black and white screen suddenly filled with color, and Y/n realized she was showing off. Threatening and she flexed to show how much power she already had, just from the few people she'd fed off of. From Rose.

"Good lord." DI Bishop's eyes were wide. "Colour television!" Once again, Y/n had to try to not roll his eyes. To these people, that was a miracle.

The Doctor cut in on the moment. "So your own people tried to stop you."

"They executed me," the Wire spat. "But I escaped, in this form and fled across the stars."

"And now you're trapped in the television," the Doctor taunted. At his words, the color on the screen faded and it returned to black and white.

"Not for much longer." Despite her words, it gave Y/n hope to see her color fade. Her show of power had been quite temporary, which meant she was far, far weaker than she was trying to seem. That meant she would be much easy to defeat than she wanted to let on.

"This is what got my Gran?" Tommy asked, hands reaching out to tug on Y/n's sleeve.

Because Tommy was touching him, Y/n responded first. "Indeed. You don't know this yet I don't think, but people's minds work off of electricity. Little shocks all throughout the mind that send messages and information all around so it can power the rest of the body. She traps the minds and feeds off of them, and she does it by sapping away their faces. Ever heard, 'the eyes are the windows to the souls'? Well it's wrong, they're actually the doors, and once you open it it's very hard to close."

Feelings eyes on him, Y/n looked over to see the Doctor was surprised. It didn't last long though as the Doctor looked to Tommy, his anger coming back again as he added, "Problem is, it gorges itself like some great, over-fed pig." His eyes moved back to the Wire, spitting as he continued to get even angrier. "Taking people's faces, their essences, as it stuffs itself." The Wire looked very amused by that and Y/n was almost tempted to step forward and add some nasty words of his own, if Tommy hadn't still been holding onto him, keeping him back.

Probably for the best.

"And you let her do it, Magpie," the DI sneered at the electrician still cowering where the Doctor had left him before.

"I had to! She let me keep my face," Magpie whined. It was like a shark biting you then getting mad when you lashed out. It only made Y/n more angry. "She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation."

"What does that mean?" Tommy demanded.

"The appointed time," the Wire responded evenly. "My crowning glory."

That sentence set off the DI and Y/n at the same time. the DI shouted, "Doctor, the Coronation!" at the same time that Y/n lamented, "Oh my god the Coronation" as he rose a hand to cover his mouth, horrified as he began to realize the Wire's plan.

"For the first time in history, millions gathered round a television set," the Doctor confirmed. He turned smug as he took a step toward the screen. "But you're not strong enough yet, are you?" The Wire seemed to want to say something, but had nothing to throw back. The Doctor was right. "You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this!" He held up the screen from earlier, which Y/n only now realized he'd been carrying around the entire time. "You need something more powerful. This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you are," the Wire sarcastically congratulated. "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen."

"Well obviously we wouldn't-" But he didn't get to finish his sentence, because before Y/n could quip out a snarky response, suddenly there was a bright light and his whole body was beginning to ache. Slowly, starting at his fingers and toes, a sort of sharp numbness began to spread through his body. Began to eat at him, but by bit, until he was consumed. It never did get all of him, but even when the numbness faded and the world should have come back into view, that bright white light didn't go away. Y/n closed his eyes and felt a sort of fuzzy distance, but that white light didn't go anywhere. It was just muffled a little behind his eyelids.

For a while, Y/n didn't want to look. There was a fear in his heart that kept his eyes very closed. The white light wasn't too bright to look at or painful or consuming, it was just... terrifying. There was something that told him if he opened his eyes, he would see something terrible.

Unfortunately, Y/n was a companion of the Doctor. He maybe even had a little bit of what made the Doctor so wonderful and fantastic and brave inside of him, put there by experiences and memories that weren't his. Things that made people on such a deep level; mistakes and terrors. Things more terrible than some stupid white light could scare him with. So he opened his eyes, and he saw. And it was just as terrible as he thought it would be.

Suddenly he sucked in a breath and shot up into a sitting position, scrambling away from the wall of TV screens. He was breathing heavily, head spinning and heart racing. He looked around and saw DI Bishop, who was much more still but who seemed a little jarred himself. Though I suppose, no one was as upset by the experience just had as Y/n was. The Wire placated her victims, holding them in a cocoon of disconnection. Uncomfortable, but not upsetting. Not anything like what Y/n had just seen.

The door to Magpie's shop opened and the Doctor was there, eyes finding Y/n with an expression that was a mix of victory and worry. The worry grew as the Doctor realized Y/n seemed to be in a far more stable state than the Detective had been, which he didn't seem surprised about. Kneeling down, the Doctor placed a hand on Y/n's shoulder. "What happened?"

Y/n swallowed. "She took my face."

Even before the Doctor spoke, Y/n knew that was wrong though. "No, she didn't. You were fine. She was focused on the detective, and hadn't gotten to you, me, or Tommy yet. But when I got Tommy to wake up you just... lay there." He swallowed. "I thought you might have died."

At that, Y/n gave the only reassurance he could. "Well you and I both know that's not the case."

The Doctor nodded. "Right so. Stay here, I'll be back." He went and got Tommy, and then the four men - reunited again - all moved out of the shop. Shakily, as Y/n seemed to be having a hard time staying on his feet. Finally though, with a little help from Tommy, they managed to get Y/n out of the shop and down the street to head back to where all of the people who'd been taken were. If this was one of those happy endings, everyone would be back to normal. And considering Rose was one of them... well, they all had fingers crossed.

It didn't take long. They got far enough that Y/n only needed a little help from Tommy, and they moved a lot faster. They turned a corner, and saw a crowd of people surging out of the place where all the Wire's victims had been held. Y/n recognized a few body shapes and hair colors and outfits. Everyone was fine, just as they'd hoped. With the Wire gone, all consciousness had been returned to their bodies and people were in great condition. Well, good condition. Y/n was sure there might be some emotional damage. Disassociation was detrimental enough, without your very being being fed on.

But anyway, that wasn't the important thing. The important thing was that everyone was more or less completely fine. Which meant-

"Gran!" Tommy explained.

Tommy went to run, but paused as Y/n was still leaning on him. The man leaned away from the boy, waving him on. "I'll be fine. You go." With that, Tommy was gone. Y/n stayed where he was, leaning against the wall, afraid if he leaned off he might collapse. But then he saw Rose. He saw the Doctor surging toward her grinning face, and he felt his own body moving as well. Despite his worries about his current state of being, Y/n pushed off the wall and headed over as well. He was proud of himself for only limping a little bit.

Rose and the Doctor had the cutest reunion hug, and Y/n approached them as they parted. There was a grin on his face as he said, "All good now?"

"More than," Rose agreed. She hugged Y/n next, jumping in surprise as he groaned in pain. She leaned back much quickly, worry on her face as it had been on the Doctor's earlier, and was again. "Are you okay? You seem... hurt. What did you let happen to him?" She shot this at the Doctor, who was about to defend himself when Y/n did it for him.

"I just didn't handle the TV sucking my mind out of my body as well as you did," he tried to dismiss. "Really I'm fine. We fell after we got all zapped. I might have just landed wrong, really. Lots of different reasons, none of them anything you need to worry about." He reached up both hands, holding Rose's face. She was taken aback by the look in his eyes when he looked at her now. Like they hadn't seen each other in years, or he had believed he'd never see her again. To be fair, after the events of today, it was a fair look for one to have. "I love you. Have I said that recently?"

Rose cocked an eyebrow. "No partic-" Y/n kissed her, cutting her off. The kiss was hard and desperate and full of emotion that rocked her to her core. Rose felt her head rush and her heart race and her body shivered a bit before she registered the way he was holding her face. He was gripping it. Clinging to her like if she let go, she'd be gone forever. When they parted, she realized he was crying. "Y/n, are you sure you're okay?" She whispered, reaching a hand up to wipe the tear.

"Yeah." His voice cracked though, so it was quite unconvincing. "I'm just... I'm so glad you're okay, Rose. I really, really am." He stroked her cheek. "I'm never letting anything like that happen to you ever again."

She almost told him that he couldn't control what happened to her in this life of theirs, but Rose got the feeling that if she did, he might break down. So she just nodded and smiled and reassured, "Of course you will. You and the Doctor would never let anything really terrible happen to me. We're gonna be together forever, the three of us."

That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. "Right," Y/n weakly agreed. He turned away, collecting himself. "Forever." His eyes moved across the crowd. "I think we deserved a bit of celebration. Come on!" And suddenly he was perfectly fine. Every few steps he winced just a little, but his smile was wide and his eyes were cleared. Like he had never been upset or hurt at all. The Doctor had been silent and nervous, constantly looking at Y/n again and again, but eventually the celebration got to even him and they were all forgetting their troubles and having a great time. Together again and inseparable.

For now.

Amidst all the fun, they ran into Tommy again and the Doctor gave his scooter as a present. It was a nice moment, but quickly messed up by Tommy seeing his dad again. Mr. Connolly seemed to be packed and suited up. Going somewhere. Leaving. "Good riddance," Tommy mumbled, face torn with hate.

"Is that it then, Tommy?" The Doctor asked, turning to watch Mr. Connolly go as well. "New monarch, new age, new world. No room for a man like Eddie Connolly."

"That's right," Tommy confirmed solidly. "He deserves it."

Rose leaned closer to the young boy. "Tommy, go after him."

Y/n cut in right there. "Never ever feel pressure to forgive someone who has abused you." He looked right at Tommy, and the Doctor and Rose went silent. "You are never required to let that person back into your life and don't you let anyone say otherwise." Y/n cleared his throat, his voice softening. "You should forgive him. If you don't, that anger you feel right now? It'll stay there inside you forever, and it'll turn you into him one day. You can't let it. You're too good to let someone else's mistakes ruin your future like that. You deserve better. And... you can give him another chance if you want. You can. But understand something: losing a parent is terrible. It sucks and it hurts, and it leaves a hole in your life forever. But that hole will always stay the size it is when that person leaves your life. Letting someone like your dad back in cold just widen that hole. Make it worse. Hurt it more. I'm not saying he will make it worse or he hasn't learned better. You can go after him, and that's your choice, and you're allowed to do that." Y/n reached out, placing his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "But you can't save him Tommy. Not from himself. You can't save anyone from themselves. You have to prioritize yourself and keep yourself safe first. So if you go after him, go because you want to. Not because he'll be sad or lonely or you think he needs you. Okay?"

Tommy had a very soft look on his face. One full of relief. Y/n's words had lifted a large burden off of his shoulders, and he nodded, smiling. "Thank you, Y/n. I... God, thank you."

Y/n smiled. "You're very welcome." With that, Tommy left the group. He walked back to his house, hesitated, and then did go after his dad. Y/n smiled to himself. "What a good lad."

"Very good," Rose agreed. But when Y/n looked over, she was looking at him, not Tommy.

Looking at his hands, Y/n cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off I just-"

"No," Rose rushed to reassure. "You were right. I forget, sometimes... that not having a dad. It's not the worse thing that can happen to you. Sometimes it's better." She swallowed. "I was lucky to have a good dad. And an even better mum." At that, she pulled Y/n's chin so their eyes met. "I never properly apologized to you. For what happened in the parallel world. I pushed you to forgive her, and you knew from the beginning you shouldn't. She really hurt you and I pushed you to get there so she could."

Y/n shook his head and then wrapped his arm around her shoulder, tucking her into his side. Her arms went around his middle to hug him, her cheek resting against his chest. "It's not your fault, Rose. It's hers. Don't you dare blame yourself for that." The Doctor moved closer, using the table behind them and his body to block the view as he took Y/n's hand.

"All that matters if we're safe and together," the Doctor finalized.

And for now, that was true enough.

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