#the rest i tagged are all 21+ because of the whiskey

[blueparadis]

▏A FOOL'S PARADISE  ▏I.KUROKAWA   ▏.

+. content warnings — afab-reader, arrange marriage au, mafia au , mention of abusive parents, foster parents, murder, blood and profanity; fluff, mutual pinning, stranger to lovers, angst, smut, marking, sensory deprivation, non-con elements.

+. synopsis — Izana knew he was a broken man but he thought you could mend him until he realised you had same scars all along.

+. notes — this is for villainfuckers.com hosted by my beloved @dejwrites . Thank you for letting me participate in this. I had the wildest writgasm while writing this. you can read this in my ao3 <33 i plan to continue this series and so the rest of the parts will be posted in ao3 !

+. links— TAP HERE TO BROWSE MY WORKS.

+. playlist — why do we stay by seafret , burgundy by atlas in motion.

+. tags — @garoujo @21-06-1996 @cursedmoonchild & @tokyometronetwork @cursedarchiveblog

“Three million dollars”

“Eight million dollars”

“ ten million dollars”

“ Ten and half million dollars.” 

There was a rustle of lips before the thud of a hammer overpowered them; silence prevailed. The lumping tension at the core of your throat increased as your father spoke steadily, “Fifteen million dollars” 

“Fifty million dollars”, a bold voice echoed through the auction hall.

Everyone moved in unison in the direction of the source except your father, Mr.Kento Fujiwara. Anxious whispers bubbled across the room while you wanted to tilt your head being curious about such sudden turbulence and have a glance at this man who dared to play with your father’s sentiment.

It is no secret that today at this auction, your father was present just to get back what belonged to him, a butterfly pendant that was the size of a rosebud. When you asked him if it belonged to the family heirloom or if it was somehow stolen from his possession, he shook his head lightly saying that the pendant is very pretty. That was the sole reason why he thought it belonged to him. He thinks everything that is beautiful needs to be in his collection, like you; his beloved daughter.

You were barely five when a young couple adopted you from the orphanage. At the age of sixteen, your third foster father gave you to this man, Mr. Kento Fujiwara who seemed to be different from the rest. 

Indeed, he was different. He wore an expensive suit, well groomed, hair gelled back, a scar on his thick lips, and a pair of eyes that had the hunger of a devil. When he looked at you, his eyes glinted like those monsters from your storybooks. He was a man of influence and power. You knew you had to be cautious around him when you noticed marks on your young mother’s hands the day after when your father was displeased with the dinner. He was no less of a monster. And certainly, if anyone dared to cross paths with this tyrant, wouldn’t they be a fool? 

The man dressed in a suit with alluring colors aligning in shades of scarlet and sapphire emptied the last sip of his whiskey. You thanked the heavens when you could see his reflection in the mirror. Ivory strands of hair fell up to his shoulders with auburn skin that gleamed in the dim lights, a mask covering all over his cheekbones and hanafuda earrings dangling near his shoulders.  He seemed like hope, like a prince. 

He stood up while you tried to tear away your gaze from him.  “Fifty million dollars one”

his eyes shifted to you. You immediately lowered your face under the influence of reflex, warmth gushing over your face in embarrassment. 

“ fifty million dollars two”

Is he still standing there? Is he still staring this way? You shouldn’t. You should not look back at him. You should not even think of it because if Mr. Fujiwara notices he would not stop locking you up in a castle like a rapunzel.

“Fifty million dollars thre-”

“Hundred and fifty million dollars”, your father sprung up from the seat. There was a voiceful uproar all around. Amidst all that hustle-bustle, while others seem to leave their place you remained seated and mustered up enough courage to look up to the mirror. And at that moment when your eyes met his again, he shifted his gaze elsewhere but the toothy grin was so pinnable that it made your lips curve in a crescent with delight.

“...hundred and fifty million dollars three”, the announcer cleared his throat, “This butterfly pendant of the early victorian era goes to Mr.Fujiwara.”, the announcer looked at Fujiwara,  “Congratulations Mr. Fujiwara”, and then all the bidders one by one congratulated your father. 

He was still standing near his table, lowering his face, hands tucked in his pocket. Before leaving the hall he did the unthinkable. He did not come to congratulate your father. For a man who had just lost this bidding, it was normal not to sing praises for the winner but  Fujiwara was a man of quick temper. Even if he was surrounded by applause, cheers, and praises; that single disrespect did not go unnoticed by him. He finds it humiliating enough that a boy barely half of his age dared to bid along with him. He called one of his bodyguards and whispered something into his ears that made his eyebrows jump. Certainly, he could not think of killing a person, or would he?

“Come angel.”, Mr. Fujiwara took the pendant and inclined his hands towards your neck. It is already an incident of rarest occurrence to bring a lady on such occasions unless they are concubines or just dolled-up whores yet your father brought you here to today's auction. 

“Your gift for your 22nd birthday, baby” He dares to bring you here and insult you by gifting a mere pendant. But, he is your father. You possibly should not think of disobeying him and thereby awakening his devilish wrath.

“Thank you father”, you uttered as he clipped the lock of the necklace. You shot him a smile that disappeared the moment he placed a kiss on your cheek. Two years since you came into Fujiwara's house, he has never done this before. It always started with nasty stares and ended up with you, locking yourself up in the room. But now he was getting greedy.

The ride back home was silent. He was in his car with his bodyguard and you were in a different car with a bodyguard that your father solely appointed for you, Toji Fushiguro. He was nothing like Fujiwara. He was a lot nicer than him to your surprise and certainly knew how to play with the devil’s wrath. Some days, he would tell you about his son who was just about your age, about how Fujiwara looked after them during the times of local turbulence. It really didn’t help much to change the way you thought about your father but you concluded Toji is inconclusive in certain matters.

Two years since you came into Fujiwara's house, and every time you smiled it was because of him. Uncle Fushi, you called him. He used to take you wherever you wanted, whenever you wanted. But he couldn’t save you from his boss’s nasty stares and hence he used to tell stories; stories where the queen killed the king, a princess fled with a prince, and a knight saved the princess. In every story, the king was no king, he was a monster. Sometimes you wondered if the stories had any relevance to your father.  Sometimes, you wondered if he hadn't had a child of your age, would he still be so warm and kind to you?

He was more of a father than a bodyguard, more human than he seemed. Sometimes when your friends came over, they would tell you that your bodyguard looked like a beast and had a scary face. You would laugh every time because that beast with a scary face used to bake cupcakes for you. You were only sixteen when you came into this giant mansion and Fujiwara appointed him as your bodyguard in a flicker of a moment. You got lucky that he is not an abuser like his boss, like most men in this world.

When you were eighteen, Fujiwara married again and she seemed a little older than you. When you were just a few days away from turning twenty-two, he summoned you from your home. You lived in a different building on the other side of the town because he wanted to keep you safe, away from others, more like he wanted you for himself after you finally grew up to be a fine young lady. 

However, thanks to his lifestyle he barely had time to come to your room and you prayed every night that he doesn’t mistake your door for Mrs.Fujiwara’s. Her screams kept you awake at night. It echoed through the long corridors. The servants of the house knew how many females committed suicide in that same room from where Mrs. Fujiwara’s screams could be heard.

He used to come home drunk and sometimes you couldn’t stop yourself from crying because your mother’s screams sounded like she was burning in hellfire, just like those stories uncle Fushi would tell you at the shine of daylight. 

But he is a ruthless king with no heir and you couldn't bring yourself to ask why he adopted you, neither to him nor his wife. His wife always avoided you. Up till now, she was the only one who was churning in hellfire but tonight may be different.

“Nervous?”, Toji asked, breaking the silence.

“Hah! You bet.”, you muttered and he immediately took the next turn in the alley making you jolt. He stopped the car.

“What are you doing?”, to which he gave you a cold smile thinking how scared you must be to forget all about your Uncle Fushi. 

“This is ricin. It doesn’t leave any trace and … the death is instant”, he handed you a capsule that consisted of tiny granules. You stared at it for a while as you remembered a few stories from Uncle Fushi’s collection where the princess poisoned the king and the queen was blamed. 

“One is enough”, he said as he drove out of the dark alley. You sighed as the splattering raindrops hit the window. Even the sky wept for you when you could not. How could you? When all the stories spoke of the princess murdering the king in cold blood, and fleeing with the prince while the queen had to take the fall. You had neither of them, nor a prince to flee with neither a Queen to take the fall since tonight Mrs.Fujiwara will be sent to her father’s house. You will be all alone like a rapunzel in a castle. 

—

“Nah! Mikey”, Izana blurted out as he caught the globe. He was lying down on the couch wearing a boxer and a satin housecoat, throwing the globe and catching it at intervals. “nahhhh. Mikeyyh!”

“Oh my god. What is it?”Manjiro snapped and why wouldn’t he? Izana had been calling him like this for almost thirty minutes, parting his lips to say something and then ending it with “Forget it” 

“Was that butterfly pendant worth that much?”, Izana turned up his body throwing the globe towards his brother. 

“Nope”, Manjiro caught the ball while Kakucho and Draken exchanged glances. “It was a fake”

“But I’m happy that our plan worked”, Izana chuckled.

“Oh my fucking god, please tell me this wasn’t the only thought you wanted to share with me”

“Ughh… no…”, Izana’s hesitant lilac pupils dawned on Kakucho and then onto Draken. 

“Seriously Izana? What on earth is it?”Manjiro was at the edge again. What on earth could it be that he couldn’t share in front of those trusted men ?Manjiro nodded towards Draken who was enjoying his drink with Kakucho talking about his newly wedded wife, Emma. 

At his boss’s gesture, Draken left but Kakucho didn’t. Izana puckered his lips as he looked at Kakucho, his bodyguard or more like his partner. Kakucho exhaled deeply and left the room but not before scrunching his nose at Izana, making the latter narrow his gaze on him.

“May I have the privilege to know what my highness is thinking?”, Mikey quipped. 

“Na-ah! Tell me, Manjiro Sano, are you happy? Are you happy marrying a girl on Shinichiro’s suggestion? Even if she came from the enemy camp?”

Manjiro fell silent. He was grinning like a lovesick fool at the mention of his wife and Izana was clueless why he was smiling. As much as he could remember, Mikey always strayed off whenever the topic of his wife came up on the table. Izana left his couch to pour himself a whiskey rather than ruining his mood upon his brother’s silent treatment.

“Why are you asking Izana? Are you planning to get married? Did Shin suggest a few?

“A few ?”, he scoffed, rolling his eyes heavenwards. “Only one. And I went to see her today.”

“Where?”Mikey's eyebrows grew closer at his brother’s slight curve of lips.

“At the auction.”, Izana smirked.

“What? Why would you do that? If Shin comes to know he’ll kill us both.”, he left his seat and walked towards his brother who was busy making a drink. “Moreover, Couldn’t you wait a little longer? We’ll be visiting Fujiwaras tomorrow”, he checked his watch and continued, “Like in almost twelve hours”

“Yeah! No wonder Shin would kill us both, especially knowing that you’re the one who inspired me”, Izana gave his brother a glass of whiskey while his lilac gaze watched his brother turning beet-red in embarrassment. Mikey chuckled charmingly remembering how he went to meet his girl over a silly bet. “But thanks to my participation, that fucking bastard spend a lot more than expected and that too on a fake pendant.”Manjiro almost choked at his brother’s mischief. 

Izana Kurokawa, the second in the Sano Industries, was popular for such tactics. And after his father died, he was a free bird. He hated his old man because he failed to protect his mom from each of his perishing pounces until his mom left him all alone. He was eight when his mom committed suicide with a knife slitting both of her wrists, ten when he met the sanos, his new family. 

Mikey had to marry early because the girl was supposed to be married off to a forty-year-old junkie and he had to go through a lot since Shin’s wasn't at par with Mikey's plans. So, surely Izana wouldn't like to bind in the shackles of marriage at the cost of his freedom after witnessing such horrors of a bond. He was just in his early twenties. Even Manjiro was surprised that Izana was willing to talk about marriage. Manjiro took a sip as he asked, “What was she like?”

“She was afraid even though Fujiwara went crazy with the bidding. Especially, women love it when any man spends money on them.”

“Not all women Izana, Not all women.”, Manjiro was referring to his mother. 

“She looked so scared, so fragile all the time sitting beside that bastard who called himself her father… She reminded me of my mom. She was trembling the whole time when that bastard was putting that damn fake necklace around her neck.” 

“Wait! Father? Fujiwara is the father father ? and Shin wants you to trade your freedom for his daughter? God knows what she has been through.”

“Close.” Izana exhaled deeply. with a tone of amusement, he continued  “Shin wants to expand our trades in the south. Fujiwara is a dead man anyways without any son or a daughter of his. So, he wants me to be the peace-keeper while Shin gobbles up all his territory”. Manjiro’s dark globular pupils glinted at his brother. “Good heavens !”

Manjiro was elated to know that Shin blinked at his suggestion of expanding business in ways other than killing people. After the death of the previous boss, Shin wanted to eradicate each vile leech that handled business with their dick rather than the brain. It is for people like those that the police get a whiff of them. 

Shinichiro Sano, the eldest, was the man who took all the decisions in matters of business while his brothers had their own territory to rule. But when it came to the matters of alliances and marriages Shinichiro had to step in because he is the eldest and none of his brothers are reliable enough to have such alliances peacefully. 

One time Izana gutted a man with the same knife that his mom used to kill herself because he was staring at Mrs. Sano the whole time in Manjiro’s absence. Izana carried that knife as a reminder. The other time, Manjiro kicked a giant man who was twice the size of his brother Shinichiro just because he said something about Izana’s earrings. So, Shinichiro thought it would be better to accompany them in all sorts of meetings and that is sure the wildest ride he’ll ever have.

“Tomorrow Bonten is coming for a visit. The second of the Bonten, Izana Kurokawa, wishes to marry you. ”, Fujiwara seemed angrier than usual. Your hands froze at the mention of the name. In the day of the light, they were known as Sano Industries and as Bonten in the dark of night. You’ve heard all sorts of stories about them, the most ruthless and hard-to-catch gang in the northside. The entire southside belonged to Fujiwara and he sure is a greedy man but not a fool, unable to read between the lines, to think of all the possibilities of their visit.

“I see.”, you sighed, “Father, do you know when Mother will be back?”

“Missing her already.”Fujiwara left his seat and strolled towards you. He rested a hand on the orb of the backrest of your chair. You almost felt dizzy as her screams echoed in the back of your head.

“Yes, I do. Don’t you, father?”. He leaned in the crook of your neck humming in response as his hands extended along yours. 

“Please Sir, it’s her birthday”, Toji tartly exclaimed, grabbing the wrist of his boss. Fujiwara jerked off his hold from his arm and walked out of the dinner. Toji simply rubbed your back which immediately made you cling to him, hugging him tightly. For a man with such a position, he went to lengths to protect you from your father. He has broken his code many times but Fujiwara couldn’t lay a finger on him since he knew Toji would kill him in a blink. He would rather be alive like a cockroach than die but he also knew his entire land would be at war if Toji, a mere gangsta who looked after his daughter, killed him. People would make all sorts of conclusions after Fujiwara’s death that will be nothing but a living hell for you as well as him; you both would be running for the rest of your lives. And, Toji has done more than enough to protect you and you would be a parasite to ask him of such deeds.

“Y/n. He is gone. You fought bravely, like me”, which surely made you laugh. Bravely he would say, like him he would say, how sweet. Such a white lie. He crouched and took your small palms in his saying, “Happy Birthday, Y/n l/n. Make sure you lock your door at night and don’t forget the gift that I gave you in the car”

Fujiwara was a decaying man. He had killed a lot of people in his youth including each of your parents just to get his hands on the wealth you promised. You were a golden goose that promised him a fortune as well as wealth. Maybe it was his superstition, or maybe he was waiting for the next opportunity to drain every penny out of you; whatever it was you thanked heavens how you didn’t end up like his young wife. Sometimes, you thought she was rather bought by him to be his plaything rather than his wife because nowhere in this giant house you could find photos of their marriage.

The night was long. While you were sleepless in your room, looking at the file of poison kept on the dressing table, Izana was sleeping, drowning in nightmares. He hated how females were treated in the family and therefore with a single glance he could always pin that tyrant head of the family. Marriage was not the problem, Fujiwara was. He was not an easy shark to kill, let alone capture, and Shin wanted to make peace with a monster. How very convenient.

“So very pretty”, he mumbled as he took the pendant in his hand that glimmered so beautifully in the slightest moonlight. It has been years since he woke up due to a nightmare. It surprised him since it was not about his mother, it was about you. In his dreams, you were in the bathtub, bleeding like his mom while Fujiwara was grinning while looking at Izana saying, “She is not yours to fuck. She is mine.” he woke up gasping for life.

He wanted to congratulate your father after winning such an awful auction which was nothing but a trap for another mouse lurking in the city, a mere nuisance that was leaking information to the police. If there is a raid within two days, he would know which mouse to kill since all the mice were not brought into the light of this information. At the same time, it showered him a lot of money on such a trivial installment. 

His breathing eased after a while. Such a nightmare would crawl back if he drifted to sleep right away and so he lit a cigarette. Taking a puff he opened the window to let the cool breeze come in and wondered if you would be able to recognize him or not.  Is it really silly to hope that there might be a possibility of you recognizing him? 

Unfortunately, you did not recognize him and Manjiro was at the top of the world watching his brother to be perished like this, a punishment that promised love and hope. While Shinichiro was talking to Fujiwara the younger brothers noticed a small pair of feet behind the curtains. 

When her father asked y/n to come, Manjiro had a hard time controlling his laughter because Izana was awestruck when you stepped into the room. Shinichiro elbowed Izana while Manjiro cleared his throat making him aware that he was staring for too long.

You took a seat beside your father and managed to look up at them. You looked at your father in confusion since you had no idea which man you shall have for the rest of your life. They all looked young. Who is Izana Kurokawa? It is indeed a matter of concern if he decides to marry you off to someone young since they would not be much better than older ones. In this world of bloodlust, it is a dream to spread your wings, let alone fly at will.

Toji was standing at the door. Your heart leaped with joy seeing him. To everyone else, he was a heathen; no doubt about that but to you, he was the one who seemed like hope, like a knight. 

“Y/n go inside your room. We’ll discuss business. If there’s any need I’ll call for you”, you left as soon as he was finished. Anything is better than being in his vicinity. Shinichiro looked at his brothers who left as they understood the cue. Both of them left with their sister, Emma, to an adjacent room full of antiques and paintings. They didn’t have to leave if Fujiwara didn’t gawk at their sister or if they didn’t bring Emma along. But Emma came unannounced this morning and when Shinichiro asked if it was another fight with Draken, she said that he should get married, unmarried men don’t get to hear about a couple’s fight grabbing Mikey's arm. Mikey’s chest swelled with pride for tasting virgin territory before his brothers.

“I should not have told you that I went to see her.”, Izana remarked after a few of Mikey’s futile attempts to get on his nerves. 

“How many men must have she met since he saw you last night that she could not recognize you?”

“I was wearing a mask. It is not her fault.”

“Ahh-haaah! Defensive already?”, Manjiro was standing beside his brother staring at a painting. While Izana glared at his brother, Manjiro maintained a straight face as he kept looking at the painting. Izana swatted lightly at the back of his brother’s head.

“Ouch…”, Manjiro was about to pull Izana’s ears but Emma turned up, “Boys, please. How old are you two? Five? Stop for God’s sake”

Shinichiro entered the room to inform us that Fujiwara agreed to the marriage proposal and he really had to give access to some important ports to arrange a meeting. Izana’s heart jumped. “A meeting? why … why would you…?”, he tucked his hair behind his warm earlobes. “What on earth did you offer him, Shin?”

“Relax, brother Relax.”, Shinichiro muttered followed by his brother Manjiro, “Yeah. Relax Brother and focus Brother Focus” Izana’s nose swelled in annoyance but he didn’t get much time to say something back since Fujiwara turned up declaring that his daughter was waiting in the other room. Izana greeted him with a smile while Toji guided him to your room. Fujiwara followed them behind.

You were seated near an open window reading a book while an unfamiliar knock earned your attention. Toji knocks two times yet the gap is so momentary that it almost gets overlapped. This knock consisted of two sharp and distinct hits. They suggested lithe yet strong arms. Being a golden girl in the world of mayhem and bloodbath you have learned to study the slightest change in your routine and surroundings to defend yourself from parasites and monsters.

You raised your voice, “Come in”, and as soon as the man entered followed by your father and your bodyguard you sprung up from your seat adjusting the frills of your dress in haste. The man stood gracefully and his eyes were searching the faces of the other two men. 

“We will be outside”, your father quipped and you shivered at the thought of being alone with a man. In your life, you had not met a single man who didn’t try to devour you. For those who could not, either they were bound by their status or did not have the chance to have you yet. The horrified look on your face did not go unnoticed by Izana when Uncle Fushi was about to leave.

“You can stay. I don’t mind”, Izana commanded, smiling majestically at Toji, a mere servant of the house. His mellowed voice made me look at you for a second. Toji walked up to you and tucked his hands inside his pockets otherwise he would have taken your small hands in his but he didn't because he knew your prince wouldn't like it even if he made it seem so.

“Please, do I have to do this?” You sounded so pathetic and helpless for a girl who lived a lavish lifestyle with a blank canvas.

“He is the prince, my dear child.”

“What if he turned into a ruthless king?”

“Then, your knight will kill him.”, and with that, he left the room. The click of the door startled you and brought you back from the reverie of your thoughts. 

The room was filled with awful silence. Your lips have been wet since the moment he walked into the room you have been trying to fight off the urge to smile. Finally, you’re gonna be free from the shackles of your father. It really does not matter if you end up in another hell. Izana was scanning the room, hands loosely hanging. With the thumb of his right hand, he was continuously circling the hefty ring on his forefinger. He was nervous. You let out a laugh as he searched for something to start a conversation but fortunately, it did not reach his ears.  Surely, he can’t talk about the weather now, can he?

“Nice weather, is it not?”

“Yes.”, you stood keeping your hands near your belly one over the other. ‘Oh dear god!’  Silence prevailed once again. “But I’m not very fond of sunny days. They’re 

“Treacherous…?”, you wanted to say hopeful but that’ll do. “You like flowers. I see”, Izana plucked a milky white rose. 

“They make me feel less lonely”. He started to pick off the thorns as he continued, “ My brother Shinichiro suggested only you for marriage. Usually, we were given a few suggestions …” 

‘a few’

“... I’m sure you already have an idea why that is !” The stem was devoid of any thorns and his fingertips seemed bruised. You were correct. He has lithe yet strong arms. “You might have an idea why I’m here alone with you in this room. I don’t know what you’ve been told but I hope you are aware that this is not just a marriage so … ”

“Yes, I understand. I know and I will not be a nuisance to you…I promise. ”

“That’s not what I was going for.”, there it is, his smile that seems to make your heart be free of all its defensive walls. “Well, never mind.”, Izana strolled towards you and closed the gap with two long strides. And in a flash, he was inches apart from your face. You did not move, did not even flinch and that sure earned you some brownie points since you were blessed with that majestic smile of his again.

He lifted the butterfly pendant in his hold careful enough not to touch your skin as he remarked, “This is very pretty.”

“It is a birthday gift. but you wanted it too. Isn't that right?” The room filled with a trail of soft chuckles while Izana’s perplexed lilac gaze seem to perforate your soul. He did not think you would turn out to be perceptive. 

“I see. What gave me away?”

“Earrings. Your earrings”, Izana nodded. He licked his lips before tucking the white rose in your hair. “You’ll hear many rumors…”, his voice was tuned; bold, and protective. “... in upcoming days, about me, about your father, about us.”, his palm is now cupping your soft cheeks as he finished inclined a little further, “let me know what you heard and what you thought of me.”, it was almost a whisper, a plea to be in touch.

Surprisingly, your father seemed pleased with their visit. He did not mention anything regarding them during dinner but you noticed that the bodyguard was not seen to be around the house. The question was at the tip of your tongue yet you had to swallow thinking it might be Izana’s handiwork rather than Fujiwara. You were entirely not wrong since Fujiwara would not have spent his night alone in his chambers if he fired Toji, he was threatened by the meg.

The antique jewelry piece was rolling from one palm to another of his as you wrecked havoc in his mind. He was impressed. He has been visiting clubs along with Mikey long enough to be aware of female charms but yours are rare to occur. He kept the butterfly pendant on the table and grabbed his cell phone calling Kakucho.

“Kakucho, how long will it take for you to come back? I need you here”

“About one and a half months…why?”, one and a half months. He can’t wait that long.

“Alright. Keep me posted about your status.”, Izana hung up the phone. He scrolled his contact list in a hurry and halted at Ran Haitani. Nah! He is too chatty for y/n. Hmmm, Kokonoi… kokonoi will do. 

“Kokonoi, I need your favorite henchman for a month, well that is, if he agrees.”

“Why wouldn’t he? Besides, he was getting bored sitting beside me all day long.”

“Alright. Then, if you can, try sending him tomorrow.” He knew Hajime would not decline him since he had helped with his secret, keeping his relationship with Seishu under the shadows. If people came to know, they would definitely think that he did it to anchor such flawless men at his fingertips but he kept his lips sealed since he knew how hard it is to find people who would be willing to die for you even before asking. In all honesty, he was kind of jealous. 

The next day Izana turned up at your house unannounced. You were in the library when one of the servants asked for you since Mr. Fujiwara was submerged in his business. Clustering the frills of your gown, you ran into the main room where you noticed Izana standing facing the window. A guy with a scar spreading over his left eye came along with him today. 

“Yes, how may I help you…? by the time he looked at you, your tone deflected. His gaze was piercing; a gaze that could instantly make someone naked, revealing all their greatest vulnerabilities. There was only the sound of his boots as he came up close, neither your breathing nor his. He was just as vulnerable as you.

“This is Inui, Inui Seishu. Your bodyguard for a month, as of now”, his voice felt different today. You smiled looking at the man in the suit. No holster… is he really a bodyguard?  “And the week prior to our marriage, I’ll come to get you. We have a special ceremony to continue the family tradition ”

“Okay. Any specifics for me to follow?”, Izana swallowed hard. She is so innocent, what in the devil’s name did he do to deserve you? He glanced at Inui who was staring at the ground as you two were talking. Inui immediately left the room as he understood his cue.

Izana turned his head towards you again and you forgot to breathe. Maybe he did too. He tore his gaze inching away from your vicinity since any more than that he might just break the code, that is, to have you before marriage.

“It is a family tradition that we give our woman a special piece of jewelry, so no specifics to follow. Just wear something in white.”, although his voice was steady you noticed that he tucked his hair behind his ear lobes. He was not wearing his earrings today. Now is your chance, you go girl!

“Toji, my bodyguard, he quit the job… Please do not kill him. I beg of you.”, Izana blinked with shock since he had no clue that you could deduce such possibilities. He noticed your rash breathing. Just what on earth did she hear about me?

“That’s not really my style”, neat words and you knew you could believe him.

The day came sooner than you expected. Izana came alone in his car. He did not have someone like Inui…wait does he not need a bodyguard? You felt a little offended about that. You are already under his protection before marriage. The ride towards his house was silent. Inui drove while Izana sat at the back with you. It started to rain again. Rainy days are  better than sunny ones, they seem more hopeful than the latter. 

Izana was sitting silently and he did not even glance at you. All of the preparations went to vain but you were happy, happy that for once in your life you wanted to dress beautifully at will. You drew a smiley on the car window but a low soft smirk made you shift your gaze at him.

“You’re not wearing your birthday gift, today?” great he noticed. Wait, wait, wait, waait. When did he notice?

“You mentioned that there will be some jewelry involved in the ceremony so I did not wear any.”

“That is very thoughtful of you.”

Izana eyed you up and down meticulously. With a pearl white dress that hung up to your ankles, a serape wrapped around your chest to hide the modesty it revealed and hair tied in a low updo. There was a white rose tucked in your hair. Inui drew in the private lid of the car. Izana cleared his throat but honestly, he never felt like this before, like someone belonged solely to him, like he was willing to surrender himself to this white fairy. 

“You look ravishing today”, he was already staring outside. He was giving you time to adjust to him. 

“Thank- your throat was dry and you could feel your warm cheeks. “Thank you.”

Izana pulled a butterfly pendant that looked exactly like yours. Izana thought he could stare at your flabbergasted face forever. “Oh my god”, you uttered as you made two and two.

“Yes. Your father might be smart but his greed gonna be the death of him”

There was a puller that was attached to the body of the butterfly. Izana pulled it with his black painted nails, and the wings were closed. The thin puller was attached to the frontal part of the body. The fake one did not have any of these.

“Your father is a very cruel man for buying you this. No one should give a weapon to a woman. They’re the weapon” You looked at him speaking with ease about your father. It is not surprising but does he not fear death by the devil’s hands?

“Take it. You’ve better use of this than me”, he extended his hands with the necklace in his palm. You hesitated but when you were about to pick it up he grabbed your hand.

“Just don’t use it on yourself. Please”

“I won’t. I promise”

The car halted in front of a huge gate which you’re used to but you were not used to being the center of attraction. As Izana held the door of the car, you took his hand since it would be rude not to especially when everyone was watching. He certainly knew to make the best of situations. 

He did not let go of your hand as the entrance was full of men, women, and staff.

“Haitani, how kind of you to make it today!”, Izana smiled at a man who seemed very regretful at his boss’s remark but all that man did was narrow his gaze at Izana. They were friends, not boss and underboss for sure.

Just when the two-man had finished greeting, a boy near his knee peeked from his overcoat. He quickly rushed, clinging to your pearl white gown exclaiming with a toothless grin, “Dad said to bring some flowers because he told me that I would meet a pretty lady today.”His voice was angelic. 

“Did he now?”, Izana sternly spoke looking at the boy, Abel, as his father provided, “No, no not the pretty part”, Ran was in utter disaster now.

“Well, he is your son.”, Izana quipped as you took the boy in your arms, tucking him in your bosom. 

“Well Thank you. I love flowers' ', you said with a smile as the boy smiled toothless. Izana cleared his throat. He loved attention but not for his wife, to-be-wife.

The ceremony was nothing as Izana made it seem so. Just inner circles and a few familiar faces that you’ve come across in your slatey life. Your teacher who groomed and molded you for this kind of life, your bodyguard were one of the few you could pin. An odd gush of elation rushed through your veins thinking how your father was not here. Izana probably pulled some strings to keep him busy. You wondered how deep Izana went digging into your past. Having such a barren life, and suddenly being bestowed with tropicals would be very unhealthy for your retarded emotions.

Before the main dinner, Izana was introduced to most of the people present in this ceremony. Shinichiro looked younger than the first time you saw him and was lonely too. Being the head of the family, shouldering most of the responsibilities he had learnt to mask his emotions but it was clear as crystal to you since you’ve lived your life pretending to be someone, smiling as if nothing was wrong, happy being forged as a mere possession. 

Shinichiro made a speech declaring how it is a matter of regret that Fujiwara was not here and he looked happy about that, truly. As soon as he declared the date of marriage, Izana picked up on his brother’s fall of voice. He just shared some memories when Mikey was getting married, some of her sister, Emma.  

Lastly, he declared his gift for you; a pair of anklets. Sadly, according to tradition, you can not wear it until your wedding.  What kind of awful tradition is this? But yes, a girl who never stayed too long in one family would not understand the feeling of such close quarter ceremonies. Well, you can start getting used to it being written all over Izana’s face. He had an idea since he sprouted from similar circumstances.

The dinner table was huge. It almost covered half of the dining hall. Izana pulled a chair for you to sit and as you did, Mikey was quick enough to sit beside you. The other side of you was already occupied by Emma whom you bonded quicker than you had imagined. Izana’s jaw hardened as he glared at Mikey.  Shinichiro sat up in the north being the head of the family. While one of his sides was occupied by Draken, the other was occupied by Inui, beside him was Kokonoi sitting opposite Emma's.

Fortunately, Izana managed to sit opposite you. Mikey’s wife was not there. She went to her dad’s house. Hence, he had all the time to annoy his brothers. Ran sat opposite Mikey with his son in his lap.

Abel jumped out of his father’s lap and walked towards you. Emma has always loved kids and she was already blessed with a child. She looked gorgeous with her baby bump. No wonder, Draken could not stop himself from stealing glances at her.

“Why did you even bring him?”

“You told me to bring my family. He was the only one who was not busy.”, That’s true. Rindou was busy and so was Ran’s wife. Ran had a daughter of the same age as Abel. She was at home due to fever and both of his dearest people were looking after her. He could not decline Izana’s call. He has always admired him.

“And why is he so 

“Jumpy?”, Izana nodded at his friend’s remark. 

“He gets that from her”

They both looked lost while Abel was enjoying the food sitting on your lap getting fed by none other than Emma. Lucky boy - Izana restrained himself from looking at you who looked even more eye-catching now. With that butterfly pendant, wings spread over your chest kissing your cleavage, and Abel on your lap, Izana felt an inexplicable urge to have something of his, only his.

“Do you know why he gifted you anklets?”, Mikey passed you the bowl of rice searching your face for an answer. “Oh c’mon take a guess!”, he rolled his eyes.

“He hates other jewelry pieces?”

“You do have admirable reactions like he mentioned.”, Mikey laughed, gaining Izana’s attention. “When you’ll be here, at his house, roaming around wearing those anklets; he’ll know where to find and fuck you in all positions”

You choked on your food and as the cough built up, Emma handed you water. Izana was sitting intact. “Mikey, can you not put ideas in her mind?”

“He was… He was just telling me about his wild nightclub adventures with you.”, how could you miss such an opportunity to give him the taste of his own medicine?

Ran kept his fork down with a clank, Izana cocked his head at Mikey and it was Mikey’s turn to be breathless, choking on the wine almost at death's door.

“Mikey”, Shinichiro looked at his brother thinking about when he is gonna grow up.

“ Yeah. Yeah. I’m sorry”, “Sorry Izana”, that was the best way to end this discussion. But he is not a guy to be easily tamed down. “You’re nice, y/n. You’ll make him happy. I just know it.” when you caught your fiance looking back at you, guilt crawled into your skin for lying like that solely based on rumors. Maybe you were jealous that he had his fair share of girls.

After dinner, when others were busy attending to the guests, your eyes searched for him. He was standing outside the hall near the lawn in the backyard. He was smoking. The collar of his tailcoat was grazing his cheeks covering his earrings. You were grateful that you did not have to wear his gift; thanks to the rules of the tradition otherwise he would have sensed your footsteps.

“Do you mind if I give you a tour of my house?”, Izana was not facing you yet. You halted before he turned around, throwing the cigarette and crushing it under the boot.

“No, not at all”, your eyes lingered on the grass as you kept playing with your fingertips interlacing them with each other since you hated he was always so aware of you every time you met him. 

“Alright.”, was he angry? Did you do something wrong?

You stood on an open ellipsoid balcony while he stood silently beside you. There was a cool breeze that seemed to wash away your exhaustion. “You live here alone?”

“No, but after our marriage we can though …”

“And what exactly? Play chess sitting face to face in this giant house”

Izana beamed at your impatience. His hands that rested along yours on the railing were inches apart. With a cheeky grin he mumbled in a static flow, “Well, that really isn’t a bad idea if we’re near the fireplace, naked”

“Are you trying to flirt with me?” but it was so foolish to fight back with words because one, you felt dizzy picturing him naked, a mere reflex, and two, he was not standing beside you having his hands on the railing.

He grazed your cheek with the back of his hands and you closed your eyes in his touch. He couldn't seem to control himself further. How does a man ignore such submission? Izana did not want to think any further. Izana’s arm was holding your slim hands above your head while the other was curling around your waist.

He had no idea where to start. Every inch of you was tempting him to rip that ivory dress that hugged your body. You felt the cold metal buckle against your body, his hands had made you immobile. The moment you inclined your face against his shoulders he released the grip from your hands. Both of his arms immediately hanked up your white dress letting his hands roam over your femininity. His lips started to trail kisses along your neck. Your breath hitched as he bit your earlobe at the same time when you pulled him closer trying to keep yourself from falling. 

“Stop, Zana, i - I can’t anymore” and that seemed to pull him away from you. He realized that you were new to this, this kind of touch that had the power to turn dreamers into fools, luring those fools into a promise of mirage.

Izana was trying to calm his senses as he gave you space to recover yours. He noticed that you had not been breathing easily, it was still ragged.

“Here. I’m right here”, he whispered, pulling you in his embrace. There under the moonlit night, you palmed your face as you buried in his chest. 

“Father saw me”, his grip grew stronger at your remark.

“What?”, for the first time you noticed the rage in his voice.

“Father saw me. He was standing just below this balcony before you…” How could you forget that as long as the King is alive, his torment would touch and therefore annihilate anyone in its path?

Izana was supposed to drop you home and he did it which was the problem. The journey felt so silent. Inui was occasionally glancing at both of you who sat poles apart from each other. How could you sit close to him without giving in to his touches, especially after Izana was caught by your father breaking his code? There is no way Fujiwara would sit tight with that kind of information. “Is there something wrong?”

“Nope. Just drive.”, you muttered looking at the busy streets. She's got a temper. Inui thought it was best not to press you or Izana further, his lips elongated, feeling the tension as his eyes scanned Izana. Izana was no good. He was looking at the road too. 

As you reached the house, Izana hurriedly strolled towards the entrance shouting for Fujiwara. 

“There you are, thought you could not make it back here before us.”

He threw his overcoat on the handrest of the sofa. Holding a cigarette in between his teeth he scanned the man from head to toe. There was mud in his boot and on the floor. He was grinning since he thought that it is quite impressive to observe such a tiny detail,  even being in such an intimate moment but this is really not the right time to be proud of that. 

The click of his lighter startled you as you turned up along with your bodyguard. 

“Now, Fujiwara. Why do you think Toji quit to follow you and broke his vow to join me?”, Izana strolled from one end to the other of the room magestically without flinching as he continued his talk, C’mon no thoughts?” Fujiwara was speechless at his behavior. It would not be wrong to say that he might piss his pants. The beads of perspiration on his forehead suggested that he did something that he should not have done because Fujiwara is not a man who would tolerate any kind of misbehavior towards him, even if he is the first one to provoke the party.  

The way confidence was oozing out of his voice, Izana sure had something up his sleeve. No one prepares to kill a shark without setting a trap and Izana ?, just required a secret of Fujiwara to be exploited, which was Toji Fushiguro. You have always wondered why Toji was serving your father even if he hated him with every ounce of his inert emotions. Now, Izana made it clear why he served him.

“Because I promised him y/n’s protection. He is now vowed to us. And this is not a warning…”, he took his tailcoat holding the half-burnt cigarette in his twin hold of fingers. “Change your ways, if you do not, your greed is gonna kill you” Izana left without glancing at you, and secretly, you did not want to face him like this.

When Izana reached his home, he went to the balcony and closed his eyes. If only your father had not seen you or you have not been aware of his presence, things would have been different, a much better ending than this. Izana was thinking from one end to the other. Why on earth did Shinichiro suggest this marriage to him? The wealth and the territory promised through you seemed just the surface of the river and he needed to take a dip into deep waters for hatching a plan to kill your father sooner than Shinichiro planned. He had enough of his involvement in his business.  

He walked towards his brother’s cabin to talk about Fujiwara because his father did quite a number on him. The light was still on. Before knocking on the door he heard something that made his blood boil in rage. This was the reason why Shinichiro wanted to kill Fujiwara the whole time. Actually, now that he thought about it, it is indeed a rash move to kill the cruel king and have the princess. Shinichiro wanted to save both the princess and the queen. 

“Do not worry. Everything is going accordingly. Izana is going to marry y/n and we will kill that bastard on the night of the marriage ceremony.”

Izana opened the door with a thud tartly speaking, “Shinichiro, you should have told me…”

Shinichiro ended the call immediately. He was about to explain how he met Mrs. Fujiwara, how he came to know about you, and why he thought you are made only for him. All of it, every bit of it but Izana looked like a broken boat that had lost its will to reach its destination. He was inside the study room already with his hand on the doorknob trying to think it all back. Did y/n have an idea of this? 

But both were interrupted by a call. Inui. Without a second thought, Izana picked up the call, put it on loudspeaker after a few seconds, and started walking out of the door. Shinichiro followed him because the look in his eyes suggested something more terrible had happened.

“That bastard shot me before dragging  y/n into a room and locking it. I already called Coco. Just Hurry up!” 

The water was running while you were curled up in the corner of your bathroom hugging your legs as your father was taking his last breaths. If you walk out of this room, everybody will know that you killed your father. Everybody will know that you are a murderer, the murderer. You made haste as you picked up on your feet to grab the white towel and press it onto his neck. It was soaking in blood within a few minutes. Hands trembling as you tried to save the very life you hated all your life. 

As soon as both of them entered the y/l/n property Shinichiro headed towards the entrance while Izana rushed towards the back heading for the backdoor of your room. The moment he entered the room, he pulled out his gun. While the cockroach struggled for his breath you clung to Izana’s body. You could not seem to cry. Your mind was still so blank to process that you killed a man, your father. 

“I killed him. I killed him, Izana”, you murmured, and as you felt his arm, his gun heavy against the valley of your waist, you could not hold back your tears anymore. Izana was full of rage, full of disgust to be aware of the fact that Shinichiro thought you were perfect for him since both of you were bound by the same fate, similar experience, exact same mishaps in life.

As you wept helplessly being in his embrace he raised his arm and fired three shots into that monster blessing him with death. Death is not his style, torture is yet his stubborn heart wanted Shinichiro to suffer for keeping him in the dark. You managed to stop crying but he was so far from you. His eyes seemed distant, they had not the boyish charm anymore that you noticed the day he tucked that white rose in your hair.

Izana knew he fucked up. Big time. There was no resistance in his body. He seemed like a ghost as the dark blonde officer handcuffed him. “You are under arrest Izana Kurokawa, for the murder of Kento Fujiwara” Naoto was already in the car as Nanami guided Izana towards the car. He did not even bother to look at you. He could not. He needed to restrain himself. If he looked back at you, he knew you would break into tears and he can’t have you being weak now. You are not broken like him, you are a lot stronger than he is.

The next day, the morning news was nerve-wracking. 

“Finally, after the death of her father, wedding bells ring at Kurokawa house; police suspect both the parties guilty of the murder”  There was a photo of your dad smiling at the mob with his hand raised. You sighed thinking how many lives he had ruined with those hands before he tried to harm yours. A strong sigh escaped through your lonely chest. This was not right, in any way you tried to think. He was a mere stranger who happen to be a sly cruel gangsta but he seem to erase every image you had built based on the rumors alone.

Why the fuck do they have to take Izana? Surely, there must be some way to free him. There are rules in this world and every rule has its own loophole. These people always had a habit of twisting things around. They made it look as if all of these started because your fiance killed your father and you were forced into this marriage and he killed your father so that he could have all your wealth after marriage.

You had to shift to the main Sano house by Shinichiro’s advice. Shi-ni-chi-ro. He is not very vivid in Izana’s life as Manjiro is. You tried to think what kind of gestures he had when he came to see you that evening, to negotiate with your father; before he decided to turn business relationships into familial ones. You remembered how he turned on the lights of Mrs.Fujiwara’s room when you were the one who was showing him around the house. 

Suddenly, you connected the dots. Mrs.Fujiwara, my mom, or my sister? You played with your butterfly pendant pulling the lock in and out and making it flap its wings constantly. She is in great peril.

“Anything you want me to do, Mrs.Kurokawa?”, Inui asked as you smiled at his beckoning address. He was the sole witness to this incident. He stood behind you with a sling tied around his arm that hung from his shoulders. 

“Um-Hm.  I need to see my teacher, he was an ex-lawyer before he joined my father’s gang”, you left your seat walking towards Izana’s bedroom before slipping the name. Higuruma Hiromi.

[a-reader-and-a-writer]

Since That Day

Day 6: Countdown

Fandom: DC, The Suicide Squad, Rick Flag

Word Count: 1251

TW: language, guns, major character death, possible suicide

Note: Spoilers for The Suicide Squad

Thanks to @lacontroller1991 and @loverhymeswith for beta reading!

@amonthofwhump

It had been 121 days since Jötunheim fell. Since Project Starfish went tits up and half of Corto Maltese was destroyed. Since the love of your life was taken from you by a bastard with a fucking toilet seat on his head.

It had been 119 days since all of your tunneling and digging had paid off and you had finally found Rick’s body in the rubble of Jötunheim, the shard of porcelain still jutting out of his chest. You had sat amongst the debris and dust as you held him in your arms one last time, your tears washing away some of the dirt from his handsome face. DuBois had found you an hour later and he helped you bring Rick’s body somewhere safe.

It had been 117 days since you watched them reduce Rick’s body to ashes. There was no fancy military service, no 21-gun salute like he deserved. Instead, it was just you and the surviving members of the Suicide Squad standing around a furnace. And when it was over, you were left with a vase filled with the ashes of your heart.

It had been 50 days since you had gotten a restful night’s sleep. Because even though Rick was gone, you were able to take comfort in the fact that so was his killer. But then you heard the first whispers of rumors. That the son of a bitch who took Rick from you was still alive, he had survived when Rick had died. And you weren’t going to let that stand.

It had been 46 days since you were able to convince DuBois to help you with your mission. He could see the obsession in your eyes and if it wasn’t for the guilt he had about letting Peacemaker walk away from his bullet, he might have tried to stop you. Instead, he suited up and followed on your quest for revenge.

It had been 40 days since you took the vase of Rick’s ashes out of your closet for the first time since you had brought them home. It hurt too much to stare at it just sitting on your counter every day but now you have found a way to put them to good use. And you knew Rick would approve.

It had been 35 days since you poured those ashes into five separate shell casings. Each casing had Rick Flag carved into the side of them in your handwriting. Because when all was said and done, you wanted to make sure everyone knew that Rick Flag took out Peacemaker once and for all.

It had been 12 days since you had received your first real lead on his whereabouts. DuBois discovered Peacemaker was working with Economos and Harcourt, and you weren’t surprised in the least. Of course Waller had something to do with this. And as DuBois promised to update you and you hung up the phone, you tightly grasped Rick’s dog tags that now hung around your neck. Soon, baby. I promise, this will all be over soon.

It had been 4 days since you got your first look at Peacemaker in person. Hiding on top of the building across from his location, you were able to see him exiting the building, Economos and Harcourt on either side of him. Part of you wanted to take out all three of them right now, you had enough bullets. But you forced yourself to wait. Peacemaker had shown he was stronger, more resilient than anyone could have predicted. You couldn’t risk him walking away yet again. So you waited….for now.

Today is the day. You can feel it in your bones. Everything has been planned out to the last detail over the last few days and now it is time to act.

Breaking into Peacemaker’s house was simple. He left the key to the front door under his mat. Stepping inside, you knew instantly you were in the right place. Everything looked dingy and coated in a layer of unknown substances (that you really tried to not look too closely). American flags or flag themed memorabilia decorated almost every inch of the walls. The table in the living room had four or five half finished whiskey bottles laying on it while beer cans littered the floor. In the corner, there was a dog bowl that had “Eagly'' crudely scrawled on it. Yep. This is Pissmaker’s house.

According to the information DuBois found for you, he should be back home within the hour. So, trying your best not to disturb anything that could alert him to your presence, you slip into the closet directly across from the couch. And you wait.

Twenty-two minutes later, the front door opens and your blood runs cold as you hear him mumbling to himself in the other room. His voice alone is enough to send you into a blind rage, but you use all of your training to keep your composure. Peering through the slats in the closet door, you watch as he approaches his table and drains one of the still open whiskey bottles.

As softly and quietly as possible, you slide the door open and sneak out. As soon as you are standing behind him, you raise the gun and cock it. Peacemaker freezes at the sound before cautiously raising his hands over his head.

“Smith.” You growl, trying to keep the fury filled trembling out of your voice.

Peacemaker slowly turns to face you, his hands still in the air. With what can only be described as a visual gulp, he warily says, “Hey, didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“Why? Because you left me there to die with Rick? Because you thought your bullet pierced my heart like that shard did his?”

“Well…. Yeah.”

“It’s called Kevlar, you dumbass. Next time, make sure your target’s dead before you walk away. I learned that lesson the hard way.” You point the gun at his chest. “So, do you have a preference? The heart”-you raise the gun higher- “or the head?”

“Now, let’s just hold on a second-” he takes a step forward but the sight of you tightening your finger on the trigger stops him in his tracks. “Listen, I’ve changed. After everything that happened, everything I did, everything that I saw, I’m not that same man.”

You shrug, “I don’t care what kind of man you are now. You will always be the man who took my love from me. Nothing else matters. Oh, and Rick Flag says hello.” You pull the trigger twice in quick succession, perfectly placing a bullet into each eye socket.

Like a marionette with its strings cut, Peacemaker crumples to the floor. Calmly, you stroll over and flip his body with your foot. Two bloody holes stare back at you, but you aren’t taking any chances this time. Pressing the gun firmly against his chest, just above his heart, you pull the trigger twice more. His body jerks and flails, but there isn’t the slightest hint of life left. Satisfied with a job well done, you wipe your hands on his shirt and walk into the hall.

One bullet left….one more piece of Rick. You stare at the gun in your hand, knowing what you want to do and knowing it is the last thing he would have ever wanted. But Rick is gone…..and now, so is Peacemaker…..so what’s left? You raise the gun as you tighten your finger on the trigger one last time.

[inglourious-imagines]

The Story of Their Lives (Lt. Aldo Raine)

Requested by: @tealaquinn

Summary: The story of Lt. Aldo Raine and Sgt. Y/N Y/L/N.

Prompts: 9 - Don't you touch her. & 12 - No one would hurt you again, or I'd kill them. & 21 - I wanna see how you lose control. & 24 - He's a badass with a good heart. & 39 - Kiss me. & 93 - You make me feel... you make me feel.

Author's Note: This is damn long so I really hope you like it! Also there are some parts in Italian so I'd like you to know, I've never learnt this language so there might be some mistakes. Feel free to send request or let me know if you wanna be tagged in these ♡

Taglist: @alienoresimagines @radiantcade @meteora-fc @kyra3155 @real-fans @not-john-watsons-blog @im-in-love-with-queen

.

.

.

Y/N and Aldo never showed some kind of an affection towards each other. They respected, trusted, appreciated the other one but these traits were common among the Basterds.

It seemed so innocent at first, almost like a teasing and none of the Jewish American soldiers expected to become it something more.

•••

They met at the very beginning of the Basterd's missions. Y/N was a french spy, a very famous one so she obviously got their attention since they'd gotten to France.

The Basterds recruited her in a bar and she immediately became one of them. Y/N fit within the group perfectly, like she was always destined to be a Basterd.

•••

After the third successful mission, they decided to stay the night in a local resistance hotel to relax and prepare for another action. Everyone went to their beds as soon as they could but Donny persuaded Y/N and Aldo to gamble a little before the sleep. 

"C'mon, just one game!" Donny pleaded. It didn't take much and the trio was sitting around a table playing their fifth game.

"I thought you're better at poker, Lieutenant." Y/N laughed as she grabbed another money she won.

"Shut up, Sergeant. I just am a bit lenient with ya, that's all." Aldo fought back, trying to cover the fact he's worse with cards than Hugo trying to actually smile for once. 

"Show me what you got, Lieutenant. I wanna see how you lose control." she winked at him and dealt the cards.

•••

Something changed in Aldo this evening. At first, Y/N was just another soldier sticking up for her country trying to end the war. But now he saw her in a totally different light.

He noticed what colour her eyes have, how she always ties her hair in a braid. 

He noticed how her cheeks blushed when he praises her after a good work.

He noticed how she scrunches her nose when she disagrees with someone. 

All those little things were filling his head. Aldo was so full of it. It was during the other mission when he completely understood his feelings.

•••

One moment and his whole world flipped. 

Aldo was so angry with himself that he missed such an important thing.

Like a gun. 

The German soldier was just kneeling in front of Aldo when he reached in his pocket. It all happened so quickly then.

The German pulled out a gun and with one last defiance he pulled the trigger. But it wasn't Aldo who got hit. 

It was the woman behind him.

Aldo was like deprived of his senses. He threw away the piece of bread he was eating and jumped at the German. If Wicki didn't pulled him back, Aldo would probably beat the guy to death.

And that was Donny's speciality.

"Don't you fuckin' touch her! Or look at her!" Aldo shouted hitting his face with his fist one more time.

Y/N was so taken away by his behaviour, not really sure where the anger got from.

"What the hell, Lieutenant?" she frowned, "it's just a goddamn scratch on my arm. The bullet didn't even hit me properly." 

Aldo froze whereas Donny and Hugo looked at each other with knowing smiles. They finally realised what was going on.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he tried to brush it off, gesturing to the Basterds to continue with the scalping. "It's fuckin' bleedin' a lot!"

"It's fine. Nothing too serious, Lieutenant." Y/N replied.

Aldo just shook his head as he took off his scarf and tied it around the wound. "No one would hurt ya again, or I'd kill 'em."

•••

The Basterds got ordered to rest a bit because there was a big mission on its way. They didn't know what it was but they all welcomed a full night sleep.

But Y/N didn't feel like going to bed. Instead, she took her cigarettes and sat at the balcony of the apartment they got settled in.

It was a chilly night but she didn't mind. She actually liked cold more than heat.

"Aldo seems a bit off lately." Donny's voice broke the silence as he positioned himself next to her.

"What you mean?" she asked offering him a cigarette which he gladly accepted. 

"Remember how he beated up the German officer two weeks ago? I've never seen him like that."

"Oh Donny. He's just a badass with a good heart. I assure you, Aldo's just fine."

Donny shrugged but didn't say anything. This wasn't his secret to tell even though the change in Aldo's behaviour towards her was so damn obvious. 

Donowitz glanced at Y/N smiling a bit. He understood why Aldo fell for the female Basterd. 

•••

Bridget von Hammersmark was laying in front of them with a bullet in her leg while Hugo, Archie and Wicki were dead.

Y/N was standing in the corner of the room, lost in her thoughts, mourning for her lost friends. She knew something like that had to happen but she also believed in Basterds and part of her thought that they'll all come back home one day.

Y/N wasn't able to look at the actress anymore. She quickly left the room not looking at anyone while she lighted her cigarette. It'd been becoming too much to handle for her.

"Are you alright?" Aldo frowned as he walked towards her. "You still in?"

She laughed sarcastically at his question sheaking her head. "Yeah, of course, business. I'm in, Lieutenant."

"I didn't mean in like that and ya know it."

"Yeah, sorry. It's just-"

"I know, Sergeant. This whole event got me thinkin'. I gotta tell you something."

Y/N threw away her cigarette as she looked directly at him. She wasn't sure if it was the light or the sentiment, but Aldo's eyes never seemed so beautiful to her like they did in that moment. 

"The truth is," Raine began as he stepped closer, "you make me feel... you make me feel, Sergeant."

•••

When Y/N stepped into the room in a black plain tight dress, the conversation between the Basterds immediately stopped. They'd never seen her in anything but in uniform or the civilian clothes. Donny dropped the glass of whiskey he was drinking, Hugo's knife fell on the ground with a loud crash, Omar and Wicki stayed there with their mouths wide opened, Archie Hicox smirked and Aldo, Aldo was taken away and wasn't able to get out a word.

"Please, gentlemen! This is how you welcome a beautiful woman? She looks magnificent!" Bridget von Hammersmark exclaimed gesturing towards Y/N.

"It's so uncomfortable," Y/N frowned and tried to adjust the dress a little, "and so impractical." 

"I think it's perfect." Aldo breathed out and Bridget smiled in satisfaction.

Y/N truly looked like a completely new person. And Aldo's feelings mixed once again. She was so special to him, like water is special to desert. His life was dry without an excitment. She was the water that refreshed him after a long time of loneliness.

•••

Bridget, Aldo, Y/N, Donny and Omar stepped into the small local cinema, already so full of Nazi officers.

"It makes me sick." Y/N snorted as she looked around on the German uniforms. "I have two knives and a gun and I'm not afraid to use them right now."

Aldo laughed next to her and gallantly put his hand on her hip pulling her closely to him.

"Just relax, darlin'. We'll do that later." Aldo winked at her, not letting her go for a moment.

Bridget suddenly seemed like she'd seen a ghost. An older man approached their little group and Y/N immediately understood with whom they have the honor.

Bridget and Hans Landa shared a short conversation before they turned to them. Hammersmark formally introduced the Basterds and Y/N flinched a little under the German's look. Aldo noticed right away her change of attitude and stroked her hip gently.

"Sei assolutamente incredibile, signorina! Ho notato che molti ufficiali hanno voltato la testa dopo di te." (You look absolutely stunning, miss! I noticed that many officers turned their head after you.) Hans Landa grinned and Y/N thought it was the most disgusting thing ever.

"Grazie mille signore. Sono sicuro che stai esagerando." (Thank you very much, sir. I'm sure you're exaggerating.) Y/N faked a smile and clenched her hand in fist to remain calm.

All of the Basterds with Bridget jerked their heads towards her. Her fluent Italian took them away as well as Landa.

"Quanto amo la lingua italiana! E dalla bocca di una donna così bella, è una musica per le mie orecchie." (How I love the Italian language! And from the mouth of such a beautiful lady, it's a music for my ears.)

"Mi stai adulando, signor Landa. Non hai un brutto aspetto." (You're flattering me, Mr Landa. You don't look so bad yourself.) Y/N felt like vomitting any next second. 

Aldo had enough of Landa's fake attitude, especially how Y/N looked so stressed and angry. He decided he has to step in or she won't hold herself back. Aldo recalled the one sentence he learnt yesterday, just in case he'd need to interrupt a moment in a formal way. This was the time.

"Baciami, adesso." (Kiss me, right now.) he stated and pulled Y/N even closer than before. She didn't manage to prostest or ask a quick question and their lips touched. She returned the kiss immediately and ran her fingers through his hair.

Until someone coughed.

They pulled apart from each other, Aldo smiling widely like a winner and Y/N blushing harder than ever.

"Ci scusi signore. Il mio ragazzo qui è un tipo appassionato. Devi perdonarlo." (Excuse us, sir. My boyfriend here is the passionate kind. You must forgive him.) Y/N stuttered and but looked directly at Landa.

•••

Operation Kino was over and it was now only her, Aldo and Utivich. They lost everybody along the way. They stood together side by side through everything. They'd become something stronger than family, friends, lovers. They faced death together and nothing could break the bond they'd created over the years. It was time to go home.

Y/N stood on the ship that was taking the Basterds, or what was left of them, home. The wind was dancing on her hair whispering secrets in her ears.

"I never thought I'd make it back home." Aldo Raine appeared next to her with a cigarette between his lips.

"None of us thought so, Lieutenant." she nodded, "but the difference is, we were wrong. Not them."

"Smart as always." Aldo grinned as he turned to her. "You should stop calling me Lieutenant. The war's over."

Y/N giggled at his statement and he could swear he'd never heard something so melodic, something so right. 

"It kinda sticked with you, Lieutenant."

Aldo didn't answer, instead he threw away the cigarette and took some deep breaths. He needed whiskey, or anything else that would give him at least a bit of courage.

Aldo Raine fought in war, he saw his friends die, he was broken by everything he saw and still, asking Y/N a simple question seemed harder than surviving the bloodshed.

"Spill it out, Lieutenant." she laughed as she glanced at him. 

"I hate how ya always do that. But here it goes," Aldo replied, "I've never been good at this so I'll just keep it short."

He stopped for a moment and stared at the woman in front of him. As he stepped closer, his heart was already racing like it'd never before.

"Why don't ya come to the States with me? We can buy some little house in the Smoky Mountains and live there for the rest of our fuckin' lives." Aldo confessed in his Raine kind of way, looking at her with so much hope in his eyes. 

"Is this some kind of your proposal?" Y/N chuckled as she intertwined her fingers with his.

"Maybe."

"I thought you'd never ask! Of course I'll come with you! You're everything I have, Aldo." 

[kiwiana-writes]

Last Line Challenge

-Post the last line of the last 20 things you’ve written. Then tag 20 people to do the same-

(Thanks @designatedgrape and @lilythesilly for the tags!)

It might have taken them a minute, but they got here in the end. [I got more than whiskey in mind, David/Patrick]

Patrick grins, too fucked out to be embarrassed as he makes his way to the shower. [Where all my thoughts go hiding, David/Patrick]

Alexis’ hand is on her breast and Stevie can feel it under her skin, deep in her bones, down to the very core of her being. [Femslash February 2021, Stevie/Alexis]

He smiles, and closes his eyes. [And all the rest’s illusion, David/Patrick]

Patrick’s laughter follows them all the way out of the room and back to where the rest of the cast are gathering for rehearsal. [I want to show you the shape I'm in, Stevie/Alexis]

And when Patrick comes home from the store, greets him with an easy kiss, and asks if he’d like to close early on Thursday to go for a picnic, he manages to keep a perfectly straight face when he says yes. [Because I waited my whole life, David/Patrick]

“Love you.” [Share a little bit of the excess all around, David/Patrick/Jake]

“Good night, Patrick.” [Somehow we'd end up in the same room, David/Patrick]

"Only theoretically." [History Repeats (when you're high at least), David/Patrick]

It can be weird, and maybe a little gross, and also hot, and as long as they’re both into it, that’s all Patrick cares about. [What a spoiled boy I've been, David/Patrick]

Stay in bed and I promise I’ll make it up to you. [When we get all alone, David/Patrick]

"We will be discussing this when we're sober!" [Little sparks of wire in the air, David/Patrick]

She’s not totally sure exactly what Jake and Rachel are to each other, but she can’t help hoping next time Rachel’s in town, they’ll invite her round for ‘drinks’ again. [Pulled your body into mine, Stevie/Jake/Rachel]

I’m looking forward to it, David. [When you care enough to send the very best, David/Patrick]

They crowd in together and kiss lazily until the water runs cold, and David can’t help but think about how ridiculously domestic the whole thing is. [One eighty degrees and I'm caught in between, David/Patrick]

But right now, David is happier than he’s ever been. [One last kiss then catch your flight, David/Ted in-universe RPF set in the I’d Swing With You For The Fences universe]

Patrick leans over, his hand finding David’s thigh as David drapes an arm around his shoulder, and he knows they all wound up exactly where they were meant to be. [Traded out for something new, David/Patrick]

Time to find out. [In Excelsis, David/Patrick]

They don’t end up sightseeing until morning four. [Five Times Patrick Had To Hide a Hickey (and one time he didn't bother), David/Patrick]

"...Yes, please." [One-Handed, David/Patrick]

Tagging: @januarium @danverses @blackandwhiteandrose @schittyfic @reginahalliwell @fishyspots @maxbegone @redwineandqueer @petrodobreva @samwhambam @thankstwy @landofsonlali @delilah-mcmuffin @lisamc-21 @kindofspecificstore @my-nameless-bliss @hagface @hullomoon @danieljradcliffe @dinnfameron 

[sheerfreesia007]

Fallin’ All In You (Pt. 21)

Title: Fallin’ All In You (Pt. 21)

Pairing: Agent Whiskey x Reader

Author: @sheerfreesia007

Words: 3,118 (Whew!)

Warnings: Insecurities, bullying, fluff, Tequila being an amazing friend

Tags: @synystersilenceinblacknwhite, @two-unbeatable-beaters, @randomness501, @sevvysaurus

Author Notes: 3k words! I think this is my longest chapter yet. I really enjoyed writing this and exploring this side of the relationship between the two even though this was more one sided in perspective. I hope you all enjoy. Thanks for reading!

Gif Credit: @daishannigans​

           The hangar was busy this morning and you were quite surprised by how busy it was. Especially since it was the weekend. But you smiled as you felt Jack’s hand tightened over yours. He was leading you over to the small plane he was going to take back to New York. You were sad to see him go but you knew that he was needed back in New York and you had to stay here. You wondered if you should mention to him that you had started keeping track of any available positions in the New York office that you would be qualified for. But you held back, something was telling you to wait. It was a gut feeling that was stopping you from telling him. Almost a feeling of you not wanting to scare him.

           Soon enough the two of you had come to stand next to the plane. Jack turned to you and you quickly put on a brave face so as not to make this more difficult for him. Even though you had schooled your features like you had been trained to do Jack was still able to see through it.

           “Oh darlin’.” He said in a soft woeful tone. He tugged you into his arms and gave you a comforting hug. You rested your head over Jack’s shoulder and loosely wrapped your arms around his waist. Your eyes looked unseeing behind him as you moved your body closer to his. “I know.” Jack sighed. “I know darlin’.”

           You shook your head and gripped him tighter in your arms. Pulling back you choked out a watery laugh before looking up at him with a melancholy smile.

           “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” You admitted sarcastically. “I don’t want to make this any harder than this is.”

           Jack smiled tenderly down at you with a knowing look in his eyes and you lifted onto the tips of your toes, pressing your hands into his hips so you could keep your balance. Jack watched you silently and you pressed your lips to his in a sweet closed mouth kiss. Instantly Jack’s hands cupped the side of your face and he was deepening the kiss. Your lips dragged against his as his opened under yours. You sucked in air deeply through your nose when you felt Jack’s tongue trace slowly along your bottom lip. You opened your mouth wider to give him more access. And Jack groaned lowly as he took advantage of your permission and licked into your mouth.

           His tongue mapped your mouth as if this would be the last time he would get to. When he flicked his tongue against the roof of your mouth you whimpered softly into his mouth and gripped his hips tighter

           Just then you heard a scoff and your eyes snapped open. Behind Jack you could see Ginger Ale glaring at the two of you with a disgusted look on her face. You felt embarrassment flush hotly through you and you slowly pulled away from Jack.

           “If that’s the kiss I get when I leave I can only imagine the kiss I’ll get when I return.” Jack teased heatedly as he nuzzle into your neck. You laughed delighted at his words forgetting about Ginger as you hugged him tightly to you.

           “I’m gonna miss you goofball.” You declared fondly grinning widely. Jack pulled away from you grinning and pecked a kiss on your lips.

           “First of all it’s Mr. Goofball to you miss.” He corrected with a faux serious look on his face that made you laugh and roll your eyes. “Second of all I’m going to miss you too. But thankfully I’ll be back in two weeks for another consult. So it won’t be that long.” He reassured and you smiled up at him nodding. “I love you darlin’, so much.” He whispered before he kissed you deeply again.

           When the two of you pulled away you knew he had to go. You smiled and hugged him tightly one last time. Pulling away you backed up with a warm smile.

           “Have a safe flight. Call me when you get there.” You instructed affectionately. Before he could turn to the plane you rushed him and kissed him for the final time. “I love you, be safe.” You whispered against his lips.

           Jack nodded with a longing look in his eyes before he climbed into the cockpit. You stepped back far enough silently watching as Jack did his preflight checks and donned his headset. Jack gave you a salute and you blew him a kiss in response and watched a broad grin appear on his face. Then he drove his plane out to the runway to take flight.

           “Ugh, PDA is so disgusting don’t you think so Absinthe?” came Ginger Ale’s cruel tone. You turned your head and saw Ginger Ale standing with one of the new field agents. Apparently Ginger had quickly made new friends. You had heard that Ginger had appealed her vote in and she had been promoted to field agent. “It’s disgusting and should be saved for the bedroom, don’t you think?” Ginger asked and you watched a cruel distorted smirk fall onto her lips.

           “Oh for sure. Like do they not understand that not everyone wants to see them sucking face with each other?” mocked the other agent.

           You felt your cheeks flush with heated embarrassment as you watched the two of them sneer at you. Was it really too much to see? Your mind began to race with concern, worry and insecurity. You remembered Tequila had teased you and Jack a couple days ago but you figured it was all in fun with him. But what if Ginger was right? What if it was disgusting seeing you and Jack kiss? Did you look weird when you kissed? Were you a bad kisser? Were you a good enough kisser for Jack? Or was he just kissing you because you were available? Your mind wouldn’t shut off and began to race with insecurity after insecurity. What did people think of you and Jack kissing each other around them?

           “Hey ladies, how we all doin’?”came Tequila’s deep drawl. And that seemed to end your mind’s tirade. You snapped your head in Tequila’s direction and felt the embarrassment all anew. Shaking your head you turned and rushed out of the hangar hearing Ginger’s and the other agent’s laughter following you out.

             Tequila gave you a half hour before he came looking for you in your office. He had known just by the look on Ginger’s face that she was being cruel. It was a trait of Ginger’s that not many people knew about and only came out when she felt slighted. And lately he had been noticing that her cruel attitude was directed towards you.

           You had holed up in your office and had started on some consult projects that you had been neglected in hopes of distracting yourself. You had even turned on your music at a low volume. The firm knock sounded at your door and you looked up from your desk.

           “Come in.” you called out and smiled when Tequila walked in.

           “Hey Cur.” He intoned softly with a warm smile.

           “Hey Tequila.” You answered lazily and gestured to the chair that sat in front of your desk. “Come have a seat.” You welcomed him in.

           Tequila ambled in with that friendly smile and made his way over to the chair. He plopped heavily into it making you laugh happily. Shifting in the seat he got comfortable. You watched as he planted his feet and spread his legs out in front of him.

           “So you wanna tell me what Ginger and that other agent said to upset you?” he questioned in a soft concerned tone. You knew he was only looking out for you and you were grateful for his loyalty and friendship. But was this something you could divulge to him? Should you? Was this something that he could help you with? Only giving it a second thought you set aside your worry and put your full trust in him.

           “She said some things about Whiskey and I kissing in front of everyone.” You explained. You watched Tequila’s face morph into one of confusion, so you continued on. “She said it was disgusting to have to watch us kiss and that we should save it for the bedroom.” Tequila’s confusion dissipated and a look of understanding came onto his features. “I know you don’t like watching us kiss, I mean you said so yourself a couple days ago. But we were saying goodbye it’s not like we were doing anything else besides kissing.” You tried to reason with a frown gracing your face.

           “Well hey now. I was only teasing you two the other day.” Tequila defended himself. You nodded your head to him knowingly and then huffed.

           “I know it’s just maybe she’s right.” You admitted sorrowfully. Just then Tequila slapped a hand down on the arm of the chair he sat in.

           “Absolutely not. She’s just being cruel and bitter because she thinks you wronged her.” Tequila declared heatedly as he shook his head. “Besides Jack makes you happy and you make him happy. Would you stop doing something that makes you happy just because someone doesn’t like lookin’ at you doing it?” he asked logically and before you could respond he continued. “Especially if it’s not hurting her? If she doesn’t like watching you and Whiskey she can look away just like you told me that day.”

           “But what if she’s right? What must people think when they see us kissing all the time? It’s not like we’re discreet. I mean am I a bad kisser and just make really weird faces when I kiss? Is Jack just with me because I’m available to him? Am I good enough for him?” you began to ramble insecurely. Your hands had come up to flick and flutter in the air around your face as you rambled. You had been so consumed with your insecurity that you didn’t see Tequila stand and make his way over to you. It wasn’t until he had grabbed your gesticulating hands that you noticed him in front of you.

           “Relax Cur.” He stated firmly in a calm tone, almost as if you were one of his spooked horses. “Insecurity doesn’t look good on you.” He boldly declared and you instantly stopped. Looking up at him you stared into his friendly eyes and were slowly calmed. You felt his steady hands hold yours and his thumbs caressed the tops of them. “Don’t listen to Ginger. There’s nothing for you to be insecure about Cur. If you were a bad kisser I’m pretty damn sure Whiskey would’ve said something or he wouldn’t still be kissing you months later.” Tequila reasoned calmly and you nodded your head knowing what he was telling you was true.

           “Thank you.” You whispered and Tequila nodded before pulling you into a warm encompassing hug.

           “Anytime Cur, anytime. You’re a badass and Whiskey’s a lucky son of a gun to hold your heart.” Tequila murmured in your ear holding you tightly.

             It was two weeks later and just like Jack had said he was on his way back at HQ. You and Tequila were waiting in the hangar just talking to pass the time until Jack’s plane touched down. Tequila had already spotted Ginger standing, with that same agent from before, not far from where the two of you were waiting. Tequila glared at Ginger and watched as a devilish smirk graced her lips as her eyes narrowed in on you. Tequila just hoped you ignored her.

           It wasn’t long before Jack’s small plane taxied into the hangar and Tequila laughed as you shifted from foot to foot almost vibrating with excited energy. You took off running as soon as Jack hopped out of the cockpit. Tequila grinned as he watched Jack catch you easily in a tight hug. Making his way over to the two of you he saw Jack press a longing kiss to your lips. Two things happened when the senior agent did that, the first being a loud scoff sounded coming from Ginger’s direction and the second was your reaction. You stiffened in Jack’s arms and pulled away stopping the kiss before either of you could deepen it. Tequila sighed knowing that your insecurities were surfacing once again.

           During the two weeks since Jack’s departure your insecurities had taken you on a roller coaster ride that was fueled solely by Ginger. Tequila had tried to help you through it but he knew ultimately that Jack would be the one to help you. Jack had a look of confusion on his face as Tequila stepped up to the two of you. You were grimacing as your eyes darted over to Ginger.

           “Welcome back Whiskey!” Tequila welcomed warmly as he clapped a hand on Whiskey’s shoulder. “Now I know you two lovebirds haven’t seen each other in two weeks but I’m gonna need to steal Whiskey for a hot minute.” Tequila instructed and gripped Whiskey’s shoulder tightly. The senior agent looked up at Tequila and the two shared a look.

           “Tequila.” You warned firmly from behind him. But it was Jack who answered you.

           “Don’t worry about it darlin’. It’s just about a consult I had a few days ago.” Jack fibbed easily, the two men watch you eye them skeptically for a minute before nodding and walking quickly away. “What’s going on Tequila? I just lied to her for the first time ever.”

           “It sucks. I know. Lying to her is never a good feeling but I need to talk to you about her.” Tequila confessed hurriedly. He looked around the hangar and saw Ginger and the other agent following your departure quickly and he felt slightly bad about leaving you to their antics. But he truly wanted to talk to Whiskey about what’s been going on with you.

           “You sound like you know from experience.” Jack surmised lowly and Tequila just nodded to him. “Alright what’s going on?”

           “Cur’s been having a rough time. She’s been insecure ever since you left.” Tequila explained lowly so he wouldn’t be heard by the mechanics and airspace employees walking around.

           “Why would she be insecure?” Whiskey asked in puzzlement.

           “Because the day that you left for New York Ginger and another agent kept goin’ on about how public displays of affection are disgusting and should be saved for the bedroom.” Tequila explained quickly.

           “If they don’t like it they don’t have to look.” Whiskey stated scoffing lightly.

           “Which your lady knows and understands. And I told her that as well but her insecurities got the best of her and she’s been in this almost depressive spiral. I’ve been tryin’ to keep her spirits up but I know she’ll only feel better when it’s you telling her she’s got nothing to be insecure about.” Tequila rushed out in enlightenment. “I’ve also been telling Ginger to back off but she can be cruel and sneaky when she wants to be.”

           “Damn.” Jack mumbled softly in distress making Tequila nod. “She never said anything to me over the phone or anything.”

           “I don’t think she wants you view her any different.” Tequila guessed. “She has quite a bit of insecurities revolving around the feeling of not being good enough and what other people think about her. And I’m not sure where it stems from.” Tequila confessed.

           “Oh darlin’.” Jack whispered. “Alright thanks Tequila. I’ll be sure to be gentle with her.” Jack gripped Tequila’s shoulder in a friendly manner. “Thanks for taking care of her for me while I’m gone.” Jack thanks Tequila gratefully.

           “Nothing to thank me for. I’ll always protect her.” Tequila admits while shrugging his shoulders. “Now go get your lady. I know she’s missed you.”

             Jack knocked on your office door and waited for a response from you before he entered. It didn’t take long and soon enough he was walking in with an easy smile on his face. You were sitting behind your desk going through some paperwork and he watched you look up at him. A bright smile gracing your lips when you saw him enter. He sauntered over to you and turned your chair towards him before he pulled you from the chair completely and brought you to sit on the plush sofa you had in your office. The two of you sit on the couch together and he pulls your body over his until you’re straddling him.

           “Tequila told you.” You say sorrowfully as you rest your forehead against his chest.

           “Yeah, he did. But why didn’t you tell me?” Jack responds with a question.

           “Cuz I can handle a bully on my own plus I didn’t want you to know about my insecurity.” Your voice is muffled against his shirt but he hears you all the same.

           “Darlin’, I love you. I know you can handle any bullies that come your way. But any time you’re feeling insecure I’m supposed to make you feel better that’s my job.” He declared softly. “You make me so damn happy that I don’t’ ever want that feeling to go away. You have become so damn important to me. And to know that you’re hurting in some way hurts me. So please darlin’ if you ever are insecure or if something is going on or if someone is bothering you come to me. And I will do everything in my power to make it right.” He professed to you letting his fingers lightly run through your hair. He lifted your head so that you looked into his eyes. “I know it’s easier said than done but try not to let them get to you. I love you just the way you are and I don’t wanna stop kissing you in front of other people. But if it makes you uncomfortable I’ll stop. I love you and I want others to know that.”

           “I love you too. And I don’t want to stop either but the things they said and how it made me feel Jack. It wasn’t pleasant.” You confessed dejectedly.

           “So how ‘bout this then. If you start hearing their whispers when we kiss you let me know and we’ll stop. Plus if we’re sneaky enough we can make a game out of it.” Jack bargained as he wiggled his eyebrows at you making you laugh. “I’m serious though darlin’ you’re gorgeous and I love you. You have nothing to be insecure about.”

           You surged forward and kissed Jack deeply making him groan softly against your mouth.

           “Thank you.” You whispered to him.

[thebiasrekkers]

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,168

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​

CHAPTER 35:  House of Cards

“As time passes by We only mess it up even more.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Yoongi didn’t look back even once to see if Yoo Kihyun was following him. He didn’t have to. He already knew that the man would follow because his twisted curiosity wouldn’t allow him to ignore Yoongi. There were questions that the man would have and the only one who could give him the proper answers would be The Lightning Claw.

No one else. Just him.

Ducking into a nearby lounge bar, the barkeep greeted them and told the two men they could sit anywhere. Yoongi plopped onto a stool at the bar, ordering a glass of cognac. Kihyun sidled into the seat next to him, ordering a whiskey sour. Neither of them cared that it was the middle of the day and that they weren’t on vacation. This was business; at least it was for Yoongi. He only had a semblance of an idea of what Kihyun’s agenda was.

The two men sat in silence; the soft clinking of ice in their tumblers the only noise either made between them. A soft jazz medley played in the background, barely audible over the sound pounding inside the shell of Yoongi’s ears. His eyes zeroed in on the amber colored liquor in his glass, his fingers pressing into the brim of the glass. There was an ache in his chest from how the heavy thrum his heart and he clenched his jaw; an almost vain attempt to quiet his ire that was beginning to escalate.

Mentally chanting a mantra to himself, Yoongi lifted the glass to his lips to take a generous sip. The alcohol slid down his throat smoothly, the burn curling into the pit of his stomach. Closing his eyes, he fought back an oncoming migraine as he set the glass on the coaster. Just as he was getting a handle on his anger, Kihyun decided to speak up.

“It’s almost a shame, you know,” he said gently, casting Yoongi a sidelong glance, “if you all decide to leave Seoul.”

Yoongi’s eyes narrowed slowly as he looked at Kihyun. “And why the hell would we do that?”

Kihyun laughed softly, as if he’d heard an interesting joke. “You don’t have to play dumb, Yoongi-ah. We both know you’re aware of what’s going on.”

“You never answered my question, Kihyun-ah,” he said evenly, “what were you doing there?”

“I thought I gave you an answer already.”

“It wasn’t good enough.”

He shrugged. “I’m afraid it’s going to have to be. I don’t know what else you want me to tell you.”

“Stop messing around,” Yoongi growled, grasping Kihyun’s shoulder so he could force the other man to face him, “because I know you better than that.”

Kihyun’s eyes took on a wet sheen in the low light of the bar. His smirk remained, practically screaming that he knew something and wasn’t willing to share. It pissed Yoongi off and he dug his fingers into Kihyun’s shoulder to emphasize his displeasure. But nothing could wipe the other man’s smirk away, though a brow did twitch in response.

“Do you? I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me.” He laughed. “About us.”

Yoongi pulled his hand away, like he’d touched an open flame. Kihyun looked completely satisfied with himself, turning away to face the bar and take another drink. The blood roared in his ears, muffling all sounds once more while taking measured breaths to alleviate the strain on his nerves. Spinning in the stool, he hunched over the bar as if to shield himself.

“That was a long time ago,” he muttered, feeling a cold sweat break out along his temple, “you’d do well to forget about it.”

“Well, that’s not fair at all.” Yoongi heard the ice in Kihyun’s glass clinking together. “I look back on those days quite fondly.”

A mild ache pulsed at the bridge of Yoongi’s nose, attempting to control all thoughts clambering to the surface.

“Well, you shouldn’t.”

“But I do.”

Yoongi whirled around in his seat, leaning forward to press into Kihyun’s personal space. “Goddammit, Yoo Kihyun!” he growled under his breath. The other man continued to smile. “Stop with your stupid fucking games!” He reached out slowly, curling his fingers into the lapel of Kihyun’s coat. “I mean it.”

For a while, neither of them spoke a word. The silence that existed between them was deeper than any chasm. The barkeep watched them out of the corner of his eye but continued polishing glasses and serving other customers. Yoongi felt his lungs beginning to expand with each breath he took, as though he’d been climbing a mountain and was only just now stopping to rest.

He almost jumped when Kihyun pressed his hand along the back of his wrist. Yoongi reeled backward, his heart rate escalating all the way to the vein in his neck. Kihyun laughed, shaking his head while shifting his body to face the bar again.

“You’re a mess, Min Yoongi. You make it too easy.”

Yoongi scoffed and drained the rest of his drink. “Shut-up.”

“Seriously, someone will start thinking you actually care.”

“I said shut-up.”

Kihyun sighed gently. “Do you ever think about how things would have been different had you come with me back then?”

It was Yoongi’s turn to laugh, though there was no amusement behind it. “If you ever thought, for one second , that I’d ever leave the Golden Jackals—”

“If I wasn’t a Jade Fang, you would have.”

“Fucking as if.”

“We didn’t need the underworld to thrive,” he whispered, “we made enough trouble all by ourselves.”

“You lived in a fantasy world, Kihyun-ah. You still do.”

Kihyun leaned back and shrugged. “Dreams become reality eventually.”

“Not this time.”

The bartender refilled Yoongi’s drink. Just as he was about to take another sip, he heard the other man laugh loudly, causing his shoulders to tense up on reflex.

“That’s where you’re wrong, I’m afraid.”

Yoongi glared at Kihyun, seeing the icy expression replacing the jovial one. He felt a lump of ice forming in the pit of his stomach and Yoongi sat up straight in his seat. Again, Kihyun looked as though he knew something and wasn’t willing to share. He didn’t like being the butt-end of a joke and he hated it more when someone was able to hold something over his head. In this instance, it seemed like both were happening simultaneously.

He had half a mind to punch Kihyun straight in the mouth.

“Changkyun-ah is still trying to put the pieces together. We all are.” Kihyun waved to the bartender so that he could refill his glass. “I’m sure you’ve managed to figure some things out. You’re not a moron.”

Yoongi said nothing. His eyes shifted to look at Kihyun’s profile, watching as he took a slow drink from his glass.

“Some things I’ve kept to myself.” Kihyun craned his neck to look into Yoongi’s eyes. “For personal reasons, of course.”

He wasn’t going to fall for this bluff. Kihyun did this to him all the time years ago. He would feed just enough information to a person to get them to slip up, divulging more than they’d intended. Observant and being petty were his strong suits, to the point that Yoongi often had to keep his guard up just to avoid falling into a trap.

…he doesn’t have anything, he thought, pursing his lips together, he’s fishing. If he had something, he wouldn’t be dancing around like this.

“I have to say that I never pegged you for the type to give up.”

Yoongi blinked, leaning back to gauge Kihyun’s expression. It was placid, almost bored-like. This unnerved him, but only slightly. Was he trying to play the game another way?

He decided to test the waters. “…what do you mean?”

“Eden McGee.”

His mouth went dry as a throbbing sensation exploded near the back of his head. Yoongi felt heat rising through his intestines, against his chest and into his throat. His shoulders shook, trembling in tandem with his fists as they curled near his thighs. There was a distinct ringing sound in his ears, and he swallowed the lump that managed to form near his Adam’s apple.

“What did you just say?”

Kihyun’s smile returned and Yoongi realized too late that he’d fallen for his trick. “Eden McGee,” he repeated slowly, rolling the vowels around on his tongue, “I’m surprised you gave her up so easily.”

“Ya, Yoo Kihyun,” Yoongi managed to huff out, “do you have a death wish?”

The other man clapped his hands together, leaning back in his chair to laugh in triumph. It was too late for Yoongi to take anything back. Even if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have bothered.

“See? This is what I meant when I said you were making this too easy.” Kihyun narrowed his eyes as he lazily propped his cheek into his palm. “She was the one, wasn’t she? The one you turned your back on me for?” The question held no warmth to it. Kihyun quipped a brow while Yoongi did everything he could to tether his anger to the heels of his boots. “I never would have guessed you’d let her run to the arms of your little brother.”

“You keep her name out of your fucking mouth or I will make sure you won’t live to regret it.”

Kihyun shrugged as if the threat didn’t matter to him.

“I’d say I’m jealous, but it’s clear you’re not the man I once thought you were.”

“Come off it,” snapped Yoongi, “there was no reason for me to join hands with you back then. Nothing’s changed.” He stood from the stool, placing a handful of bills on the bar counter. “And it won’t change. You better tell Im Changkyun to get his fucking head out of his ass. We’re not going to play his stupid game.”

Yoongi started to walk away. But just as he passed Kihyun, the other man chuckled softly. Pausing in his steps, Yoongi continued looking forward. He wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d gotten under his skin.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Yoongi-ah.” There was the soft clinking of ice on glass as he heard it being set down on the counter. “You already are.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Yoongi spat as he looked over his shoulder.

Kihyun stood from his chair, placing money on the counter. He stood in front of Yoongi, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. A chill raced down his back as he stared into the confident expression of the man he once thought he could love. But it was a lie; a house of cards built on a cheap, rickety folding table.

“Nothing is going to come of you staying here,” Kihyun said simply while shrugging one shoulder, “except for a lot of pain. What affection I have left for you doesn’t want to expose you to that.”

Yoongi was rooted to the spot. Even as he watched Kihyun approach him, he couldn’t move. It was like someone cemented his boots to the ground, restricting all movement from him. Kihyun gently pressed his shoulder against his, turning his head so he could lean forward and whisper softly into the shell of Yoongi’s ear.

“Be selfish, Yoongi-ah.” Goosebumps peppered along the back of Yoongi’s neck as he spoke. “Take that woman from your little brother and leave this place. Otherwise—”

“Or what, goddammit?!” He hadn’t meant to bark the question, but there was a heavy feeling weighing inside the center of his gut.

“…otherwise,” he said slowly, moving around Yoongi to head for the exit, “you’ll shed tears of blood.”

As he watched Kihyun exit the lounge, Yoongi could only stare in wide-eyed shock. Long after he was gone, he remained – spine ramrod straight as a cold feeling washed over him. He wasn’t sure what he should have been doing, but his legs trembled slightly as the very weight of Kihyun’s words fell on top of his shoulders. Suddenly, his knees buckled and his hip crashed into the bar counter – an almost vain attempt to keep himself upright.

Yoongi clutched at his chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as a sharp pain sliced through his chest. Slowly, he took a breath only to wince in pain as the feeling worsened instead of ebbing. It felt like needles spreading out through his lungs, causing a ragged cough to explode from his body. The barkeep asked if he was alright, but Yoongi couldn’t hear him. He couldn’t hear anything. Nothing save for the drumming pulse of his own heart increasing its tempo with every passing second.

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his contacts with a shaky hand. Seeing Jungkook’s picture, he slid his thumb over his brother’s name. But before he could hear the first ring, the world blurred in and out of focus – the shadows creeping around the corners of his eyes.

His consciousness was gone long before he hit the ground.

[interstellarrambles]

one. fs. + mg.

pairing: platonic! michael gray x genderneutral!reader, finn shelby x genderneutral!reader

pronouns: they/them

tag list: @ibetrippinsometimes @namelesslosers (if you would like to be added, just ask!)

a/n: with regards to the timeline, this chapter is set around two months before thomas's wedding to grace, but I have aged up finn considerably so he's the same age as michael (21). reader is gender neutral, but may appear feminine? enjoy this chapter and thanks to everyone that asked me about it!

gentle and familiar, the general chit chatter of the garrison was slowly being pulled out of your focus as the alcohol you'd consumed softened the edges of your mind. another pay day had turned into another night of bad choices and way too much whiskey.

sinking into the soft red leather of the booth seat, you placed the drinks you'd just purchased on the table, and smiled as you pretended to ignore the money finn offered to you. to say you were drunk would perhaps be an understatement and under his breath, finn marvelled at how you had carried the drinks without spilling them. usually you would have slapped him for that remark, but tonight you were feeling sentimental so you let it slip.

warmed by your surroundings, you took a moment to really absorb everything happening around you, and wonder how your life had changed so much and yet still managed to remain much the same.

sleepily, your head tilted until it rested on finn's shoulder, and though he tensed a little at first, he relaxed into it until he was so close you could practically feel his heart beat in your cheek.

despite your shared maturation over the past two years, you and finn remained close still, perhaps becoming even closer. from nights when you shared beds like little children, and mornings when the sun drafted through the windows, soft ranks of soldiers illuminating the fierce red in his locks, you had learned every freckle on his skin and every hair that twisted into a curl. therefore you liked to think you'd notice if anything changed, and though you couldn't deny the broadening of his shoulders and slimming of his cheeks, you saw no difference in him.

maybe you didn't want to. the more difference you'd see, the more distance there would be between you and the childhood you'd shared.

as you admired him silently, a smile broke out onto finn's face, his features literally lighting up as he chuckled at something isaiah had said. entranced too deeply to process the joke, you refrained from laughing and simply prepared yourself to be teased for staring, though when you looked up, no one had noticed.

the only other person not laughing was michael, sat next to a pretty girl, a secretary no doubt, his jawline set, bulging as he clenched it periodically. once upon a time you might have joked he'd contract arthritis if he kept it up, and he'd laugh it off, but recently you never joked with him.

a plague of seriousness had affected michael: you would only see him smile when he was alone with you and it appeared more nowadays that the drugs were consuming him, more than him consuming the drugs.

business with the Shelby Company Limited was booming as it fucking always was, but you knew thomas was making michael work overtime - perhaps something was going on, perhaps it wasn't. who were you to get involved? they didn't tell you or finn jackshit anyway.

regardless, you didn't want to ruin the relatively positive night you'd had so you pushed it from your mind altogether, remarking with a sense of ironic finality that you still hadn't worked out michael, although part of you thought you had.

despite the knowledge you'd pay for it the next day, you gulped down another drink, caring little for the repercussions, and all night you had all done the exact same so now empty glasses filled your table, and drunken laughter erupted every few minutes.

though you had been finding it hard to keep up with the boys lately, in the moments when they were chuckling along with you, none of it mattered.

as you swigged the final drops of your whiskey, finn rested his arm around you, and while you did catch a confusing look from isaiah, you thought of it as nothing more than drunken platonic intimacy.

shuffling impossibly closer to him, ignoring the glare you got from the girl sat next to michael when you kicked the table, you whispered in his ear, "I wanna go home finn."

twisting around to make eye contact, he nodded slowly, and announced to the table he was gonna escort you home, saying final goodbyes before you would brave the cold night.

upon hearing this news though, michael sat up in his chair, and protested claiming since he lived closer he may as well take you home. even in your drunken haze this made no sense as you all lived on the same street, but you were so used to michael insisting on chaperoning you around, you'd heard every excuse in the book. hoping a fight didn't ensue, you distracted yourself by watching isaiah who was wholly unbothered by michael showing himself up; he was likely used to it by now.

"I'm tired and anyway, this place isn't exactly riveting," michael complained, apparently not noticing the fact he had broken his poor date's heart.

evidently flustered, her made up cheeks showed the slightest flush, and your heart dropped a little at michael's obliviousness. throwing glares every time michael talked to you, she hadn't been exactly nice to you all evening, but your inside still swirled with pity.

ever the sweet boy you'd met all those years ago, finn smiled genuinely at the girl, before turning to michael.

"you've got another lady to worry about. I've got it," he insisted, getting a little more assertive when michael went to say something else; "I said I've got it."

defeated, you watched michael slump down again, and though he looked less than happy, you still managed to work a smile from him when you waved as you left the bar.

years ago, you had remarked you didn't understand michael, that he was confusing, and rightfully so. more recently, you wondered if you couldn't understand him, or simply weren't trying hard enough to.

slipping from your hands like sun warmed sand, time continued to elude you in your intoxicated state, but soon enough, with finn's overcoat wrapped around you and your own blinders cap on your head, you had made it to your house. in the fumbling darkness, it took little to convince finn to stay with you - in fact it would've taken a lot to convince him not to - and so the evening concluded with the two of you in your room, him on the floor and you in the bed feeling rather sorry for yourself.

even in the sweeping darkness that filled the room, when you felt a less than pleasant jolt in your stomach, you all but flew to the bathroom as gracefully as possible in the circumstances. almsot immediately, finn followed to offer hugs and comfort and run his hands through your hair until you felt able to move again

lying there on the bathroom floor, your head cushioned by his lap, finn gently stroking your palm with his thumb, a small part of you felt dizzying butterflies in your stomach, and not just because of the sickness. as always though, you tried to focus on the completely friendly smile on finn's face, and wrote it off as confusion.

although you would have been happy to stay there forever, finn couldn't hide his exhaustion from you for long, and as soon as you saw his eyelids dropping, you ushered him back into the bedroom despite how much it pained you to leave his embrace.

twisting with nerves, your stomach clenched once more when you clambered into the bed and watched as finn prepared his place on the floor.

"can you join me?" you ventured, whispering into the silence, "feel bad about you sleeping on the floor."

smirking as he climbed in next to you and wound his arms around you gently, he waited until his lips were close to your ear before teasingly whispering, "are you sure that's the only reason why love?"

thankfully, you knew he couldn't see the warmth in your cheeks though he was close enough to feel it, and you slightly jolted him with your elbow before replying.

"I could kick you out you know, I'm heartless deep down."

"you wouldn't dream of it."

even in the thick darkness, you could tell he was wearing that shit-eating grin again and you cursed the fact he knew you so well.

"watch me," into his neck, you spoke your final words before seriously turning to him, "thanks finn, I love you."

impossibly, you burrowed deeper into his hug and allowed yourself to smile wider than you thought was possible when he uttered the words back, almost unintelligible even in the silence.

but you heard them. you couldn't miss them if you tried.

[doctordiscord123]

Whumptober Day 21: Laced Drink -- Eric Version

I wrote a King Version yesterday on the actual day of the prompt, but people in the discord wanted to see Eric in pain so here we go!

Tag List: @demon-dark-666 @devon-rever-860

Eric was...uncomfortable, to say the least.

Bim had just finished wrapping up a season of his show, and to celebrate, he’d thrown a big party at his studio, with of course, an invitation extended to the other egos. Wilford was practically glowing with pride, doing everything short of parading Bim around on his shoulders. The other egos were milling about, chatting with Bim’s staff, each other, or the other people Bim had invited that Eric didn’t even know. There was...a lot of people, in short, and Eric couldn’t help the instinct to run and hide.

Somehow, he found himself at the bar. He knew he couldn’t drink -- none of the egos could, except Dark, Wilford, and the Jims -- but it was a place to sit, out of the way, and Eric took the stool closest to the wall. He pulled out his phone, perfectly content to play Cat Game and ignore the party behind him until Bim said they could go home.

He shrunk further, hunching his shoulders, when someone slid into the stool next to him. “Hi.”

Eric’s eyes flicked toward the person, and he immediately flushed. Of course Bim would only invite attractive people to his party, Bim didn’t know the meaning of the word subtly, and judging by the way he was scanning the crowd earlier, Eric had a feeling Bim himself would come home much later with an organ freezer in tow and a bloody suit in the trunk of his car. Eric shuddered, and glanced at them again. He tried for a smile. “Uh...hi.”

The person smiled. It was a woman, with pretty red hair and freckles covering her face, and Eric’s blush deepened. “Aw, you’re cute. What’s your name, hun?”

Slowly, Eric shoved his phone back in his pocket, committing himself to the social interaction. “Um...E-Eric.”

Her smile grew. “I’m Andromeda. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Eric wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the tone her voice took, but he didn’t have to dwell on it long as she kept talking. “So, why were you invited? How do know Mr. Trimmer?”

Eric brightened. “Oh, he’s --” He stopped short. He didn’t want to say ‘he’s my father-figure because my real dad was an abusive prick’. That might sound a bit...strange, considering he and Bim physically looked to be the same age. He cleared his throat. “We’re...really close. Yeah. He’s...family.”

He shuddered a little under Andromeda’s gaze. “Well isn’t that cute. You really are adorable.”

Eric was fairly certain he was melting he was blushing so hard. “Thanks...I think...but um...h-how do you know him?”

Andromeda leaned back, crossing one leg over the other. “Oh I’ve known Mr. Trimmer since he was brand new. My company was one of his first sponsors. He was such an enthusiastic, pretty little thing, and my investment has paid off quite well.” Her gaze flicked over to the party, and Eric turned his head to follow. Bim was laughing in the middle of the crowd, one arm around King’s waist, and Eric watched as he pressed a big, affectionate kiss to the corner of King’s mouth, Bim only laughing harder as King promptly hid in his cape. When Eric turned back around, there was something smoldering in Andromeda’s eyes. “Perhaps it hasn’t turned out in every way I would’ve liked, but...” She sighed, then dug around in her little handbag, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Eric’s eyes widened as she placed the cigarette in her mouth, lifting up the lighter. “U-um, I-I-I don’t think Bim would like you smoking in here.”

She raised an eyebrow, and the lighter finally lit. She took a long drag, then blew a steady stream of smoke up into the air. “What Mr. Trimmer doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” She waved down the bartender, then glanced at Eric again. “I noticed you didn’t have a drink, hun. A bit sad to sit at a bar and not drink.”

Eric’s gaze darted to the floor. “Oh, a-actually, I can’t drink. Heart stuff. If I have one, it’ll kill me.”

Her eyebrow arched further, and she let out a surprised laugh. “Well, that’s unfortunate. I was gonna offer to buy you a drink, but I guess that’s off the table. Or, is a Shirley Temple a possibility?”

Eric perked up, smiling a little. “Oh, I loved those growing up! I haven’t had one in years!”

Andromeda smirked, taking another drag of her cigarette. “It’s on me, hun, as long as you promise we can still chat.”

Eric’s blush -- which had begun to fade -- rapidly returned. “Sure. I don’t see why not. I don’t plan on going out there anytime soon,” he smiled, “and it’d be nice to have some company.”

Andromeda laughed, but something about it felt...wrong, to Eric. Still, he said nothing, and took his drink when it arrived. He only managed one sip, however, before someone shouted his name, and he spun around. Bim was waving at him, gesturing for him to come over with a broad grin. Eric paled, shaking his head adamantly, and Bim pouted, but relented when he was dragged back into conversation with a young man with too bright a smile.

Eric shuddered, and turned back to the bar, pulling his drink closer. Andromeda was smiling, blowing rings of smoke into the air the second Bim’s back was turned and sipping on her own drink that Eric was fairly certain was just straight whiskey. He smiled back, sipping his drink.

They talked for a while, idly. Eric had to consciously keep from squirming under her gaze sometimes. Her expression and the way she looked at him...it reminded him of the lions and tigers he worked with at the zoo whenever it was time to feed them. He didn’t exactly like it, but, well...anxiety kept him from saying anything. She was nice, she bought him another drink, and Eric didn’t want to be rude when she’d been so generous.

After a while though...Eric began to feel funny. The world’s colors began to swirl together in a blinding, dizzying kaleidoscope, and he groaned, grinding the heel of one hand into his eyes. That only seemed to make it worse, and Eric pulled his glasses off, folding them up and resting them on the bar. “An -- Androm --” He squeezed both eyes shut, resting his forehead on the bar. “I-I-I don’t -- I don’t --”

There was a hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles. “Do you want me to help you to the bathroom, hun? You don’t look so good.”

Eric whimpered, and nodded. Andromeda guided him off the bar stool, a steady hand gripping his shoulder and guiding him along. Eric hardly noticed he’d left his glasses on the bar, too busy trying not to vomit at the sudden assault of swirling colors. The people that filled the room warped before his very eyes, looking like they were all trapped in funhouse mirrors. He closed his eyes again, stumbling along and leaning heavily on Andromeda as she led him out of the studio. 

His brow furrowed. He’d been to Bim’s studio often enough to know his way around, and the turns they were taking didn’t seem right... He opened his eyes again, paling at the sudden assault of the harsh light. He recognized the hallway regardless, but -- “A-Andromeda, the b-b-bathrooms are the other way --”

He tripped over his own feet, and Andromeda caught him. “Shh, I know, hun. We’re going a different way, down a couple levels.”

Eric drew his mouth in a tight line, squinting at her quizzically and trying to ignore the way her face twisted and inverted in on itself. “Wh...why...?”

Andromeda just smiled. “You’ll see.”

She pulled him into the elevator, and the second it started moving, Eric fell. He slumped to the floor, his coordination and balance shot to Hell, but he didn’t know why. Why was this happening to him, he didn’t have anything beyond the two drinks, and they weren’t even alcoholic! Why --

The elevator doors slid open, and Eric was dragged out by Andromeda lifting him up again. It was another studio, looked like one of the advertising floors. There was a bunch of props and half-built sets scattered about the space. Andromeda seemed to know exactly where she was going, dragging Eric unwillingly for the ride now. “An-Andromeda --”

“Shut up.”

She tossed him gracelessly onto one of the beds that stood in at least half of the sets. Eric convulsed, back arching, and eyes becoming glazed and clouded as the colors swirled before him in an endless, hypnotic spiral. He started when there was a hand on his jeans, unbuckling his belt and undoing the front of his pants. Eric suddenly felt very sick, beyond the effects of whatever he’d been given, and one of his hands loosely gripped Andromeda’s wrist, trying to pull her hand away from him. “No -- don’t --”

She easily batted his hand away, sticking her hand down the front of his jeans. “Aw, come on, now, hun! This’ll be fun for the both of us if you just relax. Maybe this will teach Mr. Trimmer not the brush me off --” She did something with her hand, and Eric sobbed, tears falling freely down his face. She grinned. “-- and you really are cute. Perhaps I’ll keep you around when all is said and done.”

And then she was kissing him.

Eric just shook and sobbed as she claimed what she wanted, her hand continuing to rub at the front of his underwear. She moved to straddle him, pulling her hand away to instead grind against him, her nails digging into his shoulders. Eric just closed his eyes, trying to block out the colors, block out the sounds she was making, he wanted to go home --

Her weight suddenly vanished from his body, followed quickly by a short scream. Eric opened his eyes. Dark was standing protectively at the side of the bed, his aura writhing furiously as his outline flickered. Rage was prominent in his expression, his lips curled up in a snarl, his eyes glowing red and blue respectively. His voice echoed, multi-layered. “Don’t you dare touch him.”

Andromeda got unsteadily to her feet. Her hair was messed up, one of her heels snapped, but she looked just as furious, seemingly uncaring as Dark’s aura crept toward her. “And who the Hell are you?”

Dark didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His shell cracked, his respective red and blue mirror images standing to either side of him, and a piercing, multi-layered, blood-curdling scream filled the room without Dark ever opening his mouth. It wouldn’t stop, Eric’s ears rang, his head hurt, the colors’ spinning slowed to a blinding pulse that made him sick --

Dark’s aura wrapped around his head, plunging him into darkness. The scream was muffled now, and Eric sighed in relief. He didn’t know how long he laid there, nor did he care to; with how fuzzy his head was, it could’ve been two minutes, or two hours, and he wouldn’t know the difference. When Dark’s aura finally withdrew, Eric was calmer, dangerously so, his breathing slow and shallow with eyes half-lidded and drooling a little. He hardly heard Dark swear, groaning softly when Dark picked him up. Dark said something else, his voice high with panic, but Eric couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. He caught Dr. Iplier’s name, but --

Eric passed out.

[apatheticanvas67482]

50 Questions Tag

thank you for the tag @mischiefandi sorry it took me so long to respond but this looks like fun ❤️

1. what is the colour of your hairbrush? black, but I've also got a multicoloured bristle one for fun somewhere

2. name a food you never eat: im allergic to pineapple and kiwi

3. are you typically too warm or too cold? too cold, brrrr

4. what were you doing 45 minutes ago? trying to find my psychology teacher to hand in an essay assignment :/

5. what's your favourite candy bar? snickersssss

6. have you ever been to a professional sports game? yup yup I love going to see rugby, such great atmospheres

7. what is the last thing you said out loud? does anyone actually understand what's going on in chemistry at the moment (the answer was no)

8. what is your favourite ice-cream? mint cuz I'm weird but pistachio is my second, such a good shout

9. what is the last thing you had to drink? strawberry squash

10. do you liek your wallet? yes love it, it's pastel-y blue and got a little dog on it, lots of pockets

11. what is the last think you ate? bacon pizza

12. did you buy any new clothes last weekend? nope currently riding the broke-mobile

13. what's the last sporting event you watched? Everton Vs Liverpool, draw

14. what's your favourite flavour popcorn? sweet and salty all the way

15. who is the last person you sent a text message to? school friend who isn't in today

16. ever go camping? used to go every summer with my parents and best friend til covid broke the tradition

17. do you take vitamins? yup yup yup

18. do you regularly attend a place of worship? nope

19. do you have a tan? nope I'm as white as they come, burn burn burn, sad

20. do you prefer chinese or pizza? chinese whenever I can

21. do you drink soda through a straw? only from mcdonalds

22. what colour socks do you usually wear? grey

23. do you ever drive above the speed limit? y

24. what terrifies you? honestly not much, I panic all the time but retrospectively I'm like lol why did I care.

25. look to your left, what do you see? entrance hall of school, my coat

26. what chore do you hate the most? ironing

27. what do you think of when you here an australian accent? that episode of 8 out of 10 cats does countdown with adam hills and jon does impressions

28. what's your favourite soda? dr pepper

29. do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? drive thru

30. what's your favourite number? 4

31. last person you talked to? my bestie

32. favourite cut of beef? I don't really eat beef much

33. last song you listened to? I wanna be yours - arctic monkeys

34. last book you read? traces by patricia wiltshire

35. favourite day of the week? friday bc I only have to do 1hr of psychology and then I have the rest of the day for free study

36. can you say the alphabet backwards? ... I have now done it once in my life

37. how do you liek your coffee? If I'm being fussy I have one sugar, one spoon of hot chocolate, and two spoons of coffee, with abt an inch of milk

38. favourite pair of shoes? my black platform ankle boots :) they're pretty trashed by now

39. time you normally get up? 6am kmn

40. what do you prefer, sunrise or sunset? sunset is such a vibe

41. how many blankets on your bed? one duvet and one massive fluffy blanket

42. describe your kitchen plates? white with a dark blue rim

43. describe your kitchen at the moment? uh pretty spacious square but kind of a mess and its sort of a dining room too because we don't use our actual dining room

44. do you have a favourite alcoholic drink? peach snaps and pink lemonade

45. do you play cards? yeh with my mom and her side of the family if we visit - demons run is fun

46. what color is your car? blue

47. can you change a tire? In theory, never had to tho

48. favourite state? not american so no clue

49. favourite job you've had? I volunteered at a cat sanctuary which was fun

50. tagging: @usercasss @nyamafriend @snowfea @aka-its-called-whiskey idk

[thefanficfaerie]

West Wing Quote Challenge

I think I have watched The West Wing about 4 times. It has become one of my favorite shows. It has some of the best quotes. And I really wanted to do a challenge while I was watching. But I had the Disney Quote Challenge and didn’t feel that was right. So here is my West Wing Quote Challenge.

Here are the Rules: 

1. You can only use the characters I have listed. No Peter Parker (except in the case of Superfamily). No Bucky Barnes or Sebastian Stan. I am not in any way, shape or form attracted to Sebastian Stan. So I won’t read it.

2.  Send in an ASK with your character choice and quote. You can double up but no more than two people per prompt and they have to be different characters. Once a prompt is full I will cross it out.

3.  If your story is more than 500 words please use a read more. I will not reblog any story that does not have a read more.

4. The preference is reader insert. You can do OFC just let me know.

5. No angst unless it has a happy ending. No cheating fics either. 

6. When you post please tag me and use the tag #west wing quote challenge.

7. THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE!!! HAVE FUN!!!! Cause that is what writing is all about.

8. Due Date. I dont have one yet. 

Characters

Steve Rogers Tony Stark  Stony x Reader Stony Stucky x Reader Rafael Barba  Jim Kirk  Leonard McCoy McKirk x Reader McKirk Robb Stark Aaron Hotchner  Eomer Chris Evans 

Quotes

1. I want this back in the cardboard box it came in. I don't want to see you or talk to you 'til that's done. 'No way' is not an acceptable answer. 'I tried' is no longer an option. You started this thing, and you're gonna damn well going to finish it with either a blue ribbon or a great big deafening silence.

2. "Never Doubt That A Small Group Of Thoughtful Committed Citizens Can Change The World."

3.  "I Have Wit, I Have Charm, I Have Brains, I Have Legs That Go All The Way Down To The Floor, My Friend."

4. About a week ago I accidentally slept with a prostitute.

5. "Decisions are made by those who show up."

6. One last thing: While you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.

7. My father gave this to me, and his father gave it to him, now I’m giving it to you.

8. Watch this.

9. Person A: If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for beer.      Person B: If you were in an accident, I wouldn’t stop for red lights

10. Person A: What are you holding?       Person B: [Name] said you liked goldfish.       Person A: The crackers. The cheese things you eat at parties.

11. Just stand there in your wrongness and be wrong and get used to it.

12. How tall are you? I can’t believe we are the same species.

13. I drink from the keg of glory, Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in all the land.

14. Person A: When you flirt with me, are you doing it to get something ?          Person B: No.       Person A: Why are you doing it?       Person B: I'm doing it to flirt with you.

15. Why is there hugging? 

16. "So, if I'm gonna jump off the cliff, and you're gonna get pushed off the cliff, why don't we hold hands on the way down?"

17. There is no such thing as too smart. There is nothing you can do that is not going to make me proud of you"

18.  "You don't have the power to fix everything... But I do like watching you try."

19. "Your wife's beautiful, too. How'd you get her to marry you? Did you trick her or something?"

20. "Happiness is my default position."

21. The only thing you ever had to do to make me happy was come home at the end of the day."

22. "Can I assume from your total silence and blank faces that you're all with me?"

23. "No, I did not. Let me be perfectly clear I did not do that. Except...yes, I did that."

24. "I don't know what kind of salad it is, I'm eating a salad, okay? I'm doing it, do I have to know the names? There's no difference between them, it's a bowl of weeds! Some of them have cheese, this isn't the kind with cheese, does that answer your question? "

25. "Nature, like a woman, will seduce you with its sights and its scents and its touch, and then it breaks your ankle, also like a woman.

26. Can I have a couple of aspirin or a weapon of some kind to kill people with?"

27. Person A: "I'm just going to change my shirt."      Person B: "You look bad. You're tired. You slept in the office. It's Friday. Go home."       Person A: "Why?"       Person B: "Because I think you're putting too much faith in the magical powers of a new shirt."

28. There’s literally no one in the world I don’t hate right now.

29. You're a smart savvy woman who could easily consider world domination for a next career move.

30. There’s no one in this room who wouldn’t rather die than let you down.

31. We should organize a staff field trip to Shenandoah what do you think.

32. I didn’t realize babies came with hats.

33. I’m sorry to be rude but are you a moron.

34. So it’s ok to have sex in a hotel but not my apartment.

35. I want us to talk because I like the sound of your voice. 

36. With that, I’m going to get a cupcake. 

37. I embrace the cold. I luxuriate in the cold. I fight the cold with more cold. 

38. You really think we have a secret handshake, dont you?

39. I’m telling your mother, you forgot where she lives.

40. Everytime you talk, I hear that sound that plays when pac man dies.

41. Person A: If they find out you’ve been there I’m going to shove a motherboard so far up your ass.        Person B: Technically, I outrank you.        Person A: So far up your ass. 

42. I need some pie.

43. You know I could beat you up anytime I want to sir. 

44. Well, you go girl.

45. My problem is I want to jump him when he says things like that. 

46. Ignore him. The rest of us do. 

47. Just once in this job I would like to end the day feeling as good as the day started. 

48. Pumpkin patch, is there anything I can do to get you to go to the movies for eight hours?

49. “My getting killed would be bad enough, but that is not the nightmare scenario. The nightmare scenario, sweetheart, is you getting kidnapped.

50. You are a very powerful and handsome man. 

tags; @auduna-druitt @captain-rogers-beard @pinkamour1588 @captainsbabysitter-blog @tilltheendwilliwrite @pegasusdragontiger @prettyyoungtragedy @4theluvofall @promarvelfangirl @outside-the-government @nomadicpixel @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan @after-avenging-hours @starshiphufflebadger @medicatemedrmccoy @imoutofmyvulcanmind @onedarksea @whiskey-cokenfanfic @all1e23 @girl-next-door-writes @barnesrogersvstheworld @beccaanne814 @haveyouseenmymind @imamotherfuckingstar-lord @invisibleanonymousmonsters @janeykath318 @kaunis-sielu @wickedsingularity @meganlpie @redlipstickandplaid @madpanda75  @theycallmebecca

[marvilus-magpie]

Interview with an OC

Charlotte Elizabeth “Charlie” McKay

Tagged by @scarecrow-forest, @andremarshallwhite, @metalforhands, @radioactiveblight, @robobrainmurdermysterytheatre, and @scorpio-skies. Thank you guys so much! <3 Sorry it’s taken me so long!!

Tagging: ^^^ I’d like to start by tagging back everyone who tagged me. I know you all probably have other OCs you could do this for! Also @purple-martin111, @mars-colony, @wastelandwandererstuff, @slothssassin, @maxrev, @sharonaw, @ronqueesha, @val-rampage, @alexaberkeley, @fanthings, @tarberrymentats, @thewookieruns, @beckiboos and anyone else who either hasn’t done this yet or wants to do another OC.

1. What is your name?

Charlotte McKay, but everyone just calls me Charlie. Only my mother and Danse call me Charlotte.

2. Do you know why are you named that?

No idea. Charlotte was probably something my mother thought sounded high society. She hated when people called me Charlie. Come to think of it, that’s probably why I prefer it. *laughs*

3. Are you single or taken?

*Looks down at her hands, twists the ring there and smiles* Taken. Very taken.

4. Have any abilities or powers?

Hmm...does being better than MacCready at every single video game count? *you hear shouting from somewhere off in the distance, “BULLSHI..er CRAP! THAT’S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT CHARLIE!”*

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

*raises one eyebrow* Appearances can be deceiving.

6. What’s your eye color?

Grey. Dull and boring.

7. How about your hair color?

Umm...brown. *gives you a look like “duh”*

8. Have any family members?

Yeah, I have an amazing man and a brilliant little boy. I also have a lot of people that aren’t officially family, but they might as well be. 

9. Oh? How about pets?

Well, there’s Dogmeat, though I don’t know that he’s a pet. He doesn’t really belong to me, he just chooses to hang out with us sometimes. We also have a cat named Tiger and Shaun is trying to convince me that he needs to adopt a molerat. That’s NOT happening though.

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like?

Assholes. Look, I don’t care who or WHAT you are, just don’t be a dick and we’ll get along fine.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

Beating MacCready at video games. *laughs and pauses to see if anyone interjects. Shakes her head.* I don’t really have that much free time, but I love reading when I get a chance, singing I guess and...stargazing. There used to be so much light pollution before the war, now when it’s clear you can so many more stars than before. It’s best done with company. *she winks*

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before?

Yeah. I have. A lot of people probably. Let’s move on.

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

You’re joking, right? Killing is, unfortunately, part of surviving out here.

14. What kind of animal are you?

*she just looks at you and blinks a couple of times* Really?

15. Name your worst habits?

Ummm, yeah. That would be acting before thinking. Also, speaking before thinking. Just not really thinking.

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

A lot of people. Probably Danse most of all. I know he’s had some messed up ideas in the past, but he’s learning, he can admit that he doesn’t know everything. I’ve just never met anyone that selfless before, ya know?. I admire the hell out of him for it, but it also scares me. He needs to take better care of himself.

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

*raises her eyebrows* That’s a bit personal don’t you think? My current partner is a man, draw whatever conclusions you want.

18. Do you go to school?

I did. For a long, loooong time.

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day?

I had a kid. And a Husband. *pauses* I HAVE a kid and as for marriage, I mean I...we haven���t...I’d like t..., look I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m with someone that I’m damned sure I’ll spend the rest of my life with.

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

What? No. *the yelling returns, “Hel...heck yeah she does!”* Shut up Mac!

21. What are you most afraid of?

*she looks noticeably uncomfortable and wraps her arms around herself* I can’t lose...I need to keep my family safe.

22. What do you usually wear?

Something comfortable, practical. I love these, “she gestures to the jumper she’s wearing* One piece, easy to put on, comfortable, can strap armor over the top. It even has a little Minuteman logo. See?

23. What’s one food that tempts you?

Fancy Lads Snack Cakes. I’ve been weak for them my whole life. They aren’t the same as they were before, but whatever chemicals they used to preserve them do their job because that taste is still irresistible. They’re even better when shared. *smiles*

24. Am I annoying to you?

We’re good! As long as you don’t ask me what kind of animal I am again. *rolls eyes*

25. Well, it’s still not over!

Okaaay.

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

Before the bombs? Probably upper middle class? My husband’s family was rich, like stupid rich. We did okay though, probably better than most. 

Now though? Who really cares? Regardless of what certain residents in Diamond City might have you think, the class system is gone and good riddance. Of course, there are always going to be people or groups who think they’re better than others. Let them have their delusions. It doesn’t bother me until they start trying to lord it over others. *shrugs* 

27. How many friends do you have?

*smiles* I’m so lucky. I have a lot of friends. A lot of really great friends.

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

Pie is great! Dierdre over at the Slog makes an absolutely to die for Tarberry pie. It’s tart, with just the right amount of sweet. Mmmmm, so good!

29. Favorite drink?

Whiskey, neat. Nuka Cola if I need a pick me up. I like a good stout too.

30. What’s your favorite place?

Anywhere Danse is. *smiles and blushes just a bit* That’s it.

31. Are you interested in anyone?

Uh, I thought we’d established that. Yes. Interested. Very interested.

32. That was a stupid question…

Kind of. 

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean?

What? Now?! Neither unless I want radiation poisoning or to be eaten by mirelurks or whatever other irradiated monstrosities might be lurking.

34. What’s your type?

Oh, ya know. Dark hair and dreamy brown eyes, hardheaded, loyal to a fault, stupidly selfless, has a mild addiction to power armor.

35. Any fetishes?

Okay. Remember when you asked me if you were annoying me? I’m thinking about revising my answer.

36. Camping or outdoors?

Wait. Isn’t camping outdoors? I’m confused. To be honest half the time I’m off on a mission, I’m camping or as Danse calls it, bivouacking. He’s such a dork. Damn, I love him.

So are we done now? Hello?

[pinknerdpanda]

The Right Guy

Word Count: 1667

Characters: Sam x Reader

Warnings: Angst, Fluff

Beta’d by: @wheresthekillswitch​ & @hannahindie​

A/N: Written for @spnfluffbingo Square filled: Hurt/Comfort

x

The Right Guy

Sam Winchester shifted his weight from one foot to the other, balling his fists up inside his jacket pockets. The line to get into the bar was obnoxiously long and his patience was wearing thin as the bitter cold nipped at his nose and ears.

When he finally he reached the door, the bouncer was so huge he made Sam look like a gangly teenager beside him. The man looked him up and down, quirking an eyebrow.

“ID, please.”

Sam sighed. “Really? Do I really look younger than 21?”

The large man merely blinked, his hand outstretched. Sam jerked his wallet from his pocket and hastily handed his ID over. The man’s lips pursed together as he scanned the card and glanced back at Sam.

“Have fun in there, handsome,” the man winked at Sam, his fingers lingering briefly as he returned his ID.

Once inside, Sam quickly surveyed the crowded, smoke-filled room, his eyes straining to adjust to the darkness. The music pulsed from everywhere all at once as Sam pushed his way into the hoards of gyrating bodies and swaying hips. Pink and green lights against the far wall captured swirls of smoke and fog in their beams as they blinked in time with the beat.

Sam made his way to the small bar, placing his hands against the dingy silver surface. The bartender turned his attention to him, his eyes narrowing as he took in Sam’s frame.

“What can I get for you? Beer? Whiskey? Me?” The bartender wiggled his eyebrows at Sam, propping one fist against his hip.

“I’m looking for someone,” Sam barked over the noise.

“Are you now?” The man bit his lip. “Maybe I can help with that?”

Sam caught the suggestive tone in the man’s voice, but ignored it. Instead, he pulled out his phone and turned it to face the man behind the bar.

“Have you seen her?” Sam’s gut twisted as the man squinted at the image on the screen. Surely this is the place.

Finally, he looked back at Sam and nodded. “She was just here; pretty little thing. She ordered three shots of tequila and a beer.”

Sam jerked his head up, searching the room frantically for any sign of her. He turned back to thank the man, but he was already helping another customer.

“Are you looking for that sad girl, with the pretty eyes?”

Sam turned toward the sound of the voice to find a petite woman with brown hair sipping a mixed drink. He held his phone up for her to see.

“That’s the one,” she smiled almost sadly and clucked her tongue. “I really hoped she played for my team. I think she’s out on the patio.”

“Thank you.” Sam’s heart fluttered as the woman pointed to a large glass door at the back of the room.

He braced himself as he made his way to the patio and pushed the door open. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her, slumped over a table in the corner. Three empty shot glasses sat haphazardly in front of her next to a half empty beer bottle. Her gaze was fixed on a crack in the pavement as she brought a cigarette to her lips and inhaled.

Sam frowned. This was y/n, but not the y/n he knew. He sucked in a breath as he forced his feet to move toward her. Y/n took another drag from her cigarette as he sat down, but she didn’t look up. Neither of them spoke, choosing instead to let the muffled sounds of music and laughter from inside fill the silence between them.

“Since when do you smoke?” Sam eyed her as she took one last puff before stubbing out the glowing tip and tossing it on the ground.

Y/n picked up her beer and drained it before looking up to meet his gaze.

“How did you find me?” She ignored his question.

Sam jammed his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching out and touching her.

“I tracked your phone,” he said, mentally cringing at how creepy that sounded.

One corner of her mouth lifted in an attempt at a smile. “There’s the Sammy we all know and love.”

Her words stung and she knew it. Sam kept his face impassive as she lit another cigarette, turning her head to keep from blowing smoke in his face.

“Those things will kill you, ya know?”

“That’s rich coming from the man who’s died more times than I can count,” she sighed.

Sam barked a humorless laugh.

“That chick over there keeps checking you out,” she mused. “Can’t say I blame her.”

Sam glanced over his shoulder and turned back to y/n, one eyebrow raised. “She’s checking someone out, but it’s not me.”

Y/n craned her neck to look around him and smiled. “Well, what do you know? Apparently, my charms only work on girls. Too bad I’m not gay.”

��Y/n…”

She held up her hand, silencing him.

“Save it, Sam. I don’t want to hear your ‘the right guy is out there’ mumbo jumbo, Dr. Phil crap,” she frowned, taking another drag.

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

She leaned forward on her elbows, narrowing her eyes at him.

“It’s not? Because that’s what you’ve told me every time a guy has dumped me since we were in middle school, Sam. Remember that summer at Bobby’s when I caught Joey Thomas making out with that redhead behind the pool? Or when Greg Sharp broke up with me because I was ‘too comfortable around guns’? What did you say to me then?”

Sam rolled his eyes, sighing. “I said that the right guy is out there.” Y/n sat back satisfied. “And that’s still true, but, that’s not what I was going to say this time.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll bite. What were you going to say, Winchester?”

Sam cleared his throat. “I was going to say that Mark is a fucking asshole and that you deserve much better.”

Large, sudden tear drops trailed down y/n’s cheeks and she clenched her jaw, trying to will them to stop. Sam shifted, plucking the cigarette from her hand and tossing it away before pulling y/n against his chest. He wrapped both arms around her as she wept, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling deeply.

“Why doesn’t he love me, Sam?” She sniffed. “Why doesn’t anyone love me?”

Sam pulled back, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. He cradled her face between his hands urging her to look up at him. When her eyes met his, he nearly gasped. How could anyone look into her eyes and not fall instantly in love with her? How could so many men have held her in their arms and chosen to let go? How has he gone this long without admitting how he felt - to himself or to her?

“Sam?” Her voice was soft, her gaze falling on his lips before meeting his again.

A dozen replies ran through his mind, but none of them felt right. Instead, Sam did the thing he realized now he’d been longing for since they were children. He leaned forward and kissed her. He’d planned on a soft press of lips, but when she leaned into him and sighed softly, a fire ignited within him. She opened her mouth to him and he accepted the invitation. She tasted like beer and stale cigarettes, but there was something more; she tasted like home.

Y/n pulled back, sucking in a breath and resting her forehead against his. He traced the line of her jaw with his thumb, straining to regain his composure. Behind them, a few people whooped and clapped in support. Y/n’s already flushed cheeks deepened to a lovely shade of pink as she bit her lip.

“I think I’ve been waiting for you to do that for a long time,” she rasped, pulling back and searching his face.

Sam smoothed his hand over her hair and smiled. “Sorry it’s taken me so long.”

Y/n’s brow creased. “Why now?”

Sam dropped his hand to hers, twining their fingers and considering the question. “I think all those times I told you that the right guy was out there, I was trying to convince myself that was true for you. I never wanted to stand in the way of you living a normal life with the ‘right’ guy. I loved you too much to take that from you.”

Y/n’s eyes widened, but she remained silent.

“I do, you know?” Sam looked at their hands, studying their fingers woven together.

“What?”

Sam’s voice was low and he refused to meet her eyes. “Love you.”

Y/n squeezed his hand gently and dipped her head to look at him.

“I love you too, Sam. I think I always have.”

Sam’s lips were on hers again, their tongues rolling against each other, and their breaths passing from one to the other. Y/n wove her fingers through his hair, desperate to pull him closer. Sam’s hand snaked under her jacket flattened against her back, his fingers brushing the skin just above the waist of her jeans.

Sam broke the kiss, his chest heaving as he sucked in a lungful of air.

“I think it’s time to go,” Y/n smiled.

Sam nodded, his heart racing. He frowned.

“What’s wrong?” For a moment, y/n’s face clouded with disappointment.

Sam grabbed the pack of cigarettes from the table, held them up and tipped his head toward her.

“These stay here.”

Y/n relaxed, smiling. “Deal.”

A wide smile broke out across his face and he stood, holding his free hand out to her. She accepted and the pair crossed the patio. Sam stopped, hurling the cigarettes into the trashcan by the door. She looked up at him, grinning.

“I’m glad you kicked the habit, Sammy. They say those things will kill you.”

Like what you see? Want more? My Masterlist is here. Thanks for reading! :)

My Forever Tags - Stay weird. I love y’all:

@wheresthekillswitch @pretty-fortune @arryn-nyxx @emlostinwonderland @fandommaniacx @cookie-dough-lova @impandagrl @maddieburcham1 @trexrambling @beachballsizeladyballs @hannahindie @rosie-winchester @winchesterprincessbride @that-writer-one @fandomismyspirit @angelsandwinchesters @cfordwrites @charliebradbury1104 @mogaruke @luulaachops @supernaturaldean67  @barbedwireandbubblegum @karlee-fay-my-wayward-son @muliermalefici @galaxy-jellyfish-queen @canadianjelly @kathaswings @feelmyroarrrr @captainradicalpassion @bethbabybaby @myfanficlibrarium @akshi8278 @emoryhemsworth @boxywrites @atc74 @anticipate1003 @super100012 @lovesj2m @masksandtruths @ellen-reincarnated1967 @growningupgeek @there-must-be-a-lock @mrswhozeewhatsis @amanda-teaches @cassieraider @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @its-my-perky-nipples @squirrel-moose-winchester @sandlee44 @paintrider13-blog @arses21434 @petra-arkanian-1497

[pikapeppa]

OC Interview: Rynne Hawke

I did this already for Fenris the Inquisitor and I’ve been tagged again by the precious @littlesnowarrow, so here we go - Fenris’s partner in love and in crime kicking Coryfish’s ass or whatever: the infamous Rynne Hawke! (Art by the delightful @schoute!) 

The rules: Answer the following questions as your OC of choice. 

(Like for Fenris’s interview, let’s pretend some journalist from Val Royeaux is interviewing Rynne for Inquisition “publicity reasons”.) 

1. What’s your name?

Rynne Hawke! But everyone just calls me Hawke. 

2. Do you know why you are named that?

My father liked the name, I think. [laughs] I mean, why do parents ever name their children anything? Either because they like the name, or because they want to jack themselves off by naming their brats the same thing as themselves. [Beside her, Fenris makes an odd noise and rubs his mouth.] What? What did I say?

3. Are you single or taken?

Taken. Frequently and very, very well, thank you for asking. [Fenris snorts, stands up while muttering something about Inquisition business, then leaves the room.] Hey, where are you going?

4. Have any abilities or powers?

Yes. I’m a mage. 

5. Stop being a Mary Sue.

Ooh, I’ve not heard of that one. Is that a sex position I don’t know about? I’ll have to ask Bull about that.

6. What’s your eye color?

Some say amber, some say copper, some say whiskey... A lovely shade of golden-brown, as you can see. [charming grin]

7. How about your hair color?

Boring brown, I’m afraid. 

8. Have any family members?

[small laugh] Living ones, I assume you mean? There’s Fenris, of course. Toby, my big hairy baby. Carver, my big hairy baby brother. Oh, and our uncle Gamlen is still kicking around in Lowtown, according to Aveline. 

9. Oh? How about any pets?

Oh. I suppose Toby? But... no, I take that back. He’s a family member, not a pet.

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like.

I don’t like wearing shoes and socks. I wish I had nice hard elfy soles so I could go around barefoot like some handsome elves I know.

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?

Of course! We like reading, playing cards, gossiping and going out for drinks, and... well. Never mind. Fenris wouldn’t be too pleased if I told you about the rest. [wiggles her eyebrows salaciously.]

[From the adjacent room, Fenris calls out: “I can hear you. I am right here.”]

Oh good! So does that mean I can tell them about our sex life? Fenris? [a long pause ensues] Is that a no?

12. Have you hurt anyone in any way before?

Absolutely. Especially if they’re trying to hurt us first.

13. Ever… killed anyone before?

Um, absolutely. It’s a kill-or-be-killed kind of world out there! Maker’s balls, Is this the first time you’ve poked your head out of Val Royeaux in months? What sort of questions are these?

14. What kind of animal are you?

Hmm. Now that’s a great question. Funnily enough, I wouldn’t say a hawk. [calls out to the adjacent room] Fenris! What kind of animal am I?

[Fenris replies: “A mabari. You are extremely loyal, exceedingly affectionate, and utterly vicious and lethal when necessary.” Rynne smiles.] 

Awww, I love you too. 

15. Name your worst habits?

I don’t have any. I’m perfect. 

[Fenris calls out once again: “She is a terrible blanket hog. And yet she complains about being cold at night.”] 

Hey, that’s not fair! [she leans in conspiratorially to the interviewer] I just tell him I’m cold so he has to hug me. It works every time. 

16. Do you look up to anyone at all?

Absolutely. He’s sitting in the next room. 

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?

Bisexual, thank you for asking. What about you? What kind of genitalia do you most enjoy fondling? [widens her eyes when the interviewer doesn’t reply] What’s wrong, are you shy?

18. Do you go to school?

If you mean sitting in Solas’s rotunda and asking him as many questions as I can to see if there is anything he doesn’t know, then yes. Absolutely. [whispers] I have yet to ask him anything he doesn’t have an answer to. It’s frankly insane.

19. Ever want to marry and have any kids one day?

[bursts out laughing] Did you know we’ve been engaged for over two years? Honestly, that’s good enough for me. Weddings are so expensive. Who needs a big party for no reason? Not me. [laughs some more. She sounds slightly nervous.]

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?

Absolutely. Oh no wait, that’s the mob of faithful Andrastians who want my head on a spike. Next question please! [chuckles]

21. What are you most afraid of?

[she hesitates, then laughs.] What Dorian will be wearing every day, honestly. I don’t know where Vints get their fashion sense from, but I can understand why the Qunari are always so angry at them.

[In the adjacent room, Fenris snorts.]

22. What do you usually wear?

[leans back leisurely on the couch and slowly crosses her legs] Have a look for yourself. Don’t be shy.

23. What one food tempts you?

Oh fuck yes. You know those Rivaini roasted vegetable crisps that they toss with the sweet and spicy rub? I love those things. I would die for a bowl of those. I should ask Leliana about getting our hands on some of those. Seems like important Inquisition business, right?

24. Am I annoying you?

Not at all! I could do this all day. 

25. Well, it’s still not over!

Go ahead! 

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

Ooh. Funny question, that. I suppose I’ve been all over the place? I’m the Inquisitor’s lady now, so I guess that makes me rather fancy and high-class. 

27. How many friends do you have?

Everyone is my friend! Unless they try to kill me or Fenris. Or Toby, or Carver or Varric, or... shit, maybe I don’t have that many friends. [throws her head back and laughs] 

28. What are your thoughts on pie?

I love it. Why, do you have some? Now you’ve got me wanting some. Thanks for that.

29. Favourite drink?

Brandy! Antivan is best.

30. What’s your favourite place?

Oh. Aww... you know what, I really loved the study in my old house in Kirkwall. It was just... there were a lot of memories there. The study and the bedroom. [she winks.] That’s all I’ll say. 

31. Are you interested in anyone?

Yes. I’m very interested in the Inquisitor. He’s fascinating. So intelligent and handsome, with such a nice growly voice...

[From the next room, Fenris calls out again: “Kaffas, Hawke, you will make me blush.”] 

Good. That’s what I was hoping for. [laughs]

32. That was a stupid question…

Not at all! I’ll take any and every opportunity to rave about Fenris. He’s my favourite. [A soft chuckle and an indistinct Tevene curseword can just barely be heard from the other room.] 

33. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?

Ocean! I know there are just as many living things in oceans and lakes, but somehow oceans feel... cleaner? Less muddy and more sandy. It’s hard to explain. 

34. What’s your type?

White-haired elves with lyrium tattoos and dirty thoughts. 

35. Any fetishes?

I’ll tell you a terrible secret: not really. Though with Bull being around and putting all these ideas in everyone’s head, who knows what could happen? [wiggles eyebrows and grins]

36. Camping indoors or outdoors?

Camping indoors? Isn’t that just... normal indoor living? Or are you talking about building a pillow fort? Because that’s just ludicrous. [calls out to the other room] Fenris, can you ask Josie to send us about twenty more pillows?

[Fenris replies: “No.”]

Damn. Worth a shot. Oh, is that all? All right. Swing by the tavern later if you have a chance! No guarantees Varric won’t bet you out of your own pants, though.

****************************

Read more about Fenris the Inquisitor and his right-hand Rynne Hawke here on AO3. 

Tagging forward to... errr, who haven’t I tagged for this already? @iarollane @charlatron @emmavakarian-theirin @faerieavalon @schoute (I NEED DIS IN PIRATEPIPER’S VOICE) @lyrium-lovesong @inquisadaartabras and honestly anyone else who wants to play! 

[robobrainmurdermysterytheatre]

OC Interview!

I got tagged by the lovely @andremarshallwhite in this, thank you! I think someone else might have tagged me a long time ago? I couldn’t find who it was, but big thank you if someone else did!

1. Choose an OC.

2. Answer them as that OC.

3. Tag 5 people to do the same. I’m tagging: @marvilus73 @thesuplexrangerexperience @red-king-4 @commonwealthhero @myworldisbiworld @humans-are-friends-not-food @nya-for-you I know that’s more than five but I can’t count and also hate rules. I think some y’all done this already, though!

I’m cutting this because it’s hella long, so the rest is under the cut 👇

1. What is your name? "General Jack Daniel O'Kelley of the Commonwealth Minutemen, how about you?"

2. Do you know why are you named that? "Yes."

3. Are you single or taken? "Taken, but... if you're asking because you're interested... my relationship is a little bit more... open than people usually mean when they say 'taken'."

4. Have any abilities or powers? "I'm very talented at creating. Equally if not more talented at destruction. Radiation heals me after I had this thing happen on an island with the Children of Atom.. long story, it was a phase. I also know a neat trick with my tongue..."

5. Stop being a Mary Sue. "I would love to but no."

6. What’s your eye color? "They were blue, but now they're... it would be easier to just show you."

7. How about your hair color? "Blonde, blondes have more fun!"

8. Have any family members? "The only blood family I have left alive is my son... but, it's complicated. And something I'd rather not discuss... blood doesn't make family, though - I know that fact with certainty. I consider the people I love and trust and work with every day, the people who we have each other's backs, my family."

9. Oh? How about pets? "Just Dogmeat... oh! And a robot butler. That's the same thing, right?"

10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like? "Greed, injustice, hatred, you know, that kind of stuff you would think people would dislike... I've been told that's not very common anymore. Or maybe it never actually was. And Gunners. I will wipe every single one of those sons of bitches off the face of this god forsaken earth even if it kills me. Yum Yum Deviled Eggs are also fucking gross."

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do? “I like to do robots. I mean, I build and mod robots. Give old assaultrons flamethrowers and refurbish old sentrybots so they have gatling laser hands. Paint them fun colors. Put skulls on 'em. Make friends with them. That kind of thing."

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before? "Only if necessary or if they earned it. Out here that seems to be a lot of people. And before The War... I served four years in Anchorage, I didn't get to decide what was necessary or... right... so then, too, as a soldier, yes."

13. Ever… killed anyone before? "Same answer as before."

14. What kind of animal are you? “Have you ever heard the term ‘crazy like a fox’?”

15. Name your worst habits? “Jet, mentats, psycho, med-x and whiskey”

16. Do you look up to anyone at all? "My mom and dad. They were good people. They had really good hearts. They adopted me when I was ten. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Then they stood by me through... everything. Unconditionally. I still have a hard time believing people like that really existed."

17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual? "Very bisexual"

18. Do you go to school? "I did when I was a kid"

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day? "I had that life once... I would do it again in a heartbeat."

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys? "Not that I'm aware of."

21. What are you most afraid of? "Failing to protect my family again."

22. What do you usually wear? "Whatever's seasonable, reasonable and fashionable. Though fashionable is probably subjective..."

23. What’s one food that tempts you? “Fancy Lads Snack Cakes – I’m supposed to be saving them all for my husband because he really likes them. A lot. I lack the words to convey what happens when you put a box of those things down in front of this man. But they’re so good and sometimes I break down and sneak some. He always knows when I do. Can you imagine having your shit together enough to know exactly how many snack cakes you have? If you can’t, ask him, because evidently he does. I love that man.”

24. Am I annoying to you? "Not particularly"

25. Well, it’s still not over! "Well, OK then!"

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)? "I don't know if there's necessarily a class system out here anymore... but before The War my wife and I were probably closer to the upper end of middle class. My parents were definitely middle-middle class. Before that... I don't know what class you would call a kid without parents scraping by in an orphanage."

27. How many friends do you have? "You want a number? I have no idea. I'm friendly with a lot of people."

28. What are your thoughts on pie? "I once got a perfectly preserved pie out of one of those snack gizmos you see around here and there. Every single one I tried was broken - my pal Mac kept telling me to just smash one open if I wanted that pie so bad, but I wanted to get one fair and square. And god dammit, I finally did. I still haven't eaten it, I put it on my mantle like a trophy."

29. Favorite drink? “Whiskey and Nuka-Cola 50/50 mix”

30. What’s your favorite place? "There's an old overpass up by Greygarden. Once you get on top of it you can see the whole Commonwealth. It's amazing."

31. Are you interested in anyone? "There is this one guy I'm kind of married to..."

32. That was a stupid question… *shrug*

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean? “I would rather just cover myself in butter and throw up a sign that says ‘Mirelurks Eat Free!’ if those are my options...”

34. What’s your type? “Alive... no, I'm kidding. I mean, that is a prerequisite, oh, unless you’re a robot... are robots technically alive? Anyway.. I don't know. I like a lot of different types of people. Genuine people. People who are smart in their own way, whatever way that is. Being a little bit badass doesn't hurt either."

35. Any fetishes? "We don't have time to answer that question, to be fair."

36. Camping or outdoors? "I like being outdoors... I don't like being cold or eaten by surprise Deathclaws, so camping is the less attractive option."

[captainderyn]

OC Interview

Thank you for the tag @lumielles​! 

I think most everyone has been tagged...but @delavairesslegacy​ if you’d like to join in the fun?

Let’s do this for little miss Rie shall we?

1. What is your name? “Rielay Anne Taqq. Captain Rielay Taqq if you please.” 

2. Do you know why you are named that? “My parents must have simply picked a name from a hat, there’s no rhyme or reason to it.” 

3. Are you single or take?

She smiles, her hand going unconsciously to her neck, where a simple band gleams on a chain next to what looks like a smoothed piece of ship metal. “I am very happily taken.” 

4. Have any abilities or powers? At that she throws her head back and laughs. “Me? Honey, the only ability I have is the ability to get myself in trouble.” 

5. Stop being a Mary Sue. “I think you misheard me...my name is Rielay. Taqq. Not Mary. Sue.” she quirks a brow, good eye dancing. “It’s rude to make assumptions.” 

6. What’s your eye color? “Well, the one that’s left is blue...I’m sorry is that humor bad?” 

7. How about your hair color?

"Really? You’re asking? Most people point it our like it’s the end of the world...dark red.” 

8. Have any family members?

She beams. “Several! My husband, our daughters Sirixa and Rina, Fashira and Zasharr of course, Esrin’s parents, Emeldir and Risha...”

9. Oh? How about pets? “Esrin’s akk dog Saavi is still with us and Sirixa has a shadow akk dog she named Cahira.” 

10. That’s cool I guess.  Now tell me something you don’t like? This gives her pause and she narrows her eyes. “What kind of don’t like? Galaxy-spanning-war don’t like or Esrin-put-the-caf-mugs-on-the-top-shelf don’t like?”

11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do? “I’ve always loved singing and tinkering with machines...sometimes both at once. Tinkering with my blasters, with pieces and parts of mechanics...with my ship itself. Or other people’s ships. With their consent of course. That’s illegal otherwise.” 

12. Have you ever hurt anyone in any way before? Her lower lip pops out and her brows draw together. “Can we go back to the fun questions?” 

13. Ever… killed anyone before? Her silence is enough of an answer, even as she cuts her eyes to the floor and gives one curt nod. 

14. What kind of animal are you? “I’ve been told I am either some manner of enthusiastic dog or a miniature horse. Something about being small and full of rage.” 

15. Name your worst habits. She sulks in your general direction. “Really getting upbeat with these questions, aren’t you? If you must know, I tend to overthink everything and bottle it up instead of talking about it. That’s the worst of them.” 

16. Do you look up to anyone at all? Her pause is prolonged as she looks between herself and up at you. “That feels like the set up for a short joke. I don’t clear five foot, of course I look up to everyone. Especially my husband--I’ve considered carrying around a step ladder.”  17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual? She grins and immediately there’s the sense that you should regret your decision to ask. “Well, you could say I’m amBIdextrous and not just because of my cybernetic hand.” she finger guns at you and off to your left, Emeldir groans, flopping onto the table, though he starts snickering just as Rielay breaks into peals of laughter. 

18. Do you go to school? Rielay lefts her face from her hand and her cheeks are pink from her laughter. “I went until I was 14...after that I joined Zavia Torelli and Tavian Kinsley’s crew aboard the Promise and formal education fell to the wayside. I know what I’ve got to know though.” 

19. Ever want to marry and have kids one day? “She lifts the chain with the ring from where it rests against her collarbones, jangling it before dropping it. “Done and done. Happily married and a happy mother to two children. Only the mischievous freckled spawn is one I lugged around for nine months though.”

20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys? “Uh...” that gives her pause. “I don’t know.” 

21. What are you most afraid of? “Erm....” she frowns, brows creasing. “I don’t like this question, that’s not something you need to know. Moving on.” 

22. What do you usually wear? “Leather jacket, button up shirt, jeans.” She pauses. “Or my husband’s shirts with a belt. It works surprisingly well.” 

23. What one food that tempts you?

“Anything chocolate. Even if its just mildly chocolate flavor.”

24. Am I annoying to you? She leans back in her chair, leaning it back onto the back legs. “Not yet.” 

25. Well, it’s still not over! “Lovely, next question?”

26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?

“Well...we’re certainly not poor. But we’re getting by. Doing as we do. Certainty not in the upper echelons of Corellia that’s for damn sure.”��

27. How many friends do you have? "Several! I’ve acquired quite a few lovely people over the years.” 

28. What are your thoughts on pie? "Pie can be good on occasions...chocolate pie is the best and that bad boy better be heaped with whipped cream or honestly what’s the point?” 

29. Favorite drink?

“Alcoholic or non? Corellian ale or whiskey for the first, caf for the second. Never combined. Caf is black or with a little cream.” 

30. What’s your favorite place? "For a long time it was my ship...but she’s seen the last of her days.” Rielay plays with the bit of metal hanging on the chain. “Now I’d have to say here, Corellia, even if I never thought I’d call this redeemed shithole a pleasure again.” 

31. Are you interested in anyone? She raises her eyebrows. “Me, interested in anyone? No, I pulled a stranger off the street and had a kid with him and now he’s living in my house. I should get that fixed.” 

32. That was a stupid question… “Well..stupid is a strong word huh, how about...poorly considered? We all make mistakes.” 

33. Would you rather swim in a lake or the ocean? “Well, I’m not really one for swimming in general nowadays. But lakes. The saltwater does nasty things to the tech in my arm, learned that the hard way.” 

34. What’s your type?

“Hm...strong military type apparently...but soft and kind, willing to put up with my shit. I believe the type even has a name, let me think....Esrin!”  35. Any fetishes? She blushed a brilliant red. “Uhm...no.” 

36. Camping or outdoors? Her head tilts to the side. “Aren’t those one and the same? I guess so long as I have my warm husband to hold me I’d sleep under the stars, the outdoors I suppose.” 

[thebiasrekkers]

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,441

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​, @shrimpmsg​​,

Chapter 47: DNA

“We’re completely different baby. Because we’ve found our destiny.“

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

There were few expectations that Kim Taehyung had in life. He expected to wake up, have breakfast (and by breakfast, he had every intention of making love to his woman), shower, eat actual breakfast, and then continue with his day. His work was always different; working with artists of various talents. It didn’t have to be in the music industry. Taehyung found promising artists of all forms of medium in his line of work. Some nights he worked late. Some nights he came home early.

These were all normal expectations.

What he didn’t expect was to come home to a lovely ceramic plate flying at his head.

Instincts took over rationale and he quickly dodged, the plate shattering into half a dozen pieces against the wall. When he looked up, he saw Raelyn preparing to aim two coffee mugs at him from the kitchen. She lunged one at him and he dipped around the corner as it smashed into the wall.

“W-Whoa!” he yelled, peeking around the corner, “Raelyn, what the hell?!”

She said nothing. Raelyn chose to chuck the other mug in her hand instead of answering him. Taehyung ducked behind the wall again. He hurried out of his shoes and shrugged his coat off his shoulders, letting it land on the floor. Taehyung raced into the kitchen just as Raelyn began reaching for the carving board; presumably to beat him with. She yelled at him, a host of incoherent sounds tumbling from her, and he wrenched the heavy board from her hands and tossed it onto the counter.

He ignored her banging on his chest and only winced when she grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled. Taehyung did his best to put a lid on his mounting anger and, instead, chose to focus on the fury painted over his girlfriend’s face. He reached out to grab her wrists, holding them firmly between them and forcing her to finally look at him.

“Raelyn!” he yelled again, his voice booming off the walls and causing her to be still for even half a second, “What’s the matter? Tell me what the fuck is happening!”

But she didn’t say anything. All he saw was the onset of tears brimming her eyes until they, too, spilled down her cheeks. He searched her gaze, looking for a clue that would tell him anything about what forced her to go into a frenzy. He watched her fingers curling into fists as he held her wrists securely in his grasp, her chest rising and falling with how heavy she was breathing. He was so confused.

Until his eyes rested on the counter and he saw a pregnancy test. There were two faded blue lines on the applicator. His grip suddenly slackened and his arms fell at his side. Raelyn didn’t resume her punching assault. She covered her eyes instead, sobbing into her hands. It only took a moment for him to realize what was happening before his vision went vertical for half a second. Shaking his head, he tried to get his head right as it attempted to swim.

“H-How long?”

He grunted when he felt Raelyn punching his shoulder. “I don’t know! A month! Maybe longer!” She angrily wiped at the tears on her face. “I won’t know until I get an ultrasound done.”

Taehyung rubbed at his shoulder absentmindedly, stopped, and then smiled widely. He saw Raelyn aiming to hit him again, but he shifted and grabbed her by the hand. “Then let’s get one done.”

“Are you crazy?!”

It was hard to keep his smile from growing, but he tried. The flustered look on Raelyn’s face, however, had him dissolving into a small giggling fit. She tried to break out of his hold, successfully freeing one hand. She immediately used it to punch him repeatedly on the shoulder. This only forced him to laugh even harder and he began holding his sides.

“You think this is funny?! HUH?!”

Before Raelyn could assault him again, he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up. She kicked her legs back and forth, wriggling in his hold, but he only buried his face into the juncture of her neck. He continued to laugh until he felt tears leaking out of his eyes. He hadn’t meant for her to see it, but she must have felt it because she slowly went limp in his arms. Her hands settled on his shoulders as he held her aloft, her feet dangling off the ground and resting along his shins.

“T-Taehyung-ah,” she said gently, moving her hand to curl at the side of his neck, “are you alright?”

He didn’t want to let her go. Not yet. He continued to keep her close to him, her body still in the air and pressed against his chest. His laughter died off and he wrapped his arms even tighter around her waist. She didn’t protest or fight him, instead choosing to card her fingers through his hair until her digits were pressed against the nape of his neck.

Taehyung nodded his head, setting Raelyn down slowly until he felt her feet resting on the floor. He pulled back and she looked up at him, brows knitting together in concern. His smile remained, a little softer, and he let his hands trail down until he could curl his fingers into her palms. Small tears spilled out of the corners of his eyes and he gave a half laugh, using his shoulders to swipe away the moisture on his cheeks.

“I’m better than alright, Noona.” He pulled her a little closer. “I’m so happy.”

Raelyn looked unsure. “You are?”

He gave an emphatic nod. “Yeah, I am.”

This seemed to almost stun her, but she didn’t say anything. Not immediately. He could sense her reticence. He knew there wasn’t anything he could do to chase that little bit of doubt away, so he simply waited. He waited for her to process things the way she often did – usually a handful of minutes of cogwheels turning in her mind.

Finally, she sighed as he saw her shoulders sag a measure. “But why?”

He knew this was coming. He was ready for it. Taehyung always knew he’d be ready if the conversation ever led to this topic. He just never expected it to happen so quickly.

“Because,” he began, taking a breath, “I’ve always wanted to be a dad.”

Again, Raelyn said nothing. She just waited for him to continue, knowing he would.

“I’ll admit it, I was jealous of Jin Hyung a little when he told us that Ana Noona was pregnant. Maybe there was a part of me that selfishly wished you were pregnant too.” A measure of guilt wormed around in his heart and he let go of Raelyn’s hand to rub at the tender spot in the center of his chest. “I know that it isn’t just about me, though. It wasn’t on purpose. I know we were both careful and I—”

Raelyn shook her head. “No, these things just happen sometimes. Use all the protection in the world, but that isn’t a hundred percent preventative. There are instances where it can just…happen.”

He smirked. Hearing her logicalize the situation made his girlfriend even more endearing. Bringing rationale into the relationship was her way of processing and analyzing things. Raelyn was hardly what anyone would consider an impulsive individual. In an unexpected situation, she was doing her best to keep a level-head once the initial fallout of emotions was finished.

Leaning forward, he peered into her face and she, in turn, leaned back so he couldn’t completely crowd her space. “You still mad at me?”

He could see her struggling not to smile, her eyes averting his gaze to keep her expression as flat as possible. “…maybe.”

“You sure?”

“No.”

“Can we go get an ultrasound now, hm?” Swaying their arms back and forth, he pushed out a small whine. “I wanna know if we’re gonna be parents or not.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” Raelyn said, slipping her hands from his so she could head to the coat closet in the living room, “get your jacket. It’s cold.”

Taehyung scampered behind her, letting her arms shrug into the coat. He made sure she was fully zipped up, holding her hand as she put on her shoes. It took him no time to throw on his padded coat and hop into his boots. He had to keep himself from all but dragging her out of the complex, half tempted to carry her all the way to the hospital.

He was anxious to know if he was already building something with his own two hands.

Seoul – Hannam; Yongsan District South Korea

“What did you just say?”

Taehyung kicked his legs back and forth at the island in the kitchen, cradling the glass of wine in his hands. Yoongi screwed the top to the whiskey bottle closed, setting it on the counter. He seemed to be scrutinizing over what Taehyung just told him, leaning back on the counter and crossing one foot over his ankle.

Instead of answering, however, Taehyung grinned and took a sip of wine. Yoongi’s brows twitched in frustration, not known for being the most patient of people in their inner circle. He wouldn’t be able to get away with keeping his mouth shut for much longer.

“Where’s Jungkook?”

Taehyung decided to change the subject instead.

Yoongi snorted, not blind to his little avoidance method. “Hwaseong,” he replied easily, lifting the glass to his lips.

“Huh?” Taehyung blinked. “Why did he go back to Hwaseong?”

“He and Eden are on a trip there,” replied Yoongi, crossing the kitchen to sit in the chair across from him, “said something about wanting to show her our hometown.”

“What? Really?” Taehyung laughed while leaning back a bit. “Our maknae is so sentimental. Never expected him to take his girlfriend to our country town.”

Yoongi didn’t say anything. Taehyung saw his older brother’s expression shift, but barely. He’d heard from Jimin that Yoongi and Eden were together once. For years. Yoongi kept it a secret from all of them for an indeterminable amount of time and while Taehyung was never one to pry into the affairs of others, he had to admit that he was a little shocked to discover the person he often left them for was Eden McGee.

Will wonders never cease? he thought, watching Yoongi’s movements carefully. And now he’s forced to watch the woman he cared for engage in an intimate relationship with his youngest brother…

Setting the glass down on the marble counter with a whisper, Yoongi took a breath and looked at his watch. Something seemed to pass over his brother’s expression, something that anyone who didn’t know Min Yoongi would have missed. It was something that Taehyung would have missed had he not been paying attention.

He blinked at Yoongi from across the table, the older man refusing to meet his gaze.

…he still cares about her.

“When are you going to tell Hoseok about Raelyn?”

Yoongi’s words smashed through his thoughts, like a rock crashing through a window. For a moment, Taehyung felt his heart jump into his throat – getting stuck there. He tried to swallow down the uncomfortable feeling, internally praying that Yoongi dropped the subject. The truth of the matter was that Taehyung wasn’t sure when – or even how– he was going to bring it up to Hoseok in the first place. It wasn’t like it was light dinner conversation material.

Hoseok was level-headed. While Taehyung knew that his brother had already accepted his relationship with Raelyn, there was no telling how he would react upon hearing the news of her pregnancy. It wasn’t like it was with Anastasia. There was a good chance that Hoseok would simply take it in stride. On the other hand, he could explode.

Like a time bomb.

Clearing his throat, Taehyung drained his wine glass and set it down roughly on the counter. “Do I have to?”

He resisted the involuntary need to flinch when Yoongi’s dark eyes glared openly across at him. “…are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.” Taehyung said it out loud to convince himself.

Yoongi steepled his fingers together. “Don’t you think it’s a little irresponsible not to?”

“No,” he said a little more confidently, “it would be irresponsible to tell him when I don’t have my shit together. I want to tell him as a brother who is proud of the news, not some kid wanting his parents to fix his mistakes.”

For a while, all Yoongi did was stare back at him intently. The weight of his gaze made Taehyung’s breath shorten a measure, but he refused to have his resolve shake. He knew that Yoongi was the most practical of them all, willing to chop away any hindrances to their existences without hesitation. In a way, he could be even more ruthless than Hoseok.

Finally, he shrugged and stood from his chair. “It’s your choice,” Yoongi said while turning to head to the sink, “just make sure you don’t wait until it’s too late.”

Taehyung frowned. “What do you mean?”

He heard Yoongi scoff. “Don’t play dumb, Taehyung-ah.” He turned to glance over his shoulder at him. “You know things are going to get messy once the Jade Fangs decide to make their move.”

“Let them,” he said, standing from his chair, “it’s not like we aren’t ready for the fight.”

“Things are different now. Very different.” Yoongi crossed the room so he could stand beside Taehyung. “We’re not gangsters anymore. We don’t have power anymore. It’s going to get ugly and it’s because everyone has something to lose now.”

Taehyung felt a cold sweat touch the base of his neck as Yoongi gave him the once over.

“…some of us more than others.”

He jumped when he felt Yoongi’s hand patting his shoulder. The smile on his brother’s face was a mixture between bitter and sad. Yoongi sighed, turning away from him to leave the kitchen.

“Congratulations, Taehyung-ah.”

Taehyung sank back into the chair, as if the wind had been knocked straight from him. Part of him was happy to hear his brother acknowledge the small measure of joy he’d received in his life. The other part was fully aware of the warning Yoongi shared with him. They had more to lose now. More than ever.

I won’t let them take it from me. Curling his hands into fists at his knees, he narrowed his eyes harshly. I’ll never let anyone take my happiness from me.