#the scarf scene was intentional

[zutarawasrobbed]

The writers of episode 3 and 4 of Netflix ATLA publicly liking and retweeting Zutara fan art and posts has me screaming.

[penvisions]

by the grit of sandpaper {chapter 6}

Pairing: Jackson! Joel Miller x Patrol Partner! Reader

Chapter Summary: With the splinter of wood and a muttered insult, you're done. You're done with the town; you're done with the hot and cold from Joel. You're tired and you don't have anymore fight left.

Word Count: 8.7k

Warnings: canon typical violence, canon typical language, illusions to past death, illusions to past trauma, heavy angst, blood, mild injuries, description of stitches, reader had a mild injury, the holidays are hard, a lot on internal monologue in this (both joel pov and reader), hurtful language, town gossip, rumors, negative feelings, pining, heart of gold joel, though he is a bit daft in this, carpenter joel, woodworking joel, artisan joel, patrol partnership, lots of feelings, hurt and comfort, casual intimacy, urges to kiss joel miller get their own warning, adult content, kissing, yearning, protective joel, fluff, this is so unbelievably angsty, reader loses her cool, argumentative language, heated arguments, threatening language, fighting, wwe smackdown, reader is described as smaller than joel (bc c'mon), reader has a commonly used nickname but no assigned name, joel and reader pov

A/N: okay, this is the penultimate chapter! this series grew into something way beyond a cheeky handful of scenes that were just a random thought six months ago. it's been a joy to write for these two, i've put so much of myself in olive and for y'all to root for her and love her really warms my heart. the interaction with this has been insane and i love all of it, i love y'all

ao3 link || series masterlist || main masterlist || ko-fi

Sleep was such a pull on your psyche as the wind outside howled, battering anything that wasn’t secure and echoing loudly through the empty streets of Jackson. The habit of waking up throughout the night to peer outside your bedroom window and toward the small slip of the front street over your backyard fence periodically had been amplified in the storm. Unease settled in you, the storm bringing back memories you would father let fade into nothing. Inclement weather had been a challenge back when the world was whole, when safety measures were in place, when medical aid was abundant, when homes and buildings were constructed with them in mind. But even back then, they had been devastating.

And now?

They were as deadly as the virus.

Incessant snowfall all through the night, the light sprinkle of it last night turning into slanted sheets of downpour. It was blindingly bright on the other side of the windowpanes.

Despite the lockdown put in place by the council, you had told Maria depending on the streets that you would still make it to the mess hall. The intention of baking some breakfast casseroles hard to shake, of wanting to provide for those who may not have stock in their homes, or who relied on the mess hall as a main source of food. Layering as much as you could to combat the below freezing temperature, you pulled on your boots by the front door. Grabbing a knit cap and a scarf, you opened your front door and trudged through the snow drifts that had formed overnight.

Joel is panicking before he’s even fully conscious. His heart feels like it’s stopped but knows that it’s beating far too fast. His entire body feels weak and achy, his head pounding and overflowing with too many things. He felt nauseous, the drag of his lungs and the slushing of his stomach too much for him to handle. He groaned, pressing his face further into the pillow, the scent of his body wash wafting up and making it even worse.

He fucked up. He knows he did.

You had raised your voice at him, refused his help, his touch. Even as you laid collapsed on the ground because he had accidently knocked you down. You had been so worked up, so angry, but he had seen the way you clutched to your middle as you fled from him for a second time. He cursed low, the words a growl as he kicked the blankets from his sweating body despite the chills crawling down his spine.

“Fuckin’ hell.” He knew that woman was bound to be nothing but trouble. She was always a little too chatty for him, too willing to burst his bubble of personal space. But she had wiggled her way into his life and coerced him into a huge project that had taken so much of his free time leading up to the holidays.

He was a giving man, having been influenced by the acceptance he had been given here in the settlement, wanted to do what he could to help establish himself here. Not wanting to go back to the eat or be eaten mantra of the outside world or a collapsing quarantine zone. He had wanted to be everything he could manage for Ellie, to keep her safe here in a place that would allow for her to heal from the things they endured together. To survive in a way she hadn’t had the chance to, to have a life that wasn’t all bad. He had done his best to integrate, to be someone she could look up to and feel safe around. All of it had been for her, to have holidays, to have friends, to have a chance at finding out who she was without the undercurrent of survival being the only inspiration. And maybe ha had wanted it for himself too.

He had wanted to invite you over, try his hand at making you something for a change. If you had teased him over it, so be it, he would’ve taken it without argument. Just to see your lips quirk up and your soft laughter ring in the air of his kitchen. He would give anything for it to be his to witness.

The faux image of the domestic scene melted away, replaced by the one of you on the ground at his feet, with fear in your eyes. He hadn’t thought you were afraid of him, so open and willing to be in his space.

To tease him and lightly berate him when his answers were less than appropriate or too gruff.

Joel had never shown violence or distaste toward you, but yeah maybe he had been quieter or moodier on some patrols. But he wouldn’t get the chance to speak with you today. Patrols cancelled until the blizzard raging outside calmed down. A safety precaution that had been made lightly by the council. The risk of a group or pair getting stuck, of horses unable to handle it, of snow drifts forming and virtually undetectable, all of it had been taken into consideration. He wasn’t sure you were even cleared for patrol with your stitches. No pain killers you had said, reserved for extreme cases with how the supply was dwindled down to too little for a town of a few hundred.

Groaning as his head hammered, Joel shoved up from the bed, the blue sheets showing damp spots from his sweating and aching body. Scowling, he stripped the bed and made his way downstairs with them bundled in his arms. He felt a weird sense of déjà vu as he stuffed them into the top loading washer, reaching for the jar of powdered soap and pouring in a scoop. It was all so fucking normal. But his whole world felt like it was tilted, off kilter. Even more so than normal.

And it was because he knew he fucked up. He had hurt you, he had seen in it your eyes as you took in the way Marsha was clinging to him in her drunken state. The way she had deemed herself important enough to impinge on his time with you, so rare within the walls. Both of you so busy and both of you so afraid to ask after each other’s time. He knew he was, because he didn’t want to intrude on the way you kept to yourself, how you let your errands build up to take a whole day sometimes. And he knew some of that was because of the way people wouldn’t hold conversations with you, let alone start them. Opting to keep to yourself as a coping mechanism. Not wanting to feel like you were imposing yourself on the people who didn’t want to interact with you. He knew, because he had felt much the same way back in the quarantine zones, even if it was more born out of fear than distaste like it was for you.

He knew when you stumbled over your words to ask after him crafting something for you that you had worried yourself into a state before you even did it. Worried about taking up his time, taking up his resources, even if you had supplied him with the wood for the project. He had felt like a complete ass when you shut down and walked away, having felt comfortable enough to ask for something more when he had agreed to the first.

But Marsha. Marsha and her ill-placed infatuation with him had ruined the moment last night. You had told him you liked him, liked him. The heat he felt from you as he leaned in close and wanted to tell you he felt the same way. Shared and stolen kisses could only infer so much. And he groaned at the memory of pulling your hand over his erection the other morning. He was a damn fool to have done that, you had been pulling your hand away, but you had been touching him in his sleep. When he wasn’t able to tell you no, when something inevitably broke the moment, when something startled you or you thought too hard about it. You had just done it and the dilation of your eyes watching him, the hitch of your breaths, it had all been too tempting. He wouldn’t have told you no and he would’ve ignored the world ending all over again if it meant he could be with you in that way, even just once.

The older woman broken another tentative moment between you two. With the courage of alcohol flowing in her veins. It had made her bold in her words to him, her sentiments, her actions. Hell, the only reason he hadn’t heard your steps on the street was that he had been in shock. She had surged up and pressed her lips to his after he had denied her offer of a nightcap. He had just been trying to walk her home and make sure she was safe, even if he wasn’t overly fond of her, her friends had all been too unaware of themselves to help her.

Anger had overridden the shock; how dare she think she could do that. His heart wasn’t his to give, it was yours. And he had been about to tell you so.

The weak arguments of the woman defending herself and the gift she had gotten him even if she hadn’t gotten his name in the exchange for today had blurred his senses even more. His mind focused on the holiday, on taking you the gift he had made along with his heart. Hoping that today would be the day things were out in the open, plainly spoken and accepted. He only worried about how well you would receive him after being caught with Marsha last night.

Today.

Today was Christmas and the town was in a semi-state of lockdown with the strong winds and flurries of show raining down to collect along the streets. The bite to the air the worst of the season so far. Turning the washer on, he moved toward the coffee maker. Only to discover that he was out of grounds to brew.

With a string of muttered curses, Joel bundled up and braved the weather to cross the street.

He needed coffee and the gift he had left with Maria yesterday.

Tommy was pacing back and forth, waiting for the second pot of coffee to finish brewing. It had been an early morning, Maria rising hours ago and taking off with another neighbor to trek toward the mess hall where you had diligently showed up for your shift. Everyone had been advised late last night to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.

A knocking barely echoed through the still howling wind. Thankfully, the snow had stopped, though it was built up deep all around the settlement.

A few moments later and both men were seated in the living room, the tea light candles flickering underneath two names etched in chalk above the mantle.

“She won’t be home much today.” Tommy supplied, reading the anxious silence Joel was stewing in beside him. “She trekked through one of the worst bouts of this weather to get to the mess hall. Wanted to make sure everyone had something to eat in case the power stutters or goes out. Her, Maria, and a couple others are gonna deliver meals door to door.”

“She’s too good for how people treat her.”

“From what I hear, you haven’t been treatin’ her too good either, brother.” Tommy took a long pull from his mug before he set it down on the coffee table. “She was over here after that overnight patrol, helpin’ with Macon. Was so tired she was rambling about how much she appreciates everything you do ‘round here, how talented you are, how nice you are to her. But then if you’re so nice, why doesn’t she have one of the cutting boards that was her idea.”

“It ain’t that simple. I can be nice to her and not have one of ‘em for her.” Joel couldn’t turn to look at his brother, knowing how easily he would read him. Read the anxiety and worry he felt over the entire situation. All the miscommunication. All the mixed signals he had been giving you without realizing it. He thought you had opted to not talk about the kiss because you were uncomfortable, because you were worried he hadn’t liked it or wanted it. Because he hadn’t exactly told you that he did, that he dreamt of kissing you, of holding you, of protecting and providing for you. Spending quiet evenings in with homemade meals, nights out at the bar, helping you with the harvest again next fall. All of it, he thought about all of it with you.

“Why don't you just make her one, I don’t get it."

"Drop it, Tommy, she's not getting one."

"I thought you liked her, I thought...I thought I saw you two kissing the other night. Sure as hell looked like she had been caught red-handed."

"We…we were. We have, a few times., but she thinks I’m with Marsha because that…insane woman has taken such a liking to me. Saw me walking her home from the bar the last night because she downed far too many shots and Millie was nowhere to be seen.”

“She knows you, trusts you not to do that to her if you’ve shown interest. Just give her a cutting board and I’m sure it’ll all blow over. That's all she wants Joel, to feel included. Like she's a part of something.” Tommy was wringing his hands in, chewing on his bottom lip as he thought over his next words. “A lot of people have them and she doesn't. It's basically an insult thrown in her face."

“Fuck, I didn't think of it like that."

The sip of coffee Joel took turned bitter in his mouth. He really hadn’t thought of it like that. He had just been trying to hone his skills with the new craft before gifting you the best one he could make. He set down the mug, stomach turning as the acid settled heavy. Rubbing his palms roughly over his face, rustling the thick hairs of his moustache.

"She's going to ask to be taken off patrol, Joel. She did ask before you showed up, stop it altogether and just focus on the mess hall. She feels like it would be easier to avoid the looks and gossip. We know about it, the council, but there’s not much we can do about it.” Tommy was obviously upset, his voice thick as he divulged something you had gone to him in a moment of weakness. He recalled the way you had been in tears, hurt beyond words by the acceptance that Joel and Ellie had been given as newcomers when you had been here for years and how upset you were at yourself for being jealous of it.

“But she kept at it as a favor for me, to help me keep you alive. To help me feel okay with not being by your side out beyond the walls when I couldn’t be. Because I worry, I worry so damn much about you brother and I just want you to be okay. She saw that, she saw that and took it onto her own shoulders because she cares about me.”

Joel sighed, his brothers words blossoming warmth in his chest.

“I am going to make her one, Tommy. From that piece of trunk I had you help me get from her yard. But it’s drying, the slabs I got from it. Already lost one and the other two need to dry.” He huffed out, chest tight as he thought of how long it would take. “She said the wood she brought me for those spoons took months to dry.”

“They’re beautiful, the whole set. I’m sure she’ll love them.” Tommy nodded to the box that contained them on in the kitchen. Of course he had looked them over, finding them when he had woken up and curious as to how they ended up in his own if your name was scribbled on the top of the box.

“But she came to me and asked for them, Tommy. It’s not gonna be the same if what you’re sayin’ is true. It’ll feel like a consolation when it’s not. It’s just the beginning of what I’m willin’ to give to her.”

“Then you should tell her that. She deserves to hear it.”

You ignored the knocking at your door, sleep keeping you weighted to the couch in your living room.

But the crack of wood and the clash of metal following a loud gust of wind had you surging up to your feet.

“Shit-“ A grunted curse was the only greeting you got before the door swung open to reveal the large shadow of Joel just outside of it.

“Joel? Why the hell would you break down my door?”

“It was an accident, I was just knocking and the wind got me-“

“Forced your way into my home? I thought I told you to leave me alone.” You hugged yourself, arms tight as you tried to shield away from the chill creeping into the living room.

“I-I-I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry. Please, I wouldn’t-“ He stumbled over his words, turning his back to you in order to try and set the door back into the frame. The wood was splintered around the lock, preventing it from shutting completely. He leaned down to get a closer look at the damage. “Fuck, sweetheart, I’m gonna have to probably make you a whole new door.”

“Just go, Joel. Please.” You clenched your eyes shut and walked away from the honeyed drawl, ignoring the pull it had on you to move closer. The kettle in the kitchen was just beginning to whistle and you removed it from the stove. But instead of gathering up a mug and the loose leaf tea from a cabinet, you flattened your palms on the table and hung your head.

You flinched when a wrapped box slid between your arms, pushed by a tan, weathered hand.

“’s for you.”  His voice was so tender, his eyes wide and beseeching when you glanced up.

“No, thank you.” You pushed it back toward him, standing on the other side of the table.

“Olive, please. You said your name always gets thrown out of the exchange. I wanted to and it’s what you asked me for.”

He lifted the top of the box, setting the lid down beside it, the ribbon atop it looking far too cheerful for you. Set inside, amid a soft looking swath of cloth, was a set of wooden utensils tied together with a thick string. He held them out to you, a slight tremble in his hands. They were beautiful, the wood crafted expertly and you shook your head to rid yourself of the image of Joel sat in his desk chair face focused as he took the time to carve them from the block of wood you had taken to him.

“I pushed a lot of stuff back to make sure they were just right. Was so careful with the wood you brought to me, it was dense but I managed to sand it down without altering the look of it too much. I didn’t stain it, to keep the natural color, the grain is really beautiful-“

When you didn’t say anything, eyes focused on his chest, he trailed off. He set the gift back down on the table and took a step back, his mouth snapping shut. His gaze heavy on you as you tried to focus and keep your temper under control. But you were at the end of your patience. This time of the year already hard on you. Paired with the hot and cold from Joel, the judgment from the town, the lack of inclusion on anything going on and you were just tired. Deep down in your bones, exhausted.

“Joel…” You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“You’re a good man. But I really don’t want to do this with you right now. I need some space because whatever I do, I can’t get you out of my head and it’s ruining me.” Your voice had started off at a normal volume, quickly growing as the words rushed from you. Anger flaring overwhelmingly, leaving you panting, chest heaving and hands clenched at your sides. The set of tied spoons resting on the table between you both, like a line not to be crossed. Like a mockery of the things he was offering you a little too late. Surging, you reached for them and hurled them in a display of anger you had thought you had managed to control. “Take your things and go, Joel Miller!”

They clattered to the floor across the kitchen, skidding along the tile to slam into the baseboards. The wood splintering and covering the floor behind him. But he hadn’t ducked, hadn’t brought his hands up to shield himself. Knowing, knowing that you wouldn’t have aimed them at him even as anger and hurt lit you from the inside out. He saw the remorse flash across your face the second they had left your hand.

Knowing that it was all an act of self-preservation. A way to save face, to save the fact that you had been hurt by his actions, his indiscretions. The memory of turning down the street, his hand wrapped innocently around Marsha, guiding her toward their shared street in her drunken state. And when he had declined the offer for a nightcap, she had pushed into his personal space to crush her lips to his.  Of running smack into you when he had tried to put distance between them, his back colliding with your front and crushing the wrapped gift in your hand. The sound of it thudding to the ground and your surprised shout warbling off into a deep breath of realization.

But the woman before him now was the same one who had taken the time to wrap the gift labeled with his name on it. Had taken the time to hand write recipes on a long-forgotten pack of index cards. Step by step instructions for things easy to combine and make nutritious means from. Had taken the time to include little, silly names for the meals that had pulled a tearful chuckle from him as he read them through in his inebriated state.

“I just want to be left alone. I just want, for one measly second that someone doesn’t watch me and wait for me to screw up, to give them a reason to feel disappointed. I-I can take it from the others, but Joel…I can’t handle it if it’s from y-you. Please just go.”

He didn’t go. He moved closer, into your personal space and he was thankful for the way you didn’t shy away from him even as tears raced down your cheeks. For the way you allowed him to cup your face in his hands and press his lips to yours, thumbs brushing away the tears. For the way your own moved against his as he tilted his head and really kissed you. There was no heat behind it like that last time, just adoration and reverence.

Pulling back, he whispered, “I’m not goin’ anywhere, sweetheart.”

He kisses the fear from you, pleading with you to understand that he's not going to turn his back on you.

He only hopes you can feel it. But your hands don’t rise to caress or cup his face, they don’t rise to rest on his chest, they don’t rise to run through his snow dampened hair. Your lips are barely moving against his and his heart sinks. It chips and shatters on the floor to settle with the pieces of broken olive wood.

But it wasn’t enough. It hurt that his attention wasn’t enough when you thought it would be. It was about his actions. How they had made you feel the last couple of months, since summer. The back and forth, the constant miscommunication, the humiliation of wanting a man who had so much more in his life, who was pulled in so many directions. The respect he had from the people within the settlement for the things he could do, for the things he provided to them. The issue of your reception, the possibility of it affecting his own if he were to be seen with you or you seeking out more of him. All of it was too much, the constant internal turmoil, it was heavy.

It was so heavy and you had to put it down.

“Joel,” Gently pushing him back, but not away, his body willingly moving with the motion. “Why didn’t you make me one, a cutting board?”

He froze.

When he sputtered on a few words before falling silent, you detangled from him. Crossing your arms as shield to your heart.

“This is why I keep to myself. It doesn't hurt when there's no one else involved.” Your voice was a low rasp, giving away the fresh wave of tears threatening to spill, the hot throb of them in your throat. “And even if you did try to be my friend, it's okay that you really don't want to be. You share things with people, you're a giver Joel, but I've had to ask for everything you've given to me.”

He could only watch as you closed yourself off, and you hoped he noticed the dark circles under your eyes. That he noticed just how much his attention had ruined you, because it had. You had been okay with how things were before he came along, content to keep to yourself, to spend patrols with Tommy and Maria. You hadn’t longed for companionship before he showed up and rode alongside you and asked simple questions about the town that developed into questions about yourself. Offering answers of his own in return. You hadn’t wanted before him.

“And that's not who i am, someone who asks for things she deserves. So…you standing there with no answer is you telling me that I don't mean anything to you. You don’t get to make me feel like I mean something and then not follow it with actions. I didn't take you for a cruel man. You say you’ve done things to stay alive, to fight for yourself and those in your care. And I wanted to believe that you changed, that you turned over a new leaf here. But you hurt me, Joel. You hurt me in a way that really…was so unfair.”

Once you let the words flow from within you it was hard to stop, they were a flood being released. Voice not stuttering or scrambling over them like you know you tended to do. Mostly from lack of interaction, of not using your voice most days as you spent it alone in the kitchen, home, or garden. The stuttering an anxious thing born of fear of interacting and it turning sour like it quickly tended to do. Words and sentiments always more ammo for those to use against you. And you could see it, in the man across from you, that he had things to say in response to the many words you were giving him. But you couldn’t, you were tired.

“I deserved better than the treatment I received by the people of this community, of this safe haven for those willing to contribute and who wanted something better for themselves. But the truth is…I’m better off alone.”

His voice cracked on the shape of your name on his lips.

But you shook your head, tears flowing freely and breathing labored.

“Just go, please.”

“Well hey there.” A figure approached you, where you were seated on the same stool at the long bar in the Tipsy Bison for the second night in a row. It was the man of the brother and sister duo you had convinced Joel to trust and bring back to the settlement. They had settled in well, Millie taking to the pregnant woman with a swiftness that had surprised you. But they were both close in age, something rare these days, to find friends you could relate to easily.

“Oh, h-hello.” You looked up from the book you had been reading, hearty sandwich on a plate beside your drink. Only a few bites taken out of it. The book holding your attention far more than the simpering hunger in your stomach. You hadn’t eaten all day, stewing in forlorn silence on the couch until your stomach rumbled. Only to find you didn’t have anything that would make a meal in your home, prompting you to brave the calmer but still whipping winds and intermittent snow fall.

“I just saw you from across the room, Tommy Miller said we could grab a bite here since the mess hall was closed for the day with the bad weather from this morning.” Nolan, you recalled his name. Nolan was nice, polite. You didn’t fault him for pointing a gun at you or Callie for managing to injure you. It was a sick, twisted world out in the wasteland of what was, especially if there was an unborn baby to worry about. They had just been doing what they needed to survive another day. “Guess no one wanted to risk working and getting stuck. I’m grabbing something to go I just wanted to thank you again, for helping us.”

“It’s no big deal. Everyone deserves a chance at something more.” You tried to smile, but you felt drained. From the early morning of cooking and delivering meals to front doors for people. Maria had enlisted the help of a handful of people, but it had been time-consuming to prep and make everything yourself. To bundle it all up into packs that would be appropriate servings.

“Would you mind if I joined you?” He moved to sit beside you, startling you at his forwardness. There was a wry glint to his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching as if he was fighting off a smile. “While I waited, that is.”

“Oh, t-that’s probably not a good idea. I’m not the most popular here, you’d have better luck integrating with-“

“Whore.” A female voice whispered as someone walked by behind you.

“Excuse me?” You whipped around, shocked at such a blatant display of behavior. You were used to whispers, to errant rumors springing up once you had left a store or a gathering, asked an impertinent question during patrol and general meetings. But this? A direct confrontation was a new level and you were far too tired to handle it. Especially with the day being what it was.

“You heard me, praying on the newcomers to try and sway them on your side.” It was Millie. She was sans coat, having removed it to enjoy her evening in the toasty bar with her gaggle of friends you could see gathered in a booth on the other side of the room. She must’ve come up to the bar for a refill when she decided to imitate her mother and impinge on your rare interactions with people. “I’d be careful if I was you, she tends to get people killed. Don’t want to find yourself the latest victim.”

“The council said that they’re selective of who they let in. Surely they-“ Nolan was trying to be polite, to not overstep his place being so new in such a large community. But you could see the anger in the furrowing of his brow, the frown pulling his lips down, the way his hands were twitching. It was sweet of him to feel the need to try and protect you but this is exactly what you had been worried about. That the two most instigating occupants would try and ostracize him and his sister for associating with you.

“They do, but in her case they should’ve left her out in the woods and let the Infected get her. Be better for everyone if they had.”

You had moved without even thinking. The force of your hand hitting the woman’s cheek loud across the room. The hush of conversation lulling, a tense silence following.

Scrambling to correct the huge mistake you just made, to save face, your words were a breath of stuttered apologies. Your stomach had dropped, no longer a part of your body as your mind moved through the outcomes and ramifications of your thoughtless actions. You had never been one to needlessly lay hands on someone. But…the time you had spent fighting to survive had changed you, altered you beyond what you had been. Your instincts honed and deadly, and you silently thanked whatever force of the universe that was still alive that you had left your knife at home. Otherwise, it would be hilt deep in her chest right now.

It was ugly and it was cruel, but someone could only take so much.

“Millie, oh-oh my god, I’m so sorry. I-“

You didn’t even get to finish your rushed words before she returned the slap, her hand connecting hard with your own cheek.

The sting of it hot, skin throbbing.

And it was like a damn broke. Filling the tunnel and making you desperate for a chance to crawl out.

But instead of breaking out of it into the town, you were transported outside the walls. Relying on your instincts, relying on fighting with everything you had to survive.

You were on her in a flash, not even a second had passed. Both of your knees knocking into the ground around her body. Your hands making contact with any part of her you could. Sounds of her struggling underneath you fly into the air with every punch, every pull of her hair, every push of your body against her. You didn’t care about her nails digging and tearing into your arms, her knees kicking up and colliding hard with your back, her elbows jutting into your ribs. The searing pain of your stitches popping loose.

You didn’t care. You didn’t care. You didn’t care.

Strong arms wrapped around you and pulled, while another held your legs down. Restraining you as you realized you were shouting out that same set of three words over and over again.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, calm down.” Soft words, not harsh. And you shouted at them, forced the words from your aching throat, demanding that they let you go. That they leave you alone. Fighting against the people trying to hold you down. You felt your elbow connect with something hard, your knee with something soft and suddenly you were able to stagger to your feet.

Eyes not seeing details, just blurred faces and people standing all around you. Watching. Always just watching. Whispering things behind your back, not interacting with you, ignoring you. And you were done, you didn’t care.  And you shouted it for everyone to hear as you took in the sight of Millie crumpled on the ground. Having turned on her side to try and make herself smaller. Bruises were already blooming along her pretty face, her loose hair a tangled mess. Her nails were chipped and broken from digging them into your skin, the faint sting of them long lines down your arms. Her clothes were rumpled, the exposed skin of her stomach showing signs of bruising as well.

You just stared, unable to draw your gaze away from the whimpering woman. She wasn’t even trying to get up, she wasn’t even trying to fight back anymore. She was just laying there, bellowing out her hurt and looking so pathetic. And it made you feel bad, because she was nothing, would be nothing without the settlement of Jackson. She and her family had been here since the outbreak, safe in their secluded location, safe in the quick thinking of others, safe because of sheer, dumb luck that allowed her to continue being who she had always been.

But even despite the glitter of remorse beginning to shine through, you needed her to understand that you were done. That she had crossed a line she shouldn’t have. That for all the things she said and all the hurt she caused, you were the reason she was allowed to strut around town and act that way. You were the reason she was safe behind these walls and had an abundance of food. You were the god damn reason.

“Don’t you ever lay another hand on me, you understand? I will put up with your words, with your gossip, with you stealing every chance for me to have something good. But you will regret ever thinking of putting your hands on me, you hear me? I will fucking end you and make all your rumors true if you do it again.”

Her shuddering breath was the only response you got from her, but it was enough. You turned your back on her, grabbing your coat from the back of the stool you had been occupying, and walked out into the still falling snow.

“JOEL!” The bellow of his name, loud and alarming, startling him from where he had fallen asleep on the couch. He had collapsed there after returning from your place. He had frozen, all the sentiments he had planned to share with you died on his tongue the second you shared with him how much he had hurt you. It seemed it’s all you had experienced since coming here long before he and Ellie did. He hadn’t wanted to argue with you or belittle the things you had said, so he hadn’t. No words or feelings he had would have righted the wrongs done to you.

He felt unworthy of you, having played a part in it. He felt like he failed you, tricked you into an easy camaraderie when he knew after that first smile it would never be enough for him. He should’ve been honest from the beginning, told you he wanted to be someone to you. But instead, he had botched it, he had fucked up.

“Holy shit, dude, you need to come quick!” Ellie hollered as she barged through the front door, the handle slamming into the wall of the entry way and he had the errant through to put a piece of wood there to prevent it from happening again before it tore through the drywall.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” He was hurtling up, hands reaching for the panting teenager as she came into the living room. Her eyes bright and shining, her hands trembling. She allowed him to pull her into his chest, his heart thudding, anxiety humming through him harsh and hot.

“It’s not me, it’s Olive.”

His heart stopped, his heart stopped because it was no longer in his chest. It was on the floor, bleeding and immobile between their feet.

“Is she…?” He didn’t even know how to finish his sentence. Gone? Hurt? Injured? Stood in front of Marsha or Millie just taking their words directly? The worst thought of all being shaken from his head because he couldn’t bear to give it life.

“She freakin’ lost it. She went ballistic on Millie at the bar. It took two people to pull her off and then she hurt them too. She was shouting all this stuff about how shit people treat her and then she took off.”

“Took off, Ellie, where?” He pushed her back to duck his head and caught her eyes. Worry spiking and making his mind run through all the possibilities. He needed to know where you went, even if you had sent him from your home with a hollow and broken heart.

“I-I don’t know, she just ran out the door and was gone by the time I tried to follow her.” Ellie reached up and held onto his wrists, her fingers wrapping around them and he realized for the thousandth time how small she was. How much things affected her, how her own trauma showed in ways they could both anticipate and in ways they could not. Seeing violence first hand since settling here seemed to have triggered her and he didn’t like it for either of you.

“It’s okay, baby girl. I got you, you’re okay.” He hushed, his words pressed into her forehead. She was trembling and he hated that he couldn’t do anything to help her. She clung to him, the winter already a harder time for her than the rest of the year. Awful memories associated with it that no matter how hard she tried to tamp them down, rose to the surface. He held her, offering his built up warmth to sooth her and when the sniffles stopped he lowered them both to the couch.

“Y-you should go find her, Millie tore her stitches open. They took that ungrateful dumbass to the infirmary. But Olive took off.”  

“Okay, but we’re taking you to Tommy’s okay?”

Minutes later they were across the street and knocking on the front door.

“Tommy, listen, I know it’s late. Believe me I know but Ellie needs to take your guest room and I need to know where Olive would go if she’s upset?” Joel didn’t waste any time, speaking as soon as the door began to open. Tommy just looked at him for a second, eyes taking in the thinly veiled panic on his normally calm and collected brother.

“Joel, what in the hell, what’s going on, what are you talking about?” His eyes snapped into focus, lack of sleep vanishing as he realized something happened.

“Olive, she snapped. Something about Millie starting something with some insults that turned into the two of ‘em going off on each other at the bar. Word is she took off, but she’s not at home and she didn’t come to me. Tommy, where would she go?” Joel ambled into the house, his hands soft on his brother’s shoulders as he tried to get the man to focus.

“She, uh, she’s never done anything like this before. She, um, she could have…” Joel could see that his brother was trying to focus on the situation at hand brought to him in the middle of the night, trying to think on so little sleep and energy.

“Tommy!”

“Maybe the cemetery?”

“The council needs to hold thar girl responsible. She should have to go on Olive’s patrols until she’s healed. I mean it, Tommy. I want it done.” Joel gently guided Ellie to the couch, urging her to sit down so he could wrap the throw blanket on the back of it over her. He moved into the kitchen and started a kettle for a cup of tea. Something soothing for her to find sleep easier.

“Joel, I know you’re upset. But Millie’s never been beyond the gates. Her entire family has been here since the walls went up.”

“And that’s why she feels entitled to act the way she does. Slinging insults and making fun of Olive, holding things against the woman like it’s her fault that despite the walls there are still very real threats out there. Not every one of them is avoidable. She needs to learn somethin’ and she needs to do it quick.”

“I can talk to Maria about it, but yeah, you have my word she’ll be put on patrol. Are they okay though?”

“I can’t say much for Millie, but Ellie said Olive pulled her stitches ‘n I gotta go out and find her.” The kettle began to whistle, and Tommy took over on making tea for himself and his niece.

“Then go find her, make sure she’s alright.”

Joel tried to tamp down his anger as he knocked on the front door. It was a momentary stop on his way to where Tommy suggested. The weather had calmed down, but not enough to make it an easy trek. The winds were still howling, though they weren’t nearly as devastating as earlier, snow floating down in soft waves.

“Joel? Oh, it’s so late, is everything okay?”

“I told you I wasn’t playin’ games with you.” He didn’t try and tamp down the frustration in his voice, it needed an outlet and the woman in front of him was a worthy for it. He cut off her startled question.

“Your daughter instigated a fight with Olive tonight. Called her names for the whole town to hear. Raised her hand and physically accosted her. That your best attempt at helping to ease the tension you’ve caused? That how you think people should be treated after spending hours to ensure everyone in town got breakfast in the midst of a blizzard?”

“Joel, Olive hit first. I’m sure of it.” She moved away from the door, from the bulk of him to shove her hands into a thick jacket and her feet into a pair of boots. Joel slammed his hand on the door frame, anger flaring at the woman’s nonchalance toward you.

“It doesn’t matter! Do you have any idea the torment you’ve caused her over the years? Millie is lucky Olive walked off. Talking to her and approaching her like that unprovoked. Olive was just defending herself. She was minding her own damn business like she always does!”

“Joel, do not raise your-“

“I’ll raise my voice when I damn well want to! You need to hear me and listen: both of your little stunts resulted in Millie going on the roster. She’s Olive’s replacement on my morning patrols now. To ensure she learns just how much of a responsibility it is to protect the settlement and deter her from further disrespect to those that go outside the gates every single day to protect this town.”

“No, no she can’t go outside the walls. She-“ The woman’s hands grappled his arm, desperation making her forget everything else in that moment.

“She will learn that there is more to living in a broken world than hurtful gossip and petty vendettas. Take it up with the council, but they’ve made their decision. Olive is missing. Your daughter is at the infirmary.”

He stalked off, not willing to wait around to hear what other nonsense the woman had to say. He had to find you, You hadn’t gone to his brother’s, which he would’ve thought to be the obvious answer. You hadn’t gone to his, of course maybe you would’ve before this morning. His body aching from sitting on your small stoop waiting for your return only to go there for a moment to find it dark and empty. The winds whipped around him, snow blinding and chilling when flakes got stuck on his eyelashes and in his scruff.  

He needed to tell you. He needed to tell you that he’d pick you over everyone in the whole damn settlement if you’d have him. But first he needed to make sure you were okay in order to do that.

Everything was so fuzzy, the edges of your vision fading. The bright snow all around the streets, falling from the sky, it hurt to look at. It hurt to keep your eyes open, but you did as best you could as you clutched to your bleeding middle and stumbled down empty streets. Blood was warm between your fingers, against your palm. The stitches put in place a few days ago now pulled from your skin and tearing even more damage across the wound there.

It wasn’t cold anymore, not by the time you had made it through the creaking iron gate and settled in front of a headstone. Everything was numb and you couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up as you realized.

The look of shock on Millie’s face shouldn’t be funny, it was sad. That no one had ever given her a taste of her own medicine. You didn’t hold anything against her, it wasn’t in your nature. But you wouldn’t say you liked her, that part of you had died along with Aiden. You had tried to continue to be her friend after everything, that fateful patrol. But she had pushed you away, had been quiet and reserved in her grief.

Until she hadn’t. She had shifted to harsh glares and sharp words. Basically heading the town to lay the blame on you. Her mother dutifully at her side. But you didn’t fault them. You knew loss was hard long before they had. You knew that it twisted people up inside and made it hard to feel okay. But you had never taken it out on anyone, instead closing in on yourself. But that had backfired, turned into a spectacle at the bar amid most of the town’s older occupants. Entertainment for them. More ammo for gossip and hurtful words.

In trying to ignore them, you had made it worse. Of course you had.

You lay slumped against the headstone, consciousness wavering as the wind pressed you into it. The snow began to settle over your legs and in your loose hair. Hat and scarf left behind in your rush to get out of that damn bar. You don’t know how long you laid there, pressing your face into the headstone, tears falling from your eyes and stinging as they froze on your cheeks, on your lashes, around your puffy eyes. Coughing, you felt the warmth of a thick liquid and taste of metal as blood splattered over the name etched into the stone.

You were tired, exhausted. Your body no longer hurt and it was a relief to be without the low thrum of anxiety, the smoldering heartbreak in the shape of broad man weighing down your chest, the ache in your hands from hours of chopping and stirring and mixing, the swelling in your legs from standing for hours everyday to prepare meals for people who couldn’t care less about you. It was all gone and it was a relief.

You tried to peel your eyes open, but they were so heavy. Unseeing when you managed to, it was so dark around you. There was no way it should be that dark in the late hour with the snow blanketing the town and the sky swathed in snow clouds. But it was and it didn’t bother you. You didn’t want to see anything anyway. Not when you closed your eyes against the darkness, you saw a soft smile tugging at plush lips that had felt good against your own below a pair of sparkling brown eyes. You saw Joel Miller and that was good enough.

You weren’t aware of the darkness being a shadow falling over you, a body dropping to its knees as it spotted you on the ground. You weren’t aware of the shout of your name, your actual name, nothing breaking the unconsciousness you had succumbed to. Joel was frantic, his hands hovering over you as he worried touching you would cause more damage. The blood shining on dark on your lips, the sallow complexion of your skin, the hand that had been pressing to your stained and wet middle limp in your lap. All of it was too much and his heart felt like it was humming in his chest as it beat in time with memories of loss and pain flashing before his eyes.

He couldn’t, he couldn’t lose you too. Not now, not like this.

Ignoring his worry, pushing it down, he scooped you up into his arms. The fact that you didn’t startle awake or shout out in pain at the movement didn’t sit well with him, his stomach dropped and his head pounded as he realized how cold you were to the touch, how limp you were. He gritted his teeth against the biting wind, the snow flying all around and began to move through the headstones.

“I made you one.” He croaked. “I made them all for you. All of them, every single one” His hands were warm, cradling you close, trying to tamp down the bleeding from your middle as he walked. “C’mon, sweetheart. You gotta let me save you so you’ll have one. I’ll give you anything, I’ll give you everything. Olive, please.”

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dividers by @/saradika-graphics || taglist:

@joelsgreys @morning-star-joy @sawymredfox @pascalpvnk @littlemisspascal

@merz-8 @orcasoul @sabmat @dreamingofleon @keylimebeag

@picassopedro @tuquoquebrute @alejaa-a @jessthebaker @joeloverture

@joelscruff @swiftispunk @tightjeansjavi @undercoverpena @corazondebeskar

@honeyedmiller @novas-dreamworld @slugz-writes-shit @hiroikegawa @dugiioh

@persephone-girl @furiousmushroom @copperhalfcent @lizlil @hiddenbabynyc

@part2joelmiller @formulafun @noisynightmarepoetry @sofiparallel

@blueberrylemon7 @maryrhodalouandted @joelsdagger @fluff-lover

@communism-bitches @slugz-writes-shit @mosssbawls @vie-is-punk

@ohhellotherebumblebee @koshkaj-blog

[missviviii]

pls i’m so desperate for a mizu x prostitute !reader where the reader is all flirty and touchy (like in that one scene where those two girls were trying to seduce mizu in episode one.)

a/n: aaaaah I’m so sorry for the late response 😭 my week has been hectic so far and I’m running on 1% brain power.

.

“You’re quite the sight, hm?”

summary: a lovely samurai visits a tea house you work at. you’re one of the less popular girls there, but you managed to capture her attention.

warning(s): some small nfsw parts, swearing

——————————————————————————

“Ugh, girl. Do you ever plan on putting more effort into your looks?” You rolled her eyes, ignoring the girl’s words. Of course you did put some effort into your looks, you were required to do so anyways. You just weren’t obsessive over it like the rest. You smear the red tint onto your lips as you stared at your reflection in the mirror.

It was another busy night, which unfortunately meant all hands on deck. You stood up, straightening out your kimono and making sure your hair was nice and perfect. Inhaling a deep breath, you slid open the door and entered the room where all the girls were in.

“Ugh, there’s this samurai who won’t taking any of us! Seriously, does this guy have any interest in the beginning?” Ah, a samurai? Usually men come here to not be all manly, usually craving sex and shit. You’ve unfortunately had to deal with them, though you must admit, some of them weren’t bad if they had decency.

“Hey, why don’t you give it a shot? We’ve been working our asses off and you’ve only been with, what, four customers this night?” One of them suggested, to which you loudly exhale in annoyance. Seriously, more work?

Finally, you nodded, at least agreeing to give a shot at it. “Fine, but don’t blame me if I ditch him.”

You hummed, carrying a teapot in the tray you were holding. You gently knocked on the door, waiting for a response. “Come in,” a voice said, to which you complied and slid open the door. You plastered on a smile on your red lips, kneeling down as you set the teapot on the table. A samurai, clad in baggy clothing and orange tinted glasses and a scarf around his neck.

“Hello, sir, would you like some tea? You must be exhausted from your travels,” you hummed, elegantly pouring tea into his cup. His eyes looked very intently at you, observing your every action. It was as if he could see through you, but you found him to be…attractive.

As he sipped the tea, you stood up, striding over to his side and leaning in close to his ear. “You must be so..tired, right? Why don’t I take care of you?” Your voice dropped to a seductive level, your fingers sliding under her scarf and trickling against her skin. Mizu’s breath hitched ever so slightly, even surprising her to see that you’ve managed to render her speechless for even a moment. Your hands kept traveling further, tugging off her cloak while you stayed close to her.

Mizu was burning at this point, face red and hands sweaty from your delicate touch along her body. “A-Ah..no need. I am fine,” Mizu managed to say, embarrassed by her stuttering. How can someone make her feel this way? You tilted your head to the side, seeing the samurai look away from you. Is this what the girls were saying? The unshakable samurai who refused any girls?

You tilted his head back towards you, pulling him by the chin and looking up into the samurai’s eyes with great interest. “Do you not like the company of me? Or any of the girls?” You asked. You moved closer, pushing the samurai down and climbing on top of him. “It’s not very nice to look away when I’m talking to you, sir.”

Her chest rises up and down, her breathing already getting so heavy. You on top of her? Looking like that? Mizu was internally panicking. “Just wanted a place to stay for the night. I must leave tomorrow—“ you suddenly slid off her glasses, revealing her blue eyes. Mizu thought you’d push her away, scared of her different eyes. But no, you looked down at her with interest, hands traveling up her chest.

“What pretty eyes. Why do you hide them behind glasses?” You murmured, leaning down close to her. Mizu took a moment of silence, staring up into your eyes. Holy fucking hell, you’ve got her whipped. You didn’t even get an answer to her question before she pulled your face in close and forcibly kissed you.

She flipped you over, now the samurai was straddling you while pinning your hands above your head. “Fucking hell..I have never met someone like you,” Mizu muttered, her other hand lifting up your chin to meet her gaze. Your lipstick was smudged a bit, and your face was flustered. You managed to crack the piece of ice, but now it’s getting its revenge on you for tempting it.

“I suppose I can make the most of this, hm?” That was all Mizu said before she pried off your kimono.

——————————————————————————

[cvlutos]

“Hell Fire”

| Repost: 01.12.23 | 1.5 K | Mature |

Rollo Flamm X GN!Reader x Malleus Draconia

| Dark Content | Spying [Voyuer] | Sexual Themes | Etc. | Proceed with Caution, Dearest. |

T.Manor.Notes: The idea was from my lovely, @elenamegan14

“Tell me, how does someone like you? End up in a place such as NRC?”

The flames of the fire flicker and wave as you sit in front of them. Watching the red and orange flames dance freely. He stands behind you, the shoes of his heels clicking against the stone flooring as he nears you. You ignore him, your fingertips messing with the sheer fabric of your masquerade outfit, your mask placed aside. Over the crack of fire, you can hear the orchestra play.

“I do not take kindly to being ignored.” His icy hands touch the flesh of your cheek, searing you so that you automatically flinch. Yet he doesn’t let you crawl away, pulling you into his chest, shushing you as if you were a wild animal. “Shhh… I’m not going to hurt you…” His voice is hot against the shell of your air, attempting to lure you into false safety.

“I truly just want an answer. What makes you so special?” His hands move, forcing your face forward, forcing you to stare into the flickering flames as if they spoke in hushed whispers. Before stilling completely at the sound of the heavy wooden door being knocked upon.

“Answer.” His voice is quiet and threatening. He shouldn’t be here and he knows that. Your lips quiver as you speak, your voice cracking.

“… Yes?”

“Prince Malleus asks for you.” The voice of a guard. His grip on your tightens, a low ill-intended chuckle vibrating through his throat. “Tell him you’re on your way.” His voice is filled with amusement, squeezing your cheeks painfully.

“… Oh.. Tell him I'll be on my way…”

“Alright.” The room falls silent as the sound of heavy steps moves away from the door. The man drops you, standing up on his feet, watching you lay helplessly. “I do hope we can speak again.” He leans down, sliding the thin blue sparkly sheer scarf from your form, wrapping it around his hand, and exiting the room just as silently as he came.

Your gazes move up to the flames, slowly sitting up, and exhaling. You bring yourself up to your feet, adjusting your clothing, your hands sliding over the place where your scarf once was. You simply have to make do without it. You grab your mask, placing it on your face, grabbing the water bucket, placed in the corner of the room.

Putting out the flames.

══════ ♡ ══════

The Masquerade ball is lively.

Malleus’ hand gripping yours intently, leading you through the crowd. “You seem worried.” His voice snaps you from your thoughts, turning your gaze towards him and not the various masked faces. “I’m fine.” Your voice is curt and you can tell he looks worried behind his mask, moving to where both his hands hold yours.

“You can tell me anything. If something worries—”

“I’m fine. Malleus. I promise.” You pat his hands, though you know he doesn’t believe you as his hold on your hands tightens. Malleus looks over you, before landing on your waist, his eyes slightly darkening, brows furrowing. “The blue scarf. It’s missing.” Your stomach drops as he locks eyes with you, taking a step closer.

“Malleus—”

“I do hope that I am not interrupting.” Turquoise grayish eyes stare at the scene before him, watching the way yours widen and Malleus’ eyes seem to almost glow in disdain. “Monsieur Flamm, not at all. [Name]’s scarf is simply missing.” Malleus speaks, and Rollo tilts his head. Mocking concern, glancing at you for a millisecond. “I could possibly be able to help. If you were to, perhaps describe it to me.”

You open your mouth, stepping forward in panic before Malleus pulls you back to his side. Snaking an arm around your waist. “Blue and sheer.” His words are curt and venomous. Raising goosebumps on your skin.

He thinks to himself, his eyes seeming to brighten up as he looks at you. Pulling from his pocket, he reveals the scarf. Though it’s different, not the one you wore before. Malleus without hesitation, before Rollo steps back. “Ah. Ah. Ah. A good deed shan’t go unrewarded. It’s unfair. And you are everything but.”

“It is a scarf—”

“A dance! Yes. Thank you, I’m just so clumsy. But a dance, is that okay?” You cut Malleus off with faux excitement, ripping from his grip and taking the scarf from the noble bell college student, wrapping it around your waist and tying it sloppily.

“A dance. It shall suffice.” Rollo takes your hands within his own, pulling you towards the ballroom floor, leaving Malleus standing stiff as a statue. Rollo pulls you into his embrace, one arm wrapping around your waist, the other holding your hand.

“So eager to dance.” He speaks slowly as the music starts and you both begin to dance.

“Why do you keep bothering me?”

“I simply wish to know you. Is that a crime?”

“If it includes you stealing, spying, breaking into my room, being a headache. I could go on.” Your voice is firm and agitated, squeezing his hand to show your resentment, which only brings an amused chuckle.

“Ce n’est que le début. Bien d’autres choses vous attendent. Be overjoyed that I haven’t done worse. Wouldn’t wish to make your dragon further upset. That’d be a big dilemma for you to alleviate.” His voice has a dangerous edge, silencing you as he pulls you impossibly close. You twirl and dance around the ballroom, silent as a mouse. Saying nothing to the man you dance with.

“Tell me. Have you figured out an answer to my question?” The music ends, and yet he doesn’t relinquish his grip. Speaking into your ear, his gaze locked onto a glowering dragon.

“I ended up at NRC. Like anyone else. The mirror called me.” Rollo seems satisfied, taking a step back, his gaze moving down to your scarf, tugging at the fabric, making it tighter around your waist. You hear thunder crackle.

“Do your best not to lose it repeatedly. Many would do well to not return it and instead keep it, for such—” He pauses, his hands rising to pinch your cheek, his eyes swirling with something lustful. “Unsavory acts.” He steps back, his amused grin replacing with something smaller, almost unnoticeable.

“Enjoy the rest of the night. If you so desire another dance, do find me.” He leaves with a curt bow. Before you can turn around, you sense Malleus’ towering stature. He undoes the scarf, holding it in his hands as he watches Rollo disappear before finally speaking.

“Stay away from him for the rest of the night.”

He scorches the scarf to ash.

══════ ♡ ══════

Rollo Flamm pities you.

Feeble you. Soiled by the impurities of Night Raven College, tarnished by dirty hands of the several unruly dorms. He leans against the velvet of the couch of his study, a glass wine glass in hand, swirling crimson red wine. The clothing from the masquerade stripped aside, dressed in something more comfortable.

The original scarf he had taken from you, hanging delicately off his desk armchair. He rises from his seat, humming a melody from long ago, reaching his desk. Papers scattered across, each were reports about you. Anything that he could get his hands on.

He glances from his desk and out the large windows of his study. The light of the room in which you were staying was on. Showing your outline, you were changing. A soft sigh rolls off his tongue, placing the glass down, and sliding into his chair, wrapping the scarf around his neck and over his nose. Slowly inhaling.

He watches you calmly. It was like you were dancing. As if you danced from him. He hums, tilting his head to the side, feeling drowsiness take over. Almost lulling him to sleep, with the dull buzz of wine. Until a noticeable figure joins you. The prince of Briar Valley. Pressing you against his form, your silhouette merging into one as he furiously kisses you.

Rollo’s eyes widen, his breath becoming trapped in his throat. He clenches the scarf in hand, watching the intense scene unfold before him. You don’t attempt to push him away but pull him closer. He can’t tear his eyes away, his pants growing tight. He runs a hand through his hair. Tugging at his waistband and swallowing thickly.

The fires crackle wildly and dangerously, speaking and mocking the man who sits at his desk. His eyes glued to the shadow scene before him, as if a magician had cast a spell. Cum soiling the sheer scarf, his cock twitching in the warm air. As the man leans back in his chair, watching the shifting and molding of your bodies making love, chest heaving.

He nearly jumps from his seat, as if emerald green eyes peered at him, fully capable of seeing him and the shameful actions he committed.

Taunting his treasure. Rollo Flamm makes a vow.

He will have you one day. A sinful man like him will pull and pick at every fiber of your being. And you will love him.

Mais si vous choisissez de le renier et de vous enfuir, il prendra une allumette et brûlera tout le NRC.

Until the day he captures you.

ⓒ 2023 love-thanatopsis — all rights reserved. Any sort of plagiarizing, copying, modifying, translating, editing of my works are strictly prohibited.

[entername322]

Possession

Irene (Red Velvet) x Male Reader

Length: 8348 words

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Jealously is a powerful thing, if it ever hold control of someone they will start doing unspeakable things to overcome it.

Of course, jealousy is a normal part of human life. It drives them to go beyond their limit and achieve something great.

Unfortunately, it's not always the case. Sometimes, jealousy will drive people mad, ruining their life, and the people around them.

You are witnessing this first hand.

The image of Irene's unbridled rage and her eyes that's filled with killing intent is causing you to stop breathing.

"Babeeee"

Her voice is no longer the cold and spine shivering voice. It's all filled with anger and murderous rage.

The reason for her anger? A phone number.

You and Irene is currently getting a coffee together, it's part of your, lunch dates that you had everyday with her.

Since Irene is a bit tired from a long photoshoot session she sat down at your table as you went to order a coffee for both of you.

Unfortunately, when you ordered the cashier to smile to you a bit too much, according to Irene's standard that is.

Her piercing gaze is threatening you, a threat you took seriously as you hurry up and order your coffee.

Once you got your order you quickly scurry away to sit in front of Irene.

Only for her to find, a phone number on your cup.

"Babe, I, I didn't do anything"

Dating her for two months you've seen this outburst from her multiple time already.

Today is exceptionally bad, due to her morning schedule she didn't get to cuddle with you and go to the gym with you.

This few hours of separation has made her anxious and paranoid due to the idea of you cheating on her.

An idea, that you have never, ever, even think about indulging.

"You, flirted with her, while I'm here. You're cheating on me right in front of my eyes?"

You were scared when she starts going like this. Now you still do, but there's a few things you can start do to in order to calm her down.

"Baby, you know I won't do that"

First, move next to her, wrap your long arms around her shoulder.

"Oh, is that so? Then what's this?"

As she grabbed the coffee cup you do the second move, caressing her arms.

"I don't know, I really don't. You said you can read my lips, don't tell me you didn't read what I said"

Third, kiss her temple.

"I see what she wanted to say, she wanted to know more about you, she wants you and you just nourish her curiosity and interest for you, while I'm here"

Fourth, use your free hand to grab hers and start to caress the back of her hand with your thumb.

"You know that's not true, come on, your boyfriend is there and you're busy checking out the waitress? Are you serious?"

Fifth, counter her jealousy by acting jealous yourself.

"You know that's not true"

Once she starts to pout then you can start pressing her down.

"Really? Because if you do see what I said then you will know I've oepnely said I'm here with MY girlfriend. But you didn't see it don't you? You're busy watching the waitress"

Press her down again until she start squirming in your embrace uncomfortably.

"You, I didn't see that"

Once she puts her head down, the bomb has been diffused.

"See, stop doing that, you know I don't like it when you're busy watching other people in our date as much as you don't like it when I talk to other people"

You, really don't care, but you find acting jealous like this always made her meek and quiet due the guilt she's feeling.

"I'm sorry"

Her shaky voice means she might start to cry soon.

"Stop it, now come on, tell me about your day"

Deciding to not let her cause a scene you pulled her head to your shoulder and start to play with her hairs.

"Hmmm, I hate it, I have to wake up so early to leave your cuddles. I want to stay in bed with you but nooooo, I have to go out in the wild to take some stupid pictures"

She pulled down your scarf and start sniffing on it, it's her way of unwinding.

"They told you to go out in this cold weather?"

To be honest, you've start to like her, more than you dare to admit. You're falling her, everyday a bit deeper than before.

"I know, I need to complain about this, I will not have our cuddling session be interrupted ever again"

Every morning, around 5-6 you will be woken up by her. She would start to move around and force you to cuddle her.

It's not that bad, she will play with your hair, sing some songs, tell you about her dreams.

You will be half asleep so all the things she did felt like a dream.

It's always the calmest part of the day.

Surprisingly, she doesn't care about the dreams of you cheating.

You would've think she will start to explode whe she had those dreams.

Yet the one time she does it she just start nibbling on your neck or chest or hands while asking you for words of reassurance that you won't leave her.

It's cute honestly, something about morning Irene is so needy and yet, very calm.

"What were you thinking?"

Irene bopped your nose because you were lost in thoughts.

"No, I was just thinking about our morning cuddle"

She smiled, well, you can't really see it because of her mask but her eyes told you she's smiling.

"Let's go home babe, I want to continue our cuddles"

"You know I can do that babe"

"Tchhh, just wait, once they approve of my request you will be able to do whatever you want"

Her request, is to be my personal mentor so that I don't have to come to the building everyday and just learn from her.

It was such an odd request that my own instructor actually pulled me to the side and asked me what I did.

You lied, well actually you stuttered so much that Irene managed to come in and take over the conversation herself.

The idea of you two dating has been rumoured between the people in the company. Of course, it's just a romour for now, beside nobody want to entertain the idea of you two actually dating because it sounds so outlandish.

"Babe, you know your boss would start asking questions if you keep pushing them for it"

"I know, it's okay baby, I got this handled"

You sighed and just relax on your seat, there's no point of discouraging her, she won't budge.

"When it went through you're moving with me okay?"

She rubbed her head to your neck while her hands hugged you.

"What's wrong with my place?"

"I don't live there, that's what's wrong"

"You might as well, half of the clothes there is yours. All the product in the bathroom is yours, you sleep there like everyday almost"

"Exactly, I might as well, so move in to my place. Yours is too small, and I want you to live like the king you are. Alongside your queen"

"Hey, I work hard for that place"

"I know baby, I know, and I'm proud of you, with all my heart I always does"

"Haaaaa, fine, but I want to have my oven there"

"Yesssss, I will install a few for you at my place, oh god I want to see you baked for us, while I'm watching you and clean the house. We will be like a married couple"

You bake, it's something you've learn from your mom. It started as a way to help her bake faster because you love her cookies and bread, now it's just something you do during your weekend.

"Yeah sure babe, whatever you want"

She looked at you with longing eyes, ready to pounce you at any moment.

"Don't kiss me you weirdo"

You flicked her forehead making her dig herself deeper into her hug.

"I love you, I love you so much"

She sobbed, she always does that when she get a little to emotional, which is easy when it involves you.

"I love you too babe"

The coffe break ends not long after that, she reluctantly drive you back to the company and let you go back to your training room. She has stopped escorting you, giving you less anxiety from getting found out.

The training proceed as usual. Being instructed by Irene you've grown exceptionally well in term of flexibility.

Of course this frustrate Irene at first, but after you promise her you will not stop working out with her she start seeing vocal about how proud she is with your growth.

"Listen up, your next test is in Friday. This time it would be an individual test. There will be a bunch of the company idols who would be there and watch you"

Immediately everyone went to panic mode. That includes you, for a totally different reason.

Fuck, is Irene gonna cause a scene? I need to talk to her, I need to fuck her too before the test to calm her down.

"This time, we will not be pushing you to perform a song. We need you to perform your best skill. Rapping or singing or dancing will suffice, pick one, report back to me and we will set it up. Good luck"

The trainee went to panic mode

"What are you performing blue?"

"A song"

"Yeah I know you will sing but what song"

"A song that I made"

"You made a song"

The others heard our conversation and immediately starts to pester me.

"Guys listen, yes I made a song, it was a while ago, I just think it would be a perfect song for me to perform"

"Shit, did you made it for your girlfriend"

Funny story actually, Irene loves to leaves hickey on you, it starts with somewhere hidden, your chest and shoulder. Slowly it moves, to your arm, forearm, neck, hands. It get found out eventually, the instructor said I can date someone, just have some decency.

"Yeah, I think, she will force me to sing it there, something about, showing her off"

Irene doesn't know about the song, you and to work extra hard to record it behind her back as a backup incase she grew mad.

"Oh shit, fuck I need to make a song by Friday"

"Yeah good luck dude, you had trouble remembering lyrics"

"Hey, fuck you at least I'm not tripping while moving to position in every choreography"

"Hey fuck you too-"

You used the chaos to slip away and went to Irene's office.

"Who is it?"

You hear her annoyed voice when you knock on her door.

"It's me"

Immediately you heard loud footsteps and the door opened showing her smile and excited face.

"I miss you"

You had lunch, and finished your coffe break around 1. It's only 4 now.

"I miss you too babe"

You ruffled her hair as she pulled you inside.

"You're early, you want to go home now?"

Well, it's kinda hard to do that when she's pinning you to the door.

"I can wait for you to finish your job"

She smiled before making out with you. Her hands reached inside your sweater and feel up your abs.

Suddenly someone knocked on the door.

"Unnie, it's me"

I felt my heart stopped, Irene doesn't seems to be as panicked as me. She's more annoyed than anything for being interrupted.

"Sit at the couch"

You hurriedly move the couch, fixing your hair and sweater.

"Yes Seung?"

You see Irene opened the door and peek out.

"Unnie let's go to a dinner, some of my friend would be there, you'll love them"

Oh god she gonna set her up with someone else. Fuck please don't do that. Aghhh, why am I jealous. No, wait I'm not jealous, I'm just scared Irene will snap. Yeah, that's it.

A foolish denial.

"Sorry Seung, I had plans for tonight"

"Come on, it'll be fun, let's go"

You saw Wendy pushed through the door, opening it to find, you.

"H-h-h-hello sunbaenim"

You shyly nod.

"Oh my god, I knew it, you two are dating. I know those rumours must stem from somewhere"

Wendy immediately straddled towards you and sit next to you. Way too close for your comfort, or Irene's.

"I forgot your name, wait you're that blue guy right?"

"Y-y-y-yeah that's my nickname"

"Hohoho, so how long have you been dating? Wait, did you know unnie before you become a trainee?"

"That's enough Seung, he's not my boyfriend"

Unbeknownst to you and Wendy, Irene has slam the door closed and now is standing angrily beside Wendy.

"Really? You don't sounds convincing unnie"

She's right, Irene looked like she's ready to tear Wendy to pieces.

"It's true, now get out, we're having an important discussion"

Irene crossed her arms as her body is giving out sinister aura.

"Well, I'm sorry for interrupting here. So you're single then?"

Wendy turned to you making you panic even more. You tried to say something smart, but you can't say anything beyond some stuttering.

"Well that's good, you seems cute, you want to grab lunch sometimes?"

Wendy grabbed your hand and hold it making Irene even more angry, and you, more scared.

You wanted to say no, but it comes out as  a mixed of Japanese and Korean giberish.

"Come on, I'll treat you, in fact I will give you some vocal training as well, just for a lunch together"

Wendy ran her fingers through your chest making your heart stop. This is it, this is how you gonna die, some little flirty rascal gonna make your girlfriend explode.

"ENOUGH"

Irene roared, you are scared, Wendy is amused.

"Admit it"

"Yes, he's MY BOYFRIEND, now GET OFF him"

Wendy let you go before smiling to Irene. Irene is furious, you see a vein in her forehead, something you've only seen once before, when you two walked into your ex.

"Heheheh, you're so cute when you're mad unnie, right blue?"

Don't turn to me like that, fuck you're gonna kill me even harder.

"Enough get out"

Irene pulled Wendy by the alear and dragged her out.

"Awawawawawawaw, you have to tell me later unnie"

Wendy said before Irene slam the door on her face.

The room got quiet, you can hear your heartbeat, might be the last time you'll ever hear it again.

Then you heard the sounds of the door locking.

You held your breath as Irene stare you down. Her gaze is a laser vision that's melting you in your seat

"Baby"

You let out a small whimper as Irene start walking towards you. Herr steps is fast and loud, making your heartbeat raise as well.

"You have some nerve babe"

She grabbed you by the face before pushing you till you lay down on the couch.

"I didn't do anything"

You know she doesn't believe that.

"You let her grab you, feel your body up. You're MY BOYFRIEND, and this, this is all MINE"

She grabbed every part of you that Wendy touched earlier.

"Babe, I, I don't know what to say to her"

"Tell her no, punch her for touching you without your consent"

She roared again making some of her spit drip to your face.

"Unless..... You are consenting to it"

Her face contorted even deeper, you felt her fingers in your face become cold and chilly.

"Baby you know I don't"

"Then why did you let her"

"Because I thought she's your friends, I don't want to hurt your friends"

"You're my boyfriend that's more important than a friend"

Alright, step one, wrap your hand around her.

"You know I can't do that to her. Being a good boyfriend means respecting your girlfriend's friends"

Step two, caress her back.

"So you just gonna let her slobber all over you?"

Step three, kiss her cheek.

"No, I will tell her to back down, I was just thinking about something else"

Step four, caress her cheek.

"About what? Her perfume? Her soft hands? Her beauty? About cheating on me with her?"

Modified step five, attack her with a sudden outbursts of jealousy.

"About you saying I'm not your boyfriend, didn't she tried to hook you up with her friends? You didn't tell her you have a boyfriend already didn't you? You even denied me in front of her"

She was stunned.

"You know how painful it is? She's your friend, you said it before you love her and she has helped you through many painful times. You confide in her and yet you can't even admit to her about me? Why? Because you're ashamed? Of ME?"

Attack her again.

"You know that's not true"

She winced as her face showed her remorse.

"Is it? Does anyone know you're dating me. Wait no, does anybody knows you're dating anyone? That you're not available anymore?"

Her eyes turned glassy as guilt is filling her face.

"No right? Because you don't care, you..... You don't care about me"

You whispered the last part to home in the idea that you're hurt.

Tears immediately fell from her eyes.

"I care baby, I care about you I'm sorry, please I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry please I'm sorry babe"

She wailed as she hugged you again.

You felt glad, as if, you managed get something off your chest. You think it's just the crisis that you've averted, but no, it's something more than that. You're glad, because you managed to tell her what you've been feeling for awhile now.

I'm in love with her.

Alas you admit it, quite easy isn't it. You love her, despite her uncontrollable anger and possessiveness. Despite her stalker behaviour and immeasurable obsession with you. You love her.

As you were lost in your thoughts Irene continue bawling her eyes out in your embrace.

"Baby"

You sighed as you caressed her hair.

"I'm sorry babe, please don't hate me, please, please, please"

She raised her face that's messed by her tears, her eyes is red and her expression is, pitiful.

You did pick up on what she said, she doesn't want to hate you. It never occured to her you might leave her, or, maybe she have plans to make sure that didn't happen.

"Alright, I'll forgive you this once"

She cried again as she threw herself to you. Her lips crashed against yours before her wet cheeks touch yours.

Her tongue aggressively intrude your mouth and start to grab yours. You reciprocate and both of your tongue starts to have a little fight inside your mouth.

She tugged yours into her mouth before greedily bite and suck on it. You felt your tongue getting numb from her eagerness.

After your tongue she desperately move to your lips, biting it and pulling it before sucking it in.

Slowly you moved her hand to her shirt, unbuttoning it.

"Babyyyy~"

She moans as her hands start to play with your hair. She tried to grind you but her tight skirt is on her way so she pulled it up exposing her pale butt before she grinded on your thighs.

You unbuttoned her shirt and pull it apart exposing her white naked body. Your hand creep up to grab and massages her tits through her bra.

"I love you"

She moans again before she sit up. She throw away her shirt before unclasping her bra and skirt.

You pulled up your sweater making her eyes your naked upper half with lust and hunger.

She pulled down your pants exposing your half erect cock.

Without waiting any moment she stuffed her mouth with your cock.

Her tongue is rubbing all your weak spot as her lips is sucking in it greedily.

"Babeee"

You groaned and bucked your hips forward pushing your cock deeper into her throat.

"Keep going babe"

You grabbed her hair and start playing with it.

She let out a muffled mewl before she fucked her own throat with your cock.

For awhile you only hear her groans and moan before she finally get it out of her throat.

She climbed forward, pulling her panties to the side and aligning her wet entrance with your fairly lubed member.

Then, she plunged it deep into her.

"Aghhhhh, babe"

She moans as her back straightened up to a cowgirl position. You see the jolt of ecstasy coursing through her body.

You grabbed her hips as she started to move.

"I'm your girlfriend, I'm your girlfriend, fuck me like I'm yours. I'm yours and only yours babe, fuck me harder"

You giggled for a second, you're just laying down there as she move, what does she means fuck her harder.

You grabbed her breast. Your thumb rubbed her erect and sensitive nipples.

You love how expressive she is during sex. Her body always shivers and jerked as you find her weak points.

"You want to cum baby?"

You said seeing her cries getting louder and more needy.

"Please, let me cum baby"

You smiled.

"Well you can't"

She immediately let out a deep whine as she dropped and touch your abs for support.

You pick up her slack and start pounding her. She let our cries and monas as she bite your chest.

"Fuck you're such an irresistible demon"

You slapped her as making her body jerked forward.

"I want to cum babeeeee"

She whined.

"Hold it in babe, you know you can do it"

She can, but your ass slapping and cheek kisses doesn't make it easy for her.

"Fuck, I'm coming babe"

You felt your cock started to throb. She felt it too as her face start showing anticipation.

"I'm cumming"

Your groan blended with her cries and moans as you plunged deep inside her.

You felt your sperm shooting out to her as her juices started to drench your crotch.

"Ahhhh, ahhhh, ahhhh, I love you babe"

As both of your orgasm pass she slumped down to your chest, drained.

"You should, clean your couch later"

You panted and laughed.

"No, I want your smell here too"

She smiled and start kissing you.

The make out session almost last as long as the sex.

"Fuck, I'm cold, let's get dressed babe"

You kissed her cheek, she nodded and get off you before you two get dressed.

"You want to go home?"

Irene fixed her hair before pushing you to her chair and sit on your lap.

"I'm sorry baby, I will tell everyone I'm in a relationship okay? Don't be mad at me please, I love you"

She gave you a cute pout, something that you can't ever say no to.

"Alright"

You played with her hairs as she dropped her head on your shoulder. Her finger draw around on your chest as her other hand is holding one of yours.

Time seems to pass slowly with her in your arms. Next thing you know it's already dark outside.

"I almost forgot why I'm here, the trainees will have a test this Friday and all the idols in SM is invited, that includes you right?"

She perked up with a smile.

"Yes, finally I can watch you"

She haven't checked the trainee out again after her first time with Seulgi and Wendy so she's been pestering for you to perform for her. Something you have swiftly evade for awhile.

"Don't expect too much babe, we get to do what we want so I'll be singing there"

One of your hand start to caress her smooth and soft thighs.

"Hmmmm, I want to hear you sing again"

You sang for her once, and she loved it. Although you're not really sure that's a good indicator since she loves everything you do.

"Yeah, then be ready for Friday"

She smiled happily and kissed you.

"Come on, let's go home"

Friday is coming rather quickly, you did managed to had a few rehearsals which boost your confidence.

"You're ready for to day baby?"

Irene woke you up from your daydream.

"Yeah, I'm ready for anything"

She smiled and kissed your cheek.

"I'll see you at lunch okay?"

You confidently walk to your training room. The schedule is, preparation till lunch, then lunch, then performance.

The others have some visible nervousness on their face and body language. You don't, you just get into a corner, put on your song and rehearse it quietly a few times before putting on your normal shuffle.

Before lunch your instructor came, he then put on a paper at the door.

"Listen up, this will be the test order, it will start at 1 so don't be late"

He then scurry off while the trainee crowded the paper.

"Fuck I'm first"

"Shit, why am I so early"

"Oh no, oh god I'm gonna be sick"

"Oh my god, I'm second to last"

Everyone immediately let out their panic and relief, you slowly walked to it and scanned for your name.

Last, dead last, you had to wait the other 29 trainee to finish their performance before you get to.

"Isn't this being divided bases on our performance? All vocal are last"

That's weird.

"Fuck, why did I choose rap"

"Why are we last?"

You asked, not sure to who.

"I think, since our company is very strict with vocals they put it last so more idols could be late and watch our performance"

"Shit, you might be right, they saved best for last"

"Best my ass, I'm gonna sing like a mule"

"They put blue dead last as the ending performance"

"Fuck, that means I'm first since I'm terrible"

You, don't think that's true. However it is true you're the best singer in the bunch. Everyone acknowledge that.

In fact one of the reason you still around despite your lackluster dance is because your vocal is too good to pass on.

"I'm, going out for lunch"

You sighed and walked away.

You find Irene already waiting for you by the elevator.

"Don't come here babe, what if people see you"

You said quietly, despite the empty place you don't want to take any risk.

"It's fine, let's go get lunch, I am hungry"

She grabbed your hand and drag you all the way to her car.

"I'm last"

She raised her eyebrow.

"I'm the last performance"

She smiled happily.

"They always save the best for last. The idols that attend would tend to come late so it's just tradition to let the best comes last"

They do think I'm the best, alright, no pressure at all.

"We're here, come on"

The lunch was fine, not much happens between the time you arrived this morning and the time you're having lunch so there's nothing to talk about.

"Noona I need my hand to eat"

"I can feed you, come on, say Ahhhhh"

You stare at the spoon she's holding to your face with a tired expression.

"Ahhhhh"

She happily feeds you and gave you some extra flavour with her kiss.

"So, what song are you performing?"

"It's called, 'Love me' by RealestK, you ever heard about it?"

"No, but I'll listen to it after this, it's a romantic songs right?"

"Yeah, I think, you would love it"

Her smile blinded you for a moment before you felt her lips crashing up against yours.

I should buy a lip moisturizer soon.

"Thanks babe, you know me so well"

Irene stayed quiet after that, happily cuddle and feed you for the rest of the lunch.

You did managed to ask her for no coffee break so you can prepare for the performance.

"Fine, but after you perform you're coming straight home with me"

Not like you have any other destination you want to go to.

Back in the practice room you can feel the anxiousness suffocate you the moment you walk in.

"Alright, we will be starting very shortly, don't be nervous, your senior will be nice"

You walk up to him to ask something.

"Sorry sir, can I excuse myself after the performance, I have a thing I need to attend to"

Usually they are pretty flexible with training time, especially when you're good enough to skip some and still perform well.

"Hmmm, if you have a flawless performance you can. If not then you will have to wait until I start giving comments out. You know how I go, the worst always gets the last comments"

You nodded happily and promise you will impress him, something that he said he'll look forward too.

You sit at the back leaning to the wall while closing your eyes.

Not long you heard a few footsteps walked in to the room.

There's like 8 different idols there watching you closely.

Irene, Wendy and Seulgi is here. There's Taeyong and Mark from NCT, Taeyeon, holy shit Kai from Exo. Then your eyes fell to the last two people, Karina from Aespa, and her member, Giselle, your ex.

You follows the other traine to bow and greet them. A little absent minded from seeing your ex.

She's here, the girl you tried to chase, the girl that made you apply and become a trainee here. She's here, yet, it, doesn't feel like you're happy.

Of course Irene is here and she's gonna flip out when she hears that Gisele is your ex. But it's not the fear of her anger, it's rather, the fear of ruining your surprise for her by ruining her mood.

Good god, you are in love with her.

You swallowed your worries for a second before watching your instructor give some greeting and called up the first trainee.

Relax, there's 29 trainee, each perform a full song, so add the preparation and comment it would take 5-10 minutes for each. It's 2 hour long, dear god, you felt your energy drained already.

It's fine, maybe Aeri will just leave, she's never the patient type.

You glance to the idols seating area, you find 3 sets of eyes watching you. One is Wendy, who's smiling mischievously, one is Irene, she looked like she's just observing you but dating her for awhile you know she's thirsting over you. Last is Aeri, she's, looking at you with sadness and pain.

You decided to look away, focusing on your friends performance.

The first few performance was, meh, you are never into rap so you're not sure how good their rap was.

The idols seems to be given a paper form that they used to write after each trainees performance.

You were really hoping after the first hour they will just start to leave. No, it's actually worst, more of the come. Chen and Baekhyun from Exo, alongside Taeyeon, holy shit the vocal overlord has come to watch you sing.

For the first time you felt nervousness creep up your back.

Your hand starts fidgeting with your clothes, your leg is jittery and your heart is all over the place.

Something Irene notices almost immediately.

She watched over you openly now, which take your attention.

Your gaze met, and just like the first time this happens, the world stop.

Through unknown means she sends encouragement through her eyes towards you.

For a second you felt your heart stopped again, before a new rush of foreign power encapsulate you.

You smiled, giving her reassurance that you're fine. She smiled back before watching the trainee performance once again.

Your turn is coming very slowly, you patiently waited for it.

Sometimes you glanced to the idols to find Irene watching you. Sometimes Wendy watches you before whispering something to Irene that prompted her to get slap. Sometimes Aeri also watch you, making you feel a little nervous that Irene might catch on.

Thankfully the dreaded wait end as you walk to the middle of the room, you felt more confident than ever.

"Uhmmm, hello, good evening sunbaenim. Today, I will be performing a song"

They all nodded while watching you with anticipation.

"This song, was made by me, for my, girlfriend"

A smile creept up to your face. Irene was stunned, you see Wendy was smiling proudly while giving you a thumbs up.

The other idols is intrigued seeing someone has made a song to perform in. Aeri is looking at you with complex emotions.

"Did you want us to review if it fits for your girlfriend?"

Seulgi asked making the others laughs.

"Oh no, she loves it already. She wants me to... Well, in her own words brag about her in front of my senior. Since I can't lie to her, I just agreed"

They laughed and excitedly put down any phone or the paper form they're holding to watch you.

"Alright, go ahead start"

With your instructor queue he started the song, and your voice blend with the instruments as you start singing.

*The song is Get You by Daniel Caesar, just omit Kali Uchis's part*

Everyone loves it, your trainee was stunned, your instructor is proud and the idols is vibing to it.

"Whooooooooooo, who would've thought I'll get youuuuuuu"

When the chorus hits the idols let out a cheer hyping you up.

For the duration of the song your eyes never leaves Irene except for some part where you close it to 'vibe' better with the song.

In this moment in time, the world doesn't matter for both of you, all you care about, is eachother.

The full room felt empty, other people seems to vanish as you continue singing for her.

"Whooooooooooo, who would've thought I'll get youuuuuuu, oh yeah, oh yeah babeeee"

The last chorus come to an end as the room went quiet.

The silent last approximately 0.0001 second before a loud cheer and claps boomed from all over the room.

Another smile creept up on you, you made it, you fucking made a room filled with successful idols impressed by your performance.

"Wooo, can I be your girlfriend?"

You heard Wendy screamed before she got slapped again by Irene.

"Well, I have no comment, your performance was well done. I have yet to find a problem with your singing and the sing itself was great. Does the guests have any comments?"

Your instructor gave you a thumbs up before looking at the guests juries.

"Nothing to say here"

"Yeah, good song, good voice, honestly good boyfriend"

"That's right, did you made the song all by yourself?"

Hearing Taeyeon asked you with intrigue you felt a blush creep up upon you.

"Uhhh, yes, I record all the instruments myself"

The idols all smile at you.

"Wow, that was a good song, maybe you can start making more. We've been needing a few more songs writers around"

You would love to, music is your passion, being an idol is just your silly childish move to return to your ex.

Now that you've seen her, you realised you've move on, and, maybe it's time to change your career path a little

"Thank you, I've been thinking about it"

The rest start giving you some compliment and cheers before your instructor sends you back to sit with your friends.

"Let's go blue"

Your friends immediately swarmed you and congratulate you.

As the idols leaves the room the trainees start to wait nervously for evaluation.

"First thing first, blue you were incredible out there, I have nothing to say"

The greatest form of evaluation, you've heard it like 3-4 times before during the 6 months of training you got here.

"Let's go blue"

"Make a song blue, I will pay you with spicy jokbal"

"Sorry guys, I have join the no comment club, so I'll be leaving"

You stood up with smile plastering all over you.

You slipped away and went outside, to find the elevator just closes leaving Irene there, waiting for you.

She saw you walk out and immediately ran to you.

"Babe"

You grunted as she jumped to you.

"You rascal, what a liar, you said you're gonna perform that Love Me song, I was loving that song and you just turn around and lied to me"

Her face is beaming with smiles. You're holding her by the but as she wrapped her leg around your stomach.

"I lied, are you gonna punish me babe"

You grinned, she laughed before cupping your face and kissing you.

"I love you"

She whispered.

"I love you too"

You whispered back.

She dropped off of you and grabbed your hand.

"Let's go home, I want to undress you and eat you whole"

You laughed seeing how impatient she become.

"Did you like the song babe?"

"I love it, I want a studio recording version and play it 24/7"

She can't help herself and kiss you again.

"I need some Chapstick"

You laughed.

"Come here"

She pulled one out of her bag and apply it to your lips. It was cute, except that you have to squat a little awkwardly since you're too tall for her.

"Perfect, I want your lips to stay as perfect as they are"

She grabbed your hand and nuzzle her head in your embrace as you wait for the elevator.

Somehow, someway, nobody saw you two being this lovey dovey all the way to her car.

Once inside she immediately drive you all the way, to her place.

"So, moving in"

You smiled as you walk with her to her apartment.

"I was thinking already babe, I don't want an apartment, we need a house. A big yet cozy house just for the two of us"

She bite your hand out of excitement.

"Hahahaha, I can't let you do that, I can't afford a house right now"

"Of course I'm gonna pay"

"Come on you know how I feel about that. Just be patient okay babe? Let my career took of a little. It's time for me to change my trajectory to a producer rather an idol. That way I can spend more time with you"

Her eyes is starstrucked, the love shaped iris is definitely real now. She starts running the hallway with you in her arms.

Once she get to her place you didn't have time to admire it before she hungrily kiss you.

"You want to ruin your couch again babe?"

She smiled and dragged you to the living room couch.

Pushing you to sit on it she stand in front of you while she seductively take off her clothes.

"Fuck you're so hot"

Your comment riled her even more, she took of her whole outfits before sitting on your lap fully naked.

"I want your cum to paint my inside babe"

"Heheheh, isn't that what we always do"

"I want it, in all three holes"

Your dick jumped up hearing her request. She smiled feeling your cock pushing on to her vagina.

She get off you and grabbed your cock through your loose sweat pants.

"So fucking needy"

She smiled proudly before kissing your tip. She kissed your shaft and all the way until she reached the base.

Then she bite your pants and pulled it down to expose your fully erect cock.

"Look at this thing babe, how come I haven't been torn apart"

She draw closer to your cock, letting it rest on her face.

The pure beautiful white face looks so hot with your cock covering half of it. Her breath send ticklish sensation through your cock.

"Are you gonna suck it?"

She smiled victoriously seeing you grow impatient.

Her small thick lips kissed the base of your cock and slowly kissed the bottom part of your cock all the way to the tip.

"Hmmmm, my favourite snack"

Seeing your leaking precum she used a finger to wipe it before sucking on that finger.

"Babe"

You groaned as more pre cum starts to leak. She smiled before she sticks out her tongue, gently licking your tip.

Slowly she bring your cock into her mouth. All the way to the base, you can feel her throat tightening around it as her tongue is licking around.

"So fucking unfair"

You groaned again.

Her eyes locked on to yours, filled with enthusiasm and pride before she slowly started to move.

It started slow, and sensual, then it become faster and faster, until she frantically fucked her own face on your cock.

"Aghhhh, I'm cumming"

You felt both of her hand grabbed your thighs as she plunged it down deep to her throat.

Then your sperm rush through your cock going immediately to her throat.

As your ejaculation end she slowly pulled out your wet cock and slobbers all over it.

"Second hole babe"

She stood in front of you, showing off her bright pink panties.

You grabbed her thighs making her shivers, your hand made its way to her panties before forcefully ripping it off.

"So impatient"

She giggled before pushing you to lean back on the couch.

Throwing herself into your lap she pulled your cock to align with her wet entrance before dropping down.

"So impatient"

You mock her, but all you hear in return is her moans and grunts.

"Play with my tits babe"

She begged, you grabbed both of her ass assisting her movement while your mouth went to bite and suck on her nipples.

"Aggghhhhh, fuck me"

You can feel her body pulsating as she's going through an orgasm.

"How rude, did I let you cum?"

You raised your head and bite her ear.

"Babeeeee, you're so mean, I've been holding it since you sing that song earlier"

"Well, you should keep waiting"

You take control of the pace by grabbing her waist and used her like an inanimate sexdoll.

"Fuck baby, I'm cumming, I'm cumming, I'm cumming"

You felt a sharp pain on your neck as she tried to stop her cries.

"So fucking desperate babe?"

You whispered in her ears.

"Ughhh"

She grunted before biting harder on your neck.

"Fuck, babe"

You grunted, she knows that's your weak spot, getting hickeys are very sexy for both you and her.

"I'm cumming"

You whimpered in her ears.

The second ejaculations is harder than the first one, you thrust into her so forcefully she almost got thrown off your lap.

As you both whine, moan and whimper in eachother ears your orgasm slowly passed, leaving nothing but your fatigue.

"Holy.... Shit...."

"Hehehehe, my last hole is waiting for you babe"

Your cock went hard again and all your fatigue went away as if it was nothing but a lie.

"Oooohhh, so hungry for it, bring me to the bed babe"

She wrapped her arms and leg around you as you carry her to her bedroom.

Once there you throw her to her king sized bed. She crawled to the bedside stand and pull out a bottle of lube.

"I've been waiting to give you this, I hope you like it"

Her insecure and shyness made you even more eager to take her anal virginity.

She squirted the lube all over your cock before giving it to you.

"Your turn babe"

She turned around giving you her ass in a doggystyle position.

You squirt it around the rim, before some to your hand.

"Let's warm it up a second babe"

Your finger teases her asshole making her body shiver in eagerness.

Then you push one finger in, then two, and three. She's done this before.

"So slutty, did you masturbate with your ass this whole time?"

You smacked her ass, the ripple from your palm travel all the way to her body that's quivering.

"I want to keep my virginity for someone special, for you. So I used my ass, to train it, also for you"

She moaned as your finger is playing around with her ass.

"Dirty little slut, then since you're ready, I'm going in"

You see her toe curls from the anticipation.

You align your cock to her asshole, the tip touches the entrance making her body shake from excitement.

Slowly you pushed it in, making her let out a scream.

"Godddd"

And goddamn you love making her scream.

"Slowly babe, you're too big, bigger than any of my toy"

You slow down your descent, watching her body language and adjust your speed accordingly.

Then, all of it went in, making her moans.

"Can I move babe?"

You licked her earlobe making her shivers.

"Slowly, please"

She sounds so vulnerable, after months of getting tormented by her you love being the one in power this time.

You slowly pulled back, then pushed it in, then pulled it back.

Slowly you start pounding her, she adapted to it quickly.

Then you start pounding her for real. Her ass ripples everytime you pressed up against it, her exposed back is so alluring that you decided to kissed it.

Then as your lips touch her spine you see her body shuddered.

A mischievous smile grow on your face. Using one finger you ran it along her spine.

The effect of your actions can be seen as the tremor was sent all over her body.

"You like this babe?"

She only whimpered and nod.

"God you're such a delicate girl, let me think you tonight"

You leaned forward and used your hand to support yourself before you start fucking her harder.

Giving a kiss to her male you find another sensitive point that sends her to overdrive.

At one point her hand lose its strength as her upper body slumped down to the bed.

Her hands lay lifelessly around her. Her tongue sticks out of her mouth as her eyes is staring off to the distance.

The look of pure ecstasy that she have pushed you over the edge as you plunged deep into her and spray all your white nectar all over her inside.

Slowly you pull out your cock. You saw her gaping asshole is slowly blinking at you as if it's asking for more.

"Tired babe?"

You fixed the hair that's covering her face.

"Give me a minute"

She panted, you drop beside her, pulling her to your embrace.

She nuzzle up closer, and that's how t.he rest of the night goes.

At least, that's what you think.

A few minute later you felt her hand gently stroking your cock.

"You want more?"

You can't help but laugh.

She looks at you with needy expression, biting her lip, fuck me eyes, you can't say no to her.

That night, you came inside her 6 times, 2 for each hole. She came, 12 times? You lost count after awhile.

Finally as the night draw closer you and Irene crawl to the bed, fully exhausted.

The bed was messy and wet from your sweat. You both grown accustomed to it and just snuggle together before pulling the bed cover over you.

"I love you babe"

"I love you too"

The next day you were woken up by her again. She is leaving some hickeys for your chest.

"Morning"

You grunted and while closing your eyes, you reached out to play around with her hair.

"Are you going to ask your instructor to change your job? I will love to work with you in the studio for hours"

She stopped bitting your chest and just rest her head on it.

"I don't think we will do much 'work' together you know"

"Hehehehe, yeah, but I want to spend my days with you"

You suddenly had flashes of Aeri in your mind, making you frown.

"What's with that look, were you thinking about another girl while being with me?"

You flinched, she's really good at this.

"You are"

You opened your eyes to see hers is filled with rage.

"I, don't want to ruin our night last night"

Step one, hug her.

"What are you talking about"

The coldness in her voice shows step one is not working.

"You remember about how I chase one of my ex here?"

Step two, caress her back.

"Did she contact you yesterday, before our romantic night?"

It's not working as well.

"Well, it's not that, she contacted me, I saw her yesterday, during the test"

As her face contorted you see her mind races trying to digest what you mean. You initiated step three by grabbing her hand and kissed it.

"She's there? She's one of my coworker?"

Not working again, you're in trouble.

"It's, Aeri-"

The sharp crisp sound of a slap echoed the room. As the echoes subsided you felt the pain coming in to your cheek. The pain is blaring in your mind, in contrast to the silence in the room.

"She was your ex and you didn't tell me?"

The silence was broken yet again by her thunderous scream.

"I'm sorry babe, I was just-"

The second slap was much more painful than the first one.

"That's why you want to be a producer. So you can meet me, and your ex, you want to cheat on me, you were, cheating on me"

The anger from her voice is gone only leaving only her paranoia and delusion.

"Of course not babe, I will be your personal producer"

Your word doesn't reach her as she was busy mumbling.

"Bab-"

Your voice was stuck in your throat, mostly because her hand has blocked it from coming out, along with the air from your lung.

"You are cheating on me"

Think fast, how do you diffuse this situation.

"I'm not, let me talk please"

Your words is nothing but a squeak as you're struggling for air.

"I'm not letting you cheat again, not now, not ever"

You tried to say something but the oxygen is ruining out.

"You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine, You're mine"

The eyes filled with nothing but a void on an emotionless face was the last thing you see as her crazed lullaby rings in your ears before your consciousness slipped away.

[glisten-inthedark]

Is Netflix just teasing us with the scarf scene? Probably.

But the one thing that gives me pause is how they held on in the scene, how the colors of both Katara and Zuko matched the colors of the two lovers in the tunels.

I might be giving the writers/producers too much credit but it just felt intentional somehow.

Could be to bait us? Sure

But I don't really think there's necessity for that considering how the actors have been clearly pr trained to answer shipping questions so who knows?

All I know is that I'll take all the crumbs I can get and roll with it.

[softestqueeen]

i can't do this anymore!

pairing: bbc!sherlock x gn!reader

summary: When Sherlock overhears you talking on the phone, he thinks you're going to leave him.

warnings: nothing really, just miscommunication and a little angst

a/n: hey, this is my first ever fanfic so please be a bit patient with me. English is not my first language, I apologise for all the mistakes I've probably made.

Sherlock and you have been in an relationship for almost two years and so far everything was going great. Well, at least that’s what Sherlock thought.

Until one day, when he overheard you on the phone talking to your best friend, Mary. It wasn’t his intention to eavesdrop, but you looked upset while talking and he just wanted to assure he wasn’t the cause for it.

You were on the phone ranting to your best friend about wanting to quit your job. It didn’t make you happy anymore and you’ve already applied for new jobs. You didn’t tell Sherlock yet, because he was very busy with one of his cases and didn’t want to bother him with something that could wait.

“I’ve noticed that in these past few weeks I wasn’t happy anymore with this situation. I can’t keep on doing this, it’s just too much. So the only right thing to do, is end it. Once and for all.”, you told her.

Hearing this, Sherlocks heart shattered. He thought you were happy with how things were in your relationship, but apparently that was not the case. He couldn’t hear what Mary said on the other end, but he could hear very clearly that your plan was to end it tomorrow.

He couldn’t lose you. You were his everything, his reason to live. You made his life worth living and managed to break down the walls he built to protect himself. He trusted you with his life, so just thinking about you wanting to break up with him, nearly send him spiralling.

He didn’t know what to do or say so hedecided to wait until tomorrow and then beg you to not break up with him. Even if he’d have to get on his knees and beg. Alone the thought of you leaving made tears well up in his eyes.

He quickly composed himself, because he could hear you saying goodbye to your best friend. Acting like he was in his mind palace when you entered, gave him some time to think about what to say tomorrow.

“Hey Sherly”, he could hear your joyful voice call for him, but choose to ignore it, keeping up with the act. You were not happy at all with Sherlock ignoring you. After all the time you’ve spent with the consulting detective you knew when he was really in his mind palace and when he was just pretending.

With a frown on your face, you bent down to be at eye level with him. You crossed your arms and lifted an eyebrow. The moment you lifted your brow you could already hear the defeated sigh from your boyfriend.

“Hello, love”, he greeted you with a tight lipped smile. Immediately a crease started to form between your brows. “Is everything alright, honey?”, you asked him. “Yes, everything is just fine, love. I just have to.. uh.. go to a crime scene. Exactly, John called, he needs my help. Now. Don’t wait up for me.”, while explaining his not really convincing plan he put on his signature coat and his scarf.

He kissed you on the side of your head and left without another word. You could just mumble a short “take care” before you heard the door to the busy streets of London shut closed.

Not going to lie, you were worried. Why was he acting so weird all of the sudden? He seemed almost distant. Normally, when something is on the genius’ mind he talks to you. You’ve made a lot of progress since you first got together and talk about almost everything. You knew each other so well, you could always tell what’s on his mind, even if he doesn’t like to admit that. It’s his own fault, if he teaches you to deduct people. But in this case you wanted to wait until he came to you with his worries. Whatever it was it seemed to really bother your boyfriend.

Sherlock wandered around aimlessly before he returned to Baker Street. He wasn’t ready to face you just yet, so he did something he rarely did. He visited his house keeper Mrs. Hudson. He was that desperate.

He knocked twice, before the elderly woman opened the door with a surprised smile on her lips. “What do I owe the honour to, Sherlock? You never come to visit me.”, she ushered him in and set on a kettle.

“Uhm… I fear y/n wants to break up with me.”, he mumbled, not daring to look Mrs. Hudson in the eyes. “Oh, Sherlock! What makes you believe that?”, she wanted to know from the detective, that has grown into her heart and is now like a son to her. She was worried, she knew how much you meant to him.

On the other side she also knew how much you loved him and doubted that you wanted to end things. Sherlock told her what he overheard of your conversation. “But Sherlock, are you really sure that’s what she meant? Couldn’t she have been talking about her job or something?”, she wanted to know.

He just shrugged and sipped his tea.

“I think you should go and talk to her, Sherlock. Maybe it’s all just a big misunderstanding.”, she reasoned. Still unsure of himself he nodded and thanked her for the advice. “Anytime, Sherlock, anytime.”

He went back into the flat you two shared, first as flatmates and now as lovers. He couldn’t see you anywhere and softly called out your name. He went into his bedroom, which the two of you mostly share and found you underneath the blanked, hugging his pillow. The dried tears on your face made his heart shatter.

He wasn’t sure what to do, thinking he messed up. He undressed and put on his pyjamas, but instead of joining his lover in the bed, he went back to the living area and settled on the couch. It wasn’t comfortable but he couldn’t sleep anyways. At around 4 o’clock in the morning his exhaustion won and he fell into a dreamless slumber.

You woke up to an empty bed. It wasn’t something new, but you worried about your boyfriends whereabouts. A lot.

You got up and found him asleep on the couch, looking incredibly uncomfortable, his tall frame not fitting into the small space provided. You started to rub your hand up and down his arm to wake him up.

Slowly he opened his blue-green eyes and looked into your e/c eyes. He sat up, stretched and then looked at you like a kicked puppy. If you looked close enough you could even see a pout forming on his plump lips.

“Sherlock, what’s wrong?”, you asked cautiously.

After a very pregnant pause he chocked out, “Please don’t leave me. I- I- I just cant live without you, you are my everything!”

You looked at the tear that rolled down his face, taking a path over his high cheekbone to the corner of his lip, with utter shock and heartbreak.

“Oh darling, what makes you believe I want to break up with you?”, you sat down next to him, cupped his cheek and used the pad of your thumb to wipe away a new tear that threatened to roll down his face. “I love you so much, I would never leave you!”

Sherlock released a shaky breath and leaned forward, making your foreheads touch. He cupped your face and whispered with his eyes closed, “I thought you’re going to leave me. I- I was so scared I-“ “Shh, it’s alright, darling. I’m not going to leave you. You’re stuck with me now.”

The last sentence made the detective smile. You furrowed your brows. “What made you think I was going to leave you?”, you wanted to know. He looked hesitant and then admitted, “I heard you talking to Mary about how fed up you were and that you wanted to end things. I assumed that you were talking about us.” He avoided looking at your eyes.

You chuckled a bit but stopped when you saw his puzzled expression. “I want to quit my job. I’m not unhappy with us, silly, I’m unhappy with my boss and my colleagues. I haven’t told you about it because you’ve been so busy with your case.”, you reassured him, “Why did you eavesdrop on our conversation in the first place?”

“You looked worried and I wanted to be sure that I’m not the cause of it. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”, he confessed. You knew that when he dropped the words ‘I’m sorry’ he really meant it.

“It’s alright, you meant it well.”, you told him, “I wish you would have been honest with me from the beginning, but I could have asked you what’s going on when I noticed you acting weird. From now on we know better.”

“You are right. As always.”, even though he whispered the last part, you’ve still heard it.

With a soft smile you stood up, “Come on darling, let’s go to bed.”

He immediately stood up, picked you up bridal style and took you to his bedroom.

He was just glad, he still gets to call you his love.

a/n: if you liked this, please leave some notes! you can now also request fics on my page!

[sassykinzonline]

i will float a theory about itachi's necklace

the only other time we see the pattern on itachi's necklace is on kakashi's scarf, and because it was green it reminded me of this scene of madara. so the only other time we see the same pattern itachi wears is an incredibly loyal leaf ninja who ended up mentoring itachi.

keeping in mind that these textile patterns ("wagara") tend to carry a meaning derived from the material reality, are context dependent, and can be used outside of textiles/clothing, i thought of the other example we know of region-dependent patterning: the land of mist

theirs is more obviously just a creative interpretation of "camo", where the splotches represent patches of mist themselves. the fact that not every ninja wears the pattern in battle means it isn't a required uniform (compared to say, the colour variations in flak jackets across regions). so i would say we can assume it's a regional fashion pattern.

another example of wagara is the iconic akatsuki cloak, which is actually rooted in a traditional japanese kumo pattern: symbolizing "hope", "change" and a "proximity to gods" (i think the layers of symbolism are obvious here).

there's another traditional "leaf" ("ha" in japanese) pattern called "asanoha". it's described with this meaning: "Hemp has strong vitality and grows vigorously without the need for a lot of care, so this pattern was often used on babies' and children's kimonos with the hope that they would grow up big and strong." these are values that are communicated through hashirama (vitality), both hashirama/madara's hopes for the leaf village (growth through enduring, especially for children), and itachi's own perception of the symbolic importance of the leaf village (children being able to grow big and strong). it's interesting that the 2 instances we have of people wearing itachi's necklace pattern are children who are forced to endure and suffer through the idea of protecting the village.

since we only see itachi wear it after he leaves konoha, i think his necklace is a symbol of his desire/intention to still be connected to the leaf--assuming that the pattern is a pattern representing konoha.

[finelinevogue]

winter solider, literally

summary - it’s your first time seeing snow and Bucky is more than happy to enjoy it with you

warnings: a lot of fluff basically, that’s it.

pairing: boyfriend!bucky x reader

word count: +1.2k

Thinking back, maybe you shouldn’t have run and jumped on top of an ex-asasain whilst he was sleeping.

Now that you were pinned beneath him he had finally come around from his sleep. Since sleeping next to you he had been getting long, peaceful, nights of sleep. Sometimes, like today, he wouldn’t even notice you climb out of bed and rustle around because he was sleeping so deep.

“Wha.. Why are dressed up like the Michelin man?” He asked, blinking his eyes because he thought that they were deceiving him.

They weren’t. You were wrapped up in over eight layers of tops and trousers.

You pushed him off you with ease, trying to fight your way off the bed with the heaviness of all your layers. Bucky sat back on the bed, letting the duvet pool around his waist and let the cool air reach his bare chest. You paused to check him out for a moment, before remembering what you original intentions were.

You pushed him off you with ease, trying to fight your way off the bed with the heaviness of all your layers. Bucky sat back on the bed, letting the duvet pool around his waist and let the cool air reach his bare chest. You paused to check him out for a moment, before remembering what you original intentions were.

“Babe...” Bucky rubbed a rand over his eyes as he tried to wake himself up more.

“Come on!” You said excitedly, throwing a coat at him and heading towards the door towards the hallway.

Bucky watched you as you trotted off out of the bedroom in all your layers and waited for his mind to catch up. He was too confused and awake to go back to sleep now, even though it was just past seven in the morning according to his bedside clock. 

“This girl...” Bucky whispered to himself, shaking his head as he smiled. 

He got himself up and ready, putting on a few layers but not quite as many as you obviously had. Being a super-soldier came with its perks during winter. He was the Winter Soldier after-all, literally. His body didn’t react to the cold temperatures like a normal persons would, which was beneficial in situations like this where his girlfriend was dragging him out of bed at the coldest point of the day. 

“Bucky!” You shouted from downstairs, making him follow your voice. 

He rounded the kitchen door from the stairs and saw you stood by the bi-fold doors, ready to go outside. They were already open and you smiled brightly as you awaited him to join you. 

In the time he had taken to get ready, you had put on your snow boots and added a scarf, hat and gloves. You looked absolutely adorable and Bucky smiled some more over seeing you standing here. He let his eyes take you in and reminded himself that this moment was yours to share and you were all his for as long as you’d have him. 

The outside was blinding white.

Last night must have brought snow, since there was a couple of inches snow settled on the ground and even more flakes falling from the sky. It was serene Christmas scene and you at the forefront of it all, melted Bucky’s old frozen heart. 

He never thought he would have moments like this in his past life as the Winter Soldier. He never thought he’d be able to survive the winters, constantly being reminded of who he is and what he’s done. But meeting you changed all that. You changed his winters to become something worth living for. You reminded him that the Winter Soldier was who he was, not who he is. In this moment and all the ones after it, he was Bucky. 

For someone who showed him how to love winters, you’d never actually seen snow until now. Bucky knew that of course, which is why his tired brain was catching up to the point you were at now whereby you were insanely excited over the falling snowflakes.

“Stop looking at me and let’s go!” You laughed, letting yourself outside and treading into the snow. 

“Yeah.” Bucky said to himself, smiling as he watched your face full of wonder as you took in the snow around you.

“This is so beautiful.”

“Mhm.” He nodded in agreement, watching you watch the snow fall. 

If ever he needed a moment to pull him out of a dark place, he was prepared to remember this one for a long time to come. He wanted to go back and get his phone to take a few photos of you in this happy moment, but he also didn’t want to miss a single second of it. Choosing to stay he would later thank himself for, because the happiness in yours eyes would never be truly seen from a camera lens as well as his own eyes. 

“Come on Buck.” You urged him to come closer towards you. 

He wandered over towards you, where you’d walked to the middle of your garden now.

Once he’d gotten close enough you decided to have your fun with him and push him backwards into the deep snow. He shouted your name as he fell back, but all you could do was laugh. He hit the ground softly and left an imprint with his body. 

He couldn’t even be mad when he saw that smile on your face. 

Before he could even pull you down next to him, you fell backwards yourself. He sat up a little to spot you to make sure you wouldn’t hurt yourself. When you landed with a poof and stuck out your tongue to catch some snowflakes, he knew that this would be a day you’d always remember. 

“I can’t believe that freezing cold snow could make me feel like this.” You said and Bucky turned to look at you as you kept on watching the falling snow.

“Yeah? And what’s that?” He asked.

“Alive.” You turned to face him and smile. 

He softly nodded and leaned over to try and kiss you, but before he could press his lips to yours you shoved a pile of snow in his face. Your jaw dropped at how much you’d actually thrown and instantly felt bad, standing up in case he retaliated. 

“Oh baby. Y’should know that snow fights aren’t something you’d win against me.” He chuckled to himself evilly, before standing up and lunging for you. 

You screamed as you dodged him and ran to the side. Bucky continued to chase you as you drew zig-zag tracks in the snow. You turned to look at how close he was, screaming again before taking a U-turn in your movements and running the way you’d just come. Bucky grunted as he missed you again, before taking a chance and lunging to one side you could dip to. 

Once you took the turn you thought Bucky would be behind you, but he appeared in front of you instead. You screamed again as he took you by the waist and through you to the ground. Bucky couldn’t find it in him to throw snow at your face or even bury you completely beneath it. Instead, he straddled his knees around your waist and leant down so his nose touched yours.

“I won.” 

His lips were on yours shortly afterwards, moulding the soft pink of his lips against yours. You let yourself lay on the ground as his hands guided you through the kiss, pressing himself into your slightly as he kissed you a little harder. Your face and heart warmed up instantly and you couldn’t be more grateful that you’d lost before now.

“You win.” You said through shortness of breathe after Bucky had pulled back.

“With you this happy, I always win.”

[kirimoochi]

00 - i found you.

₊˚ ᗢ synopsis; your childhood friend and bandmate moved away from your hometown to pursue music, leaving you behind. you break away from the punk rock scene, slowly building up your idol persona until you eventually move to tokyo, not to find love, but to find yourself.

⤷ genres/warnings; smau, band/idol au, slow burn, pining, fluff, angst, implied sexual intercourse, social media drama, scandals, toxic relationships, fem!reader.

⤷masterlist; here.

(name) stares down at her phone with a pensive expression, a thick frown resting on her lips as she continues her walk down the empty street. it was dark with some fog lingering in the air. the leather jacket she bundled up in kept her warm as she inhaled a deep breath, a cigarette hanging from her mouth. 

earlier today, lumine had requested she meet with her immediately after work, talking about how she wanted to introduce her long-time boyfriend, childe, to her. the sour expression wasn’t because of her boyfriend per se. she told herself she stopped caring about love. not after what happened that cold, winter night. to her, love was the one thing that kept her from being her true self. she didn’t want to be tied down by any man or woman. she was a free bird. the only thing she claims to love is music because it's the one thing in life that won’t leave. 

it was just a simple request from lumine, just a few minutes of your day. it wasn’t anything to be worried about. yet something felt off. she should have known by the groans of an old crow that tonight wasn’t just any night. and the vague sight of lumine’s golden hair, now tangled and messy, confirmed nothing but the worst in her stomach. 

(name) is surprised to see lumine sobbing in her hands. she curls herself beside the only working light pole in the street. she was well-dressed today with a light pink scarf and white sweater. if it wasn’t for her crocodile tears, it might have been the perfect outfit for a date. lumine wipes at her face. her shoulders shaking with every second. (name) quickly makes it over to her side, crouching down to hold her. 

“lumine, what happened? is everything alright?” she asked, her heart beating in her ears as lumine looked up at her. her cheeks were flushed and the bottom lids of her eyes were puffy, as if she was crying for a long time. (name) drops her cigarette to the ground, the flicker of ember being snuffed by the wind. lumine lunges forward, squeezing her in a tight hug as she buries her face in the crook of her neck. “what happened to your boyfriend? shouldn’t he be here with you?” 

“he isn’t here,” she whispers, holding onto (name)’s leather jacket with an iron grip as she tries her hardest not to tremble any more than she is now. pressing her lips together, she tries to piece together the night, but every memory she stumbles upon leads her to the unfortunate truth. 

childe had run off with another woman. her name was katherine, she says. she and childe worked at the same restaurant together. she was the same server who cut her finger after dropping a glass of water. lumine wants to understand his intentions. why was he more concerned about this other woman, more than his girlfriend? they’ve been together the longest. lumine moved from her hometown to be with childe. he promised her that he would never fall for another woman, especially not one named katherine. and yet lumine couldn’t believe it. he was clearly in love with someone that isn’t her. and she couldn’t stand it. she doesn’t want to look at him any longer than did had to.

(name) decides to hold back her sigh as she lifts lumine up, squeezing the side of her waist as she gestures her home. the walk was a lot longer than she remembered. it might have been the extra weight she had to carry but she doesn’t let this thought distract her from lumine’s sniffles. because regardless of how long they’ve walked, and how heavy lumine weighed on her shoulders, they had more than enough time. tonight, everything was quiet and slow.

the two of them laid in (name)’s bed, lumine’s wraps wrapped tightly around her as she cries herself to sleep. the (h/c) woman doesn’t say anything. she only closes her eyes, rubbing lumine’s back every once in a while to show that she was here. and that the gentle pumps of her heartbeat were enough to say that she would stay.

⤷ taglist open (22/50)

@june-again @starlitglitter @yourfavoritefreakyhan @eutopiastar @fa1rychain5

@rains-mae @kyon-cherri @lacrimae-lotos @04-02 @kana-de

@gyuriac @kaitfae @sukisukiii @astolary @whipped-for-fictionals

@chemiru @kazuhasmaid @hotpancakesworld @danhenglovebot

@c4ttheart @dopi1i1 @sentifua

[ziezii]

Zutara Month 2024 ; Scarf

first half of this is entirely inspired by the famous scarf scene from natla! are we surprised even 😂 happy reading everyone!

Zuko opened his eyes, fully expecting himself to be in his bedroom. Only that, he was not.

He looked around, trying to make sense of where he actually was. People chattering amongst themselves, sellers offering their baked and raw goods, large carts being pushed with an assortment of different fruits and vegetables. Zuko figured he's at some sort of marketplace.

He then realized that his scarred eye was covered, a long gray piece of cloth wrapped around his head. Not dwelling on that much further, his uncovered eye scanned around the busy marketplace, almost bumping into people who were walking right in front of him.

“Watch where you’re going kid!” one shouts, Zuko muttering a small ‘sorry.’ and continued walking. After what seemed to be a few minutes, he looked straight forward and found himself staring.

There was a girl, standing not that far from him. She seemed to look confused, well that’s how Zuko felt like she was feeling. The scarf wrapped around her neck and shoulders doesn’t hide away from the blue dress she was wearing. She looked, pretty.

Zuko immediately shook his head. Why was he thinking that? He didn’t even know what she looked like. His focus shifted to the point where he almost didn’t see that the girl in front of him was walking to where he stood.

Her shoulder bumped into his left arm, causing him to lose his footing for a small second. The tail-end of her scarf flew upwards as the wind blew, Zuko’s hand shot-up as his fingers grazed through the soft blue fabric as she walked away, his uncovered eye looking to where she was going.

Just as he was about to follow her, a large stand of cabbages was pushed towards his direction. The merchant didn’t seem to realize that there was someone in front of him because his eyes were focused on somewhere else, so imagine his surprise when he heard a grunt and his cabbages all falling on the floor.

The last thing he heard before closing his eyes was a cry from the said merchant, “My, my cabbages!”

…

..

.

Zuko shot-up from his bed, eyes opened. He looked down and saw that he was back wearing his pajamas, well more like his red unwashed shirt with his pair of black sweatpants. He then looked around, he’s back in his bedroom.

He sighed, brushing off what that dream was about and grabbed his phone. The 20+ notifications from Suki and his Uncle asking him where he was immediately made jump out of bed.

“Shit!” he was late, well almost since the tea shop opens in about 30 minutes. Still, he knew Suki would tease the heck about him being late since he’s notoriously famous for being the ‘never late.’ coworker.

Note to self, if your dream starts looking way too good, maybe that’s the time you should wake up.

Forgetting to lock his apartment door, his motorcycle almost getting dented, safe to say that Zuko’s day is going great. He ran to the back doors of his uncle’s tea shop, seeing Suki all dressed with her apron and name-tag eating a sandwich.

He stopped almost in front, panting as he asked, “Am I late?”

Suki looked at her phone, “Nope, almost though.” she said with a knowing smile. Zuko groaned, sitting next to her.

“Before I tease the hell out of you,” she continued, “why were you late?”

He contemplated on telling her, but might as well as he needed to let it off his chest, “Had a dream.”

Suki only looked at him weirdly, “Okay, what kind of dream? You’re not someone who gets distracted, even in your sleep.”

Zuko sighed, he tells her what happened in that dream. Suki listened intently, nodding to show him she was listening.

After telling her, Suki just said, “You never had any sort of dream of her prior?” and he shook his head.

“Well, what if it’s a sign?”

He rolled his eyes at her reply, “What sign? I just so happen to be curious about a girl who appeared in my dreams?”

“Your uncle would certainly say it’s a sign, you never get dreams.”

“Maybe because I don’t tell you guys?”

“If you tell us about this one, then maybe this is your first time dreaming.” she shot back at him, smirking a little. He once again rolled his eyes, he forgot how Suki is a whole hard believer in getting any signs in the form of dreams or visions.

“I don’t think so, I highly doubt it.” Suki just shrugged, by then the two stood up and walked back inside to finally start their shift.

-

“Chan, one jasmine and ginseng tea! Oh, and one cheesecake.” their shift went on as per usual. Zuko was mainly in charge at the dining room, serving and assisting their customers.

Suki too, grabbing their orders up and bringing them to the customers. As Zuko walked to the back of the cashier where his Uncle was sitting, Suki walked and sat next to him.

“Oh! Uncle, you wouldn't believe what Zuko told me.” Zuko immediately threw a death glare at her, but she persisted, “Zuko dreamed about a girl.”

He knew his Uncle was just as adamant as her when it came to his social (well, more-so his love) life so he wasn't surprised when Iroh clapped his hands in pure joy.

Zuko tsk-ed, “Uncle, don't-”

“Why don't my nephew? This is wonderful news!”

“I don't even know what she looks like.”

Iroh smirked, “Well, there must be something that stuck out to you in that dream of yours about her.”

Damn it, Zuko thought.

“So, what was it?” Suki was enjoying the show, also curious since he didn't tell her about this.

He looked back and forth from his Uncle's expectant face to Suki, who grinned his way.

There was no getting out of this, huh.

With a loud sigh, he then muttered, “She was-” but immediately stopped himself when he saw that they had new customers coming in. Not wanting to engage in this conversation any longer, he stood up and walked away from the two.

Iroh laughed, “He never changes.” which Suki nodded and laughed as well.

He grabbed his notepad from his apron's front pocket as their two new customers sat down. Zuko pulled up his small smile as he looked up and asked, “Welcome to the Jasmine Dragon, what can I-”

He stopped. No, it can't be. The scarf. Her scarf.

Noticing the confused looks on him, Zuko shook his head and continued his words, writing down their orders and walking away as he sighed in relief.

He didn't realize he was holding his breath, walking towards the register to type in their orders.

“So, is she the one?”

“Shut up.” Zuko immediately answered, a faint blush on his cheeks giving off his blatant lie.

Suki only laughed, looking over her shoulder to eye on the customer sitting right next to Zuko's dream girl.

Literally.

“Well, you're not the only one eyeing on someone from that table.” Zuko looked at her with a mix of confusion and disgust as he realized what she meant.

“Go talk to her.”

Zuko froze, eyes wide as he looked at her.

“Are you insane?”

“Why not?” she shrugged, “You'll surprise yourself if-”

“Uh, excuse me?”

Two turned around and were greeted by her. The person they were talking about.

Zuko held his breath. After his failed attempts at glancing or keeping eye contact on her when he took their orders, he realizes that this is the first time he's fully seen her.

And damn, was she beautiful.

The scarf wrapped around her neck, her long brown hair let down. Two smaller sections of her front hair pulled back to her hair bun. Zuko knows jack-shit about hair.

Her skin just glows under the orange lighting of the tea shop. He gulped, his eyes darting elsewhere when he realized he'd been staring.

“-And this is Zuko.” he's brought back when he hears Suki. Seeing that Katara was now looking at him, he could only stammer his introduction.

“I, uh,” he gulped, the girl looking at him with this sort of fondness only made it worse, “Hi?”

He groaned, while the two girls just laughed at him.

“Suki, this one's for table 10!”

“Well, looks like this is my queue to leave,” Suki says, patting Zuko's tense shoulder, “If you need anything about your order, Zuko will handle it.”

He was about to protest, but to no avail as Suki already walked away from them. Zuko let out a sigh, before his eyes fell on her once again.

“I'm so sorry, do you, uh, want to add something to your order?” he says a little too fast, but that doesn't stop him from stuttering it all out.

“You're funny.” she chuckled, “Not really for me, but my brother over there wanted to get the cheesecake.”

“No problem, I'll go put that in,” he trails off his words, wanting to continue on what he was saying before she beat him into it.

“Katara.” her smile made him warm, she did know what he wanted to say.

"Alright, Katara." he answers, subconsciously smiling back.

She was about to walk away before Zuko held her arm and stopped her. She turned around, her eyes locked to him.

“I,” Zuko doesn't understand how he gets so nervous when he's talking to her, “your scarf is very, pretty.”

Katara's eyes widen slightly, before she smiles once again and replies, “Thank you, Zuko.”

[bambiinobambii]

𝑀𝑜𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒪’𝓈𝒽𝑒𝒶

(the character overlook)

♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧⋆⭒˚｡⋆

these are all my opinions, totally open to the conversation about molly’s character also totally fine with people fact checking me, anyways i’m starting to fw o’shones

in the words of @krayzie-jelli the autism is autisming (don’t cancel me i have referrals to get tested 😔😔)

♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧⋆⭒˚｡⋆

small credit;

the red dead fan wiki

@/reaperqween on tik tok (for the almost ten minute tik tok about mollys outfits which i ate up)

^ her tumblr is @river-of-wine send some love yall want 💕

colour analysis & general observations

🪞💋🍓🌹🍰

colour theory is heavily used based on honor, the best example of this is dutch, he consistently wearing red, mostly on his back until guarma when the red is on the front, when dutch’s true intentions become more apparent, anyways onto molly.

🩰𓈒⋆⑅˚₊୨୧

COLTER

(i went quite quick through colter so im actually unsure how she is with dutch, but from what i remember she doted on him a whole ton, constantly staying at his side and at one point saying “dutch is all the company i need”)

💋though a lot of people relate the red in different characters with low honor i think the fabric, the pattern itself points back to her privileged past

💋the necks scarf being green, i feel like it doesn’t imply much at this point but as the game continues it implies way more

💋the rest of the outfit being blue means a lot to me, there’s never anytime molly oversteps or is aggressive to anyone (obviously except from the obvious with karen, i’ll go back to this later)

💋i’d like to note that she’s still doing her makeup freezing and starving in the mountains

🩰𓈒⋆⑅˚₊୨୧

HORSESHOE OUTLOOK & CLEMENTS POINT

(i honestly will end up mixing these up so i grouped them together)

(tbh my honest opinion is horseshoe is one of the best chapters based on the relationships in camp (tho sadie’s still going through it, you can’t have everything))

💋her first outfit has a good amount of blue in this outfit, her necklace has its first appearance with the red (i always got the vibe that dutch had gifted it to her as it’s more shiny than a lot of the metal in her outfits and it’s like a part of him)

💋she wears a thick belt with this outfit and the brass (?) seems worn, even coming from a wealthy background she holds onto clothes that look old and worn

💋she always wears white boots, she’s doesn’t have to do any work, and she’s not expected to do anything

💋the majority of the mornings in game, molly is constantly checking herself in a mirror

💋i’m going to be honest i hate this shirt

💋but i’d like to think this shawl has always been with her and that she holds it close to her

💋her outfit is quite shapeless, and i think that’s how she liked to dress personally

💋i would love to talk about this outfit

💋does this eat? yes, but i don’t think this was a honest choice for her

💋this outfit mirror mary-beth’s a lot, who seems to be dutch’s new interest

sorry for the bad quality i used my own screenshot for this

💋this outfit particularly ^

💋there’s now a lot of cleavage in her outfit and she’s dressing more akin to other girls in the camp

💋and the gold in her outfits bright, and with mirroring marybeth, I also think this mirrors dutch’s style, with more red and gold incorporated

🩰𓈒⋆⑅˚₊୨୧

💋her relationship with dutch is starting to crumble, i heard a voice line where she says that she loves him and he thanks her (?!) you wouldn’t see me again personally

💋but to contrast that there’s some scenes were dutch kisses her hands and they’re all giddy and cuddly, and they eventually dance when sean’s rescued from blackwater

💋she’s also not well received by a lot of the gang, we get the first glimpse of that when you take mary-beth, tilly and karen to valentiene and karen says that molly’s “too high and mighty” to come with them

💋she attempts a to interact with numerous members

💋she also attempts to talk to tilly, tilly quickly brushes her off as she’s working and molly isn’t attempting to help her

💋i also saw an encounter with dutch and molly where, he approaches, and honestly he could be covered in shit and molly would still look up to him like he’s a messiah. dutch says “should i compare thee to…” he quickly cuts himself off asking her what he should compare her with, even asking arthur if you pass by (he actually says that dutch could compare her to an idiot if she actually believes dutch cares about her)

💋 throughout clements point, dutch talks down to molly as if she’s a child and then will quickly back himself up by calling her dear (to which if arthur intervenes when she goes off at him, dutch says she’s just leaving and she’s stomps away)

💋when she approaches abigail about the subject of dutch, abigail tells her “dutch don’t love you, not in the way you want to be loved”, molly gets defensive saying that she doesn’t get what she’s talking about, to which abigail says she does (implying drunk john?) and molly stomps away

💋i think this is the first time molly actually goes a bit crazy about dutch, she calls him a degenerate liar and stomps off when dutch wont argue back and (i think) goes to sleep, he at least turns away from her

💋i think people who discredit mollys character (men) don’t realise that her and dutch’s relationship show early signs about how manipulative dutch can be, he dumbs down what she says then calls her dear, eventually he only calls her miss o’shea, which she obviously goes off at him for

💋adding onto this i’d love to talk about her character item request of a pocket mirror and her asking arthur if bad lucks a thing, i feel like this is meant to reflect how young she actually is, like how kieran still referred to his parents as ma and pa, and that she genuinely seems nervous asking arthur for a mirror and the superstition of a broken mirror giving bad luck (which i guess you could say she had

💋and i feel like her vanity that the gang and from an outsiders perspective that she’s self absorbed but i think she’s more conscious about how she looks, she doesn’t have to lift a finger and not having much to do around camp because everyone distances themselves from her (i’ll obviously elaborate more when i get to writing about shady bell) i think she’s left alone with a mirror, which i feel is more implied that she’s had for a long time, i’d say since childhood, you become more conscious the more you look at yourself and if your man seemed to be going for someone younger than you, you’d loose it too

(tl:dr - molly doesn’t deserve any hate, the girls that get it, get it, men don’t, im so ready to talk about chapter 4&6)

The poem

-

Uaibhreach

(the irish gaelic word which means “being proud and arrogant to the extent that it alienates & isolates you from those around you, leading to loneliness)

I was a girl - until your call

(i’m not going to annotate this everytime but the religion of this actually makes me feel like my hearts being ripped out)

Commanded me to cross the sea.

(she was driven out of ireland looking for freedom and adventure and she was enthralled by dutch’s charm, to be honest i always saw her “privileged upbringing” being her family owning a big farm, or in a big industry, a lot of irish people immigrated to canada after the potato famine, then crossed to america)

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

(i think she means this in, like, every sense)

My darling Liffey was so small.

Your land and love are vast and free.

(‘MERICA)

I was a girl until your call.

You stood so strong, and dark and tall.

You stole the heartbeat out of me.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

Your lips enchant, your eyes enthrall,

Your empire is of ecstasy.

I was a girl until your call.

Your parasites and lackeys crawl,

(now do i think this is the gang or her fault that they don’t like her, i think its a mutual thing, they see her as a spoiled woman and she doesn’t help that opinion but i think she’s a young woman manipulated by an older guy, and that she thinks they’re all just jealous (which im sure she even says a few times)

Mocking a love they dare not see.

(going back to when she try’s to seek abigail’s help, or when she confronts karen later on and that she can’t see that he’s really not interested in her)

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

I sit in solitude and scrawl

These wretched words, and wait for thee.

I was a girl until your call.

I've nothing left. I gave you all.

[waywardangel-wilds]

can you write a katniss almost dies and haymitch shows rare care for her?

This is canon for 'A Boy, A Girl, And Everything Else.' Think of it as a potential future scene or an outtake, depending.

'This is no place for a girl on fire'

That was the only thought in her mind as she stared up at the stars above. She was deep in the woods. Too deep to be heard, and too deep to crawl her way back home. She'd been out on a rare evening outing. She hoped to dig up some roots and spend a little quiet time on her own with the sounds of nature, to relax. She rarely took these evening strolls, but she deeply appreciated them. They brought her so much 'serenity' as her doctor might have said. And with the way her life was going lately, she could use all the serenity she could get.

Peeta had finally gotten those bricks he needed, so the bakery was starting to take shape outside of his dinner-time ramblings. She was very happy for him. It was nice to watch him talk about this thing, this dream, he had. His face really lit up when he talked about it. Sometimes, she'd be packing up his lunch before work and he'd walk in with that eager look in his eye. It made the long hours worth it. If only she could have been of more use to him in the actual construction, she might not be in the position she currently found herself in, but, that hadn't been how things played out.

She loved working with the construction crew. She'd made a lot of friends there. Working made her feel better about her idleness. She'd spent so much time sitting at home in the past year, she felt as if she'd failed at something, or lost her way somehow. That wasn't who she was. She was a provider. A survivor. She didn't just waste away, like an expensive doll in a playhouse.

But Peeta had been right, she needed to be more careful. Pay attention for once. If she had actually listened when their foreman told her she couldn't do something she wouldn't be injured. But she hadn't and here she was with a messed up ankle, prescribed with bed rest and plenty of fluids. Wonderful. For what it's worth Peeta hadn't rubbed it in her face. He'd just begged her to stay at the house, please, and to keep her strolls within the property line.

Well, she hadn't done that.

She'd tried, really, she had. The first few nights she had dedicated herself to knitting. By the way, Peeta was getting a very ugly scarf for his twentieth birthday. But she'd grown tired of that quickly. Afterward, she'd gotten curious about the kitchen and tried her hand at cooking all the different things she saw on television. Haymitch had said that the next time she felt like cooking up potions she should feed it to the cat and spare him the trauma. The bastard.

Honestly, she felt bad about wasting food so she'd quit her brief foray into culinary expression. That left her feeling idle again. After a failed day of trying to cuddle up to the cat, she'd become frustrated with the inside of the house and started her little walks into the woods.

Initially, she hadn't gone very far. Walking was harder because of the cast, but she could still do it if she went slowly. And she had been slow. She'd taken her time, listened to the birds, felt the breeze comb through her hair, and watched the ants march. It was nice. But then, after a while, she began remembering things they needed at the house. She'd need to gather some herbs to restock her tinctures, flowers, and roots too. Peeta had a piece of fish in the fridge, and wouldn't it be wonderful to eat it with some katniss? Also, how could they possibly carry on without some good willow bark? There was nothing like that at the rail-supply!

Regardless of how pure her initial intentions were, she could only stay indoors for so long. Her walks got longer, and her purposes for said walks grew muddled.

That day had gone much like any other. As she shuffled her way out she passed by Haymitch's porch. The older man saluted her with his ever-present bottle, watching her disappear into the woods.

She spent the time humming and eating berries right off the vine. She took plenty of breaks to sit down, just as she’d promised and she had her bow with her, just in case. Things should have been alright.

As she was stripping some mushrooms from a tree she heard a skittering noise above her. She went quiet and still, watching as a squirrel leaped off one branch to another, eventually wrapping around the tree trunk on its way down. She took an arrow from her quiver. It’d been so long since they’d had Peeta’s favorite dinner, and it would be so easy to shoot the squirrel down. She didn’t think twice about it.

She aimed and released easily. She never missed. A grin spread across her face as she shuffled forwards to collect her kill. What a nice treat. Maybe she was recovering well! How long did she have until her leg was considered fully healed? It couldn’t be too long—

Something snapped under her boot and she felt a wire tightening across her thighs. She fell to the ground and in her confusion she tried to move, which only worsened things. The wire tightened further, digging into her skin and drawing blood. She started to hyperventilate, patting herself down for a knife, but she’d forgotten to bring one. Wonderful, she’d forgotten the most important hunting tool and now there she was, trapped in one of Gales old snares, with no one to call out to.

She stared up into the trees watching as the sun set while she tried to think her way out of there. Surely, Peeta was back home and worried sick. He might even fall into an episode, all because of her. Her heart squeezed at the thought. But someone would come, surely, he’d tell someone, and they would come. He’d come. Someone would find her. This wasn’t the games. No, this wasn’t like the games at all. She didn’t have to die. She didn’t want to die. She wanted to go home, she wanted to go to have dinner, go to bed, have a bath. She wanted to live, oh by the odds, she spends months in therapy and only at the worst possible time she starts wanting to live.

She listened as the birds announced it was time for bed. They sang back and forth, eventually finding each other and huddling together on their branches. If only she were an actual mockingjay. Then she could merely fly home. She would always be home.

She pushed herself up to sitting, the wire tightening further with her every move. She couldn’t just sit there. There were mountain lions, bears, wolves, all kinds of predators out there. She might as well serve herself up on a platter with a side of greens, mockingjay for dinner!

Suddenly, she heard noises. The sounds of breaking twigs. She threw herself towards her fallen bow, ignoring the pain in her legs, and clumsily tried to nock the arrow. Her breathing shook. She’s wasn’t going down without a fight. If this was the end, let her be dragged to death, not carried there.

Leaves started moving and she let the arrow fly, already trying to nock a second one. Something groaned loudly, and it wasn’t the voice of an animal. The unusual sounds were enough for her to pause. Something shoved the leaves and branches aside, and there, emerging from the forests darkness, was Haymitch.

“I’ll tell ya, you’re a damn good shot, kid.” Haymitch somehow had it in him to smile. He took hold of the arrow in his shoulder and broke the length of it off, leaving the arrow head where it was. “Shooting blind but you still land the shot.”

“Haymitch? How?” She whispered, deeply relieved yet deeply confused.

“I might be a lot of things but I’m no idiot,” he squatted next to her, knife in hand. “You don’t come back by sunset. I figured something was going on.”

“But how did you find me?” She winced as Haymitch cut through the wire.

“You’re kidding? Sweetheart, you left a trial as wide as a wheelbarrow.” He tapped the cast on her leg. “You shouldn’t be out here with this thing. Can you stand?”

She shook her head. Softly, she touched the bleeding wound across her legs and she winced. That might be a problem.

“Alright, hold on tight.” Haymitch leaned over to pick her up. “Guess we’ll see if we make it out of here.”

With a huff, Haymitch struggled to his feet, but he managed. To be fair, she’d never been all that heavy. With careful steps, Haymitch began walking them out of the forest.

“Is Peeta okay?” She asked.

Haymitch pressed his lips into a line. “He’s sleeping.”

“What? What did you do?”

“He had an episode. Wanted to chase right after you himself, but he couldn’t see three feet in front of him. Might of gotten himself lost too.” Haymitch avoided her glare. “So I knocked him out. With a frying pan. He’ll be alright. In pain, sure, but alright.”

Katniss scoffed, “you could have killed him.”

“He’ll be fine,” Haymitch dismissed.

Katniss looked away and swallowed. “Uh, thanks. For coming to get me.”

“That’s alright. I figured I might as well. I’ve already put enough work in keeping you alive. Would have been a waste if you just died less than a half hour from your own bed.”

“Yeah,” Katniss smirked. “Quite wasteful.”

“Exactly.” Haymitch agreed. They were clearing the trees near the house by then. “Try to be nice to the boy and stay home for a while, okay?”

“Fine,” Katniss replied reluctantly.

“Attagirl.”

[starguardianniom]

The Emodrien and Emonette scene

Ok so yesterday while rewatching this scene something caught my attention, when Shadybug sees it's Adrien Agreste that is Claw Noir, she goes to touch his cheek and sees makeup covering the black veins on his face, and says that she should have known.

Now that is an important detail, because at first I wasn't sure what she was talking about.

Then when she detransforms and tries to make a wish, it fails and she is send crashing against the mirror and we see dark veins that now goes from her neck to her face.

If you noticed though, when she crashes into the mirror, she loses the scarf she has around her neck.

Now when she looks in the mirror she gets a sad look at seeing the veins, but doesn't seem surprised to see them there.

I'm thinking that she also had the black veins showing to her neck hence why she was wearing a scarf to hide them, and with the wish backfiring on her, it spread to her face, and now she can't cover it up.

Probably why she breaks down after that, she realise she is on a close timer and is beyond terrified of dying.

Heck now it reminds me of the line she said earlier when she and Claw Noir were fighting in the street before getting Monarch's attention, she said that she would be the one the Supreme would spare, was it because she thought the black veins were probably gonna kill her and the Supreme told her that she would be saved if she brought back the Butterfly Miraculous?

Like she wasn't aware why of how she got her veins turning black and showing but the Supreme probably promised her to take care of it if she did what she was told?

Given Claw Noir was in a similar predicament, did he put them against each other in order to give only one of them a chance at living? If he ever had any intention of curing them in the first place, which I highly doubt in all honesty.

Also, the implications of why they would get miraculouses when Betterfly outright says the Supreme gives them to those in his closest circles seems weird, until you remember that Gabriel was part of it before he betrayed the Supreme and stole 2 miraculouses, remembered it from reading about it on Tv. Tropes in the Fridge Logic section.

After that, the Supreme probably trusted his close circles less, so he decided to give miraculouses to young teens that would get themselves killed by their powers and nobody would care much, they would be desperate and eager to prove themselves while also being merciless as they were hurt and angry at the world and wanted to lash out about the unfairness of it all.

Perfect preys were Emonette and Emodrien.

Emonette only knew pain and suffering from Chloé Bourgeois and never had anyone in her life caring about her which made her a good candidate to get a miraculous, she would be happy to finally have something to defend herself, power, while also feeling important, but also her having no one close in her life would make sure her presence wouldn't be missed when she would die, apart maybe Chloé missing her favorite victim though I'm sure she would have found someone else soon enough.

Emodrien being the son of Gabriel the traitor and his mother being dead by the Supreme's hand was also a good candidate, punishing Gabriel's betrayal via proxy through his son slowly dying without any of them being none the wiser. If Gabriel hadn't went to the other universe, he might have gone to bury his own son alongside his wife soon.

So now everything falls into place.

Why Emonette and Emodrien are Shadybug and Claw Noir and not some adults like maybe an alternate André Bourgeois and Audrey Bourgeois.

[racheloleo]

A Poet's Heart

Zevlor x (f)Tav [Fluff]

Tav began digging through her rucksack on her way through the Emerald Grove. She had a meeting with Commander Zevlor soon and had rushed through her noonday meal, scarfing an apple, a hunk of bread, and a few slices of cheese and cured ham. As her hand rummaged through multiple potion bottles and gold pieces, it brushed against something flexible and smooth: paper. Baffled, she carefully removed the folded sheet and opened it, looking down at the haphazard yet elegant scrawl.

Another one, she thought to herself. Tav glanced around but saw no one watching her at this moment. Carefully, she studied the words on the page and wondered who her mysterious admirer might be. Her heart melted as she considered the possibilities: Gale and Wyll were her top two contenders, as the wizard had mentioned dabbling in poetry and the duke’s son was ever a courtly gentleman, but Tav also couldn’t discount Astarion and Shadowheart, who had also grown closer to her in the past week and could be luxurious in their words when they chose to be.

Smiling to herself, she read through the note. A poem, this time. It wasn’t always a poem, sometimes it was just a short, lovely note praising her leadership, her prowess in battle, her smile, her laugh. Tav found that she rather liked the poems though, there was something very romantic about them, the author’s emotions laid bare for her to see. 

The sun does not choose the brilliance with which it shines

Nor do my beloved’s eyes;

Her lips as sweet as berry wine

Breathe onto mine with delicate sighs

Short and sweet though it was, it made her head spin with the possibilities. It was intimate, knowing; it caressed her as she mouthed the words to herself and sent her into a daydream, imagining a scene with her unknown admirer. She sighed wistfully before remembering where she was, and stuffed the note back into her bag as she continued on her way to Zevlor’s chambers.

Tav was the last to arrive, having been too caught up in her reverie to feel any real urgency around this meeting or the goblin situation in general. She smiled an apology to the Hellrider, who acknowledged her entrance with a slight nod of his head. He moved to the side slightly as Tav approached him around the side of the desk, eager to go over the map and general goblin movements. He is a very handsome man, she thought, though she tried not to allow herself to get lost within a fantasy at this moment.

As Zevlor spoke, Tav nodded along, listening intently and adding relevant information as it became pertinent. While her group had yet to engage with the goblin leaders, they had found, followed, and dispatched several small scouting parties out in the woods and near the Emerald Grove. 

Zevlor’s taloned index finger traced routes on the weathered map, stopping to mark specific locations Tav and her party had discovered the past few days. She watched him dip his quill into the inkpot and then carefully annotate the map near the bridge that spanned the small river.

Her eyes unfocused and then narrowed in with the precision of an eagle. His handwriting. It was his handwriting, she thought, shocked. Her hand shot into her bag and gently thumbed the piece of parchment she had only recently returned to its resting place. Small tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as the realization shot through her body like a bolt of lightning. Tav’s mouth trembled briefly as she looked at Zevlor's face, bent over his desk and set with a look of focus and intent. He hadn’t yet noticed that she was unwell.

“I must take my leave,” she choked out. “Please let me know if you require anything further.” He looked up to her face as she wiped away a tear and then quickly began marching toward the stone door to the commander’s chamber. As she exited, she heard him call after her, heard his footfalls rushing towards the closing door.

“Tav!”

She stopped to the right of the door, along an empty and nondescript hallway. The door to the chamber opened once more, Zevlor rushing out and hurriedly looking left and right. He breathed a sigh of relief to see her still so near, and no longer rushing away from him.

He walked to her carefully, studying her face for any signs of extreme distress or upset. As he approached and held out a hand, Tav pulled out the parchment scrap in her bag and handed it to him, her eyes shining with tears and a deep emotion that Zevlor wasn’t sure he recognized. He knew what she held, and made no move to take it from her.

“So you know,” he whispered, his head dipped and eyes looking to her while cloaked under his infernal brows. “I knew you would find out eventually, you must, and I knew I couldn’t keep up the charade forever.” He sighed heavily and stepped closer still, while Tav watched him, mouth agape, rooted to the spot where she stood. 

“You must know, you are a very special person, Tav. Your eyes melted me when they first saw fit to gaze upon my face and warm me for the first time in years. Your smile did the very same, and even caused my own lips to curl upwards for what seemed like the first time in ages. There is life in you, a spark of joy and wonder, the likes of which I could only hope to capture by being in your mere presence.”

Zevlor gently cupped Tav’s cheek in the palm of his hand as he bent his forehead to hers and rested it gently. Tav relaxed and moved a hand to his waist, sniffling gently as she tried to keep her composure.

“I am no poet, but I feel as though I have a poet’s heart since meeting you. You are all of the beauty in this world, Tav, and I have been far away for far too long. Please, before I lose all of my nerve-”

Zevlor bent his head further and brushed his lips to hers, carefully, just barely, in askance. She moved forward a step, leaning into his frame, his armor firm beneath her body. Her lips parted delicately, her breath soft against his cheek. Tav tentatively brushed her lips back against his, savoring the heat from the Hellrider’s touch. He firmly pressed his mouth to hers, drawing her as close as he could into his arms. Tav dropped her bag on the ground and brought her hands to Zevlor’s face, cupping his jaw between her fingers and holding him close to her. 

He sighed and pulled back briefly, his burning eyes boring into hers. “I have wanted to do that since you knocked Aradin out cold,” he chuckled, brushing hair away from her face.

Tav smiled up at him, arms around his neck. “Please, do not let it be the last.”

[thereceptioniststyles]

His Name is Harry

Five Years Ago

The November wind sliced through the air with a sharpness that seemed to penetrate to the core of my being. It whipped at my cheeks, stinging my skin as I made my way from the car to my place of employment, Nextgen Publicity. Nestled in the outskirts of New York City, this humble PR firm stood as a quiet oasis amidst the bustling chaos of the city. Little did I know that today, this seemingly ordinary day, would mark a turning point in my life.

As a receptionist, I had grown accustomed to the ebb and flow of mundane tasks that greeted me each day. Yet, within the monotony, I found solace in the relationships I had forged with some of our esteemed clients. From A-list celebrities to influential entrepreneurs, I relished the opportunity to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. It was an environment that allowed me to witness firsthand the glitz and glamour, while also maintaining a sense of grounded normalcy. Despite the simplicity of my role, I couldn't complain. I basked in the ease of my work, shielded from the relentless storm of celebrity scandals that often consumed the headlines.

Stepping into the reception area, I found myself flanked by a handful of other women, each absorbed in their tasks. Some wore friendly smiles, their warmth radiating through the room, while others maintained an air of guarded professionalism, their coldness serving as a constant reminder of the impersonal nature of our professional lives. Yet, even amidst the apathy that sometimes permeated the space, I managed to find a few kindred spirits, souls with whom I shared a fleeting connection. They were my allies in this sea of superficiality, offering a sense of camaraderie that made the days a little brighter.

With a firm grip, I seized the cold metal handle of the door, bracing myself for the onslaught of the wintry gust that awaited me. The wind howled and tugged at my clothes, threatening to steal away the warmth I had sought within the confines of my car. I unwound the scarf that had been draped loosely around my neck, feeling the chill of the air seep into my bones. I quickly shed my jacket, its weight no longer necessary within the heated confines of the office. With a practiced grace, I stowed them away in the drawer behind me, ensuring that they were neat and out of sight.

Taking my customary seat by the window, I surveyed the scene before me. The reception desk, adorned with its polished surface and neatly arranged supplies, stood as a fortress of organization amidst the chaos that often ensued. A sense of purpose settled upon me as I swept my hair up into a tight bun, ready to face the whirlwind of activity that awaited me. Answering calls, scheduling appointments, and managing the flow of visitors had become second nature, but today, something felt different.

I glanced over, only to meet the unwavering gaze of my manager, Callie. Her piercing eyes bore into mine, laden with unspoken words and hidden intentions. In that fleeting moment, doubt and uncertainty consumed me, as I questioned every move I had made since stepping foot into the office. What had I missed? Had I fallen short of expectations? The weight of her stare seemed to carry the weight of the world, and I braced myself for the impending revelation.

Silently, Callie traversed the room, her footsteps echoing with an air of anticipation. Each click of her heels seemed to reverberate through the space, amplifying the tension that hung in the air. With each passing second, my heart raced, a crescendo of anxiety building within me. Finally, she reached me, her hands coming to rest on the counter, her grin inscrutable.

"Ayla, how are you today?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a mischievous undertone that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm... I'm good, thank you, Callie," I stammered, mustering a feeble smile to match her own. But beneath the surface, a torrent of emotions threatened to engulf me. What was she about to reveal? Was it praise or reprimand? I braced myself for the impact, my mind racing through all the possible scenarios.

Callie was a complex figure, a boss who could be both exceptional and flawed. Her dynamic personality made her a force to be reckoned with, yet her Achilles' heel lay in her entanglement with employee drama, her desire to forge connections with everyone. While this camaraderie was welcomed in lighter moments, it had the potential to overshadow her managerial duties, leaving a trail of hurt feelings and unaddressed issues in its wake. As a result, navigating the intricacies of our relationship was always a delicate dance, one that required finesse and adaptability.

She giggled, her amusement filling the room, before playfully slamming her hands onto the counter, the sound reverberating through the otherwise hushed atmosphere. "So, we've managed to fill the open spot," she announced, her tone laden with excitement.

A glimmer of hope flickered within me. The vacant position at the front desk had plagued us for months, but with the busy season fast approaching, relief was in sight.

"Oh, yay! That's fantastic news. When does she start?" I inquired eagerly, my clapping hands betraying my enthusiasm.

Callie's laughter rang through the air, a delicate melody that masked a hidden truth.

"She? Ayla, not all receptionists are girls," she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

I froze, my mouth suddenly parched. It wasn't that I held any bias against men; on the contrary, I appreciated a handsome face as much as the next person. But the prospect of a man joining our predominantly female front desk team ignited an inferno of curiosity within me. How would the delicate balance of our camaraderie be affected? We had never encountered such a scenario before, especially not with the presence of an attractive man.

Suppressing my unease, I managed a nervous chuckle, attempting to mask the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. "So... We've hired a boy?"

Callie nodded briskly, her eyes betraying a hint of exasperation. "Yes, and from what I've heard, he's quite easy on the eyes."

A lump formed in my throat, choking back a tide of questions. What was his name? Or was his appeal the only information we possessed? Callie sighed softly, her voice laced with resignation.

"His name... his name is Harry," she revealed, her words hanging in the air, heavy with unspoken possibilities.

All Parts