#they all have ai that i do not want on pain of death

[hidden-poet]

President Snow; part 2

2/3

DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT

summary: After lucy gray there was you.

warnings: unco/dubco, power imbalance, dark!Coriolanus, possessive!Corirlanus, Dark themes, mentions of death, punishments not fun-ishments, P in V, Spanking, face fucking, oversimulation, SA, breeding kink, unfaithfulness, she/her pronouns. reader is a homewrecker (sort of), unedited.

I would like to apologize to god for witting this.

Part 1 here

Part 3 here

You're were scrubbing the floor when your head mistress calls your name.

“President Snow is demanding his tea. He wants it brought up at once” she exclaims.

"its hardly seven. He takes his tea in the afternoon".

"never mind that, go you insolent girl, go" the headmistress sho's you away.

He quickly make his tea, burning yourself in the process before you stood knocking at his door.

You wait for him to say enter before you do.

He doesn't look at you as you mix his tea and place it in front of him.

"is that all President Snow?"

He doesn't answer but takes a sip of his tea. You take that as a no and turn to leave.

"Y/n" he calls, his gaze still on the paper in front of him while he hold out his hand.

You don't keep him waiting placing you hand in his palm. he flips it so the soft of your hand was showing and he examines it intensely.

He blindly reaches for his ruler in the draw, drawing it out and twirling it around his hand. You wanted to pull away from his touch but knew better. Instead you focus on your breathing. Trying your best to control the fear you felt.

You heard the ruler coming down before you felt it. Yet a gasp left your lips at the pain. You tug back in pure instinct but his tight hold disallowed any true movement.

It comes down again and you roll your fingers in, pressing on the stinging skin. The ruler comes down a third time across your fingers and you let out a shout.

he makes small taps against the top knuckles of your rolled fingers and demands you open your palm.

As you do another harsh strike stings across the base of your hand.

"Forgive me, President Snow" you cry.

'For?" he taunts laying the ruler flat upon the assaulted skin.

"Not receiving your permission to leave the room"

This time you do manage to tear your hand free as the strike landed. You cradled your injured hand against your chest and looked at him with wide eyes.

"what did i tell you about your place" he eyes the floor next to him.

You sink to your knee's and Coriolanus pacified with this throws his ruler on his desk and goes back to his work.

You sat there uncomfortably for hours. Only rising occasionally in the first half hour to make him more tea before sitting back upon your heels like a statue.

-------------------

Coriolanus sat at his desk with his head resting against his hand while he stares at his mahogany desk.

His work had long been done but he remained. What had he to go home to? an large quiet space for him to sleep. Home life was a façade. He only lived with his wife and children for the public eye. He was a family man to his people. A man who rules with a Irion fist to keep his and their family safe.

But when he returned home late at night, he returned a stranger. The children were kept quiet and hidden by their avox nannies, and Clemensia bored him with talks of social feuds and latest fashion.

Before you, it didn't bother him. A boy who had nothing became the man who had everything. He used to relish going home to a huge empty apartment, filled with the finest things just for him.

But now when he went home it felt like he only waited to return to you.

He images you now scurrying about the manor, trying to avoid him at all costs. He liked that in a way he was always on your mind like you were on his.

He hated to go home and give you the peace of mind.

He had thought about moving you to the home estate. Keeping you chained in his bedroom, waiting for him. You would come with him to the office on busy days lead by a collar around your pretty neck.

But no. He couldn't have you getting airs about yourself. You weren't chosen by him. You were simply his.

A slave. Only slightly higher than a Avox. It was important that you knew your place. Living here amongst those with the same standing would ensure that you knew that the small favors that Coriolanus granted were marvels and not something to be expected.

You plagued his mind but that were your power over him stopped.

He wondered if you thought of him now. If you hid in your bed waiting for the announcement that he had returned home for the day. Were you worried that he could call for you again, or did you give yourself a false sense of security that your duty to him was done for the day.

He looked at his watch. 7 o'clock. It was the maids turn for dinner.

Would you be sitting there unable to eat in worry? Should he interrupt you as a reminder that he is the one that truly feeds you. None of them would dare eat in his presence. He pondered going down to your eating quarters and wondering around.

You hadn't eaten the scraps he offered you during the day. Too good for them. Yes, he would teach you a lesson. You would sit there with the smell of food under your nose while he took a leisurely stroll around the room. Examining things that he had no interest in so he could watch your squirm in your seat. Perhaps he would knock over your bowl on the way out. You would come to him tomorrow morning starving. He bet he could get you to eat out of the palm of his hand.

With this thought in mind he takes long powerful strides across the vast space. Logically the servants quarters was the furthest from the precedential office that the articture could manage.

It was quiet. He didn't encounter another personas he strode across the wide rooms. The maids were last to eat for the night. Everyone else had fallen asleep from a hard days work. It was for the best. There was no one to warn you of his arrival.

He practically leaped down the stairs to you. Reaching the large oak doors, he halts just as the light creeks open from it.

He hears laughter. Laughter despite the dire circumstances they find themselves in.

He peers in and looks for you. He finds your easily, having know your height, and stature well.

You were smiling as you talked to your friend. You nudge her slightly as you laugh. He had never heard you laugh before. Never seen a smile grace your lips. And now here you were giving them out freely to people you owed nothing to. You owed everything to him and only offered him a slight nods and trembling touches.

He felt angry, jealous. He wasn't sure which. But the outcome was the same he wanted to tear into the room and grab you by your neck.

But he was a man of great restraint. A display of his brute strength would only bond you further to them. Instead, he would allow them to turn on each other, helped with food shortages and longer days.

People of their status should hold no laughter in their bones.

Do they think the Snow house was filled with laughter during their desperate times.

He closes the door, and leaves the estate to go home.

Only to pace the study in his own home, your smile burning his brain. he had taken all of his restrictive clothing off, leaving only his pants and loosely buttoned shirt.

You were talking so freely with those around you. You barely spoke in his presence. yes sir, no sir.

does he not offer you enough intellectual stimulation for discussion. Should you not field your questions through him and not those who went to school to lean how to shine shoes.

He dashed to his desk and pulled out a communicator to his head peacekeeper at the estate. He was to put a muzzle on you tonight. You were to sleep with it, wake with it and shower with it. Only he was to free you from it.

Only the beeping back saying it would be done could lull Coriolanus into a state that allowed him to sleep.

------------

He rushed to work the next day. He shooed away the avox who brought him his morning coffee, focusing on pulling on his clothes. His dressed simple in a blue dress shirt covered partially by a black vest and matching pants.

He made no greetings or goodbyes as he passed his family being served breakfast and they offered none back.

The first thing he does is call on you. Demanding that the headmistress send you up with his tea as soon as possible.

He then sits impatiently until he hears the knock on his door. He doesn't tell you to enter as he normally does but opens the door himself.

His dick hardens at the sight of you. Your tired eyes are trained on the tray but his are glued to the muzzle in-between your teeth. It was red and cylinder in shape pressed between your teeth with a mechanism that weighed the cylinder down. Effectively trapping your tongue to the base of your mouth. You had a choice of rolling you tongue uncomfortably to the back of your throat where the cylinder would stronghold it. Not allowing for you to push your tongue froward. But it looked like you had allowed it to take natural action.

"Have a good night, Petal?' he sneers as he takes the tray from you. He places it on the table you knocked over weeks ago, leaving it there as he turned back to you.

'Come here and i'll take it off"

You practically slammed the door shut in marching over. Partly because you knew he was going to make you turn around and to it regardless and partly because the whole ordeal was embarrassing to you and you couldn't bare the thought of yet another servant seeing you in such a state.

Coriolanus grips the key he received from the head peace keeper and your arm in the other. He pulls you flush against his chest despite it being easier if you faced away. You feel his breathe against your ear as he unlocks the pad lock.

As soon as you hear the click of the lock you step back as far as his hand leashing your arm would allow. The contraption falls to the floor, and the key drops with it. You rub your jaw, surprised it still had any movement.

He towers over you, his eyes unmistakably on your face.

"Smile" he demands. Your lips spread into a thin smile.

"With your teeth" he directs trying to get as close to the one he saw last night as he could get.

Your teeth poke unnaturally out, and your defince angers him.

He pulls you head back by your hair, his other hand grips your sore jaw harshly.

"how hard is it for you to do simple tasks"

He walks you backwards with his hold until you reach his desk. He pushes you on top of it. Sharp objects dig into your back. He feet were still on the ground while yours dangled between his legs. You could feel his strength as his body kept you in place. His suit fit him well but hid his muscular physique behind the fine cloth.

"smile like you did last night"

You were not usually in the habit of looking him in the eyes but the shock of his words had your stare directly into his.

You shakes you when you do nothing but stare.

"smile!" he repeats.

You try your best to a genuine smile across your face.

He slaps it off, and tears swell in your eyes.

"smile" he repeats and you display a happy demeaner.

he slaps you again, reinstating his wish.

You take it to mean keep smiling as no further direction was given. So you smile through his hits.

again and again he brings his hand down upon your cheek. No longer having to request a toothy grin.

After a particularly harsh slap you could no longer keep your tears at bay, and your smile could not shine through your wails.

'smile" he demands again but you could no longer pull it across your face.

"i can't, i can't" you beg.

Your chest heaves with heavy breathes and pushes against his.

He places both his hands beside you and pushes off the table. You lay there as he takes his seat to your left.

"what are those lips good for then?".

Contrasting with his earlier touch, he places his warm hand gently on the side of your face that was not assaulted.

You don't look at him but could feel his icy stare on you as his thumbs enters you mouth. swirling around your tongue. You thought about biting down but he would surely cut yours off in retaliation. Instead you do nothing but stare at the celling as he brings his thumb in and out of your mouth. he waits for you to dry most of your tears.

you knew what he wanted. what he always wanted. Knew that it was inevitable. you weren't stupid.

he takes his thumb out for the last time and tugs you towards him, off the desk. You comply and automatically sink to your knee's in front of him.

"Your place" he sneers, brushing his wet thumb across your cheek.

You don't move as he free's himself from his trousers. even if you made it to the door, which you doubt you could, what then?

He grips the back of your head and leads it to his cock. You gag and he pushes you further.

You still had a lot to learn but he would get you there.

You thought you would suffocate between his cock and your tears. He showed you no mercy. Your inexperience could offer him little pleasure, and he was in no mood to teach you. Instead using your warm mouth rather then letting you use it. He would take his time to teach you when he was feeling more patience, right now he needed release.

You struggle against him, trying to push back from his thigh's. he growls as he releases you, leaving you gasping for air on the floor and he sweep his arm across the desk clearing it.

Your breathing was deep but no longer swallowing air as before when he yanked you up and across his desk.

He man handles you until you were upside down on the desk, you neck just hanging off the edge in front of him. You could have been saying something, you weren't sure. Perhaps just yelling but your lips looked so inviting.

He yanks your hair down, keeping your lips in place as he shoves his cock as far as it would go. Gaining great leverage from your position.

His moves your head slightly to meet him as he rocks his hips down. You squirm and kick for a while before going completely still. All your focus going on controlling your breathing.

He groans and shudders feeling great pleasure at your misfortune. Daughter of a once great man brought down to be something for a returned son of a great man to keep his dick warm in. You were so beautiful. He had always thought so.

You were a few years his junior at the academy. He would see you in the halls and in the library. You would pay him no mind as you went about your business. But he would watch you every chance he got.

You were a hindrance to his good grades. He had a plinth prize to win and here you were sitting quietly doing you homework while he was trying to study. You used to image you under his desk while he trained to be the best. In the library he imaged you simply keeping it in your mouth while he read as a silent 'I am proud of you'. In the privacy of his war ruined room you would suck (his hand would tug) as he did his practice test. Your teeth would bite down gently for every wrong answer (his nails dug in). And now here you were. Him president of Panam, You competently at his whim.

He always knew you going to a prestigious academy was a waste of time and effort. He had just thought it would be because you would marry a wealthy man and never use your learnings. He never thought all those years that you were only slightly better off then him. That only a few years later as he took control of a country that had chewed him up and spat him out, he would be offered the opportunity to not only have you but own you.

You didn't recognize him of course. You detested the hunger games, refusing to acknowledge it even as you peers played the game. After that Highbottom had taken great pains to cover Coriolanus triumph of lucy grey. You were trapped in your own trouble, why would you care about a boy in a higher grade. Even if he carried the name Snow.

Now he was the only man you worried about and he took great pride in it.

He had waited a long time to have his cock in your mouth, and he wasn't about to let you ruin it for him. he had waited since he first brought you. Thinking that perhaps you would offer in exchange for embellished food rations or scented soap. But you never did, instead choosing to engage him in a game of cat and mouse.

With his cock now shoved down your throat, he felt foolish. It felt amazing and he had denied himself a slice of heaven for no reason. Neverminded you would make it up to him.

he moans as he comes, his fingers loosing all strength in your hair.

They regain it as you try and move. He keeps you in the same position with his limp cock pouring out down your throat.

You have no choice but to drink his cum. Only when he felt it all gone does he allow you to get up. He puts himself away, a job further reserved for you, while you gasp upright on his desk.

You sputter and cough with reded eyes and spit all around your mouth. You looked a mess and in his mercy he gets you a glass of water from a nearby table.

You eye him as he approaches. You make no move to take the cup from him knowing he wouldn't give it.

He pets your hair back from your face as he feeds you the water which you gulp down.

"tomorrow I'll teach you how to take it, but today we have work to do so pick up my desk and take your spot on the floor".

Coriolanus moves from your space to place the cup back to its station and then moves back to his chair. Watching you as slip off the desk, reorganizing the items on the floor. You cry silently as you take your seat upon the floor, the same spot in which you were assaulted just moments before.

Coriolanus doesn't look at you while he completes his work but the school boy in him cheers. Under his desk, on top of his desk, down by his feet. he could have you any way he liked.

-------------------

It was not long after that he grew tired of your mouth, no matter how skilled it was getting, and wanted to see how it would feel to be buried in your cunt. After your first night together, a memory he often replays in his head, you became more defiant.

Most nights he loved it. He preferred the fight to get you nestled between his legs. He had earnt everything that he had, why should you be any different.

He had gotten a doctor to examine you and place birth control in your arm, and you had attacked the poor man. Raking your nails across his face. Coriolanus caught you before you could attack again. His old peacekeeper days coming in handy in both his reflex and ability to subdue.

It seemed his allowance of your fight had strode the fire in you. Your behavior had reflected poorly on him in front of the doctor, and he had taken to cuffing your hands behind your back until you admitted you were wrong to attack the poor doctor. You ate dinner like a dog, occasionally Coriolanus would feed you bits of bread or meat from his own dinner, but most of yours went over the side of your plate or over your face.

Still you would not admit you were wrong. The Doctor had poked and prodded at you for hours. Treating you sub-human. Barking at you to sit still, stop complaining of the pain in your lower regions from presidents Snows roughness; he would get to that area when he would get to it.

he wouldn't allow you to go to the toilet until Coriolanus insisted that such a breck was necessary. But it came at the cost of your lunch break. He had finally satisficed himself of his examination of your upper body (perfectly healthy, and Coriolanus puffed out his chest in pride) before finally reaching the source of your pain.

"you can choose your lunch or i can take a look at what's causing all of your complaints"

You chose to lie down and spread your legs for him.

Coriolanus propped you up on two pillows and feed you fruit from a nearby bowl. Promising you cake once you returned home which you never got after the turn of events.

You wince as the doctor inserts something harshly into you, and Coriolanus kisses the top of your head. How cruel was the doctor that Coriolanus was seeming like the best man in the room.

He allows you to sit up and makes a backhanded comment to Coriolanus that you were a delicate women.

You showed him how delicate you were by launching at him in your hospital gown.

A good last use of hands, you decided.

that belief wavers as Coriolanus pounds into you from behind while you are pinned across his desk. unable to push yourself up to relieve some pressure or grip the ends of the desk.

"president snow wowed in that ensemble today. Didn't he look handsome everybody" the crowed cheers through the television. To be far, he did look quite handsome, even you thought so. His outfit highlighted his broad shoulders and tiny waist but allowed him to keep an air of masculinity about him.

"He's got to be the best dressed president we have ever had" Caesar exclaimed.

"He's the best full stop, son. Productivity from the districts is up, wealth is spreading around the capital. Restoring this great country to what it once was before the war".

With Lucky signing his praises on national TV, you could feel Coriolanus pick up the pace behind you. Edged on by the words in the way the having being handsome did not. You guessed he heard it all his life.

His hand on your binded wrists keeping you still tightened as he hips bucked into yours. You thew your head down on the table unable to see the tv clearly anymore due to the jolting of your body as he slams into you.

"President Snow, we salute you".

He came undone. Only bucking his hips weakly a few times as he finishes spilling into you.

As he pulls out he slaps your bare ass and sits down. Using your chain on your writs he pulls you off the desk.

He huffs and puffs gaining his breath back as he maneuvers one of your legs around his waist. He lines his cock up with your entrance and pulls on your hip into your seated in his lap and around his cock.

"Just sit there quietly Petal, while i get some work done".

You had no strength to hold your body up right away from him so you let yourself rest upon his shoulder. You bare chest against his.

As he moves to gather his work that was disputed when you laid across it, you could feel his cock move inside of you. You let out a frustrated moan when it tickles a spot you like.

He sh'ss you. A large, warm hand going to the Centre of your back to keep you pressed against him as he reached for a pencil.

He left the tv on and you're not sure if that was for your benefit or if he wanted to see if his good work would be talked about again. Either way it provided you with a source of entertainment often denied.

Some times he could give you a book as you sat upon bedding he provided by his feet. The back of what only be could be described as a dog bed was curved so you could rest your back. If he was really swamped with work he would get you to read and summarize documents for him.

But since your trip to the doctors you could sit and think about what you did.

The tv was a nice change from your own thoughts which were mostly hateful. Even if you couldn't see what they were doing from your position.

In the moments were he would need to stop and think about what he was doing, he would drag his hand softly up and down your back as he contemplated. It almost lulled you to sleep.

-------------------

Your hands were freed in order to help him dress for the Gala. Racks upon racks of clothing filled the offices. Lines of polished shoes

A take away blind in the corner was set up for him to undress behind. He wouldn't have bothered with it if it had just been you and him, but at least ten of the highest capital stylists buzzed around the room, with more coming and going.

His last outfit got someone fired. He reminded him of his peacekeeper days and one look in the mirror had him tearing it off.

"What do you think of this one?" he Stood in front of the tall standing mirror and

"very distinguished" One of the stylist remarked. She wore a pink wig that was nearly the size of her.

"I wasn't asking you" he snaps, eyeing you in the mirror, waiting for a response.

"Very nice" you comment.

He rips the jacket off his shoulders, "You have said that about the last four"

Coriolanus returns to the blind and whines like a child.

"very nice, very good! telling me you like them before you have even looked".

You did not need his anger upon you when he was already in a uptight mood. The next one you would take your time to examine. ohh and arr over him. You were ready for him to just pick one after being at this for hours.

He reemerges in thankfully something that wasn't going to be a hard sell. The suit was white and tailored to his measurements.

the vest buttoned with small black buttons to his left hand side rather than in the middle His wore a black high necked dressed shirt under it. He had deliberately left buttons undone for You to do.

A stylist hand you the matching jacket and you drape it over you arm as you approach him. You stand between him and the mirror and started with the buttons on his waist coat.

"Very nice, Very good" you joke but his frustrated stare doesn't soften under you.

'I like this one a lot" you admit. You go up to the buttons around his throat and he holds his head up high, "You look very presidential".

The stylist mutter in agreement and you can see Coriolanus physically relax now that he has chosen an outfit.

He help him slide the jacket on to get the full picture. Brushing his shoulders so the material sits right, you take a step back and watch as he fiddle with buttons and then his watch. Wondering if it went with the suit. You assured him it did.

He didn't look so scary when acting like a teenage boy going to his first prom.

The calm is ruined when a peacekeeper enters the room and hands him a small box.

"From Tigress Snow, sir".

Coriolanus is silent as he pulls a red rose out of the box. Its clipped and pinned ready to go upon his chest. He stares at it before ripping the glued pin from the stem and turning to face you. He places the rose behind your ear, bending to whisper in it.

"i shouldn't feel so anxious. You'll be there with me after all"

You knew that you had nothing to wear for such a event, and that you didn't need to.

Coriolanus had a wife and kids. He Couldn't parade you around a party while asking people to dig deep for this years hunger games. What he did in the shadows wasn't to be held against him. Many capital men favored the taste of young maids. But what he brought to light he had to own.

You knew that you would be hidden in one of his spare rooms in the house. What you would be doing while his family entertained guests escaped you. You just hopped that he didn't bring any visitors when he called upon you at the end of the night. And you hoped clemensia was none the wiser. Fucking her husband at work was one thing but fucking her husband in their matrimonial home was another.

-----------------------

What he had planned was far worse then you could image. Peacekeepers had taken you from the estate and taken you through the back entrance into his home. Where a maid met them at the door and lead them to the function room that was set up beautifully.

Coriolanus was no where to be found and you wondered if the maid was right to lead you to a room just off side where the party was going to happen. But with two peacekeepers either side of you, you made no comment.

You realize it had been correct when she unlocked the door, showing a padded chair with restraints. The room wasn't very big, only fitting the chair a length away from the furthest wall, and two lengths away from a comfortable looking square chair and a small circular table.

You fight them as they strip you and secure you to the chair. But being twice your size and well fed, it barely hindered them. One of them gagged you so you couldn't make any noise, while the other double checked your restraints.

They left and the maid locked the room again. You wanted to cry but it seemed like wasted energy. The chair wasn't terribly uncomfortable, you knew that the worse was yet to come so you wanted to save your strength for whatever little you could do.

It was a while before the door was unlocked again. You had just started to hear music through the walls when Coriolanus entered ready for the party. He was quick to close the door and careful to block as much of the opening he could with his back.

You yell at him although its muffled.

"Petal. So glad you could make it"

He makes his way over to you, his eyes roaming along your body.

"pity you wont actually be in attendance".

he moves something from the corner, a stand with a head you could just see as he picks it up. positioning it between your leg, he then lowers the head directly pressed into your clint, and turns it on. It vibrated and rolled in a circle. causing you to jump from the sudden movement.

He spits into your cunt for lubricant and your almost grateful as the machines rolls over you pearl. It was only slow but the dryness burned.

"But I think between the two of us. You'll be the one having more fun".

he comes back up to you again, his eyes hovering over yours so you couldn't avoid him.

"Now you keep track how many times you cum for me"

He presses a quick kiss to your forehead and then left to enjoy the party as the devise rolls around and around. you buck your hips trying to take it off your sensitive clint but the straps over your hips and thigh deny any true relief.

round and round it whirls, the noise hidden behind loud music and louder convocation's.

Your first orgasm tears through you but the machine never stops, and it massagers you through it. Your hips buck up against it. the extra wetness takes away some of the pain.

you wish you could kill him.

your second one takes longer to come but hits twice as hard.

You hear the party outside but they don't hear you. You focus on the sounds produced and not the overstimulation. You listen to the footsteps, and the laughter. Even hearing the names of some of the guest.

Someone had just began to complain about the duck when your third organism spilled from your body.

By the fourth or fifth one your body ached. You were thirsty and sore, your jaw ached and your legs Shaked but the machine kept going.

You had lost count, never minding your instructions, by the time that the machine switched pace. It would vibrate like usual but be separated by a second's still. It was edging you to your next orgasm and you weren't sure if it was a mercy or a curse.

You prayed that there would be an explosion from a rebel bombing or a guest would knock a pipe in the bathroom and flood the floor. Anything to end this fucking party.

Round and round it went against your soft cunt.

The party did end of course and Coriolanus re-entered the room. No longer checking over his shoulder. The house must be empty of guests.

You were relived to find he came alone. Only a small white box in his hand. he doesn't share his toys.

he was in no rush to free you but stood watching you with a curious gaze. You beg him. Even if he couldn't unmudle the words, he knew you were.

He takes a handkerchief from his breast pocket and daps your perspiring forehead. With the handkerchief returned, he goes to the other end of you and gets a close up look at the machine rolling against your sex.

"do you think you could handle one more?" he asks and you shake your head furiously no.

He laughs at this going to take a seat. he rids himself of his box and jacket. Placing the former on the table and the latter on the floor.

'of course you can".

You farrow your eyes at him, and he stares back unbothered.

He takes out a small tablet from his jacket pocket and taps it a few times. You realize it controls the machine as the brief second pauses stops altogether and the rolling speeds up.

he seems pleased as he watches you pull against the restraints.

You could feel the next one coming as the knots begin forming in your belly. You yell once more, and Coriolanus kneads his cock through his pants at the sight of you.

You feel it pulse through you, causing your whole body to jump and squirm from the tension.

"there it is, the finale".

The tablet is pulled out again and he stops the machine. You whine from the pain as he pushes the machine back away from you.

It was over as he untied you. You were grateful.

He leaves your writs tied as he bends over to your face. He only used one hand to rid the gag from your mouth.

"Now can you tell me how many times you came?"

You didn't think it actually mattered so you guessed, "eleven"

"oh the machine says twenty-one".

was he getting notifications on his tablet while he mingled among the elite society? what did this mean for you now?

"too bad. I had cheese cake for you if you had gotten it right".

He pulls back out of your face and unlatches your wrists.

"you can suck my cock as a consolation prize".

he goes back to his chair and waits for you to ready yourself. All of your joints ached from being held down for so long. You felt ditzy from lack of food, and to top it off you had a dull ache between your legs that you were sure was going to be hell for you tomorrow.

But he had the power.

So you wombled off the chair. To your surprise he didn't rush you. He just sat patient for the first time in his life, eating your cake with a plastic fork in small bites.

You do eventually make it over to him. Your hands fiddle with the buttons and zipper of his pants. His hips shift slightly in anticipation.

If you did good, it was most likely that he would reward you. a plate of food, a warm bath. You would take anything.

You kiss along his member, small slow kisses from the top to the base. He continues to chew his cake, watching you.

You take only the tip into your mouth, swirling your tongue around the top. You tug his pants down further with the help of him lifting himself up so you could get his pants around his ankles.

You thank him by sliding your tongue along to his balls and popping one in your mouth. he makes a surprised sound as you suck on his balls. Normally you wanted the job done and tried your best to quicken the process but tonight you wanted to tease him in a manner similar to his.

He felt no need to instruct you like he normally did even if he could clearly see what you were trying to do. The student had finally become the master.

You stop sucking on his balls and retract to place a kiss on each of his hips. He grips you hair. In your mouth he wanted to say but you had stunned him. You felt great pride.

You do take him in your mouth. Too much teasing and he was prone to violence. But you take him slow working your way down and up at your own pace.

You felt him become restless beneath you and reach up to fondle his balls in you hand. It stilled him instantly.

You peer up at him and see his jaw his clenched and his eyes are shut. You suck a little harder and he throw his head back against the wall. he was holding in moans, you knew it. Too prideful to give you the satisfaction.

You take him out of your mouth again and return them to his balls.

"fuck, Petal" his body jolts.

His hold in you hair tightens again and you feel his gentle tug back.

Your hands go to his large thigh's now, holding him down in your weak hands.

You follow his direction back to his cock and take it all in. You bob you head like you were taught. moving up and down it at a vigorous pace.

It felt good to be in charge for once but it was all over when his seed poured into your mouth. You had gotten use to the taste of him. The salty flavor nothing new in your mouth.

You drank it down and then continued to suck which finally earned the moans he was holding back.

There it is. The finale. she thought bitterly.

But the show wasn't over yet. Coriolanus hated mess.

You licked the spilled cum clean from his cook, moving to clean the stickiness off his thigh's with your tongue next. He is receptive to it, letting you have free reign.

You give a final lick along his member before you pull back on your heals.

His breathe is heavy with pants as he collects himself.

"seeing as that was the best head of my life you can have the last bit of cake".

It was a way of regaining control over her. Remember the hand that feeds you.

He scraps the last bit of cake onto the fork and brings it down to your lips. You welcome the sweet taste to rinse your mouth out.

You collapse under the pressure of it all. Laying upon the cold floor as your eye lids flutter. You see flashes of him as he pulls his pants up and reaches down for you.

he carries you up a grand staircase into a bedroom and its adjacent bathroom. There was a prepared bath, steaming hot still.

He lowers you into it and the medical salts sting as they swarm your body. he keeps hold of your neck in case you go under and undresses himself with one hand.

He gently pushes you froward so he can slip behind you in the tub. You lay against his chest as he washes you. His strong fingers digging deep as he lathers shampoos into it.

He picks up a loofa dipping it in the water and pressing it against your skin. You feel yourself regaining strength enough to keep yourself from slipping into sleep.

He picks up your hand and begins to scrub the loofa under your finger tips.

"You should have heard them tonight. They all turned their backs to my family during the war, now they want to throw stories of my father in my face".

"You hate them" you ask. You wonder if that's why he was doing this. To get back on a former member of high society.

"yes" he answers, moving on the the other hand, "you must feel the same way amongst your current station. Above them"

You roll you head against his shoulder, "No. they're are my friend's"

you reply sleepily. Coriolanus makes no further attempts to talk.

You realized when you woke the next day the mistake you had made so it came as so surprise when Coriolanus broke the news that you would not be returning to the presentational estate but remaining here with him.

Coriolanus Snow had been hungry all his life. Hungry for power. Hungry for money, for control, for respect, for everything. But as he slips between your legs at night, and explores your body with his mouth, he feels his hunger subside.

[ethereal-night-fairy]

This dark vampire poly!141 x hostage!reader idea is based off a comment I got on one of my works on Ao3 I would love to tag them if they were on Tumblr but I don't think they are.

Comment : Oh I'd love a vampire au! An idea for it if you are open to consideration: the 141 have been around for centuries, John pretty much turned all of them starting with Simon, then with Johnny, and then with Gaz being the youngest (although Gaz is still over a century old). Reader, of course, is human, moving to a new town to start over completely and ends up running into one of them. And they just know that reader is the missing piece that they had been looking for--the one that is the last to be bound to them. Because for an immortal creature it only makes sense that they would, in even just the name of species preservation, have multiple mates dictated by fate, instinct, or what have you :)

This sounds like a great premise for a vampire au. Also what if Knight price was turned in the medieval ages by a vampire lord he was tasked to kill and ended up being turned as he killed the last of the vampire kin for the English king. He fled obviously when he realised what happened letting his knights think he was killed in battle.

-

Time passes and he doesn't age, he watched his loved ones from a distance growing old and having children before ultimately passing away. It pains him that he lives like an animal hunting for blood in the forest unable to live a normal life.

But he still wishes to do, to be good . So as his powers build and the sun doesn't scorch his skin anymore. He joins the army century after century to regain some sense of humanity. (That's a horrible way to regain humanity if I'm honest, though in his defence he fell for the propaganda and thought he was doing a good thing.) But the bloodlust becomes so much worse the more he kills. The more blood stains his hands the more he longs for the chaos and violence.

He gathers companions along the way. Men like him that were on the brink of death but had so much to live for. He couldn't let them die he just couldn't! By the 21st century he had his little taskforce. His boys, his lovers, his family but someting was missing. What could it be? They lived comfortably with the wealth they had accumulated. They had their buffet layed out for them on the battlefield. What more could they want?

But something was out of place. Even with his lovers, life was becoming bleak when all they saw was violence and bloodshed. That was until they found a delicate little hostage in their capture or kill mission. Scared little thing you were tucked away in the corner of a bedroom, chained to the wall. You'd do nicely as their pet. They bet your blood tastes just as sweet as your tears.

Their reply: Oh I love it! Johnny being a warrior that at the Battle of Culloden, fighting for Scottish independence from the British, happens to die while fighting an infuriating man. Said infuriating man, dying by the Scottsmans hand, just so happens to be lieutenant Simon. Price having already planned to watch over Simon (he said he wouldn't get attached) yet he can't help but to turn Johnny too. Neither are happy at first, they have their differences, but they can't deny the bond and love that forms. Then the three of them meet Kyle 'Gaz' Garrick in world war ii. So bright and full of life, passionate about fighting for his country and ending Nazi regime. The man runs right into a fight, saving dozens upon dozens of men, and the three know they can't let him remain dead when the inevitable comes. And Gaz, well, he keeps that light within him because at least now he can make sure that the war to end all wars wasn't done in vain.

I just wanted to show off their ideas too since it's what inspired my little snippet. I not sure if I'll turn this into a actual thing though.

Copyright © by ethereal-night-fairy. 2024. All Rights Reserved. Writing not permitted for reposting, transcription, translation or use with AI technologies.

[where-dreams-dwell]

Loving the complexity of Madeline Ushers character: a woman who declares she doesn’t want to be limited by men, who’s life is defined at every turn by the decisions and actions of her brother.

……

Madeline Usher is doomed by her attachment to her brother, and it is the root of all her eventual pain.

When Verna offers them the deal, it’s Roderick who ‘charges forward, straight at it’ and accepts the terms despite the fact that the only ‘next generation’ they current have are his kids. Madeline agrees afterwards but only once Rodrick makes it know he is already in. I don’t think she’d have gone for it if he had objected, she’s always had a very ‘both of us or neither’ kind of attitude.

And then she is as much these kids parent (from what we have seen) as Roderick is. Granted we see next to nothing of the kids biological mothers so we have to assume they weren’t very involved (either by their choice or other circumstance) with their kids after Rodrick got his claws into them.

That first scene when we meet Perry Madeline and Roderick are equally dismissive of him, but she is the one asking questions and prompts: you’ve had a year to come up with an idea, is this it or is there more? How are you going to make this successful? Why will your pitch be different? She even asks Roderick to jump in ‘anytime now’ to help her handle this train wreck. And Rodrick has just received the news he’s dying but I think it’s telling that Perry is looking at both of them for validation, for support. They are equally intimidating but equally supporting him.

With Camille we don’t get 1-2-1 interactions between her and her father (despite her own obsession with winning his approval) but we do get a scene with Madeline. After Perry’s death Camille lobbies to be given the power to lead the family’s PR response, and Madeline takes her seriously and asks what she would do. When Camille lays out her plan it’s Madeline who gives a proud nod of approval and okays her actions.

Leo unfortunately gets no parental interactions from either senior Usher. Victorine only gets it right at the end just before her monstrous actions are revealed. Otherwise all she gets from Roderick is pressure and the interactions of an investor, not a father.

Tammy gets the most parental interaction from Madeline, which is tragic as she’s trying to show her father that she can be the heir to his empire. But her aunt is the one who shows up to her presentation, who gives her the pep talk, consoles Tammy (in her own way) about the failure of her marriage, who believes Tammy when she is terrified by someone in the crowd.

Frederik is always focused on his father so Madeline doesn’t get many moments with him, but again Roderick is more of a CEO or boss than a father: focused on how to protect the company, how to secure the future. Little to no concern or support to his son as he mourns his wife’s injuries, as he deals with his siblings deaths, as he takes on more pressure from the world and the family. Roderick only mourns his son (as opposed to his heir) after Fredrick is dead.

Added to this: the security on all the kids? Madeline arranges it. When more kids die? We see Madeline demand it be doubled. She’s the only one still fighting for them, fighting fate itself.

With Lenore we see more interactions with her and Roderick but her interactions with Madeline are just as sweet and show a close, loving relationship. Lenore even calls her Granny Madeline. And Madeline is the one planning to preserve Lenore via AI: this must have been the main reason she begged Roderick to kill himself. Not to save her to but to spare Lenore. What’s the bet that she started working on the AI project in earnest when Morelle announced she was pregnant?

Madeline tracks down the supernatural entity they made a deal with and tries to negotiate a new deal: again (now we know the original terms) this is likely for Lenore’s benefit, not hers. She faces down a power far beyond herself and tries to save or protect what’s left of her family. Not Roderick.

Madeline took steps to preserve and protect her nieces and nephews, and grand niece while her brother did next to nothing. Once you know the nature of their deal with Verna, Roderick’s attitude to his remaining children after they remember who Verna is is just baffling.

Madeline even makes reference to birth control that she took on the off chance the deal was real. She says to Tammy that she didn’t want children with her first husband and hasn’t since, but she has been a mother to Rodericks kids. This lack of biological motherhood hasn’t spared her for the heartbreak of loosing a child. Or a grandchild.

And it’s even the decision of a man (again her brother) which is going to end her family’s legacy in another way. His marriage to Juno, his treatment of her, his denial of her fight to get clean and his horrible reference to himself as Victor Frankenstein and Juno as his monster - this is what pushes her to sign away the company when she inherits it. Madeline speaks about the board choosing her and moving the company away from pharmaceuticals, into the fields of AI and tech. Sure Madeline then died but a lot of the groundwork was likely there, and it could have been a possible path for the company. If Juno didn’t inherit it all and break it apart. Because of Roderick, and the way he treated her. Once again Madeleine’s legacy is destroyed by her brothers actions.

The irony of 1970’s Madeline declaring she doesn’t want to be limited by men’s choices or by a man, taking steps to protect her self and her heart, focussing her work on things outside of medical drugs in the hope that one day that can be what they become known for… then being doomed to more heartbreak and failure by every one of her brothers careless actions is so sadly tragic.

[dana-chan-the-control-brain]

I'm still saying Afton is not the Mimic

Spoilers for the Ruin DLC under the Cut. I wanted to include this in my mega post... but I know that the fandom is flooded with "the Mimic was Afton all along" theories right now actually.

There will be a lot under the cut, explaining some personal theories and the ending of the RUIN DLC so... be warned.

The Mimic, if you read the books, (but you probably haven't so I'll explain it in a few short sentences) is a character from the Tales of the Pizzaplex Books that was built by a Faz Engineer who made a robot to mimic his son to keep him company while he worked long hours while he lived in a factory. The child died in a car accident, and the Mimic kept miming his son's behavior. So in his grief, the engineer beat him to death in rage and grief. This infused rage in the machine.

So now the Mimic mimes behavior of a four year old, but it's corrupted and twisted. It will mime the action of 'scooping icecream' but will be scooping out your brains. It also has an adaptive learning AI so the violent pain it experienced, along with a four year old teaching it, it's a very dangerous thing.

It's also buried into the foundation of the Pizzaplex. And was reprogramed by some dumb lazy tech to clear the debris down there. By disassembling the robots and putting them in a pile. Which it did to all the human construction workers by disassembling them and putting them in a pile.

"This pile" I think is the Blob. Or as the game files refer to it.... "THE TANGLE."

(hard to see but take my word for it. that's him)

(cheating camera angle)

I think "The Tangle" is a infused pile of machinery, robots, and bodies that have all wound up down there.

So, we know that the blob is real. But I really think it's "The pile" that the Mimic has been stacking in the Book Epilogues. And it got out. Gregory/Mimic or Grimmick, says that something tunneled out of the building... And I believe this is 100% true. Because in Base Security Breach, we see this thing in the underground where Afton's room is.

But in RUIN.... This thing is on the top level??? HOw Did he get up here???

Easy..

He tunneled up.

So... the reason why RUIN looks like it does, and HOW it looks how it does...

Is because The Tangle got loose. And has been using the Pizzaplex as it's own series and network of tunnels like a burrowing snake or ant. Causing the entire building to fall in on itself. The Pizzaplex is it's ecosystem now. So that's why everything is falling apart how it is. He's breaking the very foundation and walls of everything.

So we do know the Blob IS real.

And let's assume that he's "the pile" that the Mimic has been building in the Tales of the Pizzaplex Epilouges. Just... sorting all the garbage, bodies, and endos into piles that he can find and stack.

So we know the Blob is real... but is Afton Burntrap real?

Forgive me I don't have the proper collectable screenshots so I'm pulling from the Wiki:

Throughout the game, you collect these real collectable comics that include all of the endings of Security Breach. And Cassie can recognize this as Gregory's art style, and has no idea when he had the time to make these or when he made them. EXCEPT Princess Quest. Which is pretty important I think. Which I think cements that Princess Quest is the definitive three star ending.

It's also worth noting that in Vanny's Room in the RUIN DLC... there is a book of "Fazbear History" by Vanny's Bed. So if Vanessa was freed and got out... we can assume she was talking to Gregory about the Fnaf lore as she knows it.

Also, it makes sense why some of these endings are a little insane now. cause it was just Gregory trying to process everything that happened to him at the Pizzaplex.

Gregory: So, I thought you had a twin sister for the longest time and-

Vanessa: Try again...

But anyway... if None of the previous endings were real.... Is Burntrap even real?

We collect this before we face the Mimic.... of Afton and the Blob. So we know The Blob/Tangle is real.... but was Afton ever real? Was Burntrap ever real? That's what we need to answer...

But if he isn't.... Why is his charging station down here in the furnace room all clouded up? ....As if it never was opened. As if he rotted inside with no more remnant to collect???

Cause here's the thing... I can accept the soft retconning of Afton. And if he was never real to begin with, and this is just Gregory's personal interpretation based on what Vanessa told them about what she was suffering through, I will take that. Or maybe Gregory saw the Mimic and interpreted it as this... I will take that as well.

However....

From what I said earlier... The Mimic... All his motivations in the game don't line up with Afton's.

He is doing exactly what he wants to do.

The Mimic is sealed in the back with Concrete... he's using Helpi and the VANNI Network to get Cassie to let him out. He just wants to get out of the basement and get Free.

Now... if Mimic is Afton the whole time...

and there is a case for it... they have almost the same idle animations as an endo, the Mimic does have Burntrap's claws on one hand. And he does have a similar pawed foot to Burntrap's design and they're practically identical height and pose.

And the Mimic is almost one-for-one linked with Hepi and the VANNI network. And I don't doubt that Vanny the person was using the VANNI network to get around the pizzaplex and become invisible to certain animatronics.

.....But...

here's a big But...

If the Mimic's goal is to kill people with his bare hands... and to get out of the concrete sealed basement, and break all the Security Nodes so he can get free???

WHY DOES THE PIZZAPLEX HAVE SO MANY MISSING PEOPLE/CHILDREN?

Why was the Human Staff all killed in the Pizzaplex?

Why are their children missing?

Why is Vanny hunting children and adults alike to kill in the first place?

This is not the Mimic's MO.

Because Vanny WAS working under influence of Glitchtrap and not the Mimic.

Because if the Mimic just wanted to get out... He would have told Vanny/Vanessa... head of Security.... To break all the Security Nodes A WHOLE LOT SOONER. Cause she literally has a VANNI Mask/suit and access to all of that.

The Mimic has no need for remnant or child killing or human killing if they aren't doing it themselves. The Mimic has always been very hands on with their kills.

But If Burntrap Afton is REAL... HE DOES have a reason for gathering this much Remenant.

He is growing in the charging station and trying to regrow his body.

And while the Mimic moves in a similar fashion to Burntrap, I think that's because he witnessed his behavior at one point and is copying it. But he never saw Afton in his prime. So he literally can't mimic the serial killer behaviors Afton is known for. Just likely his walk and how he breathes.

Because He literally can not copy Afton as a copy-cat killer, if there is NO Afton to Copy. There is no way that he could have learned who Afton was from all the way down below into the foundation. Especially with MXES keeping it hidden down there. And by "hidden" I'm sure it's hidden from Glitchtrap to even possess or check out that low.

People have to remember. The Mimic doesn't have access to illusion disc technology from the books. he can't replicate a corpse face. He's just a learning killer AI who has access to crappy mascot costumes. He can't look one-for-one like a person, even if he can sound like one.

So, there is a possibility that Burntrap Afton DID exist... He just rotted into dust once Vanny stopped collecting remnant for him.

Or there's also the possibility he was never real to begin with.

But.... Glitchtrap certainly was at one point. And Vanny was working with Glitchtrap to kill employees and children.

Not the Mimic.

Just their motivations and modus operandi don't add up if they are one in the same.

It wouldn't make sense for the Mimic to just tell Vanny to parade around in a bunny suit, kidnapping children and killing employees.

He would be telling her to disable the Security Nodes.

There is also the possibility that Vanessa sealed the Mimic in concrete after the events of Security Breach. But even then, I really don't think that she knew about it before hand until she went down to the basement to unplug Burntrap from his charging station.

Anyways... The only way I will see "Mimic is Afton" is that if Afton was using it's body. But then, it's not the Mimic anymore, it's just another Afton-clone.

And from everything from how I've seen the behavior of the Mimic in the DLC, it is operating completely divorced from Afton with it's own motivations and morals of it's own accord.

Oh, just to be clear, I'm not mad at this soft-retcon of burntrap. It's fine. Lol I actually prefer if he didn't exist.

And even if Burntrap was never real in the first place....

Then it means that Vanny was purely an agent of Glitchtrap.

Then when the Glitchtrap Virus got destroyed.... the Mimic hijacked the VANNI network and took it's place.

[princessmahle]

Yandere rengoku x pregnant reader oneshot (rengoku ai audio added)

ooooo boy I don’t know what state of mind I was in when writing this. But I’m proud of it. Anyways it’s a oneshot so this won’t be continued by any means necessary enjoy!

He put you through hell. But he finally made you his. And all it took was getting you pregnant. He knew that would keep you from trying to get away. At your most vulnerable moment. And he knew you loved kids. So you aborting the baby was just no option for you at this point. However you did tried to recollect what brought you here in the first place. You weren’t a demon slayer. Or even a nurse at the butterfly mansion. You weren’t even a kakushi. Your main purpose for being part of the corp was because rengoku saved you once from a demon. You were heading home and when you got there you saw your father already dead and half eaten by a demon. And your mother injured on the floor telling you to run. You were frozen stiff and the demon smiled at you. “Don’t worry my dear…I’ll come for you next after I finish your mommy and daddy, so you better get a head start on running…it’s much fun and tastier for me that way….” You couldn’t even get a scream out of you because you were so petrified. But you did feel your body in need to move. Slowly but surely your legs came close to your mother.  But before you could get near her the demon body slammed you across the room and you were injured. You blacked out for a second but when your eyes started to rise you saw the demon on the floor with his head decapitated. And you saw a man with a white fiery haori.

He was near your mother. Your mother was saying “please don’t kill me….my…my daughter!” The man turned around to take a glance at you. His eyes widen. He looked at you for sometime, like you were someone important. Very important. When he finally snapped back to reality he turned back to look at your mother. The man smiled at the woman gently “don’t worry she’ll be in good hands. I promise you that she’ll be well taken care of.” He said this while raising his sword up. And eventually, he stabbed the woman to death. You kind of saw it but couldn’t hear what was happening. You were too weak.

When you awoken you were cared at the butterfly mansion. Everyone smiled and nursed you back to health. You couldn’t remember much  except the demon that was attacking your parents. And shinobu offered therapy to you if needed. But you just wanted to go home. Shinobu looked blanked at you. “I’m sorry but your parents….didn’t make it according to one of our pillars.” She explained to you as gentle and slow for you to understand. And yet you still couldn’t believe it. It made you want to scream and throw something. But instead you just sobbed. Kyojuro Rengoku finally walked in and told shinobu if he could interrupt to introduce himself. As he watched you cry he took a knee and  held you hand. “I was the one that stopped that horrid demon from attacking you and your parents. I only wish I I could’ve came sooner. But your parents pain has stopped and they are at peace. I do believe they want you to live your life. So please , continue to live your life and know I’ll be here to protect you.” You still sobbed but you were listening to the young swordsman. He seemed genuinely honest to you. He took your hand and kissed it. You blushed not knowing why that was necessary. And neither did shinobu who eyebrowed rengoku the entire time.  After a short talk with shinobu, rengoku felt it was safe for you to go live with him until you were ready to go back to your village. And for awhile you felt safe. You did have nightmares from time to time but after keeping yourself busy with doing chores with senjuro, (who loved your company) or help cook for shinjuro who you didn’t see as much but did admire him atleast being a gentleman to you and always said good morning to you. You’ve notice he didn’t seem to like his son kyojuro as much but you knew it was none of your business. At this point you did seemed comfortable there but you knew at some point you had to go back and take care of your parents home. Maybe start over and make new memories there. You did miss your friends and you did have a young man in the village you really like and your parents actually blessed you both.

You actually told the rengoku family about this during dinner time. Senjuro smiled and so did shinjuro who at this point liked your company. “Well we’re glad your happy again y/n! Just promise us you’ll write and visit us!” Senjuro replied. Shinjuro gave you a respectable nod as well hoping good fortune for you. You smiled at them both but then you notice kyojuro being unusually quiet.

But still loudly saying tasty at the table. Like he didn’t even here the conversation. Not one bit. You finally smiled at him and said his name gently “kyojuro-san? Isn’t it great?” He was chewing slowly. Very slowly. And when he finally gulped and put down his rice bowl he folded his hands and looked at you.

“That’s wonderful news…however you have no way of protecting yourself…” you blinked at his response but let him continue “you need someone like me to train you before you can go home. Who’s to say it will happen again to you or your friends or even your…fiancé?” He tremble his words a bit using that word. But he wanted to make you understand how weak you actually were in having a chance of living your life without another occurrence like this happening again. His father finally stepped in “since when did you ever care for anyone who isn’t a slayer to be your apprentice? You’ll never have time to train her properly! Your too busy in those little missions that I told you are a waste of time! Leave her be and let her lead her life in peace!” Shinjuro who hadn’t spoken up for you before did make a valuable point. It was your life and decision whether or not you chose to get training. But kyojuro also had a point. After everything you witness and endured you were still frightened of what may come if the slayers aren’t there. Senjuro just stayed quiet knowing very well this conversation may not end well between kyo and his father. But finally you said something before you let them continue. “You may have a point….I should get some training. It may be a good learning experience to learn about your corp and how you serve the country. I do want to protect my home.” Kyojuro smiled “that’s the spirit my little blaze!” Kyojuro was in high spirits again. Senjuro was relieved, and shinjuro scoffed and left the table angry. “Do what you want…it’s all a waste of time…and y/n…” he looked at you one last time before leaving “make your own damn choices next time….” He didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable he just wanted you to go home happy with your decisions. But it’s all changed now since you decided to get training.

For 6 months you did follow on kyojuro’s training and for the most part it seemed you were learning fast with the basics. When you were finally ready to use a real sword he told you that you weren’t qualified. This confused you greatly as you showed so much progress using a sword stick. “You may have learned the basics my little blaze, but I don’t think your quite qualified.” After all those months, after all that progress, he tells you your not qualified. “What do you mean? I did everything you told me to do! I even dodge all your attacks! I’ve even attack you a few times and you said I had burning passion in me! It’s almost time for final selection and I haven’t even used a sword yet!and your trying to say I’m not ready!? What was the point of all of this kyojuro-san!?” Kyojuro finally put his hands on your shoulder and looked deep in your eyes this time not smiling. This time it seemed intense but concerned at the same time.

“You aren’t fit to be a slayer I just wanted you to realize that.” Your eyes widen “excuse me?”you questioned “I thought if I kept you here with us you’d realize how much safe you were from the rest of the world. You weren’t met to be a slayer. I just wanted you to understand how much I’m willing to protect you from here on out.” You pushed his hands away from your shoulders “well who the hell gives you the right to tell me where I should and should not be!? I lost my parents from a demon and had to take therapy. I was able to gain the courage to live again thanks to your father and brother…and I thought your training would give me a secure living in defending my self and my village… are you trying to say all this time you wanted to keep me here for yourself!?”

Kyojuro was now silent he couldn’t give you a straight answer. He didn’t know how else to tell you this so he just yelled out “I’m in love with you!” You were in shock by his response. In fact he said it so loud his father and senjuro heard it in the house. They finally came out to see what the commotion was.

“From the first time I saw you…something set my heart ablaze before I could even attend your wounds. You were just so…so…radiant…” this was now creeping you out because you only saw kyojuro as a friend and a teacher. I mean you were 19 years old so you weren’t exactly too young for him. But it was obvious he had planned for you to be here from the very beginning. It seemed from here on he’d never intended to let you leave his estate. You just walked away from him no longer wanting to here him out anymore. You went into your guest room you used for the past 7 months you’ve been here. You started to send letters to your fiancé about where you had been for the past few months. He was glad to here from you and was sending you letters to come live with him and his family until you two were wedded.

You were about to pack your things. But you didn’t want to leave senjuro and shinjuro in the dark about your plans. So you told senjuro first who was sad at first because his brother was heart broken by your rejection. But senjuro loved you enough to know this will make you happy to go back home. You told shinjuro privately in his room. You bowed and even thanked him for his hospitality. He looked at you, walked up, and finally gave you a hug. But his hug seemed tighter and more intense. He whispered to you.  “Y/n, my son is not well. He has been acting strange ever since he brought you here, and even more strange since you’ve rejected him. You must not tell him you are leaving this evening. I will send a carriage to take you, as much as I would’ve loved you as a daughter in law, my son doesn’t deserve someone as sweet and devoted as you. He would just leave you alone all the time. He’ll keep you trapped here. He will never retire as a hashira.” Tears started to stream down your face as this broke your heart knowing you were about to leave them. But you knew you needed to go for the sake of your freedom and independence. Kyojuro wasn’t home yet as he had a pillar meeting that day. But he got off early due to the master needing to rest a bit sooner. When he returned he saw you were just about to leave, and his eyes widen. “Y/n…y/n! Y/n!!!! Get off that carriage! Get off that carriage now!!!! Y/n!” Shinjuro grabbed his son by the arm and slammed him down to the ground. He was now protesting his father to let him go! “Father your letting her leave!! She needs to stay here with us!!!! She will die if we let her go!!” His father held him down tighter “shut up! You were gonna ruin that girls life with your ideal lifestyle you had planned for her! She doesn’t need  a husband that’ll risk his life everyday and coming  home with wounds and bruises. She doesn’t need to bare children to continue the family line!” Kyojuro was now in shock by his fathers words and shinjuro just smirked and chuckled. “Heh…you didn’t think I knew what you were up to? Your just as diabolical as me… the only difference is I was Betrothed to your mother. So she had no choice in the matter.” Kyojuro gritted his teeth he hated the words his father was saying. “But seriously Kyojuro, she wasn’t even interested. She has a fiancé back at home. She’s going to be wedded soon enough. Your better off son. Besides this is the price you pay for being a slayer. And for the record I will never betrothed you to any woman knowing what you do for a living. Our family traditions are over for line of slayers. She will never bare your children to carry on our family tree.”

And that was the final straw. When he told Kyojuro that you wouldn’t bare his children. He knew he had to hurt anyone that got in his way. Finally with all of kyojuro’s strength, he was able to break his fathers grip and punch shinjuro into a tree. He chased after the carriage. You looked from far away and saw him coming. Before you could tell the rider to step on it the carriage was destroyed in just seconds. Everything flew out including you and your luggage. You fell to the ground and scraped your knee pretty bad. When you were able to lift up a bit you looked at the carnage that unfold. The carriage was destroyed the horse ran off. The man who rode the carriage was unconscious. And your luggage with your clothes in it was spread all over the ground. Kyojuro was right behind you and picked you up before you could react. You tried kicking scratching and biting him. But it didn’t make him wince once. He realized staying at his home estate wouldn’t do any good knowing his father would try to protect you from him. As he took you away senjuro called out for his brother to comeback. But it was too late he abandoned his family for you.

You both ended up back at your home. It was still messy including the blood smell you remembered when your parents were attack. You were gaining those feelings again and you were about to cry because this all seemed unreal that the man you trusted was kidnapping you and bringing you to your old home. “Why did you bring me back here?” He finally put you down on the bed. And you stared at him waiting for an answer. “Look at this place y/n…. Did you really wanted to comeback here and remember all of this?” You looked down but responded “I could make new memories. My parents may have been murder but I can still make their home stand and feel wonderful to live in again.” It took rengoku a moment. You looked at him wondering what he could be thinking based on your decision. And then, he smiled. And then….he laughed. Finally he spoke…. “You have a valid point my little blaze! I will support your decision!” He creeped up to you and said

“and I will be the most loyal…(takes off haori) most dedicated….(takes off his belt) deserving husband you will ever desire….(takes off all his clothes) he comes near your neck and kisses you passionately. You gasped in discomfort and try to push him off. But you pushing him away only pulls him in closer. He grabs both your wrists with one hand, and holds them up to restrain you from fighting back. Once he finally holds you still. You’d had no choice but to just take it and hopefully not let it get the best of you.

After he molested you. You bared his child. You had been pregnant for 8 months now. He had kept you at your parents home like you wanted. But you were not aloud to tell anyone you were there. Not the people of your village. Not your now ex fiancé. Not even shinjuro or senjuro. Because if they found where Kyojuro had hidden you, shinjuro would’ve message the master to find you and send you off to an unknown district where Kyojuro couldn’t find you for your safety. And Kyojuro would’ve been stripped from his title. But from what you understood Kyojuro still went on missions normally. He still went home to his family like nothing was wrong. And because he didn’t have you at the house, senjuro and his father assumed he let you go. And at night when everyone was sleeping he would come check up on you and sleep with you. You always had dinner ready because even though he had dinner with his family. Shinjuro wasn’t always in the mood to eat with the boys and senjuro would eat with him sometimes. So most of the time he sneaked off without anyone noticing. Your village was always atleast 2 hours away from the rengoku estate. But he didn’t mind. He was very fast and he would travel the distance just to see you. No matter how it seemed. It was always worth it to see you in his arms. You made him dinner around 10:00 pm because you knew if you didn’t he would cook and force feed you as he assume you didn’t eat all day and didn’t want anything to happen to you or the baby inside your tummy. He bought all your groceries because he didn’t want you to shop. He wanted to make sure you were in perfect health.

So for the most part you did what you thought would keep him happy. You decided to become his little wife until you could figure out what your next plan was. You cleaned your parents home, you did laundry even doing regular clothing when Kyojuro had no missions. You gardened, as it helped kept you sane during your captivity. He even forced you to practice the rengoku family tradition in staring at fire for 2 hours. As this is why the family has fiery hair and eyes. It seemed you had no choice in the matter.And When you both slept together he would always keep you and your tummy close to his arms.he would rubbed your stomach. He would hum to you. And sometimes even whisper sweet nothings in your ear. He would tell you how much he loved you and how he’ll always protect you and your child. It seemed impossible to escape, knowing he’d eventually find you. And in your fragile condition running was no option.

But then it occurred to you. You were almost due. You had to eventually tell kyo that you were in labor. And that he would take you to the butterfly mansion. So you brought it up to him. He was reading his books outside smiling to himself. You tapped his shoulder “Um….dear?” He turned his head so fast, and stared at you dead on. It was very creepy. But you had his full attention.

“Yes darling? Did you want some more kisses on your tummy?” You we’re now cringing a bit but politely you said “No dear. I was just wondering when your out on missions who’s going to care for me when I go into labor?” That smile that Kyojuro made was now a frown. He really didn’t think that through. But he took your hand and said “Do you love me?” You hesitated with that question but you went along with it and told him yes. He then asked “Do you trust me to take you to the butterfly mansion for care?” You smiled now feeling you were getting somewhere with this conversation. You nodded to him. He smiled and said “then I will stay with you until the baby comes. We’ve been together for this long Im going to let the master know about you and me being together. And father…..he’ll have to accept us together at this point! Because my plans had already been complete!” You smiled uncontrollably. And you knew why. Was Kyojuro really that stupid? No matter, this was your chance to call for help. But you decided to wait till after the baby was born.

When the time came you were in labor you were taken to the butterfly mansion immediately and shinobu was notified about you coming since kagaya had given her the news a month ago. So she had your bed already prepared. She did questioned you on when you and kyo were a thing. But you had to keep it secret atleast until the baby was born. So you played it off as saying you fell in love with him. The other hashira were shocked because kyo had never spoken of you up to this point. Tengen wanted to celebrate by drinking. Obanai seemed confused on how all this even happen, mitsuuri cheered believing love conquered all, Gyomei cried wondering if he could bless the child later,muichiro looked at the clouds, and giyu smiled just a little. Sanemi didn’t say anything but he did stare at rengoku a long time wondering why things had to be kept a secret.  Master kagaya as usual congratulated rengoku and hoped to hold the child soon as a warm welcome. Finally after a day or two. You’ve given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Shinobu handed your son to you. And you were about to speak up and tell her the truth. As you didn’t want Kyojuro to come in and see you and your son. This was your chance. To tell her everything. To finally put a stop to this madness. To finally get back at him for keeping you away from your fiancé.from telling you that you were weak. From taking advantage of you when you were forced on your parents bed. But then suddenly your son sucked on your thumb. Shinobu smiled “uh oh…seems the little guy is hungry already…He sure has an appetite like his father doesn’t he?” You looked down and said “yeah..I guess he does…” shinobu was about to walk out and said “he will make a great father. Even though I’m surprised by all of this…you both seem very happy. Your son will grow very happy and healthy. Even if his father is a slayer. It does run in the rengoku family I suppose… Congratulations I’ll go get rengoku for you.” and shinobu took her leave.

While she close the door. You stayed silent. You couldn’t believe you let her go. And that’s when you remembered what rengoku said. It was all part of his plan. He knew you wouldn’t have the heart to take your son away from his father. After all he was a good man to many. He saved many lives and he would protect you and your child from danger especially demons. What could all this mean. Were you falling in love with him? Was it just manipulation? Or did you pity the child knowing he must live a lie for a better upbringing? All you knew was that rengoku’s plan worked. He had you wrapped around his finger and he wasn’t going to let you pull away. Rengoku came in and kissed you for a job well done. The kiss seemed force but not suffocating. He just loved you so much. He held his child. And you couldn’t help but smile on how gentle he was. Mitsuuri came in next with tons of gifts because she considered herself an auntie now. And finally senjuro and shinjuro came in. After telling his father his dirty little secret. Kyojuro didn’t even cared he told him the whole truth. Because in a weird way he was like his father. He wanted someone, he was going to show how much he wanted them. Shinjuro was not happy that you were put through so much. but at this point all he saw was you as his daughter in law he can protect in case Kyojuro went too far with you. He also saw his grandson. Which he already adored.so he decided to make the best of it. Senjuro on the other hand was just happy he got to share a moment with his whole family. Nothing else matter.

When everyone left, you were with Kyojuro and he finally saw you sleep after feeling worn out all day. He held your son while you slept and finally leaned in and whispered to you “we’re going home tomorrow. To my home. Your not going back to your parents home my dear. Because you’ve made new memories now. I promise you’ll be happy. There’s nothing left back at that village for you. Don’t worry, I gave the home to a couple in need to raise their children there. So there’s no need to go back. Because someone is already filling new memories there. Your mine…and mine alone. And I’ll be…..the only memory you’ll cherish most….” He kissed you gently as you slept, fidgeting just a little from the touch of his lips. A tear slid down your cheek gently. You were asleep, but somewhere in your dreams, you heard him. You heard everything and in your dreams all you felt was this force holding you down. You were afraid to wake up knowing he will be there, everyday for the rest of your life…… rengoku smiled “rest easy my love…”

[dreamkidddream]

Vampire!Miguel O’Hara Headcanons!

He has been living in my head RENT FREE ever since I saw the movie last week and rightfully so cause my lord does his fangs have me weak 😮‍💨 expect something more full-fledged written out on his fangs and the vampire AU- reader is gender neutral!

A/N: in this AU Lyla is a vampire instead of AI (but still his assistant somewhat) and this is kinda sorta based off of this post!

It’s been a tragic and lonely life for Miguel. The last time he truly felt at peace was when you were still by his side- his dear, sweet, human lover

Just the thought of you caused him unbearable pain- he remembers the good moments, the fleeting kisses and more- and then he remembers you dying in his arms, your blood coating his hands as you tried to comfort him. That’s how kind you were- spending your last moments alive choking out how much you love him before you passed on

He’s been an empty shell ever since, even after hundreds of years. The world continued to evolve, and it took a while for Miguel to adapt with it. Having Lyla helped him stay sane somewhat, but he would never be able to let go of the past- of you

He was bitter and angry- angry at your kind for your death, angry at himself for not being able to save you, angry that you’re not here. All it took was one glance at your portrait and his fury would boil over. It’s been nights where Lyla would have to leave him be as he tore apart his home, no way of calming him down. Those nights, while now very rare, were hard to witness

He was able to blend in with humans- somewhat. It wasn’t a secret that a lot of people were attracted to him, even if Miguel made it clear that he wasn’t interested (he would always tell you that if his heart did beat, it would beat solely for you). But he could deal with it if it meant getting a meal out of it (and getting rid of some of his annoyances and pent up frustration all at once)

But he does enjoy some of the modern inventions that came out of this time (as much as he hates to admit)- and it lead him to finding something he once lost years ago

It was only an accident- in a rush someone bumped into him outside on the way home. A minor inconvenience, one that he can scoff and glare at (he sometime forgets to be mindful of his fangs if he’s really irritated)-

Until he smelled it- the sweet, comforting scent that drove him wild, that made his fangs poke out in dire need for more. Your scent

He couldn’t believe it- has he finally gone mad? But as he whipped around, he saw you facing him. You- donned in this time period’s clothes, bright eyes gazing at him like all those years ago. It was you, it was you!

Miguel know that he looks like a fool, mouth agape while his eyes blown out. He wanted to take you in his arms so bad, hands outstretched with his a genuine smile that he hasn’t worn in years-

Until he sees your confusion and remembers that you don’t know nor remember him

He’s heartbroken as his hands return to his side- but then he gets an idea and newfound determination. You both were given another chance, and he has nothing but time to remind you of what was once before

He plays off his mistake well (always the charmer and gentleman) and it doesn’t take much before he’s taking your hand in his, introducing himself and vice versa. How long has it been since he’s heard your melodic voice? He had to repress his groan when his name left your lips, a shiver going down his spine. The same warmth he missed has finally returned, and all he wants to do is soak it all in

He already has Lyla finding all of your social media accounts and more when he walks away- wanting to know your interests/hobbies, where you work, if anyone is interested in you, where you live- everything

Outsiders wouldn’t be able to tell (but Lyla could after knowing him for literal hundreds of years), but Miguel’s attitude has improved after his encounter with you. He’s still uptight and stone face, but he’s gotten a bit softer with his approach to others and has a little more patience (if you squint). He’s also going to her more for “advice” (ie. tell me what to do to win (Y/N) back now)

This is probably the greatest moment in her life knowing Miguel actually wants her in his business for once lmao

Miguel’s delusional in a sense- he wants back what he lost so long ago that he’s willing to do anything to have you back. He’s already making a plan on what needs to be done before you can come home with him, setting up arrangements to make your arrival comfortable when the time comes

His appetite isn’t yet satisfied- if anything it’s grown more in anticipation. Miguel couldn’t let himself go feral and scare you off, so he needed to feed before he saw you. Just thinking about how sweet your blood smelled had his head spinning- you were too tempting to be around already, especially when he’s hungry

He couldn’t stop thinking about you before, but now he really can’t- he’s imagining all of the new memories you’ll make together once you’re with him. His love for you hasn’t changed, even if it pains him that you don’t remember any of it

He’s already lost you once, and he refuses to let it happen again

He’s made the mistake of not turning you the first time- he doesn’t plan on making it again

[afictionaladventure16]

hi!! maybe a fic where pedro has been away from his daughter for a while due to filming and just before a few days before he’s supposed to come home, he calls her saying he has to stay for a couple more weeks. she gets upset and maybe rebels and acts out in some way. the eventual reunion could either be a angsty or fluff depending on what ur goin for!! love ur writing btw!!

Broken Promises (Pedro Pascal x Daughter!Reader)

Pedro Pascal Masterlist

Word Count: 4,516

A/N: First of all, thank you for your kind words! It means a lot! <3 I live for angsty requests! This one was fun to write! I kind of took what you asked and did some twists... I hope you like it, though!! Requests are open to anyone who wants to send something in! Also, I don't know if Pedro's older sister has a husband so, i made it up. ALSO, 4.5 k words! This might be my longest one yet. I stayed up till 4:30 am writing this one....

You anxiously looked over at the clock that was mounted on the wall, “The more you look at it, the slower it’ll move,” your tia commented as she noticed you looking at the clock for the seventh time in the past five minutes. “He said he’ll call before he got on his flight, his flight isn’t until Seven. Hours away, so would you please finish your homework before your father kills me because your grades slipped while he was away.” 

You groaned, “It’s killing me that he hasn’t called to let me know he made it to the airport, not even a text!” 

“He’s a busy man, Y/N. Plus you know how he is, he forgets where he places his phone like ever single minute, that’s why he’s so attached to that damn iPad,” Your tia commented as she continued to chop up vegetables for dinner. But she had a point, he could have let his phone in his carry on, or some obvious place that was in plain sight. 

You knew your dad too well, sometimes you thought you knew him better than he knew himself. Sometimes it was true and it scared you. Why? Maybe it was because he was everything to you and you were everything to him. It had just been the two of you since your mother passed and it was as if her passing brought the two of you closer. You bonded over her death in a morbid way. 

His mother passed when he was young, so he knew how to be a shoulder to cry on.

 He knew the right things to say and the wrong things to say. 

He knew the things you would want to avoid, the people you wouldn’t want to see. Overall, he just knew the pain you would go through. Ever since you were just this dynamic duo. 

When he was away filming, you missed him dearly, but it gave you time to spend with your cousins and family you don’t get to see as often. 

“Any plans for his return home?” your tia asked, interrupting your thoughts. 

“Well, I do have my tournament coming up, which is out of state and papi said we can go on a road trip. Take the scenic route and do all the stops.” 

“He did mention that, he sounded pretty excited.” 

“Yeah, plus this tournament is a pretty big deal, the top four teams will be competing to go to championship,” you explained. You wouldn’t say that soccer was your life, but you did love playing soccer. There was something about being on the field and just leaving everything on the sidelines, leaving all your trauma and past for a few hours and just being free. 

You had gotten into soccer when you were fairly young. You remembered your parents always cheering for you in the sidelines and then it was just your dad, then sometimes it would only be your tia who always had her phone up with most likely, your dad on the other side of the phone. Slowly the emptier the sidelines got, the reason for you to play grew, the more you wanted to just be free from your mind. 

The sound of your phone ringing interrupted your thoughts, you jumped up and ran towards your phone that sat at the kitchen counter. “Papi?” You said as you answered the call. 

“Y//N,” he began to say. 

“About time you called, I was beginning to worry you had missed your flight or something. Are you at the airport already?” 

“No,” He sighed. 

“You’re kind of cutting it close, you know that right?” you glanced at the clock, six thirty, it had read. 

“Cariño, I need you to listen to me,” he sighed. 

You sat back down at the kitchen table, “What’s wrong?” you asked. Your mind was quick to race to certain thoughts, someone could be dead, you thought. Who could it be? You had been with your tia Javiera for the past month and she was the oldest. Usually she was the first to know everything. 

“I’m sorry, Cariño,” he began. Your heart began to race, an uneasy feeling crept over you like storm clouds. “I’m gonna have to stay here for a few more weeks.” 

“A few more weeks? B-But you’ll be here for our road trip right?” You were met with silence, a sinking feeling took hold in your stomach, “Right?” you asked again. 

“Mija,” he muttered. Pedro spent the whole day putting off this phone call for this reason. He had gotten your hopes up and he knew you weren’t going to take it easy. 

“Did you tell them no?”

“I can’t tell the directors no,” he answered. 

“Did you even try?” Your voice choked with disappointment, he couldn’t be doing this. He promised he wouldn’t become that parent.  

“Mija, I can’t say no, I have to stay here and do reshoots.” 

“But our road trip!” You exclaimed. 

“I know and I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” 

“Just like you promised to take me on this road trip?” 

“Mija, por favor, Don’t do this to me,” he said, Pedro felt his heart heavy, he knew he was disappointing you and as much as he wanted to tell the directors to shove it and say no, he knew he couldn’t. 

“Or like how you promised you’d never do this? How you promised you wouldn’t become that person.” 

“Y/N,” When the first name came out, you knew he was beginning to get upset. 

“Mija, give me the phone,” your Tia stepped in. She knew someone might say something they might regret and she didn’t want to see either of your hurt. But she forgot to realize you were her brothers daughter and just like him, you were stubborn too. 

You held onto the phone, “You promised,” disappointment written over your voice, tears began to well up in your eyes. 

“I know,” he whispered. If you had only seen how torn your father was at the moment, maybe you would have been okay with situation. Or maybe things would have turned differently, but you could only hear his voice and although, you heard the disappointment in his voice, you couldnt be bothered to care about it. All that mattered to you was that he had broken his first promise and you didn’t know if this was going to be the first of many and if so, what was next? 

Would you be one of those kids that grew up only seeing their parents on the holidays and eventually writing a book titled, “My Parent, the Mandalorian, and the neglect I endured.” You never wanted to be one of those kids and when your dad first began to get bigger roles, he had promised you that you wouldn’t. That he wouldn’t become one of those famous parents. 

You remained silent, hoping it was some kind of sick joke and maybe he’d say something along the lines of ‘Gotcha!’ or maybe he’d say ‘I’ll be there tomorrow, don’t worry!’ But seconds pass and he didn’t say any of it. “Okay,” you finally said. 

“Mija,” Pedro began to say but you handed the phone to your tia. 

“Pedro, it’s Javiera,” your tia said, a somber look fell on her face when she had heard him apologizing when she first took the phone. She felt bad for her little brother, but she also felt bad for you. 

“Is she still there?” Pedro asks

Javiera looked at you, you wiped away tears that were managing to escape. You groaned to yourself, irritated with everything around you, you left the room. “She just left,” she replied. 

“I fucked up, didn’t I?” 

“Yeah,” she sighed. 

“How do I fix this?” Pedro pleaded. Ever since your mother passed away, Pedro called his big sister for any little thing on parenting, he felt like every choice he made was the wrong one. Most of the time, it wasn’t, he was just overthinking it. 

“There really is no way out of the reshoots? No way to reschedule?” 

“Directors call,” he sighed. “I really fucked up, Javiera. No me va a perdonar” (She’s not gonna forgive me). 

“No mas nicesieta tiempo. Let me talk to her, but for now… give her some space.” 

“Are you saying not to call her?” Pedro questioned. 

“Or text… just for a couple of days. If anything send her a goodnight text, but let’s not anger her more.” He let out a small sigh, Pedro always texted you. Even if he went the whole day without responding, he made sure to send a goodnight text every night. 

“Alright,” he muttered. “I’m gonna need you to get in contact with the school, she’ll have to go with her team to the tournament.” 

“I’ll contact them, and Pedro?”

“Mande?” 

She let out a deep breathe, “It’s gonna be fine.” 

Pedro tried his hardest to give himself a smile, to reassure himself that it would be fine and eventually it’ll pass, but he couldn’t. At the moment his heart was utterly broken, he had broken a promise, what felt like a sacred vow and now he had disappointed you. It probably wouldn’t be the first, but he sure as hell, hopes it wouldn’t become a habit. 

Over the past week, you only left your room to go to school and shower. Your cousins dropped off your food in your room every day, you felt like they were somehow on your side. Your friends eventually began to blow up your phone, not only had you been distant with your family, but you’ve also been distant with them. 

You felt your phone vibrate beside you, you groaned at the thought of getting a phone call from anyone. Picking up the phone you realized it was one of your teammates, Cassandra, “Yeah?” 

“Finally you pick up,” Cassandra muttered. “Look, a bunch of us are going to go on a drive later tonight with Justin’s brother, he just got his license and we wanted to know if you want to join.” 

“Can’t.” 

“Oh come on, Y/N! You’ve been so distant and what will it hurt? You’re dad isn’t home anyway so he can’t say anything!” 

You let out a sigh, she had a point, “I still have curfew.” 

“So? Sneak out.” 

You had to admit that Cassandra was a bad influence. She wasn’t your best friend, she was one of the girls in your soccer team. She was part of the older group in the varsity team, but she always invited you out. Part of you felt like she only did it because of your dads social status which is why you always declined her offer. That and because your dad didn’t really approve of you hanging out with her, he could always tell when someone was a bad influence. But Cassandra was right, he wasn’t here. 

“Fine.” 

“Really?” Cassandra asked taken back by your response. 

“Like you said, my dad isn’t here, so it shouldn’t matter right?” 

“Trouble in paradise?” She chuckled. 

You rolled your eyes, “What time should I be ready?” 

“We’ll pick you up at midnight, we’ll shoot you a text when we’re down the block,” Cassandra said before she hung up the phone. You felt your nerves beginning to get worked up, you had no idea what you just got yourself into, yet something inside you felt carefree. 

If your dad were home, you knew he wouldn’t approve of you going out so late. He definitely wouldn’t have approved of you going on a joy ride with someone you didn’t even know and had just gotten their license. He wasn’t here though. 

You remained in your room while you waited, your Tia Javiera came to check on you before she went to bed. Soon after you heard your phone vibrate on your desk, for a moment you thought it was Cassandra but it was still an hour away from midnight. You glanced at your phone, 

Goodnight, Mija ♥️ 

It was a message from your dad. You rolled your eyes and put your phone away. You spent the rest of your time getting ready, you wore something simple, but made sure to cover up from the cold. A few minutes past midnight you received a text from Cassandra saying that they were waiting down the block. You began to quietly make your way out of the house.

“Where you going?” you heard someone whisper. 

You turned around to see your cousin Pedro in the middle of the kitchen, “Pedro, what are you doing up?” 

He held up a sandwich, “where you going?” 

You looked at him with pleading eyes, “I’m only going to be gone for an hour, it’s just a drive around the block with some friends.” 

He chuckled, “I don’t care what you do, Y/N. I’ve been there before. Have fun and if you go to McDonalds bring me some fries, kay?” 

You rolled your eyes, “whatever.” You playfully flipped him off before walking out of the house. You made sure to close the door softly behind you. Once you were in the clear you booked it down the street. You spotted Cassandra waving you down from a dark green Tahoe. 

“This car is a piece of junk,” you commented as you got into the Tahoe. 

“Hey, no disrespecting Hilda!” The driver who you assumed to be Jasons brother, exclaimed. 

“She’s a piece of junk but she’s Marty’s piece of junk,” Jason commented. 

“Correct!” Marty said. “Now let’s get this party started!” 

~~ 

Pedro woke up in a startle to the sound of his phone ringing, at first he had thought it was just his dream, but the sound slowly began to get louder and louder until finally he woke up. He groaned, “who the fuck is calling so early?” he muttered to himself. 

“Hello?” he answered in an annoyed tone. 

“Pedro?” he heard his sister on the other line, her voice sounded strain. 

“Javiera?” Pedro quickly sat up. 

“Pedro,” Javiera’s voice trembled, there was some ruffling sounds on the other line. 

“Javiera?” No answer. “Javier, que te pasa?” 

“Pedro?” Javiera’s husband had taken over the phone. 

“Augustine? Que esta pasando?” (What’s happening) Pedro was no sitting on the side of his bed, he no longer felt drowsy. 

Augustine sighed, “Pedro, no se como dicier te. Y/N snuck out a few hours ago,” 

“Shit,” Pedro let out a deep breath he didn’t know he was holding in. His mind had been racing to a million scenarios. “Well that’s a first,” he chuckled. 

“Pedro,” Augustine said softly. 

Pedro closed his eyes, the way Augustine said his name, he knew what it meant. “Is she okay?” Pedro asked as his voice trembled. 

“She was in a car with a bunch of her friends and some drunk driver, he was driving over a hundred miles, the kid didn’t have a chance to react.” 

“Augustine, is my baby okay?” Pedro was beginning to get ansty. 

“She’s in the ICU,” Pedro could hear his sister crying in the background. 

“Is she okay?” Pedro asked again. 

“You need to get here as fast as possible, Pedro. She’s at Saint Mary’s Memorial Hospital, you know where that is?” 

“Saint Mary’s, yeah,” Of course he knew where it was. He could never forget, it was the same hospital you were born at and now you were there again, but in different circumstances. Pedro was quick to hang up, calling his Director in the middle of night was something he would never do, unless it was something like this. Something like his daughter was hanging on by a thread and he didn’t care about anyones sleep, he just needed to get on the first plane back to New York. 

The directors were understanding of the situation, they even helped Pedro get back to New York within the hour. He had never received treatment like that, but he was thankful for it. 

Pedro had just a carry on, leaving most of his luggage back at the hotel with his assistant. He didn’t need much anyway, just the essentials. 

Once he got out of the airport, he flagged down a taxi. The ride to the hospital seemed to be the longest ride ever. Pedro was anxious to get there, anxious to see you and to make sure you were okay. She’s in the ICU, Augustine’s voice kept repeating those words in his head like a broken record player. The sound of his sisters cries over the phone brought back memories he had thought he buried. 

His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the brief halt of the car, Pedro looked out of the car window to see that he had arrived to his destination. “Thanks,” he said to the cab driver as he handed him some cash before bolting out of the car and into the hospital.

The sun was beginning to rise when Pedro finally arrived, he rushed over to the front desk. “May I help you, sir?” 

“Uh- my, my daughter,” Pedro let out a shaky breath. 

The receptionist knew that look too well, she had seen it so many times. “What’s the name?” she asked softly. 

“Y/N Pascal.” 

SHe was quick to type the name in, knowing that the last thing he wanted to do was wait any longer. “Take the elevator to floor three.” 

“Thank you!” Pedro ran over to the elevator, punch the button for floor three. 

He ran out of the elevator once they opened. 

“Pedro!” He heard his sister exclaim. 

Pedro let out a sigh of relief, he ran over to her and gave her a hug. 

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. 

“It’s alright,” he looked over at his nephews, they both were distraught of the situation. “You boys okay?” 

Young Pedro looked over at his uncle, tears in his eyes, “I should’ve stopped her, Tio. I’m sorry.” 

“It’s okay,” he pulled his nephew into the hug. Pedro didn’t know why he was trying to comfort everyone at the moment, maybe a part of him felt like it was his responsibility because he felt so much guilt. “Where is she?” 

“The doctors have her in surgery right now, she had some internal injuries they hoped to repair.” Pedro choked back the tears, he sat down on one of the chairs nearby. “They said by the looks of the crash site, she got the worse of it. She was sitting in the spot the car impacted with.” 

Pedro pinched the bridge of his nose, “How bad is it?” 

“The doctors said something about possible physical therapy,” Javiera added. “It’s still all unknown at the moment.” 

“This is all my fault.” 

“Don’t say that, Pedro.” 

“She isn’t that kind of kid, Javiera! She would’ve never done this unless she was really mad at me,” Pedro let out a shaky breath. Javiera placed a comforting hand on her brothers shoulder. “I can’t lose her, Javiera,” Pedro sobbed. 

“I know,” she whispered. She let Pedro cry into her shoulder and he cried for a while. After about an hour, he began to calm down, everyone sat in silence as they waited for the doctors to come out. Hours passed by when finally a doctor walked out of the doubled doors and to the Pascal family. 

“Family of Y/N Pascal?” the doctor nervously figeted with his hands. 

Pedro stood up quickly, “How is she?” 

The doctor cleared his throat, he never like this part of the job, speaking to the family. “There was a lot of damage and we did the best we could,” Pedro felt a sob make its way into his throat, he tried his best to hold it back, it wasn’t bad news yet. “But she’s steady now.” Pedro let out a deep breathe. “This isn’t the end of her journey yet, she has a long road of recovery. She’s lucky to be alive.” 

Pedro had tears falling from his eyes, his baby girl was okay. “Thank you,” he said to the doctor, “Can I see her?” 

“Of course, I’ll take you to her.” The doctor led Pedro through the doubled doors, “She’s in the post Surgery, we’ll be moving her back to the ICU later today.” The doctor stood beside one of the doors, “She’ll have a lot of wires surrounding her, it may look scary but it’s what’s keeping her alive. She might not wake up right away, if anything we don’t expect her to wake up for a few days. It’s common in severe crash victims,” the doctor explained. “The tube in her throat will be taken out once she can breathe on her own.” 

“Can I touch her at least?” 

The doctor nodded, “It’s like handling a newborn, you have to be a bit careful.” The doctor tried to give Pedro a reassuring smile. 

“Thank you,” he said softly before opening the door. The doctor was right, the way the wires surrounded you scared Pedro. “Oh baby girl,” he said softly as he walked up to the bed. “I’m sorry,” he let out a sob. He sat on the chair beside your bed, taking your hand into his, he placed a kiss on the top of your hand. “I’m sorry I broke our promise, but you need to wake up for me okay?” He slowly moved a strand of hair out of your face, careful to not touch the tubing and wires. “Te quiero mucho, Y/N. No puedo vivir sin ti.” (I love you so much, Y/N. I can’t live without you). 

As the days passed, Pedro stayed beside your bedside during the day and during the night. He never left your bedside, not even to shower although he was beginning to get remarks about how he smelled. He didn’t care, he wanted to make sure he was there when you woke up. 

It had been a full week and you still hadn’t woken up. The doctors were beginning to worry, they started to do more tests to make sure they didn’t miss anything before or to see if anything new showed up. 

“Pedro, you need to go home and at least shower,” Augustine said as he placed a plate of food on a small table nearby. 

“I’m fine,” Pedro said as he kept his eyes on you. Augustine sighed, it was no use, there was really nothing that was going to convince Pedro to leave the room. 

“Come on, Cariño,” Pedro said softly. “You need to wake up.” he squeezed your hand gently. Pedro was about to let go when he felt you squeeze his hand, his eyes widen and he squeezed your hand again. Few seconds later your squeezed his hand, “Yes!” he exclaimed. He got up from his chair, “She squeezed my hand!” he yelled out to the nurses that were outside the door. They came rushing in, beginning to check your pupils and your vitals. 

“Get the doctor,” one of them commanded the other. 

The doctor was ecstatic to see the vitals go up, “Y/N, if you can hear me, squeeze your dads hand.” You squeezed your dads hand again. Seconds later your eyes fluttered opened, you winced at the brightness of the room. You felt something lodge in your throat, you lifted your arm to touch it, “no, no we’ll take it out for you, dear.” 

“She’s awake,” Pedro said in disbelief. 

“We’ll need to get the tubing out,” the doctor said. Pedro got up from his spot on the bedside, let the doctor take the tubing out from your mouth. “Your mouth is gonna feel dry for a couple of days, it’s common,” he began to say as he checked your pupils again. “Do you know where you are?” 

“The-” you coughed, a nurse handed your cup of water. “The hospital?” 

“Good, what year is it?” 

“Twenty Twenty Three.” 

“What’s your name?” 

“Y/N.” 

“And who’s that?” The doctor pointed over at your dad. 

“My dad,” you said softly. 

The doctor smiled, “We’ll run some more tests later,” he said to your dad, “I’ll leave you two alone for a now.” 

Your dad thanked the doctor, he waited until they all left to go back to his spot by the bedside. You bothe remained quiet for a few minutes, one waiting for the other to speak. The other trying to get the courage to speak. 

You let out a shaky breath, “I’m sorry,” you whisepred. “It was really stupid.” 

Pedro shook his head, pulling you into a warm embrace, “It doesn’t matter,” he said softly. “All that matter is that you’re here and you’re alive.” He let go of the embrace, holding your head in his hands, “that’s all that matters to me right now, okay?” You gave him a nod, “I thought I was gonna lose you,” he choked out. 

“I’m sorry,” you trembled. 

“Que paso, Amor? How did it happen?” 

You shrugged, “One second we were heading back and the next thing I know, I heard screaming and it was dark,” you sniffled. “Is everyone else okay?” 

Your dad nods, “You got the worse of it. Cassandra was pretty shooken up, but they all got minor scratches and concussions.” 

“Lucky me,” you said sarcastically. Your dad kissed the top of your head, “I really am sorry about everything.” 

“No, I’m sorry, I broke a promise.” 

“I overreacted,” you confessed. 

“I don’t think you did,” he said softly. “I mean, I get it, we had a promise I wouldn’t break promises or cancel on you for work, especially with thing like your tournament. I wouldn’t let you become one of those kids with a book on how their parent was the worst parent ever.” you chuckled, causing your dad to smile, “I broke that promise and it scared you, and I’m sorry.” 

“Thank you and I’m sorry I overreacted and landed myself in the most expensive place on earth that isn’t Disneyland.” 

Your dad let out a laugh, “Forgiven.” 

“Forgiven,” you repeated. “Now, how bad is this?” you gestured to your broken leg, “Is my soccer career totaled?” 

“Soccer career? I thought you wanted to become an actor like your old man?” 

“Well, acting wasn’t my first choice, but depending on this, it might just become my first choice.” 

Pedro rolled his eyes, “Well, you’ll have physical therapy for sure, but let’s talk about it when we get there.” 

“Alright, but can we talk about something else?” 

“Dime (tell me).” 

“Can you go shower?” you scrunched up your nose, “I’m pretty sure your B.O. is what woke me up!” 

Pedro rolled his eyes, “Alright, alright, I’ll call your tia over to be with you while I go shower.” Pedro watched as you covered your nose in exaggeration, usually he would say something petty, but right now he just wanted to admire you and the fact that you were still alive. “Te amo, mija.” 

“Y yo a ti, papi,” you gave him a smile, knowing that everything was going to be okay and that if you did write a book in the future, it’d probably be about how you grew up blessed to be Pedro Pascal’s daughter.

Pedro Pascal Taglist: @Sophieelizabeth01  @tracysnookok  @cilliansangel @change-the-world-someday @graciegoeskrazy

To be added CLICK HERE

[hamliet]

thoughts on how oshi no ko has portrayed what happened to hikaru (thus far) and any ideas for what his motives/role in the story is?

Honestly? I think it's doing a pretty good job of portraying it. TW for discussions of childhood sexual abuse below.

When it's first introduced to us that Hikaru was raped by the adult actress, Aqua doesn't have much reaction. On an intellectual level, he gets it, but on an emotional level in terms of what this means for Hikaru, for his development and for his pain, he doesn't get it at all. It's only when we get to Akane's expressed horror ("that's sick!") that we get an actual reaction.

The previous chapter was honestly acting and a flashback as it actually happened, and I appreciated that they showed it as violent.

That's something so often missing from stories of older women who rape younger boys (see Mary Kay Letourneau). It's not a love story. He's not lucky. It's violence.

Like, I spoke about this with a friend after the chapter, but the wiki literally says he was "implied to have been raped." Implied? He was ELEVEN.

I don't think the wiki writers are intentionally being obtuse or dismissive, but there is a subconscious way in which a lot of the world, across cultures, reacts to female predators of young boys in a way that is incongruent with how we react to men who prey on young girls. And to be fair, the latter is a far more prevalent issue but still.

So anyways, I was grateful the final panel of the flashback showed Hikaru being dragged, violently, away from a girl his own age whom he likes by an older woman who won't even introduce his son as his son. Anything Hikaru has, he cannot have.

I've written about Hikaru before, but yeah, he's a scary serial killer at this point who is likely going to target Ruby and/or Kana. He's a final antagonist, obviously, and his past abuses don't excuse him. He's somewhat modeled after Lucifer, and not the Hazbin Hotel version.

But I don't think Aqua's final challenge is stopping Hikaru.

Aqua playing Hikaru in these scenes is challenging him to do what playing Ai has provoked Ruby to do: to empathize and further understand their parents. But, the problem is that Aqua can relate to Hikaru's anger and hatred already.

Again, as I wrote previously, Aqua already is very much like Hikaru (albeit at a far earlier stage): trying to reenact and kill the perceived causes of his trauma and not able to see that he's not going to be happy with such an ending because you can't kill your way to peace.

What Aqua actually needs to do is to come to understand Ai. Ruby, imo, is the one who will come to understand Hikaru, and probably forgive him (not excuse, but this is very likely where it's going).

Ai seemed to, after all. She reached out to Hikaru's proxy (the stalker) and definitely recognized the white roses and knew who had sent him.

Yet she still reached out to her stalker as a human being and empathized with him after he had stabbed her.

If it had been Hikaru standing there himself, she would have done the same.

And lest we think this is solely an example of her toxic wanting-to-please-people trait taking control, this was also the moment--the only moment in Ai's life--where she was finally able to express herself without a lie. It can be both an indictment of the entertainment industry prioritizing pleasing others over your own life and pain and Ai's moment of triumph even amidst tragedy.

Hence again why Aqua's challenge is to understand his mother, not to kill his father as justice for her. He needs to recognize her love for him as her son. She wanted him to live. She wanted him to love. She didn't want him to obsess over her in death.

Ruby, on the other hand, needs to understand Hikaru... and Aqua. Thus far, while she's had the best growth of everyone in this entire series, she is still idolizing Sensei and Aqua thereby.

She needs to see him as a person just as Aqua needs to see Ai as a person. Seeing Hikaru's anger and pain and seeing Aqua's go hand in hand for Ruby (again, not a coincidence Aqua is playing young Hikaru in the movie).

As for where Hikaru goes from there, I don't know. He might end his own life like the stalker proxy did, but I think the fact that that's already happened makes it less likely. He might find new life even if like, in prison, or he might die sacrificing himself for his kids. It's too early to make those exact predictions... but I think Ruby understanding him and empathizing is key.

[cuubism]

It’s 3pm on a rainy Wednesday, and Hob is sleepily grading student papers, when Death of the Endless appears in his flat, lies quietly down on the couch, and rests her head in his lap.

Hob stares down at her for a long moment, hands aloft in indecision, because this is not... something they do. By now he can say he calls Death a friend, and they get drinks together sometimes and chat, but this...

“Everything alright, love?” he asks, finally resting a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t mean to disturb your peace,” Death says quietly. The TV Hob’s left on as background noise—some silly cooking show—nearly drowns out her voice entirely.

“Nothing peaceful about trying to find nice ways to tell my students they can’t write for shit,” Hob says, pushing his papers away. He can’t see Death’s face well like this, but he doesn’t like the uneven sound of her voice, not when she’s usually so level. “Disturb away.”

After a long moment in which they both just listen to the TV program host blather on about crumpets, Death says, “I am not affected by deaths.”

“…Alright,” Hob says, though he’s not convinced.

“I am…” Death continues, but trails off on a breath like a whistle of cold wind. “May I... stay here awhile?”

“‘Course.” Hob carefully pets at her head, strokes her hair. Worry is building, but he doesn’t think Death needs him to pull her words out of her the way he sometimes has to with Dream. She will speak when she’s ready. “Do you want to hear some truly fascinating attempts at historical analysis? Or is peace and quiet what you’re looking for?”

“You can speak if you wish,” Death says, still in that quiet tone.

So Hob tells her about some of his students, the ones who truly seem to have some promise in the field, and the others who he’s pretty sure are just mangling their papers together from sentences out of one of those AI things, if the originality is anything to go by. It’s disappointing but does make for humorous reading. Though really, Hob’s not sure whether to laugh or despair when he has to read lines like War has negative effects on people in an actual university academic paper. Wow, you don’t say.

He does manage to get a few chuckles out of his friend, but none with her usual humor and enthusiasm, and eventually he trails off, and they listen quietly to the background noise of the TV.

“Is there anything I can do?” Hob asks quietly.

“Can you control the future, Hob?” Death asks, a rhetorical question without any of her usual lightheartedness.

“Can’t even control the present,” Hob says. He just keeps his hands on her, one on her shoulder, one on the top of her head. Grounding, he hopes. And he thinks on what she’d said.

Hob knows that Destiny is the only Endless that operates in the future, but he has wondered, now that he understands them a bit better, if Death may not have a foot in that direction as well. She must know, some way, how to be where she must when she must.

Death has never seemed overly burdened by the past, even though history is a tower of bones a hundred miles high. Hob had asked, once — do all those terrible things ever bother you? you were there for them all —and all she had said was, “It has already happened,” with neither pleasure nor pain, just acceptance.

The future is another matter entirely.

“Is something going to happen?” he asks.

“I will not burden you with knowledge that is not yours to carry,” Death says.

So, that’s a yes.

“Maybe I could do something about it,” Hob suggests, though he suspects where that query will lead.

“You could not.”

“What about you, then?”

“That is not my place,” she says, though she sounds less certain about it than she usually is when discussing her function.

“You sure?” Hob asks.

“Were I to change fates for some, what excuse would I have for not doing so for all? Unfair things happen hourly, and always will. If I upend the balance, there is no telling how things would tip out of control down the road.”

It must be hard, Hob thinks, to be so powerful and yet so powerless.

“You did spare me,” he points out.

Death huffs, almost a laugh. “In truth, I shouldn’t have done that. Although I suspect Destiny had it written in his book for other purposes entirely.”

Huh. Well, that’s probably something Hob shouldn’t think on too hard for the sake of his own sanity.

“Well, I’m certainly not complaining about it,” Hob says, and Death chuckles.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asks, when they’ve been sitting for another few minutes in silence.

“I… do not have many friends,” Death says. Common family trait, then, Hob thinks. Not that it’s really so surprising. Death is very personable, but most of her interactions with people are, well… fleeting. And it can’t be easy to make normal friends, when you’re as expansive a being as one of the Endless.

“Stay for a while then,” Hob says. He pulls a blanket over her and tucks it around her shoulders. “Until you have to go.”

“Thank you, Hob,” says Death, still sounding incredibly weighed down by her function, but given a slight reprieve, perhaps.

Hob rubs her shoulder and thinks about these endless creatures he’s chosen to love. Do they have anyone else to worry about them? He doesn’t think so. It’s just Hob, and he doesn’t think that’s anywhere close to enough, but he’ll just have to do his best.

“Any time, love,” he tells her, and means it.

[twomiddlefingersforthehaters]

一生愛の人生よ! isshō ai no jinsei yo ! Love of a lifetime! This is what was pasted on her mirror. Instead of working together with Naruto and Sasuke to chase & find those scrolls… she is taking such care of her hair in the forest of death for sasuke-kun.

Kin tsuchi is mocking her by saying... "Your hair's shinier than mine... If you have time to take care of your hair, you should practice , you female swine! "

"KILL THAT SASUKE GUY IN FRONT... OF THIS BOY CHASER'S EYES"

(Sakura called 'Ino' a pig.... and now Kin called her a pig. Most of the time when she insults others it will backfire on her the next time)

This is what sasuke said to her before... "If you have time to bother me, Practice a Jutsu or Two"

Kishimoto tries to point out that instead of doing useless things to chase after a boy...try to improve your own skills. And when you promise you will do something, do it. Be a person of your word rather than being "all talk and no action."

Sasuke told Naruto the same thing to become stronger than him. What did he do? Did Naruto do nothing and just think about it and leave it there?NO. It's his honest desire to be as strong and equal as Sasuke. He trains hard and never tries to run away from it, finally getting his wish and attention from Sasuke by declaring 'I want to fight you too (Naruto)'.

The same phrase [ love of a lifetime] appeared on the wall of her room this time. But What is she doing now... holding the photograph of team 7 and crying.

Both of them are thinking of the same person 'Sasuke'.... but when it comes to Sakura's panel there is no hope.

Naruto was training here to become stronger (for Sasuke) and he was wishing for Sasuke on a shooting star. Even though he was exhausted from training… his thoughts of Sasuke made him not to waste time and went back to training.

"Sasuke is what makes him so determinated"

There are no secrets, there is no lack of trust. Indeed you trust your precious person with your mind, body, spirit and soul. You only want what's best for that important person. And you support and try to understand that person. Even if it means giving your life you will willingly and happily give it to your 'precious person'. You will not let them suffer alone, take their burden on your shoulders and show them that you will always be there for your precious person. You will always be with that 'person' in death and afterlife. You won't let them feel alone. You acknowledge their pain and difficulties. You do things to make the person feel loved and supported. you take the time to listen and understand. You give all that you can and do the best for the other person. You stand by them and support them when no one else does. You love the person because you do it without expecting anything in return. You try to be more open, communicative, and honest. You do whatever it is to show how much you value the other person. You choose to put your needs your dreams behind you because that person is more important than anything else. Instead of thinking just for yourself and your needs, you consider that person as well. Loving a person selflessly means accepting the person for who they are and who they will be. Loving selflessly is respecting that person. That's what Naruto does for Sasuke. Because his love towards Sasuke is selfless.

What did Sakura do for Sasuke:

She didn't do anything... even if she says she loves Sasuke but for that love she never did anything... she never tried to understand Sasuke... She never trusted him completely…. She dont even trust the boy she was addicted with.... And She always put herself first...

I don't care about your revenge... but I want to be with you

I don't care about your well being... but I want to be with you

I don't care if you don't reciprocate my love....but I want to be with you

It's all about herself only, not even concerned about the other person's feelings and emotions. She only care about what she wants. She overly concerned with her own desires, needs, and interests. she puts her own thoughts and feelings above other people’s. Even though she knew Sasuke didn't give a damn about her, she kept crying and screaming for his attention. Emotional blackmailing just to achieve what she want. she take all the opportunity to go on and on about her selfish love without acknowledging her own concerns about the other. She know that the person they're chasing doesn't love them, and never will.

"Her pursuing a selfish love is pretty realistic"

She's so selfish that she refuses to accept the reality, truth and facts. Her love for Sasuke is selfish and she is a selfish girl. She even broke her friendship with Ino because of that. Ino befriends her and helps her in her struggles when no one else cares, but Sakura throws away her friendship for a boy. She has never changed, and she is never going to change that aspect of her character. She's still in her delusional mind, even when signs point and hint that what she's after is never going to happen

Why does she love him? You need a reason to love someone... but she doesn't have any.

[mrgladstonegander]

MORE BOOTLEG DUCKTALES ‼️team science (oops! all identity issues!) edition

team magic here

archimedes gallas / gyro = more like other versions where he's nice but this man is carrying SOOOO much guilt. insane amounts. his entire character is focused on how much his self-worth is down the drain (also hes being haunted by the narrative (phoebe/della)). also he's half japanese. based off the onagadori

cherry pekin / huey = has a similar problem to archie where she has overwhelming feelings of needing to seem mature, and responsible, where she overworks herself

sydney eggtooth-diazi / fenton = REALLYY wants to seem like a Professional Normal Dude. repressing EVERY urge to wear silly ties. sees morality in a black and white sort of way and it WILL cause problems later. he puts archie on a pedestal and its super obvious and it just makes archie more mentally ill

salem milly / gandra = planning to really lean into how she joined fowl bc they were the only ones that supported her. mainly the contrast with how the Main Family supports each other with unconditional love, the love she has is purely conditional, and she's constantly convincing herself that she Wants to do bad things, and that she doesnt care about these people, because despite how she says she only listens to herself, shes stuck to FOUL, and thats her 'family'. based on mille fleur d'uccle

frankie loon / fethry = IT IS PART OF TEAM SCIENCE‼️ after getting back to mainland after being alone at sea for four years, he joins as a janitor. pulling back the marine biology in the sense that he is interested in EVERYTHING. man of a 10000 copies. winning the idgaf war (DOES care abt how his family is disinterested in his interests but its FINE because HE cares its fine its fine. he's accepted he'll be alone). its presence WILL send everyone else into a shock about their identity. hopefully it'll happen vice versa as well

widget-time-tech / widget / gizmoduck / lil bulb = theyre being consolidated and also theyre lil bug guys now!! i dont care if you hate bugs theyre cute as shit!! widget is Usually in the little ball, but also helps control the suit with sydney. it still has anger issues so it'll make things harder for sydney rather than just silly incompetence. and it was DEFINENTLY made to be a superhero ai. no other purposes. at all. certainly not messing with the fabric of time. just helping the ppl of the town :)

mad clucktor / mad clucktor = iwhile he IS a villain he isn't necessarily a bad person. hes a physical manifestation of the part of archie that WANTS to be alive! that KNOWS his worth! he doesn't have to work himself to death to make up for his guilt!

and he's the reason why toby is even active. why he's back

toby / boyd = cannot be normal abt this sorry

he was made to be archie's idea of the "perfect boy". the perfect kid. what he wants to be what he WISHED he would be growing up. hes happy, he can do everything right, he's intelligent, he's strong. his existence is free of human doubt and anxiety, he's the perfect boy and if he was in archie's place everything would be fine

but it isnt! he gets used! toby's used for evil through no fault of his own. but he becomes a symbol of things that are "wrong" about archie. toby didn't resent anyone or be upset with how people treat him. toby doesnt have his own needs. he can do whatever people need him to do. toby was his symbol of hope but becomes a symbol of how everything with him goes wrong. he becomes an unachievable goal that archie is trying to be to make up for the existence of toby!!

and so the only way for either of them to be "truly human" is when archie learns that he doesn't have to be perfect. he never had to be. even if he's made mistakes, he still deserves to LIVE!! he doesn't have to hide his pain and discomfort for anyone!! and its okay for toby to be toby!

[whumpay]

WHUMPAY 2023

Well, this is earlier than usual… But, as a thanks for all y’all’s help getting prompts together, I’ve decided to release the list earlier! And, well… With the new ‘Extreme Edition’ addition, I figured a bit more prep time may be warranted.

Rules:

You only have to use one (Or two, if you’re doing the extreme edition.) prompt a day! But you’re welcome to use multiple if you want to, and it still counts for both.

I know the description of the blog says it’s a writing event, but if you want to draw or make other kinds of content, that’s cool too.

Have fun, tag content warnings (such as noncon, graphic violence, etc) and try not to be crushed by the mortifying ordeal of posting your writing.

This is a pretty chill event so you can start posting whenever but I’ll be reblogging posts made to the #Whumpay2023 tag throughout May.

EXTREME EDITION: Made to be used together with the normal prompt list, the extreme edition prompt list has 31 types of whumpees for you to use. This is entirely optional, and you don’t necessarily need to do them in order. I know it says bonus points, but it basically is just bragging rights.

(Prompt list under the cut.)

GROUP ONE: PHYSICAL WHUMP 

Day 1: Heatstroke

Day 2: Asphyxiation 

Day 3: Physical Torture

Day 4: Passing Out From Pain

Day 5: Near-Death Experience

GROUP TWO: MENTAL WHUMP

Day 6: Psychological Torture

Day 7: Betrayal

Day 8: Claustrophobia

Day 9: Lotus-Eater Machine

Day 10: Trapped In Own Body

GROUP THREE: WHUMPER TYPE

Day 11: Intimate Whumper

Day 12: Good Whumper / Bad Whumper

Day 13: Reluctant Whumper

Day 14: Vengeful Whumper

Day 15: Unintentional Whumper

GROUP FOUR: CARETAKER TYPE

Day 16: Bad Caretaker

Day 17: Parental Caretaker

Day 18: Reluctant Caretaker

Day 19: Carewhumper

Day 20: Enemy-To-Caretaker

GROUP FIVE: SICKFIC

Day 21: Working Through Illness

Day 22: Surgery

Day 23: Worse Than It Seems

Day 24: Allergic Reaction

Day 25: Deadly Illness

GROUP SIX: SICK FIC

Day 26: Scars

Day 27: “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Day 28: Self-Isolation

Day 29: “I won’t let them hurt you anymore.”

Day 30: Nightmares

Day 31: Forced Relaxation

ALTERNATE PROMPTS:

X. Sadistic Choice

X. Epistolary 

X. Dehydration

X. Anger Born Of Worry

X. Death Wish

X. Stress Position

X. Gore

X. Just Out Of Reach

X. Hurt/Comfort

X. Magical Whump

EXTREME EDITION:

Whumpee Type:

Day 1. Vampire

Day 2. Young

Day 3. Stoic

Day 4. Winged

Day 5. Whumper-To-Whumpee

Day 6. Immortal

Day 7. Defiant

Day 8. Demon

Day 9. Villain

Day 10. Possessed

Day 11. Multiple Whumpees

Day 12. Robot/AI

Day 13. Cowboy

Day 14. Team Leader

Day 15. Werewolf

Day 16. Team Outcast

Day 17. Mermaid

Day 18. Asshole

Day 19. Fairy

Day 20. Hero

Day 21. Healer

Day 22. Soft

Day 23. Comedian

Day 24. Compliant

Day 25. Monster

Day 26. Traumatized

Day 27. Touch-Starved

Day 28. Stockholm Syndrome-d.

Day 29. Vengeful

Day 30. Ghost

Day 31. Alien

[monimccoythings]

Sore Loser

This fic was written using ai, which stands for an introvert, which is me. No, seriously, I'll never use ai to write, even if my writing becomes shit. Speaking of which, another one! :D This (fish) man has the worst of tempers and doesn't like to share.

Arlong hated many things: humanity, for starters; being mocked; waiting; discrimination against his people... and the list went on.

But if there was something he specially hated, was losing. Back in his early days in the Fishman district he was one of the worst options to play with, his competitiveness was such that just a small loss at any game was enough to send him into a fit of rage that made him punch the wall until it cracked or his knuckles bled.

There was something specially bitter about losing, it meant humilliation, it meant recognising that the other was better than you. There was nothing to learn about defeat. Just to do better next time, if there was any...

And losing to a human meant double the bitterness.

It's not like you were a great prize; Hell, you sure weren't, you were human after all, at least that was what he constantly told himself, just a simple reminder that was becoming more of a lie with each day that passed.

He wanted you. More than he had ever desired anything. He needed to possess you, to consume you over and over again, to have you by his side at all times and to wake up by your side every morning.

He didn't know where his infantuation had started, but it had spread through him like an infection. He had stopped fighting against those feelings long ago, it was pointless. At first he thought he could keep you as a trophy, a memorabilia of his triumphs over the lesser race, but at some point those feelings of conquering had begun morphing into something else, something he swore he would never allow himself to feel for the enemy.

His behavior towards you had also subconsciously changed due to his growing feelings. He found your presence increasingly more tolerable, not entirely welcomed, but more tolerable than it had initially been. At least he no longer threatened you with painful death each time you came across each other in the ship, and whenever he made a jab at the human race he made sure to separate you from the rest of humanity, referring to the whole species as them. That had to count, right? He was doing his best. And he was playing to win.

That's why he couldn't stand seeing you so close to another man, a human man. When had you two gotten so close? You had just met a couple of hours ago and had already achieved a deeper emotional connection than you had with the rest of the crewmates or him. Was it a human thing? Did he miss something?

As you laughed once again at one of those supposedly hilarious quips that idiot made, he clenched his fists with barely concealed rage, muscles swelling and veins bulging. He was making a huge effort self restraining himself from what he perceived a threat towards his territory, and somehow you weren't able to notice, too busy chatting with your would be suitor.

Arlong wasn't a patient fishman, and the second he saw that bastard's hand on your shoulder, he decided that enough was enough and that it was a perfectly good time to eat some fresh meat. His intimidating presence and furious expression gave him the look of a rabid sea king ready to attack, which was probably the reason why many of the people who saw him stomping towards you immediately ran away to avoid crossing in his path. First wise thing he had seen a human do in his entire life.

As he was about to lift his kiribachi to slice that asshole in two, you quickly said your goodbyes and turned towards him with a sheepish and apaologetic look on your face.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Turns out his father is from the same island I was- I mean, am." Arlong rolled his eyes at your attempts to correct yourself, as he had no intention of letting you go from his side, ever. "One thing led to another and before I noticed we already knew each other's life histories!" You said it with a nervous chuckle, completely oblivious at the way Arlong gritted his teeth. Jealously raised its ugly head inside him.

"Stop wasting my time and let's go back to the ship!" It came out harsher than he had intended, but given his rising anger, you should be thankful he was behaving this well.

"B-but the supplies!"

"I do not wish to spend one more second in this dump, move it!" He was not going to risk another pathetic attempt at flirting in his presence. No human was going to beat him to you.

He put his webbed hand close to your lower back, which made you blush a little. It wasn't close enough to touch you but it was close enough so everyone who was foolish enough to look at you knew that he had already staked his claim.

And he was not going to lose it.

[a-reader-and-a-writer]

What Went Wrong

AI-Less Whumptober 2023: 1. Poisoned, 8. Seizure, 14. Bleeding Through the Bandage, 21. Near-Death Experience, 30. Coma, Alt. Prompt: Bloody Knuckles Fandom: DC, The Suicide Squad, Rick Flag, f!reader Summary: After a mission goes spectacularly wrong, Rick is forced to relay what happened, no matter how painful it is for him to relive it. Word Count: 5033 TW: Poison, Mentions of Death, Blood/Bleeding, Seizure, Hospital, Language, Rick is taller than Reader Note: Written for @ailesswhumptober's event. Thank you to the anon who requested Bloody Knuckled with Rick! It was really a wonderful inspiration! And thank you to @loverhymeswith for all the support and beta reading for me! 💖

Colonel Rick Flag sat in the small break room—now a makeshift interrogation room—oblivious to the world around him. All he could do was stare blankly down at his busted, swollen knuckles and watch as his blood slowly reddened the gauze he couldn’t remember someone wrapping them in. Apparently, someone had also given him something for the pain, but it was doing little to stop the throbbing ache that seemed to intensify with every beat of his heart. Yet, he sort of liked it. It gave him something to focus on, to ground him, even as everything else around him lay in ruins. 

Gritting his teeth, he balled his left hand into as much of a fist as the swelling and bandaging would allow, and almost blacked out as every nerve running from his hand up his arm screamed out in excruciating agony. Squeezing his eyes together tightly, he stifled a groan of pain as he forced himself to maintain the fist. 

Focus on the physical pain. Just focus on the physical pain. Let everythin’ else slip away until there is nothin’ but this pain.

“Colonel Flag….Colonel….Sir—”

“Flag!” 

Waller’s sharp tone cut through his fog and Rick’s fist instinctively uncurled, lessening the pain to a point where he once again became aware of his surroundings. Blinking, he looked up to stare at the pair in front of him in a slight daze. “W-what?”

Waller nodded at the other man who shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he cleared his throat and glanced down at the stack of papers in front of him. “Uh, yes, well, I understand this may be difficult for you but we need to get your official statement on what happened for the record.”

Rick sighed as he scratched at the gauze on his hand. “Do we really have to do this right now? I got better places to be.”

The man shot him an apologetic smile. “I understand that but the less time that passes between the event and the report, the more accurate it is. And considering there were numerous asset casualties, we need this to be as accurate as possible to avoid any liabilities.”

“Assets and liabilities,” Rick spat, the words like ash in his mouth. “That’s all any of them are to you, isn’t it? Numbers on a page to use how you want. But the members of Task Force X are people. Yeah, people who made some wrong choices or did horrible things, but that doesn’t mean they are just fodder you can throw at your problems.”

“It wasn’t so long ago that you too viewed your squad members as nothing more than that,” Waller said coldly, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes completely devoid of all emotion. “I wonder, did your view on them change before or after you started crawling into one of their beds?”

Rick leaped to his feet, his metal chair clanging loudly on the hard tile as it toppled over. The man jumped and cowered back in surprise, but Waller didn’t even flinch. Instead, she continued to stare Rick down, daring him to try and make a move against her. But they both knew what would happen if he did….

Recognizing he was in an impossible situation, Rick could only point at Waller and snarl, “You leave her out of this. Whatever relationship we might have didn’t affect what happened on the mission. And what I do on my own time is my own business.”

“Maybe, but you fucked her while she was my prisoner, which makes it my business.”

Before Rick could snap back, the man cleared his throat, his face bright red behind his glasses, and he reached for one of his papers. Scanning it, he asked, “Excuse me but are you confirming you had an intimate relationship with Belle Reve prisoner 0806?”

Rick turned his attention to the man, anger gleaming in his hazel eyes. This just proved his point. To them, you were nothing more than a faceless number, something to be used when convenient then tossed back into a cell like the other thousand inmates of Belle Reve. 

“Yes,” Rick said through gritted teeth as the man began to write something on his papers. “After several assignments together, a connection developed and we became romantically then intimately involved.”

The man paused his scribbling and glanced up as Waller began slowly walking around to stand behind Rick. “‘Romantically’...so this relationship between you and this inmate was more than just physical?”

A thousand moments with you unwillingly flashed through Rick’s mind: your head resting on his shoulder as you slept on the flight home from a mission; the determined glare on your face as you fought off a swarm of enemies all by yourself; the way he didn't need to say a word for you to know exactly what he needed; the pure adoration in your eyes as he settled between your legs on your tiny prison cot. How could he not have fallen in love with you?

Rick once again tightened his hand into a loose fist as he growled, “Why the fuck does it matter right now? However you define it, it didn’t affect the mission at all.”

“Given how the evacuation team found you, sir, one might say differently.” Rick began to rise up out of his seat but the man put up his hands. “I’m sorry. I have to ask these kinds of questions so we can get the full picture of what went on in that lab. It’s in your best interest as well as ours if you can be as honest and detailed as possible so we have all the information when presenting our findings. Right now, the depth of your relationship with this inmate only matters to me if it caused some sort of misconduct during the mission that led to its failure. Otherwise, I don’t care what the two of you have been up to or how you feel about each other, I promise.”

Rick could feel Waller’s eyes burning a hole in the back of his head and he knew that she felt very differently. If she had her way, he would be court-martialed immediately. Not because he had been sleeping with you or because he loved you—no, he was certain she already knew about that. But now that it was public knowledge the head of her pride-and-joy task force was sleeping with one of its criminal assets presumedly right under her nose, it would put a black mark not only on the squad but on her as well. And that was not something Waller took lightly. 

But for now, she wasn’t his main concern. He needed to get out of this room and upstairs as soon as possible. So, he nodded to the man and motioned for him to continue with his questions.

“Thank you.” The man gave Rick a small smile and looked back down at his papers. After scanning them for a minute, he looked at Rick and said, “Now then, Colonel, to the best of your recollection, can you tell us what happened? What went wrong?”

What went wrong….. It was the thought that had been plaguing Rick for the past twenty-four hours. He had replayed the entire mission over and over in his head trying to figure out what he could have done differently to save his team…..to save you.

It was supposed to be a textbook in-and-out mission with no foreseeable complications. An underground lab was developing a new weapon that could be catastrophic in the wrong hands—which included the scientists developing it. Though hidden, the lab didn’t appear to have more than the most basic levels of security and it seemed like a cakewalk for a small team to go in, destroy the research and weapon, and secure any scientists on site.

Because of this, it was determined this would be a good chance to break in the newest recruits to Task Force X and Rick found himself leading a team comprised almost entirely of untrained, terrified ex-criminals who wouldn’t shut up or fall into line. Before they even got off the plane, he was ready to detonate every last one of their nanite bombs.

Luckily, you had been allowed to tag along to help keep everyone under control….including Rick. Even if no one realized how deeply the connection between the two of you went, it was obvious that you had a way of calming him down and centering him even in the most dangerous or stressful of situations. Rick pretended to hate the idea that he needed someone to manage him but honestly, he didn’t mind as long as it meant he got to spend more time with you.

On your very first mission with Task Force X, Rick noticed you were special and unlike anyone he had met before. And by the third mission, he had you pressed against a wall in a dark alley as you shoved your tongue down his throat. Since then, he would do whatever he could to be near you, including bribing the guards to turn off the cameras in your cell for a few hours once or twice a month—and still it wasn’t enough. He was counting down the missions until you earned your freedom and he could have you in his bed every night without having to leave.

And this mission would bring that dream one step closer to a reality.

Once inside the building, Rick sent the rest of the Squad to destroy everything in the labs (he figured they could handle unbridled destruction without needing supervision) while you went with him to find the mainframe and extract any information you could before wiping it. 

The plan seemed to be going perfectly until you and Rick finished your assignment and were heading back to the rendezvous point. Just as you reached the lab’s exit, there was a whirring sound and a pair of thick, metal doors slammed shut inches in front of Rick’s face. You spun around to try to rush back the way you came, but another door slid shut, blocking your retreat. 

“Damn it!” Rick yelled as he slammed his fist against the thick metal door. Sighing, he picked up his radio to call into headquarters. Usually, they would all be on earpieces, but since it was supposed to be such a simple mission, they had forgone them this time. “Control, this is Flag. Do you copy?”

The radio crackled to life. “We copy, Flag. Did you complete your mission?”

“Affirmative, Harcourt. But on the way to the rendezvous, we got cut off. We are trapped between two metal doors and I can’t see a way out. Requestin’ an extraction team to come get us.”

“Launching extraction team now. ETA is approximately fifteen minutes. Stand by.” 

“Copy.” Rick slipped the radio back into his cargo pocket and shrugged at you. “Well, I guess we just wait. At least we have a few minutes alone together until they show up.”

Looking around at the tight space you were now trapped in, you took a step closer, pressed your palms against Rick’s back, and leaned against him as you whispered, “Rick…I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Ah hell, darlin’,” Rick muttered. “Now why’d you have to say somethin’ like that?”

Suddenly, the sprinkler heads on the ceiling sprang to life, and a mysterious liquid sprayed down on you. It was clear like water but had an oily consistency and a bitter, acidic smell to it. Rick spun around, grabbed your arm, and pulled you tight against his chest trying to use his large form to shield you from as much of it as possible but it was of little use. Soon, you were both drenched from head to toe. 

It lasted for less than a minute before the sprinklers turned off once again. Lifting your head from where you had buried it in Rick’s chest, you glanced around before muttering, “What the fuck was that about?”

“I don’t know. But I think we should get outta here before we find out.” Rick turned back to the metal door and began examining it for any sort of weak point or hidden switch.

From behind him, he heard you audibly shiver and he glanced back to see you rubbing your hands over your still dripping arms trying to warm yourself up. He wished he had something to give you but he doubted his soaked tact jacket would provide you any warmth. Either the extraction team needed to hurry up or he needed to get you both out of here as soon as possible. 

However, just as he began to turn back to the door, there was a burst of static from above you, and a voice called out from a hidden speaker, “So, this must be the current iteration of Task Force X. Welcome!” You and Rick exchanged a nervous glance as the voice continued. “I had a feeling Waller would track me down eventually, and it looks like I was right. Good thing I took precautions.”

“Who the hell are you?” Rick called out as his eyes scanned the ceiling trying to locate where the voice was coming from.

“She didn’t tell you? She just sent you out on a mission without briefing you on what you were walking into?” The voice scoffed. “Why am I not surprised? Well, let me introduce myself. I used to be one of the head research and developers at ARGUS before Waller got everything she wanted from me and tried to have me arrested despite the fact everything I did was under her orders. You see, I’m the guy who developed the technology that made the nanite bombs possible, including that one currently residing in your girlfriend’s head.”

You gasped as your eyes grew wide and your hand flew to the side of your neck, your finger tracing the small bump just under your skin that Rick knew was there. His eyes met yours and he knew you were both thinking the same thing: If this maniac invented the bombs then chances were….

Rick glared up at the ceiling and roared, “Now listen here you bastard—”

“I can’t detonate it if that’s what you’re worried about,” the voice calmly interrupted. “Waller is smart enough to change the frequency for every mission which means I, unfortunately, can’t access them. However, I had a feeling she would kick me to the curb once she had my technology so I neglected to tell her about the one flaw in my design. The unintended way to weaponize them. The one I just set in motion.”

A chill ran down Rick’s spine. “What are you talkin’ about? What did you do!”

“Rick…” Your fingers dug into his arm as you reached for him, your shivering intensifying—but whether that was from cold or fear, Rick didn’t know.

“The bombs are not the only thing injected into the subjects,” the voice continued. “A small amount of a typically harmless chemical surrounds it to help the body not reject the foreign object or start breaking it down. I say ‘typically harmless’ because it only becomes toxic when mixed with another rare compound….the same compound that was just released from the sprinkler system moments ago.”

“What did you do to me?” you asked, addressing the voice directly for the first time. “What’s going to happen?”

“Oh, not just you, my dear. Those sprinklers went off all over the building so I’m sorry to say your entire team is about to suffer the same fate as you…except for the Colonel that is. Or did Waller implant a bomb into you as well? It wouldn’t surprise me if she did.”

“Shut the fuck up and just tell us how to stop this!”

“Yeah, I’m not going to do that. I need Waller to pay for what she did to me and show her she was wrong for ever doubting my abilities. And the best way to do that is by eliminating part of her precious Task Force X. I am sorry you had to be a casualty of our war but just like any game of chess, pawns get sacrificed. I would hurry up and say your goodbyes if I were you. The toxin forming in her blood should begin to take effect any time now and her body will destroy itself before your backup arrives. But Colonel….tell Waller I said hello.” 

The speaker crackled out, leaving the two of you standing in a horrified silence. Rick’s mind was spinning with everything he had just heard. What the voice said couldn’t be true, it just couldn’t be. After all, Waller would have known about it.

“Rick?”

Waller was the one who came up with Task Force X and she oversaw every single detail as it came to fruition. She couldn’t have overlooked something like this….could she?

“Rick.”

But then again, what if she had? She wasn’t a scientist and wouldn’t understand all the uses of the different chemicals they were using with the technology. So what if the voice wasn’t lying and you only had a few minutes before—

“Rick!”

He whirled around to see you slumped against the far wall, your eyes wide as you wiped your fingers under your nose and watched them come away bloody, a bright smear still left on your face as more began to trickle out of your nose. 

“No….”

He closed the distance between you in two long strides and took your face between his large hands. Your body was shaking slightly as you looked up at him with tears in your eyes and your voice broke as you said, “Rick, I can feel it. It’s already happening. Oh God—” you frantically grabbed onto his wrists as his hands still cupped your face “—I’m scared. I’m not ready to die. Not now. Not when I’ve found—” The rest of your words were lost as you broke down sobbing.

Rick pulled you into his chest and wrapped his arms around you tightly. Resting his chin on the top of your head and rubbing soothing circles across your back, he whispered, “It’s okay, darlin’. You’re gonna be okay. I’m gonna get you outta here and get you help, you hear me? I can’t lose you either so I need you to fight. Fight and just hold on, for as long as you can. We’re gonna get outta here…together.”

He felt you nod into his chest and gently moved you away to look at you. Red-tinted tears trailed down your cheeks and more blood was smeared under your nose. Rick glanced down and saw some of it had wiped off on his jacket, but it didn’t matter. He bent down and pressed his lips furiously against yours—trying to ignore the metallic taste of blood coating your lips— then turned back towards the exit door. 

He had already searched every inch of it for some sort of switch but maybe he could pry it open. Rick tried to get his fingernails to dig into the seam where the two doors met, but the seal was just too strong. Maybe if he could find something to wedge between them….

As he quickly scanned the room for something—anything—he could use, he saw you clutch your chest as you began to cough. It started out small, like just clearing your throat. However, within what seemed like seconds, it had evolved into a wheezy, rattling hack that wracked your entire body. Rick watched helplessly as fresh blood sprayed across the floor as a particularly deep cough forced you to double over.  

As it subsided and you looked up at him, he inhaled sharply as he saw blood now not only trickling from your nose but from your eyes and mouth too. You tried to say something—it seemed like his name—however, from your rasping gasps, it was clear you weren’t getting enough air to breathe properly, let alone speak. 

“No…” Rick couldn’t believe he was being forced to stand here and watch you die with no way to save you. “No!”

Throwing his entire weight behind it, Rick smashed his fist into the metal door. Logically deep down he knew there was no way he would ever be able to punch his way through it, but right now, logic was the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, he wound back and drove his other fist into the door. 

Over and over again, he pounded at the metal, ignoring the pain as he felt his skin split and bones crack. The door was now smeared with the blood from his ruined knuckles but it was nothing compared to the blood that was spilling from you just behind him. Hearing you struggling and in pain yet knowing he was helpless to stop it was too much for him and he increased the strength of each blow.

It was only when he saw you collapse to the floor as your body began thrashing and convulsing that Rick abandoned his fruitless attempts at breaking through the door and he dropped to his knees beside you. Pulling your writhing body into his lap, he held you tightly against him and pressed his lips against your ear, muttering empty promises that everything was going to be alright. 

As you continued to seize, blood began to flow more steadily from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Your eyes rolled back into your head as your back arched and your entire body went rigid. You seemed to hold that pose for a moment, the entire room suddenly dead silent. Then, slowly and with one extended exhale, your body relaxed against his and your head lolled to the side. 

Ice spread through Rick’s veins as he stared at your motionless form. No. This couldn’t be happenin’. Not to you. Please God, not you. 

He gently took your face between his hands and turned it so he could see you better. Several trails of blood streaked down your face and though your eyes were mostly closed, he could just make out the dulled, faded color beneath your lids. And though you were lying on his chest, all he felt was an unnatural stillness—no heartbeat, no intake of breath. You were gone.

Tears began to stream down Rick’s cheeks as he buried his face in the top of your head. And though he knew you couldn’t hear him, he softly whispered, “Please, darlin’, come back to me. I need you and I love you and I can’t do this without you. So, please….come back.”

And that’s how Waller’s extraction team found the two of you moments later: Colonel Rick Flag with tears in his eyes as he clung to the limp body of one of the Belle Reve inmates.

Since that moment, Rick had been going on some sort of autopilot, letting himself be shuffled from place to place and doing what he was told. But now that his official statement had been taken and he had been released, there was only one place he needed to be. So, taking the hospital elevator up to the third floor, he stepped out onto the intensive care unit and followed the signs towards his destination. 

When he reached the end of the hall, Rick stared through the window into the hospital room, his forehead pressed against the glass as he struggled to maintain some sort of composure. He could barely see your face past the countless machines and equipment hooked up to you in an effort to keep you alive. 

By the time Waller’s extraction team had shown up and somehow managed to revive you, the poison had done its job and destroyed or seriously damaged most of your internal organs. It was a miracle the doctors were able to keep you alive this long, even if machines now controlled every aspect of your life support. The rest of the Task Force who had been in a different area of the building hadn’t been so lucky. The two of you were the only survivors—if you could call it that.

The doctors had done everything they could to save you and now the rest was up to you. Rick had heard the full spectrum of possible prognoses ranging from you making a full recovery to you being incapable of cognitive thought or movement—and all of it was dependent on you waking up which was an uncertainty on its own.

But for now, you lay motionless in your hospital bed just as you had for the past twenty-four hours. 

Fury boiled in his gut as Rick’s eyes landed on the pair of handcuffs chaining you to the bed. Did they seriously expect you to jump up and sneak out of the hospital? Your heart was struggling to beat without assistance and air was constantly having to be forced into your lungs yet they had to make sure you wouldn’t miraculously make a daring escape. It made Rick sick. As did the fact he wasn’t permitted to be in the room with you. All he wanted was to hold your hand or press a soft kiss to your forehead, but Waller made sure no one except for her and the doctors were allowed in. Just another one of her attempts to punish him.

As if summoned by the very thought of her name, footsteps echoed off the tiles behind him growing louder and louder until Waller stepped into Rick’s peripheral vision. He ignored her, instead keeping his gaze firmly locked on you, and Waller seemed to do the same. 

For several minutes, they stood in complete silence, the sounds of your rasping breathing and the beeping of machines the only sound in the dim hallway. Finally, without turning, Rick asked, “Did you know?”

“I know a lot of things, Flag, but you’re going to have to be more specific.”

“Did you know the chemicals in the nanites could be used like that?”

Waller was silent for a moment before she answered curtly, “No. We knew about the chemical surrounding the bombs of course, but we were not aware it could be turned into a weapon. Our lab is already researching alternatives.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure my team would be thrilled to hear that if they weren’t all currently down in the morgue.”

“Mistakes happen, people die. But that’s why we formed Task Force X. Nobody cares when those dying are criminals.” Waller’s eyes shifted slightly from the window to Rick and back again. “With a few exceptions.”

Rick clenched his fist at her words then immediately regretted it as a sharp bolt of pain ran up his arm from his busted knuckles. He wanted nothing more than to make Waller feel the pain he was feeling. For her to understand how much he cared about you. But he knew nothing he did would make a difference. If anything, it would only make it worse. 

Taking a deep breath to try and calm himself, he asked, “So…what happens now?”

Folding her arms over her chest, Waller said, “Despite my objections, the board determined you did nothing wrong on the mission. They said there was nothing you could have done differently to save your team and you are not responsible for their deaths and thus will not receive any formal reprimand or punishment. However–” Waller raised one eyebrow as she glared at Rick “–I have not forgotten your…indiscretion with her and it will not be overlooked.”

“Don’t act like you haven’t known about us since the very start. You’ve just been waitin’ for the moment it best suited your interests to bring it up,” Rick growled. “I don’t care what you do to me but when she’s better I want her released from Belle Reve. She only had thirty years left on her sentence—twenty after this mission. And this….this more than makes up for the rest of her time.”

“Possibly,” Waller said thoughtfully. “First, we have to wait and see if she even pulls through, then we can have that discussion. But until that happens, I expect you to do your job.” She slapped a file down on the ledge of the window. “Your next assignment. You leave tomorrow and you better be on the tarmac on time. Otherwise all of this–” she gestured to the hospital equipment surrounding them “–goes away. Do we understand each other?”

Rick clenched his jaw tightly as he just barely managed to hold back the slew of curses he wanted to direct at his boss but he knew that was exactly what she was hoping for. So instead, he gritted his teeth and in his most Southern twang said, “Yes, Ma’am.”

The “fuck you” was loud and clear in his tone but Waller thankfully ignored it. Shooting him one last glare, she turned sharply and began marching back down the hall. However, Rick called after her, “And I want those cuffs taken off of her. Now.”

Without turning or breaking her stride, Waller replied, “When are you going to learn, Flag? You don’t call the shots around here. I do.” Then she turned down another hall and disappeared from sight.

Sighing, Rick gazed back at your unconscious form. Pressing his hand against the glass, he whispered, “It’ll be alright, darlin’, I promise you that. You don’t worry about anythin’ except gettin’ better and wakin’ up. You do that, and I’ll take care of the rest. And no matter what happens or how bad things are when you do wake up, I’ll be right by your side for all of it, Waller be damned. ‘Cause I love you, now and forever.”

He waited, hoping beyond hope you had heard his words and they helped rouse you from your sleep. But this wasn’t some feel-good movie or romance novel where his bedside pleas would make everything better and you would wake up to fall into his arms once again. No, this was real life and in real life, people didn’t get their happily-ever-afters. 

At least…..not yet. As long as your heart was still beating—artificially or not— there was hope. And for now, hope was going to have to be enough.

Tag List: @loverhymeswith, @green-socks, @yespolkadotkitty,  @heresathreebee, @tavners, @merlehs, @sunshineflowerchild789, @mayhem24-7forever, @lovearne, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @that-sarcastic-writer, @indig0nebula, @katjnordstrom96, @wildbornsiren, @princessmisery666, @writercole

[iuciferic]

Hi!!! Really love your art!! It’s so good! Would you consider doing some head-cannons of AC6?

I’m not good at headcanons unless I’m drawing and need to come up with reasons why I chose a certain appearance but here we go

Answers contain spoilers

- Iguazu has burns on his neck and abdomen due to having had to escape from a damaged mech. He doesn’t want to be seen as a failure and tends to hide his injuries. It’s a contrast with 621, who looks like a corpse and doesn’t hide it if he’s not made to.

- Walter used to read a lot of comic books as a kid. He still has many of them, even after the calamity. He mostly reads novels set in settings that mimic the american old west now so his hounds read his old comics. They’re actually a very rare type of comic books especially now that humanity has been using machine learning to produce entertainment.

- I lied. Carla actually smoked, she just likes to annoy Walter about it.

- Chatty Stick started off as a simple computer AI Carla created especially to organize her work. She wanted a playful AI that would be able to also help her relax in her free time and make it less lonely. They would play games like chess and mahjong together but then Carla wanted to up the difficulty of these games by making the AI less predictable. Implementing advanced algorithms allowed Chatty Stick to grasp nuances, context, and emotional tone, enabling more human-like responses and a personality of its own.

- Rusty is too young to have known the golden age of Rubicon. The current state of Rubicon is all he’s ever known. Having grown up in this environment, Rusty developed a resilient mindset. He is accustomed to adapting to unexpected circumstances. He’s not just a great pilot, he knows machines. He could’ve been a great mechanic if it wasn’t for his desire to take matter into hands himself. His survival instinct is also very strong, having grown up on post fire Rubicon. All that, his practical and technical knowledge of armored cores allow him to escape perilous situations.

- V.II Snail, despite having undergone extensive augmentations, harbors envy towards V.I Freud's natural talent and skill. It frustrates him to see someone without enhancements outperforming him. However, Snail is also very proud and he will never ever show hostility towards Freud out of fear of being found out and figured out as a jealous individual. He was however, relieved to learn about his death like one less pain in the ass.

EDIT:

- Pre gen 8 augmentations are extremely invasive. The body might reject it, hence the high death rates. It involves replacing biological parts with synthetic ones and making connector go through muscles. The death toll is mostly due to damage done to the brain and spine, which are highly sensitive areas. The cause of death is mostly neuroinflammation.

[five-rivers]

Checkerboard

Will add an AO3 link once the ddos attack is over. In the meantime, please enjoy this Gen Rex fic! It's whump. :)

Edit: AO3 Link!

.

One moment, Rex was breaking free of the control collar, as planned.  The next– 

Caesar hadn't realized that witch could move that fast.  

The fight was, in a word, brutal.  Rex was good, very good, even Caesar could see that, but against both an equal opponent and the relentless black pawns, even he had limits.  Especially when he was avoiding lethal blows.  It appeared he hadn't, quite, realized that the black pawns were robots.  

That was an oversight on Caesar's part, he'd admit.  He knew that Rex had the ability to detect nearby nanites, but he didn't know if that ability was behind the consciousness partition his parents had set up in the onboard AI, and even if it wasn't, well, having the ability to perceive something and understanding the information it gave you were two very different things.  Especially under stress.  

Black Knight crushed Rex's latest set of smack hands with a nanite-generated hammer, then tipped him over, wrapping him with her whip.  He hit the floor hard, but it was obvious he was going to break free momentarily, and possibly even counter with his own whip build, but Black Knight's hammer shifted into a sword, and she brought it down through Rex's shoulder.

"Stop!  Stop!  What are you doing?" demanded Caesar.  

The black pawns moved in, aiming at Rex from point blank range.

"Kill or control," said Black Knight.  "That's Providence's current protocol.  If we get your brother back under control, we can put ‘cure’ back on the table, but until then… What will it be?"  The ultimatum, because that's what it was, was delivered in the same falsely pleasant tone Black Knight gave all her orders in.  

Caesar clenched his jaw.  Some people might think he was cold and disconnected, that he lacked empathy, feelings, care for anything that wasn’t one of his experiments.  Dr. Holiday, for example, had, shortly after Rex’s disappearance, accused Caesar of being a psychopath.

Well.  Caesar knew there was something not quite right about him.  Never had felt like getting a diagnosis.  But he hadn’t cried over his parents’ deaths, and he hadn’t cried over Rex’s disappearance.  He certainly hadn’t gotten as emotional as Holiday, or even Six. 

But he did love his brother.  He knew that love was just the result of neural connections in the brain, coupled with certain chemical reactions, but that didn’t make it less real.  He wanted his brother to be healthy and happy.  That was love, yes?  

But for Rex to be healthy and happy, he also had to be alive.  

He met Rex’s eyes.  Rex, unlike Caesar, was emotional.  Caesar could easily read the pain, fury, and fear on Rex’s face.  Fear that quickly slid into terror as Rex realized what Caesar was going to do.

“Dr. Salazar, your decision.  You can stop stalling.  We neutralized the robot monkey, and even all the Numbers working together couldn’t break into this facility fast enough to keep me and my pawns from terminating this EVO.”

“He-ahhhh!”  Rex’s protest was cut off with a sideways jerk of Black Knights blade, ending with a high-pitched whine.  There was no blood - Rex, as a rule, didn’t bleed.  His nanites had instructions about that.  But even so…

“Alright, alright!” said Caesar.  “I’ll do it!  I’ll just.  This isn’t something I can do immediately.  I told you Rex’s nanites were different.”  He had.  Multiple times.  Some of those times were even after his six-years-in-fifteen-minutes trip.  

“I’d think it’d be a simple matter, considering you worked on him before.  And your control of the Omega-1 during your… reappearance.”

“I’d think,” said Caesar, retrieving a set of new control collars and checking their serial numbers, “you’d appreciate the difficulty, considering anything that could easily be done to Rex could easily be done to you.”  

Black Knight’s smile grew sharper, showing teeth.  “Careful.  Dr. Salazar.”

Caesar made sure his tablet computer was synchronized with the main control computer and walked towards Rex.  The pawns who weren’t aiming at him were now aiming at Caesar.  He held up the collars and his tablet.  “I’ve got to start somewhere, right?”

“Let him by,” said Black Knight in an almost magnanimous tone.  She had a lot of practice with that one.  

“Okay, mijo,” said Caesar, with false cheer, “let’s get started.”

“Don’t do thi–”

His protest was cut off as Black Knight changed the angle of her sword, enlarging the wound.  Rex gasp, breath hitching, and Caesar decided the best way to handle this was fast, like ripping off a bandaid.  He wrapped the first collar around Rex’s neck.  

Predictably, because Rex could be predictable, sometimes, (it was, Caesar thought, probably a result of many of his subconscious thought processes and actions being directed by nanite programs) the skin on his neck lit up with blue lines that crossed over onto the collar and took it apart.  

“Don’t–” said Caesar, quickly.  “Don’t.  There’s a reason I brought more than one, yes?”

“You have fifteen minutes.  My arm is getting tired.”

“Please, Rex, just… Let it happen.”

Rex bit his lower lip and glared up at him.  Caesar swallowed and checked his tablet, looked at what, exactly, Rex had done to the collar, and made a few adjustments.  He had to - he had to get this right.  

Despite the whip and despite the sword, Rex still tried to twitch away from the collar.  This time, Caesar could hear the activation tone of the nanites.  They’d intended to remove some of the audio cues after the nanites got out of the prototype phase, but since things had turned out the way they did, they’d never gotten around to it.  

He kept an eye on the tablet, watching the feedback and already making adjustments to the next collar.  When the second - or should he count it as the third? - one broke, it was ready to slide into place.  

And…  There!  He’d need some more changes.  Just a little more.  But this time… Yes!  He could stop Rex from breaking this one for long enough to get his foot in the door, at least.  And Rex was wearing out.  

He had limits.  And Caesar wasn’t exactly fighting fair.  

He snapped the next collar - hopefully the last one - into place.  The program, a construction command for the Omega-1, started running immediately, relaying its results to the tablet.  Caesar watched them anxiously, but he didn’t have much faith in that particular program as anything but a delaying tactic.  Rex’s self-programming capabilities had taken care of that particular backdoor within the first week of Caesar’s return.  

But the program he was loading up now was a bit different.  Simple, yes, there wasn’t time for anything complex, but hopefully effective, given Caesar’s special permissions and privileges in the nanite system.  

The second program worked like this: it sent a request for access to Rex’s code interface, tagged with Caesar’s administrator codes.  For various ethical and practical reasons (their parents didn’t quite trust Caesar not to use higher-level access for pranks) Caesar had never been given full, unimpeded access to Rex’s nanite programming.  But… the admin codes meant that he got a response.  A little popup that said nothing but ‘request denied.’  Rex also could accept the request, but, well…

Caesar looked at Rex, whose face was screwed up into an expression of pained but determined confusion.  That just didn’t seem likely.  Even if the request was handled entirely behind the consciousness partition.  

The program didn’t just send one request, though.  It sent repeated requests.  As many as it could, on a code loop only a few lines long.  

The whirr of the nanites became more stressed as they worked on endless access requests.  The nanites were tiny, brilliant computers, but they were, in the end, still computers.  Computers (and everything, really), as a rule, generated heat when they were working.  They’d managed to break physics in so many ways working on the nanite project, but not that one.  

Rex began to sweat and pant as his body tried to regulate its internal temperature.  Every inhale hitched and every exhale was accompanied by a pained whine.  As a rule, Caesar didn’t experience empathy, didn’t feel with other people.  Probably a mirror neuron problem.  But this?  This hurt.  

He didn't want to do this.  

His tablet beeped.  

Their parents hadn’t trusted Caesar not to play pranks on his little brother, but they did trust him to look after Rex’s wellbeing in an emergency.  An emergency like a significantly elevated body temperature and a huge hole in his body.  

The popup now read, ‘access granted.’

The first thing Caesar did was make a new back door.  He was confident that this one, the one he used to get in just now, would be patched within a week.  Probably some limit on access-requests-per-minute, even for admins.  

Rex’s code was a mess.  Six years of unregulated self-modification would do that.  Few of the new programs were instantly understandable, even to Caesar.  Builds, wifi hacking tools, a series of ‘handshakes’ for various systems, dormant EVO-originating code, probably copied from people and animals he’d cured, active EVO code, from the same, a rather ingenious fix for a problem they’d never solved, back in the nanite project days.  But buried underneath all that was the original code for Rex’s nanites.  Even the Omega-1.  

He brought up the set of programs they’d written after the first time Rex had forgotten everything.  It was just a little something to help him recognize them, trust them, in case it happened again.  It was why it had been so easy to convince Rex to come with him, when they had met again.  

But family wasn’t the only thing on the list anymore.  Dr. Holiday, Six, Noah, and even Bobo were there, primarily identified through their nanite loci, rather than the facial, vocal, and code recognition that identified the Salazars.  Although, now that he looked, he could see that Rex had appended Caesar’s nanite locus to his ID data.  

He went to the part of the code that dictated how much and how the nanites could influence Rex’s thoughts about a given person, and changed a few variables and permissions.  He went back to the main list, added in Black Knight, and generated variables for her, too.  

There.  Rex was controlled.  Not, perhaps, the same way all the other EVOs were, but with the values Caesar had just assigned, saying ‘no’ to him or Black Knight would be given roughly the same avoidance priority as self harm, and just being around them should feel vaguely pleasant.  

Rex made a tiny noise of protest, but judging by how glazed over his eyes were, and how clammy his skin looked, Caesar doubted he was really aware of what Caesar had just done.  He would be, though.  

Caesar went back to the main list one more time, and told Rex’s nanites that Rafael and Violeta Salazar were dead.  The effect of this was immediate and far more dramatic.  Rex started sobbing.  

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”  He really was.  But this was the fastest way to get to the other thing he wanted.  The consciousness partition.  Without their parents, Caesar was now recognized as having the highest level of admin access.  

He… hesitated before he deleted it.  There were a vast number of reasons it existed.  The primary one being to keep ten-year-old Rex from accidentally deleting his liver, but also because the nanite project’s… well, Caesar’s… track record with AIs was not good, and even if this was more of an integrated intelligence, than an artificial one…

But Rex needed this.  For that matter, if Caesar’s original plan had worked, and Rex had escaped, and he got Providence to restart the project, and, and, and…  Eventually, the partition would have been removed anyway, was the point.  

He hit the button and moved on.  Medical options.  He brought up a list of prearranged medically-related voice commands - it was short, for emergency use only, in case Rex lost control of his nanites while he was ill.  He interdicted Rex’s builds, put them behind a voice authorization from a ‘person of trust’ and he desperately hoped Rex would figure out that particular loophole.  He told the nanites to take over Rex’s breathing reflex for the moment, because the way he was currently breathing had to be cutting him up on Black Knight’s sword.  He–

“That’s been fifteen minutes, Dr. Salazar.”

“Rex,” said Caesar, clearly, “go to sleep.”

Rex’s eyes fluttered closed.  

“There you go!” said Caesar, a horrible approximation of a smile on his face.  “All under control!”

"Dr. Donevsky," said Black Knight. 

Caesar flinched as the doctor approached from the side of the room.  He hadn't noticed anyone else come in.  

“It won’t be the same as with the other EVOs, his base programming is too different,” said Caesar, now anxious as Donevsky checked Rex’s pulse and reflexes.  “You won’t be able to– To puppet him around.  There are only a few voice commands he has to follow, but–”

Black Knight raised an eyebrow.  “That doesn’t sound like under control.”

“I’ve made him trust us,” said Caesar.  “Even more than he trusts Holiday or Six.  I’ve made it– You are familiar with Pavlov’s experiments with dogs, aren’t you?”  It wasn’t quite what was going on, but, honestly, he didn’t want to explain it to Black Knight.  

“He’s really asleep, ma’am,” said Donevsky, stepping back.  

“Hm,” said Black Knight.  She withdrew her builds.  “How long does this last for?”

“Eight hours,” said Caesar.  “That’s the recommended amount, after all!”

“Interesting.  We’ll give this a trial run.”

Other medical staff, who had been standing at the periphery of the room, came forward.  They heaved Rex up onto a gurney and started taking more measurements and readings.  Rex stayed entirely limp throughout, like a rag doll.  The doctors conferred over their results for a moment, then started to wheel him out of the room.  Caesar began to follow.  

Black Knight’s hand on his shoulder stopped him.  

“I think we have some things to discuss, before you join your brother,” she said.  

.

It wasn’t as if Rex had never been stabbed before.  He had.  Mostly by Van Kleiss and his stupid, stabby, sucky fingers.  It sucked, but he could deal with it.  Maybe with some complaining and a bit of encouragement from Dr. Holiday or Six, or some well-timed snark from Bobo, but he could deal with it.  

On the other hand, the stuff that stabbed him usually wasn’t this big and usually didn’t stay stabbed in him for this long.  Benefit of having the most awesome nanites on the planet was that he could safely ignore the whole ‘don’t remove the thing stabbing you or else you might bleed out’ thing…  Which he totally hadn’t discovered by ignoring Holiday when she said ‘don’t remove the thing stabbing you or else you might bleed out.’  Good times.  

What wasn’t a good time?  The fact that the literal backstabbing he was dealing with had come after a metaphorical backstabbing.  

(He was pretty sure that when people said siblings were a pain, they didn’t mean like this.)

The whole ‘tied up with a dozen guns pointed at him’ thing was bad, also.  But it was kind of…  Expectedly bad?  Like, it wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary for his life, except for the when and where of it.  But Caesar trying to mind control him?  That was just…   

Well.  It sucked.  What else was he supposed to say?  He didn’t know what to say, which was, maybe, why he wasn’t saying anything while Black Knight was giving Caesar some kind of psycho speech about why he needed to be controlled.  

He didn’t know why she was bothering with that, honestly.  Caesar had already decided to control him.  With that stupidly easy to break collar… that Caesar had to know wouldn’t work on him.

Ughhhhh sometimes he hated being the kind of person who gave others the benefit of the doubt.  

He looked up and glared at Caesar, hard enough to hide any trace of hope.  Not that he really kept a lot of hope as Caesar’s expression went from ‘blank’ to ‘resigned.’  

A bunch of words that Dr. Holiday thought he didn’t know went through his brain so fast they sounded like static.  Caesar was a weirdo and a space case most of the time, but he also knew Rex, and his nanites, better than anyone else.  Caesar had gotten him to build that freaky containment machine on remote control, sans collar.  Caesar could screw him over so freaking much.  

“Dr. Salazar, your decision.  You can stop stalling.  We neutralized the robot monkey, and even all the Numbers working together couldn’t break into this facility fast enough to keep me and my pawns from terminating this EVO.”

Robot monkey?  Did that mean Bobo wasn’t under control?  And he hated it when people talked over him like he was some kind of object.  “He-ahhhh!” 

Black Knight must have moved her sword by, like, a foot, because Rex’s entire arm and back lit up like they were on fire.  In the back of his mind there was something with the general shape and texture of the few times his nanites had talked to him directly.  Not that any information got through to Rex.  It was probably just them trying to tell him how stabbed he was, so no biggie.  He could figure that out on his own.  He had this whole biological system called pain and more pain, oh, and get this, yet more pain, to help him figure it out!  Wasn’t that wonderful?

“Alright, alright!” said Caesar.  “I’ll do it!  I’ll just.  This isn’t something I can do immediately.  I told you Rex’s nanites were different.”

Yeah, no kidding.  He was sure Providence’s new evil overlord knew nothing about that at all.  It wasn’t like Providence hadn’t been studying them since Rex first got here.  

Caesar strode across the room and out of Rex’s immediate line of sight.  His attempt to shift his position resulted in a heel being dug into his spine, the whip tightening to the point of crushing the air out of his lungs, and the sword being twisted so viciously his vision whited out for a second.  

“....could easily be done to Rex could easily be done to you.”  

Okay, maybe more than a second.

“Careful.  Dr. Salazar.”

Rex blinked hard, still trying to follow what was going on around him.  It could be done to Black Knight, too?  All of this?  The mind control thing?  Something else?

“I’ve got to start somewhere, right?”

“Let him by,” said Black Knight in an almost magnanimous tone.  The agents between Caesar and Rex parted.  

“Okay, mijo,” said Caesar, with obvious false cheer, “let’s get started.”

Rex tried to catch Caesar’s eyes.  If Caesar didn't want to do this, maybe Rex could convince him not to.  Sure, he wasn’t at the point of things where he’d rather die than be mind controlled - he wasn’t that noble, and he remembered the follow-up interviews from the Meechum incident - but seriously injured?  Imprisoned?  Those both sounded way better.  

“Don’t do thi–”

Black Knight wrenched her sword to one side, and Rex’s argument was lost to agony.  For a split second, he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, and when he could the collar was there.  He sent his nanites against it, first disabling the code that let it send messages to his nanites, then telling it to disassemble stuff.  

Not for the first time, Rex wondered why people didn’t make things more mechanical and less electronic.  If there wasn’t an electronic disassembly command, it would be way harder for him to do stuff like this.  

He wasn’t going to ask anyone that, though.  His life was hard enough as it was.  Case in point, his current situation (which was bad).

“Don’t–” said Caesar.  “Don’t.  There’s a reason I brought more than one, yes?”

What, was that some kind of threat?  Rex had heard better.  

“You have fifteen minutes.  My arm is getting tired.”

… or maybe he was talking to someone else.  Again.  

“Please, Rex, just… Let it happen.”

Like heck.  If Caesar and Black Knight were going to do this to him, he was going to make them work for it.  In the spirit of that - and not because he was scared - he tried to pull away when Caesar picked up the next collar and put it on.  Not that it did much good.  But it didn’t do Caesar any good, either, so there.  Ha.  

It had been harder, this time, though.  Not a lot harder, but enough to make him apprehensive.  

He really hoped Black Knight was wrong about that backup.  He didn’t think he’d be able to get out of this on his own, and he was liking his chances of holding out against mind control long term less and less.  

He broke the next collar, too.  That one had been hard, and Rex was starting to feel tired.  More tired.  His nanites were starting to protest being diverted from the giant gaping hole in his shoulder.  

But Caesar already had the next collar around Rex’s neck.  Rex told his nanites to take it apart, too, but… they were… busy?  He pushed through, overriding whatever was occupying them, and the collar fell off.  

Caesar put the next one on.  

For a second, Rex zoned out like he had when Caesar had been sending the Omega-1 instructions.  When he came back to himself, he felt hot.  

Well, he always felt hot.  He was hot.  Blisteringly good looking, even.  But he was physically hot right now.  Fever-level hot.  Best he could compare it to was when his nanites had been working overtime trying to counteract the chupacabra poison.  Except there was no chupacabra poison this time.  Probably.  What was Caesar doing to him? 

He closed his eyes, trying to focus on getting his nanites back under control.  There was a feeling like someone knocking, knocking, knocking on the back of his mind until the sound turned to jackhammer black noise.  It hurt, and he was rapidly approaching the temperatures where it was hard for him to think.  His skin felt slick and sticky, and he started to pant, even as the motion made Black Knight’s sword saw back and forth inside him.  

And then the building pressure against him disappeared all at once.  He didn’t exactly relax, but he did go limp, unable to maintain the state of tension from before.  He was going to pass out, soon, he could tell.  He hated passing out.  

With difficulty, he opened his eyes to glare blearily at Caesar.  He was hunched over his tablet, tapping away at the screen.  Traitor.  Backstabber.  Jerk.  It wasn’t as if Rex hadn’t been backstabbed by, like, everyone, except for Holiday, Bobo (except for really minor things), and Six (there had been that time with the Numbers, and the other thing with the memory loss, but, really, that was fine, water under the bridge and all), but family was supposed to be different.  You were supposed to be able to trust family.  Family wasn’t supposed to try to mind control you for creepy middle-aged women, which is why Rex had to trust that Caesar was doing this for a very good reason.  

Rex blinked slowly.  There was something wrong with that train of thought.  The people you…  Caesar wouldn’t mind control him just because.  Caesar had betrayed him– But Caesar wouldn’t do that.  Had Rex misunderstood something?  Somewhere?  Was he not working for Black Knight?  Except, Black Knight was a good person.  He knew that.  He trusted her.  Good people didn’t just mind control people for no reason.  Or stab people for no reason.  So, there had to be a reason.  But it was so hard to think of one.  

… Had he hurt someone?

A weak whine built in the back of his throat.  He didn’t remember hurting… But maybe he did?  He was so angry about the control collars, but Black Knight and Caesar said they were good, so…?  His thoughts felt so sticky and slow.  What had he been thinking about before?  Caesar and Black Knight had… They had been…?

He was hit with a wave of grief absolutely unlike anything he had ever experienced before.  Grief, like something he’d always had, something he’d held so close he couldn’t even see it, being ripped away from him without warning.  A piece of his world, just gone, and he didn’t even know what it was, just that he wanted it back, please, please, please.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Rex was sorry, too.  He didn’t know what he had done, but he wanted this to stop.  

And then, something in the back of Rex’s mind opened up, and his thoughts stopped being anything like coherent.  He watched, more or less passively, as Caesar turned on emergency medical controls, put his builds on lock, and made the nanites actively regulate his breathing.  Which actually did help, a little.  Rex may have been hyperventilating.  

Black Knight and Caesar started talking, but Rex couldn’t follow anything they were saying at all.  It was okay for him to just… zone out a bit, right?  He could… obviously, they could take care of things…

“Rex,” said Caesar, dragging Rex’s attention back into the real world, if only for a moment, “go to sleep.”

.

To be continued. :)