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fragilefangirl · 3 years

Text

Nomad (lost and found, what’s new?)

Read on AO3

When Xialing first ran away, she brought nothing but the things she wore on herself and the rolled up Dance-Dance Revolution carpet, slung on her shoulders.

It was a daring escape, considering their hilltop fortress of a home; there were many guards, many traps, many weapons ready to impale anybody going in or out unauthorized. Xialing spent months just mapping the inner-maze of the house, and some more learning the sewer system, since that was a sure path down below, somewhere with civilizations.

Gege definitely had it easier, she thought to herself as her nose wrinkled due to the smell, knees deep in murky and questionable water, at least he got a free ride out of this godforsaken mountain.

She knew she had to be quick, she had to be agile, she had to be unseen; Baba had eyes everywhere, had ears everywhere, had hands everywhere. Xialing didn’t want anything of hers reaching him.

(She wanted to, once upon a time; yearned for it, when she thought that his eyes could still be filled with brightness and his hands were still warm and his ears would still perk up at her voice. She wanted to be seen, to be heard, to be ruffled by the head the way it used to.

But 6 years passed, and it took Xialing that much time to realize that a dying man could only do so much, so little.)

When she finally reached somewhere that was not a forest, asking for a ride to the city from a passing truck, the driver asked what she could give him, eyeing the carpet on her shoulder. “Is that the 2007 DDR mat for PlayStation 2?” He asked. “I liked to play it in my cousin’s house back then—always wanted to get it.”

Xialing tightened her grip to the binding rope, nodding stiffly. “Yes.” She said, curtly. Then when they arrived at the nearest metropolitan, she unlatched her bracelet—pure gold and adorned with rare, beautiful green jade, one of the things Baba gave her on the birthdays after, in lieu of his affection—and gave it to him. “Sell this to a jeweller.” She said, giving the wide-eyed man the accessory. “The money from it should be enough for you to start a trucking company of your own.” She paused, “and even buy your own mat.”

The driver stuttered, but Xialing had already stepped down from the platform, running into the early dawn, blending herself among the crowd, finally, finally free.

***

“Meimei,”

Xialing looked up to see Gege, face obscured by the shadowy silhouette of the living room as he approached her. “What are you doing?” Asked her brother, tone careful.

She paused from unrolling the DDR mat and setting the TV, looking at Gege like he just asked something stupid. “It’s Saturday, Gege.” She said, matter-of-factly, “Family game night, remember?”

Because they all seemed to forget; Xialing had done this for weeks now, recharging the karaoke mic, setting the dance game, picking a movie. She’d waited on the sofa until she fell asleep and Saturday turned to Sunday and she was moved to her room instead of the sofa, but nobody showed up.

Nobody ever seemed to show up, these days—Gege was always training at some corner of the house since the ungodly hours of the morning until the ungodly hours of the night, and Baba…

…well, Xialing didn’t really know where Baba was.

Gege moved forward, and Xialing could see his face now; bruised, with blue and purple blooming here and there. There was a black circle over his eyes, and his lip was split—he looked like he was one of those fighters in the combat games he used to play in their PlayStation so much, the one he didn’t let her borrow.

She gasped, rising from her seat on the floor and reaching out to him, trying to examine him,

(the way mama used to—)

Xialing blinked, throat suddenly feeling suspiciously dry as her eyes grew suspiciously wet.

“Lingling,” Said Gege as he leaned over to her touch, eyes drooping somberly as he looked at her. “I don’t think we’re going to have family game nights tonight.”

Narrowing her eyes, Xialing frowned. “But it’s cus-to-ma-ry.” She said, struggling to say the last word. “Mama said that means we have to play it every weekend, unless we’re doing something even more fun!”

Gege gave her a pained smile, and tucked her under his right side, wincing a little as he did so. His eyes blinked a bit when Xialing mentioned the word ‘mama’, and his gaze drifted to the corner of the room, where there was a newly-built shrine with lightened incense and fresh tangerines. “A-Ling.” He said instead, tone weary and sad and did her older brother aged more than the years that passed through him? “Let’s just sleep, okay?” He looked down on her, offering her a tired smile. “It’s been a long day.”

For him, Xialing couldn’t help but to think, intrusive thoughts rebutting so quickly she was surprised herself. On her end, days blur to weeks on end, making her feel smaller every single time she wakes up unseen, unheard, unspoken.

“…okay.” She said, after mulling about it in a long silence. “Gege sleeps with me?”

This time, Gege’s smile was a little bit more genuine. “Sure, Meimei.” He said, ruffling her head. “You sleep on my right side, okay? My left side… hurts.” He winced just mentioning it, free hand tracing his torso.

Nodding, Xialing snuggled closer as they walked away from the living room, Gege’s longer hands barely able to reach the lightswitch to turn it off. Xialing herself had to use a chair just to get it every time. He paused as they were finally out in the hallway, turning to slowly close the sliding door.

“Gege.”

“Hm?”

“When…” Xialing hesitated. “When do you think we’ll play at family game night again?”

Her older brother paused, hands still holding the door handles. “…maybe not for a while.” He said, finally, back still facing her.

“Oh.” Xialing’s hopeful face fell. “Okay.”

Gege led her off, away from the living room, but he didn’t shut the sliding door completely, and from the gap Xialing could see mama’s shrine, lightened by the moonlight from the window.

She swore mama’s gaze looked so sad.

(The day after, Baba locked the Living Room.

A week later, they moved into the mountains.)

***

“Aiya, these beggars!”

Xialing arrived at Macau after three days of truck hopping and self-smuggling herself into unbelievable vehicles. It helped that she was on the smaller side and had nothing with her—but it also meant that she arrived with no destination and no place to live.

She arrived at a packed apartment complex in Iau Hon, paying the receptionist with some of the money she acquired from selling another bracelet of hers earlier in the Mainland, only to be told that there were no longer rooms for the night and she had to queue on the waiting list just to get a piss-poor excuse of a housing.

“Give my money back, then!” She protested, face red with anger.

The receptionist counted the bills, unblinking. “Sorry, no refund.”

She growled, “wáng bā dàn.”

The receptionist paused, glaring at Xialing. She knew she could take him out on a fight right then and there if he tested her further. “Careful with your words, now, girl—a child your age shouldn’t be cussing to their kind elders.”

“Fucker,” she muttered under her breath in English as she walked away, out of the complex. It was the last of her cash, too, after a series of expenses involving buying food, paying the smuggler who helped her through immigration, and compensating the truck drivers she rode with openly upfront and hidden on the back. She had to find another pawnshop to trade her remaining jewels if she wanted to acquire more money to survive. But it was nearing midnight, and all of the shops were closed.

So on her first night in, she lumped herself out with people on the back alleys, away from the main streets. There were homeless people there, huddled up together in worn carpets and makeshift tent. Macau was cold at night, and Xialing’s clothes were worn, too thin to block out the wind.

That night, she rolled out the DDR mat and slept on it; curled up like a cat because she was growing taller than the mat’s length, staving away the cold. She put herself at the back corner, near the trash can, so she wouldn’t be seen.

(Because she could not be seen—Xialing told herself that she needed to blend in, to disappear into the crowd, because Baba must be sending men out there, snooping, searching; he must be looking for her, the only child he had left, the last child he let slip through his fingers.

Baba must be looking for her.

Right?)

The tacky design of the mat was her only company, and she fell asleep tracing the arrows—left, left, right, up, down, left again—while humming on a long-forgotten song. She fell asleep trying to remember a warmer night and a warmer night. She fell asleep yearning to wake up to warm laughter.

“Mama, Gege,” she muttered, barely conscious, “Baba.”

The cold wind blew her hair, gentle and mournful.

***

“Mama.” Xialing said, fifteen and sitting at the shrine Baba had built in their new home, head leaning onto the altar. “I hate you so much.”

The smell of jasmine incense surrounded the room, and Xialing buried herself further into her own arms, warm in all the way except what mattered. She knew silence would greet her, and yet still she paused, hoping for some of the magic mama used to tell her back then would come back, would make their family whole again.

“I hate Gege too for leaving.” She said, one eye peeking into the picture of her mother, smiling behind the glass, forever immortalized on paper. “And I hate Baba for—“

She paused, unsure on what word should she use to describe that living husk of a man, more than eager to track down the lowly goons of his enemies but barely willing to look her in the eye during dinner. She shook her head, letting the silence complete the sentence.

“But I hate you for dying the most.” She whispered, a quiet confession. “I hate you because now Gege’s gone, and Baba’s never around, and I feel like—“ she choked up, clutching her chest as she gulped. “I feel like one of these days I’m gonna disappear too, with the way nobody here acknowledges my existence.”

The smoke from the incense danced, and Xialing sobbed, not for the first time and not for the last, a desperate attempt to be acknowledged by someone, by anyone—even the dead.

“Why didn’t you just hide in the room with us?” She asked, voice thick. “Why did you have to fucking fight those goons like a goddamn hero? Why didn’t you—I don’t know—wait for Baba to come home?”

Again, silence greeted her, and Xialing sighed out of frustration. “If you were still here, I’d still go to my old school and actually have friends and—and family game night would still exist.” She chuckled, darkly. “Gege wouldn’t leave me, and,” She said, “Baba would still look at me.”

The way he used to, when they were a heap of exhausted laughter after a particularly hard song to dance at. The way he used to, when Xialing whined because he kept repeating old opera songs none of them knew for the karaoke. The way he used to, when Saturday dinner was served and she and Gege fought over the last piece of guotie.

“My tutors said I should dream big,” She lamented to herself, “But how can I do that when I feel far smaller now than when I was four?”

The silence was suffocating her now, but it was better here than anywhere else in the house.

“Tell me what to do, mama.” She said, voice faltering and tired. “Please tell me what to do.”

The smoke from the incense rose up, up, up, carried by the wind into the windows, drifting away into the night, freed from the five walls surrounding the shrine.

***

Jiang Er-Gege—“Just Jon-Jon, please. Or Mister Manager,” he insisted for the umpteenth time, unrelenting in this clearly losing battle, “and am I not older than your actual brother?” But Xialing is nothing if not stubborn—whistled at her new apartment.

“Sweet!” He said, grinning, hair bobbing around as he turned at Xialing’s direction, who was still unwrapping her hand from the bindings, wincing a bit every once in a while due to the aftermath sting from tonight’s fights. “You got yourself a pretty nice crib, A-Ling!”

“Thanks.” She said, giving him a small smile as she discarded the wrappings to the waste bin and took off her shoes, finally coming in. “Not that bad, isn’t it?”

“For a seventeen-year-old street fighter? Psh. Not bad at all.” Er-Gege waved a hand, his hair—currently blue now, which reminded Xialing of the Sonic the Hedgehog poster hanging at her Gege’s old bedroom door, well, before—flowing and flailing with each of his enthusiastic movements. “Did it come fully furnished?”

“Yes.” She said, throwing herself to the sofa, closing her eyes. Dawn was breaking, and most people would rise from their beds, starting their day—but Xialing wasn’t most people, and all she wanted to do was curl up in her bed and sleep. She was sure that if she insisted on taking a shower, she’d fall asleep under the streaming water, and that would just be wasteful.

(“And we can’t have that, Baobei,” a deep, gentle voice softly told her, as larger hands guided her on how to soap all the wet plates together first. “Water is scarce in many places in the world in this day and age, and we must show our gratitude by not wasting it so easily.” Xialing felt a light pat on her hair, a slight ruffle, “can you do that?”

She nodded, enthusiastic as she scrubbed the grimes a little harder, trying to detach the remnants of oil and spices from the porcelains so that the water would rinse the objects more thoroughly. “Mmhm!” She hummed, offering a bright toothy grin up, “Lingling will do as Ba—“)

“—Ling?”

She snapped awake, blinking rapidly to regain full consciousness. “Sorry, I was pretty out of it.” She said groggily as she straightened herself up—fix your posture, Baobei, don’t slouch—looking at Er-Gege with slowly focusing eyes. “You were saying?”

Er-Gege raised his eyebrows, but he shrugged and waved a hand at the direction of the TV. “That DDR Carpet looks a little… out, compared to your other furnitures.”

Xialing snorted, throwing Er-Gege a ‘tell-me-what-I-don’t-know’ look. “That’s vintage.” She said, cupping her face with her hands, leaning over to the coffee table.

“To whom?”

Sighing in annoyance, Xialing couldn’t help but to feel a little defensive about the old mat; it might be ragged and old, it might be worn and torn at its sides, nibbled by the sneaky rat at Xialing’s old loft, but, “It’s the thing I slept on, my first night here.” She said, “It’s a reminder.”

Er-Gege’s judgy expression softened, as he fully turned at her with his arms crossed. “A reminder?” he echoed, curiously inquiring. There was no malice in his tone, only an invitation to open up in a way that eerily reminded her of Gege, “of what?”

Xialing looked at the worn arrows and recalled laughter; scanned the tacky colors and remembered warmth; eyed the frayed edges and missed three pairs of eyes, looking at her like she was someone, her own person, not a walking remnant of someone else, not a ghost before she even died—

“Of good times.” She smiled, small and bitter and yearning.

Er-Gege nodded, glancing at her one last time before moving on, letting it go. He made a comment about her kitchen counter, how it was too Americanized and needed a revamp, but Xialing was very sleepy, suddenly.

(Baobei—

Meimei—)

She sighed, laying herself to the armrests of the sofa, and closed her eyes, dreaming of nothing.

When she woke up, it was noon, there was a steaming porridge on her coffee table, and there was Er-Gege, fumbling over her TV. “What—” she stretched, cracked her joints. “What time is it?”

Turning at her in surprise, Er-Gege grinned almost immediately. “Look who finally woke up.” He said, tone light and teasing. “I bought the porridge from that Auntie’s restaurant you like so much—go eat it first.”

Xialing straightened herself, gingerly taking her first spoonful, letting the warmth of the meal melt away the weariness in her bones. “Thanks,” she said, smiling at the bowl, feeling like she was truly her age for the first time in a very long while. “And what are you doing to my TV?”

“Oh, this?” he jabbed a finger to the screen, which was displaying the HDMI menu. “I’m plugging in a PS2.” he said, shrugging before he dove again, lifting a black bulku box that looked just like the one they used to have at home. “I got this baby at a second-hand electronic shop, and they apparently sold old DDR game disks!” He grinned, before returning the device and returned to his work, this time to the mat’s underside, seemingly searching for its wirings.

Xialing blinked, spoon suspended mid-way to her mouth, warm meals suddenly forgotten. “...why?” She asked, something simultaneously familiar and foreign slowly easing their way into her chest, squeezing it with something sharp but not painful.

Er-Gege watched her oddly, like she was asking something stupid. “To play, of course.” he said, as if the answer itself was obvious. “This bad boy seemed like it hadn’t been used to its purpose for years, and I’ve never seen you dance before.” He grinned mischievously.

Her throat constricted into something tight and heavy, and Xialing looked further down. “I—” she mumbled, “I don’t really remember how to.”

She heard a snort and looked up, nearly fearfully, to see Er-Gege looking at her with something akin to mirth. “So what? We can always re-learn!” He said, waving a hand at the carpet, “it literally has arrows to tell you where to go; if you can kick people’s ass ordinately, you can definitely play this.” He grinned.

It was true, but something about the familiarity of all this made Xialing feel like she should run away, like she should protect herself because what if she was happy and then it was taken from her again— “I don’t think we should,” she said, voice still so uncharacteristically small and vulnerable and fuck she missed Gege’s uncoordinated legs stepping into her and mama and she missed Baba cheating to win and she missed mama, she missed mama so much it hurt—

“Hey, Xu Xialing,” Er-Gege’s voice snapped her out of her spiral, softer tone breaking her reverie. “You said it reminds you of good times.” he rose from his squat, hand reaching out to touch her hair—always a perfect bob—and ruffle it lightly. “Far as I know, good times should be experienced, not just reminisced.”

She blinked, and for a split second she saw two other faces, grinning at her in a smile she’d yearned to see for so long.

“Okay.” She said, nodding slowly, “Okay.”

They ended up missing the night’s match, and the manager of the ring-fight yelled at Er-Gege for not bringing his best Champion to the arena, but as they laughed late into the night, teasing each other’s stiff moves and calling out their horrible attempts at cheating against each other, Xialing felt like she was home for the first in a very long time.

***

“Baba?”

She peeped at the door, loose hair falling, curtaining over her face. She was eleven now, spending her birthday with an array of nannies and tutors, gifted jewelleries and served the best dishes on an empty dinner table, singing happy birthday to herself.

Baba’s work room was always dark, only luminized by the reading lamps, and sometimes those damned rings. He didn’t look up from his papers, but Xialing had trained herself in reading the miniscule when she realized that she would never be given something visible again, and she saw how his shoulders stiffened, how his eyes blinked rapidly, how his ears perked, slightly.

He said nothing to acknowledge her existence, but he also didn’t shoo her away, so Xialing took what she could get. “It’s my birthday today.” She said, voice small, always feeling small, too small in this big room, this big house, “and I was wondering if—if we could spend it together? Just—” she shrugged, helplessly, already compromising her own wishes if it meant a nod from Baba, an affirmation, anything, “I don’t know, watch a movie or something…”

Her eyes glanced at their new living room behind her, barely inspiring those inside it to live; it was cold and spartan, so unlike the Living Room back Home, where everything was warm and alive. In her old home, everything was strewn haphazardly, dance mats kicked several meters away from the front of the TV and karaoke mics on the couch. Here, the TV was never on, and all the mics and mats and cassettes were locked into the top shelf, the unspoken instructions clear; do not touch. Do not take. Do not open.

Do not Relive.

Baba moved, straightening himself, and in the silence that passed Xialing blinked, letting her hopes go up—

“I’m quite busy right now, Xialing.” He said, tone detached and performative, not even looking up to her as he spoke. “Maybe later.”

Definitely never.

“Oh.” Xialing deflated, looking down, slowly retreating. “Okay.” she whispered, mostly to herself as she pulled the door close once more. “Goodnight, Baba.”

She was replied with only a hum, and she dared not to look up lest she saw him still focused on that damn paper, refusing to look at her, to see her even when it was her birthday because in his eyes she was not A-Ling anymore, not Baobei, not Meimei, just some personification of his fucking dead wife and—

Xialing fell asleep waiting for him on the couch anyway, despite everything, waiting for that later despite knowing that it was a lie.

She woke up in her room, alone, always alone.

It had been like this for a long while, now, but with Gege not returning home and her being the only child he had left in the compound, she had hoped—

Well. she had hoped.

That was her first mistake.

***

“You know, for a compound this big, I thought your dad would have more stuff.” Said Katy as the three of them cleaned up the main house. With Baba cremated and his ashes placed on the same altar as Mama, they only needed to clean his place.

Which apparently didn’t require that much effort, given how little of him existed there.

Somewhere deep within her, she recognized that it was heartbreaking to live like this, but that part was buried layers below anger and pettiness at how that exact way of life had sacrificed her.

“He’s so… spartan.” Commented Gege as he observed the high shelves, trying to find a more personal belonging to salvage. “There’s barely anything here.”

“You can use big words? Shocking.” Replied Xialing, tone flat and sarcastic as she took what she thought was valuable; the Lucky Cat figurine they brought from their old Home, family photos that were pushed into the far back, some sick-looking swords… “I thought the US’ horrible education system had stripped out all of your intelligence.”

“I liked you better when you were smaller and less sarcastic.” Grumbled Gege as he threw her a look. Xialing snorted.

“And I liked you better when you were smaller and not abandoning me,” jabbed Xialing, to which Gege replied by pinching her on her arm, not much to hurt so she knew it was in good nature. “Besides, you only do not like me because I’m cooler than you.”

“Now on that front, she’s definitely right.” Katy piped up, and Gege groaned, grumbling something about all the women in his life ganging up against him. “Face it, Shaun, you’re a little lame compared to the rest of your family.”

“I was laying low!” He protested to Katy, to which Xialing snorted. “And besides, you’re working in the same field as I am, receiving the same pay. If I’m lame, you’re lame too.”

“Oh, I know.” Katy said, not missing a beat. “But my family is a bunch of immigrant workers, not some thousand-year-old warlord and a magical guardian of the mystiques. I have excuses, Shaun—you don’t.”

“I can see why you keep her.” Xialing said, in-between her chuckles. “Keep it up, Jiejie.” She raised a thumb up to Katy with her free hand, and Katy—did Katy blush?

“Okay, back to cleaning up!” Gege’s bellowing voice cut the both of them, only slightly annoyed. “A-Ling, what did you get?” She showed him her reapings, to which ke gestured her to place it on the open suitcase at the couch.

“All these books were dusty, unopened from their wrappings…” Katy said as she scanned the bookshelves, “and is the TV wiring corroded? Shaun, did your father never watch TV?”

Xialing and Gege exchanged glances, shrugging. The image of Baba doing anything fun after mama had died was so … foreign to them. “I guess he’s too consumed by his work.” Gege said, though she knew he doubted his own words as much as she did, for the Ten Rings had barely done anything for the past ten years.

Katy shook her head in disbelief as she scanned more of the cupboards. “Books, jewels, antique swords—what are even these weapons?—oh! Here’s a fun rack!” Her steps stopped, “now there’s more personality; PS2, karaoke mic, a bunch of game discs, and—” she snorted, “A fucking DDR mat? Hey, Shaun, did your dad really play DDR?”

Xialing paused, head turning to Katy abruptly. “A DDR mat?” She echoed, straightening herself and walking to Katy’s side, interest piqued.

“Yeah!” Katy affirmed, pulling the rolled up mat down from the storage, unbinding it with one pull. “Looks old and worn, too.” She snorted, “What I really would give to see your scary dad dancing to this…”

But Xialing wasn’t listening. She felt like everything around her was buzzing.

“...Lingling?” Someone’s hand was on her shoulder, and she snapped, looking up to see Gege looking down on her, frowning as his grip on her tightened. “Meimei, you okay?”

Xialing wanted to say something, anything, because that wasn’t just some mat; she recognized it—had danced to it countless times when she was young, had brought it with her when she ran away, had slept on it on her first night in Macau, had—

“I threw that away.” She said, not quite recognizing her own voice as she reached to the frayed edges. “In Macau, when I moved to a better apartment—I threw that away.”

I had it with me, was unspoken, he wasn’t supposed to—

And suddenly she was reminded on that night in her Club, Baba standing in front of her and Gege, offering them his smile, and she thought she’d been dreaming then, a childish delusion resurfacing after seeing a familiar face for so long, but—

“I always know,” he had smiled, and there was something there, something not quite cold, not the way he usually was after, something akin to the expression Xialing saw at the mirror in the morning when she had a particularly bad day and all she wanted was Baba’s guotie and mama’s soup— “where my children are.”

***

CODA.

Opening her bedroom door with his elbow, Xu Wenwu made soft, careful movements so as to not wake his youngest from his arms.

She was deep in her sleep when he found her sprawled on the couch at the wee hours of midnight, leaning her head on one side of the armchairs. When he lifted her up, she felt like she weighed far lighter than she should have—he frowned, he’d have to talk with the chef about that—and she only grumbled lightly, before snuggling her face to the crook of his neck, seeking comfort.

Gently, he placed her onto the bed, adjusting the pillows and tucking in the blankets. She was eleven years old but she still looked like she was a baby when she was asleep like this—his baby, his Baobei.

Xialing harrumphed when he slowly released her, one hand unconsciously clutching to his white shirt. Wenwu paused, freezing, fearing that he’d got caught.

(Fearing what?

He didn’t know.)

Wenwu let her fingers clutch the fabric until they relaxed on its own, before slowly extricating her grip away from his clothing. He tucked her hand inside the blanket with the rest of her, and swpt her unruly bangs, looking at her face.

Like this, she looked just like Ying Li.

Something caught in his throat, heavy and shuddering, and Wenwu looked away. A thousand years, he thought bitterly, and his undoing is just some little girl’s face.

He shook his head, swallowing the emotions away, letting it be buried deep once more. He knew he had sinned, knew he wronged his children to a fault, but he just—

Not for the first time that night, he wished his wife was still here, telling him what to do, telling him she loved him, telling him how to love.

But she wasn’t, and their daughter was turning eleven, and he was sitting there at the edge of her bed, wishing more than anything for some magic to come and unbreak this broken family the way Ying Li had to his cold, greedy heart all those years ago in the forest.

Xialing—His A-Ling, his Baobei, his child—stirred in her sleep, and Wenwu could see tear tracks on her cheeks, crusty and fading.

He leaned over, forehead to hers, and whispered, softly, “Happy birthday, Baobei.”

Baba is sorry, he thought, hoping the unsaid would reach her anyways, even if he didn’t dare to say it out loud.

The night was clear, the windows closed, but the wind tousled his hair lightly, gentle and mournful.

#shang chi and the ten rings #shang chi #xu shang chi #xu shangqi #xialing #xu xialing #xu wenwu #wenwu #ying li #this movie made me sob two days after i saw it and i'll be DAMNED if i don't do it justice #Xialing deserves better baby!

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simpleserendipity · 3 years

Text

Corduroy Dreams | Min Yoongi

This one is inspired by the song Corduroy Dreams by Rex Orange County.

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader (established relationship)

Word count: 1,770 words

Min Yoongi is the most hardworking man that you know. He is constantly and that's why you adore him so much. He is dedicated to his music, his family, his friends, his community and learning something new everyday. You couldn’t find a better man if you tried. You appreciate everything he does but of course with a busy schedule like that, you wish he would squeeze more time in for himself. You sat outside the studio in the lobby of the building, waiting for him to finish his dance practice, it's Friday and you are going to go out tonight as you both do every Friday night. As you both get busier, you decided to make Friday night, date night to guarantee time together. You saw the familiar blonde exit the elevator with a smile and was waving a goodbye to the other members.

He turns to you and you greet him with a smile, "How was practice?" You ask as you wrap your arms around his waist and rest your head on his chest.

His arms wrap around you, "It was very good," He looks very tired when he presses his lips to the top of your head, "Ready to go?" He asked, you pull away from him and look up to him.

"Yeah I'm ready." You nodded before you took his hand to take the short walk to the train together to go to his house for him to get a shower before you go out. The train station is close to the building. You head out of the building slowly, you shivered lightly at the breeze when you stepped outside.

“_______…” Yoongi’s voice trailed off as he pulled you closer, his hand rubbing up and down your arm to warm you up. He didn’t have to speak his thoughts for you to know that he wishes you would have worn a jacket today. You enter the station and Yoongi steps to the booth to get your tickets while you wait by the turnstiles. You wait for him, arms crossed tightly, shivering slightly. He gets the tickets quickly before coming back to you. He notices the shivering and immediately wraps his arm around your shoulders again. He leads you through the turnstiles.

You approach the platform, still shivering slightly you stop at the edge to wait for the train, "Hey Yoongi?" You ask as he shifts to stand behind you, arms wrapped around your shoulders and his chest pressed to your back.

He looks down at you, "Yes love?" He asks as the train pulls up.

"You look really tired," You put your hands up to hold onto his arms as you enter the train, "Maybe we should stay in tonight."

"_______," he spins you around to meet his eyes, "That's the 3rd time in 2 months. I can power through for one night."

"I don't care how much we've stayed in," You both move further into the train, you find the last two seats on the train, "I just want to be with you and I know you need rest." You take a seat, legs pressed against each other and an arm around your shoulders.

"You always sacrifice so much for me, let's just go out tonight." Yoongi pleads. You roll your eyes in response, he was always worried about doing things for you but you wished he would realise it isn’t just about going out. You both sat quietly, his arm dropped from your shoulder to your waist, head falling to your shoulder. The train stops at your station and you stand up immediately. You get up and expect him to follow but Yoongi slumps back into his seat asleep.

You lean down in front of him to kiss his cheek and shake his shoulders, "Get up sleepyhead this is our stop."

"I wasn't asleep," He says, stretching and follows you off the train, "I was just relaxing." You head out of the station and down the dark street. Yoongi’s arm was quick to find it’s way back around your shoulders.

"Yeah okay." You roll your eyes and wrap your arms around your waist as you walk to his apartment building. The walk to his building is short and quiet, Yoongi still fighting back how tired he is. You arrived at his house, which was empty except the sound of Holly running down the hall towards the door, scratching as Yoongi stood sorting his keys out. He gets the door open and you follow him into the apartment. You scoop Holly up and Yoongi heads down the hall to the shower.

You head to his room, Holly in your arms like a baby. you enter his room, set Holly to lay down on the bed careful. You move to sit on his bed after placing your bag on the chair at his desk. you hear the shower start and you walk back over to your bag. you open the bag to pull out your phone. you look at the dress you bought for dinner tonight and giggle. Maybe you'll get to wear that dress another time because you just know how much Yoongi will adore the dress on you. You decided to take things into your own hands and plan a night in.

You use your phone to order some take out for dinner from your favorite restaurant. While on hold on the phone, Holly looked over at you and began to whine. You covered the speaker of the phone before looking at Holly, “I’ll get you something too.” You whisper to the dog before turning back to the phone.

You toss your phone onto the bed as soon as you finish ordering before heading to Yoongi's closet. you pulled out one of his t-shirts for me and a sweatshirt along with a pair of shorts for him. you close the closet and walk back to his bed. you begin to strip from your clothes and slip the t-shirt over. you're left in nothing but underwear and his t-shirt which goes down to your mid-thigh. you tie your hair up into a loose and messy ponytail. Then you lay down beside Holly, who immediately curled into your side. you play games on your phone until you hear the shower stop, Yoongi was much quicker than normal, probably ready to come out of the bathroom to get ready for date night. He wouldn’t admit it but he loved seeing you get all dressed up for him and that he got to show you off to everyone. It was the whole reason he loved date night, knowing everyone was looking at you but you only had eyes for him.

It's not long until the door opens and into the room steps Yoongi wrapped in nothing but a towel, "Hey _____, what are you wearing tonight?" He says turning to his closet, obviously not looking at you yet.

you get up and take a few steps over to him with the shorts in hand, "I'm wearing this," He turns before looking you up and down with a confused face, "You're gonna wear this."

"Why are you wearing that? I told you we don't have to stay in." He looks upset, more worried about you doing something for him than him doing something for you.

"Min don't give me that look," you put your hands on his bare chest and tiptoe up to kiss his cheek, "I ordered takeout for us tonight so you can rest."

"You didn't have to." He maintains his upset face.

"I wanted to," you wrap your arms around his neck, "I know how hard you work and I really admire that. I want to support you and if that means we don't go out on some fancy date then fine. All that matters is that I get to spend time with you. I just want to be the one who is with you through it all." you lean in close to his lips.

"You are the best ______," He leans in and kisses you slowly, “Are you sure about tonight?” He pulls away, hands coming to rest on your hips.

“Yes I’m sure.” You pull your arms from around his neck and shove the sweatshirt and shorts into his chest.

“Alright,” He nods, "I'm gonna go change." He collects the clothing from you before turning on his heels to change.

You head towards the living room to turn the TV on and Holly’s little feet pitter patter down the hall behind you. you queue up the tv and start to sit, cuddling under a blanket that was laying on the couch. Holly jumps up and cuddles into you. Yoongi comes walking into the room as the doorbell rings. you get up to go grab the take out but Yoongi's beaten you to it.

You pout at him, seeing that he paid for the takeout when you were going to do that, “I was going to pay for the food.”

“Too bad.” He sticks out his tongue out at you, “Go sit.” He waves you off with one hand, following behind you. He grabs the food and we head back to the couch. You take your seat from before right next to where Holly. Yoongi sits on the other side of Holly. You pull the blanket over the three of you, you two cuddle close under the blanket and the puppy falls asleep quickly between you both. You click the remote to start a random movie that you two have wanted to watch before opening up the bag of food. The movie plays and you both begin to eat, feeding little bits of food to Holly when Yoongi wasn’t looking since you knew he would be mad.

You reach for the remote and pause the movie. Yoongi gasps because of where I paused the movie. It was right at a suspenseful part. He looks at me with a surprised look, "What's wrong_____?"

"Nothing is wrong." you smile wide just watching his face.

"Why'd you pause the movie then?" He cocks his head to the side.

"I love you so much," you giggle, "So so so so so much."

"I love you too." He smiles.

“Did you, Min Yoongi, just say he loves me?” You tease him, poking his nose with your finger.

“Oh shut up…” He whines, rolling his head backwards, “Do you want me to take it back?”

“No, I just wanted you to know that I love you." you lean your head onto his shoulder.

"I'll always remember that," He kisses the top of your head, "Never forget how much I love you."

"I never will."

#bts #bts jin #bts yoongi #bts hope #bts namjoon #bts jimin #bts taehyung #bts jungkook #bts fic #bts imagines #bts fanfiction #suga #rm #bts suga #bts rm #bts jhope #yoongi fanfic #yoongi fic

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rvmmm21 · 3 years

Text

[ V V S her diamonds ] – ch 04.

[5:45 p.m.] Washed-out rays of sunshine flood the arcade cafe, and Seungwan can’t contain her flourishing smile at the thought of Bae Joohyun visiting her at work.

. . . . .

Sometimes I wish I could go and live in the clouds of your fantasies.

Being a part-time barista is a safe-haven for all of hers.

The junior buzzes around behind the counter, systematically preparing orders of cakes and coffees on the tiny overhead order slips. A satisfied hum sounds as she finishes prettying the dessert display and slides the glass window closed.

Cake display, check.

Watermelon lychee-mint crush, coming up.

She dries her hands after spooning the frozen watermelon chunks into the blender, and the crinkle of her leather apron sounds brand new for some reason. Perhaps it’s because she feels brand new. Either way, her customers seem to pick up on her good mood too, and it blows her usually gruelling shift by like a light summer breeze. The hustle of work-pressed university students scrambling for their sugar rushes and extra shots of caffeine dulls in her ears, the memory of the past three weeks sitting at the very forefront of her thoughts.

The past three weeks of back and forth texting, weekly study dates and a volantly climbing heart rate– wait no, a steadily building friendship.

About halfway through the afternoon, the regular tempo of her shift suddenly interrupts with a swish of silky hair and an award winning smile.

“Wow, a barista. Cute and talented, I see. Where do I sign up?”

Seungwan adjusts the straps on her apron, blinking. “Taeyeon sunbaenim?”

“Kidding, kidding,” the girl laughs, holding her hand out as if that would somehow quell the bout of unease that had begun to well in the pit of Seungwan’s stomach.

Remaining professional, she answers with a nervous laugh of her own. “What can I get for you today, sunbaenim?”

Taeyeon hums, tapping a delicate finger to her chin while she stares down at the fancy little menu. A vague smirk graces pink lips as her fingertip traces the bold laminated print. “Hm, what do your pancakes come with?”

Seungwan leans over the cash register to glaze over the small description underneath and then snaps back up, knowing the ingredients by heart already. “Oh! They’re plain buttermilk, but you can choose your topping! Uh… strawberries and ice cream is– it’s a customer favourite, if you’d like.”

A hum of deliberation. “I see. And do I get special service?”

“S-Sorry?” The suggestion in her tone chokes the girl, unsure of what that means.

Taeyeon gracefully giggles and leans over the counter to playfully tap Seungwan on the shoulder. “Yah, you’re too funny. I meant an extra scoop of ice cream. Since we know each other, obviously. Why, what were you thinking?”

“Ah! Of course I can do that for you,” she chuckles awkwardly, keying in the order. Seungwan’s fingers flinch around the Amex Black Card when it doesn’t slip out of Taeyeon’s as easily. Chestnut eyes peek up at her, and from the casual smirk on her face, the older girl seems to know what she’s doing.

“Oh yeah,” her expression contorts as though she’s trying to recall why she’s now holding up a small queue of foot-tapping, huffing customers. “How’s your project going?”

She answers hastily, eyeing the holdup. “It’s great! Joohyun unnie is really helping me with this class.”

Taeyeon raises a brow. “Unnie?”

“Y-Yeah, Joohyun unnie’s great, can– can I take your card, please?” she reiterates.

“Ah,” the other girl finally nods in realisation, “you two are close friends now. That’s great! I’m glad to hear it’s going well.” The grip on the credit card slackens. “Thank you, Seungwan.”

Seungwan purses her lips, stiffly rocking on her heels as they both wait for the card reader to go ‘beep’. Once Taeyeon walks away, her tension dispels with a heavy sigh and she signals for the next customer.

Softy’s Autumn Morning comes on the set playlist shuffle. Pleasant lo-fi beats ripple through the cafe and Seungwan gently bops along as she works, carefully eyeing the bubbling pancake mix to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Time seems to slow to a glacial pace. That is, until the little bronze bell chimes and a certain someone walks in. Seungwan recognises that vintage Balenciaga Defile Sport hoodie in a heartbeat. Her legs kick into gear and she rushes over to meet her. Joohyun approaches the counter with her signature gaze of boredom, but hides a laugh behind her sweater paw when she sees the barista almost trip over her own sneakers.

Five minutes later, said barista is hunched over a small cup of latte, hands steadily crafting two pointy milk ears with the help of a toothpick.

As she pops a little bonus on the saucer in replacement of their standard Lotus Biscoff biscuit, Seungwan wonders where Sooyoung and Jennie are, melting a little at how Joohyun looks so small and harmless without the final duo to complete her killer posse. God, when they're all three together, it gets really hard to not believe she'sthe precious daughter of South Korea's most elusive mafia boss. The rumours have to come from somewhere, right? She takes a deep breath to steel her nerves before serving the mafia daughter sitting by the window.

“Enjoy your coffee, unnie!” she chirps, setting the steaming drink down. Service with a complimentary home baked cookie is her way of saying ‘I think you’re super cool’.

Totally embarrassed at her dumb little gift, the girl slinks back to her station with sizzling ears before her senior can even thank her.

How cute.

Joohyun’s lips curl into a secret smile at the milk foam cat happily greeting her from her latte.

. . . . .

[7:45 p.m.] Seulgi whines when she goes to get a Cola from the fridge and finds the door wide open with Yerim chugging milk straight from the carton. Her roommate calmly caps the lid, dutifully ignoring her.

. . . . .

Polystyrene containers of spicy tteokbokki, salmon sashimi, crispy pork mandu as well as skewers of various glazed meats glisten deliciously under warm living room lights. It’s the perfect go-to cheat day feast.

“Unnie, you’re like those tragic lovers in my dramas,” the youngest blurts, chewing on her Yakult straw. “Literally every one of them. Too dumb to confess and then drowns in their tears at night. You gonna break the cycle or what?”

Shock seizes Seungwan’s expression before she shakes her head at the way this heartless dongsaeng just takes her feelings and tosses them around like a salad. Still, she thinks, there’s no harm in being honest.

“What’s there to confess? We’re just friends."

Seulgi and Yerim exchange a silent look at the neat pile of tteokbokki on Seungwan’s plate. They remembered only a month ago, their friend seemed to have eyes for nothing else. The dish was so tasty she could marry it, apparently. But its charms seem to have worn off; now overshadowed by Joohyun’s endearingly obnoxious laughter and just about everything about her.

"Plus, you know, I doubt Joohyun unnie sees me that way either."

An epiphany strikes Yerim and she slaps her hand on the table, jabbing a restless finger at her shocked dorm mates. “Zenitsu, Zenitsu! Unnie, you’re Zenitsu, I’ve freaking figured it out.”

Confusion colours Seungwan’s face. “Zenits… who?”

“Zenitsu from Demon Slayer.”

“What?”

“That mopey kid.”

“Yerim-ah…”

“Demon Slayer. Yerimie’s bingeing it right now. Anime on Netflix or something,” Seulgi explains through a mouthful of dumpling, “she won’t shut up about it. God help us there’s a movie out already.”

Curiosity soon has the confused girl peering at her screen, determined to find out what she’s being called. Thank god for YouTube.

The youngest feels the heat as she watches her unnie’s expression become more and more deadpan with every passing video.

“Yerim. What, exactly, do you see of me in this?” Seungwan threateningly questions, holding up a paused clip of a cartoon boy grovelling at the feet of a pretty girl. She wonders if it’s wrong to want Joohyun to actually have mafia connections now… and if she’d be willing to share them with her for… purposes.

She shrugs defensively. “What? Don’t you think he’s cute?”

"Don't worry Wan, I don't see it either," Seulgi jumps in.

‘Cute’ isn’t quite the term. The blonde nonchalantly brings the chopsticks to her mouth and bites down… onto thin air. Much to the amusement of the two across her. “Hey how’s it going with Sooyoung?” she turns her attention to the girl sitting cross-legged opposite.

Seulgi tuts in reply, dangling a salmon slice in front of her unimpressed roomie. “Stop trying to change the subject, Wan. It’s sooo obvious.” After a pregnant pause, she grins like a kid on Christmas morning, spilling her own adventures with her third of the black velvet trio in one breath. “But thank you for asking because we’re going to the cinema this weekend.”

Yerim chopsticks another tteokbokki onto her plate. “Ooh, what movie?”

“Oh, uh…” Seulgi shrugs, “dunno… I think Sooyoung knows more about what’s good, so I’ll–”

“You’re gonna let her decide, is what I’m hearing,” the maknae scoffs with an eye roll.

Seungwan smiles.

“Simps… simps! Help, someone save me, you guys are everywhere!” Yerim pretends to drown on land and her friends resist the urge to jump her on the spot.

. . . . .

[11:09 a.m.] The raven-haired senior catches her unsuspecting junior on her way through campus gardens the next morning and pries her for answers.

. . . . .

“Why a cat?”

Seungwan’s eyes form joyous crescent moons. “Unnie!”

Suddenly, she has to keep her focus from dwindling into how good they’d both look sitting under the shade of that big old oak tree.

Somewhere through the cottoned clouds of her daydreams, they’re on one of their many picnics. Doughnuts, corn-dogs, toasted sandwiches and bottled juice litter the peach gingham mat they’re sitting on, and Joohyun offers her a corner of her Gilgeori toast. Of course, she cheekily tries her luck, leaving her with just the corner instead. She yelps when Joohyun gives her a shoulder thwack well deserved.

Clumsy knees knock together as they laugh themselves silly, the powdered sugar on their lips melting into a sweet river every time she connects them with a kiss.

Seungwan bites her lip, wringing her mind of those thoughts, trying to play down the elation at hearing her senior’s curiosity. “A cat? I-I don’t know, I just think they’re funny and– kinda cute.” Her voice goes squeaky with excitement. “You liked it? Unnie! You should order more coffees with milk in them. I’ll draw you a bunny next time!”

Joohyun nods, willing to buy the cafe’s entire stock if it meant she got to see Seungwan beam like a praised puppy, all too eager to learn its next trick.

And she might’ve just marched down there right now to do as she’d said… if they weren’t ten minutes late for their class. Suddenly they’re both panickedly clutching at each other, torn between sprinting like they’re being chased by hyenas, turning up fashionably late, or hopping around and freaking out about the fact that they’re already eleven minutes late, now.

Joohyun’s wrist is grabbed just as she’s about to suggest the fashionably late option. Then she’s hurtling forward, struggling to keep her books from falling whilst poorly protesting the early-morning PE session. But Seungwan is too busy shouting nonsense into the skies about how this is the final chance the lightning gods get to strike her down and charge her up.

Which would’ve been convincing had her voice not cracked on every other word.

As the pair clumsily sprint down the path of pastel flower bushes, the older girl can’t remember the last time she’s laughed this freely. She can barely get the words out but she feels like she’d explode if she didn’t.

“Seungwan-ah! You’re giving me a six pack!”

And when Seungwan turns back to laugh with her, something in Joohyun’s static heart ignites.

. . . . .

In the diamond, star-dappled sky, Cherub wakes from his silken cloud. Lily-white wings unfurl at the latest calling.

#red velvet #wenrene #wendy #irene #university au #seulgi #joy #yeri #joygi #a budding relationship #i mean friendship

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lesbian-deadpool · 4 years

Text

The Assistant

Part Two Of Two: And There Was Funny Business

Natasha Romanoff x Reader, Platonic!Tony Stark x Reader

Words: 3,886

Warnings: I don’t think there is anything. It is mostly dialogue tho.

Request: For the @ryostephi who donated to the Australian Bushfires. (I’m sorry the tag doesn't work)

Summary: When was retirement again?

A/N: I am shocked at how much I got wrong in the first part, after re-watching Iron Man 2 as I wrote this part, and for that, I am so sorry lol. So... I know there’s still a lot of Tony in this... and I have no excuse, other than it’s based in Iron Man 2, and there's not much “Natalie” plot for me to go off of, and have it be all that good (in my opinion). So, I hope you don’t mind lol.

(Not my GIF)

***

“Explain!” Tony practically ordered you, his voice close to a screech, more than anything else.

“I’m an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” you told him blankly.

“Yes, I see that-!”

“How?” Natasha started, “I- I mean you can't be an Agent, I would have seen you.”

“S.H.I.E.L.D. is a big place, Natasha.”

“You always knew who I was.” She leaned back in her seat, beside Fury, regarding you.

You scoffed, shaking your head. “Of course I did.”

“Agent Y/L/N here, has been away for business for a short amount of time now,” Fury informed them, gesturing a hand to you.

“No offence, Nick. But I don’t think eight months, is a short amount of time,” you replied, causing the man to scoff softly at you, his lips quirking in a small smile.

“So, that’s where you’ve been, this whole time?”

You tuned to Tony. “Yeah, that’s why slept so much when I got back.”

“Anyway,” Fury began, drawing everyone’s attention back to him, as he spoke to Tony, “You’ve been very busy. You made your girl your CEO, you’re giving away all your stuff. You let your friend fly away with your suit-”

“Wait. Hold, up,” You paused him, raising a hand, “Rhodey took a suit?”

“He sure as hell did.” Fury said. “Now, if I didn’t know better-”

“You don’t know better. I didn’t give it to him. He took it.”

“Oh, well that's better,” you said offhandedly, as you rested your chin in your hand, watching the conversation go down.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. She’s right.” he pointed at you. “He took it? You’re Iron Man and he just took it? The little brother walks in there, kicked your ass and took your suit? Is that possible?” He turned to Natasha.

“Well, according to Mr Starks database security guidelines, there are redundancies to prevent unauthorised usage.”

“Whoa, those were some big words...”

Tony snorted softly at both your words and hers. While Natasha threw you a light glare.

“What do you want from me?”

And that was the hidden queue you were looking for. Knowing what was coming next. You sat up straight in your seat, ready to make the move.

“What do we want from you?” And there Natasha goes, sliding out of her seat. You followed in her lead. Pulling yourself up by the table, and spinning yourself around to sit next to Fury. “Uh-uh. What do you want from me?” He continued, repeatedly pointing to the man, as you wore a shit-eating grin by his side, the scene almost painting out like you were watching your sibling getting chewed out by your parent. “You have become a problem, a problem I have to deal with. Contrary to your belief, you are not the centre of my universe.”

“But I am, right?” He raised a lone finger to you, without even looking, to silence you, as you only smiled harder.

“I have bigger problems than you in the southwest region to deal with.” You rolled your eyes as your boss continued rant, wanting for this to be over. When your eyes spotted Natasha coming back.

Fury snapped his fingers, and told Natasha to, “Hit him.”

Tony let out a startled sound, moving back in pain. “Oh, God, are you gonna steal my kidney and sell it?” He asked as Natasha checked his neck over, sitting down beside him, and watching the poisoned veins recede, “Could you please not do anything awful for five seconds?”

Turning to you and Fury, he continued to ask, “What she just do to me?”

“What did we just do for you,” Fury corrected him.

��Hey, that cleared up the Matrix puzzle, really well.” You smiled.

“That’s lithium dioxide. It's gonna take the edge off. We’re trying to get you back to work,” The man by your side explained, “You should thank Agent Y/L/N over here, she was the one who requested it, and made our Science Department's lives a living hell, until we got it.”

“Wait. You had something to do with this?” Tony asked, turning to you, notes of touch in his voice, showing you he had just realised how much you truly cared for him.

“Of course I did,” you scoffed, “You really think I was gonna let you die?”

You watched as billionaire’s lips twitched in a smile, before he returned to his stoic, guarded nature.

“Give me a couple boxes of that. I’ll be right as rain.”

“It’s not a cure, it just abates the symptoms.”

“Yeah, what the thesaurus said, over there,” you agreed, gesturing to the red-head. Who in turn kicked you “lightly” in the shin. Making you hiss out a small, “Ow.”

Not paying you mind, Fury continued, studying the other man's neck, “Doesn’t look like it’s gonna be an easy fix.”

“It never is with us,” you said.

“Trust me, I know. I’m good at this stuff.” You could see behind Tony’s eyes just how helpless he was feeling. “I’ve been looking for a suitable replacement for palladium. I’ve tried every combination, every permutation of every known element.”

“Am I the only one here who didn’t understand a word of that?” you asked the table, “No? Am I being ignored? That’s nice.”

You weren’t being ignored, however. If the smirk, that was quickly wiped away, that Natasha wore was any indication.

“Well, I’m here to tell you, you haven't tried them all.”

“Well... on that note.” You spoke, “I think it’s time I took my leave.”

“I’m still mad at you,” Tony told you childishly.

Well... two could play at that game.

“Yeah, well at least Rhodey and Pepper aren’t mad at me,” you fired back, as you got up from your seat. Practically hearing the man's jaw drop behind you.

***

“Antony Stark!” you yelled, as you strolled through the open door to Pepper’s office.

“What did I do now?”

“What do you mean, ‘what did you do now’?” you seethed at him, coming closer.

“Anything else, boss?” Happy asked.

“I’m good, Hap.”

“No, I’ll be just... another minute,” Tony and Pepper said at the same time.

“Well, that was awkward,” you said.

“I lost all three of the kids in the divorce,” Tony laughed at his own joke. “Nothing?” he asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder at you and The Head Of Security. “No.”

Tony cleared his throat.

Oh, don’t do it.

“Are you blending in well here, Natalie? Here at Stark Enterprises?”

You were so gonna throttle him.

“Your name is Natalie, isn’t it.”

Murder.

That’s what shone in your eyes, as your nostrils flared, just as it did Natasha’s.

“I thought you two didn’t get along,” the billionaire gestured between the two.

He better shut his mouth.

“No. That’s not so,” Pepper told him.

“It’s just me you don’t care for.” Pepper said nothing in reply. “No? Nothing?”

“Actually, while you’re here, maybe you and Natalie could discuss the matter of the personal belongings.”

“Absolutely,” Natasha said.

“Which loosely translates to, ‘get your shit out of my office’,” you informed the man.

“Yes, I got that. Thank you, Y/N.” You nodded your head once at him, with a fake smile plastered upon your face. You were so gonna kick his ass.

Tony watched as Pepper walked away. The blonde giving you a short nod as she passed you, and exited the office with Happy.

“I’m surprised you could keep your mouth shut,” Natasha said, as soon as the coast was clear. Making Tony spin around in the chair once again.

“Boy, you’re good. You are mind-blowingly duplicitous. How do you do it? You just tear things... you’re a triple imposter.” Tony turned to you. “Can you do that?”

“Of course I can, I'm a professional.”

“How did you even get into this business?”

“Later,” you told him.

“I’ve never seen anything like you,” he continued, turning back to Natasha, “Is there anything real about you? Do you even speak Latin?”

“Fallaces sunt rerum species,” Natasha responds immediately, gathering up documents, and beginning to take her leave.

“It turns out she can.” You shrugged.

“Which means? Wait. What? What did you just say?”

“It means you can drive yourself home or I can have you, and Miss Y/L/N, collected.”

“Wait what did I do?” You asked insulted, “Also, that’s not what she said.”

Natasha chose not to answer you. Instead, choosing to say, “Control him.”

“You think I can?” You asked the shorter woman, spinning to watch her walk away as you did.

“Hey!” Tony whined behind you. “You’re good!” he called to the red-head, as she slammed the door.

“Well...” You looked at Tony. “That was a shit-show. What the hell are you doing?” you asked, as he fiddled with one of Pepper’s ornaments. “What? Not talking to me?” Sighing he stood up, taking a bite out of a strawberry, before dumping the rest into the trash. “That’s a waste. And, yeah, no it's fine. I didn’t want any, anyway.”

You sighed, throwing your head back in exasperation, as you watched the man looking at the scale-model up against the wall. Who was currently peering through his hand, as if it was some sort of a telescope.

It really was like having a child dealing with him, sometimes... most times.

“Help me with this.”

“What?”

***

“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO THIS PLACE?!” you roared, taking in all of the destruction around.

Yep. You were never having kids.

“I made a new element!” Tony told you proudly.

“You. Made. A new. Element.”

“Yes? Why is that so hard to understand?”

“I-... How?!”

“It’s all... science stuff. You really want me to tell you?” Tony asked, already knowing the answer.

“No. Not really.”

You took another look around the place, slowly inhaling and exhaling, as you nodded your head. “Well. Well done.”

“Thanks. It worked,” Tony said, showing you his chest.

“Good, I’m glad.” You smiled. “Now... why are you assembling a suit?”

“Vanko’s still alive.”

You stared blankly at Tony for a moment. Watching him. Making sure that he wasn’t bullshitting you. When you deducted, that he was in fact, telling the truth, you asked, “He’s what?”

***

The absolute deafening cheering going on around you did nothing to drown out the sound of your heartbeat pounding away in your ears, as you were bent over your encased legs, hands on your knees, hoping that you could manage to pant away your incoming panic attack.

You had to.

You had a job to do right now.

Vaguely you registered Tony say, “We got trouble” inside of your metal helmet.

“Tony, there are civilians present,” Rhodey said, as you followed Tony on unsteady legs, “I’m here on orders. Let’s not do this right now.”

“God,” you breathed, “I hated every second of that.”

You mirrored the man you thought of as your brother, on Rhodey’s other side. Waving to the crowd, as Tony told you too.

“All these people are in danger. We gotta get them out of here,” Tony said, “You gotta trust me for the next five minutes.”

“Yeah, I tried that. I got tossed around your house, remember?”

“Listen, I think he’s working with Vanko.”

“Of course the sonofabitch is,” you growled, glaring at the man through the mask of your borrowed suit.

“Vanko’s alive?” Rhodey asked, slightly sceptical. Which he had a right too. God, knows how you didn’t want to belive Tony. But you knew he believed Tony, he would never lie about this.

As Tony squared up to Hammer, asking him about Venko. You scanned the crowd, looking for two people in particular.

“Found Natasha and Pepper,” you notified him.

“Who’s Natasha?” Rhodey asked. You we’re about to answer him, before he continued, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.”

“What’s up-? Holy shit!”

You jumped back in alarm, at the giant mini-gun attached to Rhodey’s back, moved to aim at Tony.

“Is that you?” Tony asked.

“No. That- I’m not doing that. I’m not doing that,” he stuttered, you could hear the panic rising in his voice, “I can’t move. I’m locked up. I’m locked up!”

"Motherfucker!" you hollered, stumbling back, as the military-themed drones pointed their arms towards Tony, too. Getting ready to fire.

"Get out of her. Go! This whole system's been compromised," Rhodey ordered.

"Y/N, with me," Tony said, "Let's take this outside."

"Oh, God, that means I have to fly again."

And with that, he blasted off, with you hot on his trail. As the drones and Rhodey's compromised suit started to rain fire on Tony, and consequently, you... and the glass ceiling. I think Vanko might have taken that phrase a little too seriously.

"Uh-Oh." You wished you hadn't looked down now. "Tony, incoming."

"Jarvis, break-in. I need to own him."

"Weird way to word it there, buddy," you quipped, "Are we really fucking doing this?"

"Yep. We're really fucking doing this."

***

"Tony?" You asked as you landed next to the crashed men, "How good did you say the filtration in the suit was?"

"It's pristine. Why?"

"Because I just pissed myself."

Just then Tony and Rhodey -Or rather, Rhodey's suit- began fighting.

"Oh, shit, Tony! How do you work this hunk of metal?!"

"Just go with your instinct's!"

"Oh, yeah. That helps!" you yelled, looking at your palms, where the repulsers lay. "Come on, you piece of shit! WORK!"

Well, you got it to work. However, the bright light shot out and hit you square in your mask. But, hey! You still got it two work! Silver-lining people!

"Ow," you uttered as you fell, landing on your back in a daze.

To say you were useless with these things, was an understatement.

You finally regained yourself, a few long seconds later. And had seen that Tony had managed to kick Rhodey's ass, as you got up on wobbly legs.

"Hey, guys? Can we not tell Natasha what just happened?"

"Not tell me what?"

You jumped at the sudden sound of her voice. Since when did she have access to talk through the suit?

"Nothing!" you spoke hastily.

Natasha hummed, not believing you, moving on to her next point, "Reboot complete. You got your best friend back."

"Thank you very much, Agent Romanoff."

"Well done with the new chest piece. I am reading significantly higher output and all your vitals look promising."

"Yes, for the moment, I'm not dying. Thank you."

"This moment better last long," you mumbled.

"What do you mean you're not dying?" Pepper? When did she get here? "Did you say you're dying."

Oh, God. This is awkward. It's so awkward.

"Is that you? No, I'm not. Not anymore."

"What's going on?" she asked.

"I was going to tell you. I didn't want to alarm you."

"You were going to tell me? You really were dying?"

You were glad the suit hid the cringe on your face, as you were trapped here, to bare witness to this, a confession. Your metal hand coming up to scratch, uselessly, at your metal helmet, out of awkward discomfort.

"You didn't let me-"

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Pepper interrupted.

"I was gonna make you an omelette and tell you."

"Yeah, because omelettes make death confessions, so much better," you quipped, only to have it fall on deaf ears.

"Hey, hey. Save it for the honeymoon."

"Yeah, because they're gonna fight on their honeymoon..." You took all of a second to think about it, before changing your statement. "You know what, I don't doubt that."

"You've got incoming guys," Natasha continued. "Looks like the fight's coming to you."

"Awesome," you said sarcastically.

"Try to hit them and not yourself this time," Tony told you.

After this was done... he's a dead man.

"Pepper?"

Oh no, not this again.

"Are you okay now?"

"I'm fine. Don't be mad. I will formally apologize-"

"I am mad!" she yelled, and you sighed, getting into a fighting stance.

"-When I'm not fending off a Hammeroid attack.

"Fine."

"We could have been in Venice."

"And I could have been asleep."

"What is it with you and sleep?" Natasha asked.

"It's sleep!"

***

“She fights like a badass,” Happy breathed, inside you helmets. While you watched as drones landed all around you.

“I know, I’ve seen her.”

“Stalking much?” You could hear the smirk in her voice.

“You say that like you didn’t look me up when you found out I was an Agent.”

“You’re an Agent?!” Happy, Rhodey, and Pepper yelled at the same time.

“Old news guys, however makeshift terminators over here? New news.”

And then the fighting started.

Just like you would be on the field, splatters of battle coted you. But rather than blood, this time it was oil that painted your suit, as you tore, shot, and blew up drones.

Okay. So the suit wasn't all bad.

Tony told you and Rhodes to 'get down'. You watched as bright neon red lasers, chopped through the drones -and trees-, like a hot knife through butter.

"Can you show me how to do that?" you asked.

***

"Heads up. You got one more drone incoming," Natasha said. "This one looks different."

"What?" you asked, "Like it's got a makeover?"

"No," she said clearly, "Like the repulser signature is significantly higher."

"So, it's a boss drone then?"

Any reply Natasha had for you were cut off, thanks to the giant-sized Iron Man suit landing in front of you.

Oh, could this get any worse?

Yes. Yes, it could.

The real-life, yet no way friendly, Iron-Giant's face retracted back. Revealing, Ivan Vanko.

"God, that's not a good makeover."

"I swear to God, Y/N, I will disable your microphone."

"Hey, you two. Stop flirting," Rhodey said.

"Good to be back," Vanko said. Unknown to what you were saying, and, thankfully, to how your cheeks tinted red at Rhodey's words.

"Oh, this ain't gonna be good."

"Yeah, you're telling me," you agreed. "Ah! Whippy-things!" You moved back, startled, at Vankos sudden weapons.

"I got something special for this guy." Rhodey strutted up towards him. "I'm gonna bust his bunker with the Ex-Wife."

"The what now, please?"

"With the what?" You and Tony asked at the same time.

You waited in anticipation, watching as the shoulder of Rhodey's suit opened, and counted down. Blasting off a tiny missile right at Vanko. Which hit him. Then dropped to the ground, and fizzled out.

"Hammer tech?" Tony asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah."

You flew up into the sky, shooting Vanko from above, as the other two fought on the ground. It was gonna take a lot to bring this sonofabitch down. Tony flew up to join you but didn't get far, as two bright blue whips latched themselves onto both you and Tony. Smashing Tony into a rock. And flinging you into a corner of the closed-off park. The last thing you heard before blacking out, was their voices shouting your name.

***

You awoke as you were flying through the air.

No, wait.

You weren't flying.

You were heaved over Rhoedy's shoulder, as he flew.

"What the hell's going on?"

"Hey, glad to see you're awake." Rhodey's smile could be heard in his voice. "The drones are set to self destruct."

"Did we beat him?"

"Yeah, we did," he said, as explosions were heard and seen, all across your view.

"Oh, my God! I can't take this anymore."

Great. Just when you had thought you had finally gained a minute of peace.

"You can't-?"

God, was this just their relationship?

"I can't take this."

"-Look at me."

Yep.

"My body, literally, cannot handle the stress." You peered up at Rhodey, from your seat on the floor, the man only shrugging at your silent question of, 'what the fuck?'. You both turning back to watch the two lovebirds have their spat. "I never know if you're gonna kill yourself or wreck the whole company."

“I think I did okay!” Tony defended himself when there was a sudden explosion far in the background.

“Dumbass,” you mumbled, only the man sitting beside you able to hear what you said. Him chuckling lightly at your words.

"I quit. I'm resigning," Pepper panted, "That's it."

"What did you just say? You're done?"

Did they really have to do this shit in front of you?

Did they really have to be so blind, not to notice you and Rhodey right beside them?

Did you really have to have no popcorn to enjoy, as you watched this?

"That's surprising," Tony said, walking towards her, "No, it's not surprising. I get it. You don't have to make any excuses."

Pepper stuttered. "I'm not making any excuses."

You eyes rolled as far back into your head as they possibly could. Luckily for you, missing some of what the bickering couple said.

"You deserve better."

"Well..."

"You've taken such good care of me." Were those... tears in Tony's voice? "I've been in a tough spot, but you got me through it, so... right?"

They muttered some words that you couldn't hear all that well.

Blah, Blah, Blah.

And then they kissed.

A look of disgust appearing upon your face. And you were thankful that you, in fact, did not have that popcorn, you whished for not long ago.

"I thought it was weird." You snapped back into reality, from your unexpected daze, at Rhodey's words.

Thank, God. They had stopped kissing.

"You guys look like two seals fighting over a grape."

“Hey, hey, now Rhodey." You put your hand up to the man. "That's an insult to seals and grapes."

Rhodey laughed beside you, as the previously kissing couple grew uncomfortable and fidgety.

"Don't even try to make excuses," you told them.

"Yeah, we heard the whole thing."

“You two should get lost,” Tony says to you and Rhodey.

"We were here first," the Colonel defended. "Get a roof."

"Yeah, and I'm fine, by the way. Thank's for asking." You smirked.

"I thought you two were out of one-liners."

"That's the last one."

"Speak for yourself," you said standing up. "Oh, also. I am never getting into one of these flying hell suits ever again.”

“Aww, don't say that. You’ll hurt its feelings.”

"I don't care."

"Oh, yeah? Well, how are you gonna get home then?"

"After I get home," you clarified. "I am never getting into one of these things, ever again."

“Don’t lie. You like the suit. Now,” he said, gesturing his head to the side, “Go get your girl.”

“What? There’s no way I’m going anywhere near one of those things.”

Oh, she was still here, was she?

“Oh, c’mon Romanoff.” You smirked, taking flight, “Fly away with me.”

“Not a chance.”

You landed in front of the red-head, exiting the building. Startling her as you did.

"Agent Romanoff." You smirked, throwing your arms out by your sides. If she didn't know better, Natasha would have assumed you were Tony. "Your ride has arrived."

"Get away from me."

***

“So...” you started, looking towards the red-head standing beside you, looking out onto the ocean below you, “Wanna go out on a date?”

Natasha turned to face you properly, a small smile on her face, “I thought you’d never ask, Y/L/N.” Stepping closer, her hand on your bicep, she continued, “Tonight. We’ll watch a movie in my cabin.”

You smiled.

“Only a movie,” she clarified, “No funny business.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Romanoff.”

#original work #original fanfiction #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanoff #tony stark x reader #tony stark imagine #tony stark #marvel #MCU

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shattered-mirror-fanfic · 3 years

Photo

Chapter 1 is out! Already working on chapter 2 but it may be a while. If you wish to reupload my work then please contact me first for my consent.

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/32206135/chapters/79807672

Chapter below the cut for readers who don’t use Ao3:

The days ticked by, at a rate humans can't understand, all they know is that it's slow. But compared to the time other days tick by as, it is short, which no one can seem to get a grasp on. As the sun was ticking down, a group of four individuals, all connected by a large, officially interspatial, crime group, slowly walked up the large mountain, praying the days had ticked at a satisfactory rate, for them to reach the location of their desire.

"So I was thinking...to spice things up a bit-" the oddly bobbing ghost started, before being cut off by their white-haired companion.

"For the last time, I'm happy with how everything is going. Now shut up!"

"Henry, you don't need to be so rude, I was just asking if you wanted to set up camp since sleeping beauty can't walk by himself anymore" Ellie chimed in.

"Uh, shucks, sorry Elles, I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to...a figment of my imagination, camp sounds great, we could use some rest!" Henry said apologetically, glancing at the air next to him when he said 'imagination'. Ellie chuckled and nodded as she spun around, somehow still walking, to speak up.

"Hear that boss? Someone actually agrees saying that we should rest!" She mocked as Right Hand Man's expression went from his usual scowl to a sour and bitter frown.

"I'm jus' saying! We're already close! It's not 'at further!" He barked back, still dragging his feet behind as he carried a half asleep Reginald on his back.

"Tell that to princess sleepy head!" The red-headed woman laughed in return. Roughly 18 minutes ago, Reginald was in a state of nearly passing out from exhaustion so his right hand man logically thought to carry him until reaching the cave they were meant to go to was impossible in that day's time frame. The unfortunate part was that their two underlings kept teasing Right's actions as though they are similar to what prince charming would do in fairy tales. But Right was not taking any of that bullshit, what he was doing was completely normal between two friends.

“Right...we’re all tired, just put me down and let’s set up camp” Reginald tiredly chimed in. Right sighed and gave a low "fine…" before setting down the brunette. After taking a moment to regain his footing, Reginald stretched his arms before promptly asking, "So where shall we set up?"

"I think we should look for some sort of open area and just lay down some….." Henry began before cutting himself off.

"What? What's wrong?" Ellie asked before Henry stopped her from going any further.

"Do you hear that?" Everyone froze, listening closely to what sounded like talking. It seemed like it was coming from just a bit further up the mountain, where the group was aiming to get to.

"Permission to look ahead and potentially dispose of threats?" The ghost chimed in with a non-existent grin.

"Let's all go ahead together, stay close, and stay alert" Henry quietly told the others, ignoring the ghost's request. The group moved forward slowly, careful to not alert the people ahead.

~~~

The surface was great, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and on days like these, kids aged around 10 would be playing outside in the garden or at a friend's house, but frisk was not like other kids, while other kids were playing cops and robbers, frisk was saving monster society. It hadn't even been 20 minutes when the ambassador came across their first issue,

Where would the monsters stay before they could join the humans in towns and cities?

The idea that first came to mind was that until a place was established to be available for monsters, they would remain underground. It wasn't the best idea, but it was better than just letting them fend for themselves on the surface, plus, it would only be worse when other humans got involved. For now, the main issue was dealing with lodging for their friends that came with them in the first place.

And that is what they were doing. Right now the young child was sitting in front of the underground's exit, talking with Asgore, the king of the underground, and Dr. Alphys, the head royal scientist. They were mainly discussing how to proceed with getting the monsters a way to live with humans, with alphys there to bring in human facts that she knew (mainly from anime) on how they would react to such sudden actions. It seemed to be going…. neutral, no good ideas, and no bad truths. But logically, the lovely sunset ahead was rushing the discussion into being about setting up some sort of camp, which they neither had the materials for, nor the means to get some. It would be difficult to go back down to get supplies while having a logical enough excuse for others on why going to the surface is going to take longer. Regardless, those of Frisk’s new friends who had seen the surface would probably be against the idea of going underground again for a presumably long while, since it was at this point obvious that getting the monsters their own place on the surface would take months and months.

“Dang, only a miracle could be able to fix this, and what’s worse is the town of ebott is known for being a super anti-monster.” Chara stated while hovering next to Frisk. Frisk thought for a moment, a miracle could happen. Frisk knew it, something would happen. They were DETERMINED.

File Saved.

“Y’know, that’s not always gonna work Frisk, it was cute the first time, but now it’s-” Chara started, but as if on queue, there was the sound of something slipping on rock, a yelp, and a few loose rocks dropping down the mountain. Frisk, Chara, Asgore and Alphys immediately turned around to see 4 people, all with shocked and scared expressions on their faces.

“N-no way...it can’t be” Ellie said, staring in awe at the group. “I thought it was just legends, stories to scare kids who don’t behave…..”

“Ellie? What do you mean? Do you know something?” Henry asked, pulling his gaze away and towards his friend. She sighed and lowered her head.

“It’s long to explain but… I used to live in this town and there was a legend about monsters living under the mountain, I never knew it was real.” She explained.

“Well, it seems you all don’t mind that much.” Asgore chuckled.

“Don’t get used to it Mr. Asgore, not all humans act friendly at first.” Frisk chimed in.

“Eh, you all don’t seem like a threat, I don’t mind bein’ hospitable” Right Hand Man casually mentioned. This statement led to Henry and Ellie sarcastically gasping and giggling as they knew that Right was never the ‘hospitable’ type.

“Neither do I, I am Asgore the king of the monsters, and this is our ambassador, Frisk” Asgore said, gesturing to the young child. “And this is our royal scientist, Alphys.” Alphys gave a nervous wave.

“Pleasure to meet you, your highness. I am Reginald Copperbottom, leader of the Toppat clan. These are my employees, my Right Hand Man, Ellie Rose and Henry Stickmin.” Reginald introduced while bowing slightly (As a way of respect? Henry was puzzled by this, but the chief always had a tendency to be dramatic, so he shrugged it off).

“Please Mr. Copperbottom, no need to be so formal, I understand the title is grand but it doesn’t suit me.” Asgore said with a soft voice.

“Of course, apologies, I normally default to being proper with new people.” Reginald corrected himself.

“It’s no issue, it’s very welcoming to see such wonderful humans, even after my past opinions.”

While the two leaders were busy discussing formality, Henry took it upon himself to chat with the ambassador. He walked over and sat down next to Frisk giving a calm smile before seeing a red glow behind the child. He looked and saw a ghost, a child whose appearance was similar to Frisk’s, with a few changes.

“Who’s that?” He asked, directing his gaze at the idling bobbing ghost, who was only paying attention once Henry pointed them out.

“You...can see them?” Frisk asked, shocked as no one else had been able to hear or see them.

“Yeah? Wait...did they die and through strong determination they’re now stuck to you?” Henry asked.

“Yeah! I was dead until I met Frisk!” Chara responded. Frisk nodded frantically, showing off their red soul. “How did you know this?!”

“I’m in a similar boat myself” Henry responded, slowing his words. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his own ghostly companion fluttering about like mad, shouting silently with their non-existent mouth. Henry stood up and walked to where the ghost was dramatically pointing at, only to be greeted by three familiar figures, dressed in their military best. They hadn’t noticed him, thank god, but this was still bad. His throat grew tight as it normally did under stress, he figured it was best in multiple cases to just sign. He picked up a rock and threw it at Reginald which hit the brunette with slight force. The chief turned around to see Henry frantically signing and gesturing around the curve that the group had originally taken. It took a minute but, after a few loops of the same signs he recognised, they were in danger.

“Ellie, Right, Henry is calling a code green, get your weapons drawn and stay quiet. Henry, I’m trusting you to keep the king, ambassador and doctor safe. Got it?” Reginald commanded in a whisper shout, pulling out the revolver he kept under his hats. The three nodded in response, each pulling out their own weapon, with Henry also rushing their new friends into the cave for cover. With a few skids of rocks from the government soldiers rounding the corner, it had begun, the fight that would set where the ending would start. The government may have had strong JUSTICE, KINDNESS and BRAVERY. The toppats would fight their hardest with the PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE and DETERMINATION they had.

~~~

Mr. Williams sat there, staring at his mirror. He brushed his soft hand over the blue gems, chipped and shattered, yet still retaining their natural beauty. He smiled softly as he pulled his dark chocolate hair back into its usual ponytail before placing the mirror back on its wall. Walking over to the door, he smiled, he could tell from the graying clouds crossing past the mountain it was going to rain. He liked the rain, always so peaceful for a nice book and a cup of tea. He was in an earl grey mood, but he was also tempted to have some coffee.

~~~

It seemed easy enough, the toppats had been practising soul magic for a while at this point, and they had the advantage in numbers. But, the government came prepared with better weapons, especially made with intent on doing damage to souls. That fight had been going on for about 15 minutes at this point with neither side taking major damage. At this point something in the fight needed to change or it would be a will of who gave up first. The government’s side had a secret advantage that was making things easier for them, and that was Charles Calvin, a KINDNESS soul who has rather low level healing magic, but healing magic non the same. That was what was making things so difficult, until Ellie used her own magic and COORDINATED a plan.

“Aim for Calvin, right on the top of his headphones, that’ll distract Galeforce and the other one and I’ll get a clean shot” She whispered to Reginald, as both were ducked behind a rock that had fallen during the chaos. Her boss nodded and sat up aiming for the center of Charles’s headphone, perched exactly above his blonde hair. It felt like time was slowed, as he pulled the trigger, sending a bullet speeding ahead, grazing the red artificial leather on top. As the bullet raced by it grabbed the attention of the three soldiers, as well as Right Hand Man, distracting them long enough so Ellie could make her move. She pulled out her own gun and shot at Rupert, managing to hit him just below the liver a few times. He let out a loud yelp as he fell over and clutched his side. With a sorrowful expression the general declared,

“You won’t get away with it next time!” He shouted as he picked up his subordinate. Ellie and Reginald rose from their spots and walked forward, watching in a sort of victory as the pilot helped the general pick up their wounded comrade.

“Hell yeah we will! You’re just lucky you chose to run!” Ellie cheerfully yelled out in response to the general’s statement.

“Still don’ see why we have to spare ‘em. Would’ve been more beneficial to just end ‘em.” Right Hand Man mentioned to Reginald. “Seriously, we’re jus’ gettin ourselves into a bigger mess, an them bastards aren’t worth pissin on to put out fire on ‘em.”

“Righty, it’s only fair that we spare them, none of us got hurt.” Reginald spoke in response. Rupert turned his head to stare at the criminal brunette, who dared to pity them after nearly shooting one of their best pilots. With what little strength he could, he gripped his pistol, and raised his arm.

“That’s…..what you thought...asshole,”

#fanfic #shattered mirror #undertale #thsc #toppat recruits #crossover #the henry stickmin collection #fanfiction #inspired #post-pacifist ending #wooooop

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meganshinsou-tm · 5 years

Text

Vermilion. (m)

↳ chapter one: ridin the struggle bus

❧ genre: pro-hero’s bakugou/kirishima, poly, happy ending

❧ chapter warnings: none

[multi-chap masterlist] [next chapter]

You sighed upon looking at the stack of paperwork that awaited you on your desk, sitting down with a huff and grabbing a pen.

You had just started working at the same agency the former Symbol of Peace, All Might, once worked at about 2 months ago. Graduating at the top of your class from UA, All Might himself helped to get you the job. He seemed to take a liking to you and took you under his wing after his own mentee Izuku Midoriya had graduated a year before you.

You gladly took the job, hoping it would be exactly what you needed to jump-start your hero career, but just like everyone else, you had to start at the bottom and work your way up, which mostly meant lots of days and nights being the office dog. So to say you were a little bit stressed and overwhelmed at the moment was an understatement.

On top of work, living on your own wasn’t at all what you had hoped for. Not being part of all the action and major hero missions, meant your pay wasn’t the best and it was a struggle trying to get bills paid on time and still have enough left over to feed yourself.

Speaking of feeding yourself, the organ nestled inside your belly was growling relentlessly. You dropped the pen in your hand as your head fell onto the desk and your arms wrapped around your waist, groaning.

“Paperwork again?”

A cheery voice asked from behind you, you could hear someone rustling through the papers that were scattered across the desk. You knew that voice, not bothering looking up.

“Well of course Red, I live for this shit!” You mumbled into the cool wood of the desk, feeling it fog beneath your lips.

“Need help,” he asked.

Finally, you lifted your head and looked at the man talking to you, he was wearing a hoodie and some black shorts, which usually meant he just came back from patrolling the city and was heading home for the day. Your hands dismissed him, head shaking with soft eyes.

“Oh no Kiri, you look like you’re on your way out. There’s no telling what you had to do today, I’m not gonna add on to that!”

Kirishima chuckled and flashed you an enormous sharp toothed grin that made the corners of his red eyes crinkle and made your heart stop. “ So cute, ” you screamed internally.

“I was just patrolling today and there was no action. Plus, I don’t have any plans, just waiting on Bakugou to get off so we can go grab some food before heading home!”

You couldn’t help but smile back and thank him immensely as he grabbed a chair and sat next to you.

Oh yeah, there was a perk to working where you did, and that was Eijirou Kirishima and Katsuki Bakugou. You knew of them before hiring on at the agency, since you all attended the same school and they were only a year ahead of you. Every now and then you’d bump into each other in the hallways, Kirishima would apologize repeatedly while Bakugou would growl. Unknown to you though, you seemed to catch the pairs attention during their last Sports Festival, when you finished in 1st place during your 2nd year. Your quirk and strength alone amazed them, and it didn’t help that you were incredibly cute, which Kirishima would admit to but Bakugou would try to deny it.

So when Kiri found out that you would be joining the team at their own agency, he was more than stoked to get to know you more. That meant, staying late nights and helping with the paperwork that everyone else seemed to pile on you, and helping you on errands and coffee runs. It never bothered him a bit though, it only meant that he got to spend time with you alone and learn more about you.

Bakugou on the other hand had mixed feelings. You caught his attention during his last year, but his goal to become #1 was more important than some girl. When he found out from an overly excited Kirishima that the same girl that piqued his interest only a year ago would once again be coming back into his life, he didn’t know if he was excited or annoyed. When you weren’t doing paperwork or other duties, he’d catch you in the agency’s gym training alone. Your quirk and power drew him back in like it did before and out of nowhere he offered to train with you. At first it was just so he could see exactly what you were capable of, sizing you up, but it slowly grew to him genuinely enjoying the time with you. You never held back against him and always kept him on his toes, which he loved.

So yeah, work wasn’t exactly hell, you did have the friendship of two really amazing guys, who were also very easy on the eyes if you had to admit. It goes without saying, a lot of flirting went on between the three of you, making your heart do flips for both of them. The two were extremely close, and you really admired the bond they had with each other, and you were beyond grateful to have their help. Especially right now, as you and Kirishima worked through the stack of papers together rather quickly. Here and there your fingers would brush against each other or your faces would come into close proximity as you’d explain what information goes where, causing a blush to cross your cheeks and making him struggle when he talked. You loved the effect you had on one of the cities manliest heroes, always seeming to make him melt with just a bat of your lashes.

A few more minutes went by until the mountain of papers were gone. You sighed and laid your head on Kirishima’s shoulder beside you, making him tense at first but quickly relax.

“Thank you so much Kiri, not only for tonight but for all the other nights you’ve stayed behind to help me. You really are my hero!”

Kirishima chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, then craned his head forward to look at your face. “It’s no problem (Y/N), honestly. I was in the same position when I first started so I know how overwhelming it can be. But, I’ll let you in on a secret. I’ve been hearing around the office that you’ll be going on your first sidekick mission soon!”

Your head immediately shot up from his shoulder and looked at him with a smile and wide eyes, but quickly that hint of happiness turned sour as your eyes dulled and your smile dissipated.

“Yeah right, apparently I'm only good enough for paperwork and coffee!”

Kirishima frowned at the lack of belief in yourself when he believed in you so much. The red-head then chuckled and placed his finger on your chin, making you look into his crimson eyes.

“You’re incredibly strong (Y/N) and All Might himself recommended you. If I had it my way, you would’ve been out there with me immediately instead of stuck here with paperwork!”

You felt a blush cross your cheeks as his red eyes gazed into your own. After all the relentless flirting between the two of you, you could never get over how sweet he was. You realized that his hand hadn’t moved from your chin as his thumb brushed your jaw. Your eyes wandered to his lips that looked surprisingly soft; he noticed and looked at your lips as well. They were now parted and plump, tinted with a blush colored lipstick, the only type of makeup he ever noticed you wearing and it was taking everything he had to resist touching them.

"Kiri - " your voice spoke softly, breaking the silence between you.

“Oi, the fuck are you two doing?” A loud and brash voice broke the moment, making the two of you jump back from each other, a red tint crossing your faces. “Tch, can’t finish your own paperwork princess?”

"And queue Katsuki Bakugou," your mind cursed. Quickly recovering from the sudden intrusion, you crossed your arms leaning on the desk and looked at the ash blond in front of you. “You’re just jealous I didn’t ask for your help, Baka-gou!”

“What the fuck did you just call me you little –“

“Hey buddy, finally done,” a cheerful Kirishima cut off.

The red-head was always the peacekeeper when it came to you and Katsuki, trying his best to put out the flames between the two of you before they emerged into enormous uncontrollable fires. Sure the explosive hero had his good days with you, but that didn’t mean he still wasn’t an asshole at times, but - you loved to push his buttons.

“Yeah, I’m fucking starving, now let’s go!” Katsuki replied as he turned on his heels to walk out.

Kirishima went to get up but turned to face you with another smile, “Wanna tag along (Y/N)? We’re gonna stop and grab some food before we go home.”

“No she doesn’t!” Bakugou suddenly growled as he turned around and glared at you.

You glared back with a smug grin and stood up, “I’d love to!”

#vermilion #bakugou x reader x kirishima #kirishima x reader x bakugou #polyamory #poly relationship #bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bnha x reader #mha x reader #katsuki bakugou x reader #kirishima eijirou x reader #friends to lovers #xreader #reader insert

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an-unknown-writers-world · 5 years

Text

The Perfect Slope

Day Eleven: Sledding

Part of @panicfob 25 Days of Christmas Challenge

Warnings: None

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader (First Person, nameless)

Characters: Bucky Barnes, Sam Wilson

Word Count: 1340

A/N: This one is a little weird (to me at least), not sure where I was going or what I was doing. But this is what came out. I hope you enjoy it! If you missed any of the previous ten days you can find them here - Masterlist. And as always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read this.

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

“I’m not going to have any feeling in my limbs before this is over.” I stood shaking in an attempt to keep warm.

“Stop being a party pooper,” Sam replied.

“I thought you were the one who loved snow?” Bucky added.

“I do, it's beautiful and makes everything look magical. But that doesn’t mean I want to stand in a foot of snow in the middle of the night.”

“Um, it’s not the middle of the night,” Sam looked at his wrist as if he had a watch on, “It’s fun o’clock.”

Bucky laughed as he patted snow down into a firm mound.

The blizzard conditions had passed and the snow had temporarily quit falling. Fourteen inches of white powder covered the ground creating a beautiful winter wonderland. The hill behind the compound looked like a slide all on its own, but now Bucky and Sam were using various shovels to flatten and smooth the snow for the “perfect sled slope”.

“How long until you’re done?” I pleaded.

“Five-ish minutes,” Bucky replied. “You could wait inside.”

“Someone needs to supervise the two of you, you already tried to build this towards the lake,” I replied skeptical of their sudden bonding. “This perfect sled slope,” I mocked the name, “seems like a perfect way to get hurt.”

Bucky stood up and leaned the shovel against the four-wheeler. “We’ll be fine.”

“You maybe, you’re a super-soldier. He’s very breakable.”

“So are you,” Sam said throwing snow at me.

“I’m not getting on that thing.”

“What if we did it together?” Bucky asked coming to stand in front of me.

I shook my head, “You know that irrational fear you have about ice skating?”

“Yeah,” He nodded,

“Well, I have one too. But with sleds.”

Bucky’s forehead squished together in confusion, “You have a fear of your hand getting taken off by a sled?”

I laughed, “No, but that I’ll crash and break my neck. It’s evolved since my childhood, I used to think my head would pop off.”

“Like a barbie?” Sam interrupted.

I shrugged, “what’s it to you bird brain?”

“We’ll do it together,” Bucky took my gloved hand. “I won’t let you crash.”

“It’s done,” Sam stated.

“He’s going first.” I pointed at Sam.

From the top of the hill, you could go one of two ways, into the courtyard of the compound or into the lake. It had been below freezing for almost three weeks now, so the lake was frozen, not enough to skate on but you could definitely walk along the edges. When I came outside to find out what they were doing they were building the slope towards the lake, neither of them could see the issue since the lake was frozen, it took almost ten minutes of arguing to get them to change the direction.

The slope was at least thirty yards long, they had done a pretty good job defining a line and smoothing it. It was an impressive feat that they accomplished in just a short hour and a half; it was equally impressive that they did it with minimal snowball fighting. There were three sleds next to the four-wheeler but there was no way I was going down alone.

Sam sat on his sled at the top of the slope, the smile on his face was that of a small child on Christmas morning.

“If you sit there much longer, I’m going to push you,” Bucky stated.

I stepped around Bucky so I could see the full length of the slope before walking over to Sam. Turning my back to him, I made eye contact with Bucky and winked.

“Hey Sam, remember a few months back when you scared me in the gym, and I fell off the treadmill?” I questioned.

“Is that how you got hurt?” Bucky asked.

“What about it?” Sam challenged.

“I told you that I was going to get you back for it.”

Sam looked at me and then Bucky, he opened his mouth to speak, but it was already too late I shoved the sled with my foot, hard enough to start it down the slope. It took him a few feet to finally get stable on the sled, but when he did, he slid at a quick pace. Bucky was laughing so hard he was grabbing at his chest.

“Bet he didn’t see that coming,” I said to Bucky.

“I didn’t see that coming,” He replied honestly. “Is that how you ended up on crutches?”

“Yep, it was unintentional, and I knew better than to run with my headphones in. That’s why we have a giant sound system in the gym.”

Sam fell off the side of the slope in a fit of laughter.

“Clearly he’s not mad,” I chuckled.

Bucky picked up the sled in his hand, my nerves started to go wild. I knew he would do everything to keep me safe, and I just watched Sam go down without any problem. I kept trying to silently remind myself it would be fine.

“Hey you, c’mere,” Bucky said pulling me into his side.

I laid my head on his shoulder breathing in his warmth.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” He promised.

“I know,” I mumbled into his chest.

Sam was still laughing as he sat on his sled at the bottom of the hill.

“I’m taking the world’s hottest shower after this is over and going straight to bed,” I whined.

Bucky laughed softly, “Guess that means you’re not cashing in on that bet tonight?”

“Nope, you’re just going to have to stew on it, waiting and not knowing when I’m going to.” I pulled back smiling up at him.

He kissed my forehead and pulled away.

“Are you gonna go or what?” Sam called out.

“Yeah, yeah. Aren’t you supposed to fly south for the winter or something?” Bucky shouted back as he climbed onto the sled.

I laughed waiting for him to signal for me. It didn’t take long for him to settle and hold out his hand for me. I sat in front of him, between his legs, his one hand wrapped around my front, he squeezed ever so softly making sure I was held securely to him.

“Ready?” He asked.

One last deep breath.

“Ready,” I replied.

He pushed off, sending us down the slope at a way to fast of a speed. The weight of two people and the perfectly smooth snow made for a quick trip. When Sam got to the bottom his speed dwindled and he scooted off, our speed it wasn’t dwindling. The mountain of snow at the bottom of the hill came up quick, but not so quick that a scream didn’t escape as we crashed into it.

It was soft and dry snow, so it didn’t hurt, but it certainly wasn’t comfortable. Bucky laughed as he pulled me close to him in the snow. It was hard to be mad at him for crashing when it was completely unavoidable, not to mention the amount of snow in his hair made him look like Jack Frost. It quickly became a fit of laughter between the three of us, there wasn’t anything that funny. Late nights, well, in this case, three am, and being overtired could lead to these kinds of fits, they were common for me.

When they finally settled and we all sat amongst the snow, I turned to Bucky with a smile and a small poorly shaped snowball hidden behind my back; he leaned down at placed a quick peck to lips. As he pulled away, I threw the snowball at him.

“That’s for making us crash.”

Sam burst into laughter again. “This is my queue to go get the shovels.” He got up and started to walk away.

Bucky kissed me again, this time with more heat and need. When we finally pulled apart, I laid my head against his shoulder.

“I’d do it again if meant I could hold you so close.” He whispered in my ear.

#panic's 25 days of christmas #25 days of christmas #A Very Marvel Christmas #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes one shot #sam wilson #bucky barnes #falcon and the winter soldier #An Unknown Writers World writes #An Unknown Writers World

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livwwe1 · 5 years

Text

My Best Friend

Jon Moxley x Amber (requested by @wwesarahjaneroszko)

Summery: Jon Moxley has recently gone through a divorce with, Renee Young. Cody’s sister, Amber, has just joined AEW after coming from WWE. Cody and Jon are best friends and both Amber and Jon’s feelings for one another resurface.

Warning: Swearing, lil angst, fluff.

Word count: N/A

A/N: @wwesarahjaneroszko I hope you like this one!!

*Requests are closed*

*2 months prior to joining AEW*

‘Listen Vince, I just don’t like the way I’ve been treated recently. It’s been Becky this, Charlotte that! I’m done, ok. I’m asking for my release. I am grateful for the last 5 years, but it’s my time to go’ You exclaimed to Vince. You have been in WWE for 5 years, but recently you’ve been shelved and haven’t appeared on tv for 2 months. You have been really pissed with the authority and creative recently. I mean, being a former 4x Raw women’s champion and a 2x Smackdown women’s champion isn’t a small accomplishment, hell you’ve had more reigns than Becky Lynch.

‘Amber, hey! You alright?!’ You look behind you and see Alexa running towards you. ‘Hey Lex. I’ve been better. I just asked Vince for my release’ You explained to Alexa. ‘What?! Why. You can’t leave! You’re amazing and I’m gonna miss you like hell’ Alexa pleads with you. ‘I wish I could Lex, but I’m not gonna be treated like a dickhead and my brother has offered me a contract with AEW’ You whispered the last part quietly, as WWE was their revival company. ‘Damn. Joining the enemy, huh. I will respect any decision you make. Just don’t forget about me, ok. I love you so much Ambs’ Alexa says whilst giving you a massive hug ‘I will never forget about you Lex. We will always see each other’ you reassure her and let go of the hug. You smile at her once again and walk out the arena

‘Oh and Amber’ you hear before leaving ‘Don’t forget to give Jon a big hug’ she says and winks. You roll your eyes and leave.

You and Jon have had a complicated relationship. Before getting with Renee, you two were best friends. You did everything together. You ate together, roomed together and even road together. However, that all changed when he got with Renee. You two slowly stopped hanging out and that’s when you realised you had feeling for him. You were silently praying they would end their relationship, but they did the complete opposite in 2017. They got married. That’s when you knew you had to stop all feelings for him. You actually did. You started a relationship with Finn Balor a couple of months after they got married, and you really liked Finn. However, that ended a couple of months ago, when he got drafted to Smackdown and got stayed on Raw. The only con about joining AEW was seeing Jon. Cody and him became really close friends, and you were happy that Jon was happy their and was making friends. But, you knew you were gonna be treated correctly at AEW.

*Present day*

Today was the day you were debuting at AEW. News broke out 3 weeks ago that you were released from WWE, and everyone was hoping and praying you join AEW. You were currently sitting backstage in front of a screen watching Brandi vs Allie’s match. It was ‘Fight for the fallen’ tonight, and you were going to debut at the end of their match. The plan was for Brandi and Awesome Kong to beat up Allie, and you were gonna save her. Starting your feud with Brandi.

‘Hey sis. You ready for tonight?!’ Cody sits next to you and hugs you ‘Yeah I can’t wait. Thanks again for giving me this opportunity. I love you’ you smile and hug him. ‘No worries. I know how much wrestling means to you, and you deserve all the recognition you get. I mean it’ he relies. You look at the screen and see Brandi about to pin Allie. ‘I guess what’s my queue’ you say and stand up ‘You got this sis!’

‘One. Two. Three’ ring the bell!! ‘The winner of this match, Brandi Rhodessss’ Justin announces ‘awww come on Allie. Get up girl. What’s wrong bitch? Huh’ Brandi shouts at Allie. Her and Kong start to kick, punch, throw her around the ring. ‘This is unacceptable. Brandi won the match. She doesn’t have to do this!’ Jim Ross exclaims on commentary

*Amber’s theme song*

‘Oh. My. God. Is that Amber?!’ Jim Ross exclaims as you run down the ramp to the ring. ‘That sure as hell is here. What is she doing here?!! The crowd is going nuts!’ Alex says. It’s true, when you ran out, the crowd was going nuts. They were chanting ‘Holy Shit!’ ‘This is awesome’ ‘Amber!’ You dropkick Kong our the ring and went straight to work on Brandi. You do your signature move on her and go and check on Allie. ‘You alright?!’ You ask. ‘Yeah I’m good. Thanks Amber’ she smiles and stands up. You look around the arena and see everyone standing up, cheering. ‘I’m back baby’ you wink at the camera.

You and Allie walk backstage and are greeted by your brother, Cody. ‘That was fucking amazing. Great job, sis. They fucking love you!’ You hug him ‘thanks Cody. I’m gonna go to the locker room and freshen up. I’ll see you and Brandi tonight?’ You ask. You and Brandi were really great friends. I mean she was your sister in law after all. It was funny being in a feud with one of your family members. ‘Yeah definitely. See you then’ he replies.

Jon’s POV:

‘I’m back baby’. Jon was watching your match. All of it. He was in his changing room and couldn’t believe you joined AEW. He thought you were happy in WWE but he couldn’t deny the happiness he felt inside him when he saw you in that ring. Him and Renee got divorced 3 months ago. After joining AEW and her still being in WWE, it was too much for them and long distance wasn’t his thing. He always had a special place in his heart for you. When you were best friends, he did have feelings for you, but Renee happened and he did fall in love with her.

He left his changing room and made his way to catering. He didn’t have a match tonight, but he still liked coming to the arena. ‘Shit, I’m so sorry’ he hears a girl say from the floor. ‘No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going’ he replies and looks down. Only to see you on the floor. His heart just stopped.

Amber’s POV:

You start walking to the locker room looking at your phone. You got a text from Alexa, saying how proud she was with your debut. You were happy that her and you managed to stay close friends. That was until you walked into what felt like a brick wall. ‘Shit, I’m so sorry’ you exclaim. ‘No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going’ you hear the guy say. You look up and see Jon. Your heart just stops.

‘Amber...h-hi. How are you?’ He says and puts his hand out to pick you up. ‘Yeah I’m good. How are you?’ You smile and take his hand. The hand with the stupid, tattooed wedding ring. You never understood why he got his wedding band tattood. Why not buy a regular wedding band? What if you get divorced? The feelings you felt before just resurfaced. Stupid feelings. ‘I’ve been better. You know. Going through a divorce isn’t the best thing, but I feel better now’ he smiles. Wait divorced. Did he just say, he got divorced?! ‘Yo-you got divorced? Why didn’t you tell me? I mean I know he haven’t spoken to each other in a while, but I’m still your friend. I could’ve helped you’ you ask. ‘I know but you were in WWE. She was there too. I guess, it would’ve triggered me too much. I’m sorry, Amber. I really am. I’m glad your here tho. I really am’ he smiles and hugs you. ‘Me too Jon’ I say. Little did you know, Cody and Brandi were standing not that far away seeing this. ‘You know they’re meant to be right?’ Brandi tells your brother. ‘I know. I hope she goes for it’ he replies.

*Later that night*

You, Cody, Brandi, Jon and some others decided to celebrate the success of the PPV and went our for a couple of drinks. You felt so much happier being here than at WWE. Everyone around you was so friendly. Kenny was amazing and sweet. He helped show you around the arena, and you guys became friends quite quickly. ‘Hey, Amber. You want me to get you another drink?’ He asks you. ‘Uh, yeah sure. Thanks Ken’ you smile. You could see Jon shift in his seat in front of you, looking a little disoriented. ‘You alright Jon?’ You ask him. ‘Yeah I’m good’ he drinks his drink. You didn’t want to toot your own horn, but you thought he seemed a little jealous. I mean, come on. Kenny is great and all, but he’s no Jon. You were so relived when he said him and Renee got divorced. You may have sounded like a bitch, but you really loved him. Like a lot. Kenny came back with your drink and sat next to you.

The night went on. Everyone got a little tipsy, expect for you and Jon. You guys were the designated drivers for tonight, and you knew you couldn’t get drunk. You guys had one drink and that was it. ‘Hey Amber. You want to go out tomorrow?’ Kenny asked you. Right after he said that, Jon stood up and left to go outside ‘for some air’. ‘Oh uh...I would love to but I have training tomorrow. Maybe another time’ you say. You didn’t really have training tomorrow, but you didn’t want to lead him on. You stood up and followed Jon outside.

‘Hey. You alright?’ You ask him. ‘Yeah I’m good, doll. Looking forward to your little date with Kenny tomorrow?’ He smirks. You could hear the tint of jealously coming out of his mouth. ‘There’s going to be no date tomorrow, actually. Why, you jealous Jon’ you smirk back. ‘Why would I be jealous for? Were best friend remember. It’s all good’ he replies back. Best friends. Right. Nothing more, nothing less. ‘Just messing with you’ you sigh and sit on the bench outside the pub. You wish you two could be more than friends. Renee isn’t in the picture, it would be perfect. However, you knew he didn’t like you like that. It was obvious. ‘I’m gonna head back in. See if the guys are ready to leave’ you say and just as you were about to get up, Jon pulls your arm to sit back down. ‘Why did you think I was jealous for?’ Jon asks. ‘I didn’t. I was joking remember’ I whisper. ‘I don’t think you were joking’ he whispers back. You looked into his eyes. ‘Look Jon, it was just a silly jo-‘ you were then cut off by his lips onto yours. It took you a couple of seconds to realises what was happening, until you started kissing him back. ‘I really like you Jon’ you say into the kiss. ‘I really, fucking like you too, Amber’ he replies back. You break apart and smile at each other. ‘Let me take you on a date tomorrow’ he smirks. ‘I would love that’ you smile and kiss him again.

‘Hey g-guys leets go ho-‘ Cody says walking out the pub, but stops when he sees you and Jon. He stands there and smirks. ‘I told you she would go for it’ he smirks at Brandi.

#jon moxley #aew #aew imagine #wwe #cody rhodes #brandi rhodes #kenny omega #request #alexa bliss #wwe imagine #dean ambrose

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kurt-nightcrawler · 6 years

Text

Worth It

Worth It - 3k

So this took me two months to write and my computer was being an ass so I’m just now posting this. I hope you guys enjoy anyways!

Requested by @proudfangirloftoomanyfandoms I hope you like it!

Request/Description: Kurt goes to the mall and meets a non-mutant girl and they fall in love but Charles doesn’t really want her around since she’s just an ordinary human

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of bullying, mentions of violence, and mentions of cheating

Life as a teenager is stressful; you get treated like a child and an adult, your friends expect one thing from you while your parents have standards already set, not to mention— you’re trying to figure out who you are!

And throw on top of that a mutation! Geez, life just throws it all at you, doesn’t it?

—

Every once in a while the X-Men had an opportunity to be normal teenagers. This meant they’d hang out, mess around— normal teenager stuff.

However not all of them knew what a “normal teenager” did, or an American one anyway.

Warren spent his youth cage fighting, Ororo was stealing trying to keep herself alive, and Kurt was in a circus!

Nonetheless, the other four did their best to indulge the three.

—

They frequented the mall. Kurt liked going. Sure most of the time Jean and Scott ditched and went to do couple stuff, Peter and Warren would bond over music, and Jubilee and Ro paired up— But Kurt didn’t mind.

—

Kurt trailed behind Peter and Warren this time around— they were excited to get some punk rock record— and while punk rock was good, Kurt preferred pop.

“You hang around Jubilee and Scott too much. Van Halen is superior to Cyndi Lauper.” “It’s ah preference.” “If you say so— Warren do you have this Kansas album?”

Kurt rolled his eyes and went back to browsing the new release section. He wasn’t looking for anything in particular though.

—

A group of three walked in. Kurt ignored them for the most part— if he didn’t look at them, they wouldn’t look at him. Usually.

“I’m gonna see if they have any new records.” Kurt internally cringed, he didn’t want someone to notice him. But this was a public place— open for everyone, it was wrong to be that selfish.

“Uh, excuse me— I can wait but I just wanted to see if they had this one record I’m looking for. I won’t be long.”

Kurt turned to answer, but he couldn’t speak. Standing there was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen in his life, “Uh… uh… Ja.” “Thank—“

BAMF

“Hey, Kurtie! Did you get any records or tapes?” He shook his head, “No… No. I met this girl, and she vas pretty but I freaked out and bamf-ed away!” “What’s got Kurt so— blue?” “Scott…” Jubilee groaned. “Alright, I’ll admit. That was pretty bad. But still— what’s wrong Kurt?” “I saw this girl in the music store! And zhe was amazing! Zhe zeemed really nice, but I freaked out because— vell I’m blue vith ah accent! And zhe’s normal!” Peter and Warren returned with a bag from the music store, “Dude I don’t think that she’d even talk to you if she was scared. She just seemed confused when you left.”

“We explained to her you get nervous easily. And then she kinda freaked out a little, about how “I didn’t mean to scare him!” “You should talk to her. Maybe apologize?” “Scott.” He shrugged, “Wouldn’t hurt, right? What does she look like anyway?”

“That’s her,” Peter said, nonchalantly motioning toward the group of 3 girls, “The one in the worn out band t-shirt.”

“Okay, it is your civic duty to go and talk to her.” “Vhat?” “You should talk to her. She’s cute and she feels bad for “scaring” you. This is literally a golden ass opportunity for you!” “Are you zure?..” “Uh huh. Now go!” Scott shoved Kurt a little bit in the girl’s direction. She turned away from her friends to see what was going on; Kurt froze, panic ensuing again, but there was a bit of calming relief when she smiled and waved at him.

—

“Hi! You’re the guy from the music store, I’m (Y/N).” “I’m Kurt.”

“Kurt.” (Y/N)’s voice was like an angel’s. He finally understood why Scott loved listening to Jean talk for hours.

“I’m so sorry for frightening you! I thought you saw me and I just feel really bad.” His rail shot up, “Vhat? No, no! It’s fine, really. I’m just not very zocial.” “I still feel guilty. Can I make it up to you somehow?” “Uh, well… Um,” ‘Darn it, Kurt!’ He was struggling to form sentences.

“Willst sie mit mir ausgehen?”

“I… I don’t speak German. I’m sorry.” “Ah! No it’s my fault. I’m just nervous.” “Am I scary?” Kurt shook his head, “No, but ah, you see, I like you... And I was hoping you’d like to go on a date vith me.” “Oh! Yeah, I’d love to!” His face lit up, “Really?” She nodded, “Would you want to see a movie tomorrow night?” “Ja! Does 7pm work?” “Uh huh. Would you wanna see Splash?” Kurt had no idea what that movie was about but he wanted to impress (Y/N). “Zure. I’ll meet you here?” “Yeah! See you then Kurt.”

—

It was almost 7pm and Kurt was nervous. He changed his outfit four different times and was freaking out in a jumbled mixture of German and English.

“Kurt breathe. Just breathe, alright? (Y/N) only speaks English, and she liked you enough to agree to go on a date with you— I’m sure it will go fine.” Kurt nodded, trying to calm himself with Scott’s words.

“Also it’s 6:57.” “AH! I must go! Goodbye!”

BAMF

—

Kurt didn’t see (Y/N), so he went ahead and bought the tickets.

“Boo!” Kurt flinched. “Did I scare you?” He looked at his ‘scarer’ and smiled. “You vish!” She let out a quiet, “Darn it.” “Any- Anyways, I got the tickets. You ready?” “Yeah! Let’s go!”

—

Kurt had some kind of adrenaline rush, Splash was an amazing movie, and he was pretty sure his date with (Y/N) was going fantastic.

“What’d ya think Kurt?” “Oh! I really enjoyed it. I thought Madizon and Allen were a good couple.” “Me too! Tom Hanks is super cute.” Kurt blushed and looked at the ground.

“But I mean… he’s not as cute as you.” Kurt perked up— tail and all, “You think I’m cute?”

She nodded. “Thank you,” Kurt squeaked.

—

“So… do you have a ride, or…?” Kurt blinked.

“Oh! Right. You teleport. Sorry. I forgot. Which is really rude of me, and— I’m sorry. I’m just nervous, I guess.” “Vhat? Vhy?” “I had a really great time! But I just don’t want it to end or we never end up seeing each other again.”

Kurt nodded. She had a valid point.

Then a light went off in his head, “Can you write your number on the back of my ticket ztub?” “Yeah, yeah!” (Y/N) quickly scribbled her number down, “And… There! You’ll call me, right?” She teased.

Kurt nodded, “Tomorrow. Hopefully.” (Y/N) smiled. “I had a good time Kurt.” “Me too—” She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

“Uh, um. Uh…” “I’ll see you soon.” His voice was gone for a moment, like Madison’s in Splash, so he just nodded.

“Dr. McCoy, can I use the phone to call zomeone?” “Sure, but long distance calls cost extra. What are you calling someone for?” Kurt fiddled with the ticket stub hidden in his large hand. “I promized (Y/N) I’d call her tomorrow, now today.” Hank smiled, “Sure. There’s a phone in my office you can use.” “Danke zo much!” Kurt hugged the man and disappeared to his office.

“Honey, the phone’s ringing! I think it might be that boy you went out with last night!” (Y/N) fell off the couch in shock and ran to the kitchen phone.

“Hello?!” “Iz thiz (Y/N)?” “Yeah! Hi Kurt! How are you?” “I’m great!” “Hey, Blue! Is that (Y/N), your girlfriend?” “Shh Peter!” (Y/N) laughed to herself. Once she heard Kurt usher Peter out, she took that as her queue to talk. “Zorry about him. Peter’s… nozey.” “It’s alright.”

“Anywayz I was wondering if you’d like to go on another date?” “Yes! I mean, sure. I’d love to.” “Great! I was thinking Wednesday we could go to the park?” “Sounds like fun. I’ll see you Wednesday.” “Bye (Y/N)!” “Bye Kurt!”

—

“Ororo! I need your help!”

—

It may have been March, but when it got dark, it got cold. Which is why (Y/N) brought a coat.

She was heading to the spot she agreed to meet Kurt at.

“Is that? That’s a— Oh my gosh! Kurt?! Is this an ice rink?” “Ya! Come on!” “But I don’t have any skates.” He halted and was at the edge of the rink, “I’ve got zome for you, come on.” She followed him best she could and got to the small bag he had and her skates.

He waited as she put them on and laced them up.

—

“How did you? How did you do all this? The rink closed last week.” “My friend, zhe can, uh, control the veather, and I thought this vould be a fun idea since Allen and Madizon vent skating. I hope you don’t mind—” “You did all this for me?” Kurt nodded, extremely nervous, “Do… Do you like it?” “Kurt I love it! Thank you!” His heart jumped at her reaction. She looked so happy, so full of life— He wanted that. He wanted to make her happy again.

—

Kurt was fidgeting while (Y/N) took off her skates.

“Everything alright?” “Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah.” She smiled, not really buying Kurt’s excuse but she didn’t want to press it.

—

Kurt decided to take (Y/N) home, as she didn’t drive this time.

“Thanks again. For everything.” “Of course.”

(Y/N) stepped onto her front porch, Kurt’s tail wrapped around his leg and squeezed it, to try and help calm some nerves.

“(Y/N)?” “Yeah?” “Vould you… Vould you like to… Vould you like to be my girlfriend?” “Yes! Yes!”

(Y/N) wrapped her arms around him tightly. She could feel him smiling.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, kay?” He mumbled a “Yeah,” and kissed her head.

—

That was four months ago. Kurt and (Y/N) went on many dates since then— more movie dates (obviously), they went swimming, out to eat, they went to the amusement park 30 minutes away from Westchester— he even had dinner with (Y/N) and her mom!

“So when do we get to meet (Y/N)?” “Peter, you’ve met her before. At the mall.“ “Yeah, yeah, when you two first met. But I want to meet her as your girlfriend. There’s a difference!”

“Vell… Zhe’s not a mutant.” “I don’t see what that has to do with anything.” “I don’t think Professor Xavier vould vant a non-mutant here.” “That Moira McTaggart pops in all the time, I’m sure he wouldn’t care. It’s not like she’s going to do something bad to us.” Peter had a compelling argument, it really wouldn’t hurt to ask if (Y/N) could visit the mansion, at least one time.

—

“Well… I don’t know Kurt.” “Please Professor? (Y/N) is one of the most trustworthy people I know.” Charles still wasn’t fully convinced. “It vill be one time. Ve’ve been together for four monthz. It’s only fair zhe getz to meet my friendz.” “Alright. I suppose one afternoon won’t hurt anyone.” “Just have to make sure Erik doesn’t visit,” He mumbled. “Huh?” “It was nothing, Kurt.” “Alright, Professor. I’ll zee you around.”

—

“Zoooooooo maybe I’ve got good newz,” Kurt said, twirling the phone cord with his hand. “Which is..?” “You free right now? For the next few hourz?” “Yeah, why?” “I’m coming over.” “Alright.”

And before (Y/N) could even hang up the phone, Kurt was already in her home.

“Hallo engel.” “Kurt!” She jumped up hugged him. “So what’s this ‘good news’ of yours?” “The Professor zaid you come over.” “Like, right now?” He nodded. “What?! Oh geez! I need to get changed. I want to make a good first impression.“ “(Y/N), they’ll love you no matter vhat. You don’t need to ‘dress to impress’ az Jubilee vould zay.” “Are you sure?” He nodded and held her hand giving it a gentle squeeze.

—

BAMF

You were both suddenly somewhere else. ‘This must be Xavier’s. It’s huge!’ “This is a school?” “Ja! Crazy isn’t it?” “Definitely.” “Come on! My friendz really vant to meet you.”

Kurt led her to some sort of entertainment or living room where the young X-Men were gathered.

“Uh, hi.” (Y/N) nervously waved her hand. “Oh my gosh! Hi! I’m Jubilee. Kurt talks about you all the time.” Kurt blushed and sheepishly grinned, “Zhe’s not vrong.” (Y/N) lightly laughed, “That’s cool. He talks about you guys too. “What does he say about us?” A silver-haired boy asked. “Good things. You guys are really cool and brave, doing what you do. I could never do it.” “It’s hard but it’s the right thing to do.”

(Y/N) got to learn more about Kurt and his friends, and she loved them. Jubilee had already tried to plan a girl’s night with her, Ororo, and Jean. Peter and Scott tried to pry for silly details of their relationship, but (Y/N) didn’t cave claiming, “If you have to ask I don’t think I should share.”

That Saturday was one she would never forget.

Charles, however, didn’t really want (Y/N) around much, since she wasn’t a mutant. So she made do with hanging out with the whole group outside of the stuffy(ish) mansion.

—

“(Y/N)’s been acting differently.” “Hmm?” “I mean I don’t know her well as you do, but she seems more quiet and tired. Everything okay?” Kurt pondered for a moment. She was more quiet and tired, but she said it’s because she had some big tests coming up and her mom wanted her to look for a job.

“I think zo. Zhe’s just vorried about zchool and her mom wantz her to get a job.” “Oh.” Scott wanted to slap himself, people got stressed and tired— that was normal. Why did he even care anyway?

—

“What if she’s cheating on him or something?” Peter and Warren both stared at him. “Dude, that’s crazy. Kurt’s a great guy. Why would (Y/N) cheat?” “I dunno. I think she’s hiding something.” Peter blinked and had confusion on his face; “You have no evidence of anything. Don’t go prying around for it either. Trust me, it will do you better if you don’t meddle with other people’s relationships.” Peter seemed like his speech was based on something else, but Scott didn’t pry further.

—

The phone in the kitchen was ringing. Scott picked up, “Hello this is Xavier’s school for gifted youngsters. How can I help you?” “Um, Scott?” It was (Y/N), she sounded nervous. “Hey, (Y/N). Do you want me to get Kurt? He’s in the library—“ “No! No. Don’t get him. Can… Can you come to pick me up?” ‘Weird request, but okay.’ “Sure. Where are you?” “I’m at school.”

—

She was waiting outside for him. Scott pulled up and he was going to get out, but she ran to the car before he could.

“Thank you so much for doing this. I wouldn’t have asked unless it was a total emergency and it was.” Scott looked at (Y/N) through the rearview mirror, “Everything Alright?” “Not… Not exactly.”

Scott sighed, ‘Jesus this is just like the car ride I had with Alex when he first took me to Xavier’s.’

“What happened?” “Promise you won’t tell Kurt? I don’t want him to know. Not yet anyway.” “Okay…”

“I broke a kid’s nose.”

“What?” “I punched this girl— I didn’t mean to break her nose and I didn’t want to hit her! But she’s been really rude to me, and I can handle that, but she said stuff about Kurt…” (Y/N) got quiet. “Are you getting bullied for dating Kurt?” “Kind of. This isn’t the first time I’ve fought back either. It’s just— they deserve it. Kurt’s a sweetheart who wouldn’t hurt a fly! Sure he’s ‘different’, but that doesn’t give people the right to be rude. Not to mention I’m the one getting in trouble for it! My fucking counselor said maybe I should break up with him since he’s “causing issues between me and my peers.” It’s not right.”

Scott peered back at her at the stoplight. She was crying. “Do you want me to take you home?” “N-no— I dunno, I got suspended for two days, and my mom doesn’t know because she’s currently out of town.” Scott sighed, “Look, we have to go to the mansion. I don’t know how else to fix this.” “But—” “I know. You don’t wanna worry Kurt about this yet. Trust me, I get that, but we have to do something. You may not even run into him while we’re here. It’s a big building.”

—

“Professor I’m so sorry about all this.” “Nonsense. This isn’t the worst trouble a student has ever gotten into.” “Maybe for other kids, but I don’t really get into trouble!” “Everything’s going to be alright, (Y/N). Okay?” She nodded, trying not to cry. “Good. I’m going to contact your mother and tell her what happened.”

“I’ll make sure she won’t kill you, no need to worry.” “Thank you so much, Professor.”

—

Kurt heard (Y/N) came into the mansion with Scott and went straight to Xavier’s office.

So, like any concerned boyfriend, he waited outside Xavier’s office for her.

“Is everything alright?” (Y/N) looked extremely nervous and startled. “It will be. But for now, (Y/N) is allowed to come here whenever she likes.” “Really?!” “Within reason and before curfew.” “Thank you zo much, Professor!” “But I—” “Talk it out with him. He won’t be mad.” (Y/N) nodded and Charles wheeled off.

—

“Iz everything alright?” “I punched a kid in your honor, and even though it’s not what you’d want me to do, I did it anyway.” “Vhat? Vhy?” “I’ve been getting bullied for dating you, and some kid said some pretty mean and untrue stuff about you. So… So I punched them and broke their nose.” Kurt’s face was wide-eyed.

“Hey, hey. It’s gonna be okay. I love you, and those kids are just assholes. Alright?” He didn’t say anything; instead, he just hugged her tightly.

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rwbyremnants · 5 years

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WARNING: Kink discussion, domination, bondage, writing on bodies, anal play, anal penetration.

NOTES: Hey I'm glad you guys are liking this! Sorry to those of you who are really into the White Noise-verse and only here for the gay haha. I promise there's more of that to come after this fic!

=Chapter 3

“Girls will always win over boys.” When the blonde at the bar delivered this line, pushing her glasses further up her nose, it was in a business-like tone without any hint of mirth or debate. “We’re just naturally superior. That is why, week after week, when you two men play against us, you lose.”

"Well it's only typical girls know how to handle balls better." Once again for their bi-weekly bowling sessions, Qrow was in attendance. And yet again, he was taking any chance he could to make snide comments about his opponents. This time, it was aimed at the two of them rather than Winter in their meeting before. If anything, it was on purpose. He hoped to fill the silver haired temptress with jealousy.

However, Winter was simply watching in bemusement. Perhaps it was because she and Qrow were occasional "playmates", or because they had only had the one session thus far. Perhaps she was over him already, and had moved on to greener pastures. Either way, she was smiling rather than vibrating with envy, as he had hoped.

But Glynda's reaction was a bit more pronounced. Scowling at him, she snapped, "That's a bit presumptuous, don't you think?"

"Mmmaybe." Leaning against the bar, and slowly leaning in toward Glynda, he found his eyes half closing. His cocky attitude would be enough to grind even the steadiest of nerves. "Or we could find out?"

"Who's thirsty?!" Finally returning from a long queue at the other side the bar, Qrow's blond-haired teammate, Taiyang, had managed to carry four glasses in his hands. Only just. Resting them on the bar between Glynda and Qrow, he pushed the two red cocktails toward the women, and the beers in their direction. "Strawberry Sunrises, as requested, and beer for me and the loser here."

"I do like something sweet," Winter said with a slight smile. But it looked like Glynda was not to be so easily mollified, not after Qrow's lewd comment.

"Listen, you… you coarse blowhard," Glynda blustered. "I came here to bowl, not to be a target of your half-assed attempts to demean me. I am a person behind these boobs, you know!"

"Ooohh, feisty…" His taunts continued as he smirked down at her. But once again, Tai stepped between them to end any possible fighting. Deliberately shuffling himself and Qrow backward, he laughed nervously toward the two. And opted for a subject change.

"Sooo… the game? That was a good game! Haven’t seen a turkey like that for a while!"

"Agreed," Winter put in, glancing between them all. She was all about diffusing the situation, now that it had run its natural course. "That was really fantastic, Glynda."

The woman's green eyes swung around to glare at Winter briefly, as if blaming her for intervening the way Taiyang did. But all she said was, "Thank you. I'm… happy that my game is finally coming along. We may really be able to enter a tournament after all, now that you have joined us."

"Oh, it isn't because of me," Winter snorted, taking a sip of her drink. "I got three gutterballs."

"Which you made up for, though! I saw that spare and strike at the end, you were holding out on us!" Handling his beer, their cheery blonde teammate took a large gulp full once he was sure the team was relatively calm again. At least, he assumed it would have been.

If not for Qrow's comment, which was aimed directly at Winter this time. "Oh, she more than made up for them, and I'm sure she can do it again."

"Hnghk!" Winter blurted into her drink, which set her to coughing. Quickly, she snatched at the tiny cocktail napkin that had been under her glass and dabbed at her face to wipe the semi-frozen concoction clear.

"What?" Glynda asked, eyebrows coming together. "What's wrong with you?"

"Are you okay?" Taiyang asked, raising one of his hands up as if to reach out to her, drawing it back as she seemed to slow down. But all the while, Qrow was laughing and chuckling to himself as he delicately sipped away at his beer. It was all just a game to him, one that Winter was losing.

"Fine, just… went down the wrong way," she finally managed, taking another drink to soothe her throat. It worked, and she sighed. "Sorry to have worried you all. Especially you, Qrow," she added pointedly.

"Oh you know me, I worry about the gals. Whether they can handle their balls or not."

That comment earned him a quick nudge from Tai when he shot him a glare. But not a moment after he looked back to both the teammates, smiling nervously once more. "So… team names! What do we think?"

"How about 'Blondes Have More Fun'?" Glynda suggested. When Winter laughed, she raised an eyebrow. "And what's wrong with that?"

"One of us isn't blonde."

"Yes, and he's not even the tiniest bit fun. I think it's appropriate."

"…You aren't gonna respond to that?" Tai asked, looking around to his friend as he was continuing to down the beer he had. After a gulp, he'd already finished the first pint, placing the glass on the bar to be collected.

"Oh there is a lot I can say. I just think I'll get kicked in the family jewels if I do."

"Good instincts," Winter told him evenly. Then she arched an eyebrow at Taiyang. "Any better ideas than 'Blondes'?"

"Hmm… aww man, Summer used to be great at these. What word can we make outta W, G, Q and T?" He had turned to ask his friend, only to find he had already ordered another pint and was beginning to drink. "Qrow!"

"Oh lighten up." He then took another large gulp, holding the drink level once he was finished with that one. "Alcohol helps me get the ol’ brain workin', I'll come up with a better name this way."

"I think it does the opposite…" He sighed in annoyance, raising a hand to his head. "At this rate all your brain will do is dissolve into mush, and your liver."

"We could always just call ourselves 'The Thunderclouds'," Winter mused slowly, as if she were only speaking as the thoughts came into her head and not seriously expecting anyone to approve. "You know, like Qrow is the black cloud, and we're the yellow lightning bolts. Something like that."

"Hey yeah, I like that!" Speaking of lightning, Tai himself seemed to light up with the suggestion, grinning widely at the two ladies. And then back to Qrow, nudging him as he as he was about to drink more. "How about it, buddy? Thunderclouds?"

Grunting, thanks to the drink he had spilt on the ground, he looked back toward Winter and Glynda again. Seemed Glynda was still glaring, but at least Winter was alright with him. "Sure, Thunderclouds is great." But then he smirked. "Y'know, I totally bring the thunder. Especially in the bedroom."

While Glynda was rolling her eyes and making a very loud noise of disgust, Winter laughed and added, "So you say. I was more thinking about the sound of thunder when the ball rolls down the lane. And don't they say a thunderstorm means God is bowling in Heaven?"

That brought about a laugh from Qrow, especially when he remembered specifically the Schnee lifestyle, how they were raised on a Christian upbringing. Many times he laughed with Weiss about it on their meeting, now he could with the older sister as well. "Typical you'd get told something like that. So is rain him crying over a gutter ball or something?"

"Probably," she said - with a small chuckle, in fact. Maybe they could get along in areas besides the bedroom. "Must have been a pretty awful run last month; rained every other day."

"Well, I think it works as well as anything," Glynda put in, trying to bring them back around to business. As usual. "However, we have to get good enough to play in the tournament first, don't we?"

With a shrug, Tai put in, "I'd say we can be, if we put more practice in around the edges some time. What say we actually exchange numbers so we can meet up and work on our game if we're free?"

Tai's offer was genuine, but it was just what Qrow needed without him even mentioning it. A way to contact Winter without straight up asking. Putting his drink back for a moment, he already fetched his phone out, eager to begin. "Sure, why not?"

"Yes, makes perfect sense." Taking his phone, Winter passed her own over and began to type in her number. Then she saw the "name" field waiting for her to input something… and couldn't resist.

When she passed it back to Qrow, the screen showed her contact information as "Princess." Raising an eyebrows back in her direction, he couldn't help but chuckle at the presence of that word once again. A subtle way to make sure he didn't forget. He could get used to this.

And as the night went on, and a few more drinks were had together, things gradually began to settle down. Qrow was done flirting for now, focusing on bowling and boozing. He was already on his fourth while everyone else had begun their second. Not that he was counting. If anything, he was counting on a lift home from Winter if they ended up agreeing to do things again.

"So…" He began another conversation starter, gesturing both Tai and Winter. "How's the crazy kids doing on tour?"

But Winter had been thinking about something all night. Debating it back and forth in her head. Certain things could wait; for now, she had a question for someone else and wanted to leave the two men to chat about family business.

"My father would know better than I these days," she said with a polite smile. "But so far, so good; Freezerburn is playing nearly sold-out shows in every city." Then she turned and said, "Glynda, do you mind if I have a word?"

The bespectacled woman blinked in mild surprise, but managed to stammer, "Oh, s-sure. Excuse us."

Then the two ladies scooted down a few barstools with their drinks, bending their heads closer to each other. Although curious, Qrow never tried to butt in. Doing so would only raise suspicion between them, people would ask why he was so defensive. Including Tai, and then down the line, possibly everyone else. Simply watching as they headed off, he pondered to himself while that question hung around Taiyang longer.

"Anyway," Tai half-laughed, following their sudden departure. "They are doing pretty good, but Yang told me she's kind of worried about the wife; I mean, came down with a stomach bug. So far she's been able to keep all their tour dates, but there were a couple close calls where she woke up and ran to the toilet, didn't know if she'd feel like going through with the show."

Leaning back toward the bar again as he listened to his friend, Qrow took yet another sip of his drink. This last one he had slowed down considerably, with the knowledge that he didn't want to be too drunk for the activities after. Still, hearing about his niece and her girlfriend's trouble, he shrugged his shoulders. "Lil pipsqueak has more in her than I thought if she's still singing after throwing up all morning. Let's just hope Yang don't catch it, huh?"

"Yeah, that's what's strange. They're all over each other usually; more than I'd care to watch," he added with half-weary little smile. "But nope, Yang's still in perfect health. So your guess is as good as mine."

Letting that linger a moment, Qrow gazed outwardly in thought. That was until he found a small smile creeping to his lips. "Maybe it's because they're all over one another… remember how Summer was with Ruby?"

"Don't even start down that road," Tai grumbled as he leaned backward against the bar, tipping the bottle up.

"Tai, come on. They've been together three years. There's usually either a marriage announcement or a kid on the way in that time." Though the amused smile turned to a laugh of his own. "Either way, your wallet's gonna be fucked."

He was still letting out a long, wailing groan in the general direction of the ceiling when the women returned, Winter laughing at his outburst. "Oh, and what's all this? You auditioning for a yodeling contest?"

"I'm too young to be a grandpa!" he groaned, turning on his stool to slump against the bar, hand clutching at the bottle as if it were a life raft.

Laughing as he raised his own glass, Qrow patted Taiyang on the back with his free hand. "Welcome to the world of drinking your sorrows away, pal." And then back toward Winter again. "Was just talking about how your sister is throwing up everywhere, yet Yang miraculously ain't. Nauseating couple like that, you'd expect 'em both to give each other the germs, right?"

"Ahhhh," Winter breathed slowly. Then she waved her hand from side to side. "Don't be silly, it won't be that. Weiss doesn't want children for a few more years, if Yang can even impregnate her."

“Don’t say ‘impregnate’,” Tai moaned.

"Sometimes the body doesn't listen to the mind," Glynda put in mildly, gazing down at her own drink and swirling the contents.

"Exactly,” Qrow said. “Like I was saying to Tai, after three years of being together, you’re gonna get more trusting and risky, might forget a condom or two."

Which only made Tai groan once more, giving another sip of his bottle. "I tried to be a good dad and teach her pulling out doesn't work, I really, really did…"

"Weiss is on the pill, I'm fairly certain," Winter assured him as she finished off her drink. "The chances of this being pregnancy are remarkably small. Don't worry too much."

"Still though, whhhhyyyy…" Pressing his head flat against the bar instead, Tai continued to groan in the newfound agony; even if it wasn't confirmed, that wasn't going to stop him.

Which only made Qrow look back around the other two, and shrug his shoulders. "Wish I never brought it up now. Sorry about him, ladies."

"Don't worry about me," Glynda said easily with a shrug. "I'm just glad it's not me who's possibly pregnant." When the others all glared at her, she slowly lowered the drink she had been raising to her lips. "What? What did I say? We were all talking around it already, I just used the actual term."

Laughing, Winter touched her briefly on the forearm. "You know what they say; men are always the queasiest about this kind of thing, even though they don't actually have to go through it themselves."

"I thought I'd be done with kids till they were like, thirty…"

By now Taiyang's groans were continuing to himself, and the other three were simply laughing about his dilemma. It wasn't as though he himself waited until thirty when Yang and Ruby came to be, after all!

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

The night continued to be pleasant from then on. There were more drinks - strangely not for Qrow, who had insisted he had enough for the evening. After a few more laughs, and continuing to wind up Taiyang on the possibility of grandkids, they headed home relatively early. Tai was dropped off first, stumbling back to his doorstep on the rare occasion he had “drank the sorrows away”, then was Glynda, who Winter prompted about their conversation in the bar, insisting they would discuss it further.

Then it was just Qrow and Winter in the car again. His apartment would have been their destination, however Qrow was largely insistent on going elsewhere. Even to the point of getting a hotel room if they planned on spending the evening together. Thankfully, it was unnecessary, as Winter drove them home to the Schnee building.

"Sorry about the mess," she said as she flipped the light on. "It's been some time; I don't invite anyone I don't trust to my rooms."

Her comment was completely unnecessary. The "mess" consisted of a plate and a coffee mug sitting on the glass coffee table, a single suit jacket draped over the arm of the beige armchair. Otherwise, the light grey carpeting, cream coloured wallpaper and several pieces of modern art presented a welcoming yet pristine living room. A water feature - yes, an actual, pretentious, ornamental water feature - burbled quietly in the corner, running down the dark stone surface only to be pumped back up to the top again.

"Mess," Qrow repeated, heading into the apartment so she could shut the door behind him. Right away, he removed his shoes, a small gesture that he didn't even do in his own place. Everything was so clean, and he didn't want to be the one to mess it all up.

"Real nice place you got, though. Not that I expected any less."

"I do try." Following his lead, she stepped out of the usual flats. As she discussed with them during their drinking fest, she was considering a purchase of her own bowling shoes and ball, now that they were going to be playing on a regular basis. For now, she still used rentals. Then she sighed and pulled the pin out of her hair. "Care for a nightcap? Or perhaps coffee for the opposite effect?"

Already taking a seat in the sofa, he ran a hand through his hair again, brushing the few stray strands out of his face. Nonetheless, he replied confidently, "Depends what you got planned for the evening. Sleeping together, or sleeping together."

Picking up the plate and mug, as if she couldn't stand to leave it, she smiled at him briefly before turning toward the kitchen. "I had thought that would be obvious. But then again, you can be somewhat… slow on the uptake."

"Least I ain't slow on the delivery; you were screaming loud enough." As she took the things to be washed away, Qrow stared toward the water feature a moment to distract himself. It was pretentious, maybe. But she had her own reasons for having it, no doubt. But the subject of screaming lead him on to something else. "Did I tell you I got a noise complaint? Not that I'm complaining about it. Just thought that was funny."

Laughter came from the kitchen, and she returned with two small glasses of greenish juice, ice tinkling inside them. "Hardly a surprise. But you needn't worry about that here; I had all of my rooms soundproofed a few years ago. It… became prudent."

Taking his from her once she was close enough, he smiled gratefully. Although the green was rather confusing, he pushed that to the back of his mind for a moment longer. The more he could learn about Winter Schnee, the better their play would be. At least he assumed so.

"So you've been doing this a few years, huh? What got you into it?"

Sighing, she contemplated her glass for a long moment. Then, almost as if just thinking to say it, she glanced over and asked, "You're not allergic to any fruits or vegetables, are you?"

"Huh?" Then he quickly looked back to the green liquid. "Oh! No no, I'm good. I'm… Yeah."

Rather than pester further, he took the glass to his lips instead, taking a small sip. Just as suspected, it was a unique blend of all kinds of healthy foods. One designed to bring back someone's vitality after a long workout session, or in his case, after a night of drinking and bowling. As good as the taste was, however, it didn't distract him from the fact Winter was dodging the question.

And, of course, she noticed he was still waiting. With a sigh, she lowered her own glass and sighed. "You… seem like a decent man, Qrow. I mean that, despite our rocky start. But this is not something I tell just anyone. Suffice it to say, I had certain desires that aren't… society doesn't look upon them kindly. Even I do not. So instead of letting them put me in dangerous situations, I found a way to explore them in a controlled environment, and began to do so."

"…Uh huh…" That raised far more questions than it answered. Alarming questions, even. Some of which, although he wanted to ask, he refrained; assuming he wasn't yet allowed to know that information. Instead, he went for a more obvious question. "This why you had to implement the 'no guns, no knives' rule?"

"That came afterward," she grumbled with a loud gust. "Separate occasions, as well; the one… let's say 'appointment', had a gun fetish, and liked to threaten women with them, put the barrels in their mouths. He always showed me the empty chamber before we began play, but it was still very… unsettling." With a shiver, she continued, "As for the knives, I just don't like visible scars. Even ones that can be covered by clothing aren't welcome. I'd rather my body be exactly what it was before play, with the exception of a few welts or bruises that will heal quickly enough."

Blinking as he took in all the information, Qrow began to slowly nod. Not for reasons that she may expect, however. Taking another sip, he placed the cup down on the coffee table for a moment. "What annoys me is, I bet it's some jerk with an inflated ego who's never had to use one in his life for its intended purpose. You don't fuck with guns, period."

Now it was Winter's turn to learn a little something about her companion. Turning very slightly in his direction, she crossed her legs as she asked, "Any reason your convictions on that matter are so strong? You don't have to tell me if it's a sore subject, but… I'm guessing you had a bad experience."

Having stared outward blankly, he slowly nodded his head, seeming to weigh up the options. Until finally taking a breath in. Maybe if he shared first, Winter would be braver. "Maybe you already knew from Tai or from Yang or something, but I'm a former soldier. It's actually how I met Taiyang; we were in the same unit."

"Really? Hmm… I could see that, yes." But she didn't interrupt further.

"Was four of us that were close. Me, my sister, Raven, Taiyang, and Summer, Ruby's mom." Unable to help himself, he smiled, folding his arms at the fond memory. "We were a great team, us four. Used to get up to all kinda trouble when we had too much free time, but in the field, we looked out for each other. It was like we were all an extension of ourselves; if one went left, we all went left. We had a strong connection."

"That sounds wonderful." She took another drink, listening politely. But not merely that. She was taking all of it in, slotting the pieces of what made Qrow who he was into place within her mind. She just didn't want to interrupt such a healthy moment of confession.

"When we were liberating villages and hanging out with the people we rescued, it was. Some of the happiest memories I have are the four of us out there. But at the same time, fucked us all up in different ways." Shuffling in his seat again, he rested his hands by his side, sighing. "We never really settled down. Even after Yang and Ruby were born, we felt it was our duty to go back. But we were older. Tai agreed to stay behind and look after the kids, I failed the fitness exam, but Summer and Raven went back. Judging by the fact they ain't here now… You can guess how that went."

"I… never knew the details," she confessed carefully. "Only that Ruby and Yang said their mothers weren't in their lives anymore. I got the feeling that with Yang's mother, it was by choice…?"

"Partially." Now he was staring out blankly. The subject wasn't really talked about. Not by him, by Taiyang, or Yang herself. It was a sensitive topic. But one that he finally felt he could share.

"We heard Summer was killed out there, but Raven? She went AWOL somewhere down the line. We've never heard from her again. Choice or not, nobody knows what happened." Taking the drink back from the table, he said before taking a sip, "Least if she was dead we could have a little closure."

Shivering at the coldness of his tone, she looked down. "I… lost my own mother about a decade ago. Not that it's the same, but I know this kind of thing stays with you. And for it to be your sister…" She shook her head. "I'm sorry for asking so many questions. This must have been the last thing you came over here to do, and here we are, commiserating."

Having finished a little more of the drink, he placed the remains back on the table. The subject was so much darker than what was expected for the evening, yet it came with an understanding smile. Vocal venting was as good as sexual venting.

"It's good to get it out sometimes. I don't talk about my sister often or to many people, but sometimes I just… gotta scream about it." Keeping eye contact with her, he shrugged his shoulder. "I suspect it's the same with your mom."

"Well… perhaps, yes. I just don't usually bother talking about her to anyone besides Weiss or Father. What's there to say? She was a warm, sweet woman, and taken from us too soon by circumstances beyond our control. It's… unfortunate, but the past is past."

Qrow only nodded, allowing the occasional silence to clear the air between them. "Even if it's beyond your control, sometimes, you can't help and look back. Me, I sometimes wonder if I quit the booze and passed the test, I coulda gone out there and stopped what happened." However, he shrugged his shoulders again. "Or maybe the three of us woulda been killed rather than one, fuck knows. Either way, sometimes I blame myself, sometimes I blame them, then feel awful a few seconds later. Dunno if it's the same with your mom, but…"

"Not… for me," she said carefully. "But for my father, I believe so. He was always blaming himself. I was too young to have made any difference."

Then she took a large swallow of her juice and set the glass down, scooting closer to him. Her hand drifted up to graze the back of his neck gently, tenderly. "Perhaps I could interest you in a neck massage? Relax some of that tension away. I'm no Neon Katt, by all accounts, but I do alright in a pinch."

Finally, he looked back toward her again, and found himself chuckling under his breath when his eyes met hers once more. "Y'know, you confuse the hell out of me."

That caused her to blink in mild confusion herself. "How so?"

One of his hands drifted to her thigh, gently brushing up and down for a moment. "Because you're a perfect ten who's giving a two-point-five, at best, a hell of a good time."

"Shush," she chuckled, swatting across his shoulder lightly. "I'm not a ten. Perhaps in looks, I'm up to… nine, being entirely objective. Though I rarely feel like it. But…"

Her eyes dropped to the coffee table for a long moment. There were things she felt tempted to say. Wanted to say. But she didn't want to drag down their entire evening with a load of self-centered grousing.

Sensing that, he shrugged again, finally shuffling himself closer to her direction, facing away from her. In a short space he had learnt a few more important factors about Winter, which was the main thing to him; the rest could come later. Offering up a free distraction, he rolled his shoulders. "Go on, work away."

"Right, then," she sighed, shaking loose her inner demons. "Right." Reaching up, she slid her fingers in and around his collar and began to knead at the tight muscles there. "Ah… not too bad, but you could definitely use my touch. Though you probably already knew that," she added in a suggestive murmur.

"Wonder what you can do with your hands… your mouth does more than a good ‘job.’" As soon as he felt the fingers starting to knead into the tight muscles, his eyes began to instinctively close. Her rugged man relaxed right into her touch, tilting his head left and right to assist her further. "Ooohhh yeeeaaaahhh…"

Chuckling lightly, she kneaded harder, really getting into the work. "About your comment… me being 'too good' for you. This isn't really something I'd consider anything more than a favour for a friend, so you don't need to think of it as a big deal, or as my changing our relationship. If that helps take the pressure off. Sometimes a massage is just a massage."

She had him wrapped around her little finger. Unable to help the small growl that left his lips as he tilted his head this way and that, he only just managed to ease an eye open, trying to keep himself focused. "Does, actually. And the whole ‘master-princess’ thing is a little bit more than a favour, right?"

"That's… separate." Then she smiled wryly. "Sorry if I threw you with the phone. But, other than that small detail… you do understand that even if we decide to tell anyone we've slept together, that we do not discuss that aspect of our arrangement, right? Not without both of us agreeing to tell whoever it is."

Still seemingly in a trance while she kneaded into the aching muscles, he slowly nodded, leaning to the other side once she was done with one. "Hey, I'm not about to admit I get a thrill out of bossing a woman around, forcing her to do stuff. Your secret's safe with me."

He definitely had a point there. A wicked grin graced her lips as she leaned closer to his ear. "Hmm… you know, we could always turn the tables…" Then her fingers flexed inward, and she gouged her fingernails into his flesh momentarily.

Wincing from the brief amount of pain that followed, he gritted his teeth together. And yet, the thought that came to mind was still rather a good one. There was a mental image of Winter Schnee wearing a leather corset and heels. Only corset and heels. Images of her above him, demanding things of him. But as that thought got further down the line, he remembered what some femdoms specifically got up to. Whips were one thing, but then there were certain other objects. And certain other attires…

"Nnnope," he said quite clearly, unable to help but flinch forward, instinctively holding his arms behind him. "My ass is a one-way street, thank you."

"Oh!" There was a surprised giggle from Winter, but she continued her massage nonetheless. "That makes one of us. But I do find it interesting that pegging is where your mind went first… if I were a Freudian, I'd read something into that you might not like."

"I have no idea what that word means…" he admitted. Rolling one of his shoulders to assist more, one particular sentence caught his attention. Which he turned around to smirk at her for.

"Only one of us, huh?"

Despite the subject matter, and how most women would have reacted, she simply smiled coyly. "Treat me well enough, and you might get to explore back there. Unless you're not into that; most guys are, but I wouldn't blame you if you weren't."

"There's more to you than meets the eye, Winter Schnee." Finally satisfied with what she'd done for him, he leant forward again, rolling his shoulders a few more times just to ease them back again. Be it sex or massages, seemed Winter was very skilled in both.

Talking of which… "By the way, can I ask you something? Since you didn't answer last time."

"By all means. Just… I hope you won't be too upset if I don't answer again, depending."

"Alright. While we played last time, I asked about your favourite position. And you said you didn't have the right ‘equipment’. What did you mean by that?"

At that query, Winter's semi-guarded look transformed into what could only be described as a predatory leer. Picking up her juice glass, she held it just in front of her lips as her eyes flicked up and down him.

"Do you think you're ready to find out?"

Leaning right back further against the seat, he smirked widely as he threw his hands behind his head. "Y'know, I think I just might be."

She giggled. When he only watched, amused but not following why she was amused, she shrugged and said, "I think you're under the impression you're going to get more comfortable." Then she swallowed down the rest of her juice, set the glass back down and stood. "Follow me," she bade him before walking toward the hallway.

Nodding, he quickly jumped back to his feet instead, leaving his own juice half finished at the table to join her as she ventured through the house. God only knew what he was in for, but either way, he was excited to find out.

As it turned out, Winter led him into her bedroom. From the outset, it seemed to be like any normal bedroom, with a canopy bed - which did seem a bit strange for a grown woman who lived alone - and a dresser, some end tables, a closet, an antique wardrobe. There was also a Japanese folding screen for changing behind; another pretentious decorative piece that wasn't strictly necessary. Gazing around the room in all it's estranged beauty, a slow smile was coming across Qrow's features. There were one or two things that Qrow suspected could have more purpose than just being a part of the room, such as the folding screen and the closet. Still, he folded his arms, slowly nodding his head when he entered.

"A lil girly for me, but I dig it."

"A girl lives here, you Neanderthal," she told him with a casual sigh, nipping the curtain over her canopy aside slightly to reveal…

A thick, sturdy metal beam. One which connected at the corners, where there were loops that ran between the end and the sides. Already, with that one movement, Qrow's suspicions of her room were proven correct. He was intrigued. Though he had suspected the canopy was for the purpose of suspension, he was curious as to what exactly Winter had in mind for them to do. And in turn, curious of how he would be expected to provide that service.

Then he turned his attentions to one of the fancier wardrobes. "And I'm guessing they ain't full of clothes, either."

"Hmm. You think?" Taking off her cardigan as she walked and flinging it carelessly into the corner, she said, "Let's see what's behind door number… one."

Her fingers nipped the wardrobe open, and all that was revealed was a series of dresses and nice blouses. The bottom played host to a dozen pairs of shoes, all arranged neatly. Some of them did have very sharp looking stiletto heels, but still didn't scream "dominatrix" in a particularly pronounced tone.

At first Qrow's face was a picture of wonder, like a child about to be taken into a toy store and being told he could have anything he wanted… until it was open. Then it returned to its usual slightly grumpier self.

"Huh. Let down."

"And door number two…" Winter tried the closet door, then gasped when the knob only rattled, raising her hand to her mouth theatrically. "Oops! Golly, Mister Qrow… why do you think this closet is locked?"

It was then that he started to remember; Winter didn't live in this building alone. In fact, her father must pay good money to arrange for maids and cleaners to come and change the sheets while cleaning. Oh, what an idiot he felt in that moment…

And Winter knew it. Glaring toward her, he folded his arms. "Ha, ha. Well you did say I was slow on the uptake."

Grinning in amusement, she turned back to the wardrobe, straining on tiptoes to reach on top of it. There was an empty box of some sort up there, but that wasn't what she was going for. Coming back down, she displayed the key she had retrieved to him for a brief second before fitting it into the lock, turning it with a click, and swinging the door wide.

Inside was a shelving unit that had been designed to have drawers; they were made of black metal mesh and slid easily on casters. Hanging to one side of that on a garment pole was a distinctly different variety of outfits from the other. Perhaps they weren't all like that… but the French maid outfit in the front seemed to indicate that at least a few were not what one would wear to an office brunch.

"Now we're talkin’." It was only then that the rugged cockerel clapped his hands together, rubbing them with childish glee. Unsurprisingly, the main outfit was the first thing his eyes glanced at. With a skirt length as tiny as that, it came to no one's surprise. And then there was the other few outfits. One corset made of leather, a policewoman, then…

"Is this what I think it is?" He walked in front of her on purpose, unhooking the small skirt and shirt combo, both in matching but dull colours. Anyone would be a fool to miss the fact it was… "A school uniform? Really?"

"One of my previous acquaintances bought that for me," she told him with a sly smile. "Letting you know that, just in case you were wondering if it actually belonged to me from my own school days." Then she leaned over and whispered, "My own school uniform is tucked away very safely. Elsewhere, away from lecherous eyes."

Rolling said lecherous eyes sarcastically, he placed the uniform back on the bar as she expected. And instead went to search some of the other drawers. It was both curiosity, and a need to meet hers as much as he could. But the first draw opened up something which made him laugh.

"We could have used this at my place." He gestured to a red ball, attached to some more strips of leather. A ballgag.

"Very true," she chuckled, her hand touching it briefly. Perhaps remembering a specific instance in which it was used. Then she leaned against the wall. "But… you wanted to know my favourite position. We could either keep playing around in my toychest, or…"

Her eyes flicked out the door toward the bed. Meanwhile, her hand moved to touch yet another drawer thoughtfully. Anticipating his answer, should he choose to continue things before her closet was fully explored.

Remembering again, he looked back to the bed with an eager smile. That particularly sturdy beam could make for some interesting play, different positions which he could only dream of. Knowing a lady such as Winter needed it in order to find her favourite position was quite the turn on, and already he could feel himself getting warmer below in anticipation.

Sliding open the drawer her hand was perched on, she revealed what could only be described as a leather fingerless gloves. Several toughened black straps with studs and buckles wrapped around them, and there was a thick metal ring dangling off the sides. Drawing those out, she also reached underneath their usual resting place and plucked two sturdy-looking black carabiners.

"Now," she began as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You can put these on me, or instruct me to do it myself. And we can do that either before or after we've begun play. I don't want you to think I'm just setting all this up without you being involved."

Now the method was clear, Qrow was feeling his cheeks light up at last. Only the second time they would sleep together and it would be a far more extreme method than last… However, that raised another question.

"Ain't you a little overdressed for us to start though?"

Noticing his blush, she turned to face him more properly and grinned. "I am. But I do want to ask: are you sure you want to try this? I do tend to get a little… excitable when it comes to these kinds of things." Then she licked her lips, debated, and decided to plough ahead with her thought. It was too important to quash. "Do not let your machismo get in the way of letting me know if you're not into something. Or if you are. I like my masters to be confident and masculine, but not to lie to me, or themselves."

And yet it did nothing to put Qrow off. Only made his blush very slightly increase when there was mention of her severely enjoying this. Excitable, that could mean a variety of things. It could mean more pleasure, or she was more eager in general. Or both. One thing he was sure of, he wanted to find out. And eager to do that, he reached to begin unbuttoning his shirt.

"Your turn to choose a safety phrase, Snowbird."

"Well, that depends." Her index finger tapped the drawer he had investigated. "Did you want to gag me? I mean, the walls are soundproofed, so if you'd rather hear my screams…"

Pulling his shirt apart once the buttons were finished with, Winter could once again get a glimpse of the well toned body she was able to appreciate in their last venture. And no doubt she'd get to see more in a short amount of time. Looking again down at the gag, he tilted his head. It seemed a good idea; even if the room was soundproofed, one wouldn't want to risk the wrath of Mr Schnee. Furthermore, the idea of a partner being unable to call out at all… that was equally inviting. And worth a try.

With a smirk, he nodded, approaching the drawer again to take it. "Safety gesture, then."

Shivering in ill-suppressed pleasure, she whispered, "Alright." Then she reached to the side from where the gag had been to snatch up a couple of leather cuffs. "Again… do you want to hold these until we start play, or do you care about that?"

Looking at both the gloves and the cuffs now in her hand, he chuckled to himself. The least he could do was humor her more. "I get you like this stuff, but ain't that excessive?"

Smirking very slightly, she replied to his question with another. "Is it?" Then she handed him everything. "Did you want to blindfold me, have me wear an outfit? Just throwing out all our options."

Taking a moment to ponder the options, and stare at the items in his hands, he began to think of the possibilities. There were so many to chose from, especially with the “toy box” Winter had at her disposal. He was well and truly being thrown in the deep end by a sub who had a wealth of experience.

"Blindfold could be fun… However, I like the idea of me showing you the things I'll do… And there wouldn't be a single thing you could do about it but wait."

"So do I," she confessed, reaching out to run one of the gloves down his chest and abdomen with the metal ring up against his skin. The colder sensation sent a tingle down his spine, and he let loose a soft sigh. But it was enough to remind him of the task at hand, as he handed the other glove to her.

"Alright, how does this sound; naked, wearing only the gloves and ballgag, while I look through your box of goodies to see what we can play with while you're helpless…"

"Not a problem," she chuckled, taking back all the leather and carabiners, grabbing two more from where the simple belted cuffs had lain. Hands getting somewhat full, she said, "Put the gag on top and I'll carry all this in there."

Looking again to all that Winter was holding, he gazed again at the pair of cuffs. And then to the second set of carabiners. It made him raise an eyebrow as he pointed them. "Any point to these? You're already gonna be in the gloves, wouldn't they be overkill?"

"Oh… those restraints aren't for my wrists; the gloves are." Then she took the lot into the bedroom, leaving him to explore.

Appearing deeply confused, he stared outward blankly, eyebrows lowering as his eyes darted back and forth in thought. That was until the penny dropped. They weren't to restrain her arms, which left only one option to what their real intent was: her legs. To keep her completely spread and waiting. Like a sex slave. The thought was depraved, and yet it was one that he found himself delighting in, growling lowly when he followed her at long last.

By the time he rejoined Winter, she had already laid everything out on the foot of the bed and had whipped her chemise off over her head. Her hands fell to the waist of her slacks as she spied him. "Oh, weren't you going to pick out some toys?"

"Not just yet." He placed the ballgag alongside the rest of the items, picking up one of the leather gloves and a carabiner, hooking it to the ring on one side so it was ready. He set up the other glove in the same manner whilst his partner stripped down, eyes focused on the task at hand. "I figured you could watch me do that, anticipate the wait."

A soft smile flashed over at him as her thumbs shucked them downward, along with her underwear and socks as she went. Suddenly, save for her lacy black bra, she was laid bare to him. "You're… going to be a very hands-on master, aren't you?"

"I've always been a good with my hands; ask anybody."

Any further comments were cut off when he looked back around to her, and saw her body for the first time. Most of it, at least. The bra added a small layer of mystery; but that would be handled quickly and easily enough. Perhaps even during their play.

Placing the cuff he'd just finished with back down on the bed, he smirked. "Hah, I still stand by that perfect ten comment."

Something about the comment caught her off guard. They hadn't initiated their scene, and he wasn't obligated to keep calling her that. Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her feet past the bra. Of course, she hadn't been surprised when he flattered her once or twice - but he had already sealed the deal. They were seconds away from her being tied up and completely submitting to his every whim. Why did he still persist with the flattery?

"Th-thank you for saying as much."

"Not a problem. Mama always said honesty’s the best policy." But their moment of kindness toward one another didn't last too long. Not when Qrow instead collected one of the gloves that was already prepared. Holding it open with two hands out toward her, the kind smile turned into a wicked smirk. "Shall we, Princess?"

Returning the smirk with equal wickedness, she slid her slender hand into the glove, fingers poking nakedly out the other end and wiggling to help her get comfortable. She reached up with the other to buckle them, then stopped. "Did you want to do this part? And, um… do you want to start the scene now, or wait until I'm chained up?"

Letting her hand go now that she had slid that glove into place, he went to grab the other one instead, and held that one out ready for her as well. Both possibilities were interesting enough, but there was one that particularly won over the other. Simply because he wanted to spend some time with the out of character Winter. As much as he wanted to know the game, he wanted to know her, as well.

"Call me a sap, but I kinda wanna help you set up first, so we can get it how you like it."

"Hmm… I guess you did want to know my favourite position." Now that both gloves were on, she flexed all of her fingers as she said, "You have to tighten the buckles, then latch the carabiners to the loops up there. If the buckles are too tight, they'll cut off my circulation; too loose, I might slip through. Then… those other things go on my ankles."

"There's a lot more to being a Dom than I thought…" But eagerly accepting the challenge, he nodded, holding the buckle for the left glove. Thankfully the “good with my hands” part was true, and he was able to pull the buckle together with ease, stopping at just the right amount as insisted. Not too tight, not too loose. To test this before she'd be clipped, he then gave a firm tug on the ring, and sure enough the glove didn't come off. "That gonna work?"

"Beautiful," she purred, holding out her other hand. "And, if you please…?"

"You're slipping into the slightly Dommier role there." Giving another wink, he got back to work on the right, tightening it and buckling it to just the same amount as her left. Yet again, giving a firm pull to be sure it was the right amount. And to his joy, it seemed to be.

Next came the ankle cuffs. It was a little more difficult to be sure on the amount, but after perseverance, he seemed to get the idea on the correct amount, and buckled both in with ease, giving each a small tug. Perfect. Now no matter what, the anklets or the gloves weren't about to budge any time soon. Just how she wanted it.

And the effect on Winter was already visible. She was squirming back and forth slightly at the sensation of having her "gear" on, anticipating all that would be to come once they began. Standing up from the edge of the bed she had perched upon for him to work on her legs, she traced her fingernail along one pectoral.

"Now for my favourite position, if you're ready," she breathed shakily, pausing to swallow. "So… I could assume it, or you can pose me… I apologise if I'm asking too many questions or giving you too many options, but I've never worked with a new Dom who was so, um, open to suggestions before. Either they're an old pro, or they think they already have it all figured out."

"Hey, way I see it, I've gotta learn. And it's supposed to be fun for us both, right?"

He meant every word. Curiosity was the main motive toward his actions, toward finding out this position, and of her as a person, past experiences, what 'got her going' as such. But another was to learn for himself. He was still new to the role, and there were some things he accepted he wouldn't get right without her help. When he was so set on letting them both have fun, he thought it best to ask these things rather than look like a fool. With that in mind…

"Go ahead, Princess, show me. Then I'll put that gag in and we can start playing."

"Very well." Turning, she presented her back to him, and thereby the clasps holding her bra in place. "This… will be harder to get off after I'm anchored to that bar. With the straps and everything. But if you want me to keep it on, that's fine."

Qrow only laughed to himself again. She didn't even have to ask; he was already there, reaching to the straps and pulling them inward as much as he could to be rid of them. It was more of a challenge for him, since he wasn't at all used to them, but eventually, he had it popping open.

"You're seriously asking a guy if he does or doesn't wanna see boobs? That's like asking 'does a bear shit in the woods?'" But as she turned back around again to allow him to slide the bra all the way off, he was left stunned once more. Her breasts were not as modest as her sister's; enough to easily be held or fussed over. It was a sight that certainly got things below going even more, as he could feel himself beginning to push against his pants.

Again, she seemed to take a turn slightly toward the shy while his eyes lingered upon her form, biting her bottom lip. She waited to respond for a few more seconds, wanting to give him plenty of time to observe. When she did respond, it was in a whisper that barely carried through the room to his ears.

"Do you… stand by your previous rating?"

He shook his head. "Nope." But that action was followed when he grabbed one of her wrists, bringing it upward toward the ring in order to get them started. There would be plenty more time to observe when they were in the midst of play. When she appeared confused, he only smirked. "Make it eleven, now."

Winter blushed a bit deeper as she dipped her head low, though her hands did maintain their positions near enough the loops so Qrow could fasten her to the loops. What else could she say? That even while he was filling her bizarre need to be dominated, treated like an object, he was also somehow showing her so much more kindness than anyone ever had? It was such a strange paradox that she couldn't make sense of it at all.

This seemed to come as second nature to him. Even as he strapped her into position, he did so with care, making sure things were both secure and comfortable. Or as comfortable as she could be, at least. It seemed strange for a man to treat her with such care one minute, then know he would be calling her horrendous things the next. Still, that was their play, it was what they needed.

And with that thought in mind when she was finally finished, he went to fetch the last item. The ballgag. This was where things were about to get very interesting. "We never did decide on a safety signal… whatcha got in mind?"

"Well…" After adjusting her footing, clenching her spread cheeks, she took in a shaky breath. "How about…" Then she snapped her fingers twice. "Is that acceptable? Or more than twice, if you don't hear me the first time."

"Hmm… It ain't too loud," he noted, unable to help but take the moment to lay a hand on her thigh just below the clenching cheeks, rubbing slowly up and down. Remembering their first safe word, he spoke up. "What about the chicken noise again as well? Probably the only noise that'll get through the gag."

Against her will, a bemused snort came from her, even as her entire body was shivering from his touch. "You… are really into making me cluck like a chicken, aren't you?" Then she swallowed. "Fine. But you'd better respond to the snapping equally, just in case I actually can't make the chicken noise through the gag. We should at least test it once it's in place, though."

"Speaking of which…" Leaning back around to face her, he lifted the ball part close toward her mouth again. The agreed on signal was the final step that was stopping them from beginning. Now that was out of the way. "Ready?"

"Yes. And… it's going to be up to you this time to initiate play. You're the Master; use whatever language you want to start and end the scene. But today, I certainly won't be able to." Then, she debated briefly and added, "I trust you," before turning to face forward and opening her mouth.

With no further words, he gently slid the ball into her mouth. Once that was firmly in, he strapped the buckles on the back, keeping it firmly secure and in place in her mouth. All that was left to do was test if she could perform the safety signal after all.

Although there was one thing he couldn't help himself for before she tried, and that was to give her a light pat on the backside, softly stroking that skin. And so it was that instead of crowing aloud, she let out a low, guttural groan. One that was muffled and strangled from the gag. The cheek also flexed under his touch, eager for more.

Even just a groan was loud enough for him to hear. That meant the safety signal would certainly be acceptable, and in her capable hands. Groping her backside even harder this time, he leant inward closely to her ear, gruffly speaking the words she'd been waiting to hear since they set this up:

"Begin Play."

Of course, all that Winter could do was nod her understanding. Bound and gagged. Qrow had certainly wasted no time getting used to their situation, which was good; she liked a man who could adapt.

As he said before, he was going to tease her. Tease and tease with various objects rather than go for the goal straight away. With that thought in mind, the hand left her cheek. Instead, he walked away from her, and back to their new favourite toy box to select their items for the evening.

"Eenie, meenie, miney… mo." Opening another of the drawers, there were a variety of different things that could be used in different ways. A set of furry cuffs, which they no longer had use for. A strange X-shaped strap of leather with four rings attached to each of the ends, which he had no idea where that would attach in her current setup. But then more interestingly, there was a tube of lubricant. She really wasn't lying about liking her back end being explored.

"’For the ultimate pleasure sensation’…" He read the label aloud to her, hoping it would wind her up worse and worse while she couldn't do anything. "’Apply to both the applicable area, and any toy for an unforgettable experience’." Smirking to himself, he continued to rummage through the drawer. "But why is this li’l one in here on his own? What you do you have to go with… oh. Gotcha."

He pulled out what had rolled to the back of the drawer and out of reach. A set of five beads, slowly increasing in size, attached to a string with a ring of it's own on the end. Even a moron would know what that was.

Meanwhile, the object of this session of play was twisting back and forth in her restraints, trying to get a glimpse into the closet. She could see him, of course, but not what he was doing. Of course, she had a mental inventory of everything she'd tucked into her toy box. She was just merely curious and anxious about what he might pull out for them to play with.

"Yeah, I think you can be something we'll play with." He knew full well she wouldn't be able to see, so continued to pull out another set of drawers, looking at the other paraphernalia. It was a large variety, but the real guessing game was wondering what they would both enjoy, and what was just in here because other doms requested it.

In the next drawer there was a mix of all sorts. There was the blindfold she had hinted at owning, some sort of handle attached to lots of feathers, a couple of plugs, then a rather small vibrator. That he also picked up, holding it in his “play with” pile. So as to not leave her completely in the dark, he looked back, smirking. "I'll bet one of these things I picked up was called a 'personal massager' when you bought it, right?"

That brought about another groan of frustration. Of course, Winter was partly playing up her sounds for his benefit, but it was awfully hard to resist making noise when your speech was effectively silenced.

"I take that as 'I know what that is' groan." He laughed to himself, pulling out the next drawer. These items seemed to all bear the same purpose: inflicting pain. There were a couple of small whips, a riding crop, and a paddle. Although the idea was something he himself had thought about and considered before, he couldn't yet bring himself to take anything out. Anything he could do in that area would be perfectly acceptable with his own hand. A spank wouldn't leave too much of a visible mark, after all.

Then the final drawer, which carried another large variety of things for all different purposes. A candle in a holster for letting out the wax specifically, some non-chafing rope, a small vibrating bullet, and then, oddly enough, a Sharpie. The latter had taken his curiosity most. Oh, the things he would write…

Satisfied with his choices, he closed the drawers and the door to her toybox, approaching the bed to his victim and laying them across the bed for her to see at last. There was the lube which he had read the label for, and beside it, the set of anal beads; the 'personal massager', and the marker. Perhaps it wasn't much, but that all depended on what he was going to do with them.

But he'd selected his first weapon, picking up the Sharpie. "Where to write first?"

Both of the woman's eyebrows lifted as she spied that. Out of all the things he could have picked, there was that seemingly-mundane item. Little did he know that there was more than one purpose for its presence… but then again, perhaps he would figure that out for himself. Squirming her hips from side to side, she waited for what he might inflict upon her with the pen.

It did no good, of course. Just as he intended. She was merely prolonging what was to come as he held one hip with one hand, and used the other to press the tip to the skin of her inner thigh. Maybe it would seem ridiculous and pointless, but he could write whatever he wanted, to empower her, to humiliate her. Anything at all…

But he settled with an arrow pointing inward to her most private areas. Above that, he wrote something a little more degrading: "Qrow's toy".

Of course, it was impossible from that angle for her to read what he'd written, but just the cold, teasing sensation of the felt tip was enough to make her shiver and groan. After his first grasping of her hip, she did her best not to move any more than was strictly necessary; she might hate what she read later, or she might love it, but she knew she did not want to mess up her master's penmanship.

Then on the other thigh, he made an effort to write something a little extra, just for her later. Ever so close to her privates, he wrote the words "little cumslut princess". Maybe it would make her stomach churn, but the knowledge it wouldn't rub off easily brought him a sick glee.

"There." He grinned at his work, looking her up and down for a moment. "God… You're like something out of my dreams, I gotta say…"

Winter's lips worked at the ball between them as she writhed slightly, only able to angle her head down just enough to see the very tops of the letters. And from what she could tell, he wasn't about to read it aloud. A little "mmphh" floated out as she tried to reach up for the bar and clutch it tightly, shifting her hips from side to side again. Hoping to draw him in, to influence him to do more. To really begin torturing her body.

"Oh… so you want more?" he asked. The sly smirk hadn't vanished, and for good reason. The things he was going to do up until before he finished her were going to be a treat. There were one of two options, which he hovered his hands over to get her to chose. First, the anal bead set, then the vibrator. He went back and forth between them and looked at her reaction. "Tell me when to stop, Princess."

For a long few seconds, she simply watched… until she realised he actually was asking for her opinion. This was a twist; she was used to weathering whatever treatment came her way. Though she hummed when he was over both of them, knowing the sensations would be pleasurable regardless, she nodded slightly over the vibrator. That was a need she sorely wanted him to sate.

"Vibe, huh?" He edged his hand toward it for a moment, ever so closely… but as it seemed he was about to grab it, he moved to grab the set of beads instead. He knew his game, to play with her, toy with her until she could take no more. And doing the opposite of what she wanted was the perfect way of doing that.

"We'll save that for later, then."

"Hnnghh!" she snapped at him in irritation, but she secretly loved that he was taunting her this way, of course. That was the order of the day, after all.

And then she was thinking about what was about to happen to her. Cheeks tensed together and she could already feel the ring of muscle tingling in anticipation of the coming invasion. Qrow meant for her to take them all before he started in with her sex, did he? Well… she would definitely be able to manage that. She had before, and she could again.

Already he was at work, preparing the first bead with a small amount of lubrication, then the second. The others he could work on later, while they were playing. But as stated in the instructions, that wasn't all he'd need to use it on. “Apply to the applicable area,” he remembered. And that knowledge only made him smirk even more when he looked over to her, both the beads and the lube in hand.

"Now to get my princess ready…" It was so matter-of-fact the way he said it, as if she truly was his to freely manipulate and torture with whatever he pleased for his amusement. And these methods weren't even for his pleasure yet. They were purely to mess with her. Chances were, this evening would be exhausting for Winter. That was made rather clear when he placed the prepared beads down on the bed, taunting, teasing, while he moved behind her. And tried to pull one of her cheeks out to expose the tighter entrance.

Shuddering at the feeling of air caressing her, Winter could do little more than that when the tight pink flesh was revealed. True to how fair her skin pigment was all over, the flesh of her more intimate areas was also light and youthful, and meticulously groomed. There had been next to no hair above her sex when Qrow glimpsed it before, and not so much as an errant one back there, either. Furthermore, even after hours spent at the bowling alley, she still looked as if she had just returned home from a day at the beauty spa.

"Very nice, very nice…" He repeated himself, keeping a hold even now as he held the tube closely to her rear. Pressing the tip against the top of her tight skin, he squeezed a small amount against it. More than enough for her to begin to feel it even before a finger worked to rub it against her, pressing inward on occasion to help open her up. This would be a gentle procedure.

The pronounced shiver and long sigh through Winter's nostrils told him something he probably could have guessed; she appreciated his methods. This was most assuredly not the first time she'd been "prepared" for what was about to happen to her, and probably not even among the first ten times. She enjoyed it, even if it made her slightly more nervous than the usual stimulation.

Able to feel the muscle beginning to give way, he smiled down at it once more. She was ready. The smaller bead seemed to be the right size compared to his finger, enough to make him confident enough to grab the set back again, holding that first lubricated bead and pressing it up against her tight skin as if it was his finger. Except he never stopped, never relented as he felt her body resisting slightly to take it in…

Now the pleasant sigh was turning into a groan as her thighs and cheeks quivered. He'd spent so little time getting her ready; he could tell she was, even if this was her first time allowing him in there. Maybe he'd been born to do this! Her back began to arch very slightly as she felt the bead working its way past her defenses…

Until it slipped through. This time, there was a more pronounced grunt when it disappeared inside of her, drawn in by the muscles that instinctively closed off the opening whenever possible.

One out of five. Not good enough for the new Dom in her life, however. Even when he could see Winter's muscles pulsing against the thin string that was still visible, he knew she needed more. Licking his lips, he moved back to the next bead that was ready, pushing that inward against the muscle as well. This time it was far easier, and slipped inside with very little resistance.

Then he had to prepare the others, three more that were progressively larger than the first. Before he went to collect the lube again for them, he couldn't resist giving a very slight pull on them. Just enough to tease the muscle.

"Hnhhh!" Winter burst out, hips twitching as if they yearned to thrust forward and away from the sensation - but stopping herself. That would only make it stronger. Instead, she merely tensed all over for a moment until her mild worry passed, panting through her nostrils.

"Oh yeah, they ain't goin anywhere…" He was rather sure of that, letting them sink back inside again when he released the end once more. As he laced the other three beads with the same fluid, his smug and teasing attitude was only continuing more and more with his words. "Y'know what'd be funny? If I stuck these in, then went home, left you for someone to find… God that'd be kinda embarrassing, huh?"

Finally, for the first time since they initiated play, Winter reacted in a way that was less than favourable. Her arms thrashed slightly against the restraints, her grunts and growls were louder; she even attempted to pick up one of her legs to do something. Of course, that got her nowhere, because it was just as restrained as her arms.

That only made Qrow's job of lubing the final bead ready even harder, as with each of her movements it swung back and forth out of his hand. No doubt that would be an odd sensation for her to feel as well. Yet, when she stopped, Qrow was only continuing to laugh to himself, finding a sickening pleasure in putting these awful ideas in her head. Even if he wasn't going to go through with them, the reaction was astounding.

"Oh man," he continued, simply toying with the last bead once it was lubed up. "What if it was your sister?"

A rush of hot shame crept up into her cheeks and neck. No. Anyone but Weiss, or her father. Those were literally the only two people on Earth she would not be able to handle finding her like that. Anyone else would be a disaster, to be sure, but she could get past the initial shame with relative ease. Process it as an unfortunate happenstance and move on. Perhaps even her father, though she would spend a lifetime regretting it. But Weiss…

That could never happen. Ever.

Finally returning to the third bead to get back to work again, he pushed it against the flesh, occasionally twisting and turning to try and keep the coating of lube even on both her and the toy itself. This time, it took a bit more effort to push it in. From what he assumed was the distraction of the evil idea in her head. This really was the torture that she wanted, right?

"I could give her a call…" He taunted, moving on to the fourth bead. She was just over halfway there. "Or I could send her a picture. Hell of a conversation starter."

The next moan was long and full of agony, from both the torture without and within. He wouldn't dare. He had to know that, no matter what their games were, their play, taking it outside the two of them without discussion was one of the hard rules she had set in place. He had to remember that! Especially when it came to her pure, sweet sister… corrupting her would be as low as he could get.

'But that isn't true,’ a dark voice in the back of her mind whispered. 'Weiss has Yang, and Yang has likely done all kinds of dirty things to her by now. Even if you don't dislike the blonde anymore, it's naïve and stupid to believe she's still pure and innocent.

And there slid in the fourth one, being taken into her body along with the rest. Now on to the final bead. But as he held it against the skin, he noticed she was clenching rather harshly, and not even letting up at all. Had he pushed her too far? Just the idea of Weiss finding out was too much for her to handle? What could possibly cause such a major reaction like that? Maybe that was his own failing – considering he had a fractured relationship with his own sister. Seeing her like this would have made him curl his lip briefly in revulsion, sure, but that would be it; done and done. Maybe he would ask her about that later.

"…But I'm not gonna do that." He kept it there for a moment longer, hesitating before the final bead to look up toward her. Perhaps for their second time, that idea was too harsh. "My little cumslut's been too good. Ain’t gonna punish her."

With that little encouragement, her entire body relaxed. That had been all she needed. The teasing had been interesting, and if she were honest with herself, she wouldn't have been truly angry unless she saw he was about to make good on those idle threats.

But that burning shame at the notion of angelic little Weiss walking in on her, strapped to her bedframe, spread-eagle and with five beads stuck inside of her most taboo opening… it shouldn't have been a turn-on. It wasn't, not really. But she did feel stimulated from it, felt her heart rate climbing, every sensitive area of her body tingling. If it happened, she'd be completely inconsolable, but the mere threat of it happening…

Moisture was beginning to run down the inside of Winter's thigh, and her heart leapt into her throat. Shit! That would not look good; it could give Qrow the wrong idea about why she was so wet if he noticed. She could only hope he was too focused on pushing that last bead inside of her.

For a while he was. The final bead was being pressed up against the skin, being twisted and turned to encourage her to open up and accept it. He was concentrating fully on the skin that was widening around it, gripping it like it was the only thing that could keep her sane. And when it got above halfway…

Witnessing the rest of it simply sink inside was the oddest, yet one of the most arousing things he had ever seen. Especially when the only evidence they were there was the small string and handle still poking out, swaying idly back and forth. Five beads, all in her tight opening. What did that feel like?

He couldn't exactly ask. However, when he looked and saw the moisture not only on her sex itself, but down her leg, it was a huge hint he was going in the right direction. Giving one more little tug on the handle, he commanded, "Squeeze. I want you to really feel 'em in there."

Winter did as she was bade; her cheeks clenched, and her voice was louder and freer, announcing her pleasure and discomfort that were mingling together into a single intolerable feeling. She just wanted more.

So much more that she was salivating now. That was her least favourite part about being gagged this way; eventually, she couldn't help but drool on herself. Some of her past Doms had chastised her for that, some had been turned on by the sight. Most didn't care one way or the other, and a few had stopped to wipe her clear. But Qrow couldn't even see it from his vantage point.

"Good girl…" As one final taunt before he moved forward, he reared his hand back, forcing it forward against one of her cheeks with a SLAP!

"NHhhHH!!" she yelped around the sphere between her lips. God, that felt incredible! She wasn't sure if it was incredible in a "good" way, exactly, but she was definitely more ready than ever for him to take her. In whichever way he would end up doing so.

By the time he was back to her front again, he was in for quite a sight. Winter was wet, both ends of her were. She was drooling for more against that gag of hers, and practically dripping down below as well. The humiliation, the beads, all of it was making her more than ready to be taken. How he wanted to be the one to do it.

But they had other ideas, other requests. Winter had already seen the vibrator, she knew that was coming. He couldn't disappoint her now. And so he went to grab it…

Which was when the phone rang out. It was a jaunty, familiar tune… and after a moment, they both recognized it as one of Weiss's very early hits, from when she was just starting out. Nobody needed to call her sister, because her sister had called her.

And Qrow was the one in control.

#Black Tie #White Noise #popstarverse #rwby fanfiction #rwby smut #qrowin #rwbyremnants #nsfw-Text

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seenashwrite · 6 years

Text

The Cupid Complication

Word Count: 5.2K Category: Humor, Fluffersnark, Romance, Friendship, Behind-the-scenes canon compliant, Holidays, Valentine’s Day Rating: Teen & Up Character(s): Dean, Sam, You, a Cupid Pairing(s): Be surprised - stop wanting to know the endings at the starts, my loves Warnings: None Author’s Notes: Happy Valentine’s Day! More post-story Overall Summary: During the Valentine season this year, complications arise for you & the Winchesters due to a cupid who could use some more practice at her job. A lot more practice. A *supreme* amount of practice.

The slow, methodical rapping sent a sharp, scolding noise into the air each time fingers hit desk.

THRRRUMP

Sinking lower into her seat, the cherub waited as her supervisor finished scanning the report.

The high-ranking angel behind the desk closed her eyes. The rapping stopped. She brought both hands up, now rubbing her temples. She sighed.

The cherub gulped.

"On your latest mission, your first arrow hit a statue, then your second, a tree, before successfully striking a human target upon your third attempt.”

"Y-yes, ma'am."

“To be precise, with the third, you managed to hit three of them.”

"Uh... yes, ma'am. That’s funny, huh? But it only nicked the woman, I don’t think she was affected. See, what happened was----"

“None of which were the assigned targets, that's what I'm to understand?”

"Well, yes - I mean, no - I mean, yes, ma'am."

"Octavia, I've repeatedly instructed you to not call me that."

"Yes, m.... Okay."

“Can you tell me why it is that we’ve navigated all the drama that is constantly plaguing heaven? Why we remain celestially adjacent?”

“Because we bring love to the world?” Octavia guessed.

“Because we - along with the muses and the reapers - specialize in the three things that will always be: life, death, and relationships. Those three things cannot be stopped, no matter how great a power may try to do so. They just are. And what keeps things running smoothly amidst all the chaos?”

“Being good at our jobs?”

“Are you telling me, or asking me?” the supervisor snapped.

“I’m… I’m telling. That’s why.”

“That is why. We coordinate. We make sure the looms of the fates have nothing time-sensitive in store for our targets. We cross-check that they aren’t in the reapers’ queue. It is a finely-tuned machine. It is a flow. It is a rhythm. And you, Octavia, have continued to disrupt that rhythm, despite your missions being limited to the month of February, the easiest, the simplest month on the calendar for making matches.”

Octavia hung her head and picked at her glittery pink-polished fingernails.

It did not go unnoticed.

“While I have you here - I’ve let it slide, but your appearance----”

“You told me I couldn’t be invisible except when I’m firing my bow! I’m trying to be festive for the season!” Octavia interjected, and was met with a stern look.

“If you hadn’t materialized when you were marking that poor woman’s heart and grabbed her breast right there in the middle of that coffee shop----”

“I wasn’t grabbing!” Octavia again interjected, and it was met with an even sterner look. “It was a really soft sweater,” she mumbled sheepishly.

“That righteous ruckus, I remind you, is what got you downgraded back to arrows. And now I find myself wondering what to do with you, if you can’t even manage what new recruits seem to execute with accuracy!”

While her supervisor began adding notes to the sizable file on Octavia, the cherub caught a glance of herself in the mirror on the wall behind the desk. She thought she looked the part - her style was cheerful, and when she was visible and surveying, it made people smile, and she didn’t care what her co-workers said, not about her heart-patterned shirt, or the shiny red shoes, or the nail polish, or her hair.

"It's pink!" they’d cried.

Octavia disagreed. Regardless of her form - big, small, skin tone, eye color - she always had wild, curly red hair. And not of a hue typically seen in nature; less ginger, more actual red. Actually, burgundy. Actually, it was possibly on the pink end of things. Fine, it was pink. But only in certain lighting. Besides, her clothes were needed - being naked was uncomfortable what with the oft-chafing quiver, so the clothing may as well match the hair - and besides that, Octavia was fine with the whole being-more-visible-than-not requirement. She liked being able to get to know her targets; even though the intel was always spot-on, it made her heart swell to know for sure she was making a good match.

They just didn’t understand. Most all cherubs - the cupids, at least - were less than enthused about Valentine’s Day, and Octavia couldn’t imagine why; after all, it was the holiday of love! And hopefully it was not spent alone, not if she had anything to do with it, despite the fact that Octavia herself often spent it alone. She didn't have many friends... really, she didn’t have any friends. And so, her companions were her targets. And she loved them, all year ‘round.

Octavia was shaken from her thoughts when the file was slammed shut, and her eyes met the steely gaze of her supervisor once more.

“Your targets have been reassigned. You have a new assignment, which - if you succeed - means I won’t transfer you to…. to…. Oh, I don’t know where, but you’ll be gone. Do you understand?”

“Ma’am? I mean, what? What is it? The assignment?” Octavia asked, nervous.

Her supervisor leaned across the desk, pointing a finger. “You are going to fix this.”

“How?”

“Think, Octavia. Who saw her first? Which of these----" A pause as the file was opened and papers were shuffled, followed by a huff when the sought information couldn’t be found immediately “----humans saw her first?”

Octavia blinked, not following.

“The woman! You say she was only nicked, and if that’s true, you must focus on the other two - so Who. Saw. Her. First?”

"It seemed both of them at once. They do lots of things in unison. It’s kind’ve weird."

“Then I suppose you’ll have to figure out how to untangle this weird one by weird one. You have approximately twelve earth days - I want this done by sundown on the 14th. And without the bow, I don’t want to hear of any more stray shots.”

“But then how do I----”

“Fix it.”

“But if you don’t want me to----”

“FIX. IT. Dismissed!”

Octavia stood, held out her arms for the customary goodbye handshake, but when the gesture was most decidedly not reciprocated, she slunk from the office.

After the door closed, the supervisor muttered under her breath as she dug around in her drawer for the small bottle of liquor she kept handy for such situations. Situations that most always involved Octavia. And as she sipped, she glanced back through the file. And then she blanched. And then she dropped her glass with a thunk onto the desk, causing the liquid to slosh across the paper, across the last names in the universe she’d have ever wanted to see.

CONFIRMED HUMAN SUBJECTS INVOLVED IN INCIDENT, FEBRUARY 1st

WINCHESTER, DEAN

WINCHESTER, SAM

~ Almost twelve days later ~ .

"Can you help me with something?"

I glanced up from my research at the sound of Sam's voice. "Of course," I said, removing my glasses. "I need a break, anyway."

In the kitchen, there was a small box on the table, wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and a ribbon lying next to it. And there was crumpled wrapping paper on the floor. A lot of crumpled wrapping paper. I looked from it to Sam, amused.

"I keep getting one side right, then the other side comes out all uneven when I fold it," he explained. "And forget the bow, I wasn't even gonna try."

"No worries, I got you," I told him, and plopped onto a seat. He sat across from me and watched as I picked up the paper and began to unroll it to judge the size. “So, is this for who I’m thinking?” I took a peek at Sam, caught the blush rising to his cheeks, and I grinned, having my answer. “You’ve been talking about her a lot since the last hunt.”

“Yeah, I guess I have,” he said. “I don’t know why, I just… started looking at her differently, you know?”

“Oh I know, and I get it, she’s great. And it’s nice to see you happy,” I said, about to lift the box - but then I stopped, met his eye. "Sam… this is leaking."

"What?"

I pointed to the moisture trail the box had left when I'd pulled it closer. "Did you... you didn't cook something, did you? I mean, that's fine, it's just we may need a different type of box, and no sense in wrapping it yet if it needs to be refrigerated, and----"

Sam cut me off. "I didn't cook anything - it's a chocolate heart."

We stared at each other for a moment, then stared down at the box, bewildered.

Which is when it jumped.

To be specific, it pulsed itself into the air, though only a tiny bit, shifting its position on the table slightly every time it came back down. Two successive plops, a brief moment, then it repeated. And it kept repeating. And it was on its fifth cycle before we came out of our shared daze, both putting our hands on the top to stop the movement. It vibrated under our palms.

“We gotta open it,” I said.

“What if it’s a cursed object?” Sam asked in response.

“Where the hell’d you get it?”

“Candy shop, same one that’s been on main street for forever, a little old lady owns it.”

“Witch, maybe?” I suggested.

We looked down as the box became a touch more aggressive in its pushback, the sides straining slightly - something thick was beginning to sneak out of the corners.

Sam shook his head, bewildered. “I dunno.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s pissed off!” I announced and, as if it wanted to confirm my assertion, the box managed to knock our hands away, sending itself clean off the table and onto the floor, where it resumed its original soft bum-bum… bum-bum… bum-bum...

“It’s beating,” Sam said. “The heart.” A pause. “I can’t give her that!”

“THAT’S your concern?!” I shouted, then took a deep breath, exhaled it slowly, trying to quell my annoyance. “Okay. I’m opening it.”

“Wait! We should---” Sam began, but was interrupted.

“Hey, whoa - what’s going on, why’re you guys yelling?” Dean asked as he walked in, frowning.

The box performed its routine for him.

“Wow,” said Dean. “Never mind.” He looked to me. “I was gonna ask your opinion on something, but since you’re busy…”

I gave him a look. “You’re in this now, too, bud.” I dropped into a squat, did a mental 1-2-3 count, and took the lid off the box.

“Gross,” Dean said, his nose wrinkling. “I mean, cool, but gross.”

“That’s not what I bought!” Sam said, pointing down at the cool-but-gross.

It was an actual, for real, no denying it, right there, in the box, human heart, and it was pumping out a brown, viscous fluid with every beat.

“Is that….” Sam said, but trailed off, and he squatted beside me, then dipped a finger into the goo. He held it to his nose, sniffed. “I think it’s chocolate.”

“Lemme see,” Dean said, and now he squatted, too - then to our horror, he dipped his finger as well, and immediately brought it to his lips, giving it a lick.

“Dean!” Sam and I exclaimed.

“Mmmm,” Dean hummed, his eyes closing briefly. “Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff. Good stuff. Is the rest made out of candy?”

“No!” Sam and I exclaimed.

Dean’s face went pinched again. “Gross,” he repeated, then promptly stood and began walking to the fridge. “I need a beer.”

“’I need a beer’, he says,” I commented, shaking my head.

Sam and I straightened ourselves, still watching the heart pump-pump away, but we looked back to Dean at the sound of chuckling.

“You may as well give it up, brother. I got you beat. Heh. Beat,” he said with a smile, popping the cap off the beer.

“Beat at what?” I asked.

“Yeah, beat at what?” Sam echoed, and the look on his face and his stiff posture and the way he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes made me think he already knew what Dean meant.

“I mean, it’s creative, I’ll give you that - but chocolate’s not her favorite. Which you’d know, if you knew her as well as I do,” Dean replied, cool as could be.

It hit me then that Dean had also been talking about our hunter colleague an awful lot in the recent past, and it prompted me to ask, “Dean, what was it you wanted my opinion on?”

He swallowed a mouthful of beer, then replied, “I wanted to see what you thought about how my Valentine’s gift turned out.” Looking to Sam, he added, “Which I wrapped by myself.”

Sam looked like he wanted to smack the smug right off Dean’s face. “You did this!” he said. “You put some sort of hex on that heart - you’re trying to sabotage me!”

Dean rolled his eyes. “I don’t need to sabotage you, she’s not into you.”

Sam turned to me. “Years ago, over an autopsy, he passes me a human heart, just like that one---”

“No chocolate,” Dean pointed out.

“---and he said ‘Be my valentine’.”

“Dean... asked you... to be his valentine,” I said slowly.

“Not like--- that’s not--- it’s his sick sense of humor!” Sam explained. “And he’s doing it again! Trying to split us up!”

“Split who up?” I asked. “You’re not dating her! Neither of you are!”

“Not yet,” Dean said, still with the smug.

“What did you get her? Show me,” Sam demanded.

“Like I said, I got her favorite candy. C’mon,” Dean replied, setting down his beer and gesturing for us to follow.

As we walked down the hall to his room, they kept fussing, and as Dean was opening the door, I said, “You’re both acting really weird, I’m honestly getting concerned because---- good lord.”

A gift bag was tipped over on his bed, and what had to be dozens of worms were happily crawling around: on the bed itself, on the pillows, on the floor, on his desk, and - to his horror - over the stack of vintage porn mags on the nightstand.

“What the hell?!” he shouted.

Sam snickered.

The worms were fat, and glossy, and each segment was a color of the rainbow.

“Gummy worms?” I asked.

“Gummy worms,” Dean confirmed.

After a shared look - the same one we’d share during hunts when we knew it was time to cut out and regroup - we all left the room, shutting the door behind us.

“You believe me now? That I’m not sabotaging you?” Dean asked Sam.

Sam nodded. “Yeah. Something’s up.”

“Finally!” I said. “We have to retrace our steps, figure out what caused this. Now, you two started talking about her on the way home after that hunt, I think, so----”

“Something’s trying to keep me from her,” Dean and Sam stated in unison.

I groaned. “No, that’s not it - it’s that something’s, I dunno, infected the both of you, to make you want her. You know, want-her, want her.”

“I’m gonna go see her,” Dean said, determination all over his face and in his tone.

“Not if I get there first,” Sam replied, equally determined.

When they both began to move to, I assume, race each other to the car, I stood in the way. “Stop, okay? Isn't she still up at Donna's, going over traps and sigils with the girls?”

Dean got a moony smile on his face. “Man, she's so freakin' smart.”

Sam went dopey, too. "Right? So smart. Smartest person we know, definitely."

“And the prettiest.”

“Pretty? She's gorgeous.”

“Totally the hottest chick we know.”

I raised my hand. "Hi? Right here, remember?"

Dean gave me an up-and-down. “You’re all right, you got nothing to worry about.”

“I’m. Not. Worried,” I said through grit teeth.

“And you’re good with the lore,” Sam offered halfheartedly.

“I know. Look, if you’re gonna go up to Donna’s----” I began, but they cut me off by going around me, headed toward the garage at what seemed like light speed. “I’m coming with you!” I yelled, hot on their heels, pausing only to snatch my jacket off the back of a library chair.

Thankfully, the road trip conversation was less argument and more fawning over the object of their mutual desire, and as much as I liked our friend, I got bored, which meant I got sleepy. In what felt like a blink of an eye, I suddenly found myself in the next county over from our destination. The slamming of the car doors had jolted me awake - according to my watch, they’d driven all through the night, the maniacs, and now it appeared a side mission had emerged.

We were parked in front of a liquor store.

It was surprisingly empty for Valentine’s Day, at least in my estimation. I’d have thought people would’ve been buying out the joint, last minute prep for their sappy candlelit dinners. I shuddered at the thought. That was me: Not Romantic, party of one.

When I entered, the gal behind the checkout counter gave me a polite smile and a small point in the direction of the refrigerated areas at the back of the store, to the only other occupants besides ourselves. But she didn’t need to - I’d heard them already. And it sounded like the most recent bout was about to hit a fever pitch.

“It’s the last one, and I got to it first!”

“Yeah, well I saw it first!”

Dean and Sam were yanking a bottle back and forth, and when I came up to them, I noted it was champagne. Pink champagne. I rolled my eyes, then reached in and snatched the bottle away, which earned me two dirty looks.

“Guys, I have a idea about what might’ve happened - is it possible this is a cupid situation?” I asked.

They both stared at me for a couple of seconds, and then smiles began to appear on both their faces.

“That explains it,” said Sam.

“It sure does,” said Dean.

I eyed both of them, suspicious at why they were pleased to hear my theory, but went on. “We should call Cas, see about doing a summoning spell.”

“We could do that on our own, I don’t wanna bother him while he’s spending time with Jack,” Sam replied.

I was instantly relieved - at least Sam was getting some sense.

“Why should we summon a cupid?” Dean asked. “If it is a cupid, that must mean I’m meant to be with----”

“Whoa, hold on,” Sam interrupted. “I’m supposed to be with----”

So much for sense.

Now I interrupted. “What makes you think either of you are supposed to be with her? Regardless, both of you can’t be meant for her! This is obviously some sort of mistake!”

Dean's lips curled into a smirk. “You jealous?”

My eyebrows shot up. “Jealous of what? Not being on the receiving end of leaky organs and creepy crawlers? Can we focus for a second? Back on the hunt, did you two see anybody that shouldn’t have been there? Before or after the salt and burn?”

“Nope,” Dean answered.

“Same here,” Sam agreed.

I sighed. “Me, neither.” I thought a few more moments, then asked, “Anywhere else? Anybody new? Anybody unusual?”

“Well, I mean… I guess the girl that sold me the heart was a little different. Different for Lebanon,” Sam said. “I’ve never seen her around town before, and I’d have noticed - she had pink hair.”

Dean nodded. “Uh-huh. Same girl sold me the worms. I’ve never seen her before, either.”

“Okay, so, pink hair - what else?” I asked.

“She was just… really Valentine-y. I thought it was just part of the sales shtick,” Dean answered.

“Yeah, her dress was patterned with these little lips, like kisses,” Sam said.

Dean gave him a look for remembering that piece of info, and I hid a smile.

Sam ignored him. “And she had a name you don’t hear often… it was Opal… Olive… Ophelia?”

Dean snapped his fingers. “No, no - it was, like, Octopus or something.”

“Octop---- Dean, what?” Sam said, exasperated.

I ran a hand over my face, looked skyward for a second, briefly turning over in my mind how my life had come to this point, then brought my eyes back to them. “Was it Octavia?”

They were mildly stunned.

“How in the hell could you have known that?” Dean asked.

“Because I’m a hunter, and I’m observant, and I’m not in some whack-a-doo crazy cupid coma,” I replied, and I sounded snide, because I was being snide. “I know the name because of the name tag.”

“I thought you didn’t see anybody at the cemetery,” Sam said, brow furrowed.

Dean frowned, as well. “And cupids wearing name tags? No they don’t, they’re naked. Where would they put it?”

“Oh my god, the stupid has to end,” I announced, and stepped behind him, grabbing his shoulders, shifting him so he was facing down the aisle, to the front of the store. I pointed. “Checkout girl? Up there? Pink sweater with white hearts? Pink-and-white striped skirt? Pink tights? Pink hair?!?”

At that moment, the shelves began to tremble - specifically, the shelves lined with the not-pink champagne bottles. Glass clinked as they bumped into one another. The ones stored upright tipped onto their sides.

And then they fired.

Corks shot out like bullets, and we dodged and weaved, getting popped here-and-there, but other than sticky, bubble-coated boots, we managed to get out of the store unscathed. And on the sidewalk, we found her. There, the cotton candy-colored cupid stood, fidgeting, a hesitant smile on her face.

We stared.

“H-h-hi?” she managed.

We continued to stare.

“I screwed up,” she admitted. “And unless I fix this, I’ll be kicked out of the cupids.” Tears sprang to her already shining eyes. “I don’t even know what other cherubs do! And I don’t want to, I’m a good cupid, I am.”

“Oh no. You suck,” Dean stated, and I frowned at him, gave him a sharp elbow, then looked to the source of our troubles.

“It’s Octavia, right?” I asked, glancing at the name tag.

She nodded. "I wouldn't lie, I promise."

I nodded in acknowledgement, and said, “Okay, then, keep that going. Tell us what, exactly, you screwed up.”

“I got the address backwards. I was supposed to be across town, not at that graveyard.” She paused, a contemplative expression coming to her face. “Now that I think of it, that isn’t a romantic place.”

“No,” Sam responded flatly. “It’s not.”

And then Octavia told her story, confirming what I’d guessed. “I thought all this would discourage you, but seems my arrows were more potent than I realized,” she finished. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. You mean so much to me. Every one of you.”

Dean and Sam and I looked at each other, all of us softening - we believed her.

“Octavia, what else can be done?” Sam asked. “Because I’ll be honest, all I want to do right now is tackle Dean and steal the keys and leave him in the dust and go to her.”

“Awesome. Let's see you try,” Dean shot back, eyes narrowed, fists clenching.

I looked to the cupid with what I knew was desperation on my face as I moved to stand between the lovesick idiots.

“I could use something else on my arrows—-” Octavia began.

“NO ARROWS!” the three of us shouted.

“—-but it should work if you use it on yourselves.” She pulled three small bottles from the pocket of her skirt, all filled with a shimmery red liquid that gave off a slight golden glow.

“So do they drink it?” I asked.

Octavia shook her head. “It needs to be applied to where I hit them - well, Sam can maybe drink his, but…”

“But what?”

“But… butt. I hit Dean in the butt, then it kind’ve curved up and hit Sam in the cheek. Not one of those cheeks, I mean----”

I held up a hand. “Stop, I got it.”

Sam’s jaw dropped. “You’re--- you’re telling me it went through his ass then in my mouth?”

Dean leaned over, gripping his knees, laughing so hard he was gasping for breath in no time.

One of the bottles was smaller than the others, and after Octavia handed the first two to Sam and Dean, and they went back into the store to use it, she handed the tiny one to me.

“Give this to her, just in case. It’s for her arm. The arrow lost a lot of steam by the time it got to her, I think most of the juice was off it. Has she been calling a lot or did she show up at your place or anything?”

“Ah, that’s a big fat no,” I answered. “All the crazy has been with these two. Lucky me.”

“You are lucky,” Octavia said. “My aim is so bad, I could’ve hit you, too. Then two of you could’ve been mismatched, along with that other woman, and it would’ve been worse.”

“Yeah… worse…” I said under my breath, my mind wandering for a moment. I shook myself out of it. “Well, look - no harm was done. Maybe a few bruises from your artillery in there, but otherwise we just have some clean-up to do back on the homefront. The candy stuff was pretty genius by the way.”

Octavia blushed. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely. And listen, I’m sure where you come from, they’ve got practice areas for shooting, right? That’s all you need. Hell, I had to practice every day for a long time before I got good at throwing blades. You’re creative, and you’re clearly passionate about your job. I don’t know what else heaven could ask for.”

A bright smile came to the cupid’s face. “Thank you. So much. I mean it.”

“So what’s on deck for you tonight, since you pulled this off? You gonna celebrate?” I asked.

“I don’t have any plans, it’s not like cupids have matchmakers, so… But I like being around love. I think I’ll hang out at that little restaurant around the corner, the people seemed happy there, and there’s paper hearts all taped on the windows, and I think I even saw some balloons. There’s no balloons in heaven.”

“Okay,” I said, and I smiled back, but I felt a little sad for her.

I didn’t have time to think on it for long - Dean and Sam emerged, and we all said our goodbyes.

The would-be paramour was packing up her car when we pulled up to Donna’s place, and after a brief round of rock-paper-scissors, Sam got the honor of explaining what had happened - a win or a loss, hard to tell.

But she was laughing through the whole story, and when it was done, she gave me a big hug, saying, “Bless your soul, I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”

I laughed, too. “Honestly, it wasn’t so awful. Plus, I get to bring this up every Valentine’s Day for years to come.”

“Great,” Dean said, not meaning it in the least.

“Do any of you have anything going on tonight?” she asked. “Should we go get a pizza or something on the way back to Kansas?”

“Nah, I think I’ll pass,” Dean said.

“Um, yeah. Me, too,” I said.

She turned to Sam. “How about you? I mean, why not make the best of it? And we don’t have to do pizza, we could do a movie, maybe?”

“You sure you’re feeling okay?” Sam asked hesitantly, which got another laugh out of her.

“Yes! If these two party poopers are out, that means we can watch something artsy they’d hate.”

Sam smiled, relieved. “Yeah, that actually sounds great.”

While they discussed their plans, Dean turned to me and said, “That's not a half-bad idea.”

I was surprised. “What do you mean?”

“Making the best of it. We can go make with the best.”

“You wanna spend Valentine’s with me? I figured you’d… what happened to celebrating Lonely Ladies Getting Laid Day?”

“It’s Unattached Drifter Christmas. And I don’t mean anything fancy, or… stuff... It’s just... you know, as friends.”

That’s what he’d said, but he’d taken a step closer, and his voice had gotten a little softer, and if my eyes didn’t deceive me, the expression on his face held something I’d seldom seen on him: uncertainty.

“Friends?” I clarified.

“Well friends with be----”

At my raised eyebrow, he cut himself off and course-corrected.

“Beer. Friends with beer.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

“Sure.... sure, as in.... you'll....”

“Sure, Dean. I'll go.”

“You’ll go. Okay. Okay! That’s… that’s good, that’s…”

“Do I get flowers?” I asked casually, and at the near-horrified look on his face, tacked on a wink to let him know I was anything but serious.

He grinned. “You get a burger.”

I brought a hand to my chest. “Oh, Mr. Winchester - be still my heart.”

We were ready to get going, but after I filled him in on the rest of my conversation with our clumsy cupid, we agreed we had a quick stop to make before our Valentine’s Day evening got fully underway.

Octavia was at the bar nursing a cosmopolitan when the maître d' approached.

“Miss? Might you be Octavia?”

She swallowed and said, “Yes? I mean, yes. That’s me.”

“This was just dropped off for you,” he said, handing her a plastic bag with a drugstore’s name across it. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Octavia took it, mumbling a thank you as he walked off, completely distracted; she’d never received a gift before. And it was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen. She knew well that most all the cards had long been sold, and she was glad, because this was much more special.

There it was, in her hands, her very own valentine, handmade with what materials were at their disposal. It was a cut-from-newspaper heart, trimmed in cotton balls, with random stickers that weren’t holiday-related but were all pinks-and-reds, stuck here-and-there around the writing. And that writing said:

. Have a happy Valentine’s Day, Octavia. You deserve it. - Your favorite hunters .

After swiping a few tears away, Octavia left money on the bar and upon exiting, scurried around to the back of the building so she could disappear. She needed to drop her valentine off back home. And she also needed to pick up something while she was there.

When she reached her final destination of the night, the cupid watched through the window of the burger joint for awhile, drinking in the happiness before her. It could mean trouble, what she was about to do, but in this case there wasn’t need for an assignment, or cross-checking with the fates or the reapers, because she felt it was right. She knew it, sparkled tips to shiny toes.

Tonight’s arrow was smaller, and coated delicately. Concentrating, Octavia aimed carefully. She didn’t blink, and she didn’t wobble, and for the first time ever she hit precisely the targets she intended.

It sailed clean through both their hearts, and Octavia smiled. They would have an amazing night. As for the rest, well - she’d leave forever up to them.

Author’s Notes: This is not only for Valentine’s Day, it’s also for the Galentine’s celebration hosted by @spnfanficpond and my secret Galentine is fellow Pondie @bookshido (who I cannot tag, but have arranged for them to be tagged, cross my heart!) Hope you enjoyed!

...And a quick PS: While you'll notice standard divisions for change of scenes, the intro and ending are separated from this first-person perspective tale by the heart dividers, and are in third person for the purpose of giving the audience information that the main characters don't know/don't need to know - just FYI so you don't think I've lost my mind... or my perspective, as it were. ;)

See Nash Write : Master / See Nash Write : Mobile

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#Supernatural Fanfiction #SPN Fanfic #Dean Winchester #Sam Winchester #Valentine's Day #Nash Writes #Queueby Dooby Doo #Dad's on a blog post and #he hasn't been queued in a few days

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