#you are harming your point. door in the face method only works if you back off afterwards.

[psycherprince]

third hot take of the day is that yes "boycott fatigue" is. yikes. but we're not doing anyone any favors by pretending large boycotts don't take any effort whatsoever. like we talk abt "invisible labor" in the household when talking abt feminism, which is the cognitive load of knowing what has to get done even if the tasks are divided, and having to keep track of who is doing what (wrt childcare) and the preferences of your family when cooking/grocery shopping/etc. Other ppl have explained this better than me but the point is. It does take cognitive effort to keep track of what you can and can't buy, and which companies own what, etc etc.

We can acknowledge that yeah it does take effort and yeah it can be annoying that you have to make some kind of change, but also still maintain that complaining abt that right now is insanely tactless and irrelevant. Like yeah you DO have to remind yourself not to buy sabra hummus or the starbucks brand creamer or whatever but like there's a genocide yknow get some perspective

[melodygatesauthor]

A Little Disappointed

Deimos X f!Reader

Requested by Anon

Disclaimer: I've never written Deimos before (hope I wrote him well!) Additionally, this story contains EXTREMELY dubious-consent and themes of non-con (emphasis on the NON-con). Please do not read if you are under 18 or are sensitive to these kinds of topics, please and thank you.

Summary: You are a Rainbow Six Operator and you have been captured by Deimos. He tries to intimidate you with his usual methods, but when he can see that isn't working, he tries something different.

Tags/Warnings: NSFW, dub/non-con, reader is smol, Deimos isn't nice (duh), rough sex, interrogation, clothed male/naked female, a little dacryphilia if you squint

Word Count: 1.6k

Seriously if you read beyond this point and don't like the content then that's on you. Final warning.

You wriggled in your seat, trying desperately to free yourself from the ties that held you in place. Taking in your surroundings, you could see that you were in a small room, with a fluorescent light above your head, and only one door on the far end of the room. There was a chair in front of you. It was at that moment you realized that you were naked.

When the door opened, you jumped. A masked man stalked forward. He was tall and frightening…intimidating enough to make your heart stop. You gulped, wishing that you’d stayed on base like your superior officer told you to. The man sat across from you casually, leaning back and legs spread out.

“Where am I?”

“Now, now, that’s classified. But I was thinking, before I came in here, about how I wanted to get the information out of you that I need.” He leaned forward. You could see your reflection in the eyes of the mask. “You’re a good lookin’ girl, no need to harm that pretty face. How about you tell me where the Rainbow Six base is, and I’ll let you walk out of here free and clear? Hm?”

You furrowed your brow. You had friends in Rainbow. You had people counting on you to keep your mouth shut. There was no way you were just going to give up that information willingly. If it came down to it, you were better off dead than giving up your squadmates.

“Just kill me, I’m not going to tell you anything.”

You were trying to keep yourself from crying. You were a soldier, how embarrassing would it be to cry in front of your enemy? You couldn’t deny the terror building inside of you though.

“Yeah, thought you might say that.”

He stood up. His height alone was enough to send a chill down your spine as he stepped forward and knelt in front of you on one knee.

You couldn’t tell if he was looking you in the eyes, or looking at your body. You felt a warm trickling tear fall down your cheek. Damn it, you thought.

“Yeah, now that’s a good look for you sweetheart. Go ahead and cry it out.”

“I’m not telling you anything!” You said, venom laced in your tone. 

Once again you tried to wriggle free, but your hands were bound together and your feet were tied to the chair tightly. You weren’t going anywhere unless he let you go.

“Well, I have to say I’m a little disappointed you’re not going to give up the information to me so willingly.” He stood up again. You felt so small in comparison to him. He cupped your breast in his gloved hand, “perhaps you’d like to make it up to me somehow?”

“You’re disgusting.” You said as he brushed over your nipple with his thumb.

Your body deceived your mind though. His touch felt good. You looked away from him, embarrassed that you felt that way. It wasn’t like you saw much…action being in the Rainbow base all the time. You didn’t want to admit that you were…sort of into the idea of a big guy like him having his way with you.

“Heh, looks like maybe you would like to make it up to me, huh?”

Another tear fell down your face, and you wished you could wipe it away.

“You call me disgusting and yet…” He brought his fingers down to the wet pool formed on the wooden chair underneath you. He collected some of the juices you’d expelled there and brought them to your lips. “You’re so wet.”

He ran his soaked and gloved fingers over your bottom lip.

“C’mon sweetheart, open up.” You begrudgingly obeyed, fearful of what he may do if you didn’t.

The taste of leather combined with your own juices filled your mouth. You felt tears continuing down your cheeks, though you weren’t necessarily in distress, you were still frightened.

“If you’re good for me, I might even make sure you enjoy yourself.” He pulled his fingers free from your lips.

In a swift motion he pulled out his knife and snapped the ties off your feet, though your hands still remained bound to each other. You didn’t move though. You weren’t sure where you would go even if you did make a run for it. There was no telling where you were being held, and if there were others waiting to catch you or kill you just beyond the door. Not to mention, you could see the revolver resting on his hip, just waiting for a target to fire at.

“You’re smart, I like that.” He chuckled, “Now, I want you to get up and kneel on the chair, keep your back to me honey.”

“No.” You shook your head. “No I won’t.”

He sighed heavily, “I’m not going to be nice if I have to repeat myself. Come on.”

You sensed the truth in his words and decided to stand and turn. You got on the chair again, one leg at a time and let your breasts hang over the back of it. One of his hands, now gloveless, rubbed your asscheek, placing small taps on it as though he were testing its resistance.

“You know when I found you, I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way this girl is actually a Rainbow Six Operator, she’s far too pretty to work for someone like that.’ But…here you are.”

You heard the clanking of what you assumed was him removing his belt. He tossed it on the floor, confirming your suspicions. You gulped.

“I-I didn’t know you guys did stuff like this during your interrogations.” You said, somehow hoping that it would make him stop.

You felt the head of his cock as he ran it up and down over your folds, coating it in your wet slick.

“We don’t…but I didn’t know Rainbow had girls there that look like you either. Just relax, it’ll be over soon.” He grunted, pushing himself into you.

He was big…bigger than you were expecting and you gasped. You were glad he was holding your hips in place, otherwise you would’ve tipped forward face-first in the chair. He reached an arm around your small waist and found your clit with one of his rough fingers.

“Don’t worry sweetheart, I’m not cruel. I’ll make sure you enjoy yourself.” He cooed, circling around your swollen nub, made slick by your wet cunt.

You moaned, hating yourself for it, but it felt so good. You felt your walls flutter around his girth while he slid into you. His pace was even, strong, and relentless. You whined into the concrete room, feeling nothing but waves of numbness washing over your body. As more tears fell down your cheeks, you damned yourself for making audible sobbing sounds.

“That’s it, cry for me pretty girl, I like the way you sound.” He said in a gruff tone.

“You’re…mm…you’re disgusting.” You said to him once again.

He chuckled, “and yet I make you so fucking wet, what’s that say about you?”

His finger continued teasing your clit while his length was driving into you harshly. He made you feel so full from wall to wall you could hardly stand it. You shouldn’t have been enjoying yourself, you should’ve been screaming, kicking, and fighting, but you weren’t. In fact, you hadn’t even tried to put up a fight. Were you so desperate that you were ok with something like this? Maybe he was right…maybe you were just as disgusting as he was.

“Mm, I can feel your tight little pussy clenching around me…you getting close there sweetheart? You gonna come for me?” He asked, never slowing his rhythm.

“N-never.” You said, which you knew was a downright lie. There was no way you could stop your impending orgasm, it felt too good.

You let out a loud moan into the room, you could hardly contain it anymore no matter how much you didn’t want him to have the satisfaction. You were trying so hard to stop yourself, so hard to stop the feeling that pooled in your abdomen at his touch. It was there, building, getting stronger with every thrust of his powerful cock.

“F-fuck I’m gonna…oh…I’m gonna…”

“Do it, come on, just let it out for me.” He urged, circling his fingers faster.

No matter how badly you didn’t want to, your cunt started contracting over his girth while you screamed out in your climax. You felt him too, his hips stuttering as he filled you with his hot ropes of cum. The sound was wet and messy as he kept fucking you even after filling you up. Finally, his movements ceased, and he pulled out of you with a groan.

“There you go…not bad.” He said.

He grabbed his belt off the floor and replaced it around his pants. While he did that, you turned back over and sat in your chair. His cum was seeping out of you, coating your thighs and rear. He sat down in the chair across from you again. Even with the mask, you could tell he was amused.

“Heh, you know, I should kill you, but where’s the fun in that? Maybe I’ll just keep you instead.”

AO3 LINK

[aristrocrat]

Upside Down Feelings III

Chapter 5: The Flayed

summary: the scoops troop gets caught inside the russian lab

word count: suuuuper fucken long i’m so sorry (no i’m not)

tw: borderline fluff and angst???

“WE’RE GOING DOWN! WE’RE GOING DOWN!”

“NO SHIT, HARRINGTON!” You and Robin shouted.

“STEVE, LET GO!” You shouted as you continued to free fall even faster by the second. He still had you pressed against his chest, refusing to let go and insisting that-

“NO! I’M PROTECTING YOU-“

Dustin and Erica ran towards the buttons, clicking away amongst the chaos before the room finally came to violent stop. You both tumbled toward, resulting in your face on the floor and Steve sprawled out heavily on top of you, his backside to yours.

“My groin,” He whimpered.

“Get off!” You grunted.

“Give me a second! A titanium box just went directly into my dick.. Jesus,” He hissed. “Dustin! Get this off of me!”

Your brother stumbled over and lifted the box, allowing you both to get up.

“Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah, I’m great now that Russians can’t design elevators!” Steve shouted, shoving the kids out of the way to mess with the buttons again.

“I think we’ve clearly established that those buttons don’t work,” You rolled your eyes.

“They’re buttons! They have to do something!” He argued before twirling around and pressing them individually.

“Yeah, if we had a keycard!” Robin shrugged.

“What?”

“It’s an electronic lock,” You pointed out, walking over to the silver pad on the door to show him. “Same as the loading dock door. If we don’t have a keycard, it won’t operate. Meaning-“

“We’re stuck in here,” Dustin finished.

“Yeah,” You softened your voice as you looked at your brother. Steve ran another hand through his hair before hopelessly closing the button door.

“Just so you nerds know are aware,” Erica spoke up with confidence. “I’m supposed to be spending the night at Tina’s. And Tina always covers for me. But if I’m not home for Uncle Jack’s party tomorrow, and my mom finds out you four are responsible, she’s gonna hunt you down, one by one, and slit your throats.”

“I DON’T CARE ABOUT TINA OR UNCLE JACK’S PARTY!” Steve snapped, slamming his hands on a box. “Your mom’s not gonna be able to find us if we’re dead in a Russian elevator.”

Erica hummed thoughtfully in response, as if to say ‘I hadn’t thought of that’.

“What if we climbed out?” Dustin pointed up towards the escape hatch. You looked at Steve with raised eyebrows. He only nodded.

“Alright, you guys stay down here. We’ll check it out,” He said.

You hopped onto the table, opening the hatch before pulling yourself up. Steve was only three seconds behind you. You stabilized your footing before looking up. The older boy beside you let out a hopeless breath. The elevator shaft went on for what appeared to be ever.

“What’s taking so long?“ Dustin asked as he climbed up. “Oh..”

“What was that you were saying about climbing out?” Steve muttered.

“Oh! I still have my walkie! Maybe I can-“

“We’re hundreds of feet underground and surrounded my metal and cement,” You rolled your eyes. “I doubt that signal would even reach the mall.”

“I have to try.”

“Let him. There’s no harm in trying,” Steve placed his hands on his hips. “I mean, what other option do we have?”

“Fine,” You sighed. “But at least save the battery for when the mall opens. You’d have a better shot at someone being in range then. Try and get some rest until then, alright?”

“You expect me to just rest?” Dustin challenged. “Really? After-“

“Dude, just listen to your sister. Try again in the morning and get some sleep. There’s not much else to do right now,” Steve interrupted. Dustin huffed out a breath before climbing back down into the elevator. Steve extended his arm towards the hatch. “After you.”

Once you all were together again, you all began talking about ways you could open the door. You tried various methods to no avail. Hours went by before you eventually gave up, watching as the children and Robin fell asleep.

“Jesus, that girl can sleep through a tornado,” You finally muttered in the silence, making Steve chuckle.

“Remember that one time she fell asleep while eating ice cream during a shift,” Steve admitted.

“Yeah,” You snorted. “She had fudge on her face for like an hour and kept asking us why people were looking at her like this.”

You tilted your head, furrowing your eyebrows and scrunching your nose. Steve shook his head, letting out a breathy chuckle. You both fell back into silence. It differed from the comfortable silence you sat in only a moment earlier, seeing as you both knew the other was wide awake.

“..Are we going to talk about what happened earlier?” He finally asked.

“I’d rather not,” You muttered.

“Why not?”

“Because it was an accident.”

“An accident?” He deadpanned.

“A mistake. An accident. Call it what you will but-“

“I just wasn’t aware that you could accidentally make out with someone for half an hour,” He smirked.

“Okay, so we’re talking about it,” You sighed, standing up and dusting yourself off.

“What are you doing?” He frowned.

“I’d rather not talk about this with my brother in the room,” You nodded at the sleeping boy and hopped on the table before looking back at Steve. “You coming?”

You waited for him to climb up to the elevator shaft before you began speaking again.

“Okay, look- that kiss..” As phenomenal as it was. “It shouldn’t have happened. We’re still just friends, okay? I don’t want anything to change just because of-“

“Is that how you kiss all of your friends?” He challenged. “I don’t buy it. I mean you’re the one who started it.”

“I started it?!”

“Yeah, you started it!”

“I did not,” You scoffed.

“Oh, Steve!” He mocked, batting his lashes. “Please don’t die! I don’t what I would do with myself if you got hurt!”

“I don’t sound like that,” You punched his arm.

“You’re right,” He laughed. “It’s a little more nasally. It sounds more like this-“

“Why are you such a dick to me sometimes?” You laughed.

“Because I’m constantly fighting the urge to kiss you,” He admitted casually and without hesitation as he ran a hand through his sun kissed locks. “I guess it’s just easier to do when we’re arguing.”

Your lips parted as your eyes danced around between his own, scanning for any hint of a joking glint or smirk. But he was dead serious, with only the familiar faint smile that decorated his lips when he was in your presence ever so slightly decorating his pink lips.

“Look, if it genuinely was a mistake, then I won’t ever bring it up again. We can go back to the way things were, no matter how badly I wanna kiss you again,” His eyes darted down to your own lips for a moment, giving you a moment to object before he took a step closer.

“-But if it wasn’t.. If, by chance,” He let his hands trace down your arms, a shiver following behind them as they slid from your shoulders to your elbows. His touch was electric. “.. You can’t stop thinking about me either..” His voice was now nothing but a whisper as he inched in, eyes locked on your lips as if he just couldn’t pull them away. His silky tongue nervously glided over his own before he let the final words spill from them.

“-Then please don’t ever let me stop kissing you.”

He was so close now that you could feel his breath dance across your upper lip. You wanted to fight it. But it was so hard to think when he caressed your cheek like that. You wanted to stop it- to allow your friendship to return to what it was.

But who were you kidding?

This friendship was built off of nothing but passion. And now that you knew what his lips tasted like, what they felt like.. He was more addictive than nicotine, and boy did you want a hit. His plump lips ever so lightly grazed over your own, but he dared not properly touch you until you gave him your consent.

He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew from the moment you didn’t step away from him. That kiss was no mistake.

You felt the exact same way.

“Fuck it,” You whispered hopelessly before pulling him in and closing the distance between you. Your hands trailed into his hair and under his shirt. His own did the same, hungry to touch every part of you. Desperately trying to close any distance left between your bodies.

His kiss was intoxicating. It was like nothing you’d ever experienced before. Every movement, every breath was made in synchronized harmony. His soft lips massaged your own, allowing every pent up emotion from the past few years out in the form of passion. His tongue slid across your lower lip. You allowed him access without second thought as he walked you into the wall behind you.

He parted from the kiss only to lay a trail of sloppy kisses down your jaw and neck, basking in the glory of those soft, almost inaudible noises that fell from your mouth when he kissed behind your ear.

Your hand cupped his jaw, eagerly bringing his lips back to your own. You continued to kiss, slowing your pace a bit, for a few more minutes until you heard rustling under you.

“Y/N?” You heard your brother’s sleepy voice call. “Steve?”

“We’re up here, Dustin,” You responded, sighing as you pulled away. Steve groaned with frustration before stepping away from you, keeping a respectable distance as Dustin poked his head up from the hatch.

“What are you guys doing up here?” He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

“Just checking for any way to get out,” Steve shrugged. “What time is it?”

“8:00,” Dustin grunted as he pulled himself up. “Mall just opened. I’m gonna try the walkie.”

“Good luck with that,” You patted your brother’s back as you walked towards the hatch.

———

“Code red. Code red. Does anyone copy? This is a code red, I repeat, a code red.”

“God, he’s still at it?” Robin huffed.

“We are innocent children and we are trapped under Starcourt Mall.”

“You wanna handle that or should I?” Steve asked you.

“The Red Army had infiltrated Hawkins, and if we are found, they will torture and kill us.”

“All yours.”

“Hey!” Steve shouted before poking his head out to speak with your brother. “Gotta it easy on that thing. You’re gonna drain the battery.”

“Someone could be in range.”

“What do you think, Petey the Mall Cop is gonna rappel down here and save the day?” Steve grunted as he pulled himself up for what felt like the millionth time that night.

“Alright, why are you such a cranky pants after getting to spend the night with Y/N-“

“Shh! Jesus Christ,” Steve hushed. “I’ve never met anyone that is so invested in their sibling’s love life. It’s kinda creepy. Just give it up already.”

“I heard you guys talking all night.”

“Yeah, we were trying to figure out a way to get out of here while you children were sleeping,” Steve said.

“Oh? And how exactly did making out with my sister help with that?” Dustin raised his brows. Steve paused, looking like a deer caught in headlights. He debated denying it, but he knew by the boy’s look that he wasn’t bluffing.

“.. By clearing our heads? Relieving some stress?” He offered. Your brother scoffed.

“Where’d that get you?”

“Nowhere, Dustin. We’re exactly nowhere and you know, that’s probably just a little bit of the reason why I’m feeling just.. a tad cranky,” Steve walked over to the other wall and unzipped his pants.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m taking a leak. Look away,” Steve ordered. “Look away!”

“Can you redirect your stream, please?” He heard you call with disgust before a series of banging ensued. They listened as Robin scolded Erica before you all fell silent. He finished up, zipping his pants up again and turning around to continue to conversation before you poked your head through the hatch.

“We’ve got company,” You breathed to the boys, helping Erica up. You and Robin climbed up hastily before you all watched Russian guards open the door and carry off the boxes below you.

You pressed your finger to your lips, urging the children to keep still and quiet and Steve got a closer look through the elevator’s grate.

Only then did you realize that Erica had held into the green liquid. You didn’t dare react, not wanting to risk her saying or doing something that would give you away as the men below you cleared out the elevator.

Once the coast was clear, Steve grabbed the container from young girl, jumping down and shoving it between the door and the floor to keep it from shutting.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

You pushed the children out before crawling under it yourselves. Steve paused to look at the glass that began to crack before feeling you yank him out only two seconds before the door slammed shut, shattering the container.

The green liquid began to burn through the metal and concrete. You watched in awe at the acid continue to sizzle away before your brother spoke up.

“Holy mother of God.”

You all followed his gaze, seeing a hallway that seemed almost as long as the elevator shaft.

“Well.. Hope you guys are in good shape,” Steve sighed before patting Dustin’s chest and leading the way. “Lookin’ at you, roast beef.”

“… Why me?”

———

“I mean, you have to admit, as a feat of engineering alone, this is impressive,” Your brother said as you all walked through the hallway.

“What are you talking about? It’s a total fire hazard,” Steve argued. “There’s no stairs, there’s no exit, there’s just an elevator that drops you halfway to hell.”

“They’re Commies,” Erica scoffed. “You don’t pay people, they cut corners.”

“To be fair to our Russian comrades, I don’t think this tunnel was designed for walking,” Robin began. “Think about it, they developed the perfect system for transporting that cargo.”

“It all comes into the mall like any old delivery,” You continued.

“Then they load it up into those trucks, and nobody’s the wiser.”

“You think they built this whole mall just so they could transport that green poison?” Steve questioned.

“I very seriously doubt it’s something as boring as poison. It’s gotta be something much more valuable, like promethium or something,” Dustin responded.

“What the hell is promethium?”

“It’s what Victor Stone’s dad used to make Cyborg’s bionic and cybernetic components,” You chimed in.

“You’re all so nerdy, it makes me physically ill.”

“No, no, no. No, don’t lump me in with them. I’m not a nerdy, alright?” Steve corrected.

“Ah, I was wondering when King Steve makes an appearance,” You rolled your eyes.

“King Steve?”

“Yeah, that’s his popular, jock alter ego. The one that’s afraid of losing cool points to a ten-year-old child,” You told the girl.

“Not true. I’m just saying I don’t know jack shit about Prometheus.”

“Promethium,” You corrected. “Prometheus is a Greek mythological figure.”

“Must you always be such an insufferable smart ass?” He grumbled.

“Only when you’re being an intolerable dumb ass,” You scoffed.

“Children, please!” Dustin interjected. “Back to the main topic at hand. It’s probably being used to make something.”

“Or power something,” Robin nodded.

“Like a nuclear weapon.”

“Totally.”

“Walkin’ towards a nuclear weapon. That’s great,” Steve continued to whine. “That’d be great.”

“But if they’re building something, why here?” Robin asked. “I mean, Hawkins. Seriously. Of all places. At the very best, we’re a toilet stop on your way to Disneyland, but maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s our very..”

You and the boys’ steps stuttered to a stop. Steve looked over at you with wide eyes.

“You think the Russians know?” Dustin questioned.

“They could,” You whispered, feeling your heart sink further into your chest.

“So it’s connected?” Steve blinked.

“Maybe,” You looked up at the girls in thought as they continued to wander off without you.

“How?”

“I.. I don’t know but it’s..” Your gaze caught that of the boys’ again.

“Possible,” You all finished.

“I’m sorry, is there something you’d like to share with the class?” Robin called. You all looked at one another with unease before the walkie rang through with Russian code again. You all ran to Erica’s backpack as Robin grabbed the walkie.

“It’s the code,” You recognized.

“Wherever that broadcast is coming from-“

“It’s close,” You nodded.

“And if there’s one thing we know about that signal, it can reach the surface,” Robin smiled. “Let’s go.”

———

“Okay, clear,” Steve whispered, waving you to follow behind him as he led you out of hiding. You’d barely made it out of the Russians’ like of vision as they turned around the corner. You waited until they were out of sight before you began to move again. “Clear, come on. Let’s go.”

“Okay, that was close,” You swallowed.

“Too close.”

“Relax,” Steve brushed off. “Alright? Relax. Nobody saw…”

You all turned another corner to reveal about a dozen Russian soldiers and scientists walking around or talking with colleagues in a large, two story room. White coats, decorated military uniforms, red hazmat suits, guns, and papers all before your very eyes.

You all quickly scrambled behind the box beside you.

“Jesus.”

“Red Dawn,” Dustin breathed.

“I saw it!” Erica told Steve. “First floor, northwest.”

“Saw what?”

“The comms room.”

“You saw the comms room?”

“Correct!”

“Are you sure?” You asked.

“Positive. the door was open for a second, and I saw a bunch of lights and machines and shit in there.”

“That could be a hundred different things,” Dustin deadpanned.

“I’ll take those odds,” You told Steve. He looked at you and sighed, shaking his head at the situation before poking it back out to check out the environment.

“Alright,” He nodded. “We’re gonna move fast. We’re gonna stay low. Okay?”

“Okay.”

You all followed behind him, crouching down as you quickly moved behind objects until you eventually made your way to the outside of the comms room. You waited until someone walked out, catching the door before you all crowded in.

Just as you were about to celebrate, you turned and noticed a Russian soldier sitting in the middle of the room. His eyes were already on you. He took off his headset, standing to look at the five kids frozen in front of him. You stepped forward.

“Tread lightly,” You spoke the familiar Russian phrase, stopping him from reaching for his gun.

He asked a question, using words you’d never heard before.

“Silver cat,” You pointed at yourself and at the crowd behind you. “Silver cat.”

The guard shook his head and spoke again. He was just as nervous as you were.

“China?” You offered. He scoffed, reaching for his gun.

Steve erupted into screams before running and tackling the man into the large computer in front of him. The guard whipped him off, attempting to punch the boy and missing. Steve fought hard, pushing him back and getting back up when he himself was knocked backwards.

You grabbed a heavy, metal microphone as Steve elbowed the guard and sent him stumbling into you. You pushed him forward just enough to get enough room to swing your arm, punching the microphone hard into the his temple, sending him flying to the ground.

Steve breathed heavily, brushing his hair out of his eyes and looking at the unconscious man before his gaze landed on you. “What the hell was that?!”

“Wh- I just saved your life! What do you mean-“

“Like hell you did! I had him!” He frowned.

“Are you delusional?!” You scoffed

“You couldn’t just let him have this one, could you?” Dustin scoffed. “Don’t worry, Steve. You totally had him! You would’ve totally won had she not stole your thunder-“

“STOLE HIS THUNDER?!” Robin interjected. “He was totally about to get his second ass whooping of the night-“

“Thank you, Dustin!” Steve shouted over her.

“I- You- Oh, my God. Whatever,” You shushed the lot of them. “Fine, Steve. You won the fight. Can we please go back to trying to find a way out of here?”

Steve smirked with pride as Robin scoffed, walking up to the guard and stealing his keycard. “This is our ticket out of here. Follow me.”

At the top of the stairs, you were greeted by two doors with large windows, radiating a blue light. Once you got a closer look, you saw a room filled with scientists and made of walls of sturdy glass overlooking a larger room about the half the size of the school gymnasium.

Men with hazmat suits walked around, catering and tending to the machine in the middle of the room. This whole place was obviously meant to house that one machine.

The scientists placed the same green acid you’d found in the elevators into it, fueling the propellor and providing the machine with nuclear energy. The light it emitted was almost blinding as it aimed and slowly cut away at the large, orange, sealed gate in the wall, slowly tearing it open. The same gate Eleven had fought hard to close only six months prior.

A familiar shrill echoed through it.

You looked up at Steve. He stared back with widening, questioning eyes. You only nodded.

“The gate..”

Chapter 6 ->

———

As always, please feel free to DM me or comment on my stories! I love to hear your feedback and interact with all of you!! Don’t forget to like and reblog, it really helps me out!

Next chapter will come out Monday, October 17th at 9:00 AM CDT

a/n: HAPPY LIBRA SEASON, BITCHES!! I’m turning 22 on Thursday and I have absolutely no fucken clue what I wanna do to celebrate besides listen to Taylor Swift. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME..

HOW DID YOU GUYS LIKE THE CHAPTER?? WE LOVE PROTECTIVE SIMP STEVE, RIGHT?? i’m honestly having the time of my life in my Stranger Things Hyperfixation Era 2.0 TM

cant wait for you to read next week’s chapter :3

@reallysparklychaos @katsukiswrld @yashirawr @001andeddiearetodiefor @thatmarvelchick19 @fixtionlover @b3rrysoda @tpwksummer @dawnyboy @rexorangecouny @kimmchijjajang @efvyqrs @lou-la-lou @nycbaby21 @satsuri3su @agustdeeyaa @boisteroussquirrel @fangeekkk @persephonesnebula @starstruckspring @bbyharlow @edithsvoice @harrycanyonmoonn @sharkswithsocks @xm00nl1ght @lqveharrington @earthtostory @boobabietch @captainmarvelindisguise @astrumark @scoopsr0bin @hannahdoesstuff @homeofthepeculiar @potatoflavoured @binxy @ultrunning @azgucci @blogginjh @burdenedbliss @chervbs @lentil-s0up @ameliabs-world @mess-is-my-aesthetic @hopefulgardenerfun

[rubix-writings]

Punisher Pt. 15

Fifteenth part of Punisher. 

This is a Chicago PD/Fire imagine with an original character. I don’t own any of the plot points or characters from the show. Also, it doesn’t follow any particular season or sequence in the shows.

Series Summary: Josephine (Jo) never expected to find support and pure love when she left Los Angeles. She ran away to Chicago and was content with living an insignificant, hidden life. But everything changes when she walks into Molly’s to get a job.

Josephine (OC) x Jay Halstead

The italicized lines are internal thoughts of the character.

Warnings: mentions nightmares, PTSD, stalking

“It’s only been a week Jo, you don’t have to go back. Hermann and Stella made it very clear to take all the time you need,” Jay sits on the bed watching me grab clothing for my shift at the bar. 

“Jay being here isn’t helping me either. You’re back at work and I just sit here with my thoughts. It’s doing more harm than being back.” “I can get the day off tomorrow, why don’t you take one more day and I’ll go with you?” I walk over to Jay and rest my hands on his shoulders. This man has done everything in his power to help me work through my endured trauma. It doesn’t matter if its holding me after a nightmare, talking me back to reality when my mind drifts off, or just touching me so I know I’m not alone. 

“I can’t sit here another day, the longer I stay away from the bar the more it becomes evil and scary,” I cup the side of his face and run a finger over his stubble which has gotten a bit long over the last few days. “Thank you for your offer, but I have to do this. Hermann and Stella will both be there. I’m sure Kelly and a few of the guys will be there too.”

Jay kisses my palm quickly. 

“Call me if you need anything, okay? And you’re still healing and will be for a while so light work.”

“Okay dad,” I laugh. Jay rolls his eyes before standing to kiss me. I thought it would be a quick peck but it’s slow and methodical. When I look into his eyes after I could tell he was just as nervous as I was about going back to the bar. “It’ll be okay,” I reassure. 

“I know,” his voice is quiet. He kisses my forehead before walking to pack up the last items for work. 

****

Luckily, Jay was able to go into work late so he could go with me to the bar. I kept trying to tell him it was unnecessary, but once I saw it I realized I was very wrong. Jay grabbed my bag and my hand and together we crossed the sidewalk to the door of Molly’s. The outside of it seems different now, almost as if there is a fog around Molly’s. I had been trying to detach myself from Molly’s and all the events that happened that I might have made it the monster in my story. 

“Hey, you got this,” Jay whispers. His deep blue eyes bring me back, like a light glow within the darkness.

“Jo!” Stella yells as she walks closer to Molly’s. Stella, another light in the darkness. “God, I’ve missed you.” She hugs me gently once she’s close enough. 

Now between two of my best friends, it feels easier to breathe. 

“I’ve missed you too Stella. Thanks for filling in for me.”

“No need for thanking, I’m gonna head in. Take all the time you need,” It’s obvious that she means every word.

“We’ll follow you in actually,” once again in between my two best friends I walk through the threshold of Molly’s. 

“Hey ladies!” Hermann yells behind the bar. A quick flash of Rob taking multiple swigs of whiskey while throwing around his gun flashes through my mind, “Jo do you think you’d be able to help me with receipts today?” Hermann’s voice breaks through the memory.

“Yeah absolutely,” I let go of Jay’s hand for the first time to go to the office and drop off my stuff. When I come back Stella is taking the chairs down and wiping down the tables. Hermann and Jay are talking in hushed tones over the bar counter, no doubt about me. 

“Jay, you should get to work. I’m not having Voight on my ass for you being later than you already are,” I joke as I near the two. 

“Call me if you need anything, even if it’s just to talk, okay? And seriously take it easy, your stitches and ribs are still healing,” Jay babbles. 

“We’ll make sure she barely lifts a finger,” Hermann interjects. 

“See? We’re good. I’ll keep you updated,” Jay hesitates before kissing my temple and saying his goodbyes. Once Jay is out of the bar a panic sits in my stomach, but I move to help Hermann. 

“Jo, a scotch on the rocks and red wine for booth 5,” Stella passes along. I quickly pour the drinks and move to deliver them to the correct table. My legs immediately halt when it registers what the booth is. It’s the same booth I cried for Jay, where I began to mourn a man that thought I was responsible for his imminent murder. The same booth I was beaten into submission, where I came to terms with my own looming death.

“Jo, I got it,” Kelly appears and grabs the glasses from my hands to take them to the table. I can feel my face growing hot from embarrassment and frustration. I begrudgingly walk back to the bar and start to clean glasses. I try to be gentle even though I’d much rather scream and shatter the glasses against the far wall. 

“There’s been a few times we’ve had to go back to places after rescues. Not all of our fires are at homes or warehouses. I’ve had to go to a fire at my doctor’s office once,” Matt talks to me. 

“Matt, I’m sorry, but I’m really not in the mood.”

“Just hear me out, I promise it’s going somewhere,” he smiles. “The fire at my doctor’s office was bad, one of my first really bad fires. There were multiple casualties, the roof was caving in, we almost lost some of our team. When it came time to go back, I didn’t think much of it. But when I walked through the door all I could see was the fire and all I could think about were the people we almost lost and those we did. I walked out, I couldn’t stay. Later, Mouch had told me that if I continued to avoid the places we had bad fires at, then I’ll have no where to go. He told me that when I think of the painful memories to think of ones that bring me joy. For example, I met my then girlfriend at that doctor’s office, she was a drug rep. Long story short, there is a lot of happiness and good in this bar, a lot of joy around you here. I can’t begin to relate to what happened to you here. We’re all here for you and even if that’s to bring up a good memory for you here. Like maybe that time you had a chugging contest with Otis and you crushed him? Everyone lost their minds and Otis was convinced you cheated. That all happened in that booth.”

It’s true, that all happened early on to me starting at Molly’s. Otis was talking trash about having the tolerance of an ox and that even though he didn’t go to college, he can out drink anyone in those drinking games. Almost everyone was here between the fire, PD, and med crew. Maggie was thoroughly impressed and made it clear that she was behind me from the beginning. The night was one of my favorites at Molly’s, it was one of the first times I felt accepted in this large family. 

“Thanks Matt,” he nodded and walked back to his table with Silvie. 

Matt’s advice became a standard practice the rest of my shift. All the painful and terrifying memories from having the bar being overtaken can’t be undone in a night, but the pit in my stomach became less and less as the night went on. A lot of the crew came into Molly’s throughout the day, no doubt to help keep some friendly faces at various spots in the bar and I’m grateful. 

“Hey! Sorry I’m late, Adam drives like an old lady.”

“It’s called defensive driving you dick,” Adam rolls his eyes as he walks past.

“Don’t worry about it, you want a beer?”

“I honestly would really love to go home, can you leave?” “Yeah, I’ll go grab my stuff,” I head to the office to gather my things and say a quick round of goodbyes before heading out of Molly’s with Jay. 

“So how’d it go?”

“A lot better than I thought. There’s too much good that’s happened in my life at Molly’s for that day to destroy it.”

“We did meet here,” Jay adds. 

“We had our first kiss here too. Plus, I’ve humbled Will on numerous occasions at Molly’s,” Jay laughs and opens my car door for me.

“I’m proud of you,” I lean over and kiss him. 

****

As the days passed it got easier and easier to go to Molly’s. The memories of a gun pointed at my head were pushed away by memories of Jay and I dancing after closing and playing an intense game of slaps with Cruz. Or Stella whipping out on the newly mopped floor. Or the hot dog eating contest between the firefighters and PD. Everyone made a conscious effort to be around the bar more to help fill it with even more bright memories. 

There were times and days when the memories couldn’t be replaced, Hermann had to replace the bell above the door because I couldn’t stop picturing Rob beneath it.

Sadly, the nightmares had remained. I can see the dark circles underneath Jay’s eyes, the eyes that normally fill me with bliss now cause me guilt. I’ve tried to sleep on his sofa, but when I wake up, nightmare or not, Jay is in a chair awake. After a couple nights of the failed sofa plan, I went to stay at my place. The first night I was woken up by Jay banging on my door, claiming he couldn’t sleep knowing I was having a nightmare without him. Even if I slept at my apartment Jay was there either in my bed or on the sofa. 

“Kim, he’s not sleeping. He’s running on black coffee, I even saw a Monster can in his trash,” I pour her a draft beer as she sits at the bar top. 

“Are you sleeping? You both have matching bags under your eyes.”

“I can’t really, the most I’ve gotten is a few hours in a night,” I lean my elbows on the bar top to hold my head in my hands. “I’m so tired. I don’t think Jay gets more than me, he’s always awake.”

“Have you talked with anyone since everything happened?”

“No, I wouldn’t even know who to talk to,” I admit. 

“We have resources through the precinct, I’ll text you some. You and Jay should go, or you’ll both crash and burn.”

“Thanks, I’ll talk about it with him.”

“Hi beautiful,” Jay says as he sits and the bar stool.

“I thought you weren’t drinking tonight,” I joke.

“What I can’t call my girlfriend ‘beautiful’?”

“You can, you just don’t normally lead with it,” I grab Jay a glass of water.

“Well I have to step up my game,” I laugh at his his seriousness.

“So Kim and I were talking and she brought up me potentially seeing someone. Someone to help talk through everything that happened.”

“That’s a great idea, I can help you find someone.”

“I think you should see someone too, you’re sleeping less than me which is saying a lot.”

“I know, I actually made an appointment with my old therapist for next week. I saw her when I was getting help with my PTSD from being over seas. I can see if she has any suggestions of people to go when I’m there.”

“Thanks, Kim’s gonna send over a list too,” Jay grabs my hand and starts to brush his thumb over the back of it. 

“We’ll get through this,” Jay says confidently. 

“I know,” I smile back at him. “You still going to be around when I finish up?”

“Absolutely. Yours or mine?”

“Yours is closer,” Jay squeezes my hand before standing up. 

“Hey Jo, this was left for you,” Hermann says and slides over a yellow packing envelope. I thank him and grab a knife to rip it open. Numerous photos spill out covering the wooden countertop. The photos are all different but the subjects are the same, me and Jay. Some are just of me, or just of Jay, but most of them are of us together. The air becomes thick and suddenly the music is too loud. This can’t be happening. I quickly push the photos back into the package and run to the office to stuff it into the bottom of my bag. Even with the envelope out of sight my heart doesn’t calm down, everything feels as if it is turned up to a thousand. I jump when the door opens and Hermann walks in.

“I’m sorry kid, I didn’t mean to scare yah,” I open my mouth to say anything but nothing comes out. “Hey, hey, you’re okay. You’re safe. Why don’t you head home? We got it from here.” 

Hermann reaches for my coat and bag, but before he could touch it I snatch both from the locker. He doesn’t touch me as he walks me out of the office. 

“Hey Jay,” Hermann quietly calls. Jay’s smile quickly disappears as he scrambles up from his seat. 

“What happened?” Jay asks quietly once he’s close enough. 

“I don’t know, she was like this in the office when I found her. You guys head home alright?” Jay nods and wraps his arm around my waist to lead me out of the bar. 

“We’ll be home soon, okay?” His kind tone makes it hard to keep the tears at bay. 

Taglist: @whit85-blog @bestillmystuckyheart @nocturnalherb16 @5sos-imagine @miranda0102 @thexplosivegirl @annalism @ego-allie-bap

[femmikoto]

zombie au 0909-centric fic that im currently working on the third part of

amidst the end of the world, the winds of change never stop blowing; and yet, some things remain eternal.

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

When Mikoto comes to, it's only him in front.

It takes him a minute to realise he's conscious, a dull headache making it difficult for his eyes to focus as he rubs his forehead and hazards a glance at his surroundings. He's sat on the floor of someone's living room, his back against the couch of a long-since unoccupied apartment, based on the layout and the way former possessions have been left broken or gathering dust. Anxious, Mikoto's attention immediately shifts to the front door, panic soothed when he sees that John's already blocked it using old furniture to prevent any unwanted intrusions.

... John. He must have taken over for a while.

Through the fog that clouds his brain, Mikoto tries to remember where he was before waking up here, what he was doing before his headmate stepped in.

He... He thinks he was scavenging for painkillers at a trashed pharmacy. There's a vague recollection of him knocking over one of the displays and making a ruckus, alerting the undead outside to his presence. A few of them had shambled into the store- Mikoto can't remember exactly how many, maybe three or four- And amidst the tall and narrow aisles, he'd ended up cornered with only his rucksack and baseball bat in hand. He recalls the onset of a panic attack, the fear that this was how it was all going to end...

... So that's when he must have...

Glancing to his right, Mikoto looks at the bat in question- It's never strayed far from his side since the beginning of the outbreak. Fresh viscera paints the dulled metallic surface, coagulating as it dries and confirming his suspicions.

John saved them again. Like he always does.

Mikoto doesn't understand how he keeps doing it, and he suspects that he's happier not knowing, but every time he's made a life-endangering mistake it's been John who's swooped in and done the cleaning up.

... It's only been them since the start of this.

There's not many solo survivors left from what he understands, but that was the thing; even if he outwardly appeared to just be one person tackling the end of the world, Mikoto had never been alone. Where he had once feared John and everything he represented, nowadays he was closer than ever to the man in his head, even unexpectedly enjoying his company within the inner world or whenever John joined him in co-fronting. You'd think there'd be little that could put a smile on your face during the apocalypse, but his conversations with John really did make existing in a world like this far more bearable. Who would've thought this guy had such a good, albeit snarky sense of humour?

All that time and effort Mikoto had sunk into perfectly assimilating into society had been for nothing once it fell apart, but John had remained. Never tried to cause him harm. Never faltered in his feelings, and never expected anything in return.

... John's feelings...

He still remembers the matter-of-fact way in which John expressed his affections back when Mikoto had first begun acknowledging his existence, like it was as natural as breathing or sleeping. He's never understood how John could feel that way in the first place, knowing Mikoto's heart so thoroughly- Every bit of anger he refused to admit to, every curse he secretly wished upon others, all of the ugliest parts of him- How was it that the one person in the world he couldn't hide these things from could love him regardless?

... Love.

He's known John loved him since before the world became a living hell.

So then... At what point during this train of thought had his face gotten so hot, and why...?

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

"If your method of combat is one that requires so much physical exertion, at least let me give you a once-over. For his sake, if not your own."

It seems Shidou's words had given John pause, and he'd ultimately relented to letting the stranger give their body a partial checkup- That is, the best Shidou could manage with a lack of equipment and medical history to refer to. When he's finished, John puts some distance between them in the trashed gas station they and the others have taken refuge in; John keeps claiming he's not joining their little group, but it's been a few days since their paths crossed and he's yet to go anywhere. Near the back of the store, Amane, Haruka, Mahiru and Kazui sleep on the floor whilst the two men continue the night watch.

The former surgeon sits on an empty wooden crate that's been turned upside-down, while John perches on the counter next to the register. Silence hangs over them for a while; neither of them are particularly good conversationalists.

Well, Shidou was, once. But it seems grief has a funny way of taking that from you.

"... l've never met anyone with your condition before."

"Wowww. First time I've heard that one," John quips sarcastically, digging in his pocket for a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. In comparison to Kazui, who seemed to value Shidou's company whenever the two of them shared a smoke break, John's engagement in the habit is wholly anti-social.

Shidou continues, patience unwavering. In the few days they've known each other, he's discovered the best way to get this man talking is bringing up one of two subjects- Survival, and Mikoto.

"Have the two of you been together for some time?"

John lights his cigarette silently, but Shidou notices the slight change in his posture, the way his usually intimidating gaze becomes just a bit softer at the mention of his host. Though with how John had been fronting most of the time, the group had only encountered Mikoto himself with in the last day or so; a friendly, cooperative young man, so different from the person Shidou's currently talking to despite sharing the same face.

"... I was around before things went to shit, if that's what you mean."

"I'm referring to your relationship."

Another pause in the conversation. John always seems reluctant to talk about himself, but if Mikoto's attached to the topic, it seems to come a little easier to him.

"... He knew how I felt about him. But he's the awkward type about that sorta thing. Not that I cared. I just want him to be happy." He takes a drag of his cigarette, holding the smoke on his tongue for a moment before exhaling.

Shidou waits for him to continue.

"But after the world fell apart... After all the times I saved our ass, he started returning the feeling. Decided that life was too short not to give it a shot." Never thought the happiest day of my life would occur during the fucking apocalypse, he thinks to himself.

"He told you his feelings had changed?"

"He didn't have to. I felt it." John smirks a little, almost sounding smug about the fact- The way he knows Mikoto's heart better than anyone could ever hope to.

"... I see. So happiness can be found even in a situation like this."

"It's more than happiness. It's love."

Shidou can't help smiling at how nonchalantly John says that. How proud he is to love Mikoto, and to be loved in turn.

"You sound like Shiina-san."

"Shut up."

[authorautumnbanks]

How To Tame A Sorcerer (40)

Series Master list

Kagome lies there on the bed, her arms outstretched, as she stares up at the ceiling. It doesn't surprise her that Satoru hasn't found her yet, not that she is placing any kind of blame on him. No, if anything, it just shows how much planning Yumi went through to pull this off. She turns at the sound of the door. Yumi wisely keeps a distance between them. At least the guards are gone, or at least not inside the room with her. They were kind of unnerving with how still and statuesque there were. And what was up with them eating their own tongues? Surely there were less permanent methods to prove one's loyalty.

"Is this chain necessary?" she asks. Yumi glances at her leg and then sets the package down on the vanity. It's the only furniture in the room that isn't black. It speaks to Yumi's own vanity that to have it be the only thing in white in the room. Which works out for her as Yumi's own hubris will be her downfall.

Yumi pulls out a key from her pocket, runs a claw-tipped finger down it, and then places it back into her pocket. "I think it's a nice decoration. Your leg was so plain without it." Yumi smirks, her lips painted red. In a green top and jeans, it's the most casual that she's seen Yumi in. Almost makes her seem normal and not so regal.

"And that lipstick clashes with your hair, but okay." Kagome smiles back at the enraged look on Yumi's face. "For one so proud, I'm surprised that you would align yourself with Naraku and some curses." She sits up, dangles her legs over the bed. At some point, the chain will have to come off, unless they really expect her to wear the same clothes. Kagome shudders. Nothing worse than not being able to bathe. She couldn't stand it in the Feudal era and she won't go for it now.

"The other foxes are... enamored with you." Yumi opens the package and sets out the items. "Yakeru especially. It's sickening how he and the others fawn over you. Though, if they didn't, I wouldn't have known about your young one."

Hairpins? Kagome leans forward but does not move from the bed. She isn't worried about Yumi doing anything to her at the moment. Harming her would mean harming the baby. She places a hand over her stomach. "You know, stress isn't good for babies. I'd feel much more at ease if I didn't have a chain on me like some animal. You, of all things, should know how stressful that can be."

Yumi twirls a gold hairpin in her hand. There's a fox and moon hanging from the end of it. "The six eyes will not find you."

Kagome shrugs. "And if he finds me, it'll be much harder to plead on your behalf if he finds me like this. Just something to consider."

"Humans and their need to cling to false hope." Yumi sets the hairpin down next to the others. She presses her lips into a firm line, but there's fear etched into her eyes. "You talk to me so harshly when I come bearing gifts."

"I'm just speaking facts. The only gift I want from you is to be let free." Kagome pushes herself off of the bed, comes to a stop right before Yumi. It's too bad, they could have been friends. "Let's pretend for a moment that you manage to keep me hidden away until my child is born. Then what? A newborn can't help you with whatever plan you have cooked up, that's just more chances for you to slip up." False hope is not something that fills her—no, she knows Satoru will not stop searching for her; however, she is not some damsel in distress and will not sit around waiting for him like some old cattle going out for slaughter.

Yumi sneers, her claws digging into her palms. "Demons do not screw up. What're twenty years to us? Nothing."

"And yet, your numbers are dwindling. Humans and curses alike outnumber you despite being so superior to all of us." Kagome laughs, shaking her head as she steps around Yumi to pick up the hairpin with one, two-tailed fox dangling from it. "You think that you're getting one over on Naraku when it's really you that's been caught in his web." She grips the gold pin in her hand. She hopes her words strike a nerve.

Yumi is a proud demon, but her arrogance overshadows her intelligence. And that is the slip-up that Kagome wants.

Yumi grips Kagome's hair, pulls her face to face. Kagome grit her teeth, determined not to let out any sounds of pain. "Don't think that just because you bewitched the others and the six eyes, that you can trick me too." Yumi bares her fangs. "As if I or any other demon should be content to be cast in the shadows for some mere humans." She jerks Kagome's head back. "You will not rule over me just because you have some jewel."

"No one said anything about–" Yumi digs her claws into the back of Kagome's skull, the tips prick at her. The hairpin in her palm grows hot.

"The Shikon priestess will bring about a new world. A world in which demons will once again rule over everyone, and your child is the perfect weapon to see that come to fruition."

"I won't let you do that," Kagome rasps out, her face scrunched up in pain.

"You don't have a choice, Gome-chan." Yumi snaps her fangs at her.

"Not even a whole day in, and you've already slipped." Kagome swings her arm and jams the hairpin into Yumi's neck. Yumi lets her go with a yelp, her hands trying and failing to pull out the pin as the purification spreads. Kagome rubs the back of her head, soothing the pain as she towers over the fallen demon.

"B-bitch," Yumi says, as her skin blackens. Kagome crunches down and grabs the keys from Yumi's pocket. Yumi swipes at her, but her efforts are weak. The purification must be speeding up.

"Really, you should have known better." She shakes her head as she unlocks the chain from her leg. "As if I was going to stay here and be okay with you threatening my child." The door swings open, prompting Kagome to rush for the other hairpins. She throws them with everything she has towards the center of their foreheads, silently praying that it works like she needs it to. The Shikon pulses from within her.

"Where were you when I was getting kidnapped," she mutters, not really expecting an answer back. The Shikon sends a warm wave of power to her stomach. She places both hands on her stomach. The smell of burned demons fades away as she takes a moment to take in her new reality. She smiles and then quickly grimaces as the smell does, in fact, get to her. Kagome presses one hand over her mouth as she picks up a dagger from the pile of ash.

A twinge of guilt flashes through as she looks back at the remains of Yumi. Under any other circumstance, they could have gotten past this. It wouldn't be the first time that she had befriended her kidnapper. But, she looks down at her flat stomach, grips the dagger handle tighter. Some things, not even she can look over. Kagome rolls her shoulders, sticks the other three hairpins into her hair, and walks out of the room.

She just needs to find her way back to Satoru, try not to run into any more trouble in the process, and somehow break the news to Yakeru.

[incarnateirony]

This goes outside of what you’ve been talking about recently, but I’m sending this on the chance you might answer. Recently I’ve seen some discourse on how Wicca is a tradition that is, due to its origins, inherently racist, sexist, transphobic and cultural apropriation, since most of it was taken from other cultures by a european. Since you’re the most no-bullshit person that understands of this sort of things I know of on the internet, do you think that’s true at all or is this a lot about nothing?

Listen, like. No.

I don't like wicca, lemme make that clear, but this is "let me shove as many buzz words in as possible to justify why I don't like a thing."

Wicca didn't steal from (insert list of minorities). Wicca stole from a white man named Aleister Crowley, then spent the last 70 years denying they did so. Because how dare you, this is a feminist movement, how dare you say it came from a MAN. [throws papers and histories in the incinerator] NOTHING TO SEE HERE

I'm a follower of Crowley's work. Most of my meta even cites Crowley's work. I've even gotten into fights with fellow hermetics and thelemites on my blog before.

At the end of the day, there's some severe SJW brainrot going on. Don't take that as being "anti SJW" or "anti woke", but pretending the brainrot to justify Things I Don't Like never hits is absurd.

Religion is a form of storytelling, belief, and structure. If you don't live in a tumblr hole of argumentation, studying anthropology shows how the entire evolution of deities, myths, etc all comes from storytelling sharing, and a lot of ideas are innately shared, just like our heritage. Versions split as people traveled over thousands of years but Campbell, while reductionist to some extent, Had A Point with Hero With 1000 Faces. So this whole "someone's religion stole MY religion's thing" shut up, literally every religion "stole" everything, it's how religions happen.

To roll back to center, Wicca started initially as a branch of a thelemic lodge. It used to be closed doors, and have graded promotions (similar to my old Zelator > Adeptus > Dominus > etc). It used to have formalized learning and education structures. Then when Crowley died his sidekick rewrote Literally Everything and tried to take Campbell's argument to make a FAR LESS EDUCATED OR ACCURATE tale of "the global ancient witch religion" and spun it out into being an open door process anyone can google fu through and say they're part of.

That's what the fuck Wicca stole from. Right down to Do No Harm or Do What Thou Wilt.

One could argue her Global Witch Religion was an Act Of Theft since it lacked the actual history of it, but the Theft started at hijacking another religion which did have the anthropological studies behind it to warrant it. Thelema was designed to use other mythologies as a unifying method while removing the constant centralization on christian deities (eg, hermetics/alchemy often went into jesus juice from christian influence, so Crowley rebelled by finding syncretics in other/older religions to get off the jesus juice.) His was studied and backed. Valentina's was witch fanfiction, so I guess you could say "she stole it" but at the end of the day, it's "she was the first ff.net witch with tildes on her name making shit up."

People will stop being confused about wicca if they stop listening to what 14 year old witches on tumblr claim about wicca.

io pan, io pan, i am a man, do what thou wilt as a great god can.

I hate nothing more though, than when tumblr tries to forcefully corral gods and ancient mysteries into invisible borders, like the gods don't have passports. Your Almighty Creator only exists in fuckoffistan, I guess. There's a boundary being crossed, and it isn't "humans displaying anthropologically consistent behaviors", it's "people that want to treat entire religions as fetishes that must be beaten into borders and never travel." Meanwhile you can track the origin of dragon mythos, for example, from south africa, upwards through africa, then southern asia, then east asia, then a later chapter going into the indoeuropean era in general, and also the bridge crossing to the americas, you can literally find these threads and use them to discuss our similarities and connections, as long as you don't try to overwrite the cultures themselves and HOW they explored the divine in association with their form of it. You can actually--holy shit--RESPECT each other.

Human history gets pretty interesting once you crack open anthropology and partner global mythology's evolution according to the migration of man. Or we can just go yell at our ancestors to not "steal" each other's descriptions of the divine. Like kids taking their ball and going home. NO U CAN'T TALK TO MY SUN GOD, MY SUN GOD IS TED, HE'S A DIFFERENT SUN THAN YOUR STUPID SUN GOD BOB.

I don't know how to explain this to tumblr, but the previous sentence is why wars happen.

There's a wholeass thing going on in Palestine about this shit right now. Sure it's about land/right to live but let's dig kids, what's the real argument between these groups for the last forever.

So stop it.

[ecosafepestcontrol]

Why Pest Control Is Essential for Healthcare Facilities?

A clean and healthy environment is essential for any healthcare facility. It needs to be kept in mind that pest control is not only important for the safety of patients but also for the overall well-being of the employees.

Pests like rodents, insects, and birds can transmit diseases as they carry them on their bodies or through their droppings.

To avoid this risk, it is necessary that you hire the Best Pest Control Geelong technician who will use suitable methods to keep your facility free from these pests.

Here are some reasons why professional pest control services are needed:

Preventing the spread of germs

The best Pest Control in Geelong can help to prevent the spread of germs. While it's easy to see how pests can carry germs and make you sick, they also cause bacteria and viruses to spread easily throughout your facility.

For example, mice can spread up to 100 different diseases that are harmful to humans such as salmonella or Hantavirus. Rats are known carriers of fleas which can transmit plague or typhus virus through their bite wounds on humans or animals alike!

And cockroaches carry over 30 different types of bacteria that cause illnesses ranging from dysentery (a digestive infection) all the way up to hepatitis A (which affects the liver).

Protecting patients, staff, and visitors

Pest control is essential for healthcare facilities because it can help prevent the spread of germs, and protect patients, staff, and visitors from disease-carrying insects and rodents. Pests can carry germs that cause serious illnesses such as salmonella, staph infections, or even plague.

Pests also damage property by chewing through wires and woodwork in order to get into areas where they can nest or make their homes.

This can cause fires when wires short out; it also makes buildings unsafe for use by patients who may be frail or disabled due to illness or injury (such as those recovering from surgery).

Preventing property damage

Pests can cause a lot of damage to property, furniture, and equipment. This can lead to costly repairs and replacements, which can be avoided with Best Pest Control Geelong service. Pests also carry diseases that can be spread through bites or droppings on surfaces in your facility.

If left untreated, these diseases could make staff ill and visitors sick as well! So, it's important that you protect your staff by controlling pests with regular inspections from an expert pest controller.

This is why it's so important to have your pest control inspected regularly. The pest controller will check for signs of infestation, such as insect excrement and damage caused by chewing or scratching.

They'll also check for any entry points where pests could enter the building during their inspection.

Compliance with regulations

A healthcare facility is a highly regulated environment. In order to maintain its certification, it must comply with a number of regulations. One such regulation is that pest control needs to be done according to the standards set by your state or province.

This means that any pest control company you hire should be certified and registered with your local government agency, as well as follow all applicable laws and regulations.

If you use an unlicensed or uncertified company for your facility's regular maintenance program (and even if you don't), there are still ways for them to get in trouble with authorities.

If they use pesticides improperly or fail to follow regulations regarding safety equipment like respirators, masks, and gloves while performing their work duties; if they violate any other rules outlined in their contracts with clients; etcetera--the possibilities are endless!

And since these kinds of incidents will inevitably lead back toward us when they happen on our watch (because let's face it--we're responsible), we need some kind of assurance that everything happening behind these closed doors won't come crashing down around us later on down the line due solely because we didn't do our due diligence beforehand."

Cost savings

Better cleaning. Pest control can help you to reduce the amount of time you spend on cleaning and maintenance, which will save you money in the long run.

Reduced risk of infection. When pests are present in your facility, there is a higher risk that they will pass on germs to staff members or patients.

This leads to an increased risk of infection--and if someone gets sick at work, they can't come back until they've been cleared by their doctor!

The upshot? Not only do you lose productivity while this person is out sick (and possibly forever), but also potentially have to hire another employee as well!

Reduced risk of injury from bugs biting or stinging people who work at healthcare facilities like hospitals and nursing homes.

Maintaining accreditation

Maintaining accreditation is a legal requirement for healthcare facilities. In fact, it's a condition of licensure, funding, insurance, and accreditation.

If your facility loses its certification status with any one of these organisations (which can happen if you don't follow their rules), then your staff members will have trouble practicing medicine or providing care at all because they won't be permitted access to patients' medical records or treated as legitimate healthcare providers by their peers in other facilities.

If you want to provide quality service while keeping up with regulatory standards and maintaining patient safety at all times--and who doesn’t? --then pest control services should be an integral part of your operation from start to finish!

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you understand the importance of pest control in healthcare facilities. It's crucial that you take care of the pests in your hospital or clinic because they can cause a lot of damage and spread disease.

If you don't take care of them, they will spread to other rooms and end up costing you a lot more money.

That's why it's important that you hire the Best Pest Control Geelong service to come out regularly and inspect your facility.

Source: Why Pest Control Is Essential for Healthcare Facilities?

[lookedafterchild]

Introduction to The Breakdown Of My Second Foster Care Placement Hi, to those of you who've not ready the first and second post, these will explain how I got to this stage. And how the second placement was so important to me. There is also a pre-foster care post. Going into Foster Care Aged 9 | My Life Stories 007 My First Foster Placement | My Life Stories My Second Foster Care Placement With Carol And John So this is quite an exciting post but one that's not been updated on since 2019. The Breakdown Of My Second Foster Care Placement when I posted the last post about Carol And John. and it was very vague. And did not contain that much information.So now I'm making the 4th post. and last post that will link into my hospitalisation and then back into care, but the different services within social services that endured after that. Why Did these carers mean so much to me?. Carol And John were spectacular. And amazing, caring human beings. That has really changed my life. She showed me what it's like to live. And taught me how to love not only myself but others. But I was scared and angry. And very damaged still from past Mental Health issues and episodes. I was 9 and only trying to fix myself but dumb to the consequences. And how it would shape my childhood. I refer to "The Thing" again as it's something I'm currently still working on and would hope to conclude and heal from soon. But they kept fighting for 4 years to get me help. But everyone has their limits and capabilities because of training. As well as having to safeguard their other foster children.And that I'm still in touch and only recently visited them and reunited in person. Shows how committed they are to me. Even though the placement had to end, they did not want to cut the ties completely.   What was it like meeting your old foster carers? It was more nostalgic and shock for me to see familiar places and faces. It felt like only yesterday I was walking through those front doors from a day at school. There were some minor modifications, like my old bedroom being converted into part of the kitchen! But most things had stayed the same. We spoke mainly about the past and the good times we had together. I praised carol and John a lot for their hard work and dedication and they praised me for my recovery and turning around my life. As I've learnt, not every care case sadly ends up a success but when one does, it's a feeling of achievement and a rush unexplainable. especially when receiving positive feedback from them later on. so carol stating that "Your Case really made our job worthwhile" was quite a pleasure and honour to hear. The Breakdown of my foster placement So with my building mental health crisis, we head into the reasons for my hospitalisation Blog Post. I was so broken from trauma and anger in my past; And started lashing out at myself and my peers. I'd already discovered self harm in a few methods, including "the thing", but now they could see it. And I was getting other people involved by jumping on my knuckles in attempts to break them. My hand had become completely swollen. My Foster Careers at this point where also dealing with my self harming at home. And other traumas and behavioural issues. And I felt I was alone and withdrawn from life, and didn't want to be anywhere but my room. But of course I tried to fit in at school, but this just caused other issues and problems. I got bullied often and tormented. But I was considered a victim. I only keep in contact with a few people who survived that school. But when my psychiatrist finally had enough reason to believe, I was at risk to myself and others. He finally gave me the choice of if I go into hospital voluntarily or not, but you can read these in the posts I linked above. Carol and John did amazing, but after going into hospital I was ripped away from placement and from this point on passed onto professional Care Homes Or 16+ Serv

ices. if only it didn't take me so long to get the help I needed and deserved. But it's not one I blame on carol or John. but a lack of resources in social services or mental health teams to allocate the help I needed. is this the end of the foster Care blog Posts? Not at all. But where should you go next to continue the path of my life? Well, if you've not already read the reasons for my hospitalisation, then I advise you do before we transition to the mental health stories and after that chapter is concluded, we can continue the stories on foster care. A Message From Li Jean-Luc Harris As you already know I work in 16+ Residential Care Services right now and I've been in care myself. But to be quite frank. I'm really not happy with the state of the Social Services. and the current organisations behind it. So I've used the old website domain liharris.com to build a new foundation of support documentation for people in care, or suffering with Mental Health homelessness or just want some wellbeing advice. as well as providing care providers with templates of commonly used documents and reports. As well as allowing for residents to be more informed of the process behind them being in care. And how to get support they may need.

[hollandsmushroom]

Hi could you do a mob!tom x pregnant!reader where tom takes a few days off of work to be with the reader and gets to experience love, anger, happy, emotional reader. Thank you.

Full Range || Mob!T.H.

Word Count: 1037

Warnings: Fighting, mood swings, pregnancy

Read more here and request something here

Tom had forgotten to inform you of the fact that he would still be there when you woke up, that his arm would still be resting around your waist when you peel your eyes open and you would still be nestled back into his chest. You felt your heart clench with joy when you opened your eyes and looked down at Tom’s hand pressed against your round belly, his fingers spread out as if he was trying to palm you like a basketball but you knew that it was just him trying to touch and protect as much of you as he possibly could, always the protector(even when he was asleep). You felt elated, a feeling of joy that was so all encompassing you felt suffocated, pulling away from Tom’s arms and struggling into a criss cross sitting position facing him. Your eyes focused on his face, admiring how at peace he looked, like he had no cares in the world, like he was just him, free of any mob related stress, just him, your Tom, in all of his exhausted glory. He snored softly, emitting a soft hick from his pursed thin lips and the noise was so undeniably adorable it brought tears to your eyes. Your hand spread across your swollen belly as you began to cry with joy that you had gotten to wake up with Tom, that he was in your shared bed with you, not off finding loopholes in the law, with you, tangible under your hands.

A muffled sob escaped your lips, it was joy but that could easily be misconstrued by the way you were a blubbering mess, snot dripping from your nose as you admired your husband. Your murmurd sobs apparently being enough to catch the attention of Tom’s attuned hearing, drawing him from his slumber as his brown eyes fluttered open, looking to wear he assumed he thought you would be laying to find you sitting with tears running down your cheeks as you caressed your stomach. The sight made his breathing catch in his throat, panic overtaking him as he shot into a sitting position and reached out for you, calloused palms that usually smelt of the grip of his pistol finding your cheeks, caressing your wet skin in an attempt to wipe away your tears.

“Love, what's wrong, are you okay? Is the baby okay? What is happening?” he rushed out, unable to contain his fear as he assessed your body for damage and finding none.

“You-you are here” you sobbed, pulling Tom as close as you could with your belly sticking out to separate the both of you.

“Of course I am love” he murmurs into your hair as you hold him tight but that seemed to be the wrong thing to say because as soon as the words left his lips he felt your body still under his touch. You weren’t reacting to his touch anymore, no longer letting your body melt into his hold, in fact you were rigid. “Love?” He asks as he pulled back from you. Your face was set in a stern expression.

“What do you mean of course?” you bite at him, spite lacing your voice.

“Love, what do you mean?” He tried to reach out for you but you pulled back farther, stepping back off the bed so you were standing in front of him, your arms crossed over your chest, forearm resting on the top of your tummy.

“You said ‘of course’ like it was some given thing when your normal work schedule is to be gone before I wake up!” you shout and it clicked in his brain, you were hormonal, mood swings to the 9s, that is why you were reacting this way.

“Love, I didnt me-” he tried to explain and reach out for you but you pulled back, making your way out of the bedroom door.

“No, Tom, not gonna work” you spoke as you disappeared over the threshold leaving Tom on the bed, reeling over the past couple minutes. You made your way downstairs in search of something to eat, you were eating for 2 at this point and were hungry nearly all of the time, waddling to the fridge in hopes of finding something yummy.

“TOM!” you screamed when you opened the fridge, not expecting the speed with which he would be at your side, seeing as you had left him upstairs, confused and still in bed.

“What? What is it, love?” Once again he traced your body with his eyes trying to assess for any obvious signs of damage or harm.

“You bought strawberries!” you cried out, sniffling a little with happy tears welling in your eyes yet again, bouncing on the soles of your swollen feet as you gripped the plastic container with joy.

“Oh, yes!” he sighed, body releasing the tension that it had been holding. “I got them before coming home yesterday because I thought you would want some,” he explained, only making you feel more happy and bouncy.

“Thank you so much Tommy!” you spoke just a little louder than necessary as you moved past him to wash the berries.

“You are very welcome but you are giving me a heart attack everytime you shout for me love, maybe there is a better method of getting my attention that we could find” Tom suggested, moving to close the door of the fridge that you had left open. As the stainless steel cooled the skin of his palm he watched you, noting how you once again went rigid. “Fuck” he whispered under his breath.

“I was just trying to thank you Tom but I guess I can’t do that right can I?” you shouted, he knew it was the hormones, he knew that you were happy with him but these emotions were giving him whiplash. Like he had before he left you on your own, not following after you as you walked away to cool off but as soon as you were gone he let his head fall against the fridge door and released a deep breath.

“This is gonna be a long day” he spoke to his blurred and distorted reflection in the fridge door.

♡Taglist♡

@harmqnia @marvelhasmyheart235 @iluvdeja @samaraaaaa @capital-koreasofia @hollandsour @thehumanistsdiary @itscaminow @quaksonhehe @Thollandneedy @parkerpeter24 @evermoreholland @prancerrparkerr @lovehollandy12 @spidey-sophie

[husbandohunter]

Moments of Despair #1 [Genshin Impact/Diluc x Reader]

Synopsis: “The man who was on fire and realized it too late.”

(A series of works where the boys deal with the passing of their beloved).

Albedo's despair

Warnings: angst, tragedy, major character death, graphic depictions of violence perhaps

(A/n): Had these ideas for a while after reading @/serensama To Mourn series of another fandom. So much sorrow and feeling I just was inspired to write 😫

_______________________________________________

The moment you fell lifeless in Diluc's arms, he wanted to disappear.

It was raining again, he had always despised the rain. How it trickles down the slope of your cheek, like tears falling from the heavens. The sight of it mixing with your blood creating a thin stream of red rivers flowing beside him. They patter down obnoxiously because time didn't care, the gods don't care, the world didn't care. You were just a small fragile person to their eyes but to him you were his light. A candle that used to shine in his dark world was now dissipitated by the waters of reality.

Many droplets have passed and he was still holding you. Diluc could do nothing but stare. He hadn't shed any tears nor could he make a coherent sound. Perhaps it was because his tears have long run out when his father was held in the very same way. Or it was because he was heartless. He's usually told for being cold and indifferent. But the pain clenching in his chest was proof that he still had one (proof that it was still beating), much to his dismay. It would be better if he didn't.

So why can't he just look away? Your wounds, your bruised features, everything now etched so deep into the back of his conciousness that is was starting to awaken his worst nightmares. They were the source of the bile growing in his stomach. The irony stench filling up his nostrils felt so sickening. He couldn't turn away. You're dead. You're dead. You're dead. As if reality had yet to register, or maybe he refused to accept it, Diluc helplessly gazed down your body with blank and empty eyes.

"Master Diluc..."

Jean's voice called out to him pitifully. He rises up with his back turned, ignoring the stares given to him, "Leave. The knights of favonius are not needed here."

"But she's a Mondstadt citizen," The anemo user retorts, slightly taken aback by his impassive reaction, "It's my responsibility to ensure this case doesn't go unnoticed."

Unnoticed. Diluc scoffs in his mind, what a tasteless joke.

"It seems you weren't listening," he announces as his head was turned ajar so they could see the deep hatred glowing red in his eyes, "Leave. Now."

Jean's lips trembled before barely being able to say, "Alright" and retreating her knights back to the city. Kaeya narrows his gaze at his bother, the sorrow was evident through his pupils. He steps forward until he was arms length away from his brother. Too little too late, another failure was added to the belt.

Kaeya was a man of many words but for once he was at loss of what to say. No underhanded suggestions, no ideas taunting him to spill his thoughts, he simply asks Diluc, "What are you planning to do now?"

Silence. Kaeya couldn't predict what sort of expression his brother was making as he looks at your corpse. It brought a heavy weight of unsettlement upon him and here he thought he had already grown used to his brother's quietness.

Slowly, he turns around while letting the water pour down his face. Kaeya tightens his jaw as Diluc drags his feet towards him, stopping when their shoulders were parallel, "It's none of your concern."

"You're just going to leave her here?"

There was a slight pause which was enough of an answer. The Cavalry Captain sighs when he watched him walk away, what was the point of asking when Kaeya knew Diluc so well? He glances at your form before swiftly shutting his eyes.

It was his concern.

-------

A week later, the staff of the Ragnvindr household could hardly recognize their Master's appearance. They knew not to bother him when he decides to lock himself in his chambers. Diluc drowns himself with work from hours to no end as he connects the findings of the person that took your life. As expected, it was one of his enemies- a fatui member. The question was, which one?

"Master Diluc, I beg of you, please take care of yourself," Elzer pleads.

The pyro user didn't bother to spare him a glance or look at the tray of food he carried.

Food...you always brought them whenever he had to work overtime.

"I do not remember specifiying anyone to be allowed in my office," he voices aloud, "If it's related to business affairs simply leave that with Adelinde and I'll take a look at it tomorrow."

"I understand. But you've been working all day and night yet refusing to take any breaks in between. At this rate, you'll harm your health."

The feather pen in his grip kept dragging it's course, "This is beyond the duties assigned to you Elzer."

"That's because it was a request sent by your father," he adds, knowing that stepping over his boundaries may cost him, "If Master Crepus was still here, I'm sure he would have said the same thing."

Taking a deep breath, Elzer lays out his last card, "And also your wife."

The pen slows into a halt.

No one had brought you up until now. Elzer anxiously watches his Master shifting in his seat, his red bangs covering half of his face but he could still see the frown pressing firmly on his lips. It wouldn't be a surprise if Diluc suddenly bursted at him for mentioning such a sensitive topic, all that matters was his master's well being and Elzer was willing to risk everything for it. But nothing. Diluc turns his attention ever so slightly at the tray he carried.

"Fine, but I'm not eating that."

"What? Wasn't this was her favourite-"

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

Elzer furrows his brows before sighing, "...No, Master Diluc."

He exits the room while carrying the fresh dish of Once Upon A Mondstadt that you loved so much. The door closes with a soft click and he was alone again.

People found it strange how Diluc seemed so vacant to your passing. He didn't even show up at your funeral. Instead, he continues his duties as a Mondstadt nobleman like usual while taking care of business matters associated with the winery. Except those who were close to him could see the difference in his actions. Apathy, he was so mechanical in every task he did. Like a marionette attatched on strings, a doll without a soul. After all, his soul died the moment when yours did too. What remains was a shadow of Diluc and a being existing solely for revenge and duty. He was nothing but a remnant.

Fatigue begins to wash over him and he fights to stay awake. Because once he gives in it will all be over. Once he closes his eyes, he would see your face with a multitude of images from the past. He would hear your voice calling out his name from a distant space as it echoes off the walls of his mind. He would fall into a dream where you were still with him and as always, waking up to see that it was never real.

I should have pushed you away.

Because what hurt Diluc the most wasn't that you were gone, rather, it was how you were still here.

Then you'd still be-

Something breaks and it turned out to be the pen he was holding so tightly. Only now Diluc realized how fast his heart was thrumming as beads of sweat began rolling down his forehead. Focus. Don't waste time. He won't grant himself the liberty of anything when your murderer was still on the run. Every wound they inflicted on you was going to be returned in tenfold. He'll make sure of it. That's why, he refuses to think about you at all. Diluc occupies his mind with other matters since at this point, work was the only efficient method of keeping his sanity in tact.

She needs you to focus.

The door opens and Kaeya enters the room while holding a document, "We found the guy."

His reaction was immediate, "Where?"

"Hm, now that we meet, it's actually quite debateable," The captain notes wryly, "When was the last time you've gotten proper rest?"

"I don't have time for this, either you tell me or I'll do it by force."

Kaeya couldn't help but sigh, "Apologies but you don't seem to be in any state for a fight. I'm sure you know how it would end up if you were to face your enemy right now."

"..."

"Diluc, this isn't healthy," Kaeya asserts, it's been a while since he sounded so sincere, "I'm not here to prevent you from doing what's necessary however, perhaps it would be better if I finished it in your stead."

"No," Diluc stubbornly answers, "Hand that over."

"...Heh, then there's really nothing I can do to stop you it seems," he whispers with a sad smile, "At the very least, be careful."

"I intend to," The pyro user snatches the paper parchment out of Kaeya's hands before opening the window, "Also, if Elzer returns, tell him there's a few errands I have to take care of."

The night was a full moon and the sky was empty, Diluc leaps off the edge and disappears into the darkness. There was no telling of what could happen next. Since you weren't here, it was up to Kaeya to watch over him.

-------

The claymore dropped to the ground with a clang as it soaks up the blood of the fatui he just killed.

Diluc was tired, so tired.

He slumps down against the wall from pure exhaustion, all that adrenaline and hatred went up in fumes, leaving behind whatever was left in his heart: nothing. Two hours, not even that far from Mondstadt, the fatui hid in an abandoned building as he cowarded for his life. When Diluc arrived, he never expected this monster to be so weak. This was the person who murdered you? A pathetic nobody that was simply following orders? This was the reason why he lost you forever?

In the end, the only one to blame was himself, for being weak and unable to protect you. He was supposed to be your hero ("Darknight hero," you'd always tease), the rock that shields you just as you had been the warmth he longed for many years, did he give you enough? Was this enough? He thought avenging your death would grant him a peace of mind and the justice you deserved but deep down, he knew it will never be enough when it comes to his love for you.

"Diluc."

He closes his eyes, he hears your voice. He was so tired, it wouldn't be a surprise if he started hallucinating.

"Diluc."

"I'm sorry..."

The man lets out a trembled breath as he apologized to the image of you in his mind. I'm sorry I failed you. They were repeated like a mantra in hopes to reach you somehow. Of course that was impossible, his feelings, his emotions, love and sorrow altogether will never reach you again. And your arms that once comforted him and brushed his hair with a soothing voice, saying everything will be okay, where are they now?

"Diluc."

"Stop," he didn't want to hear your voice.

"Diluc, I'm here."

"Stop..."

"Diluc..."

He jolts his eyes open and lets out a yell, what was he saying? He doesn't know. All he needed now was to drown out the fake voices mocking in his head. Diluc grabs the nearest object and shatters it against the floor, the dam was broken and it flooded uncontrollably, breaking everything in it's way. The abandoned house was filled with loud cries of a man sobbing with agony like a broken-hearted child. He crumbles to his knees and falls to his side, lifting his forearms while clutching his face.

And screamed.

Archons, what did he do to deserve this? Why do the people he cherish get taken away from him? Diluc never wanted to be the Darknight hero if it meant having his father perish in his arms. He didn't want the feeling of stabs against his chest with every breath he took. He didn't want to feel cold while knowing it was because you weren't here to hold him. He didn't want your voice, your pictures or your memory.

He wanted you.

"(Y/n)..." he chokes. Rolling to his back, Diluc moves his arms to cover his eyes, letting the tears run down to his ears, "(Y/n)..."

For who knows how long, he lays there in the abandoned building and mourns. Diluc doesn't have the strength to move from his position, he found himself staring mindlessly through the cracks of the roof when his voice had gone hoarse. The corners of his eyes still burned and his head was throbbing with so much pain. Maybe he should just stay here but the thought of being in the same room as your murderer was unfathomable.

Picking up his claymore once again, Diluc drags himself out of the door. Where would he go? It's not like he had a home to return to because home was when he was with you. A doll without a soul, the marionette moves as if the strings have commanded him to do so. Where ever it takes him, he didn't care. He just knew he had to go.

[thesunicarusfellfor]

Hey!! I love your writing. Can you do a Yandere! Ranboo, Tommy , and tubbo. where they are all in love with the reader and they kidnapped her to ‘keep her safe’ and the reader doesn’t know at first, then she slow realized they are obsessed with her. she like them back but she also want to live her life, so she tries to make agreement? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.

The Ranboo gif is just beautiful and I love it. Lemme see what I can do for ya! I wrote a bullet point Platonic fic if that's fine? I'm still worried about writing the minors in romantic relationships, even if it's the characters.

Sorry, it took so long... My burnout got really bad and I refused to even write basic stuff. But I'm back now! Well. Mostly.

Safe Behind Glass (Yandere!Plat!C!Bench Trio x GN!Reader)

You were a little groggier than normal when you awoke, but it was nothing to alarm you immediately.

Just simply brushing it off as you weren't feeling the best that day, you rolled over to fall back to sleep, but quickly noticed something wrong.

It didn't feel... Right?

The blankets... The mattress... The pillow... They weren't yours...

You peeled your eyes open and your expression went blank with fear.

The room was beautiful mind you.

But it wasn't yours either.

You were laying on a fluffy (f/c) canopy bed, surrounded by quartz walls that were dimly lit soul lanterns that prevented you from being completely swallowed by darkness.

Slowly dragging yourself off the bed, you heard a metal 'clunk' that hit the cold quartz flooring below you.

Turning your head to face downwards, you saw that a decently thick metal chain was cuffed to your ankle.

Somehow, your panic became worse as you immediately grabbed onto it and started to yank on the solid metal, but it refused to budge.

You had no idea how many minutes or hours you spent in that room. Reaching at the iron door desperately, yanking at the chain around your ankle that kept you from reaching the exit, searching the blue lanterns for anything...

But then, the white metallic door slowly swung open, revealing Ranboo, Tubbo and Tommy.

You weren't that close to them, save for a couple interactions here and there, but hey, they came to save you! That didn't matter in the slightest!

You almost cried upon seeing them and moved to walk over, but the chain stopped you from reaching them, and you noticed that they weren't moving to help you.

"You're awake!" Tubbo chirped softly, his tan goat ears wiggling with joy, "I'm glad the potion didn't stick for too long... You could've wound up starving if you stayed asleep."

Horror slowly began to set into your heart as Ranboo nodded and walked over to the dark oak table in the corner of the room and set down a basket of food.

"Ran...Boo...?" You whispered, watching as the monochrome male turned and curiously tilted his head in your direction, "Why... Am I here?"

Instead, Tommy stepped in front of you with a bright cheesy smile, the same one that resembled when he would find a new disc or start a new adventure, "For your safety, (N/n)!"

"Safety?" You choked out softly, Ranboo quickly guiding you to sit in the oak chair, "But... I'm one of the richest people on the server... I have god armour... Nothing could kill m-"

"Techno and Dream can." Tubbo interrupted sharply, halting you mid-sentence.

Right... That masked man... Or whatever he was... He was extremely dangerous, as well as Techno. They could likely pierce your netherite chest plate without even flinching at the number of thorns you had enchanted.

"We don't want anyone to bring you any harm... There's no problem with that, right, (Y/n)?" Ranboo smiled, flashing his sharpened teeth unthreateningly.

No... You wanted to say, but you wanted freedom! You wanted to expand your house to the size of a mansion! You wanted to bicker with Quackity about the stupidest of things! You wanted to get building advice from Phil!

Not be locked away because your safety was a tiny bit compromised!

"Tommy... Tubbo... Ranboo... Please, I'm not going to just stay locked away because I-"

"You'll see things our way soon... Eat up, get your rest." Tubbo smiled and gave you a hug, ignoring how you froze suddenly, before turning and skipping out of the room with the taller two following behind him.

Despite... How screwed up the three were with their methods of making you be their friend, it was working...

They were actually incredibly friendly and funny. It made life in capture bearable! Even though you were incredibly snappy and cruel to them in the beginning, they never held it against you.

Although... Despite their kindness and your quickly blooming friendship, you still had a craving to go outside. Even if what the three told you about everyone forgetting you existed was true.

"You look sad, (N/n)..." Tubbo murmured softly, watching you stare off into the blank quartz wall, "Are you okay?"

Tommy straightened up from his handmade scribble of a map, turning his head towards you in confusion. Ranboo stopped writing mid-word likely and looked in your direction as well.

They never liked it when you were upset.

You pursed your lips silently for a moment, clearly unsettling the males around you, "I just... Haven't been feeling too great... Both mentally and physically I mean... I need sunlight..."

"Yeah... I was reading about that earlier..." Ranboo hummed softly, adjusting his crown as he looked up at the ceiling, "But the issue is..."

"My safety... Yes, I know. What if, I wear my full netherite armour and keep a totem AND a Rapple on me? And also not leave your sides?" You bargained nervously.

That hadn't worked before. But then again, You weren't as close to them before...

The silence that fell upon the room was unsettling and caused your heart to race quickly. If they didn't like what you said, you would be alone for a few straight days... You didn't like it...

"Okay."

What.

That worked?

You just had to ask?!

You watched as Tubbo stood up and pulled the small ender chest from his pocket and set it on the ground, causing it to grow to normal size.

Standing aside, he made a gesture for you to open it and get your stuff.

Hesitantly, You walked over and kneeled down in front of the ender chest. Looking to Tubbo and the others for confirmation, you slowly opened it once they nodded.

Carefully, you began pulling out your armour but paused seeing the lack of golden apples and totems.

Right... Before you had gotten kidnapped by the group, you had used a totem when you fell into the L'Manhole where L'Manberg once was.

That what caused them to kidnap you...

"I-I used... My totem... And Fundy stole my Rapple..." You murmured hesitantly, feeling ready to cry.

Your only chance to escape and you couldn't grab it...

"Hey! Hey! Don't cry! Here!" Ranboo eagerly held the two golden items out towards you at the first sight of tears gathering under your eyes.

"What...?"

"(Y/n)! We want you to be happy! If being outside, even with god armour, rapples and totems, makes you happy, then damn well we're bringing you outside!" Tommy grinned.

After a few tears and lots of hugs, Tubbo helped you hop into your armour while Ranboo unlocked the chain cuff from around your ankle. Tommy had left, leaving the door open for once, going to scout the area for any dangerous mobs.

"Ready?" Ranboo smiled, linking one of his arms with yours, the one that you held the totem in to be more specific. Tubbo happily linked his arm with the other one.

You could only nod, your voice caught in your throat as they began to walk you out the door, Ranboo had to duck down a lot, before leading you to the quartz stairway.

Once up the stairs, Tubbo pressed in a code to the iron door and it slid open quickly, causing you to flinch and pinch your eyes shut at the bright painful light of the sun.

It took about twenty minutes of trying to adjust to the sunlight with the two males encouraging you before you were able to look around.

It was everything you had missed...

The sunlight...

The trees...

God, it was perfect...

Tommy eventually came out of the tree line and sat down beside you as you took it all in...

Months, you were down there. And sure, they gave you plenty of decorations to prevent you from experiencing sensory deprivation, nothing could ever compare to the beauty of the outside world.

A voice cut through the air -calling for someone or something named Fran?- and you almost didn't recognize it. But then the owner came out of the trees, almost a similar direction that Tommy came from earlier.

Sam? He looked so... Different now...

The creeper hybrid slowly lowered his gas mask to show his mouth dropped in shock, "(Y/n)...? You're alive...?"

Tommy, Tubbo and Ranboo were freaking out, trying to bring you back into the bunker, as they called it, but you weren't budging. You hadn't seen another being in ages... And while you did platonically love the three boys, you enjoyed hearing a new voice.

"You... Remember me? But... Tubbo you said-" You frowned at the goat hybrid as they stopped suddenly, realizing that you weren't moving.

"You three... Kept them locked away... For almost an entire year?" Sam's voice was getting a little bit scary now, but it wasn't directed at you, instead, at your best friends...

"Sam! It was to protect them! Please!" Ranboo tried, but he wasn't making it better.

"You made Quackity believe they ran away... Made Philza wake up every morning and walk through the SMP for any signs of them... Gave Puffy false information on where you have last seen them... lied to everyone... Only to be the reason that they were gone." Sam growled out, gripping his trident, "Then you proceeded to make them think we all forgot about them..."

"S-Sam... You've got this all wrong big man..." Tubbo tried next...

The warden wasn't listening as he pointed his trident at them, his communicator in his other hand next to his mouth, then he started speaking, causing his voice to come out of Ranboo's, Tubbo's and Tommy's pockets. He was speaking on the public channel.

"Tommy Innit, Tubbo Underscore, Ranboo Beloved... You are being placed in the prison, Pandora's Vault, for keeping (Y/n) (L/n) imprisoned in a bunker and lying about their whereabouts."

It felt like someone splashed you with cold water...

[valwentinefics]

Instincts - Helmut Zemo x F!Reader (omegaverse) 18+

Plot: Y/n, an unmated omega, forgets to get a refill of her suppressants, sending her into her heat while at work. Luckily for her notorious criminal and alpha Helmut Zemo is hiding out in the backroom. (Takes place after episode 4 of tfatws)

A/n: First of all I’m sorry, second of all I’m sorry, third of all, You’re welcome. This is my first time writing omegaverse so it’s probably not the best and I haven’t read an omegaverse fic in a hot minute. Sorry my smut is always so short, I really gotta work on that.

Warnings: smut, normal a/b/o things, possessive dirty talk, mentions of omegas being harmed, mentions of fear of being assaulted. (if i missed anything please let me know)

As an unmated omega, Y/n knew well of the dangers of the world. Everywhere she looked alphas lurked around looking for their own omega, a rare thing to have in this society. Although omegas were coveted and prized they were still at the bottom of the hierarchy and were expected to be subservient to whatever alpha marked them, a thought that terrified Y/n. Stories of alphas that harmed omegas were sickeningly common, and with everyone plastering on fake kindness in hopes to place their mark on her neck, Y/n was terrified she would end up a statistic.

Suppressants were Y/n’s saving grace, an illegal method to mask her true nature from the world and pose as a beta where she could live her life peacefully, something she could never do as an omega. If she were to get caught she could face serious time in a correctional facility built just for omegas to learn their place in the world, and so every day was filled with caution and fear.

“God I look like shit.” Y/n’s heavy eyes looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, the bags under her eyes deep and only looking worse due to the harsh fluorescent light buzzing away above her. The illegal suppressants had many side effects ranging from life threatening to mildly troublesome, but the one that affected Y/n most was the inability to fall asleep. Each night was spent tossing and turning, her body feeling restless. 

Sluggishly Y/n grabbed her concealer, dabbing it on beneath her eyes, her hands shaking with exhaustion. She finished with a sigh, running her hands through her hair to remove any major knots. She didn’t have the energy to fully go through her hair, not seeing the point. She was hidden as a beta anyways, no one would give her a second glance. Y/n opened the medicine cabinet, looking for the white box of suppressants, only to not find it anywhere. Her stomach sank as she realized she forgot to get her refill yesterday. It would be fine though, she hoped. She had gone without them before and hadn’t gone in heat, surely it would be the same thing this time, but for some reason there was a nagging feeling in her mind it wouldn’t be.

Y/n grabbed her perfume, spraying it on herself. The scent was cinnamon, similar to her natural scent as an omega, but it had the slight acrid scent of being a perfume. She hoped that would be enough to convince the alphas she passed by that she was just a beta wearing perfume. It wasn’t something she used often, only when her overtired brain didn’t remember to get the refill of her suppressants. 

“That's good enough, I hope.” Y/n mumbled to herself. She smoothed out her short sundress, the light flowy fabric ending at her mid thigh. It was her favourite dress, she felt and knew she looked cute in it. Y/n didn’t like to wear things like this often, she didn’t want the attention of anyone, but frankly she felt like shit and needed the joy looking nice brought her.

The walk to the flower shop had Y/n’s body feeling hot, however she assumed it was the warm weather, not wanting her paranoia to make her miss work. The flower shop she owned was Y/n’s only source of income and it wasn’t a bad one at that. It was common for alpha’s to come in and buy bouquets to give to the first omega they see on the streets in an attempt to woo them. That was another reason Y/n refused to accept her status as an omega. Every bit of romance was just disingenuous. Alpha’s only wanted to have the honour of being chosen by an omega, they didn’t care about who that omega was. However, Y/n was happy it paid her bills.

-

The day went by smoothly until closing time when Y/n turned off the open sign, the neon light no longer lighting up the darkening street outside. As she grabbed her keys to leave a sharp pain went through her abdomen, causing a gasp to escape her throat. She rested a hand on the painful area, eyes wide. She should have listened to her instincts, she should have stayed home, but she didn’t and now she was going into heat in her store. Y/n paced, her mind running at a hundred miles an hour as she tried to figure out what to do. She couldn’t go home, walking would be near impossible for her with her heat approaching fast. She would have to wait it through in her shop with no relief. 

“Oh fuck…” Y/n groaned in pain, leaning against the wall. She knew she had to find something to eat to get the strength to get through this. With shaky steps she headed to the back, her hand glued to her abdomen as if that would alleviate her pain. As she approached the door to the back room her blood went cold, her nose picking up the faint scent of an alpha through the thick door. 

She debated opening it. Her instincts were telling her to open it and get his help with the heat, her brain told her it could be dangerous. Eventually decided to confront him, to ask what he was doing and maybe for his help getting home if he didn’t seem too awful. With her keys clutched between her fingers just in case, she slowly opened the door, her body almost melting at the scent that wafted to her.

A man dressed in a long coat with a fur collar stared back at her with shock, the scent of pine trees wafting off of him. “Omega…?” He spoke with a Sokovian accented voice. It took Y/n a few moments before the identity of the dangerously handsome man registered in her mind. She had seen him on the news. He was Helmut Zemo, the man who almost single handedly destroyed the Avengers.

Y/n shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate. “You’re Helmut Zemo… What- what are you doing here?” She asked, fixing her posture to appear assertive and trying her best to resist the urge to submit right there. A mixture of fear and arousal was filling her body to the point where she thought she might explode.

“So you’ve heard about me?” He tilted his head slightly. “I needed a place to hide for a bit, I’ve been scoping this place out. You’re the owner, Y/n, correct?” Y/n gulped but nodded, worried about why he was hiding out. “That doesn’t matter right now. Why are you here? It’s not safe for an omega in heat to be out in public.” He scolded as if Y/n didn’t know that. It was odd, having the notorious criminal seem to care about her safety. She wondered what he was trying to achieve, if anything.

“It wasn’t my choice okay?” She snapped, a wave of pain washed over her and she slumped against the door frame with a groan. Zemo got up, moving to her quickly but stopping once Y/n had flinched, worried he was going to try something.

“You need to get home, where’s your car? I'll escort you there.” He said, his voice was strained and Y/n’s eyes couldn’t help but land on the growing bulge in his pants. He was going into a rut which explained his current caring and protective nature. Her mouth watered at the thought of having his cock in her mouth but she tore her eyes away, looking to the side to avoid him. 

“I don’t have a car… too expensive.” She groaned out, her breaths growing to pants as she started to overheat, fanning herself with her hand.

Zemo let out a staggered exhale, running his hand through his formerly perfectly done hair. “What’s your address? I’ll bring you there myself.” Y/n was impressed at the amount of self control this alpha had. Even as his rut was beginning he managed to stay calm and collected for the most part, but Y/n knew it was hard for him, sweat ran down his forehead as he strained to keep control.

Reluctantly Y/n told him her address knowing he was her best bet at getting home safely. A whimper escaped her throat as she felt her slick begin to drip down her thigh. She clenched her legs together, desire seeping into every part of her. She wanted the alpha’s knot more than anything she had ever wanted before. She could hardly focus on what Zemo was doing, not noticing he had draped his coat over her and picked her up until they were already out the door.

Zemo didn’t breathe as often as he needed while he walked, trying not to inhale Y/n’s scent as he moved at a quick pace, shooting piercing glares at every passerby that dared look their way. He felt protective over the little omega. His cock strained uncomfortably against his pants as his mind filled with thoughts of mating with her, but he pushed them back, not wanting to take advantage of her. Arriving at the apartment building he used her keys to unlock the door to the humble apartment, locating her room and placing her down on her bed. Y/n took off his coat and offered it back.

“You can keep the jacket for now, I’ll come back for it once you’re done with your heat.” He said, quickly turning around. Y/n’s hand shot out, grabbing his gloved hand.

“Please alpha, don't leave, help me.” She whimpered. Y/n didn’t know where that had come from, but she didn’t regret it, knowing it wasn’t just her heat talking. He was powerful, respectful, not to mention handsome. Everything a good mate should be, even though Y/n knew mating with a dangerous man like him was out of the question. Y/n found herself liking the man despite knowing what he had done and not knowing him long. She knew he would treat her well during her heat, if he accepted.

“Are you sure omega?” He asked, not facing her in fear that he would pounce on her as soon as he saw the desire in her eyes. 

“Yes alpha, please…” Y/n whimpered again, giving his hand a small tug. “I need you”

That was all he needed to lose control. Zemo turned around to face her, stalking to the bed as he removed his shirt, straddling Y/n’s warm needy body. Her smaller hands reached out, undoing his belt and palming Zemo’s cock through his pants. Y/n couldn’t help the filthy thoughts that flooded her mind, desire for the dangerous man’s knot consuming her.

Zemo let out a groan, taking off his pants and boxers, letting his painfully hard cock free. Y/n’s eyes were clouded with lust as she leaned forward, mouth open and ready to suck it. He tapped the side of her cheek with his cock, running his hand through her hair and gripping it.

 “No liebling, this is about you. I can wait for another time.” He let go of her hair and Y/n laid down, watching the alpha as he took off her panties and put her legs over his shoulders, running his cock slowly up and down her folds and coating itself in her slick, the tip teasing her as it came so close to going in. Y/n let out a little whine, letting him know she was growing impatient. “I apologize omega, it’s rude of me to tease.” He smirked before shoving himself all the way in easily.

Y/n’s toes curled as she let out a loud gasping moan, throwing her head back in pleasure as he began to thrust in and out of her, the position they were in allowing him to reach every part of her with ease. His hands ran up and down her waist as he let out a deep moan. Y/n’s eyes were locked on him as he fucked her deeply, causing her to let out a whimper of pleasure with every thrust.

“Look at you little omega, taking my cock so well.” He reached over to cup her cheek in his hand, rubbing circles into the soft flesh with his thumb. “Does it feel good?” His hand dropped from her cheek and began to rub her clit with just enough roughness to send her over the edge, a loud moan escaping her as she came.

“Yes, fuck! harder, please!” She said between moans, her hands tangling themselves in Zemo’s hair and gripping it as she panted.

Zemo moaned as he re-adjusted her legs on his shoulders, picking up the pace. “This pussy of yours, it’s mine now. I’ll fuck you through this heat and every heat you have next.” He growled, hitting Y/n’s sweet spot, making her cry out in ecstasy. 

Y/n felt warm inside at his words. Her pussy clenched around his cock as the stimulation from him rubbing her clit and pounding into her sent her over the edge again, panting as she came hard. He was good at making her feel good, and for once Y/n was glad she was an omega.

“Fuck, you feel so good clenched around me. Do you want my knot in you, little omega? Do you want me to fill you up with my cum?” He asked cockily, receiving a desperate whine from Y/n.

“Please, please, please!” She begged, the only thoughts filling her mind were those of need for his knot buried deep into her. 

“How can I refuse... when you’re asking so nicely, liebling.” He spoke between grunts. His thrusts slowly became more sloppy and deep and Y/n knew he was about to cum.

With one last deep thrust Zemo buried his cock all the way into Y/n’s pussy, his knot trapping the two together as he emptied his cum into Y/n. She felt so full in a good way, her breaths heavy with exhaustion as she internally frowned at the thought of Zemo pulling out of her. His knot alleviated the worst of her heat and as she laid there sore and sweaty, her now clearer mind had no regrets about what had happened. 

Zemo pulled out after a while, his knot going away. A smile danced on his lips as he saw the cum dripping out of her as he pulled out his cock. Y/n’s eyes fluttered closed as she moved to a more comfortable position on the bed. Zemo grabbed his jacket from the floor, dusting it off and draping it over the omega’s tired form. Hesitantly he hovered over her before pressing a soft kiss on the top of her head, deeply inhaling her scent. 

Not wanting to intrude any more, he got dressed and walked over to the couch, exhaustion filling his body as he slumped down onto it, closing his eyes with a smile. He could tell he would need all the rest he could get while he rode out the omega’s heat with her. He was so happy he decided to hide out at that flower shop.

-

Tags: @peculiar-monstar​ @lovelyzabrak-meadow​ @captainsherlockwinchester110283​

[happyandticklish]

Disarming Your Demons

Notes: Okay, so I’m only halfway through Jujutsu Kaisen, but I had an idea and I had to write it down. I’m not sure if I’m gonna write anything else for it until I actually finish the show, but I said that before and now this exists, so who knows really. 

Summary: Itadori discovers a new method to deal with misbehaving curses. 

Sharing a body with a thousand-year-old curse could have its downfalls, something Itadori was quickly becoming familiar with. Though he could control it most of the time, it was difficult, and took a strain on his mind and body. He put on a brave face afterwards, insisting that it was no big deal, but the truth was anything but. Sukuna’s ability to switch out with him was growing stronger, and the exhaustion was setting in faster now with each time Itadori wrestled back control over his body. In the heat of battle was one thing, edged on by desperation and the will to keep his friends alive. But it was the other times, when Itadori was tired and vulnerable and fully unprepared to battle his literal inner demons, that he regretted the lifestyle most.

Say, for instance, in his dorm room, half-asleep and dreary from a battle earlier that day.

“Hello again.”

Switching out with Sukuna was strange. He didn’t feel it in a physical sense, no pain or sensation inflicted upon him. One moment he was in his body, and the next he was trapped, a helpless bystander to the other’s will.

“You know, it’s awfully bold of those teachers of yours to leave you all alone like this at night.” Sukuna stood, stretching his arms above his head in satisfaction. “Do they really put so much stock in you to assume you’d be able to fight me, like this?”

“Sukuna.” Itadori’s voice was inaudible to anyone who might be passing by, an aimless thought floating around in his consciousness, but he knew the other could hear him nonetheless. “Give me back my body!”

“Please,” Sukuna dismissed, waving one hand as he strolled around the dorm, examining objects with a vague curiosity. “After you used me earlier? I’m growing rather tired of this dynamic, you know. Only ever summoning me when you need your friend healed, or a new big baddie rears its odious head. Then, afterwards, you hide me away without so much as a thank you.”

“I do appreciate your help,” Itadori started carefully, trying to keep his tone neutral. It was difficult though, when the other could easily read his true thoughts. “But you can’t expect me to simply hand my body over like some kind of puppet. I know what your true intentions are, and I won’t let you harm my friends or anyone else.”

“Oh, of course not, not heroic, selfless Itadori.” He placed a hand on the doorknob, twisting it and pushing the door open with one hand. “I wonder what would happen if I went to pay them a little visit now?”

“No!”

“Oh? Don’t like that, do you. Then why don’t you do something about it? Force me back, take over your body once more.” Sukuna chuckled dryly, pausing in the doorway. “If you can, that is. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the toll this is taking on you. Do you really think you have the strength to best me now, when you’re tired and weak from battle?”

Itadori tried, he really did. He knew he had to do this, but Sukuna was right. In his current state, he could hardly focus enough to remain present enough to speak to the other, let alone reclaim his physical form. With his last remaining willpower, he managed to gather enough strength to take control of one arm before he found himself blocked by the other. 

Sukuna’s eyes widened, and then he laughed, a throaty, derisive thing that made Itadori clench the fist he had. “One arm? Is that it? You truly are in for it now. I must say, I am impressed though. I didn’t think you had even that in you. Still, it’s no matter. I could end your world as you know it with both my hands tied behind my back. This pathetic defense is but a pebble in my path. I must thank you for the amusing display though—I needed a good laugh.”

Itadori watched helplessly as his body moved forward against his will, his mind racing as he tried to think of anything he could do in his position.

I needed a good laugh.

That was it!

Itadori would have smiled if he could use his mouth. An idea was formulating in his mind, crazy and nonsensical, but possibly just the thing he needed. It was a method that Gojo had employed once, to train him to focus on maintaining curse energy and resist distractions. He had no idea if the same thing would work on Sukuna, but seeing as he was in his body and therefore should be just as susceptible as Itadori had been, it just might work.

Sukuna stopped short as a jolt of sensation shot through him, and he snapped his head down to see his own hand squeezing his hip. “What the hell?”

“Ha! I didn’t think it would actually work!” Itadori’s voice rang out triumphant through the other’s mind as he squeezed again and again, quick and sudden so that Sukuna had no time to adjust to them. “Who knew that my own ticklishness would come in handy one day?”

“Tickli—what?” Sukuna started in confusion, but quickly slapped his other hand to his mouth to hold back… was that laughter?

He stumbled back against the wall, torn between shoving the other’s hands away and holding back the embarrassing noises leaking between his fingers. It was in times like these that he missed his four arms. It was hard enough to work with only two arms—one was impossible.

“W-What are you d-dohoing?” Sukuna grunted, trying to sound intimidating despite the silly grin quickly taking hold of his features.

“Tickling you, duh.” It was weird tickling his own body, and weirder still to have the sensation disconnected from him. He could feel the AC in the hallway on his arm, and the warmth of his hip under his hand, but that was all. It was disconcerting, but Itadori was grateful for it in this moment. He wasn’t sure he would’ve been able to continue if he could feel everything the other was feeling. He could only imagine how Sukuna was managing to stop himself from collapsing into an Itadori-sized puddle of laughter on the ground. “Haven’t you ever heard of tickling before?”

“I-Is that some k-kind of hihidden Jujutsu?” Sukuna snapped angrily, annoyed at the chuckle that had slipped into his words halfway through.

Laughter rang through his head, unhelpfully as Sukuna tried to hold back his own. “Dude, what? Of course not! Tickling is… well, it’s a human thing you know? When you lightly touch the human body, like this—” he scribbled his fingers up his sides suddenly—“They laugh! I’m not sure why though… science is still a bit iffy on that.”

Sukuna had stopped listening at this point. He had burst into panicked giggles the second Itadori touched his side, unprepared for the other’s change in strategy. Sukuna’s hand come down, wrapping around his wrist and pulling it up, away from his sides.

He drew in an exhausted breath, grinning in relief as he held the other firmly away from him. “There. Your… tickling, or whatever it is, is ineffectual now. Seems like you didn’t think this plan through, did you now?”

He was right. It was a temporary solution, but the truth was that Itadori was going to get nowhere with just one hand. Which was why…

Sukuna’s eyes widened as he felt a sudden pull at his person once more. His body was rebelling, and he fought back, trying to push back at Itadori’s attempt to switch back. He was getting stronger now, and Itadori was still weak, so it should be nothing to keep control from the brat. What he hadn’t expected was for Itadori to focus all his energy on reclaiming a single part of his body, leaving Sukuna unprepared for the concentrated force. He felt his fingers slipping on his wrist, his left arm losing connection just like the first one had.

“No!” Sukuna growled, but it was too late. Both arms were lost to him now, and he knew if Itadori could, he would be smirking.

“Yes,” Itadori countered. Surprisingly enough, he kept his one arm raised. He lowered the other one, poising his fingers under his arms and wiggling them in the air threateningly. “I remember this always being one of my worst spots. Unfortunately for you, I’m afraid.”

Sukuna narrowed his eyes in confusion, but before he could say anything he was stopped by the sensation of nails gently spidering under his arm. It was a slow, unhurried process, that never missed its mark. Instinct shot through him like a bullet and Sukuna attempted to bring his arm down protectively. He was stopped by the other’s remaining control of the limb, which kept it raised exposed and vulnerable over his head. It didn’t help that Itadori hadn’t worn a shirt to bed the previous night, so Itadori had full access to his bare torso.

Sukuna spluttered over a laugh, a hysterical cackling that only grew in desperation as time went on. Sparks flurried through him, his stomach erupting with what felt like millions of butterflies all taking off at the same time. It was impossible to explain how unbearable the feeling was, and Sukuna wondered how humans lived with such a weakness on their body all this time.

“A-Ahaha, stahahahap, eh, gah, stahahahap i-ihihit!” Sukuna’s head was thrown back, his eyes squeezed shut as a wild grin danced along his features. “Y-Yohohou irritahahating b-brahat!”

“Intense, right?” Itadori asked, not even trying to hide the amusement in his voice. “If only you had chosen a less ticklish vessel. You’re in for it now, though. I got to be honest, it’s kind of funny seeing a bigshot curse like you writhing around like a worm on a hook.”

“Shuhuhut uhuhuhup!” Sukuna demanded, though it came out far more giggly than he would have liked. He couldn’t concentrate like this, couldn’t even begin to start to try to reclaim his arms. He needed him to move his hand, maybe back to his hips, or somewhere else, anywhere else. He wasn’t sure if the rest of this body was less ticklish, only that he needed Itadori to move away from that spot.

“Not a chance,” Itadori scoffed. “This is way too much fun! Of course, you could always stop me. Just switch back and the tickling won’t affect you anymore; it’s that easy.”

“L-Lihihike hehehell Ihihihihi wihihihill!” He was slipping now, his body sliding down the wall in an attempt to get away. Unfortunately, you can’t run away from yourself, and those wiggling fingers followed him all the way down. “Cuhuhut ihihit ohohout wihihihith thahahat sphohohot!”

“Why?” Itadori asked innocently, loving this a bit too much for his own good. But could he really help it when he was given such a perfect oppurtunity for revenge? “Does it tickle too much for the big bad curse?”

Sukuna was going to kill him. Then, once he was sure the pest was well and truly dead, he was going to bring him back to life so he could kill him all over again. Right now, however, his focus was only on those devastating nails, light, barely-there touches that had his mind reeling. When his fingers traveled a bit too high, skittering at the top of his armpits, he finally gave in. “Yehehehes, ohohokay, ihihit tihihihickles, ohohor whahahatever y-yohou cahahalled ihihit! Sohohomewhehere ehehelse!”

“Are you sure you want me to go somewhere else?” Itadori questioned teasingly, circling the area with just one finger. Sukuna ducked his chin into his chest, unable to hold back the flood of giggles that caused. “Really sure?”

“Y-Yohohou, ahaha, yohou lihihittle—”

“Okay, okay.” Itadori moved his hand away, pulling his other arm down. Sukuna exhaled in relief, an exhausted grin still dancing on his features. Unfortunately, Itadori noticed. “Hey, don’t relax just yet. I’m not done with you. After all, you still haven’t given me back my body, have you?”

“What the hell—noHOHO!” Sukuna burst into laughter anew as his arms wrapped around himself, trapping him in a tickly hug as fingers wiggled up and down his sides. “S-SHIHIHIT!”

“Regretting your words yet?”

Sukuna thrashed wildly, howling as he doubled over in a useless attempt to protect himself. The snarky remarks were gone now, so completely was he lost to his own laughter. His skin twitched and goosebumps scattered up his sides, a helpless reaction to the playful tickling.

Because it was playful. Despite everything, he could tell that Itadori was having fun with this. And maybe, just maybe, the other was too. His insides felt warm and fuzzy in a way they hadn’t in a while, his laughter peaking between desperation and silly giggles. It was strangely addicting to give in like this, allowing the tickling to consume his thoughts and blur out any remaining negativity.

It was… nice.

“I-IIHIHITADORI!” His head was thrown back, a hearty flush spreading across his cheeks and warming his skin. “I-IHIHI CAHAHAN’T!”

“You know how to stop this,” Itadori reminded him. “Just switch back and the tickling stops.”

Sukuna fell back on the floor, unable to hold himself up against the relentless tickling. He let out a frankly embarrassing squeak, the sensations breaking through the last of his revolve. And finally, at last, he caved in.

With a start, Itadori felt the other ducking back into himself, releasing his body in the process. He stopped wiggling his fingers, sitting up slowly as he regained control of himself once more. He was sweaty and exhausted, like he’d just ran a marathon, and he could feel that familiar floating sensation in the pit of his stomach that came with being tickled.

“Damn brat,” Sukuna complained from inside him, and Itadori smiled fondly. He would have to remember this method for next time.

“What the hell?”

Itadori startled as a voice shot through his thoughts, and he glanced up to see Megumi standing in the hallway. He was still in pajamas, and his hair was sticking out in several directions. The look on his face implied he’d just woken up. The two made eye contact, Megumi taking in Itadori’s flushed features and his sprawled position on the floor.

Megumi furrowed his brows in confusion. “Itadori? I heard a noise and I thought… are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, totally,” Itadori dismissed, sitting up slowly. “I was… sleep-walking. Yeah, that’s it. Just a weird dream, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.”

Megumi continued to stare at him for a moment, clearly debating whether or not to believe the other. Finally, he sighed, rubbing his forehead tiredly. “Alright. If you say so. Just keep it down next time, will you? Some of us are actually trying to sleep.”

Itadori threw the other a hearty thumbs-up, grinning innocently. “Will do!”

Megumi frowned, but eventually disappeared back into his room, slamming the door behind him.

Itadori stood up fully, his legs a little shaky from the previous tickling, and decided to do the same. It was the middle of the night after all—sleep was probably in order. However, as he turned the knob to shut the door behind him, he heard a voice loud and clear in his head.

“Sleep tonight, young sorcerer, and get your rest. Because tomorrow—” a sudden pinch to his side as Sukuna wrestled control of his hand—“it’s your turn.”

Itadori regained control almost instantly, and his hand was his again as though nothing had happened. He smiled nervously, not doubting the other’s words for a minute.

And as he got into bed that night, pulling the covers tight around himself, he found he couldn’t wait.

[the-littlest-goblin]

ooooooooh for fic prompts, could i request: essek interacting with Frumpkin, specifically playing with him (so as to impress Caleb and earn his favor a bit), but our favorite hot boi most likely did not have pets growing up and is at a bit of a loss with what to do. (bonus: Caleb sees this and thinks it's incredibly endearing)

I think you got everything you wanted. ft. my personal 'here’s how Frumpkin can still win’ headcanon.

----

This was not how familiars were supposed to work.

Essek may not have summoned one before (he’d never really understood the use of an assistant with no opposable thumbs), but he had read enough about the spell to know that this was not how familiars were supposed to behave. 

Maybe that was because Frumpkin didn’t technically count as a familiar anymore.

No one knew exactly what had happened, or why. Essek and Caleb had exchanged a number of theories on the matter, but so far the best explanation still went to Beau’s conclusion: “weird fey shit.”

After Aeor and the Somnovem, when they had all finally gotten a chance to breathe again, Caleb had done some sort of ritual to more permanently banish his familiar. Essek hadn’t gotten the full context at the time, but it had something to do with symbolic closure and moving on. The cat was already gone from the Material Plane at that point, but Caleb had wanted to remove the temptation to summon him again, and so devised a sort of reversal of the Find Familiar spell.

However, upon performing the anti-summoning ritual, the cat had appeared in the ritual circle as if Caleb had cast the spell as usual. Only instead of going to his master’s side, Frumpkin had sauntered away from Caleb with a swish of his tail and gone to sit directly at Essek’s feet.

“Hmm,” Caleb had muttered, the hint of a grin twitching at the corner of his mouth. “It looks like he has made a choice.”

Ever since, Caleb had been unable to banish Frumpkin, or communicate with him, or give him orders. He had seemingly lost his magical connection to, and mastery over, the cat—Frumpkin was no longer his familiar, as had been the intention. It was just that Frumpkin apparently liked the Material Plane better than the Feywild, and so refused to leave. And since Caleb had let him go, he chose a new wizard to keep him company. For the next several days they had spent recuperating and planning their next moves, Frumpkin stuck with Essek, never straying from his side for long.

But, crucially, he did not become Essek’s familiar, a lesson they had learned quickly enough. Essek didn’t even have Find Familiar in his spellbook. He couldn’t banish Frumpkin, he couldn’t communicate telepathically with him, and he certainly couldn’t give him orders. 

So, Essek just had a pet cat now, one which happened to be fey in nature. Stranger things had happened—much, much stranger—so for Essek’s part, it had seemed easiest to just accept this development in stride. At times, he was even grateful for the cat’s presence. 

But right now, he was very much not. At least familiars were obedient.

Essek winced against the sound of shattering glass—a sound which was becoming somewhat routine since taking up residence in these new, temporary lodgings with Frumpkin as his roommate. 

Essek closed his eyes and took one deep breath before looking up from his notes to survey the damage. His gaze met Frumpkin’s round, amber eyes across the room, looking impossibly innocent where he sat primly on one of the tables which Essek had set up to house his research. His tail swished back and forth where it hung over the edge, acting like a flashing signal to point Essek’s attention down towards the starburst of broken glass glittering directly beneath him.

Mercifully, the beaker which Frumpkin had marked for termination had been holding a harmless and easily replaceable solvent, rather than any of the more valuable or dangerous liquids Essek had lying around in his provisional lab. His fingers curled protectively around the precious vial of liquid dunamis sitting next to him.

“Why?” He let the single syllable of the word stretch out into a long, bone-deep groan lasting several seconds. The question was aimed both at Frumpkin and at himself, and covered a variety of curiosities he had about the situation. Why did Frumpkin feel such a persistent desire to destroy Essek’s belongings? Why had he chosen to adhere himself to Essek in the first place, when he seemed to hold a deep disdain for everything Essek owned or did? Why was Essek incapable of learning the very simple lesson of locking the door to this makeshift lab? Why had he promised Caleb that he would take care of Frumpkin while the Mighty Nein dealt with the Assembly, instead of throwing the mangy beast out onto the streets of Port Dumali as soon as they had arrived at the safe house?

None of these were questions to which Essek was about to get any answers, so he tried another one.

“What do you want from me?”

Frumpkin blinked.

“You are still a fey being. You don’t need food or water, and as far as I understand, providing those two things are the pillars of caring for a pet. So, what else could you possibly need that requires my attention?”

Frumpkin flicked his ears.

Caleb had given Essek a brief overview of what to expect in terms of cat-care, but either he had chosen to leave out a lot of unsavory details, or decoupling from their arcane connection had put Frumpkin through a drastic personality change, because Essek had received no instructions about how to handle the kind of stalemate in which he currently found himself.

“You have my sincerest apologies, but unlike your previous master, I cannot read your thoughts, and your current methods of communication are lacking in clarity.”

Frumpkin’s tail began swishing faster. He broke eye contact with Essek to gaze intently at the row of jars lining the next table over. These were full of various concoctions, including some potentially dangerous acids, the results of Essek’s increasing boredom as he stayed hunkered down in his safe house day after day. He only ever went out for the duration of a Disguise Self to buy food or other necessary supplies; he was too noticeable to amble around the city for leisure, on the slim but ever-present risk that word of a strange drow in Port Dumali would reach the ears of Ikithon or his servants. Essek was under strict instructions to stay as hidden as possible until he got the all-clear from the Mighty Nein. With only the materials to continue his most basic experiments with dunamis, he was growing bored out of his mind. 

Essek heaved another deep sigh before reluctantly abandoning his notes and gliding over to where Frumpkin had stationed himself. With a short wave of his hands, the spill vanished and the broken shards of glass floated gently into the trash bin. Then, Essek unceremoniously lifted the cat into his arms before he had the chance to wreak any more havoc, and deposited him outside the door. 

Distraction removed, Essek made to turn around and return to his research, this time intending to lock the door to prevent further feline interruptions. But before he could do so, he made the mistake of looking into Frumpkin’s eyes again. The cat’s pupils gleamed, impossibly wide and round, and his tail was still swishing back and forth in an incomprehensible pattern, like some sort of code. A mixture of affection and guilt welled up in Essek, rooting to the spot.

Godsdammit, but he had promised Caleb he was going to take care of his cat, and that meant not ignoring Frumpkin when he was clearly trying to tell him something. Because even if Caleb no longer wanted a familiar to travel around with him, he still loved this damned cat, and also Essek was trying to be less callous and heartless in general.

He thought back to Caleb’s instructions with a fair bit of desperation, searching for some hint of what would make Frumpkin happy. All he came up with was a faint recollection, something about enjoying being scratched behind the ears.

“Is that all you want? Is that what you interrupted me for?” Fighting not to roll his eyes, Essek reached down for a pet.

As soon as he got close enough, Frumpkin lunged.

“Gah!” Essek snatched his hand back, nursing the sting of pain from Frumpkin’s bite. There was no blood; the little demons’s fangs hadn’t managed to break the skin. It could barely count as an injury, but the shock of betrayal hurt more than the scratch.

“What in the Nine Hells was that for?” Essek glared at Frumpkin, then noticed just in time that the cat was poised to strike again. This time, he only had to turn slightly to keep his hands out of harm's way, but Frumpkin wasn’t aiming for the exposed skin. There was a loose thread dangling from the hem of Essek’s sleeve, apparently caught by the previous attack. Frumpkin was intent on it. He flung himself at the thread, grabbing at it with his clumsy paws. It slipped through his grip, and he lunged again without hesitation.

Experimentally, Essek lifted his arm so the thread dangled higher off the ground. Frumpkin took the challenge to heart, leaping to grab it in his teeth before it slipped out of his grasp again, and he landed on the floor in defeat. Essek moved his arm over to one side, and Frumpkin followed with enthusiasm, this time managing to get the thread around one claw. The split second of resistance was enough to tear it from Essek’s sleeve. Frumpkin rolled over onto his back, victorious, batting his prize around in euphoric glee.

A grin spread across Essek’s face as he watched this display of simple delight. 

“I suppose you were just bored, too. Was that it?”

Frumpkin responded by biting the string with a vengeance. 

An idea began forming in the corner of his mind as he watched Frumpkin playing. Absentmindedly, Essek twisted his fingers and summoned a trace thread of dunamis into his hand, shaping and stretching it into a longer and longer cord of greyish, glowing energy, which he then dangled tantalizingly over Frumpkin’s head. The boring, non-magical string was immediately forgotten and discarded as Frumpkin caught sight of the dunamis toy. His whole body wiggling in excitement, he lunged at the cord again and again, pulling a genuine laugh out of Essek as he bobbed and weaved the magic around, dancing it out of Frumpkin’s grasp. He needed a break from his lab anyway, and this was shockingly entertaining.

---

“Well? How are they?” Just a hint of nerves colored Caleb’s voice, as it did every time they checked in on Essek. The fear that this time, the scry would reveal him not safe and sound on the Coast, far from the Trent’s reach, but somewhere cold and dark and threatening.

The faint glow faded from Jester’s eyes as the spell ended. Looking up at Caleb with a smile, she said, “You’re not going to believe this Caleb, it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.”

Caleb grinned back at her.

[reidandweep]

Stitching

Spencer Reid x Reader (female)

A/N- Much like Adam Driver, I have been a huge fan of Matthew Gray Gubler and criminal minds for years. With quarantine, I decided to re-watch the show from the beginning and I had some inspiration. My writing tends to take a while but if you have any requests or idea for Spencer Reid, please send them my way.

Word Count- 6286 words

Warning- Angst, mentions of violence and torture, fluff, tears, and the usual criminal minds details.

If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? -William Shakespeare.

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

“Good morning my lover and friends. As of 8:45 am, yesterday morning, four bodies have been found across the Washington State area. Locations confirmed to be Pomeroy, Baker City, Salem, and Mill Creek. All victims were very similar in physical appearance; Caucasian, red hair, brown eyes, approximately 5ft 4’.”

Garcia swiped her tablet to display family photographs of the victims on the screen. The team watched, in the debriefing room, as they scanned through their own tablets; reading through the details. Spencer’s eyes flittered over the images as his fingers scanned across the words in his paper file; still adamant on not working with technology like the rest of his team.

“What about the cause of death? How were they found?”

Garcia shivered at Rossi’s question.

“It’s not a pretty image. Each victim was dismembered at the elbows, knees, neck, and stomach. Further cuts were made vertically down the stomach and across the face, arms, and legs. Not deep enough to cut through bone, but deep enough to bleed out. Where the unsub cut our victims, he then sewed them back together.”

Emily looked up at Garcia.

“Are you saying the lacerations were made before the victim’s died?”

“Precisely. Each autopsy report came back the same with the cause of death pointing to the direction of blood loss; specifically, from the throat.”

The team looked at the new images before them. Multiple pictures appeared on the screen, showing the bodies of the victims. The pictures showing the women laid out in the same pose, thick thread holding together the pieces of their corpses. All had their eyes closed, except one.

“Garcia, the last victim, zoom into her face.”

Garcia did as Spencer asked.

“Her eyes are closed.”

Spencer nodded, glancing towards JJ as she spoke.

“Meaning that he felt remorse for this murder.”

Derek scrolled through the pictures on his tablet.

“The other three victim’s eyes are open, indicating that he wanted them to look. To watch what he was doing, whatever it may have been.”

Spencer looked across the table at the questioning faces.

“So, what changed between the third and the fourth victim?”

Hotch stood from his seat, indicating the others to grab their belonging.

“We can discuss further on jet. Wheels up in thirty.”

WASHINGTON STATE

Being greeted by the local police department in Clagstone, Spencer and the team began their investigation into the murders. Spencer did not know what it was, but the stitching on the bodies felt familiar. Like he had seen them before.

Looking up from his files, Spencer watched as Derek walked into the room, ending a call with who he could only presume to be Garcia.

“Garcia has just completed background checks on our latest victim. Lily Trent visited local film screenings at the Southview Centre religiously, to watch horror movies in particular. Seems like the girl loved anything horror and Halloween; according to her roommate and her computer history. It seems that are other victims did also.”

Spencer stood from his seat and walked towards the whiteboard at the back of the room. Writing down the details Derek stated, his brain began to filter through the relevant information needed.

“Halloween is ranked the ninth most celebrated holiday in the world. With different interpretations of the holiday occurring according to country and culture. Wearing costumes at Halloween did not even become an occurrence until 1585, with the first instance recorded in Scotland.”

Derek chuckled at Reid’s excitement. He knew the boy loved Halloween.

“Well it all looks like they were pretty huge fans of the holiday and horror films. Maybe our unsub was too.”

Spencer looked down at the photos in his hand, scanning his memory for any correlation.

“Maybe, it’s not just horror, but a particular film. If all the victims were presented in a certain way, maybe the unsub is trying to replicate what happened to a character in a particular film.”

Derek crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’ll call Garcia to search through all the victims search history to see if any particular horror films come up in each one. Do you know of any films that the unsub could have replicated?”

Spencer shook his head.

“I can collate his actions to hundreds of films but, the method of torture and look of the victims, I can’t think of one horror feature that pinpoints all that the unsub has done.”

A thought unexpectedly popped into Spencer’s mind. Derek cocked his head at the sudden halt from the resident genius.

“But I know someone who might.”

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

“The importance of genre in film alters many of the other aspects. The characters and their narrative arcs, the music score, cinematography, the edit, and so much more. Sometimes genre even dictates the director who signs onto the project. Dennis Dugan would not have a directing career if Adam Sandler stopped making comedy movies. Because that is what he directs. He doesn’t direct comedies; he directs Adam Sandler comedies. Which, in my opinion, are a whole genre on their own.”

The class chuckled.

“Genre plays a part in everyday life. Sometimes, your day will be led by romance, or grief, or action. There may be drama, or comedy, or even silence.”

The class looked on in concentration as Y/N walked across the floor. If someone who did not attend the college walked past the classroom, they could’ve presumed that she was a student. She looked young enough.

“It controls the way the characters talk, act, and move. How the plot thickens and pushes forward and…”

The doors at the back of the auditorium opened. Y/N looked up at the sound of the intrusion to see figures that she could not recognise, and one that she did.

Clearing her throat, she continued.

“And how it even ends. We shall leave it at that today. What I want you to do in the meantime is research a genre in particular and come up with examples that counteract the stereotypes that have been enforced upon the genre itself. Hand it in to your professor first thing Monday morning. Thank you.”

Y/N watched as the students collected their things and filtered out of the room. The figures waiting till she was only left before they walked down the steps.

Coming to a stop in front of her desk, Y/N crossed her arms and waited. Spencer stepped forward with a crooked smile on his face.

“Hi Y/N.”

Y/N couldn’t help but giggle.

“Long time no see stranger.”

Spencer’s cheeks burned at Y/N’s words. The team shared looks between them at the unfamiliar display. They had seen Spencer blush at people before, but not for a long time.

Spencer cleared his throat, preparing himself to act professional.

“This is Dr Y/F/N Y/L/N. Y/N travels across the country to guest speak at different universities on her topic at hand. She specialises in film studies, more importantly the focus of characters and genres. If I can’t connect the unsub’s actions to a film, Y/N most definitely can.”

Y/N smiled at Spencer’s praise.

“Nice to meet you all. So, what are you here to talk to me about Doc? Obviously, you’re here on a case and if you are asking for my help, I’m guessing it’s going to be pretty gruesome.”

Spencer blushed at the nickname; caught off guard by the word slipping of her tongue.

Sending a raised look towards Reid, Hotch began to explain why they were there.

“Were looking into a case of connected murders. All victims were found to have been mutilated and tortured in the same way. As well as showing resemblances in their physical appearances. With research, we’ve found that each victim was particularly fond of horror films and Halloween. We would just like for you to take a look and see if you could recognise if the ways in which they were harmed stemmed from a film in particular.”

Y/N nodded her head.

“Of course, anything to help.”

She reached for the files from Spencer’s hands, ignoring the tablet pushed in her direction by JJ.

“Sorry, I prefer to use paper. I only really use technology for my lectures or to watch films if they cannot be purchased in physical form.”

Derek smirked, shooting looks to his team, as his eyes landed on Spencer. He never thought he would meet a technophobe like Reid.

Y/N scanned through the pictures and documents, looking in detail at the lacerations at hand. She identified the similarities between the victims, as her mind swirled through the images and characters from the films, she knew held similarities.

“What were the names of all the victims?”

Emily looked towards the woman.

“That information is classified.”

Y/N did not blink at her abrasiveness.

“Were any of them called Sally?”

The team looked perplexed at her question.

“No. Why that name in particular?”

Y/N continued to scan the pages as Rossi questioned her.

“Because the unsub isn’t replicating anything from a horror movie. The unsub is replicating the physical appearance and staging of a character from an animated movie. A Disney one to be more specific.”

A light bulb flickered in Spencer’s mind as he stared at Y/N in realisation. The hair colours. The stitches. It made sense now.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT

“The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 American stop-motion animated musical Halloween-Christmas fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced and conceived by Tim Burton. It became a cult classic during the early 2000s with orchestral concerts occurring every year to celebrate the spectacle of the film.”

Spencer indicated for JJ to change the monitor as he and Y/N stood in front of the team to explain the information.

“Originally, the story began as a poem written by Tim Burton. Both narratives follow the protagonist, Jack Skellington, into his journey to Christmastown, and how he tries to make Christmas his own. The character in question that your unsub is replicating is the love interest of our protagonist. Created by Dr Finkelstein, Sally is a ragdoll-esque character whose body is covered with stitches to keep her together. The form in which all the women were found is identical to this scene in the movie.”

The screen changes to show the scene in question; paused at the precise moment to prover her point.

“All red haired, all Caucasian, all eerily the same. The stitches are exactly the same and the pose in which they are in the pictures are also.”

“We now know which film our unsub is mimicking, but how can we produce a distinguished profile of our unsub? All we can say is that between his third and fourth victim, he suddenly began to feel remorseful of his crimes.”

Y/N looked towards Spencer, waiting for him to speak as he knew more details about the case.

“Garcia checked into the victim’s computer histories and found that all four victims attended a horror convention in the Washington state area over the course of the past month. The convention in particular runs every other weekend, focusing on different horror films to highlight. However, they always make an exception for one film; The Nightmare Before Christmas. Whilst reviewing receipts for the tickets, they were all brought through the convention’s website, which is run by its board of organisation every year. Up until recently, the board has held the same members.”

Derek tapped on his tablet to the convention’s website.

“Last month, the website released details stating that a distinguish member was no longer part of the board due to unforeseen circumstances.”

It suddenly dawned on Y/N who Derek was talking about.

“Dean Faulkner.”

Spencer whipped around towards Y/N.

All eyes laid on her as her breath increased.

“You know him?”

Y/N nodded at Hotch.

“I guest spoke at a panel with him a few years back at a separate university. We were both there, amongst others, to talk about the works of a genre that are expertise were in. I was there to basically provide loose ends for what they could not answer. Dean’s specialised area was horror. The whole time he spoke about what he described as the true villains of horror and of the world.”

Y/N gulped, her mouth going dry.

“Women.”

The wheels began to turn in the team’s heads.

Spencer stepped closer towards Y/N in assurance, seeing that her thoughts were becoming overwhelmed. He quickly stepped back after he realised what he had done.

“He went on a raging tangent about the damsel in distress and the final girl. Going on and on and on about how women are weak and would never be the last one standing if faced against the monsters in real life. How they manipulated the men and made the monsters seem worse than they truly were. The only time he spoke positively about women was when we finally calmed him down and, during a Q&A session, a student asked him who the perfect horror movie character was. He said Sally because she was forgiving and would do anything for Jack; even if that meant falling apart and being sewn back together. I tried to justify that the film does not necessarily fall into the genre of horror. But he rebutted saying that it most definitely did, because of the fact that Jack’s dream did not come true.”

The room was silent for a second, taking in the information.

Suddenly, Y/N grasped the pen from Spencer’s hands. Her finger scribbling across the whiteboard.

“I need to know the names of the victims. Get Penelope on the phone and tell me the names.”

The team shocked at her erratic movements, sat in silence.

“Do you want to capture this guy?”

Spencer licked his lips and repeated the victim’s names.

“Susanna Cole, Alice Dawes, Liberty May, and Lily Trent.”

Y/N swiftly wrote the names on the boards. Each name below the other. Underneath the last name she wrote the letter Y.

“Can you ask Penelope to track any females with the first name beginning with Y who have purchased a ticket to the next convention?”

Derek quickly began to type to her. The rest of the team looking on in disbelief.

“There were twenty-three purchases, but with cross referencing with the similarities in the other victims, one matched. Her name is Yasmine Driver.”

Y/N wrote the name on the board. Circling all the first letters of each name, it became clear there was another connection with the victims.

“Their initials spell Sally.”

Y/N nodded at JJ’s disbelief.

“Reid, when is the next convention being held?”

Spencer diverted his attention to Emily.

“Their schedule every two weeks, so that would make it… tomorrow.”

The team swiftly moved into action.

“JJ bring together the police force for a debrief. Derek and Rossi, go to the convention centre and question the board about Dean. Ask them how often he visited and if they have any knowledge of the victims visits to the convention. Spencer and Emily, contact Penelope for Faulkner’s address. Once you have visited the home, if he is there, bring him in. We’re going to try and catch him before he gets close to his goal. I will locate Yasmine and bring her to the station for safety. We don’t know how far he is going to go and what the end goal of his fantasy is. But we are going to stop him.”

The team swiftly did as they were told, leaving the room with only Spencer and Y/N behind. Just before the door shot, Hotch leaned back in.

“Thank you, Dr Y/L/N, for all your help. If possible, could you stay here with JJ and look through the documents? You know this guy more than we do, so any more information that comes to mind, please let us know.”

Y/N and Spencer watched as Hotch left the room, the door shutting behind him.

As the silence engulfed them, Y/N and Spencer were hyper aware that they were now alone and had been for the first time in weeks.

Spencer swiftly walked towards Y/N and embraced her in a tight hold. Wrapping her arms around the slender man, Y/N breathed in his scent.

“I’ve missed you.”

Y/N chuckled at Spencer’s muffled words, as his head rested on top of her own. Pulling back, Y/N slowly released Spencer, letting her hands drop to her sides.

“I’ve missed you too Doc. We can catch up later, I will be waiting right here. Now, go and save the girl.”

Spencer chuckled at her words but did as Y/N said. Throwing her a smile, Spencer quickly walked out the room, leaving Y/N behind.

Y/N sat in the room, looking over the files as the time passed, waiting to see Spencer return with the rest of the team. A knock on the door startled her from her search.

Looking up at the door, Y/N saw JJ walk into the room with two cups of coffee in her hands. JJ outstretched the one hand, placing the cup in front of Y/N, as she took a seat and began to sip at her own.

“I didn’t know how many sugars you took so I estimated.”

Y/N smiled at the woman’s kindness.

“Thank you. Have you heard anything from the others?”

JJ sat up in her seat as she watched Y/N look over the documents. Her fingers moving across the pages ever so quickly. Her hand that wasn’t tapped continuously on the table in a rhythm.

“Spencer and Emily located Faulkner’s home, but it was vacant. They’re looking around the premises for clues for where he may be; as we speak. Hotch and Derek just called saying they are on their way down with Yasmine now.”

Y/N nodded at her words. Glad to hear that the girl was safe, but the main priority now would be to locate Faulkner. She wanted to truly help them, before anyone else could get hurt.

JJ grabbed her tablet and began to search through the files for any missed out information. Silence befell across the pair, until JJ could not help but ask what they had all been dying to know.

“How did you and Spencer meet?”

Y/N had been waiting for the question. She had seen the looks the team had shared throughout the day. The questioning gazes towards the pair.

“Spencer and I were both guests speaking at the University of California a few months ago. He must have finished his lecture early as he was wondering the halls when he came across the class I was teaching. I was stood on the desk, encouraging the students to do the same. Spencer thought I was a student causing trouble whilst the professor had left the room. He ran in sprouting facts about the percentage of people who fall and severely hurt themselves whilst standing on tables. Telling me that I should get down before he reports me to my professor.”

JJ chuckled at Y/N’s story.

“Sounds like Spence alright.”

Y/N giggled in agreement. As she spoke, Y/N couldn’t help but smile at the memory of their first encounter. JJ noticed the smile on the woman’s face. She knew what that smile meant.

“So, I told him that he better stay there to catch me, just in case I fell, as I was trying to teach my students about the importance of character actions, and how doing something as simple as standing on a desk can amplify the tone of the scene. Like in the film Dead Poet’s Society. Spencer finally realised that I was also a guest speaker and he actually stood there for the next 40 minutes of my lecture. I didn’t need to stand on the desk that long, but I wanted to see if he would stay. Once the lecture had finished, he apologised for jumping to conclusions. I apologised for making him wait for 40 minutes in case I fell. He told me I didn’t make him wait; he chose to. We’ve been in contact ever since.”

Just as Y/N finished her story, the door to the conference room opened once more. Looking towards the door, Y/N watched as Hotch entered, followed by Yasmine. The young woman looked scared, but unharmed.

Y/N stood from her seat, unsure of what to do as Hotch insisted for Yasmine to take a seat.

“Do you want me to leave?”

Hotch nodded his head.

“We shouldn’t be long. The rest of the team are outside in the bullpen. You can go ahead and join them. JJ and I will take it from here.”

Y/N nodded her head, leaving the room. She watched as Hotch and JJ questioned spoke to Yasmine through the glass, before she turned and walked down the corridor to find Spencer and his friends.

Turning the corner, Y/N failed to stop herself before bumping into a tall figure. Looking up to apologise, her eyes suddenly widened at the familiar face. Before a sound could leave her lips, a blunt force knocked her out cold.

Spencer and the team discussed where Faulkner could be when Hotch strode into the bull pen.

“How did it go?”

Hotch walked towards his team, ready to answer Derek’s question.

“It seems that Faulkner had been stalking the victims for some time. Yasmine detailed seeing him turn up at the conventions, even though he was no longer allowed. She had previously complained about his behaviour to the board before his dismissal. Stating that Faulkner had sexually harassed her. Rossi, did anyone at the convention mention anything about Faulkner that we don’t know?”

“It seems that Yasmine wasn’t the only one. The other board members went into detail about why he was fired. It turned out that all of our victims, including Yasmine, had filed lawsuits against Faulkner for sexual harassment. The charges were ultimately dropped and never recorded to keep the convention’s reputation clear. But they fired Faulkner and banned him from being able to attend any further conventions. Taking away the Nightmare Before Christmas dedicated stand was just a coincidence. They felt that the convention needed something new as they had been celebrating the film for over eight years.”

Just as Hotch was about to declare what the next step would be in finding Faulkner, JJ burst through the ball pen.

“Guys, you have to come quick.”

The team, in shock, watched as JJ ran back towards the conference room. All quickly on her heels. Entering the room, she took control of the laptop, streaming the image to the projector.

Spencer could no longer breathe as he looked at the image on the screen.

“Y/N.”

The screen showed Y/N tied to a chair and bent forward; clearly in pain. Her surroundings empty and dark.

Suddenly a voice was heard.

“I sense there's something in the wind. That seems like tragedy's at hand isn’t there Dr Y/F/N Y/L/N.”

The team watched in horror as Dean Faulkner yanked Y/N’s head back, her body letting out a strangled cry at the pain caused by his actions.

Spencer felt sick, he felt like he was watching himself when Tobias Hankel had held him captive.

“Emily, call Garcia to track his location. We don’t have much time.”

Emily did as Hotch told her to. Talking as quickly as she could on the phone.

“She can’t track it; he’s re-routing the IP address every thirty seconds.”

“She needs to track it. She needs to find her now!”

They all jumped at Spencer’s outburst, watching as tears filled his vision and his hands began to shake.

“Spencer, you need to calm down, we are going to find her. He can’t have taken her far.”

Spencer took in Derek’s words. Taking a breath, he looked back at the screen as he tried to distinguish any recognisable features of where she may be.

Faulkner moved his face to rest against Y/N’s hair, smelling the tresses. She tried to pull away only for him to yank her back again.

“Why did you kill them Dean?”

Faulkner let go of Y/N’s hair. Walking to her side, he grabbed her face in a vicious grip. Yanking her to look at him.

“Why? They ruined my life, everything I ever worked hard for. You all did.”

Y/N looked at him in confusion.

“I did nothing to you.”

Y/N’s breath increased at the vicious look he sent her way. Her eyes flickered to the camera, knowing that Faulkner was streaming what was happening to Spencer and his team. She had to find a way to tell them where she was.

“You made them question my authority. My position. My integrity as a member of the board. You ruined my reputation by belittling me in California.”.

“That’s because you know nothing about horror Dean. You think you know everything about it, but you don’t.”

Spencer couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Why was Y/N taunting him?

“Garcia’s looking to see if there’s any abandoned properties around the area that he could have taken her to.”

Spencer didn’t even acknowledge Emily’s words.

Faulkner reeled back at Y/N’s taunt.

“I know everything there is to know about horror. I’ve seen it all. I’ve lived it. I’ve created it. Ask me anything about it, I know the right answers.”

“But you don’t. You have an idea of horror, your own idea, that is wrong. You believe that women are the reason you lost your job and became the monster that you are. But they’re not. The reason you’re a monster is because of your sick and twisted fantasies. You made those girls feel small and weak, didn’t you?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

The team watched in apprehension.

“Garcia, the location, we need it now.”

Rossi looked between the screen and the phone in Derek’s hand.

“I can get the area he’s holding her, but not the specific building. The whole town is basically abandoned. She could be anywhere from a shop to a house.”

“Keep looking.”

Spencer chewed on his lips. He had to think rationally. If the unsub was upset about the changes and losing his job, what could have been the last straw?

“Derek what was the film they replaced Nightmare Before Christmas with at the convention.”

Derek and Spencer shared a look.

“Cabin in the Woods.”

Spencer ran across the rooms to the files at hand.

“In the location that Garcia has tracked her too, there are three cabins, all within a walking distance of the other.”

The team began to rush out the room, transferring the livestream to a tablet so they could monitor Faulkner and Y/N.

“You’re weak Dean. You’re just like all the horror movie villains. Ghostface, pinhead, jigsaw, all of them. You feed of fear and feeling in control. But the only thing you have in common with them is that you’re not going to win.”

Faulkner scream in rage. Pulling Y/N’s head back, he punched her in the jaw. Striding to the camera, he pushed his face to the lens.

“The party’s over!”

Spencer watched in horror as the feed went off.

“Hotch we have to hurry!”

Hotch sped up the car. Quickly arriving to the location, the team split up into pairs, taking a cabin each to inspect. Hotch and Derek, Rossi and JJ, and Spencer and Emily veered off to their targeted locations. Spencer followed Emily, trying to stay calm, as he slowly walked into the cabin to find it empty, when suddenly a gun shot was heard. Looking in the direction, the pair ran to the cabin that Derek and Hotch had been assigned. The rest of the team already there, looking into the cabin in shock.

“No, no, no, no. Y/N.”

Spencer pushed in front of them, tears pooling in his eyes as he a waited to see the horror before him. He looked in disbelief as Y/N stood from her position on the floor, the gun dropping from her hand as they shook. Faulkner laid a few feet away, in a pool of blood, no longer breathing.

Y/N looked towards the team. Raising her shaking hands towards Spencer.

“I didn’t want to kill him but he was going to shoot whoever walked through the door.”

Spencer rushed forward, grabbing her in a bone crushing hug. His hands stroking her hair as he soother her cries. Leading her out of the cabin, he allowed his team to sort out the rest as he continued to calm Y/N down.

The movement of the team were a blur as ambulances and police cars came. Taking them to the hospital as they sat in the waiting room as Y/N was checked over.

Spencer sat in the waiting room, his leg bouncing up and down with nerves.

Derek excused himself from the groups conversation as he went and sat next to Spencer. Clapping him on the back, Derek squeezed Spencer’s shoulder in re-assurance.

“She’s going to be fine pretty boy.”

“Physically, she has a concussion, bruising along her jawline, and needs stitches on her forehead. Mentally, I don’t know how she is going to handle this. When I suggested asking for her help in the case, I didn’t presume the risk of her being hurt. I should have.”

“Spencer, listen to me. We would have done everything to make sure she lived okay. She not only saved herself but she also helped save Yasmine and this team. Any one of us could have been shot if she had not thought fast and got the gun out of his hands. You know, better than anyone, how to help her deal with this.”

Spencer took in Derek’s words, nodding his head in appreciation, as he leaned against his friend in a comforting hug.

“Probably wasn’t the ideal way to introduce your girlfriend to the team though.”

Spencer stuttered at Derek’s teasing.

“We’re profilers Spencer. We’ve all noticed how you’ve been happier these past few months and seeing how persistent you were for us to consult Y/N, it gave us all an idea why. Seeing you together only confirmed our suspicions. So, how long has pretty boy had his pretty girl?”

Spencer chuckled at Derek’s words. Ringing his hands together as he spoke to Derek.

“Tomorrow is actually our six-month anniversary. She was going to be flying back today so we could celebrate; unless I got called on a case.”

“We can still celebrate.”

Spencer looked up as Y/N walked through the waiting room, fresh stitches on her forehead and an ice pack resting in her hands.

“The nurse said that there was no internal damage. That my body will just be sore for a few weeks. My concussion is light, so I am alright to travel home.”

The team gathered around to check on her. But her eyes could not leave Spencer’s as he rose from his seat. Spencer walked forward slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. Carefully he cupped her face in his hands, and to the surprise of Y/N and his team, Spencer bowed his head and placed a careful kiss on Y/N’s lips. Slow, protective, and full of love.

Pulling back, Spencer wrapped his arms around her as he looked at the beaming smiles of his teammates. Y/N couldn’t help the blush across her cheeks or the giggle that followed. Soon, everyone was chuckling at the pair.

“I would like to thank you Y/N. From the entire team. Your actions saved a young woman’s life, and what could have been one of our own.”

Y/N smiled in appreciation at Rossi’s words.

“You’re Spencer’s family. I would do it all again if I had to.”

“Statistically speaking, around 2,000 people a day are reported missing in the US. Approximately, 600 of those would be reported or considered kidnappings. It is highly unlikely for you to be put in a situation like that again.”

Y/N looked up at her boyfriend.

“I never thought I would say this, but your talk about me being kidnapped again is really attractive.”

The team laughed at the girl’s statement, seeing Spencer become physically embarrassed.

“Just to inform everyone, the jet will be ready to depart in forty-five minutes. As I was informed that today you would have been heading home, Y/N we have sent for your belongings to be collected; you can fly back with us.”

Spencer smiled at Hotch in gratitude, the older man knowing he would have only worried if she had flown home alone.

“Thank you, Mr Hotchner.”

Hotch let out a brief smile.

“Call me Hotch. Your part of Spencer’s life, that means your part of this family.”

BAU JET

It had been an exhausting few days for the team, and it showed, as they all were sporadically asleep throughout the jet. Silence encompassed the steel capsule, with only the sound of sleep filled breaths being heard.

Y/N laid fast asleep, with her head on Spencer’s shoulder, as the boy genius sat up wide awake. Looking down at the woman next to him, all Spencer could imagine was what could have happened if they weren’t quick enough. How many days he would have lost with her. All the things he wanted to tell her.

As though she could sense his deep thoughts, Y/N slowly awoke, rubbing her eyes as a yawn escaped her mouth. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she waited till she was fully conscious before she spoke.

“What time is it Doc?”

Spencer jostled out of his thoughts to check the watch on his wrist.

“It’s 2:36 am. You’ve been asleep for approximately 3 hours and 22 minutes.”

Y/N quickly sat up in her seat, wide awake.

Spencer turned towards her in worry, wondering what had made her so alert.

“What wrong? Are you feeling nauseous? Do you need some painkillers, as your due to have…”

Y/N grabbed Spencer’s face and placed her lips flush against his own. Their mouths moved in unison, as Spencer’s own hands moved to circle around her waist, bringing their bodies as close as they could be in the small space they had. They hadn’t kissed since the hospital, and before then it had been weeks. Spencer never realised until then, how much he truly missed her touch, her taste, her as a whole.

Coming to a point where they both lacked breathe, the pair pulled apart. Their eyes fluttering open as Y/N’s hands caressed Spencer’s face. Her one hand travelled to his hair, feeling the tresses that had grown since she had last seen him. She looked at him in a way no one had before. Spencer shared the same expression.

“Happy six-month anniversary Spencer. I love you.”

Spencer looked at Y/N in disbelief.

“Before you start spouting of facts about transference and how I am probably only saying this because you saved my life, you’re wrong. Because then I would be telling Hotch and Morgan the same thing.”

Spencer couldn’t help the watery smile that graced his face. For the second time in the past day, his eyes filled with tears. But this time, they were good.

“I’ve known I have loved you for a long time. For five months actually. I knew I loved you when we made pizza in your apartment and we ended up burning it, so we ordered one instead.”

Spencer laughed at the memory. It was the first time Spencer had initiated their make out. He had watched her cooking, in his apartment, and he had never found her more attractive than he did seeing her in his home.

“I knew that whilst you were spouting of facts about the invention of the pizza that I loved you and that I could listen to you forever. I love you Spencer.”

Spencer pulled Y/N closer to him as he rested his forehead against her own. The pair basked in each other’s presence.

“Past surveys show that men wait just 88 days to say those three little words to their partner for the first time, and 39 percent say them within the first month. Women, on the other hand, take an average 134 days. You knew after 31 days that you loved me. I knew after our first date that the way I felt when I was with you is a feeling that I could not even describe with my vast vocabulary. I knew after 8 days that the way I felt was stronger than liking you and that was a frightening thought. But its scarier to think what could have happened to you yesterday. That I could have lost you without you ever knowing. I made that mistake before. I will never make it again. I love you too.”

Y/N couldn’t help the smile and giggle that overtook her. Spencer, feeling high of the serotonin that was coursing through his body, couldn’t help his laugh either. Soon the pair were a giggling mess, unaware of the team who had all begun to awaken whilst the pair were talking.

The team congregated to the back of the jet, allowing the couple to stay in their own bubble.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen him truly happy.”

The group nodded at Emily’s words.

JJ smiled as she watched her best friend rattle of the possible movies that he and his girlfriend could spend their anniversary watching as she recovered. Her smile growing even wider at Y/N’s enthusiasm to watch the film’s in their original language. None of them could miss the look of adoration beaming between the pair.

“Yeah, it really has.”

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. -Lao Tzu

A/N- It isn’t the best but I really enjoyed writing this one.