Summary: Lunette tries to get into the Iceberg Lounge
a/n: recently got another like on the first chapter, felt motivated lol but I'm still bringing this over from my wattpad lolz
Lunette POV
I continued my research on the lounge, piecing together it's history and finding out everything I can about Cobblepot. Apparently he had been kidnapping pregnant girls? At least Mr. Hood took him out, whatever that could've implied.
My legs started to cramp up, so I decided to go for a tea break. I headed to the break room, putting the kettle on, then grabbing my mug and randomly selecting a tea bag. I stand by myself. This is supposed to be my break time, but I can't help but continue to ponder what happened to Cobblepot. Surely his followers would've opposed or gone against Mr. Hood, or did he take them all out like pests? Was Cobblepot even alive at this point?
I failed to notice the click of the kettle as it turned itself off once it started to boil. A coworker, Adeleide, softy tapped my shoulder.
"Luna?" she softly called my name as I snapped out of my trance, smiling at her.
"It's just Lunette." I correct her.
"Oh, sorry." she meekly smiled as she reached for the coffee pot.
"Oh no, it's nothing, it's just... I've always gone by Lunette... so..." I trail off, feeling so stupid. I grabbed the kettle and poured the hot water into my mug.
"Well, Lunette is a pretty name."
"My mom's name was Luna so... but I like your name, too. Adeleide. So elegant." I pour a little honey.
"It's an old family name... but your mom named you like a little version of her? That's cute."
"Well, it's not very creative either." I sarcastically say as I put ice to fill up the remaining mug.
She softly chuckled. I never noticed how radiant her smile was. She truly was beautiful, a timeless beauty. I'm surprised she even works here at the Gazette. Adeleide could definitely be a model.
"So what are you working on now? Hard to top your recent article, huh?" she leaned back against the counter, holding her own steaming mug of coffee with both hands.
"Oh... yeah, I'm just brainstorming about the Iceberg Lounge. Heard stuff went down or something, I'm not sure." I shrug as I mix the honey with a small spoon.
"I bet. I'm working on the whole 'Who is the Red Hood'. He's taking down all the shady places." she nodded.
"Maybe we could work on a piece together or something? I'm not dead set on the lounge or anything, just poking my nose a bit."
"Sounds great. Maybe I can pick up on some of your luck. You've never had a bad writing." she playfully winked.
I went back to my desk, a bit happy that maybe I managed to make a friend. But I never wanted to make friends. What if I read their minds and found out something I never wanted to know? Sometimes it's nice to be blissfully ignorant. I sighed, looking down at my journal. Everything online about the lounge was pristine; I needed to ask about it in person.
As I scrolled down the findings of searches, I came across a horribly recorded video of Bruce Wayne, in just his boxers, dancing like a stripper around an ice statue. That's who I'm trying to win a date with. I'm nervous to read his mind, though. Sure, I'm invading his privacy, but there had to be more than just a philanthropist that happens to be a play-boy trillionaire. Why does he adopt so many kids, and why did he let his 17-year old son be CEO of his enterprise? Maybe he truly is too busy partying and knocking girls up that he eventually takes the kids back.
Bruce Wayne doesn't matter right now- I need to think how I'm going to this club. Do I have to dress with much skin as possible? Or was it like a high-end lounge? My research showed it was a mix of both. Regardless, I didn't have the clothes to belong there.
I left the office after doing two hours worth of overtime into reading all about the lounge. I checked the thrift store, picking up a tattered short red dress that had black lacing over. I figured it'd be too dark to notice the imperfections anyways. And it's only five dollars. But it is the Iceberg Lounge... Maybe I should wear blue.
I settled on the lacy red dress as it was the cheapest. I had dresses, sure, but they were for galas. I hurried home, trying to look as good as I can. Starting with curling my hair then pinning them in circles to set. Maybe smokey eyes... whatever.
I finished getting ready then put on my black trench coat. I wore my black event heels, already dreading the pain that would follow. I left for the lounge past ten. There seemed to already been a line forming. I held my small clutch close under my coat, having my ID ready. It seemed like security was all over the place, guards and bouncers wearing identical masks of sorts. They kind of resembled Mr. Hood's. I hope I don't see him tonight, but it was probably inevitable.
Next in line, I smiled at the bouncer, getting into my journalist mindset. I can definitely charm my way through anything. His eyes weren't covered, but he had some ear piece in. He was a wall of a man.
"Hiiiiiii" ew, maybe I'm overselling
"ID" I swiftly hand it to him, feeling intimidated by the amount of guards that feel like are increasing.
"Lunette... You're banned from the lounge." he curtly said. Banned? This is the first club I've tried to get into!
"Excuse me?" my face drops
"Yeah, boss specifically said to not let you in." Unbelievable.
"Oh..." I look into his eyes, mustering my best puppy dog eyes while tapping into his subconscious. Where is Mr. Hood?
He held a meeting an hour before opening. He's sat back, relaxed... He's had these men before. He showed them a printed copy of my information from my resume? How did he get that?
I go further back to get anything. Maybe I can find a way to sneak in, a secret opening for the guards. There is one behind a dumpster. Ew. Oh wait, the guard's gossiping... Red Hood might be a trans anti-hero!?
"Ma'am?"
I snap back, snatching my ID and taking a step to the side, "Whatever", I mutter as I walk a block away to gather my thoughts.
I witnessed the guards talking about how Red Hood gave himself- themself? herself? a new name, how Hood barely showed any skin because of 'scars', and the fact the voice modulator was always on. According to one of the guards, Hood kept away from his/their/her own family because they'd never accept him/them/her now.
I take a deep breath. I just need to get inside and find out what's going on with the lounge, and how deep Hood's influence runs. I've snuck into venues before, movie premieres even, but to a night club owned by a druglord?
Red Hood POV
"Boss, she's trying to come in from the back." My lieutenant informs me over the comms. Of course she's gonna be a bitch-ass thorn on my side. I just wanted to keep her safe as possible, not wanting to endanger the daughter of my only friend? Acquaintance?
"Let her. I'll deal with her myself."
She was trying to go through the back door of my office anyways. I stood in front, arms crossed as I notice the rattling of the door. Poor birdie has no clue that it's a weighted door. Probably weighs as much as her.
Lunette Sylvie Clemonte; had a blog since she was fourteen, exposing large corporations with evidence. She caught the eyes of many reporters and was offered a spot at the gazette after graduating high school. I was hoping she'd expose Dickhead, but worse shit would've just gone down.
The door cracks open, and I hear her panting on the other side. She peers in, eyes wide as she notices me.
"Mr. Hood! What a pleasure to see you again!" she quickly puts on a smile- an award-winning smile. Shame she keeps herself out of pictures.
"Miss Lunette, what are you doing here?"
She sniffles a bit in the November cold, still suppressing her panting as she rests her forehead on the crack, looking down.
"I just wanted to congratulate on your success of your lounge, sir."
"Thank you. Now I must ask you to leave."
Her head perks up, eyebrows slightly downwards and a refute on the edge of her lips.
"This place isn't for you." I quickly add.
"But it's so cold out here... and it's a long way back home... and I'm cold." She's a horrible negotiator.
"You made it all this way, surely you can make it back."
"I'm telling papa you left me out in the cold..." She fucking pouts.
I appreciate Elio and I's friendship too much. I open the sliding door for her, stepping aside as her face brightens up, walking in. She looks like she's not wearing anything under that large coat.
"So uh... I don't mean to be rude or anything but do you actually go by Mr. Hood or do you have another title...?" she shyly asks as she stands idly by my desk.
"What?" Does she know who I am?
"I'm like an ally, y'know. I don't judge... that much. I support your identity no matter what, uh- Hood." she fiddled with her hands, looking down.
"Mr. Hood is fine?" Is confusing me a part of her tactics?
Lunette looks up, softly smiling, "That's really great to know. To double back, you go by he/him pronouns, right?"
"Are you planning to write an article on me?"
"Well... maybe, ai dee kay." Did she really just say the letters of a texting abbreviation out loud? Elio should know about this.
"Are you warmed up now?" She really needs to leave soon, I need to make a statement.
"Why won't you let me in?." Now she sounds like a journalist. She stands tall and straight, but her eyes still look up at me even while she's wearing heels. She looks ridiculous like this: trying to be confident and defiant while I tower in front of her.
"Like I said, it's not for you."
Her eyes dart to the other door that leads into the hallway to the lounge. She looks back at me. I know she's trying to see my eyes to read me.
"I'll leave after one drink, promises. And! I won't write about you." she fixed her face, her eyes filled with determination.
"Get out."
She chewed on her bottom lip, fixing her hair as she turned around, not saying another word as she struggled to open the door again. I open the door for her. She mutters a thanks? And I think a goodnight as she scurried out the door, her heels softly clacking.
trans rumor from @glitter-stained
a/n: lmk if x reader is still preferred :p loveyouloveyouloveyou!
part 4/36: you let Simon 'Ghost' Riley crash at your place for the summer
a/n: I can't believe how long it took for me to write this and I'm lowkey so sorry :( also no beta read
(previous) This time: I'll be your's, you'll be mine ! (next)
When you close your eyes and try to sleep, sometimes you find yourself in that storage box- cold and damp. At least this time your hands aren't bound and you aren't in actual danger. But you still get rescued.
The alcohol kept you unmoving in the water, feeling Graves around you instead. He was beside you, yelling in your ear, behind you, rattling your chair, graphically describing what was happening to your team. And you stayed resilient, just like you were trained.
Simon didn't think twice to dive in after you, his body immediately sobered up once he saw your body being engulfed in the dark waters. He swam a bit deeper than he'd expected, and made sure you felt the air before him. His arm tightly wrapped around your waist as he urgently spoke into your ear, but you were too busy coughing.
Your eyes were shut tight, your nose scrunched as your body squirmed in his arm as the rest of his body worked to keep you both afloat.
You heard your name being called from a distant. He must've found you. Now he found him. Now you failed-
Another splash and a disfigured voice. Your body was hauled up, and a scratchy but warm blanket reassured your shoulders. You kept your eyes shut, knees to your chest as you forced yourself to breathe.
A firm hand on your shoulder and you shook your head.
"I need you to open your eyes f'me."
You know this voice. But you truly didn't trust yourself.
"Cos'è successo? È malata? Ha bisogno del medico?" What happened? Is she sick? Does she need the doctor?
Oh right, that's Damiano. He doesn't know anything, anything at all.
You opened your eyes, a wary smile on your face as you looked up at Simon, "Sorry."
"Sorry?" he scoffed, which quieted Damiano, "You got pushed into the bloody water and you're saying sorry? To fucking who?"
You flinched at his words. He took a step back. Damiano filled the space.
"Mi dispiace tanto, può essere una vera stronza, non so perché si comporti in modo geloso." I'm so sorry, she can be such a bitch, I don't know why she's acting jealous though he spoke as he carefully wiped the water from your face, patting down your hair and softly cradling your face.
But you couldn't face Damiano, you were too busy horrified at Simon's flash of a scared expression.
"Preferisci tornare sulla barca o a riva? Posso portarti le tue cose." Did you want to go back onto the boat or the shore? I can bring you your stuff. he offered.
"A riva" you forced yourself to steady your voice, pressing a grateful smile for Damiano.
He turned to face Simon as he started paddling, "I'm very sorry about all this."
"S'alright"
Damiano's brows quickly furrowed then unfurrowed, and silence carried all three of you to shore. You kept yourself wrapped in the prickly blanket, Simon only at an arm's length away as you watched Damiano head back to the yacht. He must have strong arms.
You swallowed the awkwardness and forced yourself to turn to Simon.
"Are you okay?" you softly asked him, your hair dripping around your feet.
He hesitated to face you, but he did, confusion scowled onto his face.
"You're asking me if I'm okay?"
"I don't know... you just..."
You were exhausted, but you didn't want you and Simon's relationship to alter after one incident. The sand rustled as the waves pushed against the grains, soft wind tracing swirls around where you two stand. There were few clouds in the sky, dusting over the stars.
"Are you okay?"
You met his warm eyes. They reminded you of a proper mug of hot chocolate. You wanted to cry, to sob, to wail at how patient he had been and how scary Graves was and how you were unprepared for the sudden reminder.
"Yeah, just a little splash." you shrugged instead.
Both of you watched Damiano paddle back to his yacht, standing awkwardly side-by-side. Neither of you were that talkative, but a little chat was obviously needed. The silence was deafening; you could practically hear the whirring of Simon's brain as he slightly fidgeted, moving a bit with his feet like he was rebalancing his weight. You didn't want to say anything.
"So did you enjoy the party?"
Your voice wasn't as smooth as you hoped.
"You seemed happy under the lights."
You pulled the blanket tighter around you, "So did you."
The waves filled the following silence. The conversation failed to keep up. Your legs felt like they were going to give out, so you slowly sat down on the sand. Simon followed you, sitting right next to you, draping his arm to hold you close. He claimed it was to keep you warm. You rested your head against his shoulder.
"I'm really sorry about this." you whispered.
"It's okay. I got you." he whispered back.
"No," your voice was stronger, surer, "I ruined the night. And this... is supposed to be your holiday. You're supposed to be having fun and not caring about anything-"
"I like caring for you and spending time with you." he interrupted, his hand gently squeezing your shoulder.
You shook your head, tears welling in your eyes for all the wrong reasons in his eyes, "You shouldn't, Simon. I'll pay for a hotel or bnb so you can spend your time here in peace."
"Can you please look at me?"
You swallowed the shame in your throat as you turned your face to the side to look up at him. He was already looking down at you.
"I want to stay with you, so please let me."
A tear slipped from your eye, your bottom lip quivering in fear.
"Si..."
"Once Damiano brings our stuff, we'll get an uber home, yeah? And then we'll have a warm shower. And then we can watch whatever documentary you want until we fall asleep."
A pout formed and he saw the silent protest on your face, but your unwillingness to say no to him. The way your eyes drift towards back to the dark waters.
"Hey. No one gets left behind. That means you having a good time with me on my holiday."
Your eyes flickered back onto him, a reluctant look on your face.
"I just... don't want to be a burden." you breathed out the last bit as if you so badly wished it wasn't true.
He didn't think that at all.
"As long as you aren't an armed enemy, you're the farthest thing from a burden."
The edge of your lips quirked and he let out a nervous breath he didn't realise he was holding.
"I'll try." you match his sarcasm.
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You let yourself be curled up on the sofa against Simon after he brought over two mugs of teas. A documentary about historical amphibian dishes in France. But you couldn't focus on such an intriguing niche topic. There was a conversation to occur.
"Simon?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not here to just check up on me, right? You keep saying you like taking care of me."
"What do you mean?"
You shift a bit, sitting up straight and not leaning against him anymore, but not facing towards him, "I don't want you here because I've become a worrisome subject to you or your team."
"We care about you a lot," your name followed out of his lips like a grounding verse.
You face him, and he follows when he noticed that you did.
"I'm okay, alright? We all have bad days."
His head slightly cocked to the side, "Not everything's about you."
That caught you off guard. Your face dropped more than you meant to, and he'd always be there to lift it back up.
"I meant- you're not a 'worrisome subject'. You're part of the team. We take care of each other. What I do is what we'd do for anyone on the task force, alright? You're not too much. I promise."
His brows furrowed but not with anger, but with compassion. Like he knew what it felt like to be in your situation. Like he so deeply wished to trade places with you, even if it meant going through hell again but tenfold the intensity.
You stand up, not bothering to take your tea with you. But a taught string suddenly stops you. You felt the words deep down to cut the string.
"I'm sorry for being selfish", your voice is still rough and it embarrasses you.
He says your name like a child calling to God.
You press a smile and turn around. Neither of you notice that the TV is still on even though the room fell silent and cold in the midst of a bustling summer.
"Thank you for checking up on me. Goodnight, Simon, I hope you rest well after today's disaster."
He retracts an arm you didn't notice he'd reached out. A javelin made of pure guilt pierced through your ribs as he muttered a goodnight back to you. He knew better than anyone else in the world the desperation of shutting everyone else out. And he simmered on that familiar feeling as the sound of your door shut echoed, and both mugs noticeably cooled.
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Mr. Sandman seems to hate your flat. Sleep never came easy in the first place, and with the night you had, it was like psychological torture the way your mind refused to cooperate with your exhausted body. Every time you lower your eyelids, you were back in Las Almas. You felt it especially through the ache in your limbs: tired muscles that were practically ripped to shreds. Your body felt as if it weighed a whole tetrapod while feeling like flexible rubber.
And the morphing of the city noises to that damp storage unit. To be entirely honest, you don't even remember what actually happened. You just memorised the sickening fear, the one that seeps into your skin like millions of spiders crawling underneath. And it doesn't help the way your heart pounds against your sternum like you once did against those metal doors.
You had taken your sleeping pills. Any and all medication that was to aid you. You stayed up for a week before, haunted by your mangled mind. So you toss and turn, trying to sweetly coax your body into slumber to sleep everything off. You promised yourself you'd feel better when the sun rises and the day starts anew.
But you don't wake up when you're re-experiencing the sensation of the dirty cloth over your soft face and being poured freezing water on top of that. You remembered how difficult it was to breathe, how you thrashed even though you knew and felt how bound you were to the cold, metal chair that refused to empathise with you. You whimpered and hissed; anything to not say a word.
You'd always been stubborn to a fault.
And when the water on your face didn't intimidate you enough, your clothes were ripped to their bare minimum and more water was poured onto you: leaving you shivering but bound and unable to trap warmth for your body. They didn't give you time to adjust as they continued to their next methods like they had it all planned out in advance. Like they had tailored all their action specially for you.
The hair on the back of Simon's hair stood when he heard the soft whimpers coming behind your door. He didn't want to push it. He wanted to be your rock, to at least be someone you'll talk to no matter what. Your files stated you as someone who either refuses or struggles to open up. Maybe even both.
Then he heard those words that were similar to his interrogation subjects. It made him want to kneel in front of God and beg to be born a different person for you. Someone cleaner. Someone smoother. Someone better.
He knocked on your door, softly at first to not alarm you. But your whimpers turned to soft cries. He hated how harder he knocked, knowing it'd probably alarm you and make your dreams worse. But they're just dreams. None of it could be possibly real right now. But how realistic the pained sounds that left your lips sent him in absolute panic. He hates to barge in, to insert himself in places he shouldn't be, places that he shouldn't even hope to be in.
Simon's eyes recognise the erratic rise and fall of your chest, the way you're sprawled out on the bed but still look so small. Your brows are pinched but not in concentration. Tears are streaming down your cheeks while your entire body glistened in cold sweat.
He called your name louder than he knocked. He shook the bed after the first few calls were left unanswered. Then he touched your slick skin, your actual body to try and wake you. His hand felt like he touched a blue flame, fingertips hot and burning but he pressed on to relieve you of your nightmare.
Your eyes shot open and a horrid scream escaped from the bottom of your stomach. You only saw a shadow towering over you, looking down at you, unable to see their face, their thoughts, their next intentions.
Simon backed away at the sight of your horrified face, the way you reacted like he was a predator with the only intention of ripping your pure flesh apart to just relish the bones and the bones only.
You bunched your duvet to cover your body, to put as many layers between you and the predator's claws.
He softly called your name.
Your hyperventilation continued.
"Hey, hey, it's me. Simon. Ghost?" he spoke softly like a kid easing a stray cat back to their warm home, wanting nothing more than to take care a soul that endeavored a rugged life.
The horror whisped away from your body, but the fear lingered, settling back into your bones. Your eyes weren't focused on him anymore, but more so figuring out where you actually were. Of course he'd recognise that.
"You're in Italy. In your own flat. In your own bed. You're safe."
Shame crept up like someone poured gasoline on you before you knew it and set your body ablaze. Your face felt like it should melt off. Your eyes slowly dragged to Simon, who was kneeling an arms length away, still giving you space. He seemed to be holding his breath.
"Ghost", you breath out.
You missed the way he flinched when you referred to him by his callsign.
"Yeah... can you tell me where you are?"
You blinked, the dream fading with the rotation of the night sky: slowly but surely.
"In my bed, my flat", your eyes wandered around the different lamps and lights you left on.
Your muscles relaxed and your body sunk into the plush bed. You handpicked this mattress. It was the softest one the store had to offer. It molded to how you lay-- memory foam but not really the consultant described.
"You're safe, yeah?"
You closed your eyes, breathing in what felt like soothing, cool air.
"I'm really sorry about this."
You heard him scoot closer to the bedside.
"Nuthin' to be sorry for. I... know what it's like."
You've heard whispers of what he went through, how he was 'thoroughly seasoned'.
"I don't want you to relive it through me." you opened your eyes to respond.
He held your gaze, his hands reaching for yours slowly and obviously. His touch grounded you to what felt like a sinking mess.
"I don't want you to go through this alone."
Your eyes lowered, your mind overspent to think clearly anymore. You didn't want to think anymore. You didn't want to make decisions and be the one everyone was reliant on. You wanted to let go and float away with the current in the sea: drift and disappear and let yourself be washed clean.
His thumb circled gently on your skin, "Let's sleep on the couch tonight, alright? We can watch your favourite documentary."
A sob escaped between your lips as you realised how desperate you were for the warmth of kindness and compassion from someone who actually understood and cared (and not because they were paid to). You nodded your head to respond to him, nodding again when he offered to carry you.
You let him tuck you into a corner of the couch, your duvet wrapped close around you, not tight. He brought over a few lamps and left the stovetop light on. Your documentary played and Simon sat on the other side of the couch. The distance felt too much. Your heart erupted in a need of closeness.
"Simon?"
His head whipped to answer you.
"Can you..." you swallowed the flames, "hold me?"
And he did so without question. Even long after you fell asleep. Even after he followed you to slumber.
a/n: I know I said I hoped to be back within two months but uhhhhhh omg what's over there! anyways, I feel like the writing was choppy with this one, I'm really sorry chat. I'll try to write things in one setting from now on bc it just help with the flow, personally. kinda forgot how to write these lol but it feels great to be back !
Summary: Lunette meets the rising crimelord, Red Hood, in a bookshop of all places.
a/n: this is like the first fic I ever wrote, I just never posted it lol; sorry this isn't an x reader; pls lmk what you think about it tho, I truly value your inputs
Lunette POV
I entered my name on the digital raffle site before shutting my computer down. It was only midday- Boss let me leave early since my last story blew up all over the media. I was the one who drew the correlations that the new vigilante, Nightwing, was once one of Batman's Robins. He was the first one, obviously: same nose shape, skin tone, hair, and the slightest slip of a Romani accent. Not to mention the similar moves that all the Robins share.
I silently prayed that I would win the raffle this time, getting ever so more desperate to land an interview with the Bruce Wayne. The raffle only ensured a date though, but I know how to get my way. I left the office, awkwardly bidding small goodbyes as I hurry my way to the elevator. I know everyone else is getting jealous and suspicious of how I manage to come up with good articles, and I won't lie: I cheat.
As a child, I was skeptical of the tales my mother would tell me about Santa. I did full heartedly believe in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, but Santa was just too weird for my taste. I stared long into her eyes, trying to find a hint of deception, and then I was suddenly in her mind- hearing whatever she was thinking, and seeing whatever fantasy she was imagining to solidify the tales.
It was only the earlier days when metahumans were being exposed to the general public, and the reactions weren't that pretty. Too many were opposed to the mere existence of us. I was a scared child, so I didn't tell anyone.
It doesn't matter all that much anyways; I never tried to use my telepathy for evil. I try not to read people's minds. I like to ignore that I am a metahuman. I live like any other citizen of Gotham. However, to ensure my words hold no false information, I have to confirm the words of others in what they tell me. It's my civic duty to report the truth to the people after all.
I hurry to my dad's old bookshop. He likes to stay by Crime Alley, educating the youth and doing his best to take care of them. I think it's stupidly dangerous to stay in such a place when I've offered many times for him to move in with me in a safer area, and I've promised to buy him his own place once I've saved enough money. Yet, stubbornness runs too deep in our blood, and he enjoys being a parent to some of the lonely urchins. Maybe urchins is a harsh choice of words, but it fits the description.
I keep my head down as I approach closer. Everyone knows about my dad in this area, but I don't trust anyone to not do ill. The front of the store has seen better days, but it's obvious no one has broken into his store. Well, who would want to steal books?
I open the door, the small bell at the top softly ringing. I like how it always smelled like old parchment. I made my way to the register in the back where dad always stood with a welcoming smile. But I was greeted by a freakishly tall man who wore goggles? and some sort of mask? He still donned a stylish suit, fit for a snobby rich man. The lenses of his goggles reflected red, and his mask was obviously made of metal, but painted red. He had soft black hair with white streaks in the front. He stood calmly. It was hard to tell if he even was looking at me.
"Who are you?" I questioned him as I reached for my pepper spray in my bag.
"Calm down, I'm a friend of Mr. Clemonte." he coolly responded. His voice was modulated, robotic even.
I glared up at him. It was easier to read someone's mind by looking through their eyes, but his lenses just reflected my tense state back. I was panicking- I couldn't get into his mind in this state.
"Where is he?" I forced myself to stand taller. My heels started to feel weak, like they'd snap any moment.
"He went out to get flowers for his favourite daughter." I'm an only child.
"He never gets me flowers." I countered.
"Your recent article about Nightwing is spectacular. Celebratory, for him." He sounded like a dick.
Wait.
Some of my coworkers had been trying to get insight on the new crimelord in Gotham, often wearing a red mask that covered his entire face. Apparently, he's claimed Crime Alley, cleaning up the streets. Witnesses claimed that he had a robotic voice.
"And, who are you?"
"I'm... Red Hood. Your father speaks highly of you, Miss Lunette."
This had to be the new crimelord.
"Well, Mr. Hood, you don't see many people wearing suits like that around here. Do you have something celebratory?" I took a step closer, looking up at him, my pressing eyes staring back at me. He's definitely at least six feet.
"No." And there he goes, completely shutting me out.
"'Kay... how do you know my dad?"
"He's one of the only bookstores in this area." Fair but ominous.
"There's other bookstores outside of Crime Alley." I counter. I think he narrowed his eyes at me under the goggles.
"I figured a journalist like you has heard of me by now, have you not?" Even his robotic voice couldn't hide the condescending tone he was emitting.
"Well, I'd hate to assume you are the supposedly new crimelord... that happens to stand right in front of me... in my dad's... shop." My usual instigating voice died down as I started realised what situation I was in. He could snap my neck with one hand at any given moment.
Thankfully, the bell of the door rang and I whipped my head as fast as possible. My father walking in with a subtle smile while holding a gorgeous bouquet. He came up, hugging me. He didn't even seem to mind Mr. Hood. Has my father become an associate with a crimelord? Is my father's bookstore just another money laundering scheme?
"Lunette! You got here earlier than I expected!" my father exclaimed as he handed me the pink bouquet.
"Papa, I told you I'd be off early today. And these flowers are absolutely beautiful!" I pretended to marvel, unsure of how to act.
"Well, Hood and I were blown away by your article on that wing-boy!"
"You didn't tell me about him when we last spoke, papa." I quietly replied, keeping my back towards the tree of a man.
"He's just a new friend. You need to stop worrying so much."
"Do you even know who he is?"
"He is a fine man with great taste in literature, honey." He spoke with a proud smile as he gestured towards him.
I couldn't help but peek inside dad's mind, trying to find out the truth. He seemed scared of him at first, but then Mr. Hood praised him for helping out the kids? Hood gave extra funding to my dad? He started stopping by every other day? Dad thinks he'd be a perfect match for me!?
I snap back, turning around to awkwardly smile at Mr. Hood. Dad was blissfully ignorant about this dangerous man. What were his intentions with my dad, anyways? Well, based off my dad's interactions, he truly is a literate man who just happens to have a prevalent influence around Crime Alley. So my father isn't associated with any money laundering. Is that a win?
"Well, Mr. Clemonte, your daughter is even better in person." he spoke as he came out from behind the counter. Dad probably had him cover when he was gone. That's funny, he should've worn an apron too.
"You guys are close in age, no? You two should hang out more often!" dad proposed. I could feel Mr. Hood and I make eye contact at the same time. I felt it, but I still couldn't get into his mind. I cradled the bouquet closer to me.
"Y'know, papa, that sounds like a pleasant idea, but the Gazette needs me more, and I'm sure Mr. Hood has his own matters to take care of." I brush off the proposition. No way he's setting me up with him of all people.
"Don't be rude, Lunette." dad softly slapped my arm, more endearing than reprimanding.
"No, no. Miss Lunette is right. I'm going to be a busier man now, I'm afraid." he spoke up. At least we share the same sentiments of not wanting to see each other ever again.
"Oh, did you finally get that business?" dad asked, his eyes shone with anticipation.
"What business?" I ask, feeling my eyebrows scrunch.
"The Iceberg Lounge is in my possession. As a matter of fact, I should head back, get the place back in order, y'know?" he politely shrugged as he started backing towards the door.
"All right, then. Come back soon, Hood!" my dad smiled. I just gave him a nod and a small wave.
The Red Hood swiftly left my dad's store. I still can't believe it- wait. No one else knows the change in ownership of the Iceberg Lounge. That could be my next breakthrough.
"Papa, do you even know what Mr. Hood does?" I hushly ask, slightly angered that my dad would even welcome him in his shop.
"Honey, sometimes you just have to fight evil with evil. He's very supportive of educating and redirecting the dangered youth." he calmly replied as he went behind the counter, wrapping his tan, worn-out apron.
"Rumor has it that he severed at least five heads. That's beyond evil-"
"Lunette, I thought I raised you better than to gossip." he sternly snapped.
"I'm a journalist! A reporter! It's what I do!" I frustratedly give up. Sometimes my father was just another rendition of Uncle Iroh.
"Hood is a good man deep down. I trust him." He left no room for argument as he took out his inventory notebook. I wish I could have the gut instincts my dad had.
I lowered my head, focusing my gaze on the flowers instead. A soft pink lily that was the center piece, daisies and baby breath scattered around, lily of the valley adding depth around the lily.
"I really like the flowers." I quietly spoke. I don't mean to argue- I truly do hate it, but I worry for my dad.
"I pick them out myself... Worried about what you'd like, because that's my job." He softly smirked as he walked past me.
"I know... I just... It's hard." I sigh as I leaned against the counter.
"I know, honey, but you need to have fun with your life."
"I am having fun."
"How much overtime did you work to get off early?"
"Only like... That doesn't matter. I'm content with life, okay?"
After catching up with my dad, I headed back to my flat before dark. I couldn't help but feeling watched the whole time there. I try to tap into the mind of whoever was following me, but I never bothered to practice enhancing my telepathy skills. I headed up the tall building, exhausted from the day's endeavors.
I entered my empty apartment. It was still welcoming, just not a lot of stuff- less attachments that way. Dad gave me some of his leftovers to reheat as dinner. I looked at my whiteboard calendar on my fridge, which had rest of the month empty. I had no interviews lined up, no meetings to discuss edits with. I should start looking into the Iceberg Lounge.
I stood in front of the counter as I let the steaming container of some vegetable mix cool off, opening my laptop and starting my research. I thought about buying a dining table, but I never have people over, and I myself don't mind eating on the couch or just standing and eating.
Nothing seemed to be off about the lounge; no mentions of change of ownership or any changes at all. Maybe I'll go by tomorrow night, it will be a Friday after all.
a/n: let me know if you want me to change it to an x reader ! reader will still have Lunette's persona because I said so
part 3/36: you let Simon 'Ghost' Riley crash at your place for the summer
(previous) going nowhere, fast ! (next) C-c-c-crazy (get your ass in my bed)
5.3k words (three sections)
a/n: border is from pinterest; I didn't read this over lol; I didn't really think this fic through, idk why I didn't leave it just as a oneshot lol; bear with me :(
a/n: I planned out 36 more chapters based off the lyrics... while I'm in a writing slump oh deer; chat I forgot what colour eyes I gave him so I'm making it official he has brown eyes (object in the comments if you feel passionate to do so [I'm happy to comply with the general consensus])
Simon knew himself he was a light sleeper. Too light, in fact. He found most clocks too loud, found heaters to rumble like earthquakes, and certain dripping taps to wake him up after a single drop. But he wasn't that annoyed when he woke up to the humming of a machine at two in the morning. He prepared to work around your style of living. He was simply a guest after all. He dug into a small pocket in his duffel bag to pull out noise cancelling ear plugs that Soap 'gifted' him when Simon claimed Soap snored like a round of bullets firing directly overhead.
But he was also naturally curious as to why a machine was humming at two in the morning when it hasn't before. He focused in on the sound, a picture of a printer painting an image in his mind. Then he worried that you might be having an episode and it was something else entirely. He was here for you too.
He got up, not even the soles of his feet thought of patting against the cold tiles of your floor. He slowly opened the door, the stealth in his muscles memorised. There was light coming from under the door at the end of the corridor. The door in which you explained when he first got here was your office, and you had to keep it locked for security and clearance reasons. He understood that it wasn't necessarily a trust issue between you and him, but a precaution. Something to make you feel better.
But if the light was on, then you had to be in there. Awake at two in the morning working away? Even Simon could easily call bullshit on that.
He softly knocked on the door, hearing the machine halt and your slippers scuttering up to the door. You opened a crack, worry etched on your face, "Sorry, did I wake you up?"
He squinted from the sudden brightness gracing his eyes. He looked down at you, hoping for a refuge, "Why are you awake?"
His gravelly voice nearly made you shiver.
"Well you said you wanted to go to the beach last night and you asked me to come and I have another load of paperwork I need to read through and I want to go to the beach with you too." you quickly replied in a hushed whisper.
"I can wait another time, or go by myself if it's stressing you out." he tried to offer.
"If that's what you want to do."
He remembered when you used to make suggestions, used to make your own decisions, used to have more back bone. He could tell your more than sufficient knowledge comforted you, made you feel like an oracle. You knew exactly which decisions led to where, and you were smart enough to piece them all together for the best possible outcome.
And now you continuously doubted yourself.
"I don't want you doing god knows what at an ungodly hour just because I asked to go to a beach." he said a bit more aggressively than he should've. The state of his voice didn't help.
Your head slightly lowered, your eyes blinking at the floor. You were pretending to think, but it felt like you lost your footing completely and there was nowhere else for you to go. You were utterly clueless.
"I'm almost done with my work... just printing out the last set to read over."
You were in your pajamas that were oversized, engulfing you from the world. It pained Simon to see you so small, your body language trying to make yourself not seem as a threat so he wouldn't 'attack'.
"I'm not mad or irritated or annoyed or upset. I just worry you might be overworking yourself, love." Simon assured you.
You looked up at him, looking slightly guilty, "This is nothing, honestly."
His head tilted to the side, "We can go to the beach later in the day and you can finish this up tomorrow morning. Take lunch, even."
Your face pouted in disagreement, but at least it wasn't fear.
"But the best time is high noon."
He adored how you constantly put in effort to give him the best holiday.
"We can be a little late. The beach isn't going anywhere." he grinned.
"Yeah but I figured you'd want to tan."
"I'll just turn pink, I'm afraid."
A small smile crept on your lips and you nodded, "Little past noon it is then."
You organised the printed paper on your desk and locked the door behind you. Simon walked you to your room, even though it wasn't far. He claimed he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly if he didn't see you tucked in bed. You playfully rolled your eyes, telling him Price was rubbing off.
You had lamps all around your room that created a dim lighting, the coziest room he'd ever laid eyes on. You crawled under your covers and weighted blanket, forcing an annoyed look on your face. He nodded in satisfaction and bid you sweet dreams.
After he closed your door, you crept out of bed, carefully hiding the key under one of the lamp shades, then quickly got back in. You wondered what beach attire Simon would wear. You knew about his scars, but you hadn't seen them. You imagined he'd look like a mysterious underground fighter.
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You two taxied to the beach. You knew a rather secluded place along the coast, one where most people accessed by a boat. There was a gap, though, through the rocks if you looked close enough. You noticed it while biking.
Simon knew you couldn't drive a car. You simply weren't allowed to: deemed mentally unfit. But you were as sharp as ever: ready and packed for the beach before noon. He let you take the reigns, leading him to the best spot. He buried the umbrella stand under the sand while you laid out the towels and placed the cooler in the most 'optimal position'.
"Johnny got back to me on that trip you suggested." he started, opening a can of your favourite drink for you.
You tried not to stare at his shirtless body, his scars that peppered his body intrigued you.
"Oh really? What did he say?" you handed him a towel that laid below the ice in the cooler.
"Said he'd love to come, flattered that you invited him." he gave you a sarcastic look.
You grinned, "Don't get jealous I'm stealing your boyfriend."
It took a lot of effort to not have your eyes lower down from his face.
He took the towel out of your hand, "He is not. Just some pesky subordinate that won't leave me alone."
You giggled, "Simon, I reckon you're in love."
He scoffed, placing the cool towel behind his neck, his muscles accentuating, "Yeah, well, love looks different on me."
Your head tilted, becoming curious as you took a sip of your drink, "What does love look like on you?"
"Telling jokes to my Johnny."
You definitely fell for it, but he was definitely avoiding the question.
You playfully scowled back at his sly grin, muttering about how he can stay pink while you go tan in the water. You walked to the clear blue, sand a bit rough on your feet, but still comforting. You floated on your back, letting the sun greet your face.
The waves gently brought you back to the shore, but you continued to lie on the sand. Simon sat next to you, staring out at the water with his cheap sunglasses.
"Beaches back home are black and rocky."
You squinted up at him, his eyes following the crashing waves.
"You miss them?" you asked absent-mindedly, your eyes taking in the scars that aligned with his ribs.
"They're familiar, but this is a better view." he softly spoke, then his face looked down at you.
You smiled, poking his side, "How many girls you picked up like that?"
He scoffed, looking back out on the water, "You know I don't talk to girls. Not like that."
"Am I special, Simon?" you pressed with a shit-eating grin. Everyone knows Simon isn't one for romances.
"I can show you special, sweetheart."
He rose to his feet, and before you could process what he was thinking, you were lifted, then tossed away into the water. A yelp escaped your lips, and you crashed with the waves. He didn't throw you far, but you broke the surface with your head, glaring at him.
"That wasn't funny."
"Not for you."
"I don't appreciate your attitude, Riley. What if I can't swim?" you walked a bit towards the shore, the water at your waist.
"But you can."
Your brows were slightly raised with your lips pressed and your eyes staring into him dumbfounded. Surely he was smarter than the average soldier.
"You can't?" he scoffed, his own brows raising.
"You could've drowned me." you tried to guilt trip him.
"We both know I'd never do that to you."
Before you could quip back, there was a distant motor sound. The beach was basically a small gulf, and you were unable to see the rest of the water past the cliffs that protruded. A yacht pulled into the gulf, but your arm was pulled closer to Simon who led you out the water.
"The fuck is that?" he asked as you both stood under the shade of your umbrella, squinting.
"I mean, yachts are popular so... maybe a party?" you shrugged.
The seemingly empty yacht circled around the gulf, but stopped in front of where you two stood, but not too close. A guy around your age stepped out, wearing shorts and an unbuttoned shirt, his hair whisping around in the wind. His arms raised, beckoning you two to come forward. You glanced at Simon, who shrugged, "Seems rich, probably harmless."
And so you two walked into the water, but Simon was able to get closer to the yacht due to his height. He offered you to cling to his side so you too could be closer. You felt slightly embarrassed as you felt like a koala, but he secured an arm around your waist to give extra support. You could truly feel his scars now. They were rough against your skin, and you could deeply feel how unforgiving they were on him.
The guy ran down to the lower deck, but you noticed other people (servants?) bustling about. He leaned against the railing, eyeing you both.
"Ciao, ciao, è una spiaggia privata?" Is this a private beach? he asked, glancing around the beach.
"No, non credo." No, I don't think so you answered.
"Ah vero? Ho appena trovato questo posto su una mappa." Oh really? I found this place on a map he smiled, dimples dipping on each cheek with his blinding white teeth beaming down.
"Sì, mi sono imbattuto in questo posto." Yeah I stumbled upon this place you returned his smile. You glanced up at Simon, who had his eyes narrowed, not squinting, up at him.
"Il tuo ragazzo?" If he your boyfriend? he nodded towards the man practically carrying you.
Your body tensed and you let out a nervous chuckle.
"Ah no, il mio amico." No, my friend
He raised an eyebrow, eyes switching between you two.
"Bene, stasera organizzo una festa se volete venire." Well, I'm hosting a party tonight if you two want to come he motioned towards the rest of the yacht.
You forced your head to turn back to Simon, who was already expecting to meet your eyes.
"He's inviting us to his yacht party." you softly said in his ear.
"We don't even know his name." he returned.
"We can ask but, do you want to go?"
"Do you?"
You pulled your face away, giving him an impatient look.
"I don't know if I trust him."
"You said he's probably harmless."
"Fine, let's go." he readjusted his arm around your waist, pulling your lower half closer.
You smiled up at the guy, "Verremo." We'll come
"Perfetto! Mi chiamo Damiano." Perfect! My name is Damiano he motioned a hand towards himself.
You said your name and let Simon say his own and the yacht left. You figured after dinner would be a good time to come by.
As you two went back to the dry sand, Simon went to go reach for drinks in the cooler, but you stood awkwardly outside the shade of the umbrella. It was weird for him to hold you like that. It's what friends do, sure, but is it what you two do? Him and his buddies lean against one another to take naps, but you weren't that close to him. It was nice to have someone supporting your back, to let you hold on for something so silly.
His face lifted when he noticed you had yet to grab the drink from his hand.
"You alright?"
You blinked, his brown eyes scanning your entire body, calculated and practiced, as if you could've been shot or stabbed at any moment.
"I'm fine." you grinned, quickly taking the drink from his hand.
His arm hovered and his eyes stayed on you a moment too long, and he cleared his throat, grabbing his drink.
"You ever been to a yacht party?"
"No."
"Me neither."
He sat down on his seat, and you decide to do the same.
"You'll get the full Italy experience." you softly said, bringing the drink to your lips.
"Italy's cool, but it's not all that I came here for." he replied.
You heard the contents of his drink swish back.
"You came here to buy a new wardrobe." you teased, humbling yourself because it would be absurd if a teammate you worked with and only knew for less than a month but had been texting for over a year actually had any interest or care in you. He cared for you like a teammate and you left it at that.
"Military tells you to back a single bag and it's your whole life."
"I always thought you'd be a man of taste, but the same gym shirt and shorts are kind of depressing, Si."
You turned to look at him, the tide steadily rising.
He was already looking, "It's efficient."
Blinking and unsure of what to say, your eyes dart to the cliffs behind him.
"We should dress up tonight."
"I'm gonna need some help with that."
You grinned, already imagining that you're about to say, "I don't think any of my dresses will fit you, unfortunately."
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After a quick late lunch, Simon went out to get a better dress shirt that wasn't black, per your order. You rummaged through your old boxes, ones you had yet to open since moving here. A box filled with clothes you wore and stocked up on before your time at the academy, before the field. It didn't feel right to open it when you didn't feel normal yet. But honestly, you doubted you'd ever be the person you were before.
The box was heavily taped, too much, as if containing something dangerous; a caged monster, a curse. You had scissors in one hand, the box that was stuffed to the brim begging to be opened.
You weren't sure how long you had been staring at the box, attempting to reason yourself to open it, but Simon had came back, announcing himself. He knocked on your open door, your eyes slowly tearing off from the box and looking at him.
"Need help?" he offered, brows slightly scrunched as his eyes darted between you and teh box.
It's so silly needing assistance to open such a stupid box. A box that was incapable of harm, but you didn't want to see the skeletons you buried long ago. But your body betrayed you as your arm lifted the scissors towards them and he gingerly took them from your hand, carefully cutting the layers of tape.
You watched, expecting the box to explode, creating a pandora situation, anything dramatic. Simon opened the flaps and slid the box closer to you.
It's just old clothes.
Old clothes you loved to wear, and clothes your younger self had waited to gift to your older self for graduating. For being an adult.
"We don't have to go to the party." his voice softly cut through your racing mind.
You shook your head, "Can't let you buy a new shirt for nothing."
You grabbed the first clothing, a simple black top. It was tight and complimented your figure. It was a classic, a staple.
"I think you should go for something rather flowy." he inputted, starting to examine the clothes in the box, taking them out.
He reached for a red top while you grabbed a velvet light blue dress. It was rather short but not tight on the body, or at least the lower body. You figured this dress could match a tacky-rich vibe, or maybe it was too 2020.
Simon brought the red top to your attention, showing you the various, rather scandalous, straps.
"You wore this?"
You remembered buying it for your future self, for the clubs and partying after graduation. But even after your awards you never had the chance to cut the tag off.
You reached over the box, flicking at the tag, "Nope."
He examined it more, "So why have it if you weren't gonna wear it?"
You sighed, putting the dress aside and reaching for another article of clothing, "I was supposed to, but I got a job and besides, I'm not really the kind to party."
You reminiscently smile as you pulled out a pair of loose jeans that had clouds painted on them.
"Laswell said you were great- you are great," he cleared his throat, meticulously folding the top and laying it on the floor, "by the way."
"Thanks, but I'm not the big LT here." you grin holding a black dress.
He gave you a look but then looked at the dress in your hand. It didn't look too tight, but it wasn't that flowy. It was simple.
"You should try that on."
You chuckled, "This is so old."
"It looks timeless."
A growing feeling in your stomach didn't want to search through the box anymore, so you got up and changed into the dress. You stood in the doorway, quite awkwardly, as Simon's attention was to neatly put the clothes back into the box.
"What do you think?"
His eyes raked from the bottom up, his expression unreadable. His eyes cut away before they reached your face.
"It looks good."
That didn't boost your confidence at all. Your posture slumped as you leaned against the frame.
"I think I'll just wear shorts and some tank top then."
His eyebrows slightly rose, "I mean, I like it. You look good. Maybe heels with that? Or flats?"
He must've read your own expression quite well, or felt as if he had let you down with his approval.
"Alright!" you raised your hands, hanging your head as you stepped forward into the room, "I'll wear it."
A sigh left his body as he put the box against your wall.
"What kind of shirt did you buy?" you tilted your head.
"All I can tell you is that I will be the colourful one tonight."
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Both of you finally made it onto the yacht after Damiano sent a worker to pick you up on a small motorboat that seemed like it was for emergency use only. Simon tried to pick you up so your dress and shoes wouldn't get wet, but you insisted on handling yourself and hiked up the dress and carried your shoes. He did have to give you a little push into the boat, though.
Damiano greeted you with the widest smile and kisses on the cheek, while hugging Simon. He introduced his friends to you guys and then floated away into the bustling crowd. Everyone had to be wearing designer. At least they were about your age, maybe not Simon.
Damiano had told you it was an open bar, so you got yourself a light cocktail. It mostly tasted like syrup, so tomorrow morning won't be too bad.
"Isn't that a bit strong to start out with?" he leaned in close so his voice wouldn't drown out by the pounding music.
You glanced at his brown drink, then met his eyes, "It's a cocktail, can't be too strong."
"It was mostly vodka."
"With! syrup!" you cocked your head for emphasis.
No one lingered at the bar, simply grabbed their drinks and went back around the DJ booth, which Damiano was having the time of his life. You turned around a couple of times, surveying your surroundings, the amount of heads, the gender ratio, the exits, any hazards. But you only felt off when some of the girls' gazes led to Simon, who was surveying you.
You poked at his fun, commercially Hawaiian shirt, "This is not your style, Simon."
He looked down, fluffing out his shirt, "I told you I'd be colourful."
You propped your elbow against the table, resting your head on top of your hand, "I don't know... It doesn't really feel like you."
"I thought you said you liked it." his fingers drummed against the table.
"I do! It's just... different. New." you nodded, finishing your drink.
He turned his head towards the crowd, and you set your empty glass towards the bartender, "Those girls keep eyeing you. You should go talk to them."
He looked down at you, his eyes lingering below your eyes, but still on your face, "I'd hate to leave you alone."
You smiled, taking a step away from the bartop, "I'll be around."
You pushed Simon towards the group of girls, reassuring him and telling him all sorts of affirmations. The moment a girl greeted him, you skittered towards the booth to support Damiano. His choice of music wasn't necessarily your choice, but it wasn't boring. You eventually made your way to the front of the booth, smiling and hopping around. He beckoned you to come up. You shyly shook your head. Then he left his set and reached his arm out, and you accepted it. You danced beside him on this mini platform as he seemed to put extra effort into his hobby. You were too shy too look into the crowd, but when you did, you met Simon's brown eyes, those eyelids you could recognise anywhere.
Couple of songs went by and Damiano had simply put on a playlist. He spoke into your ear about getting a drink, and you nodded. He led you off the platform, giving you a hand as you jumped down, crashing onto him. He wrapped an arm around you, gently holding you upper arm. He had someone bring over two chairs. You two ordered your drinks; you something a bit strong to numb the pain in your feet, and he vodka redbull.
"Sono davvero contento che tu sia venuto." I'm really glad that you came he shouted, sweat glistening around his face.
"Bene, grazie per l'invito." Well, thank you for the invitation you replied, still giddy off of dancing in the limelight.
He nodded, smiling as he took a sip, eyes raking top to bottom, "Stai davvero bene." You look really good
You chuckled, about to tuck your hair behind your ear, but he went ahead and did it for you, his palm ghosting your cheek.
"Qual è l'occasione?" What's the occassion?
He shrugged, retracing his hand, "Gli studi iniziano tra un mese." Studies start in a month
You thought you internally cringed when you realised he could be starting his bachelor's degree, but he read your face just fine, laughing.
"Sono uno studente post-laurea." I'm a postgrad student
"Oh!" you awkwardly laughed, finishing your drink in one go.
He signaled the bartender for another.
"Allora, cosa ci fai qui? In Italia?" So what are you here for? In Italy?
"Vivo qui ma per lavoro" I live here but for work you replied while gesturing with your hands.
"Cosa fai?" What do you do?
"Analitica" analytics you truthfully replied. It was on your contract and technically could be on your resume if you switch jobs.
He nodded, sipping his drink, "Carina e intelligente." Pretty and smart
You shook your head, softly giggling, "Sei troppo gentile." You're too kind
He nodded, sarcastically accepting the praise as if it was a virtuous award, "È semplicemente mio dovere." It is simply my duty
You stretched out your legs a bit more, "Cosa stai studiando?" What are you studying?
"Affari, andrò a Londra il mese prossimo." Business, I will be going to London next month
Gaz talked about London a bit. He'd always tell you how you'd like it there.
You smile, "Sembra molto carino." Sounds very nice
Damiano was about to say something but his eyes slightly widened and he sat up a bit straighter. You felt a light hand on your shoulder, but you still flinched, tensed as your body choked on reflexes. Your head whipped up and Simon had his hand hovering.
"Just checking in." even with the loud music, his voice sounded calm, like he wasn't even shouting at all.
"We're fine." you replied, puzzled.
But through the strobe lights and lack of main lightings, you noticed how awkward Simon was standing, like a kid who was lost but had the slightest idea of where his parent was.
"Are you okay?" you slowly stood up.
He leaned in, talking into the ear that was facing Damiano, "Those girls... I can't talk to them."
His words were laced with terror. It made you giggle.
"Why don't you join us? You can sit with me." you offered, squishing yourself to one side of the plush chair.
"Va tutto bene?" Is everything okay? Damiano asked, his brows knitting.
"Si sente un po' timido." He's feeling a bit shy you went to rest your head against his chest, but waited to feel any tension on his body. A moment went by and he was still relaxed, so you gently let yourself sink.
Damiano scoffed, eyeing Simon, "Un tipo grosso come lui?" A big guy like him?
You grinned. If only Damiano knew what Ghost was like, "Abbiamo le nostre differenze." We have our differences
"Sembrate molto amici." You guys seem pretty close as friends his fingers motioned between you two.
Your grin faltered, and the Earth stilled for a moment. You and Simon? This is the second time Damiano had questioned your relationship.
"What'd he say?" Simon asked.
"I said, you guys seem close." Damiano repeated himself, now directly looking at Simon.
"We've been through stuff together." he gruffly replied.
"Like what?"
"Like school." you chimed in, your head no longer resting on Simon's chest.
Damiano's face was neutral, like he really didn't care at the end of the day.
"And what do you do?" he asked Simon.
"Public relations."
"With your physique?"
"I used to be a personal trainer."
Simon could lie, it's kind of his job- but lying to a civilian? It made you panic.
"How about we go dance?" you stood up, slightly wobbling in your heels but the pain did numb a bit.
"Shots first?" Damiano offered and you nodded, Simon following after you.
Shots after shots the three of you danced. You think you saw girls trying to dance with Simon but he seemed to be unbothered by them. You told yourself it was just the alcohol altering your perspective. Damiano stayed close by which made you feel bad because it seemed like you were keeping him away from his friends. It was his party after all.
The dance floor started to spin as your vision swayed, and you simply excused yourself from both men to take a breather. They both followed, slightly concerned at your state, for different reasons. Simon reached for your arm, calling your name as he did, then asked if you were okay. You leaned against a railing, closing your eyes and taking deep breaths, nodding, but he grabbed your hand, pulling it close to him, which made you face him with open eyes.
He looked at you as if you were breaking.
You withdrew your hand, eyes fluttering to the ground as you muttered an 'I'm fine'. He was supposed to be having a good time. It hurt you to see him in a constant caretaker role when you two were out. Sure, you weren't totally normal, but you manage just fine.
"Sei malato?" Are you sick? Damiano's voice filtered through behind you.
You nodded, facing towards the water instead of them.
"Solo un respiro." Just a breath
The crowd followed the party boy, girls piling out to dance on the deck. The same group of girls came dancing around Simon, and you let yourself get lost in the haze. Your mind was already half way gone, simply careless not juvenile. The group of girls swarmed around Simon again, just you and Damiano dancing with the crowd. Your back was towards Simon, not wanting to meet his worrying gaze. He shouldn't be here to babysit.
The dancing died down, and everyone slowly made their way back inside the yacht, but you and Damiano stayed out, memorising each other's numbers as your phone was in the coat closet with your bag. Simon, who you figured got swept away with the girls, came back to your side with glasses of water. You knew he was trying to sober you up before your travel back, but Damiano generously was hosting an open bar. He went back to get you your drink, leaving you a bit uncomfortable with Simon.
He still coaxed you into finishing the glass.
"You should be enjoying yourself." you bitterly tell him, but the bitterness was directed towards yourself.
"I enjoy by watching you be happy."
The noise from the crowd was too much, so you two walked over towards the center of the yacht, where you figured people jumped off the deck from. No railing; just the dark water.
"I just don't want to hold you back." you confess, looking up at him while leaning your back against the railing.
"You've never held me back, and if you did, it'd be my fault." he assured you, his eyes confident in his words.
You smiled, and he did too, "Oh yes, the big, bad LT."
A chorus of heels thumped their way to you two.
The same group of girls, with the one leading them an absolute beauty. She had her hair in a blowout, her top hanging low between her chest, and a mini skirt to accentuate the legs that stood on heels.
She even had you enamoured.
Then she smiled, directly strictly at Simon.
Her group came over, and they talked only to him, which made you want to vomit for some reason. Or whatever that unsettling feeling in your stomach was. You blamed it on the alcohol, and hoped Damiano would find you soon so the awkwardness wouldn't linger within you.
You were oblivious to the way Simon tried to brush off the girls, pretending to give up on Italian and their broken English. You didn't notice the way he only looked at you, dejected. And you definitely didn't notice when the stunning girl followed his eyesight back to you, your eyes on the deep waters. You didn't take notice how she went behind her group of friends, like she was walking away, defeated by her unsuccessful efforts into swooning Simon. You didn't heed her purposeful misstep, the perfect shoulder that brutely knocked into you. And you realised a second too late that your back became parallel to the water, and your feet were no longer on the deck.
a/n: golly my life has picked up, I don't think I'll write anything new for a month (hopefully not two); I have this like Jason Todd fanfic I started a year ago I'll probably post here in the meantime of my absence; if you want me to consistently put the word count, let me know, I only put it because I felt as if this chapter was too long
Hope you enjoyed ! Take care ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭ =͟͟͞♡ I love you <3
Part 2/2 of Oneshot: researchers!141 keep a selkie within their arms' reach, but she is more true than them.
Part 1
a/n: sorry this took awhile; I succumbed to a writer's block and I knew how the story was going to play out, but I simply couldn't conjure the words to do so; anyways as a writing exercise, I decided to make an analysis of the characters so if you (my dearest, sweetest, sunshine readers) are interested in reading said analysis, then do let me know :)
Price's connections were concerning. He managed to fly you out the country, and in to another without documents. He gets what he wants. The rest followed him for their own reasons. Ghost was curious in how to tame such a creature like you. He had yet to accept you were both human and seal. He strictly saw you as a disfigured seal. Gaz was curious about your existence. He worried that your pelt could've been a vital organ, that you'd soon perish without it. He wanted to see if you'd change without a significant skin of yourself. But it was just a coat at the end of the day. Soap felt horrible about your situation, but he wanted to make the best out of it. Price kept him quiet about you with the same reasoning he'd remind you.
"If not me, then some other man would treat you worse. He'd hurt you, abuse you, force you to do things you'd never imagine."
And you'd turn your head away, losing fight. But the other men didn't burn the selkies' identity, just hid it somewhere rather secure.
They had been soft with you. Of course they had; that's how all the stories go. The man steals her coat, her prized possession, then poses as the hero. He brings her back to his place, offers her shelter, gives her his house that she'd feel inclined to make it a home. But it's not a home when it's the site of your stolen pride. It's not a home when you're constantly reminded to be grateful, that everything is a privilege. It's suffocation on the land of the air you were born to breathe.
But they did differ from the usual men, you suppose. They didn't necessarily forced you to do anything. They just kept you in a cabin that was literally in the middle of nowhere- you'd have more luck navigating the depths of the oceans than this wooden prison. They'd supervise your walks in the forest, keeping you away from the rivers and lakes. They didn't physically leash you, but you could feel mental fences being established within you. And you weren't sure how to stop it.
You only started talking to them after a week. Gaz usually gave you baths, claiming to multitask by checking up on your health while cleaning you. Soap had to fill in his spot while Gaz was running tests at some university lab.
"So, ye g'nna tell us yer name? Or dewey keep calling ye Bonnie?" he asked as he massaged a lavender scented shampoo on your scalp, your back facing him. You held the shampoo bottle which had pictures of yellow roses.
You didn't answer.
"I don even think we've told our names. 'M Johnny. Lad who gives ye baths is Kyle. Blondie is Simon. And the big man is John."
John. The man who's neck you imperfected. You internally smile to yourself.
"Oh? Yer shoulders relaxin. Water you thinkin about?"
You tensed your shoulders again, reminding yourself why you are here. You'd need to plan an escape, but you don't even know what continent you're on.
Johnny sighs, filling a cup besides you to rinse out your hair. He kept the water cooler than Kyle. He tried to ask if you'd prefer the cold water instead of the hot water Kyle matches with the ideal internal temperature of a human. You simply looked him in the eye and he lowered the temperature.
"I've always felt bad fur the selkies 'n those stories. I wouldn't want ma sisters goin thru that." he sighed, finger gently pressing your forehead back. You followed, but his hand sat on your eyebrows to shield your eyes from any stray waters that streamed.
"If ye got yer hands onna fur coat, an actual pelt and all... could ya still... y'know." his voice dropped, next to your ear as he scooped more water.
You never thought about it because you were never in a situation to try in the first place. It ticked you off to say the least. Why does he care when he's actively condoning this horrific situation.
"I know John's got a twisted mentality t'say the least, but I reckon anyone and anything is the happiest when free."
Then his hand held out the matching conditioner bottle with even more yellow roses and sunflowers on the front. You handed the shampoo bottle. Your fingers traced over the images as he worked the conditioner into your hair.
"I'm more free than you." you whispered.
His hands hesitated, but they resumed.
"Cannae ask how?"
"You're tethered to a man who treats you as an equal."
"Well... I suppose."
After Johnny had conditioned your hair, he kept it up as he carefully cleansed your body, especially your back right shoulder. John had branded you like a horse. An eye for an eye. He reminded you to be grateful he hadn't branded your neck like you had done to him.
You couldn't feel it when the blazing iron scorched your skin. The warmth was rather soothing, until your skin and nerves were fried. You had braced for the pain, but it never came- not until the iron had been relieved and the cold air graced your skin. You screamed into the towel Gaz had you bite down on. You'd rather break your own teeth.
°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·。
You barely ate with them. They'd have you seated with them at the table; dulled, wooden cutlery at your disposal as they held shiny silver. You haven't ate in your human form for ages. It was free to go catch a fish in the sea. And the thought made you bitter. You'd refused to eat, and they'd refused to let you leave the table unless you ate a simple third of your portions.
They've been adding more food to your plate.
They never asked you to do chores. There wasn't a TV in the cabin. They offered you books, but it was redundant. The last book you read was in middle school before you abandoned civilisation. Johnny had left for a week and came back with kid books from his parents' attic. He retaught you how to read, which unfortunately got you to speak more as you read aloud.
Now after dinner they expect you to read a story to them.
And after you read you'd wash up, and one of them would accompany you to bed. They had the decency for separate beds. John wouldn't talk unless you talked first. You'd lay in bed, bury yourself under the covers so he couldn't see you, and he'd sit on the bed, just watching. You tell yourself he was only watching your breathing to make sure you fell asleep. You barely slept for the first month. You would've attempted an escape but when John took you for a walk outside the cabin on the second day, the realisation was heavy enough to fracture whatever remaining spirit you had left.
Simon wanted to do the least with you, it seemed, but he was still around. He'd lay in his bed and you'd lay in your's. You caught a glimpse of him outside chopping wood in a t shirt. He had numerous scars along his muscular arms. You recognised which ones were bites, scratches, and chews. Whenever you'd show a hint of protest, he'd invade your personal space they all had granted you. His stare made you feel too vulnerable, and it ate you alive.
Kyle tried all sorts of things to get you to sleep during the first month. He was worried your body would malfunction, that your health would be thrown out the window if you didn't get enough rest. Eight hours minimum is what he'd stress. He filled your bed with pillows and an abundance of blankets, but John was too paranoid to give you more than the bare minimum. Kyle experimented with your diet, trying to see which foods you preferred or if you could still eat like a seal in your human form. Yet it's in your nature to reject it all.
Johnny would ramble on about stories from his childhood, what kind of sandcastles he'd build during his beach days. He'd tell you tales of his uni life, the parties and the humanity of it all. He'd softly sing songs. When he saw that you wouldn't sleep one night, he taught you how to whistle. He asked if he could touch your face to correct your lips. You felt inclined to. He was the kindest and the most understanding. His fingers basically hovered the entire time, like he was scared to touch you after all. And when you let out a single, clean note, he jumped from his seat and showered you with praises. You gave him a small smile before John entered the room and scolded Johnny.
°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·。
Spring came with a natural gentleness. You noticed more flowers appearing on your walks. You wondered if they'd ever let you get near a body of water besides the bath. You'd watch them tend to the overgrown grass outside, holding all kinds of sharp blades. It's probably what they kept in the garage you weren't even allowed to glance at.
But you'd sit on the porch, some comic book in your hand, watching them work. Or them watching you be domestic. You were desperate to get out, so you had fawned. You gave up parts of nature, abandoned your teeth, and became obedient. The insides of your cheeks had scarred from how often you chewed in distress.
John started to hold you while you both slept. It took a while for you to get used to how he held you; it was uncomfortable and invasive. He would quickly fall asleep while you were unable to toss and turn. He'd also taught you how to cook, cautiously trusting you to handle a fruit knife for the vegetables. You're not sure what held you back from stabbing him straight in the neck. Maybe it was the way he was preparing himself for your attack, or the fact that the other three were just on the other side of the counter, spectating.
They all took turns going to work, making sure at least one of them was supervising you. You were sure that you were in England. They seem like the type of men who never leave home. Kyle likes to share about his favourite football team with you, often bringing you merch to wear, matching with him. The jerseys he brought didn't necessarily fit you, but it was better than wearing their own clothes. The scarf he gave you was soft, and you often wrapped it around your head and neck, covering your hair. You weren't used to hair, but they treated it like it was normal.
And you had to force yourself to be normal for another twelve months.
You had forced yourself to assimilate into their way of life. You made refuge in the hollow spaces of their hearts. They were yet to demand anything other than obedience from you; they even let you stay barefoot. You didn't exactly agree with their ways, but you were compliant- or maybe it was your pliant adaptiveness. You didn't focus on time, but rather preserving your true nature. You often imagined swimming in your better form, hunting and bathing in the sun. You missed the sea. You longed for any body of water larger than a bathtub.
This spring was a bit harsher with constant downpour of rain. And with rain came thunder. There was lightning, which happened to struck down a rather thick tree. They brought you along to cut down the bits of the tree to store for firewood, but not enough to make firewood pieces. You were yet to go into town with them, but you made peace with sitting down on a camping chair as they swung axes. Then Johnny brough a sled to haul the chunks of wood back towards the cabin, taking you for a ride as he sprinted while you clutched on. The scarf flew off your head, floating away in the air as you continued being dragged. You laughed a bit more freely compared to when you first met the woods.
Once a week the boys would chop the wood into suitable pieces and sometimes you'd go with them to watch, spend a little time touching grass. This time was a bit different. John decided to get the chore out of the way while the other three had their own needs to tend. Kyle was in some city leading presenting his research that he had been working on in his university lab. Johnny went for his shift to work to keep an income towards the cabin. Simon went to a local pub to watch a football game. You had been curled to John's side, listening to some book he was reading aloud after you read your chapter. He noticed your restlessness- but you were never fully comfortable with any of them.
He gently put his large hand over both of your knees, "Y'gonna calm down?"
You looked up to meet his eyes, "Sorry", you tensed your body to keep it still.
"Do you need to go outside? Get some fresh air?" he offered.
You always said yes.
The night sky was clear as ever, constellations twinkling above. You laid on your back, staring at the stars while listening to the chopping rhythm. He told you he was going to take the pieces near the cabin, and would return to your side. He expected you to stay in your spot. You haven't necessarily given him a reason to doubt you.
But the air was slightly warmer and you could feel the lingering dew. His footsteps diminished and you turned your head to see the axe stuck in the trunk of a sturdy tree. You were curious. They'd never let you touch an axe- said it's not fit for a proper lady. So you got up, hand tracing over the cool metal. You continued tracing up to the handle, now wanting to see if you could lift the axe. They made it seem light.
Both hands barely encapsulated the handle as your body harshly met the ground, knocking the wind out of you.
"What were you thinking." his voice gritted in your ear as you squirmed under his large body.
His hands were pinning for your arms but you wriggled around, your mouth close enough to bite his arm, and you gave into your natural instinct, letting your teeth sink as low as they can.
"Fucking cunt!"
He stepped away, huffing as he grabbed for something in his boot. You crawled backwards to create distance, to give yourself space to brace for your punishment. He could trust you with a knife while cooking but reaching for an axe wasn't allowed?
"I know you were faking it all. It takes a lot to train a bitch." he muttered as he withdrew a moderate hunting knife.
It was now or never, and now was a good chance to run.
Your human form barely had muscles, and now you were definitely mostly bones and skin and fat.
The ground was harsh when you met it, and his body was on top of yours, but your hand was next to the knife. Just at your fingertips. You nearly dislodged your shoulder as you thrashed your arm forward to grab the blade, then stuck it behind you.
His body tensed, and he heaved. His hand rummaged for the blade, but his hands simply couldn't reach behind his own back. He let out a gurgling sound. You pulled back on the blade, which flung it way forward and out of your reach.
He was easy to shrug off.
Your body heaved for air as you watched him do the same on his back. Blood was spluttering from his lips. He looked like a beached whale. You took your time to retrieve the knife, bare sole dragging on the prickly grass. The stars illuminated your way around the forest. And when you came back to him like the good tamed animal you were, his body was still.
He looked pathetic.
Then all the memories came rushing back to you. All the times you bit your tongue. All the times you abandoned your nature so they'd be somewhat content with yourself. All the times you longed for the water. All the times they claimed to care for you but treated you as some pet project. All the times they forced you to be human but didn't actually treat you as one.
An eye for an eye, he told you when he branded your shoulder in revenge for your personal brand on his neck.
An eye for an eye, you kept telling yourself as you skinned off his coat in revenge for him burning yours.
Blood sputtered everywhere, but you were determined to make it work: arm tirelessly sawing and making due with a worn blade. It was relieving, it was hard, but it was very rewarding.
You weren't sure how long it took. But night was setting and yellow was seeping in the sky. The last sparkle of the stars had been long gone. You wore your new wet coat. You weren't even sure if it'd work, but it didn't matter at that point. You were exhausted. You had given up.
You had pulled the hood over, his blood spreading all over your body.
And there were footsteps that stilled.
Your head quickly turned. Your eyes met Simon who was utterly horrified. You weren't just a creature anymore, but a monster. A monster who was wearing the skin of his friend, who was crouching over some body. Some body that was too explicit, that was too much for the eyes. A sight no one is supposed to see in their lifetime. Blood pooling around and still steadily seeping through the meat of the body. He pried his eyes to look back at you. Your eyes were practically glowing beneath the shadow of your coat engulfing you.
And had Simon not seen your coat, he wouldn't have been able to guess who's body it was.
You stood up, the ends of your coat dragging. Simon couldn't muster a word. He felt the instinct to immediately run, flee, try to hide.
You wrapped your coat tighter around your body, and Simon's legs gave out at the sight.
It was an ungodly transformation. His skin morphed with your body, his face disfiguring to fit your's. You groaned at the discomfort it brought, but you pushed through it. Simon couldn't pry his eyes away.
And there you stood, a small version of John. He had your eyes. Simon was gripping the earth below him, begging not to be swallowed up by you. He tore his eyes away from you, trying not to dishonour the memory of his friend. He heard you walking away, deeper into the forest.
And you were free once again.
Ugh, this writing slump was actually kicking my butt. I'll probably attempt a rewrite once my brain gets better but I just wanted to post this in case anyone was waiting. I worked on this piece a bit by bit so I apologise for any tone or writing style inconsistencies.
To my sweet, darling, sunshine readers, I love you ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ₊˚⊹♡ take care of yourself ! ⸜(。˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
Part 1/2 of Oneshot: researchers!141 are attempting to attach a camera on you to observe the life of seals, but you're a selkie
CW: MDNI, read the tags
a/n: I was watching 'Animals With Cameras', I think by BBC, and there was a segment where the researchers attach a camera to a fur seal. I love love LOVE selkies and was like- oh em gee!; I made the border myself :3
Part 2
2.7k words ദ്ദി •⩊• )
You resided with the thousands of fur seals on Kanowna Island (it's a real place), in peace. As a selkie, you originated from the rocky, unforgiving shores of the Scottish isles, but Australia was nice. You tried to figure out if there were other selkies among the community, but it seems you were yet alone again. It didn't really matter though. The hardest part for you was sleeping without shedding your coat.
You got into the habit of becoming too comfortable, too off guard once you've entered your slumber, sometimes waking up with feet and not fins. The other seals couldn't really tell from the way your coat engulfed your frame, appearing as a rather rugged seal.
You were also used to the occasional researchers that came to temporarily stay on this uninhabited island. Nature was the reigning monarch. You missed when the helicopter landed, too busy hunting underwater, but you heard the rustles of their tents upon the lush green land. You figured they were just checking up on the population, making sure there wasn't another case of rabies going around.
They took their time coming closer to the seals. You could hear them tinkering. You assumed their scientific equipment broke; maybe the experienced was teaching the fresh-out-of-school researchers.
It was a warm, sunny day against the cold, harsh winds. You were full from last week's catch and would rather sunbathe away. The researchers in the past never proven themselves to be a threat. They were always cautious, keeping their distance.
Some of the younger seals wanted to go up to the fields, play around in the sun. You decided to tag along, hoping to find a secluded area where you could stretch your legs. Your body starts to feel cramped once in a while if you took on your civil form for too long.
The grass was lush and soft, absorbing all the sun's rays. You and your herd rolled around, relaxing from the strain of hunting in the waters.
You didn't notice the researchers stealthily stalking up to your herd. The leader had prepared a rather large net, opting for a sneak attack approach. The other three followed, carrying an anesthesia tank, a camera, and their contingency plan.
It was sudden the way a large, bear-like man came running towards the younger seal. You were protective of your kind. You had rejected humanity long ago, and they proved your reasoning.
You rushed in front of the seal, snarling your teeth at the man as he trapped the net around you without hesitation or fear. You'd get out, is what you tell yourself. It was the only choice you had.
A man in a cap quickly put a breathing mask over your snout, and you tried to play sleep, but they weren't playing around. You could hear the other seals retreating back to the shores and rocks where the rest laid, and hoped they didn't come back to try and get you.
You were slipping under the anesthesia. A man with a weird haircut was stroking your head, obviously trying to soothe you. For some reason, you couldn't bring yourself to look them in the eyes. It was comforting to be treated so softly as you fell asleep.
The men got to work as your heart rate slowed and steadied. They removed the net and strapped you to a metal stretcher, five equipment straps securing you down. They started attaching the camera to your long back, which they had altered many times to ensure it wouldn't fall off. But their efforts were simply a waste.
As they were making sure the camera was secured, they noticed your fur becoming more limp, more flimsy. That's when they noticed your feet sticking out under from the fins of your coat, and human hair fluttering against the wind under the hood.
"Well fuck me, we got us a selkie." Soap muttered, lifting your hood to see your human face.
Gaz retreated the anesthesia, worried that the concentration for seals would be too much for a human. But did it matter? You were technically both.
"I thought they were just a myth." Ghost eyed Soap.
"I know just as much as you do." Soap shrugged.
But the three of them faced their leader.
Price stared down at your body, obviously very much covered by your large coat. Selkies were a myth for a reason. He noticed how your seal self threw itself to protect the others. He'd keep you a secret unless pushed otherwise.
"We'll bring her back to camp, make sure she's alright."
They undid your straps, and Soap was the first to try and carry you. But your coat wasn't on all the way, slipping and flashing him, which he slightly freaked out. He quickly pulled the coat back over, begging Gaz to help him. Gaz simply wrapped the strap like a belt around your waist to secure your coat. Ghost gingerly carried you, your head tucked to his chest as your legs hung over his thick arms.
Price observed the seals below the hill, but it seemed that they made no effort into coming back for you. Maybe they trusted researchers.
The men shared a single large tent, four sleeping bags laid about and only their rucksack for clothes and toiletries. Gaz put the sleeping bags together, attempting to create a cushioned surface for you to lay on. He also removed the strap around your waist, not wanting it to startle you once you woke up. No one brought a blanket, so Soap laid his hoodie over you.
It was awkward. They were just trying to provide research for a TV network, to let them know that their documentary in theory would be successful. They didn't expect to uncover a folklore.
"So what's the plan when she wakes up?" Gaz asked.
"Apologise." Soap quickly answered.
"I wasn't asking you." Gaz poked the side of his head for emphasis.
"We'll take it slow. Even in our tent, she'll feel trapped. We keep her freak out to a minimal. Try to ease the stress. She's human so that should be an advantage." Price ruled out, not leaving space for arguments.
"What if she turns back into a seal?" Ghost asked.
"Is she still human as a seal?" Gaz asked Soap.
"Fuck if I know."
"She still had conscience as a seal. She thought like a human. Stay alert and expect anything." Price ordered.
Soap and Ghost made a campfire outside the tent after the sun had set. Gaz stayed by your side to monitor your breathing, checking your eyes to make sure you were still responsive. Price went over his research, the plan, and all selkie tales.
There was a drop in the atmosphere when you turned, your face scrunching as Soap's hoodie dropped to your side, making a soft rustle.
Gaz held his breath, anticipating for you to wake up. Based off your reaction, you were in light sleep. He could wake you up. His eyes met Price, silently asking for permission. The final word was no. Price had to consider the possibility that you might be cranky if forced to wake up. He needed you as cooperative as possible.
But it didn't matter when Soap exclaimed about something and his booming voice carried over into the tent.
Your eyes darted open and Gaz noted how quickly your body became tense. Your eyes met with the side of the tent, and you knew you were human based on your vision. You jumped to your feet, facing the two men. But it wasn't like your coat had buttons and entirely concealed your body.
Your bare front side was facing them, and Gaz couldn't help but take a gander to see if your body had any semblance to a seal's, or if your body could switch entirely to human and to seal. Price locked his eyes onto your face, searching for ques of your next action.
"What've you done." you demanded, unaware but also not caring about the state of your display.
"We tranquilised you as part of our research. We didn't know you were a... selkie." it felt childish for Price to say the term out loud.
"So why'd you keep me here."
Price looked at Gaz for him to answer. You noticed the way his eyes were observing you, nearly dissecting every inch of you. You quickly hid yourself under your coat.
"We uh, wanted to make sure you were okay." Gaz nodded.
"Did you put any trackers in me?"
Price kinda wished he did do that. He was naturally curious.
"No, that'd be inhumane." Gaz slightly mused.
"You people track animals without second-thought."
"Well you aren't exactly an animal- right now." Gaz's brows raised.
You gave a dissatisfied look, nearly disgusted. You started heading towards the zipped flap of the tent, but Price caught your arm. You faced him, instinctively snarling at him. Your canines were sharp, teeth made for ripping.
"You're not going anywhere." he stated, sternly looking you down.
"I'm not some animal in captivity." you snapped, lips twitching to try and bite his hand.
"You're not. We need to check your vitals and we'll send you off." he lied. He didn't want to let his own superiors know of his catch. You were such a gem, such an oddity- and he was a selfish man at heart.
You understood his words and his reasoning, but you couldn't be fucked.
"I'm fine."
"It's not up for debate, love."
Your human movements were sluggish, muscles not even stretched in the last week. Price caught on with your action, and his large hand smacked your jaw away. He tackled your body to the ground, keeping your face upwards so you couldn't try to bite anywhere else.
You let out a high-pitched shriek which made Price go dizzy for a bit with how close your mouth was to his ears. You kicked and wrestled under him, but his body weight alone kept you in place.
"I'm gonna need you to behave and act civilised." he grit through his teeth.
"Let me go!" you screamed, teeth chomping the air.
Soap and Ghost unzipped the flap, seeing your out lash. Gaz was simply observing from his corner, taking notes. He knew Price got you handled.
"Shut 'er mouth." he told his boys, not caring who would do the job.
Ghost immediately came down, trying to get his hands on your jaw, but the way your teeth barred and tried to bite him, it became difficult.
"Should we tranquilise her?" Soap asked, eyes on the darts and gun.
"No." Gaz and Price answered at the same time.
"You need to start acting grateful that we haven't taken your coat yet." Price lowly said in your ear.
Your struggling lessened, your blood freezing in realisation of his words. You've heard the tales, knew a selkie who knew a selkie that was forced into marriage, forced to be a man's eye candy, to be their beauty.
Ghost managed to shut your mouth with his hand as your body came to a still.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?"
You glared up at Ghost with such hatred even though he hadn't said that. How dare they all take part in such a horrendous act?
"We're just g'nna monitor your vitals, make sure you're alright, then let you go." Price stated, slowly taking his weight off of you.
Price nodded to Ghost to release your mouth, and you continued to lay on your stomach, still prepared to fight for your coat at all costs.
"You should sit." Gaz came over with his pouch, taking out a stethoscope.
You sat hugging your knees to your chest after he listened to your heart beat and breathing. It felt dehumanising to be in such a situation, and to be forced to be docile from a single threat.
"Wouldn't you want to monitor me as a seal?" you asked. It was your main form.
"Well you transformed into a human in the middle of anesthesia so... I dunno, you don't learn about Selkie biology in zoology." Gaz muttered, looking at Soap and Price for help.
"Think it'd be easier for us all to be human." Price answered.
"You men have a habit of keeping selkies as human out of selfishness." you snapped.
"Really? I've never really heard anything like that, just tales from long ago that are like folklore." Gaz responded, completely missing your tone.
"Maybe long ago, love, but not now." Price assured you, his words full of air.
"My granny would flip- like do a licheral back flip had she'd seen you." Soap said in awe, hand reaching to pet the back of your coat.
"Don't touch me." you snarled, feeling his hand but unable to see him.
"Sorry" he meekly apologised.
Ghost came up to Price, head nodding to the opening. Ghost's hand was on the zipper. A quiet transaction of sorts. You needed to know everything.
"Where are you going."
"Just having a conversation." Ghost replied.
"Have it here."
A long silence filled as you stared Ghost down yet again, neither of you prepared to back off.
"Well I want to know too." Soap chimed in.
Price looked at Ghost, but Ghost couldn't think of a way to lie his way out. He turned to talk to him.
"I was just wonderin about sleeping arrangements. She basically slept through the day while we stayed up."
Price listened, not even bothering to look at you.
"We'll take turns watching her."
"I'm right here. And I don't need to be watched because I'm not in captivity according to you." you shot at Price.
"Well you've proven you can't be trusted-"
"Because men can't be trusted!" you burst, your hands deathly gripping onto your coat. Gaz slightly distanced himself from you. He couldn't fight for shit. Price was the only person with any sort of military training. Ghost used to work at a zoo handling the dangerous creatures. Soap was an engineering major they picked up right after Gaz's graduation from receiving his masters in zoology.
"We've given you every reason to be trusted. This whole situation is just a misunderstanding. Have we hurt you?" Price's voice thundered with authority.
But authority was as intimidating as the weather to you, "No, but you refuse to let me go!"
He shook his head, practically laughing. Ghost side eyed him, unsure where this was going.
"A fucking animal that doesn't listen."
You know it'd take more than a second for you to take on your seal form, so you lunged for him in your human form. You bit into his neck, canines digging deep, growling as you do. Price yelped, basically holding you in the air as your teeth cleanly chomped through his skin.
Ghost tried to pry you off, but you were stubborn. Price was hollering all sorts of profanities while Soap watched the scene unfold. He had to memorise every detail to tell his great-grandchildren one day. But Gaz went straight for the darts. He pushed Ghost away and let the needle pierce a vein in your very own neck.
You let out a whimper, wincing, your bite diminishing with force. Price tossed you to the ground, but he didn't bother to hold his own neck to stop the bleeding first. Furiously, he grabbed your coat, shaking it vigorously to get you out, the motion further pushed the needle of the dart in. You were slow and uncoordinated, grabbing at the air trying to grab your coat. You tried to speak but your tongue was too soft, too fuzzy, too foreign.
Then he left the tent with your coat.
You dragged yourself to the tent's opening. Gaz prepared another dart but he figured one was enough. Ghost didn't bother to restrain you with how bad you were moving. He'd seen alligators move like that while still trying to go after him. You'd be out soon.
Your blurry eyes followed Price to something bright, something flickering.
Then he tossed your coat into the light.
An awful stench was carried by the winds, and you grimaced, trying to remember what that smelt meant.
Your mind was too far away.
And you gave up.
I honestly had no direction with this blurb but while I was watching the documentary, I couldn't get the idea out of my head :/ I now have an idea for the second part of this oneshot thanks to the five minute brain constipation I had in order to fart out a title. I hope it was okay; I know this is a bit rougher and mean :( But I can feel my future self cringing when rereading this in the far (most likely near) future lol
To my sweet, darling, sunshine readers, I love you ₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ₊˚⊹♡ take care of yourself ! ⸜(。˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
part 2/36: you let Simon 'Ghost' Riley crash at your place for the summer
a/n: border is from pinterest; my eyes are irritated so I didn't read this over :(; I'll read it over later (maybe lol)
(previous) summerboy ! (next) This time: I'll be your's, you'll be mine !
It was a Saturday morning. You had nothing against Saturday or mornings, and it excited you even more when you knew you had a friend staying with you. You still needed to go grocery shopping though.
You quickly got ready, putting on some top and bottom, and put your hair up in preparation for the heat. You wanted to treat Ghost to breakfast since he paid for dinner last night (he insisted on buying the take outs if you paid for groceries). You headed to the kitchen to make coffee, stocking up on black coffee espresso pods for your machine in preparation for him. Your room was the second furthest in the corridor, your locked office being the furthest. You walked past Ghost's room, assuming he was sleeping in from jetlag, but you heard grunting. It stopped you.
Curiosity bit your fingertips as your the doorknob beckoned to be touched, but did you really have to see what he was grunting on about? You just told yourself he was working out. He was still in the force, still technically active duty.
You prepared your latte, then his black coffee, then a cup of cold water for him. You didn't have any work out equipment which you felt bad for, but it seemed like he was making it work. Your mind wandered about strong men. He could definitely protect you, you've seen him in action. He held you before, grounded you, kept you from bleeding out before Rudy came over with a med kit.
You didn't want to remember.
You turned on the TV, always stuck on the documentary channel. It was the least triggering and still entertaining. It had been barely a week since you moved in and you saw an explosion being reported on the news and you thought of the time you helped redirect the missile. Thought of how much you trusted Graves, even looked up to his cool demeanor, his leadership. How he crossed you and kept you hostage in an attempt to draw out Soap and Ghost. You got stuck in the past for days, unable to leave the house or your bed.
This morning's documentary was about the various ways other living beings care for their offspring. How cute! You still receive filtered news on your phone, but you knew about the events before they happened. You were able to control them after all. You didn't like it, but you gave each the best possible outcome.
You made a list on your phone for groceries. It mostly consisted of what you always get, but also what Ghost said he wanted to try. You considered possibly getting a fan. You were used to the heat, but you didn't want Ghost to melt.
Speaking of, you heard a door creak open, but no footsteps following. You watched him emerge from the corridor, making sure to greet him with a smile.
"Morning" he replied, face and body glistening with sweat. He wore a compression shirt with gym shorts.
"There's a glass of water in the fridge and black coffee warmed up in that pink mug." you let him know, turning your attention back to the TV.
"Thanks, you didn't have to though." he said as he opened the fridge.
"I know; I wanted to." you wit back.
He stood beside the couch you were sitting on, coffee in hand, "Another documentary?"
The TV displayed hyenas hunting, the narrator describing how young hyenas are rather brash and aim for the adult buffalo, while the older hyenas are experienced enough to know that the baby buffalos are an easier catch.
"I thought you liked animals." you looked up at him.
It would be a terrifying view if it wasn't for how soft his eyes were for you. Sweating with some scars highlighted by the morning sun, muscles defined through his skin and shirt, his aura murderous as ever, but his eyes cradled you with care.
"I do."
You felt your cheeks heat up a little, breath catching, but it was really nothing. He was a friend, a colleague, a platonic partner.
"So when are you going vegan?" you quipped with a grin.
He scoffed with his own grin, finishing his mug.
"So, we need to go grocery shopping today, if you wanted to tag along." you offered, looking back down to your list. Maybe he wanted to explore the city more on his own.
"I will. Only right if I carry the bags." he softly said as he walked back to the kitchen, rinsing the mug and setting it in the sink.
"You don't have to, Ghost. I-"
"Simon. Should call me Simon." he cut off.
You felt a bit embarrassed. Duh, Ghost is his call sign. You're not on the field, and neither is he. You're safe in a relatively civilian life.
"Right, sorry, Simon. Uh... I just, want you to enjoy your time here." you set your phone down.
He had appeared next to the couch again, "Well I'm not only here for Italy, I'm here f'you too."
You faced him, smiling, "That's awfully kind of you. I still need to finish getting ready, so..."
He nodded, "I'll take a shower."
You both set off. You sat at your vanity, doing your makeup. You started to feel a bit insecure. You wanted to look good for him. He's seen you bare-face before, would it be silly to continuously put makeup on? Were you attracted to him? No, you were just excited to be around him. You'd probably act the same if it was anyone else. You'd want to impress Laswell.
You just did your usual makeup, but put on tinted lipgloss instead of your chapstick. You packed reusable bags inside of your bag. You waited on the couch for him. You wondered what he'd wear.
He didn't make you wait long, and he wore the same outfit as last night but different colours. It was cute of him. You both put on your shoes by the door. You only had one set of keys.
The supermarket wasn't too far away, roughly ten minute walk away from the flat. The street vendors were out with the sun. You lived in a rather less touristy spot, but there were some that came to check the place out. Lots of people checked Simon out too. He seemed to be really good at ignoring things.
He let out a sigh of relief once the AC hit him, which made you giggle. He looked down at you, a bit puzzled with mock annoyance. You led him in, explaining the layout. You showed him the list, but told him he could simply follow along and not get lost.
"I don't get lost." he shrugged, holding your phone closer to his face.
"I know, but I don't want to lose you." you replied as if it was normal. Was it?
He understood though, he always did. He shadowed next to you, pushing the cart as you gathered the items on the list you had already memorised. You explained what each item was for, and he listened, giving inputs or suggestions.
Then you brought him to the deli counter.
"Ciao Lorenzo." you greeted with your smile. Simon was surprised you did have friends.
"Ah! Buon giorno, dolcezza!" he greeted back. He was about the same age as Simon, slightly younger, very youthful. He was always generous with you.
"Come stai?" you asked him how he was. It had been less than a week since you've seen him.
"Sono fantastico!, e questo chi è?" he asked, pointing towards Simon with his eyes.
"Lui è mio amico, è solo in visita," your hand pointed towards Simon then Lorenzo, "Simon, Lorenzo." you introduced the two.
"Nice t'meet you." Simon spoke up.
"Piacere, piacere. Il solito?" he returned his attention to you.
"Si, per favore."
Lorenzo nodded, going off into the back.
"So you do have a friend." Simon nudged your shoulder.
A sly smile crept up on your face, "Yeah, I guess. He comes with perks though."
Before Simon could reply, Lorenzo came back out with multiple cuts wrapped in brown parchment. He pointed at a white cardboard container on top of the brown.
"Good cheese." he said proudly.
"Lorenzo, non avresti dovuto." you said as you took your order.
"Il formaggio si sposa bene con il miele." he teased.
You playfully rolled your eyes as you fished out the correct sum of money, handing it to him. He still handed you some back, like he always did.
"Discount, eh? Per il mio orsetto preferito."
"Mi vizi troppo." you shook your head as you put the money back into your wallet. There was no convincing for Lorenzo. You bid your farewells and he never let you leave without feeling a bit loved.
Simon couldn't help but feel some type of way witnessing that interaction.
"You seem close with him."
You eyed Simon, "I'm a loyal customer, I hope so."
"He called you a bear."
You cringed a little, "Yeah... He first saw me when I had four tubs of honey in my basket. Never gone back since. He literally looked at me and laughed."
"He laughed at you?" Simon asked a bit confused, the cart rattling.
"Well, no. He asked me what I was planning to do with all that honey and I just said 'eat it'."
He chuckled, "Not yer brightest moment, eh?"
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After you two came back home, you showed him where each stuff went, but told him not to worry if he forgot. It was weird for Simon to be treated a little flawed. You always assured him that perfection wasn't expected. You were soft and understanding, opposite of what he had to be and definitely what he faced.
You decided to finish the leftovers for lunch, and sent him out on his own to explore the city a bit for his own lunch. He'd have to get used to being on his own, since you're mostly reading and organising files during the week. He came back with more clothes and a room fan.
You cooked a meat pasta for dinner- also on a first name basis with the butcher (Camilla). You always had the ability to connect with people easily, but Simon wasn't sure how bad that was altered. Wasn't too bad, but it wasn't as great as it was either.
He offered to help, nearly begged because of your stubbornness, but you cornered him to the couch with your never-ending wits. You poured him a neat whiskey and let him browse your Netflix. His stomach couldn't stop growling at the smell of your cooking. He wondered if you heard or was just being cocky when you laid a small charcuterie board on the coffee table.
You were letting the pasta absorb the sauce, letting the meat become a bit more tender. You came over to the couch, a thrifted apron wrapped around your waist and neck. You sat on the arm rest next to him, seeing that he hadn't finished the charcuterie board, feeling a bit concerned.
Simon turned to you, noticed a wine glass in your hand. Then he picked up a slice of meat and cheese and carried it to your mouth. You ate from his hand, mumbling a thanks.
"Smells lovely." he commented, preparing another meat and cheese as you swallowed.
"Well, it's not the best, but compared to British food..." you teased.
He grinned, feeding you again.
"You should finish the board. I'm sure Lorenzo included the cheese for you." you tell him as you got up, taking your last sip before preparing the table.
His eyes trailed you to the kitchen, watching you take out the cutlery. He stood up, coming up next to you in quick strides and taking the utensils out of your hands.
"Let me."
You opened your mouth to protest- setting the table took two seconds, it wasn't a big deal.
"None of that." and he headed to the table, no room for arguing.
You prepared the plates, handing them over to him. He told you to sit down first, insisting on preparing the drinks. You were undoing your apron as you always did, but the knot behind your neck was too tight; your hand slipping in anticipation of tonight's cooking.
Simon saw you standing by your chair, hands fiddling behind head. He set the glasses down on the table, then came up behind you, brushing the hair covering your neck.
"I got it."
Your hands hesitantly dropped to your sides. He was good with knots anyways- no, it was Soap who memorised all the types of knots out of boredom. Maybe Simon was runner up.
You held your breath, his fingers softly grazing your skin. Your hairs stood up, and when the two strings felt loosened, the apron lost it's form and you held it before it could fall. But Simon still lingered behind you.
His hands were on your shoulders now, tenderly massaging the knots out.
"Oh, no, you don't have to." you tried, feeling bad that he was taking care of you.
"Let me," he insisted again, "Can't let you work so hard over the stove and not pay you back."
You felt yourself relax. His rough hands working into your exhaustion.
"Well, I wanted to cook for you so it doesn't matter."
"And I want to take care of you. I'd never hear the end of it from Price if he found out I let you do all the work and I sat on my ass the entire summer."
"You're too kind, but the growling of your stomach is concerning. Let's eat, okay?" you crossed your right hand over your chest to reach his hand that worked your left shoulder.
"As you wish"
Endless compliments spilt from his lips as he dug into the meal. It made you giggle, shyly shaking your head to humble yourself. Maybe Soap's influence was rubbing off, or maybe this was Simon and not Ghost. It was nice seeing this side of him. Like an intimidating golden retriever.
He insisted on doing the dishes, of course, claiming it was only right that you cooked and that he cleaned. Your TV was still on Netflix, some film you've never heard of before paused. You didn't want to risk it. Simon seemed to like action movies. You didn't want to see anything you couldn't.
So you switched the channel back to the local documentary channel and left room on the couch for Simon to perch next to you. He made tea and brought a cup over with some biscuits he brought in his empty duffel bag. Tonight's documentary was about how bats use echolocation.
Struggled to end tonight's blurb lol. I think I should just say this here but I honestly feel awkward with smut and I'm not sure if I want to include it in my fic(s), but I'm always open to change. ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Take care of yourself.
part 1/36: you let Simon 'Ghost' Riley crash at your place for the summer
a/n: border is from pinterest; no, I've never been to Italy before
(next) going nowhere, fast !
Ghost wasn't open towards spending another summer in the wet highlands with Soap. Sure, he had nothing else better to waste his leave on, but he might lose his bloody mind this year if he spent his days in the pissin rain.
Thankfully, you kept in touch after the missions- even after Las Almas which left you with PTSD. You were just shadowing Laswell as a fresh-out-of-the-academy agent who was the top of her class. You were better as an informant, organising and putting the pieces together for the hands-on agents, but the higher-ups wanted to push your boundaries: make you into the perfect, ideal agent.
It was all shattered along with your mental stability and confidence after Grave's 'backstab'. You weren't ready for the field. You weren't supposed to be a combatant. You were supposed to be the informant, the brains.
You carried the guilt that you should've prevented it all. You were supposed to prevent the number of casualties from piling up, to make sure all the civilians stayed safe alongside the mission being successful.
If only.
At least the agency favoured your assets enough to let you relocate wherever there was a military base nearby, and simply gave you an information-processing job. The army was useful in having a base in northern Italy.
Ghost arrived at your address: a five-story flat in which you were the third floor resident. A rainbow doormat laid outside.
It was hot, to say the least, and Ghost was only wearing a mask that covered the lower half of your face- he was starting to consider getting rid of any concealment just to avoid a heatstroke. You've never really seen his face, always lowering your gaze or turning your attention elsewhere when you noticed he was about to reveal a portion of himself.
For someone constantly dealing with information, you weren't that nosy.
He rang the doorbell, unable to hear your footsteps. You opened the door, wearing shorts and a tank top. He bared himself for the unbearable news.
"Good to see you! I don't have AC." you greeted him with a smile.
He simply nodded back.
You invited him in, helping him with his duffel bag that was scarily light. The flat was made for families, so you showed him the spare bedroom that would be his for the next month. You adorned the room with soft flower patterns. You were considerate that he was staying here, but it's not like it was permanent.
"Do you want anything to drink? I stocked up on beer and whiskey." you told him as you showed him around the kitchen.
"It's barely three o'clock, water's fine."
You poured two glasses of ice cold water.
"Did you want to take a shower? Glad to see you're wearing shorts but it's hotter than the ninth circle of Hell." you joked as you handed his glass to him.
He lifted his mask, his eyes watching you turn your head towards the low-humming TV on a documentary channel, "I didn't go to a cold place for nuthin.'"
You turned your head back, but you focused on the condensation on the glass, "I'm really glad you took up on the offer. I've been starting to feel lonely, honestly."
"Sweetheart like you didn't make any friends?" he smoothly asked.
Out of reflex you lifted your head to smile up at him, the corner of your eyes crinkling, "It's not like I have the opportunity to meet banger people like you."
Ghost figured you were taking in his face with your peripheral vision.
He cleared his throat, "You been going to the beach lately?"
Your eyes passed his lips as you looked down at your skin, "Nah, I've been busy just going over paperwork."
He nodded, eyes trailing down your body. The way sweat dampened your skin, the way your clothes tightly hugged your figure, and how simply plush you looked.
You raised your head, "I can still show you the beaches, though." you quickly added.
He nodded, turning his attention towards the TV while clearing his glass of water.
"Any requests for dinner tonight? I need to go grocery shopping." you softly told him as your feet patted against the cool floor tiles back to your fridge, eyeing down the contents.
Ghost simply refused to look at you until his thoughts calmed down, "Anything italian"
You giggled, closing the doors, "You wanna eat out or would you like a home cooked meal?"
"It'd be nice to explore the city a bit."
⋆。°✩ ⋆⁺。˚⋆˙‧₊✩₊‧˙⋆˚。⁺⋆ ✩°。⋆
You settled into a flowy dress that went down to your ankles, flats protecting your feet from the uneven paths. It was unusual to see Ghost in such casual clothing, all in shorts in fact. He wore an airy navy button shirt with beige shorts. You'd think he shopped at H&M last minute.
It also felt like a culture shock seeing his face in its entirety. He had scars, but he also had fluffy blonde hair. He was cute, boyish.
"Y'know Venice is like sinking, so don't freak out when it floods." you tell him as you both walk along a canal.
"I read up on this place before I came here." you think he grumbled.
He walked along the edge as you explained what you know about the city, how to get around the place. You picked out a restaurant for him. A place more inland, a bit touristy, but their wine selection was too good to pass up. It had two floors, the second with outdoor seating on the patio which you two were lucky enough to score.
You only came here during their cafe hours, enjoying a latte with their pastry of the day. It was nice to see the night life. There was still a part of you that urged you that night was dangerous, that only bad things happen at night. It took months to be able to step out of the house after the sun had set.
"So do you come here often?" he asked after you told the waiter both of your orders and asked for the house wine.
"Only during the day." you answer. He figured.
He had managed to get access to some of your therapy and psychiatric files. You don't like the dark or night anymore. You don't like loud noises or crowds of men. You're skittish and cautious and not as curious as you used to be.
But you're still you though.
"Have you ever been to Italy?" you asked him. You knew the different special forces often trained together.
"Been to the alps to train with the other forces." he shrugged, starting to wish he ordered a beer. No sense in not trying out different cultures.
"That's not entirely Italy." you softly chuckled.
"Close enuff f'me."
The waiter brought out the house wine, poured in rather generously large glasses. You thanked him, then watched Ghost take a sip. He didn't have a reaction. He noticed you were watching, and wanted to play along, "S'fine."
You took a sip of your's, "I'm glad."
Dinner came and it was swift. He ordered a simple pizza while you had red tortellini. You still gave him a bite of your's, determined to give him the full italian experience. The restaurant was starting to get full and busier. You two had finished and you insisted on dessert, especially their tiramisu.
You both continued on your third glass of wine, chatting on what he should do here for his time being.
"I think Soap wanted to come here." he said. You frowned a bit.
"Ahw, I should've offered him to stay." You liked Soap. He was always trying to cheer you up, trying to make you laugh. You two could go days just bouncing off each other's puns.
"Nah, he only brings up the southern part." Ghost dismissed.
Your eyes brightened, "We should take a trip down south then! It'll be so fun!"
He was glad you still had a sense of adventure.
"Alright, I'll have to ask him then." a small smile pressed on his face.
"We should ask Gaz and Price." Ghost deemed that they didn't have any plans but still didn't want to go to the highlands with Soap.
Then you two chatted away about another set of potential plans for a group trip, until a loud shattered echoed up to the patio from the kitchens.
You froze.
Ghost noticed how your shoulders tensed, the way your muscles were taut. You stared past him. The restaurant had slightly silenced as well. He looked towards the inside: just a mishap. He turned back to you, slowly reaching a hand out to you.
His hand engulfed on top of your's, "hey"
You blinked, chest silently heaving.
"You're with me. You're safe. You're okay. Everything's calm."
A forced grin appeared and you coughed out a chuckle, "Silly me."
You retracted your hand from his, both hands on your lap as you turn to take a look of the inside of the restaurant, assured yourself that there was no ambush. There was no violence.
Ghost observed you. He knew what it was like to have nightmares following you. He wasn't a stranger to your symptoms.
You tucked your hair behind your ears, "I hope that wasn't our tiramisu.", you softly joked. You didn't want to be pitied. You didn't want to ruin the mood. You wanted Ghost to enjoy his break, his holiday. You couldn't ruin that for him.
No one in the military talked about their feelings. You just bury it down and pretend it doesn't exist; practically manipulating and gaslighting yourself that feelings aren't even real at the end of the day.
"I wouldn't mind if they served us gelato instead." he went along. He let you lead. Let you take control of the scene.
Your eyes lit up, and Ghost felt himself relax- when did he get tense?
"I know a gelato place!"
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Your flat had two showers and you stocked his shower up with proper shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, and basic skincare. You even shopped for a robe for him.
You said your goodnights after a proper cup of tea in your PJ's, Ghost telling you he'd sleep later and promised to turn off the lights. You had small nightlights scattered throughout your flat anyways. Cute ones: the ones he's seen at Bath and Bodyworks.
He took a moment to be real with himself. It was nice to be wearing a soft robe with fluffy slippers even though it was still warm outside.
Honestly, I'm not really sure what I'm going for with this fic, but I really love the song Summerboy by Lady Gaga. Anyways, constructive criticism is always appreciated -`♡´- Take care of yourself.
oneshot: You want Price to give up smoking; he doesn't see the point in it.
a/n: inspired by 'Realistic John Price headcanons' by archrosewrite (on tiktok); this is lowkey my first post ever writing lol; border from pinterest
You waited for him to come home, as you always do. It felt strange to be so in love with a man who was gone half the time. You gave up your life to be with him, but it was all your own choice. He promised to take care of you- even taking care of you during his courtship.
A quick, hushed wedding after a year of dating. It was what you both wanted. You wished his kiss at the altar wasn't so smokey, so nicotine-filled, but who was Price without his cigars? You moved onto the military housing. Price's salary was doubled and you didn't need to worry about rent or utilities. A cushioned life for the price of your husband gone for half of the year.
The sun had set, dinner had gone cold. You made roast chicken with mash and sausage rolls on the side. His beer and favourite glass still chilling in the fridge. You couldn't be bothered to turn on the lights when the last bits of light left.
He warned you about the potential paperwork sitting on his desk upon his return, and he kindly asked you to not wait up for him. He did feel guilty for constantly making you wait. You wished he felt more guilty.
A rumble on the gravel driveway. You had cultured a natural garden. He found it cute. The car hummed for a minute before the engine turned off. You sat on the couch, posture straight as you practised to be the perfect wife for him. TV on the side of the door turned off. The cable on base wasn't what you liked. He bought you all the streaming services in response.
You left the door unlocked. You heard his heavy steps, soles dragging up to the door. His keys jingled, keyhole rattling. He slowly opened the door, taking notice of the darkness. You left the kitchen light on, like you always did.
He scanned the room, eyes locked onto you immediately. He gave a small smile, softly saying your name in an exhale. You couldn't help but smile back. He just returned from a mission after all. He must be tired. You wanted to help, to be there for him.
His smile erased everything you ever doubted.
He walked further in, letting the door close behind him and dropping his bags. You ran up to him, practically jumping as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He caught you by the waist, holding you tightly, your feet no longer touching the floor.
At least he had the decency to freshen up.
"I missed you." you murmured into his neck, burrowing your face.
"Missed you too, love." his gruff voice rumbled against your shoulder.
He gently lowered you, as if you'd shattered if he was too harsh, too careless. You took his hat off for him, dusting off whatever remnant was too stubborn to leave itself behind.
"Dinner's gone cold." you mumbled, an ugly feeling sparking in the depths of your stomach. You pushed it down, not wanting to be immature.
"Told you not to wait up." he softly responded, bringing a hand to gently caress your hair.
You looked up, a small pout on your lips, "What else was I supposed to do?"
He gave you a sympathetic look, his hand now cupping your jaw, thumb drawing mindless circles. He leaned in for a kiss, which you met half way on your toes.
A kiss for partners, for someone he couldn't imagine to hurt.
He pulled away, taking his hat out of your hands, "I'm sorry."
All you could do was shrug, it wasn't his fault anyways.
"It'd be a shame to let the dinner go to waste." a small smile crept on your lips.
The table was for four. Price moved the other two chairs long ago, and only two chairs stood side by side. You liked leaning against him, resting your head on his arm. He liked cutting the meat up for you.
You prepared his beer while he triple washed his hands with a nail scrub. You even made his plate first and heated it piping hot, so when your plate heated, it'd be about the same.
You thrifted new place mats. You doubt he noticed. He sat after you set the plates down and sat down yourself. You waited for him to have the first bite, watching his reaction. He nodded as he took a bite into the roast.
"Better than anything in the world, luvie." he'd respond.
You grinned, shyly thanking him for his compliment and digging in yourself. He doesn't talk about work, and you don't necessarily like to gossip about the other spouses in the neighborhood- but the dinner wasn't entirely silent. He'd fill you in on his boys, how they were doing. It would be Soap's birthday soon. Price wanted to host a party for him. You agreed to help.
After dinner he'd get you comfortable on the sofa, draping your favourite blanket over you with your favourite drink and turning on the TV to whatever sitcom was running. He told you he wanted to do the dishes for you, wanted to make sure your ring never falls off.
He always joined you afterwards, lying down behind you and holding you. Then you two would fall asleep on the couch and complain about how sore your body was. Then he'd pay for a couple's massage. The same old routine.
The tap turned off and you made space for him, but he walked passed the couch.
"Going out for a smoke." he told you, eyes searching for your permission.
He knows how you feel about his smoking habits.
But he just came home and for all you know it could've been a tough mission for him. You should be lenient and understanding; passive and obedient. It clawed you to nod your head, dismissing him and turning your attention back on the TV, to a show you didn't care for.
He was back in five minutes. He tried not to make you wait. He quietly slid in behind you, still wearing his cargo pants. His arms wrapped around your waist, under your shirt. His watch was going to leave an imprint on your skin. You took a bath, exfoliated, oiled and lotioned your entire body. Could he even smell it? Would he even appreciate it?
"Why do you still smoke?" you mindlessly asked. You made sure your words held no weight, no pressure, no command.
He sighed, his grip on you loosening, "I know you don't like it, love, but I just... it makes me feel better."
He always says that.
"Am I not... enough?" you didn't want to fight, but you were so tired of this habit of his.
"You're more than enough," he said your name as if it dripped with love and care, "Nothing can compare to you."
You closed your eyes, wishing the TV would just turn off.
"One day, smoking's going to kill you, John."
A laughter played on the sitcom, two characters acting stupid and chasing their own tails.
"My job could kill me first." he points out.
A frown etched on your face. You opened your eyes, trying to ground yourself, distract yourself.
"I just want to live long with you." your response came out hoarse as your throat threatened a sob.
He turned you around, making you face him. You couldn't look at him. He came home after six months and this is how you greet him? You felt pathetic, stupid- like a child. You were trying to be perfect and everything for him, for a person who seemed like they couldn't care about living half the time.
"Hey, look at me." he softly beckoned, gently raising your chin. Tears spilt out the corner of your eyes as you looked into his eyes.
"I want to grow old with you too. I want to live to see your wrinkles and your chin whiskers," he tried to uplift your mood, "but there are plenty of old, withered people who've smoked their whole lives. I'll be okay. We'll be okay."
It did make you chuckle, but it didn't make you feel any better. He wasn't willing to give it up. Not yet, you'd tell yourself. It felt unfair how much upkeep you did to yourself to be perfect, to be his darling- yet he couldn't quit one habit for you? To subdue your worries?
He kissed the top of your forehead, wiping away your tears and pulling you to his chest. You swallowed your thoughts and accepted his peace.
Smoking (and vaping) can kill, please be careful and take care of yourself.