Warnings: Misogyny/redpill content (as a narrative device), emotional distress, swearing, comfort, light suggestive references, mentions of toxic internet culture, soft polyamory, fluff, hurt/comfort, domestic dynamics, protective!141
Author's Note: This one-shot explores the impact of redpill/incel rhetoric when it bleeds into everyday life—and how love, trust, and shared warmth push it back out. Featuring your favorite grumpy-soft boys being protective, supportive, and just a little bit petty.
Summary: A spiral of doomscrolling lands you in the middle of a redpill echo chamber. Your boys aren’t having any of it—not with you, not in this house.
Masterlist
MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+MDNI18+
The video’s thumbnail was obnoxious. Red text. Squinting man in wraparound sunglasses. Buzzwords like “WOMEN OVER 25” and “HIT THE WALL” punched across the screen like it was selling a political thriller. You pressed play.
Ten minutes later, your stomach hurt.
You didn’t even realize Johnny was home until he was suddenly standing behind you, towel still looped around his neck, a scowl etched into his face.
“What the fuck is that?” His accent sliced through the audio before you even registered he was there.
You startled, flipping your phone over. ”Just—something that popped up. I was curious.”
“Curious?” Johnny snatched the phone like it personally offended him. “Jesus, babe. This is Andrew Tate’s discount cousin.”
You laughed, thin and nervous. “I didn’t think it’d mess with me this much. I just wanted to see what people are watching.”
Johnny scrolled. “They’re not watching. They’re inhaling this shit like it’s gospel.” His voice was sharp, but his eyes were worried. “You okay?”
You didn’t answer. Couldn’t. The content was stupid, you knew that—but somewhere between the charts, the smugness, and the cold detachment with which women were dissected like faulty products, something inside you cracked.
And Johnny saw it.
“Hey,” he said, voice softening. “Don't you dare believe a fuckin’ word of it.”
From the hallway, Kyle’s voice carried in. “What’s going on?”
“She’s watching incel videos,” Johnny called.
Kyle appeared in seconds, dishrag in one hand, brows raised. “Oh, hell no.”
You gave a weak smile. “It’s not like I agree—“
“Doesn’t matter,” Kyle cut in, eyes kind but firm. “That shit gets in your head. You let enough of it in, it’ll start whispering lies in your own voice.”
You tried to brush it off. “I just wanted to understand it.”
John’s heavy footsteps hit the hardwood floor before you heard him speak. “You don’t need to understand it, sweetheart. You just need to stay away from it.”
He walked in wearing an old army tee, sleeves tight on his forearms, mug in hand. He looked like he’d seen this before—like he’d dealt with more than a few young soldiers who came back from leave parroting the same poison.
“They want you to question yourself,” he said, sitting beside you. “That’s the whole point. Convince you you’re not enough so they can sell you the illusion of control.”
You stared at the muted video still playing on your phone. “But what if I am too much? Too opinionated, too independent, too—“
“You’re ours,” Simon interrupted.
He was leaning against the doorway, black hoodie, hood up, mask half pulled down. His voice was dead calm. Dangerous.
“If you ever repeat that shit about yourself again, I’ll break every one of their microphones and necks.”
You blinked at him.
“They want you insecure because insecure people are easier to manipulate, he said. But you? You’ve got four highly trained men wrapped around your little finger. And not one of us would change a damn thing.”
John leaned over and kissed your temple. “Exactly.”
Kyle knelt in front of you, hand on your knee. “You’re not ‘high-value’ like some commodity. You’re just you. Funny. Fiery. Gentle. Smart. Real.”
Johnny nudged your shoulder with his own. ”Also ridiculously hot. Don’t forget that part.”
That got a chuckle out of you.
Simon crossed the room and sat on the arm of the couch beside you. “Tell me something, he said quietly. Do you think I’d share a bed, a life, with someone who didn’t make me feel safe?”
You shook your head.
“Exactly,” he whispered. “You’re the only soft thing I’ve got left. And I’m not giving that up for anyone’s idea of what’s ‘marketable.’”
Kyle grinned. “Besides. If you were some ‘obedient tradwife’ type, Johnny would spontaneously combust.”
“I would,” Johnny said. “I’d set the fuckin’ kitchen on fire out of spite.”
“I’d help,” Kyle added.
“And I’d be recording,” John muttered.
You were laughing now, tucked between them all like you’d never left. Warm. Safe.
Johnny looked at your phone again. “You want me to throw this against a wall?”
Simon held out his hand. “Give it here. I’ll queue up some actual content—cat videos, maybe. Slow cooking. Paint mixing.”
“You’re such a softie,” Johnny teased.
“No. I’m just anti-bullshit.”
John’s arm slid around your shoulders. “You know what I think?” he murmured. “Let them sit behind their cameras preaching loneliness. Meanwhile, you’ve got four men who’d die for you—and live for you, too.”
Your breath caught in your throat.
Kyle leaned up and kissed your cheek. “You’re so much more than they’ll ever deserve.”
You let the phone slide off the couch and buried your face in Johnny’s chest. The video kept playing, muffled by cushions. But it didn’t matter.
Because you couldn’t hear it anymore.
Only the heartbeat of the men who loved you—four anchors holding you above the noise.
Hope you enjoyed! Please consider liking and reposting! -Midnight💜
Chapter TW/CW: Bad grammar on purpose (Toby & Nina), Tim
Chapter Pairings: Ben x Reader, Toby x Reader, Nina x Reader, Nat x Reader, (Tim x Reader, Brian x Reader)
w/c: 3349 <Chap 1>
You woke up to your alarm blaring some song you chose as your ringtone years ago, groggily sitting up to unplug it from the wall as it continued going even if you tried turning it off. You lay your aching back down in bed, rubbing your eyes before sitting up. It was Saturday so school obviously wasn’t in, but you had no plans for the weekend.
Your house was empty when you walked into the kitchen which was weird. You had to push down the intrusive thought of that figure from your nightmare the prior night somehow breaking into your house and murdering your family. You walked around the island and, feeling hungry, opened the fridge, seeing it was almost completely empty besides a few stray vegetables. You sighed and shuffled to your room, not bothering to shower before changing into a large hoodie and jeans.
Your closet was full of clothes you used to love to wear, but nowadays you only wore hoodies, jeans, or sweats because choosing a coherent outfit seemed like a grueling task in your mind.
You grabbed your purse and slipped your shoes on before leaving, checking the lock on the door multiple times before making your way to your car. As you walked, you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and the side of your face tingle. You felt someone standing there, watching you, but when you turned all you saw was your neighbors fence. You quickly continued to your car, throwing the door open before dropping yourself in. You assumed the nightmare from the previous night was still wearing down on you, but you’d never felt paranoid like this before. After locking the door, you checked your surroundings again but didn’t spot anyone so you sped off towards the supermarket.
The parking lot was mostly empty due to it still being quite early but you noticed a beat down red truck parked close to the front. It caught your attention, though you had no clue why. You squinted at it and noticed someone sat in the driver's seat, the glass tint was too dark to see anything but their silhouette. You hesitantly pushed your door open, your eyes fixed on the person in the truck as you walked past it. Your town wasn’t small, that was for sure, but not many new people came to this supermarket as there was a bigger one nearby.
A worker was stacking baskets on top of each other as you walked in and you gave them a small smile, thanking them as you grabbed one off the top.
You made your way through the aisles in the store, grabbing packs of meat, dairy items, bread, and vegetables. You decided to get yourself some snacks and walked towards the sweets aisle. There was a mother and her toddler blocking the aisle entrance as they looked at what seemed to be a very interesting item. You waited for a few minutes before shoving past them, scoffing. You heard the woman yell at you but you ignored her, moving down the aisle. There were two men standing in the middle of the aisle, they had seen the interaction and moved aside for you.
You were grabbing some gummies off the shelf and felt one of the men still staring at you, so you finally decided to take them in.
The man staring at you was very lanky and awkward looking, his arms and legs were long but stayed still at his sides (unless he ticced). His hair was brown and he obviously didn’t take care of it because it somehow managed to look greasy and dry at the same time, sticking up in all different directions. He had strange goggles sitting on the top of his hair and was wearing a greenish beige striped sleeve sweater. You noticed his skin was tan but had an odd olive tint and the mask he wore covered the bottom of his face. His eyes, at least, were a soft brownish-green and looked almost puppyish.
The other man, who was standing with a lot of sass in his posture, was only a few inches shorter than his friend and looked a few years older. He was much bigger though, his shoulders broad and the muscle on his arms intimidating. He had jet black hair, that actually seemed taken care of, and thick, faded side burns. His face naturally rested in a sort of scowl.
You quickly looked away and continued packing sweets into your basket. As you left the aisle you still felt the tall one staring at you, tingles running through your body.
As you walked to the counter you saw two familiar figures, your parents. You quickly hid behind a magazine rack, watching them talk to the cashier. You couldn’t hear what they were saying but you watched them take a paper from the young lady and then walk out the front doors of the store. As you made to move from behind the rack, you heard a rough, boyish voice.
“A-are you sta-stalking them?” You jumped and turned your face sharply to look at one of the men from earlier standing above you. “What?” You moved away from him a few feet as he was leaning in very close.
“You w-were watch— ing them. Th-those people that j-just left.” His eyes crinkled and you assumed he was smiling beneath the mask. Your brows furrowed as you glared at him.
“What’s it to you? Why were you watching me earlier?” Your hand moved to your purse, hoping he’d think you had pepper spray or a weapon. Instead, he looked around, probably for the other man he was with, before leaning in closer to you.
“I kn-know you.”
You shook your head and scoffed, pushing down the urge to swing your basket of goods at him. “Leave me alone, you freak.” You turned and started walking to the counter again before he grabbed your arm, pulling you back. “I- I’m not sup-supposed to talk t-to you.. but y-you’re here s-so—“ You tried pulling your arm back but his grip tightened and you watched his neck snap back before he rolled it and looked back at you. Before he could start talking again you quickly lifted your fist, punching him square in the face and hearing a crunch as it collided with his masked nose. He jerked back but it looked more like surprise than pain.
“I don’t know you! Just leave me alone.” You quickly walked away from him, glancing back. He was still staring, his arm in position to grab you again but he hesitated and turned away. You were shaking as you walked to the counter and set your basket down, taking your items out of it and letting the woman ring them up. You gave her the money and grabbed the plastic bags. They were quite heavy and you struggled awkwardly to pick them all up. The store bell rang but you weren’t paying attention to it until someone came up behind you.
A large hand picked up the bags you couldn’t carry and you turned around, startled. The first thing you noticed about the man was his dirty, beige colored hoodie. That was because he was too tall and standing too close for you to look at his face without straining your neck. He stepped back and nodded at you, all the bags balanced on two of his fingers.
“Thanks..” You muttered, letting him follow you out as you walked to your car. You looked at the beat-down red truck and realized the person in it was gone. “Is that yours?” You turned to the man, pointing towards the truck. He nodded, staring longingly at the truck.
You popped open the trunk of your car and after putting your bags down, turned to thank him. “Thanks. That was.. nice of you.” He just nodded again, shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie. You slowly closed the trunk, waiting for the moment to end. He let out a groan of annoyance and you noticed him watching something, turning your head to see the two men from earlier walking towards you.
The tall man walked towards them, causing them to stop a few feet from you. The black haired one was holding all the bags and seemed irritated, the creep was bouncing on his heels and jerking every once in a while. You couldn’t hear what they were saying but the interaction sounded tense, the creep stopping his movements as he got lectured. They started walking away and you got into your car to watch them more discreetly. They all loaded into the red truck and quickly reversed out of the parking lot.
You sat in the lot for a few minutes before driving back home, those strange men refusing to part from your mind. As you walked back into your house with the first set of bags, you saw your parents sitting at the island. Your mother was smiling as she looked up at you, a small paper on the island between her and your father. You set the groceries on the floor and told them to wait as you grabbed the second set of bags.
You sat next to your dad on the island, looking down at the paper. “Me and your father were just at the grocery store, y’know. We didn’t see you.” You shrugged, shaking your head, “I didn’t see you either.” You didn’t know why you were lying, you just felt like it. Your mother slid the paper over to you and you frowned deeply. It was an application to work at the grocery store. “Me and your father think it would do you good. You’re always in your room, and I think it’s bearing down on you. Since you’re still in school, you’d only need to work during the weekends and sometimes after class.”
“I don’t want to.” You pushed the paper back to her and started putting the groceries away. “Honey, we promise this will be very good—“ “I don’t want to, mom. I’m already tired of college, I don’t need more work added onto that.” Your father scoffed, he was usually the one to hold interventions like this. “You’re exhausted from what? Avoiding your work and playing games all day?” You glared at him, biting your tongue so as to not say anything you’d regret. “You don’t know anything, dad.”
You finished helping your mom put the food away and grabbed the bag of your snacks, ready to go to your room. “You’re going to take this job. Unless you want us to boot you out.” You turned to face your dad, feeling something sharp and hateful in your chest. “Why do you guys keep threatening to kick me out? I’ll just leave if that’s what you want so bad!’” Your parents stared at you for a few seconds in silence and you stormed off to your room.
You set the bag on a pile of your dirty clothes, slumping onto your bed and pulling your phone out your pocket. You weren’t in the mood to do anything besides talk to your friends so you opened the group chat, sighing heavily.
Ben 𖤓:
Are those my very dear friends coming back from grocery shopping I hear?
Toby:
We didn’t bye anything for you idiots
Ben 𖤓:
Uh, you DID ‘buy’ stuff for us..
Iykwim ;>
Toby:
We did bye them this time
Tim got money off someone
You:
I was just at the store!!
What a coincidence:>
Toby:
I know you were
You:
How?
lol
Ben 𖤓:
Toby, shut up
Stop trying to mess with them
Toby:
I’m not I talked to them
You:
???
Are you serious, orr?
Ben 𖤓:
He’s not
Both Toby and Ben suddenly went offline and you tried messaging them but they didn’t come back.
Nat ⏱️:
They’re fighting cause Toby is being annoying
Don’t listen to whatever he says
You:
But how did he know someone spoke to me??
Nat ⏱️:
It’s not odd to talk to someone at a store dude
You:
I guess..
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Ben struggled to push himself through Toby’s phone, due to the cracks, and quickly scrambled off the other man as he landed on him. “Bro, shut the hell up! Why are you telling them about talking— why’d you even go up to them!?”
Toby snickered, his shoulders popping. “I d-don’t know. I just re-recognized them and f-felt like I had t-to talk to them.” Ben scoffed, looking at the door. “How did Tim not see you? If him or Brian find out you did this—“
“W-why would I care wh-what Tim or Bri-Brian say? It’s n-not like your fr-friend’ll even sus—suspect anyth-thing if they kn-know what we look l-like!” Toby threw his hands up, laying back on his bed. “Well, you don’t look exaclty normal. Like.. at all...” Toby glared at him, scoffing. “A-and you do?”
Ben shrugged, fixing his hat that started sliding down his forehead. “I kinda do, more than you do.”
“Y-you look id- identical to a video g-game char-character! But w-with bloody f-fucking eyes!” Toby’s arm jerked up, his neck snapping to the side soon after.
“I’m not arguing with you about my ‘REGULAR’ appearance. They just— they can’t find out, you idiot.”
“Th-they’ll be one of us s-soon enough.” Toby shrugged, turning back to his phone.
“What do you mean?”
“I f-felt him on them. They-they’re going to get sick.”
Ben hummed, straining his tiny, game rotted brain to think. “Well, only if Tim and Brian don’t find out.” He sighed before muttering,”..they’ll be pissed.” Toby down at his phone, a wide smile breaking out across his face as he quickly started typing.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Nina 💞:
and i was doing my makeup when my janey came in and told me she found it where i was sitting the night before!
You:
Well why wasn’t that the first place you checked!!
Nina 💞:
cuzzz :(:(
You and Nina were talking about her lost belt that she was devastated over for hours, only to find out she left it on the couch when she’d taken it off the night before.
Toby:
Benny boy gave me permission to tell you it was me at the store
You:
You guys can shut up about this now >:(
Nat already told me it was a prank
Ben 𖤓:
It wasn’t
That really was Toby
WE swear
You:
Hmm
On what?
Ben 𖤓:
What?
You:
You swear on what?
Ben 𖤓:
Uhm
Toby’s life
You:
Oh
If that really was you, you were really weird
Toby:
Sorry
I didn’t no how to approach you
Ben 𖤓:
Toby, istg your grammar gets worse everyday
Toby:
Shut up
Nina 💞:
wait
will brian kill me 4 not tattling on u 2?
Ben 𖤓:
Not if you don’t tell him
Nina 💞:
okie
Nat ⏱️
Ben you’re an absolute idiot
Ben 𖤓:
???
What’s with the Ben slander?
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Your mom shook you awake the next morning. You went to sleep early after finding out Toby was that guy from the store. You sat up, glaring at her. “What?”
“Work starts in a few days! Me and your father signed you up.” She smiled, patting your leg.
“Why— how—“
“Because you need to get out of the house. As to how— they don’t require interviews or anything of the sort, kind of suspicious if you ask me. It’s good for you though, I’m sure of it.”
“Well, I’m not going.” You sat up and shrugged, trying not to roll your eyes at her.
“Well, we’ll have to kick you out then. Me and your father were talking, and you never try to do anything! You gave up on school, you’re refusing to get a job, you’re just not trying!”
“Because I don’t want to fucking try! Just let me be!” Your mother shook her head, “You either start this job and fix your grades or you get out.”
Tears of frustration caused your eyes to blur and you blinked them away. Anger was surging beneath your skin and you felt the urge to grab something, something that would hurt. The closest thing was your pencil holder which you grabbed and threw in the general direction of your mother.
She flinched, looking between you and the holder before standing up and grabbing your arms. “You’re acting like a toddler, all because we’re trying to help you! You’re starting this job whether you want to or not.” She quickly walked out the room, scared you were going to lash out again.
You groaned and tugged at the hairs on your head, your eyes blurring again due to a pain in your skull. The pain started slow, you assumed it was from your pulling your hair but it quickly started to spread until you were on all fours, heaving and crying in pain. The white figure in your nightmare flashed behind your eyelids as you shut them, reaching an arm out for you. You reached to take it and the pain died slowly, but as you pulled back it started again. The figure wiggled its fingers as if coaxing you to grab. You tried pushing yourself up but the pain made your arms frail and unable to hold you up.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Your body was sore, sweat was cooling all over your body, and your vision was swimming. You shakingly pushed yourself up, arms feeling very weak and brittle. You rubbed at your eyes but they were still blurry. A wet cough built up in your throat and you heaved up clumps of blood and something that felt like muscle. You tried to scream, backing away from the blood stain on the carpet, but all that came out was a hoarse screech.
You managed to pull yourself up using your desk. Your legs were still very weak so you had to grab onto the furniture in your room and stumble into your bathroom, leaning heavily against the sink. When you looked in the mirror, your heart dropped. You were a lot paler than usual and your eyes were bulging and red. How long were you passed out for? You splashed warm water on your face, trying to wash some life back into it but it didn’t work. You stripped your clothes with struggle as they were sticking to the dried sweat on your skin, after taking them off you stepped into your shower, leaning against the wall so as to not fall and turning the hot water on.
You spent what felt like hours under it, your fingers pruning and your skin becoming raw from how hot the water was. You stepped out, looking at yourself in the mirror once more. Color slightly returned to your face and your eyes returned to their usual white. You dried off and pulled some pajamas on before stepping out and looking at the clock.
It was 3 AM on Monday, were you unconscious for nearly 16 hours? You coughed again, rubbing your chest and covering your mouth as blood sprayed out again. Your bed sagged as you fell on it, holding your head in your hands and sobbing. You were going insane, batshit crazy. Why was this happening to you?
You thought back to your meeting Toby in the grocery store and shuddered violently all of a sudden. It was a strange coincidence that he lived in the same city— or even state as you, and that he happened to be going to the store the same day as you. What if you weren’t paranoid? What if he’d been watching you? You violently shook your head, tears still running down your face.
You ran a hand down your face and lay down on your bed, pulling the bundle of blankets over your body as you shut your eyes and waited for sleep to take you. You needed to take your mind off things; maybe you would start that job, and fix your grades. Maybe you’d start trying again.
How does Toby know what you look like?
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Masterlist !
Series Masterlist !
all dividers by @/cursed-carmine
૮₍ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა
a/n: I should prolly stop writing, proofreading, AND posting these so late 🤔
Chapter TW/CW: Bad grammar on purpose (Toby & Nina), Tim
Chapter Pairings: Ben x Reader, Toby x Reader, Nina x Reader, Nat x Reader, (Tim x Reader, Brian x Reader)
w/c: 3349 <Chap 1>
You woke up to your alarm blaring some song you chose as your ringtone years ago, groggily sitting up to unplug it from the wall as it continued going even if you tried turning it off. You lay your aching back down in bed, rubbing your eyes before sitting up. It was Saturday so school obviously wasn’t in, but you had no plans for the weekend.
Your house was empty when you walked into the kitchen which was weird. You had to push down the intrusive thought of that figure from your nightmare the prior night somehow breaking into your house and murdering your family. You walked around the island and, feeling hungry, opened the fridge, seeing it was almost completely empty besides a few stray vegetables. You sighed and shuffled to your room, not bothering to shower before changing into a large hoodie and jeans.
Your closet was full of clothes you used to love to wear, but nowadays you only wore hoodies, jeans, or sweats because choosing a coherent outfit seemed like a grueling task in your mind.
You grabbed your purse and slipped your shoes on before leaving, checking the lock on the door multiple times before making your way to your car. As you walked, you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and the side of your face tingle. You felt someone standing there, watching you, but when you turned all you saw was your neighbors fence. You quickly continued to your car, throwing the door open before dropping yourself in. You assumed the nightmare from the previous night was still wearing down on you, but you’d never felt paranoid like this before. After locking the door, you checked your surroundings again but didn’t spot anyone so you sped off towards the supermarket.
The parking lot was mostly empty due to it still being quite early but you noticed a beat down red truck parked close to the front. It caught your attention, though you had no clue why. You squinted at it and noticed someone sat in the driver's seat, the glass tint was too dark to see anything but their silhouette. You hesitantly pushed your door open, your eyes fixed on the person in the truck as you walked past it. Your town wasn’t small, that was for sure, but not many new people came to this supermarket as there was a bigger one nearby.
A worker was stacking baskets on top of each other as you walked in and you gave them a small smile, thanking them as you grabbed one off the top.
You made your way through the aisles in the store, grabbing packs of meat, dairy items, bread, and vegetables. You decided to get yourself some snacks and walked towards the sweets aisle. There was a mother and her toddler blocking the aisle entrance as they looked at what seemed to be a very interesting item. You waited for a few minutes before shoving past them, scoffing. You heard the woman yell at you but you ignored her, moving down the aisle. There were two men standing in the middle of the aisle, they had seen the interaction and moved aside for you.
You were grabbing some gummies off the shelf and felt one of the men still staring at you, so you finally decided to take them in.
The man staring at you was very lanky and awkward looking, his arms and legs were long but stayed still at his sides (unless he ticced). His hair was brown and he obviously didn’t take care of it because it somehow managed to look greasy and dry at the same time, sticking up in all different directions. He had strange goggles sitting on the top of his hair and was wearing a greenish beige striped sleeve sweater. You noticed his skin was tan but had an odd olive tint and the mask he wore covered the bottom of his face. His eyes, at least, were a soft brownish-green and looked almost puppyish.
The other man, who was standing with a lot of sass in his posture, was only a few inches shorter than his friend and looked a few years older. He was much bigger though, his shoulders broad and the muscle on his arms intimidating. He had jet black hair, that actually seemed taken care of, and thick, faded side burns. His face naturally rested in a sort of scowl.
You quickly looked away and continued packing sweets into your basket. As you left the aisle you still felt the tall one staring at you, tingles running through your body.
As you walked to the counter you saw two familiar figures, your parents. You quickly hid behind a magazine rack, watching them talk to the cashier. You couldn’t hear what they were saying but you watched them take a paper from the young lady and then walk out the front doors of the store. As you made to move from behind the rack, you heard a rough, boyish voice.
“A-are you sta-stalking them?” You jumped and turned your face sharply to look at one of the men from earlier standing above you. “What?” You moved away from him a few feet as he was leaning in very close.
“You w-were watch— ing them. Th-those people that j-just left.” His eyes crinkled and you assumed he was smiling beneath the mask. Your brows furrowed as you glared at him.
“What’s it to you? Why were you watching me earlier?” Your hand moved to your purse, hoping he’d think you had pepper spray or a weapon. Instead, he looked around, probably for the other man he was with, before leaning in closer to you.
“I kn-know you.”
You shook your head and scoffed, pushing down the urge to swing your basket of goods at him. “Leave me alone, you freak.” You turned and started walking to the counter again before he grabbed your arm, pulling you back. “I- I’m not sup-supposed to talk t-to you.. but y-you’re here s-so—“ You tried pulling your arm back but his grip tightened and you watched his neck snap back before he rolled it and looked back at you. Before he could start talking again you quickly lifted your fist, punching him square in the face and hearing a crunch as it collided with his masked nose. He jerked back but it looked more like surprise than pain.
“I don’t know you! Just leave me alone.” You quickly walked away from him, glancing back. He was still staring, his arm in position to grab you again but he hesitated and turned away. You were shaking as you walked to the counter and set your basket down, taking your items out of it and letting the woman ring them up. You gave her the money and grabbed the plastic bags. They were quite heavy and you struggled awkwardly to pick them all up. The store bell rang but you weren’t paying attention to it until someone came up behind you.
A large hand picked up the bags you couldn’t carry and you turned around, startled. The first thing you noticed about the man was his dirty, beige colored hoodie. That was because he was too tall and standing too close for you to look at his face without straining your neck. He stepped back and nodded at you, all the bags balanced on two of his fingers.
“Thanks..” You muttered, letting him follow you out as you walked to your car. You looked at the beat-down red truck and realized the person in it was gone. “Is that yours?” You turned to the man, pointing towards the truck. He nodded, staring longingly at the truck.
You popped open the trunk of your car and after putting your bags down, turned to thank him. “Thanks. That was.. nice of you.” He just nodded again, shoving his hands in the pocket of his hoodie. You slowly closed the trunk, waiting for the moment to end. He let out a groan of annoyance and you noticed him watching something, turning your head to see the two men from earlier walking towards you.
The tall man walked towards them, causing them to stop a few feet from you. The black haired one was holding all the bags and seemed irritated, the creep was bouncing on his heels and jerking every once in a while. You couldn’t hear what they were saying but the interaction sounded tense, the creep stopping his movements as he got lectured. They started walking away and you got into your car to watch them more discreetly. They all loaded into the red truck and quickly reversed out of the parking lot.
You sat in the lot for a few minutes before driving back home, those strange men refusing to part from your mind. As you walked back into your house with the first set of bags, you saw your parents sitting at the island. Your mother was smiling as she looked up at you, a small paper on the island between her and your father. You set the groceries on the floor and told them to wait as you grabbed the second set of bags.
You sat next to your dad on the island, looking down at the paper. “Me and your father were just at the grocery store, y’know. We didn’t see you.” You shrugged, shaking your head, “I didn’t see you either.” You didn’t know why you were lying, you just felt like it. Your mother slid the paper over to you and you frowned deeply. It was an application to work at the grocery store. “Me and your father think it would do you good. You’re always in your room, and I think it’s bearing down on you. Since you’re still in school, you’d only need to work during the weekends and sometimes after class.”
“I don’t want to.” You pushed the paper back to her and started putting the groceries away. “Honey, we promise this will be very good—“ “I don’t want to, mom. I’m already tired of college, I don’t need more work added onto that.” Your father scoffed, he was usually the one to hold interventions like this. “You’re exhausted from what? Avoiding your work and playing games all day?” You glared at him, biting your tongue so as to not say anything you’d regret. “You don’t know anything, dad.”
You finished helping your mom put the food away and grabbed the bag of your snacks, ready to go to your room. “You’re going to take this job. Unless you want us to boot you out.” You turned to face your dad, feeling something sharp and hateful in your chest. “Why do you guys keep threatening to kick me out? I’ll just leave if that’s what you want so bad!’” Your parents stared at you for a few seconds in silence and you stormed off to your room.
You set the bag on a pile of your dirty clothes, slumping onto your bed and pulling your phone out your pocket. You weren’t in the mood to do anything besides talk to your friends so you opened the group chat, sighing heavily.
Ben 𖤓:
Are those my very dear friends coming back from grocery shopping I hear?
Toby:
We didn’t bye anything for you idiots
Ben 𖤓:
Uh, you DID ‘buy’ stuff for us..
Iykwim ;>
Toby:
We did bye them this time
Tim got money off someone
You:
I was just at the store!!
What a coincidence:>
Toby:
I know you were
You:
How?
lol
Ben 𖤓:
Toby, shut up
Stop trying to mess with them
Toby:
I’m not I talked to them
You:
???
Are you serious, orr?
Ben 𖤓:
He’s not
Both Toby and Ben suddenly went offline and you tried messaging them but they didn’t come back.
Nat ⏱️:
They’re fighting cause Toby is being annoying
Don’t listen to whatever he says
You:
But how did he know someone spoke to me??
Nat ⏱️:
It’s not odd to talk to someone at a store dude
You:
I guess..
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Ben struggled to push himself through Toby’s phone, due to the cracks, and quickly scrambled off the other man as he landed on him. “Bro, shut the hell up! Why are you telling them about talking— why’d you even go up to them!?”
Toby snickered, his shoulders popping. “I d-don’t know. I just re-recognized them and f-felt like I had t-to talk to them.” Ben scoffed, looking at the door. “How did Tim not see you? If him or Brian find out you did this—“
“W-why would I care wh-what Tim or Bri-Brian say? It’s n-not like your fr-friend’ll even sus—suspect anyth-thing if they kn-know what we look l-like!” Toby threw his hands up, laying back on his bed. “Well, you don’t look exaclty normal. Like.. at all...” Toby glared at him, scoffing. “A-and you do?”
Ben shrugged, fixing his hat that started sliding down his forehead. “I kinda do, more than you do.”
“Y-you look id- identical to a video g-game char-character! But w-with bloody f-fucking eyes!” Toby’s arm jerked up, his neck snapping to the side soon after.
“I’m not arguing with you about my ‘REGULAR’ appearance. They just— they can’t find out, you idiot.”
“Th-they’ll be one of us s-soon enough.” Toby shrugged, turning back to his phone.
“What do you mean?”
“I f-felt him on them. They-they’re going to get sick.”
Ben hummed, straining his tiny, game rotted brain to think. “Well, only if Tim and Brian don’t find out.” He sighed before muttering,”..they’ll be pissed.” Toby down at his phone, a wide smile breaking out across his face as he quickly started typing.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Nina 💞:
and i was doing my makeup when my janey came in and told me she found it where i was sitting the night before!
You:
Well why wasn’t that the first place you checked!!
Nina 💞:
cuzzz :(:(
You and Nina were talking about her lost belt that she was devastated over for hours, only to find out she left it on the couch when she’d taken it off the night before.
Toby:
Benny boy gave me permission to tell you it was me at the store
You:
You guys can shut up about this now >:(
Nat already told me it was a prank
Ben 𖤓:
It wasn’t
That really was Toby
WE swear
You:
Hmm
On what?
Ben 𖤓:
What?
You:
You swear on what?
Ben 𖤓:
Uhm
Toby’s life
You:
Oh
If that really was you, you were really weird
Toby:
Sorry
I didn’t no how to approach you
Ben 𖤓:
Toby, istg your grammar gets worse everyday
Toby:
Shut up
Nina 💞:
wait
will brian kill me 4 not tattling on u 2?
Ben 𖤓:
Not if you don’t tell him
Nina 💞:
okie
Nat ⏱️
Ben you’re an absolute idiot
Ben 𖤓:
???
What’s with the Ben slander?
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Your mom shook you awake the next morning. You went to sleep early after finding out Toby was that guy from the store. You sat up, glaring at her. “What?”
“Work starts in a few days! Me and your father signed you up.” She smiled, patting your leg.
“Why— how—“
“Because you need to get out of the house. As to how— they don’t require interviews or anything of the sort, kind of suspicious if you ask me. It’s good for you though, I’m sure of it.”
“Well, I’m not going.” You sat up and shrugged, trying not to roll your eyes at her.
“Well, we’ll have to kick you out then. Me and your father were talking, and you never try to do anything! You gave up on school, you’re refusing to get a job, you’re just not trying!”
“Because I don’t want to fucking try! Just let me be!” Your mother shook her head, “You either start this job and fix your grades or you get out.”
Tears of frustration caused your eyes to blur and you blinked them away. Anger was surging beneath your skin and you felt the urge to grab something, something that would hurt. The closest thing was your pencil holder which you grabbed and threw in the general direction of your mother.
She flinched, looking between you and the holder before standing up and grabbing your arms. “You’re acting like a toddler, all because we’re trying to help you! You’re starting this job whether you want to or not.” She quickly walked out the room, scared you were going to lash out again.
You groaned and tugged at the hairs on your head, your eyes blurring again due to a pain in your skull. The pain started slow, you assumed it was from your pulling your hair but it quickly started to spread until you were on all fours, heaving and crying in pain. The white figure in your nightmare flashed behind your eyelids as you shut them, reaching an arm out for you. You reached to take it and the pain died slowly, but as you pulled back it started again. The figure wiggled its fingers as if coaxing you to grab. You tried pushing yourself up but the pain made your arms frail and unable to hold you up.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
Your body was sore, sweat was cooling all over your body, and your vision was swimming. You shakingly pushed yourself up, arms feeling very weak and brittle. You rubbed at your eyes but they were still blurry. A wet cough built up in your throat and you heaved up clumps of blood and something that felt like muscle. You tried to scream, backing away from the blood stain on the carpet, but all that came out was a hoarse screech.
You managed to pull yourself up using your desk. Your legs were still very weak so you had to grab onto the furniture in your room and stumble into your bathroom, leaning heavily against the sink. When you looked in the mirror, your heart dropped. You were a lot paler than usual and your eyes were bulging and red. How long were you passed out for? You splashed warm water on your face, trying to wash some life back into it but it didn’t work. You stripped your clothes with struggle as they were sticking to the dried sweat on your skin, after taking them off you stepped into your shower, leaning against the wall so as to not fall and turning the hot water on.
You spent what felt like hours under it, your fingers pruning and your skin becoming raw from how hot the water was. You stepped out, looking at yourself in the mirror once more. Color slightly returned to your face and your eyes returned to their usual white. You dried off and pulled some pajamas on before stepping out and looking at the clock.
It was 3 AM on Monday, were you unconscious for nearly 16 hours? You coughed again, rubbing your chest and covering your mouth as blood sprayed out again. Your bed sagged as you fell on it, holding your head in your hands and sobbing. You were going insane, batshit crazy. Why was this happening to you?
You thought back to your meeting Toby in the grocery store and shuddered violently all of a sudden. It was a strange coincidence that he lived in the same city— or even state as you, and that he happened to be going to the store the same day as you. What if you weren’t paranoid? What if he’d been watching you? You violently shook your head, tears still running down your face.
You ran a hand down your face and lay down on your bed, pulling the bundle of blankets over your body as you shut your eyes and waited for sleep to take you. You needed to take your mind off things; maybe you would start that job, and fix your grades. Maybe you’d start trying again.
How does Toby know what you look like?
Previous / Next
Masterlist !
Series Masterlist !
all dividers by @/cursed-carmine
૮₍ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა
a/n: I should prolly stop writing, proofreading, AND posting these so late 🤔
Learning to stay - Demetri volturi x F!Human!Reader
Her (part |)
The first thing Y/N learned about living in the Volturi castle was that it was never truly quiet.
There were always footsteps echoing through the ancient halls.
Always guards changing shifts.
Always the soft murmur of cloaks brushing stone.
And almost always…
No Demetri.
It wasn’t because he didn’t want to be with her.
It was because he couldn’t.
“The Guard doesn’t stop because I found my mate,” he had told her one evening as they walked through one of the castle’s courtyards. Moonlight silvered the ivy climbing the old walls. “The masters still expect me to perform my duties.”
Y/N smiled softly.
“I know.”
His cool fingers tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
“I would rather spend every hour with you.”
She laughed.
“I don’t think the masters would appreciate that.”
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
“No.”
That was Demetri.
Not overly expressive.
Not poetic.
He simply… meant every word he spoke.
And somehow, that meant more.
⸻
Most mornings, he was already gone when she woke.
Most nights, he returned long after sunset with dust on his boots from tracking assignments.
No matter how exhausted he looked, he always found her.
Sometimes he simply sat beside her while she read.
Sometimes he brought flowers from whatever countryside he’d crossed that day.
Sometimes he rested his forehead against hers in silence.
He never acted as though she was a burden.
Never treated her like something fragile.
Only precious.
⸻
The letters started arriving a week later.
The first carried Alice’s handwriting.
Y/N didn’t open it.
The second came from Edward.
Straight into the fireplace.
The third…
Carlisle.
She held it for almost an hour before quietly placing it unopened inside a drawer.
She couldn’t read them.
Not yet.
Every envelope reminded her that she’d been brought to Volterra because she’d been useful.
Because she’d been expendable.
She wasn’t ready to hear apologies.
Not when they still echoed in her dreams.
⸻
Fortunately…
She wasn’t alone.
Felix adopted her almost immediately.
“You look bored,” he announced one afternoon.
“I was reading.”
“Boring.”
“I like reading.”
“I don’t.”
She sighed dramatically.
“I had noticed.”
Twenty minutes later, he had somehow convinced her to watch two younger guards spar.
Then he’d started loudly critiquing both of them until everyone—including Y/N—was laughing.
Felix was loud.
Ridiculous.
Endlessly entertaining.
It was impossible not to like him.
⸻
Heidi was different.
Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her.
She walked into every room like she belonged there.
Golden hair.
Perfect skin.
Elegant clothes.
An effortless smile.
Y/N had never met someone so naturally magnetic.
Heidi liked shopping.
Fashion.
Music.
Long conversations.
Within days she had practically claimed Y/N as her newest friend.
“You’ve been wearing grey for three days.”
“I like grey.”
“I don’t.”
“…I’m sensing a pattern.”
Heidi grinned.
“Oh, sweetheart. We’re fixing your wardrobe.”
⸻
Several weeks later, they wandered through Volterra’s shopping district together.
Heidi held up a burgundy dress.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“You’d look lovely in this.”
Y/N laughed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Absolutely yes.”
Y/N glanced at her reflection in the shop mirror.
“…Maybe on someone else.”
Heidi frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“I’m just…”
She shrugged.
“Average.”
Heidi stared.
Then burst out laughing.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
“Y/N…”
She gently lowered the dress.
“You know why humans are drawn to vampires?”
“The supernatural thing?”
“No.”
Heidi smiled kindly.
“Because beauty isn’t one shape.”
Y/N looked unconvinced.
Heidi sighed.
“I’ve watched Demetri look at you.”
Y/N blinked.
“…What?”
“I’ve known him for centuries.”
That caught her attention.
“C…centuries?”
“Mhm.”
Heidi smiled nostalgically.
“I knew him long before either of us joined the Guard.”
The stone corridor beneath Volterra smelled faintly of damp earth and ancient water.
I kept close to Alice as she hurried ahead, her golden hair flashing in the dim light. Bella stayed at her side, pale and shaking after her desperate sprint through the square.
Edward was alive.
That should have been enough to steady me.
Instead, every step deeper into the Volturi’s underground halls made my stomach twist tighter.
“Just stay close, Y/N,” Alice whispered.
The words should have sounded comforting. They didn’t.
A pair of figures emerged from the shadows ahead.
One was enormous, broad-shouldered, with a lazy smile that never reached his crimson eyes. The other was tall and lean, bronze-brown hair brushing his forehead, his posture elegant and utterly still.
Felix.
And Demetri.
“There they are,” Felix said pleasantly. “The masters are waiting.”
Demetri’s gaze swept over Bella, then Alice.
Then it landed on me.
Everything stopped.
His expression changed so quickly I almost thought I imagined it. Surprise. Recognition. Something fierce and unguarded.
A breath escaped him.
“Her,” he murmured.
Felix glanced sideways. “Demetri?”
Demetri didn’t answer. He was still looking at me.
Heat rushed through my face. I should have looked away, but I couldn’t. His crimson eyes were terrifying—and somehow unbearably familiar.
Alice touched my elbow. “Come on.”
Demetri stepped aside without another word.
We followed them through twisting corridors, down worn stone steps slick with moisture, and through a narrow drainage tunnel where cold water whispered around our shoes. Felix led the way. Demetri remained behind us.
Behind me.
I could feel his attention like a hand at the center of my back.
When we climbed the final staircase, the reception chamber opened before us, bright after the darkness. A silent woman sat behind the desk, watching us pass.
Then the doors to the throne room swung open.
The Volturi waited in a crescent of black robes.
Edward stood between Jane and Alec.
Bella’s breath caught. “Edward.”
He turned, relief flooding his face.
“Bella.”
His eyes moved to Alice.
Then to me.
For a heartbeat his expression was blank.
Then it sharpened.
Edward stiffened.
Impossible.
The thought crossed his face before I understood why.
Behind me, Demetri took one step forward.
Edward’s gaze snapped to him.
Another heartbeat.
And suddenly Edward was moving.
He crossed the chamber in a blur, placing himself between Demetri and me.
“Stay away from her.”
Bella stared. “Edward?”
A low sound rumbled from Demetri’s chest.
Not anger.
A warning.
Edward’s eyes narrowed. He was listening to something none of us could hear.
Aro leaned forward, fascinated.
“Well,” he said softly. “This is unexpected.”
Demetri’s shoulders squared. Every line of his body turned toward me, protective and possessive all at once.
Edward bared his teeth. “She’s human.”
“She is under my protection,” Demetri said.
The room went still.
Felix blinked. “Ah.”
Edward’s voice dropped. “Your protection?”
Demetri’s gaze never left mine. “My mate.”
The word struck me harder than the cold underground air.
Mate.
Bella’s eyes widened.
Alice froze.
Edward looked suddenly furious.
“She doesn’t belong to you.”
Something flashed across Demetri’s face then—something ancient and absolute.
“She is not a possession,” he said. “But you will not threaten her.”
Edward shifted closer to me.
Demetri moved at the same instant.
Felix sighed.
In a blur of motion, the giant vampire caught Edward around the shoulders and hauled him backward.
“Easy,” Felix said. “The masters dislike broken furniture.”
The concern in his voice startled me more than everything else.
“No.”
His shoulders eased.
And suddenly I understood that if anyone in this chamber moved toward me with hostile intent, Demetri would fight them all.
Even Edward.
Even the Volturi.
Aro rose gracefully. “It seems we have two matters before us. First, the indiscretion involving our young human friend Bella. Second…” His eyes glittered. “A bond of rare significance.”
Edward stopped struggling.
Felix released him but remained close.
Aro extended a pale hand toward me. “Tell me, Y/N—did you know why you were brought here?”
I looked at Alice.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
A cold knot formed in my chest.
“Alice?”
Bella looked confused. “What does he mean?”
Alice finally spoke, barely above a whisper.
“We needed every advantage.”
My breath caught.
“If things went wrong,” she said, “another human witness gave us leverage. The Volturi would be less likely to act immediately.”
The throne room seemed to tilt.
“You brought me… in case they needed a reason not to kill you?”
“Y/N—”
“You used me.”
Alice’s face crumpled.
Bella stepped forward. “She didn’t mean—”
“But she did.”
The hurt was sharper than fear had ever been.
Edward closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
For once, there was no defense in his voice.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
The Cullens had been my family for so long that I’d never imagined being anything else.
Yet here, in the center of the Volturi’s throne room, I felt strangely alone.
A cool hand hovered near mine.
Demetri.
Not demanding.
Waiting.
When I looked up, there was no triumph in his expression. Only concern.
“You are free to choose,” he said.
Aro’s brows lifted.
Demetri continued, steady as stone.
“If you wish to leave, no one will stop you while I stand here.”
Edward stared at him.
“So you’d let her go?”
“If that is what she wants.”
The answer settled something deep inside me.
I looked at Alice.
At Edward.
At Bella.
Love still lingered there, tangled with betrayal.
Then I looked at Demetri.
The fierce stillness in his eyes felt nothing like a trap.
It felt like certainty.
“I don’t know what this bond means,” I admitted. “And I’m angry with all of you.”
Alice flinched.
“But for the first time since we came here…” I swallowed. “I don’t feel like a bargaining chip.”
Demetri’s expression softened.
I took a hesitant step toward him.
Then another.
His hand opened.
I placed mine in it.
The contact was cool, gentle, careful—as though he feared I might disappear.
Across the room, Edward’s shoulders lowered.
Alice’s eyes shone with regret.
Aro clasped his hands together, delighted. “Marvelous. A choice freely made.”
I exhaled.
“I’m not staying because anyone forced me to.”
Demetri’s fingers tightened around mine.
“I know.”
The ache of abandonment remained, tender and unfinished.
But as Demetri moved to stand beside me—not before me, not behind me, but beside me—I discovered that the loneliness was no longer quite so heavy.
And when the Volturi doors opened once more, the future waiting beyond them no longer felt like a sentence.
A boomer with feelings - Cpt. John price x Reader.
This fic is inspired by @everythingisalwayswipsueme beautiful brain 🧠! Enjoy!
⸻
John Price had made one catastrophic mistake.
He’d downloaded TikTok. It started innocently enough. Kyle had sent him a video. “Sir, just download the app. It’s easier than sending links.”Five words. Five stupid words.
Now it was two weeks later, and John Price was lying awake at one in the morning watching videos of someone pressure-washing driveways.
Then military edits. Then cooking videos. Then relationship advice. Then…
Relationship trauma. The algorithm knew too much.
⸻
One evening he was curled up beside you on the sofa while you showered upstairs. His phone buzzed.
“People you may know.”
Your username appeared. He smiled. “Didn’t know they used this much.” He tapped. Your current account was adorable.
Cat videos.
Random recipes.
You dancing terribly while making coffee. His lips twitched. Then he noticed a link in your bio.
Old account.
Curious, he clicked.
⸻
The first video hit him like a train.
“I genuinely hate my boyfriend.”
John froze.
Next.
“I wish he’d disappear forever.”
Next.
“Being with him makes me feel disgusting.”
Next.
“He makes me hate myself.”
Next.
“I’m so tired of pretending everything is okay.”
His stomach dropped. There were hundreds.
Hundreds. Video after video after video.
Crying.
Angry rants.
Sleepless nights.
“I wish he’d just die.” John stared at the screen. His chest felt tight. “…Christ.”
⸻
He couldn’t stop scrolling.
Every video sounded like…
Him.
He worked too much, missed anniversaries, forgot dates, didn’t compliment enough, sometimes disappeared on deployment. He’d always worried he wasn’t enough.
Now…
Apparently you agreed.
⸻
The next morning—
The briefing room. Price looked like absolute death. Of course Ghost noticed immediately.
“…You look like shite.” Soap nodded. “Ye look like ye’ve buried someone.” Kyle frowned. “You alright, sir?” John rubbed a hand down his face.“…Need to show you something.”
He slid his phone across the table. Soap watched one video.
“My partner.” Another video played. “I hope he never comes home.” Soap’s eyebrows shot up.“Oh, absolutely not.”Ghost looked murderous.“The fuck?”Kyle blinked. “They’ve…they’ve never acted like this around us.”John just stared at the table. “I didn’t know.”
Soap slammed the phone down. “No.” Ghost stood. “We’re going.” John looked up. “…Going where?” Ghost was already grabbing his jacket.“To your house.”Kyle sighed. “We should probably hear them out.”Soap looked scandalized. “Hear them out? They’re wishing the captain dead!”
John stood slowly.
“…Need answers.”
⸻
Twenty minutes later— Your front door swung open. You blinked. “…Why are all four of you standing on my porch?”Ghost folded his arms.
Soap looked furious. Kyle looked deeply uncomfortable and John wouldn’t even meet your eyes.
You frowned.
“…John?”
There was silence for what felt like 30 minutes. Finally he spoke. “…Did I do something?”
“…What?”
“You can tell me.”
“What are you talking about?” He handed you his phone. You looked down. “Oh.”
“…”
“…”
“…OH.”
Your eyes got bigger. “Oh my God.”Nobody spoke. You started laughing. Soap looked offended. “What’s funny?” You looked at John. “Babe.”He looked miserable. “…Yeah.”
“Read the date.”
“…”
“…What?”
“The date.”
John frowned. He looked.
Then looked again. Tiny grey text underneath the username. August 2022.
He blinked.
“…”
Your smile slowly disappeared. “…John.”
“…”
“…John.”
He kept staring.
Then swiped.
Every video.
His ears slowly turned red.
Ghost leaned over.
“…”
Soap leaned over.
“…”
Kyle leaned over.
“…”
There was a very long silence. You finally asked— “…You thought…” John closed his eyes. “…Aye.”
“…You thought these were about you?”
“…Aye.”
“…”
“…”
Then you burst into laughter. Not a little giggle. Full-body, wheezing laughter. You had to lean against the doorframe. “Oh my God!” Soap looked between the two of you.
“…Wait.”
Kyle squinted.
“…That was your ex?” You nodded “the abusive one.”Ghost’s expression changed instantly.
“…”
Soap slowly looked back at John.
“…Captain.”
John refused to look at anyone. “…Don’t.” Soap started laughing too. “No, no, no—”
Ghost actually snorted.
Ghost.
Snorted. Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sir…” John muttered, “…I know.”Soap wiped tears from his eyes. “Ye marched us over here because ye cannae read a date?”
“I said don’t.”Ghost’s shoulders were shaking. “The old man got cyberbullied by archived posts.”
“I said—”
“Archived.”
“I know!”You stepped forward, still grinning, and cupped John’s face. “You absolute idiot.”
“…”
“I’ve been with you since 2024.”
“…”
“How could posts from 2022 be about you?”John opened his mouth.
Closed it. Opened it again.
“…Didn’t…think.”“No,” Ghost agreed dryly. “You really didn’t.”Soap was still laughing. Kyle had actually sat down on your porch because he couldn’t breathe.
You kissed John’s forehead. “For the record…” He finally looked at you. “I adore my current boyfriend.”His cheeks somehow got even redder.
“…Yeah?” “I make TikToks about you too.” His eyes widened.
“…You what?”
You pulled out your phone. Opened your current account. Scrolled.
“When your boyfriend brings you tea before you’ve even asked.”
Next.
“POV: your grumpy military boyfriend secretly loves cuddles.”
Next.
“He’s pretending not to smile.”
Next.
“My favorite person.”
John stared. “…Oh.” You smiled softly. “Those are about you.” He looked like someone had physically restarted his brain.
Soap groaned dramatically. “Oh, that’s disgustingly sweet.” Ghost headed back toward the truck. “Crisis over.” Kyle patted John’s shoulder.
“…Maybe next time read the timestamp before assembling the task force.” John sighed so heavily it sounded painful. “…I’m deleting TikTok.”
It’s her - Sinclair brothers x Platonic!Sister!Reader
“Great,” you muttered, gripping the steering wheel. “Perfect.”
The nearest sign you’d seen had pointed toward some place called Ambrose. Tiny little town. Middle of nowhere. Exactly the sort of place you’d hoped to avoid.
With a sigh, you climbed out into the heat and examined the smoking engine. You knew next to nothing about cars, but even you could tell this wasn’t something a prayer and positive thinking would fix.
Then came the sound of another engine.
A tow truck.
The driver leaned out the window. He was lanky, dirty-blond, and wore a pair of goggles on his forehead. His grin was strange but not unfriendly.
“Car trouble?” he asked.
“That obvious?”
“Pretty obvious.”
He hopped down and crouched by the engine, muttering to himself.
“Radiator’s done. Ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Wonderful.
The man scratched his head.
“Name’s Lester. I got a yard nearby. Can tow ya into town.”
You hesitated.
Something about him was odd.
Not dangerous, exactly.
Just… peculiar.
Still, being stranded in the middle of nowhere wasn’t exactly ideal.
“Thanks,” you finally said.
He grinned.
“Sure thing.”
⸻
Lester found himself glancing at you more than once during the drive.
Not because you looked familiar.
No.
Something else.
Something nagging at the back of his mind.
By the time you reached his junkyard, he still couldn’t place it.
Until you climbed out of the truck.
Your shirt had shifted slightly.
And he saw the scar.
A pale crescent on your shoulder.
Lester froze.
His smile faded.
“…No way.”
“What?”
Nothing.
Nothing, probably.
But—
He remembered.
He remembered Bo crying.
Remembered Vincent screaming.
Remembered Mama Sinclair shrieking while their baby sister vanished.
And he remembered another thing.
Bo had pushed her.
Not hard.
Just angry.
Just a little boy with a temper.
She’d fallen against a sharp piece of metal.
The scar.
That scar.
Lester stared.
“You okay?” you asked.
“Uh… yeah.”
No.
No, he wasn’t.
Because if that scar was what he thought it was…
Then—
He nearly tripped over himself rushing toward the phone.
⸻
Bo Sinclair was fixing an old fan when the phone rang.
He wiped his hands and picked up.
“Sinclair residence.”
“Bo.”
“Lester?”
“I found her.”
Bo snorted.
“You found Elvis too?”
“Our sister.”
Silence.
“…What?”
“The scar.”
Bo’s smile disappeared.
“Lester—”
“The shoulder.”
His heart stopped.
Because there was only one person who had that scar.
Only one.
And Bo had given it to her.
His face went pale.
“…Bring her into town.”
⸻
By the time Lester brought you into Ambrose, Bo Sinclair was waiting outside the gas station.
He wore an easy smile.
Friendly.
Harmless.
The picture of Southern hospitality.
“Afternoon,” he greeted warmly. “Car trouble?”
“Apparently I’m cursed.”
He chuckled.
“Well, we can’t have that. Name’s Bo.”
You introduced yourself.
And Bo almost forgot how to breathe.
The name.
The same name.
After all these years.
His little sister.
Alive.
He forced a smile.
“Pretty name.”
“Thanks.”
His voice stayed smooth, easygoing.
Years of pretending came naturally.
“Where ya from?”
As you spoke, Bo listened carefully.
Adoption.
Foster homes.
No memories before age five.
His stomach twisted.
It was you.
It really was you.
And guilt sank its claws into him.
Because every time he looked at your shoulder—
He remembered.
He remembered being angry.
Remembered shoving you.
Remembered your crying.
Remembered Vincent trying to comfort you while Bo hid and cried because he’d hurt his baby sister.
He’d never forgiven himself.
Not once.
And now you were standing right in front of him.
Alive.
Smiling.
Talking.
Completely unaware.
⸻
Meanwhile, deep beneath the House of Wax, Vincent listened.
Bo had come running into the workshop almost an hour ago.
She’s here.
Those two words had nearly made him collapse.
Vincent hadn’t believed it.
Couldn’t.
Not after all these years.
But Bo had shown him.
Through the window.
Just for a second.
And Vincent had hidden immediately.
Fear gripping him.
Because what if you were scared?
Everyone was scared.
Everyone ran.
Everyone screamed.
He didn’t want that.
Not from you.
Not from his sister.
So he stayed below.
Working with trembling hands.
Waiting.
Listening.
⸻
Over the next few days, Bo played the perfect host.
He fixed your car.
Offered you meals.
Made jokes.
Smiled.
Asked questions.
Anything to keep you close.
And every night, he found himself watching old photographs.
Unable to stop.
Unable to believe.
His baby sister had come home.
And she didn’t even know.
Lester acted weird.
Weirder than usual.
He’d just appear beside you and ask bizarre questions.
“Ya remember frogs?”
“What?”
“The frogs we used to catch.”
“I’ve never caught frogs.”
“Huh.”
Then he’d wander away.
⸻
But one day, curiosity got the better of you.
You’d noticed Bo disappear behind the House of Wax.
And you followed.
Downstairs.
Into a room full of sculptures.
The sight made you stop.
A man stood among them.
Tall.
Broad.
Wearing a mask.
He froze.
You froze.
His breathing became uneven.
And slowly—
He stepped back.
Almost hiding.
Like he expected you to scream.
Instead, you noticed something.
Pictures.
Hundreds of them.
Three boys.
And—
A little girl.
Your heart stopped.
The girl had your eyes.
Your smile.
And—
That scar.
Your fingers touched your shoulder.
“No…”
The masked man stiffened.
And then, slowly, with shaking hands—
He picked up a photograph.
Three boys surrounding a toddler.
The oldest one grinning proudly.
The youngest laughing.
And the middle boy—
Holding the little girl carefully.
Protectively.
On the back, written in faded ink:
Vincent, Bo, Lester, and Y/N.
Tears filled your eyes.
“That’s impossible…”
Behind you, a voice answered quietly.
“No.”
Bo stood in the doorway.
Gone was the easy smile.
Gone was the act.
For the first time since you’d met him, he looked frightened.
Truly frightened.
Lester stood behind him, unusually serious.
And Vincent—
Vincent nearly disappeared behind one of his sculptures.
Still hiding.
Still afraid.
Bo swallowed hard.
“We thought somebody took ya.”
Silence.
“We searched everywhere.”
His voice cracked.
“For years.”
Your eyes darted between the photographs.
The scar.
The resemblance.
Vincent’s trembling.
Lester’s anxious expression.
Bo’s guilt-ridden eyes.
And suddenly—
Something stirred.
A memory.
Warm arms.
A lullaby.
Three boys arguing over who got to carry you.
Another memory.
Crying.
Falling.
Pain.
And a little boy sobbing harder than you were.
“I’m sorry!”
Over and over.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Your eyes widened.
Bo looked like he’d been struck.
“I didn’t mean to hurt ya,” he whispered.
His voice broke.
“I was mad. I pushed ya. You hit that piece of metal and—”
I love your platonic Volturi fics! Could you please write one where reader interacts with the queens as mother figures and they also treat her like a daughter. Maybe the queens and kings have family bonding time after the whole nomad incident. Tyyy!🫶
Our Little Fool - Platonic!volturi King x female!Human!reader part 2
Part 1 here You are now in part 2. Part 3 here
For one terrible moment, the throne room was silent.
Not the usual calm silence that accompanied the Volturi.
No.
This was fear.
Raw and awful and unfamiliar.
Because the human girl they loved—the one person in the castle who brought flowers into the throne room, who made Aro laugh, who listened to Marcus’s stories, who argued with Caius over scarves and meals and sleep schedules—
Was unconscious.
And covered in blood.
No heartbeat.
⸻
“Move.”
Everyone jumped.
Caius.
His voice shook.
Actually shook.
He knelt beside you immediately, uncaring of the blood staining his robes.
“My child.”
Nothing.
No response.
Your heartbeat.
Where was your heartbeat?
Felix looked ill.
Demetri looked worse.
“I’m sorry,” Felix whispered.
The enormous guard stood frozen, his hands covered in your blood.
“I’m sorry.”
Demetri couldn’t even speak.
His face had gone white.
Aro gently held your hand.
“Fetch Carlisle.”
Nobody had ever heard Aro sound like that before.
Quiet.
Not theatrical.
Not cheerful.
Scared.
Jane disappeared instantly.
Alec followed.
⸻
Marcus sat beside you.
His ancient eyes fixed on your face.
And something inside him twisted painfully.
He had lost so much.
So many bonds.
So many loves.
But you—
Bright, sweet, stubborn little you—
Had somehow wormed your way into his ancient heart.
And now—
“No.”
Marcus whispered it softly.
As though denying reality itself.
“No.”
⸻
Five minutes later, the doors burst open.
Carlisle Cullen rushed in.
Behind him came Esme Cullen.
Then Edward.
Alice.
Rosalie.
Emmett.
Jasper.
The entire Cullen family.
And immediately—
Esme gasped.
“My baby!”
Edward froze.
Alice burst into tears.
Rosalie looked murderous.
Emmett looked horrified.
Jasper’s eyes widened.
Carlisle was already moving.
“Everyone back.”
Nobody moved.
“Caius.”
Nothing.
“Aro.”
Nothing.
“Marcus.”
Nothing.
The three kings sat around you like gargoyles.
Carlisle softened.
“Gentlemen.”
Aro blinked.
Then immediately moved aside.
Marcus followed.
Caius remained.
“My lord—”
“No.”
“Caius.”
“No.”
Carlisle sighed.
“Please.”
Slowly—
Reluctantly—
Caius moved.
⸻
Carlisle worked quickly.
Broken ribs.
Concussion.
A fractured arm.
Bruising.
Cuts.
Heart started beating again.
Nothing fatal.
Nothing permanent.
But enough.
Enough to terrify everyone.
When Carlisle finally stepped away—
“She’ll recover.”
The room collectively sagged.
Aro nearly collapsed with relief.
Marcus closed his eyes.
And Caius sat down heavily.
Thank God.
⸻
Then came the guilt.
Felix still hadn’t moved.
He stood near the wall.
Silent.
Demetri beside him.
Neither guard had spoken in nearly twenty minutes.
You had risked yourself.
For them.
And because of that—
You were hurt.
Demetri swallowed.
“She thought we were losing.”
Felix’s voice cracked.
“We’re supposed to protect her.”
Nobody answered.
Because nobody knew what to say.
“We’re supposed to protect her,” Felix repeated.
His shoulders shook.
“And she protected us.”
Aro stood immediately.
“Felix—”
“No!”
Everyone froze.
Tears streamed down Felix’s face.
“If she’d died—”
His voice broke.
“I would’ve killed her.”
Silence.
“What?” Jane whispered.
Felix looked devastated.
“I would’ve killed her.”
He sank to his knees.
“Because I couldn’t live with myself.”
Demetri crouched beside him.
And for the first time in centuries—
The tracker wrapped his arms around his best friend.
Neither cared who saw.
Because both of them were shattered.
⸻
Hours passed.
Then days.
And you still hadn’t woken.
⸻
The kings refused to leave.
Absolutely refused.
Carlisle gave up arguing after day one.
Aro sat beside you reading books aloud.
Marcus quietly held your hand.
And Caius—
Caius complained.
Constantly.
“The blankets are insufficient.”
“The room is too cold.”
“Why are humans so breakable?”
“Who designed ribs?”
“Stupid things.”
But every few minutes—
His eyes drifted back to you.
Checking.
Always checking.
⸻
Esme cried.
Alice cried.
Rosalie threatened violence against everyone.
Emmett sat beside your bed and held your uninjured hand.
Jasper paced.
Edward remained silent.
Jane practically lived in your room.
And Alec quietly brought everyone tea.
⸻
Felix and Demetri never left either.
Though neither dared sit beside you.
They didn’t think they deserved to.
Which finally made Caius snap.
“For God’s sake.”
Felix blinked.
“My lord?”
“Come here.”
Felix obeyed automatically.
Caius pointed at the chair.
“Sit.”
“My lord—”
“Sit.”
Demetri looked confused.
“We failed her.”
Caius’s eyes narrowed.
“And who did she throw herself at that nomad for?”
Silence.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“And if she wakes to find the two idiots she nearly killed herself saving have abandoned her bedside—”
Caius looked personally offended.
“—she’ll be furious.”
Demetri’s eyes widened.
Felix looked hopeful.
“…Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Caius muttered.
“Ridiculous child.”
⸻
The fourth day.
Everyone was exhausted.
Even vampires somehow looked tired.
Aro sat with his head resting against your bed.
Marcus held your hand.
Caius pretended to read.
Jane curled up in a chair.
Felix and Demetri sat nearby.
Alice leaned against Jasper.
Esme rested beside Carlisle.
And Emmett quietly snored.
⸻
Then—
Movement.
Tiny.
Small.
But enough.
Marcus sat upright immediately.
Your fingers moved.
Aro gasped.
Caius dropped his book.
Jane practically teleported.
Felix stood so quickly his chair exploded.
Demetri screamed.
“CARLISLE!”
You groaned.
“Ow.”
Silence.
Then—
“Oh thank God.”
Aro.
Tears.
Actual tears.
You blinked.
Why was Aro crying?
Why was Jane crying?
Why was Felix crying?
Why—
“Caius?”
The ancient king immediately appeared beside you.
“Yes.”
His voice shook.
“I hurt.”
“I know.”
“My ribs hurt.”
“Yes.”
“My head hurts.”
“Yes.”
“My arm hurts.”
“Yes.”
“Everything hurts.”
“Yes.”
And suddenly—
Caius wrapped his arms around you.
The room froze.
Even Carlisle.
Even Marcus.
Even Aro.
Caius never hugged anyone.
Ever.
But now?
He held you tightly.
As though afraid you’d disappear.
“You foolish child.”
His voice cracked.
“You absolute little fool.”
And to everyone’s complete astonishment—
Caius was crying.
⸻
The room exploded.
Aro hugged you next.
Marcus held your hand.
Jane climbed onto the bed.
Alec smiled in relief.
Alice sobbed.
Esme cried.
Emmett cried.
Rosalie cried.
Jasper cried.
Carlisle smiled.
Edward laughed.
Demetri looked like he’d seen heaven.
And Felix—
Felix simply stood there.
Unable to move.
Until you smiled weakly.
“Hi.”
He burst into tears again.
“Kid.”
And suddenly this giant terrifying vampire was kneeling beside your bed.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Felix—”
“I’m sorry.”
“Felix.”
“I failed—”
“No.”
You squeezed his hand.
“No.”
Demetri had tears in his eyes.
“We almost lost.”
“No.”
You smiled softly.
“I saw my brothers needed help.”
Brothers.
Felix broke completely.
Demetri too.
And suddenly both guards were hugging you while trying very hard not to crush you.
⸻
Much later.
After everyone calmed down.
After Carlisle had shooed everyone away.
After the chaos settled—
Marcus quietly spoke.
“You scared us.”
You blinked.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
His hand squeezed yours.
“Do not apologize for loving.”
Aro nodded.
“You protected your family.”
Caius snorted.
“Though next time, perhaps use less self-sacrificial stupidity.”
You laughed.
And all three kings relaxed.
Because laughter.
Laughter meant life.
⸻
As you drifted to sleep again, you heard Caius mutter:
“We’re locking her inside.”
“No we’re not,” Carlisle said.
“Perhaps chains?”
“No.”
“A small cage?”
“No.”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“Too small.”
Aro gasped.
“Matching family armor!”
“No!” everyone shouted.
And for the first time in four terrible days—
The room filled with laughter.
Because their little fool had come back.
And none of them intended to let her out of their sight again.
Forever,even with the grass - Alec volturi x fem!reader
The idea of a picnic had started as a joke.
“Humans do this for fun?” Alec Volturi had asked, watching you unpack sandwiches in the kitchen.
“Yes.”
“You voluntarily eat outside?”
You laughed. “Yes.”
“In the grass?”
“Yes, Alec.”
He looked mildly offended.
“That seems inconvenient.”
Which, naturally, meant you were absolutely making him do it.
⸻
The Volturi gardens were one of your favorite places in the castle.
Hidden away behind ancient stone walls, the gardens were peaceful and beautiful. Flowers bloomed in neat rows, fountains trickled softly, and ivy climbed the marble statues scattered among the pathways.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, bathing everything in golden warmth.
And in the middle of it all sat a thoroughly unconvinced Alec.
He stared suspiciously at the blanket spread beneath him.
“You know there are chairs inside.”
“Yes.”
“And tables.”
“Yes.”
“And a roof.”
You smiled sweetly. “But there are no flowers inside.”
Alec glanced around.
“…There are flowers in vases.”
You burst out laughing.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Despite all his complaints, Alec had not moved an inch from your side.
Not that you expected him to.
He sat beside you on the blanket, one arm wrapped loosely around your waist while you ate. He himself, of course, had no interest in the food.
Though he watched you with quiet fondness while you happily munched on strawberries.
“You know,” you said thoughtfully, “you make a very handsome picnic companion.”
“Do I?”
“Mhm.”
“Even though I contribute nothing.”
“You contribute emotional support.”
His eyebrow rose.
“Emotional support?”
“And aesthetic value.”
Alec laughed softly.
“You flatter me.”
“No, I spoil you.”
“That too.”
His smile was small.
Rare.
Beautiful.
The kind that was reserved only for you.
⸻
“Honestly, I think you’re enjoying this,” you teased.
“I assure you, I am not.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t like the sunshine?”
“It doesn’t affect me.”
“The flowers?”
“They smell pleasant.”
“The birds?”
“They’re loud.”
“The cuddles?”
Alec paused.
His eyes flicked down to where your head rested on his shoulder.
Then to his hand, which absentmindedly stroked your hair.
Then back to you.
“…I tolerate those.”
You grinned.
“Liar.”
“Perhaps.”
⸻
You spent nearly an hour talking about nothing.
Books.
Music.
Stories from your childhood.
And stories from his.
Though Alec rarely spoke about himself, moments like these made him softer.
More open.
He told you about growing up with Jane centuries ago.
How they used to race through villages.
How she had once stolen a loaf of bread and blamed him for it.
“How rude,” you gasped.
“I know.”
“And was she punished?”
“No.”
“Because she’s adorable?”
“Because she threatened the baker.”
You laughed so hard you nearly dropped your drink.
Alec smiled at the sound.
He always smiled when you laughed.
⸻
Eventually, you laid down on the blanket and stared up at the clouds.
Alec watched you curiously.
“What are you doing?”
“Cloud watching.”
Silence.
“Why?”
“Because it’s relaxing.”
He glanced up.
Then back down.
“I see nothing.”
“That one looks like a rabbit.”
“It looks like a cloud.”
“And that one looks like a ship.”
“It also looks like a cloud.”
“You have no imagination.”
“No, I have eyesight.”
You giggled.
He smiled again.
There was no winning against you.
Not that he minded.
⸻
“You know,” you murmured softly, “I think this is my favorite day.”
His expression softened immediately.
“Why?”
“Because it’s quiet.”
You intertwined your fingers with his.
“Because you’re here.”
Alec looked down at your joined hands.
Something warm and infinitely tender appeared in his crimson eyes.
“You make very simple things seem extraordinary.”
“I think you have that backwards.”
“No.”
His thumb brushed lovingly over your knuckles.
“Before you, I had existed for centuries.”
His voice was quiet.
“And I never once sat in a garden arguing with clouds.”
You smiled.
“Life-changing experience?”
“Apparently.”
“Would you do it again?”
Alec pretended to think.
“Hm.”
“Alec.”
“Yes.”
“Would you?”
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.
“As many times as you wish.”
Your smile widened.
“Even with the grass?”
He sighed dramatically.
“Yes.”
“And the bugs?”
“Yes.”
“And the birds?”
“Yes.”
“And sandwiches?”
He narrowed his eyes.
“Let’s not become unreasonable.”
You burst into laughter.
And Alec—who was feared by entire covens, who stood beside kings and inspired terror with a single glance—simply held you closer and smiled.
Because the truth was…
He didn’t care about the picnic.
Or the flowers.
Or the clouds.
Or the grass.
He cared about you.
And if lying on a blanket in the gardens while you pointed out rabbit-shaped clouds made you happy…
Then, to Alec Volturi, it was a perfect afternoon.
⸻
Unfortunately for the two of you, neither of you noticed the figures watching from one of the palace windows.
Aro clasped his hands together with delight.
“Oh, look at them!”
Marcus glanced outside.
“They have been staring at clouds for forty-three minutes.”
“Romance!” Aro declared.
Caius looked appalled.
“They are lying on the ground.”
“Yes.”
“Voluntarily.”
“Yes.”
“In daylight.”
“Yes.”
Caius shook his head.
“Madness.”
But Marcus—just for a moment—allowed the smallest, faintest smile.
Being with Alec Volturi meant learning that his calmness was deceptive.
To everyone else, Alec was composed. Detached. Almost impossible to read.
But you had learned that beneath that quiet exterior was someone capable of loving with terrifying intensity.
Which meant one unfortunate truth.
When you got hurt—
Alec absolutely panicked.
Not outwardly.
Not screaming or pacing.
But in the way Alec did everything.
Silently.
Terrifyingly.
⸻
It happened so quickly.
You had been walking through one of Volterra’s older streets while visiting the market. The rain had made the stone slick, and before you realized what was happening, your foot slipped.
You fell hard.
Pain exploded through your ankle.
And then—
Crack.
You cried out.
Almost immediately, a blur of black appeared beside you.
“Y/N.”
Alec.
His voice was so soft, but you recognized the edge underneath it instantly.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Alec,” you gasped, tears springing to your eyes. “I think—I think I broke it.”
He was kneeling beside you before you finished speaking.
His crimson eyes darted over you frantically.
“Where?”
“My ankle.”
His hands hovered over you.
Hovering.
Not touching.
As though he was afraid he’d somehow hurt you more.
“You fell?”
You nodded.
“It slipped.”
“You hit your head?”
“No.”
“Your ribs?”
“No.”
“Your wrists?”
“No.”
“You’re certain?”
“Alec—”
“Are you certain?”
His voice had gone dangerously quiet.
Not angry.
Terrified.
You reached out and touched his hand.
“I’m okay.”
No.
Not okay.
Injured.
Human.
Fragile.
Mortal.
Things Alec hated.
His eyes closed briefly.
Then, without another word, he carefully lifted you into his arms.
“Alec, I can walk—”
“No.”
“Really—”
“No.”
His answer left no room for argument.
⸻
By the time you returned to the castle, half the Volturi had somehow heard.
Which meant the throne room had become unusually crowded.
Aro stood immediately.
“Oh dear!”
Marcus blinked with mild concern.
And Caius looked personally offended that gravity existed.
“How did this happen?” Caius demanded.
“She slipped,” Alec answered shortly.
“Slipped?”
“Yes.”
Caius narrowed his eyes.
“At the ground?”
“Yes, Caius,” Marcus said dryly. “That is generally where one slips.”
Jane appeared seconds later.
The moment she saw tears in your eyes, her expression changed.
“What happened?”
“She hurt her ankle,” Alec replied.
Jane’s gaze snapped to him.
And she froze.
Because Alec looked…
Panicked.
Not visibly.
Not to humans.
But Jane had known him for centuries.
She saw it immediately.
And suddenly she wasn’t making sarcastic comments anymore.
She moved beside you and squeezed your hand gently.
“It hurts?” she asked.
You nodded.
“A little.”
“Liar.”
You sniffled.
“A lot.”
Jane frowned.
And Alec?
Alec hadn’t let go of you once.
Not once.
⸻
After Carlisle confirmed it was a fracture and assured everyone you’d recover, Alec remained glued to your side.
He carried you everywhere.
Literally everywhere.
“You know I can use crutches.”
“No.”
“Alec—”
“No.”
“You carried me to the kitchen.”
“Yes.”
“I was hungry.”
“You could have called me.”
“You were right beside me.”
“And yet you attempted to stand.”
You laughed despite yourself.
“Alec, I’m not made of glass.”
His expression softened.
“I know.”
But there was sadness there.
Something deeper.
“You break,” he whispered.
The words made your heart ache.
Humans did break.
Bones.
Bodies.
Lives.
Humans ended.
And sometimes you forgot that while you worried about scraped knees and fractures—
Alec worried about losing you.
Forever.
⸻
One evening, nearly a week later, you woke to find him sitting beside your bed.
Watching.
Not in a creepy way.
Just…
Watching.
His hand rested lightly over yours.
“Alec?”
His eyes immediately lifted.
“You’re awake.”
“Have you been here all night?”
Silence.
“…Perhaps.”
“Alec.”
“You moved in your sleep.”
“So?”
“You whimpered.”
You smiled weakly.
“Sweetheart, it’s just my ankle.”
His gaze lowered.
“Today.”
You blinked.
“What?”
“It is your ankle today.”
His voice was so quiet.
“So small a thing.”
His thumb brushed over your knuckles.
“But humans…”
He swallowed.
“…humans disappear from things much smaller.”
And suddenly you understood.
This wasn’t about your injury.
Not really.
This was centuries of immortality loving something temporary.
Something fragile.
Someone he couldn’t heal with vampire strength.
Someone who would someday age while he remained the same.
Tears filled your eyes.
“Oh, Alec…”
He looked genuinely distressed.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
You reached up and cupped his face.
“No, my love.”
His eyes closed immediately, leaning into your touch.
“You scared me,” he admitted quietly.
And maybe nobody else would understand how much those words meant.
Not Aro.
Not Caius.
Not even Jane.
Because Alec Volturi—the quiet, composed, deadly guard that terrified nations—
Had been frightened.
Not because enemies attacked.
Not because wars threatened.
But because the woman he loved slipped on wet cobblestones and broke her ankle.
And honestly?
Everyone in the castle knew.
Because for the next month, if you so much as sneezed—
Alec appeared.
And if anyone dared joke about it—
Jane was the first one to glare at them.
“Leave him alone,” she snapped at Felix one day.
“He nearly had a nervous breakdown.”
Alec sighed in embarrassment.
Jane smirked.
“He counted how many times you blinked while you slept.”
“…Jane.”
“He made Carlisle explain fractures four times.”
“…Jane.”
“He threatened the stairs.”
“JANE.”
You burst out laughing.
And though Alec buried his face in your shoulder in humiliation—
You felt him smiling.
Because you were laughing.
And that meant you were okay.
And for Alec?
That was everything.
———————————The end———————————
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