hello vonnie
Cosmic Funnies
wallacepolsom
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
Keni
noise dept.
JBB: An Artblog!
No title available
trying on a metaphor
Kaledo Art
blake kathryn
One Nice Bug Per Day
YOU ARE THE REASON
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
we're not kids anymore.
Three Goblin Art
occasionally subtle
Sade Olutola
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Andulka
seen from T1
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Indonesia
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from Algeria
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Poland
seen from United States
seen from Portugal
seen from United States
seen from Belarus
@infernalodie
𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒!
Masterlist
All stories that are finished will be found in the link above. Along with the titles of unfinished ones from different fandoms that I plan to do.
For right now, everything is going to be fairly unorganized, but I do plan on cleaning it up soon.
A glimpse of you (18+)
Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x f!reader
Warnings: dubcon, noncon, somnophilia, oral, fingering, pet names
Summary: She looks down at her chest where your head rests, your back pressed neatly against her front, and smiles when she sees you fast asleep. And then she gasps, because the image twists abruptly, and now you're no longer asleep, but panting, your cheeks red, your forehead glistening with sweat. Wanda's hand moves between your legs, the wet noises her fingers make as they plunge deep inside you make her shudder.
Masterlist
Sometimes, Wanda sees the future.
The glimpses catch her off guard, always appearing without a warning, always vague and always too short to properly comprehend. She only understands them once they come true, after hours of contemplation. That doesn't apply to you.
The first vision you bring her is short and simple to understand - a glimpse into a few days after the New Year's, you, laughing at some silly joke, and her, watching you from afar with a content smile on her lips.
It brings her a sense of comfort. A sense of peace.
The second vision brings nothing, but trouble.
She's late to one of Team-bonding nights Steve made everyone attend, and you're already there, sitting on the floor with your legs tucked under you. She walks up to you, intending to sit by your side, only to gasp when a vision hits her just as her hand comes to rest on your shoulder.
Your face is a mess of mascara and tears, you lips red and swollen, wide open, with saliva and who knows what else dripping down your chin.
She blinks out of it, nearly falling to the floor. You look at her with concern in your eyes, frowning. She struggles to breathe, avoiding your eyes, her face burning with shame.
“What's wrong?” Your voice rings in her ears.
What's wrong? It echoes insides her head and she shuts her eyes forcefully, but the image of you on your knees is still there.
She manages a strangled smile, one that does nothing to convince you, and abruptly walks away, planting herself on the couch near Sam instead.
She avoids you for the rest of the week, hiding in her room. The image of you on your knees for her, your pupils blown with arousal, haunts her, makes her treacherous fingers skim past her underwear and slide inside.
She would be the last to admit her attraction to you, no matter what Nat says about you returning her feelings. The spy claims she sees what the witch doesn't, but her words were never enough for Wanda to muster up the courage to admit her feelings. Now, though, she knows for sure. Her visions are always true.
The information makes her chest flutter. You will be hers. Soon.
Another vision hits her months later, when she finally got over the first one, finally able to stay in your vicinity without completely drenching her panties.
You're cuddling on her bed, watching one of those slashers you're so obsessed with. She grinds her jaw every time you comment on how hot the lead actress is. But then, long after midnight when the movie is almost over, you grow quiet, your body limp in her arms. She looks down at her chest where your head rests, your back pressed neatly against her front, and smiles when she sees you fast asleep.
And then she gasps, because the image twists abruptly, and now you're no longer asleep, but panting, your cheeks red, your forehead glistening with sweat. Wanda's hand moves between your legs, the wet noises her fingers make as they plunge deep inside you make her shudder. Your tank top is pushed down to reveal your supple breasts, pink nipples glistening with her saliva. She pinched one between her fingers, enjoying the way your back arches, your ass pressing against her pelvis.
The vision disappears as quickly as it came, leaving her out of breath and painfully aroused. She gulps, praying her hammering heart does not wake you, her hands hovering over you, unsure.
She closes her eyes, biting her lip hard. She needs to get a grip before she does something she'll regret.
But you're right there, nestled between her legs. The tank top is the one from the vision. She can see your hardened nipples strain against the fabric.
Would it be so bad to tug it down and touch? You will be hers soon, she knows it, so what would it matter if she gets a glimpse before it happens? She hisses in a breath, fighting with herself. It isn't right, but the temptation is too strong.
She'll just look, she decides. One small peak to satisfy her curiosity. It won't be any different from seeing one of her visions, she tells herself.
Slowly her fingers clasp the hem of your top, gently tugging it down. She licks her lips, swallowing down a moan when she finally sees your perfect breasts, so soft and oh so perfect.
How can she help herself now?
She cups your left breast, enjoying the weight of it in her hand, and squeezes softly, her thumb circling your perky nipple. You shift between her legs, burrowing your face in the crook of her neck, and sigh contentedly. She lets out a breath, pressing a kiss to your forehead, her other hand playing with the hem of your shorts almost unconsciously.
She'll stop herself before she gets too far, she's sure of it.
A thought occurs in her head, and she releases your breast and licks her thumb, coating it in her spit. It's not the same as having her mouth on you, but it's the next best thing, so she presses her wet thumb against your nipple, smearing her saliva.
You whine in your sleep, and she sees your legs clench. She startles, and grips you harder, making your hips buckle.
“Shh,” she whispers in your ear, pressing a wet kiss just under it, “it's alright, kitten. It's just a dream.” She can't stop herself now, continuing a wet path of kisses down your throat, biting gently at the juncture of your neck. “Fuck,” she breathes, when you arch into her, your breast spilling from her hand. Her fingers disappear under the waistband of your shorts.
She closes her eyes tightly when she's met with slick, wet heat, her finger gently circling your clit, teasing. You gasp, your brows furrowed, but you don't wake, mumbling something incomprehensible in your sleep.
“Good girl,” she praises your sleeping form, daring to push her fingers inside, stretching your tight pussy around her long digits. “Good fucking girl,” she rasps, panting in your ear, grinding against your ass in search of relief.
She finds the right angle, buckling her hips and thrusting inside you. Slowly and carefully. Holding you tight against her front.
You can't wake up, not now.
Your whines turn into strangled moans and your hips move against her hand. She savour the sight of you. You're hers.
Your cunt clenches as you come, your breathing short and ragged. She's follows suit, burrowing her face in your hair, her walls clenching around nothing.
You turn in her arms, throwing your leg over her hips, and her hand slips out of your shorts. You look so perfect like this, your chest rising with each panting breath you take, your nipples begging for her mouth. Your face scrunches up when she presses her thigh between her legs, and you try to move away, but she doesn't let you. She touches your lower lip with her wet fingers, and pushes inside the heat of your mouth.
“Good kitten,” she whispers feverishly, “You did good, my darling.”
You sag against her, and she feels your wetness drip down her leg. Wands frowns, feeling an undeniable evidence of what she's done.
You'll have questions when you wake up.
That simply won't do.
She shifts, placing you on her pillows, pushing your hair away from your face. She hovers over you, drinking in the sight.
She kisses your chest once, twice, thrice and now she can't stop herself. She needs to worship.
She takes a nipple into her mouth, sucking gently, and moans around it. So fucking perfect. She stays playing with your breasts, nibbling and sucking and licking, leaving it red and wet with her spit.
Your shift away, and she pushes up on her elbows, watching your eyes flutter. Panic explodes in her chest. She rises, face to face with you, and watches your eyes open.
“Wands?” You mumble, your eyes falling shut again.
“It's alright, baby, go back to sleep,” she cooes, nuzzling your cheek, “it's just a dream.”
You nod sleepily, and turn to lay on your stomach, snoring lightly.
She waits a few moments, watching you sleep, and battles with herself. She almost got caught, should she continue?
She licks her lips, and traces patterns at the low of your back. She can't leave you like this now, she decides.
She tugs down your shorts along with your underwear, and pushes a pillow under your hips, gulping when she finally sees your drenched pussy, your pink lips glistening with arousal.
She doesn't waste another moment and presses her mouth against your heat, moaning at the taste. You shudder, your whimpers muffled against the pillow, but she can't be stopped now. She licks your folds, drinking in your wetness, her tongue circling your entrance. She pushes inside without a second thought, and presses her thumb against your clit.
You're simply devine.
Her tongue moves inside you, filling you up, and you're so close already, she can feel your walls clenching around the wet muscle. She hums, palmimg your ass hard enough to leave a bruise, and plays with your clit. Wetness gushes out of you and she cleans you right up, starved.
She licks her way out of your tight cunt, sucking in your clit and pushing her finger inside instead. You moan loudly, grinding against her face, and with one last thrust you come, shaking in her hold.
She pulls out carefully, pressing tiny kisses to your folds, collecting the last bits of your arousal, before sliding your shorts and underwear back up. She wipes her mouth, not bothering to hide her wide smile and lays down beside you, almost purring when you latch onto her.
She pulls you against her chest, enveloping you in her arms, and closes her eyes. She'll worry about the consequences tomorrow.
𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. — 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙤 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚
𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ! — i haven’t written smut in a long time, this was experimental practice so if it sucks, womp womp
You quieted the poor boy’s whimper with an open-mouthed kiss. His large hands gripping and fondling the curves and dips of your body within his reach to stave off cumming too early. He could already feel the preemptive tensing of his stomach, but regardless of how close he felt he couldn’t control the movement of his hips, slowly snapping up to shove himself further inside you.
“Hah, fuck please..” he groaned out desperately, now grasping at your waist to slow down the speed at which you slid on his cock.
Arms wrapped around his neck and pressing his heated face into your chest, you had no incentive to stop. No overheating uncomfortability in your joints, no lack of endurance, or willpower to let up could stop you from taking what you needed from Choso.
His eyes fluttered shut and head tilted back onto the couch’s cushion, lips parting as heavy pants spilled through.
You gripped his cheeks between your fingers, turning those dazed and glazed eyes back to yours, “C’mon pretty boy, I need you to keep those eyes open for me if you wanna cum.”
AKA Shut up and listen
Pairing: Jessica Jones x f!reader
Warnings: alcohol consumption, self-deprication
Summary: you love Jess, Jess doesn't get why
Masterlist
"So... This is it?" you mumble, your gaze pinned to the roach on the wall to your left.
You really shouldn't be disappointed - you heard enough of Jess' grumbling whenever she came back from a hideout with too many compromising pictures on her camera and too much alcohol on her breath.
So, yeah, it's all your fault, since it was you who begged her to take you with her, just to get a taste of that PI life.
"Yes." She opens the window, letting some fresh air flow into the tiny motel room.
"Cool," you sigh and search the room for a safe place to sit. Unfortunately, the entire place looks like a biohazard, so you have no choice, but to settle on the edge of the single bed.
Your hesitation doesn't escape Jess' watchful eye. "You realize you'll have to sleep here, right?" Jessica drawls. She's sitting on the windowsill, her flask clutched between her fingertips. She raises her eyebrows at your silence and you shake your head, feeling hot all of a sudden. Lately, it's been happening too often - her looking at you far longer than a friend should, and you flushing under her heavy gaze.
"You said it won't take long," you mumble, turning away to hide your burning cheeks with your hair.
"It won't. Twenty hours top." She shrugs, taking off her leather jacket to reveal her toned arms, your eyes zeroing in on the muscles hidden under her soft skin.
"Great," you sigh.
The roach on the wall moves closer to you and you have to fight the urge to stamp it down with your shoe.
It probably has a family somewhere.
"You don't have to stay. I can call Trish, she'll pick you up. She can take you somewhere fancy."
Your eyes roll at the obvious attempt at getting rid of you. You know she likes you enough to tolerate you for at least a day, but you also know she prefers to work alone. Even Trish never gets to tag along.
"You know I like you more."
“Really?” She husks sarcastically around the neck of her flask.
“Yes.”
Another roach crawls from under the bed, making you squeak and jump off it. Jessica rolls her eyes, gesturing around you. “This. This is me.”
You blink. Then blink again. “A roach?”
She hums, turning to look outside and taking another swing from her flask. “Yep. A roach, dirty motel, cheap booze - all me. Doesn't seem like your thing.”
You huff, crossing your arms, your shoulders suddenly tense. “Luckily for me, you're more than cheap booze, and shitty motels, and roaches. So yeah, you're my thing.”
She tilts her head, her dark eyes brimming with exhaustion from countless sleepless nights spent chasing leads, but there's a flicker of something, something important. It's gone faster than you can place it, and she turns back to the window, lifting her camera, and covering her face from your scrutiny.
“Get us some food, yeah?” She whispers, pretending to focus on the streets below.
You let out a frustrated huff, but nod nonetheless, leaving in search of something edible.
You come back a little over half an hour later, a paper bag full of takeout clutched tightly against your chest, your heart still racing after a ride with a sketchy man on a sketchy elevator.
Jessica startles you with a question.
“You okay?”
Her body is halfway out of the window, facing the building across the street, but her eyes are pinned to you. The flask lies empty on the windowsill.
“Peachy,” you mumble, pushing a container into her hand. “Eat it all or no booze for two days.”
She frowns, eyeing you warily. “Don't bullshit me.”
You smile, humming, and nudge Jess to make space for you on the windowsill. You dig into the food, almost moaning at the rich flavor, and note with pride that Jessica seems to enjoy it too.
“Not bad,” she says around a forkful. “Not as good as your famous lasagna-”
You shove her before she can finish her thought.
“Jess!”
Her brow arches in question, and she keeps a serious expression for all three seconds before the corners of her mouth jump up in a fleeting smile. “What? I liked it.”
You groan, pushing the food around. She'll never let you forget it. And to think that you were just being a caring friend, spending all day perfecting a recipe you found online, chasing down Jess, and making her eat some of it.
“Just a little less salt next time,” she says, leaning back against the wall, her eyes on you.
You shake your head, cheeks burning in embarrassment.
The evening is settling in, the warm glow of the sun seeping away, giving way to the chilly breeze. You shudder, goosebumps littering your bare arms, and consider moving to the bed, or maybe wrapping yourself in a blanket. You eye it warily - it's thin, its color washed away and even from here you can see some of the stains.
You jump up when a weight settles over your shoulders, a familiar scent of leather enveloping you. When you turn to look at Jess, instead of looking away like you thought she would, she looks at you, head-on.
“Thanks,” you whisper, pushing your arms through the sleeves. “You're not cold?”
She shakes her head no, pushing her food around. “Looks good on you.”
“Yeah?” You look down at your lap, fingers fidgeting. The air grows heavy.
She reaches inside her bag and takes out another flask.
“I'm no good for you, you know?” she says after gulping at least a quarter of it.
You look up, startled.
“I'm an asshole with a drinking problem. You deserve better.”
You close your eyes, taking a deep breath. “You’re not an asshole.”
She snorts, and finishes the flask in quick gulps before carelessly throwing it to the floor.
“Jess.”
She hums.
“You're not an asshole.”
“I heard you the first time.”
You huff, and pull the take out box out of her hands before gently setting both of your food on the nearby table. “Jessica,” you start, squaring your shoulders. “I need you to listen to me very carefully.” She rolls her eyes, but turns to face you nonetheless. You can tell she's ready to bolt or at least deflect, but you won't let her. Not this time, the conversation is long overdue.
You take her hand in yours, fiddling with her slender fingers. “You’re one of the best people I've ever met, Jess-” the scoff that follows is expected “-yes, you are!” You insist, giving her hand a sharp tug. “You're brave, and selfless, and kind-”
“I’m an unreliable, unstable alcoholic with a fucked up head,” she growls, jumping off her seat. “I'm not kind or brave. I don't do nice things. I'm not nice, period. I have a hole in my wall and more empty bottles than cutlery. I haven't washed my jeans in two months. I- fuck, sometimes I can't even look at you without thinking about you leaving, eventually.” She starts pacing, fingers lost in her dark tresses.
“Jess.”
“I can't take care of myself, Trish does that half the time. I have one bedsheet. I don't have a vacuum cleaner. My door is permanently broken.”
“Jessica.”
“I'm a fucked up-”
“Shut up.”
She stops mid rant, looking at you with tired eyes, and let's out a long-suffering sigh. “You deserve better.”
You shake your head and take a step towards her. “I love you.”
She recoils, suddenly looking like a frightened child. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “What?” She croaks.
“I love you, Jess. I love you when you're drunk and miserable, and I love you when sober up and smile like you don't have a care in the world. I love you when you're out of reach for days on a case, and I love you when you make sure to spend time with me, even if it means sacrificing sleep-”
“Stop.”
“-I love you when you don't have time to take my calls, and I love you when you answer me from strangers’ balconies. I love you when you're being mean, and I love you when you choose to be the kindest person I know, even after all of the shit you've been through.”
“Y/n…”
“I love you and your broken door. And I love your cutlery.”
“Don't-”
“And I have a vacuum cleaner.”
She sighs, but her eyes soften just a slightest bit. "A vacuum cleaner, huh?"
You swallow and take a deep breath. “I- I don't want anyone else, Jess. I want you. I love you.”
She looks at you for a long moment, her jaw tenses, brows furrow in thought. “Okay,” she nods slowly, begrudgingly.
“Yeah?” You whisper, inching closer.
“Yeah,” she breathes against your lips, before pulling you in a tender, almost chaste kiss. She's pulling away a second later and it's over before you even fully register the feeling of her soft, full lips on yours. “I- You- Fuck, why is this shit so goddamn hard?” She grumbles, closing her eyes briefly before taking a deep breath. “You deserve better, so-”
“Jessica,” you growl, pushing her by the shoulders. She doesn't budge, pressing you closer to her chest, her grip on your waist tightening.
“You deserve better, so I'll get better. I'll do better. For you,” she finishes slowly, begrudgingly, and for a moment you're speechless. “Less booze should be a good start, right? No girl likes to smell alcohol all the time,” she sounds like she's complaining, like this is the worst situation she could ever find herself in, but her eyes shine in a way you've never seen before. It's hope, you realise after a moment.
“Not for me, for you,” you state firmly, cupping her jaw. “You'll get better for you.”
She blinks. “That’s not a good enough motivation,” she grumbles.
You press a kiss to the corner of her mouth, fighting back a smile. She's so Jess. “We'll work on that.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
“Okay. I... I love you too, I guess.”
"Mhm," you hum, and she opens her mouth again, so you pull her in a proper kiss before she can say anything else.
Ryan Gainer was a 15 year old Autistic Black boy who was shot and killed by police in California.
Ryan seemed to have been having a meltdown, he was holding a gardening tool, police were called to the house but they are refusing to release any body cam footage of the shooting and refusing to state how many times Ryan was shot, they failed to help him before the paramedics arrived.
After shooting him Ryan's family was then forced out of their home while the police rummaged through their house looking for any justifiable cause for shooting Ryan.
This is hardly the first time the San Bernardino police department has attacked or killed people having a mental health crisis.
Rest in Power Ryan.
Civil rights advocates call for release of police bodycam video after Ryan Gainer killed on Saturday by deputy responding to 911 call
STOP CALLING THE POLICE ON DISABLED AND MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE!
me, the motherfucker with over 50 abandoned works in progress: i have an idea
Had to draw Lucien again 🥹
wow
yeah I would choose him
The Witches Trap 3
Part 1 Part 2
Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x f! reader
Warnings: Wanda finally makes an appearance, pet names, ghosts, paranormal activity
Summary: "Silly, silly girl. Isn't it obvious? I want you."
Masterlist
"She must've seen something, right?" Kate's voice rings through the room.
You blink, eyes adjusting to the darkness.
"She looked like she was about to fucking die," Yelena hisses, "of course she saw something. We need to leave."
"I don't think we can," Peter mumbles. "We tried, didn't we? And it led to whatever this is. I suggest we stay and leave in the morning."
"That's what she wants," Yelena objects. "Maybe you want us to just leave Y/n here alone, for good measure, to make that b- to make her even happier."
You groan, burrowing your face in the pillow.
What the hell are they talking about?
Kate's eyes flicker to you, seeing you no longer asleep. She clears her throat. "I think Y/n should decide."
You sit up, rubbing your eyes. You feel like you've been run over by a train.
"What happened?"
"W-what do you mean what happened?" Yelena asks. "You tell us what happened. You looked like you'd seen a ghost."
Kate nods in agreement, her eyes full of concern. You blink rapidly, trying to remember. "I went to the restroom, that's all," you mumble, unsure. You vaguely remember turning around and leaving the group, and after that everything is too hazy to make out.
They fall silent, disbelief all over their features.
"Crap." Peter starts pacing back and forth. "Okay, it's fine. Nothing happened. Everything is good. Everything's great."
"Looks like everything is okay," Yelena scoffs, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
You frown, oblivious to what caused the sudden tension. All of them look shaken up and ready to bolt any second. You look at Kate for some help, but she sits still, staring at the bathroom door, her eyes welling with tears.
"I don't like this, guys," she whispers.
"Hey, it's okay. We'll sleep here together, this room is not haunted at all, so we'll be safe," Peter reassures, stopping his pacing to look Kate in the eye.
You look around, only now realizing it's not the room you've previously been to. This one is a bit smaller, but the bed should be big enough to fit you all. This must be the other room Peter booked, the one across the hall from the haunted one.
You shake your head, getting rid of any lingering traces of sleep, and look at the clock.
2:08.
It's been two hours since your conversation in the haunted room, but it feels like you've been here for days.
Your friends get ready to sleep, occupying the bathroom one by one, and eventually settling on the bed sideways - to fit everyone. Peter wishes everyone good night and turns off the light on the nightstand.
Their breaths even out, chests rising up and down slowly as they succumb to sleep, leaving you to stare at the blinking light of the night vision camera. You sigh, and turn on your side, counting sheep.
Now that everything is asleep you're even more aware of every little creek and tap in the old building. The storm has passed, leaving the grounds a mess of dirt and wood, so you couldn't even blame all of the sounds on that.
Balcony's floorboards creak and your heart falls to your stomach. You sit up and look at the camera, wondering if it picked up any of the sounds.
Then you hear footsteps.
You press the heels of your palms into your eyes and shake your head, trying to ward off the inevitable.
Whatever is outside stops just outside the balcony door.
It almost feels like an invitation.
You try to shake off the feeling of being watched, falling back on the bed and burrowing your face into Yelena's back, but it doesn't work. You still feel the looming presence of the outsider, you feel like you can't just leave them there.
Bracing yourself, you take a deep breath, grab the camera, and walk to the balcony door, opening it before you can change your mind.
"Hey stranger," a young woman greets, making you jump up.
"Oh, thank God," you exhale, rubbing your chest. "Hi. I thought you were a ghost," you let out a breathless chuckle.
She laughs along, her nose wrinkling in the cutest way. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I get scared by my own shadow, so staying in a place like this takes at least two years out of my lifespan."
You grin, and allow yourself to relax in her presence, coming closer to rest your weight against the railing, close enough to feel the warmth coming from her body, but not close enough to accidentally touch her. The woman is beautiful, arguably the most beautiful woman you've seen in your entire life and you struggle to form a sentence with her green eyes focused on you.
"I'm Y/n," you blurt out, suddenly feeling the need to let her know your name.
She smiles, nodding at the camera on your hands. "Ghost hunting?" She teases good naturally, gently pushing you with her shoulder.
You snort, "Something like that."
She chuckles, turning to look at the moon. "Any luck with that?"
You groan, bending to rest your forehead against the cold railing. "I think ghosts here like me." You sneak a glance, and find her looking at you with a small smile.
She turns to face you fully. "I can see why."
Your heart stops for a second, you're sure of it.
But before you can say anything in response the camera in your hand beeps loudly, making you jump again.
Way to make a great first impression.
"I- um… I think I need to charge it," you mumble, cursing inwardly.
"Come back when you're done? All of my friends are asleep, and it's too creepy being out here alone." She pouts slightly, fiddling with her fingers.
You nod, and quickly dart back inside, plugging the charger in the nearest outlet, failing to see a shadow of a little girl in the corner.
When you come back the woman is still there, her expression almost serene as she watches the moon.
"Why did you come here if you're so afraid?" You ask, moving to stand close to her.
"Why did you?"
You smile, feeling light for the first time since stepping foot in this hotel. "My friend asked me to."
She hums, and turns to look at you, her fingers so tight around the railing you're afraid it might snap.
"You must be a great friend to go through all that for him."
You blush slightly, and duck your face between your elbows where they rest over the railing. "I honestly didn't believe in any of that, thought it'd be a fun, spooky trip."
"And do you believe now?" She asks, her eyes burning with intensity.
You sigh, recalling everything that happened in the last six hours: the first time you felt something weird right away, in the lobby; the old door, still fresh in your mind, still calling to you to open it; the warmth and the longing, still clinging to your bones; flashing images of what felt like memories. It certainly feels way longer than that.
"I do," you answer simply, noting the way her shoulders drop in relief.
"I do, too," she says, now resting almost all of her weight on the railing. You frown, and make a move to reach out, halting just before you touch her, hesitant to cross a boundary. "Are you okay?
She hums, briefly closing her eyes. "I think I need to lay down."
You gulp. "Of course! I- do you need help?"
She nods, and reaches out to you, her hand trembling. Her touch sends shivers down your spine, both from the fact that it's her, and the fact that her hand is freezing cold. You allow her fingers to wrap around your elbow, feeling none of the warmth you've felt emitting from her mere minutes before. You feel goosebumps litter your skin as hair stands up on the back of your neck. Warning bells go off in your head, and your body starts protesting every step you try to take, but you can't just leave her here, you need to get her back to her room and then you'll be gone.
Your brain doesn't seem to listen.
Your vision blurs as the woman grips you tighter, and you have to take measured breaths in order not to throw up.
You walk beside her, turning left, and realize that the balcony wraps around the hotel. You gulp, feeling dread in your stomach - one more turn and you'll be right in front of the most haunted room.
You look at the redhead, almost falling on the spot when you see her pale face. She looks like she's about to drop dead.
"I should get you a doctor," you whisper, "or Agatha, she'll know what to do." You try to pull away, but her grip turns to steel, her eyes gaining focus as she looks at you.
"Not Agatha… j-just get me to my room, please."
You nod, and swallow your fear, turning left again. You walk past room 208 a bit quicker, and if the woman notices, she doesn't comment, simply leaning into you even more.
When you pass room 206 your feet grow heavier.
When you pass room 204 you feel cold sweat roll down your temples.
When you pass room 202, your body stops moving altogether.
You freeze before room 200, the balcony door somehow different from all the other ones you've passed. You feel immense pressure on your chest, your heart beating so hard and fast it might just break your ribs.
The woman is no longer beside you, she stepped back, her hands now at the small of your back, gently ushering you inside. "Open it," she whispers, her breath ghosting over the back of your neck.
You nod, your eyelids are suddenly too heavy to keep your eyes fully open. You blink slowly, struggling to keep yourself upright. She takes your hand and raises it to the knob. You turn it slowly, and it creaks loudly, the metal scraping after a long time of disuse.
"Now go inside," she breathes once the door is finally open, her lips inches away from your neck. She's molded against your back, so close she might as well be a part of you. You hum, head falling on her shoulder, your hand still on the knob.
"C'mon, silly girl, one more step," she urges quietly, her hands circling your waist. "Don't make me force you."
You nod dumbly, her words making no sense to your muddled brain, but understand her intent. She wants you in her room. You nod again, struggling to remember why you're even here. You remember going to sleep with your friends, but the memory feels too distant now, too gray and murky to make out anything beyond those minutes.
She pushes you forward, and your feet catch on the carpet as you step inside, making you fall on the floor, coughing as the dust rises around you. Your head is a little clearer without her proximity, and once you take a good look at your surroundings, you finally understand why your body reacted that way. You jerk, falling on your ass in haste to get back to the balcony, but the door is already closed, the knob not budging no matter how hard you turn it. There's no window to break, no other escape, but the old wooden door - the one that's been haunting since you first saw it, the one leading to the room you're now in.
The room looks as old as the door. Four poster bed sits in the middle of the room, the dark wood full of splinters, a deep red cloth draped over the mattress, inviting and soft. The walls are bare, cobwebs occupy the corners. The only other piece of furniture is a small table pushed against a wall, pieces of parchment littering it.
"Welcome," the woman breaks the silence. You look at her, frowning at the lack of fatigue in her voice.
Everything starts making sense little by little.
"You weren't actually sick, were you?" You mutter, standing rigid against the balcony door.
A corner of her mouth lifts up in a crooked smile. "I was. It's hard to manifest a physical body outside of this room. Your camera helped-" you gulp, understanding dawning on you, "-and your friends did too. Do you want to know what their fear tastes like?"
You shake your head, eyes blurring with tears, and close your eyes when she comes to stand in front of you, her chest against yours, her lips dangerously close to your own.
"It's too sour, I didn't enjoy it at all." She cups your jaw, catching your tears with her thumbs. "Your fear, on the other hand… it's luscious, tangy with a hint of sweetness. Addictive, just like I remember it." She coos when you start shaking, leaning down to inhale your scent, making you squirm. Her nose is in the crook of your neck, her lips scalding hot on your collarbone. "There it is…" she breathes, clutching your hips, and then, "Oh."
You stop breathing altogether, your hands in fists. "What?" You dare to question, opening your eyes to see her green pools full of hunger.
She chuckles, pulling away to study your face. "I smell honey, darling." She licks her lips, her eyes start glowing red. "You're terrified, and still… Such a silly girl you are. Always were."
You close your eyes, embarrassment creeping up on your features, cursing your body for having a reaction to her proximity. "Why am I here?"
She pulls away abruptly, her face twisting in anger. "I was calling for you all night, you were supposed to get here a long time ago. Agatha just wouldn't fucking leave you alone." You slide down to the floor, hugging your knees to your chest as she keeps muttering angrily. "That old bitch couldn't keep her nose out of my business, no, she had to stop you, had to keep warning you."
You look up, severely confused. "What are you talking about?"
She chuckles darkly. "You don't remember?" She smirks when you shake your head, half of her face illuminated by the moonlight, the other hidden in the shadow. "Looks like she took pity on you and removed the memory. What a shame, I spent a lot of energy to make you see all of us. But don't you worry, I got it back tenfold from you." She crouches inches away from you and forces you face up, inhaling deeply, tips of her fingers - so, so warm now - digging into the softness of your cheek. "You're making this very hard for me, pet."
You gulp, grabbing onto her hand still cupping your jaw, head swimming. Agatha… removed memories… What is this place?
"Just- just tell me what you want."
She leans down, laughing, the sound so light and angelic it almost makes you smile. "Silly, silly girl. Isn't it obvious? I want you," she whispers right in your ear, sending shivers down your spine. She pulls away to gauge your reaction, pupils dilating in satisfaction when she sees your wide eyes. "That's right. I've been waiting for more than a century for you. Do you think I'll let you go after that?"
You shake your head, blinking away the tears. Agatha words ring in your head, the painting Peter showed you flashes before your eyes.
"This can't be real. This is all a dream. A nightmare, a stupid nightmare."
Her eyes narrow to dangerous slits as soon as the words leave your lips. She steps back, harshly tugging you up to your feet. You follow her like a mindless puppet, your feet catching on the old carpet as you stumble after her to the other side of the room.
“Look,” she orders, shoving you against the table with unsurprising strength.
You gulp, straightening yourself before looking down at the old piece of parchment laying on the table. Your brows furrow, struggling to make out scribbled words, half of them splattered with something red - you think you can safely assume it is blood. It's a contract of some sort, binding two people.
“What am I looking at?” you ask, feeling stupid.
She molds against your back, her body almost scalding hot, her breath fanning your neck. “Think, pet.”
You shudder, gripping the edge of the table in a vice grip, and think back to what Agatha told you. That fucking portrait.
“I’m not who you think I am.”
She chuckles, lips ghosting over the juncture of your neck. “Yes, you are.”
You nearly whimper at the breathy tone, unconsciously relaxing against her. “I'm not her, I'm not the woman you saved.”
She hums, gently nibbling on your skin. “Yes, you are.”
You take a deep breath, reigning in your unwanted feelings. “What do you want from me?”
“Everything,” she growls, arms snaking around your waist. She holds you in an ironclad grip, unperturbed by your struggle, and tugs you to the bed before pushing you face first on the dusty bedding. You cough, pushing away from the old fabric to take a breath, your lungs burning.
She sits at the foot of the bed almost regally, her back ramrod straight, her jaw clenched. You scramble away, getting caught up in the layers and falling back on the pillows, her amused smile settling fury in your chest alight.
“Fuck you,” you hiss, eyes darting around the room in search of some sort of weapon. You think back to Kate and the cross on her chest, desperately wishing you had one too.
“There will be time for that,” she drawls, eyes flashing red, her full lips stretching even further, one corner higher than the other in a crooked smirk. “This will be easier if you stop fighting and accept your fate.”
You scoff, high on adrenaline and fear, your chest heaving rapidly. There must be a way to get out of this mess. You look around like a caged animal, searching for a way to escape.
“Calm down.”
“Don't tell me to calm down!” You yell, teeth bared.
She swiftly closes the distance, cupping your cheeks, her face getting dangerously close to yours. Your breath hitches, blood pumping faster, your pulse drumming in your neck. She breathes in deeply, closing her eyes as she savors the smell of your fear and… something else you couldn't admit even to yourself.
“Breathe,” she whispers, slowly opening her eyes, “breathe with me, pet.” Her fingers circle your wrist before tugging it to her chest. The fabric of her shirt is soft to the touch, and you relax slightly, following her breathing, your heart slowing its rhythm. “Good girl,” she purrs, nuzzling into your neck. “Now we'll talk.”
You look away and nod.
She walks back to the table, and you hate how cold you feel without her close to you. She gives you the parchment, and this time you pay it the attention it deserves, with your head a little clearer now after you finally realized there's no escaping her.
“What's your name?” you whisper, looking up from the document in your hands.
She looks at you for a long moment, searching your face for something. “Wanda.” She says simply and sits beside you, falling back against the dusty pillows.
You nod, rolling the name on your tongue. It suits her, you think.
You set your attention back to the contract, unconsciously leaning back into the feeling of her fingers ghosting the small of your back. It's hard to make out most of the centuries old legalese, but you're sure you've seen “soul”, “binding” and “eternal”. It's enough to make you shiver.
“There's no reason for you to be afraid. You chose to trust me all these years ago. I saved you, now it's your turn to save me.”
You gulp, scooting away from her touch, missing the way her brows furrow. “What do I have to do for you to leave me alone?”
“Were you even listening?” she scoffs, pushing closer. “You're mine.” Her eyes glint, swirls of red flickering in the depths of her emerald pools, reminding you of the danger she possesses. “For all eternity. In this lifetime and in the next one, and when there's nothing to this world, but ash, you'll be mine in whatever world comes after.”
You shudder from the intensity, eyes flickering to her mouth just in time to see her tongue dart out to wet her full lips. You gulp, turning away.
You need to get a grip on yourself.
“Why me? Hundreds asked for your help, but you chose me. Why?”
You feel her fingertips graze your jaw, before she cups your face, turning it to face her. “None of them offered what I wanted.”
You blink. “And I did?”
The corner of her mouth quirks up in a smug half-smile. “You did. You've sought me out. You've made me listen.”
“But you… Agatha said-”
“I don't care what that lying old bitch said,” she growls, fury rising in her eyes. “She stole my power and confined me to the grounds, this very room, making me a prisoner. I was her apprentice once, a very long time ago, she even asked me to join her coven, but when it became apparent that I'm much stronger, much more powerful, she got enraged. The others noticed it too. There were whispers of an old tale, one hidden in the pages of Darkhold, about a witch so powerful she had no need for a coven, no need for a spell book or teacher. Agatha didn't want any competition.” She looks at you and you nod slowly in realization. You took Agatha's words at face value, unperturbed by the fact that she seemed to know what regular people couldn't, but now it's all starting to make sense, little by little.
“Scarlet Witch?” You take a guess, searching her eyes for the answer. She nods slowly, rage still shimmering in her eye.
“Agatha wanted power, and when it became apparent I had too much of it I became her target. She had to sacrifice her coven to bind me and banish me of my strength. I was biding my time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, feeding on those poor girls' agony, taking power from the unsuspecting, wringing their minds and souls, all to simply survive.” She looks at you, her expression softening slightly, making her look so young. “And then I heard you.”
You inhale sharply, her fingers running over the expanse of the skin of your inner wrist, thumb settling over your pounding pulse. You gnaw on your bottom lip, knowing damn well your pulse quickened noticeably. “What did I say?” You ask without a second thought, fully accepting your past self.
A corner of her lip quirks up, before she leans and whispers against your ear, “You got on your knees and begged. You promised me your body and soul, your heart and your mind. You knew how to make me listen, knew what attracts me most.”
You swallow, shifting slightly. You freeze when you realize just how wet you are. “And what- what was that?”
She chuckles, cupping your jaw in her soft, warm hands. “A desperate pretty girl, on her knees, ready for me to claim her.” She says against your lips before pulling you in a bruising kiss, her grip on you turning possessive. She tugs you on her lap, her arms tight around you, your hearts beating as one. When she pulls away you chase her lips, whining, your fingers tightening around her waist. “Please…” you murmur, not knowing what you're asking for.
“Please what, pet?” She taunts, pushing you off her lap. “Do you want me to let you go? Want to go back to your friends?”
You shake your head before she finishes her sentence, your head growing heavy, your body trembling. “No.”
She chuckles, curling your hair around her forefinger before pushing it behind your ear, her palm scalding hot on your cheek. “I like it when you're afraid, but I like you like this much more.”
You blush, putting some distance between you two. “What- what happens now?”
“Now you set me free.”
Need some big monsters slayed, rau's the lady to see
I just wanted to say I think you write really, really well. I know you’ve probably heard that lots but you’re genuinely one of the best and most flexible writers I’ve ever seen online. The fact you can take so many angles with so many characters and remain competent with all of them is so impressive.
I’m usually a lurker who doesn’t interact but I felt the need to say something. You’re really good.
Thank you and I appreciate the love even though I can't see what you see.
𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠 𝐌𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 || 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘛𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦"
Inspo: Sleep Token - Drag Me Under
Pairing: Tara Carpenter x Black!Fem!reader
Summary: Despite everything, Tara loves you nonetheless...
Warnings: D.P.D., angst, fluff
Words: 1477
A pair of hazel eyes watched you cautiously, almost stunned by your appearance. Seeing her silence as the best asset when it came to these certain nights–late nights when you’d go home with no explanation besides the blood on your shirt. Distinct fog in your eyes blocked her from even deciphering what could’ve been bothering you.
Tara couldn’t understand why you did what you did.
A serial killer. A girl with many mental issues, but more than capable of being a lover and a caregiver. It was just this other side of you no one was allowed to see–only her. This animalistic and rageful side of yourself that Tara had seen more times than she’d like to admit. And on many of those occasions, she still hadn’t made up her mind on how she felt about it. She should’ve been running in the opposite direction when she figured out who you were. Hell, she should’ve run the first night she figured out about “Mandy.” But she didn’t?
It didn’t particularly make sense as to why, but she didn’t. Maybe she was a sucker for the danger and the broken. Even though there wasn’t anything she could do to fix you. She could toss some pills at you to suppress Mandy for a little while. But how long until Mandy came out and just ended up killing more people than usual? These factors had to be taken into account and Tara knew that leaving you and loving you the way you were would be more than enough.
“What’d she say before she left?” Your voice was just above a mere whisper. Tara could’ve misheard it for the countless number of thoughts, but she was paying attention to every little detail of your figure. Your shoulders that were tense, your hands trembling with the hatchet in your grasp, and your lips that had specks of red scattered across.
“That nothing bad would happen to the both of you and that you loved me very much.” Tara's response made your shoulders relax a bit. Enough to not feel the ache as intense. And Tara picked up on this. “What’d you think she said?”
The glass of water had suddenly become more interesting than the conversation. Taking the cup in your grasp and strangling the shiver that ran down your back from its cold exterior, you took a sip.
At most, this entire situation could’ve been easily avoided. This entire relationship could’ve been avoided. You could’ve never let your desires dictate having someone to lean on and love when your mind was damaged like this. After all, someone like you didn’t deserve that. It wouldn’t have been what you wanted but it would save you from the shame you felt under her gaze.
You paid very little attention to Tara’s movements. The apartment she shared with her sister was deathly quiet. Sam had gone to bed hours before Mandy decided to take the wheel and go out on a cruise of the city. There was no telling what would happen if Sam figured out what you were. Mandy only gave you the satisfaction of control when she got you to the front step of your girlfriend's apartment. Leaving you to explain yourself to Tara, again.
Tara’s smaller figure kneeled between your legs. Her hands resting on your knees and those beautiful hazel eyes staring up at you. It didn’t feel real. If honesty was a huge factor in this relationship, you didn’t understand how she continued to be with you. Of course, Woodsboro was something you knew about. But this was different. She was dating you, a ruthless murderer who had no problem dismembering humans and dumping them in the Blight. So, how could she look at you so lovingly and be delicate in her touch? It didn’t seem fair.
One of her hands gently took the crimson blade. You hesitated but allowed it to slip from your grasp. She placed it on the coffee table and turned to you with a small smile. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
You took her lead, holding her hand as she guided you to the main bathroom where she locked the door behind you and started the shower. There was a pause in your movements, but you eventually started undressing. It’s not like it would be the first time you were naked in front of her. The difference was that the circumstances were different and you felt ashamed. This relationship shouldn’t have worked out the first night you came home in such a state. But Tara decided to make it work against the better judgement of a normal moral compass.
Stepping into the shower, the warm stream of water fell on your face and hair. A gentle sigh fell from your lips as you rubbed your eyes furiously. But Tara stopped for a few moments just outside the shower in awe. The shine of your chocolate-toned skin is still her biggest weakness. How it looked under the moon, sun, and with a layer of water running down it made her thoughts a jumbled incoherent mess. And something in the way the blood of your victims ran down the valley of your breasts struck a deeper part of her mind that wasn’t normal.
Freeing herself from more than desiring thoughts, she slips into the open space in front of you. Soaking up the warmth of your body and a continuous stream of warm water raining down on her. The warmth of your hands resting on her hips only made a sigh fall from her lips, leaning into your touch. The entire idea that those hands, responsible for murder, held her so softly. Treating her like she was some sort of delicate work of art tended to Tara’s hubris. Gathering up the fleeting hope she had to try and make this work better than it already was.
And perhaps she was clouded in delusion. It’d been her goal for as long as the first night she saw you standing outside her apartment drenched in crimson. She didn’t understand what possessed you to come HERE of all places and Tara didn’t understand why she let you in. Perhaps against her own judgement or the genuine love she had for you. Since then, she promised to be the person you could rely on in these certain circumstances. And that whoever took control could trust her to take care of you.
“I’ve always feared she’d end things,” you whispered, barely heard over the sound of running water cascading between your guys’ bodies. Glad to know her back was to you so she couldn’t see the defeated expression on your face. Because there were still borders yet to be crossed in the relationship. She’d never seen you cry and she’s never seen you sad. In many cases, your fear could’ve been misunderstood for sadness, but Tara knew better, thankfully. She was a lot more perceptive than she let on.
“Mandy isn’t all terrible, Tara.”
“She murders people, Y/n. Terrible isn’t the word I would use to describe her,” Tara huffed in amusement. “And she’s taking you from me. So, she’s as terrible as I want her to be-”
“She loves you, Tara.” The response made the other girl snap her head in your direction. Eyes slightly widened by such an accusation. “I know because she leaves notes on my phone. Tells me what she did during the night. And she thought of you and decided to not kill tonight.”
“Then the blood on the knife?” Tara inquired.
“Some random rat.” And for a moment, you smiled at the thought. “Mandy doesn’t want you thinking she’s gotten soft over you or anything.”
And Tara smiled, heavily amused by such a thought. But she knew with love comes protectiveness and Tara had her fill of possessiveness when it came to your counterpart. Having spent a single night with her and barely able to leave her room without the woman questioning her where she was going. For someone so ruthless with their killings, Mandy was rather needy.
Turning fully, Tara cupped your face softly. “Even if she told me you didn’t love me, I wouldn’t believe her. I wouldn’t even let you go.”
The thought alone rattled your skull. Nothing about this relationship spoke “healthy”. You were constantly putting her in tough positions over your own problems, yet, she was still here. Promising you a life of normalcy? Were you even capable of something like that with someone so ethereal?
“But why? I’m broken, T,” you muttered, eyes cast to your feet.
“That doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of loving or being loved,” she whispered, kissing the corner of your lips. Shaking her head, she uttered, “I’m never letting you go, Y/n.”
Pursing your lips, you managed to meet her loving gaze. “Promise?”
She smiled. “I promise.”
And you believed her.
Hey were you okay?
In no way does this mean I'm back. Simply wanted to put something out there for the people wanting the last part of Devil That I Know. My headspace and feelings for Tumblr are shaky. So, until I feel like I'm ready to come back to this platform fully, I'll lurk and stay away from posting.
𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 (𝐏𝐭.𝟑) || 𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧
"𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥"
Inspo: Jacob Banks - Devil That I Know Hozier - Son of Nyx Hozier - I, Carrion
Pairing: Abby Anderson x Black!Fem!reader
Summary: Lightness comes in the form of acceptance...
Warnings: Angst, torture, and a splash of fluff
Part One - Part Two
Words: 6069
DNI YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN 18!
You’d never been to the aquarium. Abby mentioned it a few times and how beautiful it was in the summer. She’d even apparently seen a seal with Owen. Of course, you found it hard to believe but still held some hope that maybe you would get to go there one day with her.
But you wished it might’ve been under better circumstances than this.
Escaping the F.O.B. wasn’t as difficult as you thought it would’ve been. It was travelling the streets at night that made the travel difficult. What hadn’t helped was the daunting reunion you would be faced with.
As far as you knew, Ellie was killing WLF all over Seattle in search of getting to Abby. So, in the back of your mind, you thought this might be the end for you as well. That would be at least in the card if Ellie saw you as her enemy. But you had hope that if you showed up, maybe you could resolve this chaos. Maybe with you, someone who knew them both might be able to create a common ground for the pair.
Still, that hadn’t meant you weren’t taking precautions.
You took a spot near the aquarium and sat there for a good 10 minutes. Moving around the perimeter of the building to see if any other points of infiltration were possible and spot any possible ambush points. Turns out, there were only really three and one of them was blocked off. So, with that in mind, you could go in and just expect Ellie to be there with Abby. Or you could take the back door and move through from there. Possibly get the drop on Ellie and maybe Dina if this was indeed an ambush. But if Ellie had Abby close by she could just kill her without any form of thought.
That would be her fulfilling her entire point of coming to Seattle.
Of course, you believed Ellie would keep her word. A tradeoff was all she had asked for after all–you for Abby’s freedom. So, maybe you should go through the front door and not give the idea that if you had to choose between her or Abby, you would choose Abby.
So, with whispered encouragement, you made your way down the street to the front door. Keeping a tight grip around your pistol as you pushed open the door and stepped inside. The dim lighting of the moon hitting the glass ceiling allowed you to see the center of the room. A giant whale prop hung from the ceiling displayed shadows, manipulating your vision in certain positions.
“Ellie?” You called out, cautiously moving inside. “Ellie, I’m here! Alone! Just like you asked!”
From the other end of the room, Ellie appeared with a gun in her hand. Her jaw clenched as she stepped forward, aiming at you. “Toss your gun to the side.” With no hesitation, you did so after ejecting the magazine and bullet from the chamber. Kicking it toward her with your hands raised exhaling heavily.
“All right.” You swallowed thickly, glancing around with pursed lips. “Now, where’s Abby?”
Lowering her weapon, Ellie shook her head. “I’m sorry, Y/n.”
You could barely get a word out before you were hit in the side of the head, toppling to the ground in a daze. Groaning, you looked around and found a familiar face standing above you. Frowning, you whispered, “Tommy?”
“I’m sorry, kid.” And he then hit you in the face with the butt of his rifle, knocking you out.
“Just. Tell. Me. Where. She. Is!”
The metal in your mouth made it hard to breathe. Its aroma plugs your nose. You cough and cough and cough until you're gasping for air, a string of saliva mixed with blood dripping from your bottom lip that was cracked from one of Ellie’s ruthless punches.
You could barely see from your left swollen shut and your right one stinging in pain from the cut above your eyebrow. Blood had dripped inside and blinded you partially. But through the haze, you could see Ellie’s towering figure standing in front of you. Her knuckles dripped in your blood and her body trembled with rough gasps shaking her being.
Who is she?
In hindsight, you probably shouldn’t have trusted Ellie in the first place. You knew that she was too far gone to even care about remorse or whatever connection the two of you had. It’d been left the moment she left you. She saved Dina. Either for feelings she garnered for the girl or because she was pregnant–there wasn’t a clear answer for you to see. But she chose her over you.
There was very little to no connection left between the two of you.
Panting, Ellie collapsed in the chair behind her. Grabbing the water Tommy had given her before she decided to try to extract information from you. Running the back of her hand over your forehead, she took a sip of the drink. Allowing the cold liquid to simmer her warm body as she stared at you.
“Why can’t you just tell me?” She muttered, sounding almost defeated by your lack of cooperation. “Just tell me where she is Y/n and I’ll stop.”
You choked on your blood for a moment, spitting out a glob of it before resting your head against the beam you were tied to. The eye not completely blinded stared back at her. Unable to shake the smile that crossed your face.
“Why do you think, Ellie? Hmm? Could it be because you left me for dead?” You questioned angrily, sucking on your bottom lip momentarily as your head lulled forward before snapping back up to look at her.
Ellie stared at you, expression unwavering. Although nothing on the surface gave way, you knew she felt something. Either guilt or false self-justification, none of it was hidden from you. If you learned anything from your relationship with the girl, it was how her mind worked. Her inability to think before acting and when things blew up on her, she would brush the responsibility off her.
That’s what she did with you. She brushed your existence away to continue her soulless mission. “There was nothing I could-”
“You fuckin’ left me! You! Of all fucking people, you left me!” You cried, tugging at your restraints. “I fucking waited for you as Issac tortured me. I did everything to make sure he wouldn’t hunt you or Dina! I denied you would leave me. But you did nothing! I gave you my heart, my loyalty, and my soul, and you treated me like I was disposable.”
And you had waited for this moment. Finally coming face to face with her and just getting the answer to the question you needed. Trying to line up all the picture-perfect memories in your mind and see where it all went wrong. But nothing gave way. Nothing could show how and when her feelings changed for you. And it made each blow of pain make the connection you two have crack further and further until you were left with fragments in your blood hands. Wondering where you fucked up for her to treat you in such a way.
Ellie’s face strained as she clenched her eyes shut. “I had no other choice. I had to cut you loose. Dina or I could’ve died trying to save you.”
A loud laugh fell from your lips. Staring at the girl in disbelief as you blew a raspberry. “Do you tell yourself that before you go to sleep so you don’t feel guilty? News flash, Ellie, you are the root of the fucking problem!” You exclaimed in exasperation.
Her lack of response made you scoff, shaking your head. “You say Joel would do this same thing if it meant getting payback for your or Tommy’s death. But I think this just shows you never actually knew him.” The dangerous look in Ellie’s eyes would’ve usually made you recoil and instantly apologize–scared of the outbreak of emotions that might arise from the fiery girl’s uncensored personality. Although the wound of the man’s passing was still fresh in your mind, you had to accept the loss of someone before you could heal yourself. And the last thing you would do was back down from something you full-heartedly believed.
“Shut the fuck up!” She growled, standing to her feet.
“You complain and complain about the fact your life could’ve meant something if you were turned into a cure, but you can’t even see that your life–you living–means something to everyone you know,” you stated. “Joel loved you like his daughter. I loved you for the amazing girl who took care of me when I didn’t think I deserved it. And all your friends care about you. You mean something to them. But, oh God, Ellie wanted to be used as a power move for the Fireflies-”
“You don’t know anything about what happened!” Ellie yelled. “You wouldn’t understand jackshit of what I went through and the shit Joel did!”
“The fuck I don’t!” You shouted, shifting to sit on your knees and slowly rising to your feet. Groaning from the ache across your abdomen. “Who cried on my shoulder when he was alone because some snarky little fucking bitch couldn’t just be glad someone cared about her? Joel did! He told me everything because he knew I would go to the end of the Earth for you. I know what he did and I know enough about the Fireflies to know Marlene wasn’t planning on giving the cure to anyone. She would’ve kept it for herself and made herself in charge since she had the cure to keep people from dying.”
Swallowing the lump in your throat, you scoffed. “So, get a fucking grip, Ellie Williams,” you spat. “You don’t know anything about Joel and you never will.”
“Shut up!” She punched you in the stomach, making you double over with a wheeze, collapsing to your knees. Grabbing a handful of your dreads, she yanked your head back before repeatedly punching you. Time became obsolete and it took you a few moments to realize she’d stopped. The pain scattered across your entire head hurt to even think or keep yourself awake. “I should’ve expected this from you. To betray me and side with people you don’t even know.”
Lifting your head, you frowned at the girl. “What the fuck did you just say?” You babbled, lips swollen and a few teeth missing disfiguring your speech. “You wanna act like I’m the bad guy? Really? Ellie, you killed everyone! You are the reason I am siding with them!”
She scoffed. “I did what I had to to get to Abby. You know that,” Ellie murmured. “What she did to Joel is unforgivable. Nothing could save her from what I’m going to do.”
“Justice and vengeance are not the same thing, Ellie,” you muttered. “What you want needs to be earned. You murdered people, then you got Dina to go because you couldn’t live with the idea of just continuing to live for Joel!”
Ellie huffed. She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t care to listen. But it would be a lie if she said that you were piercing her thoughts with your words. And maybe it was because she did feel guilty about what she did to you.
You were her biggest regret and the greatest evil in her thoughts. “Even when there was a different way around what you did. When there was someone pleading for their life, for forgiveness and mercy, what did you do? What did you do?!”
It’s been long enough for you to see and admit to yourself that Ellie had never cared about your self-interest. She never cared if you ended up dying on this suicide mission. Because all that she cared about was killing Abby. Everyone close to her was used as another step closer to Abby. Even if they didn’t die, she used them to her benefit to get closer to her goal. How the others couldn’t see it was astonishing.
And the most impressive part about it?
Ellie couldn’t even realize she was doing it. And you weren’t sure if you felt sorry for her or not.
“You don’t see it.” Ellie listened to every quiet word whispered from your broken lips. How they sounded almost of disbelief of your observation of her. But why that was, was still lost upon her raging thoughts. “You don’t see they will despise you when Abby gets here. You think you’ll kill her. But have you thought of what happens if you don’t?
Sitting flat on the ground, you sat there with a defiant look on your face. Not daring to give her the satisfaction of tears. Not after all the shits put you through. “I’m never going to tell you where Abby is, Ellie. So, you can kill me for all I care,” you spat. “But know that if you do, I will fucking haunt you for the rest of your life.”
Footsteps approaching drew Ellie’s attention to find Tommy entering the room. His eyes widened slightly, gaze flashing between her and you. But he didn’t say anything, merely clearing his throat. “Jesse and I need you upstairs.” And like that, he walked away. His boots thudded against the steps retreating until they were a mere distant sound in the back of your head.
“Ellie, you want to know something?” With parted lips and a dazed look in your eyes, you lifted your gaze to the girl. Her lips were pursed and the faint tilt of her knuckles made apparent of her clenched fists. She was holding back. “The moment you came out here, you became just as bad as Abby. But you want to know the difference between you and her now?”
“What’s that, Y/n?” Ellie murmured, looking down at her shoes for a moment before her eyes met yours.
And you grinned sadistically. “You act on emotions. You never learned how to shut that shit down. But Abby…” you chuckled, “when she finds out I’m captive and what you’ve done, she’ll act with every fibre of rage inside of her. And I won’t stop her.” Sighing, you shifted in your spot and rested your head against the beam behind you. Shutting your eyes and saying, “Remember that when she has a knife in your gut.”
She mulled over your statement for a few moments before following Tommy upstairs. Leaving you to collapse against the collum and close your eyes. Almost unable to feel the tears over the white-hot flash of pain whispering into your skull. Face scrunching at the images of Owen and Mel.
Ellie had thrown the fact of her killing the pair in your face. A man stuck between two women and a once soon-to-be mother. You were disgusted by the fact that Ellie seemed to have taken satisfaction in the act. Like they were just any other pair of survivors just trying to get by and coincidentally were in her path. You hadn’t been able to shake the nauseating churn in your stomach for hours now.
You were unevenly on the back foot of the situation. From the moments of clearness, you’d been unable to spot anything to assist you in your escape. Then again, perhaps this was the best solution for right now. Wait them out and find an opening available to take advantage of. At least then, if you died here, you died with some fucking dignity and not like some sick helpless puppy.
The sound of hinges crying made you snap your head in the direction of the door. Finding a very tired and slightly rattled Dina standing at the doorway. Dark purple circles under her eyes were more apparent by her ghostly complexion.
“I’m just here to clean your wounds,”
Straightening in your slouch, you lifted your chin suspiciously. “Tommy send you?”
“No, I came here on my own,” Dina whispered, crouching beside you. “When this is all over, I’m bringing you back home, Y/n. I won’t let Ellie dictate how your life plays out.”
You believed her. Dina was one you trusted to keep her word because, at the end of the day, she was the only one with a sensible mind. That did not mean you held any fondness toward her. She was intertwined in the problems occurring in this damn city and the reason everything was playing out the way it was. So, she was as much on your shitlist as Ellie.
Dina patted your face with a wet cloth, rubbing away the smears of crimson from your chin and cheeks. And you held an expressionless face as she tended to your wounds. Tolerating her presence enough to allow her this close. If the bindings didn’t restrain you, safe to say, a knife would be pressed to her throat.
And something about that destroyed your entire inner being. How could a friendship you had tended to and protected for years come tumbling down in a week? Let alone over one girl. Ellie came into your life like a light of hope and she was leaving it as a dark figure and reminder for yourself to not trust anyone. And Fina was falling into her trap and you couldn’t care to save her. Because in the end, she would end up understanding how you felt and you hoped it would hurt tenfold.
A gentle sigh fell from Dina’s lips, grabbing your attention. “What?”
Dina shook her head, biting on her bottom lip. “How did we turn out like this?” She murmured, wringing out the bloody cloth. “I can still remember the both of us reading books in my room when we were 10. Now, 8 years later, we stand on opposite teams?” She sniffled. “I never wanted this.”
You swallowed the lump in your throat, blinking tiredly. “You know why we’re here. You’re just too afraid to admit it.”
She pursed her lips. “Y/n, they knew there would be repercussions when they went for Joel-”
A laugh fell from your lips, staring at her incredulously. “Is that you saying that or Ellie?” You said. “You, Ellie, Jesse, and Tommy are the reason they need saving. You let Ellie ruin everything!” You growled. “You were willing to leave me for dead-”
“I didn’t want that-”
“-then you fucked Ellie who left me in that school to die and put me through hell with the WLF! I’ve fucking suffered because of you!” You sniffled, tilting your head to wipe your nose with your shoulder. Letting out a breath with a shake of your head. “And to think I could trust either of you.”
Dina pursed her lips, sniffling as she wiped her eyes aggressively. “I didn’t know that would happen.”
You grounded your teeth, nose twitching. “Of course, you didn’t,” you muttered. “How could you when Ellie used her sweet words on you, right? ‘Cause at the end of the day, Ellie is the sole reason we’re in this situation.”
Spitting out blood, you scoffed. “You want to know where our relationship went wrong, Dina?” You inquired aloud, meeting the girl’s gaze. “The moment you met Ellie.” The thought made you laugh humourlessly. “I fucking let you get close and this is how you played me.”
“Okay, that’s unfair!” Dina exclaimed defensively. “It’s not like I planned for anything to happen, alright? People’s hearts are spontaneous, Y/n. I never planned on falling for Ell.”
An incredulous laugh fell from your broken lips. “Now you’re using the nickname I gave her?” You said aloud, leaning forward slightly, a hint of amusement. “You guys using the safe word I came up with- Ugh!”
Dina’s hand wrapped around your neck on a dime. Like she’d been possessed. It’d only been for a moment, but she quickly realized what she was doing and let go. Looking away shamefully and wet the cloth further. Continuing what she was doing before.
You swallowed, clearing your throat as you shifted in your spot. Hissing at the cloth dragging over a cut along your eyebrow. “You know, we wouldn’t be in this situation if you just killed Abby.” Her drags of the cloth became harsher. More forceful and irritating your already scarred skin. “Joel would’ve done it if you-”
“Don’t you dare try and use him against me!” You hissed, a warning look in your eyes. “You may think that me being tied keeps you safe, but you aren’t untouchable Dina-”
Gunshots alerted the two of you, looking toward the doorway. A smile formed on your lips as you looked at Dina. “Why not go see who showed up?”
If Dina had the time, she might’ve slapped that smirk off your face. But her feet were already carrying her toward the door up the steps toward the commotion. You were left to tug at your restraints, keening in on the gunshots that drew louder and closer.
Now thinking about it, there was a chance it wasn’t even Abby in the first place. It could’ve just been a group of infected that spotted them or something. There were many possibilities and that made you hesitate. Long enough to finally allow doubting thoughts to creep from the darkest corners of your mind and torment you.
Would Abby try to find you?
It hadn’t been a thought that crossed your mind–solely focused on making Ellie’s life a living hell had taken priority. But now, with the ever so often crack of gunshots, you were aware of how little importance you actually held. Abby may have not seen you the way you saw her. You, searching for connection and love, could’ve easily misunderstood any of her actions and built a fort around the two of you when she had no point of being there.
She’d be just like Ellie.
And as much as you wanted to cry and fight over it, deny and deny and deny, you knew it was fruitless. Abby had encouraged you to move on from Ellie, and so you would do the same with her. Accept it and suffer in silence where the walls could come down. A denial conception fogging sensibility and prolonging the pain like salt in a fresh wound.
A small fracture of dust hit your face when a loud thud could be heard above. Straining your eyes as you heard the thud come again with more dust getting in your eyes. But when it came again, the entire patch of rotting wood fell apart. It was all a blur and sudden with the destruction of timber and yells of pain.
But when you managed to steel your eyes forward, your heart clenched at the sight of Abby., Her own found yours and you might’ve mistaken it, but it looked like a flare of light shot through her eyes. Lips barely twitched into a smile before she rolled to cover with Ellie firing a slug at the woman.
And when the two continued to sneak around one another, looking to get the upper hand on the other, you struggled with your ties. The texture of the rope continuously scratches against your wrist, deepening the tenderness of your flesh. The reddened marks are likely not to go away for another few days if you get out of here.
When Ellie came into sight, her attention half-hazardly focused on you, you brewed some sort of plan. From the bruise on her cheek, you can guess they’d engaged in some fight whilst you were struggling with your restraints. Going through the banks of memory on this trip; with Ellie and Abby, you came up with something they’d both know.
A sharp and loud whistle.
The moment it was heard, Ellie turned her attention to you, frowning. But she was far too late to realize her mistake.
Abby came in and took the attention away from you. Ellie’s knife, the one she’s had since before you met her, fell just in reach of your foot. Adjusting yourself, you used your foot to slowly drag the knife closer and pull it back to your hands. Grasping it and beginning to cut through the rope with a painful ache in your wrist echoing through your mind.
Glancing up, you spotted Dina sprinting over with a knife. “Abby, behind!” The girl turned but was far too late to disarm Dina as she slashed at Abby’s arms, yelling out. Until an arrow pierced Dina’s shoulder, creating enough of an opening for Abby to reclaim the upper hand.
“Stop!” Ellie choked on her blood. “Stop! She had nothing to do with this.”
Finally breaking from your binds, you tossed the rope to the side and rubbed your wrists. Stopping when you saw Abby holding Dina by her hair and a knife at her throat. A furious and thunderous rage in her orbs. And under this lighting, she seemed like something out of your nightmares. Usually, it was Ellie in her place. Bathed under the red lighting, blood covering her arms, a true sign of her mindless thinking.
“She’s pregnant,” Ellie whispered, eyes blinking away the blood that threatened to drip inside.
“Good.”
“Abs!” The bigger girl snapped her gaze at you. Her heart clenched at the sight of your broken lips and puffed eyes. Cuts along your eyes and areas that were only known to her based on the splotches of blood on your shirt. You gently shook your head. “Don’t be like her.”
It was a painful ask, you knew that. If the roles were reversed, you would’ve already sliced their throats. But this was Dina you were talking about. If you knew anything, you knew she’d fallen under the lies Ellie spewed. Following her lover because it might’ve been worse to leave her. And at that, you respected her enough to try and save her life tonight.
Abby pursed her lips in contemplation. Shoving the girl off half-hazard and standing to her feet to help you up, you shook your head. Moved to Ellie with a snarl. Straddling her waist, you pressed her knife to her throat and panted out breaths.
Kill, kill, kill, kill…
The panted breaths had morphed into sobs. Unbridled with tears streaming from your eyes. “I’m not fucking scared of you anymore! Do you hear me?” You grasped her jaw, forcing her gaze up at you. “You are nothing and will continue to be nothing!”
You should kill her. After everything she’s done to you. All the pain, the denial, you’d felt everything since coming here and she was the problem.
But you’d be just as a monster as Ellie if you killed her.
“If you’re lucky, I won’t come back here to kill you. But you know why I won’t, hmm?” She choked on her blood, coughing weakly. But you made no move to help her breathe. Your eyes stared down at her with a certain layer of fury paramount to anything else Ellie had ever seen. “Because then you wouldn’t be able to live with the failure of your entire goal of coming to Seattle.”
Standing to your feet, you took Abby’s hand and exited the basement of the theatre. Exiting through the front, but waiting a moment as you patched Tommy up. Telling him you wouldn’t be home for a while or ever. And you had to painfully listen to him plead that you’d come home and not go with Ellie. But you told him that they both made their beds and they had to sleep in them.
From there, you, Abby, and a boy you soon learned was named Lev, searched for somewhere to sleep for the night. Deciding one of the many tall buildings and going to the top floor where the three of you set up a little camp. Whilst the pair ate, warming by a tiny little campfire, you situated yourself by one of the windows with your rifle resting on your pack, supporting the front end of your weapon. Searching for any sign of enemies that might’ve followed you guys. And as much as you’d love to fall asleep, it wouldn’t be helping anyone if Seraphites were roaming the area and spotted the three of you. At least now, you could get the upper hand if anyone came to the single entrance of the building.
A soft yet rough palm pressed to your shoulder blade. Your gaze never wavered from the scope. Purely knowing it could only be Abby who’d have such a warm touch. “We should patch you up.”
With a bite on the inside of your cheek, you pulled from the scope and scooted back a foot or two. Peeling your shirt off and turning to her. In certain cases, you’d feel maybe a bit self-conscious from your scars. Knowing that in someone’s eyes, you looked disgusting with these imperfections. But Abby never let her eyes fully speak. Instead, she helps you lean back into your pack whilst she grabs a medkit from her own and starts patching up the cuts.
“I have a plan for where we can go next. It was something Owen told us before he was…” Abby didn’t finish her sentence. It was far too soon to simply acknowledge that her ex/friend was gone. It’d mean she had already accepted he was dead. “There’s rumors of Fireflies out in Santa Barbra. That’s where we were planning on going before Lev for the Seraphites island.”
“Any of the WLF survive?” You inquired softly.
“Not that I am aware. Everyone likely was killed in the assault and couldn’t get off the island,” Abby guessed, pursing her lips. “When I found Mel and Owen, I radioed back to the F.O.B. They told me they couldn’t find you anywhere and I thought…I thought-”
Your hands gently held her face, a warm look in your eyes. “I’m here, Abby.” You smiled. “Thank you for saving me.”
Although Abby wished to smile as well, the look in your eyes told her enough that something else was eating away at you. “What is it?”
“This pain…” The words were measured. A culmination of every little feeling you’d felt since meeting the pair. Love, dread, doubt, fear, and anger. Each had their time at the wheel, driving you from one precipice to another, and they didn’t come to the closure they needed. “This fucking pain has gnawed at me and I don’t think I can shake it. And what I say next, I don’t want you to think you’re responsible..”
“Y/n, what’re you trying to say?” Abby grabbed your hands, gently squeezing.
And somehow, that pained you more? It must’ve been because your own trivial thoughts seemed to become more real than you first expected. You weren’t girlfriend material. At 19 years old, you never once you’d think that of yourself. But everything you offered hadn’t been enough to save yourself from pain. You’d put others in tough positions and perhaps seclusion from the ones you loved was the best decision.
“You’ll leave tomorrow. Without me.” As Abby’s lips parted, you shook your head. “If you don't leave, I’ll leave before you.” Gently caressing her cheek, you said, “I need to go on my own from this point forward. After everything that’s happened. Ellie, WLF, the Serpahites, I don’t want to burden you any longer.”
“You aren’t a burden, Y/n. Please, just come with us-”
“This isn’t up for discussion, Abs,” you interjected, pursing your lips. “I love you more than anything in this world. But this spiralled out of control since you met me. So, please, forget me until we meet again. And if we never meet again, I’ll be waiting for you on the other end of life.” Smiling, you kissed the corner of her lips and pulled her flush to your chest. Warm breath fanning her neck as you whispered a soft demand. “Find me when the time is right.”
“I’m just trying to understand if Landon likes me or not. The signs are clear, right? Like, I’m not crazy and overthinking it?”
Grace’s tirade of thoughts had been flushed out for the past 30 minutes or so. A never-ending stream of conscious thoughts that you couldn’t help but think were childish. Thinking about some sort of fantasy of love felt odd nowadays. Maybe you would’ve felt the same way, but those days seemed long gone from the present.
Placing a cigarette between your lips, you peeked at the woman sitting beside you. She’d definitely seen better days compared to now. Likely the cause of all this overthinking she’d been doing since last week.
“You’re overthinking it, Grace.” Lighting the cigarette with a match, she parted the corner of her lips to exhale a small cloud, waving out the small piece of wood. “A person I used to know always said I froze. When I was put on the front of death's door, and I had the chance to escape if I just killed the dude beside me, I would freeze. And I think that’s what’s happening with you now.”
“That I’m at death’s door?” Grace questioned.
You laughed. “No. You’re freezing. If you think Landon likes you and the signs seem to point in that direction, just say how you feel,” you explained, simply. “The worst thing that happens is he rejects you.”
“Or he shoots me out of pure shock!”
The childish ulterior made you snicker in amusement. Eyes flickering to your radio that crackled. “Hey, Y/n! We got a boat at 2 o’clock!” Randy, a scout, announced from his post in a foxhole.
“Affirm!” You checked your magazine before injecting it into the rifle and pulled the charging handle. “Grace, let’s go.”
The two of you walked down the steep and winding path made of stones. The tall grass masked your approach on the people who could be around 500 feet from where you and your squad were stationed for the day.
Making it onto the beach, you could spot the boat. Flipping the switch on your rifle, you steadily approached. Glancing up at the ridge, you could see Randy on his sniper rifle watching the two of you closely.
And that’s when you saw two figures hop out of the boat. Stopping, you levelled your rifle to the pair, the pad of your index finger resting on the trigger. “Hands up!” They turned toward you, legs wobbling beneath them with their hands raising above their heads. “Alright, now, slowly approach. Don’t do anything stupid because I got a buddy very eager to kill something today.”
They followed your orders and the closer they got, the more details you could make out. It was a boy and a woman. Both looked malnourished judging by their figures that looked terribly slim. The woman had cuts across her arms and her skin was burnt. The boy looked ready to pass out by his stuttered steps.
And by 30 yards out, that was when you could make out the woman’s identity. Your breath caught in the back of your throat with your rifle falling to your side before hitting the sand. It took a moment for your mind to catch up with what you were seeing. Balance slightly shifting with you taking a step back with a shaky exhale. Tears clouding behind your eyes and nose burning vigorously. Then, you smiled. Grace wasn’t able to stop you from suddenly sprinting toward the pair.
“Abby!” You cried, seeing her eyes brighten at the sound of your voice. Her own began to form with tears as she quickly started to walk, fumbling over her own feet until you were holding her tightly. Supporting the weight of a frail body that didn’t resemble the look you last remembered.
Sliding to your knees, you held Abby around her waist and looked over your shoulder at your companion. “Grace, get Lev some medical attention and have food ready for them!” The blonde acted with haste, lifting the child into her arms and carrying his frail body up the trail.
You turned your attention to the girl in your arms, pulling away slightly to cup her cheeks. Meeting her tired gaze as blinked the tears away. “You’re ok. I got you. I got you, baby.”
And after what felt like years, Abby smiled. Her scabby hands holding your tear-stricken face and said,
“I found you.”
Fuck this shit.
I'm out.
See y'all later.
𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐮𝐧 || 𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘚𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳"
Inspo: Tori Kelly - young gun
Pairing: Lexi Howard x Black!Male!reader
Summary: You did everything to make her feel worth it, but she gained it from another...
Warnings: slight angst with a bit of sad fluff
Words: 1450
The stars hung high tonight. Their glow brightened this particular night.
Sand shifted beneath your feet with the minuscule rocks pressing against them gently. And the ocean collapsed and washed up on the shore in a certain rhythm. Its harsh smell can be blocked out by the pure beauty of the moon’s shape reflecting off its surface.
It was tragic. If there was any way you could set it all on fire, you would. Maybe you would find comfort in the flame and get lost in it. But removing the time capsule of the memories connected would fucking destroy you. Because that would ultimately mean giving up moments of joy and raw love you’d felt then.
On a none systematic point, the time so fondly thought upon was wild and random. It was the peak of your high school life and where you had ventured further from your friend group. Seeking out people to make friends with or finally making your move on Lexi Howard. The girl who had been your MJ since grade school.
She told you everything that she loved and one of them was the ocean. How it looked in the night and how it felt more natural being here than in her skin at times. And you strove to make her feel worth it and more.
You gave up the vices you sought comfort in. You were content. But she flipped the world upside down and made your heart swollen. Just receiving a mere glance from her would make you stumble over your words like an idiot. Or hearing her laugh would make you choke on your breath.
There wasn’t much you wouldn’t do for Lexi. To only know that these feats you had managed for this girl would end up with her in the passenger seat with a drug dealer.
And maybe you still would’ve done these things. Maybe you wouldn’t have swam into the ocean and grabbed shells to gift her. Or the amount of money you had spent taking her on road trips. All of these had stacked up to the point where you could’ve been in financial ruin–but you loved her still.
Even now, standing at this beach with the continuous waves hitting the tips of your shoes, you managed to think so fondly of those memories despite how they turned out for you.
Looking to your right, you saw the group of classmates you spent years with. A class reunion. Maddy was still enjoying life and taking it by the balls. Spending time with celebrities in L.A. Cassie, well, she was nowhere to be found. Rue was living happily with Jules–still healthy after getting sober all those years ago. And Lexi was going big with her plays in New York. She was a full-scale writer and set designer.
But you? You went to school and pursued cooking. Got out of school and quickly realize that there was little to nothing you had entitled to. So, you moved. There had been no destined location in mind. You were managing to get by at some of the restaurants you worked at and as shitty as it sounded, you were happy. It was just a matter of time before you caught a break and could feel that pay off after everything you’ve been through.
It was beautiful, to say the least. Seeing all your friends here, hearing everything they’ve been up to. It made you wonder why you had even thought that coming here would be a terrible idea.
The shifting of sand under footsteps drew your attention. Turning to find Lexi with a sheepish smile, hands clasped around a red solo cup. “How’s life treating you, Y/n?”
Maybe it had been the timing and the greeting because of your prior thoughts, but you smiled. Letting a soft chuckle slip from your lips as you shrugged, shoving your hands into your denim pockets.
“Jumping from location to location has its perks. Get to see places I never thought existed,” you explained, exhaling heavily. “But it can’t be as good as being a big-time playwriter, right?”
Lexi shrugged bashfully, smiling up at you. “I wouldn’t say big-time, Y/n. But it’s been my dream and I’m getting to live through it. So, it’s been good.”
It was hard maintaining any conversation with her without it dissolving into remnants of your favourite memories. Sparking those forgotten emotions might be the worse thing you could do tonight. Because if you were being honest with yourself, you likely wouldn’t see her again after tonight. Just by fate or the decision to try and forget her for your sake.
“How’s Fez?” You inquired suddenly, clearing your throat and looking down at your feet.
“He’s Fez,” she laughed, “Still working tirelessly and still using his head to make ends meet on his end.”
“I heard you guys are having a kid.” It hurt seeing it on Facebook. Seeing how ecstatic she’d been with the news and how everyone was happy for her. And as much as you didn’t want to be selfish or weird, you’d imagined the two of you to have kids. Start a family in New York and strive for both of your guys’ dreams. But as much as your soul hurt, you were happy for her. “You thought of any names for it?”
Lexi laughed. “It?” She repeated giggling. “We haven’t thought of a name for her yet. But, I haven’t been able to sleep because names keep bouncing around in my head.”
You smiled, humming, deep in thought. That was something you’d be on the receiving end of hearing - especially from her. Maybe it was just you grasping the final pieces of reality, but it still shook you to your core hearing and acknowledging she was having a kid with Fez.
Sighing, Lexi looked out at the ocean and smiled. “Been a while since we’ve been here together, huh?”
“Yeah, 10 years or so, right?”
Lexi nodded, exhaling softly. “You know, I never told you how much of an influence you’ve had in my life,” she breathed. “Like, I don’t think I would’ve gone for my dreams without you.”
You blew a raspberry, shaking your head. “Nah, I didn’t do much.” You glanced down at her, sparing a pitiful smile. Truthfully, you don’t think you were in any way connected to her motivation or drive to pursue her dreams. If anything, you resembled a mosquito in the back of her mind that wouldn’t leave her alone.
But it did feel nice to live with that little bit of pride and happiness. Even if it was for such a short period of time.
“I don’t think you even realize the power you had.” Lexi looked up at you in question. Seeing that faint smile on your lips as you scoffed, shaking your head. “You had this thing about you. Like, you could give confidence to anyone who needed it. You appear in a room–it would clear everyone out and give you the center stage, you know what I mean?”
Lexi nibbled on her bottom lip, watching you turn to her with a sigh. “And despite how I feel and how much I love you, I am so fucking proud of you, Lexi. Really. You deserve all of what you have. The kid, Fez, the job. You deserve every-fucking-bit of it.” Hesitantly, you placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair, smiling when she grumbled. “Remember your worth, Lex. You are amazing. Don’t ever forget that.”
Leaning down, you kissed her head before brushing past her. So quick yet so gentle, it felt like a gust of wind danced past her. And it took a few moments for her to realize your words before she spun around to see your fleeting figure. It becomes disfigured in the darkness of the night with only the moonlight giving way of your departure.
She couldn’t contain the tears that stung the brim of her eyes. A natural heat of emotions blossomed and enveloped her entire face as she squinted, wanting to take in the last bit of you and take in every detail. “Y/n! What do you mean?”
You stopped for a moment, stuffing your hands in your pockets and turning toward her, smiling softly. “It’s something I never got to tell you before you left Highland. Maybe things would’ve been different if I did.” A tear slid down your cheek as you chuckled sadly. “But you need to know that talking to you and getting to know you has been the greatest thing in my life.”
Nodding to yourself, almost looking like you were finalizing something, you said, “I hope I see you again, Lex.”
REQUEST ARE OPEN!!
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As a celebration of 7.7K followers I will be opening my requests! Rules and characters are below and will let you know what I will be accepting and what I won’t be!
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Characters:
Thomas Shelby ( Peaky Blinders )
Miguel O’Hara ( ATSV )
Leon Kennedy ( RE2, RE4, RE6, Vendetta, & Death Island )
Simon Riley ( MW3 )
John Price ( MW3 )
Lord Morpheus ( Sandman )
Din Djarin ( The Mandalorian )
Conner RK800 ( DBH )
Robert “Bob” Floyd ( TopGun: Maverick )
Bruce Wayne ( Batman )
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Plots:
I’ll accept crossovers; I’ve done them many times I only need you to be detailed in order for me to get it written out correctly it can between two characters or two universe clashing, whichever you’d like!
VERY LIMITED ON NSFW: If you request anything with smut, its possible that I might add it into your story, if not then I am sorry it could be that either one, I couldn’t fit it into the story or two, I didn’t know how to start it off. Please be patient with me, I am still new at writing smut…
DARK THEME: Look…I have read and written dark theme before many times, but don’t usually post it here because I don’t want people to freak out about it. BUT, I think its time for me to open my options, so if you are wanting a dark-ish theme shot please let me know in detail on your request and I will let you know if your request is something I will allow and don’t make it TOO dark either.
FLUFF AND ANGST: I will accept both, everyone knows that I enjoy breaking hearts to angst is my top one to write, but don’t worry I will go with fluffy too or sweet tooth rotting.
CHARACTERISTIC: If you wish to make your reader have a specific detail for example: Vampire, Spider-Man, hunter, cop, mafia, sugar daddy, etc. Then please let me be aware in order to put that into the story and make it even more interesting.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE ( AU’S ): I will accept these for sure! I enjoy writing these a lot, please be detailed on it too and let me be aware on how you want this to turn out. I do want to apologize in advance. I tend to go crazy on these and can go on forever on writing it or add things to make it even more interesting.
OTHERS: If there is anything you want to add that wasn’t mentioned on the list, feel free to ask and I will let you be aware if its something I will allow or not!
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SCHEDULE:
UPDATING: I will be updating a new shot/Request everyone Wednesday and Friday.
DELAYS: Either busy with personal things or writers block.
EXTREME DELAYS: If any delays are made that can mess up my schedule, I will let everyone be aware!!
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Feel free to send your request through many inbox or a private chat!
