tags: multi-chapter, Auror Sebastian, drama, romance, murders, major character death, original female character, possible 🔞 in upcoming chapters. (more tags on Ao3)
word count: 4.8k
Summary: Eleven years after Ranrok’s goblin rebellion, Sebastian Sallow, now an Auror, finds himself neck-deep in a string of unsolved murders. Things get personal when the trail leads him to Aderyn Pembroke, his old flame and Keeper of ancient magic. Forced to work together, the former lovebirds have to decide just how far they're willing to sacrifice for the world they both swore to protect.
RUTH SINGER MURDERED: AURORS LAGGING BEHIND
By: Cressida Bloom, Special Correspondent
The wizarding world has been left reeling after the brutal murder of Ruth Singer, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol. Singer was found dead in her own house after she failed to report to work. The identity of the perpetrator remains unknown, adding to the growing list of unsolved murders that have cast a dark shadow over the wizarding world in recent month.
This latest tragedy follows the shocking murders of an Astronomer Amit Thakkar, and a fellow Officer, Natsai Onai just a few weeks prior. Speculation is mounting that the recent string of murders may be the work of dark wizards, as troubling evidence emerges from the investigations. Traces of Unforgivable curses have been found in the bodies of the victims, including Ruth Singer. This revelation has intensified fears within the wizarding community and raised concerns about a possible resurgence of dark forces targeting prominent figures within the wizarding world.
This string of unsolved murders has sparked criticism of the Auror Office, which has so far failed to make any significant progress in identifying or apprehending the killers. Despite their reputation as the wizarding world's elite dark wizard catchers, the Aurors seem to be lagging in providing answers or bringing justice to the grieving families and colleagues of the victims.
Sebastian scoffed as he aggressively folded the newspaper and slammed it into his bin. He shook his head at the outrageous news— Aurors Lagging Behind? The once-respected Daily Prophet had clearly lost its way since the change in their Editor in Chief– whoever the fuck they are now. Sebastian couldn’t care less. Instead of quality journalism, it seemed their sole mission was to criticise the Ministry at every turn.
The first murder was just two weeks ago. Amit’s assistant found his body in his office when she came in the morning. The perpetrator appeared to be searching for something in his possession as things were scattered about. Despite the obvious signs of a struggle and the apparent motive to find something specific, there was frustratingly too little of something.
Just one week after, Natty was found at her home. The scene was messier. Jer wand was found next to her hand, and scorch marks marred the walls of her living room— evidence that she put up a fight before her life was brutally taken.
And just yesterday, Ruth Singer was claimed as the latest victim.
These unsolved cases had been haunting him every second of every day. The lives of three people he knew were taken. The only consistent thread between these murders was the state of the crime scenes and the traces of Unforgivables found on each victim. But other than that, the lack of evidence and motives made it almost impossible for him to walk into anything promising.
As the lead Auror in this case, it made him truly want to quit his job. With the press and the public breathing down his neck, demanding more answers, surely didn’t make anything easier either.
Sebastian sat slumped in his chair while the office bustled around him with the sound of typewriters and chatter. Another day of dead ends and unanswered questions had left him feeling drained.
Lost in his own frustrations, he was suddenly brought back to reality by someone sitting on the chair beside his desk. He looked up to see Andrew, his partner, just came back from Singer’s estate.
“Anything new?” Sebastian asked, though he wasn't holding his breath for a miracle.
Andrew’s eyes were reflecting the same frustration Sebastian felt. "Just more questions." He leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "The traces of Unforgivables are undeniable but it still doesn’t lead us to who did it.”
Sebastian noticed how the blonde was looking equally worn out. His usual charming demeanour was looking rather dishevelled. Andrew is his trusted partner, any weighing cases Sebastian is bearing on his shoulder, Andrew would share the same amount.
“I’ve met with some of the patrol officers to ask if Singer and Onai might have been tangling in a case together that could lead to this, but nothing peculiar.” Andrew continued his report, “None of their past nor on-going cases are related to Amit either.”
At this rate, Sebastian was just collecting frustrations like they were chocolate frog cards. Every lead they followed seemed to evaporate into thin air, leaving them with nothing but the same nagging questions. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the headache that had been his constant companion for days now.
"Well, their deaths must be connected somehow. It has to be." Sebastian repeated, more to convince himself than Andrew. He looked at the photographs of the victims pinned on the evidence board, each face staring back at him, demanding justice, “It’s too convenient of a coincidence that two of our former classmates and her boss were murdered in just the span of weeks.”
Meanwhile, Andrew's gaze fell upon Sebastian's bin, where the slightly crumpled newspaper lay discarded. With a curious tilt of his head, he reached down and plucked it from the pile. His furrows formed on his forehead as he scanned the front-page article.
“This is fucking bullocks. Are they writing comedy now?” He shook his head as he scanned the article further.
“Utter rubbish is what that is. You should’ve kept it where it belongs.” Sebastian replied with irritation crippling into his voice, “Stirring up panic and public doubt as if this case isn’t dreadful enough without the pressure.” His words dripped with exasperation as he watched Andrew toss the newspaper back into the bin, “Anything else?”
“Oh.” Andrew exclaimed like he just remembered something, “We found one thing.” He rummaged through his suit pocket and put an evidence bag on Sebastian’s desk, “Before I take this down to evidence— maybe you know something about it.”
Inside it was a small item, a crest– a maroon shield with a gold letter R in the middle. The shield is decorated with two crossed quills and a thistle, and he’s seen this before, “This.. this is the Rookwood family crest.”
“You mean the same Rookwood that wanted to attack Hogwarts eleven years ago?” Andrew asked, just as puzzled, “I thought their leader died?”
“He did.” Furrows etched across Sebastian’s face.
His mind raced with questions as he pondered the potential connection of current incidents to the Rookwood family. The possibilities seemed to be far-fetched because their organisation was destroyed not long after Victor Rookwood was dead. But then again this was the only solid evidence they have come across so far.
“The Rookwoods are known for their dark connections. If they're behind these murders.."
"It could explain the traces of Unforgivable curses.” Sebastian found the end of Andrew’s sentence.
"But why now? What could they possibly gain from killing an astronomer, a patrol officer, and the head of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol?" The blonde remained sceptical.
"It could be a power play? Or maybe they're after something specific that each of these victims had access to.”
Andrew was quiet for a moment before he continued, “Didn’t Natty get involved with the Rookwood Gang back in school days? And if I remember correctly, Singer was an active officer in that case. Could that be it?”
“But we’re still missing Amit’s involvement.” With a sigh, Sebastian realised that answers wouldn't come easily. If there was any lead to be found, he knew Andrew was the one who could help him with it, “Larson, find what you can on Victor Rookwood. Any living relatives, offsprings, address, whatever it is I want everything.”
Andrew nodded, “On it.”
Sebastian watched as Andrew briskly made his way to his desk and his mind already calculating the best approach to the task. Sebastian poured over mountains of case files and reports over the last eleven years on Rookwood’s organisation, trying to find any link to the murder case.
Minutes turned into hours and his hair was tousled while countless cups of coffee had been devoured to keep him focused. There was practically nothing. No new activity, no fresh reports— they’d gone dormant for years.
Times ticked by and Andrew finally returned to his desk with his result, “Okay, there wasn’t much on our record about the family apart from their obvious criminal ring. Eleven years ago, most of the Rookwoods seemed to flee the country to avoid being connected to it but one– Agnes Barebone, née Rookwood. She was Victor’s aunt.”
Andrew handed a file containing Agnes Barebone’s information. There wasn’t much, though.
“Before settling down, she was reportedly the financial advisor for Rookwood's organisation during Victor’s father's reign until she married an American pharmacist, Oliver Barebone, and changed her last name. They settled down here and she's been under the radar ever since. They both died a year ago in a car accident but they still have an address in London.” Andrew pointed to the information stated on the paper, “The estate now belongs to their twenty-six-year-old son, Leopold.”
Sebastian quickly wrote down the address on his notes and kept it back in his pocket. He gave a pat on Andrew’s shoulder as he stood up to put on his coat, “Great job, mate.”
“Do you need backup?” He asked, referring to himself.
“No.” Sebastian fixed the collar on his shirt and then coat, “You keep on looking for any links between the murders and Rookwood. I’ll be fine.”
“Be careful.”
Sebastian gave Andrew a nod before disapparating from the office.
-
When Sebastian apparated back into the street a block away from the estate, he was greeted by the steady patter of raindrops. A curse escaped his lips as he felt the chill of the rain seeping into his clothes. With a resigned sigh, he retrieved the note containing the address from his pocket and set off down the street.
Jogging through the rain-soaked pavement, Sebastian scanned the area, eyes darting from one house to the next in search of the address. His clothes were slightly drenched and his vision was obscured. So he quickened his pace, desperate to get out of the rain.
When he reached, the house was quiet and shrouded in darkness. At first, he assumed nobody would be home, but when he spotted a small crack in the front door, he knew someone had either recently left or entered.
Cautiously, he moved forward, drawing his wand from his pocket and cast Lumos. His senses were on high alert as he checked every corner for signs of life, listening intently for any sound that might indicate someone’s presence.
The house looked well-maintained. The furniture was polished, and the floors were clean, Leopold must’ve been living there. Despite the general upkeep, some areas appeared quite messy. Drawers were left open, books were scattered across the floor, and papers were strewn about.
It reminded him exactly of the three crime scenes.
He moved deeper into the house and stumbled into a room that appeared to be a study. The first thing he noticed was the big paper of a floor plan pinned to the wall. He could notice it from anywhere— it’s Hogwarts. The map was meticulously drawn, with intricate markings pointing to secret passages, hidden rooms, and other notable features of the castle.
On a large desk beneath the map, there were numerous documents and notes. Among them, Sebastian found information on Ranrok and his loyalists. Most of them were information regarding their agenda in 1890.
Sebastian took a moment to mentally catalogue everything he had come across so far. So Leopold or someone had been here and digging up information about his family's involvement with Ranrok. Was he possibly looking for something related to Hogwarts? But where had he gone, and what was he seeking?
Speculating could only lead him nowhere, he needed to look for something more— something that would bring the pieces of the puzzle together. But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of wood creaking just outside the room. His senses sharpened, and he proceeded slowly toward the source of the noise.
As he stepped into the hallway, a figure flickered in the corner of his eye. Instinct kicked in—Sebastian drew his wand and aimed it straight at the person, ready to stop them from bolting. “Don’t even think about it!” he ordered, “Turn around. Slowly.”
The figure hesitated but eventually turned. The dim glow of Sebastian’s wand revealed their face, and his heart nearly stopped when he realised who it was.
“Aderyn?” he whispered, disbelief and a myriad of emotions flooding his voice and demeanour.
It was Aderyn Pembroke.
The hero of Hogwarts— and more importantly, his ex-girlfriend.
Sebastian had been prepared for anything—dark wizards lying in wait, the bodies of another unfortunate victims, clues to lead him deeper into the tangled web of dark magic— he was ready to confront any danger head-on and the last thing he expected was to find was his ex-girlfriend.
In that instant, everything seemed irrelevant. The case, the danger, the unanswered questions, all of it was overshadowed by the unexpected presence of someone he never thought he'd see again.
She was present at a site filled with a treasure of evidence the Ministry had been dying to come across for weeks. Being ever the good authority, Sebastian had no choice but to detain her for questioning.
Sebastian took his shot in sixth-year. He remembered how nervous he was, mostly because he was holding so much pent-up emotions for the past year since Aderyn arrived at Hogwarts. He didn't want to hope, but when she laughed and told him that it took him long enough, he was relieved. Life felt like a fairy-tale, but happily ever after only lasted five years before she decided to end things, leaving Sebastian to piece together a life without her.
And that was five years ago.
“We found this on her coat.” Andrew snapped Sebastian out of his haze and placed a folder on his desk.
Sebastian opened the folder, revealing a series of documents that immediately caught his attention. There in black and white, were detailed records of suspicious transactions and clandestine meetings over the past year in Victor Rookwood’s name.
The records showed Rookwood’s name cropping up repeatedly, involved in secretive dealings that seemed to be supporting dark magic operations. Each entry was meticulously documented, indicating a pattern of activity that pointed to a significant and covert presence in the dark magic underground.
“These are all dated after Victor Rookwood’s death. Whoever did this must have used his name and reputation to fund and gather men for some dark magic op. The Rookwoods are definitely in on this, and somehow your friend is, too.” Andrew reminded him of the bitter potential, "Are you sure you don't want me to handle this?" He offered after noticing Sebastian’s distracted look.
Sebastian flipped the pages and there were reports on the murder victims. Each report contained personal information, their known associates, and recent activities.
Sebastian shook his head, "I'm good. I just need a moment," he replied. Though he was grateful for his partner’s concern.
Sebastian took a deep breath, pushing himself up from his chair and heading toward the interrogation room. He stopped just outside the door, peeking in through the small window. Aderyn sat there, hands bound, her hair a wet mess from the rain, and a blanket draped over her shoulders—probably the only bit of comfort the staff bothered to offer her. She looked exhausted like she’d been caught in the middle of a storm in more ways than one. But still beautiful as ever.
Seeing her like this—rumpled, vulnerable—hit him harder than he expected. It was a far cry from the woman he used to know, the one he once cared about more than anything. It felt strange, almost unreal that after five years of no contact and she became a criminal with accusations hanging over her head.
Yet there she was, sitting in the cold impersonal room waiting to be questioned.
Sebastian walked in, closing the door behind him. Without saying a word, he pulled out the chair and sat down across from her, trying to keep his expression neutral even though a thousand questions were running through his mind.
“Ms. Pembroke, would you care to explain why you were at the Barebone’s estate?” He kept his tone light, trying to ease into the questioning without coming off too harsh. When there was no immediate answer, Sebastian repeated his question with a firmer tone, “Ms. Pembroke, what were you doing at the Barebone’s estate?”
Instead of a straight answer, Aderyn’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “You cleaned up good.” She was dodging his questions on purpose, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Ms. Pembroke, please answer my question.” He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice. But Aderyn’s eyes flicked over him again, taking in his appearance like she was sizing him up.
“And you’ve been working out.” her gaze tracing the lines of his broad shoulders, lingering on the rolled-up sleeves that showed off his muscular, veiny forearms. “Looks like those Auror training sessions really paid off.”
Sebastian's jaw clenched as he was firmly holding his gaze trying not to show any hint of vulnerability, “Answer my question.”
“You don’t have to assert your power over me, Sebastian. I’m not one of your criminals.” She snarked. Sebastian used to find it charming, but in this moment it was kind of annoying especially when he just wanted to get this job over with.
“That’s up for debate.” He shot back coldly, Sebastian sifted through the layers of documents he was carrying and unfolded the part regarding transactions and meetings under Victor Rookwood’s name. He flipped and slid it across the table towards Aderyn, “What’s this, then?”
She didn’t even bother to look at the file in front of her, “Abnormality.”
“Victor Rookwood’s dead.”
“Hence, the abnormality.”
Sebastian's frustration mounted at her nonchalant response. "Well, you must know something because it led you there.”
Aderyn remained silent, her eyes fixed on Sebastian’s. The tension in the room thickened while Sebastian’s patience was wearing thin.
“This isn’t a game. People have died.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
“Then why are you at the Barebone’s?”
“I’m innocent.”
“You’ve been avoiding my questions and you expect me to believe that you are innocent?” Truly, he was on the brink of losing his poise. He’d forgotten how stubborn she could be, "I think you are with the Rookwood gang.”
Aderyn’s expression hardened at the indictment, "That's outrageous. I was against Rookwood. I protected Wizardkind from a war that could’ve been the end of us. You think I’d turn my back on the very people we bled for? You bloody know me better than that."
“Well, I used to. But that was years ago—how can I possibly know who you are now when I haven’t seen you in five years?”
Sebastian was clearly losing grasp of his grit and grace for making it sound so personal. Years of training— painful training was in vain. He’s a damn Auror for Merlin’s sake, perhaps the best of his generation, but one woman showed up and he was on the brink of falling apart.
With a deep breath, he steeled himself and went back on the offensive, his tone colder, and more focused this time, “Where were you the night Amit, Natty and Ruth Singer were murdered?"
Her eyes flickered for a moment but she managed to mask it quickly, “I was at home.”
“Is there anyone who can confirm your alibi?”
She hesitated, “No.”
Sebastian’s expression hardened, and he leaned back, crossing his arms, “Well that’s convenient, isn’t it?” He didn’t even try to hide the sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“I didn’t do it.” She sounded genuine.
“Well then let me repeat my first question, what were you doing at the Barebone’s?” His tone grew icier with each word and it was a sight of Sebastian she never witnessed before.
“I am not with Rookwood, Sebastian.” Her voice grew strained.
“So you were just trespassing on a private property?”
“No, that’s not—”
“Or were you just busted on a crime scene trying to cover up the murders you’ve committed?”
Aderyn slammed her fist on the table, “How dare you.” She seethed, “Natty was my friend.”
Not a single muscle in Sebastian’s body flinched at her outburst. He noticed the way her hand trembled slightly. There was fire in her eyes, a mix of anger and something else—something that bordered on desperation. But Sebastian couldn’t afford to let himself be swayed by it. Not now.
Sebastian leaned forward, “Then act like it. Stop hiding behind half-truths and start giving me answers.”
Then Aderyn fell silent. Her initial tense and rigid shoulder slowly relaxed as she leaned back on her chair. A heavy sigh escaped her lip and her defiance melted away.
And Gods, those looks in her eyes— suddenly he couldn’t believe his own bitter accusations that he’d been bluntly throwing at her. Every tension and anger fell away and all he could see was the woman he once cared for so deeply.
Never once in his life had he seen himself playing bad cop with Aderyn.
"Look," Sebastian's voice was soft, almost like he was pleading, “If you really aren’t a part of this you’ve got to stop fighting me and tell me what you know so I can help you.”
She was quiet, but he could see the wheels turning in her mind, the way she bit her lip, the way her fingers fidgeted—he remembered every subtle tell.
“Aderyn,” He said softly, “Let me help you.”
She took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of it all was finally too much to bear on her own.
“About three days after Amit’s death I was stopped by two men demanding me to follow them if I want to prevent another friend from dying.” She began.
“What happened after that?”
“They blasted the Killing Curse on me when I refused.” She continued, “I bested them but there was no way of identifying who they were. I’ve had some help to trace their wands. But they’re untraceable. Possibly illegal modifications or some cursed enchantments.”
Sebastian frowned, the pieces of the puzzle still not fitting together. “Did they say anything? Give any clues as to why they targeted you?”
“No, but I knew immediately that they were talking about Amit. I just couldn’t figure out what they wanted. And only a week after that—” Aderyn swallowed the lump that seemed to be growing in her throat, “Natty happened. From there, I began to speculate and took my shot at Rookwood. I reached out to my contact to look deeper into their family background. By the time I found out about the only Rookwood known to be living here in Britain I was too late and Ruth Singer was murdered.”
“So their deaths are in fact related?” Sebastian asked and Aderyn nodded, “How?”
“Do you remember in the fifth year when I told you about how Natty and I took down Victor Rookwood’s right-hand man?”
“Theophilus Harlow.” He nodded, “Andrew guessed it. And he mentioned that Singer was the Patrol Officer on duty around Hogwarts at that time.”
“Correct.”
“What about Amit?”
“He helped me infiltrate a Goblin lair and translated schematics that revealed the drill Ranrok and his loyalists were constructing.”
“So what? This is some payback act for destroying his family’s plan years ago?”
“It’s not just a payback, Sebastian. I was at that house for the same reason you did, looking for Leopold Barebone. There was a detailed map of Hogwarts, revealing every corner and every room of every floor. He’s looking for something and I think I know what it is.” Aderyn opened up her palm when suddenly a brown wand with golden and translucent blue crystal spirals along its length began to appear on her hand. She took a moment to grasp it, feeling its weight, and stroked it gently with her thumb before placing it on the table with care.
Sebastian knew exactly what it was. “The Keepers’ wand.”
“I think he wants to take the repository– to finish what Victor Rookwood couldn’t.” Aderyn confirmed with a solemn nod, “He must’ve been tracking down anyone who might know how to gain access to it.”
“But if he’s after you too, how come there aren’t any reports about you in his file?” Sebastian asked, eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of everything. “If Barebone’s tracking down everyone connected to the repository, you’d be at the top of that list. So why is your name missing?”
“I truly don’t know. But you have to believe me, Sebastian. I am not with Rookwood.”
Sebastian studied her, searching her face for any sign of deceit. Her eyes met his but beneath that brave front, he could tell she was scared—scared of what Leopold was capable of, scared of being misunderstood, and scared that Sebastian, of all people, wouldn’t believe her. There was a raw honesty in her words, a desperate plea for him to trust her.
“And if he’s digging into connection to the repository, then your life is in as much danger as I am.” Her voice softened, “I told you everything back then—every detail, every secret the Keepers left behind. You know as much as I do. It’ll be just a matter of time before he tracks down everyone connected to me and the repository.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened, memories of their fifth year flashing before him— the battles, the secrets they uncovered, the sacrifices they made.
“Who else knows about it?” He flipped open his pad and began taking notes.
“The Ministry shouldn’t be a problem,” Aderyn said, “We kept everything out of the public record. The secrecy the Keepers maintained for centuries, we carried on. The official reports were scrubbed clean of any mention of the repository.”
Sebastian nodded, still scribbling in his pad. “And outside the Ministry?”
“There’s Poppy—she and I worked together to disrupt Rookwood’s poaching operation.”
“Where is she now?” His quill paused, hovering over the paper.
“Her latest letter came to me just last week. She’s heading to Arizona, studying Thunderbirds,” At least one name will be far from danger for a moment.
“Who else?”
“The professors—Sharp, Onai, Ronen, Hecat, and Weasley. They’re all aware of the location.” She paused for a moment before continuing, “And Ominis. I told him everything, too."
“What about your contacts?” He asked.
“They should be fine. I never give away the important details.”
“I still need their names, Aderyn” He pressed, “Whoever helped you track down the wands and Rookwood’s background— They clearly know a lot.”
“They’re fine, Sebastian.” She insisted, “Trust me. They’re not a threat nor are they in danger.”
“Aderyn—”
“Please.” She pleaded with that same desperate look, “You have to trust me.”
Sebastian sighed heavily, “I am taking a big leap here with you.”
“I know.” She replied softly, “That’s all I’m asking.”
Sebastian leaned back and stared at the ink that wrote the list of all the familiar names.
For weeks, he’d been chasing leads, only to find himself circling back to the same empty conclusions. And like some sick twisted game that life is playing on him, somehow his ex-girlfriend had to be the one bearing the pieces of the puzzle he's been trying to solve.
Every name on that list was more than just ink on paper— they’re friends, mentors, and allies who had fought to protect the wizarding world. His stomach churned at what's at stake. He could feel the weight of responsibility settling onto his shoulders and it left a queasy knot in his stomach that made his head swim. It was up to him to bring everyone together and put an end to this once and for all, and the pressure of it all was almost suffocating.
He needed a moment to think, but every second was slipping away faster than he could grasp. As he exited the room, Andrew anxiously stood waiting. Sebastian wished he could spare him the truth, keep him out of harm’s way. Dragging him in meant putting another name on the list. But there was no avoiding it now, this was the life they’d signed up for, and there was no turning back.
“Do you trust her?” Andrew asked.
There was no immediate answer. But Sebastian's hesitation didn't come from a place of doubt. If anything, he trusted every word that came out of her mouth and it bemused him. After all the years of being apart—years spent trying to bury the pain and erase the memory of the night she walked out of his life—he still trusted her.
★ american teenagers - a stranger things series ★ steve harrington x reader
0:00 ───|────── 0:00
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
♪ say what you want, and say it like you mean it- ♪
★ summary: following the plotline of stranger things - steve harrington has been your best friend since you moved to the quaint town of hawkins, indiana, from the bustling city of new york in third grade, a move prompted by a familial tragedy. in your sophomore year of high school, you get swept up in a world full of monsters, other worlds, and strange little girls with powers. when standing in the face of death, will you do the impossible and face your feelings?
★ paring: steve harrington x bestfriend!reader
★warnings: violence, gore, angst, slow burn (like, very slow), fluff, suggestive content (MDNI - 18+), swearing, steve is clueless for like, pretty much the whole story
what happens when peter comes back after disappearing for 5 years due to 'the blip' and find the little girl he's been babysitting...is now his age? and what happens when he finds himself falling for her?
this obviously takes place after endgame, but for this story's sake, all the avengers are still alive and well (AS THEY SHOULD BE fkoefjo moving on-)
THROUGH A RAPIST’S EYES” (PLS TAKE TIME TO READ THIS. It may save a life, It may save your life.)
An Article from Neena Susan Thomas
“Through a rapist’s eyes. A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interview…ed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
1] The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun! , braid, or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
2] The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who’s clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.
3] They also look for women using their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.
4] The number one place women are abducted from / attacked at is grocery store parking lots.
5] Number two is office parking lots/garages.
6] Number three is public restrooms.
7] The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.
8] If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming.
9] These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas,or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.
10] Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.
POINTS THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER:
1] If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: can’t believe it is so cold out here, we’re in for a bad winter. Now that you’ve seen their faces and could identify them in a line- up, you lose appeal as a target.
2] If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.
3] If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.
4] If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can do it by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh – HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it really hurts.
5] After the initial hit, always go for the groin. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy’s parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you’ll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause him a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he’s out of there.
6] When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
7] Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts. You may feel little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
FINALLY, PLEASE REMEMBER THESE AS WELL ….
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it.
2. Learned this from a tourist guide to New Orleans : if a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you…. chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car: Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won’t see you but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping,eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON’T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side,put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU CLOSE the DOORS , LEAVE.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
a. Be aware: look around your car as someone may be hiding at the passenger side , peek into your car, inside the passenger side floor, and in the back seat. ( DO THIS TOO BEFORE RIDING A TAXI CAB) .
b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
c. Look at the car parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot).
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP IT! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked “for help” into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it’s better safe than sorry.
If u have compassion reblog this post.
‘Helping hands are better than Praying Lips’ – give us your helping hand.
REBLOG THIS AND LET EVERY GIRL KNOW
AT LEAST PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHATS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.
So please reblog this….Your one reblog can Help to spread this information.
Summary: Fighting to get your shit back from your ex with the help of your new roommates. You also get closer to bucky, who asks you for a favor. {wc: 1.8k }
Warning: Cursing lots of it, a small fight bc Brock is an ass, suggestive comments. Clint is a douche like Schmidt. Alcohol and drunk behavior. True American has arrived.
A/N: I love writing this story so much and thank you all for the support, it has been overwhelming. That being said, I want to remind people that there will be smut in later chapters, so minors beware and be safe. I am planning on separating that from the main story so everyone can enjoy it but idk, you guys send me an ask or comment on what I should do.
Previous chapter Series masterlist
Reblogs and comments are welcomed!
You had told Brock you were going to pick up your stuff on Friday, without mentioning the guys were going too. At first, it was only going to be Steve and Bucky, because they are the only ones that didn’t work on Friday. But Sam and Clint jumped at the chance to miss work.
“It’s Friday. No student wants to see the guidance counselor. I’ll literally be bored the entire day, texting Steve.” Sam argued.
“And I just don’t want to go. Danvers sounded mad and there’s a higher-up meeting. I will not be there for that civil war to break out.” Clint whined. You didn’t mind all the guys going, the more the merrier.
“Clint, shut up” “ Seriously dude, not the time.” “Read the room, dipshit.” The guys started to chastise Clint while you just stared at the house you used to live in, where you thought you would be for a long time.
“I am just sayinnnggg. If I was living here, I wouldn’t care to be cheated on. This is way better than our- ouch fuck you, Rogers.” Clint was interrupted by Steve, who punched his forearm.
Sam stifled a laugh. You were stuck where you stood, thinking everyone was focusing on Steve and Clint’s fight.
“Hey, you okay?” Bucky asked you, putting his hand on your shoulder. You shrugged.
“I just want my shit man. I’ve been wearing the same two shirts for a week.” You answered. Bucky let out a chuckle. All of you heading to the front door.
Brock opened the door, shirtless with his sweatpants hanging low. Probably expecting you to be alone and trying to win you back with his sex appeal. The only noise that was heard was the chirp of the birds. The silence was deafening.
Suddenly, you could hear Clint and Bucky snickering. Sam let out a loud laugh and Steve was trying to hold his composure. You joined in laughing, which seemed to make Brock mad.
“Oh fuck, I wasn’t expecting that.” Sam said, wiping the tears away. Steve was clutching his stomach, leaning against Bucky who was trying to catch his breath.
“Uhm, who are these men?” Brock asked in a hushed tone. You rolled your eyes at the shirtless idiot in front of you.
“These are my roommates. Now can you move so I can get my stuff?” You remarked, crossing your arms. Brock’s eyes widened.
“Roommates?!” You could feel Bucky roll his eyes. Which was confirmed by Sam snickering.“ What do you mean? I thought you were staying with Nat.” Brock questioned.
“Brock, I don’t have time. Let me get my clothes.” Brock shook his head.
“Not until you explain. What do you mean these are your roommates?” Clint poked his head out to look at Brock, who seemed more stressed about the fact that you were living with 4 men than that this was the end of your relationship. The last time he will see you.
“Well, roommates usually mean that we are all living in the same common space. Although we are more like flatmates, which would be a better way to say it.” Clint explained.
“We have gone over this. We aren’t calling each other flatmates. We aren’t even British.” Sam rolled his eyes. Clint opened his mouth to complain but was interrupted by you.
“Guys, please. Focus.” You snapped at them, then turned your attention to the brooding man standing before you. “Now, may you please move the fuck out of the way?” Smiling “sweetly” at the man.
“No.” All of you groaned.
“Fuck you, Brock.” You exclaimed, trying to push him out of the way, but he didn’t budge.
“Dude, just let the lady get her stuff.” Sam groaned. Bucky moved to stand next to you. Rolling the sleeves of his red henley.
“I’m getting really tired of this bitch. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. The point is, let Y/N get her stuff.” Bucky threatens. Brock, in his ever insecure mega machoness, puffed his chest and let out a grumble.
“I told you to come here alone.” Brock seethe. You were about to make a remark but Steve stepped forward.
“We can go back and forward with this. You want to get back with Y/N, even though she has said no multiple times and you can’t seem to get the no to register in your head. And she just wants her stuff. How about we do what grown folk do and be reasonable?” Steve tried to reason with him. What Steve hasn't gotten is that Brock is the most unreasonable person in the world.
Brock started to laugh. Like cackling maniacally. You looked at Bucky and Sam, who were staring at the laughing man weirdly. Steve looked almost worried, while Clint was swiping his phone, probably on tinder.
“Oh, I get what’s going on. You are all fucking.” Brock said, with a smug smile. As if he had just discovered a giant secret.
“What?!” All of you screamed at him. You almost walked up to him and slapped him.
“It’s the only explanation on why you guys are here. She is fucking all of you, isn’t she? I knew she got over me too quickly.” You knew he was trying to provoke you. Trying to get you to fuck up, and call his dear father to maybe ruin your job opportunities.
You closed your eyes and took a deep breath. Just try not to punch him, Y/N. This will all be a funny story for your memoir later. You told yourself.
Opening your eyes, you saw Bucky’s fist colliding with Brock’s jaw. It was like he fell in slow motion. There was a loud sound when Brock hit the floor. Bucky was rubbing his fist, wincing.
“Well, that was quick.” Sam joked, looking at the knocked-out idiot. Clint tiptoed around the body and entered the house.
“C’mon, let’s get Y/N stuff before he wakes up. I got a date tonight.” Clint announced, throwing Sam one of the boxes you brought to pack your stuff.
“Stevie, Guard dog. Please move the body indoors. We don’t want the neighbors to call the coops.” Sam told the guys, going upstairs with you. Bucky grumbled something under his breath along the lines of “I'm not a guard dog.”
-
“Where did you guys get that beer?” Steve asked the two men who were sitting on the couch.
You have gotten most of your stuff out of the bedroom and Sam was helping you get all your books into boxes. Brock had woken up, angry but there was nothing he could do. You had already packed most of your stuff, he just grumbled, cleaned his face, and left. Something about fucking assholes. But nobody listened to him.
“Oh, the fridge,” Bucky said, opening another beer. Clint gave one to Sam, Steve, and you.
“So we are stealing his alcohol now?” Sam joked. Which made you think….
“I mean that’s just his cheap beer. If you want, I can show you his good liquor collection.” You shrugged, taking a gulp. Bucky gasped exaggeratedly.
“Is the lawyer convincing us to steal from her ex?” Clint asked dramatically. Steve rolled his eyes.
“It’s the least you can do is take something.” Bucky noted. “He cheats and you steal his good alcohol. It is a fair bargain.” Clint nodded excitedly at Bucky’s words.
“Uu! We can play true American.” Sam suggested. You frowned.
“What’s true American?” Famous last words from you.
-
“True American is a drinking game we made in college. We were revising for an American history class and voilà. We created this monstrosity.” Steve explained while the guys were pushing the furniture and setting up the beers and whisky bottles. Clint came out of his room with colonial-style hats.
“I refuse to wear that,” Bucky said and Sam and you agreed.
“You guys never do anything fun.” Clint pouted.
“When you come up with a good idea, we will listen.” Steve reprimanded, handing you a beer.
And that was the last thing you remembered before starting the game.
“Ronald Regan is in hell!” Bucky screamed, leaning against the chair next to him. He took a sip of the whisky bottle he had taken. You giggled at him. You really didn’t know how much you have drunk, but you knew the hangover tomorrow will be out of this world. Worst than the ones in law school.
“Nooo Bucknassstyyy, the answer is the Declaration of Independence, so take a shot dummy. You aren’t wrong though. ” Sam slurred, Steve, holding him up. Steve wasn’t so sober either. His shirt was almost completely undone and his hair was so messy.
Clint was inside of a cardboard box, snoring. He had passed out when you guys played the Colony section of the game.
You looked at Bucky. You don’t know if it’s the alcohol in your body, but Bucky looked incredibly hot. His hair was messy and he had unbuttoned his shirt a bit. He was a bit sweaty and his cheeks were rosy, probably because of the alcohol.
You didn’t notice Steve and Sam had already headed to their room. Bucky plopped down on the couch next to you. He has so closed, you can feel his warmth. Did someone turn off the A.C? You thought.
“Fuck, I needed this.” Bucky mumbled. You nodded
“Same honestly.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“I don’t know if Steve told you but next weekend we are going to our hometown. A friend of ours is getting married.” You were confused about why he was telling you this. You have heard that they were going to be out then, and you were planning on inviting Nat to stay with you.
“Well, I just found out my ex is also going to be there. Not looking forward to that shit.” He shuddered.
“What do you want to do?” Bucky shrugged, raising the bottle up to his lips.
“Was gonna ask Sam’s sister to come with me but I think Sam might kill me if I do and Dot knows her. She is gonna know we aren’t dating.” In the days you’ve meet Buck, you didn’t know he had more emotions that weren’t sarcasm and annoyance. But he actually looked sad right now.
After taking another sip, he opened his eyes, almost jumping up. He turned to you, with a devilish smile. A smile that said that he was planning something, and you were going to be caught in it.
“But she doesn’t know you…” He smirked.
“Where are you going with this Buck?” It’s probably the alcohol, but the closeness and his expression were making your stomach go crazy. Like wasps buzzing around.
“Come with me to the wedding and pretend to be my girlfriend. I will do all your laundry for a week.” He pleaded. His blue eyes pulling you in, almost pulling the yes out of your mouth. Is this man putting a spell on you? Or was he just that magnetic?
“Fine.” He whooped and handed you the bottle to take a shot. You smiled at his burst of happiness.
You might regret it in the morning but for some reason, you felt things were finally looking up for you.
LIKE WHAT IF PETER ACTUALLY TRIES OF THE WHOLE S*X TALK AND SEND A NICE ,HOT, LONG .....message ...SOME REALY DIRTY SHIT if u want..BUT ACCIDENTALLY SEND IT ON THE GRP CHAT WITH HIS FRIENDS. INCLUDE A NUDE AGAIN PLS IT SATISFIES MY HUNGER?!?!? idk please
warnings: swearing, mentions of sex
a/n: this was such a fun request! i haven’t done group chats yet so this was fun to try and figure out. i’m not adding any pics this time so it can be more inclusive, hope you understand! i also used the avengers gc instead of their friends, i didn’t realize this mistake until after making it, sorry! this is heavily inspired by @cherrytholland smau “liars”, it’s super funny and you should give it a read!
Writer: *shows the serial killer the murder scene they’re writing* babe, i’m not sure if this would actually work?
Serial killer: *kisses writer on the forehead and leaves, comes back later, a suspicious scent of blood coming off them* it works baby, you’re doing great
I love this, I love all of this, but quick question, does the author know? Like are they aware that their significant other is a serial killer or do they just think that they have a morbid sense of humor? It’d be even funnier if the author had no fucking clue, like how Aurthur Conan Doyle was apparently stupidly gullible, and on top of it they’re a horror or crime novelist. Like the serial killer works at a butcher shop or something so it’s completely normal for them to come home smelling like blood, no murders going on here, no sirey. Just my darling coming back home from a long day at work.
Now fast forward a bit and the author has managed to get their first book published, with loving support from the serial killer who helped them fine tune all the murder scenes, and it’s a big hit. Enough so that a detective with the local police department has noticed some disturbing similarities to several active cases, including details that were never released to the press. Obviously he brings this up to his superior and convinces him that there’s something to the theory, but it’s all circumstantial right now. He stakes out the author’s home and is super convinced that the author is the murderer, but they don’t seem to do anything??? Like they literally are at the house all day, that’s it. Most they do is leave for groceries.
So you get this dynamic of the serial killer mining the author for creative murder schemes, the author being lovingly encouraged by the serial killer, and finally the detective who is just so sure that the author is the killer and that if he sticks it out long enough he’ll FINALLY have proof.
I’ve only seen screenshots before, so this is awesome but. If I had the skill or motivation, I would make a fic out of this. (Or try to draw a mini-comic when I get a drawing tablet.)
Rooomate! Bucky is the type to definatkey get jealous when the reader brings other men over and is a grump the whole time. But he's also super sweet like when the reader comes back drunk he'll remove her makeup and do her whole skincare routine and I just THINK IT'S SO SOFFTT 🥺
it’s because he’s in love with you.
he’d probably lock himself in his room if you had someone over, or punch through a wall when he heard your moans and whimpers through the wall that night
his mind wandering and picturing you underneath him, instead of the douche you brought home, then it’s you listening to his moans through the wall…
but when you’d come home after having a little too much to drink with your friends, and he’s helping you take off your makeup you just grab his face and smush his cheeks together which makes him smile
“you should smile more” you say without even thinking and he just smiles again like “you make me smile, now let’s get you to bed”
Redamancy (n): the act of loving the one who loves you; a love returned in full.
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader
Summary: Roommate AU - Maybe it was a bit naive to think moving in with your best friend and long-time crush, Bucky Barnes, was going to be some smooth road that led to an admittance of mutual feelings for one another and a happily-ever-after ending, wrapped up nicely in a bow. Naive indeed; especially when you have to consider the fact that Bucky is the biggest womanizer you know.
Warnings / Tags: sexual themes, mutual pinning, angst, cursing, fluff
Word Count: 7,305
A/N: Thank you so much to @marvelfulxbabes for hosting this writing challenge (and for being so gracious in giving me an extension)!! I really hope you like this! :) Also, I wanted to thank @xetoilerouge for her unyielding kindness and willingness to toss around plot ideas with me when I was hitting a wall. You’re the best!! And last, but certainly not least, I want to give a huge thank you to my A1 since day one on here, @interabangs, for essentially being my beta, sounding board, and biggest cheerleader all wrapped up in one when this fic was being…difficult. 💚
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