warnings: secret relationship soft-launch energy, accidental pet name on live stream, secondhand embarrassment, nervous laughing and visible flustering, chat going feral with spamming and clipping, irl stream setting!
—
the internet has already been suspicious for weeks.
every stream was just:
“just announce it.”
“we’re not stupid.”
“hard launch when?”
so tonight is supposed to be safe. harmless. you, marlon, and rocket getting ice cream on stream. normal friend content. nothing confirmable.
rocket walks backward with the camera. “chat behave. this is a wholesome stream.”
“they don’t know how,” you say.
marlon just smiles, hands in his hoodie pocket, trying to act natural. there’s a careful distance between you both. not too close. not too far. deliberate.
inside the ice cream shop, you step up to the counter. “okay wait… why does birthday cake look kinda good?”
“birthday cake? that’s not a bad shout,” marlon says, grinning at you instead of the camera for half a second too long.
the worker asks what you want.
you hesitate. “hmmm, i don’t know.”
you glance at him without thinking.
and he suddenly forgets he’s live or just is stupid.
“get whatever you want, baby.”
it slips out soft. automatic. natural.
the kind of tone he uses when it’s just you two.
he freezes. just for half a second.
like his brain finally catches up with his mouth.
rocket lets out a quiet, shocked laugh behind the camera.
chat absolutely detonates.
BABY????
HELLO???
NO WAY
CLIP IT
marlon blinks once.
then he forces a smile.
“anyway,” he says quickly, clapping his hands together once like he’s resetting the universe. “chat what flavor are we thinking?”
he’s convincing himself they didn’t hear it.
maybe the music in the shop covered it.
maybe the mic cut.
maybe—
you don’t react.
not even slightly.
you just nod like nothing happened. “okay. cookies and cream.”
you turn immediately to the toppings. “oh wait, do you have brownie pieces?”
rocket is still quietly laughing to himself, trying to angle the camera toward the menu instead of marlon’s face.
marlon is smiling too much.
too stiff.
he pays, grabs his ice cream, and walks outside like everything is fine.
it is not fine.
you sit at one of the metal tables. space between you. intentional.
“rate it,” you say casually, taking a bite.
“uh, yeah. it’s good. like an eight.”
normal voice. normal tone.
he pulls out his phone.
big mistake.
the second he opens chat, his expression changes.
it’s just:
BABY???
WE HEARD THAT
BRO HARD LAUNCHED
?????
and then the jokes start.
“ur the tuffest marlon.”
“rocket officiating the wedding.”
“mf acting like we didn’t hear him say baby.”
he lets out a nervous laugh.
low at first.
just under his breath.
“they’re so stupid,” he mutters.
the chats just keep coming in.
it gets worse.
“marlon actually a dumbass sob”
“that was NOT friendly.”
“ain’t no way.”
his laugh gets louder.
not confident — just overwhelmed.
the kind of laugh you do when you don’t know what else to do.
rocket is fully grinning behind the camera now. “chat is wild tonight.”
“they’re actually dumb,” marlon says, still laughing. “y’all just hear things.”
everyone heard it.
rocket heard it.
you definitely heard it.
chat absolutely heard it.
and probably clipped it already.
but you keep your eyes on your ice cream like you’re in your own world.
“this is actually good,” you say casually. “you should’ve gotten this flavor.”
you don’t look at him, you don’t acknowledge the word, you don’t even tease.
because the second you react, it confirms it.
and you know that.
so you just keep talking.
about flavors. about how cold it is. about where to go next.
marlon slowly locks his phone and shoves it back into his pocket, still smiling in disbelief.
“anyway,” he says, trying to reset again. “after this we might go to the arcade or something.”
“arcade sounds fun,” you reply easily.
chat is still spamming.
still joking.
still very aware there’s something going on between you and marlon.
but since neither of you address it, there’s nothing concrete to clip besides a single word and a nervous laugh.
and marlon keeps telling himself maybe they’ll forget about it.
chat wont.
—
sorry the request said to include reactions but i honestly dont know how that would go.
warnings/contents: blowjobs, vouyerism, public sex, sex on camera, threesomes, nipple play, breast play, p in v, sub reader, floor sex, dom marlon, dom? ab
The memory of the day's challenge was still a humiliating memory that hadn't quite faded. The tarantulas, their delicate, hairy legs skittering across the box around your head, the panicked screaming, the way your mind had gone blank with terror. And then, the words that had tumbled out of your mouth when asked shag marry kill any guys in the room.
"Marry uh, marry ben hes nice i guess, kill ex whatever his fucking name is and I don't know if I want to shag Alfie or Marlon, maybe both, just get them off me!"
You'd spent the rest of the day in a state of mortified fear, which is what had led you to the empty gym in the dead of night.
Now, sitting on the cool surface of the weight bench, the quiet words between you alfie and Marlon, were loud. Alfie, with his muscular frame and endearing awkwardness. Marlon, with his lean physique and unnerving, flirty confidence. They were the two men you'd dragged into your train wreck.
The mundane chat about who spent the most money felt like a fragile truce, a way to pretend the day hadn't happened.
"Nah, mate, I'm tellin' you, it's gotta be Alhan," Alfie was insisting, his green eyes bright in the dim light. He was trying so hard to be normal, to make you feel comfortable. It was sweet, in a way that made your chest ache.
Marlon, however, wasn't interested in normal. He leaned against the dumbbell rack, his dark eyes fixed on you with a predatory focus. "I think we're avoiding the elephant in the room," he said, his voice a smooth, low purr that cut through Alfie's rambling.
Alfie stopped mid sentence, his mouth slightly agape. He looked at Marlon, then at you, a flicker of panic in his eyes.
Marlon pushed off the rack and took a slow, deliberate step towards you. "The tarantulas," he said, the word hanging in the air. "That was... an interesting moment."
Your face burned with shame. "Look, I'm so sorry about that. I was terrified. I didn't mean—"
"Oh, I think you did," Marlon interrupted, a slow, wicked grin spreading across his face. He stopped directly in front of you, so close you could feel the warmth radiating from his body. "I think you told the truth. You just didn't know you were telling it."
Your heart hammered against your ribs.
Alfie shifted uncomfortably beside you. "Leave it out, Marlon. She's had a rough day."
"Has she?" Marlon's gaze flickered to Alfie. "Or has she just been forced to confront something she wasn't ready for?" He looked back at you, his eyes dark and challenging. "So, the question remains. Which one of us was it? Who did you think about first?"
You couldn't speak. Your throat was tight, and your mouth was dry. You looked from Marlon's beautiful face to Alfie's worried, handsome one. Alfie, with his broad shoulders and kind eyes. Marlon, with his sharp jawline and flirty intensity. The truth was, in that split second of panic, you hadn't known. The thought had been a jumbled, desperate mess of attraction to both of them.
Marlon seemed to read your mind. "Ah," he breathed, the sound a soft, triumphant hiss. "You don't know. You still don't know." He crouched down in front of you, his knees on the floor, bringing his eyes level with yours. "That's a problem we can solve."
He reached out, his fingers gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear. His touch was electric, sending a shiver down your spine that had nothing to do with fear. "We're on camera, you know," he whispered. His eyes flicked towards the unblinking red light in the corner of the gym. "They're watching this right now. They're loving this. But they'll never air it. This is our little secret. A secret just for the three of us... and the bored producer in the control room."
The thought was intoxicating. A wave of defiance washed over you, replacing the shame with a thrilling, reckless heat. They knew you were here. They knew what was happening. And that was part of the turn on.
"Maybe," you said, your voice barely a whisper, "I need more data to make an informed decision."
Marlon's grin widened. "I like your thinking." He leaned in and kissed you.
It was nothing like you'd have imagined. It wasn't hesitant or questioning. It was a slow, deliberate, possessive kiss. His lips were soft but firm, his tongue tracing your lips before slipping inside to explore. It was a kiss that claimed you, a kiss that was a direct answer to your challenge. When he pulled back, you were breathless, your body humming.
He turned his head slightly, looking at Alfie. "Your turn, AB. Don't be shy."
Alfie looked like a deer caught in headlights. His usual roadman confidence had evaporated, replaced by a flustered energy. He glanced at you, his green eyes wide with a mixture of panic and desire. "I... are we...?"
"Are we what?" you asked, your voice husky. You reached out and placed a hand on his leg. The fabric of his tracksuit was warm beneath your palm.
That seemed to be all the encouragement he needed. The awkwardness melted away, replaced by a hungry, desperate need. He leaned in, and his kiss was the complete opposite of Marlon's. It was hard, almost bruising, a frantic collision of lips and teeth. It was all the pent up frustration and attraction he'd been awkwardly holding back. His moustache and stubble scraped against your skin, a friction that made you gasp into his mouth. One of his large, calloused hands came up to cup the back of your head, his fingers tangling in your hair, holding you in place as he devoured you.
When he finally pulled back, you were both panting. His eyes were dark, his pupils blown wide with lust. "Fuckin' hell," he breathed, his accent thicker than ever.
Marlon was watching, his expression one of intense satisfaction. "See? Now we're getting somewhere." He stood up, his movements fluid and graceful. "The floor is hard," he observed, his gaze sweeping over the gym before landing on the thick, black exercise mats piled in the corner. "Much better options available."
Alfie was already on his feet, moving with a sudden, athletic purpose. He grabbed a stack of the thick mats and began spreading them out on the floor between the weight machines, creating a makeshift bed in the middle of the silent, shadowed room. It was crude, absurd, and incredibly thrilling.
Marlon took your hand and pulled you to your feet, positioning you in the center of the mats. He stood behind you, his body a warm, solid line against your back. His hands slid under the hem of your t-shirt, his palms flat against the skin of your stomach. "You're wearing too many clothes," he murmured, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin of your neck.
Alfie stepped in front of you, his eyes roaming over your body. He reached out and hooked his fingers into the waistband of your tracksuit bottoms. "He's right, angel," he said, his voice a low growl.
A laugh escaped you, a breathy, giddy sound. The absurdity of the situation hit you full force. Here you were, in a makeshift gym on a reality TV show, about to have a threesome with two of the most attractive men you'd ever met, all because you'd blurted out a panicked confession during a spider challenge.
Marlon's hands slid up, pushing your t-shirt with them. His fingers traced the underside of your breasts, and you arched your back, pressing yourself against him. He expertly unhooked your bra, and Alfie pulled both it and your t-shirt over your head in one smooth motion. The cool air hit your bare skin, making your nipples into hard points.
"Fuckin' gorgeous," Alfie breathed, his eyes wide with awe. He reached out, his thumb gently brushing against one of your nipples, sending a jolt of pure pleasure straight to your core.
Marlon's hands were busy at your waist, untying the drawstring of your tracksuit bottoms. He slowly slid them down, along with your underwear, his knuckles brushing against your thighs. You stepped out of them, now completely naked before them. The red light on the camera seemed to glow brighter, a silent witness.
"Your turn," you said, your voice bold.
They didn't need to be told twice. In a matter of seconds, their clothes were in a heap on the floor. The sight of them, bare and powerful in the dim light, stole your breath. Alfie was all thick muscle and strength, his chest broad, his arms massive, and that slutty little waist of his. Marlon, in contrast, was all lean lines and sculpted perfection. His body was that of a Greek statue, all broad shoulders turning to a narrow waist and powerful thighs. His skin was a smooth, golden tan, and his cock was long and thick, already hard and curving up towards his stomach, a moisture glistening at the tip. They were a study in contrasts, a perfect, masculine dichotomy, and they were both looking at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world.
"On your knees," Marlon commanded, his voice soft but laced with an authority that made your knees weak.
You obeyed instantly, sinking down onto the soft mats. Alfie and Marlon moved to stand before you, presenting you with a breathtaking view of their cocks. The air was thick with the scent of their desire and your own. You reached out, wrapping one hand around Alfie's thick, heavy long cock and the other around Marlon's impressive length. Alfie let out a choked groan at your touch, his hips jerking forward slightly. Marlon just watched you, his dark eyes burning with an intense, possessive fire.
You leaned forward, taking Marlon into your mouth first. He tasted clean and masculine, and you swirled your tongue around his head, eliciting a sharp hiss of pleasure from him. You worked him slowly, deliberately, taking him deeper with each pass, your hand stroking his shaft in time with the movements of your mouth.
Then you turned your attention to Alfie. You ran your tongue along the prominent vein on the underside of his cock, and he shuddered, a string of expletives falling from his lips in his thick Yorkshire accent. "Fuckin' hell, girl... oh, fuck, that's it..." He was less controlled than Marlon, his reactions raw and unfiltered. His hands came up to gently cup the back of your head, his fingers tangling in your hair as you took him deep, your lips stretched wide around his impressive girth.
You moved between them, alternating, your mouth and hands working in a rhythm designed to drive them both wild. The power was intoxicating. Here was the girl who admitted she wanted to shag two influencers on netlfix, now on her knees, bringing these two incredible men to the brink of ecstasy with nothing but your hands and mouth. The camera was forgotten, the show was forgotten. There was only the three of you, the heavy breathing, the soft moans, and the slick, wet sounds of your sucking.
"Enough," Marlon finally let out, gently pulling away. His chest was heaving, his dark eyes almost black with lust. "I want to taste you."
He guided you to lie back on the mats, the cool, firm surface a delicious contrast to the heat of your skin. Alfie knelt beside your head, his cock still hard and wet. He leaned down to kiss you, a deep, possessive kiss that tasted of himself. At the same time, Marlon settled between your legs, his strong hands gripping your thighs and spreading them wide.
You cried out against Alfie's mouth as Marlon's tongue found your clit. He was merciless, his movements precise and expert. He knew exactly how to circle the sensitive bundle of nerves, how to apply the perfect amount of pressure, how to drive you wild with long, slow licks of his tongue. Alfie broke the kiss, his breathing ragged as he watched Marlon's head buried between your thighs. He began to knead your breasts, his calloused thumbs brushing over your aching nipples, sending jolts of pleasure straight to your core.
"Look at her," Alfie murmured, his voice thick with awe. "Look how fuckin' beautiful she is when she's comin' undone."
You were lost in sensation. Marlon's tongue, Alfie's hands on your breasts, the sight of their two bodies looming over you. The pressure inside you built to an almost unbearable peak. Your hips began to buck against Marlon's face, seeking more, needing more.
"That's it," Marlon growled against your flesh, the vibrations sending you over the edge. "Come for us. Let us see you."
The orgasm crashed over you with the force of a tidal wave. A strangled cry tore from your throat as your body orgasmed, waves of intense pleasure. Marlon held you steady, his tongue working you through every last spasm.
As you slowly came back to yourself, you saw that Marlon had risen to his knees. He was stroking his cock, his eyes locked on your glistening, swollen folds. Alfie was still beside you, his expression a mixture of wonder and raw need.
"I need to be inside you," Marlon said, his voice a low, urgent demand.
You nodded, unable to form words. You were more than ready. You wanted him, you wanted both of them, with a desperation that bordered on pain.
Marlon positioned himself at your entrance, his thick head teasing your slick opening. He pushed forward slowly, sinking into you inch by glorious inch. The stretch was exquisite, a feeling of being filled so completely it took your breath away. He paused for a moment, buried to the hilt, allowing you to adjust to his size.
"Fuck," he breathed, his head falling back. "You feel incredible."
He began to move, his strokes long and deep, his hips rolling in a slow rhythm. Alfie, not wanting to be left out, moved to kneel by your head. He turned your face towards him, and you opened your mouth, taking his cock between your lips once again. The sensation was overwhelming. Marlon's powerful thrusts driving into you from below, and Alfie's thick length filling your mouth from above. You were the center of their universe, a vessel for their pleasure, and the thought was more arousing than anything you had ever experienced.
You could feel Alfie's control beginning to fray. His thrusts into your mouth became more erratic, his groans louder. "I'm close, angel," he warned, his voice strained.
"Let her taste you," Marlon grunted, his own rhythm picking up speed, his thrusts becoming harder, more demanding. "Come for her, Alfie."
With a final grunt, Alfie exploded. His hot, salty release flooded your mouth, and you swallowed eagerly, milking him for every last drop. He collapsed beside you, his chest heaving, a look of pure, sated bliss on his face.
Now it was just you and Marlon. He hooked his arms under your knees, lifting your legs and spreading them even wider, changing the angle of his penetration. The new position allowed him to go deeper, hitting a spot deep inside you that made you see stars. His pace became relentless, a powerful, driving rhythm that pushed you towards the edge once more.
His name on your lips was his undoing. With a final, powerful thrust, he buried himself deep inside you and came, his body shuddering as he poured himself into you. The feeling of his hot release triggering your own second, even more intense orgasm. Your walls clenched around him, milking his cock as your body was wracked by wave after wave of pleasure.
He collapsed on top of you, his body a heavy, welcome weight. For a long moment, the only sounds in the silent gym were your combined, ragged breaths. You were a tangled mess of limbs and sweat and satisfaction, a secret captured on film that would never be seen.
Alfie was the first to move, propping himself up on his elbow to look at you. A slow, lazy grin spread across his face. "So," he said, his voice still thick with satisfaction. "Have you made an informed decision yet?"
You laughed, a breathless, happy sound. Marlon lifted his head, a matching grin on his face. He looked from you to Alfie, then back again.
"I think," you said, reaching out to trail your fingers through the sweat on Alfie's chest, "I'm going to need a lot more data before I can come to any sort of conclusion."
Both men laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet gym. The night was still young.
summary: Marlon helps you face one of your fears by teaching you how to shoot.
w/c: 2.2k
(a/n: sorry for disappearing for so long guys 😭 there's been so much stuff going on over the past couple of months that i haven't been able to keep up with at all, but i'm hoping to be able to write and upload more often now!! <3))
requested ✅
The courtyard of Ericson’s was quiet. It wasnt the familiar, apocalyptic sense of quiet you’d gotten used to, but the strange silence that always seemed to settle just before sunset — the state where the endless blue began to give way to an inky black. Somewhere from the dorms, laughter echoed, but out here, there was a true sense of peace, despite the ever-lingering threat of the world outside.
But the peace didn’t last long. It never did.
Footsteps approaching from behind snapped you out of your thoughts and back into reality. Turning around, your eyes landed on Marlon, a mere few feet away with an uncharacteristically nervous smile on his face. You knew that face; it was the very same one he made when he was trying to be confident but couldn’t quite stop the way his fingers twitched at his sides.
“Hey, angel,” he greeted, rubbing the back of his neck. “You, um, ready?”
You blinked, confusion flooding your face and making your brows furrow. “Ready for what, exactly?” As far as you were aware, any runs and hunts were done for today.
That was when he lifted the gun holstered at his side. It was small and dented from repeated use, and even well-loved. However, that word — ‘well-loved’ — was definitely not what came to mind when you saw the piece of metal; it was something more along the lines of ‘danger’ and ‘death.’ The miniature weapon filled you with nothing but dread.
You felt the blood drain from your face, heart skipping a beat before picking up the pace.
“Marlon.”
Your boyfriend couldn’t help the small grimace that formed at the way you said his name. “I know, I know.” He lifted both hands in a surrender-like gesture before continuing, “But just hear me out, okay?”
You, on the other hand, didn’t want to. Never before had you used a gun — you’d never had to, not with Marlon by your side anyway. So, you shook your head, eyes widening at the thought of having to use something so small yet so easily capable of taking a life. “No, Mar. I’m the medic. I patch people up, I help them. I don’t,” you gestured vaguely at the gun, “do that.”
“I know, baby.” He stepped closer, voice softening. “But you’re important to the group — to me. And if something happens while you’re alone…” Marlon paused, jaw clenching as he thought of his next words. He knew what he wanted to say: he didn’t want you to die. But that word, the weight it carried behind it, was not something he was going to use. Not with you. “I just wanna make sure you’re safe.” The last sentence came out quiet, quieter than most had ever heard Marlon, like admitting how much he cared was dangerous in itself.
One of his hands extended towards you, patiently waiting for you to wrap your fingers in his.
You sighed, his concern melting your resistance much faster than you anticipated. How could you deny your boyfriend when he just wanted the best for you? “Fine.” Despite your reluctance, you still grabbed his calloused hand, fingers intertwining. “But if I shoot myself in the foot, it’s your fault.”
A grin finally broke through his worry. “Deal.” Obviously, he’d never allow that to happen, though. And you knew that.
Hand-in-hand, he led you to the far side of the schoolyard, where the worn-down target board was attached to a tree, piney aroma filling the air. The short distance there, you’d noticed the way he walked much closer than usual, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles, eyes flicking to you every few seconds like he was checking in without asking.
Marlon was good at that sort of thing — making sure you were okay without using any words. He always did it, even all those times you didn’t notice. Like the first time you were all truly alone, no adults around. Seeing the fear in your eyes, hearing the quiver in your voice, was the very thing that made him step up that day, that made him the leader he is today. Or like the time he came back injured from a supply run gone wrong. He didn’t even take notice of the fact that his entire arm was covered in blood — the only thing he saw was you, your eyes wide in panic, the very same panic that you tried so hard to hide. But you couldn’t hide. Not from Marlon. The whole time you were taking care of him, he made sure to reassure you he was fine, that it didn’t even hurt, to soothe some of your worry. In the end, he ended up grabbing your face and pressing his lips against yours as a last resort to relaxing you.
Now, standing in front of the target board, he felt your heart beating erratically through the hand he had wrapped around your wrist.
“Hey,” he murmured, turning so he was fully facing you. His grip loosened, thumb brushing over the inside of your wrist where your pulse fluttered beneath his skin. “It’s okay. We don’t have to rush this. Or do it at all today, if you don’t want to.”
You swallowed, eyes flicking between the target and the gun at his side. The air here felt weirdly heavy, but you knew it was probably just your nerves telling you to run while you could. “I said I’d try,” you replied softly. “Just—promise you won’t laugh at me.”
That earned you a quiet huff of disbelief. “I would never.” His expression softened further, something earnest and protective settling into his features. “I promise. I’ll be right here the whole time.”
He unholstered the gun slowly, deliberately, making sure every movement was calm and predictable. When he held it out, he didn’t push it into your hands. He simply waited, letting you decide when, if, you were ready. Your fingers hovered for a second before curling around the grip. Though you didn’t see, Marlon’s lips curled up in a proud smile — his girl was finally facing one of her fears.
The metal was much colder than you expected, heavier too. It made your stomach twist in a way you didn’t think you’d ever felt before. This was the exact opposite of what you were used to; you were supposed to be the one to save lives, not take them. The sudden realisation caused your breath to hitch. Just for a second. But enough for your boyfriend to realise.
“It’s okay, angel,” he reassured you gently. “First thing, safety’s on.” He reached around your hands, careful not to startle you, and clicked it into place. “This right here means it won’t fire, no matter what. You’re in control.”
You nodded, breathing out slowly.
Marlon stepped behind you then, close enough that you could feel his warmth, familiar and grounding, at your back. His hands guided yours, adjusting your grip with patient precision. “Two hands,” he explained. “Dominant hand here, other one supporting.”
Your shoulders were tense, practically up around your ears. “Relax,” he whispered, voice right by your ear. “Pretend you’re stitching someone up. Steady hands. Slow breathing.”
You let out a shaky laugh at his words. “No pressure, huh?”
“Hey,” he said, turning you to face him as he placed one hand on your shoulder, the other reaching out to brush some loose strands from your face. The heat of his hand compared to the chill of your skin sent a shiver down your spine. “You’ve handled worse. I’ve seen you keep people alive with nothing but thread and stubbornness.”
That helped a little.
He allowed his hand to linger a moment longer before turning back. He guided your stance next, gently shifting your feet. “Lean forward just a bit. Guns kick back. If you’re stiff, it’ll knock you around.”
You followed his lead, heart still racing but no longer feeling like you were about to spiral.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “I’m gonna take the safety off, angel. You tell me if you want to stop. At any point.
You hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”
The click sounded loud in the quiet courtyard.
Marlon didn’t let go of you. One hand stayed over yours, the other resting lightly at your waist, grounding you in the chaos of your mind. “Line up the sights,” he instructed. “Front sight right in the middle of the target. Don’t think about hitting it. Just focus on breathing.”
You did just as he said, taking a deep breath in, then softly exhaling. With a small movement, your hand moved, lining up the sight with the middle of the target. Marlon’s hand never let go of yours. “That’s it, angel. You’re doing great.”
Those words of affirmation, though small, were enough to instil at least a small sense of confidence in you. “What’s next?” Your head turned slightly, taking a peek at Marlon’s expression. “Do I just shoot?”
You almost couldn’t believe those words had come out of your mouth — but you had gotten so far already, you didn’t think backing out was an option. Although your boyfriend had made it very clear that it was.
With a short nod, Marlon responded, “Exactly.” His grip on your hand tightened, a comforting gesture, before letting go. Everything that happened now was all up to you. “Remember, just a small squeeze. That’s all you need.” He took a step back, watching with a steady gaze as you hesitated before the target.
The longer you thought about it, the more your mind became a mess. You couldn’t do it. You couldn’t fire. This wasn’t what you were meant for — you knew that, Marlon knew that, everyone knew that. You patched people up, you nursed them back to health. You didn’t… kill. It wasn’t who you were.
Just as you were about to back out, Marlon spoke up, “Hey, if you can’t do it, then that’s okay. This isn’t ab—”
His voice was cut off by a deafening bang cracking through the air.
Your eyes scrunched shut, startled by the sound.
When you opened your eyes, Marlon was there, turning you around so fast you barely had time to react before you were pressed against his chest. “Hey—hey,” he murmured, one arm wrapping around your shoulders, the other cradling the back of your head. “You’re okay. You did amazing.”
Your heart was pounding, and your ears were ringing so loud that you barely processed the words of the boy right in front of you. It hadn’t even fully hit you that you had been the one to pull the trigger. “I—” Your voice shook in a way you couldn’t control. You hated it. It made you feel weak, even when you knew no one else felt that way. “I didn’t mean to—”
“I know,” he said softly, rocking you just a little, still holding you close to his chest. “That’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel the first time.”
You buried your face into his jacket, breathing him in like an anchor. The familiar scent of worn leather and faint pine almost instantly took over your senses. After a moment, the tension began to bleed out of you but Marlon’s arms remained wrapped around you.
“Did I even hit it?” you asked quietly, daring to lift your head up and glance at his expression.
Marlon glanced over your head at the board. There was a mark, low and off to the side, but unmistakable. “You did,” he said, a proud grin tugging at his lips. “That’s my girl.”
He tilted your chin up gently so you had to look at him. You searched his face, seeing nothing but pride there — no disappointment, or frustration as you had expected. Not that Marlon ever would be, but your insecurities had a way of making you feel small.
His thumb brushed under your eye, tender as ever. “I’m so proud of you.” The corners of his eyes crinkled.
You laughed breathlessly, immediately flustered. “But I barely did anything…”
At that, your boyfriend’s brows furrowed. “You faced one of your fears today, angel, and that makes you so much braver than you could imagine.”
You opened your mouth, ready to rebut, but before you had the chance, Marlon pressed his lips against yours. It was the kind of kiss that made time stop. In that moment, nothing moved but your mouths, nothing existed but the warmth between you. Anchoring yourself even more to him, your fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him impossibly close. His hand had moved from the back of your head to cup your jaw, pulling you in like he just couldn’t get enough. Because he couldn’t.
Until the time to pull away came. Both of you were left breathless, your foreheads still touching as your intoxicating taste lingered on Marlon’s lips.
“As you were saying…?” Marlon asked, a sly smile on his lips.
He knew you had long forgotten what you were going to say.
okay, so i want to try to write something for alex (or any of the other guys, but perferably alex).. give me some suggestions in my inbox (or comments) of what you guys would like to read
Twdg Season 4 Characters reacting to reader that has unnatural colored hair!
Characters included are MARLON, LOUIS, CLEMENTINE, AASIM AND VIOLET!!!
Marlon
When he first saw you stumbling across the border of the safe zone your hair was the first thing he noticed
Having pink or purple hair normally wouldn’t be weird but in the apocalypse it really did stand out
I mean where are you finding the hair dye???
The entire first week you’d stayed at the school he longingly just stared at it
From somebody else’s standpoint he might of looked like a total pervert but no he was just really interested in your hair
He doesn’t have an issue with it although he is pushing for you to dye it natural
Not because he doesn’t like it but because he doesn’t want you standing out
He couldn’t handle letting you get captured by raiders
He cares about you too much to lose you (fuck minnie and sophie though lmao)
Despite him being cautious, he really does like your hair
It kind of gives off punk vibes and he definitely digs that (not in that way sillies)
Bonus points if it’s red!
Louis
Louis LOVES your hair and I mean loves it
It’s so colorful and different!
If your hair has several colors he’ll trace his fingers through your hair and try to separate the colors (he doesn’t even notice)
On occasions you say something stupid in front of him he’ll joke about how the hair dye is seeping into your brain
He’d recommend other colors and hair styles that he’d think you’d rock
Once you do eventually run out of hair dye… (crazy how you managed to get so much in the apocalypse) he might secretly go past the safe zone
He knows that there’s around a .5 percent chance any hair dye expired or not is nearby but he just loves you sooo much!
If Marlon catches him he’s definitely getting watch duty for the next two weeks
Clementine
She thinks it’s awesome
Like really fricking awesome
She’s been cutting her hair ever since Lee told her too and your hair kinda makes her miss how long her own used to be before she was forced to cut it
She likes doing tiny braids in it
When she was younger she used to watch superhero cartoons a lot and your hair kinda reminds her of the female characters (which gives her a strong sense of nostalgia)
It’s not just her that likes it though
AJ is mind blown
He loves it so much
He’s never seen anyone with hair that wasn’t natural
If you stop dying it he definitely won’t talk to you for a couple days
Aasim
When you first met Aasim he was sorta cautious of you
Aasim doesn’t try to stand out
He’s okay with observing and watching his environment
While your hair has the opposite effect
You are most definitely going to stand out
At first he didn’t talk to you and just watched you silently
That was until you were both assigned hunting duty so you had to make small talk and you ended up having a lot in common
Since then you’ve been close
He likes your hair but like Marlon he does push you to dye it back to your natural hair color
He thinks it’s kinda dumb how you dyed it in the first place
He’s just concerned for your safety and doesn’t want you getting hurt
Violet
Violet tried so hard not to like it
She had to make herself focus to try to not look at it whenever you too conversed
She isn’t the type to give compliments okay?
Once she subtly talks about how much she really does like it you offer to do hers
She was really excited
Like really excited
So excited that Louis had asked what you’d done to her
You both talked about different colors and styles that you could do to her hair and even your own
You joke about dying it the color violet and surprise surprise she wasn’t amused
He is rough around the edges. He'll snap and lash out when stressed or scared, or maybe he goes cold and distant. There is a wall reaching the heavens around him. You might not understand why that wall is there, but you respect that it exists. Emotional and mental walls do not happen over night after all.
Walls so tall come from countless nights of fear, of pain.
However there is a secret gateway past his walls, one that only a few selective souls have the key to. The holders of that key are the children in his life. No matter what they have his attention and care. There is a level of protection that radiates from so deep within him that you can feel across the room.
At first he is his normal self to everyone, but you notice slight differences. There is no over looking the way his normally gruff voice grows softer around the kids. He'll kneel down to their levels to show them respect when speaking. Every single little gift the kids give to him he keeps in a box hidden away under his bed.
Once everyone in the group notices, they all know no child shall ever be hurt under his watchful eye.
NOTES: if you’re here just to hate on marlon, then just leave. 💀 this clearly wasn’t made for you. anyway, for those who actually like marlon, I hope you all enjoy!
• Marlon is the type of guy to be painstakingly obvious about his feelings — always wanting to be on rotation with you for keeping watch, stammering like there’s no tomorrow, always being close to you so he can keep an eye on you, laughing awkwardly and/or always fidgeting, you get the picture.
- It wasn’t until one night after dinner when Marlon pulled you off to the side to ask you the special question, “Y/n… can we…” he couldn’t finish his sentence because of how nervous he was. You knew what he was trying to ask but you still wanted to hear him say it, so you just looked at him, smiling as Marlon finally mustered up the courage to finish, “Can we be… y’know… boyfriend and girlfriend?”
- You said yes. I mean, why wouldn’t you? He’s fair and good-hearted. Marlon has his faults, sure, but who doesn’t? You accept him.
• You’re his first love
• How does Marlon show affection? A lot of ways! There are times when he won’t be upfront about it. Those times that he argued with you because you were being careless around walkers and almost got bit? It’s because Marlon cares for you and the last thing he wants is for you to get hurt…
• I’m convinced his love language is quality time and/or acts of service
• Because you’re bound to be around Marlon a lot, there is a high chance that you’ll end up being Rosie’s favorite person!
- (Except for Marlon, of course. No one tops him. Or at least in Rosie’s world).
• Marlon’s kisses are gentle and sweet
• I want to say that out of all the Ericson’s boys, Marlon is second when it comes to how lenient he is with PDA, being bested by Louis. It’s not like he has much competition though.
- He’s perfectly fine with kisses on the cheek, hand-holding, things like that. I would say he encourages it, but that’s more Louis’ forte. Marlon is more likely to get shy.
• You no longer have to sleep in your dorm. Instead, you moved yourself to be in Marlon’s room— which is in the old headmaster’s office— which he was elated about.
• He would love Walkman. You find him one on a run and he will marry you on the spot, no joke. I feel like Marlon would be into Metal the most (figures) but Alternative is a nice second.
• Does he get jealous of anybody? Yes… as much as he hates to admit it, there are times Marlon finds himself jealous of Mitch, Omar, and even Louis because he’s scared that he’ll never be good enough for you and that you’re better with someone else, though he wants you to be with him. The same can be said with you getting worked up over Brody but you and Marlon try to communicate about these things as much as possible, so they’re not a problem.
• What helps him calm down? You pull him into a hug, rubbing circles on his back, or running a hand through his hair. <33
• As for your first date, I think Marlon would try his best to be original. Because he wants things to be a bit more private, he’d take you to the shack where the group usually fishes, temporarily making Brody in charge and telling her only to bother you if it’s an emergency. From there, Marlon tried to organize a dinner. Emphasis on try (Omar helped him).
• You both ended up cuddling afterward. Marlon slowly wrapped an arm around you but when it’s time for you to leave— as someone needs you back at the school— Marlon held you for a second longer to kiss you.
