Tabitha Milton x Reader (Female) [The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope]
Warnings: SPOILERS for the game Little Hope, Execution scene mentioned + near-death experience, 17th century-typical homophobia (? Very minor though, no worries), Swearing
Genre: Angst with a happy ending (Angst and Fluff), Romance, Fluff
Summary: Taken forward through the years after nearly being executed, Tabitha is facing familiar feelings toward an unfamiliar subject of her attraction - Y/N
Requested by @emberstoriesandtales Hi siss! I’m so sorry for this extremely late fic but here it finally is! I hope your interest in Little Hope is still lingering enough for you to enjoy the read (if not I’m so sorry genuinely) Love, Vy ❤
Note: Y/D/N - Your Double’s Name
Stumbling into an abandoned looking structure, Daniel, Taylor and Y/N scramble to close and block the door behind them, preventing the demon that’s been hot on their tails for a few blocks now from following them inside.
Hearing the thing’s scraping and scratching against the door, its skeletal physique not allowing for it to make any attempt at entrance, the three are submerged in a pool of relief as they finally stop to catch their breath - something they’d originally planned to do when they returned to the present following their standing witness to the painful execution of a man who’d been deemed an ally of a witch in the town.
Unfortunately, they weren’t allowed the luxury of gathering their bearings before the demon emerged, beginning its pursuit of them. But more specifically of Y/N.
Now that she takes the time to tinker with that thought in her head, she connects the dots between Daniel’s comment earlier and why the creature had been so keen on putting an end to her life.
He’d said: “The man looked like a male version of Y/N.” And now, thinking back on it, she definitely agrees. Hell, they could’ve been twins. The only thing that set them apart was the evident differences due to their genders, his sharper facial lines and their voices. All else might as well have been copied and pasted.
With that realization finally setting in in its completion, Y/N starts feeling sick, almost nauseous. But she’d be damned if she knelt under the pressure. Instead, she takes to expressing her frustration in more irritated ways.
Fists firmly curling at her sides, she clenches her jaw, “So...you’re telling me....that charred, mummified skeleton that just shortened my lifespan by like fifty years...that’s the corpse of me, male me, in a past life?”
Two heads turn in her direction, now disinterested in the door they’d been staring at all this time. Their faces lack any sort of expression while as they too ponder what she just said, taking in the ridiculousness and insanity of it all.
“Um, sounds about right...?” Daniel manages to utter after a while, exchanging a brief look with Taylor to which she offers a nod of agreement as if it’ll do anything more in terms of reassuring the distressed girl.
Surprisingly, it does have some effect on her, relaxing her tense muscles in a slump with her back against the wall behind her, “Huh...well, alright then.”
It’s not alright, it’s far from alright. Nothing about this night’s even come close to ‘alright’. It’s been a nightmare inside a nightmare inside yet another nightmare. A never-ending stretch of shitty events and time travel none of them consented to. There’s no foreseeable end to it, leaving all six members of the group feeling like they’re stuck running on a hamster wheel.
“Should we keep moving? Look for another way out or something?“ Taylor offers, already beginning her venture around the vicinity in search of another door because the one they came in through is still being guarded by Y/N’s demon by the sound of it.
Her and Daniel follow suit, participating in the scavenger hunt although rather begrudgingly. It’s safe to say none of them has had the greatest time tonight but they can at least hope John, Angela and Andrew have had more luck in their pursuit of help.
But as of now, nothing can be said for certain and that’s driving them insane.
They find several doors, most of them leading to other rooms and not to an alternate route out of there but eventually, Taylor strikes gold.
“Guys, over here!“ She waves Daniel and Y/N over to a rusted metal door that refuses to budge with her force alone. Thankfully, it does start moving inch by inch when all three join efforts and yank it open.
Just for Taylor to get yanked to the past by a ghostly apparition, taking her friend and boyfriend along with her.
The scene before them is bathed in the warm orange glow of handheld torches. But even with the comforting lighting, the sight is nothing short of morbid.
A woman with an odd resemblance to Taylor, is standing in the middle of the clearing, hands tied behind her back and a rope around her neck. In front of her, the priest they’ve encountered a number of times at this point is stood, berating her and condemning her for her supposed entanglement with witchcraft which also had gotten her lover executed.
Y/N’s double.
The pleads and begging for her life to be spared fall upon deaf ears when the Reverend orders the rope be pulled, ascending her feet from the ground and therefore throwing her in a desperate fit of agony, gasping for breath.
Jarred, with eyes wide and mouth hanging open, Y/N’s heart palpitates in her chest as she struggles to pull herself together.
“We have to help her, we can’t just stand here!“ The breath that got caught in her throat finally releases with urgency and desperation.
It thankfully seems to be enough to snap her friends out of their horrified trance as well, prompting all three of them to sprint closer.
Daniel helps Taylor climb the tree since she’s the one equipped with a knife they found earlier. Reaching one arm out while the other is still holding onto the bark, she swiftly cuts the rope right on time, sending Tabitha falling. Thankfully, Y/N’s right below, taking a hurried step forward to catch or at least cushion her fall if nothing else. But due to the height she’d been lifted at, the weight comes down harder than Y/N is able to handle standing, therefore sending both of them to the ground which feels a lot more solid and painful than grass when her back makes contact with it.
It practically knocks the air out of her lungs but Y/N refuses to stop and take a breath and, despite the surging pain in her back muscles, she finds herself sitting up. Opening her eyes slowly, she finds she’s sitting on concrete, surrounded by the misty darkness instead of the flame-lit clearing. They’ve come back to the present.
Taylor aids her to her feet while Daniel helps Tabitha who look just as startled as the rest of them to have found herself in an unfamiliar environment with three strangers who just saved her life. Tears stain her vision as she’s still recovering from an intense coughing fit, her lungs and throat burning for the air they were refused only minutes ago. To feel air course through them feels like a blessing.
However, even the relief of a second chance at life isn’t enough to bypass the immense fear and confusion coursing her body as her gaze dances between the three college students who are staring back at her with an equally pale expression, unsure of how to approach the situation let alone deal with it.
“You rescued me....I shall forever be indebted to you....“, she mutters voice getting caught in her throat when her eyes zero-in on Y/N who’s currently also catching her own breath, leveling it so it won’t cut her like a knife with every inhale and exhale. “Y/D/N? It cannot be....is it really you?“ Taking a step closure to the stunned girl reveals to Y/N just how pale and terrified she herself is, “My eyes deceive me...“
If she could be bothered to find humor in their current situation, Y/N would even make a joke about how the disappointment in Tabitha’s voice wounds her, but alas she’s past the point of humor and will be until her back stops hurting as bad as it currently is, “Sorry to disappoint. Although I think I was him in your time.”
The woman’s eyes soften, now glistening with tears Y/N can only describe as heartbreaking to look at, “I will never see him again, will I?“
She can almost find it in herself to feel guilty now. For what, she’s not sure. Although, she’s not certain it’s guilt either. She just wishes she could’ve been that man she used to be in the 17th century. Cause clearly, he meant a lot to this woman. And clearly, she still cares about him.
The tear that slides down Tabitha’s cheek snaps Y/N out of her thoughts, prompting her to take a step closer. And then another. Before she knows it, she’s enveloped the other woman in an embrace she luckily makes no attempts at pulling away from. Instead, she finds comfort in it, crying into this stranger’s shoulder. Ever the empath, words of comfort, consolation and reassurance automatically leave Y/N’s lips, one of her hands remaining still on Tabitha’s back while the other draws soothing circles with its warm touch.
The fear’s all but gone, extracted from her system as if by the pull of an invisible hand. All she feels now is protectiveness, wanting nothing more than to make sure they all get out of here alive and well with the added need to verse the newest member of their group into the current world.
* * * * *
Arriving at a metaphorical fork in the road, the group has dispersed into pairs to discuss their next move. John and Angela are at the end of their rope, feeling the weight of responsibility push down on their shoulders as they are the oldest of the group but also the most hopeless at this moment, growing less and less optimistic with each passing moment.
Andrew and Y/N are off to the side, comparing the experiences each trio had when they separated earlier. It’s taking her quite a lot of energy to try and explain for the nth time how they managed to drag a person from the past into the present, but she cannot leave him in the dark on it. Not that she herself is very enlightened on the matter but it helps to have another brain trying to tie some assumptions together.
Daniel and Taylor take the time to check on one another, physically, psychologically and emotionally, making sure they’re alright - as alright as they can be in a situation like this. Over her boyfriend’s shoulder, Taylor spots the curiously tender gaze lingering in Tabitha’s brown eyes which seem to be transfixed on Y/N, no matter where the two are standing.
Daniel follows where his girlfriend is looking, taking into account what she’s seeing only moments before Taylor approaches Tabitha, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. Unlike how she reacts to Y/N, she’s rather jumpy around the rest which is why she initially flinches but relaxes when she sees the familiar - too familiar - face of her present self.
“Hey, are you ok? I know it seems like a stupid question to ask but....“ The redhead offers a compassionate smile to which she receives a smaller, sad one in return.
“I am quite alright, thank you for your kindness.“ Her eyes stay on Taylor only briefly, quick to cascade back to Y/N who’s still discussing this insanity with Andrew, her back turned to the three. “It is just your friend...she puzzles me.”
The students exchange a confused glance before Daniel prods on, “How so?”
Sighing as if about to admit it with a heavy heart, she replies: “She makes my heart beat the way it did for Y/D/N. But I was in love with that man....it cannot be the same feeling.“
Another glance exchange, this time one of intrigue and curiosity as well as small amusement. This time, Taylor’s the one to prod on although more reassuringly than curiously, “I mean, yeah, I doubt you’re in love with her after knowing her for less than an hour, but that doesn’t mean you don’t like her. You know, the way you probably liked Y/D/N when you first met.”
Tabitha’s gaze flies over to the two real quick when, her eyes wide in confusion and surprise, “But-but she’s a woman! I cannot feel the same way for her, it is wrong!”
Such a reaction is to be expected from someone from four centuries ago which is why Daniel takes the softest possible approach at explaining it to her, “No, it’s not. I was considered wrong in your time period but it never was and it most certainly isn’t now. You can feel that way for anyone you’d like, Y/N included. It’s completely ok to like her and feel the same way you felt for that guy about her. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Tabitha doesn’t reply, but the small, slow nod she gives in response is enough to leave Daniel and Taylor hoping that their input has been of some help to the woman and emotional conflict. If the way her eyes travel back to Y/N is anything to go by, now even more deeply endearing than before, they have surely succeeded.
~ 3 months later ~
“Treacherous thing....“ Tabitha mumbles, eyes narrowed at the microwave she’s been at qualm with for the past twenty minutes.
Prepped up on the counter next to the piece of technology is Y/N, a cup of coffee in her hands and a smirk playing at her lips as she watches her girlfriend struggle with the machine, “My offered help is still on the table, you know. You don’t have to figure it out on your own when I’m literally right here.“
Tabitha shakes her head, “You’ve already done and showed me so much, I should be able to uncover the secrets of this contraption on my own.”
“Uh-huh, ok. If you say so, Tabs.“ Y/N snickers over the rim of her cup.
It’s been three and a half months since they left behind the horrors of the town of Little Hope. It hasn’t been easy for any of them, the trauma and stress that was inflicted upon them was greater than any of them could really feel that morning when the sun rose. Luckily, with each other’s support as well as that psychiatric help they sought out, they’ve gone on to continue their regular lives without a hitch.
Well, Y/N’s hasn’t been so much the same as it was.
She took it upon herself to introduce Tabitha to the modern world of...well, everything. From the different living arrangements to societal roles, fashion, food and technology and modern English terminology, she’s been a personal life coach for her, with the frequent help of Daniel, Taylor and Andrew.
They hit a few bumps in the road along the way but have successfully gotten over them, allowing for Tabitha to finally admit to the feelings she’d developed for Y/N. Feelings she reciprocated.
Now, they live together in Y/N’s dorm with the only struggles they face being Tabitha’s still-present lack of understanding for technology.
But they’ll get over that too, I’m sure of it. They turned something so unexpected and unexplainable into something nothing short of beautiful and wholesome. Hell if a microwave interferes with their harmony.
Hey there could you do a tabitha Milton x present day male reader please but this time is headcannos cute/fluff ones if you could bc I love tabitha so much
Definitely hun! I'm so sorry I haven't gotten to your request yet but I promise you it will be posted soon. Hope you enjoy the headcanons regardless
Pairing: Tabitha Milton x Reader (Male)\
Warnings: Spoilers for The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, Mentions of Death, Injury, Loss of loved ones, Supposed Witchcraft
Genre: Romance, Angst
- One would not get used to such an unusual occurrence so easily and quickly, but Y/N has gotten rather accustomed to the travelling to the17th century shtick
- Alright, if he’s being honest he’d admit that he’s scared to the point of trembling but refuses to show it
- There are already five people panicking in the group, the last thing he wants to do is add to the chaos
- He’s the level-headed one, the cool one, the one who’s gotten on Angela’s nerves a couple time already with how many times he’s told her to calm down
- However, he’s also not the most cold-blooded when he gets dragged into the past by himself
- As panicked as the others were, having them by his side during the trip four decades back brought him some comfort
- Now he’s lacking it, something he thought he wouldn’t have to experience
- And he is terrified
- “What entity from hell has sent you?!”
- He jumps at the indication of the presence of another person but is quick to be soothed in his panic by the sight of the girl he’s seen in the other flashback as well
- “You....”, he stammers, “You’re that girl’s sister, aren’t you?”
- “How do you know of my darling sister, you stranger?” This turns a portion of her fear into anger as she stares at him
- He doesn’t know how she’s gonna accept the whole explanation but...
- “I’ve got a long tale to tell you then.”
- However, she doesn’t let him say another word when she sees the light of a torch behind him in the woods
- “Not here.” She says reluctantly, shaking her head before grabbing Y/N by his forearm and dragging him in a certain direction
- While afraid and confused, he still follows, seeing as how he’s got nothing better to do
- Before he knows it, he’s found himself at an old house, silent as the grave, and only a single flickering light in one of the rooms - candlelight
- He’d be creeped out if this were happening in the present 21st century, but this is perfectly logical when starts thinking about it
- “Now tell your tale, stranger.”
- As assumed, by the end of it, Tabitha doesn’t seem the least bit convinced but she has no other choice, there’s no possible way she can explain the occurrence of a strange man, dressed nothing like the men in that time period, appearing in the town out of literally nowhere
- “Listen, you have to believe me. That child doesn’t mean you or anyone any good. You need to be careful around her.”
- “You expect me to believe you over my own kin. Have you lost your mind?”
- She’s standing her shaky ground, refusing to admit that she herself has been noticing oddities about Mary
- “Alright, fine. Believe what you want.” Y/N’s on the brink of his patience, growing nervous as he is practically counting the seconds, wondering why he hasn’t been sent back to the present yet, fearing he might’ve got himself stuck there where he’s least welcomed
- “You are restless, whatever is the matter?”
- Just as he’s about to answer, a loud knock comes to the door
- “Tabitha Milton, open this door at once!” The voice that unmistakably belongs to Reverend Carver booms through the small space of the room by the front door, putting the girl on edge, her eyes wide
- Quick on his feet, Y/N blows out the candle, motioning for Tabitha to get down on the floor
- At first his gesture isn’t visible to her in the dark but a second later he grabs her by the hand and pulls her down just in time to be avoided by the gaze of one of Carver’s men
- It’s only as he holds her hand that he realizes how much she’s trembling and his heart aches, he can’t not save her
- With that thought in mind, he does a quick sweep of all the windows checking where each one looks out to
- “The woods, that’s our escape, come on!” He whisper yells and can faintly see her nod her head before they both get up and climb out of the window, holding hands as they run, dodging tree branches and bushes
- Mid-run, however, within a blink, he finds himself back in the dark grey surrounding of the presence
- “Are you ok?”
- He whirls around in terror to see the group standing behind him, worried looks on their faces
- But there is something different about them
- Taylor more specifically: the mark around her neck is gone
- He can’t explain why, but that realization gives him a sense of relief, enough for a smile to appear on his face
- He saved her, he really saved her
- “I’m more than ok.” he replies.
