I WANNA BE YOUR ENDGAME – Chapter 08

The Mask I Live With - pt 16

tw: smut - MDNI; lots of fluff; imagine a shower that has the glass door with it lmao!

Roommate|Reader x Simon Ghost Riley

It had been almost a month and you were back to how things were before the crash........ 

Sort of. 

The PT sessions were still going well, better than you expected. You still kept a crutch nearby whenever the ache would set in, but most days you could get around without it.

Work had eased back in, too. Light duty, desk assignments, admin nonsense. No field, no drills, no crazy shit yet. But it was enough to keep you occupied; enough to keep you busy.

And Simon?

Still the same

Same watchfulness.... same barely contained feelings lingering in the air whenever the two of you were in the same room.

You hadn't tried anything.... not yet at least.

But every time he stood a little too close, every time his hand lingered on the small of your back when he thought no one noticed, hell every time you caught him staring when he thought you weren't looking... it just built.

It crawled under your skin, becoming louder with the passing days.

Fuck it

You waited long enough. 

One night, he came home the same way he always did. Tired. Quiet. Worn from the day but taking up space without saying much. Just a constant presence that settled in you like gravity. You had light conversation over the dinner you cooked, but he hardly touched his plate, eyes darting to you every few minutes like a doting parent.

You cleaned the dishes and kitchen, gently pushing his hands away when he tried to help. 

"I've got it." You smiled, but he just stood off to the side, keeping his gaze on you with his arms crossed. That overprotectiveness seeping through as always. When you finished, you headed toward the hallway. "Gonna shower. Long day."

And then a thought immediately popped in your head. 

A crazy thought. 

You turned to look at him over your shoulder. "You can join me if you want."

His jaw instantly flexed, eyes flickering over you—quick, sharp—then back up to your face. Like he was forcing himself not to let them stray. Like he was fighting something hard. But he didn't respond; didn't even hum.

You faintly shrugged, walking into the bathroom without waiting to see if he followed and turning on the shower, letting the sound echo in the silence. After stripping out your clothes, you stepped in, sighing as the warmth soaked into you skin.

And for a few seconds, you thought maybe—maybe—he was still in the kitchen.

But then... heavy footsteps followed by the closing of the bathroom door captured your attention. Your eyes landed on his figure through the glass, eyes dark with lust and strained hesitation. You smirked, before focusing on getting your hair under the spray. 

A soft rustle behind brought you back to where he stood. Your gaze met his as he reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head in one smooth motion, revealing what you'd seen before—the solid expanse of muscle, scarred and inked skin. Then, he removed his pants and briefs... and god, did your entire body heat up at the sight of him. 

He cautiously stepped in behind you, like he was giving you time to tell him to get out. But when you didn't, his hand rested gently on your hip. He opened his mouth to say something, but you leaned in and kissed him—slow, sure, not rushed.

Just... certain.

His hands came up to cup your face, thumbs brushing your cheeks like he couldn't believe you were real. He kissed you back with the same soft urgency that had been simmering between you for months.

"Y'sure?" He breathed against your mouth, voice hoarse from restraint.

You nodded, eyes searching his. "I've been sure."

He let out a sound—half a breath, half a groan—and kissed you again. This time deeper and more intense. Water trickled down your bodies as he pressed you gently back against the cool tile wall, lips trailing along your jaw.

"Tell me now... If y'want me to stop."

Your breath caught in your throat as you shook your head. "Don't stop."

That was all it took.

His hands slid down your sides, lingering at your waist before he hoisted you effortlessly, pinning you on the wall, his breath host against your neck . You wrapped your legs around his hips, letting out an involuntary hiss as the movement shifted your injured leg, stretching it more than expected.

He immediately stilled, leaning back a little to look at you, worry etched across his face.

"Hey." He murmured. "Talk to me. Y'alrigh'?"

Your heart clenched at how quickly he froze, how his hands steadied you like you might fall apart at any second. You nodded, threading your fingers through his wet hair and pulling him back to you.

"I'm fine." You whispered, kissing along his jaw. "Just a stretch. I can handle it." His brows furrowed, still unsure. You leaned in, lips brushing over his. "I want you to let go." 

If he had any thoughts to pause what he was doing, you kissed them away, urging him to continue.

His hands gripped your thighs, supporting your weight. You could feel his length growing as he got hard and it made you softly moan when he brushes against your entrance. He wanted to tease.... he wanted to warm you up, but he was just impatient as you were. With tantalizing slowness, he rolled his hips as he slid inside you. You gasped, arms tightening around his shoulders, nails digging into his back as he filled you completely.

"Fuck." He groaned—wrecked—forehead resting against yours. "You feel.. fuckin' perfect."

You moaned, grinding your hips in sync with his. Every deep and measured thrust making your breath catch. He moved like he couldn't stop, like every second apart had been bottled up and was now breaking loose.

Even with the pace—strong, relentless—he never let go. His hands remained careful, but firm and possessive, holding you like you were something he needed to anchor himself to.

"Simon." You let out, barely audible.

His head snapped up at the sound of his name, eyes blown wide, before his mouth crashed back into yours with desperate hunger.

"Say it again." He growled against your lips, hips snapping harder.

You whimpered, nails gently raking down his back. "S-Simon."

That shattered whatever control he had left. His pace faltered, teeth hovering over your throat before he bit down and leaving his mark. Your orgasm hit—sharp, blinding, your legs trembling around him—and he followed right after, burying himself deep with a low, raw, and guttural groan that shook right through you.

Neither of you moved for a few minutes except the heavy rise and fall of your chests against each other, and his delicate kisses along your throat where the hickey was forming. His hands softened, sliding back and forth on you like he couldn't stop touching you.

You kissed the corner of his mouth, voice quieter now. "Told you I could handle it." His lips quirked but his eyes stayed locked on yours.

Eventually, he eased back, slowly lowering you to your feet. His hands hovered at your waist like he was half-expecting you to stumble. He scanned your face, like he was checking for cracks.

You met his gaze, a teasing glint in your eyes. "See? Didn't break." 

He hummed, smirking with fondness in his own.  "Still don't like pushin' y'too hard."

You reached up, running your fingers along his jaw, feeling the damp scratch of stubble beneath the tips.

"You didn't." You softly said. "Not even close."

He stayed quiet for a second, watching you like he wanted to memorize the way you looked right now—bare, flushed, completely undone because of him.

He then reached past and shut the water off, grabbing one of the towels hanging nearby. He gently tugged it around your shoulders rubbing it over your skin. But it wasn't about drying you off. It was about grounding. His way of easing you down after everything without saying a word. 

And you let him. Let him take his time, let him wrap the towel snug around you before reaching for one for himself.

When he was done, you slightly limped back to your bedroom, leg sore but manageable. When you glanced back, he was right behind you, close enough to catch if you fell, but far enough to give you space.

He didn't speak as you slid under the covers; just went to his room to change before coming back and sitting down at the edge of the bed. You watched him for a moment, eyes tracing the lines of his back, his broad shoulders still tense like part of him hadn't fully come down yet. You reached out, touching his forearm.

"Simon." He glanced back before you shifted, patting the empty space beside you. "Come here."

He hesitated for a split second, then exhaled and slid in next to you, the mattress dipping under his weight. His arm slid around you, arm warm against your back as you rested your head against him.

For a long moment, you stayed like that. 

Quiet. Close. 

"Didn't think I'd want this." He finally said. "Didn't think I should."

You tilted, glancing up at him. "Why?" His jaw flexed a little, chewing over the words before he responded.

"Everythin' tha's happened." He darted to your leg, then back to you. "Didn't wanna be the reason y'got distracted. Or..." He trailed off, tone dropping. "The reason y'got hurt again."

Your chest clenched, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. "You've never been the reason I got hurt. If anything, you're the reason I'm still alive." You swallowed as his gaze remained somewhat expressionless. "And I've wanted this too. For a while now."

He pulled you closer, hand flexing before tightening as if he couldn't stop himself. He didn't say anything right away. But you felt the worry bleed out of his posture; felt the shift in him... like he finally let himself have this.

Have you.

You pressed a couple of soft kisses to his jaw. "Not going anywhere, Simon." 

That earned you the smallest sound from him. Something like a quiet sigh.. almost a laugh.... almost relief.

"Good." He murmured back before moving his head to kiss softly kiss you. "Didn't plan on letting you."

Awkwardness if fully gone now 🤣

Also... idk why I imagined Simon having a shower that's a walk-in and has the glass door with it... but I did lol!

Pt. 1; Pt. 2; Pt. 3; Pt. 4; Pt. 5; Pt. 6; Pt. 7; Pt. 8; Pt. 9; Pt. 10; Pt. 11 (Simon POV); Pt. 12; Pt. 13; Pt. 14; Pt. 15

Taglist: @jessicab1991 @maskedbyghost @kittygonap @nappingmoon @chaos-4baby @ohdrey89 @skeletonsucker @s-a-v-a-n-a-34 @roastyyytoastyyy @simonexxx1 @mrmountainman @thebumbqueen @lucienofthelakes @letiferian @jennamelinda12 @mulletmcghee @kittykatgorl @strawberrygato @ghostslollipop @emeraldeyes1805 @chaosundcoffee @whos-fran @fangirls94 @rafaelacallinybbay @quiet-loser @shondlenoodle @iceblossom1013 @sssophia0-0 @a-lil-bit-nuts @kalypsoox @nicolebarnes @jesskidding3 @romanceloverrrr

PORN DIRECTOR KÖNIG

nsfw. 40s könig. come eating. pussy slapping. voyeurism. manhandling. degradation. squirting. sex work.

you never planned on doing porn.

you don't think anyone does, really. you had a whole different life mapped out— degree, stable job, retirement.

but college was bleeding you dry. bills stacked faster than you could pay them, textbooks cost more than your monthly groceries, and your financial aid office had the efficiency of a broken vending machine. part-time jobs barely kept the lights on. dinner was whatever was cheap and lasted the longest.

you worked, studied, scraped by, but it felt more like drowning in slow motion.

camming started as an experiment. a shot in the dark born from desperation.

you bought a cheap ring light from amazon, found a secondhand webcam on facebook marketplace, and set up your little filming space in the corner of your apartment. it was nothing fancy. the lighting was bad, the camera wasn’t great, and instead of a tripod you had a stack of books.

but it worked.

you slipped into the only matching lingerie set you owned— soft pink lace, delicate ribbons, tiny bows stitched in all the right places. sheer enough to tease, but still leaving just enough to the imagination. the bra straps slipped down your shoulders as you posed in front of the mirror, lips parted, fingers playing with the waistband of your panties.

picking the best ones, you captioned them with something playful then posted them to onlyfans, shut your laptop, and forgot about it. you weren’t expecting much. maybe a few subscribers, a little extra cash, nothing major.

then, your account blew up.

someone with a bit of reach had apparently found your photos and posted them to a a ddlg subreddit, and suddenly you were everywhere.

at first, you didn’t notice. but when you woke up to hundreds of new notifications, dms, and tips flooding in overnight, you started digging.

that’s when you saw it. a post on reddit. thousands of upvotes. hundreds of comments dissecting your photos in excruciating detail.

[r/ddlg] found this new onlyfans girl and i'm losing my mind. she’s so soft. look at her. look at her.

🔺14.3k upvotes 💬 793 comment

u/daddysfavorite456: this is the most perfect little babygirl i’ve ever seen wtf

🔺6.2k

u/sirspanksalot: the way she’s tugging her panties down just a little… i need a moment

🔺4.9k

u/subsugarplum: her little pout in the third pic is actually ruining my life

🔺3.3k

u/softdom_daddy: how do we make sure she never pays for anything again in her life?

🔺7.1k

your breath caught in your throat as you scrolled. every detail of your photos was being analyzed. obsessed over.

the way you tilted your head just slightly, eyes wide and doe-like. the way your fingers curled in the hem of your panties, like you were hesitating. like you needed permission. the little pout in the last photo, lower lip caught between your teeth, the faintest furrow in your brows.

suddenly, your subscriber count was doubling by the hour.

new subscribers flooded in overnight. your follower count jumped by thousands. dms piled up, requests, tips, compliments, outright begging.

"you're perfect. please let me take care of you." ($20 tip)

"you’re the softest little thing i’ve ever seen." ($50 tip)

"tell me you do custom videos. i’ll pay whatever." ($100 tip)

the sudden influx of attention was overwhelming. you barely had time to process it before people were demanding more.

demand skyrocketed. they were practically clawing at your metaphorical door, begging for more content, more variety— more, more, more.

for now, solo work was fine. it was safe. comfortable. easy to control. but you knew it wouldn’t be enough forever. you saw it in the comments, in the messages, in the ever-growing list of requests. they wanted more than just you and a camera. they wanted another presence. another body in the frame.

you debated your options. a studio would be the safest bet. you had the budget now— painstakingly built, every small tip, every renewal adding up until you finally had enough that you didn't need to comprise comfort.

but finding the right studio was another thing entirely.

you didn’t want the overproduced, garish lights and cheap theatrics of mainstream porn. you wanted subtlety. intimacy. something with taste. good lighting, soft edits, angles that captured the feeling rather than just the act.

something that matched the persona you had so carefully built.

you thought about it for weeks before finally bringing it up to valeria, a girl you often had collabs with.

she tilted her head when you mentioned it. "professional production..? you know there are a lot of seedy guys out there."

you nodded, worrying your lip between your teeth. you’d done enough research to know that most so-called "professional" setups were just glorified scams, with sleazy directors who treated performers like props.

valeria watched you for a second, then clicked her tongue. "but, if you ever actually follow through, i know a guy. a lot of the girls have worked with him before. big name in the business. respects his actors. good guy." she pulled out her phone. "i’ll send you his portfolio. put in a good word."

you meet könig a few weeks later, after countless back-and-forth emails, late-night calls hammering out details, discussions about setups, plot points, pricing. every conversation had been strictly professional so far and you appreciated the distinct lack of attempts to try and get in your pants.

you don’t expect to spot him the moment you step into the airbnb you rented for the shoot, but there he is, standing head and shoulders above the rest of the crew. and the first thing that strikes you isn’t his height (though jesus, he’s massive). it’s how out of place he looks.

he doesn’t carry himself like someone in the industry. doesn’t exude that easy sleaze, that over-familiar smirk you’ve come to expect from men in this business. no tight black tee straining over biceps, no carefully curated air of supremacy with just a hint of nicotine.

instead, he looks like someone’s dad who got lost on his way to a hardware store and somehow ended up in the adult industry instead.

his glasses are perched high on the bridge of his nose, pushed up with the absentminded shove of a knuckle. his sweater— soft, thick, comfortable— hangs loose on his frame, sleeves pushed up to reveal thick forearms dusted with silver hair. he’s dressed like he should be standing at a backyard grill, not directing an erotic film.

he’s older than you expected. forty, according to his portfolio, and he wears it well. silver threading through black, crow’s feet at the corners of sharp, washed-out blue eyes. his nose is crooked— like it had been broken once and never quite set right— makes his face look lived-in, a little rough around the edges. his stubble is light, a soft dusting of salt and pepper.

he looks warm.

he’s talking to someone. one of the crew, maybe, head dipped slightly, listening intently. but even hunched, even relaxed, his sheer size makes him loom.

and then the door clicks shut behind you, and he hears it. könig's head lifts, pale blue eyes settling on you in an instant.

he excuses himself with a quiet murmur. hands tucked into the front pocket of his pants, broad shoulders rolling slightly like he’s trying to make himself smaller, less imposing.

it doesn’t work.

“good to finally meet you,” he says, accent curling soft in his words.

oh, you think. you hadn’t expected that, either.

his voice is deep, just shy of being harsh. it's a far cry from the sharp tone you’d imagined after hearing him speak over the phone. there’s something smoother about it in person, a warmth undercutting the rough edges.

you shift the tray of coffee in your hands, balancing it carefully before setting it down on the small folding table near the entrance.

“brought coffee for everyone,” you say, wringing your hands because you refuse to brush them off on your dress.

he glances down at the cups, and for a second you think you see something soften in his expression.

“thoughtful,” he murmurs, and though his face remains unreadable, you can hear the approval in his voice.

you exhale, trying to shake off the nervous energy thrumming in your chest, and clear your throat. “figured caffeine would help. don’t wanna be the reason your crew collapses mid-shoot.”

könig huffs something close to a chuckle, tipping his head toward the set-up behind him. “they’ve worked under worse conditions.”

you’re not sure what that means, but before you can ask, he gestures for you to follow him further into the space.

the next few minutes are easy. professional. you go over the shot list, the angles he’s planning, how he likes to work— efficient and minimal retakes unless absolutely necessary. he asks about your preferences, what you don’t want, what you do.

it’s…comfortable. smoother than you expected. he’s patient, but direct. no wasted words, no unnecessary small talk, just the work. you like that.

and then your phone rings.

you pull it from your pocket without thinking, glancing at the name on the screen. simon riley. your co-star. you press accept, bringing the phone to your ear.

“hey, you on your way?” you ask, already stepping away from könig, mind half on the conversation you’d just been having.

but simon doesn’t answer right away. there’s a beat of silence. “can’t make it.”

your stomach drops. you stop short, pulse spiking. “what?”

“somethin’ came up. won’t be able to get there.”

you glance at könig, breath stalling in your throat. this cannot be happening.

“simon, i can’t reschedule,” you hiss, stepping further away, out of earshot. “i already paid for the location, the crew’s already here-”

“nothin’ i can do, sweetheart,” he interrupts, not unkind. “’m sorry.”

but sorry doesn’t fix this. sorry doesn’t change the fact that if you don’t shoot today, you’re out thousands. your grip tightens around your phone. “simon, please-”

the line clicks.

he’s gone.

panic creeps up your spine, cold sweat starting to form on your palms. you can’t not shoot today. you can’t afford it. the budget’s already stretched thin, and a reschedule isn’t just inconvenient— it’s impossible.

you drag a hand to wipe the sweat on your forehead.

könig’s eyes are on you and you can feel the heat of his gaze. when you turn, he asks, “problem?”

you open your mouth, hesitate. because what the fuck are you supposed to say? every option you can think of results in you losing a few hundred dollars at the minimum.

you figure the truth is the best option you've got. “simon's out.”

könig watches as your fingers tighten around your phone, knuckles turning white. you press your lips together, trembling just slightly before biting down.

he tilts his head, slow. "know anyone that can sub in?"

you shake your head immediately, too fast, too frantic. a sharp inhale makes your shoulders rise, lashes fluttering against the unshed tears that suddenly gloss your eyes.

fuck.

you’re going to cry.

könig shouldn’t be looking this closely.

shouldn’t be cataloging every shift of your body. shouldn’t be tracking how your throat works as you swallow, how the delicate line of your jaw tenses under pressure.

it’s detail that shouldn’t register. detail that has no purpose. no place. no right to send his thoughts careening somewhere they have no business going.

but there they go anyway.

because he's been watching you.

not in a way that's creepy— könig tells himself that, over and over. he was just a professional doing his research, getting a feel for his clients. it’s good business practice, staying informed, making sure he knows who he’s working with, what they bring to the table.

and if that research led him to your socials, to hours of footage in soft, honeyed lighting, to endless clips of you sprawled out on pristine white sheets as you mewled into the camera— well. that was just part of the job, wasn’t it?

nothing personal. certainly nothing unprofessional.

but the truth, the thing he never says out loud, not even to himself is that he’s spent far too many nights with his phone in one hand and his cock in the other, watching you through the screen.

watching you in those tiny lingerie sets. pink and white lace, frilly little bows, the kind of girlish softness that makes his teeth ache.

könig's watched every fucking video. every stream. every post. hours spent with his laptop open, pants shoved down around his hips, hand working his cock as you bat your lashes and moan so sweetly it makes his head spin.

‘am i a good girl?’ you breathe into the mic, like you’re talking right to him. like you know.

and god, does he know you.

he’s studied you. learned you. mapped out every twitch, every tell, every fleeting flicker of pleasure that crosses your pretty face. the way your brows pinch together when you’re getting desperate. the way your lips part right before you come, glossy and swollen, tongue darting out to wet them like you want something in your mouth, like you’re inviting someone to grab you by the jaw and fuck your throat until you can’t think.

he’s seen how your thighs start to tremble when you edge yourself too long. how your back arches off the sheets when you finally let go, hips rolling into your own hand, breath catching in your throat as you fall apart in a mess of shuddery gasps.

könig has jerked off to all of it.

not just once. not just twice.

so many times he’s lost count.

sometimes slow, drawing it out to hear that little whimper you make at the end— the one that sounds like you’ve been fucked dumb.

sometimes rough. desperate. chasing his own release with one hand fisted in the sheets and the other pumping his cock.

it drives him fucking crazy.

it’s worse up close. worse when you shift on your feet, looking up at him from beneath your lashes, trying to hold yourself together.

stop.

he clenches his fists. drags in a breath through his nose. he is not some fucking rookie. not some kid who can’t keep his head straight.

but then you make a sound that crawls under his skin and sinks deep. and suddenly his thoughts are careening somewhere they shouldn’t go—

places where that breathy little sound is choked out against his palm. where those fingers twisting at your sleeves are scrabbling at his belt instead, pulling, fumbling, desperate.

his cock twitches.

jesus christ.

it’s perverse. it’s wrong. twenty years between you. he shouldn't even be thinking about you like this. but then he thinks about how small your hands would look trying to wrap around his cock. how easily he could press you up against the nearest wall, let you feel how bad he wants you, let you know exactly what you do to him—

and yeah.

he’s fucked.

his grip tightens on the coffee cup, knuckles white, cardboard crumpling in his palm.

"we can reschedule." it’s the logical thing to say. the right thing.

but you stiffen immediately, shaking your head almost violently, like the mere suggestion hurts.

"i can’t." your voice wobbles. "i don’t have the budget for it. the airbnb, the crew- if we don’t shoot today, it’s done. i lose it."

he can hear the distraught in your voice, the panic creeping in, rising in your throat. and könig— könig has never been good at ignoring that kind of thing.

his jaw tightens. his fingers flex. his pulse pounds in his ears. and before he can think better of it—

"i can do it."

your head jerks up, eyes locking onto his. wide. startled.

"what?"

könig lifts a broad shoulder, deceptively casual, ignoring how his pulse is hammering in his throat. acting as if he didn’t just offer himself up like it was nothing.

"i can do it," he repeats. "you need a scene partner."

he pauses, just long enough to make sure you’re really listening before he adds, pointed: "i’ve done worse for less."

it’s true too. könig had started shooting for money, not for passion, not for art. there were years where he took any job that paid, no matter how grimy, no matter how degrading. no dignity in it, no careful framing, no thoughtful direction. just harsh lighting, rough hands, the sound of too many bodies shifting in too little space.

it’s not like that anymore.

now, he works for himself. he makes art, in his own way. he only takes projects that meet his standards, only shoots what he knows will look good.

and this, you, would look incredible.

"are you-" you swallow hard, throat working, voice tight. "you’re serious?"

könig lets out a short, amused breath, tilting his head. "wouldn’t offer if i wasn’t."

your gaze flickers down to his mouth, just for a second, before snapping back up.

he notices. of course he fucking notices.

you hesitate, worrying your lip between your teeth, and he wants— god, he wants.

he lifts his coffee, takes a slow sip. watches you.

"think it through," he says, letting the accent curl around the words. "do you trust me?"

you stare at him, breath coming in short, uneven pulls. your fingers tighten around your phone.

and then, even though you probably shouldn't, you nod.

this is insane, is all you can think as your hands smooth down the dress, fingertips catching on the fabric’s delicate weave. it sways when you move, hem teasing the tops of your thighs.

the crew picked it because it feels normal, something someone’s wife might wear on a lazy sunday, waiting for her husband to walk through the door. not lingerie, not tight or short or scandalous. innocent.

somehow, that makes it worse.

the set sprawls before you, carefully crafted to mimic home. the couch sits comfortably worn— or at least looks like it, upholstery creased just enough to suggest years of use. a blanket lies draped over the back, fringes brushed out to seem effortless.

the coffee table holds small artifacts of a life: a half-empty mug with a faint lipstick stain, a book splayed open, pages curled, a pair of keys glinting under the warm overhead glow. off to the side, a framed photo perches, two strangers caught in mid-laugh, frozen happiness you’re supposed to claim as yours.

the lighting bathes it all in amber. soft, forgiving. like sunset spilling through a window that doesn’t exist. everything is designed to feel. to pull the viewer into a scene that isn’t real but wants to be. warmth. comfort. longing.

your pulse trips. nerves coil tight under your. stepping out, you inhale–

and there he is.

könig stands beside the couch, posture loose, almost as if he’s holding himself back from something. the uniform strains against him, fabric pulled taut across broad shoulders and the solid line of his chest. it’s glaringly obvious that it wasn’t tailored for a man like him— you doubt anything ever is— but he wears it like it belongs to him anyway. the belt grips a tapered waist, dog tags resting cold against his sternum. they glint when he shifts, catching the warmth of the lights.

he’s big. that part you knew. everyone knows. but there’s something about seeing him like this, the bulk of him filling the space, boots planted, arms crossed, sleeves clinging to thick forearms, that makes your breath catch in your throat.

he looks like he could hold the world in his hands. break it if he wanted.

then he lifts his head. and his gaze finds you.

it hits like a physical weight, gravity pulling you closer.

his eyes track the line of your body. starting from your face, drifting down, and back up again. for a moment you assume he’s taking inventory, cataloguing details you didn’t know you were offering.

your skin prickles under the attention. heat pooling low, spreading outwards.

könig’s jaw shifts. a muscle ticks. his fingers flex where they rest against his bicep, knuckles pale for half a second before he eases them loose.

you swallow. "do i look okay?"

silence stretches. then: "you look perfect."

his voice sounds like it's been scraped raw from something you can’t name. and you know you shouldn’t take his words to heart. shouldn’t make something out of nothing. he was just being polite—

but god, he doesn’t stop looking.

you breathe out. "are we ready?"

that seems to snap him out. könig exhales, nostrils flaring. “yeah," he says, looking away.. "we’re ready."

you nod and he turns, clapping his hands together.

"quiet on set!" his voice cuts through the chatter. "lights- ready? camera?"

a muffled ‘rolling!’ comes from behind the equipment.

he glances back, stepping into place. "sound?"

"speed!"

he nods, shoulders shifting under the snug uniform. "all right. action on me. three... two..."

his gaze flickers forward, locks onto you. his hand lifts, a silent ‘ready?’

you nod.

"action!"

the front door creaks open.

you see him first— broad shoulders filling the doorway, boots heavy against the worn rug you picked out last fall. his bag drops with a dull thump, keys jangling, and for a beat, you just stand there, watching.

it doesn't feel real. something out of a dream. your husband looks older somehow. tired. lines carved a little deeper around his eyes, hair at his temples brushed with more gray than before.

it's longer now too, the ends curling where sweat and travel have left it mussed.

then his gaze lifts, blue catching yours. and that’s all it takes.

you move.

your feet carry you faster than you realize, dress fluttering against your legs as you throw yourself into him.

könig catches you with a small grunt, part effort, part relief, hardly moving from his spot. strong arms close around you as he lifts you off the floor with an ease that's almost unfair.

his hand finds the back of your thigh, fingers splayed wide. "easy, sweetheart," he murmurs, voice rough from disuse, deepened by exhaustion and age. there’s an edge to it, earned from years of barking orders and nicotine abuse. "still getting old, you know."

you huff a breath that’s almost a laugh. "you’re not that old."

"hm." könig presses his face into your hair. "tell that to my back."

your chest tightens. god, you missed him. missed the way he smells— soap, leather, that faint trace of cologne you’d tucked into his bag months ago, almost worn off, but still miraculously there. you press your nose to his neck, breathing him in, and whisper, "missed you."

"missed you more." when he pulls back, his gaze traces every line of your face, eyes crinkling at the corners. "lemme take a good look at you, baby."

heat blooms in your cheeks, but you let him. there’s something reverent about his gaze when you meet his eyes.

then, he kisses you.

and fuck.

it’s messy. warm. his mouth is rough against yours, stubble scraping your skin, tasting like coffee burned down to the dregs.

"god," you breathe, voice catching on a gasp. "i love you."

könig chuckles, pressing his forehead to yours. "love you too," he murmurs, using that voice he saves for early mornings when you’re tucked against him, trading lazy kisses and whispered secrets.

his hands slide down to your hips, pulling you close. the world tilts, narrows, until there’s nothing but him. his body, his breath, the scratch of his stubble when he tilts his head, brushing his nose against yours.

then his fingers slip under your dress. his breath hitches the moment he finds you bare, his touch grazing soft folds, sticky and warm with slick.

"no panties?" his voice dips somewhere between a laugh and a growl.

heat blooms in your stomach. you bite your lip, shrugging. "figured you'd appreciate it."

his gaze darkens, blue eclipsed by black. "oh, do i."

könig’s fingers slide between your folds, dragging through the slick mess you’ve already made. you flinch at the contact, hips twitching toward him before you can catch yourself.

he pushes it in, slow. the stretch punches a gasp out of you, walls fluttering around the intrusion. he pauses, ignores your whine, brows drawing together, finger knuckle-deep. "did you get tighter?"

his voice is soft, almost like he’s talking more to himself than you, words slipping out under his breath.

his finger curls, pressing snug against your walls, testing just how much resistance it meets.

you whimper, thighs twitching, nails digging into the fabric of his jacket. "m-maybe if you fucked me more, i wouldn’t be."

the words tumble out before you can think to stop them. your pulse skips as you process what you just said. heat floods your face.

könig’s head tilts. his eyes flick up, narrowing, — not angry, not exactly— but his stare steals the breath from your lungs all the same. your lips part, trying to fumble out an apology stuck at the back of your throat when—

slap.

he pulls his finger free and smacks your pussy.

you squeak, body jerking as the sting blooms quick and hot between your legs, warmth spreading through your skin, rushing up your spine. you’re caught between shock and the low, simmering heat that pools in your belly.

"careful," könig warns although his tone is deceptively light. his fingers tap against your clit in soft, featherlight pulses of teasing pressure that makes your thighs jump. "keep that attitude and i’ll slap this pretty little thing five times. make you count every single one. s’that what you want?"

your cunt clenches, slick dribbling down to coat his knuckles. he feels it, of course he does. feels how your body betrays you, responding before your mind can catch up.

chest heaving, you shake your head, breath shivering out of you. "no-"

"no?" he echoes a soft mockery, fingers dragging through the mess between your thighs, spreading it just to hear the wet sound it makes echo in the space between you. "then behave, sweetheart. don’t make me teach you."

your heart pounds, breath coming in little gasps as you offer him a jerky nod. könig only watches with lazy half-lidded eyes.

"now," he murmurs, finger filling you again. "gonna ask one more time. have you gotten tighter..." his thumb brushes your clit, just enough to make you twitch, "...or have i just left you empty for too long?"

heat surges through you. your hands clutch at his jacket, grounding yourself in the weight of him. your face burns.

"you were gone for so long," you whisper, voice small, shame curling in your stomach.

he sighs. something in his gaze softens, guilt threading through his voice. "i know, baby." his forehead presses against yours. “missed you too."

you sniffle, nuzzling into his shoulder. "y-you can’t go away that long again..." the words tremble, cracking at the edges.

he kisses your temple, breath warm against your skin. "i won’t," he lies, gentle. "let me stretch you out, yeah?"

könig guides you further into your home, coaxing you down on the couch. könig kneels between your legs, broad hands spreading you open and drinking in the sight of you laid out before him.

"look at you," he murmurs, thumb dragging through your folds, gathering your slick up to rub slow circles against your clit. "so wet for me already. miss having me inside, huh?"

your fingers clutch at the cushions as he begins to fill you, head tipping back. "yes-"

"you gotta watch, pretty," könig interrupts, fingers tilting your chin back down.

your gaze drops, breath catching when you see it— his thick fingers buried deep inside you, slick dribbling down his knuckles. the gold band around his finger shines beneath the mess you’ve made, drenched, the sight obscene and somehow more intimate than you’re prepared for. your walls flutter around him, clenching down like your body’s desperate to keep him there.

"look at that.” he grind. "look at your cute little cunny... makin’ a mess all over me."

your cheeks burn. you squirm, trying to close your thighs, but his other hand tightens on your hip, keeping you spread. "no hiding," he says. "told you to watch."

so you do.

you watch the slow drag of his fingers pulling out, coated in slick that strings between you. your cunt clenches around nothing, throbbing, and you let out a soft, desperate whimper. könig hums, pleased, pressing back in. "look how well you take me," he says, dragging against that spot inside that makes your vision blur.

you whimper, head spinning, hips grinding down onto his hand. "feels so good-"

"yeah?" he presses a kiss to the inside of your thigh. "gonna let me in now, sweetheart? let me fill you up nice and slow?"

you nod, frantic, words lost to the heat coiling low in your stomach. könig smiles, pulling his fingers free. you whine at the loss.

"shh," he soothes, wiping his slick-covered fingers against the head of his cock, spreading you over himself. "gonna take care of you. just lay back and be good for me, yeah?"

his hands grip your thighs, pressing them up toward your chest, folding you beneath him. your skin burns under the pressure, nerves sparking with every shift of his weight. the blunt head of his cock nudges against your entrance. he’s patient, achingly so— dragging it along your folds, gathering your slick, smearing it along his length until you’re soaked enough that he doesn’t have to rip you open.

könig’s gaze drops to where you’re spread open for him. "ready?"

you nod, breath catching in your throat, but it’s barely a sound, barely a thought when he starts to press in. he breaches you, the thick crown of his cock pushing past your entrance. your cunt clenches on instinct, trying to force him out, but könig presses on.

every inch feels like fire licking up your spine, burning through every nerve until you’re nothing but sensation.

"gonna fill you up, sweetheart.” his voice is a low rumble that vibrates through your bones. "stretch you out every day i’m home-" he drives forward another inch, making your back arch, "-’til this pretty cunt just opens up for me."

you can’t speak. can’t think. everything narrows down to the drag of him inside you, veins and ridges catching on the soft walls of your cunt. your mind spins, vision blurring as your hips jerk, instinctively trying to escape the overwhelming fullness. his fingers bite into your thighs, holding you in place.

"uh-uh," he murmurs, dark amusement curling at the edges of his words. "don’t run, baby. you wanted this."

he braces himself, broad shoulders tense above you as he tries to sink deeper. but even with how wet you are, how pliant you’ve gone beneath him, your body refuses to give. his hips stutter, pushing, pushing— yet still, there’s that impossible last inches he can’t force past.

“p-please- need it, need you-” the words spill out as he pauses, pulling back an inch.

"i know, baby, i know," he pants, forehead pressing to yours, sweat slick between you, before rolling his hips back in, trying his damn best to bottom out, but your cunt clenches stubbornly. frustration twists across his face, the sight of you writhing beneath him, cunt stretched wide and still too tight to take him fully— it drives him insane.

"gonna have to fix that," he murmurs, thumb brushing a tear from your cheek.

you nod, dazed, tears slipping down your temples as you sob out a choked, "yes- yes, please-"

"shh," könig soothes, leaning in to kiss the corner of your mouth. "you’re doin’ so good, baby. takin’ me so well. just need to open you up a little more, yeah?"

könig adjusts his grip, hands sliding beneath your knees, lifting you with ease. before you can even register the shift, he’s pulling you up against his chest, arms hooking beneath your legs, locking you back in a full nelson.

your breath stutters, eyes going wide as your body is left entirely at his mercy, weightless in his grip, spread open around him.

könig’s lips graze your ear. "gonna let gravity help us, yeah? lil bit of science. let’s see if this pretty little cunt can take all of me now."

your toes curl, breath hitching as he angles his hips, smearing your slick between you.

then he lets gravity do most of the work.

your breath leaves you in a shattered moan as your body sinks down, forced open as he drops you down on his cock. your walls flutter, clenching around him, stretched impossibly wide, struggling to take him, but he doesn’t stop, doesn’t let you squirm away.

"that’s it," könig groans, arms flexing as he holds you still, keeps you spread. "so fuckin’ good for me, baby. lettin’ me stretch you open- gonna make you take it all."

you whimper, drool slipping from the corner of your lips, eyes rolling back as the last stubborn inch finally, finally sinks in, his cock seated fully inside you for the first time.

"fuck," könig grits out. "that’s my girl. knew you could take it, baby. knew you just needed a little help."

könig doesn’t give you much of a chance to adjust. the moment he thinks you're ready, his arms tighten, muscles flexing as he hauls you up before slamming you back down.

you jolt, cunt forced to stretch and squeeze around him with every thrust. his strength controls everything— the pace, the depth, the way you bounce like a ragdoll, helpless to slow him down. he’s slamming himself inside, spearing you open over and over, forcing you to stretch wider than you ever have.

you can’t keep up. your limbs go slack, muscles useless, brain short-circuiting. your vision blurs, eyes rolling back, drool slipping from the corner of your lips as your mouth falls open in a silent scream.

könig chuckles, pleased, watching the way you’ve gone completely limp in his arms. "gonna stretch you out like this every single day. keep you full, fuck you dumb, make sure this little cunt remembers who it belongs to."

your body convulses, wracked with sensation too intense to hold in. könig keeps moving, fucking you onto his cock like he’s trying to break you in, to shape your cunt to his cock.

"n-no-" your voice barely comes out. a sob caught in your throat as your fingers claw weakly at his forearms. your legs shake, eyes welling up, tears spilling hot down your cheeks. "g-gonna pee," you whimper, body locking up.

"no, baby." he drags you down harder, grinding the thick head of his cock against that perfect spot inside you. "you’re gonna cum. gonna make a mess all over me, aren't you?"

your sob turns into a choked wail as you gush, squirting hard, the release almost violent, soaking könig's thighs, dripping down to form a puddle on the floor beneath you.

könig watches you fall apart with hooded eyes, holding you up as your body jerks and trembles in his arms. "good girl," he praises, sounding utterly enthralled by the mess you’ve made. "fuckin’ knew you’d soak me- knew you were just a little messy thing."

you slump against him, muscles useless. the aftershocks have you so dazed that you barely register the shift before you’re being turned, pressed down against the floor, cheek squished against the slick puddle you just made.

"könig-" you whimper, trying to lift yourself, but his broad hand presses between your shoulder blades, keeping you down, keeping you open.

he ignores you, fingers digging into your hips, adjusting your position, spreading you wider. he lines himself up and pushes in, stuffing you to the brim in one deep thrust. your fingers claw at the wet floor beneath you, the slick sound of him sinking into you obscene in the quiet.

"good fuckin’ girl," he drags his cock out before slamming back in, his thighs slapping against your ass. "just let me use you, yeah? just take it like my perfect little cumdump."

you sob into the mess beneath you. könig presses your face harder against it, his broad palm splayed between your shoulder blades, keeping you pinned.

"lick it up," he orders, tone smooth, assured, the kind of voice that expects obedience.

your whole body burns, but the heat between your legs is hotter. könig feels the way you clench around him at the command, the way your body betrays you before your lips can even form a protest.

"kö-”

“don’t make me say it twice, sweetheart," he warns, hips pulling back, dragging his cock out until only the tip stretches you open.

"what’s the matter?" he mocks. "you were so eager to make this mess- now you’re going shy?"

your breath shudders out in a small whimper before you obey, lowering your head, tongue flicking out, just barely grazing the puddle beneath you.

könig clicks his tongue. "that’s not licking, that’s teasing."

his hips snap forward, knocking you further into the mess, forcing your mouth against it. your lips part with a gasp, and könig watches, eyes dark and hungry, as you taste yourself properly for the first time.

"there we go," he hums, smug satisfaction. "now clean up every drop."

your cheeks burn as you press your tongue flat to the floor, licking a slow, tentative stripe through the mess. the taste floods your mouth and your stomach twists— but the weight of könig’s cock inside you, the way he keeps you full and stretched and pinned beneath him, sends another rush of slick dripping down your thighs.

he notices. of course he notices.

"oh, sweetheart," he breathes. "you like this, don’t you?"

your body betrays you again, a little shiver running down your spine, your cunt fluttering around him.

"mm, you do." he chuckles, dragging his fingers through your hair, tightening his grip. "filthy little thing. you’re gettin’ off on this."

you squeeze your eyes shut, shame crawling up your throat.

"könig-"

"uh-uh," he interrupts, grip tightening, making you whimper. "keep licking, schatz. don’t stop ‘til it’s gone."

your tongue flicks out again, lapping up another mouthful, swallowing it down even as heat prickles behind your eyes.

könig groans at the sight, his free hand stroking down your spine, over the curve of your ass. "that’s it, baby," he breathes. "such a good little slut for me."

you whimper, thighs squeezing together, hips rocking subtly against him, desperate for friction, for anything.

he notices that, too. "oh, you poor thing," he coos, all false sympathy, fingers stroking your cheek where it’s damp with tears. "s’this gettin’ you all worked up?"

könig pulls back just a little, dragging his length through your overstretched walls. "you gonna come just from this?" he asks, rolling his hips. your body tenses, toes curling. "from licking your mess off the floor like a good little bitch?"

your face burns, whole body trembling. too full, too overwhelmed, too much— and yet, you nod, a choked little sob escaping your lips.

his pace stutters, burying himself to the hilt with a ragged groan, holding you still as he spills inside, his cock twitching, pumping thick ropes of cum into your swollen cunt. "fuck," he pants, chest heaving, his weight bearing down on you. "so good, baby. took me so fuckin’ well."

his cum is hot inside you, sticky, leaking, seeping out around his cock as he slowly pulls back, watching his spend start to slip from your overstretched hole. könig hums, almost thoughtful. he presses a broad palm against your pussy, scooping it up, pushing it back in with two thick fingers, shoving his spend as deep as it’ll go. "keep it in,” he says almost absentmindedly. he lifts his hand after a moment, tilting his head as he examines the way it drips from his fingers.

his free hand cups your jaw, tilting your face up. your lips part before he even has to tell you. "clean it up," he slides his ring finger past your lips.

your lashes flutter, heat prickling up your spine as you close your lips around him, sucking gently, swirling your tongue over the ridges of his finger, tasting yourself, tasting him.

könig groans, thumb stroking over your cheek, watching your lips stretch around the digit, tongue flicking against the band wrapped around his finger.

"good girl," he breathes, eyes hooded, cock twitching against your slick folds, already stirring again, already wanting more.

he presses his finger deeper, until it nudges against the back of your throat, until your breath stutters and your eyes go hazy, wet.

"so pretty like this.” his other hand slips between your legs again, rubbing slow circles over your swollen clit. "gonna keep you like this forever, wife. nice and full."

he pulls his finger from your mouth with a soft pop, watching the way your tongue flicks out after it, lips wet, eyes dazed. "gonna make you a mommy.” he grins. “fill you up every night until it takes.”

“-and cut!”

bleeding blue | apocalypse au

part thirty-five —other parts

pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x fem!reader words: 5.8k tags: death. blood and gore. zombies of course. AFAB reader. single dad ghost. enemies to lovers. menstruation. harm to a child. summary: After losing your companions, you run into a skull-masked man and his daughter. They are your last hope for survival.

Jagged rock burns into your palms. Slapping a hand up, you feel for the grassy ledge, barely visible in the darkness. You heft the backpack over it before managing to pull yourself up, landing on your stomach with a grunt through your teeth. The sneakers you scavenged from the closet are tight around your toes—better than Salome's thin shoes, but still far from pleasing as you stand and press on towards the road.

Moonlight guides you north. 

Not long until sunrise, judging by the sky.

Small white clouds puff around your mouth as the chilled air brushes the damp spot on your too-big jeans, the cuffs rolled and the waist cinched to keep them from slipping. You couldn't leave in the middle of the night, so you held a mug of water as a makeshift alarm. The moment sleep tried to steal you, the splash on your thigh ended it abruptly. 

You'd woken Blue up to tell her. At first, grey eyes scolded you in the dark. She looked away, ready to argue, before quietly reciting instead: the house they kept her in, the layout, any hiding places she may have seen.

"What about her?" you had asked. "Anything important to her. She probably saw antibiotics as a gift from God or something."

"Yeah. She would've," Blue muttered. "She liked to knit. And, um, talked about birds. Her husband owned the whole place, but he died. I don't know if any of that helps."

"It does. It's better than nothing." You gave her hand a squeeze. "Make sure he eats again. And check his back. You might need to drain it. You know how now, right? Nereida could—"

"I've got it." She slipped her hand away. "Just—don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"Of course not."

Sneaking out had been easy—only because Nereida was on watch. You slipped out the back and wove through the tall grass, barely stirring the stalks. Price would've caught you for sure. But you made it across the creek with nothing more than the slow unrolling of your jeans to slow you down, the cuffs dragging in the water and soaking through. You rolled them back up, but a kilometer up the road, they've slouched back down, heavy and clinging to your legs.

Time feels like an enemy, one you've already let get the better of you for over a day now. Begrudgingly, you sink onto the hood of a rusted car and take the knife from your waist, slashing roughly at the ends of the fabric. A serrated one would be easier to work with. The end result is jagged hems. Less of a nuisance now, at least.

Ghost's persistent fever isn't the only threat. It's the sepsis. The blood poisoning. The shutting down of his organs. The things you haven't explained to Blue. At best, he could have a week. At worst, if they set in quickly, another day. The thought scrubs your hands over your bleary eyes, recentering your vision, and you push away from the car. You toss the cut scraps in the grass just when a disturbance skims the back of your neck.

You whirl around, dropping the knife in favor of the pistol. 

"Just me."

"Jesus. Kyle. I was ready to shoot."

"Honorable of you to give me a quick one."

You huff, bend for the knife, and slip it back at your waist.

He closes the gap, rifle and backpack slung over his shoulders. 

"Why wouldn't you tell anyone?" His brows lower. "I went to feed him, and Blue said you’d gone back. Hell of a surprise."

You give him your back. "I've already wasted time. I knew what you'd say."

"And what exactly did you think I'd say?" A hand on your shoulders pries you back around.

Your eyes drift up to his, narrow, then veer to the side. "That it's a long shot."

"Yeah, it is." His hand drops. He brushes past you with a sigh, long and ragged, adjusting the rifle on his back. "Come on, then. You're not the only one who gives a shit about him."

There isn't anything to be said as you trudge beside him, no argument able to form. You know his company is invaluable. Gratitude is still hard to find, even when he prevents you from going the wrong way. "We turned here last time." Apparently you hadn't paid much mind. The road fills the gaps of silence, dawn breathing life into the buzz of cicadas. Long drags of air fill your lungs: sweet flowers only, until, something else. A waft of charred meat.

"You should eat."

Kyle extends a piece of squirrel. Despite the twinge in your stomach, you brush him off. "While they were starving you, we were getting stuffed. Fatten the mares, get a strong foal—all that."

His jaw ticks. "Ah."

"Damn good food, too."

"Lucky you."

"Lucky us."

Conversation shrinks to a brief exchange of what Blue said. He doesn't look convinced it'll help much. The stench doesn’t sour the air until the first sign for Fleurbaix rises at your right—like a breath in your face. Humidity clings to it, thick and unmoving, until there’s nothing else to breathe. In the sunlight, familiar stone walls and red-shingled rooftops repulse you, almost more than the sight of aimless Greys—some weaving between clotheslines, most trapped within the fenced pasture. The cows, however, have already fled through a broken gap, eager to escape uphill.

"They should've lost interest by now. The blood isn't fresh," you mutter.

"Humidity. Less evaporation, more smell." He nods the tip of his rifle. "Over there. That one has a wraparound porch like Blue said."

The view vanishes behind overgrown trees as you crest a hill, descending toward the commune. Kyle motions you forward, weaving through structures, keeping clear of the Greys. As long as they can’t scent you, they will stay distracted. You step over a few stray bodies, faces picked apart by crows that scatter at your approach. Clinging to a stone wall as you follow, a bony hand bursts forth from a window—Kyle knifes its skull before it can grab you.

Other than that, there aren't any close calls.

You reach the house that fits Blue's description.

The door is wide open.

Kyle sweeps in with the poised rifle.

You are greeted by an already ransacked interior. Tipped chairs, half-yanked cabinets, tossed couch cushions. A sick understanding settles at your fingertips, curling them around the gun. 

"They were here. The women. They knew she would've hidden them."

More signs that this is just a dead end; a waste of precious time.  

Kyle lowers the guns and presses forward into the hall. "That doesn't mean they found what they were looking for. Check the rooms."

Maman's house is as expected, even in disarray. Quiet and balmy. You kick open the first door. Polished wood, gold-embellished hinges, a closet stuffed with white gowns. A knitting bag catches your eye. You sift through it, tossing out balls of red yarn. Nothing.

More nothing under the bed. 

You tear the painting from the wall, only solid stone behind it.

A family photo thrashes to the floor beneath a swipe of your fist. You find Kyle in the other room, where a smaller bed is tucked beneath a window—the sight makes it hard to breathe for a moment. The blood stain on the sheets. Somehow you know whose it is. Your stomach rips at itself. You force yourself to look away before you lose it. 

"The floorboards. They didn't look under them. Help me."

He raps the butt of the rifle against the wood. A hollow echo near the doorway offers promise. A knife jammed between the planks pries them apart. When you sink to your knees, all that fills your hands are stashes of faded euros. No pills, no vials. 

You rip up the notes and let the shreds feather through the air, leaning back on your palms as a quiet hiss leaves your teeth. "Where did you put them you vile, ugly, goddamn hag."

"Maybe her son kept them," Kyle murmurs, threading a hand through his hair. "He had the guns."

"No." Your voice is firm. You stand and pace. "She would've wanted them close to her. Antibiotics—she was saving that for the women. The births."

You reach for your knife and stab the mattress, slicing it open. Springs and foam. Books maybe. You run back to the shelf in the hall and rip them one at a time, flipping them open to see if any were hollowed out. Even the Bible is just a book. 

What else?

What else?

"How much time are we willing to spend looking for them, Twix?" he asks lowly behind you. "Maybe we check somewhere else. A town."

"They'd have picked them clean years ago." You toss the Bible to the floor with a thud. "This was our best bet. We had them. We fucking had them."

"And now we don’t. We can’t keep tearing this place apart. We focus on keeping him stable—keep the wounds clean, use what we’ve got. He’s made it this far without them. We just need to buy him more time. There might be another stash in one of the other houses."

You lean against the wall, eyes fluttering shut briefly. A deep inhale. "There's just—something I'm missing."

"Twix—" He sighs, running a hand down his face. "Alright. Let's do another sweep. I'll check the floors in the living room."

Thoughts race. A frothy tide refusing to settle. You press your thumb to the scabbed cut on your wrist, the sting sharpening your mind. Back in the cell. Morning sun slanting through the window. Obsessively studying what’s around you. Replaying everything you learned about that woman. A dead woman. If you could’ve told the Greys to hold off, let her speak before they tore through her neck, you would have.

In the midst, a dove’s call breaks through—three notes, too close in your ear. You must be imagining it, but Alexandre’s voice stirs in your head: La tourterelle chante pour toi.

He said that when he heard the dove.

Why?

Birds.

She talked about birds.

You push off the wall and follow the sound to the room where they kept Blue. The coo draws you to the windowsill by the bed, where the glass is cracked just enough for the curtains to stir, the stench outside seeping in. Twin beady eyes snap to yours, a mechanical tilt of its neck. A collared dove, you think. Paul used to rise early to listen to them.

"Where are they?" you press lowly, accusing. "You know, don't you?"

The bird doesn’t answer, only flutters down from the sill.

Your fingers grip the edge of the window as you kneel on the ruined mattress. Below, the bird perches in the flower box—no flowers, just dried weeds and a nest of twigs.

"Tell me." It watches the whisper curl from your lips. "Tell me, or I’ll rip apart your home."

It flutters off. Your arm lunges after it, clawing at the nest in blind retaliation. Twigs snap. Dirt kicks up into your eyes. You blink hard to clear it. A strangled sound catches in your throat—half a curse, half a cry. Then, something strange beneath. Sharp rust that makes you freeze.

You sweep debris off the top of a—a lock box—loosely buried within the soil. A breath lodges in your throat as you claw at the dirt, dragging the rusted metal loose, launching backward on the bed with it clutched in both hands. It can't be real. You give the box a sharp shake. Something rattles inside, and your chest tightens.

"Kyle!"

Thunderous slaps of his boots echo down the hall. He rushes in, scanning you with a sweep of his gaze.

"No, I'm—this is locked." You tug at the bolted metal. "Can you open it?" 

He doesn't question it, the flicker of relief in his face quickly replaced by a grim determination as he musters his strength, raising the rifle and bringing the butt down hard against the lock. A sharp clang echoes through the room, metal chipping but holding firm. He exhales through his nose, adjusting his grip, and you meet his eyes, nodding once—keep going.

He hammers at the lock repeatedly, pausing only to yank at it, testing for weakness. You wipe dirt from your jeans, watching. Whatever she buried here—it mattered. It had to. You glance away for a second when the dove returns to the windowsill, but movement beyond it sends your pulse spiking above the sharp cut of metal.

Greys.

When did they—

"Shit, shit, shit." You lurch from the bed. 

He stops, yanking up the rifle to jut it toward the window, shooting a snarling one that clambers up on the porch. It flails back, revealing more alike behind it—many more—shambling out from wherever they'd been lingering. "Fuck—how!" He tucks the lock box under his armpit and grabs your wrist. "Come on."

The living room windows reveal just how many have begun to close in around the house. Faster ones are already at the front door, clawing at the wood. Kyle swears, yanking you toward the bathroom—higher ground, a window above the porcelain tub. He slams it open with the rifle, then hands instantly find your waist to lift you. You shed the backpack, pulling it through behind your feet to squeeze through blindly.

"Anything to climb?" he barks.

You look up. "A gutter!"

You grab it and tighten your core, hoisting yourself up as your sneakers scrape against the siding, the moans below growing louder as they round the corner of the porch. Your palms press into exposed rafters, the gutter serving as a shaky foothold, but the last push onto the roof eludes you.

A firm shove at your thighs sends you over. You scramble up, steadying yourself before glancing back.

Kyle is halfway up, rappelling fast—until a bony hand clamps around his ankle, yanking him downward. Disoriented from the rush, you slap for the gun at your waist, firing wildly—two bullets wasted before one lands, shattering the Grey's skull with a squeal.

He throws the lockbox. You catch it just as he hauls himself onto the shingles.

Your head reels as you watch Kyle drop to one knee and start picking them off. Four, maybe five drop with ease, but the rest move erratically—jolting, frantic. He slows, trying to track their unpredictable movements, each shot requiring more precision. If you had your bow, you could help. But the pistol? You don't trust yourself.

He grunts in frustration, adjusts his stance, then reloads as he circles the perimeter of the roof. That’s when you feel it—not a hunger pang, but a deep, familiar ache, piercing low in your gut. Then something wet. Warm. A slow gush down your leg. Your breath stutters as you glance down at the stain blooming red across your thigh.

"It's me," you say.

"What?"

"Fuck, it's me they smell. My period."

His gaze drops to your body, widening when he sees the evidence. You should feel exposed, but you don’t. The thought slams into your brain at the same time your hands move—unbuttoning, yanking at the fly. The moans below swell.

"We can use it. Look away."

His eyes snap back to yours, then dart away with a sharp exhale. "Christ."

You’re already shoving them down, tugging at the loose, borrowed underwear clinging to your hips. Gathering the fabric, you swipe at the blood slick on your thigh, pressing it deeper into the fabric. "It can buy us time—but not much."

You yank the jeans back up. You roll the underwear into a ball. Kyle looks over.

"There—throw it toward that house. The door’s open. If enough go inside, it might trap some. Then we run back to the hill."

Just as quickly as the plan is formed, you hurl back your arm and launch the decoy as hard as you can. It lands in front of the next house, far enough to release the breath caged in your lungs as heads snap toward it, bodies lurching away. Kyle slings the rifle over his shoulder, grips your waist, and helps you down—but the moment he lets go to steady himself, your foot slips on the gutter.

You land roughly on your side, losing hold of the lockbox. All of the breath leaves your body as you scramble to grab it. A strong hand beneath your armpit tugs you back up, and then you're sprinting. A quick glance back shows most are drawn away, but a few still trail you. Kyle snatches the handgun from your waist mid-stride and fires, dropping two before they get too close.

You duck beneath clotheslines, weave through wash bins still brimming with water. Trample roses. The pulse pounding in your neck drowns out everything but the next shot Kyle fires—enough to throw off your step. You don’t see the one lunging until it slams into you from the side.

You feel the jolt of the fall before you fully register the thing wrestling on top of you. Hair whips into your mouth, rancid breath spilling hot across your cheek. The strength is wrong—too fresh, too human. The hands grabbing at you are still strangely soft. A distinct bulge presses you down. Then a glob of dark-tinged saliva splats onto your eye, blinding you before you can make sense of it.

It's only a second of fight before a shot to the skull sends pulpy blood and brain onto your face. 

The weight is torn away as you scrub at your eyes. Part of you already knows before you look at the limp corpse. Time congeals. Blonde hair fans over the grass, framing a pale face with white eyes. The slip dress—the same one you pulled over her head.

Her swollen belly.

You go rigid. Kyle has to yank hard to get you upright.

"Come on!"

"They left her."

The words spill numbly from your lips.

When he shoots another Grey, your wooden, puppet legs move. You leave the body of her behind, adrenaline numbing you. After what is realistically only minutes but feels like hours, the thick trees envelop you once again, and when you finally steal a glance, you can't see them anymore. They've lost your scent for now. Enough for you to pause against a tree, swallowing air to catch your breath. 

You walk deeper into the vegetation until Kyle feels satisfied enough to stop and retrieve a canister of water from his backpack. He offers it to you. It takes a moment to steady it at your lips, then your throat allows some down. But your stomach spasms almost instantly, and you are wrenching it back up at the base of a tree, crumpling to your knees.

"Shit."

Hands collect your hair.

A few more dry heaves consume you, until you're breathing harshly through a hanging mouth.

"No… They didn’t—" A hard swallow. "They let her out. She was in the cell."

"What?" His voice brushes your neck, touch halting at your shoulders. Realization softens his tone. "You knew her—the pregnant one."

You wipe your mouth. Force yourself to stand. His hands stay at your arms a beat too long, grip firm, like he’s waiting for something—an explanation you don’t give. You don’t meet his eyes. A flicker at your jaw. "We need to move."

Your stomach still aches, but you don't vomit again. You walk quickly out of the trees and to the road. 

The walk back is spent scanning more closely to see if you've drawn more with your smell. By the time you reach the cliff, midday swelters. Lightheadedness teeters your first attempt down. Kyle tosses the box and rifle to the bottom, then carries you on his back, your fingers interlocking to keep you secure like the backpack that hugs his chest. 

A stop at the creek allows a shaky handful of water to splash your face. Taking off your jeans to wash your blood-stained thighs feels too much of a task. Instead, you watch Kyle finally finish striking the lock, the metal giving way under his relentless grunts. 

"Do you want me to open it?" He glances at you.

A slow shake of your head. Your knees sink before it. Fingers hesitate at the latch. If this isn’t it—if it’s empty—you don’t know what comes next. What fills the space where the smallest sliver of hope has wedged itself in.

The scrape of rusted metal.

At first, all you see is cloth. A yellowed shade of white. A beat of nothing. Then, your hands move on their own accord, unwrapping the contents, brushing hard plastic. The faint rattle of capsules makes you inhale before you even read the first label: amoxicillin. You go still. Dig through for more. Four, five vials. Even more than what you had on you.

The run back to the house is a battle against your own legs.

The smell of blood hits first—thick, metallic. Not human. A quick glance confirms it, Price carving up a hefty cattle he must've found.

He's saying something, to Kyle maybe. You don’t pause.

The front door swings open.

Blue—

She slams into you, arms locking tight, breath knocked from your lungs.

"I saw you from the window."

"You shouldn’t be on your feet," you manage.

She looks down. At your hand. At the pills.

Her voice trembles. "You… you found it?"

You nod.

Up the stairs. Blue tugging at your sleeve. Kyle's steps audible behind you. The bedroom waits. Stale air. Ghost—he's lying on his stomach the way you left him, but a smother of something sticky glistens on his back. 

"Honey," Blue mumbles, wincing as she lowers on the bed. "Ari... he found a hive. I was just about to put clean bandages, too. It helps, right?"

"Not as much as this should help."

Kyle begins lifting him.

"He was up for a bit, but he was... talking weird," Blue whispers as you kneel at Ghost's side, fight the shake in your hand to unscrew the cap. "He asked if you were sleeping outside—like, out loud, to himself. Then he kept saying ‘sparks’ and ‘Washington.’ Do you know what that means?"

The words barely register anything but confusion and the fact that he is even worse. It's Kyle who answers under his breath. "No clue." His gets Ghost upright without disturbing his wounds, steadying a hand at the back of his skull. 

When your thumb presses at his bottom lip, the dry, cracked skin resists. As you try to pry it apart, his eyes flicker open—unfocused. Dilated pupils shift to yours.

"I need you to open," you whisper around the tightness in your throat. "It's amoxicillin. We've got it."

Overgrown hair clings to his forehead, thick and unruly. Sharp stubble scrapes your hand as you try again to open his mouth. Labored breaths hit your knuckles, unnervingly hot, along with a release of words he murmurs through his teeth. "There you are... again. 

Your teeth graze your cheek. "Here I am. Now open, please."

He does—barely. The chalky pill makes it to his tongue. The rest blurs.

Waking up on edge is nothing new.

At first, you keep your eyes shut—squeezing them until the backs turn red. Then, true consciousness jolts through your limbs, setting a heavy heartbeat between your ears. Light floods your vision. Soft cheeks. Pink lips, pursed. Brows knitted tight.

"You make the strangest faces in your sleep sometimes."

"I..."

"Water?"

"Please," you croak.

Pins and needles prickle your fingers as you lift your head. A mug presses to your blistered lips, gentle fingers stroking the greasy hair at your temple. The gulp of water almost makes you moan. You're ready to down the entire things until it's pulled away.

"You're gonna throw up again if you keep going."

You lick your lips. "What?"

"You've been passed out for two days," Blue explains. "Except for when we tried to get you to eat and drink, but that was a fucking struggle. Nereida says you overworked yourself. Not enough sleep and water can kill you, you know." Her brow arches. "I told you not to do anything stupid, but I guess you've been doing that."

Two days.

You inhale through lungs that feel primitive. 

"He—"

"Before you ask, yes. We've been giving him the meds. Morning and evening. His fever finally went down last night. He's been out since."

Your eyes finally drift to the other side of the bed. A steady rise and fall presses warmth into the sheets. You scramble up, reaching over—his cheek meets your palm, warm, but not alarmingly so. Normal, almost. A faint flush dusts his skin, the color creeping back in. His back is freshly bandaged, but his eyelids still bear the violet tinge of exhaustion.

"It's helping." The words press into your teeth. 

The rest of the day passes in gentle fragments. 

A bowl of fire-braised beef pressed into your hands. You eat without tasting, slow chewing through lush fat, while Price and Kyle pore over a more detailed almanac they found in the house. The food settles heavy, to the point of discomfort, but stays down. 

Later, you wade into the creek with Nereida. She was the one who changed you while you were out—scrubbing the dirt from your legs, tucking fresh towels and a new pair of underwear beneath you. You only realize she added rosemary when a sprig falls out as you undress.

You listen to her talk. You don’t tell her about Salome. No. You keep it to yourself. The water is warm. At first, you don’t feel it. But as it swallows your shins and carries away ribbons of dried blood, the gentle current soothes, taking the edge off the sun, which turns the rocks along the bank scorching hot. Birds call from the trees—you don’t know what kind. Worm-like minnows tickle your sore toes.

Back at the house, you sit on the porch to wring out your hair. You catch Ari carrying Blue through the garden, her head tucked against his shoulder, bandaged feet dangling over the arm that hooks under her knees. They whisper about something. His steps are slow, pausing by a beautiful patch of flowers that, apparently, smell rancid by the way she leans in and recoils, making a face. When you look away, Kyle is staring at you across the grass as he hangs strips of beef over a tree branch to dry. 

You should thank him. For not letting you do the stupid thing alone. But instead, you shift your gaze to the sun and watch its slow descent on your own, studying the way it casts an orange glow across the wild growth. It's the sudden assault of dark clouds that send everyone inside. A summer rain that bursts down without warning, without mercy. 

It hasn't relented by the time you fix a bowl of meat for Ghost. He has yet to ingest anything but bone broth and some plum juice according to Blue and Nereida. You chew off little pieces of the least fattiest parts into a bowl and give it to Blue. You go with her to feed him but stop short, keeping your distance. You simply watch from across the room as he manages to sit up on his own despite swaying, brushing away Price's helping arm, and chewing slowly with great effort. His eyes, focused and clear, flit upward to yours. You hold them for a moment, until the pull in your chest turns intolerable, and you look down at his bandaged shoulder instead. 

"Tastes good?" Blue murmurs, brushing the hair from his forehead.

He hums. 

"How do you feel?"

He swallows, then lifts a hand to her hair, thumbing at it. "Young again."

She places her hand over his, biting a smile. "You're so annoying."

She wipes at her eyes. 

Instead of easing, the rain intensifies as the night deepens. Distant thunder rolls closer, flashing into overhead lightning that only sharpens your edge. Blue, on the other hand, spends the night with Ari in the living room, where Kyle helped them set up a small fort of blankets and pillows—a small distraction, but one she could use. It takes a nudge from you to push past her hesitation, to convince her it’s okay to leave Ghost’s side, just for a little while.

"It's good to have some space, if you need it."

That leaves you alone in the bedroom with him. He knocked out again after eating. You redo his bandages, relieved to find the wounds free of pus. New scabs have begun to form, fragile but promising.

But you can't lay down. You try—perch at the edge of the bed, press your palms into the mattress—then you're back on your feet.

The walls feel too close. The air too thick. His steady breathing should ground you, should ease something inside you, but it doesn’t. The storm is unyielding, pressing against the house, rattling the windows. It drives your nails into your palms, into the raw skin around them. A string ties itself around your ankles, pulling one foot in front of the other until you're in the hallway, hand blindly skimming the wall to guide you to the spiral staircase.

Upward.

The library. You don’t even realize you’ve come here until you freeze at the top of the stairs, staring at the wreckage left behind by your hands. Books lie scattered across the floor, pages severed and crumpled. A curtain rod rests askew, displaced in the quiet ruin.

When you finally move, it’s a mindless ordeal. The motions of putting the room back together—guided only by the stray flash of lightning—steal any thoughts before they can form. You kneel, gently stacking books against your chest, slotting them one by one back onto the oak shelves. Embellished spines offer familiar titles, even in French. A lot of Jane Austen.

"No Hemingway, huh?" you whisper, swiping a finger through the blanket of dust before bending for more books. You reach the last shelf, lips twitching. "I'm fixing you. Happy now?"

Of course, no answer. Only the faint slide of leather against the wood. 

He’s in the room before you notice.

The presence registers as a skim along the back of your neck.

But you don’t turn, hand freezing after you release Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, then dropping limp at your side. You know it’s him. You feel it in the shift of the air, the weight of it settling differently around you. More so in the slow, deliberate footfalls, each one measured, as if testing the ground. And if none of that gives him away, the warmth of his breath—heavy, uneven—spilling over your scalp does. It sinks into your skin when he reaches you, winds through your veins, curls your toes against the floor until they hurt.

You try to inhale, but the breath snags, fracturing in your throat. "You shouldn’t be up."

"I shouldn't."

His hand lifts, knuckles skimming the flannel draped over your frame before grazing your neck with a slow, unhurried sweep of his thumb. It trails down your arm, pausing at the last book in your grasp. He takes it from you—or maybe it slips from your weak grip. You can't tell.

With a deep breath, he reaches the shelf above you. The book doesn't fit at first, his hand unsteady, struggling to align it. A final rough shove of his knuckles forces it into place. He’s close. You knew he was, but now his scent wraps around you—mossy, salty, earth that you fall face-first into. His chest skims your spine. An elbow grazes your ear as he finishes.

And then he turns you.

Slowly. His fingers curl around your shoulder, guiding you until you're facing him. Your feet slide to follow, reluctant and all too willing. Storm-filtered light catches on the sharp cut of his jaw, casting it in shadow. You brace yourself, breath unformed in your chest, unable to meet his eyes—though you feel them, tracing every inch of your face.

Wordless, he takes hold of your wrist. You don’t understand why until he cradles it in his rough palm, between your chests. His chapped lips lower to the tail-end of the healing cut, light enough not to stir pain.

His lips move.

But you don't.

It's as if every function of your brain is funneled into the nerves beneath each kiss he trails up your forearm. Soft, unwavering, yet each one lingering for a beat longer than the last. The next one lands at the crease in your elbow. A breath finally rushes out of your nose when he reaches the top of your shoulder, close enough to the pounding artery in your neck to invite heat over your cheeks. A strange heat. The same temperature of the moisture that begins to cloud your vision. 

You tremble. "Ghost, I—" 

You make a last-ditch effort to clutch the hem of his jeans before your knees can waver, clutching it fiercely when his mouth finds your throat. He kisses the part of it that bobs. Then pulls away just enough to cup your face between his hands, forcing your gaze to his. What you are met with is twin, black eyes. They unnerve you. Like the ground beneath your feet, it feels like they might swallow you whole and spit you out. 

You can't breathe. The shaking is uncontrollable. Rapid blinks dispel the moisture in your eyes before you're gasping, pressing into him. "Please... please. Ghost, I—" Frustration chokes you. "Please, I just—"

You sound scared, even to your own ears. Like you might get hurt if you he doesn't give you what you're asking for. But you don't know what you're asking for—don't understand why the soft kisses he places on your forehead and cheeks feel like too much and not enough at the same time. Your hands clasp his wrist to pull his hands off your face, nails thoughtlessly piercing into the skin there. He allows it—you hurting him—even when almost his entire upper half is swathed in bandages. 

"You're shaking," he murmurs.

"I'm fine." You exhale, but it’s uneven, shaky in its own right. "I just need—"

His thumb presses under your chin in attempt to still you.

A swallow forces down the lump in your throat. The ghost of an inhale. Then you lunge, kissing him. Not gentle or hesitant. But with a desperate growl, bursting forth from your mouth into his, your hand threading into his hair and holding tight onto his skull.

Family Tree (Chapter 33)

Simon x Y/n

Simon was never the romantic type of lad. Well..... before he met you. There were no such things like rose pedals and cheesy surprises. The surprise to ask you to marry him was more than enough. 

Still, he had bashfully - and maybe somewhat reluctantly - asked his teammates for their opinions on what you would like for a romantic proposal. Price and Kyle giving him warm smiles and state what they thought would be nice, while Johnny's eyes were so bright with happiness, it made the lieutenant grunt. 

"Bout fuckin time L.T.!" he exclaimed. 

"Shut it, Johnny."

The thing was... you hadn't really experienced what romance should look like. Sure, Simon's romance and love were shown in other ways - paying bills, fixing things in the house, taking care of you, and more. So you really weren't expecting him to do what he did one random evening after work. 

Picking you up as usual, he informed you that he wanted to take you out to dinner; a nice upscale restaurant that neither of you had been to before. While it wasn't something he did often - not for lack of trying, he just enjoyed being cooped up in the house with you - it didn't particularly come as a shock with his request. A flashing smile spread across your face, and it stayed there all the way until you made it home and sprinted up the stairs to get ready. His plan falling into place with a smirk on his lips. 

After you were ready, you skipped downstairs to a waiting boyfriend who grinned at you. You'd always be beautiful to him, as he voiced that quiet often, but he was in pure awe when you reached the bottom step. His hand pulled out of his pocket, where a soft ribbon was curled in the palm. Your eyebrows shot up in curiosity. 

"What's that?"

He walked to stand behind you, "Got a surprise for you," he lowly said, hands coming to your front before he placed the ribbon over your eyes and tied it at the back of your head. 

Your own hands raised to the spot where it covered them, "A surprise?" he hummed, "You hate surprises," you wittily pointed out, earning a deep chuckle from his throat. 

"Just make sure ya can't see yeah?" he teased. 

"I can't," you whispered, heart beating slightly faster in your chest. 

He guided you out of the house and into the truck before hopping in himself and turning it on. The semi-short ride was quiet and comfortable, but your heart hadn't stopped beating so fast, you thought he would hear it. When the truck rolled to a stop, you tried feeling for any sense if you knew where he brought you, but there were still so many places in town you hadn't been to before, so it was hard to tell. 

He got out, quickly walking over to your door and opened it, "Watch y'step," he instructed as he carefully helped you out of the truck. There were a few stairs you had to take before a door opened, making your breath hitch, "Almost there," he said, walking you inside.

You huffed, "Sure we are."

He chuckled, "Now," he brought you to a standstill, "Keep the blindfold on until you're told to take it off alright?" You nodded. 

Giving a sweet kiss on the cheek, Simon's hand slipped away from yours as his footsteps ventured further off to god knows where. It was.... quiet. Wherever you were. The hairs on your neck stood up slightly at how silent it was. 

"You better not be trying to surprise me with a fucking proposal Simon," you grunted, nervously fiddling with your fingers. 

"Can take the blindfold off," a voice made you jump. 

Price. 

Quickly doing as he said, you removed the ribbon from your eyes, glancing at him with wide eyes, "Price?" he nodded, "What-"

His hand gestured to the double doors in front of you that were closed. Your eyes flickered between him and it, pausing with an eyebrow raised before your hand carefully pushed open them. On the other side was Simon....... standing at the altar.

But he wasn't the only one in the small sanctuary... Johnny, Ella, and Kyle were standing near him (Ella was on one side while the boys were on the other). She had on a short evening dress, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Kyle and Johnny had on bowties - a bit silly with their jeans and button-up tops.

Even your neighbor was there!

An official stood in the middle, a warm smile on his face and bible in hand, as they all glanced at you. 

This was his surprise? Holy sh-

Maybe it was a bad idea to curse in a church. 

But boy, were you shocked. Simon and you had never really talked about having a wedding. Sure, if it was something you absolutely wanted, then he would've made certain to grant your wishes for it. But you hadn't thought about it - not that you didn't want to marry him, but because the two of you would've been okay with going down to the courthouse. He had already stated his vows (sort of) one night after he was finally allowed to drink again. And he didn't hold back.... the words that spilled out of his mouth only made you fall deeper in love with him. 

But this? 

This was perfect. 

"Shall we?" Price asked as he held his arm out for you to take. Tears formed in your eyes as you nodded at the man. He would be walking you down the aisle, and it was more than you ever dreamed of. That captain had seen how much you had changed Simon for the better, watched you almost die, and now he was about to "give you away" to his best soldier.

He even felt like a proud father in that moment. 

When you made it to Simon, you could have sworn you saw his eyes light up as if you were walking down with a beautiful wedding dress on. And god were the tears falling from your eyes as if he was standing there in a tuxedo. Ella - the bestest best friend that she was - handed you a tissue right before the official began the ceremony. 

Now, Simon never really cried before. The tears that usually slipped from the corners of his eyes were due to pain out in the field or right after his family had died. But crying? It was almost a negative. 

So it was a bit surprising to see his eyes watering as you stated your unwritten vows to him. 

"Simon," you sniffed - embarrassed at how much your makeup was probably already ruined, "When I first met you, I was scared to get close to you. I-I didn't know if you would even like someone like me........... But then you started taking me to work every day... never missing unless I told you...... I still can't believe you asked me to marry you... You love me with my scars, my overwhelming nature at times.. all of me. I don't think I'll ever stop thanking you for all that you've done and coming into my life. But I'll continue to love you just as much as you love me.. to be there for you in every way... to never give up if times get rough. I'm yours."

It was subtle, but you could see the lone tear fall from the corner of his eye before disappearing behind the surgical mask. 

And then it was his turn. 

He let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding, "Y/n... sweetheart. Y'mean everything to me. The day I first met you and y'bumped into me, I felt drawn to y'somehow. It terrified me... And then, when Ella introduced us, it just made m'feel a lot of different things-" Your best friend whispering how amazing her matchmaking skills were, making everyone laugh "-I was scared to open up m'heart. I've always been guarded in some way, unsure if love was meant for me. But then y'came... and flipped m'world upside down. I promise to be your safe place, your friend, and your protector. Always. You've shown m'what true love looks like, and I'll forever be yours... mind, body, and soul."

Damn him. 

Ella had rubbed your back as you all but croaked out a sob at how fucking beautiful that man was. And he was your man.

When the official stated that your - now - husband could kiss his bride, Simon gently yanked you into his arms, pulling down his mask to properly kiss you as his wife. Not a dry tear was in that room, even from the stoic men of 141. 

Afterward, everyone ventured back to your place for champagne - the last piece of your husband's plan. You were so wrapped up in how magical the evening was that Ella had to remind you that you were now married when you said boyfriend as she pointed out the beautiful and simple ring on your left hand. It was gorgeous yet not overbearing, and it matched the silver ring on Simon's finger perfectly. A huge smile formed on your face as your eyes met the man that you would forever be tied to before he walked up to you, cupping your cheeks. 

"Mrs. Riley-" god he was going to be the death of you. And that name? It made your heart flutter so big.

"Mr. Riley," you giggled before he planted a sweet kiss on your lips, "I love you."

"Love you too sweetheart."

Johnny's loud and somewhat drunk voice echoed in the living room, "Ghost. Come tell Alice bout the time in Mexico!"

The two of you laughed before he kissed your forehead and went to entertain Johnny. You glanced around the room, looking at the joyous faces of 141, your husband, Ella, and Alice. It was something that made you feel completely at peace, happy, and everything in between.

For years, you never knew what it would be like to build a bond with individuals that would become so important in your life. The chaos you tried to run from so many times was finally behind you. Mary and Rick. But strangely, that didn't count with Charles. You would never know what he was like while he was alive. You'd never know if he would be proud of the choices you made in life... or if moving into his home was the right decision, but for some reason... in that moment... you felt his presence. Like he had been watching over you the entire time. 

And he would continue to watch over you and his son-in-law............

Even when you glanced down at the stick on the counter that read "Positive." Even when Simon came home to a "Congrats Daddy!" balloon in the kitchen. Even when he stood next to you, holding your hand as you delivered your first child.

Your father would always be there watching over you. 

Some say that blood is thicker than water; that your blood family is more important. 

But for you..... you had made your own Family Tree - with Simon, Ella, Kyle, Johnny, Price, Alice..... and your own son, Charlie Thomas Riley. 

The End.

Well.... that's the end of my Family Tree story. What do yall think?????

I'm planning to expand this universe a bit more with the other characters (Price, Johnny, and Gaz), but it won't come fast so please don't expect anything to be posted like tomorrow lol!!!

I'm going to be going on vacation in the next week so I may not be active as much this week and next week, but we'll see... sometimes my brain just goes into overdrive and I have to type up something lol!

I do have some other works I want to get back into like my "Too Deep" story. It's on my AO3, but I'm going to post it over here as well. I think that will be the posts I put out this week if I choose to do so.

I wanna give a shoutout to @jessicab1991 & @kalypsoox with Family Tree!!

I also want to thank everyone who has enjoyed reading this story and giving me all the love and feedback on it! You all make being here amazing and fill my heart with such joy when I see all the notifications!

If you want to be on my taglist no matter what I post, let me know... if not, just let me know when I post the next story :)

-Daydreamerwoah

Taglist:

@simp-4-masked-men @dayrin085 @romanceloverrrr @jessicab1991 @kylies-love-letter @kalypsoox @brownlee-22 @firefoxkairan @whatyouseeyoumightnotget @lelsforlino @canthavetoomuchchaos @eatingtheworldsoffanfiction @sumlovesjude @camila2201 @that-nerd-tessa @imjustheretofightforlove @strawberrygato

mdni under the cut •

best friend! sukuna who sneaks into your room through your window uninvited as you’re watching some random comedy show in the middle of the night to “hang out”.

(well.. actually, he isn’t your best friend. he’s really your boyfriend, but your parents don’t approve of your relationship with him, so you have to keep things secret.)

best friend! sukuna who scares you by slamming your window open and jumping in with a “what’s up idiot” as you jolted in your bed and gave him a piercing glare.

“sukuna! what on earth are you doing!!” exasperating and clutching your chest as if you were about to have a heart attack. “if my parents hear or see you here, its game over for the both of us.”

best friend! sukuna who honestly does not care because you’re his girlfriend so he will simply come see you whenever he pleases. and in this time of the night, he needs you right now. “oh nothing too crazy” he looks at his nails with a teasing smirk, “just wanted to see how my little brat is doing that’s all.” as he walks over to your plushie filled, silk, comfy bed and takes a seat.

best friend! sukuna who pretends to be interested in whatever show you’re currently watching as he slides his huge and veiny hands up your thighs and into your pajama shorts.

you began protesting, “kuna, we could be caught this isn’t a good i-“ your breath hitched as he starts rubbing circles with his thumb over your clit.

“lock the door then girl.” rolling his eyes.

best friend! sukuna who pushes your shorts to the side, revealing your pretty puffy folds to his enamored eyes and licks a long stripe down your slit, making you slightly whimper— teasing you with his tongue and middle finger until he softly grabs you by the ankles and tells you to get face down ass up for him.

best friend! sukuna who pumps his thick cock a few times before slowly pushing himself into your sopping wet cunt and letting out a low groan. he’s thrusting in and out of you being careful at first, so that your parents don’t suspect anything, but the way you were gripping around his monstrous dick had him going insane and began fucking into you deeper, teasing your g-spot.

“su- mmph fuck!” becoming cock drunk off of him, tongue lolling out, eyes rolling into the back of your head. and your sly little boyfriend — best friend knowing what exactly you like and how to make you feel good, kept thrusting all the way into you to make you moan as loud as you can on purpose then taunting you, “shhh, you wouldn’t your father to know his sweet little girl is getting her guts rearranged by the boy she’s not supposed to be messing around with, now would you?” devilish grin creeping onto his lips.

best friend! sukuna who’s favorite thing is fucking you dumb on his cock to the point you’re seeing white and can’t conjecture a single thought, but still littering sweet praises in your ear such as, “you’re such a good girl, taking this dick mhm”, “fuck! you’re so tight for me.” “you feel so good gripping around me like that.”

best friend! sukuna who shoots ropes of hot cum into you just as you come undone on him still inside of you, legs beginning to shake. “oh hoho, silly girl… i’m not done with you just yet.” laying you down on your back to stuff his mess back into you with his still hardened length.

best friend! sukuna who loves fucking you full of his seed as he looks into your eyes while he’s on top and cupping your cheeks as lewd noises come from beneath you both.

best friend! sukuna who milks you of everything you got, on the brink of crying from overstimulation and how hard you were about to orgasm. “c- i’m gonna cummmm ‘kuna!”

best friend! sukuna who licks the shell of your ear and leave open mouthed kisses on your jaw as he tells you to let go and cum all over his cock like the filthy slut good girl that you are.

best friend! sukuna who cleans you up with a towel he got from your closet and leaves sweet, loving kisses on your temples as you two cuddle and fall asleep together in each other’s arms in your bed.

best friend! sukuna who wakes up at 6am to leave before your parents wake up and gives you a goodbye/good morning kiss before he exits through your window.

best friend! sukuna and you who thought you two were slick and pretty sure that your parents wouldn’t suspect anything ever happened the previous night.

until you walk into the kitchen for breakfast to your parents asking what all the noise was coming from your room last night and asking where the marks on your neck came from.

oops…

likes + reblogs appreciated <3 please don't steal/copy/modify my works!

Unckuna/reader (he's very dear to my heart), mostly uncle nephew banter tbh, i needa get dividers lowkey, very short lil drabble

-

Sukuna thinks he's lost his mind.

He means it figuratively, obviously. But at this point he's sure he should've physically lost it already.

His nephew- of which he is currently babysitting- is currently on his couch, not a care in the world, half empty family sized bag of chips that was unopened not too long ago (fatface), kicking his feet like an adolescent boy in love, greasy fingers on the remote, and scrolling through youtube shorts on the tv???

Oh and worst of all he forgot to mention, the brat is wearing shoes.

The fact that he's even related to this thing makes him want to kill everyone else in the room and then himself.

"Itadori Yuji..." Sukuna seethes, it takes everything in him to not rip the brat's skeleton right out of his skin. He thinks it would be easy, if only a certain three people would let him (a shame, truly).

Yuji spares him a glance (the disrespect).

"Oh whats up unc"

"And what do you think you're doing?" The older of the two walks over and blocks the view of the tv, glaring down with his hands on his hips.

Yuji stares for a moment before opening his stupid food hole (as Sukuna describes it), "Have you ever seen that one meme, no one looks good from below? Well you're the version where they-"

Sukuna promptly picks him up by his foot, shaking him as a few chip bits fall off Yuji's shirt, "I literally just cleaned the house you freeloading fiend. Have you seen what a mess you've made?"

"You clean the house everyday you freak. Now put me down! I swear I was gonna clean up afterwards anyways." Yuji attempts to wiggle his way out of Sukuna's grip, he gets nowhere (predictably).

"Brat. You don't even know where the vacuum is, were you planning on picking them up one by one?"

"Ugh you're such a housewife, if I didn't know any better I'd assume you- MMM"

The sound of the code being put into the front door quickly stops Sukuna who shoves his free hand into Yuji's face, effectively shutting him up as well.

Sukuna grins when he sees you walk in, holding Yuji as if he were a first place catch for the annual bass fishing competition.

The sight makes you pause and contemplate your life decisions.

"Sukuna... put Yuji down, all the blood's rushing to his head."

Yuji is dropped immediately.

"OWWWWWWWW"

Your eyes trail around the living space and then back to the two children, "Does someone want to explain what's happening? And why there are shoe tracks in my house?" You make eye contact with your husband (who practically regresses 15 years in age when your nephew is around), he looks at you then uses his middle finger to point at Yuji.

Said boy, still recovering on the floor, whines, "Mann why can't I have a cool wine aunt and normal uncle?"

"Yuji if I were a wine aunt I wouldn't even be your aunt. Now are you gonna clean up this mess or should I make you?"

"On it! Whatever you say ma'am!" Yuji scrambles away after saluting and then pops back up from the hallway, realizing something crucial.

"Where are the cleaning supplies again?"

You sigh.

.

Yuji's finished with cleaning when he joins (intrudes, in Sukuna's words) you and his uncle on the couch, another episode of criminal minds running in the background.

You've changed from your work clothes into something more comfortable, snuggled into Sukuna's side as you start, "You know, if Spencer existed in real life I'd consider leaving you for him."

The tattooed man can only cringe in disgust at your behavior, "We're literally married, woman. You would leave me for that??"

He gives you and the tv an incredulous look. You can only giggle at his reaction, "You're like a child sometimes." His disapproval worsens, and you consider continuing to tease him but go with your better judgement (before he decides not to cook dinner, even though he always does anyways).

"I'm sorry hubby, forgive me?" Sukuna scoffs but accepts the affection anyways, he always does.

Yuji's voice interrupts the moment, "Ew you guys are so nasty (his parents are way worse), but speaking of children... when am I gonna get a cousin?"

The young boy can only watch as you two glance at each other then back at him, casually dropping an "Oh, Soon" then moving on completely. It takes him a second to process.

"WHAT."

-

unckuna my love

reblogs & comments are greatly appreciated :]

thank you for reading, have a blessed week

not fully proofread or edited

defiance | king!sukuna x concubine!reader master list

chapter sixteen: dream's over

summary: a psychic shares her vision with the king, saying that his soulmate would replace all 5 of his concubines one day. he had her banned from the premises for that absurd prediction. it wasn't until months later when he started believing the old bitch, after one cute yet disobedient servant started working at the shrine.

genre: female reader, heian era au but incredibly historically inaccurate, 18+, grumpy x sunshine, fluff, smut, so much crack, angst, mutual pining, might be seen as dubcon but she wants him lol, pregnancy, no he wont have two sets of arms, and no he wont have two dicks, srry srry srry

fic warnings: profanity, explicit smut, ooc, mentions of grooming, graphic depictions of violence, suicide, more will be added as story progresses

word count: 4.4k

notes: i really haven't update in a month and?? how time FLIES. anyways, i hope you sexies enjoy this chapter. we get some more domestic sukuna and more info on these frequent meetings he's been having ((:

Sukuna has decided to throw a small festival as a way to celebrate your pregnancy now that you are 7 months along. 

You’re not really sure what he means by small, and you honestly don’t believe him because he only throws festivals strictly for the purpose of receiving gifts and blessings. Knowing this was meant for you and your unborn child, you doubt it’ll be anything but small, he probably only told you that so there’d be no pushback on your end. 

But no pushback at all, you’re on the same boat as him when it comes to gifts and blessings for the baby. The more the merrier.

The festival’s a couple weeks away but preparations have already started around a week ago since the servants needed to start drying and pickling all sorts of different foods. 

As for you, you were in the dressing room of your shared chambers with Sukuna, waiting for the tailor to arrive. 

Renovations had finally finished and you both were able to move back in. At first you insisted that the expansion wasn’t that necessary but you can appreciate it now. 

There was now a courtyard, some extra rooms, an expansion on the greenhouse, along with the koi pond and sandbox in the back that Sukuna tries hard not to act too excited about. 

It was more of a small compound now within the estate, providing extra privacy which brought you ease— you’ve been waking up with feelings of dread over nothing in particular lately.

It wasn’t anything alarming since there really wasn’t anything to be worried about, but the feeling still put you on edge. 

“I didn’t pay that old hag to take her fucking time to get here,” the king groans, pulling you out of your thoughts and making you click your tongue at his impatience. 

“What time is she supposed to be here?” You ask, even though you already knew the answer. 

“11.” He scoffs.

“It’s 10:52,” you let him know, making his eyes roll into the back of his head because he believes hired help should always be 30 minutes early. “Patience is a virtue, Kuna.” 

“I practically own that woman, I don’t need patience,” He quickly retorts. You can’t help but laugh when he gets all pouty like this, knowing he’ll go back to his quiet, serious self once the woman and her assistant arrive. 

“And who are you to talk, hm?” He adds. “You had a servant crying and throwing up for not bringing you your lunch on time last week.” He said, pointing his finger at you.

He smirked at the thought of what you could’ve possibly said to the girl since it was still a mystery.

You and the servant refuse to say what atrocities came out of your mouth that day, which makes him even more curious because it couldn’t have been anything worse than the things you have said to him throughout your pregnancy. 

But with the way you’re glaring at him for bringing it up again, it was probably something 100 times worse than what he’s ever had the displeasure of experiencing.

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that again,” you nearly scolded him.

“I’ll let it go,” he leaned back and said. “If you allow me to complain about that bitch who is now two minutes late. I fucking told you, she doesn’t need people being patient with her. What she needs is for you to repeat whatever the fuck you said to that servant so she can start crying and throwing up too—“

“The tailor is here, My Lady!” Hayami yelled out from the front of the house, cutting Sukuna off mid-rant because the whole entire house could hear him, and so would the tailor had he kept going. 

“Okay let her in!” You yell back and the father of your child genuinely looks wounded from how powerless he’s become against you and your ladies in waiting. 

“So you all are just going to interrupt me like that?” He whispers but keeps his argumentative tone. 

“Yes,” you break it to him. “Now sit down and don’t mention anything about her being late.” 

The tailor warmly greets you both when she comes into the room, congratulating you both over the shrine's newest addition. 

You both thank her and Sukuna surprisingly starts up small talk with the woman. 

Your thoughts on how oddly respectful he was being quickly came to a halt when “the journey here must’ve been pretty taxing, huh?” came out of his fucking mouth. The poor tailor didn’t know he was just having a mini tantrum because you had hurt his feelings not too long ago.

You pinched the low of his back the moment he said that, causing his smile to grow even wider because it fucking hurt— which scared the woman since the king experiencing any other emotion aside from homicidal rage was quite literally unheard of.

Seriously, she doesn’t know how you get along with him. She’s honestly suspicious of you too.

Maybe the rumors were true and you were a witch. 

But she doesn’t care, it’s none of her business and Sukuna’s paying her a rather generous amount for today. It’s safe to say that she’d gladly serve you even if you just so happened to be satan reincarnated with just how much money she was making today.

The fitting was.. interesting— for all three of you. 

The woman wasn’t expecting you both to act so domestic around each other. 

As for you and Sukuna, you just couldn’t get on the same page as this woman. You’re pretty sure she thinks you’re someone who got pregnant the night you lost your virginity with the outfits she’s suggesting for you and you can tell the king’s going to pop a vein because of it. 

“She’s pregnant, not a nun, stop trying to fucking dress her like one,” Sukuna grumbles with his head in his hands after the third fitting.

You don’t snap at him this time and you’re actually grateful for his attitude because you didn’t have the heart to say anything to the woman. 

“Right, my king,” she immediately stiffens up. “I apologize.” 

After a few more outfits you were able to finally decide on which one you liked. It was still modest compared to some of the things you’ve worn around the shrine before, it was something acceptable for both you and Sukuna. 

Once the tailor finally leaves after 3 grueling hours, Sukuna slams the doors shut without even saying goodbye, leaving the two of you alone again.

“Pinching me in front of her, really?” He clicked his tongue. You honestly forgot you even did that, but you’re not surprised he hasn’t let it go.

“She did not see that, she probably just thought my hand was on your back,” you say, not taking him too seriously.

“You still broke skin.” 

“Doubt it. Turn around and let me see,” you nearly demand. 

“And now you’re ordering me to turn around like I’m some brood whore for the night,” he retorts and you burst out laughing from how dramatic he’s being. 

“Oh you think this is funny?!” He nearly starts laughing with you as he cups his hands around your jaw. 

“I think it’s hilarious my king,” you say back.

“I remember every time you disrespect me, you know?” His question is more of a statement, a rather threatening one. 

“Do you now?” You ask, rubbing your thumbs over his hands, entertaining his antics. 

“I do,” he promises. “I bottle them up and throw them in the part of my brain that’ll magically unlock once that’s brats out of you.” 

“I’m sure you do, my love.” You reach out to cup his check with one hand. “Let’s hope you follow through with these statements given the fact I haven’t gotten this side of you in a very long time.” 

“Oh you’ll get it all.” His entire demeanor lights up as he continues to eye you up and down like you’re some kind of prey. 

And to think you would’ve crumbled under his gaze at one point, now you’re nearly making him promise to fuck you up once the time comes. 

He’s created a monster and is quite pleased with that. 

He pulls you into his embrace and starts whispering some more lewd things in your ear, just because it makes you giggle more than anything and he loves to see it. 

And also because there’s a part of him that thinks the baby will hear it if he doesn’t whisper. 

But he keeps that theory to himself because he knows you’ll make fun of him for it and you make fun of him enough. 

“Sorry to interrupt bu—“ Hayami comes to the door knocking, unaware of the little moment you two are having. 

“You women do NOT get enough days off, do you?!” He snaps, nearly throwing his head back.

“We do not, my king,” Hayami chirps, keeping her cheerful tone because she’s not really that scared of him anymore. “Kaori is here to visit you,” she turns her attention to you and says. 

Sukuna lets out a long sigh into the crook of your neck and mutters something along the lines of wanting to get rid of her already. 

You pat his back because all he wanted to do was to get some extra time with you before he goes off and does whatever he does. 

Unfortunately, you still aren’t 100% sure what  exactly he does, you just know there’s a lot of paperwork and random yelling involved.

“Can you lead her to the sun room and let her know I'll meet her there shortly?” You ask, trying to somewhat meet the man holding on to you halfway. 

“Of course, I’ll get some tea and snacks prepared as well.” Hayami says before making her way back to the entrance of the house. 

It takes some time getting Sukuna off your back, but you eventually get him to put one foot in front of the other towards his office.. the office that was literally just upstairs. 

He drags his feet to get there of course, wishing you’d tell Kaori to fuck off so you could hang out with him instead while he signs off on different bills and contracts and whatnot. 

But you promised you’ll come back right after and he’s holding you to that, even though there’s not much of a consequence if you don’t.

You let out a little sigh once you hear the door to his office fully shut and can’t help but laugh to yourself. The longer you’re with him, the more clingy he gets. 

The king’s a smart man and you’re sure he is aware of how clingy he is, he just doesn’t care how he acts around you anymore. 

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” you apologize to Kaori, who’s been waiting for over 20 minutes now since she’s sat down. 

Had you not held such a high position in the estate, she would’ve ripped your head off by now for the disrespect— preoccupied with the king or not. 

But you’d never know that.

“It’s no worries at all!” She assures you before squeezing your hands. “I’m sure it’s a lot dealing with King Sukuna’s.. moods.” 

“Yeah,” you exhaled as you said it. 

You and your ladies in waiting have resorted to placing any and all sorts of blame on Sukuna and his infamous temper, even though he never gets mad at you and is surprisingly respectful to your attendants. 

It’s just more believable for others to hear that he’s having a meltdown, rather than something as simple as him refusing to get out of bed with you because you were extra warm on a cold morning. 

“Thank you for being so understanding,” you try to say with a straight face. “What can I help you with?” 

“Nothing at all,” she perks up. “I just wanted to bring some goodies for you,” she smiles and opens a box full of mini cakes and candies. “I’m sure the baby would love these!” 

“Oh no, I’m so sorry— I’m not allowed to eat these,” you reveal and she tries her hardest not to raise a brow at you.

Sukuna forbade you from eating anything that wasn’t made by Hayami, Miya, or Akari. It’s honestly the one rule that you’re completely on board with, given the long history of queens, consorts, and concubines experiencing attempted poisonings in the past. 

“That’s a little harsh of him, don’t you think?” The concubine nearly pouts at your decline. 

“Not really. I feel bad having to decline of course, but if following that rule brings him some peace of mind then I don’t mind.” You say. 

“I’m sure he appreciates all the sacrifices you make for him,” her lips thin after the words leave her mouth. 

“I’d hope so,” you say sympathetically, you really do feel bad for turning her down. “Ladies! Would you like some cakes?” You turn around and call out.

“Of course!” Miya pokes her head into the green room. “These look yummy Lady Kaori, did you make these yourself?” 

“Yes, but with the help of my attendants of course,” she gestures to the two women who have come with her today. 

“We can’t wait to try them! I’ll go ahead and take these to the back to share with the girls, thank you again!” Miya says as she offers her one last smile before leaving. 

“I’m glad someone was able to take them, you must’ve worked hard making them,” you say as you both get up from the table. 

“Oh it was nothing,” she brushes you off. “I’m just glad someone’s able to eat them!” She forces out a laugh and you try to laugh with her. 

But it’s uncomfortable because she is clearly offended, even though they’re Sukuna’s rules, not yours. 

“I’ll get going, let me know if you need anything.” She says before turning on her heel to leave your chambers. 

“Thank you, I will.” 

Once she and her attendants finally leave, you head to the back to find the girls, who are most likely hanging out in the kitchen. 

Which they were, the three of them were just hanging around and talking. 

“How were the cakes?” You ask as you lean against the counter. 

“No clue,” Akari says.

“If she does ask, tell her they were great,” Hayami follows, giving you a little wink.

“Wait, did you throw them away?” 

“Duh.” Hayami says. “Miya just took them so you wouldn’t be in an uncomfortable situation. If you’re banned from eating outside food, then we’re definitely not going to be eating food that’s gifted to you either. We don’t want to get poisoned.” 

“You really think Kaori would try to poison me?” You ask, genuinely concerned. 

“Not sure, but we’re not trusting anyone right now.” Miya adds to the conversation. 

“Fair enough,” you let it go. “Just burn them, or bury them— something. I don’t want any servants peeking through the trash and seeing that. It’s been peaceful around here and I'd like to keep it that way.” 

—-

“You’re starting the hearings early today,” you offer the king a faint smile, as he frantically moves back and forth around the room– trying to get himself ready for the shitshow that’ll become of his day. 

“Kuna,” you impatiently snap your fingers while trying to get the man’s attention.

“Hm? Oh– yeah,” he stops for a second and just nods.

“Were you even listening to me?” You cross your arms, nearly squinting at him because he’s failing miserably at whatever he’s hiding right now.

“No, I’m sorry– what were you saying sweetheart?” 

“The hearings,” you nearly grit your teeth. “Awfully early for them, no?”

“No-” he shakes his head. “No hearings today,” he corrects you and it honestly pains him to do so. He’d much rather have a hearing today. 

“Then what are you in such a rush for? The sun’s barely out. And why won’t you look at me?” You begin to raise your voice at him and it doesn’t even register in his head that you’re frustrated with his lack of communication this morning.

He swiftly puts on his haori and walks up to you, his hands now cupping your cheeks as he just stares at you for a moment. 

He’s worried, you can see it in his eyes– distant but nearly pleading for help and you don’t think you’ve ever seen him look this defeated before. 

“Promise you won’t freak out?” He asks. 

“I won’t. What’s going on?” You nearly plead, knowing nothing good was going to come out of what he was going to say.

One hour later—

“And he’s how old?” Sukuna nearly chokes out as he demands Uraume for clarification. 

The rooms filled with all of the district's shoguns, their advisors, and all high ranking generals— all equally as stunned as Sukuna himself.

Today was their third meeting since Uraume started spying on the west border, with this recent mission uncovering even more details on what they've been planning for a while now.

“Seven, my king.” 

The rooms quiet for a moment after that, except for a quiet “no fucking way” that came from one of the younger generals. Speaking out of turn like that is a punishable offense, except nobody really gives a shit right now, he said what everyone else was thinking.

The western region, or rather the Zen’in clan, hasn’t gone against the peace treaty in years— hundreds of years actually. 

The fact that they’re planning on breaking it now is a surprise in itself, not to mention the absolute trump card they’re using as leverage, in the form of a literal child. 

“General Toji, you grew up under that clan, care to share more about them?” The king basically calls the man out as all the attendees turned their attention to the high ranked general.

“..Yeah,” he husks out. “I’m pretty sure the seven year old’s my son,” he admits rather regrettably, also carrying a stunned look on his face.

“Of course that’s your fucking spawn,” Sukuna groans to himself, causing everyone in his vicinity, especially Toji, to tense up. 

His unseriousness served as a reminder that he was capable of murder without thinking twice about it, father to be or not. 

It left Toji to wonder if he should’ve just kept his mouth shut about that one little fact, but they’d find out soon enough if they did more research on the boy. He never exactly tried to hide the fact that Megumi was his anyway, the courtesan he got pregnant just opted to sell the boy back to the clan and he let it be since he thought the boy would be taken care of if they were willing to pay as much as they did for him.

“How did the boy end up there?” Sukuna asked while rubbing his eye, clearly irritated that this is now a fact. 

“Got a courtesan pregnant, she said she wanted to terminate the pregnancy so I gave her money for that. By the time I found out she got money from me and the clan for selling the boy to them, it was already too late.” Toji's knuckles were nearly white as he explained everything as briefly as possible. 

He knew his family was cruel, he just never thought they’d convince a child to sacrifice their life in a war, let alone his own flesh and blood. 

He’s angry, he’s hurt— he’s also one of the most respected generals in the region, so he reminded himself to get it the fuck together in front of the psychopath that was unfortunately crowned as king at 19 and has done a terrifyingly great job at ruling the region through fear. 

There was no room for weakness or mistakes in the presence of Sukuna, so man up.

“I understand that this might be a conflict of interest, but I have no intentions of betraying the region or the crown,” Toji says, feeling the need to remind the clans and the king. “I left them for a reason, and it was lo-”

“No need to state those reasons,” Sukuna cuts him off, unsure if the general was about to tell a sob story to sound convincing or not. He honestly didn’t care either way. “You need to tell me everything you know about the ten shadows technique.”

—

The meeting lasted around 9 hours, give or take. Today is one of those days where he seriously wonders why massacring entire villages is looked down upon, when acts like that have the power to prevent situations like this. 

Sukuna is usually the last one to leave, alongside Uraume and Mariko, it’s actually one of the very few formalities he really sticks to in the world of nobility, but not today. 

He held on tightly to the last of his composure as he b-lined it to the exit, trying his hardest not to look like he’s storming out of the room, even though he probably did end up looking like he was. 

By now everyone knew one of his concubines was pregnant and that he’s been less.. violent lately because of it. 

Many of the attendees have actually found themselves empathizing with the young king, especially after watching his face drop at the realization that yeah, the Zenin’s are planning an attack. They all knew the threat of war mercilessly ripped him out of the daydream he was in, forcing him back into the dreadful reality that he called his life. 

Several ground shaking explosions followed not too long after he stormed out of the room and off to god knows wherever he went off to. 

Some even heard the faint noise of yelling and cursing off in the direction he went in, his threats to no one in particular echoing off the trees and mountains, making their way back to whoever had a good pair of ears on them. 

The world feels like it’s slowly closing in on him and he’s convinced he might just completely lose his mind before midnight— throwing away the very thorough plan he and all the other generals just spent hours curating. 

Instead, opting to charge that clan alone, head on. 

But he can’t and he knows it, which makes it all the more infuriating because for once in his life he’s facing an actual threat. 

The threat being that final shikigami Toji’s hidden demon child has the power to conjure up. 

If he fucks up, this might just actually be the end of the line for him, he doesn’t like the thought of that— hence why he blows up yet another hill. 

The shockwaves made it to the shrine about 2.5 seconds after that. 

He takes a look at the view in front of him and realizes he’s completely flattened acres of land. Maybe once this is all over, he could have the shrine extended. 

If there’s even anyone left.

If you asked him how he truly felt about it all, the news broke him. 

He truly felt like something from above came down and clipped multiple different wires in his brain.

This wasn’t the typical anger where he considers rounding up prisoners and hunting them down like animals to blow off some steam, and it ends there. 

This was the type of anger where he wanted to drop to his knees and scream at god for doing this shit to him, again– a war, at quite possibly the worst fucking time ever. 

And he did, he doesn’t care if people can hear him at the moment. 

All he wanted was to enjoy these last couple months with you, and welcome his child in the peaceful-enough nation he created. 

But no, now the nation will be baptized in blood, win or lose.

Not to mention the fact that you were at your most vulnerable right now, you can’t even fully get dressed by yourself anymore without some sort of assistance. Now you were really a target and he can’t be in two places at once.

He already knows that he’ll look back at this years from now, whether it’s an immediate win or one that’s drawn out, and he will fucking seethe. 

It’s time ripped away from his grasp, he could have more kids, enjoy the pregnancies and newborn stages with them but he’ll feel nothing but rage when he looks at this one, knowing this one got fucked with. 

This is the type of resentment that will forever marinate in his heart and he’s not sure if death to that god forsaken clan will ever be enough for him. 

Maybe it’s a good thing, some extra fuel to really brutalize those people. 

Many will say watching him in battle years ago was terrifying, and they may think he’s somehow mellowed out by now. 

No. He’s learned to redirect it, compartmentalize it. There is now strategy to that power.

And just like always, he remembers the role he plays in this world and what’s required of him, since most people just aren’t capable of the things he was born to do.

His existence is a curse within itself and he knows most people wished he’d never been born, rightfully so. 

But those same people should really thank him one day, because this entire region would’ve been annihilated by now without him.

He was made for this.

So he takes one last deep breath, loosens his fist, and starts to make his way back to you, because that’s all he really can do right now.

Bracing himself, knowing you probably sat there all day hoping he’d come back with good news, yet you most likely heard the commotion he created and realized he’d be coming back with anything but that.

And when he did return, you both just looked at each other and knew. 

Barely any words were exchanged between the two of you. The meeting ruined his appetite for the night so he skipped dinner. He tried to get you to eat but you weren’t hungry either and he didn’t push it because he was too tired to try to argue with you.

He stayed up that night while you eventually fell asleep in his arms. For the first time in the last 7 months, he sort of wished you weren’t carrying his child. 

It was for the most selfish reason too, he just missed laying on top of you, resting his head on your chest while listening to your shallow breaths— it was the one thing that put him to sleep. 

And with how uncertain the future was looking right now, a part of him began to mourn that feeling because he truly doesn’t know when he’d be able to feel moments of peace like that again.

notes: so sorry for the news! hope u enjoyed the read! <3 pls leave a like, comment, and subscribe for more videos

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bleeding blue | apocalypse au

part thirty-two —other parts

pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x fem!reader words: 5.1k tags: death. blood and gore. zombies of course. AFAB reader. single dad ghost. enemies to lovers. SA and implication of child SA (very subtle). summary: After losing your companions, you run into a skull-masked man and his daughter. They are your last hope for survival. a/n: clearly I am bad at estimating how long this story will take lol

The tray of food crashes to the floor at her feet. Salome gasps. Her hand shoots back, fumbling for the doorknob, and her lips part, ready to call the guard you know is just outside.

"If you call for the guard," you stop her, "I’ll cut deeper."

She clamps a hand over her mouth. "Please—stop! Hurting yourselves is a sin, a great dishonor to the body God gave you—"

“It is,” you agree calmly. You press the shard deeper into the cephalic vein, ignoring the bite of pain. Blood spills in a fresh, startling curtain down your arm, the wound mimicking the severity of an arterial cut. “And she’ll blame you for it. You’re the one she entrusted to watch over us, and you didn't notice we broke one of the mugs."

"I did not think you would—"

"What happens to you,” you cut her off, pointing the bloody shard at her stomach, “—and your baby when the two new child-bearers die because of your failure? Because I will die, if I cut any deeper. This artery,” you lie, tapping the wound for emphasis, “is important. If I finish slicing through it, I’ll bleed out in less than a minute. Not enough time for you to get help. Not even enough to try saving me yourself.”

Her lashes flutter rapidly through a swell of tears. "You could have a good life here—"

"Answer me. What happens to you if I die?"

She swallows hard. "She’ll punish me," she whispers frightfully. "I have seen what happens to those who fail her. She might take my child and I will... never see them. Please, don’t do this—”

"Why should we care about you and your child when you are okay with them killing an eleven-year-old girl tomorrow?"

A flash of shame crosses her face. "I'm sorry. I-I didn't know Maman would want the girl. The offering has never been so young before. But it is God's will, there is nothing I can do to—"

"What you can do is open the cell. Open it and we will kill Maman, then you won't have to worry about anyone taking your baby. But if you don't open it, then we die in here and you will face her punishment."

Her lips part, but nothing comes out. She looks between you and Nereida, eyes darting wildly, fingers twitching against her stomach. 

"Decide before I bleed out!"

"I... I can't," she says pitifully.

With a glance at Nereida, she takes her cue, digging into her vein.

"Open the cell," Nereida urges far more soothingly than you can, blood dripping to her elbow. "We won't hurt you. We want Maman gone, not you."

Salome whimpers under her breath, but her fingers move before her mind catches up, reaching inside her robe to retrieve the key, gripping it like it might burn her. She shuffles closer but pauses, inhaling deeply before finally reaching the door. Her hands shake so violently that the key rattles against the lock. It slips against the metal, failing to match the hole, and your finger twitches when she nearly drops it.

"Mais si elles ne parviennent pas à la tuer..." The whisper leaves quietly, lost beneath the veil. "Sa punition pour moi sera pire."

Then, her hand curls back around the key.

She swallows hard—and steps back.

No. 

You see red.

A growl curls at your mouth and you snap forward, grabbing onto her dress through the bars before she can retreat too far, and pulling her flush against them, her forehead banging into the metal. Before she can scream, you clamp a bloody hand over her mouth and then press the piece of broken mug to her neck with just enough pressure to make her panic. She gasps into your palm, struggling. You dig it harder, forcing her body to turn still and rigid.

"Twix—"

"I tried doing things the nicer way," you speak in a low snarl, veering off the script you and Nereida conjured. Round, glossy eyes stare into yours. "You should have made up your mind before getting within my reach. Now give her the key. I’d hate for my hand to slip."

Another sharp press into her skin wrings a squeak from her, her breath coming out jagged and uneven against your palm. Trembling, she extends an arm through the bars, offering the key to Nereida.

The moment Nereida takes it, she fumbles to find the lock from the outside, her fingers searching blindly. The key scrapes against the metal—once, twice—before a soft click finally reaches your ears.

The door swings open.

You don’t hesitate. Keeping your grip firm over Salome’s mouth, you shove through the opening and swing around to the other side. Before she can react, you force her back into the cell, driving her onto the bed. The veil tears free from her head as you pin her down, your weight pressing her into the mattress, the sharp fragment still poised at her throat. When her legs begin to flail helplessly, you order Nereida to grab them. She clasps Salome's ankles to keep her from bucking you off.

"You were afraid of the wrong person," you hiss, your nose nearly brushing hers. "Maman may have spared your life because she values her baby makers—but I don’t. Answer everything I ask, or I’ll show you just how merciless I can be."

The dishonest threat rolls off your tongue with enough force to make her nod frantically, fear widening her eyes. But what she doesn’t need to know—what you won’t let her see—is the part of you still holding back. Because even now, even as you pin her down and press the shard to a vital piece of her throat, you’re careful. You don’t dig hard enough to damage. You don’t let your weight bear down on the swell of her stomach.

"I'm glad we understand each other. I am going to lift my hand, and you're not going to scream. You're going to tell me everything we need to know about the guards out there."

Her lips are puffy and raw when you set them free. 

"There is only one outside the d-door," she sputters in a whisper. "B-but there are more... more by the... h-homes and the keep."

"The keep?"

"Where they keep the new m-males," she chokes out, snot dripping from her nose.

"That's in the old slaughterhouse, right?"

She nods.

"How many guards are over there exactly?"

"I do not know." At your glare, she rushes out, "B-but there are less after d-dinner ends. Many go to sleep, and switch shifts at sunrise."

You mull over the information, eyes darting across her face. “And the child—the offering? Where is Maman keeping her?”

A terrible look of fear ripples through her eyes. "Only few are allowed near the offering b-before her ascension. 

"So you're telling me you don't know?" you seethe in her face.

She sobs. "I know they... they will offer her to the démons right before the sun rises. The night is when God’s wrath is strongest, but it’s in the morning—when hope ascends—that we seek atonement."

Despite further pressing, that seems to be the extent of what she knows—or she's still withholding. Either way, you're satisfied enough. You rip strips of the sheet, using one to gag her and two more to bind her wrists and ankles. You and Nereida wrap your wounded wrists tightly to stop the flow. Then, you remove her white gown. You’ll need something to wear that doesn't easily mark you as an escapee, but there’s only the one white dress and veil. You hurriedly slip into them, making sure all of your hair and face is hidden, leaving Nereida still in the thin slip. The shoes Salome wears are thin and made of unsupported leather, but they are all you have to tuck your bare feet into.

Salome said there will be fewer guards after dinner. You and Nereida listen carefully to every sound that bleeds through the window. When you hear a few exchanges of bonne nuit, you figure people are starting to retire for the night. You take this as your cue to grip your makeshift weapon. The guard outside the door is expecting Salome to leave at some point, giving you the perfect opportunity to catch him off-guard while dressed as her.

You quietly open the door to the warm summer night, the long gown ghosting around your ankles. As expected, a well-built man leans against the side of the building, arms crossed languidly. No one else is in sight, which brings you some relief. When his gaze shifts to you, he raises a brow.

"Tout va bien, mademoiselle? Vous êtes restée là-dedans un moment."

The last word barely makes it out of his mouth. Within a heartbeat, you spring at him like the head of a snake, one hand over his mouth and the other stabbing his neck with the shard, then sweeping it through the thick of his trachea. A gush of blood oozes out in one thick stream, before he gargles out a strangled choke and turns to dead weight against the wall. 

With Nereida's help, you quickly push his body inside the building to keep anyone from spotting it. 

"Wear this," you usher, already starting to undress him. Like the man who visited you, he's wearing a grey cloak. Though it's too big for her, and bloodied, it will be enough to keep her discreet in the dark, her long hair safely tucked beneath the hood.

Two things race through your mind: the ticking time toward sunrise and the fact that you still don’t know how many more men you’ll have to take out to reach Ghost, Price, and Kyle. The knife you find on the guard adds a small weapon to your shitty arsenal. You have no idea where they could’ve stored the guns and ammo they took from you, or your bow. How you'll manage to fight through a community of cultists without those is a worry you can’t afford to dwell on right now—one step at a time.

After a few minutes of collecting yourselves, urgency pulls the two of you outside, free from the barred enclosure for the first time in almost four days. In the blanket of night, you quickly scan the area, taking in what you’re up against. The community appears fairly spread out, with only six small farmhouses like the one you just escaped from, along with a few larger structures in the near distance—likely where they house the men. You catch a glimpse of a fenced pasture’s perimeter and the unmistakable stench of cattle fills the air. Despite the faint shuffle of hooves and grey plumes of smoke from a few of the chimneys, everything is eerily still, leaving an unnerving amount of quiet for your heart to shatter through.

From what you can see, there aren’t many places to hide Blue, but there could be more to this place beyond what’s visible, especially since the chapel you first saw is nowhere in sight. But none of that matters right now; you need to find the others first if you’re going to have any real chance of saving her and getting out of here.

The next male you encounter spots you first as you make your way up the gravel road towards the barn, the sound of his boots making your hand tighten on the knife's handle. He greets you unassumingly in French, causing Nereida to startle beside you as his shadow approaches. Then he stops in front of her, his shoulders tensing and his hand hovering near a knife at his waist.

"Que fais-tu avec la femelle? C’est interdit!"

Again, you go for the throat, desperate to silence any screams that could cause alarm. You get a good swipe at the base of it, but he is at least a head taller than you, making it difficult to stab fully. He grabs you by the waist, clearly in shock that a veiled female just sprung on him with a knife, but swipes a fist at your face nonetheless. The force spreads through your temple, thrusting your head to the side. 

"Take the knife from him," you hiss at Nereida through the pain, who until now was effectively frozen. She finally moves, using the distraction you've caused as he clutches his bleeding neck, and snatches the knife still hanging at his waist. Once she has it, you leap at the disarmed man again, this time stabbing his liver. With a muffled grown, he face-plants into the gravel, quickly soaking it with blood. 

"The body," she stutters worriedly. "We need to hide it."

You look around, spotting stacks of chopped wood.

"Over there. Help me drag him."

Once the body is heaved behind the logs, you pat him down in search for anything else, but there's nothing.

"Keep that on you," you tell her, and she gives a quick nod, hiding the knife under her sleeve.

You keep following the road up to the fence, your white dress splattered with crimson, resembling the dotted stars overhead. The 'keep' is somewhere by the barn that man said, but you notice smaller buildings to the right and to the left of it. Which one looks like an old slaughterhouse? It's too difficult to tell even when you squint, so you grab Nereida's arm and quickly lower by a bush.

"Watch that one, and I'll keep an eye on this one. Whichever building has more guards patrolling is probably where they're holding them."

"Okay," she whispers, peering around the bush.

Minutes pass. The building on the right has more shadows skirting around it—three guards total. You take a moment to study their movements. One is stationed near the back, the other two at the front.

"I want you to take the one at the back and wait for me. I'll handle the other two."

"How do I take him?" she whispers uncertainly. "He’ll see me coming."

"You’ll come at it from an angle." You point toward a stack of hay. "Sneak over there, quietly. Once you're behind it, circle around and approach where he can't see."

She hesitates, rubbing the back of her hand across her forehead. "I’ve never—"

"Never killed anyone?" 

The way she grips the knife, her fingers white on the handle, confirms it.

"These people deserve it, Nereida," you say, forcing her to meet your gaze. "John is in there."

She closes her eyes, and for a moment, the weight of it all presses down on her. When she opens them again, her jaw is set, and her grip on the knife tightens.

After reminding her where to strike, you pause for a moment, watching as she sneaks over to the hay. Then, you move toward the other two, slipping behind a tree for cover, but your foot catches on something and you almost trip, catching yourself against the bark. Your breath hitches and you steal a peek at them to make sure they didn't hear you. No—they are too busy murmuring to each other, laughing in a low exchange.

When you glance down, you spot a shovel half-buried into the ground, its handle sticking out. Carefully, you wriggle it free, having to grit your teeth to fully remove it. This will let you stun one while you deal with the other. Inhaling deeply to center yourself, palm tight over the splintered wood handle, you close in on the two guards.

The shorter one with curly hair spots you just before you take a swing, his eyes widening. The shovel slams into his skull, effectively making him stumble to the ground, but slips from your grip from the force. The other guard whirls around, hand slapping for the pistol at his belt. You deliver three consecutive stabs to his stomach, heart, and cheek. The gun never leaves his waist before he falls dead.

You suck in a gulp of air just as the curly-haired one regains his footing. His head is still heavy from the blow, and before he can draw his knife, you shove him in the chest, sending him crashing to the ground. You pin him easily beneath you, his movements sluggish and weak. The two of you wrestle in the grass, jagged breaths mixing with frantic, scraping nails, until, with a snarl, your knife finds purchase in his neck, stealing the life from his eyes in an instant. You stab him again and again, shaking, until the ticking urgency pulls you back into control. With a deep breath, you steady yourself and wiggle the knife lodged in his trachea, your hands slippery with blood.

"You got death," you spit in a whisper, thumbing his lids shut.

You lift up.

Now you have a single gun.

It is an old thing. Outdated and far from the military-grade weapons Ghost has. It takes a moment to figure out the parts—your fingers fumble for the small magazine, which is stocked with three bullets. You pull the slide to chamber a round with a click and keep it ready in your hand as you circle the building toward the back, praying that Nereida managed. When you find her, she is stood over the man's body, a deep cut oozing on her cheek.

"He saw me," she says, swallowing. "But I did it."

You nod. "We need to hide them before we go in."

All three bodies are hidden behind the hay stacks. You cover them with manure to mask the smell, not wanting a horde of Greys to materialize. You'd spotted a door at the back and hope it may be more discreet then blazing in through the front, given that you don't know who all is in there. Finger ready on the trigger, you hold your breath as you lead Nereida into the old building, instantly met with the rich smell of pennies. The space quickly unfolds into an old butcher house, rusted hooks hanging from the stone ceiling, the air cramped and cold. 

"Une femme? Maman ne voudrait pas de toi—"

The voice echoes in your ear as you round the corner, and then a fiery bullet rips into the owner's chest. Nereida flinches. Another guard comes barreling over, shouting, but you slide the chamber and shoot him in the head.

You don't linger by the bodies, itching to check the first steel door you see. You lower the gun only to pull at the handle, but it won't budge.

"Check him for keys," you motion to the dead guard.

Nereida crouches, hands rifling through his pockets until she yanks free a ring of keys. Her fingers shake as she tries them one by one, the lock stubborn—until, at last, it gives. With a sharp tug, the door groans open, revealing a windowless chamber. In the center, a lone captive hangs from chains.

It’s Price. Shackles bite into his wrists, his bare chest mapped with deep bruises against pale skin. Beaten, but unbroken—his gaze sharp as it lifts to meet yours. Nereida chokes on a sob, ripping the hood off her head and sinking to her knees before him, cupping his jaw.

A weighted baritone manages: "Duchess."

"There is nowhere I will not find you," she croaks. Teary kisses find the corner of his mouth. "I'm here, I'm here."

"How did you—"

"We got out. Where are the others?" you ask.

His jaw grits. "I haven't seen them since they knocked us out."

"They must be here somewhere. We need to move quick before someone notices the bodies."

After finding the small key to undo the manacles, you leave them to each other for the moment, continuing down the hall until the next door. An undeniable pull rises in your chest, something that has nothing to do with the adrenaline rushing through you—something you can’t quite name. But when you open the door, your heart falters with unwelcome disappointment at the sight of Kyle. He looks equally battered, but still aware enough to lift his head as you step in.

"Who are you?" 

You lift the veil.

"It's me," you answer, the words almost lost in the rush of emotions. Only when you fully take in the room do you notice Ari, curled in the corner. They’ve put them in here together. While there are no obvious injuries on the boy, the sight of the open Bible on his lap, and the empty dinner plate beside him, sends a cold shiver down your spine. You touch his cheek, feeling warmth, and reassure him he’s safe.

You release both of them. "Price and Nereida are through the door down the left. I need to find Ghost. I’ll be back."

Kyle rubs his wrists and manages to stand despite his black eye and shaky legs. "I’ll come with you."

"No. I’ll get him." The words come out sharper than you mean to, but you turn away before he can question them.

You are pulled further through the tight, cold hallway, movements turning more hurried as you look around. There are a few more half-opened doors, but they only lead to supply closets filled with whips and metal batons and empty chambers where old blood stains the floors. Something sharp tugs at your heart, and for the first time since initiating your escape, your fingertips succumb to a tremor of fear. 

Where is he?

The hall spits out into a room where dried animal carcasses hang from the walls.

One final door sits on the far end.

The rusted lock resists, swears hissing from your lips—until a sharp kick forces it open.

The smell thickens with fresh blood, and a cold pit sinks into your stomach at the sight of him—bound in chains, his body slumped haphazardly. Unlike the others, he doesn’t lift his head. You rush forward, a shaky breath catching in your throat as you take in the blood caked on his shoulder blades, deep welts splitting through the inked skin. His back, too, is covered in wounds. He looks worse—so much worse—that a bite of anger swells moisture in your eyes.

"Simon, you idiot. What did you do?" The words slip out on a sharp inhale as you lower yourself in front of him. "Simon," you whisper again, silent tears hot against your lips. You thread a hand through his hair, tilting his jaw up with careful fingers. His eyes are heavy, but relief finds you when they flutter open. He’s alive. The reddened whites flicker over your face, unfocused—until something strange sharpens the haze. A flicker of fear.

"It's me, Simon. We're getting out of here."

The brief fear shifts into shock when he recognizes your face, and only after you fumble with the key ring does understanding click into place, causing his jaw to flex. "Where... where is she?"

"I don't know, but we need to hurry. They have her." You undo the manacles, and his body rolls heavily into you, face falling onto your collarbone. You struggle to hold him up, gripping his shoulders without touching the wounds. A low groan bleeds through his teeth, and his eyes flutter shut again. No, no, no. "Please, you have to... you have to get up, Simon. I can't—she's going to fucking die!"

His upper chest rapidly expands with a breath, and he musters the strength to lift his weight off you and slap a hand against the wall. As he leverages his weight up, you help by grabbing beneath his other arm, until a final rush of adrenaline gets him on his feet. Urgency snaps tension into his limp shoulders, and he growls out another, more steady, breath.

"Price," he says.

"He's alive. Come on."

It takes some effort to help him walk at first, but eventually, he manages on his own. You guide him to the first room, where the others are pacing, murmuring in low voices.

"Simon, Jesus," Price mutters when he sees him.

Ghost brushes it off, his eyes narrowing. "They're going to kill her."

"At sunrise," you add, your voice tight. You pull out the pistol and show it to them. "I have one bullet left. I don't know how many more men are in this cult, but we've killed six so far."

"We have one shitty old gun." Kyle growls in frustration. "They took all our shit. How are we going to—"

"We find the weapons. They must have stored them somewhere," Price says.

"We can't just go searching through every building here. We don't have the time," you press. "And how are we supposed to get it back without everyone noticing we're gone?"

"I don't give a fuck about the guns. We find her first," Ghost grits, nostrils flaring. 

"We can't help her if we don't think things through. We can't just start a war with these people empty-handed, Simon," Price says.

"We find her first!"

"Simon," you say, reaching for his arm, but he pulls it away, clenching his bloody fist. The energy radiating from him would scare you if you didn't feel the same way.

Just then, there is the faint sound of a door opening and footsteps clanging through the hall. You tense up, two male voices shouting in echoes, one of them vaguely familiar.

"Quelqu'un les a tués ! On doit régler cette merde avant que Maman découvre quoi que ce soit."

"Les putains de prisonniers!"

Before you can react, Ghost snatches the pistol from your grip. The second they rush toward the open door, he launches at them—an elbow to one’s face, the butt of the gun breaking the nose of the other. Price uses Nereida's knife to stab the fallen guard, while Kyle helps Ghost subdue the second one. You only recognize him as the man who made you strip when they forcibly drag him toward the manacles, the sight of his blonde hair making your nails curl into your palms.

"You stupid fucking Brits!"

Ghost strikes the gun into his left eye, making him jerk within the constraints, howling as the socket turns into bloody pulp. 

Kyle grips the man's scalp from behind to hold his head up, while Ghost presses the gun into his cheek, where you notice a wound shaped like a bite mark.

"Tell us where she is," he roars. "Or I'll take the other eye."

Nereida cowers into the corner, holding onto Ari's arm. 

"I don't know!" the man spits blood, and Ghost digs the gun into his cheek, ripping it open further until the bitten flesh hangs as a torn flap, exposed all the way to his eye. The scream that follows feels inhuman. "I swear, I don't—I don't fucking know!"

Fresh blood drips to the floor. Price, much more calm, lowers at the man's side. "How many people live here?"

The man grits his teeth, struggling to answer, "T-thirty males, and six females. Plus the infants."

Twenty-two now, you count in your head.

"And the weapons we had. What about those?" Price questions further.

When only staggered, pained breaths fills the room, Ghost tosses the bloody gun and grabs the knife from Price, stabbing the man's kneecap without hesitation. Another scream ensues, and there is the small itch to cover your ears, but you steel yourself against the wall to keep watching.

"Answer the fucking question." Ghost twists the knife in his knee.

He cries out, more bloody spittle flying from his mouth. "All of the ammo is hidden. Only A-Alexandre knows!"

"Who is Alexandre?"

“Maman's son, he enforces her commands and oversees the males.”

"Where is he?" Price asks, voice hard.

“He… he resides in the work shed, while the rest of us sleep in the quarters within the barn.”

You step forward. "We saw another building outside with just one guard, that must be it."

There is a beat of silence as Price processes the information, giving Ghost a satisfied nod. With pain still contorting his face, the man's eye drifts past Ghost's shoulder toward you. His lips twitch into a faint, bloody smirk that makes your skin crawl. Ghost follows his gaze, snarls, and abruptly slashes the man's throat from ear to ear.

B

It is still dark when Eloise comes to awaken her, though Blue's eyes never once fell shut with sleep. She spent the short-lived night alternating between staring at the crescent moon outside the window, and fiddling with the knitting needles left on the table. There is a new dress in the woman's clutch, beautiful white fabric embroidered with flowers, and a pair of beautiful leather shoes in the other hand.

"See? I told you the dress would be nicer." She smiles and hands it over, as if to offer something to be thrilled for. "You must change quickly. There is a lovely breakfast of framboises and milk waiting for you. Put these on as well." She sets the shoes on the floor.

Blue thinks it strange, to bother feeding her just before her death. Blankly, she asks, "How many people will be there? To watch me die."

Eloise's smile quivers slightly, a slight crack in her composure. "Not too many, I assure you. Only a few of us women, and one or two worthy men. Most are still sleeping." After a pause, she adds even quieter, almost ashamed, "Be thankful you don’t suffer through childbirth instead. It is... a painful thing. Long, too. At least this pain will be honorable and swift."

Blue's fingers tighten around the dress. "Okay. Do you mind if I change alone, please?"

Eloise bows her head. "Of course."

She casts one last gentle glance her way before shuffling out of the room, locking the door behind her and leaving Blue with only the dress and shoes. Once the door is closed, Blue quickly slips the dress on, shuddering as the cold fabric caresses her limbs. It’s more beautiful than anything she can remember ever wearing, and that disgusts her. Swallowing the churn in her stomach, she grabs the needles and sits back on the bed.

The wounds on her feet are shallow, her fingernails only able to pierce the thick skin slightly. Using the needles, she digs into them deeper, trembling from the pain that throbs as fresh blood begins to seep from the soles. She cuts and cuts furiously, teeth gritted, praying it’s enough to soak through the shoes she slips on over the new wounds. She covers the blood stains on the sheet with the blanket, then stands, almost crying out from the agony of walking on her torn feet.

"Please dad," she whispers, closing her eyes briefly, before calling to Eloise that she is ready.

"Is everything alright, miss? You've been in there for a while." "What are you doing with the female? It’s forbidden!" "A woman? Maman wouldn’t want you—" "Someone killed them! We need to fix this shit before Maman finds out anything." "The fucking prisoners!"

bleeding blue | apocalypse au

part twenty-four —other parts

pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x fem!reader words: 3k tags: death. blood. cannibalism mention. zombies of course. AFAB reader. single dad ghost. there will be sex but it isn’t here yet. slow burn!!! enemies to lovers. summary: After losing your companions, you run into a skull-masked man and his daughter. They are your last hope for survival. a/n: ily

England passes in beautiful shades of green, the last time you'll see it, so you soak it in. Rolling hills streak the landscape like scars. In the distance, you glimpse faded architecture, imagining people living and working there. An ivy-covered university appears, and you picture yourself dozing off in a lecture. These little fantasies entertain you for the next two hours, but Blue isn't distracted by the same game. When you look at her arm, you notice pink scratches just below where the friendship bracelet hugs her wrist, made by her nails mindlessly.

You tear your eyes from the window and nudge your shoulder against hers. "Hey. What do you call a cow with no legs?"

Her lips twitch at the broken silence and she lifts her azure eyes to yours, a bead of sunlight catching in them. "What?"

"Ground beef."

Those eyes roll. "That's stupid."

Nereida smiles from the other side of her. "Oh, I've got one. What did the ocean say to the beach?"

Blue sighs. "Ghost said that one before. Nothing—it just 'waved'."

A recoil passes over Nereid's kind eyes. "I apologize. That's the only one I know."

Quiet air fills the space again, and when you notice Blue's nails dig back into her wrist, you gently lace your fingers through hers and pull her hand to your lap, allowing her to scratch your thigh, instead. 

When an old theme park erects from the grass, Blue's interest piques. "Woah. What is that?"

"None of it works anymore," Ghost mutters, one hand on the wheel.

"It looks cool, though. I have to pee, anyway. Can we stop here?"

"I could use a little stretch for my legs," Nereida adds.

The pitstop is brief enough to allow Blue the chance to curiously look through the decrepit bumper cars, carousel, and even a small rollercoaster that still has the car sitting mid-track. She grabs Ari's hand to show him, but he doesn't seem as intrigued given the pale look on his face. He ends up rushing to a bush and keeling over.

"The back gets a bit bumpy," Kyle says when he notices your expression. "He'll be fine."

"I'll switch with him for the rest of the way."

"You don't have to."

"It's fine. He can probably entertain Blue better than I can."

Everyone uses the small break to eat a little lunch. You already had some of the beans Ghost packed, so you feel uncertain whether you should eat anymore of his food. You haven't even discussed sharing. Rather, you ration the jerky you made and save the rest. 

It is a small meal, so you eat it slowly to trick your stomach into feeling full. Just before getting back to the truck, you spot a tree by the entrance to Kettering Kastle. Hickory. Paul told you once they make for great arrows, a softer hardwood. Pliable yet strong. This excites you. Your sheath is only half-full, so you grab your serrated knife and cut a few midsized branches to take with you.

Sitting in the truck bed is far from pleasant. The tail wind makes it hard to breathe, and you have to grab the side of the truck to keep yourself from flying out. Kyle notices your struggle and seems amused, but reaches an arm over in offering. You hold onto him and it does some to keep you stable. 

The motorway passes through Kettering, which is a smaller city. The smell is retched, though the only Greys you spot don't take notice to you, trapped between buildings and toppled telephone poles. You make out a sign that reads A14 and figure it is headed to Cambridge. If you continue this pace, you'll reach the coastline by sundown.

Of course, things don't work out that way. The road becomes more obstructed with abandoned vehicles. Ghost has to weave through them like a maze, wasting time and fuel. The sun crawls higher in the sky. Finally, there are a few kilometers of straight road. Speed ticks up only to come to an abrupt halt when he reaches an underpass. You let go of Kyle and stand up to see what has caused the stop—a semi truck completely blocks the way through it.

"Jesus," you mutter.

Consecutive slams of the fronts doors indicate Price and Ghost are checking it out. Kyle hops out with them. After a few minutes, he returns and explains with a sigh, "We'll have to backtrack and find a side street that will lead to another motorway ramp."

"That's going to eat time. The sun will set soon."

He offers his arm again as Ghost begins reversing. "I know. It's fine, we'll just get to the water tomorrow. No rush, yeah?"

It adds an extra hour and a half. The sky turns a remarkable orange that would've had you gawking if not for your irritation of having to stop again. Ghost pulls over just before it gets too dark to set up the tents in a small market town called Haverhill. There's hardly anything here except fields of bright, yellow flowers and little shops with slanted CLOSED signs. It is actually pleasant and well-preserved, until you catch the distinguishable shape of a corpse hanging from one of the telephone poles, a black trash bag over its head.

"Don't look at it."

"Nothing I haven't seen before," you dismiss under your breath. 

A more forested patch of land at the edge of the town is where you make camp for the night.

They eat canned goods and you finish your last pieces of jerky. This means you'll have to find more food for yourself tomorrow, or ask Ghost for some. The thought makes you anxious. The last thing you want is to seem like an extra burden. Dead weight that they'd be better off leaving behind. But he also didn't comment when you ate the beans. The uncertainty of where you stand means you need to make yourself useful.

The men need rest, so you offer to keep watch.

Prices dismisses you. "You don't have to, Twix. The three of us can take turns."

"No, really. I'll keep watch and you guys can all get more sleep. I've just been sitting in a car all day, anyway."

He gives in, visibly fatigued after being up over twenty-four hours.

Ghost and Price sleep first.

That leaves you sitting with Kyle when the stars begin to flicker like bright, little heartbeats against the black night.

You pull out your smoother knife—the one you found back at that base—to carve the sticks you found, careful of your bandaged thumb. 

Kyle lays his rifle across his lap. "First time I am seeing you smile today and it's while carving sticks." 

"Arrows," you correct, holding one up and tapping your index lightly against the sharpened point. "And it's good wood. Hickory."

"You're an easy woman to please," he teases.

"My tastes have changed over the years."

"Really? I can't imagine you as one of those people who cared too much about nice things."

You flash him a raised brow. "Are you saying I was cheap?"

He nudges your knee. "Not what I'm saying. You just seem like someone who would prefer a little movie date over a fancy dinner."

"I liked sushi. Is that fancy?"

He hums. "There were some good cheap sushi spots in London—hole in the wall type places. When there was some kid doing their homework at one of the booths, that's when you knew it'd be good shit."

"You're making me hungry."

"Well, you should've eaten more." He looks at you knowingly. "You're scared to ask anyone for food, aren't you?"

Are you really that easy to read? You place the half-finish arrow across your knees and look at the ground, brushing your fingers absentmindedly through the soft grass. "I just—I am aware of my place here."

"Your place?"

Your hands tightens the grass into a fistful. "I am at the bottom."

"The bottom," he repeats slowly, and his voice lowers. "You really think that?"

You rip the grass and sprinkle it over your boot, glancing up at him. His eyes have darkened, or maybe they are simply mirroring the sky. "I am not complaining. I understand that everyone here has others who they would prefer to keep alive over me, that's all. I just don't want to stick out anymore than I already do."

He reels in your words. "You're forgetting that everyone here has their own perspective, their own wants. It is not as simple as you're making it seem." In a change of topic, he reaches for the arrow on your lap. "Here—let me help."

You hand him the knife and he begins carving expertly as a few minutes of silence ensue. You are lost in your thoughts, keeping your eyes on the surroundings, when he suddenly stops in his handiwork, holding up the knife. You watch him study the leather handle carefully, shake his head to himself, then look at you.

"Where did you get this?"

"Huh? Oh—I found it. At a military base actually."

Your answer seems to strike him, and he releases a disbelieving exhale. "The one near Manchester?"

You nod. 

"It was my brother's."

What?

Reading your expression, he shows you the handle and rubs his thumb over a small etching at the bottom that you can barely make out in the moonlight: PG.

"Patrick Garrick," he explains in a murmur, and your chest tightens. "I didn't even notice it at first. It's been years since I had it. The last time...the last time was when shit happened, and I lent it to a friend of mine at the base."

"Who?"

"Soap," he says, a memory taking over his expression as he rubs his jaw. "He was the other member of our spec ops unit."

"You... Someone mentioned him before. Ghost—he asked you guys about him when you arrived. You don't know what happened to him, right?"

Kyles nods. "He stayed back at the base to keep helping even when Price and I jumped ship. That was the Scottish in him—stubborn as hell. Soap was just his codename, of course. Like mine was Gaz." He looks up at you with a faint dimple. "And yours is Twix, huh?"

"I guess." You press your tongue to your teeth and grab the knife, frowning at it as you try to recall exactly where you grabbed it from. "What was his real name, then?"

"John MacTavish."

"I think—I think your friend is dead. I'm sorry." You gaze at him. "I remember now. I found it in one of the rooms, and there was a skeleton with that name. He... he had it quick, though."

The expression on his typically warm eyes turns unreadable and his shoulders stiffen in the slightest. You wonder if you should have bothered sharing this, but then he shrugs it off with a sigh. "It's okay. Figured as much. Many people have died. He's just another name to the list."

Instinct draws your hand to his shoulder, and the muscles softens beneath your touch. "I'm still sorry."

His eyes find yours. 

He smiles solemnly.

Then, somewhere in it all, he leans over and closes the gap. The sudden, foreign feel of lips pressed against your own stuns you. His lips move gently, cold and soft against yours, and only when he threads a hand through your hair to pull you closer do you fully register what he is doing. Your eyes fly open and you break away, leaping to your feet.

"Why did you—what was that?"

He stands up with you. "It felt right in the moment."

He tries to touch your shoulder but you flinch away. "I'm sorry. I just—I was just trying to comfort you."

"I misread the moment." His eyes are clouded. "So you didn't want it?"

Did you? Your mind feels fuzzy. "I don't know. I need to...I want to be alone right now."

You grab your knife and sticks, rushing around the tents to find solace by the truck, needing to process what just happened. As you move, you bump into a hard chest—Ghost. Somehow you failed to hear the jagged teeth of the tent's zipper. Avoiding his gaze, you try to slip past, but he grips your elbow, holding you in place.

"What is it?"

The lie wedges out of your lips. "Nothing. I just—thought I saw something so I am going to sit over there and keep an eye out."

The difference in height leads to his stare burning into your scalp. "What did you see?" 

"I don't know. Something. Maybe just an animal."

His hold doesn't soften. Stoicism forces itself on your face as you press your lips into a line.

You're easy to ready.

He finally lets go. "I'll take over now. You can sleep."

You find yourself nodding soundlessly, internally glad to be relieved of this duty. 

Sleep offers peace of mind, at least until morning. 

Dawn breaks over the small town in a quiet clatter of spoons against cans and the shuffling of bags being packed up. The dream you wake up from was one of an old life—the last kiss you experienced. But it fizzles quickly from the recesses of your brain the moment your lids shutter open. 

Both you and Kyle seem keen on acting as though nothing happened. More than anything, you are confused. You try to search inside that box of yours for how you feel, but all you find is fear. You've barely been able to keep up with the fear. You busy yourself with helping get everything back in the truck, fitting the supplies like a jigsaw puzzle. You have nothing to eat. A day or two without food is doable until you can properly hunt for something—

"Here."

It is Nereida who catches you by the truck before leaving. She practically shoves a can of tuna into your hands and you look up at her in hesitant gratitude.

"We're all sharing food," she says. "That is how it should be."

"Thank you. Really, this is—"

"Don't thank me. There is plenty for everyone."

For now, your mind chides, but you swallow the thought while scarfing down the meal you pretend is London's finest sushi. 

Once everyone is ready, you head to the back of the truck, expecting an awkward encounter with Kyle, only to find Ghost sitting there beside the kayak, hands relaxed behind his head.

"What are you doing?"

"Needed a break from driving."

You glance at the front to see that Price is behind the wheel, and Kyle is in the passenger side. In a way, you're relieved. You breathe through your nose and hoist yourself up. The bumpy ride is quiet at first. His body takes up space so that each pothole nudges your shoulder or knee against his. The morning ages. You swear you can see there coast at one point, but it must be your imagination, because the passing sign reads Halstead. 

"You really need to work on lying better."

The brash accent registers low against the hum of the engine, and his eyes are closed when you look over. He is leaned back, one leg straight and one bent, seeming to enjoy the seat more than you are. 

"Fine. I'm bad at lying."

"Care to share the truth, then?"

He needn't elaborate for you to know what he is referring to. "I was...I was upset because I found out my knife—the one I took from the base—belonged to Kyle's brother."

His brow ticks.

You continue, "But he actually gave it to Soap, and I—I found his dog tag on a skeleton. John MacTavish. You were friends with him, weren't you?"

His eyes open, but they are too murky to decipher from just his profile. His jaw flexes. "I wasn't a man with friends, Twix."

"You know what I mean."

There is a pause, and then, "He was a sergeant under my command. A good man. Grating, at times. But good."

"Well, I'm sorry he didn't make it. If you of all people say he was a good guy, then he really must've been."

He hums in agreement. Thoughtful. Then—two gloved fingers touch your jaw, turning your eyes to his. "You are still lying, and still bad at it."

You wet your lips. "I wasn't—"

"Help!"

Ghost drops your chin and grabs the gun from his waist.

Your eyes flash around at the sound of a second plea. There is a man at the side of the road, leg draped in bloodied bandages, but there isn't a chance for you to register more of him when the truck takes a sudden, sharp left down a side street and you brace yourself by grabbing the edge with both arms. The small city-scape whirls by in a blur. Ghost swears under his breath, scanning the area as he bends on one knee and keeps the gun secure in his grip. Confused, you grab his arm.

"That man was injured."

His voice is harsh and alert. "He has fucking friends somewhere here. He was just trying to—"

A shattering sound. An audible pop. You're thrown against the truck bed even harder this time as it skids across the street, nearly slamming into a flipped-over car. Ghost covers you, the weight of him keeping you from flying out. The truck swerves to a halt. Everything is black until his weight lifts. He barks an order, jumps out, and pulls you with him.

Pressed against the side of the truck, the world becomes consumed by loud sounds and the distinct smell of gunpowder. Ghost rips open the passenger door and urgently pulls Blue, Ari, and Nereida out, ordering them to keep low. From the other side, you hear Price and Kyle shouting, followed by another series of gunshots.

Seeing Double - Chapter 2

Pairings: Simon “Ghost” Riley x MacTavish! Reader, Platonic!John “Soap” MacTavish x MacTavish! Reader, Platonic! John Price x Reader, Platonic! Kyle “Gaz” Garrick x Reader

Summary - Soap had hidden you long enough. Now Ghost has been assigned to catch you up in training

Warnings - military inaccuracies. Blood. Violence. Sparring. Slight animalistic behavior and references. Mention of trauma.

Notes - Part twooooo. Hope y’all enjoy! sorry for any typos. I’m just spoiling y’all today

Word Count - 3.3k

Total Masterlist / Pt. 1

The first few days were rough. But Johnny helped you adjust. He had slumber parties in your room because deep down you both knew why you couldn’t go to sleep alone. Johnny never left your side even for a moment.

Secretly, you both knew that Johnny was trying to avoid you having to do any training. He wouldn’t say it but he was still worried about you. You were plagued by something and he didn’t know what. Price said there was nothing on your file for reason of concern. So he believed his captain. Why wouldn’t he? But he saw how you slept. Whimpering in your sleep and clawing at your neck. Each morning he would help you apply an ointment and wouldn’t ask a single question. He would bring you meals to your room as you spent more and more time catching up.

On the third day, Price decided you finally had to do some kind of training, and not with Johnny. At breakfast, you slowly ate your food as everyone watched you. There was something they weren’t telling you.

“Is there something on my face?” you asked softly after catching them all looking at you.

“No. We’re just surprised that Johnny finally is sharing you” Gaz remarked. A loud scoff left the man’s mouth.

“Yer full of shit. Any of yous could have come and seen ‘er. But ye didn’t.” Johnny spoke gruffly.

“You never answered the door when we knocked.” Gaz shot back.

“It’s not like you knocked at the most convenient times.” Johnny shot back. “Excuse me for wanting to catch up with ma family.”

Price noted how they were hitting a nerve and cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention,

“Banshee, today you’ll spend the day with Ghost. Shooting range, sparring, and then catching up on your studies. We need you at full force incase of sudden plans.”

Even though his captain was speaking, Ghost couldn’t bear to take his eyes off of you. There was something that made you tick and he wanted to know what it was. He needed to know. He studied your face as you took the news. There was no panic, no shock, just a simple nod and a small “yes sir.”

There was something itching at him about you. You were so quiet. He couldn’t understand it. He had watched you for a tick, a tell, anything. But instead, you concealed everything behind a mask of skin, and bones. It unnerved him. You were supposed to be just like Johnny. Just as annoying, just as fierce, just as defiant, just as loud. Instead, you were obedient, meek, timid, and reserved to an extent. Sure, you laughed and smiled just like everyone else. But there was something under there. Why were you given such a boisterous, almost animalistic call sign if you were anything but.

“Sir?” You spoke again to him. Shit. He zoned out.

“Hm?” He responded.

“I asked what time you would like me to report to the shooting range, Sir.” You repeated, almost as if you had made the mistake. He glanced up at the clock and noted the time. 0800, on the dot.

“Meet me at the shooting range at 0820” he nodded. You nodded back, no complaints.

You were anxious as you stepped back into your room. Ghost had glared at you during the entirety of breakfast. Was something wrong with you? Were you not supposed to shake his hand on the tarmac, or god forbid did Johnny tell him something?

“Don’t let L.T. get to you. Yer doin’ great.” Soap murmured as he sat on your bed. You didn’t even have to say what was wrong and he read you like a book.

“I won’t.”

“I’ll be a hoot and a holler away, ye ken?” Soap said softly as he hugged you.

“I ken.” You held him for a moment and stood in silence as you packed your weapons and training gear. Soap knew today would be rough, especially knowing the Lieutenant.

He gave you a bright smile as you parted at the entrance of the shooting range. He trusted you and the Lieutenant, but he doesn’t know if he trusts you both together, alone. It makes his stomach turn but he ignores it anyway. It’s just L.T. if Johnny could handle him then so could you.

“Switch weapons.” Ghost spoke abruptly, after you took multiple rounds ‘warming up’ with your pistols. He could tell you were staying in your comfort zone. “Knives, Sergeant.” he finished, his voice barely muffled from the mask.

You nodded slowly as you unwrapped your bag. Revealing a set of throwing knives. The sharp metal glinted back at you, smirking almost. You slowly took the straight steel weapons into your hands. Flipping them over and over again, memorizing, as if you didn’t already know every notch and groove of the design. Your eyes slowly glazed over as you stared at them in your palms.

“What are you waiting for, Sergeant.”

“Nothing, Sir.”

“Then throw.”

“Aye Sir.”

Your fingers curved around the crude steel as your arms moved backwards. A deep breath passed through you as your arm moved back. Suddenly, like a whip your arm cracked forward. Except the snap through the air wasn’t your arm. But rather the knife sinking into the board in front of you. A sigh fell from your lips as you saw it hit the target in the shoulder, not in the center, where you had planned.

‘How embarrassing.’ you thought to yourself, trying to shake off your nerves a little. However, the masked lieutenant breathing down your neck and watching you like a hawk surely did not help.

Another knife cut through the air, once again missing your intended spot.

“Breathe. You’re tense. If you don’t let your body relax then your body can’t find its rhythm.” Ghost said from behind you.

“Thanks for the advice Sherlock.” You spoke, suddenly freezing. ‘Shit’.

If Ghost heard you, he didn’t let on, the stoic remaining motionless behind you. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath.

‘This was your element. These were your knives. Get a fucking grip.’ you thought to yourself. You allowed your body to finally relax as your fingers found solace in the steel divots. Suddenly your arm whipped forward in the blink of an eye, your wrist flicking as a solid ‘thud’ cut through the air. You knew that sound. The sound of your blade finding its way snugly into the target.

You didn’t have to look to know you made your target but seeing it brought you all the same comfort. Suddenly filled with a renewed vigor, you let your dominant hand wrap around another blade and repeated the process three more times until you were out of knives.

“Not too bad.” The lieutenant nodded as he moved to remove the knives from the target. The man biting back a ‘I told you so’ as he saw the last four found their home in the center of the target. “Again.”

This time Ghost made sure to watch your every move. From the way he saw your eyes focus, to the way your arm flicked the blades out with ease, he noted it all. Your every fiber trusting your blade as you knew it would find the spot that you desired it to.

The process repeated over and over and over until you swear you could do this again with your eyes closed. The dull sound of thuds filling the room as Ghost had you do it again, and again, and again.

He knew that this is what you needed. Not to be holed up with Johnny in your room, but to find your footing again. You needed to remember why you were here, this wasn’t a family vacation after all, no matter how much Johnny treated it as such.

He swore he was just beginning to see it all come together but you suddenly stopped. The knife stuck in your hand as you stared at the target. Seeing something he couldn’t. He took a breath, ready to tell you to go again but you beat him to it as you fired off the knives.

For a moment he froze, wondering exactly what you saw. But he didn’t have to take a wild guess to assume it wasn’t rainbows and sunshines. He purposely let his boots hit the ground louder than he would have liked as he passed by you. You shook your head softly as he retrieved the knives, ready to go again.

“Pack it up, we’re moving to the mats. Time to test your close combat skills.” He spoke gruffly. He didn’t miss the look of shock that flashed over your face. Almost like you were saddened that you had to say goodbye so when you had just gotten comfortable.

“Yes sir.”

Ghost waited by the door as you packed it up and carried your gear to your locker before safely storing it. Then grabbing a change of clothes. He left the locker room to allow you some privacy to change.

You slipped by him and walked in front as you both made your way to the mats. Ghost had taken small notice of your sudden change of clothes. You were in a tight tank top, dark shaded combat pants, and some beat up combat boots. He didn’t miss how you fixed your braid mindlessly as you both approached the mat.

“So who am I sparring with?” you spoke, almost as if the answer wasn’t standing on the other side.

“Me.” Ghost nodded. “Is that alright?”

Your shoulders bristled at the question. He asked for your permission. Your consent. He wanted to know if this was okay. For the first time it wasn’t a direct order.

“I can go fetch Gaz if he is more your base level.” He offered.

“No sir. No need to accommodate me.” Your voice came out soft.

‘Accommodate you? What a strange idea. What an unusual choice of words.’ He thought to himself. The silence was deafening the room as you both waited for the other to move first. To try something.

Ghost made the first move as a silent timer dinged off in his head for the spar to start.

‘What a gentleman’ you scoffed at yourself. Moving to dodge his punch. You both now circled each other again. Slowly getting closer and closer, you prepared to block as he suddenly swiped your feet out from under you. Your back hitting the mat hard but not without tugging him down with you. Both of you fighting for the upper hand, with Ghost winning easily. His hands found your wrists as he pinned you.

Ghost stared at you as you realized your arms were immobile. He had you. Suddenly a look crossed over your face. Something was different this time, you didn’t look at him the same. But before the poor lieutenant could figure out what it was, your knee found his stomach. He let out a groan as his fingers loosened around your wrist.

‘Shit. What a careless mistake’ the thought crossed his mind just as fast as you shrunk away. He didn’t even get to reprimand himself as his chest suddenly made hard contact with the mat. Your hand twisting his right arm back, you had his dominant hand in a tight hold behind his back as his mind began to race.

The lieutenant would have been shocked if he hadn’t welcomed the change so much. Your hips resting on his back as you had him pinned. Or so you thought. His left arm suddenly reached around to grab your leg, the man ignoring how it ached at such an angle but not caring as he wrapped it around your knee and suddenly yanked you forward before you could capture his left wrist in another hold.

Your hand barely loosened around his wrist as he sent you reeling forward over his head. Just what he needed to get free. He quickly rotated his hips to flip you onto the mat. His weight held you down as he captured your ankles and then shifted to be on his knees as he once again captured both wrists to have you pinned like an animal.

He didn’t miss how your teeth barely flashed for a moment before you realized your position and tapped his wrist twice to be released. But he held you there for a moment. You swear he was admiring you from behind his balaclava before he then suddenly released you and let you roll away. He dusted off his knees, taking a moment for himself. Completely missing how you came around his back and suddenly two strong arms wrapped around his neck. He could feel your muscles flexing as you tried to hold him in a choke.

His elbow came quickly to jab you to be released but you didn’t falter. Your fingers digging under his mask.

‘So this is how it was going to be’ he thought to himself. Feeling pity for you as he was quickly able to pull one of your arms loose as you never fully locked your legs around his shoulders to contain his arms. The man used his strength to fling you over him, fully expecting you to land flat on the mat right next to him but instead you tucked into a roll and safely moved to the other side of the mat.

He then finally saw what had changed as he watched you stalk him. He noticed how your body seemed tight, rigid almost. This was what you hid behind those shy smiles and curt nods. The lone woman that fought tooth and nail for each breath. He could almost feel his lips pull into a smirk under the mask.

To a bystander, it would look like you were a trapped animal in the corner with nowhere to run. But Ghost knew better than to underestimate you. Cornered animals will do anything to survive. Ghost knew that feeling all too well.

It’s why he was able to perceive your lunge long before it came. He let you take him down, his back hitting the mat once again. You smiled viciously as you pinned him down. Victory seeping into your gums.

A sudden shock laid against your system as your back instead hit the mat. His hands are painfully now pinning your wrists. His hips laying his full weight on your front as he held you there. Your eyes met as you held his eye contact fiercely. Your pupils were dilated as your eyes glinted in the light

“Stand down Sergeant.” he almost growled out. His control slipped just barely enough as he looked down at you. God what an image you were. Smiling deliriously even as he had you pinned. He had the upper hand, not you. So why were you grinning like a madman? The same crazed smile he swore he’d seen on your brother once in the heat of combat.

Suddenly your head made contact with his nose and he felt a metallic taste enter his mouth. ‘Fuck. Another mistake’ he chastised himself but if anything it made him hold you tighter.

You frowned for half a second realizing his hold didn’t break. The man is just staring at you blankly. Before a word could fall from your lips, you were flipped over. His arms around your neck in a tight chokehold. His full body weight now pressing you harshly into the mat. His hips snug against your rear as his thighs crossed over yours to completely subdue you. A whimper left your mouth as a sharp voice cut through the air.

“That’s enough.” Price said as he entered the room. Gaz and Soap followed sharply behind. He didn’t miss the look that the male sergeants shared with each other and the way worry flashed across Soap’s eyes at your compromised position. He quickly released you as you crawled quickly out from under him.

He watched you now look completely different from the opponent he had in the ring mere seconds ago. Your figure turned in on itself as you kept your head down while checking yourself for wounds. A shy gaze that couldn’t even meet his own as if you didn’t just bust up his face up to hell and back for a single chance at escaping.

“Time for lunch. Or do ye need time to freshen yerself up?” Soap quipped as he walked over to the mat. Ghost realized the Scotsman was talking to him as drips of crimson seeped through the mask and onto the floor.

“‘m perfectly fine.” he grunted even as he saw you wipe his blood from your forehead from where you had crushed it roughly into his nose.

“Oh you’re about as right as rain.” Gaz smirked as he stood by the captain.

“Lunch in the mess then team meeting in the conference room.” Price barked out. “Ghost clean your bloody face.”

“Yes sir.” he said as he swiftly passed by you. He didn’t miss how you tensed up as he passed.

The blonde let out a deep sigh as he cleaned out his nose in the privacy of his bathroom. His balaclava left out on the toilet, soiled with his own blood. Even as he stared in his mirror at his nose. Images of you flashed over his eyes.

Wild eyes. A vicious smile. The tension in your body was like a coiled spring. The way your hips fit against his own even when he had you in a firm pin. The way your chest heaved every time he had you pinned on your back.

“Get yourself together Riley” he murmured to himself. “She’s your sergeant’s twin and your subordinate.” A growl escaped his throat as he splashed the cold water against his face as he stepped away to then dry his face. He could already feel his nose puffing up and his busted lip bruising. But for once, he didn’t mind. In his mind he had won, literally and figuratively. He had a glimpse of you, the real you. Your mask had slipped in the privacy of the four concrete walls and the old mats. Even as he turned his back on the mirror and out the door, slipping on his mask, he swears that he could still see those wild eyes staring back at him.

“So how did I do, Sir?” you said as everyone slid into the table for lunch. The trays quietly clinked as he stared at his food.

“Good,” he responded. Just pulling his mask up enough to show his lips. A slight puff to them as they bruised from injury.

“She did better than good, she got a hit on our lieutenant didn’t you, wildcat?” Gaz said as he ruffled your hair. A small blush crowded your cheeks at the nickname as a meek smile pulled at your lips.

A quick pop sounded through the air as Soap’s hand made contact with Gaz’s hand on top of your head.

“Only her family can call her that.” came the Scotsman’s response. “You’ll call her by her callsign or her title.”

“I don’t remember you having authority over me, Soap.” Gaz shot back. “Banshee is her own woman, she can tell us what to call her.”

The two sergeants began to bicker behind you as you shuffled food into your mouth. It might have been the blood loss but Ghost swore he saw you wink at him when he winced at his lip after he took his first bite.

The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife as everyone piled into the conference room. Ghost and Gaz took the left side of the table as you and Soap took the right. Price took the head of the table.

Laswell’s face suddenly appeared on the screen as John greeted her. “Well Kate, what have you come to gift us with now?”

“A one way trip to Mexico.” came her clipped response. Your shoulders suddenly bristled at hearing your destination. A frown tugged at the lieutenant’s lips even under the mask. You should be happy to be back in the field, shouldn’t you?

Author’s Note - Hope y’all enjoyed it!

My requests are open!

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