a story where dean opens up about his childhood to cas would be amazing đđ
destiel, 1.5k, established relationship, hurt-comfort, angst, anxiety attack, mentions of abuse and childhood trauma not in complete detail
Cas didnât need to sleep.
Before he and Dean started dating, Cas would spend his nights out in the library, on his own, and Dean always hated it. He hated knowing that Cas would be out there on his own, waiting for somebody to wake up to keep him company. It used to keep Dean up some nights, when he was hopelessly in love with the angel but too scared to do anything about it, and all he could picture was Cas sat on his own in the dark, waiting.
So when they did get together, Dean urged Cas to spend his nights with him. And at first, it had been a way to keep him company even when Dean was asleep. Heâd fall asleep with Cas beside him, and wake up with him in the same position, tangled up in Deanâs limbs that had soothed him through the lonely night. Dean would kiss him Goodnight and kiss him good morning, and theyâd get up and leave the bedroom together.
But sometimes, Cas being in bed with Dean was more for Deanâs benefit than the angelâs.
Dean could feel the warmth of him pressed up against his back through the thin material of his sleep shirt. Cas had his body draped along the length of Deanâs back, an arm hooked over his waist, a leg between his â practically every part of Cas was touching him, and it kept him grounded. He needed the contact to keep himself sane.
âAnother one,â Castielâs breath fanned over the back of his neck as his voice came out in a low rumble. âBreathe, Dean.â
It had happened more times than heâd like to admit, that Cas helped him breathe. Dean didnât get panic attacks, he didnât have anxiety or depression, he was fine. But⌠there had been occasions where he thought too hard and it felt like heâd been winded, or his vision blurred and his chest ached. And before Cas, heâd forced himself through it. He clenched his jaw and sat stiffened until it passed, or at least until it got marginally better, and he carried on with whatever he was doing. If Sam asked, he got told the same thing every time, that he was fine.
But Dean couldnât lie to Cas. The first time it had happened in front of the angel heâd tried to shrug him off, but Cas had seen right through him, and just forced him to sit down and eased him through it.
Cas has been easing him through it for almost six hours by that point.
The case that he and Cas had worked had left Dean with a nauseous swirl in his gut instead of the usual relief. Heâd grit his teeth through the drive home and only hadnât crashed because of his partnerâs hand on his leg. He got food and didnât choke because of the warmth of the angel sat by his side. When they got back to the bunker the only reason Dean hadnât sat and drank an entire bottle of whiskey was because Cas had led him to their bedroom before he had the chance to pour a third glass.
When heâd been doing things, it was easier to try and ignore the feeling. But when he just laid there with nothing to do but stare at the wall, he thought. And when he thought about the case too much, it physically took his breath away.
âThatâs better,â Cas had one hand against Deanâs chest and rubbed his sternum with the heel of his palm, and his other arm was underneath the pillow Dean laid on. âAnother one.â
Dean forced the breaths until the ache in his chest subsided and his vision stopped swimming. When the wall finally stopped looking blurry, his shoulders slumped slightly, and he tipped his head back until he was flush against Cas. âThanks.â His voice was a little rough and a little shaky.
âAre you alright, Dean?â Cas sounded so concerned that it made Deanâs heart ache. To be fair, he didnât even know what was wrong, why the case had fucked him up so much. Dean hadnât been able to tell him at the time without compromising the case by sending himself into a spiral.
âPeachy,â Dean continued to stare at the wall. âMâfine, Cas.â
Though he was breathing fine, the palm that rubbed against his chest hadnât stopped. It was nice, it kept him at least somewhat relaxed.
âWould you like to tell me what happened?â There was a pause behind him, before, âIf you want to. You donât have to.â
Dean hesitated, swallowed the bile that threatened to rise in his throat.
The case theyâd worked was at the house of a mother and her young son who kept getting unexplainable bruises, and it turned out that they were being haunted by the ghost of the boyâs deceased father. They spoke to the mother and found out all about her dead husband â the ex-military, violent, angry man â and theyâd spoken to the son, and it just hit a bit too close to home. It made Dean think too much about it.
Heâd never told Cas much about his dad. He knew the basics, knew that there had been some issues, but Dean had never gone into too much detail. That shit was in the past, he had forced himself to forgive and forget his fatherâs actions. He supposed it was why when he was forced to remember it all, it threw him through the fucking loop. Because heâd forced himself to pack it all away years ago.
âDean,â Cas prompted softly when he hadnât replied, and rubbed the heel of his palm over his sternum again. âWith me?â
Dean cleared his throat and nodded, and forced himself to focus on the angelâs touch, the warmth of his body, the breath on his neck. âYeah, umâŚâ he took in a shuddering breath and exhaled before he spoke again. âThe case just got me thinkinâ.â
There was silence behind him. Cas just pressed his palm to his chest again, as if to say go on.
âThat⌠fuck, that kid,â Dean hated the way his voice wavered, he wanted to choke down the feeling and shove it back into the box that heâd kept locked up for years, that he hadnât touched in god knows how long. âHe didnât deserve that.â
âNo, he didnât,â Castiel agreed solemnly. âHe was just a boy.â
Deanâs throat constricted. âIt wasnât fair, it was his dad, he was supposed to⌠to keep him safe, not to⌠to take his anger out on him.â
Cas was silent for a moment, continued the ministrations against Deanâs chest. âThereâs no complacency in a man that angry,â there was silence, before, âThat⌠boy, he didnât deserve it. Any of it.â
Deanâs eyes stung and he squeezed them shut. He knew that they werenât talking about the boy. âHeâs been dead for years.â
âSo?â Castiel also knew that they werenât talking about the boy. âHe was also alive for years. Time makes no difference to the extent of the damage that was done.â
It was the gentleness of Casâ tone that broke the barrier, and Dean felt as the first tears slipped past his eyelashes, over the curve of his nose. He took a few moments of silence, breathed through his mouth and focused on the pressure on his chest, before he spoke again.
âIt scares me, sometimes. The⌠the anger he left me with. I donât⌠I donât want to hurt Sam, or⌠or you.â
Again, Castiel didnât reply straight away. His hand lifted from Deanâs chest and pressed to his shoulder, pulled him until he laid flat on his back, looking up at the angel. His expression was so loving that Deanâs throat clenched again.
âDean,â there was a certain sincerity to Castielâs voice, a hard seriousness that he felt in his bones. âYou are nothing like your father.â
It felt like getting winded. Dean had to remember to breathe back in as he absorbed the statement, eyes flickered around the angelâs face for any crack in the sincerity. He couldnât find one. The tears fell a little faster.
A warm hand cupped Deanâs cheek before Casâ head dipped down, and their mouths met with a tenderness that sucked most of the aches out of Deanâs bones. It was soft and warm and felt like safety.
âYouâre not,â Cas promised again as soon as the kiss had broken, like he couldnât bare the thought of Dean doubting him. âYou are good, Dean. You are who you are in spite of him, not because of him.â
The lump in his throat just grew larger. Dean tried to swallow around it but couldnât, so he blinked away the tears and nodded, and just leaned up to kiss Cas again.
He hoped that in every press of his lips, stroke of his tongue, in every breath that they shared, that he could convey the I love you that he wasnât able to say in that moment.
BEST OF SHOURTNEY
the wait is finally over!! this list has every video of the best shourtney moments over the past 9 years. (yes, all 64 videos are individually linked) this took me a very long time (10+ hours) so i would really appreciate it if yall reblogged and followed me :P enjoy!! <33
- DONT WIN MARIO KART
- SMOSH MOUTH #27
- COURT IS IN SESSION (BAF ALL RISE)
- JOYCON HIDE AND SEEK (1,2, SWITCH)
- BOOZY PAINTING ANTHONY STREAM
- MAKING OURSELVES IN THE SIMS
- RELATIONSHIP REDDIT STORIES
- AM I THE EX? REDDIT STORIES
- SMOSH MOUTH #1
- SMOSH MOUTH #18
- SMOSH MOUTH #23
- MYTHICON VLOG
- LARGEST HIDE AND SEEK W/ PRESTONPLAYZ
- ARE WE CRINGE? (IDIOTS PRESENT)
- CHOSEN + BRIANNA POPPY PLAYTIME #1
- CHOSEN + BRIANNA POPPY PLAYTIME #2
- CHOSEN + BRIANNA POPPY PLAYTIME #2 (PART 2)
- BUSINESS WALRUS
- SMOSH OFFICE HIDE AND SEEK
- UNO GONE WILD
- WHO KNOWS COURTNEY BEST?
- GUESS WHO? ASSUMPTIONS ONLY
- EXPOSING YOUR WEIRDEST PURCHASES (WHAT'RE THOSE)
- HOW TO PAINT W/ BARB ROSS
- REAL COUPLE VS SHIPPED COUPLE (SAMLIVIA VS SHOURTNEY)
- COURTNEY GIVES COURTNEY FREAKING MILLER A MAKEOVER
- HOW TO FLIRT
- SMOSHCAST #48
- SMOSHCAST #69
- SMOSHCAST #75
- SMOSHCAST #82
- SMOSHCAST #85
- EVERY COUPLE EVER
- WORK GIRLFRIEND VS WORK BOYFRIEND
- SURPRISING SHAYNE W/ A GRADUATION CEREMONY
- HOW FAR WILL IT STRETCH? (GMM)
- CAN WE SHRINK IT? (GMM)
- WHY WE'RE BAD AT DATING
- WHY WE'RE BAD AT DATING APPS
- 6 PEOPLE IN A TINY CAR MUKBANG
- TRYING ACRYLIC NAILS
- WE INVADED SHAYNES HOME
- TRUE CONFESSIONS SHAYNE, COURT, IAN
- HOW TO FLEX
- SMOSHCAST #1
- SMOSHCAST #13
- SMOSHCAST #19
- SMOSHCAST #20
- SMOSHCAST #30
- SMOSHCAST #31
- SMOSHCAST #34
- SMOSHCAST #37
- SMOSHCAST #44
- 2 TRUTHS 1 LIE
- SCHOOL FOOD VS DOG FOOD
- I FOUND AN OLD BOX OF MEMORIES IN MY CLOSET
- 2 TRUTHS 1 LIE (COURTNEY FREAKIN MILLER)
- TNTL #9
- SPIN THE BOTTLE W/ DAMIEN
- LIFEGUARDS (DAY JOBS)
- TNTL #2
- TWISTER SQUAD VLOGS
- CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY SQUAD VLOGS
- TOUCH MY BODY CHALLENGE
Babygirl
MAKE THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS, TAKE THE MOMENT AND TASTE IT | AEMOND TARGARYEN
SOCIAL MEDIA!AU summary: in wich aemond is not afraid to make his move. very, very publicly, making the whole internet go insane. pairings: actor!aemond x singer!reader content warnings: faceclaim is sabrina carpenter but you can imagine reader as you'd like, some cursing, taylor swift/travis kelce inspired plot, use of y/n because it is necessary!! if you donât like it, sorry. note: omg i can't believe i'm doing this, hope you enjoy this piece little piece as much as i enjoyed making it! as i say; being delulu is the solulu. and here i am feeding into all out delusions. comments & reblogs are greatly appreciated! love you, mwah. đ
TWITTER ⣠AUG 12, 2023.
INSTAGRAM ⣠AUG 12, 2023.
INSTAGRAM ⣠AUG 13, 2023.
Liked by taylorswift, aemondtargaryen, gracieabrams and 1,221,948 others
yourusername oldtown i couldnât love you more. had the best first night with you and we still have three more to go! thanks so much to everyone there, i couldn't do this whout you. see you tonight for round 2? đ¤
view all 9,328 comments
user1 i can't believe i couldn't be there
zendaya had the best night with u!
yourusername thank u sm for coming, love you. đ
user2 MOTHER IS MOTHERING
user3 i don't now if i wanna be her or if i wanna be with her
user4 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I SEE AEMOND TARGARYEN IN HER LIKES
user5 I THOUGHT IT WAS A MISTAKE AT FIRST user6 I mean he was at Oldtown night1 so... user7 HE WENT TO HER CONCERT? user8 BESTIE HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE PICS?
troyesivan see you 2night oldtown. âď¸
AEMOND TARGARYEN INTERVIEW ⣠AUG 25, 2023.
TWITTER ⣠AUG 25-26, 2023.
INSTAGRAM ⣠SEPT 21, 2023.
Liked by jace_velaryon, therhaenatarg and 891,648 others
fairyhelaena friends and family for the weekend @ highgarden. đđşđŞ´đđď¸
view all 4,778 comments
lucerys03 looking đŻ as always.
baelatarg stop lying to yourself
user9 OH MY GOD IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS
user10 is that @yourusername in the second slide???
user11 yes!! she's in the fourth one too
yourusername đ¤đ¤đ¤
user12 it's impossible that she doesn't know about what aemond said, right? user13 knowing how jace is i'm sure she already knows. they probably were giving her a hard time lol
user14 Y/N hanging out with aemond's family but not him would never not make me laugh
user15 he's out there telling the world he likes her and she still hasn't say anything user16 and she doesn't have to. leave the poor girl alone user17 i mean she spent the whole weekend with aemond's sister and nephews, maybe he was there too user18 sorry to disappoint you but he's in king's landing user19 bro must be fuming, everyone in his family meeting his girl except for him
Liked by oliviarodrigo, nicholasgalitzine, aemondtargaryen and 955,899 others
yourusername took a couple of days off to hang out with some friends. see you in a bit for the second and final leg of the cruel summer tour! đ
view all 11,565 comments
user20 she's glowing
user21 wait- i feel like i've seen that guy before
user22 that's because he's aemond's nephew and also an actor
fairyhelaena my pretty đ
user23 THAT'S LUKE VELARYON???????
user24 HE IS !!!!! user25 yes he is, she was with aemond's family during the weekend
user26 idk why but i have the feeling that aemond saw these pics and ran to call luke
user27 and was probably screaming at him for an hour lol user28 another reason for aemond to hate him user29 he doesn't hate him, he's family user28 you can hate family user30 stfu it is well known that they have had their differences but they're in good terms now user31 besides who are we to talk about it? that's private. there are comments under aemond's posts of them joking with each other lol user30 idk why she's talking shit.
user32 WHY IS SHE WITH HIS FAMILY BUT NOT WITH HIM?
user33 what world are we living in
iMESSAGE ⣠SEPT 31, 2023.
TWITTER ⣠OCT 10, 2023.
TWITTER ⣠OCT 28, 2023.
TWITTER ⣠DEC 04, 2023.
let me give you a kiss if you make it here! and let me know if you'd like a part 2 of this little smau. as i said comments & reblog are greatly appreciated!
Any Sydcarmy headcanons? Or fics?
Ooh, top three I'm obsessed with:
child with a child pretending by emilybrontay (@sennenrose) - I'm obsessed with sydney and carmy with sydneys baby!! i need followups, drabbles, info!!
give me the sign by novelsandnoodles - sydney finds out who carmy got the sign from and i love it so much!!
intimates conquering intimacy by sashafiercer (@sashafiercest) - intimacy on intimacy on intimacy and it's so beautiful and funny.
Witch Trial! Joel x fem! reader
A/N: I came up with this one-shot idea by listening to âCassandraâ by Taylor Swift! I hope you enjoy, and please give me all your feedback and thoughts 𩵠This one is a bit angsty. No beta readers. Nervous and excited to share this one!
Summary: In the hate filled town of Salem, no one is safe. With accusations flying daily, no one is spared from speculation. When the blame is pointed at you, who will be there to defend you?
Rating: 18+ only MDNI
Word Count: 9.1k
Tags: So much angst, hurt Joel, soft Joel, switching POVs, witch trial au, talk of death, grief, smut, oral receiving (fem), unprotected piv, creampie, protective Joel, yearning, pining, Joel seeks revenge, religious trauma
Dividers by @saradika-graphics
The weather is cloudy, the sky full of windblown fire ash as another innocent woman is burned to death. You can smell the flesh rotting, hear the excruciating screams fill the amber colored sky as you mourn the loss of Cassandra.
It happened months ago, but you still hear it. The agonizing pleas as she begged for someone to save her, but she couldnât be saved, not here. She was the only friend you had in this godforsaken town called Salem. She was your best friend, your soul sister, family.
Theyâre all gone now. Dead, murdered. Now you have no one. Youâre all alone in a town hellbent to burn all the innocents they call witches. And you hate it, despise everything about this evil place. You just want to run far, far away from here. What a dream that would be, to get away from the gut wrenching noise of the town named for murders.
   David is the worst of them. The priest of the ungodly church, with his cold blue eyes, a snarl that bites anything he touches, slicked back blonde hair that sets fire to innocent women. Heâs a devil disguised as a savior, tricking any man into following him into the depths of despair. You hate the man, hate this fucked up town, but escape is death, too. But whatâs worse? Getting mauled by a bear or getting burned to death at the stake? Youâd take the bear mauling over all of it. Â
   Itâs simple enough. You break the rules, do anything to get noticed by the Protestant men of the town, and you get executed. It doesnât matter if you plead a case, doesnât matter if you can prove youâre innocent, doesnât even fucking matter if youâre a member of the goddamn church. If you do anything any of them donât like, you get hung or worse, burned.Â
   So now all you have is this little wooden house made by the rough hands of dirty men, men youâd rather not speak about. All you have are memories of Cassandra sharing your space, her essence still swirling around this lonely room as you pace back and forth day after day trying to hold on to memories that once belonged to you. When you had a friend, when you werenât so alone, but now you were left with the haunted ghosts of this town.Â
   Sometimes they show up at your doorstep when itâs calm and quiet after midnight, spreading their cries of warning to flee the area. But where would you run to? Who would you have? No one. But you donât have anyone now, so what does it matter? Youâre dead either way.Â
   You lull around your house, assessing the various shapes and colors of bottles you hold your collected herbs in, twisting the lids on tightly and lining them up neatly across the tall oak shelf. Green lush vines and pink tulips hang across the wide layout of the large glass window, where the sun kisses their gorgeous leaves and makes them grow and thrive in a state of wonder. This house is your only safe haven. Outside is a blood soaked warzone, filled with snakes and gossips that youâd rather avoid.Â
   You donât engage with the toxic church in town; you stopped going right after Cassandra was accused and sentenced to death. Nothing could make you go back to those haunted paint covered church pews, listening to the priest that spews venom about anything and everything he can. Youâre a prisoner to this town of hatred, mourning losses of fallen friends and family members who youâd never see again. Youâd never conform to this, youâd find a way out. Someday, somehow. Youâd get the freedom you so desperately seeked.
   Just when you start assessing some sprouting lilac petals, the wooden door slams open with a bang, making the entire house quiver under the sudden strike. You jump back, watching the potted lilacs fall to the floor as the ceramic pot smashes to tiny pieces. You feel cold, icy hands push you against the wall, holding you back as you watch the hateful men tear apart the only thing you have left in this sunken town.
   âWhatâs this, hmm? Practicing magic in my town?â David seethes as he holds up a bottle of fresh sage and smashes it to the ground, the glass shattering into tiny pieces like your own heart feels like.Â
   âNo, those are my plants!â You scream in horror as he continues to smash each bottle one by one, piece by piece.Â
   âThey donât look like just plants to me, sunshine. Looks to me like youâve been meddling in the devilâs affairs,â David snarls as he breaks another bottle of lavender.Â
   âNo, thatâs not it! Please, STOP!â You yell as the men push you back against the covered blue wallpaper. You fight with all your might to break away from their hold, but itâs no use. You have to just stand there in shambles watching your entire life fall apart before your tear soaked eyes.Â
   âShut up, witch! Bite your tongue, you little devil,â he snarls as he comes over in front of you and fists the front of your dress as you see violent, icy eyes stare into your soul. âNow, youâre going to see what the consequences of being friends with Cassandra are. Following in her footsteps, pathetic! Just watch what happens to witches who donât pay attention in church.â
   He tosses you back against the wall as you watch him slowly destroy your safe little haven. He breaks every single glass bottle in the house, tears apart every vine and flower that sits atop your kitchen counter, flips over granite tables, and destroys everything you ever loved in this space you called home.Â
   You feel completely defeated, your silent screams making you dizzy as you plead for him to stop, crying out until your throat runs dry and wet tears stain your crimson cheeks. You watch him pull apart the last of Cassandraâs things, watch him murder her all over again as he lights a match and sets her golden heart locket necklace ablaze.Â
   âNo!â You shout, scream till your throat is completely on fire as you watch him spread the flames to your destroyed treasures.Â
   He grabs a fistful of your hair and drags you out of the house, your white dress snagging on the ground as you become covered in grass stains and dirt, your scalp feeling like itâs about to be pulled off completely as you thrash against his hold.Â
   âWitch!â He screams to the growing crowd as they all gather around to watch the next innocent life be taken from the haunted town, except none of them even offer to help. They just stand silent or yell accusations at you as you sit fragile on the soaked grass, feeling the weight of all the hate crash down on you like you really are guilty. Youâre not though, youâre just an innocent girl whose life got ripped in half by a lying devil of a man.Â
   âBurn it down! Destroy it! Kill the witch!â The horrible words come bellowing out of the communityâs mouths, feeding David hate as he smirks your way and nods at the men.Â
   âDo it,â he snarls. And they listen, just like they always do. They set your house ablaze, lighting matches and pouring gasoline until you see nothing but orange flames dance across the entirety of your house.
   âNo, no, NO!â You muster up all your strength and push yourself off the damp ground, planning to make a run towards the crumbling house as it starts to topple from the hot flames of the ignited fire.Â
   âStay back, witch! We arenât done with you yet.â One of the men pushes you down, and you feel your palms scrape against the rough ground, feeling blood soak the green grass as your fingernails dig into the cold dirt. You try to get a grip on reality, try to drown out all the screaming chants your way, but itâs no use. Theyâre echoing all around your mind, stabbing stakes into your body as you feel their filthy nails dig like chalk into your skin, smothering you in hate that you can barely tolerate. Your ears bleed, seep blood as you muster all of your strength to lift your aching head off the dirt covered ground.Â
   You see the hateful snarls of the people, see the way they point accusing fingers and call you witch again and again until your brain starts to fog over like a thick mist. You feel the warm tears spill down your embarrassed cheeks, feel the weight of the world come crashing down on you as they cast you down in shame with scornful threats and vulgar gestures. And youâve never felt more alone than you do now in this little town of deceitful fools.
   You feel the kick of someoneâs boot, feel your shoulders being pushed down into a clump of wilting grass as you grunt and lay flat against the hollow earth. You feel as if youâre a tiny insect, its wings being torn off and ripped to shreds as the beautiful monarch butterfly dies in the hands of the vengeful enemies. Youâre nothing but a speck of dried up filth now, and that makes you feel so defeated.Â
   With every ounce of energy you have left in your frayed body, you dig your nails into the dirt, grunt out in pain as you lift yourself on your hands and knees, trying to ignore the rustling of burning wood and screams of past ghosts that were burnt in the flames time and time again.Â
   You slowly lift your head, feeling a bit dizzy as the town lifts their semblance of pitchforks and dusty bibles in their hands, shouting angry chants at you to âBurn the witchâ as they spit and crowd around you. Every single one of them follows Davidâs advances, snarling and bellowing death threats your way as you stare hopelessly into the sea of misled bodies. All of them twisting their words and spewing violence your way.Â
   Your teary eyes scan the crowd, looking around for someone, anyone to help you, but thereâs no one. No one thatâll take the risk. Your gaze covers the sea, eyelashes drenched in wet tears as your bottom lip quivers in fright. All you see are monsters in front of you, all around you, their claws lashing against your innocent skin as they spill blood over the town of Salem. Not a lick of remorse in their bodies as they continue to take innocent lives again and again. But thatâs what they want, what they were taught to do. They never learned it was all a false lore to kill the ones who didnât obey him. David. A false god on an altar made of death and bones of burnt bodies.Â
   You hear the chants continue, feel the warmth from the bitter flames that took everything from you in an instant as your house sits in ash behind you. You can barely look up, barely keep your fingernails embedded in the soft grass, but you do. You canât let them break you, even if you are already broken when they took it all away from you. Starting with Cassandra, then your family, then your home, your plants, your precious memories that were tucked away safely in that house. Now you have nothing. So maybe dying wonât be the worst thing because you already died the moment they took it all away from you. Now youâre just a corpse among this godforsaken town. They already burned everything you loved, what was another body in an ashy fire?Â
   Your throat burns, no more tears left inside you as you feel the sting of bloodshot eyes scan the angry crowd again, enduring the weight of hatred sitting on your chest like youâve been covered in gravel rocks, the heaviness consuming your insides until you canât breathe, canât speak. Youâre just there, unalive, drowning in hate filled screams.Â
   Your heart slows as you drown out the shouting voices, eyes swarming the sea of people until you see one that stands out amongst the others. In the very back, unmoving, not screaming death threats like the others, not making a sound as he watches with remorse covering the dark shadows of his sorrow filled eyes.Â
   Your eyes grow wide as you stare at him, your gaze finding a safe haven in those flecks of honey colored irises that shine a little light down on you. Heâs not like the others, no. Heâs gentle, kind, a little rough around the edges, but itâs him that pulls you out of the flames, if only for just a few seconds. Joel Miller. The man that was never like the others.Â
   He may be broken, may be hollow and bruised beneath his broken military watch, a mere ghost dragging his worn leather boots through the dirt just to get by in this miserable town day after day. The entire town may think little of him, may think heâs scum underneath their shiny church shoes, but you never did. No. He was the only thing that kept your head above water. The only light you saw.
   He watches you carefully, brows furrowed and arms crossed tightly over his broad chest. His fingers flex, jaw clenching as he looks at you with pain in those flecks of warmth. You feel the sadness and agony reflect in your teary eyes, feel exactly what he mustâve suffered when they took the life of Sarah, his only daughter, his only family, but now sheâs gone. Just withered ashes in the blowing wind. And you feel it then as the sorrow takes over those cloudy dark eyes, can see it in the way he holds his tired muscles as he hunches his large shoulders. He wants to help, but he canât. Theyâd just pull him by his grey threaded tousled curls and throw him in the grave, bury him alive while he suffocates in the damp dirt that holds the bones of his now dead child.Â
   You feel a leaking teardrop escape one of your glossy eyes, your gaze never leaving his even as some men start to drag you away towards the haunted church. They pull your hair, digging their rough cut nails into your damaged skin as you watch Joelâs brows knit together, the lines mapping out on his forehead as he fists his clenched fingers at his sides.Â
   While everyone else follows to the church, Joel stays behind. His large silhouette fading away when they drag you up the rough staircase and into the dimly lit church, throwing your body into the middle of the pews as they laugh and cast evil remarks your way.Â
   You keep your head down as David reprimands you, tossing you against the dusty white walls while your fingernails rip into the fading paint. Thereâs nothing you can do or say, theyâve made up their mind. Youâll be burned at dawn the next day. This is it. They might as well give you a noose, let you tie yourself to a tree and end it all. Youâd rather it be that way than watch the people you hate burn you alive.Â
   You just face the blood soaked wall, curling your body into a tight ball as they tear you to shreds. You never were meant to be in this town, with these people. You just got unlucky, and now youâd die with the innocent souls of the lives they took day after day. And now youâd burn with them.
   Joel watches them take you away, dragging you to the church by your lifeless arms and your long locks of hair. He doesnât follow, canât bear the sight of watching another innocent life be thrown into the flames. His fingers flex, jaw clenched into a tight fist as he flares his nostrils. He canât stand to see you hurting, could barely watch as they took everything from you and burned your house to black ashes. And your face. That beautiful, innocent face he was so captivated by. He canât even muster the anger that sits in his heavy soul.Â
   You donât deserve this, any of this. You didnât do anything wrong, didnât say a damn thing to draw attention to yourself. It all started with Cassandra, the first innocent woman that ever lost her life, and then it spiraled from there.Â
   He knows the feeling of loss, knows exactly how it feels to have the most important thing snatched from his own rough hands. He went through that hell, watched his own daughter get accused of witchcraft in the walls of the unholy church. He fought like hell, throwing his body over his Sarah as they dragged her from his reach and held him back so they could tear her to shreds.Â
   He cursed them out, damning them all to hell while they bound her hands and spilled holy water all over her body. He still hears her agonizing screams night after night, still sees her body alight with flames while they held him down against the mud and made him watch while he screamed in suffering with tear soaked eyes. He remembers it all, remembers them threatening his life after he got up and almost beat a man to death. His knuckles were bloody, body broken as they pushed him down and knocked him out with the back of a wooden plank.Â
   He remembers everything. The pain, the loss, the absolute horror of living day after day in a town full of demons. And now he bleeds himself dry night after night, day after day. He has nothing left to give, no fight in him now. Now heâs just a hollow body, a broken man cursed to live in a place he so desperately despises. He wants out. God, does he want out.Â
   But now thereâs you. The woman heâs pined after for months. The rare beauty that captured his black heart, a ray of sunshine that showed him the light. It was the small smiles and grazing of skin, the gifted flowers, the afternoon small talks in the wildflower fields. He wishes he got the chance to kiss you, to tell you how much you saved him after his daughter was taken from him. But now itâs too late. He couldnât save Sarah, and now he canât save you. And it kills him, it fucking kills him.Â
   He hears your gut wrenching screams, hears the crowd chant âWitchâ repeatedly as his ears bleed dry. He covers his ears, kneels on the ground as dirt covers the fabric of his worn pants. He canât hear it, canât bear to know theyâre torturing you. He wants to murder all of them, burn the whole goddamn town down, and maybe he will. Maybe this will push him to his last straw. He certainly wonât watch them burn you. No. He has to do something, anything.Â
    He knows theyâll either throw you in a jail cell with venomous snakes or theyâll tie you and leave you in the field overnight. Where bears, creatures of the night, or monsters can take you out before the crack of dawn. He knows theyâll burn you early in the morning, crowd your body with hateful accusations and weapons they use like pitchforks. They wonât give you a chance to explain or to show youâre not guilty. Theyâll just swallow your cries whole with their fiery tongues and amber ashes as they set your body alight.Â
   He canât see it, canât hear it, canât stand the thought of it. But what can a broken man do in a ruined town filled with cult following people that call themselves saints. He hates them, all of them. But he hates himself the most for not being able to save the people he cared most about.Â
   He has to save you, even if it gets himself killed. For heâd rather stand on the thresholds of death with the fiery flames than see your gorgeous face melt into the depths of red embers. Heâd walk through the black mist of hell, cross the fiery lakes of no return just to touch the softness of your skin.
   You were innocent, a pure angel in a broken world. He wasnât going to watch you die. Not tonight, not tomorrow, not ever.Â
  Â
They leave you tied to a post in the middle of the field, a little ways out from the sparkling lights from the little town. They gave you no room to move, gave you no remorse when you whined at the sharp rope digging into your skin. They only laughed at you, spitting hateful words as they left you alone in the chill of night.Â
   Now you sulk against the rough bindings, tears streaming down your now wet face, nowhere to go, no one to call. Youâre just here. Alone. Hours away from being burned in the field. The one where lost lives cry into the darkness of night, their haunted pleas and screams still filling your ears. Youâd cover your ears if you could, drown out the noise with your own cries, but itâs too late. Soon enough youâll join in on the chorus of the dead.
   You rest your head on the rough post, look up at the blinking stars in the night sky, try to relax and calm your mind. Soon youâll float up there while your body burns alive. Maybe there you wonât feel any pain, wonât feel anything that might hurt you. And thatâs all you can think as the numbness drowns the anxiety out of your frail body.
   Your mind starts to slip to a warmer place, an untouched place that hasnât been quite explored. A nook deep in your mind that reflects soft brown irises and scents of freshly brewed coffee. Somewhere where you wished you couldâve spent more time, got closer, pushed aside all boundaries and slipped against his plush lips.
   Joel Miller, the only man that had been remotely kind to you in this tainted town. You remember that day in the flower field. That warm, sunny day. He had been so close, his breath blowing against your cheek, his crooked smile shining rays of light against your delicate skin. You felt it, the tension, the longing, the raging desire that almost spilled out of the cracks of broken skin on his calloused fingers. God, you wish you couldâve felt those warm lips melting into yours. All you wanted was one kiss, but now it was too late. Youâd never feel his touch again.
   You groan into the worn post, feel the tears begin to lick the sides of your eyes, dig your hands against the jagged rope that cuts into your reddening skin. The more you tug, the more the rope shreds your aching skin. You wince, struggling to stand comfortably in this position. You finally give up, relax as much as you can and kiss tomorrow goodbye. You wonât last long after the sun rises high in the sky.Â
   Minutes tick by, the seconds struggling to give you an ounce of redemption. This was it. You were going to die alone, no dreamy sunkissed brown irises to soothe you to sleep, no gravelly voice to tell you everything would be alright. He wouldnât be there to save you in the end.
   The tears crash over you, silent cries to the fading ghosts of Salem, begging for them to send a message, pleading for one to slip their cold whisps of fingers to untangle you from this rope so you can run far away, far from Salem.
   You close your eyes and pray to anyone that may be listening to send someone, anyone. This canât be the end, it just canât.
   You slump your head low, feeling your tears dry on your cold cheeks, eyelashes wet with old tears. This is it, this isâŚÂ
   You hear a loud snap in the near distance, hear leather boots crunching against the green grass. Your head shoots up, eyes searching for whatever made the pacing noises in the middle of the night. Your eyes go wide when you see the large form emerging from the shadows, broad shoulders pulling at the blue flannel button-up with each step he takes, rough hands balled into tight fists. Joel.Â
   Your mouth drops open, and you suddenly forget to breathe. He stands in front of you, deep brown eyes that reflect sadness of his warm irises, furrowed brows as he slides his eyes over your weathered form, your frayed dress, the claw marks that run down to your bound hands. His lips flinch, jaw clenches as he takes in just what they did to you inside the church. Itâs like he consumes your pain, bathes in it, shares your scars that David and the town marked you in.Â
   âJoel,â you whisper in a broken tone as a fresh tear slides down the side of your face. He sighs, feeling the sting of a tear in the back of his throat. He tries to speak, but nothing comes out. Just a muted mutter that sounds a lot like your name spilling off his tongue.Â
   He huffs, clambers over to you and cuts the rope with one slice of the silver knife, freeing your burning wrists as you stumble from the post and fall against his broad chest, his arms stabilizing you from falling to the ground.Â
   You flick your eyes up to his slowly, letting his calloused palms linger on your skin as he grounds you back to earth. Youâre so cold, the chilly air marking your skin, but heâs so warm, even with just his hands on you. Warm sunlight, thatâs what he is.Â
   âJoel, you saved meâŚâ you whisper, voice unstable as your shaky breath escapes your lungs.âWhy did youâŚâ
   He stares at you, amber flecks glimmering in the moonlight as he takes a deep, steady breath. âYouâre innocent. I couldnât jusâ stand back and watch âem torture you like they did with⌠well, you know. Sarah⌠I wouldnât, I couldnât. I jusâ⌠couldnât watch you burn, too,â he says sadly, his shaky breath blowing against your face.
   Thereâs a second of tension in the air, a breath of something different between the two of you. Just two bodies that simply burn for the other, even if no words are said. Itâs there. Itâs right here, right now.
   âYou never were like the others, you know?â He takes one hand and cradles it on your cheek, taking the tip of his calloused thumb and sliding it up and down gently as you lean into him, into his warm embrace.Â
   His eyes flick down to your lips, your eyes begging him to lean in, to take exactly what heâs wanted to do for so very long. Your hand is clasped around his wrist, not willing to let go until his lips are on yours.Â
   The air around you stills, the forest behind you now quiet, only the sounds of yours and Joelâs ragged breaths coming in waves, only the quickening heartbeats that quake with every touch of his calloused fingers to your skin.
   Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
   His forehead rests on yours, lips brushing carefully against yours. Youâre so close, so close to him pressing all his weight into you. He practically shouts your name as his lips draw near. One more move and heâd close all the way in.Â
   Just when you close your eyes and wait with anticipation biting at your heels, heâs pulling away from you and running his fingers through his disheveled curls. You try to reach out, but he steps out of your reach and nods his head in the direction of the dark forest.Â
   âGo on, get out of here. Before they come lookinâ for ya. Go, now.â His voice is deep, rugged, tormented, his dark eyes glistening with held back tears like heâs fighting himself from telling you to leave.Â
   âButâŚâÂ
   âPlease, jusâ go. If they found you theyâdâŚâ His voice drowns out as he hangs his head low, the shadows fading against the greying scruff of his patchy beard.Â
   You turn your head and look towards the muted forest. The one that holds tormented ghosts and creatures of the dark. A place you donât want to go alone, but anywhere would be better than this horror town. But Joel⌠you canât seem to leave him behind.
   You snap your head towards him and whisper, âCome with me.â
   He lifts his tired head and stares at you, all wide-eyed and searching your anguished face. âWhat?â His voice is strangled, like he canât believe what youâre asking him to do.Â
   âCome with me,â you repeat slowly. âThereâs nothing here holding you back. I⌠you⌠we both had everything taken from us. And I donât want to leave if that means youâre stuck here alone. You and me⌠well, weâre the same.â
   He takes a beat to register your words, dips inside his own mind as he relives the day they took Sarah, the day they forced him to watch while his world got torn to shreds. You hold out your hand, and he just stares wide-eyed at it, his fingers curling out, just like he wants to take your hand. He does, he really does, but thereâs just one thing holding him back. David.
   He flicks his eyes to the sleeping town and then back at you, as if he has an agenda to get to. He nods his head and looks your way, a plan already set in motion in those flecks of honey. âThereâs jusâ one thing I need to do first.âÂ
   âWhatâs that?â you ask, interest arising with your quiet voice.
   He looks back to the hollow town, and his eyes narrow and slit together as he sets fire in his mind to this haunted place. His hand clenches into a tight fist, and he spits venom from his tongue. âWeâre gonna burn it all down.â
   Your mouth gapes open in shock, eyes wide, but then heâs grabbing your wrist and pulling you along with him. The wind whips through your hair, your heart thunders through your chest when he drags you along back into the dark town.Â
   He wastes no time and grabs a large container of gasoline and starts spreading it all along the houses and buildings of the eerie town. You follow along, grabbing your own container and spilling it over bells of hay and wooden boards. You douse everything you see, wanting to burn every single inch of this religious town, wanting to destroy David, the culprit of all this land of turmoil and destruction.Â
   You move quickly, barely making a sound as you soak a large ring around the town, watching Joel march up to Davidâs closed door with a deep scowl on his face. Your eyes go wide as you watch him go through, barely waiting a minute before heâs dragging David by the scruff of his neck, giving him no breath to himself.Â
   âWhat the fuck is this, let me go!â David screams as he kicks and claws at the denim of Joelâs jeans.
   âNo,â he growls as he shoves Davidâs face into the dirt and kicks him hard in the gut, Davidâs face contorting into blind rage and pain.Â
   âThis is for my daughter, for not lettinâ her go when she was an innocent little girl,â he seethes as he lands a strong kick under Davidâs chin, spewing blood every which way.Â
   âThis is for holdinâ me down and makinâ me watch as you burned her alive. This is for murderinâ my only child, the only thing that kept me sane in this fuckinâ church goinâ town.â He punches a fist against his nose, hearing the crack of bones as David topples over and holds his broken nose.Â
   âThis is for tryinâ to take away the only other woman that ever shined sunlight in this godforsaken town. This is for burninâ all her plants, her house, for killinâ everyone she had left. This is for tryinâ to take her away from me.âÂ
   Thereâs tears streaming down his worn, tanned face now, pieces of grief and exhaustion reflecting off his glassy brown eyes, hurt mapped along the wrinkled lines on his forehead, pain bleeding from the surface of his now bruised knuckles.Â
   You stand there watching him silently, feeling a wet tear fall down your cheek as you consume the pain heâs felt all these years, all the grief thatâs hung like a dead weight on his broad shoulders. And you suddenly feel like you understand him completely. Heâs broken, just like you are, and all you want to do is wrap your arms around his neck and tell him that youâre here for him, heâs safe with you, always.Â
   Another kick and another punch to the face, an endless cycle of taking all his rage and hate on David, the man that took everything from him. After a few seconds he looks up from the ground, a large hand wrapped around Davidâs bloody collar, a fist hanging just inches from his bruised up face. He stops dead in his tracks as his glistening, tear filled eyes look up at you, and thatâs when you feel everything heâs ever felt.
   You take a few cautious steps in his direction, feel another tear lick the corner of your eye, feel your heart shatter with every step you take closer to him. He just watches you, deep breaths leaving his lungs, his tired eyes pleading for someone, anyone to help.Â
   One more step and youâre right beside him, reaching a hand out to run calmly through his dark, tousled locks, Joel searching your eyes for a way to escape his misery. He leans into your touch, allows your fingers to slide through his hair, even closes his eyes as a low groan escapes his plush lips.
   Another moment passes gently by, and then heâs rolling David out of the way and wrapping his strong arms tightly around your legs, letting hot tears slide down his face as they hit your bare skin. You let him bury himself in you, let him take the comfort he needs as he grasps you tighter, his quiet tears filling the space between the two of you.Â
   This is what he needs, what he always needed. Someone that would listen, that would help take the pain away, someone that would understand what heâs gone through. And thatâs you, itâs you.Â
   He drags you down to the ground with him and wraps his arms tightly around your back, nuzzling his face into the side of your neck as warm tears fill the cotton of the front of your dress. You wrap your arms around his neck, push your fingers gently through his tousled locks, giving him all the comfort he needs right now from you. He can have it all, itâs his, itâs all his.Â
   âItâs okay, Joel. Iâm right here. Let it out. All your pain, lay it on me. Itâs going to be okay. Youâve got me, Iâm not going anywhere. Itâs alright,â you coo into the shell of his ear, feeling him relax into your hold, letting his fingers cling around the back of your dress. âYouâre safe with me,â you whisper, and thatâs when he leans back and looks you dead in the eyes, all glossy eyed and teary from the weight of the world crashing down on him.
   He opens his mouth, looks softly down at you and smiles warmly at you, even through all the pain he still smiles. For you. He smiles for you.Â
   âYouâre so⌠good. Youâve always been so good. I shouldâve⌠I shouldâveâŚâ Heâs rudely interrupted from a coughing, blubbering mess of a man behind him, and he turns sharply over his shoulder to look at David.
   âWell, ainât that sweet? Sharing a moment together? Please, makes me want to vomit,â David coughs, blood splattering all over the ground from his throat. âWhy donât you two love birds just burn in hell where you belong?â
   Something snaps in Joel, his eyes go pitch black and his scowl digs into the side of his mouth as he gets up and drags David to the church by his bloody ankle. Joel throws him inside the white peeling doors and drenches him in gasoline until he can barely form a coherent sentence.
   âNo, you burn in hell,â Joel growls, lighting a match and throwing it on his body.Â
   Joel takes your hand and backs you up slowly, watching David writhe in pain while the church starts to topple and crumble on top of him, the worn walls collapsing from the amber fire that starts to consume the haunted town.
   âRun,â Joel pleads as he takes your hand and leads you to the dark forest, only looking back to hear the horror screams and watch the burning flames swallow the entire town.Â
   Your breath is shaky, your feet burning with every step you take, but Joel keeps you upright as his fingers lock around yours and pulls you through the thick, foggy night. You donât look back, block out the dying screams like you did with Cassandra, just focus on your quick breath and your tired feet.
   You run and run and run, escaping anything that can hurt you, anything that can claw your skin and drag you back into the burning flames of the lost town. Theyâre gone now, vanished in the fiery flames, burned alive just like that did to all those innocent women.Â
   Itâs over, done, you escaped, you got out. All because of Joel. Joel. Your savior in disguise.Â
   Joel, Joel, Joel. Heâs all you see, all you know, all you feel. Itâs here with you right now, heâs here. Joel is here.Â
   He takes a moment to catch his breath as moonlight shines down on the sweat of his thick brows, cascading off the reflection of his tanned skin beneath a towering oak tree. You focus on him, his quick breaths, his dark eyes that seem to cast shadows over you, thick hands grasping against the rough bark as he slowly looks up, hovers just a little closer and then stares, mouth partly open as he takes in your windblown hair and your stormy eyes.
   Another drawn breath and heâs sucking it back in. âAre you alright?â he asks quickly, eyes piercing into yours with worry.
   âIâm⌠Iâm alright,â you answer, still dazed from what happened minutes ago. The fire, the angry ambush of David, the whole town now scorching in the flames where they belong, where they shouldâve been long ago.
   He takes another step forward, the worn leather of his boots meeting your scraped toes. âI shouldâve known they were gonna do it. I shouldâve fuckinâ known they were gonna burn your house down, accuse you of beinâ a witch, shouldâve fuckinâ knew they planned to murder you in the break of daylight under flames.â
   He hangs his head in defeat, like he didnât already save you, like he couldâve done more, and your heart breaks from the guilt that eats him alive. âIf I wouldâve jusâ kept goinâ to that goddamned church. If I wouldâve fuckinâ listened to what the people in town were sayinâ âbout you. If I wouldâve jusâ been a better man I couldâve saved you. Maybe I couldâveâŚâ
   You press a palm to his heaving chest, curl your fingers around the soft blue flannel, engrave yourself just a little into his damp skin, enough to feel yourself in his fast beating heart. He stills beneath your touch, looks down and puts his entire attention on you, waiting with tear stained eyes right on the verge of spilling.
   âJoel, you did save me. You got me out before they could burn me. You took David out, you put the town of hell to rest. You freed me from my bindings, you came with me, you didnât leave me alone. You saved everything about meâŚâ
   His eyes bore into yours, something like desire and fate twisting together, an inkling of relief leaving his doe eyes as his fingers cautiously trace against your bare arm, slow circles of the pad of his calloused thumb dancing across your wrist like a tide full of warm waves lapping against your body. Itâs comforting, magnetic even as his skin connects with yours so slowly, so steadily, almost like a lazy river rippling through the forest.Â
   He sighs, slowly lifts his large hand to cup your cheek, calloused fingers gently drawing lines against your soft skin. You lean into it, breathe in his pinecone scent, almost taste what his lips might feel like on yours. Like a breath of fresh air, a breath of life.Â
   âI had to save you. You were the only thing left that kept my heart beating. The only sunshine I saw under those cloudy grey skies,â he breathes, glossy eyes slipping into yours as they flick down to your mouth.Â
   Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.
   âI shouldâve kissed you back in that flower field when I had the chance. The way your hair flowed behind your shoulders, your sparkling eyes, your fuckinâ breathtaking smile. I jusââŚâ He leans his forehead down against yours, lips skating across your mouth as he passes them by, his gentle caress of your face as soft as a feather.Â
   And heâs so soft, like a red rose petal beneath all the thorns and vines that disconnects him from anyone else. He doesnât show this side of himself to anyone else, but he shows you. He shows you.
   âYou just what?â you whisper, holding your breath as he cages you against the trunk of the tree, one hand still caressing your face with his rough palm while the other wraps around your waist.
   Another breath, another touch from his thumb as it traces along your bottom lip. He looks down, focuses in on your lips as he wets his own, hazel eyes staring down at you as he gulps down any fear he may be holding on to.Â
   âI jusâ need to⌠need to⌠fuck, jusâ need you on my lips, sweetheart.âÂ
   Before you can move an inch he crashes down on your lips, cradles your face with his large palms as you sink into his broad chest, your fingers twisting into the flannel fabric that clings to you.Â
   The kiss is slow, desperate, hungry. You feel as if this is the first time youâre breathing life into your body as Joel gives himself to you. He pulls you in by your waist as your arms circle around his neck, one hand combing through his messy curls as he groans into your mouth.
   You part your lips, allow him to slot his tongue in as you taste all of him colliding against your own tongue. You moan into his mouth, let his tongue chase yours as you down the whisky taste of him, lapping him up like heâs your only oxygen supply left. You think you feel forever in his taste.Â
   He tugs at your worn dress, slides the cotton material down your arms until it hits the dirt on the ground. You quickly pull his flannel free, tugging the leather belt loose while his tongue licks feverishly into your mouth.Â
   He brings you down gently to the ground, makes sure your body lands on top of his fanned out flannel, makes sure youâre okay when he disconnects from your lips and looks down at you with a hesitant stare.
   âIs this okay? We can stop if itâs too much. We donât have toâŚâ
   âJoel,â you stop him, give him a small smile as you nod up to him. âItâs okay. I want you to. Please, donât stop,â you plead.
   He takes your answer and swallows it down, sits back on his heels as he gazes down at your splayed out, bare body under the glistening moonlight, looking starstruck from just how absolutely breathtaking you are under the glow of the moon. He thinks you look angelic, like youâre made of glitter and gold, like youâre made just for him.
   He takes his hand and runs it along your jawline, down your neckline, over the dip of your hips, stopping at the top of your thigh. He lets a sigh escape his mouth as he stares at the goddess thatâs before him, and he thinks heâs so lucky to be alive, to have you in front of him, unharmed, in his arms where he can keep you safe.Â
   âYouâre so beautiful, jusâ like that field full of flowers you stood in, with your hair all tangled in the wind.â
   Your breath hitches, eyes widen as you take in just what he said to you. He thinks youâre beautiful. âYou think Iâm beautiful?â you ask quietly, lips parted as his hazel eyes glisten down to yours.Â
   âYeah. I do, darlinâ. Gorgeous.âÂ
   Then heâs leaning down and kissing you again while his large hands push your thighs apart. Itâs like your mind carries you off into the clouds as his lips drag down your neckline, quiet moans blowing through your lips when his warm lips take your breasts into his mouth, pebbling your nipples as he sinks down down down and lands right between your thighs.
   You moan, feeling him lick a thick strip up your core, making your head knock back into the softness of the flannel while he spreads your folds and slowly starts to circle your buzzing clit.Â
   You card your fingers through his tousled curls, hear him groan into your dripping core while he laps up all the slick between your thighs, tugging your bundle of nerves into his wanting mouth, sinking his tongue deep into your dripping hole, feeding all your desires as he gives you pleasure like youâve never felt before.Â
   You feel the white hot heat slide down your spine, feel your breaking point about to come loose, feel every stroke of Joel start to unlatch the tidal waves in your core. You feel as if youâre kissing the stars as he pulls you closer to his mouth, wraps his strong arms a little tighter around your thighs, laps his wet tongue up and down your core like heâs been starving for you for months. And now he has you, right on the edge of breaking.
   âJoel,â you moan, âIâm gonna⌠gonnaâŚâÂ
   âGo on, sweetheart. Come for me. Let me take you all the way. Show me jusâ how good Iâm makinâ you feel,â he groans between the licks, taking his time to slide his tongue in slow circles around your aching clit.
   You feel two thick fingers curl up into your heated core, feel him press up to heights you never could yourself, feel him collide with that spongy spot against your wall that makes you see stars. One more lick against your sensitive bundle of nerves and youâre arching your back and calling his name while your slick spills down your thighs, into Joelâs waiting mouth.
   It feels electric the way he laps all your slick up, his hot mouth blowing against your core, eliciting another moan from your parted lips as he licks and licks and licks until youâre a writhing mess beneath his mouth.Â
   He looks up from between your legs, sticky slick coating his thick beard, eyes glossy from pulling an orgasm out of you, hands planted firmly against the top of your thighs as he looks up at you, out of breath from diving into you.Â
   âYou taste jusâ like honeysuckle, beautiful. Like sugar on my lips,â he smiles, the edges of his hooded eyes glowing under the moonlight. And you swear youâve never seen anything more magical in your life.Â
   âJoel, need youâŚâ you whimper out, reaching for his body.
   âWhat do ya need, darlinâ? Tell me what you want,â he whispers into the chill of the night.Â
   You take a breath and blow it out, hoping your nerves wonât get in the way. âYou, Joel. Want all of you. Inside me. Want you anyway I can have you,â you whine, desperate for the friction of his body against yours.
   He smiles up at you, pushes his dark jeans down, his boxers trailing after them until his hard cock is pressed against his stomach, red tip smothered in precum, his thick vein traveling along the underside of his cock, ready to split you in two.Â
   Your eyes grow wide watching him crowd your body, his thick cock pressing against your soaked folds, rubbing up and down to collect your slick all over his massive length. Heâs huge, but you can take him. You want him, now.Â
   âSlow breaths now. Might be a stretch. Jusâ relax, Iâve got you, baby,â he coos, relaxing your body while he slowly enters inside your dripping core.Â
   He gradually plunges into you, drowning out your moans as his lips land on yours, swallowing your gasps as he stretches you to the brim, his thick width rutting in and out of you, bottoming out until you canât feel anything, can't taste anything but him. Joel, Joel, Joel. Heâs everywhere, consuming you, bodies twisted together while he rocks back and forth, both sharing moans that get swallowed by the other, like youâre magnetized together.Â
   Itâs like youâre one in the same, two broken bodies that mend each other back together, two fragile souls that burn for the other, dance in the flames while your bodies get lost in the otherâs, lost souls that found each other through pain and grief, Joel colliding into you like a star crossed lover, someone youâve waited years for.
   You break again, nails scratching down his tanned back while your walls hug him tight, pouring out hot liquid that covers him in you.Â
   âAhh fuck. Squeezinâ me so tight, canât hold on, sweetheart. Feels so fuckinâ good,â he grits through his teeth, trying with all his might to slip out of you before he spills himself inside of you.
   You lock your legs around his hips, make him stop before his warmth disappears, letting him know that itâs okay, that you want him to stay. âItâs okay. Let go. Come inside, Joel. Need you, need all of you,â you beg, long lashes batting up at him as you coax him to stay.
   âYou sure?â he asks, eyebrows knitting together into concern as he hears your plea.Â
   âYes,â you breathe, your voice panting from the come down of your intense orgasm. âInside me,â you repeat, a little louder.
   He hears you loud and clear. He thrusts inside of you, as deep as he can go, kissing your cervix as he grunts and grits his teeth together, eliciting another moan from you as he speeds up his pace.
   Once, twice, three more times and heâs throwing his head back, a low moan slipping from his clenched teeth as thick ropes of cum spill inside you, filling you so full that you moan out in bliss, completely saturated with his seed inside you, and thatâs what does it. What consummates the two of you together, like stars in the night sky, two lovers that burn for each other.
   He falls against your side, scoops you up and sews you to his broad chest as his fingers trace the side of your sweat covered face.Â
   Youâre both panting, both exhausted from the love making, no room to do anything else but drown in the otherâs ecstasy. Youâre just two warm bodies now, a false witch, a beaten man, two bodies that bleed together who slowly mend one anotherâs wounds.Â
   He traces your lips, his calloused thumb perfectly dancing across your face as he stares down at you, the woman heâs pined after for months, the one he knew heâd eventually fall for. And he did. He fell hard.Â
   âWhat do we do now, Joel?â you ask quietly, while he continues to trace the lines of your skin.Â
   âWhat we always do. Survive. But we do it together this time. This time, we thrive.â
   The way heâs looking at you with big doe eyes, and the way heâs touching you all soft and tender makes you feel things. Things youâve never felt before. Like your heart swells just at the faint glow of his smile, his caramel eyes swirling into yours, his body crowding yours with the softest touch you ever felt before. Maybe you love him, you do love him. And you think maybe he loves you, too. But thatâs for another night to uncover because right now this is where you are, bathing in each otherâs moonlight, feeling sparks like the fireflies that dance in the forest light surrounding you, almost like this is magic. Joel is magic. Heâs your safe space, your equal.Â
   You sink into his chest, wrap your arms a little tighter around him while his lips graze across your forehead, telling you that itâll be alright, that both of you will be just fine.Â
   âJoel?âÂ
   âHmm?â he hums, his deep voice reverberating through your entire body like cords connected to an acoustic guitar, like he used to play.
   âPromise me the worst is over, that we can make it maybe to the coast, find a new town, build a new life. A life that maybe isnât so broken?â
   He sighs into your hair, scoops you closer into his arms and kisses you softly across your lips. âI can promise that the worst is over. No oneâs ever gonna lay another finger on you, not on my watch, sweetheart. Weâre free. Iâll take you to the coast. Weâll build a new life together. You and me. Weâve got the whole world in our hands now, and nothing can stop us now. No more flames, no more embers, itâs jusâ us.â
   You lean into him, as close as you can get while his hand traces up and down your back soothingly. You think this is exactly where you belong, in Joelâs arms, taking on the world together. You can do anything as long as you have him by your side, your guiding light out of the flames.
Tagging some friends who seemed interested đ @ozarkthedog @alltheirdamn @covetyou @chronically-ghosted @sawymredfox
@littlevenicebitch69 @604to647 @joelmillerisapunk @milla-frenchy @aurorawritestoescape
@vivian-pascal @survivingandenduring @itsokbbygrl @msjarvis @mountainsandmayhem
his eyes have the type of sadness you only see in eastern european gay porn
fuck we gotta hear a song before the match?????
i am old and tired just give me my wrassle please
she's doing just fine.
YâALL SHE IS SO FINE, I CANNOT đ
my sydcarmy fic recommendations!
moon river by dischelvedcurls --- super dialogue heavy and true to the characters. love it so much!
it's a lot to ask of me (to believe in you) by adogwithabirdatyour_door -- this one...omg established (kinda) sydcarmy. carmy and sydney get into a fight and carmy gets sick and sydney takes care of him in the midst of the fight. definitely one of my faves.
begin again by yxurstruly -- sydney and carmy through someone else's eyes. i've reread this sooooo many times and it never gets old.
pull you right home by onelargecoffeepls -- our favorite communication stunted chefs trying to figure out what they are to each other. 7k words!!
still don't know what love means by seh28 -- angst fest. i love angsty carmy so much. he also says "sugar thinks i'm in love w you." must i say anything else?
nobody ever got my soul right like she could by seh28 -- for one the title alone makes my fucking chest ache. ughhhhh. mutual pining and bed sharing. carmy is so down bad it's ridiculous. another one of my favorites!
cleopatra, mona lisa, sydney adamu and the constant by peachybunnybabie -- soft and sweet sydcarmy. if you love fluff these are the two fics for you!
slithered from eden by sadistic pussy -- smuuuuuut and pining
gotta get up to get down by somethingdifferent -- the theories about carmy eating pussy for a living are brought to life in this fic. carmy is an eater.
hands full of plates by thesuncameout -- 100k words!!!!!!!!! i love long fics so much. super slow burn with so much pining and some pain. ugh. so good.
intimates conquering intimacy by sashafiercer -- 38k words! like i said i love long fics. mutual teasing with mutual pining.
the wild, wild berry by blissymbolics -- THIS STORY. this fucking story knocked the wind out of me for sure. super duper angsty. a MIND fuck. this fic is funny but definitely devastating at the same time. a lot of trigger warnings so be aware before you read.