What Do You Think Hazard Would Do If He Ever Gets A Nightmare? Do You Think He's The Type Who Goes To

Crow x Reader SFW Relationship Alphabet

So, I tried my best with this one, I hope you enjoy it. sorry if its a little OOC. i love crow but he's a character I've not had much exposure to. its also not been massively proof read but either way I hope you all enjoy! (I've yet to add the links to the lore books but when its not 11pm I will!)

xoxo

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

At first crow is a bit hesitant with affection. What if he did it wrong? What if he was too much? What if you realised you didn’t like him? This led to a rather frustrating lack of communication with crow hesitant to initiate affection and you pulling back slightly thinking his lack of affection was in response to being overwhelmed by your own actions. After it reaches its peak you both sit down and clear the air. Crow gets things off his chest and realises you more than welcome any affection he wants to give.

At first its secretive, shy. More cuddles and kisses when you’re both relaxing in your apartment. He’ll makes you tea or coffee on cold mornings before heading out, draw you baths when you get back covered in dirt, sweat and something he frankly daren’t ask about. His affection is soft and warm.

Eventually he’ll feel comfortable enough to show a little more affection outside your little slice of privacy. His Pinky will find yours, linking them as you listen to one of Osiris’s lectures, he’ll place a hand on the small of your back, thumb making soft soothing circles.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

His mind is in two sorts. One side shies away, best case scenario guardians would be polite, but he could see the slight contempt for him in their eyes, especially the hunters. The other side, the side desperate for connection with someone, anyone, wants to reach out to you. Its this side that wins when you and crow are paired up on a routine patrol in the dreaming city to some more dangerous areas infested with taken. When he isn’t treated to the usual harshness, the malicious and reluctant compliance with being paired with him, he relaxes a little. Glints incessant chatter in his ear about how nice you were and how he should ask to do something with you in the tower, or talk to you more, or even just smile at you a little more.

To his surprise after the patrol, you offer to take him out to the ramen joint and, after getting over his surprise, he agrees and it blossoms from there.

You’re both very close, attached at the hip and rarely going on missions and patrols without one another. He’s a very protective and considerate friend. Zavala, Osiris, and a few others had shown him forgiveness and understanding but none like you. You truly cared. He’s the first to speak up if he feels the vanguard are putting too much on you and taking advantage of your willingness to help.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

This touch starved man is desperate for anything he can get.

Crows first touch from a guardian was a female titan who had spotted him as he took his first steps into the world of guardians. She proceeded to snap his collar bone and crush his pelvis with a flaming hammer and left him to die there from internal haemorrhaging. After that he decided to cover his face and very rarely sought out the touch of other guardians.

Then came you.

he trusted you enough to sleep near you, let you touch him, knowing you wouldn’t hurt him. You would sit by the campfire, leant against one another, and slowly sink into a peaceful albite short slumber.

After you and crow get closer as friends and something more, you would both find solace in each other’s arms, whether it was after a particularly harrowing mission, loss of a friend or simply a bad day full of minor inconveniences.

After you start dating, he’s so cuddly. In your apartment, he’s all over you. Cooking? he’s there behind you, arms round your waist. Laundry? Same deal. In bed? You don’t need that weighted blanket anymore, you have an awoken male shaped pillow on top of you. He’s very fond of how your fingers gently trace the swirls of light on his face as he relaxes into you.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Crow knows the possibility of being able to settle down is slim to none. Theres always a new threat, a new enemy but he can dream.

This man can’t cook to save his life. He can make edible meals but cook something and make it taste good on purpose, not so much. He puts effort into other things though, always helping out with the chores when you’ve both got the time to do them. Being house proud tends to come second to being a guardian out in the field.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

I honestly can’t see crow leaving you unless you did something heinous that he just can’t forgive. If he did it would be face to face after convincing from Osiris and saint or glint. When he does see you, you have to coax what he’s trying to say out of him because he’s just that nervous. And if you cry? That’ll just break him.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Crow is very quick to commit. As soon as he knows that you both have the same feelings for one another and that he can trust you, he will never stray from your side. Unlike Cayde who would promise to marry you when everything dies down, crow is the opposite. Nothing big or lavish and he’ll try his best to get a nice ring, but he would want everyone to know and to have that promise and commitment. A small ceremony consisting of very close friends, probably officiated by Mara, Zavala or Osiris takes place in the courtyard at dusk as the sun is setting.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Emotionally, crow is very aware. After years of picking up the subtle glares, veiled threats and reading between the lines crow is very in tuned to other people’s emotions, especially yours. He knows when your calm face remains so but your fists client and jaw sets that your moments away from punching the next annoyance that passes you, he notices the tiredness in your eyes no matter how hard you try to hide it and he always notices the glassiness in your gaze as you fight back tears. And he always knows how to help. A calming hand, a warm embrace, a hot drink, and a blanket. He’ll never dismiss your feelings.

Physically, crow is equally as gentle. Uldrens hands were tools of death, Deaths of many and he wants to be anything but that. When touching you he’s always gentle, he treats you with reverences, like you’re the most precious thing he’s held and to him its true.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

This is pretty much covered in the cuddles section. At first, he was a little adverse to touch but after you hug him out of sheer relief he was addicted and realised what he had been missing out.

Crows’ coms had gone down mid mission while the pair of you had been separated during a high-risk mission. No matter what you had tried you couldn’t establish a connection. You reach the exfil point and…. nothing. he wasn’t there. You waited and just as you were about to go and look for him, he emerges looking worse for wear, armour muddied, cloak torn a little at the edges and panting. You didn’t give it a second thought you surge forward, wrapping your arms around him, telling him how worried you were. He freezes but with a little encouragement from glint he relaxes and returns the hug.

Crows’ hugs are gentle but firm, holding you close as he buries his face into your hair or the side of your neck. Nine times out of ten you will have to be the one to end the hug or you’ll be there a long time.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Crow would be the first to say it. Hed take you somewhere scenic, you’d have been dancing round one another’s feeling for a while. He’s a fumbling mess, what you didn’t see was the 15-minute prep talk he got from glint. When he does say it, it’s quiet, he’s holding your hands as he finally says the words. His eyes watching you closely waiting for the rejection or the horror that…never comes. When you return the little 3 words, he’s letting out a breath he’s been holding far too long.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He gets jealous, not a lot but he does. He likes having your attention. You’re attentive, caring, and sweet, of course he wants to be the one you focus on. He totally doesn’t move your favourite plushie across the room because you cuddled it instead of him that night…. doesn’t matter that he got home after you’d fallen asleep, it should have been him. He never voices these things because he knows its unreasonable and this manifests as frustration and frequent berating of himself. When you notice his change in behaviour and ask him, he comes clean about his feelings, he explains how he feels bad about it and is surprised when you comfort him and explain that a little jealousy is normal and okay, as long as he doesn’t let it get out of hand.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Crow’s kisses are soft and unhurried. He likes to make the most of every single one. He’s a tad inexperienced, before he got Uldrens memories, he had never kissed another, steering away from taking off his mask. And Uldren wasn’t exactly a magnet for physical affection, so crow hasn’t had much practice. Much to his delight, you’re quick to rectify this.

Crow will kiss you everywhere but he’s particularly fond of your wrists, forehead, and nape of your neck when spooning.

Crow adores any kisses you give him, be it lips, cheeks or anywhere else. He won’t admit that he’s very fond of when you kiss a particular spot just under his jaw line that makes him melt.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Crow has a surprising amount of experience with children. Uldren would tell stories to eliksni children, even putting voices on, earning him delighted laughter. Crow misses this, he often tells glit about the times he would tell exciting tales to the children and when Eido suggests him coming to tell the children stories again one day., well…how could he turn down an offer like that, and of course you got an invite.

When he’s with the children, sat cross legged on the floor as the many eyes watch him with an alarming amount of attention, its like a new side of him peaks out, a soft and confident demeanour as he does all the sound effects and voices for the young ones who cant supress their giggles. Occasionally your eyes will meet as he tells the tales, and you don’t mis the faint blush that dusts his cheeks.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Mornings are slow and warm and cosy. Wrapped in the blankets and one another’s embrace. Words are hushed and murmured, quiet giggles and soft smiles as you each fight one another to prevent each other from leaving the warmth of the covers. When you eventually climb out of the bed, crow is making coffee while you cook breakfast before you leave onto perform whatever task the day holds. On occasion alarms will get slumber leading to panicked rushing and mad dashing around the room to get dressed. Once crow face planted the floor trying to put on socks and you laughed so hard you forgot you were late and got a very stern talking to from Zavala and had to put up with crows pouting all day.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nights are spent wrapped up on the sofa. If you’ve been busy on patrols and missions, then its take out and drinks at home. Glint loves these nights, bouncing between the pair of you and your own ghost as you sit and chat. On nights when the pair of you have a little more energy, walks in the tower and trips to the few restaurants in the last city, trying new food and experiences. Crow loves the long nights sat up talking, its quiet and no one has any expectations of either of you, allowing the pair of you to just be.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Crow knows you likely know his past. Its no secret, most everyone in the tower knew, no doubt at the beginning of your friendship people warned you about him, sent you the same glares, the same spiteful words. Despite this you stick by him, and he finds himself slowly opening up to you. Small stories from Uldrens childhood, moments in the dreaming city, his experiences after being ressed and fears for the future are shared over drinks in the night.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

While crow is a fairly patient guardian, he can be a little brash. Naïve and eager to fight the fight against darkness sometimes he needs to be heled back and reminded of the risks before charging in headfirst. This is even more so if its you the vanguard are discussing throwing into the fight. If you’re sent on a solo mission, he’s pacing the tower until you’re back, until he knows you’re safe. Like Cayde, he has your armour, weapons and ship committed to memory in case the worst happens and he has to go out and find you.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

You are everything to this guardian and he’s going to try and commit everything to memory. Your favourite food, drinks, how you like your tea and coffee, your routines, birthday, anniversary. Everything he can remember he does, anything he’s worried about forgetting, well, glint is more than happy to help.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

When you and crow began to grow closer together as friends, he starts to notice…peculiar things. His heart racing when you’re near, sweaty palms, nervousness. After multiples talks with Osiris, saint and glint he decides maybe he should talk to you. He invites you on a trip to the dreaming city on the promise of showing you his favourite part of the dreaming city’s gardens. That area is, thankfully, devoid of taken or scorn. You both sit in the soft grass surrounded by plants of all colours and the amethyst hue of the surrounding rock formations. He shares some of his most treasured memories until a nudge from glint who gave him an eager whisper about how he’s stalling. Eventually through awkward fumbled words and a new hue of blue/purple on his cheeks which you eventually figure out is him blushing, he confesses his feeling to you. And much to his delight, you reciprocate them.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Very protective. Crow has lost far too much, risked far too much to lose you. Crow would go on every mission he could with you and if he couldn’t, you can bet he’ll be on coms with you the whole time. Crow would have your 6 no matter what, god help anything that tries to take you from him.

Crow won’t admit it but he loves when you defend him against the lessening but still there harsh words of guardians who refuse to trust he is no longer Uldren. Seeing you reprimand them, scolding them with words about how caring and sweet and strong he was and how they were wrong for judging him based on a life he now had no control over. He thinks he’s slick and that you don’t know he likes it, not realising the dumb grin on his face afterwards gives everything away.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

He tries, bless him. But he’s not the most experienced with courting. Dates are private affairs rather than big grand gestures. Maybe he got glint to find a recipe to cook your favourite meal ready for you when you get home, picnics somewhere not infested with fallen, cabal or hive and grabbing a meal at a small restaurant. Glint is always eager to help and offering well-meaning but questionable suggestions.

Everyday tasks, he’s making you tea, running your baths, this man will do anything for you if it makes you smile no matter how boring or laborious.

Gifts include anything from a little something you spotted in the bazar but decided not to buy because your saving glimmer to a new titan mark/warlock bond/ hunter cloak specialised just for you.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Crow is incredibly self-sacrificing and at times self-deprecating. Deep down he still holds himself accountable for Uldrens actions. To repent for his actions, he throws himself into risky missions sometime with little regard for his wellbeing.  When he’s feeling the effects of nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and the horrors of Uldrens past he pulls away from everyone, choosing solitude rather than expressing to the people close and that care for him that he needs help and he’s struggling.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

After being freed from spider’s grasp Osiris gifted him a cloak made by Eva Lavante which quickly becomes one of his treasured possessions which he, almost excessively, makes sure is clean and pristine. He detests being dirty after missions and patrols so regularly showers and when he comes out of the shower smelling of your body wash and shampoo you can’t help but chuckle, his embarrassed mumbles of “it just smells nice” reaching your ears. You make sure to buy plenty of that brand from then on.

He takes care of his own hair, shaving it shorter on the side himself, very carefully with a mirror. He’s very surprised one evening when you approach him and offer to cut it for him. He eyes you suspiciously and on the promise that you won’t cut it too short or make him bald, he hands you the clippers. Soon it’s a regular thing that he lets you help take care of his hair.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

You are crows’ sanctuary. A place away from the nightmares, haunting memories, and fear. Somewhere warm, safe, and calming. You keep him grounded, from running headfirst into trouble. He hasn’t felt whole in a long time, especially after getting back his memories as Uldren but with your help, he slowly feels like he’s reclaiming his image, his life, and his future.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Glint ADORES you. I mean adores you. The second glint saw you treating crow as crow and not Uldren, he thought you were brilliant. crow wasn’t amazing at selfcare so seeing you look after his guardian kept glint buzzing. Glint regularly finds place on your shoulder or lap when you’re relaxing with crow and crow thanks you when on rare occasion glints chatting gets a bit much and you take the chatter box into the next room, talk of ‘the headless ones’’ drifting through the wall, reaching crows ears, and making him chuckle.

One mission crow returns tired and worn out. While he’s asleep you notice that there’s a clear rip in his beloved cloak that’s left resting on the chair. When he wakes up to see you, needle in hand, occasionally cursing as the needle pricks your finger. He’s surprised to see you diligently sewing his cloak as glint whispers hushed encouragements. That’s when crow knew. That’s when he knew he picked the right person.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

People who refuse to see him as crow and only see Uldren. He understands to a degree how hard it can be but when people throw Caydes death in his face over and over and over, it grates.

Crow wouldn’t like a partner who didn’t like glint, glints always been encouraging and sweet as well as protective of crow and it works the other way to. If you don’t get on with glint or glint doesn’t like you, it’s going to be a hard time getting any closer than friends.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

This guy barely slept. He would take 2-to-3-hour long power naps at best when you first get to know him. Sat in the hanger, hidden amongst the crates cloak acting as a blanket. Leant against you as you read on the sofa, one of your hands in his hair putting him to sleep in seconds.

When you two begin sleeping in the same bed together, he’s worried about keeping you up, with nightmares, restless sleep and late nights but when you both lay in bed, his head on your chest and hand in his hair he melts. And for the first time since being resurrected he has a full night’s sleep, no nightmares, no waking up only hours later, no thrashing in his sleep, just blissful rest.

Sonic, Knuckles and Shadow as humans!

say you’ll remember me

pairing - gabriel reyes x f!reader wc -  1,800 ish warnings - fluff and angst, unrequited love, implied sexual content notes - au ficlets based off the prompt of dream, also on ao3!

Congratulations on your engagement, reads the card. You gush over how adorable the design is and grow more excited upon opening it to see everyone’s names scribbled within.

Everyone you both loved had come together, filling every inch of the card with love.

“We always knew you’d end up together.” “To Mr and Mrs Reyes.” “Here’s to forever with your true love." 

The well wishes go on, and as you read each one aloud, he presses gentle, chaste kisses along your bare shoulder, your slender neck.

You feel so right in his arms, talking with elation about how much you can’t wait to be his wife. You snuggle back into him, resting your head on his chest–making both of you feel complete. Gabriel has never felt so whole in his entire life, yet he knows the feeling will only grow with each day–when you finally become his till death do you part.

He never in a million years thought he’d have this. That through SEP, Overwatch, Blackwatch, and beyond, he’d find you. His perfect match, his true love.

He closes his eyes for a moment, overwhelmed with contentedness, and when he opens them again, you’re no longer cuddled on the couch.

You’re both curled up in bed, both naked and spent, a sheen of sweat covering you both. Pleasure trickles throughout his entire body, and you’re both unsure where one of you ends and the other begins.

You both feel him softening, feel the way his seed leaks out of you–but the real treat is the way he holds you in his arms, both of you feeling safe and completely like you belong.

There’s not a place in the world that either of you would rather be.

"That was amazing.” You sigh, your voice breathy.

He presses a kiss to the top of your head, before tilting up your chin and kissing you with every fiber of his being.  "I love you so much, Y/N.“

You kiss him back with equal passion, and can’t fight the smile off of your face as you cling to him. "I love you too Gabriel, with everything I have.”

“Commander Reyes?”  

Your voice pulls him out of his dreams, along with the gentle touch on his shoulder—he comes slamming back into the harsh reality.

“The dropship isn’t far out now.” You whisper, knowing he’ll be eager to get back to base.

After the firefight, the two of you had been left stranded, surrounded by smoldering buildings and dead Omnics. It wasn’t what either of you were expecting.

Reyes had spent every last scrap of energy getting the two of you to safety, so while you waited for evac, you promised to watch over him as he slept. Granted, it wasn’t ever going to be great, the pair of you using rubble as pillows.

At one point, the Commander’s head had drifted onto your shoulder, until he woke up with a start.

He takes a good few moments to fully adjust, realizing where he is and what just happened.

“Thanks.” His voice is quiet and measured. “ETA?”

“5 minutes.” You reply softly, a kind, friendly smile on your face. Now he has no use for your shoulder, you shuffle away.

He nods simply fighting back the thoughts swimming in his brain. He was used to it, the embers of his inappropriate crush, but he usually had a better handle on it.

Right now, he felt like he was bleeding out, left on the battlefield to die. It had nothing to do with the fight and everything to do with the ache of waking. Of realizing that all you’ll ever be to him is an agent, because he would never think you could love him like the woman who wanted to be his wife.

He observes you silently, noticing the way you tap your fingers across your gun with anxious impatience, and that you still look so beautiful after everything you’ve been through. You hadn’t known each other long, but he knew you to be dependable, and uncharacteristically, he was completely smitten.

“(Y/N).” He starts, unable to use your rank after feeling so intensely close to you. He realizes quickly he doesn’t know what to say–how can he explain how he suddenly feels so close to you, knowing you don’t feel the same?

“Yes, Commander?” Your use of his title gives him whiplash.

Mr and Mrs Reyes, he thinks, the ones in the dream—they have to have started somewhere.  

Every cell in his body screams to say something, to make that first step and hopefully set you on the course of events that would lead to you being just as close as you were in the mirage.

Distant whirring interrupts his thoughts, and whatever words were going to come next die on his tongue.

“You did good today.” He smiles to try and disguise his pain.

“I didn’t do much, thank you for getting me out of there.” You offer meekly.

“I’ve got your back.” His words are certain and earnest.

“I’ve got yours too.”  

He wonders if that’s the closest he’ll ever get to hearing I love you leave your lips. Each praise or affirmation from your lips makes him soar, and yet still leaves him yearning.

His thoughts go around in circles, desperately trying to think of ways to bridge the gap between what he had felt and the chasm between you now.

You two pull yourself up from the pile of rubble, ready to head out to board the dropship.

“Can I ask you something?” It’s you who breaks the silence, your eyes fixed shyly on him.

“Sure.” He can’t bear to meet your eyes.

“What were you dreaming about?”

Had he said her name aloud? Moaned at the height of the dream?

“Why?” His gruff demeanor doesn’t appear any more defensive than he usually is—even if he most certainly feels it. He finally meets your eye, seeing softness there instead of judgment as you begin to speak.

“You had this little smile on your face, and you looked so peaceful. It was nice.”

“My wife.” He huffs a laugh. “Though, she only exists in the dream.”

“Oh.” He can see a range of emotions flicker across your face, as you seem uncertain how to react. “Well, I hope one day you find her for real.”

He laughs at the cruel irony and turns away—wondering how after today, things will ever be the same between you two again.

“Cariño.” His voice is a blessing as it drifts into your dream, the most heavenly sound you could imagine.  

“I missed you so much. I’m sorry I haven’t seen you in a while…” You turn, immediately falling into his embrace. Your hands slip to caress his face, tracing his skin as you desperately refamiliarise yourself with his visage.  

He holds you in return, the touch of his skin on yours bringing you deep peace you haven’t felt in his absence.  "Not been sleeping well?“ 

He knows you haven’t because you’ve barely seen him.  

"Something like that.” You sigh, letting the stress melt away, the problems barely touching you now you’re together. “It’s this double-edged sword, of missing you and needing you, and then those thoughts keeping me away from you.”

“We’re together now.” He kisses your forehead sweetly as he reassures you.  

Your fingers drift across his skin, sweeping to his brow. “You have a new scar.”  

“Nasty fight.” He brushes it off with a smile. “Don’t worry about it.”  

“How can I not?" 

He smirks, removing your hands from fussing so he can kiss them. "Maybe you could kiss it better." 

You stand on your tiptoes, your lips pressing gently against the jagged cut. "My warrior." 

"Now let me kiss you properly.” His voice lowers to more of a growl, as he rushes to kiss you senseless. His large hands hold you still as his lips caress yours, his tongue making love to you.

He pulls away momentarily, leaving you dizzy beyond belief. 

“If you keep kissing me like that, we’re not going to stop at just kissing.” You smirk, your body already buzzing in a way that’s only possible with him. 

“I don’t want to stop until you’re screaming my name.” His kisses fall to your neck as his hands grasp at your flesh. “I can’t get enough of you.’

"I can’t either, fuck.” You sigh dreamily as he paws at you, claiming your body for his own.  

“That’s it, baby, let me hear those sounds.” He purrs. “Say my name.”  

“Yes!” His name is on the tip of your lips when—

You wake with a start, your heart immediately aching at his absence. Your skin feels cold, your bed feels empty. It’s as if his lips and his touch were right there, only to be ripped away.

You scramble to the nightstand, desperate to grab the sketch pad so you can start sketching what you remember.

His locks of hair, his dark eyes, the dog tags around his neck. It’s so familiar and yet so achingly distant. This time you got close, or closer at least, to knowing more about the man who always comes back to your dreams.

You suppose it’s a sign of your loneliness, that you keep having the same dreams over and over, that his face keeps appearing and he acts like he’s loved you for a lifetime already.

With a final stroke of the pencil, this sketch is complete—his adoring eyes staring at you as he strokes your face.

You swap the sketchpad for your phone, navigating to your messages.

“I dreamt of him again…”  

Your friend replies almost immediately.

“Oh (Y/N), we need to get you a date.”  

You smirk at your phone, locking it and heading into the kitchen, ready to start your day. You flick the coffee pot on first, then the TV, and immediately drift to thoughts of what mornings with him might be like as you grab a mug.

“With another successful high-profile mission completed, the group ended with a press conference with the man behind it all, Strike Commander Morrison.”

Admittedly, you didn’t pay too much attention to Overwatch, especially in these more peaceful times. Strike Commander Morrison was always making great speeches though. Your eyes were fixated on the screen, focusing on Jack Morrison until your eyes drift to the grumpy visage of the man standing behind him to the left.

The mug you were holding falls to the ground, smashing into dust.

There he is—the man from your dreams.

Unlike Jack, all blonde hair and Overwatch blues, he’s dressed in darker tones with a beanie perched on top of his head.

The frown on his face is one you haven’t seen much in your dreams, and it makes your soul yearn to reach out and comfort him.  You want to earn those sweet smiles he gives you, and see the tension lift from his shoulders.

But this man, he’s not yours. He isn’t the one in your dreams.

Because even if he looks just like him, the man in your dreams isn’t real.

Playing with TFP character designs / Headcanon I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SO LONG ITS FINALLY DONE Breakdown , Bulkhead , Dreadwing , Knockout , Arcee , Bumblebee , Optimus Prime © Hasbro Critiques are much Welcome!

Arcee’s vehicle mode.

Okay hear me out, Reader deciding to ignore Hazard for the day bc he did something and they thought this will teach him. Only for him to be like "Hen, Hen the love of my life please talk to me-"

“Silent Treatment"

Hazard x Reader

The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds as you went about your day with a silent determination. Hazard, your ever-charismatic and annoyingly smug boyfriend, had finally crossed a line last night. Maybe it was teasing you too much, or perhaps it was him forgetting that one thing you’d asked him a million times—but either way, you’d had enough.

It was time for payback.

The silent treatment.

You didn’t think he’d notice immediately, but you underestimated him.

“Oh, good mornin’, Hen” Hazard greeted you as you passed him in the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter, his blonde hair a tousled mess, his smirk as devilish as ever. “Did ye sleep well, or were ye too busy dreamin’ aboot me?”

Normally, you’d roll your eyes or fire back some sarcastic quip, but not today. Today, you said nothing. Not even a glance his way.

His smirk faltered, his brows furrowing slightly. “Uh… Hen?”

You poured yourself a cup of coffee, ignoring him completely. Hazard straightened, his sharp eyes now fixed on you as if trying to solve a particularly tricky puzzle.

“Did I dae somethin’ wrong?” he asked, his voice soft but uncertain.

You refused to answer, calmly walking out of the kitchen with your coffee in hand, leaving him standing there, utterly perplexed.

=====

By midday, Hazard was in full panic mode.

“Hen! Bonnie! Love o’ my life!” he cried, trailing after you as you folded laundry. His Scottish brogue was thick, his tone dripping with desperation. “Don’t dae this tae me. Yer silence is killin’ me!”

You kept your face neutral, carefully folding a shirt as if his dramatic pleas weren’t happening beside you.

“Please” he begged, practically throwing himself on his knees in front of you. “At least tell me whit I did so I can make it right! Dae ye need flowers? Chocolate? I’ll write a poem if that’s whit it takes!”

You bit the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing as he grabbed the edge of the laundry basket, staring up at you with wide, pleading eyes.

=====

By evening, Hazard was trying everything.

He stood in the living room, holding a beat-up guitar you hadn’t even known he owned. “This one’s for you, Hen” he declared, strumming an absolutely dreadful chord.

Your curiosity got the better of you, and you peeked over the book you were pretending to read.

Hazard began singing in an exaggerated, heartfelt tone:

“Oh, Hen, my bonnie Hen,

I’ve gone and messed up again.

Yer silence it haunts me,

Like a ghost in the glen!”

It was so bad it was good. You couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of you.

“Ah-ha!” Hazard cried triumphantly, pointing at you with the guitar pick. “Caught ye! Ye laughed! Ye cannae resist me, can ye?”

Realizing you’d broken, you tried to smother your laughter behind the book, but it was too late. Hazard grinned, setting the guitar aside and plopping down beside you.

“So…” he began, his brogue softer now, “am I forgiven, lass, or do I need tae whip up another wee tune for ye?”

You sighed, lowering the book. “Fine, you’re forgiven. But only because that song was so bad, it felt like punishment enough.”

Hazard chuckled, throwing an arm around you and pulling you close. “Och, Hen, I’m glad tae hear it. But ye better tell me whit I did tae upset ye. I cannae risk this happenin’ again.”

You smirked, leaning into him. “Oh, I don’t think I will. It’s more fun keeping you guessing.”

Hazard laughed, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Yer pure evil, ye ken that? But I wouldn’t change a thing aboot ye.”

Fluff for my man Genji ❤️❤️❤️

Genji Fluff HCs

(This is post Blackwatch Genji, bc I've written fluff for that Genji twice man)

For someone so badass, he can also be kind of needy

Genji is kind of like a cat, where he'll just get extra close to you and when you run your hands through his hair, the whirring of the machinery in his body makes a purr sound

So, he's basically cybernetic cat ninja?

Very cuddly, though it will take some reassuring since he thinks his body isn't viable for affection since it is mostly made from carbon fiber.

He is very wrong, it's smooth and glossy and can heat up or cool down which let me tell you now anon is super nice.

Genji, while he won't admit it, is still a gamer at heart.

Gaming nights where he'll sit on the floor with you in his lap

He used to play competitively in arcades, but he found that with you he prefers to play games where you two works as a team or just enjoy each other's company

If you don't play games, he'd still like you to join him and watch as he plays a story-based game like Witcher 3 or Dragon age

He enjoys music A LOT

You took Lucio's suggestion and asked Genji to hook up his suit to change color to the beat of the music

He loves nothing more than to goof around doing silly dance moves with his RGB suit going off

We all know, no matter how much you love Genji, he can't dance for shit. His dance emote says it all.

If it's movie night? You know he cries his ass off at Titanic

He can't sing either, but he'll clear the feels out of the air by singing Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On"

It's horribly out of tune, but also just utterly charming that Genji's even trying.

As a nighttime routine, he has to plug himself in to a massive industrial charger on his side of the bed forcing him to lay on his back. (Not without giving you goodnight hugs and kisses)

While Genji can't move, you however, still can.

You can lay on his chest or hold his hand, his body heating up the bed and if you fear the dark, he's a ninja nightlight to chase the shadows.

A/N: While I hate playing against him, he is cute to write.

Requests: CLOSED

Optimus and his Ragtag Family

The dad instincts are strong in Optimus, he really can't help it. Going to earth has not made it any better.

Bumblebee

Bumblebee was the first to be spontaneously adopted by Optimus. He was and always will be Optimus precious little ray of sunshine. However Bee isn't a little sparkling any more, a fact that became far more apparent to the Prime after their arrival to earth. It's not necessarily a bad thing, in fact Optimus is very proud of his firstborn. Seeing Bee come into his own as an adult and a leader brings Optimus great joy. But that doesn't change the fact that his little one isn't all that little anymore, giving his parental coding the chance to make a reappearance.

Of course he still gets opportunities to love his precious sparkling. He often gives Bee small tender touches and hugs when there aren't too many optics watching. And he always is there to comfort and advise Bee, taking care to ensure his firstborn always feels loved. And while the opportunities are few and far between he will do his best to spend time with his youngling when possible.

Despite all that Optimus has begun to feel the inklings of emptiness in his spark, almost as though something he had no idea was vital is missing. He wants to protect, to teach, to provide, and Bee is simply too old for Optimus to do many of those things for him in the capacity he did before.

Bumblebee, while still relying on Optimus on occasion, has begun to fend for himself, stepping into the realm of adulthood and leaving his childish connections behind. As such Optimus has turned to his team and the younglings with them to satisfy his desire to dote on someone.

Ratchet

While their relationship is more of a bond between friends than anything else, Optimus still dotes on Ratchet in typical older sibling fashion. He can be a bit overbearing at times but generally Optimus is just a very concerned friend and brother figure. And despite being the worst at caring for himself, Optimus is incredibly devoted when it comes to taking care of everyone else, especially Ratchet.

Optimus will check on Ratchet regularly, usually he just hangs around in the doorway for a moment until he confirms weather or not Ratchet has moved since his last check in. If Ratchet has not moved or looks a little unsteady, Optimus will drop in and silently slide over some energon or depending on the situation, maneuver Ratchet away from his project and to his berth for some well earned recharge.

On days where Ratchet refuses his more subtle efforts, Optimus will go full on big bro mode and pull out some tricks from his time as Orion. Generally in such instances Optimus will make himself enough of a nuisance for Ratchet to throw in the towel and take care of himself. He does this in numerous ways, ranging from purposefully moving Ratchet's tools to strange locations to consistently poking at him and being a smart alec until Ratchet gets tired of him.

Optimus always feels a little bad after such days and does his best to make it up to Ratchet later by leaving a treat or apology note at his station.

Arcee

Arcee can be prickly at times, as such it is a bit difficult for Optimus to figure out just where he stands outside of the role of Commanding Officer. He tends to act like a mix between a father figure and a concerned elderly neighbor around her as he is not sure what she would find acceptable. Thankfully she has yet to comment on his behavior, so Optimus has taken to assuming she is alright with his choice of persona.

As his relationship with her is rather unclear, he tends to dote on her in indirect ways. Things like leaving her little gifts, notes, and treats are common ways for him to take care of her. He will also simply sit beside her and offer his silent companionship when she is having a bad day. She has yet to reject him whenever he plops down next to her with an embroidery kit or a ball of yarn with knitting needles. Some days she will join him in his activity, other times she won't, either way, it doesn't bother Optimus.

Other times when Optimus is feeling a little more bold or Arcee is having a particularly bad bout of PTSD, he will give her hugs. On such occasions she always melts into his hold, sometimes crying against him and other times simply enjoying the feeling of being held. There are even times when she falls into recharge while he cradles her like he would a sparkling. His spark never ceases to flutter in fatherly joy when it happens. The fact that Arcee trusts him enough to fall into recharge in his embrace is something he cherishes.

Bulkhead & Wheeljack

Bulkhead and Wheeljack might as well be overgrown sparklings considering the way they act. With this in mind, Optimus often ends up taking a fatherly role when they require some comfort or discipline. It's not even intentional half the time, Optimus just has a lot of experience handling sparklings and seeing the behavior of Bulkhead and Wheeljack prompts his long since automated parental responses.

Wheeljack gets sent out to his ship or to his berthroom when he gets too rowdy or narrowly avoids a tool tossed by Ratchet. Bulkhead receives similar treatment when he acts up, often being assigned some dull desk work or being sent to his berthroom as well. Optimus does what he can to not make his treatment scream "punishing a misbehaving sparkling" but sometimes it can't really be hidden. His disappointed dad voice and his no-nonsense servos on the hips give him away when his persona of a stern commander slips.

However its not all punishment from him. When Wheeljack is struggling with some scientific endeavor Optimus will step up and offer his knowledge from his time as Orion Pax. Optimus always tells himself that he does this to keep Wheeljack from going too far. However this tends to backfire as Optimus has always been a sucker for science and always gets super into whatever Wheeljack is working on. Their combined intellect and interest often ends with an explosion of sorts, much to Ratchet's irritation.

As for Bulkhead, Optimus likes to assist when he can, and in most cases that means having to help the ex-wrecker figure out the meaning behind human slang and customs. As he was once an Archivist and student of Alpha Trion, obtaining the data is easy, however figuring it out is far more troubling. Bulkhead and Optimus can spend hours deciphering things on the internet if left uninterrupted. And usually when they walk away both are left a little out of it for a while. All in all, it is some quality not quite father-son bonding time.

Ultra Magnus

Ultra Magnus holds the unofficial title of Optimus's bonded brother. There are multiple reasons for this, partially it is due to the fact that Optimus trained him personally, but also because both are practically attached at the hip when they are together. Optimus leads and Ultra Magnus gets everyone lined up behind him. Optimus stands as a shining beacon representing the pinnacle of Cybertronian kind, a paragon of justice and wisdom. And in order to preserve this image, Ultra Magnus deals with the less savory things involved in both political and literal warfare.

They fit together perfectly, supporting each other and making up for the other's weaknesses. Their bond is both old and strong, forged through the flames of war and tempered by long years of strife. Due to this, Optimus has developed a unique method of caring for his brother in all but CNA.

They need no words most of the time. When Ultra Magnus is angry, Optimus takes him out for a spar in order to cool down. When he is unsettled or emotionally shaken, Optimus will sit beside him and converse about trivial things, holding his brother's servo to comfort him. And when he is injured, Optimus will stay at his side, offering his companionship and support, wiping away stray tears, and giving Ultra Magnus comforting touches.

Their bond is quiet, one that goes nearly completely unnoticed, however they are still brothers, even if no one else sees it.

Smokescreen

It really was unintentional on Optimus's part, but a youngling left unattended was simply too much for his parental drives and he gave in nearly immediately. Before anyone on the team could even finish getting used to Smokescreen's presence, he was already on the receiving end of Optimus's doting.

Smokescreen has 0 issues with his new unofficial father-son arrangement. Outside of his fanboy reasons for being excited about the arrangement, he also doesn't have many memories of his previous caretakers, the war took them early and he was drafted into the army soon after. Having someone who genuinely cares for and loves him is something he didn't know he needed and now can't live without. He is by far one of the most receptive to Optimus's affections.

Smokescreen leaps at every opportunity to be close to Optimus. He will take every offered hug and touch with exuberance and adores receiving head pats. He positively beams whenever the Prime tells him stories and gives him lessons in history. And whenever he feels down he always goes to Optimus with his arms open, eager for comfort.

Optimus, in light of Bumblebee's increasing maturity and independence, adores Smokescreen's openly childlike behavior when off duty. It brings back memories of when Bee was little and would look to him for guidance at every moment. Teaching and caring for Smokescreen brings Optimus joy he thought would fade with Bumblebee's rise into adulthood.

Both he and Smokescreen relish in the affection they receive from each other.

The Human Kiddos

Never in Optimus's functioning did he ever think he would ever get attached to an organic, much less develop an unnatural bond with three of them. It is an odd thing to say the least, having his parental coding insist that the human children are obviously his sparklings and that he should be treating them as such can be rather off-putting. However Optimus has experienced a great deal of strange things over the course of his long life, and quickly took the development in stride.

It can be a little difficult for Optimus to adjust his behavior to match his newest charges needs though. His coding tells him that the human children are sickly or disabled sparklings. This often drives him to constantly worry about them and want nothing more than for Primus to wrap them up in living metal so as to keep them safe. This particular mindset becomes especially evident with Rafael.

Rafael is the smallest of the human children, and thus quickly took up a place in Optimus's mind as the runt of the litter due to both his size and his apparent disablement because of his need for glasses. As such Optimus feels the need to take extra care of Rafael, carefully intervening in any situation that is marginally dangerous for the child and taking the time to learn his preferences and interests. Not only that, but he regularly finds himself humming at a frequency too high for human ears but very clearly meant to comfort a young sparkling to any bots in the area.

Outside of Optimus overprotectiveness, he and Raf bond over their love of language and regularly have discussions on the subject. And when Optimus has time he often tries his hardest to help Raf learn Cybertronian speech. It hurts his spark to see Raf struggle with the sounds as he does not have the correct vocal ability, Optimus's coding always telling him that his sparkling is damaged and in need of medical attention. He tries to push those feelings aside and instead tries to focus on feeling proud of Raf for managing the few words he can vocalize.

Optimus has since given Raf a Cybertronian name, referring to him as 'Bright-Sparked-Child-of-Terra' in Cybertronian when it is just him and the human children.

As for Miko, Optimus's coding insists that she was meant for the skies, a born flier despite her organic form. This influences his actions as he often puts her on his shoulder and and lets her observe the world around her as he would with a flight gifted sparkling. He also finds himself constantly ushering her away from tall ledges and places. Her organic armor being too soft to survive any attempts at flight and her small body having no wings so to speak of.

It is another thing that makes his spark clench. He knows she is human, but deep down he believes that if she were born of Primus she would soar with the skies as her kingdom. He does his best to sooth his own aching spark and Miko's own desire to experience the thrill of the air by taking her out for drives at his top speed. They bond over the excitement and the chance to let loose, Miko always returns to base cheerful afterwards.

She too was given a name. Optimus calls her 'Mistress-of-the-Terran-Skies', a name that comes out like a song when he speaks it.

Lastly there is Jack, the child who reminds Optimus of himself from his days as Orion. He can tell Jack is hurting, still suffering from old wounds and the combined stress of keeping his friends out of trouble and their repeated encounters with Decepticons. To Optimus he seems to be like one of the many sparklings left orphaned and traumatized during the height of the war. This too causes Optimus's spark to ache, no child should look like that.

As such Jack receives special care from Optimus, who approaches him as one would a stray cybercat. Slowly, and over a great length of time he allowed Jack to warm up to him, starting with comforting words and eventually leading the human child to sleep against Optimus's pede or shoulder. He is fond of telling Jack stories fit for sparklings when the boy is particularly tired, often tucking him in afterwards as best he can with servos as large as his.

His coding tells him that if Jack were created Cybertronian he would certainly be a great mech, his spirit and drive while subdued, tell him this. As such Optimus has given Jack the name 'Little-Light-of-Terra'.

A war that ravaged our planet until it was consumed by death, and the Cube was lost to the far reaches of space. We scattered across the galaxy, hoping to find it and rebuild our home. Searching every star, every world. And just when all hope seemed lost, message of a new discovery drew us to an unknown planet called… Earth. Transformers (2007) dir. Michael Bay

Happier Endings

Image One | Image Two | Image Three

Pairing: River Ward x Fem!V!Reader; Slight SilverV Summary: (Request) You’ve been cured of your terminal disease. Johnny Silverhand no longer lives in your brain. It’s left you in a coma for two years, and when you wake up, everyone you’ve ever cared for has either moved on or no longer wants to see you, even your boyfriend, River Ward. Rating: Mature/Restricted — MDNI; AGELESS BLOGS DO NO INTERACT. Word Count: 7.4k+ Categories: Angst, Smut, hurt/comfort, slow burn-ish CWs: Reader is V and is referred to as V; rough sex, unprotected P in V; Reader hallucinates in the form of dreaming; Johnny doesn’t have a body; Spoilers for the secret ending/‘The Tower” ending. Not proofread. Notes: Canon-divergent; might've gotten some lore wrong. I just wanted River and V to have a happy ending.

MASTERLIST CYBERPUNK MASTERLIST

Everything hurts. Your head. Your body. Your ears as the incessant beeping of the heart rate monitor filled the room. All of it. Waking up from a two year coma was anything but pleasant.

Your operation had been a success. Johnny had finally been removed from your head, but as you came to that realization, a piece of you really missed him. Sure, the relic was killing you, and sure, you fucking hated the gonk when you’d first met him—he did try to kill you after all—but overtime, Johnny Silverhand was a man that you could eventually call your friend.

That realization and the news that you’d never be able to have chrome in your body ever again? That shit hurt the most. You had made a silent promise to Jackie before he had died—a promise that you’d make it to the big leagues, just for him… So much for that. You hadn’t ever expected to make it for only a few months. Maybe you should have just put a bullet through your skull after Misty had left you up on that roof. If you had, maybe you would have seen your best friend again.

As the team drops you off, you stare out at the sun and let out a big sigh. You’d wondered what Night City had gotten up to in that time, but really, the only thing on your mind was one man: River Ward.

You’d never fully explained what was going on with you and the relic—all you could tell him was that you were dying, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to be with you. Your mind flashes back to the morning after you’d crawled into his bed, spending the whole night with him inside of you. The sound of his voice humming a soft melody as he made you a cup of coffee fills your head.

“Best coffee, best jambalaya—“ you remember finding the recipe on his computer. It was sweet that he’d wanted to impress you. You didn’t think you’d ever fall for a fuckin’ cop, but you did, and you wore his “fuck the police” shirt almost every night to bed after that. He was sweet; he had a big heart, and his intentions with you were pure. It was hard to find a man like that in Night City.

It only takes a couple of rings on the holo for him to answer.

“No damn way,” he says. God, you missed his voice.

A small, hopeful smile spread across your face. You don’t remember the last time you’d felt hope to begin with. “River,” you breathe out. “It’s me.”

”’Me,’ who?” His voice is gruff, filled with clear uncertainty. Though, you don’t think that you could blame him.

Still, “Wow… Wasn’t expecting that,” you say.

“Yeah, well,” he says. “Old cops carry suspicion in their back pocket. The V I knew wouldn’t have waited two years to return a call.” Well, shit, that hurt too. “What’d you expect to hear after all this time?”

Why was he acting this way? In all honesty, it was starting to piss you off. You couldn’t help but let your classic sarcasm slip through. “Dunno… Maybe something like ‘Wow, glad you’re not dead!’”

You watch as he shakes his head, seeming a bit disappointed in himself. “You’re right,” he sighs out. “Sorry… Really am glad you’ve come up for air.” He pauses for a moment. “Gotta admit, I’m a little mad at you.” There it is.

It seemed like everyone was either mad at you or had thought you’d died. Hell, Panam wouldn’t even pick up the phone for you. It didn’t even ring. All you could do was leave a voicemail and hope, but knowing her? She’d already declared you a traitor—someone she’d never speak to ever again.

“River,” you sigh. “I was in a coma. They just woke me up.”

“Oh, shit, V,” he says, a clear look of surprise on his face. “Sorry… Here I am being a fuckin’ asshole to you.” You’d never seen him so on edge, quick to anger before. Well, that’s not true. You remember when you’d helped him find Randy—he was full of anger back then, hasty to find his nephew, but after that? He’d relaxed, a bit lighter. He was so gentle with you after that.

You could tell there was something eating away at him now. “You okay?” You finally ask, unable to keep yourself in the dark any longer. “Gettin’ the vibe that something’s wrong.”

“Honestly?” He says. “Everything is.”

He admits to you that he had been struggling to scrounge up the eddies for Randy and his rehab. It ended up with him making a deal with the Trauma Team. If he provided them with NCPD secrets, anything and everything he could, they would give him the funds. It seemed like he was ashamed of what he’d done.

“Clearly, you didn’t have any other options,” you tell him with a shrug. He doesn’t seem to like that.

“How could you possibly know that?” He grunts.

What was that supposed to mean? Was that some sort of dig? Sure, you’d been a merc, but that doesn’t mean you risked your morals for eddies. Hell, you’d pissed off Elizabeth Peralez for refusing to lie to her husband about all the brainwashing.

Whatever. You decide to let it go. “No,” you tell him. “I know you; woulda done it differently if you’d had a choice.”

He shakes his head. “I dunno,” he says. “I’d like to believe that, but…”

You curse under your breath, a twinge of guilt in your heart. Maybe the two of you could both work on having a little more empathy for each other. “Now I feel bad,” you say. “Can we meet? Help each other out?”

You knew that things couldn’t ever go back to the way they were—not right away at least. A lot could change in two years, and he’d spent all that time thinking that you’d ghosted him, tossed him to the side without any explanation. Even if he knew the truth now, it wouldn’t change how he felt. You should have told him more about the relic, the plan, everything. After everything you’d been through with him, everything he’d told you about him and his family—you owed him a little more honesty and candidness than you had given him. Still, maybe with a little work, the two of you could—

“Too late for that.”

Oh.

You can’t even hide the shock and sadness in your voice. “What? Rather not see me?”

You hate the look he gives you through the holo. “Look, I’m not the man you used to know. I couldn’t look at you in the eye. Not you, not— The fuck am I blabbin’ for?” There’s a lost look in his eye. There’s no way he meant anything he said. There’s no chance he didn’t want to see you after all this time. “I gotta go.”

”Wait a second, River—“

Before you can say anything else, he hangs up, leaving your heart in your stomach and a pain in your chest. This pain hurt more than any bullet wound or relic malfunction ever could have. You stare back at the sun and sigh, shaking your head, before dialing the next number.

Vik is the only person willing to see you. Panam still hadn’t answered your call, and Judy had left Night City. She was married now… You were happy for her, but it didn’t hurt any less. All your friends had thought you’d abandoned them, and in turn, it seemed like they either did the same to you or had simply just chosen to forget you and move on.

Vik had confirmed that you’d never be able to get implants again, and it left you feeling lost. Your entire life, living as a merc, some streetkid who would risk their life everyday to make it a legend in NC, was all you’d ever known. You’d be a gonk to think you could return to doing jobs like that without any cyberware. It’s what kept you less vulnerable to enemy hacks and bullets.

Hell, you couldn’t even defend yourself from getting mugged as you left the clinic. Any eddies you’d had were gone. You truly had nothing left for yourself. Misty helps you up off the ground, and though she assures you that she thinks you’ll be able to get yourself back on your feet, you’re not sure if you believe her. Either way, you wish her the best of luck on her journey to whatever ancient forest she was leaving to.

Yet another friend gone from your life.

You find your old car in the parking lot of your old apartment building. You’re surprised someone didn’t scrap it or steal it. As the engine roars, you let out a sigh and get in. There’s only one place that you think you can find solace in this world.

You arrive at Johnny’s grave. Tears well up in your eyes as you run your hands over the metal, feeling the divots in it from the words you carved into it. “Johnny Silverhand—the man who saved my life.”

You half expect to see a flash of blue light, the appearance of the ghost that had lived inside of your head. He’d tell you to pick yourself the fuck up, to find a way to turn shit around, but he didn’t. He couldn’t because he wasn’t there with you anymore.

So you begin to talk to yourself, truly to yourself. “What the fuck am I doing?” You sigh. “I miss you, Johnny. Bet you didn’t think I’d ever say that, huh… But I told you I wouldn’t ever forget you.” You continue to look down at the carving. “After losing Jack… Even though I was always fightin’ with ya, you were still my best friend. I wish I could’ve found a way to save us both.”

The tears start running down your face. When was the last time you’d actually cried like this? Sure, you had cried when Jackie died right in front of you, but this? This was full on sobbing. Tears falling down in large drops, soaking your face, nose running as you struggled to breathe.

“I’ve got no one anymore, Johnny… Should have just spent the last years of my life living it with you—doin’ jobs instead of focusin’ on the damn relic. Should have gone out with a blaze of glory.” You shake your head. “But no one remembers me. I’m just another face, no longer on my way to becoming a legend. Anyone who does remember me either hates my guts or is moving on without me…”

With shaking, flesh-made, free of chrome hands, you wipe away your tears. “Fuck!” You curse as you kick his grave. It’s not fair to take it out on Johnny; you know that. It’s not like he asked for his engram to be copied onto the biochip, and he’s not the one who told you to shove the damn thing into your head. As bad as you felt for Evelyn Parker, part of you was angry with her. Had it not been for her or Dexter Deshawn, maybe you and Jackie could have been legends of the Afterlife. What was the point of getting into the what-ifs, though?

”I’m sorry,” you breathe out, still struggling to catch your breath. “It’s not your fault.” You continue to talk like Johnny can hear you, and while you know there’s no such thing as heaven, and even if there is, Johnny Silverhand sure as fuck didn’t make it in, you try to pretend that he’s up there, listening.

“I know that you don’t like River, but… I miss him so much. He doesn’t even wanna see me,” you finally let out.

Johnny had always had a disdain for the ex-cop. He always claimed that River only stuck around to try to sniff you out, get dirt on you and turn you into whoever was willing to give him the money for it, but you knew otherwise. From the moment you’d met the man, you knew all he wanted to do was seek out justice in whichever way he deemed fit. Though you were a merc and he was a cop, he saw value in what you did. Sometimes, not every issue can be solved by the cops. Sometimes, the system was immoral itself. He knew that more than anyone.

“Don’t know what he did or why he feels like he can’t look me in the eye, but it still hurts… I’ve dated plenty of gonks in my life, and he’s the only one that I think actually cared about me,” you confess. “Maybe he’s punishing himself for what he did, but I couldn't care less about what secrets he was sellin’. It’s not like the NCPD and I were chooms, right?” You let out a watery chuckle. “Maybe I’ll try callin’ him again, but who knows.”

Silence. Dead, uncomforting silence. Johnny really was gone.

Your eyes glance back down at the grave, and you sigh, standing up and shaking your head. “Thanks for listening, Johnny,” you say. “And… Thanks for everything else. For saving my life, multiple times. For showing me how to live like a Samurai… For helping me find a way to survive the relic… Just wished I could have found a way to save you too. I know you said you felt like you did everyone in your life dirty, weren’t a very good friend to them, but… You were a great one to me. You’re the reason why I almost made it to the top to begin with.”

You get back into your car and start it up, turning on the radio. When you do, the car fills with the sound of 107.3 playing through your speakers. Samurai fills your ears. It’s at the moment that you think maybe, just maybe, Johnny did hear you. Maybe this was his way of telling you that you’d be okay, to just give it some time.

Vik lets you crash in the clinic. He’d told you that as long as you kept it on the downlow, you’d be okay until you got back on your feet and scrapped up enough eddies to get your own place.

You get a job at Tom’s Diner. It certainly isn’t as fast paced or dangerous or thrilling as being a merc, but it pays you a decent amount. It eventually gets you by just enough to rent out a shitty apartment in Watson. Just like old times, huh.

You don’t even take the time to unpack once you get in. Instead, you toss your single bag of clothes into the corner and hop into the shower. It’d been a long time since you’d felt water pressure this good. As the hot water cascades over your body, you think back to the second time you’d spent the night with River.

It had been in your apartment that time. You’d been pretty insistent on not wanting to spend the night having sex in silence due to the fear of waking up his sister, his niece, and his nephew. You remember the feeling of his hands on your body as you led him into your shower. The way they had covered the swell of your breasts as you leaned against the wall, bending over for him. He’d buried his face into your neck, moaning and grunting, telling you how good you’d felt around him. Your cunt squeezed and fluttered around him as his hips slammed into your ass, his large hands bruising your thighs from the way he was gripping on to you.

When you open your eyes, you remember that he’s not there. He didn’t want to be there. God, he couldn’t even look at you.

You’re out of the shower after that, not wanting to relive the memories and thinking about what could have been. You quickly dry yourself off, get dressed, and get into bed, making a mental note to buy new clothes to fill your wardrobe.

Over the span of a few months, you find yourself doing a lot better. You continue to work at the diner, making just enough money to keep paying your rent. Living a life of luxury isn’t something that you even consider anymore. Every once in a while, you stop by El Coyote Cojo every once in a while. You’d given Mama Welles the scare of her life when you’d walked in. You’d gotten her all caught up on what was going on, telling her that it didn’t feel right to call her. You could handle the anger of everyone else in your life, but never Mama Welles.

She’d smacked you upside the head. “¡Estúpida!” She cursed at you. “I thought you had died. Don’t you think losing my son enough! Misty told me she was leaving, and I thought that was it for me—thought I’d lost all of my…”

Her children. Though she’d never say it, she truly did think of you, and eventually Misty, as her own. Living in Haywood meant everyone around you was family, even if you didn’t like them, but Mama Welles loved you. When you didn’t contact her for two years, she really did think you were gone, and it hurt her more than she would ever let it show.

“I’m sorry, Mama Welles,” you say. “I just… Everyone I called—either mad at me or forgot about me and moved on. Didn’t know what I would do if you did the same,” you tell her. “I promise to be around more. I’m done workin’ as a merc. No more danger for me,” you sigh.

She pulls you into her arms, holding you tightly. “Well, if you ever feel like leaving that diner, my door is always open; you can always come work for me, mija,” she tells you. “And there’s always food on my table for you. You know that.”

You nod as you rest your chin on her shoulder. God, you missed this feeling—the feeling of family.

You eventually take her up on the offer, and you start working as a bartender. You slowly start to become filled with life again. You spend your nights laughing and joking around with Pepe; you make enough money to buy more than five outfits, and your apartment starts to feel more like a home as you fill it with paraphernalia that matches your style and personality.

Still, you couldn’t help but feel that something was missing. As you looked around the bar, wiping out glasses, you watched as a few couples sat closely together, smiles on their faces as they gushed to one another. Pepe picks up on the melancholic look on your face.

“Tired of being single, eh?” He teases, nudging you playfully.

You shake your head and sigh, your focus back on the glasses in your hands. “Just…” You struggle to come up with an excuse for your glum expression. “Yeah, I guess. I actually met someone before… Well, you know,” you confess to him. “But he doesn’t wanna see me anymore.”

He shrugs, picking up a glass to help you with your work. “Hey, you never know—“

”Trust me, I know,” you reassure him. “I tried but… Fuck, the look he was giving me when he told me… I don’t think he’ll ever talk to me again.”

He puts a hand on your shoulder. “Maybe he’s just scared,” he suggests. “Whatever it may be, I don’t think you should give up if you really want things to work out.”

When you go home, Pepe’s words weigh heavy on your mind. Were you really just giving up that easily? As you lay in bed, your eyes glance over to your wardrobe where your replica of Johnny’s jacket hangs. Sometimes, you dream of him, and you just… talk. You talk to him about what’s going on in your life, and he listens. Sometimes, he gives a quip here and there, but you don’t mind. You don’t mind until you wake up, that is. Those dreams feel way too real sometimes.

This was one of those dreams…

”Pepe’s right,” he says, taking a long drag of his cigarette. He’d always been on you for not smoking. Now, he got to smoke all the cigarettes he’d ever wanted. “You shouldn’t give up just because the fucker told you he can’t look you in the eye. Fuckin’ make him.”

“I thought you didn’t like River,” you say.

He scoffs, pushing himself off of the wall he was leaning against, walking closer to you. “I don’t, but you’re so fucking miserable without him. I hate to say it, but it’s killing me to see you like this. The V I knew was a fucking rock star who could fuck like nobody’s business.”

You raise an eyebrow at him. “So this is about you wanting me to get laid?”

He groans, and though he’s wearing his classic aviators, you can tell he’s rolling his eyes at you. “No, it’s not about me wanting you to get laid,” he says. “It’s about me wanting to see you happy, V. I know I tried to kill you and all in the beginning, but you were still my friend in the end. You matter to me.” His cybernetic hand is now cradling one side of your face, and you lean into it. “Truthfully, the reason why I didn’t like River, aside from all the cop stuff, was because…” He sighs, shaking his head. “It’s hard to hear the woman you feel a connection with have… thoughts… about another man.” His thumb strokes your cheek. “But I want you to be happy, and damn it, whenever you were with River? That’s the happiest I’d ever seen you…”

You look up at him in shock. “Johnny, I—“

You wake up, alarm blaring in your ears. “Fuck me,” you groan as you hit the snooze button. “Weird fuckin’ dream.” You roll over, and you stare at the jacket again. “But maybe you’re right, Johnny.” You really missed him.

You go about your day as usual. Wake up. Shower, Get dressed. Head to the Coyote for your shift. Work. Drink a couple of beers. Get home.

This particular night, however, you’d had more than just a couple of beers. Instead, you had taken shot after shot as you kept thinking about your dream, thinking about your last conversation with River. It’d been a few months since then. How was he doing? Was he safe? Was Randy’s recovery going well?

All of these questions continued to weigh on your mind as you laid on your bed, looking up at the ceiling. Before you knew it, you were dialing River’s phone number. It rang out a few times before it eventually went to voicemail.

“Hey,” you began, voice shaking. “I’m sorry for callin’. I know you don’t wanna hear from me, but… Fuck, Riv, I miss you,” you continue. A knot began to form in your throat, making you choke on your words. “You know, I thought I’d spend my entire life being some good for nothin’ merc, but… when I met you, you made me wanna slow down.” You sniffle. “That night at Joss’s place—the one when you made that jambalaya for me—“ a chuckle makes its way past your lips. “It was so nice. Slow. Different from how I’d lived my entire life, and just being there with you, living in that moment with no worries about the relic, the jobs I was workin, or if I was gonna die… I craved more of it; it made me ready to slow down.” Though you didn’t realize, tears began to slip down your face. “But I only wanted to live that way if it was with you…”

There’s a long pause. You begin to softly sob to yourself. God, you felt pathetic. You had always swore you’d never cry like this over a man, but fuck it, River was different.

”I’m sorry,” you apologize, pulling yourself together. “I don’t know what’s going on with you or why you’re so afraid to look me in the eye, but I need you, River… Without you, being able to live out the rest of my life means nothing. I would have taken six months with you over however many fuckin’ years I’ve got left now without you,” you say. You sniffle and wipe away at your nose. “I got a new place, and a new job—one where I’m not constantly putting me or other people in danger, I promise… I’ll send you the address if you ever wanna stop by… If not, I get it. I’m sorry… See ya.”

You hear the click of your phone as you finally hang up, and once you do, you close your eyes and fall asleep.

“Hey!” A gruff voice calls out to you. When you open your eyes, you see Johnny. Great, another dream. “V!” He calls. “Wake the fuck up!”

You groggily sit up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “Christ, Johnny, the fuck do you want? Not in the mood to talk.”

“Good because I ain’t either,” he says.

The sound of knocking echoes in your mind. “Huh?”

Johnny smirks over at you and nods towards the door. “Wake up,” he tells you, a hand holding onto your shoulder. “Think it’s time I finally left you alone, huh. Time for you and me to finally move on from each other.”

”What’s that supposed to mean?”

He doesn’t answer you. Instead, the room begins to fade away around you as he starts walking away, heading into a black void. He ignores you as you call out his name.

Then, you wake up in a cold sweat. You groan as your head pounds with a hangover. You don’t remember the last time you’d drinken this much… Oh wait, yeah you do. The last time you’d gotten this drunk, you’d let Johnny take the wheel, and he’d broken your promise of taking it easy.

You look down at your arm, and you fingers run over the tattoo. “Johnny + V” it reads… You were glad that in the end, you were at least able to keep that much from your days as a merc. The thought of not being able to get implants anymore no longer bothers you. You just needed your memory of him and the work the two of you had done together. That was enough…

The sound of someone pounding on your door brings you out of your thoughts, and you jump. “Shit,” you groan. “I’m comin’.”

You look around your apartment for your clothes. You’d only slept in your bra and underwear; it seemed like you weren’t sober enough to completely undress yourself.

You find a pair of shorts and tug them on before stumbling over to the door and opening it. The sight of the man in front of you is enough to pull you out of your hangover. “River…”

He looks at you, eyes filled with guilt. “Hey, V,” he greets. “‘S’been a while…”

You nod, still a bit in shock, and step out of the way of the door. “Uh, come in.” As he walks in, you look around your apartment. It’s a mess. “Sorry… I wasn’t actually expecting you to show up.” You chuckle, a bit nervous. “Also wasn’t expecting you to even open that message. I’m sorry; I guess I just had too much to drink last night.” Oh god, you were rambling…

But for the first time in a long time, you see River smile. It’s not a wide, boisterous smile. It’s soft and small, but it was still a smile. He’s clearly been entertained by your antics.

”It’s okay,” he reassures you. “I, uh, didn’t expect myself to come see you either, but… Joss walked in on me listening to the message, and she… Well, you know how she is,” he tells you.

“Guess I should thank her later then, huh?” You chuckle out. He’s gone quiet again, having a hard time looking into your eyes, so you speak up. “River, you know that I don’t… I don’t blame you for doing what you did, right?” You tell him. “I mean, I don’t think I’m really one to be giving out any lectures about morals given what I’ve done… What I used to do.”

Now, he’s looking at you, but he’s still so reluctant to do so. “I know,” he finally speaks after a bit. “It’s just.. I’m not the same anymore, and I don’t want you to expect something that I can never give you.” He walks further into the apartment, taking a seat on the couch. His hands run over his face, as if he’s trying to wipe away the shame and embarrassment he was feeling. “Before you left, after we’d gotten together, I was happy. Relaxed. For the first time ever, I felt truly at peace,” he says. “But then you disappeared. Randy needed to go to therapy, and Joss and I couldn’t afford it, and—“ he sighs, “it really changed me for the worse.” He looks up at you again, eyes soft and vulnerable. “I don’t think I can ever go back to being the River I was… And I don’t want you to get hurt because of it.”

As he speaks, you stand in front of him. Your heart hurts. That look on his face—it’s the same one that he felt when he’d told you about his parents for the first time. He feels like that little boy again. “I’m sorry,” you whisper to him. You then walk over to the couch and sit next to him. “River, I didn’t mean to make you feel like you couldn’t… be yourself, the new version of you, without me, and I’m sorry that I couldn’t be around to help you out,” you sigh.

“It’s not your fault,” he tells you. “You… didn’t ghost me like I thought you did. You were only trying to save your life, and I’m glad you’re okay now.” Two years without you was hard. He remembered the first time he was struggling with money. He’d left you a voicemail, begging you for your help. Even if it were just a small loan, he’d take what he could get.

But then you never answered, and he’d left you another voicemail, angry and hurt. ”After everything I helped you with, everything that I told you—“ he cried into the phone. “Thought you’d have a little more respect for me. I don’t ever wanna see you again, so wherever the hell you are, don’t bother calling me back.”

You didn’t listen to those messages until after you’d called him, just after waking up. Hearing him speak that way, the betrayal he must have felt… You couldn’t imagine.

“I’m still sorry,” you say to him. “I wish I could have told you about it all, but I just couldn’t. I wanted to, but I didn’t want you to worry.”

”You told me you couldn’t make plans for the future; you told me you were dying,” he sighs.

It was true. The first night after you’d slept together, he’d asked you if you were serious about him, and you told him that while you were, your time together was likely limited.

“I should have listened…” He says. Then, he grabs hold of your hand. “I missed you so much,” he finally confesses. “Even if I was pissed at you… I’ve never had anything like I had with you.”

You looked up at him, leaning forward. “I missed you to River,” you say. “I… I don’t know if I can do this without you. It’s so fucking hard. Johnny’s gone; all my friends either hate me or they’re leaving, and I can’t even go back to being a merc. I was on my way to becoming a legend, and it’s all just gone.” Your bottom lip starts to tremble as you think over the past few months. You don’t think you’d ever experienced loneliness like this before. “But it didn’t even matter anymore after I met you. I wanted to live the rest of my life with you, you know… That’s why I did it. I didn’t know it would put me into a fuckin’ coma, though.”

“Would you go back and change things?” He asks after a bit.

You take a moment to think on it. Back then, you’d spent so much time thinking about all of the what-ifs of your situation. What if you trusted Hanako? What if you asked Rogue for help? Was Panam the right answer? Or maybe you should have just ended it when you were on that fucking roof top.

”I don’t know,” you finally answer. “Depends on if you’ll take me back or not… If not, then yeah, I would go back if I could—forget about finding a plan to save myself and just spend my final days with you.”

He hums in response. “You like me that much then, huh?” He teases.

You shake your head at him, looking up at him with full honesty. “No,” you say softly. “I love you, River. I regret never being able to say it before I left.”

He seems a bit surprised by the confession.

You see it on his face and pull back a bit. “You don’t have to say it back. I get that it’s been two years, but I still feel—“

You’re cut off by the feeling of his soft, warm, and full lips tenderly pressing against your own. It feels like the first time he’d kissed you up on that water tower. “I love you too, V,” he says softly, barely pulling back. His kisses grow hotter and heavier as he leans in even closer, laying you down on the couch. “Fuck, I missed you so much,” he confesses in a whisper.

You moan against his lips. “River.” You sound so whiny and desperate as your hands wrap around his large biceps. He certainly didn’t slow down in the gym while you were gone. That was for sure. “Bed, please.”

He nods and moves his hands down your body so that they can wrap your legs around his waist. Once you’re secure, he lifts you up with ease, the cold chrome in his hands somehow setting fire to your skin as he carries you over to your bed, setting you down gently.

He begins to kiss down your neck to your chest. His hands slide underneath the cups of your bra, over the swell of your breasts. His cold fingertips tease at your nipples, and he chuckles. “Really answered the door in just this, huh,” he says. “Didn’t even know it was me.”

You whimper, back arching into his touch. “Fuck, River, just take it off already.”

He smiles at you and follows suit. He tosses the piece of fabric to the floor and dips his head down to take one the nubs into his mouth. “Fuck,” he groans. “Missed this. Couldn’t get you out of my head for two fuckin’ years.” His sucking gets harsher, causing you to squeak in surprise. “No one could ever make me forget you. I tried so hard.” He was leaving bruises across your chest as he sucked on it. “But always kept thinking about you, how you felt in my arms, how you felt around my cock.”

God, you were a mess. You could feel your wetness seeping through the panties you were wearing. There was no doubt your shorts would have a wet patch in them soon. You’d grown so sensitive to his touch. “River, please. Just fuck me already,” you beg. “I need to feel you. ‘S’been so long. I missed you so much.” Tears well up in your eyes. You’re not sure if it’s from his touch or if it’s just your desperation to be with the man you love again, even if it was just one last time.

River doesn’t say anything. He only nods and pulls down your panties and shorts, and they join your bra that he’s tossed on the floor. His fingers run up and down your folds, collecting your arousal. He can’t help but to bring his digits up to his mouth and lick them clean, making him groan. “God, I missed the way you tasted.”

He shifts himself down the bed so that he can pull your legs up on his shoulders. Almost immediately, he puts his tongue to work on your core. He eats you out like a starved man, licking up and down your slit before moving his lips up to suck on your clit. He puts two fingers inside of you, curling them up and down to press right against all the right spots.

Your heavy lidded eyes gaze down at him, and you swear you see a halo around his head as he devours you. You try to thrust your hips out but he growls against you, causing you to moan even louder. He wraps his free arm around your legs and pushes your hips back down into the bed. “Stay still,” he grunts.

“Fuck, River,” you moan. “I’m gonna cum. Don’t stop!” Your moans are whiny, desperate, fucking joytoy like. “Please.”

His fingers work in and out of you fast and hard, and he continues to lick at and suck on your clit until he can feel you gushing as you climax. You can feel him chuckling against your pussy as your legs shake. God, it’d been so long since you had been touched like this. You couldn’t even bring yourself to get off with your own hands since you’d woken up from your coma.

When you come down from your orgasm, River pulls back, and the entirety of the lower half of his face is soaked. It makes you groan, only aiding to turn you on even more. You lean forward and pull him towards you, kissing him with a hunger like never before. You taste your own arousal on his tongue, and you swear you feel feral.

Your hands push on his chest and you make him lay down on the bed. Before he can say anything to you, you’re undressing him. The first thing to go is his tank top. You throw it on the floor without any care. Next comes his bottoms. You tug them down, allowing his cock to spring free. You smile at the sight of it, wasting no time. You let some saliva drip from your mouth, right on to the tip, and you use it to stroke him. He groans in pleasure.

”Fuck, V,” he moans. His hips thrust up towards you. “Nggh, fuck, please.”

You waste no more time putting him in your mouth. You happily suck on his cock, tongue flicking and twirling around the tip as you look up at him with big eyes. “Fuck, I missed this,” you say after taking your mouth off of him with a pop. You continue to stroke him as you speak. “God, you’re huge. Can barely fit you down my throat.”

His hand is stroking at your hair as he watches you. “You take me so well, though,” he says. “Always did. Swear to god no one has even taken me that deep ‘til I met you.”

You take him back into your mouth, and you smirk around his cock as he throws his head back in pleasure, hand slightly pushing you forward. It’s wet and sloppy, and every time you feel the tip hit the back of your throat, your pussy clenches, begging for something, anything it could get.

Suddenly, he’s pulling on your hair, taking you off of him. “I need to fuck you,” he grunts, sitting himself up. “And if you keep using your throat on me like that, I’m not gonna last.”

He maneuvers you so that you’re on your hands and knees, ass high up in the air. “Fuck!” He say, giving it a slap.

You moan as the tingling sensation, and you push yourself back towards him. You’re absolutely dripping, your cunt begging to be filled. “River,” you whine. “Please.”

He smirks down at you, continuing to run his large hands over your ass. “Please, what?” He teases. His hand grabs hold of his hard cock, and he runs the tip up and down between your folds. “Wet as fuckin’ ever,” he comments, and he lets out a chuckle as you continue to whine, pressing your ass back into him. “Tell me what you want, V.”

”Damn it, River,” you grunt. “Fuck me already.”

“So needy,” he comments, but he wastes no more time, pushing himself inside of you. He moans as he feels your walls begin to clench around him. “So wet,” he huffs. “Lettin’ me slide right in.”

You mewl as his cock stretches you open. He gives you a few moments to adjust before he begins to thrust into you. He slides himself almost completely out before he slams his hips into yours. His hands have an unreal grip on your waist as he pulls you back onto him. It doesn’t take long for one of them to travel up your body til it’s at the top of your neck and grabbing at your hair. ”Oh, fuck!” You yell. A smile spreads across your face as he pulls you up, pressing your back against his chest. “Fuck me,” you groan. “River, please don’t stop.”

He’s breathing heavily in your ear, letting out small grunts as he continues to pound into you. “Still so fucking tight,” he says. “I missed you. Couldn’t fuck anyone else without thinking about you.” It feels like he’s confessing all of his sins to you, and in a way, he was.

Truly, River tried to move on from you. There were plenty of women who he’d spend his nights in bed with, but each and every time, the only way he’d finish is if he’d closed his eyes and imagined you. Your hair, your soft skin, your eyes. God, did he love your eyes, and he’s reminded of that when you tilt your head back to look at him. Your brows are furrowed and your eyelids feel heavy as your mouth hangs open in pleasure.

“Fuck, you feel so good.” You’re beaming up at him, completely fucked out. “I missed you. Love you so much, River.” Before you can even think about it, you’re cumming around him.

As he feels your walls tighten around him, arousal dripping out of you, his hips only work into you even harder. “Fuck yes,” he gasps. “Fuck, can I cum inside of you?”

You whine, your arm reaching behind you to grab hold of his neck. You nod before pulling him down to press a kiss to his lips. His hips begin to stall, and he pulls away, eyes squeezing shut as he spills into you.

With a few final thrusts, the two of you finally crumble back onto the bed. His arms shake as he struggles to not completely crush you. You can feel his hot breath against your back as he presses his forehead into his, leaving soft kisses on your skin. “I’m sorry,” he finally says after a bit. “Didn’t mean to just… leave you the way I did. I was scared that you’d see me differently.”

There’s a pang in your chest as he confesses to you, and you turn yourself around. Your hands reach up to hold his face. “I was scared too,” you tell him. “I didn’t know if my plan was going to work or not… I didn’t know it would leave me asleep for two years—If I could change things, I would… I should have been more open about what was going on.”

He leans into you, nuzzling your nose with his own. “You sure you wanna try again, V?” He asks. “I’m not the same man you once knew.”

You shake your head, shrugging. “When I told you I loved you, I meant it,” you say. “I did all of this so that I could live a life with you… If you’ll still have me, that is.”

He smiles and lets out a soft chuckle. “I love you too,” he says before kissing you. He then rolls off of you to lay by your side. His eyes glance over at the clock as he pulls you into his arms. “Let’s take a nap,” he says. “We can shower, and I’ll take you out for lunch after.”

You weakly nod, already dozing off. “Okay, River.”

He smiles. “Okay, V.”