Dark Thoughts Ahead

*+*+*+*+ The Last Of Us *+*+*+*+

Master List

Characters include:

~ Joel Miller

*+*+*+*+ Criminal Minds *+*+*+*+

Master List

Characters include:

~Aaron Hotchner

~ David Rossi

*+*+*+*+ Stranger Things *+*+*+*+

Master List

Characters include:

~ Eddie Munson

~ Billy Hargrove

*+*+*+*+ Walking Dead *+*+*+*+

Master List

Characters include:

David snorts from beside you, titling his sweet and sour chicken towards you in quiet solidarity. “I will NOT argue with you on that. There’s a reason the kid isn’t allowed in Vegas anymore.”

When Hotch had suggested the stakeout back at the police department, you had already started shaking your head, pushing your chair back to leave, but JJ and Printess had beaten you to the exit.

The draw had come down to who would be in the van at night, and who would surveil from the house across the street.

You and David drew the house.

Animosity is written across your face as you glance around the dilapidated, bitterly cold structure. To call it a house was an overstatement. Most of the windows in the living room are boarded up, but their missing windowpanes have the small space heater struggling to overcome the winter breeze that whistles in.

Though the outside of the two-story home had been kept relatively nice for any unsuspecting buyers, the inside had been trashed. No doubt by various squatters looking for shelter over the years in this poverty-stricken area of downtown Chicago. Countless numbers of graffiti overlap one another on the faded blue, crumbling walls, from swastikas to hearts with initials and dates underneath them, but your eyes keep roaming to an uncomfortably realistic painting of Satan that stares back from the wall just opposite your seat.

“Why this house though? This place is undoubtedly haunted. Just look around. Forensics would have a field day in here.”

Your groaning pulls another chuckle from David, who squints at the screen closest to him as a car drives by. “Because the haunted house was as close as we could get; trust me when I say I would rather be staying at the Hilton.”

He is right, of course, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to complain. Your chair suddenly wobbles, and you stiffen, looking down expecting to see a monster rat, only to see the toe of David’s shoe pressed against the leg. He smiles at your glare, making your lips twitch up despite yourself.

“Ah, come on. Lighten up a little. At least we don’t have to spend the night in a tiny little van.” Now he has a valid argument.

With an exaggerated sigh, you nod your head, the satellite radio crackling with interference. “Okay, okay. You’re right. Just remind me to get an exorcism when we leave.” You say with a nod towards the wall across from you.

“Tesoro, I’m Catholic. I have a priest on speed dial.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

The clock slowly ticks on, the day rolling into evening, when Morgan finally calls David, giving you the all-clear. The two of you heave sighs of relief, before moving into shutting down all of the equipment to maintain the house’s vacant facade.

The little melodic chirp of your phone alerts you to a text message, and when you pull your phone from your pocket, a smile lights up your face.

“Look.” Your voice holds a sweet coo when you turn your phone for David to see the picture of your four-year-old daughter, Amelia, curled up asleep in her bed at your mother’s.

When he glances from the phone to your face, he smiles at the motherly love that shines in your eyes. “More and more, she grows to look just like her mother.”

A soft, rosy blush stains your cheeks as your smile widens, turning away to type out a reply, “Thank you.”

“How are Amelia and Brain doing?”

“Oh gosh, she’s great. Just started Pre-K, and all of the social interaction is just making her blossom. Where we live, there aren’t many children, so it’s great she can finally start to make friends.”

David’s smile is found as he watches you, noting the way your eyes crinkle at the corners and the lines that bracket your mouth with your smile as you tap away at your phone. “I’m sure she is quite the social butterfly.” You nod with a hum. “And Brian?”

Your fingers falter over the keys, a look of dread passing over your features. David’s eyebrows rise at the slip of your emotions. “Oh. He-He’s fine, on a business trip.” You internally scold yourself at how clipped and robotic your response sounds.

Outside of your immediate family, you hadn’t told a soul of your sudden divorce, fearing how your coworkers and close friends would react. You didn’t want to be coddled or pitied over the situation, despite the pain that dwells in your chest from the moment you saw the Manila folder laid out on your dark granite countertop. The onslaught of emotion makes your eyes sting, the screen in your hands steadily growing more blurry as the silence stretches on. David steps closer with a growing level of concern, “Y/n?” He tilts your head up, baring you from the current of hair keeping your face hidden, and his coffee-brown eyes are soft but assessing.

In this moment, you feel small under his gaze, but not in the same sense that Brian did. With Brian, there was a constant stream of insults and trivialization of your accomplishments at work; how you couldn’t do enough, be enough, never at your best for him, only at your job.

But beside David?

You feel small in the way that David is an ever-larger presence, there to keep you guarded from whatever harm is lurking.

And for as silly as it sounds, maybe that’s why your lower lip begins to tremble and the tears you’ve kept held back begin to well in your eyes, the fat droplets ruining your perfectly placed mascara.

“Sweetheart…”

“Brian and I got a divorce.” The words are broken on your tongue, and the shock on David’s face could have been comical had it been in any other situation. He can’t find his words; instead, he pulls you into his chest, letting you sag against him as your body shudders with a sob. One arm cradles your shoulders as he passes a large palm down your hair, whispering little phrases in Italian as you cling to the front of his light blue button-down shirt with one hand.

“Il Tesoro… What happened?” He leans back slightly, rubbing your shoulders, trying to get a peek at your face.

You sniffle, trying to rein in your emotions as you dash away tears, dark smudges staining your fingertips and the pocket of his nice shirt, and you cringe. “Me… I-I happened. Brian no longer finds me attractive.” You keep your gaze glued to the row of turtle-shell-colored buttons, afraid to meet David’s gaze. “Maybe… It could be because I’ve struggled to lose the weight from my pregnancy, or-or I’m not home enough because of work.” When you finally dare to look David in the eye, the look of pity is painful. Your admission feels like you’re ripping off a Band-Aid that has adhered to your skin for too long. “Brian, he said when he looks at me, all he feels… is disgust. We-I tried everything, everything to fix what we had, but with Amelia, my entire life shifted, and my focus was her. Maybe that makes me a bad person. I know I’m the cause of it all, and I should have done more. I just-.”

“Woah, woah, woah.” David cups your face, warming your cool cheeks and brushing away the tracks of tears with his thumbs. “Dolcezza… You can’t possibly believe you’re the one at fault here?” His eyebrows pinch as you hesitate to give your answer, his question raising doubts.

“I let myself go, David. I’m no longer who he fell in love with; my body has changed from that skinny-“

David scoffs, his hands slipping down to rest on the slope of your neck. “What I’m hearing is the abuse your husband has drilled into your head. Not your words. Not your perspective of things. How long have you been living with this?”

He can’t think of a time where you hadn’t been yourself, the easygoing, chipper, determined woman who compliments the team so perfectly. He can only surmise that all of this had to have happened recently.

You murmur your answer, eyes cast down like a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar, and when he asks again, you suck in a tight breath, fighting through the humiliation.

“Three years… the divorce was finalized a month ago.” Saying it out loud to someone other than your family makes you feel sick to your stomach, the hole in your chest threatening to tear through your heart, forcing more tears over your lashes. You slacken your grip on his shirt with the intention of pulling away, like you can put distance between yourself and the truth, but David isn’t letting you go so easily.

“Three years? Three? And you haven’t talked to anyone about this? Y/n…” The disbelief in his voice is laced with something else, something almost chastising, and it makes your heart squeeze in pain.

“I have my mom and dad, they have helped me… I’m seeing a therapist… David, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to spill all of this on you and make it your problem.” You grip his wrists and, with a tug, free yourself from his hold. Making a beeline for the back bedroom of the house, you pray you can hold it together long enough to make it to the bathroom before you break down all over again.

An assaulting array of emotions plagued him as he watched you slip through the door. Three years, three years of you seemingly living a picturesque life, and no one noticed otherwise. Worse yet he never noticed.

What more was there? What all had Brian drilled into your mind? What damage had been done?

You didn’t deserve to live with that, you didn’t deserve to wake up every day feeling unloved and unwanted. Especially when David knew he was one of many men who found you to be the most attractive thing in the world.

His spine stiffened at the thought as it took root, then his long legs carried him down the hall.

*~*~*~*~*~*

You tip back your water bottle, swishing the water in your mouth before spitting the leftover toothpaste into the sink. Daring a glance at your reflection in the aged, yellow mirror, you cringe. The loud humming fluorescent lights above do nothing to help with your blotchy complexion or red-rimmed eyes, and you sigh with defeat.

This isn’t how you imagined anyone finding out, and you certainly didn’t imagine crying your eyes out against David’s chest. You thought you would have time to work through your emotions, to get back on your feet with Amelia, and have a stiff upper lip if anyone were to ask what had happened.

Now it’s all washed down the drain, and you groan at the thought of your mascara never washing out of David’s shirt.

With one last nasty glare at yourself, you yank the door open with a little more force than necessary, stopping short when you come face to face with David’s back. He had changed while you were gone, into a snug black t-shirt with a pair of matching sweatpants.

He turns at the sound of the squealing hinges, his eyes roaming from your face to your toes and back again. You’re dressed similarly, prepared for the cold night ahead except for the BAU sweatshirt that looks like it fits Morgan better than you.

You force a smile, but keep your eyes low, staring at the large air mattress he’s throwing a blanket over. “That looks comfy.” You move around him to get to your cot, the metal springs protesting as you sit down.

“It better be for the price I paid for it.” He responds, side-eyeing your cot. “And it better be more comfortable than that.”

You laugh lightly, pulling your thick comforter from its duffle bag. “It’s old, but it’s reliable and surprisingly not that bad.” The ties groan as if in protest to your statement as you lay back, tucking yourself in for the night.

David hums, turning and disappearing into the restroom. Rolling onto your side, facing his bed, you chew at your bottom lip, feeling deflated and overwhelmed with the chorus of thoughts in your mind.

What does David think of you now?

How much longer can you keep this a secret?

How are you going to handle telling the rest of the team?

You gasp around a painful twist in your chest, burying yourself face into your pillow in hopes of steering off the new onslaught of tears. You don’t want to cry anymore, you don’t want to feel another emotion. You don’t -

“Talk to me.”

You nearly jump out of your skin, looking up to find David sitting on the edge of his bed with worry written on his tan face. He spreads his hands, stammering a little before he begins to speak. “You know, no one else knows more about divorce than I do.” His attempt at humor falls flat, your lower lip jutting out. “All I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to bottle this up. You don’t need to hide it all away; talk about it, let it out. I’m certainly not going to judge you.”

You take a moment, tucking your hands under your head, searching his open face. “I just… feel like I’ve brought this on myself…” The warm feeling of embarrassment leaches into your cheeks. “Is it okay if I share something personal with you?”

“Of course.”

“I had a hard time adjusting after having Amelia. Between being a new mom, worrying about coming back to work, and trying to be a good wife, I just… changed?” You swallow thickly, but manage to keep your eyes on David’s despite tears pooling in your lashes. “Brian… obviously wanted us to become physically intimate again, but it felt so… so forced. I didn’t want to, but he has needs and I’m… I needed to fulfill those. I tried, but when things didn’t go… as they should have, he became resentful and angry with me. I couldn’t do anything to appease him.”

David’s face crumbles like your lungs, tears slipping down the bridge of your nose and splattering on your pillow.

“He started to get mean, Dav… commenting on my body, how the house looked, how I wasn’t good at anything. He belittled my entire life in the span of a year, and I just… checked out. I moved into Amelia’s room, and that’s where I lived until he handed me the papers. She and I now live in my mom’s apartment basement, and… I’m so lost, David.”

You pinch the bridge of your nose, hiccuping slightly, and roll onto your back. Your hands and body tremble, and another soft sob leaves your scratchy throat when you feel David’s fingers comb through your hair. He kneels beside your bed, gripping one hand with his as he keeps steadily brushing your hair back. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low timber, the noise reverberating in his chest.

“You didn’t cause this. The person to blame here is Brian. Not you. The fact that he couldn’t comprehend what you’d been through, how your body and mind have changed, shows more of his character than yours, sweetheart. You are doing a thousand jobs at once compared to him; you are more than a mother or an FBI agent, Y/n. You are what people have worshiped and held in high regard for years, a warrior, a caregiver, a lifeline, a woman whose love is endless. He is a fool. And you deserve better than what he has put you through, my dear.”

The breath you let out is stuttering, something hard and constricting in your chest cracking ever so slightly at David’s speech. When you drop your hand away, he is smiling at you tenderly. “Thank you.” You mouth the words, untrusting of your own voice, and he says nothing more. Instead, he leans over and presses a warm kiss to your forehead.

*~*~*~*~*~*

You wake with a jolt, violent tremors seizing your body, sending you into panic. “Wh-what the h-hell?” You whisper through chattering teeth, sitting up and wrapping your blanket fully around yourself as you squint into the quiet darkness.

“The power went out, and the generator isn’t working.” Comes David’s answer from across the room. As your eyes adjust, you can start to make out his form crouched by the generator, hearing him shake it and the gas slosh around inside the tank.

“F-fuck,” You hiss, scrambling to reach your duffle under the bed. You pull out a stack of hand warmers, “Here.” You toss a few to David as he walks over. “These will help. Throw them in the foot of your bed.”

David catches the packs, then turns them over in his hands. He looks at you as you mutter curses under your breath, shaking the warmers to activate them, bundled in your blanket on a nylon strip of bedding. Then he looks at his bed. More room, more blankets, has to be more comfortable despite your reassurance earlier…

“Get in my bed.”

“…what?”

The moon is shining through the window now as the clouds move, illuminating the look of disbelief you give him.

“Neither of us want to be miserable or get sick. Grab your blanket and we can keep each other warm.”

You stutter, your brain not quite catching up to what he’s saying before you shake your head slowly. “That’s… inappropriate. What if we get caught?”

His eyes widen a bit, laughing before he can stop himself. “Sweetheart, you’re acting like your boyfriend is sneaking over while your parents are just downstairs.” Embarrassment makes your skin tingle and warm. “I doubt anyone would say a word about trying to get through the night the best way that we can.” He’s absolutely right, and you know he is, but it doesn’t stop the hesitant look on your features. Walking over, David extends his hand, palm up. “I’ll get up extra early, so that way no one sees me sneaking out. Okay, Dolcezza?”

That comment earns a small chuckle, and shyly you smile with a nod, giving him your hand. He pulls you to your feet and helps spread your blanket on top of his, abandoning the hand warmers altogether. Both of you crawl under the covers, the air mattress dips and gives with your combined weight.

Swallowing against the lump in your throat, you scoot as close to the edge as you dare, despite the abundance of room. David watches you with amusement as you shuffle and fidget before he can’t take it anymore. His arm circles your waist, and with ease, he drags you into the center of the bed, making you squeal with shock. The mattress gives under your combined weight, forcing the two of you closer.

“Easy, sweetheart.” He whispers, tucking your head under his chin as he gives your hip a squeeze. You stare at the frost-tinted window like a deer in headlights, unable to focus on anything except for every inch of his body that touches yours. From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet resting against his shins, it makes a sharp ache form in the center of your chest that spreads. First to your lungs making it impossible to breathe, then next to your limbs, your body stiffening on reflex; and then when his hand slips from your hip to delve under your sweater you fear you’ll completely shatter.

His palm flattens over your stomach, the thin t-shirt you’re wearing hardly a barrier against his warmth, and instinctively you suck in your gut. The cruel words of your ex-husband circle around your mind like a vice,squeezing out every insecurity. You try to curl into yourself, but there is nowhere to go as his fingers twist into your shirt, pulling it up so he can trace lazy patterns on your soft skin.

“Don’t.” David brings his lips to your ear, warm breath ghosting over your chilled skin. “Don’t hide from me, every inch of you…” He flattens his palm over your lower abdomen, over the skin that has stretched, morphed, and will never be the same again. “Is beautiful. Every scar, every imperfection, every dip and hollow. All of it, all of you.”

The beginnings of a shaky sob leave your lips, one hand curling around his arm as the other grips the blanket, pulling it closer to your chest. “D-David… I…” You don’t know what to say, knowing he can feel every ridge and indent of your stretch marks, the same stretch marks that your husband had sneered at and ridiculed with relentless disdain. The calluses on his fingertips are a shock to your sensitive nerves, as you don’t remember the last time another person had touched you like this. So intimately, so cherishingly.

“You deserve to know this. To know how alluring you are, just how desirable you are.” His words sail down your spine where they gather, and settle heavily, igniting something primal and warm between your thighs. Your lashes flutter, head pressing back against his shoulders as his finger dare to dip just under the scrunched elastic of your sweatpants, pulling the slightest moan from your lips. “Can I show you, Tesoro… Hmm?”

The next shiver that rolls down your spine is no longer from the cold, it’s driven entirely from the sudden desire that is making you squeeze your legs together. It feels so foreign, after years of sexual solitude, it’s almost too much, too overwhelming. But your emotions and thoughts are wild in your brain and you can’t help the pain slicing through your chest. After so long…

“David… You don’t have to do this… I don’t want you to feel like you have to pity me, or-or make me feel better just because of what happened with Brian…” You squeeze your eyes shut, trying to ignore the desperate plea of your body begging for more, begging for a crumb of affection you have been denied for so long.

David is silent for a moment before suddenly pulling away. Your heart plummets into your stomach one moment and then shoots into your throat the next when David is suddenly rolling you onto your back. Everything is so fast, and before you know it, he is seated between your legs, hands planted on the mattress by your head, caging you in. The moonlight is just enough for you to see the seriousness in his eyes, the hard set of his jaw, and furrow of his brow.

“Don’t confuse my desire for you with pity. I have wanted you from the moment you first walked into my office; how many years ago? And I knew I was in deep when you flounced in with another man, and all I felt in my chest was jealousy and envy because I wanted that to be me.” His admission makes your heart clench, your eyes widening in surprise. “Maybe I am a selfish man for acting on these impulses, especially after you have been so vulnerable with me, but I can’t sit here and let you stew in these insecurities one man has instilled inside you. Not when I know I can show you how truly ravishing, wanted, and loved you are.”

He emphasizes his words with a slow roll of his hips, and you choke on your next breath, feeling the evidence of his want for you through his sweats. Tentatively, you reach up, gripping his shoulders, focus torn between the way his eyes darken and the slow smile curving his lips as he closes the distance between you. “I… I want…” You’re lost for words, your heart beating so hard against your ribs that you are certain David can hear the chaotic rhythm.

Giving you plenty of time to pull away, David leans in, brushing his lips across yours in a ghost of a kiss; and when you don’t move, he seals his lips over yours. A deep, shuddering breath rushes from you, and you sink into his easy rhythm. His kiss is passionate, sensual, and lulling you into complete oblivion.

Shifting, you run your fingers into the trim, greying hair at the base of his skull, pulling him closer with a simpering whimper. His response is a deep groan that vibrates through his body into yours, losing himself as he rocks his hips against yours. Just under the tingling mint of your toothpaste, he can taste something sweeter, something truly you, and he aims to discover it as he sweeps his tongue into the wet cavern of your mouth.

With a moan, your legs hick higher, thighs squeezing his hips as David’s hand cups your cheek. His thumb sweeps a few stray hairs from your cheek before hooking under your chin and pressing your head back. The kiss breaks with ragged gasps as he finds your jaw. The goatee he sports bristles at your skin, scratching softly before he soothes the sting with warm, opened-mouth kisses. Your grip tightens, little gasps and moans heaving into the air, and David nips at your jaw.

“Louder… Let me hear you, bella.” It isn’t a request; his hips bucking against yours, sliding his erection across your heated mound just the right way, forcing a desperate keen from your lips. You guide his head to the spot just below your ear, and he chuckles before sucking and nipping heavily. “Ah… Da-David… yes…” In the back of your mind, you know he’s leaving marks, that by the end of the night, your skin will be marred with the evidence of what you two have done, but you can’t find it in yourself to care.

“There she is.” He purrs, a shiver skirting up his spine when he feels your hands pressing down his back, gripping him tighter, holding him closer; like you can’t get enough, like you’re begging for more, and he is more than happy to give. “I’m going to take care of you. Will you let me, Mia Mor?”

The want to be cherished, the need to be loved like you once had been overwhelms you; tears pricking your eyes and you nod. “Please… Please, David.” Leaning up, David catches your gaze, features softening before brushing a kiss across your forehead; a stark contrast to the fire burning between your bodies.

“I’ve got you.” Shifting his weight, he skims his hand down your side before dipping below your waistband, a hiss escaping through his teeth when his fingers skim over your bare, drenched pussy. “Fuck… you’ve been so needy, just want to be shown some love, hmm?”

You can hardly nod, breath caught in your chest, too focused on the way he teasingly dips between your lips, dragging your wetness up to circle your clit. Hips bucking, a desperate, whiny noise falls from your lips, eyes fluttering closed as he starts drawing different patterns. He takes his time, finding what draws out the most noise as possible; which speed has you simpering and begging, fine-tuning to the musical sounds of your pleasure.

His voice drops to a raw growl as he dips his fingers into your entrance. “Going to get you nice and ready for me, gatina… Thaaaat’s it.” Your cunt is already fluttering with the promise of fulfillment from his shallow thrust, taking his time to stretch you open on his thick digits, palm pressing against your swollen clit.

“N-Need… fuck, I need more., please.”

David smiles to himself with a wolfish grin, thrusting his fingers fully into your wet heat, setting a deep, languid pace. Warmth flashes through your body, jaw hanging open, clawing at his shirt as your sensitive walls squeeze around his fingers. Your orgasm is building fast between your hips, the pressure deliriously intense, a feeling you don’t want to end as you lift your hips to meet his thrusts.

He works you up, up, up, paying special attention to the spot on your neck with tongue and teeth when he feels your pussy begin to flutter and hears your cries growing louder. He curls his fingers, almost instantly finding that gummy spot on the inside of your walls, and it takes nothing more than that. You cum with a squeal, nails digging into his t-shirt, face pressed against his hair as your arousal drips down his fingers with each wave of ecstasy.

“David, David, David~” You chant his name like a prayer, a plea, a word of salvation.

He kisses you then, consuming your cries of pleasure as he works you through your orgasm until the rhythmic flutter of your walls dies down to the occasional twitch of your hips.

“Look at me,” and when you finally manage to open your eyes, you watch David suck his fingers into his mouth, tasting you on his skin. He lets out a low groan, the flavor of your arousal thick and heady on his tongue and yet sweeter than his favorite wine.

“Fuck…” He growls. “I’m going to need more of you. I’m going to lay you out on my dining room table and feast between your legs. Amore miso bellissimo.” His words leave you gasping for breath, the promise of more after this night sending a pang of anticipation through your body that has your cunt feeling devastatingly empty. “Let’s take these off, yeah?”

Tongue too heavy to speak, all you can offer is a nod before you release his shirt so he can sit back on his haunches. He curls his fingers into your waistband, and when you lift your hips, he pulls them down completely. You’re focused on his face as his eyes roam over the newly exposed flesh. David grips your knees, thumbs rubbing soothing circles as he meets your gaze and whispers with intense honesty, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

He wishes, now more than ever, that he wasn’t seeing your body for the first time under the moon’s hazy glow in a run-down house on top of an air mattress. No, in his mind, you need to be laid out on top of the silk sheets of his king-sized bed, bathed in the orange glow of candles as he worships you the way you deserve.

Slowly, keeping his gaze locked on your face for any sign of hesitation, David hooks his thumbs into his waistband. He pushes his pants and boxer down just enough to free his cock, and a whimper leaves your throat at the sight of it, leaking and flush, bobbing between his thighs.

Your cunt pulses, saliva filling your mouth. “I… I want you…” You plead, voice husky, legs falling apart in invitation.

Groaning, David closes his eyes for a moment before gripping your thighs, fingers indenting the flesh as he drags you closer, forcing your hips up. “You can have me, every inch of me, Bambina.”

David holds his breath as he grips his cock, pumping it once, twice, before sliding the weeping tip through your soaked lips. His skin is incredibly hot against yours, especially when he glides the tip up, bumping against your clit before sliding back down to catch against your entrance.

Your breath grows short and ragged, a vine of anxiety and excitement twisting through your lungs. Pausing, David searches your face, a soft look dampening the burning lust in his eyes when he sees the pinch in your brows. “I’ve got you,” he whispers, leaning over you, elbows bracketing your shoulders, a hand cupping your cheek, grounding you as he finally pushes in. Your jaw goes slack, eyes rolling up, and David groans, his thick cock stretching your warm, wet walls; the exquisite heat of your body engulfing him.

“Ahh…ahh…” There’s a burning pain warring with the pleasure of being stuffed so full the further he sinks into you. Tears prick your eyes, your hazy, lust-laden gaze mirroring David’s as he snaps his hips forward, hilting himself fully inside you. “Oh fuck-!” You gasp, head lifting off of the pillows, mouth hanging open in surprise.

David grunts, squeezing his eyes shut as he presses his forehead against yours. Sweat is already building on his skin, his hand fisting the covers as he tries to keep the strings of his self-control from unraveling. “CosÍ stretto, cosÍ bagnato…” he sucks in a breath, “so tight, so fucking wet, baby…”

A smile creeps up your lips, eyes fluttering as his thumb passes over your blushing cheek. “Looks… Looks like I need to brush up on my Italian.” Your joke resolves into a whimper when his cock twitches in your depths.

A breathy laugh falls from David’s lips as he shakes his head slowly, leaning back slightly to watch your face as he whispers, “I’ll teach you, Gatina.” He pulls out, your whimper tuning into a moan, feeling every ridge and bump of his cock, “I have a lot I need to teach you.” Then he presses back in.

You hide your face against his neck, running your hands up his arms as David sets a slow, steady pace, hip rising to meet him thrust for thrust. His cock presses into that spot deep inside your sensitive walls, making your thighs twitch, locking your legs around his hips.

“Oh… oh fuck, David…” You sink your fingers into his hair, desperate to pull him closer, and he complies by slipping an arm under your shoulders, drawing your chest to his and forcing himself that much deeper with each roll of his hips.

“I’m right here, just feel, let go, and just feel me.” You wish there were fewer layers between you as your hand slides down the back of his shirt, palm gliding over his shoulders where sweat has started to gather. A delirious heat is pulsing through your veins, growing into an inferno in your lower belly with each pass of his cock. You begin to squirm, loud moans falling from your lips as you rake your nails up his spine, causing David to shiver.

“More… ah- please more.” The desperate plea in your voice as you buck your hips has David tsking against your ear.

He leans back, cock throbbing at the sight of your pinched brow and glossy eyes, tears forming in your waterline. Slowly he rubs his thumb over the edge of your kiss-swollen lip as he whispers. “I’m going to take my time with you, enjoy every moment of your sweet pussy squeezing my cock until you come undone completely.”

His words have you dissolving into whimpers, barely able to keep your eyes open as he starts back at his languid, deep pace. “Look at you. All of you. So beautiful.” He slips his hand down your side, following the dip of your waist, over the curve of your hip before wrapping around the bend of your knee. He lifts your leg, spreading you open, allowing himself to enter you at an entirely new angle.

“S-so good… f-fuck feels so good.” You pant, eyes rolling up. You’re being eaten alive by the fire growing in your body, sweat coating your skin below your shirt, slick between your bodies where you meet with each thrust. You start to squirm at the feeling of it all, eyes pinched shut, thighs stiffening, and back beginning to leave the bed as that familiar, electric pressure begins to build, and build, and build.

David can feel your walls start to flutter. A satisfied smile, almost smug, curls his lips, and he squeezes your eyes to catch your attention. “Gonna cum, baby?” He cooes, the deep baritone reverberating through your body, making that pressure nearly crescendo as you nod. “Let go, let me feel you wet my cock.” His hand falls from your thigh to slowly stroke your clit.

A sharp gasp fills your mouth. Your hips burn from the angle, the pressure nearing a breaking point as you cry for him. His grip tightens around your shoulders, and with a groan, he kisses you deeply, swallowing your cries as you snap. Your orgasm that had been creeping up slowly suddenly consumes you like a strike of lightning. You break the kiss with a silent scream, tears squeezing out of your eyes and falling down your temples as the intensity of your pleasure peaks, and you crash.

“Fuck, fuck, baby, yes… that’s it, that’s it, Tesoro.” He husks, his thrusts becoming harder, faster; steadily growing more powerful.

“Dav…Dav…” You babble through tears, overstimulation setting in as he drills into you. “S’too much…”

He hushes you softly, slipping his arm free to brace himself over you, cupping your face. “I know-shit- I know. But I’m close, amore mio.”

There’s a flash of panic in your eyes, and you shake your head slightly. “M’not on the pill.”

David laughs huskily, sweat beading and dripping down his nose as he grinds his hips against yours. “Sweetheart, you don’t go through this many marriages without a prenup and a vasectomy.” Before you can truly comprehend what he is saying, he pulls out nearly all the way before slamming back into you, spearing you open again and again, making you squeal.

Lower back leaving the bed, thighs locked around his hips and nails indenting his back, all you can do is hold on as David chases his high. His grip on the sheets tightens, moans and grunts leaving his lips as his eyebrows draw together and a muscle ticks in his jaw. One, two, three more harsh thrusts and David stills, a low groan filling the space between you as his cock pulses and paints your walls with warm cum. You swallow against your dry throat, threading your fingers through his hair as he settles against you, head resting on your chest as you both cling to each other, catching your breath.

After several minutes, David eases out of you with a soft hiss, rolling onto his side of the bed, making you bounce slightly with a breathless laugh. Your entire body feels soar and used in the most delicious of ways, mind ditsy and quiet as your body decompresses and exhaustion crowds in. David draws you into him, peppering your neck with kisses as he tucks you back into his chest like before, whispering little phrases in Italian in your ear as you drift off.

*~*~*~*~*~*

There’s a warmth of a palm, sliding up and down the planes of your back, pulling you from your sleep gently before it grips your shoulder, shaking slightly. “Y/n, we need to move.” The words instantly cut through your sleep, your body jolting into action as you sit up, blinking into the early morning light. David is beside the bed, and you scramble to find your clothes.

“What-what happened?”

“Timothy Adam had a woman dropped off at his house. Morgan and Reid moved in.” You stand, dragging your pants up before catching the vest David throws at you, shoving your feet into your shoes. “I can’t get either on coms.”

Both of you are rushing from the house, guns held at your sides, crossing the quiet street on quick feet. Your heart pounds as you fall in line behind David, covering him as your eyes sweep the yard. The little brick house might have once been charming, but now it lies dilapidated in the middle of an overgrown yard with a multitude of broken-down cars surrounding it. The fog that clings to the brown, dying grass and hollowed-out shells gives you a sense of foreboding, like it’s foreshadowing whatever horrors wait inside.

The front door is wide open, splintered and dented in on the side, a sign of being kicked in. David holds his fist up, halting you as he draws near the door, leaning in with his gun drawn.

“Clear!” Morgan’s voice rings out, and your shoulders sag. David looks over his shoulder with the same visible ease before holstering his weapon and entering the house. Sirens alert you of the arrival of the rest of your crew and the local P.D., as you follow David into the house.

The next few hours are spent inside what felt like the grim reimagining of a Stephen King novel. The small two-bedroom house had been gutted and transformed into a slaughterhouse. The rotting floors and curling wallpapers are smeared in grime and aged blood. Barely working freezers scattered the main room, containing the missing pieces of each woman that had gone missing. A smell so retched and diabolical clung to every inch, making eyes water and stomach churn. And there in the middle of it all, on his knees, was the man who had orchestrated it all, not a single shred of remorse in his beady eyes as he smiles up at Morgan, who points a gun at the man’s head.

Finally, the monster responsible for the five women’s slaughter had been brought down, but was there ever truly any justice in a case like this?

Now was the time for a cool-down, letting adrenaline subside as everything was broken down. Soon, the entire team would be boarding the jet, only to wait in morbid anticipation for the next case to drop.

Back in the house you and David had spent the night, you’re breaking down your cot, struggling with a sticky leg when the door behind you creaks open. You turn and smile at Derek as he leans against the door jam. “Hey, mind giving me a hand, since you’re here?”

“I will once you answer some questions.” The accusatory tone of his voice makes you stiffen, straightening up as your spine tenses and muscles coil tight.

“Questions?”

Derek moves into the room, his boots heavy on the floor. “Tell me why, when I know for a fact that you were here all night, you showed up this morning with your neck covered in hickies?” He stops only a few feet away, pointing a finger in your face with a look of anger that sends a chill down your spine. Eyes widening, your hand shoots to your neck, having completely forgotten about them after the abrupt waking from this morning.

You close your eyes, taking a deep breath and swallowing against the raw anxiety building in your chest. “I-I… Derek, I can promise you that it isn’t what it looks like.”

“Oh?” He laughs sardonically, and you flinch inwardly as he shakes his head. “ ‘Isn’t what it looks like’? That’s rich, because from where I am standing, it looks like you cheated on Brian with David last night.”

You scrub your face, turning away as pain flares to life in your chest. You whisper, “I didn’t cheat…”

“Don’t give me that shi-“

“I DIDN’T CHEAT!” You snap, whirling around to face him with an open look of agony on your face, causing Derek to freeze. “I didn’t cheat… Brian and I got a divorce a month ago…” You suck in a shaky breath, eyes misting over, and Morgan deflates before you, confusion etching into his features, but you cut him off. “I didn’t… I didn’t tell anyone because I wasn’t ready, but last night I just broke and spilled, and David was there to catch all of those pieces and-and…” A blush scotches up your cheeks as you fall off, tears threatening to spill as you looked up at him.

The silence that stretches is heavy before Morgan sighs. “Y/n… I’m- I’m sorry.” Regret colors his tone and your tense shoulders sag.

“You don’t have to be… You didn’t know and I understand where you were coming from. Brian and I have been in the dumps for a few years now… and..” You heave a sigh and fan your face trying to cool your warming cheeks. “It’s a lot to talk about right now, but I can tell you everything in time just please… please don’t say anything to anyone else…”

“I won’t I promise… but I’m sorry for how I came in here hot headed, and I’m sorry you are going through this and didn’t feel you could come to any of us.”

Those tears you had tried to blink away spilled over your cheeks and you let Derek bridge the distance and hug you tightly. A long moment you let him squeeze you a little too tightly before you draw back, trying to laugh off your tears. “I didn’t want to keep it from any of you but I needed time to get myself back together… besides do you know how hard it has been keeping all of this off of Garcia’s screens?”

Morgan only smiles but it’s tight and small before bending down to help you with your cot.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The jet is blessedly warm, the seats a relief to sink into after such a long week.

Closing your eyes, you let your head roll back, a deep sigh passing through the cabin as everyone settles down for the flight home.

The seat beside yours shifts, and you crack your eyes open. David smiles, just the slightest tilt to his lips as he looks down at you from the corner of his eye.

He leans in, and your stomach flutters as a warmth spreads through your limbs. “Dinner. This week at my house. Okay?”

The day creeps on into the late evening, and as stars begin to speckle the sky you finally draw yourself away from the window, unable to see anything but your own reflection. Joel sits by the fire, trying to make it seem as if he wasn’t watching you the whole time your back had been turned. He shuffles his legs, picking at the ruminants of the rabbit on his plate.

“He’ll be here.” Joel glances up as you pace over, biting at your thumb nail as you stare into the orange and blue embers.

“Yeah, yeah I know.” But there’s a catch in your voice, your smile wavering slightly when you catch his eye.

He holds your stare for a moment, and you’re unable to hide the pinch of worry between your brow, your smile falling further. “Come on, sit.” Joel nods at your sleeping bag, sliding the rest of the rabbit towards you. “Gotta eat, kid. It ain’t gonna do you any good to make yourself sick while we wait.”

He has a point. You slide your bag closer to him and the fire, crossing your legs as you sit, pulling the plate into your lap. The silence stretches between you, filled only by the pop of the logs in the brick fireplace. You dare a glance towards Joel, finding him leaning back on his hands, legs stretched out and staring into the fire. Both of you lost in your own heads, wondering what could have happened to make Mark so late.

“Let me ask you something.” You’re caught staring, your cheeks flushing as Joel turns to look at you.

“W-What?”

“How long have you been on this medication?”

“Oh um… Eight? Nine years, maybe.” You shrug your shoulder, popping a piece of meat into your mouth.

Joel stares at you, stunned. “That long?” His thoughts turn instantly to how the medication could have affected you, how your body works, down to your biology. He can’t stop the spark of horror showing in his eyes before you notice.

You blanch slightly, stammering over your words. “Well… well yeah. I mean I couldn’t let anyone know, obviously. It’s… mom explained it like it was pretty much birth control. Never have a heat, never have to worry.” You try to shrug it off but Joel shakes his head, turning his body towards you.

“Yeah, but even then birth control isn’t supposed to be used your entire life… Are all of your instincts suppressed?”

The look on his face, how his eyes have grown wider, it makes you fidget. “Um… I guess so. I don’t really know what though.”

Joel shakes his head slightly, finally resting his gaze on the fire. “How come you never decided to find an Alpha to settle with? Someone you trusted?”

Your cheeks grow warm, the plate long forgotten in your lap, staring at Joel as the firelight dances across his features. “Well, I…” You don’t advert your gaze when he looks back at you, your heart steadily beating faster. “I thought about it… but I’m… I’m scared. I’m scared that the moment an Alpha finds out that he’ll use me, strip me of everything I am until I am nothing more than my biology…”

Your words are heavy in the air, the two of you staring at each other as the logs shift and crack in the hearth. Joel sits up a little straighter, resting his arms on his knees and glancing you over, breaking eye contact first.

“You told me.” His voice is gruff, underlying emotions caught at the back of his throat and your eyes widen.

“Of… of course I did-You’re…”

“Different?” He offers, eyebrows lifting, gesturing with a hand. You nod, suddenly all too aware of how close you are to him, how his eyes burn into your own, how he’s a larger than life presence in the room and that…

It doesn’t scare you, nothing about Joel has ever scared you. Unlike most of the Alphas you had the misfortune of crossing paths with.

It’s a startling realization, stealing your breath as you turn away.

Joel is different. He’s always been different.

“Y/n?”

You set the plate down clumsily beside him, the clunk loud on the wood floor, before you stand with your bag.

“I’m tired… do you mind taking first watch?”

Before he can answer you’re walking away, setting your bag down near the wall farthest from his. You crawl in and turn over, the pounding of your heart keeping you up for most of the night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Day one of staying in the safe house slowly rolls into day two. Then those hours bleed over into day three and the anxiety that was pumping through your veins has morphed and transcended into pure terror.

There is still no sign of Mark as you and Joel pick at breakfast.

There is still no sign of Mark as you pace back and forth across the house when Joel tries to convince you to sit and eat lunch.

Now the sun is beginning to set, and the limitations of your calm have reached a breaking point. The empty pill bottle lays by your bag, an orange beacon of what is to come should Mark never show. The heaviness of the situation is slowly suffocating the air from the room, and there is nothing either of you can do as you wait, and wait, and wait.

Joel watches you from his spot by the window, lines of stress carve your face, your body jerky with how tightly strung your muscles are as you fold another blanket from the pile you had found in one of the back rooms. He isn’t sure what more he can do, though his instincts beg to comfort you, to take you in his arms and soothe your fears. But he knows it would be a lie, that as soon as the medication begins to work out of your system you’ll go into heat at any given moment, if not immediately.

He glances out the window for what feels like the hundredth time, willing the short blond man to materialize on the empty street.

Your breath is staggered in your lungs, panic slowly tightening its grip around your neck by the minute, no matter how hard you try to keep it at bay. You toss another blanket onto Joel’s sleeping bag before bending to pick up the next, shaking it free of the dust that had gathered over the years. You try to focus on the feeling of the soft material beneath your fingers, or the way the particles float through the air, catching the sunlight. You count the blankets in each pile, trying to even them out.

“One, two, three-“

“Honey.”

You jump at Joel’s deep voice, turning to find him staring at you, his arms folded across his chest, his eyebrows pinched once more. “Y-Yes?” Your eyes flickering to the door expectantly, a spark of hope wishing to fan to life.

Joel rolls his lips together, adverting his gaze. “Ya might wanna take all those blankets into that back room… Make somewhere comfortable for yourself later.”

Your heart plummets into your stomach, the feeling flooding from your hands as the blanket falls to the floor. “W-What? Why?”

“I don’t think Marks going to make it.” Joel watches the color drain from your face in an alarming amount of time, his back stiffening as he pushes off the wall, suddenly afraid you’re going to faint as you sway on your feet.

“N-no… No.” Denial takes a head, your eyes becoming watery. “He said he would be here, he-he has to be here!” Despair makes you raise your voice, and the look of pity in Joel’s eyes only makes the feeling worse. “Why isn’t he here?”

Shaking his head, Joel runs his hands through his hair. “Darling I wish I knew. There’s a number of things that could have happened. From him deciding what I was trading wasn’t good enough to he could have possibly been attacked.” Joel’s words hold reason, and you want to accept them, you want them to make you feel better, to understand that this journey was a risk with no guaranteed reward.

“I can’t go through this Joel. I can’t.” Your voice breaks as he becomes blurry, tears burning your eyes that refuse to fall just yet. “I can’t go home, I can never go back to the QZ.”

“Baby… Yes you will.”

“No I can’t! The moment I get remotely close to those walls an Alpha is going to hunting me like I am some kind of-“

Joel is suddenly before you, gripping your shoulders, and his solemn features are extremely clear as the first tear falls. “Ain’t no one, and I mean no one gonna lay a finger on you. I wont let that happen.”

“I’m an unmated Omega, Joel…” You whisper, trembling under his grip. “I’m prey.”

The words are heavy, laden with the truth. Where as the few mated Omegas there are, are relatively safe in the presence of their Alpha or pack, an unmated Omega is injured prey in a room full of predators.

Joel cusses, his grip tightening ever so slightly, fingertips digging into your sweater. He ducks slightly, bringing himself to your level, and this close you can see the slightest specks of colors hidden amongst the brown in his eyes. Golds and greens swirling together. You get so lost in the depths of them for a moment that you start slight when he speaks.

“Listen… I’ve been thinking about this and I just… You need to hear me out, alright? You know I’d never do nothing to hurt you, but this is the only option I see.”

Hesitation bubbles uncomfortably in your stomach, your nod small as you suddenly realize how close you both are, how strong his smell is growing.

Joel swallows thickly, searching your eyes. “Let me mark you.”

You gasp, pulling away and Joel lets you, raising his hands in the air as you stare in growing disbelief. “What?”

Joel rushes to explain, sensing the rising fight that is about to ensue. “After. After you get through your heat, when it’s time for us to leave let me lay a mark on you. It wont be a mating mark, just a claim. Any Alpha that dares to come near you will scent me immediately.”

A trembling hand flutters to your throat, the most traditional place for a mark of any kind. “That’s… That’s a really big commitment Joel…” You breath, looking up at the older man. “I couldn’t… I couldn’t ask that of you.” The thought of bearing Joel’s mark though makes the blood in your veins feel thick, something deep in your stomach clenching as you imagined what it would feel like, how his mark would appear on your skin.

“You aren’t ask anything of me, Y/n. I am offering you a solution.” Joel insists.

A solution.

Is that all it is?

Though claims are not as strong as Mating marks, Joel’s scent would be imbedded into your very being; and as he said, not a single person would dare mess with you. Him being one of the most powerful people in the QZ… But there is something whispering at the back of your mind, a fleeting feeling of disappointment that startles you.

Is this just a man doing whatever it takes to uphold his bargain?

“I mean… I understand. It-It’s just… what if there is someone you find later on, they aren’t going to be happy that you have already marked another person.” You feel stupid just saying that, but apart of you wants to know, some part that is is suddenly feeling small and insecure as you stare at Joel.

Joel’s smile is bemused, the corners of his lips hardly lifting as he cocks his head. “I ain’t been worried about such things for a long time, darling.” There’s a gleam in those brown eyes as he looks at you, “Is that a problem for you?”

Your skin flushes, the color filling the apples of your cheeks, and you can no longer hold his stare. Joel takes a testing step forward, and when you don’t retreat, he closes the distance. He curls a thick finger under your chin, tilting your head up with no where else to look but at him. Your pupils are blown out, covering the beautiful color of your irises, and he feels the slight bit of weight as you seemingly, unknowingly press your chin into the warmth of his hand. “Hmm?” He prompts, easing a little closer, the toes of his boots brushing yours, and you squirm in place. His presence is overpowering, making you feel small in a way that has your breath hitching. “Got someone you’re sweet on?”

The low rumble of humor in his voice makes you blink, stuttering your answer. “What? No-No of course not…” You think back to the conversation just a few nights ago, how you realized that you found more than comfort in Joel presence and you suddenly feel as though you’ve been doused with cold water.

His smile grows with your silence, a dimple peaking through the scruff of his beard, those crows feet reappearing by his eyes as he slips his hand along your jaw. “No one? Not a single soul?” He teases, his voice soft like the stroke of his fingers over the back of your jaw. You push his hand away, turning your back to him as you shake your head in embarrassment.

“I’ll consider it.” You mumble over your shoulder, a shudder ripping through you.

“That’s all I am asking for.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

As the sun dips past the rising building, needs you’ve never felt before begin to surface with the creep of night. Sitting on the floor of the back room, you readjust blanket after blanket to your liking. Every one that Joel lays out you have to pull and tug into the right place, wadding up some and discarding others.

Joel watches you, patient as he follows your instructions on how to help as you make your bed. You worry your lips between your teeth, sitting back on your heels as you stare at the mess before you. “It’s alright, your instincts to nest are starting to come out. It use to be that when Omegas lived with their Alpha’s they would have specific rooms designed just for their nests.” His voice is calm, trying to quell your anxiety.

“Really? That must have been nice…”

“It was. The space was sacred to an Omega, it was completely filled with things that they desired and found comfortable as well.” An intrusive thought fills Joel’s mind, an image of you, curled up amongst soft blankets and pillows. Your face no longer pinched with fear, instead soft with contempt.

Your voice breaks him from his thoughts, a sheepish look crossing his features as you shake your head. “Something is missing… It doesn’t smell right… I need…” You whisper dies off as you look over, catching Joel’s stare. Your eyes move lower slowly, zeroing in on the dark green flannel he has thrown on over his t-shirt. Joel follows your gaze in confusion, cocking an eyebrow.

“Whatcha’ need, sweetheart?”

You swallow, his scent had been filling the room over the last few hours, calling to you, blanketing your nerves. He smells of pine woods, and whiskey, and the way a campfire clings to your clothes the next day. It’s intoxicating, a mouth watering scent you could easily become addicted to.

“Could… Could I have your flannel?” You can barely get the words out, embarrassed by the need for his scent to feel comfortable in your nest.

Joel stares at you in surprise, his eyes widening. “My shirt?”

You smooth out a wrinkle in the blanket you’re sitting on, unable to look him in the eyes as you stammer. “You… You smell good and it-it’s been comforting this entire trip…” Whatever you could possibly say to justify your request dies in your throat, sizzling with shame.

The room is quiet for a long moment before Joel moves out of the corner of your eye. He rolls his shoulders back, working the garment off his arms and handing it over. “There ya go.”

Your hand trembles minutely as you take it, his eyes locked with yours as you draw it to your chest, your heart pounding in your ears.

Joel’s next breath is cut short, a sweet smell beginning to permeate the air and he realizes your medication is leaving your system. Your natural scent is sweet, like peaches and chocolate, and something fresh like the first rain of spring.

It makes Joel’s stomach tighten, fire starting to kindle low in his groin, and he realizes he needs to put distance between the both of you while he can.

“I’m going to get you some food.” he stands from the crate and your gaze follows, traveling up the expanse of his body. Past his long legs clad in dark denim, past his tapered waist; further up his wide chest and corded arms until your focus is finally of his face.

You’re noticing things you hadn’t before, like how his salt and pepper beard has a heart shaped patched just under his jaw. The wild way his hair curlers, framing his face, and once more you’re drawn to the set of his lips. They look soft, warm, like they would move perfectly against your own.

“Honey?”

Joel’s thick accent washes over you, and a blazing heat licks up your spine making you whimper. Pain rips through your abdomen, your body suddenly feeling wound tight full of sudden need that leaves your panties slick.

His eyes widen, hit by the full volume of your scent as it perfumes and envelopes the room.

“Fuck, I’m-“

“You’re in heat.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

If you had to take a bet on who would be the first to break, you would have bet on yourself.

And you would have lost.

48 hours of hell.

48 hours of crying and silently begging for anything to end the pain.

Your fingers have hardly dented your heat, whatever relief you can bring yourself is too short lived, the agonizing pain eating you up until the point you’re certain you will die in this cramped little room. Joel’s flannel is damp with tears as you burry your face into the wad of material, the scent bringing you as much comfort as it brings you pain. The need for him is becoming too much.

You want to scream for him, beg for him to fix it the only way an Alpha can, but you force yourself to bite your lip.

The floorboard creaks suddenly on the other side of the door, and you know it’s Joel, checking on you once again, unnecessarily taunting you with what you can’t have. You whine, frustration eating at you as your hand cramps once more between your slick thighs, forcing you to stop rubbing cruel circles around your clit. You stare up at the ceiling, tears spilling along your temples and catching in your damp hair as you count the cracks in the drywall. Anything to focus on that isn’t the pain and need between your legs, or the way your skin sticks together with sweat.

The moment is to short lived and your body is moving, trying to find a comfortable position as you roll onto your knees, pressing your chest to the mound of blankets. You groan softly, letting your weight rest on your chest as your knees slide apart, your hand once again finding your pulsing clit. Burying your face into Joel’s flannel you huff a sigh, working yourself towards a quick high when the sound of the brass doorknob turning catches you off guard.

You shoot up, wrapping one of the loose blankets around your naked form just as Joel steps into the room.

Embarrassment and shock keep your tongue glued to the roof of your mouth as you stare at each other. The dying sunlight in the room casts him in shadows, his tan skin appearing darker, but his eyes shine as they rake over you.

He is quick to note the change in your smell, how the stress and pain have caused your scent to become overly sweet like turned fruit. The next thing he notices is his crumpled shirt, and the bright flush of your cheeks as you tighten the blanket around you, sweeping the garment underneath. Joel steps closer and you lean back, your breath hitching at the hunger in his eyes.

“Joel…” You try to warn, but he cooes softly and your cunt clenches at the noise.

“baby doll…” Tears fill your eyes at the softness of his tone, and he hurts to ease your pain. “Let me help you, sweetheart.” His voice is rough, ragged like he hadn’t spoke in days.

“No-No… I’m okay, I’ve got in under control.” You lie even as your body begs for the help.

Joel gets to his knees before you, hands clenching over his thighs. Your cheeks are bright red, your hair in a tangled mess on top of your head from where you had tried to tie it up. He has to keep himself from follow the beads of sweat that roll down your jaw before disappearing down the curve of your neck.

“I can’t sit out there a moment longer, listening to you crying and whimpering. It’s just me, you know you’ve always been safe with me.” You don’t reply, your eyes squeezing shut as a sharp shudder rips through you and it tugs at his heart. “Can I come closer?” You freeze, realizing that he’s asking to come into your nest. A delicious feeling of comfort rolls over your muscles at the idea, and you nod slowly.

Joel’s knees pop and creak as he climbs onto the pallet behind you, where he grips your shoulders and digs his thumbs into the tense muscles.

A small sob rips from your chest, leaning heavily into his grip. “I’ll do whatever you need, just say the word. If I need to leave I will, if I need to just sit here a while and talk you through this I can. But I can’t sit on the other side of that door and listen to you cry.”

His words simmer through your mind, stinging your already aching heart, and another sob is forced from your throat. Joel hushes you softly, his rough palms slipping up your neck then back down, as he pulls you back letting you rest against his chest.

Joel’s warmth bleeds into your own but it feels different, soothing. His scent is the strongest it’s ever been, filling your lungs with each shakey breath, and you feel something shift. Hushed words muddle together in your ears, your head leaning back against his chest as a breathy moan leaves your throat.

Without thought your hips begin to grind slowly, need pulsing so hot and heavy between your thighs that your hand travels down thoughtlessly. Your breath hitches as your fingers swirl around your swollen clit, slipping through your lips and pressing into your opening.

“Little Peach.” Joel’s voice is gruff, and another sob spills from your lips.

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t ask for this Joel, I didn’t ask to be born like this.” Before you can snatch your hand away, horror flooding through your body, Joel is there. His hand finds an opening in the blanket so loosely wrapped around your body, gripping your wrist stopping you.

“I know… I know you didn’t but there ain’t no reason to fight it now baby. It’s said and done.” His clauses are rough against your skin, and you hold your breath as he covers your hand with his own. “Use me. Take what you need, whatever it is.”

Your eyes are droopy with lust when you turn your head to look up at him, the softest whimper leaving your lips when Joel shifts behind you , pressing the hard ridge in his pants against your back.

“I…” You swallow, thighs trembling as you feel your laced fingers brush the thatch of curling hair covering your pussy. “I don’t want to make you do anything…”

When he chuckles the sound reverberates through your back, “Darlin’,” He drawls the word out close to your ear, “You didn’t make me stay, you didn’t make me come in this room. And you certainly aren’t making me do this.”

He emphasizes his point by tracing the drenched slit of your cunt, earning a high pitched squeak. “Fuck, peach… So wet, she’s just fucking dying for some attention isn’t she?”

Your head, feeling heavy, falls back against his shoulder, eyes squeezing shut as bliss fills your body. Joel tugs testingly at your blanket and when it slips from your fingers, Joel pulls it away revealing your body to him.

Joel sucks in a breath, his pupils dilating as he drinks in the sight of you laid out between his legs. Your chest rises and falls with each quick breath, the sheen of sweat gleaming on your body in the dim golden light of the room. “Look at you…” A hunger permeates his words, his breath growing more ragged as he draws a delicate circle around your clit, eliciting a gasp. “You are beautiful, so very, very beautiful.”

Your hips circle, seeking more of anything he is willing to give you. “Please, I need you… I need you, Joel.” You turn your face into his neck, your breath fanning over his skin.

“Ain’t gotta beg, pretty girl. I’ve got ya.” His fingers draw lazy patterns around your clit and you moan, slow and drawn out, hips bucking as he keeps a steady pace. Joel works you up easily with a few expert swipes, your back bowing as your orgasm crashes through you. Your cries of ecstasy are muffled against his throat, thighs squeezing his hand.

He shushes you as you float back to reality, gasping for breath as you relax against him; your muscles loose, bones feeling like jello. “Atta girl, easy Peach.”

You try to catch your breath, reviling in the small reprieve he’s given you. “peach… why peach?” You whisper, making Joel chuckle softly.

“It’s all I can smell ever since your medication wore off. Peaches and chocolate .”

You hum, a small smile playing at your lips. “Are you sure the chocolate bar didn’t melt in my bag?”

Joel smiles, lazily dragging his fingers across your stomach. “Yeah, I’m sure. Bakers chocolate doesn’t smell this sweet.” He presses a kiss to your forehead and your heart flutters, a calm washing over your mind at the same time a spark flairs to life in your stomach.

You lean back, eyes hazy, lids heavy matching the look of his own. The few seconds you spend staring at each other feel like an eternity before you close the gap.

It’s hesitant, as most first kisses are, a little puff of surprise between your lips before they seal together. Finding the rhythm that works so well as one moans softly and the other swallows the noice. Your hand slips up his chest, feeling the wild thump of his heart before it travels up his neck to rest against his jaw.

Joel helps you as you turn, never letting the kiss break as you shakily straddle his lap, pressing your body tight against his own. The spark catches quickly, setting fire to your body as you grind against the hard bulge in his pants. His hands grip the dent of your waist, encouraging your movements with soft squeezes, while you tug fitfully at his shirt.

“More.” You mumble against his lips, letting your heat take the lead, turning off all thoughts of shame as his shirt slips up and you lay your hands on his bare skin for the first time. He pulls the shirt off completely and you lean back, admiring him with lust blown eyes. Joel sighs softly, his head dropping back as your fingers run through the dense curling hair across his chest. His body is strong, sculpted by years of manual labor and survival, yet his stomach is a little soft with age. You scratch your nails down his stomach lightly, following the trail of hair down to the buckle of his jeans and Joel closes his eyes.

“I want you.” You lick your lips, salivating at the thought of what lies just below the thick blue denim. Joel moans again, his chest rising with the need for air as he nods.

“Gonna need to work you open for me, honey.” He breaths, his eyes falling to where your hands fumble over the button of his jeans.

“Just… I just need you, it’s okay.” There’s a frantic note to your voice, all logic thrown out the window at this point, need and instinct pushing you forward.

Joel sees this, and slips his hand around your throat, squeezing softly and forcing you to sit back, ignoring your desperate whine. “Ima give you what you want, but you’re gonna listen to me little girl. Am I clear?” There’s a touch of command in his voice, forcing your gaze to his and waiting until you finally nod your understanding.

He keeps his eyes locked on yours, sneaking his other hand between your bodies, stroking your pussy. You groan, eyes fluttering closed as your grind yourself against his hand, supporting yourself by gripping his arm. “That’s it… go ahead baby…” Joel’s voice is hoarse, his pupils dilated as he sinks two fingers into your heat. You gasp at the sudden stretch, the burn of his thick digits spreading you open. Your jaw falls slack, eyes rolling up as bliss radiates through your body. “Fuuuck, baby girl…” Joel pulls his fingers out before sinking them back in, the calluses he’s built from years of working with his hands rub along your sensitive walls, reaching places you never thought possible. “Y’er so tight… squeezing my fingers like that.” Joel’s Texan twang seeps into his words as his arousal heightens, his cock throbbing painfully in his jeans as he works his fingers in and out, faster and harder, mesmerized by the way your hips buck and twitch; climbing towards your next orgasm. “Come on baby… cum fer me darlin’.”

Your body sings for him, the force of your orgasm shaking you as your back bows and light explodes across your vision. Your thighs quake, Joel’s name falling from your lips as you sob, rutting against his hand as your cunt squeezes his fingers with each radiating wave of pleasure.

The soft, comforting sounds of his approval reaches your ears, his grip slackening around your throat as you slump against him. “So beautiful, cumming all over my fingers like that. I need to see you cum on my cock baby.” His words have you preening, his voice husky as you lean back, your grin lopsided and your eyes glossed over. Joel strokes a thumb over your cheek, and you turn your head, kissing his palm. “Lay back for me. Let me take care of you.”

With much effort you manage to lay back in your nest, your legs spread, hips circling invitingly as Joel climbs to his feet, finally stripping off his jeans. All that remains in the way of what. You need the most, are his thin pare of threadbare boxers. Your mouth salivates at the bulge in his underwear, giving you a good peak at the size of his member hiding just underneath. “How do you want me?”

Your voice is so soft, yet wrecked with lust, ready to please Joel. He smiles, his cock twitching. “why don’t you roll over for me huh? That’s right, goood girl.” You follow his instructions, knees slipping on the blanket, head resting on your arms as you try to catch your breath through the thickness of your anticipation.

Dropping his boxers he groans as his cock springs free, bobbing between corded thighs as he takes his place behind you, hands steadying himself on the small of your back. He sighs deeply, cock twitching and knot swelling slightly at the sight of your drenched cunt, inviting him to sink into your heat.

You wiggle your hips impatiently, turning your head and catching sight of him leaning over you, the predatory hunger in his gaze. “I know… I know you need this little one.” His voice drops to a husky vibration in his wide chest and all you can do is nod, your tongue feeling thick in your mouth. “It’s alright baby, I’ll make it better.” Gripping his cock, Joel glides his fingers over the long length of his shaft, teasing the throbbing vein running up his cock before slipping the flushed tip through your folds.

“Please… Please Alpha.” You beg through thick tears, gripping the faded purple blanket below you as Joel notches his cock against your entrance. He presses his hips forward, both of you moaning loudly as he sinks into your warmth. “Joel…” You simper, rocking your hips back, attempting to take more of him. You thought his fingers had been a stretch, now you understand why he was so adamant about opening you up. His cock is long and thick, spearing you open and stretching your walls in ways that feel like you might be ripped in two at any moment.

“Fuck… fuck y’re so tight.” Joel breathes raggedly, his focus torn between not busting right here and now and not thrusting into you savagely. “Easy baby, gotta stretch you out nice and slow.” You mewl, your eyes squeezing shut as you feel him slipping deeper and deeper with small thrusts. every ridge and bump rubbing across your sensitive walls, working you higher and higher.

A hand travels up your bowed spine, gripping your neck and pressing your face into the blankets. “This sweet pussy must have been made for me, huh? the way she squeezes me so tight.” Joel curves over you, his weight settling against your hips as he drives forward, burying himself to the hilt. You squeal at the sudden force, your legs shaking and weak profanities spilling from your lips.

Joel chuckles quietly, bracing his weight on his hands, trapping you below him. “You can take it can’t you baby? You’re doing so well.” He rocks back, sliding out a few inches before burying himself back into you, a gruff moan falling from his lips. He continues his shallow thrusts, like he can’t stand the thought of leaving your drooling cunt for to long.

“Y-yes, yes Alpha.” You stutter, the euphoria coursing through your body threatening to break your mind, as the engorged head of his cock presses against a sensitive spot along your gummy walls. “Please… Please I’m gonna-!” Your muscles lock, mouth agape, as your orgasm suddenly begins to crest.

With a growl, Joel presses his forehead between your shoulder blades. “Cum for me.” He grunts, already feeling his heavy balls drawing tight as your cunt starts fluttering. “Cum for me and I’ll give you my knot.”

A shrill scream bubbles out of your throat, your body jerking below his as you fall into that black pit of pleasure. Joel’s hand slaps over your mouth, muffling your cry of pleasure as his head shoots up, eyes locking on the window for the briefest of moments. “There you go baby, let go for me.” He breathes into your ear, pulling you tight to his chest as he plows himself into your pliant cunt. Fat tears spill over your cheeks, your desperate whines and whimpers caught in his meaty palm as his thrusts become harder, deeper, faster.

“This little pussy, she’s just begging for my cum.” The rhythmic sound of his hips snapping against your ass fills the room, just below it is the sloppy sound of his cock spearing into you. You nod weakly, working your hips back to meet him thrust for thrust and he grins. The look almost triumphant. “Yeah she does… Gonna let me breed her, huh? Gonna let me fuck her full of me?”

Joel drops his hand, circling your throat holding your head against his shoulder. “Yes! Yes oh god, cum in me, cum in me please!” Your cry is all he needs, his control snapping as he bully’s his cock against your cervix.

Joel grunts, his eyes closing and head tilting back as the first jet of cum paints your walls. You squeal, a noise so high and piercing that Joel jerks slightly. His knot swells stretching your cunt beyond what you think you can take, locking you to Joel.

“Fuck baby… you can take it, let go and relax.” He whispers, nipping your shoulder as he grinds his hips against your ass, his spend filling you to the point it has no where else to go, your stomach bulging ever so slightly before it leaks past his knot.

You whimper softly, your thoughts dissipating completely as Joel pants above you. He slowly rolls you both on to your side, cradling you close as he pulls a blanket across your shivering body. Smoothing the sweaty hair from your face he rains kisses down on your shoulders and neck, hushing your whimpers with praises, even as his cock still twitches in your depths.

“I’ve got you, rest baby, I’ve got you.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Hng- Joel… oh god…” Your head lulls back, Joel’s hand keeping you from hitting the floor as he cradles your neck. Fingers twitching around locks of grey hair, you moan Joel’s name as he drags his cock from your sodden pussy, only to press back in a second later.

Fingertip shaped bruises and dark red love bites littler your body, mirroring Joel’s. A new one popping up every few minutes, consequences of how you’ve spent the last four days.

Even now, Joel circling a pebbled nipple with the tip of his tongue, laving the delicate skin before pulling it into the warmth of his mouth. Your jaw drops, back arching in a silent plea for more, which Joel is happy to accommodate. His teeth scrape over the sensitive peak, sucking deeply before twirling his tongue around your nipple.

You bask in the feeling, your senses having finally starting to become your own as your heat subsides. You tug on Joel’s hair, pulling him from your breast with a wet pop, his brown eyes meeting your own. They’re heavy with lust, soft pants falling from his lips as he grinds against your core. Snuggly wrapped in your wet warmth, his hips barely move as he languidly fills you with every inch he has. The course hairs at the bottom of his shaft, made sticky with the mix of your releases, rubs against your swollen clit; giving it the right amount of friction to keep you on the edge of bliss.

You drag Joel’s lips to your own, moaning as he sweeps his tongue into your mouth, tasting you in the same manner as which he ravishes your body. Pulling back Joel stutters for breath, taking in the rose color of your kiss bitten lips, the seemingly permanent stain of color on your cheeks, how your eyes shine with need as they never leave his.

You lean up, pressing kisses along his jaw, down his neck tasting the salt on his skin. Joel’s hand moves from its place in the bend of your knee, to the plush of your hip, holding you as close as he can. He can hear you breathing in his scent with soft little whimpers, your hands gripping at him as if he is likely to disappear at any given moment.

Joel knows the feeling too well, it threatens to cave his chest in, to pull him into an inky void of loneliness if you decide, by the end of this, that it was all a big mistake. His long fingers tangle into your hair, pulling you from the crook of his neck with ease to stare into your laden eyes.

“You look so pretty like this.” Joel’s voice is thick, sticking in his throat. You make a soft noise of appreciation, rolling your hips to meet his shallow thrusts.

Joel’s pace slowly increases, his cock sliding further and further out before finding home again. Your lashes flutter, gasping quietly as he presses his forehead to yours.

“J-Joel…”

“I want to mark your pretty little neck, I don’t ever want to let you go.” A whine falls from your lips at a particularly hard thrust, your pussy becoming more sensitive, your bud grinding against his pelvic. “Want to keep you all to myself, keep you covered in my scent and filled with my cum.”

Joel moans as your cunt flutters, your legs starting to shake, nails digging into his shoulders.

You nod your head, bliss building under your skin. “Joel… Joel!” He leans closer, practically bending you in half as his grip tightens on the back of your neck.

“Say it baby, tell me I can mark you. Tell me your my Omega.“

“I’m yours! M-Mark me Joel, please!”

With a harsh thrust Joel sends you spiraling, dropping you over the edge into oblivion as his teeth sink into the thin skin of your neck. Your eyes widen, your grip tightening around Joel as the new sensation washes through your body.

For the briefest of moments you can feel everything Joel does, though his emotions pelt you so rapidly you can’t catch on to any of them before he draws away. There’s blood on his lips, a needy manic look in his eyes as his hips falter, moans falling off his tongue as he fucks into you. Joel grips the backs of your thighs, bending you in half, letting gravity work with him as he bears his teeth and molds your pussy to the shape of his cock.

“Mine, my sweet Omega. All mine.” Little whimpers and babbled prayers leave your lips, too limp and compliant below him to do much else. You watch his face twist, his nose scrunching, lips pulling back from his teeth, eyes closing as the first twitch of his cock sends a jet of seed deep into your cunt.

Knot catching, plugging your dripping hole, Joel collapses, hardly catching himself from crushing you under the heft of his weight. Your thighs burn from the stretch, your limbs loose and yet tight all at once as he nips and peppers your jaw and throat with kisses. Your head falls to his chest, a wave of exhaustion crashing into you as Joel rolls you both over, welcoming your weight on top of him.

*~*~*~*~*~*

“We’ve used up most of our food, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hunt down a few rabbits to hold us over until we get back.”

Joel squats by the packs, sorting through them, transferring all of the lighter things to your bag. You watch from the center of your makeshift nest, now fully dressed in your travel clothes, your eyes trained on each item he rearranges as your fingers pick at the blanket below you.

A large part of you doesn’t want to leave this room, it wants to stay buried in your nest with Joel beside you. Never to emerge again, growing oblivious to the world outside. But you know that isn’t how it works, that you have to take the next steps and navigate this new life ahead of you.

Joel doesn’t need to look at you to see your discomfort, your scent gives you away. The sweet smell now is too strong, bordering on sour. He looks over his shoulder, catching your eye. “It’s gonna be okay.”

“Is it?” You look like your verging on tears, your lip starting to tremble. Joel sets the bag down, his eyebrows furrowing as he turns fully. “I’ve never… I’ve never lived as an Omega, Joel. I-I mean, yeah I have been an Omega this whole time but I’ve lived as a Beta, I didn’t have to worry about going out of my apartment, I never had to fear an Aloha taking interest in me. I-I don’t know what to do with all of these emotions and-and feelings burning in my chest.” Tears spill over your cheeks and Joel quickly moves to you, sitting on his knees in front of you. You suck in a harsh breath, a sob threatening to swallow your words. “I don’t want to leave my nest.”

“Baby…” Joel pulls you into his lap, cradling you as he smooths a hands down your back. “I’ve got you baby girl.” He whispers into the crown of your hair, your sobs wracking your body as you cling to his jacket. “You aren’t alone, I’m here and like I’ve said, I ain’t gonna let a thing happen to you. You’ll still live your life just as you did before. We just need make a few changes is all.”

You sniffle with a nod, closing your eyes as you inhale his scent. “I’m sorry.” You mutter timidly.

“Ain’t gotta be sorry. Just need ya to trust me, okay?”

“O-okay…”

*~*~*~*~*~*

The sun is so bright after being locked inside the house for so long, you squint at your surroundings as Joel ushers you outside and down the steps. You look around at the sunny world, the bright lights and hues of approaching fall. It all feels so conflicting with the turmoil of emotions you feel inside.

You start down the walk way, Joel’s presence at your back, he’s talking about the trip home, how often you both will need to stop, the things that need to be restocked. Vaguely you are listening, your focus drawn to everything around you, something wrong scratching at your bones as you turn onto the street.

You draw to a halt, your breath leaving your lungs in a whoosh before you stumble back, knocking into Joel.

“Oh my god.” You gasp. Joel goes ridged, seeing the body splattered across the road at the same time you do. His gun is drawn in seconds, coming around you, instantly scooping the surrounding areas and you are following suit. Your gun trembles between your palms, your heart pounding in your ears as Joel takes steady steps towards the corpse. “Joel…” Your voice is hardly a whisper, your eyes darting away to the darkened openings of the building on every side of you.

“Fuck…” Joel’s voice is louder than you expect, your skin prickling under your clothes.

“Wh-what is it?”

“Mark.” Widened eyes shoot to his, your mouth dropping open in shock. Joel glances at you briefly before crouching down, grabbing Mark’s bag and dragging it to his side. Quickly looking away you swallow the growing vile rising in your throat at the glimpse of his desecrated body. Despite the hefty distance you can smell the copper tang of Mark’s blood, can see the pool of it dried against the black asphalt and the flies that buzz about his body.

“Your pills are here.” Joel’s knees pop as he stands, heaving the bag over his shoulder as his gaze snags on you. Your body trembles like an unsteady fawn, eyes riveted to the ground before you as you gulp in lungfuls of air. He sighs, glancing down to step around the dealer as he speaks. “Hey, it’s al-“

His next words are lost in a flurry of motion, a yell erupting from his throat as he’s slammed to the pavement, sliding across the rough ground as a weight lands on his body.

The rotting stench wafts into his face, just before graying chipped teeth gnash mere inches from his throat. A scream rips from you at the same time the creature shrieks, struggling against the handle of the shot gun pressing into its throat as Joel struggles to fight against its weight.

Without thinking you raise the gun, the crash corse you learned running through your brain all at once. You aim and fire, the first bullet whizzing past its head feet to the left. The thing claws at Joels thick jacket, looking for a hold to retch itself closer as Joel kicks out his legs, tangled in the bag he had dropped.

The next shot burst into the ground, a foot above Joel’s head and you cry in frustration, anger filling your bones, burning your nerves as you scream. “FUCK!”

You step forward, one arm lifting as you aim, twisting your wrist as you squeeze the trigger.

Everything goes still, your heart, Joel’s breathing, as the zombie drops. the ruminants of its head splattered across the ground and Joel hefts its body to the side, rolling out from under it. A nervous laugh builds in your throat, your hand trembling worse than ever but you can’t bring yourself to lower your gun. Joel looks up at you from the ground, his chest heaving and eyes wide as he takes in your stance.

“D-Does he l-o-o-ook like a BITCH?!” Your voice rings off of the surrounds walls, hysteria making you stutter as you recall the only line you could think of. Joel springs to his feet, despite his bodies protest, and quickly makes his way to your side. Slowly he pries the gun from your hand, turning you away from the body of the cordio before he scoops up the fallen bag and drags you from the bloodied mess.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The fire crackles lowly, just barely lighting the area around it as night descends over the forest. You sit on the moss covered floor, knees tucked into your chest as you stare at the glowing embers, watching as they flicker in and out. Joel is across from you, his knife chipping away at a branch, whittling the wood down into a small figure, hidden in the width of his palm. The boarders of the QZ sit just a mile away, waiting for your return, but what is it you are returning to? The trip back had been far quieter than before, you had retreated into yourself, haunted by the question.

The bottles of pills are a reminder every time they jostle and make noise in your bag. Would you go back to taking them, only to risk reliving this trip all over again? What is your life now if you don’t take them? Do you live with Joel now or on your own? The mark on your neck burns at the thought of being separated from your mate, a concept your hormone free brain is having a hard time understanding.

“I can hear you thinking.” His gruff voice makes you jump, your eyes darting to his, blinking away the bursting dots of light that cloud your vision from staring at the fire for so long.

“What?”

Sighing he tilts his head to the side, pinning you with the inky depths of his stare. “I can practically hear your mind working itself into a tizzy. Plus you’re flooding me with your emotions, darling.” You blanch, mumbling an apology as you shift in your spot. Joel watches you, like he had the entire way home. The dark circles under your eyes, the dullness of your skin, the soft scared whimpers you’ve made in your sleep these last several nights.

He knows worrying like this will only make you sick, physically and mentally, being an Omega only makes it worse. “Come here.” He opens his arm, signaling for you to curl into his side and its like your body is wired to follow his commands. You move without a second thought, tucking yourself against his side, a weak sigh slipping past your lips. Being this close your muscles relax, your thudding heart slowing to a steady beat to match Joel’s own. “Talk to me, pretty girl.” He whispers, kissing the crown of your head as you shuffle impossibly closer.

After a long moment of silence, basking in the way his hand runs up and down your back, you finally relent. “I am so scared.” You breath, your gaze traveling to the luming walls in the near distance. “I-I know you will do anything to keep me safe but… but there is only so much you can do.” Your words sting, the hushed way you whisper them against his flannel nearly unbearable. Joel tightens his grip on your shoulders, about to deny your claim but you press forward. “Should I take the pills? Save us the trouble? But then we will have to do all… all of this all over again and I just… I don’t know if I can.”

Tears fill your vision, turning your face into his chest as you sob quietly.

“Y/n… baby girl.” He drops his knife to the ground, carding his fingers through your hair, pulling you in tighter. Almost as if he could press you into his very being, keep you there so that you never have to fret or worry again. Joel lets you cry, lets your tears soak through his shirt until there is nothing left but a few soft hiccups in your breath and your sagging against him for support.

“Look at me, peach.” His fingers sweep under your chin, lifting your face to his. Your eyes are swollen and red, your face blotchy but he cooes softly. His heart hammering against his own ribs but he can’t let you see that. Not yet. Not when there is still so much you have to face and need his strength for. “If you want to take the pills that is entirely up to you, I don’t have a say in the matter.”

“But you’re my-.”

“No. No matter what I am to you, I don’t have a right to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do with your own body. But,” He holds your stare for a moment, searching your tear stricken face. “But if you decide not to take them, you need to trust me. My scent is already marred into your skin, anyone can tell you are mine with or without being able to tell you are an Omega under neath. I’ve got you, you just need to trust in that.” Joel holds so much certainty in his words,so much need for you to trust and understand what he means, what he’s hoping to convey in the silent moments that follow.

You swallow, your throat working and Joel can’t help but to look, to see the mark that rings the side of your delicate neck. Whipping the remnants of your tears with the sleeve of your jacket you give a shallow nod, Joel had always protected you, had always made sure you were never without. Deep in your heart you knew he would hold true to his words, he would do everything in his power to keep you from falling prey to anyone else.

You just needed to trust him.

“Okay…” You breath, nodding your head as Joel does.

He leaned down, pressing his forehead to yours, sucking in a deep breath. the fire crackles and pops in the silence that follows, both of you lost in the comforting presence of the other. When Joel leans back there’s a smile playing on his lips. “You’re wrong by the way.”

“Huh?”

“Jules never shoots his gun like that. You’re thinking of Menace To Society.” Your mouth drops open, eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.

“Yes he does! When he has that guy kneeling on the floor!”

Joel laugh with a shake of his head. “Nu-uh sweetheart. You’re wrong.”

You glare up at him, and his smile broadens, “We will just have to see about that.”

Your challenge only earns you a deep chuckle, before he pulls you in, planting a soft kiss on your lips. “What do I get when I prove you wrong?” The suggestion in his words reflect in his eyes, the deep dark brown swimming with excitement. a flush works up your neck, your hand tightening on the front of his shirt. “Wouldn’t you like to know? Too bad we will never find out.” Joel lets out a little growl, squeezing your waist playfully making you squirm.

“Just you wait, little one. You’re in for it.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Staring at the scratched orange bottle in your hands you suck in an uneven breath.

Eleven little green pills rattle in their plastic container, signifying that your time to find help has dwindled down to a little over a week.

You closer your eyes, tapping the bottle against your forehead as you come to your forced conclusion. You know what you have to do, you know that there is no longer another option. No one else to turn to.

It’s the panic seizing your heart that makes it feel impossible to ask.

The secret you harbored, that these little pills kept under control, would have to come to light, if rumors hadn’t already spread. The thought alone makes your empty stomach lurch with nausea.

You hadn’t been neglectful. No. You had tried desperately to find more medication before time ran out. You had gone to six different shady dealers. Six different people who all worked for the same boss.

It was inevitable he would find out one way or the other. Maybe it would be best coming from you.

Steeling yourself, you hold your breath, forcing your brain to focus on the slow burn building in your lungs, until you are no longer trembling. Only then do you let loose a deep sigh.

You go for the brown messenger bag you keep by the door, slinging it on the kitchen counter before stuffing the main pocket with ration cards. the slips of paper crinkle loudly, taunting you even, as if they know they came from selling your furniture. As if they knew you had to stoop so low that all you have to your name is a mattress and torn up blankets.

Next is a thick brick of bakers chocolate, a gift from your elderly neighbor after you had fixed her small space heater. You examine the brick, no expiration or best by date can be found before you shove it into the side pouch. All you can hope for is that it isn’t too far gone.

You frown, the bag still half empty, and you glance around your kitchen to see if there is anything else to be added. To make what you are about to ask for a bit more reasonable. Coming up empty handed you snatch the bag and leave.

Your destination is only two floors above you, and you wonder if he can sense something is coming his way, as you start down the hall, like the crackle of a close storm in the air.

The nauseous feeling grows stronger as you recite the scripture you’ve created in your mind of what to say. But your legs feel as though you’ve been shackled with heavy balls and chains, making your feet drag over the dirty, curling carpet of the hall.

It would be a lie if you said you hadn’t thought of turning tail and hiding. Of slinking off to some hidden, far away place where hopefully none of your problems would attract consequences. The only thing that is stopping you is the thought of your mother.

You can practically see the shame that would have dimmed her blue eyes, the curl of her lip as she realized her daughter was nothing more than a coward.

Less of an Omega and more of a pussy-cat.

You take the stairs up, up, up, slowly; hand gripping the railing so hard your skin is white across your knuckles. You rationalize your predicament in the back of your mind, arguing that you never thought you would live to see the day your medication would run out. That every day you survived after the loss of your mother was a gift, having been so cruelly hindered by your own biology. Having to depend of medication just to survive the only true horror of the world ending. Humans.

Too soon you are ascending the next set of steps, finding yourself standing in front of a faded green door, the imprint of the long missing metal numbers your only indication you are at the right place.

That you are at his door.

The man on the other side is the only reason you had made it thus far, you should feel confident that he will help, that he would accept the truth without faulting you or your mother for never trusting him enough to bare it. But then again…

You stare at the door, your chest tightening, turning your breath into shallow pants. Your limbs suddenly feel numb, the tips of your fingers tingling and it spreads through your palms and up your arms. Trying to swallow against your dry throat you lift your knuckles to the door, forcing your body to go through with the motion. The wood sounds hallow under the weight of your fist, your eyes growing marginally larger, as if you hadn’t full expected to make contact.

Before you can decide to turn and run, or stay rooted to your spot, the choice is made for you.

Joel Miller, with his ever watchful gaze and scowling features, is suddenly towering over you from what feels like the top of the door frame. His deep brown eyes lighten, the pinch between his brow softening as he realizes who’s at his door. Checking the hallway his rigid posture relaxes, leaning his shoulder into the frame. “What brings ya here, darlin’?”

Unexpected tears well up in your eyes at the innocent question, and you’re helpless to stop them as they roll down your cheeks. Before you know it you’re sobbing, throwing your hands into the air with defeat as you try and fail to form words around the constricting sobs.

Joel’s eyes go wide, a chorus of emotions pelting him at your sudden display of emotion. Having known you for so long to be a level headed woman, every warning bell is going off for Joel as he stiffens, reaching for you. “Woah, woah, honey what is the-“

You shake your head, cutting him off as you push past into his apartment. You sling your bag around to your front, fighting with the buckles. Joel shuts the door quickly with another backwards glance, watching bewildered as you struggle with your shaking hands.

“I-I have all of this, and I know-know that this is how people pay you.” You manage to get out, flipping your bag over and dumping the cards onto the table. His eyebrows shoot to his curling hairline, watching the different colored slips spill across the wood, some floating to the floor. You struggle with something else in your bag, yanking and tugging and he steps forward to possibly offer you help when you snap. “God damnit!” Finally ripping the chocolate free, you slam it down, the brick cracking in half audibly. “Chocolate… everyone loves chocolate… I just…” When you turn to look at him with such wild, desperate eyes Joel can only think that the worst has happened. “I need your help.”

Joel steps closer, his hands raised like your some skittish animal ready to dart. “Darlin’. Let’s calm down, you know you ain’t gotta do all of this. Just tell me what it is you need.” And he’s right, you’ve never had to pay him for anything, an agreement made when your mom and Joel worked together all those years ago.

Her knowledge of pharmaceuticals mixed with his innate abilities to smuggle any kind of contraband into the QZ made them the best business partners. Your mother had given him her knowledge willingly as long as he agreed to her terms; use what you can to help those around you, and should anything happen to her, watch over her only daughter.

A fresh wave of pained tears rush forward, letting Joel close the distance between you. He grips your shoulders, rubbing soothing circles into your tense muscles as you wrap your arms around yourself, trying to hold onto any semblance of your dignity. “It’s bad… That… That’s why I brought all of this.”

His heart starts to thunder in his chest, your words spiking his own anxiety. ‘Please don’t be pregnant. Please don’t be-‘

“I need heat suppressants. I only have eleven left before I run out completely.”

Joel pulls back like you had suddenly slapped him, shock and denial playing across his features. “You… What?” He doesn’t mean to sound so harsh, running a hand through his greying hair when you flinch. You don’t answer him, instead turning your eyes to the dirt stricken floor below your feet. Joel paces away, turning back to inspect you, his eyes tracing over your smaller figure. He’d known your mother was an Omega, but seeing as you had given off no smell or any signs he chalked it up to you having struck gold and been born a Beta. Never once did it cross his mind that you were on suppressants.

Passing a hand over his face, he turns away, afraid to witness the devastation about to wreck your face. “I don’t have any.”

Your insides lurch, the nausea from earlier hitting you like a punch to the gut, making you grip the back of a kitchen chair. “What?” You squeak, face turning pale as you stare at the side of Joel’s face. “Joel, please… Please I have all of this, there has to be someone! If I go into heat every Alpha in the QZ will be after me like I’m- I’m some kind of prize!” And in a sick, demented way, you’re telling the truth.

Omega numbers were already dropping before the start of the outbreak, causing Alpha’s who couldn’t control their instincts to become possessive, and unruly. That same reason is why there are so few Omegas to count now, most new Alphas becoming rogue with the need to mate, leaving those of us left in constant fear.

“Please,” You whisper brokenly, pressing your hands to your chest. “Everyone said you were who I needed to go to. There has to be something.”

Joel cusses under his breath, turning to look at you and the sight alone is enough to break his heart, hearing you plead is only driving a stake through it. “Look… It’s a bit of a long shot but there is someone I know. It may take me a few days to get in touch with him but if he does have any suppressants it’ll be about a weeks journey.”

“You… You mean leave the QZ?” You haven’t stepped foot outside of these metal walls since you were brought here as a young teenager, nearly 13 years ago. The thought alone is enough to make you want to back out, throw in the towel and hide somewhere where no one can find you. Joel sees your hesitation and splays his hands.

“Yes, but you know I’ve been out there hundreds of times now. I know this route like the back of my hand. If you don’t come with me there will be no way for you to get the medication in time for your…” Joel trails off, a soft rosy color surfacing on his tan cheeks. “You’re gonna have to come with me.”

You glance away, gnawing on your lower lip. With a curt nod you agree, knowing that there isn’t another choice.

*~*~*~*~*~*

It takes two agonizing days before Joel is showing up at your door, telling you he’s heard from a Beta named Mark; the dealer you’ll be meeting with. With Joel is a well worn map, the paper soft under your fingers as Joel shows you exactly the route he and you will be taking to the next town just north of here. You listen to him intensely as you both lean against the kitchen counter, mentally noting everything he tells you as he explains what dangers you could potentially face.

Next is for him to show you what needs to be packed. Joel notices the furniture and other necessities your apartment lacks as he goes through your cupboards and then your clothes, all of it explaining how you had secured so many ration cards.

After Joel is sure you’re packed to the extent that you can carry, he takes the next few hours before night fall to teach you the ends and outs of the pistol you’ll be carrying. He shows you how to dismantle it, then how to build it back, explaining each part in detail as you watch in fascination how nimbly his large hands move over the small parts. Once everything is in place, he spins the unloaded gun around, holding out the handle.

Though you’ve been around enforcers the majority of your life, you knew very little about guns. Your mother had kept you away from the more violent parts of the QZ, her high statues ensuring you had more mundane jobs on your rolls. All of that being said the first thing that comes to mind when you think pistols is the only movie you had in your apartment. You spin around, pointing the barrel at the little white refrigerator with one hand cocked sideways. The same way you’d seen Samuel L. Jackson’s character do in the movie Pulp Fiction.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” Joel snaps incredulously, stepping up behind you.

“What? I’ve only seen Pulp Fiction, this is how they do it.” You argue back, dropping your arm to your side as you turn to look up at Joel.

He glares down at you before he steps closer, his chest pressing against your back. “You ain’t no Sam Jackson, woman, now pay attention.” His hand grips your wrist and he guides you to bring the gun back up. You try to pay attention, you truly do, as he instructs you on where to place your palms on the hilt, how your fingers should over lap the others and squeeze; but the heat radiating off of his body makes it nearly impossible. Joel curls around you slightly to get to your level, holding your hands steady between his own, and everywhere that his skin touches yours sends electricity crackling across every nerve.

If he feels even a fraction of what you do, he hides it well as you turn your head to look. You trace the outline of his face, the small sun spots across his Castilian nose, down to the frown of his lips; completely forgetting what he is showing you. His eyes flicker to yours, hardened with concentration , “You never put yer finger on the trigger unless you are absolutely certain yer ready to shoot.” His voice is rough and firm, searching your eyes as you dip your head in agreement. “Good girl. Now, pay attention.”

It’s easier said than done as his hands correct your shoulders, his boot nudging your feet apart to widen your stance, or when he finally steeps away how you can feel his gaze burning into your flesh. You try to hold the gun steady, aiming down the sights at the litter of ABC magnets that adorn your fridge but your arms begin to shake from the weight.

“This feels wrong.”

“You’ll get use to it.” Joel mutters with a shrug as you hand the gun over. “When we get far enough away we’ll find an area where we wont draw too much attention to ourselves, and you can practice.”

You nod, fallowing Joel’s lead as he takes a seat on the once grey carpet, watching how he loads the magazine. You pick at a stray thread on your jeans, watching how his fingers move. After a few moments of silence you shift around. “Thank you… for doing all of this.”

Joel sighs through his nose, looking over at you, trying to peek at your down turned face. “I just wish you’d a come to me sooner.” You rest your cheek on your knee, eyebrows pinching in the center. “You use to come to me for a lot, I know this is well… Different, but it don’t change the fact that it’s just me.”

“It’s just,” You suck in a deep breath, “I’ve been asking around for a few months now… It was just the thought of coming to you directly was… embarrassing? I thought that if you knew I was an Omega you would start to treat me differently… I don’t want that.” You pull the strings free before rolling it into a little ball and flicking it somewhere across the room.

Joel is silent for a moment, rolling a bullet back and forth across his palm. “Sure it ain’t got something to do with me being an Alpha?” The question is weighted, and even though you don’t say anything he can see the blush spreading across your cheeks. He stretches his leg out, nudging your calf with the toe of his boot. “Hey. It’s alright. I understand, I ain’t blind to how things are now. I wont treat you no differently than I have before, darlin’. Swear it.”

You glance up at him, the smallest of smiles playing across his lips as you stare at each other in the dim light of your living room. You nod once.

*~*~*~*~*~*

It had been extremely unnerving how easily the two of you had slipped from between the metal walls under the blanket of a starless sky. How the patrolling officers didn’t so much as catch a glimpse of your slinking forms as you dashed across the bare field for the crop of trees. Even though your body is riddled with anxiety, you can’t help but marvel at life outside of the city. You can take your first full breath of air, no longer chocking under the overpowering stench of human and trash.

When you both slow in a clearing you are able to look up and see the blue-black sky beginning to change colors as dawn crept in. There’s no haze, no smog, or dust. Just the sun painting the leaves in beautiful shades of golds, purples, and reds. You close your eyes, letting the light warm your face as you take it all in, your shoulders relaxing, your chest no longer feeling taught.

And Joel is there, watching you from a short distance away as your skin is cast in a thousand shades of morning. You’re glowing, and for a brief moment Joel wonders how you would have thrived in a normal world; a better world.

“It’s so beautiful out here.” Your voice floats across the space between you, soft so as not to disturb the birds waking. He startles slightly, knowing he’s been caught staring at you and he adverts his eyes to the sky. He’s seen it a million times, his mind and body roughened by the losses he’s endured; the brunt of the world chipping away at him. He knows the dangers, the risks, the things that lurk just out of sight; but… as he stares at the sky, then back to you, the amazement playing across your face…

“Yeah… it sure is.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Now, just squeeze the trigger.”

You suck in a deep breath, arms tensing as you exhale, flinching when you pull the trigger. The pistol kicks back, jarring your joints and sending pain through your wrists. The bullet wizzes well off to the side of the can set on the old wooden post.

Your lips tug down, turning to look at Joel so he can correct where you went wrong. He smiles at the pout you throw his way, pulling away from the tree he has been leaning against.

“Good try. Let’s give it another go. This time keep your wrists locked, you need to hold through the kick. You need to get use to the sound and the feel of it, otherwise you’re gonna flinch and miss each time.”

You follow his instructions, digging your heels into the earth as you aim. The soup can catches the light, almost mocking you as you squeeze the trigger once more and miss.

“It doesn’t feel right.” You complain, switching the safety off and shoving the gun back into the holster on your hip. Joel scoffs and you roll your eyes, lifting your empty hand and pretending to shoot the same way Jules does in the movie.

Joel laughs, scooping his bag and riffle off the ground. “I’m telling you, ya ain’t gonna shoot nothing like that. Will only manage to break your wrist.”

“And what if I do?” You snip, turning to face him your glare unmatched to his own.

“You won’t.” He replies more firmly, crossing his arms over his chest as you step closer, raising your chin in defiance.

“What if I do though? Huh?” You poke his arm, a smile growing as you see the frustration rising in his face.

“Fine. You get something like that and you get to say a one liner. Alright?”

He has to look away as your grin grows to an infectious smile. “Deal.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Over the next several days you both trek through deserted roads and isolated woods, slowly working your way towards the safe house. The trip was filled with things you never imagined, trees growing straight through the road, houses and building over run with ivy vines with critters living amongst them. Even though the cause of it all was so horrendous you couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of it all.

Though you were moving slower than Joel was use to, he felt like it was worth it, watching how you came to life. You asked every question that popped into your head without hesitation, and he found himself enjoying answering you, recalling how the world used to work. It didn’t occur to him how easy he would find it, opening up to you, talking about this or that. He just knew that he hadn’t found peace like this in a long time with another person.

The sun is peaking high over the tree tops, making it easy to see all around in the sparsely wooded area you have stopped at for lunch. You’re lying on your stomach, head resting on your folded arm as you swish your hand through a small creek, watching how the water swirls around your palm and passes through your fingers. It’s cold and soothing, your thoughts racing away, wondering what it must be like to swim in lakes, or see the ocean for the first time. Feats you’re sure you will never accomplish, but dreams you can have as you close your eyes.

Joel can’t force himself to look away from you, you’ve captivated him completely. He knows he should stop it, kill the thought before it leads him down a path he can’t change. But it’s instinctual, every Omega brings it out in an Alpha. That sense of home. Maybe it was because he’d never spent much time with you over the years, your mother keeping you away.

But the longer Joel was around you, watching, listening, talking. He could feel it, the calmness that even a drug couldn’t smoother, of an Omegas presence…

Coughing slightly he stands from the stump he’s been perched on, “We need to get moving if we want to make it before night fall.” When you turn to look at him over your shoulder he curses wildly in his mind. Your face is soft and your eyes warm as you nod, and he knows he’s doomed.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The light, joyful feeling you had through most of your trip abandons you entirely the moment the small town comes into view. A deep sense of wrong and sorrow settles into your bones as you step foot onto the streets, surrounded by haggard, foreboding buildings that remind you of monsters from old story books; ready to spring at any moment.

Riffle in hand, Joel shifts entirely before your eyes. His shoulders are tight, head on a swivel as he surveys the surrounding areas. Each step is thought out three moves ahead, a practice skill you admire as you follow behind, covering him from the back. You carry the pistol just how he has shown you, finger resting away from the trigger, your grip firm on the handle. But you wonder what good it will do should something, or someone, appear.

Fear and anxiety is a sticky concoction making it impossible to do anything but breath as you travel farther into the heart of the city.

A few more desolate streets over and Joel abruptly stops, holding his hand out for you to do the same. Your heart kicks into double time, your gaze frantically shifting from one spot to the next trying to see what he does as he draws his riffle up, looking through the scope.

You wait, body tensing preparing to hear his gun go off, before he lowers it once more. “Alright. Ya see that blue building over there?”

You look down the street and nod at the simple one story home, smaller than the rest of the houses on this street. “Teal, but yes.”

Joel gives you a sideways look that heats your cheeks. “Well the teal house is it. It’s supposed to be locked up, but that doesn’t mean a thing. You will follow me and do exactly as I do, stay quiet, and keep your eyes open. Do I make myself clear?”

Joel holds your stare as you nod, your throat working as you swallow. “Yes, okay.”

Making it across the street on quick feet Joel ascends the steps of the dilapidated white porch as you scan the streets. A moment later Joel is back, a small silver key in hand. He leads you around the house, making sure each window and the back door are firmly locked and boarded over before heading back to the front door. Once standing in a deserted living room Joel instructs you to stay by the door as he ventures deeper into the small house, his foot steps nearly indecipherable as you wait tersely, your fingers shaking around your gun.

You visibly relax when he comes out of the hallway, gun slung over his shoulder. You drop your pack to the floor, sitting down hard beside it with a sigh. “How long do you think it will be until Mark gets here?”

“Mmm… Hard to say, probably in the morning. He’s got a day longer trip than we had. How many pills ya got?” Joel leans against the window seal, squinting through the slats of wood as the sun sets in the horizon.

“Uh, just one more after tonight.” No matter how good natured you’d been there is still anxiety festering in your blood, bespite being at the halfway mark there is still so much that can go wrong from here. “Did he… did he say how much he was bringing?”

“‘Bout three months worth.”

You know that it is probably all he could get his hands on, but the dread of having to do this all over again weighs heavily on your chest.

“What did he ask for them?” You glance at your pack where the ration cards are all shoved into the side pocket, knowing that it can’t nearly be enough.

“I’ve got a gun I don’t use.” Joel comes over, groaning as he sits down next to you, happily taking the water bottle you offer.

“That… That is kind of a lot though… isn’t it?” Guilt eats away at you and Joel can hear it in your voice. He catches your eye, and there’s something in the depths of his that makes a warmth spread through your veins, soothing your worries, if only slightly.

“Ain’t too much for you.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

The sounds of birds echo through the empty living room with the first break of dawn, the light filling the space casting everything in its amber glow. You shuffle in your sleeping bag, groaning softly at the slight ache in your hip. The floor was unforgiving, and you wondered how Joel faired through the night.

Joel.

Your eyes fly open and you jolt up right. The room smells of dust and mildew, underneath it all the faintest smell of Joel’s scent. It should be stronger. Why isn’t it stronger? Your heart begins to thunder as you scramble out of your bag, panic setting into your bones. Where could he be? What happened to him?

You grab for your bag, ripping the zipper open to grab your gun when suddenly the front door opens. You nearly scream, falling back on your ass only to find Joel standing in the door way. Three dead rabbits clutched in one hand, his riffle slung over his back.

“You okay?” He steps in, closing and locking the door as you gape up at him.

“Where did you go? Why didn’t you tell me?” You demand as he walks over to the small fireplace, tossing the rabbits onto the floor with a wet thud.

Joel’s eyebrows knit together, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he turns away, placing his gun against the wall. “I woke you up, said I was going for food and you answered me, darlin’.”

Heat creeps up the back of your neck, your ears turning red as you stutter. “What?”

He turns, his smile growing and growing as he folds his arms across his chest. “You said, ‘Alright. Be safe.’ Ain’t my fault you fell back to sleep.” Sheepishly you glance away, taking a deep breath before you answer. Not only has Joel brought in the smell of the dirt and earth, the smell of drying blood and wet fur; but his sent encompasses it all. It soothes your panic, settles your racing heart beat and your shoulders slouch as your muscles relax.

“I’m sorry… Maybe next time make sure I’m really awake before you walk out…”

His boots thump against the floor as he walks over, he leans down, ruffling your hair with a big hand. “You worried about me, honey?” The heat leeches its way into your cheeks, embarrassed and feeling silly about the entire thing, you shrug. Joel chuckles, straightening up as he shucks off his jacket and throws it onto his sleeping bag.

“Come on now. I’ll teach you how to skin a critter while we wait. Sound good?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For all of my other stories, please refer to:

The Complete Collection: Apollyons Master List