#slasherslittlesimp

It’s Johnny who spots you first.

You, standing next to the bar as you look unbelievably bored, like you’d rather be literally anywhere else. Despite the disinterested look on your face, Johnny still finds you to be incredibly attractive. So, he tells the others that you’re his. That you’ll be the one he spends his evening flirting with.

And what better way to start than by swooping in to save you when an obnoxiously inebriated man starts getting a bit too handsy with you?

Only he barely makes it three steps towards you when he’s left frozen in shock, mouth and eyes wide open as he stares at what’s happening.

The poor drunk bastard made the mistake of grabbing a bit too low on your body without your consent. The result? You grabbing him by the back of his neck without even looking at him before slamming his face repeatedly into the bar top. You go until his body is limp, eyes rolled back as he falls unconscious, then let go of him leaving him to collapse onto the dirty ground.

And the only reaction you get from every one else in the bar is cheers, followed by the bartender sighing and shaking their head while questioning if you have to go so far every time someone touches you.

The boys always drop by your house whenever they have time, whether it’s all together or separately. Each time, they examine the place from top to bottom and point out all the places someone could break in or hide. Point out unlocked windows, easy to break doors, and all the works.

Yet you never take their concerns seriously. Always brushing them off, saying that nobodies going to break into your home. Any time they insist on security systems or hell, even just a fucking guard dog, you just laugh and tell them there’s no point.

So they decide to break into your home.

It’s late at night, your bedroom light having turned off hours ago meaning you should be in a deep sleep. All four of them choose different ways in- Simon picking the lock to your front door while John does the back. Johnny and Kyle both slither through windows you still never locked, proving their point already.

After a game of rock-paper-scissors they had played before entering your home, it was decided that Simon would be the one entering your room to ‘attack’ you. The other three stay in the hallway, listening for your pleas and cries.

Sounds that never come.

Instead, they hear what sounds like a scuffle followed by a loud thud, then Simon telling you to relax. “Easy luv, jus’ me.”

When they enter the room they find you and Simon on the floor next to your bed. You’re perched behind Simon, legs holding his arms, one hand pulling his head back by his forehead while the other holds Simon’s knife to his own throat. The behemoth of a man is completely immobilized, left fully at your mercy. The other three stare in complete shock before trying to calm you down, convincing you to release Simon.

Not even twenty minutes later you’re all sitting at your kitchen table with steaming cups of tea as they ask what the hell happened.

Turns out the second Simon pressed the back of his blade to your throat (to avoid accidentally cutting you when you woke), your eyes had snapped open instantly. The scuffling they heard was you getting up from bed and disarming him, while the thud was from you practically throwing him to the ground before pinning him in a hold that left all of his vital spots wide open, surprisingly able to hold him down despite his struggles.

Inspired by @veryberry26

You were new to the team. Skilled, intelligent, and a damn good soldier. It’s why you were put into 141 practically right after basics.

Being new to the team, you’re unaware of the dynamics. Unaware that Price, a dragon quite a bit older than you, has already laid claim to the other members. The three of them are his hoard- his mates.

It’s because of you not knowing this that you began attempting to court Kyle. He was kind, gorgeous, and overall seemed like he’d be the perfect mate. And he is- just not for you, apparently.

You shower him with gifts from your own hoard, something that’s still quite small as you haven’t found many things you love enough to put in it. You gift him pretty rocks and crystals, jewelry of all types, some of your prettiest scales that you tore off and cleaned leaving behind empty patches and scars. Yet no matter what you give him, he doesn’t accept your courting. Everything always ends up back in your hoard as a sad reminder that your desired mate has turned you down over and over again.

And since this is your first time ever trying to court someone, you simply think that the gifts you’re giving him aren’t good enough. Aren’t up to his standards. So you keep trying. Yet it always ends the same- the gift returned and you left confused and upset about why he won’t accept them.

Then one day you get an idea.

Maybe what you’re giving him isn’t sentimental enough. Maybe none of it has really portrayed your feelings for him. So, you stay up all night, carefully crafting a necklace made from your scales- not the ones that were returned, but new ones. Better ones. Ones that are stronger, and extra shiny. The ones from directly over your heart.

It’s a way to show that your heart is his. That you’ve left it open and vulnerable to show how much he means to you- more than your own life.

You take extra care in cleaning them, polishing them to perfection one by one. More and more blood pours down your chest with each scale ripped off, yet you pay no mind. All of your focus is on making the perfect gift for Kyle.

When you give it to him the next day, his eyes are wide with surprise and another emotion you’re far too tired to decipher. He’s gentle when he takes the necklace of scales from you, looking them over as he notices that they’re all new. They’re not the ones you had given him before which had been smaller ones from your tail. These ones are bigger and thicker. Scales made for protection.

You walk away before he can give it back. His throat tightens as his recalls the exhausted look on your face. The dark circles beneath your drooping eyes. He knows you stayed up all night making the gift. That you spent hours ripping your scales off to make it for him. And he knows that he should’ve properly turned you down the first time you gave him a courting gift rather than simply returning it and hoping you’d get the message. But you looked so excited every time you handed him something new, and his voice failed him time and time again.

Kyle knows he has no choice but to go to John. To tell him of what’s been going on.

He takes the necklace of scales with him to John’s office, walking in without knocking. The scales clatter softly as he sets the necklace on the desk in front of John before sitting down. “Their gifts are escalating. I don’t think they understand that I’m returning everything because I’m not interested.”

John leans forward, picking up the scales, brows furrowing as he stares at them. He can tell just from looking at them that they’re important. Likely from somewhere vital on your body, meaning you gave up some of your natural protection for Kyle. John knew you had been giving his mate courting gifts. But he figured it was just a crush that would eventually die out when you found someone else to cling to. Yet as he holds your scales in his hand, he knows that isn’t true. That your feelings are far deeper than they realized. And he knows that he has to step in now.

Kyle is dismissed with a promise that John will handle it. He calls you to his office pretty much the second Kyle is out the door, not wanting to waste anymore time. He needs to get this straightened out before it goes too far- though it already has, he just doesn’t realize it.

When you walk into his office not even ten minutes later, he tries not to focus too much on how weak and exhausted you look. Form slumped, dark eyes, and tail practically dragging across the ground. You sit down across from him, unsure as to why you were called in.

John watches you for a moment, mentally debating the best way to go about this. If he’s too mean about it, you could go into a depression which can be very bad for dragons. Sighing, he grabs your scales from the drawer he had placed them in and sets them on the desk in front of you. “Kyle cannot accept your courting. He’s already claimed- by me. Him and the other two are apart of my hoard and are my mates. You’ll have to look elsewhere for your own.”

He can tell that you’re saddened by the news. He’d apologize for it if he really cared, but the possessive side of him makes him indifferent towards your feelings. You went after one of his mates- even if unknowingly- and that’s unacceptable to him.

“I understand, Captain. I apologize for overstepping.” You stand up without another word, grabbing your scales from his desk and exiting the room before he can dismiss you.

The scales end up tossed in the bin in the communal room where Johnny and Simon are watching television. They watch you go by, curious as to what happened. Neither of them saw what you threw away, but they could tell that something was wrong with you. Usually you’d greet them whenever passing by, but you simply walked past without even looking their way. Not to mention the drooping of your wings and tail- telltale signs of a dragon being upset.

Johnny, being the far more curious one of the two, gets up from his seat to look in the bin to see what you tossed. Your shining scales greet him, and he pulls them out to get a better look at them. Turning, he shows them to Simon, and they both get the same question in their minds.

John stares down at his desk- more specifically the paper resting upon it staring back at him.

A transfer request. From you.

You want to move to a different squad, the reason listed being ‘incompatible with current team’. Though John knows the real reason. He told you the person you were interested in was taken and essentially told you to back off. And he should be glad that you listened, that you’re trying to leave so you’re not in their way. But instead he feels hollow. Feels like you leaving wouldn’t actually make him as pleased as he thought it would even if it meant you’d no longer be around his hoard.

He doesn’t get the chance to sign it right that moment. Or even to think about it further.

Instead he’s forced to push the entire situation from mind due to an urgent last minute mission. He leaves the unsigned paper on his desk and leaves to get ready. He completely ignores you as you stand on the other side of the room, focusing on his gear instead of on the fact that you’re near his hoard. It’s not something that can be helped when you’re on the team. But knowing that you had interest in one of his mates makes it harder to see you as a teammate rather than someone trying to steal from his hoard.

The mission itself seemed simple enough until they actually arrived. The hostiles were prepared for them, expecting them, and they were pretty much under fire from the start. Price focuses entirely on making sure his hoard is safe, watching their backs and blocking anything that can’t be dodged with hardened scales. He’s so focused on his hoard that he completely forgets you’re even there until the mission is over and it’s time to leave.

And you’re nowhere in sight.

He knows he can’t just leave you behind. He knows that he needs to search for you, to see if you’re injured or dead. So he heads out with the others to search for you.

They find you lying among debris and dead bodies. Your eyes are closed, body limp and unmoving except for your chest that rises with stuttering breaths. Blood is splattered across your skin, some yours and some not. But what draws their attention the most is your missing wing, only a small portion of it remaining.

You’re loaded up as carefully as possible, Gaz doing his best to care for your injuries even though Price lets out a displeased grumble at him touching you. The ride back to base feels infinitely longer than it is when Price is forced to watch his mate tend to someone who tried to take him.

None of them follow after when you’re taken to medical. They all head back to the barracks, stripped of gear and ready to relax. John even considers stopping by his office to finally sign your transfer papers but chooses instead to spend time with his hoard.

They only get to relax for about an hour before John is called to medical, the other three following after out of curiosity for your condition more than anything. When they get there, they’re greeted by a nurse who is flipping through some paperwork while at their desk. They expect to be told about your condition- about your missing wing and any other injuries they failed to notice. They were not expecting to be asked a question.

“Do you know what happened to their protective scales on their chest?” The nurse asks, clearly a bit distressed. It’s dangerous for dragons to be missing protective scales, especially ones that are there to protect something as important as your heart. Dragons don’t wear the protective gear that others do due to it not only getting in the way of their wings, but also because there’s no need. They don’t need it when their scales are there to protect them.

Yet you apparently went on that mission with zero protection for such a vital part of your body.

“What do you mean?” Kyle asks, brows furrowed with worry.

“They’re missing. The scales that should be covering their heart are gone, and all that’s left is still healing scar tissue. Whatever happened, it was recent. Less than a few days ago if I had to guess.”

Kyle’s eyes widen as he looks to John, the both of them coming to the same realization.

You had torn off such important scales for Kyle.

And you said nothing.

They’re not aware that you threw those scales away, either. That once they were rejected you put them straight in the bin.

Only Johnny and Simon know that you threw your scales away. They just didn’t know why, or how important they actually were.

The four men return to the barracks in order to discuss the situation. Kyle and John are the only two who really know what’s been going on, but Simon and Johnny have a pretty decent idea from their reactions to the news about your missing scales on top of them witnessing you throwing said scales away.

“Did you reject them from joining your hoard?” Johnny gets straight to the point, brows furrowed as he stares down John.

Sighing, John shakes his head. “It wasn’t the hoard they wanted. Just Kyle.”

“So you rejected them for him?” Johnny questions, knowing it was just John you spoke to before tossing your scales. “Why didn’t you reject them on your own Kyle?”

“I thought they’d get the hint when I kept returning their gifts.” Kyle shrugs, looking a bit regretful. “I didn’t think they’d just take it as me wanting something better.”

“You should know how dragon courting works, Kyle.” Johnny argues, admittedly a bit pissed off that his fellow mate would allow things to get this far. “All three of us have been courted by John, so we know what it means. Dragons will keep going until you give them a clear answer, so why didn’t you just tell them no?”

“Because I didn’t want to!” Kyle blurts, eyes widening in shock seconds later when he registers what he said.

“What?” A deep rumble leaves John’s chest showing his irritation. One of his mates just admitted to not wanting to turn down the courting of another dragon. And as a dragon, that’s essentially saying that he’s not doing a good enough job of protecting and satisfying his hoard.

Kyle leans forward, pressing his palms to his eyes as he tries to calm down. The other three watch him, patiently waiting for him to explain. “I didn’t want to turn them down.” He whispers, almost like he’s repeating it more for himself than anyone else. Like he has to say it again for it to truly register in his mind.

Before now, he thought he hadn’t said no to spare your feelings. Because he knows that dragons can go into depression if rejected by their desired mate. He thought he was trying to let you down gently by returning your gifts. But, now that he’s really thinking about it, he was only returning your gifts to avoid upsetting John. If he wasn’t already claimed, he would’ve accepted the very first courting gift you gave him months ago. And it’s because he would’ve accepted that he couldn’t just turn you down straight up. Because turning you down would’ve hurt him too.

But then you gave Kyle your scales. Not the small flimsy ones from your tail, but large sturdy ones meant to protect you.

And he should’ve said no then. Told you he belonged to Price’s hoard already. Handed the scales back and moved on.

But he was terrified. Kyle was scared that doing so would destroy you. And he didn’t want to be the one to do that to you. So, he took the cowardly way out and went to John. Told the dragon all about your courting and handed over your scales. Asked him to take care of the situation for him. At least then Kyle could pretend it wasn’t him that broke your heart.

Yet he knows that your heart broke regardless.

It’s been days since you’ve approached him, or even looked his way. Days since you’ve given him a sharp toothed smile, eagerness shining in your eyes as you presented him yet another gift. Days since you’ve looked like yourself.

You’ve been walking around, avoiding looking at anyone, not talking to anyone on the team. You even eat lunch with others, staying as far from their table as possible. Your tail and wings droop low, dragging across the ground without care, an obvious sign of depression in dragons. And now you’re in medical, missing a wing and apparently the scales meant to protect your heart.

Sniffling at the thoughts, Kyle looks up at the others, eyes watering as he tries not to cry. “I didn’t want to hurt them. I didn’t want it to go this far. I thought they’d give up if I kept returning the gifts but they just kept trying.” He lets out a sob. “I wanted to say yes. To accept their courting offers. And I feel like shit because of it, knowing I already have three people I love. That love me. But I still wanted them.”

Kyle tries to wipe away his tears, but they fall too fast. “I went to John because I couldn’t turn them down on my own. It hurt too much to even think about. But it hurts even worse knowing that they’re hurt because of me. That they’re in medical because they gave me their most important scales and I had John give them back. They’ll never… they’ll never grow those scales back. They’ll forever be at risk because of me.”

Johnny and Simon exchange looks, jaws clenched as they both think of what to do. Whether or not they should tell Kyle that you didn’t take the scales back but instead threw them in the trash. They love Kyle, they really do, but that slightly malicious side of them wants to tell him. To make him really regret leading you on for so long just to take the cowardly way out.

Maybe that’s why the words slip out before he can stop them.

“They threw them away.” Johnny tells him, staring Kyle in the eye. “They tossed their scales in the trash the second they walked out of John’s office.”

Kyle sobs even harder, and Johnny and Simon get up and walk away without another word. Because even though they love him, what he did was wrong.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s because they know they would’ve done the same thing if you had courted them instead, and taking it all out on Kyle feels like they’re taking it out on themselves too. None of them deserve you. None of them can have you.

He was a Captain before anything else. A soldier. A weapon for his country.

That’s why despite his deep feelings for you, he broke things off, figuring you’d get over it and move on eventually.

Unfortunately, he failed to realize one thing- you’re an Albatross hybrid.

He knew what you were- of course he did. How could he not with your large wings spanning far taller than any man.

What he didn’t know is that your species mates for life.

It takes nearly two years after leaving you to find out.

The 141 boys are all out at a bar, celebrating making it home in one piece after a particularly rough mission. Kyle and Johnny are deep into a conversation about something John couldn’t care less about, while Simon sits to the side scanning the crowd.

“Isn’t that the bird that used to hang around?” Simon suddenly questions, nodding towards the bar. The other three look at where he motioned, finding your familiar large form leaning against the counter nursing what looks like a glass of water.

John raises a brow, curious as to why you’re here. Back when you were dating, you told him you hated crowded places. Hated not being able to stretch out your wings. Hated people crowding close and touching your feathers. Yet here you are.

“It is.” Johnny perks up upon spotting you. “Wonder why they stopped coming around.”

John says nothing, simply taking a sip of his drink as he keeps his eyes on you. The boys never found out about his relationship with you. That the two of you spent shared nights together, pressing kisses to each other’s skin and whispering broken promises in the dark. All they know is that one day you started hanging around, and another you suddenly disappeared.

“Looks like they might be on a date.” Johnny hums, watching some guy standing close to you. John watches as well, one part of him glad you seem to be moving on while the other hates it.

“Look closer.” Kyle shakes his head. “They look uncomfortable.”

The group watches as you try to shuffle away from the stranger, shaking your head as you turn down whatever it is they asked.

“Don’t they have a mate?” Simon suddenly pitches in.

“Oh, right!” Johnny nods. “They mentioned seeing someone two years ago back when they’d hang with us.”

“Could’ve broken up.” John shrugs, knowing it was him they were unknowingly talking about.

“Not possible.” Kyle immediately shoots the idea down.

John furrows his brow as he turns to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“They’re an albatross hybrid- they mate for life. One partner and that’s it.” Kyle shrugs. “Even if that partner dies they don’t move on. They make their choice and stick with it.”

John’s heart plummets in his chest. He was your mate… and then he left you. You had been heart broken, looking absolutely devastated. Like he destroyed your entire life.

Turns out he did. He just didn’t know it at the time.

You’re forever bonded to him. You chose him as your mate. As your one and only.

And he threw it away. He threw it away thinking you’d just find someone else. He didn’t know that you would never pick somebody else. That it was him or no one.

The boys spend a while in their new room chatting about their new home, you, and the other hybrids that supposedly live there before they hear you shout that dinner is ready. Shuffling out of the room, they spot you in the kitchen organizing a variety of dishes full of different foods such as meats and veggies. A few feet away is someone setting the table, their fluffy ears and flicking tail showing their status as a hybrid.

As you turn to start setting large dishes of food on the table another hybrid enters the room, a low rumbling hiss leaving him as he glares at the newcomers. He grabs a plate and piles it high with cooked meat before passing behind you, scaled tail brushing gently across the back of your legs in thanks before he exits through the back door.

The door doesn’t get the chance to fully shut before someone else is pushing it open. The towering form that steps through steals the four of their breaths as they watch the hybrid dip below the door frame, twisting sideways to fit his broad shoulders. The hybrid easily towers over all four of them which is surprising since none of them are exactly small- especially Simon.

They all watch as the large hybrid heads straight towards you, handing over a hand picked bouquet of wild flowers. You thank him, pressing a kiss against his cheek before putting the bouquet in the vase sitting in the center of the table. It’s then that you finally notice the four of them standing awkwardly on the other side of the room.

“Hey!” You smile when you see them, waving them over. “Dinners ready! You can either join us at the table or take your plates and eat wherever you desire.”

The hybrid that was helping you and the one that brought flowers both sit at the table, already piling their plates high with their preferred foods. You stand behind the two hybrids, lightly scolding them for not letting the others get food first before returning your attention to the other four. “This is König and Horangi. The one that scuttled off is Nikto. He tends to eat outside by the lake. Now that you’re all introduced, come grab some food!”

The four of them exchange looks before slowly moving towards the table. Johnny seems the most excited once they get close enough, mouth practically watering as he sees all the different meat selections spread out on the table. It’s been so long since he’s seen this much meat at once. As a soldier, he was only fed the minimum of what was necessary. It would’ve been too expensive for the government to pay to feed so many hybrids their full necessary diets.

Just how rich are you that you can afford to feed hybrids like this? On top of all of your farm animals?

Simon, on the other hand, feels suspicious of you. Surely this is all just for show? There’s no way you feed them like this on a daily basis for every meal, right? You’re just doing this to get them to let their guards down. Get them to trust you before you stab them in the back.

What else is he supposed to think when he’s lived the life he has? Nothing comes for free. Everything has a price. He just needs to figure your price out before it’s too late.

Kyle feels a bit hesitant, but his stomach is practically folding in on itself with hunger so he slowly sits down at the table on the opposite end of the two strange hybrids and yourself. He has to admit that the smell and look of the food as his stomach rumbling to the point where he almost completely forgets his manners as he immediately starts piling food onto his plate, stacking his favorites high just in case this ends up being his last meal.

John is the last to sit down, watching his pack fill their plates first. Johnny is already digging in, tail thumping happily as he tears into different kinds of meat. Kyle is working on a piece of fish, picking it apart with his nails. John can tell he’s enjoying it from the fact he’s not even using silverware.

Simon has reluctantly filled his plate, side eyeing you as he does so. It’s obvious that he doesn’t trust you at all. Yet he still eats, sniffing at his food before taking bites as if you might’ve tampered with it.

Satisfied that his boys are eating, John grabs his own food, sticking more to the vegetables and fruits. It’s actually quite delicious- fresh, crispy, and full of flavor. A complete difference from what was served in the military.

He could get used to this.

As long as it’s real, and not a front you put up to make them let their guards down.

——————

Warnings: Mentions of scars, injuries, kidnapping, angst

Nobody knows about Robby’s childhood friend- you.

The boy he grew up beside until you both were fifteen years old. Who went missing one cold winter, never to be seen again.

His childhood friend, and first ever crush. The boy that made Robby feels things that he’s never felt for anyone else, even now. The boy Robby wanted to eventually confess to, and maybe even marry one day if you agreed.

All dreams that he held onto even after you went missing. Even after you were presumed dead after a few years. Because to Robby, you’re not dead until he sees the body.

It’s that time of year where he starts thinking about you nonstop. Usually, he can push the thoughts away, focus on work. Focus on the people that are actually here with him. But when it gets to the time of year that he should be celebrating your birthday with you… he gets distracted.

He still has the gift he bought you thirty years ago. It usually sits deep in his closet, buried beneath other boxes storing items. Hidden from view but still there for the few days a year he decides to torture himself by holding it. Debating whether or not this will be the year he finally throws it away.

He never does.

Probably never will.

But it doesn’t matter.

Because in just a few hours he’ll be heading off for his sabbatical, where he may or may not have certain plans. Plans that involved him taking the gift from his closet and tucking it into the bag on his bike because he refused to leave that one last piece of you that he has behind.

He just has to get through this shift and then he’ll be ready to go.

Except he can already tell the shifts going to be long and rough the second he walks through the door.

Nurses rush about, going in and out of one particular room- a room with cops positioned outside. The cops are quietly talking, their brows furrowed and stances stiff showing that whoever is in that room really did something to affect their moods.

Robby barely makes it to central before Jack is approaching him, his own brows furrowed, eyes showing the clear stress he’s been feeling for who knows how long.

“What happened?” Robby questions, glancing back towards the busy room.

Jack lets out a long sigh as he rubs a hand tiredly over his face before straightening up. “A civilian called in about a man unconscious in an alleyway. Upon examination, we found some concerning injuries along with scars that didn’t heal properly- including some kind of brand. Called the police and it turns out that the patient is a part of some kind of illegal underground fighting ring they’ve been struggling to locate. They’re waiting for him to wake up to question him.”

“How long has he been out?”

“Not sure. There’s no way to tell how long he’d been unconscious before being found, but it’s been about two hours since he arrived. His visible injuries have been treated, but we’re still waiting for scans and tests to come back. The nurses have been taking care of him quite well, trying to keep him comfortable so hopefully when he wakes up he doesn’t become hostile.”

“His blood results are back, Dr Abbott.” Somebody rushes by, handing Jack a tablet before disappearing to help with another patient.

Jack studies that tablet, looking through the different test results. His brows shoot up a bit in surprise as he continues reading. “High amounts of Diazepam. And Scopolamine, which means he hasn’t been unconscious for very long. Usually stops being detected after five to six hours, meaning he’s probably only been unconscious for four hours at most.”

“Doesn’t sound like he was at that place willingly.” Robby sighs, shaking his head.

“Well, there’s no DNA match in the system, so if that’s true he’s been there a long time.”

Robby doesn’t get the chance to reply when a nurse comes out of the room of the mystery patient, yelling out that they’re awake. Robby and Jack both instantly move, heading into the before anyone else. As Jack moves to reassure and assess the patient, Robby freezes just a few steps into the room.

Because sitting in that bed is you.

Scarred, older, and definitely not the same… but it’s you, nonetheless.

He’d recognize you anywhere, no matter how much time has passed.