#this bitch...doesn't understand...what daddy means....

It was always hard to explain your sexual preferences.

Not just because of the taboo but as someone who grew up in a chaotic and abusive household, most of your partners and friends couldn’t fathom why you wanted to be smacked, tied up, and yelled at in bed. 

Praise made sense. 

Daddy kind of did even though most people didn’t fully grasp the title.

Dirty talk; yeah of course, who doesn’t like those whispers from a sexy, husky tone. 

But everything else?

“It’s different. A dom/sub dynamic is about trust, love, and consent. I never had that growing up. Everything was angry and conditional. I know that when I say the safe word, they’ll stop and still love me compared to my parents who hurt me even when I begged them to stop.”

Partners were hard to find because most men in general struggled with the dominate line. You floated between date after date finding yourself extremely uncomfortable especially after you tried to explain your needs. 

“So…you want me to like…hurt you and call you a bitch?”

“…No…”

“I mean I can do that…”

The first time you met your current boyfriends, you were out on a bad date at The Hideout. Eddie was on stage playing with his band, constantly smiling down at you as he strummed his guitar while Steve was working as a bartender, beaming wide when he handed you your beverage. 

As you were sneaking away from the awful person at your table, the metalhead startled you by being at the bottom of the window you were sneaking out of, making you giggle when he offered to catch you and you obliged. The two of you talked in his van until Steve got off work and they both offered to take you to a late-night dinner.

From that moment on, you were theirs and vice versa. Eddie made you laugh like no one had before and you loved how passionate he was when it came to anything he enjoyed especially D&D. When he explained things to you, he never made you feel dumb like your family did. He never once belittled you if he had to go into detail or explain something again because you didn’t understand. 

Steve had one of the biggest hearts you had ever experienced, always surprising you with gifts of things you didn’t even think he noticed you mentioned or being protective over not just you but the younger kids in the town. You loved watching him lightly tease his friend Dustin but then shift into a curious soft dork when he would tell the older boy about some Star Wars memorabilia that was coming out. Steve never made you feel unheard or unseen, noticing small things you did around the apartment or styling your hair differently. If you were upset about something, he stopped what he was doing and sat beside you to give you his full attention. 

When you three started becoming more intimate, you picked up immediately that they knew what they were doing within a dominate realm. When trying something new they moved slowly gauging your reactions and incorporated them going forward. 

They learned your body to a T, down to your facial twitches when you dropped into that particular headspace. 

They were the first men you had ever gotten far enough with to having the other awkward conversation when it came to sex but what surprised you the most is THEY brought it up first. 

“So, sweetheart, when it comes to your PTSD, I know we have like safe words and things you told us not to do but sometimes things that trigger you out here don’t trigger you in there.”, Eddie states as he gestures from the living room to the bedroom. 

“We just want you to know that if we say or do anything that doesn’t normally trigger you but just so happens to while we’re playing, you can say the word and we’ll stop.”, Steve adds.

“Like during punishments sometimes we raise our voice and I know occasionally when we go out to like the movies or something depending on what’s happening a raised voice triggers you. We understand that yelling can make you nervous but it doesn’t always. Am I making sense? Help me out, Stevie.”

You giggle as the former jock shakes his head playfully before taking your hands in his. 

“I think what he’s trying to say is some of the normal things we do in bed may still trigger you on off days. Say the word and Daddy and Sir will stop. Next time we play, that normal thing will go on as normal unless you say otherwise and want to remove it entirely.”

“I understand. No matter what just always be vocal.”

“You got it, babe.”, Eddie grins as he leans over to kiss you.

You explained to them how your previous partners didn’t get that. You would call a safe word after being smacked after a bad day and being triggered but the next few times you were intimate, they never smacked you again. You didn’t want it to stop entirely…just…that day you couldn’t handle it…

You always felt like a burden in some way in past relationships because of your brain and when you told them that they growled. 

“You’re not a burden. What you went through and how it affects you isn’t your fault. Ugh…I hate men.”, the metalhead grunts in annoyance, smirking when he hears you laugh. 

Tonight was a good night and nothing in particular felt off.

They had made dinner and bought you gifts just because they saw something that made them think of you. You danced with Steve to the music on the radio and pressed your face into Eddie’s chest as the little girl headspace began to move forward causing him to kiss your forehead to remind you that you were safe. 

After restraining your arms via rope to the hook attached to the closet, they worked together to make you feel good. You came more times than you could keep track and both men chuckled as you heavily panted. 

“Look at her, man.”, Steve teased as he gestured your way with the vibrating wand in his hand. “Just a messy thing.”

“Yeah, she is. You’re dripping all over the floor, sweetheart.”

“Please…”, you beg. 

“Oh? Please, what? What do you need, honey?” 

When you don’t answer, Eddie strides towards you and lightly hits your cheek before gripping your jaw between his fingers. 

“Daddy asked you a fucking question, you answer.”

Your eyes shifted into the void as the ropes around your wrists dug a bit too harshly into your flesh and for a brief moment it wasn’t the material holding you but your mother’s firm hand yanking you into your room. You weren’t an adult in your bedroom with the men you loved but a child in your home growing up. 

You felt all control leave your body as you coward in front of this large, loud person screaming about how you weren’t enough. Well, you tried to cower but you couldn’t get your arms down…she was holding you too tightly. You couldn’t breathe…couldn’t escape…

Another light but firm hit to your face brought you back to the moment but…why couldn’t you move? Why couldn’t you run?... Why couldn’t… you…breathe?

“Honey?”

“R-Re-Red…red…RED!” 

They both kicked into action as your wrists pulled desperate for freedom. 

“Steve, I can’t undo this…she’s pulling them too tightly…Fuck this. Hang on, baby!”, Eddie reassured as he ran to the bedside table and grabbed his knife before pushing his friend in front of you. “Ok, sweetheart, three, two, there we go.”

At his word, your body tumbled forward into Steve’s arms as he wrapped them around you. You tried to push at his bare chest but he was too strong.

“Ok, and, one, two, three.”, the metalhead counted, blindsiding you with one of his shirts. 

They allowed you mobility to turn around, pressing your back into the other boy as he guided you both to the floor.

“It’s ok, baby, you’re ok. We’re right here.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m—”

“Shhhh…you’re safe, pretty girl. You’re here with me and Eddie and we love you so much.”

Steve felt you tilt to your side and they both followed you to lay on the hardwood utilizing his arm as a pillow while Eddie gently pet your head. 

“Good girl. That’s our good girl. So beautiful.” 

After thirty minutes of tender kisses and soft words, your glassy eyes met his chocolate ones making him smile. 

“There she is. We lost you there for a moment.”

“My mom?”, you asked with a hoarseness that broke their hearts. 

“Not here, sweetheart, and never will be.”, he murmured, utilizing his thumb to dry your eyes. “Everything’s ok. Whenever you’re ready, we’re going to sit up and drink some water ok?”

“Ok, Eddie.”, you whimper, piercing his heart with your little voice. “I’m…I’m ready.”

Strong arms looped themselves around you as Steve carefully lifted you to a sitting position on his lap with your back against his chest, kissing your cheek as you lean your head against his shoulder. 

“Alright, baby girl, just open your mouth.”, the metalhead instructed, placing the bottle to your lips while continuing to praise you as the liquid cooled your throat.

“Thank you, Eddie.”

“Of course, baby.”, he whispered. 

“Do you want to take a warm bath or just sit for a bit?”

“I just want to sit, Stevie, thank you.”

Smirking, the former jock squeezed you tighter to him, pressing his face into the nook near the bottom of your neck making you giggle.

The three of you sit there in a comfortable silence, both men caressing different parts of your skin as you slowly inhale and exhale. 

“I’m sorry.”, you say a bit abruptly, grabbing their attention. “I-I don’t know what happened. I just—”

“Shhhhh, sweetheart, it’s ok. You did nothing wrong.”, Eddie soothes, intertwining his fingers with yours. “This is why we plan and prepare.”

“Y-Y-You…you…”

“You what, honey?”

“You didn’t get to…” You pause, gesturing towards the long-haired boys lap, the bulges in their boxers having long since decreased in size. 

“Baby.”, Steve murmurs softly, gripping your chin between his fingers and turning your head to meet his admiration filled gaze. “Literally the last thing on our minds right now. All that matters to us is that you feel safe.”

“I know, I just…I know it’s complicated and confusing because my brain is complicated and confusing and—”

Eddie’s ringed finger on your lips interrupts your rambling and he smiles when you exhale, releasing your thought. 

“Did you know the first time I tried this dynamic I had a bit of a panic attack after slapping the girl in bed?” Your eyes widen as you shake your head, waiting for him to continue. “Oh yeah. Slapping and like choking is something I’ve been into since high school but the first time I tried it, I was so scared she saw me like my father.”

You blink at the notion, know he’s nothing like his douchebag father and squirm out of the other boy’s lap to climb into his, nuzzling into him as he holds you, tickling you a bit with his loose strands of hair. 

“I stopped doing it for a while especially since I could never find a partner to explain it to where it made sense. Then I explained it to Steve and he just knew.”

“I’ve struggled sometimes with the dirty talk.”, he explains. “I like the humiliation dialogue but sometimes I got scared I sounded like my father. One day I decided, I just needed to be clear and feel safe with someone to be clear with. Munson was one of those people. That’s why we started doing the shared partner thing.”

“Then we met you.”, Eddie beams, grinning when you blush. “Things aren’t always black and white, Y/N especially when it comes to our brains. All that matters, like Harrington said, is that we talk, we’re clear, and we feel safe; you, me, and him. Does that make sense?”

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you kiss his cheek with a loud, obnoxious smack. 

“Yes, Sir. I love you so much.”

“I love you to, weirdo.”

“Eddie.”, Steve lightly chastises, chuckling as you gently tackle him onto his back to kiss him as well. “Fuck, dude, I think those ropes were a bit too tight. Look.”

As he displays one of your wrists, the metalhead’s eyes narrow in concern. 

“Definitely. Next time we go to that store let’s look for something that won’t dig in like that. Let me grab one of the ice packs in the fridge.”

While waiting for him to return, you smile down at his gorgeous features as he places one of his arms behind his head while looking up at you with nothing but admiration. 

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you to, pretty girl.”

##############

Vox is monitoring you at all times. Literally. You're the only person in Hell whose phone isn't adware, but rather a tracking device and direct communication tool. If you stray too far from Vee territory, he'll send you a text message in furious all caps with static emojis.

I immediately took you to Vee Tower without anyone noticing. It was obvious you were an angel; your appearance gave you away. "Oh, swetty, what are you doing here?" "I came to see you, Dad." "You're so silly. You had to stay up there… where you belong."

He introduced you to Val and Velvette. You were sitting on a couch because your father told you that you had to meet some important people. "Okay, gentlemen, I present to you Y/n, my daughter." Vel and Val looked between you and Vox. Reaction? None. Similarities? None. Likes? None. "You kidnapped an angel and want to fulfill your incestuous dream or what?" Velvette says, "No, no! She's my daughter, really"… if you don't believe him.

After a while, you half believe him; you've become his favorite person, you're so cute. Vel likes to use you as a model and try clothes on you. Val (because of threats from Vox) now treats you like another father. "So you're dating my dad?" "Yes." "No"… Val looks at Vox with a "really?" face. Vox approaches you. "Listen, I'm not with anyone, because no one can replace what your mother was to me"… "Dad, it doesn't bother me that you're gay or bisexual, as long as you're happy." "Oh, so I am dating Val. I hate your bitch of a mother."

He doesn't care if you have friends, as long as they aren't "old fogies" (Alastor, Zestial) or "pathetic losers" (the Sinners from Hazbin Hotel). Velvette and Valentino adore you and are your eccentric "uncles," which Vox proudly approves of.

Sometimes, when he's stressed about a meeting with the Vees or the ratings, he asks you to touch him and make him float a little.

He does this secretly in his penthouse suite. He feels more relaxed being in the air.

He makes you special gloves so you don't accidentally activate your powers or so you can use them better.

He takes you all over Hell, shows you everything, and brags about the entire "empire" he's built.

You scold him when he's mean to someone, so he limits his words and actions when he's with you.

You confessed to him that you were in love with a blonde girl with a beautiful smile.

You don't really like him spoiling you; you find it excessive. "Daddy, it's not necessary, I already have… plenty."

You're the only person for whom Vox tries (and fails miserably) not to use foul language. If you blurt out "Damn wiring!", he immediately looks at you and says, "Sorry, honey, that silly wiring just threw me off. I should really use the word 'aberration' instead."

When I kidnap Alastor, he tells you they're friends and that nothing goes against Alastor's wishes. "Wait, you're the father of the girl I like," Alastor says, smiling even more from under the cloth over his mouth. "W-what?!"

You were scared of your father's sharks, but you quickly gained confidence and started swimming with them. Once, you even pulled Veck out of the tank and made her float with your zero gravity. "Y/N, honey, did you see my…" "Hi, Daddy."

The real gift (and the ultimate show of affection) is that he turns off his screens for you. If you're having a really bad day or need to talk, he'll turn off his transmissions, dim his face, and stare at you (without any static flickering) while you speak. It's his ultimate vulnerability.

      Standing there was Liv. Dressed and present as if she belonged here.  

      Y/n looked from Noah, to summer to the woman. It didn’t take much for her to realize the woman was Liv. While summer looked more like Noah, there were undeniable features resembling her.  

      “Daddy?” Summer said quietly. Wondering why his whole demeanor shifted.   

      “Jolly,” Y/n turned her head slightly just enough her eyes could meet his. “Can you take Summer to the dressing room?” Her voice was tight with something Jolly couldn’t place.  

      “Come on kiddo,” Jolly took Summer, pretending he didn’t feel the way Noah was trembling. “Let’s go show Uncle Nicholas how you truly shred the guitar.”  

       Summer just nodded. Even she was uncomfortable by the new found tension in the air.  

      “Thank you.” Y/n said lowly.  

      “I got you.” Jolly nodded giving a quick rub of her back as he walked past. Nicholas following them down the hall. Folio leaned against the wall, arms crossed, not moving. If Noah lost it, he didn’t want Y/n getting hurt in the process of calming him down.  

      “What. The. Fuck,” Noah breathed heavily between gritted teeth, “are you doing here?” 

      Liv looked him up and down and shrugged. “It’s my daughter’s birthday.” She replied as if he was dense.  

      “She’s not your daughter.” Noah snapped lowly. “You signed those rights over almost 6 years ago.” 

       Y/n narrowed her eyes. Watching the two of them.  

       “I gave birth to her.” 

      “Doesn’t make you a fucking mother.” Y/n chimed in. “All that did was make you an incubator to carry her.” 

     “And you are?”  

     “No one that concerns you.” Y/n replied.  

      Liv glared at her then put her attention back to Noah.  

      “You don’t get to show up here just because you feel guilty today.” He told her.  

      “I don’t.” She said monotonously with a shrug. “I just wanted to see her.”  

      Y/n laughed. A dark laugh that sent a ripple of fear down Noah’s spine. Folio stood straighter. Liv turned to her.  

      “What’s so funny?” 

      “You, you dumb bitch.” Y/n said standing taller. “Where the fuck do you get the actual audacity to show face on her birthday? She clearly doesn't mean a thing to you.” 

      “You don’t get to say that.” Liv snapped.  

      “Don’t I?” She asked, hands on her hips, head tilted slightly like she was trying to figure out the level of stupidity Liv held. “I’ve been taking care of that little girl for almost a year now. Not once have you been mentioned. Minus Noah sharing the story of how he became a single father.”   

      She scoffed. “I’m sure that was a victimizing story. All about how I’m the bad guy.” 

      “Actually,” Y/n started. “I do believe it was more about how he tried to do everything he could then he came home and you were gone.”  

      She tapped her chin. “And then you show up with paper work terminating your rights.”  

      “You wouldn’t understand.” Liv protested.  

       “You’re right,” she nodded. “I wouldn’t. Because I never in a million years would have done what you did.” 

      Liv swallowed hard. “Maybe if he wasn’t so worried about this stupid band, things would have been different.”  

      Y/n smiled darkly and shook her head. “Stupid band.” Y/n repeated. “A stupid band that has helped millions of people. A stupid band that had changed more lives than you could comprehend.”  

      Liv pursed her lips. Slightly trembling as a confession slipped past her lips. “I didn’t fucking ask to be pregnant or to have her.” 

     Y/n froze. Noah went cold.  

     Liv kept going. “I didn’t want her. But he begged me to keep her. So I did. It was miserable. I never wanted kids that young. I had my whole life ahead of me.” She then pointed at Noah.  

     “But you begged me to keep her. Promised things would be different–“ 

      “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Y/n said. Her voice was so low even Noah flinched.  

      “Don’t you dare blame him.” 

       Liv froze. 

      That voice: low, sharp, and vibrating with a rage she did not expect, cut straight through her. 

      Y/N took one step forward. 

      Then another. 

      Noah instinctively reached out to touch her arm, to steady her, to steady himself, but Folio subtly grabbed Noah’s elbow, stopping him. 

  "You know she isn't going to let you interfere with this." Folio said lowly.

     “Don’t you dare blame him,” she repeated, quieter. Deadlier. The kind of quiet that made people pray and beg for mercy.  

      Liv swallowed, but Y/N kept going. 

     “You didn’t want her?” she asked. 

Her head tilted, eyes narrowing with an almost clinical coldness. 

     “Good. Because you’ll never get the chance to hurt her now.” 

      Liv opened her mouth but Y/N didn’t let her get a single syllable out. 

      “You know what I see when I look at Summer?” Y/N stepped closer, voice trembling with emotion she didn’t bother to hide. “A brilliant, loud, messy, loving little girl who smiles like sunshine. Who laughs from her belly. Who worships her dad and loves her uncles. Who draws on the walls and thinks she’s funnier than she is.” 

      Liv blinked, confused, taken aback by the shift. 

      Y/N took another step, her voice tightening. 

      Liv scoffed, “I—” 

      “NO,” Y/N snapped. “You don’t get to talk. You don’t get to justify. You don’t get to spin some tragic little web about being too young or too overwhelmed or too pressured. Because guess what?” 

     Y/N leaned in, eyes burning. 

     “Noah was young too. He was overwhelmed too. But he stayed. He learned. He fought. And he didn’t abandon his baby to chase a ‘life ahead of him.’ He adjusted his life and career to evolve around a small human he now had to raise…. alone.” 

      Noah’s breath caught. He wasn’t breathing. He couldn’t breathe. Folio looked like he might be sick. 

     Y/N wasn’t finished. 

      “You show up here now?” she snarled. “Not because you care. Not because you suddenly feel maternal. But because you got… what? Nostalgic? Guilty? Lonely?” 

     She laughed, sharp and humorless. 

     “Let me fix something for you really quick, You don’t get to want her now.” 

      Liv clenched her jaw, whispering, “You don’t know anything about me.” 

      “No,” Y/N said, stepping almost nose-to-nose with her. “I know everything I need to.” 

     Then, with venom: 

     “You walked away from a child who would’ve worshipped you. You left her alone with a man who loved her enough for the both of you. A man that has spent 5 years drowning.  And here’s the thing—” 

      She leaned in, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. 

     “She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t ask for you. She doesn’t miss you. And that’s not her fault.” 

     Y/N’s chin lifted. 

     “That’s yours.” 

      Liv’s eyes glistened, anger or embarrassment, it didn’t matter. 

      Y/N stepped back slowly, but her voice stayed razor-sharp. 

      “And if you ever try to blame him again, if you ever put that weight on his shoulders, or try to twist this into some tragedy about you…” 

Her tone went feral. 

“I will make sure you regret ever opening that hole in your face.” 

     The hallway felt colder. 

     Liv’s lip trembled. “I—I just wanted—”  

     “You wanted relief,” Y/N cut her off. “You wanted to feel like a mom for a day without doing the work. You wanted to drop a bomb and leave Noah to pick up the pieces like always. Leaving Summer to once again feel like she isn’t good enough because the woman she should be calling mom left her…again.” 

      Her eyes hardened. 

     “No. Not today. Not ever.” 

      Liv looked between Y/N and Noah, confused, cornered, guilty, but mostly afraid. 

      Because she expected Noah to defend her. To soften. To default to the boy she once knew. 

      But Noah wasn’t looking at her. 

      He was looking at Y/N. 

      And he looked wrecked, Shaken and something she couldn’t place.  

     Folio cleared his throat, voice gentle but firm. “You should go.” 

     “I’ll walk her out.” Noah said hoarsely. His eyes never left Y/N.  

      Y/N didn’t move. She didn’t blink. She just folded her arms, protective, unyielding, still radiating fury. 

     Liv hesitated. “I didn’t mean—” 

     “You meant every word,” Y/N said. “And that’s the problem.” 

      Liv broke. She turned toward the exit, flustered and pale. 

      Noah followed, shoulders shaking, but not because of Liv. 

      Because everything Y/N said out loud? 

      He’d spent years choking on in silence. 

      Folio exhaled, wiping a hand down his face. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered.  

       Liv hesitated at the exit of the hallway, but instead of leaving, she turned slightly, eyes narrowing at Y/N with a sudden, petty sneer. 

      “You know…” Liv said softly, venomously, “Summer clung to me for those two weeks. She used to cry when I put her down. She used to love me. More than she’ll ever love you.” 

      Noah froze mid-step. Folio’s head jerked up. Y/N didn’t move. 

      Liv kept going, voice tightening, ugly truth spilling out like poison. 

      “And maybe—” she said, eyes locked on Y/N, “maybe she’d still be mine if someone like you wasn’t playing mommy. Pretending. Acting like you belong here. Acting like she needs you more than me. Maybe I could have came back if it wasn’t for you.” 

      Noah whispered, “Liv… don’t.” 

      But Liv held Y/N’s stare. 

      “You’re just a placeholder,” she spat. “A warm body to fill the space I left. A babysitter with delusions.” 

     The silence snapped.  

     Y/N moved so fast Liv flinched, back hitting the wall before she registered the motion. 

      Y/N didn’t touch her. 

     Didn’t even raise a fist. 

      She just stepped in, close, so close Liv could feel the heat radiating off her. 

      “Noah,” Folio warned quietly. “Now, you may want to do something.” 

     But Noah was frozen. 

      He’d seen Y/n protective. He’s seen her face danger without a second thought to protect Summer. He’s felt the temperature drop because of the air around her.  

      But this? 

      This was different. This was as if a demon locked in the darkest part of her soul broke out of its cage. The part of her that she kept locked away since the day she was told she’d never be a mother.  

     This was pure, maternal, protective rage. A kind of rage Noah didn’t know existed.  

     Liv tried to laugh, but her voice shook. “You don’t scare me.” 

      Y/N leaned in, voice low and steady. 

“Good. Then stand still and close your eyes, sweetheart.” 

      And before anyone could stop her— 

      CRACK. 

      Her fist flew past Liv’s face and shattered the mirror beside her head. 

      Glass exploded. 

      Shards rained down like glittering ice. 

      Some sprinkled onto Liv’s shoulder, her hair, her shirt. 

      She felt the rush of displaced air brush her cheek; the punch landing no more than half an inch away from her face.  

      Liv gasped, hands flying up. Knees shaking so hard they almost gave out.  

      Folio’s eyes grew wide. “Holy fuck.” 

      Noah’s heart stopped. 

      Y/N slowly lowered her hand from the broken glass, a thin line of blood forming across her knuckles. 

      Then she looked Liv dead in the eyes. 

      “You listen to me very carefully,” she said, voice terrifyingly calm. “I may have started as a babysitter, but I don’t fucking play mommy. I protect that child. Because someone had to.” 

      Liv trembled. 

       Y/N lifted her hand, pointing right at Liv’s chest. 

      “I am her mother. I’m the woman who gets up with her when she has nightmares. I’m the one who sits on the bathroom floor with her when she’s sick. I’m the one she calls for when she’s scared and her father isn’t home. I’m the one she curls into during movies. I’m the one that becomes a wall between her and a sick fan that wants to put their hands on her. She calls me ‘mom.’” 

      “And I’m done pretending that I’m not,” Y/N said, voice low, sharp, unshakeable. 

     “And I will never—never—let you hurt her again. Not with your absence. Not with your sudden interest. Not with your words.” Y/N stepped even closer, forcing Liv deeper into the wall. Their bodies almost touching.  

     “You forfeited your place in her life. You don’t get to be jealous of someone who actually stayed.” 

      Liv sneered, “Of course you’d want that. You’re just trying to play house with—” 

     “Play house?” She cut Liv off, Her breath fanned Liv’s cheek. “I’m going to let you in on something, Olivia. Some truth for you, if you will. I sleep next to Noah every night. I fall asleep in his shirts. I wake up in his arms every morning. It’s my body pressed against his. It’s me he wakes up tasting from the night before. I’ve loved that man longer than I’ve dared to fucking admit. I love him. I love his daughter. She is my daughter. Not because I birthed her. Because I choose her every single day.” 

      Liv swallowed, voice tiny. “You… you love him?” 

     Y/N didn’t even blink. 

      “Yes,” she said. “More than you ever did. More than you ever could.” 

      The words landed like a punch. 

      Noah felt it in his chest, felt something unravel, something he’d locked down for months. Something he’d been terrified to fully admit outloud.  

      Y/N stepped back just a little, voice lowering. 

      “You don’t get to walk in here and break their lives again. You gave up that right when you walked out the door and didn’t look back.” 

      Liv’s eyes finally dropped. 

     Broken. Defeated. Caught. 

     “And if you ever show up to hurt them again… mirror glass will be the least of your worries. Because I won’t aim my fist to miss next time.” 

      Liv’s breath hitched, eyes wide, terrified. 

      Y/N pointed to the door. 

      “You walk out of this building,” she said slowly, “and you don’t come back. No surprise visits. No guilt trips. No showing up because you’re bored or lonely. You stay gone.” 

      “Y-you can’t tell me—” 

      “I just did,” Y/N said quietly. Her voice still seemed to echo. Cold. Final. 

      Liv looked to Noah. Praying he’d save her. See what a psycho the girl in front of them was.   

      Noah didn’t. He just stared at Y/N with a look that was part awe, part heartbreak, part realization. 

     “Go,” he said quietly. Still not breaking his eyes from Y/n.  

      Liv swallowed, angry tears stinging her eyes. 

      She slipped away from Y/N’s shadow and practically ran down the hall. 

     When she disappeared, Noah exhaled shakily, hands in his hair, voice breaking. 

    “Jesus Christ, Y/N…” 

     Y/N didn’t look at him. She just stared at the mirror, chest rising and falling, knuckles dripping blood. 

     Folio stepped forward, his shoes crunching the glass scattered on the floor, his voice barely above a whisper. 

     “…holy shit.” 

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