Opposing Counsel Masterlist

Opposing Counsel Masterlist

Rafael Barba x fem!reader Summary: Rafael's out in Manhattan trying to escape the legal world of the city for a little bit when he meets y/n in a bar. They connect instantly and Rafael decides to be bold, inviting her home with him despite not even exchanging last names. After a night of mind blowing sex, they both find themselves surprised the next morning when they run into each other on opposite sides of a case.

Chapter 1**

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4**

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Series completed.

@fandom-princess-forevermore @alexusonfire @bisexualcrowley @detective-giggles @teamsladsandgents @averyhotchner @beccabarba @itsjustmyfantasyroom @permanentlydizzy @whimsicallymad @prurientpuddlejumper @letsdisneythings @neely1177 @angieed @mrsrafaelbarba @lv7867 @bisexual-dreamer02 @skittle479 @amelia-song-pond @madamsnape921 @altsvu @svulife-rl @caracalwithchips @mysticfalls01 @ssaic-jareau @barbasbodaciousbeard @alwaysachorusgirl @beardedbarba @michael-rooker @rafivadafreddy @darkheart-brightsmile @australiancarisi @tinyboxxtink @ex-uallyactive @lawandorderuswnt @lustvolle-liebe @sia2raw @narvaldetierra @dxtery @lannister-slings-and-arrows @poisonedcrowns @melk197 @anlin2058 @xoxabs88xox @momlifebehard @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @xovalliegirlxo @godard-muse @nobody-important1212

“KNOWING YOU BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE” LIU KANG X FEM! READER

SUMMARY : Liu Kang loves you the way you are.

WARNINGS : none but I did not proofread

A/N : *me walking in like it hasn’t been since November since I posted* also it was longer but it got deleted so yeah I hate it here

Liu Kang changed a lot in the timeline but he didn’t want to change anything about you. Because everything that was you made you, well you. The woman he had fallen in love with in the previous timeline.

Not even your way of making one too many jokes. Not even the way you’d deflect everything. Not even the way you rolled your eyes. The one eye roll where you had to do a full body eye roll.

He couldn’t change a thing about you.

This is why you resented him.

After finding out that Liu Kang was the one to create the timeline, you couldn’t stand him. Because everything that you hated about yourself just made you furious.

You didn’t think you were very smart. You had a hard time controlling your emotions. Anxiety was your worst enemy. It felt impossible to even do the things you needed to do in order to protect Earthrealm.

It made you believe that he honestly didn’t like you because if he did, why couldn’t you be the chosen one like Raiden? Or a movie star like Johnny? Or the descendant of a great champion like Kung Lao? Something to live for.

You were in the training room, punching the punching bag. You didn’t stretch before working and I’m not doing so, caused you to pull a muscle in your arm.

“Ow! What the fuck?!”

“You did not stretch did you?”

You jumped at the voice as you held your arm in pain. You turned around and saw Liu Kang standing there with a disapproving look. “You know instead of sneaking up on people, you can announce yourself right?”

Liu Kang ignored you and immediately walked over towards you. He gently took your arm, ignoring whatever protests came from your lips. Then soothingly rubbed the cramped spot.

Liu Kang was always a gentle being but with you he was ten times more gentle with you. It irritated you to no end. You felt like he was babying you. Especially after your battle with Shang Tsung.

Unfortunately because Liu Kang didn’t change anything about you, that made another man fall in love with you. The evil sorcerer himself.

You battled Shang Tsung and in return, got a black eye and sore ribs. Liu Kang was just regretting that he even let Shang Tsung in this timeline.

You let out a sigh as Liu Kang rubbed your cramped spot. When he did, his eyes met yours. And he saw how badly your eye was.

He went to touch your cheek but you pulled away from him.

Liu Kang couldn’t understand it. In the last timeline, not only did you show your goofy side but you were emotionally vulnerable with him. So, he could not understand why you weren’t now.

If he didn’t change anything about you then what was the problem? Was it because he himself had changed?

“Stop doing that.”

Liu Kang tilted his head at your command. “Doing what?”

“Being soft with me. I’m not weak.”

Liu Kang couldn’t help but smile. “(Y/N), you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. I do not view you as weak.”

“You sure about that?”

You pulled away from his grasp completely but Liu Kang didn’t budge. When you tried to walk away, Liu grabbed your hand and forced you to look at him with his other hand. “Why do you think I view you as weak?”

“Why?” You slightly push him to get him off of you. “You make Raiden the chosen one, not to mention give him Thunder powers! You even made Mileena actually apart of the family and now she’s Empress! You tried to stop Shang Tsung from finding out his sorcery and he still found a way! Even Johnny Cage is more badass than me! And he doesn’t even have any powers but at least he’s a movie star and gets to say a cheesy line here and there.”

Liu Kang listened to every point you made but it was all meaningless to him. Because in his eyes, you were perfect. “You think you’re below them? The people I had to change so that in this timeline they would be better?”

You stopped yourself from saying anything. You thought about what he said. It didn’t make any sense but you were still mad. “Well like…when you put it like that…just…why couldn’t you do anything cool with me? Why did you have to make me so plain?”

Liu Kang’s heart broke a little when he had heard how you viewed yourself. It made him feel bad slightly but you weren’t plain to him. Not even a little bit. “I don’t think you’re plain. I didn’t have the desire to change you in any way.”

“Why though?”

Liu Kang wanted to tell you the real reason but he couldn’t. If he were to tell you what really happened in the original timeline then everything would change. Maybe for the worse. And he couldn’t handle if it were to change to the worse.

“I can’t tell you.”

You scoffed. You couldn’t believe that Liu Kang, the one that was always truthful, was being so secretive. It made you think that you truly didn’t know who he was. “Of course you can’t. What’s up with the secrets? You’re never secretive with everyone else? Again, why is it always with me!”

Liu Kang shamefully averted from your eyes as he let out a sigh. “I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.”

It was only then that Liu Kang felt a stinging sensation to his cheek. He felt the right side of his face. Then came to the conclusion that you slapped him.

“You’re a coward.”

The last thing Liu Kang wanted to do was upset you. He was being selfish. He knew he was. Not telling you what really happened in the past but he never wanted what happened in the past to influence your feelings in any way.

But it seemed like the lie was only hurting you.

THE PREVIOUS TIMELINE

“Just admit it. Admit you have a thing for me.” You playfully teased Liu Kang, jabbing your finger in his chest.

He had always been nervous around you. With you being the more up front person. He always had respect for you which is why he tried to show little to no interest in you romantically.

It did not work. You were able to figure him out. Read him like a book and it was killing you that the chosen one himself couldn’t admit it.

Liu Kang tried to pass it off and shake his head. He lightly pushed your hand away from him. “No. I do not.”

“Don’t hurt my feelings, Liu.”

“I would never intentionally do that.”

“Then stop lying.” You pulled him closer by the bottom of his shirt. “Don’t be a coward.”

The aura that made you, you, brought Liu Kang closer. There was no more denying what he wanted. He wanted you.

He gently caressed your right cheek with his hand. He stared into your eyes like he had found your soul. You meant everything to him and he knew it was now or never to admit to it. “What if I did say it? What would happen then?”

“Probably would have to talk about it in the bedroom.” You playfully said to him. Liu Kang chuckled lightly. “I hate your Mr. Nice Guy act.”

He shook his head then bent down to kiss you. You returned this soft kiss, wrapping your arms around his neck. He kissed you as if he was afraid to break you.

He kissed you as if you felt like home.

Liu Kang pulled away from your lips and then gave you small bitterly kisses on your cheek and neck. It made you giggle.

“Stop, Liu.”

Liu Kang smiled against your skin and brought his lips back to yours to kiss you one last time.

The way he kissed you felt like you were a princess. He kissed you like you were the only woman in the world. Like you were the only one that mattered.

That’s what made you feel so special.

He pulled away from you and gave you a loving smile. “I love you.”

THE PRESENT TIMELINE

Liu Kang thought back into that moment. That he had to admit his feelings to you in order to have you. That he had to fight the urge to be a coward.

He wanted you but he didn’t want you to only have him just because you did so in the previous timeline.

He pushed it all away. The feeling that wanted him to hide from you.

Liu pulled your arm back when you tried to walk away from him. He pulled you back into his embrace and kissed you.

You stood there, shocked that he was kissing you. You didn’t even have enough time to process.

His lips were warm. His body was warm. You felt the heat start to come onto your body.

Not only were they warm but they were soft. They didn’t taste like anything but you couldn’t help this butterfly feeling erupting in your stomach when he did so.

He pulled away from you and rested his head against yours. “I love you. And I’ve loved you since the other timeline. And I’ve loved you since the timeline even before that when I became a revenant. And that’s why I couldn’t change you. Because I love you just the way you are.”

You were surprised. You hadn’t realized that Liu Kang was in love with you but when he spoke it, it all made sense.

You didn’t think you had feelings for him but started to wonder why you always searched for his approval and why you cared about his opinion on you so much.

It was because deep down, you had feelings for him too.

You were also still mad at him. He hadn’t been honest to you from the start. “Why are you just now telling me?”

“Because I did not want things you’ve done or felt in the previous timeline to influence your decision.”

It made sense. So much so that you felt guilty for the way you had been treating him. “I hate your stupid Mr. Nice Guy act.” You told him.

Your sentence made him think back. And all it did was make him smile. “So, I’ve heard.”

“there is no way anyone is that innocent” with sonny? also can you include overstim + multiple orgasms for reader? thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️

..........

ooops this turned out to be really long hehe but i hope you like it! thanks for the request!

It’s been years since you had seen Sonny. After college, you had left to study abroad, and ended up staying. You had met someone, and had started your first serious relationship. Apart from visiting for Christmas, you had not been back home. 

But the break-up had been horrendous and so you packed up your stuff and returned to New York, to the comfort of your loved ones, to lick your wounds. 

The occasion was less than ideal. Your sister’s nuptials. For her sake, you kept a brave face, did everything to help her with the fairytale wedding she had always dreamed of. Your family being devout catholics as well as Italian, it had to be proper and perfect down to the smallest detail. 

And it ended up being exactly that. Although Sonny’s presence, and the fact that he looked incredibly handsome in his suit, was threatening to distract you for the entire ceremony. The priest hadn’t even gotten to the opening prayer yet and your eyes wandered, meeting his gaze as you stood by your sister’s side. He smiled in a way that made you blush, and remember all the things you had done with each other as teenagers, things your parents would probably disown you for if they ever found out. 

Following the ceremony, you had been too busy to even sit down, let alone think further about the way his lips had lingered on your upper jaw as he had kissed you on the cheek. Or the way he had whispered ‘You look so beautiful’ before your aunt pulled you away towards the car waiting to take you to the estate your family had booked for the celebrations.

But now that most of the formalities are over and the guests are eating, drinking, and dancing, you have snuck away to take some much needed drags from your vape pen, the kind filled with something other than nicotine. 

‘If you don’t share, I’ll tell.’ a male voice says behind you and you smile, turning around to see Sonny.

He looks even sexier now. He had lost the tie, and his shirt is unbuttoned just right, a bit of chest hair is peeking out. His hair no longer in its perfectly gelled state, having played with the kids in attendance all afternoon, giving countless of piggy-back rides. You catch yourself staring once more. 

‘Our parents would literally kill us.’ you hand him the vape.

‘Our parents would kill us for a lot of things, even fifteen years later.’ Sonny smirks as he takes a drag.

‘I’ll just say you seduced me.’ you shrug, reveling in the way he flirts with you.

‘And now? Seems you’re the one seducing me.’ he waves the pen at you and you snatch it from his hand.

‘I would never. All the naughty stuff? You taught me. I’d probably still be a virgin if it wasn’t for you, Sonny.’ you joke and he laughs out loud. 

‘Ohhhhh. Right. So that ex-boyfriend of yours was gonna wait ‘til marriage, huh?’ Sonny chuckles and you continue to tease.

‘Hmmm. Now I’m almost thirty and single and no one wants me because you ruined me.’ 

Sonny steps closer. ‘I want you.’ he whispers. ‘I’ve always wanted you.’

You take a deep breath. He isn’t joking around any longer. And the smug grin disappears from your face as you take in the serious implications of his words, and his actions as he lifts his hand to cup your cheek, your lips suddenly only inches apart. 

‘Sonny, I-’ you’re about to lean in when someone shouts your name. It’s your mom. Fuck. 

He sighs as you pull away, and you give him an apologetic look as you rush back towards the wedding party before your mother catches you with him, and the weed. Adult or not, you’re still a child and probably always will be when it comes to your parents, especially as the youngest daughter. 

You hate to leave him, the urge to be near him even more compelling now after his confession. There’s always been something between you. Yes, you had been kids back then; exploring, being curious, with a decent amount of teenage rebellion on top of it. Still, you would have never done this with just any boy. Sonny and you had always been each other’s first crushes, and there had always been a level of trust and intimacy with him you had not been able to find with anyone that came after. The joking, the teasing, even now it seemed you picked up right where you had left off. 

Being the younger sister of the bride aka running the errands and doing the things the maid of honor is too important to do, you are sent to get the lash glue they forgot in your room earlier. As you rummage through the mess you left behind when getting ready, there’s a knock on the door. 

‘Ugh, hang on!’ you grumble, opening this and that bag to search.

Another knock. God, fake lashes falling off can’t be that much of an emergency. 

‘Wait!’ you yell, getting annoyed.

‘Waited long enough.’ you hear Sonny’s voice say outside the door.

Oh. Oh. You drop the makeup bag back on the table and more or less leap for the door. The moment you open it, Sonny pushes into the room, pressing a heated kiss onto your lips, and you wrap your arms around his neck. You aren’t even surprised that he followed you, and that this is happening right now. In all honesty, you had hoped for it, even dreamed about it, from the second you found out he was coming to the wedding. Now, as his hands wander over your body, it’s more than obvious that he had been too. Reaching back behind him between kisses, you lock the door, and he smiles against your lips. 

‘Hmmm, guess I was right.’ he mumbles, his voice low.

‘Right about what?’ you ask sheepishly, pushing his suit jacket off his shoulders. 

‘That there’s no way anyone is that innocent.’ Sonny starts fumbling with the zipper of your dress and you turn around, making it easier for him. 

‘What do you mean? I’m a good catholic girl.’ his warm hands glide down your back as he pulls it down, revealing your dark red lace underwear. 

‘Good catholic girl, huh?’ his fingers trace along the fabric, underneath the waistband of your thong, pulling it before letting it snap back. ‘Did you put this on hoping I would take it off? I know you did. So innocent.’ 

You turn back to face him, your dress falling to the floor. Sonny draws in a sharp breath, taking in the sight of you, and you can feel the heat spreading throughout your entire body. The look in his eyes is a mixture of that boyish gleam of anticipation and the confidence of a man who knows exactly what he wants.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ you taunt, making him laugh, but you kiss him again, with more force this time, turning his laugh into a moan. 

Truth is, nothing has ever been innocent about you when it came to him. And yet it feels so different now that you aren’t kids anymore. Even with your ex you hadn’t felt like this. It does scare you, even though it excites you at the same time. You start unbuttoning his shirt, your hands on his body like magnets, discovering just how much he has grown from an awkward, lanky boy into a man. Not that you didn’t love the awkward, lanky boy just as much. 

Your fingers wrap around his erection as your hands reach down his pants and he hisses, walking you backwards to the bed, unhooking your bra in the process. 

‘I really…have no idea…what you’re talking about.’ you repeat as you begin to pump him, endlessly thrilled by how you can already feel him leaking pre-cum, and dying to have him inside you. 

But it seems Sonny has other plans. Pushing you down on the mattress he forces you to withdraw from him, and he gets down on his knees, pulling your hips toward him, and all of a sudden his face is merely inches away from your lace-covered center. He’s so close you can feel his breath, making you shiver. 

‘Lie down.’ Sonny orders softly and you do as he asks. ‘Good girl.’ he whispers in response, and you just about soak your panties at his words.

Not that it matters, since he grabs the piece of clothing and pulls them off with one swift motion, tossing them aside. And there you are now, naked on the bed in front of him, and his long fingers slip over your clit, down your folds, playing with your wetness. Your moan is louder than you had anticipated as it leaves your mouth, and your body trembles at the prospect of what’s to come. You look down at him as Sonny spreads your legs open, his eyes staring into yours as his tongue darts out to taste you.

‘Fuck baby, you taste even more delicious than I remember.’ he purrs, again letting his tongue roll over your pussy, again making you moan. 

‘Sonny…oh my God!’ you whimper, and he grabs your thighs, settling between your legs. 

You nearly pass out. All you can do is lie there and hold on to the sheets as his adept mouth continues to work on your cunt. His tongue delves into you, drawing more slick, fucking into you softly before he’s back on your clit, and you can feel him spread your lips some more to get better access. Applying just the right amount of pressure he massages your nub, and you can’t help but reach down to run your fingers through your hair, pulling ever so slightly as he makes you shudder with every flick of his tongue. 

‘Mmm I could spend all day between your legs. I missed you.’ he groans, and you can hear his own arousal in his voice.    

You swallow hard, your pulse quickening as he keeps going, sucking on your clit while he plunges two fingers into you. 

‘Ugh, shit! Sonny! Please…’ you beg, arching your back as he starts pumping his fingers in and out, curling over your gspot.

‘What, my love?’ he asks, looking up at you curiously but you know he knows what it is you want.

‘Please…’ your voice getting more and more shaky as he picks up the pace.

‘Please, what?’ Sonny grins, licking your slit up and down, his face already wet with your juices. Oh, what a sight.

‘Please, fuck me.’ your flushed face turning even more red. You’ve never said this to a man out loud. 

‘I’m not done here yet. Not by a long shot. You gotta be patient. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?’ Sonny mumbles, his fingers pulling back a little to toy with your wet opening before shoving them back in, making you cry out in pleasure. 

You’re getting close. And you know he can feel it, in the way you grip at his hair, in the way you grind yourself against him, in the way you can’t help but clench around his fingers. 

‘It f-feels so g-good, Sonny.’ you breathe, as he mouths at your pussy, his tongue flat against you, licking from bottom to top, seemingly not getting enough of your taste. 

His fingers fuck into you harder and faster, as he focuses on your most sensitive spots. The feeling of his tongue on you paired with his pretty moans, the way he is getting so much pleasure from satisfying you, it’s all too much. You can feel the wave rolling in, your thighs beginning to shake. He had given you your first orgasm ever, and it had been so unexpected, you’d had no idea what was happening. Even the ones after had taken you by surprise, and you had mostly been shy about it. For some reason, you had always held back, especially with your other lovers, or they just hadn’t been as good at getting you there. Now back with Sonny, it was different. You are losing control and truth be told, you don’t know if you’re ready for it. 

However, you can’t stop it. The spring that’s been coiling tightly in your stomach from the second he started touching you, releases and you shake, trying your best to stifle a loud moan. You whimper and attempt to get away from Sonny’s mouth, his fingers that are still sliding in and out of you. It’s too much. It’s all too much. You sigh and finally push him away, closing your legs as you shiver. 

‘Hey…’ he exhales softly, grabbing your waist as you look at him shyly. ‘What’s that?’

‘Nothing…I just…can we just…’ you stammer, slightly overwhelmed. He looks at you confused. 

‘Oh, no. Wait. We gotta try this again. And this time you gotta relax.’ he slips his hand back between your legs, and you want to protest, being so sensitive after your climax.

He starts rubbing your clit again and you can’t help but open your legs once more, giving him access. Sonny is back on you, his tongue licking up your first release, and within seconds he is eliciting another. You close your eyes and your hands grab the sheets for hold, feeling yourself topple over again. It’s even more intense this time, your pussy and clit still swollen from your previous orgasm, having been denied to even come down from it. You spasm around his fingers again, your back arching, and this time, his name escapes your mouth in a moan, and he watches you intently as you ride out those waves of pleasure. 

But no, he still doesn’t withdraw his fingers.

‘Again.’ he whispers, circling your clit, pressing his fingers into your glistening heat as he spreads your thighs wider, and you feel like blacking out. ‘Let go, my love. Don’t think of anything else.’ 

You come. Again. And even if you tried to think of anything, you can’t. His free hand holds down your hips as your third climax crashes over you with a gush and it’s only then he pulls out of you, letting your pussy convulse and release a stream of moisture. Fuck. You don’t know what is happening but his mouth is on you again, tasting every last drop coming out of you, sloppily licking up and down your folds.

‘Good girl. Making such a pretty mess for me.’ he praises, and it finally registers in your brain. He had just made you squirt. And that definitely hadn’t happened to you before. Ever. 

‘Sonny, what the fuck?’ you choke, almost breathlessly. 

‘Language!’ he smiles as he gets rid of his pants and underwear, finally crawling up, kissing you deeply as he grabs your hips. 

The taste of you on his lips makes you even more delirious as he thrusts into you, his cock feeling bigger than ever in your overstimulated core. You whine, and you’re already starting to bliss out, again. Sonny is close just from eating you out, you can tell but he’s holding back, burying himself inside you while his thumb finds your clit. 

‘I love seeing you cum.’ he growls into your ear before his lips capture yours once more. 

And yes, you come again. There really is no point of holding back any longer. You fully give yourself over to him, and this blinding ecstasy. He really seems to revel in it, and now that he is inside of you, it is even more intense. Sonny gasps as you squeeze him, your walls beginning to spasm, making it almost difficult to pump into you. You claw at his back, rolling your hips against his as you moan a string of curse words at which he grins. 

‘You gotta stop.’ you cry, as he picks up the pace, pounding into your delicate pussy.

‘I’m not done with you.’ Sonny smirks, biting at your neck as you keep scratching and digging your nails into him.

Oh God. Good Lord. You can’t even think straight anymore. You have lost count of your orgasms, not that it matters because he seems to want to make you come as many times as possible until he can no longer hold back himself. Arching your back you meet his rough thrusts, feeling him smile against your lips as he kisses you passionately. His thumb hasn’t left your clit, keeping pressure there, rubbing to intensify your pleasure if that’s even humanly possible. You are on another plane. You might as well be on another planet. You have lost all sense of time and space, the only things to exist are Sonny and you. With each thrust, his cock hits your gspot in the most delightful way, and your body begins to curl in on itself, pussy throbbing and clenching around him. 

‘I love it when I can feel you burst around me.’ he groans, sending you over the edge to another orgasm. 

‘S-Sonny! Jesus fucking Christ!’ you scream, pressing your head back into the mattress as you desperately cling to him, shaking.

Sonny grins at your profanities; he has you exactly where he wanted you -  completely undone. He pushes up your legs, positioning them over his shoulders, fucking into you, even deeper than before. 

‘Fuck, baby, fuck, you’re so wet! Fuck!’ he’s close now, you can feel it. 

‘I want you to cum inside me.’ you purr into his ear, your words driving him crazy.

He growls, ramming into you as he plays with your clit. You know he’s going to make you come again but you want to hold back, want to feel him come with you. Crying out his name you hold on to him, purposely clenching your walls to squeeze him and he bites your lip in response, the slight pain adding to your pleasure even more. Just as you feel yourself topple over again he tenses, and as your pussy pulses, pulling him in even deeper, he finally lets go, spilling inside of you. He moans your name, pumping his cum into you, the sensation too much for your overwrought cunt. You can’t stop shaking, and he’s hugging you tightly, the two of you collapsing together. 

You don’t know how long you stay like this, breathing heavily, your bodies tangled in soaked sheets. Messy, crazy, wild, out of control; just how sex is supposed to be, and it took you reuniting with your first true love to unleash this feral side of you. 

‘What are you thinking about?’ Sonny asks, pushing back a strand of hair from your face.

‘That you were my first. And you should be my last. Because fuck, I don’t think anyone will ever make me cum like this ever again.’ you smile, kissing him.

‘Well…that was my plan all along, I’m glad I succeeded.’ he admits, pulling you even closer.

request a prompt from the smut prompt list 🔥

Old Letters - Rafael Barba Imagine (Law & Order: SVU)

Title: Old Letters

Pairing: Rafael Barba X Reader

Word Count: 1,352 words

Warning(s): mentions of violent threats (non-descriptive)

Summary: A threat from (Y/n)'s past starts causing problems again and no one is allowing them to take it on alone.

Author's Note: I've watched a lot of this show over the last few days.

--------------------------

I hadn't noticed that I was acting differently. Not at first, at least.

I had snapped at the team a few times. I knew that much. But I assumed it was my mind focusing on the case. I was taking it seriously. That was a good thing. That was always a good thing, wasn't it?

I thought so until I made it to Rafael's office with Liv to discuss what we had found.

"It's conclusive evidence," I said.

"To us, to a jury...," Rafael trailed off.

"Always assuming the worse," I muttered.

"It's my job," he replied, standing from his chair. "I have to be able to see where potential landmines are."

"No, you just like operating on the idea that the jury is going to be full of assholes," I snapped. "Because then, when you get a good verdict, it inflates your ego because look at you, you made the assholes show empathy for a victim-"

"(Y/n)."

I looked at Liv when she spoke. Her eyes were wide. I had never acted like this before, especially not with Rafael. The two of us were always close, even before we had started our relationship.

"We'll go," she said simply. "We'll call with any updates."

I took a deep breath before going to follow her out. She made it out the door before Rafael spoke up.

"(Y/n), wait-"

"Rafael, I have work," I said, trying to wave him off.

"And your work has never resulted in you snapping at me or anyone on your team," he replied. "Especially, not like that. Something is different about this case."

"Nothing is different. I am perfectly fine. I have to go."

He grabbed my hand to get me to stop. "Please, talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about," I pulled his hand up to press a kiss to his knuckles. "I'm okay."

"You very clearly aren't."

I dropped his hand. "You don't get to decide that."

I walked out before he could question me any further. I only stopped in the doorway.

I tried to go about the rest of the case like nothing was affecting me. It seemed to work for the most part. If anyone noticed something, then they didn't say it.

I held onto everything until the court case was over.

After that, it was like any wall I had broke down. No more distractions. I had to confront what was happening.

I had managed to change into some more comfortable clothes and get to my window before it all came crashing down.

I almost felt stupid as I placed my hand over my mouth and started crying. It was all just fear. That was the only real explanation that I had for sobbing like this.

"(Y/n)?"

I took a deep breath and wiped my eyes when I heard Rafael walk in. The only person that I trusted with a key. He told me that he was coming over tonight.

"Hey," he said softly. I heard him setting some stuff down before walking closer. I turned around to face him. "What's wrong?"

"You were right," I admitted, blinking away a fresh wave of tears. "I... I'm not okay."

I folded in on myself a bit as I sobbed.

"Hey..."

He walked over and pulled me into a hug, letting me cry into his shoulder. I tried to focus on stopping the tears. I didn't want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. Rafael was too nice to me. He didn't complain, didn't ask questions, didn't shush me. He just held me and waited. Too patient.

I eventually leaned back, avoiding any eye contact as I leaned on the window. I only looked over at him when he leaned on the window next to me. He offered me a small grin as he grabbed my hand.

Again, too nice.

"This guy," I tried to explain. "It was the first guy I caught with S.V.U. He got off easy considering what had done. A few years, maybe. Should've been longer. Now... he's being released. This case... the timing... made everything spark back up again. Those feelings that come from your first case."

"Okay," Rafael nodded. "There's more."

"He wrote me a letter when he first got sentenced," I continued. "He had a plan ready for when he got out. Pretty... detailed. I'm the one that cuffed him, I'm the one he's after."

"Does anyone else know about that letter?"

"I was stupid and embarrassed and scared. The guy had my address."

"(Y/n)-"

"I thought it was weak," I cut him off. "I... I figured I had enough time that he would give up."

"And then?"

"Another letter was placed under my windshield."

"(Y/n)-"

"Stop scolding me, we were in the middle of a case."

"You're staying with me," he shrugged.

"No," I scoffed. "I'm fine. I can handle this."

"This wasn't a question," he said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "I'm calling Benson. You need the team to back you."

"I don't-"

"Please."

I paused when I saw the look on his face. He was typically calm, calculated even. This was not that. This was fear. Pure fear. I nodded and went to pack a bag.

Benson was waiting when we got to Rafael's apartment.

"Liv," I groaned.

"You needed to talk to me."

"I had it handled-"

"No, you didn't."

I looked down. I deserved the bluntness of her response.

"We need the letters."

I sighed. "My desk at my place. Top drawer. I hid them in some old conference pamphlet."

"Thank you."

"Come on," Rafael placed his hand on my back, leading me inside. My bag was thrown over his shoulder.

We didn't talk for a little while. I put my bag down next to his bed and sat on the edge of it. I looked around the room, trying to become more accustomed to it. He walked into the room a little while later.

"I've never stayed here overnight," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "I just figured you liked my place better."

He chuckled. It made me grin.

"I'm sorry for how I treated you earlier," I mumbled as he stood next to his dresser, probably finding empty drawers for me to use. "I don't actually think that you're obsessed with your ego. I should never have said. I shouldn't have snapped at you at all. You have been nothing but good to me. I am so, so sorry."

He turned back to look at me. There was still a gentle grin on his face. I wish he would just be mad at me once. Not always so understanding. I never thought that I deserved it.

"I forgive you," he said. A bit of weight rolled off my shoulders. Thank God.

"And I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. About the threats."

"I'm not upset with you over that," he shook his head, sitting next to me. "I wish you had told me, yes, but it's not your fault."

I reached over and grabbed his hand. "Thank you."

He kissed the side of my head. "Need anything? I could order something."

"Sleep," I chuckled. "I need sleep. I've been running off caffeine and very little sleep through this whole case."

"Make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back."

I nodded at him as he stood up.

I was curled up under the covers by the time Rafael joined me He chuckled at the sight of me almost hiding under the blanket.

"You tricked me," I muttered as I wrapped my arms around his torso. "This bed is much nicer than mine. You should've told me."

"My apologies," he replied, pulling me closer to him.

I chuckled and relaxed. He leaned over and kissed my forehead.

"It's going to be alright," he mumbled against my skin. "We're gonna keep you safe. The team is gonna keep you safe."

"I know," I said. "I trust you. And them, but mainly you."

"I love you."

"I love you too," I grinned at him.

I fell asleep soon after that, actually feeling safe for the first time in days.

--------------------------

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What I Write For

Some Original Characters

Hi!! If you're up to it do you think you could write something about the first time Jason brings his gf to the manor. Like maybe he brings her in but doesn't tell anyone and so everyone is trying to sneak a glimpse of her??

meet the family

jason todd x fem!reader

aka jason has a girlfriend???

warnings: none

The manor sits full as ever—a cloud of mild boredom sweeping over the Wayne clan.

Dick sits perched on top of an armchair reading a catalog, Stephanie’s splayed out across the couch, Cass is bundled up in blankets atop the ottoman, and Damian leans up against the center table from the floor.

It’s a relatively slow afternoon, until Tim comes bursting into the room, out of breath.

“There’s a girl here!”

Everybody looks at him, disinterest scattered across the room. “There’s a couple of ‘em.” Dick says, flipping through the pages of the magazine.

Tim huffs, “No! In Jason’s room—he has a girl in there!” Eyebrows shoot up at that.

“Now I know you’re lying.” Damian mutters.

Tims head snaps over to Damian. “Dude, go see for yourself. I heard her!”

“You really think Jason would bring a girl here and not even introduce us?” Steph asks, unconvinced.

“Yeah.”

“Yes.”

“Obviously.”

Cassandra nods fervently.

“Okay, yeah. Maybe.” Stephanie mutters. “I bet he’ll introduce me before any of you guys, though.”

Dick barks out a laugh, “You’re nothing short of delusional if you think he’s introducing any of us.”

“We’ll have to take matters into our own hands, then.” Tim says, decidedly.

Damian audibly sighs and rolls his eyes.

“I’m meeting her first.” Steph confirms. “I’ll put money down right now.”

“Meet her or see her?” Cass signs.

“Same thing.” Stephanie shrugs.

Dick shoots up from his seat, “First person to see her gets to be the ring bearer!” He announces, racing out of the room.

Knock knock knock knock knock…

Knock knock.

It takes a good forty seconds, but Jason opens the door, an annoyed frown already on his face.

Dick gives him his brightest smile. It beams of deceit in Jason's eyes. “Hey man. What’cha doing?”

He crosses his arms. “What do you want?”

Dick tries to peer around Jason into the room, but Jason made a point of barely opening the door and his large frame isn’t doing Dick any favors right now.

“Just wanted to say hey…You wanna hang out?”

“No.”

Dick lingers awkwardly. “…Are you sure?”

Jason shuts the door.

A couple minutes later, Tim comes running up the stairs. He opts to skip over the courtesy of knocking and go straight for barging through the door himself. Or he would’ve, if Jason hadn’t seen that coming from a mile away and locked it.

“Fuck off, Tim!” Jason calls from inside the room.

“You lost your right to privacy the second you walked in this house!” He shouts back, hitting his fist against the door.

And Tim swears he can hear a sweet laugh as he trudges away. The authenticity of that claim will be heavily debated downstairs for the next several minutes.

Not even a thirty seconds later, Stephanie comes a knockin’. Jason opens the door wordlessly, patience clearly dissipating more and more.

“Hey, Jason! I can’t find my comm, you wouldn’t happen to have it, would you?”

His face deadpans. “No, Steph.”

Stephanie clicks her tongue, “Can you check?”

He stares at her.

“Actually you’re right, it would be faster if I did.” Stephanie tries to push past him into the room, but Jason, unsurprisingly, doesn’t budge.

“Stephanie.”

“I just want to meet her!” She pleads. “I won’t even tell the others, I’ll just say you wouldn’t let me in either!”

“Bye.” He closes the door.

He doesn’t make it all the way back to the bed before the next knock, singular and short.

Jason snaps the door open again, looking down at Damian with a glare.

Never one to waste any time, “Is there a girl in here?” Damian asks, seeming thoroughly disinterested in the answer.

Jason shuts the door in his face.

Several minutes later, another, quieter knock. Jason’s groan can be heard from outside the room. He pulls open the door once again.

It’s Cass.

She stares at him.

He stares at her.

“Can I say hi to her?” She signs.

Jason sighs. “I’ll pass along the message.”

She smiles and turns back down the hall.

Jason closes and locks the door once again, trudging back over to the bed where you lay. He collapses onto your chest, your arms wrapping around each others bodies immediately.

“Cass says hi.” He mumbles, the sound obscured by his face-down position.

“That message would be a lot more meaningful if I actually knew Cass.”

He groans. “You don’t want to meet them.”

“I do.” You say, running your fingers through his hair. “And I think you do too, or you wouldn’t have brought me to the house where the world's best detectives live.”

“I’m starting to regret it now.”

“Come on. Please?” You plead.

He picks his head up to look at you.

“Are you sure?” He asks with a grimace.

“Absolutely.” You say, topping it off with a kiss on his cheek.

He sighs.

Well. It’s never been within Jason’s skill set to deny you, anyways.

You descend the stairs hand in hand with Jason, his energy mopier than usual. You can hear a gaggle of voices coming from a room ahead, all talking over one another.

“Okay, Tim, you climb up outside the window and—”

“—It’s your plan, you scale the side of the house.”

Jason drops his head and mutters a “Jesus Christ…” as you near the commotion.

You give him a reassuring smile and pat his back as you both move into the doorway.

Everyone’s heads snap to the doorway, eyes wide and waiting.

Jason takes a deep breath like he’s steeling himself for torture. “Guys…This is my girlfriend.”

“Hi.” You smile sweetly, waving to the room.

There’s a moment of still silence before the room erupts.

“Hold on—”

“—my god, she’s so pretty!”

“Oh wow—”

“Wait, what?”

”—You’re real?”

“—didn’t place that bet.”

Stephanie comes scurrying up to you and grabs both of your hands in hers. “Hi, I’m Steph!” She says with a beaming smile. “What’s your name?”

“I’m—”

But the others are right on her tail, crowding around you.

“We didn’t even know Jason had a girlfriend.” Tim says.

“Still not convinced.” Damian mumbles from the back.

Cass waves and signs something to you.

“She says we’re really happy to meet you, which we are.” Dick tells you.

Damian moves closer within the huddle and inspects you closely. You have no idea what he’s inspecting you for. You don’t need to dwell on it for long because Jason pushes his head away from you with mild force making Damian scowl.

Stephanie chimes in, “Did he bring you here to meet us? The others said—”

Jason cuts her off, already knowing exactly where that sentence was going. “I brought her here to show her my old room.”

Dick snickers, “Oh, is that what you were off doing?”

“Watch it.” Your boyfriend warns.

You nudge him with your elbow, be nice.

Tim moves closer to you, narrowing his eyes. “So you’ve like, spent time with him and everything? And you still want to be around him?”

“Okay and you’re done.” Jason takes your hand and leads you out of the room and back down the hallway.

“No wait!”

You’re already out of the room and into another and then another before you can even realize that you’re headed for the front door.

You stop in your tracks, pulling him to a halt as well. “What about—”

Jason shakes his head. “You don’t want to meet him.”

You lower your chin at him, “Jay. Do you want me to meet him?”

He’s silent and doesn’t look like he particularly does.

You sigh, “Okay, do you want him to meet me?”

“I—yeah…” he trails, and you give him your best sweet eyes, the ones that he knows he has no business saying no to. “I…okay. Okay.”

He leads you down another hallway, the sounds of his siblings clambering echoing in the distance. You end up in a room that looks like a never used study, where Jason pushes on one of the walls. It slides open with a bit of force from him, revealing a door with a keypad next to it.

He types a series of numbers into it, and opens it up to a narrow passageway that looks remarkably like a cave.

The passageway leads down to a set of stairs, and you can hear the loud sound of water in the distance.

You’re quite nervous about walking into the Batcave, but you know Jason wouldn’t bring you anywhere near it unless he was sure it would be okay. Okay for you that is, more so than his father.

“Careful. It’s slippery.” Jason holds your hand the whole way down anyway, making sure to linger no more than a step and a half in front of you.

You see Bruce Wayne, sitting at a desk with a large array of computer screens in front of it, and case files scattered all throughout the surface.

He doesn’t acknowledge your entrance, though you have to imagine if Jason got his observation skills from anywhere, it would be him.

As you approach, Jason switches your hands so that his left is holding your left. The result has his figure half covering you, you can only assume partially limiting Bruce’s view of you.

“Bruce.”

Bruce turns his chair around, regarding Jason with a raised chin. The greeting is somehow even more formal than you’d expected.

“Jason.” He readdresses his gaze to you. “Who’s this?”

Jason has a hell of a feeling that Bruce already knows exactly who you are. He’s probably known about you since you started dating. He would’ve had to, to not be pissed as hell that Jason brought a civilian into the cave.

Jason introduces you, his hand reluctantly letting go as you step forward to shake Bruce’s.

Bruce looks surprised, though pleasantly so. He smiles and shakes it kindly.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” He says.

“You too, I’ve heard a lot about you.” You say, smiling.

He laughs, “Oh, I bet.” Looking to Jason, he says, “I can’t say I’ve had the same pleasure, unfortunately.”

Though Jason’s behind you now, you can practically feel him roll his eyes.

“No, I can’t imagine him sharing anything unprovoked.” Bruce smiles widely at that.

He opens his mouth to say something else, but Jason, who’s probably on the brink of losing his mind down here, interrupts.

“Alright. Time to go.” Jason says, grabbing your hand again. He doesn’t give you much time to protest before he’s guiding you by the waist past him and towards the stairs.

You let him nudge you out and call over your shoulder, “It was nice meeting you!”

He’s halfway up the stairs as you exit, only to be stopped by Bruce addressing him again.

“Jason.”

Jason stalls his steps, turning around slowly. You’re out of the cave now, and Jason’s not excited to be alone with his Dad for even a minute. It doesn’t help that he has no idea what he’ll say.

“She’s kind.” Bruce says, simply.

“Yes.”

He tilts his head at Jason, observing him. “You love her?”

Jason looks at the ground. “Yes.”

Bruce nods. “Good.”

He returns to his work at the computers wordlessly, and Jason has to take a moment to realign himself before he climbs the rest of the stairs.

Jason doesn’t particularly seek his fathers approval, nor does he place any definable value on it. However, hearing him give his own version of his blessing to you struck something inside Jason. Something deep in his chest.

He re-enters the study, finding it empty. He walks out into the hallway, where you’re nowhere to be found. Despite being halfway across the house by this point, he can distinctly hear his siblings chattering in the living room. Chattering. And chattering. And chattering…

Oh god, you went back to the living room.

As Jason approaches the conversation becomes clearer.

“—long have you been together, anyways?”

“Well—”

Stephanie gasps suddenly, cutting you off. “Oh wait, you have to meet Alfred!”

“Oh, we’ve already met.” You tell her.

Dick’s head snaps up. “What? When?”

Jason enters the room, draping his arm around your shoulder. “About six months before you met her.”

A chorus of gasps and shouts ring out.

“What?”

Hi! Here I am with a Black Mask request 🖤. Could you write something where someone is threatening towards the reader and Roman gets protective about it?

Possessive Roman is great too but I wanna see this man go full protective mode!

You don't have to be sorry, Sweetheart.

Black Mask/Reader, 1.8K words

Request Info || Masterlist || Ko-Fi 

Rubbing my hands together like a hungry little racoon being fed. I forgot how feral this man makes me. I took me a while to find my Black Mask head space again, but my Roman is almost always based on an amalgamation of his 60-2000s-ish comic appearances, for reference. Oh and the mask, that does NOT come off. 🖤

Roman doesn't take kindly to an ex employee affronting you, after leaving you alone in a bar. Rated: 18+

CWs: Swearing, blood, spit, threats of violence, actual violence, and some more violence, switchblade, derogatory names: bitch, petnames: sweetheart, failure to wear seatbelts (- please don’t do that irl), protective Roman, somewhat possessive Roman, unhealthy relationship/toxic dynamics.

Please remember: You are stronger than your fears and doubts

Roman Sionis is no stranger to getting his hands dirty. In fact, anyone who’d worked close enough with him, himself included could tell you that Roman thrills in dirty work. However, there are some essential jobs that even Roman won’t touch. When these errands come up, there’s only one place to go to find a runt with morals low enough to get it done.

Noonan’s is the worst bar in Gotham, at least in your opinion. Roman didn’t seem to care much for it either. In fact, the first time you’d accompanied him on a business meeting there he’s told you; “This place is dicey at the best of times. Anyone touches you, says anything to you, so much as fuckin’ looks at you the wrong way, you come get me, alright, Sweetheart? I’ll set 'em straight.” And hadn’t let you leave his side until you’d sworn to come find him at the first sign of trouble.

Usually, you didn’t run into any real problems during the scarce amount of times you’d been there. Roman would conduct his dealings in a function room out back while you tried to keep to yourself. Most people knew who you were, who you were with, and were smart enough to keep to themselves. Nursing a drink in a dark corner typically didn’t draw any more issues than a few side-ways looks. Looks that didn’t seem worth mentioning to Roman. You love him, but he knows how to make a scene, and a scary one at that. It isn’t always worth the fuss. Usually.

It seems somebody was feeling unusually gutsy today. From the moment you’d entered, a familiar face had been watching you. You didn’t know their name, honestly, you likely couldn’t name a single person in this place. But you knew a lot of their faces, Noonan’s always seemed to draw the same crowd of washed-up and bitter ex-goons. Moments after Roman had taken his leave, your watcher approached, tripping over drunken feet until he was close enough to slam his drink onto your table, splashing you with beer in the process.

“Hey, you.” He leans over, pointing a finger in your face, far too close for comfort.

Careful to avoid elevating the situation you remain as still as possible, only moving your eyes in order to get a better look at him. Up close you can see smatterings of scars, and tattoos. He’s clearly tried to pay his dues with a lot of Gotham’s crime bosses and villains. A question mark, a penguin, a black skull.

“Yes, may I help?” You ask cordially, offering a smile.

“You’re Sionis’ bitch ain’t ya?” He slurs as he speaks, spit dripping onto his chin, and ricocheting towards you. “I got a bone to pick with that asshole.”

“Well, I’m afraid he’s busy.” You’d tried to be amicable but now your hospitable tone is gone, replaced with as much nonchalant venom as you can muster. “And his ‘bitch’ doesn’t want to talk to you.”  

“I don’t give a shit what you want.” He bangs a fist against the table. Luckily, you’d seen it coming and had had the foresight to grab your drink. But whoever this fucker was, had not. More of the amber liquid spills out onto the table. “That bastard fucked with the wrong guy when he laid me off. Do you know who I am?”

Do you know who he is? No, and you relay that information by staring at him with a pointedly blank glare.

“I said, do you know who I FUCKING AM?” Spit fires from his lips, hitting your face, you feel your already simmering blood begin to boil with each drop. “I’m. Henry. FUCKING Byrne.”

“Good for you, ‘Henry fucking Byrne’ but…” You shouldn’t say it, you know you’ll only provoke him, but he’s on your last nerve. “I. don’t. FUCKING. care.”

“You don’t care, I don’t bleeding care, I don’t care who cares! But he’s gonna care…” Your comment has set him into a long, drunken, incomprehensible ramble, you presume the ‘he’ in reference is Roman, but all other thoughts are cancelled out by the sight of Henry removing a switchblade from his back pocket. As he leans in closer, pointing the blade in your direction, the gravity of the situation sets in. If you don’t act soon, you might just meet your maker in fucking Noonan’s. Tragic. “He’s gonna fucking care when I wreck his bitch.”

Searching for a defence, an exit route, anything, your eyes dart around the bar, quickly locating your salvation.

His pristinely tailored suit highlights him amongst the crowd, the waxy polish of his mask glowing under the dingy low-handling lights. He advances with confident, assertive strides. Instant relief floods through you, followed by a completely different brand of panic.

Relieved to know that you’re almost certainly safe, panicked by the thought of whatever mess he’s about to make.

Despite the tap of Roman’s shoes and your obvious stare, Henry is too wrapped up in his own anger and babblings to notice the impending danger. Like a frantic school of fish being advanced upon by a shark.

He doesn’t deserve your kindness, but you offer it anyway, sliding your chair back, out of his reach as you shout; “Roman, don’t.”

“I just wanna talk.” He spits, holding both hands up, feigning innocence, showing that he’s unarmed. As if he needed a weapon to be dangerous. It’s a lie, you both know it.

Alerted to Roman's presence, Henry begins to turn but is stopped by a leather-clad hand fixing to the soft spot on the back of his head. With rapid force, he’s pushed face-first against the table. Once, twice, three times. Blood is pouring from his nose, mixing with the already murky puddles of spilt beer. Stray chunks of what you can only assume are broken teeth jump with every collision.

Henry’s knife clatters against the floor, narrowly missing your foot. You grab it, holding tight.

“Roman stop.” You say, certain you’re no longer at risk. “He’s had enough!”

Roman's brown eyes bore into you as he slows, gripping tight to your almost attacker's neck, guiding him back into a standing position.

“Do you think you’ve had enough?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“Yes, yes sir. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Henry’s already slurred speech is muffled even more by his own fluids.

“Oh, you’re sorry.” Roman mocks, his neck is red with rage, his mask creaks as he juts his jaw back and forth, a habit you’ve learned is a calming mechanism, something he’d picked up since getting his pacemaker fitted. It isn’t working. “See ‘sorry’ isn’t gonna cut it, you need to be taught a lesson.”

Using his free hand, Roman reached over to you, pulling the switchblade from your clutching fingers.

“Cause you see, when you mess with what’s mine, you mess with me.” Tension hangs thick in the air, every patron is watching, waiting to see how this unfolds, what the infamous Black Mask will do next. “And nobody messes with me.”

“Roman.” You warn, standing and placing your hand on Roman's shoulder, gently tugging at him, urging him to cool off.

“Fine, I’m gonna let you go.” Henry’s face hits the table one last time with a hard smack, followed by the sickening crunch of his own blade being stabbed through his hand, pinning him to the table. “But be grateful, and know that if I see your face anywhere near us again, I won’t be so gentle.”

All eyes remain on you both as you turn to leave. Roman doesn’t care. He firmly wraps a hand around your upper arm, leading you between tables, past the bar, and toward the door.

“Let that be a lesson to all of you.” He chides the onlookers in one last display of warning, before making his exit.

The time passes in a blur as Roman guides you outside, summons the car, herds you inside, and informs the driver to take you home, all the while his hands never leave your form, but once the car starts running time rapidly slows.

You sit together on the back seat, in silence. Roman is not traditionally expressive, for obvious reasons, but you’ve been together long enough to pick up on his emotional tells. He’s rolling his jaw again, and flexing his hand in and out of a fist shape, trying to cool off, trying to prevent himself from snapping at you.

In an effort to help soothe his anger you manoeuvre closer, until your sides brush together. You move to place your hand on his chest, but he grips your wrist, denying you.

“What did I say?” He isn’t yelling, but there’s still an anger to his tone, and a hardness in his eyes that you’re not accustomed to being on the receiving end of. Before you can respond he continues; “I told you, if anything happens, you come get me. What was that?”

“I know, I know, but I’m fine.” You reassure, nudging your arm until he releases you. “I’m sorry, I thought I could handle him, but it just escalated so quickly.”

His look softens, never able to stay mad at you for long. He lets your hand fall against the soft fabric of his blazer. In a quick, practiced motion he lifts your legs up and over his own, positioning you into a cradled position. Removing his gloves before resting one hand on your lower back, and the other on your thigh where he strokes his hand in slow circles.

“You don’t have to be sorry, sweetheart, just promise me, next time you sense trouble, you come to me.”

It would be easy to lie to him, to make an impossible promise, he tells white lies all the time. But you know he values your honesty, he has expectations for you that he does not hold himself to, you’re the light to his darkness. “If I can, I will, I promise, but it’s not always that simple Roman. I’ve got to defend myself sometimes.”

He lets you talk, but he’s shaking his head, disagreeing before you can finish. 

“This isn’t up for discussion.” He speaks in the gentlest tone, a voice that is reserved for your ears only. “I know you’ve had to look out for yourself in the past, but you’re mine now, and always. You don’t have to do that anymore.”

Your back hits the plush upholstery of the car seat, contrasting with the hard wood of Roman’s mask pushing against your lips. You welcome the familiar mahogany smell, the taste of spice that invades your senses. Kisses from Roman are never gentle, they’re harsh and cold against your skin, no matter how gently he runs his hands along your body.

When he’s satisfied, he pulls away, just enough to get a good view of your face, to look into your eyes. The coolness of his forehead presses to yours.

“Nobody is more important to me than you.” His voice is sharp and gritty. He holds you just a little bit tighter. “I’d burn this city to the ground before I let anything happen to you.”