Febuwhumpday5 - Tumblr Posts

He Was A Hero

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Febuwhump Prompt - I dreamt you were alive

Prompt - ‘He's a hero and one day it's going to kill him because his heart is too big, and he carries it in his hands, and no one can hold up the sky forever.’

No day was ever easy, not one day passed when you didn’t mourn those you’d lost, those who had been snapped away. Today was a bad day, today the weight of Peter being gone was weighing down painfully on you, it made it harder to breathe and all you wanted to do was stay in bed and hide away.

You dad stood in the doorway, arms crossed as he bit his lip. Tony knew just how you were feeling, that day on Titan replayed in his head every single day, watching as Peter turned to dust in his arms…no words could describe that feeling. Then he’d gotten home, barely, and the knot in his chest loosened, only slightly, as he saw you alive. He bundled you up in his arms and listened to you sob about how you thought he had died.

Then he had to tell you about Peter.

He watched as your eyes widened in disbelief as you let out a huff of laughter, shaking your head as you did. You told him Peter wasn’t dead, told him he wasn’t funny but Tony just looked at you sadly and you froze, tears running down your cheeks as you continued to shake your head, refusing to believe it but the sobs left your lips and you all but collapsed into his arms. The silence was the worst for him though, watching as you became a shell of yourself.

Eventually everybody settled into the new world but that didn’t mean the pain lessened, it just became a part of them.

“Hey baby,” Tony said from his spot against the door frame, he watched as you sniffed and shifted towards him, smiling shakily at him. “Come on, let’s go for a walk, just us.” He said, watching you nod before he gave you a minute to get up.

You watched as your dad left and despite the heavy weight that rested on your heart you couldn’t help but be relieved that he was alive, your dad was safe.

It wasn’t long before you were shrugging a coat on to ward against the autumn chill and heading downstairs, watching as your dad stood up and shot you a warm smile. It helped more than he knew, seeing him here, seeing him alive and happy even if Peter wasn’t here to see it.

“C’mon,” He said, leading you out of the cabin before he wrapped his arm around you and pulled you close.

The walk was nice, your cheeks flushed from the cold but it was exactly what you needed. No words were spoken between you and your dad, not at first but eventually he began talking and you were content to just listen.

“You know when I first found out about you I was terrified,” He told you with a laugh and you couldn’t help but smile over at him, “I was so scared and then I held you, this little girl, the whole world, my whole world in the palm of my hands. I knew I couldn’t let you down then, god you were barely an hour old and had me wrapped around your little finger.” He laughed, looking over at you and hardly believing you were that same little girl.

He squeezed you gently in his arms, pressing you further against him so he could press a kiss against your head.

“It’s hard without him, I know it is kid, but you’ve gotta be brave. You’ve got to know he loved you so much, he thought the world of you, as he should’ve.” Tony chuckled coming to a halt when he saw tears falling down your cheeks and he cupped your face letting his thumbs gently brush them away. “He’d be so proud to see you now, Y/N/N.”

You couldn’t stop the tears falling down your face at your dad's words, stepping closer to him so you could bury your head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around you. You clung to him, feeling like if you let go of him everything would slip away. It was like he was your only grip on reality and that thought had you tightening your grip on him.

“I’m so proud of you, baby.” He whispered against your hair causing you to take a sharp, deep breath in as you choked on more tears. “You’re so strong, Y/N/N, so brave.”

Tony continued his words of praise until you were gasping for breath, the world around you feeling like it was going to fall from out below your feet at any second.

“I love you so much, baby.” Tony told you, pulling away and cupping your cheeks in his hands again, looking you right in the eyes.

“I love you too,” You managed to choke out, feeling like you were going to drown in your tears.

You let out another choked sob as you felt the world actually shift, felt it shake around you and your eyes locked onto your dad’s, your hands clinging to him as you looked at him, fear in your eyes.

“It’s ok, baby, you’re gonna be ok.” He told you before you were plunged into darkness and only seconds later your eyes flew up as you sat up violently, gasping as you tried to catch your breath.

“Hey, hey, you’re ok,” You heard a voice say softly, a hand running comfortingly up and down your back but you couldn’t make out who it was, your head felt dizzy as you sat there trying to find your breath. “You’re ok, I’ve got you, just breathe, that’s it, deep breath in, that’s it, that’s it.”

Finally it felt like you could finally breathe again, the dizziness finally going as the world around you steadied.

“You’re ok,” the voice said again, causing you to stiffen before your head shot around to see Peter sitting up on the bed, eyes still heavy with sleep as he focused his attention on you.

“Peter?” You gasped, feeling your eyes widen as you struggled to grasp a hold of reality.

You watched Peter’s face turn sympathetic, a sad smile spreading across his lips as he continued to rub your back.

“Yeah, it’s me, it’s Peter.” He told you, keeping his voice soft and low as he spoke.

He watched as you went through a range of emotions before your face crumbled and you started to sob. He gently shifted the two of you so he was resting against the top of the bed and you were laying against his chest, tears soaking his shirt.

Peter continued to talk softly, not saying anything in particular just keeping up a steady stream of words that you could cling to to help ground you back to reality and away from whatever you were dreaming about, Peter having a pretty good guess that it was about the blip.

It felt like hours before you stopped crying, sniffing against Peter’s shirt before you pulled away from him and sat with your legs crossed on the bed, hand darting forward to hold Peter’s.

He smiled at you as best he could with the worry running through him, giving it a squeeze.

“You ok?” He asked quietly.

“I’m sorry,” You told him shakily, sniffing as you blinked back more tears.

“Don’t apologise, you’re fine.” Peter assured you as he brought your hand up to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to it.

“It was so real, you were gone but,” Here you paused to blink harshly, “my dad was back, Pete, I had my dad back.”

The pain in your chest came back ten times worse as you recalled the dream, recalled the words your dad had said to you.

“I’m so sorry,” Peter said to you as he squeezed your hand again.

You just shook your head, not daring to open your mouth again, knowing that if you did you’d just start crying again. You looked at Peter, a shaky smile making its way onto your face, thanking god he was alive.

It seemed like you couldn’t win, when Peter had died you still had your dad but now you had Peter back and your dad was dead.

Eventually you managed to fully get your breathing under control, managed to blink away all the tears. You felt exhausted now that you had finally calmed down, felt dizzy as the dream felt so real, real enough that it messed with your whole reality.

“Go back to sleep,” you told Peter, watching as he frowned at you. “I’m just gonna head outside for some air.” Peter’s face shifted into understanding as he nodded at you, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“If you need me,” he began but you cut him off with a nod.

“Thank you.” You whispered and quietly made your way out of your bedroom. Once you stepped foot downstairs you paused, your dream leaking back into reality as you remembered seeing your dad standing, waiting for you.

You blinked hard before you grabbed a coat and left the cabin, shivering against the cold air but found it helped. You walked the same trail you had in your dream, feeling empty as you continued to look to the side, expecting to see your dad there smiling over at you.

Your heart ached as you ended up at the lake.

You sat down on the dock, letting your legs dangle over the edge as you looked out into the water. How many times had you sat here with your dad after the blip, just the two of you sitting together in silence and now you sat alone, nothing but his memories keeping you company.

“I dreamt you were alive,” you said quietly, eyes locked onto the water, “it felt so real, you know? Peter was gone and you were alive and I was so crushed, I didn’t think I could ever feel worse than I did when Pete died,” you told the water with a sad chuckle, “and then you just had to be the hero and prove that I could feel ten times worse.”

The silence around you sounded so painfully loud.

“I hate that you did that.” You said through gritted teeth, “I hate that I wasn’t even surprised you did it, hate that you left me here. I got Peter back and I am always going to be grateful for that, everyday of my life, but I need you too.” You sobbed.

“I need you, the world, it doesn’t seem right without you here. I just really miss you, dad. I really hate that Steve used the last of the serum because if I could I’d go back in time and change that day…I’d do anything to change that day.”

It felt nice to talk, even if nobody was listening. It felt like you could lean your head down and it would land on your dad’s shoulder even though you knew it never would again. It had been so long since you’d spoken to him but doing it felt, it felt as right as it could when he couldn't be here with you.

You didn’t know how long you sat outside for but you knew it was long enough for the sky to change from inky blue to golden yellows and soft pinks as the sun rose.

“Here you go,” A voice said, startling you out of your thoughts.

You looked up as Peter sat next to you, holding two mugs in his hands and offering one of them to you. You shot him a grateful smile as you took the hot drink from him and took a small sip.

“How you feeling?” Peter asked softly after a few minutes of silence.

You didn’t have an answer for him, not a good one anyway because there really were no words that could sum up just how bad losing your dad felt.

“I really miss him.” You told him instead because that was the truest thing you could say.

“I miss him too,” Peter told you, “I’m really sorry.”

“He was always going to die saving the world, I always knew that. He was a hero,” You told Peter with a wet laugh, a smile spreading across your face, “He was a hero.”

“Yeah he was.” Peter said quietly, looking out at the water as you lowered your head onto his shoulder. Peter smiled down at you, pressing a soft kiss to your hair as he wrapped an arm around your waist.

“I’m glad you’re alive.” You told him, voice so soft he barely caught it but the words had him huffing out a laugh.

“Me too, Y/N/N, and I have Mr Stark to thank for that.” Peter had sworn long ago to do anything and everything he could to make Tony proud but since coming back he did everything he could to keep that promise, including keeping you safe.

The two of you sat outside for a long time, heavy hearts as memories played in your heads but you weren’t alone and you knew you couldn’t lose Peter, not again, because not having your dad around was, words couldn’t describe how devastating that was, but losing them both, you didn’t think you’d survive it.

“I love you,” You told him, breaking the silence that had settled between the two of you.

“I love you too, Y/N/N,” Peter whispered back, his hand taking your chin and guiding you up to his lips where he pressed a soft kiss upon yours, “so much.”

No, you knew you wouldn’t survive losing Peter again and you vowed to do everything you could so that you never had to live in a world where you didn’t have Peter Parker in your life.

___________

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Febuwhump day 5: That's gonna scar

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Time: Monarch times

Warning violence

"Akuma attack, akuma attack" Adrien's phone buzzed.

    "I just got home" Adrien sighed. The boy transformed into his superhero persona and leaped through his window.

    "Hello Ml'lady" the cat greeted.

    "Hello Kitty Cat."

    The akumatized victim had been turned into a colorful monster. They had long sharp claws, lizard-like eyes, and scales. The two heroes would begin their fight to free the civilian from Monarch's grasp.

    The teens were quite quick to free the victim. The citizen thanked the two profusely and ran off.

    "Hello heros" A menaceing voice spoke from behind them.

    "Hello" Cat Noir turned around to meet the mans eyes "Monarch."

    The villain spared no time for fancy speechs. He knew that neither had much time before they transformed back and planned to use this to his advantage.

    Now the hero's understood their time limit and tried to come up with a plan. One of them would leave while the other feed their magic companion.

    "Ml'lady you first. I'll hold him at bay."

    "You sure kitty?"

    "Yep."

    With that Ladybug made her way to the nearby alley.

    "Just you and me Monarch" Cat Noir hissed.

    With no words the two began to fight. Of course the villain attempted to get past to Ladybug but as Cat Noir said he kept him at bay.

    Monarch activated the dragon miraculous and reached for the sword. Yes he could get past him with wind dragon or he could have used voyage but decided he wanted to fight the boy instead.

    Reacting to the sword being drawled, Cat Noir snatched his poll from his back. A short fight would insue. The poll slipped through his hands as the sword hit it harshly. Right after the sword sliced into the child's chest. Screaming he grabbed his chest and fell to the ground.

    Ladybug who had only been gone for a minute rushed back to the scene. The guardian rushed to her friend, grabbing the poll on her way to deflect what would have been a killing blow to her partner.

    Adrien assessed the injury. It went from his left shoulder to just above his elbow on his right side. He attempted to put pressure on the wound. He knew how to fix injuries like this and had before except this one was much worse. It would need stitches but how could he get the help he needed without reliving his identity?

    Adrien's ring blinked, one minute remaining, possibly less. The girl grabbed her loved one as gently as she could at the time and took him to the alley she had been in. "You're gonna be okay" she tried to reassure him.

    "Yeah. Take care of Monarch, I'll be here. I'm about to transfrom anyway." Cat Noir spoke softly. Ladybug nodded and left. Tears slid down his face as he tried to remain calm. He knew one thing, that was gonna scar.

    Detransforming, Adrien pulled himself against the brick wall closest to him.

    "Kid!" Plagg yelled.

    "I'm alright" Adrien breathed. "Cloth.. find." The pain started to regenerate more as his adrenaline wore off.

    "Yeah I'm working on it." With that the kwami left, leaveing the human alone. What was he supposed to do about the wound? He placed his hands on the gash, trying to keep his blood from spilling to much. The pain scared him. He had never felt such sharp pain before.

    How did he explain to his father? The father who would never let him outside again. He would lock him up forever, never to feel like sunlight again.

    Even if he could hide the wound the pain would give him away. He could bear all the other damage done to his body over the year he'd been a hero, all the scratches and bruises, even a broken finger he claimed to have been a dumb accident. He hid all of those practically perfectly but how could he hide this? Even then the scar would betray him eventually, telling everyone who he was.

    He looked down at his hands covered in his blood. He supposed it was better than someone else's. Adrien's breathing had begun to quicken and his head was spinning. He hoped Plagg would be back soon.

    Adrien heard Ladybug call upon her lucky charm. He worried about her more than he would like to admit.

    Plagg had rushed into a nearby store, careful to avoid the fight taking place not too far away. Looking for the medical supplies he stumbled upon the cheese. Of course that would have to wait until his favorite holder was safe. Once he found the medical aisle he grabbed as much as his little self could.

    Adrien could barely stay awake now. He prayed that Ladybug or Plagg would be quick. Time passes and Plagg would come back. He slowly unwrapped the gauges and bandages and pressed them to the bloody mess that was his chest.

    Ladybug ran into the alleyway with her eyes to the ground. "Cat Noir" she stated "are you okay?" Her voice was laced with concern. The spotted hero kneeled down to her cat. She put her arms out for him to take to his wound. Shaking he pulled her hands to his chest. From there she proceeded to press her hands to the wound. Adrien winced. "Sorry." Ladybug quickly responded to him.

    "Don't-" Adrien  stuttered "apologies."

    "You need help I can't give kitty."

    "My identity. I can't"

    "I have a mask you can wear."

    "Medical history."

    Ladybug sighed "you're right...."

    There was no more time to wait. Ladybug grabbed her bug phone and called for help. She explained they can't learn of his identity and tried to figure out how to prevent them from knowing. The operator reassured her that the EMT's would do their best. After thanking the person on the phone she hung up.

    "Plagg" he pulsed "claws out."

    "What are you-"

    He pulled his body down and into her lap. He was scared and needed the comfort, the reassurance everything would be alright. Ladybug played with his soft hair as the two waited.

    Adrien knew whatever was next he would be okay. The slash would heal and one day be a scar he could be proud of. Of course it wouldn't stay that way as it would become a painful reminder of the monster who would kill a child, the monster who was his father.

Febuwhump Day 5: Last Words (Alt Prompt 7)

Fandom: Star Wars The Clone Wars

Warning: character death.

Summary: Obi-wan is tired of listening to people's last words. First his master, then his first love. As he wakes up from a starship crash he begins to fear hearing Anakin's too.

  "Train the boy." That's what Qui-gon had told Obi-wan. That was his last words. "Train the boy."

    "Remember dear Obi-wan, I loved you always, I always will." Satine had told him as she laid in his arms, dying.

    As Anakin and him laid on the ground, in the aftermath of a crash, Obi-wan feared what was next. The two had been on another Jedi's cruiser. They had been sent to help him. Instead they were shot down.

    When awoke he tried to find Anakin first. He looked around. He had to be close. They had been talking when they crashed.

    There he was. Then he looked down at himself. He could feel all of him limbs, which was good. Blood ran from his injuries, a seemingly broken right leg, multiple lacerations and bruises, and he could feel the warmth of blood on his face. His body ached as he started to move.

    As Anakin started to shift, Obi-wan sighed. At least he was alive. He sat beside him for a moment, watching him move and breathe. When he regained consciousness the first thing he heard was his old master asking him if he was okay.

    The world was foggy. Anakin was in a world of pain, and fog. "Maybe" he answered. Obi-wan shook his head.

    "Okay." The Jedi looked around again. There were a few people in the room with them. None of them seemed to be moving. So he turned his attention back to Anakin.

    "I don't feel good" Anakin spoke.

    It had been a while since Obi-wan had heard that. It had been since the boy had been a Padawan. That felt like yesterday. But today Anakin was bleeding and in pain.

    "You'll be fine."

    Anakin started to look around. He looked at his own body, then at Obi-wan, then at the others. He wondered where the others where and why the room seemed to be getting darker. Everything felt fuzzy. The man looked back to himself. His mouth tasted salty.

    Looking around, Obi-wan tried to find something that could help them. He could smell the smoke and realized just how loud the alarms were. He tried to calm the Jedi they were with but he only got static in return. He figured that was all he would be getting.

    "Obi-wan?"

    "Yes Anakin?" Fear dove into Obi-wan's heart.

    "I don't think I'm okay." Anakin coughed, blood leaving his mouth.

    That wasn't good. "Just hold on." Obi-wan tried his comm again. He tried to reach out to the commander of the ship or maybe to the medic. The message went through, but there was no answer.

    "I'm just gonna start talking okay? I need you to do something for me. I need you to take Ashoka. Tell her-"

    "I won't do it again. I won't listen to last words again. I've done it to maybe times. I'm tired of it. So don't die. Please just, just stay alive." Tears welling in Obi-wan's eyes. "I don't want to lose you too."

    "Tell her I loved her, that she did good. Tell Padme I love her. Tell her I'm sorry for not coming home and that I'm sorry I can't meet my kid." It got harder to breathe. The room got darker and some pain started to subsided. Anakin knew he was dying. There was nothing he could do to stop it.

    "You don't listen very well." Obi-wan held Anakin's hand. "I'm not listening to dying words again so you can't die. Tell them yourself when we get home."

    "Tell Rex he's the best friend I could have asked for. Make sure the 501st gets the best Jedi they could." Anakin coughed again. More blood came out than last time.

    "Stop that. Stop it" Obi-wan cried. "I won't do this again. I-I can't."

    "Obi-wan" Anakin breathed "I'm sorry."

    "For?"

    "Making you do this again" he whispered. "you're the best master, brother, I could have asked for." Anakin's voice started to quite. "I love y-" his voice faded with his life.

    "Anakin?" Obi-wan started to shake him a little. He knew the truth but couldn't face it. "Anakin get up. Get up."

    In the hall soldiers tried to get the door open. They pressed pieces of metal in-between the doors to try and pry it open.

    "Train the boy."

    "Remember dear Obi-wan, I loved you always, I always will."

    "I love you."

    Obi-wan couldn't do it again. "Anakin. Get. Up." He grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a hug. He sobbed. He had never been able to cry when he lost them. Sure later, but never then.

   "Train the boy."

    "I loved you always, I always will."

    "I love you."

    The words haunted him. They always would.

    How could he lose three of the most important people in his life? How did he look at Padme and tell her that Anakin would never be coming home? How should he look at Ashoka knowing that they have both lost a brother and how could he look at Rex and tell him?

    The door was finally opened. A few troopers came through the doorway. They were stunned to see the sight in front of them.

    "General?" The commander asked.

    "I'm sorry Anakin. I love you too. I'm sorry." Obi-wan whispered.

    "Commander, none of them are alive. Just the general" whispered the medic of the battalion. "We need to get out of here. Do you grab him?"

    "Not yet. Give him some time." The officer gestured to him, "were not the only ones who lost someone today."

    The clones stood there for a moment before Commander Bandit walked over to the grieving man. "General." Obi-wan jumped. He turned around to see a few soldiers.

    "Oh" it took a moment before he stopped crying. "I'm sorry commander." He almost felt embarrassed. "Are there more survivors?"

    Bandit nodded. He put his hands on the general's shoulders and gave him a hug. "It will be okay."

    When the end of the mission came, Obi-wan was sent back to the temple. He left to find Padme as soon as he was cleared medically. When he got to her home, he stood outside the door for a long time.

    The door opened. Padme had in a nice dress, though Obi-wan wasn't sure where he was going. "Oh Obi-wan. What a nice surprise." She looked at him a little longer, "what happened? Come in."

    Obi-wan did as he was told. He sat on a chair by the door and sighed, "Padme, I have to tell you something."

    "Is everything okay?" She asked. Obi-wan knew he was about to destroy her.

    "No. I'm sorry but Anakin, Anakin's" the word would leave his mouth. He sighed. "Anakin's gone I'm sorry."

    So he held her as she cried. It felt like hours but it was hours he didn't mind spending.

    Eventually she let go. "He had a few things for me to to tell you." Obi-wan started by explaining what had happened. "He told me to tell you that he loves you. I love her. He said that he's sorry he can't meet your kid and that he's sorry for not coming home."

    Padme nodded. "I'm going to call Bail. I might stay with a friend for a while." She stood, "thank you for telling me." She gave him a hug.

    Obi-wan just stood. He hugged her back. Then he said his goodbyes and let for the temple. There was some else he needed to talk.

    On the way the Jedi commed Master Yoda. "Master? Do you have moment?"

    "I do. Sorry about young Skywalker, I am. Close you were."

    "Thank you master. I need to talk to you about the 501st. I need the Jedi general to be run last me. I promised Anakin that they would safe."

    "Make sure you can, I will. Safe they will be."

    "Thank you master." He ended the transmission and continued his walk to the temple.

    There he found Rex and Ashoka. He told them together. "Rex" the Jedi's voice shook, he wanted me to tell you something. He said that you were the best friend he could have asked for.."

    Rex smiled sadly. "He was my best friend too."

    "Ashoka, he wanted me to keep teaching you. He said that he loved you." Ashoka grabbed Obi-wan, "he said that you did go." She cried as he held her. "We'll be okay."

    "I know I just miss him that's all."

    "Me too."

@febuwhump prompt: rope burns

***

Her wrists stung painfully from where the rope had chafed her skin. It had been a pointless endeavor in the first place, trying to slowly and methodically adjust her wrists to get the synthetic fibers to loosen enough to tug herself free.

She had known from the first sight of the colorful coil that it was a material that would prove impervious to abrasion, which meant she wouldn't be able to use friction to deteriorate the fibers. That, coupled with the terrified obedience inspired by the silver-haired syndicate man and his suit-wearing lackeys, had led her to instead offer her hands willingly to be bound.

At no point had she been left on her own to try and use the scant centimeters of advantage she'd managed to secure by positioning her arms and wrists for the bondage they'd inflicted upon her.

And then they'd cut the ropes and tied her up anew once they reached their destination: a crumbling cathedral shrouded in darkness of several types. Shadows from the setting sun that stretched into every crevice, shadows which faded into deeper darkness as clouds covered the sky and began a merciless downpour. Then, a more subtle darkness, the sins of man that radiated from each of these well-dressed thugs.

Strung up with her arms behind her back - behind, indeed, a pillar against which her back rested - she had been helpless to attempt to free herself. More than that, fear kept her firmly in place.

At first, when she had realized they not only knew her ruse of familiarity with Mao Yenrai but that they were intent on using her for their own nefarious purpose, she had been relieved that they wouldn't be slitting her throat and tossing aside her corpse. She was also thankful that violating her - beyond merely trussing her up - was not on their agenda.

But it was difficult to pretend that she wasn't terrified. She had to draw upon every ounce of will power to keep her voice light, to keep her eyes clear of tears, to keep from trembling.

Seeing the boys on the screen when she was forced to call and beg for their help - something she frankly refused to do, choosing instead to be as nonchalant as possible - was such a relief that she sagged against her bonds. The rope burns on her skin made her straighten back up a heartbeat later, the reminder of the danger she was in even if Spike decided to show like he'd mentioned he might.

Hope threatened to rise in her heart and she angrily dashed it aside. He had claimed it wasn't for her and so she knew she could not truly rely on him for a rescue attempt. Whatever odd games were being played here - she wanted no part in them and regretted getting involved. She was a pawn here, not even a player, and that rankled as much as the fact that she was tied to a rough pillar that was most certainly leaving gouges against the bare skin of her back.

Between her wrists and her spine and her pride, she wasn't sure what hurt the most. It was better to focus on the pain than the horror of her situation though. The sharp memory of Mao's mutilated corpse sitting beside her in the opera box. The callous manhandling of her person there and here. The utter indifference with which Vicious gazed at her.

Well. At first his look had been considering. Sizing her up, judging her worth, trying to determine her merit. And then... following Spike's casual dismissal of interest in her... she was surprised that he hadn't killed her immediately. Her use to him was obviously null and void at that point, unless he intended to use her as a distraction if and when Spike showed up.

It didn't matter. She had to keep herself on task.

The grunt assigned to keep her in line was rearranging the ropes holding her arms together behind her back. She was being released from standing before the pillar - a minor improvement as now she could feel cool air blowing along the scrapes of her back - and the man was positioning her at his side in one of the darkest corners of the cathedral.

"Move when I move you. Say nothing. Disobey and die." He muttered to her when she dared to look in his direction.

Fresh fear spilled down her spine and she forced herself to stand straight and tried to give off an air of being entirely unaffected by everything that had happened and was going on around her. She summoned all the grace she could muster, determined to act as if her presence was by choice. These bonds might as well be ribbons, the gun pressed to her temple could be the weight of a crown sitting jauntily upon her head.

She was not a frightened woman, shivering internally at the prospect of her imminent demise. She was not a terrified prop whose abrasions burned with every brush of the rope against her soft flesh. She was not going to die here like a panicked animal.

She was going to control her breathing and continue to try and shift out of her bonds. She was going to stomp this man's foot with her stiletto heel while ducking and twisting to avoid the bullet he would automatically fire. She was going to use these rotten pews as a cover to manage an escape from this situation all on her own.

And then, over the sound of the rainfall outside the decrepit building, she could hear the repetition of steps that indicated someone was approaching at a steady pace...