Supernatural
Written by Jasmin.
86 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Female.
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Post by Natalia Harper on Oct 13, 2022 14:50:35 GMT
The waves of emotion pouring off Sam had Natalia’s heart and mind light-headed, sick and spinning out of control. This was who her family was. Who she came from. Twisted and fucked and uncaring. She’d been those things. Arguably, still was half the time. Every negative, heavy feeling that was coursing through Sam was emanating around the room, stifling Natalia’s senses as it cloyed her nose and baked her skin in its unwavering grief. Every word she spoke made it worse. She was going to scream and unleash herself on the room and the world beyond if someone didn’t crack a window open or if Sam didn’t attempt to mask his feelings in some way.
The furl of her body like a leaf drying up and curling in on itself during autumn felt protective, a desire to form a bubble of sanity and peace so that she could breathe for just a moment. Breathe and let her thoughts settle from the memories she’d roused after burying them somewhere deep inside herself.
Either Natalia had developed the ability to produce a forcefield or Sam was... calming down and pushing his own feelings away. Within her cocoon, Natalia blinked slowly, heart settling down as the sheer tension in the room began to melt away just a little. She kept her gaze steady, still seeking those moments of solace as Sam’s grip increased on her hand and he leant forward to catch her gaze. The missing weight from her fingers had her head turning just a little, wanting to track and follow where Sam was moving his hand to and why, why, it was no longing holding her own. Was he that disgusted that he couldn’t stand to touch her any longer? Was this it? Natalia held her breath, her own panic now filling the room, painting it in a hazy red that she couldn’t push away no matter how much she willed it or how many times she blinked.
But then.
Natalia stilled her blinking, the haze turning to mist and dissipating with the slight pressure on her chin. Now she looked at him, caught entirely off-guard by his action and equally moving slowly in fear that she’d move too much and scare him off. That smile. Those tears so desperate to fall off of his pretty lashes and down his curved cheeks. Natalia’s lips parted ever so. Normally that expression would have her turning around and darting out of the room, unable to deal with someone else’s emotions, let alone her own. But these tears, that look, this was all for her. To help her feel better.
Honey. Nat’s eyes fell to Sam’s lips, unbelieving that he used a pet name so soft and sweet as that on her. After everything she’d shared about her family, how could he even think of her in that light? Because, he knew what she’d told herself countless times but still struggled to shake, especially after what she’d done when she was turned. It wasn’t her. Hell, it wasn’t even her parents. Two generations ago. Plenty could happen and change in that time. But maybe plenty wasn’t enough.
She felt unable to move or speak as Sam changed tracks, switching to the logistics of getting Sabrina onboard. Right, of course. That was why they’d even had this conversation. Natalia had gotten too caught up in her own emotions to remind herself why she was relaying the disgusting tale. She didn’t allow herself to nod, desperate to keep Sam’s fingers on her face, to keep his eyes on her. His attempt at distraction was only half working, sure, her mind was drifting away from the gory details but it was heading towards an entirely different but equally dangerous topic. Him. Her. Them. Her gaze was drifting, scanning the length of his arm, across his neck and oh, back to her as his hand moved, her cheek cushioned in the palm of his hand. This was a deadly game.
And if he kept using nicknames and pet names on her, she was about to lose her clothes and so was he. Which was absolutely not what either of them needed, well, scrap that, Natalia needed that, she desired and fantasied about it far more than she would care to admit, but the timings of that would be messy right now. Not that Nat could see or figure out a time where it wouldn’t be messy somehow. Sam had become ingrained in her life, and in the lives of Alex and Rose. Natalia had always been comfortable being selfish when it came to what she wanted but their lives were better, undoubtedly, with Sam in. Putting her desires first when she had no sure idea on how he felt was too high of a risk. Particularly now they had bigger issues to contend with.
That damn spark of light and hope in his words had Natalia’s heart clenching, any heat which had begun to pool inside of her sputtering out as she drew her eyes closed for just a moment. It was such a simple sentence but how, how could Natalia help to fix what had happened to the Mets pack? “They’re safest staying hidden, Sam. If we start poking around, people may get suspicious of our sudden interest in a group of teens.” Natalia said, finally speaking, the words growing quieter as a tear slipped down Sam’s face. She wanted to swipe it away, to relieve him of any worry but her hands stayed secured where they were, covered by Sam’s remaining hand.
There were days where Natalia regretted the fact that her family knew what she was. Life had been simpler when she held that secret close to her chest. When anyone who could whisper the truth of what she’d become was six foot under or so damn frightened that they wouldn’t have dared. She’d had finer and more graceful days than those initial weeks after turning. To say she’d handled it well would be a complete lie.
He knew only the surface of who she was. And here he was, tenderly stroking the smooth skin of her cheek, unknowing of the true monster she was beneath. The darkness that lingered on a tightly held leash just below the surface. Would she be able to tell him one day? It was one thing to have this philosophical and moral standpoint of random supernatural creatures being innocent, but the situation was entirely different when it was someone you knew. When you realised you’d been lied to for months on end.
As his thumb stilled, Natalia’s entire being came to a pause, eyes locking onto his and what she hoped was a gentle look crossing her face. She wouldn’t bite. He’d gotten this far, she wasn’t about to entirely change her tune. Still. He moved his hand and the cool wave that brushed her skin was no longer welcome like it would have been a few minutes prior. She wanted to be so deeply entangled with him that she couldn’t figure out how to get out or separate the two of them.
Easing her bottom hand out from the pile, Natalia rested it on top of his fallen one, needing him to know she was okay with it. Tonight, this was what she wanted. Perhaps that thought was a little too prominent in her gaze when their eyes locked and for a moment, by the way both of their hearts seemed to slow, Natalia felt brave enough to bridge the gap between them. Her hand moved, about to reach out to him to stop him from speaking more and more but then he shifted, his hand rubbing the back of his neck and the moment felt like it shattered just a little. Her own hand curled in on itself, the nail of her thumb pressed against her lips to keep her from doing something rash. Her teeth sank into the hard cuticle just a little at his next words. It sounded too much like what she wanted to hear from him that she half felt like asking him to pinch her to see if she was dreaming.
But as her teeth began to ache from the pressure she was exerting on them, she knew this was real. Not some nightmare turned fantasy dream. She meant something to Sam. Something which he couldn’t just look at her and say. Still, she was highly suspicious that there was one thing in particular which would change his mind so as much as her heart was calling out to her to bridge the distance between them and let the passion she held within her lips tell him how she felt, she wouldn’t go there just yet.
Especially not when, “god, those bores are so boring,” Alex announced as he paraded into the guest house, eyes on his phone and rapidly firing away messages. Natalia took that moment of distraction from her brother to pull away from Sam, to distance herself from the one man who’s side she wanted to curl up next to and talk to for hours on hours. But until he knew her – the real and honest truth of who she was – she’d keep that wall up. Sam could put it down to Alex being there.
“Calling bores boring is a waste of words, Alex,” Natalia said as Alex slumped onto the couch opposite them, phone scattered onto the cushion next to him and already half vibrating its way onto the floor.
“Well, it’s all strategy this and strategy that and let’s survey the woods for weeks and do patrols on the next three full moons and then we’ll do something,” Alex grumbled, folding his arms across his chest like a petulant child and scanning the pair in front of him. “Did I interrupt something?” He asked, nodding down to Nat’s thigh that hadn’t quite managed to break the distance between her leg and Sam’s just yet.
Natalia levelled her gaze on Alex, a silent conversation that only twins could fully master passing between them which had Alex flapping his left hand up in the air to mimic a white flag. “I was telling Sam about the Mets,” Natalia said simply and any trace of humour left Alex at that, his eyes hollowing out which Nat was quick to amend by adding, “we’re thinking we try to get a wolf pack on our side to help. They’ll be far better suited for this sort of thing than a bunch of out-of-town hunters.” Alex shook his head once, clearing visions that had haunted his sleep for years before nodding quickly.
“It’s definitely a more solid idea than sit around and wait for a trail aka another dead person which seems to be the plan by those goons in there. No offense to your dad, Sam.” Alex agreed, each word becoming more animated as he made himself change the channel in his brain onto happier, warmer thoughts. “You two cooked up any other ideas or were you too busy sitting closely to each other?” Nat had nothing to throw at Alex that wouldn’t result in broken glass and something precious being damaged, so all she could do in response was raise her middle finger, down by her thigh on the opposite side to Sam so that he wouldn’t see the gesture she was sending Alex’s way.
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Hunters
Written by Megan.
147 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Male.
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Post by Samuel Styles on Oct 27, 2022 21:25:24 GMT
Not for the first time tonight, Sam hated where his mind was at—because all he could think about was how he could kiss her. He could lean in those few inches. They were so close. He could. He wanted to. He shouldn’t and he didn’t. Now was not the time to be thinking about such a thing, let alone doing such a thing, but it was incredibly tempting. His eyes dropped to the soft shape of her lips, the plush pink of them parted in a form of shock he didn’t know she was capable of. Natalia was always so sure, so confident, so strong—it was traitorous of her lips to part so meekly, for her lashes to bat so slowly as she processed his words and his touches. She was human after all. A girl like and unlike any other. A being so complex, and yet, so familiar. The contradictions of who he had made her out to be in his mind and who she really was had him studying her close then. The aborted stretch of her hand had his chest panging—regretful that he had moved before she could seek him out, wondering what would happen if she had made contact. Sam bit his lip, his gaze raising to seek hers out once more. What was she thinking? Would she push him away if he leaned in? Would she laugh at him for thinking he ever stood a chance with a woman like her? Would she meet him halfway and slot her lips tenderly against his own?
Sam could feel it now—the heat in his chest and burning his cheeks. Arousal hummed in his veins at the idea of her pushing him back—pinning him down while she settled on his lap. He always took control, always was at the lead, but he couldn’t imagine Natalia giving up the hold she had on his reins so easily. It would be pushing and pulling. Shoving and holding. A battle of wills. A war of lust. Sam didn’t think he’d win. If it meant having Natalia in any way, he’d submit to her prowess and bow at her feet. What would her hands feel like sliding over his chest? Would she curl her fingers in the soft hairs that lined his pecs? He couldn’t help but think she would. That she would grab and pull and that was Alex bursting in through his door monologuing about how boring the talk with the group of hunter’s had been.
His back went ramrod straight, posturing himself leaned away from Natalia—carefully ignoring the hurt in his chest at the loss of her touch, her heat, her closeness. Sam was careful in his motions, trying to keep them smooth despite Alex’s obliviousness as he babbled on about the meeting. His hands rested on his lap, pressed flat to the denim covering his thighs and his gaze was carefully trained on Alex. Natalia’s knee was still pressed to his and Sam refused to be the one to move his leg. He couldn’t. He knew the moment was gone, but he didn’t want to give up on the hope that had burned bright in his chest. Something had happened. Something good. They’d made progress. Some kind of connection. Something. Now wasn’t the time. It really wasn’t.
Not when Alex clued into their unusual closeness and didn’t hesitate to push his sister into a defensive answer. Still, Sam didn’t move. Like hell was he going to cower under Alex’s curious gaze (but he was nervous, he’d just never admit that). His posture sagged as Natalia deflected, the mention of what was done to the poor Mets pack having his shoulders fall in defeat and his lips twist into a frown. He couldn’t comprehend why the Harper’s had done such a thing. The idea of a threat and an actual threat were two severely different things and to lead such a morbid hunt and leave the family with the grotesque aftermath was haunting knowledge to hold. Sam let Natalia speak, his eyes far away as they stared just over Alex’s head. He couldn’t stop himself from pondering, from giving in to that gnawing feeling in his chest that somehow his father knew. The Styles and the Harper’s had been hunters for generations, the families intertwined in the most gruesome ways. John had to have known this hunt had happened. Even if he hadn’t participated, something must have been said and he’d held onto that information and still worked with the family. Sam felt guilty that he was grateful John had. He wouldn’t have known Natalia the way he does now if he’d cut ties with them. Maybe he didn’t know. Sam could only hope.
But he wouldn’t put it past his dad. He was a killer more than a hunter.
“Full offense to my dad,” Sam laughed bitterly, shifting in his seat as he found his voice again—it was darker than it had been moments before when he’d been trying to soothe Natalia, his thigh slotted more firmly against hers as he leaned back into the seat to feign comfort and confidence (as if he wasn’t losing his cool on the inside), “I wish I could say I can’t believe that, but that’s just like him to suggest it.” He sighed, moving his arm to rest on the back of the couch behind Natalia, but he refused to look her way. He didn’t want to back down from the challenge in Alex’s stare. “To wait for a new lead is cowardly, but easy. It’s so fucking reckless,” Sam hissed. Normally he wasn’t one for expletives, but the word felt right in his mouth. The tension from Natalia, the news of the Mets slaughter, Bobbi’s death—Sam didn’t feel like himself right now.
Until Alex said that and Sam was back to fighting the blush off his cheeks just like every other time Alex has made an innuendo about him and Natalia. Be confident. Don’t look away. Don’t give anything up. You’ve got this, Sam. Calm, cool and collected. You’re a six-foot-four beast, do not get flustered. Sam’s lips lifted in a smirk as his inner mantra gave him enough courage to press his side closer to Natalia’s—scooting over and patting the spot next to him as he teased, “If you’re jealous, Alex, you don't have to be. There’s plenty of room for you both.” There wasn’t. It would be a tight fit, but Sam wasn’t going to back down. He was in a special kind of mood, a strange burst of confidence stirred up by these strange circumstances. His arm shifted to wrap around Natalia’s shoulder, a bold-brave-heart racing move. The beating in his chest would betray the calm demeanor he was displaying if anyone could hear it. He feared that Natalia would be able to feel it where his chest nudged her side.
“But for your question,” his redirected, fingers tapping against Natalia’s shoulder anxiously—the only visible cue that Sam was still Sam and quite nervous to be so close to the girl he’s been in love with for years, “I’m going to approach Sabrina. She’s the only known werewolf we are certain of. We know that she’s been getting a supply of wolfsbane and believe she could be providing for a pack. Jensen Pines is another option. His father is thought to be a lone wolf. My dad kept him around because he believed that Benny would lead him to a pack. Tal–,” he caught himself, eyes widening slightly as he realized the new, warm nickname was going to grace his lips once more. Clearing his throat, he tried again, “Natalia and I think that maybe the two are connected. It’s a stretch, our main leads being that they’re both teenagers and have a few common friends.” He looked at Natalia then, debating on if he should bring Rose up or not. He left that for her to interject.
“Really, we only just came to that conclusion, though. What your family did,” he pursed his lips, eyes dropping to his lap before raising to meet Alex’s, “It took a while for her to get the whole story out.” He hoped that Alex would chalk their closeness up to comforting each other over their losses. Natalia trying to sooth over Bobbi’s death and Sam trying to ease the nerves of her family’s lack of humanity. “So if you have any ideas of your own, feel free to chime in. I know talking to a bunch of kids is going to be hard. They’re not going to trust hunters, especially Sabrina, but we have to try. I really don’t see a way out of this without the help of a pack. The hunters are just going to wait for another,” he couldn’t say body, he couldn’t, “Accident before acting. I don’t know where you stand, Alex, but I—not every creature is bad. I hate bringing kids into this, but if they’re our only chance to save people, then that’s what we have to do. I’m all for working with good werewolves to bring down that bad.” And Sam knew, he felt it in his bones, this rogue pack was bad. Worse than. They were doomsday, the end of all he knew if they couldn’t get ahead of this.
Sam held out the notepad they had jotted the notes down on to Alex—partly as proof that they had been planning and not just, well, whatever it is they had been doing. “This is what we’ve gotten so far. It’s a mess, but I think we’re headed the right direction,” he bit his lip, tightening his hold on Natalia just slightly as he promised, “I’m not waiting for someone else to die. If you guys are on board, I think this is our only solution. These hunters aren’t going to take down a pack like this.” Not that they had proof it was a pack yet, but enough happenings in Beacon Hills as of late pointed at that. Only one death, but the last full moon had brought in several worried calls about howling in the woods. There were new faces—cold and watchful eyes staring him down, noses upturned as they took in long breaths like they were scenting him. He’d thought he had just been paranoid, but now he wishes he would have made note of who had been acting strangely.
He looked at Alex expectantly, trying not to move too much against Natalia. Was this making her uncomfortable? Should he move? He didn’t want to, but he loosened his hand on her shoulder, relaxing back into the couch to give her an inch of space—an out. She could shift away if she wanted, but Sam—he couldn’t break the contact. He wouldn’t. He didn't know when, if ever, she'd let him this close to her again.
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Supernatural
Written by Jasmin.
86 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Female.
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Post by Natalia Harper on Jan 2, 2023 17:33:12 GMT
Her nose twitched, nostrils flaring involuntarily. That power hidden beneath her surface had a habit of rearing its head and showing off even when she had no desire to understand or look closer into an issue. Because, this, this mutual desire that only she could realise was going to eat her alive. Damn her senses for alerting her to how Sam felt. It would only take a second for the two of them to collide. For Natalia to lose herself and act on instinct. But she couldn’t. Not yet.
She’d never particularly cared for fair or patience or morals or… well, anything that would have made her into a true and virtuous friend. But acting on her feelings when he had no idea didn’t feel right. Plus, the timing felt crass. She couldn’t have him thinking that she only made a move out of pity and an urge to cheer him up. No, that would be a disaster. Even more so than she feared it would be anyway. She wasn’t sure how to love. How to hold someone close and show them that she cared. That she’d do anything to keep them truly safe. Alex got it but that was only because the two of them were connected in a way only they understood. Rose… Natalia’s brows pulled together, a crease forming between them as she thought of her younger sister. Rose didn’t get why Natalia acted the way she did. Keeping her safe and out of the way of this upcoming melee was one way to show her. Even that, Natalia knew, her sister would fight her on.
Thank whatever presence ruled over her life for Alex’s appearance. The boy always had impeccable timing.
He had a keen eye, too. Well, at least it was when his lips weren’t glued to a bottle of liquor and he managed to pry himself away from his phone for more than a minute. He couldn’t not be distracted. There always had to be something going on, regardless of whether it was beneficial to his wellbeing or not. Often, the answer was not. There had been so many nights over the years where Alex had called Natalia in the middle of the night, miles or even countries away, needing help, needing someone to coax him through whatever torment was playing at his heart. No matter how many times Natalia would hiss and scold him over the fact that it was all entirely self-inflicted, he never stopped. It had only slowed recently but there were still days where he’d drop off the grid, turning up a few mornings later with dark circles around his eyes and only a mumble of a hello before he crawled into bed for the rest of the day. “Sort yourself out,” Natalia would say. Alex would throw a pillow at her in retaliation which she’d respond with by cussing him out or loudly opening the curtains in his room. Or both. Usually both.
It was all that story’s fault. They were too young to be told. It forever broke something in the pair of them.
Her leg was glued down, she didn’t dare even move her position in case it slipped. In case that distance formed and continued to grow between her and Sam. Right now it was casual. Purely coincidental that their legs were touching. That would all change if she moved and her leg parted from Sam’s and then she went out of her way to put it back. That was too much. Way too much and with Alex’s eyes consistently flicking between how she was seated and her face, she knew she wouldn’t be able to get it past him.
Alex’s brows raised, meeting Nat’s gaze promptly at the change in the typical Sam he’d grown to know. Natalia shook her head once, a warning to her brother not to challenge Sam on the change. Still, Alex couldn’t not poke a situation if it presented itself. Natalia dreaded if he ever came across a bear, visions of him attempting to cuddle it were all that came to mind. Alex’s eyes sparkled, glee overcoming him as Sam played along. Perfect, this was just perfect, Natalia groaned internally, eyes going wide as Sam moved even closer towards her, her shoulder now snug against him. It was impossible to ignore the smell of his cologne, to ignore how somehow her heart steadied and calmed with him close by. He shouldn’t make her feel safe. He’s a hunter, Natalia, he will kill you if he has to. But the beating of Sam’s heart which sounded like a hundred drums played directly into her ear canal and the warmth from his hand on her shoulder had all worries of him coming to hunt her down and finishing her fading away. Sure, she’d like him to finish her in a very different way but that was not an appropriate train of thought to have sat opposite Alex. No one made her act out of sorts but here, nestled against Sam, Natalia felt unsure and as if every act she made and every word she spoke had to be deliberate and careful. The teasing she was sure to receive from Alex on their journey home was peeling around her head as a warning bell.
Alex observed the interaction with amusement pouring out from him, of course he was clued into his twin’s behaviour, of course he probably realised more than she even did that the girl had a soft spot for the boy next to her. And boy was Alex pleased to witness the spectacle play out in front of him. A private comedy show to keep him entertained. He listened to Sam list a bunch of names he was only half familiar with, head typically too distracted to bother learning and counting who was who in town. Alex only wanted to get out, anyway. He thought Natalia had been the same but as Natalia finally settled back into the cushions behind her, thigh shifting against Sam’s as her neck tilted up to look at Sam, well, Alex had a crushing feeling that he’d be leaving town on his own. Despite the nerves they both portrayed, Alex couldn’t help but pick up on the simple ease the two had. Their bodies slotted against one another easily. A pang of jealously leaped into his heart. He’d had that, for a few perfect months, he’d had the person of his dreams. Now, he had no one and nothing to show of his time with Stephanie. She was gone. She might as well have been a figment of his imagination. No one else met her. They had one set of polaroid pictures which she’d taken when she’d dramatically up and left and that was it.
Natalia tugged her eyes away from Sam when she picked up on the spike in Alex’s scent, that negative, acrid wave was short but so encompassing that she was amazed his face still held that slight grin, even if it was fading away with each detail Sam gave. The grin completely vanished, like snow when the rain finally came, washed up and as if it was never there, when Sam spoke about what the Harper’s had done. Alex’s head ducked down, puffing out a slow sigh as he studied his shoes. Eyes flicking up at the motion of a notepad being pointed in his direction, reaching out, Alex scanned across the notes quickly but Sam had verbally summarised pretty well. Alex mulled over it all for a few seconds, Natalia folding and unfolding her arms in impatience as they waited for him.
“Gotta be honest, I don’t know who these people are so, sure, whatever.” A slight lie, of course, he could figure out who Sabrina was but… Jensen… Benny, yeah Alex hadn’t a scooby who they were. “I mean, Nat, when you were in Mexi-” Alex started, eyes pinning his sister down but she was quick to interject.
“Mexico was different. That was just me, it was covert, they didn’t know that I was a hunter or that there would even be a hunter in the area. It’s highly probable that here, in Beacon Hills, this pack will know. They may know who the hunting families are, they may already be on our tails but I doubt they’ll be on the tails of another pack. Sam’s right,” Natalia paused then, feeling Sam giving her just a little space, she used it to lean forward, grabbing the notebook back from her brother, “this pack could be our one advantage. Rose already has a potential in but I want her out of this Alex.”
Alex’s head was spinning, his brain mushed from the years of being anything but sober, just trying to put the few pieces in front of him together, “why does our little sister love keeping werewolves for company?” He groaned, rubbing a hand across his brow and feeling like he needed a long, cold drink of something. “Well here’s a question for the group, how up to date is our training, because personally I don’t think I could run for 50 metres without getting winded?” Alex asked and Natalia just shoved his shoulder, her brother flopping back down onto the sofa.
“That’s your fault,” she scolded, placing the notebook onto the table between them. “Alex raises a good point though, if this is a pack of teenagers, Sam, they’re not going to be particularly effective fighters. Sure, they’ll be strong and fast and able to heal but tactics and a coordinated attack may be beyond them.” Unconsciously, Natalia mirrored Alex’s action, rubbing her thumb and forefinger above her brow, thinking through all that had to be done. “If we want to win, we need to get them onboard fast and get training.” Alex nodded from his slumped position, eyes shuttered closed and failing to miss Nat leaning back, head twisted to look at Sam as her hands settled into the lap, fighting against the urge to reach out to Sam, to lay a palm on his thigh or thread her fingers through his. It wasn’t exactly a smile that graced her face but a light shone from her eyes, a slight optimism that maybe they’d be okay.
“We keep the plan about the Pines Pack and Sabrina secret. Alex can figure out a lovely training schedule which, Alex,” her twin peeled open one eyelid, squinting across at them, “needs to happen sober.” In response Alex lifted up his right hand, opening and closing his fingers against his thumb to imitate chattering, “Alex, I’ll throw something at you,”
“And risk breaking a lovely piece of Sam’s decor? Oh odds on that,”
“1 to 10,” Nat challenged, that momentary peace in her gaze gone as sibling competitiveness and their perfected ability to get under each other’s skin started to come out.
“See, Natty, I’m going to be the adult here and say no, we are guests after all and you should apologise to Sam for threatening violence in his home,” Alex responded, both eyes wide open now and that ever-presenting shit eating grin on his face.
“Oh shut up,” she responded even if there was a nagging feeling in her heart to pack it in. Not that Sam hadn’t seen the two of them bicker like this before. It had just never occurred with her pressed against him in the past. That changed everything.
“But sure, I can figure out how to get everyone in shape if I have to. Still leaves us with the big question of figuring out who this pack is. At this rate we will be waiting around with all the other hunters.” Alex’s attention was pulled away then by another flurry of messages to his phone, a string which he seemed incapable of dragging himself away from despite the seriousness of the conversation they were having. “Holy…” he breathed out, hands clutching his phone desperately. Natalia’s eyes strained, trying to understand who could possibly captivate her brother so much and send his heart-rate skyrocketing, his hands near shaking as he swiped through the wave of texts. “I’ll be… I’ll be right back,” he mumbled, not even waving goodbye as he almost jogged out of the guesthouse. Natalia’s ears attempted to follow her brother’s movements outside but he’d walked too far away, all too aware that Natalia would be doing just that and clearly wanting to keep whoever it was private.
Natalia sighed, fingers flexing in her lap, “typical Alex, huh. That’s either his drug dealer,” which Alex had promised he’d stopped contacting lately but for him to be out of earshot, Nat couldn’t help but be suspicious, “or,” Natalia frowned, looking towards the door to the guest house, “someone he didn’t expect to hear from.” There was only one person Natalia knew would fit that description and illicit such a response from her brother. But surely not… Stephanie was long gone, right? Dragging her attention back to Sam, Natalia idly placed a hand on his thigh for a moment, “sorry, he’s a constant distraction. I like this plan. It’s far better than waiting around. The best place to find Sabrina is at Sal’s diner, she’s a waitress there and seems to work all the time but be careful, if she needed wolfsbane, she could be dangerous.” Being careful whilst resting her fingers on his thigh felt awfully intimate and her hand nearly recoiled but wouldn’t that be worse? Wouldn’t that make it obvious that she’d thought about the intricacies of what she was doing?
She knew she was ignoring what Alex had said, they still had no solid strategy for figuring out who was behind this and beyond sitting around and monitoring full moons, Natalia was at a slight loss. Or, well, she could certainly try and sniff them out herself but she couldn’t announce that to Sam. So there she sat, hand warming through from Sam’s leg and mind trying to sift through ways of finding the pack. Sam was the strategy guy, Natalia was the muscle and Alex was… a loose canon. But maybe some out of pocket ideas were what they’d need in the end.
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Hunters
Written by Megan.
147 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Male.
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Post by Samuel Styles on Jan 16, 2023 19:13:05 GMT
The heat in Sam’s cheeks was cooling, the color paling into a soft dusting of pink over the bridge of his nose and underneath his smattering of moles. Natalia’s warmth had his heart beating steadily in his chest, a heavy rhythm drumming against his ribs, but he was able to wash away the red that had stained his skin as he adjusted to her proximity. Has he ever been this close to her? He couldn’t recall. He knew he hadn’t when they were younger. Sam never had the confidence to intrude on her space, always keeping careful distance when he was wedged beside her and her brother during hunter meetings—always forced to attend, but too young to be welcome at the round table. He wouldn’t approach her at school, always doe-eyed and tight-lipped as he watched her from a distance with Gabe elbowing his side any time he caught wind of that longing look. Sam paused, eyes flicking down to watch the side of Natalia’s face as she glared at her brother—taking in his bumbling with a frown. That night he’d found her drunk, they’d been close. Close enough for her to fall asleep with her head tipped onto his shoulder, their sides brushing against one another, but not pressed tightly like this. There was no room for air between them now. She was tucked tight under his arm, her leg a long imprint along his. All heat and need and it was nothing like that night. She’d been intoxicated and lacking better judgment, but now? Now she was coherent and aware and choosing to keep contact. A rosy tint returned to Sam’s cheeks as he looked away, eyes on the hand balled in his lap as he concluded that there was no way this was just her being stubborn. What point was she proving by not moving? Surely it was just putting a target on her back for Alex to throw cross jokes at with the way his giddy eyes kept shifting between them and the way his smirk grew tenfold. She was doing this because she wanted to touch him. Sam was confident in that answer. He couldn’t imagine there was any other reason she’d be doing this.
Natalia never did anything she didn’t want.
Sam’s blue-green eyes shifted between Natalia and Alex as they took the reins of the conversation, sea-side irises watching the careful shaping of each of their lips as they spoke. There was something so special about being privy to an interaction between the Harper twins. Sam hadn’t been left alone with them very often, and certainly rarely heard them speaking to each other in those sparse meetings. He’d spent some time with each one on one more recently—Natalia when she’d crashed here and then that day with the ducks at the pond and then Alex running into him as he’d been walking Sadie at the park not long after—but he hasn’t seen the two of them together since high school. The thought of Sadie had him shifting slightly in his seat, turning to glance behind his shoulder to spot the dog in a deep sleep on the foot of his bed. The door to the room was cracked, but open enough that he could see the rise and fall of her chest. His own was pressed up against Natalia’s side in this position, but he was quick to fall back into his seat once he was sure his baby girl was alright. She wasn’t much of a guard dog. German Shepherd mix or not, she didn’t have a hostile bone in her little body. Sam fought to keep his cheeks from darkening again as he settled back into the couch, re-establishing his hold on Natalia as he tuned back into the discussion at hand.
He was careful to not meet Natalia’s gaze when he felt her turn her head to look up at him, eyes steady on Alex as he spoke. He knew he’d crumble if he looked down at her now—lips so close and parted in consideration, eyes round and so strangely soft with the sensitive topics floating from mouth to mouth. He’d kiss her. Alex be damned, he knew that right now, if he looked at her, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. They were both in a strange state of vulnerability and it wouldn’t be fair of him to close the distance between them—so he didn’t look. That was the only self-restraint he could show right now.
Sam perked up at the mention of Mexico, curiously (and quickly) glancing between the two before he turned back to Alex. He had heard mention of it just once, when Natalia was drunk that night. She had grumbled fleetingly about how Mexico had been hell, but he hadn’t put together that she had been on a hunt. He didn’t ask now, afraid to interrupt the flow of the conversation, but he stored his curiosity for later. It was a lot to take in as a whole. He cocked his head to the side at what Alex said about Rose, slowly piecing together what was going unsaid. Natalia had only mentioned Sabrina earlier, but the harder Sam thought, he recalled that Rose had been dating someone who had hung around the Gold’s family. He’d been out of town for the bulk of that relationship, and if he was honest, he didn’t keep tabs on Natalia’s little sister’s love life because that was weird, but it did make him pause. Rose had been dating a werewolf. A Harper had been dating a werewolf. He didn’t know how to process that information, but he didn’t have time to regardless. The conversation was directed back at him, Natalia bringing up a valid point. Training. Sam had kept up with his own out of habit. He ran daily, a way to relieve stress and clear his mind, and lifting weights helped keep him focused on something other than the hunt. Exercise was a happy distraction for him. Hand-to-hand combat skills may be lacking a bit on his end, but he was still in great shape. A few sparring rounds is all he imagined it would take for his body to relearn old habits.
He didn’t have a chance to chime in, though—the twins steamrolling over his small opening and chattering on. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lip, lifting it just slightly as he watched the twins mirror one another, but it faltered as he met Natalia’s eye. She’d leaned back into his touch, settling back into his side after she’d sat forward to grab notebook—head turning towards him just as he looked down at her. His eyes softened, lips parted in shock as he took in how truly beautiful she was. Even in this moment. Even as they were planning to recruit teenagers to help them fight a war. This is why he’d tried to keep his eyes off of her, and he felt himself leaning in but (thankfully?) she turned her attention to her brother before he could close the distance. Sam straightened back out, blinking slowly at where her face had just been moments ago before turning towards Alex as he mimed her talking away with his hand. His smile returned, small but warm as the two continued to banter. His eyebrows arched at the sober comment, but it could have easily been played off with him being concerned at the idea of her throwing his mother’s carefully picked decor. He knew Alex had been a bit wild, but the way Natalia phrased it made it seem a bit more intense and hazardous than Sam had ever considered. He noted that in his little mental journal, promising himself to keep an eye on Alex—maybe even offer him the chance to talk about it if the moment arised.
A soft sigh deflated Sam’s chest, eyes shutting as the weight of Alex’s words settled over him. It was the hard truth. As much as he hated it, they had to play the waiting game too. He took small solace in knowing that they would still be working towards a solution and not waiting for another person to… even now, he couldn’t think the word. Regardless, the ball would be in the pack’s court and they couldn’t do anything but wait. He was frowning to himself, hand clenched in his lap and the other just so barely tightening its hold on Natalia’s arm at the thought.
But it didn’t last—eyes snapping open and head tilted to the side like a curious puppy as Alex hastily excused himself. He watched him go, brows creased and lips pursed. Before he could say anything, though, he found his eyes dropping to where Natalia’s palm rested on his thigh. It looked so small there, the muscles of his legs something he’d always been proud of—maybe more now in this moment than ever. He caught himself flexing them then, the muscles jumping slightly beneath her palm as he turned to meet her gaze.
Willpower, Sam. Don’t lean in. Don’t kiss her. Don’t fucking blush because she’s praising the plan.
He was able to achieve two out of three, his face flushed a soft cherry color at her compliments.
Sam swallowed, eyes batting between hers as he churned out a response to everything that had been said. It took him a moment, but as he parted his lips, he lifted his hand and set it upon hers—effectively trapping hers there. A bold move, but wasn’t tonight the night for big steps? They’d both pushed the boundaries so far already, he couldn’t help but try. He tucked his fingers under palm, cradling it softly as he began to speak.
“That was a lot,” he started, the words airy as they exited his lips on a laugh. A good start, a soft start. Something to lighten how heavy everything felt right now. He swallowed again, lips in a tentative smile as he worked through his mental checklist. “It’s been a while since I’ve been around the two of you, kind of missed watching you guys go at it,” he chuckled, shaking his head softly and his bangs shifted over his brows. It made him look soft, boyish. He could count on one hand how many times he’d watched the twins go at it, but he doubted Natalia would remember the specifics the way he did. He’d been a blip on her radar for so long, but not now. Not anymore.
Confidence had his shoulders rolling back, chest puffing out ever so slightly as he finally dove into the meat of it.
“I think if I approached her at Sal’s, I’d be okay,” he shared, thumb idly rubbing the back of her hand, “She’d be on edge and maybe feel cornered, but I think it’ll be the safest place for me to approach her and her not turn on me. She’d be forced to keep composure.” He frowned then, not liking the idea of putting Sabrina on the spot like that, but what other choice did he really have? He sighed. “But we’ll have to work out the specifics of the plan before I approach her,” he added, knowing it wouldn’t help their case if he didn’t have a solid plan to back him up. There’s no way she would out her pack at a half-assed explanation.
Pursing his lips, he studied her for a moment before continuing, “You guys were right about the training, though. They’re strong, but what are the odds they know how to fight? And I know I’m a bit rusty in hand-to-hand myself. It would do us all some good.” He paused, refusing to imagine sparring with Natalia because hello! Her hand was right there on his thigh, he didn’t need her fingers stretching out and feeling just how excited the idea of it got him.
God, Sam. Stop being such a teenage boy. Bigger things at hand at the moment.
Shaking his head to himself again, he finally concluded his train of thought—voice deep and yet, warm and soft, “I think it’s a risky plan, but better than the one the other hunter’s have. If we can pull this off, Talia,” it felt so sweet on his tongue, he couldn’t help himself, “Not only would we save lives, but we’d be proving that we could work with wolves and not just against them. It could change everything.” He was beaming then, lips pulled back so tight and teeth sparkling down at her. They weren’t perfect, his front two a little crooked but it never bothered him.
He laughed softly to himself, a berating sound as he judged his own excitement. “It’s a silly wish, I know, but I—I have my reasons for it. I know that killing isn’t the answer and maybe this will get them to see it too.” Noelle flashed in his mind, her blue skin and feline features. This had to work for her sake.
Sam’s eyes were far away for a moment, cast just over her head before he dropped them back down to meet hers. “Is Alex alright?” He finally asked, feeling that the man had been outside enough to warrant concern. He’d left in such a rush, and with the mention of drugs, Sam couldn’t help but worry.
Alex was a pain in the ass, yeah, but Sam still cared about him.
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Supernatural
Written by Jasmin.
86 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Female.
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Post by Natalia Harper on Jan 17, 2023 21:22:04 GMT
It was hard to remain focused around her brother. He was the opposite of a calm and soothing presence, like an annoying bee that wouldn’t leave the room no matter how many windows and doors you opened to let it out. The buzzing would just get louder and more irritable until eventually you left the room or the bee gave up completely. But every twitch and tightening of Sam’s hold against her had Natalia’s brain tripping on its wiring, a lightning bolt clanging against her skull. So Sam became an even bigger distraction, and, arguably, a more problematic one. She’d grown used to tuning Alex out and not falling apart whenever he’d crumbled. She was a house of stone, a castle of marble, a palace made of steel. Sam, she feared, would turn it all to glass.
Her comments about Alex’s departure were an attempt to distract herself from feeling anything close to fragile.
Her hand on his thigh was… Natalia had no words for it. An act led by her heart and hormones. Something her brain was scolding her for. But when he looked at her that scolding melted away, her fingers relaxing further. She was way too fucking comfortable touching him like this. It felt way too right.
Just as the thought to peel her hand away was clanging around her head, he covered his hand over hers. No way out now. His fingers curling under her palm were going to send her over the edge. Fight or flight was well and truly starting to kick in. She was going to bounce soon, spring up from the couch and run before she found herself growing too used to this. But his laugh was disarming, easing that adrenaline and desire in her body to flee. It was a reminder that this was fine. He wasn’t reacting negatively. She was just being a comforting presence and if he was laughing then… then he couldn’t be too sad. There was a sudden strike of realisation that she cared, maybe a little too much, and more than she would ever admit, about how he was feeling. She couldn’t show her realisation, couldn’t suddenly blurt it out loud or hold him tighter but in her mind, her soul, her heart, she felt a tug and a little knot forming between their hands. No one would see it. Invisible to all but her. A sparkling string as she realised she cared. She wanted him to be okay. This boy who she’d ignored for years was now one of the only people who was up on that mantel. And wasn’t that terrifying.
“Come around more, the novelty will wear off,” Natalia replied knowing that Rose had thrown countless hissy fits in the past because neither of them would listen to her when they got into one of their verbal battles. Their parents would always come then, heads in their hands at what their children had become. Even though, in Natalia's mind, it had long felt like it was all their fault. People could blame Natalia for being a heartless bitch but they hadn’t had to grow up like that. But… maybe Sam… maybe he’d understand it - the pressure, the ripping of your soul in two, the lack of true peace in your life. It could mould you into something soft or into someone who was constantly seeking escape or into something brittle and sharp, refusing to let anyone too close because that only led to blood and hurt. Or, at least, that’s how she’d made sense of it. Her eyes shifted to their hands for a second, brow furrowing as she worked through the idea that Sam could understand.
The brush of his thumb across her skin had her body electrifying, dragging her eyes away from the action to look at him. Not that it helped to settle her growing ache for him. Which was a completely inappropriate train of thought for the conversation at hand. There was a wire in her brain that was manually nodding her head up and down because the rest of her thoughts were becoming all too consumed by the swoosh of his finger.
The shake of his own hand had the right edge of her mouth shifting skyward ever so minutely, one cheek rounding out slightly with the movement. Talia. That had her hand flexing slightly on his leg. But her fingers stilled and maybe they even pressed into his leg a little at that beaming smile. It was involuntarily. The swoop of her lips, the gentle tug as they lifted upwards. A smile, just for him. And for all the hidden promises in his words which he wouldn’t even realise mattered. “No, it’s not,” she couldn’t bring herself to say the word silly but she knew her point would be clear. “Alex or I can be backup at Sal’s in case things go wrong. I’m content to sit in a car in silence with no one bothering me,” lookout was a task she’d enjoyed growing up. Alex had despised it with every morsel of his being but Natalia had cherished the peace and moments to herself.
“We can start training properly in the morning,” she wouldn’t let her weakness, her lack of physical discipline, be the trait that would bring her down. At first light she’d be up. Her own focus drifted, already jotting down a personalised training routine in her head when Sam spoke again. Right, Alex.
She sighed, the sound long and filled with Rose’s characteristic dramatics. Some reactions really were family traits. Leaving Sam to go and check on her brother seemed like the wrong decision when he’d asked her here because he was upset. For all she knew, if she upped and left, he’d break down even more. But… her lips pressed together, twisting to look at the door. Alex was too much of explosive to leave sat around unattended. “Probably,” the word came out without much emotion but it was a beat later when she said “not,” that Natalia’s decision was made. Her one solid throughout life had been Alex. She couldn’t start bailing on him now just because her eye had been swayed. “If I leave, will you be okay?” Natalia knew that once she stepped out of the door to the guest house the moment would be gone. She’d be rebuilding that brick wall instantly. But if he needed her, she could stay.
The fact that could was actually a want was completely irrelevant.
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Hunters
Written by Megan.
147 posts.
22 years old.
help.
I am Male.
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Post by Samuel Styles on Jan 18, 2023 22:56:33 GMT
There was a shift in the electricity that hummed and buzzed in the short distance between them, the tension in the cool air of the room so sweltering that Sam could hardly catch his breath. His lungs burned as he studied her, holding onto his oxygen and letting it churn in his chest as his eyes traced the plush shape of her mouth. In this moment, everything else melted away. Sam would feel guilty later for smiling so brightly, for laughing so heartily. He’d flush with shame that he’d been able to find joy, that he was capable of it hours after Bobbi’s death. He’d curse himself, kick at his feet and tug at his hair because he shouldn’t feel even remotely okay. He shouldn’t be at ease with the weight of Natalia’s hand on his thigh and the warmth of her body under his arm. But he was. God damn it, he was. He was letting out a breathy chuckle as she invited him to spectate more conversations with her brother, his chest puffing out as he let out the delighted noise of surprise. She wanted him around. He felt like Rudolph in the old Claymation film when Clarisse finally acknowledged him, cheeks a rosy tint and burning from the force of his smile. “I’d like that,” he whispered, small and private and so fucking hopeful, “To come around more, I mean.” Shame would come later. He knew it would, but not now. He’d called Natalia over to lift his spirits, to hold his heavy heart in her cool palms and shoulder a burden she never asked for.
And she came. Natalia came when he cried for her.
“I wouldn’t bring Alex if you’re hoping for no one to bother you,” he teased, giving her shoulder a playful squeeze as he leaned in an inch (if that) closer, “But I think that’s a good thought. You’re right. Anything could happen. I shouldn’t be completely alone.” There was something so enticing, so tantalizing about the idea that Natalia cared enough to not let him go out on his own. She cared about his well being. As a person or as a friend or as more, it didn’t matter. She cared.
Shame would come later, but right now, he was basking in the warmth of her smile—a smile only for him, just for Sam. He could shiver in the coolness of his loss as the lights in the house dimmed, when he was left alone when she inevitably left.
And it was sooner than later, he knew. This would not last forever.
He fears he thought her dismissal into existence.
Her words had his smile faltering, quivering just so as he swallowed around the reality that this moment was going to end and part of him knew he’d never get it back. Would they ever be like this again? Would he ever dare cross that boundary without the push of grief?
“I’ll be okay,” he promised, and he couldn’t tell himself if he was lying or not. All he knew is that he would try. For Natalia, he would try. “I’m worried about him too, you should make sure he’s alright. I’ll be okay.” He didn’t know if he was repeating it for himself or for her. He didn’t know who needed to hear it more. “I’ll text you in the morning?” It came off as a question, as if he were asking permission, “I usually run laps around here in the mornings, but I’m up for anything.” If it meant moments more with Natalia, he would do anything. It concerned him. Sam wondered for a moment how pathetic she would find him if he voiced that aloud.
He kept his lips sealed.
Sam didn’t want to be the one to break contact, but he was the one who had an all consuming hold on her. Like an octopus latched onto prey or a koala desperately clinging to a tree. He retracted his arm first, slowly unraveling it from around her shoulders and shifting so it could rest between them—pressed against her side, still seeking out her touch. He was hesitant to release her hand, but gingerly he peeled his fingers from beneath hers. Gently, he gave her hand a pat before he placed his back safely on his other thigh. With all of his limbs respectively back in his own space (more or less), he smiled down at her again. It was timid, like the sun setting upon the ocean—last rays of light desperate to hold on to the day, not ready for the shadows of night just yet.
“Thank you for coming, Natalia,” he murmured, not able to keep his fingers from reaching for her face—brushing her cheek softly before tucking a stray hair behind her ear. His hand rested on her jaw for a moment, lost in the depths of her hazel eyes before it fell back to his lap once more. “You don’t know how much it means to me,” a pause, something unsaid brewing on his tongue and in his gaze, but he can’t say it—instead parting with, “Go check on him. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
It looked like she wanted to say something, anything, but she didn’t. There was a flash in her eyes, a shift in the purse of her lips as she slowly took her own hand back. A pause, a decision made as she pushed herself up and stepped away. “Tomorrow,” she nodded to herself, and Sam could see the wall he worked so hard to break down build right back up, “I’ll see you, Sam.”
And with that, and without a glance back, she left.
Sam deflated, staring longingly at the closed door, wondering if today was real.
He doesn’t remember how he ended up there, but he found himself waking up the next morning in his bed. Sadie was curled against his side and when he touched his cheeks, there were dried tears there. Idly, without thought, he moved throughout his house—picking up the warmed glasses of water they’d left mostly untouched, adjusting the pillows back into careful place. Erasing all traces of what had happened, but he’d never forget.
As he waited for his eggs to finish cooking, he grabbed his phone. His fingers hovered over Natalia’s text thread, dancing over the keyboard before he finally caved and sent, “Morning, Talia.”
He wasn’t going to let go of that moment. He wasn’t going to lose hope.
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