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freakshowtwopointoh · 3 days

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A Gathering Storm - All I've Ever Known Part 10

The wind is changing

There's a storm coming on

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And that’s when Sam stepped out of the shadows. I was frozen in place, staring at my brother, unable to process what I was seeing. At first, I thought it must have been a hallucination. Some strange combination of lack of sleep and stress had caused me to imagine my younger brother standing in this dingy room. But he didn’t look exactly as he did in my memory - he looked thinner, warier. And his clothes... entirely unfamiliar. I just looked at him for a minute - trying to comprehend the truth I had always felt but not always believed.

“Sam?” I said, my voice cracking as I stared. And then I was sprinting across the room, throwing my arms around his neck, hugging him as tight as I could. “Oh my god, Sam, you’re alive.” My heart was thudding against my ribcage, tears streaming down my face without interruption. “I fucking knew it.”

“Heya, Mags.” Sam muttered, and I swear hearing his voice just made me cry harder. I was vaguely aware of Jordan muttering something to Hughie but it didn’t matter to me. I pulled back, taking in his face. We’d both been through hell in the past year, but here we were.

“How long have you been here? Why didn’t you find me? They said you were dead, Sam. You have a grave. There was a funeral. How-” I hugged him tight again, being pulled back and forth between anger and relief. “What happened?” I asked finally.

“They were experimenting on me. I was only there for a few days before The Boys broke in, looking for information. They got me out, and I’ve been working with them and hiding out here since then.” He sounded tired, his voice worn and gruff. “But it wasn’t safe. For any of us. I’m sorry, Mags. It had to be this way.” My jaw clenched involuntarily.

“I know.” He sounded exhausted and strained - like he was holding back a lot of emotions, or like he was feeling too many things at once.

“It hasn’t been safe either way, Sam. I...” What could I even tell him? Dad’s friends gave me a bad vibe at a fancy party? Bad things happened months ago and I still don’t really understand them? I sighed.

“What do you mean, you know? What do you know?” My heart rattled in my chest as I tried to process the situation. Now that the shock of seeing Sam has dissipated somewhat, I was reminded of the reason I was so desperate to find anyone else outside of Vought. I pulled back to look him in the eye. The walls were closing in around me and I was slowly realizing how trapped I truly was. I used to say I’d never want to change the past - even the bad stuff. But I wish I could go back to the day Grace found me and scream at my past self, tell her not to listen to anything that comes out of any of their mouths. “Do you know something about the gala? Or...” I searched his face for answers I was almost positive he didn’t have.

“We don’t know much. Once I saw that phony-ass interview with you and Luke, I knew something happened.” My heart constricted painfully, understanding the unspoken message: you broke our promise. Late nights spent crying together when his head got too loud, when my fears got to be too much - we pinky promised to stick together, and to make our own way.

The third worst night of my life was a night when we were in high school together. Sam, barely 14, sobbing in my arms as I tried desperately to convince him not to leave me. I had found his note - a heart-wrenching apology for the troubles he believed he caused us. I promised to stick by him, swore that we would make our own way.

“This is our life, Sammy. We can do whatever we want. We’ll build our own future, and Dad can suck it.” I said firmly, forcing my voice not to crack as I ran my fingers through his curls.

“But -”

“No buts, Sam. Let’s make a promise: we make our own way.” I said, offering him my pinky.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“What happened? I checked on you, you know. After I got free. And everything was normal. Then a few months later, everything changed, and you’re back to playing along with all their games.” He was trying to keep his voice neutral but I could tell he was bitter. And he has every right to be. I looked away guiltily.

“It’s complicated.” I said vaguely, still not able to meet his eyes. And before he could push it further, Jordan came over and cleared their throat awkwardly. “Oh, Sam, this is Jordan. They’re a friend of mine, and they’ve been helping me. We live off-campus with Luke, Cate, and Luke’s friend Andre. Jordan, Sam.” This was definitely not how I’d imagined the two meeting - the circumstances were not great for making friends. They eyed each other warily. Sam in particular looked apprehensive, trying to get a read on Jordan in the dim light.

“We’re going to stay here tonight - it’s already kind of late. We can head back to the townhouse tomorrow, yeah?” They said to me, before smiling at Sam again. “It’s nice to meet you, man. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“From who?” He asked, eyeing them nervously. I gave him a pointed look.

“Take a wild guess.” I said, smiling wryly. “Anyways, if we’re spending the night here, do you guys have any food? I’m starved.”

After a few frozen pizzas and a bit of whiskey, it seemed like the whole room let out a breath of relief. Hughie’s eyes were darting around the room about half as much, and I think I noticed Frenchie and Jordan sharing a cigarette. It felt... nice. I’d imagined it so many times but actually being in a comfortable space with both Sam and Jordan just felt right. And I felt more like myself than I ever had in a group this large. I was smiling and laughing and I didn’t care that I wasn’t sitting up straight or I was talking too much. At first, I thought it was just being with Sam again, but it was deeper than that. Even the people I just met felt safe. Like they could see me at my worst, and I wouldn’t run and hide.

I was leaning back, listening to the conversation without really listening, when Jordan reached over to fix my collar. My breath hitched, a shiver running up my spine. I just hoped they didn’t notice the way my cheeks were tinged pink the rest of the night.

And as I lay on the ratty old couch, wrapped in a scratchy wool blanket and half asleep, I found myself thanking whoever or whatever was watching over me. Because I got my brother back. I still don’t feel like it feels real, and yet it feels more real than anything else I’ve been through in the past year.

Breakfast was a quiet but enjoyable affair, coffee poured and food made as if it was any normal morning. I left my number with Sam, making him promise to text me when he could.

“You know, it’s not like I’ve got an iPhone out here, Maggie.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“You can call me too, idiot.” He sent me a playful glare but he was smiling. I could still see the questions in his eyes - questions I did not want to answer. “Keep me in the loop, yeah?” He nodded.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll let you know if we find anything. Stay safe. Love ya.”

“Love you too, Sammy. Stay sharp.” He gave me a final nod.

“Now get outta here! I’m sure you have homework to do or whatever.” I rolled my eyes. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to focus on anything when I get home.

“Thank you guys!” I called out. Jordan had stayed quiet as usual, waving casually at the ragtag group of vigilantes. We walked a few blocks away before calling an Uber, a heavy silence falling between us.

“Well, we didn’t get killed.” I said. “But other than that, I have absolutely no idea how to feel right now. One big question answered, but now I have about a hundred new questions.”

“Tell me about it.” Their voice was nonchalant, but they were looking at me intently.

“Just trying to figure out if you’ll be able to act normal in about... 15 minutes?” I rolled my eyes, flipping them off.

“I can feel you psycho-analyzing me with your eyes.” I said, sending them an exasperated look.

“I’ve been lying to Luke for most of my life. I’ll be fine.” I said. Jordan quirked an eyebrow but said nothing as we clambered into the backseat of the Uber.

But it would turn out that he would not be asking us any questions at all. Because as we entered the townhouse, Luke was inconsolable on the ground, and Cate was convulsing next to Andre. Jordan and I rushed to Cate’s side, trying to see what caused the seizure. And then, the house disappeared.

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#jordan li #gen v #gen v fic #angst #luke riordan #gen v prime #lukes little sister x jordan li #jordan li x oc #gen v fanfic #gen v fanfiction #gen v amazon

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freakshowtwopointoh · 4 days

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A Gathering Storm - All I've Ever Known Part 10

The wind is changing

There's a storm coming on

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“I know.” He sounded exhausted and strained - like he was holding back a lot of emotions, or like he was feeling too many things at once.

“This is our life, Sammy. We can do whatever we want. We’ll build our own future, and Dad can suck it.” I said firmly, forcing my voice not to crack as I ran my fingers through his curls.

“But -”

“No buts, Sam. Let’s make a promise: we make our own way.” I said, offering him my pinky.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

“From who?” He asked, eyeing them nervously. I gave him a pointed look.

“Take a wild guess.” I said, smiling wryly. “Anyways, if we’re spending the night here, do you guys have any food? I’m starved.”

Breakfast was a quiet but enjoyable affair, coffee poured and food made as if it was any normal morning. I left my number with Sam, making him promise to text me when he could.

“You know, it’s not like I’ve got an iPhone out here, Maggie.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll let you know if we find anything. Stay safe. Love ya.”

“Love you too, Sammy. Stay sharp.” He gave me a final nod.

“Now get outta here! I’m sure you have homework to do or whatever.” I rolled my eyes. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to focus on anything when I get home.

“Well, we didn’t get killed.” I said. “But other than that, I have absolutely no idea how to feel right now. One big question answered, but now I have about a hundred new questions.”

“Tell me about it.” Their voice was nonchalant, but they were looking at me intently.

“Just trying to figure out if you’ll be able to act normal in about... 15 minutes?” I rolled my eyes, flipping them off.

“I can feel you psycho-analyzing me with your eyes.” I said, sending them an exasperated look.

“I’ve been lying to Luke for most of my life. I’ll be fine.” I said. Jordan quirked an eyebrow but said nothing as we clambered into the backseat of the Uber.

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#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #gen v fic #angst #luke riordan #lukes little sister x jordan li #jordan li x oc #gen v fanfic #gen v fanfiction #gen v amazon

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freakshowtwopointoh · 7 days

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finished the vague outline for next to normal (college au) - heres some select chapter covers for ~vibes~

and im mostly done w the next chapter of all ive ever known

#jordan li #gen v #gen v fic #limoreau #jordan x marie #next to normal #normal college au

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freakshowtwopointoh · 11 days

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more excerpts of the bots making shit up that's hilarious to me. But nothing will ever beat

Just watch me drive!

#jordan li #jordan li bot #gen v #janitor ai #c.ai bot

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freakshowtwopointoh · 12 days

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Some more choice lines from the Jordan Li bot. Choose your fighter:

Jordan Li adds softly, "Thank you for choosing therapy over abortions."

"His powers run on carbon energy... The more popular you get, the stronger he gets."

Jordan pulls back, offering you a cup of their signature Jordan Juice.

They're the person who goes into a bar and orders a drink made of dandelions and carbon dioxide.

#jordan li #jordan li bot #gen v #gen v prime

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freakshowtwopointoh · 12 days

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Swoop so low 2

Emergency contact

Jordan li x gender neutral reader

Masterlist

Probably my longest chapter ever hence why it took so long (plus my college assignments have been hindering my ability to write for fun but alas!) I sort of did my own thing in this but definitely inspired by a lovely anon on tumblr<3 I have spent so long on this that i have no ability to judge whether or not its coherent but i hope you enjoy regardless xx (i may have to take a breather after this one)

Warnings and notes: Hospital talk, descriptions of injury and violence/ violent thoughts (it’s about superheroes and use of their powers), alcohol mentions, very angsty.

Cate is the antagonist, I guess. I have used supe names from google and somewhere on Tumblr, can’t remember who came up with Jordan’s superhero name Switch but credit to them. Quite wordy which could be a good thing or not depending on how you look at it (took two whole weeks to write lol). BTW Ashely is the boss at Vought in this (I don’t watch the boys so just go with it.)

#jordan li x reader #jordan li #gen v #gen v imagine #jordan li imagine

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freakshowtwopointoh · 13 days

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Never Be The Same - Chapter 1:

Me and My Friends Are Lonely

- It's been a couple days since shit went down at Godolkin. The four lay low in one of Andres many properties in the city. What now?

(Title song: Me and My Friends Are Lonely by Matt Maeson)

3.4k words

CW: (small) mention of smoking/drug use. The normal amount of swearing. They make out, but nothing explicit.

“Godolkin University. Oh, how the mighty fall. The once prestigious number one supe school in America, brought down by radical supes and a Dean with a hidden agenda. Indira Shetty, former behavioral scientist and the last Dean of Godolkin, who turned out to be an anti-supe and anti-vought radicalist. Using her prior scientific knowledge and position of power over students, she groomed and manipulated these supes to kill their own kind. Lives of both humans and supes were lost in the tragic conquest of the foreign terrorist that is Indira Shetty. But do not fear, as our very own homelander had flown in and saved the day, taking down the terrorists and escorting all of the remaining students and faculty to safety. It will take some time to rebuild Godolkin and restore it to its former glory due to the aftermath of the incident, But worry not, for with the help of Vought, young supes all over the country can now attend colleges up to the most prestigious levels. Supe students are able to study any major, including supe specific majors such as crime fighting and more! Vought, once again, doing the right thing and making sure our kids stay educated. And with that, I’m Cameron Coleman coming at you from Vought News. Goodnight Amer-”

The television shuts off once the news story comes to an end. Jordan tosses the remote back onto the couch, letting out a huff as they run their hands through their hair, messing up the perfect curls of their bob as they do. They resume pacing back and forth behind the couch where Marie and Emma currently sit. Andre sits in the armchair situated on the left side of the room and stares at the dark tv screen, still trying to process everything that has been going on the past few days. They are all currently in one of Andre’s Dad’s many Apartments in New York. Apparently they didn’t use this one very often, being not nearly as extravagant as some of his other penthouses over on the upper-east side, but it was perfect for the four of them to lie low in while they dealt with all that transpired over the last couple of days. Andre had offered the idea of staying at one of his places when Marie mentioned that they had nowhere to go now that Godolkin is no more. She definitely didn't want to go back to Red River, where they'd probably send her straight to Elmira. Emma said that she could stay with her, but Emma wasn't too excited to go back home herself. Jordan had also decided to take up Andre's offer for similar reasons.

So there they were. Sitting around the living room in silence, not sure what to say to each other after watching that broadcast. Empty pizza boxes and soda cans littered the coffee table in front of them. Since the Andersons rarely used this place, the fridge was empty, so they decided to order food for the time being. No one was comfortable enough to go grocery shopping yet. They've all basically isolated themselves inside the apartment for the last four days, the shock and trauma of past events holding them in place. But they all spent the time comforting each other. They all went through the same thing so it only made sense. They've talked separately and as a group, confiding in each other for the time being. The uncertainty of the future weighing heavy on them all.

“That's it. I need a smoke.” Andre pushes himself up and goes searching through the drawers in the adjacent kitchen.

Jordan shakes their head as they yell back to Andre, “No. We need to talk first. I'd appreciate it if you were at least a bit fucking sober for this conversation.”

“Plus, there are no cigarettes left…I already checked.” Jordan mumbles that last part.

“Dammit. Fine.” Andre begrudgingly walks over and plops back into his previous spot. “But you owe me a pack when we're done.”

Jordan shakes their head before walking around the couch and standing in front of the TV. They take a breath, but Emma begins to speak before Jordan gets the chance.

“Well, looks like Vought blamed all that shit on Shetty. And sure it's not 100% accurate, but it's better than nothing, right?” Emma looks between the three of them for a response.

Marie sighs, turning left to face Emma. “I don't know, They still got away with it. Nobody knows about the woods or the virus-”

“-And not a single fucking mention of Cate or Sam.” Jordan jumps in, hatred clear in their voice as they say the name of their ex-friend.

Everyone in the room pauses for a second at the mention of their names. They still had no idea what happened to them before they were escorted off campus. Marie had tried to tell Homelander about what Cate had done, but he just stared at her with his cold dead eyes, quickly flashing red before huffing and flying away. If Marie didn't know better, she was almost certain that was a threat on her life. And if all those people hadn’t been there, then she'd be a pile of ash by now. Further solidifying the whole ‘nothing is as it seems’ revelation.

“Yeah… but, on the bright side, it looks like we're in the clear. None of our names were mentioned either. We at least don't have to hide anymore.” Emma's words grow more uncertain as she continues, the last words being mumbled.

“You're right.” Jordan shifts to their male form, gaining a few inches in height and crosses their arms. “But we still need to be careful. If Vought knows that we knew about the fucking woods, then we could still have targets on our backs. They could be watching us. Watching our every fucking move to make sure we don't spill anything.”

“But wouldn't they have done something by now? I mean sure, they might not expect an apartment in the middle of Brooklyn, but it's Vought. If they wanted to find us, don't you think they would have by now?” Andre retorts. Emma was right. They didn't even mention any wanted supes or anything. So they should be fine.

Jordan sighs as they shake their head, “I don't-”

“No.” Marie interrupts. “No, they're right, Jordan. I agree that we should still be careful, but it's almost been a week and we can't stay locked up here forever. If Vought wanted to find us, they would. And it's not like we could fucking stop them either. Definitely not if we stay in New York. But you heard the news report, we have a second chance. A second fucking chance to go to school and finish our education so we can actually do something with our lives. And I don't know about you but second chances don't come by often for me. I need to go to college and get a degree if I want a chance at a life that doesn't include being locked up for the foreseeable future. I can't do any good from here. We can't do any good if we stay here.”

Marie takes a breath.

“If we want to make a change and help people, then we need to go out and do it.” She stares directly into Jordan's eyes as she says this. Jordan wasn't planning to fight Marie on this anyway, but they were done for the second their eyes locked. Those beautiful damn eyes. They're not quite sure how they feel about the effect she has on them yet, but they hope they have time to find out.

“Fine.” Is all Jordan can manage to say as they tear their eyes away from Marie's. Jordan checks the time on the wall clock, “It's late. We can continue tomorrow. I'm going to bed.” Jordan speaks in a flat tone, walking off to their temporary bedroom, leaving the three of them in the living room.

Marie waits a couple minutes before getting up from the couch. “I'm gonna-”

“Oh my God just go comfort your themfriend already!” Emma exclaims as she shoves Marie in the direction of the hall that leads to the bedroom. Marie can't help but laugh as she's being pushed by Emma playfully.

“Have fun~!” Andre says in a sing-songy voice as Marie walks past them, flipping them off.

Once Marie left, Andre and Emma looked at each other for a moment before breaking out into laughter.

—

Jordan stands in the dark of their small, temporary bedroom. Their arms are crossed as they watch intently out the window, eyes peering through the blinds. The view isn't much to admire. Just the end of a shitty, dark alleyway leading out to a dimly lit street corner. Jordan watches as people wander the dark, cold streets of Brooklyn. What the hell they're doing out this late, no one knows, and Jordan doesn't necessarily care either. Still, they watch vigilantly, waiting for something to happen, someone who looks out of place, eyes that might stare back. But behind those focused, observant eyes, are a million thoughts spiraling around their head, all focused around one person. Marie. The last few days Jordan hadn't been able to think a single thought that didn't connect to Marie in some way, shape, or form. Hell, if they're being honest, all they've thought about for the last month has revolved around Marie.

Marie Moreau…

She came in like a fucking heart attack. Suddenly, out of the blue, taking their breath away, and letting them know they'll have to make some life changes to accommodate. For the past week or so Marie had been their safe place. A warm comfort that kept them grounded while the world crumbled around them. The one good thing in the middle of so much fucking bad. But with the warmth, comfort, and steadiness that Marie brought them, came something unexpected. Fear.

They were afraid. Afraid of losing her. They almost lost her the day Cate went on her crazy ass rampage. They had just got her, and the thought of now losing her at any moment? The thought of Vought taking Marie and doing God knows what to her? It terrified them. Made them feel powerless. And they hate feeling powerless.

A soft knock on the door drew Jordan out of their thoughts, back into the

present.

“Jordan? Can I come in?”

Marie's soft, muffled voice still managed to bring some sense of calm to Jordan, even with the storm of thoughts berating their brain. Jordan gives a soft “yeah”, just loud enough for Marie to hear, as Jordan continues their vigilant search out the window.

Marie enters the room, slowly pushing the door close behind her, not wanting to make too much noise this late. She looks at Jordan, admiring their masculine figure, sharp edges softly painted by moonlight as they look out the bedroom window. Marie slowly makes her way across the room to Jordan. Once at their side, she places a hand on their arm and places the other on their back, slowly rubbing soft circles while enjoying the feeling of their soft, cotton, long sleeve shirt. Jordan leans into their touch, eyes threatening to close and succumb to the comfort.

“Hey.” She whispers softly, looking up at them and noticing the stern look on their face, their jaw tense and brows furrowed.

“Hey.” Jordan mutters as they attempt to maintain their focus on the two strangers standing on the street corner. Doesn't seem like they're doing much, just talking, but Jordan watched their every move regardless.

Marie realizes what they're doing, taking the time to observe out the window herself. “See anything interesting?”

Jordan huffs, “Don't tease, Marie. This is serious.”

“I'm not teasing.” She remarks in a serious, reassuring tone as she looks back up at them. “It's just… you can't stand here all night and expect something to happen. And you can't will it into existence if you stare hard enough.”

Jordan decides to remain silent, knowing that she's right. Which really shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Marie takes this opportunity to move her hand to their chest and lead them back towards the bed, which is only a couple steps back from the window. Jordan lets her lead them to the bed, dropping their head into their hands as they're sat down by Marie.

“You're right.” Their hands gripping their hair, hoping that would release the tension in their head.

“I know.” Marie replies with a hint of humor in her voice. She stands in front of them, putting her hands on theirs and uncurling their fingers from their hair. Jordan eases their grip as she does.

Jordan lets out a soft chuckle as they bring their head back up to face Marie. They take a moment to admire her, the moonlight framing her in a graceful light. Beautiful is the only word that comes to Jordan's mind. The word itself doesn't even do her justice. They bring their left hand up to cup her face, gently brushing their thumb on her cheek. Marie places her hand on top of theirs as she leans into their touch, quickly turning her head to kiss their hand.

“I'm scared…” The words just fall out of Jordan's mouth, barely audible as Jordan wrestles with their feelings. Something about Marie disarms them, makes them feel vulnerable as all hell. But they know they can trust her. They're safe with her.

Marie looks into their eyes, an understanding look on her face, and nods. “I know. I'm scared too. Like, really fucking scared. But we aren't alone in this, Jordan. We have each other. We have Emma, and Andre-”

“I know… it's just-” Jordan takes Marie's hand and moves it down. Marie moves to sit down next to them, letting their hands fall on to Jordan's lap. Jordan takes a shaky, deep breath before continuing. “This is the first time I'm worried about someone who isn't just me.”

“You don't have to worry about me.” Marie says with a reassuring smile.

“Well, yeah. I know more than anyone that you can take care of yourself any fucking day, but I can't help it. You just mean so much to me. You have no fucking clue how much you matter to me, Marie. You are one of the only people in this fucked up world who has cared about me in this capacity, who has accepted me completely. I can't lose that. I can't lose you.”

Marie does her best to fight back the tears threatening to fall. She places her free hand on top of their clasped hands, giving it a squeeze. “You mean a lot to me too. More than you can imagine. And of course I'm worried about losing you too, but I have to believe that there's a way out of this. Staying locked up inside all day, afraid for our lives, always being on guard? We can't live like that forever. We have to trust in each other to get out of this shit together. You don't have to do this alone, Jordan. We have each other. And I'm not going anywhere, okay?”

Jordan nods, “okay.”

Marie places a hand on the side of Jordan's face. They stare into each other's deep, brown eyes for what feels like an eternity before Jordan leans in and closes the gap. Lips lock, as they desperately hold on to each other, refusing to let the other go. The kiss, deep and passionate. A moment imprinted into their minds as they meld, moving seamlessly against each other, savoring every sensation.

Jordan switches to their smaller form as they move to straddle Marie, holding her head in their hands as they desperately taste every single corner of Marie's mouth. They let out a moan as Marie tangles her hands into their longer hair giving it gentle tug. Jordan moves their lips to Marie's neck, revisiting every crevice and curve they've had the pleasure of getting to know. Marie's moans only fuel Jordan, as they push her to lay back on the bed, hands running their way up and down Marie's sides. Marie goes to flip them over, moving them up the bed till their head lands on the pillows. Jordan shifts again, strong hands moving up Marie's body, making their way under her sweater. But before they can do anything else, Marie pulls away, gently removing Jordan's hands from her sweater. Jordan lets out a small whine at the sudden loss of contact, throwing Marie a questioning look.

“Is everything alright?” they asked, slightly worried they went too far.

“It's late Jordan. And as much as I would love to continue this,” she runs her finger up Jordan's chest, eventually resting on their shoulder. “We could really use some sleep. There's a lot to do tomorrow, and we haven't slept as much as we probably should have over the last couple nights.” Marie says, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Jordan sighs, hands resting on Marie's thighs, thumbs brushing back and forth as they contemplate. “Why did I have to fall for someone so responsible?”

“Who else is gonna make sure you take care of yourself?” Marie says playful as she gets off of Jordan, pulling the covers of the bed down and draping them over Jordan.

“I can take care of myself just fine, thank you.” Jordan says, switching back to their female form, as they take their pants off and readjust the covers.

“Oh really? So, you've never stayed up for a whole week studying for exams, forgetting to do simple things like eat or shower?” Marie saunters over to the other side of the bed, taking her hoodie off, leaving her in a loose t-shirt and pajama pants.

Jordan turns onto their side, propping their head up with their arm as they watch Marie intently. “Those were necessary sacrifices for success.”

Marie laughs, shaking her head at Jordan. “Contrary to your popular belief, you do need to eat more than once a week to survive” Marie pulls back the covers and shuffles into bed.

“I bet I can last longer.” Jordan chuckles as Marie playfully slaps their arm. She gets on her side to face them, taking a second to adore their playful smile.

“You know what I mean. Admit it, you'd be helpless without me.”

Jordan shifts to their male form as they pull Marie into them, nestling their head in the crook of her neck. “I'd be helpless without you.” There's an undeniable sincerity to their muffled words that Marie holds on to, knowing that they'll always be there when they need each other the most.

Jordan pulls back and places a kiss on her lips, kissing her as if they're sealing a promise, before pulling away. They both lay there, holding each other, getting lost in the depths of each other's eyes. Marie brings a hand up and starts running her fingers through Jordan's soft curls, relishing in the sound they make as they close their eyes in bliss.

“You're so pretty.” Marie whispers out.

Jordan's eyes flutter open, a small smile tugging on their lips as they switch back to their female form. “No, you.”

Marie softly giggles as she brings Jordan's head forward and kisses their forehead, leaning her forehead on theirs after pulling back.

The two begin to drift off to sleep, holding each other tightly, heartbeats falling into the same steady rhythm.

“Goodnight.” Marie breathes out as she feels herself being pulled into slumber.

“Goodnight… I love you.”

It takes a minute, but Jordan's eyes shoot open, finally registering the words that so effortlessly flowed out of their mouth. They expected to be met with that same shocked expression they are currently wearing, but they aren't. In fact, Marie just looks at them smiling fondly as she responds, “I love you too.”

“You… you do?” Jordan's face softens as a mix of relief, surprise and a bit of uncertainty rests on their face.

Marie lets out a short, breathy laugh, looking at Jordan as if they just said the most ridiculous thing. “Why wouldn't I?”

“I- I don't know,” Jordan nervously stutters out.

They steady as Marie holds their face firmly in her hands, looking right into their eyes with unmistakable certainty. “I love you, Jordan Li. completely and honestly.”

Jordan smiles. Genuine joy spreading across their face. “I love you too. completely and honestly.”

They kiss deeply and lovingly, solidifying their growing connection. Jordan situates themself under Marie's arm, head resting on her chest as their arms wrap around her waist. Marie holds them back, kissing the top of their head before they both finally drift off to sleep.

---------

That's the first chapter of NBTS! Again, I wrote this back in January and it was the first thing I've written in a while. But yeah, thanks so much for reading. I shall be releasing chapter 2 NEXT Saturday. Probably gonna release chapters weekly just so I can stay ahead with the rest of it. Again, this is gonna be a long fic, (I'm currently on chapter 8 and I'm just getting started). Speaking of, MASSIVE thanks to @paperdoll201 for beta reading this. She's been the victim of many of my thought dumps and rambles, as well as reading through the fic and giving suggestions, and advice. So yeah, please check her out. She's great. (And also a better writer so go read her stuff too 💜).

Much love 😎👍❤️

-PB

[p.s. each chapter is titled after a song, all which will be on a playlist made for this fic. I'm still working on organizing it, but I'll drop it once it is. Promise.]

#gen v #genv #gen v prime #gen v fic #gen v fanfiction #jordan li #marie moreau #emma meyer #andre anderson #limoreau #jordan li x marie moreau #mariejordan #limoreau fic #mariejordan fic #jordan x marie #gen v imagine

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freakshowtwopointoh · 13 days

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omg imagine spyxfamily limoreau

Ok but djsjsbshjansjaj my heist au was going to be more baby driver inspired but like AJSJSNSNSNSMSMNZMZSZSZMZ

Assassin Jordan Li

Spy Marie Moreau

Random small child

Random dog

SHENANIGANS

#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #gen v fic #limoreau #marie moreau x jordan li #jordan li x marie moreau #marie moreau #marie x jordan

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freakshowtwopointoh · 16 days

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Jordan may be a motorcycle girlie in all I've ever known, but Marie will be a motorcycle girlie in the Spy Who Loved Me ( my heist au fiction in the works)

#eeo for motorcycle girlies in limoreau #gen v #jordan li #marie moreau #limoreau

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freakshowtwopointoh · 17 days

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Im not sure if you already wrote this but can we get Jordan taking care of marie

(Am a big fan of your work)

Omg, yes. Say less. I haven't done this yet, so I will gladly write this, lol. (Thanks!!)

As You Wish

- Jordan Li takes care of Marie Moreau.

- Marie's not used to that

2k words (;-;)

If there's one thing Marie Moreau hates, it's being sick. The coughing, the body aches, the constantly stuffy/runny nose, all of it. The most annoying part of it all was how much of an inconvenience being sick was. Marie didn't have time to be sick. She had things to do, classes to pass, a superhero to become, and you can't do all of that if you're sick. So to say she was a bit annoyed to wake up feeling like utter death, would be an understatement.

Marie has always been stubbornly independent. Even when she was a kid, she always insisted she could take care of herself, (though she'd always fold when her mother made her favorite soup and cuddled up with her to watch some of her favorite movies). Sure, now she was sort of forced into it, but at this point it was second nature for her. She didn't need help, she could take care of herself just fine and a measly flu wasn't gonna change that. Marie tried to convince Emma (and herself) that she was fine enough to sit in a classroom, but her body betrayed her pretty quickly when she could barely pull herself out of bed. Emma promised to bring her some soup at the end of the day, then bolted out to avoid contamination. Apparently Emma was a bit of a germaphobe. Though Marie couldn't blame her after she'd already gone through a whole box of tissues just that morning.

At first Jordan didn't really think much of Marie's absence. Though they definitely noticed it. They were both in a weird, unclear, place in their relationship. Jordan wasn't even sure if they could refer to it as a relationship. Just a few months ago they couldn't stand her presence, then, she somehow wormed her way into their friend group with her big brown eyes and radiant smile. That's when they realized they had a stupid crush on the freshman, and Jordan being Jordan dealt with that by constantly arguing and pushing her buttons, which Marie retaliated with just as much force. Then they kissed her... And then they were kissing some more; in her dorm, in the library, in their dorm. The making out quickly evolved to sex in all those aforementioned places (and more). How that even began, Jordan was still confused about. One moment they're bickering about some pointless things that Jordan can even remember anymore, then they're pushing her up against the wall and taking each other's clothes off. That became sort of a regular thing, along with study sessions either before or after. Marie quickly cleared up Jordan's hold ups, telling them that she doesn't care what form they're in when they are with her (a massive relief to Jordan), but that was basically the extent of it. Not much further than being more than fine with each other's presence, study dates and sex. And after a month or two of that, Jordan became terrifyingly aware that there was so much more that they wanted out of this. The more time they spent with her, the more they really got to know her, they were beginning to realize their real feelings for Marie Moreau weren't purely sexual attraction... They were in love. But, too terrified to break the status quo, they decided to keep that hidden for now.

So by the time classes wrapped up and Marie failed to show to their scheduled study session in the library, they finally folded, shifting to their female form and near sprinting over to her dorm. Jordan had left a few messages already and Marie never answered any texts so they didn't feel bad banging on her dorm door, now half convinced she's either kidnapped or finally ghosting them (they never thought they'd wish so hard for the former option).

"Moreau! You in there?" Jordan shouted, continuing to knock after not getting an answer. Just as they were about to give up and look somewhere else, they heard some shuffling on the other side of the door. It takes a minute for Marie to shuffle her way to the door, slowly pulling it open and looking down at Jordan.

"Wow. You look like shit." Jordan states bluntly, looking Marie up and down in her sickly and disheveled state. She's wearing an oversized grey hoodie and black sweats. She looks miserable, face pale, and a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead.

"Gee, thanks." Her voice was sore as she spoke. The look she's giving Jordan quickly made them aware that she wasn't in the mood for comments. She leaned on the door for support, too exhausted to stand. "what do you want?"

"uh-" Jordan wasn't really sure what they wanted. They were going to tell her off or at least ask why she blew them off today, but the answer to that was clear. And seeing her like this, all sick and miserable, it did things to their heart that they didn't understand. A protective feeling falling over them.

Without saying much else, they let themselves in, throwing their bag aside and reaching out to steady Marie as they close the door. "What the hell are y-"

"Just get in bed, Marie." Jordan interrupts, trying to lead her to the bed, but Marie pulls herself out of their hold, just to walk over herself and get in bed herself.

"what are you doing?" She asks, sitting up in her bed, looking at Jordan confused.

Jordan took off their iconic bomber jacket, leaving them in a black tank top, as they looked around the room. They noted the multitude of used tissues and discarded cough drop wrappers, along with empty water bottles. At least she's staying hydrated - they thought. They eventually registered Marie's question, looking back at her. "You're sick." They stated as if her question was ridiculous.

Marie just shook her head, looking at them, genuinely confused by their actions here. What were they doing? Yes, she was sick, but that was her problem, not Jordan's. So why were they in her dorm trying to, what? Take care of her? Don't get her wrong, she was always happy to see Jordan, be in their company, but it was usually under much different circumstances. Marie still wasn't 100% sure what they were yet, but they didn't think it involved this. "Yeah, okay... And?"

"And?... Being sick sucks. And your roommate's obviously not here to help you and I am, so just lay down, will you?" Jordan tries to reason with her. They decide to get moving, grabbing a trashcan from the corner of the room and scooping the used tissues and wrappers into it.

Marie just watches Jordan move, picking up after her. "Jordan, you don't need to do..." she waves her hands around as she tries to find the right words, "this-"

"-well what if I want to do this?" They argue, but they pause, realizing what they might have admitted. "I mean, you obviously need the help. You're really not looking too hot, have you taken your temperature yet?" They tried to backpedal, but it was hard to hide their worry.

Jordan can't help themselves as they lean forward, placing their hand on Marie's forehead, then moving it down to her cheek, letting it linger there for a second. They get lost in each other's eyes for just a moment, Jordan's words working their way through Marie's mind. Wait- they actually want to be here and help her? , the idea itself wasn't something Marie was used to. It's been a long time since someone actively wanted to be in her company and care for her... She wasn't sure how to feel, but looking into Jordan's eyes sent a flutter through her, and not to the kind that she usually feels when they're about to have sex. This was different... The only thing that pulls her back to reality is an oncoming sneeze, ripping through her as she pushes Jordan's hand away, turning away so she doesn't sneeze in Jordan's face. Marie's head rings as three more sneezes come on, leaving her reaching for some tissues, only to turn and see Jordan (now in male form), holding out the box of tissues for her. She reaches out and grabs some tissues, trying to decipher Jordan's unreadable, yet soft expression. There's an undeniable look of adoration, but a hint of uncertainty or shyness behind those deep brown eyes of theirs.

Jordan clears their throat as they put the tissues back down, moving the trashcan closer to the bed so Marie can throw the tissues away when she's done blowing her nose. "Look Moreau, you're obviously pretty sick, and I know you're too stubborn to admit that you need help. But- God, Marie, just let me take care of you. Cause I do want to help, I- I care about your fucking well-being, believe it or not." They sigh, scratching the back of their head, trying to collect their thoughts. "I- If you really want me to leave, I'll fucking leave, but... Just- If you need anything, seriously, just text me. I'll be right there." They said genuinely, radiating a sort of comfort that Marie hasn't felt in a long time.

All Marie could do was slowly nod her head, lips pressed in a thin line as she thought over Jordan's proposal. "Well... I don't want to get you sick."

Jordan just shrugged. "I'll deal."

Marie couldn't help but laugh at that. "and you say I'm stubborn."

Jordan laughs a bit as well, "Fine. Maybe we're both a bit stubborn."

Marie shakes her head, finally deciding to lie back on the bed, the exhaustion pulling on her bones. Her eyes drift close for a moment, before fluttering back open to meet Jordan's. They're looking down at her, a smile still on their face as they shake their head. "So fucking stubborn." They tease as they get up from the bed, grabbing their jacket and putting it back on. They then grabbed their stuff and began to head to the door.

Marie watches a bit confused. "Wait- we're you going?" She tried not to sound disappointed.

Jordan looked back, a soft smile still resting on their face. "Well, you haven't kicked me out yet, so I'm gonna go get you some medicine, more tissues, and cough drops. I'll be right back." They reassured, walking back over to give a quick peck on her forehead. "Also gonna grab a thermometer so I can properly take your temperature. You feel a bit warm." They said, rubbing her arm a bit before getting back up and heading to the door."

"wait!" Marie called, causing Jordan to stop and look back at her. "Do you think you could get me some soup as well? If it's not too much-"

Marie spoke shyly, really not wanting to ask too much of them, but Jordan swiftly cut her off. "Of course I will. What do you like? Chicken noodle?"

Marie nods, "creamy chicken noodle. From the can."

Jordan smiles, putting those beautiful dimples on display. "Perfect. I'll be back." They said, finally heading out the door.

Marie couldn't help the large smile, tugging at her lips. How did she get so lucky? Sure, her and Jordan weren't "official" by any means, but something told her that after this, things were gonna be different for the better.

Once Jordan came back, they both cuddled up on Marie's bed, eating soup and watching The Princess Bride on Marie's laptop. After that, anytime Marie would ask for something, Jordan would bow their head and say "as you wish," just like Westly would in the movie. They started it off as a joke, but continued, just to see Marie smile and laugh at it.

After a few days, Marie got better, just in time for Jordan to get sick. Which Marie did say "I told you so," only to return the favor and take care of Jordan (making sure to sanitize and wear a mask so she didn't get sick again. She refused to miss more classes). Marie also adopted the "as you wish", just to taunt Jordan back.

After that, there wasn't much question about what they were. They both knew they were more to each other than just casual sex. They loved each other, and would always be there when the other needed it. No matter how stubborn the other was about it.

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed. I sort of just wrote this, stream of consciousness, so I hope it makes sense, lol. I wanted to write more, but was losing it a bit, so I just wrapped it up there. But yeah, thanks for the ask!! Love writing about these two so much. Hope you all have a good day.

Much love, 😎👍❤️

-PB

(check out my Masterlist for other fics n one-shots n stuff)

#gen v #genv #gen v prime #jordan li #gen v fic #marie moreau #jordan li x marie moreau #limoreau #mariejordan #limoreau oneshot #limoreau fic #jordanmarie #not beta read #sickfic #deffo not edited #hope you enjoy #pb writes #ghjbvjmjfgjknbn #so GOOD

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freakshowtwopointoh · 22 days

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Sorry if this is annoying lmao I'm just a weird nerd being a weird nerd. Please drop any weird Jordan Li parallels you've seen in other fandoms or other rants about characters you love in the replies. Be a weird nerd with me.

But! My biggest fandom is Sailor Moon, and I can't stop thinking about Sailor Neptune/Marie and Sailor Uranus/Jordan. Ignoring the obvious, there's a few things that really make me think limoreau.

i will be putting spoilers for sailor moon, mainly the third arc

the lore around the outers and their 'cosmic purpose' or whatever is very interesting to me. so they are basically like lone watchmen, destined to patrol the outer circles of our solar system. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto hold the keys to destroying an entire world if its ever necessary (the ability that saturn has, they like... can summon her? create her? idk im still a lil iffy on that part. but like they each have a thing, put the things together, saturn becomes a human death star.) so like big duty! big responsibility! They take it very seriously.

(all of this is from mainly e106 09:44 - 18:20 ish. I watch the viz dub if anyones curious :) )

either way, what makes me think of limoreau is the fact that neptune discovers her destiny first. she accepts the device, she becomes a guardian. (marie accepts the truth and wants to be a real hero, its practically forced upon her with her history and whatnot). she is the one who comes to haruka and like tells her about her destiny. shes like 'this is not easy, dont do this if ur not ready' and then saves her life and seeing michiru's heroism and dedication (and her love for haruka :) ) and then he chooses to become a guardian. (which just gives me strong 'fuck the rankings' vibes)

There's a scene right before this where they talk about the end of the world and it has gala scene vibes.

But what's the most interesting is the fact that unlike a lot of the other characters, they have very little doubt in their relationship and their choices. They move as a unit because they are united in purpose. Neptune is never doubtful of Uranus and she understands Uranus well. Even Mamo and Usagi have multiple moments of doubt and they are like super destined by fate or whatever

So to me, they are the strongest couple. And it's the undercurrent of devotion to duty that really really reminds me of limoreau. I really view the entirety of season one as matching up with those 10 minutes of backstory. And then imagining that like end of season 1 limoreau as the START of season 3 harukaxmichiru and then how would Jordan and Marie react to fckn sailor moon like jenfkdjdjskndbh the episode with Usagi and Haruka being chained together is one of my all time faves and like... Jordan would act the same. I think it was that that convinced me that Haruka and Jordan match up better than Seiya and Jordan.

And then Neptune. She's kind, sweet, and yet unrelenting. Teasing and serious, driven by duty. Idk she's a very enigmatic character, just like Marie imo? But idk dhjdjdhshksj I need to do some more thinking about Marie.

Anyways, that's my unhinged rant.

#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #sailor moon #marie moreau #limoreau #sailor uranus #sailor neptune

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freakshowtwopointoh · 23 days

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Cross The Line

We'd fall just to feel alive, We knew we would be alright. I wanna fall just to feel alive, I feel like following me tonight

Ella is a new member of the dance team at her college. Yes, her resume is impressive - she had a big role in a few big studio productions - but she's green. And Jordan is the upperclassman who's been grinding to prove their worth. What happens when they play opposite one another? When their fate is in each other's hands?

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#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #gen v fic #jordan li x reader #angst #gen v smut #toxic!ballet jordan #gen v amazon #limoreau #gen v jordan #jordan li imagine #ao3 #ao3 fanfic #spotify #pinterest #oc

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freakshowtwopointoh · 23 days

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All I've Ever Known

All I know's you're someone I have always known, And I don't even know you. Now I wanna hold you, hold you close, I don't wanna ever have to let you go

Maggie, Luke, and Sam were the golden trio - superhero siblings who want to make the world a better place. The kind of story Disney wishes they came up with. But the darkness underneath is barely staying hidden - especially with Sam dead. Jordan Li had enough problems - their parents, the rankings... the Riordan family drama was not their problem. So why did it feel like Maggie had a million secrets? And what the fuck actually happened to their brother? Why did they care so much? Secrets and lies... never stay hidden for long.

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#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #gen v fic #jordan li x reader #angst #gen v smut #lukes little sister x jordan li #gen v jordan #jordan li x oc #jordan li x you

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freakshowtwopointoh · 23 days

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tell me how the two music themes i chose for my limoreau rock band au have both the songs

Jordan's First Choice

and

Superboy and the Invisible Girl

#like im SORRY #I DIDNT EVEN THINK OF SATIG AS A JORDAN SONG UNTIL I WAS CHOOSING LYRICS #fjdskalfjsadkl;fjaskjdsadsajkl #fjdsakl;fjasdl;k #jordan li #gen v fic #next to normal #against me!

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freakshowtwopointoh · 24 days

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Magic To Do - Cross the Line Part 10

We've got magic to do, just for you...

We've got parts to perform, hearts to warm

< prev | next >

Ella had no idea what to expect when she went into the private rehearsal with Jordan on Monday. The last time she saw Jordan one-on-one, they were threatening her life and then staring down her tits. But she walked in and it was like nothing had changed. Jordan was standing there, snapping their fucking cinnamon gum, readjusting the tripod.

“You ready to dance, freshie?” They asked, barely looking up.

“Just let me stretch - I’ve been standing for far too long.”

They nodded at that, looking on as she slowly stretched her hips, feeling the pleasurable burn along her sides. They made their way towards her, and their strong hands took her waist, helping her stretch her stiff joints and sore muscles. Her heart skipped a beat as Jordan guided her through their usual warm-up routine. They extended her legs for her, guiding her hips and waist into the proper orientation. She knew she should be focused on the dance they were about to rehearse. That’s what’s usually on her mind when she stretches. But now, all she was thinking of was the desire coursing through her veins at Jordan’s touch. The way they had stared at her in their dressing room - that look in their eyes. No one had ever looked at her like that - like they wanted to destroy her and worship her at the same time.

If this is how she felt when they were just stretching, how was she going to make it through this fucking pas de deux without making a total fool out of herself? She’s a professional, she just needs to get a hold of herself.

Jordan’s POV

Meanwhile, Jordan was barely holding on to their indifferent facade. This fucking freshman was driving them insane. Of course, Lynne is permanently impressed by her, and they can’t help but be aware of every minute mistake they make, and how the number is increasing. This girl is somehow so far under their skin that it’s affecting their dance. Lynne hasn’t noticed yet, but Lynne rarely pays enough attention to the “male” dancers anyways.

And yet, despite all sense, she’s like a magnet. They can barely keep their eyes from following her every dance class, and they haven’t wanted to just touch a girl this badly since middle school. So that’s how they end up playing a move straight out of a sleazy romance novel, guiding her (frankly perfect) body through a series of stretches and warm-ups.

They spend hours running through the duet, finalizing minute details and refining their form for the callbacks tomorrow. As night crawls closer, it feels like their defenses are lowering, inch by inch. Despite every effort, Ella just seemed to understand what they meant even when the words didn’t come out right.

That’s why it didn’t feel strange to simply nod at her when they entered the studio the next day, as if it was just a normal day. Of course, it wasn’t a normal day, and they could feel their heart banging against their ribs as they met her eyes. She smiled, that perfect soft smile, and nodded before going back to her warm ups.

“Li and Jackson, you’ll be up first. Riordan and Dunlap, please wait.” They swallowed hard, nodding once more at Ella before standing up and getting into position. It felt strangely intimate, performing this dance in front of people. It was what they had been practicing for, but this number is just so emotional and romantic, it feels like baring their own heart for the entire room to see. But every time they met Ella’s eyes, they found their center. No matter how their heart soared every time their fingertips graced her skin, they could fall into the music and her gaze and became at one with Romeo. She was Juliet to them - an innocent not yet marred by the travesties of life. And it wasn’t hard to be enamored with her when she danced. Her eyes shone, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted...

The dance was over too soon, Ella pulling away from them and curtseying before they were ready. Their arms almost felt empty without her presence, and they nearly missed their queue to bow.

They didn’t need Lynne to tell them they got the part. They didn’t even need to watch Cate and Luke dance, but they tried to pay attention nonetheless. As usual, Luke’s form lacked subtlety, and Cate was entirely unable to make the dance look effortless. But they wished they could have photographed Ella’s face when Lynne revealed the results, to pull out on a bad day. She turned to them, grinning, pride and excitement lighting her from within. They had never felt so special, so seen. They smiled back, praying the flush on their cheeks could be written off as exertion.

A few of the other dancers clapped them on the back, congratulated them. Some genuine, others not so much. They had finally done it. It didn’t matter that the part was boring as hell. It didn’t matter that their parents would neither understand nor care. It didn’t matter that Ella could break them as easily as she built them up. This was the next step on their five year plan, the contingency their future could have hinged upon. And with Ella, with this naive freshman by their side, they were another step closer to freedom.

au by @poppy-metal

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#jordan li #gen v #gen v prime #gen v fic #jordan li x reader #angst #gen v smut #toxic!ballet jordan #gen v jordan #jordan li imagine #jordan li smut #jordan li x you #gen v imagine #gen v fanfiction #gen v amazon #gen v imagines #gen v x reader #gen v cast #gen v spoilers

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freakshowtwopointoh · 25 days

Note

Limoreau playing videogames or boardgames and Jordan is shocked at how good Marie is at them, so much they stop trying to go easy, but she still beats them. (I'll let you decide the game, lol). Could be a group thing as well.

After trying to teach Marie a few video games, Jordan was a little wary of how board game night was going to go. She had a pretty rough time with both Baldur's Gate and Fortnite - hours spent bribing her to keep trying only to watch her full on rage quit after dying one too many times, insisting that she would never play again.

She seemed confident today, however. This should have made them more nervous, but when it came to Marie, they never seemed to learn their lesson: don't underestimate her.

"You know, we can totally do teams if you're nervous." They hedged, side eyeing her as they made their way up the stairs to Luke's apartment.

"You sure you're not nervous, babe?" She teased, squeezing his hand. They rolled their eyes and pulled her into the apartment.

The setting was welcoming enough - colorful bowls of snacks, a variety of liquor bottles lined up haphazardly on a card table. And a variety of games, stacking on Luke's secondhand dining room table.

"Ready to go down, Li?" Emma came bounding into the room, nearly colliding into him before throwing her arms around their body. "Also, hi."

"Hi to you too, Blondie." They mumbled, hugging her back awkwardly.

More hugs were had and taunts were shared as everyone made their way into the main room, sipping drinks and debating which game to play.

"If we try playing Pandemic again, I will riot." Andre said defiantly. "I'm so fucking tired of losing that game."

"Let's play monopoly." Jordan said dryly, earning confused looks from everyone but Cate and Marie. "I'm fucking with you guys, obviously. No one likes monopoly."

"What about Catan?" Cate suggests innocently, but her eyes shine playfully.

"You're just saying that because you always win." Andre complained, but he was already pulling the box out.

"I can't help being the best. It's a good game!" She retorted playfully, tossing her hair back.

"Is that the one with the castles?" Emma whispered loudly to Sam.

"No, that's Carcassonne. This is the one with the sheep and the little guy who steals stuff." Jordan and Luke both stifled a laugh as Emma nodded in understanding.

"Right! Ok I don't remember how to play this one." As Sam explained the rules to Emma, Jordan turned to Marie.

"Have you played this before?" He whispered softly in her ear, resting their hand on her thigh. She nodded, a soft smile playing on her full lips.

"Yeah, I played it a few times at Red River. They said it would help encourage 'nonviolent competition'." She chuckled slightly, resting her hand over theirs.

"Ok so... Luke, you go first." Sam concluded, after explaining the game to Emma (very patiently) for the third time. Luke rolled the dice, and the game began.

Now, the thing that Jordan loved and hated about Catan was that you can't always tell who is winning. It makes for a more interesting game, yes, but it also means that it is very easy to get overly confident. Especially when they could see the confusion on Emma's face throughout the game, as she slowly became drunker and more interested in making towers with her pieces than actually playing.

Marie's hand inched slightly up their thigh as they were rolling the dice, a clear attempt at distracting them. They shifted, unwilling to let her know it was working. The smirk on her lips revealed that she already knew. Damned blood powers. They shook their head slightly, trying to stay on task.

"Dude, I'm like, about to win," Andre said, slurring slightly as he continued to refuse to give Jordan a sheep.

"If you're 'like about to win' then it doesn't matter and you should give me the sheep!" She retorted, pushing their slightly longer hair from their eyes as she tried to figure out how to build their next city.

"It doesn't matter if he's about to win, because I win." Marie said calmly, placing a road piece at a key intersection and extracting the longest road card from in front of Cate.

They turned to her in shock, double checking her math.

"I'm offended that you don't trust me." She teased, watching their jaw work as they realize how easily she snuck up on them. "I told you I've played this game before." Cate was equally dumbfounded, trying to ascertain how she missed Marie's slow and steady climb to victory.

"Did Marie actually beat Cate at Catan? I was beginning to believe her reign would never end." Sam said, chuckling.

"I always knew you could do it." Emma slurred, smiling at her friend.

"You were barely paying attention. I watched you rebuild that tiny log cabin at least three times." Jordan retorted, her ego slightly bruised after losing to their girlfriend.

"Yeah, well, I didn't have to pay attention to know that she'd kick ass."

"Sure." Jordan said, rolling their eyes playfully before turning back to her girlfriend.

"One of these days you'll learn not to underestimate me, baby." Marie murmured in their ear, watching with satisfaction as they squirmed in their seat. "You can make it up to me later."

And that's when Marie finally wins the actual game she's been playing all night long: a blush creeps up Jordan's neck and onto their cheeks. Their night is just getting started.

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