#-herself. comes to head when she just breaks like crying screaming throwing up and Steph is like ‘why do you even wanna do ts anyways’

[starlooove]

My batfam gender sexuality hcs 🥰🥰🥰🥰:

Bruce: cishet he/him

Dick: cishet he/him

Jason: cishet he/him

Tim: cishet he/him

Steph: butch lesbian to ME! She/her but she’s trying out she/they and doesn’t know how to feel. Might fuck with neos but she’s not ready to take that step yet.

Cass: think early on in accepting that she’s a human being she’d psychoanalyze the fuck outta herself to see where she fits in and be super super super pressed about the entire thing to a detrimental point but as she progresses she’ll be fine. Lesbian, and she’s pretty sure she’s a girl most of the time sure 😄.

Duke: I think he knew he was not straight since he was young (moonlight opened his eyes and broke his heart) but he never really questioned his sexuality at all. The problem is that he doesn’t question it because the idea of gender roles (girls do this. Boys do that.) is so engrained in his mind that it’s not even something he thinks can be changed, if that makes sense? Anyways I don’t think he’s the type to get dysphoria he moreso experiences euphoria when exploring his gender identity. I think he would realize he has different views on his own gender when he sees other people expressing their own differently. Like genuinely he goes to school and sees another boy wearing lipstick and his brain blows up. As of this very moment he’s “exploring” but he’s actually a lil scared to genuinely confront himself about this and uses “there’s bigger problems in the world” to get out of it. End goal is non-binary but for now he’s at the veeeeeeery tail end of questioning.

Damian: I think at the moment Damian’s just not thinking about any of that but it’s in the opposite of duke; he knows he’s probably some kind of queer, both in sexuality and gender, but it’s just. Not top priority for him at the moment. I wanna bring up clothes rq bc, extra hc time, in MY mind Damian does express himself a lot through his clothing and getting to the manor made him a bit shy when it came to skirts and dresses. Seeing the way boys, and especially black and brown boys, who explore their femininity are treated, he just doesn’t mention it at all and the scenario never comes up. He gets more comfortable as time goes on though and later on gets bold enough to wear a dress to an event. He’s stonefaced but slightly regretting it till some younger kid sees him and is awe stricken, like stars in his eyes and asking if he can do that too. Damian feels better about it and resolves to wear whatever he wants more often. I don’t think he ever comes out in big big way (he’d tell the people closest to him but everyone else can just figure it out) but he genuinely doesn’t feel the need to label himself at all.

#the way y’all do Duke and Damián in these hc posts…. #Steph I wanted more for you truly but sorry ur unfortunately white #u get more than the boys but today ain’t about you 💔 #I WILL say buzzcut steph true #and she’s black in MY mind so in MY mind stud steph true #Cass I have a lot of thoughts about #like for me early on in her lil suicidal era I think she’d find the whole labelling thing complicated and stupid #but surface level deep inside she likes that idea of community but she doesn’t think she deserves it and it burns her #post trying to kill herself with Bruce’s full support #she throws herself into the idea of this community but she kinda like. wants a good grade in being queer as opposed to truly exploring- #-herself. comes to head when she just breaks like crying screaming throwing up and Steph is like ‘why do you even wanna do ts anyways’ #and cass doesn’t have an answer #she starts looking inwards and kinda. sets it up as a yes/no question tree for herself and lands with knowing she’s a lesbian but nothing #really concrete about her gender and she’s actually ok with that #imo she ends up with mirror pronouns #as in whatever you call yourself you can call her #I want it to be that earlier she was suffocating herself for others approval but now she’s allowing for vulnerability in a way that serves #her and her alone. this is in the tags and not the post bc y’all are actually pretty ok when it comes to cass in them hcs. #and I wanted the main focus to be on the black and brown boys since y’all always do them dirty 🙃 #and just to be mean #Bruce wayne #tim Drake #dick Grayson #Jason Todd #Duke Thomas #damian wayne #cassandra cain #Stephanie brown #btw bringing back my Joey soft adopting damian agenda: damian absolutely made sure Damian knew he could do whatever he wants. Damian’s not- #-used to feeling hesitant about this kinda thing but he’s double embarrassed and joey says he’ll wear the damn thing with him. he does

[completelypeccable]

Can I Have This Dance? Chp 4

Previous - Here - Next

Chapter 4: Dancing in the Dark

Barbara Gordon

////Sorry it took me forever to write this chapter.  I ended up starting the Two for One Deal story to get a better perspective on the characters’ relationships, then changed this chapter like 12,394 times.  I recommend listening to the song (Dancing in the Dark by Imagine Dragons) before reading, but you do you.  I’ll also link it right before it ‘plays’ in the story. Hope you like it, it’s a lil angsty. Sorry Dick.////

3:14 AM

Damian al Ghoul has been missing for 13 hours and 27 minutes. 

The rest end up at her apartment in various states and at various times. None of them have stopped moving. Not since...

“Hey,” Tim said- and the poor kid was so tired his voice wobbled on a monosyllabic word- breaking the silence. Barbara was focus, filtering and cross referencing and scanning any possible location within a 5 mile radius from the past two days at 15 minute intervals, then 5 minute intervals. 

She pushed her glasses up her nose and the world came back in focus. Blood dribbled onto the counter. 

Stephanie’s voice snapped at Jason to drop the knife.

Barbara watched Jason enter the gift shop for the fifth time. 

Jason growled, but the blade left his bleeding fingertips, clattering to the counter.

The kid pulled the fire alarm. Jason grabbed his arm. 

His wild eyes were glowing, hair sticking every which way. 

The blast. She paused the video feed. 

Cass draped herself over the man’s back. His eyes refocused, but the glow flickered in and out, mouth twisted. Cass murmured in his ear. With a shudder, he buried his face in his hands.  

Barbara kept seeing the explosion, the panic, the outpour of smoke, even as she wheeled over and shifted Jason’s hands away as gently as she could, Tim already bringing over the bandages. Jason bit his other arm and muffled a scream. Barbara felt useless, and so frustrated. She couldn’t fix this, hadn’t come up with any new information in hours. They didn’t understand and they were a family of detectives.  They would rather shoot themselves in the foot than be this clueless. 

Jason laid his head on the table. 

It’s going to be okay. She breathed without conviction . We have to fix this.

Barbara pretended not to notice Tim’s sniffling, but Cass handed him a tissue anyways. Over and around each fingertip the white bandage danced. 

Barbara took a deep breathe and tried to keep her hands from shaking. Her chest was a vacuum, collapsing with the shell of her chest. Hot tears stung the back of her eyes. Where-

Don’t fall, don’t you dare fall.

She needed, she couldn’t be the only strong one- 

Duke slipped back out the door, fully suited. 

She would do this for them, of course she would. She taped the bandage down. 

She could do this. Alone if she had to, because she was freaking Oracle, but-

Tim leaned his head against Stephanie. 

Where the hell was Dick?

———-

Tim was crying. “Barbara, I- we need some help.”

Time slowed down. Tim didn’t cry, he didn’t lose his cool over nothing. She didn’t feel the bowl leaving her hands, nor did she process anything other than the phone against her shoulder as she flung herself to her laptop. The soup didn’t even burn her legs like it should. All she heard was the thump thump thumping of the blood in her ears.

Please, please. 

“What’s wrong, Tim?”

Haven’t we lost enough people?

“We weren’t in suits, and then this guy-And-and there was an explosion-“

Barbara stopped breathing. 

“And then- I’m sorry, I’m really sorry-“ He took a long, shaky inhale, coughing on the exhale. 

“Tell me what you need me to do,” she whispered. Dread was a 50 pound weight on her chest. 

“Damian’s gone. And we can’t find him.”

————————

“I don’t know, okay? He was there, he was right there!”

“Somebody needs to stop Jason from killing that kid-“

“Maybe he deserves a couple life checks-“

“He doesn’t know anything. He said he was payed by a random man.”

“And do you trust that?”

“Tells truth.”

“Whatever. That piece of-“

“Any identifiable traits? Just ‘some guy’?”

“He wore a ski mask.”

“Basic.”

“Too basic.”

“I just pulled up the schematics. There was a sewer entrance inside the building.”

“I didn’t see-“

“It was too dark and smoky to see shit.”

“I’m going to make him hurt so bad-“

“That won’t help anything, we need to look-“

“We’ve already looked! We looked everywhere!”

“We must have missed something! A kid can’t just disappear!”

“The sewer system is a damned labyrinth because Gotham is an emo hell hole.”

“Would you just shut up and let me think?”

“I’m going back-“

“The police are there by now, idiot. In case you forgot, we’re absolutely useless in the daytime.”

“Well maybe I’ll suit up then, and shove my mask up your-“

“Duke. Look.”

“I looked, Cass, I’m so sorry. I barely saw anything.”

“What see?”

“Duke if you saw anything at all, you have to tell us right now.”

“I already told you! All I saw was that he got knocked out then dragged into the building. Then the smoke was too dark to-“

“Wait, you saw through the smoke in the fire at Antonio’s two months ago, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“So why couldn’t you-“

“I don’t know, okay? I’m trying-“

“We’re not blaming you, Duke. It’s not your fault.”

“Your powers have only gotten more controlled, so something’s different this time.”

“Smoke.”

“Was there something about the smoke?”

“I mean-“

“Was it the building itself, maybe? The location, or I dunno, magic?”

“Wait, wait, the smoke. When it happened, I think...”

“Come on, sunshine, spit it out.”

“It just seemed darker, okay? I know it sounds stupid, but-“

“No, you’re right. I was too freaked out to notice, but it did seem really dark in there.”

“Is this really a bench mark? We need to stop running into burning buildings or some sh-“

“Okay, so we know the smoke was darker, Damian was isolated, we were scattered by a perceived threat, and there was a quick exit through the sewer.”

“We still have no idea who did it, or where they took him.”

“Benefit?”

“There’s a lot of people willing to kidnap a billionaire’s son.”

“Then who would know...?”

“What do you mean?”

“Who would know where to find him, and why would they do it the way they did?”

“Can we just-“

“They knew how to distract us. Our civilian identities wouldn’t have fallen for the hoodie kid.”

“Oh my cheese nips. What if they knew about Duke-“

“Light.”

“They would have known to obscure his vision.”

“And who would want just Damian? Who knows all of our identities? Who is pissed as hell and has been acting like a crazy person for like three months now?”

“...”

“Shit.”

“... has anyone called Dick back?”

————————

Tim was on the phone. 

“Where’s Damian.”

Barbara hacked into the line. 

“What do you mean?” Bruce replied, smooth as butter, but cold like the butter you left in your fridge and destroyed your toast when you just wanted a nice breakfast. The worst butter. 

Barbara sipped her third cup of coffee. 

“What did you do with him?”

“Aren’t you a little detective? Don’t you have some sort of a silly mission to go play with your friends?”

“Bruce, you bastard, I don’t know what kind of a sick game you think you’re pulling, but I want my brother back!”

Bruce laughed on the other side of the line, deep and long. 

Tim white knuckled the phone.

“Didn’t know you to have such balls, kid.”

“Didn’t know you were auditioning for ugliest Disney villain.”

Bruce chuckled. Barbara stared wide eyed at the feed, Bruce smiling all teeth at the camera in his office at Wayne Enterprise. 

“Always a pleasure, dear.”

Click. 

Tim screamed. 

—————

Tim and Jason were the only ones left awake with her when Dick came through the window, hitting the floor and rattling the room. He stumbled into the table. Jason caught his arm and steadied him. 

“Dick,” Barbara started, fury and grief warring in her chest as she ripped out her headphones. “Where the hell have you-“

Dick jerked out of Jason’s grasp. Barbara stared at the bloody hand print on the table. 

“-been,” she finished lamely. 

”I-“ Blood dripped down his arm, more splattered across his torso and left leg. It was hard to tell if it was his. A breath rattled in and out. “Dami-“ his voice broke.

The rage in his eyes scared her. Barbara reached for him, but he jerked away. 

“Dick,” she whispered. 

He tossed a flash drive onto the table. A bloody fingerprint marked the side. 

“Barbara,” his hands were shaking. “Please-“

Barbara flipped it open, careful not to touch the sides, and inserted it into her computer. 

———————— Duke watched as Stephanie roundhouse kicked a guy in the ribs, and he hit the ground with a gasp. 

The bats were out to hunt, and it wasn’t even twilight. Like rabid animals, the feral look in their eyes screamed danger.

Jason, Cass, and Tim took to the sewers while he and Steph scoured the surface world for clues. 

Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?

Duke bit down his own bile, the dread and grief of every loss he couldn’t deal with hedging in his vision from each side, and threw a punch to cover Steph’s back. 

“Where is he,” she snarled. The criminal whimpered, shoved against the wall. “Where is the bat?”

Where is our snarky kid brother?

Family is family. And Duke’s had a tendency of disappearing.

———————————

It was encrypted video footage, half deleted, half scattered, with enough security to put the US military to shame. 

But they had never met Oracle.

She was angry. She was scared. These could be used, sharpening her wit, a match thrown into a barrel of gasoline. Nothing and no one couldn’t hide from her. She would burn everything down to find what they hid.

She cracked it in less than 15 minutes. 

The world and the buzzing in her head could wait. Concentration and a challenge we’re a sweet relief. She reassembled the code from the scattered bits they gave her, pixels coming together in a cacophony of code. 

And she smiled, victorious, twirling one headphone in her hand. Her fingers hovered over the play button. 

Don't throw my name 'round here like that

“Dick?” 

The present came back, though. 

“Dick, maybe you should let me look at that arm now.”

Barbara looked up. Dick was shaking, clutching his tricep with one hand, blood slowly oozing around his fingers. 

You could get us in some trouble Talking that way and

“Come on, you need-“

“I need you to leave me alone,” he growled. 

Monday you got me that's a fact You could get me in some trouble

Jason just sighed. “Come on, Dickibird.” 

With no small degree of apprehension, Barbara watched him grab his shoulders. “Up we go.”

I don’t need nobody

“Get your hands-“

His voice broke. The tears fell. Jason dropped down to kneel beside his chair. 

“Hey, hey-“

Dick flung himself up and away, knocking into the counter. Red hands yanked his hair. 

“Dick-“

If you ever 

A desperate voice rose, shook like a tree losing all its leaves in a single storm. They watched, frozen, as the steady, reliable man shattered. 

Want to join me

“Don’t touch me, don’t- don’t,” he cried. “I don’t deserve-“ 

Dick slid to the ground, sobs wracking his body. 

Baby, I’ll be dancing in the dark 

“Dick,” Tim whispered, lowering to the floor. 

“Don’t, don’t-“

“Dick.”

“It’s my fault, it’s all my fault, I promised him-“ He gasped for air. 

If you ever want to join me

Jason dropped beside him and grabbed his hand. 

“Breathe with me, in and out.”

“I can’t, I- I can’t-“

“Shh, come on. In, 2, 3, 4-“

“Jay, I can’t fu-“

“Out, 2, 3, 4.”

Baby, I’ll be dancing in the dark

He pressed a palm hard against his eye. 

Dancing in the

“I can’t breathe, I-“

Join me

“Come on, you can do it. You’re okay.”

Dancing in the

“Okay?!”

Dick slammed his head into the counter. 

“This- it hurts more- more than dying, Tim.”

Join me, baby

“And they let me die, and-and I let them take him-“

Dancing in the

“And I didn’t- I wasn’t there-“

“We’re gonna find him.”

Join me, baby

Dick covered his face with one arm and wailed. 

Most days I’m keeping to myself 

Jason pulled him into a half-hug, half-hold. Tim scooted over and threw his arms around them. Dick collapsed into them, sobbing harder than Barbara thought a person could. 

Living in my little bubble

Tim was crying. Jason’s voice was wet and thick. “We’re gonna find him, Dick. We’re gonna get him and he’s gonna be fine.”

Throwing my weight and moving my body through the sea

“I love you guys, I love you so much-“

“We know, Dick,” Tim whispered. 

“I love you so much- if you-I- I can’t even-“

Jason shushed him, resting his chin on his hair. 

You could come join me                                                                               Moving like the weekend

“And he’s- I couldn’t-“

“We know, Dick.” Jason let the tears fall. “We’re worried, too.”

Dick pushed both hands into his eyes, hard. “He-It’s not- Damian,” his voice cracked. 

I don’t need nobody 

“It’s not the same with him,” Tim murmured, with that soft compassion, that understanding he always managed to give when they needed him most. “We know. He’s like your baby.”

If you ever want to join me, baby I'll be dancing in the dark

Dick bit his hand and yelled, a grief to rend the ceiling with him. 

If you ever want to join me, baby I'll be dancing in the dark

Jason and Tim held him together. 

Barbara couldn’t fix this. She had to fix this. 

She didn’t know her heart could break this much. 

Dick gripped Tim’s head and Jason’s arm, struggling for air. Treading underwater. She played the video feed. 

Dancing in the No. Join me, baby A laugh. A deal. Dancing in the And the Batman- That bastard- Join me, baby That absolute monster- Dancing in the -let this happen to his own son. Who the hell was he? Join me, baby A handshake and- Dancing in the Ra’s al Ghoul stood above his unconscious grandson. Join me, baby Barbara wanted to scream. She wanted to sink her nails into their bare flesh. She wanted to see Batman scared and painted red. If you ever want to join me, baby They needed to find him, where was he, they had to get him back. I’ll be dancing in the dark What were they doing with him? He’s a kid. Dancing in the What the hell was going on? Join me, baby They had to be missing something. If you ever want to join me baby Suddenly, this shitstorm just got worse. I'll be dancing in the dark Whether it was the raw fear, the sound of Dick’s ragged heaving, or the complete loss of reason within the last 24 hours, Barbara sat there staring. Baby Whoever was involved- Dancing in the It didn’t matter if she didn’t know where or how or why yet. Baby She would. And she was going to destroy them.  

///Oracle is going to e n d them. #Dick is a good dad. #Jason is a good brother. Comments are always greatly treasured like i am the dragon and they are the priceless gold artifacts that I keep for bedding and staring at appreciated :) //

#barbara gordon #Tim Drake #Jason Todd #Stephanie Brown #cassandra cain #dick grayson #slight dickbabs #batfam

[neotericbitch]

armour off

it’s not supposed to be, like, a twist or anything, more like a “well yeah obviously”.

She keeps looking into all the mirrors, making sure no one is following. She’s speeding, but it’s not the cops she’s worried about. Xena isn’t worried at all, she’s having a great time sticking her head out the window. Such a gorgeous dog, with such a beautiful nature. She’s lucky to have had a companion like her. Undeserving, too.

The drive has always felt long, but today it’s the longest it’s ever been. Oddly enough, she’s breathing fine. Her head is clear. Her blood isn’t pumping too hard, her heart isn’t beating too fast. To remain calm is ideal, but she thinks that maybe this is too calm. She thinks that maybe she’d secretly been desperate for something like this to happen. Well - not exactly like this. But something similar enough that would need for her to make a quick and efficient escape.

Her father answers the door, and his eyes light up immediately - but before he can cry out in greeting, Alice, standing at the end of the front hall, beats him to it.

“My warrior princess!”

Valkyrie hears the patter of her sister’s footfalls and for a moment, just for a moment, her composure threatens to break. Alice buries her face right into Xena’s fur, and likewise the dog is wildly excited to see her little friend. Desmond takes the opportunity to pull Valkyrie into a one-armed hug. Outwardly, it’s a casual welcome, but Valkyrie can feel it. Her dad doesn’t want to let go.

She hugs him back, and doesn’t want to let go either. But time is of the essence.

Alice has seen her now, and she shyly bats her eyes at Valkyrie. She knows her sister, but all the same there’s times where visits are few and far between, and the girl ducks her chin and steps behind her father’s legs.

“Alice,” says Desmond. “Look who it is!”

“Good morning, Stephanie,” mumbles Alice. “How are you.”

“Dad,” Valkyrie says, keeping her voice as steady as she can. “I’m sorry, I hate to do this - I’m not here to visit. Something came up really suddenly, I have to - I’m leaving the country. It’s okay - don’t worry, it’s for a job - everything’s fine, I’ll be safe…”

“You need somewhere for Xena to stay.”

“I’m sorry, I’m--”

“Steph,” says Desmond, and hugs her again. “Don’t be sorry. Anything you need. We’ll look after her.” He withdraws and looks down at his youngest, who is back to being licked head to toe by the dog. “We’ll look after Xena, won’t we, Alice? We’ll do some puppysitting? You, me and mum?”

“I can puppysit,” chirps Alice.

“I wish I could…” Valkyrie starts again. “Where is mum?”

“Out. She’ll be so upset she missed you, but...she’ll understand. You’re our busy girl out saving the world. I’ll send your love.”

“Thank you.” She hesitates, and hugs him a third time, and this is the one that makes her eyes water.

“Have fun with your...stuff.” Desmond waggles his fingers. “Magic business. Best of luck. Bring back souvenirs. How’s Skulduggery?”

“Good. Grand. I’m sorry. I have to go. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

Desmond tries to get Alice to say a proper goodbye to Valkyrie, but she’s much too interested in Xena. Xena, meanwhile, whimpers and wags her tail in farewell to her mistress. When Valkyrie turns around, she doesn’t let herself look back.

Valkyrie heard cheers and screams, but nothing else. She knew, though, that it didn’t mean anything good. If the anti-Sanctuary troops out there made any noise at all, it never meant anything of the sort.

She’d managed to rest her eyes somewhat, but a throbbing headache prevented her from sleeping. The aches had fully settled in after a half hour of lying down, the kind that made her limbs occasionally convulse. She had to keep her legs straight, but that was tough when they couldn’t fit on the bed from her calves down. She felt heavy and grimy - though the shirt was still good.

The last light of the day has drained out of the room when Valkyrie gets up. There’s a wall-mounted lantern with a tiny flickering flame, one she doubts is going to go out anytime soon, and it’s just enough for her to see, but the shadows draw long lines across the floor in a way that unsettles her. She misses being an Elemental, being able to light her way with ease. All she can manage now are a few pathetic sparks when she rubs her hands together.

The utensils for cleaning herself had been hidden behind the washing machine. Valkyrie unplugs a hose from the wall for a moment to fill the medium bucket with water, plugs it back in and throws her trousers in the machine. Takes the shirt back off. Rinses her hair, combing her fingers through. Scrubs the soap and sponge over every bloodied part on her body - which is every part.

Valkyrie can’t help but smirk when she throws the dirty water out through the window and hears some anti-Sanctuary nut yelp. She refills the bucket and works on details now. Dirt and blood under her nails, taking off the smaller bandages and dabbing at her wounds.

She would much prefer a long soak in a hot bath, but these aren’t the worst washing conditions she’s had to deal with in the past ten months. Washing herself under that bridge in rural, rural France - that experience holds the title. At least she’s behind a locked door.

A new shadow draws across the floor and over her skin, and back come the goosebumps. From behind her, Skulduggery makes a sound she doesn't think she's ever heard from him before. A weird hitch in breath that doesn't exist.

“Hi,” says Valkyrie without turning around. She deliberately snaps the shoulder strap on her bra as a signal that it's alright to stay, she's as decent as she can get while locked away all fairy tale-like. It doesn't matter what state he sees her in, anyway. He's dead.

“My offer still stands,” says Skulduggery.

“What offer?”

“To run away. Vanish into the night, never to be seen again.”

“I think,” Valkyrie begins, then pauses. She squeezes what's left of the water in her hair back into the bucket, then goes over to the window and throws the water out. Another yelp, but this time she is too busy considering her words to smile. “I think I'm done running.”

“Oh?”

“I think it's only right that we end this once and for all. Only then can I travel in good conscience. I want to see my family again.”

Skulduggery is quiet a moment. He sounds almost disappointed when he turns his helmet to the bottom right corner of the floor and says, “Fair enough.”

The washing machine is finished with her pants, but Valkyrie has barely moved before Skulduggery is over there, getting them out, being a personal blow drier. He throws them at her. Valkyrie senses urgency. She shuffles them on and sits down on the bed with the first aid kit, ready to redress any wounds that need to be covered. Some have become less urgent in these passing hours.

Skulduggery wraps one of her arms while she unwraps a bandaid with her teeth. They quietly work away until all has been taken care of, and then he pushes the shirt upon her. The two of them sit in silence a moment, two incredibly tall people folded uncomfortably over a tiny bed.

“Alright,” says Valkyrie, adjusting herself into a cross-legged position. “Armour off.”

Skulduggery looks away.

“Please, Skulduggery. It's me, for God’s sake.”

“Did I tell you how much I missed you?”

“You may have mentioned it.”

“And did I tell you how much I love you?”

“I try to think of it as a given.”

His chuckle is soft and Valkyrie feels a massive array of things. Safe, oddly enough, is one of them. Skulduggery undoes the clasps on his helmet, very quickly and clinically, and takes it off. He holds the helmet for a second, then it melts into his gauntlets and it's like he never had one at all.

Valkyrie doesn't know what she expected. She doesn't know how he expected her to react. Abyssinia sure did do something. Valkyrie reaches out and touches his cheek, and despite the cold of the armour, he's warm.

“Hm,” she says.

“Hm?” Awaiting approval.

“That's skin, alright.”

Skulduggery bursts out laughing, and at last Valkyrie knows whether he's the type to get teary-eyed from laughing too hard or not. Façades could never cover that ground. She brushes a tear from his eye with her thumb, then withdraws her hand, clasping it in her other.

“So, what - do you eat now?”

He wipes the remainder of the wetness from his eyes and just smiles down at his lap before flickering his gaze up at her. “I do.”

“Oh wow. The great Skulduggery Pleasant now has to piss like the rest of us. This is fantastic news.”

That gets him going again, and it now fully occurs to Valkyrie that, in the time she was gone, the time he spent pretending to be Vile to avoid whatever fate would await otherwise, he probably hasn't laughed at all. He meant it. He had been waiting for her. He had missed her.

“I love you,” says Valkyrie.

He's got those eyes that are really good at blinking at people. She can already see it, blinking slowly and incredulously at someone he thinks is an idiot, the blink that somehow doesn't break the illusion of a long, angry stare. And here and now, an unassuming, innocent kind of blink. She'd be fooled if she didn't know him.

“If you're expecting me to say it back,” says Skulduggery, “you're in for disappointment. I said it there earlier, didn’t you hear? I don't need to say it again. It would be uneven.”

“I love you!” repeats Valkyrie, louder than expected. Her voice and hands are shaky, and she fears for a moment that someone will have heard before recalling that they're far away from prying ears. It could be sweat running down her neck, but it could also be leftover water from her bucket bath. The butterflies in her stomach can't be explained away by any of her wounds, though.

She could give it a go anyway.

“Oh dear,” Skulduggery murmurs. “It seems I no longer have a choice in the matter. Well, I suppose I must respond in kind…”

He trails off and goes quiet, starts working his gauntlets off. Valkyrie doesn't wonder why for long - it's so she doesn't freeze when he puts his hands on her shoulders. They're gloved like normal, but she can see a flash of skin where she would have once seen bone. He looks right into her eyes.

“I love you, too,” says Skulduggery.

Valkyrie starts laughing nervously. She can't help it. Nothing about this is particularly funny at the moment, and she doesn't feel like laughing, but this is not something she has any control over. She reaches up to her left shoulder and takes his hand off, holds it in both her hands in her lap instead. Holding on maybe too tight. He squeezes her hand back.

“When?” Valkyrie asks quietly.

“It took a month to locate the kind of magic she said could match me.”

She doesn't want to know, but the next question is already tumbling out of her mouth, “How many?”

He looks at their hands. “Six.”

Abyssinia needed two and an injury.

“I don’t suppose I need to explain why she did it. For control, you understand. A knife in the ribcage used to be a dismissible, albeit painful, experience. If you were to stab me through the heart now, I would most certainly die.”

“Hey,” mutters Valkyrie, rapping her knuckles against his breastplate, “at least you got this.”

“Yes, well. It may not do me much good if you keep insisting I take it off.”

Her grip had loosened without her being aware of it, but Skulduggery is still determinedly holding her hand. Valkyrie is warm.

“So what now?” she asks. Then, to clarify, “How do we save the world?”

“I think we can spare some time to work on a brilliant plan.”

“The sooner we get things back to normal, the better.”

Skulduggery slowly releases her hand and sets his down on his knee. He looks at her, then to the corner, then the ceiling, then back at her. “I doubt we can restore everything, but yes. You're right.”

Valkyrie bites her lip and isn't sure how to phrase her next question. “I don’t suppose there would be a sure fire way to get you back to...being…”

“Sure,” he says. “Fire.” And he grins at her for a second before dropping it. “That was terrible, I apologise. No. To kill me again would be the last time. This is it now.”

“You're not happy about that.”

“Of course I'm not. I hate it. I'm repulsive. But I've had time to mellow. Ah, you should have seen me in winter. I was…” He flexes both hands, a humourless smile playing on his mouth. “Furious.”

Valkyrie can only imagine. “You're not repulsive.”

Skulduggery smiles rather genuinely at her by way of responding, and she can no longer think of anything to say. So they just sit there in complete silence, gazes drifting away from one another and finding their way back. It's just that - Valkyrie thinks she needs to stare in order to fully get acquainted with the idea. That's perfectly fine, perfectly acceptable. But now that Skulduggery can't hide it anymore, now that she knows he does it, she can't think of an excuse to explain why he just keeps looking back at her.

“Skulduggery…”

“Valkyrie.”

“You sleep now, don’t you?”

“Not very well.”

She feels stupid and childish, but all the same - “Will you stay with me? At least until you need to go?”

He blinks at her. And blinks at her again. “Of course. Of course I will.”

His hair comes back long and his face comes back scruffy. He had gotten that way during his three days at the end of Serpine’s right hand, and for some god awful reason it had apparently been worth saving. The Necromancers let him up after a month of being tied to a slab to get him to walk again. He runs instead. After getting him into some bound chains, they get him shaved and his hair cut. Abyssinia speaks to him, holding his chin in her palm, taking the rare opportunity to be the tall one while he's on his knees. His saliva isn't fully running yet, but he tries to spit anyway. She just laughs.

She keeps him underground for another month before tossing in the armour. She puts it in very plain terms what she can and will do the moment she even thinks he's going to step out of line. If he behaves, she tells him, it can be like the old days, if he wants. He doesn't say a word, not one. Doesn't speak to anyone at all.

Gant waits every day, very eagerly, for news of suicide, and every day he is disappointed when he spots the dark figure roaming the fortress. The figure holds itself in a way that suggests the smallest thing could set it off. Two months and three days into Abyssinia’s occupation, Gant gathers the latest details on the chase. He finds Vile standing in the darkness between the fortress buttresses, silently observing the troops below.

“You must be so out of the loop, skeleton.” For reasons he cannot explain, Gant gets a lot of enjoyment out of referring to him as something he no longer is. He supposes it’s just amusing to remind him of something special he lost. And it’s already time to do it again. “So many things to be filled in on. Did Abyssinia tell you about the little groups she’s got out there in the world, combing through all the rundown hotels and back alleyways?”

Vile is still. He might not even be listening.

“No, I didn’t think she had.”

Gant looks down at the troops. They’re not all Neoterics, but he finds it easier to refer to them as such anyway. Quite a few of them are hundreds of years old, and have been lying in wait for something like this, whether they be affiliated with the anti-Sanctuary, Erskine Ravel’s fanatics, or on their own until now. Gant is glad he’s not one of them, that he gets to be up here with Abyssinia.

“She’s alive.”

This is no longer the “she” being referred to a sentence prior, but that doesn’t need clarification. It’s evident that Vile knows who is being referred to when he closes his hand around Gant’s throat and shoves him violently up against the wall. Gant wheezes and kicks his legs, hands coming up to uselessly bat at Vile’s arm.

“Where,” says Vile.

“I don’t - know,” Gant chokes and coughs. “That’s - what the - trackers - are for.”

“Where.”

Tears spring to his eyes, but he still does his best to stare into that void of a visor. “Last sighting was - gah - New Zealand. Five hours ago.”

Vile releases Gant’s throat and lets him drop, stands there a moment considering what to leave him with, something painful and inconvenient but won’t risk his own position. Abyssinia can handle broken legs easily. With Gant howling in pain, Vile tears up the buttresses, allowing large chunks of wall to fall and endanger the troops below, and then he’s gone.

He’d blacked out when Abyssinia ambushed, in a very literal manner, as she activated his Necromancy and smothered him with it. When he was back in a state where he was aware of what was happening around him, he was a bare skeleton on a slab. There was not one mention of Valkyrie’s name. If he brought her up, and he constantly did, he was ignored.

Now that he knows she’s alive and out there, running and fighting for her life, he very much feels like an unused furnace being lit up again. He hopes they never catch her. He hopes she never has to see him again.

Skulduggery couldn’t sleep before, but now he can - and when he does he dreams of her and calls her name, and always wakes in tears.

#skulduggery pleasant

[5hfanfiction]

Come Back, Be Here - Chapter 54

A/N: There will be another trigger warning for this chapter because it pretty much picks up right where the last chapter left off. Hope you enjoy the update. Love you guys. xx

**Trigger Warning**

Hand in hand, Dinah and Normani rush through the crowded Los Angeles airport at 2 am. Having already called an Uber the minute they got off plane, they run straight to the ground transportation area and hop in the waiting car.

Normani holds her wife the entire way to the apartment and when they are almost there, Dinah untangles herself from Normani so she can check her phone that just vibrated in her coat pocket. She retrieves the device and opens it to reveal a text message from Camila.

I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. It just hurts too much. Tell Normani and Ally I love them. You were one of the brightest and best parts of my life. You were my best friend and I feel honored to have known you. I love you Dinah Jane.

Dinah lets her phone fall from her fingertips and she immediately starts hyperventilating.

“Babe, what’s going on?” Normani panics as she watches her wife gasp for air. “Who texted you?”

“We h-have to g-get to Mila something is wrong she’s going to h-hurt herself!” Dinah screams as tears fall to her cheeks.

It is then that the Uber driver decides to speak up. “We are about 5 minutes away, miss. I’ll speed up though.” He keeps his promise and presses the gas pedal all the way down.

Before they make it there, Normani picks up Dinah’s phone that is lying face down on the floorboard of the car and reads the message. Her face pales and she immediately dials Lauren’s number.

Pick up, pick up, Normani thinks as she continues to try and calm a hysterical Dinah down.

Meanwhile, Lauren is still at the club and she’s just about to go get some water from the bar when Steph grabs her arm.

“Someone named Dinah is calling you.” The girl says and then hands Lauren her phone. Lauren thanks her and then answers the call.

“Hello?” She yells into the phone while pressing one finger into her other ear so she can hear over the loud music.

“Lauren oh thank God! It’s Camila!” Lauren hears Normani’s frantic voice and her words immediately make the green-eyed girl’s heart sink. “She called Dinah earlier and she was hysterical. We immediately jumped on the first plane we could get and flew to California. We were on our way to her apartment when Dinah received a cryptic text from Mila. I think she’s hurt herself, Lauren. You need to come to the apartment immediately.”

Lauren doesn’t even reply, she just hangs up the phone and runs over to Keana. She grabs her purse from her hastily and then without another word she runs out the door to the parking lot. She frantically searches the purse and retrieves the keys from it. Once she has them in hand, she slides in the car and speeds out of the parking lot.

When the Uber driver pulls up to the apartment, Dinah immediately jumps out and scrambles her way up the steps to the apartment.

Please let her be okay, Dinah thinks as she frantically searches for apartment number 13.

Lauren and Camila loved that number because it was the chapter that Camila was reading in To Kill a Mockingbird when she first met Lauren. The same chapter that Lauren wrote “will you marry me” in when she proposed to Camila. The two then went on to get married on the 13th because they found that number so significant to their relationship.

When the Polynesian stumbles upon the number, her heart starts beating rapidly in her chest. Truth be told, she would’ve known this was Camila’s apartment even if she didn’t know the number because there is a banana print doormat and a pile of clothes outside the door. Clothes she assumes belong to Lauren.

Even though Dinah is absolutely terrified of what she’s going to find when she enters the apartment, she still wastes no time in raising her foot and kicking the door in. Her heart breaks when she sees how much of a mess the apartment is in. Glass is shattered everywhere, pictures of her best friend and Lauren lay tattered on the floor in the living room.

Dinah takes off in the direction of the bedroom in the back and when she opens the door, bile rises in her throat. On the floor, in the midst of broken glass and torn bed sheets and an empty pill bottle, lays her best friend.

“Camila!” Dinah screams as she scrambles over to the unconscious girl. The world seems as if it’s moving in slow motion and it seems like it takes her an eternity to get across the bedroom and to her best friend. Once she does, she drops to her knees, not minding that broken shards of glass are piercing into her skin. She immediately scoops Camila into her arms and carries her into the bathroom. She places her in the shower and then gets in with her. She turns the shower on in hopes that it will help Camila regain consciousness. Not wasting any time, Dinah holds the girl upright in her arms and immediately shoves two fingers down Camila’s throat in an attempt to make her throw up the pills that she has ingested. She makes sure she is bent over somewhat though so she doesn’t choke on her throw up.

“Come on, Walz. Stay with me, babe.” Dinah pleads as she desperately tries to push her fingers further down Camila’s throat.

Normani, too stunned to do anything, calls 911 and sinks to the ground in the bathroom. She watches in absolute horror as her wife tries desperately to save their best friend.

“Camila, please come back!” Dinah pleads as she momentarily takes her fingers out of the girl’s mouth before once again shoving them down Camila’s throat to try and gag the girl. This time, Camila’s body lurches forward and she empties out all the contents in her stomach on the shower floor. “Yes! That’s it, Walz! Let it all out.” Dinah smiles through her tears momentarily. However, the moment Camila starts seizing in her arms, her smile fades and she grips the girl tightly in her arms so she doesn’t hurt herself while her body shakes uncontrollably.

Lauren pulls up to the apartment moments later and when she hops out of the car, she vaguely hears sirens in the distance. She sprints to the apartment she once shared with Camila and her heart breaks when she sees a pile of her clothes outside on their doorstep. The heartbreak only increases when she walks into the apartment and it looks as if it has been robbed. She hears Dinah’s muffled voice and she immediately runs into their bedroom. It as well looks like a war zone, but only one thing catches her eye in the midst of all the chaos and that is the orange pill bottle laying on the ground by piles of broken glass that are stained with blood and the wedding ring that Lauren slid on Camila’s finger years ago.

Her heart lurches when she steps into the bathroom and sees Dinah in the shower with a convulsing Camila in her arms. White foam pours from her wife’s mouth and Lauren immediately runs forward and drops to her knees by the shower.

“Dinah, what’s happening?” Lauren screams as she watches helplessly as Camila’s body continues to jolt about. Just as soon as the scream leaves her mouth, Camila’s body goes limp in Dinah’s arms. “Dinah, what can I do? How can I help her?”

“You’ve done enough.” Dinah mutters, not even looking in Lauren’s direction. Not seconds later, all girls hear sirens right outside the apartment and Dinah immediately stands up with Camila in her arms and hurriedly walks out of the bathroom, bedroom, and then out of the apartment to meet the rescue squad. Lauren, whose body is completely numb with fear, stays kneeling on the bathroom floor. Normani, deciding that she needs to be strong, stands up from her position on the floor, turns off the shower, and grabs the green-eyed girl’s hand.

“C'mon, Lo. You should be with her.” Normani’s voice cracks as she addresses the terrified brunette that looks as if she is about to collapse any second. Lauren just nods her head and allows Normani to escort her out of the bathroom. However, before they leave the bedroom, she wiggles her hand free from Normani’s grasp and runs over to where she saw Camila’s ring lying. She immediately grabs it and also grabs a tattered picture of her and Camila as well. It has always been her favorite picture of the two of them. It’s the one she showed Camila on her phone when her wife couldn’t remember who she was and asked to see a picture of the two of them together. It was the picture that was taken of them at the random wedding party that Camila insisted that they crash.

After she has both the picture and the ring in her possession, she quickly exits the apartment and runs to where they are loading her wife up into the ambulance. Red and white lights are shining on Camila’s face and Lauren chokes back a sob at the sight of her wife laying lifeless on the gurney. 

“Which one of you is riding with her?” One of the medics addresses all three of the girls.

Lauren clears her throat. “Me. I’m her wife.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, Dinah scoffs. Lauren just ignores her and quickly makes her way to the passenger side of the ambulance. As soon as she closes the door, the ambulance speeds off in the direction of the hospital. She hears the medics behind her working on her wife, but she chooses to just focus her sights on the picture she took from the apartment. She knows if she even takes one glance back there, she will break down.

So instead, she shakily runs her fingertips over the picture of the two of them. When tears start to cloud her vision and she can no longer see it clearly, she presses the picture to her chest, over her heart, and continues to cry.

When the ambulance pulls up to the hospital, everything is a blur to Lauren. Somehow, with the help of a member of the rescue squad, she ends up in the ER waiting room. She is curled up in a ball on one of the chairs, her chin resting on her knees. She hears her phone ding and reaches over to see a text from Normani that says that they are almost there and that she has contacted Lauren’s parents, Ally, and Keana, and has informed them of what has happened to Camila. When she exits out of the text message, she sees Camila’s name in her recent messages.

Her heart starts beating rapidly in her chest. This must be the text Camila sent her before she took the pills. With shaky hands, she clicks on the message and reads it.

My heart has always been and will always be yours. Even if you don’t want it anymore. When I promised you forever on our beach that day, I meant it. You were the best part of my life. I love you.

“I’ll always want your heart, Camz.” Lauren whispers as tears fall to her cheeks at a steady pace. “You were the best part of my life too.” Before she exits from the message, she notices that there’s a message above it. Sent to Camila from herself. The time shows that it was sent not too long ago and she immediately furrows her eyebrows.

I haven’t texted her in weeks, she thinks as her thumb scrolls up to the message.

Her breath catches in her throat when she sees the picture that was sent to Camila from her phone. The picture of her kissing Keana. Not only does she see that, but she sees the message under the picture that reads:

Leave me alone. I’m with someone else now.

She immediately covers her face with her hands and sobs uncontrollably. Camila actually thought that she had moved on from her. Lauren’s heart breaks at the thought of how betrayed Camila must have felt when she opened up that text message. Not being able to look at the message any longer, she exits out. It is then that she sees that she has either one missed call or one voicemail that hasn’t been checked.

When Lauren sees that it is a voicemail from “Camz💕” her heart shatters all over again. However, she looks at the time of it and sees that it was from earlier that day, before she received the picture and message that was not actually from Lauren. She clicks on the play button and brings the phone to her ear.

Hey, Lo. It’s Camila. But you probably already know that because it’s the 21st century and we have caller ID now. Wow I’m rambling. Lauren hears Camila laugh and butterflies immediately fill her stomach. It’s one of her favorite sounds. I just wanted to call and tell you that I’ve been doing so much better these past couple of weeks. I’m completely drug free and I have no intention of ever going back to that lifestyle. I was just hoping that maybe we could have a chance to talk like over coffee or something so you could see for yourself how good I’ve been doing. I also managed to gain a couple of pounds back that I had lost this year due to my poor life choices. Lauren hears Camila take a breath while she continues to hold hers. Anyway, if you are interested in getting together, please call me back. I miss you so much. I love you. When the voicemail ends, Lauren drops her hand to her lap and stares at the device.

“I love you so fucking much. I never stopped.” Lauren whispers. Her eyes leave the device long enough to scan over the tattered picture in her left hand of her and her wife. Suddenly, she feels like she’s going to be sick and so she quickly stands up from the chair and rushes to the nearest bathroom. She empties all the contents in her stomach into the toilet. She throws up until there isn’t anything left in her stomach to empty out and then her body just starts dry heaving. She jumps when she feels a hand on her back and turns around to find Normani standing behind her.

“Let it out, babe.” The dark skinned girl whispers. Normani stands there for at least five more minutes holding Lauren’s hair back as she dry heaves, her body hunched over the toilet. Once the green-eyed girl’s body finally settles down, she stands upright and Normani immediately embraces her in a bone-crushing hug.

“S-she fucking thought I cheated on her Mani.” Lauren sobs into her friend’s shoulder. “I-I would never cheat on her I-I was going to call her back right after I got home from the club a-and tell her how much I love and miss her. But I waited too late.” Lauren pulls back and looks at Normani with wide, terrified eyes. “W-what if I can never tell her again, Mani? What if I can never e-explain to her that it was all just a misunderstanding and that there was never a-anyone else?” Lauren starts hyperventilating at the horrible thoughts that are plaguing her mind. “S-she needs to know that t-there will never ever be anyone else.”

Normani pulls the girl back into her arms and rubs her back soothingly. “Shhh she knows, Laur, Mila knows.”

“B-but you d-don’t understand. The p-picture-”

“Camila told Dinah about the picture.” Normani says as she leans back again and cups Lauren’s face in her hands. “She may have been extremely hurt Lauren, but deep down she knows that there was more to the story. She knows you would never want someone else.”

“But I still need her to wake up so I can remind her.” Lauren sniffles as she angrily wipes tears from her face with the back of her hands.

“She will, Laur. Have hope.” Normani kisses the brunette’s head before wrapping an arm around her shoulder and leading her to the door of the bathroom. “Now lets go back out and wait. Just in case the doctors come out with news.” Lauren nods dejectedly and allows Normani to lead her back into the waiting room. She sees Dinah curled up in a chair, in the same position she had been in earlier, with her chin resting on her knees. Normani immediately sits down beside her wife and guides Dinah’s head so it’s laying on her shoulder. The Polynesian doesn’t even acknowledge Lauren and the green-eyed girl just wants to explain herself so bad, but she knows that now is not the time. Dinah needs time to cool off and get herself together. The girl just found her best friend unconscious in her apartment and she doesn’t even know if the girl will be okay. Lauren knows that the solemn, numb state that Dinah’s in right now could easily turn to rage in a second. Rage that would be directed toward Lauren.

So instead of saying anything, she just pulls her own legs up in her chair and lazily wraps her arms around them. Then, she lays her head on Normani’s other shoulder.

Lauren’s eyes close momentarily and she’s almost asleep, but the ringing of a phone wakes her up. She raises her head up and looks toward the Polynesian who just answered her phone.

“Hey Smallz, no we don’t know anything yet.” Dinah sighs dejectedly. “Yes, I’m with them. Yes, I will hang on.” She removes the phone from her ear and holds it out in front of her. She presses a button on the phone and then speaks up again. “Okay, you’re on speaker.”

“Hi guys. So I keep the news on at work and I just so happened to look up at the screen in time to see that they were talking about a car accident in Miami that killed three people.” Ally pauses to take a breath. “It was Camila’s parents. They were in the car. They are dead.”

All three girls gasp at the news.

“S-sofi…” Lauren chokes out.

“Wasn’t in the car.” Ally assures her. “They thought at first it was Sofi, but then once they got the mangled body to the coroner, they realized it was just one of Sinu and Alejandro’s neighbors. Sofi was at a friend’s house when it happened.”

“Oh thank God.” Lauren breathes out. “Where is she? Where is Sofi now?”

“As soon as I heard about the wreck, I called the station and they informed me that Sofi was there so I went to get her immediately. She’s sleeping in my bed right now.” Ally assures all the girls and Lauren lets out another breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

“Camila…” Lauren whimpers. “She must have gotten the phone call early this morning after the accident. She thought the third person was Sofi.” The green-eyed girl breaks down again and Normani pulls her close.

“This all makes sense now.” Dinah speaks up, her voice cracking. “When I got off the phone with her before I boarded the plane, she was stable. I had talked her down.” The Polynesian finally allows herself to look over at the brunette who is currently sobbing. Her heart breaks for Lauren and she finally allows her walls to come crumbling down.

It wasn’t Lauren’s fault.

With this newfound knowledge, Dinah stands up from her seat and walks over to sit by Lauren. Just as she always used to do with Camila when she was crying or having a panic attack, Dinah immediately picks Lauren up and pulls her onto her lap.

“I’m sorry, Ralph.” Dinah sets her chin atop the brunette’s head. “I shouldn’t have blamed you, but I-I was just so mad and I was looking for someone to blame. It’s not your fault.” The blonde tightens her grip around Lauren. “This wasn’t your fault.”

Lauren cries into the Polynesian’s chest. She didn’t realize she needed to hear those words, but somehow hearing Dinah say “this wasn’t your fault” gives her some comfort.

“B-but it is, Dinah. I still left her when she needed me the most and I wasn’t there to help her process the death of her family.” Lauren desperately clings onto Dinah’s shirt. “She must have felt so alone, Dinah. She thought she had lost me, Sofi, and her parents in one night. I can’t even imagine what she must have been feeling.”

“Me either, Ralph. Me either.” Dinah whispers, her voice thick with emotion.

“The message, it was a misunderstanding. You have to know that I didn’t cheat.” Lauren hiccups. “Keana kissed me as a joke and then her friend took a picture of the kiss and she must have sent it to Camila. She had my phone all night.”

“I was mad, but I never doubted your loyalty, Laur. I’ve seen the way you look at her. Even if you two were on a break, I know you’d never cheat. I told Camila that on the phone. I had her convinced it was all a misunderstanding. Yes, she was hurt. She was crying and so upset, but I kept telling her to let you explain before she jumps to conclusions.” Dinah reaches down to lift up Lauren’s chin so that she can look her in the eyes when she says this next part. When Lauren’s watery green eyes meet hers, she continues. “None of this is your fault. Do not ever blame yourself for what happened to Camila.”

Lauren nods just to please Dinah, but on the inside, she still can’t help but blame herself. Before she can speak up, she hears her name being called and she looks toward the entrance of the hospital to find Keana entering… with Steph behind her.

Oh fuck no, Lauren thinks as she scrambles off Dinah’s lap and makes her way to the two girls, her sadness turning to anger with every step she takes. When she reaches them, she immediately shoves Keana out of the way and takes a swing at Steph. Her right hand connects with the girl’s face and Steph immediately stumbles back, but Lauren grabs the collar of her shirt to hold her upright.

She isn’t done with her yet.

Lauren harshly shoves her against the wall and pins her there, her face inches from Stephs.

“She was my fucking wife!” Lauren shouts angrily at the girl. She feels arms pulling her away from Steph, but she thrashes about, trying to get free from whoever is trying to pull her away. “You had no fucking right to send that picture to Camila!”

“I-I didn’t know who she-”

“She tried to take her own life tonight and it’s all your fucking fault you pathetic little-” Lauren lunges again, but Keana tightens her grip and pulls her over to the other side of the waiting room.

Dinah, having watched the scene unfold, walks calmly up to the frazzled girl who just got punched in the face.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Dinah asks, trying to keep her anger at bay.

“Look I sent a text.” The girl throws up her hands. “It’s not my fault that the girl was unstable.”

“Fuck you!” Dinah grabs Steph’s shirt in the same way Lauren did and slams her back up against the wall. “Camila is the greatest person in the entire world. She is my best friend and you fucking broke her heart for no reason. She did nothing to you!” The Polynesian feels arms wrap around her waist and drag her back. “You’re a horrible human being.” Dinah makes a point to literally spit in the girl’s face before Normani can pull her too far away. She smirks momentarily when Steph cringes and shrieks as spit runs down her face.

“Calm down, baby.” Normani pulls her wife back to the seating area, where Keana is trying to calm down the still fuming green-eyed girl. Just as they sit, two officers bust through the doors and when the lady at the counter points to Dinah and Lauren, Normani immediately stands up and walks over to the officers. She explains the entire situation to them and they let both girls off with a warning and escort Steph out of the building.

A few minutes later, the doors to the ER open up and a man in a white coat walks out with a clipboard in hand.

“Camila Cabello.” He announces and all four girls jump to their feet and scramble over to the man. None of them even know what to ask, all of them are completely frozen with fear as they await the words that will come out of the man’s mouth next. “We lost her a few times on the operating table. Her heart stopped beating, but the cardiac defibrillator was able to get her heart back beating. She’s in a coma now, but she’s alive.”

#UPDATE #AU #slash #trigger warning #camren #angst drama #family #submission #come back be here

[panic-angel3314]

War of Hearts: Part 2/?- Alpha!Roman Reigns x Omega!Reader; Alpha!Braun Strowman

A/N: Ok so this is a series I’ve been working on. 1. Because I love Braun Strowman and Roman Riegns and 2. I love the whole werewolf AU. And 3 I’m a sucker for soulmate AUs😫😫It’s my first time ever writing something like this so please be gentle. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea ☕️ Tagging my babes @theworldiscolorful , @therealfivefeetoffuckingfury , @smolsassynalilsmartassybecause they continue to inspire me and encourage me. I love you guys 🖤🖤 Pairings: Alpha!Roman Reigns x Reader ; Future Alpha!Braun Strowman x Omega!Reader Warnings: Cursing maybe? Angstish (like internally, it’s a love triangle people), Fluff, A/B/O dynamics Summary: Becoming a women’s wrestler is never easy, especially as an Omega. Finding love is even harder. Will you find love in one or will fate throw you to the wolves? Follow this story as the reader goes into battle in a “War of Hearts”.

Also tagging : @calwitch 

Part 1 | Part 2

“I can’t help but be wrong in the dark ‘Cause I’m overcome in this war of hearts”

(Y/N)’s POV

Sasha and I were waiting in the gorilla area for Charlotte and Dana's cue to hit. As we were waiting there, Charlotte was nice enough to wish us good luck while Dana couldn't be bothered. She didn't even try to be subtle with the stink eye she was giving me. Whatever, I had neither the time nor patience to deal with it. It was my debut and I wasn't going to let the Blonde Bimbo Beta ruin one of the greatest nights of my life.

 All too soon it was Sasha's turn to head out and while Charlotte was following the script to the letter Dana was taking just a few too many liberties at my expense. I shook it off and used it as fuel for when I got to the ring.

 "For your information, the partner I got joining me today is not only the baddest chick to step foot in to the WWE but she's made a name for herself worldwide. Ladies and Gentlemen of the WWE Universe I present to you, my one and only best friend, Babydoll!!!!" Sasha had just introduced me and my music hit. I swear it was one of the loudest pops of the night. I was so happy I could cry but I wouldn't break character not when I have a show to put on.

 Throughout the match everything was going swimmingly. It wasn't until Dana unnecessarily tagged herself in to take a crack at me that things went a little haywire. She went as far as to perform her freaking finisher on me and damnit if I wasn't madder than a hornet’s nest. I was so mad I didn't even give her the decency of a one count and the crowd was eating it up. As soon as she got up to face me I dropped kicked her so hard, it propelled her into her corner and Charlotte could tag back in. Unfortunately, not without displaying a look of utter shock as the sequence of moves took place. Thankfully Charlotte and I were able to finish our sequence no problem and I wrapped her up in my submission, the Yes Lock, winning the match.

"And here are your winners by submission the team of Sasha Banks and Babydoll!! But still your Raw women's champion Charlotte Flair!!" JoJo announced to the universe.

 I looked at Charlotte and pantomimed the belt sitting on my waist and mouthed 'I'm coming for you!' Which cemented the new story line between us and I couldn't be happier. Charlotte is an amazing competitor and I could see us becoming close friends in the process of our "feud".

 Sasha and I walked hand in hand up the ramp to head backstage but before we went behind the curtain, I turned to the WWE universe and blew it a kiss earning one more huge pop.

 Awaiting backstage was The Bella's, my brother, Roman, and even Charlotte to congratulate me. I was completely on cloud nine!! Even Hunter, Steph, and Vince were there. I felt so loved and so accomplished I couldn't believe. However, Hunter pulled me aside to address the whole Dana going off script thing. I told him it was no big deal that I'm like a chameleon in the sense that I can adapt in any situation but he wasn't having it.

"I understand that but still she put everyone, especially you at risk and for that I'm really sorry." He conceited while petting my head in a fatherly manner, display the true concern he held for me. 

Hunter and Steph were some of the few that knew my true presentation as an Omega and because of that they were very protective of me. Hell, when I first met them they wanted to adopt me. And ever since my parents died I looked up to them as parental figures.

"Hunter, I promise I'm okay! Don't worry so much Papa Bear. You've taught me well and I'll continue to do well, but only if you don't hover so much." I tried to joke to lighten the seriousness the conversation held.

It was Steph's turn to pipe up, “We can't help it if we love you, Babydoll. We just want to keep you safe. Besides the fact of the matter is we can't have superstars under contract going rogue. So, we're going to deal with her accordingly."

"Can't argue with Momma Bear on that." Came my reply making both Steph and Hunter chuckle. I made sure to give them one last hug and make my way to Roman who had been patiently awaiting my arrival.

 Before I could get a word out the Samoan scooped me up into a rib crushing bear hug that had me squealing for my release.

"Ahh Ro! Let me go I can't breathe!"

While his grip loosened slightly he didn't fully release me from his grip, however, I was able to reach his handsome face for a chase kiss.

"Babygirl, I'm so proud of you! I told you, you'd do amazing and have I ever lied to you."

"Well no I sure hope not." I teased which earned me a growl from my superman.

"You better behave Babygirl or I'll make you room alone tonight."

That had me panicking slightly, as an Omega and the baby of the pack I never slept or roomed alone and I was terrified at the prospect. And before I could stop it my Omega nature kicked in. I nuzzled into the crook of Roman's neck whimpering, "No, please Alpha. I'll be good. I promise."

This earned me a soothing rumble of the chest from Roman. Having realized what he'd done he was quick to apologize.

"Hey, no, I'm sorry Baby. I didn't mean it like that. I would never do that to you. Hey (Y/N), look at me." He said while cupping my face to look at him. "I love you, Babygirl. And from now until forever I'm not leaving your side. You hear me?"

I looked deep into his fierce grey eyes to search for any fallacy to his words but found none. I nodded my head mumbling and 'I love you too' before nuzzling back into his warm. 

He carried me bridal style to my awaiting dressing room. Instructing me to shower and change so that when he was finished with his match signing, He could drive us to the hotel down the road. And then we had a few days off after that and we decided we spend some one on one time together at his house in Orlando. I was excited and nervous at the same time. I had really been contemplating lately whether to take our relationship to the next level. Lately our make out sessions had become more and more steamy. And after having not seen him or spent time with him in months, my body was craving his touch.

Braun's POV

I was sat down to watch my 'girlfriend's' match and honestly, I used that term loosely. Our relationship was born out of convenience. I needed someone to help me through my ruts on the road, while she wanted someone to adhere to her Omega complex she developed.

 The thing is ever since I saw that fair skinned beauty wrestling with Sasha at the performance center awhile back I couldn't get her out of my head. Unfortunately, ever since that encounter Dana has been exceptionally clingy. 

 The mystery girl had smelt otherworldly to me, which immediately had my inner wolf stirring. But before I could even exchange two words with her, she was gone as fast lightning could strike. And then when I went to ask Sasha about her, all she would divulge was that she was a Beta and the little sister of Daniel Bryan, (Y/N) Bryan. I was never quite convinced myself that she was a Beta because everything about her screamed Omega, my Omega. Her smell alone has been imprinted on my heart, like a searing brand on my senses, so intoxicating and nearly addicting. In fact, as soon as I had entered the arena I swore I could smell the sweet alluring scent of her, that has only ever appeared inside my dreams.

 Alas, I was broken out of my thoughts, that she has continually consumed, by the big tv screen they'd set up in catering.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the WWE Universe I present to you, my one, my only best friend, Babydoll!!!"

As soon as the words leave Sasha's mouth an unfamiliar music hits and out walks the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. Soon I realize it's her, it's (Y/N)! And it makes my wolf stir at the thought of finally having her near me, finally getting chance to meet this Siren who has had a stranglehold on my psyche for the better part of 6 months.

I watched as she flew around the ring effortlessly, it was like watching a master painter at work. The grace she had, had me completely captivated. It wasn't until I noticed Dana tag herself in unnecessarily that I started to pay attention to the other players in the ring. 

 Dana was taking one too many liberties with (Y/N) and it had my inner wolf seething. How dare she try and hurt our mate! My wolf was clawing under the surface ready to tear Dana a new one. She had gone as far as to perform her finishing maneuver on (Y/N), funny enough she didn't even allow for a one count. Soon (Y/N) was up and drop-kicking Dana in the corner, with a power only my Omega could possess. The wolf relaxed slightly, happy that our mate could clearly take care of herself. But on the other hand, he still couldn't get over Dana trying to wound his mate. 

 The sweet little Babydoll was soon announced the winner, by submitting Charlotte and my wolf was swelling with pride. But now comes the hard part, reprimanding Dana without going full wolf on her.

 As soon as she came past the gorilla, I grabbed her by the hand and dragged her around to a secluded corner so we could have a private conversation.

Roman's POV 

After dropping off Babygirl to take a shower and change for the night I headed towards catering, wanting to meet up with Dean before my match signing with Strowman tonight. As I round a corner I heard a familiar growling timber and a smaller female voice bickering at each other.

"What the hell was that Dana?! You know damn well you went way off base with that little stunt. You could've really hurt someone." Braun was practically growling at his girlfriend.

"You mean I could've hurt her. So, what? What is so special about her anyways? You're my Alpha not hers." She replies with her nasally and irritating voice.

"If I'm the Alpha then who are you to question me!" He snarls at the blonde. Not Braun's proudest moment but he was still trying to reel in the wolf boiling to a bubble just underneath his skin. "Next time follow the script. I don’t want to have this conversation again." 

As the blonde woman storms off in a huff, I make my presence known.

Clearing my throat, I raise an eyebrow to the opposing Alpha. "Is there a reason you're worrying about something that doesn't concern you."

"Is there a reason you're listening to conversations that don't involve you."

"If it involves my Babygirl, it involves me. What it doesn't involve is you! Don't worry about what isn't any of your business Strowman. Just keep your girl on a better leash. I'm (Y/N)'s Alpha! So, I'll be the one taking care of her and defending her honor."

Roman was seething at the thought of Braun having anything to do with his Omega. But he couldn't voice that. No way in hell would he out your true presentation to some stranger Alpha.

Braun just looked at Roman with a smug look on his face and a chuckle upon his lips, "Yeah, we'll see about that Reigns, won't we?" And Strowman strode away to go prepare for tonight's promo.

Something about Strowman's last statement didn't still well with Roman and then add the fact that he was showing a sort of concern for her by calling out Dana, something was wrong and Roman could feel it in his heart. The heart that belonged solely to his Babygirl, that would always belong to her. Before he could dwell on it too long he continued his way towards to catering in search of his best friend.

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#wwe imagine #wwe fanfiction #wwe smut #roman reigns imagine #roman reigns x reader #Braun Strowman imagine #Braun Strowman x reader #omega reader #my writing #roman reigns smut #roman reigns fanfiction #abo dynamics

[justdrugdealers-blog]

@svveetreflection

“Adri died.” Her sister’s voice said over the telephone. Her words hitting Richard like a freight train careening down the tracks on the verge of out of control.

“Come on that’s bullshit. I literally talked to her the other day. We had plans to meet up after I got back from India.” Richard was on the verge of tears and his voice on the verge of breaking. She had seemed fine, even happy when they had talked last. Which was a relief because it had been a month since he had taken time off to get her off her coke habit.

“She apparently OD’d a few days ago and when she didn’t show up for work they went looking for her.” His sister’s words played on repeat as if they were a broken record.

The fact that she had relapsed when he was on the road hurt. He had done everything he could to help Adri from getting her a therapist to making sure she knew where the closest AA meeting was and even going with her a few times before he had to head back to work. Yet here he was getting the same news he had always dreaded would happen.

“I-I need to go.” Richard replied before quickly hanging up the phone so that her sister wouldn’t know how much he was hurt by the news.

At least when she moved to New York he knew she’d always be around if he needed her. Now he didn’t even have that. She was gone. He wouldn’t be able to hear her voice again. He wouldn’t be able to share a bed with her. Feel her body against his. He’d lost her.

It hadn’t taken him long to drink his way through half of the mini fridge’s liquor. Something that he’d regret in the morning when the bill came but for now all he wanted to do was numb the emptiness inside. What made it worse was the fact that they were supposed to get back together when he got back. Well, at least talk about it. He’d wanted to get back together with her as soon as they’d hooked up again after all of those years but Adri had refused. Saying something along the lines of her addiction had to be conquered first before she even thought about dating someone.

‘A lot of good that did’ Richard thought to himself. His mind rushing over everything he could’ve done differently to prevent the final outcome. He could’ve taken more time off. Hell he could’ve quit his job and just focused on Adri’s well being. She would’ve refused but that never stopped him before. The one time he put himself first and it ended in misery. Oddly enough the person who caused it had always tried to make Richard put himself first. If that wasn’t ironic he wasn’t sure what was.

If Richard thought his life couldn’t get any worse at that moment apparently some other entity wanted to prove him wrong as someone started to knock on his door

“The door’s locked that means fuck off.” Richard exclaimed as he finished his sixth mini bottle of whiskey. “Come back tomorrow or never. Never would be the preferred option.” His words were slurred as he threw the extra pillow at the door wishing that he could throw it at whoever seemed to think it was a good idea to come to his hotel room.

“Just let me in.” Steph replied from outside the door. “Brie texted me about what happened. Apparently Adri’s sister called her as well. Come on no one should have to go through this alone. If you don’t open the door I’ll go get someone who will.”

“Well, if you can somehow bring Adri back to life then I won’t go through this alone. Until then you can fuck off.” Richard wasn’t sure why he was lashing out at Steph maybe it was the fact that she was there or the fact that she had caused their last fight but here he was taking out every bit of pain and sorrow in his body and shoving it at Stephanie.

“Just open the fucking door Richard. I swear you can be such a fucking dick at times.” Stephanie knew that Adri’s death was hitting Richard hard but she wasn’t going to deal with Richard’s childlike tantrum even if he was one of their best wrestlers on the roster at the moment.

It didn’t take long for Richard to get out of bed and unlock the door for Steph even if he didn’t want to. “There are you happy can you kindly fuck off now?” Richard asked as the stench of liquor wafted from his hotel room.

“Jesus Christ Richard go home.” Steph hadn’t expected to see a small pile of tiny little liquor bottles by his bed or to see Richard turn into the thing he had tried to prevent Adri from turning into herself yet here she was. Looking at a man who had apparently lost his self control along with the love of his life.

“Take some time off be with Stephen be with your grandparents. Hell put your dick in everything that walks if you it’ll help you get over her. I don’t really care but get yourself together.” She said as she pulled out her phone to buy Richard a plane ticket back home. “Sleep it off and fly home tomorrow. You’re lucky I don’t fire you but because you’re going through something I’ll just let you off with a warning but don’t expect this to be a regular occurrence. If you do this again you won't be working for us anymore.”

“Or you could just fire me now and get over with it. I honestly don’t give a shit.” Richard replied as he threw the now empty mini bottle of whiskey to join the others on the floor. “Now if you don’t mind I’d like to be left alone.” Richard replied as he closed the door on Steph and went back to his bed. Hoping to god he’d pass out for the night so he could get some peace even if it was just for a few hours.

Richard hadn’t left his house for days once he had gotten back from India. Nor had he turned his phone on once he had turned it off for his flight home. That hadn’t stopped his grandfather from trying to contact him though from emails to facebook messages all of which he ignored.

“Get the fuck up.” His grandfather’s voice screamed out at him as he forcefully pulled his grandson off his bed in order to wake him up. “You’re going to the damn viewing if I have to drag you there myself. Now get the fuck up and get a fuckin’ shower. I swear I raised you better than this. We get that she was your childhood best friend but that doesn’t mean you can fuckin’ lay around in bed all day for the rest of your life. Would she have wanted that for you? The answer is no.” Steven had tried his best to give his grandson the benefit of the doubt hoping that at one point he’d come to his senses yet here they were.

“Well, guess what she’s dead she doesn’t want anything anymore. I fuckin’ tried to help her and she fuckin’ left me! I’m alone now! So how about you and everyone that seems to want to leave comments like thoughts and prayers just fuck off. She wasn’t just my childhood best friend she was the only reason I had to keep going and now she’s fuckin’ gone.” Richard said as he finally stood up and looked at his grandfather with a frown. “You know if you don’t go to this you’re going to regret it. I know you probably want to die right now but I swear once you get up and out of the house you’ll feel better. Stephen and I will be in the living room when you’re ready to go.” Richard let out a sigh his grandfather was right even if he didn’t want to admit it.   He needed to go or every day he’d kick himself for not doing it.

Once Richard paid his respects to Adri’s parents he slowly walked over to her casket trying his best to hold back tears. “Your parents picked some really shitty music.” He whispered to her with a small chuckle. “I’m pretty sure you’d hate it. I should’ve went to New York with you in the first place. This wouldn’t have happened if I did. I’m sorry Adri. I love you.” Richard said before walking to the back of the room to be with his brother. At least he had him he thought to himself as he sat down in one of the empty chairs that lined the wall.

“She loved you, you know that right?” Adri’s sister said to him once he had sat down. “She always had. While she was at odds with mom and dad and she didn’t like me that much because she thought I was the favorite she at least had you. I’m pretty sure she was happy with just having you.”

“I could’ve taken better care of her though. I thought she had gotten clean. I was sure she had. I’d done everything that I thought would help. I got her a therapist. I took her to AA. I don’t know what else I could’ve done.” Richard said with a small sigh.

“We all thought she was clean. She knew how to hide it well. There wasn’t anything you could do.” Her sister said as he placed her hand on Richard’s shoulder trying her best to comfort him. “You did your best she just slipped it and it cost her.”

“I know but I feel like this is still my fault. I have a feeling I’ll feel this way for a while. Adri was normally able to snap me out of this but without her I’m just lost. She really was my other half.” Richard replied as he fixed Stephen’s messy hair. Trying his best to distract himself from the subject at hand.

“You ready to go Stephen?” Richard asked his little brother as he stood up to his feet tears running down his face unsure how there was anything even left to cry out at this point. 

“Can I say goodbye first?” Stephen asked as he looked up at his brother. “I didn’t get to say goodbye.” 

“Of course buddy.” Richard said as he led him to front of the room. “Do you want me to stay with you or do you want to have some alone time with her?” He asked once they were at her casket.  

“You can stay.” Stephen said as Richard peered over the side of her casket. “Thanks for helping Richie take care of me. You were like a second mom to me. I’m going to miss you.” Stephen replied teary eyed before turning to Richard and clinging to his waist. “I miss her already.” 

“So do I buddy. So do I. Now Let’s go home.” Richard replied as he picked Stephen up and practically clung to him.

#svveetreflection #tw; death #tw; drugs #tw; drug abuse #tw; drug addiction #tw; alcohol #tw; alcoholism