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calpops · 3 years

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veiled valor | 14 | c.h.

endless edges

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Calum stood at the rail of the ship, wood under his palms; the course grain meeting his work rough palms in harmony. Elodie stood still at his side. The clouds were growing grayer by the moment as a storm formed in sky and sea. The waves were already becoming more rough, knocking against the ship without mercy as they gained traction and size. Calum shifted his weight to one foot, fingers curling a bit tighter around the rail as he sized up the storm and ran through preparations in his mind. The princess was silent, eyes contemplative as she watched the swirling sea mimicking the clouds above. Somehow the water mirrored the gray clouds in such a menacing way it sent chills through Calum. He had seen many storms but none had ever put a pit in his stomach quite like this one.

“Will you stay in our cabin?” Calum asked, wanting her to be as safe during the storm as possible. Asking became a necessity; it was a hard lesson to learn that the princess would take no orders even from her captain; storms and attempted mutinies not even able to keep her from wanting to be in the fray.

“I suppose,” she answered quietly. “So long as you’re safe too.”

Calum gave her a grin and took his hands off the rail in favor of settling them on her delicate waist. She pressed into his touch, receptive and unafraid of the crew around them.

“I’ve been through many storms, princess, I’ll be okay,” Calum said and pressed a small kiss of her forehead, reveled in the moment and the feeling before the storm would make them part ways. Calum would stay on deck to oversee the crew and the condition of the ship, keep them on course and ride out the storm to the best of his abilities. “I just need you to keep yourself safe.”

Elodie nodded and turned as clicks against the wood caught her attention. Duke strode forward with his short gait and stuck his nose into the air; sensing the storm and narrowing his eyes. Elodie crouched down to receive the small dog and brought him back up, face buried in his warm fur and a kiss given to his cheek.

“Duke will protect me,” she offered around a smile and hooded eyes. “Until you can come back to the cabin.”

“You won’t come out until I say it’s safe?” He asked, eyeing her suspiciously. The princess was never so easily agreeable when it came to separating, Calum pondered if their two latest run ins with danger had put a distaste for it within the princess.

Elodie nodded her agreement. “I’ll wait for you,” she amended and cut a gaze at the cabin door that stood closed. “Though you should know, if I knew how to swim it would be a different story.”

Calum chuckled at her slightly threatening tone and knew her words were true. The storm would bring dangers she couldn’t fight with a sword, pull a pistol or dagger on; her training was useless when it came to the waves. Calum would have to teach her to swim the next time they docked. She began to sashay away, paused only to give Calum a peck, and headed for the cabin he knew she would lock up as the storm rolled in.

Luke took up beside Calum; a grim look etched across his face and dismay swimming within pools of blue eyes. Calum shifted, gave him a curious look and shot his eyes across the deck. Nothing seemed amiss but for the way his boatswain was acting. The crew was busy around them, prepping for the storm and ensuring the ship would make it through the venture.

“We have trouble coming,” Luke finally said when a moment of calm came and the crew dispersed. “A ship sails behind us.”

Calum’s arms crossed over his chest, his comfortability declining at the news. Not every passing ship was a threat, not every flag that flew in the wind was one to fear, but the look of concern so apparent on Luke’s face was hard to ignore. The boatswain was well traveled and versed in the flags and sails that they encountered. Calum held his breath and let silence answer the questions the new ship’s presence brought about.

“They fly flags of a rival kingdom,” Luke further explained as his eyes skirted to a closed cabin door a princess hid behind. “It’s not a royal vessel but it causes me worry they might try something.”

Common men were notorious for staking out ships and head hunting pirates for a pocketed reward—their lives suddenly worth something to someone else, and only for a trip to the gallows. The concern did not arise from a fear for their own lives but for a woman aboard that might be recognizable and worth more than a petty piece of gold. Calum felt his heartbeat stall and come back to life with a painful force that knocked against his ribs. His fingers curled into his palms and he tried to catch his breath, reminded himself that she would be locked away in her cabin, that the storm might fend off the afflicting ship and a passing in peace might ensue.

“Get Michael up from the galley. I need him as a master gunner once more,” Calum said just in case. Michael would be more useful in his rightful position if it came to a fight than stowed away in the shadows. “Have Ashton prep the crew; if they try to take us we won’t be going in unprepared. I want you to guard her door.”

“With my life,” Luke promised as his hand found the hilt of his sword at his side.

Calum remembered a fight in which Elodie was clueless but writhed with anger for being kept locked in the dark. He had to tell her and he had to do it before the ship made to pass. He strode to her quickly, rapped his knuckles against the wood three times in a rhythm she knew to be his—a secret communication of identification. The locked clicked and the door opened slowly, confusion written all over Elodie’s face in the way her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed.

“The storm?”

“We have new troubles,” Calum said before she could further ask of his appearance. “A ship trails us. Flags with a kingdom that knows you. Please, please, stay in the cabin. I’ll have Luke at your door. Don’t come out for anyone but me.”

“They don’t know I’m aboard,” Elodie said quietly as she peered past Calum as if to try and find the mysterious ship through the fog.

“And I’d like to keep it that way,” Calum added on to her thought. “They might pass peacefully. They might try a raid. Either way, you should stay out of sight.”

“I understand,” she said and Calum could hear and feel the fear in her voice—it was palpable. Everything she had run away from was catching up to her in the face and flags of a foe. “I won’t do anything stupid.” Her hands settled at her waist and a bitten lip etched worry across her face.

“Don’t worry princess, I won’t let any harm come to you,” Calum said though the words were thick and his gaze trained down to her healing arm. He’d made promises in the same faith before, broken them with smoky accidents and an inability to be what she needed.

Elodie nodded and her trust in Calum renewed a vigor to ensure his promise was kept this time. Luke would guard her door and Calum would keep the lines of fight as far away as possible—if it came to that. She stepped out of her room, just enough to put herself against Calum once more, a silent hold between the captain and his lady ensuing. She felt much smaller in his arms than usual, the face of danger looming on the horizon making her more delicate, more prone to being harmed and broken. A clamor of noise on deck made them pull apart; fear of what could be happening already had the door shutting between them and Calum stalking off to take up position at the wheel.

With spyglass in hand and poised at his eye Calum saw his first glimpse of the ship emerging from a formed fog. The flags blowing in the wind sent chills up his spine, the gray and red reminding Calum of scars and blood. Of lines that cut through skin and showered life onto wooden beams. Wind swept through the ship and the first of rain fell onto Calum’s forehead, waves began building a pit of anxiety that told Calum a fight would ensue formed low in his stomach. The ship behind was gaining speed, making so as to come upon them. His own vessel couldn’t compete in speed but its size and artillery might withstand a chance. He had men who had freedom to lose and that meant they had everything worth fighting for. Calum’s everything stayed behind a locked door. His hand found his pistol, an order to ready cannons fell from his lips and to the crew around him.

It came as no surprise when the ship caught up to them and men swung to deck on ropes that seemingly fell from the sky; appearing out of thin air much like clouds caught in a drift. Calum’s cannons ripped through the hull of the enemy ship, splintered wood crackling in the dull air against the war cries of men who plotted to commandeer the ship under Calum’s feet. He knew their game, lest their own ship be destroyed they would take over the other and force the crew to surrender or into the sea. Bringing back a pirate or two was nothing in comparison to a ship of this caliber; to a stolen Captain’s glory and livelihood. The rain was coming down harder and faster, soaking the deck as every step was slick and unbalanced. Men fought mercilessly, the clanging of metal against metal, of pistols firing in harmony and cannons colliding and ripping through wood sent out pleas to the heavens above and gods below.

Calum cut the wheel, hoping to offset balance and start to veer away from the men still slinging from ropes or diving and rolling onto the deck. He saw a few bodies fall into the waves below and a satisfied smirk placed itself upon Calum’s face. His own crew had his back but chills still danced along his spine in menacing ways, crawling around and making Calum tremble against his white knuckle hold. He chanced a look back, over to the door that Luke promised to guard with his life. It remained closed but his boatswain was nowhere to be found and the windows were shattered, glass dancing on the wooden floor. Ashton quickly cut past Calum’s line of vision, sparring swords against a man in fine clothing that was being hacked away at. His vest was torn across his chest, a line of red followed a cut around his arm. Ashton was clearly leading the fight and winning, his foe suddenly knocked back to the beams below after fumbling feet failed him. Calum had no more time to watch, the feeling of someone approaching from the side had him turning, discarding spyglass for sword, the tool for vision rolling along the notches in the floor.

Calum’s breath was torn away from him as he dodged a swipe of a sharpened blade that dripped with someone else’s blood though rain still pelted the deck. It was fresh. He stood back up, charged with full force and let a blow land against his attacker. The rock of the boat swayed him forward, the hilt of the sword buried against the man’s rib cage, a small moan his last word as he fell to his knees and Calum withdrew his sword. The fight around him was a blur as he pivoted, once more glancing toward the only thing that mattered. Her door was still shut and Luke was still nowhere to be found. A new group of men swarmed the cabin, locked doors always hiding treasure. The wood was nothing against the force of five and blades that hacked it away and off its hinges in mere moments. Calum abandoned his perch at the wheel, ran headlong into the men that endangered all he was protecting.

He vaguely heard Ashton call behind him; his second in command undoubtedly having won his own duel and joining Calum for a fight worth more than anything else on the ship. Except the men were stopped short in the abandoned cabin, now backed into walls as Calum and Ashton and Michael and a few other men took up arms against them. It quickly became apparent the enemy ship was outnumbered by pirates. The fight didn’t last much longer but the abandoned cabin and no sign of a princess or boatswain worried at Calum as the last of the men fell. The captain cut worried looks at Michael and Ashton. The ship was riddled with bodies and blood, Calum’s crew was high on victory and soon enough they would be drunk on it too; rum sure to be passed around for the stocks in the galley. Calum had no reason to celebrate in the face of a missing princess. She had promised not to leave for anyone but him. His boatswain had sworn his life to protect her.

“Cap’n?” Michael’s voice cut through the haze of anxiety that swept over Calum and dared to try and drown him. “We have a hostage.”

“Find her,” was the only command he could manage to withdraw from his lips as his eyes swept the ship aside them that was slowly sinking among it being engulfed in flames. Words of a hostage were completely lost on Calum. No one else mattered.

He didn’t know how the fire started, much of the fight passed by him in a worried blur. Michael needed no further instruction from the captain, he pulled Ashton into the search and swept the deck and down below. Calum was called down to the galley where a broken and splintered door led down soaked steps.

“Elodie?” He heard himself asking as he ducked down and only tendrils of muted light from above lit his way. Michael had proposed the idea of the galley as he saw the door was broken and open. Hope infiltrated Calum’s chest as he stepped forward, past the makeshift dining tables and barrels as seats.

“Calum?” Elodie. Her voice was small and buried, a tip of a boot stuck out from behind a barrage of barrels stacked on the back wall. Luke.

“It’s safe now,” he made himself say though there was still an unsettled feeling harbored within his chest.

Luke was the first to move from around the barrels, he wore a sorry expression but he stood tall and sure. Duke padded out next, seemingly unbothered by the commotion that had ensued and Calum knew he had rested within Elodie’s arms. The princess was slower to come, eyes in disbelief and a moment of pause stalling her as she stood upright, gaze sweeping Calum up and down, likely taking him in for injuries. When she saw he was well she made for him and he made for her, met in the middle and melted into each other’s safe embraces.

“You promised to stay in the cabin,” Calum said gently though he had no fault in his tone. She had evaded the fight and stayed safe and that was all that truly mattered. He pulled away from her just enough to look into golden eyes and see her honesty.

“The rain and wind shattered the windows. I convinced Luke to take me here before the fighting truly began. Besides, what man raids a kitchen before that of a captain’s quarters?” She asked and made Calum blow out a breath of relief at her smart thinking and overall safety.

She was right, the men had attacked his quarters without thinking. Whereas the only thing that had been touched was the galley door and the weather and fight on deck may have been responsible for that. He could have kicked himself for his narrow minded and unthought out plan. But it had all worked out and Elodie was unharmed. He pulled her back into him and Luke excused himself; knowing the moment was private, though the small dog kept to Elodie’s side and settled at her feet. Silence befell them and Calum savored it for the day had been wrought with the firing of cannons and pistols, of war cries and last words. She pressed against him, cheek resting against his chest and arms wound around his middle. He held her close, hands softly stroking through her hair and breaths finally coming much easier. The crew was alive above them and Calum knew their time alone would be short lived if they stayed in the galley; all the rum and liquors stocked around them.

“We’ll have the windows fixed next time we dock,” Calum murmured and hoped the sea would treat them well the next week or so until they could find somewhere to find new glass. “If another ship passes this will be the safest place for you.”

Elodie nodded her agreement and thanked Calum for sending Luke to guard her. She admitted her fear at the sounds of a fight much bigger than an attempted mutiny. Calum sighed, pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear and cupped her face.

“I feared more for you,” she said and a faint blush danced from cheek to nose to cheek again, heating the tips of Calum’s fingers unabashedly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Calum stiffened at the admission and thought through the realities that easily could have been. What would she have done if the sword had gone through him instead of his foe?

“You’d command the ship to go wherever you wanted. You’d find somewhere safe. Michael, Ashton and Luke would make sure it happened.”

Elodie looked down, golden eyes lost to the floorboards and the dog below. Calum could tell it was a reality she didn’t want to consider. But Calum would rather be lost in a fight than she; she could find somewhere the world didn’t know her, could find a safe haven among an island with a small but loyal crew to guide her. Calum would always have an identifier burned into his skin and chasing his steps and ship with every motion.

“Captain?” It was Ashton’s voice that broke through the dismay at thoughts neither truly wanted to entertain. He stood at the top of the galley steps, uncertainly peering down at his superior and his lady. “What should we do about the hostage?”

“Hostage?” Calum and Elodie both questioned at the same time, voices blending together in equal parts surprise and terror.

Calum turned, vaguely recalling Michael’s words on deck but they had been drowned out by the worries of his missing princess. Calum cleared his throat and approached, begged Elodie to follow with a motion of his hand and put one foot up on the bottom step. His second in command was a little worse for wear after a battle but victory gleamed in hazel eyes and the tears in his clothing and the few scratches along his skin could be mended.

“He begged for mercy and Michael allowed it. He’s not much more than a boy. He’s in the brig.”

“See that he has food and water and if he’s injured any wounds are tended to. We’ll drop him next time we dock,” Calum decided.

It was a risk, a man from a kingdom that opposed Elodie’s—whether young or old—posed a threat. Calum had no intention of harming the boy, he could stay in the brig and keep his eyes off the princess, and they’d be rid of him as soon as they could. Elodie’s hand found its way to Calum’s shoulder and called his attention to her.

“Might he be good for questioning?” She wondered. “Even a boy has useful information. Was the raid just a raid or was it for something else?” Someone else.

“I’ll question him myself. I want no one else speaking to him,” Calum began and let his eyes settle on his second in command. “Make that an order.”

Loose lips could travel word from crewman to boy, from boy to land and kingdoms beyond. Calum was still wary about many who sailed his ship and didn’t want any cracks in the precarious foundation to slip through. Ashton nodded his understanding and took off to spread word of the captive and the captain’s command. Calum turned to Elodie and excused himself with one last kiss to her forehead and a promise to meet her in their cabin shortly. She spun to head back toward the kitchen where a victory feast would be prepared; mostly rum and whatever could be prepared quickly. Calum stalked off and set pace for the prisoner they now kept.

The brig was always a grim place and scarcely used in Calum’s time as captain. He remembered times as a lowly crewman and all those who went and never returned from the holding. Calum vowed he would never let a man’s life end within the dark keep. Ashton was right, eyes of not much more than a boy—somewhere between sixteen and eighteen—stared back at Calum sullenly. Desperately. His clothes were modest and covered in filth, blood spattered and worn to the threads coming undone. A mop of shaggy hair was worn in tangles and pale skin was kissed with a red burn on full cheeks and round nose. He was still a child.

“Please,” he begged before he even knew of the captain’s intentions. “Please let me go. I didn’t mean no harm, was just followin’ orders.”

Calum sympathized with the boy; he had done the same and it had earned him a brand and title for life.

“What’s your name?” Calum questioned, stepping forward to where bars withheld the boy who was dropped to his knees.

“Theo,” he replied though the name was uncertain and shaken. “We was just tryin’ to escape a war. That king’s gone mad and me own king took up arms for his cause, we want nothin’ to do with it.”

Theo spilled news like a thrashing current of a river. It was unbridled honesty and piqued Calum’s interest and sped up the beat of his heart. Elodie’s rival kingdom had joined forces with a maddened king, which king and the cause unbeknownst. Calum slipped into silence, knowing it was a query for more information, eyes never flickering from the boy nervously gripping the bars of his cell.

“That king, he's out for vengeance, he be wanting that princess he was promised. My kingdom—we’re small and poor and been mad at theirs for years, swearin’ they stole our riches—but we have lots of men and was promised rewards if we took up the fight. The king is convinced they be holding her from him. We was supposed to ship out to help invade their island and siege their castle. We don’t want nothin’ to do with that. I reckon they was gonna trade yous over for gold and supplies to keep fleeing. That’s all.”

Calum’s heart plummeted at the words of war and reasons for fleeing. The princess was just up some steps, down the deck and tucked into a cabin. News of war and the reasons why would land hard on her shoulders. They had sailed so far away from her homeland that looping back came as a casualty. Her rivals and enemies shared the same water. Though it was good cause to know they believed she was on the ground, behind castle walls with an army of her own people and kingdom. Instead, she stayed behind wooded walls with the sea under her and nothing but a band of pirates to protect her.

“Please,” Theo said once more, his voice tight and eyes begging. “I’m not no danger I swear it. Let me go.”

“You’ll stay here until we next dock. You’ll stay unharmed and well fed. As soon as we weigh anchor my second in command will row you out and you’ll part ways.”

Theo let out a loud breath of relief, his grip tightening on the bars and shaking as he thanked the captain with all of the life inside of him; for the life he feared he would lose. Calum simply nodded, being thanked for a simple human decision left him uncomfortable, sparing the boy’s life was an easy call. He left Theo with the promises he’d have dinner delivered to his cell—Luke would run his meals from this point forth—and stalked back up the stairs and away from the creeping feeling of claustrophobia the brig instilled in him. He had done his own time in a cell, held without a trial and without question. Calum never made it a habit to visit the damp and dark quarters. He was met with a surprise on the top step.

Glistening golden eyes and trembling petaled lips told that Elodie overheard it all. She sighed, hands occupying themselves with tugging at her skirt as an old nervous habit fluttered back to life. Calum reached out for her but she flinched away from the touch and stepped back from him; allowing him up the last step. A night at an inn with whispered secrets of broken betrothals and fear of a life married to a cold king came rushing back to Calum. Guilt wrote itself clearly in Elodie’s eyes, in the way they couldn’t meet Calum’s for more than a moment.

“War?” She asked and Calum nodded, knowing she needed to know and have the knowledge solidified.

“Men like that, they never win,” Calum said in an attempt to soothe the fears that plagued her. “His cause is unjust and only fools would take up arms for him.”

“Men like him have been put on pedestals their entire lives; they are always so fragile. It takes one knock of their ego to get them to fall and shatter. They will do anything to feel like they are back at the top,” she responded, suddenly despondent and far away as she began moving toward the rail to watch the waves below. “There are many men like him, many who would fight such folly in an attempt to feel powerful. Even if it’s not their own power they’re fighting for.”

Calum came up behind her, suddenly hesitant to put his arms around her. So many times before they had stood at the rail with her back pressed to his chest or his hands on her waist holding her safe and secure. There were no promises of safety through a war. Whether she was there to witness it or not. She settled into silence and gripped at the rail as she contemplated the news that befell her. She turned to look at Calum as night began crawling into the sky. Stars were dull and the moon was barely there through the fog that still rolled off the waves and to the sky above.

“Might I retire early tonight? The food is nearly prepared,” she asked and peered over at the cabin with shattered windows and a broken door.

“We’ll commandeer Ashton’s cabin until ours is fixed,” Calum agreed and instructed as the reality of an unprotected princess wavered before him.

She always locked the door and for the door to be locked it needed to be in one piece. Ashton’s cabin stood untouched. It was smaller than theirs but safer and the second in command would understand; grab a hammock with the rest of the crew or swap with the captain, he had no fears of shattered windows or a broken door. Elodie excused herself, took off for Ashton’s cabin and Calum set off to inform of the changes though it didn’t need much explanation as Ashton was already one to suggest the change so the lady might be afforded some more comfort and privacy. Calum found his way back to Elodie once the crew was settled and the high of a victory started to deplete. Elodie was already in bed, Duke curled into her side and eyes closed though Calum knew she wasn’t yet asleep. The door shut with a soft thud and click of the lock, Golden eyes fluttered open and a shifted position welcomed Calum.

They stayed close all night, no space between them in the smaller bed. Calum reveled in the sound of her heart beating beside him, in the even breaths that escaped her and calm of a storm come and gone. When morning came with light spilling through the solitary window Calum took in the image of her. She was tired and restless as she greeted him.

“Good morning, captain.”

“Good morning, princess,” he responded in kind and ran a soft hand down her bare arm.

“Where are we headed?” Elodie asked, voice still weak from the morning.

“Wherever you want,” Calum said and had an inkling that weighed heavy on his heart of where that might be.

“I think I need to go back,” she replied, voice filled with sorrows and a longing for things to be different. Calum could see the weight of responsibility for a war weighing her down so heavily. “Then someday, if the war is won, I might be able to go home.”

Calum knew home meant his ship, or a small house in the secluded woods—anywhere so long as it was with him. He nodded. Endless edges of their journey were still being forged; Calum could only hope fate would be so kind as to keep them together, or at the very least, let them find their ways back to each other.

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perriewinklenerdie · 5 years

Text

Convincing enough (Ethan Ramsey x MC)

Open Heart, Ethan Ramsey x MC

Author’s note: Hello, hello, hello! Angst yesterday was a result of my fool mood. It's back to fluff, cause I can't stay away from it for too long :D This idea was in my head for a solid four months and I decided to finally give it a shot

AO3 link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21151565

Enjoy! <3

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„Hey... you can do this” his voice is soft, as is his touch, fingers grazing her palm, calming her down. She nodded, focusing on the scalpel and scalpel only. Tuning out everything except for the touch and sound of his voice, she positioned the blade. “There you go. Nice and easy.” Seconds later the cut is made, perfectly in between the ribs. “Now the tube.”

His fingers brush against hers as they insert the chest tube. Blood begins flowing through it, spilling onto the floor as the woman takes a deep breath. The young doctor sits back on her feet, staring at the fallen patient incredulously.

“We… we did it!” she exclaimed, looking to the older man for confirmation.

“She’s stable. Get her into surgery… She’s gonna make it.” he called out to the nurses, taking a few steps away to allow them to do their work. His arm brushed against her arm and sparks shot through her body, endorphins coursing in her bloodstream.

“Doctor… that was… absolutely amazing!”

“You’re right. It’s pretty amazing you didn’t get her killed.” He replied, crossing his arms over his chest, his tone flat.

“Wait, what?” her tone fell as she felt like she just slammed into the wall at full force.

“Your examination was slow and superficial. Your scalpel technique, amateur at best…” he trailed off, his attention seemingly at everything but her.

“Amateur? Maybe you can give me private lessons.” She smirked slightly, her eyes sparkling in the bright light of the hospital hall.

“Ha! I just might, Doctor… Herondale. But I sincerely doubt you could afford my salary.” Throwing back her ID card, he turned around and went away without so much as looking at her again.

“What an asshole…” Claire muttered under her breath before conversing with nurses briefly and running to orientation.

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Next time she ran into Dr. Ramsey she made sure to talk to him like a normal human being. He actually seemed less annoyed this time round. He even smiled at her, his words lingering on the edge of being flirty.

Third time was horrific. If she had to choose the worst moment of her day, that would be it. Misdiagnosing a patient is one thing. Being dragged through the mud because of it, by her attending, a man she admired since she was in high school, was another. And that was almost worse. It gave her a lot to think about, pushed her into the closet and made tears fall from her eyes. Bryce tried cheering her up, but that was something she had to overcome by herself.

And she did, figuring out the cause of Annie’s illness and managing to right her ship in Ethan’s eyes. At the end of the day, she was dragged away by her new friends to the bar with celebration in mind. Ethan was there too, sitting by the bar, swirling the last drops of his drink in the glass. His gaze shifted to her, meeting her green eyes, staring at her for a long moment. Almost as though he was calling her over with his blue irises. So that’s exactly what she did. She sat down next to him, feeling and seeing him watching her.

“Something wrong, Dr. Ramsey?”

“Just noticing how… different you look out in the real world.” He responded, allowing his eyes to run over her body, not as briefly as one would think be appropriate. The bartender approached them, asking what her order was. Eyeing his glass, she asked for two scotches, neat, sliding one of them to him once they were ready. He smirked as he lifted the glass to his lips, asking why not on the rocks.

“The ice changes the flavor.” She grinned, looking at him boldly. He nodded, agreeing with her.

“You know I can’t be bribed into favoring you, right?”

“I think you already favor me” Claire blinked once, smiling so widely her cheeks would probably start hurting soon. The corners of his lips lifted, replying before downing his drink in one long gulp.

“You keep believing that.”

After that, he requested two special drinks, which prompted the conversation about leaving work where work belongs. He seemed pensive when he talked, but there was something in his eye that had her wondering if he was telling the whole story. By the time they changed the subject, their drinks were ready. She found it delicious, expressing her feelings.

“You’re either sucking up to me, or you’ve got surprisingly refined taste for an intern.” He pointed out, observing her with curious eyes.

“I’m surprising in a lot of ways.” She shrugged, grinning widely. Ethan leaned in a little, his voice dropping a few octaves, low and warm.

“You’ll have to prove it.”

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

Two hours later, Claire walked out of the bar with her friends, looking at the hospital building wistfully. The thought of going back there in just a few short hours made her feel even more tired than she already was. Sienna came up with the idea of all of them getting a place together, and everyone agreed. Everyone except for Claire.

“Sorry guys, I’m going to have to pass. I like my place, I can’t exactly move out. I’d love to spend more time with all of you, I just can’t do that with you.” she spoke quietly, not wanting to offend any of them. Sienna wrapped her arms around her shoulders, shaking her head.

“Don’t worry about it, Claire. Just know that we are definitely visiting you sometime soon. That apartment of yours must be amazing, there’s no way we’re going to miss it!”

“Yeah…” she laughed nervously, trailing off.

Her taxi ride was long as the traffic got worse. How was that possible that even in the middle of the night, the streets were full and packed with cars and people. Her phone lit up with a text message that made her grin, her hand flying to the chain around her neck for a long moment.

At long last, she found herself at home, locking the front door behind her and leaning against it with a heavy sigh. She felt a pair of eyes on her, heard the sound of the book being put down on the table and soft footsteps approaching her.

“Tough first day?” he asked, opening up his arms for her. She fell into them, burying her face in his chest, taking a deep breath, his scent calming her senses.

“You have no idea. There was this asshole that made me question myself at least three separate times. Incredibly handsome but insists on testing me, making me prove myself.” She whined, her forehead pressed against his collarbone.

“A handsome asshole has been bothering you? Maybe I should do something about it. Talk to him or something.”

“I don’t think he likes being told what to do by other people. He did mention that I may have a refined taste, but didn’t say in what. If I had to guess, I’d say…” she leaned back, trailing her hands up his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer, their lips brushing against each other as she spoke. “… that I have an excellent taste in men.”

“And in choosing husbands. I would be so lost without you.” he murmured before kissing her softly, their eyes fluttering shut.

“I agree. And I would be lost without you too.”

They went about their evening, eating and talking about her day, him listening about her patients and their diagnosis, her new friends and colleagues. When night got dark, they retired to bed, lying in each other’s arms, his hand running up and down her back soothingly.

“Do you think we were convincing enough today?” he asked, turning his head to kiss her forehead as he grinned.

“Oh, I think you did just right. The way you ripped me to shreds?” she leaned on her elbow as she looked at him with a smirk. “There is no way anyone is even thinking about us knowing each other, let alone being married, Ethan.”

He took her hand in his, their wedding bands sparkling in the dim light. Raising her palm, he pressed his lips to the warm metal ring, closing his eyes for a short moment. He then looked up at her, all the love he had for her pooling in there. Claire wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, pulling him on top of her and into the kiss. They remained tangled with each other for a long while, time barely an inconvenience, not concerning them. Tiredness took over them slowly, their kisses getting lazier and sloppier. At long last, they separated, beginning to fall asleep. Ethan wrapped his arms around Claire again, tight and warm embrace bringing the sense of peacefulness, comfort and safety to both of them.

“It’s going to be a challenge, isn’t it.” she asked, her lips brushing against the skin of his chest.

“I think we’ll do just fine. And if you ever feel the need to have your way with me, you know where to find me.” His tone revealed how smug he was with the whole situation. Her shoulders shook as she laughed softly.

“It’s a good thing one of us has an office. And a desk. I’m going to make good use of that desk of yours. And that tie…” she teased, deeply satisfied and proud of herself as she heard him groaning deeply before sleep took them both.

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goldenvalentyne · 5 years

Text

Castaway

Masterlist

Word count: 2111

May 20

You never meant to lose your temper. It just happened. One moment you and Ashton were fine. You could be snuggled up, watching a show, and the next second you’d be in a full blown out war. That is exactly what happened that night.

The previous weeks had been tame in the context of your relationship with Ashton. There was no fighting, minor remarks to one another, but for the most part you had been relaxed. Ashton had gone out for a guys day while you stayed in and had some much needed self care. He came home at a decent time and had dinner with you. Everything was going smoothly, until a stupid photo emerged. One you should not have been jealous of, or even taken a second glance at. But the relationship had been too solid, you were in need of drama, something you often got caught up in and enjoyed a little too much.

You knew she was only a friend and that she even had a boyfriend. You felt no threat by her, but you let it all out. You hit below the belt in this argument. Every little thing that Ashton had done in the 2 weeks prior that pissed you off in any way was spewing from your mouth. He was caught off guard by your sudden anger, but that did not stop him from releasing some of his own pent up aggression.

It ended with you leaving his apartment, making sure to slam the door, leaving the place to raddle

June 27

The next time you would see Ashton was on stage at a festival. Against the advice of all your friends, you still went and watched their set. Your heart ached watching him. He looked just plain sad the whole time, not like he was enjoying every minute of it which he always did. You stuck around in hopes that he would come out and you could “accidentally” bump into him, but that never happened.

Instead you went back to your apartment, no longer filled with pictures of the two of you, those were smashed or stuffed into the back of your closet. The last piece of evidence that Ashton had ever been there was a teddy bear. So cliche, he had won it at a fair for you in the early days of your relationship. You held that damn bear close to your chest the whole night and let the tears flow. In the weeks since you had left you never once blamed him. You knew that you had been the one in the wrong and that he did not owe you anything, but it still hurt. He didn’t answer the phone calls the days after you stormed from his apartment, but you never expected him to. You had been unfair to him, and he was protecting himself.

July 7

It was Ashton’s birthday. You spent the whole morning contemplating if you should call. You weren’t friends and no longer lovers, but you felt like he deserved something from you, after the way you had treated him.

It was after many drinks and three rom coms before you actually built up the courage to call him. You did not even hesitate at the point. You didn’t not expect an answer, and you did not receive one. Then you left an embarrassing long, slurred happy birthday message along with an apology. By the end of the night you left five more. In the morning there was finally an answer from him. It was a short text asking you not to call him again. Even though it was a generic message you could feel that he was hurt, and you did not want that for him.

September 29

The fall was setting in quickly. Leaves had already started to change. Emotionally you had been improving. Every second of the day was not spent thinking about Ashton but there were the occasional moments when he would slip in your mind. Then it would get bad again. You weren’t hurt that the relationship was over but more upset how you had hurt him.

You saw him again. It was the first time since the summer. He had his hand wrapped up. You could tell that the injury had taken place not long before. It was at a party. He had the same daunting look that he had at the festival. Everyone was dancing around him and having a good time. You sat across the room, intently staring at him. He was beautiful. You always made it a point to tell him that. Had anyone told him he was beautiful in four months?

He locked eyes with you. It was a cold look that you felt in your body. It was one of hatred. You left soon after. Then spent the rest of the night replaying the way his eyes looked. They were dull, but there was still a spark somewhere deep inside them. Maybe he was forgiving you? But you had not forgiven yourself, so that felt like a long shot.

October 25

It was your birthday. The first one in three years that would not be spent with Ashton and his friends. The first one that was not going to consist of a large party, music and drinking too much. Instead you sat yourself on the couch and prepared for a long night of sad movies, the only feeling that you had felt in so long.

Deep inside you wished that Ashton would call you. Maybe he would just send a text letting you know that he had not forgotten about you. It was just a hopeful wish.

The afternoon turned into darkness. Raindrops tapped on the windows. You cried a lot that night. You did not know if it was from the movies or the fact that you were spending the day alone. Sure you had friends and family that sent birthday wishes and reached out to get together. But all you really wanted was Ashton.

It was 3 am. You felt the vibrations against your leg. Your heart was climbing out of your throat. You grabbed for it as fast as you could. The shaking of your hands weren’t helping. All of the adrenaline left as you realized it was not Ashton calling. Instead it was Luke, someone who you also had not talked to months.

“Hello?”

“Happy Birthday y/n”

“Thank you Luke”

“Did you think I would forget?”

“Considering it has been over for 3 hours, yes I thought you forgot.”

“Hey I’m just a little late.”

“Can I ask you something Luke?”

“Sure.”

“How is he?”

“Y/n, lets not get into this.”

“Just tell me if he is okay.”

“He’s doing better okay. He still gets upset and punches things. But he’s better at controlling it all. You really fucked with him.”

“I kinda fucked with myself while I was at it.”

“Don’t get yourself worked up about it though okay. You weren’t right for each other for months before you broke up. Even though it hurts, I think it’s better for both of you to be apart.”

December 27

It took everything out of you to get through family Christmas alone. You watched all your cousins, even those younger, with their partners. They looked extra in love during the holiday season. All while you sat on the couch, looking miserable to others.

The days following Christmas were harder. There was a rumor Ash had been seen with another girl. The same one from that night you left. This time they walked hand in hand. If you were being honest, it broke you. You screamed until your throat was on fire. You found all the pictures shoved in your closet just to smash the glass.

The remainder of the night was spent looking out the window as snowflakes drifted down. A tear would slip down your cheek every once in a while. At some point you fell asleep curled in a ball beneath The window.

February 17

Days had gotten so much easier. You got back into the routine of being alone and even picked up extra time at work. Life felt great for the first time since last spring. You felt like you could breathe again. Everything was almost perfect again. But nothing stays like that for long.

It was 3:00 on the dot that afternoon. After a short two months he had broken up with her. It was like breaking news all over you social media. You couldn’t help but feel relieved that she was no longer taking your spot, but something didn’t feel right. You knew he was probably at home, broken all over again. Everything he did to forget you and move on, probably all ruined now.

It took everything to not call him that night and give your condolences for the lost relationship. You wanted so badly to go to him in a time of need. Maybe he would be with you for the night. But you knew that would just be playing with him in a vulnerable time. So instead you just sat quietly in your room hoping he’d give you a call.

March 16

The hardest day of the healing process was when you talked to Ashton. For some reason you ended up at Luke’s house, and of course Ashton so happened to also. In the end you knew it was a set up.

Ashton yelled a lot. You took it though and let him explain his frustration.

“Do you understand how fucked I was y/n! Cause you walked out and left me stranded, nothing left but broken picture frames”

“I’m sorry Ash. I don’t know why I acted that way that night, but you didn’t deserve it. But don’t you think we are better off apart?”

“Of course I do y/n! But I just keep asking myself how’d we drift so far away?”

“Times changes people. We spent so much of our young years together and were still growing up. As we grew, we grew apart. It happens.”

His body softened. He sat down and but his head in his hands. You wanted so bad to reach out and hold him, but it would make the situation even worse.

“Late night conversations led to complications. You know I was stupid and got jealous. I’ve grown over the past year, I really have Ashton. Neither one of us could if we didn’t separate.”

“That’s all true but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt any less. Everyday I wake up and hope it wasn’t true. My heart aches for you. It’s heartbreak I can’t escape. I’ve tried to move on so many times and I just keep seeing your face. Eyes closed, all I see is good time disappearing. And yes our relationship was complete shit at times, but I loved you. You left in such an unfair way. I feel like it’s a sinking ship that I’ll never save. Now my heart is in my hands and I’m lonely like a castaway.”

Every word tugged on your heart more. You knew that you had hurt him, but not like this. Your head was spinning. Flashes of that night in May were swirling around. You reached for his hand and to your surprise he let you hold it. You met his eyeline. His eyes were filled with tears but that was no different to yours.

“I’m sorry Ashton. I was awful to you in the end. You did some terrible things too but that does not excuse how I acted. I loved you and a part of me does and will forever. But I know we are better off not together. If I could change how it ended, I would go back a thousand times until I was all okay.”

“And I’m trying to hold on. I don’t know what to. The rest of my life maybe, or everything you were a part of. But everything feels wrong. But maybe after tonight, things can get better once and for all.”

You gave the smallest smile you could because that warmed your heart. From that you knew you could move on and not worry about Ashton anymore.

May 20

It took two months from the confrontation for things to feel okay. Ashton was not on your mind every second of the day. You knew he was okay and he was getting better. For the first time you felt that you could move on if you wanted. You smiled and cheered him on as a friend. That longing for him was disappearing. Life felt content, like a weight was lifted.

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