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#couldn’t get the floor scrubbing scene out my brain
ezzakennebba · 1 month
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“God, Needy, enough with the screaming! You’re such a cliché.”
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Ok, you said you're always down for some angst. How about this for the werewolf au? What if Jake is dreaming about Ronnie delivering their first child, and everything seems to be going ok but then it becomes his worst nightmare because all of a sudden, Ronnie and his child don't make it though childbirth. Now, he has to face life without his Luna or his pup. Then, Jake shoots up in bed and only calms down when he lays his head on Ronnie's chest to hear her heart and rest his hand on her bump.
AAAAAHHHH AAAAHHHHHH I AM SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UUUUUUUUUP
M....dear sweet M.....you've found my sweet spot in hurt/comfort goodness....
I hope this tides you all over until I post the next actual chapter of this fic lol
some quick warnings: blood mention, birthing scene, dead body mention, non-canon character death, nightmares
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Ronnie’s agonizing screams echoed in an unnatural way as she squeezed Jake’s hand for dear life. She was doing so well, the doctors kept saying so. And Jake was so proud of her as he wiped the sweat from her forehead and pushed back her hair. 
This wasn’t what they had planned. They planned for a home birth, a midwife, for Ronnie to be completely comfortable and the pack to be right outside. But it was too late to change anything now. They were in that hospital room and that baby was coming no matter what.
“You’re doing so good, little one, just a little more,” he encouraged against the skin of her temple. 
“I can’t, I can’t,” she panted through a sob as she shook her head.
“Yes, you can,” he said, “I know you can.” 
“Another big one! Come on, Ronnie, push!” the doctor shouted, sounding like some TV show they were watching together. 
Ronnie sat up and started to push as the contraction crescendoed, mouth falling open in a noise of pure pain as she did so. It made Jake’s heart break and his eyes flash in power. His mate was hurting and he could do nothing to stop it. Nothing but support her and encourage her and let her try to break his hand. There was no enemy to defeat here — and it made the beast inside him ache. 
But then, Ronnie’s face paled ghostly white. Her grip on his palm loosened. 
“Jake…” she managed to mutter out, her unfocused gaze falling on him before she fell back against the pillows.
The monitors all around started to beep wildly. It was overwhelming, made it hard for Jake to focus as he grabbed Ronnie’s shoulder and shook her lightly. Trying to get her to wake up. 
“Ronnie? Ronnie, can you hear me?” he called loudly over the cacophony of beeps that he wished would stop; stop reminding him that something was wrong. 
Jake looked over at her spread legs and gown-covered middle — only to see everything soaked in blood. Red dripped off the hospital bed and onto the white tile floors. The scent of it, like rust and death, hit him at full force. And before Jake could even really react, the doctors pushed him away from the bed. Screaming about codes and drugs and just getting the baby out.
People in scrubs and white coats surrounded the bed, blocking everything from Jake’s view besides the blood that continued to drip, drip, drip steadily against the tile. He couldn’t stop staring at it. Couldn’t top that scent of rust and death from filling his lungs and clouding his brain. He couldn’t even bring himself to ask what was going on — he could hear it. For months he had listened to their dual heartbeats. One slow and steady and somehow sounding kind. That was Ronnie. The other fast and small and brave. That was their pup. 
One was silent. Stopped. Wiped from the earth like it never even existed. 
The other was far too slow.
The wall of scrubs and white coats opened. That heartbeat pounded in his ears over the sound of the beeping monitors. 
Thump. 
Thump. 
Thump. 
As he approached the bed again, the doctors were saying things but he could barely hear them. Something about how there was nothing they could do. She was bleeding too quickly. The baby…There was blood everywhere. Smeared all over her hospital gown and onto her neck. Ronnie had never looked so small in her entire life. Her skin white, cheeks greyed, her eyes tired and heavy as she blinked up at the ceiling. She tried to smile when he placed his hand on her cheek. But it formed broken and full of sorrow on her pale blue lips.
She swallowed something thick, her throat bobbing, before she croaked, “The pup…?”
Jake looked up. And there, laying in the bassinet, was a tiny little body covered in a sheet — red seeping through the fabric. He tried not to scream as he looked down at Ronnie and shook his head. A tear slipped down her cheek that caught on Jake’s thumb as he held her tighter. 
As he tried to hold onto her for just a few more moments. God, her heartbeat was so slow. And there was nothing he could do to stop this. Nothing he could do to make the bleeding stop and her heart go back to that steady, kind rhythm that he loved. No werewolf magic. No Alpha power. What was the fucking point of it all if everything he loved was still ripped from him like this?
“I love you, little one,” he whispered as her brown eyes stared straight through him, unable to concentrate as her life slipped away. “Please, fight. Come on. Don’t give in. Don’t just go quietly — fight.” 
But even as he pleaded with her not to leave him, he knew that there was no fighting this. 
Her eyes gained one last moment of clarity. For a second, he dared to hope. Ronnie looked directly into his eyes, some form of desperation pulled at her brow as she leaned into the touch of his palm on her cheek.
“Jake…” she whispered. 
Then she laid still. Her dark pupils relaxed. Her heart gave one last thump — like some final kiss against his soul — before it went silent. 
The world had never been so quiet.
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Jake sat up straight in bed. He felt a gasp leave his lungs as he soaked in the darkness of the bedroom. Then he felt the sweat that coated his skin, which cooled as the air from the overhead fan reached him. His flesh tingled with the power of the Alpha, the beast longing to be released.
It was dark. It was nighttime. He wasn’t in some blood-stained hospital room. He was in his bedroom. 
But still, the world seemed so quiet. He couldn’t hear anything over the blood rushing in his ears and his own heart pounding wildly in his chest. The more he struggled to listen over the sound of his own insides, the harder it became to be. He fought for air, he fisted the bedsheets so tight he was sure they were ripping within his claws.
Was it just a dream? Or was it a cruel replaying of some memory he was trying to forget?
Then he felt a hand on his bare shoulder — and he flinched as he turned to the source. Only for relief to wash over him like some all-consuming, roaring waterfall. So loud that the entire world was filled with it, that there was no room for anything else. 
Ronnie sat there, pushed up on one elbow, blinking at him in the darkness. Beautiful, laying next to him in their shared bed, alive, and full of his pup. His t-shirt that she wore stretched over the curve of her nearly to-term bump that she now cradled with her hand. Jake released the breath he didn’t even realize he had been holding as he took in the sight of her. Her scent of old book pages and lavender flooded his senses.
“Everything okay?” she asked quietly.
Jake didn’t respond with words. Though, he may have grunted as he crashed into her chest. Forcing her to lay back down with his head burrowed into her breasts. She chuckled lightly as she threaded her fingers into his hair in the way he liked. Jake practically purred as he nuzzled into her further. As one arm wound its way underneath her body and held her to him. As his other hand was planted firmly against the expanse of her belly.
He could hear both of their heartbeats now. One slow and steady and somehow kind. The other fast and small and brave. The music of his entire life.
It was just a dream. 
It was just a dream. 
“D’you wanna talk about it?” Ronnie questioned, lips brushing the top of his head. 
“No.” 
Never he wanted to say as he pushed up the fabric of her shirt with his fingers, opting to feel the warmth of her skin. He felt the pup move against his palm, push against the confines of her belly. The sigh he released was shakier than he intended, weaker than he wanted to seem, as he fell completely lax against her. 
He knew that she understood enough in the way she tugged at the strands of his hair. 
“I’m right here, my Alpha. My sweet boy,” she whispered to him in the darkness as Jake’s eyes slipped shut. “I’m not going anywhere.”
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werewolf!topgun taglist: @blue-aconite @darkestbeforethedawn16 @supernaturaldawning @illisius @hope-love-equality2 @wanderingdetectives @sqrlgrl22 @dempy @theforevermorereject @the-untamed-soul @emandems10 @xxshea-barnesxx @piceous21 @sopheeg @ollyoxenfrees @luckyladycreator2 @newlibrary @himbos-on-ice @gigisimsonmars @agentminnesota187
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oneyeartowrite · 2 years
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Broken Promise/Memory Loop part 5
It’s been a while, but I’m back with another chapter. It’s a John and Virgil one. EEEK! Bit of an unusual pairing for me, Scott and John hurt and comfort are my absolute favourites, but I thought I’d give Virgil and John a scene together. It’s a shame they didn’t get more interactions in the series, I always felt Virgil was harsh on John in the Slingshot episode, and made me sad. That’s a one watch ep for me. Not a fan of John feeling guilty and getting told off for it, but meh, maybe I’m just over sensitive when it comes to poor Johnny </3
Anyway, I’m rambling! To the Fic----->
The spike of adrenaline subsided, and the loss bought back the droning pain in John’s skull. The constant hum against his nerves served as a warning for things to come. The dark-haired Tracy with the big brown eyes continued to smile at him while they lay sprawled on the ground, but something must have given John’s rising panic away.
He was supposed to get thunderbird two and bring it back to base, not leap out of the craft to save one of the Tracy brothers. John gasped as he stumbled to his feet. He looked out over the ocean, squinting to see the green thunderbird disappearing into the distance. 
“Hey…” The warm voice brought out a snarl on his face. He didn’t understand why the man's comforting tone did things to his insides. It made his heart ache and his stomach squirm, and he backed off before a hand could grab at his shoulder. 
“Easy, John, deep breathes.”
He was the reason John couldn’t suck a full breath into his lungs. He’d gone against his orders to save this man but couldn’t even remember his name.
“My name is Virgil.”
Apparently, the dark-haired Tracy was a mind reader. John flashed him a cautious glance, but it hurt his chest to look at him for too long.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” John said.
“Done what? Saved me?”
“Yes.” John scrubbed at his face. “I mean no. I don’t know.” He looked to the horizon. “She’s gone.”
“There are systems in place. When she runs out of fuel, she’ll automatically look for the closet place to land.”
John felt like he knew that, but didn’t know why, but still, it wasn’t the reason he was hyperventilating. He was supposed to bring the thunderbird to the hood. He’d failed, which meant he would get his brain repeatedly scrambled, and grow delirious with pain. The hood would sneer down at him as he withered and spluttered and begged for mercy. Again.
Vomit attempted to rise up the back of his throat, but he kept it at bay, moving away from Virgil.
The pain, the humiliation, the vomit and the blood were all worth it to save Virgil. Somewhere deep inside, John knew that, but at the same time, he feared the inevitable punishment for his traitorous actions.
“Are you hurt?” Virgil asked.
Every step he took towards John, John took a step back. He didn’t make eye contact with Virgil, but he heard him sigh and felt the waves of frustration coming off him. 
“I can see you’re hurt,” Virgil said. “Your arm.”
Now Virgil had drawn attention to it, John felt the sting in his forearm. A deep gash dripped blood onto the floor. He clasped his other hand around it, keeping the skin together.
“Don’t do that,” Virgil said. “You’ll get dirt in the wound. We need to wash it.”
John shook his head. “It’s fine.”
They’d deal with the injury back at the base like all the others John had obtained on missions. 
“I wish you lot would let me do my job, not tell me you’re fine all the time when you’re clearly not.”
“You lot?”
Virgil hummed. John sensed him approaching but didn’t back away. “Scott, Gordon, Alan. Even Brains sometimes is a tricky patient.”
The names plucked at his brain, pulling a different emotion into his chest. They all ended in heartache though, a deep endless heartache he’d attached to any mention of the Tracy’s. The hood hated them, but that wasn’t the emotion that assaulted John’s senses whenever their names were spat in his direction.
“Scott gets hurt the most, but it’s you that worries me more, always high above, so independent, and stubborn when it comes to your own safety. I wish for once you’d tell me something was up, rather than waiting until you’re unconscious on the floor. Ask for my help, that’s all I want, for you to ask for my help when you know you’re in trouble.”
There was no mistaking the barbs in Virgil’s voice. The repressed anger. John frowned at his feet.
“Do you not like me?”
“What?” Virgil pulled John back by his shoulder and spun him around. John looked at his face. There was anger there too, just a flicker of it amongst the shock. 
“Of course I do, I just worry that's all. I love you. We all do. You’re our brother.”
John winced at that. He hated when they called him their brother. It wasn’t true. Even if it had been once, there was nothing but phantom emotions and gut feelings left of their brother, and if John could rid them from his body, he would in a heartbeat. 
“I’m not,” John said, pulling his arm away before Virgil could reach for it. 
“John, please. You said you trust me.”
“I never said that.”
“Jumping out of thunderbird two kind of implied it.”
John took a deep breath. “I only jumped after you because I couldn’t let you die.”
“Why?” Virgil pressed.
“I don’t know.”
“And if I had of died,” Virgil said, pointing at the patch of disturbed dirt where they’d landed. “If I’d smashed into earth…”
John winced, curling away from Virgil. Something that sounded suspiciously like a sob broke through his lips. If Virgil died….if he’d killed Virgil. No. John shook his head. The heartache he associated with the Tracy’s would’ve morphed into something un-survivable. It would’ve stopped beating in his chest. He would’ve curled up into a ball, unable to function no matter what the hood tried to make him.
“It hurts.” He whispered.
“That thing in your head?”
“No. Being around you. It hurts more than the humming inside my skull. I understand that. It’s pain, white-hot scalding pain, but this other one, this one in my chest.” John shook his head. “It’s like being crushed. It’s like not being able to breathe, but it doesn’t make sense.” He looked up at Virgil. “You’re not doing anything, you’re not even touching me, but it feels like you’re corrupting my body, making it weak. The hood does it with a snarl, but you do it with a concerned frown. It’s worse.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
John swallowed. “Then you’ve got to let me go.”
“Back to the hood? Absolutely not.”
“I would take the hood scrambling my brain over you crushing my chest with a single look.”
“I’m not letting you go back to him.”
“He’ll come looking.”
Virgil took a deep breath. “And so will Scott.”
“Then it’s a case of who gets here first. I know who I’d bet on.”
“That’s only because you can’t remember, Scott.”
John looked away. He started walking towards the woods and heard Virgil following.
“Where are you going?”
He lifted his wounded arm. “You said I’ve got to clean it. For that I need water.” 
****
John tried to lose Virgil in the woods, but he was persistent and stayed glued to his back. He waited for the roar of jet engines to stop over the island, but there was nothing but the leaves shaking in the wind and the trickle of water from the stream they found.
When Virgil wasn’t watching him, he was looking at the woods with an expression of wonder on his face. John felt that in his chest too. Being around Virgil left him tired, worn thin, but he couldn’t make sense of it. All he could do was turn his back on it and hope it faded to a more manageable level.
“It’s getting dark,” Virgil said.
The sun had gone down, and the air temperature had dropped. John parked himself on a fallen tree, touching his arm tentatively. He’d washed, and bandaged his arm as best he could, ripping a strip of his black uniform to use. Virgil had offered him an actual bandage from one of his many pockets, but John had declined.
His refusal earned him a sigh, and a flicker of annoyance across Virgil’s forehead. 
“I’m going to gather some wood,” Virgil said. “Stay put.”
He moved off through the trees but stayed in sight. John thought about making a run for it, but he slumped, utterly exhausted. He needed to lose Virgil. If the hood found him. John scrunched his face up, picturing what might happen. In the worst-case scenario, he’d scramble Virgil’s brain too, make him scream and beg.
John shuddered and dropped his head into his hands, plagued by nightmares he never remembered having, but they were fresh and raw, and so strong he gritted his teeth. Virgil screaming. Virgil in pain. Virgil dying. A barrage of them assaulted him, leaving him struggling to breathe.
“Hey.” Virgil skidded to a stop in front of him. John allowed Virgil to take hold of his face, and lean him back. His cheeks were wet with tears, and he all but fell into Virgil’s deep brown eyes. There was so much concern in them it stole the air from John’s lungs. “Talk to me. What's wrong? Is it your head?”
“No. I…I don’t want you to die.” Accept that wasn’t quite right. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I was thinking about something happening to you and…” John sniffled. His eyes flooded with tears again and ran down his face. “You have to go.”
“Go?” Virgil wiped his thumbs over John’s cheeks. 
“If the hood captures you, he’ll hurt you, Virgil.”
“He’s not going t—”
“He will.” John pushed against Virgil’s chest. 
“I’m not going anywhere.” Virgil grabbed one of John’s hands. “You’re freezing.” His frown intensified as he took hold of John’s wrist. “And your pulse is all over the place.”
He helped John off the tree, and onto the floor. “I’m going to get a fire going. It’ll help Scott find us, and keep you warm.”
John had no more energy to fight. He laid down on the ground and watched as Virgil busied himself with the fire. He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew, Virgil was shaking his shoulder gently, waking him up. 
“Drink some water.” John let Virgil sit him up, drank the water on offer, and then sunk back down. Virgil stepped over him. “Move closer to the fire.”
John did, and Virgil lay down beside him. They both lay on their backs, staring up at the night sky.
“Good night to see the stars,” Virgil commented. 
John felt Virgil looking at him again. He turned his head to look back. It was somehow easier to look his way with only the flicker of fire on his face, but Virgil’s expectant expression left him frowning.
“What?”
“The stars, John.”
Virgil lifted his finger towards the night sky. 
John looked up and frowned. “There’s nothing there.”
“What do you mean there’s nothing there?”
“It’s black and endless.”
Virgil’s thick eyebrows met in the middle as he studied John. “The stars.” He whispered, again, putting so much emphasis on those two words.
The stars.
John had no idea what Virgil was talking about, or why he was so persistent. The night sky was dark and vacant as it had always been. He didn’t look at it.
Virgil shut his eyes, and his voice came out hollow, and sad.
“He took the stars from you too?”
"What stars?"
"The ones up there." Virgil waved his hand above, but John didn't look. He shifted an inch away from Virgil, thrown off by the bite in his voice.
“There were never any stars to begin with.”
“Yes, there was,” Virgil said firmly. “There is. Please, John, just look.” He pointed to the sky again, but this time there was a tremble in his finger.
“I have looked—"
“Please. Look again.”
He refused.
"For me." Virgil pleaded. He leaned closer, and the fire reflected from the tears on his lashes.
A knot tightened in John's chest. He sighed through his nose and rolled his head against the ground. He'd look for Virgil despite not knowing why.
He stared straight into the darkness, aware of Virgil’s gaze locked on him, and the upset he hadn't meant to have caused.
“There’s…” he trailed off. There was something, flecks of light on the black canvas. He blinked, and they remained. The more he looked, the more he saw until his eyes could distinguish between faint and bright, what was close, and what was so far away. 
All the emotions that suffocated him were lost in the darkness. John focused on the light, and it filled his chest with something new, something free, and special and John let out a slow breath.
“The stars,” Virgil repeated. “You love them.”
John couldn’t remember them. For him, it was the first time he’d ever seen them, but what Virgil said was true. He loved them. The awe he felt about them filled up his inside and he shot Virgil a smile. His smile was returned.
Virgil began pointing them out, naming the constellations, and telling John stories about the stars. He didn’t interrupt Virgil and tell them he knew. He didn’t know how he knew, nothing made much sense, but listening to Virgil while he looked up at the stars with no pressure to remember anything made him relax all tension in his body. The humming in his head almost faded to nothing, so consumed by the stars and the comforting tone of Virgil's deep voice.
Virgil’s waving hand stole John’s attention. He stopped admiring the stars and admired that instead while Virgil continued to talk about mythology. John reached up and caught Virgil’s hand. He stopped talking with a hiccup of a gasp, and let John manipulate his fingers
John stretched out Virgil’s long fingers and ran his thumb over his knuckles. Virgil’s concerned gaze bore into the side of his face, but he ignored the look in favour of studying his hand. John knew it was crazy, he knew it made no logical sense, but he could hear music in his head when he touched Virgil’s fingers. 
He heard notes that soothed him. And like the stars, John fixated on them rather than the darkness and oppressive emotions all around. Virgil’s hands made music. Music he enjoyed. Music he’d missed. Music he remembered.
“What is it?” Virgil whispered.
“The piano.”
And once he’d said those two words aloud, he could see it. The piano. Virgil sat at it, playing music, a slow, soft piece that instantly left his eyelids drooping. He yawned, and lowered Virgil’s hand to his chest, holding it hostage against his heart.
“You…you remember.”
“It’s…it’s not really a memory.” He flashed Virgil a glance. “I don’t want to get your hopes up, it’s more like a glimmer of one, a slither of one in the void. You at the piano, filling the room with music. It’s…calming.”
Virgil smiled. “Music is to me, what the stars are to you. They give us peace.”
John hummed. He forced his eyes open and took another look at the stars. “I think they’re extra special when they’re combined.”
He didn’t know how he knew, but he did. It wasn’t the first time he’d looked at the stars while he heard Virgil on the piano. It wasn’t the first time he admired their brightness while Virgil helped him drift off to sleep.  
“Thank you for giving me back the stars.”
When he stopped concentrating on the fragment of a memory, he feared it would vanish altogether, but it stayed. The first bright star in the endless darkness of his memories. Virgil at the piano. 
****
He fell asleep and woke with his face towards the fire, and Virgil pressed against his back. He’d slung an arm over John’s side at some point during the night, and snored directly against John’s nape. 
John didn’t wake him, he sighed deeply, content to stay in the place between sleep, and awake, drifting back and forth, warm and at peace for the first time in forever.
He could trust Virgil.
He'd returned the stars after all.
Maybe he could trust the other Tracy’s too.
John flinched and let out a scream.
The pain spiking in his head forced him to curl into a tight ball. He hissed, clawing at his temples. Virgil was on him, trying to uncurl him, speaking fast, and firmly, but John couldn’t make out a word.
“What do we have here?”
The hood had found them. John lifted his head enough to get a look at him, twiddling the dial on his wrist that made John’s head feel like it was about to explode. Virgil launched at him, but a gun aimed at his chest made him back off fast.
“Stop it!” Virgil yelled.
“That depends on you…”
“Me?”
“Are you going to come with us quietly, or are you going to cause a scene?”
Virgil’s eyes found John on the floor, withering, and gasping as a fire burned through his brain.
“I’ll come quietly, just stop hurting him.”
The pain in John’s head retracted to the familiar hum. He glanced around at the hoods men, all armed, all sneering at Virgil.
John turned to him. “Run.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He helped John to his feet and wiped away the trail of blood from his nose then he slung John’s arm over his shoulder and dragged him close by the waist. “I’m not leaving you.”
The hood rubbed his hands together. “Two Tracy’s for the price of one. This is going to get interesting.”
John's stomach rolled. He glanced at Virgil, and the nightmares of the night before raced toward him. Virgil hurt. Virgil screaming. Virgil made into a weapon like him.
He couldn’t let it happen. 
He wouldn't let it.
 TBC
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loveluststerek · 2 years
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Harringrove HC Dreams Vol. 2 CONTAINS MPREG
Jurassic Park / Stranger Things AU
My brain just wants these 2 together.
So another dream I had last night, which was very vivid, combined my fear and intrigue of dinosaurs with the boys. Yeah idk either.
So in this dream they’re all trapped on an island, there’s a mansion in the middle of the jungle, and everyone’s there ok, like everyone. There’s huge dinos surrounding them, but it seemed like they had a system going, like they’d been there a while. There’s also some hybrids, like ones that use the tree tops to hunt, some that couldn’t turn their heads. Idk v weird don’t judge me, judge the Escitalopram and Propanalol.
At one point, Dustin is like, dude, you haven’t been grouchy or you haven’t complained about not being able to have peanut butter, you good? To Steve.
It clicks with Steve that he, too, has noticed that his time of the month hasn’t arrived. But they’re on an island of dinosaurs so he just has to hope for the best.
Billy, of course, freaks the ever loving fuck out at the possibility that Steve’s pregnant. They have a v angsty fight about the fact that they can’t afford for Steve not to be on the front lines, because they have systems set up, and Steve always took on the active role of taking out problems that came too close to the kids, and it was dangerous and he could, and has, gotten hurt in the past.
Flash forward to a few weeks later when the sickness and dizziness starts, and it almost cost Steve his life when they were ambushed by a couple velociraptors (the big ones from Jurassic Park, not the tiny new ones). So they have another v angsty convo and they come to the decision to try and end it themselves. Steve gets drunk, didn’t work. A v sad scene was Billy punching him in the stomach, but they both crumple and just hold each other, and agree to do their best with the circumstances.
A couple of cute scenes including Billy catching Steve scrubbing dirt off his little bump. He would always like Steve in the forehead, nose, and gently fist bump his belly, that was his thing when they were splitting up and that.
Some type of dinos got into the foyer of this sprawling mansion and they all split up, Steve with the kids, and in one room which for some reason happened to be a clock tower? A flying type Dino smashed through the clock face and Steve did like a badass move where he vaulted through the one window, holding like the ropes that were dangling because it might off morphed into a bell tower idk these are dreams, and smashes through the window further down, getting between the Dino and the kids, and at one point he had to repel the kids down onto the roof, but something swiped at him and El, so he threw himself and El through the window too, and El managed to slow their fall.
There was a quick snippet of Billy and Steve fighting about Steve going to help when 2 huge trex type things had smashed through the foyer but Billy got pissed, opened a random door in the hallway, and threw Steve in, locking it behind him. Steve was in there for hours and he heard it go dead quiet, and he thought everyone had been killed and it had panic attacks and he was sick and he spiralled. At some point his head cleared and he could head a bunch of people shouting his name and banging on doors. Billy was obvs v sorry and Steve didn’t have the strength to punch him so he kicked him in the shin or something and it was v dramatic, and Dustin was like WE THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD BECAUSE BILLY AND NANCY LURED THEM AWAY AND NO ONE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED OR WHERE YOU WERE.
There was another one which was exactly like the scene in Jurassic park where they’re hiding in the metal kitchen, but Dustin made a noise and just had to run for it, so Steve went after him, and there was a fight and he threw himself and a frying pan at the Dino and like one but he got thrown straight clear across the room, like sliding across the floor, and he was full of cuts and bruises. Eventually Dustin helps him up to the floor where they use, mainly because it’s easily defensible and it’s basically one big wing, with a few makeshift bedrooms and that, and everyone does a head count check, and when they get there Billy is shouting about how they have to go look for Steve and Dustin, and Steve kind of grimaces and waves his hand, hiking his ripped top up to show his untouched little bump. “All 3 of us are fine, I think”. And Billy loses it and sweeps Steve into his arms and his hands are patting him all over and then holding his face and their touching foreheads and he has tears in his eyes, and Steve is exhausted. Billy just says “we’re getting the fuck out of here, ok?” And then I woke up. I swear I purposefully went back to bed after a full 9 hours sleep and forced myself to doze but the dream didn’t come back I’m sorry 😭😭.
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raplinesmoon · 3 years
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Support System (MYG x F! Reader)
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Part 3 of The Dis-Ease Files. Pairing: Surgeon!Yoongi x Physician!Reader Genres: Angst with a fluffy ending (I’m so sorry why is this sad I’m crying) AUs: Medical AU, Established Relationship, Married Couple Word count: 2.0k (why is it sooo long) Tags/trigger warnings: mentions of blood and surgery, some medical terminology (not important to the plot), mentions of infidelity (no actual infidelity occurs/has occurred), mentions of miscarriage, mentions of marriage troubles, swearing Ratings: R Summary: On a rare day off, both you and Yoongi spend the day at home, and are forced to confront the state of your marriage. A/N: I really love writing these so much. Yoongi’s story is a bit different - it’s sadder, and a little more fleshed out in terms of introspection and backstory. I tried my best to keep it realistic but hopeful. Based on the Owen and Cristina bathroom scene from season 8 episode 19, with bits and pieces of Meredith’s voiceover from that episode too. I have such a soft spot for both Drs. Min. Credits for the header image from here (what a great edit!) Taglist: @suhdays
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“Are you sure you don’t need me to come in today?” Yoongi’s voice wobbles, concern lacing his tone. He taps his foot anxiously as he looks over his home office, papers strewn about from different research articles he’d been working on. “I could follow up on that patient case we’re using for the joint study.”
Hoseok’s laugh echoes from the other side of the call, and Yoongi can almost feel his smile at the other end, mocking him and his perpetual state of stress and need to constantly be at the hospital.
“Yoongi, HYBE isn’t going to collapse after one day without its most brilliant neurosurgeon. We’ll be fine here. Just enjoy your day off with your wife. Gotta go, I’ll talk to you later!”
Yoongi doesn’t even get a chance to say anything as the line shuts off, leaving him in silence once more. His foot hasn’t stopped bouncing, and he chews on his bottom lip anxiously as the reason for his nerves comes to mind.
You. His wife. A brilliant doctor in your own right, you’d been engrossed in your studies to become a board-certified dermatologist over the past few months, all while taking care of your own patients. Yoongi couldn’t even remember the last time he’d seen you in something other than scrubs or pyjamas.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen you come out of your own office, hunched over the computer all day looking over notes when you got home. The two of you had even stopped running into each other in the hospital cafeteria, your once-a-week lunch dates a distant thing of the past.
His eyes mist as he thinks back on the memory of the first time you met: him, just promoted to neurosurgery attending, and you, a bright-eyed 1st year resident, both caught under the mistletoe at the annual hospital Christmas party. Instead of leaning in for a kiss, you’d picked his brain, blowing him out of the water with your knowledge. A little over a year later, he’d finally gotten his revenge, making a joke about the kiss you stole from him as he pressed his lips to yours in front of all your loved ones in the orchestra hall you’d gotten married in.
Cut to now, when the two of you were little more than glorified roommates. Life at the hospital was always full of ups and downs, so when had life between the two of you become so mundane?
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Slamming the door to the bathroom shut, you sink down onto the floor, your body overcome with sobs. Your brain was absolutely exhausted, and you couldn’t take looking at your notes for a second longer. Months of your life had been given away to studying for your board exam, months you’d gone without seeing Yoongi, touching him, holding him.
Yoongi had always been so patient and gentle with you - the calm candle to your crackling fireplace, always excusing himself to let you study, and never bothering you when you came home from seeing patients and needed to focus. At first, you’d relished how thoughtful and attentive his gestures seemed, but over time, they started to feel cold. Almost like he didn’t want to be around you, like he didn’t want to cuddle on the couch and watch movies, like he didn’t want to kiss every single inch of your body as the two of you rolled around in the satin sheets of your bed.
The two of you had resigned yourself to never seeing each other at the hospital anymore, your busy schedules never seeming to line up. Until last Thursday. You’d finally finished up early in the morning, heading over to the Neuro department to seek out Yoongi. But as you stepped out of the elevator, you saw him - with her.
Kim Do-Yeon. Second-year neurology resident. While not a surgeon herself, she’d always tagged behind Yoongi, pressing him for info about his research and cases. Just like you had. Bile rose up in your throat as you saw Yoongi give her one of his huge gummy smiles and a laugh.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria, we can talk more there,” his voice rings out, and you realize they’re headed straight for the elevators. Ducking your head, you hold back tears as you brush past them, Yoongi not even taking his eyes off Do-Yeon to notice your presence. Jogging down the end of the corridor towards the abandoned stairwell, you spend the lunch hour hunched over. You’d called out sick for the rest of the day.
The memory haunts you now as you slump onto the bathroom floor. You’d overheard Yoongi’s conversation with Hoseok earlier on the phone. How he’d been begging to go back to the hospital so he wouldn’t have to be here with you - so he could see Do-Yeon.
The force of a loud knock wakes you from your vulnerable state as the door shakes behind you. Blinking your eyes, the tears clinging to your lashes fall as you make out Yoongi’s voice behind the door.
“___?” he calls out nervously. “Are you alright in there? I-, I heard the door slam, and then I heard someone crying. Please, open the door.”
You look down at the floor listlessly, wondering why he even wants to talk to you right now. He has his patient voice on right now, sweet and caring, and it makes your heart drop even more. That hadn’t been the tone of voice he’d used when it happened. The screams and the yells are what you remember, your front door slamming shut, and Yoongi’s car backing out of the driveway. Gritting your teeth together, you decide not to respond.
The knocks become louder, more frantic, as Yoongi begins to yell.
“___, please, open the door! Are you hurting yourself? Are you alright?”
Panicked by your lack of response, Yoongi keeps knocking, knuckles becoming raw against the wood grain.
What was going on in there? Yoongi’s mind flashes back to the last time he found you in the bathroom, lying in a pool of your own blood. His heart stops.
“___, if you don’t open the door right now, I’m going to break it down.”
No response.
Yoongi braces himself, stepping back and lunging as he prepares himself to ram into the door. On 3,2,1-
The door flies open, and Yoongi stumbles through, falling shoulder first onto the floor as he wipes out.
“Ouch! Fuck, that hurt!” he groans, rubbing his shoulder.
Looking up at your face, he’s met with the sight of a grin. Suddenly, you break out into giggles, the sound of your laughter echoing against the bathroom tiles.
Yoongi’s face is frozen in shock, unable to believe his ears, but your laughter isn’t stopping him any time soon. You sound so light, carefree, and happy that he can’t help the smile that breaks out onto his face. Soon enough, he’s laughing along with you.
The laughs continue as he hears you wheezing, struggling to get words out amongst your giggles.
“You… are an idiot, Min Yoongi! An idiot! How many times have I told you to be careful with your shoulder? You’d think a fucking surgeon would have some idea of how to take care of themselves!”
“And me!” you point to yourself. “I’m an idiot too! An absolute idiot because I’m a freaking doctor who’s the best resident in her year, and I’m sitting here on a bathroom floor sobbing my eyes out because I had a fucking miscarriage and my husband’s probably having an affair because he doesn’t love me anymore! And I have to study for my boards, which I’m probably going to fail at this point!”
Your cackling dies down as you end the statement on a sob, the words heavy in your throat. A strange look crosses Yoongi’s face, and he looks down at the floor.
You want to scream as Yoongi stands up and makes his way past you, leaving you alone in the bathroom once more. You want to cry, but you’re too tired. Closing your eyes, you rest your head against the doorframe.
Footsteps interrupting your slumber, your eyes open to the figure of Yoongi crouched next to you on the bathroom floor, a mini whiteboard and marker in his hands.
“Neurofibromatosis Type 1,” his voice rumbles as he writes it out on the whiteboard. “A genetic disease caused by a faulty gene that leads to tumors of the nervous system. One of the first signs of detection is abnormal freckling and lesions on the skin.”
“That was your opening line. We’d just met, and you had me head over heels with that one fact. A fact I already knew, but you spun it to show me how we were connected. In medical school, they teach us about the systems of the body. How everything’s connected. Like that one song - the foot bone’s connected to the shin bone.”
You let out a laugh at his offkey rendition of Them Bones, and he takes the moment to wrap his arms around you, resting your head against his shoulder.
“But it’s more complicated than that. Everything’s connected but in the most beautiful and tragic of ways. There’s a system that helps you breathe, there’s one that keeps you standing, there’s one that helps you eat, one that helps you feel. If you take one bone out, you hit one nerve, you puncture one vessel, everything falls apart. You can’t move, you can’t breathe, you can’t feel pain, or joy, or love.”
Yoongi’s voice cracks as tears roll down his face, realizing that when the body’s systems began to fail was when patients came to him, and to you. They put their trust in their doctors because when something began to fail was when patients realized how heavily they depended on it all along.
“I want to tell you that there's nothing going on with Do-Yeon because you're the only person I'll ever be able to love,” he breathes. “I want to tell you that I miss you. I want to tell you that you’re the most amazing doctor I’ve ever known and that all your hard work will pay off one day. But I also need to tell you I’m sorry. You needed me, our baby needed me, and we needed each other. And I failed you. I failed you both.”
Yoongi’s sobs wrack his entire body as he shakes against you, rocking back and forth. Reaching up, your brush away the tears on his face with your fingertips, pressing your forehead to this.
“The sad part of our job,” you breathe out. “Is that we see things fail all the time. Surrounded by so much failure, by so much pressure, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed. But do you know what keeps me going, Yoongi? Part of it is the gift we have - the ability to take a failing situation and turn it around. There’s so much beauty in that, so much hope. But the biggest part of it has always been you. You’re my support system. Even if you may fail me, even if you let me down, that never takes away from the fact that I need you. I always have, and I always will.”
The two of you hold each other for the rest of the night in the bathroom, never moving from your spot, eyes closing and arms wound tightly. When the sunlight streams in through the window in the morning, he rubs his eyes blearily. Lifting you up in his arms, he walks you to the bedroom, setting you down before making his way to the phone in the corner of your room.
Dialing the number to the main office, he connects with the receptionist, looking over at you with a gentle smile on his face.
“Mrs. Choi? Can you reschedule all my consultations and follow-ups post any surgeries today? I’d like to end the day early, my wife hasn’t been feeling well lately and I need to come home and be there for her.”
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A/N pt. 2: It was important to me to show how this one moment doesn’t heal them - but it helps them take the steps to getting there. This one dealt with some hard stuff - my heart goes out to any of you who have dealt with, or are currently dealing with loss or feeling unloved. I’ll be your support system. Thanks for reading! As always, any feedback or comments are much appreciated, but I appreciate you all anyway. Lots of love, Isi 💜
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biggest-stupidhead · 3 years
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HI WELCOME BACK! if i could request 'modern dad' levi x reader. i don't mind the format. im so happy your back!
HI! I MISSED U SM!!! Also this idea has been living RENT FREE in my brain so thanks for sending it in. If you're looking for more of this content I have a WIP that features dad! Levi x nanny! reader if you haven't checked it out yet go give it a read :)
Summary: Levi is a dad :)
Word Count: 1.3K
___
Levi knew that parenting wouldn't be easy. He had grown up with a sketchy idea of what it took to parent, having lost his mom so young and living with his detached uncle. So when you told him that you were pregnant with teary eyes and a quivering lip he had turned his back, unsure of his feelings.
At first he felt guilty, putting this burden on you. You however assured him that it was fine, that you would do whatever made him feel most comfortable. You had even had the audacity to suggest raising the child on your own, he of course refused.
Growing up in a single parent home had been less than ideal for himself and he would rather be caught dead than being a deadbeat dad. So after about three days of space, he came to you and told you his feelings. He told you how much he would hate to see you go through pregnancy alone, hate to see the child grow up as he had.
You had hugged him and cried into his chest as he rubbed your back. Now, nearly three years later, he couldn't have been happier with his decision. Even if he was covered in mashed peas and baby barf for the majority of those years. He wouldn't have traded it for the world. Every morning your daughter woke you up at six with tiny hands smushing cheeks and knees digging into ribs. She had his hair and eyes, but all of your charisma. She was stubborn and loud, extroverted and curious of the world. Levi had feared that he wouldn't have known what to do with her. The first time he held her in his arms was indeed the first time he had ever held such a small human.
Growing up in such a small family, he had never grown accustomed to children, as he cradled her small head, your hands guided him to support her bottom as you pressed her into his chest. He barely fought the tears form his eyes as the nurses congratulated him and you on your first child. She wore a small pink hat, swaddled in one of the hospitals newborn blankets.
Now she was racing around the house, bare feet slapping loudly against hardwood floors, sticky hands smearing handprints on his white walls. But he wasn't mad about the noise, or the mess for the first time in his life. He watched you as you parented her effortlessly, encouraging her to use her words and reading her mood flawlessly.
If she was fussy and extra stubborn, you would ignore her wails and snotty nose, instead heading into the kitchen to cut up an apple and dish out some peanut butter. As she ate the snack with tear filled eyes you nudged Levi's side and grinned softly at him.
"Peanut butter fixes everything." You explained as you leaned into his side. He scoffed and watched her scarf down the last of the apple slices, completely complacent.
"Now tell me what's wrong." You encouraged her and she let out a loud sigh.
"I wanna go outside." She said, her cheeks smudged with peanut butter. Levi turned and grabbed a fresh wash cloth, wetting it with warm water and crossing the room to clean off her rosy cheeks.
"Baby, it's raining outside." You reasoned and she grunted as Levi scrubbed her face.
"I wanna catch frogs." She whined and Levi's lip curled in disgust. Ever since Hange had babysat that one rainy weekend she wouldn't shut up about frogs.
"Okay, let's get your rain boots on." You said, heading towards the mud room where the shoes and coats were kept.
"Yes!" She squealed, throwing her arms around Levi's neck and pressing her damp cheek to his. He huffed, pulling her from her seat and carrying her after you. They found you pulling on a pair of old boots and a windbreaker, Levi helped Violet into her own rain gear. She could hardly sit still as he fastened the last button on her rain slicker. "You comin?" You asked as you pulled the garage door open, pressing the button to raise the garage door.
"I'll pass." He said, ruffling Violets dark locks before pulling her hood on.
"We'll bring in the findings." You said as you stepped out of the house, Violet hot on your heels.
"Those slimy things are not coming in here." Levi called after you as you waved a hand dismissively over your shoulder.
Thirty minutes later you came in sopping wet with a bucket full of bull frogs. Levi had tried to wrestle you out of the door but Violet reached into the bucket, pulling out easily the biggest, slimiest frog Levi had ever seen.
"His name is Booger!" She exclaimed as she held the fat frog by it's armpits.
"Get. That thing out of here now." Levi said, taking a step away from his daughter who took two tiny steps forwards. You hardly covered your laughter as Levi grabbed a nearby wooden spoon and pointed at Violet who continued to pursue him into the kitchen.
"Daddy look at his pretty spots!" She insisted as the frog let out a chorus of loud croaking. You set the bucket of smaller frogs back into the garage and pulled your phone out of your pocket to record the scene unfolding.
"He's ugly, get him out of here."
"Apologize!" Violet gasped, using her fingers to cover the frog's ears.
"No, get it out." Levi brandished the spoon, Violet squealed and thrust the frog forward with a toothy grin.
"He wants a kiss!" Violet giggled as the frog croaked loudly again.
"So help me I will drop kick that monstrosity out the front door." Levi growled, shooting a pointed glare at you and your camera.
"How rude!" Violet huffed, turning around with a loud squeak from her boots as she made her way back towards the garage.
"Unless you take the cleanest shower of your life, I will not be sleeping with you tonight." Levi threatened as you took the frog from her.
"You'd love that wouldn't you." You giggled as you pocketed your phone and turned to go release the frogs. He sighed loudly and placed the spoon back on the counter as the door closed behind you.
That night was spent bathing Violet head to toe after she splashed in one too many puddles. This was the part of parenting that Levi had no problem with, he was an expert at scrubbing her pale skin clean and picking up the trail of toys she left in her wake. He wrapped Violet in a warm towel as you finished up dinner in the other room. He helped her into her pajamas and she looped her arms around him with a content sigh.
"You're better at that than mommy." She complimented and Levi's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he carried her into the dining room.
"Mommy's good too, but you always do it best." She smiled and Levi grunted, lips turning up in a small grin.
"That's 'cause your mom's shit at cleaning." He reasoned and Violet giggled. You came in, placing a plate of mac and cheese down in front of her as Levi planted a kiss to the crown of her head.
"And you suck at cooking." You countered and Levi quirked a brow as he looked down at the boxed mac and cheese that Violet was so eagerly shoveling into her mouth.
"Anyone can make boxed mac and cheese." Levi teased and you punched his arm with a pout.
"Shut up." You giggled and he rolled his eyes, pulling you in for a tight hug, you wrapped your arms around him and eased into his grasp. How had he gotten so lucky? He wondered as he held you close, the rain pattering outside as flashes of lightning lit up the dim room.
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gumnut-logic · 3 years
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Reading a post today regarding Scott cleaning things had me wracking my brain about a scene I wrote where Scott was cleaning Thunderbird Two. Took my pathetic brain a while to find it, but I did.
Warnings for just so much sadness. Sorry.
-o-o-o-
Scott postponed debrief. He bundled up Virgil and threw him into bed despite the fact it was the middle of the afternoon. Gordon disappeared into the pool. Alan attached himself to John and followed him around the villa.
John didn’t seem to mind.
Scott went back to Thunderbird Two.
She was empty without Virgil. Her cockpit silent and a little echoey without his bear of a brother’s presence. Subtle reminders of exactly whose ‘bird she was were everywhere. The neatly handwritten sign stuck above the controls in the co-pilot’s seat that ordered Gordon to keep his feet off the dash. The wear on the pilot’s seat where Virgil’s shoulder-mounted laser rubbed on the upholstery.
The dirty footprints left behind by specialised, high traction boots.
Scott sighed.
And began cleaning up.
Virgil kept his ‘bird spotless. Scott couldn’t help but help.
And the mundane task let his mind work over today’s events.
Scott cursed that he hadn’t been able to be there. Scott cursed that Virgil had had to go at all. Sure, he and John knew how bad it could get, but they had not expected it to get this bad. In the past there had been rugs and over worked thermostats, a quiet brother, a few angry words forced out by the necessary prodding and hugs. Lots of hugs. Virgil was a very tactile man and Scott loved him dearly.
But nothing like this.
The horror in his brother’s eyes, the pain in his voice as he screamed at him.
What had happened out on that ice field today that changed things?
Wiping up mud off the deckplates, Scott scrubbed just that bit harder. John reported that Virgil had frozen. Gordon hadn’t given his report yet. He needed time and Scott was willing to give it to him.
God, this just hurt.
His own memories of the incident so long ago were such that he had no wish to dwell on them. The total absence of his mother, the need to call his father, Dad in shock, Virgil ever so white against hospital bed sheets.
That scar in the middle of his brother’s forehead, still red and raw, a symbol of all the scars he held beneath the surface.
It was enough to make a grown man cry.
Scott found himself blinking and the cockpit blurring.
Goddamnit.
He sat back on his heels and dragged in a stabilising breath.
He remembered the trust in his mother’s eyes as she left with his brother. Alan had been asleep. Gordon playing with his toy animals. Hell, he even remembered the order of the cartilaginous fish versus the bony fish war his little brother had lined up on the floor. How the hell Gordon had even known the word ‘cartilaginous’, Scott had no idea.
Twelve-year-old John had been buried in his tablet.
His sixteen-year-old self had felt responsible and kept an eye on all of them, waiting for Mom to come back.
She never did.
That young self, buried deep in a fully grown man in his thirties, wailed at the injustice. Those brown eyes, so like his brother’s, so kind, so smart, so his Mom.
And he was blinking again.
Clean the damn ‘bird.
He returned to scrubbing.
Until the deckplates shone.
-o-o-o-
Flannel
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lyrical-panic · 3 years
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The Four Times Katsuki Bakugo Wanted to Kiss Eijiro Kirishima and the One Time he Did
If any of you remember that Kiribaku hate anon from a few weeks ago, I should tell you that the idea for this story was born in the middle of that incident, because I’m petty as hell.
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Warnings: Some angst, swearing, mentions of panic attacks and self loathing
Masterlist
1
“C’mon!” Kirishima roared, hand outstretched. Without hesitation, Katsuki created a blast under him, propelling him across the sky.
He grabbed Kirishima’s hand, grinning like a maniac. “You idiots!”
Kirishima grinned back.
It was over in an instant. A few more words were exchanged, but Katsuki was on autopilot. He glanced back behind him, watching the villains shrink away until they were unseen. He was out. He was safe. Before he knew it, the groud was under his feet again. He wobbled a little, straightening up. Deku called someone, Todoroki it sounded like as the group merged with Kamino Ward’s massive crowd.
Kirishima dropped Katsuki’s hand, and he felt something odd prickle in his gut. He stared hard at the red-head, who was still smiling like nothing was wrong in the world.
“What the hell are you grinning for?” Katsuki snapped. “You look like a moron.”
“We got you back, I’m happy!” Kirishima exclaimed, his smile turning teasing. “And don’t think I didn’t see you smiling earlier, Bakugo.”
“Tch. I was just glad to be out of there.” Katsuki shook his head. “But I guess seeing your stupid face is better than seeing those villains.” He added after an afterthought.
“Hey, I’ll take it!” Kirishima laughed. The sound was scraggly, as if he hadn’t laughed in days. Katsuki figured there hadn’t been much reason to laugh, but the broken noise still made his head spin.
…What?
He scowled, and looked pointedly at the ground, hoping it would signal the end of the conversation. It didn’t stop him from still thinking about that bright smile. It didn’t stop him from hearing that bittersweet laugh.
Stop that. What the hell is wrong with you?
Katsuki allowed himself a glance back up at Kirishima, who was saying something to Iida. His hands gestured as he spoke, and Katsuki realized that he could still feel his phantom touch in his hand.
No, that’s not a thing. No you can’t. Shut the fuck up. He scolded himself. This was getting absurd.
Though his brain screamed at him to stop, Katsuki still couldn’t bring himself to look away from the boy. Kirishima finally noticed him staring. 
“You’re okay, right? They didn’t hurt you or anything, did they?” He pursed his lips, brow creasing in concern.
“No. I was handling it.”
“If you say so, man. Just glad to have you back.”
Thank you.
The words bubbled in the back of his throat, but he couldn’t find it in himself to say them. His pride wouldn’t let them. Kirishima’s dumb face, written all over in unnecessary worry made it hard for him to say anything.
“Oh,” Iida gasped, hand clasped over his mouth.
Katsuki’s eyes ripped from Kirishima to see what had startled the class rep. On the large TV mounted into one of Kamino’s tall buildings was live footage of the scene he’d just escaped from. The League of Villains were gone, but the Boss Villain in all black still stood there. And there was All Might.
Suddenly Katsuki’s odd feelings became the least of his concern.
. . .
2
Kirishima was late.
Katsuki slammed his hand on his desk, an irritated growl passing his lips. He crossed the room, and banged on the wall connecting their dorms. “Shitty Hair, hurry your ass up!”
There was a muffled response. Katsuki sighed heavily, shoving his way out of his room to see what the deal was.
“OI! Kirishima! What the hell are you doing in there?” He knocked loudly on his door. “I thought you wanted to do homework together.”
Kirishima’s nervous voice floated through the wooden barrier. “Uh, sorry, Bakugo! Something-uh-”
I can’t deal with this.
With another annoyed noise, Katsuki barged in without any other warning. “You’d better have a good-”
Red. There was red all over the floor. It was mostly in the little bathroom off to the side, but a little of the bright sticky substance had spilled into the main room. Kirishima sat cross-legged on the floor, furiously scrubbing at it with a soggy washcloth. He looked up, not all that surprised to see his friend, and smiled weakly.
“What the fuck?” Katsuki yelled. It had scared him at first, thinking it had been blood. Upon a second look though, he could tell that it was far too thick and too bright to be blood. “What the hell is all that?”
“Hair dye,” Kirishima admitted, his hand connecting with the back of his neck. “I was trying to touch up my roots, but I accidentally knocked over the open bottle, and well…”
“Idiot. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“What? That I dye my hair?”
“No, stupid, I knew that! That you made a mess!”
“Oh! I didn’t wanna bother you.” The boy ran his hand through his hair, which Katsuki noticed was hanging low around his shoulders, like it had been the night he’d come for him in Kamino. “Also, I feel really dumb right now.”
“Don’t.” Katsuki leaned into the bathroom, grabbing another towel. He ran it under the faucet, before crouching down to scrub at the dye himself.
“You- you’re helping?” Kirishima’s red eyes widened, smile pulling at his mouth.
“The faster this gets cleaned up, the faster we do homework.”
The smile pulled wider, until he was wearing the biggest, toothiest grin Katsuki was sure he’d ever seen. “Thanks, Bakugo! I really appreciate it.”
The blond’s face began to feel warmer, so he quickly hung his head, focusing on the mess and hoping his unruly hair would hide his blush. “Whatever. Just be more careful. You could’ve gotten your stupid ass hurt if you slipped in it.”
“It won’t happen again, I promise!”
If Katsuki Bakugo was a braver person, he would’ve leaned right over the pool of sticky hair dye and kissed that idiot right there. The idea sounded more than appealing. He’d been thinking about doing it for weeks, ever since Kamino. 
But for all his bravado, Katsuki Bakugo wasn’t brave enough to do it. Instead, he pressed his towel harder than he needed to into the floor, as if he could wipe away his frustration with himself along with all the hair dye.
. . .
3
“Wait, I can steal a star?” Kirishima realized excitedly.
“Do it.” Katsuki grinned wickedly.
“Oh, don’t you dare, Kirishima.” Kaminari hissed.
“He has the coins, he’s gonna do it!” Sero groaned.
“Oh I’m totally doing it.” Kirishima triumphantly tapped a button on his controller, agreeing to the transaction.
Kaminari and Sero went bananas. It was fantastic. 
Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.
He had been skeptical about Mario Party. It looked pretty dumb, if he was being honest, which he most always was. But when Kirishima suggested they play teams, and then gave a very impassioned speech about how to the two of them could do anything, who was Katsuki Bakugo to deny him?
God, I sound like an idiot.
Personal feelings aside though, he was glad he’d caved. Kirishima had been right; they were kicking ass.
Katsuki cackled as Lakitu fished a star away from Peach, Kaminari’s character, and brought it back to Kirishima’s Mario.
“Fuck yeah!” Katsuki cheered as he directed Bowser to the star still on the board.
“And they get another- UGH!” Sero dropped his controller, draping an arm over his eyes. “Oh, this is torture.”
“Five to one. Hell yeah!” Kirishima whooped.
“You haven’t won yet.” Kaminari dramatically pointed a finger at the pair.
“But we’re going to.” Katsuki promised.
“Kaminari, there are two turns left.” Sero pointed out, still sulking. “The only thing that could possibly save us now are the bonus stars, and even then it probably still won’t help much. Not when we’re four stars behind.”
“Ugh, this suuuuucks.” The golden eyed boy groaned, joining his partner in agony.
“You losers have to roll, it’s your turn.” Katsuki thrust Sero’s controller back into his hands.
“Yeah, finish out strong!” Kirishima encouraged, pointing to the screen. “Look, the next star’s close to you, Kaminari, you could probably get it.”
“It won’t save your sorry asses though.”
“Not helping, Bakugo.” Sero deadpanned. “Not helping at all.”
Kirishima chuckled, knocking his knee against Katsuki’s. “I highly doubt he’s trying to.”
The ash-blond smirked at him, leaning back against the couch cushions. He tried to ignore how Kirishima hadn’t moved his knee. He tried to ignore how his own body seemed to be gravitating towards Kirishima’s. Katsuki had been trying to ignore the signs for two months now, but it was becoming more and more obvious what was going on.
Katsuki Bakugo was officially head-over-heels and face-in-the-mud in love with Eijiro Kirishima. The thought was slowly killing him inside, because how could he ever feel the same way? How could charismatic, energetic, “Live without regrets” Kirishima ever love him? 
Depression seeped in as Sero and Kaminari’s turn ended, and he had to mindlessly press the button to roll the dice. 
I’m a fucking idiot.
Still immersed in the game and their imminent loss, Kaminari and Sero didn’t notice Katsuki’s sudden shift in attitude. Kirishima did though. Worry coursed through him as he wondered what was troubling his friend so much to make him look so distant and distraught.
“Bakugo?” He whispered, leaning in to keep his other friends out of it. “You don’t look so good, man.”
“I’m fine.” Katsuki growled though gritted teeth. “Let’s just finish this stupid-ass game already. I’m tired.”
. . . 
4
Katskui’s world warped and twisted. He was standing in front of a swirling black portal, the villain Dabi’s hand wrapped around his neck. He felt panic building in his chest, but before he could process it all, he was jerked backwards. It was as if a string wrapped around his torso had been yanked, hard. Next thing he knew he was watching All Might fight All for One. His stomach lurched. His body felt weightless, and not entirely corporeal. 
This is a dream, Katsuki reminded himself, but that didn’t stop the familiar panic from seizing him like a fist closing tightly around his heart. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t do anything. He silently screamed at himself, cursing his incompetence, his weakness, his uselessness. 
Katsuki sat up so quickly he nearly gave himself whiplash. He breathed heavily, hands clenching in his hair. He brought his legs to his chest, and lowered his head so his forehead touched his knees. 
“It wasn’t real,” he reminded himself breathlessly. “You weren’t in any danger,”
Then why didn’t you do anything?
The thought was an ugly one, but hardly unfamiliar. It was one that plagued him nearly every time he had a dream like this. If he couldn’t spur himself into action even when he was dreaming, how the hell did he except to get anything done when there was real danger? How did he except himself to be a hero?
If you hadn’t been so damn weak, you never would’ve gotten caught and caused all that trouble!
Katsuki flinched at his mother’s words, still reverberating in his skull months after she’d said them. 
I’m fucking useless.
Temper suddenly flared, he unfolded himself from his fetal position, grabbing the closet thing, which was an electrical alarm clock. Forcefully yanking the clock so the plug was pulled out of the socket, Katsuki hurled it to the floor. It landed with an unsatisfactory dull clunk, which only enflamed his anger more. 
With a guttural growl, he lumbered out of bed, snatching the clock back up. This time, when he lobbed it again, he aimed for the wall next to his bed. With more force behind it, the clock hit the wall with a resounding CRACK. Katsuki watched, still panting as it tumbled onto the bed. He doubted it’d ever work again.
Taking a deep breath, he tossed the clock back to the floor, only there was no anger behind the gesture now. Just bitter resignation. Katsuki crawled back onto the bed, leaning against the wall.
“Bakugo?” A knock sounded just left of his head. “Everything ok? Did you throw something?”
Fuck. He’d woken Kirishima. Katsuki had forgotten about the red-head sleeping just next door. Anger coursed through him again, but this time it was laced with guilt. Idiot.
“It’s nothing,” Katsuki called back through the wall “Go back to sleep.”
Hoping Kirishima would leave it there, but knowing he wouldn’t, Katsuki buried himself in his blanket. Don’t come over, don’t come over, don’t come over, don’t come over-
Knock knock knock. “Bakugo? Can I come in?”
Goddamnit. 
With an explosive sigh, Katsuki dragged himself back out of bed, stepping on the abandoned alarm clock in the process. “Shit!” He winced, kicking the now useless piece of plastic aside and rubbing his sore foot.
Kirishima knocked again.
“I’m comin’, quit whining.” The blond groaned, opening the door.
“Dude, what happened?” Worry laced Kirishima’s voice. His eyes darted from Katsuki to the room behind him, presumably searching for the source of the sound that’d awoken him.
“Nothing. I had a dream and I got mad.” Katsuki said lamely. “It’s not a big deal. Go back to bed.”
“Did you throw the alarm?” Kirishima ignored him, sidestepping the boy into his room. “Why? What kind of dream did you have?”
“None of your business.”
“Bakugo,”
His voice was soft and coaxing. It was the kind of voice you used when you were trying to get a small child to come out of a hiding spot. It was appropriate, Katsuki certainly felt small in that moment. He felt a dull ache in his chest at the sound of it. He sighed heavily again, sitting on the edge of his bed, walls caving in. “It was about Kamino.”
“Oh,”
Katsuki hung his head, not wanting the boy to see the tears burning the corners of his eyes. He felt the bed dip as Kirishima joined him.
“It wasn’t your fault, you know.” He said quietly. “None of it. Not the kidnapping, not the fight, not even All Might’s retirement.”
“If I hadn’t gotten caught-”
“None of us couldn’t prevented that. It was a surprise attack, we couldn’t have seen it coming. You were overwhelmed, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Katsuki felt a warm hand cover his knee. He looked up at Kirishima, seeing nothing but warmth.
“I feel weak.” Katsuki admitted.
“Don’t.”
Don’t. It was the same thing he’d told Kirishima when he said he’d felt dumb for spilling his hair dye all those months ago. Though he’d all but forgotten about the exchange, it all rushed back now, like a tidal wave that’d been held back by a dam. 
“Thank you.”
There was more to say than that. More than Katsuki thought he could actually articulate. Those two small words carried more messages than he could ever say.
Kirishima seemed to understand, though. He didn’t ask for elaboration. He simply gave the toothy grin Katsuki had grown to love, patted him on the back, and said “You’re welcome.”
. . .
5
BOOM
Gym Beta rumbled as Katsuki leveled a particularly strong blast against Kirishima, who took the brunt of it unflinchingly.
“Woah, that was a big one!” The red head batted the smoke away, deactivating his quirk. “How’re you not tired? We’ve been at this for an hour!”
“Or course I’m tired, dimwit. I’m human, aren’t I?” Katsuki rolled his eyes, and whipped beads of sweat off his forehead. “I’ve been active so I’m sweating more. That’s what’s making my blasts more powerful.”
“Oh, yeah! That makes sense.” Kirishima chuckled, grabbing his and his the blond’s water bottles. “Man, you sure are lucky, Bakugo.”
“Huh?”
“With your quirk, I mean.” Kirishima explained, tossing the other bottle, which Katsuki caught deftly. “It’s so strong and flashy, and it only gets stronger the longer you use it! You’re gonna be a great hero some day. I just hope I can keep up with you.”
“Not this shit again,” Katsuki groaned, taking a swig from his water. “You’re strong. How many times do we have to have this conversation, Shitty Hair?”
“I know, I know,” Kirishima waved him off, also taking a drink. “Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate you saying that! It’s just hard to believe, y’know?”
Katsuki was quiet for a minute. It sucked because he did know. His friend’s words hit closer to home than he had probably intended. He knew first hand how difficult it was to change your mind when you’d already convinced yourself of something, no matter how often people told you otherwise. 
Katsuki didn’t say any of this, though. “It’s late. We should head back.” Is what he said instead.
“Right,” Kirishima sighed, disappointment heavy in his voice. His eyes flashed with hurt as he turned his back to pick up his gym bag.
Damnit, say something.
 “Kirishima,” 
He turned back, surprised, but not unpleasantly so. “Yeah?”
“I don’t like it when you look down on yourself. You’re better than that, even if you don’t think so.”
“Woah, where’s this coming from?” There was laughter in his voice.
Katsuki shrugged, scuffing his toe against the cement floor. “I just need you to hear it. Even if you don’t believe it yourself.”
The smile that spread across Kirishima’s face wasn’t the huge shit-eating grin Katsuki had gotten so used to. It was a new one. This one was shy and grateful. This smile came with a small blush, the lightest dusting of pink across the boy’s cheeks. 
Oh fuck. Katsuki felt his own face heat up. 
“Thank you Bakugo. That really means a lot.”
“You’re welcome.”
Suddenly Katsuki was restless. Here he was, standing in front Eijiro Kirishima, a boy he’d thought about kissing a hell of a lot more than he was willing to admit, and he wasn’t doing a single thing. Suddenly, he felt like he had to do something.
“Hey. You know that thing you say about living without regrets?”
“Oh, yeah? What about it?”
Before he could think too much about it, Katsuki closed the gap between his and Eijiro, and pressed his lips to his.
Eijiro let out a surprised squeak, but didn’t pull back. Instead, his hand found Katsuki’s shoulder, and he pulled his closer. The kiss was awkward, and a little too forceful on the blond’s part. But it was happening. The kiss several months in the making was finally happening, and Katsuki was wondering what the hell had taken him so long?
“How long have you wanted to do that?” Eijio asked with a breathy laugh as they pulled apart.
Katsuki pursed his lips, considering. “I think since Kamino.”
“Since the final exams, for me.”
Katsuki scowled. “You mean I could’ve pulled this shit way earlier?” The red head laughed again, this time it was less breathy. “I guess, yeah. What stopped you?”
“I didn’t think you’d feel the same,” the blond grumbled, crossing his arms. “What a waste.”
“Aw, don’t say that! I was too scared to do it, too!” Eijiro planted both hands firmly on Katsuki’s shoulders, beaming. “But it’s ok! Cause you did it!”
Katsuki chuckled a little, burying his face in Eijiro’s shoulder and wrapping his shaking arms around him. He returned the embrace ten-fold, squeezing Katsuki so tightly he thought he’d pop. He let him, though. 
It felt good to be held. So good, it might’ve even been worth all those wasted months.
“I’m so glad I’ve got you,” Eijiro whispered into Katsuki’s shirt.
Katsuki squeezed tighter. Defiantly worth it.
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lunaverseimagine · 4 years
Text
Escape
Prompt:  I’ve had a rough day and honestly all I want right now is a drink and someone to cuddle with from @masterofthedarkness‘ 300 follower writing challenge! Congratulations again Val, I hope you like it <3
Pairing: Sirius Black x Reader
Summary: You’re having a bad day and your crush seems to notice
Warnings: Mention of injury (not your own), mention of alcohol
Word count: 2k
A/n: So I had a complete brain flop writing this and forgot that Snape was not, in fact, teaching potions in the Marauders era. However, I’ve written the fic now and don’t have the energy to change it, so consider this an AU of sorts? (Putting in bold bc I keep getting comments about it)
Fic:
It started the moment you woke up. You couldn’t explain why but all you wanted to do was crawl back into bed, wrap the duvet round you, and hide from the world. It was as though your energy had been sucked out of you, leaving a shell that felt too heavy. And yet you were a good student, you couldn’t stand missing lessons, plus you didn’t want anyone worrying about you. Which is why, in spite of your body’s groaning protests, you heaved yourself out of your dorm and down to the Great Hall for breakfast. 
Your friends were talking animatedly around you, occasionally trying to get you to join in the conversation, but all you offered in response were weak smiles and one word replies. As a last resort your best fried Beth tried bringing up your crush, Sirius. The topic normally excited you, but today it was just a reminder that nothing would happen between you, and you became even more withdrawn. Luckily your friends understood - you wanted to be near them but weren’t up to their early morning gossip - so they stayed with you but didn’t try to get you to speak anymore.
As always, halfway through your meal the owls swooped into the hall, bringing newspapers, letters, and the occasional parcel. Mild surprise filled you at the sight of your own family’s owl Lolly settling in front of you. You stroked her head before gently untying the small, crumpled letter attached to her leg, and she nipped your finger affectionately. Your parents didn’t send you letters very often, and you were stumped as to what could be written inside. You took a deep breath. Only one way to find out.
Unfolding the parchment carefully revealed your mum’s scrawled handwriting. Odd. Normally your dad would write the letters; he found it calming to sit with his parchment and special quill after a long day as an auror, pondering his words for a while to make his messages as concise as possible. He said the process was therapeutic. But when you read the words inside it made sense, and you felt your stomach drop.
“Y/n, I’m sorry to tell you like this, but I thought you should know. Dad was injured at work. The healers say it’s treatable but he’ll be in St Mungo’s for a while. Hope school is going ok. Love Mum xx”
Swallowing your tears down, you let the letter fall from your hands and settle on the table. You forced your eyes to look up, away from the words, and you could’ve sworn you caught Sirius watching you from across the hall. As soon as you’d thought it, he’d already turned back to his friends, and you shook your head at yourself. So desperate that you were imagining interactions with your crush. Pathetic. You lay your hand in Lolly’s warm fur, focussing on how soft she felt between your fingers, trying to push the rest of your thoughts to the back of your mind. Breaking down in the middle of the Great Hall was the last thing you wanted to do.
Your lessons did nothing to help your mood. In transfiguration you were supposed to be turning rats into clocks. By the end of the class most students had done it perfectly, but your clock had a tail instead of an hour hand, and instead of ticking it squeaked with every passing second. You felt so deflated, the only thought that kept you going was getting back to your dorm at the end of the day and hiding in your bed. Maybe finding some firewhiskey too to dull the aching you felt when your thoughts drifted to your dad in a hospital bed. In fact, what you really wanted, the one thing that might bring you peace, was to have someone hold you. Not just someone. Sirius. But you knew as well as anyone that he wouldn’t be interested in the likes of you. You couldn’t event transfigure a rat, you’d never be good enough.
You had mixed feelings as you made your way to your last lesson of the day. After this you were free for the evening, but first you had to endure an hour of Snape’s teaching, and his judgement of you. Potions was your worst subject and Snape made a point of noticing every little thing you did wrong. Begrudgingly you approached the dungeons, the echo of your footsteps was all that filled the empty corridors. Most of the time Hogwarts felt familiar, but in times like these it felt cold and unforgiving, emphasising the loneliness that was building in your chest. Wait- why was no one else in the corridors? With a jolt you realised that you’d spent so long lost in your thoughts between lessons that you were late. Your steps sped into a run, and when you finally burst through the door to Snape’s dungeon, he stopped mid sentence to scowl at you. Everyone else turned towards you too, so many pairs of eyes drilling into you. You willed the stone floor to swallow you whole.
“I will not tolerate students showing up late to my class.” You gulped, trying to suppress your heavy-breathing as you awaited your punishment. “I’d have thought you of all people would want to be present for the whole lesson. Then you might finally brew a decent potion. Alas…” he trailed off, a thoughtful expression on his face. You felt your cheeks burn, your head hung low. “Detention. After class you will scrub everyone’s cauldrons clean. No magic allowed.” It was all you could do to nod. You felt so defeated as you stood at the table beside Beth that you almost didn’t notice the small explosion a few tables behind you. You whipped your head around, and- no, you definitely weren’t imagining it this time- Sirius winked at you as Snape stalked between the desks towards the commotion. He glared down at Sirius.
“Looks like Y/L/N won’t be alone in detention.” He sneered, and weaved his way to the front of the class without another word. Your jaw was slack and Beth nudged you with her elbow. 
“He did that on purpose!” She whisper-yelled. Your jaw was slack, not quite sure if you believed her.
“Well- well maybe it was an accident? Or he did it for fun?” Your excuses were weak even to your own ears. But why would he want to be in detention with you?
Seconds stretched into minutes as you willed the time away. Thankfully Beth was good at potions so she did most of the work, telling you which ingredients to chop and when to add them to the cauldron. Snape still found things to fault but you just tuned his voice out, feeling like you were watching the scene through a window instead of being in it yourself.
Eventually the class was dismissed, and Beth gave you a sympathetic smile and mouthed “good luck” as she left the room. When it was just you, Sirius and Snape left, he held a hand out to each of you.
“Wands.” Reluctantly you and Sirius both placed your wands in his hands, not quite meeting his eye as you did so. “I want the equipment spotless.” With that he left the room. Despite feeling as bad as you did, you couldn’t help your heartbeat quickening at the thought of being alone with Sirius.
Avoiding his eye, you crossed the room to the cupboard full of cleaning supplies, dirty cauldrons being the only thing that stood in the way of you and the relative peace of your dorm. You felt his gaze on the back of your head.
“What?” You kept your focus on the cupboard, rummaging through the supplies to find what you needed.
“Are you ok?” After a moment, you turned to face him, throwing a sponge which he caught effortlessly, without breaking eye-contact.
“I’ve been better.” You didn’t elaborate, instead getting to work scrubbing the grime off the cauldron closest to you. Sirius abandoned his sponge, coming to stand on the opposite side of your table, watching your determined face as you tried to get one particularly tough spot of dragon-bogey off the side of the cauldron. He found himself admiring the way you furrowed your brows as you concentrated, the way your tongue poked out slightly from between your lips. Those lips. You, on the other hand, were thinking about how it would take double the time to clean if Sirius didn’t do his half. Subconsciously you squeezed your sponge tighter until your knuckles turned white.
“I bet I could make you feel better.” You huffed. Sure you had feelings for Sirius, but he could still be infuriating.
“I bet you could.”
His eyes twinkled, surprised that you’d joined in with his flirting. “Oh yeah, how’s that?” His hopes were soon shattered as you replied.
“By helping me clean so we can leave this bloody dungeon.” Sirius was taken aback. You never normally snapped at people, and he was just trying to be nice. Godric, he’d got himself a detention just so you wouldn’t be alone.
“You know what? Fine.” He stormed back over to his sponge and started cleaning the cauldron furthest away from you. The two of you scrubbed in silence for a while, making decent progress on the cauldrons, but you felt guilt creeping in at the way you’d treated him. The guilt, the tiredness, the worry about your dad, all of it swirled through your thoughts in a perpetual loop until you couldn’t help it anymore. You let out a small sob, trying your best to be quiet, but in the otherwise silent room Sirius heard it perfectly. He abandoned his cauldron, rushing over to embrace you in a hug, rubbing soothing circles on your back. He had no clue what to say, but the silence didn’t bother you. It gave you a chance to work through your feelings. 
After a while you pulled away, wiping at your eyes with the sleeve of your robes. “Oh Merlin, I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for darling.” He rested his hand on your arm for a moment, waiting to see if you wanted to say anything else. When you just smiled, he returned the smile, before going back to cleaning the cauldrons. This time the silence that filled the room was comfortable, both of you lost in thought. Finally, arms aching, the two of you finished your last cauldrons, and Sirius went to Snape’s office to collect your wands. You sat on the floor outside the classroom waiting for him, picking at a loose thread on your robe. When Sirius returned he handed you your wand, and slid down the wall so he was sitting next to you. You rested your head on his shoulder, whispering into the corridor.
“Thank you.” 
Sirius wrapped an arm round your shoulders. “What for?”
“I know you got that detention on purpose. Just- thank you for being there.”
“Not a problem darling.” His fingers traced tender circles on your shoulder, and you felt yourself melting in to him. Being so close to him you thought you’d be nervous, but instead you felt peaceful. Safe. 
Sirius broke the silence. “What’s going on?” It was almost a whisper, as though he wasn’t sure whether he should’ve asked, but he couldn’t bear the thought of you suffering on your own. He needed you to know that he was there to listen.
“It’s just- it’s a bit of everything, y’know? I’ve had a rough day and honestly all I want right now is a drink and someone to cuddle with.” You laughed at how stupid that sounded, but Sirius took your hand, lacing your fingers through his.
“I’ve got some firewhisky in my room?” It came out as a question.
You turned so you were face-to-face.
“And the cuddles?”
“I’m sure I’ve got some of those to spare too.” He lifted your hand to his lips, placing a kiss on each knuckle in turn. You closed your eyes, savouring the sensation. Then he stood up, helping you off the floor after him, and your hands stayed connected the whole walk back to his common room.
End
A/N: I hope you liked it (regardless of the Snape/Sirius timeline error oopsies)! If you did feel free to give feedback or check out my other stuff, and also give Val (@masterofthedarkness) a follow if you haven’t already! <3
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elphiej · 3 years
Text
Be My Light - Chapter 3: Try to Stay Calm and Move on.
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*Genre: Mafia, angst, eventual smut, slow burn
*Warnings: references to drug usage/ withdrawal, reference to sexual  situations/ sex work/ trafficking.  
Author’s note: Hi everyone! I hope you enjoy the next chapter. True to my style, it’s a little long but I think it flows well enough. Thank you for those who have commented on my previous chapters. I very much appreciate it. Thank you for your patients as well; work has been busy and I found out I had covid. I’m ok now but it did set me back a bit in finishing this. As always, please let me know what you think or let me know if you have any comments. I love them and all of you. Please enjoy!
Tag list:  @lolalalooo @bangtan-sonyeonddaeng, @barbikatherine, @mrsfortune1306, @lovesick-heart0, @iamnamjoonsbxtch, @deathkat657, @deeepvibes, @sugamonster22 , @weiinihao, @hemmofluke , @rainbow-zebra-unicorns
                              Chapter 3: Try to Stay Calm and Move On
                 Central Mercy was one of the largest and most active hospitals in all the city. And as you followed the EMTs through the trauma bay doors, the floor was full of medical staff moving about assessing patients. True to its name, Mercy didn’t discriminate and took in those that smaller practices were too scared to take: gang related cases. They feared retaliation. But Mercy was only interested in saving people. A team from the surgical floor came up beside the fast-moving gurney, listening as the EMT got them up to speed. You added some details, though your eyes never left the man on the gurney; he hadn’t regained consciousness since the police arrived and he seemed even paler than before. One of the nurses whispered that Doctor Na was waiting in the operating theatre. Henry Na was one of the top surgeons in all of Central and you felt a wave of relief knowing that the patient couldn’t be in better hands. But deep down, you knew you wouldn’t be at complete ease until you saw the young man awake and alright. And the fear of the unknown made you not want to lose sight of him.
               Before you could question why you felt so drawn to stay by the stranger, one of the nurses put her hands out in front of her and forced you to come to a stop right outside the OR doors. The doors slid shut and you were left alone in the hallway. And that is where the connection should have ended. Doctor Na and his staff would take good care of him, then he’d be transferred to another floor, and you would move on to your own patients. But you couldn’t stop the feeling of wanting to be near the stranger you found in the middle of a gun battle. But why? Could it be because you were a kind-hearted nurse or that you had just gone through a horrific experience together? You had asked him to explain what you had gotten yourself into after all. Perhaps on one of your breaks you could go visit? Was that weird? What would you say? ‘Hi, remember me? I’m the idiot who saved you after you got shot. Want to be friends?’
               Honestly, you didn’t think you were so desperate for companionship that you’d try to forge a friendship with some random guy who’s background you didn’t know. What were you expecting- a friendly relationship that could develop into something else? This wasn’t one of those romantic comedies you watched with Amber and, based on your track record, you weren’t that lucky. For all you knew, this guy was just as dangerous as the man with the cane. With the increase in U4-1A cases, was this a drug deal gone bad? It would be a shame if someone that handsome turned out to be a druggie. There were supposedly others that had gotten away; it could be a turf war. There were so many dangerous possibilities that ran through your mind. No, you sighed, it was best just to let it go. If you were meant to see him again, fate would make it so. Then, you would get some answers. But for now, it was time to get to work and move on.
               “I’m sure Jax is pulling his hair out by now,” you wondered, out loud. “Wonder what Amber’s going to say.”
               You didn’t have to wonder long, for as you turned on your heels, Amber was standing right behind you. Nerves still on edge, you couldn’t help but jump backwards. Amber was the definition of sweet but intimidating as her eyes bore into you. She was thin and lanky, completely swallowed by her baggy scrubs. She had a sharp face with short blonde hair that had been styled with an undercut. That, paired with her piercings and elaborate tattoos that decorated her arms, gave her a strong androgynous look that caught a lot of attention. She stared at you with a look of mixed anxious worry and anger.
               She crossed her arms over her chest. “Y/N,” she said, leaning in, “what the Pineapple?! Are you crazy or stupid?”
               “Is both an option,” you countered, trying to lighten the mood.
               Amber reached over and flicked her middle finger against your forehead. “I’m serious, dumbass, you really gave me a heart attack. You didn’t answer my text and I hear from the dispatch that you’re at the scene of a gang shooting?! I can’t begin to tell you the images my brain was coming up with! I thought I’d find you on a stretcher, covered in blood. I mean,” she gave you a meaningful look up and down, “more so than this.”
               You followed her gaze and, finally, got a good look at yourself. Your simple grey hoodie was covered in dark, splotchy patterns. The cuffs of your sleeves were dried dark from when you had tried to apply pressure to his wounds, there was a large stain on your side that had soaked through to your scrubs from carrying the young man behind the counter, and splattering decorated all over the rest of you. You were glad that the EMTs let you ride along in the ambulance; it would have made your bus ride more interesting looking like a slasher movie victim.
               You held up your hands, defensively. “It’s not mine. I promise, I didn’t get hurt. It’s from the real victim.”
               Amber sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. “Come on,” she said, ushering you away from the Operating rooms, “let’s get you cleaned up. I’ll tell Jax what’s going on after I get rid of these clothes. There’s no saving them.”
                ~*****************~
               Having skipped your shower this morning due to time, you were quite thankful for the warm water that eased the anxiety still rampant. Once Amber was satisfied that you weren’t injured, she brought you some new scrubs and bagged up your soiled ones to dispose of them. You were annoyed that you were losing your hoodie, since it was the only one you had since coming to Central and you hadn’t had time to go buy new clothes yet. At least you had packed the extra long sleeve shirt to help against the seasonal chill. Amber had left you a pair of grey scrubs that would help you blend in to your work shift. Once you changed, you made your way to your supervisor’s office. Jax was an older gentleman who always seemed to be on the edge of some emotion. The second he saw you, he flung himself at you and made you swear you were to never scare him to the point of turning his hair grey ever again. It took you promising five times before he let you head to your station.
               You weren’t surprised to see Amber sitting at the desk. However, you were surprised to see that she had surrounded herself with a wall of binders and notebooks while she typed away at the computer.
               “Are you preparing for an invasion?”
               “No, you have to stay away,” Amber cried in the most melodramatic tone she could muster. “You can’t come near me. Flee while you can!”
               You tried to contain your laughter with truly little success. “Okay? What happened since I showered? Were you exposed to something or are you just being weird?”
               “No, you just have to avoid me! I’m dangerous! I’m a girl with tattoos,” she exclaimed, holding her heavily tattooed arms out for display. “You have to avoid me!”
               You almost fell over from how strong you rolled your eyes. “You must have seen Mr. Young this morning.”
               “Well, someone had to since you decided to be an action star. And he was extremely disappointed to not see you.”
               You sat down in the chair next to her and wrapped your arms around her and rested your chin on her shoulder. “I’ll pop in on him later. For the record, I like your tattoos. I think they’re super cool.”
               “Don’t think you being cute with all those compliments are gonna distract me from your stupidity. What the heck were you thinking?”
               “I know,” you sighed, “I’m sorry that I worried you.”
               “Worried? That doesn’t even begin to describe that. You didn’t answer my call this morning. Then, I get a text from a random number, apparently you. Only to find out about the shooting. I had a feeling something bad was gonna happen this morning. Spill it, Y/N. What happened?” You gave your friend a quick recap from when you left your building to when the police found you behind the counter trying to keep the young man conscious. You decided to leave out the creepy encounter with the man with the cane and the encounter with the other gang member you had hit with the crowbar; you didn’t want her to worry any more than she already was. The entire time, Amber’s face was stern and she had crossed her arms over her chest. “See, this is why you should have just stayed with me at my loft. You’re all alone down there. Clearly I was right about it not being safe.”
               “Don’t be like that. I know you keep saying that you didn’t mind me staying with you, but it was time for me to start trying to live my life again. It may not be as nice as your place but it’s mine. And, this incident excluded, nothing bad has ever happened. It’s just that I couldn’t stop thinking about what I went through and being stronger than the bullies. You taught me that.”
               “Yeah but I didn’t mean going against a gun wielding psycho. It was a metaphor for the nightmares and that piece of shit you call an ex.”
               “I’ll remember that for next time.” You flashed Amber some pleading eyes and pouting lip. “I’m really sorry.”
               Amber groaned, but smiled back at you. “You’re lucky I like you. But I get one more bad feeling, I’m dragging you back and never letting you out of my sight.” She slid you a cup of coffee that you greedily took. You were sure that you had lost your tumbler somewhere at the bus stop, never to be seen again. “By the way, what was the random number you texted from? Did you get a new phone without telling me?”
               You almost choked on your coffee. You had hoped she wouldn’t have asked about that, knowing full well she was not going to be happy about the answer. You cursed at yourself for texting her from it. But with her staring at you, you knew you couldn’t get around it. You reached into your pocket and handed it to her. She, instantly, knew what it was and snatched it from you.
               “Why do you have this still? I thought you got rid of it?”
               “I didn’t mean to grab it. I was in a hurry this morning and it fell into my bag. I left the one you gave me at home and didn’t have time to go back up and get it.”
               “But you had time to run after gun shots?” She tapped around on the screen. “All the settings are back to normal. The locations and notifications are back on, too. Did he call you? Look at all the voice mails.”
               “I didn’t call him. The last message was days ago. I just texted you and read a couple messages. Don’t give me that look, Amber. I was just curious. I have no desire to call him or see him. I’m starting to get somewhat normal. Last thing I want is to fall back into a bad mind set. I just read a few texts to see what he was saying while I was walking. I swear, that’s all. Don’t worry about the settings. He’s not as smart or as tech savvy as you. He couldn’t grasp the concept of emojis, I doubt he’s gonna try anything you’re thinking of. I honestly just needed a phone for today. When I get home, it’s getting shut off and it’s going away for good.”
               “He’s such a scuzzball, trying to still contact you after all that.  This would be less stressful if you gave me his address. I’ll kick his ass up and down the coastline for what he did.”
               “I don’t doubt that. But I have to listen to the group’s advice and just let it go. And I think it’s time I try to focus on other things. That’s the way I’m gonna start to really get better, right?” You had been saying that for a while now, not really knowing how to move on or if you could. But something had changed. You couldn’t help but think back to the gang member, and how he reminded you of Daniel in those last moments you were together. There was a sense of relief and freedom that you just couldn’t help but relish in. It had almost been a cathartic experience that your body needed, the strength to take back yourself. To give back what you felt, to let all that rage and hate that you held deep inside out. It may not have healed you completely, but it was a start.
               The two of you started going over the case load for the day. Even as short staffed as you were, Amber had taken care of most of the early duties: checking on patients, dropping off medicine, and dealing with Mr. Young. You started going through the new files that were stacked on the station while Amber read the report from some of the other floors. It was interesting to see what was happening elsewhere in the ever-busy hospital. There was nothing about your gunshot victim yet, and you crossed your fingers that he was going to be alright. No news was good news, you figured. Amber had started talking about the new U4-1A cases that had been admitted since you were last there. There were four more cases since your last shift. And one of the new cases didn’t make it past 2 days. U4-1A was a highly addictive drug that played off of peoples’ want to feel good and exploited it to deadly consequences.
               “I can’t believe how many cases there are now.”
               “Tell me about it. It’s the new hot thing on the streets. Everyone wants to find ‘Euphoria’.”
               You gave Amber a confused look. “Find ‘Euphoria’? Is that what they call it?”
               Amber grabbed a paper and wrote it out. “Yeah, it makes sense when you look at it and read it out. Change the 1 to an I, and it says euphoria. It sounds better when you’re trying to score without drawing attention, I guess. Remember that one guy who was going through withdrawals at the underground club? He kept asking me if I could ‘help him find Euphoria’.”
               “Seems way too intense for a club drug. If it’s supposed to be like ecstasy and make you feel really good, why does it make you go through the worst kind of side effects and an even worse withdrawal?”
               “The theory the cops believe now is that it was made, primarily, for the sex trade industry.  Very little doses make you feel nice and all that. But pure U4-1A does all that and more. It needs to work its way out of the system fast else it causes heart failure and other bad things. Whoever made it added chemicals that affect the brain and senses, so the user loses all inhibitions and is in a constant state of intense arousal.  So much so that the user is willing to do anything to find a release with anyone. I heard Mary, the lady who’s been on the most U4-1A cases has had to do a lot of things just shy of actually fucking them. That considered, it makes sense that it would have started in the sex industry; a willing participant is better than one that fights in their eyes.”
               It was true that U4-1A, or Euphoria, made people feel euphoric and intensified the pleasure of touch. But from what you had heard from Amber and some of the other nurses, when the patients are under the influence of the powder, they beg anyone to do any kind of sexual act to help them chase the feeling. Whatever sick bastard who created it made it so the user couldn’t find relief on their own, either.  Another hospital had thought that if the patients were aroused that it should be enough to let them handle it on their own, since it seemed release was the way to increase the heart rate and move the substance through the system. But the first few patients were in distress for hours until their hearts gave out from the effects of the chemicals in their blood. Doctor Na had been trying to see if any kind of physical activity, outside of sexual, could be the key to rehabilitating the Euphoria addicts. But it hadn’t seemed to be working. With more cases rising, there didn’t seem to be a treatment unless you had only the smallest amount. And survivors from the withdrawal seemed to be just as slim. The patients went through intense fevers, tremors, breathing problems, and pain without the substance. One of Central’s patients didn’t last two days of withdrawals.
               “I’m telling you,” Amber went on, drawing you out of your thoughts, “I don’t care who or how many are rocking my world or how long since my last date. No orgasm is worth dying for.”
               You let out a small chuckle at her attempt to push away from a not-so-fun topic. You nodded your head in agreement, though you couldn’t really remember the last time you had experienced anything other than a kiss from your ex. You could feel Amber’s eyes on you as you shuffled through the rest of the files.
               “So, speaking of orgasms,” she segwayed, leaning over with an eyebrow arched, “since you seem to be ready to start making some changes in your life, when are we gonna get you out for a date night?”
               “I didn’t say I was ready for a relationship.”
               “Whoa, who said anything about a relationship? I’m just saying have some fun, get a dinner, meet someone and start getting more confident with yourself. I have some friends I could set you up with. All of them are sweet and know I would kill them if they tried anything.”
               You hadn’t really thought about dating or anything like that. You had been so focused on healing your mind and getting settled into a new routine that it hadn’t even crossed your mind. You want to tell her ‘No’ but you found yourself considering it. Maybe it would be a good idea to just try to hang out with someone other than Amber. “I don’t know…,” you mused.
               That was all Amber needed. “Let’s just imagine. What’s your type? I mean, besides the complete opposite of your ex.”
               “I don’t really think I have a type. I know that Daniel was my friend and we were always together, so I think that’s why we started dating. But I don’t think I have one other than being a nice guy.”
               “Okay, let’s think about this. How about my friend Bryce?” You made a face, remembering the one time you met Eric when Amber and you went shopping and he spilled his drink all over you. “Okay, maybe not. How about Lee or Michael?”
               “They’re nice, I think.”
               “Oh, what about Dean from the kitchen staff? He’s so hot!”
               “The guy with the guitar and the smooth voice? The one who flirts with everyone and shows off his tattoos? Yeah, he’s definitely hot. Maybe too hot for someone like me. I feel like you two would fit together better.”
               “Stop that, you are so cute. I’d date you. I’d even give you a kiss goodnight.” Amber moved in to kiss you on the cheek, only to find her rolling chair being pushed by your foot. “Fine, see if I kiss you ever again. How about Eric from the pediatric ward? I’ve seen you two talk and he’s really easy to be around. Ooh, or Chris? You know, the one with the cute accent and hot body to match? I think you two would be able to reach your own version of euphoria.”
               “Ok, I’m done with you. You are ridiculous. I have patients to get to. And, even if I didn’t, I would rather get hit on by Mr. Young than have you start talking about me and some random guy.”
               Amber busted out laughing as you grabbed some charts and all but ran from the desk. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep workshopping it. This is just the next project in the ‘make my precious friend feel normal’ plan.”
               Despite the way your day had begun, your shift was free of any real excitement. And to be honest, you were happy to have a normal shift. You handed out medicine when it was time, changed the dressing of a girl who had been in a car accident, and took the time to pop in on Mr. Young since he was so upset that you hadn’t been there that morning. You figured listening to the old man’s reveries from his youth was a good punishment for your tardiness. Though, as you sat there, you couldn’t help but let your mind wander to the blond man. You wondered if he was still in the O.R. or if he had been moved. Were his injuries as bad as you thought or worse? You wanted to go see if Doctor Na was out of surgery and if there was any news. Stop it, you scolded yourself, stop focusing so much on that. Just do your job. Stay calm. You pushed yourself to go through the motions of your job, putting your body on autopilot as you tried not to think about him anymore. For the most part, it seemed to work; every time you blinked, you were off to the next task. Even as Amber dragged you away for a quick lunch, you focused extra hard as your friend excitedly recounted her night of online gaming, and her ever continuing feud with Seagull-eye97. Based on the color in Amber’s cheeks as she complained about them snipping her during their last dual, it was a struggle.
               By the afternoon, you had enough distractions to not think too much about the blond stranger. Amber had found out that Dr. Na was no longer in the OR, and it seemed like everything was alright. You felt some relief from such small information. While the thought to check up on the stranger popped back into your mind, you decided to stick to your plan to let the universe decide if you were going to meet again.
               And the universe had it’s funny way of making that happen.
               You were back at the station helping one of the patients get discharged. She was a nice girl who had been in a car accident and was finally being released. You were printing out the doctor’s orders and getting her prescriptions in order when one of the girl’s friends, one you had seen during visiting hours often, came to take her home. As you handed the friend the paperwork, you noticed they had matching tattoos, a Roman numeral II, on different parts of their arms. They called them friendship tattoos and you thought that was cute. Though, you weren’t sure if you would get one with Amber anytime soon. Once the girls were gone, you sat back at the station to finish up your paperwork.
               A voice caught your attention and made you look up towards the hallway that led to the elevator. Doctor Henry Na stepped off with a few other nurses, talking quietly and laughing about something you couldn’t hear. You couldn’t help but find yourself smiling at the sight of him. And not just because it further proved that he had finished up the surgery. Henry was someone you had come to be friendly with, like with Amber. He was one of the nicest people you had been introduced to and he made a point to see you on your shift. He was tall and broad, with a smile that was just as kind as his demeanor. He had shared many coffee breaks talking about things, getting your mind from whatever was making it panic, never making you feel like he was just going through the motions. You couldn’t help but feel a certain way whenever he was around, something you couldn’t remember feeling before. A feeling of safety and happiness. Amber’s conversation from earlier seemed to pop into your mind about your type of man. Based on the excited feeling that crept up into you, you couldn’t deny that you liked him. But so did everyone else in the hospital and he probably didn’t see you that way. He had glanced over towards the station and gave you a little wave as he finished his conversation. And that butterfly feeling intensified.
               “Why do you look like that?”
               Amber had the strangest ability of just appearing out of nowhere at the worst moment. You felt yourself jump and heat rise in your cheeks. You tried to hide yourself in your hands but Amber followed where you had been staring at. And a teasing smirk appeared as she put the pieces together.
               “I guess I figured out your type. Look at you going for the most eligible bachelor in this hospital. I like it;  skip the boy and go right for the man.”
               “You are so embarrassing! We’re friends. He’s just nice to me. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to be with someone with such baggage.”
               “I don’t know. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you started blushing.”
               You went to shove her away as she started making kissy faces at you, when you noticed Na shaking hands with one of the nurses and starting towards the station. Your body acted on its own in an excited and nervous frenzy, as you reached into your pants pocket and pulled out a small bottle of body spray you had brought with you after changing and ducked down. You sprayed the lily scented water over yourself, trying to rid yourself of the sterile smell of your clothes. You froze when you felt Amber’s smug and judging glance. “What? I like to smell nice and I forgot to spray some this morning after I changed.”
               “Sure, honey. Hi, Henry,” she greeted and you sat straight up.
               “Hi Amber, Y/N,” he greeted back, his gaze fixed on you. “How are things going up here?”
               “Oh you know, same old stuff. Though, I think I left my pen somewhere. I should go find it. You two talk.” And she abandoned you, throwing you a thumbs up and some faces that you had to remember to beat her for.
               “Hi, Doctor Na,” you said, “did everything go ok this morning?”
               “I feel like I should be asking you that. I heard you ran into the building with an active shooter. That’s something I never thought I’d hear you doing.”
               “You and everyone else it would seem. I just wanted to help and let my body run on autopilot.”
               “Well, it was tough in there for a bit but, because of you, our John Doe is going to see another day. He’s responding well and I had him moved from post op. He lost a lot of blood and he’s gonna be in some pain for a bit. We have him on some pain medicine that’s going to have him out for a while. But he was responding to the outer stimulus. I think they’re moving him to the room at the end of the hall. Can you just promise me that you won’t worry me like that ever again? I don’t like the thought of someone as sweet as you doing something so dangerous. How are you feeling, honestly? Anxious at all? Anything you want to talk about? I haven’t had any luck identifying that prescription yet, and my friend in the pharmacy hasn’t gotten back to me yet. So, I just want to make sure you’re good.”
               He knew your anxiety had been active since you had come to him to try to find exactly what your medicine was. His calming eyes looked down at you with concern. “I’m alright,” you said, trying to control the color in your cheeks as you tried to maintain eye contact, “when I got here, I just jumped into work so I didn’t have time to think about anything else. I’m okay, thank you, Doctor Na.”
               “I thought we talked about you calling me Henry, remember? See that’s what I like about you, Y/N. You care so much about everyone else. You really are a good nurse. I just wish you’d do the same for yourself. I suppose I’ll have to make sure you’re really ok. How about we talk about it over dinner this week?”
               You’re sure you must have looked like a deer in the headlights. “What?”
               “Well, someone who risks their own safety to help others should get some kind of reward, shouldn’t they? Figured why not let me treat you for once. How about it? Maybe we can talk about other things, too. Not work related? Maybe get to know each other better?”
               You felt like the whole world had just turned upside down. Was the most handsome doctor who you had been friendly with over the last few months just asking you out? You, out of every other good-looking person in this hospital? Did he actually ask you out? The way he was looking at you, like he was nervous you’d say ‘no’, made it seem that way. He had been extra attentive recently. And Amber was always saying you were kind of oblivious when it came to flirting having not really experienced it. You, suddenly, found yourself too nervous to say anything, and nodded. His smile returned, all wide and excited, which made you shyly smile back.
               True to her fashion, Amber came slipping back into the conversation, which you were happy with, fearing you’d burn a hole in the ground with how hot your cheeks were. “Okay, you guys look far too cute over here. Time to get back to work. Did you have a reason for coming to our side of the floor, Henry, or are you just gonna make goo-goo eyes at everyone?”
               Henry cleared his throat, trying to hide his slight awkwardness. “I was telling Y/N that we moved that patient to this floor for recovery. He should be in the last room down that hall. And I was hoping she wouldn’t mind taking this to his room?” He placed a clear bag on the station. It had the patient’s personal effects in it. “I figured that since she was with him, he might be more comfortable with someone he recognizes.”        
               You nodded and took the bag from him. “I’ll keep an eye on him for you.”
               “I’d appreciate that. Umm… I’ll get back to my rounds now, before I’m banished by Amber here. I’ll talk to my friend about that prescription and see you later, Y/N.” He turned to leave with a little wave at you and Amber. Before he got too far, he turned over his shoulder. “Nice perfume, by the way, Y/N. It really suits you.”
               He made a quick exit as Amber made a funny noise and you were alone with her gaze on you and a smile on your face.
               “You two should really get a room. Like the one at your apartment or his. I can just imagine it.”
               “You are so awful. He just asked me to get dinner. It may not even be a date. He’s just being nice, I’m sure.”
               “Please, he wants to talk about non work related stuff. Plus, I saw the way he was looking at you. He thinks you’re cute. And you are still blushing. Trust me, I know.”
               ‘We’ll see about that.” You looked at the bag in front of you. It had ‘John Doe’ written on it. There was a wallet, cellphone, a watch, and a few pieces of jewelry. The EMT’s had cut his shirt open to get to his injuries, and you were sure the rest of his clothes were being held for the police, whenever they came to get evidence and statements. You thought it was odd you hadn’t seen any since you left the construction site. You opened the bag and pulled out the wallet, hoping to find some kind of name. The wallet was empty, save for a few dollars and a key card. You reached for his phone. It was dead. You reached into your desk and pulled out a spare cord and power bank. There had to be something on there to figure out who he was or get ahold of someone who did. You plugged it in and put it back in the bag. You pushed off from the desk and made for the room at the end of the hall.
               The room was dark when you entered, save for the dim light above the bed and the glow from the heart monitor. You pushed the privacy curtain aside, and were welcomed by the sight of the blond stranger that had occupied the edges of your mind. The bed made him seem so small and his pale skin made him appear so fragile. His eyes were closed, but the steady rise and fall of his chest gave you some relief. His hair was still damp from where the staff had rinsed the blood from his hair. There was a bandage near his hairline. The cuts on his face had been treated and the bruising was much more visible now. There was an oxygen cannula tube strapped across his face and nose. And you could just see the edge of bandages peeking out from under the patient’s uniform they had dressed him in. He looked awful but he was alive, and you were so relieved you thought you might cry.
               “So, this is the man you ran into gun fire for?” Amber followed you in with his chart in her hand. “I can understand why.”
               “I’m so happy he’s ok. He looked so bad when the ambulance came. I promised him he’d be ok, that I’d get him out.”
               Amber patted you on the shoulder, giving you a sympathetic smile. “He’s gonna be fine. Hopefully, he wakes up soon, then you can stop worrying so much. And we can get a real name for him. He doesn’t look like a John. We should give him a nickname. With hair like that, I’d rather call him ‘popstar’.”
               “I think his name is Agust. Someone kept saying they were looking for Agust. I assume that’s him.”
               “He looks more like an Agust than a John.” Amber took out her pen and started making some changes. “Agust Doe. No, that sounds weird. How about just Agust D? Sounds more like a pop star name doesn’t it?”
               You nodded your head; Agust D sounded better than a blank identity. Amber placed his file at the end of the bed, and patted your shoulder. You gave a reassuring smile before she decided to leave the room. And you were alone with the blond stranger, or Agust. You took a couple steps closer to the bed, worried that he might wake up. But he didn’t; he continued to sleep in the drug induced state. In this forced, relaxed form, you couldn’t deny he was more handsome than your initial thought at your first meeting. Leaning forward over his form, your fingers reached out to check the bandage near his hairline, moving some of the stray blond hairs aside. You had no doubt that the others had done an exceptional job, but an odd sense of protectiveness made you look at everything extra close. Must be because of what happened earlier, you had concluded. There was an IV bag hanging above the bed, along with a transfusion bag replacing what he had lost. Absentmindedly, your fingers had slowly moved across his hair and down to his cheek. You were glad that it wasn’t as cold and clammy as it had been.
               “See, I told you I was gonna get you out. Now, you need to make sure you get better soon so you tell me everything,” you said with a small smile. The boy in the bed inhaled deeply, before pressing his cheek further into your light touch. The sudden movement startled you. “Agust? Can you hear me?”
               But he was still again. And your question was overtaken by the soft beep of the instruments around him.
               Suddenly, a shrill ring exploded in the room, making you jump back away from the bed as if you had been shocked. You whirled round trying to find what was causing it. Your eyes caught the flash of light on the end table beside you. It was the cell phone. Had it turned on by itself once it had enough power? Odd as it was, someone was trying to get a hold of him and you knew you should make sure they came to be with him. Maybe they knew what he was doing at the construction site and who had attacked him. You reached into the bag and pulled the phone out. The screen was flashing with a contact name, ‘God of Destruction’, and with a notification that this number had called multiple times, as well as other numbers over the last few hours. You slid your fingers across the screen and brought the phone up to your ear.
               Before you could say anything, your ears were bombarded with multiple voices all speaking in a chaotic chorus. One voice, whomever had the phone, spoke loudly over the din. “Hyung! Finally, I was so scared. Where are you? Are you okay? Tell me what the bastard did and I’ll fuck him up so bad.”
Someone else had pulled the phone closer to them. “Hyung, I’m so sorry. We should have never split up..”
Another struggle for the phone and another voice that sounded older than the last rang in over the continuing strings of conversations they were all trying to have. “Yah! Where have you been?! What were you doing, getting a coffee instead of giving us some kind of sign that you were alive?! You prick!”
The first voice must have got the phone back, as his was the most dominant voice again. “Guys, shut up, I can’t hear anything. Hyung, say something. Where are you?”
“Hello,” you responded in a small voice.
The chaotic voices all stopped, and for a moment you were scared the call had dropped. The voice seemed to drop into a serious octave. “Who is this?”
“Umm… my name is Y/N. I’m a nurse at Central Mercy Hospital. We brought the owner of this phone here after he was involved in a shooting.”
“Is he okay?” It was a different voice, sounding genuinely concerned.
“He needed emergency surgery. But we have him stable now. But he’s gonna need someone here. Are you his family or someone who can get here?”
“You said Central Mercy? What level is he on now? Who’s the doctor who saw him?” You gave him what he had asked for. “Alright, listen to me very closely. I’ll be there as fast as I can. Stay calm but do exactly as I say and it’ll be okay. Do not let anyone enter that room but you or this Doctor Na until I get there, do you understand me?”
You felt a little annoyed that he was ordering you around, but there was something in his tone that gave you the sense that this was not a joke and something to take seriously. “And who are you.”
“Call me RM.” Then the line went dead.
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amelialincoln · 3 years
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The Way Life Goes (2)
She thic and she important. Feel free to leave part 3 prompts or theories in my ask box. As always, enjoy...
TW: substance abuse
“Have you seen Amelia?” Was the first thing the general surgeon asked Link at the beginning of the work week on Monday. Link shrugged, pushing his overgrown shaggy hair out of his face and tugging his Ipad aggressively out of the charger.
“Nope.” He popped the ‘p’. Meredith eyed him in a way that made him uncomfortable enough to continue. “Scout and I have been crashing at Jo’s since Friday. I’d assume she’s at my apartment.” He didn’t get very far before Meredith stepped in front of him.
“Look, as irritating as it is, the minute shit is going down in her life she’s at my house in seconds. She didn’t come to the after party and hasn’t shown up for her shift yet today. I really doubt she’s just hanging out in your apartment.” She crossed her arms, looking somewhat terrifying, despite the fact that he loomed over her.
“I can't talk right now, I have surgery.” He replied, pushing back any fears of where she might be and focusing on the chart in front of him.
“She rejects your proposal and now you’re just done? What happened to you guys?” Link’s jaw tightened so hard you could hear the sound of his teeth clashing.
“She doesn’t want to be with me. It’s as simple as that.”
“I don’t think she doesn’t want to be with you. She just obviously isn’t ready to get married. And I think you knew that.”
“Whatever, Meredith.” Link’s throat was tight as he pushed past her, swallowing down his guilt.
She had somehow found herself to Link's apartment in a daze, praying he wasn’t there as she pushed through the door. He wasn’t. She grabbed some clean clothes and more cash before leaving once again.
It was somewhat exhilarating, living on the edge. Chasing high after high and making sure that the timing is perfect to prevent any meaningful thoughts from actually surfacing. So far she'd been excelling at it. However, it was when she was halfway back that she realized she had fucked up. Anger and self hatred hit her like a ton of bricks and she almost staggered back. The high had worn off and her mind had started to scream. You are so weak. Back here again after you promised the last time was the end. So many promises, she thought. So many empty promises that she’d broken time and time again. The promise that she’d made to be a good mother. Failed, again. Why should she even attempt to pick up the broken pieces after she found herself back to square one each time? Why not stop trying to fix it and just accept herself for who she truly is, an addict? Why keep disappointing the people that care about her over and over? There was no point. Not anymore. Scout’s name was blaring in her mind like an alarm. He’s better out without you. She convinced herself. Don’t let yourself ruin him. You destroy everything you touch.
“Amelia.” Camilla was looking at her weird. She tried to focus on her new friend, attempting to calm her shaking hands. “Wait too long?” She asked, digging into her bag. All Amelia could do was nod and pull out the cash. “This one’s on me.” Camilla placed a reassuring hand on Amelia’s shoulder as she rolled up her sleeve. She paused, with bated breath, until the image of Scout faded from her mind.
“Can you hear me?” Meredith practically yelled into the crackling phone. “I’m sorry, I know this is your honeymoon. I just still haven’t heard from her and you know her better than me so I need you to tell me what I should do.”
“Is this about Amelia?” Maggie’s groggy voice asked into the speakerphone. “You still haven’t heard from her?”
“I wouldn’t have called if I hadn't. I’m worried about her.” She could practically hear Maggie’s hesitation. “Don’t come back. Don’t even offer that.”
“She’s been having a rough time,” Maggie sighed. “Richard doesn’t let on too much but I know COVID has been hard on her. Link has good intentions. He just hasn’t ever had to see her at her lowest.”
“You think she’s using?” Meredith’s voice was hushed as she passed her Ipad to a nurse and thanked her quietly before letting herself into her office.
“I mean if I rejected a proposal from a man who meant a lot to me because I wasn’t ready I’d probably down a bottle of wine out of guilt." Maggie smiled bitterly.
“She’s stayed sober through a lot worse,” Meredith countered, glancing up to find Bailey waiting at the door with an expression she knew too well. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Tell Winston I say hi.”
“I will. Talk to you later.” Meredith placed her cell phone in her scrub pocket before meeting an irritated Bailey at the door.
“Where’s Shepherd?” Meredith knew what she was going to say before she even spoke the words. She bit the inside of her cheek, not knowing how to respond.
“Why?” She asked, receiving an eyebrow raise.
“Because she’s got a gliosarcoma in an hour and she hasn’t clocked in,” Bailey stated, fixing her lab coat and giving Meredith an exasperated look. “Look, whatever drama she and Doctor Lincoln are having, I don’t care. She can show up to work.”
“I don’t know where she is,” Meredith responded. “I honestly have no idea.”
“Wha--” Bailey started. She let out a grunt of disapproval before waving an agitated hand in the air and storming off. Meredith bit the nail on her thumb, sending yet another message to the missing neurosurgeon and wondered guiltily, for a moment, why she was so self destructive.
Link spent a lot of time in the ER compared to his colleagues. Compared to most other specialties, the majority of cases that presented themselves in the emergency room were ortho related. Most of the time it was pretty mundane, whether it be a broken ankle or a dislocated shoulder, but to keep the hospital from impending lawsuits, he was usually needed to supervise the interns, who were prowling in the ER looking for cases and trying to pop limbs back into place or reset joints, thinking they could handle it easily on their own.
As a result of this, Link was already in the OR when the trauma came in. He was sitting in the swivel chair behind the desk, dragging his feet across the floor to propel him side to side. He wasn’t paged so he was unfazed by the ambulance pulling up. Then again, he wasn’t really fazed by much these days after falling into a somewhat self deprecating state. He stared at the clock, hoping he’d be let off early.
“Did you hear about this?” Bailey asked Richard, as she secured her gown around herself and handed him a pair of gloves.
“Yeah,” Richard’s voice was a tone that Link couldn’t quite decipher. “Bunch of overdoses at Quilchena, saw it on the news in the lounge. Must’ve been something laced in whatever they all were doing.” He snapped his gloves aggressively over his hands as if he were mad at something. “This kind of thing has been happening all the time because of COVID. Addicts have been struggling during the pandemic. Never seen meetings so full.” Link found himself wondering if he was talking about Amelia. Bailey nodded to Richard sympathetically ask they rushed to meet the gurney’s being pushed into the ER.
“John Doe,” the paramedic announced. “Got naloxone at the scene, friend administered it. Conscious but having trouble breathing.”
“Page cardio,” Bailey ordered to a resident. Link watched curiously as Richard froze in place.
“Jane Doe,” the paramedic continued. “Unconscious but breathing. She--”
“Put her in trauma one,” Richard ordered firmly. Link wished he could see what was going on as he watched the blood drain from Bailey’s face. “Don’t let anyone see her. She wouldn’t want that.” It clicked in Link’s brain at that very moment when the pair of them turned to look his way. He got out of the chair he was in so fast that it clattered to the ground behind him.
Her face was so pale it was practically grey and her arms and lips were tinted a purpley blue. She looked so slender he felt like one could reach out and just snap her in half. Her expression was almost peaceful though, and that’s what haunted him most. The image of her was burned into his mind immediately and he knew, as they wheeled her away, that it would never be forgotten.
As Bailey and Richard steered her gurney away he felt frozen in place before finally, and without any indication from his mind, his feet began to follow them.
“She’s seizing,” Bailey exclaimed, her hands flying up to either side of her head to avoid holding any of her limbs in place. “Where the hell is trauma?” Link watched as she twitched, bile building up in the back of his throat. He felt slightly dizzy. He’d never been one to get queasy, even in med school while the rest of his peers either fainted or threw up during their first time observing in an OR. That’s when he knew he wanted to become a surgeon. He wasn’t sure if it was his ego telling him that he was superior for being the last one standing or the tiny and quick glance of approval the attending gave him before going back to ignoring him completely. Though, there must be something different about seeing someone he loved in this situation because he had to place a hand on the doorway to steady himself and looked away. Teddy came through the doors at that moment, brushing past him as if he didn’t exist. For a reason he couldn't quite explain let out a breath of relief that it wasn’t Owen. Something in his mind was screaming your fault, your fault, your fault. And selfishly, he hoped that Meredith, or really anyone who cared for Amelia half as much as he did, wasn’t at the hospital, and theorized that she’d probably beat him to a pulp.
“Can I help?” He found himself croaking, receiving only a glance from Richard.
“Absolutely not,” the general surgeon replied firmly, before finally getting Amelia connected to the monitor. Everyone in the room kind of paused for a moment, reading the levels and unanimously thinking to themselves silently, fuck.
“She’s coding,” Teddy proclaimed, as the alarm-like sound began to reveal itself. Link’s heart sank and he reached out to grab her hand, ignoring Richard’s orders for him to leave. Her palm was cold like ice, but not the dead kind of cold. Cold as if she’d just run in and out of the water, grinning and calling to him as if the ocean’s touch had electrified her, sending a rush of serotonin through her veins. Link remembers that look from when they’d gone down to California, for a conference that she was speaking at, like it were yesterday. She’d convinced him to go swimming, despite it being mid February, and had explained that diving into the frigid waves replicated the feeling of euphoria she used to get when a really good high would hit her full force. She’d told him about how she would swim a lot when she was first getting sober, craving the way the world felt like it was on pause and the way that silence filled her ears when her head was completely underwater. That was really the last time she’d grinned at him like that. Right before Covid had really hit. The first time they’d left Scout for the weekend with his parents. Coming up out of that water like she had been brought back to life.
He’d been so blind. He’d watched her slip into a mindless routine. Go to work. Drive home. Feed the baby. Put the baby to bed. Go to bed. Wake up. Every day, over and over. She would walk around like a ghost, stuck between life and death. He had ignored the way she'd fill her free time with meetings and when she had started going to sleep before he got home, brushed it off as postpartum and told himself that everything between them was fine. Postpartum doesn’t last this long you idiot.
“Clear!” Teddy’s calm voice echoed through the room, snapping him back to reality, and he pulled away his hand last minute before her chest rose and fell. His eyes flicked to the heart monitor, nothing. “Again, charge to three fifty. Clear!” The room fell silent as the compression pads thumped. Nothing. Teddy paused, staring at the monitor.
“Dr. Altman?” The nurse called out. “Again?” Her voice was quiet as the trauma surgeon lifted a hand in response.
“Wait,” her voice had become soft. The monitor beeped as a small peak rose and fell. “Come on, Amelia,” Teddy muttered.
“Charge again,” Bailey ordered.
“Just give her a second,” Teddy pleaded, not taking her eyes off the screen. “She’s fighting.” The trio of doctors stared at the monitor while Link fixated his eyes on his girlfriend and slid his hand into hers once again, interlocking his fingers with hers. Don’t die, don’t die, don’t die. The monitor beeped, and then beeped again, and then again. Link forced himself to look up and watched as the numbers climbed.
“Thank you, god.” Bailey brought a shaking hand to her face before closing her fingers into a fist and pressing it to her forehead. “We are lucky that the lord is looking out for this woman because the people in her life seem to not be.” The comment cut through Link like a knife.
“Bailey, that is not fair!” Richard exclaimed. Link had never heard the man raise his voice with such aggravation, even Bailey winced as she stormed out of the room, throwing her gloves to the side.
“She’s lost a lot of people...and a lot of surgeons,” Richard muttered in apology to him.
“Can she breathe on her own?” Link choked, looking at Teddy, who shifted on her feet.
“She’s weak. I’d like to keep the tube in for a couple of hours at least. See how she does. I’d also like to get neuro down here to give her a check. Let’s get her up to the ICU for now and monitor her closely. She’s stable. Let’s focus on that for now.” Link nodded, not knowing what else to say as Teddy pulled off her gown and tossed it into the bin before practically staggering out of the stuffy room.
“I didn’t know.” Something about the way Richard was looking his way was causing a buildup of defensiveness inside him.
“How?” Richard shook his head with disappointment, massaging his throbbing temple and trying to block out the emphysematous but rhythmic breath sounds coming from the breathing tube. “How, did you just not know?” His colleague was radiating judgment and Richard’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits before his entire body slumped, in no effort to lecture Link about something he should be hearing from Amelia. He looked at his friend, without a trace of condemnation, knowing, so easily, that it could be him in that hospital bed and her where he was standing. “It’s not my place,” he finally stated, tearing his eyes away from Amelia and blinking away any buildup in his tear ducts. He turned to the nurse and thanked her, always polite. “When you take her up can you make it discreet?” He knew the woman had recognized Amelia immediately. “Her reputation is on the line.” The nurse nodded as if she understood. Richard thanked her again before exiting the room.
Richard had ended up telling Meredith, who stopped by to let Link know that she and Hayes would pick up Scout from daycare and take him home with them. Link couldn’t read her expression, it was clouded as if she was undergoing an internal conflict that caused her to wince and look away upon glancing at Amelia. Some of the colour had returned to her cheeks, they looked as if someone had applied too much blush to a pale complexion and were hot to the touch. Teddy had removed the breathing tube about an hour ago. She’d gasped at first, her lungs whistling and wheezing in protest. Enough to make Teddy almost contemplate putting it back in before the breathing had settled.
“You didn’t look for her,” Meredith blurted out, as if she’d been trying to keep the words at bay. The look on her face told him that she regretted saying it almost immediately.
“Neither did you,” he bit back, more aggressively than he would’ve liked. Meredith’s face snapped away from him so quickly it was as if he’d physically hit her.
“If you really loved her. Enough to marry her. Her response shouldn’t have mattered,” her voice was as sharp as a knife. “She loves you and she’s been unfortunate enough to have most of the people she’s loved taken away from her. Do you know how rare it is for Amelia to come to Maggie and I teary eyed because she finally feels safe and loved and not being pressured into anything by the person she loves? " Meredith took a step back as if she didn't want to continue but couldn't help herself. "Amelia is a runner. She breaks under the expectations that the people that she loves have of her and she functions under the fear that the people she loves are going to leave her or die. So if you want to be an ass and make her feel like she isn’t enough for you because she doesn’t feel the need to commemorate her love to you on a stupid peice of paper, I will remove you from my sister’s life.” She was gone before he could even think of a reply and he stared wordlessly at the spot she’d just vacated.
“No,” the voice was so soft he could barely hear it. His head whipped to where she was lying. “No, no, no, no.” Amelia’s eyes were wide and she recoiled as he reached out to touch her. Her heart monitor climbed and he pulled back his hand. She was looking at him in a way that made his skin crawl. He realized, then, that she was looking at him in fear. She looked scared. It shocked him how quickly everything had fallen apart. How quickly he’d gone from someone she’d loved to someone she felt as though she barely knew. But it wasn’t really that quickly, a part of him was whispering over his shoulder. You just didn’t want to accept it.
“Hey.” The words sounded stupid as soon as they left his mouth. “It’s okay. You’re okay.” He found himself wondering what had happened to her over the last couple of days, the bruises scattered along her arms had become more evident as colour had returned to her skin. She gagged suddenly, moaning in a way that made him sick and he slid a kidney dish under her just in time. There didn’t seem to be much in her stomach so it was mostly dry heaving. Her heart monitor climbed every time he tried to touch her and he gave up on trying to hold back her hair.
“She’s awake?” Teddy stood in the doorway. Amelia looked up at her blankly before laying her head back against the hospital bed and staring up at the ceiling. The shame in her eyes were evident. Link nodded to Teddy, who gave him a somewhat genuine smile. “I’ll just do a quick vitals check.”
“No,” Amelia moaned, the pain in her voice causing Teddy to stop in her tracks. “I just want to go home. Let me go home.”
“You’re not going to go home though, are you?” Link glanced up to find Richard standing at the foot of the hospital bed, arms crossed. His stern expression was slightly wavering. Link wondered how hard it was for him to even be within two meters of her.
“Shut the fuck up,” Amelia spat, pulling her IV out of her wrist and throwing it across the room hard enough that the machine screeched against the concrete floor. Link grimaced as the IV site began to bleed. The sudden bout of energy seemed to exhaust her as she collapsed back onto the bed.
“We’re good for now, Doctor Altman,” Richard said softly, not wanting to watch as his coworker, and friend, incriminated herself in front of someone she’d regret. “You can go home with Maggie or I can check you into a rehab clinic, the choice is yours.” Link’s eyes fell to the floor, his face burning at the idea that he couldn’t be trusted to take care of her.
“Maggie’s on her honeymoon,” Amelia mumbled, the anger dying out in her eyes as she realized what his response would be before he even spoke it.
“I called her,” Richard confirmed her prediction. “Meredith is taking care of Scout and I shouldn’t even be in the same room as you.” Hot tears spilled down Amelia’s cheeks as she glared at him. You ruin everything. The voice in her head had been telling her over and over since she’d woken up.
“Rehab. I choose rehab. Call her and tell her not to come.” Maggie had arrived at the hospital an hour ago but Link decided to keep his mouth shut.
“Fine,” Richard sighed. “I’ll call right now.” He stepped outside where his daughter was waiting anxiously and placed both hands on her shoulders trying to calm her down.
“I need to go in and see her,” Maggie’s breathing was asynchronous, she held her shaky hands into her chest, trying to look into her sister’s hospital room.
“Don’t,” Richard warned. “She’s not herself right now. I shouldn’t have called and stressed you out. She chose rehab.” He watched as her face twisted in confusion.
“What? That’s ridiculous.” Maggie shook her head in disbelief. “Let me take her home.”
“I wasn’t expecting her to be this bad. It’s too much responsibility to put on anyone. I...I just don’t think it would be a good idea, Maggie.” He pulled her into a hug as she started to sob.
“Link, is he…” she trailed off as she buried her face into her biological father’s scrub top.
“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Richard sighed. “But out of everyone, he’s the last person that should be taking care of her right now.” Maggie nodded, cursing herself for not doing more as she had watched Amelia change over the last couple of months. “Has she mentioned anything about her friend Charlotte? She needs an ally, someone who understands how her brain works. I know how much you care about her, Maggie, but you can’t help her the way she really needs in a couple of days when the realization of what she’s done has hit.”
“Charlotte, the one in L.A.? I’ve talked to her a couple times, never really for too long, just over FaceTime when Amelia used to call her while living at Meredith’s.”
“Amelia brought her up a lot at meetings,” Richard bit the inside of his lip, hoping that he was making the right decision. “I think we need to call Charlotte. I think that she knows Amelia on a level that not any of us in Seattle can really understand.”
“Okay,” Maggie nodded, pushing her own feelings aside. “Get St. Ambrose Hospital in Los Angeles on the phone,” she loudly ordered to the intern, sitting at the nurses station, who had been just out of earshot, “And tell them I need to speak to Doctor Charlotte King.”
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Functional Dysfunction - Rheese - Chapter 5 - It Isn’t Salad
written by @anotheronechicagobog
warnings: swearing, mention of abortion, mention of attempting to force abortion, unplanned preganancy, Connor and Robin are still together, Jimmy is still an ass, but now so is Chilli
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The next day everyone was acting weird around her. Manning and Maggie were now running away from her, Halstead couldn't meet her eyes, Choi pretended to take a phone call when they were alone in the doctor's lounge, and Doris was completely silent. That never happened. She gossiped about anything and everything, until now Sarah hadn't believed there was a force on earth powerful enough to shut her up. 
A distraction came in the form of a mass casualty structural collapse at a construction site. Injured workers flooded in, while Sarah and Choi were tasked with going to the scene and treating people in the field. It was Sarah's first time working like that. So far it had only been fully stocked EDs or ORs with copious amounts of staff ready to jump into action. Here there were limited supplies, limited staff, and unlimited chaos.
So far the building they were constructing was a small five-story apartment building, it didn't have any walls or floors, it was just metal beams and underlying structure. Half of the crossbeams had just... Come off, taking the workers that were on them, towards the concrete foundation, where other workers were. It was a grizzly, awful site. There were going to be so many casualties, no doubt about it. She reached her first patient, a woman no older than twenty, whose arm was being crushed by a beam near the shoulder. It was purple. She had to amputate.
Red tag, red tag, black tag, red tag, black tag, black tag, black tag, red tag, green tag, black tag, red tag.
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She hadn’t eaten in ten hours and there were two more action-packed hours left in her shift. While she was finally back in the hospital, she couldn’t help but feel like she was still at the disaster site. One wrong move, one wrong word, and tragedy would occur. Of course at Gaffney it would be social tragedy, but still, she felt like she was navigating a mine field. She’d been on her feet non-stop since her shift started and she was feeling more mentally drained than physically drained. The other interns looked at her the way she imagined vultures would, beady eyes looking at your dying soul, ready to devour your corpse. Except... She wasn’t dying. She was in perfect health, it was apparent that they thought her career was about to be drop-kicked into an active volcano. Boy were they in for a surprise.
“Dr. Reese, scrub up, I need you in the OR with me.” Chad Dovingly, the resident “legacy” intern, almost yelled at Dr. Abrams, but Sarah watched him stop himself. “Sam-”
“Do not call me by my first name, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that. Call me ‘Dr. Abrams’ or don’t speak to me at all.”
“Right, right, my apologies. Dr. Abrams, are you sure that Dr. Reese is the right choice? I mean, I was literally born to be a surgeon, I was in the top ten at my med school, and Dr. Reese, well... Is this because she’s pregnant-”
“Stop. Talking. You may have been in the top ten of your class, but she was the first in hers. She has shown far more dedication and skill than any of you here, and I will not stand here while you not only accuse me of favouritism, but belittle your colleague and fellow intern because of a matter that is absolutely none of your business. The reason you aren’t scrubbing in as much is that you’re not good enough to yet, so if you want to scrub in more, prove to me that you’re worthy of it, because honestly so far Dr. Reese and Dr. Kim are the only ones who have done so.” He dismissed the other interns with only a head nod, leaving the two of them alone in the hallway. “Dr. Reese, the surgery is in two hours. Read up on the procedure and eat something, then meet me in OR four.” The confusion must have been displayed on her face so he sighed and pulled her to the side away from the other interns. “Dr. Manning cornered me earlier and informed me that you’ve been on your feet all day, and you’re going to be staying late. So eat something and then join me in the OR.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll see you in two hours then.”
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She had a sandwich in her bag, but she doubted that the cold cut meats would still taste good after all this time. She debated going to the cafeteria but at this time all that would be available was heavy fast food. “Sarah?”
“Hi Dr. Manning, don’t worry Dr. Abrams ordered me to eat something before I join him in the OR.”
“Good. I was actually coming to get you, we ordered pizza down in the ED and I was wondering if you wanted to join us?”
“Something tells me you’re not going to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“A correct assumption, come on it should be here by now.”
They were almost at the doctor’s lounge when Sarah couldn’t ignore the need to ask anymore. “... You know, don’t you?”
“Yes. We all do. I’m sorry that we’ve been avoiding you all day, we just didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“What sur-”
“SURPRISE!” Sarah jumped out of her skin and then looked around the lounge. There was a shiny blue ‘congratulations’ banner along the back wall, streamers taped to the ceiling and a stack of pizza boxes on the table. “We want you to know that we’re here for you and that we’re happy for you. I know that you don’t have a lot of time, she needs to scrub up at OR four in... one hour and fifty-one minutes, but celebrate with us a little now, we just want to make sure that you feel supported.”
“And that you eat, no one needs you fainting in an OR.”
“Thank you, all of you, so much... I really appreciate this, I was pretty scared at first, I still am, but I’m confident in my decision.”
“Trust me, we know Sarah.” Puzzled, she looked around at her co-workers and found them all snickering in the direction of Connor and Robin. Connor blushed and lowered his head with anawkward smirk while Robin rolled her eyes. “Doris tried to talk smack and I can honestly say that I have never seen someone get verbally eviscerated so viciously. Showed all of us not to mess with Robin.” Everyone around her chuckled and seemed to unanimously agree with Maggie. “Thanks.”
“No problem, Sarah. Besides I think it was about time someone knocked her down a peg. I mean, I know that gossip is just a part of hospital life, but she just takes it to a whole other level.”
Maggie and Nat were the least tense around her since this whole thing started, Choi and Halstead just seemed relieved that there wasn’t anything wrong with her, April and Noah just seemed content to make her laugh as loud as possible, Robin made sassy quips about the two of them sticking together, and Connor just made sure she always had pizza on her plate. They exchanged a smile when he made sure that she was the first one to eat ‘I know that it’s not salad but it’s still pretty good’. Sarah couldn’t have been more delighted to see Connor moving more freely, lighter, with an enormous weight having been removed from his shoulders.
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The surgery... Did not go well, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault thankfully. Their patient had the largest tumor she’d ever seen in the centre of their brain and when Dr. Abrams removed it, it looked horrifying to be frank. There was literally a hole in this poor man’s brain which unfortunately resulted in brain damage. It was a serious risk from the beginning, so the patient and family had been informed numerous times in the days leading up to and of the surgery. Delivering that news had been assigned to Sarah and she was not looking forward to it. She left the recovery suite where the patient has just been examined after waking up and went to the waiting room where his husband was waiting along with his twin sister were after Dr. Abrams told them to wait while they examined him. “How is he?”
“He’s okay, right?”
“I am so sorry to tell you this, but he did sustain significant brain damage and it’s very likely that it’s permanent. There’s also a possibility that he could... Pass away due to the severity.” The second that the word ‘sorry’ was out of her mouth they both broke down in tears, holding onto each other for dear life. “You can see him, if you want, and I can explain a few things. Dr. Abrams will check on him again tomorrow at seven am, to give him more time to improve-”
“So, he could get better, my brother could recover.”
“I need to stress that while that is a vague possibility, it is incredibly unlikely, and I don’t want to get your hopes up. I’m so sorry.”
“... Can you take us to him? Or at least me? I totally understand if you can’t see him yet, he’s your twin, but... We- He’s the love of my life. I need to see him.” Sarah nodded and gestured for them to follow her, she wasn’t sure if his sister would at first, but she did, with a far-off, grave look in her eyes. Sarah tried not to think about it, after all, this poor woman was just told her twin brother suffered brain damage and would probably never be the same again, she was allowed to react however she needed to. Still... Sarah couldn’t help but feel like foreshadowing had taken physical form, like her patient’s sister knew more than she was saying. 
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Sarah had forty minutes left in her shift when alarms started blaring. She knew before she even turned around who it was and what the outcome would be. Despite being in her usual ‘crap someone’s dying’ speed her ankles felt like lead, and her soul had stayed at the computer she was working on. Her mind was still there, still searching her head for the best course of action before conducting it, giving orders to nurses, telling someone to get his loved ones out of the room, and shouting for someone to page the on-call neurosurgeon... But it was no use. And from the way everyone was looking at each other that this was the outcome they expected. “Time of death, 21:37.” Her voice felt so out of place, the vibrations her thoat made were irritating. The late patient’s fiance and sister were in the doorway. He was sobbing so inconsolably, so loud, it made Sarah’s heart clench. She however, looked numb, like a part of her just died. She looked Srah dead in the eyes and Sarah’s heart broke all over again. She’d known. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you Dr. Reese... I know that you and Dr. Abrams did everything you could. Could- could we have a moment with my brother? To say... Goodbye?”
“Of course.”
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When she finally left the hospital she was in tatters. She wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy hormones or if it was her patient’s death, but all that she really wanted to do was cry. No, she needed to cry. Sadness and despair was bubbling up inside of her and she just didn’t want to keep it inside her. But of course the universe had other plans. When she finally made it to her car the last two people she wanted to see were standing beside it and sitting on it. She sighed, on the verge of tears and not in any mood to deal with either of them. “Jimmy. Chilli.”
“We need to talk.”
“We don’t actually. We really, really don’t. You don’t want to be involved and that’s fine. When they’re born we’ll do a paternity test because that’s what’s required for you to sign away your rights, and then you’ll do just that, and then you’ll walk away. It’s okay.”
“No it’s not. I’m not okay with you having my baby.”
“And I’m not okay with it either, he’s my... Boyfriend and I don’t want another chick to have his child.”
“Okay, first of all, neither of you get a say and whether or not I have this child. My body, my decision, that’s it. Second, Chilli, you have absolutely no say here in anything. You are not the mother or the father and I’m not even sure if you guys are dating given your hesitation in calling Jimmy your ‘boyfriend’ and you have such a volatile on/off relationship, you get zero say in anything even remotely related to my baby.”
“HEY! DON’T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT-”
“Speak to me like an adult or don’t speak to me at all. You don’t get to yell at me, you don’t get to use that tone with me, it’s not okay.”
“I CAN SPEAK TO YOU HOWEVER I WANT! AND YOU ARE GETTING AN ABORTION EVEN IF I HAVE TO DRAG YOU THERE MYSELF!” In the next three seconds Sarah observed three things:
There were two of them and one of her
They were in a dimly lit, poorly monitored parking garage alone
They had to deal with violent people at their jobs more than she did and would likely overpower her
“The hell she is! She made her choice Borelli and you didn’t get a say in it!” Okay, so #2 was not true apparently, as Connor walked closer to them from the entrance. “This isn’t any of your business doc, so just go, okay?”
“You’re threatening my friend in a dark parking garage. Yes, it is my business. But it isn’t yours, you’ve said that you don’t want to be a dad, so you won’t be, and I don’t even know why Chilli is here, so you two need to get off of Sarah’s car and leave her alone.”
“No. We don’t have to listen to you. I’ll talk to her however I fucking want, I don’t have to move away from her car, and Chilli doesn’t have to get off it. Fuck. Off.”
“Connor, you worked a long shift, you shouldn’t have to stay for this, I’ll figure it out.”
“I appreciate the thought Sarah, but you worked a long day too and I’m seriously worried about your safety around them. Why don’t I just drive you home? It really isn’t a big deal.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am-”
“HEY! DON’T TALK ABOUT US LIKE WE AREN’T HERE! AND THIS ISN’T ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS!”
“Oh, go suck an egg, Borelli. Lead the way, Connor.”
“Gladly.”
They’d managed to make it to his car before the, quite honestly delusional, couple(?) realized they were seriously leaving, and Connor was pulling away with them shouting expletives and trying to chase the car on foot. “Thanks Connor, I really appreciate this.”
“Anytime Sarah, seriously. I care about you, you’ve become someone I trust and I want you to be safe and happy. I’ll help to make that happen if you ever need it.” Maybe it was the hormones, the encounter with Jimmy and Chilli, or the day just catching up with her, but she just couldn’t keep the exhaustion and gratitude out of her voice. “Thank you.”
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niksixx · 4 years
Text
Close as Strangers
Requested: Nope! 
Pairing: The Dirt!Tommy Lee x Fem!Reader 
Description: Based on the song ‘Close as Strangers’ by 5 Seconds of Summer. Lyrics are bold and italicized. 
A/N: Reblog and leave your own tags!! Thanks for supporting me :) 
*GIF is NOT mine. Found on Google. Credit to the owner.*
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Six weeks since I’ve been away
And now you’re saying everything has changed
And I’m afraid that I might be losing you
And every night that we spend alone
It kills me thinking of you on your own
And I wish I was back home next to you
Tommy had a job to do whether you liked it or not. Mötley Crüe was at the height of their success, landing tours in countries all across the globe. Being unfamiliar with the music scene, having a rockstar boyfriend was much harder than it looked. You supported him in every way, being there for him as his fame grew, but you’d be lying to yourself if you said it wasn’t difficult at times.
Shortly after Mötley Crüe’s debut in America, your relationship crossed over the line from casual to serious. You and Tommy adored each other, two halves of one whole, but lately you felt your relationship slipping right through your fingers. And the worst part was there was no motivation to save it.
“I’ve only been gone six weeks, honey.”
Six weeks too many. Now on his second tour, Tommy was busier than ever. Phone calls after every show were either late or nonexistent. In the event that he didn’t call, you tried not to take it personally, finding random things around the house to keep you busy, to keep your mind from wandering.
And then the plethora of rumors started and knocked the wind out of you. Tommy would never cheat on you, his heart was too loving, his soul too pure, but the paparazzi pictures did their job of convincing you that maybe Tommy had been unfaithful.
There was no denying that your relationship was dwindling, changing for the worst. In your bed, the side Tommy slept on grew colder and colder each night he was gone. The body pillow that rests in his place was too soft, lacking the firmness of Tommy’s body that you’d grown to love as you fell asleep beside him. The blankets didn’t compare to having his arms wrapped tightly around your frame.
Everything was just...different.
“Am I...am I losing you?”
No.
No.
No.
It was the word you wanted to scream out to him on the other end of the line, but it wasn’t the word that came out.
“I miss you so much, babe. I hate that I’m not there with you. I’d do anything to come back home to you.”
And you’d give anything to have him back, too.
Are we wasting time? Talking on a broken line?
Telling you I haven’t seen your face in ages
I feel like we’re as close as strangers
Won’t give up, even if it hurts so much
Every night I’m losing you in a thousand faces
Now it feels we’re as close as strangers
On the other end of the line, you can hear Tommy’s name being called either by his bandmates, groupies, or partygoers that found their way backstage after the show. He was easily distracted, shouting back and forth or laughing, forgetting that you were patiently, tiptoeing the line of impatiently, waiting for him on the other end.
“Tommy.”
“What? Oh, shit, I’m sorry babe.”
He was always sorry.
Sorry for leaving.
Sorry for forgetting to call.
Sorry about the photos.
Sorry for the excessive drinking.
Sorry for becoming distracted midway through your conversation.
Overtime, the word ‘sorry' lost its value.
And when it did, you became even more distant, intolerant of his inconsistencies.
“Baby?”
“Tommy, I haven’t seen you in three months. The least you can do is give me five fucking minutes on the phone.”
“Woah. Damn. Chill out. I was just talking to Vince.”
“Chill out?” You ask dramatically, now sitting upright in bed. “Chill out? You see Vince every day, Tommy. All I want is a sliver of your time, five minutes, and you’re giving me a hard time about that?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Tommy sighs sadly, scrubbing a hand over his face. Cradling the phone between his ear and shoulder, he hastily digs a cigarette from his pocket. He lights it and puffs out a cloud of smoke. “Are you okay, baby? You’re awfully snippy.”
You had every right to be snippy. Miles away in a foreign country, Tommy was living the life he always wanted for himself, all the while you were at home, going through the motions of an ordinary day seven days a week.
At times you were jealous of his success, as it had been the factor that took him away from you. It was hard being cooped up alone in a house that was meant for two people.
In theory, you’d be fine if the effort was there. But amid Tommy’s hectic lifestyle, you were floating in the background unseen.
The sigh from your lips was one of defeat. “No, Tommy, I’m not okay. I feel like my boyfriend is a stranger to me now. I miss you more and more every night, but lately I feel like giving up.”
Tommy pauses, heart racing. His grip on the cigarette tightens. He didn’t like where this was going. “On what?”
The lump in your throat grows, fingers gripping the phone tighter. You almost choke on the words, wondering if it’s a sign to hold them back. “On us.”
“No, no, no, no, no,” Tommy repeats in a rush, hand firmly planted against the cool brick wall behind the payphone. “Don’t say that, baby. Don’t you dare say that. I love you. I love you so much, you know that, right? And I miss you. I miss you all the time. When I’m up on that stage and I look out into the crowd, the only face I don’t see that I really want to see is yours.”
Maybe you should’ve kept the words at bay. But what good would hiding your feelings do? Even thousands of miles away, Tommy could pick up on the cues. The slightest change in your voice could send him into a panic.
“Tommy, being away from you for so long is so exhausting and I just...I don’t want to spend my time sulking and crying and waiting for you to come home. You’re struggling to make time for me when all I want is a five minute phone call, the media keeps reporting that you’re drinking more than usual, and the photos...the photos are tearing my heart in pieces.” You try not to think of the photos or of the groupies that made it their priority to sleep with men like Tommy, but the images were burned into your brain. “I feel like you’ve been on tour forever and I just can’t do it anymore. I don’t want to feel this way anymore.”
Tommy’s world comes crashing down around him. Just thinking of you ending the relationship has him sucking in nervous breaths, mind whirling with possible solutions to save your relationship. There was no way he was letting you get away from him. He wouldn’t give you up so easily.
“What if you come on tour with us?” He questions suddenly. “You wouldn’t have to worry about seeing me because we’d always be together. Come on baby, let me show you the world.” He’s sure this idea will work. You’ve mentioned before how the rest of the world seems nonexistent, as you’ve never traveled anywhere outside your immediate country. He’s giving you the chance, and he hopes you’ll take it.
But his high hopes come crashing down as you don’t think twice about rejecting his proposal. “I have my own life to live, Tommy. I can’t drop everything and spend the next four months in twenty different cities. I have to work so I can pay rent and pay for groceries and bills. Be realistic.”
Tommy frowns, crushing the butt of his cigarette under his boot. “You were just complaining about not seeing me. I give you a way to do that and you shut it down.”
The tips of your nails suddenly become important as you cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder. You pick and pick, teeth biting the corner of your bottom lip as you do so.
“Baby, tell me where your head’s at,” His voice is small now, unsure. “Tell me you’ll always be here. Please tell me I’m not losing you.”
“I want to be able to say those things. But you’re halfway across the world right now and I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I need you here.”
There’s a heavy sigh on the other end of the line as you find yourself sliding off the bed and trudging to the window, staring out into the dark sky. The crescent moon is the only thing illuminating the outside world along with a few street lights on the pavement. Around you, the world outside is quiet. The thoughts in your head? Not so much.
It was a conversation you never wanted to have, but it was necessary. You and Tommy were two different people who needed different things. Was there a chance you were acting selfish by pleading with him to come home? No doubt.
You knew Tommy would never give up his job despite his immense love for you. And while you wanted him to come home, you couldn’t force that decision out of him.
Which is why you had to make the decision yourself.
On the phone I can tell that you wanna move on
Through the tears I can hear that I shouldn't have gone
Everyday gets harder to stay away from you
“Don’t do this,” Words break through Tommy’s quiet sobs as his body is curled in a ball on the floor beside his hotel bed. After receiving what had been the worst news of his life, his legs had given out from underneath him, his body crumbling to the ground. “Please, baby. Don’t do this to us.”
After sleeping on it for a few days, you realized that the only thing you could do was break things off with Tommy. The road to your decision was a long and rough one, but hopefully it would be worth it if there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
But it was hard. Leaving your love behind wasn’t supposed to be easy. You had your doubts, and numerous what-ifs made you question your decision.
In the end, you knew it was the right choice even if your stubborn boyfriend wouldn’t agree with you. It wasn’t fair to make Tommy give up his dream in the middle of the band’s success. It was okay to be selfish at times, but this wasn’t one of them.
“You don’t know how hard this is for me,” There’s a crack in your voice, and soon a few tears leak from your eyes. Curled in a ball as well, your body sits heavily on the kitchen floor, back pressed against the stove. “I don’t want to do this. I really don’t want to do this, Tommy. But I can’t ask you to give up your dreams and come home. That’s selfish, and I love you too much to make you choose.”
“You’re not even giving me a choice,” Tommy says angrily, tears flowing freely. He runs a hand through his hair, dragging it down over his face, before slapping it lifelessly against his leg. Exhaling a shaky breath, Tommy leans his head back against the side of the bed. “I shouldn’t have gone. Fuck this, I’m coming home.”
“Tommy, no.” The tone of your voice is firm. You won’t let him sabotage his dreams on your account. “Listen to me. I love you. I do. But this isn’t working for us.”
“It’s not working for you,” Tommy corrects sarcastically, wiping his eyes with the back of his free hand. “Last I checked I wasn’t the one ending our relationship.”
You should have expected this, but his words stung as he spit them back to you. There’s no way you can blame him. He’s hurt. He’s angry. You deserve the lashing out for blindsiding him.
“You know I never cheated on you, right?” Tommy sniffles. The thought of being unfaithful to you had never even crossed his mind. “The photos, I mean.”
You nod. “I didn’t think you would.”
The long pause between the phone line is eerie. Tommy’s labored breathing is audible on the other end of the phone, and it’s not the type of breathing from the exhaustion after a wild show. It’s panic. It’s fear. It’s the feeling of loss.
“I told myself I’d fight for you, but if this is what you want, then I’ll let you go,” The words surprise you. Part of you had already imagined Tommy packing for the first available flight, but the defeat in his voice told you otherwise. He was staying put. “You deserve to be happy, and if I can’t do that then--.”
“Tommy, you’ve made me so happy. The happiest I’ve ever been,” There was no denying that. You had never laughed more, smiled more, loved more, than when Tommy became an integral piece of your life. “But it’s just--.”
“Right person, wrong time?”
The last piece of your beating heart shatters. The phone almost slips from your clammy palm as the reality of his words hit you. “Yeah. Exactly.”
Your life would be different if you’d met Tommy at the right time. There’d be no hesitation, no confusion, just blissful love.
Tommy clears his throat and it sinks into your bones that there was a large possibility this would be the last conversation you’d have with him. “Before you go, I want you to know something,” Tommy pauses to gather his thoughts. “I want you to know that we’re going to be together again one day. When all this is over, I’m going to find you, and I’m never going to let you go. You’re the one for me, Y/N. I’m letting you go now because I love you, but I’m going to win you back again. That’s a promise.”
One final tear slips down your cheek. “I hope you do.”
322 notes · View notes
pinkiepiebones · 3 years
Text
Tempest (or, I Saw a Cool Scene in My Head While in the Shower and Tried to Write a Story Around It)
His Unholiness Papa Emeritus IV, He Who Rules Lascivious and Conniving in the Name of Almighty Satan, Long and Terrible May He Reign, stalked briskly down the empty halls of the church. Ghouls rustled on the high ceilings, peering down at him with dull black eyes. The sunlight fell into the stained glass windows and left a maelstrom of colour and shadow across the floors.
Papa Emeritus IV made the trek he had made all year, from the chapel to his room. The online sermons had taken him several tries to get up and running, and while he appreciated being able to minister to the wayward souls of his flock, it did not replace in-person sermons and rituals and travel and everything to which he had grown accustomed as a mere Cardinal. Despite Sister Imperator’s unwavering support and affirmations and assurances that the Devil does not make mistakes, the creeping thought that he was letting his people down had been eaking it’s way into every wrinkle of his brain over the past year. It was weighing heavy on him, clinging to him, and when the ghouls rustled above him and turned their perceprive gazes downward he could hear whispers that were not the voices of the ghouls, but of his own growing doubts.
He had developed a habit of leaving his mitre and chasuble and gloves in the empty chapel, donning them now only for the online sermons. He went back to his room bereft of his papal finery, looking much like the Cardinal he once was, a thin towel draped over his shoulder so he could scrub off his skull paint in his room, alone. There was no reason to stay in the chapel. There was barely reason to leave his room any more.
A ghoul with tightly curled horns and long head feathers and heavy wings clasped like a cloak around it’s form was leaving his room as he approached. It saw him and bowed.
/YOUR MEAL IS ON YOUR DESK, MY PAPA./
He pursed his lips. “Thank you, ghoul” he said curtly. “Away, now.”
The ghoul obediently walked up the wall and onto the ceiling. Copia watched it leave and said softly, “and please, please call me ‘Copia’ next time.” He had been asking that for a year. The ghouls were created to be obidient drones, but they would not budge in their addressing of Papas as Papa.
It still didn’t feel right.
He slammed the door to his room, knowing full well he was alone in the hall, and rubbed at his face with the towel.
“Out, out damned spot, eh?”
The familiar voice jolted Copia’s senses. He startled and threw the towel down, spinning to see the intruder. Papa Nihil stood at the door, or, through the door.
The ghost of Papa Nihil drifted in to Copia’s small room, an icy blue web of wisps and shadows.
“You missed a spot,” he chided.
Copia picked up the towel, turned it over, and continued scrubbing at his face. Papa Nihil floated above Copia’s bed and looked around.
“It’s been over a year since you got your precious promotion, and you still haven’t moved from your cardinal dormitory room and into the papal suite?” He clucked his tongue disapporvingly. “The guilt must affect your ability to pack.”
Copia tossed the towel aside and glared at the spirit. “Why are you here? Is the Old One bored of you already?”
Papa Nihil smirked. “Oh, I’m not a spirit, but I think you knew that already, Papa.” He drifted up and closer to Copia. “I am not one of the dead who haunt the halls of this vacant church. The only halls I haunt are in your heart.”
He thrust a smoky finger into Copia’s chest, sending a shock of ice through Copia’s veins. The living Papa swatted angrily at the specter’s form, and it rippled into nothingness, only to reform, again, near the wall. It grinned.
“I am your guilt made manifest, my little right hand man. You did me in because you couldn’t handle the idea that I would not let you ascend.”
Copia curled his bare hands in to fists. The spirit’s form fluttered with icy light and it chuckled derisively.
“I’ve been gnawing at you since that night, and I finally have worn you down, little rat. You wanted me gone. You wanted the ancient blood line abolished.”
Papa Nihil stopped smiling and stared cold daggers into his protegè.
“You murdered me.”
Copia grabbed the wine glass from his lunch tray and threw it at the specter with a roar. The glass shattered on the wall behind Nihil, red wine splattering like blood on the cobblestone wall.
“I didn’t do a fucking thing to you,” Copia snarled. “You were a frail old man with a lung condition who insisted on pushing your way into my limelight to play that fucking saxaphonr, trying so hard to reclaim an iota of what you had half a century ago.”
Copia felt venom and bile burning in his throat and it felt good. “I was your assistant from the age of ten, your stenographer, your errand boy, your researcher, your attendant, and never once did you tell me you were proud of me or enjoyed seeing me. For fifty fucking years I waited on you and waited for any recognition of my work.
“Sister Imperator was the only thing resembling a parent I ever had. I knew she hoped you would see me as one of your feckless idiot sons, but you only ever saw me as hired help. I wrote music, I designed costumes, I finally got a chance to shine and still you clambered to keep close, petulant and pitiful and desperate to take the light that was no longer yours.”
Copia took a shaky breath and uncurled his fists. He smoothed a hand over his hair and adjusted his cufflinks.
“No, I did not kill you, Nihil. I have no guilt about your death. I have only anger, and that anger is at myself, because I never had the strength to tell you to fuck off when you were alive.”
The specter did not move.
The door creaked open. A ghoul, twisting it’s tail in it’s talons, poked it’s head in.
“Forgive me, your Papa-ness, but I heard glass break and yelling, and-“
Copia smiled and raised a hand. “It’s alright, Special. I saw a cockroach and panicked.”
The ghoul nodded and glanced at the wall. “O-okay. I’ll, uh, I’ll tell the cleaning ghouls to, to do better. Anywho, you’ve got an online wedding to officiate in an hour, just reminding you.”
Copia nodded and the ghoul receeded. The specter of Papa Nihil drifted back into the damp cobblestones, but the eyes remained, pinpricks of light above the blood-red wine.
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mashedpotittiess · 3 years
Text
Seance Season Chp 2
Chapter 2: Worries and Answers.
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Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader.       Mentions of OC x Hoseok. Non-Romantic mentions of other BTS members.
Summary: You repeatedly told yourself you did not have Magick. But one evening has you fearing for what you’re starting to become. In the middle of all of that, you have this pull to Jungkook that you both can’t quite explain. This new season of your life is Seance Season. Will you come out the same person?
Words: 13,500+
Rating: PG13-M’ish. Some Sexual scenarios but not the full Snex.
Genre: Magick, Witch au. Fluff, Angst and Smut. Slight Horror.
Tags/Warnings: Strong mentions of Magick and spells. Please do not read if you are uncomfortable with the idea of wicca and anything of the sort as certain remedies and ‘spells/chants’ are in fact real to some. Drinking. Fighting. Blood. Destruction. A man harms y/n. Horror to some degree. Extremely religious folk be wary.
Pls excuse if there are any spelling or grammatical errors. I don’t really have a beta or anything to scan for anything like that <3
All rights to pictures, songs and other types of media respectively belong to their owners.
Fic Inspired Playlist that I highly recommend while you read each chapter as they sent the mood. Link is here.
Taglist: @a-mess-of-fandoms @dnyad @mwitsmejk @ggukkieland​
To be added to the taglist of this pic or all of my pics lmk through comments or dm’s c:
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“Thanks, for uh..the ride home and you saving me..and just everything.” you were still visibly shaken from the events that had just transpired but you tried your best not to show it, your face hardening as you worried at your cheek with your teeth. 
The heels of your scraped up boots clacked against the concrete leading to the front door of your apartment complex. You’d probably have to say goodbye to these shoes as they not only had had enough ‘excitement’ for their lifetime but the heels were wobbly to walk on and you knew they were close to just breaking off.
Stopping at the wooden door to the lobby you looked up to meet the intense gaze Jungkook fixated on you. It wasn’t the same intense gaze he had at the club, no, this was and intense look of contemplation, of fear, of intrigue.
You searched for the right words to say but as you opened your mouth he did the same. “Are you okay to stay by yourself? You’ve had a long night. I’m not saying I’d like..stay the night, but I could always stay for a bit if you want to talk about tonight.” His eyes held sincerity in his words and if you were being honest you really didn’t want to be alone. You we’re scared of so many things right now and you weren’t sure you could even sleep if you tried. The thought of the man who attacked you possibly finding you again made a shiver run up your spine. You knew he was badly injured from Jungkook and it would definitely take time and powerful potions to heal him up right, but it didn’t settle the slight tremble in your knees.
“If you would..I’d appreciate that” With a nothing but a nod, Jungkook opened the door to you and followed behind your walking body.
Reaching into your purse that Jungkook recovered from the alleyway for you while you were in a daze, you pulled out your key and turned it into the deadbolt mechanism until the locking ‘click’ could be heard.
Gesturing with a wave of you palm, Jungkook entered your ‘home’ and you closed the door behind you both making sure to lock both locks, even if it was just for peace of mind. You watched his eyes move over the entirety of your livingroom/diningroom open space and the kitchen nook that was only separated by a wall with a cut out alcove between the dining area and the actual kitchen space.
“Make yourself at home, I’m going to take a quick shower. I think I packed up some of Tae’s clothes that he left at my old house and brought with me here, when I get out I’ll check.” you watched the dark haired mans left eyebrow cock at the mention of ‘tae clothes’ but didn’t ask why as you just wanted to get out of these clothes and try to wash away at the grime and blood that covered your body.
Taking a change of undergarments and pajamas with you to the bathroom, you left them neatly folded on the sink and made quick work of your clothing. Deciding most of it had been damaged and it would be best to just get rid of it, you threw it all into a heap and tossed your non ruined undergarments in the hamper nestled inside your linen closet.
You finally took in your reflection in the mirror. Your hair was wildly matted in spots from when you were against the wall and on the ground wiggling about to break free. Your body was littered with numerous scrapes and scratches that you knew would bruise over the course of the next week. You cheek had bits of dried blood from where the Ice dagger cut at your skin and the cut on your palm still had beads of flowing blood mixing in with brown specs of dirt and debris you accumulated from the alley floor. Your tearducts and nostrils were black with soot and ash from Jungkooks fire and what was left of your makeup was smeared in different directions. You looked like hell and a part of you was embarrassed that Jungkook had seen you like this.
Steam filled the room as you lit the eucalyptus and peppermint candle settled atop a shelf to help with the tension that was running rampant in your mind and body.
Stepping under the hot water, you felt it start to string your skin with the borderline too hot stream that you needed to feel. The water swirling into a pool at your feet making it’s way to the drain was tinted a mauve color and you watched until it finally ran clear. It was almost therapeutic, clear was associated with purity and the water washing off the physical grime of tonight made you a little less on edge. Thanking the element of water you made quick work of working shampoo into your tresses.
Atop your head sat a bun of hair and conditioner while you washed your body. The mixture of hot water and soap licked at your body and you hissed at the pain but you scrubbed vigorously at your body with your loofah none the less.
The water once again spiraled with a pink hue as the grime that hadn’t been washed away with just the water finally made it’s way off of your body. With a sharp hiss, the cut on your palm opened further. The swollen pink skin around the crimson gash stung as you made sure to really wash it. The cut on your face re opened in the same way while you washed all traces of makeup, soot, debris and dried blood from the delicate skin.
You din’t know if it was the color of the water or the thoughts flowing in your mind but you broke down. Tears streaming down your cheek as your knees gave out and you sat your body in the tub curling into yourself.
Sobs wrecked your body as you shook violently and you held your knees to your chest tightly in search of some sort of stability. Water made its way from your head and into your mouth and a quick inhale from a sob caused you to choke out the liquid. 
Why did this all happen? What was going on? Could this all please be some sort of horrible nightmare that you could wake up from? What was this overwhelming urge you couldn’t quite describe? 
Scenes of fire fanning over concrete and chunks of rubble lying under gaping holes littered your brain and dances behind closed eyes as silent cries of why continued to escape your lips. 
Jungkook had been using paper towels to dry at the cuts and scrapes on his arms he had just washed in your kitchen sink when he heard a heavy thud echo from the bathroom. He had thought you might’ve dropped something but the sound of a choked sob prompted him to hastily make his way to the bathroom door. He had called out to you multiple times but the sounds of streaming water and heart breaking sobs were all he got in response. 
Warm arms and a fluffy towel were wrapped around your body as you finally registered that the shower had been turned off and you were currently leaning against a solid body of muscle as Jungkook secured the towel around your body. 
You both stood there in silence with his arms secured around you as tears continued to escape your eyes and it wasn’t until you were finally taking in deep breaths to calm yourself that you took in the situation. Jungkook had not only seen you naked but he witnessed your break down and helped you yet again.
Pulling away from his body, you clutched the terry fabric closer to your body and he politely nodded his head while making his exit to let you dress yourself. 
The soft jersey fabric of your lavender colored pajama shorts and old megadeath shirt covered your body while your fuzzy socks felt cozy against your toes. Covering the candle to extinguish the flame, you made quick work of brushing your hair with the etched wooden comb your mother had gifted you for your 18th birthday, the wooden teeth detangling your hair gently.
Your eye cream had aided in helping to de-puff your eyes a bit but they were still visibly swollen and red. Shaking your head at your yourself in the mirror you finally exited your bedroom deciding you had finally calmed down enough to not only face the man who had saved you twice already but make yourself some tea to hopefully aid in clarity of your mind, body and soul.
Upon entering the kitchen, you came face to face with Jungkook who had been leaning against the counter waiting for you. “Before you say anything, I didn’t see much I swear. It was so foggy from the steam that it was all a blur and before you apologize just know you don’t owe me one. I just wanted to make sure that you were..well..okay.” He had insisted before you could even open your mouth and attempt the apology that had been sitting on the tip of your tongue as you didn’t know what else to say. His words put you at ease but you still softly thanked him to which he smiled that dazzling bunny like smile that was such a juxtaposition to his ‘rebel without a cause’ look he had going on. The tattoo spiraling from the tips of his fingers up to his chest and neck didn’t really help- WAIT when THE FUCK did his shirt come off. Omg was he half naked when he picked your buck naked body off of your shower floor and into a towel? Jeez you really should stop with the leering y/n, you were literally having a mental breakdown like 15 minutes ago, a breakdown that this tall dark and handsome man had witnessed. Shaking your head of the ‘offensive’ thoughts, you opened the upper cabinets by your stove searching from your herbs you wanted to brew.
Turning on the high heat setting on one of the burners, you set your black kettle down and got to work on filling a small mesh bag with a concoction. A pinch of dried Lavender buds, a 1/2 teaspoon of ground chamomile, a few dried yarrow flowers. Hmm, I’m forgetting something.
“Tangerine peel would be a great addition for that tea.” The voice to your right called out, reminding you of Jungkook’s presence. He was right, Tangerine peel had been known in the ways of Magick for its aid in purification, protection and clarity. The uplifting scent was also a plus. Grabbing a Tangerine from your fruit bowl on your small dining table, you carefully separated the flesh of the fruit from its peel and sliced in thin strips. 
Steeping the Yarrow separately as it needed more time than the other herbs, you munched on the Tangerine. The sweet yet tart juicy flesh burst between your teeth as you chewed making you realize how hungry you had been.
“Are you perhaps hungry? I just realized I haven’t eaten in hours.” You questioned Jungkook with a soft bite at your bottom lip. “I could go for some food, I actually know this 24 hour pizza joint that delivers if you’re up for that.” He asked with a smile and you nodded in return promptly telling him to order anything he liked when he asked what your preferred toppings were.
The scent of the steeping tea was soothing and you found yourself gazing at the man in front of you who was currently on the phone ordering a pepperoni, mushroom and black olive with garlic butter crust. The words along making you internally drool. The tattoo on his left side of his torso looked so intricate, the swirls of black ink with small bursts of crimson in the shape of what looked like dahlias made their way from mid torso over his defined abdominal muscles and down his hip disappearing into the waistband of his pants. Wait why is his shirt still off? Where is it anyways? OH FUCK You had forgotten to bring him some of Taehyungs old clothes. You had finally noticed that he had cleaned himself up while you were gone, his wounds hadn’t been bleeding but you could see the shadow of bruises starting to form over his bruised skin and decided after you found the clothing you would try to make a healing salve to aid in the swelling of the area. Passing his frame to head to your room you caught a glimpse of what looked like his shirt folded on one of your dining chairs. 
Holding what looked like it would fit his frame you thrust your hands out to him.”Here, the clothes I forgot to get you earlier. They look like they’d fit. Tae isn’t as uh..’muscly’ as you but you’re around the same-ish height” Mentally cringing at the word ‘muscly’ leaving your lips you glanced to the right of his frame and noticed that your tea had been presented in a mug on the counter with a napkin folded next it.
Jungkook thanked you and assured you it was more than okay, even adding that he ‘forgot’ he had been without a shirt. When you look like that you can get away with ‘forgetting’ being half naked. 
A drizzle of honey perfectly complimented the steaming tea as you brought it to your lips and blew a stream of cool air before taking your first sip. The herbal concoction did wonders to your palette. Tangerine leant a soft citrus note that had you quickly taking another sip. 
Gathering a plethora of herbs based essential oils you quickly got to work mixing the right amount of each together in harmony of what was needed most. The oils had now been ready to put into the coconut and jojoba oil you had already warmed. With a 1/4 cup of bees wax to help harden the oil like consistency you set the mixture in the fridge for quick solidification. You had finished putting away the multitude of jars that littered the counter when Jungkook entered.
“Hey thanks for the clothes.” you noted Teahyung didn’t look like that in those dark grey marled jogger style sweatpants and plain black crew neck t shirt that sported more than a few holes. You liked distressed oversized tops and Tae and Joon always left clothes at your old house so finders keepers. I mean you had to admit your friends were beautiful creatures, but you always looked at them as brothers and not a man that had his hands on your hips dancing rhythmically a few hours earlier.
The sound of the doorbell ringing brought you out of your thoughts and Jungkook stated it must be the pizza. Pouring yourself a glass of ice water you took both your mug and glass to the coffee table situated in front of your couch. Laying two paper plates on the wooden surface, you stacked a few napkins from your roll knowing how messy pizza can sometimes get.
The smell of garlic and pepperoni filled your nostrils and you almost groaned as your stomach grumbled embarrassingly loud; good thing Jungkook hadn’t been too close to hear. While Jungkook set up the cardboard box in between the two plates you had laid out, you brought him a glass of water after asking what he’d like to drink. 
It was a comfortable silence that befell the living area as you both munched on the greasy goodness on the comfort of your couch. Your legs stretched outwards from their previously criss-cross applesauce position as you reached for your ice water after finishing your first slice. You had to admit, Jungkook had been right about the pizza being delicious. His bunny like smile made your lips curl upwards at your admittance.
Three slices of pizza and half of your water later you curled your throw blanket around your legs and sipped on the now lukewarm tea. Clearing his throat, Jungkook turned towards you from his position on the other side of your grey couch, a napkin in his hadn’t as he dabbed at his mouth. “Are you..are you okay to uh…talk about what happened earlier?” You weren’t quite sure if you were to be honest, but maybe he had some answers to the questions you had regarding the events that had transpired in that alleyway.
With a long sip of your tea you nodded in answer with a swallow. “Y/n do you know what you did? Like are you aware of what happened?” your head bobbed up and down slowly as you took in the trepidation on his face.
“I could see the smoke if that’s what your asking. I saw the tendrils twist and curl into those obsidian looking spears. I couldn’t really control it, It’s like I saw what was happening but I was just a bystander of sorts as my body was taken over.” You paused trying to figure out the best way to phrase the next series of sentences. “I could..hear..voices that sounded like my own and something deeper almost sinister..telling me what to do, what I wanted to do, what I should do. As I was watching I almost wanted to give in to everything the voices were saying. I was so upset and frustrated that it all came out at once in a physical way. It’s like I was in one of my recent nightmares, just watching as I destroyed that wall. Whatever it was wanted me to do much worse but it’s like this light was cast and parted the smoke that clouded my vision and I was able to break out of that sort of trance. It’s like when the wall was destroyed, either the sound of seeing the concrete turn to piles of rumble made me realize what I did. I just..I j..just want to w..wake up and it all be some sort of sick nightmare. Jungkook I don’t have magick, I never have. M..maybe it was some sort of spell that I was under and it can just be broken. Maybe that man had some friend that cast a hex.. I don’t know.” Fingers shaking you reached for your mug and chugged the rest of the cool liquid hoping to calm yourself down.
“Y/n that wasn’t spellwork or some sort of hex. That was dark magic. Something I’ve only seen once and i..that was a long time ago. It looked like you were being consumed by it, not controlling it. Your eyes turned the color of Onyx and your veins looked as if they were full of ink and not blood. There was this shrouded aura around you that pulsated with power. I felt like lightning had struck next to you and I was..almost..scared. But then you came to and some part of me needed to help. You keep saying you don’t have magick but you seem to know a lot about it.”
With a nod of your head you gestured towards the framed picture atop the mantle that held your tv. After you had explained to him the magick your parents and friends held he nodded in understanding, his question seemed to be answered.
“So you didn’t come into magick before your 18th birthday?” A shake of your head answered his question. “I don’t know much more about how dark magic is obtained. I just know it is capable of so much hurt and destruction. You aren’t anything like the holder I’ve..come across.” 
“I don’t want this Jungkook..I don’t want to be this way. What if it was all a fluke? Like, what if it all goes back to normal tomorrow?” His tongue poked at the inside of his left cheek as he contemplated what you had said. “I don’t think that’s how that works y/n, but maybe it will. We can hope. I really think you should ask your parents about it though, you said they own a magick shop right? They must have more knowledge on this than I do. I know you said you don’t want them to try and bring you back home but y/n you need to know what’s going on. Even if it was a fluke and never happens again you still can’t just run the risk of it happening again and without a magic shield protecting the area you could do actual damage to something or worse..” He was right and that thought alone scared you. Standing up you threw the paper plates into the brown cardboard box and took it to the kitchen for recycling.
Your mug had been placed into the sink basin by Jungkook. “How did you know to put Tangerine in the tea? You also must’ve known the brewing time to pour it before the herbs burnt and got bitter.” The questions slipped from your mouth as you washed the grease residue from your hands, in your defense not all active magick holders are well versed in teas, tinctures and the such. Thats why your parents shop had been frequently visited. Some witches finding things as simple as ‘human magic’ as they called it, to be just that simple, too simple for them to care to learn or worry about doing. “My mom taught me as a child before..she passed” A brief look of hurt crossed his face and you couldn’t help but regret asking.
“She was a fire holder like I am. She said Dad was too even though he passed around the time that I was born. Funny how we can have magick but still pass from disease and sickness.” His lips curled into a tight lipped small smile as you softly let out an apology for his loss. “Both passings were white some time ago. Don’t apologize for things you had no part in.” Jungkook’s front teeth showed as his smile widened and while you were put at ease you were still regretful of asking and having him relive parts of his past.
“But that’s why I really believe you should tell your parents what happened. You have someone to hopefully help you with what’s happening, to guide you. Earlier you asked about my Inferno Fire. When my mom passed..madness is a understatement for what I felt. I was consumed with the need to avenge her and my power..it was a lot to control. I still have my moments but what i’m saying is, you have the guidance I didn’t have. Let’s say your parents don’t have answers to whats going on, at least they know and can maybe try and be there for you.” You knew he was right, while you hoped it was a fluke of some sorts, there was no way you should risk it again without consulting your parents and best friends. 
“I’ll check to see what time the trains leave tomorrow, or well later today since it’s passed midnight.” You figured the sooner the better and having the next few days off until Thursday night helped.
“You don’t have a car right? If you want, I can drive you. You said it’s a few hours out of the city? I just don’t know if you being on a bus alone before knowing what’s going on is safe. What is another holder comes after you again and this time you’re not only defenseless but other can get hurt as well. The shield can only do so much. We got lucky tonight that he and myself both put up shields that blocked the brunt of the power but a moving vehicle with people so close together is another story.” 
To say you were surprised by his offer was an understatement but you agreed none the less as he had a fair point. You both agreed he would stay the night ‘his insistence and your obvious agreement’ and after you both rested for a few hours as it was already passed 3 in the morning, you both would go over to his apartment so he could change before heading over to your hometown.
“Wait are you sure you’re okay with that? What about work or a roommate or a..girlfriend. omg are they okay with you being at my place? or a club for that matter” Word vomit like questions escaped your mouth and you instantly regretted them despite the incredible smile they caused Jungkooks lips to form into.
“Well my work will be fine. I don’t go to the office as much since Jimin runs most of it now. The only roommate I have is a pet cat named Luna-“ A cock of your eyebrow “Don’t judge me, Stella Luna is an iconic children’s book and we can all learn from momma bat. Anyways Jimin will go by and feed you if I ask him to. I don’t have a girlfriend and if I did I surely wouldn’t have been at that club dancing with you like that.” You felt the blush creep up your neck to your cheeks, tinting them in a soft crimson.
“I..alrighty then, I should probably head to bed. Long day ahead of us and all. I’ll bring you some pillows. Before I forget, there’s a salve in the fridge for you. It should hopefully help with the swelling and bruising.” You didn’t give him the chance to reply as you bounded off to your bedroom in search of the extra bedding you had tucked away on the top shelving of your walk-in closet.
Two fluffy pillows and an extra blanket filled your arms as you made your way back into your living area where Jungkook was currently sitting while scrolling on his phone. Looking up from the glowing screen of his cellphone, Jungkook took the bedding from your outstretched arms while a polite ‘thank you’. “The salve feels great by the way. Calendula was used to make it right? and I thought I smelt yarrow too.” With a smile you nodded as his assumptions had been correct. “Peppermint to give the swelling a cooling sensation, Burdock root oil for skin circulation so the area can hopefully heal faster and a little bit of chamomile to soothe.”
“Feel free to leave the lamp on if you’d like. You already know where the bathroom is. Um, I’ll be setting my alarms to around 10 because I already know that if I don’t set them I’ll sleep all day. Goodnight Jungkook”. 
“Goodnight y/n” With a eye crinkling gentle smile, the man in front of you tucked the pillows behind his head. 
How long had you been laying there staring at the wall? 30 minutes? An hour? 5 minutes? Every time your eyes fluttered closed and you started to enter the dream realm, you snapped your eyes back open afraid of going back to the same nightmare you’ve had twice before. The tea had worked in calming you down and giving you a sort of clarity but it didn’t prevent you from still asking the what if’s and the fear that swirled around in your brain.
Tip Toeing your way to the kitchen, you blindly reached for what you thought was the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and instead grabbed ahold of a fist full of air while leaning a little too forward. “Shit fuck” you hissed as your big toe came into contact with the leg of a dining chair. You hadn’t even heard Jungkook move from his spot on the couch when arms reached behind around you and you were suddenly placed in a chokehold.
Flailing your arms, you swung your right elbow backwards and hit the dark haired mans left ribs. “What the FUCK?” you yelled out and the man immediately let go of your body. Flinging yourself onto the wall behind you, you reached around for the light switch.
With the area finally being illuminated Jungkook’s eyes widened “I’m so so sorry, I just heard a voice and thought someone got in!” Shaking your head you dragged out a breath of air. “An intruder that’s short? I mean it could happen but you didn’t think of the height, mixed with the voice of a female mixed with you being in someone else’s apartment that maybe it was the owner of said apartment?” Top teeth bit into his plump bottom lip and you sighed. “I appreciate you for being on the offense with the ‘intruder’. I’m sorry for waking you up.”
With an adamant shake of his head and a promise of it being ok you slowly nodded your head. “Have you not slept yet?” You chewed the inside of your cheeks before answering quietly.
“I understand, but you need rest y/n. Would you like it if I..slept in there with you? NOT IN A SEXUAL MANNER.” His hands went up defensively and you held back the chuckle that threatened to escape your throat. “I just mean maybe another person being in the room will help you sleep better and if you have a nightmare I guarantee I’ll wake you up”. Studying his expression and glancing at the time on the stove fuck it’s already 5:20.
“Okay” was all you replied before he followed you to your bedroom after flicking the kitchen lights off. 
You could feel the heat coming off of his body despite your shoulders being a whole foot away. It wasn’t an uncomfortable heat though, it was actually almost soothing. Like a heating pad on your back when that time of the month came, TMI analogy I know but it was true.
The sound of Jungkooks breath slowing down as he was brought back to sleep lulled you into your own slumber, thankfully before morning light streamed through your window.
The sounds of two alarms going off at once blared into your ears. With a groan you reached blindly forward towards your phone with usually lay on the nightstand. Instead of the cool plastic case that enshrouded your phone, your hair was met with a fistful on floppy hair. 
Your eyes had never shot open so fast before in your life. Blinking slowly, you stared at the unmoving body that held you in his arms as you were pressed to his defined chest. How was he still so peacefully asleep with alarms blaring? His lips were softly pouted as he dreamt and his eyelashes looked like ebony feathers racing the tops of his cheekbones. The mole under his lip almost hiding beneath his bottom lip as he pouted. He was beautiful and you, you..oh fuck I probably have morning breath and look like shit.
The attempt at detangling yourself from his grasp proved futile as his arms only pulled you closer until his heated breath fanned over your neck. You pushed back the shiver that ran up your back with every breath he took. With a deep breath of your own you pushed yourself backwards with all your might and managed to flop right off of the bed and land on the rug covering your floor.
Pulling yourself up to a sitting position you watched as he clutched your comforter under his chin as he was still asleep. Wake you up if you have a nightmare my ass. He managed to wake up from me SOFTLY cussing but alarms blaring do nothing.
You took the time that he was still asleep to brush your teeth and hair and even put a light dusting of makeup over your face. With a pop of mascara and brow gel brushing over your hairs, you pulled away from your bathroom mirror and ran your finger over the now scabbing slice over your cheek. The tinted moisturizer and powder evening out your complexion but not covering your wound as you knew it needed to heal without possibly getting infected with anything covering it. A soft swirl of bronzer over your temples and the edges of your face made you look more awake than you felt as you were currently a walking zombie (no offense to zombies).
Walking back into you room, another of Jungkook’s alarms was going off and he hadn’t even budged from his position. Jungkooks eyes shot open as both of your hands gripped his shoulders as you leaned over him, his name leaving your lips in a sort of loud groan/growl. A lazy smirk pulled over his lips as he cocked his left eyebrow up at you. “You know, if you wanted to groan my name I could make it a lot more fun for you.”
The fire that licked at your loins was doused with water as you stepped back from his frame and cross your arms over your chest. “It’s 10:30 and your alarm has been going off non stop. How the hell do you sleep through that?!” Jungkooks smirk was quickly replaced with a sheepish grin. “I’m really bad with alarms. I promise if it’s like someone telling me to wake up or something urgent like what I thought was an intruder last night I’ll wake up but alarms go off for about an hour before I actually wake up. Luna usually jumps on my face and paws as my cheeks so I can wake up cause she’s so fed up with the sound.” The image of a cat squishing his soft cheeks caused you to giggle.
“You look nice by the way, not that you didn’t last night. I’m just saying you get ready fast.” Jungkook left to the bathroom after you thanked him for his compliment. Your feet pattered against the wooden floor as you searched through your closet for something to wear.
The light blue boyfriend style jeans being oh so comfy yet hugged your ass in just the right way. A worn grey/black Nirvana shirt with plenty of holes and gashes served its purpose in covering your torso and a pair of OG black checkered slip on vans completed your road trip outfit.
You slipped on your favorite birthstone embedded ring over your thumb when Jungkook entered your room in search of his phone. “I’m ready whenever you are” you nodded in understanding and grabbed an oversized navy blue hoodie in case you got cold. After a quick interval debate, you decided it would be best to pack extra clothes in case you stayed the night back home. Telling Jungkook of your decision, you hurriedly shoved a couple of  random graphic tees, a pair of pajama leggings, an extra pair of socks and your back up travel size toiletries into a satchel along with your phone charger.
With a quick look through your purse to make sure you had everything you needed you followed Jungkook out of your apartment and into his sleek black luxurious vehicle. “I sent Jimin a text telling him I’d be gone for a day or two so he could watch Luna. Speaking of Luna, she’s very cautious of new people so if she avoids you please don’t take it personally.” you nodded your head in understanding and your eyes followed the passing high rise buildings from the window. While you hadn’t really explored the city you remembered this area being upscale from the few school trips and random road trips with the boys you had been part of.
The sunlight streaming through the windows was cut off as you all pulled into an underground garage that was attached to a high rise building, rows of expensive cars lined up in their parking spaces and you instantly felt underdressed. Picking at the holes in your jeans you softly nibbled the inside of your cheek as Jungkook pulled into his spot. 
The garage level elevator dinged as you all entered the space and you let your eyes roam around. The walls were mirrored chrome, the rails looked as if they had been recently polished and the floor was a crisp white marble against your worn in shoes. “I could always just wait in the car..I don’t exactly look the part right now.” Your cheek was pulled between your teeth and the dark haired man shook his head adamantly. “You look fine y/n, plus I wouldn’t want to leave you in the dark garage while I took who knows how long getting ready.” He had been right, the garage lights seemed to be motion activated so they only lit up when a car pulled in or occupants exited the elevator or stairwell, so you would in fact be shrouded in darkness.
As the elevator doors opened to the 30th floor your eyebrows shot up at the modern design of the hallway. Marble floors seemed to extend over the ground here as well. The walls were a soft grey toned taupe color that was accentuated by the dark stained wood crown molding. Above your head, the ceiling had the same color as the walls except rows of squares were made with the crown molding and in the middle of each square sat a mirror which aided in making the space look large. In front of the elevator was a thin console table colored with the same wood as the molding, atop the counter stood a few silver toned vases that were filled with bunches of white hydrangeas and soft pink roses.
You had noticed that unlike your building that held many doors along the hallways of each floor, this building or maybe it was just this floor but as you turned right and followed Jungkook you had only seen one or two white wooden numbered doors. The glass and chrome mini chandeliers lit your way as you turned another right and ended up in front of another hall with two doors, one of either side. 
Setting his palm over the electronic keypad, Jungkook entered 4 numbers followed by a green ‘enter’ button and the locking mechanism clicked as is unlocked. With a turn of the handle, the door was softly swung open and you followed Jungkook though the threshold.
With a flick of a light switch, the apartment was now illuminated. Damn, so this is how the other half live. The kitchen to your left was a completely open space, a large white marble topped island with silver metal stools separated the space from a long black wooden table and chair set that sat at least 6-8 people.
To your right was a large living area complete with a built in black wooden console and shelving that housed a massive flat screen in the middle. Atop a shelf to the right of the tv were multiple different gaming consoles and rows of what you assumed to be games and dvd’s. Encircling the area were plush medium grey couches that formed a large sectional, to the side were two light grey nailhead trimmed wingback chairs. In the middle of the couches was a coffee table that looked as if it was made of twisting large logs that were dipped in liquid silver with a clear glass square top. In between both wingback chairs stood an endurable that matched the coffee table but at a much smaller scale. Tucked against a wall next to one side of the sectional couch was a chrome finished standing floor lamp with square shaped glass encircling the lightbulbs. Along the wall of the open dining and living area were large dark grey curtains that seemed to hide massive windows that looked as if they were floor to ceiling from what you could see.
The walls in the dining area held various modern eclectic paintings but besides that, the walls were pretty barren. The soft light grey almost white of the walls made the space look exceptionally clean. A loud purr and something rubbing against your left ankle took you out of your thoughts and appreciation of the beautiful space.
A small black bundle of fur was circling around you leg as it rubbed itself against the tops of your shoes. Bending down you smiled softly at loud purrs that Luna was letting out. A big pair of green eyes landed on yours and Luna meowed up at you. Extending your hands towards her head, you softly scratched behind her ears as she nuzzled her head against your fingers. 
In front of you knelt a dumbfounded Jungkook as he seemingly waiting for Luna to come to him but instead came to you for attention. “Luna, i’m your dad! How could you? I get that she’s pretty but didn’t you miss me?” A small pout graced the mans lips and you couldn’t help the loud laugh that escaped your lips. He resembled a child that got his gameboy taken away from him.
“Well since she seems to like you, I’m going to shower real quick and change. Make yourself at home. Theres food in the fridge but I was thinking of maybe picking up something for the road if that’s cool with you.” You let him know that was more than fine with you as your tummy was starting to grumble. Standing from your previously knelt position you watched as he entered a room to the left of the dining area, only two doors lined the wall and before you could ask what the other was, his mop of hair entered your vision from a small space as the door re opened. “Theres a bathroom in the door to the left of the little hall next to the living room.” With that, the man closed his bedroom door again and you followed Luna to the massive couch as she seemed to want you to sit and give her more attention.
She said in your lap as you smoothed your hands over her sleek black fur. You noted her bowl of food and some high tech water system on the side of the kitchen island and smiled at the little plaque reading “Luna” nailed into the white wood of the kitchen island over her bowls. You loved your couch, you really did but as your butt sank into the cushions of the sectional, you sighed. What the fuck did Jungkook do to live this lavishly? 
You scrolled through your phone with one hand as you pet the cute fur ball atop your lap with the other. You had sent a text to your parents and your friends asking if they were free this afternoon as you were coming back home and needed to talk. The text was answered immediately with worry from your mom and you assured her you were fine. Jin had asked if you needed a ride from the train station but you had let him know you were being driven by a friend to which your friends had a plethora of questions ready.
With another sigh you worked your fingers over the touchscreen, answering as many of the questions as you could with a promise of ‘i’ll tell you the rest when I get there’. 
You didn’t knew how much time had passed but you assumed it to be a short span before a door opened and Jungkook emerged with slightly damp hair and a new outfit. The dark denim hugged his thighs and you tried your best not to drool. A plain black crew neck shirt and dark grey hoodie covered his torso and you internally were little jealous at how someone dressed so casually could look like they were walking the stage at new you fashion week. In your mind you were miss potato and he was a greek sculpture.
Slipping on a pair of black combat boots he gripped the small leather overnight bag between his fingers and planted a kiss to the top of Lunas head as she hopped off of your lap and stood on the back of the couch. “Ready?” Your feet followed his as he exited his apartment and before you both could reach the elevator door, a shrill voice called out to you both. 
“Jungkook! You weren’t home last night, I tried to bring you a slice of tiramisu that I had ordered from Ronaldos but you weren’t home.” The blonde pouted her pink colored lips and her big brown doe eyes bat innocently. “Oh you had a friend with you.” The word friend seemed to be accentuated more than the others as she twist a strand of her curled hair between her manicured fingers. 
“Oh, yeah I didn’t come home last night, thanks for the thought though.” Jungkook politely called out. “Another night at Jimins? I love a good bromance. Or perhaps a long night at the office? I told you that you needed to relax a little sometimes. You’re always welcome at my place.” Her lips grinned lasciviously as she stepped towards you both slightly and ran her fingers up Jungkooks fabric covered arm to his shoulder. She acted as if you weren’t even standing there not even a couple of feet away.
“No thank you Melissa, I already told you I’m fine.” Her manicured nails curled around Jungkooks bicep and she hummed. “But you seemed to be more than fine last time you came over. Why don’t you come over right now?”.
“No” Jungkook sternly answered and turned his back to her after shaking off her grip. Not a single step was taken before she gripped his bicep and moved to turn him to face her. Your eyes followed the movement as she leaned in close to his face. You told yourself the annoyance that filled your body was simply because she was taking up your precious time that could be spent driving not the fact that she so calmly set her paws all over the man that had you feeling all sorts of tingles when you were with him.
“Come on, we both know you had fun Jungkook. Just tell your friend you’ll hang out later” Her voice lilting as she drug out the ‘kook’. Her hand trailed to the side of his face and she thumbed his cheek. 
You suddenly felt your wrist being pulled as Jungkooks large hand wrapped around yours and pulled you towards his chest which had now been turned to face you. A heated palm softly cup your cheek and you couldn’t even ask what was going on, Melissa’s large eyes being the last thing you saw before Jungkooks face took over your vision. Plush lips pressed against yours firmly yet so soft as the breath seemed to leave your body with a squeak. “Jungkook wha-“ Melissa’s lips snapped shut as he deepened the kiss with a palm flat against the small of your back. Your mouths now open against one another but no tongue was introduced. 
As he pulled back, Jungkook hovered his mouth over yours, his breath coming out hot against your lips. “Melissa, I’ve said it before i’ll say it again. That won’t ever happen again and no I wasn’t at Jimin’s nor was I at the office. I spent all night with this ‘friend’ of mine. Speaking of which we gotta go, long day and night ahead of us.” At the word ‘friend’ Jungkooks palm moved from the small of your back to your hip and gripped softly. With the last word leaving his lips he winked at you and turned both of your bodies away from Melissa and towards the elevator.
When the doors closed and the garage button was pressed Jungkook let out a long breath he seemed to have held. “I’m so so so sorry for that y/n. You just don’t understand how many times I’ve let her down nicely. I made one fucking mistake when I was drunk off my ass from being depressed thinking of my mom’s death and I just I don’t know, I knocked on her door and it happened. I left right after and told her it was a mistake on my part for taking advantage of her kindness and offers but that it wouldn’t happen again and that I hoped she’d understand but obviously she didn’t understand. It’s been like 6 months since it happened and she still hasn’t stopped and I just wanted to shut her up. I’m so fucking sorry I pushed the kiss onto you, I just took the opportunity of having a female especially an attractive one at that being there with me to show her I meant it when I said no.” 
Laughter filled the elevator as it dinged, the doors opening. “It’s okay. You’ve helped me over and over again these passed couple of days, I’ll just chalk it up to helping you. Plus it was just a kiss, don’t freak too much. You literally look like a ‘dear in the headlights’ except change the dear to a bunny.” Jungkook pouted his plump bottom lip as the lights overhead turned on while you both walked to his car.
You wouldn’t admit the tingles and butterflies you had around him were intensified when his lips met yours. You felt as if you were ignited from the inside out, the same way you had felt at the club and it took everything you had in yourself to not reach up and grip his hair to pull him closer as you slipped your tongue into his mouth right in front of the blonde watching.
A shiver ran up your spine at the thought and you bit down hard on your top lip, your teeth sinking into the soft flesh to keep you from dwelling on the situation that you had built up in your mind. 
The smell of breakfast tacos wafted through the car as you both munched on your food. Bags of snacks and drinks sat at your feet and the soft hum of the radio gave the start of the trip a chill vibe as Jungkook connected his bluetooth to his stereo system.
The ride was peaceful even with the little bouts of Jungkook obviously speeding on the semi deserted highway. You noted that he had a beautiful voice as he hummed to Billie Eilish’s ‘You should see me in a crown’. The bottled espresso drink you chugged had helped awaken you and you found yourself bobbing your head along with his playlist of songs.
With a text of ‘Just got into town, will be there soon’ you gave Jungkook the directions of the streets he should turn onto to get to your parents shop. 
Pulling up to the little shop you knew and loved, you lead the way up the pavement to the wooden door with the sign now saying ‘closed’. It had only been a little passed 4 when you both arrived but you figured your parents would have closed the store early when you texted them that you would be visiting. Your father had suggested the meeting place be the shop to which you all agreed. With a quick glance behind you, Jin’s small suv sat parked next to your parents car and Namjoons dark blue Jetta.
With a deep breath in your knuckles rasped against the wood of the door as you knocked. The door creaked open and you were immediately pulled from your spot to a solid body you immediately recognized as Taehyungs by his earthy natural scent. 
Your hands shot up defensively as you quickly informed everyone that you’d explain the now scabbing small wound on your cheek and bandaged hand in a bit as that was part of the reason why you were here. At the word ‘cut’ your friends eyes shot open but before he could ask you shook your head to solidify the fact that you wouldn’t be answering his question until later.
A big boxy grin widened across his face as he pulled away and you were pulled into another pair of arms. Jin hugged you tight as his arms wrapped around your shoulders and you pat his back. The third pair of arms that encircled you belonged to Namjoons and you held him tight as it had been awhile since you had last seen the man. 
Your mom and dad embraced you in a group hug you didn’t know you needed and when they finally pulled away you watched as your mom wiped away the stray tear that made its way down her left cheek. 
“Everyone, this is Jungkook. He’s helped me while i’ve been in the city.” Your friends eyes scanned over his broad frame as your parents bid him a warm hello. 
“Yours a magick holder and a strong one at that. Hi, I’m Jin.” With an extended hand he shook the mans tattooed one. “I am, you’re pretty strong too. Actually, you all are. I can feel your auras from here.” Jungkook’s hand waved as he gestured around the room. Namjoon introduced himself the same way Jin had and Taehyung stood there with a questioning glint in his eyes. 
You knew that look, it was the same one he had on his face when they found out Joshua had been your first kiss, Brandon had asked you to prom and Chan had been you first boyfriend. Your friends were all protective of you but Taehyung showed it a little bit more, you knew he meant well and just wanted the best for you but it still sometimes got on your nerves when you had to remind him you were a grown ass woman. With that being said you were somewhat of a hypocrite, knowing you were super protective of the three men as well, you probably held that exact same look in your eyes when you met someone they were interested in.
“Jungkook, this is Taehyung. Tae this is Jungkook.” Taehyung nodded out a ‘hey’ as his right arms wrapped around your shoulders. With a shake of your head you followed your friends to the makeshift table and chairs they had set up near the bookcases, your parents already sitting on the two plush chairs that were always tucked into a corner in case shoppers wanted to sit down and read a bit before purchasing. Sitting yourself onto a lightly padded black folding chair you tucked your hands in front of you not knowing where to start.
“What’s bothering you honey? You’re biting the inside of your cheek and i know you do that when you’re stressed or deep in thought and not that I love that you’re here, I didn’t think we’d see you back so soon.” Your mom’s gentle voice questioned and you breathed deeply to center yourself before answering her. 
“Mom, there’s so much I need to tell you well so much i need to tell all of you. But before I start. Jin, do you remember when I asked about those dreams ‘for a friend’?” Your fingers curled up into air quotes and he nodded with a seemingly knowing look crossing over his handsome features. “I think you already know but it wasn’t a friend, it was me.”
His chest rose and fell as he took in a deep breath as you confirmed his suspicions. You swallowed down imaginary saliva before you glanced around at your family surrounding you and opened your mouth to tell them about the nightmares and the weird feelings you’ve had to how you met Jungkook at your job and how he had saved you from the attack in the alleyway and witnessed your transformation of sorts.
By the end of your re-telling of events your moms face had paled and your friends donned eyes as big as saucers. Your dad gripped the edge of the table as his knuckles whitened and Jungkook sat beside you calmly.
With a shake of his head your father looked at your mom as you asked if they had any idea what could be happening. “You need to tell her.” It was cliche and straight from a teen fiction novel but the look in his eyes told you it wasn’t a light matter.
Reading the room your friends and Jungkook stood from their seats but your mom shook her head telling them to sit back down. “You all are as much of y/n’s family as we are. You need to hear this.” Moving her chair around, your mom moved closer until she was sitting right in front of you and half your hands into hers. 
“When I was a little girl, I had met someone who would later become my best friend. Her and I met at the park you always loved as a child, the one where you’d swing and swing all day. Every week we met at that very park, we would talk and chase each other in a game of tag and just laugh like little kids do. I knew even back then that I’d had to hide my powers from her despite my younger self wanting nothing but to show her I could sprout a small dandelion front a pile of dirt. Back then Magick holders were even more strict with not getting too close to regular humans. It was out of fear that those thoughts were made, we would be cordial with them but never get too close.
As I grew older the want to tell her about Magick grew stronger. We would meet multiple times a week and confided in each other with so much but I was scared of how she would react. One day while waiting for her to meet me by the little dirt mound that was shaded by a big oak tree, I fiddled with the dirt. My fingers brushing the earth until I mindlessly let some of my magick out. A path of babies breath sprouted from the earth through my fingertips and before I could make it go away, shoes cam into my vision. I didn’t even have to explain as that little girl just smiled and sat right down next to me. I probably looked like a fish with how my mouth was opening and closing but she simply placed her hand on mine and asked if I could keep a secret.” A deep breath exited your moms lips before she continued. 
“She held magick I had only heard about. As she brought her hands to cup over mine, a bright white orb of light manifested before bursting into golden butterflies. She told me her parents had taught her to hide her magick aura from others and that’s why I hadn’t felt her aura. She said she had wanted to tell me especially since I was a fellow magick holder but was scared of her parents finding out.
From then on our bond grew. I had been so happy when we found out we would both be attending the same high school. Your father- or well my husband and I met in a shared english class and she and him became quick friends after I had introduced the two. The three of us had become close friends but I always kept her secret from everyone. When her parents passed in our sophomore year she stayed over at my house to help with her grieving. They had been the only family she had and the only light holders she knew. After we had graduated high school she left with the promise of coming back and visiting despite me spending with her not to leave. With a bright smile she left for the city in hopes of finding other light holders and learning more about her magick.”
Your mom’s grip on your hands had tightened and your brows furrowed at how she had referred to your father as her husband. “I had stopped hearing from her a month in to her trip and I feared for the worst. I had even gone to the city in search of her but to no avail. About a year and a half later, a knock was heard at our front door and imagine my surprise when I got up in the middle of the night and opened the door to a very pregnant her standing on the porch of my husband and I’s new home. I let her in immediately after greeting her with a big hug. She looked terrified and clutched her stomach between her arms. She was sweating and looked as if she was having trouble standing. When my husband awake from the noise in the living room she took our hands into hers and pleaded that no mater what happened to her that we would take care of the baby she was carrying. I tried to ask her what she meant but she once again asked before taking a deep breath and gritting her teeth. 
I throw car keys at my husband as I knew she had started to go into labor. Her water breaking and streaming down the legs of her sweat pants making me wrap my arms around her and guide her towards the awaiting car. When we arrived at the hospital she gripped my hand and please once again with me. With a yes I told her it would all be alright and she was wheeled to the birthing room.
A few hours later I was called into the room and she lay there with a bundled baby in her arms. She looked so tired not just from giving birth but like something else was weighing on her mind. She asked me if I remembered saying yes to taking care of the baby when something happen to her. She was so sure something would happen and it confused me. 
A few days later she and her baby came to live with us as I adamantly gave her no other choice and she agreed as long as I kept ‘my promise’ she said. We were sitting in the living room a few days after she had been living with us and I asked why she had been saying something was going to happen to her. I told her I would go back on my promise if she didn’t tell me and with a shake of her head she looked at the little bundle of joy in her arms. She told me the father of the baby was a dark magick holder but was adamant he had not been a bad person. She said she was scared of some of the people that surrounded him and that when she had realized she was pregnant she started planning to get away in fear of what would happen to the child had she stayed around those people. While I was shocked to say the least, I just sat and listened to her.
It was approximately two weeks and one day later that she got up and left to what she said was the grocery store. Hours passed and at one point the baby I had been rocking to sleep started crying. There was an overwhelming feeling that took over my body and I knew something wasn’t right. We searched for her that night around town but came up empty handed, we had even filed a police report the next day. Two days later a body was found by the local river in a small shack that had been burned down. The body belonged to my friend, the police said it looked as if she had been in a burning building and died from smoke inhalation but the burned shack had been but ruins for years as the fire that took place had happened over a decade ago. Police searched for her killer but I knew it was dark magic, the soot the fear she had it all made so much sense.
That’s why I feared for you going to the city. Deep ties to dark magick lie within that city. Stories were told while I was in high school of light holders being hunted by dark magick holders in fear that they would try to stop their insidious ways. Dark Magick was not given like our other elemental powers were. A long time ago a group of Elemental holders; one of each element, came together in want for more power. They were power hungry witches with dark desires. They prayed to the dark Gods for immense power and even made sacrifices of living beings. In answer of their want, they were stripped of their elements as the Goddess did not want such people to hold power given by her. After their power was stripped, the dark Gods came together and granted them with dark magick. Like light magick, it is very rare, passed down by generations of holders who shared the same power. However, a person with enough wickedness can bring forth dark magick by sacrifice and doing the bidding of the Dark Deities wishes.”
Your brows furrowed as you took in all the information. “Y/n you were her child. I promised I would take care of you and I have. Believe me when I tell you I never told you of your birth because I wanted to protect you. I was scared they would take you from me like they had taken her. I never told you of your parents powers because you never showed signs of power. I had hoped you would be able to live a normal life.” Tears had streamed down your mothers face and you pulled her into a tight hug.
You had been crying as well and you reached for fathers hand. “You both are my parents okay? I don’t care that you didn’t give birth to me. You raised me, you’ve been there for me.”
“I’m so sorry y/n, I tried to keep you from all of this but it seems you’ve started showing signs of power. If we had told you then maybe we could prepare you.” You tightened your grip on your parents hands and you shook your head adamantly, telling them no. They had done what they thought was right and you were grateful for that.
“I felt it, a long time ago. When I had first practiced protection spells in your room with Tae and Joon. I felt this power trying to push through the barrier but I didn’t put much thought into it. Then when you were telling me about the nightmares I just had this weird feeling but you said it wasn’t you so I believed it.” Jin’s voice was shaken and you shook your head. “I told you it was someone else because I didn’t want you to worry. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest.” Jin stood from his seat and engulfed you in a big hug to which you reciprocated. His embrace felt comforting and you needed it as you took in all the information you had just been given. 
A while later and more comforting embraces and conversations your father looked over the table towards Jungkook. “So y/n said you have the element of fire? Thats not very common, well not like air and water.” Jungkook nodded his head in answer and your father smiled. “Thank you for saving our daughter and bringing her here. You’ve been a real help and should she go back to the city like I know she will despite us asking her not to. I ask that you please keep an eye out for her.” You mother had been pleading with you to stay but you assured her you couldn’t do that to your lease on your apartment or your job. You told your parents you were going to learn more about your power should it come forth again and you weren’t going to run away from it. 
You friends weren’t very pleased with your decision and as you all decided to go back to your parents for dinner, Jin stood. “If you want to go back, I’m moving too. I’m not okay with you being alone, even if you have Jungkook as a friend to help.” 
Taehyung and Namjoon both stood in agreement and you shook your head. “Guys you all have lives and jobs here, I’m not that far away you could just vis-“. “Y/n we could just visit hight now and look what happened! What happens if that man comes back and Jungkook isn’t there or what if you need help controlling your powers. I can always apply for jobs there with my qualifications and my life here? I mainly just have you all as friends.”
Jin was going to budge and you knew it. “If that’s what you insist on doing then fine but you’re not moving in with me.” You all cleaned up the makeshift table and you followed your friends out of the store while your father locked up. 
“I’ll apartment search.” Jin huffed out and Namjoon said he’d be able to transfer colleges easily to the city with his GPA. Taehyung added that while he’d have to wait for his semester to end he’d be sure to go when it ended in a couple of months. It was now apparently decided that Jin would be giving his two weeks for work when he went in for his next shift and that him and Namjoon would be moving to the city soon, with Taehyung in tow in the coming months despite your disagreement. They assured you that you’d live your own life and they wouldn’t crowd you, they’d only be there when you needed them.
The drive to your parents house was filled in silence as you mulled over the fact that you had had a different set of birth parents. You still hoped that your power wouldn’t arise again and that you’d be able to continue living a normal life but part of you knew that would never happen. Jungkook had asked how you were feeling while he kept his eyes on the road ahead of you both and you mumbled out an ‘I don’t know’. 
Pulling up to the wood and brick home you had grown up in, you exited the car with Jungkook in tow as your parents invited you all in.
Dinner had gone surprisingly well despite the obvious stress that resonated in each of you and hung over the home. As your best friends hugged you goodnight with a promise of ‘see you tomorrow’ and ‘I can’t be here when you leave in the morning but you bet your butt i’m serious with moving to the city’. Rolling your eyes at Jin you waved them off and turned to enter the warm home. The heat of the house warming your arms from the chilly late night air.
Jungkook had been scrolling through his phone when you reached him. “What’re you looking at?” You asked. “Looking for a nearby hotel so that I can come pick you up in the morning.” Your mom had overheard his answer and placed her open palm on his shoulder with a shake of her head. “Nonsense, you’re already here, might as well stay the night and save the hotel fee. i promise we have better breakfast too.” A chuckle lit her face and Jungkook gave in, not wanting to argue with your mom.
“Perfect, you can sleep in y/n’s room or the couch as the guest bedroom is currently being renovated from a few days ago when my lovely husband exploded an experimental ‘sudden shower’ potion that went awfully awry. Your mother hadn’t mentioned that in your daily texts and she shrugged at your questioning face and scrunched eyebrow.
Jungkook entered the living room with both of your bags that had been placed in his back seat earlier that day clutched into his right hand effortlessly. 
You hugged both of your parents goodnight and led Jungkook to your downstairs room that had been secluded from the upstairs bedrooms. When you were about 15 you had pleaded with you parents to give you the downstairs bedroom and make your then bedroom an office or the guest bedroom. You stated that you needed to privacy and with nothing but a wall between rooms, you weren’t able to live your ‘teen life’. After many days of ‘No’s’, your mother had finally agreed to the switch when you reasoned with her that blasting your Whitesnake CD had always annoyed her nightly meditation. She still had threatened to kick your ass if she found any boy in your room without her knowledge to which you retorted with ‘what if i’m a lesbian’ to which girls were then treated in the same manor as possible male ‘corrupters’ of her daughter.
The overhead lights illuminated your bedroom as you gestured your hand to the door on the right. “The bathroom is over there in case you want to freshen up or anything.” With a nod of his head, Jungkook took his bag with him to the conjoined bathroom and you opened you overnight bag to pull the necessities you’d need for the night. You’d have to share your bed with Jungkook yet another night but you weren’t made uncomfortable by the idea in the slightest. In fact it was the total opposite, he had made you comfortable despite the tingles in the pit of your stomach he sometimes made you feel.
If you were being honest, it had been one hell of a few days, almost too much for one single person to take in. In the span of a little less than a week you had moved to a new city, got a new job, met a man that would later save your life, been attacked by a magick holder, come into a power you still wished would never resurface and learned that the couple that had raised you and been all you’d known as a family hadn’t been your biological parents. It was as if life was working way too fast and all you wanted was so be able to live a normal-is life or at the very least if all of this had to happen, could it at least happen over time? Not all within such a short period of time? The Goddess and God worked in mysterious ways and you tried to believe they had a plan for you. 
With a quick prayer to the Great Mother you sat at the end of the bed and took a few deep breathes to center your chakras. The air pushing from your lungs acted as a metaphor for the stress literally being carried away by the element of air.
The door to your conjoined bathroom opened with a slight creek. Jungkook had kept the same plain T shirt as before but had changed his earlier pants for a pair of thin cotton deep blue pajama pants that hugged at his thighs when he sat on an empty side of your bed, the bed dipping slightly with his larger frame.
A clear of your throat kickstarted your motions as you made your way to your bathroom to get changed.
Your soft flannel pajama pants felt like heaven against your legs, the worn in fabric replacing your denim jeans. You relished in the clean feeling your cleanser had given your face as you brushed your teeth, the bristles working in tandem with the minty paste against your teeth and gums.
Patting the rose face oil over your skin as the last part of your skincare you bundled your worn clothes into a ball and tucked it under your arm. Clicking the light switch off you softly closed the door behind you and made your way to your overnight bag that sat next to your bed to place your bundle inside.
Your bottom slightly dipped into the mattress as you sat down on the other side of Jungkook who had been leaning back on your headboard with his cellphone in his hands. A soft glow from the nightstand lamp was cast over the man to your sides features as the overhead light had been turned off by the time you made your way out of your bathroom.
“Hey, I’m sorry for imposing. I just really didn’t want to turn down your mothers generosity.” Jungkooks body had turned towards yours slightly and you shook your head in answer. “You aren’t imposing at all. If anything, i’m sort for imposing on your life. I feel like I’ve drug you down this rabbit hole of sorts and you’ve been nothing but there for me. I know you told me to stop apologizing but still. Thank you for everything. Also, there’s no way my mom would’ve taken no for an answer if you had tried to turn down her offer.” A light chuckle escaped your lips as you both smiled.
Shifting under the thin covers your mother had replaced your plush comforter with you leaned your body down against the mattress and reached for your cellphone to set alarms and check your social media.
The bed further dipped as Jungkook mimicked your posture as he laid his larger frame against your shared space. You nodded when he asked if you had wanted the lamp off and soon the only light that illuminated the area came from each of your cellphone screens.
Your bedroom was soon shrouded in darkness as both of your devices now sat on either nightstand. The ebony haired man mumbled a set goodnight as his breath seemed to slow and even out. Exhaustion took over as your eyelids fluttered closed as you entered your dream world, this time instead of darkness, your dreams were filled with jars of herbs as your parents whipped up potions and laughter as your friends watched Taehyung fumble with bottles as he helped prepare the concoctions. 
A heat crept up the side of your neck as you stirred awake. Leaning your body back slightly you sighed in comfort as a comfortable heat enveloped your back. Your actions were stopped short when a soft groan sounded against your ear, the arms that had been wrapped around your middle now gripped at your hips to still their shuffle backwards. 
The chirping of birds was heard through the room but sunlight had failed to fully penetrate the thick curtains that covered the windows shrouding your room in a very dim light. Your eyes shot open at the groan that entered your eardrums and the soft vibrations against your back as the sound reverberated off of a strong chest. Your heart drummed against your ribcage as you tried to dislodge your body from the larger one behind you. 
A pass of your bottom against something hard and protruding caused a familiar feeling of arousal to flood the pit of your stomach. Your teeth sank into your bottom lip and the fingers gripping onto your hips shifted to your stomach, palms flattening over the soft skin under your shirt.
“Don't move, I just…need to calm down” A deep voice mumbled from behind, a bit gravely from sleep which hadn’t helped the stewing hints of arousal that set itself into pit of your stomach.
Shifting your thighs slightly, your eyes clamped shut as you tried your best to steady your breathing before mumbling an answer. Afraid of the possible sounds that could try an escape your throat if you replied, you managed a slight nod. 
The closeness of his body set your aflame and you felt yourself getting dizzy with a mixture of need and heat. A clench of your thighs caused your ass muscles to squeeze slightly and Jungkook’s eyes squeezed shut with a bruising grip on your stomach.
He was really trying to keep himself from doing anything, given that you both were currently in your parents house and you undoubtably had gone through enough lately but the quiet whine that escaped your clenched lips caused his flattened palm to press you back against him.
With a short thrust of his hips, his covered bulge met the curve of your ass. The movement mixed with the clenching of your thighs caused a lovely friction against your core and you leaned your neck back against the curve of his shoulder as his hips repeated the motion.
Long fingers splayed themselves against your lower abdomen as your hips moved back to meet his short yet powerful pelvic movements. The cold metal of Jungkooks rings feeling like ice against your heated skin as your shirt rode higher up your torso. 
A low groan came up from the depths of your throat as you ground your hips hard against Jungkooks moving ones. “Y/n, you’re playing with fire right now.” The husky voice sounding in your ear making you feel the ghost of lips over the shell of your ear. 
“Maybe I wan’t to get burned.” If the groan Jungkook let out earlier was arousing, the sound that currently escaped his throat was almost enough to send you over the edge.
The hand that gripped your hip now trail down to your covered thighs, his fingers dipping into the soft flesh. The raise of your leg caused you to feel his clothed member more clearly and a thrust of his hips had you reaching up towards his scalp to tug at the silky black locks that covered his head.
“Fuc-“ “Y/n! Jungkook! Breakfast is ready.” The voice of your mom was heard from the other side of your bedroom door and as if in a trance you both sprung up from your positions on your bed.
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‘cough’ CoCK bLoCK ‘cough’. Hi ily for reading this chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it!
-C or Potittiess
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suituuup · 3 years
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pieces - chapter three
Five years ago, Chloe dropped off the face of the Earth. Beca sees her again in the most unexpected place.
rated: E for drug use and sex scenes
AO3 LINK
*
“Bec?” 
Beca hummed absentmindedly, blinking out of her daze and twisting her head in the direction of the voice. 
Sarah smiled gently as she leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen. She cocked an eyebrow, giving a pointed look towards the sink. “I think the pan is clean.” 
Beca glanced down, stilling her movements. She had been scrubbing that pan for probably ten minutes now, her thoughts completely consumed by Chloe and what she was supposed to do next. 
Chloe clearly didn’t want to see her, and Beca wasn’t going to wait by the phone when it was clear that Chloe was far from okay. She was thinner than Beca remembered, and the look in her eye, the lack of light in those once bright blues, chilled Beca to the bone. 
She looked… broken. As though her spirit had repeatedly been battered until all that was left were mere pieces of her old self. 
If there were any left at all.
Beca couldn’t stand the thought of not doing anything, and she needed to come up with a plan to help Chloe without driving her into a corner and risk losing her forever. 
“What’s going on?” Sarah questioned, pushing off the doorframe and padding over. She rested her hand between Beca’s shoulder blades, her eyebrows knitted together in concern. “You’ve seemed off today.” 
Beca released a sigh, setting the pan down into the sink and reaching for the dishtowel laying next to her on the counter to dry her hands. “I’m sorry, I’m just… worried about a friend.” 
Sarah nodded slowly. “Do you want to talk about it?” 
Sarah was unexpected, to say the least. Beca was a workaholic, and her career was too time-consuming for her to get into the whole dating thing. But Sarah, who happened to work as a barista in Beca’s favorite independent coffee shop, had somehow managed to convince Beca to go out with her. One dinner surprisingly turned into a second date, then a third, and it just like that, it had been almost a year since they officially got together. 
Sarah was gentle, patient, understanding, overflowing with positivity, but most of all, incredibly kind. She reminded Beca of Chloe, sometimes. And maybe it was those similar personality traits that drew Beca to her in the first place. 
They didn’t live together. Beca could feel that it was the next expected step on her girlfriend’s end, but she didn’t feel ready to commit, yet. She liked her own space, her solitude. So Sarah spent a few nights a week at Beca’s place, like tonight, and Beca was fine with that. 
“Not really,” she replied, casting Sarah an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, it’s just-- complicated right now.” 
“You need to stop apologizing,” Sarah murmured, her expression soft and loving. Beca let her shoulders sag, ready to apologize again. “I understand. But if you do change your mind and need to let something off your chest, I’m here.” 
Beca nodded. “Thanks.” 
“Are you coming to bed?” 
“Not yet, I wanna get some work done, first.” She leaned in to peck Sarah’s lips. “You go ahead, I’ll join you soon.” 
Walking across the living room and past the huge floor to ceiling windows looking over Central Park, Beca made her way to her home office, her happy place. She had bought the Manhattan condo two years ago, making it a requirement during her house-hunt to have a large room with plenty of light and enough space to store all her records and her music equipment. It was also where she kept her Grammys and other prizes, away from the attention as nobody really stepped into her office.
She usually popped a blues album on the record player, enjoying the soothing instrumentals while she replied to various emails, but not tonight. Tonight, she grabbed a yellow legal notepad and her headphones from her desk and curled up on the leather couch tucked in the far corner, then scrolled to her Spotify playlists until she found the one she was looking for. 
she is magic
Beca couldn’t remember the last time she had listened to her Chloe playlist, one she had made back in Barden when she was hopelessly in love with her best friend. They were songs that reminded her of Chloe, or songs that Chloe liked. Or used to like, at least. 
As lyrics she knew so well poured into her headphones, blocking out the rest of the world, different ones flowed out of Beca’s heart, materializing on the paper in front of her in black ink as she scribbled across the page. Lyrics about friendship, unrequited love, and regrets for listening to her brain and not her heart all these years ago. 
It was pushing on two am by the time Beca called it a night. Her eyes burned, her mind felt mushy, but her soul felt a tiny bit lighter. Music had always been her therapy, and writing songs had always proved more efficient than paying a licensed professional, even though it had been years since Beca had last finished one, for lack of inspiration. 
Or rather, because of the absence of her muse. 
*
She woke up five hours later to a stiff neck and sore back, the bright sunlight pouring in from the windows lining one of her office walls drawing her from her sleep. She had meant to go to bed, before deciding to close her eyes for five minutes right on the couch. 
Straightening with a groan, she grabbed her phone and turned it over, hoping to see a text from an unknown number on her screen. 
Aubrey Posen [6:23am]
Any news? 
Aubrey Posen [6:37am]
Should I come to New York? 
Aubrey practiced family law up in Boston. She and Beca saw each other a few times a year, whenever Aubrey was in the city. Bella reunions were a bit more scarce now, with the girls being scattered all around the country. Their last one dated back to a year and a half ago, on the Fourth of July. 
Beca ran a hand over her face and heaved out a sigh, swiping her thumb across the screen to unlock it. 
Beca [7:16am]
No news yet. I think I’m gonna wait a few days before I head back to the club, if she doesn’t call in the meantime that is. The manager gave me serious sleazy vibes and I’m sure he could blacklist me if I’m too insistent. I don’t think there’s any need for you to come down for now. I’ll keep you posted. 
Hitting send, Beca pushed to her feet and shuffled out of her office, hanging a left down the hall towards the kitchen. A note next to her coffee thermos sat on the island. 
Missed you last night, but I hope you got whatever you needed done. I had to leave for my shift, you’re welcome to swing by for your second coffee of the day and your morning kiss ;) have a good day!
Sarah xx
Guilt swooped in over picking old feelings about an ex-almost over her girlfriend, and Beca let her head hang forward, releasing a grown. She was far from an expert at this relationship thing, but she cared about Sarah a lot and didn’t want to mess that up. 
Beca shook off the sleepiness lingering in her bones and the stiffness in her muscles with a long, hot shower, then got ready for her day. She usually got to the office at 8 sharp, but it was already 7:54 by the time she was out the door, and her commute lasted about twenty minutes, so she wouldn’t get the chance to stop by Sarah’s workplace. 
To: Sarah 
I’m sorry, I got caught up in work last night and ended up falling asleep on the couch around 2. Come over tonight? I’ll cook dinner. Have a good shift.
Her morning was spent in the studio canning vocals for girl in red’s new album, a project Beca was stocked about as she was BMLJ’s most promising artist for this year’s Grammy Awards. 
“That was awesome, Marie,” Beca spoke into the microphone, giving her a thumbs-up through the glass. “Let’s take a lunch break and resume in an hour?” 
“Sounds good,” the younger woman agreed with a smile as she took off her headphones. 
Beca headed back to her office down the hall and checked her phone for any new messages (finding none important), before shrugging on her thick winter coat and screwing her beanie over her head. 
“I’ll be back in an hour, Gina!” She told her assistant on route to the elevator. 
As Sarah’s workplace was just five blocks south from the label, Beca figured she would eat lunch there as she wasn’t able to stop by that morning. She stopped in the convenience store across the street from the coffee shop to buy Sarah her favorite magazine as she knew her break was coming up soon and she’d have something to read. 
Beca was scanning the press stand for that specific magazine, not paying attention to the person walking into the store until they spoke. 
“A pack of Marlboro, please.” 
Beca would recognize that voice anywhere. Her head snapped up so fast she felt something in her neck pull, and she was rounding the stand before she even registered giving her feet the order to move. “Chloe?” 
Chloe glanced over to her right and froze for a second, before fishing for a twenty in her jacket pocket and handing it to the cashier. “Are you following me or something?” 
Given their last encounter, Beca wasn’t surprised by Chloe’s snark, so she gave as good as she got. “You came in after I did, so maybe I should ask you that question.” 
Chloe stuffed the cigarette pack and the change into her pocket. “What do you want, Beca?” 
“To talk,” she replied, softly. “One coffee, that’s it. And if you decide you really don’t want me in your life, then I won’t bother you again. I promise.” 
Chloe seemed to ponder on that for a few beats. “One coffee.” 
“There’s a shop right across the street.” 
Taking her to the place her girlfriend worked at? Probably not the brightest idea, but she was afraid Chloe might go back on her decision if they spent too long finding someplace else. 
When Chloe nodded, Beca took the lead and stepped outside, forgetting all about that magazine as she racked her brain about what she should say. Tactfulness wasn’t her greatest suit; Aubrey would be so much better at this. 
They stepped inside Devocion and Beca picked a table in the corner, shrugging off her coat and draping it over the back of her chair. Chloe kept her jacket and beanie on, a bit hunched on herself as she sat down in the chair opposite Beca’s. 
“Beca?” 
Beca glanced towards Sarah as she approached, wearing a waist apron with the café logo on it. Her dark blonde hair was woven back in a French braid, a few strands escaping, and curiosity swirled in her green eyes as they flickered to Chloe. 
Okay, in hindsight, bringing Chloe here was a terrible idea. 
“Hey, um, Sarah, this is Chloe, a friend from college.” She cleared her throat. “Chloe, this is my girlfriend, Sarah.” 
“Nice to meet you,” Sarah replied brightly, her smile fading a little when all Chloe offered was a distant nod. Sarah met Beca’s gaze briefly, clearing her throat. “What can I get you guys?” 
“My usual. You want anything to eat, Chlo?” 
The nickname rolled off her tongue so naturally, Beca didn’t even catch it. 
Chloe shook her head. “Just a black coffee.” 
“Coming right up.” 
“Thanks,” Beca said as Sarah spun around on her heels, her focus shifting to Chloe. “So um, I wanted to apologize for the other day and putting you on the spot at the club. I just… wasn’t sure how else to talk to you.” 
“I can give you some of the money back if you need it.” 
Beca furrowed her brow, not having expected that. “No, no. I… it’s fine. I don’t care about money.” 
Something flashed in Chloe’s eyes at that, something Beca couldn’t quite pinpoint. 
Sarah came back with two coffees before she could analyze it further, setting the mugs down on the table. “Your club sandwich will be here in a few, babe.” 
Beca nodded, casting her a small, appreciative smile. 
Chloe straightened a bit in her seat, cradling the mug with both hands. “I’m not sure what you expect me to say or do, Beca.” 
Beca licked her lips. “I was hoping we could… hang out from time to time. I’ve missed you, Chlo. So has Aubrey.” 
The mention of Aubrey made Chloe lookup. “Does she live in New York, too?” 
“Um no, in Boston. She’s a lawyer. But she’d come down to have coffee, or lunch, or whatever you feel like doing. In a heartbeat.” 
Chloe shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” 
What little hope flared in the pit of Beca’s belly upon Chloe showing interest in Aubrey’s life vanished. “Why not?” 
“I told you. I’m not the same person anymore. I’m-- I’m not…” 
Beca tilted her head to the side. “You’re not what?” She pressed gently. 
Chloe’s gaze fleeted out the window as her rather calm demeanor now radiated agitation. Her knee started bouncing and her fingers tightened around the mug, and it was as though Chloe was battling against her own thoughts. 
She was itching to reach across the table to rest her hand over her wrist in a sort of grounding gesture, but something told her that would have the opposite effect. 
“Chloe?” Beca attempted once more, her voice as soft as she could muster, as it seemed like Chloe was on the brink of bolting. 
The tear slipping out of Chloe’s eye tore her heart into two. “I-I have to go.” 
Her chair screeched as she pushed it back roughly, and she was nearly out the door by the time Beca scrambled to her feet. 
It was lunch-hour rush in one of the busiest avenues in Manhattan, and Chloe had already disappeared in the crowd when she reached the exit, leaving Beca to helplessly wonder how someone like Chloe, once the epitome of sunshine, got herself trapped in so much darkness.
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