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#didn’t even see the conversation w queen that this bit of the dream implied
the-meme-monarch · 7 months
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had a smidgen of a dream about chapter three and needed to illustrate it
if you ship scc please don’t interact w me 👍
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zafirosreverie · 3 years
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Must be the eyes (Teacher!Agatha x Fem!Student!Reader) part 2
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(Part 1)
a/n: this is long, like, really long. Uppsies
- - - - - - - - - - -
Salem ... you were going to Salem !!
Nick laughed at you when you jumped out of happiness, before wrapping your arms around him and spinning him around. You were quite excited.
"I see someone is excited" he laughed as you let him go
"Sorry" you laughed "I just can't believe it! We’re going to Salem, Nick!" you screamed with excitement
"Yes yes, I was in class too, history girl” he laughed again "But it doesn't seem a bit strange to you that just last friday you mentioned that you wanted to go, and today, monday, they tell us that they will take us on a field trip precisely to Salem? Not to mention that Ms Harkness doesn't seem like the kind of teacher who wants to take her students on trips. "
"So?" you asked. You knew exactly what he was implying, but you decided to play innocent "Maybe the universe thought it would be a good time to pay me what it owes me"
"Suuuuure. And Ms Harkness totally wasn't looking at you during the entire announcement" He said
"She wasn't" you agreed, making him roll his eyes.
Except that she totally was. Nick was right. From the moment the older woman had walked into the classroom, you could feel her eyes fixed on you. At first you felt like you were in trouble, but when she started talking about the trip she and professor Maximoff had planned, a part of you (a small and somewhat selfish part) couldn't help but think that maybe she was doing it for you.
It was silly and you knew it, why would a woman like Agatha Harkness go to the trouble of planning a whole field trip, getting a hotel, food and transportation for almost 30 students, just so that you specifically could fulfill one of your dreams? Not to mention, there was no way she knew about it.
But the feeling that you were something special to her, even if it was only in your imagination, was enough for you.
You sighed "Nick, if you're still upset about the project, I'm sorry ok? But don't get me in your business with her"
"Hey! I didn't sleep all weekend to finish it, okay?" he defended himself "I didn't even go to the movies with Dalton, Y/N. Do you know what that means? I missed a date with him!" he pouted, making you laugh
"First of all, you had almost the entire month to do the project, you shouldn't have put it off until the last minute. Second, it wasn't even a date! You haven't been able to confess your feelings to Dalton in two years"
"So? At least I'm making progress with him, you've been drooling over our teacher since the first day of college and all you've done is have these tense discussions with her."
"Shhhhh" you shut him up "shout it out to everyone, would you?"
"Hey, you started"
"It's different and you know it Nick" you sighed "You're only a year older than Dalton. There are at least 10 years between me and Ms Harkness, not to mention that she is our teacher!"
"Pfff, 10 years? Come on Y/N, we both know she's probably twice your age" Nick scoffed
"She's not that old" you blushed "And that's not the point anyway"
"Right" he nodded "the point is that your girlfriend is going to take us all to a haunted town just to make you happy" he smirked.
"My what- she’s not-" you stuttered.
Nick laughed and you flushed with both embarrassment and anger. You ran after him to try to hit him, not noticing the pair of blue eyes staring at you from a window.
________
Agatha sighed to herself as she watched you walk away with that little friend of yours. She had watched all the interaction and when she saw you blush she wished she could listen, but you were too far away.
However, what she did hear were your screams of excitement and she couldn't help but notice that her heart leapt a little at the thought that it was she who had made you so happy.
Again, she would never tell anyone, but the only reason she had agreed to accompany Wanda was because of the conversation she had overheard, when you told Nicholas that you didn't have money for two trips.
At first, it had been easy to lie to herself, saying that she was simply killing two birds with one stone: Wanda could have her field trip and you could visit Salem at no expense, that way you could save up to go elsewhere in summer.
However, when Wanda asked why she had specifically chosen your class, she hadn't known what to answer. She wanted to see you happy, she felt you deserved everything in the world, but she couldn't say that to the redhead, so she had given a bad excuse that your group was the least problematic. Wanda hadn't believed it, but at least she had the decency not to comment on anything.
She told herself that she had to be more careful. She couldn’t let anyone, student or teacher, find out that perhaps it was no longer simple affection what she felt for you.
When she walked into your classroom, however, she couldn't help staring at you from the get-go. She didn't want to miss your reaction to the news. From the sparkle in your eyes, the way the corner of your mouth lifted, how your nose wrinkled, the way your shoulders tensed, and how you clenched your hands to avoid showing your emotion.
She wanted to see all of that.
But that had made her look at you the whole time. She never once had she taken her eyes off you, almost forgetting that it was supposed to be a school trip, for all of her students, not a surprise gift specifically for you.
Even if that's what it really was. As she had told Wanda, she was more than capable of teaching Salem's history without having to take you there, but she did it for you. And a small part of her wanted to tell you, she wanted you to know what she had done, she wanted you to understand how much you meant to her, without having to use her words.
She wasn't sure if she'd made it, but your excitement was enough for her. She just wished she could be the one receiving that crushing hug, instead of Nicholas.
"Earth to Agatha" said a voice behind her, making her jump
"Maximoff" she sighed "No one told you it's rude to approach people like this" she crossed her arms and frowned.
"In my defense, I've been here for about 15 minutes, it's not my fault that you get lost in your thoughts so quickly" the redhead teased as she handed her a coffee "It must be age"
"I'm going to ignore the fact that you called me old, just because of the coffee" the brunette growled, taking it.
"Lucky me" the youngest smiled "So, ready for the trip?" she asked
"There's still a whole month to go, cutie" she said
"Don't even remind me, I was hoping they'd let us go sooner" sighed the redhead.
"Wanda, I know they are university students, but not all of them have the income, no matter how little the school charges them. We have to pay for transportation, meals and hotel, not to mention that many of them will want to buy souvenirs or do another activities" Agatha reminded her
"It's a field trip, Aggs, not a vacation."
"Try to convince 30 students of that" scoffed the older woman
"... fair enough" sighed Wanda "and we still need another chaperone"
"What do you mean?" Agatha frowned "Isn't that why I'm going?"
"Yes, but as we also take male students, by law we must bring a male teacher too"
"That’s bullshit"
"I know, but I'm not going to complain and risk losing my permit."
The brunette thought about it for a moment before sighing. Wanda was right. And she wouldn't risk having the trip canceled either, not after seeing how happy it made you.
___________
It was the longest month of your life! You were too excited, you could hardly think of anything other than the trip. You had worried a bit that it was too expensive, but were pleasantly surprised when you realized that it was less than half of what the trip would cost you alone.
Besides, Nick had told you that he could lend you money if necessary. It wasn't that you were broke, far from it, but being a college student, living alone in a rental department and with a part-time job, was difficult.
However, you had managed to save enough money to pay for the trip and still be able to even spend a little on souvenirs or other things, which would be necessary to thank your boss for giving you permission to be absent for two weeks and your friend Alisha for covering you.
"Hello" you smiled at the secretary
"Good afternoon" she replied, a little serious but at least she smiled back at you "can I help you miss?"
"Yeah, uhm, I'm here to pay for the trip to Salem, group 203" you said
"One moment please" she nodded and pulled out a couple of lists "Your name, queen?" she asked kindly
"Y/N  Y/L/N"
The woman scanned the names with her eyes, searching for the letter of your last name, but you felt your stomach drop a little when she frowned before looking at you.
"Are you sure, dear?" she asked
You blinked in surprise before nodding.
"How strange" she said "it appears that it is already paid"
"W-what?" now you frowned "It must be a mistake"
"No, Y/N  Y/L/N, paid. Are you sure you didn't forget? It usually happens" she assured you, smiling at you.
But you knew that was not the case. You hadn't paid before because you didn't have the money. Damn, you were sure you were the last to pay! You were supposed to leave in three days!
"No" you said softly "I'm sure I didn't pay for it"
The woman was about to say something when you heard a rather familiar pair of heels coming up behind you. You didn't even have to turn around to find out who she was.
Agatha smiled as she stood right next to you, her hand pressed to your lower back. She smiled at the secretary before speaking.
"Good afternoon, Lu" she said to the woman
"Good afternoon, Ms Harkness"
"Is something wrong? Or why the long face, Miss Y/L/N?" she asked, smiling at you
It took you a moment to answer, too stunned by the warm touch of her hand on your back and the smell of her perfume filling your air.
"Someone paid for my trip" you said simply
"Excuse me?" she asked confused
"Someone paid for my trip" you repeated "it wasn't me, miss"
"Well, I still don't see the problem" she smiled at you "maybe that little friend of yours paid for you, or someone is trying to win your heart" she winked
The way she said the last part sent a chill down your spine. It felt too intimate for some reason.
"Either way, I wouldn't worry about it" she said, pulling you out of your thoughts "take advantage of it, Miss Y/L/N, not all of us are lucky enough to be given a free trip, right Lu?"
"Absolutely Ms Harkness"
You weren't so convinced, but you weren't in a position to argue with a teacher and a secretary, they were two against one. That and the hand on your back was too much of a distraction to think properly.
You nodded and thanked them before turning on your heel to go find Nick, hoping it was really him who paid for you. You immediately missed the warmth of the hand on your back.
____________
Well shit.
You cursed yourself while running around your apartment. You were sure you had set the alarm, but it hadn't gone on. If it weren't for the fact that you had left the window open and the sun hit you in the face, you wouldn’t have woken up.
When you looked at the clock on your desk, you jumped up. You noticed that your phone had not charged at all and was, in fact, turned off. Double shit.
You tossed it along with the charger in your backpack, after getting out of a quick shower and bouncing around the room as you put on your floral dress and a pair of tennis shoes. You did not care about the mess you left, you would fix it when you returned.
You had 20 minutes to get to school or you were saying goodbye to Salem.
_____________
Agatha tried to appear neutral as Wanda took roll and Jimmy helped the students put their bags onto the bus as they arrived.
She supposed it could have been worse. Of all the male teachers in the school, Jimmy Woo, the chemistry teacher, was the most educated and one of the few that Agatha actually liked a little. At least the students listened to him.
Not that she was really paying attention to that, if she was honest.
Actually, the only thing on her mind was you. Nothing new, but this was different. You hadn't arrived yet and they were 15 minutes away from leaving. She was beginning to worry.
She didn't understand what was happening, you were the most excited about the trip, she had paid for you, and yet you weren't here? She had thought you would be the first to arrive. Have you regretted it? No, you would have told her or Wanda. Something happened to you? Surely Nicholas would have said something when he arrived.
So why was there no sign of your precious face? The brunette could convince Wanda to wait for you a little longer, but she wasn't even sure you were going to come. That made her sulk quickly.
She had agreed to take this trip, for you. If you didn't show up, she would have done everything in vain! She didn't even want to go to Salem to babysit! So you had better arrive in the next 10 minutes or you would be in serious trouble when they come back in two weeks.
"Smile Harkness" Wanda laughed, seeing her partner with her arms crossed and a frown "We're almost gone"
"Good, because we still have five hours of travel and I'm already starting to get tired of the voices of these children" she growled.
She really did hope her concern wasn't so noticeable.
____________
You sighed in relief when the taxi finally arrived at the school, seeing that the bus was still there. You did it!
You walked quickly, smiling at Professor Woo, who kindly put your suitcase on the underside of the truck.
"We were waiting for you, miss Y/L/N" he said kindly, helping you up the steps.
"Oh no, am I the last one?" you asked, blushing with shame.
"That's right" said Professor Maximoff, smiling at you as you went upstairs.
Well, at least no one had noticed. The rest of your classmates were all talking to each other, laughing and some flirting, not paying attention to the fact that you had just arrived. Excellent.
Except ... oh no.
You looked for Nick, to go sit with him. Sadly, it looks like Dalton was ahead of you and your best friend was too busy flirting to have saved you a spot.
"Take a seat please Y/N" Wanda told you
"Uhm ... where?" you asked, pointing to your companions.
The red-haired woman followed your gaze and realized that you were right. All the seats were taken. That made her frown. They were supposed to have all seats counted, so she, Jimmy, and Agatha had taken the liberty of using two seats each. But it seems they had miscounted.
"Well, I suppose you will have to sit with one of us" she told you.
You nodded, but didn't move, not knowing exactly which of the three to sit next to.
Fortunately for you, you didn't have to make the decision.
Agatha had kept a sigh of relief from escaping her lips when she saw you and Jimmy getting on the bus. She had been biting her nails nervously.
Your choice of clothes had not gone unnoticed and she, taking care that neither Wanda nor Jimmy caught her, let her eyes roam your body. The dress fit too well on you, hugging all the right parts, and ended just above the knees, allowing her to observe your beautiful legs.
She was so busy scanning you with her gaze that she almost missed Wanda's comment. "I suppose you will have to sit down with one of us." Her reaction was almost automatic.
She got up and motioned for you to sit in the window seat. "Take a seat, miss Y/L/N" she said, a little anxious, but with a frown so that the others would think that she was simply desperate to leave.
You blinked before nodding and scooting into the seat. You tried not to show any emotion when the older woman sat next to you and her thigh brushed yours.
You didn't know if you wanted to curse Nick for abandoning you in favor of flirting, or if you wanted to kiss him. You had five hours to think about it from here to Salem.
Wait. Five hours. Five hours trapped between Agatha Harkness and the window and without the possibility of distracting yourself with your cell phone. Oh shit.
___________
"It's not as bad as I thought" said Wanda "You were right Aggs, it's the least troublesome group" she laughed
The older woman rolled her eyes without answering. Her friend was right, most of the students were behaving quite well. There was no excessive yelling, no one was getting up from their seats or causing trouble, everyone seemed more interested in catching up on gossip.
But that didn't mean she liked being there. Her head was already spinning and there were still another three hours to go. The only good thing she had was that you were next to her.
Sure, she had to act nonchalant with you, just trying to get you talking a few times (which didn't work, but at least you had smiled at her and that was enough for her), but she couldn't help stealing glances from you every now and then.
She had given you the place by the window with the excuse that she needed to be in the hallway so she could throw death glares at others and make sure everything was in order, but the truth was, she just wanted you to be able to see everything. So that you don't miss even the entrance to the town.
It had worked for a while, because you looked quite entertained. Until that moment.
When the brunette looked at you sideways, she could see that your eyelids seemed to weigh and how you were starting to nod. Agatha had to admit that a sleepy Y/N was probably the cutest thing she had seen in a long time.
You struggled to stay awake, but after two hours of staring out the window (you were definitely not looking at your teacher through the reflection, thank you very much) your eyes felt tired. Maybe, you could sleep for a while, and hopefully when you woke up, you would be arriving in Salem and you wouldn't have to deal with the blush on your cheeks caused by the mere presence of your crush by your side.
It seemed like a good plan.
Sighing and careful not to kick the older woman, you settled into the seat better, closing your eyes and blocking out the noise around you. It didn't take you long to fall asleep.
Agatha knew the exact moment you had been lost from the world of the living, when your head began to tilt a little. She inwardly cursed you for being so cute.
However, she froze when she realized that little by little, you were sticking closer to her.
At first it was just your head leaning in her direction, but then you were leaning on her shoulder. It wasn't an entirely unpleasant feeling (actually, it was perfect), but it did make her pulse race, especially when you kept falling more and more on her, until you ended up with your head on her chest and basically using her breasts as a pillow.
"Ok, okay, don't panic, everything is fine" she thought "act normal, you are a teacher taking care of her student, nothing to see here"
But she could feel her heart racing at a thousand kilometers per hour and as much as she didn't want to wake you up, she doubted you couldn't hear it, you had your hearing just above it!
She was too busy trying not to move, not to bother you, that she didn't notice the knowing looks and smiles that her two colleagues shared.
When Wanda stood up to supervise the students in the background, she raised an eyebrow, smirking at Agatha. The older woman rolled her eyes and mumbled something about not wanting to wake you up out of mere politeness, but the truth was that her arms burned with the need to hold you and pull you closer to her.
____________
Wanda giggled and motioned for Jimmy to take a look at Agatha's seat. When the man did, he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud.
At some point during the trip, the brunette had fallen asleep too, probably bored of not moving so as not to wake you up. However, it seemed like her precautions weren't working on autopilot, because the moment she fell asleep, she leaned on you, portraying a cute scene with you on the older woman's chest and Agatha's head on top of yours.
Wanda took out her cell phone and quickly took a photo of you two.
"This is gold" she whispered to Jimmy "this is valuable blackmail material, Harkness will have to do what I ask for at least a month"
"I guess I owe you 10 dollars" said the man.
When they were discussing the details of the trip, the redhead had told him her theory about how the brunette felt about you. Surprisingly, Jimmy hadn't been shocked, he didn't think the other woman had a crush on her student, but he wouldn't look down on Agatha if that was the case. They had both gambled on how long it would take for the woman to start being more obvious.
"And a coffee when we get to Salem" Wanda reminded him.
_____________
Agatha woke up when a particularly loud sound from the movie they were playing in the bus sounded from the speaker above her head. The woman blinked several times, before looking around her.
Jimmy seemed absorbed in the movie and Wanda was asleep. And God knew what the students were doing behind her.
But that was not the important thing. What mattered was the bulge in her arms.
Your hair had fallen over your face, so the older woman gently brushed it away, letting her fingers brush against your skin. You were a beautiful sight. You always were, sure, but just like that, asleep and vulnerable, you were just breathtaking.
Looking at the clock, Agatha knew that they were about to arrive in town, and although she didn't want to wake you up, really enjoying having you like this, she also wanted you to see everything. So she gently started shaking you to wake you up.
You groaned a bit at the annoyance, but in a few more moments your eyes began to open. It took a moment for your eyes to adjust to the light, but when they did, you frowned.
Why were you so low? You remembered falling asleep almost glued to the window, so why weren't you there? And why did you have a pillow? You hadn't brought a pillow with you.
It wasn't until you caught a familiar scent that you realized you weren't on a pillow. You were on top of your teacher. More specifically, on her chest. Shit.
You got up quickly, muttering an apology and trying desperately not to look at her. You just used Agatha Harkness as a pillow! What an idiot! She sure hates you now.
The older woman was a bit surprised when you jumped up, almost hitting her in the process. If it wasn't because you looked adorable with a red face, she would have tried to comfort you. Besides, she couldn't risk any of her colleagues finding out about her feelings for you.
So she didn't say anything, as if nothing had happened. But she was loving the nervous version of you more and more.
_______________
When you entered the city, you completely forgot the whole incident. Your mind quickly entertained with the landscape and you could see how all those witch tales came to life in front of your eyes. Definitely better than Disneyland.
Agatha couldn't help the pang of pride she felt when she saw your excited face. It was a good choice to sit you by the window. If anyone deserved to have the best possible experience in Salem, it was you.
She just hoped the rest of the trip would go without incidents. Not that she thought falling asleep on her was a bad thing, it was just that she trusted herself less and less to keep herself under control.
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tags: @midnight-lestrange @everythingmarvelsherlockspn (tag not working) @amethyst-bitch @juliejules-089 @powerfulmagicalgirl (tag not working) @novohyde @annie-mit-ie​ @agentbrownierso​
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girlofmanyfandoms · 4 years
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You Get What You Give
A/n: This is to half-apologize for the back to back angst yesterday. Special thanks to @a-lonely-tatertot for beta-reading!
Warnings: Della is about to blow your minds
Word count: 2,620
Tag list: Tag list:  @everyonehasthoughts @imaramennoodle @bookwyrminspiration @holesinmyfalseconfidence @percabetn @an-absolute-travesty @linhammon-roll-bromance101 @linhamon-roll @ anyone who cares
_________
Alden burst out of his office and headed straight to Everglen’s gate without a word to any of the other Vacker’s present. Fitz and Biana only glanced up for a moment before returning to their breakfast, chatting to each other idly without acknowledgement of the outburst. Della sighed exhaustedly, and quickly wrapped up a lunch for him, rushing to give him it. She barely caught him before he reached the gateway, grabbing his shoulder to stop him.
“Alden, dear,” Della forced herself to say. Her teeth were gritted, but she managed to fake a pleasant smile. “You left your lunch. If you’re going to be gone all day, you’ll need some food to keep you going.”
“Ah, yes, about that-“
“Are you not returning?” Della attempted to hide her giddiness, before realizing what her previous sentence implied. “Soon, I mean.”
“No, I’m afraid not, the Council wants me to check in with Queen Hylda,” Alden huffed, taking the food from her, and not meeting her eyes. He seemed bored with the conversation and opened the gates, closing them rather harshly in Della’s face. “See you later, dear,” he called as he walked away and pulled out his leaping crystal. In a flash, he was gone; Della was ready.
She pinched herself to make sure what had gone on before her wasn’t some fever dream. Clapping her hands excitedly, she skipped back into the house, humming a melodic tune. Fitz and Biana looked at her oddly for a moment but brushed it off as Della being Della. She winced a bit, realizing that she still had the children to navigate around. But being a Vanisher has its pros, and Della decided to use them now, heels gilding up the stairs silently. She climbed up to the 4th level, crouching at Alden’s bedroom door. Of course, he had his own room. Alden had never shown much affection unless it benefited him.
“Should’ve married Alina, bastard,” Della spat bitterly, pulling out a bobby pin and unlocking his door. She pulled on a pair of fresh silk gloves and kicked open the door. There could be no trace of what had happened leading back to her. But where to start? Della ruffled through his nightstand before she found something cold that felt like a thin metal box. Her fingers wrapped around it instantly, and as she pulled it out, she realized it was a lighter. Della smirked to herself, these had been banned at the same time Pyrokinesis had been banned. Even the Councillors weren’t allowed to have them, much less Emissaries.
Quickly, she pulled all of his clothes out of the closet, organizing them into one neat pile for her to burn in a moment. But if she wanted to truly frame him, she needed to raid his office. But first things first. Della grabbed the golden plaque that rested on his dresser, it was given to him when he was given the title of Emissary. Tossing it gently in her hands, she tested its weight.
“Perfect,” she grinned. Della eyed the windows on either side of his bed. They took up the entire wall, allowing for plenty of natural light. Propping the plaque up in her hands like a baseball bat, she swung it back and forth, gaining speed and force before crashing it into the left window, breaking it. She laughed maniacally, doing the same to the other window. Della shifted through the drawers under his bed for more, finding a dagger, a seemingly new burner phone, and a stack of American dollars. The door creaked open, but Della was too busy slashing the curtains to notice. She spun around with the shreds in glee, but this came to an abrupt stop when she saw Fitz hiding behind the slightly opened door, with Biana undoubtedly vanished behind him.
Della attempted to hide her findings behind her back, but a cool breeze reminded her of the rather open concept of the room.
“Mom,” Fitz started, feeling he was treading on dangerous grounds. “W-what are you doing?”
“Um.” Della sank slowly onto Alden’s bed, hands resting in her lap. She couldn’t say she regretted it. No, she was practically euphoric when causing all the chaos. What she regretted was the fact that her children had seen her recklessness. “Have a seat over here, Fitz. You, too, Biana.”
Biana revealed herself and followed Fitz into the room. Fitz sat rather stiffly next to his mother, but Biana was comfortably sprawled across the other side of the bed. They all sat their quietly for a moment, Della trying to find the right way to put this.
“As I’m sure you’ve noticed, your father tends to have ulterior motives in his actions,” Della began.
Fitz scoffed, “You can say that again.” Biana nodded in agreement.
Della looked up a bit. Maybe this conversation wouldn’t be as difficult as she had imagined. “For years, I haven’t appreciated how your father has been treating all of us. I begged him not to send you to the Forbidden Cities, Fitz. You were a child, and your father sent you into a world that was strictly off-limits to our society. He forced you to do something intensely illegal, and he put your life at risk for what? This girl he called special, that would change the world. This girl who he would be praised for finding because it would save the elven race. Now, I love Sophie, she’s a charming girl. I’m glad that you found her because that made us all who we are today. But that doesn’t make what he did any better.”
Della reached for Fitz’s hands, and he accepted. His mother’s hands were warm, though that might have been from holding the lighter. But her hold was gentle. Loving. Understanding. And that’s what mattered to Fitz. “You tried, Mom,” Fitz said, his voice cracking a bit from the effort it took to hold back the tears. “You tried. You did more than he ever did.”
“But it wasn’t enough.” Della’s cobalt eyes met his teal ones. Filled with tears that didn’t quite have the energy to spill. “I should’ve fought more. When he pushed me, I should’ve pushed back. I let him step all over me, I let him neglect you, I let him emotionally abuse us all. I can’t undo what’s been done, but I can try to stop it from happening again.”
She turned to face Biana, who was now sitting up, shoulders slouched. Della opened her arms for a hug, and Biana rushed into them, sobbing deeply into the crook of her mother’s neck. Della played her hair softly, swaying back and forth. “I’m so sorry, Biana. I’m sorry you’ve been in the shadows of everyone else for so long. You’re so strong, you deserve to be acknowledged for your accomplishments.” Della motioned Fitz to join the hug, and he did, in an attempt to hide the silent tears cascading down his face. It didn’t work, and he wrapped an arm around his sister, joining in her crying. Della rubbed circles on their backs, holding them just like she should have all along.
It felt like years had passed, though it was probably only a half-hour when they had finally dried out. They held each other for a moment before sitting back again.
“I feel so... light,” Biana pondered aloud. “Or maybe free is the word.”
“We’ll be free when your father comes back.”
Biana perked up. “Are you-“
“Yes,” Della scratched at her neck nervously. “I’m filing for a match fail.”                                                                                                                                                                  
“I don’t know how to feel about that,” Biana admitted, pulling on her fingers to crack them. “I mean, he deserves it, and it’s the right thing to do but... he’s still our dad.”
“Blood makes up your genetics, your family is those who are there to support you,” Della advised. “He isn’t there for us, or you.”
“But we are.” Fitz wrapped an arm around Biana, and she leaned on his shoulder. “Now, what do you say we prepare a special surprise for him when he gets back?”
Della raised her eyebrow, to which Fitz responded with a shrug. “He won’t be living here anymore. Might as well prepare for renovations.”
Biana grinned mischievously. “I have some ideas. But first, let me call Dex, so he can be on the lookout. I’m sure he can cause a distraction with his alchemy skills if D-, er, Alden, returns.”
Della knew she was supposed to be the responsible one, but after a lifetime of mistreatment, a little fun wouldn’t hurt anyone. “Biana, you do that, then take over for me in this room. Fitz, break the wedding china in the cabinet downstairs but be careful not to cut yourself. I’ll take his office.”
They nodded and departed to their stations. Fitz reached the room at superhuman speeds, as Della could hear the smashing of china and porcelain by the time she had left the room. She tested the doorknob, and, surprisingly, it had been left unlocked. He must have forgotten to lock it in his haste. She nudged it open and staggered backward in shock.
His office was a mess, with papers strewn across the floor. Two of the three chairs in the room were turned over, and a strange electrical humming sound was coming from the corner of the room. Della followed the noise, leading to a silver plate by the side of the aquarium. Blue wires spilled out of the wall, some cut and lying dead by the entrance, other plugged in and resting on the floor in coils, producing the humming sound.
Della went cold in panic, a theory forming in her mind. She felt the cords in her hands, following their trail all the way to the aquarium’s tank. The animals, they were fake! Powered by this cord in the wall.
“But why would Alden leave it here in the open? It’s not like him,” Della murmured to herself.
“Good question, Della,” a feminine voice called from behind her. “Too bad you won’t be around long enough to find out.” Della tried to move, but the voice was so entrancing, she couldn’t do more than blink. She was fixed in place, and not a muscle could move. The person took their time, pacing through the room before putting Alden’s office chair upright and resting in it. They were just out of her eye range, though through her peripherals it was as clear as day who it was: Alina.
“You know, you’re a smart girl, just not smart enough. If you were, you wouldn't have stayed with Alden this long.” Alina got up suddenly, standing behind Della. With her right hand, she held a melder to her head, and with the other, she straightened Della’s choker for her. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll take the children and leave and you will not say a word. Understand?”
Della knew she couldn’t keep Alina talking, and she frantically tried to come up with ideas to escape when she heard a loud creak in the floorboards. Alina spun her around, not trusting that she wouldn’t try something while her back was turned. The door was open.
“One of the children escaped,” Alina scoffed, before turning to her captive, smirking. “Well, I guess that gives me one way to send a message.”
It all clicked in Della’s mind. Alden’s rush to leave, how easily she was able to break into his bedroom, his mess of a room, and the recordings that had gone on for who knows how many years. And it all came back to Alina. Beguilers were never to be trusted. Della was so caught up in her genius, she nearly missed the blatant threat. And that’s what pushed her over the edge.
The next moment happened, quite literally, in flashes. Della broke out of her trance, blinking in and out of sight. She slammed Alden office chair into Alina, crashing her into the aquarium. Biana revealed herself and, grabbing a stray cord, tied Alina up. Alina opened her mouth to use her ability, but a slightly disoriented Dex came bursting in, pouring an elixir down her throat, pinching her nose so she would swallow. She choked down the syrup and yelled curses at the group.
Della held the cords in a tight knot. “Where’s Fitz?”
“Still tied up downstairs,” Dex informed her. “I tried to get him out, but he insisted I go after Biana.” Dex rubbed his jaw. “She can throw a punch!”
“I’ll get him, “ Biana volunteered. “Dex, you call your Council contacts, tell them to come here immediately.”
He nodded, and they went to work. Della picked up one of the “fish.” If they were cameras, they would come in handy for evidence.
Alina gulped but held her head up defiantly. “What do you think you’re going to do to me?”
Della smirked. “I’m going to get you to talk.”
_______________
Clarette and Noland, Dex’s Council contacts, arrived first, but Bronte was right on their heels, steam rising from his pointy ears.
Dex shrank back a bit, but Bronte put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “You’re not the one at fault, child. Where’s Alina?”
“Ms. Vacker has her restricted upstairs,” Dex told him. “She’s gathered loads of evidence to help you at her tribunal.”
Bronte raised an eyebrow. “And what of the Vacker children?”
“Fitz and Biana are in the kitchen, applying some balm to the skin that got damaged by the rope constraints.”
Bronte whispered something to Noland, who nodded and went to meet Della.
Clarette crossed her arms. “Is there something I should know?”
“Yes, call Emery, tell him to schedule a tribunal for Alina,” Bronte directed. “And tell him we’ll be needing a new Emissary.”
Clarette furrowed her brows but did as he asked, pulling out her Imparter and walking to the side. In just moments, Emery arrived, not seeming to be very happy about being summoned.
“So you call me on a case of a treacherous Councillor and one of our most trusted Emissaries deviating without any evidence, dear Bronte? I’m disappointed.”
“I think you’ll find that Ms. Vacker has that figured out.”
“The child?” Emery scoffed. “I thought you knew better than to place your trust in children.”
“I was referring to Radelle,” Bronte corrected. “She is filing for a match fail due to the double-life her husband has been leading, which you will find out all about once you listen to her. Make haste, I’m sure Alina won’t enjoy waiting.”
Emery’s jaw tightened, but because he didn’t want to cause a scene, so he followed Noland’s path into Alden’s office.
______________
“So, I’m sure you understand how this all correlates,” Della finished.
Emery was speechless. Oralie, who, along with the rest of the Council, had arrived in time to hear Della’s speech, smiled proudly at her. “I agree with Della, but let’s take a vote. Shall we, Emery?”
“Ten in favor of Della, two against,” Emery stated after a moment of Telepathic discussion.
“Well, in that case, I believe we should start planning ahead,” Bronte began. “We’ll require only one joint-tribunal, but we are short of one Councillor and one Emissary. I have a very clear suggestion for a candidate for the latter. That is if Ms. Vacker would be willing.”
Della laughed, more out of shock and disbelief than ridicule. She paused to consider this. She didn’t want her children to face neglect again. And she certainly didn’t want to become the monster that Alden had become.
But for the first time in her life, Della felt strong. Empowered. And she was not going to let that feeling go anytime soon.
“Sign me up.”
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liveonmtv · 4 years
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cash machine || kth
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pairing: kim taehyung/f!reader genre: fluff & humor. crack actually. crack cocaine. word count: 11.1k warnings: strong language, drinking, an unwated kiss (not from tae), unsanitary jokes (i’m immature), implied sex, vomiting extra: (fr)enemies to lovers, road trip au, rich kids au but it’s barely there also they’re on summer vacation, also this story takes place in the usa JUST to drag the trip out tbh
summary: Jungkook and Seokjin get a little problematic, you have anger issues and Taehyung is under the impression that he killed a man. Also, did you mention that you’re on your way to your unfunny cousin’s wedding? Go on a road trip from Missouri to Las Vegas and you’ll be in for a hilarious yet scary experience! 
a/n: hi! i’m just starting this account out, so reblogging would mean a lot to me. i’m a novice to writing, so criticism is welcome as long as you’re not rude about it. have fun reading (i hope)! i also have a jungkook fic planned next (:
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Jungkook has that look in his face, the one he makes where the person sitting opposite of him is about as depraved as he is. He’s given it to you while you were explaining to him how to scam desperate men under the preface of a faux premium Snapchat and he’s given it to Jimin when they were finishing their high school careers and decided to release grasshoppers in the principal’s office. 
However, if there’s one person that’s about as fucked up in the head as he is, it’s Seokjin. The man also suffers from SMSTS as well (Serious Misconception of Sexual Tension Syndrome, and yes, that’s quite a lot of s’s), which doesn’t hurt given the current affairs. 
While Jungkook is aware that Jimin and Hoseok are always up for a bit of mischief, he has ruled them both out as incompetents and moved on to the real deal. Jimin has these rare moments of sanity and Hoseok, as your most loyal little bitchboy, would probably tattle the situation with made-up details to you before the plan is even set in action. 
So, Seokjin it is. 
The story begins in a faraway land before Jungkook knew about the tragic facets of your family’s relationships. Though his friend group is on good terms with your siblings and your other close relatives are aware of their existence and somehow only have good things to say about them, he never thought they’d be invited to your cousin’s wedding. To be fair, you had to do some serious persuasion for your family to allow you to invite six more people to somebody else’s wedding so there’s that factor contributing, but still, the offer is out of the blue.
Somewhere along the way, you went on a tangent about how much you hate your cousin and how your aunt doesn’t have eyebrows and how bothersome it is to look at her face. Your horror stories were mostly you just being your usual dramatic self, but they also revealed that the [L/n]s aren’t what they appear to be. 
You begged and begged for them to accept the invitations, and though Namjoon and Yoongi, unfortunately, couldn’t make it, the others agreed. 
Then arose the problem of the sixth spot that couldn’t be filled. You would’ve just let it be but your parents insisted that if you’re going to ask for something, you should fulfill it until the end. It was Namjoon you’d asked to come first, but he was busy with visiting family back in Seoul, and Yoongi then declared that he didn’t feel like humoring you this once. And that was the exact moment Jungkook decided to strike.
“You want to play matchmaker?” Jin asks. And though he looks almost skeptical, his tone is definitely an excited one. “With [Y/n] and Tae, of all people?” 
“Well yes, think about it logically,” he explains as he is about to say something completely illogical. “She has that sixth spot to fill, she has no other friends and they’re perfect for each other. All the other shit we’re gonna pull is just for fun, though.”  
Jin laughs an evil laugh, always one to be up for evil schemes. Just another evil day in the evil life of Kim Seokjin. “Well, [Y/n] is Tae’s perfect mean girl. And that girl needs either therapy or to get laid, but like, same.” 
“See? You get me.”
“To be fair, I think that goes for all of us. No offense.” 
“None taken,” Jungkook agrees. “Anyways, I was thinking of a… road trip.” 
“Well you didn’t have to be so dramatic about it, this isn’t The Godfather. Though I do feel like I’ve definitely got a bit of Michael Corleone in me.” 
Jungkook shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly at the other fiend’s remark. “You can pray to god all you want. Here in these streets, the only thing we believe in is El Chapo.” 
“I— Okay…” 
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[11:05] LeBruh James: wtf is wrong with u
[11:05] LeBruh James: get help seriously
[11:06] jk the slump god: all i said was that u should invite taehyung as the 6th person to ur cussin’s wedding 
[11:06] jk the slump god: overreacting arent we 
[11:10] LeBruh James: what the hell is a cussin bitch im gonna kill u
[11:13] jk the slump god: not like u have anyone else to invite tho 
[11:13] jk the slump god: hes not that bad ur just being urself
[11:14] LeBruh James: ur literally Not helping ur case rn
[09:45] LeBruh James: none of the girls want to gooooo
[09:45] LeBruh James: fine if it has to be taehyung ig ill live w it
[10:30] jk the slump god: great he already said yes
[10:30] jk the slump god: btw we’re gonna go in las vegas at the end of a road trip u in?
[10:33] LeBruh James: HE SAID YES BEFORE I EVEN INVITED HIM…
[10:33] LeBruh James: EYE. OK.
[10:33] LeBruh James: on one hand i kind of dont want to see any of u but if ur all gone i wont have anything to do b4 the wedding so i guess im in by proxy
[10:34] jk the slump god: lovely doing business with u y/n-chan
[10:36] LeBruh James: call me y/n-chan again and I Will Put ur Dick-Chan in a Freezer-sama and then Cut-san it off
[10:39] jk the slump god: i dont think ur using the honorifics correctly tbh..
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“I don’t see how this is a good idea,” you state with a dramatic pout while looking out of the window. Your expression is solemn. 
Taehyung kind of can’t believe that you’re throwing a tantrum just because you had to sit next to him in the three-row SUV, but on the other hand, he’s kind of into it. You’re more appalled by the fact that he’s not as disgusting up close as you’d imagined him to be. Well granted, you’re being immature, but it’s your shtick so they take it with a grain of salt.
“Why’s that?” Jungkook asks obtusely. He ruined your life the moment he started calling you [Y/n]-chan and he has that bad case of crazy eyes he gets sometimes when you look at his reflection in the mirror going on right now. You’d be more understanding of his condition, hadn’t your trip started barely five minutes ago. 
“What do you mean why is that? We’re all unstable backstabbing lunatics, do you think we can survive together for six whole days?! Stranded or even in a hotel? And then the ride back to Springfield?”
“Hotel? You’re funny. It’s always been my dream to sleep in a motel,” Jin pipes up. 
“Seriously? No limo, now this.”
“Hotel, motel, holiday inn,” Hoseok starts singing. Perhaps if it was queen Britney, it would’ve curbed your temper but fate doesn’t seem to be that kind. 
“Hotel, motel, holiday inn! Hotel, motel, holiday inn! Hotel, motel, holiday inn!” 
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“So we’re not going to visit the Grand Canyon?” 
“It’s in Nevada,” Jimin explains. “We don’t have any business there except for going to the wedding. I’d be more down to do it if I wasn’t afraid that one of us, meaning [Y/n], would push one of the others, meaning you, in the gutter.” 
“Just a little visit?” Taehyung is talented at only hearing what he wants to hear. However, that doesn’t make the conversation any more productive.
“Well not to be the acrophobic buzzkill, but why are you so adamant about visiting the Grand Canyon?” This is the first time you’ve directly addressed Taehyung since the beginning of these mind-numbing two hours. Jin, hands still on the wheel, dares to take a peek at Jungkook and smile an asshole-type smile before almost accidentally crashing into a pole. 
“Watch the road!” Hoseok cries out. Everyone else either refuses to acknowledge what just occurred or decides to spare themselves from doing so.
“Jin says that he always wanted to sleep in a motel. I have another dream.” 
“To visit the Grand Canyon?”
“Not exactly. I want to take a shit in there and see if I can hear it splatter. Think that’s possible?”
“Maybe if you angle your butthole the right way—” Jimin’s explanation is cut short.
“Oh my god, you are disgusting. Shut up. I don’t want to hear it.”  
“What did I tell you about El Chapo, [N/n]?” 
“What about El Chapo?”
“Holy shit, I think I’m confusing conversations,” Jungkook admits. Jin offers no more than an eye-roll.
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Tulsa is a dump, really. Unfortunate that you had to make a stop here but also you’re satisfied because your right asscheek feels numb right now. Might have to take Kelly for a walk, though.  
Taehyung stumbles out of the vehicle after you and all six of you seize each other fleetingly before making your way towards the gas station, a tense sort of silence following. You’re first to speak up. “Y’know, I’ve been listening to your voices for so long now that I don’t wanna look at your faces.” 
“This tbh,” Hoseok agrees with your most profound sentiments as per the usual. He’s quick to match your pace, trailing after you like a lost puppy, successfully getting Taehyung out of his way. He puts his arm around your shoulders casually and you give him that sardonic smile that’s only really reserved for him.
“Don’t say tee-bee-aytch out loud. I get humiliation by proxy.” 
Jungkook makes an exaggerated gagging sound before nudging Taehyung subtly enough that Jin is the only one who sees the interaction. Though the eldest had agreed with his deranged idea, there’s one thing that Kook knows that Jin hasn’t come to find out. 
Taehyung has an ongoing problem or maybe he’s a masochist. He’s always been one to internally get attached to these girls who’d never give him the time of day, who can’t stand him at all. The tragedy-comedy that is his best friend’s love life started on a rainy day in second grade when a girl by the name of Seulbi punched him in the face and he was hooked on her for three years after. 
After the infamous Seulbi, came Yeonji from the cheerleading club who blew off his invite to his first-ever party when they were fifteen. She’d called him a loser to his face and he was smitten with her for a while, too. 
And then, you appeared in his life seemingly out of nowhere. Hoseok’s catty best friend with a tongue sharper than her stilettos and lipstick that goes perfectly with her skin tone. 
Of course, he was aware of your existence prior to that accident he calls his first conversation with you—be it from the exciting yet flat-out brain dead antics Hoseok would describe you’d gotten caught up in at the time or from the sound of your heels sinking into the floor promptly before you entered math class.  You were always late but claimed that the teacher should be grateful because you cut in line to arrive at school earlier. You always had one of those shitty overrated pumpkin spice lattes in your manicured hands. 
Simply put, Taehyung likes you. Though after your disastrous first meeting during which, blunt-natured and seemingly lacking a sense of self-preservation, he called you a stuck up moron and you threatened to make an attempt at his life. With your bullheaded nature, things never did solve themselves after that one instance.
It’s not something that he’s expressed outwardly, but Jungkook knows him better than he knows the back of his hand. Unfortunately, he knows you too, even if not as well and he knows how you can’t get a boyfriend because you either scare them away or you find out they’re only after a quick fuck and some money. 
Regardless, Jungkook writes off his inner ramblings as irrelevant before turning to Jin in what could be described as a conspirative manner. While clumsily handing the cashier gas money, he whispers something in the other man’s ear and Jin’s eyes literally twinkle like he’s in a low-budget porno. 
He nods, furiously so, and the cashier simply stares at them like they’re two idiots that somehow merged into one. It’s not a pretty sight. 
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“What? We’re sleeping out here?” Your whining is to be expected by now. Had any of your friends written an actual, physical, list of all the things you’ve complained about so far, it’d probably fill a notebook. Thankfully enough, said list remained as a mental compilation of your not-so-epic moments. “What about the motel?” 
“Oh, so now you want a motel?” Jin quips back with a smirk. “They always come ‘round.” 
Despite his boasting and apparent eagerness to go to a motel, that doesn’t change the fact that you all find yourselves in a campsite. You’re not an outdoor person save for going to parties or on a shopping spree with Hoseok. And well, your surroundings are a bit too green right now.
Taehyung is the next person to speak up, with a tense posture and his arms crossed over his chest, almost defiantly so. “Honestly, if you don’t want to be here, I don’t understand why you keep coming to these things.”
“Well, I don’t understand why I had to invite your dumb ass here either. I guess the inner machinations of my mind are an enigma.” 
“Yeah, I thought Namjoon or Yoongi would be more fitting for your taste of guest,” he says, outright taunting you now, as if to remind you of your failed love rendezvous with your now close friends. 
“Well yeah, but they both denied, so I had to invite you.” 
“Ah,” he gives a slight sigh and you dismiss the sadness you register in his voice as something deserved for annoying you, “that does make more sense. Lucky me, I guess.”
“Awkies,” Jungkook announces as if it’s something that needs to be announced. Hoseok simply shrugs, and though you’re definitely not looking forward to sleeping out in the woods, he seems excited to try something new. 
There’s something hilarious about seeing a bunch of upper-class kids trying to set up tents and start a fire. You’ve converted to the cavemen with Hoseok, seemingly unaware that engaging in a one-sided debate with a bundle of sticks won’t make them randomly engulf in flames while Hoseok is trying out a trick he saw in the movies.
Honestly, it’s enough of a miracle that you actually went out in the woods and helped without tripping your silly ass and getting lost among the catacombs. Granted, Hoseok would’ve been compassionate enough to look for you had you gotten lost, but you probably wouldn’t get over the trauma of being covered in mud. 
Taehyung notices you both struggling. Part of him wants to make amends with you and a bigger part of him wants to leave Jimin to scramble on his own. Not that he’s sadistic or anything, he just likes seeing others suffer sometimes for entertainment purposes. 
Anyways. 
He approaches casually, like the kind of casual where you can tell that the person has an ulterior motive that they don’t want to reveal. Hoseok appears happy to see him, like he’s a savior on a white horse, while you don’t acknowledge him that much except for a sharp question regarding what he wants. 
He greets the older boy with one of these grins you won’t admit you enjoy looking at before roaming through the pockets of his jacket. Now that you’ve noticed him wearing one, you come to the sudden realization that it is getting quite breezy. 
Taehyung has the habit of scrunching his nose when he’s looking for something and then unconsciously smile broadly after succeeding in finding it. You don’t like that you’re aware of that and you especially don’t like that you can pinpoint the repetitive action.
It appears that Taehyung was looking for a lighter, of all things. 
“I thought you quit smoking?” You simply give him an incredulous look. 
He doesn’t grace you with an answer. Though he doesn’t reek of the putrid smell, you’re still hoping that the answer to that question is yes. Instead of soothing your curiosity, however, he uses the lighter to ignite a spark in the firewood and you guess that it’ll have to do.
“Well, that was quite pathetic,” you comment unhelpfully. 
“Better than Hobi’s attempts and uh, whatever the fuck you were doing.” 
Hoseok is enthusiastic to announce that the bonfire’s ready. You watch the clumsily prepped three tents in disinterest, not bothering to defend your attempt at enchantment to him. “Hoseokie, you’re gonna share a tent with me right?” 
“Hoseokie,” Jin repeats, but in good fun, “I thought you were gonna crash with me tonight?”
You roll your eyes before redirecting your gaze towards Jimin and Jungkook. By the guilty smile Jungkook gives you, you can tell he doesn’t plan on letting Jimin out of his clown clutches. You narrow your expression and jut your lip out disapprovingly. 
“Well, Mr. Handsome,” Jin interrupts whatever you have to say with a thank you, “since you and Kook have been jointed by the assholes since we got here, I don’t see what the problem is.” 
“I think you’re just saying that because you don’t wanna sleep with Tae,” Hoseok comments obliviously. 
“What he said. Also, these crackwhores are planning something, and I’m going to find out what.”
“Well, you’re in tough luck because Hoseok promised,” Jin argues, emphasizing the word promise. He has a shit-eating grin on his face and he’s not even denying your accusation. 
Taehyung coughs once. The second time is overkill and sounds even faker than the first one. “Sorry, but if [Y/n] isn’t comfortable sharing the tent with me, it doesn’t really matter what Hoseok promised.” 
You gape at him. This is probably the first intelligent thing that you’ve heard come out of his mouth. You almost reconsider your treatment of him after that, but then you remember that a guy being half-decent isn’t something you’re supposed to celebrate. You suppose that even he looks like a saint compared to some of your exes.
Everyone notices the conflict on your face but doesn’t say anything about it. Jin admits that Taehyung’s right with a wail yet the tension doesn’t dissolve, somehow. You excuse yourself by declaring that you’re going to get the blankets out of the SUV. 
“Damn, that bad huh?” Jungkook laughs. It’s the hyena laugh that kind of doesn’t suit his face but also the one he does when he’s having fun for no good reason. 
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“I heard in the girls’ bathroom once that this girl went on a diet where she only eats bananas for three months. Like, five a day,” you explain while you munch on your banana in front of the bonfire. Needless to say, you’ve come out to be severely underprepared in terms of food on your first day. 
“That sounds like a strategy to make yourself unhinged,” Hoseok retorts. He believes your story but he’s skeptical about that banana business. “I’d never do that.” 
“Me neither. Diets are stupid, anyway, can’t a bitch eat?” 
Jungkook reaches over and high-fives you, looking at you like you’ve just invented air or some shit. “Amen to that sister.” 
“By the way, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” Jimin is the one to speak up this time. 
“I have quite the plan for you, alright,” Jin laughs. His next statement, however, is the embodiment of his immature nature. “But that banana talk had me all distracted.”
Everyone collectively groans. You’re not really sure if what he said would classify as a dad joke at this point; you’re now entering single-and-desperate-dad joke territory. Can’t say that you’d enjoy it coming from someone else, but Jin is Jin.
“Anyways,” he dismisses his previous remark with an easy-going smile and a wave of his hand in thin air, “we’re going to a breakfast place first thing in the morning. By foot.” 
His grin is mischievous. You think this is the worst idea he’s had yet and no one else present seems attracted by the prospect of it either, so you vocally oppose him with a raised brow. “Don’t you realize how likely it is we’ll get lost?” 
“Yeah, I also don’t wanna walk too much.” Hoseok’s always one to back you up.
“Technology doesn’t lie, [Y/n].”
“If technology doesn’t lie how come I had a D on my maths test in junior year when I used Photomath?” 
Hoseok agrees, remembering the incident. That day was truly one of sorrow. 
“Technology only lies if you’re gullible enough,” Jin now changes the narrative. 
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You sneak out of your and Hoseok’s tent with a brief explanation thrown over your shoulder. Something about getting your make-up wipes from the trunk. Hoseok mutters inspiring words of advice—be careful, it’s dark and who knows what animal puke is on the ground—and you stumble your way to the SUV. 
Shoving the keys in the hole proves to be a difficult task, however. You aimlessly jut it in, hoping to hit the correct place by some sort of miracle. This is the moment that you realize that your eyes aren’t so good at adapting to the darkness. 
“Hey, what’re you doing?”
You jump up out of pure reflex. Startled, you whip around with a bemused look on your face. You’re gonna get wrinkles, damn it. 
“Woah, girl jumps in heels,” Taehyung comments dryly. 
“Don’t sneak up on me, you idiot cokehead,” you retort. You’re not sure why you said that. He’s not a cokehead. 
“No, but seriously, what’re you doing?” 
“I’m trying to look for my make-up wipes.” 
Taehyung takes the keys from you. Without half as much fumbling as you’d done previously, he opens the trunk and you proceed with looking through your purse, only to come to the conclusion that you’ve forgotten your make-up lines somewhere. There’s now a new resolve, clear as day in your twisted mind—you have to find the supermarket you passed by on your way here and buy new ones.
“Did you find them?”
“No.” You scoff. An angry thaw and the trunk is now closed. “I’m going to buy some.” 
“Woah, calm down tiger. Can’t you just sleep with it?” 
“No! Do you know how bad that is for your skin?” 
“Well, we could find a river and you could wipe your face with the dirty water.” 
You give him a blank stare, barely suppressing a small giggle. “Do you understand how ridiculous you’re being?” 
“I’m being ridiculous?”
Silence.
“...You’re not planning to go off in the woods during the dawn of asscrack, right?” 
“The what? Yeah.”
Taehyung looks towards your tent only to see that the light is completely shut down. Hoseok must be asleep already. “I’ll go with you.” 
You roll your eyes. “Do whatever you want.” 
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“So, why do you hate your cousin so much?” Taehyung asks abruptly from behind you. 
Most of your walk has been a silent one, so far, except for an occasional grumble from you and an absentminded one-liner from him. There’s also the sound of sticks crumbling under your high-heels that’s slightly irritating. 
“Because she’s unfunny,” you reply seriously.
“You have issues.” This is probably the least significant reason someone has ever hated somebody else for, in the entire history of hatred. Strangely enough, however, Taehyung can’t help finding it endearing how outlandish you can be.
“I’m sorry, I must have Alzheimer’s because I don’t remember asking,” you snap with a roll of your eyes. 
“You know, I have a dog,” he begins dramatically. “And sometimes he shits on the carpet and one time he puked on me, but I still love him very much. He’s gang, you feel?” 
“I don’t see how that helps with my family situation.”
“I never said it’s supposed to help, I just wanted to talk about myself.” He snickers. You’re getting the most violent of urges. 
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Leering over the thin metal fence that looms over an otherwise mundane hill gives you an idea. Down the admittedly high hill, the supermarket is obnoxiously lit up. However, the hideous sight doesn’t deter you—this is what your nirvana looks like in the given moment.
With one bold move, you lift your leg up the fence and Taehyung considers you, your motives and perhaps even your life until now. “What are you doing?” 
“It’ll be faster if I go down the hill.” 
“You’re gonna break your ankles in these shoes,” he rebuts, his voice a tilted monotone. “Also, I can see your underwear like this.” 
“Perveeeeert.” This is your final taunt before you do make it over the short fence and onto the other side. Examining the hill from up close—but not before you roll your miniskirt down—you come to two conclusions. The first one is that it’s quite steep and the second one comes when you’re one step down, that maybe, just maybe, you’re a bit deranged.
With your back turned to him, you don’t get to see Taehyung experiencing the five stages of grief. There’s obvious conflict on his face and to be precise, his current dilemma is between worry for you and a lack of power to stop you. Perhaps had you turned around, you’d find the sight entertaining.
His movements are leisurely once he does get in motion. Taehyung’s plan is to simply help you up now that he noticed that you’re hesitating to go further than you’ve already gone. 
His voice cutting through the night’s silence startles you. “Hey, you really shouldn’t do this.” 
You stumble. 
As tragic as that is, there’s something else to placate you; you’ve never seen Taehyung move so fast. Not even during the blip test in high school. The rest of his actions are less endearing—he throws you over his shoulder carelessly, stumbles onto the sidewalk and drops you like it’s hot. And then your legs are a bit wobbly, but you pretend they aren’t. 
The unnerving silence remains all the way to the supermarket, then back to the campsite and even when Taehyung’s awkwardly using his phone as a flashlight in your face while you remove your make-up. There’s nothing to say, except maybe if he were to ask you a question that’s not to your liking.
(He’s not that bad.)
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Jin is in a hurry, but you’re not sure what for. It’s been practically less than a day since you started this road trip, but it feels longer. You’re conflicted about how to feel regarding that, but even so, Jimin and Hoseok’s enthusiasm is hard to ignore. 
The feline smile on your face drops the moment Jungkook basically drags you out of your tent, bare-faced and severely underdressed. Well, to be honest, you blend in with them just fine, but in your head, you’re severely underdressed. Something more boujee is usually your style, but you realize your predicament won’t magically change the longer you’re walking in what feels like the middle of nowhere. 
Tusla is gross, yes, but maybe Oklahoma is just gross in general. 
When you’re unhappy, you don’t get shy about it—honesty is the best policy, after all. So you’re going on one of those annoying tangents you like to go on like it’s second nature to you. Maybe it is. 
Taehyung drones out whatever it is you’re saying the moment you start talking about a pimple in your nostril that has hair growing out of it. He’s not particularly grossed out by this revelation, rather, he doesn’t like listening to you go on and on about everything you don’t like about yourself. 
“And I couldn’t put on that necklace you got me for my birthday,” you complain before linking your arms with Hoseok’s and feigning a sniff.
“That is pretty horrible,” he hums in agreement. “I think I have a rash on my thigh.” 
“See, if Jungkook wasn’t being horrible I could probably get some kinda product to smear on it.”
Taehyung feigns a loud yawn. Tagging along with you and Hoseok isn’t as tiring as he’d like to make it out to be. 
“What’re you yawning so blatantly for? I hate being interrupted.” You roll your eyes cockily. 
“Sorry, I almost fell asleep during this uninteresting speech of yours.”
You fume again and Hoseok reassures you with something along the lines of don’t worry, [Y/n], it’s very interesting. Then, silence follows. It always seems to end up like this between the two of you. 
“Well, if it helps,” Taehyung starts, tone breezy, “you’re still beautiful.” 
You feel your face heat up. Sure, boys have given you plenty of compliments before—you’re no stranger to it—hot, sexy and maybe pretty on a good day. But beautiful? Especially without any make-up on? This is definitely something new. 
Hoseok smiles. “Yeah, he’s right.” 
You don’t want to admit just how flattered you really are. “Of course I am.”
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You take the first thing you find to your liking once you reach the breakfast place. Actually, it’s more brunch than it is breakfast, but all that walking is making you starve so you don’t feel particularly inclined to be hung up on semantics. 
“It’s on me.” Jungkook sweeps in smoothly, giving you a flashy smile. 
���Fuck off. I’m still mad at you.”
“You might be, but not for long,” he argues with an obnoxious grin on his face. “They call it… The Kook Effect.” 
You shake your head. “I’m pretty sure you just made that up.”
“Yeah? Remember when you won a bet against Jimin and he had to call you Supreme Majesty in freshman year? And then you pretended that he did it out of his own volition.” 
“Oh, I’m not taking this from you and your dead trim.”
“My trim is fine, thanks.”
“Dead trim!” you repeat, almost frantic. You’re so caught up with Jungkook’s dead trim that you don’t notice that Taehyung is giving you a cheesy smile as he buys you your food. He looks like the greasiest gentleman alive when he hands it to you. 
“And what’s that about?”
“In junior year, at summer camp, they took away our phones because someone recorded the instructor jerking off. And then like, blackmailed him.” 
You quirk an eyebrow up at this, unsure what he’s hinting at. “Right.”
“Right. And then they took all of our phones for a month and you started crying about how your life is a living nightmare.” 
“Right…” you trail off, suddenly embarrassed as if that hadn’t happened a whole two years ago. But like, it totally was a big deal! “The no phone rule was the worst. Even worse than the public bathroom rule.”
“I did it. I’m making it up to you,” he explains. 
You feel your mouth twitch into a small smile, one that he hasn’t quite seen on you before. “I forgive you this once, then.” 
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“We’re going to a hotel after sightseeing,” Jin explains. It’s like he’s got everything figured out all by himself and perhaps with the help of Jungkook’s annoying personality. “I arranged the rooms and everything while you were eating.” 
“Quite epic,” Jimin comments absentmindedly. “Wait, rooms? Like, you mean who’s rooming with who?” 
“Yeah, I finished the registration.” He stares directly at you and then Taehyung. “You could switch if you wanted to, it doesn’t really matter.”
You give him a light glare, already having a brief idea of what he’s done, but don’t comment any further. With a sense of deja vu, you speak up again. “What about the motel?” 
“I wasn’t sure if we’re going to be passing by one today, so I thought hey! Better safe than sorry.” 
Everyone nods in half-agreement until Jin speaks up again. “Plus, you guys reek. You should shower. Couldn’t be me.”
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Predictably, Jin did set you and Taehyung up. You can’t tell what kind of game he and Jungkook are playing, however, the poor boy isn’t half as insufferable in your eyes ever since this road trip began, so maybe you should thank them. Still, you don’t trust them—their minds are as twisted as yours.
As the two of you are dragging your luggage towards your shared room, Taehyung reminds you that you’re free to tell him if you don’t want to sleep with him. “I could go to Jungkook’s room or something.”
You find the idea of being alone more unfavorable than you thought you would. Perhaps your high-school, drastically more histrionic, self would’ve found anything more pleasant than sharing a room with Taehyung. You’re a (slightly) changed person now, though. Or at least you’d like to believe you are.
“Let’s put it like this. I hate a lot of things.”
“You don’t need to tell me that, I already know,” he interrupts with a crude giggle. 
“But you’re not one of them,” you admit. 
There’s also the fact that the two of you are blatantly ignoring that you could switch with Jin and sleep with Hoseok instead.
No more words are spoken between the two of you that day. New Mexico isn’t half as bad as Oklahoma was. 
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You wake up before Taehyung does, punctually so. Rolling out of bed, you partly don’t care whether you wake him but at the same time, you try to avoid making too much noise before slipping into the bathroom. Though you’re definitely one to value your beauty sleep, yesterday’s incident left you paranoid over whether Jungkook or Jin would catch you unprepared. 
You go through your routine calmly and by the time Taehyung goes in the bathroom to take a piss, you’re ready to start doing your make-up. You stare at the foundation in your hand but before you can apply it, you hesitate. 
Do I need make-up to be desirable?
Of course, you’re aware that not all women who use make-up are insecure, or that it’s always necessarily toxic for your self-esteem. And you thought that was the case with you as well, but your doubts suggest otherwise. Swiftly, you put all of your stuff away, stick with your trusty lipstick and nothing else. 
“Morning,” he says, groggy still. 
“Morning.” You look over to him from the corner of your eye and he looks kind of dazed. “Jin says we’re staying here until tomorrow morning.” 
“Cool. Hotel’s nice. The scenery too.” 
“I guess.” 
There’s something cripplingly awkward when the two of you aren’t hurling insults at each other, you realize. 
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You’re off somewhere with Hoseok and Jin when Taehyung is hanging out with Jimin and Jungkook. Turns out their room has a nice balcony, and with the others out of the picture, there’s some kind of buzzed chatter about incoherent topics swirling around. 
Jungkook suddenly decides that it’s a good idea to start talking about his sexcapades. Maybe it’s the alcohol or maybe his mind’s slipping. Jimin kind of wants to admit how much he doesn’t care what his friend does outside of watching anime and playing video games, but there’s also a part of him that’s morbidly intrigued by Jungkook’s words. Like a dark spell or something. 
“I wanted to hit it off with [Y/n] in high school,” he admits bluntly.
The other two stare at him.
“Oh really? What made you change your mind?” Jimin asks, now more awake than ever. 
“Dunno. Like, she’s more like, the bitchy rival in rom-coms, not the protagonist. I liked her, but I didn’t think I could handle her,” he admits.
“Once we were clubbing and this guy was messing with me and I complained to her about it,” Jimin begins, leaning into his chair with a fond smile on his face, “and she was all like, I’ll show him. And I was like, what? And she was like, I’ll show him who he’s dealing with. And then I was like, okay, maybe don’t show him that much.” 
The three of them chuckle. Taehyung talks for the first time in a while. “Nah, I agree.”
“You dig it though, right?” 
Jimin gives him a knowing look right after Jungkook shoots his question with a drunken smile. He guesses that since Hoseok isn’t here, he can finally admit it. 
“Yeah. Yeah, I do. But I can’t get things right with her.” 
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like, we’re either fighting or it’s really awkward.” 
“You’re on your own.” Jimin dismisses him with a wave of his hand. “I don’t think she hates you that much. It’s always Taehyung this, Taehyung that.” 
“True,” Jungkook agrees. “Like yes, maybe she’s complaining about you half the time and I know she loves gossiping but I’ve never heard her talk about someone else that much. Except maybe Yoongi. What I’m sayin’ is, you should give it a shot.”
“Why do you guys even fight so much?” Jimin laughs. “Whenever it happens, I like, forget what even happened to lead up to that.” 
“Well, you know me. I’m always too honest for my own good and when I hit her with some snark she starts getting all defensive. I just...” He sounds defeated by the time he’s finished with his explanation. Taehyung’s shoulders visibly slump and his frame slides down the uncomfortable chair. “I just want to get along with her.” 
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The fourth day is the first time you actually aren’t sure where you are. Save for supposedly being close to Nevada by now, you tuned out the rest of Jin’s explanation despite your previous attempts at keeping up with your location. 
Regardless, what’s important is living in the present. And the present for you right now is walking down a nameless street, in a mess of other tourists, with your pants uncomfortably sticking to your ass with sweat. In short, you feel gross. 
Taehyung doesn’t seem to be having the same problem, while you can’t even fake being unfazed. You envy him just the tiniest bit. 
A trashy souvenir shop seems to catch Taehyung’s attention. In the scorching heat and sand-yellow scenery of this town, however, even that seems more appealing. So when he urges you to go with him, you find yourself reluctantly agreeing. 
When you step in, the air conditioning of the otherwise homey shop welcomes you like taking a breather during an overcrowded party. You let an unconscious smile take over your face when you greet the cashier. She’s cute and her adorableness factor only spikes up when she practically beams at the sight of customers. 
“Hi! Please, feel free to look around.” 
“We will,” Taehyung answers offhandedly. Her gaze lingers on him. 
Most of the things don’t interest you. Actually, they’re hideous if you had to be completely honest. He doesn’t seem that enamored by them either, but you can tell he finds more redeeming qualities about them than you do. 
Your eyes almost bulge out of your face when you see the most live-laugh-love-esque decoration to exist. Like something your mom would laugh-react to on Facebook. 
The offender is no more than three inches tall and wide, a ceramic plate with a cartoony burger portrayed on it. It’s holding a flag that says two simple words: “Nice Buns!” 
You can’t tell if it’s the radioactivity of Jungkook’s cooking from earlier or if this thing is what’s making you nauseous. However, food-poisoning or not, you’re quite disgusted by what you’ve just seen. “Oh my god, the caucasity.” 
“Aw, you don’t like it?” Taehyung says with a mocking pout. “I think it’s cute.” 
“What’s wrong with you? It’s corny.”
“No, it isn’t. It might’ve been if it was a corn-dog, though.” 
You heaved an over-dramatic sigh. “You’re saying words that have no positive impact on my life.”
“I think I’ll buy it,” he declares, before checking the price and realizing he hasn’t brought enough money with himself. 
You shake your head. “I’m not gonna be an accomplice to… that.” 
“Well, of course not. This is your Valentine’s present.”
“Go to hell. As if I’d be your Valentine in the first place,” you reply sardonically before pushing him out of the way.  
Taehyung realizes something at that moment. Even outside your evident disinterest in him and his affairs, the two of you are completely incompatible. You, too quick to judge and be offended and him, too quickly to say the first thing on his mind, obviously don’t mesh smoothly. 
Neither of the boyfriends you’ve had that he’s spoken to is anything like him, either. If Namjoon and Yoongi have one thing in common, it’s that they’re both calm, collected and have a good head screwed securely on top of their shoulders. He’s not like that.
Even so, that revelation only makes the concept of being with you more alluring. 
Kim Taehyung is an idiot. But more importantly, with one glance towards the admittedly good-looking cashier making googly eyes at him, Kim Taehyung makes a decision.
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While you’re taking a shit in a nearby cafeteria, you receive a text from Taehyung. This is shocking by itself since despite the two of you having each others’ numbers, you never really text. 
[15:30] pain in the neck: im going on a date w/ the cashier
[15:30] pain in the neck: feel free to leave
[15:45] Princess Complex: i’m just gonna hang with jungkook thank god
Why is your stomach sinking?
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Once you meet up with Jungkook, you explain the situation briefly. He quickly looks you over, confusion evident on his face. “What? On a date?”
“Yeah, he just kinda left me in the toilet,” you confirm with a shrug. “Anyways, where do you wanna go?” 
It’s not like Jungkook is an oblivious idiot with the emotional capacity of your aunt’s mutated sixth toe, even if he may appear to be. But you never thought he’d call you out the moment your overly confident facade starts slipping. His gaze softens. “Are you sure you’re okay with that?” 
He isn’t examining you when he asks. No, he appears to be looking off, somewhere behind you. However, you remain ignorant to that fact. 
“Yes! Why would I care? I’d rather drink toilet water for ten years straight than spend any more time with that moron,” you snap, too worked up for someone who supposedly doesn’t care. 
“Is that how you really feel about Taehyung?”
“Yes! Yes, oh my god, let it go.”
Jungkook makes one more helpless expression, shrugs lightly, and you fail to realize that neither of those gestures is directed at you. “Let’s go to the arcade.”
“I’m not really into video games,” you lie as you run your hand through your hair, “but fine.”
“Hell yeah.”
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When Taehyung goes back to your room in the trashy motel, notably late during the night for a mere first date, the atmosphere is tense. There’s a crease in your brows when you unlock the door and obvious bite marks over your bare lips. He stumbles ahead to enter, but you continue blocking his path with your arms frigidly crossed over your chest.
“You’re late.” 
“And what’s it to you?” He’s never spoken to you so harshly. There are moments where his words bite, but never does he say them with an expression and tone that are so frosty.
“Nothing in particular.” You move out of his way, finally, and he enters. You briefly wonder if he’s had alcohol before you start talking again. “I’ve been stuck in this room for like, an hour because the keys are in me. Waiting for you...”
“Poor you.”
“Excuse me?”
“I heard what you said about me to Jungkook. You know, I’m starting to understand why you scared away all your exes.”
Warth washes over you in waves for a millisecond before it disperses into nothingness, a cold numbness that makes your back shiver. Your gaze on him is empty yet livid at the same time and he cowers under it. You’re not sure if the guilt on his face is a flicker of your imagination or if it’s genuine, but you hope it’s the latter. 
It’s never his words that are a big deal to you. It’s the way he speaks every syllable, so earnestly with truth laced in every letter, that makes you go off the hook. Because deep down, you’re aware that he doesn’t mean to be malicious or to offend, it’s merely him telling his truth.
You grab a few things impulsively with a mundane declaration, before storming off god knows where. “I’m not sleeping here tonight.”
When the door clicks behind your frame, Taehyung backs down and sprawls out across the bed. Truthfully, he regretted his words before he even opened his mouth. But he was so angry, be it with you or with himself.
It just seemed so unfair that you could blow him away time after time and yet, on his date the only thing on his mind was you. The mediocre make-out session and him awkwardly leaving out of nowhere didn’t help, either. And then you had to be so perfect, waiting for him instead of locking his ass out like he thought you would.
It isn’t the girl’s fault she’s raised to be as sweet as sugar while you’re more like citrus. He’s always had a knack for lemons, anyway.
The fact that you spent the rest of the day with Jungkook only aggravates him further, the younger’s words repeating in his head. I tried to hit it off with [Y/n] in high school, or whatever it was that he said exactly. All of this is his own fault, anyway—if he hadn’t been so temperamental, you would’ve stayed with him for the rest of the day.
Taehyung stares at the cheap lights hanging on the ceiling until his eyes hurt that night.
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Half-way through your trek to Hoseok’s room, you crumble. A sob escapes your throat and then another one. After these two instances, your tears don’t cease. 
At first, Jimin is excited to see you at their door but his smile slips the moment he realizes what a bad state you’re in. You’re practically making whale noises while desperately searching for Hoseok. 
“I’ll give you two a moment.” He gives you one final look-over and leaves with a not-so-threatening threat. “Or maybe thirty. You better be smiling and singing Toxic by the time I’m back, [Y/n].”
Hoseok rushes to hug you. “God, girl, what’s wrong?”
“I like Taehyung.” 
“Is that it? You’re a strong girl, y’know, I never pictured you crying over some pretty boy.” 
“No. I’m crying because I’ve liked him all this fucking time and I tried to run away from him because I’m scared. And he said the most horrible thing to me,” you explain as you bury yourself deeper into his embrace. “That’s why I’m crying.”
“I hope he isn’t allergic to hands, because he’s about to catch them. Actually, I hope he is allergic.” Hoseok isn’t one to ask about details. He lets you get it out of your system, makes a few promises (most often of violence) and then allows you to elaborate if you wish to do so.
You laugh, but it turns into choking considering how much snot you have running down your face by now. “He said that he understands why my exes run away from me. I mean, I— I said something rude about him first, but Jungkook was backing me into a corner and I didn’t know he would even find out about it, I just—”
“Forget about him, forget about Jungkook, everyone. Tonight is for Britney,” Hoseok commands more than he asks you.
You smile sadly at him before uselessly wiping your tears away and giggling like you’re on the brink of losing your mind. Perhaps you are.
“My 45-carat booger. Hey, let’s make Jimin do the chicken dance,” Hoseok starts off like he’s coddling you in his strange way of doing so, but then quickly turns diabolical. He throws some tissues at you and you accept them. If there’s one thing you’re truly grateful for, it’d be your best friend.
You nod, suddenly more excited than you should be. Hoseok’s right—you don’t need some pretty boy when queen Britney is watching over you.
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The next day, you’re wearing a full-face of make-up, and Taehyung notices it. Hoseok’s driving and you’re in the passenger seat, talking about some nonsense as usually do. The atmosphere is light, with Jimin and Jungkook occasionally joining in your conversation and Jin sleeping with his forehead pressed against the window.
Truth to be told, Taehyung feels like a zombie right now. Pretending that your scuffle with him meant nothing to you only convinces him further how little you care about anything that has to do with him.
“I think we’ll be in Las Vegas soon,” Hoseok announces cheerily.
On one hand, you’re happy to finally be seeing the end of this road trip. Though you’ve technically just been relaxing, you wanted to be done with your cousin’s dumb wedding and go back to spending an average amount of time with your friends. You want to forget how flippant things are between you and Taehyung, your quote-unquote friendship dictated by mood swings rather than actual feelings.
“Fuck yeah! I wanna get drunk in Vegas,” you say with a smirk. “It’s on my bucket list.”
“Really?” 
“Yeah.”
“You want to get drunk everywhere,” Jungkook corrects with a laugh. You can’t help agreeing with him. “And Jin will probably stay in the hotel and play Candy Crush or something.”
“Ew, ew, ew, a fucking millenial,” you exclaim in mock disgust.
“Jin can be a beast if he wants to. Remember when he twerked in front of the whole school on Taehyung’s birthday party?”
“Shit was wild, man.”
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No one except you, Hoseok and Taehyung himself is aware of what transpired yesterday. So Jungkook and Jin are still stubbornly placing the two of you together, yet you’re too powerless to fight it.
The hotel is a fancy one, courtesy of your annoying cousin. She’s been texting you and you sent a short message back to inform her you’ve arrived, but you haven't bothered to deal with her provocations any further. 
After dumping his luggage near his bed, Taehyung was straight out of the room and you started getting ready. And that was that. 
You feel more like yourself when you find the wine hidden in the fridge, a free present from the hotel. Or maybe your cousin’s way of making peace. Ha, as if that’d happen. 
When Taehyung comes back to get dressed, you’re already tipsy and acting like a fool.
“Drinking already?” There are many things that Taehyung wants to say to you. An apology he’s too sober to say and a confession you’re too drunk to hear, to begin with. 
“It’s pre-game,” you explain dizzily. “You know. I never told you why I hate my cousin so much. She used to bully me and she stole my first boyfriend from me. And we never got past it.”
With your trademark look, high-heels, acrylics, a fancy yet revealing dress along with whatever else you consider fashionable at the moment, Taehyung feels familiarity staring at your lopsided smirk. Though he’s gotten glimpses of other sides of you during these past few days, like how you like cuddling during the night, this is the epitome of who you are.
“Yeah,” he replies agreeably, though you’re not sure what for.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but Hoseok is waiting for me. So, this is bye-bye.” 
“See you there.”
“Probably not.” You snicker. Taehyung can tell that you’re still upset with him.
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You’re so wasted that the things happening around you aren’t really making sense anymore. While you and Hoseok were drinking together for a while, at one point Jungkook whisked him away, then there’s a blank in your memory and now you’re here. Alone. And you’ve lost count of how many drinks you’ve had. 
A man, that’s definitely a few years older than you, finally approaches you after observing you from afar. He says some sort of sleazy line—you’re not sure what it is, you’re not really listening—and offers you a drink. 
You consider him. He’s not your type at all and that pornstache isn’t helping his case but, when you look at Taehyung and see him talking and having fun while you’re being an alcoholic by your lonesome and moping about him, you quickly accept his offer. Pornstache or not. 
“Pick anything you’d like, kitten,” he purrs, in an attempt at being seductive. 
“Well first off I’m not a furry so don’t call me that,” you snap with a self-assured grin. And then you start listing off the most expensive drinks on the menu. 
This man is so enamored by you that he buys you all of them. You’re three steps closer to alcohol poisoning when you clumsily stumble onto the dance floor along with him, running your hand over his jaw in what you believe to be a sensual manner. He seems to dig it, but from an outsider’s perspective the two of you look like junkies trying to get off. 
Your experience in the club is romanticized. The dim lights are reminiscent to those few times you’ve gone to a rave and it reeks of alcohol, overpriced perfumes and sweat. You and your nameless pathetic fan mingle with the grinding crowd and begin imitating them. 
As the poet Lady Gaga once said, “redlight pornographic dance fight”. 
The act itself is indifferent to you. From across the room, Taehyung locks eyes with you and you’re not really sure why but you feel this sudden need to provoke him, even when you know he most likely wouldn’t care. You sloppily kiss your suitor’s cheek while looking at him intensely from across the room. A red trail from your wet lips makes its way down his face.
For the sake of pettiness, you might’ve gone further—I mean, you were already playing some weird game of tug-and-war but with clothes—but you don’t want to know the feeling of this guy’s lips against yours. He finds the mostly innocent action as an invitation, though, and abruptly halts your staring contest with Taehyung by forcing you into a greedy kiss.
Pushing him away, you give him a pointed stare and rejection is clear on his face. “Excuse me…” 
He’s a terrible kisser. 
Pushing through everyone that’s in your way, you make your escape through the first door you find. In your intoxicated parade, you fail to make sense of the words ‘CLOSED’ that are so blatantly taped over the entrance. So, you find yourself in front of a swimming pool. 
The cold breeze outside prickles at your skin unpleasantly, and a quick look around tells you that there’s no one around to put this in their cringe compilation. Apparently more disgusted than you’d initially thought, you puke your guts out in front of the pool. Now light-headed and somehow empty, you stare at your vomit and take a deep breath. 
“Hey, why’d you run away?” Your suitor from earlier appears to have followed you outside. You stare at your feet—doesn’t he understand that you wanted to get away from him?
“You’re a bad kisser,” you say bluntly after getting over your little trance. 
“Give me a chance to change your mind then,” he offers smugly, taking menacing steps towards you. You move away instinctively before you’re quickly backed into a wall, with his two hands trapping you in between. 
Your eyes widen with fear and you sink into yourself. If you had anything else to puke out, you’re sure you would’ve done so at this point. “I have sharp nails and I’m not afraid to use them.”
“Oh, she bites-”
The events that play out next happen so slowly, you’re not sure why you’re surprised. Taehyung appears, and you do see him in your peripheral vision, stares for a bit before knocking the guy out with a punch to his temple. He falls unconscious on the ground.
“Oh god, did I kill him?” he asks, a vacant look on his face. He imagined his first kill to be more thrilling, but on second thought, he’s not sure why he was thinking about that without being under the influence of substances in the first place. 
“I’d be happy if he’s dead, if that helps,” you comment dryly. 
“Do we dump the body in the pool or what?”
The two of you are drunk enough to consider it. Your mind is blank for a bit, before you finally speak up. “I’m trying to think of what I saw on How To Get Away With Murder, but it’s not coming to me. But like, on Blacklisted, there was this guy who like, made the corpses turn to gas or something!”
“You watch too much TV. Also, I’m pretty sure it’s called The Blacklist.”
“Whatever. Do you know how to do that?”
“No.”
“Hey, what’s going on here?” A new voice cuts in.
“You better come up with something convincing or we’ll have to kill him too,” you urge.
“Did you say something?”
“No.”
“Umm, awkward believe it yeah,” Taehyung begins, a strong start. “This guy slipped on her puke and hit his head. And he has a concussion now.”
“Man, that sucks,” the guy says. You’re relieved that he’s as trashed as he is, otherwise the situation would’ve went really badly, considering how Taehyung straight-up lied to his face. “I’ll go call someone over ‘ere.”
Once he’s out of sight, the two of you stare at each other and decide to flee the country. But then change the plan with the more economically-efficient idea to simply leave the club. 
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“Why were you with that guy anyway?” Taehyung asks. Frankly put, neither of you know where you’re going, but you’re boldly leading him through the artificially-lit streets of Las Vegas as if you’re born there. Where you end up is a concern your sober selves of tomorrow should worry about.
“I wanted to make you jealous,” you reply, bold, like everything you do when you’re drunk is. 
“...I don’t get it.”
“You pissed me off so much yesterday. And you made me jealous when you went out with that cashier. But also, you killed a guy for me, so I guess I’m not mad at you anymore.” 
“Well aren’t you high-maintenance,” he retorts sarcastically, gaining what feels like a confidence spurt because of your sudden confession. “You don’t have anything to be jealous of, anyway. The only thing I had on my mind during that stupid fucking date was you.”
You freeze up. You thought that your own attitude was what made any possibility of him returning your feelings seem laughable. Even if it’s drunk blabber, alcohol is an honesty elixir, at least in your case. “Kiss me?” 
He doesn’t need to be told twice, attacking your lips so eagerly you’d consider it funny if you were in a right state of mind. Still, your reciprocation is just as hungry, so maybe you don’t have any room to laugh. He is indulging you, after all.
The wipeout that happened at the club happens again and you’re left to wonder how things escalated. From teeth clashing against each other in pure excitement, you’re left hovering over Taehyung’s form and straddling him unsteadily.
He reaches under your already high dress and the glimpse of your panties seems to excite him. “You have no idea how much I’ve thought about this,” he admits breezily. 
You smile, a teasing one, adjusting yourself better. “You don’t need to be so dramatic about it, it’s just underwear.” 
“Dramatic is how many times I’ve jerked off after we went to the supermarket and you flashed me.”
“Ewwww, we shared a bed like three times, freak,” you scold and he pouts when you distance yourself from him. 
“I was just trying to be funny!”
“Not funny. Didn’t laugh. It’s better when you don’t talk,” you instruct before leaning down again to kiss him. At least he’s having fun with groping whatever he can get his hands on. 
“You’re so annoying it turns me on. Always whining, it drives me nuts how much I really like you.”
You snicker. “Well, I sure am feelin’ the love here.”
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When you wake up, you register three things. Four, actually. First—your left shoe is missing. Second— Taehyung is knocked out cold next to you. Third—you don’t know where you are, except for the fact that there’s a garbage bin next to you. Fourth—your head is throbbing with pain and you’re so sore you’re not sure if you can walk. Needless to say, you had the wild night in Vegas you wished for in your bucket list, and you only half-regret it.
You see your shoe discarded near you and nudge it with your toe for a bit before finally gathering enough power to sit up and put it on. Or so you think, because the moment you’re propped in a standing position, you vomit like you did yesterday. 
Speaking of yesterday, the only thing you remember is that you and Taehyung were convinced that he’s now a murderer on the run, confessing your feelings for each other in an anti-climactic manner and then having like seven rounds of public sex. 
With a recap of yesterday’s events, you digress and put your shoe on before reaching in your purse. Surprisingly, you haven’t been robbed. Fishing your phone out, you come to the conclusion that you’ve been knocked out cold for way too long. 
Hoseok has generously spammed you with seventy texts, but you don’t bother to read them, already assuming that the gist is something about where the fuck you and Taehyung are. Instead, you call him immediately. 
“Hi,” you greet casually.
“[Y/n]! Where the fuck are you and Tae? We were so worried. Jin almost declared you two missing. But on the positive side, Jungkook didn’t care because he got food poisoning yesterday at the club.”
“I don’t know where we are, but he’s with me.”
“What do you mean?!”
“I’ll send you my location. I don’t have money for Uber, love you, kisses and hickeys,” you say in one breathe before hanging up quickly and doing what you said you’d do. 
At first, you thought this road trip was an opportunity for you to grow and mature. However, after yesterday’s shenanigans, you’re almost convinced your sociopathic tendencies are now higher by 5%. 
You start shaking Taehyung until he wakes up and swats your arms away. Now upon closer inspection, while you’re aware that you look bad right now, he’s not looking too hot either. The lipstick marks you had left on his face make it look like you’ve either slobbered all over him or that he’s a vampire, you’re not sure. And you’ve bitten him so much somebody could think he got attacked by a racoon judging solely on those bruises.
You quickly explain the situation to him as you’re fixing up your bra and top. Considering the fact that you were bordering on nip-slip territory, that was your priority. Smoothing your dress is easy enough, but your pantyhose is mysteriously ripped in some incriminating places.
He reaches out, rips out the fake eyelash that was pathetically hanging off the corner of your eye and throws it away. You take care of the other one, wipe off your ruined make-up and then wipe off the lipstick on his face. 
Your head hurts so much that you don’t know what to say to break the silence. Though you also don’t doubt that he’s in the position, and so, for the first time it doesn’t feel awkward between the two of you. 
“Hey, [Y/n], are we like… dating now?”
“I think so? You can be my date to the wedding if you want.” 
A dopey smile takes over his face. You realize you’ve made someone this happy before with merely being yourself. It fills you with a kind of warmth you’ve never felt before.
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“Your cousin won’t stop calling you,” Taehyung emphasizes as you’re pointedly ignoring your ringtone while you get ready. Considering the atrocious state both of you came back in, the process taking longer than usual shouldn’t be a surprise. Especially since you had to take turns for the shower.
Also the part where the two of you got into a fight over who should go in first—your thesis being arguably stronger once you mentioned the mud ingrained in the left sole of your feet—only slowed you down further.
“I know right? Can’t this pregnant moron get a life.”
“No, I think she’s calling you because we’re late to the wedding,” he elaborates. “You should pick up.”
“But I hate her!”
“You can roast her at the wedding and I’ll hype you up if you do what I ask.”
“Oh my god, promise?” 
“Promise.”
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“Look who finally showed up,” your cousin greets you with a tight smile. You can only return the sentiment as Taehyung dumbly trails behind you. 
Well, as much as you don’t like your cousin, the wedding is certainly nice. With a light atmosphere and a fancy ceremony, he can’t pretend he hates it—that much is certain. Though he can also tell that it’s a lot of money wasted on food that doesn’t look appetizing in the slightest the more he examines the buffet.
“I see you’re not wearing the dress I shipped to you. Is it too tight, perhaps?” She’s smiling fakely and sweetly as she waits for your answer to her provocation. Of course it’s too tight; what else could it be when she picked it two sizes smaller than what you usually wear. And she did it on purpose too.
Despite the rather mundane conversation happening, the tension is thick.
“I’m going to be quick. You look like a greasy manatee.” You give her your own uptight smile before strutting away, cueing Taehyung to follow after you.
“Pregnancy-shameeeeed,” he yells out as he offers her finger guns and speed-walks in your direction. 
Once he’s caught up with you, he speaks up again. “I know you could’ve been more brutal than that.”
“Oh please, I’m sophisticated, I’d never engage in some barbaric behavior.”
You both burst out laughing at your blatant lie. 
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“Do you think they’re dating now?” Jin asks, looking at the two of you as you dance and joke around. Though he imagines that you could only be having a deranged conversation, one that isn’t as sweet and lovey-dovey as it might look from an outsider’s perspective, it’s still quite disgusting how smitten Taehyung looks with you. 
“I don’t care,” Jungkook answers. Him saying he doesn’t care is a metaphor for how much he doesn’t care about anything after his food poisoning.
Jimin rolls his eyes. “Oh definitely. I saw them making out near a garbage dumpster when we were driving back to the hotel.”
Seokjin chokes.
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justincaseyouareme · 7 years
Text
25 Upcoming Robron Speculations
Some thoughts on next 8 weeks and beyond.
1. The fact Aaron ends up at the hospital at the birth has him dealing with feelings he didn’t think he still had about Rob.  We’ve seen hints before his holiday that he still cared for Rob and couldn’t move on yet.  Ending up being involved with the birth I think will bring that home more than ever to him which will make it hurt more seeing Rob with his baby boy.
2. Rob will struggle with the birth because of his self loathing and not believing he is deserving of a son and that he will be a horrible father.  It will also hit Rob hard when he sees Aaron at the hospital.  His hatred of himself for what he has done to Aaron will just dial itself up to a new higher level.
3. I don’t think Aaron will pull any punches after Rob tells him everything.  He’ll be shocked, ashamed, mad and very disappointed in Rob.  I think Aaron will be just as determined to not be with Rob after learning all of this as he ever was.
4. Even though Aaron is disappointed and upset with Rob he will still give him the “Be a dad or run away like you always do” speech. It will remind us of Dec 2014 before Andy and Katie’s wedding when Aaron ripped into Rob after hearing him be verbally cruel to Andy, Katie, Vic and Diane.  He told Rob to do one if that was his attitude because he had no interest in a man that treated his family that way.  Rob took in everything Aaron said and immediately apologized to his family. Even though the wedding was still ruined b/c of the ring fiasco Aaron was still pleased with Rob that he made the effort to be better.  Aaron will give a similar speech to Rob this time and he will once again take it in and decide to try to be a good father because that is what Aaron expects of him.
5. We all keep wandering what is the event that gets Aaron onside with Rob again to where he wants to actually physically be in his orbit now.  It might not end up being some big event.  It might be something as small as seeing Rob making an effort at being a dad because if you think about last June/July that is pretty much all Aaron wanted was for Rob to not lie to himself and admit he wants to be a good dad.  If they could have had that talk back then who knows if they would have even broke up???
6. Seeing all of the spoilers that I have seen for November tells me that this story is going from zero to 120 the day of the birth and it won’t be slowing done one bit.  We’ve all been waiting for the birth to get here now it’s full speed ahead.  As fast as it will be going and with everything I’ve read so far I actually don’t think we are going to get a lot of air time of happy family w/Rob and Bex and Seb.  We might see a scene or two but I would be surprised if it is anymore than that.  Because of that I’m not to worried about having to watch much happy fam on the screen.  It will be all fake smile from Rob anyhow when Bex is in the room with him and Seb.
7.  I told a friend today considering how miserable it has been waiting these 8 months to get to where we are now....  Thank God humans don’t have the gestation period of elephants.  Imagine if he had to wait 22 months for the baby Seb’s delivery.  EEK!!
8.  Who picked up on Paddy and Chas today sneeking around and Chas saying she likes the sneeking because she hates when everyone is sticking their nose in her business.  I about spit my coffee when I heard her say that of all people.  But it got me to thinking. Chas goes back to Paddy after she ends it last spring and now doesn’t want anyone knowing about it. Sound familiar to what is probably going to happen with the boys? On top of that with all of the spoilers we are now getting nothing is even hinting that Chas is going to have her nose in Aaron and Rob’s business at least in November.  
9. If Rob has properly set up Rug Tree Bonds as a proper company like was hinted on the show by Chrissie then he’s got the 30% of HF fair and square.  The only shares that Rebecca could be demanding Rob return are the 10% that Lawrence gave to Rob.
10. I’ve been getting a real laugh watching Rob attempting to play the “kept boy” of Larry’s and continue to push the romance envelope with him. I saw no one mention the little scene on Thursday when Rob tried to get Larry to go somewhere private with him to open that bottle of wine.  Talk about trying to play the loverboy role right in front of the sisters.  Hysterical.  Then this entire week it has been like Rob has been attached to Larry’s hip.  Milking it for all it’s worth.  With what we know is going to happen on the day of the birth at the hotel it is obvious that Rob has kept working it and Larry is now completely smitten if not in love in Robert.  I will carry this idea on further in another point.
xxxxxxx - At this point everything following is pure speculation and theory and wishful thinking on my part - xxxxxxxx
11. I think a pivotal point in Nov will be the day Aaron reaches out to Bex about Rob seeing his son. I actually believe (and nothing to support my belief) this will be the event that will suddenly solidify Aaron’s thoughts about Rob, Rebecca and Seb.  Their conversation will let AAron realize Rob truly isn’t interested in this woman.  He will realize she is delusional when it comes to Rob.  This will erase that fear that he always had that Rob would eventually leave him for that woman who gives him a child and then set up a perfect proper family which Aaron has always believed he could never do with him as a man.
12. Now for those of you, like me, who are conspiracy theorist, led by Queen Taryn :-) then this could very well be the conversation that gets heated enough between Aaron and Bex that she let’s it slip that Rob isn’t the father. He might even be able to pull out of her that the ONS didn’t happen too.  Now if you tend to be more in the rationale court with Queen Clo then you can just disregard this point all together.  But since I’m a loyalist to Queen Taryn I will continue my theory and suggest that Aaron doesn’t tell Rob right away what Bex has told him.  He will keep it to himself because he hasn’t got his own head around it yet. He also will question if this info will matter or not considering how much has been said and done by each of them over that past months and if they could even come back from all of that even if the ONS and baby didn’t exist.  So he keeps this info to himself for now.....  
13. What if Aaron also doesn’t tell Rob about him exposing the whole Lachlan/prostitute thing to Belle which causes her to break up with Lachlan and tips Lachlan into psycho mode.  Rob is a lot more aware of what Lachaln potentially could do so he would be more alert than Aaron is if he knew but he won’t. I think Lachlan will target Aaron to hurt because he told Belle.  At the same time Lachlan wants to hurt Robert but Lachlan soon figures out that the best way to wound Robert is to hurt/kill Aaron so that becomes his plan.
14. With Lachlan’s spying I think he will overhear something from Bex and figure out she’s been playing Rob this whole time which pisses him off because that is what opened the door for Rob to be back at HF.  Not sure though if he will target her or not?  I don’t know.  But, more importantly he’ll overhear a conversation between Larry and Rob that is implying those two are in a sexual relationship or that Larry is wanting to take it there.  This sickens Lachlan and dials up his psycho level to another notch. I think this makes Larry another target for Lachlan when he realizes how much his granddad has been stupid enough to get sucked in by Robert.
15. Robert’s scheming finally is all exposed which shocks Larry as he thinks Robert really does love him.  Bex finds out everything Rob has been doing with her dad and gets sick over it all.  Larry and Rob get into some type of fight. I don’t expect Rob to hurt Larry that much but I wonder if this is an opportunity for Lachlan to finish off Larry and try to frame Rob?  Or not.???  Don’t have much thought about this yet.
16. Also not sure what all Chrissie is doing through all of this stuff.  Haven’t figured out a role for her in it all yet except for standing on the sidelines with her glass of wine shouting out “I told you so” when it comes to Robert.  LOL  But maybe Lachlan does kill Rebecca and Chrissie takes off with the baby.  Doubt it but it would be a fun little thing on the side to me at least.
17. Through it all Robert finds out that Aaron is Lachlan’s next target so he tries to warn Aaron.  He gets to Aaron at the same time as Lachlan is trying to run him over with his new car. (Yes I think there was a point to making sure we knew Lachlan passed his driving test this week and will now be getting that new car he was promised).  Anyway, Rob will try to push Aaron out of the way but they both get hit. Rob seriously hit and Aaron not so much because Rob saved him..... again.
18. Rob will be on death’s door.  Aaron will be banged up put OK.  This is where Chas/Paddy stick there nose in finally at the hospital trying to tell Aaron not to go back just because Rob saved him.  What they don’t know is what Aaron knows about the baby and ONS...  something he hadn’t told Rob about yet.  So now it will be Aaron at the hospital fearing Rob will die not knowing he didn’t cheat on Aaron.  Aaron finally confesses to Chas everything and surprisingly she will understand and accept Aaron’s decisions. Now Rob just has to wake up and get better.
19. Not sure how the whole Xmas show will fit in.  If it is an outlier show or another part of the story.  However it works out, Rob wakes up, Aaron tells him the truth about baby and ONS and his “I never stopped” feelings. Rob will struggle with accepting the baby isn’t his, that Aaron didn’t tell him right away, and even if ONS didn’t happen he probably still isn’t good enough for Aaron and will try to push him away.  How much will Aaron allow him to push before Aaron puts a stop to it? Don’t know.   The Xmas show then could be some kind of dream like thing for Rob now facing up to his past and his behavior.  Andy is the cameo that walks Rob through it all and helps him see that he needs to hang on to AAron and not push him away.
20. Rebecca has left ED with baby but she gets tracked down after first of year and a paternity test is done to confirm Rob isn’t the father but she refuses to say who is. Everyone assumes it is Ross.  Another test is done.  Ross isn’t the father but someone close DNA wise is..  a father, brother or son of Ross’s.  :-)   Of course I’m a champion of the Adam theory.  It’s proven true and Adam leaves ED because of it.  Who cares if he goes to Bex or not.  I don’t.  Aaron will be both devastated and hurt that Adam had been actively involved with Bex and knowingly allowed her to tear apart Rob and their relationship.  Through all of this Aaron will finally figure out that Rob really was the only truly looking out for him while he was in prison.  Everyone else, including his best mate took the opportunity to hurt Rob.
21. As for Aaron and Rob.  Rob will be seriously injured but I’m guessing the miracle workers of Hotten General will have him fully recovered as fast as Rhona was last year.  I would love to see him have a broken leg or something that requires some hospital time and Aaron and Vic fighting to take care of him after he gets out. Whatever happens I counting on the reunion first kiss on New Years either in hospital or at the Mill.  Aaron will also end up being Rob’s caregiver and learns to be there for Rob like he has always been there for Aaron in the past.  An important growth point in their relationship.
22. I don’t think it will take long after the new year for Rob to move back in to the Mill for the simple fact there is no longer a set at the studio for Vic’s Keeper’s Cottage. The Aaron and Rob scenes will have to be at the Mill and while I expect Rob will still live at Keeper’s or B&B for awhile it won’t take long for him to eventually move in...  or maybe move into the other flat for awhile.  That could happen too.  Live in the other flat but still eat meals, watch movies with Aaron and Liv at theirs. 
23. Since the wedding isn’t until summer I think it allows them to take their time working through all of their issues properly.  It is a soap so it won’t take forever. I also think there will be other things happening drama wise with them in the spring.  It will be voting season again for the BSA’s and I’m guessing Ryan and Danny will be primary targets for ED to promote for best actor which means they will have some kind of drama in the spring again to make them even more visible to the voters.  It doesn’t have to be angsty drama but something.  This is where I think maybe the baby could come back into play if you don’t believe my theory and believe the baby is Rob’s but Bex had left with it.  I don’t know but something will put a spot light on the boys in the spring during BSA voting season I’m sure.
24.  I still haven’t put my finger on the wide spectrum of stuff we got from Vic in all of this.  She has been from one extreme to another.  But mostly not being there for Rob through most of it.  The spoilers suggest even Bex finally calls her out on her meddling.  I think she will be left out in the cold when Rob is hurt and Aaron won’t have much use for her.  Rob will choose Aaron to care for him over her and she’ll feel the outcast feeling that Rob has felt so often and realize some things about her actions.  Adam will be the final hurt for her.  In the end it will be Rob that reaches out to her.  Old Rob would turn his back and let her suffer.  New Rob will love his sister unconditionally and not turn his back on her.  Lots of people in the village will find themselves apologizing. Rob will finally talk to his family about Jack.  The family will bond again.
25. More than likely most of this will be way off base like most of my speculations are.  I guess I just fall into the category of not thinking they are going to throw a baby into the mix while Rob and Aaron are rebuilding their relationship.  This has always been about Robron and if baby Seb remains in the mix it will no longer be about Robron.  It will be about Robastian with Aaron on the side and that isn’t the story they are telling I don’t think.  The little bit of baby we will get in November will be enough to change a lot of Rob’s perspectives on many things and it will give him enough of a taste of fatherhood to make him now want to be a father.  Aaron will develop strong feelings about it too which will make it an obvious easy story line for the new legally married Dingle-Sugden’s in the last half of 2018 to start the adoption/surragacy process.
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