#i wanted to wait for hours in a crowded auditorium to walk across the stage in front of everyone

[agirlwithdemonblood]

The Broken Fan - Chapter 6

Pairings: Jensen Ackles & Reader (Read as first person!)

Series Summary: Always a nobody, always invisible, will this convention change things?

Chapter Summary: Jensen and I face some hardships that shouldn't have occured, and he gives me a wonderful surprise.

Warnings: Fighting, mentions of physical assault, descriptions of physical assault/fight, swearing, mentions of injury and blood.

Series Masterlist here! Main masterlist here!

Jensen's POV

The auditorium was filled with people who were cheering and screaming my name, but the only sound that came out clearly was that of my own heart pounding loudly in my ears, like a heavy drum or the rain beating on a window pane.

The memories of our previous conversation was on loop in my mind, the excitement nearly overtaking my body. I couldn't wait. But it was also terrifying at the same time, maybe more in a good way.

You know when you go to the fair and you see a ride you really want to go on, but the fear nearly talks you out of it? Your hands shake, your legs feel like jello, your heart almost skips right out of your chest and for a second you feel like you can't do this, you just want to leave, run away screaming, hide.

But whenever you finally get on that ride and it starts, the fear starts to dissipate and turn into adrenaline instead. Your grimace turns into a smile, screams into laughter, fear into fun.

That's what I was feeling. So excited, but so fucking scared of the uncertainty. What if it goes wrong? What if I ruin her? What if she ruins me?

Sitting next to my best friend, I couldn't help but wonder what he would think of all this. Was I being crazy? Was this too fast?

Either way, if this was wrong, than I never wanted to be right.

Back to me

It's only been an hour and a half since Jensen left for the panel but I already missed him with every fibre of my being. Was he thinking of me too? Was he okay?

I had to admit, as soon as he left I felt like I was suffocating. I couldn't understand how this is real life, how this is happening to me out of all people. Why would he ever want me this way?

My thoughts were heading straight into overdrive as I sat there, alone, and I couldn't handle it anymore. I had to get out of this stuffy hotel room, away from the silence and the scent of him that drove me crazy.

Quickly grabbing my purse, I headed down the hallway to the elevators, thanking Jensen ahead of time for having a private floor so I wouldn't be caught by any superfans up here.

I wasn't ashamed in any form, but I knew how it already looked by us being together, and I haven't even spoken to him about how this could affect our personal lives when word gets out. I couldn't do that to him, so I'd be as careful as could be.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, my chest tightened with anxiety. Fans were everywhere, crowding around the lobby, nearly pressed into each other. I checked the time and realized quickly why, the panel just ended and Jensen was going to be signing soon.

I walked around sheepishly as I stared at the booths set up, trying to stay calm in the sea of voices and screams. I never really was good with crowds of people, and this... well this was my nightmare.

Suddenly, a warm feeling rushed over me, one that I've only ever felt when Jensen was around. The exact same feeling I had when he stared at me from the stage on the day we met.

I lifted my head up as my eyes scanned the room, falling straight onto my person. He was standing at the back of the room in front of his table, a wide smile spread across his face as he waved gently. I smiled and waved back before walking towards where he was.

I was so distracted by his eyes on mine, I didn't notice the same two girls from the other day approaching me from behind. I didn't notice Jensen's smile fading as he tried to move, but was asked to sit down.

Vanessa's rough grip on my shoulder pulled me out of my thoughts as she spun me towards herself and Amber. They smirked mischievously and I returned with a roll of my eyes, sick of their drama and pettiness.

"Y/N, Wow I didn't expect you to be back after you completely embarrassed yourself in front of Jensen yesterday." She stated smugly.

I laughed underneath my breath and turned to continue walking towards Jensen's tables, as I called out over my shoulder, "The only one embarrassing themselves is you, sweetie."

I was so close to him, only a few feet away but Vanessa wouldn't let up. She grabbed me once again and pulled me closer to her. "Are you one of those crazy fans? The ones that try to pry their way into Jensen's life?"

I scoffed in response, "Not that it's any of your business but you have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh really?" She hissed, as she pulled her phone from her purse, a picture of Jensen and I at the bar last night facing me. I swallowed hard and kept my eyes down, avoiding giving any information out.

"Explain this than."

I yanked my arm from her grip and backed up, "I don't owe you anything, leave me alone Vanessa."

I managed to walk away and get closer to the table, my eyes catching Jensen's worried and concerned expression spread across his face. I offered a reassuring smile, hoping that he could relax and have a good time, he didn't need to worry about this, not now.

I took a deep breath as I tried to push the anxiety out, but as soon as I felt her standing behind me, my nerves only grew. I rolled my eyes and turned towards her, "Listen Vanessa, I understand that your obsessed with Jensen, maybe a little too much, but your not his mother. You aren't his type either so maybe just worry about yourself rather than worry about an actor that doesn't even know you exist."

With that, I turned towards Jensen and gave him a smile before walking back towards the elevator, but unfortunately only made it two steps before a rather large impact hit my back and I quickly fell to the floor.

I turned on my back and before I could react, Vanessa jumped on top of me and started throwing punches, one after another. I held my hands up to block the hits but the little bitch was quick, she threw punch after punch before somebody finally tried to pull her off of me.

I could feel my face bleeding as she kept hitting, kept fighting to attack me, for god knows what reason. I could have easily defended myself, hell I've had fights with people three times bigger than her, but this was Jensen's convention I wasn't going to stoop to her level, I wasn't going to cause a scene here, not in Jensen's place.

Her weight was lifted off of my body and a breath of relief filled my lungs when I realized security pulled her off. My head lulled back onto the floor as I tried to keep calm, praying that I didn't look as bad as I felt.

I turned to face Jensen who was standing only a few feet away, a deep look of heartbreak and desperation covering his face. He tried to come closer, but another security guard had their hand up, blocking him from leaving. I watched as he leaned closer, whispering something to the woman before he disappeared out of my vision.

She came closer to me, slowly helping me stand from my spot before grabbing my arm to lead me out. I was convinced she was kicking me out when she brought me down the hallways to a securely locked door, but when I looked at her with surprise and she offered nothing but a reassuring smile, I figured out what Jensen told her.

Before I knew it, we walked through a door with his name on it and I was in a room that looked like a lounge. She kindly helped me sit before offering to clean my wounds but I politely declined, all I wanted was to see Jensen. He would help me.

She left as soon as he walked in and he stilled at the sight of me up close. A look of dread and heartbreak covered his face as he rushed over to my side, crouching in front of me. "Jesus honey, are you alright?"

I nodded sadly and shrugged, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen."

He shook his head and leaned upwards, laying a deep kiss to my temple. "Don't apologize." He reassured as he grabbed a towel to clean the blood off, "Why didn't you hit her back?"

"Because I knew if I did, in the long run that would look horrible on you. If we ever became public people would know me as the girl who got in a fight at the convention. That's not fair to you."

He scoffed as he gently wiped the blood from my eyes. "So you just took a bunch of hits to protect my image?"

"Yes." I stated as I shoved his hand down, "And I would do it again in a heartbeat Jensen. I've been hit before, it's no big deal."

He flinched as soon as the words left my mouth and his head dropped, the image of me ever being hit tearing at his soul.

He shook his head and sighed deeply, "Sweetie, I appreciate what you were trying to do but I want you to defend yourself when somebody hurts you, I don't want to be the reason you get the shit beaten out of you."

I smiled and leaned closer to him, reaching my hand to his chin and bringing it up to face me, "Trust me, in another place I would have kicked her ass but not in a convention-your convention, not when we are about to start our life together."

He frowned as the towel dropped in his lap, his head falling slightly. Guilt filled me as I watched how sad and broken he looked, "Listen, I know you don't understand. But I promise, I'm fine. If I felt like that bitch was going to kill me, I would have 100% defended myself but I knew she was pissed off and was going to get stopped by security, and she did."

"I just..." He whispered, "I hate the idea that you have been hit before, and especially seeing it for myself today. I wish I could have helped."

"I know Jensen. But the way I've grown up, I've had to learn how to defend myself. I know how to handle it and when not to say or do anything. Today, I shouldn't have said anything but I did because she was insulting us. That was my bad so whatever happened after that was my-"

His face shot up as a stern look appeared on his face, "Don't you dare say it was your fault."

I couldn't help but smile at the protective side of Jensen, it was hot and cute at the same time and it made my heart melt knowing he cared this much about me.

"I promise I'm okay." I spoke softly, leaning closer to him.

"Okay." He smiled softly. "I trust you."

"Okay, well you have to get back out there before the fans start busting down the doors trying to find you."

A whole hearted laugh escaped his lips as he shook his head at me, "I will but first let me clean you up."

The room was filled with a comfortable silence as he worked on getting the blood off of me, occasionally placing bandages on the bigger areas that were still bleeding, and by the time he was done, I knew I was even more in love with him than I've ever been.

He smiled and leaned closer, capturing my lips with his in a passionate and meaningful way. I smirked against him as he seperated, standing to help me up off the couch and into his arms tightly.

“Okay I should go.” He sighed, walking back towards the door but stopping before he could turn the knob. “I’ll be back soon. Can you try not to get punched by any more crazy fan girls while I’m gone?”

A loud giggle escaped my mouth as I rushed towards the door, leaning on my tiptoes to peck his lips over and over. I couldn’t get enough of him. I smirked and pulled away, “I’ll try but no promises. Being with you might mean I piss off more people than intended.”

A loud chuckle filled his throat as he shook his head and I swore I’ve never heard something so beautiful in my life. He winked before opening the door and quickly shutting it behind him, leaving me in the room to wait patiently, if I could do that.

It’s been a good two hours since he left and the separation was already tearing at my soul. It was ridiculous, I should be able to get through a few hours without him, I lived years without even knowing him. What the hell kind of hold did he have on me.

I walked towards the mirror and froze at my reflection, laughing lightly at the site of the bruises and cuts all over my face. I’ll definitely give her this, for a small girl she could really hit.

It amazed me more than pissed me off, the fact that I allowed somebody like her to even try to hurt me like that, was a shock itself.

I’ve been in a few fights in my lifetime, I mean you kind’ve have to be ready for one when your living on the street and the more I ran into people who wanted to start something, the more I learned about self defence.

I wasn’t an animal, I didn’t want to fight or even learn how to, but being a young woman living in a car I’d occasionally run into the stray drunk men who didn’t want to take no for an answer, and local crackheads who wanted to steal my home.

And not once have I ever let somebody attack me or say the things they’ve said about somebody I cared about without hitting back but Jensen was worth it. He was worth everything.

A ping on my phone interrupted my thoughts and an instant smile erupted on my face when I saw his name.

>>Meet me in the back alley in 10 mins, I have a suprise for you.<<

My heart was pounding as I stared at the message, a deep confusion spreading throughout me.

I’ve never gotten a surprise before and the idea of Jensen sneaking around planning something for me, well it made me feel like an excited little girl on her birthday.

I made my way out the hallways and found the exit, stepping outside before my eyes fell on him. He smiled and pushed himself off the wall, towards a large item hidden underneath a tarp.

“What’s going on?” I smiled nervously as he led me towards the covered mystery. His smile was bright and filled with joy as he led me towards the mystery present, hands holding mine tightly in his own.

“You know how yesterday you told me that you had no life here except for me? Well, I realized that this wasn’t the full truth. You do have a life here. One that you can bring with us.”

I titled my head quizzically before he moved towards the tarp and pulled it off, instantly filling me with shock. I gasped as I backed up, tears filling my eyes at my most prized possession. The home I thought I lost.

My car.

My eyes darted between my baby and him as I struggled to find the words. “Jensen… what did you… How did you…?”

He chuckled and stepped closer, hands resting on my shoulders to bring me back to earth. “Amber. When I went back to the signing, she came up to the counter and apologized for Vanessa, than she told me that she was the one who called the tow truck because Vanessa made her. I asked her what type of car, got the info and sent one of my handlers to go get it for you.”

The tears started rushing down my cheeks as I realized how much I really adored this man. He didn’t have to do this and he knew it, but he wanted to. This had to be the most thoughtful action somebody’s ever shown me.

“Jensen..” I whispered as I leaned my head against his chest, holding him tightly against me. “Thank you..”

He nodded, a gentle yet firm kissed pressed on top of my head as his arms tightened around me. “Of course. I know she’s a big part of your life, and she was your home before you met me, so I was wondering if maybe you wanted to take a road trip back home tomorrow. It’s a long drive so of course only if your up to it. We could always get her shipped out to Texas.”

My smile spread across my lips as I lifted my head to face him, “I’d love that.”

He leaned down gently before pushing his lips against mine, slowly leading me against the wall. My back was pressed as his hand move to my cheek, deepening the kiss with such love and passion I was seeing stars.

A loud clang interrupted our movements, and we quickly stood straight, trying to focus on where the source came from.

His face dropped when he noticed, his hand moving to my arm to grab mine and pull me away. I froze when I spotted what he was staring at, Vanessa.

Jensen tugged on my arm and I shook my head before pushing him gently behind the car to hide him away from her sight. I leaned against the wall and shook my head, “What do you want?”

She scoffed and stepped closer, inches away from me. “You got me kicked out of the convention you bitch.”

I all but laughed as I kicked off the wall, standing directly in front of her. “I actually didn’t do anything, your the freak who jumped me in the middle of the room.”

“Yeah! Because you are some sort of stalker fan girl who tricked their way into Jensen’s life. You have to be an idiot if you’d ever think he’d fall for a ugly homeless chick like you.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, footsteps started approaching us and I sighed. Clearly Jensen heard enough and was about done with this conversation, as was I.

The look on her face when she spotted him was nearly hysterical, yet aggravated me to the core. She was staring at him with such fake love in her eyes and it drove me crazy. She thought she loved him but she didn’t know a single thing about him, she didn’t have what we did.

“Actually Vanessa” I spoke, interrupting her trance. “He fell for me without even knowing I was homeless. Your attempt to break us apart has failed, it only brought us closer together.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes as she pushed passed me, nearly knocking me on my ass. I bit my tongue in anger as I watched her step inches from Jensen, her hand coming to his chest. “Jensen, I can offer you so much more than this piece of trash, dump her and let me show you how happy I could make you.”

Before Jensen could react or even respond, I lost my cool. I rushed towards her, my arm wrapping around her waist as I spun her to the ground. She fell on her knees and looked up at me with such anger and aggression I nearly felt bad for her.

She quickly stood and came closer until she was merely inches from my face and I instantly knew where this was going. I’ve been in this situation before and the two things I learned were to never show fear, and never back down.

Jensen grabbed my hand and shook his head, “No, this isn’t happening. C’mon.” He tried to pull me away but before we knew it, Vanessa jumped on top of me and pulled me to the ground, just like she did inside the hotel.

Jensen tried to jump in but my hand quickly rested on his leg, pushing him back. The last thing we need is for her to claim assault against him because he was defending me. No, this was my fight and I was going to end it.

I let her get a hit in before my arm came up behind her head, swinging her downwards until she fell directly beside me, causing me to jump on her and lay one hard hit onto her face. I stood up quickly and walked back to Jensen, nearly laughing at the way Vanessa was staring into space with such a confused look on her face.

I leaned closer to her and sighed, “You know why Jensen chose me? Because I don’t act like a crazy fucking bitch like you do. I don’t attack fans based on the fact that they got closer to the man they think they love. You don’t know him, I know him. The only damn reason I let you beat the shit out of me in there was because that was his territory, his place. It wasn’t mine to cause a scene, but you did that yourself. The only reason why I haven’t completely kicked your ass right here and now is because you are not worth it. So get over it. Get over the fact that Jensen fell in love with me and not with you and god damn it Vanessa, grow the fuck up.”

She stayed silent, a look of anger and defeat on her face as she stood from her spot and walked away, leaving us alone in the empty alley.

As soon as she left, I let out a shaky breath I didn't realize I was holding in, and swayed against the wall, head resting against the brick to try and keep my composure.

Jensen's hand immediately came to my shoulder as waves of adrenaline shook me to my core. His hand rubbed gently, easing some of the nerves I was still holding onto.

"Are you okay?" He spoke gently.

I shook my head and turned towards him, tears threatening to pour out at any second. "I will be."

His eyebrows furrowed in concern as he looked me up and down, "Did she hit you hard?"

"No, that was just.. really scary." My voice cracked as the tears started to fall.

For a second he looked surprised and it nearly made me laugh, but also made me feel so stupid. His arms pulled me closer into his chest and I breathed him in, the scent of his cologne relaxing me in a way I didn't know could happen.

"I didn't know you were scared baby."

I nodded against his chest, "Of course I was scared, I'm not a heartless monster. I hate fighting. I just do it because I have to, but you never know how it's going to end until it's done, and when it's finally finished, god it shakes you."

He nodded understandably as his lips pressed deep onto my forehead, hands rubbing my back in reassurance that he was here and I could finally breathe easily.

The silence was comforting and relaxing in a strange way, the sound of his heartbeat in my ear calmed my tense muscles and I swore I could just live in this moment with him forever.

His chin rubbed against my head as he sighed contently, lifting to take a look at my state. He smiled gently when he noticed the relaxed look across my face, a kiss being pressed gently against my lips. "Are you okay now?"

I nodded, "Mhm, i'm good. Thanks Jensen."

He broke the distance first, backing up and grabbing my hand tightly in his before he stopped to turn towards me, "I do.... you know?"

I stared back quizzically which made him chuckle, a deep red colour spreading across his freckled cheeks.

"Love you... You told Vanessa that I fell in love with you. I think you were saying that to piss her off but you know I do right?"

My heart pounded in my ears and I could feel the blood rushing to my head as those three words I haven't heard before fall from his lips. He... loved me?

"You do?" I questioned nearly inaudibly.

He nodded and this time he was the one who was filled with anxiety, he was the one who was scared. I smiled wide and jumped in his arms, loud laughter erupting from both of us.

"I love you too Jensen."

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Like, comment & reblog -feedback is my fuel ❤️

The Broken Fan taglist: @magssteenkamp @creative-writing92

#supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #dean winchester #dean x reader #supernatural one shot #jensenxyou #spn fic #jensen x reader #jensen's smile #dean

[familyvideostevie]

Hi there! I hope you’re having a good weekend :) Could I possibly request something where Dustin drags Eddie to watch the school musical to support his friend and as soon as Eddie hears her sing he falls hard for her?

hi! this was just really cute so i had to try it, hope you like! <3 i've only seen oklahoma once and i was like, 12, so i had to google the plot, my apologies for any mistakes there| 1.5k, fluff, fem!reader

"Why isn't there a musical called Indiana?" Eddie complains. "Why is --" he looks at the cover of the program in his hand -- "Oklahoma so important?"

"If you're going to keep asking stupid questions I think you should wait in the van." Dustin sinks low in the high school auditorium seat. "Don't embarrass me."

Eddie pats Dustin on the head and the boy scowls. "For like, two hours? Nah. I wouldn't even be able to smoke since I'm your ride, Henderson. Gotta be responsible." Eddie would never drive high, plus he promised Dustin's mom to get him home in one piece and man, that lady makes good lemon bars. "Might as well see what all the fuss is about."

"It's like, inter-club relations, Eddie. We use the drama room all the time for Hellfire so it's a good thing we're here!" Dustin sounds very impressed with his own reasoning. He'd asked Eddie to come with him to see the school musical and after spring break Eddie isn't in the habit of denying his young friend much. Even this.

"Oh, so we're not here because you have a crush on the leading lady who also happens to be your old babysitter?" Eddie jokes. But honestly, Dustin is right. The theater club is nice enough to let a group of punks play a board game even through the musical going on, which he never really thought about before. And though he doesn't really know any of the theater kids, but he respects them. It's tough to do something you really love in high school, a place where earnestness is ridiculed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dustin huffs, his cheeks a gentle pink. Eddie shifts in his seat as the lights start to go down -- the auditorium isn't too crowded and he wonders if he's going to fall asleep.

But that feeling lasts only a few minutes because then he sees you. You're in a pale blue dress that's probably meant to be old-timey or something, Eddie doesn't know, but he can't look away. You're pretty, that's clear, but you're also magnetic.

"Is that her?" he whispers to Dustin, who nods before putting his finger to his lips to tell Eddie to be quiet. And then you start to sing. And he'll deny it for the rest of his days, but he swears the world stops and it's just you and him in the dingy Hawkins High auditorium. It's not metal, it's not rock, it's nothing Wayne plays in the trailer, nothing he remembers his mom singing to him when he was a kid. But something about the gentle melody worms its way into his bones and he feels like he's floating. Is this love at first sight?

The musical goes by and Eddie only kind of registers the plot -- bad boy versus good boy, a lot of town politics, maybe some of it too familiar -- but he doesn't take his eyes off of you whenever you're on stage. Which, as the lead role, is a lot. When you sing your ballad he thinks he's blushing. He's blushing. He doesn't even know you!

So when the show ends and the cast comes out to take bows Eddie leaps to his feat, clapping and whistling when you cast your smile over the crowd. Is he imagining that you pause on him and Dustin for a second longer than anyone else?

"Dude," Dustin says, wacking Eddie's leather-clad shoulder. "I think you're drooling." The auditorium empties out and Dustin starts to walk away with a huff. Eddie swipes his hand across his face just in case (he's not drooling).

"Wait, what do we do now?" he calls after his friend. "Is that it?" There's a crowd of people milling around in the hallway, some holding flowers and other small gifts. He wonders if you have a boyfriend who is here somewhere.

"We can wait, if you want. The cast will come out soon." Dustin strokes his chin like a supervillain as he says it, looking far too smug for his own good. Eddie frowns.

"Spit it out, Henderson," Eddie says, leaning on a row of lockers. No one seems to think twice about him being there to watch a show about a town pariah who does some bad shit and dies for it. But he can't think too much about that. Not when he's thinking about you.

"Nope!" he says, throwing his hands in the air. "Nothing to say." Eddie rolls his eyes and looks back at the program and the cast list, running his finger over your name. He wonders if you've had class together and he just didn't know it since he never went. God, there's no way you don't know who he is. And you're probably scared of him, just like everyone else. This is a bad idea.

"Henderson--" he starts to say, pushing off of the lockers to head for the door. But then another voice stops him.

"Dustin!" It's you. After listening to you talk and sing in a faux-southern accent for two hours he's a little shocked to hear your regular tone but it warms him all the way through just as strong. Eddie takes a second just to look at you as you hug the younger boy. You've still got your stage make-up on but you're in jeans and a drama club shirt and he thinks you're the prettiest thing he's ever seen.

"I thought I saw you in the audience," you grin, sending Dustin a wink that has him blushing. Eddie finds the wherewithal to give you a little wave.

"You were great," he says earnestly. "Honestly. Never heard a voice like that, I swear." He rubs the back of his neck for a second before going for it. "I'm Eddie --"

"Munson," you finish, going in for a quick hug. He's too surprised to react and when you pull back you look a little shy. "Sorry," you grimace. "Post-show adrenaline has me hugging everyone."

"S'okay," Eddie breathes out. You smell like hairspray and sweat and he wants to look at you forever. "You know me?"

"Hard not to," you say before you think about it. Your eyes widen as you realize what you said and Eddie tries not to flinch. "You look after my favorite kid!" you blurt out. "And I'm the one who picks up the drama room before Hellfire."

"You should come by sometime," Dustin chirps. "Stay for a session." You smile a little and tuck your hands in your back pockets. Eddie wants to touch you so badly he copies the movement so he can't reach for you.

"Didn't know you were the boss, Dusty," you reply, eyeing Eddie. "I wouldn't want to interrupt--"

"We meet on Fridays," Eddie says. "Which you uh, know. Since you set up for us." Shit. C'mon, Munson, he thinks. But you just smile at him.

"We've got the cast party tomorrow but I could come next week?" There are other people waiting behind him to talk to you, he's sure of it, but your attention never wanders.

"That would be cool," he says. "You know where to find us." He can't believe this is happening. He doesn't even want to play D&D with you -- he wants to make you smile, he wants to drive you around and find out if you've ever listened to metal, he wants to run his hands through your hair.

"You were really great," he repeats. He is feeling greedy, wanting every moment he can with you before he steps back into his real life.

"Dude, you already said that," Dustin mutters. You laugh and god, Eddie has to hear that sound again.

"Thank you," you say earnestly, a hand coming out of your pocket to gently cup his bicep. "See you at school, yeah?"

"You can count on that," Eddie replies. He means it. He'll go to every class from now on for the chance to talk to you. You wave goodbye and wander to the next group of people waiting to talk to you.

"Dude," Dustin says once the pair are in the parking lot. "That was embarrassing."

"I know," Eddie grins. He can't stop smiling. His arm burns where you touched him. "Thanks for being my wingman."

"Your wingman?" Dustin scoffs. "I invited her to Hellfire for me." But the grin he's hiding says differently. Eddie just rolls his eyes.

"We'll see, Henderson. I'm gonna get that girl to fall in love with me."

(He'll tell you this story in a few months' time when you're watching him tune his guitar on his bed. How he felt the world shift when you sang. How the first time you came to Hellfire he kept messing up because he couldn't stop looking at you. How he tried so hard to listen to more musicals on tape but hated them all. How it took the entirety of the movie you saw on your first date for him to work up the courage to hold your hand. How he called Dustin after you kissed for the first time. How he's pretty sure he fell in love with you immediately.)

tags: @ruinedbythehobbit @superflannel @eddiussy @greenclues @sunlitide @gloryofroses19 @carpediem1219 @themarvelousbee @sunshinehollandd @katsukis1wife @imherefortea @spideyboipete @lonelywidow @louderfortheback @actual-mom-steve-harrington @ducky-is-dead-inside @manyfandomsfanvergent @ih3artcry1ng @escape-in-time-x

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[kieranculkingirl]

anyone else from the graduating class of 2020 just feel insanely bitter every time people talk about graduating or finishing high school. like good for you for getting your senior prom im so happy for you but also i resent you deeply for getting everything i didnt

#and just. seeing people call themselves covid seniors this year. no that was ME im the one who got my diploma in an empty auditorium #idk i guess i just never really processed that i was robbed of my senior year until now #and now im like fuck i just wanted to wear a pretty dress and see all my friends one last time at prom #i wanted to wait for hours in a crowded auditorium to walk across the stage in front of everyone #i wanted to turn the tassle over to the other side i wanted to throw my hat up in the air i wanted to come home hungover the day after prom #fuck #pay me no mind im just spiraling #also to seniors this year its nothing against you at all i am so proud of you for getting through such a hard year #just. a little jealous #em.txt

[stressedemoblackbratz]

what the hell pt. 4

pairing: euphoria characters x black!fem!reader

warnings: swearing, mentions of death, mentions of drugs and slight violence.

a/n: yall finna be mad as hell because i’m not making a sequel until season three :/ i am planning on doing a backstory though. possibly a few other things, but what the hell is completed babies.

words: 2.5k + not proofread

part one | part two | part three | how she came to be

all my life i’ve been good, but now i’m thinking, “what the hell?”

“andddd done.” you mumbled before spraying setting spray onto Lexi’s face. the play started in an hour and you had spent a lot of your time trying to calm Lexi down and texting Fez.

y/n: bro why the fuck i came in and first thing i saw was Ethan playing with his titties and him screaming it wasn’t what it looked like

fez: who is he supposed to be?

y/n: Lexi mama 😪

fez: IM DONE 😭😭

“are you sure your okay with this? i mean i had you upset at first so what about Cass-“ you stopped her rambling when you put your phone down and clapped your hands together.

“i was upset you had my break down a power moment for you. we fixed that up, but Cassie? Cassie can go to hell.” you told the girls sister. her eyes were wide with fear at the thought of her sister being mad at her.

“you’re showing them us…nobody told her to go and fuck Nate. boo hoo.” you shrugged.

“i just don’t want anyone to be mad at me or offended.” she said as she shrunk in her chair. you giggled at her worrying before getting up to leave. the girls were waiting for you outside of the auditorium.

“she’s been trying to gain sympathy for herself this entire time. maybe this will wake her up and guess what? sometimes the truth hurts.”

you walked towards the door, waving at Bobbi and Ethan on your way out.

“oh!” you called out causing Lexi to look back at you along with Ethan and a few other people.

“this is the part where i say break a leg. obviously don’t actually do that, but you better eat these bitches up.” you stated before leaving again, your platforms clicking away.

you resisted the urge to scream and punch Cassie and Nate in their jaws on your way to your seat.

“cunts!” BB called to the two.

you sighed sitting down in your seat beside Maddy. you were overly nervous. you knew Lexi was about to show her experiences with everyone and then some, that being said you were praying she didn’t reveal too much about you specifically.

Kat placed a hand on yours as the curtains pulled back and the first act started.

y/n: show time

fez: i’m coming don’t worry

you were so intrigued by how everyone was behind closed doors and apparently everyone else was too. you loved how Ethan played her mother and how he played Nate.

it wasn’t until an actress resembling you walked out did you mumble “she casted us perfectly.”. with that Maddy and BB pieced everything together.

“wait this fucking play is about us?!” she screeched before laughing at some of the portrayals.

you snorted and nodded before glancing behind you. Rue was smiling and even though you still felt some kind of slight resentment still, it felt nice to know she could find humor in this after all she’s been through.

Elliot’s facial expressions weren’t changing too much, but then again…his goofy ass wasn’t in the play.

Jules was into it and don’t even get me started on Suze. the entire room knew she was loving it.

it wasn’t until Cassie and Nate had both waltzed out of the theater for a moment after Ethan’s number that shit hit the fan. you turned around right in time to see Cassie fog up the auditorium doors glass.

“oh shit.” you and Rue mumbled to yourselves on opposite rows before roughly facing back forward.

Cassie walked up to the stage clapping and cursing at Lexi. Ethan tried to intervene and Suze tried to stop her daughter.

“is this apart of the play?” Micheal asked from across the room.

“how about the part where she fucked Martha’s boyfriend?” Maddy yelled out inciting a gasp from the crowd.

“they weren’t together!” Cassie cried as Maddy snickered. she kept going on and on before the crowd started screaming.

“racist!” somebody called from the crowd.

you did see some of Cassie’s points because yeah she did just literally expose you alls most vulnerable moments in front of everyone.

but honestly?

fuck Cassie.

the bitch was annoying and needed this moment.

and no matter what, Lexi’s truth would be Lexi’s truth.

and sometimes the truth hurts.

y/n: fez i don’t know where you are, but Cassie’s literally giving herself away right now. the bitch is breaking.

you put your phone down and enjoyed Cassie’s hollering on stage and pity monologue she created until she found out her sister knew what she had going on at the fair. literally everyone knew, but that set her off. the second she put her hands on her decoy you had had enough.

“ayo bitch!” you yelled standing up, Maddy standing too when Cassie’s head snapped towards you.

“rock her in her shit Mads.” you laughed.

Jules screamed out in laughter as Maddy ran up on Cassie, you in tow. phones recorded the mini fight before you, Kat, and BB followed Cassie and Maddy into the back, Lexi screaming behind you.

“nonono! Maddy no!” Kat screamed as you all chased Cassie to the back.

Maddy slammed Cassie’s head into the wall and you heard Lexi stop running and start sniffling behind you, you stopped chasing after that.

you let Kat and BB run on as you went to comfort Lexi.

“everything’s literally ruined. i fucked up.” she cried into your shoulder. you could faintly hear everyone cheering Lexi’s name from behind the walls.

“listen…” you said lifting her head. she quizzically looked at you before she sighed in recognition. they loved it. she laughed and wiped her tears away.

“they think it’s apart of the show and the shows gotta go on. go address your people. i gotta go fix “Cassie’s” makeup.” you snorted before going into the dressing room to assess the mauled actress.

you walked into the frantic backstage area. Ethan was pacing, Bobbi was reading over the script in confusion, the light people were reading a light manual, and the actors were huddled together.

“okay people get your shit together! we have a play to finish!” you yelled at them while making your way to the extra makeup kit.

“chair. now.” you said pointing at the blonde with smeared lip gloss and a loose lash.

“now get your ass on that carousel.” you mumbled before walking off back into the auditorium and hearing the last of Lexi’s words on stage.

“so even though he couldn’t be here with us tonight…this one’s for you.” she finished before disappearing.

“y/n!” some guy said making your presence known as you sat in your seat now alone. you felt a pat on your back and heard a few chants before someone came and sat right beside you.

you knew that smell. you smelt it everyday up until a few weeks ago. it kind of irked you, but you were trying.

“are you okay?” Elliot asked you.

now i know what your thinking.

why aren’t you pushing Elliot away? why aren’t you making a scene. you let Rue off the hook with a mini beating, but your cool now? so Elliot gets the same treatment?

well.

your dad had talked to you and honestly? moving on and forgiving, but not forgetting was way more peaceful than dwelling on it.

“you can hate them.” Ali told you. “you’re allowed to, but from here on out? what else you do is gonna determine your situation.”

you accepted their actions for what it was and forgiving wasn’t like you, but you were 18. you couldn’t cry then punch people forever.

when your dad told you Jules and Elliot both told Leslie about Rue using and her running away you felt your heartstrings pull.

you couldn’t imagine what it was like.

but that explained why a few weeks after you fought her at Fez’s house she told you she was clean. she was trying to get better. you wanted to be better too.

so you forgave her.

and if you could forgive her that meant you had to at least face Elliot.

“y/n please just wait!” he called out to as you stormed from Hayes’s office after Cassie’s impromptu attack with tears running down your face.

although Cal was long gone, his name ran long and his son still was able to pull strings. you had to promise to not press charges on Cassie and to never mention it again to get out of suspension.

she kept getting coddled and you hated it.

“Elliot please.” you tiredly mumbled. he stopped at your expression and the tears staining your face. the last time he saw you cry you had exposed him.

he didn’t like that expression on you.

“what’s wrong?” he asked in that caring tone he always had when you first started dating. you sighed before laying on the cold wall behind you and sliding down it.

you chuckled looking up at him as he looked down at your defeated frame.

“i exposed the truth and i’m still tired. i still can barely take it.” you let out a humorless laugh. “i should feel better.” you said looking at his cheek tattoo.

he crouched down and wiped the tears from your cheeks. you resisted the urge to lean in and push him away at the same time.

“i know me saying sorry doesn’t fix anything.” he softly said. “but i truly am sorry. when i say i loved you and i still do i mean it. i truly do. i treated you horribly and i’m sorry.” he sincerely said.

you took one big sniffle before nodding your head at him.

“…i know…and i forgive you.” a small smile broke onto his face before he grabbed your hand and squeezed.

you felt some warmth and had to force your small smile to go down. shaking your head and pulling your hand back to speak to him.

“i’m not ever going to forget what happened. i don’t have that luxury.” you stated. “that being said our relationship will never be the same. i don’t hate you, but i don’t think we’re ever going to be be close again.” you said struggling to stand with numb legs. you were ready to take a nap.

Elliot nodded at your words before he helped you up.

“at least i have something.” he smiled. you rolled your eyes before waving goodbye to him.

“Elliot.” you said in acknowledgment of the boy beside you as an actress that resembled you walked on to the stage again.

“Jade, Star, and i met the first day of preschool. i already knew Jade, but Star was new and gravitated towards us immediately. we were three very different people, but we were one.” Lexi narrated.

“there was once a time Star didn’t show up to school for around two weeks.” she added.

“she’s probably like, dead or something.” Jade said licking at her ice cream. Lexi smacked her shoulder and Jade quickly went to cradle her aching arm.

“don’t say that! she’s probably just sick. you know that orange chicken was green last week.” the audience laughed at her words. Jade let her arm go, nodded, and proceeded to eat her food. Lexi turns to the audience with a solemn look.

“the truth was Star’s mom had up and left her and there was no warning or reasoning why. Star hadn’t been to school because she had no ride. her food at home was running low, and there was not that much money left.” Lexi announced to the engaged crowd. your own eyes were watering as you were forced to live your truth again.

“Star never knew her father, but by a miracle the day before everything in her home was to be shut off, she was able to call him. he heard her voice and despite never knowing of her, he came running.” Lexi said walking into the darkness as the lights panned to another area.

Star was off to the side of the stage crying into a phone before Ethan appeared as her dad and took her away.

Star and Lexi laid on the ground staring up into the sky.

“she left me Lex…she fucking left me to die and he was right there, but she never admitted it.” Star cried into her chest. Lexi ran her hand over Star’s head.

“turns out her dad was close, but yet so far her entire life. her mom had her in the same town as her father, but never took her to him. little Star had so much to figure out. a new home, a new normal, once no dad and a mom to now, no mom and a dad.” Lexi sighed before continuing.

“Jade also had to figure things out too. a bit over a year later, Jade had to bury her father.” the curtain closed as they got ready for the last act.

the audience clapped as you sobbed into Elliot’s jacket. he patted your back and rubbed your head as you let everything out on him. you head was starting to hurt from the tears, but the show was starting back up.

“i was in the hall when you died…” Jade’s voice sucked you in.

you paid attention you looked at every little thing, including slightly laughing at the picture of you all at Rue’s father’s funeral. you stood up clapping and shouting as the cast bowed before the curtains closed for the final time in farewell.

Maddy and Cassie still weren’t back. Neither were BB and Kat. you felt bad they had to miss the rest of something so beautiful. you and Elliot walked past Jules who nodded at your and ignored Elliot, moving to go speak with Rue.

you went outside and waited for her. once she returned with no Jules you came to talk to her. Elliot was a yard away smoking a cigarette and watching you two.

“how are you feeling?” you asked her. she smiled and did a small squeal.

“i don’t feel…i don’t feel like a monster anymore. that play made me feel more human than I’ve ever felt these last five years.” she said smiling at you.

“i felt kind of exposed and overwhelmed, but it honestly was so freeing.” you said agreeing with her. you wish Fez could’ve experienced it.

little did you know the boy you knew who only wanted protect Fez and to make his money was laying on the cold floor, his entire life gone.

the same hall Fez first saw Ash was the same hall he saw Ash leave from.

“hey!” Lexi yelled running up to you two and giving you both a hug. Rue broke apart first.

“you’re a fucking genius!” Rue shouted.

“Julliard is needed now!” you shouted too.

she laughed at you two before gif and Rue joined in.

“you guys wanna go out and eat with me and my mom?” Lexi asked. She agreed, but you grimaced and sighed shaking your head.

“i’m going to Fez’s.” you explained. you needed to see what was up because you knew he wouldn’t miss this for anything minor.

“oh! tell him i’m not mad? i know something must have came up.” she rushed out as Suze called her name loudly.

“bye y/n!” Rue said as you started to leave.

“will do. i’ll see you later!” you called behind your shoulder.

y/n: i’m coming over :p

taglist: @jeyramarie @lainjupi @whitejuliana1204 @theeblackbarbiesworld @leawxlker @babadowie @xxloveralways14 @colbysbrocks @euphoruya @lselnerys @thecraziestcrayon

#euphoria #euphoria imagine #elliot euphoria #euphoria x reader #rue bennett #fezco euphoria #elliot imagine #maddy perez #jules vaughn #fezco x reader #rue bennet x reader #elliot x reader #fezco imagine #kat hernandez #bb euphoria #ashtray euphoria #bobbi euphoria #nate jacobs #cassie howard #lexi howard #nate x cassie

[lixiefixs]

Stage Fright - Yang Jeongin

Pairing : Jeongin x reader

Word count : 1k

Genre : Loads of Fluff

Warnings : None

Description : Jeongin wants Y/N at his play , although she forgets and tries to make it there on time, a confession comes out.

"Your gonna come right?" Jeongin followed you down the hallway pestering you to come to his play which was showcasing this weekend. "Yes Innie I'll come as soon as I'm fine at the cafe" you said rolling your eyes after telling him the 5th time this week.

You opened your locker to get your books for the next class , "Can't you just take a day off?" He said leaning against a locker. "I could but I don't what to" you said with a smug look on your face. "Y/N come on!!!" He said whining.

"Fine fine I'll come just head to class now." , "Promise right?" He said holding out his pinky finger. You chuckled "What are we 8?" , "Promise me!!" He practically yelled , "Fine! I promise I will be there".

With that he smiled and ran across the hallway hoping to get to class on time.

You and Jeongin have been friends since y'all were 6 , and you knew how much these things meant to him , he loved being on stage and being in the spotlight and you had to admit he was amazing at acting. You've been to all his shows so far and never missed one but you were afraid that you wouldn't be able to make it for this one since money was tight and you needed it for expenses around the house. Since your dad left you and your family , taking care of your younger brother has been your top priority. So you were working as a barista at the local cafe to earn some extra cash along the house.

But like always time flies and Sunday came in the blink of an eye. Jeongin's play started at 6 and it was already 7 and you were still in the cafe. Juggling the mugs in your hand , you brought them to the counter ready to prepare some coffees for the people waiting in line.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Said your coworker Seungmin as he was getting ready to start his shift. "No.....?" You said looking at him with a confused expression as you waited for the cup to fill up. Then realisation hit you. "JEONGIN'S PLAY!" You said smacking your forehead and hurriedly attending to the coffe about to spill. "Yeah you were supposed to be there an hour ago" he said taking his place at the cashier.

"How do you know?" You asked him. "You wrote it on our calendar" he deadpanned and you looked at the calendar and it was circled in Red written 'Innie's play 6 o'clock' , "How did I forget about that?" You said as you buried your face in your hands. "When does he arrive on stage?" Seungmin asked you , "7:15..." You said with a sigh , "You could still make it if you run!" He said and looked at you with a face you couldn't quite figure out.

"Okay , Thanks Min!" You said , and grabbed your coat and dashed out the cafe and ran across the street , curse you for taking a job so far away from campus.

On the other hand , Jeongin peeked out the curtains and searched for you in the crowd but you weren't in sight. "Jeongin your up in five" said one of his castmates as she went to change her costume.

With a deep breath Jeongin walked on stage , the spotlight shining on him , he looked around in the crowd and he really couldn't find you , he could feel the sweat forming on his skin , 'Where were you? Couldn't you make time of him? Were you gonna be late? Were you really not gonna be there?' all these thoughts ran through his head, he took deep breaths , the lights blinding him. "What is he doing?!" He could hear the whisper yells of his teacher , "He could hear the faint laughs of the students in the audience.

Right then he saw the back door of the auditorium open and you rushed in panting, you smiled and waved out to him and Jeongin felt relief rush over him , "YOU GOT THIS INNIE" you yelled from the crowd , he smiled and took a deep breath and said his lines.

You were so proud of him , he was spectacular on stage , at the end of the play you cheered for him loud and clear and his smile shining brightly.

You went to greet him backstage , "Innie you were grea-" you got cut off with a tight hug. Jeongin wrapped his arms around you tightly and said , "I thought you wouldn't come" he said leaving you from the hug , "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss it for the world" you said and you could swear you saw his cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. "Were you waiting for me though on stage?" You ask in a teasing tone. "Honestly... Yes, I was" , it was your turn to turn red.

"Y/N I.. I have something I need to tell you..." He said and your saw that his face was flushed now , his ears turning a bright shade of red. "I l-like you , as in more than a friend , I've liked you for a long time now actually , I just couldn't bring myself to say it.... You dint have to say it back if you don't feel the same way...." He said his eyes on his feet , his fingers fiddling with themselves. "I like you too" you said and he looked at you with shock written all over his face. "What? You think I would show up to everyone's play just because they are my friends? Hell no I got better things to do" you said laughing , he chuckled and pulled you close , your breath hitched and you closed you eyes and you felt his soft warm lips on yours. The kiss was short and sweet , but it felt like it lasted forever.

"Why don't we go celebrate!?" You said dragging him out the place , "Already planning our first date huh? Nice" he said with a smug smile on his face , you chuckled and interlocked your hands with his , "I don't mind it being our first date"

#Han Jisung fluff #straykids x reader #yang jeongin #yang jeongin x reader #skz fanfic #skz imagines #skz jeongin #stray kids jeongin #hope yall like this

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒏 (𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊) 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢 (𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐳)× 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 (𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞)

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭, 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐒𝐦𝐮𝐭.

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 5.4K

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨. 𝐇𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐡𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦.

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐩𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞), 𝐬𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢- 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧- 𝐆𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐍' 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬/ 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲- 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @little-precious-baby @yunhoiseyecandy @yunhofingers @brie02 @deja-vux @rvse-miingi @multidreams-and-desires @galaxteez

◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈

Waving enthusiastically at the crowd cheering loudly at the end of their performance, Mingi's eyes were scanning each and every one of the sections in the auditorium. To anyone it would seem as though he was making sure to shine his beautiful and radiant smile to all the adoring fans that came to watch and support him and his members, and yes that was partly why. But it wasn't just that. He had hope as he scanned every face in there. Hope of once again seeing her again. He could hear his own heartbeat pump against his ears, the sound drowning out all the chanting coming from the thousands of fans gathered in there.

Sensing what was going on, one of his members couldn't help but let out a sigh. Leaning in close enough so he could hear him, he whispered in his ear.

"She's not here Mingi."

He expected such words from his best friend, who although with good intentions, seemed to try to ground him back down to earth and inadvertently crush his hopes. But he never took it personally. He knew Yunho was only trying to look out for him and spare him more heartache. Nudging him slightly, the equally tall male swung an arm around Mingi's broad shoulders, plastering on a smile out to the crowd once more as he led them backstage as slowly the members started to walk off the stage as scheduled. Accepting that the night was over, Mingi pulled his face away from the crowd and began walking away. He would have ultimately called it another uneventful concert that ended the same way and just go back to change into his normal clothes and then join the rest of the group back at the hotel to lounge and rest.

But he felt a something strange, pulling and beckoning him to look back at the scatter of people behind him once more. Slowly, he tried his head, unsure of where to look exactly, eyes wandering around aimlessly. Until they spotted what he believed to be a familiar red scarf wrapped around a person's neck, effectively covering up the bottom half of their face while their head had a matching beret that covered their forehead entirely. Although he couldn't see much other than their body frame, he felt his heart swell up, legs unable to move as he stared at the figure. Yunho stopped when he felt Mingi no longer walking behind him. Walking back to him, he put on a smile so as to not act suspicious and began pulling him away.

"Mingi..we have to go."

But Mingi stayed grounded, still scanning the figure he had locked his eyes on. The person began walking away, almost as if they didn't even acknowledge him.

"Wait hold on-"

Just as he was about to run off the stage and follow them, Yunho harshly tugged on his arm and fiercely guided him backstage, waving out towards the people still watching them so as to not arouse suspicion or have them think something was wrong.

"Mingi, it's not her. You always swear it is but it's not."

Yunho didn't mean to sound so aggressive towards his long life friend, but he cared about him too much and didn't want him getting false illusions that would only end up in him getting more hurt than what he already was.

"I know but it's different! Yunho she was wearing the scarf I gave her. I know it was it!" He insisted, anxiously looking towards the door, debating whether or not he could make a dash and catch up to the individual.

Shaking his head, Yunho placed his hands on top of his friend's shoulders.

"Mingi.....there's a million red scarfs out there. And you were too far away. Honestly I think....."

He hesitated before speaking his next words, knowing how sensitive Mingi got with the topic.

"Forget about her."

As if on instinct, Mingi shook his head.

"No! I can't. I promised I'd wait for her and I'm not breaking my word. I'll stay faithful to it until she comes back."

"But what if she doesn't?! It's been over two years Mingi! Face the facts. She's not coming back. Y/N never loved-"

"Don't say that! She did- she does love me! I know she does!"

Yunho took a step back. Seeing Mingi become so agitated and frustrated like that truly terrified him. It was always dangerous to have him get mad or overly worked up. Sensing that he probably startled his friend a little too much, Mingi ran a hand over his dyed blonde hair, a despondent sigh coming out his mouth.

"Hey Yunho I'm sorry..... I think.... I need some air."

After changing into his normal clothes, Mingi didn't get in the van like most of the other guys who just wanted to go relax back at the hotel, nor did he follow Wooyoung or Hongjoong to go check out some of the nearby stores. He simply walked in the opposite direction, mindlessly strolling the streets of the unfamiliar city he was currently in. The slight rumbling of the skies and the subtle scent of dew signaled that it was more than likely going to start pouring rain soon. Even though he was wearing one of his long trenchcoat, the slight breeze that blew across sent tiny chills down his spine, nearly making his teeth chatter.

As if it were a beacon, Mingi stumbled across a small and cozy looking coffee shop. Making sure it was still open, he cheerfully greeted the sweet looking old woman behind the counter, who seemed to brighten up at seeing such a handsome young lad at such an hour. Very calmly and politely, he ordered just a simple caramel cappuccino, which the owner was delighted to whip up for him. Just as he took out his wallet to pay, he had a weird inkling feeling for some reason.

"Uh..... do you perhaps sell hot cocoa?" He inquired nervously.

After getting confirmation that they indeed made hot chocolate, Mingi asked if there was any possible way they could add peppermint to it. He could already feel the judgmental stare about to be given to him as most baristas did with such an unpopular request. Although she seemed surprised by the special addition of peppermint, she didn't hesitate to assure him she'd definitely make it as he liked. Mingi felt so grateful to the kind lady, making sure to leave her a generous tip before taking both of his drinks and going back outside.

Spotting a nearby gazebo, Mingi went over and sat down on one of the benches that were placed underneath the roof of it. Setting the hot mint chocolate down next to him, he sipped his cappuccino slowly, being careful not to burn his tongue on the scorching hot liquid. It had the perfect amount of foam in it, with not too much caramel added in it so the strong espresso could still be made out. Wiping off some of the froth that accidentally got on the tip of his nose, he peered down at the untouched drink next to him. Chuckling dryly to himself, he picked up the cup and scanned it with deep curiosity.

"You always were so different and unique." He mused to himself.

Putting it back down, he began to think it was absolutely silly to have bought it just because of some momentary whim he felt back in the coffee shop.

Or was it nostalgia?

Mingi began to believe it was the latter, especially considering what month it was. After all, it was during this exact same time 2 years ago, on a cold and gloomy November where everything started...

Or perhaps ended?

   ◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈

Exhausted panting came from all 8 of the sweaty bodies of the males in the room, about half of them were already reaching for their water bottles to gulp down the contents before proceeding to try catching their breath once more. The strict yet kind eyes watching them announced they would be taking a break before saying they'd be rehearsing for another hour or two. Simultaneous groans and protests were elicited by the members, who were already tired from thinking about burning a few more calories with their intense dance sessions.

"Looks like I'm missing the new episode of aot." San dramatically layed on the floor, arms sprawled out.

"I'm calling first dibs on the shower when we get back." Seonghwa declared, not afraid of using his status as the oldest member if it meant getting himself cleaned.

"Aww Hyung! You take showers that are way too long! You'll finish all the hot water like last time." Woow already began nagging, which in turn started another argument between his both of them, with San and Yunho joining in to offer backup if necessary.

Ignoring their pointless bantering, Mingi took the time to call up his girlfriend to let her know. It took quite some time for her to pick up his call, it had actually become a rather recent and constant habit of hers, contrary to before when she'd immediately answer on the second ring.

"What?" Her voice sounded somewhat annoyed and tired, which Mingi guessed had something to do with her work.

"Hey baby, looks like I'm going to be staying late at the company for practice. I'm sorry, I really wanted to spend time with you, but I'm not sure it's possible." He could feel his heart pounding as he began imagining her disappointed and disheartened look.

As expected, he heard her sigh through the other end, a brief pause where he only heard her breathing before she finally spoke up.

"That's fine. I'm going to be pulling extra hours today anyways so....don't be sorry. Maybe it works out in the end."

Mingi noticed how dry and monotone she sounded, as if it didn't really bother her that this would yet be another week where they hardly spoke and spent time together for more than 10 minutes.

"Oh ok....take care then, and remember to eat a snack in between hours ok? I don't want you starving yourself ok baby?"

The girl on the other end of the line didn't need to see him to know he was more than likely pouting at her as usual, always fussing to her about her health.

"Ok. Take care Mingi."

"Y/N!.............."

He bit his lip before saying the next words.

"I- I love you." Although he forced a smile on his face, his voice trembled with fear at saying that.

"I....I know. I gotta go."

Once more, she hung up without repeating those same words back to him. Mingi didn't understand why his girlfriend of forever seemed to be acting strange. Lately she hardly had anything to say, she looked less and less animated each time they video chatted, the dark circles under her eyes were becoming more prominent and judging by the way her cheeks looked a little sunken and clothes looked baggy on her, he fussed she was not eating properly.

But the thing that scared Mingi the most was seeing her soulless eyes. Those eyes that once held the entire stars in them, were now empty and completely void of any emotion. She never initiated any form of physical contact with him, it was always him pulling her into an embrace or placing a kiss on her head, nose or lips, and even when she reciprocated them, they were always cold and almost robotic.

It was starting to terrify him.

"Mingi!"

He nearly dropped his phone when the tiny leader called out to him.

"Break time is over. We gotta start again."

Putting his phone back in his bag he promised himself that even if he left at early dawn, he would go over and see his lover. He just had to.

◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈

Letting out a long and exasperated sigh, Y/N kicked off her heels and left them on the front of the door, her toes aching after all the grueling and arduous hours of both sitting and running up and down floors. Her once neat bun now had various hairs poking out from several places and was now drooping lower than in the morning. She slumped her tired body over to her bedroom, ready to just indulge in a warm shower and then head to bed. But the last thing she expected to see when she turned on the light, was none other than her boyfriend.

"Hey." He waved his hand at her, a soft smile on his lips.

She was momentarily confused with his presence.

"I thought you had practice." She raised an eyebrow, her tone sounding more accusatory than with delight.

"I did...but then I came over here." He explained.

"Why?"

Mingi blinked at her question, stunned that she would even ask why. Getting up from the bed, he slowly walked over to her cautiously. Once he was right in front of her, he reached a hand out to caress her cheek.

"Why? I naturally wanted to see you.....hear you...touch you."

Arms wrapping around her waist, he lowered his face until he pressed a soft kiss to her mildly chapped lips. Although he felt her give in after a while, he could feel that her heart was not in it. Every brush of her lips felt extremely languid and emotionless, even after he had turned a little more desperate and began to trail messy kisses across her jaw, her hands did not move away from her sides, her head only tilting to allow him more access to her skin. Before he could move to pull off her shirt, she stopped him by gripping his wrists.

"If you don't mind I'd like to clean myself off first."

Not even giving him a chance to say anything, she pushed past him and made a beeline to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her, she leaned her back on it, staring into the floor for a few minutes in a somewhat catatonic state. Taking a deep breath, she slowly removed each one of the articles of clothing on her body, all of them feeling like a heavy weight on her. Ripping the scrunchie off her hair, she tossed it onto the floor so it could join the pile that had already been made in a corner. Sliding the glass door open, she got inside the shower and quickly turned on the water, first the splashes coming out at an almost freezing temperature, which although her body shivered at, she did not shrink away from. Then the water finally adjusted to a more warm temperature, not too hot but warm enough to soothe her sore muscles.

Closing her eyes, she decided to simply bask in the warmth of the water coating her body, shutting off her mind from all the spiraling thoughts that had been clouding her mind for the past weeks, refusing to go away and seemingly taunting her at every hour when she least expected it. She hurt, she was in pain yet there were no physical evidence of it. She could barely eat more than 2 bites of any meal she intook because it suddenly felt too full. At nights, her eyes drooped heavy with sleep, yet her restless mind wouldn't allow her even one full hour of sweet slumber though that's all she wanted.....

She just wanted to fall asleep and hopefully never wake up so as to not feel the pain and emptiness she felt.

So lost was she in the moment that she failed to hear or notice the one individual coming in to join her until she felt familiar hands come to wrap themselves around her waist.

"It's all right love. It's just me." Mingi softly whispered when she gasped lightly at the sudden touch.

Letting her relax under his touch before doing anything else, Mingi's fingers slowly began drawing circles around her hips as he kept his face buried in her neck. Inhaling deeply, he could make out her unique scent that his senses had committed to memory, but could also faintly discern a somewhat different odor that he had never before detected on her before. It was slightly off-putting to him, but he opted for brushing it off. After all, she worked with several people at her job.

Slowly, he began peppering kisses along her shoulder, which seemed to trigger deep and blissful sighs to exude from her nose. His hands moved up to cup around her breasts, kneading at her soft skin while the thumbs grazed over her sensitive nubs in a careful motion. Soft moans poured out from her mouth. Tilting her head back, she reached a hand up to bring her lover's face to hers so she could kiss him. Her moans were now being eaten up by his mouth and tongue as his fingers stroked between her legs, probing at her folds and rubbing at her clit. Pulling apart to catch her breath, Y/N looked up at Mingi with longing and desperation.

"Please....more." She begged at him.

Prying her folds open, he carefully inserted two of his slender and long fingers inside her, her walls practically sucking him in. She felt so tight around him, her walls hugging and clenching all around his fingers. Y/N threw her head back against his shoulder as she began grinding against his hand, savoring as she was finally feeling something, anything in a long time. Her hand had moved to pet at his head, her fingers brushing away his now damp hair in gentle caresses. Wanting to see, feel him more, she removed his hand away from her mound and firmly pressed him towards one of the walls, where she then began to kiss him hungrily and in subtle anguish.

Mingi just allowed her to take control for that moment, his heart lightening up at finally getting some reaction from her. He let her take a hold of his erect cock and pump him slowly as her mouth sucked on several patches of skin on his neck to leave tiny blotches across it. He missed this, he missed being intimate with her and missed having her touch him, not to fulfill any sexual yearning, but to be close to her. He always saw these tender and passionate moments as a display of their love and bond.

Soon the water had been turned off and both of their dripping bodies were fumbling out and landing on top of the bed. Mingi hissed softly as he watched his beautiful girlfriend sink down and his length.

"Fuck. It's been too long."

Sitting up, he wrapped his arms around her, wanting to be as close as possible as he began to roll his hips up. Wanting to take his time, Mingi took one of her supple breasts and stuffed it in his mouth, giving it various light suckles and then adding a few kisses onto it. Y/N began panting and moaning uncontrollably, so many emotions rushing through her all at once. It seemed as if all that time of not feeling anything had left her somewhat numb to emotions that now she was beginning to feel overwhelmed by all the ones that were hitting her now:

Love, lust, passion, anger, fury, agony, guilt, one by one they all crashed into her head and heart. It was becoming too much for her and it began to scare her somewhat. But she didn't want them to stop, she wanted to cling onto those emotions just a little longer, no matter what or how. She hadn't even realized her hands had placed themselves on Mingi's broad shoulders, holding her steady as she began to bounce herself on top of him, slow tears trickling down her cheeks as muffled cries of desperation were being choked back and bitten back by her lips. Her fear of not feeling anymore soon turned to rage, and it was manifesting itself as she fucked herself on her boyfriend, who by now had noticed the change in her mood.

Mingi tried to grip her hips down, but she didn't seem to care and tried to push his hands away. His calling out to her fell upon deaf ears as she swatted his hands, tat were trying to steady her, away. Finally, he firmly held her wrists and kept her from moving as he forced her to look at him.

"Y/N!" He sharply exclaimed, breaking her out of her trance.

Feeling her body starting to shake, Y/N looked away in shame, her eyes threatening to spill out more tears.

"Baby, look at me, what's wrong?" Mingi gently cupped her chin.

Not meaning to be so mean, but Y/N brushed his hand away and began to climb off him.

"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry."

Getting up, she ransacked her drawer and pulled out some clothes and dressed herself in an inhumane speed.

"Honey, we can talk about it-" Mingi tried to touch her once more but she pulled away once more.

"I don't want to talk about it! Please! I just want to go to bed."

Marching over to the closet, she grabbed some spare pillows and a blanket.

"I'm sleeping on the couch." She firmly stated, not about to let herself be dissuaded from her resolution.

"Y/N, please don't do this. Stop shutting me out."

With one final attempt, Mingi grabbed her shoulder and turned her arousal to face him, eyes intently searching and scanning every inch of her face for a clue as to what was bothering her.

"Talk to me love, you know you can."

Y/N opened her mouth, about to spill what was on her heart, but ultimately decided against it.

"I can't.....I'm sorry. Just please....let me be for now."

Mingi's hands fell to his sides in defeat as he watched the most important person in his life leave him there, alone. He hated this, hated having her become so distant from him. He could feel it in his heart that sooner or later she was going to snap and hurt his heart, probably more than what he was imagining.

But he was ready for that moment.

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Having gotten absolutely no sleep that night, Y/N ended up getting up just hours before the sun was supposed to rise. Making sure to make as little noise as possible, she made sure to bundle up since it was chilly outside. She looked over at the peaceful and sleeping figure of her boyfriend, who was softly letting out subtle snores as his hands clutched around a pillow, holding onto it as if his life depended on it. He could never fully call asleep unless he was holding something, that something always being her. She could make out a faint wet patch on his pillow where his cheek rested, tell tale sign that he had been crying the night before, just as she had done.

With a kiss to his forehead, she left the house and headed out, her destination still unclear. She just walked wherever her legs led her to, whether conscious or unconsciously. There was hardly a soul around to keep her company on that lonely and cold morning walk in the autumn breeze. Her teeth were chattering inside her mouth whenever a rather blunt force of air swooped past her, making her lick her lips as she felt them drying up even more.

Without realizing it she had come across a small and serene park, a trail specifically used for early joggers right in front of her. Following the trail, she kept her head down as she slowly strolled through the immense trees surrounding her. The golden and garnet hued leaves were scattered about all around the semi dead grass, some of it blowing through the air. She paid no attention to them though, she paid no attention at all to her surroundings. She couldn't feel anything anyways, even the cold air was becoming numb to her at this point.

"Mind if I join you?"

She halted in her steps when a low voice spoke from behind her. She didn't need to see him to know who he was.

"How'd you know I was here?" She questioned him without turning around still.

"Lucky guess."

Moving in front of her, Mingi's tall figure loomed over hers, studying her mood which right now seemed apathetic and melancholic. Standing there all quiet for a brief moment, Mingi was the one who decided to break the ice.

"I love you, you know that right?"

Without even batting an eye, Y/N slowly nodded. Expecting that reaction, Mingi chuckled dryly.

"You know it's been a while since I've heard you respond at all to me saying that...."

Once more, she had no expression on her face, hardly even blinking as she stared right through him, almost as if he wasn't there. But she was listening to him, and he knew it too. Brushing some hair behind her ear, Mingi let out a deep sigh.

"Y/N...... I know you're not ok. I don't know how or what it is you're feeling, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. Maybe you should go see a therapist, a doctor, I don't know. We'll find out what's wrong so you-"

"Mingi I don't know what I feel for you anymore."

He felt as if a knife had been plunged at his chest. Although he expected her to say something that would hurt him, he still wasn't fully ready to hear those words.

"Just 2 months ago you said and thought differently. Back then you always told me you loved me and cherished me." He kindly reminded her.

"Maybe feelings change." She bluntly stated.

"Yes they do which is why I don't believe you when you say you don't feel anything for me anymore. I know my Y/N, I know the girl I fell in love with and I know that these past weeks, seeing how you're acting.......that's not you."

She didn't move away when he cupped her cheeks.

"I know you still love me, I can see it in your eyes. Your love is just restrained right now. Just give it time. Trust me."

Choking back tears, Y/N finally made eye contact with him.

"Just end it Mingi. I don't have the heart to do it, so please just end things with me. Don't hold onto me anymore. Move on with your life and find someone who can love you like you deserve to be loved."

Mingi immediately shook his head, that being an option he was not accepting.

"Baby, do you need some time on your own? Some time alone? I can give you that. Maybe that way it'll be good for you to use that time to get help and-"

"Mingi I cheated on you." She confessed.

His body stood frozen in place at her admittance, yet he was not shocked at all. The weird scent he detected on her and the way she sometimes recoiled from his touch as if guilt ate her alive, he always had that thought on the back of his head.

"So you fell in love with someone else?"

Y/N let out a sob.

"No.......absolutely not. It meant nothing and I just did it because I wanted to feel something, anything and he was right there. But that's no excuse and I'm sorry Mingi. I'm sorry I'm not the girlfriend you deserve. You deserve so much better than me. Someone who's not broken, foolish and dead already. So please..."

Her hands came up to hide her face as she began crying like she hadn't done in a long time.

"Just forget about me....."

Even if she didn't want it, Mingi embraced her, holding her tightly as she tearfully spilled her heart and emotions out. His heart ached for her. She was suffering, emotionally and mentally she was in pain and she didn't even want to admit it. He couldn't force her to get help, but he couldn't just leave her like that. It would tear him apart if he did. Stroking her hair, he waited until her sobbing and hyperventilating had calmed down before saying anything.

"Y/N.....you need some time alone. We....need some time alone. And I'm willing to give you as much time as you need to heal. But you have to promise me that you'll get help. It's not fair for you to keep living this way. You deserve to be happy."

Pulling back, he used his thumbs to brush away some of the tears off her cheeks.

"But this doesn't mean I'm ending things nor forgetting about you. This is only a break until you're all better and ready to come back to me."

Y/N stared at him in disbelief.

"Song Mingi, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought you were."

He giggled softly at that.

"I'm an idiot who loves you and will always love you. And this idiot knows you still love me, even if your brain refuses to let you believe it now."

Pressing his forehead against hers, he shut his eyes to keep himself from crying.

"I'll be waiting for you until you come back to me....."

Taking off the red scarf that was hanging on his neck, he wrapped it around her neck and softly padded it on.

I know you'll be back."

◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈⊰──────⊱◈◈◈

He left her with a final kiss on her lips and watched her walk away, disappearing from his life for about 2 years. Rain had begun to fall then just as it was falling in that moment. Picking up the untouched peppermint hot chocolate and discarding his cappuccino on a nearby trash bin, Mingi stepped out of the gazebo and began walking back to the hotel, not caring about getting soaked in the pouring rain. Perhaps it could help to mask the tears that were beginning to spill out from his eyes. He had never felt his longing for the person he still regarded as his soulmate so dearly as he felt right then and there. He felt as if his oxygen was being caught off, his hope was beginning to dwindle, all the words his friends would often say to him were revolving around his head.

Were they right? Should he stop waiting for her? Was he wrong? Should he just move on?

He was startled out of his thoughts when he heard someone open an umbrella behind him, the person hovering it over him so the rain wouldn't hit him anymore. He felt his heart beating harshly against his chest, some overpowering sensation telling him to turn around, which he slowly began to do. The first thing his eyes caught was the familiar red scarf tied to the person's neck. He recognized it immediately. And when he looked up at the face that was looking back at him, he no longer had any doubts left.

"Y/N...." He whispered out.

Through tears in her eyes, she smiled at him, not a fake nor cold one, but a genuine and heart warming smile, just like the one she had plastered on her face when they first met each other.

"Hey Mingi. How are you?" She asked.

"I...I'm fine. ....how are you?" They both knew what he was referring to.

"I'm a lot better actually. Taking medication still sucks but I'm a lot better and happier now. My therapist has been working with me all this time so...yeah.." She seemed a little awkward talking about it, but Mingi wasn't going to push her.

"I'm glad, I truly am happy for you."

Looking back at the cup in his hand, he held it out to her.

"It's probably not hot anymore, but it's your favorite."

Y/N was surprised that he even had or remembered what her favorite was. Taking a small sip, she couldn't help the tiny grin spreading on her cheeks.

"It's perfect. I never liked it super hot either way."

They both chuckled at that known fact between them. Soon there was another silence between them, and once again it was Mingi who broke it. Brushing some hair away from her face, he stared into her eyes.

"I love you."

Looking up at him, her eyes no longer void nor cold, but instead full of life and love, Y/N answered back.

"I love you too."

Unable to hold himself back, Mingi held her tightly, overwhelmed with emotions as he finally held the love of his life in his arms once more.

"I knew you'd come back to me...."

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[seacottons]

uni!au with ateez — [ part one ]

—[ san - performing arts ]

ironically, you met when you helped him after a taller male shoved him down whilst in a heated argument.

he burst out laughing when you asked if he was okay.

“don’t worry, we’re just practicing our lines!”

you quickly glanced up at the building and grimaced once taking sight of the gleaming silver ‘performing arts building’ plaque.

of course.

to say you were embarrassed was only scratching the surface.

you had no regrets, because the incident was the catalyst that formed your friendship and eventual relationship.

will never let you live that moment down.

“remember when you tried to save me from mingi?”

“i thought we promised not to bring that up again-”

“why can’t i? i was saved by an angel that day?”

san invites you to both his dance and theatre shows.

will appear to be very professional on stage, but you catch his eyes frantically darting to the crowd to try and spot you.

and once he does, he will repeatedly smile and wink in your direction.

you’re always early, so you manage to snag a seat in either front two rows.

likes when you bring him bouquets as a congratulation gift after his performances.

gets very loud backstage just to let everyone know you bought him a gift.

a huge show-off.

is very good at facial expressions.

you fall for every time he pretends he’s crying or hurt when you don’t give him attention.

he will imitate different characters and repeat after actors while you two watch movies together.

“it sounded sexier when i said it, right (y/n)?”

is a very clingy cuddle bug.

and a leech.

will always have his arms around you while walking at campus.

loves to give you back hugs.

is the type to wait outside for you until you finish class.

and takes you to the cafeteria afterwards for lunch.

embarrasses you in said cafeteria by spinning the lunch tray while waiting in line.

also likes to spin your phone just to freak you out.

also the type to excitedly text you about the donuts and coffee they’re giving away at the library’s breezeway.

likes to refer to you as ‘angel’.

will beg you join the different clubs he’s in.

and then brag about you to the others once you do.

will hype your choice of attire even if he’s already seen you earlier that day.

the type to also sneak you a latte in the middle of your class.

also the type to sneak in with you during your auditorium classes.

you regret it sometimes because he leaves no room for you to pay attention to your professor.

often times, so much so that you have to lightly pinch his side in protest.

“do you want me to fail this class?”

he likes to participate in the many events held at campus.

everyone knows him.

challenges you to dance offs in the middle of campus.

you refuse and push forward a startled mingi instead.

“mingi wants to have a turn this time!”

also likes to lay in your arms whilst you play with his hair.

“were you a cat in your previous life?”

he will then proceed to meow in your ear.

“i’ll take that as a yes.”

—[ hongjoong - fashion design ]

dating him would consist of always admiring his new projects.

supplying him with unhealthy amounts of coffee.

trying out new pieces he made.

offering to carry his overly large portfolio binder sometimes.

sitting down and listening to him rant about how his roomates fail to wash clothes properly.

he has a guide taped to the washing machine with the different symbols of clothing labels.

“no, san, you can’t use shampoo as detergent.”

“but seonghwa finished all the detergent!”

using seonghwa’s lint rollers to remove all the fabric fibers stuck on hongjoong’s clothes.

you scold him while cleaning the bleeding scratches on his fingers from his sewing needles and pins.

“don’t worry, it’s nothing i can’t handle.”

“but i don’t like seeing you get hurt, you bum.”

you bought him strawberry bandaids because he thought they were cute.

sometimes, when he has time, he’ll custom make clothes just for you.

he insists on having multiple matching outfits.

will ask you to model his work for his social media page.

thinks you look best in skirts.

you’ll be the source of comfort during presentation week.

he’ll be a wreck whilst making a new collection.

but you’re always there to pick him back up.

most of the time, you’re the source of his inspiration as well.

you insist he shouldn’t sit for hours writing essays or sketching numerous ideas for future work.

but he’s stubborn as a mule.

nights with him include binge watching fashion shows or cute cartoons.

or painting your nails.

you both enjoy coffee dates when you have time.

he tells you he wants to open a fashion line one day.

you’re trying to stand still as he plucks numerous pins into the dress you’re trying on.

“what do you think i should call it?”

“hj couture? does that sound too basic?”

he pauses momentarily before spooling the leftover red thread.

“(y/n). i’ll call the line (y/n).”

—[ wooyoung - culinary arts ]

invites you to his dorm and cooks for you.

his apartment always smells of warm spices and comforting meals.

pretends his roommates’ teasing doesn’t affect him, but the tips of ears always glow red.

will always bring over leftovers he made in class.

“i just thought you wanted to try this mille feuille.”

“which one is better? the salted rosemary loaf or the oregano and olive oil one?”

loves to bake and cook with you.

will make your birthday cake from scratch and will go all out decorating it.

has an annoying habit of taking pictures of you mid-bite.

“delete that right now.”

“but babe, you look so cute.”

“jung wooyoung!”

will wrestle with you as you attempt to take his phone away.

“okay, look! i swear i’ll delete it!”

he saves it in a hidden folder.

calls you his ‘cupcake’ or ‘sugarplum’.

teases you nonstop when you fail at something in the kitchen.

“babe! no! gentle folds! you pulverized those poor blueberries!”

“but the instructions say to mix!”

“the dough isn’t supposed to be blue!”

he’ll whine nonstop about how much he hates baking bread in class.

“do you know how abnoxiously long the fermentation process is!? i’m losing my mind.”

will wave and yell your name to catch your attention if he spots you nearby at campus.

you hear him every time.

he’s just that loud.

drags you to new restaurants just so you can rate them with him.

also drags you to go cutlery shopping.

accidentally dropped a plate in the store.

and when the employee came sauntering in the aisle suspiciously-

“(y/n) did it.”

once gave you food poisoning by accident.

you never wanted to eat scallops again.

you don’t mind his hands smelling like garlic or ginger most of the time.

or stained with spices.

“turmeric is a bitch.”

“woo, who wears white while cooking with turmeric anyway?”

will show off and brag about his knife skills.

demands to race with you to see who can chop the vegetables the quickest.

“you’re going down, (y/n).”

“uh- i don’t think i ever stood a chance to begin with.”

he lets you win sometimes though.

will beg you to visit him at his part time job at the cute cafe not too far by.

you always try to when you have the time.

and when he finds out you went to the rival cafe across the street one day..

“on a scale of 10 to 10, how bad is kang yeosang’s cooking?”

“what?”

“answer the question, (y/n).”

“woo, it’s 3 a.m.”

the next day, you explained that you were merely invited by your classmates to that particular cafe because one of them was a former employee there.

he childishly ignored you with crossed arms and a subtle pout.

“your jajangmyeon is much better. they didn’t even like the food there!”

he finally perks up with a large smile.

“wait, really?”

you think he looks endearing with his apron and chef’s hat.

will post cheesy captioned pictures of you after serving you delicately decorated plates of food.

‘two delicious meals for tonight, hehe.’

“gross. did you really have to say that?”

—[ jongho - kinesiology ]

you met him at the university gym and instantly clicked.

found yourself months later agreeing to go out with him.

a giant goofball.

sometimes makes faces at you while you exercise across the gym.

makes sure you watch him when he deadlifts.

loves when you hype him up.

opens all the jars for you.

and cuts all the fruit for you.

“why use a knife when you have my hands, love?”

you nearly choked on your saliva when he punched open the watermelon.

“can we ever just have a perfectly sliced watermelon!?”

“no- unless i break my arm one day.”

insists you jog with him around campus early in the morning.

likes to practice wrapping elastic tape on you.

you own half of his hoodies.

takes you to watch basketball matches.

then challenges you to a match when you go on dates to the park.

will persistently tease you about your poor aim.

and will absolutely not let you have the ball for more than a few seconds.

“stop cheating!”

“i’m not cheating! you just suck!”

joined you in some of your elective classes.

will also wear sleeveless shirts because he knows how flustered you get while his sculpted muscles are on display.

“what did professor kim just say?”

“what?” you tore your gaze from his biceps to glance at his face.

“are you staring at my arms again?” he snickers.

“no,” you say too quickly, face heating quite considerably.

despite his teasing, he’ll always baby you and take care of your needs.

has the cutest gummy smile.

you like to call him your gummy bear.

he hated the name at first, but grew to accept it over time.

likes to randomly pick you up.

sometimes will throw you over his shoulder.

has a habit of patting your thighs.

sometimes asks you to sit on his back while he does push-ups.

your eye bulged at the sight of a mop of ruby hair.

“don’t say anything.”

“you like apples so much you dyed your hair red?”

“i lost a bet.”

“you look cute though.”

you tugged at his tresses, smiling as you admired the shade against his tanned skin.

“baby?” you brushed his bangs away to display his forehead.

“hm?”

“you’re the apple of my eye.”

“i’m-,” he sucked on his teeth and pursed his lips, face scrunching in a mock grimace, “i’m going to throw up.”

#ateez reactions #ateez scenarios #ateez imagines #ateez x reader #ateez fics #choi san imagines #choi san x reader #choi san scenarios #hongjoong imagines #hongjoong scenarios #hongjoong x reader #wooyoung x reader #wooyoung scenarios #wooyoung imagines #jongho x reader #jongho imagines #jongho scenarios #ateez uni au #choi san #kim hongjoong #jung wooyoung #choi jongho

[heliosthegriffin]

Jaune “Mean Bastard” Arc AU.

The Arc family is a family stapled into history with their deeds of heroism, their immense physical strength, willingness to accept others into their clan at the drop of a hat, fighting against insurmountable odds for no apparent reason other than it being the right thing to do.

...That was only half the story however.

Ozpin thought to himself as he watched a tall, very lean blonde strut off the airship.

“Please, please don’t make scene today, Mr. Arc.” Ozpin said to himself, but the tone lacked hope, and most of all was riddled with fear. “Your not even a student here! You didn’t even send in transcript! How’d you even get onto the airship!”

But, deep down Ozpin knew, he always knew, he was an Arc, and Arc’s found a way, one that most people wouldn’t call ethical, sane or even reasonable.

Ozpin shivered, the Arc clan had been much too quiet in recent years. Was he the reason?

What terrible reason could this new Arc have to come to his school.

“Gods help us all, gods help every one of us.”

-

“So, much for a warm welcome to Beacon.” Ruby muttered to herself in her crater.

“Need a hand?” A warm voice asked her.

Ruby looked up into the two bluest eyes she’d ever seen, and blushed deeply.

“You ok? Looking a little hot under the collar.” The man before her asked with concern.

Ruby could hardly speak, he looked like a modern day fairly tail knight. WIth long blonde bangs, sapphire eyes, handsome face, dressed in all white, blue, and gold.

“I..I”..I”m fine!” Ruby squeaked out.

The blonde boy reached out to grab a flailing hand and pull her to her feet. Ruby wasn’t ready for that however and ended up face to abs with him.

‘So warm, so firm, I could stay here forever.’ Ruby thought to herself. Before going atomic on her blushing, and Rose Warping ten feet behind herself.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you, just thought you could use a hand getting up.” The man said with remourse. “I’ll let you go about your buisness now.

“RUBY ROSE!”

“Hmm?” “MY NAME IS RUBY ROSE! THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME!”

The blonde man reeled back from her sudden outburst of thanks.

A smile graced his face.

“Jaune Arc.”

-

“So I got this.”

*Unfurls Crescent Rose*

“Neat.”

“So, you got anything?”

“Hmm. not here.” “Oh, did you send it ahead?” “Nope just didn’t feel like bringing it from home. Didn’t think I need a weapon for this.”

“What! How are you going to fight any Grimm if you don’t have a weapon!? Even my sister needs Ember Celica before she goes punching Grimm out!” Ruby said doing so painfully bad shadow boxing.

“Oh, I didn’t come here to fight Grimm.” “What? Why are you here then, if you’re going to be a hunts-man in training you need to fight Grimm.” “Bold assumption, I’m not already a huntsman.” “Oh, yeah right, you look pretty strong and stuff...” “But, a correct one.” Ruby could only pout at being played like she had. Eye little eyes then spyed two blocky pouchs on his waist.

“What are those?”

“Oh those, one is my journal that take notes in, and the other, well, hehehe, I guess you could say it’s ledger.” “A ledger for what?” “Oh, for keeping track of debts and stuff.”

SIlence filled the space between the two.

“Are you a kneecapper?”

“Of sorts.” “I don’t think we can be friends.” “That is fair.”

“Do you work for the mob, or like, Torchwick.” “Nope, I work for me.”

“Freelance?” “All of my debts relates not to money, but personal experiences.”

“Oh, kinda like when you help some move, and they drive you across town?”

“Close enough, and looks like we’re at the auditorium, I’d say see you around, but since we can’t be friends, bye forever.”

“Wait, wait, I take it back!” But Jaune was gone into the crowd.

“Ahh, fiddle sticks.”

-

Ozpin looked calm and composed on the outside, but he was freaking the hell out on the inside. He lost track of the Arc, he fucking lost him! He could be anywhere doing anything!

He hasn’t even told Glynda, or anybody else, oh, gods this is going to be a blood bath.

He gave a inperceptible sigh, and decided to give his speech. “Hello, children-”

Warm breath behind him caused him to freeze.

‘When did he get behind me!?’

He could see the children murmuring at the unexpected guest.

“Hi, you must be Ozpin!” The warm voice said behind him. “I’m Jaune Arc lord patriarch of the Arc Clan, and you have been at the top of our shit list for five decades, you have a one day to prepare your last will and rights. Tah-Tah see you in twenty four hours.”

“What are you doing here young man! Get off the stage!” He heard Glynda yell at the Arc behind him.

He would stop her, but he needed to right his will again tonight.

Jaune Arc seemingly did nothing to react to Goodwitch but stare at her.

“Are you obstructing me?”

“Why yes I am, you are interrupting the initiation!”

“I see then.” Jaune brought out his note book.

“What are you doing!?” “Adding you to my shit-list ma’am, and if you don’t stop talking I’m going to just put you further up there.” Jaune said as if it was the most casual thing in the world.

“What I, I never, you, you miscreant!”

“Just keeping talking sugar tits, just keep going up my to-do list.” He shot a Glynda a smirk. “I changed my mind I want to break you into the Arc clan, we like ‘em feisty.”

She went Nuclear with rage and leveled her wand at him and fired a telekinetic wave at him.

“Oops,” Jaune said as the wave hit him, sending him out of the room and into the courtyard.

“That’ll teach him, the arrogant miscreant, should have been smarter to pick a fight here.” Glynda said proudly, “Someone get him off this campus and into a hospital.” “Ah, so kind. You do care, too bad you hit like a child.” Jaune said from behind Glynda picking her up in his arms like a princess “Well, fix that later.” Shooting her a wink in his arms.

‘So strong, and comfy.’ Glynda thought gobsmacked in his arms.

He then looked at Ozpin. “Remember old man, a day and no more.”

It was then that Jaune remembered a legion of students looking at him. “The fuck you all looking at, never seen a man take care of business before?”

The student shuffled around awkwardly.

“Yeah, I damn well thought so. Why are you all dressed so damn weird? Am I at a Anime con or a huntsman academy, Ozpin your standards suck.”

‘I like him more already.” Glynda thought. ‘Standards have been dropping for years.’

“Alright, I know whats happening next.” Jaune said proudly. “I am going to walk my happy ass out of here, and if anyone of you can so much as inconvience me, I will personally train or find someone to train you at the Arc compound.”

The student started looking very nervous, the man took down Glynda Goodwitch with no effort. What chance did they have?

Yang thought differently and launched a flying punch at him, Jaune bent his waist and launched a brutal kick straight into Yang's midsection and sending her through the ceiling.

Ruby came next like a rose petal reaper for his bent over next. Jaune grabbed it with his teeth and threw her aside like a puppy with just neck power.

Weiss not to miss a opportunity, speeds forward on glyphs to skewer him also while shoot a wave of ice at his feet, and a stream of fire at his face.

Casually he flexed his legs and shattered the ice, and kicked his leg out hard enough to send a shock-wave that knocked over idle students and killed Weiss flames.

Weiss however sped through the shock wave, and went to stab Jaune. The blade mere inches from his heart, Jaune leaned down to head butt Weiss while dodging the blade. Weiss went down like a sack of potatos.

Nora went down with hammer at Jaune, but he moved and let her fall on his knee, then grab her by the neck with his teeth throwing her through a wall. Jauen followed up with a kick behind him hitting Ren rag dolling him.

Pyrrha appeared last, an launched a series of precise shots and then strikes at Jaune, only for him to dodge each one, and knee her when she over extended by the millimeter.

WIth that the last of the challengers fell unconscious. All within twenty second, All with Goodwitch in his arms.

“Nice try, I’ll come collect the one’s who tried tomorrow, but first.” Jaune grabbed a handful of Goodwitch’s ass, causing her to gasp out. “I got break in the new Arc.”

“It’s Goodwitch..” She muttered weakly.

“Not anymore.” “...Ok.”

“Ozpin, anyone else that wants to try can do so tomorrow when I merc’ you ass.”

And with that the Arc left, taking Ozpins secretary with him.

-

That was the other side of the Arc clan, one of maruding madmen who recorded their grudges and never let them go, holding onto any slight for centuries, training their young to perfecting and taking fresh blood to increase their grudge spilling power.

Destroying Grimm Hordes because they killed a family pet.

Killing Tyrants for increasing taxes.

Cucking buisness men, because they heard they them demean their name.

The list goes on. But the fact is the Arc Clan is petty beyond reason, and always looking for more members... If you meet their interest that is.

AN: Added a drop of smut in there, don’t know how I feel about it. Hope it turned out ok. Then again it’s crack.

#Jaune Arc #Ozpin #Team RWBY #Crack #Really don't take it serious. #The Arc Clan holds grudes. #Glynda Goodwitch #Team NPR

[natromanxoff]

Queen live at Civic Auditorium Arena in Omaha, NE, USA - September 13, 1980

(x)

(x)

Fan Stories

“I don't know if anyone has ever been able to appreciate a rock concert as much as I did when I saw Queen at age 7. I knew the order the songs were supposed to be in, the way the stage was supposed to look, and what the band was supposed to do. And everything happened perfectly. Except for that damn mustache. Late summer 1980, I was pestering my mom to take me into town to get candy. She said, "Do you really want to get candy, or would you rather get tickets to see Queen?" I stopped in my tracks and started being the nicest boy you could imagine. I thought maybe she was kidding, but knew she wouldn't kid me about something like that. I guess my dad had already OKd it too. Like Axl Rose once said about Queen: "They meant everything to me." We drove all the way to Omaha to get tickets: they were $9 in advance, or $11 the day of the show if still available (though now I'm not sure how they weren't sold out immediately). I'm still not quite sure why Queen was playing smaller arenas at that point, since I think they had already begun playing stadiums. Finally, September 13 arrived. I was in 2nd grade. Ads had been all over the radio for this concert. One of my baby-sitters and two of her friends rode up with us also, and they went off on their own when we got there. The show was one of those infamous "general admission" things, so our seats depended solely on how early we arrived. I think we got to the arena at about 9 am... almost a full 12 hours before the show actually started (much longer in 7-year-old hours). A single word, "QUEEN", was boldly displayed on the marquee above the many doors where small lines were beginning to form. Excited bands of people were running/gathering everywhere. Queen was one of the biggest five bands in the world at that time: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" was on the charts, The Game had just been released, and "Another One Bites the Dust" was soon-to-be released as a single. We picked one of the lines and got ready for what was indeed halfway dangerous: the growing mob of people ready to run in when the doors would open. This was a big issue of the time, as it was the year before that 11 people were crushed to death at the turnstiles of a Who concert. (An episode of the TV show W.K.R.P. in Cincinnati even focused on this.) People were starting to press onto the transparent doors trying to look inside, when suddenly there was the sound of tires screeching from the street: a white limousine honked twice and sped around the corner toward the other side of the arena, and was gone within seconds. The "big kids" screamed and ran after it; I was too small to do this, but we got better places in line! When everyone came back, they said they actually saw Freddie and John get out of it and be scuffled into the building before getting attacked by the mob of people. In the meantime, others around us were starting to talk to my mom. Two of them were a man and a lady who were apparently on date, and they ended up even staying by and sitting by us through the show. Some other people also offered to kind of stay around my mom and I to make sure I'd be safe on the way in. A couple of times, a big fat drunk guy yelled out, "Who's your favorite group?" and of course everyone yelled "Queen!"

Now people were beginning to bang on the doors of the entrance. I think the doors finally opened at around 11 am. When they did, we and other people from several sides of the arena moved in, towards those coming in from other doors on opposite sides: within seconds, everyone had funneled from outside to stopping cold in the lobby, having basically run into each other. This is exactly where everyone stayed for the next two hours. A human shield of several people were intact around my mom and I preventing my being crushed... and all I could see for two hours were a bunch of butts! Once in awhile someone would try and lift me up to see all the people. From the distance, the drunk guy again repeated the "Who's your favorite band?" line a couple of times, realizing that more people could hear him now that he was indoors and echoing, and everyone gave the appropriate response. By the fifth time, only the drunk people were responding to him, and by the tenth time people were laughing and moaning. Every so often, some loud music would come out of the arena like a band was tuning-up, but it wasn't Queen music so everyone figured it was just the opening act. At 1 pm, the turnstiles were finally opened. I was kind of keeping my guard around me as everyone pressed forward, and everything was moving faster the closer we got, but by surveying the area I thought I'd be safe. I had my ticket in my hand. The guy from the couple was going to try and enter first, then me, and then my mom. When I got to the turnstiles, my mom and the guy grabbed my arms on both sides and completely hoisted me over. A surprised old man tore my ticket while I was in mid-air. Suddenly, we were standing relatively calmly inside: the difficult part was over, and we were at least safe from here on out. People were still running everywhere and screaming, but the hallways were pretty big so it wasn't too dangerous as long as we stayed toward the edge. Most people were still outside, since we were somewhat early. An older 12-year-old tore around the corner, then his '70s-style tennis shoes screeched against the floor and he fell down for a second as he decided to which way to go. We knew we were sort of on a mission to walk fast toward a balcony and just get seats instead of wandering around indecisively like others. We went straight up toward the second level balcony, as others ran the opposite way down to the main floor. My mom and I and the people we'd befriended walked right next to the wall, and I pressed against it while just a few feet away scattered groups of people would sometimes run by full-speed. I would have wanted to be on the main floor, but my mom had previously explained to me how, unless we were in the balcony, we would have to actually stand through the whole show (there weren't any chairs on the main floor) and would hardly be able to see anything. Plus, along with the horror stories of people running in at the beginning of a rock concert, I had also heard how people supposedly got crushed to death against the stage... so sitting in the balcony was just fine with me. We got two seats in the front of the second balcony, just by the railing to the balcony below. We were on the right side of the arena, about halfway back, so we couldn't complain. Now, I knew this was the beginning of the biggest wait: sitting in the same spot from 1 in the afternoon to about 9 at night.

The main parts of the stage I liked (from viewing the pictures in my Live Killers album) were intact: the steps were lined with lights under Roger's drums, and middle of the main stage had a small plank stage that stuck out for Freddie to walk on, where the crowd could touch him but not too easily. Most of the instruments, and all of Roger's drum set, were covered in giant sheets of plastic. I'd never seen such big speakers; I had a flashback when I saw the black and white photo to the right because that's what they looked like with the house lights up. Throughout the afternoon, the lights in the arena would go out, then come back on... like we were being teased. Finally when it was about time for the opening band, the lights went off longer than usual and the band took the stage. The opening band was someone we had never heard of, and my mom and I both can't even remember who it was now (two people have e-mailed me saying it was a band called "Dakota"). I don't think they had any hits, and then apparently disappeared soon after. The crowd tolerated the first two or three songs. Then, every song ended with "Just one more song!" much to the audience's vocal dismay. I went on a trip to the bathroom, and they were still playing when I came back. Then they left. Ten minutes later, they came back and said "Just one more song!" and I think they played three. People were yelling, "We want Queen!" People were getting harsh to the point it was just uncomfortable even seeing the band on the stage. Everyone cheered when they left. The lights came back on. Another two hours. Just seeing them walk across the stage would have been enough for me, so at that age I really couldn't comprehend being in their presence for a whole two-hour concert. This wait was easier though because every second we knew the show could start. Seeing Queen still seemed like it was too good to be true, like some act of God would occur just before the show to prevent it. Then, the lights went out. There's no feeling like the wait in total darkness just before a Queen concert. It was 10 minutes of black and the loudest screaming I'd ever heard. I remember it was "scary" and so I think Brian might have also been playing the weeping guitar sound like the beginning of the We Will Rock You concert video. It was a good scary feeling though, like going up the first hill of a roller coaster. After several minutes of intense darkness and the crowd screaming, when I felt like my ears didn't have room for any more sound to enter (though I loved it), the even louder sound of thunder clapped across the arena with an incredibly blinding light. I could see everyone on the main floor have to turn completely around in unison toward the back of the arena because the lights were so bright. I kept trying to glance at the stage to see what was happening, but it was too bright to see anything... plus, in between the flashes, it was too dark to see anything. It was sort of an unnerving state, being totally blinded in that big of a place with that many people, and coming to the realizaton that it would be unthinkable to actually move around and that we were basically helpless. I was holding my mom's hand. Queen had the whole crowd paralyzed in their tracks before the show even began.

I'm not sure if the lights all rose up like in the We Will Rock You video or not (since we couldn't see), or if they were already raised because of the opening band. Eventually the thunder and noise turned to music. Finally, through my wincing, Freddie Mercury was suddenly in front of my own little eyes on the front extended stage in all the smoke. I'd never even seen a celebrity in person before, much less my idol at the time. I didn't think they would open with the fast version of "We Will Rock You" for some reason, since that's at the beginning of the Live Killers album and I thought they would want to do something different, but was surprised that they opened with a non-Queen song: "Jailhouse Rock". The stage looked similar to that in the We Will Rock You concert video, with the smaller panels of lights replacing the single giant panel from previous tours; however, I'm certain there was at least another entire, higher level of moving lights (not only from seeing them at the concert, but also looking at the pictures for years afterwards). The lights in the We Will Rock You video seem extremely cut-back. Instead of one row of panels of lights across the back of the stage, the panels were all over the place and the ones above the band moved straight up and down on poles and tilted back and forth. There were also little men somehow sitting amongst the panels who manually operated at least a dozen spotlights, and more guys doing this from a small section hanging down from the ceiling at the middle of the arena. Since the spotlights were directed from the top of the arena, there wasn't a big bulky spotlight booth in the middle of the main floor taking up space, and the audio booth was placed along the right side of the arena (down not to far from us) so it wasn't in anyone's way. In the darkness between a lot of the songs, flashlights darted around the stage... we couldn't figure out if it was the band or engineers setting things up. Thankfully, no one came out on stage before the show to announce the band (I've always thought this is really cheesy). Freddie had on those red leather pants with the blue knee-pads... and, unfortunately, that ugly mustache! "What do you think about my new mustache?" Freddie asked. (Mixed applause.) "Some people don't like it, but I just say 'fu** 'em.'" (Crowd goes wild.). Freddie drank some water, then tossed the rest out onto the crowd along with his cup. He tossed his tambourine out later, and I couldn't imagine what it would actually be like to touch it. Freddie also had that long silver microphone stand that he always danced around with in the videos. He was running all over the place; one second he was on the plank at our side of the arena, the next at the other side. The three high school girls who rode up with us were excited because when he went to the end of one of the planks he ended up level and close to them in the balcony (but upset because, had one not been on crutches, they would have stayed on the main floor where Freddie tossed his tambourine!). Once or twice I remember looking into the middle of the arena and some kind of explosion occurred in mid-air (apparently launched from the lighting duct at the top of the arena). There weren't that many lighters in the audience, but instead everyone was using those green glow-sticks that come out around Halloween (I think these were new at the time). The audience kept throwing their green glow sticks up on the stage until at times it was covered, and more than once Brian kicked off some back into the audience (and I think he might have been getting upset but I'm not sure!).

There were numerous parts of the show I knew had to be there... and they all were. The first was the "scary" sound effects and section of "Get Down, Make Love", where Queen showed off their lights. (At that age, I thought the erotic sound effects were simply supposed to represent the monster breaking-in on the cover of News of the World). Smoke shrouded the band, as the panels of lights took over and moved around to the audience's ooohs and aaahs. My mom and I were trying to figure out what was on Roger's bass drum, since it didn't look like an album cover; it turned out to be the white "face" design, also in the We Will Rock You video. Back then, concerts didn't have big video screens, so we just had to use the binoculars that we'd brought. Some spotlights were gathering on Freddie and Brian as they went to sit on two stools toward the right of the stage, and my mom got excited because we knew "Love of My Life" was coming. Freddie announced, "This is our first time in Omaha... " as the song started, and got the crowd to sing along like on the Live Killers album. Meanwhile, I had become a source of info for those around who wanted to know what the songs were; every time a new song would start, people would ask me what it was! I really don't know if anyone has ever actually been able to appreciate a concert as much as I did that night: I was only 7, but had every album except the first two, and knew every song they played except maybe two or three. But what's interesting is how fans often wish they could experience how a "classic" band was 20 years prior... and this is strangely how I felt I was experiencing the show, because at my age it seemed like Queen had been around 20 years. There were parts of the show, including the stage design, that were "legendary" to me, but were only 2-3 years old in reality. Now, 20 years later, they're legendary to everyone else. Periodically, the guy next to me changed the tape in his "hidden" tape recorder. We knew the show was close to the end when "Bohemian Rhapsody" began. Everyone clapped to the pre-recorded opera section, and as the Live Killers liner notes say: "The audience and the lights take care of the rest." The crowd went nuts when Roger hit the famous gong at the end.

I think there were two or three more songs, and then everything went black for about 10 minutes. Could it be that they were actually not going to play the standard "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions/God Save the Queen" closing? The house lights may have even come on for awhile, then went back off. A few people were starting to leave, and I kept telling my mom that they had to end the concert that way, because that's the only way a Queen concert ends... but then even I was having doubts. Finally, the yellow lights around the gong all turned on, pointing directly on Roger, who started the drums of "We Will Rock You" and everyone stomped their feet and clapped. Of course "We Are the Champions" was next, and Freddie shook some of the hands flailing in front of the stage while singing it. I remember there was one hand jumping up and down that never got shook! Freddie bent his neck way back when he sang "... of the world!" at the very end like I knew he was supposed to from videos on TV, and we hoped for another song but knew that was probably going to be it. A grand finale of Queen's famous pyrotechnics began shooting everywhere from the stage, the lights were all moving around, and everyone was jumping all over in the aisles. Soon the pre-recorded Night at the Opera version of "God Save the Queen" did begin playing...but, nobody really sang to it since this is America and no one knows the words! At this point, I tried to make sure I was truly fathoming what it was like to actually see the band members in front of me since they'd be gone soon. Freddie was still dancing around and danced out a little door behind the drums, and the rest of the band followed one-by-one, with John being last as he waved to everybody one last time. The lights flickered and moved some more to the rest of the song, slowly going dark along with the rest of the arena, with the final rise of the crowd's applause. Perfect. Except for that damn mustache. We walked down what seemed like endless spiraling stairs on the way out...extremely slowly this time. My ears had that weird "ringing" feeling like everyone said I'd have, but that I'd never experienced before. Spotlights were panning the sky outside. We said goodbye to the couple we'd been with during the show. A guy in his late 20s started talking to us on the long way out; he laughed and told me how he'd also had to argue with his mom who said Queen would never come to Omaha. My mom asked him if he thought I'd even remember the whole thing since I was so little. He looked down at me, saw my grin from ear-to-ear, and said, "He'll never forget this."” - Jim

#queen #queen band #roger taylor #freddie mercury #brian may #john deacon #queen concerts

[headcanonsandmore]

“Fell In Love With A Girl”, Chapter One

Summary:  Luna Lovegood finds herself caught up in a world of international espionage, on the hunt for the mysterious gang who have a strange obsession with Amazonian plant-life (a subject on which Luna happens to know quite a lot). And, of course, Ginny Weasley insists in coming along for the ride. You don't mess with Ginny's Lu and get away with it. But can Ginny protect Luna from the forces set against them?

~~~~~~~~~

Here it is, everyone; my first foray into the action-adventure genre of fanfic! Hope you like it! Thank you to @lytefoot and @cheeseanonioncrisps, without whom this fic would never have happened, and @rabisacos for their advice with some elements of the plot that will become apparent in later chapters. :)

TWs are in the tags. 

~~~~~~~~~

               Read on FFN.                                                 Read on AO3.

~~~~~~~~

The shop bell tinkled.

Luna Lovegood looked up from the plant she was re-potting. It was close to mid-day. Normally, she would have kept the shop open for the afternoon, but she had other plans that afternoon.

The stranger who walked in was… well, very strange indeed. A large, heavy-set man, clad in dark clothes despite the warm weather, and with thick sunglasses that obscured most of his face. Luna was also aware that he was very tall and towered over her.

‘Hello,’ she said, a little confused as she climbed to her feet. ‘Can you help you with anything?’

The man reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper. He handed it to Luna.

‘Amazonian Octarine-Flame?’ Luna read aloud. ‘I’m afraid I don’t stock it; the plant is very rare, and isn’t kept domestically in the UK.’

The man stared at Luna for a moment, as if judging whether he believed her, before he nodded, took his piece of paper from Luna’s hands, and left without so much as a thank you. The door swung shut behind him.

Pondering the stranger’s behaviour, Luna finished her re-potting, and brought in the standing sign from outside. She was just locking the front door, when the sound of a motorbike made her turn.

‘Alright, Lu?’

Luna grinned, her cheeks blushing, as Ginny pulled off her helmet, her ginger hair sparkling in the sunshine.

‘Yes,’ she replied, pressing a quick kiss to Ginny’s cheek. ‘I’m all set to go. Are you feeling confident?’

‘For the match? With you watching me, I’m always confident.’

Luna smiled, as she strapped on the spare helmet Ginny had just handed her. She climbed onto the back of the bike, and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend’s waist. With a loud roar, the bike came to life, and the two women sped off through the streets.

Mercifully, the traffic wasn’t too bad that day, and they reached the basketball arena with a few minutes to spare.

They could hear the crowds beginning to arrive. Luna squeezed Ginny’s hand as they walked over to the players entrance.

‘You’ll be brilliant, Ginny,’ she said, pecking her on the lips.

‘Thanks,’ Ginny replied. ‘Can I hope to expect a bit more than a kiss as a reward afterwards?’

Luna giggled.

‘How about you win the game first, before you think about that?’

‘So… that’s not a “no”…’

Laughing, Luna kissed her again, and Ginny flashed her a smile, before entering the players entrance.

Luna walked through the main entrance, and made for the stands.

‘Luna!’

Hannah Abbott and Neville Longbottom were waving at her from a spot roughly in the centre of the stands. Luna waved back, and made for them. The crowd was full of people excitedly talking about the game about to start, and of the odds on different players scoring. Luna was happy to see that Ginny was a popular choice.

Luna reached Neville and Hannah. She hugged them both, and sat down.

‘You and Ginny got here on time, then?’

‘Yes,’ Luna replied. ‘The traffic was fine. How about you two?’

‘We were almost late,’ Hannah said, interlacing her fingers with Neville’s. ‘Neville’s been getting some weird emails from lots of friends from our old class.’

‘Very weird, actually,’ Neville said, his brow wrinkling. ‘Apparently, there’s been some break-ins in several botanical conservation sites, all of them having plants from the Amazon stolen. All within the same week.’

Luna was about to enquire further but, at that moment, the stands around them erupted in cheers as the two teams emerged onto the court.

Of course, Ginny’s team won the team, with Ginny herself scoring several points, including one scored with a spectacular leap upwards over two members of the opposing teams heads. Luna cheered and applauded as Ginny grinned up at the stands.

About ten minutes later, Ginny emerged from the changing rooms, and was met by a cacophony of reporters and fans. Finally, the crowd dispersed, and the redhead walked over to where her girlfriend was waiting.

Ginny, her face now wreathed in a wide smile, hugged Luna tightly as the blonde threw her arms around her.

‘I was a bit worried there for a bit,’ she said, modestly. ‘But it all worked out okay.’

‘You were brilliant!’ Luna exclaimed, quickly pressing a kiss to her lips. ‘I’m so proud of you!’

‘Oh, really?’ Ginny asked, a mischievous look entering her eye. ‘Care to demonstrate after we get back to yours?’

Luna blushed, smiling.

 *

 Luna sat up in bed, and stretched.

Ginny was snoring softly on the mattress next to her, her red hair illuminated slightly in the moonlight.

Luna smiled at her girlfriend.

Her life had been so… dull before Ginny entered it. Sure, she loved her shop and working with plants all day, but there was a routine to it that had become tedious over the years. So much that it almost became background noise. And it wasn’t as if Luna met a lot of people; she wasn’t the most ongoing person and, while she occasionally met up with people she had known at university, her life progressed in much the same way every passing week and month.

Then Ginny had arrived. A whirlwind of red hair and sports jerseys. Fun, exciting and utterly lovely. The most exciting, mist exhilarating person Luna had ever met. The last few months had been… well, wonderful in every sense of the word.

Feeling thirsty, Luna pulled her nightie over her head, and wrapped a dressing gown around herself, before descending the stairs to the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of milk, and leaned against the counter, watching the moonlight dance across the kitchen.

She was just about to go back upstairs again, when she became aware of a curious sensation. Almost as if she was being watched?

Luna set her glass down on the kitchen counter, and walked across to the entrance through to the shop. She could see the usual shapes of the plants climbing up, and the vines stretching up across the ceiling.

Was… was there someone there? She had a burglar alarm installed, but the siren had not gone off. Everything seemed to be as it should.

Luna paused in the entrance way, her neck prickling. What was…

There was a creak on the stairs behind her.

‘Luuuunnnaaa….’ Ginny purred, slipping her arms around Luna’s shoulders. Luna felt goosebumps erupt along her neck as the redhead spoke softly into her ear. ‘Come back to bed…’

Casting one last look over the shop, Luna allowed her girlfriend to lead her back upstairs. But, out of the corner of her eye, she could have sworn that something moved in the shop.

Probably just a fly, she thought.

 *

 The kitchen was bathed in sunlight as Ginny and Luna ate their breakfast. Ginny was wearing a pair of Luna’s old dungarees paired with a white t-shirt, and Luna was finding it difficult not to blush; the redhead looked so lovely wearing them.

‘So… no practices for a few weeks,’ Ginny said, her mouth half-full with toast. ‘It’ll be nice to have some time to relax.’

‘That would explain the lack of a bra today, I take it?’

‘Oh, definitely,’ Ginny said, flashing a wink. ‘And, well, what say you and me have the day to ourselves?’

‘Oh, that sounds…’ Luna began, before her face fell.

‘What? Something wrong?’

‘No, I’d love to just spend the day here with you, but… well, I’ve been invited to a Botany and Horticultural conference at my old University today.’

‘Oh, no worries,’ Ginny said. ‘I’ll join you.’

‘What? No, I can just tell them I couldn’t make it-’

‘Don’t be silly. You love this stuff, Lu,’ Ginny said, stroking Luna’s hand softly. ‘I want to learn more about what you enjoy.’

‘You don’t mind? I know Horticulture isn’t really your thing.’

‘And basketball isn’t really your thing, but you still come to my games,’ Ginny replied. ‘Let me be the sweetie-pie for once, ‘kay?’

Luna smiled, her cheeks dimpling.

‘I’m not that sweet.’

‘I beg to differ. After all, I am now rather accustomated to-’

‘Ginny!’

The redhead laughed, and threw an arm around Luna’s shoulders.

‘Okay, when does this conference start?’

‘Midday, but-’

‘Great, then we’ve got a few hours to kill. How about you and I take it easy for an hour or so, and then I’ll pick up my suit from my place?’

Luna found herself blushing.

‘S-suit?’

‘Three-piece, Lu,’ Ginny said, winking. ‘Why? Too much?’

Luna smiled, and shook her head. Her girlfriend was something else, indeed.

 *

 The two of them arrived at Luna’s old university with some time to spare. They had taken the underground at Luna’s insistence; she had said that it was due to the lack of parking at the university but, judging from Luna’s blushing whenever she looked at Ginny, the redhead could guess it was because she didn’t want Ginny to mess up her suit.

They bumped into Professor Sprout, one of Luna and Neville’s old professors who Ginny had met previously. The professor smiled as she saw Luna’s fingers intertwined with Ginny’s. Both the young women blushed.

Soon enough, the conference was due to staff. Luna and Ginny sat down in the auditorium, and the noise of everyone around them gradually dissipated.

An elderly man, presumably one of the university’s professors, walked across the stage. He had a long beard and wore half-spoon spectacles.

‘I’ll be brief,’ said the elderly professor. ‘Throughout the last few days, we have heard numerous reports of the thefts of Amazonian plants across London. Our sister universities in Europe have been dealing with similar reports.’

‘And from other parts of South America,’ said another professor. ‘Paraguay and Chile have also had various thefts.’

‘We’re dealing with an international level of theft. The various authorities have been informed, of course, but I must ask that we all be very careful when it comes to security for the time being.’

Ginny turned to look at Luna, and was startled to see her girlfriend looking suddenly very worried.

Instinctively, Ginny reached out and took her hand, giving it a delicate squeeze. Luna smiled softly, clearly glad of the support.

It worried Ginny to see Luna looking so serious; she was usually so calm and cheerful about everything. Things were clearly bad if even Luna Lovegood couldn’t put a brave face on. Even though the rest of the conference was of a more cheerful nature, Luna’s mood did not improve much.

Luna and Ginny rode back across London on the underground. Ginny didn’t let go of Luna’s hand the entire time, and Luna leaned into her girlfriend’s shoulder, her face troubled. It broke Ginny’s heart to see her like this. She wrapped an arm around Luna’s shoulder, and pressed a quick kiss to the blonde woman’s forehead.

Luna seemed to be feeling marginally better as they emerged from the underground. As it happened, they passed the restaurant they had gone to for one of their first dates, and Ginny pointed it out. The memory brought a smile to Luna’s face, and she squeezed Ginny’s hand.

However, as soon as they turned the corner round to Luna’s shop, this happy moment popped like a bubble.

‘M-my shop!’

Ginny stared on in horror. The shop windows had been smashed in, and there was several police cars parked nearby. Pieces of glass were scattered across the pavement, and the owners of the shops nearby were stood around, looking concerned.

Her eyes widening, Luna stumbled forward.

‘What’s… what’s happened?’ she gasped, as her fellow shopkeepers turned to look at her. ‘I… I was only gone for a couple of hours.’

‘We heard the windows smash and the alarms go off barely forty-five minutes ago,’ said Madam Puddifoot, the owner of the café next door. ‘Thank goodness you weren’t hurt, Luna.’

‘Who the bloody hell would do this?’ Ginny exclaimed, as she looked at the smashed glass, aghast. ‘God, Luna… you could have been here,’-she grabbed Luna’s hand-‘forget what I said earlier, spending the day at home would have been terrible.’

Luna chuckled miserably.

‘Was… was anything taken?’

‘That’s the weird thing,’ Madam Puddifoot said, looking a little baffled. ‘Your till doesn’t seem to have been touched at all. No money gone, nothing. It looked like whoever did this didn’t even try to break it open.’

Well, Ginny thought, that’s one positive-

‘But we noticed some of your books have been taken.’

‘What?’ Luna said. ‘My books? On botany?’

‘Yes, the ones on Amazonian plants, by the looks of it.’

Luna’s face, if it was possible, fell even further.

Ginny wrapped her arm around Luna’s midriff, holding her close. The blonde turned and leaned into her chest, her arms reaching around Ginny, clinging to her for support.

‘I’m here, Lu,’ Ginny whispered, ‘It’s gonna be okay.’

Luna nodded, mutely.

‘Ms Lovegood?’

A tall, black man had emerged from inside the shop. He was wearing a dark blue suit that had a sort of neat elegance that Ginny had never managed to achieve. Some people had a distinct aura that went with their job, and Ginny knew he wasn’t just a standard policeman. He was a detective, or something similar.

‘Y-yes,’ Luna said, pulling away from Ginny and turning to face the man.

‘I am Kingsley Shacklebolt,’ he said. ‘I’m in charge of the investigation surrounding this break-in. Normally, we’d ask you to discuss this within your shop, but we understand if this is a bit too much at the moment-’

‘It’s fine,’ Luna replied, sounding far tougher than Ginny would have expected. ‘Let’s get this over with.’

Still holding Ginny by the hand, Luna followed Shacklebolt into the shop, taking pains to avoid the glass scattered across the pavement.

The inside of the shop was surprisingly tidy. Aside from the windows being smashed, nothing was much out of the ordinary. Same plants, same vines reaching up the walls, etc. Ginny took a quick look around, and was almost positive that none of the plants seemed to have even been moved, let alone stolen. There were no tell-tale trails of compost, for one thing.

As they entered the kitchen, Luna strode over to the bookshelf she had recently put up against the wall. Ginny realised exactly what Madam Puddifoot had meant; there were several empty spaces where Luna’s books on Amazonian botany and plant-life were supposed to be. They had certainly been there when Ginny and Luna had left for the conference earlier that morning.

‘Ms Lovegood, we are currently trying to ascertain the motive for this,’ Shacklebolt said, as he, Luna and Ginny sat down around the table. Several police constables blocked the view into the kitchen from the shop itself. ‘The till wasn’t broken into, and no plants have been stolen, so profit doesn’t seem to have been the motive. Do you think it could be anything else? Blackmail, perhaps?’

‘No,’ Luna said. ‘It’s… well, my books on rare Amazonian plants have been stolen. They were the only things that were taken.’

A brief flicker of emotion flickered across Shacklebolt’s face.

‘I see. And… the smashed windows? An intimation tactic, perhaps?’

‘You don’t say,’ Ginny said, sarcastically. ‘What a load of bastards…’

Shacklebolt smiled at the redheads infuriated expression.

There was some raised voices from the shop. Several of the police constables began to move.

‘Ere mate, you can’t just barge in,’ exclaimed one short constable. ‘Fred, look at the nerve of this bloke…’

‘Aye, Nobby,’ said another member of the constabulary, who had a large, red face. ‘That constitutes… uh, accessory to annoyin’ a police officer-’

‘Let me through, you morons, I know Luna and Ginny-’

‘Neville!’ Ginny said.

‘Thank god you’re both here,’ the blonde man replied, as he scrambled into the kitchen and stood before them. There were some continued mutterings from behind him. ‘Luna, I’ve got a feeling that your books on Amazonian plants have been taken?’

‘Y-yes,’ Luna said. ‘Neville, how did you-’

‘Because Professor Sprout’s private stores were broken into while she was at the conference,’ Neville said, his face serious. ‘All her research into rare Amazonian plants has been stolen.’

‘O-oh,’ Luna said.

‘That sounds about right,’ Shacklebolt said, mirthlessly as he put a hand up to his earpiece. ‘I’ll need to discuss this with the office.’

He stepped through the line of constables and into the shop, already talking to whoever was communicating through his earpiece. But he was then barged aside by a tall, redheaded figure.

‘Ginny? Luna?’

‘Ron?’

Ginny’s older brother appeared through the crowd in the kitchen doorway.

‘Are you two alright?’ he asked, ignoring the mutterings from the various police constables whose feet he had accidentally-on-purpose trodden on. ‘I heard it direct from Neville earlier-’

‘We’re fine, Ronald,’ Luna said. ‘But thank you anyway.’

‘That’s good,’ Ron said. ‘You’ve got Ginny here, after all.’

Luna smiled, squeezing Ginny’s hand.

‘Yes, I do.’

Ginny found herself blushing a little.

‘How about I make us all some tea?’ Ron said. ‘Ginny, help me with the mugs?’

‘Sure.’

As the kettle began to boil, Ron turned to his sister and whispered.

‘Luna seemed pretty shook up.’

‘Yeah,’ Ginny replied, casting a quick look over her shoulder, to where Luna was talking to Neville. ‘I know she’s putting a brave face on it, but… this is her home as well her shop, y’know? The idea that someone would break into it while she was barely out for a couple hours is pretty distressing.’

‘You were both at the conference while this happened?’

‘She was half-willing to not bother today, but I thought it would be good for me to learn more about botany for her,’ Ginny said. ‘But… what if she’d been here while the break-in happened?’

‘It wouldn’t have happened, Ginny,’ Ron said, patting her on the shoulder in support. ‘I’ve got a feeling that whoever did this timed it so it happened during the conference itself, when they knew Luna would be out of the way.’

‘You reckon?’

‘Yeah. I mean, why else do it in the middle of the day? Especially on a busy London street.’

Ginny nodded, putting sugar into Luna’s mug (Luna always liked two spoonful’s of sugar in her tea).

‘Ginny?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Just… I think Luna’s going to need you with her,’ Ron said. ‘And I reckon you’ll be there with her one-hundred-per-cent, right?’

‘Of course,’ Ginny replied. ‘I’d die than let anyone hurt her.’

Ron smiled.

‘Hopefully, it won’t come to that. But just be careful, okay.’

Ginny stared at him.

‘It’s a break-in, Ron, not a terrorist operation.’

‘Still.’

Ron poured the water into the various mugs, added the Kingsley Shacklebolt had returned. He nodded to the police constables nearby in a knowing way. He then turned to Luna.

‘Ms Lovegood, do we have your permission to check the premises for any listening equipment?’

Luna stared at him in confusion.

‘My apologies, Ms Lovegood, but we cannot be too cautious. The people who broke in could have bugged the place.’

‘Do thieves normally do that?’

‘No, but I don’t believe we are dealing with normal thieves here.’

Luna swallowed, looking worried.

‘Okay; you have my permission to check.’

‘Thank you,’ said Shacklebolt, before turning to the constables.

‘Secure the perimeter.’

The assembled constables spread out. All the doors and windows were closed, and the entire shop and kitchen were checked thoroughly, including the underside of the table and every light fixture.

After the constables seemed satisfied that nothing had been tampered with, Kingsley sat down again at the table. Ginny joined Luna on the other side, while Ron and Neville remained standing.

‘I’m afraid that I now have reason to believe that this is an international conspiracy,’ he Shacklebolt said, his voice grave. ‘Which means that I am now authorised to give yourself, Miss Weasley, Mr Weasley and Mr Longbottom security clearance.’

‘Er… what?’

The man smiled.

‘My name is Agent Shacklebolt of MI5,’ he said, as he flashed a badge. ‘My apologies for not being honest with you earlier, but it wouldn’t have done you any good to know unless you needed to. I’ve been tracking these break-ins for a while, but now I have solid proof that they aren’t just isolated occurrences.’

‘You’re a… a spy?!’ Ginny gasped, shocked. ‘Like James Bond?’

‘I’m afraid the reality is far less glamorous,’ Agent Shacklebolt replied, smiling slightly. ‘But, yes, I am a spy. Or spook, if you like. Normally, I only deal with domestic issues but, given the international nature of this threat, I will be liaising with my peers in MI6. They should be here in a moment.’

He put a hand to the small head-set in his ear, and began to talk quietly.

‘I always did wonder what the difference was between them,’ Ginny muttered. Luna chuckled under her breath.

A man passed through the police (who had, by this point, grown sick of being used as a sort of living wall), and stood in front of the table. His face was covered in scars, and his hair was a messy, mousy brown. He gave the appearance of looking far older than his age.

‘Hello,’ said the man, smiling softly. ‘My name is Agent Lupin of MI6, but you may call me Remus.’

~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, everyone! Hope you liked it!

#'fell in love with a girl' #linny #luna x ginny #ginny x luna #ginny/luna #luna/ginny #bisexual!ginny weasley #florist!luna #florist au #muggle au #basketball player!ginny #harry potter fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #tw: allusions to sex #luna lovegood #ginny weasley #background hanville #neville longbottom #ron weasley #remus lupin #kingsley shacklebolt

[raendown]

The first of my follower milestone gift fics! This one is for @rookie-d for the prompt word effete. 

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Word count: 2884 Rated: T+ Summary: Getting dragged along to places he didn't want to be wasn't new to Madara, not with a best friend like Hashirama. Meeting someone again that he hadn't seen in years and instantly falling in love? That one was definitely newer.

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

KO-FI and commission info in the header!

Grown, Possibly Matured

“I cannot believe I let you drag me out here.” 

Hashirama blinked over at him before smiling widely. What a doofus. Did he ever stop smiling?

“No need to be so grumpy, my friend. It’s a celebration! Enjoy yourself!” His ever-present smile grew impossibly wider as he snatched something off the tray of a passing waiter. “Don’t you want any food? It’s free, I checked.”

“Might as well. If I get nothing else out of this I’ll at least have a full belly without paying for it.”

“That’s the spirit!” 

Letting his sigh of disgust blow the hair away from his face, Madara snagged his own passing treat and let his eyes scan the gardens without much interest. It was a nice place. When he’d graduated from college a few years back the ceremony had taken place in the auditorium on campus but Tobirama’s university was one of those fancy big money ones that all the rich families sent their kids to for clout more so than an education. Of course they just happened to have a massive sprawling garden just perfect for outdoor spectacles like this one. He still didn’t understand how a family like the Senju could afford this school. Either Tobirama had the marks to get some very impressive scholarships or every member of their family had agreed to sell at least one of their kidneys to help him pay for it. 

“Why am I even here?” Madara shovelled the little morsel in to one side of his mouth and spoke from the other, ignoring a very prim looking woman in pearls giving him a horrified look. “I haven’t seen your brother since, what, high school? Earlier? I could care less about that knobby-kneed little asshole.” 

“Tobi hasn’t got knobby knees,” Hashirama protested. 

“He did the last time I saw him.”

“Oh. Oh yeah, he did get a little gangly when he finally hit that growth spurt, didn’t he? Ha ha! I remember now! Well he’s grown up a lot since then and I just...I just needed someone here to help me be proud of him!”

Since that was one of the stupidest things he’d ever heard there was no shame in saying so. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. If you want someone to come be proud of him wouldn’t you bring, oh I don’t know, family? You’ve got two other brothers. Or that woman of yours, isn’t she close to him too?”

Hashirama wilted like a flower, as dramatic as he’d been the day they met all the way back in middle school. 

“But our whole family is away on vacation because Tobi didn’t even tell any of us when he was graduating! I wanted Mito to come but she couldn’t get out of work on such short notice and he’d never say anything but I just know he’ll love it so much better when he sees there’s people here to celebrate with him!”

“What was he even in school for again? Something yuppie, obviously.” 

Because his best friend was an idiot who couldn’t read a tone to save his life, Hashirama practically danced off his own feet with pride as he crowed, “A double major! Oh I could just burst! He completed a double major in political science and international relations!”

Madara stared. 

“He went to school...for politics? He’s going in to politics?” 

“Yeah!” 

“Oh great. Wonderful. He was an annoying kid but that brain of his did have some potential. Now he’s gonna waste it.” 

Hashirama stopped bouncing to cock his head, bemused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you know, what good are politicians really? They all talk a big game and they all wear their fancy suits but I’ve never met one who wasn’t entirely full of shit. Every one of them is basically an over-refined waste of space.” 

“Didn’t you tell me once that you wanted to grow up and be the mayor?”

Face suddenly much too hot for the cool weather around them, Madara growled and gave his friend a mighty shove. “Keep your mouth shut!” 

“So mean!” 

Talking about someone he hadn’t seen since they were all still growing in to their own limbs wasn’t exactly Madara’s idea of a good time. Changing the subject to the plans they had made for a beach day that weekend was much more interesting. A little fast talking, a bit of wheedling, and it was possible he might be able to talk Hashirama in to camping out the night without that terrifying fiance of his. Mito was a strong woman, definitely exactly the sort of person someone like Hashirama needed. Madara still didn’t like her. He always got the impression that when she looked at him she wondered what her fiance saw in him and it made his skin itch every time. 

It took another half hour but finally the ceremony began and all of the gathered family and friends were invited to find a seat. Though Madara had been calling the area gardens inside his head it was more like an outdoor amphitheater of some kind with ascending rows of benches carved in to the natural rock. It sort of reminded him of something out of ancient Greece, actually, and he hated a little that it impressed him all the more for it. 

“Ooh, there they are!” Hashirama grabbed his sleeve in excitement, all but lurching out of the seat he’d only just settled in to point at the thick wave of black robed young adults all marching out of a nearby building. Well, not so much marching. Considering the heavy course loads they had all just finished over half of them looked more like they were shuffling along on the strength of their last cup of coffee. That much Madara could relate to.

“Which one’s your brother?”

“There! There he is! Hi Tobi!” 

Either Tobirama didn’t hear the cry from so far away or he was well practiced at ignoring such a fog horn of a voice but none of the faces that turned towards them had any sparks of recognition. From the audience there was mostly fond understanding. Most of the students that looked towards them just looked confused. It was kind of sad but Madara was pretty sure a lot of them had never seen anyone so enthusiastic about supporting their family before. Yuppie types, in his experience, weren’t really great at loving their kids.

He might have based that opinion mostly off his own estranged father. So sue him. 

“When they’re all dressed the same how am I supposed to tell them apart? I remember he’s got white hair.” Madara gave the massive group of black robed figures a half-hearted once over. “There’s got to be a dozen people in there with white hair.”

“That’s easy,” Hashirama said. “My Tobi is the best one!” 

“Alright, well, that doesn’t really help much but...you tried?”

Despite his friend’s utter lack of ability to describe one simple human face Madara did eventually figure out which one was Tobirama. Not that he had to put much deduction work in; all he needed to do was sit back and wait until eventually the name ‘Senju Tobirama’ was called and one of the white-hair-black-robe-graduation-cap people broke away from the rest to ponce across the stage with more grace than any disney forest animal could ever dream of. 

The distance between them was still too large to really make out any fine details but the one thing Madara picked up on had him scowling out of reflex, hunkering down in his seat with arms crossed while Hashirama practically vibrated out of his own skin trying to holler his pride for the world to hear. 

He’d gotten taller! That rat bastard of an albino must have had another growth spurt since they last saw each other. What the hell was it about Senju genes? Even from this far away Madara could tell he would barely pass the guy’s chin and there was just something fundamentally unfair about that. He was older! Didn’t he get to be taller than anybody? 

Izuna didn’t count. As the youngest brother it was his duty to stay short forever. 

Like the disgustingly emotional child he was, it took Hashirama several minutes after his brother had completely vacated the stage for him to finally sit down and heave a deep sigh, followed immediately by several quivering breaths. Madara dug in to one pocket and threw a tissue in his stupid face. He’d learned to carry those around years ago no matter where they were going after one too many of his shirts had been ruined for lack of anything else around to cry on. When it came to Hashirama emotions could attack at any time. And usually for the stupidest reasons. 

Waiting out the rest of the ceremony was somehow even more boring now that he wasn’t watching for anyone specific to walk across the stage. It seemed unfair to him that alphabetically ‘Senju’ was so far down the list that there was less than a quarter of the names left to call and somehow it all seemed to last four times as long as the rest of this stupid ceremony had. Finally, however, the entire audience was invited to stand for applause and Madara did so with a groan, shaking out his legs in the hopes that doing so would discretely wake up his ass, gone numb from sitting for too long. 

Hashirama turned to him with brilliant eyes the moment the ceremony was announced complete. 

“There’s more snacks and drinks in the hall over there,” he said. “I texted Tobi to meet us, come on!”

“I could go for another snack I guess.” Madara let himself be pulled through the crowd, grateful for once that his best friend was such a tree that people just stepped out of his way without question. His interest in heading across to the fancy hall looming over them may have had something to do with more than just filling his belly now but he saw no need to say so out loud. 

Once they were inside the sheer number of human beings here for today’s ceremony became much harder to ignore, trapped together between four walls that echoed the roar of a hundred different conversations back and forth until Madara was tempted to clap both hands over his ears. The semi-permanent scowl on his face deepened with every step they took, wading through the tight knit throng until at last Hashirama shot up on to his toes with excitement. 

“There! Look! Tobi, over here! Hey Tobi!” 

Madara sighed, pulling the ends of his hair away from the grasping fingers of someone’s poorly attended baby, then looked up when a shadow fell over him. Alright. So maybe coming here today had been a good decision. If nothing else it afforded him the chance to see this human adonis up close. 

Even with the traditionally ill-fitting graduation robe covering the finer details it was still easy to see that Tobirama had not only grown up, he’d grown up good. The height difference between them was even more than Madara had guessed and the sharp lines of his face had settled in to something like chiseled marble over the years, less the young weasel his classmates used to call him and closer now to what one would expect to find on a magazine cover. He’d even had tattoos done that accentuated his cheeks plus one running down his chin and neck to disappear in line with the buttons of his shirt. To his utter horror, Madara’s first thought was how very much he wanted to trace those lines with his tongue. 

“Congratulations!” Hashirama crowed, throwing himself at his brother with wet eyes and a beaming smile. Tobirama, impossibly, withstood the storm of affection without so much as swaying on the spot. 

“Thank you Anija,” he rumbled, oblivious to the involuntary whine that slipped out from between Madara’s lips. Thank all the non existent gods for the noise in here covering such an embarrassing sound. It wasn’t fair. He already looked delicious, did he have to sound like a wet dream too?

“You remember my friend Madara, right? Were you surprised? Surprise! We wanted to come celebrate with you!” 

One pale brow lifted as Tobirama detangled himself from Hashirama’s embrace with enviable ease. “Hardly a surprise when you called me last night to tell me you were coming, though I appreciate the sentiment. Madara...yes, I remember. Hello Madara.”

“Nng.” Oh very good. Very intelligent. Such a good showing he was making of himself. 

“Your presence here is more of a surprise than my brother’s. It’s been quite some time.” 

“Guess so,” Madara grumbled. 

Tobirama cocked his head to one side. “And what are you doing with yourself these days, Madara?”

He was only being polite, something that age seemed to have added since he definitely wasn’t polite as a little kid, brain too fast for anyone else to keep up with and constantly exasperated that he needed to slow himself down. It was an improvement for sure. One that Madara should have appreciated. It certainly wasn’t his fault that he’d grown up to tick off every box on Madara’s list of things that were physically attractive. Still, the attitude was rising and emotions he’d never liked in himself were prickling and there was no stopping the defensive tone spitting its way out of his mouth. 

“Something more useful than where you’re headed, that’s for sure. Politics? Really? I never took you for the lazy sort.” Madara, with what little wisdom he had, very much wanted to hit himself even as the words escaped him. He didn’t blame Tobirama at all for lifting that second too-perfect brow. 

“I beg your pardon?”

“Everyone knows that politicians are all talk and no action, too caught up in looking all important and sounding all smart but they’re never really useful. Shame. You always had a good brain, too bad you’re gonna waste it cushioning your ass on the publics’ dollar.” 

“The only shame here”-oh but the fire in his voice would have been glorious all on its own even without the deep bass rumble of his voice-“is that you seem to have grown up with your head lodged inside your own asshole. If you think for one second that I intend to rest on my laurels then I invite you go fuck yourself with the sharpest stick you can find. The two of you used to talk big words about changing the word when we were all kids. Tell me, how many internships have you suffered through for the chance to do so? How many scholarships did you study for just to meet the right people and share your proposals with the right ears? Go on, Madara, tell me how many tax breaks you leveraged before you even made it all the way through university?” 

Madara swallowed thickly, barely feeling the pressure when Hashirama put a hand on his chest to separate the two of them. It definitely said something about him that he should be so aroused from getting such a thorough dressing down in public but he couldn’t bring himself to worry much about it. Not when he had more important things to concentrate on. Like the fact that he’d just fallen in love in the space of two minutes. 

“Sweet mother of fire,” he whispered. “Marry me.”

Both of the Senju brothers looked at him like he’d grown an extra limb. Hashirama coughed nervously, eyes flitting between them like a nervous rabbit. 

“Let’s all just calm down now, alright? Today is supposed to be a happy day!”

“Indeed it is. Thank you for coming, Anija. Perhaps you might make this a happier day for me by removing this trash from the premises.” With his final piece spoken Tobiraama lifted his nose in to the air and turned to walk away, striding through the crowd as easily as if the room were empty and exuding all the prim fussiness of someone who had spent a decade in the social minefield of politics already. 

Hashirama moaned dramatically and leapt after his sibling. “Wait, Tobi! Maddy didn’t mean it! Come back, we can all be friends!”

Several minutes passed in a haze before Madara even noticed that he was now standing alone in a room crowded with a bunch of uppity strangers, several of them staring at him as though worrying for his mental health. He couldn’t blame them. Not if the expression on his face was half as dazed as he felt. Considering how loud the place was it was somewhat of a miracle that he could still hear Hashirama’s voice booming from somewhere off to the left but he chose not to question his luck, only turned to float off in that direction, hoping Tobirama was still here. Following after them would almost definitely end with more insults being thrown at him.

And like the twisted man he was Madara could freely admit that he was looking forward to it. He’d never met anyone with half as much fire in them as Senju Tobirama. He wondered, dreamily, how long it was going to take him to convince the other man to take his proposal seriously. 

#rae writes #madatobi #madara #tobirama #hashirama #modern au #fanfiction

[babygurlkamya]

Can’t Get You Get Out Of My Head Part 5

Warning: Slight Cussing, More love of Harry Styles.

Word count:2451

Here’s my Masterlist!!

A/N: Also this will in included so gifs in here. Also thank you for the love and support!!

——————𖠄———————

Julie and Anastasia walked down the steps of Julie’s house laughing. Anastasia and Julie were busy studying for hours and both were hungry so they decided to take a break. Julie had turned the corner but immediately let out a small shriek after seeing the slight of Luke staring into Julie’s fridge.  

“We’re never gonna get used to that.” Said Julie. Anastasia nodded her head agreeing with Julie. 

“Do you guys even eat?” Asked Julie.

Luke shook his head. “I just wanna see what’cha got.”

“Not gonna lie, you like a lost puppy staring at the food.” Said Anastasia. Luke looked at her for a second smiling before looking back at the food in the fridge.

Julie grabbed the jelly and shut the fridge door passing right through Luke’s body.

“Hey!” Luke protested. “You know how long it took me to open that?”

“I would say twenty-five years,” Anastasia said looking at Luke. Julie chuckled. 

“Sorry, I don’t believe in wasting power,” Julie told Luke. Anastasia moved to the right side of Julie and sat on the counter.

“Good, because that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” Luke revealed, walked over to the girls standing in between Julie and Anastasia.

“Her power usage?” Anastasia questioned.

“No. The power that she has.” Julie gave him a confused look, so he continued. “Your voice. Your piano playing. Dude, you’re like a human wrecking ball. I’m pretty sure you too.” Luke said pointing at Asia. “If we heard you sing again and not dancing around your kitchen. It would be amazing.” 

Julie looked at Luke and Asia. “What’s he talking about?”

“He caught me singing and dancing to Harry Styles in my kitchen, like a creep.” Anastasia glared at Luke.

“You have amazing taste, Asia. Harry Styles is one gorgeous man.”

Anastasia looked up shaking her head. “He truly is but back to what Luke was saying.”

“What’s that supposed to be some kind of pep talk or?” Asked Julie making Anastasia’s sandwich.

“What I’m saying is that you have to power to move people. To knock them off their feet. And there is no way your teachers wouldn’t let you back into school if they heard you play like that.”

“Well, we asked her and she said Julie has to wait until next semester.” 

“That was your first mistake,”  Luke scoffed in disgust. “Asking.”

“You do know that asking is the polite thing to do, right? Or did you not have manners back in your day?” Anastasia said.

Luke rolled his eyes at Anastasia's comment as he sat on top of the counter across from Anastasia. “That’s not what I mean, Asia. Sunset Curve booked gigs by doing. We went into ambush mode. We played in front of clubs, we played in back of clubs, we even played book club.”

“Book club? You have to be joking with me.” Said Anastasia grabbing her sandwich and then taking a bite out of it.

Luke smirked at her. “Yeah. We didn’t get many gigs out of that one but they did have pretty gnarly snacks.”

“Can we go back on topic?” Julie asked.

Luke looked at Julie. “I’m just saying, don’t ask for permission.” He kicked his legs in a circle as they went through Anastasia. “Swing that wrecking ball of talent at your teacher’s head and smash those stupid rules right outta their brains.”

“I’m always down for violence but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Anastasia commented.

“And this is a school, not a club.”

“It’s a closed door and you gotta bust it open.” Julie had walked over to the cabinet to get a glass and Luke popped his head through the door. He followed her over to the fridge as Julie grabbed the orange juice out of her fridge. “Sorry. Once I start with the metaphors, I can’t stop. I learned that in book club.”

“They’re not just gonna let me back in,” Julie said pausing for a moment as she walked straight through Luke. 

“If getting back into music is what you want, then you gotta go for it. Learn from me. Your tainted hot dog could be right around the corner.”

Julie lowered her peanut butter and jelly sandwich from her mouth just as she was about to take a bite. “I don’t even have anything prepared.”

“Thought you’d say that.” Luke pulled a folded up piece of paper from his pocket. “It’s called “Bright.” It’s a Sunset Curve song I wrote that we never got to record, but it’s perfect for your and Anastasia ranges.”

“Wait, did you figure out my range when I was singing in Harry Styles in my kitchen?” Anastasia asked.

“Yes and No. When you were bringing groceries I may have looked on your computer and found your old singing videos.”

“If I could punch you I would.” Anastasia glared at Luke. 

Luke sent a wink back at her. “Unfortunately you can’t sweetheart.” Anastasia felt her heart skip a beat after Luke called her sweetheart. “ Check out the chorus for a second. If you add a little bit of piano, I’m telling you… And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together.” 

Julie picked up the page and flipped it over as Anastasia hopped off the counter. They read more of the lyrics as they joined into Luke’s singing. “And rise through the night, you and I, we will fight to shine together.”

“Go up high,” Luke instructed.

All three of them raised their voice an octave a little higher. “Bright forever.”

“Yes!” Luke chuckled.

“We could do try this tomorrow, Asia.”

“Julie, I would love to but I’m performing with Carrie tomorrow.”

“Please, Anastasia” Julie pleaded, giving her puppy eyes.

“Fine, I’ll see what I can do.” Asia gave Julie a slight smile before looking at Luke. “Thanks, Luke. We really appreciate it.”

Luke tugged his bottom lip in between his teeth and giving her a cut smile in return. Which causes Anastasia to slightly blush. She quickly looked down back at the paper and read the lyrics.

——————𖠄———————

Anastasia was standing next to the girls of Dirty Candy waiting for them to be announced. Their music teacher announced the group as they walked to the middle of the auditorium. They got into their positions. The song had started and all the girls started to dance. On the side of her eyes she could she Julie and Flynn walk into the auditorium. Flynn didn’t seem pleased at Anastasia she was dancing but Asia had ignored her. Julie had given her a slight smile and she had smiled back as Carrie started to sing. After she had done her spin she had noticed that the boys had poofed next to Julie. 

“We wanna see you stick it to the man,” said Luke clearly being loud as he can since only Julie and Asia could him. “Isn’t that right, boys?”

“Man, I miss high school,” Reggie said causing the boys to look towards the performance.

“Wait, is that Anastasia?” Asked Alex. 

“Yes, that’s her,” said Julie.

“Made moves, On the rise now, Run stuff, get a piece of that pie now, We're the best, no doubt, Check it out, yeah, we make em say "wow", All the girls started to dance on the floor., Come follow me, we goin' make history, Cause we are the champions like Freddy Mercury, Yeah, we gonna rock you, never gonna not too, Always making headlines, yeah, we're the hot news”

Anastasia and Kayla helped Carrie get off the floor. Anastasia noticed Reggie and Luke were just staring at her so she decides to shoot them a wink.

“Made moves, On the rise now, Run stuff, get a piece of that pie now, We're the best, no doubt, Check it out, yeah, we make em say "wow", Wow... wow!, Wow... wow!, Wow... wow!”

Alex was copying the girls dancing and accidentally bumped into Luke, making him snap out of his trance and signal to Alex to stop.

“Wow..., Check it out, yeah, we make em say "wow"

The whole school cheered for Dirty Candy. “Thank You,” Carrie said. A girl screamed, “We love you, Carrie!” 

“Oh, I love you too!” Carrie said waving back at them. “Make sure to check out my new Youtube video and Oh, go Bobcats.” The crowd cheered for the girls as they walked off. Anastasia quickly ran over to Julie, Flynn, and the boys.

“Reggie, can you close your mouth, please?” Asia said quietly.

Reggie closed his mouth. “Oh.. Oh.. Yeah. Sorry,” Reggie said awkwardly.

“Nice moves, Alex.”

“You saw that... I-”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain it.” Asia smiled at Alex.

“I hoped you enjoyed yourself,” said Flynn glaring at Asia.

Anastasia rolled her eyes and turned to Julie. “You good?” Julie nodded.

The Principal along with Ms. Harrison walked into the spotlight. “Thank you, Dirty Candy.”

“Now’s your chance, go talk to her.” Flynn smiled at Julie. “I’ll see you in music class!” Flynn 

walked off to find a seat.

“That was sweet!” Principal Lessa joked. She gave a few more announcements.

“What are you waiting for this is your time?” Reggie asked, pointing to the stage.

“Yeah. I mean, you look really nervous. Like yack in a bowl nervous.” Alex said giving her a look of concern. 

Julie frowned “I just don’t think we’ve had enough time to work on the song.”

“Julie, I wouldn’t have you two the song if I didn’t think you weren’t gonna rock it! Now there’s a piano on that stage with your name on it.”

“Julie, you got this,” said Anastasia gave Julie a big smile.

“Are you coming up with me?”

“About that....” Anastasia trails off pulling Julie aside away for the boys. “Julie, you know better than anyone. I can’t go up there looking like this and on top of that this is your moment. I don’t want to risk that for you. I know you can do this without me. If you get scared just look at me.”

Julie sighed. “I guess, Asia.” Julie walked off and went up to the stage. She slowly sat down at the piano with a microphone. Asia walked back over to the boys as the crowd began to leave the auditorium. Julie played a chord on the piano before stopping. She looked back up at Asia and the three boys next to her.

“You got this,” Luke encouraged.

Julie continued to play the intro of Bright on the piano, quickly a spotlight suddenly shined over her as Julie began to sing. “Sometimes I think I'm falling down, I wanna cry, I'm calling out, For one more try to feel alive”

“And when I feel lost and alone, I know that I can make it home, Fight through the dark and find the spark” The crowd had stopped walking out as they heard Julie sing. Asia, Reggie, and Alex looked at Luke as he was singing the lyrics along with Julie. “Life is a risk, but I will take it, Close my eyes and jump, Together, I think that we can make it, C'mon let's run”

Suddenly, the boys with their instruments and Anastasia appeared on the stage. Julie looked at the boys and then at Anastasia as she wasn’t in her dirty candy outfit. Anastasia was in black ripped jeans and a white top.  Anastasia's eyes widened as she looked at her clothes and the guys. Julie motioned for Asia to sing with her. Anastasia pulled the mic up to her mouth and began to sing with Julie.

“And rise through the night, you and I”

We will fight to shine together, bright forever”

Julie got up from the piano bench and moved over to Anastasia who was in the middle of the stage while the students gathered around on the floor. The girls looked over to the boys as they were shocked about the situation.

“And rise through the night, you and I, We will fight to shine together, bright forever”

Anastasia locked eyes with Luke. He was completely shocked that the crowd could see him. She slightly smiled and walked over to him.

“They can see us,” Luke breathed out. “Ana, They can see us.”

Anastasia bit her lip. “A little crazy right.” Luke smiled at her comment before rushing up to his microphone to sing his part. “In times that I doubted myself, I felt like I needed somе help, Stuck in my head with nothing left.”

Julie danced with Reggie and Anastasia dancing towards Alex as they were both smiling at each other with pure excitement.

“I feel somеthing around me now, So unclear, lifting me out, I found the ground I'm marching on”

Reggie walked over to Luke and shared a mic with him as they sang the pre-chorus together.

“Life is a risk, but we will take it., Close my eyes and jump, Together, I think that we can make it, C'mon let's run”

Anastasia quickly ran over to Julie. As both of them sang the chorus along with Luke. “And rise through the night, you and I, We will fight to shine together, bright forever, And rise through the night, you and I, We will fight to shine together, bright forever”

“In times that I doubted myself” Luke sang. Anastasia walked over to Luke and held the microphone up to his face, with a smile on her face as they walked back to the middle of the stage. “I felt like I needed some help, Stuck in my head with nothing left”

“And when I feel lost and alone, I know that I can make it home, Fight through the dark” Anastasia pointed the microphone back towards her as Luke played next to her.

She stopped singing to let Julie have her big moment. “And find the spark!” 

While Julie held the note Anastasia and the boys joined together for the chorus again while Alex sang to echoes. “And rise (rise) through the night (throught the night), you and I (you and I), We will fight to shine together (we will shine together) bright forever (bright forever), And rise (rise) through the night (throught the night), you and I (you and I), We will fight to shine together (we will shine together), bright forever.” 

Julie and Anastasia held the last note out together. When they finished the crowd began cheering. Anastasia, Julie, and the boys bowed. As they finished bowing the crowd gasped and the two girls turned around and noticed that the boys disappeared from the stage. Julie looked at her with a confused look on her face. They’re gonna have a lot of trouble trying to explain this.

——————𖠄———————

A/N:I hope you guys in enjoyed this part it did take my a while but im hoping that next part won’t take me so long to do.

@lovepizza-cake11​ @tuttigunner​ @oi-itsemily​ @spoiler-alert-im-not-straight​ @kaitieskidmore1​ @taehyungsrealgucciwife​ @sarahslaseman121600​ @thesweetestsinner​

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #reggie jatp #jatp luke #jatp imagine #jatp fanfic #luke patterson #jatp alex #willex #carrie wilson #jatp flynn #julie molina #luke patterson imagine #alex jatp #carrie jatp #flynn jatp #luke jatp #charlie gillespie #madison reyes #owen joyner #jatp reggie #charlie gillespie imagine #jeremy shada #trevor wilson #caleb covington #sunset curve #julie and the fat ones #jatp caleb #savannah lee may #luke patterson x reader

[rjhpandapaws]

Secure the Stage

Ch 3: Playing with Fire.

His plan to help Silas as often as possible fell apart almost right out of the gate. It crumbled under the weight of the culmination of things Allen had left unaccounted for, starting with the fact that it was based around his schedule. He worked full time and took night classes. Silas was a full time day student, worked part time at Forever 21, and whatever time wasn’t spent at those places was spent at the theater. Which would have been fine, if they both weren’t busy when Silas had time to spend at the theater. Allen had gotten used to stealing short conversations if his break lined up with one of Silas’s smoke breaks. Allen had learned a few things about Silas in those stolen moments. Silas didn’t typically say much about himself, but when he let too much slip he would stiffen up and curl in on himself like he was trying to hide from it. Allen learned not to ask about personal things; if Silas had something he was comfortable with Allen knowing he would share it. His favorite thing though, was when Silas would talk about the theater. HIs carefully crafted mask would fall away, he would light up and lose himself in the moment. It was something Allen was relatively sure only a few people got to see, so he cherished it. Being around Silas was surprisingly easy. There was just something about him that pulled people in, even when he clearly had one of his masks on. It was his first time around someone who was closed off and distant without being cold or rude about it. The odd thing about it was that everyone around Silas seemed to believe that they knew him well even if they didn’t. Honestly neither did Allen. There was just something in the way Silas was that allowed people to feel that way.

When Allen arrived at the station in the morning he found the side entrance and blocked open with the doorstop. The sight had him a little on edge, the theater wasn’t booked for anything until rehearsal in the afternoon. There wasn’t anything out of place, but as he got closer to the auditorium he could hear singing. It was Silas. Which was also abnormal given that it was eight in the morning on a Monday. He entered the auditorium to find Silas sitting on a blue work tarp in the middle of the stage surrounded by set pieces and buckets of paint Music was playing through the sound system so he found safe to assume Silas had his phone hooked up it. Allen used the side stairs to get to the stage and made his way toward the other brunette. Silas didn’t notice him until his shadow fell across the tarp. He jumped and scrambled to pause the music, smearing wet paint over his jeans in the process. “Hey.” Silas said with a smile, and when he looked up at Allen there was a smear of yellow paint on his cheek, “What’s up?” “Hey.” Allen parroted as he surveyed the barely contained mess of props, set pieces and paint. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” “Classes are online for the time being. There was a fire on campus over the weekend so they have to rebuild things.” He gestured to the mess with paint stained hands, “I picked up a couple of extra shifts at work, but the rest of my time is going to be spent here.” Allen had heard about the fire from the news but hadn’t connected it with the college of performing arts that Silas attended, “That sucks. I’m sorry about your school.”

Silas gave a noncommittal shrug, “It’s just a building, and no one was hurt so things should be back to business as usual in a few months.” Allen was honestly a bit surprised at how nonchalant Silas seemed to be about this, “That’s one way to look at it I suppose.” He was trying to keep off the tarp since he had his work shoes on and noticed Silas was barefoot, “So you have a key to the side door then?” “Kinda.” Silas answered vaguely, and for curiosity’s sake Allen motioned for him to continue. “This place is pretty old, and that door in particular is pretty picky. So unless you have the deadbolt turned just the right way it doesn’t lock. It’ll look locked though; one stiff push from the outside and you’re in.” Allen wasn’t gonna say it out loud, but that was pretty impressive. Silas seemed to know this old building pretty well. Which given the amount of time he spent here, shouldn’t have been as surprising as it was, “So you broke in.” “If you want to get technical about it, sure.” Silas objected dismissively, “Though personally I only use that term if I have to use the fire escape or the delivery entrance to get inside.” “Why not just wait for someone to let you in.” That seemed easier in Allen’s opinion. “Because nobody gets here until like eight.” He remarked as he reached for the paint brush again, smearing more wet paint up his arm, “I get here at six. Seven if I take a cab.” “Does the owner know?” He asked. “James? Yeah. Why do you think I know the code to the security system?” He picked up the set piece he had been working on and got back to painting.

Allen realized two things in rabid succession in that moment; he’d forgotten to disarms the security system, and apparently Silas had beat him to it anyway, “Well, I should be getting to work then.” Silas lifted his free hand in an absent wave and didn’t look up as Allen left, “I’ll be here if you get bored.” The same music as before came to life as he got to the doors to the main lobby. He decided he would give the rest of the building a once over before he headed to the surveillance room. Other than finding the concession stand open and a sticky note on the turned on coffee machine that said ‘Help yourself :)’ which hadn’t been there the day before, nothing was wrong. He poured himself some, added his usual amounts of cream and sugar, and headed to the surveillance room. This was the part of his job that he disliked the most because it was so boring. In the afternoon when things were a bit more lively, there would be someone else back here and he would be able to walk around. Silas was the other other person at the theater so there wasn’t much to see. He passed the hours by alternating between scrolling through his phone and checking the cameras. He was scrolling through his phone reading so he jumped slightly when he heard the door creak open. He looked up to find Silas peeking his head in. “I was gonna go and grab some food before everyone else got here this afternoon.” Silas started, and Allen was amused to find some more brightly colored paint on his face and some even streaked through his hair where he had pushed it out of his face. “Did you want anything?” “You might want to clean up a bit first. You’ve got paint all over your face.” Allen glanced at the time and stood with a slight groan, “I’ll take my lunch break and come with you. The person working the afternoon shift should be here soon.”

Silas out a hand to his cheek feeling over the paint that was there. It was dry so when he pulled his hand away nothing was on his fingers and he shrugged, “This stuff is a pain in the ass to get off so I’ll just shower when I get home.” Allen put his phone in his pocket and wrote out a quick note to whoever was coming in after him in case they weren’t back in time, “Alright. What are you in the mood for?” “Chinese.” Silas said as he moved back into the hall. Allen followed after him, catching the door before it closed. “There’s this place down the street; the outside doesn’t look like much; but the sweet and sour pork is to die for.” “I’ll take a word for it.” He said with a laugh. “Are we walking or driving?” “It’s pretty close, so probably walking if you don’t mind.” Silas said as he turned to go through the auditorium. Allen noticed he was still barefoot. “You might want to get some shoes on first though.” He remarked, “If you cut your feet up too much you won’t be able to perform.” “Motherfucker!” Silas shouted as he looked down at his feet. He turned to look at Allen, “One sec okay?” Allen watched him take a running leap onto the stage. He walked toward the right stage wing and came back with a pair of high-top converse. He sat on the edge of the  stage and put sock on and then his shoes, afterwards he hopped of the stage and walked toward Allen. “Alright. I’m ready.” They headed for the side door. Silas let him leave first and then did the trick with the lock before he left as well.

True to Silas’s description, Chinese Gardens didn’t look like much from the outside. Allen wouldn’t have known this was a restaurant if Silas hadn’t pointed it out. Silas got the door for him as they went inside and Allen hesitated a bit when he saw the lunch crowd. “Is takeout okay?” He asked, his lunch break wasn’t long enough to wait out a crowd like this. “Takeout is just fine.” Silas looked around the restaurant from where they stood. “I didn’t realize it was going to be this busy. We can just head to the counter and order and then when its up we’ll be on our way.” Allen stepped up to the counter to order. He chose the sweet and sour lunch combination and paid. Silas did the same and stood beside him as they waited. When they got back to the theater, the first thing Silas did was get out of his shoes and socks, then he joined Allen at the front of the stage to eat. “So this might be dumb to ask,” Allen stated and gestured to Silas using his chopsticks, “But why do you always have your shoes off? Every time I see you around here you’re barefoot.” “I’m just  more comfortable with them off.” He gestured to his feet with a slight smile, “If I’m not in an environment that strictly requires shoes I am gonna be barefoot.” Allen shook his head at that even though he was wearing a fond smile, “What happens if you step on something you shouldn’t? Like glass, or something?” “Pull it out and hope for the best.” Was the reply that he got, and it didn’t help his concerns at all.

They passed the rest of his lunch break with idle conversation. Allen tried asking about the play, but Silas kept tight lipped like usual. The only thing he gave freely was that they were ahead of schedule rehearsal wise. When his lunch break ended he stood to go open the main doors and get back to work since the practice would be starting soon. Any time that he was near the auditorium he would try and listen in on the rehearsal. Today wasn’t going all that great if the number of times he heard an exasperated “let’s take it from the top” come from Silas over the sound system. At the end of his shift he found himself making his way to the auditorium. What he found was Silas sitting outside the left stage wing dogging through his bag like his life depended on it. He was looking for something important it seemed. When he came away with what he was looking for he straightened up and let out a sound of victory. “What were you looking for?” Allen asked as Silas made his way to the edge of the stage and jumped off. “My lighter.” He remarked after he landed, “It was a gift, so I don’t want to lose it.” He made his way to the side door and turned back toward Allen, “I’m going out for a smoke break. Care to join me?” He gave that smile again, the one that disarmed Allen. It lit up Silas’s dark brown eyes and dared Allen to do something he might regret. “I don’t smoke but I wouldn’t mind joining you out there.” “I know you don’t smoke. You turn me down ever time I offer you one.” Silas remarked as they stepped outside.

Silas took a few steps away from him once they got outside. He pulled a black box of cigarettes out of his pants pocket followed by an engraved silver lighter. Allen watched him relax as he breathed in the smoke and then let it out a few moments later as a content sigh. He was curious where Silas had picked up the habit, but wasn’t sure how to ask without coming across like an ass. “So how was rehearsal?” He asked for the sake of making conversation. Silas groaned and took a long drag from the cigarette. he tipped his head back and let the smoke out in an upward plume. If anyone asked him, Allen would deny the fact that he traced the column of Silas’s throat with his eyes. he was pulled back to the conversation when the other brunette started speaking again. “Horrible.” He said with a sigh, “We’re far enough ahead of schedule that it didn’t actually hurt anything. It’s just frustrating you know? But that’s what I get for bragging I guess.” He held the cigarette between his lips and moved to sit on the short stone wall. He continued once he was situated, “I run my mouth to a few friends about how well things are going and then it all falls apart. Though its better that it happened now instead of on opening night I suppose.” Allen leaned back against the wall and rested his elbows on it, “You’ll do fine. I’ve only been here a couple of months, but from the things I’ve heard the plays you’re a part of always seem to do well.” Silas gave him a tight smile. That apparently hadn’t been the right thing to say. He took another drag and breathed out the smoke while he was speaking, “I they plays I’m in  do well. The ones I write and direct tend to fall through.”

“So you’re not in this one then?” He asked. “I am. I took two minor roles that no one auditioned for.” There was another pause as Silas took another puff from his cigarette. “I do a little talking and have about ten minutes of stage time.” “You do a lot here.” Allen remarked, “You do a lot of for this place; acting, writing, directing, building sets, painting them, and probably other things too. Why not just go to a better theater? You’d probably find more recognition that way.” Silas gestured to the side entrance like that would somehow make things more clear. “Don’t get me wrong, when I got into this in high school I was chasing the Broadway pipedream. When I got to college, my freshman year we had to do a project on local theaters and why they fail.” Another puff of smoke as Silas looked like he was getting lost in memoires, “I leaned just how many theaters like this one get shut down because no one cares, and I decided I wanted to keep that from happening.” This was one of those rare moments when Silas had all his walls down and was completely unguarded, and he didn’t seem to notice. “Established theaters are great for exposure which is great; but I want to grow a love of theater in other people. So here I am.” He snuffed out the butt of that cigarette and lit another one. Today must have been pretty rough, he usually stopped at one. He must have had an odd expression on his face when Silas turned to face him again. “What’s with that look?” Silas asked, “Its only my third one today. After this one I’ll head back in and we can clean up a bit.”

“I was just surprised. You normally only have one and then we head back inside.” Allen clarified. Silas just chuckled, “Today’s a two smoke kinda day. Its nice out and I have good company.” “I suppose that’s true.” He conceded. “You look like you want to give me a health lecture.” Silas remarked as he turned on the wall to face him, “My brother is a nursing student so I’ve probably heard it. But if it makes you fee better, I’ll listen.” Allen felt a little guilty, he needed to hide his concern better if he was being this obvious about it. “You sing, and a lot of the things you do rely on your voice.” He felt like he was only making this worse for himself, “I mean, you seem to love doing this and I’d hate to see you have to stop before you’re ready to.” “I am trying to quit.” Silas said conversationally, but his coffee eyes were guarded again. Allen must have said something wrong again. “Trying being the optimal word. I’ve gotten down to having three or four in a day, but I’ve never managed to actually stop. Every time I get to the point that trying to would go well, something else gets fucked up and I start all over again.” “So it’s a stress thing?” Allen asked. “Kinda. That’s what it started out as. I like to say I do it to clear my head or collect my thoughts, which is true, but I also smoke when I’m bored or anxious. Its devolved into an all the time thing. It keeps me busy and that’s why its such a fucking crutch.” He took another deep drag and let it out slowly, the tension that had built during their conversation hid frame as he did, “I’m trying to quit now too. I’m trying to keep under a pack a day now, and then once that’s successful I’ll work my way down from there and hope for the best. The usual.” He waved a hand dismissively. “I can, uh. If you want, I could give you my number. Then if you need a distraction you could call me instead.” He suggested, trying to keep casual about it, “We could talk or if its real bad I could come and hang out.”

Silas’s guard came down a little bit at that, “I’d appreciate that. Thank you Allen.” He held the cigarette between his lips again and checked his pockets for his phone. “Fuck.” He groaned when he came away with nothing, “It’s still in the fucking sound booth.” Allen took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Silas, “I’ll just send you a text and then you’ll have my number. Problem solved.” Silas nodded and took the offered phone. He had it for a moment and when he handed it back Theater Bitch <3 was his newest contact. Allen couldn’t help the smile that curled as his lips. “Nicknames huh?” He asked and Silas laughed. “Did you expect anything else of me?” Silas quipped back. Allen shook his head, “Not really no.” Silas put a hand over his heart in mock offense, “You are so rude to me. I provide you free entertainment and this is the thanks I get.” Allen laughed and rolled his eyes, “You are so dramatic.” “What part of Theater Bitch didn’t you get?” He joked as he snuffed out the half finished cigarette. he got down off the wall and threw the cigarette in the trash, “Let’s get the stage cleaned up.” Allen was privately glad that Silas hadn’t finished the second cigarette, “Alright. Let’s go.” Silas dusted off his bare feet when they got back inside. His phone was still playing music in the auditorium which reminded him he still had a text to send. He did that while Silas made his way to the stage wing to get the cleaning supplies.

Allen: Guess who Theater Bitch :)

Neither of them were ready for the sudden mash of piano keys  that was apparently Silas’s text tone to come over the speakers. Allen jumped and hear Silas yell “Oh fuck!” from the stage wing. When Silas came out of it he had the broom and dry mop. The tarp, paint, as well as all the things he had been painting looked like they had already been put away. That left them to breakdown the props from rehearsal, then sweep and mop. Allen used the stairs to get to the stage. “What do you need me to do?” He asked as Silas leaned the broom and dry mop against the wall. “Same as last time. We’ll breakdown sets and then I’ll do the rest on my own.” His tone was all business as he fell back into his work oriented mindset. Allen nodded and they worked in relative silence after that because there wasn’t much to say. Silas would get absorbed in his work and start singing along to whatever was playing. Silas would seem to become hyper aware of Allen’s presence and then stop abruptly, only to start again a little while later. The cycle continued until the cleaning was done and he had taken his phone out of the sound booth. The laugh he had let out when he saw the message from him was one of the highlights of Allen’s afternoon. Allen was about to speak when Silas cut him off, “Fuck. My ride is here, I’ve gotta go.” He grabbed his bag, tossed his shoes in it, and leapt off the stage. “I’ll text you later! See you tomorrow Al!” He booked it down the hall and Allen heard the side door slam behind him.

That at least answered one of his questions, Silas didn’t need a ride home today. He sighed and headed for his truck. He didn’t have classes this evening, so it was a go home and relax kind of night. His plans consisted of going home, making dinner, and then either playing his guitar or studying depending on what kind of mood he was in. When he was about halfway home his phone vibrated with a message, it was most likely Silas or one of his hook up apps. He wasn’t in the mood tonight so he hoped it was Silas, though he wouldn’t know until he got back to the house. One of his roommates had parked in his spot so he swore under his breath and parked on the street. His mood improved some when he saw he had a message from Silas rather than a notification from one of his “dating” apps.

Theater Bitch <3: Guess who :) Theater Bitch <3: Sorry for running out on you! I have a friend coming over and I needed to clean my apartment

Allen: You’re good. Have fun!

Theater Bitch <3: Thanks Theater Bitch <3: Will I be seeing you tomorrow?

Allen: Yup

Theater Bitch <3: Cool. Have a good night :)

Allen: You too

He was in a better mood when he got out of his truck and made his way inside. He took his shoes off by the door and made his way up to his room to change out of his uniform. Once he was in more comfortable clothes he grabbed a couple packs of ramen to cook and headed back downstairs.

With something that could be considered dinner made, and his roommates successfully dodged so far, he made his way  back up to his room. He turned on the tv so he would have some background noise while he ate. When he was done he switched from what he was watching over to music so he could study. He had just gotten settled in with his laptop when his phone vibrated again. he wasn’t expecting any messages, but checked it anyway on the off chance that it was something important. He found that Silas had sent a picture. Allen opened it and his eyebrows took a hike toward his hairline. Silas was in a t-shirt and thigh high socks. There was a band logo on the shirt, but Allen wouldn’t be able to say what band it was for because he was a little distracted. Silas had taken the picture in a full length mirror, and the hand that wasn’t holding the phone was lifting the hemline of the shirt in a way that made it clear there was nothing underneath it without giving anything else away. The caption came a few moments later.

Theater Bitch <3: Still coming over? <3

Allen had to blink a few times in an attempt to get his brain back online. He had personally planned to wait a little longer before he approached the topic, but if Silas was ready he wasn’t about to say no. He was working on his reply when Silas started sending messages again.

Theater Bitch <3: I am SO sorry! Theater Bitch <3: That was meant for a different friend! Theater Bitch <3: I just hit the most recent contact Theater Bitch <3: You can keep it if you want though <3 Theater Bitch <3: I wouldn’t be opposed to you staying the night ;) Theater Bitch <3: Just not tonight though

Allen: No problem Allen: I’ll think about it ;) Allen: Have fun and be safe.

Doing this was risky, he liked Silas. It wasn’t the first time he got a little too close to the fire; his last burn was still healing. He found himself saving the picture anyway. Silas didn’t seem to have an issue with casual sex. So long as neither of them got attached things would be fine. Good times didn’t come without some kind of risk. Allen found the thrill of playing with this flame too good to pass up. Burning to ash with him would be worth it.

#Secure the Stage #Sts #Hand Brewed Hope AU #HBH #implied bonks #dbh captain allen #captain allen #connor -60 #dbh rk800-60 #allen60

[cupcakefoggy]

Absent - Grindelgradence

My pinning ceremony for my nursing school graduation was cancelled due to COVID, then the virtual one was also cancelled and I’m crushed. Figured I’d check in on my new OT3 and see if they’re handling disappointment any better than I would...

It’s a hot, messy August night and Credence doesn’t care, he’s so excited he could almost scream. He changes hastily in the bathroom at work, button-down shirt and crisp tie underneath his lab coat. This is the most important day of his life...well. After his wedding day, he thinks with a smile, touching the thin gold band on his left hand. He can’t wait for Gellert and Percy to see him right now.

There’s a reception before the actual ceremony. He waits by the punch bowl, texts them both three or four times. He blames New York traffic when he hasn’t yet caught sight of his husbands by the time the procession begins. The new students parade into the auditorium. Credence takes his place on stage. With the lights in his eyes, he can’t see if his partners have made it or not.

The ceremony begins. The students receive their coveted NYU patches on the shoulders of their lab coats and recite the Nightingale pledge by artificial candlelight.. He swears if he listens hard enough during the closing remarks he can hear Gellert’s low, rumbling laugh in the crowd, but no one comes to greet him after the ceremony. He waits, twenty minutes, thirty, forty. Every time the auditorium doors swing open or the reception hall door slams he looks up, but he never sees either one of them, and every time his heart breaks just a little more. His friends ply him with sympathy, offer to take him out with their families. 

No. He doesn’t want their families, he wants his. They have to be here. They promised they’d be here. He feels spoiled and mean for being disappointed right now, his heart hammering against his ribs, disappointment warring with self-disgust. You greedy little boy, his mother’s voice hisses in his head, a stark contrast to the fantasy of his husbands engulfing him in a hug before they take him to his favorite restaurant for a celebratory dinner.

The keynotes speaker, the head of the school of nursing, is last to leave; sees Credence standing there in his lab coat and patch, gently asks if he needs a ride. That’s when Credence gives up and decides it’s time to go home.

He takes the subway home, wondering the whole time how this happened. Percy is organized to the point of actual paranoia and Gellert never misses an opportunity to brag about him (and embarrass him) in public. How could they have forgotten? He looks down at the patch on his shoulder and he’s morbidly thankful for the New Yorker tendency to ignore anything that’s not your own personal business, because it means no one on the subway cares that he’s crying his eyes out. 

He remembers the day he came home with a flawless report card, must’ve been in fifth grade, and his mother burned it, telling him don’t take so much pride in worldly accomplishments. Is that, he wonders now, what they’re trying to tell him? Is this Gellert and Percy’s way of reminding him you’re not special, we’re done babying you, hundreds of thousands of kids your age go to nursing school, we’re not going to throw you a damn parade? He cries, hard but nearly silent, and soaks the sleeve of his lab coat drying his tears as he gets off the subway and walks the last few blocks to their apartment.

He gets home and finds that the lights are all off, save the tiny one over the stove in the kitchen...which is a mess, with dishes piled high in the sink, flour and sugar dusted over the counter, milk spilled on the floor. Credence’s heart melts when he sees the cake on the counter: two square tiers, frosted in NYU’s signature purple and white, a border of little sugar stethoscopes and red crosses surrounding the words Congratulations, Credence! written in Percy’s flawless cursive. He doesn’t have to smell or taste it to know it’s his favorite flavor, strawberry lemonade.

Disappointment turns to worry. They didn’t forget. Something is wrong, then, and Credence has a pretty good idea of what it is. He runs to the bedroom and finds the lights mostly off here, too. Gellert looks up when he enters the room. There’s a bundle of blankets lying beside him with its head in his lap. Gellert is slowly, gently stroking said blanket bundle and Credence doesn’t have to ask, but Gellert tells him anyway: “I’m so sorry, mein schatz. It was a really bad one this time...”

Credence doesn’t waste a minute. He shucks his lab coat, drops his bag to the floor and crawls up onto the bed on the other side of the blanket bundle and carefully rests a hand on the trembling back of it. "I’m here, Percy,” he says softly. “I’m right here. It’s okay. We’re all safe.”

The blanket-bundle only shakes harder, and Gellert joins in. “We’re both here now, whenever you’re ready to come out,” he tells Percy soothingly. It takes perhaps another half hour of gentle reassurance before Percy emerges from the blanket-bundle with red swollen eyes, and Credence feels his heart break all over again.

“I’m sorry,” is the first thing Percy says to him, followed by, “I made you a cake?” As if Credence requires an offering in order to grant benediction.

Credence lies down beside Percy, slides one arm under his neck and wraps the other around his waist, drawing him in close. “I saw the cake,” he says as he strokes Percy’s hair. “I love it. It’s perfect.”

Percy relaxes against him, hearing the unspoken I understand, I still love you in his words. On his other side Gellert lies down too, and wraps one arm around them both. He mouths flashback at Credence; Credence had long worked that out but he acknowledges it with a tiny nod.

“I’m sorry,” Percy says again, and his shoulders shake as he repeats, sounding as if someone is choking him, ��I’m so fucking sorry, I lost time, I don’t know what happened. You must be so furious with me, sweetheart, I’m so--”

“Sh-h-h. It’s okay. You’re okay.” Credence holds him close, tucks Percy’s head under his chin; nothing soothes Percy more during a panic attack than being able to hear the sound of his husbands’ heartbeats. “You’re safe,” he tells Percy softly. Gellert snuggles up behind him, letting Percy feel that he is surrounded on all sides by people who would do anything for him. “Half the families didn’t even come,” he lies. “It wasn’t that big a deal. It’s not like graduation or anything.”

Gellert’s eyes meet his and Credence knows that Gellert, at least, knows he’s lying. But it doesn’t matter. Percy seems to take comfort in it, and that’s all he cares about. He knows Percy will want to make it up to him. Credence will let him. They’ll celebrate tomorrow, and any remaining traces of disappointment will be swept away like cake crumbs off the coffee table. But right now this isn’t about him, Credence thinks. Right now, Percy needs him.

Percy drifts to sleep in his arms and Gellert waits until then to ask him in a whisper, “Are you all right? Do we need to talk?” Credence shakes his head. The hurt has long disappeared. He knows they would have been there if they could. Percy can’t control what triggers his panic attacks or flashbacks any more than Credence can control what sets off his own anxiety, and he doesn’t break down like this very often. Something happened, and they’ll need to talk about that later, but right now all he cares about is that Percy is asleep, breathing slow and deep and even, and now Gellert is smiling at him, the pride shining through his eyes visible even in the dim light.

“You’re going to make such a fantastic nurse,” Gellert tells him, leaning across Percy’s sleeping form to drop a kiss on the temple of Credence’s head. He feels the place where Gellert’s lips touch his skin, feels Percy’s breath against his neck, and this, he thinks, is all he needs.

#grindelgradence #grindelgraves #gravebone #gradence #fanfic #fantastic beasts and where to find them #modern AU #credence barebone #ezra miller #gellert grindelwald #mads mikkelsen #percival graves #colin farell #panic attacks #disappointment #college AU #heartbreak #fix it #ot3 #credence/gellert/percival

[skzsauce01]

In Fair Verona︱Chapter 10

Synopsis: Jisung knows he is the Romeo to your Juliet. He could wax poetry about you all throughout rehearsal and even a little after. Except Hwang Hyunjin is the one playing Romeo in the school play, not him. Jisung is just another tech crew member that you don’t know, but he’s determined to win your heart... by any means necessary.

Warning: violent thoughts

Word Count: 3.2k

Pairing: fem!reader x Jisung; fem!reader x Hyunjin

updates every Wednesday and Sunday @ 11 PM PST︱chapter list

Two household, both alike in dignity

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Opening night has arrived. Tech crew’s call time is 5:30 PM, and Jisung pulls into the parking lot just a few minutes later. The late afternoon sun is low in the sky, and he has to squint through the light when he runs up the steps to the auditorium. The entrance leading to the lobby is predictably locked, but he doesn’t have time to take the long way. He peers through the tiny window and sees nobody in the immediate vicinity. He pounds against the heavy metal door, hoping someone hears him. When no one shows up, he growls to himself and texts the tech group chat. No answers. Seconds later, you appear, walking by with a box of programs. He doesn’t want your help, but he doesn’t want to get a verbal lashing for being late either. Jisung hits the door again, and you almost drop the box.

“Y/N!” he shouts. “Open!”

With wide eyes, you quickly push open the door for him with the side of your body and go back to place down the programs. You’re dressed in the same shirt he is. While he normally would be delighted at this coincidence, he’s repulsed now, knowing that you stabbed him in the back a mere twenty-four hours ago. You don’t say hello to him, and he doesn’t either.

“Thanks,” he roughly says, avoiding eye contact with you.

You don’t say a single word back.

He swings open the door to the auditorium with more force than necessary, and it knocks against the metal trash can. He’s greeted by a song with a thumping bass and Chan’s rapping.

“What’s happening?” Jisung asks no one in particular. He’s glad that he hasn’t missed anything though. He settles down in a seat in front of the soundboard and watches different colored lights flash across the cyclorama. A couple of silhouetted bodies dance on stage.

“Felix found out two of the actors are dancers,” Changbin replies. “Chan wanted to play his new song, and Jeongin just went along with it.”

Jisung nods, but he doubts Changbin notices in the darkness anyway. Jisung himself can’t make out who’s who. Another figure later appears on stage and shouts in Mr. Gi’s voice, “What are you guys doing?”

The lightshow stops, and the music volume drops to a whisper. Felix, Hyunjin, and the guy playing Mercutio pause in the middle of their dance off. Hyunjin’s smirk is starting to slide off his face, and Jisung feels the sudden urge to drag the corners of his mouth down with barbed hooks. He would look a lot better if he had a perpetual frown.

Felix hesitantly offers, “Sound and light check?”

Mr. Gi lets out a short laugh before turning serious. “We’re going to run through tech now.”

Everyone springs into their usual positions, while the two actors return to wherever they were before. Jisung gives Hyunjin a sufficiently long glare as he walks out the side door. The real sound and light check then begins. Occasionally, the floor crew is needed to set up the stage and to practice for blackouts. Jisung envies Seungmin, who is assistant tech director. He gets to relax for the night.

Before the main doors open, pictures are taken, one of cast, one of crew, and one of everyone involved. Jisung doesn’t miss the fact that Hyunjin has an arm slung around you and that you’re twisting the silver ring on his finger. He looks around and, to his disbelief, discovers that no one cares. The very people surrounding the two of you are busy adjusting their hair and clothes while waiting for the parent volunteer to take the photo.

“3, 2, 1!”

Jisung snaps back to the camera with thinly veiled irritation. Another picture is taken, and the brittle smile he has on is threatening to break. There are calls for a funny picture, and while he normally would be excited, he wants to get away from you and Hyunjin’s public displays of affection. In the next picture, he and Changbin give each other bizarre looks and shoot finger guns at each other, while you and Hyunjin reenact one of your fake endings to Romeo and Juliet.

Disgusting.

During the play, Jisung does his best to stay attentive to Felix and Changbin’s calls. He’s more talkative in the comms now that he realizes what a waste of time the last two weeks were pining after you. He jokes with his friends, and he’s happier than he's been in days. He learns that the stage kisses are now real kisses, and Hyunjin doesn’t bother obscuring the action. Both the crew and the audience cheer loudly when they see it.

During your costume change, he boldly watches you shimmy out of your dress and observes your protruding spine when you bend down to pick up the fallen garment. If he throws one of the metal counterweights from the fly rail system at you, he thinks, you would drop dead.

So would any other person, but he gets a certain thrill when he pictures Hyunjin finding your crumpled up body on the floor. It’s all Hyunjin’s fault anyway. He would get what he deserved.

Strangely — well, maybe not — Jisung actually enjoys the play now. The death scene, which hurt him to watch before, is his favorite part. It’s a fitting ending, you and Hyunjin dying together after all the casualties you caused. He feels vindicated. When the main curtain comes down, he’s almost disappointed.

There’s a crowd of lingering people in the audience after the show ends and when the post-show music starts playing. While you and Hyunjin take (more) pictures with each other, your friends, and families after the show, Jisung once again sits in the row in front of the soundboard, taking in everything happening. Your friends have signs and flower bouquets, and you happily receive them all. Hyunjin momentarily disappears before coming back with a dozen roses for you.

“Romeo’s got game,” Seungmin, who has taken over photography duty, lowly whistles. He picks up his camera and snaps a photo.

Jisung grits his teeth and doesn’t say a single word. You place a shocked hand over your mouth before shyly kissing him on the cheek. There’s another click of the camera.

“They’re dating,” Ryujin announces.

“How do you know?” Seungmin asks. “And why didn’t we know about this news?”

“Yeji told me today when we were getting lunch, and it’s none of your business anyway,” she shrugs. “But it’s been pretty obvious they’ve been crushing on each other since rehearsal started.”

“Who’s Yeji?” Jeongin interrupts.

“Lady Montague, looks like Hyunjin?”

“Who’s Hyunjin?”

“Romeo?” she answers incredulously. “It’s been two weeks!”

“I sit back here and turn the lights on and off!”

While they bicker, the audience members still around slowly start leaving. You wave goodbye to your friends and promise to meet your parents in the lobby after you’re done. The ushers begin walking through the aisles to check for trash, and the actors go to the dressing room to change out of costume. Then Mr. Gi gives out the tech notes for the night.

There’s only a few critiques, and Jisung is satisfied that Felix can’t rib him for any mistakes. While notes are ongoing, you hand back two mic packs to Chan, explaining that one of them is Hyunjin’s. Jisung notices that you’re wearing the jacket you supposedly returned to Hyunjin. It’s unzipped and hangs loosely on your frame. It could have been his jacket there. Another shred of anger rips through him, and he looks away, no longer gritting his teeth but grinding. You prance to the classroom, and he hopes one of the lights falls from its fixture and lands you in the hospital.

After notes are finished, the tech director congratulates them all on a job well done, and they’re all free to leave. It’s late, and Jisung’s excited to go home. He spots your parents milling around the lobby, making awkward small talk with the drama students selling grams. You’re almost a carbon copy of your mother, down to the way her eyes widen when a new person enters the room. He politely smiles, and she returns the gesture like you would have last week. It’s another reminder of what he could have had.

He’s on autopilot the drive home. He rolls at least two stop signs, but there’s luckily no one around in those four way streets. He has an unfinished plan in his mind, and he desperately needs it to be complete. It was previously tailored for Hyunjin, so he makes a few adjustments to include you.

The rest of the night he spends researching online. The glow of his screen illuminates his face in the darkness and reflects off of his bluelight glasses. His back hurts from being hunched over for three hours, but his scheme is ready. As he shuts down his laptop, he stretches, enjoying the tension released from his shoulders and mind. He’ll sleep well tonight, very well.

—

The second show is the day after opening night on Saturday. This time Jisung arrives a solid twenty minutes before his call time. He’s been in a good mood all day; he woke up refreshed and energized, and he even made a quick trip to the local flower shop to buy a beautiful blue monkshood plant for his mother. He takes the long way to the auditorium, knowing that he’s likely the first tech crew member to arrive.

He passes by the green room and spots you eating dinner alone. There are other actors and extras nearby, but you’re sitting at a center table, scooping fried rice into your mouth. How pathetic. He can hear a sword fighting scene being rehearsed on stage, and he’s certain Hyunjin’s part of it. He wonders why you aren’t cheering on your Prince Charming. Surely, you like him more than your terrible, burnt rice. The old Jisung would have jumped at the opportunity to be around you, but the enlightened Jisung strides to the stage, unaffected by your charms.

He’s proud of himself. He feels no rush of rage when he sees you anymore, and when he sees Hyunjin stab Tybalt with a wooden sword, he’s calm. He walks to the back of the auditorium, where Chan has his own headphones on and Felix is furiously tapping his phone screen.

“You guys are here early,” Jisung remarks, taking Jeongin’s chair.

“Nothing better... to do,” Felix mumbles, clearly concentrated on whatever game he’s playing.

Chan is engrossed in his own world, bobbing his head to the music and drumming his fingers across the board. Jisung leans back in his seat and checks Hyunjin’s Instagram. As he expects, his latest post is a photo of you and him from last night. You hold the roses he gave you, and he has an arm around your waist. The caption simply reads, “Opening night.” Satisfied with his findings, Jisung turns back to the stage, where the actors are starting their fight from the beginning again.

As time goes on, he loses interest, and more of the crew starts arriving. Jisung later waits in the lobby, opening doors for anyone too lazy to take the long way around. He’s reading gardening forum posts about monkshood when you and one of the house managers come by with more programs, predicting how packed it will be tonight. He glances up momentarily before deciding to ignore you. He can’t help but feel a tiny bit of resentment when you try to meet his eye. Where was all that a few days ago?

“Hi, Jisung,” you cautiously greet, seemingly trying to dissolve the tension between the two of you. You still have that scared deer look though.

While the house manager gives him a curt nod and then disappears into the auditorium, you linger around.

“Hey,” he replies and leaves it at that. He’s over you, and he doesn’t want any reason to come crawling back.

“Opening night went well.”

“Yeah.”

“How many people do you think will come tonight? I think at least a hundred.”

“I don’t know.”

You try to continue the conversation — though it barely qualifies as one — and Jisung shuts down every attempt you make. He doesn’t want you anymore, not after you strung him along with your jokes and smiles and then ran off into the sunset with Hyunjin.

There’s a knock on the door, and he absentmindedly opens it for Yugyeom, who’s out of breath from running up the stairs.

“Thanks,” he manages to get out. “Have we started yet?”

“I think we’re about to,” Jisung answers. “Bye, Y/N.”

He opens the auditorium doors for Yugyeom and lets it swing shut after him before you have the opportunity to slip inside.

Fine. Maybe he’s still a little angry at you, but it would be insane to think that he would be completely over you after all the interactions he’s had with you.

He follows Yugyeom to stage right. While sound and lights are being tested, the floor crew waits patiently in the wings. Ryujin slides the hangers across the rack, counting the number of costumes, and Yugyeom makes sure all the props are in order. With nothing better to do, Jisung stands by him and watches as he rearranges the items on the table. He sees two chemistry tube looking containers, and he can’t help but reach for them.

“Do they actually drink this?” Jisung asks as he picks up a clear vial filled with green liquid. “And what is this?”

“Just colored water,” he shrugs. “And yeah, they drink it. Hyunjin asked if I could change it every day since he and Y/N use it as a water break on stage. He said Ms. Park was okay with it.”

Jisung remembers the vial Hyunjin drinks from in the death scene. He grimaces as he sets down the container, suddenly feeling contaminated.

“Water, but not coffee or something?”

Yugyeom shrugs again. “He said water. And also, water is free.”

“But not food coloring.”

“Ms. Park asked the culinary class for some. Wanna help me change out the water?”

Jisung looks around and sees that Changbin is scrolling through his phone, eyes glazed over, tuned out of what’s happening despite wearing a headset. “Sure. It’s not like I have anything better to do.”

Jisung and Yugyeom take the vial of poison and Juliet’s sleeping draught. Apparently, you used that as a water break as well. Though Yugyeom asked him to help, Jisung does nothing but observe. It’s not like he needs the aid either; all he has to do is dump the water in the bushes, refill from a water fountain, and stir in a few drops of food coloring. The sleeping potion is a midnight blue, while the poison is a murky green. Neither look particularly appetizing, and he wonders how anyone would be able to drink either without feeling sickened.

When they return to the stage, Jisung goes back to his usual spot and continues waiting. In the meantime, he resumes reading about monkshood. Apparently, their roots are especially toxic.

The show that night goes well. He doesn’t know the exact number of audience members, but when he peeked past the curtain before the show began, he saw that at least half the seats were filled. During the death scene, Jisung pays close attention. Hyunjin’s back faces him, so he doesn’t know if he actually did drink it. He does get a good look at you, and he sees you kiss Hyunjin squarely on the lips with no hesitation.

At the end of the night, he waits by the soundboard for all the audience members to leave before tech notes can begin. The main cast stays around, talking to people they know and taking pictures with them. You don’t get any flowers this time, but a random girl with adoring eyes gives Hyunjin yellow and pink roses. There’s not a hint of jealousy on your face, and Jisung feels strangely irked by that. Hyunjin accepts the flowers sheepishly and shyly introduces her to you, his co-star and girlfriend. The girl’s expression falls, and Jisung empathizes with her. He’s been there before.

Seungmin’s snapping pictures, and he takes one of Hyunjin holding the flowers. “A potential love triangle?”

“No way,” Ryujin replies. “Hyunjin’s head over heels for Y/N.”

“Y/N’s Juliet, right?” Jeongin asks. Ryujin opens her mouth, but he cuts her off. “Right. She is.”

Felix chimes in, “Minho said that Hyunjin’s totally in love with her. They are cute together.”

The old Jisung would be outraged by those statements from his friends, but the new Jisung agrees with those remarks. Even he has to admit that the two of you make a pretty picture together. You and Hyunjin perfectly deserve to be with each other for the rest of your lives.

“Who’s Minho?” Jeongin expectedly asks.

“Mercutio,” Felix answers. “The other guy in the dance off yesterday.”

The gossip dies down when they notice you and Hyunjin heading over with your mics. Chan strikes up a discussion about the cast and crew dinner after the last show next week, and everyone immediately gets excited. Chan takes the mic packs from you two, and Hyunjin sticks around for a bit. He murmurs something to you, and you nod before leaving. Jisung doesn’t miss the nervous look in his direction, like you’re trying to work up the nerve to approach him. Jisung snaps his stare away.

“It’s at District 9 this time,” Jisung says, taking care to not include him. Hyunjin could have you, but he’s not going to let you take away his friends, too.

Chan groans. “Again? Their food sucks.”

“What’s at District 9?” Hyunjin says.

“Oh, right. I keep forgetting you’re new since you’re the lead. The cast and crew dinner. We all go to a restaurant and eat together after the final show,” Felix explains. “We usually go to District 9. Their food’s okay.”

“Their food sucks,” Chan echos.

“It’s not that bad,” Jisung counters. “You ate everything on your plate last time.”

“Because I was hungry! And because Jeongin ate my snack!”

“You let me have it!”

A side conversation starts up, and Hyunjin stands awkwardly at the side, not understanding the references and inside jokes. It’s petty, but Jisung wants Hyunjin to hurt as much as possible before next week when he won’t ever have the opportunity again. Mr. Gi finally finishes chatting with a colleague of his and starts tech notes. Hyunjin looks relieved to have an excuse to leave.

Notes are short, given that it’s a Sunday night and that they did well overall. They’re reminded that they have two more shows next weekend before they’re dismissed for the night. Jisung, feeling drained by all that’s happened, silently cheers before walking out to his car through the main doors.

Under the yellow streetlights, he sees you hold hands with Hyunjin as you make your way to his car. Hyunjin laughs at something you say and tucks one of the pink flowers from his fangirl into your hair so tenderly, Jisung has to look away.

Hyunjin is so in love with you, and you with him. It sickens Jisung to his core, but he has a remedy for this illness.

~ ad.gray

#stray kids #skz #han jisung #hwang hyunjin #stray kids han #stray kids hyunjin #stray kids au #theatre au #high school au #stray kids scenarios #stray kids imagines #stray kids fanfiction #skz scenarios #skz imagines #skz fanfic #stray kids x reader #yandere #20200920

[i-am-a-closet-fanfic-fiend]

Stardust and Starfish ~ Chris Beck x Reader

A/N: Hi my lovelies! I hope you’re all doing well in these crazy times. I hope you are staying safe and healthy.I apologize for the radio silence. I’ve had a lot going on, and I haven’t been able to really write anything. But I’m trying to chug along, and I’m focusing on finishing out my WIPs, so hopefully I’ll have more to share with you soon. 

Without any further ado, this is a fic for my Whippersnapper Daughter @captainscanadian​ ‘s CBC 1K Writing Challenge, which I was supposed to complete a million years ago, but I didn’t quite manage it. So here you are love, I hope you enjoy. This is my first time writing Chris Beck. I’ve never seen the Martian. I literally only know that he’s a fluffy space nerd (at least based on fics), so hopefully this is okay. 

Enjoy!

Prompt:  “Hey we kissed once in kindergarten but I haven’t seen you since and I couldn’t remember why you were so familiar.”

Rating: T 

Warnings: Language, I think that’s it. 

Word Count: 3251

Ahh graduation. A time of endings. A time of beginnings. A time for throwing caution out the window and kissing boy you’ve had a crush on all year.

You were clutching your diploma as you dodged around the other graduates looking for one classmate in particular. You finally spotted him munching on a handful of goldfish by the refreshment table.

“Hi, Rocket!”

“Hi, Bubbles!”

“Oh there you kids are. Come on. Get close. We need a picture.”

“Smile, Chris!” his dad coaxed before shuffling the two of you together.

“Big smiles!”

You each threw an arm around the other grinning wildly.

“Say, I’m ready for first grade.”

“I’m ready for first grade!” you both chorused.

“Well, we should get going. We’ll go get your stuff. Say goodbye to Chris, sweetie.”

“Okay, Mom!”

You hugged him tight.

“I just wanted to say that I really like you and I really like your book of stars.”

“Thanks! I really like your book about the ocean!” He grinned, blue eyes lighting up.

Before you could chicken out you leaned forward and pecked him on the lips like you’d seen your mom do with your dad whenever she said goodbye.

Chris squeaked in surprise and went rigid and red as a tomato. Before either of you could say anything your mom returned with your backpack.

“Y/n, honey, time to go.”

“Okay. Bye, Chris! Have fun at camp! See you next year.”

“See you,” he waved absent-mindedly, still wide-eyed.  

“Come on, we’re gonna be late,” your best friend whined as she waited for you to finish feeding your starfish.

“We’ll be fine. The talk doesn’t start until five.”

“It’s four-fifty.”

“Seriously? Shit okay. This is the last tank.”

You tossed in the mix of their food, scrubbed your hands before following AJ out of the lab.

You raced to the auditorium halfway across the campus, grateful for the reserved seats Casey had promised you. You looked around for the postdoc in question once you’d settled in, and you spotted her at the edge of the stage chatting with the distinguished speaker, Dr. Chris Beck.

“You’re staring,” AJ whispered. “Are you crushing on the guest speaker too?”

”He just seems really familiar,” you muttered back, squinting.  

“I mean he has been all over the news for the past few years.”

“No, it’s like I’ve met him before.”

“Maybe you saw him during your sting at Yale?”

“Maybe,” you shrugged.

You weren’t totally convinced but it made the most sense, even though you were pretty sure that your times didn’t overlap.

Before you could think too much more about it, the dean of the medical school started introducing him. Not that he needed it.

You, and nearly everyone else, were completely captivated by Dr. Beck. When it was announced at the end of the talk that Dr. Beck would be taking the equivalent of a sabbatical at the university and teaching a short seminar series starting in the Spring the excitement was palpable.

“I can’t believe astro-hottie is joining the faculty,” AJ giggled.

“I know right. That’s going to be fun.”

The crowd was slow to exit the auditorium, and you were surrounded by excited chatter.

“So do you want food first or should we try to score an intro?”

“Food. I’m sure he’ll be swarmed for a while. Besides, Casey is his host, I’m sure she’ll get us a chance to talk to him.”

“Perks of being friends with astrophysics postdocs.”

“True.”

After the formal dinner with the grad students and postdocs, Chris was enjoying himself so much that some of them continued the evening at a pub just down the road from the campus. He had been happily listening his company discuss some of his more interesting results when he happened to notice you walk in. You had changed into a short black dressed and donned a deep blue leather jacket against the cold.

Casey noticed his distraction and silently cheered. Clearly the newest faculty member was interested in her friend, and judging by your reaction to him at the reception you were interested as well, so she excused herself to join you at the bar.

“Hey, Case. How’s it going?” You greeted her.

“Good. Didn’t expect to see you two here tonight.”

“We were supposed to go to the new restaurant down the street, but they lost our reservation,” AJ explained.

“So, we decided to keep it low key,” you continued.  

“Gotcha. Well, do you want to join us?”

“Who’s us?”

“A few of the ones who went to dinner and Chris.”

She glanced over her shoulder and you and AJ followed her line of attention.

“Oh, so it’s Chris now?” you smirked, though it faltered when he caught your eye and smiled.

“He told us to. He’s really chill actually. You should come hang out,” she pressed.

“We’d love to,” AJ answered for you.

“Great. Grab your drinks and come over.”

She happily flounced back to the table, rejoining the conversation.

“AJ,” you hissed.

“What? Are you gonna tell me you don’t want to hang out with hunky space doctor you made goo goo eyes at all afternoon?”

“I did not make goo goo eyes at him.”

Your best friend rolled her eyes.  

“Yes you did. Y/n, come on. Live a little. It’s just a few beers with a bunch of grad students.”  

You looked at them, listening intently as he spoke. It looked more like a study group than anything which put you at ease.

“They’ve been talking for like five hours. I’m sure it will break up soon and then we can just hang out with Casey.”

“Okay. That sounds good.”

“Good,” she grinned before leaning on the bar to order your drinks.

You discretely checked out your hair in the mirror behind the bar and swiped on a bit of lip gloss.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that,” AJ smirked as she handed you your gin and tonic.

“Shush.”

You bumped your hip against hers as you made your way to the table.

There was a pause in the conversation as you approached.

“There you are. Come sit.”

AJ had already taken the one open seat next to James, the med student she had been crushing on, which left you to join Dr. Beck on the bench seat. He scooted over to give you more room when you sat down.  

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” he smiled shyly.

You momentarily got lost in his eyes.

“Did you three meet earlier?” Casey asked, breaking you out of the moment.

Heat clawed up your neck in embarrassment. Though you were relieved to see Dr. Beck seemed equally flustered. He cleared his throat twice as he bobbed his head in the affirmative.  

“Yes, Y/n and AJ right?”

“Yes. So, Dr. Beck, what were you all discussing?”

“First of all, please call me Chris. And second, we were discussing my research on the effect of zero gravity on muscle development.”

“Fascinating.”

You were easily caught up in the conversation as he explained his results and discussed data sets. His passion for research seemed to pour out of him. The discussion was lively, although you found yourself dominating the conversation. It contrasted nicely with your own research on technology for deep sea research. You were so invested that you didn’t notice the others leaving. At least not until they rang the bell for final call and you actually paid attention to your surroundings.

“Umm, when did everyone leave?”

Chris looked as confused as you were.

“I have no idea. I guess I am boring. I hope they don’t do that when I start lecturing next semester,” he chuckled.

“I’m sure they won’t. You’re an excellent presenter. Probably they got tired of me monopolizing you. Sorry about that,” you sighed as you played with a straw wrapper.

“Please don’t apologize. I was actually hoping to get a chance to talk to you.”

“Really?”

You wanted to smack yourself for the hopeful tone.

“Yes. I was disappointed when you left the reception early.”

“Oh, well, one of the octopuses next door escaped and that’s no good for anyone in the department.”

“I can imagine.” He smiled crookedly as the few patrons remaining started to pay their tabs.

“I guess we should go,” you pointed out reluctantly.

“Yeah. We should,” he agreed.

You both closed out and exited the bar.

“So, do you want to split an Uber?” he offered.

“I don’t live far. I was actually going to walk it.”

Chris looked appalled.

“It’s three in the morning.”

“I’ve done it before,” you argued.

He appraised you closely, trying to determine how stubborn you were. The conclusion… very.

“Can I at least walk you back then?”

“You don’t have to,” you assured him.

“I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight if I don’t know you made it home safely. Please?”

He pouted at you. Who could resist those blue eyes?

“You really don’t…”  

“I want to,” he admitted. “I uhh I’m not quite ready for the night to be over.”

Your answering smile was wide.

“In that case, I could use the company.”

“Excellent. Lead the way,” he offers you his elbow.

You looped your arm through his and started walking back towards your apartment.

You made the five minute walk in companionable silence. The feeling of familiarity had deepened over the course of the evening and you felt like you were walking with an old friend.

“Well, this is me,” you sighed, not ready to say good night.

“It was really nice getting to spend time with you, Y/n.”

“You too.”

“I know it’s late, and I’m sure that you want to get to bed, but would you mind terribly if I waited inside for my uber. I’m not sure how long it will be to get someone willing to go all the way to Hartford.”

“They have you staying in Hartford while you’re here?”

“They offered me a hotel room in New Haven, but I opted to stay with my folks. Wasn’t planning on closing down a bar after my talk,” he smirked.

You debated for a moment.

“I have a guest room. You are welcome to stay if you like. I have to go to Hartford tomorrow, so I could drive you back if you want.”

“I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not. I promise. You’re never going to get an uber that far this late.”

“If you really don’t mind. That would be great.”

“Come on in.”

You unlocked the door and flipped on the lights, leaning on the edge of the couch to take off your boots.

“Are you hungry or thirsty?”

Before he could respond, your stomach growled for an embarrassingly long time. He bit back laughter.

“Well apparently I am.”

You looked at your stomach as if it were a traitor.

“I could eat.”

“Alright, let’s see what I have. It’s been a while since I went food shopping.”

Chris smiled as he took in the warm surroundings, and he found himself drawn to the art on the walls next to your desk. He could hear you rummaging around in your refrigerator while he tried to figure out why he recognized the image.

“So I threw in a frozen pizza and I’ve got Oreos.”

You shook the pack at him as you planted yourself on the couch.

“Excellent.” He grinned, joining you on the couch and taking a cookie. “That print is amazing. Where did you get it?”

“It’s figure 3A in my Nature paper. I had it blown up when it made the cover.”

“That’s why I recognize it. That was an excellent paper.”

“Thank you. It certainly has been a highlight of my career so far.”

“So what drew you to marine biology?”

“I was obsessed with the ocean as a kid. And adventure books. I wanted so desperately to explore the part of our world that’s so vast and unknown. I wanted to work on a submarine or at least at sea.”

“So how did you end up in a lab on land?”

“I did a semester at sea which was amazing but permanent spots on research ships and subs are few and far between. But I am also working with the engineering department on deep sea equipment.”

“Hence your expertise in muscle mass in high pressure.”

“Precisely.”

You chewed on an Oreo thoughtfully as you regarded him.

“So, why did you become a space doctor? It’s not the most traditional job in the world,” you mused.

“I suppose it isn’t. Well I wanted to be astronaut first. Like you, I was obsessed with space from really early on. But as I got older I grew to love physiology and anatomy over engineering for example. For a little while, I thought I’d have to give up my dream. And then I realized they had flight surgeons.” He smiled at the memory. “So I worked my butt off and ended up actually going into space.”

Chris shifted leaning his head back and looking up as if he could see the stars through your ceiling. You propped your head in your hand as you leaned on the back of the couch.

“Is it surreal being back on earth?”

“That’s a good word for it.” He let his head loll to the side to look at you. “I’m glad to be home, but it’s so strange. Sometimes I spend all day in my room because I forget I can leave. And noises of the city – that’s trippy after months in space.”

“I bet.”  

Your conversation flowed easily as you scarfed down the pizza. The sun came up and you were still talking.

You’re not sure how or when, but you must have fallen asleep talking, because you woke up tucked under a blanket on your couch to the smell of pancakes.

“Good morning,” Chris called, when he saw your head pop up.  

“Morning. What time is it?” you asked, rubbing at your eyes.

“A little after eleven.”

“How long have you been up?”

“Since around eight.”

You stopped mid-stretch to stare at him.

“We didn’t fall asleep until like 5.”

“I’m still used to really short sleeping shifts. I hope you don’t mind. I made breakfast.”

“I do not mind at all.”

After washing up and changing into some fresh clothes, you enjoyed breakfast together.

“So what do you have to do in Hartford?” he asked, taking the clean plate from your hands to dry it.

“Going to visit my sister and my favorite baby nephew.”

“Aww. How old is he?”

“Four. So not actually a baby, but…”

“I get it. What time do you need to leave?”

“Around one.” You shrugged. “We’ve got time.”

“Thank you for letting me stay. Last night was wonderful,” he added, quietly.

“Yes, it was.”

“This might sound strange, but I feel like I’ve met you before.”

You froze, water spilling off the plate.

“Sorry, that was weird,” he mumbled quickly avoiding eye contact.

“No. No, it’s not that.” You dropped the plate into the sink and turned off the water. “I thought the same thing when I saw you.”

“Oh thank god.”

“AJ was convinced it was just because I’d seen you on the news. But if you feel it too…”

“But where we would have crossed paths?”

He crossed his arms as he considered it.

You spent the next twenty minutes trying and failing to find a single place you might have run into each other.

“Junior Leadership Conference?”

“In D.C. in 2014?”

“Yeah.”

You racked your brain.

“It must be that, right?”

“I can’t think of anywhere else.”

“Huh.”

You both watched each other, not quite believing it, but also unable to come up with a better answer. You let it stand as you got ready to drive to Hartford.

“Do you mind grabbing the books off the front table?” You grabbed your keys and your bag. “I don’t want to forget them.”

“Sure thing.”

He shuffled through the pile of children’s books, smiling when he came across the National Geographic First Big Book of the Ocean as you walked to your car.

“Oh these books were awesome.”

“Which one?”

“Big book of the ocean.” He held it up for you to see. ”I had all of them, but the space one was my favorite when I was a kid.”

“I’m shocked,” you deadpanned as you started the car.

He mock glared at you.

“No but seriously, I took the space one with me everywhere. I was obsessed. In kindergarten, the other kids started calling me-“

“Rocket,” you murmured.

“Good guess.”

“Not a guess. I know how we know each other,” You announced, desperate to look at him, but keeping your eyes straight ahead. “You went to Aldrin Elementary for Kindergarten didn’t you.”

“Yeah. Wait,” He looked at the book in his hands before opening to the back cover.

“Rocket and Bubbles,” he hummed, running his fingers over the crayon scrawl. “I can’t believe it. It’s you.”

You glanced at him at a stoplight. He had a fond look in his eyes.

“I knew you were familiar. But I don’t remember your name being Chris. Even before we started calling you Rocket.”

He bit his lip rocking slightly in embarrassment.

“I convinced my mom to let me go by my middle name Richard, which I made into Ricky, because there were four other Chris’ in our class.”

“Oh my god. That’s right. You were Ricky the Rocket. We thought we were so funny.”

Neither of you could contain your smiles.

“What happened? Why did you leave?”

“My dad had to move to Boston for his job. We didn’t find out until like a week before school.”

“I thought about you for the longest time. I was so bummed when you didn’t come back.”

“I was too. I cried all the way to Boston.”

“And now, all these years later.”

“Together again.”  

You reached over and took his hand, and he twined your fingers.

You were both quiet for the rest of the ride, lost in thought. You only spoke to ask directions to his parent’s place, which you remembered quite well.

“Can I take you to dinner sometime?”

“I would love that. Tomorrow night?”

“I’ll be there with bells on.”

You bit your lip as you both hesitated, before you leaned across the armrest and kissed him. His eyes went wide and his cheeks turned pink, and you suddenly didn’t know how you ever failed to recognize him.

“You looked the same way the first time I kissed you,” you giggled.

“Not my fault you keep surprising me.”

“You’re cute when you’re mmf.”

You were cut off by his lips on yours. The kiss was passionate and you felt yourself melting into it as his hand cradled the back of your head.  

“You were saying…” he smirked at you when you both pulled back panting.  

You started to respond when you looked over his shoulder.

“That your mom totally just saw us making out in my car.”

He glanced over his shoulder before letting his head drop in embarrassment when his shocked mother turned on her heel and hurried into the house with her groceries.  

“On that note. Six o’clock tomorrow?”

“You’re on, Rocket.”

“See you, Bubbles.”

He pecked you once more on the lips before getting out of the car, whistling his way up the walk.

You smiled to yourself as he waved from the porch and you drove off.

This was going to be an adventure. Your biggest yet.  

A/N: Yeah, so this ended up very differenlty from how I planned, but I hope you all enjoyed! I had fun writing Chris Beck. Congrats again on the milestone that was like 3 milestones ago lol. Love you @captainscanadian​

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