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amphtaminedreams · 3 years

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Sitting Front Row at...(On a Budget Obvs): Lookbook no.15

Hey to anyone reading!

And welcome to my fave lookbook I’ve done in a longggg ass time! Yes, that’s partially because it involved making collages and doing the low effort work of scouring Vogue Runway for “research purposes”, but I promise, that statement wasn’t made out of COMPLETE laziness-I am super happy with it too. It’s been a good use of pre-part-lockdown-lift time in the interim between that brief period of Christmas celebrations and eateries finally fucking opening again because let’s be honest, I always knew I was gonna get distracted by oat milk vanilla lattes and veggie all day breakfasts once I could actually sit down with them at my fave local cafe. You could say I was very much operating on a self-imposed deadline.

The “what I would wear to sit front row at...[insert designer here]” TikTok/Instagram reel trend was something I wanted to get on board with ever since I first saw one and whilst the option of doing my own live action take-I really cannot bear the thought of having to edit footage of myself awkwardly attempting to sit nonchalantly in front of a camera for hours on end-was off the cards considering my complete lack of screen presence, I decided a Tumblr text post would work just as well, and if not even better in a way. Given the absence of the time limitations you face when you’re making a reel or a TikTok I thought it’d be cool to present the looks as part of a mini moodboard for each designer which adds a bit of context to each look even if you aren’t familiar with their past collections and establishes the general vibe of the brand I’m attempting to replicate. Not to sound snotty or as if I am the font of all knowledge on anything high fashion related but even with my amateur knowledge I noticed that as the video trend took off and was adopted by big name influencers, it became less about the average person putting their own personal spin on the aesthetic of the labels we can’t ordinarily afford and more about them building outfits that only vaguely resemble the general public perception of the brand around the real corresponding (and often gifted and thus inaccessible to someone who doesn’t makes thousands for a sponsored post) pieces they own SO I thought I’d take the trend back to its roots and get a bit resourceful. All that being said, in no particular order, here are the outfits I would wear to sit front row at Gucci, Vera Wang, Miu-Miu, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Brock Collection, Alexander McQueen, Etro, Burberry aaaand Saint Laurent based on their past collections and guess what? They didn’t cost a shit tonne of money :-)

-disclaimer: will include an asterisk before any new purchases if from a high street store though to be honest, I don’t think there are any, we shall see! I do include where I got old purchases from in case anyone wants to search anything on Depop/Ebay-

1. Saint Laurent (formerly Yves Saint Laurent)

-blazer from identityparty on Depop, pleather trousers from Zara, jewellery from Dolls Kill-

I know technically abbreviating Saint Laurent to YSL doesn’t really make much sense anymore given the brand’s name change in 2012, but I’ll always think of it as that in the same way I’ll always associate it with the slightly dishevelled yet simultaneously glitzy rock n’ roll aesthetic. The thing is, whilst YSL hasn’t done anything wildly out of the box for a long time, it’s rare they put a look on the runway that I wouldn’t wear; they never end up being a fashion week standout but the Parisienne take on grunge we’ve seen Anthony Vaccarello establish as his go-to will always have a place in my heart.

2. Alexander McQueen

-embroidered leather jacket from Ebay (originally Topshop), harness from Amazon, dress from ASOS, boots from Koi Vegan Footwear-

Alexander McQueen is a brand that is pretty much universally liked, from the historically extravagant and groundbreaking shows the man himself put together to Sarah Burton’s more toned down but still beautiful collections. Obviously I didn’t attempt to do justice to the former, so I tried my hand at putting together a look inspired by Sarah’s blend of delicate femininity and nomadic edge, and it went...okay? Like it’s definitely not my favourite of all the looks because it does give off slightly cheap copycat vibes buuut outside of the context of this lookbook it’s cute.

3. Brock Collection

-boater hat from Ebay, midi skirt from morganogle on Depop, corset top from ownmode_, heels from amybeckett1, bag from Primark-

Brock isn’t as well known a brand as most of the others in this list but I adore everything Laura Vassar Brock does and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to try and channel the vision of one of the OG pioneers of the cottagecore vibe through my own wardrobe. I mean fr, this woman’s work as a steady provider of meadow photoshoot worthy dresses and corsets and skirts is v slept on and I will not stand for it. I will sit in front of a camera and then write a paragraph in my blog post begging anybody who reads to give LVB (an abbreviation I acknowledge is unlikely to catch on because Lisa Vanderpump anybody?) some form of acknowledgement for her services to period romance novel inspired moodboards everywhere.

4. Marc Jacobs

-coat from House of Sunny, white shirt from Retro World Camden, co-ord from Sugar Thrillz, bag from Poppy Lissiman-

If there’s one thing Marc Jacobs always does, it’s COMMITS. TO. HIS. THEME. I just KNOW he has a secret Pinterest with separate boards for every fashion era of the 20th century and he is putting those boards to good use providing us with collections that are as immersive as they are eclectic year in year out.

5. Miu Miu

-beret from H&M, hair clips from H&M, jewellery from Primark, coat from mollyyemmaa on Depop, shirt from YesStyle, sweater vest from YesStyle, skirt from Depop, diamanté belt from Brandy Melville, shoes from Koi Vegan Footwear-

We all like to talk about Bratz dolls and Monster High dolls and Barbies as fashion inspo but can we all focus on Cabbage Patch dolls for two secs so as to acknowledge the fact that a Miu Miu collection is basically all their fits grown up? And made boujie as fuck? If I want my fix of Wes Anderson meets Scream Queens (what a combo) inspired outfits, if I want prissy and girlish but also glam, if I want to look like a bratty rich girl whose one redeeming quality is her eye for vintage clothes, I know where to look and that is the Miu Miu section of Vogue Runway.

6. Vera Wang

-blazer as in no.1, velvet bralet from catdegaris on Depop, harness from Amazon, skirt from Ebay, knee high socks from Ebay, lace up boots from Ebay-

Vera Wang’s RTW aesthetic, a blend of the ethereal, ultra-feminine bridal designs she’s known for and British style punk rock influences, is something I feel has only become firmly established in recent years but it is everything I ever wanted and more. I always find myself trying to balance the part of me that loves everything girly and delicate and pretty and the part of me that would love to be in a biker gang and Vera’s collections are always an inspirational reminder of just how well it can be done.

7. Burberry

-coat from charity shop, suit from emmafisher3 on Depop, top from simranindia, shirt underneath from Zara, jewellery from ASOS-

Now I’m not gonna lie, I’m not the biggest fan of Burberry but there have been a few looks over the past few years I’ve really liked and as someone who owns numerous trench coats, high necks and way too much plaid, I thought it’d be an easy one to replicate. Plus, if you can count on Riccardo Tisci for nothing else you at least can rely on him giving you some layering inspo which is very much needed in a country where it literally just snowed in April and where my plans for today have just been cancelled because the iPhone weather app did a Karen Smith and didn’t predict rain for today right up until it started raining so thanks for that one British meteorologists. Your incompetence strikes again.

8. Etro

-corset from Urban Outfitters, vinyl trench coat from Topshop, boots from Ebay, black slip dress from kaoanaoleinik on Depop, fur trim afghan coat from louisemarcella-

Like with Brock Collection, Etro isn’t a hugely well known brand, but it is always one of my favourites-to add a spanner into the works of any attempts to cultivate a firm sense of personal style, I live for the ornate Bohemian look that Etro does so well just as much as I love both grungy and girly pieces, and so I really wanted to include a brand whose collections go down that route. It was a toss-up between this and Zimmerman, the flirtier, free spirit counterpart to the dark romance of Veronica Etro’s designs; her vision really shines through the most when it comes to the brand’s winter collections, imo, and given that I live in a country where winter or some weather state resembling it does seem to take up 70% of the year, I did decide on channelling her work rather than that of the equally talented Nicky and Simone Zimmermann this time round.

9. Dolce & Gabbana

-flower crown from ASOS, tiara from Amazon, earrings from YesStyle, dress from alicealderdice1 on Depop, opera gloves from Ebay, boots from Koi Vegan Footwear-

D&G is a brand I felt really conflicted about doing-I don’t include their current collections in my fashion week reviews based on the actions of designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce over the last few years because I don’t want to mitigate the collective effort of fashion critics to push them towards irrelevancy. Though people like to claim the brand has turned a corner since Lucio Di Rosa was brought on board as the manager of celebrity and VIP relations last year (they are as prolific a force on red carpet fashion as ever), we haven’t seen any real meaningful apologies or reparations made by Dolce and Gabbana themselves which once again leaves us in the all too familiar quandary of whether or not we can separate the art from the artist especially when it is far too much of a simplification to only credit the two men for their work given there’s a whole design team behind them. There are a LOT of shitty people working in fashion, the whole industry is a bit of a cesspit if we’re honest, but I don’t think that should stop us from at least being able to appreciate old collections if we make sure we aren’t engaging in any kind of promotion of current works whilst doing so. D&G are a brand of high highs and low lows, with looks that range from hideously ugly to showstoppingly beautiful in a single show-when the looks are good, they are GOOD-and their presence in the fashion world is most definitely felt whether we want it to be or not. It would just be shit to refuse to recognise the existence of some real iconic runway moments, the practical work that went into the ornate detail and opulence that helped cement D&Gs place in sartorial history, the styling that’s made goddesses and fairytale queens out of modern day women as they’ve glided down catwalks, the far more extravagant and, let’s be real, sexier version of our world D&G shows have transported us to in the past. Will I talk about D&G ever again? No, and if you Google the scandals their brand has faced over the past few years, there are more than enough reasons why, but just this once I did want to pay homage to some of the collections, the snippets of which I saw on my Tumblr dashboard back when I was about 13, that first got me into fashion.

10. Gucci

-fur coat from Topshop, clips from Zaful, glasses from Ebay, dress from gracewright246 on Depop, shirt from Boohoo, blazer from charity shop-

Now last but, if you ever read any of my fashion week reviews (the likelihood of someone actually having read one of them and reading this is incredibly, incredibly slim lol, I wouldn’t read me either) you’ll know, definitely not least, is Gucci because Alessandro Michele comes through every!! single!! time!!

The man is truly the king of quirky throwback maximalism and it hurts my heart that a lot of people seem to think of it only as a brand associated with ostentatious displays of wealth. Year after year since Michele was made creative director he has released purposeful, fully-fleshed out collections which unravel themselves to us on the runway like time capsules containing the belongings of the rich and whimsical and yes that can sometimes result in outfits which are *ahem* a bit mismatched but it doesn’t matter because through fashion he manages to take us to a vivid version of the past where people could dress as freely and lavishly as they wanted to, into the wardrobe of a person unaffected by the side-eyeing of others. You get the impression he doesn’t design so much as plays around with some kind of enchanted dress up box and takes inspiration from there and to give that impression is only a credit to his talent-to make outfits so kooky and extravagant look like they were meant to be takes a boldness and genuine love for clothes that I do tend to feel a lot of the big name designers have lost in the pursuit of profit and the necessary placating of the dying customer base that keeps that coming in. Of course I'm not for a second saying Gucci does not care about profit, but at the very least, they have on board a creative director who genuinely has fun with what they’re putting out there and wants to make a statement too and that really shows; you can rest on your laurels and sell tweed boucle jackets to rich old white women for eternity but nobody’s going to mention your brand name and the word groundbreaking in the same sentence ever again unless they’re talking about what it was a century ago, you know (mentioning no names...unless...did I hear someone say Chanel)? That feels like such a shady way to end, lol, but I’m sure said brand will survive-to be fair, they’ve been included in every other What I’d Wear to Sit Front Row At video I’ve seen so although I’m always slagging them off for doing the saaaaame thinggggg year after year, for that same reason their aesthetic is instantly recognisable and so will always be a source of imitation. There are obviously pros and cons to being a brand which constantly reinvents itself but I think it’s totally possible to do that whilst maintaining an overall mission, and Alessandro Michele’s work at Gucci demonstrates that with ease.

Anyway, if you got to here, thanks for reading! I know I’m super behind on this whole TikTok trend and I know a Tumblr post instead of a video is a bit of a cop out but all the real, physically awkward ones out there know that watching yourself back is excruciating lmao, so I hope this does the trick. After this, I’m gonna get back to the reviewing S/S21 collections post though knowing me I’ll probs take a few days to get back into that because I feel like since I left full-time education (RIP me going back in a few months) writing continuously like this for any longer than about 15 mins fries what brain cells I have left. Again, thank you for reading and if you are, sending many good vibes your way! Stay safe!

Lauren x

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spookysweet-heart · 3 years

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When A Stranger Calls

Request: No

Pairings: Battle Egos x Self Insert

Fandom: YouTuber Egos and Scream

Warmings: Blood, Gore, Violence, Language.

A/N: A Scream AU with the Battle Egos, myself, and my lovely readers who wanted to be a part of this project. Thank you to everyone who was eager to be a part of this. It’s going to be based on both the Scream Movies and Scream TV Series. The collage was made by me! Edited by @semiproeagle23!

Sitting in her living room and scrolling through the horror movies on Netflix, Seer grabs some of the popcorn that was in the bowl on the coffee table. She sighs, tossing some of the popcorn in her mouth. Deciding any random movie will suffice for the night, she pressed play and put the control next to her lap.

Watching the opening credits of the movie, Seer was startled when she heard a tap at her window. Quickly turning around, she sighed in relief when she saw it was just the bush hitting the window from the strong wind outside.

Before she turned around, Seer heard her phone ring. Picking it up, she saw it was from an unknown number. Looking over at her empty cup, she answered the phone, grabbed the cup, and headed into the kitchen.

“Hello?”

“Hello?” The voice on the other end answered back.

“Yeah? Who is this?” Seer put the phone between her shoulder and ear so she could open the fridge.

“Who is this?” The person on the other end questioned back.

“Who are you trying to reach?” Seer looked a bit confused as she took the juice out of the fridge.

“What number is this?”

Putting the juice down on the counter, she grabbed her phone, switching to her other ear. “Well, what number are you trying to reach?” Looking out her kitchen window, she saw the trees sway from the harsh winds.

“I don’t know…”

“I think you have the wrong number, then.” Seer turned back to the counter, placing an arm on it for support as she leaned against it.

“Do I?” The voice questioned.

Seer smirked, thinking the interaction was a bit funny. “It’s alright, it happens. Take it easy.” Ending the call, she put her phone down and poured herself some more juice.

Closing the jug she turned to put it away in the fridge, but hearing her phone ring again stopped her. Putting the jug back on the counter, she picks up the phone answering it.

“Hello?”

The same voice as before answered back. “I’m sorry, I guess I dialed the wrong number.”

“Then why’d you call this one again?”

“To apologize.”

“Well, you’re forgiven. Bye now.”

“No wait, don’t end the call.”

“Why?” Leaning against the counter, Seer took a sip of her drink.

“I just wanna talk to you.”

“I’m pretty sure they have other phone numbers or any random group chat app you can download to talk to someone. I have to go so bye now.” Ending the call again, Seer put her phone back on the counter and put away the juice.

Turning to the kitchen cabinets, she starts to look for something sweet to snack on. While looking through the shelves, her phone rang again startling her.

“Hello?” Her voice sounded a bit irritated with how many calls she'd gotten so far.

“Why don’t you want to talk to me?” The same voice as before answered back in a hurt tone.

“Who is this?” Placing the phone back between her shoulder and cheek, Seer reached for the box of pop tarts.

“You tell me your name, I’ll tell you mine.”

“Don’t think so.” Grabbing the box, she pulled out one of the packs and opened it.

“What’s that noise?”

“I just opened a packet of pop tarts...”

“It’s a Saturday night, isn’t it?”

“It is, yeah. Why?” Breaking off a piece, she took a bite.

“Saturday nights are great for movies, aren’t they?”

Seer manages to giggle, despite feeling off about the person on the other end. “They are, I’m actually in the middle of watching one right now.”

“Really? What are you watching?”

“Oh, just some random scary movie I put on Netflix.” Taking her drink and snack, Seer made her way back into the living room.

“Do you like scary movies?”

“Uh-huh, I do.” Sitting back down on the couch, she took a sip of her juice and put her snack on the coffee table so she could hold her phone better.

“What’s your favorite scary movie?”

“Uh, I don’t know…” Putting the cup on the coffee table, Seer played with the end of a strand of her hair.

“C’mon, you have to have a favorite.”

“Um...Halloween I guess. You know the one where the guy in a white mask stalks the babysitters with a knife.”

“Yeah, that’s a good one.”

“What’s yours?”

“Guess..”

“Ummm…. A Nightmare On Elm Street.” Seer took another piece of the pop tart and ate it.

“Is that the one where the guy had knives for fingers?”

“Yeah, Freddy Kruger.”

“Yeah! I liked that movie. It was scary.”

Seer rolled her eyes and looked at the tv. “The first one was scary. The rest honestly sucked.”

“So, you got a boyfriend?”

Seer laughed before she answered. “Why? You wanna ask me out on a date?”

“Maybe….do you have a boyfriend?” The voice asked once more.

“No.” She picked up her juice and took another sip.

“You know, you never told me your name.”

“Why do you wanna know my name?” Putting her cup back on the coffee table, Seer sat up straight on the edge of the couch.

“'Cause I wanna know who I’m looking at…”

Immediately, she looks out her living room window and closes the curtain when she doesn’t see anyone out there. Standing up, she heads to her front door, making sure it’s locked. “What did you say?”

“I wanna know who I’m talking to…”

“That’s not what you said…” Walking into the kitchen, she closed the curtain from the kitchen window and made sure the patio door is also locked.

“What did you think I said?”

Turning on her patio lights, she looked out into her backyard, not answering right away.

“Hello?....”

“Look… I’m gonna go…” Turning off the light, she headed back to the living room.

“Wait, I thought we were gonna go out?”

“N-no, I don’t think so…”

“Don’t hang up on me-” Seer ended the call and stood in the middle of her living room. She looked at the tv for a second before she heard her phone ring again. Sighing, she reluctantly answered it.

“Yes?”

“I told you not to hang up on me!”

“What do you want?!”

“To talk…”

“Well call someone else, this isn’t funny!” Hanging up the phone, Seer turned off the tv, picked up her things from the coffee table, and walked to the kitchen. She put the bowl of popcorn on the counter by the sink and tossed out her juice into the sink. Just as she was about to throw away the pop tart, her phone rang again.

Feeling frustrated, she answered the phone. “Listen you fucking asshole-”

The voice on the other end cut her off, sounding more threatening than before. “No, you listen to me, you little bitch. You hang up on me again, and I’ll gut you like a fish, you understand?!”

Trembling, Seer looked around her kitchen. “Is this some kind of joke?” Her voice came out like she was about to cry.

“More like a game really…can you handle that?”

Seer quickly made her way to the front door, peeking out the little windows on the side.

“Can you see me?”

Her breathing became a bit heavy, feeling fear bubble up in her chest. “Listen, I am two seconds away from calling the cops…”

“They’d never make it in time...we’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

“What do you want…” Seer's voice almost came out as a squeak as she tried to hold back tears.

“To see what your insides look like…”

Seer silently cries as she pulls the phone away from her ear ending the call. Carefully, she walked away from the front door, not knowing what to do next.

The doorbell rang twice, scaring Seer and causing her to quickly turn back to look at the front door. “Who’s there?!” There was only silence in return. “Who’s there?! I’m calling the police!” The instant she looked at her phone, it rang, making her scream before she answered it.

“You should never say ‘who’s there?’ Don’t you watch scary movies? It’s a deathwish. Might as well as come out here and investigate the strange noise or something.”

With tears streaming down her face, Seer tries to calm her breathing. “Look…you’ve had your fun now, so I think you should stop, or else…”

“Or else what?”

“Or else my boyfriend will be here any second and he’s gonna be pissed when he finds out!”

“Thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend”

“I- I lied, I do have a boyfriend!”

“Sure...right...”

“So please, just stop this…”

“...His name wouldn’t be Kevin, would it?”

“H-how do you know his name..?”

“Why don’t you look out your patio door.”

Running to her kitchen, Seer turned on the back patio lights to see her boyfriend tied to a chair with duct tape. Seer started to sob seeing her boyfriend helpless. Her instincts kicked in as she went for the doorknob.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you!”

Immediately, Seer closes the door again, crying as she looks at Kevin trying to get out of his restraints. “Please don’t hurt him!”

“That all depends on you.”

“Wh-why are you doing this?”

“I wanna play a game…”

“No. Please, no…”

“Then he dies right now!”

Seer screamed out, hitting the glass with her fist. “No! Please dont!”

“Then which is it?”

Trying to talk through her tears, she answered as clearly as she could. “What kind of game?”

“Turn off the light. You’ll see what kind of game we’ll play.”

Seer’s sobs continue as she hears her boyfriend’s muffled pleas when she turns off the light.

“Here’s how we play. I ask a question, you get it right, Kevin lives.”

“Please don’t do this…” Seer slid down her wall, sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest.

“C’mon, it’ll be fun. It’s an easy category. Movie trivia, I’ll give you a warm-up question. Name the killer in Halloween.”

“Please don't make me do this…”

“C’mon it's your favorite scary movie, remember? The guy with the white mask. He stalked the babysitters.”

“I don’t know…”

“C’mon yes you do…”

“Please…”

“What’s. His. Name?”

“I- I can’t ….”

“Kevin’s counting on you...”

“Michael. Michael Myers.” Seer wiped her tears with her sleeve.

“Yes! Very good… now for the real question.”

“No! Please! Just stop!!!”

“But you’re doing so well. We can’t stop now…”

“Just leave us alone!”

“Then answer the question. Same category. Name the killer in Friday The 13th.”

Seer immediately jumped to her feet as she screamed out. “Jason! It’s Jason Vorhees!”

“I’m sorry, that’s the wrong answer!”

“No, it’s not! I’ve seen that movie over a dozen times. It's Jason!”

“Afraid not. Everyone knows the killer in Friday the 13th is Pamela Vorhees! Jason’s mother! Jason never showed up till the sequel! That’s the wrong answer!”

“Wait please!!” Turning on the patio lights, Seer looked out into the backyard to see her boyfriend dead. His throat was slashed and his stomach was cut open, revealing his intestines as blood was pooling around him. Seer crawls back onto the floor in shock.

“Hey, I’m not finished with you yet. Here’s your bonus question.”

“Please leave me alone…”

“Answer the question and I will. What door am I at?”

“Wh-what?...”

“What door am I at? There are two entrances to your house. The front door and the back patio door. Which one am I at?”

Seer didn't say a word as she got up. Dropping the phone, she ran towards the front door, unlocking it. As she opened the door, she was face to face with someone in a black cloak and Ghostface mask.

Screaming, she tries to close the door on them, only to be thrown and pinned to the floor by the masked person.

“Wrong answer!” The last thing she saw was the knife held above their head as they plunged it into her chest, twisting it as it barely pierces her heart. Seer tried to push them off, but they overpowered her as they pulled out the knife to stab her two more times in the chest.

Standing up, the killer looked down at her body, watching the blood pool around her. Watching her for a moment they felt satisfaction when her efforts to pull herself up failed as her arms limp falling to her side.

---------

Lexi was walking with Ebony and Rose, making their way to the entrance of the school. As they got closer, they saw police cars out front. The three of them looked at each other in confusion.

Ebony saw Jem and Riot by the crowd that was starting to form. She waved them over to where they were. “What’s up? Why are the police here?”

Riot adjusted his backpack, glancing back at the cops before answering. “According to them, Seer and Kevin were murdered Saturday night at Seer’s house.”

“Crazy, isn’t it? I mean, we just saw them Friday…” Jem looked down at the ground, feeling tears start to well up.

Rose wrapped her arm around Jem as she tried to comfort them.

“Why are they here at the school, though?” Ebony looked over at the multiple officers gathered near the entrance.

Riot looked over at them, making eye contact with his dad when he spotted him in the crowd. “They wanna question teachers and students to see if they know anything that could help.”

“I guess your dad’s on the case.” Lexi stood next to Riot. “Do your parents think it could be another Ghostface?”

“My guess is maybe. They haven't said anything and probably won’t.” Riot gently elbowed Lexi’s arm. “What about your mom? Pretty sure she’d have a hunch if the infamous Woodsboro murderer was back. She was the one they were all after.”

“My mom just got back from another book tour. I don’t think she’s heard about this yet.”

The group made their way through the crowd and entered the main hall of the school. Lexi immediately felt a bit safer when she spotted Phantom by his locker.

Phantom smiled down at her and kissed her cheek, bringing her into a hug. “Hey, how are you holding up?”

“Honestly? I just feel...creeped out and sad. I mean, we sat next to Seer in English…”

“I know…” Phantom reassuringly rubbed his hand up and down Lexi’s arm as he held her against him.

Rose looked over at the end of the hall, seeing Bones and Natemare running towards the group.

“Guys! Guys! Guys!!!! Did you hear?!” Natemare tried catching his breath when they caught up to everyone.

“About Seer and Kevin?”

Bones shook his head. “No, not that! Rumor has it we’re getting a new student.”

Ebony raised an eyebrow, not seeing what was so interesting. “So? We get new kids from time to time.”

Natemare smiled, feeling giddy with the information he’d heard from everyone. “This isn’t just any new kid. If what everyone is saying is true, then the new kid is Billy Loomis’ half-sister!”

Jem looked over at Mare while glancing at Lexi and Riot. “Mare, dude, I know you’re into all the horror and crime stuff, but feeding into rumors like this isn’t the greatest when you're friends with the kids of Sydney Prescott and Dewey and Gal Riley.”

“I-” Natemare looked over at Lexi and Riot, sighing and feeling bad. “I’m sorry. We just thought it was pretty cool having another “Celebrity” kid here. I mean, what are the odds of our classmate dying during the weekend and here comes a Loomis to fill in their place?”

Bones placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder when a cop passed by the group. “I feel the same way, but you gotta shut up about your theories for a while since there are cops everywhere.”

The bell rang and the halls cleared out as the students headed to their first class of the day. Lexi, Bones, Jem, and Natemare headed to their English class.

Walking in, the class was a little noisy with whispers of what transpired over the weekend with a mix of giggles from some of the girls in the back. Taking her seat, Lexi looked to the empty one next to hers, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Jem took their seat behind Lexi while Bones and Natemare sat on either side of Jem.

Mrs. Duval walked into the classroom, standing in front of her students and getting their attention. “Settle down. I know the news is horrible to hear and fresh in everyone’s minds. But we do need to continue with our studies.” Turning to the door, she nodded at someone on the other side. Everyone turned to look at who it was. “Before we can do that, I’d like to introduce you all to a new student. Ms. Loomis, would you please introduce yourself and tell everyone a little bit about you. We’ll take a few questions if anyone has any for you.”

The girl walking into the classroom seemed quiet. Pretty normal for new students, but as soon as she walked in, there were immediate whispers and glances from her classmates.

Sighing, the girl looked around at everyone's faces before her eyes landed on Lexi for a moment. Lexi felt slight panic when she made eye contact.

A small smile could be seen on the girl's face when she brought her attention back to everyone else. “Hey, I’m Kimberly Loomis. I like to watch horror movies, and write horror stories for others' entertainment online.”

Mrs. Duval smiled when she heard her mention she was a writer. “Well, I’m sure they’re fantastic stories. Um, let’s see, does anyone have any questions for her?”

Immediately, Natemare raised his hand.

“Yes, Natemare go ahead.”

“Is it true you’re related to the infamous serial killer Billy Loomis?” As soon as those words left his mouth, Natemare felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. He looked over at Jem and Bones who just shook their heads at him.

No one expected to hear anyone giggle, let alone the person the question was appointed to. Kimberly shook her head, trying to die down her giggles. “It’s fine. Yeah, That’s me. Hank Loomis is my dad, so that does make me Billy’s half-sister.”

Someone in the class shouted out another question. “Are you psycho like your brother too?!”

“Alright, that’s enough!” Mrs. Duval shushed the class.

“No, it’s alright, Mrs. Duval. I’m sure everyone’s riled up at the moment. I don’t blame them, given the history Woodsboro has.”

“Well, that doesn’t excuse the behavior. Matthew I’ll see you after class. As for you Ms. Loomis-”

“Kimberly. Please.”

“Right, Kimberly. You can take the empty seat next to Lexi.”

Just as Kimberly was about to make her way there, Jem raised their hand.

“Yes?” Mrs. Duval looked over at them, giving them her full attention.

“She shouldn’t sit there. That’s Seer’s seat. It’s disrespectful, Mrs. Duval.”

Huffing in a bit of frustration, Mrs. Duval shook her head. “Jem, you’re right.”

“Thank you-”

“If you feel so attached, then please switch seats. I know Seer was your friend, but we can’t keep it empty. If it’ll make you feel better, then switch.” Mrs. Duval turned around to the board to write their warm-up for the day.

Jem pouted, gathering their things and making their way next to Lexi. They stared at Kimberly as she passed by to sit between Bones and Natemare.

Taking out her pen and notebook, she ignored the two staring at her.

The morning went by quickly, and the police questioning stopped during lunch to give the kids a break.

“So, are we gonna talk about her or not?” Natemare sat next to Bones as the rest of the group made their way over.

“Talk about who?” Ebony sat against the tree to get away from the sun.

“The new girl. This dipshit asked her in English if she was Billy’s actual half-sister.”

“No fucking way. It was true?! She’s here?” Rose’s eyes widened, not believing him.

“Oh, it's true. I have her for Science. We were paired up, so I can catch her up on what we’re learning.” Phantom sat down next to Lexi, wrapping an arm around her.

Riot poked at his lunch before sitting down next to Ebony. “Did she talk about why she’s here? Still seems too perfect honestly.”

“Thank you! Right, it does!” Natemare excitedly bounced in place.

Lexi looked between the two boys. “Guys, stop. She probably has a good and normal reason for moving here.”

“I do, actually…” The group got startled when they looked behind them to see Kimberly standing there. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare any of you. But I believe this is yours.” Pulling out a red pencil case from her bag, she handed it to Phantom. “You left it while you were rushing out.”

“Oh, thanks…” Phantom took the pencil case, immediately putting it away.

“Wanna join us?” Bones smiled at her, patting the space next to him. Everyone looked over at him as if he was crazy.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. People are gonna start talking…”

“So? Let them. Come sit with us.” Bones reached out his hand to take her bag for her.

“It’s fine, really. We're used to people talking about us.” Riot reassured her by giving her a small smile.

“Okay, sure, I guess if you’re fine with it.” Handing Bones her bag, she sat down in the spot next to him.

“So, what is the reason you moved back here to Woodsboro?” Jem took a bite of their food, scooting a bit closer. “Also… sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to come off like a bitch if I did.”

“No, no, you’re fine. It’s completely understandable. I’m sorry about your friend.” Everyone stayed quiet for a moment until Kimberly cleared her throat. “Well, if you guys really wanna know, I moved back here because my dad’s friend is my godmother and she lives here in Woodboro.”

“Wait.” Mare looked confused and in a second it clicked in. “Oh my god...Hank Loomis dead…”

“Yeah...a week ago. I was at a friend’s house when everything happened…We’re having his funeral here in a couple of days.”

“Holy shit. I’m so sorry.” Ebony looked worried at everyone, feeling the air get heavy.

“Don’t be. He was a shitty dad for most of my life anyway. He never got over what Billy did. He was paranoid and overprotective when he was home.” Getting her water bottle from her bag, Kimberly took a sip.

“So, he didn’t hide anything from you?” Riot asked while opening his soda.

“No. When I was old enough to read, he made me read Billy’s articles and the reports of the crimes he and his friend did. Down to the gory details. What about you two? You’re Prescott’s and Riley’s kids aren’t you?”

Lexi and Riot shared a look before Lexi answered. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Chief Riley told me himself. Said if I ever need anyone to talk, to it would be either of you.”

Lexi bit her lower lip, hesitant about if she should ask her this. Sighing, she decided to go with her gut feeling. “Hey, Kimberly?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you, uh would you want to come over for dinner at my place? I’m sure my mom would love to have you over.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

Lexi nodded, smiling at her. “Positive.”

“Um, sure. I’ll call my godmother and let her know.”

Bones played with a little tassel that was on her bag. “So, how’s Woodsboro treating you so far?”

“Well, being related to a murderer sure is an amazing icebreaker so far. Not to mention, moving here when an actual murder happened. I mean, I can’t blame anyone for being suspicious of me.” Riot, Mare, and Bones looked at each other. “Though I’m hanging out with you all, so I think it’s going pretty good since you all seem pretty nice.”

The group smiled when they felt the air become less heavy the more they got to know the new kid. The rest of the day went by as normal. Well, as normal as a day with the cops roaming the school could be.

After the last bell rang, Kimberly caught up to Lexi at the entrance of the school. “Hey, thanks for inviting me over.”

“It’s no problem. Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, sure.” Kimberly smiled while they started to make their way to Lexi’s house. The two walked in silence, watching the police cars drive by. “How long have you and Phantom been together?”

“What??” Lexi blushed, looking straight ahead.

“Sorry if that’s too personal. I just noticed you two were pretty close, so I got curious. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Oh no, it’s totally fine….Um, we’ve been friends since we were kids and just started dating around two years ago.”

“That’s cute. Childhood friends turn to lovers. Adorable.”

“What about you?”

“Do I have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, you don’t have to answer either if you don’t want to.”

“It’s cool, Uh I had a girlfriend back home, actually. Her name was Marie. But, uh, life hit us quickly after what happened with my dad, and when I told her I had to move here, we decided to call it quits because we knew the long distance wouldn’t be great for us.”

“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry. That fucking sucks.”

Kimberly shrugged. “It is what it is. At least we knew we loved each other, ya know? Memories last, and sometimes relationships don’t.”

A police car drove up to them while they were waiting for the light to change. The driver’s window rolled down and they poked their head out. “Afternoon, ladies.”

“Hey, Dewey.” Lexi smiled and waved at him.

“It’s Chief Riley, Lexi. I’m working. Anyway, you two should head home and stay there. We’re mandating a curfew for everyone starting today.”

“Sure thing. We’re heading back to my place. I invited her over for dinner.”

“Alright, then. Listen, if Sidney can’t drive you home, Lexi can call me and I’ll pick you up to take you myself. I don’t want any of you out that late.”

“Thanks, Chief Riley. We’ll let you know.” The two girls waved as he drove off and continued to walk the rest of the way home.

Walking into the house, Lexi dropped her bag by the door. “Mom?” Turning back to Kimberly, she nodded when she saw her wondering if she could put her bag down by hers.

“Kitchen!” A woman's voice rang from a different part of the house.

Lexi led the way, having Kimberly follow close behind. “Hey, mom!”

“Hey, sweetheart.” Sidney hugged Lexi as she entered the kitchen. Kimberly stayed by the doorway. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be alright, mom. Don’t worry.” Pulling away, Lexi turned to Kimberly, signaling it was okay for her to come in. “This is-”

“Kimberly...Gale told me what happened to your father. I’m so sorry.” Sidney grabbed her hand, squeezing it.

“News travels quickly here, I see. It’s, uh, okay. My dad...showed me everything you went through...with my brother….”

Sidney’s grip tightened a bit before she let go of her hand. “It’s in the past. But I want you to know I don’t hold any grudges or anything towards your family. I want you to feel safe here with us.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Prescott.”

“It’s actually Ms. now, not Mrs. Also, call me Sydney.”

“How about she doesn’t refer my mom to her first name. That’s pretty weird, in my opinion.” The three of them laughed over the little moment.

The evening went fairly smoothly. The three of them shared stories, laughs, and a few jokes here and there while enjoying dinner. As the night calmed down, Lexi and Kimberly finished helping with the dishes.

“Is it alright if we hang out in my room for a while before you drive her home?” Lexi put away the last of the plates in the cabinet.

“Sure thing, just let me know when you’re ready to go home, Kimberly.” Sydney smiled at them, watching them grab their bags.

“I will. Thank you!”

Watching them head upstairs, Sidney rubbed the back of her neck, walking into the living room. Turning on the tv, she saw Dewey talking about the crime scene and what they had so far.

Leaning against the couch, Sidney focuses on the tv, listening to the details. Everything was silent till her cellphone rang. Not paying attention to caller ID, she picked up her phone, answering it as her eyes went back to the TV. “Hello?”

The voice on the other line made her blood run cold, almost dropping her phone as flashbacks flooded her mind.

“Hello, Sidney…miss me? 'Cause I sure missed you...”

---------

Tag List:

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@stretch-time

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@thedyingredrose

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@forbiddenstars

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#battle egos #battle boys #natewantstobattle egos #natemare #phantom #bones #natpai #scream #Scream AU #Self Insert #youtuber egos #horror #slasher #ghostface

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bigboomboi · 4 years

Text

Fated~ Poly BakuDeku x Reader

Words: 5,469

Warning: Burn injuries, an angry Pomeranian trying to be sweet and it kinda working but only because of the broccoli baby.

Staring down at her wrist, Y/N inspected the small orange mushroom cloud tattoo on her skin. It sat below her first mark; a cute lavender bubble symbolizing her own quirk. Both appeared years ago, one burned bright into her skin the day she manifested her quirk and the other sat, fading in months later.

It’s said the marks are to connect you with your soulmate. It seemed to be another evolution to come with the quirks as the quirkless didn't get the same predicament throughout life. Actually, there were even a few quirked people that never gained marks. While it seemed unfair and people hated that quirked people got the ideal life and were handed their other half almost straight out the gate, some loved the fact most quirkless people had the option to find their soulmate naturally.

There were even people that covered their mark with another tattoo, to try and avoid searching for their person. Some invested their entire being into finding that special someone. They even made dating apps to share pictures of your mark to help you find your match.

Y/N fell in the middle, she didn’t despise the idea of finding her soulmate, but she didn’t want that to be a major factor in her mind. She didn’t want to spend her life trying to find a person that very well could reject you.

Yes, even if fate had intertwined your hearts, you could reject the idea. While you could only reject your soulmate after meeting them, it was only done with a simple two words- ‘I reject’- and the idea scared the hell out of her.

So here she was, hiding her mark under bracelets or long sleeves, scared of finding her soulmate because two stupid words, but even more terrified because of one stupid thing. The pretty colourful cluster of stars tattoo… sitting just right of her soulmate’s mark.

She had two soulmates.

Of course, there were people out there that dated their soulmate and another set of soulmates, or a fated couple found their third in another kind person. But never has she heard of being given two soulmates.

Now she could be rejected…twice.

“Okay, so since it’s just us girls, I say we watch shitty chick flicks and whine about being single.” Mina huffed, plopping down on the couch.

“Mina… Toru has a boyfriend… and Jirou is dating Mo…” Uraraka pointed out.

“Okay, but I am single I would like to whine about it.” Mina groaned as Y/N sat down. “You and Y/N are single too so, we could still complain.”

“Hey, hey. Don’t bring me into this. I tried my hand at dating, that’s just bleh.” Y/N cringed.

Jirou scoffed. “That’s because you keep putting all your heart into people who aren’t your soulmate.”

“Hey, I like keeping my options open! It’ll happen sooner or later.” Y/N defended herself.

“It could be sooner if you stop hiding the mark.” Mina cheesed. “You know the point is to find the matching tattoo?”

“Yeah, yeah. Maybe I just really like surprises.” Y/N sighed, trying to focus on the two women trying to hide the baby from the rambunctious fairy god mother on the screen.

“Your person kinda has to see the mark for it to click in your heads.” Uraraka hummed. “So, if you hide it…”

“It’s not completely invisible, I don’t always cover it. Any one can see it at anytime.” Y/N rolled her eyes.

“Mmm, okay… Y/N didn’t notice the look Mina gave to Jirou. “Then let us see-.”

Both Mina and Jirou went to tackle Y/N but an instant bubble appeared around her, bouncing them off. “You always try this, Mina.”

“Damn it…”

Leaving the matter to rest, the girls continued to watch the poor obedient fifteen year old send away her only friend. Okay, so yes… Y/N hid the marks for the most part. She wasn’t trying to avoid people seeing the marks per say, but she was just trying to keep it out of… people’s sight…

Actually, she was trying to avoid them being seen, but really, in her defense. The last time someone saw two soulmarks on her wrist she was harassed and bullied until she had to move. So, she felt it was in her best mind to hide her marks and keep a lookout for two matching her own.

And she hoped the girls would leave it alone but-

“Okay… Just a little peek.” Mina whispered.

“No.”

“Just for me?”

“No, Mina.”

“At least describe it a little.”

“No.”

“I just wanna see it.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m you’re best friend, please.” Mina dragged out the word, as long as her breath held out for.

“Aright, you know. I’m really tired, ladies. So, I’m gonna wrap this up and head to bed.” Y/N sighed standing, letting Mina and Uraraka fall into her now vacant space. “Goodnight girls.”

Ignoring their mixed groans and pleas, Y/N continued to leave, irritated with Mina’s questioning. She didn’t even stop to collect her small throw blanket, but Mina yelped and rushed up the stairs to apologize. She hadn’t meant to piss off her friend, but-.

“Wait! Wait, Y/N, I’m sorry!” She squeaked, slamming into the door that was closed in her face.

“Go away, Mina.” Y/N. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not…” Mina whined.

Y/N bit her lip and started at the door. Her first real best friend stood on the opposite side of the door and would probably sit there until she opened the door, like she always did when they fought. But really, she thought about leaving her there and sneaking out the window in the morning, because she was pissed, truly.

“Look, Y/N, I know you don’t like talking about your mark and it’s not okay I kept pressuring you to show us-.” Mina mumbled.

Angry, Y/N yanked opened the door, watching Mina stumble in from leaning on it. “You’re right! It’s not okay! It was mean and stupid and I honestly don’t know why you were so hellbent on seeing it, you never are! Our entire time of being friends- which is three fucking years- you never bugged this much to see it! What is your fucking deal-?”

“Mine rejected me.”

“With trying… to… what?” Y/N continued her rant, before fully recognizing her friend’s words. “What did you say?”

“My soulmate rejected me.” She repeated. “He goes to another school; Asaki Eizo. He’s top of his class, an adorkable nerd. He’s already probably got collage recommendations… he um… He feels that such a um, eccentric personality would distract him form the real things in life. ‘Honestly, I feel you’re too childish to live the life I want.’ His exact words.”

“He called you childish?” Y/N blinked.

“Yeah, but we could still be friends! We hang out every now and then! Just not as… soulmates.” Mina whispered the last part.

Y/N clicked her tongue and nodded slowly, before deciding and grabbing a hoodie. “I’m gonna need an address.”

“What? No. No!” Mina yelped and pushed her friend back in her room. “You can’t go kill him!”

“I never said I would kill him. Just maim.” Y/N tried to press past her friend, but she held fast.

“No, no. People get rejected all the time! It’s okay!” Mina flailed her arms, looking comically like a bird before she tackled her friend to the floor. “I just, I just wanted to see yours because I like the idea of my best friend getting her forever person, even if I don’t…”

Y/N sighed. “Honestly, I might be in the same predicament as you, babes.”

Mina furrowed her eyebrows and sat up on the girl’s lap. Y/N tugged off the bracelets she was wearing and pushed her sleeve up a bit. Mina did her best to keep eye contact with her friend, just incase she wanted to hide it again. But Y/N didn’t, she raised her wrist in between them, revealing the several marks on her skin.

“You… There are… That’s an odd soulmate mark…” Mina muttered.

“No, it’s two. I have two soulmates…” Y/N groaned falling back. “I have two chances of getting rejected.”

Mina pouted and laid down on Y/N, to cuddle her. “I don’t think that would happen. Maybe they’ve already found each other, and they are just waiting on you.”

“I feel like I’d be intruding on a happy relationship.” She sighed.

“I don’t think the fates would have intertwined you to just hurt you.” Mina said.

Y/N played with Mina’s hair. “Mina… You literally just told me that your own soulmate rejected you because you’re a fun girl. So, I don’t think the fates were thinking too many things through at their round table.”

“Mm, yeah, but you know what they say. When you get rejected by your soulmate, it’s the fates realizing they found someone better for you and a new mark should form.” Mina mumbled, sleepily.

“Yeah, yeah. When I see a new mark glow on your skin, I’ll believe it.” Y/N snorted.

“Today’s task is simple. Save the victim before the building comes down.” All Might said.

“Before it comes down? As in actually collapse?” Mineta already had tears filling his eyes.

“It’s what you’ll have to do as heroes.” Tsu commented, before smacking the small grape boy with her tongue. “Stop crying.”

He continued to cry anyway. All Might sighed. “There’s no hidden objectives, or priorities. But it is an incredibility dangerous situation, so you’ll actually have to thinks the entire thing through and when you think you have a plan, you’ll have to make a backup. Stay on your toes, save the victim and don’t get crushed.”

“What happens if we don’t get out in time?” Y/N asked.

“There is a timer, the building won’t actually fall if there is anyone still inside, but you will have failed the test if you can’t get the victim out before it ‘falls’.” All Might answered, surely.

Now each team went through the buildings while the rest of the class watched. There were three separate building, each with different hazards. The timer was set for thirty minutes, the story plot was villains attacked, blah blah blah, the building would fall in thirty minutes and there was still someone trapped inside. A basic training op.

“Hey, you’re not wearing your bracelets today.” Mina noted, holding her hand.

“Yeah, guess I should try and put myself out there.” Y/N sighed. “Plus, can’t let you find your soulmate first, markless.”

“Oh, ha ha. You think you’re funny.” Mina rolled her eyes, playfully.

“I think I’m fucking hilarious.” Y/N grinned, before raising her friend’s wrist. “I wish it would manifest already, looking at bits and pieces of it for the last month is aggravating.”

“Yeah, me too. But think about it, I’ve spent the last four months soulmate-less. Maybe I’m emotionally shellshocked and my body’s trying to fight fate off.” Mina giggled.

It had been two months since their conversation in Y/N’s bedroom and since then, Mina had convinced Y/N to not hide it when they went out into the real world. Especially when they went out without their classmates. Which they’d done a lot more, in hopes to find one or both of Y/N’s mates and maybe to kick start Mina’s new mark. Still she hid it whenever she was at school, this had been the first time she hadn’t tried to hide it. And she prayed it wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass.

“Y/N, Bakugo, Midoriya. You’re turn.” All Might, clapped her on the shoulder.

“Be careful.” Mina let her friend go.

“Probably won’t.” Y/N cheesed.

And here she stood in between the childhood frenemies, staring up at Building B that bent halfway up at an uncomfortable angle. “I’ll bet you boys my left arm that are victim is up at the top…”

“Probably.” Midoriya sighed. “Any ideas.”

“Stay out of my way.” Bakugo muttered.

Y/N rolled her eyes and turned to glare at the blond. “Yeah, no. We’re a team. So, we work as a team. Otherwise, I will bubble you right here and now and have you follow us like a an explosive toy.”

“I’ll blow your stupid bubble open.” Bakugo snarled down at her.

“Oh, really?” She asked, scoffing.

“Wait, guys, the test is about to start. Maybe we should handle this later…” Midoriya tried.

Y/N ignored him and softy booped Bakugo’s nose. “Do it then.”

A loud shrill echoed through the air, signifying the start of the test and Bakugo was encased in a see-through sphere. Midoriya blinked at Bakugo’s entrapment and then at Y/N who raised her brow expecting him to say something, but her look convinced him to just turn around and head inside the building.

The two quietly searched the building and made their way up and over each obstacle, Bakugo screaming and exploding in his bubble every five seconds. Coming to a two sided elevator shaft, they all paused. The elevator itself was tilted and seemed to be caught on the walls of the shaft, making a bridge way to the otherside.

“Alright, I’m gonna bubble you two through first… Because I feel like if you breath on that thing… it’ll fall.” Y/N sighed.

“We could probably just jump it.” Midoriya suggested.

“We should avoid shaking the building at all, we should treat it as if it would actually collapse. Which, honestly. It might…” Y/N carefully peeked out into the shaft and looked up to find another elevator several stories above. “Also, I’m pretty sure if we put too much weight on this thing, it’ll pull the other one down.”

“I’m gonna push the angry Pomeranian over first and then you. Alright?” Y/N stated.

“Angry Pomeranian?!” Bakugo shouted, his palms crackling.

She giggled and stuck her hand into the bubbled and pat his head. “Yep, keep being an ass, I’ll get you a collar.”

He snatched her hand and tugged her close, trying to force her into the bubble. “Let me out of this damned bubble.”

“I was going to after I got you across, stop being a dick for five minutes or you’ll stay in it!” She snapped, pinching his cheek.

“You had better or I swear I’ll…” He trailed off, looking at her arm. At her multiple marks.

She hadn’t noticed where is eyes locked and hurriedly thrusted him across the opening, before turning to Midoriya and bubbling him as well. She, much more gently, pushed him across the opening before following them herself. And true to her word, she released Bakugo from his soft cage.

“Now, be good or I’ll put you back.” She warned.

“Piss off.” He grumbled. “We got fifteen minutes left, let’s find this idiot doll and get out of here.”

Midoriya and Y/N nodded in agreement and hurried through to the top of the building. Surprisingly, without many words, they worked together well. And when ideas were shared everyone listened, for the most part. They were a good team together, despite, being randomly thrown together.

Y/N gently, bubbled debris out of the way, unaware of the blonde analyzing her and Midoriya. Her soulmate mark matched the one Midoriya had on his own wrist. She’d been there, right under his nose for the longest time, and the dipshit didn’t ever notice.

But Bakugo didn’t notice either. Hers matched his as well. Neither boy noticed that their soulmate was with them every day.

Smoke filled the air as they cleared a hole through the floor above. They could hear the crackling of flames and see the orange light fill the hall above them. Carefully everyone climbed up to the next floor and eyed the fiery hall before them.

“Alright, boys, bubble time again.” Y/N sighed, and looked over at Midoriya who opened his mouth. “Don’t you dare say ‘we can jump it’ because again, unstable building.”

Midoriya turned red, at having been caught. “I- I wasn’t going to say that…”

“Yes, you were.” Both of his teammates said.

“I just don’t want you to overexert yourself, Y/N. You’re the only one whose used their quirk the most here.” Midoriya justified.

“It’s the safest one to use in this situation.” She shrugged, bubbling him. “I’ll only be tired if I use my bubble for an extended amount of time.”

“You had my in a bubble constantly, earlier.” Bakugo pointed out.

“Yeah, see. We can just jump across!” Midoriya tried, but she flicked him across anyway.

“For like three minutes. Five at most.” Y/N rolled her eyes and bubbled Bakugo as well. ��I’m fine.”

After she dropped him off, she followed and landed softly. “See, no harm done. I’m a big girl, boys.”

“Well, cool it a bit, dumbass, we’re not useless.” Bakugo grunted, flicking her forehead.

Was that what this was about? “I never said you were, guys. Sorry, if I made it seem that way.” She apologized, following Midoriya to the second elevator tunnel.

This building was so tall, stupidly its elevator shafts had been stacked with a thin base floor between them. Bakugo peeked through, to deem it safe and carefully stepped across, Midoriya moving to follow when the building shook violently, knocking them all to their knees. Not a moment later did the creaking elevator a few floors above drop.

Bakugo yanked Midoriya out of the way, just in time as the elevator crashing into the base floor. Y/N yelped, flying back into the fire from the impact. She shook away her dizziness and stared at the flames surrounding her bubble- thankfully, her reaction time was fast.

“Y/N!” She heard Midoriya yell back at her.

“I- I’m fine. Just caught me off guard.” She panted, looking up at the elevator that almost crushed him. “What about you?”

“We’re fine, no damage.” Bakugo called back. “You’ll have to climb through the elevator to get over here.”

“Alright, well, uh.” She rolled herself back towards the elevator. “You guys go on ahead, I’ll catch up.”

“We can’t leave you.” Midoriya started to come back for her, but a bubbled filled the elevator blocking him.

“Just go, damn it. We’ve got just under ten minutes left, go find the damn vic and I’ll catch up.” She ordered. “I’ll be right behind you guys.”

She lied. Unintentionally, but still. She was trapped against the ceiling in her bubble, protected from the burning flames around her but unable to move. Her bubble had been stuck for the last three minutes, and it was actually starting to get hot inside, the walls of her bubble burning her skin a bit. She needed to get out of the fire, quick before she was seriously burned.

Y/N attempted, again to roll out of the flames but really all she succeeded in was rolling herself in the awkward crevice she was stuck in. Now she was mostly upside down, her forearms pressed against her artificial wall. It was almost like she was pressing herself against hot glass and granted her bubble kept out the black smoke, she had no fresh air. So, the air she did have was getting thick and stuffy and she was going dizzy.

"Y/N!" A voice shouted at her.

Gasping, Y/N looked around to find Bakugo and Midoriya with the victim doll. They managed to find their way back to her part of the maze of death and she just about cried.

"Oh, I could kiss you two right now!" She grunted, her flesh burning.

While Midoriya blubbered, turning twenty-five different shades of red, Bakugo rolled his eyes at her, smirking. "And here I thought you were going to be right behind us.”

"Oh, screw off." She tried to laugh through her pain. "Now please, figure out how to get me out of here, I'm actually being poached."

Thinking for a small moment the boys had to put together a plan. If Midoriya were to full cowl into the flames, this floor would probably give away from the force, taking them all down. Bakugo could have probably blasted her out of it onto the other side, but again they were stuck with their partner being unreachable.

"Boys, just go. You got the victim, the place is supposed to come down in minutes." Y/N coughed.

"Can't leave our partner in here, shit face." Bakugo grumbled.

"Well, you gotta or were all screwed." Y/N argued. "Look I'll be fine, I’m sure someone will come in and help me in a few minutes."

“And you’ll boil alive, yeah right.” Bakugo glared, still thinking.

“Nah, I’ll be fine. A few burns never killed anyone.” She huffed.

Bakugo gave her a look as to shut up, but she kept going. "C'mon Deku, you know I got this. You guys finish the mission."

As soon as Midoriya opened his mouth to try and side with someone, Bakugo leaned down and pulled off his com so she wouldn't hear what he said. Whatever he said made the poor little broccoli boy's jaw drop and eyes grow to the size of moons. Not finding the room to care, Y/N closed her eyes, panting and waited for them to leave.

She heard footsteps and looked back to see Bakugo hauling ass while Midoriya just stood there. "I'm pretty sure you're supposed to follow him."

"Ah, well…" Midoriya coughed, nervously. He seemed way jumpier after what Bakugo said.

"Izuku Midoriya, you will not jump into this fire!" She realized what he was going to do.

"I'm technically going to jump through it." He winced at hearing his full name.

"I think the hell not!" She snapped. "There is not enough space for you to jump. You will just launch yourself into that wall and probably take down this whole floor!"

"Yeah, that's the plan." He nodded.

"What about Bakugo and the hostage?" She glared.

"Part of the plan." He answered, vaguely.

"Yes, the sudden plan you didn't tell me anything about." Her scolding made his face twist into a pout, like a sweet little puppy that got kicked.

"You would have been mad at the plan." He argued.

"Deku… I'm mad right now. If you jump into this fire, I will beat you with Bakugo and then strangle him with your intestines. Don't. You. Dare-." Her threats were cut off by Bakugo's voice in the coming.

"Oi, shut up and trust us. Now hurry it up, damn nerd!"

Y/N groaned knowing they weren't going to listen to reason and they'd probably end up failing this exercise and end up in the nurse's office. Really, she was just overwhelmingly scared her partners would be hurt. She almost certainly didn't care about the grade or herself but just them.

Y/N watched Midoriya spark, before lunging at her. He hissed at the heat of her bubble burning through his costume and onto his skin. Once again, she watched green sparks travel up his arm as he reared back to punch out the cracked wall.

Once they emerged into fresh air, Y/N let her bubble drop fell fully into his arms. As she warned, the building started to crumble from where they emerged and continued downwards. The building began falling over, dropping debris everywhere. As she and Midoriya fell through the air, Y/N watched the building, internally fretting over Bakugo.

Suddenly an explosion erupted from a window and out came the devil himself. Bakugo launched out the window and directly into the two hurling towards the ground. He snatched them out of the air, redirecting their bodies out of the way of the falling building parts.

Panicking, as they came closer to the ground, Y/N quickly encased them in a bubble, despite Bakugo twisting around to take the brunt of the impact. They hit the ground and bounced a few times, rolling around inside her bubble. They rolled to a stop and she let her bubble pop.

They all looked at each other, dirty, burn and dazed and the victim doll safe. The timer dinged overhead, signifying the end of their simulation. Y/N laughed and fell back to lay on the ground, prompting the two boys to look over at her.

“What the hell are you laughing at?” Bakugo huffed and leaned back on his hands.

“That was way more dramatic than it had to be.” She snorted, bringing up her arms to cover her face.

“Y/N… we should probably get you to the nurse’s office.” Midoriya mumbled out, looking at her burns.

Later that night, Y/N grumbled glaring at the angry burns on her arms. Recovery girl managed to reduce them to minor second degree burns, but they still needed to be taken care of outside of the nurse’s office. She had been sitting there for a solid ten minutes, at least, trying to tell herself to just pick up the damn wet cloth and press it to the burns… but it hurt so five seconds after doing so she dropped the towel back into the bowl.

She needed to clean and wrap the burns before she could go downstairs. She took a deep breath and reached for the wet rag again, but thankfully, a soft knock echoed from her door. She jumped up to answer her savior and pulled it open to find her most recent teammates standing there.

“Oh, hi guys.” Y/N greeting, briefly noting Bakugo’s arm hanging over Midoriya’s shoulder. “What’s up, whatcha need?”

“H-Hi, Y/N we just wanted to, uh, um. Well-.” Midoriya tried to stutter out. “We brought you this for your burns!”

Midoriya thrusted out a small bottle of cream. “Aw, thanks. That’s sweet of you.”

“Yeah, yeah. We gotta talk. So, you gonna let us in or what?” Bakugo grumbled, tugging Midoriya closer.

“Ah, blunt as always, Bakugo.” She rolled her eyes and stepped back and gestured into the room. “But, yes, come in.”

Y/N closed the door as they stepped through and took opposite seats. Bakugo in her previous seat and Midoriya on the edge of her bed. The air grew tense and awkward as Y/N moved to stand next to Bakugo.

She played with the cold water in the bowl, still trying to convince herself to clean her burns, but as the minutes dragged on, she became distracted by the two boys in her room. She would absolutely be lying if she were to say she wasn’t attracted to them.

Midoriya; sweet and kind. Probably has killed a fly on accident and cried about it. A cute little broccoli babe. Bakugo; hot-headed and loud mouthed. Probably tells Midoriya he killed a fly just to watch him cry. A hot angry porcupine. She wasn’t stupid enough to try anything with either of them, but a girl could dream, yeah?

“Fuck, come here.” Bakugo suddenly yanked her arm and grabbed the cold rag before pressing it to her arm.

“Ow! You asshole!” She yanked her arm away. “That fucking hurt!”

“Well, I’m tired of sitting her watching you play with the towel instead of cleaning them like you’re supposed to be doing, shitty woman.” He grumbled reaching out to grab her arm again.

“Kacchan, you can’t be so rough.” Midoriya stepped in and stopped him. “Sorry, he get’s like that when he’s worried.”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to worry, though.” Y/N sighed, letting Midoriya take her wrist, the one that was unmarked. “What did you guys want to talk about.”

“Yeah, um…” Bakugo handed him the wet cloth and tugged Y/N to sit in his lap. “Sorry, for being an ass today during training.”

Y/N blushed at her new seating predicament, but she covered her embarrassment with an attempted joke. “Okay, Midoriya what have you done with Bakugo? He’s openly showing he’s worried about his friends and he’s apologizing?” She winced as he patted her wound with the cold towel.

“Yeah, that’s because you’re not his friend.” Midoriya coughed. “Neither of us are.”

For some reason that made her heart hurt. She talked to both boys relatively often, not enough to be as close as she and Mina were, but she was sure she could call them both friends at least. “Well, ouch. Was I that bad of a teammate today?”

“No, you idiot.” Bakugo grumbled, wrapping his arm around her waist tighter and reached over to grab the gauze she was supposed to use and handed it over to Midoriya. “You weren’t great, but you weren’t shit either.”

“Kacchan, be nice…” Midoriya warned, weakly.

“I am, this as nice as I’m gonna get, nerd.” Bakugo muttered laying his head on her shoulder.

Y/N winced again, when the green haired boy wrapped her arm. “I’m sorry? What the flying fuck is going on?”

“Um, I- we… Um.” Midoriya stared at her arm, before looking up at her. “We match.”

Y/N blinked, confused at first. What did they match? Clothes? No. Grades for the match? No. she was two points below Bakugo and one above Midoriya. What did they- Oh.

“Oh.” She breathed.

“Yeah. ‘oh’.” Bakugo grumbled, raising his own wrist up to reveal his marks to her as did Midoriya.

Y/N sat frozen, staring at the matching nine marks shining against their skin. Midoriya began to pull his arm away, to finish dressing her arm, but she was quick to grab him. She brushed a thumb over his tattoos, not noticing the bright colour washing over his face. She grasped Bakugo’s arm and did the same, a gently shudder running through him at the contact.

They matched.

“Y/N?” Midoriya called, bringing her attention back.

“Yeah?” Her voice cracked, and his fingers reached up to brush across her cheek.

“Why are you crying?” Bakugo hugged her a bit tighter at Midoriya’s words.

Y/N sniffled and laughed. “I’ve been so scared to meet you two, I hid my marks for so long.”

“What the hell you do that shit for?” Bakugo grunted, handing her arm to Midoriya so he could finish. “We could have been gotten this over with three fucking years ago.”

“Exactly, I’m not ready to be rejected by one of my soulmates, let alone both.” She cried.

“Rejected?” Midoriya choked. “You think we’re going to reject you?”

“Why the hell would we do that?” Bakugo snapped.

“Any number of reason, really.” She sniffled, pulling open a drawer and pulled out a small legal pad. “They might not be gay. They could be gay for each other and not want a third. They could think multiple people in a relationship is gross. One could think I’m ugly-.”

Bakugo ripped her pad out of her hand and threw it in the trashcan. “All I’m hearing is bullshit. What is with you two thinking this way?”

“Shut up and hand me the gauze.” Midoriya glared up at Bakugo. “You told me to jump off the roof, so could you blame me for being scared you’d reject me.”

“You didn’t even talk to me about it. You ran away, avoided me and then tried to reject me yourself!” Bakugo reached over and thumped him in the forehead. “Almost fucked up everything, dumbass.”

The boys argued back and forth for a moment, Bakugo reaching to attack Midoriya and the latter crying and swatting at the explosive hands gripping his collar. Y/N laughed, easily breaking up their bickering. Both boys smiled, hearing her laughter, if sounded different hearing it now. Especially with what they now knew.

It sounded better.

“This is gonna be one hell of a ride.” She laughed.

“Fate probably said we’d need someone to maintain the speed on this roller coaster.” Midoriya joked, kissing her wrapping after he was done.

“Yeah, better hold on tight.” Bakugo kissed her shoulder.

“I’m not letting go anytime soon.”

Bonus:

“What the fuck is it supposed to be?” Y/N tilted her head looking at Mina’s fully formed mark.

“I don’t know, I’m really confused.” Mina sighed. It honestly looked like two red jagged planks crossed in the middle making an ‘x’ shape.

“Watch it, Pinky.” Bakugo huffed, dropping on to the couch and thumped his boyfriend’s nose who laid cuddled into Y/N’s stomach.

Midoriya grumbled and curled further into Y/N’s tummy and Y/N swatted away Bakugo pestering finger. “Stop that.” She ordered.

“He’s gonna ruin his sleep schedule.” Bakugo kept pestering him. “He’ll be up at two am and I’m sending him to bug you.”

“And I’ll call you to come help tire him out.” She smirked, pecking his lips cheekily.

“You guys are so cute, it’s fucking gross.” Mina gagged. “Anyway, I wonder what their quirk would be?”

“I dunno, maybe they’d a treasure finder… like ‘x marks the spot.’ Or something.” Y/N offered.

“Or hardening… because I’m pretty sure that’s Shitty hair’s mark.” Bakugo informed dryly.

Mina blinked at him and then at the person of interest as they popped into the room with Sero. Y/N bubbled Midoriya and leaned to the side, just because she knew what Mina was going to do.

Three…

Two…

One.

“Kirishima show me your wrist!”

#katsuki bakugo #bnha bakugo katsuki #deku midoriya #bakudeku #poly bakudeku x reader #mina ashido #bnha fanfiction #mha bakugou #bakugo x reader #bakugou x midoriya #midoriya x reader

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coffee-obsessed-writer · 5 years

Text

When You Least Expect It Part Ten

Jensen x Musician!Reader; Mama Mia (OFC); Dee (OFC); Briana Buckmaster

Masterlist - Contains Chapter Links & Wardrobe Collages

A/N: This is a slow burn fic that I have been working on for a while. Its a story I wrote for myself and just wanted to share with everyone. Yes, the “Dee” in the story is who you think, but there is no intended hate on her or their actual marriage. It is a work of fiction, that is all. Part ten is from the Both POV. There is also a playlist to go along with the series.

Spotify Playlist : Songs in this chapter - “How Will I Know” “Can’t Say No”

Beta’d by @closetspngirl who has contributed so much to this fic! Thank you for not only indulging my lunacy but encouraging it with gusto! I don’t know what I would do without you!!!

Chapter Summary: Jensen decides its time to put an ex in their place and while its another month closer to the festival, Y/N is starting to feel the pressure of getting everything done and calls on some reinforcements. But when a call comes in that shakes both Y/N & Jensen badly, they will have to figure how out to navigate this new threat.

Chapter Warnings: Eh - not much - a little angst, a little floof.

WC: 10.8K **with lyrics. Lyrics NOT written by me in bold, italic.

*Banner created by me; pics & gifs found online.

Tags are open if you want on, or wanna hop off.

Sleep was not her friend. For hours after Y/N received the call warning her to stay away from Jensen, she tossed and turned relentlessly. She couldn’t get the voice out of her mind… it was Dee; there was no doubt there. The only thing she questioned was if she should tell Jensen. The back and forth arguing she was doing with herself was only making sleep more elusive. As she watched the minutes tick by on the bedside clock, Y/N grew more and more frustrated.

With only two hours left until her alarm was to wake her for the airport, she got out of bed. Her suitcase had already been packed for her coast to coast trip, and for the first time since taking the job, she did not want to go. What she wanted to do, was rewind the clock to the night before and relive her date with Jensen.

It had been a fairytale evening, and for a girl that rarely believed in those kinds of stories, she felt herself longing for the prince to return with her lost slipper. Y/N was tired but yet energized with how to handle the direction everything was taking. The confrontation with Nathan, Jensen having to step in, the date, and now his ex deciding it was her turn to stir up trouble.

She had to tell him about the call, and soon. It was only fair. He came to her immediately after his conversation with Jared. Didn’t she owe him the same favor? Y/N decided she did. Not only that, but above all else, Jensen was her friend. She had to tell him that Dee had been calling… what made her sit up and take pause though, was that Dee had to know Y/N would say something. So, why make the call?

Because she’s jealous and freaked now that she saw you together, her subconscious spoke up softly. That little twist in her stomach that came with instincts kicking in churned now and she knew that had to be it. Dee was jealous and scared. The idiot lost a damn good man and when she realized the error of her ways, it was too late. While Y/N didn’t subscribe to the kind of games some women liked to play, she knew the playbook well enough. She would never stoop to that level, but one thing was for sure; this was a move that Dee would come to regret making.

Daylight finally broke and going on no sleep, Y/N got into her favorite pair of Yoga pants and Zeppelin t-shirt, threw on her black Birkenstocks and put the suitcase near the door for when the car arrived to take her to the airport. She figured Jensen would still be sleeping, but she couldn’t go another minute without doing something about the call she got the night before.

Bringing up the messaging app on her phone, Y/N went to Jensen’s messages and bit her lip as she smiled seeing the last few he’d sent her, before sending one of her own.

<<Hey. Last night was fun. Sad we can’t do it again tonight. Getting ready to go soon, but was hoping we could talk later. Call you when I land.

Y/N sighed and tucked the phone away again, feeling a little better, that she at least put that out there. She had the whole flight to Seattle to try and figure out what she wanted to say about it. At that moment, she felt childish and that she was overreacting. They were adults, after all. So what if Dee called and tried to warn her away from Jensen, it didn’t mean she had to listen. Y/N sat on one of the island stools and let her head rest on her arms folded in front of her on the granite countertop.

“I just wanna sleep,” she whined, tired from both lack of rest and overthinking.

A soft knock came at the door. She looked up curiously before double checking the clock on the stove. The car was more than an hour early; unless it wasn’t the car service…

Y/N was suddenly nervous as she slowly walked towards the door. After Nathan, and then the call, she was more than a little on edge. She stood on her toes and looked through the peephole of the front door and felt a swell of relief, then immediately exhilarated. She unlatched the deadbolt and lock on the handle and opened to see Jensen standing there.

“Hey, Trix. Heard you needed a ride to the airport,” he said, leaning nonchalantly against the door frame with one foot kicked over the other. “Thought I would give ya a lift.” He pushed off with his shoulder and stepped inside, softly closing the door behind him.

“You’re insane,” she chuckled. “Why are you not home sleeping?”

“Figured this would be the last time we saw each other for a while--”

She shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. “You just saw me like, four hours ago.”

“Five, actually. Now I probably won’t see you for a month, so, let me take you to the airport. Gives us another couple hours to hang out.”

“Geez, I dunno… I’m startin’ to think you might like me a little bit…” she teased, which provoked him into grabbing her wrist and playfully pulling her into him.

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Maybe just a little.” Jensen gazed down at her, his green eyes soft while he studied her face. “Did you sleep at all?” he asked quietly, suddenly concerned with how worn out she looked. “You look tired. If the traveling is too much, just say so. We can send someone else out to take care of all this.”

The phone call came forward in her mind. Shit, she thought, I wasn’t prepared for this so soon…

“No, it's fine. I need to go, especially to Jersey. I just didn’t sleep well,” she breathed and had the sudden urge to lay her head on his chest. She pushed past her anxiety on how he would react and did it anyway. His arms instinctively ensconced her shoulders and his chin rested on her head as he held her.

“Why not?”

Y/N could hear his heart beating in his chest, slow and rhythmic; a sound that she would come to find quite calming. She was about to tell him about the call, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment. Right now, just wanted to be there, in his arms and hear his heart; not talking about exes and phone calls, again.

“Oh, you know… thinking too much,” she said, covering the truth for the time being.

“Well, at least you can snooze on the plane.”

“Exactly, no big deal,” Y/N said and looked up at him. “But I sure am glad you showed up to take me. Now I don’t have to tip the driver.”

“Oh, gonna just use me as a taxi and not even tip me? Wow. Rude. Honestly, I thought your father raised you better than that,” he said, his deadpan expression holding out, but her wide grin and peek-a-boo tongue gliding along her bottom lip finally made him crack a smile.

“I’ll tip you, Hollywood. No worries. Just not gonna be in cold hard cash,” she purred and stood up on her tiptoes to leave a long kiss on his cheek.

“Well… when you put it that way…” Jensen said and she could have sworn she saw a flush of color touch the height of his cheekbones.

“So, any chance there’s time for a coffee run before we gotta be there? Maybe even a bagel?”

“Well, coffee yes. But a bagel? No. Now you’re just being unreasonable.”

She groaned, rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “You’re gonna make me beg? For a bagel?”

“Oh, darlin’,” Jensen chuckled as he leaned down and kissed her softly, “if I wanted you to beg, it would be for a whole lot more than a bagel. But no time for that now. Come on, let’s go grab some coffee.”

Y/N just stared at him, giving him that ‘I-can’t-believe-you-just-went-there’ look. Jensen flashed her an impish smile, clearly as payback for her innuendo, then grabbed her suitcase and headed for the door.

Twenty minutes later, Y/N had a coffee and bagel in hand as Jensen directed his truck towards the airport. It was quiet, but not in their normal, comfortable sort of way. She needed to talk to him about Dee, but it didn’t feel like the time; either that or she was just procrastinating and avoiding the inevitable. He hadn’t brought up the text message she sent either, but as they drove down the freeway she could feel his eyes wander over to her.

“What?” she asked and nibbled at the bagel.

“Nothing,” he said and shrugged with his expression. “You’re just quiet. You’re never quiet.”

“Just tired,” she replied, trying to be casual and shrugged it off.

“Nah, it’s more than that. Come on, spill it. What’s up?”

Y/N kept her focus on the bagel, as she ripped off a small piece of dough and ate it. “Did you, uh… did you happen to see the text I sent you?”

“Oh, yeah. I got it just as I was getting to your place and then I forgot. What did you wanna talk about? Is, whatever it is, why you seem... not yourself?”

She nodded slightly, as a defeated sigh escaped her lips. “I kept getting these calls, on and off for a while now. Honestly, I thought they were Nathan, or maybe even my brother.”

At the mention of Nathan, Jensen’s entire body tensed up. “Nathan’s calling you?” he asked through tight, pursed lips.

“No... it wasn’t him. I thought it was for a minute though. So last night when they called--”

“Last night? When last night?”

“After you brought me home. I went to bed and the same number called. I finally answered it.”

“If it wasn’t Nathan, then who?”

She cast her eyes down on the bagel again. “I don’t have any proof other than the voice, but… I’m pretty sure it was Dee.” Y/N swallowed nervously and then hesitantly looked in his direction. “I wasn’t sure if I should tell you--”

“What did she say?” His eyes were still set straight ahead, and he was white-knuckling the steering wheel.

“I don’t remember word for word, but the gist was to stop seeing you.”

Jensen’s mouth pulled into a thin line, and she could see him biting down on his bottom lip. “I need you to try and remember, okay? Please?”

Y/N thought back to the call but didn’t want to reiterate it word for word. She tried to think of a way to make it not seem so bad, then immediately got mad at herself. Why should she protect Dee, or make this easier for her in any way? SHE was the one who not only called but broke Jensen’s heart, left him for someone else without a word. Y/N’s need to avoid further conflict fell by the wayside, and she told him everything.

“She basically said to stay away from you, and that she saw us last night at the concert. The way I act around you is disgusting and I am out of my league with you. Also, I should go back to the cesspool I came from.”

Jensen fought the urge to pull the truck over and call Dee right there. Instead, he re-adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “What else?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Nothing. She hung up after that.”

“Are you alright? I mean, after what happened with Nathan, and now this…” he trailed off, and though the anger wasn’t prominent in his expression, she could feel it coming off of him in waves.

“I’m alright. Just annoyed I guess. I blocked the number. What pisses me off is that she thinks she has the right to say who deserves to be in your life. What right does she have after what she did to you?”

That made the corner of his mouth tug into a small smile. “I guess what Jared said was true,” he sighed and finally took his eyes off the road briefly and turned his head to look at her. “I’m sorry she’s putting you in the middle of this.”

“Please, after what Nathan did? This is nothing.”

“But it’s not nothing, Y/N. I don’t care about what she did to me. I do care, however, that she’s bringing you into it just because she’s changed her mind. I’m pissed at myself for believing that she just wanted to be friends again and for letting her back in at all.”

“Sure does sound familiar,” Y/N mumbled and noticed Jensen smirk at her words. “Don’t be mad at yourself, Jay. You were just doing what you thought was best. I wasn’t even going to bring it up. I did because you were so upfront about talking to her and I don’t want to see her fuck with you, again.”

Jensen glanced over at her and smiled sweetly. Y/N saw that it wasn’t completely genuine, but she didn’t take it personally. She just hated that he would beat himself up for a while, though it wasn’t his fault.

“Listen,” he started and glanced back at her before looking back at the scant traffic before him. “I need you to know that I have zero interest in her--”

“I know that.”

“You sure? No doubt in your mind?”

Y/N wrapped the bagel and put it back in the bag before unbuckling her seat belt, and sliding across the bench seat towards him. The moment her hand touched his arm, she felt his muscles relax and heard a breath of air sigh from his lips. Taking his right hand off the steering wheel, he moved his arm so she could tuck into his side. Jensen’s arm wrapped around her shoulders and held her while he drove down the freeway.

“Zero doubt,” she sighed and for the first time since she had gotten the call, she felt calm and relaxed enough to sleep.

Jensen went with Y/N as far into the airport as he could, having to say their goodbyes before the security checkpoint. They kept it short and sweet, not wanting to draw attention for Jensen’s sake. He made her promise to call when she landed, and she made him promise not to commit a felony where Dee was concerned.

He watched her go and was struck by how much he was going to miss her. Jensen leaned back against one of the large columns and waited until she disappeared into the sea of people coming and going before finally leaving the terminal.

Once he was back in his truck, he took note of the time and decided it was now or never. He pulled out his phone and brought up Dee’s contact, and hit the call button. It took only two rings for her to pick up, and she was already wide awake and overly exuberant answering the call.

“Hi, Jensen!” she said before he could even draw in a breath. “This is such a nice surprise!”

He chuckled as pleasantly as he could. “Hi, Dee. How’s it going?”

“Good! Just getting ready to leave. I have an early call today, so, thought I’d get a jump on the day. You’re rarely up this early, what’s going on?”

“Oh nothing, just heard you were in town and thought maybe we could meet up for coffee today. Catch up a bit.” He tried to keep his voice as even-keeled as possible, but the frustration he felt towards her was slowly winning out. “If you’re free that is.”

“I could be! Especially to have coffee with you. Around one ok?”

“Yeah, perfect. Name the place.”

“There’s a cool little cafe around the corner from where we’re filming today, called Cuppa. They have this amazing Brazilian blend, you’ll love it!”

“Sound great. Meet ya there round one,” he replied, not wanting to get roped into small talk. “I gotta run, but, uh, have a good day on set and I’ll see ya then.”

“Ok! I’m so excited! So, glad you called, by--”

Jensen hung up and tossed the phone aside, his features set in a scowl. He had a few hours where he could calm down and recenter himself before seeing her. He’d promised Y/N he wouldn’t be too harsh, but there were a few things he was itching to say. Jensen had never been the kind of guy to be purposefully cruel, and it was going to take a lot of willpower on his part to stay that way. But… Y/N asked, so he had to try.

Later that afternoon, he found himself sitting in the back corner of the terrace at Cuppa. Dee was right, the Brazilian blend was great and he made a note to get some for his place. At least this wouldn’t be a total waste of time, he thought as he brought the mug to his lips.

Just as he was setting it back down, Dee appeared from inside the cafe and found him in the quiet nook of the patio. He stayed in his chair instead of standing as a gentleman should, and watched her through narrowed eyes as she nearly floated across terrace.

“Hey,” she smiled brightly, before pulling out a chair to join him. She re-adjusted her oversized-brim hat and rested her clutch on the table. “You look great! How have you been?”

“Not bad. Yourself?” Jensen asked, trying to soften the way he was looking at her, but it was a hard thing for him to control now that she was actually there in front of him. The sight of this one woman, someone he used to love and care for so much, was now making him feel anger and regret. It was an odd sensation because so much of her was the same--from the wide-brimmed hat she wore to the color of her lipstick--she was physically so familiar. But emotionally, she felt incredibly different and Jensen was struggling to understand how he had loved her the way he did.

“Oh you know, livin’ the dream,” she chuckled.

The waitress came around and took her order. Jensen told her he was fine, and she went off to retrieve Dee’s request.

“I was so surprised to get your call today! I mean, it was a great surprise, just unexpected. Figured you would be getting ready to leave for Vancouver.”

“I am, in a couple days, actually. I just heard you were in town and like I said, wanted to catch up. How’s, uh… what was his name again? Greg? Gordon?”

“Grayson. And, we broke up,” she replied with a heavy sigh. “It just wasn’t working out.”

“Ohh,” Jensen said with a frown. “That’s too bad.”

“It is,” she sighed, and looked up at him from under the brim of her hat with sad, wide eyes.

She knew just how to look at him to get the maximum response. Back when they were together, she could use this same look a million different times to get what she wanted. All she would have to do is look at him as she was then, pout her lip and he’d cave to her. Not now. Not anymore.

The waitress appeared at the table and placed Dee’s coffee before her, then asked if they needed anything else before walking away.

“Well, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you,” he said, unsure of when he wanted to segway into why he really called her here. Part of him wanted to see how long she could go on this way, batting her eyes and trying to be sweet; part of him wanted to let her know that this was never going to happen. Part of him wanted to really make her understand that he wasn’t going to put up with her drama. And if that meant he had to be firmer than he would like…

“...Jensen?” Dee said, waved her hand in front of his face. “You still with me?”

“Hmm?” he asked, snapping out of the fog of thoughts that clouded him. “Yeah, sorry, drifted for a minute. You were saying?”

“Just that… I should have known Grayson wasn’t right for me. I was so stupid…” she trailed off, pouting her bottom lip slightly and allowing her eyes to fill with regret.

Jensen nearly choked on his coffee, but recovered and placed the cup back to the table. “Well, you know everything happens for a reason, Dee.”

“It does,” she said and leaned across the table to cover his hand with hers for a tender moment before leaning back in her chair. “It really does. That’s why I was so happy you called me today. I was really hoping to see you so we could do just what we’re doing. Catch up, talk face to face. Maybe…” she trailed off again and shrugged timidly.

“Maybe, what?” he asked.

“See more of each other, I’m hoping.”

Jensen let her request hang in the space between them. He leaned his elbows on the table, and reached across for her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. He knew if he gave her enough time, she’d give him the perfect opportunity to say his peace.

“Oh, sweetheart… that’s not gonna happen,” Jensen replied in his most condescending tone and yet continued to hold her hand, but in no way that could be construed as loving or sweet. “You see, I am already seeing someone and last night, you called her. You had the nerve to tell her to back off from me. This, just two days after you were telling Gen that you wanted us to get back together.” Jensen bent his head to the side slightly and smiled, but there was no humor behind it.

Dee’s expression fell as she slowly pulled her hand out of his. The radiant smile she had been wearing broke into pieces as Jensen’s quiet admonishing continued.

“You had the balls, to call Y/N, tell her to stay away, that she was out of her league. Then--”

“I know what I said,” Dee bit back, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest.

“Did you think she wouldn’t tell me?”

Dee shrugged again and averted her eyes. “I was pissed, okay? I saw you two at the Jazzfest and it pissed me off. I was drinking and I made a phone call. Sue me.”

“You know, I may have bought that, but it wasn’t the first call though, was it? You’ve been calling Y/N, on and off, for weeks. This is just the first time she picked up.”

Dee didn’t respond, she just sat and stewed, feeling her anger grow each time she heard Jensen say Y/N’s name.

“Oh, but how she spoke to me on New Year’s, that was okay?”

“That whole night is a little fuzzy for me still, but from what I do remember, she tried to be civil.”

“Oh, well, good for her,” Dee scoffed and drank her coffee, if for no other reason then to have something to do besides getting chastised by him.

“What I don’t get is, why? What the hell do you gain from this? Why would you tell Gen--”

“How do you even know about that?”

“It doesn’t matter, Dee. What matters is your delusional enough to think any of this would work. We’re done. You left. Eventually, I got over it.”

Dee leaned into the conversation and lowered her voice, biting back at him. “YOU were supposed to propose. You had the ring! But then, what? Chickened out? I did what I did because I thought it would help you along to finally make it official. It was supposed to be you and me forever! But no, you had to go and meet someone else!”

Jensen sat up straighter, his expression a mix of confusion and anger. “What the HELL are you talking about? Who said I had a ring?!”

“A friend of mine saw you in the jewelry store. She said you left with a ring box,” Dee replied smugly. “If you had just proposed… none of this would have happened. We wouldn’t have missed out on a year together,” she hissed and sat back in her chair again.

“Wait a fucking minute…” Jensen paused to collect himself, afraid if he didn’t that the other patrons would get quite a show. “... are you telling me you left me for that guy, solely to provoke me into proposing? What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know what that did to me? You leaving, without a fucking word?” With each thought, his temper was rising along with the volume of his words. “Do you care what that did? NO! ‘Cause why would you?!”

“Jensen… I…” she stammered, taken back by the height of his anger.

“Yeah, go ahead, I dare you to try and justify anything. Just for the record, I did have a ring. I bought one two months before you left. I never gave it to you because I wasn’t sure if you were the right one. Something in my gut told me to wait… best fucking decision I ever made. Wanna know why? Because you leaving me, led me to a woman that doesn’t play games. She doesn’t fuck with people’s feeling for sport. She’s good and genuine, and kind. I’ll be damned if I will let you fuck with her, too!”

Jensen stood from the table and reached for his wallet to leave money for the coffee. He stopped and put it back in his back pocket. “You know what, buy your own damn coffee.” He started to walk away but hesitated and turned back, leaning down so his lips were only a few inches from her ear.

“If I find out that you came within ten feet of Y/N, or that you tried to contact her again in any way--or me for that matter--I promise that you will be sorry that you ever met me. Got it?”

Dee straightened her back and turned to face him. Their eyes were locked, and Jensen’s lips snarled into a warning smile when he saw the utter indigence on her face. “Don’t push me, Dee. You won’t like how I react.”

“I hear you loud and clear,” she replied flatly. When he turned to walk away, she didn’t bother looking over her shoulder. She knew he would leave without looking back.

Dee waited at the table for a few minutes, casually drinking her coffee, rattled by the conversation that just took place. She did her best to collect herself before reaching into her clutch and pulling out her phone. She searched her contacts, found who she was looking for and hit call. Two rings, and he answered.

“Hey, it’s Dee. I need you to do some digging for me,” she paused and waited for him to reply. “Yes, the name is Y/F/N L/N, all I know is she’s from Seaside, New Jersey. Call me back with what you find out.”

Dee ended the call, drained the rest of the coffee from her cup and rose from the table just as the waitress returned. As she left Cuppa’s garden terrace and made her way back to the set, all the kinds of ideas were starting to come to mind. Some she thought were doable, others may be taking it too far. All she knew then, is that she wasn’t completely done with Y/N yet.

A month of travel, twelve-hour work days and unending conference calls had left Y/N tired, cranky and ready for a vacation. The work that was starting to pile up was overwhelming, and while she had a supportive team of people around her, it was still adding up to be more then she could handle.

In a momentary breakdown, she called on two of the people she knew she could count on, that wasn’t currently filming in Vancouver. Jensen’s schedule had been impossible to try and get around, and she refused to spend the time she did have on the phone with him complaining about how much work there was. Thankfully, Briana and Mama both answered her distress call and after a little bit of rearranging, were due to arrive in Austin the next day. They both insisted on getting themselves to the townhouse, so Y/N wasn’t running back and forth from the airport. For once, she didn’t try to fight them on it.

Y/N wasn’t exactly surprised that they became fast friends, as they were similar in so many ways. Watching them interact was the kind of entertainment that Y/N didn’t realize she needed at that moment. The first night the three of them spent in the townhouse, working, laughing, eating and drinking, was the best help Y/N could have received; both for relieving the stress of work, and the emotional support provided.

The hours ticked by and when the first bottle of wine had been finished, Y/N went down to the kitchen to grab the second bottle. As she was rifling through the drawer for the corkscrew, her phone began to vibrate in her pocket. She fished it out and saw Jensen’s name on the screen.

“Hey there stranger,” she greeted, tucking the phone between her ear and shoulder while continuing to search for the gadget. “How’s it going?”

“Not too bad, how’s things back home?”

“Oh you know, a hot mess. But at least Bri and Mama are here to wallow in it with me.”

“Bri and Mama are in the same room and I’m missing it? That seems wildly unfair,” Jensen groaned.

“You have no idea. Rehearsals tomorrow should be a hoot,” she chuckled and finally found what she was looking for. “You guys done for the day?”

“Nah, just taking a dinner break. I wanted to tell you there was a slight change of plans.”

She froze mid uncorking and sighed. “Oh no… what?”

“Nothing bad,” he laughed. “Jared’s party… not August. They had to shuffle some things around so it's weekend after next.”

“Wait… that means you’ll be back before Comic-Con, then?” Y/N felt a burst of excitement flood her chest. “Really?”

Jensen laughed softly. “Yeah, really. In fact, I should be back by early next week. So, maybe we plan that second date. Whatcha say?”

Y/N bit down on her lower lip and inhaled deeply, trying to be suave and cool when really she wanted to flail and scream with all the pent up giddiness he stirred in her.

“Well, I haven’t found my grass skirt yet, but I am sure I can make that work.”

“Atta girl, Trix. So now, what’s this about rehearsals tomorrow?” he asked in a low, playful voice. “What kind of rehearsals are we talking about? Seems a little early for rehearsals, no?”

“Well, with Mama here, we’re going to head over to the Rollins Studio Theater tomorrow night, and run through a few things. She can see the layout of the stage, meet the musicians and stuff like that. Bri is going to stand in for one of the other girls and we have a couple local dancers coming from the troupe I found here.”

“Are you singing?”

“In the routine, yeah, I am. Mama’s condition to bring the troupe out was that I do a number with them. She’s dyyyying to direct me for a change, so this should be a whole lotta fun. I’m sure she’ll want me to do something tomorrow, but I am going to try and talk her out of it.”

“Yeah, you know that won’t happen. And, what’s worse is, I’m missing it. Have I said that this is incredibly unfair?”

“Once or twice…” she giggled. “Hey… Jay?”

“Yeah?”

A loud burst of laughter came from above, followed by two sets of footsteps coming down the stairs. Y/N sighed softly and knew that she’d have to cut the call short.

“I’m really glad you’re coming back early. I miss you,” she mumbled the last bit, wanting desperately to tell him how much, but just glad she was able to say it at all. Despite how well their date went, not seeing him for nearly a month was making some old anxieties settle in.

“I miss you too. Promise, you’ll see me soon.”

“Gonna give me that boy scout salute bullshit again?” she laughed.

“Nah. I’ve moved on to pinky promises,” he teased.

Mama and Bri appeared in the kitchen and stopped when they saw Y/N on the phone. Both with their brows raised in curiosity, then whispering to each other followed by hushed giggles.

“Well, I have an audience now, so I’ll let you go. Talk soon?”

“Absolutely. I��ll call you tomorrow, and you can tell me all about your pajama party. Night, Trix.”

“Night, Jay.”

Y/N ended the call and slowly put it back in her pocket before meeting their inquisitive gaze.

“Well?!” Bri whined.

“Well, what?” Y/N laughed nervously and went back to opening the wine.

“Oh no, you are not gonna play coy with us, girlie. Pour the damn wine and then spill your damn guts. Miss Bri and I were just talkin’ upstairs and agreed it’s been way too long since you gave either of us an update.”

“Life’s been a smidge busy,” she said just as the cork finally popped.

“I couldn’t care less how busy you’ve been. Last we sat and talked about Mr. Dreamy was way back in January, and you made me a promise. Did you fulfill it?”

“What promise?” Bri asked, looking excitedly between Y/N and Mama.

Mama raised her thick brows inquisitively. “Well, you gonna tell the girl or am I?”

“Fine. Mama made me promise to come back here and tell Jensen that I was interested,” she replied quickly, hoping for no follow-ups, but knew she would be disappointed.

“Annnd…” Mama prodded. “There was something else in that promise.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “And kiss him.”

“Ohhhh…” Bri giggled and excitedly clapped her hands. “Well, Mama, I am happy to report that she kept her promise. Saw it with my own two eyes!”

“Oh Lordy, thank ya, Jesus!” Mama raised her hands to the sky and bowed her head. “And.... now, tell me all about it.”

“Mama…”

“No, now you listen. That boy is downright delicious. You can’t tell me that you kissed him and not give details,” Mama said, crossed her arms over her ample bosom and turned to Briana for support.

“Boy is he…” Bri mused and then cleared her throat. “And Mama’s right… I mean I saw that sweet little kiss at the bar, but I know you two went out to Jazzfest and I’m not real happy I didn’t get an immediate phone call when you got home.”

Y/N flashed to the call and subsequent brief drama with Dee. Deciding to leave that out, for the time being, she apologized. “I’m sorry. It was late and I had to leave early the next day.”

“Please tell me you invited him in…” Mama pleaded but could see by Y/N’s expression it was her turn to be disappointed.

“Are we going back upstairs? Cause I could really use some of this wine now,” Y/N said and exhaled deeply.

When neither Bri nor Mama turned for the stairs, Y/N grabbed three fresh wine glasses from the cabinet and filled them halfway. She drank two big gulps of hers and could feel both sets of eyes on her as she did.

“No,” she managed to squeak out after finishing most of the wine. “He didn’t spend the night.”

“Jesus wept,” Mama moaned and pulled out one of the island stools. “What in heaven’s name were you thinkin’?”

Y/N was quiet. She didn’t know how to answer, exactly. When she didn’t respond at all, Mama kept going.

“Suga, you gotta stop being so scared and let the man in. I’m glad you two are finally gettin’ on the right path, but you gotta be bold. Take the initiative. Ask the man to spend the--”

“June!” Y/N barked suddenly, catching Mama off guard.

“Using my Christian name… that’s my sign to shut up…” Mama explained to Briana in a hushed tone.

“I’m sorry, Mama, I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that I know… okay? You don’t think I want to sleep with him? Ask him to spend the night? Of course, I do! I like him, a lot. I want that to happen… but…”

“But what, honey?” Bri asked, and lovingly laid a hand on top of Y/N’s.

“I’m scared.” Y/N felt her entire body fill with relief at the admission. Scared didn’t begin to cover it really. There was a whole host of emotions that began to flow at the thought of being more intimate with Jensen. That kind of vulnerability seemed like pressure she wasn’t completely ready for.

“After what you’ve been through, I can understand that completely,” Mama said. “But you use fear as a cloak to shield yourself. You can’t do that forever.”

“No, but I can take it off slowly.”

“Touché. But… allow me to play devil’s advocate… this man likes you, clearly. You want him just as much. What’s it gonna take for you to trust him enough, to let this guard of yours down?”

“It's down, trust me. I’m just not ready to bare everything, okay? I know we have this crazy chemistry, I feel it every damn time the man looks at me. But, what if we sleep together and he’s disappointed. Being with someone like him…” Y/N snorted a laugh and refilled her glass, promptly taking a large gulp. “His ex… I hate the woman but damn, she’s… she’s gorgeous and worldly, and... I can’t live up to that.”

“Honey…” Bri started and stopped when Y/N’s expression pleaded with her to do so. She held her hands up in relent but continued with another thought. “Trust me when I tell you, Jensen is the most regular guy you’ll ever know. He’s just some down-home boy, who likes to play music, make people laugh, cleans up real nice and just wants to love all over you. He’s not anything like what most people perceive him to be.”

“I know that,” Y/N replied quietly, keeping her eyes glued to her glass while her fingers toyed with the stem.

“Ok. So then, what is it really?” Bri asked, trying to encourage her to open up and talk through whatever it was she needed to. “Because let me tell you, I don’t care who he was within the past, he’s only got eyes for you right now.”

Y/N looked up and met their gazes. She felt the sting of emotion at the corner of her eyes and furrowed her brow trying to decide if she could actually say the words that came forth in response to Briana’s question.

“Because, if we sleep together, that’s it, I’ll be gone. I’ll fall in love with him and then everything will fall apart.” A stray tear or two fell, but she was able to keep her emotions in check.

Bri put an arm around her and rested her head on her shoulder. “You don’t know that.”

“Maybe not, but that’s what I’m afraid of. And for as far as Jensen and I have come, as much as I care about him and trust him; part of me is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Y/N, you listen to Mama now, okay?” Mama said, leaning across the counter and squeezing her hand. “No matter what comes at you, you can handle it. And if the other shoe does drop, well then, you let it go, put on your best stilettos and keep on fucking walking.”

“I just don’t know if I’m that brave, Mama. Look, I love you both for being so supportive, but honestly, I just want to get the work done and get some sleep. Talking about all this right now just feels overwhelming and tomorrow is going to be a long ass day.”

Mama and Bri exchanged a look of empathy for their friend when Y/N cast her eyes down to her fingers that were still fidgeting with the stem of the glass.

“Alright, Y/N. That’s alright by us. Come on, let’s get the bottle, another round of snacks and finalize these last minute changes, ok?” Bri hugged her a little tighter and got Y/N to smile.

“Yes, that I can do,” she said and swiped at the last tear that fell to her cheek. “That I can definitely do.”

The next day was more running around including meeting with the equipment rental representatives, dropping off some new plans to the city planner’s office, as well as swinging by the seamstress’ shop to pick up the dress Mama insisted Y/N wear when she performs with The Corsettes. Once the trio had completed all the tasks and had a quick lunch at Salty Sow, Y/N brought them over to the Rollins Theater and introduced them both to the local Burlesque troupe that agreed to join them on stage.

Mama was in her glory putting them on stage and talking with the musicians that came to sit in to play for the rehearsal. While she was putting her magic into action, Y/N brought the dress and accessories back to the dressing rooms, with Bri following close behind her.

“How ya feeling today, honey? Any better?”

“As far as…?”

“Just overall stress. I know you’re feeling the pinch of things, so if you need to delegate anymore work, I’m here for it. I cleared everything, booked myself a luxurious room and I’m staying in town til after Jared’s party. So use and abuse me, okay?”

Y/N chuckled and hung the dress up on the back of the door. “You’re amazing and I’d be lost without you,” Y/N smiled and hugged her friend. “I promise I will delegate. But I feel okay at the moment. I guess I’m just tired… it’s been a long few weeks.”

“Weeks? Try months, but yeah, it has been especially for you. You are kicking some serious ass with all this. You know that, right?”

Y/N shrugged. “I guess. I mean everything is on schedule, I think. Event planning isn’t exactly my forte, and I tried explaining that to Jensen when we first met, but…. you know him.”

“I do. Get an idea in that man’s head and it’s impossible to deter him.”

“Exactly. Stubborn as a mule, that one.”

They both had a good laugh at that, as Bri walked over to unzip the garment bag. “Holy mother of shit!” she exclaimed as she carefully removed it from the bag. “This is what you’re wearing?!”

Y/N nodded. “Mama insisted.”

“Well? Let’s see it on ya!” Bri said, more than a little giddy as she removed it from the hanger. “Here, you get dressed, I’ll go see if she’s ready for you.”

“Nooo, no. This is for dress rehearsals. Tonight is just the start of her putting a routine together now that she’s seen the stage. I just brought it in--”

“To try on and walk your cute little ass out on the stage. I will accept no other answer,” Bri interjected. “Now, please,” she sang cheerily but with that tone of ‘you best just do it’.

“And they call me bossy,” Y/N mumbled, then winked at Bri when she gave her that chastising raise of her brow.

“Five minutes, or I come and find you…” Bri warned as she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

“Yes ma’am,” Y/N chuckled and waited until she was gone to let her smile fade away.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and took a few deep breaths. The last couple of weeks had felt overwhelmingly hard, and she wasn’t sure why. Yes, there was a lot to do, and yes, she was doing most of it on her own now that more than half her team was working in Vancouver; but it was more than just that.

It was everything; Nathan showing up, Dee’s interference, Jensen’s… presence. She found it hard to focus on everything she needed to when really all she wanted to do was just take off with him to somewhere quiet and deserted; where it could just be the two of them and they could finally have peace and time to explore what it could be like being together.

Peace and time brings peace of mind, her mind sang out unprompted. It was her father’s mantra, especially when he was a few beers in and wallowing in his despair. He would repeat it to himself over and over when he was trying to ‘right the ship’, as he would say.

“Dad, help me out here,” Y/N whispered to the empty room. “I just need some kind of sign that this is right, that all of this… is where I’m supposed to be. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, daddy, and I’m scared. I don’t just mean the work, I’m talking about Jensen, too. Please…” she pleaded, closing her eyes and swallowing hard. “Just the smallest hint of a sign…”

The room was silent, not that she expected anything different but she wished for it harder than she’d ever wished for anything before. A few minutes went by before she was finally able to pull herself up and change into the dress. She decided to forgo the accessories, for now, hoping that both Mama and Bri would be appeased by at least seeing the dress on her.

As she made her way onto the stage, she exhaled slowly and adjusted the bodice of the dress. She was surprised by everything that had been done already and felt a little bit of relief knowing that so much was being handled without her having to oversee it all. The musicians were getting set, Mama and the dancers were huddled in a loose circle and getting to know each other, while Briana was sitting at the piano that was on stage left.

“Well damn, girl,” Bri said and whistled as she swung her legs to the other side of the piano bench. “You look amazing!”

“Thanks,” Y/N smiled. “Not the complete ensemble, but if you think my feet are getting in those boots tonight, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“Just the dress is fine. Gonna be a few though till they’re ready to anything that we could help with,” Bri stood from the bench and motioned for Y/N to sit. “Why don’t you play something. See how the acoustics sound in here.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” she agreed and adjusted the dress so she could sit easier. “What should I play? You gonna sing for me?”

“No, not tonight. I’ll go up in the back row, see how it sounds. You sing whatever you feel, honey.” Bri gave her a wink, and it did not go unnoticed by Y/N that she turned and gave Mama a knowing glance, too.

Y/N felt like they were sharing some kind of secret, but pushed it aside for the time being. Y/N didn’t know what to play, really. She hovered her hands over the ivory keys and waited until she saw Bri pick a seat in the back of the theater and sit down.

Since they had become friends over the past six months, Y/N made it her mission to hear every song Briana had recorded and fell in love with each and every one. Something moved her to pick one of those songs, and her hands found the proper starting keys.

Y/N played the melody from Bri’s cover of “How Will I Know?”; maybe it was all the talk of being with Jensen, or maybe, a residual question left over from the earlier prayer she sent up to her father. Either way, that was the song that first came to mind, so that’s what she played.

When the first few notes from the piano filled the theater, then followed by the soft tone of her voice, everyone on the stage stopped what they were doing and turned to watch her play. She didn’t need the mic turned on that sat on top of the piano, her voice carried through to the back of the quiet theater easily.

“Oh, it's you, I know… You’re the one I dream of Looks into, my eyes, take me to the clouds above How I lose control, can’t seem to get enough When I wake, from dreaming, tell me is it really love…”

A couple of the musicians on the other end of the stage picked up the beat on drums and percussion, falling easily into the soft, rhythmic tempo of the piano. They kept the instrumentals mellow, while still adding more depth to her already rich tone.

Y/N closed her eyes and started getting lost in what she was singing. Her mind completely forgot about the people around her, as she sang the lines of the song more to herself than anyone else in the room.

“How will I know, if you really love me? I say a prayer with every heartbeat I fall in love whenever we meet I’m asking you, what you know about these things?”

“How will I know, if you’re thinking of me? I try to phone, but I’m too shy, can’t speak Falling in love, is so bittersweet This love is strong, why do I feel weak...”

She transitioned into the second verse, thinking about Jensen and all that has been happening around them, to them… and when the chorus came around again, she could feel herself sing the words with a break in her voice. Y/N was using the music to speak and expel the overall feeling of desperation to understand how she would know that everything would ultimately be okay with Jensen. That she could take that step and let him in completely without losing herself in the process.

Falling in love, is so bittersweet This love is strong, why do I feel weak...”

The last note fell from her lips, and with it, the weight of her question. Her fingers landed on the last two keys, and the moment the reverberation from them stopped, the small audience on the stage, and the one out in the theater applauded. The sound of it pulled Y/N out of her mental space and back to reality, where she finally noticed how many people had been watching her sing. She felt a rush of embarrassment flood her face, her cheeks burning hot with knowing there were at least twenty people scattered around the theater just saw her perform so raw.

Jensen watched from the vestibule of the theater.

The moment that he had hung up with her yesterday, he knew he needed to come home. He hadn’t planned on coming back until the morning of Jared’s party, but there was something he heard in her voice that went beyond her being tired or overwhelmed. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but something in his gut was telling him he needed to come back. Not just to help with her workload, or even to bear witness to Briana and Mama Mia meeting for the first time. Though, if he was being honest with himself, it was the cherry on the sundae.

He sped from the airport to reach the Rollins Theater before Bri said they were due to arrive, but of course, traffic got in his way. Once he finally got there, he quietly came in through the main doors, and that’s when he heard her voice. From the first note that touched his ears, he felt like he had the wind knocked out of him. There was something about the sound of her singing that always made him feel that way.

Jensen peeked in the one theater door that was propped open and saw her there at the piano. Everyone else that was on the stage had been frozen in place as she sang; just as he was there by the door.

“Hey!” Bri said in a rough whisper from his right side. When he turned, he saw her there mid-row, watching Y/N sing up on the stage. “You made it! Come sit!” She patted the seat beside her and Jensen made his way down the row of seats to meet her.

He bent down, kissed her cheek in greeting and sat on the plush red theater chair. “Did she find out I was coming?” he asked nervously.

“Nope, doesn’t suspect a thing. Thought you were gonna be here earlier.”

“Traffic,” he grumbled but didn’t remove his eyes from the stage. “What is she wearing?” His eyes widened with excitement when he realized she was in costume. He thought back to that first night when he went to the rehearsal at the Bamboo and how quickly smitten he had become with her. Now… he was far beyond smitten.

“Mama apparently is making her wear it for whatever routine she puts together. I saw it and made her put it on.” Bri giggled and lightly elbowed him in the arm. “You’re welcome.”

Jensen laughed softly and gave her a nod of appreciation, but didn't want to respond. He just wanted to listen to Y/N sing and get lost in the sound of her voice. The way each lyric projected from her lips, and the way her fingers brushed against the ivory, it was as if she were painting with sound. Her talent filled him with an enormous rush of feeling and as the song carried through the auditorium effortlessly, each word felt like magic to his ears. She was soulful and raw, and he found himself falling more and more in love with her.

That realization hit with a force that physically knocked him back; something that did not go unnoticed by Briana.

“You alright there, buddy?” she chuckled quietly. “You’re looking a little green. Jet lag got ya down?”

“N-No, it’s… “ his thoughts broke off and he went quiet.

Bri studied his face for a minute, and when she came to understand his wistful, yet petrified expression, she sat back and smiled wide enough to bring out her cavernous dimples.

“Well, ho-ly shit. Jensen Ackles… you look me in the eyes and tell me… do you love this girl?”

His attention snapped back to Bri, surprised at how easily she could read him. “What? No. Huh?” he scrunched his face and shook his head, stuttering any response that tried to leave his mouth. When he turned back to the stage, and once again heard her voice, he knew he couldn’t even pretend to hide it anymore. This time, when Jensen turned back to Bri, he simply nodded.

Briana’s larger than life smile faded into something softer, and she put her arm around his shoulder. “You gonna tell her?” she asked.

He shook his head slowly. “Not yet. I need time to sit with it. Make sure its… real.”

Just then, Y/N finished the song. The last couple notes reverberated off the plush walls of the theater prompting the people on stage to applaud. Bri stood and did the same enthusiastically before she shuffled behind the seats and down the aisle. Jensen stood from his seat and slowly made his way out of the row and down the aisle towards the stage.

He watched as the recognition of his presence hit her. For him it felt like slow motion; from seeing her smile as their eyes locked, to her moving in his direction, he watched her and the flutter of excitement came alive in his stomach. Jensen didn’t realize how much he needed to see her. After a month of just phone calls and FaceTime, the idea that he could touch her again was bordering on overwhelming. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, sweep her up off her feet; but given their audience, kept his need to touch her in check

“What are you doing here?!” she asked, through a wide, cheeky grin. “You’re supposed to be in Vancouver!”

“Guy can’t change his plans--” he was interrupted by Y/N throwing her arms up around his neck and embracing him tightly.

Time seemed to stop for a second. Jensen hugged her back with all he had and relished in the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin, and how easily she fit into his arms like that last, perfect piece of the puzzle. He could feel her body relax into his and felt like he could close his eyes and stand there just holding her forever.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered before loosening her grip on him and pulling back just enough to leave a kiss on his cheek.

“I am too,” he rasped so only she could hear, before taking her by the hand and taking a step back to take in the costume she was wearing. “Boy am I glad I came home,” he said. “I would have been very upset to miss this…. Look at this dress!” He whistled with approval.

“Tell me she doesn’t look like an absolute treat in that!” Mama bellowed from the stage.

“Damn straight she does,” he said and winked at Y/N, then turned his attention to the tall, voluptuous, older woman on the stage. “Well, well, now there’s the woman I’ve been waiting to see!” Jensen called up to her. “Be right back,” he whispered to Y/N before heading up to see her.

Mama left a big, sloppy kiss on his cheek and hugged him so tight Jensen thought his back might crack. “It’s so good to see you, Mama,” he said when she finally let him go. “Glad you’re in town. Hope Y/N took you around to see the sights.”

“She’s workin’ on it for sure. Quite the city you got yourself. I can see why Y/N fell in love with it,” Mama said and glanced at Y/N with a soulful smirk. “In fact, I was planning on meeting up with some friends of mine that live in the area and taking in some sites tomorrow. So you’re timing is impeccable!” Mama pinched his cheek playfully.

“I’m doubly glad I made it time then,” Jensen chuckled. “So what are you thinking of doing here? Gonna get this one back up on stage?” He motioned his head towards Y/N who had rejoined them on the stage.

“Oh, darlin’, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t blackmail her into singin’ at least one song tonight. I got the number down, but just need to teach this talented lot the moves.” Mama shimmied her hips, causing a roar of hoots and hollers from the small gathering of dancers behind her. “Whatcha say you go grab a seat and I’ll get this group ready to go!”

“Sounds damn good to me!” he said with a wide grin.

Mama turned back to the band. “Y’all said you know ‘Can’t Say No’ so let’s roll with that one!”

Jensen went to walk off stage, leaving the matronly diva to do her thing and paused to where Y/N was standing near the piano. He took her hand and gave it a tender squeeze, before pulling her closer to leave a kiss on the top of her head. “Break a leg,” he whispered.

The way she smiled at him then--her lips pursed together, one corner of her mouth tugging up into a smirk--made him feel physically weak in the knees. Jensen felt like there was something different in the way her eyes danced when she looked at him; he couldn’t help but wonder if she was coming to some of her own realizations, too.

For now, he tried to let it go and remember that they weren’t alone and that he needed to sit with the feeling for a while. A moment later, he was sitting in the front row and watching Mama put everyone in their places. She sent Y/N off stage left and another woman off stage right. The band was warming up, various instruments playing various notes and Jensen wondered how any of them could truly concentrate on what they were doing. Finally, they found their pitch and quieted, before Mama counted the band off to start the number.

The music began, and the minute Y/N stepped on the stage to start singing, Jensen’s phone began to ring. He quickly reached into his pocket to silence it, regardless of who was calling, so he wouldn’t disturb the rehearsal. But across the screen flashed SAFEGATE, the security company who installed the alarm at the townhouse. He got up, answered the call, and swiftly walked up the aisle towards the vestibule of the theater.

“Hello?” he answered when he was clear of the auditorium.

“Hello, Mr. Ackles?”

“Yeah, this is he. What’s going on?”

“We’re calling to let you know that the alarm has been triggered at the property located at 87 North Piedmont Point. We’ve notified the local authorities and they are currently en route.”

“Oh, shit. Ok. Thank you, I’m on my way.”

Jensen’s body tensed, and he felt his gut lurch. ‘It’s a false alarm,’ he kept telling himself. ‘No big deal, it’s just a false alarm…’ He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, trying to calm whatever was prompting the feeling of dread that was washing over his current mantra.

From behind him, the theater door creaked open, and he realized the music from the stage had stopped.

“Hey,” Y/N said, stepping into the vestibule. From inside the theater, the music started up again. “What’s going on? I saw you run out. Is everything okay?”

“Uh, I don’t know. That was the security company. Apparently, the alarm was triggered at the townhouse. I’m going to head over there now. I’ll call you--”

“The fuck you will. That’s my home, Jensen. I’m going with you.”

“Y/N--”

“No. Wait here, two minutes. Let me change and tell the girls. I’m coming, and I swear if you leave without me…” she drew in a deep breath and was ready to give him what for, but he held his hands up in relent.

“Go change. I’ll be right here, waiting.”

Within ten minutes, Y/N and Jensen were in his truck and headed towards her home. Neither of them talked, both nervous about what they were going to find at the house. As Jensen pulled into the development, and circled around towards home, flashing blue and red lights could be seen reflecting off of windows and trees. The driveway and curb were blocked by several police cars, forcing Jensen to pull over and park a few houses down. Once out of the truck, Y/N took his hand and squeezed it tight as they nearly jogged down the sidewalk towards the activity.

By the time they reached the front lawn, they could see the front door was open, and cops were walking in and out. Jensen could feel Y/N’s nerves grow, and when one of the officers began to approach them, she tightened the grip she had on his hand.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, this is a crime scene,” the officer said, holding his hand up to stop them.

“This is my home,” she breathed, clearly panicked. “What happened? What triggered the alarm?”

“It appears someone broke in, ma’am. If you could just wait here--”

“Are they still in there? Did you catch who did it?” Jensen interrupted angrily.

“And you are?” the officer asked indignantly.

“He’s with me,” Y/N bit back defensively. “Can I please go inside? How bad is it?”

“Alright, if you could both just calm down for a minute,” he said. “To answer your question, sir, no, whoever broke in is long gone. Let me just check with the detective to make sure it’s clear for you to enter and you can go in to grab a few necessities. No way you’re going to want to stay here tonight.”

Jensen’s stomach bottomed out, and by how pale Y/N seemed, he thought hers did too. Jensen released her hand and embraced her as the officer turned and sought out the lead detective. He held her to his chest, and she put her arms around his waist.

“It’s gonna be alright,” he whispered and kissed the top of her head. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be--”

“You can go on in,” the officer called from several feet away. “I’ll bring ya through so you can get what you need.”

Jensen felt her swallow hard and then peel herself off his chest. He sighed, and took her hand again, leading her towards the front door. The minute they walked, he heard her gasp. The mess in the kitchen alone was staggering. Walking slowly through the first floor, Jensen found himself in the living room, standing behind Y/N with his hands on her shoulders as they surveyed the damage. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, trying to push down all the anger and rage he felt at whoever had the nerve to do this.

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