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generalthirst · 4 years

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Candid Façade

Warnings: None really. Sexual innuendos/mentions of sex but only briefly hinted, Awkward romantic interactions?

Word Count: 5,200

Summary: Prompt 48 from here and 20 & 30 from here. Hux is romantically stupid but tries to prove to Kylo he’s not. You get to come along for this wild ride.

A/n: My first one shot. Stupid long. Its a one and a half shot. Very self indulgent fluff so if you like that stuff, enjoy! Thanks to @the-tasteful-beast for the prompt suggestions!

“My personal relationships are absolutely none of your business, Ren!” General Hux retorted with a slight snarl. The man behind the mask let out a slight laugh, distorted through the voice modular, Hux could still sense the mocking tone behind it.

“As I figured, the only girl in your bed is Millicent.” Kylo chuckled.

“Again, not your business! Even if it were, I fail to see why you would care so much about it.” Hux whipped around with his back to the infuriating man in black.

“It’s just entertaining to me that a man who thinks he can command armies can’t even acquire a girlfriend.” was the nonchalant retort. Oh that made Hux’s blood boil. He whipped back around as he felt his hackles raise.

“I most certainly am capable of being in a relationship!” He said a bit louder than he’d intended, gaining a few curious looks from lower officers on the bridge.

“I find that difficult to believe Hux.” Kylo sneered. Hux was sure he could see that shit-eating grin through the mask. He knew it was there. Eyes darting around quickly, he landed on you as you stood in front of a console. Thinking you would be yelled into a demotion for staring during the argument, you quickly looked away and prayed for the safety of your job. The General however, marched over to your station, roughly grabbed your wrist and drug you back over before the commander. The Generals arm was draped around you and his hand rested on your hip, pulling your side flush with his.

“As a matter of fact, the Major and I recently started seeing each other. Isn’t that right darling?”

He nearly growled as he glared into your eyes. Your head spun as you looked from Hux to Ren. Realizing what was expected of you, you swallowed a lump in your throat and wrapped your arms around Hux’s middle.

“Yes!” You quickly joined in on the lie. “We had planned to keep it a secret to start with but since we’ve started going steady we figured it was time to make it official.” You added a smile towards the General, putting your best acting skills to the test before the Commander. His unreadable mask was hard to discern. You knew he was able to read minds and you prayed that he wouldn’t subject you to the agonizing mind probe. Ren was silent for a moment, as was the entirety of the bridge.

“I see.” Came the distorted voice, quieter than you’d expected his response to be. “Well I congratulate the both of you. Perhaps we’ll be seeing more of you two together now that you’ve made it official.” He said with heavy emphasis on each word. You couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew you both were lying. Why he didn’t call you out on it though, you weren’t sure. The fact that he didn’t worried you more.

“I’m sure the Major would agree that public displays of affection are not our style.” General Hux snarled, obviously in on the subtle challenge and trying to ease out of this elaborate lie he’d just thrown you both into.

“Oh, I’m sure no one would say anything now that you both are official.” Ren replied quickly with too much eagerness. His faceless mask turned to you once more and you felt that intense gaze nearly staring into your soul. “I have matters to attend to but I wish you both happiness... together.” Was all he said and you could hear the cruel smile in his voice before he walked off.

You and Hux simultaneously let out a long-held breath at Ren’s leaving and you nervously looked about the bridge to see the rest of the crew looking at the two of you, still in your embrace, with utter shock.

“Back to your post, dear.” Hux sounded strained with the affectionate words as he released you. “I’ll see you later.” All you could do was nod as you walked back to your station, your previous task completely wiped from your mind. What the hell just happened? You could feel everyone’s shocked stares on your back and you tried to ignore them as much as possible until your shift was over.

You desperately hoped the General had a plan for this. You’d followed his lead in the lie but now… You were really in no other position other than to follow through with it. You couldn’t fake a breakup. Not immediately anyway, that would be too obvious. At least for a little while, you had to play the part of the established girlfriend of General Hux. You found the man attractive to be sure, but he was your superior! You weren’t allowed to have romantic thoughts about him! Though you supposed you were now. At least to fake the part. What a mess, you groaned internally as you left the bridge. As you approached your quarters to change out of uniform, your friend came running up the hall towards you.

“When were you planning on telling me you were dating the General?” She screeched and shook you by the shoulders. You quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into your quarters and shut the door.

“Not out where everyone can hear you!” You hissed.

“The whole ship knows anyway!” She retorted, just as loud as before. “The news is spreading like wildfire! When were you gonna tell me? I had to find out from Captain Ailow!” She screeched again.

“Look, Taylor…” You groaned. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Oh you’ve caused such a scandal!” She beamed like a schoolgirl with the latest juicy gossip as she sat on your bed. “Everyone is so shocked! Mostly that Hux actually has feelings in general, let alone for someone else, but you? I’d never have guessed it!” She carried on about the various rumors going around about you and the Commander. Your mind, however, was flooded with worry about how big an ordeal this had suddenly become. As much as you loved your friend, you had no choice but to go with the lie, even with her. The General was expecting you to play the part, and you would hate to find out what he would do if you gave away the lie and Ren found out. He’d have your head for sure. At the very least your job.

“So what’s he like? Does he actually kiss you?” Your friend’s bubbling brought you back and you shook your head and moved to your locker.

“He’s uhh… not the most affectionate type.” You said in hopes the vague response would suffice, her questions would be endless if you didn’t put a stop to it.

“I mean yeah he’s the general but come on, you deserve someone who is more in touch with their emotions. And by that, I mean in touch at all!”

“Hey, he has emotions!“ You shocked yourself with how quickly you defended his honor. “He just has trouble showing them is all. He’s very stressed right now you know.” You huffed and began removing your uniform into your regulars.

“Does he like to take his stress out on you?” She asked slyly and you slammed the locker closed with a start.

“I’m going to grab dinner.” You said, avoiding the question entirely as you walked past her. Taylor jumped up to ask you more when a knock sounded on your door. You groaned in worry that some other gossiper had come to interview about the new hot couple. Ready to tell off whoever it was, your words died in your throat when none other than the General himself stood at your door, looking as nervous as a boy on his first date. Your eyes went wide as the two of you simply stared at one another. The spell broke when your friend came up behind you and saluted before grinning wildly.

“Fancy seeing you here, sir.” She said over your shoulder. “The Major and I were just mentioning you.” You paled and sent a foot back to kick her shin.

“Indeed,” Hux replied darkly then turned to you once more. “I didn’t realize your friend was with you.”

“She was just coming to say hello after work.” You hurriedly tried to explain. “Can I help you with something?”

“I was wondering if you would like to meet me in my quarters for dinner this evening. But if you and your friend are busy-”

“Oh no we didn’t have any plans!” Your friend quickly interjected and shoved you out the door as she closed it behind her.

“You two have a nice dinner date! I’ll be meeting up with Sergeant Wyde.” She sent you a wink before hurriedly strolling down the hallway, leaving you with the General. The two of you stood in silence for a moment before he offered you his arm. Oddly gentlemanly of him but something a boyfriend would do you supposed. You hesitantly took it as you walked in silence to his quarters. He led you to the door of his office and once inside, he quickly let go of your arm and all but whirled on you.

“You told her?” He said accusingly.

“I swear I didn’t breathe a word!” You cried out quickly. “She was asking a bunch of questions but I kept it as vague as I could! I promise I didn’t tell her!” You pleaded that he would believe you. Hux sighed and pressed his thumb and fingers on either temple, holding his head in his hand before groaning in agitation.

“You lied for me in front of Ren, I guess I have no reason to believe you wouldn’t lie on my behalf to anyone else. And it better stay that way!” He added as a warning before taking off his greatcoat and draping it over a chair.

“You’re welcome for that, by the way.” You shot with irritation at his ingratitude. He looked up as if he wanted to reprimand you for your attitude but thought against it.

“Yes. Thank you.” He added softly and didn’t meet your eyes. “I’m sure I don't have to tell you that you need to stay quiet on this. At least until I figure out a way to get us out of this ordeal.” He pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket and lit it, taking a heavy drag.

“We’ll have to let the news lose its shock, then we’ll figure out a way to say we separated or some other such nonsense.”

“With all due respect sir, are you sure we will get away with this?” You asked. His questioning gaze forced you to explain.

“We have to make a believable couple. Sure for now saying we’re together will suffice, but people need to see us doing couple-y things. Dates. Otherwise, they’ll begin to suspect and surely Commander Ren will as well. I'm surprised he bought it to begin with.”

“He didn’t.” Hux corrected as he twirled his cigarette between his fingers. “He’s playing us, wants to see how far we’ll take the lie.”

“Then we’ll really have to sell this.” You interjected with a sigh. ‘I don’t know why I had to get dragged into this.”

“I picked you because you were within close reach.” He sneered and you shot him a glare.

“Look I’m not happy about this either but you brought me into this, the least you could do is be a bit nice!” He seemed shocked at your mouthy remark for a moment before collecting himself.

“I am your superior!”

“Well, sweetie,” you said, the name dripping with venom. “Couples usually disregard formalities, so in order to sell this whole ordeal YOU created, we have to act like we see each other as equals.” He looked like he wanted to fight you on the subject but knew you were right and angrily conceded.

“Don’t expect to get some kind of edge on me with this, I won't give you any special treatment outside of convincing people we are an item.”

“I wanted no part of this to start with!” You interjected. “If you just make this go away and let me get back to how my life was before you decided to make me your girlfriend I’ll be happy!” You glared at one another in silence before he stood and called for a protocol droid. The droid brought out two plates of food and sat them on the desk before bowing out of the room. The general immediately began to eat before looking up at you as you awkwardly looked around, wondering what to do. He nearly rolled his eyes and motioned for you to pull up a chair and take your plate. You quietly thanked him as you pulled the chair forward. Dining with the General felt surreal, but less like a fairytale than you would have imagined. You could feel him judging your every move through the corners of his eyes as he ate. You tried to have good manners, not wanting to seem crude in front of him. You were slightly shocked he actually did mean to have dinner with him but you figured if he sent you to the cantina after everyone thought you were having a dinner date, that might look suspicious.

When you both had finished, you stood silently. Hux watched in mild curiosity as you moved the chair back into its place, ensuring it was properly aligned where it once stood before taking your empty plate in hand.

“Thank you for the dinner, sir.” You said before turning to leave. Hux stopped you and you turned with a raised brow. He seemed slightly unsure as to what to say before gesturing to the plate.

“You can leave that here, I’ll have the droid take care of it.” You simply nodded and returned the plate to its place on the desk before bidding the General good night and returning to your quarters for some well-deserved rest.

Once in your bunk, you collapsed. Mentally too tired to even bother with reading something. Your brain was going 100 miles an hour and all you wanted was for it to slow down. Sleep was difficult as you relived the events of the day but eventually, mental exhaustion took over.

The next day you returned to your position on the bridge, a few stares here and there sent your way by your coworkers, but all knew better than to gossip in front of you. You tried your best to focus and just do your job, make it just a normal day. Commander Ren came by and stood beside Hux, too far away to really hear the conversation but you saw the occasional glances your way. As with most of their conversations, Hux stormed away, red in the face with anger over whatever button Kylo had managed to push. To your surprise, he walked right up behind you and put his hands on either side of your waist. Leaning over your shoulder you felt his breaths puff over the exposed skin on your neck and it raised goosebumps along your body.

“Might I interest my girlfriend in meeting me for lunch on her break?” He ground out, sending a sideways glare in Kylo’s direction, the man clearly watching with interest.

“Ah, of course.” You replied, forcing a smile so that it would appear you thought the idea romantic. To be fair if it were real you probably would find it as such, but you both knew this was all for show. Best to not let romantic fantasies cloud judgment. Hux grinned like he’d won a match and hummed in approval before letting you go and returning to his command. You however tried to control your breathing and slow your heart rate down.

And so the façade went for a few days. You couldn’t spend time together outside work hours every day, but it was frequent enough that you both seemed to be making an effort to see each other. No one really approached you on the subject and you were thankful for it. People were probably too scared to try given the General’s reputation. It was odd though; for a man who often appeared so cold, he faked being in a relationship fairly well. You wondered if he really did have experience in this field after all.

Your good luck wasn’t meant to last when you hadn’t been invited to dine with Hux and went to the cantina with Taylor instead. You hadn’t seen her much since the whole thing started and while you normally enjoyed her company, you knew the topic she’d want to discuss.

“So,” she began in a playful tone and you knew you were right. “Someone’s been visiting the General an awful lot.” You merely hummed dismissively as you ate. “In his private quarters.” She stressed more.

“Don’t start rumors Taylor,” you warned. “It's been his office and we’ve only been eating dinner or lunch. That’s it.” Boy, you hoped she hadn’t been talking about this with other people.

“Aw c’mon!” She teased hoping to get some sexy truth from you and you merely sent her a bored expression. “Wait you’re serious? You haven’t…?”

“No. We have not.” You said curtly.

“What? Have you done anything?” She seemed genuinely shocked you hadn’t bedded the General yet.

“Have you two ever even kissed?” You looked away and bit your lip subconsciously.

“We just… haven’t really worked up to that yet.”

“Oh for goodness sake!” She cried out in exasperation. “No one has seen you all doing anything cute yet, you two are the most boring couple ever! It’s like you guys aren’t even really dating!” You nearly choked on your drink when she said that. You thought you’d been disguising things well! Were you both still so painfully distant and awkward with each other?

“Y-you really think so?” You asked trying to dig for more information.

“I mean I understand you both have the romantic passion of a lethargic bantha but I saw more exciting relationships in the academy.” She said jokingly and rambled off about some other things. Frankly, you had begun to zone out. You would have to work harder to sell this lie.

After you’d finished with Taylor you found yourself standing outside Hux’s office, knocking frantically despite yourself. An annoyed voice beckoned you inside and you eagerly rushed in. Hux looked up from his work with a surprised face upon seeing it was you.

“Can I help you?”

“We’re not selling it.” You cut him off. His annoyed expression turned to confusion once more.

“We’re not?”

“No! My friend has just told me people think we look awkward together! They never see us doing anything romantic together.”

“Of course we do!” He said dismissively. “We’ve been dining together nearly every day!”

“No no no. I mean like… holding hands and sneaking kisses in the maintenance closets kind of stuff. Like the junior officers do.”

“The junior officers are doing what now on my ship?” He began as if he’d never known this fact.

“Hux!” You shouted, jolting him from that thought. “That's not important right now! We have to start looking like a couple in love!” You pressed. He seemed to be lost in deep thought and you looked on worriedly as he retreated into his mind.

“How exactly?” He said trying to hide how sheepishly it came out. Your mouth hung open.

“You mean to tell me you don’t know how to date and kiss and stuff?” You cried out dumbfounded.

“It was never a priority for me!” He quipped, his ears beginning to turn red. “Can you just… tell me what I need to do, alright?” He ordered.

“Alright alright.” You said calming yourself. You didn’t know if you wanted to laugh or cry. Or both.

“I guess we should start with physical touch. Couples are physically close and we need to not be uncomfortable being with each other.” You said looking at him. The General merely looked back. “We come on, stand!”

“Now?” he asked like you'd told him to go hug Ren.

“Well, we gotta practice don’t we? Come on come here.” you motioned for him to come to stand in front of you. He did so with a disbelieving look. “See is that so bad?” You knew it was bad to tease him, but you couldn’t pass it up, holding hands with the General being shy about it was kind of adorable.

“Now what?” He asked and you took his hand in yours. His gloved fingers flinched slightly as he instinctively moved to jerk his hand from your grasp, but your gentle touch calmed him and his hand laid loosely in yours. Grabbing him by the wrist you began removing the glove and he pulled his hand away.

“What are you doing?”

“You can’t hold hands with gloves on all the time! We have to touch!” You tried to explain as you pinched the bridge of your nose. “I’m not filthy, I bathe and wash my hands regularly…” You ground out. He simply frowned at you before removing the gloves himself and setting them on the table. You reached your hands out before him, palms up, waiting patiently. He stared at them before hesitantly laying both his hands atop yours. He seemed uncomfortable at first but as you gently wrapped your fingers around them and brushed the backs of his hands with your thumbs, he seemed to enjoy it more. You grinned some as you gently swung hands with him.

“Childish.” Was his only reply as his face soured again.

“What next?” He asked, eagerly wanting to move on. You thought for a moment before pulling yourself forward and making him wrap his arms around you as your body collided with his. He seemed to recoil as you wrapped your arms around his waist. You could feel through the hug that he was completely tense.

“Hux, you have to hug me back.” You mumbled into his chest. He merely cleared his throat awkwardly before he gently rested his arms on your body and patted your shoulder.

“That’s a pathetic attempt General Hugs.” You smirked as you looked up at his face mere inches from your own.

“Look this isn’t something I've had much experience in, I cannot be expected to know!” He huffed defensively and turned his head slightly as his cheeks turned pinkish. You shook your head and squeezed him slightly.

“It’s a hug... It’s not that hard.” You said poking him playfully in the side. A strange noise escaped him and he immediately leaned away from your jab and he glared down at you. Your surprised face turned into a knowing smirk and his immediate worry at your change of expression was the only warning he got before you lunged for his side. Hux burst out in uncontrollable laughter, desperately attempting to command you to cease your attack through the giggles and trying to force your hands away. Finally, he managed to grab both your hands in a tight hold and force them away from himself.

“No! Don’t tickle me!” he practically shouted as he attempted to rein in the giggles with deep panting. You merely grinned at your newfound power. “If you don’t try to work with me here, I’ll do it again.”

“Don’t you dare!” He warned darkly. You merely wiggled the fingers of your captive hands and he sighed. “Fine, I will try! Just don't do that again!”

“No promises.” You hummed before opening your arms wide in an invitation for a hug.

“Come on. Hug me! Properly!” You cooed and he groaned before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around you. It was still stiff and uncomfortable, but you could feel he was actually trying. You slid your hands around him and held him tightly. Trying to demonstrate what to do, slowly he began to mirror your movements somewhat. Your hand traveled up around his neck and you pulled him closer. His face now nuzzled into your neck. He seemed unsure of what to do but began to melt into the touch. As you both stood in silence you could feel him returning the emotion of the embrace. His hands clutched your shirt a little more, pulling you close as you felt his breaths on your neck once again. The goosebumps returned as you realized you were enjoying hugging the General, and he seemed to be enjoying it as well. Your heart fluttered a bit at that but you focused on the task at hand. Gently you pulled away a bit and he did the same, his hands still holding onto your shoulder as if he wasn’t quite ready to let go.

“And now?” He asked, his voice softer than before. You bit your lip gently. It felt odd to be doing this, but it was something that had to be done. Tentatively you reached a hand up to caress his sharp jawline. Your thumb ever so gently brushing over his lips before closing your eyes and pressing your lips to his. You felt a small jolt run through the both of you at the kiss. You pulled him into the kiss a little as encouragement, adding some passion into it. With a small chuckle, you pulled back and saw the stupefied look on his face.

“Hux you have to kiss me back, keeping your face still is like kissing a statue.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t waste my time having romantic flings with my fellow students when I was supposed to be studying!” He tried to jab at you but the avoiding gaze and creeping blush told you all you needed to know.

“I told you I am not skilled in these activities!” He whined with a frown.

“Surely you had to have had some teenage romance! Some girl in the academy who kissed you before running back to her dorms?” You said with amused exasperation.

“It’s ok Hux, you can be jealous that I’ve kissed more people than you.” You giggled.

“Jealous? I'm not jealous!” He tried to defend himself but you knew better.

“Right…” Was all you said before taking planting your palms on both his cheeks. You could feel how warm they became under your touch. “You have to start delicately.” You instructed as you pressed your lips together once more. Being gentle in your movements against his lips. Once he started to mimic your motions you pulled back.

“Then you can start to do more.” You began leaning in again. “And don’t keep your eyes open during a kiss, it's creepy.”

“I’m not keeping my-” Hux was cut off by your lips moving against his own once again. A step up from the gentle kiss from before. He followed your lead quickly. He was clearly inexperienced but a faster learner than you’d have given him credit for. Your tongue swiped over his bottom lip and he startled for a moment but you kept him in place. Experimentally he opened his mouth and your tongue slipped inside, keeping it slow so he could get used to what you were doing. He tasted faintly of whiskey and cigarettes, and a flavor that was very… Hux. It was intoxicating for you. The kiss lesson could have ended long ago but you both couldn’t find it within you to stop.

Air finally made the decision for you and you both pulled back with soft gasps. Your hands laid on his chest and you could feel his heaving breaths taking in gulps of air and his heart rate was just as elevated as yours. You smiled and looked back up at him in a moment of sheepishness at the dawning realization that you’d made out with your superior.

“Well, I think you’ve got the gist.” You said as you both separated and stood in front of each other awkwardly. He hesitantly released you but did not step away, merely gazing down at you with an unreadable expression.

“Yes I… I think so. We should… try to incorporate some of this stuff in our meetings.” He said matter-of-factly. You only nodded as you made to leave. In a moment of boldness, you came back to him and pressed a sweet kiss to the corner of his mouth before bidding him a good day.

The next few weeks seemed to go by better. You both tried not to be overly affectionate with each other. That would simply be out of character for both of you. But the occasional loving peck on the lips you exchanged as you passed one another seemed to really convince everyone of the relationship. Your friend still asked questions but it became much easier to reply. Being with the General had really become second nature to you. One particular conversation with Taylor had you realizing, without meaning to, you had really fallen for the General. Playing as though you were in love became easier when it was real.

But it broke your heart to realize that it was only a matter of time before the dream had to end. Sleepless nights thinking about what to do followed. Every fake kiss left a bittersweet taste in your mouth, desperately wishing it was real. But no. You would have to fake the breakup soon enough and the General would likely never speak to you again. Hux had become something of a friend over this time. He’d begun to open up to you even behind closed doors. It kept that pitiful spark of hope alive in your heart against your better judgment.

One day you happened upon Hux and Ren arguing in an empty hallway. You debated on turning around and pretending you never saw a thing when Kylo called out to you.

“You both can stop pretending now. It was funny at first but I see you both are too damn stubborn to give up.” He sneered and Hux glared angrily.

“There’s no pretending about it, Ren.” The taller male turned to glare back.

“You and I both know she meant nothing to you when you first concocted this lie!” You went to open your mouth in Hux’s defense but he spoke before you had a chance.

“Perhaps, but things have changed. It was a game to you before but I’m asking you politely now to leave it alone.” Hux said threateningly. Both you and Kylo expressed mild shock at the confession. He looked between you and Hux, huffing irritably before wordlessly storming off. Hux turned to you with a nervous look, his eyes deep in thought and unwilling to meet yours.

“I’m sorry I dragged you into this elaborate lie. I never expected it to go on for so long. Or…” He hesitated, unsure of what to say or how to say it. You smiled warmly as you took his hand in your own.

“It stopped being a façade for me a long time ago.” You said with your heart beaming. “It doesn’t have to be fake anymore.” For the first time in a long time, you saw a genuine smile spread over the man's face as he pulled you into a crushing embrace and shocked you with the most searing kiss he'd ever initiated. Neither of you even noticed the gawking storm troopers who silently turned back down the hallway.

#General Hux #One and a half shots #Star Wars #fanfiction #one shot #Hux x reader #reader insert #my writing #fluff #thirsty drivel

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the-odd-job · 3 years

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Building Dreams chapter 1 - Origins

Warnings: Chose Not to Use Rating: Mature Category: Other Fandom: Transformers Relationships: Sideswipe & Sunstreaker Characters: Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Unnamed Characters, Original Characters Additional Tags: Alien Culture, Dubcon, Canon-Typical Violence Words: 4413

Okay apparently I’m writing this well before I should. The thing I posted previously is the second chapter of this, so here’s the actual chapter one.

They snuck inside, hoping the actual owner of the apartment was too deep in a high grade induced stupor to notice their arrival—or their departure once they’d done what they came here for.

It was nothing illegal, really. This wasn’t officially their place of residence anymore—their room in the Pits was—but it was owned by their commissioner. That legal binding hadn’t been broken yet.

But would be soon, hopefully. There was nothing about this place or this mech they wanted any ties to. They were nearing the one event that inevitably led to a mech’s legal independence, anyway. It was just a matter of time before the mech in the living room of the tiny apartment could lay no claim on them.

Not that he particularly had at any point of their lives.

“–Lord Megatron of Kaon was once again caught in a heated debate with Optimus Prime of Iacon at the publicized Council meeting. We’ve all heard the arguments on both sides a million times, haven’t we?” the entertainment screen droned on, the channel turned to some manner of talk show. What a waste of time.

But that was all their commissioner did or had ever done, wasted his time away. The chair he was currently sitting in had its back turned to the open door into the hallway, and the brothers used that as an advantage to the best of their ability. They weren’t built for stealth and silence, who here was, but with the volume of the show turned up so high, it should mask the sounds they made pretty well.

Like always.

“Carriers this and carriers that—as you’re all well aware of, Optimus Prime is still campaigning for the demolition of the Housing system. What should be established in its stead? Equality for all? How does that help our species? No, he doesn’t have a replacement plan! As always, Lord Megatron called him out on this, and in a surprise move, Lord Starscream of Vos actually backed him up. Imagine that, the two of them united in something! For a mated pair they sure argue a lot—and if that’s in public, how much worse is it in private?” Laughter from the screen, both from the host and the audience present in the studio. Sideswipe huffed to himself, only to get glared at by Sunstreaker. Yeah yeah, keep quiet. Get the last of their things from their old room and beat it the pit out of here before their commissioner ever got any wiser they’d even visited.

It was kind of funny, though, how easily you could tell you were in Kaon just based on the kind of entertainment that was aired. It wasn’t that there was never anything critical of Megatron, but in this one thing most of Kaon seemed to agree with their leader, and thought the Prime was nothing but a bumbling dumbling.

Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker by extension? Or whoever was the extension of who or if it was just the In-Between, anyway, they stayed out of politics. That was a thing that only brought more stress on you when you needed to argue with anyone who had differing opinions to your own. So tiresome, no thanks on that.

Although he could kinda agree the Prime was a little dumb. At least the things he said were dumb. And the whole scandal with his so-called mate… Yeah, there was something just wrong with that mech. What the pit even drove him to these things?

Alright, end of opinions, right there, or else he’d find himself a political activist or something. Dumb Prime, Megatron calling him out on it, the end.

What mattered more than the artificially created problems Cybertron had—really, why do anything about a good thing that worked already?—was them and their little life. Maybe it didn’t matter to anyone else, but that was what life was about. Taking care of yourself, standing up for yourself, making it out there in the cold, cruel world… Or something like that.

He liked to think they’d gotten pretty far already, as Sunstreaker opened the squeaky door to their old room as quietly as he could. Once it was parted enough that they could fit through, they stopped to listen—but there were still just the sounds of the show, nothing from the third occupant of the place. “So they’re there, both trying to sway the Council, Optimus jabbering on about ‘freedom is the right of all sentient beings’ or something like that—did you stay awake listening to him? I sure didn’t. And Megatron comes in and points out the obvious: we need the breeders! Where are you going to get a newspark from otherwise? Out of thin air? By miracle of Primus? ‘Hey, big guy downstairs, would you be so kind as to send me a newspark, I really need one’? Not happening, is that?”

Alright, so what had they still left behind? There was Sunstreaker’s old art pads and art books on equally old datapads. They were carefully picked up and subspaced while Sideswipe quietly opened the subspace containers embedded in the walls and made sure nothing was going to get left behind. Some of the stuff they were taking and had taken with them was nothing but junk that they threw out to the nearest trash chute, but dammit their commissioner wasn’t about to get any of it, junk or not.

It was the principle of things. These were things they’d acquired on their own, with their credits or their wiliness. They belonged to them and no one else.

Unless someone picked them up from the junk piles on the lower decks, but if a mech was crazy enough to wade through that mess, then pits, they had deserved whatever they found.

But really, most of these things just weren’t worth anything.

Once he’d checked through all of their containers and Sunstreaker had looted their secret stashes—because sometimes that was the only way to keep more valuable things from addicts —they slipped from the room as carefully as they’d come in.

Or thought they did. In the gloom of the hallway, there were two red optics staring at them. Sunstreaker froze in place the same Sideswipe did.

“Are you leaving?” their commissioner asked quietly, voice a little staticky as it always was with this mech.

Ugh. Why couldn’t they have just managed to come and go unnoticed?

“Pit yeah,” Sunstreaker growled at him.

It was impossible to tell if their commissioner was sad or not, his field was always just a fragging mess and nothing else. “To the Pits?”

But they knew this thing. He didn’t like the Pits overmuch, and he definitely didn’t like that it was where the brothers had found a livelihood and a home.

Sideswipe could’ve sworn most of it was just seeing them succeed in something, even if only in a limited capacity. Getting rich with Pit fighting… Yeah, not happening.

But making ends meet through winning matches? Doable, if you were good enough.

And they were.

And they didn’t waste every credit they earned.

It was an argument they’d had a million times before. Sunstreaker didn’t do more than rev his engine in warning. And it was a warning. They’d taught themselves how to fight through blood and dents and more blood and dents. They knew what they were doing by this point, at least for mecha their age. They were better than most of their peers, even if they weren’t about to get to champion levels anytime soon.

Most fights weren’t fair to begin with, but it would be especially unfair against a mech who could barely stay on two pedes. One punch and he’d be down—and anyone who knew Sunstreaker knew he was perfectly willing to throw that punch.

Then again their sole remaining commissioner didn’t exactly know them, so maybe he thought there was some sort of affection or respect that would keep them from decking him.

There wasn’t.

“Out of the way,” Sunstreaker ordered once their stalemate had gone on long enough. “We’re fragging leaving.” And not coming back.

“You’re not yet mentored.” Mentored, legally independent, same thing.

But bad wording. “You’ve never done a damn thing to mentor us,” Sunstreaker hissed, taking one step forward. A clear threat. “Or did you totally miss the bit where we had to raise ourselves because you were too busy wallowing in your misery?”

“I stayed,” their commissioner argued with a shaking voice, although Sideswipe couldn’t have told what made it shake. Emotion or high grade?

“All the good that did!” Sunstreaker argued right back, his voice raising like it often did when they were caught in situations like these. It was doubtful the neighbors would even bother to see what the ruckus was about, anymore.

And there was a lot of bitter resentment there—and this might be their last chance to air any of it. They sure as pit weren’t planning on ever seeing the face of the damn mech again.

So Sunstreaker chose to do just that. “We had to practically live on the streets anyway, because you sure as pit weren’t looking after us! It’s a fragging miracle we didn’t need to whore ourselves out just to get enough fuel to get by, and what did you do? Sat here all day every day, on your fragging aft, trying to drink your problems away? What’s even so sad about your life, the slagging fact you were stuck with us? You commissioned us!” his brother alternatively growled and straight up yelled.

Was it a fair rant? Not really.

Was it well earned despite that? Sure was, if you asked Sideswipe. He got it, it was tough to lose one of your best buddies that you had planned to mentor a sparkling with, and then have that topped off with your second best buddy just taking up and leaving because none of them apparently knew how to handle any of their issues.

What excuse was that to neglect the life you had paid to create and supposedly committed to mentor into maturity?

Or maybe they were just really slagging selfish and should’ve gone easier on the mech—that had taken credits they’d earned just to spend it on more high grade. Oh, they’d learned real damn fast to hide that slag, or spend it on necessities right away so there was nothing to even steal. What did it matter if they had enough fuel to even stay online, as long as he had more high grade to drown himself in?

Sideswipe didn’t think they were the more selfish ones here, but he might’ve been a little biased.

Their commissioner was shaking, but it was still impossible to tell why exactly. “I–”

“No,” Sunstreaker cut him off with a violent lash of his arm, his sharpened claws inches away from scratching the fragging drunkard. “I’m not listening to your fragging excuses. Out of the way.”

Damn right.

When their commissioner didn’t move fast enough, Sunstreaker’s arm flashed forward, his servo closing around the mech’s faceplates—claws digging into his helmet. There was a muffled sound of protest, then a scream when Sunstreaker simply closed his servo, crushing and tearing their mentor’s face off, protoform deep.

His vocalizer was still unharmed when Sunstreaker let go. His victim dropped into a graceless heap on the floor like the fragging piece of scrap he was, sobbing, bringing his servos to a face that wasn’t there anymore. There wasn’t blood, only the sparking of severed wires and gouged, sightless remains of optics. Crushed plating, scratches.

Sideswipe made a face, but stepped over the weeping frame on his brother’s heels. This… Was a death sentence. There was no way their commissioner could afford repairs, and it was unlikely there was any spark kind enough around to pay them for him. He’d starve into stasis in his bleak, lonely apartment, and one day someone would come to see why he hadn’t paid his rent, find his frame in stasis, and send it to the scrapyard. No one would bother fixing up a random mech that probably couldn’t even pay back for it.

He’d die as alone as he’d lived. Justice? Or, “That was kinda over the top,” Sideswipe commented once they were back in the hallway.

“He had it coming,” was all Sunstreaker grunted in response, setting their pace towards the exit.

Sideswipe thought about it for a minute, then shrugged. Not like they would get in legal trouble for it either. This was Kaon. It was every mech for themselves under the dark cast by the first deck.

So, whatever.

They made it to the outside of the residential underbelly of a tower that probably rose somewhere into the sky up above, but that here was nothing but an oily base for wretchedness of so many kinds.

At least they were free of it, now, even if it hadn’t quite happened as Sideswipe had envisioned.

Back to the Pits with them, then, which some would’ve just called a downgrade— but for them it really wasn’t. They had a room just for themselves, fuel, occasional maintenance, and even more occasional chances to hose themselves off instead of just trying to wipe themselves clean. It wasn’t a steady living, but they made it work.

They transformed onto the road and drove through the shadowy streets that no one bothered to light properly. That wasn’t the case everywhere on the lower decks, though, and as they neared their arena, the lights turned brighter and more numerous until they made it to the center of activity surrounding the arena. It was almost as bright as the day of the first deck in this section of the underworld.

Definitely an upgrade.

They drove to the arena’s secondary entrance, transformed back to their bipedal modes, and entered the building. Here there was more to gloom to be found, and more dirt, grime—stains you didn’t even want to know the origin of; dents on the walls, floors, and even the ceiling. Nothing was clean, nothing was in full repair.

But that was the Pits for you. Really, it was just a part of their charm.

The mecha down here didn’t look much better than their surroundings, and they knew they weren’t exactly exceptions. Oh, they tried to take care of their looks, but so did almost every other sorry sap around.

It didn’t work too well for anyone, aside from some of the administration. Those you could recognize when you saw them walking about. Rich bastards—relatively speaking, most of the time. No one down here could compare to the wealth of those who could afford to live in the upper towers.

“A groon until my match,” Sideswipe commented as the reminder popped up on his HUD. “Wasn’t yours one fight after that?”

An affirmative grunt.

“Time to kill. Let’s go watch the matches and make overtly judgmental comments about everyone’s techniques,” Sideswipe grinned, flicking his claws to urge Sunstreaker into following him as he took the turn towards one of the arena gates. Not like they could really go up to the stands, but you could see at least something through the floor level gates, too.

Together they chose a gate that didn’t have more than one other mech observing the fights and went to lean against the thick bars. There were no impressive fights going on this time of the day, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything to learn from observing others.

Even if it was just in the way of ‘geez, I’m never doing that myself’.

“Ugh, the green one’s footwork is garbage,” Sideswipe snickered. The corner of Sunstreaker’s mouth twitched in a near smile.

He’d get the damn mech smiling yet, before his match. That was what he was here for! Be a menace that brightened his twin’s day by being all lovable and slag. He was lovable, wasn’t he?

Sunstreaker was eager to tell him that no, he wasn’t, he was just lucky they were twins or he’d have booked it a long time ago. But, see, Sunstreaker was smiling when he said that, because he couldn’t help himself once Sideswipe found the right buttons to push. It was perfect! And only took him a few seconds, see. Pretty good, if he said so himself.

That still left all the other seconds of the groon to get on each other’s nerves, to the point where they annoyed the third spectator into leaving. You know, instead of each other.

Twins.

“My time!” Sideswipe announced once it was minutes until his match would be called. Still together, they made their way to the right gate, he picked his weapons—twin swords, as he preferred—and entered the arena proper once the gate rose to let him through.

The lights were bright enough to blind, here. Not one drop of energon would go unseen because there wasn’t enough light. Everything they did would be on full display.

Sideswipe grinned, that particular bloodthirsty grin, and nodded at his opponent. The mech was bigger than him, but then almost everyone was. Oh, he wasn’t small in the grand scheme of things, but in Kaon he was.

Came with not being able to afford big enough upgrades to reach the sizes of most other Kaonites. But that was fine, he made this work too.

He went to prove that much both to the audience and his opponent. He was smaller, but that meant he was faster with less mass to move around, and more agile with his lighter armor doing less to restrict his movements. Play your strengths, make up for your weaknesses, all that. He’d danced this same dance thousands of times before, even if the choreography was never quite the same.

The other mech was brandishing a mace, and if that wasn’t a devastating weapon if it landed proper hits. So, don’t let it land proper hits. Sideswipe could’ve never put the same amount of oomph behind the swings as the bigger mech could, but as they moved, it became obvious enough that there really wasn’t that big a skill difference between them. A good match for the audience, not so much for them. Uneven fights where you had the upper hand were always better for finances.

But that just meant he’d need to work harder to come out on top, and preferably without too severe injuries, too. One thing he did have on his side—the rarity of frames at least a head shorter than everyone else. There was really no getting used to fighting mecha his size when you faced them so rarely.

Meanwhile, he was intensely familiar with fighting mecha bigger than himself, because basically everyone was that.

It tipped the odds in his favor just enough, this time around. His opponent couldn’t judge his speed right. Sometimes he thought Sideswipe was slower than he really was, other times that he was faster. As many hits as glanced off of Sideswipe’s armor, leaving minor injuries behind, only one hit him in the side in full force.

Hurt like a bitch, that one, and sent him flying off to the side pretty spectacularly. He landed on his pedes though, only briefly made the mistake of instinctively bringing a servo to his side, and was ready to dodge out of the way when his opponent tried to finish things off. Not like he hadn’t landed his fair share of damage, himself. Some were pretty bad, too.

Don’t get cocky. That got you beat down into the arena dirt. He was supposed to be better than that by this point.

The roar and stomp of the crowd thrummed through his lines along with the excitement for a victory he tried to push down before it could distract him—and managed, enough so that when one dodge under the mace’s swing saw him in position to sink one of his swords into the other mech’s chassis, he wasn’t too distracted to see and take the opportunity. He had to get the frag away from there right after because that mace came right back around, but the injury was pretty debilitating by Sideswipe’s judgment. Damaged internal components that were actually important, that sort of thing.

Don’t fragging dare get cocky.

Just a little more. He could do this. If nothing else, his opponent would succumb to his injuries with time, even if Sideswipe couldn’t carve some more on him. Playing it safe wasn’t like him, though, so he didn’t hang back to wait around for time to win the fight for him.

That was what made him good at this. The showiness, even if that sometimes meant not doing the smartest, or at least, the most cautious thing. The spectators loved that. They wanted a real fight, every time, and if Sideswipe could deliver that, frag, he would.

It didn’t cost him, this time. He got hurt a bit more, but he also got to hurt a bit more, and although none of that damage was really severe enough, it piled on top of the existing injuries until this one time his opponent couldn’t keep his footing anymore and fell, onto his back, into the dirt.

Sideswipe took the chance it was to close in. The mech tried to still fend him off, but just couldn’t anymore, not before Sideswipe’s sword pressed snugly against his throat.

It wasn’t a death match. There wouldn’t be a kill, this time.

But had he gone through with that last attack, that would not have held true. Everyone knew it.

“Yield,” his opponent said, grudgingly, but he got to walk away with his life. Did that make him lucky, or just someone who now had their life, sure, but no credits to their name?

Not Sideswipe’s problem. He grinned at the mech one more time before he turned his back to him and lifted his sword to the cheer of the crowd.

Credits. They always needed those. They needed to fuel, they needed to pay for the repairs they couldn’t perform themselves, they needed tools for the repairs they could do on their own—their room wasn’t free either, they had to pay to use it. They needed to maintain their looks even somewhat. Cloths, solvent, sometimes even polish.

Expenses, expenses, expenses, no matter how frugally they tried to live.

Were they ever going to dig themselves out from the gutters, or would they always live on pede in the sludge of the streets? Everyone tried to get out. The vast majority never succeeded.

But they could dream.

His side was wonderfully caved in, armor uncomfortably pressing against his jarred and misaligned internal components, and that was a little too much for them to fix. Sunstreaker accompanied him to the sorry space that worked as the arena’s medical bay—they paid, he got repairs from someone who had probably failed the integration of his medical files. That was what you got down here. No one could truly count themselves a winner if they were stuck in the arenas of the lower decks.

But it got them by. He felt worse by the end of his repairs than he did before them, but the damage warnings had either dismissed themselves or lowered in importance.

Good enough, that was all you could ever ask for.

Sunstreaker was always a pleasure to watch in the ring, too. He was efficient, not one to play around, just a destructive force on a warpath that would see anything in its way destroyed. Did he always win? No. They faced their betters semi-regularly, like anyone else.

That didn’t make Sunstreaker any less as a fighter, in Sideswipe’s opinion. And they got better, constantly. They practiced, took every opportunity to learn more, studied others, studied themselves to analyze what they could do better. They didn’t settle.

His brother’s unbridled brutality won him his match too. It wasn’t just their unfortunate commissioner that got to taste his claws, and whatever other weapons he chose to use, a sword this time. Just one.

The weapons, too. They practiced with as many of those as they could, not just so they could wield them themselves, but so they knew how they were wielded and wouldn’t get caught off-guard by someone who used them.

Maybe they’d never make it out of here, but slag, they’d try their hardest anyway.

Sunstreaker needed a few things fixed by a medic too, but even after those payments, their winnings were enough to get them fuel. The rest would go into savings, this time.

They weren’t the only ones at the energon dispensers they made their way to, and they weren’t all strangers there, either. Sunstreaker never talked a hell of a lot with others, but Sideswipe made up for it like always. A couple of friends, a bunch of acquaintances, chatter, teasing, laughter. Recounting of their more recent victories, lamenting of their losses.

The message alert popped up on both of their HUDs at the same time, high enough in priority that it overrode– Actually, that was the highest priority a message could be.

They shared a glance. There wasn’t much question what this was about.

“I think we just got our test date,” Sideswipe stated out loud at the inquisitive looks they both got for their sudden distraction. There was a chorus of understanding noises after that. It wasn’t a secret they hadn’t reached maturity yet, at least not officially.

But they would have, after this. Independence, not tied to anyone. Do what they wanted with no one able to tell them they shouldn’t. Well, aside from the law and all that. But mostly what they wanted!

“Congrats, you’re about to join the big league,” one of the mecha he wouldn’t quite count a friend yet laughed.

“Yeah, it’s really just a formality,” another shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Just show up, get it done, and that’s it, you’ve got your legalities all sorted.”

“I mean,” Sideswipe said after he consulted his navigation system to see where the address they were given was, and wow, “at least we’ll get to see some high end areas for once.

“We’re gonna look so out of place.”

More friendly laughter. Everyone kept their distance from Sunstreaker, but a servo clapped Sideswipe on the shoulder. “Enjoy it while it lasts! Take in the sights, snap some pics. You’ll be back down here right after.”

“Bring a souvenir, too!”

Sideswipe laughed and even Sunstreaker made an amused sound. “I’ll snatch something from the clinic before making a run for it, that good enough?”

( Next )

#transformers #maccadam #sunstreaker #sideswipe #fic #2021 #breeder au

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theexecutionerssong · 5 years

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Transcript of Axel and Maxence’s interview at Pride

Is it the first time you’re praticipating in Pride?

A: Yes as a parrain but I came before to watch and marched before with friends

M: Same, as a parrain yes, but I’ve been marching for I think 6 years, since I came to Paris, yes 6 years, that I come to Pride with friends,

What made you this year decide to use your notoriety to help LGBT rights?

A: So it’s LGBT+, it’s more than that, it’s about love. We were lucky with Skam France, because our voice became more or less public, or at least listened to and followed by many people and we’re really happy about it so if we can use that to carry this message, the show’s message, which is “you have a right to love, you have a right to be lost, you have to be proud of loving whoever you want and love wins”, then we’re very happy to do it. I think the point of this role as a parrain is precisely that, to carry that voice, the voice of love. People bashed us on social media, many people told us we had no rights to be parrains because we’re straight but at some points, there should not be any stigmatization. What do they know if at some point in our lives we didn’t love men, or if we will at another point? We need to stop putting people in boxes, we just need to appreciate love, appreciate that everyone is different, that’s what makes us strong. Love is putting all our differences together and be together and actually there are no differences. Society forces differences upon us. That’s what Pride is about, be all together, all different, because we all are. I’ve got a nose with a bump, you have a nice pretty one. Everyone is beautiful, it’s about being together, it’s about loving each other, and that’s all that matters especially nowadays - under this heat.

M: Even beyond Pride, it’s about the whole fight for the LGBT+ rights cause. We were lucky enough to have a HUGE impact that gave us the opportunity to have a public voice, like Axel said, and through which we were able to do so many things. When I was younger, I thought it’d be nice to work for an organization, to volunteer, but I never did but now we have this opportunity, a voice that actually matters. That’s super important. We did so many things. We got an award at the Out D’Or 10 days ago, we raised quite a lot of money for SOS Homophobie, we worked with Sidaction... and not only on LGBT matters, we worked on many things. We’ll start filming in September on new thematics, so being parrain this year feels pretty great because it’s like coming full circle, this whole year we spent working, fighting and that’s great to end on this, in joy and colors. In paint, basically *laugh*

Is that a reference to a scene in season 3?

M: yeah exactly, the mural

Is there any cause in the LGBT fight that you feel more motivated about?

M: violence, for me. It’s not a cause per se but... It’s something I don’t have in me so I just don’t understand but... all these assaults, this violence, these are really things that make me deeply sad and distressed. It’s horrible, it’s horrible, it is, even I, when I was asked about being parrain of the Marche des Fiertés, it’s one of the first things I thought about “oh yeah I could be beaten up for this”. Even being in the show.

Really?

M: Yes, because we get messages from people who tell us that if they see us they will fuck us up. It’s awful. I’m not saying it’s poisoning my daily life, luckily, that would be dumb, but it’s really a thing I find awful to assault people just for being who they are. It’s hell. It’s not possible.

A: yeah, the violence, and more generally all the discriminations. It’s seems obvious to say, but access to correct living situation, those rights that straight people have... sometimes debates start but there shouldn’t even be one in the first place, like, whoever you love, you should have the same rights as others. What really infuriates me now, I mean it used to before too but, it’s the fact that we actually let people organize protestations against same sex marriage. That’s something I don’t understand. C’mon, why do we accept that? Sure we have a right to protest but you can’t just protest against fundamental rights. Marriage is about love, it’s the union of two people, and I don’t understand how we allow people to protest against that. To chant hateful words that go against love. And I think it’s actually hurtful to society to see that in the media, that it’s still a talking point at all, I don’t understand how we can accept that.

M: I’d like to add, about the thematic of this year’s Pride, ART... We’re in a society in which we are free to publicly discriminate. I mean, all this debate around ART shows that yes, straight people and gay people and all the others are different, sure, but like Axel said, yeah everyone is different and it’s a very very beautiful thing but why don’t they have the same rights? That’s scandalous. It’s unacceptable. We’re in 2019, we’re in an “advanced” country, we’re in a democracy, we’re in a free country and despite all that we are served discrimination on a plate, just like that “oh yeah that’s the way it is guys”, well no! It needs to change, we’re all human, we should all have the same rights. It’s so obvious.

A: there are some talk shows that actually held debates on this, on fundamental rights that straight people have but it’s such an aberration. It’s true, we say it often in interviews, but we give a platform to people who should never have one in the first place, who should just stay home and talk to their wall.

What about what’s new in your work life, you’re starting shooting for season 5 when?

Both: In September.

And Axel, Avignon?

A: yes, I’m leaving on monday for Avignon, I will be at 7:05pm everyday, then in September I’ll have a movie out called Slalom with Jéremie Renier and Noée Abita and then I will be playing at the Theatre des Béliers until January, from Wednesdays to Sundays, every week, no holidays, a play called 1001 Nuits des Urgences, it’s about a young intern in a hospital who gets close to a lady and who will tell her everything happening in the hospital. We discover what goes on behind the scenes in a hospital, what it’s like to heal people, we realize that you don’t get out unscathed. It’s very funny, we laugh a lot, there’s a lot of laughter and love and tears, that’s life, and I encourage you to come see this play, 9pm at the Théatre des Béliers in Paris, in the 18th arrondissement, and if you’re under 26 all tickets are at €10 so please go to the theater. Not just for me or my play, but don’t hesitate to go to the theater, it’s a moment of exchange, and in this society in which we tend to see everything through a screen, it’s important to go to the theater and live emotions, not only for my play, there are some nice stuff. I hope to see Maxence in the theater some day if he wants to, we’ll do a play together and it will be called L’AMOUR on gaypride.fr !

Maxence?

M: for me, shooting Skam in September and then next I don’t have other projects yet. I have a movie out in September with Zabou Breitman. I’m... I’m a very bad guy in it. And then another one on Voldemort’s origin, there will be a screening but we don’t know where yet (he said on the 8th it will be at the grand rex so im confused) and it will be out in January.

A: If I may, I saw some bits, it looks incredible so go to the screening!

#skam france #maxence danet fauvel #axel auriant #im not petty but im laughing #@the people who told me I lied about what Axel told me #how does it feel to hear it from hs own mouth?#also #I LOVE THEM A LOT

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fireintheforest · 4 years

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Behind the Blue, chapter 19

After 6 days of holding doors for people perfectly capable of opening their own fucking doors, Toivon left the Hawkcroft estate through the back, out by the servants’ gate and walked to Evermor itself, ongoing until he reached the luxurious Marigold, where he met with Saufinril and both went to Saufinril’s room.

“So how exactly did you afford this room?” Toivon asked, turning to the Altmer as Saufinril closed the door behind them.

“One just sold some old knick-knacks one had.” Saufinril replied casually as he went to sit at the bed. Toivon arched his eyebrows.

“You sold your stuff?” he asked. Saufinril shrugged,

“One is going to get paid 4000 Septims anyway, right?”

“Well yeah but…” Toivon exhaled. This was an unexpected level of commitment to the job.

“…did one do wrong?”

“No. If anything, this is perfect in case someone comes snooping. I just…” Toivon looked around at the navy, lime green, gray and gold color palette, “didn’t think you’d spend this much money on an ugly room.”

“What!”

“You had to sell your things for a small room? You got robbed.”

“Please. It’s the right size for someone that doesn’t spend too much time in it.”

“Three colors? I get it. Four? Kind of too much.”

“No, you’re just boring. You can do four colors no problem.”

“The curtains are hideous and the color combination is nuts.”

“The curtains are fine. And one likes the colors.”

“Also the wood doesn’t match, it’s all dry and odd shades of the same color.”

“It matches your skin.”

Toivon looked at Saufinril with mouth agape. Saufinril arched his eyebrows defiantly.

“That’s cold.” Toivon said, “Anyway, have you found anything?”

“Here and there, but nothing conclusive.” Saufinril admitted. Toivon sat next to him at the bed.

“Let’s,” Toivon rubbed his face, “let’s go to the base. From the beginning. Please.”

Saufinril nodded and said, “Hawkcroft. Emmanuel Hawkcroft.”

“Yes.”

“Self-made man by piracy and backstabbing his mentor’s family.”

“Right.”

“Has two offsprings: Avelle and Louis. So probably married but one never saw a Mrs. Hawkcroft.”

“The client told me he married their cousin, Erin, I think? Eline, Edwen, I don’t remember.”

Saufinril frowned, recalling the banquet, the women he met, the stress of stealing the key, the garden interlude with Armellon, and said, “One was not introduced to any Erin or Mrs. Hawkcroft at the party. She would’ve been there, it was her daughter’s birthday.”

“Eh, maybe she divorced him or passed. So, married to Erin.”

“Wait, we don’t know her name. Why are we calling her Erin?”

“What are you going to call her?”

“Mrs. Hawkcroft?”

“Fine. Hawkcroft, backstabber and fraud, has two children with the missing missus. Filthy rich.” Now Toivon stood up and paced on the space between the desk and the bed where Saufinril sat at.

“He’s got his lawyer and medic well in his life, if they’re going to his daughter’s birthday and breakfasts and other events.” Saufinril commented

“Could you say they’re his friends?” Toivon asked

“Of what one has seen this week? Yes.” Saufinril replied

“Hahah that’s sad. Anyhow, he got La Zadine as an engagement gift to his wife be able to ask for her hand in marriage.”

“That’s highly sentimental.” Saufinril pondered out loud, “If he still has it and she didn’t give it away to Avelle or Louis, maybe it’s because it meant a lot to them, and if anybody knows it was stolen or someone tried to steal it it could raise alarm in the family and shame to Hawkcroft.”

“So the guards and the patrolling are all Hawkcroft’s ideas to keep the kids from finding out their family heirloom is in trouble?”

“Sort of. Also, sentimentality for his wife.”

“Okay, fair. The old man misses his wife. Clearly our client wants it as revenge for what he did to their family.” Toivon stopped his pacing, “Maybe it’s the same thing. We need to find out if Hawkcroft has enemies, people who want to get to him and that know of La Zadine.”

“We got our client, who knows of it because their cousin married him.” Saufinril nodded, thinking, “So this was within the family, not everyone knows of La Zadine.”

“No, everyone knows of La Zadine, that’s the problem. It’s a famous sapphire here.”

“But then he’d constantly be robbed for it, no? How can he live in such calm and bliss when everyone knows he’s the owner of a famous jewel?”

“Beats me.”

“Huh. Anyways, we need to know enemies. One can find that out.”

“How?”

“Armellon is his friend, isn’t it?” Saufinril asked, “One thinks one can get him to talk to the courtesan.”

“Okay, right. In the meantime, I can ask Sorcise about why they’re not getting robbed every night of their lives, and of any other enemies Hawkcroft could have. She has to know something. This whole thing is starting to sound like a-” Toivon stopped short, his gaze going past Saufinril and to the wall on the left of the room’s bed. Saufinril turned his head and realized what Toivon was looking at.

“What’s that?” Toivon asked, motioning to the paper that was stuck on that part of the wall as he walked to it. Saufinril stood up and followed him, his mind racing on the explanation.

“Oh, that-that’s um, do you remember when we came here, there was a victim of a serial killer?” he asked

“The one that killed Altmer?” Toivon blurted out, still looking at the names.

“…yeah.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright. Yes. That one.” Saufinril cleared his throat, “It, well one began to investigate around a week ago. So far there’s already been eight victims.”

“Wait, eight? And they’re these?” Toivon asked, turning to Saufinril, who nodded.

“That’s the names of the ones that have been identified so far.”

“How do you get this information?”

“One told the mortician’s assistant that one was studying mortuary paths in the Isles and that one’s father was missing, so when victims are announced she lets one come in to ‘identify’ him.”

“…that’s morbid. And brilliant.”

“Thank you.”

Toivon looked at the list again, as if analyzing it closely. Saufinril cleared his throat and said, “One promises, this will not distract one from the job. It’s just,” Saufinril looked at the list, as a pair of young blue eyes pierced themselves in his memory again. And he realized he didn’t know how to express all the anger, grief for a stranger and yes, even fear, that the message of hate had left him. All he managed to say in a low volume was, “they were Altmer.”

Toivon didn’t look at Saufinril once, his gaze still on the writing in front of him. Not an inch moved.

Shit, Toivon thought, Saufinril had rented a room in this fancy hotel, hadn’t he?

“What do we got?” he asked, turning to Saufinril. Saufinril’s gaze quickly went to the paper and back to Toivon.

“What?” he asked, and could almost feel Lillandril’s slap on the back of his head for a half-assed formulated, obvious question, for staring and maybe also for letting his mouth hang agape.

“What, I can’t help you catch some serial killer?” Toivon asked

“No, no, just…one wasn’t expecting…nevermind.” Saufinril blinked as he cleared his throat, “So, the victims were only identified this week, at least by the last time that one went to the morgue which was two or three days ago. So!” the Altmer stood next to the Dunmer.

“So this is they.”

“In order, yes.” Saufinril pointed to the name on the topmost of the list, “Remember that Sorcise told us the first one was a girl everyone thought was the victim of a jealous lover? Termaena of Evermor.” Saufinril pointed to the next column, “the mortician told one that she was young but couldn’t specify age because well, men don’t know anything of mer.”

“True.”

“But she was young. And they mentioned a jealous lover so she probably had suitors, a boyfriend, fiancé, you know?”

“Like, she was in a courting age?”

“Yes.” Saufinril passed his gold finger to the next cell of the chart he’d made, “The mortician said she was by the bank of the river, strangled and with a big cut on her head.” Toivon winced at that, but Saufinril continued, “Then the next victim was Coretar of Congrad Wastes, she couldn’t tell one his age either, but he was found on fields with plenty of stabbings and two hits on his head.”

Toivon remained silent as Saufinril numbered the rest: Ironyl of Lillandril, body was floating on a canal, skull bashed, missing for 24 hours, only recognized because of his clothes and marriage ring; Miirie of Evermor (Termaena’s mother), missing for 24 hours, body was found near where Termaena’s had been, slit throat, almost decapitated, a hit on her head; Horace of Levgny, had actually been found alive and unconscious near the entrance to the city, bleeding from a head wound, but died in the Healer’s Temple an hour later; Estoril Thromil (from the Thromils, Saufinril said with a sort of scandal in his tone even if Toivon could, really, not give a fuck), was missing for 19 hours, then was found with multiple stabbings and his throat slit; and the last one, Merveril Kaelock of Sea Keep.

“He was…” Toivon noticed Saufinril said this one in a really soft tone, very unlike the neutral one he’d been using with the rest of the deceased, “very young. Maybe in his twenties or thirties. The mortician said he’d been stabbed repeatedly, strangled, had his throat slit and hit on his head.”

“There’s kind of a theme going on here, isn’t it? With hitting on the head and so many of these bodies were found on or near the river.” Toivon mused

“One thinks whoever is killing, has easy access to the river or at least the pier to dump the bodies. Maybe they even own a boat.”

“Great! That narrows it down to anyone that lives or works by the piers. So, a lot of people.”

A nibble of annoyance bit the back of Saufinril’s neck at Toivon’s negative comment, but he couldn’t deny that it was true: fishermen, brothels, merchants, captains, sailors, anyone and everyone that frequented the river could be a suspect.

Toivon, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes at the list, and said, “…it was by surprise.”

“What was?” Saufinril asked

“The hit on the head. Listen, if I were to like,” he looked around and grabbed the fruit bowl from the bedside table and turned to Saufinril as he tossed a plum at him. Saufinril put up his hands as a reflex, but despite it the plum hit his forehead.

“What was that for?” Toivon asked in disbelief

“One?? You threw the plum!” Saufinril asked, in as much disbelief, “Why are you asking one what was that for? One should be asking that!”

“You didn’t stop it!”

“Well you stop it, then!” Saufinril replied as he took the plum and threw it back, harder than Toivon had tossed it. Toivon let out a squeak but slapped the plum back at Saufinril, who moved aside and grabbed a pillow, then threw it at Toivon. Toivon retaliated by grabbing an orange and throwing it at Saufinril. Saufinril knelt to grab the orange but got attacked by another plum, so he threw both at Toivon. When Toivon attacked again, though, this time Saufinril lifted a hand, let the energy rush down his arm like a lightning, and in no time a purple shield of strong magic energy emerged from his palm, covering him almost entirely.

“Hah!” Toivon said, holding back the apple missile that was about to be thrown, “I knew it!”

“What are you talking about?” Saufinril said, still clutching an orange

“This!” Toivon motioned at the shield, “You make a shield!”

“Of course one does! what do you think one is? A goblin?”

“Put your shield down so I can explain-”

“No.” Saufinril eyed the bowl of fruits, “You put the bowl down.”

“I’m not going to throw anything at you.” Toivon protested

“Lies.”

“Alright, fine.” Toivon put the apple in the bowl and set the bowl on the table where it had been. Only then did Saufinril put away the shield.

“Why did you even start that?” Saufinril asked, grabbing the pillow he’d thrown and fluffing it while Toivon hunted around for the rogue plums and orange.

“I thought you’d pop the shield before!” Toivon said, “I thought it’d be, I don’t know, immediate! Like you’d do it at first.”

“Well, usually if this were a serious fight, one would!”

“Right. My point exactly. All jokes aside,” Toivon said, holding the fruits and taking them back to the bowl, “if they knew they were being attacked, they would’ve used magic to defend themselves.” He turned to Saufinril, who nodded, understanding dawning on him.

“The killer surprised them, then. He knew they could defend themselves with magic so they decided to not take a chance.” Saufinril hesitated, “But these are Bretons. They’re well adept with magic too. Granted, not as easily or naturally as Altmer, but still better than other races.”

“Then it’s someone that’s not that good at magic. Shit,” Toivon turned back to the chart, “bad at magic and prejudiced against the Altmer? And has access to the river without being seen? Kind of sounds like a profile.”

“Kind of.” Saufinril put the pillow on the bed, looking at the chart too, “one feels like we’re finally seeing a bigger picture.”

“Right?” Toivon said, turning to look at Saufinril, “you just feel like it’s clearer and there’s a path you can go down to.”

“Right!” Saufinril replied, looking at Toivon too. And for a second, he was back in Elden Root. He was back at the Den, at night, some years ago, when some band was playing and he’d broken up with his boyfriend at the time and returned from a disastrous visit to the Isles mere weeks ago. While serving a table with some men, Bosmer and two Dunmer, he’d lingered in the space, eavesdropping, and only realized he’d spaced out when he turned to one of the Dunmer, Toivon, and he was looking at him directly. Right now, for that second, it was that moment of that night again, and Toivon’s gaze felt as strong as the first time, and his heart shook just like that moment, eight years ago.

Then Toivon looked away. And he was back at the present, at this Evermor and the heist and the killings. And the slowly setting sun. Toivon, too, turned to the window.

“The afternoon passed really fast.” He commented.

“Want one to walk you to the front door?” Saufinril asked, unsure really why he had done so.

“Oh, what a gentlemer.” Toivon commented, amused.

“It’s the least one can do after you spent all afternoon in one’s bedchamber.” Saufinril replied, jesting back as they walked to the door.

“Will you pay a carriage back to my manor?”

“No.”

“Not as gentlemer-y as I thought, then.” Toivon joked, opening the door and walking out. Saufinril was about to follow when he looked back and took a look at the room in its entirety. He frowned.

“The room colors look okay.” He muttered to himself, before leaving.

#btb #behind the blue #this chpater upload is a JOKE brought to you by 'Tumblr pc won't let me log in despite entering the correct password MULTIPLE FUCKING TIMES'#and I have a dr's appointment in a bit so I can't exactly sit down and see what's up with this one #so #here you go #I'll edit the upload later #EDIT: THERE #MADE IT #woo!

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oh-ranpo · 5 years

Text

nothing but a number. (7)

Pairing: Gwilym Lee x Reader

AN: I love this story and I’m so happy that you all love this story as well! I appreciate all the feedback you’ve given me, and all the requests to be on the tag list. However, since Tumblr has a 50-mention tag limit, there is only one spot left on the tag list for this story. After that, I will not be able to tag anyone else : ( thank you all for the understanding and the support! Let me know what you think! Permanent tag list is closed.

Potential love triangle between ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ co-stars? Exclusive interview below!

The photographers were getting more creative, you had to give them that. You hadn’t even been aware of anyone else in the parking lot when Gwil dropped you off, but there you were, the two of you kissing in his car. An intimate moment now shared with the world in the form of a scandal. You felt like you could be sick.

“I hate them.” You growled as you threw your phone down on the sofa. You were standing in the middle of your trailer, your hand brushing through your hair and across your face constantly, a habit that you had whenever you were frustrated.

Ben had been the one to send you the link to the article, and now you felt like you could scream. You knew that he was sympathetic to what was going on, because he knew if he was seeing someone he really liked, he wouldn’t want these kinds of rumors hanging over his head. Neither one of you knew what to do to stop them, but at this point you were ready to try anything. You didn’t want people ruining something for you that hadn’t even really started yet.

There was a knock on your trailer door as you continued pacing back and forth, and you called for whoever it was to come in. You weren’t surprised to see that it was Ben, but you were surprised to see the person that was with him. Gwilym gave you a small smile as he stepped in behind Ben, and your pacing halted.

“I hope we aren’t intruding.” He said quietly, as him and Ben made their way over to your small sofa. Ben eyed your phone curiously, and then picked it up and set it on the arm of the couch. It was obvious by the look on your face that you were still frazzled, but you tried to reign your frustrations back in.

“What are you guys doing here?”

Ben gave you a warm smile, and Gwilym’s eyes also fell on you. You had a feeling you knew why they were there, but you hoped that you were wrong. You were still too wound up to talk at the moment.

“We’ve come to discuss the recent… situation that has arisen.” Ben replied, crossing his legs and resting his hands on his knee. A tight-lipped smile spread across Gwilym’s face as he nodded. You hated that you were right.

“I don’t know what there is to discuss. They aren’t going to stop. These headlines draw too much attention. They thrive on this kind of stuff.” You huffed, running your hands through your hair and starting your movement across the trailer again.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Gwilym and Ben exchange a look, and then Ben’s hand reached out to grab your elbow as you passed by him.

“Could you maybe sit down?”

You knew that he wasn’t really asking, so you sat down on the bench across from them. You hadn’t even had time to really think about the fact that Gwilym was there, in your trailer, until you were looking right at him. The anxiousness you had been feeling started to melt away slightly when his eyes met yours, and you could see that he wasn’t upset like you had feared he would be.

“I’m really sorry this is happening.” He said quietly, seemingly able to see the fear in your eyes. You gave him a small smile, his sentiments a reminder of just how great a guy he actually was.

“I am too. You don’t deserve to be drug through this mess either.” Your shoulders sagged as you spoke, and you felt exhausted. It had become a semi-permanent feeling at this point.

“None of us like the light that is being cast upon us right now,” Ben started, drawing both of your attention back to him. “But you’re right. They aren’t going to stop. Which is why I think that we should use the upcoming press tour to really stress that this stuff the tabloids are saying is wrong.”

You had forgotten all about the press tour. You were just about a week away from wrapping up the movie, and not long after that, you and Ben would be traveling around to promote it before it came out. His idea wasn’t terrible. You were sure that the two of you would get questions regarding your relationship, and that would be the best time to get the truth out there.

“That could work,” you conceded. “But we are going to have to be careful about how we word things, or else I’m sure something will be taken out of context.”

Ben nodded, and then his head turned to Gwilym.

“I don’t want to rush the two of you into announcing anything, but they’re going to ask her about what’s going on. You guys will have to talk about what you want her to say.”

Gwilym’s blue eyes flickered from Ben to you and you felt your chest tighten. Everything had been so casual with you and Gwil, and it was kind of nice. You didn’t feel the pressure that a normal relationship brought along, and you didn’t want to push it because you knew that he had already had some worries about everything already.

“We’ll figure it out.” He said with a smile, and you felt your shoulders relax. Your eyes stayed locked on each other, but out of the corner of your eye you saw Ben stand from his seat.

“Great, well I will leave you two alone. I’ll see you later.”

You and Gwilym bid Ben goodbye, and you moved over to take his spot. Almost instantly, Gwil’s arm moved to drape over your shoulders, and he pulled you into his side. Your heart raced in your chest, and you inhaled deeply, relishing in his warmth and the smell of his cologne.

“It’s annoying being in the public eye. How do these big celebrities deal with it?”

It was more a rhetorical question because you knew the bigger celebrities didn’t pay much attention to what the tabloids were writing about them. You knew there had to be some kind of disconnect between them and the news, and you deeply wished that you could reach that place. Gwilym hummed, but he didn’t respond. You could tell that he wasn’t upset, but you wished that you knew what he was thinking.

Your head lifted from his shoulder so that you could gaze up at his face, and his eyes turned towards you. You were struck with the rich blue-ness of his eyes once again, and butterflies broke out in your stomach. Looking at him now, you could almost forget every other negative thing happening in your life; as long as you could keep looking into those beautiful blue eyes.

Your hand reached up to brush across his cheek, and your fingertips tingled as they made contact with his skin. You swore you saw him inhale sharply at the gesture as his face moved down to yours. You caught his eyes glancing down at your lips just seconds before his made contact with them. Your fingers brushed along his jawline as he kissed you, and you felt him shiver.

His hand that had been resting on your shoulder pulled you closer to him as the kiss deepened, and your hand that had been near his cheek was now firmly on the back of his neck. His body turned slightly so that he was facing you more, and his other free hand reached out to grab your waist to pull your body closer to his. A small moan slipped through your lips against his as he gently laid you back, his body now hovering over yours. Your entire body felt like it was on fire as his hands moved from your waist, up your side, and then back down again.

The two of you remained in that position for a while, your hand occasionally tugging lightly on the back of his hair, earning a satisfied hum from Gwilym. This feeling was something that was completely new to you. You had made out with a few other men in your time, but Gwilym ignited something different inside you. It was something you never wanted to end. Sadly, you didn’t always get what you want, and Gwilym started to pull away. He placed a couple quick kisses to your lips and nose before sitting back up completely.

“We’re supposed to be discussing what we want to say when the press asks us about our relationship,” he said, his eyes still hooded from the moment the two of you had just shared.

“Mmm, I think I like this better.” You replied, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek and he chuckled.

“Believe me, I’m not complaining. However, I think that we should-“

He was cut off by the sound of your phone vibrating violently from next to your head. You gave him an apologetic look as you reached over to grab it, just in case it was someone on set needing you. You were surprised to see “Mom” pop up on the screen, but you had just missed the call. You were about to set your phone back down when an incoming text popped up.

35 years old?! You’re seeing a man who is 35 years old, and I had to find out about it through an online article?! Call me back.

You rolled your eyes at your mother’s dramatics, but you felt Gwilym’s arms pull away from you quickly, and you knew that he had seen the message. You set your phone back down and turned to him, but he was already halfway out of his seat.

“Where are you going?” You asked sadly, even though you knew the answer to that question.

Gwilym’s biggest problem with allowing himself to get near you had been the large gap in your ages. You had never seen an issue with it, but clearly from the reaction of your mother, he was reminded of it again.

“We can talk later. I think I should go.” His voice was soft and reserved, but you could see the embarrassment on his face. You stood up to stop him, but he was fast and he stepped around you. “I’ll talk to you later. You should call your mom.”

“Gwil…”

But before you could say anything more, he slipped out the door and was gone. Your mood instantly worsened again at how suddenly everything had gone downhill again. You wanted to chase after him, but you knew that he needed some time. He had been forced to face so many different problems today that would have made anything upset. You only hoped that he wasn’t going to give up on what you had because of it.

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#gwilym lee story #gwilym lee #gwilym lee x reader #gwilym lee fic #gwilym lee angst #gwilym lee fluff #brian may #bohemian rhapsody #ben hardy #jamestown #samuel castell #midsomer murders #charlie nelson #fluff #angst #nothing but a number fic #nothing but a number story #nban

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the-everlasting-dream · 5 years

Text

Toska - Liam x MC [x Drake], TRR AU

Part 1 of Unfathomable

Summary: The day they turned the life support off.

A/N: I’ve been waiting to write this for the longest time (am I a sadist for wanting to torture my own characters?) We’re gonna cover the hard stuff in this series so please heed the trigger warnings and have tissues ready.

Word Count: 5000+

Warnings: Grief, description of injury, trauma (various), violence (Liz very mildly grabs a doctor), major character death. Please do not read if uncomfortable.

Permanent tags: @chantelle-x0x , @choicessa, @meeraaverywalker , @drakewalkerwhipped , @quartzandarrow , @mfackenthal , @srawesleyghuewrites , @topsyturvy-dream , @enmchoices , @gardeningourmet @debramcg1106 , @alesana45 , @meladoridarcy, @blackcatkita , @tmarie82 , @annekebbphotography , @lizk77 , @jayjay879 , @tornbetween2loves @akrenich ,

Series tags: @mrsdrakewalkerblog , @ooo-barff-ooo ,

TRR only: @speedyoperarascalparty Drake: @fairydustandsarcasm

Toska

noun /ˈtō-skə/ - Russian

Roughly translated as sadness, melancholia, lugubriousness.

"No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause.” - Vladimir Nobokov.

Liam stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar. Today wasn’t going to be easy.

He stared into his own blue eyes hoping the reflection he saw staring back could give him some answer to the hundreds of thoughts pressed on his mind.

It had been almost eight weeks after the terrorist attack on Homecoming Ball that had shaken Cordonia, leaving the country in near chaos after the monarchy attacked in their own home. The last two months had been devoted purely to damage control and recovery protocols initiated to stabilise the country and deal with the devastating threat on the nation’s security.

Looking back on it, Liam realised that he’d had to make more hard calls and negotiate more compromises during his short time as king than any other monarch in Cordonia’s history. There were approvals that needed to be signed, protocols that needed to be approved, documents that needed to be amended, the list was endless…

Despite this a thousand decisions still rested on his shoulders and even more were on their way but none so grave as the one he had to make today...

Liam had seen his fair share of struggles between an attack on him and his family and his own mothers assassination but never in his twenty-nine years of life did he think he’d have to make a decision about his best friend’s life.

Drake had been on life support for almost two months now after taking a bullet meant for Elizabeth Richmond during the chaos of the attack on the palace during the Homecoming Ball. He’d been receiving around the clock care from the best medical practitioner’s Cordonia had to offer but late last night to inform him that there had been a drop in Drake’s brain activity in the past day.

The doctor had requested Drake’s closest family and friends to come to the hospital to discuss further options. She’d used a pleasant tone but something in her voice told Liam to prepare for the worst. After thanking her, he'd sat in silence at his desk, head hung, reflecting on what her words what this would mean. An unfathomable sadness had welled up in him at the prospect of losing his best friend.

This was Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

For as long as he could remember, Drake had been a permanent fixture in his life since they were boys. They’d gone through the gauntlet together many times over and Liam had always known without a doubt that he’d be able to count on Drake if he ever needed. If anyone could have survived taking a bullet it was him.

After what could have been hours - he’d lost all sense of time - he’d picked up his phone and dialled Elizabeth, knowing she’d be furious if he didn’t tell her. As the phone rang he wasn’t sure if she’d pick up at the late hour but she answered on the fourth ring.

‘Liam?’

He could hear the worry in her sleepy voice, he knew she knew he wouldn’t have called if it was urgent. Perhaps it was selfish of him to want to get it over and done with as he swiftly relayed the doctor’s message in as few words as possible. On the other end of the phone Liam had felt her silence growing heavier and heavier, he could practically see the tension wracking her frame as she listened.

He’s been about to ask if she was okay but stopped himself, her silence told him more than words ever could. He wanted to say something, anything, but his tongue felt like lead in his mouth.

What would he have said anyway?

She’d just been given the news that the man she loved might be on the brink of death. So they sat there until the silence got too much to bear and eventually Liam had heard her swallow hard and thank him stiffly, informing him in a voice laden with emotion that she’d meet him at the hospital tomorrow morning.

Now Liam stared into the mirror again, nervously adjusting his cuffs, unable to stop his mind from returning to her again. His feelings towards Elizabeth were… complicated at best. He cursed himself for the hundredth time, for being too blind, too stupidly in love to see that she was falling for his best friend.

Was it even love? he wondered. Was it love when he only got to see the side of her she presented to the outside world?

She’d revealed a little of herself in the little moments they’d stolen in between but between royal obligations, her scandal and his engagement to Madeleine, these moments had been few and far between.

On the other hand, Drake hadn’t been been bound by any of these and maybe that’s what had made all the difference. A difference Liam hadn’t realised until he was down on one knee, ready to offer Elizabeth the world, only for her to crush his hopes by admitting what he’d been too blind to see.

That, however, had not made him stop loving her. He loved her, god he loved her so much, almost as much as it hurt that she’d never love him same way.

That hadn’t meant it wouldn’t hurt. It hurt like a bitch to see the truth finally out in the open. But he swallowed. He swallowed his feelings and put on a brave face and told her he was happy for her, even though they both knew it was a goddamn lie. He had to be happy for her, for them.

This was Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

How could he feel anything other than happiness for the two people he loved most in the world?

A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts and Liam took a moment to compose himself as best he could before instructing whoever it was to enter. His eyebrows rose when the door opened to reveal Constantine.

‘Father.’ The word was meant to be a greeting but it came out more like a question.

‘Son,’ Constantine began, taking a seat on the chair in behind him. ‘I was hoping to catch you before you went to the hospital.’

Liam eyed him carefully. His relationship with his father had not been the same since he’d learn about his hand in Elizabeth’s scandal and he’d noticed himself keeping the king father at arms length despite his illness.

'I was just about to leave for the hospital.’ He announced, his meaning clear, tone communicating a slight irritation at the interruption.

’Then I’m glad I caught you,’ Constantine eased himself into the armchair and dropped his gaze to the floor, his demeanour pensive as he paused. 'Liam… son... I need to speak with you. It concerns the safety of Cordonia.'

Liam almost raised an eyebrow at the seriousness in his tone — for once Constantine had deemed sending threats to potential suitors a matter of Cordonia’s safety — but held his tongue and waited.

’Son, I’m sure you don’t need an old man like me to tell you that this country is headed towards chaos. The attack on the palace has made it seem like the monarchy is on the brink of ruin. And it is our job — yours particularly — to prevent this from happening. We should be projecting a strong image to the public in this time of distress…’

Liam frowned. His father was obviously dancing around the point he’d come to make ‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying… I think this may be a good time to consider choosing a wife. Perhaps Duchess Elizabeth. She’d be a favourable match, she’s gained an excellent understanding of our country, the media adore her and she’d —'

‘What?!?’ Liam interjected, feeling anger bubbling up inside him, not bothering to hide his disgust at Constantine’s words.. ‘Father how can you- how can you even suggest that?’

Not long ago the King Father would have given anything to see Elizabeth gone from their country and now he was pushing them to get married?

‘Liam…'

‘Father do you realise what you’re saying?’ Liam was pacing now, unable to believe his ears. ‘You despise her. In fact a few months ago, you spearheaded a plot to disgrace her and now you want to see her as queen? I’m sorry but I don’t follow.'

The King Father sighed again, rubbing absentmindedly at his chest. ‘Liam I know how it sounds but hear me out… I’m an old man. I’m not going to be around much longer and I can’t with good conscience leave this country without a stable future…' ‘

Are you saying I’m not stable enough?’ It brought Liam a slight pleasure to see his father shrink a little at his tone.

‘My boy that’s not what I-‘

’Then what did you mean?’

‘I’m merely putting forward Duchess Elizabeth as the best candidate for Queenship. The press adore her and its obvious to anyone that she’s got a way with the people that Olivia Nevrakis and Madeleine Krona will never have. We need to project a strong image of the monarchy to our people, let them know that in the face of tragedy, there is still hope.'

‘And you truly believe Elizabeth is the best way to do that?’ Liam offered hostilely.

It burned his tongue to speak of her in such a way, in a marriageable way after… well...

Constantine was already nodding. ‘I know I may have been wrong in the past and despite his best efforts to thwart her Duchess Elizabeth has seems to have some sort of… endurance that has gotten her to where she is.’ Liam watched the King Father, rub absentmindedly at his chest as he gazed off. 'Our country could use some of her enduring quality right now.'

Liam could hear the truth in his father’s words. He wasn’t wrong. He just didn’t know what had happened. That she loved Drake and not him.

He allowed himself a few moments to compose himself before speaking. ‘And what if I refuse?'

Shock splashed across the former king’s face. ‘Refu- Liam I don’t understand…. You love her, she loves you. I’m merely suggesting what would have happened months ago if it wasn’t for me… I can’t fathom why you’re being so resistant to this… This seems like the ideal situation for you. It's what you wanted right?’

It was. It was what he wanted. He’d laid in bed, thinking of it, dreaming of it every night since the day he met her and... even after the day she’d rejected him.

Suddenly he saw the entire future panned out before him. Elizabeth would be walking down the aisle in her big white dress for their perfect wedding, they’d become man and wife and she’d rule by his side from that day forward. He could picture her talking down stubborn senators and negotiating difficult reforms and after it was over, they’d bid farewell to the day in each other’s arms.

He could hear the laughter of the children they could have echoing through the palace and the pitter-patter of footsteps as they chased each other through the maze. He could almost feel the creases that would form next to her eyes after years together but he’d still think she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on as he kiss-

‘Your Majesty,’ a servant’s voice broke Liam out of his fantasy. ‘The royal motorcade is ready for you sire.’

‘Yes of course,’ he answered, immediately snapping back into his role as he straighten his collar and made to head to the door when a hand on his arm made him pause.

‘Think about it son. That’s all I ask.’

Liam could barely find it within himself to nod, rushing out before the tears could spill.

Though he’d come to visit countless times over the last two months, Liam never failed to be shocked at the sight of Drake lying on that hospital bed.

He gazed at his best friend, alarmingly thin and deathly pale under the flimsy material of the hospital gown they’d dressed him in. The bandages no longer covered his entire chest but were reduced to a small gauze patch over the stitched up bullet hole. Hundred of tubes connected him to various machines surrounding the bed including the ventilator which sat beeping quietly in the corner. Liam gulped at the sight of him.

This was Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

He knew Drake would have defended him tooth and nail if required but when the time came, he, Liam, had failed to do the same.

He couldn’t bear to look at his best friend, the shame was too great, and shifted his gaze over to Elizabeth, seated on the bed beside Drake, her fingers, gently brushing a few strands of hair from his face.

The way she looked at him, it was like rejection all over again and Liam could possibly fathom how he was going to convince this amazing woman to marry him. Elizabeth was never his to begin with and even if she did agree, Liam knew he would feel like the wrong man for the rest of his life, sealed as her husband only by the blessing of a priest and a few strokes on paper, nothing else.

Could he live with that?

Liam didn’t have time to dwell on it when a doctor appeared at his side.

’Your Majesty the healthcare team is here for the consultation.' He nodded once and followed her to a small conference room, Elizabeth following a minute later.

‘Your Majesty, Your Grace thank you for coming on such short notice,’ the head doctor stated.

Elizabeth leaned forward. ‘We came as soon as you called. You said there’s an update? How’s he doing?’

‘Well,’ the doctor began. ‘ As you know Mr Walker has been on IV and receiving extra oxygen in the entire time he’s been here. After the extreme blood loss he experienced following the gunshot wound, it was likely that he would have experienced some brain damage despite the blood transfusions he received. And according to His Majesty’s instructions we have been monitoring his brain activity hourly but yesterday we noticed an steep drop in brain activity. The subsequent neurological testing.’

She passed a piece of paper with the test results to them, ’Showed decreased sign in brain activity which usually means that while the basic brain functions like heart rate, digestion and sleep patterns have been retained, unfortunately the higher order functions have been lost.'

‘I-I don’t underst- I don’t understand,’ Elizabeth put in shakily. ‘What higher order functions?’

‘Capabilities like memory, cognition, thinking, attention, perception, language even have been lost.’

Liam couldn’t help but glance at Elizabeth, the strain of the doctors words hitting them both but her fingers remained wrapped so tightly around the sheet of paper, it began to tear.

‘Our medical team here can provide you with the results of the other tests we carried out,’ the doctor gestured to her colleagues but Elizabeth interrupted, her voice low and firm.

‘How long?’

‘Your Grace, once the higher order functions have been lost, we must declare the patient brain dead. We should discuss shutting off life support.’

The statement hit Liam like a boulder to the chest but before he could form a complete thought, Elizabeth was already on her feet, glaring down at the doctor.

’No!’ She shouted. ’No we are NOT turning off the life support! There’s got to be something you can do! You’ve-you’ve-you've fucked up the test somehow! He’s not brain dead! I-I-I refuse to believe that! You’re not doing all you can. I mean its the twenty-first century for fucks sake! There’s gotta be some sort of test or procedure you can do...’

The head doctor remained unperturbed by Elizabeth’s outburst and evenly replied. ‘We’ve exhausted all our options Your Grace. We’re are unable to comply with any advanced directive trying to require that Mr Walker be kept on life support after being declared brain dead. We cannot and do not usually provide futile care. It is generally accepted that once a person is brain dead, they are essentially dead.’

’No! No, you’re-you’re lying!’ Desperate tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face as she grabbed the doctor by her shirt in anger. ‘You have to do something,’ she screeched. ‘The man I love is in there and I-I-I need him to wake up so I can tell him that! You need to get him to wake up!’

‘I’m sorry Your Grace, there’s nothing more we can do for him,’ the doctor replied calmly despite her outburst.

Elizabeth let out a scream of frustration that shocked Liam out of his stupor and he immediately sprung to his feet, wrestling the doctor’s shirt from her hands.

‘Elizabeth, Elizabeth,’ Liam tried to look into her eyes, attempting to restrain her struggling form as she glared at the doctor, knowing that if he let go she might have pounced on her. ‘Elizabeth look at me.’

‘Liam do something!’ she yelled, trying to twist out of his steel grip. ‘You’re the fucking king. Order that bitch to do something! They just wanna let him die!’

She was stronger than she looked as she almost broke out of his grip, throwing her arm out to the doctor, nails flashing on empty air as she swiftly evaded her reach. Bastien and Mara who were in the room too came forward to help Liam restrain her but he shook his head.

‘Elizabeth listen to me,’ he commanded in his kingly tone. ’The doctors have done everything they can for Drake okay? Do you really think I would have let them leave any stone unturned? They’ve done everything. There’s nothing more we can do okay?’

It killed him to see her like this, with hot tears pouring down her as she struggled more weakly against his grip.

‘Liam please, please don’t let them do it,’ she begged, grabbing onto his lapels twisting the material between her white-knuckled hands as tears streamed down her face. The desperation in her voice was so deep it almost broke him as she implored him with big brown watery eyes.

‘Liam please... I’m not ready to let him go. Please I-I have to.. to tell him I-’ She cut herself off, drawing a huge ragged breath.

‘Elizabeth…’ Liam had never felt so useless in his entire life.

He was the king of an entire nation but even he was powerless to do anything. To see her like this was nothing less than excruciating but what was he to say? The doctors had already told them everything they could, he’d only be repeating their condemning sentence, driving the nail in deeper.

‘Liz…’ he began hesitantly, unsure of what to say, ‘…if I could do anything... you know I would...'

Though he'd attempted for a more comforting approach but he couldn’t quite hide the hopelessness in his voice. Immediately her knees buckled and he struggled to support her as she rested her forehead on his chest in a sign of complete and utter defeat. It was the single saddest thing he’d ever seen in his life. A woman so broken over the man she loved, she could barely find the strength to hold herself up.

Before Liam could bring his arms up around her body to provide what comfort he could, Elizabeth ripped herself away to burst out of the room.

'Liam, is-is there nothing..?’ Maxwell met him at the door, obviously having heard the entire exchange from outside but cut himself off when the king turned to look at him, his blue gaze holding the answer no one wanted to voice out loud.

‘Oh,’ the younger Beaumont dropped his eyes to the ground. ‘Please excuse me.’

Liam looked forlornly after his friend who could scarcely make it to the end of the hallway without bursting into tears.

His feet took him back to the room where Elizabeth was currently sobbing on Drake’s chest, arms clasped firmly around his neck as if she could bring him back by sheer force of will. It was only when Hana’s soft hand touched his arm lightly that Liam finally broke down into tears and though they’d never been close he accepted her hug.

This is Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

The only person who had been there for him in the darkest hour, always ready with a sarcastic comment, a glass of whiskey and a listening ear. Drake had given up a chance at his own life for Liam all those years ago and just when he seemed on the cusp of beginning afresh with Elizabeth…

Liam sobbed harder into Hana’s shoulder, not caring if he ruined her dress now — he’d buy her another one to replace it — but now he was just grateful for the company. Through the open door of the hospital room, Liam could hear Elizabeth’s words as she talked out loud.

‘— will always love you Drake,’ she was saying. ‘And only you for the rest of my life. You are the love of my life Drake Walker and my life’s regret will be not telling you earlier…'

Breaking out of Hana’s grip, Liam blindly stalked off, letting his feet carry him whatever direction they wished until he reached an open balcony somewhere in the hospital. The wind whipped at his face as he stared up into the sky, devoid of any cloud as if mocking him. It should be raining, storming, hailing anything to reflect the inner turmoil he was feeling. With a deep breath of cool air rushing into his lungs, he opened his mouth ready to unleash a bellow that would have echoed off the very mountain stops across the country but paused, painfully aware of the security camera trained on his every move, ready to capture visual footage of the king losing his mind as he yelled at the empty air.

Instead Liam did what he always did. He’d learned long ago that he was a king first then a man and because of that some of his human tendencies would have to take a back seat. Deep breaths, eyes closed, feet together until he felt the uncontrollable anger dissipated and his vision cleared.

That did nothing to soothe the ache of his heart, however. It still beat, however brokenly, pumping what felt like shards of broken glass into his veins.

This is it, he realised. This is the end. We’re really going to do this.

In the months that followed the attack, some small part of him had hoped that Drake would come out okay. Liam had placed him in the best hospital with the best doctors working around the clock with state-of-the-art technology to bring him back but the doctor’s words hollowed out his soul.

“The higher order functions have been lost, we must declare the patient brain dead.”

Dead.

This is Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

Drake of all people would be most likely to survive a bullet wound. So many things came bubbling up to the surface. They’d barely talked since Liam had proposed. He had Drake’s avoidant tendencies to thank for that.

God Drake had probably taken that shot, thinking that he, Liam, must have hated his guts for stealing the woman that they both loved. Knowing Drake he would have tried to fight his feelings for the longest time and knowing Elizabeth she wouldn’t have made that easy. So many things he should have done, he should have said.

Goddamn it if it was too late, Liam was going to say it now.

Rushing back, he ran into the very person he was hoping to avoid, Elizabeth and for a long moment they just looked at each other.

‘Savannah’s in there with Bartie,’ she informed him hollowly. ‘They’ve put his mum on the phone so she can say goodbye.’

‘I…uh…'

Unable to form words, Liam dropped into a chair outside the door and a beat later, Elizabeth followed suit. Liam thought of his father’s suggestion and how part of him wanted to desperately to act on it, if not for the guilt in the other half of him.

He wanted Elizabeth so badly, but not like this.

He wanted her to choose him, freely. Not like this…

The heavy silence lasted and she seemed to be mustering up the courage to say something. But what? There was nothing to say. They both knew what was coming.

She finally opened her mouth ‘Liam I’m-'

The moment was shattered as door creaked open and a tearful Savannah exited with Bartie wrapped in her arms. Liam shot to his feet. Whatever Elizabeth was going to say could waits he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

His best friend’s pale face has an eerie glow thrown across it but the fluorescent lights above and Liam inched his way slowly to the bedside chair.

‘I’m sorry Drake…’ Liam burst out, his voice laced with tears. ‘I failed you. I failed everyone, my parents, my country, my friends, my best friend… I am the king of an entire nation and I still couldn’t protect you.’ He reached out tot grip the other man’s hand, slightly colder than normal.

‘You’re my best friend. You should be here and I should be there. Those bullets were meant for me, not you. You should be here,’ he swallowed heavily, the words sticking in his throat.

‘With her. She loves you, so, so much. I know you love her. And so do I. I’m sorry I stood in the way of you two getting together. If I had known maybe I could have protected you, or-or-or,’ Liam paused, sobs wracking his body.

‘My father wants me to marry her,’ he told his best friend, voice barely above a whisper. ‘He said she’d make a good queen and maybe she would. But she was never mine to begin with. Her heart will always be yours. I still don’t know what I’m going to do. How can I marry the woman in love with my best friend?’ Liam squeezed his hand tighter.

‘I wish you would come back. Come back and take this choice away from me. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if she’ll say yes. I mean how could she?’

His blue eyes rested on Drake’s face, silently begging, pleading for an answer but none came.

‘I’ll take care of her Drake,’ he vowed. ‘Even if she says yes or not, I’ll see that she’s always well looked after. She’ll never be wanting for anything. If I do ask her and she does say yes, I’ll be the best husband I can be. Elizabeth will always be yours, Drake and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to live up to your example.'

Liam felt a tiny part of the huge weight on his shoulders dissipate slightly and when a small knock reached his ears, his voice was steady enough to answer without breaking.

‘Come in.’

‘Your Majesty.’ It was the head doctor again. ‘We’re ready to perform the procedure, if you are.’

He wiped the tears that escaped with the back of his hand and nodded. The shuffling of feet indicated that his friends entered the room, Hana, Maxwell, Bastien, Bertrand, Savannah and… Elizabeth. Liam moved to vacate the chair he was sitting on but she made a passive motion, situating herself on the opposite side closer to Drake. She looked at him with such love and sadness that Liam automatically felt like an outsider, like this was a special moment he was intruding on. Her lips moved but he didn’t have to look to know what she was saying.

I love you so, so much.

Savannah came to rest her hand on her brother's shoulder while the other found its way to Liam’s, giving him a reassuring squeeze before addressing the doctor. ‘Will it hurt?’

She shook her head. ‘It will be like falling asleep. Once we turn the ventilator off, he’ll just stop breathing naturally...'

Elizabeth made a sound in her throat at that but managed to compose herself aside from the tears pouring down her face. Leaning in, Liam and everyone else watched her kiss Drake’s still form ever so softly before resting her forehead against his, her tears dripping onto his face until they looked like his own..

‘Do it,’ she commanded, giving the doctor the signal.

And just like that, is turned into was.

Liam marvelled at how quickly the process was over, how with a simple turning of a dial, a whole life was extinguished just like that. Nothing could have prepared him for this. As his mind replayed all the good memories of his best friend, Liam gripped Drake’s motionless hand desperately, not wanting to feel his shallow pulse fade out into nothing. Savannah began to lean on him more and more, gradually failing to support herself.

They all watched with bated breath as the gentle rise and fall of Drake’s chest slowly evened out and before it could fade out completely, Elizabeth pressed her lips to his again, one last time. In his distant hearing, Liam detected the steady sound of the heart rate monitor flatlining, cementing that it really was over now.

No one said anything — no one needed to, they all filed out, one by one in their own time, in their own way until it was just Liam and Elizabeth left, her quiet sobs the only sounds filling the room, while Liam could barely keep his suppressed.

Eventually, he too got up, more out of duty than anything but paused in the doorway to glance back at Elizabeth’s sobbing form.

'I’ll take her home,' Hana offered, noting his concern and Liam nodded in reply, not trusting himself to speak.

This was Drake. Drake Walker. His best friend and fiercest protector.

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phantoms-lair · 6 years

Text

Fangs for Being There: Once Bitten

commission for @providentially-demonic

Two vehicles pulled up to the Roger’s residence at the same time. “Mrs. Talbain,” Daphne greeted. “Here to pick up Winnie?”

“As I suppose you’re here to pick up your pack.” Selena smiled though it faded slightly, “Have you had any luck convincing him?”

Velma sighed. “Not even close. He’s still shutting down the conversation anytime we bring it up. At least having him and Scooby stay at Fred’s house mixed with more group sleepovers at here is helping.”

(More Under Cut)

That was something, at least. If nothing else it would be one less stressor, which bought them some time. And mixing the two was a smart move. Like Shaggy, the rest of his pack were not quite full grown and it wouldn’t be realistic to ask for them to leave their own families permanently to stay with him. Likewise having him permanently leave the home where he had grown with his parents and sibling would have left a negative mark of its own.

Rotating it so he could still stay in his home some nights while his whole pack was there worked well. Now if they could just solve the last big problem of getting him comfortable with other werewolves, one way or another.

“I certainly wouldn’t mind Shaggy biting him,” Daphne muttered under her breath.

It wasn’t quite quiet enough as both Selena and Velma turned to her. “Trouble in Paradise?” Velma asked tentatively.

“Not really, at least not when we’re alone.” Daphne sighed. “But he’s so used to hiding our relationship around others that he does it reflexively. Any public affections unsettles him, even holding hands. I’ve seen how cuddly Shaggy is with you, not to mention Winnie and I just...I just want Fred to at least feel comfortable being close to me.”

Selena couldn understand that. An aversion to touching your partner, even if it was only in public, was terrifying to her.

“It’s just an adjustment, he’ll get over it.” Velma put a hand consolingly on Daphne’s shoulder. “Just make sure you keep pushing him out of that comfort zone a bit.”

Any further discussion was cut off as the front door opened and Winnie rocketed out, jumping in her mother’s arms. Selena twirled her around before hugging her close. “Did you have a good time with Coach?”

As Winnie excitedly told her about her day, Shaggy, Scooby, and Fred left the home as a more sedate pace. Still there was no denying Shaggy’s eyes brightened just as much as Winnie’s when he saw his friends, even as he was keeping his distance from Selena. “You guys are here early.”

“I missed you,” Velma grinned, throwing her arms around her boyfriend.

“Missed you too,” Shaggy grinned back, melting into the hug.

Daphne couldn’t help the ping of envy, but Velma was right. It would just take time.

“I guess we can head out on the case now,” Fred said brightly. “A supposed ghoul haunting the old Mill.”

Cases had never been Shaggy’s thing in the past, but as much as they scared him there was a sense of normalcy around them. And anything that made him feel more normal he would take in a heartbeat.

After the case they were all feeling far less gung-ho. It had definitely been normal for them. Guy in costume, real estate scandal, yada yada. Unfortunately during the chase the ‘Ghoul’ had cut the rope bridge they were running across, causing them all to go tumbling down in ball. They were covered in scratches and bruises and were not feeling very charitable towards the man in the overdone Halloween costume, even after he was caught.

“I think this pair of leggings is done for,” Daphne bemoaned as she took in the numbers of holes. “And something hit my knee hard.”

“I think it was my face, it certainly hit something hard like an elbow or a knee.” Velma was grateful no teeth had been knocked loose.

“Like, either that or mine.” Shaggy rubbed his jaw in memory. His own injuries had healed up, but he still remembered the aches.

“I think my elbow got the other one,” Fred pulled back the torn bit or sweater and shirt, both with red-becoming-brown stains. “And whoever got me left a few tooth marks.”

“Ouch,” Daphne grabbed the first aid kit so she could disinfect it. “Let me see.” She gently cleaned the wound. “Yeah, it’s not whole mouth’s worth, but that is definitely a bite.”

“How big is the bite? Can we tell who bit him?” Velma asked with some urgency.

“Not really, Like I said, it’s just a few teeth and it wasn’t exactly a clean bite. We were all tumbling around. I mean I could have done it and just not realized it.”

“I hope so.” Velma said solemnly. “I really do.”

Fred and Daphne both blinked at the seriousness in Velma’s tone. It wasn’t until Shaggy jerked back with a panicked keening that they realized what Velma had.

Shaggy may have been the one who bit Fred.

“Oh.” Fred sat down hard on the bumper on the Mystery Machine, the flopped on the floor of the back of the van. “Oh wow.”

“It might not be,” Velma was quick to throw out. “I know I got someone with my face, and Daphne flat out said it might have been her. It might even have been Scooby.”

“Is there a way to tell?” Daphne asked.

“I don’t know,” Velma admitted as Shaggy began hyperventilating. “But I know who we can ask. ~

Winnie had just gone to bed when the Talbain’s phone rang. Selena debated not answering for a moment, but decided an call at this hour was more likely to be important that a telemarketer. She was glad for that decision when she heard Shaggy on the other end.

“Like, I need your help. I may have bitten Fred!”

Giving silent thanks that she hadn’t ignored it, or worse Wulfic had picked it up, Selena gathered herself. “I know this was a hard decision to make, but I really think you made the right -”

“No, I mean I don’t know.”

Selena felt a moment of incredulity pass over her. “You don’t know if you bit someone?”

“We all went down in a heap. It could have been any of us that bit him, But it could have been me and I don’t know. Is there some way to tell if it’s a werewolf bite?”

Hoo boy. Nothing seemed to go simply for the new Primogenitor. “Not until the next full moon, I’m afraid. The gift won’t take hold until the full moon has risen and the sun has completely set, so no magical indicators will show up till then. The bite wouldn’t be different to any other human bite, though if it gets infected, the infection should clear with the first transformation.”

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, but Selena could still hear him on the other end, taking the raspy breaths of someone struggling not to cry. “Isn’t there, like, anything I can do? Any way to stop this?”

“I’m sorry.” As much as she felt this wasn’t the disaster her clearly saw it as, being unable to help a pack member in distress was enough to send most werewolves into a full on panic. “If you can, have one of your group sleepovers tonight. Keeping the pack together should at least do some good emotionally.” Really more for Shaggy than Fred, as even if he was bitten he wouldn’t have the instincts yet, but she had little doubt having the support of his pack would be comforting to both of them.

“There’s really nothing I can do?”

She felt her heart break, he sounded as young as Winnie. It struck her sometimes how young he really was. And how much had been unfairly put on his shoulders. “You can be there for him. I promise you, Shaggy, this won’t hurt him as much as it hurt you. He’ll never be alone, hold on to that.”

Hold on to that Shaggy stared at his phone, trying to feel some kind of hope from Selena’s words. But she was right, and if it was him that was responsible for the bite, Fred was going to need him to be there for support, as someone who had been through it. He couldn’t let himself fall apart or, heaven forbid, leave Fred alone.

“She said there’s no way to tell. Like, not until moonrise.”

“Same as with you.” Velma recalled. “You had to be in direct moonlight to change the first time.”

Shaggy perked up. “Maybe -”

“I don’t think staying out of moonlight for the rest of my life is really feasible, Shag.” Fred interrupted. “And it hasn't worked that way since your first time. And it’s not that bad. I mean, I’ve been asking you to bite me for months. This is a good thing.”

“It’s not! There is nothing good about this, man.” Shaggy felt himself getting hysterical. “There is nothing good about being a werewolf.”

“That’s not true.” Velma pulled him close to her. “You’ve been much more open with us since. It’s been almost a year since you met the Boo Brothers or did the summer semester at Grimwoods and you never even mentioned it to us. You didn’t trust us to believe you.”

“Velms,” there was a slight whine to Shaggy’s voice.

“It’s fine, you had reason to think we wouldn’t believe you.” She kissed his cheek. “But now you don’t feel like you have to hide any actual supernatural stuff from us. Your injuries heal faster, that’s another good thing.” The rest of them were still pretty banged up from their tumble. “You know earlier when someone’s wearing a mask because you can smell the makeup and costuming material. There’s a lot of good things about being a werewolf.”

“And, with the exception of one crazy vampire, most of the actual supernatural things don’t want to hurt you anymore. Especially to the werewolf community, you’re someone to be protected.” Daphne pointed out.

“At this point the only real drawbacks are a need to hide on the full moon and the depression from feeling isolated. We’re already spending the full moon with you anyway and I know I’m not going to be alone in this.” Fred’s did his best to smile. He still felt shaken over the whole thing

He’d hoped it wasn’t obvious, but Scooby came over and leaned against him in comforting manner, which meant his nerves wasn’t as well hidden as he’d hoped. And even if Shaggy wouldn’t notice his initial feelings, he’d definitely notice Scooby’s reaction. Dang. Fred reached down and scratched him behind his ears. “It’s scary. I’m not going to lie about that.” Well, he might if he thought he could get away with it. “But no more so than the idea of graduating high school, starting college, or getting married. Any big change is inherently scary, but that doesn’t mean any of it is bad. Shag, if you bit me I’m glad this happened. This way we get another werewolf in the pack and you don’t have to worry about doing the actual biting.”

Shaggy frowned. This really wasn’t a good thing and Fred didn’t need to pretend it was “Um, Selena said we should stay together, so we should probably have a sleep over tonight. If that’s okay with your parents?”

“We’ve pretty much got carte blanche, since we travel so much on cases,” Velma shrugged. “I mean if we did it every evening for a while, they’d probably say something. But up until that I think we’re good.”

“Why don’t we do that?” Fred suggested. “It’s only a few days off till the full moon. We can go on a camping trip. We could be together and no one would question it. And hey, a change of scenery during the full moon might help.”

Maybe being out in the world would feel less like hiding, less like he had to, and more like they were just having a good time together.

“Like, be out during a full moon?” Shaggy looked decidedly nervous about that. “What if someone sees me?”

“We’ll be in the middle of nowhere, not even stopping for cases,” Daphne promised. “But if you want to try and make it back in time, we could -”

“Nah, like it’s okay.” It’s what Fred had wanted to do, and if that’s how he wanted to spend his first full moon, then it was the least Shaggy could do. Maybe it would be better to be just away from people rather than hidden behind four walls, especially walls with windows. “And we don’t need to avoid cases till the last day.”

“I think we’re all done with cases for a bit.” Velma said dryly. At least until the scrapes stopping stinging. “Let’s grab our camping gear. Tents, sleeping bags, maybe some fishing gear if we go somewhere with a lake?”

“Lakes are more likely to have campers nearby, but we can spend the first two days at the lake, then find a more secluded spot.” Fred suggested.

“Rish rounds rummy!” Scooby wagged his tail enthusiastically.

“Definitely fishing then,” Fred grinned. “We can set out today, spend tomorrow catching a whole bunch of fish at the Lake Khools, then move further into the woods for the full moon. It’ll be fun.”

In the end they had decided Lake Khools had been just too crowded even for the pre-full moon days. The weather had been in the beautiful late spring-early summer stage where it was not too warm, not too cool, not too humid and the lake was filled with families fishing, boating, and swimming.

Instead they’d kept driving north, heading into the more mountainous areas. They’d camped by the riverbed. Few people would take the moving water and stoney riverbed over the soft sand of the lake and they found a peaceful spot to relax. They’d spent the first day setting up and the second swimming and fishing. They also found a bunch of crayfish when one had snipped Scooby’s tail and planned on having a boil their final day.

It was on the third day when Shaggy woke up feeling like it was far too early. A quick glance at his watch confirmed it was several hours earlier than he’s normally get up. Still something was keeping him from going back to sleep. It took him a moment to realize what it was. Fred’s sleeping bag was empty and he was nowhere to be seen.

He tried to get up quietly, but didn’t quite manage to not wake up Scooby.

“Raggy?” he yawned “Rit’s early?”

“You can go back to sleep Scoob. I just need to talk to Fred.”

“RI’m roming roo.” Scooby stretched and climbed to his feet.

“You don’t have to, bud. I got this.”

Scooby just gave him a look that brooked no argument and followed him outside. They found Fred at the edge of the river, staring into the current.

Shaggy say down beside him, while Scooby leaned against his other side. "How are you holding up, Fred?" "I don’t know. Nervous? Exhausted? Like I'm too tired do anything but too jittery to just sit here." Fred put his head in his hands. "Afraid of changing, but at the same time wishing I didn’t have a whole other day to get through before it happens." Fred was being a bit more honest than he would have been normally. He had been doing well the day he got bit, and yesterday had been full of camping fun. But the moment he’d lain down in his sleeping bag every nervous thought had pushed its way front and forward in his mind. He’d gotten a few fitful bits of sleep here and there but not nearly enough. “I don’t know if I can take this. How can you do this every month?”

Scooby crawled into Fred’s lap and rested his head on his chest. Fred instinctively wrapped his arms around the dog, drawing comfort, “The good news is I don’t. I’ve only done this once. This whole what you’re going through right now? It’s, like, not the change. It’s the not knowing.” "What do you mean?" asked Fred, confused. “My first full moon I didn’t know was coming till it hit me.” Shaggy shrugged. “The second, man I was waaay more of a mess than you are now. Enough that Velms pretended to believe in monsters to help me feel better.” Sure she knew for a fact now, but at the time it was a big thing. “It got to the point that she needed to point out that the panic I was feeling was actually worse than just being a werewolf. And I think that’s kinda where you are now. You don’t want to turn into a werewolf, but it would be better than the not knowing and psyching yourself out.” "Shaggy, it's not that I don't want to be a werewolf, just-" "You don't.” Shaggy cut in. “You want to help me and you're willing to be a werewolf to do that. But you don't want to be one. And I don't blame you." Shaggy leaned back against the rocky shoreline. "After all, I don't want to be one either."

And wasn’t that the problem. “Well, ‘wanting’ it doesn’t seem to be a factor for either of us.” Fred pointed out.

“We still don’t know for sure,” Shaggy pointed out. “I mean, we still aren’t sure it was me, Scoob, or one of the girls.”

“True but… it feels kind of like it was meant to be, you know.” Fred joined him in leaning back. “Like it was supposed to happen. I was supposed to be a werewolf to help you, but you wouldn’t bite me, so fate stepped in.”

“Like, Fate needs to leave us alone.” There was a bitterness in his tone that seemed foreign coming from Shaggy. “It’s bad enough I have to deal with this, man. I don’t want any of you guys to.”

“And we don’t want to lose you,” Fred said quietly. “I don’t think you realize just how much that possibility is scaring us. It was bad enough when we thought you were depressed, because that we thought you could move past it with time. This Lone Wolf Syndrome thing is so much worse. And it’s not just us, Winnie and Mrs. Talbain are scared too. This is serious. And I would rather spend every full moon turning into the chain-in-the-basement horror movie werewolf for the rest of my life than to have you die. Being a werewolf like you, still me just a little different, it doesn’t even register as a cost comparatively. Not one of us would regret being bit, Shag. The necessity, maybe. But never the bite itself.”

“But, like, it’s not necessary. If I could just get over this, man. Get to know some more werewolves and spend time with them, you guys wouldn’t even have to be thinking of this.”

“We would anyway,” Fred informed him. “We don’t like feeling different anymore than you do. And getting over this fear isn’t a small thing, Shag. It’s not an irrational or silly one. The two times you’ve been in the monster’s community you’ve been threatened and attacked. Being asked to take it on faith that you can trust these people now is a tall order. It’s the kind of trust that’s slow to earn, which wouldn’t be a problem if we weren’t under an invisible timer. I mean, Mrs. Talbain has been great and all, and we love Winnie, but I don’t think any of us want to be anywhere near Wulfric Talbain any time soon.” It was a strange mix of anger, wariness, and at the same time not wanting to wreck to home life of the only two werewolves Shaggy could semi-trust. Anyway you cut it though, it was probably best to keep Mystery Inc and Mr. Talbain far apart.

“And honestly with how hit and miss your experiences with supernaturals have been, Shag, I’d rather stay ‘in-house’ instead of bringing another werewolf into our pack.” “Team,” Shaggy muttered.

“Shag-” Fred sighed.

“We don’t have to use stupid wolf studies words just because I can be wolfy sometimes.” Shaggy huffed. “We’re friends. We’re a team. Always have been. We don’t need another word for it.”

“Row rabout ramily?” Scooby suggested.

Shaggy thought it over“Okay, that one sounds good.” He admitted.

“Family sounds good.” Fred agreed. He loved his parents, brother and nephew. But he loved the gang too.

Shaggy felt a weight on his shoulder as Fred leaned over and began to drift off. He and Scooby shared a look. At least Fred could get a little more rest. Sunlight began to creep over the horizon. But Fred didn’t stir.

“Dawn of the final day,” Shaggy muttered, thinking of a video game he had played years ago. The full moon certainly felt as ominous as it did it that game.

“Rot rinal,” Scoob said, still curled around Fred. “Remember, rhings change, rut rot rhe rimportant rarts.”

“Being human seems pretty important to me.” It was something he hadn’t known he had value till it was gone.

“Rot to re.” Scooby argued. He had never been human and that hadn’t mattered one jot.

“Bet you wouldn’t like being a cat,” Shaggy said with some humor.

Scooby huffed in response. Fred shifted a bit in his sleep. The two shared a look and quieted down. Fred was going to need every bit of peace he could get.

The rest of the day was a strange mix of almost manic activity to keep Fred’s mind off the upcoming night and have to stop because Fred’s lack of sleep was causing him to zone.

They didn’t go to the deeper or faster moving parts of the river, Not a safe place when you’re overtired. They stayed where the water only came up to mid-shin and either caught more crayfish in cups or just splashed around. Fred even built a functioning fish trap that provided enough lunch even for Shaggy and Scooby. During the quiet times there was fly fishing and bird watching till Fred felt better.

Late afternoon they built a fire and filled the campfire pot with crayfish and Shaggy’s secret seasoning stash he hid somewhere in the Mystery Machine. Scooby also pulled out the makings of s’mores, enough to ensure they would have enough of the gooey treat to snack on most of the night.

Dinner was good, but Fred found he had little to no appetite. The lower the sun set and the more colors stained the sky, the more his stomach twisted and turned. Even the water they’d brought with them was sitting heavily.

Daphne caught the others’ eyes as she noticed Fred withdrawing from the conversation more and more. When even discussions on trap construction and application failed to draw him in, distraction was no longer an option.

Fred hadn’t even realized that the conversation had stopped until Daphne’s arms were wrapped around him. He started for a moment, then melted into her embrace.

“We’re here Fred. We’ve got you.” She reassured.

“And none of us are going anywhere,” Velma promised. “We didn’t for Shaggy and we’re not for you.”

“Thanks guys.” Fred’s smile was genuine, if a bit shaky. “I’ll probably be fine when it’s over in,” he glanced at the sky. “A few minutes.” Was that really all the time he had left?

For the first time since this happened, Shaggy didn’t go to his side. Instead he stared into the fire. “Fred, it’s okay if-” Shaggy braced himself, “-it’s okay if you hate me.”

“Hate you?” Fred repeated in disbelief. “Why on Earth would I hate you?” Velma and Daphne looked equally baffled while Scooby was just giving Shaggy a very exasperated look.

“I can’t...I can’t forgive Rastaban for what he did to me.” Shaggy admitted. “For turning me into a werewolf and making it so I had to stay as one, even aside from the other things he did. And if I can’t forgive him, how can I ask you to forgive me?”

“Shag, I know you’re not this much of an idiot.” Fred shook his head. “Rastaban Dracula manipulated you into a bad place and then tried to steal your free will along with your humanity, no matter how much you didn’t want it. I have repeatedly asked you to turn me into a werewolf, knowing full well what in entailed. And even then the bite was a complete accident. I don’t blame you, and I certainly don’t hate you.”

“But-” Shaggy ducked his head down.

“No buts. Come here ya goon.” Fred opened his arms in a welcoming gesture. Scooby nudged Shaggy towards him insistently. As soon as he got close, Fred pulled him into a hug. “We’re in this together. Got it?”

“Got it.” Shaggy said softly.

The sun dipped below the horizon and Fred screwed his eyes shut. He hadn’t understood why Shaggy had hid under the blanket the first full moon party, but now he understood. It was one small way of putting off the moment of no return. He listened to the pops and cracks he had heard each full moon, but a lot closer.

When they stopped he braced himself and opened his eyes. He realized he had turned the hug he was giving into a full on cling. He let go to look over himself and saw...nothing. No fur. No claws. No tail. “I…”

“You’re you!” Shaggy cheered, picking him up and twirling him around. “I didn’t bite you! I didn’t curse you!”

“Shaggy, maybe less twirling near the campfire.” Velma instejected.

“Oh. Sorry Fred.” Shaggy put him down gently. Fred wobbled a bit, before Daphne helped prop him up. “Er, maybe too much twirling in general.”

“I think it more likely surprise mixed with a lack of sleep. The adrenaline crash coming soon won’t help either.” Velma said. She put a hand on Shaggy’s shoulder. “I know full moons are kind of a designated the-gangs-all-here time, but it might be best for Fred to sleep this off.”

“I’m fine.” Fred tried to straighten up. “I could stay up all-” with that his legs gave way.

“And there’s the adrenaline crash.” Daphne smiled gently. “Let me get Fred back to the tent. I’ll be back in a few.” Daphne knelt down and helped Fred up.

“I’m fine,” He repeated, though without much behind it. “It’s the full moon. We always stay together on the full moon.”

“You need rest, Man,” Shaggy was still grinning. “Why not get a little shut eye? We’ll be up all night, you can join us later.

“That’s fair.” Fred couldn’t quite stifle a yawn. “But I’ll be back, okay.”

“We’ll save you some s’mores. Get some rest.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Daphne gave them a wink.

The walk to the tents was quiet. Fred’s steps became heavier as he went on, and it wasn’t just fatigue.

“Fred what’s wrong? This isn’t just you being tired.” Daphne knew him far too well for that.

He sighed. Figured Daph would be able to see him. “It’s just...this was the third time.”

“The third time for what?” she asked softly.

“The third time Shaggy needed help and I wasn’t able to help him. He needed help in the drive in theater. He needed help when Dracula came back and kidnapped Velma. And now he needs help to fight this super depression werewolves are susceptible too, and I couldn’t even do that. I thought it was perfect. An accidental bite, so no guilt. It would have fixed everything. I know even you were looking forward to it. But...when I didn’t change I felt relieved. What kind of friend am I?” Fred trailed off.

“Change is scary, Fred. Believe me, we are all familiar with that by now. But do you really think Shaggy wouldn’t have felt guilty. He’s made it clear that he equates turning someone into a werewolf with ruining their life. I think the accident thing may have been even worse. Biting someone without even meaning to would make him think he’s dangerous to us whether he wants to be or not. And I don’t see that ending well. And yes, I liked the idea of you being more cuddly as a werewolf, but it was a stupid and selfish idea. How did you know?”

“You got jealous. Whenever Shaggy and Velma would hold hands or snuggle together. Combine that with our knowledge of werewolves being much more tactile than humans it wasn’t a hard guess.”

“I still feel like a jerk.” Daphne hung her own head. “I love you. And I love you because you’re you. Whether you’re a werewolf or not.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at her. “It was really hard, when we first started dating, not to hold on to you every second of every day. I think I made so by convincing myself that something horrible would happen if I did. But it’s past time for that. We don’t have to hide our relationship any more, and I don’t want to. It may take some time for me to unlearn, but I want to be your boyfriend publicly. Not just in secret.”

“Okay Fred, listen up, because I’m only going to say this once.” Daphne leaned in and kissed him. He readily returned it. “We’ll figure out how to help Shaggy. But we can’t by making the existing situation worse. Winnie’s buying us some time, we just have to use it well.”

“As smart as you are beautiful.” Fred looked at her with a dreamy expression, but she could see the tiredness in his eyes.”.

“You need to get some sleep. Especially if you want to join us later.”

Fred wanted to argue, but he could barely keep his eyes open. “Only for about a half hour or so. Then I’ll be right back.”

Fred awoke to find Shaggy packing up his sleeping bag. Not only was it bright enough to see, but his friend was completely human again. “I slept through the whole full moon?” Fred asked aghast.

“You needed it. I, like, crashed hard after my first full moon, well second. But the first was weird and involved magic sleeping dust, so I don’t know how to count that.”

“But it wasn’t my first full moon. The bite mark probably came from Velma.” Since she had confirmed her face hit something like a knee or elbow.

“Yeah, but you went through the same amount of stress as if it was. So it evens out.” Shaggy shrugged.

Fred took a deep breath. “Shag, I’m not giving up. I still think turning me into a werewolf is the best solution we have. But I accept that I’m not ready for it yet. So I’m going to work on it till I’m comfortable being a werewolf. Until it’s something I legitimately want.”

Shaggy gave a small smile. “We’ll see.”

It wasn’t much, but it was the closest to a positive answer Fred had gotten yet. He grinned back. “So did I miss anything last night?”

“So many s’mores. It was a travesty to miss. Although gooey marshmallow and fur? Not a great combo.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Feeling better rested than he had in days, Fred got up and began to help packing up the camp.

“So how’s everyone feel about full moon campouts? Repeatable?” He asked.

“Like, it’s got my vote.” Shaggy declared.

“Rine too,” Scooby added.

“And we could easily incorporate it into a week long trip or just camp out for one night. It’s convenient.” Daphne was sold.

“I think I can put up wards so no one could find us.” Velma added. “I found some that might be useful in…” she trailed off, blinking. “We are idiots!”

“You okay, Velms?” Shaggy asked, concerned. Calling herself or any of them an idiot was not standard Velma behavior. “Shaggy, where would I have gotten information on wards?”

“The Grimness Book?” Or maybe Selena Talbain, but that was less likely.

“And why do we have the Grimness Book?”

“I stole it from Dracula?” Shaggy wasn’t sure where this line of questioning was going.

“And why did you steal it from Dracula?”

“It had the spell that…” the realization hit. “The spell that turns werewolves back into normal people.”

“Right. It doesn’t work well on Primogenitors, but no one you bit would be a Primogenitor. They’d just be a normal werewolf.”

“And we didn’t think of it since we’d written off the spell since it wouldn’t work on Shaggy,” Daphne pinched her nose. “This was all pointless.”

“I wouldn’t say that, I think I got some good experience.” Sure Fred hadn’t actually turned into a werewolf. But he’s gotten to live the worry and apprehension of being in thrall to the full moon. It was a common point Shaggy hadn't been able to share with anyone before. “And the camping itself was fun.”

“We should scope out some more Full Moon spots.” Velma mused. “Camping not as viable in bad weather or in winter, and having some variety isn’t a bad thing.”

“My family owns some out of the way cabins,” Daphne volunteered. “That would work for rain or snow.”

Shaggy watched as more ideas were put forth, full moon locations for all seasons and conditions. Different activities they could do in those places. All of his friends turning the worst night of the month into something to look forward to. “Pack,” he whispered under his breath. He’d hated them using the word. Hated what it meant for them. But if being a werewolf was something Fred could learn to want, maybe it was something he could at least come to peace with.

It helped that he had the best pack in the world.

#Scooby Doo #Fangs For Being There #Commission #Werewolf!Shaggy #The game he's referencing is Majora's Mask #Ghost Writing

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davidcarner · 6 years

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Hotel California Ch 10, Meet the Larkins

A/N: Hellllllo! How are we all? Surely you're in better condition than Chuck who last we saw was, *ahem* in a slight state of embarrassment. Thank God I won't find some situation to where another dream could be embarrassing...*looks down at story* Whoops. My Bad. Welcome to Hotel California Ch 10, Meet the Larkins

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, and dreams are what we make them. HEHEHEHEHEHE!

He was quiet during the car ride. She hadn't told him where they were going, just that they needed to go. She had explained somethings about this morning to him. She had set his alarm. She would have woken him, but it was obvious he was having a dream, and she was worried he would have grabbed her, and they would have been late…..very late.

Chuck turned ever redder than earlier at that declaration. Devon had come into the room to make sure everything was okay. Actually he had stuck his head in the door, saw Sarah standing there, Chuck on the floor, said "Nice," and left. Sarah apologized for startling him, but Chuck noticed she hadn't apologized for entering his room.

Chuck had quickly showered, and noticed Sarah carrying his bag, the one he kept in case he had to stay a few nights at the hotel if he had to work late because of an emergency. He had a few changes of clothes in his office, and even though Casey had said to take the weekend off, he had a good idea what was going on.

"Bryce stepped in it?"

Sarah turned toward him, an amused smile on her face. It was the first words he had said since they left. He wasn't stewing, just trying to figure out what was going on in his life. Well, he had a good idea. It was the craziness that was Sarah Walker. It was disruptive, but he found he wasn't mad. He was confused often enough, but not mad at all. She forced him to be quick, light on his feet, ready.

"Are you writing a book?" she asked, winking at him. He looked at her, confused. She looked a little embarrassed. "I was trying to be ironic," she began.

"The phrase means you're talking too much, not bad, Walker," Chuck replied, grinning. Her mouth dropped, shocked that Chuck had pulled one over on her. He shrugged. "What can I say, after you hearing me dreaming, talking about your classy chassis…." Chuck trailed off, and shut his eyes hard. He had done it again. Sarah laughed.

"You're the bees' knees, Bartowski," and she took his hand. He sat there, an embarrassed smile on his face, shaking his head as they drove on.

"More of a 20s thing, or Barney Fife," he muttered.

She bounced a shoulder. "I don't want to tread on your turf." He grinned at her, satisfied to just hold her hand as they drove to their destination.

-ooooo-

They pulled into the parking lot, Sarah still grinning. She got out, went to the trunk and pulled out Chuck's bag. He reached for it, and she handed it to him. She went back into the trunk, pulled out another bag, and slung it over her shoulder.

"I'm just glad Ellie wasn't home, there's no telling what she'd think."

Sarah didn't say anything, her grin said enough. She shut the trunk, spun, grabbed Chuck by the shirt, and pulled him into her. There lips crashed into each other, and she caught his bottom lip with her teeth, playfully nipping. She pulled away, grinning, and headed inside. Chuck stood there, not sure what to do, but eventually he followed after her. They went to a part of the hotel Chuck had never been to, the residence of the Larkins. Bryce refused to live on the property and had his own apartment off-site. Chuck entered behind Sarah, and followed her to the office area in the suite.

"Chuck, Sarah, we owe you a huge thanks for last night," Mr. Larkin said. Chuck realized they had been joined by Casey. What was going on?

"Casey has been informing us of everything. We cannot thank you enough. Nice job on fixing the broken camera after everything happened last night." Chuck caught the nod from Casey.

"You're welcome," Chuck said cautiously.

"Also thank you for allowing this to happen. The General's delegation being here is huge for us, and to expose what has happened would be a huge embarrassment for us all."

Chuck looked at Mr. Larkin, confused. "What has happened, sir?"

Mr. Larkin took a drink and grinned at Chuck. "Our idiot son stealing your security measures."

Chuck's mouth dropped.

"Oh, come on now, Chuck, he's smart, but computer-smart like that? There is no way he could create that program, and it was just a matter of time before someone figured it out. He brought it home from Stanford, where you were his roommate? It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or you, Chuck, to figure it out. I assumed when Carina hired you it would be a matter of days before you took him down. My guess is he threatened you." Chuck nodded, looking ashamed. Sarah took his hand and squeezed it.

"I needed the job, Sir. You have benefits, better pay, better work conditions, yes even with Bryce lording over me, and you have the tuition reimbursement program."

"I wish you had come to me, Son," Mr. Larkin said. "You have a job here. He won't fire you. You, Sarah, Carina, and Casey, have enough to get rid of that jack-ass."

"Chuck prefers 'asshat'," Sarah informed them.

"Asshat is about right," Mrs. Larkin groused.

"If you were to get rid of that...asshat," Mr. Larkin continued, grinning, "then we'll probably lose this contract, and several others Miss Walker has worked so diligently on."

The door opened to the apartment and Carina walked in. "Thank you, Carina for joining us." Carina nodded, had a seat, and grinned at the Larkins. "Carina deserves to run everything, but if everyone is pissed at you four for getting rid of him…"

"Carina wouldn't last long as the GM," Chuck finished for him. Mr. Larkin nodded. "Bryce isn't really in charge." Mr. Larkin grinned and bounced his head.

"Let's just say he can't fire anyone like he thinks he can, Chuckles," Carina said with a wink.

"Look, bring him down, right now, I have no problem with it," Mrs. Larkin said, looking irritated. "I'm just pissed we let him talk us out of giving the job to Carina when we could have."

"However," Mr. Larkin began with a grin. "If you don't, there are many ways to mess with him. Do your job. You can't be fired. Say to him what you want, and for God's sake, you two date, the entire staff is rooting for you two." Chuck turned red, and Sarah winked at him. "Keep compiling information on him and, when the day comes, we'll lower the hammer."

"It's up to Chuck, he's the one that's been screwed the most," Carina said.

"I agree," Sarah added. "Especially in his dreams…" She added that too, but so softly only Chuck could hear.

"No," Chuck said, shaking his head to clear it. "If I get him out, you two get screwed...I mean..."

"I think one of us has already gotten screwed by you," Carina replied.

"Carina," Sarah warned, but the grin on her face showed her heart wasn't in it. "In my dreams…." Sarah whispered for Chuck's ears.

"We will not be saying anything, yet," Chuck replied, trying to get this conversation off of whoever was or was not getting screwed, in dreams or in reality.

"Then we need another favor from you two. The General would feel better if you were both here on site. You know we're close to capacity and we have a few rooms held back, but if we give both of you one, I'm scared we may have an issue."

Chuck heard Sarah's voice beside him. He was unable to respond. "We can share a bed, it's not a problem." Mr. Larkin grinned, Mrs. Larkin grinned, and Carina's grin was down right scandalous. "Chuck?" she asked, emphasizing the "k". All he could do was nod. She turned back to the Larkins, her cheek twitching trying not to smile. "Then, we're good. He likes it when I tuck him in."

Mr. Larkin let that pass. "The delegation leaves Thursday, and of course we have the Christmas party here Thursday night. If you two will do this, then once you leave here Thursday, we will be glad to give you off until the first of next year."

"Sir?" Chuck asked, stunned.

"Son, you two have done this hotel a huge favor, and please don't feel like you need to be available for the general at all times. Enjoy yourselves, use the pool, use the gym, do whatever you two choose to do, the general is just more comfortable if you're here."

"I would think he'd feel better if Casey were here," Chuck quipped.

"I have my own apartment here, numbnuts," Casey replied.

"Of course you do," Chuck replied.

-ooooo-

"This is nice," Sarah said, entering the room. Chuck's eyes were bugging out of his head.

"Uh, Sarah…I think they gave us the honeymoon suite."

"No, I have it on good authority that bed vibrates."

"There's only one bed," Chuck nearly choked out.

Sarah turned to him. "What's the big deal? We've shared a bed before." Chuck gave her a flat look, and Sarah giggled. She sauntered toward him. "What's wrong, don't you want your dreams to come true? Put all that dreamy...practice into action?"

"No," Chuck replied. Sarah was stunned. "Each time I have a dream about you I, uh, I wake up before it...gets good. So, I want more than the dream. Stuff I haven't...practiced." And with that he walked past her to the bathroom, leaving Sarah standing there with her mouth open. It slowly closed to a smirk. She went and stood beside the bathroom door, knowing he went there to hide. She was leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, tapping out a count with her foot on the floor. The door opened and he stuck his head out, looked one way, and then back towards her. He jumped back in surprise and tumbled to the floor.

"Bartowski, I'm gonna develop a complex," she said, following him and then leaning over him, smirking. "Each time I see you, you jump in surprise and end up on your back. On of these times, I'd like to end up on mine."

-ooooo-

They had spent the day together. Chuck called Ellie and Awesome and told them what had happened. Ellie showed up with his stack of Christmas movies. Sarah just raised an eyebrow, Chuck raised his own in retaliation, and Ellie vibrated, never having seen her brother with someone who got him, his wit, and had plenty of her own to throw right back at him. They walked around the hotel, the Christmas decorations were everywhere, and Chuck loved them. Sarah grinned. She was dating an extremely tall 8 year old.

"Chuck, Sarah," a voice called out to them. They turned to see the General. "I need to thank you again for saving our lives, and for agreeing to stay nearby. I hope we don't need you over the next few days, but we'd much rather be safe than sorry. Mr. Larkin assured me your accommodations were perfect for you two. Have you set a date?"

"A date for what, Sir?" Chuck asked. Sarah tried to control the smile that threatened to cover her face and found herself twisting her lips.

"Oh, forgive me, obviously, you two are already married," the General replied. Chuck's eyes about bulged out of his head.

"Sir, we have only been dating a short time," Sarah said, swooping in to make the save. Chuck turned toward her. She said 'dating'…it was time to fight fire with fire.

"I mean it's obvious she's taken with me, besotted even, and would say yes in a heartbeat if I asked," Chuck said to the General straight-faced as he could. He felt Sarah's eyes on the side of his face. He glance over and saw a wicked grin on her face. She mouthed 'besotted'. He may have gone too far. Not that she was upset, but the retaliation….well, he knew it was coming.

"I mean he dreams about us being together coooonstantly," Sarah chirped. Chuck choked out his agreement.

"Well, I hope I haven't overstepped," the General said.

"No," they both said at the same time and then turned to look at each other, grinning, their eyes wide in surprise and pleasure at their shared answer.

"Anyway, Chuck, I'll have you know I almost didn't select this hotel because of the potential security threat you represented." Chuck looked surprised. "Chuck, you were kicked out of Stanford for cheating," he explained. Chuck nodded. "However, John Casey told us that there was no way you had done what you were charged with doing. Apparently, John has kept his eye on you since the first day you started working here." Sarah laughed, but this didn't surprise either of them. "We would like to thank you, so all of your, and your sister's student loans have been paid off." Chuck's eyes about bugged out of his head. "Also, we are working on Stanford. You are now a graduate, you're diploma should be here, we hope by Christmas." Chuck was shell-shocked.

"Sir, you don't know what this means to him," Sarah said, shaking the general's hand, covering for a dumbfounded Chuck.

Stanfield clapped Chuck on the shoulder laughing heartily. "Oh, I think I do. I think I do." Chuck finally mumbled a word of thanks and Sarah steered him toward the cafeteria so he could recover. She went and got food, and when she came back, tears were running down his cheeks. She sat down next to him, wrapped her arm around him, and pulled him in.

"I guess you'll be looking for another job soon," she said, stroking his hair.

He turned toward her. "And miss this opportunity to work with my girlfriend?" She grinned at him. "Why would I leave, I make good money, I like the people I work with, and I got to help some friends. I'm not saying I'll stay forever, but for right now, life is good."

"Keep making fun of your girlfriend and see what happens," she muttered. He kissed her on the side of the head.

"Thank you," he said softly. "You've been my rock, and let me be me the past few weeks, even when I thought you were crazy."

"So, you don't think I'm crazy."

"Oh, no." Chuck sat there quietly a second. "I know you're crazy, and I am too." She giggled, and he got up to get some food. She took a bite of a fry and grinned at the thought of her and Chuck Bartowski being together. Finally.

-ooooo-

Chuck was laying in bed, thinking about the day. It had started out with a dream, and here he was about to sleep with Sarah. Well, not sleep-with, you know, but sleep, right? Wait, what was going to happen? He gulped, and then shook his head, driving the images away. Lace. Gauze. Bare Sarah. He scooted down in the bed, rolled over onto his side (just in case, you know), closed his eyes, and tried to go to sleep. He made himself think about batting averages. But that made him think about strike zones and high heat...and he had to stop.

He heard the bathroom door open and then a click. He opened his eyes and saw the lights were off….kinda. There was a low blue light suffusing the room, Chuck's eyes grew. It was, evidently, a body-wide phenomenon. He turned his head toward the bathroom, and Sarah was standing there in a thingy….no….not a thingy….THE THINGY! The lacy, gauzy stuff that dreams (his, anyway) were always made of.

"HA!" he forced out a laugh. "I know what this is! I's a dream. You can't get me again. You hear me, cruel dream gods! I've been down this road twice. You wear the thingy. I wake up with no thingy."

"No thingy?" she asked, walking toward the bed and sitting on it, softly, like she almost wasn't there.

Chuck nodded. "Yes, that black thingy, no, THE black thingy…all lacy and gauzy and I'm sorry I'm really trying to be respectful, but my subconsciousness is obviously an immature teen."

"What if I don't mind? What if I am really here? Chuck?"

"Well, that would be a different kettle of fish, but you're dream-Sarah. Real Sarah doesn't wear...that."

"What if real Sarah does, but she was just waiting for the right lacy, gauzy moment."

"Nope," Chuck replied. Shaking his head. "Nope. I don't get that lucky. I am the dream gods' plaything"

She crawled over to him and straddled him. She looked down at him, ran a hand through his hair, and grinned. "What if tonight you are my plaything?" she asked softly. He leaned up and kissed her. He thought the Hallelujah Chorus began to play. He heard the heavenly host. He heard...He heard a delicious moan and realized it was coming from Sarah, he couldn't help but grin. That noise,that moan, to make any Sarah make that noise, dream-Sarah or real-Sarah was a dream come true. She pulled away. "Damn, I'm a little jealous of dream me."

"You're not gonna fool me."

"How can I convince you?"

"Well, there are two ways this always happens, you go to take off that top," she pointed at the one she had on, and grinned, "and then my alarm clock goes off, before I see anything I shouldn't."

"Says who?" she grumbled. He grinned at her. She reached down, grabbed his curls, and hauled him up to her. She kissed him again, and ground her pelvis against his. Hard. He gasped into the kiss and she grinned wickedly. "Did dream-Sarah do that?"

"You know you did," he managed to get out.

"Wow, your subconscious really knows me. This should be fun."

"It's not the real you, it's a dream." She leaned across him to the night stand, reaching for his phone, her body pressing against his. He had to fight to keep his eyes from rolling into the back of his head. "Sarah," he croaked.

She stopped and pointed a finger in his face, serious. "Uh-uh, you don't get to say I'm not real and then say my name like that, and drive me crazy."

"You're a dream," he groaned.

"Set you phone alarm for three minutes from now." He did, and put it back on the nightstand. "Now you say, when I grab this," and she crossed her arms in front of her, and played with the bottom of her top, "and pull it up…"

"When you pull it up, you disappear."

"And you don't like that? You'd like to see what's under the top?" The teasing smirk she had was driving him crazy, but real or not, there was something she needed to know. He grabbed her wrist, gently before she could move.

"You have to know something. I love being with you. You disappearing…that scares me. People disappear in my life. They leave me, and I don't want to lose you." The look on her face was one Chuck had never seen before. "Plus you need to know how beautiful you are. The wit you have, the way you smile at my lame jokes, and when my brain goes dead, the kindness in your heart….well, as long as you don't think someone is judging you about furry porn that is." She gave a wet laugh, and swiped at her eye with the back of her hand. "Sarah Walker, you are amazing, and I don't know why you decided to be in my dreams, or in my life, but I am so glad you did."

"Screw it," she grumbled, and pounced him. She kissed him like her life depended on it. Suddenly the alarm went off and Chuck's eyes got wide. "Still here, Chuck." She was nose to nose with him. "I am not going to leave you. Do you understand?" He nodded. "Good." She sat up, grabbed the bottom of her top, and pulled it off. Chuck's eyes saucered. "Now, I believe I have some tucking in to do. All work and no tuck makes Chuck a dull boy."

"Wait," Chuck groaned, "isn't 'Chuck' our safe word?'

-ooooo-

His eye slowly opened, and he saw sunlight peeking through the side of the curtain. He smelled something lovely, and inhaled deeply. It was the soap or shampoo or whatever it was she used, and he slowly turned his head and saw her lying there, looking at him.

"So, have any good dreams last night?" She was grinning like the Cheshire Cat , the Cheshire Cat who swallowed the Bird of Paradise.

"I don't remember them, but last night was better than any dream I ever had, any dream I ever dreamed of having."

She reached over and bopped softly him on the nose. "Good answer, Bartowski. Good. Answer….buuuut, I expect better from my wordsmith." She watched him, an amused, expectant smile on her face.

He sighed. "Baby...you left me on Cloud Nine."

She giggled, and laid her head against him. "Chuck, never change." She snuggled against him. He lay there grinning. Sarah Walker had asked him to never change, and he would do whatever made her happy.

A/N: Don't worry, this isn't a dream. That really happened...next time Christmas, Bartowski style, but what happens when Chuck gets in his own head? Rut Rho…take care…see you soon…til next time.

#Chuck #Sarah #Charah #Hotel California #fanfic #fanfiction

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