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alliedbiscuit · 3 years

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msr fic / s7 post-closure but pre-all things / wc: 3398

Scully takes Maggie out for a birthday dinner, and you'll never guess who they run into.

************

“So, how are feeling about dessert?” the waiter asks hopefully.

Maggie Scully scoffs. “Oh, no. I couldn’t eat another bite. Maybe just a cup of coffee? Decaf, please.”

“Mom, are you sure? You should get dessert,” Dana Scully prods, stopping herself short before she could let it slip, “It’s your birthday!” The last gift her mother would appreciate is a gaggle of underpaid waiters singing some public-domain-compliant version of a birthday song while the whole restaurant turns its attention toward her. Like mother, like daughter.

Well, the daughter made an exception and found that kind of thing charming exactly once. But at least she got a nice keychain out of it. All her mother would get was humiliation and a chocolate lava cake.

As soon as the waiter leaves to fetch their after dinner coffees, Maggie reveals her true intentions.

“I was thinking we could go to that ice cream parlor down the street. If I’m going to indulge, I think I want a hot fudge sundae. Or maybe we could split a banana split?”

“Or you could get a hot fudge sundae and I could get a banana split, and we could split both,” Scully suggests.

“See, that’s why you work for the FBI.”

“Dessert Conflict Resolution was part of my training at Quantico.”

Both Scullys giggle.

“Does Fox have the same specialty? Or is that what you bring to the team?”

“Mulder’s dessert strategy is just to eat everything and then swim a mile and run five the next day. No, he’s a Takeout Menu Marksman, though. He knows where to order from and what to order so it travels the best and doesn’t get cold and congealed by the time it arrives. Might sound like a trivial skill, but it’s a lifesaver on movie night.”

Maggie continues smiling but cocks her head slightly. Dana realizes why almost instantly.

“You have movie night?”

“It’s not a set thing or anything. We just…if we’re not busy with a case.”

“You just watch movies? As coworkers?”

“As friends.”

“Just friends?”

Dana lets out a long sigh as she stares her mother down. Her mother, maintaining that gentle yet challenging grin. Dana considers her response carefully. She could offer a simple yes because that is the fact of the matter. They are just friends. She could criticize the wording choice. “Just” friends? Why does it have to be “just” friends? As if friendship isn’t somehow enough or isn’t valuable?

She could realize it’s her mother’s birthday and she’s the only other Scully woman left to confide in about matters of the heart, and although she doesn’t want to bring up the New Year’s kiss because she still doesn’t really know what it meant, maybe they both need this little gift of honesty, filled with tempered excitement and promise.

“For now,” Dana Scully finally admits.

Maggie’s grin grows as Scully just shakes her head and manages to keep her slight eye roll from reaching embarrassed teenager level. The waiter does bail her out a bit by choosing that moment to deliver their coffees.

“How is Fox doing? After his mother…” Maggie trails off, but her daughter knows not to expect any more specifics.

“Better? I mean, as well as can be expected. The thing is, right after that, he found out some more about his sister. About what happened to her. It was just so much all at once. I was really worried…”

Maggie reaches across the table to lay a hand on hers.

“But, it was almost like he was ready for it. He finally had some answers. Like it brought him some peace.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah. He needed that.”

“We all do.”

*************

Maggie is the one to spot him first as they’re heading for the door.

“Is that- is that Fox?” she asks her daughter.

“What? No, he wouldn't…” Dana trails off as she looks straight ahead to where her mother was indicating and confirms that it is indeed Fox Mulder, standing with his hands in his pockets and his eyes trained to the floor as he appears to be waiting near the vestibule for the restrooms.

“Mulder?” Scully questions as she approaches, her voice giving away her confusion and growing concern.

His head darts up in surprise, but a beaming smile of recognition quickly overtakes his face.

“Hey, Scully! Mrs. Scully, it’s so nice to see you!”

“You too, Fox,” Maggie kindly replies, although a quick glance to her daughter confirms her suspicion that Dana is still very confused by his presence.

“Did you…did you need something?” She suddenly feels silly for presuming that he must have come there with urgent news or a case or something, but why else would Fox Mulder be at Petrino’s on a Saturday night? Did his informants trade in clandestine meetings in parking garages for family-style Italian?

“Hmm?” Mulder asks.

“You didn’t come here to find me? I told you I was bringing my mom here for her birthday, didn’t I?” He didn’t look like he had rushed to the restaurant from the office or his apartment as she had originally assumed. He had clearly shaved and combed his hair nicely. He wore an olive green sweater with dark blue jeans and a black wool pea coat rather than his leather jacket. He had definitely made an effort.

“You did, but I thought you were going out tomorrow night on her actual birthday. Happy birthday, by the way, Mrs. Scully.”

“Thank you, Fox. I’m going to have lunch with some ladies from church after mass tomorrow, so I asked Dana if we could do Saturday night instead.”

“Ah. What a weird coincidence then. I can’t believe we didn’t see you at all during dinner.”

We.

Oh God.

Mulder was on a date.

Mulder was on a date in this restaurant on the night he thought Scully wasn’t going to be there. Mulder was on a date right after Scully had confessed to her mother (and herself) that their “just friends” status was in the process of changing. Mulder was on a date right after he’d been through so much pain but seemed to come out lighter and more open and he wanted to share it with someone…who wasn’t Dana Scully.

“So, you’ve already eaten then?” Maggie asks since her daughter appears unable to form a coherent statement at the moment.

“Yeah, we just finished. I’m just waiting for her…” he seems to trail off just to motion towards the restroom rather than say anything indelicate, but then he notices Maggie’s poorly masked look of concern toward Dana, and then he notices Dana’s completely unmasked look of shock.

And then he gets it.

“Oh, no! It’s not…I want you to meet her,” Mulder insists as he grabs a hold of both of Scully’s elbows and then glances anxiously toward the restroom door.

Dana Scully looks like she might be ill.

Thankfully Mulder only stammers a moment longer until the restroom door opens and he finds reprieve when a tall, thin woman appearing to be in her mid-60s walks through the door.

“Aunt Helen,” Mulder calls.

Somehow Scully’s eyes manage to get even wider as some of the color returns to her face.

“Aunt Helen, there are a few people I’d really like you to meet. This is my partner, Dana Scully, and this is her mother, Margaret Scully.”

Aunt Helen smiles widely in recognition, first shaking Maggie’s hand and then Dana’s. “It is such a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard such wonderful things.”

She lingers with her hand holding Dana’s while she says this, and the younger Scully is left blushing. She hazards a look at Mulder, but he doesn’t look embarrassed by this revelation. He holds her gaze with nothing but pride.

“This is my aunt, Helen Briggs. She’s my mom’s sister. She’s visiting for the weekend from Charlotte.”

They all kind of marvel over the fact that they were in the same restaurant and what a coincidence and oh, we were seated near the back bar, that must be why we didn’t see you and Scully is just starting to feel her pulse return to normal as Aunt Helen laments not having a chance to talk with the Scullys.

“Well, Dana and I skipped dessert so we could go to The Big Dipper for some ice cream. Would you two like to join us?”

“Oh, that would be lovely. As long as we’re not intruding,” says Aunt Helen.

“Not at all,” Scully assures her. “There is one catch, though.”

“It’s not real ice cream. It’s that Tofutti nonsense, isn’t it?” Mulder groans.

“It better not be,” Maggie insists. “I don’t know how she eats that stuff.”

Scully ignores her mother and her partner’s bad mouthing of her frozen treats as she returns her attention to Aunt Helen.

“I’m afraid if you want to come along, you will have to reveal a few good Young Mulder stories. And by ‘a few,’ I mean as many as you’ve got. And by ‘good,’ I mean the more embarrassing the better.”

“I’ll start thinking now,” Aunt Helen laughs.

“I knew I should’ve picked a different restaurant,” Mulder says regretfully.

***********

They’ve just sat down to a small, round table for four with their ice cream when Mulder stands up to get them all more napkins, and Aunt Helen retrieves a small, rectangular piece of paper from her purse that she then deftly slides to Dana.

“Oh my god!” Scully exclaims with joy.

Staring back at her from the paper is a very young Fox Mulder. She guesses he must be around 8 or 9 in the school photo. His long, sandy brown hair falls just above his eyebrows. He doesn’t have his distinctive nose yet, but his bottom lip is already a little pouty. The real give away is the eyes. He’s grinning for the camera, but his eyes still have that soulfulness, that slight sadness.

She’s surprised. She knows she shouldn’t be. His eyes didn’t suddenly change when Samantha was taken. His eyes were probably always like that.

But she had always assumed that the great tragedy had flipped a switch for Young Fox Mulder. That before that single event, he had certainly been a perfectly happy child. Funny and athletic, popular for sure. But the humor developed as a defense mechanism later in life. And the sports were a great physical release as well as an excuse to be out of the house as much as possible. She didn’t actually know what he was like before, but now that she thought about it, home life was probably never all that great if it eventually led to a father sacrificing one child and leaving the other to always live with the guilt and loss.

It was very possible that Fox Mulder had always been a little boy with a lot on his mind.

In contrast, present day, adult Fox Mulder looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world as he returns with extra napkins, ready to tuck into his chocolate peanut butter ice cream in a waffle cone – that is until he realizes what his friend and partner Dana Scully is looking at.

“Oh come on. I was gone for thirty seconds, and you have the visual aids out.”

Scully continues to beam as Maggie finally gets a glimpse of the photo in her hand.

“Oh, Fox!”

“Okay,” Mulder said exasperatedly. “Does this meet your embarrassment quota?” he asks, looking pointedly at Scully.

“Not even close! This isn’t embarrassing. It’s adorable!”

Mulder rolls his eyes but can’t hide his bashful grin at her comment.

“It’s only fair, Fox. I know you’ve seen family photos of Dana at my house,” Mrs. Scully says, sounding like a mother well practiced in settling disputes between children.

“Just a couple. I do like that high school graduation picture, though. I still don’t know how you kept your cap on with all that hair.”

“That was the style back then. Everybody teased their hair and used a ton of hairspray.”

“I thought it might be a religious thing at Catholic school. The higher the hair, the closer to God,” Mulder teases.

Maggie and Aunt Helen chuckle, though the latter gives him a good-natured swat on the arm in admonishment.

“See, this is what I need, though. I need something from the teen years. That’s peak embarrassment fodder,” Scully says.

“If you ask our colleagues, I think my peak embarrassment fodder would come from about 1991 to present,” Mulder points out.

Aunt Helen just looks slightly regretful. “I’m afraid I don’t have many stories from those years, Dana.”

Mulder makes eye contact with Aunt Helen. “You didn’t miss much,” he insists. She looks like she wants to debate him, but he just places a hand on hers reassuringly, and they seem to make a silent agreement to not argue the point any further.

Mulder had never really mentioned any other family before. She knew his grandparents had all passed before she met him, but she had assumed, just like with everything else, that any other extended family connections had disappeared along with Samantha. That no one would know how to comfort and console The Mulders in a situation like that, with no explanation.

His aunts and uncles must have had questions, probably even had their own theories. Did his mother’s side suspect his father’s involvement, or did his father’s side blame his mother somehow? Did any of them blame…no, she couldn’t go down that route. Besides, did anyone ever suspect horrific things like that before the days of cable news and supermarket tabloids?

The point is, it was a tense situation, so Scully assumed they had all done what wealthy white people in places like Martha’s Vineyard and Boston and Raleigh did with any uncomfortable subject – they avoided it completely.

And that meant avoiding the little boy with a lot on his mind as he became a teenager with even more on his mind.

Scully had accompanied Mulder to a small burial service for his mother in Raleigh a few months ago. It was just the service. No gathering or dinner after, or at least not one that Mulder told her about. The attendees at the service were all pretty spread out, not much mingling. Again, it was another sudden loss shrouded in mystery. They all avoided particulars as much as they could.

Scully didn’t remember seeing Aunt Helen that day, but maybe she was there and just couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Maybe she wasn’t there because she couldn’t bring herself to go and then regretted it. Dana Scully didn’t know, and it didn’t actually matter. The point is that she’s here now. And that’s exactly what Mulder’s look of reassurance and acceptance seems to say.

It seems to help her perk up because she offers playfully, “Oh, what about that summer on Quonochontaug? I think you were 9 or so, and you were collecting leaves for one of your Indian Guide badges.”

“Oh god!”

“I’m hooked already. Not to jump ahead, but please tell me there’s poison ivy involved,” Scully says gleefully.

Aunt Helen’s bark of laughter and Mulder’s exaggerated eye roll are all the confirmation she needs.

“It was heavily involved! But that’s not the worst part. While he was working on his Leaf Collecting badge, he also earned credit towards his Wildlife badge when he came across a skunk in the woods.”

“No!” Scully shouts.

“Ivyed and skunked at the same time,” Mulder admits.

“Oh you poor thing,” Maggie adds sympathetically, but with barely contained laughter.

“He had to jump right from a tomato juice bath for the skunk smell…”

“Which didn’t work!”

“…into an oatmeal bath for the itching.”

“Which worked better, but I still smelled like a Grateful Dead concert.”

Both Scullys are full on giggling at this point.

“Do you remember what Grandpa Ralph said when he walked in and saw you and mom dunking me in a tub of oatmeal?” Mulder asks.

Aunt Helen pitches her voice deeper and amps up her Southern twang, “Why don’t cha dip him in some egg and flour next? We toss him in the frying pan, we got supper! We’re havin’ Fried Fox tonight!”

Now they’re all in hysterics. Even the man who usually hates his given name can’t help but laugh along, especially when it makes his lovely company so happy.

*****************

Scully enters the basement office Monday morning to find Mulder already there, flipping through an open drawer in the filing cabinet.

“Good morning,” she says cheerfully.

He looks up and smiles. “Good morning. Long time no see.”

“How was the rest of your weekend? Did you guys do any sightseeing or anything?”

“No, we just had a late breakfast yesterday before I took her to the airport, but it was good to catch up some more. She told me to thank you again for letting us tag along for ice cream. It was really nice.”

“It was,” Scully agrees.

Mulder appears to be considering something for a moment before he crosses over to the desk and picks up a small envelope.

“She also told me to give this to you,” he says almost bashfully, extending the envelope in Scully’s direction. “She told me I couldn’t look inside, and I didn’t. But I think I know what’s in there, and if I’m right, you don’t have to keep it. You can just leave it here on the desk.”

Well, now she’s intrigued. Scully opens the envelope to find a small handwritten note at the top.

“I thought you might like these. I have plenty more too, if you’d ever like to see them or want any more stories. Please don’t be a stranger.”

Scully lifts up the note to see the remaining contents inside and finds a small stack of photographs, a mixture of more school photos along with a few wallet-sized family portraits and a couple candids taken on the beaches of the Vineyard or Rhode Island, she can’t tell. But she sees the same set of eyes in all of them.

She looks back to read the rest of the note.

“I’m so glad I got to meet you, Dana. Take care!”

Below Aunt Helen’s elegant signature, she has also written her home address and phone number. Scully will have to call and thank her.

“She tried to give some to me,” Mulder explains, “but I didn’t really want…and like I said, you don’t have to…”

“No, I’d like to keep them,” Dana insists.

Mulder lets her statement hang in the air for a moment, but he can’t help but diffuse it.

“You just want more blackmail material.”

“Something like that,” Scully says teasingly, but there’s no bite behind it.

“I knew I should’ve picked a different restaurant.”

She chuckles lightly as she shuffles the photos into a neat stack to place back in the envelope, thinking that this is the point where they get back to work. Mulder stays standing in front of her and appears to be considering something again. Does he have another envelope that he’s afraid to give her?

“You know it was pure luck that we ended up at Petrino’s the same night as you. I actually gave Aunt Helen a few options and let her choose. I was pushing more for that Thai place in Arlington, just off Old Dominion. The one that’s been there forever,” Mulder explains.

“Oh, the one with the secret menu? I’ve still never been there. Can’t say I’m surprised that Aunt Helen wasn’t up for Thai food, though.”

“Yeah. Fair point,” Mulder nods for a moment too long before continuing. “Would you like to go there sometime? Like this Saturday? With me?”

Scully slowly looks up from the envelope to see Mulder’s face because in all matters, other than the divine, Dana Scully needs to see to believe. And the slightly nervous yet gentle grin that she finds allows her to believe it to be true – Fox Mulder has just asked her out on a real date.

“I would like that,” Scully says gently.

“Good. You wanna say 7:30? Or we can always figure out time later,” Mulder states, aiming for practicality to keep him from grinning like a complete idiot. He ends up grinning like a moderate idiot, but he’s okay with that.

“Sounds good.”

Yep, Scully will definitely have to call Aunt Helen and thank her.

#msr fanfic #txf fanfic #msr #mulder and scully #dana scully #maggie scully #fox mulder

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2dmenenthusiast · 4 years

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Bring me down (Arvin Russell x Reader)

Plot: Rather than God, you find solace in your only friend in Coal Creak, Arvin Russel, not knowing that he just might need you just as much as you need him.

Words: 4,176

Warnings: None really? Some swearing, suggestive themes, Arvin beating the crap out of people

A/N: heeeeey so first post yay lmao. (I have another blog tho so yeah) but after watching TDATT I just had to write something about Arvin. The movie is so amazing and if you haven’t watched it I suggest you do. Plus Tom Holland in that movie was just absolutely amzing (and hot af). But I hope you guys like this! I also tried to make the reader as gender neutral and non specific as possible for everyone, so let me know if I messed up anything. Also let me know if you’d like to see more!

There wasn’t a whole lot to do in Coal Creek, West Virginia. Besides driving aimlessly or stopping at the few diners around town, there wasn’t much that people did other than go to work and go to church every Sunday morning. However, people that grew up in Coal Creek still found ways to have fun, whether that was getting their rocks off in some abandoned parking lot or terrorizing some unsuspecting soul walking in the night. Most resorted to just getting drunk on a Saturday night before going to church the next morning, pretending that their head wasn’t pounding from the mass amounts of alcohol they drank the previous night.

Which is why you couldn’t understand for the life of you why Arvin did nothing but get himself into trouble.

“Christ, Arvin,” you sighed, rubbing the wet cloth under his nose to try and clean up the dried blood. “I don’t understand how you get in these damn fights all the time. Can’t you just, I don’t know, talk to them maybe?”

You knew immediately how ridiculous you sounded when the words came out of your mouth. There was no talking to Gene Dinwoodie and his lackeys. You just hated seeing Arvin so beat up all the time.

He scoffed and pushed your hand away, looking off to the side to avoid your gaze as you frowned.

“Fuck that. That no good sonuvabitch is gonna keep messin’ with Lenora unless I do somethin’ ‘bout it.” He then let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Fuckin’ talking. Jesus, do you know who you sound like?”

You weren’t expecting him to suddenly face you, and you sighed as you sat down on your bed next to him.

“Emma, I know. I’m sorry. I just…” You reached over and took his hand in both of yours, thumb gently brushing over his bruised and split knuckles. “It kills me to see you constantly getting bruised and beat up. And I can’t even do anything about it.”

You felt Arvin squeeze one of your hands, and you brought your gaze back up to meet his, your eyes slightly drifting to the purplish discolored skin below his left eye.

“Now that’s not true. Who else would patch me up everytime I get the shit kicked out of me, hm?” he asked, his lips splitting into a grin.

You scoffed and took your hand out of his to push at his shoulder before laying back on your bed, resting your intertwined hands on your stomach and staring at the white discolored ceiling.

“You’re lucky I even still do this for you. My daddy’s startin’ to throw a fit, constantly seeing you over here.” You sat up on your elbows to look at the boy. “He don’t like you too much, y’know.”

Arvin hummed and laid down next to you, turning onto his side and resting his cheek in his propped up hand, and you felt yourself wanting to shrink under his gaze. You and Arvin had some unspoken thing between the two of you. You didn’t know exactly what it was, but you knew for sure it wasn’t something as plain and simple as friendship. You had never kissed or anything like that. Well, besides when you both were about twelve years old and wanted to see what it was like, constantly seeing the adults around you kiss like it was something they did all the time. You were both young and curious, and you couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else, so it only made sense. Of course, it wasn’t anything spectacular. You were inexperienced kids, and at the time you weren’t really aware of your feelings.

Of course, you had loved Arvin since you were little. You met him when he transferred to your school after moving from Ohio. He was pretty quiet at first, didn’t really talk unless a teacher made him, and he’d get picked on and beat up by the older kids. He was new and didn’t have any friends, so of course he was an easy target. It wasn’t until he met you that he actually started opening up. You were friends with Lenora and often went over to her house, spending the night and going to church on Sunday with her and her family. Your relationship with Lenora sparked your friendship with her stepbrother, and you two were inseparable ever since.

As you grew older though, you grew distant from Lenora. You had stopped going to church ever since your mother died, your faith pretty much nonexistent at that point, and you began to question everything about religion. You didn’t blame God for letting your mother die. In fact, you didn’t really know how to feel. All you knew was that rather than getting her some actual help, all everyone did was pray.

“Pray for her, y/n. God will save her,” is what they said.

What a load of horse shit. Praying only seemed to make her worse. And when she died, you completely closed yourself off from the rest of the world. Hell, Arvin could barely get through to you sometimes. But despite how angry you were, you still found it in yourself to let him in. The town didn’t like you too much after all that. People who didn’t go to church in Coal Creek weren’t really accepted by the public. They were cast out as outsiders for not finding solace in the Lord’s name. Not that you minded much of course. The town was full of fake people that weren’t worth your time. The only person you cared about was the boy laying on your bed at the moment.

��I miss her sometimes, you know,” you muttered softly, teeth digging into your bottom lip.

Arvin raised his eyebrows, a bit surprised by your words. “Who? Your mom?”

You shook your head. “No… Well, I mean yeah, I do miss her, but… I’m talkin’ about your sister.”

It was silent for a moment, neither one of you speaking as you laid comfortably in each other’s presence.

“... Does she ever ask about me?”

Arvin sighed, running his hand through his slightly untamed hair.

“Sometimes. I mean, she doesn’t really ask about how you are or anything. More like she interrogates me about what we're doin’ when we hang out.”

You swallowed thickly and nodded, standing up from the bed and walking over to your bedroom window, watching as the sun began to set. You then heard the bed lightly creak and footsteps getting closer to you, and you’d be able to tell from a mile away that it was Arvin due to his signature boots. He rested his chin on your shoulder, and you slightly tensed up as his arms wrapped around you.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered softly, looking out at the evening sky with you.

You lightly shrugged. “It’s all right. You’re all I need in this shit town anyway,” you said, turning your head to look back at Arvin with a small smile.

You could’ve sworn you saw his eyes drift down to your lips for a moment, but couldn’t put anymore thought into it as you suddenly felt his lips against your cheek, closing your eyes at the sensation. It was over all too soon when he pulled away, your body feeling cold as he released you from his arms, and you wrapped your arms around yourself to try and get some of that warmth back.

“I should get going. I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked, picking up his jean jacket that he had thrown on the floor once he entered your room and slipping it on.

You hummed and nodded, giving him a small smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes as you resisted the urge to ask him to stay the night. He’d spent the night at your house before, but asking him now seemed a bit too intimate. As he walked towards the door, you felt something bubble up in your throat, and as he began to step out of your bedroom, you took a step forward, reaching a hand up before you could properly think.

“Arvin, I…”

He turned to face you, all the words you wanted to say suddenly getting stuck on your tongue, and you sighed as you let your hand drop to your side, feeling a bit pathetic.

“Please… Please be careful,” you said softly, your concern clear in your expression.

Arvin gave you a small smile and nodded.

“I always am, darlin’. Don’t you worry about me.”

You let out the breath you weren’t aware you had been holding once he stepped out, and you watched from your window as he drove away in his beat up car. It was a miracle that thing hadn’t broken down already. You two had so many memories and adventures in that car, staying out late at night listening to the radio or going on short road trips outside of town that you wished never ended. It was one of the only times you ever felt peace, being in that shabby old car with Arvin. And as you fell back onto your bed and reminisced, you couldn't help but feel your heart ache a bit, thinking that one day all of this might come to an end.

_____________

“So is there any reason in particular you need me to be here?” you asked, looking at the front of the high school building from the passenger seat of Arvin’s car.

Arvin puffed on his cigarette and turned to you, blowing the smoke in your face, which you in turn punched him in the shoulder for as you coughed.

“You never know when to stop askin’ questions, do ya? I’ll let you know after we drop Lenora off to see her mom.”

Your eyes slightly widened at the mention of his sister’s name. “L-Lenora?”

As if on cue, the girl came running out the double doors of the school, pausing for a moment when she saw you in the front seat, before finally hopping into the back, Arvin turning his head to meet her gaze. He then looked back towards the school when he heard Gene Dinwoodie and his buddies shout for Lenora as they ran towards the car before he sped off, and you could hear vague shouts of “sister fucker” as you drove away.

The tension in the car grew thick, and you could feel Lenora’s gaze burning into the back of your skull as you let out a shaky breath. You were going to kill Arvin once you got him alone. He knew your relationship with Lenora was rocky, and yet he decided it was a smart idea for you two to be in a car together?

“God fucking dammit, Arvin!” you thought, your fists clenching in your lap.

You glanced over at the boy, catching his gaze for a moment before he looked away, fingers visibly tightening on the steering wheel. Once he pulled up to the church, you all sat in silence for a moment, the only noise being the loud rumbling of the engine.

“That preacher’s a little flashy,” you heard Arvin say, and it was clear he was trying to relieve some of the tension between all of you.

Lenora then piped up from the backseat: “Are you not coming?”

Arvin shook his head. “No, I got some things to do before we go home.”

Lenora looked at you again before dropping her gaze to her lap, scrunching up her dress in her fists. “Does it have to do with them?”

You sharply inhaled and dug your teeth into the inside of your cheek, turning your head to look out the window to try and stop yourself from saying anything too mean. Why was it even any of her business? Sure, they grew up together and were basically siblings, but Arvin was a grown adult who could make his own decisions. And what, she had a problem with you just because you didn’t go to fucking church?

“Go on, Lenora. I’ll be back to pick you up,” Arvin said, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

She didn’t move at first until Arvin told her to go again, and she stepped out of the car, slamming the door a bit more forcefully than she needed to before stomping off towards her mother’s grave. Once she was out of sight, you immediately turned to Arvin and sent punch after punch to his arm, brows furrowed and teeth clenched in anger.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Arvin?! You couldn’t have given me a little warning?! Or maybe picked me up after you dropped your sister off?!”

“Ow, ow! Hey, would you just-!”

He grabbed ahold of your wrists, leaning over you and pinning you against the car door as you struggled underneath his grip.

“Would you cool it?! I wouldn’t have had time to come get you after dropping Lenora off, and I want you to be with me when I do this so I don’t fuckin’ kill someone, you understand?!”

You stopped struggling, looking up at Arvin with slightly widened eyes as your chest heaved, trying to catch your breath. You then became very aware of your position, face flushing as your eyes searched his face and trailed down to his lips. Before anything else could happen though, you pulled your hands out of his grasp and pressed them against his chest, feeling his lean muscles through his tight shirt, and pushed him off of you, quickly sitting up and pressing your back against the seat.

“What… What do you mean by that? So that you won’t kill someone?” you asked, finally looking over at Arvin.

He sighed and glanced over at you before putting the car in drive and driving away from the church, hoping that Lenora didn’t just witness the interaction between you two.

“Fuckin’ Dinwoodie and those other assholes aren’t gonna leave Lenora alone unless I do somethin’ ‘bout it. And I really just need you there to keep me in check. Make sure I don’t beat those sons of bitches too bad. You… You’re one of the only ones that calm me down, so…”

You stared at Arvin for a moment, taking in what he said before letting out a light chuckle and shaking your head.

“Fuckin’ christ, Arvin. You’re a damn idiot, you know that?” you said, your shoulders relaxing a bit as you noticed Arvin forming a smile of his own.

“Yeah, but you still put up with me.”

He sent you a wink and you rolled your eyes, letting out a small scoff as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“All right then,” you sighed. “Let’s go beat up some fuckers.”

_____________

It was raining by the time you and Arvin pulled up to the school, Arvin watching the doors like a hawk for Tommy Matson to come out. Neither of you said a word, simply listening to the radio as you both passed around a cigarette. This must’ve been what Arvin meant when he talked about waiting for the right time. He always mentioned it and told you it was something his daddy taught him when he was younger, but you had never seen him get into an actual fight, you were just there for the aftermath. Well, until now, that is.

Once you saw Tommy exit the building with some girl under his arm, Arvin let out a long exhale through his nose and handed you his half finished cigarette, stepping out into the rain as you took a few puffs. Your eyes then widened when you saw him walk towards the buses with a tire iron in his hand, quickly stepping out of the car and grabbing his arm. He turned around to look at you, the look in his eyes asking “what the hell are you doing?”

“I thought you said you didn’t wanna kill nobody. You’re gonna beat his face in with a tire iron?”

Arvin pulled out of your grip, shrugging his shoulders as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Won’t hurt him too bad. Just enough to teach him a lesson.”

He then shrugged off his jean jacket and draped it over your shoulders, the look in his eyes telling you that nothing was going to stop him from doing this. Not if it kept him from protecting his sister.

“Stay by the car,” he muttered, parting with a kiss to your forehead and adjusting the tool in his grip.

It only took a few minutes for Arvin to come back, his steps a bit faster and his chest heaving, and he gestured with his hand for you to get back in the car as he threw the wrench he used to beat Tommy with into the backseat and got behind the wheel, speeding out of the school parking lot. While you wished that was the end of it, you knew he still had Orville Buckman and Gene Dinwoodie to take care of. And while you didn’t really like all the violence, you couldn’t help but feel a bit of adrenaline course through you as Arvin drove a bit past the speed limit, tongue swiping out to wet your bottom lip as you glanced over at him.

Arvin soon pulled up to the side of a garage, putting the car in park and stepping out, this time without the tire iron. You knew he probably wanted you to stay in the car, but you couldn;t help but let curiosity get the best of you as you quietly stepped out and followed a few paces behind him, watching as he came up behind Dinwoodie and slammed the hood of the car he was under against his head twice. The scene unfolded so quickly, you didn’t really know how to react, your eyes wide as Arvin kicked the door into Orville and sent blow after blow until his face was bloody, covering his face with a paper bag after rubbing a Twinkie in his face and punching him some more.

At first you didn’t notice it, but your eyes soon caught Gene getting up, regaining his balance as he grabbed a long wrench and began making his way towards Arvin who still had his back to him, completely unaware.

“Hey, asshole!” you shouted, purely acting on instinct as he turned to face you, and you sent a right hook straight to his face, your foot coming up to kick him in the groin afterwards.

You felt a strange, sick satisfaction as you watched him crumble to the ground, hands over his crotch as he wheezed, and Arvin looked at you in amazement for a moment before crouching down next to the moaning boy and putting a paper bag over his head as well. His hands held him by the neck as he made threats to kill him if Gene or his buddies ever messed with Lenora again, the boy wheezing out apologies through the bag, and once Arvin was satisfied, he got up and stepped over Dinwoodie, grabbing onto your hand and dragging you back to the car.

He drove until the garage was far behind you two, pulling over onto an abandoned stretch of road and letting out a shaky breath as he parked the car on the gravel. You two sat there for a moment, listening closely to the sound of Arvin’s heavy breathing before he reached across you and into the glovebox for a rag to wipe his bloody knuckles with.

“Here, let me,” you said softly, grabbing the rag from him and gently dabbing his knuckles with it.

You could feel gaze on you, staring so intently it was like he was trying to burn a hole through you.

“You’re staring, Arvin,” you said, your voice still quiet like you were afraid to speak up.

He didn’t answer, still staring as you grabbed his other hand to clean it as well. You let out a sigh, looking up at the boy.

“Arvin-”

His lips were on yours before you could get another word out, inhaling sharply and tensing up as you felt his hands on your face. It took a second or two for you to relax, melting into the kiss and placing your hands against his chest, gripping his shirt as you felt one of his hands slide around to the back of your neck, pushing your lips further against his as his arm looped around you to pull you against him. This was overwhelming, your mind not able to catch up as Arvin kissed you with everything he had.

“Arvin,” you muttered against his lips, trying to get his attention.

But he didn’t stop, his kisses only becoming more desperate as the rain pounded harder against the windshield, almost as loud as the drumming of your heart. You felt a calloused hand slide up the front of your shirt, and that’s when you knew you needed to stop this before things got way too far.

“A-Arvin!” you persisted, pushing against his chest, and you couldn’t help but feel a shiver go down your spine as he let out a growl against your lips, not happy with being interrupted.

“Fuck, what?” he asked breathlessly, his hand still pressed against your side underneath your shirt as your wide eyes searched his expression.

You swallowed the lump in your throat. “I… I-I just-”

“Y/n,” Arvin muttered softly, his thumb gently brushing over your bottom lip as you caught his gaze.

You let him kiss you again, Arvin capturing your lips with his and being a bit more gentle and slower than he had been before. However, when you let out a soft moan against his lips, it only seemed to spur him on, causing him to part your lips with his tongue and deepen the kiss as he gently pushed you until your back hit the passenger door. Your whole body felt like it was on fire, your skin hot to the touch, and you didn’t know if it was just you or if it was Arvin’s hands that were causing your whole body to heat up.

You let out a small gasp when you felt his hands go to the front of your jeans, attempting to make quick work of the button and zipper, but your hands stopped him, causing him to pull back with his brows furrowed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-... Isn’t your sister waiting for us? I mean, we’ve been gone for a while,” you said softly. Not that you really cared, you were just trying to buy some time so you could catch your breath and think for a second.

Arvin scoffed in amusement and smirked down at you.

“Since when did you give a shit about what my sister thinks?”

You knew he had you there, and you saw he was about to say something else, probably just to tease you, so you quickly reached up and laced your fingers through his hair, pulling him down to shut him up with another heated kiss. His smirk remained as he kissed you, and in that moment he knew he would never be able to get enough of you. He had always been aware about his feelings for you, and he realized that waiting for the right time could be applied to more than just beating the shit out of people. But perhaps he had waited a bit too long this time, because as his lips locked with yours over and over, he realized he should’ve done this much sooner.

“Arvin, um…”

He pulled away when you began to speak, bringing a hand up to gently hold your face as his thumb caressed your cheek.

“Do you think we could um… maybe do this somewhere less cramped? My dad aint gonna be home til later, so…”

Arvin looked at you for a moment and nodded, giving you one last kiss before pulling away from you and putting the car in drive again. You would occasionally glance at each other during the ride back to the church, not able to help the blush on your face from appearing, and he chuckled at your embarrassed expression, reaching over to hold your hand. He knew once he got you alone, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off you.

By the time you got back to the church, the sun had started to set, and Lenora didn’t say a word as she got into the backseat. And if she noticed Arvin’s hand resting on your thigh, she certainly didn’t say anything about that either. She didn’t even question her brother when he didn’t get out of the car after he dropped her off at home, just watching the both of you drive back towards your house in the rusted vehicle. The giddiness was practically radiating off of the two of you as you thought about being alone with each other, Arvin’s hand squeezing your thigh.

But little did you know, your lives were about to get a lot crazier in the months to come.

#arvin russell x reader #arvin russell imagine #arvin x reader #arvin imagine #the devil all the time #the devil all the time imagine #tdatt #tdatt imagine #tdatt fanfiction #arvin russell #the devil all the time fanfiction #tom holland #tom holland x reader #tom holland imagine #fanfiction #tom holland fanfiction #arvin russell fanfic

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adventuresoutsidethegenderbinary · 3 years

Note

Hello, River. This ask is pretty long, and I am sorry for that. I have a lot to get off my chest, and I was hoping you could help.

I saw your post about your situation with your mother. I can't imagine how hard that must be for you. I just want you to know that you are not alone.

I have only formally come out as pansexual to my sister (affirming), my sax instructor (affirming) my therapists (affirming), my mom (accepting), and my oldest brother (accepting). About a month ago, I went to a meeting for an LGBTQ+ support group with my university (I currently live with my parents and drive to my classes). It was called "Spectrum," so I lied and said it was an autism group. However, my dad (a recently appointed Mormon bishop) took it upon himself to look it up, so when I got back, he immediately confronted me. He was relatively calm, since he had a bit of time to cool down, but it was still very stressful. I covered for my self in a variety of ways, including describing myself as "having attraction towards people regardless of whether they are male or female." I felt the need to phrase who I AM as something I DO. My mom talked with me about the situation the next day and said, among other things, that he had wanted to tell me there was an emergency at home so he could confront me as soon as possible. She apparently name-dropped "pansexual" during a later conversation with him, but in spite of that he hasn't brought it up since.

I doubt that is for lack of trying, though. He also wanted to talk to me about my political views, since I had been posting a lot of political material to my Facebook page. He is convinced that we have a lot in common. I am not. As you have likely gathered, he is hardcore conservative. He's not openly bigoted against most people, and not quite QAnon territory, but he's out there. I have taken a sharp U-turn to the left. (Exhibit A, my blog.)

The moment I got out of that conversation, I started packing in case I needed to leave. I started formulating ideas. I signed up for campus housing. I made plans with my sister to stay at her house (about 2.5 hours away) if need be. I managed to convince my dad with surprising ease to let me stay with her for about a week (my mom was instantly on board). She is not LGBTQ+ herself (not to my knowledge, at least) but, as previously mentioned, she was very affirming (she was actually the first person I came out to). She has strained relations with my parents (read: my dad) because she left the Church a long time ago, partially due to her sexual activity, and they (he) are convinced that they need to somehow bring her back into the Church (not a chance in hell of that happening). I have been staying with her and her fiancee for the past week.

I do not relish returning (which I will likely do tomorrow evening or Friday morning). I do not want my dad to start probing me. I have already stalled - the original plan was for me to go back yesterday - and I don't think I can stall any more.

Do you have any suggestions or advice on how to proceed? He doesn't even know that Tumblr exists, much less that I have a blog here, but I hate that I am keeping everything secret from him - that I have to. Obviously, it's his fault. I'm up front about it with my sister and with my therapists, and even with my mom. But I have no reason to believe that he will take any accountability for himself. He is convinced that he is doing the right thing, that my sister was a failure (on both his end in "not instilling the gospel in her deeply enough" and hers), that the Church (which I plan on leaving soon myself) is the only way anyone can be truly happy.

How do I avoid confrontation? How do I keep things under wraps? And is there any way I might be able to convince him that maybe, just maybe, he might be in the wrong?

On top of that, I can't help but feel like I'm exaggerating some things, that I am making myself a bigger victim than I really am. I feel this when I am talking with my therapists and I feel it venting to you now. Obviously you don't know my full situation, but do you think I might be overblowing things?

Thank you, and again, I'm sorry for sending such a long ask. Keep doing what you're doing. Your work and advocacy is an immense blessing to us all.

~Red (he/him)

Hi Red,

Thanks for sharing! Never worry about sending in a long ask, I love answering. I obviously can’t provide you with super concrete solutions since I’m not in your shoes, but I do know that you’re not over-exaggerating because for the longest time I thought that I was too. When you’re constantly subject to harassment and judgement, and constantly told that everything is your fault, you start to feel like you’re making things seem bigger than you are. Trust me, you are not.

My advice would honestly be to just lie low for now. I know that it’s hard to hide who you are - believe me - but sometimes it’s a lot easier than confrontation, especially if your father is paying for your college. I’m glad that you signed up for campus housing - you could be out as who you are at school and then only have to pretend around your parents.

I do genuinely believe that people who are homophobic can change, but it takes a lot of time, energy, and effort, and ultimately, it’s up to the person themselves, not you. Until you are no longer dependent on him, I would stray away from bringing up LGBTQ+ stuff. He could eventually come around, but I wouldn’t take that chance while you’re still a dependent.

I’m sorry that you’re in this situation - please stay strong and remember how valid you are.

Love always,

River

#asks #answered #sending love #tw #tw: homophobia

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blankdblank · 3 years

Text

Brother Dearest Pt 52

“Steve has a sister...” Peggy halfway murmured at the sight of the returned Commandos to the bar she alone sat in the curved booth with fingers twisting the shot glass holding a whiskey now watered down by the melted ice meant to cool it.

Jaques asked in his slide first into the booth the others joined in on the motion to support their friend in this monumental loss. “What?”

“Steve has a sister.” She repeated and jaws dropped to her rehash of all the Colonel had shared and the way he had hinted he would hurt Steve for the fate the girl suffered.

Gabe, “So she’s dead?”

Dum dum shook his head, “No, we know Steve! We spent all that time together and not one mention of a family!”

Peggy said on the cusp of tears with a crack in her voice, “Well we apparently didn’t know him very well!” Up she raised her glass and haltingly took a sip and lowered it with half the liquid remaining in the lipstick stained glass that tapped the table again to her swallow. “He never said if she was dead or alive.” She whispered with her mind circling on that woman traveling with the Colonel who said her name was classified.

Jim, “And what if she’s alive? Not like we can do anything for the girl.”

“I have to know.” Left simply to that the conversation hung like a wet blanket over the mock funeral on the base as none could attend the one they anticipated would be held to celebrate him upon his return as a hero to Brooklyn.

And small bits of progress were shared on and off in the aid of Stark in his enlisting her aid in clearing his name and saving the world between run ins of the old friends until the fated call, “I found her, she’s alive.”

“You got to be kidding me,” Dum Dum chuckled and asked, “Who is she then? Still a nurse or did she drop that after the war?”

“She’s a student, at Columbia University. She’s in Brooklyn. I’m going to meet her tomorrow after a stop by Steve’s grave.”

“Well then, do we at least get a name?”

“She changed it, her surname at least, she goes by Bunny Pear now.”

“Bunny Pear.” The name had his face go stoic recalling those towns and stops they crossed with those signs posted up creaking the gears in his head in puzzlement as to who this mystery sister and brother duo was and why the hell Steve acted like he knew nothing of them at all. “The only woman awarded the Medal of Honor Bunny Pear?”

“Yes, you’ve read about her then?”

“Steve lied about a lot more than just having a sister. Bunny Pear devastated every German force she and her brother came across, and while we toured a ruin of a city they’d left Steve and Bucky played the fool. Hundreds of soldiers we crossed had thousands of things to say about them.” He paused then said, “Ring us when you’ve talked to her with what you learn.”

“I will.” She replied and hung up the phone more fearful than she had been hours earlier upon uncovering an address to find said lost sister she had been brushed off by once before years prior as to why her friend was so curt in his parting tone that revealed a mingle of hurt and something else. Something she hoped to be a misunderstanding and not a betrayal of the man they all had such hopes for being a pure heart in the middle of a harsh war to guide them to safety and a better tomorrow.

From the library to the dinner table you were set to move for the meal the brothers got started on once Eddie had come home and Peggy joined you all after having asked a few blaring questions about Venom in his shoot outwards ready to eat any intruder upon the telling scent of blood foreign to the family. In a skip of a scoop Eddie remained at home to keep watch of you all tonight knowing Venom would want to be on patrol all night. Both Norma and Dawn smiled and greeted Peggy, with whom they chatted in the wait for food until the doorbell rang again and Eddie sprung to check on who it was.

“Oh, hello,” the clear voice echoed through the house and was followed by, “Edwin Jarvis, there is a Peggy Carter here I believe?”

Eddie replied, “Yup, James said you called. Just you?”

“Jarvis, we’re growing cold, it’s on the move!” Stark’s voice came from the car parked on the curb who waved to Eddie, “Hey Eddie! Been following your headlines, you’ve been building up some steam!”

To that you smirked and climbed to your feet to join Peggy to the door, “I take it this means you won’t be staying for supper.”

“Apparently not. The offer was very kind however.” She answered with a kind smile.

Right to the door you strolled to stop in the doorway where Stark waved to you, “There you are Bunny! Not dead yet I see.”

That had you smirk and look to Jarvis in the sweep of his eyes over you, “Oh my,” he said then flashed you a grin stating, “Edwin Jarvis,” his hand outstretched for a handshake you returned, “Pleasure to meet you. I have heard so very many things about you, Mrs Pear Howlett.”

“Pleasure to meet you, you must have the patience of a mountain to work with Stark.”

His head tilted to the side a moment and he flashed Peggy a grin, “Lately it has been much more accommodating to my skill set and the company much less likely to land me slapped by women I come across.” His eyes wandered over you in a lean into Eddie’s side to the clear shift of your belly that had you rest a hand on it. “Might, I be bold in offering congratulations?”

“You may, and thank you.” You replied then looked to Peggy.

“I will let you rest, however I did want to let you know, the Howling Commandos, who traveled with Steve and Bucky in the war, they will be in town tomorrow and wondered if you might be up to meeting them? They also wished to pay their respects to Bucky’s parents as well.”

Eddie, “Bucky’s just got his Mom and sisters, girls are about 11 now.”

Peggy, “Good, we were planning on joining in for church, if you would accept that.”

“Not my place to ban anyone from church. We do have a block party after they may find as a reprieve after a Catholic Mass. Can be quite daunting for some not familiar with the service.”

She nodded and to Stark’s next honk she rolled her eyes and Jarvis said, “We will see you tomorrow, Mrs Pear Howlett, Mr Pear.” Both names accentuated with nods before his turn to join Peggy on the way back to the car.

“Should be fun,” you said to Eddie who chuckled and turned to lift Teddy in his race towards his father with drawing in hand to show it off.

“Oh yes,” he said to your closing and locking the doors. To turn back to the guys with eyes shifting over Eddie answering his mental questions on what he had missed of the intruders above what the guys had given of a basic description. Though mainly to calm Venom that the threat was aimed for Peggy and not yourself or his children.

Norma however drew your focus in a move to guide you to the dining room table, “Your friend had to leave before supper?”

“Yes, she’ll be at Mass tomorrow with more friends of my brother Steve’s.”

James asked, “You okay with that? We can stay home.”

That had you chuckle, “Right, because she would never just bring them here.”

And he smirked back at you playfully answering, “You set the rules. You want them barred we won’t let them in.”

Dawn said, “I just can’t believe she would come here knowing she was being followed.”

“Well I suppose there is the off chance she didn’t know. Seemed afraid of the woman at least, had to be sneaky or something to scare her.”

Victor murmured in French to keep Norma from hearing, “Don’t have to be sneaky to get a shot off in my chest.”

James teased, “Fairly big target to miss a couple feet away, now his head, be hard to hit that in reaching distance.” Earning a smirking glance back at him.

Dawn said to Norma’s confused glance their way, “Suppose we’ll just have to make sure these friends of Steve’s won’t cross any lines.”

The purple floral wrap dress you chose that hung past your knees was smoothed over you to sit under the cardigan you used to keep warm on top of the jacket that was eased over your arms and back. Sure to have your hat in place down the front stoop you strolled to join the others in town for the joint trip to Mass between your relatives. With his arm around your back James kept you close in the sight of Stark’s car driving past. While on the sidewalk outside the church Peggy stood with her signature blue dress and bright red hat to match her lipstick outlining the easy grin she gave you in the move to lead the staring group of guys behind her inside. Into the pew a row back to the left of yours across the aisle they settled. Each of them luring stolen glimpses through the service until the town and Priest especially got a chance to interrogate the newcomers who seemed to keep their focus on the family that everyone hoped would just be left to their privacy to live out their lives.

Once Mass was over however and your family took turns in the chance for confession the Brocks were the first to swoop in to begin the questioning. Gina especially smiled in her step towards the group and asked, “Passing through town?”

James Montgomery took the brief murmured conversation Peggy and Dum Dum Dugan were having about the proper time for him to put his hat back on to answer, “Yes, we’ve come out to pay our respects to Steve Rogers’ and Bucky Barnes’ families.”

Her husband asked, “Really? You knew them well?”

Pinky Pinkerton said after glancing back to Gabe Jones, Jim Morita and Happy Sam Sawyer who were ushered prior to Mass to sit on the far end of the pew on their move to join the group again, “We served together, though Steve never mentioned he had a sister, or any family at all really. Said he was orphaned.”

Mama Brock said in an unamused scoff to the memory of how her adopted daughter was treated, “Selfish little boy wouldn’t know family if it slapped him in the face. Lucky we never got our hands on him after he kept leaving Bunny out on the steps.”

That turned Peggy’s head, “On the steps? He actually left her on the steps?”

“Even went so far as to argue with the Judge that gave him custody to send her away so he wouldn’t have to have legal custody of her right in front of the poor thing before he was sent packing. To actually want to send her off anywhere unknown on the verge of a war to who knows what end how cruel can you get to do that to such a sweet child?” Mamma Brock then huffed feeling herself ready to begin shouting mumbled in a try to keep calm, “I have to go check on my pies,” and joined the others on their way to fetch the food cooked for the block party and her daughters began to list slight after slight that had their hearts sinking for both of their friends.

Including a stop to view the album of Sarah Rogers’ funeral where the guys understood by the captured look on your face just who Bucky was haunted by. The younger sister he encouraged Steve to abandon.

Peggy asked after the album was closed and added to the shelf of funerals of families within the past decade, “I don’t see Steve’s album. There’s one for Bucky.”

Ambrose said, “The Catholic church does not give suicides funeral processions.” That dropped Peggy’s jaw, “Father Thomas only insisted upon giving any words at all over the grave for Bunny’s sake when he knew we knew she was alive and with Eddie.”

Jim Morita, “Where did everyone think she was?”

Gina, “She was assumed to have run off with Eddie, but we clarified she got into a good school in Canada then they got drafted. Until she got shot she was listed as a POW though by the Canadians, we still have the telegrams our cousins received. War offices learned she was with Eddie through the field promotion papers and picture of the planes and tanks she took out first time she got shot.”

Dum Dum Dugan, “Well, I guess in his own way Steve had to have left her something decent for how she’s managed since the war.”

Ambrose’s husband said, “Steve left everything to the church. Even Jaqi’s things, she didn’t have a red cent to her name or home to come back to except for ours. Father Thomas is the one who set up the inheritance to be transferred to us to watch for her.”

Howard from the back of the church had crept forward and asked a question that hurt the group even more than anything they’d heard before that he had to confirm you yourself had told him, “Steve really call her a monster?”

Ambrose, “When he called her anything at all. Barely spoke to her at all unless it was a shout on where her change for food was or eyes were on him from people he wanted respect from.”

Howard, “He pick on people often?”

Gina, “After how his dad treated him and Sarah all he wanted to do was fight, even after she married Jaqi’s dad.”

Howard asked in a look over the albums, “Which one’s her dad’s?”

Ambrose, “Father Thomas gave it to Jaqi, only keeps them a decade. The one for Steve’s dad as well he found tucked away from when Sarah died.”

Howard asked, “Her dad a good man?”

Gina and Ambrose chuckled and the latter’s husband answered, “The pinnacle of perfect father and husband. Never raised a hand to anyone or any creature. Used to call Sarah his Greatest Treasure and Jaqi his fair Queen of the Cosmos, drove Steve up the wall. Worked and saved for his studies and a fund for his girl to study after him at the best schools. Even paid for Steve’s tuition for art classes at the community college.”

Jaques Dernier asked, “How does Bucky fit into this? Why did he hate Bunny? What did he get out of it?”

Gina’s husband answered, “He got Steve’s focus all to himself. Didn’t have much of a home he wanted to go back to at night. Steve wanted an escape and gave Bucky the most devoted buddy he could ask for.” From there the group led the others out to the party where two identically dressed girls with painfully familiar eyes stopped in their way with wide smiles.

“You knew our brother?” Stories of their war hero brother were shared to be confirmed that the guys were stunned they had heard you shared researched bits learned just for them to keep their hero. The new stories the guys shared were adored especially by their mother who in your exit of the church gave you a grin and watched your approach.

She said to the guys in the walk closer in a moment of distraction for the girls, “She’s been so kind to my girls, for how my boy and her brother behaved. Don’t you be rude to her. We owe her that much.”

Howard asked in a step away lowly to meet you before you reached the others, “You haven’t broken the bad news to the girls?”

“I’m not in the business of destroying heroes for little girls. They deserve memories of a brother who loved them and died ensuring they were safe.”

Howard, “How can you stand it, that truth you can’t say?”

“Everyone in town knows who is old enough to. Their cruelty dies with them.”

Bernie and Benji when their friends had called them waved and made their ways to the seats saved for them to share some of the excitement while you stepped forward accepting handshakes and introductions of the group that each of your family nodded in their own naming. Mrs Barnes left soon after to join her own friends to shift the focus of the group back to you.

Marigold, Petal and Teddy however called for food while you focused on the newcomers that joined you at the closest table mainly away from the crowds to the start of the music. “So, you knew Steve and Bucky in uniform, must have left an impression to bring you all out here.”

Gabe said, “Well, they were pretty special, least till we heard about you and Eddie.”

Jim Morita, “You really turned Panzers to marbles?”

“Among other things.”

Howard, “And she’s being stingy on the weaponry. I’ve even been asked to see if I can duplicate it. Magnets however are surprisingly difficult to master.” His eyes looked you over and he said, “How you made it in one piece with magnets that strong I have no clue. Did you know they can cause heart failure when they pass a certain grade?”

“Human body is comprised of iron in the blood, along with other traces of metal throughout the rest of the body, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, molybdenum, and cadmium. Part of how x-rays and sonograms work magnetic fields reacting to the body.”

“Not hard to bypass.” Happy Sam Sawyer chuckled out, “Don’t you remember, we heard the soldiers we came across all said they’re aliens.”

That had you smirk and thank the young Brock kids that brought your drinks over then darted off to play again. “Close enough,” you giggled and lifted your drink to take a sip then lowered your hand to the belly that shifted and drew James in a grin of his own to steal a stroke of your belly.

Jaques began the sea of congratulations and Dum Dum asked, “Did you plan on returning to school? You seem due soon.”

“Due closer to summer actually.” Parting his lips in confusion, “Triplets.”

Howard said, “When we’re done here Jarvis has our gifts for you in the trunk.”

“You didn’t have to bring gifts.”

Howard nodded, “Oh yes I did. Down right rude not to. Good thing I buy spares or Peggy’s sharing of the triplets would have left me in a lurch to have enough for all of you.”

“Fine, but it better not have gemstones or anything flashy or you’ll end up wearing it.”

Again he smirked and Dum Dum Dugan asked, “Any clue on what you’re having?”

“Girls,” James answered, “Hopefully just like their mom.”

Eddie said, “My sisters and cousins mostly have boys so when Dawn and I had Marigold they loved the new wave of girls, my sister Ambrose is having a girl too and can’t wait for hers.”

You smirked and said, “She’s really excited to go through this with me. Even debating coming out to Canada when we head back for the summer.”

James Falsworth asked, “Why stay in the city while you are carrying so many babies?”

“My courses.” You said, “I’m going to stick in it as far as I can through this semester. Might work it so I can leave a month early, just over four months, so possibly April to June depending on how impatient the girls are they’ll be showing up and the space and quiet will be better for me have them.”

Peggy, “How strenuous are your classes?”

“Not very, a majority of them are on the same campus and the Professors surely will be as accommodating as they keep trying to assure me they will be.”

Jim Morita asked, “What’s it like, being back here, after everything that happened?”

“I think the oddest thing was how everyone had just taken to the new last name. But I think Mama Brock had something to do with that, not to mention the papers.”

Eddie said, “They knew we needed a new name. I think remodeling Bunny’s home settled everything. Let everyone know she’s home in her own building she bought.”

“Technically-,” you tried to cut in only for Victor to cut you off.

“We bought it for you. Your name is on the lease now and when it’s legal it will be the only one on it.”

Peggy, “The whole house?”

James nodded, “Same with the comics and her bank account and just about anything we’re hoarding for the eventual turn over when we can.”

Howard said, “Might take a while to get there.” Though he smirked at the pointed gazes from the brothers around you mingled with Eddie’s unamused brow tick.

“Be a fairly terrifying time for the Starks of the world for me to have my own empire.”

Howard chuckled and fired back, “Oh no, then I might actually have some competition.”

Dum Dum Dugan asked, “What’d you do with the weapon and suits you built?”

“Well I certainly didn’t bring any weapons back from the war aside from a knife James found for me.”

Gabe, “So, what happens if someone shows up on your doorstep wanting those blueprints?”

“I may be pregnant but I can still throw someone around a room,” making the guys chuckle and Peggy smirk to herself.

From the party to the house again now with the guys the tour continued with each admiring the pictures you had posted from Steve and Bucky’s trips to shows in murals with ticket stubs and autographs.

Peggy’s focus in a glance to the other room however shifted from Eddie’s smile down at his son. Who was faking claws at the air and snarls that had Venom’s face pop out with a toothy proud grin in a lift of the boy he then lowered to kiss in the return of Venom to sink back again, to the trumpet that sat polished on display. That had you ask, “Do you play an instrument?”

Her eyes met yours and she nodded, “Piano, Mummy insisted. Made Michael keep up with his sax.”

Her grin dimmed and you said with a stroke of your hand on her arm, “Boys rarely stick to practice. Steve missed most of his, though about half came by his passing out or rehearsals that triggered his asthma.”

Pinky asked, “Steve really was this scrawny?”

You nodded, “And he hated every minute of it. Eddie and me used to get a chuckle I might have been bigger than he was in his uniforms. Pre-Captain mode that is.” You paused and asked, “He ever sketch anything? While he was over there?”

“Oh,” Happy Sam Sawyer patted his pockets until he brought out a small journal, “Just a few small sketches, the rest is some sort of scribbles we couldn’t make out.”

Opening the book to one of the notes you snapped it shut saying, “It’s a cipher. You need the source book to translate it. Some boys used to take their notes and read them like they were dirty novels even if they were on toast to taunt them for not having a wider circle.”

James Falsworth asked, “Do you know the source?”

“The Hobbit.”

Jaques, “The bedtime story?”

You nodded, “Funnily enough, I gave Steve the book they used to hide in.”

Jim, “Why not translate it?”

“Oh I can read it, and I don’t think Peggy would appreciate the content.”

Peggy paused a moment then asked, “It’s, about me?”

“Yes,” you said and lifted the book a tad, “And by the notes I am guessing he didn’t get as far as he’s writing about. You could very possibly be flexible but I doubt even then his day dream would be plausible.”

Pinky, “Wait, all you did was glance at the page. How could you read and translate it that fast.”

“Photographic memory, and I can read novels in minutes,” you glanced at Peggy saying, “I’ll read the rest later and if there’s anything less imaginative and respectful I’ll write it out for you.”

She shook her head and said, “I doubt there would be anything sentimental in there. Your brother was not overly expressive of his affection until the drive we took to get him on that plane and the radio transmission afterwards, even then, rather simplistic, trade of a promise then static.”

“Well if I do ever find him wandering around in the afterlife I’ll punch him for that. Downright a crime to not woo you properly.” You teased making her smirk your way.

Jarvis upon return from his third trip to the car gave Howard a nod that had him smile and smooth his hands together, “Gift time!”

“Anything with gems-,”

“And I’m wearing them, I remember.” He said with a smirk guiding you to the front room where you eyed the trio of crib kits that by the brand were expensive and had you in an open mouthed gawk at the smiling inventor, “I won’t accept no for an answer. Only the best for the daughters of our greatest asset for this country’s future.”

“Asset?” you asked.

“You know what I mean,” Howard said. “With your help ladies are set to give us old boys a run for our money.”

Victor, “Why’d you buy three cribs? Must have sparked some rumors with that purchase.”

Jarvis said, “Oh, for that I bear the name on that invoice. Sparing Mrs Stark that scrutiny.”

Howard said, “Though she has seen the catalogs and now is considering children with her husband number two.”

James muttered, “Ouch.”

Howard swatted his hand, “I was a means to irritate Daddy. No matter she’s picked a fine replacement more fit for the suit and tie brigade.” He patted his hand on the crib box closest to him, “Paperwork is nearly done as soon as he finalizes on his house she will pack her things and you will have tons of cover headlines to distract from your lovely little parade of geniuses.”

James, “Least you haven’t broken a sweat over it.”

Howard, “Oh we signed a prenup,” he looked between you both and said, “Which I’m certain you both won’t need.”

Victor, “Oh I’ll kill him before so much as a weekend away comes up to think things over.” Howard chuckled and pointed at him assuming it was a joke only making you smirk behind a stroke of your finger along the side of your nose. Though to a bold set of kicks your hand outstretched and landed on Eddie’s bicep and you let out a sharp breath.

“Ok, I need a minute,” you said in a turn that had him guide you to the nearest bathroom.

Howard looked your back over and James drew his gaze by saying, “They kick and her bladder is almost always trapped in the middle. This the one with the side that comes down or the solid wall model?” That had his grin return in James’ move closer to crouch and look over the diagram on the outside of the box that Victor joined him in inspecting, “Oh this one’s nice. Good solid sides won’t take off a finger if it drops like other models.”

Victor, “We can always make a set of steps if it’s too tall so Pipsqueak can reach inside.”

Jarvis, “Would it prove to be too tall we could purchase another set.”

James shook his head, “Nah, no need. She can adapt. Doubt she’d accept the second set.”

Victor, “Or even let you up the stoop with it.”

Howard, “What about Canada, you need a set there.”

James smirked, “We’ve already built a set for home, Jaqi helped with the finer touches but let us cover the basics off our experience for what would be the safest designs.”

Howard said, “Wow, you sound like you’ve been through the whole parenting schtick before.”

He didn’t need the answer in their telling continued silent stares at him till one of the guys smiled and said to you in your return, “Your hubby says it’s a safe model.”

“Even if it wasn’t the guys can easily make some changes in the install. Should be nice, I do like the round half circle top to the ends, could have some nice crochet covers from Gina. Maybe a nice quilt too for the bed the Brocks can fix up for us. One of the cousins do enjoy stuffing them.” You looked to Howard and said, “Thank you, Howard. Now, no more gifts.”

He scoffed at that and rolled his eyes only making Jarvis say, “I will do my best to remind him of that, Mrs Pear Howlett.”

“No jewelry,” you said to Howard as a flat rule that deepened his smirk in your knowing he would find a way to shower funds onto your family he’d now spread a sort of fondness onto even more so upon discovery of the link between you and his major successful project your brother turned out to be.

Dawn broke the circle by calling everyone in for tea that let you all relax in the living room until the group all had to leave with promises to come back again. Though in their absence relief came from not having the presence of questions on your lost brother and the fact that you now could have that much needed pear you had been forced to put off until the lunch that was readied upon the moment of freedom.

Straight on to bed comfort was found in solace lounged in James’ side reading off tidbits from the stack of history books Elliot had been dropping off weekly to guide you by century and culture to feed the growing appetite for reading that your pregnancy was enhancing. Mixed between those were journals from those of the Beserkers who had lived through those times including the few saved items from assumed lost libraries wars had threatened and been recorded to have destroyed. All of which could only aid in the growth of your mind, though every bit of it seemed to be familiar, a notion that pleased both him and Herc that old memories were being tapped of a time when you were present there as well to observe those moments throughout history even with your physical being in hiding.

“Odd,” you muttered in smoothing your hands over your chosen shirt to have been stolen from James’ side of the closet along with his flannels you’d adjusted the hem and waistband to a tie instead of the usual buttons he agreed upon so that you would be comfortable on nights you wanted to wear pants until yours could fit again.

“Odd?” James asked having lit the fire in your bedroom to the sound of the wind outside picking up to cover the street with the thin layer of snow forecast that would enforce the use of Victor’s car that was promised to you to prevent threat of slipping upon travel to Columbia and back again.

In a shake of your head you moved to the bed and folded back the covers, only luring him closer with head tilted slightly to the side. Softly in a sigh you replied mid lift of your leg to kneel on the bed to begin the crawl to the middle, or at least as close to it as possible while still remaining close to the edge in case of bathroom trips. “Power’s gonna go out.”

“Well with the wind like this, not far from imaginable.” His eyes looked over your face in his move closer when you sat down readying to arrange the pillows to perfect the spot for you. “Unless there’s more to it?”

“I can feel it. In the power lines. But the storm isn’t near as bad enough to shut it off. We’ve had worse storms than this.”

“How can you tell?”

“It’s,” you sighed again, “You remember that storm out in Palermo where the lightning kept circling over the ocean and it was so close it had your hair on end?”

He nodded, “So it’s like a static?”

“Something like that. Soft fizzle like soda bubbles travel through the wires. Just odd.”

“Well you won’t be cold, and breakfast will be easily fixed up even without lights.” He said in the motions to help tuck you into the comfy nest that he snuggled closer to your back with a shrug of the blankets higher over you both. “Don’t you worry.”

“Just hope it doesn’t get too cold for Whiskers.”

That had him smirk and settle his head behind yours on the pillow, “Furnace is powered on gas, won’t go out with the electric, same as the cabin. Whiskers will be perfectly warm and thanks to your metal layer inside the walls all our pipes are extra insulated. We won’t let our house go cold.” After a moment his hand covered yours and he hummed, “We all promised to keep him and the puppies warm and safe, we won’t go back on that.”

Mid yawn you started to say, “He has a schedule to keep,” which only had him chuckle to himself and close his eyes to the inch of your body back into his chest.

Pt 53

All –

@sherala007, @mariannetora, @jesgisborne, @knitastically, @catthefearless, @theincaprincess, ggbbhehe4455, @lilith15000,

Not nsfw(smut) - @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore

X Marvel-Cast - @himoverflowers, @theincaprincess, @changlingkhat

Brother Dearest - @thorinanddwalinsdwarrowdam, @swoopswishsward

#James Howlett x Reader OC #Eddie Brock x OC #Victor Creed x Norma Jeane #Peggy Carter #Howling Commandos #Howard Stark #Jarvis #Questions Asked #Who really were Steve and Bucky?#Benji & Bernie Barnes

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leland-chapman-the-bounty-hunter · 3 years

Text

Murder Under The Cold Moon

So, I wrote a short story for my creative writing class. Underneath the cut is like the third (?) draft of it. It sits at about 4.8k words at the moment and I think that there might be some more content that I could add to it. Other than that, I think that is it.

TW for depictions of violence-none of it graphic & mentions of underage drug use.

Duke was never one to find his place with the other children on the street. It not like he couldn't just go up to them and ask them to play. They would easily bring him into his group. But he never felt connected to any of them, honestly. The kids were a few years younger than him. Just starting first grade or kindergarten while he was nearing middle school. They were just other kids that his mom forced him to play with whenever she was in sight. But since she wasn't, he wasn't about to pretend to play with these children. The ones who really only played with him because their parents forced them to do so.

Rather, his pants were rolled up to his ankles and his sleeves pulled up to his elbows. His shoes were half a mile down the creek and his jacket a mere quarter of a mile downstream. The water neared body temperature and if you were already in the water by the time its temperature started rising, you didn't feel it at all. Duke's hands finished in the water for tadpoles. Each time he dipped them in, his hands came out as red as a tomato but only a few degrees warmer than his skin. Not too hot but just warm enough to feel a difference.

Duke rummaged around in the water for a few more minutes before he came up empty-handed again. He had heard the frogs at night, so why were there no tadpoles? Were they just too far away for him to get to them? The calls of the other children neared. His cue to pack up and leave even though he wanted to wade in the water alone for a bit more. Duke rushed back to his clothing. The mud clinging to his feet with every step he took until the mud-caked on his feet was nearly a pound of extra weight.

Duke pulled himself up the bank and to the top of the drop-off. His church jacket-a light beige in color and too thick for the weather outside-was in the place he last put it, hanging on a small oak tree branch that still had some bend to it. He stomped off the mud as best as he could, wiping what little was left of the mud onto the grass. Duke only had to walk a bit before his dress shoes came into view. Then, his house which lay on the right side of the creek a mile and a half from where Duke had been before the kids had come. Even from all the way back where he was, he could see the smiles on their still chubby cheeks. No more than four years younger than Duke right now.

"Duke," His mother chastised as he walked through the door and into the mudroom where he began stepping down to his underwear. "I thought I told you not to play in the creek today."

"No, you said not to play in the creek tomorrow. That's when Charlie is coming."

"I said Sunday, Duke. Sunday. Not Monday." His mother let out a sigh. "I'll go put out some more Sunday clothes for you but no more playing outside, do you hear me? I want you to look nice when your cousin gets here."

It wasn't like Duke needed to make a good first impression on Charlie. He had already made the first impression when the whole family had a reunion at Kings Island and he threw up on Charlie after one of those tilt-a-whirl rides. Even though he barely remembered the memory, only the stories, Charlie had still been old enough at the time that he would remember the incident with more clarity than he did.

Duke placed his dirty clothes into the washer with the rest of the clothes that waited to be washed. From there, he headed to the bathroom to wash what little mud remained on his body. His own room connected to the bathroom much like his mother and father's room was. Soon, the number of toothbrushes would go from three to four with the arrival of his cousin. He wasn't all too sure about how he felt. On one hand, he was excited to see the cousin that he had seen so long ago. On the other, he wondered if Charlie would even feel the need to come out of his room. That he really only needed to come out for mealtimes and that Duke wouldn't see him for the year that he stayed at their house. Like a ghost that they couldn't get rid of.

His father said he was a troublemaker. That he had been sent here to straighten up as a last resort before he was off to military school. Charlie could not have been that bad. The last time Duke saw him, he was still blonde-haired and blue-eyed. The spitting image of Captain America. They only really saw each other at family reunions and those stopped back when Charlie was around eight or nine. His mother and father wouldn't tell him why How bad could he have messed up in the year or two since he had last seen him? Duke knew he had been raised in nearly the same God-fearing household as Duke did.

Duke wandered into his room. His eyes fixated on the small suit that had been laid out in front of him on his bed. Duke didn't struggle with putting it on. He had spent too many Sundays he now spent putting one on for church. Ever since he could dress, he had been tasked with doing it himself. His parents are too busy to help him anymore. Even if he wanted help, he wouldn't be able to get it since there was going to be a new arrival coming to the house was so soon. His mom was portably putting

"Duke!" His mother called from somewhere in the house. "Charlie and his family just pulled up. Get to the door!"

Duke hurried to the front door. Did he look okay? He checked himself in the mirror that hung above the bench one last time before he turned to the front door. His hair did not have a single strand out of place. His hair was still gelled back from that morning's service. Would his aunt and uncle recognize him if he opened the door? They had to, right? He didn't think he had changed all that much between when they last saw him and now. The car doors slammed shut. A rush of adrenaline ran through Duke's body. Three shadows appeared in front of the frosted glass. Duke rushed to place his hand on the cool metal of the doorknob before they did. Duke flung open the door with a little more ferocity than he would have liked.

Charlie now sported long, black hair. His jeans ripped and his eyeliner muddied. The leather jacket he wore looked new as if he had just bought it. Long gone were the days of a weirdly patriotic love for America that his blue eyes and blonde hair once said. It looked like he would end up kicking a kitten while it was down instead of picking it up off of the ground and carrying it five miles to the vet as Duke had once heard about him. Charlie looked like the kind of man that Duke's mom told him to stay far away from when they walked through the city. A far cry from the stories his mother would tell him when His face hardened with the rebellious teen years that Duke was only a few years away from.

"Well hello there Duke." His aunt smiled down at him. Her hair was just as blonde as Charlie's once was. "We haven't seen you in a while, it's been what? Two years?"

Duke's mom and dad rushed in before he could answer and ushered his aunt and uncle into the living room which left only Charlie and Duke to ponder in silence while awaiting further instruction. Charlie didn't look all too rebellious. Nor did he look like he was worried about the possibility of being shipped off to military school next summer if he didn't shape up. His face was stone cold. Tired, almost. Even though the drive from his aunt and uncle's house wasn't that far. Duke's mother soon came back with a smile on her face still. Her smile was surely more painted on than real.

"Please show Charlie to the guest room. We'll have dinner at five."

Duke began his walk in the opposite direction as his parents. Charlie's footsteps followed a bit later. The guest room was right across from Duke's and had stood empty aside from a bed for as long as he could remember. Only a few months ago had there been additions of a bookshelf and a dresser. Duke flung open the door to the room with a smile painted over his face and gestured for Charlie to take a few steps inside. His suitcase landed on the bed as he passed it. His hands rested on it for a few seconds before he began flinging the clothes across the room towards the dresser.

"So you're going to be my new roommate for a while." Charlie turned towards Duke. "Or I am going to be your new roommate."

Duke forced a smile as he continued to watch Charlie unpack his only suitcase. His backpack was just as thick as his suitcase and filled with books and records. Though, he had no record player to play them on. Everything from Prince to Guns N Roses. Charlie placed them onto the desk with a smile as if they were his best friends and he hadn't seen them in a while. It was odd but Duke wasn't about to call Charlie weird for it. Duke was the one who didn't talk to the local children because he'd rather find tadpoles that were 'too icky' for him. Charlie turned back to Duke and gestured to them for Duke to flip through a few of them.

"You can take one and listen to them if you'd like." Charlie seemed so nonchalant about it. He flung the last of his clothes-all of them black in color-towards the dresser.

"Mom wouldn't like it if I listened to these. She says they're of the devil."

"So I bet she doesn't let you play one of these then, either." Duke turned to see what Charlie was talking about. He held up a Gameboy. Duke shook his head. "Well then, your parents really are no fun."

"Dinner!"

His mother's voice echoed down the hallway and towards the pair. He had lifted one to inspect it even further. Duke nearly dropped the record in that he had in his hands to the ground. Charlie jumped from his spot at the edge of the bed and crossed the room in a matter of milliseconds. He turned from the window with a speed that Duke had never seen. What? How did he move that fast? Duke had never seen someone move that fast before in his life. He didn't even think that it was possible.

"Come on, dinner is ready. Don't be late."

Duke moved towards his mother's voice. But Charlie wasn't behind him. Charlie did not leave his room. Duke didn't hear his footsteps behind him as Duke made his way into the dining room. He shrugged. Charlie would have to come out eventually since he would eventually get hungry. He would have to get hungry sometimes. Duke's mother sat down at the table after putting the finishing touches on the dinner table. The ham steamed as did the mashed potatoes and gravy. Duke didn't even think he heard his mother heat up the asparagus in the microwave. He guessed he was too busy talking to Charlie to hear anything else. He was just ready to eat but his mom outstretched his hand towards him. Duke took her hand without thinking. Now the real praying could begin. They all bowed their heads down in silent prayer.

"I knew he'd want to unpack." Duke's aunt rolled her eyes. "You'll have to excuse him. His manners have seemed to have evaded him as he's gotten older."

"He seems like a sweet enough kid. I wouldn't put it past him to just want to unpack and decompress from the car ride here."

Charlie's dad bowed his head over the food once more. His hands folded in front of him. His lips moved fast. Too fast for any

"He's definitely not sweet," Charlie's dad lifted his head from bowing it to pray over his meal since none of Duke's family had said the prayer out loud. They had all been distracted by conversation to do it. "You wanna know what the final straw was?"

"What was it?" Duke's father scooted towards the table and bowed his own head over his meal for a moment before digging in. "What are we getting into?"

"What?" Charlie's dad smiled. "The old ball and chain didn't tell you all about her nephew?"

Her nephew? Charlie was their nephew, his cousin. If his uncle was joking then Charlie certainly didn't pick up on it.

"So what did he do?" Duke's dad let out a sigh as he dug into the food and began passing it out to everyone. "What are we in for?

"He tried burning down the high school. He kept rambling on about how the students there were worthless and needed to die."

"Well, that doesn't seem so bad." Duke's mom chimed in.

"It's arson, Susan." Charlie's dad turned towards her. "He's also been investigated for kidnapping."

"Kidnapping too?" Duke's mom lifted her head. "You didn't tell me that he was being investigated for kidnapping!"

Duke wasn't as worried as his mother. Charlie was a good kid from what Duke had seen over the years. When it rained at King's Island the summer before Duke turned six, he had given Duke his jacket. He helped a young girl find her mother after she lost sight of her when she got off of the ride. There was no way that he had even been a person of interest in kidnapping cases.

"He was never charged and he was only a person of interest. You still have to take him. We're not bringing him back to town after he kicked up so much trouble there."

Charlie's father let his head fall and began making good on his food. The rest of dinner was silent. None of them spoke and the only noises were the forks and knives on the plates. Duke wasn't going to make much noise. He was ready to finish dinner and do whatever he wanted. His suit was now fitting too tight around his neck. Like it was strangling him. Charlie was a good person, he reminded himself. Charlie is a good person. He is not the reason those kids went missing.

Duke wandered back to the closed door about a dozen times between the end of dinner and now, as he walked to his bedroom. He had cleaned up the dishes and put them into the dishwasher for further cleaning. His parents and aunt and uncle had gone into the living to talk. He didn't care for his mother's gloating. He didn't care for his father's pride in his work. His aunt and uncle boasted about their own achievements as well as if none of them were proud of each other.

"Alright, I think we're going to head out. We don't want to be too tired when we go into work tomorrow." Duke's uncle's voice echoed down the hall. His figure appeared a few seconds later and waved at Duke in the hallway. "See you at Thanksgiving, Duke."

Did they make plans for Thanksgiving already? Duke waved back to his uncle with a smile. "See you then, Uncle Jim."

"See you at Thanksgiving, Charlie." Duke's aunt called down the hall.

Duke waved back at the two figures at the end of the hall before they disappeared into the front room near the front door. Charlie's own parents were now gone. Charlie would only have Duke's parents for the next few months. Duke's parents came back to the bathroom a few moments later and spent the next twenty minutes cleaning up before both their room and the bathroom light went dark. Duke went to his room but didn't feel the need to change just yet. He wanted to stay up a bit longer and changing into pajamas now meant that the day was over.

Duke turned around in his bedroom for a few moments. He waited until the snores of his parents echoed off of the bathroom walls back towards Duke's room. That's when Duke made his way to Charlie's room. He needed to know if Charlie was the one who had kidnapped those kids. If someone dangerous was living in his house. Duke raised a hand, ready to knock but the door swung open before he could even have the chance to open it himself. It was almost as if Charlie had known that he was there.

"What are you doing up so late?" Charlie asked as he leaned against the doorframe. His hair was now tied back into a ponytail and only his jeans remained. He smelled of something that Charlie could not place but had smelled many times before when passing by the bathroom stalls at school. Duke had immediately forgotten the questions he was going to ask Charlie. "Your parents went to bed like half an hour ago."

Even though it was later than Duke had stayed up on most nights reading books by flashlight or waiting long enough to sneak out of the house and look at the stars. Especially on the night before going back to school. It was only seven at night the light had faded more than Duke would have hoped. He was too scared to admit to anyone that he was still scared of the dark even though he was ten. Charlie's face was hidden mostly in shadows but Duke could still see the contours of his face. Here, he looked like one of the monsters that Duke had imagined crawling through his windows at night.

When Charlie stepped into the light of the hallway, Duke noticed how pale Charlie's skin had gotten. So pale that his white skin had seemed to turn grey. His lips had crusted over. His blue eyes had turned a deep shade of blue.

"I could ask you the same thing." Duke straightened his back as if that would make him taller.

"I was just about to go out for a walk. Do you want to come?"

Duke pondered on it for a minute. "Wouldn't mom and dad be mad at us? We're not supposed to be out past sunset."

"Well I'm going out," Charlie pushed past Duke and towards the front door. "Don't feel like you have to lie for me either."

Millie Report had been told to go straight home after Sunday school. That her babysitter would be waiting for her when she got home. Her parents left on a business trip Instead of picking her up all the way across town, they would just meet in the middle back at her house. After that, they would end up going to the local diner for a late dinner. Then she would be sent off to bed. She had told her parents that she was old enough to make it home. After all, she was nearly twelve years old. The town was small enough that she had eyes on her every time she passed a house and even a little bit past that.

Millie checked her County road J would soon turn into county road K. As soon as it became K, she would take an immediate right. That's what the piece of paper she had in her hands said. Even though she and her family walked to church and back every Sunday, she had never really paid attention to what kind of turns they made. She was always picking up rocks or sticks alongside the road and messing up her pastel-colored dresses. Don't you dare mess up another dress, Millie. Her mother's voice rang out in her head as she spotted another pretty rock on the ground. No. She would keep her dress clean. She would make sure that she could be seen as someone who could walk back home on her own.

The sun had already set behind Millie and the roads were getting darker behind her. The fall air whipped around her and she chastised herself for not bringing a jacket. Each footstep crunched underneath her. The gravel that her parents had told her had once made these roads had turned into dust after years and years of wear. But that was long before she had been born and long before her family had been born.

Millie kept walking on county road J for at least half a mile before someone else appeared in front of her. A dark figure that she had never seen before. She squinted into the distance and tried to make sense of what was right in front of her eyes. She paused in the middle of the road. Her eyes scanned the shadow for a moment before it eventually got close enough for her to see who it was. A young man who she had never seen before. Even in her twelve years of life, she had been introduced to every family that lived in the town. Every face had been burned into her nearly photogenic memory. Though, her way home evaded her every single time she tried to make the walk home alone. What a terrible memory she had then, she assumed.

The man-made his way towards her as if he were going to the church. Millie checked her watch. It was nearing seven at night and in the hour that it had taken her to get this close to home, she knew that it would be closed down by now. She cursed herself for staying back to help out the pastor clean up from the Sunday evening mass. Even if there weren't many children for her to help with Sunday school. A lot of people had already come and gone that morning when most of the town had service. But a lot of people came back just for the fun of it. Even if it was the same service as before.

His body was only lit up by a few lights that the townspeople had put out onto the road so that no one would end up in a ditch. His feet crunched the bits and pieces of old and dried-out wood that had covered the ground. Where could he have been going? He turned his attention to her, his face lit up in flickers by fire that had come out of his lighter. He turned his attention to Millie. His long, gangly face lit up just as much as the light that appeared to come from a lighter. She didn't get a good look at what he was wearing which wouldn't help her if he did anything suspicious.

"Well hello there." His smile had grown inhumanly large. He moved closer to her. His eyes flashed dangerously dark as he flicked the lighter off. "What's your name?"

"M-my name is Millie." Her name felt odd on her lips. She had rarely ever spoken it. Fear flushed her face. She shouldn't have given her name to a stranger."W-who are you?"

"Millie. I like that name."

The man flicked on the lighter once more.

"I asked you what your name was."

The lighter flicked off.

"The name is Charlie. But I ask the questions here."

"What do you...what do you want to ask me?" Millie's voice caught in her throat as she tried to keep her composure.

"Where you're going," Charlie said that in a more matter-of-fact tone than the tone of someone who was asking a question. "What you're doing out alone this late at night."

"I'm-I don't think I should answer any of your questions. My parents said not to speak to strangers."

"But we're not strangers." Charlie flicked on the lighter to show off his inhuman smile, now adorned with rows upon rows of sharpened teeth. Saliva dripped off of his teeth and onto his bottom lip. "We're friends."

"We-we're not friends." Millie took a few steps back. "I should get home."

"Oh no," Charlie dropped the lighter down to the ground. "You should come with me."

Millie tried going around him but he had wrapped around her quicker than she could get away. Her whole body shook as he held her close to his chest. His breath-warm, hot, and sticky-brushed against her neck. Each breath was deep and heavy. He hadn't even said a word before Millie decided that she needed to put up a fight. She kicked and screamed until her voice was raw and her legs were tired. Each kick only brought her closer to him and each scream only came to crush her lungs. Her screams echoed across the trees.

Finally, she dropped her attention down to the arms that restrained her. Her mouth opened and laid a bit down onto his arm. Charlie let out a roar. Millie sprinted off into the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way down to her house. The sound of her heart echoed down to her bones. Her whole body ached. Charlie's footsteps weren't far behind her.

"Don't you dare run from a friend." Charlie's voice was louder than thunder on a rainy night. "Don't you dare run from me."

The footsteps came closer and closer to Millie. Millie had nowhere to turn. Nowhere to hide. The open road is what faced both of them. Her attention was on the road ahead of her and not the road behind her. Nor the road below her. Her foot caught on a stick and she tumbled down into the earth. The dirt kicked up into her mouth. Charlie's hands wrapped around her and flipped her over. His teeth flashed in the moonlight. His face was long and garish. Millie's screams echoed throughout the night. His teeth sank into her neck.

"This morning is a sad day for Archbold Township as we are looking for one of our own. Millie Report has come up missing." The newscaster's perma-smile had faded. "She was last seen walking home from Sunday school at six last night. She took country road J home. She was seen in a yellow dress and a pair of white converse, freshly bought. The police have no main suspects right now but if you have any information on the whereabouts of Millie Report, please contact the police at the number below."

Duke's family always watched the morning news before they headed out for the day. During the week-only in the summer-Duke had to follow one of his parents to work. This week, he was going with his mom to her secretary job it was still too early for Duke to comprehend most of it. His backpack rested on the bench where his mom had put it the night previous. Duke flattened out his jeans a bit as he tried to wipe the sweat that had pooled on his hands. He knew Millie. She went to middle school but her younger sister was in the same class as Duke.

Charlie had been outside that night. Duke had seen him head out but he had never heard him come back inside so he had no idea how long Charlie had been out the previous night. He couldn't be the one who kidnapped Millie. He hadn't even been there a whole day. There is no way he would cause trouble that soon.

Charlie stumbled out of his room and into the living room. He wiped the sleep from his eyes. His jeans were covered in a maroon substance that only Duke noticed before Charlie rushed back to his room to change. His mother and father turned their faces towards the noise but didn't catch Charlie's form. Charlie came out a few moments later with a fresh set of clothes and a smile on his face.

"Neither of you are to leave this house until Millie Report is found, do you hear me?"

Charlie and Duke frantically nodded. Duke's mother turned back to the TV and wrung her hands in worry. Charlie turned towards Duke as he flashed him a deadly smile.

He bowed down to Duke's ear, "Maybe if you took the opportunity to come with me last night, Millie wouldn't have had to run away from me."

#short story #creative writing #short horror story #writblr #writeblr #writblur #author #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr

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supernatural-fangirl1967 · 4 years

Text

Missing Pieces - Part 9

Pairing: Nurse!Dean x Reader

Warnings: Head Injury, Angst, Anxiety, Panic attack, Fluff

Word Count: 2,073

A/N: This is Part 9 of Missing Pieces. Please let me know what you think!

Series Masterlist

You can’t help the wide smile that spreads across your face when you hear Dean pull up outside. You take off out the front door, hollering at your parents that you’ll be home in a few hours. Dean gets out of the car and he smiles when he sees you running towards him.

“Someone’s in a better mood,” Dean laughs as he wraps both of his arms around your waist.

“Yeah,” you smile as you lean in to press your lips to his. “And how are you?”

“I’m alright, sweetheart,” Dean smiles.

“Promise?” you ask him. “Because yesterday you were…”

“I promise,” Dean tells you as he presses a kiss to your forehead. He walks you over to the passenger’s side and opens up the door so that you can get in.

“Thank you, Dean,” you smile up at him. He winks at you before shutting the door and walking over to get in behind the wheel.

“Alright,” Dean says as he looks over at you. “Where to?”

You give him a look. “I thought that you were planning on taking me somewhere.”

“I was,” Dean tells you. “I planned on taking you wherever you want to go.”

“Well then,” you smile. “Why don’t you drive and we see where Baby takes us then?”

“Alright,” Dean smiles before putting Baby in gear and pulling out of the parking lot. He reaches across the seat to take your hand in his. You turn your head to look down at your intertwined fingers before smiling widely up at Dean.

Hours later you find yourself laughing so hard that you have tears rolling down your face and your ribs are hurting. Your throat is sore from singing along with the radio that’s now on full blast. Your hair is a mess from the wind blowing in through the rolled down window. Your face is hurting from smiling so much, and you’re so happy that your heart is literally aching. But it’s all a good pain this time. A pain that you’re thankful for because you don’t know how long it’s been since you’ve felt like this.

Dean would be lying if he said that he wasn’t in the same boat as you. He does know how long it’s been since he’s been this happy. Or happy at all. And it’s all because you’re finally happy now. Dean’s thumb still rubs over your knuckles. He hasn’t let go of your hand much. He keeps thinking that he’s going to wreck because he can’t help but to keep glancing over at you to see that smile on your face. His heart leaps each time that you laugh. His smile widens when he hears you singing along to the radio, and he can’t help but to join in causing you to smile even wider.

You’re feeding off of each other’s happiness, and it is the greatest thing that you have ever felt. Or the greatest thing that you’re able to remember feeling anyways.

“Dean?” you say and you look over at him.

“Yeah?” he asks you softly.

“Um, could you maybe turn left up here?”

“Yeah,” Dean tells you as he glances your way. “Remembering something?”

“I… I don’t know,” you tell Dean as you look out at the road. “I feel like I’ve been here before.”

“Well, that’s something,” Dean says as he makes the turn and drives down a curvy road.

“Here,” you tell Dean as you point at a church up ahead. Dean pulls into the parking lot and you get out.

“(Y/N)?” Dean says as he follows you up to the doors of the church. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” you tell him as you look through the glass doors.

“(Y/N), sweetheart?”

You sigh as you look over at Dean. “I… I don’t know. It’s like I’m trying to remember but something is keeping me from actually getting there.”

“Like yesterday?” he asks softly.

“Yeah,” you tell Dean and you nod your head a bit at him. “Like that.”

Dean walks over and he places a hand between your shoulders. “What do you need me to do?”

“I don’t know,” you choke out as tears fill your eyes.

“Hey,” Dean whispers as he pulls you in towards him, wrapping both of his arms tightly around your body. “I know that this is easier said than done, but please don’t get upset. It’s alright. Take your time. Go through some questions in your head.”

“Like what?” you sniff.

“Like have you been at this specific place before or…”

“Yeah, I… I think so.”

“Do you know when or for what?”

“No,” you swallow hard. “But I remember something about candles for some reason. I… I don’t…”

“Okay,” Dean says softly as he rubs a hand up and down your arm. “Okay. You still made some progress. That’s big, sweetheart.”

“But it’s not enough,” you cry out into Dean’s chest as you cling tightly onto him.

“Every little bit is enough,” Dean whispers as he presses a kiss to your head. “Sweetheart, everything that you remember might not seem like much on it’s own but eventually it will all make sense. I promise.”

You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down a bit. “We can go now.”

“Only if you want to,” Dean tells you. “Don’t rush yourself because you think that I’m wanting to leave or something, sweetheart. I’ll stand here for days if I have to as long as it helps you.”

“I don’t think that anything’s going to help me,” you tell him.

“I don’t know,” Dean says softly as he looks down at you and into your eyes. “You might be surprised.”

“Maybe,” you say and you give Dean your attempt at a smile.

“There,” Dean smiles at you. “That’s better. Why don’t we go get in the car and take off, hm? You seemed happy in there.”

“Yeah,” you breathe out as you smile widely up at Dean. “I was.”

With Dean’s help, it doesn’t take long to be put into another good mood. By the time that he’s driving towards your apartment, you almost want to ask him not to leave you. To stay with you. If only your parents weren’t living there right now.

“(Y/N),” Dean says as he puts Baby in park and looks over at you. “I’ll pick you up around five tomorrow if that’s alright.”

You smile widely. “It’s a date, Winchester.”

Dean chuckles as he leans across the seat to kiss you. He sighs as you get out of the car and walk up towards your front door. He hates driving off without you in the passenger’s seat, but he knows that he has no other option unless he wants to tell you everything. “I can’t do this,” Dean mutters underneath his breath before getting out of the car and walking towards you. “(Y/N)!”

You turn around to look at Dean and smile widely when you see him walking towards you. “Can’t stay away?” you tease him before he wraps his arms tightly around your waist and presses a firm kiss to your lips. When Dean pulls away, he looks you in the eyes and opens his mouth to tell you the truth… Then he sees the expression on your face and he knows that he can’t open up to you. He can’t take the chance on it making it worse on you. So, instead, he tells you what he so desperately wanted to say yesterday.

“I love you too, (Y/N),” Dean breathes out, causing you to give him a shocked look.

“You’re serious?” you ask him softly as you wrap your arms around his neck.

“Yeah,” Dean tells you as he nods his head a bit at you. “I’m serious, sweetheart,” he tells you softly. “I have for a while now and yet I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.”

“I get it,” you tell Dean softly as tears well up in your eyes.

“You okay?” he chuckles.

“Yeah,” you smile widely. “It’s just that you have no clue how happy I’m feeling right now.”

Dean gives you a look. “I think that I probably have a little clue as to how you’re feeling,” he smiles. Dean brings a hand up to gently cup your cheek and you let your eyes slide shut.

“Now what?” you ask him.

“I’ve gotta hear ya say it one more time.”

You laugh as you open your eyes and look up into Dean’s. “I love you.”

Dean smiles as his thumb softly grazes over your cheek. “I love you, sweetheart.” He leans in to give you a slow, loving kiss. You both jump when you hear someone pecking on the window. You turn to see your dad standing there and waving at the both of you.

“Sorry,” you laugh as you look up at Dean. “He likes embarrassing me.”

“That’s a typical dad,” Dean chuckles as he smiles down at you. “Although I do think that you sort of bit my lip,” Dean says as he brings a hand up to his mouth. You laugh as you playfully swat at him. Dean grabs your hands before you pull them away, and he pins them between his hands and chest. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” you smile widely. Dean gives you another kiss before pulling away to look you in the eyes. He gives you a sad smile and you can tell that he wants to walk off as much as you want him to leave you. Your heart aches at the thought and yet you know that he has to go. Dena turns to walk off, grabbing your hand and giving it a good squeeze before completely letting go of you. He turns to look at you once more, throwing his hand up to give you a small wave. You smile and do the same as you try and keep the tears from welling up in your eyes. Dean gets in the car and pulls out of the parking lot and you turn to walk on inside the house.

“Thanks for that,” you tell your dad as you walk inside your apartment.

“Hey, part of my job description is to embarrass you,” he tells you.

“Alright,” you laugh as you roll your eyes a bit at him.

“So, things are going good with yourself and Dean?” your mom asks you.

“Yeah,” you smile widely. “I think so.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dean barely walks through his front door before his phone is ringing. He pulls it out of his pocket and rolls his eyes when he sees Sam’s name pop up.

“What?” Dean answers.

“I’ve been trying to call you all day. Where have you been?”

“With (Y/N).”

“Have you told her?”

Dean rolls his eyes. “You’re starting to sound a lot like Dad.”

“Dean…”

“No, I haven’t told her,” Dean says as he walks over to plop down onto his couch. “I told her that I love her though.”

“You’re kidding,” Sam tells him. “Dean, you told her that you love her but you didn’t tell her that…”

“Yeah,” Dean tells him. “I did that. Now can you all please leave me alone about it?”

“You have to tell her.”

“Don’t you think that I know that, Sam?” Dean asks him. “I can’t.”

“Yes you can.”

“She’s doing better right now,” Dean says. “I am not going to be the reason that all of that progress goes to waste.”

“Dean, you can’t keep this from her anymore,” Sam tells him.

“I’m getting a little bit tired of people trying to tell me what I can or can’t do. Now I am handling this the only way that I know how, alright? Please leave me alone about it now.” Dean hangs up the phone and hides his face in his hands. His phone buzzes and he looks down to see that he has a text from Sam.

If you don’t tell her and she finds out, it’ll only be that much worse on her.

“I will block your number if I have to,” Dean mumbles as he throws his phone over onto the coffee table and lets his eyes slide shut. He knows that he has to tell you. He knows that you have a right to know. But Dean also knows that this could undo all of the progress that you’ve made in your recovery, and he is not going to let that happen to you.

Tags: @adoptdontshoppets @imaginationisgrowth @deanwanddamons @squirrelnotsam @hobby27 @cookiechipdough @campingmonkey @akshi8278 @muchamusedaboutnothing @vicmc624 @nothinbuttrouble2 @idksupernatural @flamencodiva @ladyofmaidensandwine @sunflowers-n-rocknroll @prettysourabbie @chaldei @mlovesstories @torn-and-frayed @my-proof-is-you @that-one-gay-girl @myopiamystical @starryeyeseunbyul @halesandy @busy-bee-angel-misska @lokismistressofmayhem @samsgirl93 @deanwinchesterswitch @mila-dans @supernatural-bellawinchester @starchildwild @compresshischest09

#missing pieces #dean x reader #dean x you #dean x y/n #nurse!dean #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural #SPN #fanfic

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grantyort · 4 years

Photo

Prelude IV: Relight

Post-Surgery: DAY ONE

[Sean sits in the hospital bed, legs crossed, staring into space when he hears a familiar voice.]

Joey: Sean, Sean Diaz? Well damn. I never thought I’d see your sorry ass again!

Sean: Geez Joey. Is that how you talk to all your patients?

Joey: Just the ones I like.

[Sean chuckles]

Joey: C’mere big man.

[Joey gives Sean a big bear hug]

Sean: How’ve you been Joey?

Joey: Can’t complain. These days, they got me up in hospice care. You’re probably the first person I’ve seen today that didn’t need their bedpans changed.

Sean: Sounds terrible.

Joey: It’s all not all bad. Lot of these folks have stories that you wouldn’t believe. One of my patients has lived through five wars and two depressions, tells me I’m a credit to my race.

Sean: Yeesh.

Joey: (shrugs) She means well. It’s almost flattering compared to some of the stuff I’ve heard. Been on this job almost ten years now, some people still treat me like I have no idea what I’m doing.

Sean: That sucks Joey.

Joey: Yeah... Anyway, you seem to be doing pretty well for yourself. From what I heard, this procedure cost a small fortune. You must have friends in high places.

Sean: Yeah, something like that.

Joey: And no guard at the door this time. I assume everything got cleared up with the police? Not planning to make a break for it again are ya?

Sean: Nah, no daring escapes this time.

Joey: Good. I don’t think I’d survive another blow to the head.

Sean: Listen Joey I’m really sorry-

Joey: (laughs) Relax Sean! I’m just messing with you! It’s ancient history as far as I’m concerned. Say, did you ever end up finding that brother of yours?

Sean: Yeah. He’s actually coming to visit me tomorrow.

Joey: Can’t wait to meet him!

Sean: Famous last words.

Joey: So… what you been up to these days?

Sean: Mostly just cramming for the SATs, drawing, listening to music. Normal teenage shit.

Joey: That’s good to hear. I was worried about you man. You went AWOL after the hospital. I got police and Feds breathing down my neck for weeks. Then a month later, I hear about a couple of kids trying the border to Mexico on the news.

Sean: Sorry I never reached out. I just didn’t want to get you more involved than you already were-

Joey: You made the right call. They questioned me for hours. My apartment was filled with G-men, my girlfriend was freaked. I honestly thought she was going to dump my ass.

Sean: I’m really sorry Joey.

Joey: Don’t sweat it Sean, it was for a good cause. Besides, everything worked out in the end.

Sean: Yeah I noticed, how long have you been-

Joey: Almost a year now. We’re expecting our first baby in the summer.

Sean: Congratulations dude!

Joey: Thanks, but honestly, I’m kinda nervous, don’t think I’m ready to be a father.

Sean: You’ll be a great dad, Joey. You’re awesome at taking care of people.

Joey: You’re damn right. Speaking of which, we should probably take a look at that eye of yours.

[Joey takes off the bandage and gives Sean’s eye a thorough examination]

Joey: Well it looks a helluva lot better than the last time I saw it.

Sean: That’s good to hear. I wasn’t sure it would work.

Joey: Well it’s too early to say if your vision will fully recover. But at the very least you won’t have to walk around with a patch anymore.

Sean: Good. It’s hard enough finding a prom date let alone one that’s willing to go with a pirate.

Joey: Still with the pirate jokes huh? Hopefully, you’ll have to write some new material after this.

[Joey applies a new bandage on Sean’s eye]

Joey: And you’re all set. Now as much as I love our talks, I gotta make my rounds. Buzz me if you need me.

Sean: Later Joey.

Joey: See ya tomorrow Sean.

[Joey leaves the room. Sean turns to look out the window. The door shoots open, and a small figure comes bursting in.]

Daniel: Sean!

[He jumps onto the bed and into Sean’s arms]

Stephen: (out-of-breath) Sorry, I tried to stop him, but he outran me.

Sean: You okay Stephen?

Stephen: I am… just need a minute to catch my breath. The old ticker ain’t what it used to be- I need to sit down.

Daniel: Take it easy grandpa.

Sean: What are you doing here, enano? I wasn’t expecting you guys until tomorrow.

Daniel: I made grandpa book an earlier flight. I just couldn’t wait!

[he hugs Sean again]

Sean: Haha easy. I just had surgery, remember?

Daniel: Oh right, s-sorry.

[There’s a brief flash, followed by a shutter click]

Sean: What’re you doing, gramps?

Stephen: Oh nothing, just commemorating the moment. Thanks to your brother, I finally got the hang of this newfangled smartphone camera.

Daniel (whispering): He had it stuck on selfie mode for days. Anyway, did it go? Is your eye…

Sean: I mean… it’s not 100% yet but I can sort of see again.

Daniel: T-that’s awesome! Can I see it?

Sean: Dude last time I showed you my eye, you almost cried. Besides, the doctors say I still need to keep the bandage on for a bit, while it heals.

Daniel: Right. That makes sense. Oooh this room looks cool. Do they have Netflix or a Playbox?

Sean: It’s a hospital, dude.

Daniel: Lame.

Sean: So catch me up. Did I miss anything interesting at home?

Daniel: Nah… Chris is still on that fishing trip with his dad so there’s no one to hang out with. Oh I almost forgot. He made you this card. Isn’t it awesome?

[Daniel gives Sean a hand-drawn “get-well-soon” card from Chris]

Sean: Yeah. It’s pretty cool. We can have Claire put it up when we get back.

Daniel: Grandma’s still in that feud with the lady from church.

Sean: Which one was that again?

Daniel: Agnes, the one who gives off major Lisbeth-vibes. She says grandma stole her casserole recipe for the church bake-sale. Lying bitch.

Stephen: Language!

Sean: Maybe one of us should try to smooth things over before it gets nasty.

Stephen: Hell hath no fury… lemme tell ya. I’ve been married to your grandmother long enough to know once that woman sets her mind on something… there’s no stopping her. Best to just let things run their course.

Sean: Claire can get a little… passionate sometimes. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen her lose her temper for real.

Stephen: There’s a fire in that woman. It’s part of the reason I married her. Just pray she never turns it on you. I hope I’ll never live to see that day, god willing.

[Sean notices Daniel circling the hospital bed, pressing his hand on various parts of the mattress]

Sean: (laughs) What are you doing, enano?

Daniel: Just trying to figure which side of the bed I want to sleep on tonight.

Sean: Dude. There’s no way this bed’s gonna fit both of us.

Daniel: The one in Mom’s trailer was way smaller!

Sean: Yeah well… you were a lot smaller back then.

Stephen: They have a nice area for visitors down the hall.

Daniel: But I want to stay with Sean!

Sean: I guess I could ask Joey to bring in a couch or something.

Daniel: Who’s Joey?

Sean: The nurse who took care of me after the accident. I told you about him, remember?

Daniel: Oh right! I can’t wait to meet him!

DAY TWO

Joey: How are we doing today? Any headaches, dizziness, socket pain?

Sean: Nah it’s all good. Still getting used to having depth perception again. It’s kinda weird.

Joey: You’ll get used to it. Anything else to report?

Sean: Nothing major. I’ve just been having some really weird dreams.

Joey: We have a psychiatrist on-site if you need a professional to talk to.

Sean: Nah it’s alright, probably just the drugs messing with my brain.

Joey: Well your vitals look good. We’ll go over some basic tests. You know the drill.

(Sean covers his right eye and tries to read the chart. Joey then shines a light and asks him to follow along. Finally, he asks Sean to put the cap back on the pen.)

Joey: You passed with flying colors. The doctor will be in for a final exam tomorrow and then we can discharge you.

Sean: (sarcastically) Too bad, I was ready to become the first Mexican pirate to attend college. So much for being a trailblazer.

Joey: Good to see you haven’t lost that snarky-ass sense of humor.

Joey: Anyway, I’m taking my lunch now. Want me to get you anything from the cafeteria? Wait… don’t tell me. Chocolate pecan?

Sean: You know it.

Joey: I met your brother in the hall. Cute kid.

Sean: (deadpans) Give it a few days. Then see if you get a “second opinion.”

Joey: He does seem a little… “energetic”. But that’s normal for kids his age.

Sean: Yeah one minute I’m his favorite person in the world. The next, he’s off doing God knows what, and doesn’t want me “bossing him around”. You know how it is.

Joey: Can’t say I do. Grew up in a house with three older sisters. Guess I must have been the annoying one. Daniel’s lucky to have you looking out for him. Must be tough sometimes.

Sean: Oh you have no idea.

[Joey claps Sean’s shoulder, he feels a jolt shooting up his spine, everything goes white]

(Sean sees a door marked: “Miranda A. Connolly, Hospital Director”)

Connolly: You’ve been a valuable asset to this hospital. Stellar feedback from all of your patients and attendings.

Joey: I sense a “but” coming.

Connolly: But, given the dubious circumstances surrounding your transfer and your past involvement with the law. The Board thinks it might be better for one of the other nurses to take this spot.

Joey: Please. I’ve got a kid on the way. We just bought our first house. Can you at least consider bumping up my pay? I haven’t gotten a real raise since I started here. There are kids coming out of nursing school that make what I make!

Connolly: The hospital has limited resources as it is, and the State just slashed our funding again. I just can’t justify raising anyone’s salary right now.

Joey: I break my back for this hospital, work extra shifts, get to know the patients. You promised me at the annual review that I’d-

Connolly: That was before this new information came to light. I’m sorry Joseph, maybe next year.

[Sean snaps out of his trance]

Joey: Sean? Sean are you okay?

Sean: Sorry, Guess I spaced out. Must just be the medication.

Joey: I can have the doctor come by and adjust your dosage.

Sean: I’m fine Joey. I swear. Weren’t you about to take lunch?

Joey: Oh right. We’ll pick this up later.

[Joey leaves the room, looking slightly puzzled.]

Sean: (thinking) W-what what was that? A dream? But It felt so… real.

[Sean takes out his phone and enters the name of the hospital, He finds their website. Under the ‘About’ section he scrolls to the Executive team bio. There is a photo of the woman he saw in the vision followed by a small blurb]

“Miranda A. Connolly is the President and Chief Director of Mt. Cedar General Hospital. She was appointed back in 2016 as Associate Director and has since made ground-breaking changes to the field of medicine and medical care. Under her leadership, this hospital was able to expand greatly, hiring new diverse staff members and vastly improving quality of care for all its patients.”

Sean: (thinking) Holy shit… it’s real. Does that mean I…?

Daniel: Hey Sean! What you looking at?

Sean: Dude! Don’t sneak up on me like that!

Daniel: I wasn’t sneaking. I was practicing my stealth!

Sean: Yeah sure.

Daniel: Are you looking at the new Playbox Pro? My birthday is right around the corner you know.

Sean: Birthday? It’s still January!

Daniel: Never too early to start preparing.

Sean: (rolling eyes) Yeah cuz everything’s always about you.

Daniel: Oooh I bet you were watching those dirty videos again. I’m tellin’ grandpa!

Sean: Hey hands off my phone you little-

[Daniel tries to grab Sean’s phone. Sean wrests his hand away. There is another a jolt]

[Daniel stands in front of the vending machine, staring at the jumbo chock-o-crisp. He looks around to check that the coast is clear. Then he waves his hand causing the chock-o-crisp to fall off the rack and into the dispenser slot.He gleefully retrieves it and devours the candy bar in a matter of seconds]

Sean: Dude, I told you not to eat any more chock-o-crisps! Do you want another trip to the dentist?

Daniel: What are you talking about? I haven’t had one in weeks!

Sean: Yeah sure. So you didn’t pig out at the vending machine before coming in here?

Daniel: How did you-

Sean: Maybe I have magic powers or maybe… you’ve still got crumbs on your collar.

Daniel: Aw, damn it. Promise you won’t tell grandpa.

Sean: Oh so you can tell on me but I can’t tell on you?

Daniel: (smugly) Exactly.

Sean: C’mere ya little shit!

Daniel: Sean stop! Ha that tickles. Quit it!

(After their little bout, Daniel curls up next to Sean, resting his head on Sean’s lap. Sean ruffles Daniel’s hair absentmindedly)

Sean: You ever wish you were… you know “normal” again?

Daniel: You mean not have my powers? Nah. They’re a part of me now. Besides, being normal is overrated.

Sean: (chuckles) I guess it is. But do you ever get that feeling like you thought you wanted something for a really long time but when you finally get it, it nothing like you thought it’d be?

Daniel: Uhhh… you mean like how I begged grandma to get me a PlayBox Live Subscription, but then the exclusives turned out to be shit? And now I have to act like I love it?

Sean: Yeah something like that.

Daniel: (yawns) Meh I’ll just ask for a gaming PC for my birthday.

Sean: Dude you’re like the greediest ten year-old I know.

Daniel: How many ten year-olds do you know?

Sean: Uh… just you and Chris.

Daniel: So, you want me to be more like Chris?

Sean: Wouldn’t hurt.

Daniel: (imitating Chris) “Only the purest of hearts may wield the power of Captain Spirit!”

Sean: Guess that rules you out.

Daniel: (playfully) Shut up.

DAY THREE

Doctor: Okay Mr.Diaz. I want you to follow the light. Look to your right, up and to the right. Good, good, excellent pupil response. Now look at the chart, cover your right eye and read this line.

Sean: Uh… A, O, E, P… T? Sorry I can’t really make out the last one.

Doctor: That’s okay, it takes time.

Doctor: Now this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but I recommend that you wear a patch over your right eye. It’ll be temporary of course, just until you learn to see with your left eye again.

Sean: (laughs dryly) And here I thought my seafaring days were behind me.

Doctor: You know… pirate actually wore patches so their eyes could easily adjust to the darkness and see below deck- Sorry my son’s going through a pirate phase.

Sean: I know the feeling. My little brother’s been through every phase imaginable.

Doctor: Kids, you gotta treasure every moment. Because before you know it, they’ll be all grown up, ready to go off on their own. Look at me, rambling on. Anyway, I signed your discharged papers. They’ll schedule you for some outpatient care in the coming months.You’re almost ready to go.

Sean: Sounds good.

Doctor: And you’re sure you don’t want to get do something about that nasty scar? A good-looking kid like you, it would be a shame to-

Sean: That’s okay, I think I’ll keep it… as a reminder.

Doctor: Alright but if you ever change your mind, I could refer you to a great plastic surgeon.

Sean: Thanks Doc, for everything.

Doctor: The pleasure’s all mine, Mr.Diaz. The groundwork we laid here could help hundreds of other patients in the future. We are making history. Your nurse should be along in a moment to help you get discharged.

[Sean sits in quiet contemplation. Reflecting on his dreams and new “vision”]

Sean (thinking): Be careful what you wish for...

Joey: Looks like everything’s good to go. Remember to use your eye-drops-

Sean: Twice a day. Yeah Joey, I know.

Joey: Guess it’s goodbye again. Don’t be a stranger this time okay?

Sean: I won’t.

Joey: Here’s my number. Call me if ever need professional advice or just want to shoot the shit.

Sean: Thanks Joey. Let me know how everything goes with the baby.

Joey: Oh don’t you worry about that. Soon I’ll be blowing up your phone with pictures.

Sean: Haha can’t wait.

Joey: Now hospital policy says I gotta wheel your ass outta here. For liability reasons.

Sean: At least it’ll be a smoother exit than last time.

Joey: (laughs) Get in the chair smart-ass.

Beaver Creek, One Week Later

Sean: Okay, you ready?

Daniel: (takes deep breath) Alright. Show it to me.

Sean: So… how does it look?

Daniel: Looks… normal.

Sean: You almost sound disappointed. Were you expecting a bionic eye or something?

Daniel: No. I just… it looks good. I like the scar; makes you look extra tough.

Sean: You think so?

Daniel: Yeah… totally badass!

Sean: Thanks, enano.

Daniel: You need a new codename, like Scarred Wolf or Deadshot Diaz!

Sean: Let’s leave the nicknames up to Chris.

Daniel: Hey! I make up awesome names too!

Sean: Whatever you say,“Superwolf”

#life is strange 2 #life is strange #sean diaz #daniel diaz #captain spirit #chris eriksen #stephen reynolds #lis2 #captain spirit ww #joey peterson

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cyanisbirdmom666 · 3 years

Text

AGH I need to ✨vent✨

Most of the stuff said below the cut will be about stress, religion (Christianity), betrayal, frustration, and sadness. So yeah if you don’t wanna read about it just keep scrolling. I just wanna tell someone (in this case, Tumblr) because I don’t know who else to tell. My brother’s over it already, and Melon

Also most of the stuff down there won’t make sense since I’m not feeling great (honestly I’m mostly confused) so read at your own risk.

[context] I’m a religious girl. I go to church, read the Bible, pray and PRAISE JESUS HALLELUJAH. But I’m also very lonely. I have a few friends and they’re all from church. I have two best friends. I’ll introduce you to them, using their nicknames for privacy reasons. I’ll start with the Pastor’s family. My Pastor’s name is Ramen, and he has two daughters, Melon and Safari. Melon is my best friend. The Pine family has three kids, Beanstalk, Zuko, and Suki. Suki is my best friend, Beanstalk and Zuko are my brother, Sokka, best friends. The Doctor’s family has only one kid, Marlin. He and Zuko are BFFS. Inseparable. We all work together at church. Suki, Melon, and I work with the cameras- we’re the camerawomen that record videos for our church’s YT channel. Ramen’s mom in Cuba watches our videos, people in Mexico also watch them- there’s even a woman in Germany who watches them! Safari, Beanstalk, and Zuko handle the techy stuff. Audio, Ramen’s microphone, powerpoints, and the editing of the videos we record. Sokka’s job is just to make us laugh, and Marlin is there for support. We make a great team. And I have a feeling Beanstalk and Safari like eachother- they’re always together and Beanstalk have Safari a bouquet of flowers to her on Valentine’s Day. Is that part important? Probably not but I added it anyway. Let’s move on.

Sometimes Ramen comes over to my house to talk to my parents. It’s not often but it’s happened before. Usually talk about adult-church stuff (ie. planning activities, money, or just to talk) that I don’t care about. My great grandma died recently (she was also very religious, she had a great relationship with God. I miss her) so I assumed Ramen came over to talk to my dad about that (comfort I suppose).

I don’t mind when he comes over, because he always brings his daughters, Safari and Melon. We all hang out in my room and watch movies or do homework together. It’s fun. But yesterday, Wednesday May 12th, was different.

After Ramen talks to my parents, he usually leaves. But this time, he called my brother and I over to tell us some sad news. My dense brain was thinking this was about my late grandma.

It wasn’t.

We sit down and he says that he has bad news. The Pine family called him yesterday (Tuesday, May 11th) to tell him that they weren’t going to attend our church anymore, and that their decision is final. They don’t want to meet up with Ramen. And that must hurt Ramen since... the Pine family and Ramen’s family had been together for years. Melon and Suki grew up together in Cuba (I’m the newer, American friend who teaches them about pop culture because oh boy, Melon is a clueless bean. We met a year ago.). Beanstalk and Zuko are like the sons Ramen never had, and Safari and Melon are like sisters to Suki- the point is, that they were really close. For the Pine family to just... cut it off like that is super strange. Yam and Er (the Pine children’s parents) were always so friendly and nice- heck, they were the ones that invited our family to church! They’re the reason we got out of our Mormon church and started to attend this Christian one (much happier here, I have- well had, friends)!

For a second I thought it was a joke.

It was so unbelievable. Er and Yam didn’t even explain why they were going to leave after so many years. They have the right to leave... but it was so sudden. It felt like betrayal I guess. It still feels that way. They said that they had been thinking of leaving, for months now. I don’t know what we did wrong. What if I did something wrong? What if I made Suki mad and that’s what caused them to finally make their decision? Was it all a lie? If they were thinking of leaving for months now, was everything they did and said a lie? Why?

I only ever see Melon and Suki when we go to church or have activities. We had a lot of plans for over the summer. We were even planning on saving up enough money so that the whole church could have a DisneyWorld activity. “But Cyan, can’t you just do it anyway, even if they don’t attend church anymore?” I mean we could, but it’ll feel different. Off. Even today, when we texted eachother, it seemed off. Fake I suppose. It didn’t feel the same. It’s hard to explain why.

Them leaving is like losing them forever. Sure, Suki and I might still see eachother, but it won’t be as often. And eventually we’ll drift away. I lost half of my friends. The church lost 60% of the boy population (we’re down to two oh noooo). And Melon lost her childhood best friend.

This has happened before. See, before my family joined, Ramen was preaching at a different church. Everyone got along until there was a stupid argument between Ramen and another pastor. The other Pastor was jealous of Ramen’s popularity and finally snapped when Ramen bought food for an old dude going to church there. Apparently Ramen isn’t supposed to feed hungry old men. They didn’t let Ramen preach there anymore, and basically kicked him out. Melon and Suki had a friend at that church, named Lime. And yeah, the three would occasionally meet up but eventually, they drifted apart because Suki and Melon weren’t going to Lime’s church anymore.

And I’m afraid the same thing is happening here with the Pine family.

Everything was going so smoothly. We were making summer plans. Zuko and I were getting along really well (Erm.. I sorta like him. A lot), and Safari and Beanstalk kept getting closer. Suki and Sokka FINALLY finished their teasing war. It was perfect. But I guess perfection can’t last forever. I had honestly thought that even though the world was ending, and we were all dying (persecution, I believe it will happen, if you don’t that’s fine but don’t argue with me about it, I gave you a warning up there) I thought we’d always be together. The Pine family, Ramen’s family, and my family. Even if the other member left or drifted away, I really thought we’d always stick together.

But I guess it didn’t work out that way.

And I still don’t know why it didn’t work out that way.

So not only is that happening, but tomorrow I’m taking a big AP test that I’m definitely not prepared for. I’m cramming but I, very scared and stressed and I just wanna skip over to Summertime.

But that’s not how things work so RIP me.

🪦 Cyan Sushi, 2??? - 2021

No I’m not actually dead. But I feel like I am and will be dead soon so yeah. Piano and birds are the only things keeping me sane.

#wow that was a lot of writing #I’m gonna go to bed and cry myself to sleep #yay friendship #I promise I’ll answer asks soon sorry to keep y’all waiting #I’m just ✨stressed #cyan writes #cyan vents #cyan is feeling sad

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miss-choco-chips · 4 years

Text

Soul Shards: what if...

...Tim gets a snarky sidekick who strong arms him into being a better person; it takes a little longer than if Damian did it, but Thea has her own way of doing things, and hers don’t involve trickery.

Or; The tale of soulless Tim and the little girl

(Alternative ending to the soul shards au, for those who don’t like the damitim... or the angst; that’s why Tim gets older here)

(Tim might be ooc, because he’s Soulless!Tim. Chaotic neutral at best. Be aware of that before reading)

Having no soul was great. Really, he should have gotten rid of that useless thing years ago. Why did it take him so long? The freedom, both to go wherever he wanted and to operate as he wished without those pesky morals weightening him down. It was like being a swimmer for years wearing a lead vest, and then getting rid of it. The speed? The newfound flexibility? The ability to swim just a little lower than he ever dared and explore new depths of himself, sure in the knowledge that nothing could drag him completely under water, even if the price was that he wouldn't be going back to shore ever again?

It was a cheap price, for such a wonderful treasure.

If only his body wasn’t so fucking annoying.

The little girl in front of him had been crying for like half an hour, no signs of stopping. And Fucking Batman had conditioned him to the point where he was physically unable to leave a distressed child behind.

-Please, sir, don’t leave me alone!

Fucking hell- The police will be here soon, they’ll take care of everything.

The crying intensified.

Damn.

-What if I walk you all the way to the station?

More crying.

-Your parents? You have those, right? I could take you home, just give me five minutes to figure out where do you live…

Shit, was that snot? His hand twitches and then thrusts forward, impulsively using the sleeve to clean her face. Disgusting.

-What do you want from me? -he ends up asking, close to feeling as distressed as she was out of sheer exasperation.

That seemed to put a halt to the water fest.

-I d-on’t have a family -her pouting mouth trembled, and instinct drove his arm around her shoulders, desperately trying to prevent her from crying again; he was aware his stupid, overly conditioned body wouldn't allow him to walk away from this child if she continued like this- Don’t want to go to orphanage or streets! -she wailed again at the end of the sentence, speech notably deteriorating in her anguish.

Was there a way to tell her ‘I don’t care’ without making her even sadder? Before someone came along and found him?

Tim could hear the police sirens coming closer, attracted to their location by the high wall of flames eating up at the warehouse. He had spent a good chunk of the night dismantling this human trafficking ring, deeply rooted in Greece but with smaller bases all over Europe, taking care to evac both the unconscious thugs and the victims before blowing it all to hell. It was hard as fuck, specially considering he couldn’t let anyone get a good look at his face, least they gave the authorities a good enough description of him to warrant the Bat’s attention.

This little girl was not only making him lose time, she was also threatening the secret of his existence both by keeping him on a spot where he could be easily seen, and by making him stay still long enough to see his face perfectly. Sure, such a small kid wouldn't be able to give a very good description, but any risk, small as it was, was more than he wanted to deal with.

Fuck it all to hell. He was tired. Figuring it all in the morning made perfect sense.

-If I take you with me, will you stop crying?

A hiccup and a nod was all he needed to take the girl in his arms and disappear into the night.

----.----

-What about a church? Children think churches are safe places, right? -he asks her over breakfast a few hours later. He was also sure there were thousands of those in Italy, which was his next destination, so he could very well drop her there.

The little girl looked up at him from under her lashes, light green eyes squinting in distaste and a little sadness she was forcing herself to hide- I don’t like churches. Mama… -she swallowed hard, which Tim feared would bring tears later on- mama used to say people trust churches too much, without… uhm, ‘reasons’, she said. And that I shouldn't trust anyone I haven’t met.

Grateful she was doing an effort not to cry, he didn’t push. The last thing he needed was the eight year old remembering her late mother and crying again.

Mathea, eight years old. Kidnapped from the city of Seres in Greece, where her mother had moved them both a month ago with hopes for a better life after leaving her abusive marriage behind. No other relatives, and he couldn't drop the child with a violent father. No doubt some internalized trauma after seeing her mother being murdered trying to keep her from being kidnapped, and the subsequently time in capture, waiting with other children at the warehouse for their fates to arrive. Except it had been derailed by Tim’s intervention.

He never regretted his body’s dependence on doing good like now. He couldn't leave the girl just anywhere unless she agreed, which didn’t seem to be an option right now.

-What I do is dangerous -he told her, one last attempt at scaring her- I hurt people that hurt others. I travel a lot. You’d be better off at an orphanage or something, living with other children and going to class.

She looked at him with far too intelligent eyes- You could teach me. ‘seem more smart than any teacher.

-Smarter -he corrected, hating that he was proving her point- I’m not a good teacher. I don’t have patience for it.

-I don’t think there’s a’ything you’re bad at. And we can learn together.

-I don’t have a soul -he finally threw, almost desperate to scare he away.

She just shrugged- The men who took me an’ hurt mama had one, and they were monsters. I don’t care bout it.

He sighs. His body isn’t rebelling at the idea, and she seems determined. Whatever. He doesn’t care enough to look for the best option for her. She wants to follow him, okay, let her. She’ll give up and ask to leave soon enough.

-.-.-.-.-.-.

-I want a computer -demands Mathea one morning, months into her forceful addition to Tim’s party of one. They are currently in Milan, where he’s taking care of a wayward assassin and she’s using the hotel’s amazing wifi to complete her online class- for my birthday. It’s next week, you know. I’m turning nine.

-I’ll make sure to send you a postal -he replies, hand thrown over his eyes in a futile attempt to sleep. Her nagging grows less adorable and more annoying the older she gets- I’m going to be in Moscu next week. Human experiments I need to stop.

Little less than a year ago, she would have gasped, maybe even cried at the idea. Nowadays, child trafficking seemed the only thing to faze her.

-I’m going to cry.

-It won’t be effective so far away.

She harrumphs. Like a mule, which is how stubborn she could be.

-Yeah, whatever. If you miss my birthday, I’ll be very sad, and make you feel guilty as hell.

-I don’t feel anything.

-Maybe you don’t, but your body will give you hell for me. How does an entire night holding my hand and spoiling me sounds, huh? Cause we both know that’s what is going to happen if you do it.

-Why didn’t I just leave you in the warehouse -he whines, tired. A few hours of sleep, that’s all he’s asking.

A few moments of silence follow his statement, which is suspicious enough for him to remove his arm and open his eyes. She’s never that quiet, unless she’s planning something or…

Yeah, those are tears in her eyes. Fuck.

-You… do you mean it?

A sigh.

-Come here, brat. Of course I didn’t. We both know I can’t do something like that.

She goes willingly, slipping into the mattress by his side and resting her head on his shoulder, cuddling closer like she does when nightmares hound her.

-It’s...it’s going to be my first birthday without mom. I just… don’t want to be alone.

He tries to keep his mouth closed, fighting against the impulse to soothe her. He loses miserably.

-You can come to Russia with me. We can go sightseeing after I’m done with my business and eat out somewhere, as a birthday treat.

Something lightens in her face.

-And my computer?

A sigh- I guess it’d be good to throw the one you have out. To avoid being tracked down, of course. Not because you’re a spoiled brat.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

When Thea arrived to the restaurant, her hair a golden mess and frazzled green eyes, Tim was instantly on high alert.

He had left her by the park with instructions on how to find him, as a lesson on both tracking and independence at navigating the streets. Now he wonders if leaving the ten year old alone in Buenos Aires had been a good idea.

-What happened?

She sat across from him, face instantly relaxing in the comfort and safety he always seemed to bring her.

-Nothing, just… a drunk idiot saying stuff. I lost him a couple streets ago, but…

His back tenses, and he has to consciously refrain from going out on a manhunt. Well, at least now he knows what is he gonna be doing that night when Thea sleeps.

-We are doubling your self defense lessons starting tomorrow.

He might not want her around most of the time, but she was, and that made her his responsibility.

She smiled, bright and relieved, and something twisted in his gut. He didn’t, couldn’t, love her. Not without a soul.

But if he did? Gods, it was already bad enough, how much he liked her, how desperate he was to keep her safe. If he added love to the equation, he would be a total mess.

Being soulless proved, once again, to be the best decision he ever made.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

-Tim. Tim. Tim. Tim. Tim.

-What. The fuck. Do you need. At three in the fucking morning?

-You have to go out and buy me something.

-What the… -a groan as the man sat on the bed, arms behind him holding his tired body- why is the bathroom light on?

Thea clutched the sheets of Tim’s bed tighter, the other hand still on his shoulder where she shook him into wakefulness, but didn’t sit by his side, which spoke for itself.

-Fuck. Don’t tell me…?

-Yeah. Apparently, my time has come. Can you…?

Another groan, this one whinier- I’m going, I’m going. Don’t sit anywhere, I do want my deposit back when we leave this hotel.

-Be fast, then.

Half an hour later, the un-masked vigilante returned, pharmacy bag in hand. Moodily throwing it in her general direction, he face planted his bed.

-There. Painkillers, pads, tampons and chocolate. I’m going back to sleep. And this time, don’t wake me up unless there’s a killer in the room.

-...you mean, besides Pru?

-Shh, you know you aren’t supposed to know about her shadowing us. It makes Ra’s ansty when he knows we know.

-...Aren’t you going to congratulate me or anything? I hear that’s what parents do to their twelve year olds when they go through this for the first time.

-First of all, I’m not your parent, and you are not my twelve year old. You are just a twelve year old that follows me around against my will. Second, I may be soulless, but not heartless enough to tell you to be happy about something that will bring you little else than pain every month for like fifty years. Periods sucks, and so do pregnancies. Why would I congratulate you? Put on a pad and go to bed now. We need to be out of town by eleven tomorrow.

-You are the human version of period cramps.

-Now you can knowledgeably use that phrase. Bet you’re delighted.

-Almost unbearably. Go back to sleep, idiot. I like you better when you’re unconscious.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

-Why can’t I go with you? -She asks, but it sounds more like a tantrum.

-Stop that, you are not nine anymore. And minors are not allowed in that bar.

-So I use my fake id, big deal.

-You are not going there. It’s illegal.

-Excuse me, is this coming from the man who I had to prevent from tattooing “fuck the law” on his right buttcheek that time he got wasted?

-You know damn well I might not follow certain laws, but others are fucking carved into me. Children drinking is one of those things my gut doesn’t want to take part on. You don’t like it, do as other teens and run away.

-Fuck you, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily.

-Then be a good little girl and wait for me at the hotel.

-I’m fifteen!

-You still get tired after two hours of training, and cry whenever you watch Lilo and Stitch.

-Because you are a slave driver! I’ve gotten less hurt in fights against people twice my size than training with you. And excuse me for having a soul, jackass.

-Apology accepted. Put on your pajamas again and go to bed. And by the time I’m back, I want that skirt reduced to ashes.

-What’s wrong with my skirt?

-When you learn how to fight in it without flashing everyone and their mother, or alternatively can fight with it without getting distracted by embarrassment, you can use whatever you want. Until then, there’s your onesie.

-It’s called a kigurumi.

-A grown up onesie, whatever.

-The jerk store called, they’re running out of you.

-I would love to insult you back, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t do as well as nature did.

-I hate you so much.

-Uh huh. Right back at you.

-Ugh. Bring me pizza when you’re done with that gang?

A small smile. A hand messing blond curls up.

-Only if you behave while I’m gone, brat.

-.-.-.-.-.-.

The base was big, and so luxurious. Everyone bowed to her or kept out of her way, which she liked even more. The food was amazing, the teachers provided to her the top of the top, and the library was to die for.

She wasn’t happy Tim was hurt again, but there was no denying the benefits it brought.

-Dude, you have the best sugar daddy ever.

Besides her, getting his own massage, he opened his eyes to glare.

-Ra’s is not my sugar anything. We are merely business partners; as in, I stay out of his business, he provides me with hearty income. You know this already.

Thea shook her head.

-Tim, there’s business deals, and there’s winning and dinning. This man wants a piece of you so badly it's not even funny. Sugar- Daddy.

-How do you even know that term, you’re like twelve.

-Excuse you, I’m fifteen.

-Maybe physically, but you aren’t ever going past the ‘damn brat’ stage until you can go back to sleep after a nightmare without sneaking into my bed.

-Shut up, no one asked. Hey, your sugar daddy offered me a class in stealing, can I take it? He says he has an expert around to give me lessons.

-Go for it, but if it ends up with you trying to touch my stuff, I’m leaving you here.

-.-.-.-.-.-

When Thea is sixteen, Tim turns twenty four, and she decides to give him the gift she has kept under lock and key ever since they met.

She knows about his past, because he never cared enough to hide it. She knows about his friends and family, because Conner keeps showing up, both to stalk Tim and to tell her the wildest stories of their youth. She knows about his soul, because that man, Damian, often takes it out when he visits them, face pained and desperate.

She feels guilty it took her this long. Because all this time, all this years, she had the key to bring their Tim back. She had the answers, the only one with a shot at it.

But she didn’t, because soulless Tim is the one she grew up with. The one who protected her, who carted to her needs and whims. The one who made her feel safe, even after all the cruelness she witnessed following him around.

She loves this Tim. Because this Tim, the one without a soul, loves her as well. It seems impossible, a paradox, but she knows it's true. Knows it with all her heart.

The love, the trust, the certainty of their bond, all are encompassed in the necklace she offers him on his twenty fourth birthday. The silver chain contrasting beautifully with the fluorite looking soul, shaped as a T. For Tim and Thea.

He looks at her, and there’s resignation in his eyes. Not the hate she was expecting.

-If I take this… I’ll feel. I’ll want my soul back. We’d need to go to Gotham for it; no more world trotting, no more ‘us against the world’. Are you sure this is what you want, Thea?

She swallows, hard. She doesn’t want it to end, but the idea of standing between him and his best self is unbearable.

-As long as you take me with you, I don’t care who you are or how do you act. But you can’t leave me behind. I won’t allow it.

He smiles, warm even without his soul, even without hers, and she fears she’s going to lose it the moment his fingers touch the necklace. But she has to do this. He has rescued her, time and time again, since they met so many years ago. He has helped her build herself from the ground, protecting and guiding, and the least she can do in return is help him get himself back.

Even saving him from a soulless existence doesn’t seem enough in comparison to all he’s done for her, reluctant or not, but that’s alright. She has the rest of her life to help her brother be happy.

But she needs to start now.

It must show in her eyes, because his smile becomes softer, an edge she hadn't noticed was there finally removed. The last line of defense gone down.

-You damn brat -he sighs, taking the necklace with shaking fingers, the emotions coursing through him instantly bringing tears to his eyes.

That’s alright too, she’s crying as well.

Because even before he touched the soul, even before he regained the ability to feel… the ‘Damn brat’ sounded heartbreakingly close to ‘I love you’.

There was an unbidden beauty, to being loved by someone without a soul.

-I love you, too. You jackass.

#Tim drake #Soul shards au #my writting #soul shards #red robin #Batfamily Fanfic #soulless tim #Thea Drake #Ra's Al Ghul is a sugar daddy #that's not a tag i ever expected to use #Ra's Al Ghul #putting broken pieces back togheter #Thea was a cute sweet little girl #then she grew up with the most bitter version of Tim #and look at her now #she's gonna kick ass in Gotham let me tell you

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bruhimaunicorn · 4 years

Text

The one with betrayal, back stabbing, and Daryl Dixon

Paring : DarylxReader

Summary : After getting hurt on a run, you come back to find your best friend with Daryl. But not all as it seems as your best friend might have been playing with the both of your heads...

Warnings : Betrayal, mind games, cursing, mentions of dead parents, fluff, angst, implied smut, wounds, blood, and walkers.

A/N : A little pyscho bestfriend one shot! Hope you guys like it and leave a request !

“You need to be more careful, Y/N “Hershel sighs at you, smoothing a bandage over your knee. You grin at the older man and hop off the make shift bench beneath you - which happens to be an old milk crate that you drag out at night to smoke- and kick it to the corner “ Blame your son in law, he’s the one who dared me “. Hershel rolls his eyes and turns his head in the direction, Glenn is currently at “Are you going to help me? “. Glenn is mid chew into a apple and goes wide eyed. He knows better than to pick a fight with you and encourage Hershel’s warnings. “You’re both hopeless “Hershel sighs, defeated, but smiles as you give him a small kiss to his cheek. “I’ll try ok? “. He just nods and you know it’s just out of his concern for you, so you leave him to his business and walk outside for the first time since you got hurt, to start work outside.

The sun is welcoming on your skin- hence the reason your wearing shorts and a tank top- and you smile as you can see Emma and Daryl patching up the fence East of you. It’s hard to imagine Emma actually working being that she’s the timid type, but she really did try and replace your needed hands while you were healing. Or at least that’s what she told you she was doing. “Dixon! I thought we were best friends! “ You yell, parting the two with your voice. Daryl’s lips perk up at the sight of you, not hiding the fact that you are his preferred company, and Emma jumps slightly since you aren’t supposed to be up until tomorrow. You limp slightly over to the two and he looks you up and down “ Yer’ not supposed to be walkin’ around ,girl”. You roll your eyes, but don’t miss the fact that he’s been checking in on you through Hershel. “ Couldn’t sit in that bed anymore. It drove me crazy “ You shiver thinking about it, but turn your attention to your friend. “ Thankfully too right? I know he’s probably drove you crazy” You joke and she smiles with a little shrug.

“ He wasn’t too bad “. She combs her stray blonde hair behind her ears , a clear red flag you should’ve recognized earlier, but you looked past your friends actions “ Well I guess this means your free! “. You confidently take your place back at Daryl’s side and inspect the piece of fence they’d been working on. “ Oh.. uh . Yeah I guess so “ she mumbles to herself, and returns to being Judith’s nanny. Daryl watches her leave, clearly about to say something private, and you turn to him “ What is it ? “. He has a tight expression, but spits it out “ She’s a lil’ strange “. This wasn’t news to you. Emma’s always been the quiet type, but in a different way from you. You’ve known her since high school and she’s never really been the most social person. Which worked perfectly for you both since you weren’t either. It stemmed from your dad passing away and she was the only one that truly understood that and didn’t push you to be the perfect all American girl.

She stayed with you in the quiet and didn’t push you, which in return you gave her the same respect. Which is probably why you two have been friends for so long. You wouldn’t be here without each other. “ She’s got good intentions “ You defend her, but don’t snap at him. Daryl holds back what he truly wants to say -- afraid that he would push you away -- and it wasn’t worth it. You two are closer than ever and he doesn’t want to ruin that by bashing your oldest friend. “We just need some chain to close this gap “ You examine, changing the subject. He nods in agreement. If you were smarter, you would’ve realized that the chains were internally cut. “ Guess we’ll need to go on a run “ You suggest, causing Daryl to scoff at you. “ Yeah right like ima’ let you go and get your knee fucked up even worse “. “ Didn’t know I needed your permission “ You tease, turning your attention back to the man next to you.

His blue eyes engulf yours and you take a moment to appreciate his features. Daryl had really surprised you. Never did you expect when you met this man, that he would become the one to make you catch your breath. Or the one to leave a flower in your room while you were healing. “ Thanks by the way “. He doesn’t play the game where he doesn’t know what you’re talking about. He just nods. That’s what draws you to him. That he doesn’t play games with you like other men have. Sure, he was older than you and isn’t too straight forward with what he wants, but he makes your feelings valid. Other men loved what they saw when they looked at you, but always sent you running into Emma’s arms each time it fell through. But not Daryl.

“ How’s it feelin’? “ he asks, his true concern coming through, “ Thought ya’ shattered it the way you fell “. You wiggle it in front of him “ It’s ok. My basketball career might be over though “. You can still picture the look on his face when you fell. Stupidly, you let Glenn egg you on about playing some make shift basketball and let’s just say you’re very competitive. That would be thanks to a very extensive life of soft ball. And it did not end well. All in all, you did it just to get people to smile. The governor loomed over you all and tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed. And as soon as you broke free of Glenn’s blocking, you slipped. Hard. And Daryl was the first one to reach you. His blue eyes were wider than ever, but it truly showed you his feelings.

He just smirks as he knows you had the best of intentions. Sure, you could kill anyone within your path without flinching, but you were a big softie for those you love. Hence, the night he found you dancing with Judy just to keep her from crying all night long. Really he spied on you, but you looked so happy spinning around the baby that it didn’t matter. You would’ve made a great mom if you had the chance. “ I need to get out of this place , Daryl. I’m crawling out of my own skin “. He looks around before deciding to grab your wrist “ If they send you out on a run, they’re not going to let me go too. I won’t be there to protect you “. You love his touch in any way you can get it, but you know you don’t need him to watch over you. “ I’ll be fine. You know I can take care of myself “. He breathes deeply through his nose, but nods. He trusts your confidence.

If you weren’t so distracted, you’d see Emma watching you from a far. And it would’ve saved you so much time...

———

After much convincing, Rick decided it would be ok to send you on a run. After all, it wasn’t a secret that the prison was struggling and baby Judith was gobbling formula by the day. So, you mapped out a church that wasn’t too far that had a surrounding neighborhood of newly constructed houses. It would hopefully store everything you need. Sighing, you climb in the truck they deemed ok to leave and toss your bag in the passenger side. You turn the key and bring the old truck to life, just in time for Daryl to slap the side of the door “ You got your list right ? “. You nod at him and point to the dirty paper in the seat next to you. “ Got your gun? “ He asks as this is part of you twos checklist. If you could’ve predicted this would be your going out check list two years ago you’d laugh. “ Yup “ You pop the p. It’s clear he’s not excited about this, but he doesn’t get a say.

Not yet at least.

“ Don’t worry ok? I’ll be back tonight “ You try to ease him. He doesn’t seem to take much comfort, which you understand. You’d be in the same position roles reversed. “ And maybe I’ll find you some smokes huh? “. This finally breaks his fine line of grimace “ I’m going to hold you to that “. You smirk back at him “ Goodbye, Dixon “. He parts his lips to speak, but decides not to. Instead, he backs up and let’s you drive away. He watches you speed through the gates with no hesitation and feels his stomach drop. This didn’t sit right with him, but he doesn’t have a right to speak for you. The thought causes him to grimace again. How do you open up to someone like you? How do you cross that line? “ She’s going to be ok you know? “ Emma squeaks, causing him to jump slightly.

Where did she come from?

Daryl just clears his throat and tries to leave this conversation Emma was trying to initiate. It’s none of her business to address his concern for you. Best friend or not. She just rubs him the wrong way lately. “ Wait I didn’t - “ She tries to stop him, but he turns around unexpectedly and glares down at her. “ I’m going to make this clear. I’m not stupid. I can see yer’ up to sum’ stupid shit I want ‘nothing apart of “. She’s caught off guard with wide eyes “ What are- “. He cuts her off immediately “ I might look stupid to you, but I’m not. You claim to be Y/Ns good friend, but the other day you proved that wasn’t true “. She looks like a deer caught in head lights, but Daryl isn’t having any of it. “ Look I know you and y/n are.. talking, but you’ve been ‘ talking ’ for months “ She suddenly gains confidence. The statement, while true, is like a blow to Daryl. First off, she’s betraying her friend, but secondly is assuming that means that he’s free to be with anyone. And that’s just not true. While neither of you had said it, he was yours.

“ And I know her better than anyone. She goes through men like she goes through walkers. You might be the apple of her eye now, but just wait.. she’ll pull away and leave you in the dirt. Just like she did my brother “. Daryl is still recovering from her words and she takes the opportunity to strike. She gets closer to him “ I bet she used this run as a opportunity to get away from you. Sure, she said she’ll be back by tonight, but she’ll take her time. She’ll figure out a plan to let you down easy.. “. Emma knows exactly what she’s doing as she tugs at his insecurities. “ It’s ok that you’re not ready to kiss me back.. I’ll wait “.

And with that she continues the games she’s playing and leaves him to his doubts.

——

It’s nearly midnight, as you are crammed in a tight space praying that the monsters just five feet from you can’t smell you. This whole run had taken a dark turn. It all started with the truck breaking down miles from the church. You found it was leaking oil after a quick inspection causing you to curse your luck. Of course after you gave Daryl a promise that you’d be back tonight, God had other plans. Sighing, you decide to finish the task by walking there. Everything seemed fine at first, but the walk was putting your pressure on your knee and it began to swell. But you made it to the town anyways. And as soon as you found the church, it was like you rang the dinner bell. Turns out that the church had an old security system that had a hell of a battery back up and as soon as you opened the door, it blared for the whole world to hear.

You cursed for the hundredth time and fled to the closest house, walkers already flooding to the noise. You barricade the back door to the house and quickly observe your surroundings to find the front door wide open , but it’s too late for you to shut it. Your eyes go wide as you can hear the groans and as you try to run in the other direction, you cut your arm deeply on a broken picture frame. You don’t have time to even wince as two walkers bustle inside and you dart for the stairs as it wouldn’t be smart to try and take them on with your injuries. You rush up them, blood dripping on the stairs and you pray there’s somewhere to hide. You find the unfinished upstairs to be baron besides a closet and without hesitation you dive into it . You’re hoping they won’t notice. You hold your breath as you can feel nervous sweat drip down your neck. You’re screwed. Hours go by of them shuffling through the hallway and it’s clear they haven’t lost interest in you. It’s like they could smell wounded. And right now you reeked of it. Fortunately, there was duct tape left in this closet and you taped it over your deep cut. Daryl was right. Why did he have to be right all the time?

If you could, you’d scream at the irony, but now wasn’t the time. Now was the time to wait the storm out. And grip your knife to your chest like a security blanket.

——

It’s two days later now and everyone at the prison was growing worried. It wasn’t like you to be gone this long. Had the governor grabbed you? Had the walkers eaten you? Are you stranded somewhere ? Everyone’s nerves are showing, but Daryl’s is the worse. He’s pacing constantly, snapping at everyone when they approach him, but it’s even worse when he’s alone. Was Emma right? Was this your excuse to get away from him? Did he wait too long? And what did she mean about her brother? Daryl knew James. At the beginning of all this it was the three of you. And he saw the way James looked at you, but you never reciprocated it. Did you lead him on? Little did he know this is what Emma wanted. The psych major was twisting the two of you and neither of you realized it.

Daryl reaches into his pocket to find his cigarettes and sighs when he finds your little note inside the flap.

‘ You owe me Dixon ‘

There’s a smudge of your fingerprint there beside it , reminding him of how you aren’t scared to get dirty. All the other girls here hated it, but you didn’t care at all. He can see you now with a dirty grin and big eyes. It makes his heart skip a beat. But where were you? And is Emma’s story about you true?

- Another two days later -

Everyone is now beyond concerned. It’s code red and time to act. “ Someone has to go get her! For fuck sakes she’d come after us! “ Glenn yells, Rick being the blunt end of his rage. Maggie is behind him, the same expression on her face, but she holds his arm back. “ You don’t think I want to go after her?! But we can’t! You know what’s outside these walls! “ Rick yells back, just in time for Daryl to enter the cell block. Glenn sighs in relief “ Daryl! Explain to him that we’re going after, Y/N!”. Daryl looks between the couple and Rick, reading the situation for what it is. You were gone and they love you, but why were you gone? Why were you putting them through this? Daryl notices out of the corner of his eye that Emma is standing in the corner with her arms crossed over her chest as if to say I told you so. “ This isn’t like her, Daryl. You know her .. she wouldn’t just disappear “ Maggie speaks to end the silence.

But how well does he know you? We’re you the woman who smiles so big at him and makes him feel wanted for the first time in his life? Or are you the impatient girl Emma seems to believe you are. Everyone can hear Emma scoff in the corner and this causes Maggie to turn on the small girl “ What’s your problem, Emma? This is your best friend we’re talking about”. Maggie is ready to defend you as the girl parts her lips “ This is what she does. She runs”. Now Glenn has to grab Maggie’s arm “ You need to watch your mouth! Y/N has always been here for us! She saved Glenn from that horde just a week ago! “. Maggie’s loyalty is clear. “ But where is she now huh? When the governor is breathing down our necks and we’re running out of food? Sounds like the perfect time to cut her losses “ She purposely makes eye contact with Daryl now.

Maggie is the one to scoff now and she looks to Daryl for back up. She expects him to defend you like he always has, but her stomach falls when he just looks away. “ What the hell, Daryl? “ Maggie swears at the man she thought loved you. “ What’s wrong with you? “ Maggie spits. Daryl snaps his eyes at your true friend “ She’s perfectly fucking capable with taking care of herself! Stop lookin’ to me to take care of her ass! Maybe she cut and run huh? She’s always acting like she’s better than this! “. He throws his arms around him to point out the prison. Glenn now glares at Daryl “ That’s fucked up to say, man”. “ It’s the truth “ Emma brings attention back to herself, eyes locking back onto Daryl’s.

And in that moment, Daryl’s mind snapped.

——-

Your loud scream is muffled as you bite down on your worn out belt and a metal scrap is shoved down on your wound. Tears stream down your face as you force yourself through the pain and you try to think of better thoughts. Your mind frantically searches for happiness and it lands on an old memory of Daryl that does the trick. It’s a little fuzzy, but you can still picture the moment.

There’s a fire burning out near his tent , signaling to you that he’s the last one up and you take the opportunity to be near him. You creep up towards his little place to call home and offer a small smile when you find his face “ Hey “. He’s currently fiddling with the whole in his jeans, but looks up to find your grateful face. “ What ya’ doin’ up so late ? “ He asks, trying not to accept the fact that you stayed up just to spend time with him. “ Couldn’t sleep “ You shrug your tank top clad shoulders, hoping he buys it. His blue eyes graze your face, stopping only for a moment on the bruise on your upper lip, and then points to the spot across from him “ You can sit “.

You take his offer and sit Indian style across from him. He glances from his hole to your lip and you touch it subconsciously “ I’m fine “. Daryl rolls his eyes, a man twice your size punched you dead in your face in the bar fight with Randal. He’s seen men go down for less. “ Yer’ not” he declares. You just roll your eyes back “ Well I’m here and he’s not so “. Daryl gives you that. Right after he punched you, you took a vodka bottle and shoved it straight into his neck. Which is why you have blood stains on your arms. “ Ya’ look a mess “ He tells you instead of agreeing. You just laugh in response “ Oh and you look any better? “. His smirk slowly grows. He loves to push your buttons.

“ Besides, we both know I’m still a ten even covered in shit “ You wink at him, grabbing a laugh from his chest. You’re the only one he can do this with and you know that for sure now. “ C’mere “ he now waves you over, pulling out a rag from his pocket. He wets it with water and grabs your arm as soon as your in reach. He runs the rag over your smooth skin and you awe at how he treats you. No way would he ever clean the blood off anyone else. He’s quiet as he works his way up and down your arms, but you can tell he’s taking his time for a reason.

He likes this just as much as you

This memory would’ve made you smile in any other situation, but all you can do now is suffer through. You finally remove the metal from your skin where he once touched you and you quickly wrap the forming scar in a piece of your shirt you cut. Tying it with your teeth, you wonder how long you’ve been gone. They were all probably freaking out and you hate the thought of what they’re going through, but you’d make it back to them soon and that’s what counts. And not empty handed either. Even after escaping the herd and slaying through walkers with one good arm, you made it to an old Piggly wiggly five miles from where you started. There you found formula, cans of green beans and sweet carrots, and even a half pack of cigarettes you found on a walker. This is just who you are.

Maybe a week? It seemed accurate, but after all the blood loss it could’ve played with your memory so you just put the thought away. Now you just need to find a way home. You debate walking, but it didn’t turn out good the first time... So hot wiring a vehicle was your only true option. The piggly wiggly is scarce of cars so you would at least have to walk half a mile to the next available store to find a car. You began your walk,but stop as you see in the corner of your eye a bike. It’s pink and has a stupid little basket on the front, but this would do. You jog over to it with obvious objections from your knee, but grin at the first sign of hope. You can already hear Daryl’s jokes about this bike, but it would do.

You swing your leg over it and let a happy laugh escape, before heading back.

Only if you knew what was waiting for you when you got there....

——

Arriving at the gate, you let the bike drop and run to it “ It’s me! Let me in! “. There’s no one around to hear you causing you to groan. Of course when you get back it wouldn’t be this easy to come home. You now look to each guard tower and when you find a warm body you wave your hands in its direction “ Hey! Let me in! “. The body raises a rifle and once they realize it’s you, they drop it quickly and rush down the tower. It takes five minutes for them to reach you and you realize it’s Glenn and Maggie. “ Y/N! “ Maggie yells happily, ripping the gate open before throwing herself in your arms. You gladly hug her back with your good arm. “ I’ll go get the others! “ Glenn yells excitedly and darts for the prison. Maggie’s scent reaches your nose and you finally let a relaxing breath out. You were home.

But all of the sudden she pulls back as she remembers she needs to warn you. You can see the stress now on her face , a complete 180 from before “ What’s wrong? “. She grabs your arms, now noticing your burn, and goes wide eyed at it “ What happened?!”. She begins to pick at your makeshift bandage, but you grab her hand “ It’s fine! What’s wrong?”. She drops eye contact for a moment as if she’s ashamed to tell you this, but it’s too late as you hear everyone running out to greet you. First, you see Rick and Glenn again, then Carol and baby Judith, and then it hits you. And it hits you hard. There in broad daylight is your ‘ best friend’ with her arm hanging around Daryl’s waist. Maggie’s grip tightens on you now and it reminds you that this is all real. That your best friend since high school, the same person who you confided in about Daryl, is now holding him like you should be.

And you can see everyone looking at you like this is high school. Like it was your dad’s funeral again. “ Y/N “ Maggie whispers as if it’s in condolences. You just lock eyes with Daryl with betrayal in your chest, but he says nothing. He just stands there. Allowing her to hold him proudly. “ How long? “ You whisper, your teeth grinding. Maggie’s eyebrow arches “ Wha- “. “ How long have I been gone! “ You interrupt, patience long gone. “ A week- almost two .. we were so - “ She begins, but’s all you needed to hear. “ TWO FUCKING WEEKS?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME ?! “ You scream, charging out of Maggie’s grip. Emma’s eyes go wide, never expecting you to come for her this way since you’ve never been the person to handle your issues so publicly, and Glenn tries to stop you “ They’re not worth it “. He’s standing in front of you with his hands up, but you just look past him “ Glenn I don’t want to hurt you”. Glenn looks to Rick for an answer and you take the opportunity to move past him, and in a swift movement your right in front of the pair.

She’s now behind Daryl, holding onto his shoulder as if he can save her. No one can save her now. It’s beyond wrong what’s going on here and it’s obvious where the groups loyalty is considering they’re not in any hurry to stop you now. “ Who the fuck do you think you are ?! “ You yell at the girl who you once considered family. She doesn’t say a word, obviously this wasn’t part of her plan. “ Some friend you are huh?! How many nights did I come to you about him?! How many nights did you listen to me and wait for your time to strike ?! “. She’s still silent as your anger boils over “ Real quiet now for a fucking back stabber! I’m sure you weren’t quite when you fucked him huh?! “. Daryl now steps in as you look ready to kill her “ Back up “. And that’s what kills you out of all of this. You take a step back in denial. You thought he was the one man who actually loved you. But it was all a lie . All of it.

“ Some big man you are , Dixon. Did it feel good huh? Hurting me like this? Make you feel like a man ? Well I’ll tell you what .. fuck you! Fuck you both! Your dead to me! “ You now dig in your pack and throw the cigarettes at him” You’re going to fucking need this ! “. With that you walk away, and begin to throw Emma’s stuff out of your cell. You make sure to break most of it on its way out and once done, you slams the door shut and pull the curtain. You were done. “ Fuck them both! “ You growl, tears pouring down your face.

Everyone around the new ‘ couple ‘ just stared at them. You deserved loyalty. Glenn and Maggie are the first to go in after you, but Maggie makes sure to glare at Daryl “ You know every day I saw you with her. I saw you care for her and watch after her. And I saw you love her. It’s sick that you threw that away on someone so disloyal “. Emma tries to defend herself, but Maggie looked just as ready to punch her for you. And with that, they all went inside.

Once it was just Daryl and Emma, she tried to speak “ I knew she wasn’t going to take it well but- “. It’s obvious he’s not listening to her as he opens up the cigarettes and finds another note .

‘ Kinda risked my life for this, but you’re worth it ‘ - Y/N ‘

And it finally makes since to him.

——

That night, you didn’t speak to anyone. Not even when Hershel forced his way in to inspect your burn. You let him do what he needed to feel better, but after that you sent him away and spent half of the night staring at the picture of you and Emma at graduation. When exactly did she decide to fuck you over? It only pissed you off more and eventually you left your cell to burn the picture. You want all evidence of the so called relationship gone. And you plan to do so as you exit the prison with a lighter. “ Fuck you! “ You grumble at the picture, setting it ablaze in front of your eyes. Now you aren’t the woman to let a guy get in the way of a friendship, but this was not that. This was a betrayal. This was to hurt you. You can still see her arms wrapped around him. You can see her doe eyes sparkle at him when she expected him to defend her.

In this moment, you wish your dad was here. He was always there to help you. To be the wise in your crazy. What would he tell you now? To leave? To forgive--well that wasn’t happening. You shove your lighter back in your pocket and grasp the necklace on your chest. His wedding band dangles from it and you close your eyes as it’s the closest you can get to his touch. “ Tell me it’s all going to be ok, Dad. Cause I don’t know that it is “ You whisper, tears slipping again. Never had you been through this. You wonder if he had. If when he was dating your mom that someone had tried to steal her away and succeeded for a brief moment in time. You bet he would’ve fought for her and the thought makes you smile.

You’ve only seen pictures of your mom, but she seemed to truly love you and your dad. You wish you could’ve truly met her. That your parents could be here to hold you, but instead you were truly alone. Emma was your rock and she .. she’s just gone to you now. And sure you have Maggie, Rick , and the others .. but it’s not the same. A sob racks your chest as you realize it’s true. Your alone again. Just like you were at sixteen. You let your body fall to your knees and you don’t even feel your knee whine , only your heart beating. Why did you make it through this last week for this? “ Tell me what I’m supposed to do now! “ You yell, not caring who hears. You sob so heavily that your throat hurts from the lack of air, but you don’t care.

In a guard tower not to far from you, Maggie and Beth watch your break down with frowns. “ Why did they do this to her? “ Beth asks, her heart yearning to help you. Maggie just shrugs half heartedly “ I don’t know, Beth.. I don’t understand why Emma would betray her like this or why Daryl would fall for her “. Beth agrees “ She doesn’t even help “ . Maggie’s attention darts to her sister as if she shouldn’t have said that. “ What? This last month she hasn’t helped me with Judith at all. She’s always sneaking off somewhere “. Maggie begins to question Emma’s where abouts and motives. “ Something’s not right here “ Maggie looks to you again as you’ve finally grown silent. She watches you just now blankly stare out into the darkness and notices the void you’re feeling.

“ I’m going to figure it out “ Maggie vows, with no objections from Beth.

——

The next week, Maggie begins to follow Emma’s trail. Whilst you just keep to the following schedule: ting up after two hours of sleep, eat half an apple and save the rest of it for later, ignore everyone’s concerned stares, leave the room as soon as Daryl enters, and make sure to take as much guard duty that you can. It wasn’t much, but it was the best you can do right now. And Maggie didn’t like that, which fueled her to truly find out Emma’s motives. She follows the girl for three days. What she’s noticed so far is that one Daryl is ignoring her, two she journals after every day, and three she weirdly stares at you when you’re not paying attention. Like she’s waiting for you to figure something out.

Emma’s also anxious lately. Maggie decides she’s going to get that journal from Emma at dinner tonight while she’s distracted and get to the bottom of this. Carol is currently cooking a couple of rabbits Daryl caught so she knows it’s coming close to time. Glenn already has a prepared alibi for his wife and everything is set in place. You, having no knowledge of this, approach Carol to see if she needs any help since Daryl is now decided to take tower duty. You force a smile for the woman “ They’re not the best to skin , I know “. You stretch out your hand for her to pass one of the dead animals and she gratefully does. “ That’s an understatement”. The two of you laugh quietly at the fact. You can feel eyes on you right now, but this time it feels different. You look in its direction to find Daryl staring from his position and you’re surprised when he doesn’t look away once you’ve caught him. It’s the same signal he use to give you when it was clear to come be around him, but you just ignore it.

He was with Emma now and he could go fuck himself. You look back to your task and begin to skin the animal again, this time with more force. You don’t even notice Maggie leaving the surrounding group of people, her plan going perfectly so far. She creeps back into the cell block where Beth is waiting for her “ Go stand by the door and whistle if someone’s coming “. Beth nods and goes to position as Maggie rushes to Emma’s new cell. It takes a moment to find the journal, but she does and takes the moment to open it. As soon as she opens it, there’s a picture of you with her taped inside.

‘ Prom 2000 ‘

Maggie smiles at the goofy you in the picture with a flask raised to the picture taker. It truly sums you up in one flash. But why does Emma still have this? Obviously, your friendship is over. Maggie begins to flip through the pages until she gets close to recent entry.

‘ Y/N told me last night about , Daryl again. Honestly thought this was a passing phase just like the others were. At this point shouldn’t he have broken her heart like the rest? I mean he hasn’t even kissed her I don’t understand the pull towards him... But they seem to be getting closer. I saw them a couple of days ago by his bike and she was grinning up at him like he held the stars in the sky himself. She also had her hand in his jacket pocket like she was in high school again..

Maggie immediately flips the page for more proof and once she finds it, she’s running out the door and right to Daryl. This was all so screwed up. Daryl was just part of this controlling girls mind games and he deserves to see this. Maybe it can even salvage what he and you have. She’s running up the stairs before she knows it and once she’s in front of the hunter, she shoves the journal in his hands “ She fucking used you”. Daryl’s eyes narrow at your friend and he takes it to see what she’s talking about.

And once she sees the anger reach his face, Maggie knows she’s got her.

——

You’re actually enjoying being around Rick and Glenn at dinner again, even if Glenn is telling you some dumb knock knock joke he’s told you a million times. It feels good to just laugh again. “ It should be illegal to tell that joke so many times “ Rick nudges your ankle to join in. Glenn rolls his eyes at the former cop “ Oh ha-ha “. You’re just about to join in, but everyone stops what they’re doing as Daryl throws some kind of book at Emma. It’s clear some type of couples drama is about to erupt so you’re just going to make your quick exit. “ Well this was nice, but I am not ready for whatever that’s about. See y’all in the morning “ You calmly tell the two, and get up from your spot to do so. “ Uh-uh you don’t fucking move “ Daryl now points at you, causing you to groan out loud now.

Who is he to tell you to do anything? “ I’m actually good -- I don’t need to be part of this bull shit again so do me a favor and fuck off “ You stand your ground, crossing your arms over your chest. His eyes soften as he sees the pain in your eyes. You’ve been through hell and he has a part in that. “ Stay “ He demands, his voice dropping slightly. Maggie now joins your side to help him keep you there. You roll your eyes and let the show begin. “ What is this huh? “ Daryl now looks to Emma. She grabs it from the ground and holds it to her person like that’s going to stop this from all happening. “ Daryl- it’s - it’s not what you think “ She takes a step towards him, but he’s quick to back off from her like she’s a mental patient.

You’re very confused at this point. Why are you being made to watch this? Is this just to twist the knife left in your back? “ Shut the fuck up! Read it! “. She’s shaking as he yells at her and for a moment you feel for her. She’s never done well with yelling. “ I-I “ She’s scared now, her true colors now on display. “ What is this about? “ Rick now stands to end this all for good. Daryl just holds his hand out to his friend “ You’ll see. Trust me “. Rick now turns to Emma “ Read it”. The girl now has no choice.

“ Ok.. ok “ She squeaks, opening the book. There’s a pause as she’s trying to buy herself enough time, but Daryl takes a step forward and she jumps into it.

“ Y/N told me last night about , Daryl again. Honestly though this was a passing phase just like the others were. At this point shouldn’t he have broken her heart like the rest? I mean he hasn’t even kissed her I don’t understand the pull towards him... But they seem to be getting closer. I saw them a couple of days ago by his bike and she was grinning up at him like he held the stars in the sky himself. She also had her hand in his jacket pocket like she was in high school again..

It’s honestly just time for him to screw up. He’s awkward when it comes to all this and I’m sure I won’t have to step in like all the other times . But I’ve got a plan just in case he doesn’t ... she’ll forgive me too. I’m all she’s got ‘ “ She quoted herself, causing shock to spread through the group. “ Y/N I’m so - “ She begins to plead, but you can’t believe your ears. She did this to keep you close to her? Every guy you’ve been with... she’s sabotaged. You feel like you’re on some episode of the twilight zone. And then it also occurs to you, she used Daryl. She twisted his head with the information you confided in her with. She was watching and waiting to strike. “ You cut the fence didn’t you? “ you ask, pitting the pieces of her plan together. Maggie already read this, so she confirms this for you “ And she tampered the truck you drove. She’s the reason you were stranded”. She put your life in danger...

“ You tried to kill her! “ Rick yelled, now having all the evidence he needs to kick her out. She’s frantically looking around for help “ No! I knew she’d be fine!! I just.. I just “. “ You just thought it was a window of opportunity right? That walkers won’t take a chunk out of her ? That the governor wouldn’t find her ? “ Rick is now furious, already walking towards her with his pistol drawn. “ Wait! “ She’s begging, but Rick grabs by her arm and yanks her towards the prison. Her screams are cut off by the slam of the prison door and your now left to silence. You now take the moment to rub your face in frustration “ What.. Just “ . It would be so great right now if some camera crew came out and said this was all some big joke. You’re honestly waiting for that to happen. That there’s no crazy best friend, that Daryl was never brought into her crazy, that there’s actually no governor and no walkers. “ Y/N ? “ Maggie asks, as your hiding in your hands. You peak through the cracks “ This is a joke right ? “.

Her tired eyes tell you no and you mentally scream. How could you be so stupid? How could you let her do this to Daryl? Why did you let yourself need someone so bad that she felt she could do this? You look around to see if someone could answer your mental questions and find that you’re the only three outside still. They must’ve all went in to help with Emma. She’s obviously getting removed from the prison tonight. Maggie now squeezes your shoulder “ I’m going to give you two a minute “. You’re still trying to wrap your mind around what just happened, but you let her walk away. Once she’s inside, you peak over at Daryl “ I don’t know what to say “. He just shrugs “ Ya’ seem to like fuck you lately “. You roll your eyes at him “ You deserved that. I won’t take that back”. He smirks slightly “ Seems fair “. You feel like a child about all of this. He’s still the same person to you that he was before. “ Honestly, I have wanted to punch you so hard this whole week and now .. I don’t know what to do “ You dig your hands into your hair instinctively.

Daryl knows you only do that when you’re nervous , so he offers you a cigarette. You walk over and accept his offer “ Thanks “. You let him light it for you since your lighter is in your other jeans. He watches you inhale for a long moment before letting it go. “ You can do it Ya’ know “. You raise your eyebrow and take another drag “ What? Punch you?”. He nods, now taking a drag from his own cigarette. Now you’re rolling your eyes again “ I’m not going to hit you, Daryl”. “ I deserve it “ He admits, but you don’t believe that. “ No. you deserve a girlfriend who doesn’t have a psychotic best friend who tries to mess with your head “. You inhale the sweet poison again, this time hoping it’ll help the pain in your knee. “ Are we that now? “ He asks, causing you to realize your words.

Your eyes grow huge and you look at him as if you can now take it back “ I didn’t - I’m not - “. Daryl can count on one hand how many times he’s actually seen you so nervous and the only other time was when you two were stuck hiding in mud from a herd. Your whole face was covered in awful smelling fresh mud, but you never took your eyes off of his. He throws his cigarette to the side, followed by tossing yours as well , and he grabs the side of your neck gently. You allow him to rest his forehead on yours and having him this close was all you needed to calm down. This meant you two are fine. That nothing has to change. He smells of smoke and some type of wood that you can’t make out, but you love it. His callous thumb rubs your neck lovingly and he whispers “ Yer’ mine “. You smile to to yourself. That’s all you’ve wanted for the past year. When you were stuck in the mud with him all you wanted was for him to say that, when the farm fell and you didn’t know where to go next that’s what you wanted, and when you got drunk that night in the barn and threw yourself at him all you wanted was him to give in.

You run your hand over his that’s on your neck and he opens his eyes to find yours already look up at his “ You’ve made me wait a long time for that “. You watch a embarrassed blush appear, but you just remove his hand from your neck and run your own into his hair “ You’re worth waiting for, but I can’t wait anymore ok? “. He’s expression changes quickly to confused, but instead of using words you just bite your lip and kiss him. You don’t know how he’s going to take this, but you were going to take the chance. He’s frozen at first, not moving at all,but after a moment his lips move in harmony with yours. He gives you a happy grunt in return before he balls the back of your shirt in a fist.

You part for just a moment to catch your breaths, but he’s quick to reconnect. You welcome the embrace. He doesn’t waste time to pick you up and your arms wrap around his neck without hesitation “ Where are you taking me, Dixon ? “. Your smiling at him and he gives you a slight shrug “ Guard duty”. You raise your eyebrow “ Why? “. He just rolls his eyes as he throws the tower door open “ You’re always askin’ too many questions“. Smirking , you let him set you down so he doesn’t have to carry you up the stairs “ I just like to bust your balls. I’m great with ‘ guard duty ‘ “. You show him your air quotes and throw him a wink before leading the way up the stairs. You open the next door and he’s quick to shut it behind you both.

“ Yer’ a pain in my ass “ He tells you, before grabbing you again.

——-

The next morning, you wake up on the hard guard tower floor. Your knee is already thanking you for that smart decision, but you’d take the pain. Because you were waking up in Daryl’s shirt. You grin at the fact, but turn over to find he’s not there. Your eyebrows furrow when you find a note in his place.

‘ Went to help Rick fix a walker problem. Be back soon.... Didn’t know you snored ‘

“ Dick “ You smirk at his note, but sit it to the side so you can get dressed. Last thing you needed right now is for Glenn and Maggie come up here and find you in just a shirt. Not that you haven’t found them in the exact same situation, but you’d like to keep that whole score 0-1 . You shove on your jeans and your shirt from last night before heading out of the tower , Daryl’s shirt in hand. It’s early enough that no one should be up anyways so you shouldn’t have to hear anyone ask where you were last night. When the dead started to walk, people lost their reality tv shows so you just know how it would be if you don’t go and ‘ wake up’ in your cell. Your about to do so, when out of the corner of your eyes you see Rick and Daryl out by the entrance.

You try and find any walkers around them, but you only see one other body and that’s Emma. It occurs to you that they were getting rid of her now instead of it being a big show. Daryl was just nice enough to call it ‘ Walker problems’. You sigh at the site, but don’t give it anymore thought and step inside where your actual family is sleeping. It’s quiet inside, but you can hear Judith beginning to stir and to save Carl some sleep, you quietly grab her from her crib and sway her around.

“ I know you’re ready to play “ You coo at her as you walk her around to keep her content. You make funny faces for awhile until her dad returns to the cell block to retrieve her . Daryl is right behind him and you smile at the sight “ Your daddy’s here to steal you from me, Judith! Tell him you want to stay with your aunt! “. She smiles at you even though she can’t understand and Rick laughs while taking her from your arms “ You like daddy better “. You just scoff as he walks off to feed her and Daryl smirks at you “ Are you training her to like you better ?”. “ It won’t take much persuasion. Her and I have a great time together as you can see “ You joke, but you can see he’s ready to tell you about Emma. “ I saw you take care of - that - I’m good not talking about it if you are “. He just nods.

“ Oh and you think I snore? Try sleeping next to someone who steals the pillow! Much worse! “ You accuse, causing him to roll his eyes and place a kiss on your lips. “ Should’ve been prepared “ He accuses you, just to annoy you. “ I see how you are, Dixon. Sleep with a girl and then blame her for the lack of preparation. Next time I’ll just kick you out of bed ! “.

“ Mhmm so all I heard was next time “ And that’s when you realize you’ve truly ended up with your best friend.

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