#shoo - go drink some water and give yourself a nice pat on the shoulder for making it this far

[vesuvian-american-fics]

better with time. Ch 5

everything stays.

Everything stays, even the trauma you experienced 107 years ago. Battling pneumonia brought those memories back. The very beginning of the story. (AO3)

(PTSD[?] and needle/syringe mention)

Words: 1,577

You were jolted back to wakefulness as your head dropped onto the plush pillow of the infirmary bed rougher than Erwin had intended. You could tell not much time had passed since Hange was rushing frantically around the room in search of supplies and medicine.  

Your breathing was shallow, hot panting breathes wheezed out of your throat painfully. The taste of iron fresh on your tongue. A sickening flavor you had hoped to never taste again after becoming human. You were afraid, after everything, were you really about to die over fever? Is it really just a fever, what is going on?!  

Levi stood at the foot of the bed ordering Hange to calm down. Erwin checked your pulse; it was beating a mile a minute. You strained to slow your breathing and calm yourself, afraid of fainting again and not knowing what was going to happen next. Hange crouched beside you, petting your hair and comforting you. They were guiding your breathing to slow your pulse as Levi tied a string tightly around your arm, your veins appearing ready to be pricked underneath the skin.  

That’s when you saw it. Hange raised a large needle into your field of vision. Your eyes bulged and you gasped loudly, shaking your head in protest so hard Levi worried you’d break your neck in the process.  

“Relax,” Hange cooed, they explained it was just penicillin to help you get better. For whatever reason you had a deep, primal fear of needles. Flashes of your deepest darkest memories flashed. The very last memories you had as a human.  

<3

Your wrists were tied tightly behind your back but you fought against them relentlessly tearing your skin raw. You screamed and cried as a man walked behind you with a criminally large syringe filled with a cloudy liquid. You’d seen what it did. It was turning people into titans. You fought the best you could given your circumstances but you knew you weren’t making it out alive .  

You begged and wept for forgiveness, you thrashed and kicked but, in the end, you felt that familiar prick in your shoulder. He just injected you with whatever that liquid was. Next was a harsh kick to your back and you were falling to the sandy dunes below. The last thing you saw was the late afternoon sun, birds flying, fluffy clouds painted orange. Men in military clothes laughing, others in rags crying as they feared that they would soon share your same fate.  

A jarring crescendo and a firm calloused grip on your forearm brought you back to the present. Hange was mere inches away from sticking you with the needle. However, on instinct and pure animalistic fear you screamed and thrashed. A new wave of tears streamed down your face, you rippedyourself from their grip but before you could get away Erwin’s much stronger hands were weighing you down.  

You continued to kick, scream, and howl, Hange couldn’t get the needle in your arm as Erwin couldn't hold you still enough. Suddenly, there was a swift swat at the back of your neck and you were engulfed in darkness again.  

Your body went limp in Erwin’s hands, light bruising already apparent on your arms. He sighed, calming his fried nerves before frowning at Levi.  

“Knocking her out won’t make her trust us.” He said, stepping out of the way so Hange could quickly administer the medicine.  

“She would have given herself a heart attack if I didn’t.” Levi  stated plainly, crossing his arms over his chest. Erwin could tell, by the way Levi’s brows were knitted together her was quite shaken up by what just happened. Levi’s eyes were glued to your closed ones, watching as your face twitched and frowned in your sleep. He sighed before stepping into the hallway, thoroughly ignoring the barrage of concerned questions from the young scouts.  

“What the hell was that?!”  

“What happened?”  

“Is she alright?”  

Levi continued his trek down the hall before shutting himself away in his office for well needed quiet time. He needed it for just a moment before going back there to keep an eye on you, who knows what state of mind you’ll be in when you wake up. He’ll need any rest he can get right now.  

Hange collapsed into a chair in the corner of the infirmary, wiping sweat from their brow and letting their head fall back. They heaved a heavy sigh before wiping their eyes free of any of their own anxious tears. Breathing shakily, they stood to wet a rag with some cool water and lay it across your forehead.  

Erwin placed a heavy hand on their shoulder, it did well to immediately comfort and reassure Hange.  

“You did well. None of that was your fault.” He said, giving a knowing smile. Hange sighed patting their own hand over his before covering you with a thin sheet.  

“Thank you.” Was all Hange replied with. Their mind was racing, true, but for now it's best to just breathe. You’re okay, and Hange is vowing to themself to do as much as they can while you’re out so that they can avoid triggering you any further.  

<3

Just before the sun rose the next morning you opened your eyes. Your whole body was sore like you had just ran a marathon. You groaned a bit before silencing yourself, sitting next to you was Captain Levi. Of course, he’d be the one to watch you, but right now he looked to be sound asleep.  

Your eyes scanned over his relaxed face, lips slightly parted and looking soft. His breathing was slow and hushed, raven black hair fell haphazardly over his forehead but still looking perfect and tamed as usual. He had long black lashes that dusted over his cheekbones, you were so distracted at taking in the details you hadn’t noticed his eyes opened.  

“It’s rude to stare brat.” Levi scolded smugly. You huffed before wincing at the pain in your neck. You reached back to massage there, noticing out of the corner of your eye how Levi’s features softened just a bit. So little you almost worried you imagined it.  

“Turns out you had pneumonia.” He said, his dark eyes raking over your chart. He listed off your symptoms and any medicines Hange administered. That’s when the memory hit you like a ton of bricks.  

You were screaming and fighting, the memory mortified you but you didn’t blame yourself or anyone for your reaction. No one else but that man who’s face you can't remember from over a century ago.  

You sighed, rolling over and placing your face into the pillow and letting out a low moan. Levi chuckled silently.  

“Drink this, its medicinal tea.” He said, holding a cup towards you in that odd way he does. You nodded and hummed as the warmth spread through you. You both sat there in a comfortable silence before a light knock sounded against the heavy wooden door.  

Hange stepped through and their eyes glossed over seeing you awake. The two of you smiled at each other, and that smile of yours grounded Hange. So, you weren’t upset, thank goodness.  

Hange pet your head, before apologizing for the syringe incident but you shook your head to stop them. You gave their hand a squeeze and there was mutual understanding. It was no one's fault. No one could have known that would happen. Again, your reassurance made any tension melt away from Hange’s shoulders and they released a trembling breath before clearing their throat and getting down to business.  

“So, we’re dealing with pneumonia. Seems your immune system is weaker than normal probably since you’ve been a titan all these years. That damp moldy cellar did a number on your lungs.” They stated, you placed a hand over your chest, the familiar prickling of building anxiety present there.  

You nodded for Hange to continue and they explained what your healing process would look like. It can take anywhere from a week to a month, but they’re predicting a slower recovery due to your compromised immune system. You sighed in defeat, but you expected this, at least you were alive.  

“I’ll be watching so don’t try anything funny when you can walk again.” Levi said, feigning intimidation, but you could tell this was his way of trying to assure you’d feel better soon enough. You shook your head at him before returning you attention to Hange who had a pair of small white pills for you to swallow.  

“Just a pain reliever.” They said with a smile. You chuckled, slightly embarrassed for being so skeptical but dutifully you swallowed and chased the medicine down with your hot tea.  

“Erwin will be back with a special book for you to read, but for now rest up!” Hange exclaimed and with that, they were back out the door. You could hear them shooing away the scouts and answering any questions they could. Just as the door was closing, again you got a glimpse of those bright emerald eyes and the way they lit up when they saw you. It was nice hearing their concerns, you smiled to yourself before laying your head back down on your pillow.  

Levi’s bored eyes locked on yours a moment before he turned away to drink a cup of his own steaming tea. And with that, you drifted off yet again. Resting well into the early afternoon .

#levi ackerman #levi #levi x reader #levi ackerman x reader #captain levi #better with time. #aot #attack on titan #snk #ptsd #needle mention

[satorisa]

Something Old - Chapter 15: Wonderwall

Rating: T

Summary: After living in Tokyo for the past six years, she decides to head back to Azumano to escape the big city. However, she now has to face everything that she tried to flee from all those years ago. How exactly will she fare when the pages of a long forgotten book start turning once more?

Alternate links for reading available in my description! 

Decided to rename the first part of the Lift the Veil Series as Something Old! Hope ya’ll don’t mind too much!

And with that, this is the end of the first arc of Lift the Veil! The retrospective can be found here.

Happy early Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Chapter 15 – Wonderwall

All the roads that lead you there were winding. And all the lights that light the way are blinding. There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don’t know how.

…

7 PM: dining table at the Harada mansion.

My mother refused to let me help her clean up, allowing her to escape to the kitchen, strategically placing herself for prime eavesdropping out of harm’s way. My father took his usual seat at the head of the table, pouring scotch from a crystal decanter into a glass. And Riku, the instigator of this unusual dinner, was at work.

The decanter clinked as my dad set it down on the wooden table. The ice crackled as it swirled in its amber bath. From the kitchen, the running faucet roared.

I gulped.

“Would you like some?” he offered.

“No thanks.”

I squirmed under my father’s scrutiny. A heavy silence settled between us. Then my mother began to hum from the kitchen.

What did they gain by creating this unsettling atmosphere?

The doorbell rang, and I heard a familiar voice greet my mother. They exchanged pleasantries: him apologizing for not being able to make it to dinner, her reassuring him that it was no issue, before directing him to the dining room.

Hiwatari entered like a blue-haired harbinger of death. The content expression on his face disappeared once he saw me, and he slipped into a seat equally as far from both me and my father.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier,” Hiwatari apologized.

“That’s alright; this was a last minute invitation, and we understand that you’re busy,” my father coldly responded.

Hiwatari fidgeted in his seat. The silence between us was choking. From the kitchen, the faucet sounded like a roaring waterfall.

This was the plunge. And Hiwatari took it.

“Harada-san, why did you really invite me here?” Hiwatari asked.

The awkwardness he possessed moments ago gave way to an adamant expression. His voice boomed, steadfast, knowing that one sliver of weakness would spell defeat.

My father wasn’t a businessman extraordinaire for nothing.

Hiwatari’s instigation cracked my father’s steely gaze. Composure succumbed to unbridled rage.

“Was this entertaining for you?”

Confusion settled on Hiwatari’s face. “Sir, what—”

“How could you come into our lives like that after everything you did to my daughter?” His voice modulated. “Do you enjoy seeing us in pain?”

“Harada-san, please—”

“You took advantage of my daughter’s feelings and broke her heart. And you had the gall to walk into our lives after what you did, helping Riku through everything, taking advantage of our kindness, and worming your way into our family.” The fire in his voice was gone. “What are you intentions with my daughter? With us, Satoshi?”

Absolute silence. The water stopped running. I could hear my heartbeat thumping. Hiwatari opened his mouth. My breath hitched.

“…I’m sorry, sir. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to atone for that. The intentions I have with your daughter are purely platonic now, believe me, but I understand if that is not enough of a consolation.”

My father stood up, glass in hand. “Please, excuse me.”

He left the room. Hiwatari and I got up, chasing after him. We stopped in the kitchen when he went out to the patio. My father threw the drink down. The crystal shattered upon impact, its contents splaying out on the concrete, and he began to scream. I was about to go out, frenzied emotions unable to process my father’s distress, when someone grabbed my arm and stopped me.

It was my mother.

“Don’t.”

“But, Mom, he—”

“Leave him.”

She turned to Hiwatari who stood there, eyes wide, face paler than a sheet, and fists so balled up that his knuckles were white.

Oh god.

“Satoshi,” she whispered. “Satoshi.”

He couldn’t hear her. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, and he jumped.

“He’ll be alright. You should leave for now.”

“But—”

“We’ll be fine,” she reassured, patting his back. “Just go. Kazama’s waiting for you, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but—”

“Please.”

Her firm tone surprised us. Hiwatari nodded before turning to me.

“Are you coming with me?”

“No. I think I’ll stay here for a bit before I head home.”

“Alright. Take care of yourself.”

“You, too. Have a safe walk.”

He left the kitchen. Only when I heard the front door open and close did I look at my mother.

“Riku told us,” she explained, looking out towards the patio. I followed her gaze to see my father just blankly staring at the mess he made. He looked like a zombie.

“I…had a feeling.”

“…we really wanted to kill Satoshi when we found out,” she began as if speaking to no one in particular. “How hurt was my daughter for her to think the only solution to her problem was to run off to Tokyo and cut off contact with us for six years?

“I couldn’t even be happy about you going to Todai because I spent so much time worrying about you.” She laughed. “How many hours did I—did we—spend stalking your social media just to know that you were alive? And then Riku happened and—” She took a deep breath. “—it turns out the same person who helped one of my daughter’s heal was the same one who broke my other daughter to the point that she pushed us all away.”

“Mom…”

“It took me a while to see why you felt so alone. Satoshi was Riku’s friend. And how could you have trusted your parents with this if we didn’t really raise you for most of your childhood? Even though we have every right to be upset, in a way, some of this was our responsibility. You attached yourself to people who gave you the love we didn’t.”

My mother was still focused on my unresponsive father. I averted my gaze onto my faint reflection in the window. I bit my lip.

“At first, we were nice to Satoshi because he helped so much with Riku. But, at some point, he became your surrogate. To make up for the mistakes we made with you, we treated him like he was our own son.” She laughed. “I was sure your father would do something, but I think he realized just how important Satoshi is to us and just how important we are to him.”

My mother started to rub my back reassuringly. “We’re sorry for everything, but give us some time to process this, alright?”

She grabbed a bag and washcloth before heading outside to clean up the mess. My mother crouched down and wordlessly began to pick up the shards of crystal. My father bent down to help her and—

My mother started to cry. Her small frame shrank with each wail, and my father pulled her into an embrace as if he were clinging onto dear life.

It took everything in me to not break down. I moved my legs that started to feel like gelatin out of the kitchen, and I left the house by shutting the front door, gingerly, behind me.

…

I called in sick for work the next morning.

When I woke up, my body felt heavy. I couldn’t move, so I spent the morning starving in bed while watching dramas on my phone.

Around lunchtime, my phone rang. It was Takeshi.

I picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Boss, are ya doin’ alright?”

“Not really, but I’m still alive. Miraculously.”

“Better than dead, I s’pose.”

“Did Hiwatari-san come in?”

“Nope. He called in saying he was sick, too. Is there a bug going around?”

“If by bug you mean the blood-thirsty Riku who finally told my parents, then yeah.”

“…oh god.”

“Mhm.”

“Well, um, I can’t really do much for ya right now, but feel better, alright? I hope that everything works itself out for ya.”

“That’s alright. Thanks for checking up on me; I appreciate it.”

“No problem, Boss.” I clearly saw the toothy grin on his face in my mind. “I can’t be there for ya today, but lemme know if you need anything, alright?”

“Will do. Thanks again.”

We hung up. My stomach grumbled, and a pang of drowsiness washed over me.

I decided to have an afternoon nap.

…

I woke up to someone knocking at my door.

Thinking it was a solicitor, I stretched a bit before getting comfortable again. Another round of knocking ensued.

I trudged over to shoo them away, but I saw Ritsuko through the peephole. She had two bags in her hand.

“What are you doing here?” I mumbled after opening the door.

“Wow. Not even a ‘hello’ or ‘what is that’ from you?” she asked as she slipped off her shoes.

“…sorry.”

“I’m kidding.” She flashed me a smile. “Your annoying coworker told me to come by if I could. I figured something must’ve happened if he was concerned enough to reach me.”

“Riku told my parents.”

“…yeah. That warrants shitty takeout.”

She headed into the kitchen, scrounging around for plates and utensils while I lied down on the couch, watching her navigate my kitchen.

“I didn’t know what you’d want, so I got all this,” Ritsuko explained as she started emptying out the food containers. “And don’t force yourself to try to finish this is one sitting; this would probably feed a family of eight.”

“So half of it is fair game?”

She laughed. “Sure, Risa. If you insist.”

After plating everything, she started placing the food on my coffee table. I sat up, reveling in this tiny feast, as my stomach rumbled in anticipation. Ritsuko handed me a plate and chopsticks before she sat down next to me and turned on the TV.

We dug in.

“How bad was it?” she asked.

“Not as explosive as I thought it’d be. Emotionally? It feels like someone stabbed my heart with a thousand needles.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Honestly, as much as I want to, I don’t think I can find the words for it right now.”

Ritsuko rubbed my shoulder reassuringly. “Take all the time you need, Risa.”

“Thanks.”

Orchestral music swelled from my TV. We barely talked while watching whatever we had on and, when we finished our food, I helped Ritsuko clean up and put away all the leftovers.

And then I heard another knock on my door.

Looking through the peephole, I saw Hiwatari standing outside, hands in his pockets, unsure of what to do with himself. I opened the door.

“Why are you here, Hiwatari-san?” I asked.

“I heard from Takeshi that you didn’t go to work today, so I was wondering if you wanted to grab some food close by.”

“Thanks for the thought, but I just ate.”

“Hey, Hiwatari!” Ritsuko called from the kitchen.

“Oh, hello, Fukuda.” He then turned back to me. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you had company over.”

“No worries. Do you want to come inside and eat? Ritsuko brought way too much food.”

“Each bite’s gonna cost you one hundred yen,” Ritsuko joked.

“I’m sure that’s far too expensive for the quality of food you brought over,” he quipped as he let himself in.

“Help yourself to whatever is in the fridge,” I told him.

While he piled food onto his plate, Ritsuko and I talked on the sofa, catching up with each other’s lives. She just finished talking about her business ventures when Hiwatari sat down next to me.

“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting your time together,” he apologized.

“No worries, Hiwatari,” Ritsuko said. “We’re all friends here, aren’t we?”

“Yes, I suppose we are.”

“You’re not with Kazama-san?” I asked.

“He has dinner with the Niwas.”

“Sounds like fun,” Ritsuko chirped.

“If I want my brain to turn into mush, then yes, it sounds like a ball.”

“Maybe that might be what you need during these trying times.”

“Absolute not, Fukuda.”

She guffawed.

We just chatted while Hiwatari ate. And, when he finished, I dug out a board game for us to play. After one round, in which Ritsuko royally creamed us, she had to leave. I gave her a hug before she left.

Once the door closed, it was only me and Hiwatari.

“Want to grab dessert at Mizuame de Noisette?” he asked. “My treat.”

“I’m down.”

…

After I freshened up, we headed to my favorite café. The scene of food and warm drinks brought a smile to my face, and I couldn’t contain my giddiness when our order finally came out.

“I figured this would cheer you up, but I didn’t think it’d turn you into this.”

“Shut up, Hiwatari-san,” I pouted. “But thanks for this. Truly.”

He ordered an herbal tea (chamomile from what I could smell) and sipped it with a gentle smile on his face. “You’re welcome.”

Hiwatari joked that I looked like a hamster once I began to indulge, but he quickly relented and began to people-watch, giving me some privacy to enjoy my dessert. When I got to my last bite, I offered it to him out of courtesy, expecting him to refuse, but he ate the last forkful and nodded.

“Hm. Not bad.”

“Right? Their matcha mille crepe cake isn’t too sweet, so I figured you might like it.”

“I do. I’ll probably order it the next time I’m here.”

I tidied our table and took our dirty dishes to the bussing station. When I returned, Hiwatari had his gaze focused outside.

“Are you alright?” he asked, eyes still trained on the night’s scenery.

“Yeah” I answered, holding my warm drink in my hands. “Are you?”

“I’m about as okay as I’m going to be right now.”

“And that’s all anyone can ask for.”

He nodded before briefly looking at me. Blue eyes met mine before he lowered his gaze to his cup. A wry smile appeared on his face.

“…do you think it’s terrible that I wish they’d been violent? Punched me out? Cursed me out? Screamed bloody murder at me?”

“A little bit, yeah, but I get where you’re coming from.”

He smirked. “Glad to know I’m not going crazy.”

“You’re already just as crazy as me,” I said. “I mean, as much as I hate admitting it, I used to wish that you did hit me. Maybe it would’ve made it easier for my brain to process how toxic everything was.”

“Harada-san…”

“Sorry.” I forced a laugh. “That’s kind of a low blow, isn’t it?”

Hiwatari shook his head. “You really know how to kick a man when he’s down, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry!”

“…why does it feel like every life lesson you’ve learned is from that situation?”

“Well, it is one of the worst things that’s ever happened to me.”

“Harada-san, please spare me from my misery and just kill me now.”

“Nah. I think you deserve to simmer in that pain a little bit.”

“Good god, Harada-san.”

…

“Hey, Boss! Welcome back!” Takeshi greeted with lunch in hand. “How’re you feeling?”

“Well, I managed to get out of bed, so that’s a start,” I answered, gratefully accepting the bento. “Is Hiwatari-san still off?”

“Yeah. Formally cited emergency family reasons, but we both know that’s a lie.”

“Lucky bastard. I wish I could take the rest of the week off.”

“What’s stoppin’ ya?”

“Well,” I began, snapping off the lid of my container, “the broadcast isn’t going to run itself, there’s a lot I need to review since clearly people don’t know how to do their work, and I certainly don’t want to get caught up in yet another round of rumors again because I so happened to be off around the same time that Hiwatari-san is off.”

Takeshi whistled. “That’s, uh, a lot.”

“Yup.”

My phone began to ring. I expected it to be Riku since I had sent her a message saying we should talk, but I saw Hiwatari’s caller ID. He just saw me yesterday. What did he want from me?

“Well, speak of the devil.”

“What? Your demonic sister?”

“Nope. It’s Hiwatari-san. Excuse me.”

I picked up, trying to avoid Takeshi’s curious gaze in my peripheries. The static of the line gave way to the familiar hubbub of a restaurant. I could even hear Kazama ordering in the background.

“Hello?” I began.

“Harada-san, have you gotten in touch with your parents since that evening?”

“Nope. Why ask?”

“I messaged them, and they still haven’t replied back.”

I tried to stifle my laughter by covering my mouth with my hand. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about them. They’re probably ignoring you.”

“You’re shitting me.”

“No, I’m not,” I said. “They told me to give them some space before I left, so that’s what they’re doing: keeping their space.”

“…why the hell are you Haradas so finicky?”

“Can’t help it. We love being a pain in the ass for everyone.”

I could see him shaking his head. “Well, thank you for your time, Harada-san. Enjoy your lunch.”

“You, too!”

I hung up and ignored the excitement on Takeshi’s face when I noticed the new message on my phone. Riku answered my text, saying that she was free tomorrow evening. I quickly typed out my reply before returning to my lunch, focusing on my growling stomach instead of the pressure of Takeshi’s curiosity.

…

I hadn’t eaten all day.

Takeshi said I shouldn’t worry about my missing appetite, proposing that I was anxious because of the call I had scheduled with Riku. He did drop by my cubicle later that afternoon with a cupcake in hand from a nearby café, saying to save it for my triumphant encounter with the beast.

And when I finally got home, I sat on my sofa, unmoving, while staring at my reflection on the blank TV screen. This conversation wouldn’t spell the end of the world, but it certainly felt like it could. Riku and I had never fought like this.

Ever.

Who knew that being unable to talk to her casually would hurt so much?

So, when my ringtone echoed through my silent apartment, my stomach fell to the ground, my heartbeat quickened, and I picked up.

“Hello?”

“…hi.”

She sighed. “Oh, thank god. I thought you were going to scream at me.”

“I mean, if you want me to, I could.”

“Please don’t. You’ll blow out my eardrums.”

Silence filled our call. Even a joke couldn’t lighten the mood.

“So, are you here to bitch at me again about my terrible life decisions?” I asked.

“No—oh god, no,” she said. “Risa, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I’m calling bullshit.”

She laughed. “Okay, yeah, I do know. It’s just…a lot.”

“I know. Why else are we having this call?” I could imagine her smiling, and I felt the grin threatening to erupt on my face. “And you’re my sister. I can take ‘a lot’ for and from you.”

“But—”

“Nu-uh. Spill. You’ve got all evening to do so.”

“Well,” she began, “when Daisuke told me, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it. Satoshi, your best guy friend, guy you were practically in love with, was the one who hurt you. I was livid.

“And he told Daisuke about it. Satoshi, master of secrecy, shared this secret, while you, unable to keep a secret to save your life, couldn’t even bring yourself to tell me. I was hurt. Like, did you really not trust me enough?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, Risa. I probably would’ve reacted the same way even if you had told me earlier, so don’t worry about it,” she said. “Honestly, I’m still in shock about the whole thing. Why would you put yourself through so much shit just to have him back in your life? After everything he put you through, it just didn’t make any sense.”

“Well, there’s just some things that you just…deal with,” I answered. “If Hiwatari-san and I didn’t get along, it’d be hell for everyone.”

“It’s alright to be a little selfish, yanno.”

“I know, but I wanted—needed—to get through this. For me,” I said. “I didn’t want it to control my life anymore. I was tired of it.”

“Yeah. I know what you mean.”

I had a feeling she was referring to what happened to her after I left, but I couldn’t ask. If she wanted to tell me about it, she would. And this conversation wasn’t exactly the best time to bring it up, anyway.

“You know, Risa, I can’t imagine how you felt when you were in Tokyo.”

“What do you mean?”

“You literally decided to start over; I mean, you refused to contact us for years. How could you do that?”

I shrugged. “I just had to.”

And then Riku started to cry, softly, until those sniffles turned into heaving sobs. Each whimper cut through my heart, but I bit my lip to stop myself from joining her.

“Risa, I’m so sorry. Oh God, I’m so sorry.”

“No, Riku, it’s fine. I—”

“I should’ve been there for you,” she sniffled. “Instead of leaving it to Satoshi. I should’ve known that something was wrong but I—” She continued to cry.

“Riku…”

“I just…didn’t know what to do and I—and I couldn’t contain it so—so I told our parents and—oh god. Oh god, I told our—”

“Riku, please—”

“What have I done?”

I nearly messaged Daisuke to go and comfort her, but I couldn’t. I let her cry, while holding in my own tears, waiting for her to calm down. And, when she finally did (it took someone ringing the doorbell on her end to calm her down), she just laughed.

“Why are we like this?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

“We literally have to raze the whole world before we’re content.”

“It’s our stubborn Harada blood. Even Grandma’s still got it.”

“Yes, yes she does.”

I smiled at the levity in her voice.

“Well,” she said, “ as much as I’d like to continue this conversation, I’m exhausted. Do you want to grab dessert tomorrow to actually catch up?”

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

“Awesome. I’ll see you tomorrow then! Good night!”

“Night!”

I stared at the phone in my hand like it was something completely foreign. Its bright screen singed my eyes.

And, possessed, I sent Hiwatari a text that I had just talked to Riku and aired everything out. He called me seconds afterward. The screen with his caller ID illuminated my living room while my cheery ringtone echoed between my walls.

Why was he calling me?

I sent him to voice mail. A message popped up, in all caps, telling me to pick up. What was the urgency?

My phone rang again, and I sighed before answering.

“Hello? Is everything—”

“Are you alright?” he asked. What was that loud noise on his end?

“Yeah, I’m alri—”

“Bullshit.”

“Excuse me? What the—”

“Stop trying to be strong! Stop acting like your life is put together, you stubborn idiot!” I blinked, trying to hold back my tears. “Your sister tried to ruin your life! Your rocky relationship with your parents finally reached its peak! It’s okay to break down!”

“Not, it’s not!” I screamed back, trying to pace my breathing. The lump in my throat only worsened. “Life isn’t going to stop just because I need to! I need to keep going or—”

“Or what?” I heard a car honk on his end. “Harada-san, you don’t have to keep pushing yourself like this! You’ve done enough! You can slow down and relax now!”

“No, I can’t! I need to—”

“Stop acting like you’re still alone! Stop trying to carry all of your burdens by yourself, dammit!” I heard another car honk at him. He screamed an apology. “All of us are here for you, so start letting us in! Not because of the circumstances but because you want to! It’s okay to cry on someone else’s shoulder!”

“Absolutely not! I don’t—”

A loud knock on my door startled me. I got up and looked through the peephole to see Hiwatari, face flushed and slightly winded.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, panicked.

“Harada-san, just open the door.”

“No.”

“Risa, please.”

I unlocked the door. Hiwatari hung up and slipped his phone into his back pocket before running his hand through his hair. Several strands stayed upright.

Something inside of me broke.

I hurled myself at him, digging my face into his chest as I cried my guts out. I heard him close the door before he returned my embrace, rubbing my back to comfort me.

He didn’t say anything. His chin rested atop my head, and we stayed like that until I finally let go. My tears had dried out by that point, and there was a face-sized stain on Hiwatari’s sweater. My make-up rubbed off, too.

I pointed at it, and he looked down and laughed.

“There goes my favorite sweater.”

“You needed to get rid of it anyway.”

He shook his head with a smile as he leaned back against my front door. “Sounds like someone’s feeling better.”

I shot him a toothy grin before standing up. “Anyways, we should probably treat those stains before they set.”

“I thought you wanted it gone?”

“Sure, I do, but that’s not my sweater is it?”

He laughed. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

My stomach growled. And, in that moment, I just remembered that I hadn’t eaten yet. Hiwatari stared at me in concern.

“You haven’t eaten all day, have you?” he asked.

“…yeah.”

He sighed. “Harada-san, I swear…”

“Look, I wasn’t hungry today, okay? And I’ll get myself food, later, I promise, so just sit tight while I find something for you to change into.”

I retreated into my room and dug through my dresser. A lot of the casual tops I wore in college were at least two sizes too big, and I eventually found the biggest Todai sweatshirt I owned tucked away in the back of one of my drawers.

When I came out, Hiwatari was in my kitchen, arms akimbo in front of my stove. He was so focused on the pot in front of him that he didn’t notice me. And, when he did, he jumped.

“Oh god. You scared me.”

“Sorry.” I handed him the shirt. “Try this on and lemme know if it fits.”

He unfolded it and smirked. “Your style really hasn’t changed at all if you’ve still got over-sized clothes like this.”

“You are in no position to be calling me out like this right now.”

“Touché.” He gestured over to the instant ramen packets he managed to dig up. “Make sure you put them in if the water starts boiling.”

“I know,” I pouted.

Hiwatari disappeared into my room to change. He came out moments later; the shirt was a perfect fit.

“Nice swag, Todai grad,” I joked as he handed me his clothes.

He huffed in response while I started to treat the stain on his sweater. After tossing it into the washing machine, I plopped down onto the couch. Hiwatari joined me moments later with the noodles, and he handed me a bowl before we dug in.

“So, uh, what now?” I asked, blowing on my food.

He shrugged. “Up to you.”

I groaned in response.

“Movie?” he suggested.

“Nah. Let’s watch a documentary.”

Hiwatari went along with it sans his usual snark. I expected him to say something about how unfitting it was, but he wordlessly put something on while we ate.

When my washing machine beeped, signaling that his shirt had also finished drying, he took it out before heading back into my room to change. He came back out with the grey sweater on, my sweatshirt neatly folded in his hands, and he handed it to me.

“Thank you again.”

“No problem.”

“Well, I’m going to head out now,” he said. “Um…I honestly didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“Really? ‘Cause I don’t know how I couldn’t have cried from that.”

Hiwatari chortled. A small smile graced his face. “Yeah. I suppose I should’ve held back a bit.”

“You think?”

We awkwardly stood by my front door, unsure of what to do with ourselves.

“You know,” I began, “I think I needed that. So, um, thanks. For talking some sense into me.”

“That’s just what friend do, Harada-san.”

I beamed. “Please, drop the ‘san.’ God. Who am I? My dad?”

Hiwatari blinked before he laughed, mirth radiating from his expression. “Alrighty then, Harada. Whatever you say.”

“Thank you, Hiwatari.”

He pulled me into a hug. “Take care of yourself, alright?”

“Mhm.”

Hiwatari let go with a gentle smile, and I opened the door for him. “Good night, Harada.”

“Good night, Hiwatari.”

…

Riku and I met up at Mizuame de Noisette. We chatted while enjoying the view and entertaining a bottle of Moscato between us. She had a danish in front of her; I had a strawberry shortcake in front of me, and we laughed while she recounted her Zurich trip.

While sharing the details of Daisuke’s embarrassing proposal, our phones rang.

It was a message from our mother.

“She says she’s planning a dinner,” Riku said.

“Does it say anything about disowning us if we don’t go?”

“Yup.”

I sighed. “The crazy lady is back.”

“Do you think Satoshi’s going to be there?”

“Absolutely.” I raised my eyebrow. “Why does that matter to you?”

“Risa, please let me sock him!”

“Um, shouldn’t I be the one socking him in this situation?”

“Yes, but you’re never going to do it.”

“I don’t see why I would need to, but why should you?”

Riku shot me a look that I had just lost my mind. She made a grand gesture meant to signify, well, everything.

“Okay, yes, I get it, but why are you asking me for my permission?”

“I felt like I needed to.”

“I do not like what you’re trying to imply here.”

“Risa, please, I’m begging you—”

I rolled my eyes. “Look, okay, I don’t care what you do, just leave me out of it, alright?”

“Thank you!” Riku sang.

She cracked her knuckles.

It was nice knowing you, Hiwatari.

…

7 PM: Harada mansion.

My parents opened the door. They pulled me into a hug, and we stood there at the entrance of the foyer like a horde of penguins braving the winter. Both Riku and Hiwatari were running late, the former still working her shift while the latter was held back, working overtime on an important case. Honestly, I just wanted them to get here ASAP so I could see them duke it out.

I bet one thousand yen that Riku would obliterate him.

Daisuke arrived shortly after me, greeting our (?) parents before giving me a hug. We then sat down in the living room.

“Are you excited for later?” Daisuke asked.

“Of course! Who do you think is gonna win?”

“Riku. Hands down,” he replied with no hesitation. “Satoshi stands no chance.”

We laughed.

“Is your family coming?” I asked.

“Of course.” Daisuke rolled his eyes. “My mom found out, so she’s planned a stern lecture for him later. My dad found out about what my mom’s doing, so he’s tagging along to make sure she doesn’t get carried away. Grandpa claims he’s coming for the show, but you know he’s just waiting for just the right moment to deliver his own blow. And then Argentine and Towa overheard them talking about it at the table, so they insisted that ‘Satoshi-sama’ needed a lesson on how a gentleman should treat a lady.”

“Would you like some popcorn for tonight’s festivities?”

“Yes, please!”

The doorbell rang, again, and I opened the door to see the Niwa family in all their chaotic glory. Emiko greeted me with kisses before skipping off the kitchen. Her uncontainable, middle-aged energy collided with my mom’s uncontainable, middle-aged energy, and they were so loud that you could probably hear them at the station on the other side of town.

Grandpa Daiki gave me a knowing smile before joining Daisuke in the living room. My dad came by, drinks in hand that his guests accepted, before he sat with them and they began chatting away.

And Kosuke stood there, smiling that kind smile that I came to hate in Vienna.

“How does it feel like to be on the other side of everything?” he asked.

I blinked. Kosuke laughed.

“Well,” I answered, “I wish I didn’t have to go through it, but it feels great. Like a weight’s been lifted.”

He nodded, content with my answer, before joining the group in the living room. Argentine and Towa bounced up to me, pulling me into a tight group hug before letting go, concern pooling in their eyes.

“Are you alright?” Argentine asked.

“Mhm.”

Towa huffed. “I can’t believe Satoshi-sama did that! How rude!”

“Well—”

“Honestly, Risa-sama,  he doesn’t deserve your apologies,” Argentine continued.

“The only thing he deserves is a good wallop!” Towa chirped.

The doorbell rang. And, lo and behold, it was the man of the hour. Argentine and Towa, bubbly moments ago, turned silent. The atmosphere that began to sour muted Hiwatari’s greeting, and I escaped to the kitchen to grab some popcorn and watch the first pickings from a distance. Daisuke joined me.

We watched the shenanigans unfold beautifully. Towa and Argentine eventually turned into their animal forms; the former perched on Hiwatari’s head while the latter crawled under his clothes, lecturing him about manners.

“Well, they’re going at it.”

Daisuke and I broke free from our fit of laughter to see Riku. She held a goblet of red wine while looking at the scene with a smirk.

“But this is only the beginning.”

…

My sides were sore from all the laughing. The whole evening turned into a roasting session exclusively for Satoshi. And Towa recorded the whole thing.

After everyone calmed down, the Niwas had to leave but promised to return soon to actually catch up with my family. Everyone aahed at the quick kiss Daisuke gave Riku and then the Niwas were gone.

Riku and I began to tidy up while my parents went outside to talk to Hiwatari. I kept glancing at them through the window, monitoring the situation in case—

Riku smacked me in the face with a wet dish rag.

“Ever heard of the concept of privacy?”

“Yes, but—”

“Nu-uh. Not hearing it!” Riku exclaimed before shooing me out of the kitchen. “Just give them some time, alright?”

“What about cleaning up?”

“I can manage myself.” Her face lit up. “Oh, you should totally check out what Mom did with your room!”

Following Riku’s suggestion, I headed upstairs to see the renovation. Gone were the dollhouse-pink walls and the wooly white carpet. In their stead were light gray walls, sporting a slight hue of blue, and wooden floors waxed to reflection. My mom replaced the furniture I used in my childhood with sleek, modern pieces; she transformed the space into one of those aesthetic rooms found in an interior design magazine.

Out with the old, in with new.

I sat down on the faux fur rug, reminiscent of the room’s original flooring and looked up at the ceiling.

It was still the same view.

Someone knocked on the door. I looked over to see Hiwatari leaning against the threshold.

“Shouldn’t you be downstairs helping Riku clean?”

“Nope. She kicked me out,” I said. “Shouldn’t you be downstairs helping out like a good guest?”

“They kicked me out, too.”

“Ah.” I patted the empty space next to me on the rug. “Welcome to the Reject’s Club.”

Hiwatari sat down next to me. He leaned back, stretching his arms behind him as he put his weight on his hands, straightening his legs out before him. I curled into a fetal position, resting my chin on my knees.

“How was your evening?” I asked him.

He groaned, and the strange funk that surrounded him dissipated. “Awful. I’m emotionally wounded, and I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to recover.”

I giggled. “Stop being such a baby about it.”

Hiwatari pouted, and I snorted. He laughed at me, his grin so wide that I was sure it hurt, eyes so upturned in joy that I wondered how he could still see, that I felt my expression match his. We eventually calmed down, sighing in content.

He looked at the balcony. I followed his gaze. There was nothing there. Only our faint reflections on the sliding door were staring back at us.

“How was your talk with my parents?” I asked him.

Hiwatari hummed in response. I didn’t expect him to answer. But I also didn’t expect the words that followed.

“Did you ever think this would happen?” he gently asked.

“Never. I thought this would stay locked up in the back of mind for the rest of my life.” I looked over at him. He had a wistful look in his eye. “Did you?”

“No. I had resigned myself to thinking that I would never see you again.”

“And yet, here we are, sitting on the floor of my room, chilling out as if none of that ever happened.”

“Wack.”

I laughed at his uncharacteristic response. He just smirked.

Proud bastard.

“Honestly, I still can’t believe that this is happening,” he admitted. “And I didn’t realize just how much I missed this until now.”

I felt a pang in my heart as all the times I spent with Hiwatari flashed through my mind. Memories that were once bittersweet became nostalgic; I could finally look back on them with fondness instead of pain.

Perhaps, eventually, there will come a day when I could comfortably share this intimate feeling with Hiwatari, but today was not that day. This conversation was becoming far too cheesy for me to stomach, and I couldn’t hold in my sarcastic streak anymore.

Sorry to ruin this, Hiwatari.

“Aw. Look at you getting all emotional!”

Hiwatari balked. “Harada, I’m being genuine here. Did you really have to insert your sarcasm now?”

“I’m sorry, but this whole thing’s just so corny!”

“Oh my god, this girl.”

Maybe it didn’t seem like much: Hiwatari and I bantering in what used to be my room. But, to me, this meant the world. Somehow, despite everything that happened, we were able to fall into step again.

And, with that seemingly menial evening, I was finally able to flip the pages of my life again.

—ARC 1 END—

#satorisa #dnangel #satoshi hiwatari #risa harada #d.n.angel #dn angel #my fanfiction #my writing #lift the veil

[yourdeepestfathoms]

Shelter

[UK Tour]

just some care taking and fluff from the best mother hen duo~

TW: Vomit

-----------------

 “When was the last time you slept, young lady?”

The young music director hunched over the table, turned her head slowly and blinked blearily up at the two queens standing in her dressing room. Her face was ghostly pale, more so than usual, making the black bags under her eyes more prominent, like onyxes buried in snow. Someone passing by might have even thought she had twin black eyes. Her hair was a complete mess, knotted and tangled, despite her having brushed it for the show that day, and hanging in thick, greasy locks at the sides of her head.

She looked utterly exhausted and unwell.

 “I dunno,” Joan mumbled, shrugging her shoulders sluggishly. Her eyelids kept drooping over her dull grey eyes; her entire body kept begging her for sleep, but she refused.

 “How many of these have you had?” Aragon asked, peering into the trashcan full of empty Rockstar cans.

 “Umm,” Joan counted on her fingers. “I don’t know. Seven?”

Howard’s eyes widened. “Seven?” She repeated shrilly, making Joan flinch back. “It’s only just turning one! You’ve had seven already?”

 “Doesn’t matter,” Joan said, not making eye contact. “Not that big a deal… Just energy drinks… I need energy.”

 “It is a big deal, Joan.” Howard said firmly. “So much of this stuff can kill you. ”

 “300mg of caffeine,” Aragon read from one of the cans, whistling. “Kid, you gotta cut down on this stuff. Your little body won’t be able to handle it.”

 “I’m not little.” Joan growled, gathering herself up to her full size of a menacing 5’2. Then, she faltered, winced, and pressed a hand to her temple. Howard gently touched her back.

 “Sweetheart?” Howard knelt down beside her chair. “Are you alright?”

 “My head just hurts,” Joan whispered, her voice quivering. “Th-that’s all.”

 “It’s all that caffeine,” Aragon shook her head. “Let’s go back to the hotel, hm? We can take care of you.”

Howard nodded. “Yes, that’s a good idea, Catalina. Come on, Joan. Can you stand?”

 “But...my work…” Joan cast a dismayed look at her table as Aragon hoisted her to her feet. “I have to…”

 “Shh, it’s alright,” Howard calmed her. “It’ll all still be here when you feel better. Now, come on.”

Joan staggered along with Howard and Aragon, lagging behind because of her exhaustion and obvious discomfort. Howard had to slow down at one point and steady the poor, clumsy little thing when she stumbled.

Getting to the hotel room Howard and Aragon shared for that trip was a blessing.

 “Oh, honey,” Howard murmured when Joan collapsed against one of the beds. She didn’t even climb onto it entirely, just crumpled. Howard sat down next to the girl and rubbed firm circles against her back. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”

Joan, despite her condition, shook her head.

Aragon chuckled. “Someone is stubborn,” She mused while gliding to the bathroom. Howard heard her turn on the bath faucet, which made Joan’s head pop up.

 “Wh-what are you doing?” Joan asked. “What’s--”

 “Shh,” Howard stroked her cheeks with her thumbs. “Catalina is running you a nice, hot bath so you can clean up and relax. Then you can snuggle up with us and get some rest. How does that sound?”

Joan shook her head. “N-no. I can’t.” She tried to stand up, but whimpered sharply and nearly collapsed again. Howard eased her back down.

 “What hurts?” Howard asked.

 “M-my head,” Joan whispered. “And my back…”

 “Your posture probably isn’t the best, huh?” Howard said. “That stool you have to sit in for the show must really mess you up?”

Joan nodded with a tiny whine. She leaned her head against Howard’s shoulder, her entire body shuddering with exhaustion.

 “The bath is ready,” Aragon said, walking out a few minutes later. She smiled at Joan. “Come on, precious.”

Joan hobbled to the bathroom, which Howard joined her in, seeing as she was way too sleepy to bathe herself, and the last thing they wanted was for their music director to accidentally drown herself.

 “That is SO RUDE!” Aragon bellowed when she was banished from the bathroom with them. “Why can’t I be in there, too?”

 “Because Joan is already going to be awkward enough,” Howard said calmly. “Plus, she’s already seen me naked before from when she worked for me. It’s kind of a mutual thing. It’ll make it less weird.”

 “But I wanna help!” Aragon protested, almost whining like a child, which made Howard chuckle.

 “You can get some painkillers. Maybe even some lunch?” Howard suggested.

Aragon thought over it, then gave in. “Fine! But I won’t be happy about it. And I get to help next time!”

Howard laughed. “Alright, alright. Now, shoo.”

After Aragon left, Howard turned to her patient hunched on the toilet, barely awake. Howard had to help her undress and then step into the warm bathwater, which seemed to rouse her slightly.

 “The director is gonna be so mad at me,” Joan groaned.

 “And why is that?” Howard asked as she used a plastic cup to pour water over Joan’s head.

 “Falling behind on work,” Joan answered, fumbling with her words slightly. “‘E’s not gonna take me seriously, Kat…”

 “He’ll understand that you needed to take a small break to take care of yourself,” Howard said. “And, besides, won’t you be able to do more work with rest? You’ll be even more efficient than you are now!”

Joan shrugged. “Maybe…” She let out an adorable yawn.

Howard chuckled. She began scrubbing vanilla-scented shampoo into Joan’s hair, washing out all the grease and oil that had coated the white-blonde locks. Joan began to coo as she massaged her scalp.

 “Relaxing, isn’t it?” Howard said, keeping her voice soft.

 “Mhm…” Joan agreed sleepily. “Really nice…”

 “You are so cute.” Howard said, and Joan appeared to be too tired to be flustered over the comment.

Silence fell over the bathroom as Howard washed the young music director. She took note of how skinny Joan still was, though she supposed what it was like having a high metabolism. Joan had stated several times that she always stayed thin no matter how much she ate, which she didn’t particularly like because she wanted to gain more muscle and body fat, since she didn’t exactly have much of either. To Howard and Aragon, her body type was worrying. She looked like she would snap in half like a twig if she so much as got pat on the back a little too hard.

 “Kat…?” Joan’s voice came, so soft and wry.

 “Yes, sweetie?” Howard replied.

 “Is--is there any water?” Joan swallowed thickly. “I feel kinda funny…”

Howard made a sympathetic noise. All that caffeine must be kicking poor Joan’s ass.

 “Yeah, lemme go get some. I’ll be right back.”

Howard was only gone for a minute or so, but that was enough time for Joan to leap out of the bathtub and crash onto the floor. Howard heard her thump against the ground as she grabbed a water bottle and quickly rushed back into the bathroom to find Joan hunched over the toilet, dripping wet, shaking uncontrollably, and throwing up.

 “Oh, sweetheart…”

Howard went to Joan’s side instantly, wrapping a towel around her naked, shivering body. She gathered Joan’s freshly-cleaned hair out of the way and tied it back with a ponytail sitting on the sink counter.

 “Just let it up,” Howard said gently, rubbing circles against Joan’s upper back.

 “I’m t--” Joan was cut off by a hiccup that brought up a torrent of sick, and she could barely catch her breath before she threw up again.

 “There you go,” Howard soothed. “Good girl. Remember to breathe, honey.”

 “There’s nothing left,” Joan panted after a few moments of heaving. She collapsed back into Howard’s arms.

 “I know,” Howard said, running her fingers through Joan’s soaked hair. “Your poor tummy. Are you feeling any better after getting all that out?”

Joan shrugged weakly. “K-kinda? I’m still really tired and my head hurts…”

 “Catalina will be back soon with medicine,” Howard said.

And, speak of the devil, Aragon came in a few moments later, loaded with plastic bags on her wrists.

 “I’m back!” The gold queen called in a sing-song, Welsh-tinged voice. She peered through the door Howard had left half open. “Woah. What did I miss? Is everything okay?” She gave Joan a worried look.

 “Our Joey may be just a little caffeine overdosed,” Howard said.

 “Oh, poor thing,” Aragon bustled inside the bathroom with the bags and knelt besides the pair. She gently caressed one of Joan’s cheeks. “Hey, baby girl. Not feeling too great, huh?”

Joan shook her head with a whimper.

 “I’m going to go get the bed ready for her,” Howard said. “Can you take her? And give her some painkillers.”

Aragon nodded and wrapped Joan’s quaking, towel-swathed body into her arms. Joan instantly curled into her warmth and Aragon smiled.

 “You heard the boss,” Aragon said jokingly. “Let’s get some medicine in you.”

Joan obliged and took a few tablets of Ibuprofen, then promptly curled back up in Aragon’s arms, which she remained in until Howard came back in saying the bed was ready. Aragon carried her to the bed after helping her get dressed.

 “Sorry for being so much trouble…” Joan said guiltily.

 “Nonsense.” Aragon said. “No trouble at all.”

 “We want to help you feel better, sweetie.” Howard added.

Joan didn’t look completely convinced, but nodded anyway. She yawned adorably.

 “Get some sleep, sweet girl.” Aragon said.

Joan listened, and fell asleep within a few minutes, curled between Howard and Aragon.

 “I always wanted a daughter.”

Aragon looked up at Howard curiously. “Really?”

 “Mhm,” Howard nodded, smiling. She stroked Joan’s hair with a loving look in her eyes. “I wanted to have a daughter so I could give her a better life than I had. I was going to spoil her so much. She would be my little princess. Hopefully a Mini Me. I thought that would have been cute.” She chuckled. “I was thinking of the name Patricia.”

Aragon burst into laughter so loud that Joan stirred and whined softly in her sleep. Howard gave her a scolding look.

 “Sorry, sorry,” Aragon said through giggles. “It’s just-- Patricia? Really?”

Howard lifted her nose haughtily. “Yes! I thought it was a very unique name for that time! You don’t run into very many Patricia’s!”

Aragon laughed again.

 “Do not laugh at me!” Howard barked. “I bet you’re just jealous that you didn’t come up with such a creative name. You went with Mary. Yuck! So boring! So bland! Where’s the originality?”

Aragon continued to laugh, so much so that she actually started to snort, which then made Howard laugh. Between them, Joan whined, then raised a sluggish hand to swat at them.

 “Be quiet,” The music director whined. “I’m try’na sleep!”

 “Sorry, baby,” Howard softened her voice. She smoothed back Joan’s hair. “Go back to sleep. We’ll be quiet.”

Joan mumbled something else, then promptly conked out again. Aragon laughed softly.

  “So grumpy!” Aragon said. “But back to you wanting a daughter!”

Howard nodded. “It never happened, clearly. But I still sometimes wish. Maybe it’s because I’m in an adult body now. I have a chance at motherhood.” She smiled lovingly down at Joan. “I guess my prayers were answered.”

 “She’s no Patricia,” Aragon said, and Howard whacked her arm.

 “She’s better than any Patricia,” Howard said. “She’s so precious. I’m lucky to have her.”

Aragon smiled. “We both are. I’m glad I get another chance to be a proper mother.”

 “Even though you’re kind of a brat at times.”

 “Oi! Rude!”

Howard laughed. “Sorry, sorry! But I’m happy for you, Catalina. Really.”

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, either gazing down at Joan’s peaceful form or watching the TV.

 “I can’t believe you wanted to have a Princess Patricia.”

 “Oh-- Shut up!”

#six the musical #six the musical fanfic #six the musical fanfiction #tour katherine howard #tour catherine of aragon #katherine howard #catherine of aragon #tour joan on the keys #uk tour six #shelter #tw: emetophobia #tw: vomit

[ronoken]

Take Tour Shot - Part 4

This is the end of the first section, kinda like a pilot for this idea. I have the next one thought out, as well as the introduction of our proper villain, but I want to know what you think. Is this worth continuing? What would you like to see? Let me know.

For reference, here are parts one, two, and three.

*** 

Gina circled the block and hid behind a van as she frantically tugged at the mask on her face.

“Why doesn’t this come off?” She whisper-shouted. “I need to change back. I can’t have anyone see me like this! I can’t… How do I change?”

Annie was beside her, leaning against the van. She was watching Gina’s mini-breakdown and laughing to herself. “Geez girlie, you really like ta get bent out of shape, ya know that?”

“Tell me how to get this off!” Gina yelled.

“Okay, okay! Geez. Just say giddy up again. It’s magic, and magic responds to verbal commands.”

Gina kept tugging as she said, “Giddy up.”

There was a flash of light, and Gina nearly fell over as she found herself back in her regular clothing. She steadied herself along the side of the van and looked to Annie.

“That was… That was a monster. I just fought a monster!”

“Correction, you beat the mashed potatoes out of a monster. Shot it in the head, too.” Annie pointed out. She patted Gina on the shoulder. “Nice job for your first outing. I figured we’d just shoot at some tin cans and take a run, but you really outdid yourself.”

“I could have died,” Gina said. She was shaking like a leaf.

“But you didn’t,” Annie pointed out.

“No thanks to you,” Gina shouted.

“Excuse me? All thanks to me, missy. Without those fancy powers, you would have ended up monster chow. Yer gentleman down the street, too.”

“He’s,” Gina started before trailing off. “He’s just a friend.”

Annie stared for a moment. “A friend,” she parroted back.

Gina was too shaken to catch the sarcasm in Annie’s voice.

“I should get home,” Gina said, mostly to herself. She glanced to Annie. “Um, if my mom sees you…”

“Don’t even worry about it,” Annie said dismissively. “Yer the only one who can see or hear me, seein’ as how yer wearin’ the charm. Think of me as a guardian angel.”

Gina stared.

“Helpful spirit?” Annie offered.

Gina grumbled under her breath and started walking home.

“What was that?” Annie asked.

“I said, it’s awfully convenient that the minute I get a magic charm bracelet, my neighbor turns into some metallic monster that only I can defeat.”

Annie shrugged. “Look, I don’t make the rules, missy. If the magic chose you…”

“A carny chose me,” Gina corrected Annie as she slinked behind her neighbor’s house and into a dark backyard.

“If the magic chose you,” Annie continued, “then there was a darn good reason. Maybe it knew it was time. Maybe it knew this was comin’.”

Gina paused and glanced to Annie. “Is that how it works?”

Annie shrugged. “Beats me, partner. I’m not a sorceress.”

Gina slipped into her home through the back patio door, which was still unlocked. She had planned on just heading up to a well-deserved shower and bed, but was stopped cold by the sight of her mother frantically screaming into the phone.

“She’s five foot, brown hair, glasses… OHMYGODGINA! She, yes. She just walked in. Thank you, officer.” Gina’s mom hung up and charged her daughter, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Gina’s mother, Dr. Mosey, shouted as she sobbed against Gina’s shoulder.

Gina, still dumping adrenaline, gave her a trembling hug back. “I, God, mom, I’m sorry. I just, when the monster, um, when I saw it, I, um, I ran to get away?”

Dr. Mosey pulled back to look her daughter in the eye. They were roughly the same height, as tall genes had never quite run in their family. “And you didn’t think to call me?”

“I thought you were at the lab,” Gina meekly offered.

“I was nearby when the commotion started, and when I went to check on you, you weren’t there, and…”

Dr. Mosey hugged her daughter again. “I just can’t lose you, too. You’re all I have, sweetheart. I was so scared. God, I was so scared.”

“It’s okay, mom.” Gina hugged her again, firmer this time. “I’m okay, really. I promise.”

Gina could tell her mother had just come from work. Dr. Mosey (Susan to her friends) tended to mix casual with professional, and by that, I mean she wore acid-washed jeans and a wrinkled purple tee shirt under a snug, yet open, lab coat. It was her mother’s signature lab look. It also explained a lot of Gina’s own fashion sense, or lack thereof.

And before you judge? Look, lab work is grueling and takes time and I think you’d want the people who need to critically focus on diseases and cellular structures to be comfortable, or would you prefer they be distracted by some stiff, formal business attire? This isn’t an office, people. It’s chaos in the form of $500,000 worth of analyzing equipment crammed into a space the size of a teen’s bedroom. That lab has more empty energy drinks and discarded pizza boxes than any dorm room you can find, and…

Sorry. Back to the story.

“Mom, I promise, I’m fine. I just… Did you see it? The, uh, the monster?”

Gina felt her mother nod against her.

“I saw it,” Susan said. “I saw it.”

“What was it? Do you know? I mean, I’ve never seen anything like that, and…”

Susan kissed Gina’s head. “Honestly, I couldn’t 100% say. Something like that, well, I’d want to run some tests before saying one way or the other.”

Gina let out a small snort. It was exactly the kind of answer she expected from her mother.

They stayed like that for a few moments, each just glad that things had calmed down. The moment passed when Gina felt a tired yawn escape her. Susan patted her on the back and said, “Why don’t you head to bed, okay? I doubt we’ll see anything like that again tonight. Whatever it was.”

Gina was in no position to argue. She was exhausted, confused, and most of all, she felt gross. A hot shower and some warm sheets sounded like Heaven.

“Yeah, okay. I, um, I love you. Do you have work in the morning?”

Susan nodded. “I’ll be gone before you’re up. You good to make yourself breakfast, kiddo?”

Gina nodded. She usually was.

“Then head to bed. Let your mother worry about things for a while, okay?” Gina’s mom kissed her forehead before shooing her up the stairs. Gina nodded in agreement as she yawned again.

“That’s… Yeah. I, um, I’m glad you’re okay. I love you,” she said.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Now, get to bed,” Dr. Mosey said.

Gina headed upstairs as Dr. Mosey stood in the well-furnished room. As soon as her daughter was out of earshot, she collapsed into her husband’s old blue recliner, buried her face in her hands, and wept.

***

Gina finally got a moment to herself when she removed the charm bracelet. Like magic, Annie disappeared from her side, and the bathroom was blessedly quiet.

The silence and privacy gave Gina a chance to finally reflect on what had happened. She stood in the steady stream of hot water and stared off into space as the fight replayed itself in her mind. She thought about Andre and how frightened he looked. She thought about how close she came to dying, the ghost lady who was egging her on, the whole superhero thing, ghosts, life…

Gina only snapped out of it when the hot water heater ran out of hot water to give. She quickly rinsed off and headed to bed, grateful for the day to be over.

As she lay buried in her comforter and dressed in her freshly washed pajamas (which consisted of some boxer shorts from Target and an old, faded PJ Harvey concert shirt her mother had tucked away in the back of a dresser), she held up the charm bracelet and lazily twirled it between her fingers.

Finally, after some internal deliberation, she slid it back on.

She didn’t hear anything immediately, but she did notice the room was now glowing with a faint, blue light.

“Annie?” Gina asked into the dark of the room.

“Yeah?” Annie’s voice quietly replied.

Gina kept her eyes on the charm. “You’re, um, you’re dead, right?”

“Ah yep. Passed on in ’26.”

“What was it like?”

Gina patiently waited.

“…Well, I suppose you could say it was a relief. I was sick for a while, an’ the doctors could never get what was wrong with me quite down. Said it was anemia, but I was never certain.”

“How old were you?”

“I was sixty six. I’d just moved back to Ohio after doin’ a lil’ revival tour and, well… Life happens, I reckon.”

Gina lay in silence for a bit. Outside, the muffled sound of the EMT vehicles pulling away could be heard.

“Did it hurt?”

Gina’s voice was quiet, even in the stillness of the room. She felt something gently press on her shoulder. When she opened her eyes and looked, she saw a glowing blue hand.

“No, sweetie. It didn’t hurt. It felt like, well, like when you’ve been runnin’ and runnin’, and all you wanna do is rest, but you feel like you just can’t stop, but when you finally do… You just let go. The world gets all soft around the edges, sounds slip away… It was like falling asleep.” Annie let out a small laugh. “And then I woke up tethered ta that there charm. Guess I did a lil’ too well at runnin’, seein’ as how someone decided I should keep it up.”

“Should I take you off for bed?” Gina asked. She was trying to keep her eyes open, but they were so heavy, and she was so tired.

“Don’t you worry yourself about it. I’ll be here when ya wake up.”

Gina didn’t answer, as she was already slipping away due to exhaustion. She only mildly registered her comforter being tucked up around her as she finally drifted off to sleep.

#original work #gina mosey #take your shot

[marvelslut16]

Nurse Dustin

Pairing: Dustin Henderson x reader 

Synopsis: (Y/N) sprain her knee. and long time crush and best friend Dustin Henderson takes care of her. 

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of injury and sprained knee. 

Word count: 1709

Author’s note: Sorry if this sucks, I wrote it fast. I went on a walk with my best friend yesterday and busted my shit slipping on wet leaves. So I’m 99.99% sure I sprained my knee, so it’s loosely based off that. I go to the doctor later to find out for sure, so wish me luck.

You had been best friends with Dustin Henderson since you were in diapers thanks to the fact that you two are neighbors. When he befriended Lucas, Mike, and Will, so did you; and all of you created the party. 

Through your years of friendship nothing had been as high stakes as these past two years. Last year Will was taken into the upside down and you met and lost El. This past year the party met Max, got El back, and Dustin found and was raising a Demodog. Two years where you all could have easily died, but none of you got seriously injured.  

But of course you got injured, and are stuck in bed all spring break. All because of some stupid prank. It was a typical rainy Midwestern spring day, the ground was covered in a layer of rainwater. You were walking up to meet the party when Lucas jumped out from behind a garbage can with construction paper made to look like a demogorgon around his head. 

Not only did Lucas scare you, but he scared El as well. She had just been adopted by chief Hopper, and started dating Mike even though she didn’t start school yet. Both you and El jumped, in doing so El accidentally nudged you, since you happened to be beside her, right as you were coming down. Because of the slight nudge your footing was knocked off ever so slightly, causing your left foot to slip on the wet pavement as you were landing back on the ground.

 The next thing you know, you’re on the ground and your friends are surrounding you. Lucas and El are both apologizing profusely as Dustin helps you stand. You start to laugh at the situation, that is until you put weight back onto your left foot your knee shifts and pops back into place, when did it ever pop out of it?

“Shit,” you grit your teeth as pain shoots through your knee causing you to lean your weight on Dustin. 

“(Y/N), what’s wrong?” Dustin asked worriedly. 

“It’s my knee,” you sniffle, holding your few tears back as you try to walk and it shifts again. “It hurts like a bitch,” you give your friends a weak smile and a light laugh, hoping you can just laugh it off.

Luckily, you weren’t too far from your house, and Dustin offered to walk you there. Dustin got you comfortable on the couch, even running to your kitchen to get ice once you arrived at the house. After he left, however, your parents ripped into you about being reckless, careless and a klutz. 

After a quick trip to the doctor to confirm your mothers diagnosis, you had sprained your knee. While you were able to walk on it, with lots of pain and even more convincing yourself to actually put weight on it; your parents wanted it up, iced, and wrapped for the next week. Spring break. You had planned on spending most of the break at the arcade with the party. 

“Hey Mr. and Mrs. (Y/L/N),” you heard the unmistakable voice of your best friend, and secret crush, Dustin. You could tell just from the way his voice carried through the house that he was grinning at your parents, that adorable toothless grin that lights up any room he’s in. 

“(Y/N) is in her room, we were about to head to the store, do you think you could sit with her?” your mom asks. Please let him say yes, you think, because if he doesn’t they’ll ask your nosy neighbor to come watch you. 

“Of course,” Dustin’s voice is closer to your room now. His curly mop of hair bounces as he rounds the corner and through your doorway.

“Hey Dusty,” you push yourself so your sitting up and grin at him. 

“I brought you these,” he pulls a bouquet of tulips from behind his back “the party chipped in, but they’re mainly from me.” He grins his toothless grin at you, and you can’t keep the smile off your face. 

“Thank you, I love them!” you smile widely at them before smelling the tulips. “Thank the party for me.”

“Honey, your father and I are going to go grocery shopping,” your mom walks in holding a vase of water for your flowers. She sets the vase on your nightstand and you lean over to put them in the cool water. “We should be back in a couple of hours, but Dustin agreed to stay with you until we’re back.”

“Okay,” you smile up at her. 

“I love you,” she kisses your forehead before heading towards the door to your room. 

“Love you too,” I grimace slightly as Dustin smirks at our interaction.

“Bye Dustin,” your mom smiles at him before walking down the hall and out the door.

“How are you?” Dustin asks after the front door shuts behind your parents. 

“I’ve definitely been better,” you force out a smile. “Where is the party?”

“They’re at the fucking arcade.”

“Why aren’t you with them?” you ask.

“I’d rather be right here,” he sits in the chair beside your bed. 

“I’d rather you be here too,” you grab his hand that he set on the bed. After talking for awhile you start to grow restless, there’s only so long you can just sit here and do nothing. 

“Do you need anything?” Dustin asks worriedly.

“Can you hand me those?” you point to the crutches leaning against your desk.

“I didn’t know you needed crutches,” he sounds increasingly worried as he jumps up to grab them for you. It must be nice to be able to get up like that. You gently swing your legs over the edge of your bed and wait for him to walk back to you.

“They’re just to make sure I don’t re-injure my knee and tear a ligament,” you readjust the black brace sitting snugly on your knee.  When Dustin hands you the crutches, you gently get up, making sure not to put any weight onto your left leg. This fucking blows. “Can you get me more water while I go to the bathroom?” you ask hopefully. 

Dustin doesn’t even respond, just grabs your glass and runs out to the kitchen. You hop across the hall to the bathroom, your still not that great but you're definitely getting the hang of those crutches. You hop around the bathroom doing your business, you can hear Dustin rustling around your kitchen. He’s probably looking for a snack, you grin to yourself. 

As your washing your hands you accidentally knock your brush onto the floor, causing a loud thud to resonate through your silent house. You stare down at the brush as tears start to race to the surface. You’re so distracted that you almost don’t hear the loud shit come from Dustin, before the even louder footfalls coming down the hall.

“I’m coming in (Y/N),” Dustin warns. “Make sure you’re covered.” The door opens and Dustin comes in view, eyes covered to make sure he doesn’t see anything he shouldn’t. 

“I’m fine Dustin” you say weakly and sniffle. Dustin’s hand drops and his eyes snap up to meet yours at the sound of your broken voice. 

“Shit, sweetheart what’s wrong,” he steps forward and cups your cheeks, wiping away your tears. Which of course makes you cry more, all of the emotions you had been holding in were flooding out. 

“I’m just so sick of this. I’m sick of not being fine and being kept away from my friends. I’m sick of being cooped up in my room with nothing to do. And most of all, I’m so sick of feeling weak and helpless. I dropped my damn brush and it’s too tight in here for me to lean down and grab it,” you let out a little sob.

“Don’t worry about the brush,” he leans down and picks it up. “Just worry about fixing yourself, it’s boring as shit without you. Now let's get that knee back up.” 

Dustin shoos you towards your room before heading back to the kitchen. You make it to your bed before he comes back with a glass of water, pringles, and nilla wafers. You giggle slightly before sliding onto the bed. He sets the food and drink down, before coming to assist you with putting your knee back up on the pillow. 

Dustin goes to sit back down on the chair, but you let out a whine in protest, patting the empty space to your right. Dustin grins before carefully climbing up beside you. He passes you the pringles as the two of you talk about what you've missed since you got injured a few days ago, which unsurprisingly is a lot. 

Once you're satisfied with your pringles, you hand the can back to him so he can set it on your table. Without thinking, you cuddle up to his warm side and rest your head on his shoulder. After a few agonizingly slow seconds, he runs his fingers through your hair. 

“You’re the best nurse Dustin Henderson,” you cuddle in closer.

“And your the most amazing patient,” he admits nervously. You adjust your head so you're staring right into his eyes. Dustin gulps and looks to the foot of the bed, clearly nervous to see your reaction. You quickly lean up as far as you can without jostling your knee, and give him a quick kiss on the lips. 

Now it’s your turn to look away from him and anxiously await his reaction. A grin splits his face before he gently grabs your chin to face him. He pulls your face closer and kisses you again. You both grin into the kiss. 

“I have the best god damn girlfriend in the world,” he breathes as you pull apart. “And the hottest.”

“Who’s this girlfriend of yours?” you tease him.

“You obviously,” he tries to act annoyed, but he can’t keep the grin from his face. “You’re stuck with me (Y/N) (Y/L/N).” 

“And your stuck being a one woman guy Dustin Henderson,” you grin up at him, placing a lingering kiss on his cheek. Who knew spraining a knee could turn out to be this amazing?

Permanent tags:  @crimson-knuckled-queen​ @rexorangecouny​

#dustin henderson x reader #dustin henderson #stranger things #Stranger Things Season 1 #stranger things imagine #stranger things season 2 #stranger things season 3 #dustin henderson x you #dustin henderson imagine

[animeniacss]

6 Years - Hoseok x Reader - Chapter 12 - Dinner for Two

Synopsis: 6 years. That’s all it can take to take another look at someone and see that they have completely changed. You were once an eager 20-year-old, with your dreams all in view, and Jung Hoseok at your side to view them with you. However, after a break up the end of your junior year of college, everything seemed different. Now, you’re a recently divorced single mother of two, and your life is nowhere near what you thought it would be. However, after reuniting with Jung Hoseok, you may just be able to capture a little bit of that exciting youth you once knew so long ago.

Feat. BTS Members, Nayeon (TWICE), and Yuna (itzy)

Genre: Romance, SingleMother!AU, Past Relationship, Drama, Some Depictions of Violence/Domestic Abuse

Length: approx. 4.5k words

Chapter 12 - Dinner for Two 

           Hoseok was hanging out with his friends, Namjoon and Yoongi, the three of them at a bar enjoying each other’s company. Yoongi was working as an up and coming producer, helping out with a few small companies that were debuting rookie idols. Namjoon was still in school, studying to be a professor at the local university due to his incredible intelligence. Laughter and chatter swarmed the trio at their table as Yoongi was sharing a story from one of the producer parties. He was talking about different people that he had met and the experiences he had, and his delivery of the information had the other boys in stitches. As the three were relaxing, Hoseok felt his phone vibrate.

           “Oh, hold on, guys.” He said, pulling out his phone. He saw your photo show up on his screen, and he smiled a bit. “I need to take this.”

           “Is this your girlfriend?” Namjoon asked playfully, leaning forward to take a peek.

           “I think you mean ex-girlfriend girlfriend.” Yoongi hummed, sipping his drink as he too leaned forward to see who it was. “Aaah, I was right. She looks exactly the same.” Hoseok hid his phone, pouting at his friends.

           “I’ll be right back.” He huffed playfully, getting up and excusing himself. He hurried outside of the bar, where there were few people around. Pressing the red accept button, he pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He hummed, putting his hand in his pocket. He was waiting for a response, but what he didn’t expect was the sound of you blubbering something, an attempt to communicate with him before just collapsing into muffled sobs onto the phone. “Wha- hey! What’s wrong?” You continued to sob, almost as if he wasn’t there. He tried calling your name a few times to get your attention, and after the third try, it worked.

           “A-are…. are you busy?” He heard you choke out between sobs.

           “What’s wrong?” He asked again. When he heard you sniffle and attempt to gasp for air, he glanced over his shoulder. He saw Namjoon and Yoongi inside, still chatting and drinking their beers. He had been there for a while already, and it sounded like you needed him now more than ever. “I’m out with some friends, so I may be a little late but I can come.” He said. He heard you gasp, and a hiccup escaped your lips.

           “Oh my God, I’m sorry.” You said shakily. “I didn’t want to bother you. I-I’ll call Nayeon. Please, don’t worry about me.”

           “I can’t do that if you called me in tears and you know that.” He heard you slowly begin to relax, your sobs turning into soft whimpers and hiccups of tears. “Give me a few minutes and I can come by.” He said.

           “I don’t want you to cancel your plans…. for me. That’s not faaaaairrrrr….” He heard you begin to sob again. Hoseok let out a deep sigh, trying to think of what to do. Glancing back at his friends once more, he knew if he didn’t go help you out, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

           “I’ll be over soon.” He said quickly. You tried to protest, but he wouldn’t have it. “No, no. I’m coming over. I can’t let you sit in your apartment alone sobbing. Just relax, take some deep breaths, I’m on my way. Okay?” With you confirming, he hung up and stuck his phone in his pocket. Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand through his hair and pursed his lips. “Dang it.” Turning on his heel, he headed back inside.

           “Hm? How’d it go?” Namjoon asked, looking up at his friend as he returned to the table. Immediately, Yoongi and Namjoon both noticed Hoseok looked a bit agitated. “Is everything okay?”

           “Yeah. I need to go. She called me in absolute hysterics and I don’t know why. I can’t leave her alone like that, her kids aren’t home.” He grabbed his coat and tossed some bills onto the table for his bottle. “I’m sorry guys.”

           “Don’t worry, go.” Yoongi said, playfully shooing him off. “Maybe now that bartender that was staring at you all night will give Namjoon a chance.” The other boy turned to his friend with wide eyes as Hoseok laughed a bit. A small smile formed on the man’s face, patting Namjoon’s shoulder to indicate that he was only kidding around. “We’ll catch up again soon. Go do what you have to do.”

           “Thanks, Hyung.” Hoseok said. Saying his goodbyes, he hurried out of the bar and tried to think of the quickest way to your apartment. He wasn’t far, but he had to hail a car just to make sure that he got there quicker than he would on foot. When he got to your apartment complex, he sent you a text to let you know that he was headed up and to unlock the door. The entire ride up the elevator was silent, and he was anxious. His mind was racing with what could have possibly had you so shaken up. He had a few ideas, and he did not want any of them to be true. The ding of the elevator hitting the floor altered his attention to the opening doors, and he stepped out, picking up the pace to the apartment. He wasted no time knocking and calling your name. “Open up! It’s me!” It took a moment, but he heard the jiggle of the lock before the apartment door opened. It opened fully, revealing you standing before him. Your hair was a mess, and your face was even worse. Red, puffy eyes stared at Hoseok with a mixture of sadness and anxiety. There were tear stains on your face, and your cheeks were cherry red from all of the crying. “Hey…” he said softly, stepping closer to you. He closed the door, reaching his hands out for you to take however you wanted to best comfort you. “Are you okay?”

           Without missing a beat, you threw yourself into his arms, sniffling as your arms locked tightly around his neck. Hoseok stumbled a bit from the force but wasted no time holding you tightly.

           “I’m sorryyyy. You didn’t have to come…” you managed to sob out in between hiccups and tears.

           “Are you kidding? With you like this, I had to come! I’m glad you called me…now…” he pulled you back just a little bit to see your face. “Tell me what happened, okay?” You were still trying to catch your breath, and that was when Hoseok noticed two marks on your cheeks, that looked like they were forming bruises. “What on earth happened to you?” he asked curiously, his hands lifting up to touch your cheeks. You sniffled, biting your lip as you tried to think of how you wanted to start explaining this.

           “Weong-Bin came here so pissed off.” You said softly. “He started telling me I should have called him when I was sick and that he was not happy you and I were spending time together. When I told him to stop, he got angry and started yelling and threw my pot of food off the stove. He also-.” You motioned to the marks on your cheeks. “-Grabbed me really hard.” You sniffled, feeling your eyes water again. “I was going to call my brother, but he was out and I didn’t want to bother him. I didn’t know you were out too, I’m so sorry, I-.”

           “Don’t apologize.” Hoseok said quickly, pulling you back into a tight hug. “It’s okay. I promise it’s okay. Please, for the love of God, do not apologize.” You sniffled, your hands gripping the back of his shirt as you nuzzled his chest.

“I don’t even understand why he was so mad. I just don’t understand. He went from 0 to 500 so fast.” You said softly. Hoseok nodded, just letting you vent without interrupting for a few moments. From where he was standing, he saw the mess from the thrown pot that wasn’t cleaned up yet. It was scattered all over the floor and he sighed, running a hand through your hair.

“Let me help you clean up, yeah?” he asked curiously once he heard you stop venting softly into his chest. You nodded, pulling back from the hug as he led you into the kitchen. He immediately scooped up the pot, putting it into the sink before he grabbed the mop from the kitchen. He began to mop up the spilled food. It wasn’t much, but he threw it all away and wiped up any extra dirt on the floor. “There. Like nothing happened.” He turned to you with a smile. “It’s like I’m a magician, yeah?” he cooed. Finally, he saw a glimpse of a smile on your face. “Aaaah, I saw that.” He cooed, walking over to you. He saw that the tears had finally stopped and used that as an opportunity to wipe away any lingering ones on your cheeks. “There we go. No need to cry, it’ll be okay.” You took a deep, shaky breath.

Suddenly, a loud noise emanated from your stomach, and you blushed. You hadn’t realized yet that you hadn’t eaten for almost 7 hours, the last time being during your lunch break. You rubbed your stomach and groaned. “I’m starving…” you muttered softly. Hoseok smiled a bit.

“Why don’t we go get something to eat?” he asked curiously. “Is your friend working tonight?” When he saw you nod, a grin formed on his face. “Great! Get yourself ready, it’ll be fun~!”

“But-.”

“Nope. No buts. You can’t sit here all night and think about your terrible ex-husband. It gives you wrinkles.” You chuckled as you felt Hoseok begin playfully pushing you towards the bedroom. “Go on now, get dressed. I’ll wait here.”

“You’re an idiot.” You huffed, closing the door to your room as you heard Hoseok giggle. Sighing, you went to your closet and grabbed a nice blouse and a pair of jeans to put on. You were not in the mood to doll yourself up. As you tossed on your clothes and ran a brush through your hair, you looked yourself over in the mirror. Your face was still red and blotchy from all the sobbing you did. “I need to cover up this mess…” you mumbled to yourself, digging in your drawer for some makeup. You applied it to your skin, covering up the evidence of your break down as much as you possibly could. Once you looked halfway decent, you stood up. “There we go.”

Hoseok was out in the living room, pacing the floor as he waited for you. He was infuriated that Weong-Bin had come here and treated you the way he did. However, he knew no good would come from confronting him, it would only escalate the situation and stress you out more. So, all he decided he could do was support you from the sidelines. But still, he was angry that you had to go through this. When he finally saw you come out, he turned to you and smiled happily. Your face looked brighter, though that was most likely the makeup, and a fresh pair of clothes made you look like a new woman. Hoseok approached you and happily offered you his arm. “Shall we?” he asked. You hesitated but wrapped your arm around his, nodding.

“Okay~.” You said happily, and he led you out of the apartment.

-----

“AH! I’m so happy you finally decided to come!” A voice shouted out as you and Hoseok entered the restaurant. You had texted Seokjin on the train ride to the restaurant so that he could expect you, and he eagerly assured you that he would have a table ready. It was a nice little restaurant, and Seokjin was already incredibly popular there, both for his cooking and his good-looks. He assured you it was his looks more, but that was Seokjin’s narcissism talking. He saw you both walk-in and excused himself from the kitchen, hurrying up to you as he wiped his hands on his apron. The first thing he did was embrace you in a hug that you were happy to return.

“I know. We were supposed to come tomorrow, but our plans changed.” You said to Seokjin as he pulled back to look at you.

“Either way, it took you long enough. My cooking has been waiting for you to taste it.” He offered you a childlike pout that made you smile. Then, you saw his zoom in on your face, tilting his head to get a good look at you. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying.” He pointed out. You blinked, nodding in response as you ran a hand through your hair.

“I’m okay. Just a long day, you know?” A giggle escaped your lips in hopes of lightening the situation. Seokjin pursed his lips in thought for a moment. Then you turned back to Hoseok, motioning him to Seokjin. “This is Hoseok…my…” you pursed your lips together, thinking of the best way to introduce him. You saw Hoseok shoot you a glance, and that only made you more anxious. Without missing a beat, Hoseok took Seokjin’s hand and shook his.

“A friend. Nice to meet you.” Hoseok said happily. Seokjin nodded as they shook hands.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m an old coworker of hers.” He said happily. You sighed in relief now that the introductions were done. “Here, I saved you guys a seat, come on.” He said, motioning you to follow him. You nodded, turning to Hoseok as he offered you his arm again, and led you into the restaurant. Seokjin was talking to you, asking about both your cold and Hyo Bin’s, about Min Ja, and about work now that you had returned today. He shared that he had mostly begun collecting hours the shift after yours now that you were back to work.

When you got to the table, Hoseok wasted no time pulling out your seat and motioning for you to sit.

“My gosh, what a gentleman.” You hummed, smiling at him as he pushed you in.

“Oh, my Mom and sister would kill me if they found out I didn’t do this kind of stuff.” Hoseok teased. “Especially for you.”

“Oh, I know.” You nodded as Hoseok sat across from you. You saw Seokjin call over one of the waitresses, and talk to her for a moment before turning back to you.

“Enjoy, guys. Call me before you go, okay?” He asked. You waved him off and watched him return to the kitchen. The waitress took your drink orders before disappearing into the crowd of people. Your eyes fell to the rectangular two-sided menu, scanning it for whatever sounded good. Your stomach was practically eating itself at this point. There was silence between you and Hoseok for a few minutes, but he finally spoke up.

“I’m glad your mood is already improving.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry again for-.”

“Stop.” He said quickly. You frowned.

“But I-.”

“Stoooooop.”

“Hobi-.”

“I’ll get louder.” He grinned a bit. Sighing in defeat, you rested against the back of the chair. “Just enjoy the food and don’t worry about apologizes. Jeez, Taehyung was right, you really are stubborn.” A laugh escaped your lips, and you crossed your arms.

“I am not.”

“That’s exactly what a stubborn person would say.” Hoseok cooed. “Now, on a different topic….” He set his menu down and leaned forward. “Why did you hesitate when introducing me to your friend?” You blinked, trying to think of what to say in response.

“Well, I didn’t want to introduce you to my ex-boyfriend. But….”

“But?”

“But I don’t want to introduce you as my friend anymore, either….”

“Ouch.” Hoseok pouted.

“That’s not what I meant.” You said quickly. “I just… well, it’s like you said, we should take our relationship slow. I agree, but….” When Hoseok saw you hesitate again, he reached out and took your hand, the comforting warmth of his hand embracing your sending a relaxing calm throughout your body. “I don’t want you to get involved with anything going on with Weong-Bin.”

“It seems I’m already involved.” Hoseok said. “Besides, you can do whatever you want. He can’t stop you anymore.”

“But he can try. That’s something I don’t want you to be mixed up in. You’ve been to good to me and the girls for you to be a target for his anger.” Hoseok chuckled. “But at the same time….” You gripped his hand tightly. “I feel like absolutely nothing has changed from six years ago to now.” Hoseok nodded.

“I agree.” He admitted. “I thought if I ever saw you again it would be really awkward. I’m glad it wasn’t.”

“It…it kinda was…” you mumbled, thinking back to how you had to have him put your coin purse into your mouth because your hands were full. Hoseok began to laugh as he recalled that moment in the café as well. “But seriously, what do you make of all this? You know…about me and you.” Hoseok hummed for a moment, his lips pushed together in a cute little “O” shape. You watched him for a moment, glancing between his face and your hands locked together between you.

“Well I think that-.” Before he could speak, the waitress returned with your drink orders and set them before you. Both of you glanced up at her, a slender brunette girl in her mid-twenties, and smiled.

“What can I get for you both?” She asked cheerily. Both of you scanned the menu for a moment but placed your orders pretty quickly. The waitress left with a smile, and both of you turned back to each other. You couldn’t help it and began to laugh a bit.

“That was perfect timing.” You said, covering your mouth as she continued to laugh.

“It must be a sigh. There’s no hope because she cut me the right way to perfection!” Hoseok said, and that only made you laugh harder.

“Oh my God…” you sighed, a few more giggles escaping your lips as the both of you tried to calm down your laughter before you began to disturb the people around you. As you both quieted your laughter, Hoseok took a deep breath.

“In all seriousness, I’ve enjoyed the time you have and I have been spending together recently.” He admitted. “But I don’t want to feel like I’m pressuring you into anything, so I’m trying to keep my distance. Because you’re right, Weong-Bin will find out and be furious, and I don’t want you to have to deal with that either.” You nodded. “But…I don’t know. I agree with you on everything, I just don’t know where to go from here…”

“Me either.” You admitted. “I like where this is going but…maybe we should just continue to take it slow for a little while. Maybe things will simmer down in time.” Hoseok nodded, a smile on his face. You could tell he looked a bit sad at that, and you’d be lying if you said that you felt any other way. “Want to get something to drink?” You asked curiously, reaching out to take his hand again. Hoseok nodded.

“Yeaaaaah.” You chuckled, calling the waitress over as the two of you ordered a drink for yourselves, hoping that would make you both feel better.

The rest of that evening was spent enjoying yourselves. You had gotten no more than two drinks, enough to loosen you both up while still keeping you both lucid. The dinner was phenomenal, but what did you expect from Seokjin, who kept praising his cooking all the time. You got a glimpse of his talents when he would give you a bite of his work lunches, but this was an entirely new experience. Also, Hoseok’s little noises and hums of enjoyment as he ate just made the experience that much more enjoyable.

“I might throw up if I eat anymore.” Hoseok said, pushing his almost empty plate away.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to throw up again….” You mumbled, thinking back to the nightmare you experienced earlier this week. Hoseok scanned the room for the waitress, calling her over and asking for the check. When she mentioned dessert, he quickly shook his head, saying he couldn’t eat anymore for the night. “Can you tell Seokjin to come out when he had a second, please?” You asked the waitress. She smiled, nodding as she headed into the back. You sighed, setting down your utensils as you looked around.

“Do you feel better now that you ate something?” Hoseok asked.

“I feel much better. Thank you…” you said happily. “The food was just as delicious as Seokjin said it would be.”

“Am I not a man of my word?” you heard him call, and you turned your head to see the handsome man approach you. “I promised you delicious food, and I gave it to you.”

“You certainly did.” Hoseok chuckled. The waitress returned, excusing herself to give you the check. Hoseok grabbed it and attempted to pull out his wallet, but Seokjin quickly took it from him. “Hm?”

“Consider this on me.” He said happily. You blinked.

“What? You don’t have to do that Seokjin…” You said.

“It’s okay. I want too. You both looked like you were having fun so just let me take this.” You and Hoseok looked at each other and then turned to see Seokjin hand the check back to the waitress. “Set that aside. I’ll get it before I clock out.” The girl's face turned red as she took the check, smiling.

“Okay, Jin-Oppa~.” She cooed, hurrying to the back of the restaurant. A confident grin graced Jin’s lips as he turned back to the both of you to see you were trying not to laugh.

“…What’s so funny?” he asked, frowning. You stood up from your seat, quickly reaching out to hug Jin tightly.

“Thanks so much for that. It was good to see you.” You said happily.

“Of course!” He said. “I’m glad I got to see you. So, you have to come by again soon! Okay?”

“Okay…” you said. He turned to Hoseok as he stood up, the duo quickly shaking hands.

“It was nice to finally meet you,” Hoseok said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things, and they’re all true.” Seokjin grinned as he got a bit flustered.

“Aw thanks. It was nice to meet you too. Come back soon…. friend.” His eyes fell to you, and your face heated up. A playful grin formed as Seokjin excused himself to go back into the kitchen and finish out his shift. You sighed, turning to Hoseok.

“Ready?” you asked curiously.

“Yep.” He offered you his arm once again, and you eagerly took it as the two of you headed home.

You walked down the street, chatting to each other about whatever came to mind. You were laughing and joking, having an all-around good time with each other. It was a nice night out, not to warm but still slightly chilly to make you want to nestle in close to Hoseok with every passing breeze. He didn’t mind, though, it just made him happier. When you finally arrived at your apartment, you let out a deep, sad sigh of disappointment at the idea that Hoseok would have to leave you now.

“Thanks for dinner.” You said softly as you stood in front of your door. Hoseok nodded.

“Of course. It was a fun night~.”

“More fun than drinking with Yoongi and Namjoon?” You asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. Hoseok shrugged.

“Hanging out with them didn’t win me a free meal.” He said, and you chuckled.

“That’s true.” You said, turning around to unlock the door to your apartment, you swung it open, and the cold, dark entrance to the living room waited before you. You flicked on the light in the hall and turned back to Hoseok, smiling happily.

There were a few moments of silence between the two of you, neither sure what to say that was appropriate to end the night together. There were moments neither of you was looking at each other, staring at whatever else your eyes would land on because staring at each other in silence was just too awkward. It was as if both of you had something to say, but neither knew how to say it.

“… Do you want to come in for a few minutes?” You finally spilled out, motioning inside. Hoseok chuckled.

“Sure, if you insist.” He said. You led him into the hallway and he closed the door behind him. Now that you were inside, you were both once again stuck in gridlock. “… Heh. I don’t know what to say.”

“Me either….” You nodded. “It feels like our first date a bit, doesn’t it?” You asked, a nostalgic smile dancing on your lips. Hoseok nodded in agreement as he thought back to eight years ago, both of you awkward teenagers trying to figure out what on earth they were supposed to do. Was a college relationship different than a high school one? It was new territory back then, and neither one of you walked onto the battlefield properly equipped. It felt so similar now, standing in front of him. However, instead of standing outside the entrance to your shared apartment, you were standing inside the apartment that only you occupied at the moment.

“…We can always end this night, like we ended the last one.” Hoseok pointed out. You looked up at him, and both of your cheeks tinted a bit pink. “I mean…if you want.” It took a moment for you to respond, but finally, you nodded.

“Okay…” you said softly. You took a step closer to him, smiling a bit. Hoseok chuckled, leaning down to offer you a small little peck on your lips. To be fair, that was how he kissed you goodbye on the first date. It was short, it was sweet, it was nice. He pulled back for a moment, but the space between you didn’t widen. If anything, it got closer together. After a few moments of silence, both of you staring at each other with lustfully curious eyes, it wasn’t long before you got on your tiptoes and offered him a longer, more passionate kiss goodbye. Hoseok was eager to reply, keeping you close to him as your arms wrapped around his neck. The two of you kept the kiss slow and simple for as long as you could, but you could feel his grip tightening on your waist just as yours began to tighten around his neck. After a moment, you pulled back from the kiss, but just slightly so you could say what you needed to before resuming.

“…So much for taking it slow, huh?” You gasped softly. A grin formed on Hoseok’s face. You saw his hand reach behind him and lock the door. As soon as you took the click, a smile formed on your face as well as you grabbed his hand and led him inside the bedroom.

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#bts #bangtan sonyeondan #fanfiction #bangtan boys #kim namjoon #rm #kim seokjin #jin #min yoongi #suga #jung hoseok #jhope #park jimin #jimin #kim taehyung #v #jeon jungkook #jungkook #reader insert #bts fanfiction #jhope x reader #hobi #6 Years FF

[iamnotoriginalphil]

Caught in the Heat (Loki x Reader) - Part 10

Synopsis: Everything finally feels right.

Words: 1315

Warnings: none

A/N: Well, this is it; the last part. I’ve been writing this for about 18 months I think and it’s finally done. Thank you for everyone who has left a comment or liked it. I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. 

Part one

Part two

Part three

Part four

Part five

Part six

Part seven

Part eight

Part nine

“Get out of it.”

You shooed Loki away from your notes. He smiled, wrapping his arm around your waist, putting his chin on your shoulder as he watched you read over the words you’d written earlier that day. You batted at him, laughing as he pinched at your side.

He hoisted himself onto the bench beside you as you slid onto your stool. You patted his leg as he quietened down, letting you work. He kept running his fingers over your bare forearm, sending shivers down your spine, but letting you get on with it.

“Hey Bruce,” you called.

“Yeah?” you heard from somewhere in the distance.

“Do you have the data from your experiment yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Can I go then?”

“You don’t need to ask permission.”

You smiled at Loki and hopped off your stool. You threaded your fingers through Loki’s, pulling him off the bench. You followed you, looking bemused as you pushed him into the lift. You selected the button for the level the communal kitchen was on. You needed some coffee.

He wrinkled his nose when he saw where you were. You rolled your eyes and dragged him into the room. Steve looked up but otherwise ignored you. You walked past with a wave, making your way to the coffee machine.

“Hello brother,” Thor said, getting up from the sofa.

“I wish to leave,” he said to you.

“You can wait for me to make more coffee or I can meet you in your room,” you said, “pick one.”

He grumbled but slouched off, leaving you to fend for yourself. You greeted Thor with a smile. He watched you move around the kitchen with practiced ease, making a mug of your glorious coffee. The lift doors opened.

“No serpent man?” Clint asked when he saw you.

You snorted which was answer enough. He hopped up onto the kitchen bench and you handed him a mug of coffee, making yourself another one. He took a long drink, smacking his lips when he was done.

“How goes the research?” he asked.

“Slowly,” you replied, taking your own drink.

“Is the dark cloud distracting you?” he asked.

“Not if he wants me to continue to acknowledge his existence,” you said.

“More like not if he wants you in his bed,” Clint said laughing.

You blushed, making him laugh harder.

“Go on,” he said, “go give him his reward.”

You flushed harder but stepped past him to get into the lift. You watched their laughing faces as the doors slid shut. Even Steve’s shoulders were shaking.

You stepped out on Loki’s floor, most of your coffee gone during the ride up. Loki was lying on the couch, his shoes off, a book already in his hands. He looked up when he saw you enter. You pushed away the thoughts Clint had put in your head.

You sat on the couch, readjusting his feet so they were in your lap. You lent back, closing your eyes, letting out a long sigh. The feet disappeared from your lap, a pair of arms wrapping around you. You were pulled back against a cool body. You opened your eyes to find Loki had discarded his book to the side. You put your mug on the floor, worried about spilling it. It wouldn’t be out of character for you to do it.

He pulled you back so you were lying with him on the sofa. Your legs tangled with his and your head was resting on his shoulder. He pressed his lips to your temple and you let out a long sigh.

“How would you feel if I gave up my apartment?” you asked.

“Why would you do that?” he asked.

“I never spend any time there. It seems silly to be giving them rent when I’m not using it. I’m always here anyway.”

“Are you asking to live with me?” he asked.

“I suppose I am,” you said.

“And here I thought you already did” he said.

“I think I’ve changed my mind,” you said, struggling to get up.

His arms tightened around you, not letting you leave the comfort of his hug. You struggled for a little longer before settling against him again. You could feel him smiling against the top of your head. You would have left him there if you thought you could get away with it.

He picked his book up again, reading out loud to you. You settled against him more comfortably, listening to his calming voice. You closed your eyes, letting yourself relax for the first time all day. His voice was soft, flowing like a stream over smooth stones.

“Don’t fall asleep,” he warned.

You murmured something, burying yourself further in his arms. He sighed and continued reading, lulling you into a false sense of security. You could feel sleep on the periphery, so close, just out of reach.

You were pushed off the couch.

You landed with a thump on the carpet, your eyes snapping open. You looked up at the smirking Loki and felt indignation in every bone of your body. You stood up, gave him a withering glare, and walked off. You ignored him as you walked to the small kitchenette he had, rummaging through his cupboards for something edible.

You ignored him as he slunk up behind you. He placed his hands on your hips, his breath ghosting over your ear. You ignored the goosebumps left in its wake.

“I did warn you.”

You pushed his hands from you, snatching up your mug from where you’d left it on the floor, and made for the lift. He followed behind.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“I want pizza,” you said, “and Tony threatened to lock me out of the lab if I keep stealing his mugs.”

“You are not going back to that pack of imbeciles, are you?” he asked.

“I suppose I am,” you replied, “they’re at least nice to me.”

“But they can’t do this.”

He pinned you to the wall, his lips sucking on the soft skin of your neck. You dropped the mug, sending it shattering over the floor. Your fingers were digging into his back as he ran his teeth over your sensitive skin. You let out a breathy moan.

“You know, I think they’re perfectly capable of doing that,” you said once he’d stepped back.

“Not if they want to leave with their lives,” he replied, his face turning dark.

“You promised no more murder,” you reminded him, crouching to collect the pieces of the the shattered mug.

You held them out to him and with a roll of his eyes he repaired it. You gave him a smile.

“Do you want pizza?” you asked.

“Why must you go down there to get pizza?” he asked.

“The delivery guy can’t fly.”

He huffed but he followed you into the lift. By the time you were in the public kitchen you were on the phone to your favourite delivery place, putting in your order. You repeated the shouted requests from the rest of the team once they realised what you were doing. You shoved the mug into the soapy water Sam was standing in front of, flashing him a quick smile, ignoring his glower. You patted Loki on the shoulder and sat in the only free armchair, finishing your phone call.

“Cough up,” you said to everyone, “I’m not made of money.”

You were passed some crumpled up notes, doing your best to smooth them out. Loki perched on the arm of your chair, taking the money from you. You placed your hand on his knee, your thumb drawing lazy circles over the material of his trousers,  and turned towards the TV, watching the terrible sitcom that was on.

For the first time in your life you didn’t feel out of place or awkward. You had finally found your tribe.

Tags: @sheridans-dynamos @tumultuous-love @juniperbab @internetgremlin @true-queen-of-mischief @sev7en @fleurs-en-ruines @lokilover2000 @hakuoyuki @el-eldritch @foreverbeingthunderbuddy @fuckthatfeeling @dangertoozmanykids101 @bluestaratsunrise @dark-night-sky-99 @justanothermarvelfanaccount @themusingsofmany @loving-life-my-way @loki-poki-foki @nobody0660 @grahoundart @cobra-anon @libellule2001 @1800-fight-me @themusingsofmany

#loki #loki imagine #loki x reader #caught in the heat #loki x you #marvel imagine

[royalbloodedbastards]

chatzy // weed closet pj party

DATE: Friday, March 27, 2020 CHARACTERS: Chase, Jesse, Malia, Alec, Casey, Blue, L, Parker, Jack ABOUT: The Morpheus cabin hosts a PJ Party. Mammals smoke marijuana and Twister ends with a twist.

Chase made sure that all the lights were placed well and all the blanket walls were secure. He picked up a cat from the twister mat and flipped it onto its back so he could hold it like a baby. He unlocked the door and stood to the side, wondering if he should wait there and be a fake psychic that was standing there the whole time or step back so he wouldn’t be weird. He swayed a bit and then walked over to take his cookies from the oven.(edited)

Malia held her mug of hot chocolate in both her hands as she shooed Killer # 1 from pulling at the blanket fort. She followed Chase into the kitchen and smiled. "Any pronoun preference tonight? I don't want you to like, explain yourself if you don't want to."

Jesse was finishing washing the few dishes that had piled up over the day and didn't hear Malia's question to Chase between the sound of the water running and some vague daydreams. As he put the last plate on the drying rack, he turned around and absently pet Killer # 2 on the head, still in his own world.

Chase set the cat down on the counter, pulled the cookies from the oven, and then picked the cat up again as he turned the oven off. He grinned widely at Malia, heart full. “No, no preference. Thanks for asking. Say whatever feels right.” He leaned against the counter. “Did either of you want a cookie? They’re vegan and don’t have nuts, but they do have weed.” 

Malia considered it, then glanced at Jesse. "Want to split one?" 

Jesse tuned in to catch the last part of Chase's offer, once he realized he was being addressed. He smiled at Malia, shrugging one shoulder. "Sure, okay." 

“I’m actually gonna put a note on them to only take half, so y’all might wanna take a quarter.” 

"Oh shit, okay." Malia pulled off half a cookie and then held that half out for Jesse. 

Jesse took it from her. "Thanks. Who're you expecting to come?" he asked Chase. 

Alec let themself into the Morpheus cabin and wandered over to where the three were standing in the kitchen, looking around as they go. "Hey gang! Are there new sheets up in here? It looks swanky. Do those have weed in them?" 

Jack doubted his decision up until the moment he knocked on the door, but he was determined to push himself. "Let yourself blow, Jack," he whispered. After waiting half a minute and hearing voices from the inside, Jack decided to let himself in. "Is this..." The room was much emptier than he expected. "Oh my actual gods," he muttered. "Why am I always so fucking early."

Malia brightened at the sight of Alec and waved her quarter of the weed cookie at them. "Hey! Yes they do." She walked over to Alec to give them a quick cheek kiss and noticed Jack in her peripheral vision. "Hey! You came!" She walked over to him. "I gotta say I wasn't sure if you'd come." 

"Uh, yeah," Jack smiled. "Me neither, TBFH," he chuckled. "It smells like the inside of Martha Stewart's purse in here."

"Oh yeah, Chase made weed cookies." She held out her quarter for him. "Take this, I'll go get another piece for me." 

Chase shrugged. “Um, it was more of a general invite? Alec said they were co–“ As if summoned, they were there. “Hey!” Chase turned his attention to them. “Sure do! But don’t have any eggs, dairy, or nuts.” He turned to Jesse again. “Uh, I dunno who else. Blue, maybe?” 

"Uh," Jack took the quarter cookie in his hand, eyes wide. He hadn't been high before and had no idea this is how the night was going to go. But at the same time, the cooke did smell great... 

Malia noticed his hesitation. "You okay?" she asked. "Oh my gods, did I just peer pressure you? I totally did, didn't I? I'm sorry, you don't have to eat this." 

Jack laughed. "No, I mean, that's fine. I've just never... Done this before? I've always been curious but, like... Just have not." 

Alec beamed at Malia, then bounded over to Chase and Jesse. They scooped up a cookie and broke it in half. "Oh holy mackerel, awesome! You're the fucking best." As they happily chewed away at it, they started petting the cat in Chase's arms. "Can I hold him?" 

"Oh, okay." Jesse closed his eyes for a half second and exhaled when Alec came over, and then put on what he hoped was a polite smile.

"Ah." Malia tapped her lips. "Okay, eat like, half of that and check in with me in like, 20 minutes. We'll just pace you." 

"Okay," Jack brought the cookie up to take a bite. His first was cautious and amounted to nothing more than a nibble. Swallowing the crumb down, Jack thought to himself, It's already quartered, it's probably not that much, and ate the rest of the piece in one bite. "Ugh. Butter makes everything taste so good." 

Chase opened his mouth when Alec took the cookie and then closed it when they only took half. He smiled and held the cat out to drop into Alec’s arms. “I’m gonna go make a sign for the cookies. Can y’all stay here and make sure people don’t take more than half?” 

Casey pushed the Morpheus cabin door ajar and poked his head inside. "Knock, knock! It's your friendly neighborhood drug peddler—I mean girl scout!" Casey held his arm through the door, showing off two boxes of Girl Scout cookies in a little plastic bag.

Alec gave Chase two thumbs up and hopped up to sit on the counter beside the tray of cookies. "You got it! I'll guard them with my life." They hugged Killer # 2 close to their chest. "If anyone tries to take more I'll sic Killer here on them." Jesse looked between Chase and Alec, then rubbed his temple and nodded. 

Malia blinked as he watched the whole quarter go into Jack's mouth. "Or, you can do that, too." She laughed and sipped her hot chocolate, finding it finally warm enough to drink. "It'll be fun! Here, uh, I dunno if you know everyone here?" She walked back into the kitchen. "That's Chase," she said, kissing their cheek as she walked past. "And that's Alec, and that's Jesse." 

Alec waves at Casey from the kitchen with the arm they aren't using to hold Killer. 

Jack rubbed his hands together to get off the crumbs. "I don't know anyone," Jack half-laughed. He waved along as Malia pointed people out, being careful not to make contact. "Uh, hey. I'm Jack. Thanks for inviting me." 

"Oh my gods, kitty!" Casey launched into the room, setting the girl scout cookies on some surface along the way. "Hi kitty," he sang. "You're such a beautiful little mammal!" Casey smiled up at Alec. "And you're a beautiful mammal too, of course." 

Chase smiled at Malia and waved at Jack, then waved at Casey. “Hey Case!” He smiled at Jack. “Ah, Chase.” He shoved a thumb into his chest. “Make yourself at home. It’s real cosy here.” 

Jesse has only ever had one interaction with Jack before, and he isn't too keen to remember it. Still, he smiles at him– this is a better place to meet than on a frozen lake. "Uh, hi. I'm Jesse." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But Mal just said that, sorry." 

Alec held Killer out to Casey so he can pet him, and then they reach out a hand to pat the top of Casey's head too. "Aw! We should make a club. Founding three members right here. There's vegan weed cookies!" They wave at Jack as well. "Hi Jack!" 

Malia moved back into the kitchen to pick up another quarter of a cookie. She popped it into her mouth and kissed Jesse's cheek, too. She wanted to tell Jack that she also invited her brother, but wasn't sure how either person would take the news at the moment, so she refrained. "Should we put on some music?" 

Jack waved and smiled at all the greetings, not sure if he was supposed to respond or if everybody else had just convened before Jack arrived and agreed to be nice to the weird guy. "Uh, yeah. Let's put some music on please." 

Chase sprinted upstairs to grab a pen and paper and wrote “STRONG: TAKE HALF” on it so that people would get the message. He took a moment to rummage around his room and then ran back downstairs so that he could put the sign next to the cookies and hold allergy medication out to Alec. “Thought you might need this.” He leaned against the counter and looked around. He raised his eyebrows and pulled out his phone. “Does anyone have any requests?” He put on Toxic by Brittany Spears. 

"Oh my god," Casey crooned as he stroked the cat. "Cute mammals and vegan weed cookies," he repeated under his breath. His active listening turned off at first contact with the cat and the verbal response was just his way of saving the memory in case it came up again later. 

Jack narrowed his eyes at Chase when Toxic came on. He whispered to Malia, "Is Chase... Gay?" 

"Ooh, yes, put on—" But the music started playing before she could finish her sentence. Malia laughed, slapping a hand over her mouth. "What would make you think that?" she replied quietly, giggling again. 

"Two of the best parts of life," Alec replied cheerfully, breaking off a small piece of one of the cookies and popping it into their mouth. They almost spit it out in their excitement when Toxic comes on and they immediately hop off the counter. "Chase, I would die for you!" 

"Um, do you not hear and see what is happening in front of you?" Jack gestured vaguely in Chase's direction. "I mean, like, it's great. But..." Jack laughed. 

Jesse exhaled a laugh at Chase and leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms over the pastel pyjama shirt he's borrowing from his brother.

Malia laughed again. "Oh don't worry, I see it. Jack, I think me and Jesse are the only straight people at this party right now." 

Chase laughed at Alec and blew them a kiss before looking at Malia. “I can queue up a song that you want!” 

Jack looked around the room, brows furrowed. "Um... Since when?" If what Mal was saying was true, then Jack had to fight the urge not to kick himself for coming out to these events sooner. 

Alec picked up one of Killer's paws in each hands and made him dance along to the song with them.

Casey pulled a pen from his pocket and took a deep hit, watching Alec dance with Killer. "So debonair!"

Alec cracked up and let Killer jump down once he started to struggle. They sneezed three times in quick succession and picked up the allergy medication Chase had given to them a minute earlier. "That's what they call me!" @spexile

Malia laughed. "I mean... since always? But since we've all been aware? A few years." @spexile

"Oh my gods, are you allergic to the kitty?" Casey sat down to let the cat brush by him as he walked away. 

Jack widened his eyes and laughed. "Ugh. Of course. So are there, like, no straight boys at this camp at all because..." Jack's sentence trailed off as he remembered who he was talking to. 

"Nope!" Alec replied as they took one of the  pills. "I'm allergic to all kitties! And everything else with fur. Do horses have fur, or is it hair? Maybe I'm not allergic to horses. I haven't really tested it out, I think they're some creepy." 

Malia raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What do you mean?"

Chase took half of a cookie and nudged Jesse. “What’s up? You look like you’re leaving your body.”

"Huh?" Jesse blinked a few times and turned to Chase, breaking into a smile. "Sorry, zoning out. Everyone looks really nice, yeah? Especially for a pajama party." He ran a hand through his hair, watching Malia as he said this. @caitlin

"Oh my gods," Casey gasped, pushing Killer away. "That's so tragic, I'm so sorry for your loss. I mean, I don't have any cats or pets or anything, but I love being a pet uncle." 

Chase smiled and leaned against the counter. “Yeah, not everyone just wears sweatpants to bed.” He looked at Malia as well. “I really like her robe.” 

"Nothing!" Jack quickly covered up. His eyes scanned the room, looking for something to change topics to, but he came up short. "So, pajamas..." 

"It's horrible," Alec sighed dramatically, their expression giving away how much they were exaggerating their distress. By the time Killer was out of sight, a grin had spread back across their face and they waved their hand. "I used to work in a pet store, I can handle a couple cats." 

Malia gave him a knowing smirk. "Were you going to say something about my brother?" 

"What? Why!" Casey laughed. "That's so masochistic of you but also feels so correct for your vibe and I love that for you." 

"Um, what?" Jack turned red, unable to help the smile forming on his face. "I have no idea what you're talking about, shut up." 

Chase sings along to Womanizer under his breath.

Chase also looked around. “Uh, if we don’t all want to stand, we can move to the couches?” 

"Working around animals all the time's a dream come true, eh? But they fired me after four days." Alec laughed. "'Cause I was allergic to everything in the store except the fish." They turned to Chase. "I love couches, let's go!" 

"Okay, I'm pretty sure you'd be super obvious to anyone, but I literally have a superpower about this stuff so don't play dumb."

"Oh my gods, you're incredible," Casey laughed, getting up to join everyone on the couches. "I want the side seat!" 

"Ugh." Jack flushed. "Wait, what do you mean you have a superpower?" 

Chase grabbed the tray of cookies to take with him so that the cats wouldn’t be able to get at them while he wasn’t looking. “Case, I put up the shamrock stained glass.” He smiled and pointed it out to him as they sat down. 

Malia shrugged and finished her hot chocolate. "I have a superpower. I like, know who everyone likes, who everyone is fucking. All that good stuff. I used to think I was just really observant? But I'm pretty sure it's because of my mom. Oh my gods, but my brothers don't have it, before you like explode with embarrassment. Parker is so clueless and if Kieran did have the same thing I'm pretty sure he wouldn't care enough to do anything about it." 

Casey gasped. "Oh my gods!" He went up to the glass to admire the details. "Oh my gods, wait, Chase, now that I'm not drunk, this is actually so good!" 

Jesse waited for Chase to leave the kitchen before he followed. He paused to smile and shake his head at the twister mat in the middle of the room before taking a seat on one of the couches.  

Alec veered away from the couches to go over to the glass as well. "Aw, shit, it is really good!" They looked over their shoulder to smile at Chase. "You have a new calling!" 

"Wait, so, like... Can you tell if someone, like..." Jack didn't know how to phrase the question without sounding pathetic. "What do you think you sense with me and your brother, then?" 

Chase set down the cookies and then turned to lean over the back of the couch to look at where his art was hanging near the window. “Aw, guys, you’ll make me blush!” He nodded sagely. “Drunk art is a talent of mine.” 

L knocked at the door and smiled at Blue and Parker. “This was a good idea for a party!” Parker shrugged. 

Malia hummed and turned toward the sink to start washing her mug. She had a huge grin on her face. "Well, I don't think you need a superpower to tell?" She glanced at Jack. "Let's just say there's a reason I left you two alone on St. Patrick's day."

Jesse got back up from the couch to get the door when the knock came. He opened the door and looked at Parker, then Blue, then L. "Oh, hey. Come in." 

Blue nodded, taking L's hand in hers. She slapped Parker lightly on the back. "It is! I don't know why Parker is being so grumpy about it." When Jesse opened the door, she grinned at him. "Sup." She pushed Parker in ahead of her and followed after him. 

L stepped in and gave Jesse a hug in greeting. “Hi! I hope we’re not too late!” She pulled away and took Blue’s hand again. Parker sighed and stepped in. “I’m not grumpy, I just don’t see the point in buying clothes specifically to sleep in.” He smiled awkwardly and looked at Jesse. “Um, hi.” 

Jesse nodded at Blue and gave L a one-armed hug back before stepping away to give them room to enter. "No, no, not at all." He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled back at Parker. "Hey," he repeated. "What's up?" 

Jack's sheepish grin fell off very quickly as Parker, L, and Blue all walked into the cabin. Breathing deeply, Jack pressed his lips together. After the jacuzzis he had mentally prepared himself for a moment like this, but now in person, his heart and brain still felt like they were operating miles apart. 

Blue wandered into the living room and, of course, Jack was there. She immediately Did Not look at him and instead put her focus on Casey. She rushed over to him. "Fuck yes, we look so good!" 

"Oh my god, trash babies!" Casey squealed and ran over to celebrate with Blue. "What is this recurring mammal theme tonight?" He turned to Alec and called out, "Watch out, we've got some allergens coming through!" 

L followed after Blue and waved goodbye to Jesse. “Oh, Alec, do you need any antihistamines? I don’t have any on me but it’s probably not a far run to my cabin.” She teased. 

His reaction was not quite what she expected, but looking at what he was staring at told her why. She took a deep breath and dried off her hands quickly. "Want me to go get Parker?"

Alec moved to sit on the back of the couch and pretended they were trying to lean even further away from Casey and Blue. "No! Keep them away! Also you guys are cute as all hell, aw." They shook their head at L. "I'm good, I'm good! Chase got me some already." 

Parker shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “Um, nothing. Cool idea for a party.” He hoped Jesse hadn’t heard him bitching about it to Blue a moment ago. 

"Oh, yeah, it was Chase's." Jesse cleared his throat and glanced back at the couches. "Yeah."

"Um, no, I mean, he can live his life. it's cool." Jack tried to sound casual but wasn't convinced that he did. 

Blue gasped, clutching Casey as if in need of support to stand. "You're allergic, to mammals?" 

“Oh.” Parker frowned but didn’t know how to retract his statement without sounding like a hypocrite. “Um, Mal said she was here?” 

Jesse relaxed. "Yeah, yeah, just over there. Talking to Jack." 

"I know, right?" Casey confirmed. "It pains my heart and I'm not even involved." Casey shook his head piteously toward Alec.

"I am," Alec responded mournfully. "Like, all of them. Wait." They scrunched their eyebrows together. "Not humans. Humans are mammals? Yes." 

Parker felt the blood drain from his face. He looked over at Jack and made sure that was far away from where Blue was. “Um, did your brother choose the guest list?” 

"I guess?" Jesse shrugged– he's not sure what Parker's really asking, and he has no desire to find out. "I think it was open invite, kind of." 

Malia watched Jack carefully, then checked the time on her phone. "Well, okay, that edible is probably going to hit you in a hot sec. We can just chill in here for now?"

L nodded. “Humans are mammals because we make milk! I’m pretty sure you’re just allergic to, like, fur an dander though. But, actually, going back to the milk thing...” she squinted. “I guess you are... allergic to all mammals.” 

"That was a gross sentence!" Alec said to L, brightly.Casey fiddled with the ears of his onesie. "Dude... That's so rough," he laughed. 

Blue laughed and kissed her girlfriend's head. "You're so fucking cute." She turned back to Casey. "So, I was told there was weed? Where's that?" Jack nodded. "Uh yeah. I mean," Jack looked for a place to sit on the floor. "How do I know when it happens?"

“Ugh, okay.” He frowned again and looked at the two groups of people, and then made his way over to Jack and Malia when he made his decision. “Hey. Hi.” He smiled at them a bit. 

"Oh, you'll know." She looked to Parker when he walked over and smiled. "You came! Hi." 

L laughed. “I know! I regretted it as it was coming out of my mouth!” She smiled at Blue and tugged at one of her raccoon ears. “Says you in this.” 

Jack smiled at Parker as he walked over. "Hey!" Jack noticed that the question he had just posed Malia was echoing now in his brain. How do I know when it happens? 

Parker took a seat near Jack. “Hey,” he repeated and shrugged at Malia. “Yeah, Blue invited me.” 

"That's cool," Jack mentioned a little too quickly. "Mal invited me." Jack felt a tingle slowly rise up his spine and a smile started forming on his face. "Yeah," he chuckled. 

"And so did I! Jerk." She crouched down so she could look at the both of them more easily, smiling despite the weirdness between her and her brother right now. She watched Jack's smile slowly travel across his face and then looked back to Parker. "I was just telling Jack that he might start to feel this edible soon. He took a quarter of one so it should be fine, though." 

"Ah, c'est la vie," Alec responded to Casey (on time) and stroked an imaginary beard to give the impression of wisdom. "You can quote me on that." 

Blue giggled and pressed her mouth to L's neck briefly. She came back upright and slung her arm across her girlfriend's shoulders. "Very wise," she said to Alec. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that before." 

Casey scampered away from Blue and L to give them space, taking a seat beside Alec on the couch instead. "Is this distance okay? You'll let me know if you get allergic to me?" 

“Oh. Yeah.” Parker flushed. He’d mentioned Blue inviting him to get at Malia and hadn’t even thought of Jack in the moment. He frowned at her. “You gave him an edible?” He tried not to sound too judgemental. 

"Thanks! I should put it on a t-shirt." Alec grinned at Blue. They slung an arm around Casey's shoulder and leaned against him. "I'll let you know by sneezing on you, does that work?" 

Jack shrugged. "I took it, she didn't peer pressure me." With each wave of static rising up his back, Jack felt his smile grow wider and wider. "This is... Great." He laughed. 

Malia sighed. "I gave him a quarter of an edible, and told him to eat half of that to take it slow. Jack," she smiled at him, more teasing this time, "decided to eat the whole thing. But I promise, it's fine. You look very chill, Jack." 

"Yes, that's wonderful, right into my hand." Casey cupped a hand under Alec's chin, pinching their nose twice in the process. 

"Ugh, shut up, I literally look the same." Jack grinned goofily. 

L blushed and nodded at Alec, though she hadn’t really been paying attention to what they were saying. She took a seat on the couch. “Were you asking about something, babe?” 

Parker squinted and then hummed in acknowledgement at Malia and then looked back at Jack, and then at the floor. “You do. I’m actually surprised you’re not wearing a power ranger’s suit, since it’s a pajama party.” 

Alec scrunched their nose up after Casey pinched it and shook their head like a wet dog. "Gross!" they laughed. "Is there enough like, DNA in that to clone me if I do? I feel like I talk about cloning a lot. Maybe I just talk about everything a lot." 

"Um, you told me that we were never gonna talk about that again." Jack pointed at the ground in front of Parker. 

Malia tucked her hair behind her ear and stood. "I'm gonna go say hi to everyone else. I like, barely spoke to Alec since they got here." She winked at Jack and then lightly squeezed Parker's shoulder, even though he wasn't looking at her. She walked away from them and wandered over to Jesse, grabbing his hand as she moved to his side. "Hey."

"Yes you do, but so do I." Casey leaned into Alec's embrace and kicked his feet up onto the couch. He pulled his pen out of his pocket and took another hit before holding it out to Alec. "Do you want some of this? It's CBD." 

Jesse had been caught between heading back to the kitchen or sitting by Chase on the couch, so he relaxed when Malia approached and gave him something to do besides examining the shamrock stained glass. "Hey," he replied, squeezing her hand with a smile and turning to face her fully. 

Parker laughed and ducked his head. He looked back at Malia, smiling a bit as she walked over to Jesse, then shook his head at Jack. “No, no. I promise, my lips are sealed. It was just too perfect to not bring up right now.” 

Blue dropped onto the couch and pulled L a little closer to her. "Oh, I was gonna ask about the edibles, but I think they're in the kitchen and uh, someone is in there." She looked around, frowning when she didn't see Parker. "I don't want to make it weird so I'll just— Oh! Casey," she rolled her head over so she was looking at him, now. "Can I have some too? Pleaaaaase?" 

"Okay, but actually," Jack leaned it. "If I got like, not a morphsuit, but a headless one? Like a turtleneck with gloves? Would that be weird? Because I feel like it could be like, a thing?" Jack cackled. "Oh my gods. Wow. No sorry, I heard it as I was saying it." 

Alec was beginning to feel the edible kick in. "Yell heah," they sighed happily and took the pen, settling against Casey more. "You are an angel and also so comfortable I never want to move again. But hat could also be the, uh," they waved a hand around. "–decor? Yeah, the decor speaking. It's so cozy in here!" Alec passed the pen to Blue. 

Chase blinked out of his momentary suspended animation and looked at the people around him on the couch. “Oh, uh, Blue, the edibles are here.” He smiled and pointed at the coffee table. “Didn’t want the cats to be able to get at them.” He blinked again. “Also, hi!”

Malia could feel the edible hitting her slowly, and she smiled up at Jesse easily. "I," she said a little smugly, "stopped a potential disaster. Jack is safe and stoned in the kitchen." 

L nodded approvingly at Chase not wanting the cats to consume drugs. She backtracked when she thought of who she might have seen in the kitchen. “Ah, good idea.” 

"Yeah, Blue, just take it," Casey waved a hand nonchalantly. "Um, don't take my comfiness away and credit it to inanimate objects! I'd like full recognition for everything you're feeling right now, thank you." Casey pulled his feet onto Alec's lap and nuzzled his raccoon hooded head into Alec's neck. "If they're gonna be cute on that side of the couch, then so are we!" 

Parker tilted his head to the side, a smile spreading across his face. “No, no, please let me hear about this thing.” 

"Oh shit, I'm blind," she said, laughing. "Okay wait, I don't want your pen." She grabbed a half of a cookie and started to eat, then snuggled back into L's side. "It is a good idea. I have a lot of them, surprisingly."

Jesse didn't bother glancing at the kitchen to check, too busy smiling at Malia. He rested his free hand on the side of her arm. "I guess that makes you the resident peacekeeper." 

Chase picked up the nearest cat since everyone seemed to be pairing off. He looked at Casey and then at Blue. “Are you guys matching on purpose, or was this a coincidence?” 

"Ugh!" Jack cackled again. He wasn't sure if he could feel his face turning red or if that was just the high. "I was thinking like it'll be like a turtleneck but with the morphsuit hands. And I could just wear it under what I normally wear and it would just look like gloves, but then I could like, poke your face or hold your hand or something stupid like that, blah, blah. Ugh," Jack pulled his face down with his hands, half laughing, half whining. "What am I right now?" 

Alec wrapped both of their arms around Casey fully now. "I take it back! You can have 110% of the credit." They rubbed their cheek against the top of his head. "You're saying we're not always cute? I'm betrayed!" 

L moved so she could put her arm around Blue. “That’s not surprising! You had the idea about the solar panels!” 

"Literally just a coincidence, I don't even know this woman," Casey called out to Chase, scowling at Blue. "And nooo, we are! Sh, shh." Casey gave Alec a reassuring stroke on the back of their head. 

"Oh shit, you're right!" Blue laughed as she swallowed the rest of the edible. At Chase's question, she leaned over and flicked Casey's head. "Don't lie because I look better than you!" 

Malia flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, me? What an honor! Glad to be of service." She leaned a little closer to him as she laughed, lifting her hand to pull at his shirt. She thought better of it at the last second and lowered it again. "Everyone is on the couch, should we like, actually use the blanket fort?" 

Parker felt his chest swell and pressed his face into the cupboard next to him to try to cool his cheeks down at least slightly. He pressed his palm into his mouth to keep from smiling too much and to keep down a small, strangled sound at how cute Jack was. He covered it up as a cough and nodded at Jack, face still against the cupboard. “Wanna hear something lame?” 

Alec flopped backwards when Blue leaned over so they were half twisted and lying over the arm of the couch now, still somewhat entangled with Casey. "I hate it when you fight!" they said with a laugh to the two of them. "Not in front of the children!"

Jack sighed, smiling at Parker. "Please. Let me be the not lame one for like, two seconds," he laughed.

Chase laughed and put his hands up. “Woah, woah, calm down everyone, didn’t mean to start anything. This is actually a zero violence household, so I’m gonna have to ask y’all to cool it, you both look great in your fursuits.” 

"Aye!" Casey flinched in exaggerated offense when Blue flicked him. "Don't you flick me!" Casey swatted Blue away, his other hand grabbing Alec's shoulder to keep himself steady. "I'm the good parent!" Casey protested to Alec and Chase. "She literally started it." 

L pressed her hands to her cheeks and fake-sobbed. 

Parker spoke quickly so he couldn’t stop himself. “I brought plastic gloves with me from work so that maybe we could hold hands on Saint Patrick’s day, but I didn’t know how to bring it up.” He leaned back on his hands. 

"Sure." Before letting go of Malia's hand so they could move, Jesse ducked his head to lean closer to her so he could still be heard. "You really look amazing tonight." 

Jack closed his eyes. His body was frozen still, but a huge smile grew on his face. "Wait... Are you... Being serious?" 

Alec pretended to wipe tears away. "This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with raccoon fisticuffs on a chesterfield." 

“Ugh.” The cabinet wasn’t even cool anymore. Parker sighed. “Yeah.” 

“Yeah, and I’m finishing it.” Chase did his best to sound serious and not to laugh, but utterly failed when Alec spoke. “Not with a bang, but with the most Canadian sentence I’ve ever heard in my life.” 

"Yo, I have no fuckin clue what you just said, but yes." Blue turned a exaggeratedly mean face to Casey. "You're going down, Casey." 

Casey threw his head back laughing at Alec's lament and wrapped his arms around Alec's shoulders again. "Raccoons are very vicious, I can't help it. We fight to the death, we eat trash, and we loan out money for desert island real estate." Casey stuck a tongue out at Blue. "Try me, Nook." 

"Do not insult me like that! Nook? The evil capitalist scum? You're really dead for that." She disentangled from L just to get close enough to flick Casey between the eyes, then moved back to her spot. "Try me again." 

Jack felt like simultaneously melting and fizzing up like a bottle rocket. "You don't like..." He drew a circle on the floor between them with his finger. "Have them right now... Do you?" 

Malia's face uncharacteristically flushed, and she turned her head a bit into his so the rest of the room wouldn't see. "So do you, and I mean it. You look sexy in stripes." 

Casey gasped and sat frozen, mouth agape. "You just—Chase!" Casey turned his head toward Chase and yelled out. "Blue is bullying me again!" 

"You brought that on yourself!" Blue shouted back, trying to hold in a laugh and keep up the bit. 

Parker had never regretted not taking plastic gloves with him to a party more. In all honesty, he considered it, coming to the Morpheus cabin. He pulled his face from the cupboard and buried it in his hands. “No. I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Alec lifted their head more to look at L past the ruckus on the couch. "Did you know koalas have smooth brains?" 

Chase tutted and wagged a finger at Blue. “Hey, hey. What did I just say? Raccoon or not, you gotta keep your paws off each other.” 

L tilted her head at Alec. “What does that mean?” 

Jesse touched her cheek , then remembered where they were and dropped his hand. His ears were warm, and the flush was quickly spreading to his cheeks. "Should we sit down?" 

"Their brains are smooth," Alec repeated to clarify. 

“What does that mean!” L laughed.

Jack pressed his hands into his face then laughed and shook them away. "That's okay! I'm like—I feel so good right now and I'm just really happy that you're here." Jack scooted closer and touched his index finger to Parker's knee. 

Casey stuck out his tongue at Blue again, but he was smiling. He gave Alec's shoulder a squeeze before standing up and walking over to Chase. "Hey! Are we gonna play Twister?" 

Malia glanced around the room. "I think I actually left something upstairs," she said quietly, brushing her hand lightly over his chest. "I should go get it now before a game starts or something."

Parker smiled so hard that his cheeks hurt. He touched Jack’s knee, careful not to make contact with his skin. “Me too.”

Alec held their hands out until Casey was fully out of reach, at which point they wrapped their arms around themself instead and turned their attention back to L. "You know how our brains are wrinkly, like coral? Koalas don't have wrinkles, their brains are right smooth! That's why they're bad at crosswords."

Chase tilted his head and then perked up a bit. “We should!” He stood and looked around. “Does everyone wanna play Twister?” He addressed the party. 

Jesse didn't get the chance to agree before Chase spoke. He closed his eyes for a moment, then laughed and rubbed the back of his neck again. "Spoke too soon, I guess."

Jack savored the moment for only a second before hearing Chase's announcement. He dropped his head and laughed. "Ugh. Of course it's Twister." He smirked up at Parker. "That's like, a total disaster if I play, right?" 

Malia's eyes closed in frustration. "Okay, well, maybe we can go get it later?" she asked him quietly. 

L tilted her head, blinked, and then laughed. “Are you serious? About the smoothness, not about the crosswords.” 

"Twister!" Casey yelled in repetition, throwing his arms up in the air. 

"Fuck yes, Twister!" Blue clapped. 

Jesse tucked a piece of hair behind Malia's ear and gave her a half-smile. "Of course." 

Parker exhaled a laugh and shrugged. “I bet you could do really well, actually.” He shook his head. “Ugh, nevermind, I didn’t say that.” 

Chase picked up the spinner and put it on the floor. “Okay, so, either if someone doesn’t want to play or if someone’s closest, they can spin the wheel for everyone else?” 

"Deadly serious!" Alec exclaimed. Without sitting up they slowly slid off the couch, head first, so they could lie on the ground by the twister mat. "Sounds good, Chase!" 

Jack laughed and rose to his feet. He pulled the sleeves of his sweaters down past his fingers and held his covered hands out to help Parker up. 

It was physically painful to rejoin the party and sit at the Twister mat, but Malia managed, somehow. She pulled Jesse along with her so they were sitting beside each other. 

Casey bounded across the floor to sit beside the mat. "Has anyone ever played this in underwear covered in oil?" He asked nobody in particular. 

"Only you, weirdo," Blue said as she moved, pulling L along with her. "But that does sound fun." 

"I've played it in a swimsuit covered in oil, does that count?" Alec asked, sitting up so there was more room. 

“That’s very Greek.” L nodded as she followed after Blue. 

"Um, I've never done it," Casey clarified. "I just think it sounds fun! Did you have a good time?" he asked Alec. 

Jesse followed Malia easily and nodded his head towards the blanket fort before he sat. "Want a pillow?"

Parker took Jack’s hands through his sleeves despite not needing any help up. He stood there for a moment, the  dropped his hands, heart pounding in his chest. “Um, were you gonna be spinner?” 

"It was crazy hard, but fun!" Alec moved to sit up on their knees. "We did it on the beach with way too much spray on sunscreen. Slip-sliding everywhere." 

"Uh, I guess." Jack's heart sank a little bit. A naive part of him was hoping he'd be able to play, but he wasn't sure how. "Do you think—" Jack turned to Parker. "If they have gloves, maybe I could play? I could just, like... Wear a scarf and gloves?" 

"Oh," Malia didn't want to be not at his side for ever a few seconds. But, her ass would start to hurt, sitting here, so she nodded. "Sure, yes, thank you." 

Parker blinked and then nodded quickly. “Uh, yeah, I don’t see why not!” He looked around. “Do you want me to ask?” 

"Oh my gods, sunscreen, that's genius!" Casey clapped his hands in recognition. "I bet tanning oil would work too. Except for the radiation but whatever, beauty is pain, right?" 

"Yeah, please. I like, just officially met half the people here and I'm afraid I won't remember their names," Jack laughed. 

Chase crouched to pick a cat off the mat again. “Should I change?” He asked Malia and Jesse, since they seemed least likely to make fun of him and most likely to tell him the truth. 

"Well," Malia looked over to Chase. "I love the shorts, but if you're in a compromising position it might be... a bit of a show, for us?" She giggled. "Up to you." 

Jesse disappeared into the blanket fort and came back out with a pillow in time to hear Chase's question. He glanced between Chase's shorts and the twister mat. "Maybe, yeah, you might want to." He held out the pillow for Malia, then sat down next to her.  

Parker smiled and reached out to touch Jack’s sleeve again. “Cool, I know...” He looked between Chase and Jesse and frowned. “I can ask Jesse.” He dropped his hand and walked over to Jesse and Malia as Chase left, figuring Jack would follow. 

Chase bobbed his head and scampered up the stairs.

Alec laughed and leaned against Casey again. "But the tanning oil would rub off some places and stay on the other! Your skin would look right fucked up." 

Jack followed Parker. The sensation of walking was very interesting to say the least. Jack found his mind drifting to several different places in the short span of distance between where they were sitting and where Jesse stood. Casey put an arm around Alec. "Okay, good point, good point. So then maybe the beauty is in the fun and laughter you share with your friends and then you just wear long sleeves the next day!" 

Blue was leaning on her hands, her eyes mostly closed and lazily leaning in and out, lightly pecking L's lips every time she was close to their face. She wasn't paying attention to the rest of the room. "What did you learn about koalas?" she asked.

Jesse blinked when Parker came over and looked to Malia, remembering now something about a fight between them. He assumed Parker had come to speak to his sister, so he waited for one of them to speak with hopes that it wouldn't turn into an argument.

Malia accepted the pillow from Jesse and moved so they were practically touching while sitting next to each other. She looked up at her brother from her place on the floor and gave him a little smile. "What's up?" 

“Um.” Parker cleared his throat and looked at Jesse mainly. “Do you have, like, gloves and scarves and stuff?” 

Alec smushed their face into Casey's shoulder. "You're a genius. We could do that in my loft! Except I don't have tanning oil or money to buy it. I have vegetable oil?" 

L was in and out of conversations. She smiled. “They have smooth brains! No wrinkles, and can’t solves puzzles because of it.” She nodded a bit, then looked at Casey and Alec. “If vegetable oil comes from vegetables and olive oil comes from olives, where does baby oil come from?” 

Jesse rested one hand on the ground behind Malia so that even though his arm wasn't around her, there was still a semblance of it. He drew his eyebrows together. "Winter clothes? Uh, yeah, some. Why?"

"Vegetable oil is probably so bad for your pores but maybe, like, olive oil? Is that expensive?" Casey laughed. "Or bubble bath! Oh my gods, this Twister idea is getting steamier and steamier."

Blue laughed at L's joke, resting her head on her shoulder. She glanced around the room finally, not sure how much time had passed since she sat down. She saw Jack standing in the middle of the living room and stared maybe a little too long, then turned her head in the opposite direction, staring at the floor.

Parker shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Because Jack wants to play Twister?” 

Jack smiled and waved awkwardly at Jesse from past Parker. "I'm a freak, I'm sorry." 

"Oooooooh," Malia turned to look at Jesse. "Do you have rubber gloves? They might have more traction than fabric." 

Alec laughed at L. "Olive oil is so expensive," they lamented to Casey. "But I have bubble bath! Oh! Oh! I have bath oil. Or, Ime did, but they left it behind so it's fair game!"

Jesse fully noticed Jack behind Parker now. "Oh. Right." He realized how that sounded and flushed again. "Yeah, yes, we have rubber gloves in the kitchen. And you said a scarf, too? I can grab that."

L tucked a piece of hair behind Blue’s ear when Jack walked into the room and cuddled up next to her more. “Are we waiting for Chase to get back?” 

"Wow, this is like, the most intimate game of Twister I've ever heard of and I am so in." Casey squeezed Alec's shoulder. "I'll bring the scented candles and red wine."

"Cool," Jack nodded at Jesse. "Good thinking with the rubber," Jack mentioned to Malia. 

Parker nodded and resisted the urge to take Jack’s sleeve again. “Thanks.” He felt weird being the only people in the room standing and took a seat next to Malia. “Hey, what’s up?” 

"I'll get the gloves?" Malia offered to Jesse, then turned to Parker with a smile. She wasn't sure if Chase would want to sit there, but her brother was talking to her so she didn't say anything about it. "I'm great, how are you? Actually, hang on, let me go get the gloves." 

"That'd be great," Jesse replied to Malia. He smiled at Jack but was careful to keep a decent bit of distance between them as he got up and moved past to go get a scarf from the closet behind the door. 

Alec heaved a sigh and pressed the back of their hand to their forehead. "You can't say things like that and not expect me to fall head over heels in love with you!"

Jack glanced around the room while waiting for the scarf and gloves. For a moment, his eyes found Blue and he pressed his lips together in a terse smile before quickly looking elsewhere. 

Malia stood and walked over the mat and into the kitchen. She found the gloves in the cabinet underneath the sink and brought them back to Jack with a smile. "How are you feeling?" 

Parker opened his mouth to speak to Malia and then closed it again. He folded his hands in his lap and pretended not to notice Blue. 

Jack's attention fell back to Malia and he smiled, taking the gloves. "Honestly, so good. Like... Great." He pulled the rubber gloves on with a loud snap. 

Blue didn't know what to make of that facial expression, but she was more focused on Parker sitting next to him, clearly with him. She turned her head back to L. "He just gave me the weirdest smile ever? What the hell?" 

L frowned and tilted her head “Maybe that’s how he smiles?” 

Jesse returned with two scarves, one large and one small. "Uh. I didn't know if you wanted a big one or not." He held them out, carefully. 

Malia nodded, briefly squeezing his hand once the gloves were on. "Great." She returned to her spot at Parker's other side and bumped shoulders with him. "Okay, hi, I'm good. How are you?" 

"Uh," Jack opted for the smaller one. "This is probably good. So it doesn't, like, drag or anything. Thanks." He wrapped the scarf around his neck, tucking the excess into his sweater. He sat down beside Parker, his face wrapped in a hand-knit neck brace. "This is great." 

Parker moved his hand to the space between himself and Jack and looked at the Twister mat. He shrugged at Malia. “Um, I’m fine.” 

Casey let his head rest on Alec's and brought up the hand that was wrapped around Alec's shoulder to cradle their face. "Fall in love with me, baby. That's all I've ever wanted." 

Jesse nodded at Jack and wrapped the end of the other scarf around his wrist absentmindedly. "Should I check if Chase remembers the game?" he asked Malia. 

Malia was debating trying to press for more conversation from her brother when Jesse spoke to her. "Oh, yeah," she frowned. "He's been gone for a while?" 

Jack's gaze fell to Parker's hand. He shifted his weight to sit more comfortably before letting his hand settle beside Parker's, so their pinky fingers stacked. 

"Hmph," Blue sighed, looking ahead and not at Parker again. "Maybe." 

Alec could feel a blush spread across their face despite themself and they grinned at Casey. "I see now! You orchestrated this whole thing to seduce me! Keep going, it's working– flattery is accepted 24/7 in this town. By 'this town' I mean my brain." 

Jesse shrugged one shoulder, but he glanced at the staircase. "He might've fallen asleep. I'll go check." 

Malia's frown deepened. "Fallen asleep?" 

Casey laughed. "Yes, good, then my plan is working beautifully." He let his hand move up to the side of Alec's head, gently scratching his hair. Casey suddenly remembered that he had brought cookies, but couldn't recall where had placed them. He pouted slightly as he wracked his brain for the memory. 

Jesse glanced at Parker and Jack before deciding how much to say. “Yeah. He hasn’t been sleeping well. I’ll be right back.” 

Malia nodded as Jesse walked away. She knew Chase hadn't been sleeping well but it was concerning to realize that he was this tired. She eyed the mat, brow furrowed in thought.

Parker stifled a smile at touching Jack’s hand and moved so the tips of his other fingers touched Jack’s. He tried to make it so that the line of sight between Blue and his hand was blocked and acted Fully Natural. He looked at Malia and tilted his head at her. “Are you okay?” 

L frowned a bit at the mat and extended her legs in front of her. “Have you guys played Twister with paint? It’s awful.” She smiled. 

“I’m high as all hell right now,” Alec sighed happily, feeling as though Casey was slowly pulling their soul from their body through their hair. “L! That sounds like a dream come true.” 

Jesse headed upstairs and knocked on the wall beside Chase’s door, even though the door was ajar. “You okay in there?” 

Jack relished in the sensation of having Parker's hand on his, as strange as the method was. Both physically and mentally, he was buzzing. 

Chase was curled up on his carpet, pajama pants cuddled to his chest when Jesse knocked on the door. He sat up with a start and looked down at himself, shook his head, and sighed. He pulled the pants on and ran over to the door. “Ha, yeah, sorry.” He smiled and started back towards the stairs. 

Casey laughed at Alec's declaration. He didn't have as much of a head high as he figured everyone else did, but the sensation of playing with Alec's hair was really satisfying multiplied with the CBD tingle. "Oh my god, wait, paint twister actually sounds so fun. Or like pigment powder twister, like they do in Holi?" 

Malia looked over and Parker and smiled. "All good." 

Jesse put an arm out to stop Chase before he reached the staircase. He was going to say something about how Chase didn’t have to go back down, or how he could stay with him upstairs if he wanted, but neither seemed quite right. He sighed and patted Chase’s shoulder instead. “Want me to make some coffee to get you through the party?” 

Parker wanted to take Jack’s hand fully, but was somewhere between not brave enough and not stupid enough to do so in front of Blue. He frowned slightly at Malia. “Okay.” 

Blue was trying very hard to ignore Parker sitting next to Jack but was only halfway succeeding. She turned to L and raised an eyebrow. "With paint? That sounds terrible, I kinda love it." 

L bobbed her head at her friends. “It’s super messy, but I think it’d be fun. I’ve never done it, by the way.” She tilted her head at Casey. “Is that a thing? Do people end up inhaling it?” 

“Pigment powder. I love the alliteration. And that sounds amazing! But less slippery than paint? So lower stakes.” Alec looked around at everyone. “All of the hosts have fled the circle. Oh, hey Parker!” They waved at him considering he was the only one they had yet to greet. 

Chase stopped and frowned slightly, then shook his head. “Nah, man, I can make it though a party.” He exhaled a laugh as though this was obvious and started down the stairs. “Were y’all waitin’ for me?” He asked once he was down. “Y’should’ve started!” 

"Oh good points," Casey conceded. "Okay, yeah, paint is probably better. And if the colors are all good, probably more aesthetic too?" Casey followed Alec's focus and waved at Parker and Jack. 

Parker looked somewhat less than pleased to have Alec bringing attention to him and flushed, glad Jack wouldn’t feel how sweaty his hand was. He coughed. “Um, hey.” 

L nodded. “I think I wouldn’t do all the colours on the board! Because then you’d just get brown, right? I’d pick nice pastels or something.” She looked over at Parker when Alec and Casey waved, but thought she probably shouldn’t wave. 

“How’s it going?” Alec asked Parker since it was clear Parker didn’t want a conversation. They laughed at Chase when he returned. “Howdy,” they replied in a poor imitation of his accent. “Yeah, w’all were waitin’!” 

Jesse returned to his seat beside Malia, watching Chase carefully. 

"Yeah, that's a good point. Wow, look at you, Apollo kid over here with the color consciousness," Casey snapped for L with his free hand. 

Malia bumped Jesse's shoulder with her own and waved at Chase. "We were! Ready to start?" 

Blue is pointedly not looking at Parker. "Who's spinning?" she asked the group. 

"Well, we probably can't all play at the same time right? Maybe we could do teams and spin for our teammates," Casey suggested. 

“Um, I’m fine.” Parker’s fingertips started to tingle, but he brushed it off as anxiety. “I hear you’re well? High as a kite, was it?” 

"Ooooh, good idea." Blue nods. "Okay...." she scans the room. "Teams of three?"

"Close enough," Alec replied cheerfully. "I'm glad you pay attention!" They counted the number of people in room, then nodded. "So like, teams of three where one person spins and the other two duel to the death?" 

Chase shook his head and mussed up Alec’s hair as he passed them to take a seat next to Jesse. “Sorry! Killer was bein’ real cute.” He looked around and bobbed his head. “That sounds like a good idea.” 

"Don't even joke about death matches, Alec, because I will make it happen," Casey replied seriously. 

L looked around. “Should the teams be random?” She suddenly felt like that could turn out terribly. “No!” She replied to herself. “I wanna be on Blue’s team!” 

Also she was totally like “omg Casey I AM a color conscious Apollo kid!!!” on time

Blue laughed and pulled L closer. "Okay! And..... Chase, come join us!" 

"In.... in Twister? How would that even work?" Alec glanced around the circle again. Their eyes settled on Jack and Parker's hands for a second and they smiled to themself, but it quickly faded and they drew their eyebrows together and pulled their phone out to text Parker.

arent u allergic to latex???

Chase scooted closer to Blue and waved goodbye to Jesse and Malia. “Godspeed without me, guys.” 

Malia glanced between the two clearly forming couples on either side of her and Jesse. She put her chin on his shoulder. "We might have to split up," she pouted. 

Jesse smiled at her and rested a hand on her back. "Did you want to play? Because I really just want to spin." 

Malia laughed. "I also really just want to spin."

Parker checked his phone and made a weird face at Alec when he saw it was them that texted him. He checked the message and the color drained from his face as he realized his fingertips were not pounding in time with his heart but because they were starting to swell. He pulled his hand away and shoved it in his pocket. “Um, where’s the bathroom?” 

"Seems it's for the best, then." Jesse blinked and looked over at Parker. "Uh, just over there." He pointed to a door under the staircase. 

Feeling Parker's hand pull away, Jack looked down at his own. At took a second longer than it normally would to register the question being posed. "Uh..." Jack turned to Jesse for an answer. 

Parker nodded and rushed to the bathroom so he could run his fingers under cold water. 

Casey, ever eavesdropping, cupped a hand beside his mouth and called across the room to Malia and Jesse. "Give us your boyfriend!" 

Malia sighed. At Casey's suggestion, she closed her eyes and smiled. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that!" she said to Casey. She ran a hand down Jesse's back. "Good luck," she said to him before scooting closer to Jack. "Where'd Parker go?" 

Alec laughed at Casey and hopped to their feet. "I'll BRB!" They grabbed the allergy medicine Chase had given them earlier and put it on the ground outside the bathroom. "There's Reactine right outside," they said to Parker through the door ."Don't die!" With that, they hopped back over to Casey. 

Chase looked at Blue and L and kept his voice low. “Who’s spinning? Also, should I use my powers to cheat?” L shook her head. 

"Same to you," Jesse replied, also choosing to pretend not to have heard Casey. He moved over to sit by Casey and Alec. "Are you guys okay if I spin?" 

Blue shook her head. "It's too obvious if you cheat in such a small room." 

Jack nodded his head toward the bathroom. "To the bathroom." He folded his hands in his lap and smiled idly at the Twister mat. "This is great." 

Malia giggled. "Still feeling good? I think you should be plateauing by now. I'm gonna spin, okay?" 

"Yeah! Spin away," Casey chirped, scooting a bit to give Jesse room. As Alec came hopping back, Casey looked up at them. "Everything cool?" 

Parker groaned quietly when he heard Alec outside the door and grabbed the allergy medication on the way out. He took a few and downed them with tap water before returning, hand still in his pocket. He sat between Jack and Malia. “We’re a team? Can I spin?” 

Alec gave two thumbs up, one for Jesse and one for Casey. "Yep!" they replied to both. "We should get the Killers in on this." 

"I just feel so calm. This is what Linda always talks about in my podcast. I just... Ugh." Jack sighed. His hands came up to the scarf to play with the knitting. "Your sister is spinning too," Jack mentioned to Parker as he came back.

Chase sighed and shrugged. “Pretend people are just really high.” L shook her head again. “No way!” 

"Yes we are and absolutely not, I can't play twister in this outfit," Malia said to her brother. She grinned at him. "Sorry, deal with it." 

Blue cackled. "Nah, we'll play fair." She wrapped her arms around L. "Okay but, who is spinning?"

Parker sighed. “Fine.” He smiled as Jack brought up his podcast. “The uterus one?” He pulled out his phone to text Alec quickly.

Pls dont mention it to anyone?

"The Power of U," Jack smiled. "Hosted by Linda Ballerini, expert in hollistic healing and women's health, thank you for joining us today." 

L rubbed her cheek against Blue and smiled. “I can spin if you guys really want to play!” Chase hummed. “I am tall but not bendy. I have trouble touching my toes.” 

Malia's mouth opened a little and she smiled. "Why do you listen to a women's health podcast?" 

Alec winked at Parker, then realized that could be misinterpreted so they texted him back as well.

u got it!! u should also get new gloves for him tho if u guys are playing tweester together??

They laughed at how 'tweester' sounds for a couple seconds then put their phone away. "Are we against each other Casey? 'Teams' is misleading, eh?" 

Parker smiled at Jack more and shook his head at Malia. “It sounds calming!” He checked his messages again and shrugged before putting his phone away. 

"She's just so affirming and understanding and empowering. And her voice is like honey." Jack shrugged. "Helps me relax." 

Jesse was getting more confused by each addition to the rules. "Wait, I thought we were playing as a team? Is it against each other?”

"Oh my gods, are we?" Casey thought about the logistics for a second. "I mean I guess if it's like every person for themself on the board then that makes sense," Casey shrugged. 

"I was thinking like, the two non-spinners face off and whoever wins goes against the winner from another team! But we can also try and cram six people on the mat. That sounds hectic, in a great way." Alec nodded. 

"Six people on the mat could be chaotic but also I love chaos," Casey suggested. "Or we could try to tie teammates back to back and have them play as a conjoined unit!" 

Alec snapped their fingers. “I love that! Let’s do that.” 

Jesse frowned slightly. “Or one from each team at a time?” 

Malia still looked a little confused but nodded. "Okay, okay, fair enough." She overheard Alec and Casey's scheming and leaned over the mat. "Um, friends," she sing-songed. "How about, one from each team, when the first person falls the second person swaps in. Last person standing wins for the team?" 

L smiled. “Hey, that way nobody has to just spin!” She nodded at Blue like this was the perfect solution. 

Casey rolled his eyes. "I mean, Alec and my idea sounds way more fun but sure we can go with the rational thing." Casey leaned towards Alec to whisper, "Okay, so our game is gonna have bath oils, scented candles, and hand cuffs." 

Malia shook her head. "Nope, no, I'm just spinning. Two people per team so it doesn't take too long?" She smiled sheepishly between Chase and Jesse. "Please?" 

Alec grinned at Casey. “I have two of the three! Do you have scented candles?” 

Casey shook his head quickly and put his hands up. "How is scented candles the thing that you don't have?" 

Chase gave Malia a thumbs up. “I love not bending and stretching!”

“That’s a good idea,” Jesse answered quickly to Malia, then nodded and laughed at Chase. 

Alec cocked their head to one side. “Huh, is that surprising? My cabin used to be full of explosives so I steered clear from candles.”

Satisfied, Malia moved back to her side of the mat. "Okay, Parker and or Jack, one of you get out there." 

Casey blinked. "Wow. Amazing. Okay, no, yeah, I have scented candles." 

Blue realized too late that Jack was not the spinner for his team and frowned. "Um," she scooted closer to Chase and spoke very quietly to him. "Hey, do you think this is a good idea?" 

Parker looked from Malia to Jack and tilted his head. “Should I start? Not to brag, but I’m pretty flexible.” 

"I," Jack slapped the floor in front of him, "would love to see that." 

"Ew, Parker," Malia shook her head. "Go for it." She addressed the rest of the room. "Who has the spinner?"

“So now I’m thinking about it and being covered in oil with reduced mobility in a loft that has no railing and surrounded by fire is kinda fucking bananas?” Alec laughed. “Sounds thrilling! I’m glad I’m lucky!” 

Chase chewed on the inside of his cheek, only now noticing Jack’s Lewk™️. “Um...” He looked at Jesse. “Probably not? Should... uh.” He tried to message Jesse through telepathy and looking at him. 

L frisbee’d the spinner over to Malia. 

Jesse glanced over at Chase and raised his eyebrows in question when he noticed his look. “Huh?” 

Parker laughed and stood. Then, when he noticed nobody else was standing, he squatted so he seemed more ~casual~.

"You... Are incredible." Casey was at a total loss for words. "And also your cabin needs a visit from the fire marshall." 

Chase looked at Jack, then at the mat, and then raised his eyebrows at Jesse in question. 

Blue saw that Parker was up first and pressed her lips together. "Whatever," she muttered, and moved to stand on the mat. "Casey," she said to her friend. "Come on. Parker versus the raccoons."

Casey clapped, hearing Blue's challenge. "Yes! Let's go!" He stood up and moved to the edge of the mat. "Three competitors! Two species! One victor!" 

Alec just laughed at Casey and waved a hand. “Go Casey! You got this!”

Jesse frowned slightly and shrugged one shoulder. “I think it’s okay,” he answered Chase. 

Chase bobbed his head. “Alrighty. Spin, Malia. Raccoons should team up and get the human out for now! Then deal with each other.” He smiled. “No alliances!” L protested.

Malia laughed and spun the arrow. "Okay, left hand green."

Parker takes his hand out of his pocket and puts it on the mat, apparently Extremely skillfully.

Chase leaned over and spun the arrow. "Right foot red!"

Blue yawned as she put her hand down, a little off balance.

Casey feeling cocky, turned to face away from the mat, stretched his arms up overhead and leaned back, falling into a backbend with his left hand on green.

Alec whistles at Casey. "Holy shit!" 

Parker put his foot on red.

Blue also whistles at Casey and stretches her foot out to hit a red circle. "Don't get too cocky, Case." she teased.

Casey, grinning cockily, slid his right foot over to land on a red circle. "I will be as cocky as I deserve, thank you."

Jesse spun the wheel now. "Uh, right hand green now."

Parker slid his hand over fairly easily to the green circle.

"Already there, baby!" Casey nudged his right hand over an inch to reach another green circle.

Parker put his hand exactly where Blue was reaching and it knocked her off balance. "Uuuugh," she groaned as she slipped out of place. "You screwed me over, Valentine!" 

Parker blew Blue a kiss and smiled, hoping that this was a joking anger rather than a threatening one.

Casey tried to angle his head up so all the blood wouldn't rush into his brain.

L jumped up and took Blue's place. "I'll knock 'em dead, baby!" She was secretly glad that Blue was out before Parker.

Malia took the spinner back and twirled it around. "Okay... Left foot yellow."

Parker skillfully moves his foot to yellow.

L moves a leg next to Parker's.

Casey steps his left foot yellow, crossing his legs so that he's holding himself up sideways.

Chase took the wheel from Malia and flicked the spinner. "Left hand red!"

Parker moved his hand and leaned on his blisters. He inhaled sharply but managed to save it.

Casey calculated his next move in his head. With a quick switch, Casey managed to flip himself into an upright position on all fours, with his limbs in the appropriate places.

L moved one arm around but simply wasn't tall enough to reach the other colour. "Oof." She fell and sighed. "Sorry guys." She stuck out her lip as she crawled back to Chase and Blue.

"All good!" Chase patted L on the back. "You did better than I could've." He smiled. "It's all about having fun, anyway. Now we can watch them and mix up all the colors on the mat."

Blue booed. "This is rigged!" she protested, then pulled L close to her to kiss her cheek. "You were the cutest one out there." 

Parker is also going After everyone to see which row he's supposed to do because I forgot that he was colorblind ok

L wrapped her arms around Blue and smiled. "Only because you weren't there!" 

Jesse spun the wheel next. "Left foot red, now."

Casey deftly brings his left foot over to a red circle. "We're killing this, baby!"

Parker laughed at Casey. "Are you saying that to yourself?" He slipped as he twisted and hit his back. "Ugh." He rolled. "Jack, get in there." He smiled up at him.

"I'm saying it to my beautiful teammate and supporter over there," Casey nodded his head toward Alec.

Malia smirked at her brother. "Now that you're out you can spin," she teased him. 

Alec cheered as Parker fell. "Whoo! Twister master Casey!"

It took Jack a solid moment to bring himself up to a standing position. "Oh my gods, okay. Ready to watch me fail?" He went over to the side of the mat and tried to visualize how he was going to take Parker's place.

Parker held up his hand to Malia. "I can't. Out on disability." 

"Ugh," Malia swatted his hand away. "Fine, whatever. You ready, Jack?" 

Chase whistled at Casey as well. "I believe in you, Nook!"

"Yep!" Jack called out from the mat. He crouched slowly and carefully placed each limb on a circle. "Oh my gods. Oh my gods. Ohhh my gods." Somehow, he managed to get into the correct position. "Oh my fucking gods, wait, am I doing it?" Casey laughed beside him. "Yeah man, that's it."

Blue took great interest in playing with L's hair now that Jack was on the mat.

Parker pulled his hand away, in fear of it actually hurting, and then grinned at Jack. "Oh, you're a natural!"

"Can you braid my hair?" L asked. 

Malia spun. "Left hand yellow!"

Both Jack and Casey reached for the same yellow circle and for a moment, their bodies wobbled together on the mat. With clutch reflexes, both of them caught their balance, planting their hands on adjacent yellow circles. "Fuck," Jack hissed, chuckling all the while.

Chase bungled the colours up to throw them off, but did it too late

Blue couldn't help but watch as Jack got way too close to her friend's hand. She eyed the shared circle with suspicion then, finally, turned back to L. "Oh yeah, no problem." She ran her fingers through L's hair and started putting it into sections. 

Chase leaned over to flick the spinner, then tossed it in Jesse's direction. "Uh, left foot green, I think it was?"

Casey saw that the easiest green circle was the one caught between them. Trying to move quickly, he launched his foot toward the circle. However, in his haste, he overshot the distance and accidentally kicked Jack's leg out from under him, sending them both toppling to the floor. 

"Ow, fuck," laughed Jack. 

"Sorry! My bad. Here—" As Casey brought himself up to sitting position, he offered a helping hand out to Jack. Jack reached out in response and before his high mind could perceive what was happening, Casey had grabbed onto his exposed wrists and pulled them both up to a standing position. Casey gave Jack a congratulatory pat on the back and turned to Alec, cheering, "Ay! Who's your man!" Behind him, Jack stood open mouthed, frozen.

Alec pointed at Casey and jumped to their feet. "You are! Wow, that was amazing! Did we win?" 

Parker watched the interaction, opened his mouth to say something, and closed his mouth before anything could come out. He tilted his head at Jack and opened his mouth again, but didn't know what exactly he was supposed to say. He pushed himself up and raised his eyebrows at Malia. "Did you see that?" 

"Hell yeah we did!" Casey ran over to Alec with his hands up for a celebratory high five. "Mammal power, baby!" 

Chase smiled at Jesse, seeing nothing wrong with the interaction. "Good job! You won." 

Blue watched them both wipe out with trepidation, and almost stood to interfere when Casey grabbed Jack's arm. But, nothing happened. Blue blinked and sat back.

Malia looked up from readjusting her robe. "What?" 

Jack wasn't sure if he was having trouble processing what just happened or just having trouble processing. He looked back at Parker and Malia and stepped off the mat, his brain struggling to form a continuous thought. "Uh, sorry guys. I guess we lost."

Jesse smiled back. "I guess so. I got lucky with my team." He looked up at Casey. "That was really impressive."

Before Parker could say anything to Malia, Jack was back, so he just shook his head at her. "Nevermind." His heart pounded in his ears. "Oh, well. That doesn't matter, the teams were stacked. Alec, like, never loses games."

#frm.chatzy #mus.jack #mus.casey #rel.jack&parker #rel.jack&malia #rel.jack&jesse #rel.jack&blue #rel.casey&blue #rel.casey&alec #rel.casey&jesse #rel.casey&chase #rel.casey&jack

[slashersteve]

Can’t Cheat Fate [4]

pairing: Steve Harrington/Female Reader, slight Jonathan Byers/Female Reader || Fake Dating! Au

series summary: After years of pining after the same guy you finally decide to tell him, but unfortunately you waited too long and he’s found someone else. Luckily, Steve Harrington offers to help you get him back if you’re willing to help him win the girl of his dreams.

warnings: some cure words oof || word count: 3.5k+

Note: I promise the fake dating will arrive I PROMISE IT’S GONNA BE GOOD STUFF AND I LOVE STEVE IN THIS FIC enjoy my dudes a lil lengthy~~~~

| Check out my other works! | Can’t Cheat Fate Masterlist |

<- Previous Chapter | Next Chapter ->

About a week has passed, and what you believed to happen that usually happens after a small disagreement between you and Jonathan did not happen. Sure, he still waited for you to take you to school, but about two days later she started to join too.

And now, here you were, sitting in the back seat trying not to glare daggers at the back of Jonathan’s head as he talked about whatever to Marlene. She was in the front seat, laughing and giggling and blushing. You had no right to be this jealous, you knew that, but shit could this be at the worst time?

You heard a scoff next to you, and you turned your head to see a mess of brown hair, it was Will and he looked equally, if not more, annoyed than you did, “He meets her not even a week ago and we get moved to the backseat,” he muttered just loud enough for you to hear. You huffed in annoyance.

“Tell me about it.” You looked back at them, seeing Jonathan giving Marlene major heart-eyes. You felt your heart tear only just a little, annoyed look falling to one of sadness. Your heart really couldn’t handle being here, you tore your eyes away to look at the passing trees. Then you told yourself you wouldn’t ride with them tomorrow or the day after that or the day after that!

And unlike most things you tell yourself to do, this time you actually went through with it. Except, it wasn’t as planned. You came running into the library, panting and sweating, hair disheveled, legs just aching, and hands probably forming blisters from holding the bike handles for that long. Steve’s attention was pulled away from the conversation he was having with Nancy to look at you with a puzzled look as you fell into his arms dramatically.

“Woah! (y/n)!” he said, eyes wide and you began to wheeze.

“Water- just please get me some water.” You were completely out of breath, voice croaking. Steve looked around, then took the water bottle that Nancy was offering with a concerned look. He winked at her as a thanks and opened it for you. You took it with both hands, drinking as much as you could.

“Hey! Not so fast- slow down,” he took the water from you, some of it dripping onto your shirt and onto the ground. You leaned down, trying to slow down your breathing. Steve sent an apologetic look to the librarian who was looking on with disapproving eyes of the noise you were making.

“Here sit down,” he pulled out a chair for you, and helped you sit down as you collected yourself, finally getting to a nice, normal heart rate, “You look like you just ran a marathon.” He was leaning over to you, giving you a concerned look. You took another sip of the water, letting out a breath.

“I rode my bike to school today,” you finally explained, “That’s why I’m late, sorry for coming in here like I was dying and uh-” you looked at the water, noticing it was nearly gone, “Sorry about this…” Nancy smiled.

“It’s okay, you needed it.” You looked at her, not realizing it was her water bottle. Steve was looking at her with a dreamy look in his eyes, making you inwardly cringe. You snickered and Steve snapped out of his dreamy state and had his attention back on you.

“Wait- you rode your bike to school today?” Steve asked, “I thought Jonathan takes you to school.”

“He does- well he used to. I’d rather come in here everyday dying and drinking other people’s waters than get a front row seat to the Jonathan gives Marlene heart eyes for 20 minutes while somehow not crashing the car show,” you grumbled, not even realizing what you just said. Steve tilted his head for a second, then hummed.

“Wait what?” You looked at him now.

“Hm?”

“I don’t get it-” The bell rang, and you groaned, really really not wanting to deal with class right now in your condition, Steve pat your shoulder and laughed completely forgoing his earlier confusion, “You don’t look too good. Come on, let’s get you to the nurse’s office.” He helped you to your feet, letting you lean against him and looked at Nancy, “Want this back?” He gestured to the water bottle and Nancy shook her head.

“No she can have it especially if she’s riding to school everyday now- I have another one I left at Barb’s house anyway.” Steve grinned.

“You’re so nice,” he complimented, and you scoffed. Steve gave you a look.

“Want my help to the nurse or not?” he mumbled in your ear, you looked down because yeah you were feeling a bit light-headed and could use an ice-pack or something, “See you later Nance.”

“Bye Steve- and hope you feel better (y/n)!” she called as Steve dragged you out of the library. At the nurses office, Steve helped you sit down on one of the waiting chairs.

“You gonna be okay alone? I can’t be late for class again,” he said, pointing to the exit. You waved him off and replied, “I’ll be fine, feeling better already. Thanks.” He looked like he was about to leave, but then he just stood there, a shit-eating grin growing on his face that you noticed right away away, “What is it? Why are you smiling like that?”

“No reason,” he said, and you shooed him away.

“Get outa here Steve- and you better have written a rough draft of your intro and first body paragraph or so help me!” you pointed at him warningly. The brunette scoffed, and then waved a hand at you as he left. You meant it too, he better have those done.

You were feeling better throughout the day, at least your legs were, but your heart wasn’t especially when you forced yourself to sit with Jonathan and Marlene during lunch. You were staring down at your half eaten sandwich, trying to literally tune out their conversation until Jonathan got up to buy Marlene a soda. That’s when she started to talk to you.

“He’s a great guy” she said, you glanced up at her, “I can see why you’re friends with him…” You nodded, but didn’t want to talk to her still, apparently she couldn’t take a hint and continued, “He tells me you and him have been friends since third grade.” You nodded again, and she smiled weakly, probably trying to find a way to get you to talk, “Well...hey! He actually asked me to be his model for his photography project! He told me you posed for a lot of them- any tips?”

Okay, that you heard and that made you snap your eyes up at her, meeting her shimmering brown eyes, “What?”

“It was last minute, he asked me this morning on the way to school, you rode your bike today huh?” You ignored that, not wanting to explain anything, “Well- this weekend we’re going to out to the woods to take pictures.”

You tightened your jaw, trying to not snap at her, because you shouldn’t be snapping at her- it should be Jonathan. But he wasn’t here. That bastard replaced you, replaced you?! You suddenly stood up, catching Marlene by surprise.

“I have to talk to Jonathan right quick- I’ll be back,” you said in a surprisingly calm tone, Marlene smiled and nodded. You grabbed your bag, leaving your food and going straight up to Jonathan by the soda machine. You rested your hand on his shoulder, and he smiled for a moment before he saw it was you. The smile fell.

“What is it? You want one too? I only have enough for one,” he said in a short tone, you shook your head.

“No I don’t want one, Marlene just told me that she’s your model for the photography project that I was your model for,” you went straight to the point, your voice low and full of hurt. Jonathan tensed up and turned his head to meet your eyes, actually seeing the hurt and confusion there. Then he shrugged, grabbing the soda from the bottom of the machine and turning around.

“Thought she’d have more time, you know since you are busy after school,” he was obviously referring to the sessions you have with Steve on Tuesday and Thursdays, obviously still mad at you about it even though you apologized, you grabbed his arm before he could walk away, desperate to get your side out.

“Yeah- two days out of the week! And not even for that long,” you said, Jonathan once again shrugged and quite frankly his stupid shrugging was becoming a pet peeve of yours, you opened your mouth to ask him if he was still pissed about you hanging with Steve, but decided against it- not wanting to open that door again, so you bit your tongue and simply nodded, “Well- it’s your project I guess. Thanks for the heads up though- would’ve been better to hear it from you.”

Jonathan eyed you, and for a moment you thought you saw some kind of hurt reaction, but you didn’t want to stand there anymore or even return to the table. So you released his arm and turned around, aware you were leaving your food. You weren’t hungry anymore anyway, that empty feeling had returned and blanketed over you once again, so bad that you even decided to skip sixth period altogether. You didn’t want to be there to see her sitting in your seat, and taking your best friend’s attention- if he even was your best friend anymore.

So during that time, you went straight to the study room and well- tried your best not to cry because you didn’t think you had a reason to cry in the first place, when in reality you did. Jonathan wasn’t yours, never was, you shouldn’t be upset about it. It was his project, but you couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Still- you refused to cry and just sat there for 50 minutes twiddling your thumbs.

When the day was over, Steve wasn’t very surprised to see you already sitting in the study room, all your supplies out including a red pen to correct his two paragraph draft with. You both gave a silent greeting, a fake smile on your lips that you tried your best to look real. He sat in the seat next to you, pulling out a sheet of paper with writing all over it and wearing a winning smile.

“Done! Did it yesterday night, take a look, and tell me what you think. I think it’s my best work,” he said as he slid the paper in front of you, you didn’t even begin reading when you said, “First drafts are never your best work.” Steve frowned.

“Okay~” He watched you closely as you began to review his rough draft and mark up his page until there was more red writing and corrections than actually writing. He felt a bit embarrassed, but it was you correcting it and he knew you were real when it came to essay writing. Why else would he ask you to be his tutor per say? 10 minutes past and you had re-read it twice now, or appeared to be, to be honest you were blanking out as your mind kept wandering to the conversation between you and Jonathan. New questions entered your mind like- what is his problem with this? Sure he doesn’t like Steve, but you didn’t think you ever gave any signs to be attracted to this guy. Why is he so affected by it anyway it wasn’t like Steve was taking up your entire life outside of school?

“So- uh what do you think? I see you...probably don’t have a good opinion about it but-”

You blinked, “Oh- I uh-” But Steve cut you off, taking the pen from your hand because he had in fact noticed you staring at the paper while looking a million miles away.

“Okay- what’s wrong? Are you still light-headed? Did you drink anymore water? Eat anything today? I can’t have a tutor who can’t stay focused,” he was in a way mocking your bossy tone you sometimes had when it came to your sessions, but it was all in good fun because when you looked at him with an offended look, he grinned playfully, “Seriously though, what’s wrong?” he nudged your shoulder and you shook your head.

“Nothing for you to worry about, Steve, now to the paper,” you held it between your fingers, but Steve snatched it away from you.

“No that can wait- is it about your boy Jonathan and that girl Marlene?” he got straight to it huh? You licked your suddenly dry lips, and laughed nervously.

“Why would I be upset about that-” Steve gave you a ‘Come on’ look, and you couldn’t help but just basically yell, “Yes okay- that’s what it is! And it shouldn’t be bothering me so much, but he barely met her! And I just- feel like he’s replacing me!” Steve was a bit taken back by how easy it was for you to spill and also by the tears welling up in your eyes.

“Go on,” Steve leaned back, crossing his arms, ready to listen to you. You sighed, forcing the tears to stay in your eyes.

“We got into this argument- you know the one you asked me about last Monday - and I mean, he was totally over-reacting and overanalyzing everything! And I got mad because of the way he was acting- but I really, really hate when we fight, so I apologized and expected him to as well, which he didn’t! And now he’s bringing this girl around, letting her take my seat in History, taking my spot in the front seat, taking my...stupid modeling job for him,” you went off on an entire rant, throwing your hands around as you explained everything, “He ignores me, he keeps on,” you mocked his stupid shrug, “Every time I ask him something, I even just-” You slammed your hand on the table, and then let your head fall against the top of your hand, “And I just don’t know what to do Steve.” You whined.

Steve was still a bit confused about the whole ordeal, so he asked, “Wait- what were you two arguing about in the first place? I want to help you (y/n), but I need to know this vital information.” He leaned in a bit towards you, seeing your teared up eyes widen slightly.

“Oh- it was stupid, it was,” you sat upwards again, not wanting to look at him when you told him, “So like- Jonathan was under the impression that me and you were like- a thing after you were talking to me about our essay workshops okay- and he just-” You rolled your eyes as the stupid look on his face was still fresh in your memory, but then you saw Steve giving you a teasing smile, “Wipe that look off your face! I don’t like you like that! I like Jonathan like that! I was actually just about to admit my feelings to him-”

“Wait a second! You like Byers?” The teasing look on his face vanished, being replaced with surprise, you felt your cheeks heat up and you shrunk in your spot, realizing you just let your a thousand year long crush slip from your mouth like it was nothing, “That’s...surprising actually. I didn’t know that. I actually thought it was the other way around.”

“The other way- what?”

Steve leaned his arm on the desk, turning his body slightly towards you, “Well I mean, I always thought it was Jonathan who was crushing on you. Not you crushing on him.” You furrowed your eyebrows, wondering where he could’ve gotten an idea like that. He noticed the disbelief in your face and continued, “I thought he’s been crushing on you for years and you were the one giving him a hard time!”

“That’s not funny Steve, you’re seeing things, that’s not true. If he liked me, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you about this,” you said, your voice faltering slightly, “Besides- even if he did like me like I like him- it wouldn’t matter. He seems to think me and you are secretly dating and found someone else.” Steve frowned, and then ran his hand through his hair as he let out a long breath.

“Maybe you should be looking at this from my point of view- okay so- Jonathan is mad because he thinks me and you are dating.” He pointed between the both of you, “Why else would he be mad about the possibility of you dating me if it meant he wasn’t jealous?” You scoffed, and replied instantly, “No that’s not it, he just doesn’t like you.” Steve’s mouth fell open, and he fell back in chair, slapping his hand over his heart.

“Excuse me! He started to hate me in eighth grade okay! You know after Tina’s party.” For a moment, that made sense to you, that maybe Jonathan actually did like you and disliked Steve because of that party, which honestly made you blush to think about still, but then again...you couldn’t really remember a time where Jonathan did like Steve, so you dismissed that idea completely.

“It’s whatever Steve, I don’t even- he doesn’t like me okay? Please don’t pull my strings any longer,” you begged slightly, he sighed and nodded, “I just have to deal with it, but I just wish I had other friend’s to sit with. I don’t think I can handle another day.” That’s when Steve looked really offended.

“Regardless if Jonathan likes you or not he doesn’t have to be a jerk to you about it and almost make you cry,” Steve leaned in again to look at you with a serious look, “Just sit with me, your friend,” he put emphasis on friend, and it made you smile. 

“That’s right...I’m sorry for forgetting about you- but I don’t think sitting with you would make the situation any better.” Steve looked away in thought for a moment, before nodding and agreeing, but still leaving the open invitation that if Jonathan became too unbearable to just sit with him instead. It made you smile for real for the first time in a while.

The both of you grew silent, and you suddenly felt bad that half of your session was wasted with your problems. And then you started to feel bad that Steve had to be the one to hear your stupid rant, so to make up for it, you turned towards him and asked him about him and Nancy. Because honestly, you were just a teeny bit curious after having to fight for his attention in the morning when you were quite literally dying. And then there was the other morning where she clearly rejected the guy.  

Steve huffed, “Well, during the summer- we ran into each other at one of Tina’s pool parties, we got to talking, got to flirting, and you know- eventually got to kissing.” You regretted asking, seeing the torn up look at his face, “We have a fling all summer, meeting each other places, going on dates, kissing- and I realized when it was coming to an end that I really like her. And I want her to be my girlfriend, she’s really sweet, funny...and so smart, probably too perfect for me which is probably why she keeps rejecting me.” You frowned.

“Well how often do you ask her?”

“Not that often! Just sometimes when we kiss in like the bathroom or under the bleachers or at parties and stuff-”

“Wait! So you and her are still...together, but not romantically together?” you asked, now completely interested. Steve shrugged his shoulders, still frowning, then nodded, but it wasn’t a for sure nod, “So this fling- it’s basically still going on. Huh.” You just thought Steve liked her and she had no interest in him whatsoever. 

“Well maybe you can offer me some advice, what should I do?”

Honestly, you didn’t even know what to say, but you felt obligated to say something because even if he was no help in your situation, he still tried and listened, so you’re going to do the same, “It’s a bit tricky, so- she likes you right?” He nodded, “And she’s told you?” He nodded again, you hummed in thought, “I can’t speak for Nancy because I’m not Nancy, I am (y/n), but I’m thinking maybe she’s just comfortable with the arrangement you two already have- and-” Steve was looking at with complete interest, and you froze up, “I don’t know Steve! Why don’t you just like end it! See what she does!”

“I don’t want to end it though,” he frowned, and you felt bad and added, “No I mean like- temporarily, like date someone else- see how she reacts?” Steve raised a brow, giving you a look and then shook his head. You cringed because suddenly you knew how bad it sounded.

“(y/n) that’s the worst advice I’ve gotten, the freshman on my team who’ve never dated anyone can give better advice than you,” he stated. You held your hands up defense.

“You’re the one who asked the girl who’s been crushing on the same guy for 8 years!” Steve uncrossed his arms, then laughed. You watched him for a moment, then began to laugh yourself, looking back onto the desk and feeling a bit better. You were no longer feeling as empty inside as you did before. You felt a bit silly too, barely realizing that yeah...Steve actually was a friend to you, perhaps not as long as Jonathan, but still a friend regardless. Why did it never occur to you until now? With a smile on your lips, you glanced at the time, seeing you had about 15 minutes left to help him with his essay.

 “Oh no- can we talk about you liking Jonathan some more?” Steve asked jokingly as you grabbed the essay back. You playfully glared at him. He scooted slightly closer to you, listening to you point out and explain all your corrections.

When the 15 minutes passed, Steve ended up convincing you let him take you home, and you guys talked longer about your problems, he was still very surprised it was you who liked Jonathan and not the other way, and you were not convinced that Jonathan liked you at all. 

In front of your house now, Steve helped you get the bike out of the back of his car. You thanked him for the ride and bid him a good-bye. As Steve was going to get back into his car, he suddenly smirked and yelled,“Also before I go- please don’t ever give anyone relationship advice, you’re awful at it!”

“You don’t know if you don’t try!” you turned around and pointed, trying to defend your own honor even though you were fully aware your advice was garbage. Steve let out a loud laugh, then waved at you once more.

“Don’t know if I don’t try- she’s crazy,” Steve said to himself amused,and shaking his head

#Steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x female reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fanfic #can't cheat fate series #jonathan byers x reader #jonathan byers imagine #slight jonathan byers imagine #stranger things #stranger things imagines #st imagines #leslie writes imagines again

[stormtrprinstilettos]

Chameleon - Ch. 3, part 1

Summary: Reader (that's you!) moves to London, hoping to leave her past behind and find happiness. She makes friends with her new neighbors. (Guess who?) I can’t summarize the whole story because it’s going places I don’t even know. It’s like it has a mind of its own.

**Note: Have to split this chapter into two posts because I’ve apparently hit a limit. Or you can read the whole thing in one swoop at the AO3 link below**

A/N: [insert scream here] I battled hard with where I was going to send this story but I’ve made my decision and I can’t turn back now. I know, I know, there’s still no relationship established, but, trust me. Next chapter? *phew* You’ll get it. You’ll get it… We’ll be doing a time warp soon. Just go with the flow. I wasn’t going to post until Saturday, but if I don’t do this now, I’ll end up driving myself crazy.

Language and angst about, as usual, but you, Y/N – you’re a strong ass female… and no man is gonna bring you down!

Tagging @chocolatealmondmilkshake and thanking my beta tester & cheerleader @clogwearingspacepoodle (and everyone else who is actually reading this, too!)

Ch 1 | Ch 2 || AO3 link here

(Enjoy this gif of our main players that separates all of this dribble from the story because the formatting sucks balls and because Angry Brian is how I felt when Tumblr wouldn’t let me post the whole thing, or when I try to post from the Tumblr app.)

You insisted on paying for dinner since you felt like you owed them from rescuing you from madness your first night in London, but the guys didn't want you to. You assumed it was some macho pride thing, so you shoved a wad of money into Freddie's pocket and told him to pretend like he was paying if it made them feel better. You guided them to a small, quiet Italian restaurant you loved and walked in before any of them could stop you.

You were all seated in a circular booth, Brian to your left and Roger to your right. Freddie was quite amused by the unspoken, minor rivalry between Brian and Roger when it came to deciding who would get to sit next to you, so he made sure you ended up in between them, just to see if anything would happen, purely for his own entertainment. He knew what was going on in your head. You vented about it to him many times.

There’s Roger, who you knew you’d have fun with, and you knew without any doubt would help satisfy the need that you didn't even know was pent up inside until your little episode earlier in the day. But then there’s Brian. You know he would bring so much more to your world, but he was just so seemingly unattainable – which made him even more attractive to you.

You convinced yourself that it was nothing more than choosing between the sprint or the marathon. The only thing that you were absolutely certain of was that you had to tread carefully. You’d never been able to forgive yourself if you came in between friends. When you’d talk about this internal conundrum of yours with Freddie, all he would tell you was that it was your decision and that he couldn’t make up your mind for you. He knew who he would rather see you with, and you knew who as well, but it just wasn’t happening, for whatever reason.

You stayed quiet most of the dinner, listening to the three guys talk about the band mostly. You’d smile and laugh and nod along with their conversation, pretending to pay attention to most of it when your mind was preoccupied.

The most you spoke was to nag them about letting you hear them play, and they promised you’d be the first person to hear them as soon as they found their new bass player. You had heard Freddie sing many times. You were completely entranced by his voice and would often ask him to play a song on the piano and sing to you, to which he would happily oblige. You’d hear Brian sometimes singing and playing his guitar from the other side of the apartment wall but wouldn't dare let him know, given how he was easily embarrassed. He had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, but you didn't want to risk it.

Your group was interrupted by a tiny redhead who ventured over to the table. She was cute, lightly freckled with green eyes. "Hey, Roger," she screeched when she spoke. You find her voice incredibly annoying, and her personality is way too bubbly for your liking. You, Brian, and Freddie all turn to Roger who is looking quite shocked.

"Oh, hey… you. How are you?" He doesn't remember her name and is struggling to not let it show.

"Are you coming to The Troubadour tonight? A friend's band is playing. I'd love to see you again." She flirtatiously bats her eyes and smiles a flashy smile in his direction, completely ignoring the fact that he is sitting at a table, in the middle of dinner, with three other people. You don't know if you want to shoo the girl away or if you are enjoying watching Roger squirm.

"Oh, well, umm, you see..." He doesn’t know what to say. He’s still trying to remember her name.

You decide right then and there that squirmy Roger was entertaining. You always found it funny when the usually quick-witted guy was left speechless. So, you decide to play your own little game and ask the redhead, "what kind of band are they?"

It seems like she just realized there were more people in the room, and she skittishly answers, "rock and roll, of course. Roger wouldn't enjoy anything else. That's why I'm inviting him."

"We were going to head to The 606 after we finished here..." he hastily states before you cut him off.

"Oh, Roger, we can go there any time. How many chances will we get to hear your friend's band?" You pat him on the shoulder.

"Not my band. My friend's band," she snaps at you while rolling her eyes.

"That’s what I meant…” You try to explain, but she’s not even paying you attention. Her eyes are fixated on Roger. You look over at Freddie. He knows exactly what’s going on and shrugs with his hands letting you know he’s okay with going. You then look to Brian who had covered mouth to hide his smile as he nods that he’s also okay with going. Then you look at Roger, who has a look of absolute betrayal on his face. You put your right hand on his thigh, underneath the table so no one could see, and give him a gentle squeeze as you look him in the eye. "So, what do you think?"

He gulped, wondering why you’re doing this. "Whatever you want," he answers quietly.

You turn back to face the redhead. "What's your name, sweetie?"

Roger leans into your ear and begs you, “please, Y/N, don’t…” Freddie and Brian try not to make noise when they start to chuckle. You ignore them all.

"I'm Lyla. Nice to meet you....?"

"I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you, Lyla. Have you met these two?" pointing to Freddie and Brian.

"Oh, yes, I met them..."

Roger clears his throat and interrupts. "Yeah, she's met them. Lyla, we're going to finish our dinner and we'll see you later. Alright?"

“Would you like to sit with us, Lyla?” You wave your hand for everyone to scoot over to make room for her at the table. She happily takes a seat next to Brian, her face beaming as she stares at Roger. Freddie keeps looking around and fiddling with his napkin. Brian is doing his best to control his amusement, but failing miserably. You pat Roger on his thigh as you clear your throat.

“So, Lyla, how’s it you know these guys?”

“Well, I met Roger after one of their shows a while back…”

“She’s his biggest fan,” Brian says with a chuckle.

“Yeah, she thinks he’s just spectacular,” Freddie pipes up, clearly making a joke you aren’t keen to. .

“No, Fred,” Brian corrects him. “Impressive.” He and Freddie are obviously more amused by all of this than you are.

“Alright, alright, I think she gets it.” You look at Roger and he’s still squirming in his seat, silently pleading with you to stop. You, of course, cannot.

You look back to Lyla, who how has her chin resting in her hands, still looking at Roger. “I haven’t experienced Roger’s drumming. Is he really that good?” you ask her, quite suggestively, but she doesn’t pick up on the innuendo.

Roger grits his teeth and leans over to whisper in your ear. “What are you doing? Stop it.”

“Oh, yeah, he’s really good.”

Brian chokes on the water he’s trying to drink. “Impressive.”

“Spectacular,” Freddie chimes in.

“Hmm.” You look back at Roger. “Really. That good, huh?” You smirk and this time he smirks back.

“Roger?” Lyla tries to get his attention, completely oblivious to the looks the two of you are sharing. “So, you’re coming tonight?”

“Yeah, yeah…” he replies, never taking his eyes off of you.

Freddie throws his napkin on the table and takes the last sip of his wine. “We’re all done here?”

“I think we are,” you say, still smirking at Roger before you look back at everyone else. “Shall we pay the bill and go?” Everyone agrees.

As you are walking in a group to the next stop of the evening, Roger pulls you back behind the group.

“Impressive, huh? Spectacular?” You joke.

He leans down to talk to you so no one else will hear. “The last time I saw her it took me three days to get rid of her, Y/N.”

“Then I guess she’ll be easy for you to get.” You give him a wink and a nudge on his arm.

“Maybe I don’t want to get her,” he whispers in an aggressive tone.

“Calm down, tiger,” you chuckle. “You need to get someone or you’re going to hurt yourself.” You make sure he follows your eyes down to his crotch so he knows that you notice what’s going on under his pants. You leave him with a smirk, joining Freddie and Brian for the rest of the walk.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

"They have a good sound." Freddie nudged Brian as he pointed to the stage. "I wonder if they're serious about all of this, because if they are, they'll need better lyrics." He walked off with a laugh and headed to the bar.

It was the truth. The tunes had a descent vibe but the lyrics were absolutely terrible. Every line made you cringe. The guys seemed to be enjoying the sound and were either not paying attention to the lyrics, with the exception of Freddie, or they were more focused on the sounds and the beats coming through the speakers.

You lean over to Lyla to ask her more about the band. "Do these guys play much?"

"Not really. They just like having fun with it. Gives them something to do with their spare time." She chuckled. "It does help them get laid. Do you know how many girls will do anything to be with a guy in a band?" Lyla winked before she continued. "Especially if he's a drummer."

You give Lyla a blank smile as you watch her start move her body against Roger. "I have a feeling there's a lot of them," you mumble.

Roger didn't seem to mind the attention he was getting. Of course, the amount of alcohol he had consumed up to this point may have caused him to forget all about the annoyance he felt about Lyla earlier at dinner, and the moment the two of you shared earlier.

You quickly turn your attention over to Brian, not wanting to watch the public display going on between the two over to the other side. You watch his head bobbing to the beat, with his mind intently focused on what he was hearing. He must have felt you looking at him, because he looked down to you and a warm smile came across his face. "That bass player needs a better band," he told you, and it was like a lightbulb went on in his head.

"Roger! Come on!" He grabbed Roger by the arm and pulled him away. "We need to find Freddie!" As the two walked over to the bar and started chatting with their friend, Lyla leaned up against you, pouting.

"Is he going to come back?" The stench of whatever she was drinking almost knocked you for a loop.

Rolling your eyes, you give Lyla's head a pat. "Don't worry. You'll get him back." They better not leave me with this girl for the rest of the night, you mumble to yourself.

After the band's set was complete and most of the patrons had left, you were sitting on one of the torn and ratty sofas at the back of the room with Lyla. She was leaning on you, drunk rambling about Roger and how much she hoped he would take her home tonight. Becoming increasingly frustrated, you start staring down Brian and Freddie, hoping they’ll sense your annoyance and leave. They, along with Roger, were in a deep conversation with the band's bass player, and soon they all shook hands with him and turned around to see you and Lyla at the back of the room.

"Up you go. Roger's waiting for you." You didn't know if he really was, but she became his problem once he started handing her shots. You lift a beaming Lyla from the sofa and guide her in the proper direction. "Go on. He's right in front of you."

After seeing the two lovebirds, or whatever they were, reunited, you walk over to Freddie and Brian. "Oh, young love. Isn't it..."

"Disgusting. It's disgusting, Freddie," you pop back. "She's disgusting." The guys laugh hysterically. "Did you ever hear about the time she sucked his dick in the shower? With graphic details?" They cringe. "No? Well I have."

Freddie rubs on the top of your head. "Well what do you know. Princess here is a prude." You knock his arm away.

"No, I am NOT a prude, but if I want to know how it feels to deep throat, I'll do it myself to find out!" Brian took a hard gulp and Freddie howled with laughter.

"Hey, what's so funny? What am I missing out on?" Roger comes stumbling over with Lyla wrapped around the shoulders in his arm.

“Y/N was just telling us about de…” Freddie tried to answer."

"Fuck off, Freddie!" you snap. Brian is standing next to you with his hand grabbing the back of his neck. "Are we leaving or staying here until they kick us out?"

The group assembles to start the walk home as Freddie bids you all a goodbye. "I've got someone to go see. I'll see you all later." He leans over and whispers to you, "it's my friend from the college." He winks and kisses you on the cheek before walking away.

On the walk home, you and Brian walk behind Roger and Lyla, part in order to make sure they didn't fall on their asses, part in order to make sure the two of you could hold a conversation without the other two butting in.

The night air was giving you the chills, and Brian, noticing you started walking with your arms crossed, took off his jacket and draped it around your shoulders. "So, we'll be auditioning that bass player tomorrow afternoon," he tells you as he covers you with the jacket. "He seemed pretty excited. He's seen some of our shows and feels like he could fit right in."

"Oh yeah? That's great! He was really good up there tonight.” You start to bite the left corner of your bottom lip. Neither one of you know what to talk about. Usually your conversations flowed, but tonight it’s struggling for some reason. You don’t want to blurt out something stupid, so you try staying quiet to see if he would talk, but he doesn’t. You had never been at a loss for words with anyone before, but for some reason, he makes you… nervous.

“You know… I hear you playing sometimes." You cringed as the words left your mouth, because the last thing you wanted to to was embarrass him into even more silence.

Brian stutters, "You... you do?"

"Yeah, through the wall.” Jesus, you sound like a stalker, Y/N, you tell yourself. “I can't make out everything, but the things I do hear sound really good."

The smile on his face lets you know that he’s not embarrassed at all. If anything, he’s quite proud of himself. "I could always play you something when we get home… maybe… if you want me to."

"I'd really like that." You wrap your arm in his. You don’t know why you did that, but it felt nice, and he doesn't seem to mind.

After a few minutes, you look up at Brian and tease him, because he’s adorable when he gets embarrassed, and it happens so easily. "So, is this a date now? We had dinner together at a fancy restaurant. We had some drinks. You gave me your jacket and now you're walking me home," you joked. "Yeah, I think this is a date." He freed the hand that was attached to his free arm from his pocket and grabbed the back of his neck while an embarrassed smile came to his face. "Oh, silly, stop that. I'm just picking on you," you say to him as you tap him on his chest.

"Stop what?" he laughs, not realizing what he’s doing.

"You get embarrassed so easy. It's cute,” you say with a nervous giggle.

"I am not embarrassed." He tries to protest, but you know better.

"Yes, you are. You grab the back of your neck every time you get embarrassed."

"Oh, you mean like how you smile and bite the left corner of your bottom lip when you get embarrassed?"

You nudge him and he pretends to stumble. "Yeah, something like that.”

"Home at last!" Roger yells, snapping the two of you out of your haze. "Come on, girl," he commanded Lyla as he slapped her butt. She laughs loudly and runs up the steps.

Brian takes a deep breath as he watched Roger chasing after the redhead. "It's going to be a long, long night."

"Nah. Let's go get your guitar and come play me one of your songs." You jokingly slap Brian on his butt. "Come on, boy." You mimic Lyla's laugh and run up the steps and turn to look at Brian, who’s just standing there, shell-shocked. "Well?" You cross your arms and start tapping one of your feet. "Are you just going to stand there all night?" He shakes his head and laughs before following you.

[Keep going to Part 2]

#Brian May fic #Brian May fanfic #Brian May fanfiction #Brian May x Reader #Roger Taylor fic #Roger Taylor fanfic #Roger Taylor fanfiction #Roger Taylor x Reader #Queen fandom #Queen fic #Queen fanfic #Queen fanfiction #chameleon story

[x-reader-theater]

God Forgot Us (And the Devil Didn't Want Us) {Soulmate AU} [2]

Relationship: Grecian!Rami Malek X Lover!Male!Reader

Summary: When your father told you about the man you would be living with for the foreseeable future, you hated the idea. Living with a man only to be let go? Having sex with him but not being together? It was stupid. But when you meet him, maybe your mind will be changed? 

Warnings: Allusions to sex, maybe some cursing I don’t really remember, and ANGST! This entire series revolves around angst.

Word Count: 4,825

A/N: Hello again. So, I know this is late, like, really late, but I didn’t really have much motivation to finish this, and even now, I don’t really like it. But it’s better than nothing, and the next chapter is going to be so much better. Either tomorrow or the next day something else will be posted, but that’s all I have for now. Edit is done by @geeky-edits again, so go check them out! Thank you so much. Please reblog. It really does help. 

Greece 250 BCE

“[Y/N]!” You hear your father call into your small home. You wipe your hands off on your tan chitton. It was the only one you had, and it was dirty to all Hades, but you loved it. You were comfortable in it. “Come! Come! We are to meet with-” your father cuts himself off as he takes in the sight of you. You were just cooking, so you had oil stains on your chitton, and your hair was in all directions. He walks over and tubs at your cheek, and when he pulls away, you see he has dirt on his fingers. “Why are you so dirty! I have had the meeting in place for months!”

You roll your eyes, and run a greasy hand through your hair. “I don't understand what the big deal is! I am fine living here, and I don't need some other man to take care of me!” You exclaim.

Your father sighs. “It isn't about taking care of you, it's about setting you up for success!” You go to fire back, but he cuts you off before you can. “Go wash up. I bought you a new chitton for today, and I want you to wear it.”

You sigh, but do as he's asked, going to the back and washing yourself off. You try and get your hair to lie down flat, but it keeps moving, so you resign to just leaving it for now. Going back inside, you slip on the perfectly white chitton your father just brought home for you, and fasten the leather cord around your waist, bringing it in to hug your body. You put your nice sandals on, and walk back out to your father, who is rushing around, for what you assume is no reason.

“Father?” you call out, and he jumps, hitting his head on the table he was underneath. “What are you doing?”

“Oh! [Y/N]! You look wonderful!” He exclaims, standing up, holding something in his hand. “I dropped something important.” He holds out his hand and you see a beautiful blue tiled dolphin broach in his hands. He pins it onto your chitton, and you look down at it in wonder. It was beautiful, and it reminded you of the sea.

“Oh father. Thank you,” you say, and your father hugs you.

He pulls away and clears his throat. “Okay, now, we must get going! I wouldn't want to keep him waiting!” He exclaims, and you nod, the smile dropping from your face. You almost forgot about it. You wished you did.

You and your father make your way through town, turning heads as you pass people by. As you stop in front of the biggest house in your little town, your father Pat's you on the back.

“This is where you go alone. Good luck son,” you father says, and you take a deep breath in, letting it out slowly as you try and slow your beating heart.

You step forwards, going to knock, and the doors open for you. You look around, and back at your father, who shoos you to go in. You square your shoulders, and enter. You look and see two women holding the doors open. They close the doors, and rush away, leaving you alone.

You walk towards the open doors, and enter a large sitting room, with gold and silver strewn about the room. You gawk at the opulence and wealth on display, and go to touch a beautiful, exotic golden statue with eight arms.

“You're late,” you hear behind you, and you spin around.

You see in front of you a man, with dark skin, darker than most in Greece, with jet black hair, and eyes that sparkle like the Grecian sea. He was wearing practically nothing, but a simple himation, with a leather belt tied around the middle. Only one shoulder was covered, and the way it was draped left little to the imagination. He's handsome, in an exotic way. He definitely didn't look Greek, though, many people told you that as well.

You bow slightly, looking down at the ground as you say, “I'm sorry.”

You see feet parallel yours, and a hand underneath your chin. Your head lifts up, and your eyes meet the man's. He leans in, and his lips are inches from yours. Your eyes widen, and he smirks.

“You're beautiful. I think I might just take you…” He mumbles against your lips, and your cheeks flame up. You just nod, and the man grins. “What is your name handsome?”

“[Y-Y/N],” you stutter, and his grin softens slightly.

“Well [Y/N], I promise to take real good care of you…” He brushes your lips against each other, and turns away.

“Wh-What's your name!” You call after him, and he stops, and looks over his shoulder.

“Rami,” he says, and turns around, but doesn't move. “Now, you just going to stand there [Y/N], or are you going to join me?”

You nod and will your feet to move you in the direction of Rami.

You walk through the gardens behind Rami's house, and as you pass each flower, you touch it lightly, the silky petals always a beautiful hue against the monotone green. As you continue walking, you watch as the colour pallet changes. Going from red to pink to yellow to blue, you watch as the garden morphs before your eyes. Colours you don't even know the names of, flowers you've never seen, and architecture you didn't know was in fashion was all here, in this one garden. You reach out towards the only monochrome flower in the whole garden, with large white petals, and yellow pollen, when a voice stops you.

“Of course you're drawn to the lillies…”

You turn around quickly, and see Rami there, standing, watching, a small smile tugging on the corners of his lips. You wonder how long he's been standing there.

“I-I'm sorry, I just… I've never seen anything like them before.” You stumble over your words as if you're one of the teenaged girls talking to the man she wants to court. It's embarrassing.

“Well, these flowers are quite beautiful, and they have an interesting history to them as well…” he trails off, looking away. “Ah, well, you don’t want to hear about that…”

“No! Please, uh, continue…” You say, and he looks up at you, surprised that you actually want to get to know him. “I just- it seems like a passion of yours, and I wouldn't want to stop you from expressing that!”

Rami smiles, and holds out a hand for you, which you take, and he pulls you in close, like you're going to dance with him, even though there's no music. “Well, my little Lilly flower, let's go inside and I can tell you more…”

You nod, and he leads you inside.

Using the money Rami gave you, you walk through the market, looking at the more expensive items on display. You buy yourself a flower, a daffodil, and place it behind your ear, the yellow brilliant against your skin, making you glow. You thank the vendor and move on. You walk over to a silk vendor, and get yourself a nice stretch of silk, one that you can fasten into a himation, something you can dye and wear to a fact event. You knew one was coming up, Rami told you about it, it was to come in a few days, and it was to show you off.

You walk over to a jeweler, and look at the beautiful stones that were set into the gold and silver coloured metals. You reach up and touch one, when you feel a tug at your skits. Looking down, you see a little boy standing there, his hands behind his back.

“Are you a prince?” He asks, looking away, embarrassed, and you smile, crouching down to his level.

“Yes I am,” you say, and his face lights up. “And I something for you… what is your name?”

“Alex!” He exclaims, and you laugh.

“Okay little Alex, well, I have something for you,” you say, and you reach up to the flower behind your ear, and pluck it from your head. You place it behind the boy's ear, and he grins even wider, gasping in awe as you do this. You laugh, and he runs off to his mother, who thanks you with her eyes. You wave to her, and stands back up.

You see a man in a very weird garb, yellow, maybe gold, on a light yellow backdrop. You can't see his face, because his back is turned, but he's holding out his hand to someone. Kids, a boy and a girl.

The girl reaches out, and grabs the loaf from his hand like she was possessed by Hermes himself. She and the boy tear into it, and the man just watches, and you watch the man. He goes to turn around, and-

You brace yourself on the jewelry stall, and place a hand on your head, keeping your breathing steady as you try and slow your racing heartbeat.

You shake your head, but quickly realize that is the wrong option, as your mind starts to swim again. You felt like you were underwater, your thoughts muddled by Poseidon's control, like he was lapping water over your mind.

You steady yourself, and grab your things tighter, and start making your way back to Rami's place. You keep looking behind you though. The feeling of being followed never goes away until you go into Rami's house, and enter his arms.

“Hello!” Rami exclaims, extending his arm towards his guests. You were included in those guests, as you were leaning against a wall, waiting for Rami to pick you up, like he said he would. “It is wonderful to see you a here! I have food and drink, so let us party and make Dionysus jealous!”

Everyone cheers, and takes a sip of their wine. You could tell some of them began drinking before the party even started, but you just laugh. You didn't drink, but you didn't mind being around people who did drink.

You feel a hand on your back, and see Rami standing g behind you. He gives you a quick kiss and you smile as he pulls away.

“Are you ready?” He asks and you shrug.

“I don't know if I'll ever be ready for any of this, but I guess so,” you say, and he nods, grabbing your hand.

“I'm sure you will get used to it.”

He pulls you away from your hiding spot, and you mingle for a bit, talking with people. You meet some of Rami's friends, his rich friends, and his previous lovers. All of them talk at length about how wonderful he is. Rami's hand never leaves your back, and sometimes, it moves a little further down.

“I'm going to be right back,” you whisper to Rami, who smiles and kisses your cheek before you leave. You walk over to grab a cup of water, and the hair rises on your neck. You turn around, and see a man in white chitton, with a silver mask on. You frown, looking at him, but you blink, and he's gone, disappearing into the crowd of drunk grecians who are going to get more food and wine.

You frown and shake your head, drinking the rest of your water, before going back to Rami, who puts his arm around your shoulders.

“You, are so handsome!” Rami slurs, and you roll your eyes. “I just want to do so many things to you…” He turns to put his other arm around you, but stumbles.

“Oh! Okay, here we go!” You exclaim, and a few people go to help you, but you stop them. “It's okay. I got him. I'll put him to bed before he gets in more trouble…” you trail off, and everyone nods, going to tell their friends it's time to go home.

You carry his up to your bedroom, and he just groans as you slip him under the blankets. You lean down and kiss his forehead, and he smiles.

“Reshesf, you are wanted by your father,” you hear yourself say. You want to shake your head, you don't know what's happening. The body you are looking at is shirtless in bed, hugging a pillow close. You see a dip in the other side of the bed, and you think to yourself, 'Is that mine?’

The figure shifts, and you see his toned and dark back muscles shift as well. He hugs the pillow closer and burrows further into the pillow. You realize this man is the same from before. The light yellow colour should have given that away to you.

You stumble back, and hiss in pain as you clutch your head, your eyes fogging as you come back to yourself. You look down at Rami, and for a moment, your vision blurs, and you see the man, Reshef, in his place. You shake your head again to clear your thoughts and slide into bed next to Rami. He turns, and hugs you close, and you just lay against his chest, not moving at all.

You fall asleep with the feeling that someone is watching you.

You're back at the market again, looking around for special foods that would make a nice dinner for the two of you. You place a few apples in a bag, pay the vendor, and continue walking. You pass by a few other stalls, just looking, before you turn and go down the street again. As you walk past an alley, you feel something grab your arm, and pull you in.

You go to scream, but a hand is placed over your mouth. You're pushed against a wall of one of the houses, and you drop your basket. You feel your chitton rip against the stone wall, and you feel pain in the back of your head. You blink a few times as your vision blurs, and when it finally focuses, you see a man who you feel like you've seen before.

“Wha-” you start to say, but he cuts you off.

“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!” He whispers to you. You don't say anything, you just look at him, confused. “Now, I want you to listen very carefully. Stay away from Rami. He's mine!”

You feel him grab your shoulders, and slap you into the stone, making you collapse on the ground in a heap. You hear footsteps running away from you, and you slowly get up, grabbing your bag as you limp home.

You place a hand on the back of your head, and when you pull it away, you see dark red blood on your fingers, and coating your hand.

You push through the front door, and people rush to help you. You just glare at them, and they back off. You walk into the living room, where Rami is sitting, and slam the bag onto the table.

Rami jumps, and looks over at you, a grin on his face, but that quickly drops. He takes in the sight of you, your disheveled hair, bloodstained clothes, your knuckles pale as you clench your hands at your sides, and an angry look on your face. He slowly makes his way over to you, and you just glare at him.

“[Y/N]?” He asks quietly, a concerned look written on his face. You sigh, and look away from him. You couldn't look into his eyes as you spoke. It would break you. “What happened?”

“I met someone today,” you say, and Rami takes another step towards you. “He attacked me. Pushed me up against a building. He told me something.” Rami doesn't say anything, and you look up, meeting his eyes. “He said, 'stay away from Rami.’” Rami's face falls completely into one of dismay, and you take a step forwards. “Do you know something?”

Rami nods slowly, and you groan in frustration. “He… he was a lover of mine,” Rami says. You knew Rami had lovers in the past, but this was all too much right now. You felt light headed, and you didn't know if it was from the head wound, or something else. “He fell in love with me. I didn't love him back.” Rami steps closer, and reaches out, and goes to touch you, but you pull away. He just stands there, dropping his hand back to his side. “I have many lovers. That's my entire investment! I sleep with men until they're not needed, and give them jobs that I get portions of. This has to come to an end. I don't know when, or how, but it has to.”

You nod, and Rami reaches out again, but you just put your hands up, and back away. “No. No. I'm… I'm going to go wash up.” Rami just lets you leave.

You look up at the blue sky, and count the number of fluffy clouds you could see. It was like a painting, the way the wisps of clouds were strewn across the sky, it was like someone took a brush, and smeared the clouds. It was warm today as well, and laying underneath the sun was pleasant. It gave you the feeling that someone was wrapped around you, keeping the cold away from you. A small breeze floats past, and you shiver, your skin prickling as the air kisses your skin. It felt like smooth lips brushing against you.

You close your eyes as you hear footsteps approaching you, and you just ignore them. “[Y/N]…” you hear someone say. You open one eye and see Rami standing above you. You close your eyes and again, and turn your face to the sky again. “Please come back inside. The sun will be setting soon…” Rami says, and you don't move. He sighs. “Please [Y/N]. Are you still angry?”

You sit up at that, and fast. Rami, startled, takes a step back. “I didn't know this would be dangerous! I was already hesitant, but now…” You scoff, and Rami crouches down so his eyes are in line with yours. He reaches a hand out, and when he sees you're not going to pull away, he places it on your cheek.

“I won't let anything happen to you,” he says quietly, and you nod, leaning into his hand. “Now, come on. We should get back inside,” he says, and you stand.

“I'm just going to take a few more minutes,” you say, and Rami nods, walking a little ahead of you.

“Don't talk about my mother in bed,” someone says against your chest. Looking down, you see a familiar head of dark hair pressing kisses to your abdomen. It was Reshef, and we was currently going lower and lower down towards your waist. You want to tangle your hands in his hair, the long curls looked soft, like they would be nice to grab. But try as you might, you couldn't move your arms. They were firmly in place as you grip the sheets with your fingers. You laugh as he places a kiss to your hip, and you rotate your hips for more.

You stumble out of the memory, and you feel hot and sweaty all of the sudden. You look down and realize you may need Rami's help with something. You run off after him, leaving the warm sun and the blue sky behind.

Rami sits up in bed as you lick your lips, and kiss his hips. You can still taste him in your mouth. You kiss up his abdomen, and his chest, lazily going to meet his lips. He moans softly as he licks himself out of your mouth. You smile as you run your hands over his shoulders, feeling his muscles shift underneath your fingers as you press your lips again him.

He brings his arms around your waist, and you arch your back inwards, so you're pressed against him. You smile as he does, and you feel your teeth clack together for just a moment, before Rami pulls back, running his hands over your back. You lean down and lick the spit away from his lips. He just smiles, and pulls you down to the bed.

You yelp, and laugh as you lean into his side, resting your head on his chest. He wraps his arms around you, and kisses your hair. You snuggle in closer to him, pressing soft kisses to the smooth planes.

“[Y/N]?” Rami whispers. You look up at him, your head still on his chest. “I… oh gods…”

“What is it Rami?” You ask, your voice laced with sleep and sex, making it deeper. You feel Rami shiver underneath you, and you smile, running your hands up and down his abs.

He puts his fingers underneath you chin, and lifts you up so your lips meet his. He presses your lips to his, and when you try and deepen the kiss, he stops you, resting your lips against his.

He mumbles something against them, and you purse your lips. “I'm sorry?” You ask quietly against his soft lips.

He sighs, and kisses you again. “I love you.” It's barely a whisper, and you can understand how you missed it before, but it left you in shock.

Rami goes to pull away, a rejected look on his face, but you squeeze your eyes shut, grab him by the shoulders, and pull him in, kissing, hard. He returns the kiss with full force, and you pin him against the bed by his shoulders as his hands move up and down your arms as best they can.

You pull away for a moment, and grin down at Rami, who just grins back up at you. “I love you,” you say, and Rami's grin gets wider as you say that. You dive back down to his neck, and start kissing it up and down, mumbling “I love you,” as you move up and down, to his collarbone, up to his ear, and always against his lips.

Rami flips you over, and pins you now, and leans down to your ear. Giving a growl as you moan. “Now let me show you how much I love you.” He moves down to below your waist, and you gasp.

You stare at the Lillies, and smile as you remember your first time in the lush garden. You remember Rami's kind smile, and his passion for these beautiful plants. You had never met someone who could talk at such lengths about them, and still have plenty more to say later. He really had a passion, and you love that about him. You smile to yourself as you think of Rami.

“Don't move.” You freeze as you feel the cold, pointy tip of a knife against your back. The voice is familiar, and you mentally slap yourself for not noticing it sooner. “I know what you're doing,” the man growls in your ear, and you don't move. You can feel yourself shaking, but you will yourself to not move. “You get Rami to love you, and he forgets me. I know how this works,” the man says, and you shake your head, just slightly.

“No, no that’s-” You cut yourself off as you feel the knife sink deeper into your back.

“Yes it is!” he screams. You flinch slightly, but stop. You make sure you don't more a muscle. “You got him to fall in love with you because he wouldn't love me, and you knew you had your chance!” You feel fingernails dig into your shoulder, and glancing down, you see his hand crushing your bare shoulder. “Now, I don't know what you think you'll get out of this, but you need to leave him!”

You nod, over and over, your voice not working, so you hope your head conveys your meaning. You let out a breath as both the finger nails and the knife disappear. You turn around, but he's already gone, with nothing but footsteps in his wake.

“Rami!” You call out into the house, walking through, clutching your heart. You felt a pain you had never felt before, and you didn't know what it was. Still, you trecked on, walking into the living room of the house. You look at the gold, the gems, the beautiful pearls that lined the walls. Everything was perfect, and you didn't want to mess it up. You knew Rami would tell at you if you did.

You sit on the floor, next to the carpet, and just rest there. You didn't have the energy to get up, but you knew you needed to find Rami. “Rami…” you call out again, with no energy left. You would fight to see Rami, and you knew you had to stay away. Your eyes just felt to heavy…

“[Y/N]!” You jolt awake at the feeling of someone jostling your shoulder. You force your eyes open, and look up at Rami, who's staring down at you, worried.

You try and smile, letting out a breath, but you cough. Maybe breathing wasn't so good right now…

“[Y/N], [Y/N] what happened?” He asks, frantic, and you just skae your head.

“You…” You cough. “You said I would be safe…” you force out, and you see Rami's smile drop.

“I-I know, I know, and you will be! I'll keep you safe! I'll-” You cut him off by squeezing his hand.

You see a head of black hair leaning over you, his face obscured by his hair as it falls into his face. You can see him, breathing heavily, his shoulders shaking. “I'm sorry my prince, my love…” you hear yourself say quietly. Your breathing catches in your throat, and Reshef leans into your hand. “I love you…” you whisper.

Reshef lets out a sob, and he moves his head so he's looking at you, and your heart stops in your chest.

“Reshef…” you breath out, looking up at him. That's why he was familiar. He was the man you loved.

“[Y/N]...” Reshef says down to you.

You reach a hand up, and touch his face. Your hand falls, and your vision goes fuzzy. You can hear Reshef calling your name, and when you squint, you swear you see Egypt, not Greece. You see Reshef, with his long wavy hair over you, and you smile, as the darkness fades around your vision, and Reshef leaves you, again.

“[Y/N]? [Y/N]!” Rami yells out, clutching [Y/N]'s body as it goes limp. He screams as his love leaves him alone, and he cries over him.

“Ah, the poison. Always fast acting, always good in a pinch.” Rami looks behind him, and sees Heslef, a previous sutor he didn't think he would see again.

“You,” Rami growls out, setting the body on the ground as the man above him laughs. “You fucking did this!” Rami screams.

Heslef just raises his hands, and smiles. He reaches a hand out, but Rami just bats it away. “My love-”

“Don't fucking call me that!” Rami screams. “I do not love you! You killed the one I love!”

“No!” Heslef screams back. “I killed him so we could be together! So the love you have for me can finally bloom! Just like those fucking flowers you always seemed to love more than me!” Rami doesn't say anything. He just eyes the knife at Heslef's hip. “Once you realize that we belong together…” Heslef takes a step forwards. They were face to face how. Reaching distance. “You will never want to let me go.”

Heslef reaches a hand out, and Rami takes it. Heslef pulls him in, and Rami smiles, as he places a hand on Heslef's hip. Rami leans in, his lips against Heslef's, and he whispers, “You killed the one I love. Now I'm going to join him.”

Rami takes the knife, and stabs himself in the heart. “NO!” Heslef screams, but Rami just smiles at him.

“Fuck you Heslef.” Rami pulls the knife out of himself, and it clatters to the ground, and Rami falls next to it. You looks over at the man he loves, and grabs his hand. “I'll see you soon my love,” Rami says quietly. He squeezes you hand, but lets go when he can't feel his fingers anymore. He feels blood soak into his hair and his Chitton, and pool around his body, as his breath constricts, and the black funnels his vision.

He's not scared. He always thought he would be scared when he died, but Rami wasn't scared. He was next to [Y/N], the love of his life. His hand was in his, and he knew he would be joining him soon. He loves him, and he knows [Y/N] loves him back. He was content with that.

Rami closes his eyes, and he doesn't wake up.

#rami malek #rami malek x reader #rami malek x you #rami malek imagine #rami malek x male!reader #soulmates #soulmate au #soulmate #ancient greece #God Forgot Us (And the Devil Didn't Want Us) #my work #My writing

[imdifferentshadesofpurple]

the Bad (?) Decision.

Date #6 of the Bad First Date Chronicles Pairing: Im Jaebum x Reader

You’ve done your best in life to make the best decisions possible.

You were the kind of person that thought of every scenario and every consequence, good and bad, before coming to a conclusion. 

But you didn’t think when it came to Im Jaebum.

You felt destroyed after that fateful phone call, angry at anything and everything. 

Which prompts you to drag Youngjae to a bar the following weekend, dressed to impress and feeling hollow inside.

The best combination, I’m sure you can agree. 

“Maybe not so many beers?” The look on Youngjae’s face is that of complete worry as he twists the bottle from your hand, placing the still cold drink on the table. You frown, “Choi Youngjae, never remove a drink from a lady’s hand. Now give it.” 

You make grabby hands for it but he moves the beer, eyeing you with an air of exasperation. “You look like you’ve been dumped.”

You roll your eyes, “I have. Or should we go over the past few months again? The too tall child that couldn’t even drink yet? The overly fabulous super model that needs attention 24/7? The sweet sunshine boy that’s a better friend than boyfriend? Or should we discuss Park Jinyoung? My shot at happiness that I went and screwed up somehow? Or we can go back to just awhile ago when the Jackson Wang said we shouldn’t see each other again? And now, now my supposed best friend that’s been ignoring me all this time has a girlfriend and I feel like my heart has been ripped out and crushed by every power tool in existence. Fuck Youngjae-yah, fuck. What does the universe have against me? Am I not a decent person, decent enough? Should I just give up, is this a sign?”

He can’t help but chuckle, “If it’s a sign, you’re not seeing it.”

You frown couldn’t possible deepen but it does. “Huh?”

“Look Y/N. We agreed a long time ago that this, this between us, is better the way it is now. You’re like...an amazing friend. Probably my best one. And I know that title, for you, belongs to Mark. But I just had to say it. Anyway, that’s besides the point. A sign. You’ve gone through these dates, they’ve ended up being complete busts, and now you feel empty and angry and very, very sad. Right?”

“...right. Right? Right.”

He can tell you’re not getting it. “You’re sad. You’re angry. You’ve been feeling this way since that phone call. Don’t you think that means something?”

You sigh and flail a little in your seat. “You know I’ve had too many drinks! I don’t have the brain capacity for this right now!”

“...you’re a pediatric surgeon.” “...right now I’m just a broken drunk girl.”

With a groan, he grips your shoulders. “You’re in love with Mark.”

Oh. Wait.

“I’m sorry, what?” You stare at him, eyes almost popping out of your head.

Youngjae shakes his head, “All this time, you don’t see exactly what’s right there. Right there. As in Mark. I’ve never met the guy but come on! You told me how defensive he got when I had asked you out! With all the stories you told me and now this whole girlfriend situation? You’re in love with your best friend, geez you’re like a generic romantic comedy.”

You’re silent for a moment - before you start to laugh.

“I am not, not, in love with Mark. That’s complete shit Youngjae-yah, no offense. I’ve known him my entire life! He’s Mark! It’s an insane idea and I won’t entertain it any longer.” You grab your beer before he can move it away, pressing a wet kiss to his cheek. “Now go on and go home to your girlfriend turned ex-girlfriend turned back into girlfriend. You told me she had exams today so treat her to dinner or something. I’ll be fine.”

He tries to argue, but you stop him with a hand to his mouth. 

“Nope! Nada! I don’t want to hear it, now go! Shoo!”

He’s groaning as you forcefully get his jacket on, mothering him (as best as you can drunk tipsy) and simultaneously shove him towards the doors. He looks extremely hesitatnt to leave you but you promise a million times to call if you needed something.

When he’s finally gone, you think about what he said, what he thinks you feel.

It’s ridiculous, preposterous, completely insane. You’re not in love with Mark Tuan. Absolutely, undeniably, not in love.

And you’re going to prove it.

Im Jaebum’s leather jacket was warm, material heavy over your shoulders as he leaned forward to whisper something in your ear. 

Your mind is hazy, most of it because of the alcohol, but he’s handsome (aka incredibly sexy) and you don’t mind the feeling running through your veins. 

You try not to think about Youngjae’s words as you press yourself against the line of Jaebum’s body, smiling as his lips graze your cheek. 

You know it’s a bad idea, you usually make them when you drink too much, but he’s saying nice things and making you feel good and you don’t want it to stop.

You don’t want to think about Mark, think about whatever feelings you (maybe) don’t have. 

But Jaebum is kind, underneath the all black and piercing eyes. He doesn’t try to make unnecessary moves on you, hands never drifting too far south, never says anything inappropriate that makes you uncomfortable. He watches out for you, talks with you, takes his time because he understands you’re not in the clearest of mindsets.

And when he drives you home, he helps you to your room, leaving your clothes on instead of ripping them off and trying to make the night more interesting. 

You don’t remember much of what he’s said, his voice muffled like you’re underwater.

And you drift to sleep that way, suddenly thinking about red hair instead of two moles under the eye.

You wake up with a desperate need for water.

It’s a little past four in the morning when you find your way to the kitchen in the dark, hands out in front of you as your eyes stay slightly closed.

You gulp down two glasses, sighing in relief as the liquid cools your body from the inside. You’re about to head back to bed when a light from the living room causes you to head there instead, confusion all over your face when you pick up a phone that isn’t yours.

You feel more awake when you see a text on the screen from Youngjae.

Thanks for helping Jaebum hyung, I didn’t want to leave her at the bar but she kept pushing me out. And I’m sorry you have to spend the night on the couch lol. I promise I’ll get you breakfast in the morning. Call me when you wake up.

Your confusion deepens as you read the text over again. 

When someone shifts next to you, you turn quickly to see Jaebum sleeping on your couch, arm thrown over his face as his feet shuffle under one of your blankets. His leather jacket, the one that had kept you warm earlier that night, was lying across the arm of the couch by his head.

With your ears ringing and a sort of buzzing prickling all over your skin, you kneel in front of him and shake gently at his shoulder.

“Jaebum-ssi...wake up...”

He groans, heading turning away from your voice, and you shake again. With a deep inhale, he slowly wakes up and faces you, eyes opening and recognition flashing across them.

“...I take it you’re wondering why Youngjae-yah is texting me,” he says, stretching a bit, the blanket slipping further down his body.

You nod, a bit in a daze, “Uh, yeah. That’s one of the million question running through my pounding head. Should I...wait until later?”

He shakes his head, pulling himself up into a sitting position, patting the space he was once occupying. You rise from the floor and sit, folding your legs underneath you. He spreads the blanket further to cover you as well and leans back to get comfortable once more.

“Youngjae is a friend of mine, we’re both in the same music classes at school. He saw me at the bar when you both arrived and when you started drinking a little too much, he had texted and asked me to keep an eye out for you once you shoved him out the door.”

“...he knew I would do that?”

He smiles a little, “He did. He insists he knows you quite well. He knew that the moment he suggested you were in love with your best friend, you’d deflect it and insist he went home to his girlfriend. He didn’t want to just leave you on your own so I agreed to take care of you.”

Your cheeks turn pink, “But you were flirting with me.”

He shrugs, “You’re pretty, which I’m sure you know. There’s no harm in flirting, at least in my opinion. And I couldn’t keep an eye on you if you lost interest and wandered to some other guy. I had to make sure to keep you occupied so I could eventually take you back here.”

“...I’m sorry. My couch isn’t comfortable.”

He chuckles, “I disagree. Youngjae’s is worse. Yours feel like clouds so don’t worry. But if it’s all the same to you, I’m hoping I can stay until the sun’s up. I have work later today and could use the sleep.”

You agree, there’s no way you’d kick him out now, and he grins in thanks. You get up so he can lie back down, blanket pulled up to his chin like a child. You’re on you’re way back to your room when he calls out again.

“I don’t know Mark, I barely know you except what Youngjae has mentioned. But maybe he’s got a point. You seemed more like you were drinking to forget rather than drinking for a good time.”

You don’t say anything, you actually feel a little dizzy, and head back to your room to climb under your covers. You send a quick ‘thank you’ text to the sunshine child (what would you do without him, really) before you’re on your back, staring up at the ceiling.

“You’re in love with Mark.”

You groan, covering your face, Youngjae’s voice clear as day in your head. 

There’s no way you were in love with Mark, he was your best friend and you weren’t in a cheesy romantic film. 

But you think back to the past few months without him here, the emptiness you had felt that lead to confusion and then to anger and then to heartbreak. You had been attached at the hip since you were both infants and couldn’t yet walk. He had seen all the ugly sides of you and still managed to not care, always there for you no matter what. 

And then you started dating, if dating was even the right word.

You had dated before, had a boyfriend or two that Mark never seemed to like.

But it was that first date with Yugyeom, when you really decided to try and keep an open mind, that he started to act odd - act jealous. 

Then, he disappeared. No calls, no texts. It was like he started a whole new life without you in Taiwan. 

And the girl. The girlfriend he suddenly had.

Something like that was worth being told. You told him everything! Told him about your dates and how they didn’t turn out the way you had hoped, ending the night early with him as you ate food and played whatever on the tv. 

But him getting a girlfriend, he couldn’t bother.

You roll around, heart achy and thoughts jumbled.

If you were in love with him (which okay, you were kind of starting to think you maybe sort of were), what did that mean? He wasn’t here, he had left. You haven’t spoken in weeks so how were you supposed to figure anything out if he wasn’t there to help you? 

How was anything supposed to work if you weren’t trying to make it work together?

Like Jaebum, you pull the covers up and drown out your frustrated screams with a pillow, only falling asleep an hour later with things still not making any sense. 

Jaebum is gone when you wake up, eyes heavy like sand as you pull yourself up out of bed. 

He left a simple note on your dresser (thanks for the couch and the chance to get some sleep after lifting a full grown woman back into her apartment lol) that you tuck away with a scoff and a smile before getting rid of last night with a shower. 

It’s when you’re dressed, hair dry and stomach empty, that you hear it.

The faint jingle of keys and a door being opened. The sound of suitcases being rolled against the hardwood floor of your entryway.

You’re frozen in your room, paralyzed because you know who that is.

You know, right then, everything becoming clearer than they ever were. And you’re suddenly terrified.

You slowly open the door, sock clad fleeting sliding against the floor as you make your way down the hall. Everything that’s happened is like a weight on your chest and you can hear Youngjae’s voice again.

“You’re in love with Mark.”

...yes, I think I am.

a/n: one left! tomorrow, we find out just where the fuck mark tuan has been lol.

#kpoptrashtag #g7hyungnet #7ornevernet #got7snet #got7writersnet #sfw #got7 #got7 fanfic #got7 scenario #got7 im jaebum #got7 im jaebum fanfic #got7 im jaebum scenario #im jaebum #im jaebum fanfic #im jaebum scenario #im jaebum x reader #the bad first date chronicles: date 6

[feelsgood-anon]

EROS - BAR AU [SEASON 2] CHAPTER 3

DISCLAIMER: THIS PIECE IS A MYSTIC MESSENGER AU.  IT IS HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THE AMERICAN SITCOM CHEERS, A SHOW CENTERED AROUND A BOSTON BAR CALLED CHEERS AND IT’S REGULARS.  EVEN THOUGH I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP AS MUCH OF CANON PERSONALITIES WITH ALL THE MYSTIC MESSENGER CHARACTERS JUST REMEMBER THAT IT IS AN AU AND A FEW THINGS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN IN GAME OR YOUR HEADCANONS. THIS HAS BEEN FUN TO PLAN AND I HOPE YOU FIND A BIT OF JOY READING IT!  

PG13+ FOR SWEARIN’,  BOOZIN’, AND ADULT THEME-IN’.

[Season 1]

[Season 2] | Prologue | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 |

“Hey doll, could you grab some ticket books from my office?” It looks like you guys are running low,“ Zen called out over his shoulder towards Sunny.

She didn’t look up from the notebook she’d been writing in, only giving him a subtle grunt, “Get Cannon to do it, I’m busy.”

He whirled around and stared at her with a disapproving look, “Excuse me? You’re cheeky today. Keep that up and I may end up falling in love with you. I absolutely adore sassy women.” With a grin he leaned forward to take a peek at whatever she was working on, “What is this, anyway? writing me love poems?”

This interaction between the two had become the norm for them once he opened up the day he returned to Eros. He was a different type of flirty with her and everyone noticed. It was a gentle tone, the comments not as predatory as before. In his defense, his mannerisms around women had changed drastically. It seemed that keeping sober kept him a bit more calm and reserved.

That’s not to say he didn’t relish in the constant attention - no, he still lived for it. But with the regular therapy that he was attending, a lot of the old thoughts and habits returned to him. He had become very aware that many only concentrated on his looks instead of his personality and that was always a sore spot for him.

But when it came to Sunny, it was different. She was one of the few he knew would accept him in every way possible and every compliment - and criticism - was pure and genuine. This quality was something he needed, something he was starving for, without Scarlet. Naturally, he gravitated towards Sunny to fill the void in comfort.

She let out a frustrated sigh and crossed out a few things from her page, “You wish! I write beautiful poetry! I took a few creative writing courses as electives. My professor told me I had talent and to continue practicing!”

“Pretty sure that’s the nice way to say your assignments were shit.” Cannon snickered as he plopped into the seat next to her, “Did he tell you that to your face?”

“Well, no. He always wrote it on my graded papers! See! I would continuously improve and he always encourage me to keep practicing my craft!”

Zen pursed his lips, trying to hold back a laugh, “Regardless of your talent, I would love to read anything you create. I’m sure you put in a lot of effort into everything you do.” He reached out to pat Sunny’s hand but Cannon’s arm shot between the two as he went to grab a napkin, “I used to write poetry too! I studied literature in college! So I know a thing or two. You should have me read it instead of Zen. Who knows if he can even read.”

Crimson eyes hardened towards Cannon as Zen turned his attention from Sunny, “Of course I can read! How do you think I got through all the scripts? I may have dropped out of school but I did learn the basics. Sheesh.” He looked back towards Sunny with a smile, “I bet your poetry is lovely.”

Sunny blushed furiously, her fingers fidgeting with the pen she was holding, “W-why thank you, Zen. That’s sweet of you to say. Let me, uhh, go get those new ticket books.”

“Cannon, go grab the books for her, they’re in the office. You keep working on your stuff, Sunny,” Zen instructed before walking off to converse with some patrons. She cleared her throat and quickly looked down, continuing to write in her notebook.

Cannon watched her reactions to Zen and a wave of anger surged within him. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “You know, you two should just start dating and get it over with. The flirting is disgusting and obvious.”

Sunny turned her head sharply towards him and even though she was ready to chide him for the comments, she was stopped by how close they both were to each other. Another inch and she would be locking lips with the mouth she constantly tried to silence for insubordination.

Cannon froze immediately; any sudden movements would cause the most embarrassing scene the bar would encounter. As he stood there, hoping she would back way, he couldn’t help but notice how good she smelled. Was it her shampoo? Her perfume? And those big brown eyes that were hidden by the long lashes every time she blinked. Her button nose twitched as it often did when she got nervous - something he always took note of. Her pink lips that he suddenly had an urge to suck on to make them even more plump than they already were.

“I'm going to get those ticket books, “He spoke lowly, backing away like a frightened animal in the wild until he had ample space to run off into the office. Sunny clutched at her chest, feeling her heartbeat racing beneath her palm.

She had felt this sense of thrill before but the last time she acted upon it, she ended up kissing Zen and making him angry. This time, though, the feeling wasn’t due to pity or sympathy. She had never been that close to Cannon before - mostly out of fear that he’d blow up and tell her to get lost - but there was no vibe of hostility just now.

That look in his eye was strangely familiar, though. Where had she noticed it? “Oh no,” She whispered to herself. It was the same look of carnal desire that she often saw in Zen’s eyes when, in the past, he found a woman he wanted to conquer. Now that their boss had discontinued that type of behavior, did it rub off on Cannon? When she heard Zen clank around behind the bar, she straightened out her shirt and buried her face back down into her work.

“Hey, you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Zen spoke to her as he fixed a few drinks nearby.

“Hmm? Oh, nothing! Cannon was just being weird again, you know how he is! Always trying to get under someone’s skin!” She laughed nervously.

He frowned and leaned towards her, speaking in a serious tone, “What did he say? Did he make you uncomfortable? I can have a chat with him. Sometimes he doesn’t know when to quit. I don’t want him hurting your feelings.”

Sunny bit her bottom lip and looked at Zen, shaking her head quickly, “N-no, no! It’s okay! I don’t get offended by him. I know he just acts tough to try to show off.”

“I’ll still talk to him. He’s been pretty off lately, even for my standards.”

Jingle~!

As soon as Sunny was about to further insist that speaking with Cannon wasn’t necessary, Clicks and Sugar came through the doors, their bickering distracting any previous conversation.

“She was just angry, Sugar! She can’t help herself when she’s like that!”

“There is no excuse for that type of aggression, Clicks. I don’t care if smoke comes from her ears and she starts breathing fire. It was inappropriate and uncalled for.” Sugar huffed as he sat on his barstool, “Wine, Zen. Now.”

“A ‘please’ would be appreciated, Sugar. I’m not your slave.” Zen furrowed his brow and passed the drink tray he was working on towards Sunny, “Can you take this to table six for me? I have to appease his highness right now.”

“I don’t need your remarks right now, Zen. Just get me my damn drink.” Sugar growled.

Shooing her off, Zen turned to stare down Sugar, “I’m not the one that came in here making all sorts of demands. You could always walk your happy ass behind the bar to pour yourself a damn glass.”

Clicks sighed and sat next to Sugar, “Don’t mind him, Zen. We had a small run-in with Goldie at my apartment. You know how they don’t get along.”

Sugar stiffened, jaw clenching tightly, “Small? You call that behavior small? She threw a water bottle towards us! Be glad I dried off before we got here!”

Zen let out a low whistle as he poured the wine, placing it in front of Sugar, “Shit, she threw something at you? I mean, I knew she could say some real nasty things but I didn’t know she got physical.”

“It was a plastic bottle!” Clicks let out exasperatedly, “She doesn’t get physical, it was just this one time! Come on, don’t you get so mad that you want to throw something?”

“Sure, but I’m in therapy for my issues.” Zen said flatly, sliding a whiskey on the rocks over to Clicks.

“That’s different, you were drinking.”

Zen’s eye twitched slightly, backing away from the two, “Yeah, like Sugar said. There is no excuse for that type of behavior. Anger, no matter the reason of provocation, should not cause harm to anyone.”

Clicks’ eyes opened wide as he immediately became apologetic, “I’m so sorry, Zen. I didn’t mean anything in a spiteful way. All I’m saying is that this was a one-time ordeal and once she’s cooled off, I’ll talk to her.”

“You always say you’re going to talk to her but she continues to act up. That or you temporarily break things off. Why bother at this point? It’s obvious that she will always take precedence in your life. I just have to adjust now.” Jumin responded, running a finger along the edge of his glass.

Clicks looked down at his drink, swirling the amber liquid around, “That’s not fair, Sugar. You know I try to keep everyone happy. I thought you understood what I had to do in regards to her.”

“For a while I did. But if you think I’m going to sit back and allow my best friend to be stepped on by some spawn of Satan then you are sorely mistaken. And now she has turned her bad mood towards me? I have half a mind to sue her for assault. Maybe you’ll finally understand how serious I’m being.”

Zen cleared his throat loudly, clapping his hands a few times to get their attention, “How about we all take a few deep breaths, yeah? Calm down a bit? We can talk about this when the threats of lawsuits are dropped. Come on, you two-”

No, you’re right Zen.” Clicks interrupted, “I think we both need time to calm down.” Finishing off his drink, he dug around his pockets for money, slamming a few bills on the counter, “Keep the change. I’m going for a walk.”

Sugar rolled his eyes as Clicks left, motioning to Zen for a refill of his wine, “He’s being irrational and ridiculous.”

“And so are you.” Zen chirped as he poured the drink, “Dude, I get just as frustrated about Goldie but I’m at least tactful. Clicks is sensitive about things and you know he’s trying his best. Cut him some slack.”

“I’ve been cutting him slack for years now, “ Sugar said bitterly, “She has no respect for boundaries or any other human life, for that matter.”

“Hey now, just drop it. Fighting with him won’t make her stop being a bitch so I beg you, please, try to keep the arguments to a minimum.”

Jingle~!

“Hey Everyone!”

Zen turned when he heard Red’s voice, “Hey! What brings you here on your day off?”

“Eh, forgot to ask Cannon if he needed anything from the grocery store. He wasn’t answering my texts so I just stopped by. Where is my brother, anyway?”

Zen opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out as he realized he wasn’t quite sure where his waiter had snuck off to. He took a look around to see if he spotted the twin and when he didn’t, he began to think if he had assigned him a task for the evening. He snapped his fingers once he remembered asking Cannon to grab supplies, “Ah! He’s probably slacking off in the office. That or he went to use the restroom.”

Red shrugged and started walking towards the back, “I’ll find him, thanks!” Knowing Cannon, he was probably taking a nap since business was slow. He rubbed his hands together as he stood at the door, hoping that kicking the door open suddenly would scare his brother.

“I found you-” Red started yelling as the door swung open, but he choked on the rest of his statement when he saw Cannon flail about and cover his lap with a cushion from the couch. “What the fuck, Red? Can’t you knock like a normal person?!”

Red looked around and noticed, on the floor in front of his brother, a group picture of the Eros staff and a few dedicated regulars. “Dude, were you-”

“Get out of here!” Cannon howled, throwing the ticket books he was sent in for earlier. Red ducked and quickly closed the door. He stood shocked for a moment as he internalized what he had just witnessed. When it finally registered, his shoulders started shaking until he progressed to a grand fit of laughter. Barely able to breath, he made his way back to the bar.

“You alright, Red? Hey, do you need water?” Zen asked worriedly, “What’s so damn funny?”

Red went behind the bar, took a few deep breaths to gather his composure, and leaned in to speak in hushed tones towards Zen and Sugar. He was so quiet that even they had to focus to hear all of the words but once he made the obscene gesture with his hand - the one that was universally recognized as a symbol of pleasuring oneself - Zen too burst into a fit while Sugar managed to let an amused smirk cross his lips.

“What picture was he looking at?” Sugar inquired, clearly interested in all the details.

“All I saw was that group picture we took a few weeks ago. You know, boss, the one you have framed on your desk?”

“What?!” Zen cried out between staggered breaths, “Why would he be using that?”

“Perhaps he is attracted to someone in that photograph. Interesting indeed.” Sugar contemplated, now thoroughly distracted from his previous anger.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think he’s going to need anything from the grocery store. Unless they sell pills to reduce embarrassment.” Red chuckled, still clearly proud that he walked in on his own brother.

“He just needs to get laid. Crap, I hope he cleans up after himself. Sunny goes in there a lot and I don’t need to explain this to her.” Zen said, now calmed just in time to see Cannon rush out of the office. “Hey, hope you didn’t make a mess! I work there!” Zen yelled out after him.

The tips of Cannon’s ears turned bright red, his eyes honed onto his twin, “You’re the worst, Red!”

Red burst out into laughter once more, waving a hand as he stepped away, “I need to go before I either die by his hands or of lack of oxygen. I’ll see you guys tomorrow!”

Zen chuckled a bit and turned back to Sugar, leaning himself against the bar, “It’s always something, isn’t it?”

“Yes, something is the correct word.” Sugar sighed as he looked over at the empty seat beside him, “I should try to go talk to him. I know I shouldn’t have lost my temperature when he really is doing everything he can.”

Jingle~!

Clicks came back in silently and made his way over to Sugar. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he motioned his head towards the back, “How about a game of pool, friend? We can talk about things.”

Sugar nodded and stood, leading them both, “Sounds like a good way to spend the evening.”

Zen smiled softly to himself, glad that the two were in better spirits. His attention was diverted, though, when Cannon approached with a tray of dirty dishes. He slide over and put an arm around the waiter’s shoulders, “Alright. Spill it. Who was the focus for you in that picture. I promise I won’t tell!”

Cannon closed his eyes slowly, the annoyance of his boss making him want to smash the tray to the ground. But instead, he let out a slow exhale and looked up with a shy expression, “You mean, you don’t know? It was you. Sometimes I can’t help myself when I’m around you. I have needs too!”

Zen blinked slowly at the response. Cannon had spoken so sincerely that it was damn near believable. He leaned forward and whispered, “For real?”

“No!” Cannon barked into Zen’s ear, “I wouldn’t look at you if I didn’t have to. Idiot.” He shook Zen’s arm off and went to clean the dishes.

Zen let out a flustered sigh, disappointed that he fell for Cannon’s hijinxs.”Fine! Don’t tell me. See if I care!”

“You do care, that’s why it’s even better for me to keep you guessing.” Cannon said over his shoulder, “Always remember, boss - you try to get under my skin and I’ll retaliate twice as bad.”

Zen looked over towards the tables where Sunny had taken to reciting some of her old poems to patrons, then looked back at the smug man bent over the sink. He shook his head slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yup, it’s always something.”

tag, you’re it! @illneverrecover @zenscrotch @serensama @suzunesays @sinfulinsecret @forever-ender

#mystic messenger #Eros Bar AU #mystic messenger fic #mm #mystic messenger AU #Zen #Hyun Ryu #Unknown #Saeran Choi #Jumin Han #V #Jihyun Kim #Seven #Saeyoung Choi

[artificialqueens]

Pains (Chapter 2) - Ace

Trixie and Katya had been on standby for the past month. Katya still had to work, but Trixie kept her updated from home. Every time the phone rang, Trixie would bolt to the phone only to discover that it wasn’t Sharon or Alaska, but instead some call centre asking if they had PPI and telling them that they could claim now. Trixie had almost thrown the phone across the room at one point, so enraged that Sharon wasn’t having her goddamned baby. Everyone’s bets for when Sharon would have it were completely wrong. Sharon was now a week overdue and Max had won the bet out of default, saying that it would be two days after she was due, that being the closest bet.

But the phone didn’t ring when Sharon knew it was time. She sent a quick text to Trixie, ‘Come over, bring overnight bag. May take a while.’, and Trixie had been out of that house like a shot, dragging her suitcase behind her. She got in the first cab she saw, sending loads of panicked/excited texts back at Sharon.

Trixie paid the cab driver extra to speed, telling him that it was an emergency. She sat in the back of the cab, out of breath from all the running she had suddenly done after being almost fully inactive for four months. When she arrived at the apartments, she chucked money at the cabbie and grabbed her hot pink suitcase out the back of the car, before blitzing into the apartments and taking the lift to the top floor, the penthouse suite.

Sharon answered the door with Alaska none the wiser behind her. Trixie brought Sharon into a hug and Sharon patted Trixie’s back gently before pulling back. “So… How’re you feeling?” Trixie asked excitedly, hand going to Sharon’s tummy. Sharon leaned forward, disguising it as another hug, and whispered in Trixie’s ear; “Lasky doesn’t know what’s happening.” Trixie pulled back with her lips in an 'oh’ shape in understanding.

After inviting Trixie in, she started to brew some tea for all three of them, humming to herself. “Lasky?” She called, smiling at her wife as she sauntered over. “Lasky, I might not have been entirely truthful with you…” Alaska frowned, took a step forward. Had Sharon been cheating on her? Was she even pregnant?! Stupid question, Alaska. You’d felt the baby move yesterday. “See…” Sharon continued, shifting her weight onto her other foot while she stirred in creamer to Alaska’s coffee. Her attention was on the drinks. She couldn’t risk eye contact. She didn’t want Alaska to see the worry in her eyes. “See… Now…” She cleared her throat and took a deep breath, the stirring of the teaspoon in the coffee getting quicker. “Lasky, Imaypossiblybeinlabour. 99% sure I am. So. Yes. Er, we should probably… Do something….” She took another breath, dropping the teaspoon in the sink.

Alaska hadn’t said anything. Hadn’t moved. She was working out what Sharon had said. When it clicked, her eyes widened and she had wished she had her coffee in her hand because she would have done a spit take for dramatic effect. “You’re sure? Shit. Shit, shit, shit. How long have you felt the contractions? Have you been timing them? Have your waters broken? Are you dilated? I need to phone an ambulance. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! Sharon!” The last word was almost yelled. Alaska looked terrified. Trixie stepped in from the living room, ready to break up any argument that the two would start.

Sharon sighed out her nose, blowing on her raspberry tea before taking a small sip and nodding to Trixie’s one if the woman wanted some. “First of all, calm down. I’m fine, Lasky. I’ve only been feeling them since I woke up, and they’re tiny ones. Ages apart. That’s why my back’s been hurting. My waters haven’t broken, don’t worry. Stop worrying! I’m clearly fine.” She took another sip of her tea, before hoisting herself into one of the bar stools with a grunt. “And we’re not phoning an ambulance. We’re having her at home. Like we planned.” She said in a commanding voice that Alaska knew meant that that was final.

Alaska backed off a little, but still looked incredibly concerned. “Right, we should… Should get you into bed, and, uh… Right. God. You’re having our baby. My god…” She muttered. Trixie rolled her eyes and squeezed Alaska’s shoulder. “You’re fine, Alaska. Get ahold of yourself. Your wife’s having a baby, surprise surprise. Not like you’ve been planning this for, like, nine months and a week!” Trixie set her mug down on the kitchen island with a little more force than needed. Sharon was glad that Trixie was being reasonable. “Right, Sharon. What do you want to do?” Trixie turned to the person in question.

Sharon raised an eyebrow, hand rubbing up and down her side. “Sofa.” She decided. “Trix, get me a heat pad. Alaska, you get yourself a drink. You need it.” Sharon slipped off the bar stool and pressed a gentle kiss to Alaska’s temple, before the other woman quickstepped over to the drinks cupboard, grabbing down a bottle of aged port and pouring herself a glass. Sharon huffed as she plonked down on the sofa, one arm around her middle. Trixie came jogging back with a heat pad, and Sharon obediently turned her back so that Trixie could stick it on her. A few moments later, Sharon sighed, slightly more comfortable than before, as the heat flowed up her spine.

Suddenly, there was a slam from the doorway. Alaska nearly dropped her wine, Trixie squeaked, and Sharon stayed neutral. Nothing spooked her.

It was Katya. Trixie grinned at her woman, and then made a slight nod towards Alaska, telling her through actions to deal with her while she dealt with Sharon. Katya understood immediately, walking over to Alaska and bringing her into a hug. “You’re gonna be a mom, how cool is that?!” She grabbed Alaska’s free hand, walking with her to the bedroom while chatting avidly at her about babies.

Now that Trixie and Sharon were alone, Sharon almost collapsed against Trixie’s shoulder. Trixie frowned, but simply patted Sharon’s shoulder. Until she felt the other woman shake slightly. “Sharon?” She asked softly, met with a quiet whine. Sharon was crying. Why was Sharon crying? Sharon didn’t cry. Then Trixie realised what was wrong. Sharon was scared. “Sharon, baby?” Trixie murmured, giving her a little squeeze. Sharon sniffed, but didn’t remove her head from where it was buried in Trixie’s shoulder. She wasn’t going to embarrass herself by letting Trixie see her red, tear stained and makeup smudged face. “I’m fine, just give me a minute.” Sharon croaked out eventually. She wasn’t going to vocalise her fears. She knew that Trixie knew by now that she was scared. And rightfully so.

After another few minutes of crying with Trixie trying to comfort her, she slowly pulled back. Trixie smiled slightly, before licking her thumb and wiping away some of the eyeshadow. “You look a bit of a mess, sweetie.” Trixie said softly. Sharon let out a little laugh-sob. “I know I do. I shouldn’t have cried. God…” she wiped her eyes on her wrist, most of the makeup transferring to the skin on her hand. “I’ll get Lasky to bring me through my makeup bag and I’ll sort myself out.” She muttered.

The two of them went quiet. Then, Sharon hollered “LASKYYYYYY!” And then banging and thudding as Alaska sprinted to the living room. “Sharon, is everything alright? Is it the baby? Right, I’m phoning an ambulance. Katya, grab our overnight ba-” “Alaska, for god’s sake!” Sharon finally snapped, nails digging into her thigh in anger. “I’m. Fucking. Fine.” She hissed, glaring. Katya took a step back while Sharon stared dead into Alaska’s eyes and Alaska stared back. Sharon had suddenly gone from fine to raging, and Alaska had gone from terrified to testing Sharon. Tension was thick in the air.

“Cut it out, you two.” Trixie finally said, cutting through the silent stare off. “Right, um…” Trixie cleared her throat. “Right. Sharon needs her makeup bag, Alaska. And she’s not going to the hospital unless something goes wrong.” She said, speaking on behalf of Sharon. The woman in question nodded in agreement. “Shoo.” Sharon muttered, shooing her hand towards the bedroom to send Alaska and Katya away.

Trixie waited until the women had returned to the bedroom before turning to Sharon. “What the hell, Needles?” She pinched Sharon’s ear, to which Sharon let out an annoyed “Ow!” And a glare. Then, she softened. “I didn’t mean to.” She said, and Trixie heard the truth in her voice. “Honest.” She murmured, and her eyes flicked down. “I think… I think I had a contraction… A-And the pain I changed into anger to cope with it.” She looked away from Trixie’s eye contact, embarrassed. Trixie sighed and rested a hand on Sharon’s shoulder. “S’alright, baby. Just try not to do that the next time. Be kind, darlin’, I know you’ve got kindness in that cold withered heart of yours somewhere.” She murmured as Alaska returned with Sharon’s makeup bag. Trixie gently stood on Sharon’s foot until Sharon uttered a little 'thank you’ and reached up for a kiss. Knowing that they had patched it up for now, Trixie smiled. “Right. Nice to see you two getting along like you normally are.” Her nose wrinkled slightly as she smiled. Alaska nodded silently, taking a trip by the kitchen to grab the bottle of wine she had opened earlier and walked back to the bedroom, knowing that it would be the only thing to properly calm her nerves.

#pains #shalaska #trixya #katya zamolodchikova #trixie mattel #sharon needles #alaska thunderfuck #cisgirl au #lesbian au #tw arguments #rpdr fanfiction

[queenieschronicles]

You Again Part 2

Steve(AU) x Reader

Summary: It’s been awhile since high school  and awhile since you’ve seen your brother’s best friend, Steve. A wedding is just the excuse to bring you together.

Word Count: 2255

Warnings: None I think.

A/N: It’s 3 AM. I have a physics exam coming up. I procrastinated, even though I shouldn’t have. I hope you enjoy.

Part 1

“Glad to see you're awake. Ready for a shower?” Nat sat on the side of your bed.

 You nodded groggily. You hadn't the faintest idea when you fell asleep. It's was somewhere between Steve surprising you with a hot fudge sundae and putting on Finding Nemo.

 “Where's Steve,” you looked around inconspicuously,” and Bucky? I didn't see Sam last night either.”

 Nat’s brow arched and a suspicious smile lifted her lips,” They're out for another run. I'm convinced your brother wants to look better than me at our wedding.”

 The two of you laughed. You were convinced there wasn’t another couple on earth as fit.

 You held an arm out letting Nat help you sit up. You swept a hand through your disheveled hair.

 “You hang tight. I'm going to go turn on the shower and get everything ready. Oh and your dad managed to find some crutches in the garage, so you don't have to wait around for Steve.” Nat smiled, handing them over.

 You nodded,” Good, I can't stand waiting for people.” That might have been true, but you kind of liked having Steve dote on you.

 You watched Nat leave before crutching to your closet. You pulled out a summer dress and rummaged in your dresser for undergarments.

 You hobbled out into the hall toward the bathroom. Just the sound of the running water made you feel warm and clean.

 You slipped off your pj shorts and your old class shirt. You carefully maneuvered into the shower careful not to twist on your ankle.

 “Woah!”

 You spun around, crashing against the shower wall with an involuntary scream.

 There he was in nothing but a towel. His skin glistening with sweat.

 You yanked at the shower curtain but Steve had already slapped his hands over his eyes.

 In a rush, his towel was on the floor and there he was exposed for the world to see.

 “Oh my God.” You cried. You slapped a hand over your eyes.

 Steve scrambled for his towel trying to avoid looking up.

 “This is definitely better than strippers for the bachelor party.” His velvety voice held humor and a hint of surprise.

 You pulled the shower curtain around you. “ Tony! What the hell?!” You looked between the two men.

 Steve was beet red. Tony was grinning from ear to ear.

 “Nat said you guys were running! And you - when did you get here?!” You stammered.

 “Just got in from New York..” Tony bit into an apple.

 “I started the shower hoping to clean up.” Steve rubbed the back of his neck abashed.

 You closed your eyes letting the embarrassment settle into you. You should have waited for Nat.

 “What are you guys doing?” Nat fussed in the hall.

 “I was trying to take a shower!” Steve plead innocence.

 Tony laughed at his purity. Nat stepped into view. She suddenly realized what all the commotion was.

 She shooed the guys away.

 “It was good seeing you again, (Y/N)!” Tony called.

 You rested your head against the cold tile,” Yeah. You too Tony.”

 Nat closed the door turning to you with her and folded across her chest.

 You looked pitiful. Your face was burning. You were ashamed.

 “You were supposed to wait for me.”

 “I heard the water running!” You countered.

 “What even happened?”

 “Steve was the one who started the water. I thought it was you. Then I got in thinking it was only you and I here. Then Steve saw me and I saw him and…” Your shoulders sank in defeat.

 You expected Nat to scold you, but she burst into laughter. You were looking for sympathy not a reminder that you were self-sabotaging.

 “You're a mess.” She managed between laughs.

 You glowered,”Thank you captain obvious.”

 “It'll probably blow over by the time dinner rolls around. Besides, we have wedding business to attend to. You won't be seeing much of Steve today.”

 You should have felt relieved, but you couldn't get over the fact that Steve saw you naked. You didn't even want to think of Tony. That meant half the groomsmen had seen you naked. You weren't planning on making it all four.

 When you thought of Steve naked, it definitely wasn't like this.

 “Hurry and wash up. I'll make sure they're gone by the time you get out.” Nat gave you a smile that put you at ease.

 You let the steaming water wash over you. You lathered on soap delighting in the soothing fragrance.

 You washed the grime and embarrassment from your hair. You wrapped yourself in a towel, wrapping your hair up.

 You froze by a knock on the door.

 “Yeah?” You called softly.

 “How do you feel about sliding down the stairs? I realized I sent all the muscles packing.”

 You relaxed,” We'll make it work.”

 You slipped on your dress and fixed your hair into a braid. You finished your look with light makeup.

 You crutched to the stairs and slid onto your butt without grace. Nat stifled a laugh. You sent your crutches down before descending yourself.

 “You know, if you wanted to see Steve naked, you could have just asked him to shower with you.” Nat teased.

 Your jaw dropped. “What are you even saying? I don't - didn’t - want to see Steve naked.” You turned away from her to watch the houses go by.

 “You're telling me you don't want to see the guy you have been crushing on since childhood naked. You watched him go from a string bean to a sculpture by Michelangelo.” She elaborated.

 “Good God, I know!” You cried out hiding your face.

 You peeked over at Nat with a coy smile. She didn't try to hold back her burst of laughter.

 “I'm pitiful.” You moaned.

 “Like a puppy. But it's okay, we love you.” She patted your arm.

 Cheerful as always, Wanda sauntered up to the car greeting you in classic Wanda fashion. You greeted her with as much enthusiasm as you could muster.

 You remained quiet as Nat and Wanda sang out over the blaring radio.

 “Where are we headed, Nat?” Wanda poked her head in from the back.

 Nat smiled,” Checking in with the florist in my bouquet as well as the bridesmaids.”

 Wanda squealed and Nat joined in as the excitement swelled. It was enough to make you grin. It finally hit you all that in a few short days, Nat would be married to no none other than your brother Bucky. It seemed overdue.

 The stop at the florist took longer than expected. They'd messed up the bridesmaid bouquets. You envied Nat's poise and confidence. Anyone else would have been Bridezilla from hell, but not her.

 You collapsed on a fluffy settee. It wasn’t long before Wanda was catching you up on all the small town things you missed since you’d gone away.

 You tried to pay attention, but after awhile you zoned out.

 “Sharon saw Bucky and Nat with wedding magazines. She’s an entrepreneur you know, she got Nat her wedding planner.”

 You stirred beside her. “So that’s why she’s a bridesmaid.”

 “Hm?” Wanda leaned over curiously.

 “I asked where Sharon was?” You fibbed.

 Wanda sipped on her mint and lime infused water. “She had last minute business in Hong Kong.”

 Some bridesmaid.

 “Everything’s great. We’re all on the same page.” Nat smiled cheerfully… too cheerfully.

 You nodded slowly,” Good. See, everything is going to be fine.”

 Even Nat had her limit.

 “I’m famished and mom called. We’re all meeting at La Gondola, so let’s get out of here.” Nat smiled.

 Wanda and you followed her out without protest. You didn’t mind; you hadn’t eaten since you woke up late. There was little time to eat between naked Steve and errands.

 “I need a glass of wine.” She said as the doors closed.

 You laughed,” Your wedding is going to be perfect. Bouquets or no bouquets. We can always get puppies.” You waggled your eyebrows.

 She looked over at you with a brow arched,” You just want a puppy.”

 “I want twenty.” You corrected. “Come on, future Mrs. Barnes.”

 That got her to smile.

 “Okay keys, so you can go drink that bottle of wine.” You held a hand up.

 The three of you headed in with some awkward maneuvering between people with your extra supports.

 “Hey there cripple.” Your grandma pulled you into a hug.

 “Hey Gram, how are you?” You hugged her as best you could.

 You caught Steve smiling at you. You blushed, diverting your gaze to Sam.

 “I’m outstanding.” She joked.

 Grandma had always been the life of the party. You sat down and let the table carry on with the crutch jokes. It earned Tony some pretty menacing glares.

 “I totally forgot. Sam it’s so nice to see you.” You called from across the table smiling at him apologetically.

 Sam gave you a friendly smile from his seat,” It’s been a long time, (Y/N).. You look good as ever.”

 “That’s easy to see with the naked eye.” Tony leaned back in his seat with his characteristic smugness.

 That stole the smile from your face. You looked at Steve who was giving Tony a face you’d never seen before.

 “What did I miss?”

 As if your night couldn’t get worse.

 “Hey Sharon.” Nat smiled, giving her friend a hug.

 “You look so good. Jet lag has nothing on you.” Your mom smiled at her.

 That familiar feeling of annoyance crept up on you. You couldn’t stand her perfect hair and the way she made that pantsuit look so good. What hadn’t she done?  Her list of accomplishments was starting to give you a headache.

 “I read an article about you.” Sharon smiled at you from her place next to Steve.

 Of course.

 You smiled with faux intrigue. You could see you father beaming from the sidelines.

 “Well you were mentioned, but your company is doing very good things.” She fixed her napkin in her lap.

 Your jaw clenched,” We’re going global and I’m happy to be at the forefront of the expedition.” You gave her a polished smile.

 “How was Hong Kong?” Wanda asked diffusing any tension.

 You let the table carry on while you ordered yourself a glass of wine. Wanda would have to drive you guys home.

You were a second glass in when your food arrived. Happy for more distractions, you munched happily on your spaghetti aglio e olio.

 “It’s been awhile since we’ve all been in the same place.” Sam mentioned.

 “It’s good to be home.” Tony smiled.

 “The occasion makes it even more momentous.” Wanda smiled at the couple.

 Bucky curled his hand around Nat’s. They exchanged a glance that made your heart sing.

 “I haven’t been this happy or excited since our trip to Hawaii. I’m sure this wedding will top it. Though that might be hard, huh, Steve?” Sharon smiled over at Steve from her bread buttering.

 Your eyes snapped open. Their sole focus on Steve and Sharon at the other end of the table. You wondered if you were as visibly shaken as you felt.

 Steve mumbled something you couldn’t register.

 “Have you decided your honeymoon?” Your mom turned to Nat.

 Nat hesitated answering the question when she noticed your face. You downed your third glass of wine.

 “I recommend Hawaii if you weren’t already thinking it. It’s beautiful. There is so much to do for both parties. Steve went hang gliding and other things while I shopped on numerous occasions. We both went snorkeling though.”

 You were going to be sick.

 Steve looked at you. You pushed your chair back. You had to get out of there.

 “Honey, are you okay?” Your mom reached across the table.

 You had the mind to leave the crutches and flee, but it was impossible. Nat was by your side in seconds with your Grandma gathering your stuff and telling people to get the hell out of her way.

 “Was it the shrimp?” Wanda called innocently.

 Your head was spinning. Steve and Sharon. Sharon and Steve. A trip to Hawaii. Who does that? Why not a cruise? Would that honestly have made you feel better? You were regretting that third glass.

 “Are you okay?” Nat tucked you into the passenger seat.

 “Just get me home.” You stared straight ahead.

 Steve had your bag and the crutches.

 “He is so efficient. I need me one of you.” Grandma smiled boldly at him.

 Sam laughed,” He’s single, Grandma B.”

 Sure.

 “I can’t drive.” Nat said plainly.

 That shook you from your stoic stance. She’d been drinking too.

 “I haven’t had anything.” Sam offered.

 You reminded yourself to do something good to gain some good karma points.

 Sam hopped in and turned on the car. Steve loomed over the passenger side of the convertible. He handed you your bag which you took with more force than you intended.

 “You need me to come with?” Steve’s forehead wrought with concern.

 Before you answered, Sam interjected,” Dude, I’ve got her. I know I’m not a superhuman like you, but I can manage.”

 Sam was a blessing.

 Steve looked from Sam to you,” You sure?”

 “I trust no one more than Sam. I’ll be okay.” You managed.

 Steve frowned. He nodded backing up solemnly.

 “See you back at the house, dude.” Sam called as he peeled off.

 Everyone else eventually trickled out of the restaurant.

 Tony put a hand on Steve’s shoulder,” I don’t remember (Y/N) being so full of surprises. She makes everything interesting.”

 Steve nodded,” She always has been. Maybe you just never paid attention.”

tags

@bovaria @seargantbcky @summerbummer2001 @emilyinwonderland3 @barbrichards @lbouvet @heatherpotter89 @avengersbabe13 @melanie451 @captian-loki-army @pineapplebooboo @melanie451 @magical-spit @thefallenbibliophilequote @andahugaroundtheneck @fireismysaftey @nikasatrash @mell-bell @pariahahahaha @engineeringgirlcve @chloe-fuleihan

#steve x reader #steve rogers x reader #captain america x reader #marvel imagine #marvel fanfiction #captain america fanfiction #steve rogers fanfiction #steve rogers reader insert #queeniewrites

[screenwritingdyke]

person a, a barista, has a huge crush on person b and their friends are obnoxious

i made this sterek :’) thanks for sending me this prompt!  it was super fun to write!  it ended up being much longer than i anticipated :’)

Stiles loves his friends, he really does.  But as he’s making Derek’s latte, he catches what Scott’s written on Derek’s cup and groans.

“What are you, twelve?  You know Derek already has my number.  He’s had my number.  We text every day,” Stiles says as he works on the latte.  

Scott looks over at him from the register with the most innocent grin in the world and shrugs.  “I know, but I wanted to make a statement.”

Stiles rolls his eyes and shakes his head.  “You mean adding ‘+ SS’ underneath his name and drawing a heart around it wasn’t enough of a statement?”

“If you’re not going to flirt with him yourself, I’ll just flirt with him for you,” Scott says, shrugging.

Stiles chuckles and spurts a small pile of whipped cream on top, because Derek’s a little weirdo and likes his lattes like that.  He slaps a lid onto the cup once he’s done.  “Derek, come get your latte,” he calls out.

Derek meets him at the counter in a matter of seconds, with a smirking Erica in tow.  “Thanks,” he says, grinning as he sticks a couple dollars and some pocket change into the tip jar.

Erica glances between Stiles and Derek, grinning wickedly as she sips her frappuccino.  “You know,” she starts, and Stiles can see Derek’s ears begin to turn pink, “DerBear here was just telling me how good you look in a uniform.”  She looks him up and down and Stiles scratches the back of his head.  “I think he has good taste.”  Scott laughs from over at the register and fakes a cough when Stiles turns to look at him with a raised eyebrow.  Erica, in turn, smiles at him and then winks at Stiles before making her way back over to Isaac and Boyd.

“Uh, sorry about her,” Derek says. He’s staring down at his latte and Stiles is fairly certain that more than just Derek’s ears are flushed and pink at this point.

Stiles shakes his head and waves his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it. She and Scotty kind of bounce off of each other these days with all of their…antics.”

Derek finally looks up with this shy grin and Stiles feels his knees going weak. He manages to smile back and shoves his hands into his back pockets. Derek looks fucking perfect standing in front of him in the middle of the shop in his henley and too-tight jeans (not that Stiles is complaining) and his beautiful beard that he’s spent too many nights fantasizing about. He forgets he’s in the middle of a Starbucks until he hears an annoyed huff and nails clacking on the counter. Stiles is forced to come back down to reality and then comes face to face with a blonde girl with her jaw set and a brow raised.

Stiles quickly snatches the cup sitting on the counter. “Uh…venti iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, sugar-free syrup, extra shot, light ice, no whip?” he asks.

“Duh.”

Stiles sighs and gets to work on the girl’s drink. Derek nods at him and lifts his cup in lieu of waving before joining their friends at their table.

Once Stiles finishes the blonde girl’s drink, Amanda, apparently (or as Scott so cleverly wrote, Armada), Stiles looks past her to see Boyd and Isaac looking over at him with shit-eating grins, Erica giggling, and Derek just shaking his head.

It was going to be a long shift.

—–

It’s a Friday evening at Starbucks and Derek’s been reading and typing on a laptop on and off in the corner for a couple hours now. Stiles has been taking every chance he gets to wipe down the tables and chat with him. He only feels a little pathetic about being so desperate to talk to him because anyone would be desperate to talk to Derek after seeing him in reading glasses.

“What are you reading?” he asks.

Derek looks up from his book and pushes his glasses up. Stiles wonders what it’d be like to push up his glasses for him. He tilts his book so Stiles can read the cover: Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring. “It’s about the Culper spy ring in the American Revolution,” he says.

Stiles raises his eyebrows and slips into the seat across from him. “The American Revolution, huh? I thought you were more interested in ancient South American civilizations?”

Derek shrugs and sticks a bookmark in his book before setting it down. “That’s true. I am. But I came across a show on Netflix based off of this book and kind of got hooked on it. It’s really good.”

Stiles grins and picks up the book to take a look at the back. “I mean, I’m not a history buff like you or anything, but that actually does seem pretty interesting. What’s the show called?”

Derek’s face lights up and Stiles swears he’d do anything to make him that happy every day of his life. “It’s called Turn. It airs on AMC.”

Stiles listens intently as Derek tells him about the show and how the Culper spy ring worked and about the historical inaccuracies in the show.

But it’s just his luck that Allison, Kira, Malia, and Lydia walk through the door a few minutes into their conversation. Malia immediately spots Derek and then gives Stiles a devious grin as they all make their way over to the counter.

Stiles tries not to wince and Derek shoos him away to the register.

“So,” Malia says, “I want a grande green tea lemonade, this water bottle, and for you to go make a move on my cousin.” Kira snorts and covers her mouth with her hand while Allison and Lydia give each other amused looks.

Stiles punches in her order and rolls his eyes. “That’ll be $6.24. Don’t you have better things to do than trying to set me up with your cousin?”

Malia cocks an eyebrow. “Don’t you have better things to do than ogle his butt every time he turns around?”

Stiles narrows his eyes and opens his mouth to say something, but Lydia beats him to it.

“Of course he does. He could be actually touching his butt, he’s just too nervous to try it.”

Stiles takes a breath and runs his hands down his flushed face. He’s actually going to kill his friends. All of them. “Oh my god, Lydia. He’s literally right there. Just shut up and let me take your order.”

—–

Fortunately, Scott’s working the same shift as him on Friday. Unfortunately, Derek’s there too. It’s absolutely ridiculous how perfect he looks while sipping a cappuccino and playing Candy Crush on his phone. (Stiles knows it’s Candy Crush. It’s Derek’s guilty pleasure. He told him so.) Stiles’ bi little heart just can’t take it. A man that beautiful really shouldn’t be allowed to happen.

Once the last customer is taken care of, Stiles walks over to Scott by the register and presses his face against his shoulder. “I literally can’t stand him. He’s ridiculously hot, super dorky, funny, and nice,” he says.

Scott chuckles and pats his head. “Sounds more like you’re low-key in love with him,” he teases.

Stiles groans and lifts his head from Scott’s shoulder. “High-key. Very high-key in love with him.” He crosses his arms and leans against the counter to look at Derek. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed about waking up next to him and how many mornings I’ve woken up disappointed when I realize he’s not next to me?”

Scott shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets. “No, but you’ve definitely told me all your wet dreams about him. I can think of at least five times where you’ve given me really specific descriptions of his butt.”

Stiles snorts and shakes his head. “That’s because his ass is just as perfect as his personality,” he says. “But seriously. It’s, like, when he smiles, all I want to do is figure out how to make him smile again and again and again.”

Scott purses his lips, and then checks his watch. “Hey, you know what? It’s time for my break.”

Stiles raises an eyebrow, and then gestures towards the break room. “I mean, that’s abrupt. But break away, Scotty.”

Scott beams at him before heading over toward the break room and removing his apron. Stiles wishes it was him going on break. He’d probably spend it chatting with Derek and listening to him telling him about his historical fiction shows on Netflix. (Stiles wouldn’t admit it, but Derek’s already gotten him hooked on a few.)

Stiles doesn’t even realize he’s been staring at Derek until he realizes Scott is now sitting across from him. His eyes go wide and he’s suddenly at a loss for words. Of course Scott had something up his sleeve, the sneaky bastard.

“Scott!” he stage whispers.

But Scott just turns to him with an innocent grin and waves. Derek looks over too and smiles. Stiles can practically feel his soul leaving his body.

Scott’s fifteen minute break feels like hours. Stiles tries to listen in on their conversation as he fills customers’ orders, but it proves useless. By the time Scott’s back behind the counter, Derek has left and Stiles still has no idea what they were talking about.

“What the hell was that?” he demands once the rush goes down.

Scott just shrugs and grins. “We were just talking. He’s my friend too, you know.”

Stiles rolls his eyes. “I know that. But why did he leave?”

Scott shrugs again and turns around to start cleaning one of the machines. “He said he was hanging out with Erica or something.”

Stiles huffs and runs a hand through his hair. “You didn’t tell him anything I said, did you?”

“No way, man. You can man up and tell him yourself,” he says, and glances over to wink at him.

Stiles shoulders past him to grab a cup of water. “Shut up. I’ll get to it. Eventually.”

“Uh huh. Sure you will,” Scott teases. “In the meantime, why don’t you come over tonight for some bro time? I’ll order pizza.”

“Yeah, alright. Pizza and bro time sounds good,” he says, nodding. “I’ll come over around six?”

“Seven! Seven works better,” Scott says quickly. “Come over around seven.”

Stiles narrows his eyes and sips his water slowly. “Alright, I’ll come over around seven, then.”

Scott relaxes again and smiles and Stiles just decides to brush off his weird behavior. It’s not the weirdest thing Scott’s ever done.

—–

It’s about five past seven when Stiles knocks on Scott’s apartment door. He’s more than a little surprised when a confused Derek answers the door.

“Uh…hey, man. Do you, uh…what exactly are you doing here?” Stiles asks. He rubs the back of his neck and tilts his head.

Derek shrugs and steps aside to let Stiles in. “I was hanging out with Erica and she said that Scott invited us over to watch a movie. Then I went to the bathroom and they were gone.”

Stiles flops down on Scott’s couch and looks around. “They really just left you here? How long have you been here?”

Derek sits down next to him and thinks for a moment. “Not long. I was about to leave until you showed up.” He bumps his shoulder against Stiles’ and he tries not to think too much about it.

“So where do you think they ran off to?” he asks. He’s fidgeting with his hands in his lap and trying not to stare at Derek. He just wants to look at him casually. Like he doesn’t think Derek looks like an actual Greek god walking the earth as a nerdy historian.

“I thought maybe they went to the corner store or something, but neither of them has responded to my texts.” Derek pulls his phone out of his pocket to check again. Stiles leans over; still no unread texts.

He’s about to respond when he’s interrupted by a knocking on the door. They turn and look at each other, but Derek shrugs. Stiles finally gets up and makes his way over to the door. He’s half expecting Scott to be on the other side; maybe he and Erica really did go to the corner store and Scott forgot his key. It wouldn’t be the first time Scott’s accidentally locked himself out of his own apartment. (Not that Stiles has any room to talk. He did it just last week.)

But it’s not Scott on the other side of the door. Instead, it’s a bored-looking teenager with a two-liter bottle of lemonade, a stack of two pizzas, and what Stiles can only assume by the smell are cinnamon sticks.

“Delivery,” the kid says. “A pepperoni with extra pepperoni and a double cheese, cinnamon sticks, and lemonade?”

Stiles turns to look back at Derek, but now he’s suddenly right behind him reaching for his wallet. “Um, I think so?” Stiles says. He swats Derek’s hand away when he tries to hand the kid two twenties. “I got it.”

The delivery kid shakes his head. “Some guy and a blonde girl downstairs paid for it. They just told me to bring it up here.”

Once again, he and Derek look at each other for a moment and Derek silently slips his cash back into his wallet. Stiles takes the pizza, cinnamon sticks, and lemonade and the kid nods before heading back down the hall. As soon as he closes the door, he comes to the realization that he’s now on a date, or what’s apparently supposed to be a date, with Derek in his best friend’s apartment. Stiles goes to set everything down on the coffee table in front of the couch and sits back down. He holds his breath when Derek sits down next to him.

There’s a couple moments of silence before Stiles pipes up. “Okay, so, like, I think we both have kind of figured out that this is supposed to be a date or whatever, but it doesn’t have to be. I mean, we can just be two bros watching Netflix and eating pizza.”

Derek’s face falls and Stiles swallows. “Do you not want it to be a date?” asks Derek.

Stiles’ mouth falls open slightly and it takes him a moment to collect himself and shrug. “I mean…do you want it to be a date?”

Derek picks at a thread on his jeans. “Well, yeah.”

Stiles licks his lips and runs a hand through his hair. “I, uh, I do too,” he says finally. “I’ve kind of really wanted to go on a date with you for a while.”

Derek looks up at him with a smile and Stiles practically melts on the spot. “Maybe the next time we go on a date, we can go somewhere other than Scott’s apartment.”

Stiles laughs and nods. “I work tomorrow, but maybe we can do something on Sunday?” he asks.

Derek leans back and rests his arm on the couch behind Stiles. “Yeah? Like what?”

“Ice skating?”

“In the middle of the summer?”

Stiles shrugs. “Why not? It’s a good way to cool off.”

“Alright,” Derek says, nodding. “Ice skating it is.”

Stiles leans forward and grabs a slice of pizza. “But until then, you have to help me finish all this food.”

“Oh, I have to, huh? Can’t finish it yourself?” he jokes.

“Oh, I can. Trust me, I can,” Stiles says, chuckling. “I could, but I shouldn’t. That’s why you need to eat at least half of it.”

Derek laughs and leans forward to grab his own slice of pizza. And then, because he’s the biggest, cutest nerd in the entire world, he bumps it against Stiles’ like a toast. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

Stiles snorts and turns on the TV as they start eating. He logs out of Scott’s Netflix account and into his own. “Wanna watch Turn with me? I’m in the middle of season two right now.”

Derek raises his eyebrows. “You started watching it?” Stiles thinks he seems a little impressed.

“Uh huh. You got me hooked on a couple more of those historical shows you were telling me about. But the Culper spy ring? That’s awesome. I wish they’d taught us about that in high school, you know? I definitely would’ve been much more into history class if we learned about spies.”

Derek nods vigorously. “I know. I was floored when I read the book. The writing on the egg was genius.”

Stiles decides that gorging on pizza, watching Netflix, chatting with Derek, and cuddling up on the couch together in Scott’s apartment makes for a pretty great date. A totally unexpected date, bute a great date nonetheless. Later that night, when he’s back in his own apartment, he texts Scott.

To: Scoot McCoolBest. Date. EVER.

From: Scoot McCoolYou’re welcome. :)Give me the deets tomorrow?

To: Scoot McCoolDefinitely.BTW, you’re the best.

From: Scoot McCoolI know. ;)

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