#thanks for being my little stress ball danny

[starry-bi-sky]

I'm in A Mood™ (stressed) so im going back to my roots of melting two character together into one person. So bruce wayne!danny fenton. Danny Fenton who, for eight years, grew up in a beautiful gothic manor with his mom and dad under the name "Bruce Wayne". Playing piano with his mother, running around the manor with his father.

Then when he's eight it's ripped away from him. There's blood on his hands and pearls pooling at his feet, and both his parents are dead in front of him.

And he gets shipped off to distant relatives "the Fentons" shortly after, Alfred close on his heels because someone needs to take care of him, someone that knows him. Bruce goes to the Fentons for the safety of anonymity. Gotham's press wants to sink its teeth into him.

Danny misses his city even if it took everything from him. There are shadows in his eyes and he's pale as a sheet even beside his distant cousins, and they change his name to "Danny Fenton' because nobody should know that their newest child was illustrious orphan Bruce Wayne.

They call him Bruce behind closed doors. Danny prefers it that way, he clings onto the name -- the one his parents gave him -- like a lifeline. He makes friends with Sam and Tucker. Tucker takes one look at the willowy, morbid little boy standing in the corner like a shade, ghosts in his eyes, and drags him out into the sunlight, and takes him over to Sam.

When Danny is twelve, he's still not over it -- and he's a little obsessed with the Fentons' research, with the morbid. He has books upon books on death, murder, detective work. Anything he can get his hands on. And stars. He loves stars.

Alfred owns the apartment next to them and comes over regularly. Danny clings to him.

When Danny is twelve, he's still quiet, meek, a shy little thing prone to being bullied. Freaky little Fenton with the night in his eyes and too-cold skin even before he put one foot in the grave. in a sleepover in his room with Sam and Tucker, he tells them the truth. They're his friends, he trusts them.

"My name is Bruce." he murmurs, voice quiet as the breeze, always quiet. he's staring at his star-covered sheets.

"Like Bruce Wayne?" Tucker asks, a joking tone in his voice.

Danny smiles a little, lamb-like with insecurity. "I am Bruce Wayne." And he takes them down to the lab, disrupting Maddie and Jack, to prove it. Sam tells them of her own wealth then shortly after. They start calling Danny "Bruce" in private too -- its trust. Thats what it is. It's trust.

Sam goes to media functions and comes back with aching feet and complaints on her tongue -- and Danny soaks it up all like a sponge, splayed across a beanbag chair with Tucker in her room. He's not envious of her, he used to go to events with his parents and they kept him safe from the ugly of Gotham's Elite. For the most part. He's had comments made at him, he doesn't miss them.

Alfred returns to the manor semi-regularly, Danny goes with him. he wanders the hallways and helps Alfred clean, the last thing either of them want is for their home to fall into disrepair. He brings Jazz with him next time, then Tucker, then Sam. They all help him clean, and he shows them his room. The one across from his parents', it feels strange.

When Danny dies when he's fourteen, the first adult he tells is Alfred. He and Jazz go over to his house more often than they stay in the Fentonworks building. At least at Alfred's, the food doesn't come to life. Alfred sits at the kitchen table and weeps when Danny tells him, Jazz is upstairs, and its just the two of them.

Danny's ghost form wears pearls around his wrist and the gloves look stained with some kind of black substance. He looks like a child who died in a lab accident, but he also looks like a child who has shadows dripping off his shoulders, curling at his feet, hanging from his eyes.

because amorphous blob batman has my heart always and danny/bruce will not escape it even in death even if that IS the only reason im giving him Mild BatBlob Vibes...so far

when they go to the manor, alfred helps danny make a pile of stones between Martha and Thomas' graves, nobody but the two of them (and sam and tucker) will know what it means. (not even bruce's children later down the line, not for a long, long time)

danny dives into ghost fighting on shaky feet and not half as witty as he once was in one world. he's skittish, skittering between blasts from shadow to shadow and clumsily making his way through each battle. but helping people lights a fire in him. he still has shadows dripping off his feet but there's a purpose in his eyes.

and god help him, he's going to help people.

#dpxdc #dp x dc #danny fenton is not the ghost king #dp x dc crossover #dpxdc crossover #dpdc #dpxdc prompt #this is just me torturing danny for a little bit because im stressed and i cried for an hour while i was driving so im taking it out on B #thanks for being my little stress ball danny #aha my old middle school habit of frankensteining two characters together is resurfacing again :) yall should've seen my wattpad drafts #in middle school. i had 50 of them and most of them were me combining two characters together to make one person and putting them in one au #my most memorable being skydoesminecraft and harry potter. THAT was a fun worldbuilding experience #do i think that growing up with the fentons would fix bruce/danny completely?? hurm. no. dont kid yallselves jazz is not a licensed #therapist not even at like. nine when she meets danny. she's not helping him through his trauma in the slightest. she's nagging. #she's his sister or sister-like figure before she's his therapist. would he be #*entirely* like canon bruce tho?? no. dannybruce is a mix of the both of them. but this is still the first post of the au and is more so #just me doing the equivalent of popping a stress ball so nothing is smoothed over. mostly im just trying to keep bruce's trauma prominent i #danny's character because he IS Bruce. i dont want him to just be 'danny with bruce's backstory but without any of the ugly bits'. #danny and bruce is used interchangeably because they're the same person but sorry if his personality feels imbalanced i came up with this o #the spot. was going to type more but the stress has left me. for now. watch ur back danny 👀

[evilminji]

The House of Mysteries is Arguably Sentient Right?

(O.O ) I sit here... contemplating the... WEIRD Ghosts Danny might come across. The true Haunted Houses. Planets. Theaters. Boxes bigger on the inside. Living ships and A.I.s, Etc.

All things can die. If the house of mysteries is someday utterly destroyed? Is that not death? If the Planet and Green Lantern Mogo is broken to pieces like non-sentient Krypton was, has he not perished?

Do they not stand equal chance of become Ghosts?

Are.... Are Haunts even created? Or are they a symbiotic ghost relationship? The dual fulfilling of Obsession. A house, properly haunted and taking care of someone. And a Ghost, watching TV or organizing stamps or living out the fantasy of their Perfect Life.

All behind purple doors.

Houses are demolished all the time. Or lost to war or disaster. An old enough house? Enough people living and dying in it? Could arguably start to accumulate ectoplasm. Become, not sentient, but a touch more. And in dying? Like any animal, leave behind that Idea of who they were. That ALMOST and Instinct.

Certain places though? That are alive? That have seen far too much death? They seem to carry over. Castles and long burned libraries, coliseums, and frozen hills. The places life was lost, over and over or all at once.

Floating islands from long dead planets.

I bet we could find Kryptonian flora on some of them. If we looked in the right area. It must be a strange mix. Down right bizarre. Facing just about anything and wondering if it's sentient.

With Ectoplasm? It could be.

But at the same time? Imagine the RELIEF? Of, after the stress and fear of dying, waking up CHANGED, somewhere new and alone... searching desperately for something, anything, to ground your self? The relief you'd feel... when a door seems to drift right into out of nowhere. Just? Gentle bonk.

And yeah, it's purple. Looks like every generic door that's ever been. But? It has this VIBE. Like you're staring at the door to your first shit apartment, but it's YOURS and YOU paid for it and you're... you're home now. You open it.

And it's like some crammed every inspo board you ever had and all the parts of every room you ever loved, together. Familiar, new, and best of all? NOT a vast swirling green void. You drift inside.

If you're like so many ghosts? Probably never leave. Why would you? It's spooky and loud and crazy out there. Everyone's nuts. In HERE it's nice. No fights, art and food the way you like it, time feels muted and far away...

You only really snap OUT of your happy Vibe Sesh with your House Haunt when someone intrudes.

There us probably a whole flip side of the Zone that we never really see. Haunt politics. Competition for the really GOOD Ghosts. Haunts that don't want a ghost because they are waiting for somebody who may or may not come.

Other fuckin MOGO'S. Seriously. Sentient planet. That may be rare, may even be the sole example IN THEIR UNIVERSE, but the Zone is Multiversal. Literally Infinite.

Which means there ARE at least a handful or more of SENTIENT PLANET GHOSTS. How do you?? Cope? "Oh this is my buddy, the PLANET EARTH." But possibly BIGGER.

Fuck that's a lot of Ectoplasm. Thank Zone their Obsession's are usually "Be Prosperous Planet" and "orbit and protect this Star, which is sentient and my frient".

Oh? They forgot to mention the SENTIENT FUCKING STAR? As in giant ball of fire and death? Whoops! :T

Don't worry! THEIR Obsession is their planets! It's a full circle thing. Just leave that little system alone and they won't annihilate you and everything you've ever loved! Easy.

Lookin a little pale there, your Majesty. You need to lay down?

(And to think, all this... because Pariah's Castle got into a literal land war with other castles over who gets the New King.)

(Accusations of being a Greedy Bitch were thrown. Suggestions to Get Good and stop being A Loser Crybaby were offered. Somehow, there were cannons? Danny is still unclear but has been told under NO circumstances is he to step foot in ANY ghost building until mediators can be brought in. It could be seen as declaring a preference.)

@hypewinter @hdgnj @ailithnight @nerdpoe

#dpxdc #dcxdp #ghost buildings #what ARE haunts? #haunted houses #pariahs castle is a dramtic asshole #theyre also a bitch #its why Pariah liked them #the other castles dont have to stand for this! #local observatories are suggesting maybe the king wants some nice STARS #words are being thrown #and chairs #your architectural designs are GAUDY and no one likes you! #gasp! take THIS! #cannons go brrr

[dp-marvel94]

I am you (and you are me)

For Invisobang 2021. Art by @bibliophilea

On AO3 and Fanfiction.net

Summary: Set post Kindred Spirits. Something has been different since Danny came back from Vlad's and it started when the older half ghost had the tiny clone overshadow him. The half ghost remembers: His own screams. A pain in his inmost being, in his core. A tug back and forth. Being squeezed. A crash, a collision. And then... the blackness of death.

Danny comes back from the experience changed, with the memories of two lives stuffed in his head and new powers. The fire powers are pretty cool but shrinking, often involuntarily, makes him feel weak and vulnerable. All of it, the powers and memories, terrify him as he learns what they mean. And the thought of telling his loved ones...How can the half ghost hope that Jazz, Sam, and Tucker will understand and accept him now when he himself cannot?

Warnings and Tags: Self harm, Identity confusion, Self-Hatred, Ectoplasm and melting clones related gore, Clone Angst, Nightmares, Memory Issues, Involuntary Shrinking. Panic Attacks, Frostbite is Danny’s Icedad.  Evil Vlad Masters, Bad Parent Vlad Masters, Split Danny, Ghost Catcher, Hurt/Comfort, Eventual acceptance (by Danny and by his loved ones). Sibling Bonding, Friendship, Danny finally gets a hug.

Note: Welcome to my Invisobang fic! This is a semi-sequel to my story "Nothing and Everything." It's set directly after that story, though assuming an alternative ending. It is not necessary to read the older story to understand this one. All you need to know is, it deals with the aftermath of Danny being overshadowed by one of the clone's in Kindred Spirits and the emotional impact of the experience.

All that being said, big thanks to my amazing artist @bibliophilea for the amazing comic, and for beta reading! Thanks to @welcome-tothe-mystery-shack  for your comments and feedback on this story. And finally, a huge thanks to my dearest sister @nervousdragonrebelpie for looking over chapters and listening to me ramble about this story for the past few months. I wouldn’t have been able to finish this without you.

Preview Below:

Chapter 1:

“No! I’m a person. People have names! I have to have a name. I’m not….” A sob tried to break free from his throat.

A knock suddenly rattled the door. “Danny!” Mom called.

Both boy’s heads popped up, focusing on the door. They turned to face each other. “Don’t do this.” The real Danny begged.

“What?” The being asked.

“Every time you get close to the truth, you dream up a distraction.” His eyes widened in desperate panic. “Please don’t-”

Danny’s eyes popped open, a dream swirling in his mind. His heart raced, the sheets sticking to his sweaty body. His brow wrinkled, one shaking hand moving up to rub his aching head. Aching…. He still had that damn headache.

The boy closed his eyes, trying to push the pain away, to coax his heart rate down. He breathed. In and out. In and out. Slowly, so slowly, the throb in his head dimmed, his heart calming. But still, anxiety ate up his insides. 

Blearily, the boy opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. Dissatisfied, he groaned and rolled onto his side. He clenched and unclenched his fists, balling up the fabric on his bed. His bed. Yes, this was his bed…. Sleeping in a bed was so nice and comfortable but at the same time... something about it felt…. off.

The boy pinched his eyes closed, trying to make sense of the feeling. His stomach flopped. Something was off. Something was different. After today, after he’d come back from Vlad’s, after the man kidnapped him, after the man clo-

Danny cut off the cursed word, his mind refusing. He buried his face in his pillow. Vlad’s. Something had happened, something had.. had changed at Vlad’s but he couldn’t... quite... remember.

It flashed in images. Being locked in a pod. Electrocution. His own screams. Pain. A pain in his inmost being, in his core…. On the bed, Danny’s core throbbed at the thought… A tug back and forth. Then being squeezed. A crash, a collision. And then... blackness.

He’d passed out. Danny knew that much. And he’d woken up at some point later but everything between that and when he had arrived home was a blur.

Confusion. His head swimming. Danielle.. sister… frowning in worry. The hiss of the pod being released. A sigh of relief. An ectoblast. Twisted metal and glass. Ectoplasm. Ectoplasm on his hands, on the floor. Oh god, oh god. He hadn’t meant to do that. He wasn’t... the others weren’t supposed to…. weren't supposed to...

Vlad... Master... Vlad... glaring in pure hatred. “Get behind me.” His ears ringing with a scream. The older halfa being knocked into his shelves. His knees wobbling. He fell and turned human. (Human... why did the fact that he could do that make him so happy?) But then horror. Vlad was still up and moving.

Then Sam and Tucker crashed through, hitting the older man. Locking Vlad (Master) in a pod. He needs... he needs to find Danielle. He needs to find his baby sister. But she’s gone. She’s gone.

His friends’ worried faces. “Danny, you’re not making any sense.” “Hey! Hey! Stay with us!” He wobbled…. where was Danielle?..... falling forward….. Sam and Tucker caught him.

At some point later, he’d woken up on his bed with worried friends and sister who he couldn’t adequately comfort. His head had been pounding and he couldn’t remember what happened to him… and what he did remember made little sense. Sam had checked his eyes; he didn’t have a concussion or any other injuries. With his head throbbing, he’d dismissed the confusion as being from the stress of the kidnapping and electrocution. His friends believed him, though anxiety was plain on their faces. But after a few minutes, his friends had said their goodbyes, leaving him to get some much needed sleep.

But now, the night after, Danny laid on his bed. His headache was gone, his mind clearer. He should feel better yet... his heart was sinking like a stone in his chest. That dream. That dream. That was familiar. So familiar. Like it had really happened. Like... it meant something. And yet…. Danny yawned, sudden tiredness overtaking him. He closed his eyes.

Maybe this was the ramblings of a sleep deprived brain. Yeah, maybe he was just tired. Maybe he’d wake up in the morning and everything would be okay. The boy pulled his covers more tightly around himself and fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The next morning, after quickly getting ready for school and rushing off, found Danny at his locker. The boy frowned, wracking his brain. What was his locker combination again? He spun the lock, landing on 25. That was the first number, right? Then….56. And finally….12? The lock clicked and he pulled the door open.

Danny sighed. Why was that so hard to remember? He’d had to open his locker just yesterday. He should remember… but why did that feel like a lifetime ago?

“Hey! Danny!” Tucker’s voice cut through his thoughts.

Danny gasped in surprise. In his chest, his core swelled and his body reflexively flickered invisible. A second later, he reappeared, rubbing his chest.

The next thing he knew, Sam was at his side. “What was that?”

“Yeah.” His technogeek friend took a step forward, voice quieting. “Your powers haven’t slipped up like that in months.”

Danny frowned, shaking his head. “I guess... I guess I’m still kinda shook up after….” He wrapped his arms around himself.

Sam’s face softened, seeming to understand. “Do you feel any better?” She asked kindly.

The halfa’s brow wrinkled. “Well, my headache’s gone.”

“You do look better.” The goth commented, her brow furrowing with worry. “You looked rough last night.”

“Yeah, you were really out of it too.” Tucker frowned. “You kept asking where someone called Danielle was? And for your sister?” Clear confusion rang out in his voice and just a hint of teasing…. “We kept telling you Jazz was at home, covering for us.” as if the idea that he was worried about his older sister, when she wasn’t even involved, was funny.

But something in the recollection made Danny shiver. He remembered worrying about Danielle. But…. sister... he hadn’t been talking about Jazz. He’d been asking about another girl, with blue eyes and-

“Then you passed out.” Sam continued. “And we took you home.”

For a too long moment, his friends looked at him questioningly. Finally, Danny bit his lip. “I think I remember that.”

The confirmation seemed to encourage his friends. “That’s good.” Said Tucker.

Danny wasn’t sure it was. But he had no more time to think on it before the bell rang and they were walking to their first class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During lunch period, Danny sat down at their familiar table, the same one as yesterday and every day since the start of freshman year. He placed down his tray and looked over the tables, waiting for Sam and Tucker to join him.

The boy’s brow furrowed. The cafeteria looked the same as every day. The same as yesterday when…. Danielle phasing through the table, a tiny green speck racing passed him…. At the lunch table, Danny’s core pulsed anxiously. Yes, that had happened but at the same time…. Looking back at the two chasing him. Laughing without sound at their fun game.

Danny shivered, feeling cold. He rubbed his chest, nervously.

“Danny?” Someone was waving a hand in front of his face. “Danny? You with us man?”

The halfa blinked and turned, meeting Tucker’s eyes. “Yeah. What’s up?”

“What’s with the spaciness?” Sam said bluntly. She stabbed at her salad. “You were like that all during English too.”

“Was I?” The boy questioned. He shook his head. “Sorry. Just... thinking about stuff.”

His friends gave him worried looks but didn’t question him. Frankly, it was to Danny’s relief. He couldn’t seem to put his thoughts in order. He couldn’t explain this... weird feeling. 

The friends chatted for most of the lunch period, Sam and Tucker dominating the conversation with a debate about the newest Doomed update.

All the while Danny idly rubbed at his chest with one hand. He picked at his cheese fries. Normally they were pretty good, but he wasn’t feeling it today. He shivered again, flinching as his fork fell through his intangible hand.

“Again?” Tucker questioned with a raised brow.

Danny didn’t respond, instead picking up his fork only for his core to flare and the utensil to fall through his fingers again. With an annoyed grumble, the boy rubbed his chest again.

“Do you think something’s up with your powers?” Sam quietly asked.

The halfa looked up, frowning. “No... I mean…”

The goth pointed. “Danny, you keep rubbing your chest.”

Danny looked down, brow furrowing. Below his palm, his core pulsed. There was something… strange about the rhythm and…. he adjusted the position, pressing just the smallest bit harder. Normally, it fit comfortably under his palm but now... “It’s... bigger?” He muttered.

“What?” Tucker asked.

Danny lowered his hand. “My core?” He shook his head. “No... I’m imagining it.” His core pulsed unhappily, even as he rubbed his forehead. “I’m just tired, I guess.”

Sam and Tucker again looked like they wanted to argue, but the bell rang and they split up, each hurrying to their next class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the school day was surprisingly normal. Just his typical classes, without even a ghost fight to interrupt his day. Danny should have felt relieved for such a chill day after what happened last night but yet…. The boy tapped his pencil on his desk. He felt anxious. He must still be shook up, like he told his friends this morning. 

Danny bit his lip, shaking the writing instrument in his hand again. It went flying out of his grip and clattered onto the floor. The boy huffed as he bent down to grab it. His hand hadn’t even turned intangible this time.

With that, the boy straightened in his seat. He glanced at the clock. 20 more minutes left in class. Just 20 minutes. Then he could go home and take a nap. He rubbed his eyes. He was still tired after getting back so late. Maybe some sleep would help him feel better.

Soon enough, the bell rang. Danny stood and walked to his locker. This time, he remembered the combination without wracking his brain. He pulled out his books and turned to his friends, who were collecting their own belongings.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Danny said.

“Yeah, see you later.” Tucker replied.

“Call us if something comes up with the ghosts.” Sam frowned. “I’m grounded but…. I’ll sneak out if you need me.”

The technogeek groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m grounded too.”

The halfa looked down guiltily. “Sorry.” He bit his lip. “You guys shouldn’t be grounded because you had to save my sorry butt.”

“It’s fine.” Sam comforted. “We weren’t not going to save you. We’re your friends.”

“Yeah.” Tucker agreed. “It’s just the price to pay for being superheroes.”

Danny half-smiled, though he didn’t much feel like it. He wasn’t much of a hero. Guilt still choked his heart. He hated getting his friends in trouble. But still…. “Thanks for having my back.”

“No problem.” Tucker confirmed.

Then down the hall, someone called his name. “Danny?”

The boy turned. It was his sister, Jazz. He frowned. Oh right, he hadn’t talked to her since he’d been half out of it last night.

The girl quickly approached. “There you are. Come on. I’m driving you home.”

Jazz didn’t give him a choice as she started leading him towards the entrance. Danny waved at his friends, watching their worried faces until he turned the corner. 

Less than two minutes later, the pair were seated in Jazz’s car. The girl didn’t start the vehicle, instead turning to face her brother. “Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday?”

“I... Uh…” Danny stuttered, trying to collect his thoughts.

“You disappeared during the middle of school. Sam and Tucker said some weird ghost girl showed up. You went off to fight some ghost and the next thing they knew, Vlad was carrying you away.”

The boy crossed his arms. “It sounds like you already know what happened.” He muttered.

Jazz pinned a serious look. “I know Vlad kidnapped you but…. what did he do to you?”

Danny paled. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Something happened. You were unconscious when Sam and Tucker got back. And you were super out of it when you woke up. But you weren’t physically hurt. What did Vlad do to you?” His sister pushed.

Danny swallowed, his stomach flopping. “I... I don’t…. It’s fuzzy….” 

Jazz rose a brow, her tone suggesting she knew there was more to it. “Danny.”

The boy flinched. “I... he... Vlad electrocuted me?” He remembered. Being locked in a pod, electricity running through him. The creepy hologram of his mom. But... but... there was more.

His sister paled. “Oh... I’m so sorry.” Her voice softened and she didn’t say anything for a while, then… “Do you know why he did that?”

Danny stiffened, looking up. The reason sparked in his mind, with the image. Vlad hissing in front of him, boasting his plan. The man had explained but…. the words stayed just out of reach. Danny's face set in a pointed frown. He shook his head.

Jazz’s own frown deepened. “That little girl…. Sam and Tucker said she looked just like you in ghost form. What does she have to do with all this?”

The boy avoided her eyes, heart fluttering nervously. The little girl.... her face snapped into focus in his mind. Danielle, that was her name. But... there was another word. Started with an S or…. a C. She was like him; she was a clo-

Danny shook his head. No, that wasn’t right. Well…. part of it was right. Danielle had been there. She’d been helping Vlad. She helped the man hurt him; painful betrayal stabbed at him from the thought. But at the same time…

“She helped me. She helped me fight Vlad.” The half ghost said quietly, awed realization sparking as he remembered.

“But… who was she?” Jazz asked, equally quietly.

Just like that, the boy paled again. The word, the cursed word, formed in his mind without his permission. Clone. She was a clone of…. him?... No... that didn’t sound right... he was the same as her but... it had to be true. His frown deepened.

“Who was she?” His older sister asked again.

The boy shivered. “I... I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Danny.” Her voice softened. “You can tell me. It’s-”

“I... I can’t... I don’t wanna talk about it.” He focused on his hands in his lap, trying to keep them from shaking.

“Clearly, whatever happened is bothering you. You can tell me.”

“No. I-” Danny bit his lip, reaching for the door. He couldn’t stay in here with her, couldn’t deal with the questions he had no answers for or rather... questions he couldn’t bear to answer. The… the c word... he couldn’t say it, could barely think it. How could he explain how everything felt wrong, like he wasn’t actually-

“Wait.” Jazz cut off his thoughts. “You don’t have to talk until you’re ready. Just... let me drive you home.”

The boy lowered his hand and slumped back in his seat. “You... you promise? You won’t press?”

His sister’s brow furrowed. Her face was tight, like she didn’t want to agree; but after a long moment, she sighed. “Alright. I promise.”

Danny nodded. “Let’s go then.”

Jazz turned the car on, put it into drive, and pulled out of the parking lot. They drove home in silence. Once they arrived, the boy went straight up to his room. He rubbed his head, flopping down onto his bed. He needed... he needed a nap. Yeah…. That was it. He was still tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sister smiled down at him. “Look at this!” The black haired girl held up her crayon drawing. “This is me.” She pointed. “And Muscles. And Bones. And Daniel.” Her smile widened as she tapped at the last figure. “And this is you.”

The being tilted his head. He floated up, placing small hands on the green figure on the paper. He blinked owlishly up at the girl.

The corner of the girl's mouth turned down. She placed down the paper and offered him a crayon. “Come on. You try.”

The tiny being hovered forward, reaching out to touch the crayon. It was so big, almost half as tall as he was. He frowned, trying to understand.

“Make yourself a little bigger and you’ll be able to hold it.” She encouraged. “Come on. You can do it.”

The being scrunched his brow and he stretched. He was about the size of a toddler, maybe two and a half feet tall. He reached out, grabbing the crayon with his slightly larger hands.

“Great.” Sister said. She pushed a fresh piece of paper in front of him. “Now you draw. Like this.” She demonstrated, rubbing the crayon against the paper so color transferred onto it.

The being flopped down, sitting on the floor. Slowly, so slowly, he copied the girl. He traced his drawing instrument over the paper. He scribbled, creating a mess of lines and shapes without meaning or purpose.

Sister smiled proudly anyway. “You’re doing it. Good job, Tiny.”

He beamed, something in him sparking at the praise. He continued scribbling but the image changed into something more purposeful. A house took shape, stick figures. A large man and slimmer woman. A little girl and a little boy.

The little boy giggled at his drawing. His hands were chubbier than before. A toddler’s, instead of the miniaturized version of a teen’s. 

“Jazzy!” He looked up, showing off his drawing to the little redhead girl.

His older sister looked up. “That looks great, Danny!” She put her own crayons down, rubbing her sweaty forehead. “It’s so hot.”

The boy suddenly dropped his crayons and drawing. “Outside! Let’s go outside!”

“But it’s hot.” The girl repeated.

The boy was already running off. “Mommy! Mommy! Can we play in the sprinklers?! Please! Please!”

Mommy turned around from where she was making lunch. “After we eat, okay?”

“Okay!” The four year old beamed, already running up the stairs to get his swim trunks.

The next thing he knew, he was outside. Mommy set up the sprinkler. He and Jazzy ran around it, giggling. Daddy came outside with water balloons and Danny let out a happy scream. “Water balloons!”

The little boy grabbed one and threw it at his sister.

Danny blinked awake to bright light on his face. His nose wrinkled. It was still light out? Oh wait, he had been taking a nap. He sat up, yawning and rubbing his forehead. He’d been dreaming again, this time about…. He shivered, remembering. He’d been playing in the back yard with Jazz when he was four. And... he’d been with Danielle. She’d been showing him how to draw. 

The boy’s stomach flopped. That didn’t make sense. That hadn’t happened. Maybe... maybe he was thinking about her because Jazz had asked, earlier, when they’d been in the car but... that had felt like a memory.

Dread balled in his gut. He’d been small, smaller than her hand. And then he’d stretched and he was bigger, about the size of a toddler. Danny looked down at his hands, his human, properly sized hands. That, changing his size, wasn’t something he could do but…. In the dream, Danielle had called him Tiny. It didn’t make sense and yet….

He remembered. One of the other clones. The small green one. Danny shivered. That one, that one could shrink. That clone had overshadowed him.

The knowledge hit Danny like a ton of bricks. The tiny clone had overshadowed him. How... how didn’t he remember that until just now? How hadn’t he realized? Danny grimaced, a sickening feeling squeezing his insides. He’d been possessed. Someone else had been in his body, controlling his actions, messing with his mind. The boy wrapped his arms around himself. He felt violated at the thought. That was so wrong. Vlad had ordered one of his clones to overshadow him. And…. more memories of the experience pressed into his mind.

Danny had been semi-aware of the other presence. There had been a fight for control, another core so close to his and…. Memories, thoughts that weren’t his. Flashes of the tiny clone’s memories. And the feeling of tiny hands rifling through his own mind.

Danny pulled his knees to his chest. That must be why he’s felt so off. It was the aftereffects of being possessed. And that dream, the flashes of memory…. he must be remembering what he’d seen and felt from the tiny clone while it had been possessing him.

The boy sighed. But... the feeling would go away eventually, right? It would. He’d felt off after Sidney had overshadowed him as well. It had taken a bit to get used to being in his own body again. And Sidney was more experienced with overshadowing than his clone had been. The ghostly nerd knew how to push Danny’s spirit out of his body, instead of forcing both ghosts to cohabitate. That was why there were strange memories now, unlike last time.

But it didn’t matter. He’d get back to normal soon enough and his friends and sister would have nothing to worry about. Everything would be okay, right?

Danny stood up, rolling his shoulders to stretch. He had homework to do. He sat down at his desk, trying to ignore the way his stomach still flopped.

#Danny Phantom #invisobang #Invisobang 2021 #Big Bang 2021 #my fic #clone angst #Danny clone #tw selfhate #tw selfharm

[souleatergroot]

Temporary Grump (Dan Avidan x reader) Part 1

Synopsis : Arin is sick and Dan desperately needs a replacement. Type : Fluff A/N : Hiiii soooo I have a whole idea for this in my head and thought it was gonna be 1 part… then I started writing soooo it might be 3 or 4 now. Are these good sized parts? I could make them longer… I was just so excited (impatient) to post again. Anyway I hope you enjoy!! <3

“Y/N pleeeeaaaassseeee?!” Dan Avidan groaned at you.

Arin is currently curled up in a ball at home, probably puking his guts out from his stomach virus. Everyone at the office is loaded up with work so Dan is panicking trying to find a temporary Grump for the recording sessions while he is gone. You were loaded up with work as well, but it was getting harder to deny Dan’s pleading pout.

You’ve had feelings for Dan for quite a while, honestly before you even joined the team. Watching their videos way back to Jon is what kept you going and your dream was to work with them. Now though? You just wanted to be his. It’s just so easy to be yourself around his kind eyes that truly seem to see and understand you. Part of you pushed this dream off a long time ago, but there is still that flutter in your chest every time he looks at you and your stomach wins a gold metal in gymnastics every time he laughs. You rely on humor to keep yourself calm during conversations with him.

“Alright Danny, you want to make this happen? I gotta figure out what’s in it for me?” You respond teasingly, folding your arms and looking down at him.

He was dramatically strewn across the entire couch, his left leg across the couch, his right leg hanging off, both arms up in the air with his hands folded pleading with you, and his head propped up on an armrest. He sat up quickly, moving his feet to the floor the second you decided to negotiate with him. You saw the determination in his brown eyes and your heart skips a beat. If Danny truly wants you to do this, he’ll make sure he gets it.

“What’s in it for you? Well I’m glad you asked! If you do these sessions with me…I will….” He’s holding firm eye contact but you can tell he’s searching for something to bribe you with.

“I will come over to your house every morning and make you breakfast while Arin is sick”

“Tempting~” you hum, your checking turning pink as you imagine sleepy mornings with good breakfast and Dan’s company. You shut those thoughts down quick before your mind goes wild with fluffy daydreams of Dan… honestly that’s why you’ve been so backed up with work. He’s really been a distraction lately, coming in your office to visit just for a moment leaves you in a daze. You snap yourself out of it.

“Breakfast while Arin is sick and two weeks after he comes back and I guess I’ll do the session. I’m going to be so back up on work after...” You run a hand through your hair a little stressed out but you try not to let it get to you right now.

“Deal! I’ll even help you with your work! Anything Y/N!” Dan hops up from the couch, quick to snatch you in a hug and spin you around. “Thank you Thank you!”

The stress about your work immediately melts off your shoulders as your laugh bounces through the office. “Alright alright! You’re welcome Danny!”

He sets you down and runs off to the Grump room, setting up to record.

You take a moment to adjust your clothes and hair after being spun around in the air by your favorite person in the world. Your smile slowly fades as realization sets in… these videos were going to be tough.

Part 2 : Temporary Grump (Part 2)

#fanfics #Dan Avidan x reader #game grumps #game grumps x reader #gaming #x reader #Danny sexbang x reader #Danny sexbang #Arin Hanson #ninja sex party #nsp

[five-rivers]

Loved 6

Written for Dannymay 2021 Day 15: Nature

.

“Danny,” said Sam, “what’s wrong?”

The question was, really, far too vague. Many things were wrong all the time, especially with Danny. Part and parcel of being what he was, living where they were, and doing what he did. Although she was more comfortable with it all than Tucker, she could acknowledge that things were… bad. That the world was messed up. That, although people could be horrible to each other on their own, the monstrous beings lurking under the fabric of reality did not help.

But Danny had been in especially low spirits for the last few days. She’d almost say he was depressed, but she was hesitant to apply mental health disorders to someone who wasn’t even entirely human anymore. He’d also been unusually quiet, but he had admitted some time ago that he was having progressively more difficulty ‘finding words,’ so that could be the reason instead.

If she could find out why he was upset, maybe she could cheer him up. Or at least support him.

He made a face, one hand covering his mouth as he talked. “You remember that time, um, when Clockwork… The gifts?” He touched his wrist.

“Yes?” said Sam, prompting him to continue.

Danny glanced down the otherwise oddly-deserted school hallway. “It’s… He had me eat with him. Sort of. Ever since then, my teeth have been…” He paused his hand now firmly pressed to his face.

“Weird?” suggested Tucker, voice low.

Danny nodded. “I had – I was venomous, in the Dream, I don’t—” He faltered.

“Do they hurt?” asked Sam.

“Mhm.”

“Do you think biting into something might help?” asked Sam as she swung her backpack off her shoulder and rummaged in it.

Danny’s eyes seemed to glaze over as he considered the question. Finally, he shrugged.

Sam found what she was looking for. “Here,” she said, holding out the shiny red apple. “Try this.”

Danny examined the apple, careful and silent. The fruit was reflected, vividly, in his eyes. Once. Twice. Three times? No. Danny had two eyes. Two perfect, insightful, soulful eyes.

Delicately, he took it. He still didn’t remove the hand over his mouth.

“We’ve seen worse, man,” mumbled Tucker.

“Not when I’m being human,” protested Danny. Gingerly, he removed his other hand from his mouth and brought the apple to his lips.

When his lips parted, Sam could see what he was talking about. Those were definitely, clearly, fangs. Sharp, smooth, and white. They sparkled even in the flat overhead school lights. Something bluish and clear glistened at their tips.

Was Danny venomous?

(Why did that excite her?)

They crunched into the apple. Danny held it there, still and tense, for a few seconds before his expression melted into absolute bliss.

“Feel better?” asked Sam.

“Mmmhmm,” said Danny, eyes half closed.

“Guys?” said Tucker. “We should probably go now. Before they kick us out.”

“Huh?”

“It’s the end of the school day. School’s been out for half an hour.”

Sam frowned. Was it? She… Did she… She did remember going to all her classes. She shook her head, dismissing the momentary lapse.

Danny regretfully disengaged from the apple, blinked, and swayed. His outline wavered. Sam grabbed his wrist, and a jolt ran up her bones, making her teeth hurt as if she had just bitten down on ice. He stabilized again.

“Thank you,” he said.

He did not notice that she had taken the apple.

.

She set the apple on her desk, and the color stood out vibrantly against the dark-stained wood and her black, goth-themed knickknacks. The color, which was a different than what it had been when she had given the apple to Danny.

The neon blue skin was cold enough to gather condensation and smooth under her fingers. There was otherwise little evidence that Danny had bitten into it. The holes had sealed over, leaving only small depressions.

She knew what she wanted to do. She knew what she shouldn’t do.

Danny said she couldn’t die. That he had destroyed her death, among others. She trusted him.

But it was always good to be prepared.

She set up a text on a timer. If she wasn’t able to cancel it in the next ten minutes, it would go out to Danny and Tucker.

The bed would be the best place to do this. She sat down on the edge, feet firmly planted on the floor.

She bit into the apple.

For a few seconds, she was disappointed, but then.

Then.

She let herself drop back onto her bed, the springs creaking slightly and the covers gently fluttering. She exhaled. Inhaled. Exhaled. Blinked. Closed her eyes. Opened them again.

Everything. Everything.

It was like seeing for the first time. The world was as thin as rice paper. The light was shinning through. It’s true nature.

And all the people. Everywhere. Everyone. Connected.

She—

Everyone.

Beyond the rice paper they could see and touch and feel, the false veil above the truth they couldn’t look at directly, but Danny could and, oh.

Was this what he saw all the time? Was he always filled with this sense of—

Of charity? Of- of—

What could she call this? Care? Empathy?

Could she call it love?

(She could. He was. Because he was loving. But his understanding of love was overwritten and subsumed by his understanding of Love. There could be no other way.)

(To love was human. Love was divine.)

If everyone could feel like this…

Sam knew how much people could hurt each other. She knew how terrible the world was.

(Her grandfather had only died a few years ago. He’d been born in Germany.)

She knew how stressed Danny was about hurting others, even when it was his mere existence that was harmful – And Sam wasn’t so sure that it was harmful. If Danny hadn’t just internalized the vitriol and hate that his parents practically consisted of.

If everyone could feel like this…

They’d had a conversation, back when they’d connected the others to cults, about whether or not cults were a natural result of the others’ presence, or if they were actually encouraged by the others. Maybe it was a combination of the two, but Sam now had good evidence for the former.

This. This was natural. This was right.

And she would work hard to make everything else right, too.

The feeling faded after another few… minutes? Hours?

Minutes. It had to be minutes. Otherwise, Danny and Tucker would be here.

The timer.

She fumbled her phone open just in time to cancel the text.

.

Sam was tempted to take another bite of the apple, but she knew that she had to be careful with her resources. She had her vision. Her goal. Her plan to make the world a better place.

It started here.

She leaned on her shovel and checked the depth of the hole in the ground. Good. Good. Room enough for the apple and room enough for the fertilizer.

She used her fingernails to slit open a bag of the latter and then placed the apple reverently on top of the small pile. A shadow passed over her. It didn’t seem like quite enough, did it?

Perhaps… an offering? She emptied the contents of her pocket. Coins. A six-sided die with a bat in place of its ‘one’ pip. A caramel and a strawberry candy her grandmother had given her that morning. A small picture of herself, Danny, and Tucker. A safely pin.

She arranged them carefully around the apple. The safety pin gleamed in the light.

Staring at her. She stared back.

Maybe…

She picked up the pin and squeezed it to free the sharp end. Then, before she could hesitate, before she could have second thoughts, she drew it over the ball of her thumb. Blood welled up from the small wound, and she let it drip on the soil surrounding the apple.

.

The tree grew into a sapling overnight. The next day, it was taller than Sam. On the third, the trunk was thicker than both her wrists together. By the end of the week, it had burst into bloom.

Sam made sure to water it every day.

Danny, meanwhile, continued to have problems with his teeth. He spoke less, his words slurred and lisping around his still-growing fangs, but that didn’t matter to her and Tucker. After the years they’d spent together, they could read each other pretty well.

Sam maintained a constant supply of apples for him to bite down on. Most of the time, he ate them afterwards, which she couldn’t really begrudge him, but sometimes he’d leave them on his desk or on the table or just out and Sam would put aside her next afternoon for experimentation.

Before she knew it, the tree was bearing fruit. Rose-red and perfectly shaped, not a trace of scale or insects. Sam knew exactly what to do with them.

.

“Hey,” she said, as her parents walked in, “I made an apple pie. Tell me if it’s any good.”

#danny phantom #loved #dannymay 2021 #dannymay #dannymay 2021 day 15: nature #eldritch abomination au

[rebelwrites]

What Happens In Vegas - Part Six

Clay Spenser x Reader

Part One || Part Two || Part Three || Part Four || Part Five

Join The Group Chat Here - If You Want Tagging Manually Let Me Know 🖤

Clay Spenser Masterlist

This Months Writing

“For fuck sake, just stop pacing,” Danny laughed, slamming his hands on your shoulders, bringing you to a stop.

“I feel like I should be at base waiting for Clay,” you mumbled, “Like I should be there.”

“Just take a breath kiddo,” Danny said, kissing the top of your head, “Clay knows you are helping set up for the bbq tonight, so stop stressing.”

“I guess you are right,” you mumbled, “I still feel bad for not being there though.”

“What happened to what stays in Vegas, stays in Vegas?” Danny teased, “but things look like they are getting serious now.”

“Things change obviously,” you laughed, “I mean it’s only been two months and it hasn’t been easy, especially with him getting deployed for the last three weeks, but you and Jade managed with the Navy life.”

“It’s just good to see you so happy again,” Jade smiled walking into the kitchen.

“It’s good to be happy again,” you grinned, grabbing a drink out of the fridge. “Apparently I thought I knew what love was with Alex, but boy was I wrong, that wasn’t love.” You said, leaning against the counter, pulling your phone out, smiling at your lock screen just as a text came through from a blocked number, your smile instantly growing as it was a picture message of Clay and Cerb sitting on the plane with the caption of “I’m coming home to you Babygirl”

“Guessing he has just managed to get a text though?” Danny laughed, nudging your shoulder.

“Why would you think that?” You laughed, slipping your phone back into your pocket.

“The fact your smile just grew at least twice as big,” he winked, “now come on back to work we got shit to do.”

The hours had passed and you couldn’t sit still, not until the boys were here. You were currently on your fourth beer, trying to bite your tongue at some of the comments your mum was making. Also you were trying not to smash the bottle of beer over Amanda’s face as well, you had no idea why she was here but it was getting on your nerves.

Out of the corner of your eye you saw the back door open and the flash of camo. Spinning around to make sure you weren’t seeing things, the moment your eyes landed on the boys, you dropped your beer bottle, running towards Clay who had now turned to face you.

The moment you were close enough, you jumped into his arms, wrapping your legs around his waist hugging him tight.

“I missed you babygirl,” he hummed against your lips before kissing you softly.

“I missed you too,” you giggled, resting your forehead against his, as he placed his cap on your head.

“Move out of the way love birds, there’s cold beer calling my name,” Jase laughed, winking as he walked past the two of you.

“You gonna let me put you down?” Clay laughed as he managed to walk over to everyone.

“Nope, I’ve missed out on cuddles so I’m making up for it now,” you giggled.

“You just have to rub it in our faces don’t you?” Amanda spat, “we get you’ve moved on, but do you need to rub it in my face! Whilst my poor son is home trying to get over a broken heart you are here playing house with a Seal.”

“First of all bitch,” you spat, climbing of Clay’s lap, “you aren’t even welcome here so I have no idea why the fuck you are here!” You hissed.

“Your mum invited me,” Amanda said.

“Of course she did,” you laughed. “But secondly your precious son is lying to you, he doesn’t have a broken heart, he was the one that decided to fucking cheat on me, he was the one to verbally abuse me every single day, he was the one who made me quit my job and controlled all the money so I had to fucking ask for shit!” You screamed, balling your fists up.

“That wasn’t my son,” Amanda gasped at what she was hearing.

“Oh I forgot you don’t know the actual reasons behind the divorce!” You laughed, “yeah Alex wasn’t all sunshine and fucking rainbows, he was a controlling and manipulative bastard.”

“You are just making shit up now,” you Mum snapped, “Just like your father used to. Always knew you’d turn out just like him, always needed the attention to be on you.”

“Don’t you dare bring Dad into this,” you growled “he was a good man and you fucking know it. You just can’t bare to see me fucking happy, you never have.”

“Think what you want, you are just a spoiled little girl who throws a fit whenever things don’t go her way,” Amanda laughed, “If my son cheated on you then I can see why!”

“Do you know what, fuck all of you,” you screamed, as hot tears streamed down your cheeks. “Y’all got what you wanted right? You wanted to see me so broken you could manipulate me, well you fucking won! So Congratu-fucking-lations!”

“Sis, calm down,” Jade said, placing her hand on your shoulder, but you shrugged her off.

“But now I’m sorry, because this ship has fucking sailed,” you screamed “if you want to be a part of my life you’re gonna have to fucking prove it to me,” you were shaking from the anger running through your body, you felt Clay stand behind you, showing that he was there. “Nobody gets a fucking free pass anymore.”

“See again with the dramatics,” mum laughed.

“Shut the fuck up mum,” Jade spat, placing her hand on your shoulder.

“You want my trust? Earn it!” You yelled, “you want my respect? Fucking earn it!! You want my fucking love, time and energy? Fucking earn it! Nobody gets to ride this ride for fucking free anymore.”

Things had been bottled up for so long now, it felt good to finally let it all out, and stand up for yourself.

“So congratu-fucking-lations to every single one of you who got their ticket, and then decided to rip up the fucking ticket! You wanted this?” You screamed, throwing your beer bottle at the wall “Well you fucking got it.”

“Hey,” Clay whispered, as he span you around so you were facing him and wrapped his arms around you, “Do you wanna get out of here babygirl?”

You didn’t speak, you just nodded against his chest, feeling him kiss the top of your head.

“I hope you are happy?” Clay spat at your mum, “She is your own daughter and this is how you treat her! Don’t make any contact with her again, she doesn’t need this or you!”

“Clay,” Jade said softly.

“Yeah?” He asked, looking at your sister.

“Boxing helps,” she nodded, “I don’t know if it’s worth a try.”

“Thank Jade,” Clay nodded before scooping you up into his arms. “Come on babygirl, let’s get you out of here.”

@chibsytelford @mrsmarvelous1995 @supervalcsi @talicat713 @disasterfandoms @bravo-four-seal-team @jasonbabymama @jayhalsteadfan-2417 @lotsoflovefromlea @seik-o @velvetcardiganbucky @phoenixhalliwell @pancakeisreading @itsonautopilot @pinkrockstar19 @galaxysanduniversesinmymind @softi92 @abby-splace

#clay spenser #clay spenser x reader #clay spenser imagine #seal team #seal team x reader #seal team imagine

[red-doll-face]

Hi, i hope you’re having a nice day For this fine gay month, can I request a headcannon with the killers (frank, ghostface, Evan, etc) with a male h/o that has a dog around them

Aw, thanks! For this fine gay month, you may receive the gay. I only did the three you mentioned, I know you put etc so I apologize but I couldn’t decide! I hope you like them! ❤️ also I assumed h/o was a typo lemme know if it wasn’t

Killers x male s/o with a dog

Frank ‘The Legion’ Morrison

Frank’s just confused by the dog. Is that a dog? He’s been here so long that he forgot that not all dogs are Demogorgons. Is it an attack dog? Will it rip out his throat if he tries to stab you? Is it a service dog? Emotional support? Is he allowed to pet it? How the fuck did it get here anyway???

He’s mostly the one up to just toss the trial and throw the game just to play with your dog and talk to you. He finds you and your dog pretty chill. He spends a lot of time with you and your dog in kind.

He’s going to insist that he’s actually a tough guy but he’s putty for you and your dog. He lives for that fluff ball.

Frank gets jealous easily so he’s definitely jealous of the other survivors. They get to spend a lot of time with you and his possessive tendencies come out a lot more

He doesn’t want to feel like he needs you but this place even though he likes it sometimes you make it just that much better

Likes to just chill with you and your dog, taking naps and hanging out and shit. Nothing’s better than a day with the pals and you.

Evan ‘The Trapper’ Macmillan

Also very curious about your dog, he hasn’t seen one of those in what feels like forever. He asks if he can pet it, he doesn’t want to intrude but he has a reputation to think about so he’s not gonna be hype about it like Frank. He’s supposed to be scary.

He’s giving it so many treats, wherever he can find them, he’s feeding that dog and giving belly pats. Perfect stress relief for his very frayed nerves.

He’s excited to draw something new and interesting. There are only so many portraits and landscapes he can do. Plus, you try getting half of these people to sit down for a portrait.

With you and your dog, he realizes that this is as close as he will get to a family in the entities realm. It’s more than enough to fulfill his dreams of being a housewife- I mean house spouse.

Evan is more than careful with his traps. He doesn’t want to hurt or your dog with them, that’s the last thing he wants to happen.

Evan wants to question how that dog got in here but he’s afraid he’ll ask and the entity will be like ‘oh yeah’ and send the two of you back.

He will try and act like he doesn’t care so much but he’d do anything for you or that dog. He’s good at hiding his emotions behind masks but he lets it show sometimes.

Danny ‘The Ghostface’ Johnson

Is that a dog? Do you think he could get a picture with your dog?! He promises not to kill it. He’s a bastard but killing dogs is a little bit much even for him. When dogs would get in the way of his stalking, he’d befriend them to keep them from barking. You’d be amazed at what a milk bone can do.

But cats? Yeah, he’d rather not fuck with the cats.

Always trying to find you and your dog. He’ll play around with it before getting back to business… Oh, who is he kidding? He can’t do that! He’ll chase your dog around the entire place, your teammates thanking the entity for that dog.

Is he stalking you around the map staring at your ass? Of course not! He’s looking at your- dog! How dare you assume!

Danny wants to be on your good side so he’ll try and take it easy on you. Or at least he says he will. He likes to fool around with you, maybe a little too much.

He’s happy he gets to be the one who you consider an s/o. He doesn’t want to even think about you with anyone

Sic your dog on him he’s defenseless against it when it pulls on his little robe thingy. Sometimes the ribbons are too tempting for your dog and it rips one off. Costume ruined forever.

Danny isn’t the best at relationships but he’ll try for you and your dog.

Thanks for requesting! Lately my posts haven’t been showing up in the tags so, fingers crossed tumblr doesn’t decide to toss my shit in the garbage 🤞

#dbd x reader #dbd #dead by daylight #dbd the ghostface #dbd the trapper #dbd the legion #frank morrison #frank morrison x reader #the legion #evan macmillan #evan macmillan x reader #danny jed olsen johnson #ghostface x reader

[blueberrypossum]

Another Night hidden within the Stars

(GN)yokai cop x Dastardly Danny

Hey yall! I've had the wonderful opportunity to collab with @greaser-wolf and man has it been a wonderful experience! You are truly a lovely person and thank you again for the drawing!! This was super fun to write, with Danny and how he talks he's a challenge that I loved taking on. Hope you all enjoy!!

This story is gender neutral, but with it being fancy I will be putting tux/dress so then you, the reader, can wear whatever you want on your date with Danny ( also suspenders will be in the tux category and dress suits will still be in dress, hopefully that is okay with everyone because I do want to put detail into your outfit).

⚠️WARNING⚠️: There are cuss words and also mention of sexual content along with yearning and making out!!!

Word Vocabulary:

FC- favorite color

Take a powder- Get lost or lay off

Crumb-A jerk, no fun

Eager Beaver- Someone who excited about something 

Cut a rug- Dance with me

Dead Hopper- A bad dancer

Jive dancer- A talented dancer

You could feel yourself slowly growing impatient as you waited outside of the restaurant, your foot tapping against the concrete with a jittery rhythm. Dastardly Danny was never the late type, he would make the joke of being fashionably late whenever he and the rest of his crew had a runin with trouble, but you knew by now that he would make sure his schedule was clear the days you would meet up. Especially after the time he and his friends literally rode to the place you were meeting up in a snail cop car, a sheepish smile curling against his mouth. 

You remember the awful paperwork for that one.

The night of the Hidden City glistened around you as you leaned against the building, your hands rubbing up against your arms to create some friction of warmth. Even with the outfit you had on, the nights were slowly getting chilly due to the change of seasons above. 

The bag you held against your side started to vibrate and for a second you thought it was going to be that purple wearing rat, telling you that something had happened or that he was going to be fashionably late, but it was actually your boss from the police station. You cleared your throat before you clicked on the answer button.

“Yes, chief?”

“Hello Y/N, I was seeing if you would be free tonight to work an extra shift?”

You balled your empty hand into a fist as you jumped from your spot against the building, your eyes glaring to the side as if you could see your boss there, looming over you with a smile that practically said: “ If you don’t say yes to this then I will give you paperwork that is stacked so high that the humans above can see it.”

You let out a breathy sigh as you explained, “I’m sorry, chief, but I have plans tonight and I really cannot cancel them.” You turned on your heel so that your shoulder was leaning against the wall instead of your back.

You could hear the anger and frustration behind his voice, “Are you sure that whatever is so important cannot be rescheduled?”

“No, it cannot.”

You almost jumped right out of your body as a voice behind you answered for you. Your face started to blush against the amber lights of the restaurant as Danny was now leaning his head against your shoulder, a wicked grin on his face as he continued to talk.

“Sorry there, chief, but being a cop can be a real pain in the neck, so take a powder and let me and the dame have our night, alright?”

You opened your mouth to apologize to your boss, to say that your boyfriend had just had a little too much to drink and was now saying whatever came to mind, but the tall rat’s hot breath against your neck made you stiff as a board. You swallowed and suddenly you felt parched as Danny took the phone from your hand and hung up on the chief of police and placed the phone back into your bag. 

“Ya know you can get lockjaw if ya keep that mouth open for too long,” he chirped as he took your hand into his. 

“You’re….You’re late,” you stammered out, your mind foggy with the possible fear of losing your job and also how Danny’s suit was cleaner and seemed to cling to his body tighter than before. 

He bent himself over and kissed your hand as he looked up at you with hooded eyes.

“Actually, love, I still have about two minutes. Would ya like me to walk away and come back and get ya flustered all over again?” 

“Oh hush up, you could’ve gotten me fired and he could've figured out your voice,” you commented, your heart almost futtering out of your chest as his lips met your hand. Always so formal, strange how a gentleman could also be a thief. 

Danny rolled his eyes and let out a ‘tch’ sound as he took in the sight of you. Your outfit was glistening against the fallen lights of the town, the color bringing out the color in your eyes. Danny was surprised that he still had his balance as he took a step back. No matter how many times he lays his eyes on you, you can always somehow leave him breathless.

He intertwined his arm with yours as he chuckled out, “Yer boss is a bloody crumb, darling, and if he could recognize my’ voice, toots, then there would be more criminals in yer holding cells.”

“You know I can just turn you three in and get that raise, right?” 

“Ah but you would never do that to us, especially me, sweetheart,” he purred as took your chin gently into his hand and kissed you. All the stress that had built up within your body for the past few days melted away as he pulled you in closer to the kiss, your knees almost going weak as you felt him smile against your lips. His hand was careful against your cheek, as if his destructive and dangerous life would break you, even with you being a cop. His whiskers tickled your face and you couldn’t help but giggle into the kiss, causing Danny to bring you closer to him at the sound of your happiness. 

After the kiss, he planted one against your cheek and tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. 

“You look ravishing tonight, ” He purred as he led you over to the door, his arm already extending it to open it for you.

You let out a sigh as you pushed the fabric you were wearing down to wash out the wrinkles.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” You asked as Danny told the hostess the fake name he placed for the dinner reservation. As the hostess turned around to grab a few menus, Danny let go of your arm and ever so slowly danced his hand from the nap of your neck, down your spine until it planted itself onto your tailbone as he whispered into your ear, “Oh sweetheart, if we weren’t in this restaurant, I know exactly what I would be having for dinner instead.”

He smirked as a pretty shade of red crossed your face and even tinted the edge of your ears as the hostess turned back around and told you both to follow her. Danny had to practically drag you since your mind was nothing but a haze of embarrassment and desire. 

The tall rat yokai pulled your chair for you and you thanked him as he pushed you closer to the table and took a seat himself.

You took in the sight of the restaurant with a look of awe. The eating house was colored with wine and gold and the building was buzzing with life of friends and family and lovers just like you and him. You both had made sure, with the help of a worker there, that no cop or detective had placed a reservation at the restaurant, so no more looking over your shoulder or horror stabbing you in the gut when you watched yokais whisper and look over at you. 

Danny watched as you took it all in, an almost lovesick expression crossing his face. Everytime you both went out he would remember the first time you both met, with your pistol shoved into his face. Dating a cop was something that never crossed his mind, he always thought he would date a thief such as himself or maybe a regular citizen of the Hidden City. But, when you first chased him, screaming his name at the top of lungs, he knew it was love at first sight. 

He did hate the secrecy though, even with the thrill of getting caught was something he got high off of, he did want to show you off to the world, he wanted to take you out everywhere without any of your coworkers finding you. At least you both got to do this, and he knew how to mark you as his. 

The option of you quitting your job raged inside his head, the sheer thought of it made him mad. He would never let you give up your passion, how hard you’ve worked for your position at work, even though you said you would be fine with it, he wouldn’t be, and knew that you secretly wouldn’t be either.  

“So, I heard about that heist you did a few days ago, how did it go?” You questioned as you laid your head in your hands, your elbows supporting your weight. Danny let out a gust of air as he also leaned in, taking in the breathtaking sight that was you. 

“Don’t even get me started, sweetheart. Leonard is doing the chores for the rest of da month for the stunt he pulled during it,” the rat groaned and soon a waitress came up and Danny ordered one of their expensive wines, once she walked away, you raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Wine, huh? That heist money really working itself off, isn’t it?” You played at him and he let out a low gruff as he smirked at you. 

“Only using the money for good, right?”

“Oh and I’m considered good?”

Danny gave you a hungry look and for a moment you thought he was going to get out of the chair and eat you up in one bite, but all he did was bring his hands together  on the table as he leisurely spoke. 

“Of course.”

Oh titans above how was I so lucky to land him.

You both ordered your meals and continued to have small talk. One thing you both decided to agree on was that Danny would talk about opposing gangs that were doing heists and robberies and then would tell you about them the next stop they were going to, with this you were given praise and extra cash at work and giving The Mud Dogs less competition in the playing field. It made Danny warm inside to see you have an interest in his job and it made you bashful when he would compliment you on your job.

In the background of your conversation was the beauty of musicians playing their hearts out for those who were out on the dancefloor, the restaurant was flooded with intoxicated laughter and the tapping of shoes against the wooden floor. The wine was slowly getting to you after the third glass and you couldn’t help but to start giggling after every word you said. 

After the waitress took your plates and left the check, you and Danny had to fight over who would pay. 

“You paid last time, I'll pay it,” you ordered as your fingers tried to swipe it from his hands, but he was a lot quicker than you and he let the bill twirl in between his fingers as he stared at you. 

“Not a chance, eager beaver, the deal is that you bring your decked out self and I get to gawk at ya until I need to pay the bill,” he insisted and was about to pull out his credit card before he felt your fingers touch his and soon the bill was gone from his hands and all he could do was glare lovingly at you as you giggled in your seat, the piece of paper shoved under your hands. 

“Yer not gonna give up, are ya?”

“Isn’t that what you like about me?”

His eyes traveled over your body slowly, hardly an ounce of urgency in them as he took in every inch of you. The curve of your waist, the way your outfit was flushed against your body like water to paper, how there were still love marks on your chest and barely above your neck from your last visit with each other. Desire was blazing through his eyes as they finally met yours. 

“Oh sugar pop, there is a whole list of things I like about you,” he growled and he took pride in the way you squirmed in your seat.

He eyed the dancefloor and then back at you and gradually got himself out of his chair until he was next to you, his hand extended out. 

“How about this: You cut a rug with me and you get to pay, deal?” He asked. You looked down at his extended hand and then back at his smug look, wondering if the wine had somehow gotten more to him then you. 

“Oh please, you know I have two left feet. If we danced your feet would be sore for weeks from me stepping on them,” you joked out, but he didn't move. 

“If ya were a dead hopper, I wouldn’t be askin. That or else I get to pay the bill,” he challenged. You didn’t know if it was the pride you held or from the extra glass of wine you swigged down, but you took his hand and let him lead you to the dancefloor. 

The music buzzed through your ears as you held tighter to his hand. You had fought bad guys, you had been in blazing shootouts, you’ve seen life be taken away right in front of your eyes. But dancing seemed to be the hardest challenge to muster up courage to master. Danny gave your hand a reassuring squeeze as he took you both to the middle of the dancefloor. 

He took the hand he was holding and extended your arm with his, while his other arm went around your waist, bringing you almost dangerously close. You could smell the alcohol on his breath and his cologne drained through your nose. 

“Danny, what if we get caught? Everyone can see us,” you whispered. Many eyes were peering at you two, some just being distracted by the new movement you both caused and others eyeing the rat as if they recognized him. Fear started to snake itself around your body, almost trapping you once again in that constant fear of being discovered. 

But, the love of your life gently tapped his nose against yours as he shushed you so quietly that you could barely hear it. His calming scent and even breaths washed over you and you felt yourself relax. No one has ever made you feel like this, no past lover, no family or friend, Danny wasn’t just a breath of fresh air to you, he was a whole new world to you. 

“Hey, just let me show you off for just a few minutes, just this once, doll. Then we can go back to being Romeo and Juilet, I promise,” he purred and you silently nodded as he swept you off your feet. It almost seemed that the musicians took notice in the new lovebirds and the music picked up to match the tense and eager atmosphere, even the yokais around you took hints and their own moves started to change. 

Both of your dance moves were slow at first, the rat yokai letting you get used to him taking the lead, with his quick feet and swirls and twirls, you were a little shocked at how well he was. He held onto you though, taking in your cautious swings and how your eyes were on your feet instead of up. Danny knew he was selfish for asking this out of you, he knew that you didn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of him. But the way you looked on the dancefloor was almost bewitching. Your tux/dress flew silently around you, the tone of your (FC) shined against the spotlight that twirled overhead, and your eyes almost seemed to glow in the scarlet and golden room, outshining and blinding anyone else around him.

He knew then he was deeply and terribly in love with you.

“My eyes are up here, toots.”

“So is that sarcastic mouth of yours.”

“You really do crack me up, dollface.”

He then let go of your waist and swept you away from him, the only thing connecting you two was the interlocking of your hands. Starlight seemed to bounce off you because he quickly brought you back to him, a little noise escaping your mouth as it felt as if you were dancing on air for how light he made you feel. He was behind you now, his mouth dangerous close to where your neck connected with your shoulder. His breath created goosebumps across your body as a feather kiss was placed against an old love mark he had given you days ago. Your heart seemed to go crazy within your ribcage as he twisted you around, your chests once again flushed against each other’s. Danny took several steps to your side and you quickly joined him, the wine and your wit gradually giving you confidence and soon you both were laughing, as if there was no one else in the restaurant, in the city, in the world. 

He took notice in your new found bravely and he swiped his arm under your rump and lifted you up, his smile growing wider as a flood of giggles escaped your mouth as you looked down at him. 

“Hey look! I’m finally taller than you!”

“Aye, don’t get used to it!”

He brought you back down and in one swope he dipped you, his strong hands holding you firmly as your back bent against him. It almost felt like a dream, a wondrous and unbelievable dream that you thought if you made one wrong move, you would fall out of bed and this would no longer be real. But the way he effortlessly pulled you back up and looked into your eyes with a lopsided grin, you knew that this wasn’t just a dream, it was a dream come true. 

The song smoothly started to transition over to a much more tamed and kinder music that had everyone’s swaying hips go slower and closer. You were still giggling as Danny brought you against him and suddenly it was very cozy between you two. 

You let the melody consume you as Danny lightly drifted you throughout the dancefloor, his face ever so slowly getting closer to yours. His hands were roaming your back as he brought you ever so closer to him to the point you both were barely missing each other’s toes. Suddenly it seemed like you both were spinning around each other until his lips barely slipped over yours. 

“Look who’s become a jive dancer,” he said silently against your lips and a little groan escaped your lips at just hearing him talk to you like that, every word he ever whispered to you in private with no wondering eyes would burn you to your core. 

“I had a good teacher,” you joked back as your hands wrapped around his neck, your nails every so slightly digging into his fur. You felt him lose his breath against your face and his own fingers dug into your lower back and suddenly it felt as if you both weren’t close enough. You both were never close enough. 

“Have I mentioned how ravishing you look tonight?” He asked as he leisurely twirled you and brought you back to him. 

“Maybe. But it's nice to hear it from such a dreamboat like you,” you said against his lips and he dipped you once again, but you barely made it pass his shoulder as he pushed his mouth against yours. A whirlwind of emotions surfaced throughout your body as your hand came up and caressed his face, your stomach dropping to the floor and your heart traveling up your throat. 

He separated himself from you for just a second to bring you back up on your feet before attacking your lips again, one of his hands on the nap of your neck to tilt your head more up. 

You were aware of the suspicious and judging eyes that fell upon you both, but for the first time, you didn’t care. He made you worry less, he gave you such an intoxication that not a single bottle of alcohol could ever get you as drunk as he did. The aftertaste of wine drifted onto your lips and you moaned into his mouth, grinning evilly as he shifted in his spot. His tail soon curled around your waist so that his other hand could go to the side of your face. 

He detached himself from you for just a second to say, “ Ya better pay that bill before the only thing yer wearing is that smile.”

The world seemed to freeze before you as your hands slipped off of him and walked him over back to the table, the bill trembling in your hands as you paid for it, all while feeling Danny’s hand place itself lower than your back. You can feel sweat slowly start to build over your body as he opened the door for you and followed you out the door. 

And before you knew it, you were back at your place, and once Danny closed the door behind you, he pounced, as if he wasn’t the rat, but the cat. His hands traveled over your outfit as if it burned his hands and couldn’t keep them in one spot and his kisses were slow and teasing, causing you to squirm under his touch. You couldn’t breath, you couldn’t hear anything, all you felt was the buzzing against your fingertips as they dug into his chest, your hands had already done the work to undo his tie and his undershirt. 

The door met your back and Danny was panting against your lips, his mind had gone completely blank except for you, he only thought about you and this moment, how it might be days until he saw you again. The thought of not seeing you stabbed him in the gut, and he’s known that feeling before, and it’s not a good feeling. He missed hearing your laughter, he desired to see your glistening eyes look at him, he wanted to be with you. It drove him nuts, no, it drove him insane at the thought of it. That once he woke up from your bed, he would have to sneak out early so that no one would see him leave your home and would have to race back to his apartment instead of laying with you and getting to wake up with you in the morning. He’s never been here when you woke up, he’s never been able to see your eyes flutter open and for the first thing for you to see in the morning was him, he’s never been able to see the morning light shine against your features as if the sun was trying to capture your face. He’s never been able to share the first cup of coffee with you, to see his pjs shirt draped over you like a blanket as you watch the morning go by, as he would watch you with loving eyes. And that’s what drove him to kiss you harder, that’s what pushed him to pull your head back and for him to replace your old love marks with new ones, it’s what forced him to savor every second of this, to cherish what you give him tonight, he would cherish every damn second you gave to him in secret. 

#rottmnt #tmnt #rottmnt dastardly danny #rottmnt dastardly danny x reader #rottmnt mud dogs #rottmnt mud dogs x reader #Spotify

[dimensionwriter]

Mechanical Heart

Chapter 6

M! Andriod x F! reader

Warning: Low Self Esteem reader

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Previous Chapters

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5

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Walking out of the bakery, two donuts and a cup of coffee swung in your hand. Maybe you looked a little stereotypical with being a cop and having some donuts in your hand. But it wasn’t your fault that the owners of the bakery used to work in your department, so they give a free donut to police officers. Free food is free food, so you don’t care.

You reached out your pinkie finger and hooked it under the handle of the door. It slide open barely and you had to shimmy your way into the car. You put the coffee in the cup holder and put the bag of food on the arm rest.

“Sorry for the hold up, Jakoby was there and started asking about the station. He was curious how working with androids are,” you explained sliding on your seat belt. You may have gushed a little bit about how awesome they were. I mean, Axel may be a little bit weird, but he’s the perfect partner. Sometimes you wonder if he thinks the same of you.

“We are 25 minutes late to our patrol. Never before have I been late before and it’s discouraging to know that you still aren’t punctual even on Day 2.” You blinked at the screen as you reread it. Danny talked to the entire department before conjoining and told everyone that you should be at the top of you game. Androids expect perfection, so you should give them nothing less than that. But here you are showing them every imperfection there is to a human.

You have been late to work. You weren’t professional with your superiors and argued with their orders. You got too emotional over a case. You even went behind Axel back too instead of talking to him about your questions. No wonder he seems upset with you. You really are a failure.

You barely remember doing the morning patrol. Your breakfast stayed untouched throughout the drive. The music was off and you barely processed the stuff coming through the radio. Luckily nothing happen, so you didn’t have to worry.

You glanced at the clock to see it was near noon and that lunch was about to start. You pulled into the station and just planned to skip lunch. Reaching for the handle, you prepared yourself to bolt out of the stuffy car. However, a loud whirring noise startled you out of your daze.

You looked to the passenger seat to see Axel’s face turned towards the window, but his left hand was rapidly opening and closing around nothing. You tried to look at in the reflection of the window to see his face and all you saw was numbers flying around.

You open your mouth to ask him if he was okay, but his head spun around 180 degrees, scaring the crap out of you again. Words instantly started flooding his face.

“You haven’t spoken in 4 hours, 38 minutes, and 15 seconds. Not even any non words communication passed your vocal box, which is concerning me.” You shrunk down in your seat and turned your head towards the steering wheel. Here you go again being so emotional.

“I’m sorry, Axel. I will fix myself so that I’m better.” Guess that wasn’t the answer Axel wanted to hear, because a high pitched screech came from him. You jumped again, but didn’t look at him.

Matte fingers pressed into you cheeks softly as he turned your face towards his screen. “That is not what I am saying,” he typed with a grey to red gradient on his words. He shook his screens before the red edge disappeared. “I am trying to ask if you are okay. And if you are not...well I want to help with fixing it.”

“I-I...I’m okay. Look at me wasting your lunch break. Sorry about that. Now if you will excuse me.” You wrapped your hands around his and pushed it off your face. Grabbing the handle, you were quick to jump out of the car and run to the building.

“Can you explain to me why you are hiding underneath my desk?” Screw typed tilting their screen towards you. You pulled yourself more into a ball and scooted farther under the desk.

“I don’t want Axel to find me, so I know this will be the last place he will look,” you grumbled out embarrassed. After calming yourself down for 20 minutes, you replayed the scene in the car again. Axel was trying to comfort you and you pushed him away because you were being too dang emotional again. It’s embarrassing how flawed you must look in his eyes.

“Should have expected that. I ran into him on my way here and he asked me if I have seen you. Before I could get the word no out, he had turned and walked away to ask another person.” You put your hand over your face as you kicked your feet. He really is searching for you. What if he is trying to see if you can stop being his partner?

“Hey,” they poked you with their surprisingly clean shoe,” you really should just talk to Axel. I know us androids are big and scary and supposedly all knowing, but we can’t understand something if you don’t give us the information. I mean, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you talking to you considering the information I found out looking at his coding.”

You perked up at the information and went to ask them, but they bent over and slapped a hand over your mouth. “Axel, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you again?”

Your eyes widen at the words typed. They weren't pranking you, were they? No, Screw doesn’t seem like the type to. So Axel really came here.

“Oh, why am I bent over? I wanted to try out the human thing called yoga. Apparently it helps with relaxation and stress,” they typed with a smiley face at the end. You gripped their hand and slowly moved it off your face. Their screen tilted down at you before going back up. “I know I can’t feel stress or relaxation, but I can get overheat if I overwork myself. So maybe yoga can help with that.”

You know you weren’t supposed to move because Axel would definitely sense something like movement, but now that you are telling yourself not to move, you feel like you need to.

“Oh, you have a question for me. Fire,” they wrote in a larger font. They leaned back and tilted their screen down a little, so you could still read it. “A… human manual. I don’t think humans have a manual.”

Why was Axel asking for a manual over humans?

“Oh, you’re trying to understand your partner, but is struggling. Well, maybe if you talk to her and she talks to you than either of you won’t be having this problem.” Their foot poked at your ribs again indicating that they was talking to you.

“Oh, what did I mean by ‘neither of you having this problem’? Nothing, just an old android rambling, ignore it. Anyway, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing that I could do that would solve that problem. But I will recommend just talking with each other. In the past, humans have stated that communication is important.”

Another jab in your ribs.

“What?” they wrote jumping up a bit. They leaned forward a bit making it hard to read their words. “I’m not repeating your question. You are acting odd.”

They sat up straighter and tried to scoot forward in the chair, but something stopped them. A black matte hand gripped the top of the desk and another held the back of their chair. You wouldn't say that Screw’s screen showed panic, but with the way they were insanely gripping their chair, you could sense it.

One moment, you was hidden under a desk and the next, nothing was around you. You looked up to see Axel holding the desk above his head as his screen stared down at you. A flash of pink filter over his screen before disappearing.

“We need to talk,” he wrote with a small sharp edge to the words.

Part 7

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I promise I didn't forget about this series. I just wanted to slow down uploading series, but I am back. I miss my little Axel. Anyway, like always, I would love if you guys leave a Comment because it helps me know what you guys like. Thank you so much for reading and have a Happy Holidays.

#exophilia #reader x android #android x reader #android x human #andriod #robot x reader #x reader #oc x reader #monster x you #monster x reader #monster x human #monster x girl #police au #tetro #monsta x #exo #monster boy #monster boyfriend #monster boi #monster boy oc #monster romance #robot romance #crush x reader

[suicidalcatz]

DOG DAYS ARE OVER : CHAP 16

Pairing : Jake Kiszka x reader

Genre : College AU

Previous parts : Prologue ; chap 1 ; chap 2 ; chap 3 ; chap 4 ; chap 5 ; chap 6 ; chap 7 ; chap 8 ; chap 9 ; chap 10 ; chap 11 ; chap 12 ; chap 13 ; chap 14 ; chap 15

Masterlist : here

AN : Hi! Sorry I’m a bit late! Is this... the last chapter ? Oh my God. There will be an epilogue, too ! So in this chapter, there’s a misunderstanding and- I can’t tell eheh. Please feel free to tell me what you think about it because I sure had trouble writing this one. Thank you all for the love and support !

Chapter 16 : I do

Sooner than we thought, a consequent amount of work fell on all of us, preventing us from seeing each other. And like that, days went by... and then weeks. January had been a harsh month for everybody. A few teachers were late on their program so we had to learn more, write faster. Meanwhile others just enjoyed watching us suffer and kept giving more homework, letting us witness with horror how it piled up in a corner of our room like an insatiable monster that kept growing and growing. Those were the dark times. It became impossible for us to even have lunch together. Tensions began to rise. Josh was irritable because his singing teacher was a jerk to him. Mandy kept skipping more and more classes, running everywhere in town to find clothes. Jake, completely depressed, looked like a character from Corpse Bride, and not a pretty one. As for me, I was a mix of all of them. Living with Mandy has for the first time proven to have its downsides, as her stress was rubbing off on me, while my annoyance to some of my failed assignments got to her nerves too. The boys were no exception, and we had a perfect example of it during a lecture, when Josh snapped at the teacher after she made a snark comment about his last grade. All heads turned to him, even ours, and with a mix of shame and anger, he took his bag and slammed the door behind himself without a word. In retrospect, it had been so fucking cool, although a bit rude considering he didn't have to talk to her like that even with her sly remark... But the way he just told her off, took his belongings and proudly yet bitterly exited the amphitheater was one of the highlights of this year, goddamn the boy had balls.

One of the things that really helped me get through this horrible period was Greta Van Fleet's album on shuffle on my earphones accompanying me during my days in the workshop. And then one day around 2pm we all received a text from Josh.

« If we don't go drinking tonight I swear I will explode, I'm already having nervous breakdowns every week, I need to get out of this school, let's meet at 8 »

Well, the message couldn't be clearer than that, could it ? And my phone vibrated multiple times when the others replied, showing some « Thank God » and « Please let's » on the screen before I discreetly put it back inside my pocket. It had been the first time we went to the bar as a group, with Sam and Danny. And somehow, because we spent a pleasant night together without coming home too late or too drunk, we simultaneously thought it'd be a good idea to reiterate the experience. At least once a week, sometimes every day, we met at the café, occasionally bringing work with us and helping each other. It was close to our school thus convenient, but still far enough to allow us to take a breath of fresh air and think of something else for a while. Most of the time, it was deserted, the only few patrons that came to drink their coffee being regulars, and we enjoyed the calm, even if we were noisy ourselves. Sometimes, Mandy was too busy to come, sometimes it was Sam, so it happened that Danny and I were the only ones being here, or just the twins, but it didn't really matter, there was always one of us here and the others could always come to meet. Josh's idea had help us clear our minds and we were all thankful for that. What I wasn't thankful for, on the other hand, was the way his loud mouth spoke freely about things that didn't concern him at all, least of all Sam and Danny. Of course, he talked about the Jake situation. At first I was outraged and even slapped him on the arm, to which he just shrugged, explaining his brother was always late anyway, so we could talk about it. As if that was the issue here ! But as time went by, I calmed down. Sam and Danny already knew, having noticed but not wanting to adress the elephant in the room. Now that the subject had been thrown on the table though, it was different, and if at first Sam's awful comments about how we were both taking our sweet time pissed me off, now we discussed it quietly, confessing my thoughts and feelings in exchange for some advices.

Today was one of those days. The gang was reunited, sitting across a small round table after a tiring day, clinking glasses and chatting loudly, everybody cutting each other off during spicy topics that constantly created heated arguments. Mandy and Sam's bickering never failed to amuse us, with me falling back againt the couch laughing, Josh having climbed on a chair to yell over them in a dramatic manner, and Danny commenting their arguments with a sportscaster voice while they just pointed angrily at each other. It happened once or twice (make it thrice or fourth) now that the bartender had to come to our table to make us cool down, threatening to kick us out if we didn't, because he couldn't even hear the damn radio. Today, like any other day, the only one missing was Jake, fashionably late as always.

- You guys never agree on anything, that's frankly amazing, I said while wipping a tear from the corner of my eye.

Two murderous glare were instantly directed at me, dead serious, like their constant quarelling wasn't something you could take lightly. Of course, they never was any sort of resentment between them, it was more like a game that was entirely theirs. Mandy knew Sam liked to tease her to no end, and the boy never took the words she threw his way to heart. They were never hurtful anyway, they would always make sure of that.

- You know what they say..., announced Josh while taking a sip of his beer, love always starts with hatred.

- Nobody says that..., muttered a perplexed Danny.

However his confusion got rapidly interupted by Sam and Mandy's shouting, barking at Josh telling him how wrong he was about them while the curly boy smiled through his glass.

- I'd rather die, said my roommie.

- That should be my line, replied Sam.

Josh and I exchanged a mischevious and knowing glance that unfortunately didn't go unnoticed by his little brother. The long haired boy made a show of putting both elbows on the table before a devilish smile spread on his lips. Uh-oh.

- Speaking of which, how's Jakey ?

Admiring the way my cheeks grew red at the mention of the object of my affection, he patiently waited for my stuttering to stop while Mandy took side with him, adopting the same posture. Sitting between them, Danny comically raised his eyebrows, knowing damn well they'll torture me to no end, like they took the habit to do when Jake wasn't around. Of course Josh ignored my pleading eyes, enjoying where the conversation was going.

- You should know, you're his brother.

My reply was weak and didn't hide how bashful the subject made me, more reasons for him to pursue it.

- Come on, Mandy told me about the kiss of the century, there's no way nothing happened after that !

- For someone who claims Sam's a pain in the ass you guys are awfully close !, I exclaimed while watching her with an expression of fake betrayal.

- Hey, don't try to change the topic.

A long and loud sigh made its way out of my throat and my eyes were suddenly too absorbed by the bubbles of my soda spiralling to the surface to meet their expectant gazes. God why was it such a big thing to them ? Their fascination for my love life was starting to upset me, especially since it was a lost cause. There was really no reason to dwell upon it. Would they ever drop it ?

- Nothing happened between Jake and I. What do you want me to tell you ? It was just a kiss between friends, it doesn't mean anything.

At that, I felt my chest constrict. It didn't mean anything... for Jake, that is. For me, however... All of them suddenly went awfully quiet, in a very uncharacteristic manner. My head raised in surprise at their abrupt silence, only to be greeted by Jake's gaze on me, standing in front of our table. He must've been waiting for his chance to say hello all the while stepping on a conversation he wasn't meant to hear. My face must've lost all of its colors, and a glance around me confirmed what I feared ; judging by their awkward behaviours, Jake had heard. The boy cleared his throat, showing a toothy smile to the lot of us.

- Hi guys, whatcha talking about ?

During the few seconds he stayed with his back facing us to get a chair, we were all exchanging shocked and confused glances, mouthing hurried words to each other. Was he pretending he didn't  hear anything I said ? Did he genuinely not hear our conversation ? However much I pondered about it, and tried relentlessly to think of all the possibilities that could've happened just now, I was at a loss, it was no use. The only thing to do was to go along and play his game, pretending he hadn't just walked on us gossiping about him. It was so awkward. Danny and Josh were the first to bring a new and funny topic, throwing jokes his way, studying his reaction. They immediately put him at ease, inviting Sam and Mandy to the masquerade, effectively hiding their uneasiness for his and my sake. It wasn't working on me, though. I sank into the couch, feeling incredibly shameful. And the few times I tried to react to the conversation at hands, I saw Jake avoid my eyes. Fuck.

I would lie if I said what happened at the bar wasn't playing on loop on my mind. It had been impossible for me to read Jake's brown eyes when he interrupted us, but there was absolutely no doubt that the boy heard us. Maybe it was for the best. I was the one pretending we were just friends anyway, so it wouldn't change anything... except now that he was single a part of me couldn't help but hope I had a chance with him... until now. Because if I was sure of one thing at the moment, it's that Jake was certain I only saw him as a friend. Why was I so unlucky anyway ? Did I offend God in a previous life ?! Man, it was harsh... Just when I had a feeling things could evolve between us, everything got in the way. Work, misunderstandings, my stupidity... On the bright side, I was so thankful I didn't say anything shameful. Because I could've told an awful lot of those. And for nothing in the world I wanted him to walk in when I was making a speech about the soft gleaming of his scar under the sun, or the roundness of his ass. I would forever thank my ability to always find a way to relativise, even during a crisis like this one.

Another person with the same quality was Josh, on top of being a really observant boy, and a good friend. So it was no surprise to me when he nudged my arm during a lecture and leaned into my ear to ask if he could come over after school.

- You know you're always welcome, I whispered back.

Josh smiled a me, and the exchange between us should've ended right here, but I saw his eyes gaze at something behind me, his smile changing into a smirk. He must've caught me notice it because he turned to his notebook again, playing innocent. My head jerked into Jake's direction, studying his stiff figure and furrowed brows. What the hell were they playing at ?

During the few days that followed that incident at the bar, I didn't get any answers to that question. The twins kept exchanging glances whenever I was near one or the other, and the more days passed the more moody Jake looked. I had tried to text him several times during the week, making small talk, asking what he was up to, and sharing silly anecdotes, only to be faced with cold answers. It was like talking to a wall. Something was upsetting him, but I had no way to know if it was school related, because of Josh's behaviour, or if I was the cause of it.

It was friday night when Danny slammed open the café door, causing the bartender to scowl, before completely ignoring him to look for us through the small crowd, hurriedly coming to our table. The drummer threw himself on the couch next to Mandy, looking out of breath but over-excited. And while his happy yet sweaty face made me question him, it only took a simple look for his bandmates to know what was going on. Sam was the first to exclaim and jump on his feet, almost toppling the table with his thighs, making the glasses clink dangerously.

- Are you serious?!

Still out of breath, Danny nodded, interrupting his heavy panting to gulp down the beer Jake was offering him. Josh and him were the next to understand.

- Really ?!

- Okay what is going on, should we be excited to ?, asked Mandy who was sheltering her drink in case anyone else wanted to try and knock over their table.

The drummer raised a finger our direction, indicating he needed some more time to recover from his sprint, removing his scarf in the process. His face was beet red, and although he looked like he was the most athletic of the group, I got slightly concerned he was about to die. He must've ran a long distance real fast, and judging by our friends' hysteria and high-fives, the news were good.

- Greta Van Fleet is playing tomorrow night at O'Malley's.

He let it all out in one go but the words were cristal clear, and now it was Mandy and I's turn to cheer and applaud loudly, congratulating the boys and clinking our glasses together, already chatting about the event before a threatening « Shut up ! » came from another table.

- It's so great you guys ! But are you ready ? Tomorrow night is a bit...

Josh shrugged away my concerns, placing an arm around my shoulder, speaking with his hands.

- Not at all, doll, we're more than ready. In fact we wanted to play there for a while, but the place's always packed.

- Someone cancelled their show at the last minute, so Danny got to negociate, interrupted Jake to sum things up.

Despite the general enthusiasm around the table, I didn't miss the look Jake gave to Josh's hand resting on my shoulder. The boys all nodded, Sam ruffling Danny's hair while congratulating him for his hard work and perseverance. Everyone agreed to buy him drinks to thank him, ignoring his shy protests and rosy cheeks at all the praise. Without even being a member of their band, Mandy and I shared their excitement, already asking what the setlist would be and bargaining with Josh when he insisted that it was a secret. The O'Malley was an Irish pub, like you could guess by their name, located by the docks. Which only meant one thing : it was crazy popular among students. Not only from our campus, but another art school rivaling ours. To be honest the teachers were the ones competing, as us students from both universities often met and hung out together. A lot of them came to our festivals and events, thus becoming friends with us. We let them come to our parties, and they never forgot to invite us over for theirs. Greta Van Fleet playing at the O'Malley on a Saturday night would no doubt be a huge step forward for the boys' band. I could sense the doors of success were already waiting for them to push them open.

The boys rehearsed all day long Saturday, waking up before dawn and arriving early to set everything up and properly meet the owner of the bar. Pictures were sent to our groupchat, Sam explaining that the staff had thanked them for their availability, relieved that they quickly found another band to replace the one who couldn't attend. Mandy and I chose to come early too, arriving one hour before the show and already having trouble finding a seat through the sea of students occupying every inch of space available. Whereas it was because they were taking shelter from the cold, or because their feet ached from standing in the cold didn't matter to the boys, who were delighted to welcome with open arms the newcomers and introduce them to their music. It helped that the word had spread super fast on campus too, with Jake's post on the school's Facebook page. Nursing my beer next to Mandy at the far end of the bar, I recognized the girls from the other time, the night we had our Christmas party, chatting to their girl friends, standing in front of the stage. When the boys got in to set up their instruments, I saw them salute the band, shaking hands and exchanging friendly words with Josh while Jake didn't bother giving them more than a glance and a nod before turning back to his guitar, causing me to snort behind my glass. Mandy was quick to notice that.

- Well aren't you a sneaky little one.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

Paying for her cocktail and putting her change back in her purse, she adopted my posture, back resting against the bar, drink in hand, eyes to the stage. Wearing a black and gold fringe jacket, Jake was focusing on his guitar, tuning it with great care, pick stuck between his lips, the ring I offered him gleaming under the spotlights. Onstage, he looked out of this world, unattainable.

- You know they stand no chance, said Mandy.

It caught me off-guard. But did they ? I looked their way, observing their pretty faces, skin glowing with light makeup, batting their eyelashes, bracelets clinking against one another, long fingers playing with silk strands of hair. A part of me knew Mandy was right and that they couldn't replace me. But then again, incertitude argued that it was my ego talking, and that my confidence was misplaced. With Jake giving me the cold shoulder, I wasn't able to look at the situation with a fair point of view, and Mandy's opinion was made unrelevant by the simple fact that she was my friend. And one thing I knew for sure was that friends were biased, because they loved you. I chose to change the topic.

- What about you and Sam ?

- I don't know what you're talking about, she mimicked.

To make sure my stern look was effective, I turned to her completely, resting an elbow on the bar, while she comically took a long sip of her cocktail, avoiding my eyes, making me smile before I turned to face the stage once more. All barstools and chairs were taken, much to our inconvenience, and shifting from one foot to the other was the only thing I found to release some of the soreness.

- I saw you holding hands under the table.

She gasped audibly before giving me a death stare that just fueled my laughter. There was no way I didn't notice their act, and I was quite certain the others did too, but chose to ignore it. Which by the way was unfair since the lot of them commented my love life like it was a soap opera. However Mandy didn't have the time to give me a proper answer, cut off by Josh's words into the mic, greeting the crowd and announcing the show was about to start.

If anything, their second time playing was even better than the first one. The boys were on fire. Each member had their time to shine in the form of a solo, Josh being his charming self in the meantime, playing with the crowd and blowing kisses our way. They played some covers, encouraging everybody to sing along, but also songs we never heard before, that weren't on the album. One of them in particular allowing Jake to show off the extent of his guitar skills. He blew me away. Expression serious, toned skin glistening with sweat under the blue lights, while Josh's tambourine and melancholic cries accompanied the torturous sounds of his guitar. There was something special about this one, that made my chest constrict due to several emotions contradicting themselves at the same time, causing a turmoil within me. Intrigued by their music or just in need of a drink, several people came into the bar that night, packing the place with new faces, all of them staying for the amazing show the boys were providing for us. By the time they finished, I had long forgotten about my aching feet, instead welcoming the boys in a tight hug, complimenting and congratulating them. Mandy and I already had their beers ready, before anyone else could cut the ground from under our feet. Not that there was anything wrong with people buying them drinks, it was always a very nice thing to do, we just wanted to be the first ones to do it, at least for tonight. They were our friends, so it only seemed fair.

- Here.

Handing Jake his beer, I took a good look at his content face, smile plastered on his lips and moist strands of brown hair sticking to his forehead. He looked gorgeous, at peace and proud of himself and his band. Some people offered them drinks, like we thought they'd do, students came talking to them, to make small chat or to congratulate them. The boys took their time before packing up, talking and laughing with us, their enthusiasm contagious. When closing, the bartender even invited us all to stay inside and have a chat, drinks on the house. It felt incredibly nice to be able to stay here while everybody else had to leave, even the few girls still talking with Jake. Now I'm not gonna lie I might have directed a smile or two their way when the bartender closed the door behind them...

Going back to the dorms was... not an easy task to say the least. We had to call a cab, but as we couldn't all fit in it, we split teams, the most important thing being their music instruments. But even before that... Danny's drumkit was heavy as hell, the boys were tipsy enough to be clumsy and numerous times their instruments threatened to slip and drop on the hard conrete. And even if he was the only one who didn't need to carry anything at all, Josh was completely wasted, singing loud gibberish nonsense, waking up the dogs and barking back at them, removing his shoes and throwing them to trees... Man he was so out of control when drunk even the 5 of us couldn't properly babysit him. It made me realize it was the first time I was sober when he wasn't. And I didn't dare imagine how we must've wreaked havoc the night we brought back the couch to our dorm. Of all of us, Jake once more proved that he was the most serious and reasonable. It wasn't much of a surprise, actually. From what I knew, in situations that required seriousness, the brunette had always been this composed, level-headed boy. I loved that about him, his ability to remain remarkably quiet, then go crazy all of a sudden, before returning to his peaceful self. Josh's shoes in hand, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips when I saw Jake giving his brother a piggy back ride, moved by the fond scene in front of my eyes.

When the cab finally reached our school, Danny and Sam were waiting for us sitting on cases, explaining Josh had forgotten to hand them the key to their door. Since he was the one who didn't need to transport anything, it was only fair he at least took care of the keys in case they'd got lost in a guitar case or whatnot. I couldn't help but think we looked like a bunch of burglars, when everybody started muttering at the same time and hushing each other in the dark of the night. Mandy yawned, waiting to kiss them goodnight to go to sleep, and Jake sighed, defeated.

- Okay Josh, give me the keys.

Once again carrying his twin on his back, the long haired boy nudged his sleepy cheek with his shoulder to wake him up, not minding the drool on his jacket. Mandy couldn't contain a cute noise when Josh turned his head to get more comfortable in his brother's back, making Jake snort in the process.

- Just drop him, suggested Sam right before Danny elbowed him.

He really could've, to wake him up, but it seemed like Jake didn't have the heart to shake him out of his peaceful drowse. More abruptly, he shook his shoulder, causing Josh to whine.

- What, he groaned.

- We're in front of the dorms, give me the keys.

There was a silence during which Josh sighed, taking his time to process what his brother was asking, unfazed by Sam's complaints. The boy rubbed his eyes, sliding an arm in Jake's back to comfortably put his head against it. I could tell he was beginning to feel heavy, because Jake's hold on him slipped more and more frequently and he had to give him a small but strong push to get him back into place.

- What keys, he finally said.

Mandy and I exchanged a glance, one of those that said « Shit's about to go down », and Danny's face lit up with concern. You could see he already had the worst case scenario figured in his mind and was imagining them sleeping in the school's park.

- What do you mean you-

- Sam, Jake warned him. Josh, remember, we told you to take the keys to our rooms so we don't put them by mistake in one of the cases.

- No you didn't.

He was now perfectly awake, shaken by the confusing accusations, and got off of Jake's back, stumbling a bit, probably because his legs must felt numb after being carried around for a long period of time. Sam got up too, not amused by the situation. He was cold, he was tired, and he still had a lot of shit to lift on the stairs and if possible he wanted to be done with it before dawn.

- Yes we did !, the bassist said with his arms raised in the air.

- Yeah, we did, Danny assured him when Josh's gaze found his face for some sort of confirmation.

Silence again. Somehow, Mandy and I didn't dare to watch them. It remembered me of those situations when parents are having a fight and then turn to you... and start finding every excuse they can to yell at you even though you've done nothing. Well... Let's say we tried to summon our inner chameleons while they all started to get pissed at Josh. It was kind of awkward and we couldn't find a good time to leave. Besides, we couldn't let them sleep under the stars.

- Why don't you sleep at ours for tonight ? You'll return to the O'Malley tomorrow and ask them about the keys.

It was the most Mandy thing I ever said since we met the guys, but it was the only solution right now. It took us another hour to climb the stairs with all those heavy and big instruments cases, probably waking up half of the dorm in the process, but it felt so good to be home. The room was warm, and the bed was calling me. The first thing Josh did was to dive head first onto the couch without even taking the time to remove his coat, and fell asleep almost immediately, pulling the blanket on him (more like letting it fall on his body). Sitting around the kitchen table, we all had a hot cup of tea/coffee to warm us up and get some of the alcohol out of our system. Danny was the first one to word his concern about the bedding.

- It's really nice you girls allow us to sleep here for the night, he shyly said, but...

His big hands were entirely covering his mug, enjoying its warmth, thumb caressing the edge of it, thinking of a good way to phrase it. An embarrassed look was adorning his features, which I couldn't help but find endearing.

- There's no room for six... is it ?

- You're right, Jake said. Maybe I should stay awake ?

I didn't know if it was a rhetorical question or if he was being serious but there was no way anybody stayed awake while the others were asleep. First of all, it was creepy. But above all, it wasn't fair. Thinking hard, I let a hand run through my hair, ruffling the locks in its passage.

- Oh, Mandy I think there's an airmat under your bed ! There, two down, four more to go. Let's see...

- We just have to share beds, suddenly said Sam.

All heads turned to him, and the boy put his cup on the table, shrugging.

- What ? It's the easy solution. There are two big beds in the room, don't tell me nobody thought about it. What do you think, Jake ?

His cough was so loud he spilled his drink everywhere on his hands, color leaving then regaining his face alternaly. Standing up to lay his empty cup in the sink, Sam patted his back, wicked smile on his face.

- Then it's settled. Let's go, Mandy.

Oh you sneaky son of a...

I should've seen this coming. I should've known better. Of course Sam would do something like that, it was so him, I couldn't believe I let my guard down like that. And his little act with Mandy, pretending they didn't like each other and then snuggling in bed, ah, I hated my friends. The sadistic bastard even got Danny to play along in his three years plan to make my life miserable.

It was uncomfortably silent for a room filled with six young adults, our breathing being the only noise audible. With the halfway closed curtains, the dim light was dark enough for us to distinguish forms and silhouettes painted in different shades of blue and grey. Sometimes, the sound of a cover brushing against the mattress will get me out of my thoughts, other times it will be Josh's sleep talking or Danny's serene snoring. Sam had lied. The bed wasn't big at all. It was cramped, at best, and I couldn't calm down at all. Jake's warmth was suffocating, my thumping heart wouldn't slow down, and I was over conscious of every little thing he was doing. My throat instinctively tried to swallow the lump residing there when I felt the covers ruffling on my skin, Jake's hot breath now brushing my neck.

- Can't sleep ?

His husky voice whispering in my ear caused an uncontrollable shiver to run down my spine. Each of his breathes awoke goosebumps on my skin, covering their path like grass would grow after the rain. It always amazed me, the power he had over me, without even realizing it. Just two words murmured in the crook of my neck and my body was almost trembling already. As my voice was caught in my throat, my body reacted on its own and I shook my head slightly, enough for him to notice. Jake sighed. I could hear him rustling and moving behind me, careful not to touch me and not knowing what to do with his long arms.

- Did you mean it ?, he said after a while.

Furrowing my brows in confusion wasn't going to work, so I turned to face him, both lying on our side to look at each other in the dark. I could only see the shadows of his face, but by now my eyes were accustomed enough to distinguish his expressions more clearly. Jake swallowed hard, gaze focusing on anything but my eyes, looking... confused and rather saddened, discouraged.

- What you said at the bar.

At the bar... My brain had trouble seeing where he was going, but my body must've sensed it on instinct because my heart started pounding madly, as if wanting to warn me of what was coming. Suddenly brave enough to face me, Jake's eyes stared into mine, intense yet unsure.

- Do you only see me as a friend... ?

Unable to run away, I had to face him, and answer him. My voice was still caught in my throat, and my palms were getting sweaty. Jake was dead serious. So much that I thought for a second I was dreaming. His eyes weren't leaving mine, I had to answer. But what was the good thing to say ? What would I do if I told him the truth and he only saw me as a friend ? From my perspective he led me into thinking there might be more but... My feelings for him were blurring everything. And if I lied... and he wanted to be more than friends... Then I'd lose him.

- Jake...

- Because I really want to kiss you right now.

His hand hovered above my head, fingers carefully rustling my hair, pushing some strands behind my ear and brushing my cheek. His eyes, half-lidded and gaze burning, were following every inch his digits traced on my skin. Carefully, Jake's thumb came caressing my lower lip, slowly, painfully so, admiring how soft it felt against his finger, parting it slightly from its twin. A ragged breath escaped from them, and his eyes found mine again, dying to get permission. Shyly, my shaky hand gripped his shirt, pulling it close. It was the only thing he needed to lose all control, and he swiftly straddled my hips, framing my head with his arms, before ghosting his lips over mine. My mind was foggy, and my brain couldn't understand anything anymore, all I knew was that I had waited for this for so long, I didn't want to waste any more time now. Arms snaking around Jake's neck, I closed the distance separating us, the soft and awaited contact causing us to sigh in unison. It felt so good, both inside and out. His plump lips captured mine with a mixture of longing and hunger, while my heart was about to burst from happinness. With confidence, I embraced him more, pulling him closer to me, biting his lip and admiring the way it made him gasp, feeling his shaky fingers hesitating to touch me, like he was under some kind of delirium tremens and I was the fantasy haunting his nights. It only made me want him more. Never once did he try to touch me in a way that I wasn't ready for yet, keeping it chaste, and I'll forever be thankful for that. It seemed like we both had silently agreed to take our time, but I couldn't concentrate on that right now. Not when Jake's tongue was licking my lips, taking my lower one between his teeth to playfully chew on it, making me pant, fingers lost in his long brown hair. There was a sense of urgence to this kiss, of need even, like he had been waiting for it for so long he couldn't refrain himself anymore. The mere thought of it made me hot. Eventually, we cooled down, and Jake stayed on top of me, leaning on his arms, covering my face with soft kisses, the sound of them resonating in the room. We looked at each other for a while, and I couldn't stop a bubbly giggle, making him chuckle too.

- Fuck... I had thought about this moment for so long, his raspy voice murmured.

- Me too.

- I always thought you liked Josh better.

So that was what it was about, all those past days... Josh upsetting Jake on purpose because he was jealous. What a brat, I couldn’t believe them, so silly.

- Dummy. I think I like you.

My voice was almost inaudible, barely a whisper. It made me blush, but now it was out, and it felt so good to get rid of this weight. Jake nuzzled my neck, taking in my scent, tickling me.

- You think ?

I could tell he was as embarrassed as me, and probably not as confident as he looked, because his cheeks were burning hot, and he wouldn't face me. Against my chest, the accelerated beating of his heart was so loud it seemed like it was communicating with mine.

- No, I said. I'm sure.

Slouching against me in a relieved manner, the boy let out a sigh that burned my skin, before shifting to comfortably rest his chin on my chest, facing me with a smile on his face.

- Good. Because I do too.

Even in the dark, I could see the way his cheeks were a darker shade of gray than the rest of his features. Jake liked me. A huge wave of joy went through my body, overcoming me with both delight and relief. There was no words I could put on this sensation. Suddenly, it was like every other problem in the world had faded away, and I finally understood Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose. Being in his arms, lying against one another, skin against skin, everything finally made sense.

- Come here, I whispered.

We kissed again, playful and teasing, barely containing our excited giggles.

- Shut up !!

Sam's pillow came flying our way, quickly followed by Josh, Mandy, and Danny's.

- Fucking date already !

- So annoying, people are trying to sleep !

More cushions came crashing down on our bed, making us laugh for real this time, as Jake took them in his hands to fight back. Soon, shouting, laughter and feathers filled the room, as the sun was beginning to appear in the clear sky of February. And as we were all screaming and throwing pillows at each other, I couldn't help but smile, and exchange warm glances with Jake.

Yeah, with him by my side, everything's going to be just fine.

#gvf imagine #gvf fanfic #gvf fic #gvf x reader #jake kiszka x reader #jake kiszka #jake kiszka imagine #jake kiszka fic #Greta Van Fleet #greta van fleet imagine #greta van fleet fanfic #greta van fleet fic

[stripper-patrick]

Lust🎱 Harry Styles

Warnings: office smut, Harry styles being daddy dominant, jealousy (if you squint)

Relationship: Harry Styles x black plus sized reader

I wake up and lay in my bed contemplating on faking my death. I have work in about an hour and it’s not that I hate my job it’s just my boss makes me hate how sexy he is. I can’t focus around him which has been happening a lot. He’ll come around and talk to me while I’m working and I stutter like an idiot. If it’s not clear that I have a crush on him then he might be blind.

I get up and go into the bathroom with my phone in my hand. I tap it and hold it up to my face letting it unlock. I open the music app shuffling through my library until I land on one of my favorites Escape by Kehlani.

As the music plays I brush my teeth and swig some mouth wash. I turn on the shower and get in washing my body and shaving my legs and other areas.

Once finished I come out and dry myself off going into my bedroom where I grab a navy blue lace bra and some matching underwear. I matched so today’s gonna be a good day.

I start dancing to Beyoncé’s Baby Boy. A classic. I oil down my body and go to my closet for something to wear. Today’s casual Friday so I don’t have to dress up extra nice like the other days of the week that I’m working. I’m an office assistant which is pretty self explanatory. Basically I help Mr. Styles, my boss, around like scheduling his meetings and keeping everything organized. While thinking of an outfit I put my hair up into a big puff and do my edges real quick. I put in some earrings to give myself some extra flare.

Finally I choose an outfit and I grab my phone off the charger and turn off the music. I walk downstairs with my purse. I grab the keys off the counter and get it I my car driving off to work.

...

I walk through the large double doors and go straight to my desk. I set my stuff down but I don’t see Harry. Usually he’s walking around with a cup of coffee or tea. Danny comes over to me. He’s like my best friend.

“Hey you look gorgeous” he smiles

“Thanks so what’s the tea on junglejim4322” I ask. That’s his code name for Alex, a boy he likes.

“Me and him touched hands next well be touching tongues and later.. each other”

“You know I would’ve never thought you were gay by just looking at you”

“And I would’ve never thought you were a freak- oh wait yes I did” I laugh and sign into my computer.

“Where’s boss?”

“Hopefully between your legs” he whispers in my ear. Danny stands up and nods across me. I look over and see Harry staring directly at me. He’s dressed in a black and white striped button down that’s open more than usual, some black jeans and his usual boots. He’s so fine. Especially with his long hair in a beautiful bun.

A/N: I’m still not over long haired man bun Harry

He curls his fingers loosely wanting me to come over.

I look back at Danny and he shrugs. I stand up and walk over to Harry. He smiles looking at me up and down. I feel my heart sink to my stomach and I lick my lips.

“You look amazing today now I had some papers and I need you to put them on file for me”

“Ok oh and Mr. Styles-“

“Harry love”

“Harry um I’ll be staying after work and skipping my lunch to work on the other files I didn’t finish”

He looks puzzled “ darling you don’t have to”

“Nah I need to I’m a little behind from when I was sick but I just wanted to let you know”

“Ok” he nods. Harry turns on his heel and I go back to my desk.

“What was that about?” Danny asks

“He just needs me-“

“Y/N please go sit on his face he’s staring you down like he’s hungry” my mouth drops and I quickly glance over to Harry and sure enough he’s staring.

“Jesus Danny” I shake my head “go do your work”

“Go ride his face” he winks. Danny stands up and walks away and I get to work.

....

It’s the end of lunch right now and I’m still working on the papers I have to file. I take a sip of my water and I see Harry come back with a bag. I don’t think anything if it until he sits on my desk.

“Hey” he sets a bag in front of me and I look to him.

“Oh and here it’s your favorite” he sets down a Starbucks cup in front of me.

“Harry you didn’t have to”

“I know love but you work too hard” he leans down to my ear “maybe it’s time for you to relax and play a bit” he winks before getting up and going to his office.

...

It’s about 4 and I would’ve clocked out about an hour ago but like I said I had to stay and finish. I wasn’t the only one who stayed late.

I’m finishing up my last paper and I save it to the file before exiting out if everything. I take a deep breath and stretch my neck before grabbing my bag and knocking on Harry’s door.

“Hey” he smiles “can you come in”

I nod and shut the door. “Is everything ok?”

“Yea I just noticed how hard you’ve been working for me and I wanna thank you personally”

“No worries and thank you for the food you really didn’t have to”

“Anytime” he looks like he wants to say more. “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Of course anything”

“Anything?” I nod. Me and Harry have a good relationship business wise and I don’t even really see him as a boss until he gets mad.

“Why do you always looks so good”

I blush “what do you mean?”

“I see you around here wearing those sexy tight clothes for me”

“They’re not for you” I lie

“Then who are they for?” He asks coming closer to me

“Danny in accounting. He says he likes the way my ass bounces in these jeans”

I knew that’d set him off. He’d been watching me and Danny get confetable around each other for the last couple weeks and I just knew he felt some type of way about it. Like I said just off of first glance you wouldn’t be able to tell he’s gay.

“Oh really” I nod pulling on his belt.

“Yea What are you gonna do about it?” I’ve heard about his little secret rendezvous around the office and I know he likes a challenge.

His once light green eyes go dark and he stands up striding towards me. I stand up out of anxiety. It’s not the fear part of anxiety... I don’t know what it is maybe anticipation. I want him.. bad.

Harry doesn’t say anything. In this instance silence wasn’t inevitable but he made it to be.

He picks me up by my thighs and I cling onto his waist like a child to a mother. He finally breaks the silence. “do you know what I’ve been waiting to do to you?” He sets me on top of him on his lap.

“Are you ok with this?”

“I want you” his plump lips fall to mine and I can’t help but immediately want him naked. I’ve been waiting for this since I first seen him and now that it’s actually happening I’m nervous.

“Condoms?” I ask

“Top drawer” I stop kissing him and I feel his fingers slide across my clothed clit.

I fumble around and grab one. I stand up and roll it on him tugging him around a few times before taking off my jeans.

“Ride me darling” he couldn’t have told me twice. Maybe he could in that deep sexy voice. I take off my underwear and swing my legs around his waist carefully sinking on his dick. Fuck he’s long. One I’m fully down and saddled up Harry takes hold of my hips and rocks me onto him.

“You know” I throw my head back while my hands lay on his chest. “I’ve been waiting to do this with you since we met”

“Really” he grunts “you know what I’ve been waiting for?”

“What” I look at him

“For you to ride my face like Danny says. If he even touches you. I” thrust “will” thrust “end him”

“Ugh” I moan “he’s touched me before”

This made Harry madder. Both of his hands grab my ass and spread my cheeks as he takes completely control over me.

“Fuck it up Daddy” he smirks

“Who’s pussy is this?”

I can only moan in response. He railing directly on my g-spot hauling my orgasm like a high speed train.

“Fucking answer me Y/N” he slaps my butt and I moan out.

“It’s yours fuck I’m coming” my body rocks against him and once my pleasure is over it’s time for his. I reach behind me and squeeze his balls slightly making him come in just a quick stroke.

“That’s it give it to me daddy”

“Fuck love” he holds my back steadying myself on him.

We come to a complete halt and look at each other realizing what we just did.

“Oh shit shit shit shit shit” I stand up freaking out. I’m trying to walk straight but that’s not working. I grab my underwear putting it on and next Are my jeans.

“What is it?”

“We just had sex Harry I’m gonna be labeled as the biggest slut here and not to mention your little escapades don’t go unnoticed around the office” I fumble trying to grab my shoes “son of a bitch”

“Y/N love calm down”

“Maybe this was a mistake Harry do you realize if word gets out we’re both screwed”

“We could screw again right here”

“Harry” I whine

“Ok I’m sorry look your gonna be ok no ones even here” just then we hear the main door shut and I see brown hair glide in the wind.

“Someone was here” I scream “that’s it everyone’s gonna think I fucked to get to the top”

“And if they do I’ll drag their ass through the mud until they get the point Y/N please don’t stress if I hear anyone talking about us they’ll be unemployed and you know how I am about keeping my word”

I slide on my shoes and nod grabbing my purse “I gotta go oh and by the way Danny’s gay” I leave him there to be puzzled at his unnecessary jealousy.

A/N:: Part 2???

#smut #harry styles #harry styles x reader #harry styles dirty imagine #harry styles imagine #harry styles smut

[thelastspeecher]

Parental Flute - “Children”

The final part in this long de-aging scenario I’ve been slowly posting here and here.  Why is the word children in quotation marks?  Because finally, the children have realized that wait, they aren’t actually children.  Also, this has adorable smol Fidds in it so you know it’s a winner.

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              Ford, Fiddleford, and Lute stood by the edge of the fountain, watching the sparkling water bubble cheerfully.

              “So this is the Fountain of Youth,” Fiddleford said slowly.  His wrinkled hands gripped his cane.  “How’d ya find it, again?”

              “During their visit, your mother as well as mine went in search of it.  Mrs. McGucket had heard of a villain who had access to it.  She went with my mother to convince said villain to give them the location.”

              “Convince bein’ code fer…?”

              “…I had no desire to learn what they did to get this information,” Ford said solemnly.  He grimaced.  “Mom and Mrs. McGucket are threatening enough on their own.  Together?  I doubt anyone could withstand them.”

              “Feller prob’ly wet himself the second they showed up,” Lute drawled idly.  He twirled a finger, causing a few ripples to form in the fountain.  “By the way, it works.  Ma ‘n Mrs. Pines tested it on themselves a bit.  But they didn’t want to risk too much exposure, so’s they didn’t bring back samples.”

              “Hence the trip out here,” Ford added.  “We need to collect some of the water for experimentation.  And since your cure doesn’t require altering the properties of the water in any way, we might as well cure you right now.”  Fiddleford nodded.

              “I’m eager to stop bein’ older ‘n sin.”

              “Be careful.  Try not to expose yourself to the water too much.  You’ll risk overshooting,” Ford said.  Fiddleford waved a hand airily.

              “I can handle it.  Here.”  He handed the cane to Lute and braced his hands on the edge of the fountain.  “Take a step back.  I’d hate fer ya to get splashed.”  Ford and Lute did as they were told, stepping a few feet away from the fountain.

              “At least now he’ll finally stop actin’ like he needs this,” Lute muttered to Ford.  “He’s obviously still spry.  He don’t need a cane.”

              “Shh.  We should observe,” Ford hissed.  Lute rolled his eyes.  They watched Fiddleford brace his hands on the edge of the fountain, then duck his head under the water.

              “That’s one way to do it,” Lute said under his breath. Ford frowned at him.

              “Lute, please, stop being so difficult.  I just want Fiddleford to return to his former self. Or have you forgotten that he has done his best to act the part of the grumpy old man?”

              “Yeah, he has been actin’ pretty crotchety.”  Lute sighed.  “I’ll back off.  Sorry. I’m a bit tired.  You slept through it, but Angie had a nightmare last night and I had to comfort her.”

              “Well, we should be able to reverse engineer a cure for her and Stan now that we’ve discovered this,” Ford said.  Lute nodded.

              “Yep.  Yer a genius scientist and I know my way ‘round water.  It’ll be easy street.”  There was a loud splash.  Lute and Ford both looked at the fountain.  Fiddleford was no longer standing there.  “Shit, he fell in,” Lute said, sprinting to the fountain, Ford close behind. Lute clapped his hands together then spread his arms wide, parting the magical water like the Red Sea.  “Now you can grab him without gettin’ wet yourself.”

              “Yes, I-”  The words died on Ford’s tongue as he stared at Fiddleford on the bottom of the fountain.  “Oh, no.”

              “Grab him.  We can say ‘oh no’ later,” Lute said in a distinctly strained voice. Ford looked at him.  Lute’s face was pained, his arms trembling.  “This water don’t like to cooperate.  I won’t be able to hold it back fer much longer.” Ford snatched Fiddleford, who was curled up into a ball, from the fountain then backed away.  Lute let his arms fall.  The water splashed back into the fountain.  “The water was fightin’ me controllin’ it.  Like it had a mind of its own.”

              “That’s likely due to the magical properties it possesses,” Ford said.  Lute nodded.

              “That sounds right.  Now, what were you sayin’…”  Lute trailed off, catching sight of Fiddleford in Ford’s arms. “…oh, no.”

              “My words precisely.”  Ford swallowed.  “I think he fell asleep.”

              “That seems to be the pattern with age changes. C’mon, let’s head back to the truck ‘n wait fer him to wake up.”

----- 

              Ford and Lute sat on the bed of Lute’s truck, Fiddleford still nestled in Ford’s arms.  Lute sighed.

              “At least we’re gettin’ out of the house and gettin’ a break from Stan ‘n Angie.”  He looked around the autumnal forest.  “And it’s awful pretty out here.”

              “Yes.”

              “Stanford, don’t worry.  We collected some samples to run some tests on.  It’ll be easy to whip up a cure now.”

              “That’s what we thought prior to Fiddleford falling into the fountain.”

              “Hon, trust me.”  Lute cupped Ford’s face in his hands.  “We’re nearin’ the end of this.  I can tell.”  He let his hands fall from Ford’s face.  “Heck, we can even call Harper fer his expertise if’n ya want a second hydrokinetic to speed things up.”

              “Or to babysit Stan and Angie,” Ford mumbled. “After all, you’ll be working in the lab with me while we try to come up with a cure, and…”  He looked down at Fiddleford in his arms.  “Fiddleford won’t be able to watch them.”

              “I think we can get by with a regular babysitter fer a while.  Stan ‘n Angie don’t know they used to be adults, ‘member?  They think they’re just regular kidlets.”

              “Yes, but will Fiddleford?” Ford asked.  Lute chewed on his lip.

              “I don’t know.  But even if he doesn’t, I think Fidds will be willin’ to tolerate a babysitter fer the few days it takes to whip up that cure.”

              “Are you sure about that?”

              “Fidds is very accommodatin’,” Lute said confidently. “He’s always been one to go with the flow.”  Fiddleford shifted in Ford’s arms.  “Oh, I think he’s wakin’ up.”  Fiddleford yawned widely and stretched before opening his eyes.  He frowned at Ford.

              “Stanford?” he asked.  Ford nodded.  “What’s-” Fiddleford smacked his forehead with his hand.  “I fell in the fountain, didn’t I?”

              “Yes, you did,” Ford said, gently setting Fiddleford down between himself and Lute.  “You seem to have become a toddler.”

              “Fantastic,” Fiddleford muttered, crossing his chubby arms. “Three years old.”

              “I didn’t say three.”

              “No, but I know that’s my age.”  Fiddleford wrinkled his brow.  “Somehow.”  Ford and Lute exchanged a confused shrug.  “Did ya change my clothes or somethin’?”

              “No, they shrunk with you,” Lute said.  He scratched the back of his neck.  “Looks like they changed to fit yer age, too. You weren’t wearin’ overalls ‘fore ya took a dip in that fountain.  Which is a bit of a shame.  I’d pay good money to dress a lil tot up in clothes that ‘re more suited fer an old man.” Fiddleford glared at Lute.

              “I’m not yer dress-up doll, Lute.”

              “Okay, okay.”  Lute held his hands up.  “On our way back to the house, we should prob’ly stop somewhere to pick up some clothes fer you.”  Ford let out a loud groan.  “I know, Stanford, yer gettin’ sick of buyin’ clothes.  But Fidds won’t want to wear Danny and Daisy’s old things.”

              “Fiddleford, it would make it much easier on us,” Ford pleaded.  Fiddleford shook his head.

              “No.  I love my nieces, but I refuse to wear their old dresses ‘n skirts.”

              “They also wore pants-” Ford started.  Lute silently shook his head at Ford.  “…I’ll drop it.”  Tension that Ford hadn’t noticed before eased from Fiddleford’s shoulders.

              “Thank you,” he said softly.  He pulled on his hair, which had lengthened.  “I think I need a haircut, too.”

              “Don’t worry, we’ve got scissors in the truck.” Lute grimaced.  “But we don’t have a car seat fer ya.  And Ford won’t bother tryin’ to summon one, since the back seat’s filled with samples we collected from the fountain anyways.”  Fiddleford sighed heavily.

              “Fine.  Whose lap am I sittin’ on?”

----- 

              Ford sat on the couch, idly flipping through a book Lute had bought him during their trip to pick up clothes for Fiddleford. He was attempting to relax, at Lute’s insistence, but could feel stress increasing with every second he wasn’t in the lab.  A few feet from him, Stan and Angie played on the patterned rug with Fiddleford, excitedly helping him construct buildings from blocks and handing him crayons to color with.  It was difficult to keep up the façade that Fiddleford was a normal toddler, but so far, Stan and Angie didn’t seem to suspect anything.  Ford glanced over at the three children.

              In fact, Angie didn’t bat an eye when Lute claimed that Fiddleford was her baby brother.  He chewed on the inside of his cheek, thinking. Is that due to the confusion from the initial regression, or, as Lute suggested, Angie’s innate gullibility when she was younger? Or perhaps it was because Lute told her immediately after she had woken up, given that she takes a while to become fully lucid after waking?

              “Maybe some combination of the three,” Ford mumbled quietly to himself.  Stan laughed loudly.  He ruffled Fiddleford’s hair.

              “You’re a little gremlin, Fidds,” he said genially. Ford set down his book, intrigued by Stan’s phrasing.

              That sounded exactly like his interactions with his daughters.  Angie playfully punched Stan.

              “Stan!  Don’t call him that!” she scolded.  She beamed at Fiddleford and stroked his face.  “He’s just a baby.”  Fiddleford made a soft, disgruntled noise.

              Angie strokes her children’s faces.  Yesterday, she did no such thing.  Ford set his book on the side table and got up from the couch.  Stan and Angie were still completely engrossed by Fiddleford, and as such, didn’t notice Ford leave the living room and make his way to the kitchen, where Lute was trying to find a recipe to use for dinner.  It was only 3pm, but Lute wasn’t the best cook, so finding a recipe and then successfully following it took longer than it would Stan or Angie.

              “Lute,” Ford hissed.  Lute looked up from the cookbook he had been perusing.

              “What?”

              “Have you noticed anything odd about Angie’s behavior?” he asked.  Lute raised an eyebrow.  “Relative to how she was acting, say, last week.”

              “I…”  Lute frowned. “Yeah.  She’s a bit less hyper.  Seems a bit more, I dunno, mature?  I mean, that’s not very difficult, but…”

              “Yes, I think Stan’s been acting like that as well,” Ford said.  “It’s also remarkably odd that Stan is so interested in spending time with Fiddleford. When we were children, he absolutely despised spending time with toddlers.”  Lute’s eyes widened.

              “Angie didn’t really like toddlers when we were kids, either,” he said.  “Not until we were teens did she enjoy spendin’ time with tots ‘n babies.”

              “I think spending time with Fiddleford might be reminding them of their adult years,” Ford said.  Lute rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

              “Maybe…” he said slowly.  He looked over in the direction of the living room.  “Ford, they’re quiet.”  Ford strained his ears.  Sure enough, the laughter from earlier had stopped.  Ford grimaced.

              “That’s never a good sign.”

              “…Angie?  Stan?” Fiddleford’s voice said cautiously.  Lute and Ford exchanged a worried look before rushing into the living room.  Angie was staring numbly at her hands, while Stan looked off into the distance, but not focusing on one single thing in the room.

              “Oh, dear,” Lute whispered.  He walked over to Angie and crouched down in front of her. “Angie?”  Angie looked up.

              “Lute, why am I five?” she asked in a strangled voice. Lute’s jaw dropped.  He sat on the floor.

              “You- you remember?” he asked.  Angie nodded silently.  Ford joined Lute in front of Angie.  Her eyes lacked the lighthearted sparkle they’d had mere minutes ago; they seemed weightier, like they bore experience.

              “The confusion must have worn off,” Ford said softly.  Angie frowned at him.

              “What are ya talkin’ ‘bout?”

              “Well, what’s the last thing you recall?” Ford asked.

              “We were in your lab,” Stan said abruptly.  Ford and Lute looked over at him.  Like Angie, something about his demeanor suggested he wasn’t the carefree five-year-old he had been this morning.  “You were doing somethin’ with the thing I got from that new villain and then there was a flash of light.”  Stan gestured to himself.  “And now I guess I’m five.”  Angie nodded.

              “That’s the last thing I remember, too.”  She furrowed her brow.  “Or…wait.  I think a few things are comin’ back…but it’s fuzzy.”  Stan nodded slowly.

              “Yeah.  Same here. I’m remembering a bit, but not very clearly.”

              “That accident was three weeks ago,” Ford said. Stan and Angie’s jaws dropped.

              “We’ve been five for three weeks?!” Angie squeaked. “And we don’t really remember it?”

              “Well, technically, you’ve been five for two weeks,” Ford said.  Stan and Angie frowned, confused.  “The first week, you were infants.”

              “We- we were-” Stan stammered.  He swallowed.  “Well, that’s just fuckin’ great.”  Both he and Angie were slowly turning red from embarrassment.

              “Thank the Lord I don’t remember that,” Angie mumbled. She rubbed her face.  “I- I-”  She took a breath.  “I think I’d like to move on from this.  I don’t particularly like thinkin’ ‘bout it.”

              “Seconded,” Stan said.  He frowned at Ford.  “Hang on, you never answered Angie’s question.  Why are the last three weeks all…fuzzy?”

              “Fiddleford inspected the device, shortly after you were regressed the first time,” Ford said.  “It has a…what did you call it, Fiddleford?”

              “Discombobulater chip,” Fiddleford answered.  Stan and Angie stared at Fiddleford.  “It put the two of ya in a state of mental confusion. Guess it fin’lly wore off.”  He huffed.  “And it’s about time.  I’m not very fond of bein’ treated like a toddler.”

              “Okay, back up,” Stan said, holding his hands up. “Why the hell is Fiddlesticks tinier than we are?  Did that thing hit him, too?”

              “Yes,” Ford said.  He rubbed the back of his neck.  “But it progressed, rather than regressed, his age.”

              “How’s he a lil tot, then?” Angie demanded.

              “That was a mishap at the Fountain of Youth.”

              “Yeah, he fell in,” Lute drawled.  Stan and Angie stared at him silently.  “Oh, boy.  We lost ya, didn’t we?”

              “No fuckin’ shit,” Stan swore.  He rubbed his eyes.  “Back to the beginning.  Start over, from when we first got zapped.”

              “That’s probably not the wisest move,” Ford said. Angie let out a small yawn.  “It’s naptime.”

              “I’m sorry, what?” Angie asked.

              “Yer five.  You need naps,” Lute said flatly.  He glanced at the clock.  “And Ford’s right.  It’s time fer yours.”

              “Hell no!” Stan said, jumping to his feet. “You’re not gonna make me take a nap like some little kid!”  Angie stood as well and crossed her arms.

              “I’m in the same boat as Stan.  We ain’t children.  You can’t treat us like we are.”

              “It’s a biological necessity,” Ford started. Stan shook his head.  “Really, it is!  The both of you need to nap!”

              “You can’t make us,” Stan growled.  Ford and Lute looked at each other, exasperated.

              “This is startin’ to make me miss when they thought they were our kids,” Lute said.  Stan blinked. Angie seemed similarly taken aback.

              “When we what?” Stan asked.  Seizing the opportunity while Stan and Angie were temporarily off-guard, Ford looped one arm around each of them, then stood to his full height.  “Hey! Put me down!  You little shit!”

              “No, you need to nap.”

              “Fuck you!”  Ignoring Stan and Angie’s various swears and protests, Ford carried them to the guest room they were currently staying in.  He set them on the bed.  Stan immediately leapt off.

              “No,” Ford said firmly, closing the door before Stan could escape.  Stan glowered at him.  Angie yawned again.  “Stanley, please cooperate.  It will be much easier for both of us.”  Stan continued to glare.  “Fine.” Ford picked Stan up again and, once more ignoring protests, tucked Stan and Angie into bed.  He then sat on the edge of the bed and began to sing an old lullaby.  Stan crossed his arms.

              “Good luck getting that to work.  Yeah, Mom mighta sung it…but…”  Stan’s eyelids drooped.

              After a few minutes, Stan and Angie were fast asleep. The door opened.  Lute poked his head in.

              “Good, they’re sleepin’,” he said quietly.  He stepped into the room, carrying Fiddleford, who seemed on the verge of falling asleep, but still barely awake.  “I wanted to wait until they were asleep ‘fore bringin’ Fidds in.  Didn’t want their arguin’ to get him all excited.”

              “Lute, I’m older than you,” Fiddleford mumbled blearily, his eyes half-closed.  “Don’t talk ‘bout me like that.”

              “Sorry, Fidds.”  Lute gently rested Fiddleford in Daisy’s old flower-patterned crib, which he and Ford had decided was the safest option for Fiddleford as a toddler.  “Sorry I made ya wait so long too.  Otherwise, ya wouldn’t have been too sleepy to walk.”

              “Mm-hmm,” Fiddleford slurred.  He pried his eyes open to look at Stan and Angie.  “They should count their blessin’s.  At least they can sleep in a reg’lar bed.”

              “Yep.”  Lute stroked Fiddleford’s head.  Fiddleford closed his eyes and curled into a ball.  Within seconds, his breathing steadied.  Lute sighed heavily, then looked at Ford.  “I can’t decide what’s worse.  The three of them not knowin’ they’re really adults, or the three of ‘em bein’ full aware of the fact.”

#sorry for the short summary at the beginning but I'm eager to post this #I've had it ready for a while now actually #I just haven't posted it yet bc I couldn't think of a good title #luckily Whitney helped me out #Superhero/villain AU #Flute #Stanford Pines #Fiddleford McGucket #Lute McGucket #Stanley Pines #Angie McGucket #my writing #ficlet #speecher speaks

[do-what-the-knight-tells-you]

Broadchurch: The Short Story Collections Volume 2  Available over here This second volume contains another four short stories, also ostensibly intended 1 per episode, but they take place at very different times. I read them interspersed, (watch ep 5, read first story, watch ep 6, read etc), but it might be fun to read them in an actual chronological order during a re-watch.

1- “Protection”, Sharon Bishop (Joe Miller’s Lawyer), During the S2 trial, specifically the night following episode 5. Serious, heavy, dramatic insight into her character over the course of a terribly busy evening that includes a dinner invite with Jocelyn and the judge, and her romantic partner surprising her at The Trader’s. Plus lots and lots of phone calls. Very interesting.

2- “One More Secret”, Beth, halfway through episode 6, this starts the evening after Tom’s testimony, and continues about 24-36 hours. Insight on Beth, how she’s coping (and Chloe), how she reacts to learning Mark’s “last secret”, that he was gonna leave her... oh, and discussion on her relationship with Ellie.

3- “The Leaving of Claire Ripley”, Claire (who would eventually marry Lee Ashworth), 10ish years before S1 maybe? This is The story of who she was before him, a relationship she got into, what she thought she wanted, and how it all went sideways, eventually forcing her to run from consequences for the first time. Basically, how she ends up in the right town/place to meet Lee, and get embroiled in the Sandbrook mess... and without any support network but him. Very interesting, totally unexpected. 

4- “Thirteen Hours”, Alec Hardy, pre Series 1, specifically, One Day before Series 1. Insight on Alec, before he meets Ellie, how he’s balancing Claire, his illness, and secrecy, in the new town, in the new job. Hint: Barely. 13 hours from his life, probably 20 hours before Danny would die. Basically, the last “normal” day before Danny’s body is found and all goes to shit. Poor Sucker.

I’ve included summaries, my notes, excerpts, reactions, and other Things Of Interest under the readmore. Again, these story volumes are interesting, short, and worth the read for me!

1. Sharon bishop- during trial Before episode... 4? What morning is it she drives to see her kid? Ah, she pulls the all-night drive and sees her kid in prison in EP 3, so this takes place the night after that day in court. No, wait, after he's beaten up, so, maybe after ep 5? About to head home from the trial. Gets a phone call from her... Partner? Boyfriend? "Darroll". Not Jonah's dad, I don't think. She gets asked to dinner with Jocelyn and the judge Oh fuck, he shows up at The Trader’s when she specifically told him not to. She forgets to change, and bails out of there back for the judge’s place. Still making phonecalls about Jonah bearing beaten up. God she’s stressed. I can practically feel the anxiety and nausea drip off the page. Man, her POV on Jocelyn is cruel. Specifically, that Jocelyn is perfect and privileged, and never missed/misses an opportunity to put her down.   Man, Sharon fucking hates her. The judge makes a comment about Sharon being judge material in a few years, if she's interested, perfectly polite and congenial. Sharon turns it down, privately thinking that she likes the fight too much. Judge says she didn't think it was for her, either, until she suddenly found herself the first Asian woman. And even then, her dad was still disappointed. The whole conversation makes Sharon furious and resentful, of these smug women, their perceived privilege in comparison to her, the way she had to fight to build the ladder she climbed, the way she was never even expected to take A-levels, the way she had Jonah on a great track and it was "his kindness" that got him incarcerated and stuck on the "lowest rung" you can start on. "Sonia refills the glass; Jocelyn puts a hand over hers. ‘You must’ve had offers for the bench,’ Sonia says to Jocelyn, filling a new glass with sparkling water. Jocelyn’s eyes crinkle. ‘Too many other interests I would’ve had to give up.’ Sharon nearly chokes on her salmon. Jocelyn doesn’t have interests. She’s just trying to convince everyone – including herself – that her life has had any kind of meaning since she gave up work. Sharon makes a little coughing noise and Jocelyn looks at her sharply before turning back to Sonia. ‘I’m not good at impartial,’ she says, with a little shrug of false modesty." See, we know that Jocelyn quit because she was going blind. We know that she is regretful of the life, the love she felt she wasted. No way is she out (sexuality-wise), or I think Sharon might not be as furious with her privilege. Which, like, she definitely has, but Sharon is so tired and furious right now, she's equivocating the economic privilege Jocelyn undoubtedly has with "never having had to struggle or sacrifice for your job". We of course know and are sympathetic to how Hard Jocelyn had to work, probably one of the first women in her county/area to do what she did Every Time she did it. And we are sympathetic to the fact that she did that all while remaining closeted, and how miserable and hard that must have been... But Sharon doesn’t know some of that, and she’s too furious at the system, at economic privilege... and honestly, at herself, for having chosen to work so hard she missed things with her son. maybe things that led to this situation. Which she absolutely is blaming on the system, and not at all on anything else.   And they have such bitterness between them, Jocelyn probs had been a little jealous, a little "oh yeah, wear your wound on your sleeve, get everyone to cry for you", secretly angry that she never "was brave" enough to come out. At least her protege never had to lie, could be honest about who and what she was. There is a lot of shit between them on the subject of race and gender and privilege and stuff (Jocelyn did specifically mention that the decision to take Sharon on as a protege was partly a diversity hire, to “get more women”. Sharon is furious at that comment. I don’t know enough about race relations in the UK to know how contentious the fact that Sharon’s black would be... but considering the judge is also non-white, and Sharon is furious with her too, it’s clear the primary contention is money, even if race is a casual condition). And pride. I totally believe (agree with Jocelyn’s assertion) that Sharon has an issue taking blame. It must always be someone else's fault. And she doesn't care about morality a bit. She says to herself it's because justice didn't work for her kid, but I get the vibe from Jocelyn that that shit was in place long, long before. "Now they’re getting closer, thinks Sharon. ‘Not good at impartial’ is nothing but a euphemism for the fact that Jocelyn Knight is a dyed-in-the-wool prosecutor, although being her, she’s got to dress it up as a higher calling. She likes the chase, that’s what it boils down to. She might as well come into court dressed in a bearskin dress and wave a spear about. But Sharon knows that working for the Crown makes Jocelyn feel good because she can always tell herself she’s fighting the good fight. She believes her own lies, and that’s what makes her so good at her job. Defence, now that’s where the real fight is. You’ve got to have balls to speak for a defendant, run the risk they might be guilty. To take all the shit from the press and public that comes with it. 

“‘You do have to bite your tongue,’ Sonia admits. ‘Mind you, when I say something, people really bloody listen.’ Now that, Sharon likes the sound of. Instant respect. The kind she thinks Sonia and Jocelyn must take for granted. ‘Speaking of which, there’s something I need to say. Off the record. Because if this was official, we’d be in court, and you’d both be in the shit.’ Without raising her voice by a decibel, Sonia has managed to change her tone; if anything it’s smoother and calmer than before, and that’s more chilling than an angry rant. Sharon feels the blood banging in her cheeks and doesn’t risk looking at Jocelyn. ‘I heard your yelling halfway across the building, earlier,’ continues Sonia. ‘I’m presuming, since it hasn’t appeared on the Broadchurch Echo Twitter feed, that members of the press and public didn’t hear it, but that’s no thanks to either of you.’ 

“Caught red-handed; this morning’s angry words ring in Sharon’s ears and a schoolgirl shame burns like acid in her gullet. What could this mean for the case? For her career? Sharon is rarely lost for words but she can’t begin to talk her way out of this one. She feels like the walls of a maze are clanging down around her. Sonia’s still talking as the phone in Sharon’s pocket begins to vibrate. Without looking she knows it’s the prison governor. The call that will keep Jonah safe tonight is coming through now. Answer it, screams her conscience. Sonia’s voice is a burble in the background. Answer it. The twenty-year conflict between Sharon’s motherhood and her career feels condensed into these few seconds. Her skin feels too tight all over. She puts one hand in her pocket as if her fingertips could send the message for her: wait for me. Just give me one more minute. Sharon’s instincts tell her that even to break eye contact with Sonia Sharma right now would be professional suicide, never mind taking a phone call. The phone doesn’t ring for long: four, maybe five rings, before the caller hangs up. Sonia’s words come back into focus. 

“‘I told you both at the start: professionalism and dignity,’ she says, still more head girl than headmistress. ‘Keep your personal rows out of this case or it’ll be a full-scale public bollocking. Got it?’ Sharon nods as she absorbs the gist: she’s got away with it, in the broadest sense. Where she ought to feel relief there is only a crashing sense of failure and loss. In the ensuing silence, she can hear the food she’s chewing turn over in her mouth, but she can’t swallow it. She’s just about to push back her chair when Sonia comes in with what she clearly thinks is an ice-breaker. 

“‘So, you were her pupil?’ It’s a loaded question and Jocelyn doesn’t give Sharon a chance to answer. ‘I found her and brought her onto a scheme I was running to bring more women into the law. Particularly from underprivileged backgrounds.’ 

“Sharon explodes; too late, she sees the crumbs fly everywhere. ‘I was at Oxford by this point! She tells it like she pulled me out of the gutter.’ ‘She was the best I ever had. On course to be my Head of Chambers, if she’d stayed.’ It’s a reverse flip in the conversation. Sharon is so stunned that for a few seconds she forgets about the missed call. This is the first praise she’s ever had from Jocelyn Knight. She had always presumed the admiration flowed in one direction. Jocelyn let her go without a fight. 

“Resentment boils inside her and she doesn’t trust herself not to come back with sarcasm or worse. Sonia’s seen her with the gloves off now and it cannot happen again. She excuses herself to use the bathroom – beautiful, hand-painted tiles, organic handwash, only the best for the judge’s residence – and she splashes water on her face, tells herself in the mirror to get a grip. She dials her voicemail with shaking hands. There’s a message, not from the governor but from his assistant, saying that they’re waiting for her to return their call. Sod etiquette, Sonia and Jocelyn can amuse themselves for a few minutes: Sharon hits redial but she is locked out by the engaged tone. She waits one minute, then tries again. She repeats this three times with the same result. She weighs up her options – hide in the toilet for god knows how long, or make her excuses and leave? It’s an easy decision. 

“Back in the dining room, she realises there will be no need for excuses; the evening is already being wrapped up. ‘Thanks for a lovely supper,’ says Jocelyn, folding her napkin and getting to her feet. ‘But I should be getting back.’ Sonia leads her guests into the hallway. ‘No rest for the wicked.’ She nods through an open doorway to a study where case files are piled high on a table. They will all be working through the night. 

“Back in the car, Sharon sets her phone to hands-free and hits redial repeatedly. She is on the dual carriageway that leads into Broadchurch when at last the line is free. Hope spikes then crashes with each unanswered ring. There is nobody there. She’s missed her window. And she doesn’t know where Jonah is sleeping tonight. Reality is a punch in Sharon’s guts. She can’t save Jonah. She’s trying to remote-control his life, when the brutal truth is that it’s been out of her control, and his, since he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong colour skin. The injustice of it burns. The miles between Sharon and Jonah seem to stretch out and then snap. The road swims before her, lights blurring to amber tadpoles against the black. Sharon pulls into a lay-by and bawls until her throat is sore and her eyes are gritty." Her partner is still at the hotel when she gets there, and I thought this section was particularly beautiful: "‘Oh, babe,’ and that’s all Darroll has to say. He places his knuckle on the point between her shoulder blades, the heart of the knot. He knows where her body keeps its secrets, and with his touch, she is undone. Afterwards, she waits until he has fallen asleep, as good as drugged. In these stolen hours the Traders hotel is as silent as it gets. No phones ring. Not a floorboard creaks, not a toilet flushes. There is only Darroll, the gentle rolling snore of him. Sharon is wired. Only four hours’ sleep in two days but she can’t remember feeling more awake. Darroll’s soothing effect is only temporary. It rushes through a drain and is replaced by thoughts of Jonah, his beaten-up face and a circle of thugs closing in on him." She gets up and back to research the appeal for Jonah's case. (God, she's working so hard there, so distracted from the Miller stuff, it really is a mark of how fucked the Broadchurch investigation was, or how ruthless and rule-break-y Sharon is, that her side ends up winning) "She has a career's worth of favors to call in, and she isn't too proud to do it." Determined as fuck, and unwilling to not succeed. Heck of a character. . 2. One more secret- Beth- during trial, partway through episode 6 (where Tom lies on the stand in Joe's defence), I think after Tom's testimony, that night, before Mark's She gets home, longest she's been away from Lizzie. "‘Where are my girls?’ she calls while her key’s still in the door. Chloe emerges from the sitting room, a puke-stained muslin cloth draped over each shoulder. Chloe’s dropped out of college but she can’t get a job until the trial’s over because Beth needs her for the childcare. If Beth can’t be with Lizzie, then it’ll have to be someone else who loves her. The baby needs to be with her own blood. The time spent with the baby seems to be helping Chloe, too. It’s taken her mind off her own problems; the spoiled GCSEs, losing her nan, and the break-up with Dean (who left Dorset for the chance to shear sheep in New Zealand, only telling Chloe the evening before his flight. Beth still can’t think about him without her hands balling into fists)." She has a meeting with a social worker who has come to check on her mental health, and she gets pissed and storms off, only realizing later than that that might have tipped them to the balance of thinking she's not a fit mother. She starts to think about the checklist they gave her and how to throw it so the social decide she's fit  enough, not too depressed, to take care of her kid. Next morning is the Mark’s testimony. Where she learns that there's one last secret between them after all, the mystery of the unaccounted for hour in which he drove around, and then wrote her a letter saying he was leaving her. "And then suddenly there is someone at her side. Ellie is there, dropping to her knees. Their faces are level and Beth has been brought so low she will take comfort anywhere, even here. She collapses against her old friend. ‘It’s not Mark,’ says Ellie. Her eyes shine with tears that reflect Beth’s own. ‘It’s Joe, doing this to us.’ 

“‘Mark was going to…’ Beth can’t get the rest of it out. She lets Ellie cry with her and it feels so good, for the first time in ages, to lean on someone the same size as her. They stay locked like that. After a few minutes, they stop crying, pull apart and look at each other. There’s a strange, almost post-coital awkwardness in the air; for all the intimacy of their embrace, they’re still essentially estranged, both unsure how heavily they can tread. 

“‘I’m so sorry about Tom,’ says Ellie. ‘He still doesn’t believe Joe did it.’ ‘Oh, God, no, I get it. Danny would’ve done the same.’ Saying his name changes the mood again; it brings them past embarrassment and into the hugeness of what has happened between them. Ellie meets Beth’s gaze head-on, still offering that unflinching apology and Beth understands, suddenly, that she will keep saying sorry for ever if that’s what it takes.”

[Oh god, she really would, wouldn’t she]

“Something inside her wants to draw back but there’s something stronger – a need to be understood, or perhaps the green shoots of forgiveness – that keeps her in the moment. ‘I didn’t know,’ she says. ‘About the letter.’ Ellie pulls a face. ‘I gathered that.’ Beth puts her chin on her knees and sighs deep. ‘You must want to beat the crap out of him.’ 

“‘I do, but it’s not just that.’ Beth hugs her knees tighter. ‘I’ve got this social worker on my back making me fill out this questionnaire to see if I’m going to top myself. As if I would, with Chloe and a new baby needing me. I’m like, don’t you think I’ve got enough shit to deal with without racing back from court to talk about my wellbeing?’ Ellie winces. Beth didn’t mean to throw a barb at her, but there’s no way around it. They can’t pussyfoot around this case, and if mentioning it hurts Ellie, well, that’s the way it’s got to be. Beth leans back against the cool wall of the stairwell. 

“‘If I’m not depressed already then that’ll just tip me over the edge,’ she mutters, more for her own benefit than Ellie’s. ‘Stupid cow with her stupid drawn-on eyebrows.’ ‘Patricia Kennedy?’ Ellie wiggles her own eyebrows, but nervously, like she’s afraid to acknowledge the joke. ‘I’ve come across her before. She’s all right. She’ll only be worried about you.’ ‘Yeah, well, I feel persecuted. And I worry that they’ll … do something. Take her away from me.’ It’s the first time she’s said it out loud. ‘Why would they do that?’ says Ellie. 

“‘Look at me,’ says Beth. ‘I can’t even look after myself.’ ‘Bollocks, you’re doing a brilliant job,’ says Ellie, in her old, no-nonsense way and it’s more reassuring than any platitude. Conversation grows louder in the atrium and the court doors start to swish open. Ellie gets to her feet. 

“‘I need to find Tom,’ says Ellie. Her teeth are clenched in a grim determination that Beth recognises from their old lives. Tom’s in for the bollocking of his life. Beth watches her straighten up, and only when she sees her at her full height does she realise Ellie’s been stooping since this all kicked off. Ellie puts out her right hand, and for a moment Beth thinks she’s offering a formal handshake and the indignation surges again. Then, as Ellie’s set face begins to wobble, she realises she’s offering to pull her up to standing. Beth hesitates for a second but finds she doesn’t have it in her to snub the offer. Ellie’s hand is cold in hers, but her grip is tight. I’ve got you, it seems to say. The raw intimacy of it is too much, and Beth drops her hand as soon as she’s on her feet. It’s exhausting: the smallest gesture is so loaded.”

[Oh I ache for you two.]

“ ‘Right, then,’ she says, testing her legs. They seem to be holding her up. ‘I’m going back in, see what else Mark’s got to say.’ ‘You sure you’re up to that?’ asks Ellie, tilting her head to one side. ‘No,’ says Beth. Their smiles are tentative, feelers in the dark. But they don’t hug. It feels too soon for that." oh you poor girls.

She gets back home after kicking mark to the curb, only to find the bloody social worker waiting for her. Only...

"‘Just give it to me, then,’ says Beth, sitting opposite Patricia. ‘Give me the bloody questionnaire.’ Patricia smiles softly. ‘All in good time. Look, I’m sorry if I was insensitive, barging in on your trial time. We’ll work around you from now on.’ Beth brightens. ‘You mean you’ll discharge me?’ 

“‘No,’ says Patricia. ‘I still want to keep an eye on you. Not because I think you’re going to harm Lizzie, but because you are vulnerable, even if you don’t want to admit it. But I won’t come and see you every day while the trial’s ongoing. What I’ll do is check in every few days, and give you my mobile number. If you feel you’re not coping, there are options. Don’t be stubborn.’ 

“‘I’m not stubborn.’ Patricia raises her magnificent eyebrows and Beth finds a genuine laugh. ‘How come you changed your mind, then?’ she asks. Patricia closes the file on her lap and looks Beth in the eye. 

“ ‘I had a call from a colleague who helped me see things from your perspective,’ she says. ‘Helen?’ ‘No,’ says Patricia. ‘Someone I worked with a while back.’ She starts to pack up her bag, putting her various sheaves of paperwork into compartments. On her way out of the door she turns and looks over your shoulder. ‘I won’t patronise you by pretending I understand what you’re going through,’ she says. ‘But you know, you’re not as alone as you think you are.’ Beth thinks she means because of Lizzie, and holds her tighter than ever. It’s only after Patricia has driven off that she realises who the old colleague was, and that she wasn’t talking about her daughter after all." And then, to conclude the chapter, "Without meaning to, she turns slowly in a half-circle to Ellie’s house. The light in the top bedroom is on and two figures move around inside. Tom is home. Jealousy swoops in, and Beth is too bitter to be happy for Ellie. That thought pulls her back to this afternoon at court, Ellie’s outstretched hand and how good it felt to take it. Beth fights the softening inside her. How can she accept friendship again? How can she trust? To survive the next twelve hours, the next few weeks, the rest of her life, she has to keep a force-field, like a shell, around herself and all her children. She turns her head away from Ellie’s house and looks up. The star that was shining so bright above her twinkles once, then disappears behind a cloud." Ugh, it's all so rough. I wanna wrap everybody in a soft blanket, Ellie, Beth, Alec, all the children, Maggie and Jocelyn, even mean Sharon and her poor kid. Wrap them up safe (and keep them out of the way while I off Joe Miller). . 3. The leaving of Claire Ripley- preseries, by a lot Takes place before claire and her husband meet. she's thirty or so, living with her grandma, more or less happy. In the town she was born in. Her friends are all getting married and having families-- she hasn't found the kind of man she wants to settle down with yet. She's looking for something more exciting than that. 

She ends up dating a fellow who's kind of a small-time ecstasy dealer, but as she is more more successful at her salon and gets promoted, it makes him feel insecure. 

One night he's selling more pills than normal, and she realizes that it's a cheap bad batch, gonna really hurt people, panics about how close she's been to the whole thing, ditches his pills, and runs away. For that, his family / employers put her grandma in the hospital. And tell her she has to leave town or else they'll do it again. 

She tells her Grandma she's leaving, and her grandma gives her that pendant, the pendant she had been saving for her birthday. Claire thinks to herself that she's going to love that pendant out of both punishment and hope, and maybe one day give it to daughter of her own. Someone who really deserves it [again, reinforcing that she did care about Pippa, as much as she was able to care about anyone]. 

She finds that there's a woman selling a hair salon in Mercia, and she has just enough to buy that out of her savings from working salon in town, so she does, and she runs. 

a week later she's on a plastic mattress, having forgotten to buy bedding, above the shop she now owns, bitterly ruing the day that she got in with the fella she got in with, and dreaming of a man she hasn't met yet. A strong man, an honest man, a man who works with his hands, a man muscular enough and sturdy enough to carry her upstairs throw her in bed and love her like she wants to be loved. Short, but kind of a wild ride. . 4. Thirteen hours- Alex Hardy- 17 July 2013 The day before Ellie gets back from vacation. (Or, comes back to work). The day before Danny is killed. Fuk. Hardy wakes at the traders, he's been there ten days. He takes his meds to settle his heart. "Hardy looks out over Broadchurch. Those huge cliffs everyone keeps telling him to go and look at glow amber in the distance; the sea is the same pale blue. He doesn’t like horizons. They make him feel agoraphobic, like nothing’s got edges, like everything could spill everywhere. “Now that the seagull’s gone, it’s too quiet. There is no noise apart from the chink and ting of breakfast things being laid out downstairs. You get the wrong kind of noise in the countryside. Hardy thrives on the white noise of the built environment, the comforting rumble of an A-road in the distance. He salivates at the thought of the hotel’s eggs Benedict but knows he should eat the wholegrain cereal in the dispenser, even though he’ll be charged the same price. What a waste, and a waste of police money, too. But that’s all to the good; it’s his own money he should be worrying about. Between the maintenance he pays Tess and Daisy and his other, secret expenses, he’s sliding into the red. Time now is measured in pounds and pennies as well as hours and days. “How much money he'll spend, how many nights he'll sleep in the traders..." It all depends on how quickly he can break Claire Ripley. This short story lays out the situation. Lays out his arrangement with Claire, it lays out the fact that he's doing this to punish himself and to solve the case and he doesn't feel like he can go home until he has done that. Much in the same way that, in the first collection of short stories, Ellie realized she couldn't go home to her actual house in Broadchurch without Tom, without Joe's case being done. The references to his physical state are just... He's drowning. It's so jarring after watching him halfway healthy at the end of series 2 finale. "Alec Hardy's heart skips a beat it can't afford to miss." "He's maybe half a mile from Claire's house, but the walk would ruin him for the rest of the day, and he needs the driver to get them back to Broadchurch." Something strange happened with Claire's phone, and now he's late to his shift, risking the only thing he has left, his career. "Someone behind them sounds their horn... Jolting him from anxiety into panic, and he has one of those micro crisis that happens two or three times a day now. He hasn't got time for this. What the hell is he doing? he was so sure this setup was the only way to save his sanity, but he now realizes it's just as likely to destroy it. it has put his career on the line again, and God knows his career is all he has left, now." Turns out, not that she admits to it but he puts together the pieces from observing, that Claire had herself a little tantrum and threw her phone and broke it. He's a little bit pleased by this, because it's the opportunity he needs to be able to get her a phone that he's paying for that he can monitor, under the guise of it being safer and more secure. he talks about the fact that she is suspicious, and he knows she's holding something back, that she is never the same person twice when he comes by, vacillating between very young, innocent, flirty, pouty, angry, blank.... He told her he'll be back by lunchtime with a new phone for her. " 'I've got to go, I do have another job apart from you.' “Claire nods, and Hardy wonders if she realizes just how loaded that statement is. Does she realize that she has the power to land him in the shit? Does she know what a huge transgression he has made? what he's doing is not a secret you could dump on anyone, not even your most trusted colleague. And D I Alec Hardy has no mates in Broadchurch nick." Then he heads back to the office. (there is a newspaper clipping up in the kitchen at the office, the headline is something like "copper run's 10K for charity", and it's Ellie dressed as a Bee doing a 10km fun run. just FYI. This is a thing that happened.)

Basically the whole story is just one shit-ass day in Hardy's life. His prescription runs out and he has to get a renewal, and ends up having to go pretty far abroad to get that renewal, Claire leaves the house to go get a phone herself and he catches wind when he goes to buy her a new phone and the guy mentions that someone have been there trying to do the same thing. Basically it just involves him traveling the city, fielding phone calls from one of the other detectives about some boys who stole some charity shop tins. He ends up successfully solving the case, nearly dying because of missing his medication, and ends the story worried that his boss is on to him already, that Claire will not behave right, and that today heralds Bad Things for his time in Broadchurch. 

But he convinces himself today is just a blip, tomorrow they will charge some hoodlums with stealing Charity money from shops, and nothing more dramatic could possibly happen unless things get real violent at the egg and spoon race at field day at the school. He's exhausted, but he knows everything else to be done can be put off till tomorrow. Tomorrow will be better.. Oh you poor bastard.

.

That’s all, and I think that’s the last of the broadchurch-associated Official Publications.

(But also I’m high-key tempted to accquire the three-season box set and scour the cast interviews and commentaries and deleted scenes for additional stuff. because I have no chill over these people, apparently)

#Broadchurch #broadchurch resources #and in case readmore is still broken #long post

[diinofayce]

Shadows on the Horizon - 12

Pairing: Winter Soldier! Bucky Barnes x OFC! Layne Hardin | Word Count: 2.7k | Warnings: Language (Layne has my terrible driving habits). | A/N: This is a sequel to my story Like a Whisper in the Night | Shadows on the Horizon Masterlist

Steve and Bucky both looked up with startled expressions when Layne barged suddenly into the room. She looked wildly at the two of them sitting on the couch, a football game on mute in the background as they sipped at the beers in their hands and chatted. Both men tried to slowly set their beer down out of sight, while it had bothered Layne much less lately, both recalled a few nights prior.

Bucky’s gaze surveyed his girlfriend. Her cheeks were flushed and her chest heaving for breath with exertion so she had obviously been sprinting for a bit, her brown waves were messy and wild and her eyes were shifting between their normal caramel brown and liquid gold. She licked her lips and tore her gaze away from them to look around the room and then slammed into the bedroom with the same wild force.

“Go bag? Buck, have you seen my… fuck the other room,” Layne was calling from their bedroom, dresser drawers opening and slamming closed. She came running from their room and shot past them back into the hall and the door to her old apartment slammed open.

Bucky and Steve were both on their feet and following her to the other apartment. She was kneeling on the floor, throwing old clothes from the last mission out and shoving new clean clothes in. She spat a lock of brown hair from her mouth before growling in frustration and piling it all on the top of her head with a black binder from her wrist.

“Doll, what’s going on? Where are you goin’?” Bucky asked with trepidation.

“I have to go with Danny to Minnesota. Oh, shit, that’s right. FRIDAY? Can you tell Agent Sweet that if she wants on a quinjet to Minnesota we leave in,” she stopped to check her watch drawing out the word, “Seven minutes.” At the AI’s confirmation she continued to rush about the small room gathering her things.

“Seven minutes? Layne what happened?” Steve asked, stepping forward.

“You can’t just go off to Minnesota,” Bucky said at the same time. For a moment he thought she was leaving him, that she had made him tear down these walls in his head and now she was going to go back to the Midwest and leave him here to figure this out by himself. The fear that gripped his chest was cold like ice as he prepared himself for the worst.

Layne bristled and finally stood, tossing her bag over her shoulder and raising her chin at Bucky defiantly. Now that her hair was pulled up and her jaw strong he could see the black and purple hand print across her throat and he flexed his vibranium fingers out of reflex before shoving both his hands self-consciously into the front pocket of his jeans.

“Neither of you are my commanders on this. This is still part of my mission, I’m still in charge,” Layne answered coolly, which caused Bucky’s eyes to widen in realization.

There was a strong flash of possessiveness that tore through Bucky, stronger than anything he had felt before. He didn’t like that she was so willing to just take off without telling him where she was off to or when she would be back or that she was okay leaving without him. It was ridiculous, they had been on separate missions plenty, but now that the Soldier was more integrated with him it seemed he had different feelings on the matter. He raised his flesh hand up to his head and pressed the heel of his palm into the hallow of his eye socket. He hissed in slight pain and frustration, but shook it off quickly. Carding his hand up through his hair to remove it from his face he glared back at Layne who’s look of defiance had changed to one of shame.

“I’m not trying to command you to do anything, you just gotta fill us in,” Bucky growled, trying to fight down the urge to grab her up in his arms and lock them both in their apartment.

“I’m sorry, Buck, a lot happened in the last few hours and I…forgot,” Layne said lamely, her cheeks flushing extra red with embarrassment and regret. “The mutant girl we captured from the base in Russia? She’s my niece, Michael’s oldest.”

Neither Steve or Bucky knew how to process the bomb she just dropped on them.  

“How?” Steve asked dumbly.

“They really dropped the ball on sex education in the forties, huh?” Layne asked frustrated and checked her watch.

Steve opened his mouth to fire a snarky reply back but Layne cut across him.

“Natasha can fill you both in, she was there at the debrief. Long story short Michael gave Madeline up to Hydra, whether on accident or not I don’t know. But it sounds like both of her younger siblings also have powers and if they find out we might never find the children. I’m having Madeline taken up here to rest and then she’ll be going to Xavier’s Academy upstate. I’m going to bring the children there as well.

“This whole thing has cost me, like, five minutes you guys, I really gotta go. FRIDAY? Can you also get a cleaning crew in here immediately?”

Steve jumped back as Layne approached them assuming she would just rush out down the hall, but she stopped in front of Bucky. She reached out to stroke his cheek and he flinched back causing her hand to freeze in midair. Realizing what he had done he reached up immediately and took her hand in his and pressed it to the side of his face.

Layne smiled softly at him and tilted her head. “Would a kiss for good luck be pushing it right now?” she asked.

Bucky smirked and leaned down to press his lips against hers. They were just as soft and plush as he remembered and he raised his metal hand to cup her face before remembering her throat and pulling away. She caught his metal hand and brought the palm to her lips, giving it a soft kiss.

“Don’t stress about it, Bucky. Thanks for the luck.”

“Yeah, well, I’m coming with you, so I don’t know how lucky it’ll be,” Bucky quipped back.

“Bucky, no,” both Layne and Steve said at the same time. Bucky frowned at them both and rolled his eyes in that typical petulant way of his when he thought everyone else was being stupid. It was an eye roll that was mostly saved for Sam or Tony.

“Bucky, yes. You’re not going to face your family without me. Besides, I need to get out of here for a bit. It’s only been a few days but I’m feeling stir crazy,” Bucky argued already going back into the apartment.

“Bucky, we don’t have time!” Layne shouted after him, waving to Steve and trying to make her way to the elevators before him.

“To argue about it? You’re right, we don’t,” Bucky answered, already running out after her with a backpack already on while strapping a gun harness around his waist, two Glocks already snapped in. “Why can’t I open the gun safe, by the way?”  

“Steve!” Layne called back, looking for assistance.

“You’re the mission commander here, Agent Hardin. It’s your call,” Steve passed off holding his hands up in surrender.

It was a little selfish of him, but he really hadn’t been able to spend any time with Natasha since her return from her undercover mission and he knew, he just knew, that Bucky would bitch and mope all night if Layne left him behind. The talk the two men had had been a good one, a lot of air had been cleared and it was almost like old times; if you ignored that the minute Steve picked up the bottle opener Bucky’s eyes flashed cold as he plucked it from Steve’s fingers having considered it a weapon or that now he was totally okay with propping his boots up on the coffee table - something both of their ma’s would have swatted them upside the heads for. You know, the little things. He felt moderately confident at letting Bucky go, knowing that Layne and Danny combined would be enough to handle any situation that may arise with the former assassin.

Layne glared at the two men, her lips pressed in a thin line and her nose crinkled with irritation. “You have plenty of guns on the jet. You do not leave my side, Barnes,” Layne demanded, poking her finger into his hard chest.

“Wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else, doll,” Bucky drawled with a winning smirk on his lips before pressing up on the elevator to take them to the flight decks.

~*~

The team all stood in the cock pit as Bucky got the okay through air traffic control at MSP to land on a private strip. Layne turned away from the careful eye she had been keeping on her boyfriend, an eye that he had been pretending he didn’t notice, to look over at Susanna who was standing there with a makeup sponge and some liquid foundation.

“Were you having someone pick you up or did you want me to order you an Uber?” Layne asked, unlocking her phone and plugging in Tony’s credit card number that she had long since memorized for the rental car at the airport. She raised her chin so that Susanna could do her best to cover the dark bruise. It wasn’t that Layne was ashamed of it, but she figured the less questions that could be lobbed her way from her family or authorities the better. She was worried it would come across that she didn’t always have control and that was the exact opposite image she needed right now.

“I’m gonna come back you up first. We’re family, I’ll take off after I know you guys are safe in the air with those kids,” Susanna stated, her brows furrowed in concentration as she tried to blur the lines.

Bucky focused on landing the jet, thankful for the distraction so he wouldn’t have to watch Susanna work to hide Bucky’s lapse of control.

Layne smiled gratefully at her best friend, but her gaze quickly returned to her phone as she received an email from Pepper with all the legal documents giving full custody to Cheryl due to child endangerment. Layne quickly forwarded them to Cheryl to print off so she could meet them at Michael’s house with them. Since it was a Saturday the children would be with her brother, Cheryl had tried to come up with some excuse to keep the kids with her for the weekend but Michael was apparently more insistent than normal to have them.

The landing and disembarking went smoothly, they even managed to dodge any extra unwanted attention in the airport making it to the rental car kiosk and getting out onto 494W without any issue.

“We lucked out that it looks like Michael took a promotion and moved to the main University of Minnesota campus, it looks like he’s living in St. Louis Park now. The drive to Mankato sucks,” Layne grumbled to herself as she checked her blind spot and hurriedly merged lanes, cutting a car off successfully to the sound of a blared horn.

“Okay, hun, you’re in the Midwest again, you have to drive less like a New Yorker,” Susanna pleaded, her hand reaching over the seat and squeezing Layne’s shoulder from her spot behind the driver.

“Well, if everyone wasn’t such a terrible fucking driver and would just get out of my mother fucking way,” Layne seethed, her eyes never leaving the road in front of her as she checked her side mirrors, then her right blind spot, and passed the car in the left lane. She was easily going thirty over the speed limit as she took the exit onto Hwy 100.

“It’s good to know you haven’t grown out of your road rage,” Danny muttered weakly, his skin taking on a green tinge as he rolled his back window down so he could take in deep breaths of cold air in attempt to abate the nausea.

“Doll, do you want to pull over so I can drive?” Bucky asked softly, his hand gripping the oh-shit handle above the door in a white knuckled grip.

“No way, no offense babe but you’re a terrible driver,” Layne scoffed as she made another erratic pass of the car in front of her.

~*~

“Okay, here’s the plan. Danny I need you to stick to the shadows, if you can suit up real quick somehow please do - I’m going to need you on backup. Susanna, you’re with me. Bucky, get away driver,” Layne doled out positions as they turned onto Michael’s block.

Daniel immediately reached into the back of the SUV and zipped open his backpack, pulling on his hooded jacket and grabbing his mask. Sue checked the pistol in her holster and made sure everything was in place where it needed to be in case of emergency. Bucky, however, whirled to look at Layne furiously.

“No. You’re the one who said that I wasn’t supposed to be leaving your side,” Bucky argued.

“Bucky,” Layne sighed, taking a hand off the wheel to rub a spot in the middle of her forehead where tension was starting to build. “Michael is already going to be on edge when we show up, Cheryl beat us there with the paperwork and a police officer. The last thing I need is for you to come murder strutting your way out and start growling like an alpha dog.”

“Yeah, save that for the bedroom, big shot,” Susanna teased, winking at the super soldier who shot her a withering look but chose to ignore her comment.

“And if he is working with Hydra?” Bucky asks.

“Bucky, you’ll be in the fucking car parked in front of the house. You’ll be able to be there in five minutes. Daniel will know immediately if something is wrong and let you know and then you can come in with your guns blazing.”

“Speaking of me, wanna slow down and let me out here?” Daniel asked, sliding his mask over his face and pulling up his hood.

Layne pulled over and Daniel slid out of the car barely making a sound, Bucky didn’t want to look too impressed but as he watched the man shift and melt into the shadows between the houses he couldn’t help a small flare of respect and also challenge. As Layne pulled back out onto the street and rounded the corner she sucked in a nervous breath at the sight of Michael, Cheryl, and two police officers out in front of the house. Lucas was leaning against the police car playing on his phone while Rosaline stood behind her mother, holding Cheryl’s hand in a desperate grip.

Even though they couldn’t hear anything, they could see Michael screaming at the officers who were trying to keep him separated from his ex wife. Layne pulled the black SUV up behind the police car and turned it off.

“If I let you get out and walk around the car all threateningly to get into the driver side instead of just sliding over will that make you feel better?” Layne asked.

Bucky chewed on that option for a bit, his eyes glinting with cold steel as he surveyed the scene in front of them. Looking up and down the street he could spot neighbors with their faces pressed against their front windows, some of the teenagers were hanging out their bedroom windows recording with cell phones. He looked at Layne who was watching him expectantly and then back out the window where Michael had stopped short as he noticed his baby sister and her ex-assassin boyfriend were in the front seat of the vehicle.

“No, he noticed me already and I don’t want Hydra to know we’re both away from the tower,” Bucky admitted. He knew Layne was making the correct calls, but for some reason it was harder for him to give up control now that the Soldier was more apart of him. The Soldier was used to working alone and a part of him hated taking orders despite the fact that that was what Bucky was more than okay doing. “You’re mission lead. I’ve got your backup.”

“Thank you. Ready, Agent Sweet?” Layne asked, locking eyes with her eldest brother.

“Got your back, Commander.”

#winter soldier x layne hardin #bucky barnes x layne hardin #bucky barnes x ofc #winter soldier x ofc #avengers #avengers fanfiction #marvel #marvel fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes #winter soldier fanfiction #winter soldier

[tracies-tales]

Needless to Say

Dan parked his car, pausing the 80′s playlist on his Spotify so that he and Arin could get a move on. They both looked up at the sign above the door of the tattoo parlor: Pretty in Ink. One of the best spots in the area for a tattoo, hands down. And also the one Dan had picked for his first piece of body art.

“Thanks for coming, again,” Dan said as he led the way towards the door. “I’m kind of a chicken shit when it comes to needles,” he added with a chuckle that turned out more nervous than dismissive.

Arin clapped his hand to Dan’s back, “No problem, man. You know I’m always gonna be there when you need me to be.”

Dan grinned, “I know.” The simple expression melted Arin’s heart. Seeing Dan in a good mood never failed to lift his spirits. He was always doing his best to keep Dan happy, because everyone deserved to bask in the sunshine Dan brought with him wherever he went. Although, sometimes Arin wished he was the main cause of Dan’s happiness. He so desperately wanted to tell Dan how he felt, he had for years, but he knew Dan’s playful banter they shared over sex jokes were just that--playful. Meant in jest. But even if Dan could never love Arin the way Arin loved him, Arin would be damned if he wasn’t going to make every day the best of Dan’s life.

And so now he was here, accompanying Dan to get a tattoo of he didn’t even know what. 

The door rang a small bell when they walked in. They were two of a small handful of other clients in the building who had their appointments that day. The woman at the desk looked up and smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear with a tattoo sleeved arm. “Come on in, guys,” she smiled, the streak of blonde highlighting the side of her head a stark contrast to the rest of her hair. “What can I do for ya?”

“I’ve got an appointment, actually,” Dan approached the desk. “We talked a little over your website’s chat room. Dan Avidan?”

“Oh, so you’re Danny,” she perked up. “I’m Suzy. I’ll actually be the one taking care of you today.”

“Great,” Dan smiled. “I brought my friend here for emotional support,” he gestured behind himself to Arin, who waved a little awkwardly.

Suzy chuckled, “I get that. This is your first, right?”

“Virgin skin, baby,” Dan clapped his hands together. “But I’m excited.”

“Glad to hear it.” Dan paid half up front before Suzy said, “Let’s get you back to a chair,” with a grin and led them off to a curtained off section of the room. Arin was curious as to why they needed a curtained section, sitting himself down as Dan took his spot nestled in the larger cushioned reclining seat. 

As Suzy prepared her colors and needles, Dan said, “Arin, I don’t want you looking at this while it’s getting done. I want it to be a surprise.”

Arin’s brow furrowed, “Okay, dude.”

Suzy said, “You can move that chair to the other side there,” and pointed to Dan’s opposite side. “And I’m gonna need you,” she looked at Dan, “to shift those pants down for me so I can get at your hip.”

Oh. So that’s why they needed a semi-private area. Arin was almost glad Dan didn’t want him watching, because Arin didn’t think he could handle watching Dan get a hip tattoo. He picked up his chair and set it down where Suzy had suggested, pointedly not watching Dan shimmy his pants down. He rolled to lay on his right side, facing Arin. 

“You comfy?” Suzy asked as she got out a home-made stencil.

“Yep,” Dan chirped.

“Alrighty, let me know if you need to take a break. We’ll be here for a couple hours.”

“Will do,” he grinned at her and looked back to Arin. “So, what brings you here?” he asked with a shit-eating smile.

Arin rolled his eyes and gently smacked Dan in the head. Dan giggled as Suzy got to work sketching an outline. She said, “This is going to be amazing on you.”

“You think so?” Dan asked.

“Yeah, I love the concept. I’m looking forward to executing it.”

“I should hope so,” Dan said, glad she seemed confident and not uncertain about whether she could. “My hip is in your hands,” he added seriously.

Suzy snorted, “I’ll take good care of it.”

Arin tried not to feel jealous of the comment; he knew Dan was kidding, but it was taking a lot to convince himself it wasn’t real flirting. Not to mention he was seriously beginning to wish Dan’s hip was in his hands at that particular moment in time. 

As soon as Arin heard the buzz of the tattoo gun, he felt a sudden grasp on his arm. He looked down to see a hand, eyes trailing up the arm to confirm it was Dan who’d almost instantly chosen to use him as a stress ball. Arin didn’t mind; to help keep Dan’s mind off things, he started asking him simple questions, stuff about new NSP videos and their upcoming gaming schedule for Grumps. Nothing that was out of the ordinary for them, but it did seem to help keep Dan occupied just well enough not to think about the permanent ink getting embedded into his side. 

At some point, Arin heard Suzy casually ask, “So, you guys must be pretty close, huh?” He had to pause and think about the connotations of her question. He had no idea how much time had passed; he’d been invested in making sure Dan was comfortable. He briefly began to wonder why she’d even asked in the first place. It sounded like she thought they were dating. That’s when Arin’s muscles constricted in horror when he noticed he’d been stroking Dan’s arm with his free hand for God knows how long. Dan still had a hold on his wrist, but in turn, Arin had almost mechanically started soothingly rubbing Dan’s forearm as though he were trying to calm a spastic puppy.

Before he could even get a word in edgewise, Dan said, “Yeah,” with his usual chipper tone, “of course. That’s why I asked him to come along.”

Damnit Daniel. That didn’t help. Suzy looked happy, anyway, saying, “That’s cool. Good for you guys.”

“Yeah, we’ve been friends for ages,” Dan continued, completely and utterly oblivious to Suzy’s subtext. Arin, however, was right in the thick of it, blushing to himself because Suzy was probably now convinced they were dating. If only that were true. 

Arin tried to force out a chuckle, debating whether he should clarify but stopping himself at the last second; he rather liked the thought that Suzy believed they were a couple. And it might even stop her from flirting again, if indeed that’s what she’d been doing. He tried not to be so possessive, but it was only one person. What harm would it do if she thought they were together? He ended up nodding and saying, “It’s been going well so far.”

“Glad to hear it,” Suzy grinned pleasantly as she continued her work.

Dan remained in the dark with regards to the conversation they’d just had. He asked, “Actually, can we take a quick break so I can get some water?”

“Sure thing, I’m at a good stopping point,” Suzy said, finishing up one last detail and setting the gun aside. “I’ll grab you a bottle.”

“Thank you,” Dan smiled. Suzy left and returned a few minutes later with a bottle, holding it out to him. Dan nodded in appreciation and took a few swigs before handing it to Arin. “Drink up, bud.”

Arin and Dan had shared drinks before, it was a nonissue. What made Arin pause was the fact that they were sharing drinks in front of a tattoo artist who definitely thought they were dating now if she hadn’t already. Regardless, Arin had been thirsty, so he took a couple gulps as well as Suzy got back to work.

Suzy asked, “So, Arin, you ever consider getting a tattoo?”

“Yeah, but I’m way too indecisive. I have no idea where I’d put it,” Arin replied.

Dan chuckled and said, “Whenever he makes up his mind, I’ll be going with him to hold his hand.”

Suzy chuckled, and Arin almost spit out his water when she said, “Yeah, I should hope so.”

That settled it. She thought they were boyfriends.

Arin tried not to let it bother him, but of course it did anyway. He wallowed in his own small world where he was there being the emotional support for his boyfriend. For Dan. The man he’d never be able to repay for how much joy he’d brought into his life. 

He was shaken out of his thoughts when Suzy said, “Alright, just about done.” All at once, Arin was dying to know what the tattoo was. The curiosity had been dampened by his mood during the process thus far. 

It took a few more minutes of work before Suzy nodded in satisfaction. “Alright, I think that does it. You’ll have to come back for another session to do the color.”

Dan smiled and looked down at his side, “Wow.”

She grinned, “You like it?”

“I love it,” Dan said, beginning to wiggle in the chair with excitement. Arin knew that if Dan had been standing, he’d be hopping in place. “Arin, time for the big reveal. Come take a look.”

Arin stood, trying his best not to look at it until he was standing beside Suzy to view it right side up. When he finally allowed himself to gaze upon it, he felt his jaw drop. It was the stylized unicorn from one of Dan’s favorite movies: The Last Unicorn. She was rearing up, her back hooves further down Dan’s hip while the front hooves stretched just around Dan’s side to the front of his torso, her horn reaching almost up to his ribcage as her tail swept along his side to his back. 

“Holy shit,” Arin said, still marveling at it. “She was right; you do rock this tattoo.”

“Aw, thanks, Arin,” Dan smiled and stood so he could go look at it in a full-length mirror. 

“I can’t wait to see it in color,” Arin said as he followed.

Dan nodded, hair bouncing, “About that...I want to get it in shades of blue and pink. Y’know, like...our favorite colors.”

Arin felt his throat constrict. He had so much he wanted to say to that, but he made himself refrain in exchange for a normal joke, “Sounds pretty gay, man.”

To Arin’s surprise, Dan said, “Yeah,” his tone much more serious than expected. He was giving Arin a small, knowing smile, “I know.”

Arin felt his stomach knot at the look. He opened his mouth, but all that came out was, “Oh.”

Dan giggled and reached over, lacing his fingers with Arin’s and side-stepping until their shoulders touched. He leaned his head into Arin’s as the pair gazed at the tattoo in the mirror together. Their eyes met in the reflection, and Arin’s face broke into a smile.

He said, “I think I’m really gonna like that.”

oh my god there’s 200 of you where did you all come from?? thank you all so much for joining me on this stupid self indulgent egobang blog, i’m glad you’ve enjoyed your time here!!

for the record, i’ve never gotten a tattoo so i hope to god this is at least sort’ve how it works XD i got the idea for this fic from this post here

#200 followers special #holy shit idek what to say #i'm so happy so many people like my writing #i appreciate you all so much #<333 #egobang #tattoo au #i'm so fuckin funny guys #ficlet #polygrumps

[artificialqueens]

Hold On To Me Chapter 13 {Biadore} - imafuckinglibra

Hello darkness my old friend…The end is near people, like, ‘the end is here’ near. Also apparently I made my beta cry (woops) sorry babe. And sorry but for once there’s no smut in this I apologize. That’s all I have to say about this chapter enjoy, k bye.

“No. Out. Now!” Roy harshly yelled pointing to the exit.

He had stopped dead in his tracks when he opened the door to the backstage area of the club and spotted a familiar face sitting on his vanity’s surface.

Kicking his long lanky legs hanging off the counter cheerfully and grinning at him bigger than someone who’s just won the lottery.

“Uh-uh.” Danny bit his lip shaking his head like a disobedient child.

“You look retarded. Who the fuck even let in here?” He stood his ground crossing his arms. Danny’s adorably endearing charm was not getting him out of this one. He knew the rules - no meeting in public settings.

“I did.” Detox emerged from the bathroom wearing nothing but her nude tights looking like some naked burned barbie doll.

“Of course you did.” He rolled his eyes. “Daniel…”

“Don’t hurt our baby!” Detox interjected throwing her arms around his shoulders, shielding him from the grumpy cuban queen.

“Your…no. No. You’re not working here so help me.” Roy warned dropping his bags next to Danny on the vanity. He stopped to put his hands either side of him and look him dead in the eyes. “Go home.”

“Uh-uh.”

“I’m serious. You’re not being as cute or funny as you think.”

“I’m very cute.” Danny smiled.

“I am going to strangle you one of these days.” Roy shook his head maintaining his authoritative stare.

Actually he didn’t mind having Danny there, he liked having the company and he hadn’t seen him a couple of days so he missed the little fucker. But being way too stubborn for his own good Roy wasn’t going to admit that and give Danny the satisfaction.

“Nobody’s buying the tough guy act pussyface, we all know about the lovin’.” Courtney magically appeared from behind another vanity.

“You have no proof.” Roy frowned at Danny. His bright smile only growing bigger the longer Roy glared at him which eventually made him cave and give him a quick peck. “Hi, now go home.”

Detox let go of him once she saw Roy wasn’t going to maul the poor boy and went back through the door leading to the bar. Once he was freed from the arms around him Danny placed his hands on either side of Roy’s hips pulling him closer. Trailing his hands back to hold onto his ass when Roy’s body hit his.

“I missed you.” He sighed dropping his head against Roy’s chest to listen to his heartbeat.

“If you still went to school you’d see me more.” Roy looked down at him, tucking a few strands of unruly hair behind his ears. “Regretting anything yet?”

While waiting for his answer Roy’s heart began growing heavier as he thought back on their conversation in the kitchen the first night Danny told him about dropping out.

-

“You’re what?” Roy shrieked letting go of his hold on Danny.

His eyes wide and his mouth flapping open unable to form a proper sentence.

‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’

“I’m dropping out. I won’t be your student anymore.” Danny shrugged lowering his hands from Roy’s neck to his waist.

“Is it because of me?” Roy’s hands went up to his head, running his fingers through his hair as he took a step back to take a breather. “Shit. Daniel if this is about me then, then…”

“It’s not.” Danny said calmly, standing there idly watching Roy’s pacing.

“You couldn’t wait 2 fucking months?”

“It’s not about you! I swear!” He tried walking back up to Roy, grabbing hold of his hands to stop his frantic to and fro.

Roy’s mind was a mess, a jumble of confusion and worry. If Danny were to drop out yes he wouldn’t be his student anymore but he’d be throwing his life away.

This beautiful young man standing in front of him, so bright with so much ahead of him, would be throwing his life away. He didn’t know how to react except staring blankly at him.

This is stupid. He was being unbelievably stupid! Why would he throw his life away like this? Yes people who drop out can still be successful but he knew Danny too well by now to know he doesn’t always make the most rational decisions.

“Hey, calm down.” Picking up on his internal freak out being worse than he was letting on Danny’s grip on his hands gave a tight squeeze before they went up to his face. His thumbs caressing his cheekbones to calm him down as much as he could.

Searching for any sense of comfort wherever he could get it his body instinctively relaxed into the warmth of his hands, his own coming up to hold onto his boney wrists for some stability.

“Is there any way I can talk you out of this?” He sighed trying to stop his mind from racing and just accept what was happening.

“No.” Danny shook his head with a faint smile on his face. “My mom and I talked about it during the days I missed school and I’ve been planning on dropping out since…”

“Sophomore year.” Roy finished his sentence.

“Yeah.” Danny nodded, leaning down to place a soft peck on Roy’s full lips.

A very smart way of getting him to calm down, the distraction of Danny’s lips gently brushing against his made Roy melt right on the spot.

‘I don’t want you to go…’ Roy thought.

He didn’t have the balls to admit to Danny that his resistance came from the fear that if he left school he’d leave him too.

He had grown far too attached for his own good to ever let him go at this point, a fear he never realized he had or could have till he so nearly lost him thanks to Raja’s mishap.

‘I don’t want you to go…I can’t say goodbye.’ He repeated in his mind hoping if he repeated it to himself enough eventually it would come out.

“If I let go will you run? Or you good?” Danny teased smushing his features together in his hands.

“Alright, alright. I’m good.” Roy placed his hands on Danny’s hips, his head a little clearer now after the initial shock fading. “When’s your last day? Do you even have a last day or…I don’t know, I don’t know how any of this works honestly.”

Danny smiled draping his arms over his shoulders again as they were previously. “I’m not sure yet, I had to talk to the guidance counselor the other day and they’re making me take these tests and get my GED. If I fail that then I can’t drop out.”

“Okay, so there’s still time before everything’s final?” Roy cocked a brow getting a nod from Danny after he thought it over a while. “And you’re sure I can’t talk you out of this?”

Danny shook his head. Can’t blame a guy for trying, he had to at least give it one final go to clear his conscious.

“I won’t freak out, again. Just tell me why you’re doing this.”

“Pizza.”

“What?” Roy snorted.

Was he really fucking dropping out for pizza? I mean it wouldn’t surprise him or anyone really it seemed to be the only thing on his mind 90% of the time. Roy’s dick apparently filling the other 10%.

No pun intended.

“Oh, pizza!” Roy ran back to the counter where their frozen dinner was sitting after Danny’s loud rumbling stomach answered for him.

Danny followed him resting his elbows on the countertop where Roy and his friends had been watching his old youtube videos a week earlier. Watching Roy’s every move as he thought of why he was leaving school.

If he had to be completely honest Roy did play a big part in his decision to give up on his education but it wasn’t just because of him.

School was packed with too many painful memories that he didn’t want to face anymore. The bullying, teasing, teachers telling him his attitude would get him in rehab, stress of all the assignments those were all so common they didn’t even matter to him anymore.

It was the pain beneath the surface, or in the case of his poor locker, it was the surface. Every time he’d walk past his freshman locker he’d be reminded of the pain he felt the last day of the year when he got the call of his father’s passing. Out of blind rage and sorrow he punched it so hard he broke 2 of his knuckles and his index finger.

But there was more.

Around every corner plastered on the blue walls he’d see the face of the pissed off jock who followed him home after school to yell obscenities in his ear after he bombed on Idols. Honoring this asshole who made his life hell for his athletic prowess.

The nurses office where he had cried in Michelle’s arms till he threw up after a bad trip from some fucked up drugs laced with something unknown that made him sick.

Of course the steps leading into the school were the worse. It’s been month since his fall and the concrete was still stained brown with his blood.

He couldn’t face any of it anymore. It wasn’t like he was running away from any of those bad times, he was just finally letting go.

The prospect of getting to be with Roy as his boyfriend and not just his quick fuck in a supply closet or goodnight FaceTimes was just the cherry on top.

“My grades suck, I mean you know that you gave them.” He started speaking while Roy unwrapped their meal. “And I’m not planning on ever going to college, like I want to be a performer. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do so, yeah. What’s the point? Kurt Cobain didn’t need to graduate.“

Roy got up from the oven slowly and turned around, his brows furrowed in a very amused ‘really bitch’ look. He leaned back against his sink with his hands next to him in the edge.

“Kurt Cobain is who you’re basing this decision on?”

“Nh-yeah.”

“The same guy who shot himself at 27? And wrote Polly wants a cracker I think I should get off her first?”

“Meow.” Danny nodded with a chuckle. Roy knew the words to Polly? The fuck?

“Seems uh…logical.”

“Neither did Courtney Love or David Bowie or Cher or Ozzy Osbourne or Pink or…” Danny quickly blurted out names.

“I get it.”

“You’re mad?” Danny’s smile fell.

“I’m a little disappointed not gonna lie, but uh, no. I’m not…I don’t think I’m mad.” Roy stepped closer to lean over the same countertop as Danny and take hold of his hands. “If you know what you’re doing and it makes you happy then, I’m happy. Just give me some time to think it over.”

“You know what would make me really happy right now?” Danny smirked. “If I get to blow you again.”

Roy rolled his eyes every annoyingly as he pushed himself off the counter and mumbled some obscurities under his breath while walking into the bedroom.

When he came back a minute later with the object he went to fetch he found Danny sitting outside on the balcony in the same chair as the first time he was there. His knees shaking and a freshly lit cigarette between his lips.

“You like balconies huh?”

“I like smoking. You won’t let me smoke inside.” His demeanor was suddenly completely different. Cold almost.

“What’s wrong?” Roy took a seat across from him, placing his hand on Danny’s knee to stop it’s shaking.

“Nothing.”

“Talk to me.”

“I know you think I’m a child and I don’t know what I want or what I’m doing,” Danny’s voice cracked and with trembling hands he took another drag from his cigarette hiding his mouth behind his hand as he usually did when he started crying. “But I’m not.”

“I don’t think that…I just,” Roy sighed. “You’re young. I remember being your age and how scary everything feels, but you have to try and look at things from my perspective. See how fucked up I feel.”

“Cher was 11 years younger than Sonny too.”

Roy nodded and decided this was just a losing battle. “Yeah.”

“I’m sorry.” Danny mouthed.

Seeing the boy he loved so much made Roy’s heart physically ache. How could someone so bright and full of possibilities fall so easily into despair?

“Hey. I got you babe.” Roy joked trying to lighten the mood as he shook his knee. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Danny just smiled halfheartedly and wiped away the tear that rolled down his cheek before any more could follow. “I didn’t mean to fuck up your life too.”

“You didn’t.” Roy quickly got up to go kneel between his legs, with a hand on each knee he spread his thighs so he could get closer to him. Hugging him tightly to reassure him everything would be okay. “I love you no matter what. I promise.”

“Love you too.”

“You want to come eat or stay outside, it’s cold as a witches tit out here. And I’m a fucking witch, I know how cold my tit is.”

Danny laughed a little at his stupidity bringing a smile to Roy’s face. “Can we just stay outside a bit?”

“Sure. But then show me your hand.” He held an open palm out waiting for Danny to put his injured hand on it.

Reluctantly he obliged and Roy went to work examining how bad the damage actually was. It hadn’t gotten bluer which was good, it was pretty swollen though which made him worry.

“I had to hit him. I told you you’re my only man, I wouldn’t let anyone else touch me even if we were open or you know, not together.” Danny whispered looking down to his lap.

“Good boy.” Roy praised releasing his hand to cup his face instead. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t tell you what to do, I’ll let you make this decision on your own. But all I ask is think everything over clearly okay?”

“Okay.” Danny nodded into his warm palm. “Can I blow you now?”

Roy laughed off his comment and wrapped his arms around him again, lifting not only himself but Danny as well to spin them so he’d be seated with Danny on his lap all in one seamless move.

They stayed snuggled up outside till Danny’s fine tuned pizza senses tingled and he made Roy get up to go feed them. The few minutes outside did give them enough time to discuss what’s next however and give Roy the opportunity to begin concocting a plan for the future.

-

“Hm…Nope. No regrets.” Danny shook his head.

“You said you got your scores back right?”

“Yeah.”

He obviously didn’t get the hint so after a few seconds of silence Roy spelled it out for him. “I’m waiting for your results bitch. How did it go?”

“I um…” Danny dropped his head making Roy’s heart drop straight out of his ass.

‘Oh god he failed it.’ Roy began panicking.

He knew Danny would be absolutely crushed if this didn’t pan out as hoped and no amount of pizza, terrible 80’s movies or bj’s would be able to patch that wound.

He took a deep inhale bracing himself for the worst and out of habit placed a reassuring hand on Danny’s.

“I got a 2 605!”

“You little fucker.” Roy laughed when Danny sprung up grabbing onto him so he could spin him. “I’m so proud!”

Roy grabbed onto his upper thighs so he could hold him up better as he continued peppering loud kisses all over face making him giggle uncontrollably.

“You are?” Danny’s giggles died down and he looked into his eyes.

“Of course I am. Mwah! Mwah! I’m so fucking proud.”

And he was. Roy had watched Danny, and of course helped him a few times, study for his GED tests. They were 5 in total and even after just the first one he was spent, but he never doubted that he could pull it off. He didn’t believe it about himself but Danny was a smart boy.

Which is why the news also saddened Roy if he had to be brutally honest. In the few weeks since dropping the bomb on him Roy had been a mess too, which he buried as deep down as possible away from Danny.

He still had his reservations about the whole idea and wether Danny was making the right decision, but he had vowed to be there for him every step of the way and he intended on honoring that.

On the bright side Danny was now technically just a regular 19 year old guy. They were no longer teacher and student. Which in some fucked up way Roy missed about their relationship. Relationship.

Fuck. They could actually have a relationship now.

“Proud enough to buy me a drink.” Danny cocked his brow with a shit eating grin bringing him abruptly back to reality.

“Hey.” Roy dropped him back onto the vanity’s counter. “Don’t push your luck.”

“Do I get a drink if I tell you mom thinks I’m out with the guys tonight which means I can stay at your place?”

“One.” Roy gave him another quick peck and went to sit down. Starting the daunting process of turning himself into the erotic clown, Bianca del Rio herself. “But you’re not working here.”

“Wasn’t planning on working in your stupid club anyway.” Danny pouted crossing his arms

“Sure, princess.”

“Coño.” He muttered under his breath sticking his bottom lip out further.

“Language, Noriega.”

“Why can’t I?” He angrily huffed through his nostrils.

“Because this is my club, bitch.”

“Actually…” Raja jumped into the conversation emerging from behind the door to the bar with his arm around Raven.

“It’s ours, bitch.” Raven waved a finger between them.

Roy dramatically rolled his eyes and decided to prioritize and focus on getting ready instead of arguing over something stupid with Danny.

“Hi, gorgeous.” Raja glided over in her trademark ethereal fashion to Danny and taking his hands in hers she lifted him up to hug him warmly. “Congratulations on being a little dropout baby.”

“And you’re welcome to perform here any time you want, sweetheart.” Raven chimed in throwing her arms around him to sandwich the boy between them.

“Stop trying to get on his good side because you drove him into…that thing’s, arms.” Roy snarled in Raja’s direction without ever looking at the already painted queen.

“Hey! That was weeks ago and I apologized.”

“It’s all good I forgive you.” Danny returned the hug before tilting his head to whisper directly into Raja’s ear. “But I’ll never forget.”

Raja shivered at his words and almost instantly let go of him.

“And this is for you.” Danny turned back to the now eyebrow less Roy dangling a key with a Manson keychain between his index finger and thumb.

“What’s that?” Roy asked without bothering to turn around to look at it.

“Your key.”

Roy had given Danny a key to his apartment the very night he told him he was dropping out when they were on the balcony, on the condition that it was for emergency cram sessions only.

“You know, if parents or friends or tests or…or life, I guess gets too much and you need to study in peace. You have a place.” Were his exact words. What Danny could make out at least, he was too distracted by the way he was nervously blushing to be paying attention.

Which of course meant he completely abused his new toy and showed up at the most seemingly random times at his apartment, a few times even when Roy wasn’t home.

Like the first week after he gave it to him when Roy came home from work and found Danny sleeping in his bed next to candy wrappers like some fucked up version of Goldilocks.

“Don’t need it anymore.” Danny shrugged.

“Hold on to it.” Roy finally looked up at him, smiling at him with those beautiful dimples.

“Huh?”

Roy placed the key back in his palms ad closed his fist around the small metal object. “Keep it. The offer still stands.”

Danny went blank for a moment to process that Roy had actually given him a key to his apartment. He was so caught up in everything else these last few weeks he didn’t even realize it till now.

When the lightbulb finally did spark to life however he lunged for Roy squealing uncontrollably. “You love me!”

“I take it back.” Roy groaned and tried to swipe it from him but Danny was quicker and held the key tighter between both palms like it was some precious jewel.

“No! Mine.” He pouted which made Roy laugh a little.

“I love you, you moron.” Roy pulled him down by his collar and gave him a quick kiss. “Go play with the other crossdressers while I get pretty.”

Danny turned on his heels and walked away to the bar where Detox had disappeared to earlier. Smiling over his shoulder as he did which made Roy shake his head.

He was wearing the same pastel shirt as one of the videos they’d watched of him and a tiara that he got god knows where which made him look absolutely adorable - or like a child. Probably both.

“He did it…” Roy’s smiled dropped when Danny was out the door and slowly dread began setting in which made his mood sink as low as he did into his palms.

His mind was racing again with the guilt of being the reason Danny was dropping weighing unbearably heavy on him. He had explained to him several times he wasn’t the reason but Roy couldn’t help but feel responsible.

Like if he had just left Danny alone and never engaged with him in the first place he might still be trying to graduate.

He looked up into the mirror at his reflection, intensely glaring at the man staring back at him. Was he being selfish for wanting a relationship with Danny if this was what it took?

And was he being selfish for hoping he’d want to move back to New York with him instead of staying here with his family and persuing his own life?

“Oh God…What have I done?”

-

Roy - 14:03

I should be home in 30, come pick up your jeans

Danny - 14:04

Or you can keep them and I’ll never wear pants again 😉😉😉

Roy looked down smiling at his phone waving his last student walking out the door goodbye after the final bell for the day rang.

Danny did end up spending the night, and getting his drink, as a reward for getting his GED and now being free from any school related duties.

But somewhere in the heat of the moment Danny’s jeans went flying god knows where and in the frenzy of it all the zipper’s button snapped off. So being the gentleman he is Roy fixed it up for him after sending him home with one of his sweatpants.

Roy - 14:04

I wouldn’t be mad at it

He was surprised Danny even had any clothes left to wear at this point. He had an annoying habit of leaving everything around Roy’s apartment as he went along, like he was leaving a trail of discarded flannels and hoodies in case he got lost and needed to find his way back.

Roy dropped his phone onto his desk after turning it on vibrate to try and finish the last few papers he had left as quickly as possible so he could get home before Danny.

While reading Matt, one of Danny’s friends’, piss poor report on his analysis of Macbeth he got so discouraged by his insane ignorance he dropped his head into his palms and completely missed the fact that someone had entered the empty classroom.

Danny saw Roy was too lost in his work lazily chewing on his pen so instead of announcing his arrival he tip toed to the front of his desk.

He couldn’t help the bright smile and pink tint forming on his cheeks as he watched his boyfriend’s concentrated reading. He leaned forward ever so slightly closer and rested his hands on each side of Roy’s work.

“Mr. Haylock?”

Just as planned when Roy lifted his head to answer whoever called him his lips hit Danny’s strategically hovering over him.

“Hi.” Danny smiled when Roy jumped back from their kiss.

“What are you?” Roy nervously laughed quickly jumping up to close the class’s door. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to empty out my locker and figured maybe you could give me a ride home?”

“It’s real then.” Roy thought out loud, crossing his arms and looking down at the floor. This was real. Danny was officially a high school drop out.

“Yeah, it…it is.” Danny’s eyes started stinging.

As if he registered the fall in emotions the moment it happened Roy stepped closer, embracing him warmly.

“Hey, no crying anymore. I’m so, so proud of you. You’re so brave for doing this and you know I’m here behind you every step of the way.”

“It’s over.” Was all Danny seemed to be able to muster.

Truth be told the reality of what he had done finally hit him too. The reality of everything actually did.

He was a drop out, Roy’s 3 months as the substitute was soon over…everything was ending. It felt so surreal yet so freeing, so liberating.

In another month Roy would no longer be a teacher, at all, and they would be…normal.

In the course of the 2 months he had gone from feeling helpless and afraid of the future to actually being optimistic about what was to come, all because of Roy.

Because of all the lessons he had taught him not just the literal ones in these now empty desks but the kind he’d cherish forever.

He had taught him to never doubt himself, never listen to that voice inside yourself telling you your not good enough even if those voices were coming as snide remarks from others.

He had also learned never to take Raja, or Sutan he finally discovered, too seriously but that was another matter.

And he had learned that those who love you, truly wholeheartedly love you, will stick by you through everything regardless of their approval of your plans.

Unlike Jay who wrote him off after telling him he’s dropping out. Roy, his mom, Aaron and the rest of his friends as well as his new drag sisters were all there for him and supported him through every hard weekend of relentless cramming for his tests.

Still, a fucking whirlwind of a chapter of his life was coming to an end and it had crept up on him far sooner than anticipated.

As everything was tumbling around in his mind his emotions got the better of him and he found himself weeping uncontrollably into the collar of the arm so protectively around him.

Instead of letting up Roy kept his hold as secure as ever on him, whispering sweet words of praise and encouragement into his ear.

“I don’t want you to leave.” Roy whispered having finally built up the courage to say the words after weeks of heart ache.

“School?”

“Me.”

“Never.” Danny’s fingers clung tighter into the shirt he was holding onto. Crinkling the fabric in his balled up fists.

How could Roy ever say that? Ever think he’d leave him like that after everything they’d been through?

“I never want to leave you. Ever, ever, ever.” He kept repeating with his tears now flowing heavier than before till his collar was completed drenched. He buried his face into Roy’s neck and brought his hand up to the back of his head. “I can’t ever leave you. I love you too much it would k…ki..”

When the lump in his throat from sobbing got the better of him he was unable to even finish his sentence, instead he lifted his head to kiss Roy as passionately as he could. His difficult, strained breathing and the tears from his face dampening Roy’s cheek didn’t stop deter either though.

“How much time do you have before going home?” Roy finally broke up their kiss, taking a second to wipe away the tears from Danny’s cheeks with his sleeve.

“I got some time.” Danny answered through his sniffling. “Why you want a final go in the supply closet?”

“You whore.” Roy laughed which made Danny laugh weakly a little too. “No. Because I thought while you’re over at my place picking up your shit you can stay for lunch maybe. I um…I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Sure. I’d like that.” Danny smiled. “Can I just do one last thing?”

“What?”

Danny kissed him softly again and took his hand, leading him to the door of the supply closet. “It’s not what you think. Do you have a key or something sharp?”

“Something…no.” Roy nervously laughed. “Danny, you’re asking for trouble here.”

“I’m not. And this is our spot, isn’t it?”

“That’s sadder than I think you realize.”

“Whatever.” Danny rolled his eyes and held his palm out with a raised brow waiting for Roy to give him his key.

“I am going to miss this closet though.” Roy sighed. Fucked up as it was it was their spot, they had always found themselves behind that very door many an afternoon even during Danny’s busy studying schedule.

“Sames. D…plus…R” Danny began carving their initials into the wood at the bottom of the door as Roy watched waiting for that little tongue to poke out any moment.

“Forever.” Roy added making Danny blush.

“Forever.” He added and incased their message in a heart. Very cliche, very cheesy, but very worth it.

“Now what?” Roy took a deep inhale as Danny stood back up next to him.

-

As they made their way through the deserted corridors the younger took the time to reminisce.

Pointing at seemingly unimportant random spots and locations. For example, the girl’s bathroom where he smoked weed with chola’s so their boyfriends wouldn’t beat him up. The class where he had world politics sophomore year and blew a guy for the first time. The locker he had freshman year that still had he dent in it.

When they approached his current locker, now completely empty and looking somberly abandoned they both stopped to mourn having to leave behind the spot they met.

The same spot where Danny had sat kicking his boots many afternoons, sometimes even for an hour after the final bell rang, contemplating what he was doing with his life.

Unimportant and mundane to the average person but unbelievably sentimental to both since the day Roy caught him mid day dream and asked for directions to the principal’s office.

Too lost staring at this significant spot where they first laid eyes on each other their bodies worked on their own and reached for the other. Their fingers grazing over each other for a split second searching for some comfort as the silently said goodbye to it.

Roy never imagined in a million years that the first day he’d walk into the small Californian town he’d meet someone who’d become such a big part of his life.

Someone who would break down the 10ft iron walls he had surrounded himself with so easily. Someone who made him feel so safe that he doubted he’d ever need them again.

Despite the rocky start to their relationship and the fact that Danny seemed so fragile at times Roy never regretted any second of it, he wanted to be the one who picked up any broken pieces of him.

Or any discarded candy wrappers and clothing on the bed or couch which was a much more regular occurrence.

With a final deep sigh Danny picked up the box of his belongings and with Roy’s hand on his back very similar to the first night in the bar that Roy had saved him they walked out the school’s big metal doors into the parking lot together for the last time.

-

“I can totally see why they call her the shady elephant! How she even manages to teach anything when she’s probably spending all day thinking about sandwiches is a miracle.” Roy laughed into the the phone pressed between his ear and his shoulder as he poured himself some wine.

Darriene Lake, the real full time english teacher at the school had decided to return 2 weeks early claiming that although motherhood was fun, she was over it.

Roy didn’t mind one bit though. He had had it with trying to teach idiot stoners, jocks and everything in between the difference between they’re, there and their.

As soon as his meeting ended with the principal and Darienne, which lasted 2 fucking hours after school, he stopped by a thrift store that had a System Of A Down shirt in the window to buy it for Danny as a surprise.

He then rushed home and called Sutan and Shane to celebrate his new freedom as well as the official beginning of his life as a full time costumier.

“Alright, alright, pussyface.” Shane laughed over the speaker on the other end. “Sutan is picking me up in 5 minutes so we’ll probably be there in like 15 hold off on the shade till then.”

“Fine, but bring wine, I’m officially out.” He laughed tipping the bottle on its head letting the single drop of red wine fall on the floor.

“Aye aye. Love you.”

“Love you.” Roy clicked the little red icon on his phone and hung up.

He began scrolling through his recent history looking for Danny’s number to fill him in on the good news and maybe invite him too when the doorbell rang.

‘Maybe Shane misunderstood?’ Roy tried debating in his head over who it could be.

He expected one of his loud mouth hippy neighbors or Sutan or even Raven for that matter to open the door but instead he was met with a far more disastrous face.

“Hi.” Danny whispered from behind the hand hovering in front of his mouth. His eyes puffy and a deep shade of red presumably from crying for a couple of hours.

“Baby.” Roy quickly pulled him into the apartment the minute tears began pouring and embraced him as securely as possible. “Shh, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

As Roy tried his best to calm the body shivering and shaking between his arms Danny struggled to find the words he needed.

“Roy…” He breathed out between sniffles. “Roy, I’m…”

“What’s wrong?” Roy took his face in his hands. “Talk to me.”

“I’m so sorry.” He whispered shaking his head. Somehow by the grace of whoever or whatever deity he managed to get his emotions under control as he took the wrists of the hands holding on to him. “I just talked to um, my mom…and Chris and, yeah.”

Roy could feel his heart drop between them and shatter into a million tiny pieces - this couldn’t be good.

As soon as his fragile heart hit the cold hard floor the first bricks of the wall he previously had demolished began reassembling themselves piece by piece.

“About what?” His demeanor changed, probably not too noticeable but he felt it. The way his cold side was bubbling up to the surface as a shield in case the answer was too painful.

“Can we uh, can we sit? Outside maybe?” Danny tilted his head back. Once Roy nodded and let go of his face the pair made their way to their usual seats out on the balcony.

Danny took out a cigarette from the small carton in his oversized coat pocket and with trembling hands he tried lighting it till Roy took the lighter and did it for him.

“Thanks.” He smiled blowing out the first puff of smoke.

“So?” Okay now it was noticeable, shit.

Danny had to take another deep inhale of thick nicotine laced smoke to shield himself from the harsher side of Roy coming out already.

“We, we talked about it for a while and since I no longer have school or anything interfering, okay wait. Let me start from the beginning. Chris and I have always had this very like Romy and Michelle plan after graduation.”

As he was speaking he picked up on Roy subtly leaning further and further back into his chair, distancing himself from Danny’s words.

“I’m moving to Texas, with Chris. My mom already planned everything out for me.” He blurted out the bad news as fast as he could scared if he didn’t he would make it.

Roy slowly nodded, his face and body language remaining completely neutral to hide the chaos raging inside him.

He was leaving, to Texas. A whole 27 hours’ drive away from New York and away from him. He wasn’t sure if he should fight or flee, and how could he fight? It wasn’t like Danny would ever choose living in a shoebox apartment in a strange, scary big city with him rather than be with his best friend.

“Roy?” Danny’s voice cracked again after breaking the awkward silence. “Say something.”

“Is this goodbye?”

“No, no it doesn’t have to…”

“Then why does it feel like it.” He snapped cutting his defense short, scowling under hazy eyes.

Nothing could’ve prepared Danny for this, he knew this wouldn’t go down well but he was so thrown back by just how earth shattering Roy’s callousness was that he didn’t even know how to respond.

Maybe this was goodbye after all.

“Wh-when?” Roy quickly wiped his eyes to hide the fact that they were tearing up.

“Um, Saturday.”

“Okay.” Roy sighed deeply unsure of what to say or how to react.

“Roy I…I tried fighting it I promise I did! But my mom wouldn’t listen she said that was the plan before I fucked it up with dropping out and I’m not allowed to bail again or some shit and, and, and I’m so fucking sorry.” The more he tried explaining why this was happening the more his voice disappeared into the background noises of cars passing.

“Okay.” Roy nodded again looking down at his lap brushing away the teardrop that sunk into his pants.

Danny knew what his standoffish behavior was masking. He had seen how sensitive Roy could be behind closed doors and how quickly he could shut down to avoid pain. But he couldn’t stay, having to tell Roy was bad enough but having to see his reaction was just unbearable.

Before Roy could react Danny had lifted himself off the chair. He leaned down cupping Roy’s cheeks to say goodbye one last time.

“I have to go.” He mouthed against his lips when Roy’s hands came up to hold onto his.

Slowly Roy watched him straighten up and pull his hands out of his grip, his pale long fingers slipping through his. He was a english teacher for christ sake and knew this was probably some deep metaphor type shit but fuck that.

Fuck everything.

He couldn’t focus or care about anything right now except the intense shooting pain through his chest. As if Danny had grabbed his heart through his chest during their kiss and was now going to leave with it forever.

His fight instincts finally taking over he ran after him just before he got to the door. He grabbed onto him from the back with all his might and began crying against his shoulders.

Crying like he never has before or even knew he was capable of. But that’s what Danny did, he brought out every aspect of Roy he didn’t even know he possessed.

He made him whole and the hopeless, soul crushing feeling of losing him was something he had experienced one too many times in the recent past and it had finally pushed him over the edge.

“Don’t go, please don’t go.” He screamed into his shoulders as tears began staining the thin fabric of his shirt.

Danny didn’t respond.

Instead he just stood there with his hands on the arms around his waist and wept. He was caught between the worlds most stubborn rock and a hard place.

His mother being the rock. He loved her too much to ever go against anything she said and she was far too stubborn to ever change her mind about him going off on his own.

He was too exhausted to react to anything or feel anything anymore, he had spent the last 4 hours trying to explain to his mom he needed some time to just be himself and do what he want before deciding anything but she kept telling him that was no longer an option.

On the other hand listening to her meant leaving Roy behind. And leaving behind the man he loved more than anything in the whole world, the whole galaxy, was even more painful.

He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what to think anymore.

While he was shutting down Roy had dropped to his knees a complete mess of a man behind him still clinging onto his waist, pulling on any fabric his hands could reach to keep him from going. “Danny…Don’t leave, please.”

“I have to.” Danny whispered without turning around to look at him. He couldn’t. Seeing Roy that disheveled and brought to his lowest of lows was too excruciating.

When the door closed behind Danny Roy’s arms fell limply to his sides and he was left simple staring at the door as tears continued streaming down his cheeks. Still on his knees and completely paralyzed.

Every bone, every muscle, every fibre of his being felt numb. He felt numb. Everything felt cold and distant, like he was in a trance and there was now way out. No light at the end of the tunnel anymore.

“Howdy how…” Shane greeted when he and Raja arrived at his apartment a few minutes later but when they spotted the empty shell that Roy once was still as Danny had left him they quickly dropped everything and surrounded him.

“What’s wrong!?” Sutan took his jaw in both of his tan tattooed hands and looked straight into Roy’s dead brown eyes.

“He left…”

Saying those words felt to surreal, but hearing them sent Roy even further down his new found bottomless pit.

He fell back away from Sutan’s grip onto the hardwood floor covering his face with his hands bursting into uncontainable crying.

Sutan and Shane looked up at each other knowing exactly what he meant without needing any context. Shane took his head and lifted it into his lap like a mother soothing her child running his fingers across his temples.

Sutan on the other hand called Raven and asked him to stay home till they had sorted everything out before he joined them on the floor again.

Trying his best to coach Roy’s breathing as he heaved in Shane’s lap with his hands now on his chest clutching Sutan’s gasping for air between his wails.

“He…le-left…he’s gone…”

#hold on to me #imafuckinglibra #high school au #student/teacher #m/m au #angst #bianca del rio #adore delano #rpdr fanfiction #submission #tw swearing #queen au