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straightlikewetspaghetti · 3 years

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Rancho Love

Pairings:

Main: Poppy x MC (Bea Hughes)

Secondary: Chloe x Veronica, Zoey x ??

Warnings: none

Love is a strong feeling, a bond, an interpersonal relationship that is difficult to clearly define and explain.

Hate is sometimes contrasted with love and described as an agonizing feeling, resulting from pain associated with feelings of hurt, revenge, hostility and deception.

It’s funny how thin line separates these two feelings...

At the beginning of the vacations, Bea went to her grandmother's ranch to prepare it for the arrival of unexpected guests. Today was the day of their arrival and the brunette sat on the porch, nervously shaking her leg.

It wasn't long before a black SUV belonging to her best friend pulled onto her property. In a flash, Zoey jumped out of it and locked Bea in a firm hug, even though it hadn't been that long since they last met.

Out of the corner of her eye, the brunette noticed Veronica and Chloe standing behind the black-haired girl. Bea and Veronica exchanged knowing glances, sparing each other unnecessary closeness, unlike Chloe, who had been acting like an overexcited puppy ever since she and Veronica got together. The blonde threw herself at Bea with a squeal and hugged her with a strength she would never have suspected. Despite the odds, it was a pleasant feeling.

When she released herself from the hug, she knew someone was missing. She glanced at Zoey, who only sighed. Bea took note of the dark circles under her eyes and obvious fatigue that was showing on her friend's face, which could mean that the princess had given her quite a hard time during the trip. "And what is the name of this little cutie." Chloe dropped to her knees and began exaggeratedly petting the overjoyed dog that magically appeared next to the brunette.

"Drake."

"Like the rapper?" the puzzled blonde asked.

"Never change, Chlo" Veronica laughed placing a soft kiss on Chloe's head.

"No, like a dragon, because his breath is murderous." the brunette playfully snapped her mouth and put emphasis on the last word as if she were talking to a small child.

The girls laughed and all the tension that was hiding inside Bea dissipated like a bad weather. She had forgotten that without Poppy, Chloe and Veronica were actually very bearable.

"How can you expect me to function under such conditions?" speaking of the devil, a clear high-pitched squeak pierced the silence of the ranch, causing even nearby grazing Sheridan to lay his ears down. Bea's head twitched involuntarily, a tic she had developed at the sound of that particular tone of voice. "Zoey! Come here!"

The girl looked pleadingly at Bea and mouthed silently "Help me." The brunette smiled in understanding and headed towards the car Poppy was standing by. Bea approached quietly, causing the preoccupied blonde to not even notice her. She took advantage of the peaceful moment to take a closer look at her.

Poppy was rummaging through the trunk, probably looking for something. Bea couldn't help but notice the way the girl's jeans perfectly framed her well-defined curves. In an instant, memories of that one night when Poppy had proved to her that she had to dominate on every level, began to flow into her head.

The girl standing before her was the picture of perfection. Her silky blonde hair was tied up in a heavy knot, revealing a slender neck that Bea loved to tease. Her entire outfit perfectly exemplified her sense of style and elegance, which she always groomed to a fault. Against the landscape of the countryside she stood out like a sore thumb.

"Do you want to go to the bathroom or do you always have such an idiotic expression on your face?" the malicious comment from Poppy snapped her out of her reverie and worked on her like a bucket of cold water.

"It's good to see you too Pops." she said in a calm voice, as if she hadn't literally fantasized about the girl standing in front of her a moment ago.

Poppy turned her head towards her and smiled flirtatiously, though Bea knew that smile hid disdain and annoyance. "I didn't feel the need to lie." she shrugged and went back to her previous activity.

Bea laughed under her breath and nodded. The audacity of this girl will be the death of her. "How can I help you?"

"You finally offered? What a wonderful woman you are!" Poppy sneered, placing an amount of baggage in Bea's hands that nearly knocked the brunette to the ground. "Jesus Christ Poppy, you came here for a month, not a lifetime!" Bea's voice was barely audible over the amount of suitcases crushing her person. Trying to take in the situation, her muscles tensed visibly and out of the corner of her eye she noticed a familiar glint in the blonde's eye. Poppy giggled innocently, but her gaze was wary and sharp. She scrutinized Bea from head to toe and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "You wouldn't handle me, Farmsville." "Is that a challenge?" Bea stood sideways and tensed as much as possible to dominate the blonde with her stature. A shiver of indefinable fascination ran through her veins at the thought of competition.

Poppy just rolled her eyes, but as she walked away, she ran her fingertips gently, almost imperceptibly, over the brunette's shoulder, which, along with the amount of baggage, made Bea's legs buckle more and more. With an idiotic grin on her face, the brunette watched Poppy's hips move mesmerizingly. In any normal situation she would have thrown her luggage and pounced on the blonde like a predator, but somewhere in the back of her mind she remembered that the girl was a first class manipulator. Only around Poppy did Bea feel that showing any emotion besides lust was a weakness. Their game of hot’n’cold had gone on for so long that Bea's feelings were lost as she herself was. And even after so long of their physical closeness, they hated each other to the marrow of their bones. Poppy Min Sinclair was one big game Bea felt she was losing. After less than an hour, each of the girls was put in their own rooms and once again they all met on the porch to come up with some common activity, much to Poppy's displeasure. "Howdy ladies! You are a blessing to the sore eyes of a man." Their conversation was interrupted by a low male voice and the clatter of hooves. They all fell silent and looked at the intruder, who was watching them from the back of his powerful steed with an all too friendly smile. Bea was the only one who reciprocated the smile and ran up to him with Drake faithfully at her side.

"Alex you corny chum! I didn't even know you were around." excited Bea waited patiently until the boy slid off his horse and embraced her tightly and a little too long, which didn't escape the girls attention, especially the peculiar blonde. The brunette pulled away from her friend and looked at the slightly amused girls "Ah, but where my manners are!"

"They don't exist." muttered the bored blonde, eyeing her manicure carefully, not even lifting her eyes to the brunette

Bea just rolled her eyes, but didn't let Poppy's grumpiness ruin the moment for her. "Girls, this is Alex, Alex this is Zoey, Veronica, Chloe and Satan, I mean..." she took a dramatic pause to make sure the blonde was paying attention. "Poppy." "The best thing for last." Poppy's voice was low, much lower than her typical squeak.

Bea sensed what was going on and stood between Alex and the blonde, creating a safe space. She looked at Poppy with a scolding look, but the corners of the girl's mouth were only twisted in a minimal mischievous grin that no one else noticed. "Keep it in your pants, Sinclair." Zoey spoke up with disdain as she observed the blonde's pathetic behavior. Alex, hearing this, laughed sincerely and then smiled coquettishly at Zoey. When she looked at him, he squatted closer to her, causing an outline of a blush to appear on her cheeks. She returned the smile. “Can we like, not fight for a sec?” Chloe shy and concerned voice broke through the tension. Veronica stood behind her, proudly holding her around the waist and measuring Poppy with a cautious, almost warning look. Poppy rolled her eyes and scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, but remained silent. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chloe smiling in her direction and even her emotionless facade couldn't ignore the smaller blonde puppy eyes. She felt weird, fuzzy feeling inside. "What brings you here pal?" Bea finally spoke up when the situation had calmed down somewhat and nobody was threatening to jump down each other throats. The boy tore his gaze away from a still blushing Zoey and looked at the brunette as if he had only now discovered that he had actually come to her with a reason. "Yeah, right..." he laughed nervously scratching the back of his neck and reluctantly stepping away from the black-haired girl. "Judy asked me to bring Spot." he pointed to a black and white mare that was nibbling the grass, looking with interest at Sheridan, who was grazing nearby.

"Even nana knew you were here and she didn't tell me?" Bea didn't hide her surprise at Alex's words.

"What a wonderful friend you are." sneered the blonde under her breath.

Alex chuckled, but stopped immediately when Bea flashed him a menacing stare. "Look, I wanted to use the element of surprise." "Of course." the brunette sighed. "While you're here, why don't we give the girls a tour of the ranch?" Bea looked smugly in Zoey's direction and Alex immediately caught what she meant.

"There's no way my foot is going to get anywhere near these... Stinky animals." Poppy wrinkled her nose with visible disgust on her face.

"I'm pretty sure they don't want it as much as you do." Zoey retorted, earning a nudge in the shoulder from Chloe. "All right..." Bea pushed Alex, Zoey, Chloe and Veronica towards the stables. "Go on now, and we'll join you in a moment."

It couldn't be without a mischievous smirk from the boy, but he didn't say a thing. Obediently he began to head towards the stables with the rest of them, Zoey noticeably walking closest to him. Bea lifted her eyes up and counted down to ten in her head to calm herself down. If it wasn't for Poppy's parents' pleading, she would never have agreed to her coming here, but somewhere deep down she hoped the blonde wouldn't be so problematic. She began to wonder for whom this was the bigger punishment.

She turned on her heel to say something to Poppy, but her voice froze in her throat when she saw, one of the most adorable scenes of her life: Poppy was kneeling beside Drake and vigorously scratching his stomach. Her voice was soft and gentle as she whispered sweet nothings to him.

Despite herself, the brunette smiled softly, remembering that even such a cold person had a weakness for dogs.

"I should charge you for looking." Poppy didn't look away from Drake, but Bea saw the gentle smile dedicated to her and not the dog. "I like this side of you." she began, slowly walking toward her. "The gentle and happy one. Why are you forcefully trying to make our lives difficult?"

Poppy's hand hovered over Drake's stomach and there was a heavy silence. Bea gulped nervously, expecting an outburst from the blonde that never came. Instead, Poppy rose from her knees and looked blankly in her direction. "There is no such a thing." her voice sounded incredibly flat, which was much more threatening than her typical screech. "I didn't ask to be here." she put her arms around her waist and turned dramatically to her side. For the first time Bea saw the real Poppy, the one she tries to hide under her harsh persona. She looked extremely lost and hurt, but the brunette couldn't be sure without knowing what was hiding in her head. And for the first time Bea wanted to know what the girl standing in front of her was thinking and feeling. And it was terrifying.

"You wouldn't have to be here if you weren't trying to act like a brat." it wasn't the most pleasant thing she could answer, but it didn't miss the truth.

"Trying?" Poppy looked at her with rising curiosity. "By what do you assume that I'm trying and I'm not like that?" she asked without waiting for an answer. "Since when do you know anything about me, other than the size of my underwear?" As much as she hated to admit it, Poppy had a point. She couldn't be sure which one was the real one, but she tried to go on. "Because you sound like a coward. And I know..."

"You know nothing about me." she snapped, unable to listen to the cruel truth.

"And I know..." Bea continued ignoring her and coming face to face with the blonde, who now seemed much, much smaller and dimmer. "That somewhere deep down, there is a real Poppy that I could..." fall for. The brunette didn't finish that sentence, again settling an awkward silence between them.

Poppy looked straight into her eyes, probably searching for something there. After a moment, she lowered her gaze and trembled. She sighed quietly and carefully grasped the brunette's hand. "Focus on the me you see there..." she pressed it to her chest, where her heart was pounding like a herd of galloping horses. "Because she's focusing on you too." Before she could answer anything, Alex's voice rang out: "Are you slowpokes gonna finally come here?"

"We're coming!" replied Bea, tilting her head toward him but not taking her eyes off the blonde. She felt Poppy withdraw her hand from her in a flash and put her typical look of annoyance on her face.

"You don't have to miss me like that!" The blonde almost purred those words and walked towards the stables, leaving an even more confused Bea alone.

#the end?#poppy min sinclair #poppy x mc #playchoices #choices #queen b #veronica lombardi #veronica x chloe #chloe st james

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poppysmc · 3 years

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You Bet

CHAPTER 1: Wanna Bet?

NOTE: This is just a reupload. English isn’t my first language so sorry for the mistakes. Thank you for reading! You could also read it here in AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26281492/chapters/63981955

"Hey Pop. Isn’t that the new girl?” Veronica whispers to her as she extends her arms, blocking her from walking. Poppy expresses her disinterest with a scoff, not even bothering to look up from her phone.

I don’t care.” Poppy exhales, pushing her arms aside and continues walking. When she doesn’t follow, she resorts to dragging Veronica by her arm, whose gaze is still locked to the blonde girl.

“Seriously V? Concentrate. Watch where you’re going.” Poppy chides her, peeved at her diverted attention. Veronica narrowly dodges the column, Poppy chuckles and the look on her face says “I told you so.” She barely dodges a trashcan herself, as she’s laughing. She pretends not to notice Veronica’s deadpan expression.

“Anyway… Look. she’s your type. Hot, blonde and fierce.” Veronica knows that will get her attention in an instant. Poppy stops in her tracks and abruptly looks up, earning a laugh from Veronica. She scrutinizes the girl in front of her with narrowed eyes, looking for any imperfections but all she can find are her off brand clothing. And she is gorgeous…damn. Poppy immediately straightens up; closing her mouth and schools her face into a disinterested scowl.

“I knew it.” Veronica smirks at her, thrilled at her discovery. “You have the hots for Farmsville.”

“I’m not interested.” Veronica gives her a knowing look, she directs her gaze back to the new girl and laughs at the scene. Poppy follows her gaze to the benches, they see the new girl in a fiery argument with Chloe, their friend fuming, her voice in a near shouts and the new girl bites back.

“Are you gonna rescue Chloe? Please say yes.” Veronica asks her, delighted, as she’s already getting her phone out. “This is going to be interesting.” They both sidle up to Chloe in show of support. Poppy gets into a confrontation with the new girl, giving her a few choice nicknames. She is pleasantly surprised that the girl did have fire in her. Who else would take her head on? Veronica is right, she is her type.

Their squabble quickly becomes heated, with the new girl threatening to usurp her. In the middle of their verbal beat down, the new girl is suddenly pulled away and disappears into a building. Leaving her staring at the spot where she was standing.

Veronica starts laughing, pointing her camera to the queen's perplexed face. “The look on your face Pop. I guess newbie already has a knight in shining armor.” Poppy does get a bit jealous at that, but knowing Veronica, she’s just trying to get a reaction out of her for her Veronicats.

She doesn’t humor her with a response, instead she walks to the benches, glaring at the crowd still lingering around them. They disperse rather quickly, terrified of her temper. She admonishes Chloe for being too carried away with her anger.

A few minutes later, Veronica suddenly jumps, startling Chloe. “I’ve got an idea.”

“No.” Poppy quickly retorts. Veronica and her sudden ideas are not a good combination.

“Oh come on, this one’s really interesting.” Veronica tries to convince Poppy to listen to what she has to say.

“The last few times you said that you got us all in trouble.” Chloe reminds her, shuddering at the memory.

Looking at Poppy with puppy dog eyes, Veronica pleads with her.

“Spit it out. Can’t I have my lunch in peace?” Poppy finally looks at her, clearly irritated. Veronica just beams in response, used to her temper, she knows that it’s all for show and that she has a soft spot for her friends.

“Let’s have a bet.” She says excitedly, certain that the strawberry blonde never backs down from any challenge. The indignant look that crosses Poppy's face alone is worth it.

“What bet?” She eyes her suspiciously.

Veronica smirks at her, knowing she’ll accept it eventually. “Make Morgan Hughes fall in love with you.” Her eyes sparkle mischievously. “Your time limit is a month; you can choose to do whatever you want after. I’ll give you my Lamborghini if you win, you give me your Bugatti if you fail.”

“Seriously Pop, are you scared? I said “if” she falls in love, dont be so sure of yourself. To make this interesting I can be your personal chauffer for a month and all my vlogs will be Poppy-centric.” Hook, line and sinker.

She thinks for a moment. and responds. “I’m Poppy Min-Sinclair, I’m never scared. But if this blows up in our faces, I’m blaming you.” Poppy jabs a finger in her chest, then forcefully prods her food, her head already churning out ideas.

“I knew you couldn’t resist. You better start now. From what I saw this morning you’re already at a disadvantage. tick tock!”

#poppy x mc #Poppy Min Sinclair #myfic #you bet

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not-playable-character · 3 years

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Edit: new link https://archiveofourown.org/works/32099263

ITS DONE!!!! Finally, the RE8 meets RE7 fic is finished and posted! so for everyone wondering and if you didn't figure it out already. The image I posted earlier is the seating arrangement of the gang as they play the game. As always its posted on AO3 and under the cut. I hope you enjoy @ibest14 I never actually played RE7 but I watched a walkthrough to write this.

It was a normal Saturday afternoon when the Winters family got a very strange package. It was addressed to the whole family and had no return address.

“What the heck is this?” Rose wondered aloud carrying the small package inside, “Hey mom! Did you order something online?”

“Not that I remember, why?” Mia asked curious why her daughter was asking about the mail, “Who is it addressed to? Maybe your dad ordered something.” She went and stood next to Rose to look at the package.

“Hmm, I think we should wait for dad to get home to open it, I mean it is addressed to all of us.” Mia agreed with her daughter and went to continue making dinner.

Ethan got home a few hours later and was greeted by his daughter with a warm hug, “Haha, hey there kid how was your day?” He asked returning the hug and picking Rose up.

“It was good! We got a weird package in the mail, mom and I decided to wait for you before opening it.” Rose said leading him into the kitchen after he put her down.

“Welcome home, Hon! How was work?” Mia asked kissing Ethan on the cheek.

“Ugh, Williams was an absolute pain again. He somehow unplugged all of his equipment and disconnected his computer from the ethernet cable again.” Ethan complained sitting down at the dinner table next to Rose. “Chris somehow changed his computer to Arabic and Sal’s computer was changed to have wingdings as the default language and it bricked the whole thing, he said it was an accident, but I think it was one of the dicks that keep harassing him. I told Chris and he’s looking into it.” Ethan picked up the package and looked at the outside.

“Ugh why can’t these douchebags see that Sal is way better than them. Probably just jealous of him.” Rose said frustrated at the harassment her uncle was receiving.

“We should invite him over for dinner sometime, lift his spirits some!” Mia suggested placing a glass of juice down for Ethan. He agreed and thanked her for the juice.

Ethan handed the package back to Rose who tore into the packaging. Inside was a video game box, “Resident Evil? Isn’t that a game from the nineties?” Rose asked confused.

Ethan leaned over to get a better look, “Yeah it is, I played almost all of them, but I’ve never seen that one. It looks like its supposed to be the seventh one, but they only made six that I know of.” Ethan became confused taking the box from Rose studying it, it strangely didn’t have a back cover.

“Weird, maybe they are rebooting the series, but why wouldn’t there be a lot of news about it?” Rose asked. Ethan’s face lit up at the possibility of a reboot of his favorite childhood series.

“Man, I hope so, I always loved Craig Bluemarsh and Leo C. Harrison. They were the best! The whole M.O.O.N.S squad from Badger City. Special Ops turned paranormal investigators was the twist of the decade! And the whole thing with Egbert Walberk and how he possessed himself with countless demons to become basically a god.” Ethan sighs as he reminisces.

“You clearly have bad taste honey because Julie Easter was the best character in the series. The ace of the M.O.O.N.S squad, the one that Walberk kidnapped to force demons into her with a mind control amulet. Oh, and don’t forget Chloe Bluemarsh, college kid turned aid worker for those affected by the demons.” Mia added as she chopped vegetables for dinner.

“Ahh yes, how could I forget! Anyway, this looks like a cheap bootleg or fake. Probably just a prank from Dani or Angie.” Ethan said tossing the case further on the table looking upset.

“Aw man…. That’s lame dad.” Rose says dramatically throwing herself over the back of the chair. “I’m keeping it anyway; the box looks cool.”

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A month after the whole package incident, Rose bursts into the house beaming. “Dad, Uncle Chris just told me that we are having a meeting with the whole gang! We should totally bring that janky game we got and show it off!”

“Whoa, slow down Rose! You’re gonna hurt yourself running around like that.” Ethan says watching his daughter bounce in place. “Why do you think we should bring that thing anyway? I doubt there will be anytime to just sit around and play a game, if it’s even real.” Rose rolls her eyes at him.

“Dad, I’m sure Uncle Chris can pull some strings so we can have a little get together. We never get to see each other all at once!” Rose states, putting on her best puppy dog eyes, “Don’t you want to see the gang, Dad. It would be so much fun. You know how much I miss them all.” She begs.

Ethan can physically feel his resolve crumbling at his begging daughter, always caving into her once she pulls out the puppy eyes, “Fine, I’ll talk with Chris and we can bring the game with us, but you are responsible for the PlayStation and if it gets damaged or broken you have to buy the new one.” He says in his dad voice, trying to be stern. Rose squeals and jumps into his arms hugging him.

“You’re the best dad ever!” She says running off to prepare for their long weekend at Blue Umbrella.

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“Ok, is everyone comfy, I’m about to start the game!” Rose said excitedly setting up the PS4 in the Blue Umbrella lounge room. Everyone was present, Rose even convinced Miranda and Elena to join them after Milena was put to bed.

“I am unsure of what we are even doing sweet thing.” Alcina said settling into her chair near Donna.

“Well, I’m gonna play this weird game I got, maybe Dani can take over if I get tired. We are just gonna check it out, if its good, Great! If not, we can make fun of how bad it is!” Rose explained sitting down on the couch wedged between Daniela, Angie, and Heisenberg with Bela and Cassandra on the floor in front of them. Alcina wasn’t convinced that it would be fun, but she couldn’t deny Rose’s request considering how excited she looked. She sighed and pulled out her reading glasses seeing the small text on the screen.

“Psh, what are you a grandma?” Heisenberg teased. Alcina growled at him.

“Oh, please grow up you child.” She replied trying to de-escalate the situation knowing Rose and her daughters hated when they argued.

“I see making your head bigger didn’t help your eyesight.” He continued to tease sensing her anger.

“I grew proportionally you ignoramus, becoming larger would not fix my farsightedness.” She growled out becoming angrier.

“Guys….” Rose said sadly at the two arguing. Heisenberg immediately stopped his next sentence and turned to give Rose a side hug.

“Sorry kiddo, I forgot you hate it when we fight. I’ll stop, I promise.” He says sincerely as Alcina nods looking guilty, Rose smiles accepting their apologies.

“No more sappiness get to the action I’m getting bored!” Angie cried out from Daniela’s lap. Rose rolls her eyes at the doll’s bratty attitude and begins the game.

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The game begins with a very familiar video to Ethan and Mia and the sight of Mia recording her warning message on the ship.

“What the…. How is this happening? It showed the recording from my eyes, but I never recorded that…” Mia says stunned.

The next scene starts with the sound of a phone ringing and the overhead video of a car driving down a highway. Ethan begins to speak to and unknown man in the voice over explaining how he was contacted by Mia and that she wants him to come and get her.

“This has to be a sick prank! How did these people get that phone call!” Ethan shouts getting more and more upset as the clip plays. Mia places a hand on his arm to comfort him.

“Maybe there will be an explanation later. There has to be….” Mia says trying to calm Ethan.

Rose pauses the game as it shifts to Ethan’s perspective in the car, “We don’t have to keep playing if this is making you guys uncomfortable.” She says to her parents.

Ethan takes a deep breath, “No, no… it’s fine, you were really excited for this. I was just shocked. I’m okay to keep going, as long as you are okay too Mia.” She nods in agreement with her husband clearly rattled but pushing through. Rose nods continuing the game as she walks Ethan through the thick Louisiana swamp towards the Baker house.

The first obstacle they encounter is a locked gate. She moves him down a path leading to a trashed car with camera equipment scattered around it. Looking in they find a scrip proposal for Sewer Gators Ep. 17.

They then come across a broken gate with a sign that says, “Accept Her Gift”, “Oh yeah definitely just walk through that incredibly ominous gate into the disgusting swamp.” Heisenberg says gesturing towards the screen, “I’d just say, ‘sorry lady I’m not that desperate for a wife’ and dip.”

“He has a point dad, I mean really its been three years. Just move on.” Rose says to her father.

Ethan blushes, “Hey you can’t judge a man in love. I had to know what happened.”

“Nah man, just accept the death bro. Totally not worth it.” Daniela says interjecting.

“I’m right her you know.” Mia says scolding them. Rose giggles and continues on. They come across the remains of a fire with Mia’s purse laying there. They then enter the Guest house finding it to be disgusting and in disrepair.

“God, I forgot how gross this place was.” Ethan says wrinkling his nose.

Rose looks around the living room area, finding a hidden chain that opens a hidden room they go through. Exploring further leads them into a flooded basement they are forced to crawl through.

“Oh, please Ethan, I know you are insanely stubborn but the corpse in the flooded basement should have been an indicator to leave immediately.” Alcina says as the dead body floats up in front of them.

“Ok, Ok I get it I’m a crazy person for going on, but can we please stop commenting on it. I’m aware of the insanity.” Ethan replies as Rose comes up into a basement room with a jail cell containing Mia as well as other information on people who were listed as turned or dead. They pick up the bolt cutters and break open Mia’s cell. While they are being reunited Mia acts strangely warning him of the dangers and of Daddy.

“Pft, seriously? Daddy?” Dani snickers at Mia.

“Don’t start. I was possessed by a child obsessed with family.” Mia says glaring at Dani.

Rose follows Mia through the basement where she and Ethan stop to talk about the last three years.

“Come on! This is a life or death situation, get a move on!” Cassandra yells out at the screen.

Rose continues to creep through the basement following Mia as Ethan learning more about her capture as they walk. They come across a living room type area where Mia starts to act strangely, talking about family and when Ethan leaves, they hear her crash through the wall revealing a staircase to the house. They move through the house looking for Mia. They hear crashing coming from the stairs they came from and return to find Mia on all fours crawling up the stairs. She attacks Ethan looking monstrous as she throws him back up with superhuman strength. She then attacks him with a knife stabbing him through the hand. After a struggle she regains control rambling about a strange her as she slams her head against the wall.

“Jesus man, that is hard core…” Heisenberg says in awe. Mia grimaces at the memory. Rose continues on wandering before they are attacked by Mia once again. They fight her off with an axe. “Ethan, my friend, you always have to double check that your enemy is dead. She is definitely gonna get up again, classic horror trope.” Heisenberg says wisely.

“Karl, this actually happened. I wasn’t thinking about ‘horror tropes’. I was focusing on surviving.” Ethan says to him.

“Also, of course I’m going to get up, I’m sitting right here. I’m clearly not dead.” Mia says exasperated.

Rose moves on with the game ignoring them and answers the phone that had begun to ring. “Dad why did you answer the phone? Just leave.” She says as Zoe gives her warning to Ethan. “Oh yeah let’s listen to the random phone lady and not just break a window.” She says rolling her eyes.

They move on solving the puzzle for the stairs catching a glimpse of the not at all dead Mia. Replacing the fuse, they are jumped by Mia again who attacks him with a screwdriver pinning him to the wall before chopping his had off with a chainsaw.

“My god man! How did you keep going!” Sal exclaims looking at Ethan who just shrugs.

They find a pistol in one of the rooms and use it to take care of the attacking Mia as she rants crazily. Finally taking her down, they are ambushed by Jack Baker who punches him in the face.

“See I told you that you should have moved faster, now ‘Daddy’ caught you.” Cass says as Ethan falls over and is stomped on by Jack. They see him being dragged and Mia being carried by Jack, the scene changes to Ethan strapped to a chair with Zoe staples his hand back on. He finally fully awakes to a disgusting family dinner with the whole Baker family.

“Ugh, I miss Momma’s cooking so much.” Mia says reminiscing happily. Everyone stares at her as they see the disgusting meal on the table in game. She blushes, “Before she went fully crazy, she was an amazing cook. Her gumbo was to die for, oh and Daddy’s fried chicken, mmm.” She explains to them. No one seems convinced as the scene continues with Lucas throwing food at him and Marguerite tries to get Ethan to eat, and Jack cuts off Lucas’ hand. Jack comes over and forces the rancid food into Ethan’s face as Marguerite rants and leaves angrily, Jack then cuts Ethan’s face before being interrupted by the doorbell. They escape and flee through the house trying to find an exit. They find a key and are chased by Jack before escaping to the crawlspace.

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They explore the house before a police officer tries to ask Ethan questions.

“Man, that officer is kind of a dick…” Heisenberg says realizing how rude and unprofessional the officer is.

“He was a massive dick.” Ethan says frustrated at the memory of their interactions. They make the way to the garage to meet the rude officer who refuses to take the situation seriously which leads to his death and Ethan’s continued entrapment. “See, massive dick, we could have escaped, but noooo.” He says.

Rose nods in agreement as she avoids Jack in the garage and tries to defeat him with the car. The car crashes and catches fire revealing an on fire Jack who is knocked down by the resulting explosion. They collect the items in the room before climbing up the revealed ladder. Jack stops Ethan and shoots himself in the head with Ethan’s gun.

“I’ll say it again, he ain’t dead. He’s coming back sooner or later.” Heisenberg says again.

“Yeah, no shit Sherlock. This game’s been full of tropes so far.” Cassandra responds to him rolling her eyes.

Rose continues on solving puzzles and making their way through the labyrinthine house avoiding the obviously not dead Jack and the molded that are scattered around the house. They see Jack mumbling to himself about being “her” and talking about how he is going to kill Ethan.

“God he’s so cool.” Dani says as he leaves the room getting looks from the others, “What? He’s a cool villain.”

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The fight with Jack was a bit of a struggle for Rose, but she made it through with Heisenberg, Dani, and Cass cheering her on.

When he finally exploded, both Heisenberg and Dani called out in joy, “Now that’s how you kill a villain!” Heisenberg shouted out with a laugh and high fived Dani over Rose’s head. As they make their way through the house again completing puzzles and finding Grandma in random places.

“She is the one who caused all this.” Alcina says pointing at Grandma. Ethan and Mia looks shocked.

“How did you know that?” Mia asks. Alcina scoffs as if it is obvious.

“She hasn’t had the focus at all, yet she appears at random seemingly following Ethan, who we know is the next victim in mind. She is clearly Eveline.” She says smugly to everyone’s shocked faces.

Rose moved on ignoring the gloating. She came across a trailer in the yard, exploring it revealed that it was Zoe’s home containing some useful items that she ignored moving to leave as the phone rang. Zoe explained about the mold and how to progress.

“Why are you so trusting of this woman, you don’t know her, and she has admitted that she is a part of the family trying to kill you?” Bela asked turning to face Ethan. He opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out, he paused thinking and shrugged. Bela rolled her eyes at him, “Typical man thing.” She mumbled out returning to her original position.

They move on to the old house and Marguerite just as Zoe instructed. Coming across baby dolls strung up from the rafters of the bridge. “Whoever made those should be killed.” Donna said quietly. Everyone looked at her confused. “The look like such poor quality dolls, anyone who cares would never let them fall apart so easily. Cheap plastic is the worst fate a doll can experience.” She explains confident.

“You aren’t upset at the fact that they are strung up, just that they suck?” Rose asks her.

“Of course, you can do what you like with them, but the craft must be respected. These cheap factory made ones are a disgrace.” Donna explains upset at the virtual dolls. Rose mumbles an ok before moving on into the bug infested old house. They make their way through the house avoiding mutant bugs and solving puzzles.

“Gotta say girls, these things really remind me of you three.” Heisenberg says as Rose burns her way through the nests of bugs.

“How dare you compare my girls to these disgusting things! They are clearly superior in every way.” Alcina says angrily defending her girls.

“Thank you, mother, but he has a bit of a point.” Bela says to her mother with Cassandra nodding in agreement.

“Momma has a point though too! We are better than those things!” Dani says beaming at her mother. Cass mumbles suck up under her breath and is smacked by Dani.

Soon after they find Mia in game again, she explains her amnesia and is taken away by Lucas. Not being able to help they continue on through the house again. Eventually they are found by Marguerite who begins to stalk them through the house attacking them with her swarm of insects, insane rants, and vulgar obscenities.

“This lady is something else…” Heisenberg says cringing at Marguerite.

“For once we agree on something Karl.” Alcina agrees cringing as well. The others nod in agreement with them.

They make their way through a secret passageway revealed by the spider shadow puzzle. The wall space was infested which had everyone cringing at the writhing masses of centipedes. They collect the crank and the crow key and try to enter Marguerite’s room before she throws him down the stairs and through the floor. After a short encounter, she falls into the hole and melts into black goo. They collect information on the D series pieces and Zoe calls again, and she mentions they only need the arm piece as she has the D series head. They return to the hole to see the goo gone and a long spindly arm take the lantern needed to progress. They follow the monstrosity to well in front of the old house returning to Zoe’s trailer. They return to a new section of the old house where they are attacked by a mutated spider like Marguerite.

They run around the house, avoiding her swarms and attacks while burning her with the flamethrower and peppering her with shotgun shots to the disgusting nest on her lower half.

“I take it back; you girls are way more similar to the bug lady.” Heisenberg says once she finally dies. Alcina slaps the back of his head and growls at him.

“Momma can we mutate like that too!” Dani says excitedly as Bela and Cass cringe.

“Absolutely not. Do not even think about trying.” Alcina scolds while Heisenberg and Rose chuckle at them.

“Why would anyone want to have a gross bug vagina?” Cassandra turns around asking her sister.

Dani shrugs, “I don’t know, I just think it would be neat.” Rose shoves the controller into Dani’s hands and takes Angie from her.

“No more bug talk, you play, I’m getting tired.” Rose says stretching.

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They find their way into Eveline’s secret room and collect the arm. They go to meet Zoe in her trailer only to find that no one is there. They answer a call from Lucas where he tells Ethan that he has both Zoe and Mia, and that Ethan needs to play his game to save them and get the head. They make their way back to the main house’s dissection room where they pull the snake key out of the dead deputy’s neck hole. Lucas’ voice come out through a speaker explaining they need to find two keycards so they can meet.

“Ohhh, I love this guy! I’m getting so many ideas for new games, hehehe!” Angie says excitedly bouncing in Rose’s lap. Donna glares at the doll chastising her through their mental link. Angie pouts at the scolding.

They make their way through the increasingly molded main house solving Lucas’ puzzles and dodging the molded shambling around. They find the blue keycard and make their way down into a secret room containing the red keycard. Lucas calls again at the phone in the main hall, leading Ethan to a party in the barn.

They enter the barn to thumping music and glowing paint under a black light. They come across a room with a television showing Lucas ranting and waving the D series head around, ranting about how he doesn’t want to give up his gift and that they can only get the serum from him before the television explodes. They make their way through the barn avoiding trip mines and coming up to a locked gate with a passcode. Lucas makes an appearance taunting Ethan and giving him incorrect passwords before a trap springs and a secret door opens up.

They wind through the barn avoiding the traps and taking out the molded arriving at Lucas’ arena where they fight off a giant molded. After the fight they find the correct passcode to enter the birthday room. They solve his puzzles and escape through the hole created by the dynamite. They see a television with Zoe and Mia, Zoe explains where they are before Lucas cuts the camera to himself ranting about nothing. They collect the D series head and leave the barn making their way to Zoe and Mia. They release Zoe and Mia before collecting the completed serum. Just after they are ambushed by a fully mutated Jack.

“Wait he isn’t dead?! I can’t believe I didn’t call it!” Heisenberg calls out as Dani fights Jack.

After a long grueling fight, taking out Jacks many swollen eyes and using one of the two serums to calcify him at Zoe’s request. Walking down the pier they are faced with a choice to cure either Zoe or Mia.

“Well clearly we are supposed to cure mom. Its what dad did in real life.” Rose says.

“True, I did. I did feel bad though, Chris ended up saving Zoe and her uncle, so it all ended up good.” Ethan says.

“Yeah, sure choosing Mia is what really happened but what if we chose Zoe?” Dani asks hovering over Zoe in game.

“No! We can do it later right now we are choosing mom.” Rose says sternly.

“Fiiiiinnnnnee.” Dani whines out giving Mia the serum. They take the raft down the river listening to Ethan and Mia talk about the situation before they come across the wrecked boat Mia and Eveline arrived on. They are attacked by the mold, and they switch to Mia’s perspective as they hear Eveline speak to her through their mental connection.

“Well, this is going to be interesting, I’ve never seen this before.” Ethan says as they move into the ship. They find an unconscious Ethan who is taken by the mold deeper into the ship. They move through the mold infested ship as Mia, getting flashbacks as they move on. They follow the phantom Eveline to a room containing a television where they watch a video tape that blends into them playing through the situation leading to the crash of the ship and the infection of the Baker family.

They see Mia’s partner Alan who explains he is the reason Eveline escaped he explains that she needs to fix his mess and they begin to track Eveline through the ship. They finally come across Eveline in the engine room before she runs off again. They find Alan again in the room next to the one where they started the video tape. As he explains that Eveline is deteriorating, he insults her, and she overtakes him with the mold. The mold then spreads to Mia infecting her. They then see Mia recording the warning video from the beginning of the game. The section ends with Mia being blown off the ship and floating unconscious in the water, before returning to the present with Mia and the Phantom Eveline talking. Making their way to the bridge they use the surveillance cameras to find Ethan trapped in mold in the engine room. On the way there they are impeded by the phantom Eveline and the remaining molded.

As Mia finds Ethan, the perspective swaps back to Ethan’s mind as he speaks to a sane Jack. He explains that Eveline is the cause of all the murders and kidnappings. He says that they were infected when He rescued her from the crashed tanker. Jack also explains that stopping Eveline will stop the mold. Before Ethan awakens to Eveline and Mia arguing. Mia rips him free from the mold prison and gives him the tissue sample before locking him out of the engine room urging him to kill Eveline. They continue through the bayou to a salt mine near the Baker house. They hear a military broadcast explaining a team was sent in to take down Eveline. They traverse the salt mines finding an underground lab with information on Eveline and the E series mold. They use Eveline’s tissue samples to make the E- Necrotoxin that is used to kill her permanently. As they exit the mine, Ethan sees flashes of Eveline as she sends the molded to kill him. They exit the mine into the original room Ethan found Mia in where he has a vision of Mia panicking. He continues to see visions of Mia’s attack on him and Eveline controlling her. They stab Eveline with the serum, and she reveals her true form as Grandma before melting away and mutating into a large monstrosity.

As Dani fights the massive face of Eveline, Miranda mumbles to herself, “Absolutely fascinating. How she responds to different stimuli and the delayed injection of the Necrotoxin.” Rose and Dani scream forgetting that Miranda was sitting behind them.

“Jesus Christ! What is wrong with you! You scared the living hell out of us!” Rose yells at her turning to face Miranda who has a notebook open in her lap. “What are you even doing?”

Miranda blushes at being caught, “I was taking notes on how E-001 reacted and how the family responded to the infection. It is incredibly fascinating that the whole Baker family mutated without becoming one of the shambling molded.”

“Trust me she was about to run off and work more before I stopped her.” Elena interjects into Miranda’s rambling. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her work on the Eveline project outside of simply watching videos.” Miranda’s blush deepens and she looks embarrassed at being called out by her lab assistant.

“Good, no more mind control children allowed.” Dani says rudely turning back to the screen continuing the final fight.

Ethan is thrown from the house and sees helicopters arriving at the house as he is attacked by Eveline. He uses an unknown gun to shoot Eveline calcifying and crumbling her finally. After the battle, Ethan and Mia are rescued by Chris. The final shots of the game are Ethan speaking over clips of marshlands and the reveal of the Blue Umbrella helicopter.

“Well that certainly was something….” Ethan says as the credits roll. Mia wide eyed and shocked nods in agreement.

“So, all that actually happened?” Rose asks her parents, they both nod. “Ok well that doesn’t explain how the heck this got made or why we were sent it or by who!” Rose rants.

“Who cares, it was awesome!” Dani exclaims high fiving Angie who cheers with her.

“Can we leave now? My back is beginning to hurt.” Bela complains standing up and stretching.

Rose boos her, “Fine be boring. What did everyone else think?” She asks everyone left in the room.

“Amazing! Fantastic! Ten out of ten!” Dani exclaims clinging onto Rose.

“It was interesting, very cinematic. A bit tropey at times but it works in its favor. Especially since this technically happened. The villains were enjoyable and empathetic at the same time.” Heisenberg critiques.

“Yeah, whatever it was fine.” Cass says getting up and leaving the room.

“I had quite a nice time, I’m glad you suggested this, Rose.” Alcina says picking up the sleeping Donna. “I’m sure Donna will apologize for falling asleep tomorrow morning. Have a good night.” She kisses the top of Rose and Dani’s heads and leave the room.

“It was quite informative, thank you for inviting me, Rose. I truly appreciate it. Now I must go and review my notes.” Miranda says looking at her notebook as she slowly leaves the room.

“We are actually going to bed, but thanks for inviting us, Rose. We’ll have to do it again soon!” Elena says grabbing Miranda’s arm and taking her notebook.

“I think your mom and I have some talking to do, but you guys have a good night sweetie.” Ethan says getting up before kissing Rose on the head.

“Yeah, outside of the horrifying content of this ‘game’ it was fun. Have a good night honey.” Mia says following her husband to their room.

“Alright seems like the party is dying down and someone has to get Sal to his room. Seems like he and Donna can’t stay up late like us cool kids.” Heisenberg laughs out shaking Sal awake. Sal stands up groggily and leans ion Heisenberg as they leave to their respective rooms.

“Lame everyone left. You want to stay up or are you hitting the sack too?” Dani asks Rose.

“I think I’m going to bed too. I have a lot to think about.” Rose says hugging Dani, “See you in the morning Dan.” Dani decides to follow Rose and they head to bed.

In his assigned quarters, the Duke watches the group scatter to their rooms for bed, “I’m glad they enjoyed my little gift. Hopefully, it answers some questions for them.” The Duke says to himself chuckling.

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olivia-anderson-fanfic · 3 years

Text

A Miraculous TikTok Account

Part 21

First

Rena stared at the plates in her hands -- or, more specifically, the akuma she’d squashed between them like a pair of cymbals. She wondered, vaguely, whether or not the akuma would disappear with the plates or whether it would drop to the ground in a pile of goo.

She looked around for Carapace to ask, only to find he was soothing a kid who had lost track of their parents in the attack. He was sitting on a rooftop, kid in his arms, and pointing out random things to keep them distracted.

At one point, she managed to catch his eyes, but he gave her a ‘not now’ look and pointed past her to show the kid a dog.

She huffed a little bit, but dropped it (and the plates) because it wasn’t like she could be mad at him for helping a kid in need.

Besides, her veins were still buzzing with adrenaline and happiness. She’d helped fight an akuma with all the other holders! They’d even used her plan! If she died right then she would have died happy.

And as she noticed the giant red and black blur of Ladybug’s sword falling to earth, she thought maybe that would happen.

Luckily (or unluckily?), the sword disappeared into thin air before she could die a perfectly timed death.

A few moments later, Chloe touched down beside her, a slightly frazzled Chat Noir in her arms. She looked annoyed about how he wouldn’t get down immediately, but she also wasn’t dropping him.

Rena smiled awkwardly. “Sorry about the plan, Chat.”

Chat looked at her, luminous green eyes unblinking… and then he pulled a smile to his face. “It’s fine.”

“Is it?” Mused Chloe. “Great. Get down.”

Chat swallowed thickly. “Uh… my legs aren’t really reformed yet, so I can't.”

The two women exchanged skeptical looks momentarily before Ladybug and the person who had been akumatized settled on top of a nearby car.

They seemed to have been in the middle of a wedding, if the gorgeous white gown was anything to go off of. Someone must have had cold feet, then, whether it was her or the groom. The bride sniffled, her face in Ladybug’s shoulder.

Ladybug was speaking, and Rena had to not-so-subtly shift closer to hear:

“-- to postpone the wedding for a while. Since you got akumatized, your family should be able to guess you aren’t in the right mental state. Leave town for a while, get some therapy, and consider if this is what you really want. Sound good?”

The bride whimpered and hugged Ladybug closer. “But it cost so much --.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Ladybug said, running her fingers through her hair. She looked up. “QUEENIE. COME OVER HERE?”

The bee miraculous holder wandered closer, Chat positioned on her shoulders like a child on their dad’s at an amusement park. “Yeah, ‘bug?”

“Want to reimburse a wedding?”

Chloe scoffed and probably would have crossed her arms over her chest if they weren’t busy holding Chat’s legs. There was a silent glaring contest between the two bugs before Chloe reluctantly detransformed. She pulled out her phone. One click (her dad was on speed dial, apparently) and started walking away with a cry of “Daddy! I need help --!”

Ladybug schooled her face back into a caring smile. “See? It’ll be fine. I know a few places outside of Hawkmoth’s domain that are willing to provide free therapy to Parisians in need.”

Rena decided to brush past the fact that there was free therapy somewhere (partially because she was a Parisian and, at this point, therapy was pretty much a foreign concept to her… but mainly because a different part of the sentence had stuck out to her).

She bit her tongue, though. It wasn’t something to bring up in front of the civilians. Instead, she rested her hands on her hips and waited for everyone to finish their hero duties and for the civilians to disperse.

The other heroes wandered over eventually and they all started on their way home.

“Does anyone think that that akuma was a little too easy?” Asked Chloe.

This got a bunch of nasty looks from everyone, especially one cat miraculous holder.

“No, Chloe, it wasn’t easy. You just took all the best jobs,” said Chat.

“Think faster next time,” said Chloe with a shrug.

Rena found herself wondering why Chloe, the one of them with magically enhanced emotional intelligence, was the one to always have everyone mad at her, but she brushed the thought aside. She needed to focus on what SHE was mad about.

“You know how large Hawkmoth’s domain is and you didn’t say anything?”

Ladybug clicked her tongue irritably. “Rena, calm down, please. I really don’t have time for another akuma tonight.”

(Rena decidedly did not calm down, but that wasn’t surprising. Has anyone ever really calmed down when someone tells them to?)

“You didn’t think that maybe you should have shared that with the group? Or all of Paris, for that matter?”

“No. Because I’m not completely sure about where the line is, it’s more circumstantial than anything… and if everyone knew they’d leave and Hawkmoth would just move to another city. We need to keep him here, where we know where everything is.”

“You could have at least told us about it.”

Ladybug rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t tell us anything about him. The center of it is by the Tower. We already knew he was probably rich.”

Chat stepped between the two of them like he was expecting them to start a fistfight or something and he brought his brightest smile to his face. “Guys, really, it’s fine. Let’s just all try and be more open about things we find out from now on, okay?”

The two briefly met eyes before turning on Chat Noir for having the audacity to try and calm them down.

… at least he’d gotten them to stop fighting each other?

The five of them had stopped cold when they came upon their house and found one of the windows broken.

They exchanged anxious looks and transformed back into their suits.

It wasn’t that crime wasn’t a thing anymore, it just wasn’t very common. Who knows what would set someone off enough to create an akuma, the little bit of money you could get from robberies weren’t worth possibly dying a painful death (even if it was only temporary).

And, really, what were the chances that the miraculous holders of all people would get robbed?

Still, the person who had done it was likely still there. They would have had to get inside after the miraculous cure had been cast for the window to remain broken…

“Whoever it was, they’re gone. I can’t feel them anywhere inside there,” Chloe said, twirling the string of her spinning top around her finger.

Interesting. Either they’d gone in with a distinct purpose or they’d noticed them coming and somehow gotten away without them noticing...

(Or Chloe was wrong, but they doubted it. She was usually right about this kind of thing.)

Rena pulled the light around them to mask their presence as they neared their home. Just in case.

Chat reached out and opened the door...

The place had been ransacked. Potted plants had been tossed and now the floor was coated in shards of clay and a fine layer of dirt, the cushions on the couch had been torn open and feathers spilled onto the floor, a game controller had been thrown at the wall hard enough to stick itself in the plaster, an armchair had been pushed on its side.

But that wasn’t what made Rena gasp.

Because the Hawkmoth Conspiracy Board had been the target.

Papers had been torn off of it in such a rush that pieces were still stuck to it, their calculations and work had been ripped to shreds, their pictures defaced. In a paint such a dark purple it was almost black, words were scrawled across the board:

STOP TRYING TO FIND ME. YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T.

The miraculous holders stared for a moment...

Chloe scoffed, unimpressed. “So we all agree that this is lame, right?”

“SUPER lame.”

~~~

Taglist

@nathleigh @sassakitty @th1s-1s-my-aesthet1c @blueslushgueen @woe-is-me0 @ladybug-182 @cas-and-their-refusal-to-write @trippingovermyfeet

#a miraculous tiktok account #rena rouge #alya cesaire #carapace #nino lahiffe #queen bee #chloe bourgeois #chat noir #adrien agreste #ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #miraculous team #miraculous fic #ml fic #chloenette #chlonette #adrino

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green-eyed-weirdo · 4 years

Text

Chick Magnet

The one with the chick and the duck.

For Bechloe week 2020 - Day 4; Baby Farm Animals!

Also check out the awesome artwork by @sketchywave here.

Read on AO3 or below.

Chloe has just finished her first year of vet school. As kind of a summer job thing, she has started helping out at the local animal shelter. Beca had been so supportive of her dreams when she first told her she wanted to go back to school and study to be a vet. The two best friends knew it was gonna be a struggle for a bit though. They’d been living together as roommates in New York City for two years now, and with Chloe going back to school full time, Beca would be the sole provider for the both of them.

Beca has been working as a music producer at a small record label in the city for the majority of those two years. She was working very hard on making her dreams a reality, so she understood why Chloe would want to do the same. She had no problem supporting them both for the time being.

Working with animals was Chloe’s passion. Ever since starting at the shelter six weeks ago, Beca had come to realize just how much Chloe cared about their well being. They’d basically had a new house guest every weekend. A dog that needed to be cared for over the weekend, a kitten that was without a mother and had to be bottle fed, Chloe took it all on. Beca didn’t really mind, she knew it was a temporary solution and she loved watching Chloe with the animals. Especially the baby animals. She even liked to cuddle them herself sometimes.

On her way home from the animal shelter late thursday evening, Chloe knew she was pushing it this time. She had texted Beca earlier in the day, informing her she was bringing home babies again tonight. She conveniently left out what kind of babies, and that they weren’t just guests this time.

She had been working the late shift today, which means she only started her shift around 3pm. Shortly after she’d gotten behind the desk, a man rushed through the door, dropped a cardboard box on the counter and left just as quickly. Chloe had been a little apprehensive as she noticed the box had holes in the top.

As she tentatively lifted the lid to check inside, she heard a small squeak and her heart swelled about two sizes. Inside the box were a tiny baby chicken and a small duck, snuggled up together in a towel. Chloe hadn’t been able to contain herself and picked them up to give them some love.

After the veterinarian that was volunteering that day checked them over and declared both of them healthy, Chloe was torn about what to do with them. She couldn’t just leave them in the kennel room with the dogs and cats. They were so small, they’d get scared. So she decided they’d probably had a rough enough day as it was, put on an oversized hoodie, put the babies inside and sat back down at the front desk. The cardboard box with the towel stood underneath her desk, so she could put them down for a bit if she needed to go take care of something.

As her shift neared its end and she was helping Ellie, one of the staff members clean up, she’d dared to ask what would happen to the baby chick and duck. Ellie and Chloe had become friends since working together. She knew how much Chloe loves the animals, so she tried to be as sensitive as she could with her answer. “We can only keep animals that have a good chance of getting adopted, Chloe. I’m afraid a chicken and a duck are not that lucky in New York City.”

Chloe felt a lump in her throat as she asked the next question. “What will happen to them if they don’t get adopted?”

Ellie had looked at her sympathetically as she knew Chloe was not going to like this answer. “They will probably need to be put down. As much as we hate to have to do that, we just can’t keep them here.”

Chloe felt her eyes sting with tears. She couldn’t let that happen to these cute babies. She would take them home. Surely Beca will understand.

That’s what has led her here. Standing in the hallway of their apartment building, cardboard box in her hands, a little apprehensive of going inside. But there was no going back now. So with a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside. The living room was silent with only one light on.

She could hear music coming from the back of the apartment, so she figured Beca was probably working on her music in her bedroom. “That’s good”, Chloe thought. This would give her some time to get the chick and duck settled in her bedroom and then cautiously break the news of the new housemates to Beca.

Luckily Chloe had been able to borrow a heat lamp from the shelter, so she would be able to keep the chick and duck warm for the night. She put the lamp on her desk, plugged it in and turned it on. She situated the box just right underneath the lamp, so the babies would be all warm and cosy in their towel. She would find a nice, fresh blanket for them in the morning. She took another deep breath and walked towards Beca’s bedroom.

Beca looks up from her laptop when she hears a soft knock at her door. Chloe stands smiling at her in the doorway. “Hi Bec, how was your day?” Chloe walks into the room and plops herself down onto Beca’s bed.

“It was good, got a lot of work done. Just another full day tomorrow and I might be able to have a weekend off.” She saves the project she had been working on so she can give her full attention to Chloe. “How about you? What was this text about you bringing home babies. Where are they?”

Chloe can’t help but notice Beca actually looks excited for their new housemates, but then she realizes she’s not told her best friend the whole truth yet. “Yeah, my day was good. Look Bec, these babies... they’re not our usual kind of guests.” She stands up from Beca’s bed and motioned for Beca to follow her. “They were brought into the shelter today, and they don’t have the best chances of getting adopted. I couldn’t just leave them, you know?” She explains while Beca follows her into her bedroom.

Chloe holds her breath for a moment, when Beca doesn’t say anything. She looks to where Beca is standing, looking into the cardboard box. “Bec? Say something please…” Chloe is not sure what is going on in Beca’s head right now.

Beca clears her throat, “okay, ehm… not what I was expecting, at all. How long are they staying?”

Chloe looks back at the sleeping chicken and duck. “Well, what I forgot to mention earlier… I’ve kind of ehm… adopted them.”

Wide, stormy blue eyes look straight into her own, as Chloe sees the shocked expression on Beca’s face. “You did what? Adopted them? Chloe!”

“I know, Bec, I should’ve asked you. But listen,” Chloe grabs Beca’s hands and pulls her from the bedroom, away from the sleeping birds, “if they don’t get adopted, they will be put down.” She whispers the last part as to not let them hear her. “Their chances of getting adopted in New York City are not good.”

“Because they are FARM ANIMALS, Chloe!” Beca’s voice gets a little louder.

“But Bec, they are babies! What was I supposed to do. I couldn’t just leave them. I just couldn’t.” Beca sees the tears in Chloe’s eyes and softens immediately. She takes a step towards Chloe and pulls her in for a hug. “I know, Chlo. It’s okay.”

She has to admit, Chloe’s big, caring heart is easily one of the things she loves most about her. And the chick and duck are pretty damn cute. They’ll make it work.

Friday was always a pretty busy day for both Beca and Chloe. Unbeknownst to the other, both women always tried to finish up as much work as they could, to be able to spend time with the other over the weekend.

This particular Friday, Beca had left the apartment fairly early to make sure she’d get all her work done before the end of the day. Chloe had the day off and had made plans to go to lunch with a friend from vet school. After a broken first night with the new babies, Chloe decided to text her friend and cancel their plans. The chick and duck obviously needed time to adjust and she would stay home with them to try to bond.

After her morning routine, Chloe decided to let the babies explore the apartment on their own. She called Aubrey for a long overdue catch up and while they talked, she kept her eyes on the wandering birds. “And Beca is okay with you keeping poultry in your apartment?” Aubrey asked when Chloe told her about the previous day.

“Yeah, I mean… kinda? She didn’t necessarily jump for joy…”

“Does she ever?”

“Aubrey!” Chloe laughed “I think she just understood how much it meant to me. And if it doesn’t work out, we can just find them a new home from here or something.” Chloe was just sort of thinking out loud now.

“It’ll work out, Chloe. Beca can’t say no to you, even if she wanted to.” A small smile grew on Chloe’s face at that last part. She really wanted to be more than just friends with Beca, but she wasn’t sure about Beca’s feelings. She fervently hoped Aubrey’s last comment meant what she thought it did.

Over the course of an hour, the phone call with Aubrey covered all the topics they could think off. They talked about vet school, Aubrey's job, how both their parents are doing and Aubrey’s most recent tinder date, which hadn’t been a success.

Aubrey eventually brought up Beca again, but this time, to ask how Chloe was coping with her crush on the girl. “It’s going okay, I guess. Sometimes I think she might feel the same way. I don’t know, I just don’t want to mess up what we have if she doesn’t.”

“Chloe, I don’t think you have to…” Aubrey was cut off by a loud gasp at the other end.

“No no no no” Chloe ran back into the living room and dropped to her knees to look under the couch. She had been so wrapped up in her phone call, she had walked to the kitchen to get herself a drink and completely forgot the babies for a moment. As she walked back in, she just saw the tiny tail of the duck disappear behind the couch.

“Chloe, what’s going on? everything okay?” Chloe peered underneath the couch and saw both birds looking back at her. She let out a sigh “yeah, I’m fine. I just took my eyes of the babies for one minute and they hid underneath the couch. I have to go catch them, I’ll call back later.” They quickly said their goodbyes and Chloe stood up to move the couch. After a battle of about fifteen minutes, she finally had both babies back in the cardboard box and plopped down on the floor next to them. “Don’t scare mommy like that again, okay?” she said to them in a baby voice and smiled as they made the cutest little noise back. “What am I going to do with you guys?”

Late in the afternoon, after two more search and rescue operations, Chloe figured she had to find some way she wouldn’t have to put the little birds in a box, but also wouldn’t have to keep an eye on them 24/7. She’d put them back in the box hopefully for the last time, so she could quickly run to the store just around the corner from their apartment block. She hoped they would have something she could built a little fence with, so they’d be free but contained while they were still so little. She was sure they could be left wandering around once they would get bigger.

Chloe is sitting on the floor of the living room. Next to her, in the middle of the room stands a oversized pet playpen. She knew the playpen had been to big for the babies when she bought it, but she figured they would still be able to use it to keep them in one place when they were bigger, whenever her and Beca would both be out. All around her on the floor are pictures of the Bella’s and Chloe’s family and the tv is playing one of the Bella’s ICCA sets. She’s so engulfed in talking to the little birds, she doesn’t hear the door to the apartment open and close behind her.

From her position at the front door Beca can see Chloe holding up a picture of the two of them, looking at each other under an umbrella. Beca really loves that picture. “Look guys, that’s Beca., your other mom.” She hears Chloe explain while pointing at the tv. She then proceeds to hold up the picture so the chick and duck can see. Beca swears it’s almost as if the chicken actually looks at the picture. She laughs at herself for even thinking it. The baby chicken lets out a soft squeak “yeah, I know” Chloe sighs, “she’s beautiful, isn’t she?” another soft squeak is heard. “She’s a different kind of ‘chick’, but I love you both very much.” Suddenly the duck decides to join in the conversation with a loud quack. “yes, I love you too.” Chloe laughs.

Beca smiles at the scene in front of her and she feels a warmth go through her body. She realizes she’s been standing by the door, lurking like a weirdo for too long. She puts her bag down on the floor and walks into the living room. “What am I looking at?” Chloe’s head snaps up, eyes wide for a second before they soften and she smiles at Beca.

“I was just showing the birds our family. Can you go get that picture of your dad and Sheila?” Beca lets out a sigh as she tries to keep from yawning.

“Is it okay if we pick this up tomorrow? I’m so tired, I was planning on going straight to bed actually.”

“Are you serious right now?” Beca can see the change in Chloe’s mood and is confused for a moment.

“Ehm, yeah? Chlo, I’ve had a really long day, I just…” Beca’s sentence trails off when she sees a flash of hurt in Chloe’s eyes.

“Excuse me? I stayed home all day so somebody could be here with our chick and duck. I cancelled my plans and everything.”

“Hey! who was up from 2am until 4am last night, trying to get them to go back to sleep?” Beca fires back.

“You don’t think I wake up when you get up?” Chloe asks irritated. “Oh, here it comes!”

“yes! here it comes, Beca. I'm stuck here all day! Then when you finally come home, you spent 2 seconds with us and expect to just go to bed? I don't think so.” Chloe is on a roll now. She knows she’s being a little unfair but can’t seem to stop herself.

“Hey! I need my sleep. I've been working all day!” Beca says in a frustrated tone. “And you dont think taking care of these babies is work?” “That's not what i said, Chloe.”

A silence falls between them for a moment and they both let out a tired sigh. “Have you noticed that ever since we got our chick and duck, we’ve been fighting more than we used to?” Chloe asks in a more tentative tone.

“We got them yesterday, chlo.” Beca almost laughs at her best friends dramatics but is able to hold it back. “Well, maybe we weren’t ready.”

She sees the disappointment on Chloe’s face and hates that she’s the reason for it. Beca breathes out in defeat. “I’m sorry Chlo, you’re right.” She slumps down on the floor next to Chloe. “Tell me about you guys’s day.”

---

The two best friends usually spent their free Saturdays together. After their fight the night before, Beca realized Chloe had indeed spent her entire free Friday cooped up in the apartment with the birds. So this particular Saturday, she urges Chloe to call her friend from vet school to reschedule their lunch for today.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here alone with them?” Chloe asks attentively. “Of course, Chlo. We’ll be fine. Look, you’ve been inside this apartment all day yesterday. You deserve to go out. But ehm, I was thinking…” Chloe looks at her with a cheeky smirk, waiting for the next part of the sentence.

“Maybe you could bring back the groceries on your way home from lunch?” Chloe laughed at that. Trust Beca to do something nice and get something out of it for herself too.

“Sure Becs, I know how much you hate grocery shopping. Just this once though. Next week you’re coming with me again.” She winks at Beca before turning around to get her phone and call her friend.

In the two hours Chloe had been gone already, Beca had done her laundry, made herself lunch and cleaned up the apartment. As she looked at the pet playpen from her position on the couch, she realized she was bored out of her mind without Chloe. She normally never had a day off without her best friend, and she just didn’t know what to do without her.

She was brought out of her thoughts by a loud quack from the duck. “You miss her too?” she asked the duck and immediately shook her head. “I’m literally going crazy, why am I talking to a fucking duck?” she thought. Yet, as the duck quacked again, she found herself doing it again: “I know what will cheer you up…” She stood from the couch and opened the playpen “come on guys!” she said as she walked into the bathroom. The chick and duck dutifully followed her inside, loudly quacking and squeaking as they did. Beca laughed as she looked behind her, “I can’t believe that worked”, she whispered.

About twenty minutes later, Chloe opens the apartment door and frowns when she finds the living room empty. As she puts the bags with groceries on the counter, she hears Beca’s voice coming from the bathroom. She peeks inside and almost melts to the scene before her. There her badass best friend is, sitting on the toilet next to a completely filled up bathtub. The duck is happily splashing around in the water and Beca cradles the tiny chicken in her hands, while she quietly sings: “with a quack quack here and a quack quack there…” Chloe watches them adoringly for a moment, before she remembers the groceries and returns to the kitchen to put them away.

Chloe tries to hurry putting away the groceries, so she can join Beca and the birds in the bathroom. As she put the last item away, she realizes she doesn’t hear singing anymore. She walks back to the bathroom and overhears Beca talk to the birds in the softest voice. “Just wait until your other mommy gets back and joins in the fun. You guys, she has such a beautiful voice. God, I love her voice.” Chloe smiles and steps closer to the door. Just as she pushes it open a little further, she hears Beca say: “You guys want to know a secret? I don’t just love other mommy’s voice. I love her, very much.” Beca’s sentence trails off as the bathroom door opens and she sees a teary eyed Chloe standing in the doorway.

The color drains from Beca’s face as she looks at Chloe with wide eyes. “Shit, Chlo. I’m so…” Chloe cuts Beca off with a watery laugh as a tear rolls down her face: “I love you, too.”

Beca, still holding the tiny chicken in her hands, stands up from the toilet. “You do?” She asks with an uncertain smile. “Yeah”, Chloe breathes out as she takes a step closer to Beca.

She sees her best friend look down at her lips fleetingly and before she can even really think about it, she closes the gap between them. They share a soft first kiss that, for both women, feels like coming home. That is until they are rudely interrupted by a loud quack coming from the bathtub. Both women burst out laughing and as Beca looks down at the duck she says: “I know dude!”

#bechloe #bechloe week 2020 #bechloe fanfic #bechloe fanfiction #beca mitchell #chloe beale #Pitch Perfect

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hateswifi · 4 years

Text

Rising from the Ashes: Of Titus and Twitter

So this is Part Four here is to my Master List and Part Three. Enjoy!!

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

She’s blinded by the light as the portal closes, at least she came out in an alley much less conspicuous than teleporting in the open. She looks at her phone, one in the afternoon that’s enough time to figure out where she is and a place to stay for tonight. She spoke English well due to traveling with Uncle Jagged, hanging out with Clara, and working at Gabriel.

She walks out of the alley after she detransforming, but still wears the glasses not wanting to put them away yet. She pulled out her phone and looked up ‘Hotels near me’ the closest hotel at a decent price was Hotel of Gotham. She quickly started walking there it only being one o’clock and it was only a three-mile walk.

The walk was uneventful and by the time she gets there, it was one-forty-five. She bought a hotel room for ninety-five dollars a night. She dropped her stuff off and went to try and find a job. She brought her sketchbook and one of the dresses she had made when she had been hiding the previous week.

She walked into a couple of boutiques and was immediately rejected already having a full staff. She does not lose hope though instead, she looks at the list of boutiques she had written and sighed, the last one. She finds it and by the time she gets there, it’s already six o’clock. She had been job hunting for around four hours. She looks up and sees the boutique called Lucky Spot. Marinette has a great feeling about this one she opens her purse and sees Tikki.

“You’re going to be great!” She whispered. With restored confidence, Marinette heads into the boutique with her head held high.

“Hello madame,” Marinette said after she walked to the front. “My name is Marinette and I was hoping to speak with your boss about maybe getting a job?”

“Well, here I’m the boss. What do you have to show to prove to me that you are worthy to work here?” The woman asked, looking Marinette up and down.

“I have sketches and this dress I made by hand last week,” she said, setting her stuff on the counter.

“Would you be able to wait till closing time? It’s only an hour away,” The woman asked, looking at her watch.

“Of course where would you like me to wait, Madame,” Marinette asked, grabbing her things.

“You can wait in the back, I’ll come to talk to once I’ve closed,” she answered, showing Marinette.

Once she was alone she sighed in relief. She grabbed her phone and dialed Chloe’s number. Chloe had promised to stay with her friends tonight when she called.

“Hey, guys!” She said, quietly.

“Hey, where’d you end up?” Luka asked, looking at her.

“I’m in a city called Gotham. I don’t know much about. I’m at a boutique right now called Lucky Spot waiting to talk to the owner about a job. That pretty much sums up what I’ve done today,” Marinette told them. “I’m so tired.”

“Well, it is ten o’clock here. If I were you I would learn about the city,” Kagami said.

“I will when I get back to the hotel. Tikki is such a great support system for me and always helping me. I don’t think I would be as alright as I am right now,” Marinette smiles, looking at her little companion.

“Awww Marinette you’re strong by yourself! I only helped a bit,” Tikki cooed, looking at her chosen.

“Tikki is right Mar. You’re stronger than you know,” Adrien comforts.

“I know you’ll do big things in this world. Everyone will know your name!” Chloe encourages.

“Thank you, guys! Now don’t worry about me. Go to bed I know it’s late there,” Marinette said with a smile.

“You’re never a burden,” Luka smiled.

She looked up when she heard a knock. The woman, who would hopefully become her boss, walked in with a smile.

“Bye guys! The owner is here. I’ll call you soon I promise. I’ll keep you updated on what happens. Love you all,” Marinette finished, hanging up as her friends said goodbye.

“Who are they?” She smiled, softly.

“My friends from France,” Marinette smiles at her friends happy she was able to talk to them.

“Well, now can I take a peek at your work?” The woman said, sitting down on the other side of the table.

“Yes and by the way I never caught your name,” Marinette said, passing her book s and dress across the table.

“My name is Diana Prince. It’s nice to meet you Marinette,” Ms. Prince said, looking at the girl. She had felt something familiar about her since Marinette had walked in. Then she had heard Marinette on the phone with her friends and distinctly heard the name Tikki. She hadn’t heard Tikki’s names since she had been back home with her mother, a previous owner of the creation miraculous.

Marinette sat there waiting it felt like ages but had only been thirteen minutes.

“Ms. Marinette these are quite wonderful, but may I ask why you come to me with your talent when I’m sure any of the big businesses would hire you,” Ms. Prince asked.

“I’m going to tell you this but not for sympathy. I lived in a bakery in Paris for my first eighteen years, but my parents died in a fire. I’m not liked very much by my old classmates because of a liar, who turned my friends and classmates against me, and my parents were my only family, so I decided to leave. My friends are supportive and I love them a lot, but I couldn’t have any attachments there so I’m only keeping contact with them,” Marinette started. “I was affiliated with Gabriel, Audrey Bourgeois, Jagged Stone, and Clara Nightingale, but I want to leave everything behind including my connections with them. I was unable to start from the bottom because Jagged found me as a middle schooler and decided my designs were ‘Rock and Roll’. He then recommended me to them, so I never actually started from the bottom.”

“That’s very noble of you, but I feel as though there is something you’re not telling me. I won’t push you, but if you need someone to confide in, I can help. You have the job, by the way, you may start this Wednesday at seven o’clock sharp if that works. I have a couple of clients I will need help with,” Ms. Prince explained, standing up and shaking Marinette’s hand.

“Thank you, Ms. Prince, you have no idea how much this means to me. I had been searching for jobs since I got here at one,” Marinette said with a smile. “Is there anything I should know about the city?”

“Please call me Diana. But also you moved to Gotham without any research?” Diana asked, looking flabbergasted.

“I let fate decide,” Marinette answered, vaguely.

“Oh well, I recommend you look up Gotham’s heroes and villains when you get a chance,” Diana said, leading Marinette from the backroom to the main shop.

“Maybe that’s why I’m here. After all, fate works in mysterious ways. It was a pleasure meeting you,” Marinette said, leaving the small shop with a smile.

The next day was Tuesday and she tried to sleep in late, but with Paris being six hours ahead she woke up at six. She decided to go to the closest park which happened to be Gotham Public Park which doubles as a dog park.

She left Tikki to sleep and placed a plate of cookies out for her before she left. She took her sketchbook with her and sat on a bench and started sketching. After about half an hour she guesses she hears a dog bark. She ignores it at first until she’s tackled by said dog.

“Titus! Get off the pretty girl!” A man, presumably Titus’ owner, screamed. The black Great Dane dropped a red ball by her feet which she picked up and threw while yelling fetch.

“I’m so sorry miss, Titus rarely acts up like that,” Titus’ owner says, sitting down next to her.

“It’s fine I wanted to have a dog since I was young, but lived in a bakery and wasn’t allowed to,” Marinette answered closing her sketchbook.

“My name is Damian and this,” He said, pointing at Titus. “is my faithful companion Titus. I guess I just never taught him how to interact with an angel-like girl.”

“Well I’m Marinette,” she blushed, adorably. “I’m average though. I already forgave you and Titus you don’t have to compliment me.”

“Well truth be told, I never act like this. I’m quite shocked I’m even talking to you. Most people would be gone by now,” Damian confesses. ‘Shut up before she—‘

Marinette giggles at the sight of the flustered boy. He looks hurt so she quickly says. “I’m not laughing at you you’re just adorable when you’re, what I’m assuming, is nervousness.”

“I’m sorry if this is straightforward, but would you like to grab breakfast? I know a small cafe,” Damian said. “You know as an apology for Titus’ behavior.”

“That would be nice. I don’t know anything about the city, but do you think we could stop at my hotel? I want to drop off my book,” Marinette asked, standing. ‘and grab Tikki’.

“Where are you staying?” He asks also standing.

“Hotel of Gotham just a five or so minute walk,” Marinette answered.

“Of course, would you like me to walk with you?” Damian asked.

“That would be lovely. I haven’t quite learned my way around yet,” Marinette said, walking towards the park’s entrance with Damian by her side.

She dropped off her sketchbook, told Tikki what happened and then left with Tikki in her purse. She sees Damian still in the lobby when she got back.

“Hey Mari, you ready?” He asked, opening the door.

“Yes of course,” she said with a smile and they headed to the cafe.

When they got there Damian ordered for both of them, Marinette not knowing what was good or not. He had decided on waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for her. He had ordered himself black coffee and an egg sandwich with cheese and bacon.

“Have you seriously not had waffles before?” Damian asked as she took her first bite.

“My mama and papa owned a bakery so we usually just ate pastries,” Marinette smiles. “But this is incredibly good.”

“So you said you’re just adjusting to Gotham where’d you live before this? What made you want to live in the most dangerous city in America?” Damian asked, sipping his coffee.

“I lived in Paris up to yesterday. I’m currently staying in the hotel till I can find an apartment. And about moving to the most dangerous city in America. I let fate lead me,” Marinette said, taking another bite.

“Fate? But isn’t that a big decision?” Damian asked, raising an eyebrow while sipping his coffee.

“Well I guess, but I didn’t have an idea of where to go, I felt lost and I ended up here, but I was able to get a job already so fate is watching over me. What about you?” Marinette asked, taking a sip of water.

“My mother gave me to my father at the age of ten and he lived here and we just never moved. What job did you get?” Damian asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.

“This nice woman, Diana, hired me to work in her boutique and she said I could start tomorrow. I’ve wanted to design since I was young,” Marinette sighs.

“Well I’m happy for you,” Damian said as the waiter put the check on their table. Marinette tried to reach for it, but Damian grabbed it before she could grab it.

“Nope. Remember this is an apology for Titus,” Damian said, looking down at his dog, who was sitting under the table quietly.

As they are leaving, Damian gets a call he looks down and sees Dick’s name flash across his screen. “I apologize Marinette, but I must get going. I hope I can see you again.”

Then he rushes off Titus following shortly behind. About a block and a half away he gets into a car with Dick and Alfred, who was driving.

“Good day, Young Master,” Alfred greeted as he closes the door.

“To you as well Alfred. What do you want Grayson? I was busy,” Damian asked, glaring at his adopted brother.

“You’re late for a mandatory meeting. Also,” Dick pauses, a smile forming on his face. “have you checked Twitter recently?”

“I knew about the meeting and I wasn’t going to be late,” Damian huffed, crossing his arms. “I haven’t checked Twitter today, why?”

“Someone posted a picture of you holding a door for a very beautiful bluenette. Jason reposted with the #DemonSpawn’sgirlfriend and now it’s trending,” Dick smirked.

All color left Damian’s face and he whipped his phone then clicked on his Twitter. His face somehow got paler. There was a picture of him and Marinette, he was smiling at her as he held open the hotel door.

@GothamOfficialNews

‘Who is this mysterious girl, who somehow caught Damian Waynes’ attention. He has previously been known as the ‘Ice Prince’, but is there someone out there able to melt his heart? Who is she? We need answers!’

@realJaSonToDd

‘Look it: Demon Spawn got a girlfriend. They grow up so fast *wipes tear*. She’s adorable when can we, @GraysontheDick @BruceWaynetheOffcailMan @TimDrakeConfirmed, meet her?’

@whyisthislife

‘how come it couldn’t have been me, @realDamianWayne?’

@stresseyandmessy

‘She’s too precious for him. also how do we know they’re dating?’

@lifebevibing

‘@stressyandmessy did you read what posted @realJaSonTodD. he said gf. ‘

@stressyandmessy

‘@lifebevibing @realDamainWayne hasn’t said anything about his mystery girl.’

Damian felt like dying. He liked Marinette, a lot. She didn’t act weird around him, she had dreams, she didn’t throw herself at him, she likes Titus, and he hadn’t gotten her number. Wait... he hadn’t gotten her number.

“Crap. I didn’t get her number,” he slouches in his seat.

“Mystery girl’s?” Dick asked, looking shocked. “You spent all morning with her and you didn’t bother to get her number?”

“I didn’t think of it! I was going to ask before you called,” he puts his face in his hands.

“Ya know you could do a Cinderella thing?” Dick suggests, scooting closer to Damian.

“No. That would be so embarrassing. I only met her once,” he pauses, flushing as he thinks of her giggle and her deep blue eyes. “No, I couldn’t do that. She doesn’t know I’m one of Bruce Wayne’s sons. I would like to keep it that way. I don’t think she would change though.”

“Are you blushing? She must be some girl,” Dick teased.

“Ughh you don’t need to remind me,” he sighs.

“Well pull yourself together, we are about to arrive at the meeting,” Dick said, patting Damian’s shoulder.

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

Tag list (Open):

@northernbluetongue @melhuney @ladysblackcat @sturchling @otaku4312 @g-arya @smolplantmum @bluefyoto94 @echpr @moonlightstar64@thesunanditsangel @cutechip @heaven428 @elmokingkong @kass-is-weird @niza13149 @urbanpineapplefarmer

#ml New Life AU #damianette #batfam #maribat #lila salt #marinette x damian #ml salt fic #wifiwrites #miraculous au #damian wayne #marinette dupain cheng #marinette x batfam

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da-tasuky · 4 years

Text

I know you better than that

All right! We are up to date here! I'll add everyone that's been on the taglist again from chapter 4 onwards to not drown them.

[Beginning]-[Previous]-[Next]

Chapter 3: In the same land

Marinette smiled at the answer Bruce sent her, also confirming that Uncle Alfred will pick her up at late afternoon.

She casually adjusted her position in front of the reception desk while her classmates chattered between them and Miss Bustier waited for the receptionist to confirm their reservations. She felt a tug at her hip and she sneakily glanced down. Kaalki winked at her before diving into her purse and a second after a red blur followed her piercing through the desk. Marinette smirked in satisfaction.

“I’m very sorry, Miss Bustier.” The receptionist said with a nervous undertone. “There must have been a mistake in the reservation, we have reserved for you seven double rooms and one single room. I can offer you one extra single room.”

“But I can’t leave one student alone!” Miss Bustier exclaimed. “Are you certain there are no triple rooms available?”

“Miss, I am very sorry, there aren’t any more rooms available.” Marinette heard Tikki giggling in her purse and she tried to smother her smirk.

“What about double rooms? I could share it with the student.”

The receptionist looked at her apologetically. “It’s all we have, miss, I am truly sorry. The hotel guidelines state that in case of misunderstandings like these, we are obligated to accommodate you as best as we can maintaining the price that has been charged to you unless the new accommodation price is lower, in which case we will perform a refund. On this occasion, you are actually acquiring an extra room, which raises the price. But you won’t have to worry about it due to the hotel guidelines. It’s the best I can offer you.”

Miss Bustier released a heavy and defeated sigh. Marinette walked the two steps that separated herself from her teacher decisively. “Miss Bustier, I can offer myself for the single room if you don’t mind.”

She looked at her in surprise. “Oh! Marinette! I couldn’t ask you for that! Didn’t you want to room with Alya?”

“It’s no problem! After all, there is an even number of boys in the class and an odd number of girls! Mylene gets easily scared and she feels safe with Alix, Chloe was adamant about rooming with Sabrina, Lila said she was happy we were rooming in pairs and a trio since she needed help with her arthrosis-uh-arthritis? Whatever! But I wouldn’t want to separate Rose and Juleka, and since Alya already asked me if we could room with Lila before Rose invited her with them, I think it’s safe to assume Alya would still like to room with Lila!” She smiled up at the teacher.

“I see, thank you for offering, Marinette!” Bustier hugged the girl. “Let’s talk to the class.” She turned around and called their attention clapping her hands. “Everyone, we had a mishap with the rooming. We won’t have the triple room for the girls. Instead, we have a double and a single room.”

Rose, Juleka and Lila looked at each other, troubled. “But miss Bustier! I can’t be alone in a room with my illness.” Lila exclaimed pitifully, clearly willing her eyes to tear.

“You don’t have to worry, Lila! Luckily, our class president offered herself for the single room taking into consideration your special needs!” Miss Bustier beamed. “Alya, would you mind rooming with Lila for the trip? I’m sorry for taking your roommate away from you, but Lila needs help from a classmate.”

Alya smiled up at her teacher. “Of course, Miss Bustier, leave her to me!” She declared like a hero on duty before sharing a smile with Lila.

“Oh, thank you so much, Alya! You are the best!” Lila hung to Alya’s shoulder in a tight hug.

“No problem, Roomie! We are gonna have so much fun!” She returned the embrace and while all eyes were focused in the pair, Marinette shared a discreet fist bump with the Kwamis hiding inside her purse. After the girls separated, Alya walked up to Marinette and gave her a light shove with her hip before resting her arm over her shoulders. “That’s my girl! Saving the trip! Are you ok rooming alone, though?”

“Of course I’m fine!” Marinette beamed at her, hiding the fact that she planned this. “I’m the one who offered.”

“Ok, call me if anything. Especially if you need help waking up. I’ll go to your room and bang the door until you open if necessary!” Alya kissed Marinette’s forehead making her giggle.

“Thanks, Als. I miiiight need you during the mornings. Text me! If I don’t answer come and get me?”

“Sure thing!” Alya winked.

Miss Bustier called everyone’s attention to give their information to the receptionist and receive their room cards. When Alya separated from her, Marinette felt a tap on her shoulder, upon turning, she was almost blinded by the smile Adrien gave her.

“I thought you wouldn’t play in Lila’s games?” He asked in a mix of confusion and amusement.

Marinette huffed. ‘Of course, he will have questions’ she bit her lip thinking how to mislead him. “Well, I wouldn’t want to bother Alya rooming with me, I mean! I’ll be with a Gotham! I meant a friend! A boy! From Gotham!”

“Youuu…” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Want to sneak a boy into your room?” His expression grew scandalized and Marinette realized how her lame excuse sounded.

“N-No! No! NOT THAT! I meant- uh- I’ll BE BORING! I’ll be out often! With my friend! And I will leave her alone and I-I could be a pretty boring roommate?” She exclaimed blushing furiously. “Ohmygod.” She covered her face in shame.

“O-oh! Um.” Marinette looked at him from between her fingers to find him blushing and averting his eyes awkwardly. “Sorry for misunderstanding!” He choked.

Marinette wanted to die.

Why would she sneak Damian into her room? No, scratch that! She will certainly sneak him into her room now that she got the single room but not for- not whatever Adrien was thinking!

Marinette swallowed a scream.

“Oh, Marinette!” A silky sweet voice drawled. Marinette uncovered her face in time to see Lila reaching to her. Marinette stiffened while the girl gave her a firm hug over her shoulders, putting a slight pressure with her fingernails above her shoulders. “Thank you so much for the room change!” She said loudly, before switching to a rapid whisper. “You might look nice now but you are only making things worse for yourself. Enjoy your room alone while I drag Alya away from you.” She released her with a smirk and a smug tint on her eyes.

Marinette’s expression darkened slightly while Lila whispered but she quickly turned smug too. “We’ll see, Lila, we’ll see.” She whispered back.

Adrien cleared his throat, breaking the silent challenge between the girls. Lila promptly walked away, leaving them behind. “Sooo… should you be careful?”

Her face darkened again. “We should be careful. Remember you are her target too, Adrien.” She caught Alya’s eyes while she retreated with Lila. Marinette immediately tried to school her expression but Alya has caught on her dark and unfriendly glare towards Lila. At seeing her lifting a questioning eyebrow, Marinette had no way to answer more than pout at her friend. After all, from Alya’s perspective, her animosity must look extremely bad after Lila came to thank her. She sighed in defeat. “That Vulture really knows how to make me look bad.” She crossed her arms.

Adrien grimaced, having caught the silent conversation between the girls. “I-I know I haven’t been much help but… If you need anything, I'm just a call away, ok Marinette?”

That lifted Marinette’s mood considerably. “Thank you, Adrien.” She said with a grateful smile and proceeded to walk up to the receptionist now that everyone else has gotten their room cards.

“Marinette,” Miss Bustier looked back at her, conflicted. “I’m really sorry for this situation, the single room that the hotel can offer us is on the top floor while the rest of the rooms are spread across the third, fourth and fifth floor. The other single room is on the fourth, I asked for that one to be near everyone in case of emergency. I would leave that one to you, but I worry about leaving all of you to yourselves.” She brushed her hair nervously.

Marinette’s eyes lit up. “Miss Bustier, please don’t worry! The safety of the majority is important for me too! Besides, a room on the top floor could give me an inspiring view of Gotham for my drawings!”

“But you’ll be so far and alone.” Miss Bustier said feeling clearly conflicted while fidgeting with her fingers.

“If I may,” The receptionist intervened. “I would suggest the young miss take the top room. It’s a very nice room. I feel like her selfless actions deserve a bit of a reward. We don’t often see kindness freely in this city and I’m sure she’ll enjoy it even if alone.” She smiled kindly to Marinette. “Besides, she can always invite her classmates over to hang out, right?”

Marinette felt a mixture between the thrill of a mission going her way and guilt.

She got the room by cheating and purely for selfish reasons. Well, maybe not really selfish. She needed it in order to get away from prying eyes and fulfill her duty as Ladybug. The kwamis did a great job getting the top floor and it will 100% work at her favor. She really needed to get it at all costs even if she was causing her teacher and the receptionists all these problems. She hated it, but she needed it. So she did the best she could to convince Miss Bustier.

Marinette looked up at her with big puppy dog eyes.

And it worked.

With a defeated sigh, Miss Bustier craved in and handed her the room card while Marinette whooped.

She quickly grabbed her suitcase and power walked up to the elevator while screaming her thanks and promising everything would be alright.

When Marinette entered her room, she immediately felt as if Chloe just slapped her across the face with a stack of dollar bills.

“Holy Kaalki!” Marinette chocked.

It wasn’t just a room.

Not even a very nice room.

It was a penthouse.

She gaped at the luxury in front of her. It was wide, the style was exquisite with a color scheme between white, charcoal and a hint of burgundy. There was a huge TV in front of a very soft looking sofa and chaise, a lot of fancy decor along with something that looked kind of like a very sophisticated and unusual looking fireplace. There was a kitchen to the side that seemed more like a bar with a very expensive looking assortment of wines in a glass shelf. She made a mental note to never touch that. To the other side, she could see the bedroom and the bathroom. For as huge as everything was, the bed was clearly meant to be for a single person, even if she was sure she could fit two pillows there instead of the single one that was in the middle of it. It gave the bed a high-class feeling but it was technically misused space. And the bath looked like it had a jacuzzi.

She gulped, looking up to the long windows that gave her an astonishing view of Gotham. Beyond the windows, she could see the balcony. It didn’t actually have much since Gotham seemed to be a fairly rainy and cold place, nothing would be too enjoyable outside, but it still had some furniture and elegance.

After coming out of her stupor, Marinette decisively walked up to the room and left her suitcase beside the bed. The Kwamis came floating around her. “As I asked, please. Be thorough.”

Kaalki dove around the penthouse immediately, checking inside the furniture while Tikki hesitated for a moment before following suit. Marinette inspected the more visible parts, touching anything that could look slightly off, but found nothing suspicious or out of place. After the silent scouting, they all converged again in front of the bed. The kwamis shook their heads and Marinette sighed in relief while a smile stretched on her face. “We are clean!”

“I still don’t understand why you made us search for hidden cameras or mics, Marinette. Who are you afraid of?” Tikki inquired a mix between wary and curious.

“My classmates and Miss Bustier are not the only ones I’m trying to fool here in Gotham, Tikki.” Marinette answered with a kind of secretive smile at which Tikki just frowned in confusion.

“Are you talking about your friend Damian? He might be a good horse! He clearly comes from a rich family.” Kaalki mused.

Marinette laughed. “No, I know he is incredibly paranoid and he actually could do it! Maybe! But I am actually thinking about…” she walked up to the tall window and looked out at Gotham spreading in front of her. “Batman.”

The kwamis exchanged a look. “The most powerful Vigilante of this city? Why would you think he would bug your room?”

“I don’t know how much he knows. He is known to be the greatest detective in the entire world, and I’m sure there are others following closely in his footsteps. I’m not saying he suspects me being Ladybug, but I can never be sure and never too cautious.” She walked back to her suitcase and started taking some of her things out along with what she was going to dress for the day. “If he is onto me, we might have just dodged a bugged room. In any case, I intend to keep kwamis a secret from him. If he knows about Ladybug, then he knows about the Miraculous. But I could manage to keep your existence a secret.”

“We’ll be careful not to be seen!” Tikki twirled around her chosen while Kaalki hummed in confirmation.

“Thank you, girls.” Marinette walked up to the bathroom to take a quick shower. “We’ll take a minute in front of the reception desk for you two to rearrange the room adjustment we did earlier!”

The kwamis giggled. “Now I see why Trixx envied us. This is actually kind of fun!”

“We should tell them. Plagg would be proud if he knew too! Who would have thought you could be up to mischief, Kwami of Creation?” Kaalki shot at Tikki with laughter in her voice.

“It was for a good cause!” She defended. “And I didn’t plan it, Marinette did! Besides, you are the one who left only the best room available.”

“If I’m choosing, I’m picking class! With the most gorgeous view-”

Marinette started the shower, successfully cutting out the conversation from the room with a fond shake of her head.

After the refreshing bath and changing into one of the many outfits she decided along with Chloe, Marinette went down to reception and purposedly tripped, making some tour pamphlets to scatter over. The receptionist quickly went to help her stand up and collect the pamphlets while the kwamis sneaked around and righted the room reservations while the receptionist was distracted with Marinette.

After apologizing repeatedly and making sure that both kwamis were back on her purse, a familiar enraged scream reached from behind her. “I absolutely REGRET flying in economy class!” Turning around, she saw Chloe raging and walking up to Marinette, her hands in tight fists at the sides of her hip. She followed by mocking a high pitched note to quote “‘You’ll get to relate to how normal people fly’, Ugh! Why do I keep listening to you!? I shouldn’t mingle this much with you peasants!”

Marinette tried to stifle a laugh unsuccessfully. “I’m sorry Chloe, maybe I went too far.”

“You bet! You are ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!”

“But it wasn’t that bad, right? We had fun!” Marinette beamed at her, hoping to get to her soft side, after all, they did have fun, along with Adrien and Nino who were sitting just behind them.

Chloe pouted and averted her eyes. “I’m still changing my flight back to business class.” She crossed her arms. “I experienced it already. I don’t need any more suffering to know you all live in shambles”

“Oh dear, what are we going to do about that?”

She side-eyed Marinette for a few considering seconds. Marinette did her best effort to look sad and concerned, hugging herself and casting her puppy eyes. Chloe pouted before lifting her nose and striking a haughty pose. “Why? Of course, I’m thinking about hosting another charity event for the needed when we are back, DC. Who do you think I am?” She flipped her hair. “After all, with or without a Miraculous, I am still Queen Bee and Paris needs and admires me!” She started walking to where Sabrina was on the Lobby. “Get ready, Maribear! You owe me a shopping spree and I intend to reclaim it now!”

Marinette giggled while rolling her eyes.

She felt conflicted about all this if she was being honest. Marinette knew she was sort of taking advantage of Chloe’s wealth but in all honesty, she couldn’t find it in herself to regret it. All these charity events helped Chloe switch her focus to something healthy. Instead of just taking and taking from her parents, Marinette was doing her best to focus Chloe into raising the funds rather than just taking it from them. But she was doing this transition slowly, for now, Chloe was still on a stage where she is developing a feeling of fulfillment and duty towards Paris. She was slowly becoming compassionate and a beautiful person. Marinette didn’t call her Queen just to boost her ego and thus encourage her to continue, but because she could really picture her friend as a true Queen of Paris, trusted and beloved by so many. It was a pity her reputation was so stained that it was hard for others to see the true diamond Chloe was becoming. But Marinette was not one to quit and if she has seen others bloom and grow beautifully, why should she give up on her?

While Marinette opened her purse to fetch her phone, Tikki and Kaalkhi smiled up at her. She could see the proud shine in Tikki’s eye and they shared a happy smile. She took her phone out to finally make the call she has been waiting to do since arriving at the hotel.

“You are lucky I like you.” Her demon’s voice greeted her and she smiled broadly containing a snort.

“The title of the video was too obvious, you wouldn’t have opened it.”

“Tt.” She giggled at him. “Are you well-rested? You’ll need some energy and patience if you are coming to dinner and spend any amount of time with my brothers.”

“Yep! I followed your advice and slept during the flight! I’ll be fine.” She caught Alya’s tired eyes at the other side of the room. Alya pointed one finger up and then made a sleeping gesture pressing her hands together and inclining her face over them. Ah, Alya was going to sleep, and for the look of it, a big group of the rest of the girls was discussing doing the same. Marinette nodded and sent her a flying goodnight kiss. “I have to accompany Chloe to go shopping since she graciously handed me my eye mask during the flight.” She rolled her eyes. “Her selfless actions must be recognized and rewarded, right?”

“Seriously?” Damian’s deadpan voice reached again.

“Baby steps, Dove. Baby steps.” She nodded solemnly. “Who are you to talk anyway?” She waved at some of the girls who were making their way back to their rooms.

“Tt. My family has a reputation for being altruistic.”

“I don’t know, Bird Heir. You should show me around and convince me.” She dramatically put a hand over her forehead even if he couldn’t see her. “Uh, what is it? Is it doubt? Which of my friends is the real altruistic? Damian or… or maybe Chloe?” She teased.

“You know it’s me.” He growled.

“Mh, did I tell you Chloe was our biggest sponsor during our last charity event? The one where we helped kids manage their fear of akumas? If I remember correctly, she even accepted gifts from the kids like a well-loved diva! A Queen Bee, a true hero.” She teased, dragging the last word.

He kept silent while she held her breath waiting for his answer with anticipation. “I’ll show you what a true hero I can be.”

‘It’s on!’ Marinette cheered mentally and smirked.

“Good! I’ll wait for it! Now, if I’m not mistaken, I have a whole first day in Gotham and a shopping spree waiting for me. Talk to you late- I MEAN! SEE YOU LATER!” She squeaked when the realization hit again. “See you later.” She breathed, feeling nervousness pooling at the end of her stomach.

“See you later,” She heard him breathing into the phone too. “Angel.”

Her cheeks flared crimson at his last word and the call ended.

Marinette closed her eyes forcefully, reigning in the warm turns and twirls inside her body while clutching the phone to her chest. That telltale feeling she used to have for another boy coming back with vengeance for someone else just by hearing Damian breathless anticipation to meet her directly into her ear.

It felt nice.

Really, really nice.

He said literally four words, not even the most meaningful words. But it was his tone. The situation, her feet literally in Gotham ground. And for a second, he felt so, so close. Like he was actually there talking next to her ear. Saying normal words that anyone wouldn’t even bat an eye at but for her held so much power at that very moment.

He made her feel wanted.

She couldn’t believe how strongly these butterflies were hitting her. During all these years being his friend, she has never felt them raging this strong before. Maybe a bit fluttery that didn’t last long every now and then when he did something meaningful or when his tone and expression was softer than usual. Or when he displayed scarce shows of affections in his own way.

But not like this. NEVER like this. Maybe Alya was right and she really feels that way towards him. Scratch that. If this feeling is anything to go by, Marinette could be sure that yes, she does see him in a romantic light.

A whisper traveled through her body ‘I like him.’ and she wasn’t sure whether her brain or her heart was responsible for this but whoever started it, the other agreed and finished the thought/feeling.

Marinette was sure this was somehow building up over time but now it suddenly was released like a shockwave.

She really did like him like that, after all.

It’s not like she didn’t notice her feelings before, she was a passionate person, after all. But she put it on a lesser level right away. Maybe she has been ignoring it due to her old crush, maybe it was the distance, maybe it was the ‘old friend’ novelty or the ‘best friend’ title that clouded her mind and silenced her heart for so long. Or maybe it was because she knew Damian isn’t initially a likable person and he was hard to love. But she could see how strong the bonds could become once anyone overcame that barrier with him. He could give up his life for his family and them for him. The same held true for his friends, she could see how underneath the fights and the prodding, he trusted and cherished Jon. And she also felt, even with all her insecurities, that the same is extended for her.

She was so foolish.

Why did she wait this long to finally face her own feelings and acknowledge them for what they were? Still, she intended to follow Alya’s suggestion and spend time with him and confirm if what she is feeling now stands. Marinette was almost sure that would be the case since she was just slapped by months worth of pinning after a single deliciously breathed line.

It was ridiculous, totally, completely and utterly ridiculous.

And now she was sounding exactly like Chloe.

With a huff, she made sure that her annoyance had completely washed away the butterflies and returned to reality glaring forward, like challenging her emotional self to try and act again, only to be met by Chloe Bourgeois herself boring her eyes upon Marinette with Sabrina trying to smother her giggles behind the blonde.

“You done there?” Chloe asked evenly.

“Y-yes?”

“Good, follow me.” She turned around and walked straight to the door. Marinette followed.

The second the fact that Chloe waited quietly during her emotional warfare and didn’t interrupt her downed on Marinette, she felt a rush of affection and gratitude toward her friend.

She wasn’t even asking, completely respecting her privacy and feelings.

Sabrina, on the other hand, seemed to be curious but she was apparently silenced by Chloe.

Marinette got the idea that if she wanted to tell them, they would listen but wouldn’t force her to say anything. If Chloe was good at anything, it was at keeping her deepest feelings closed to herself. She could relate to others wanting to do the same.

Chloe never asked others about their feelings, some could take it as disinterest, but now Marinette knew it was her way of caring.

Well, that was something she also learned from Damian.

She shook her head, trying to cast the bird away from her mind and focus on the present.

At some point, they had entered a store and Chloe was animatedly listing the good qualities of the pieces of clothing she was pilling over Sabrina’s arms. That perked her interest instantly, snatching some of them and gushing over them too.

Soon the three of them were happily trying on the clothes, commenting every detail and effectively distracting Marinette from her earlier heavy emotional wave.

Shopping with Chloe wasn’t as bad as she originally thought, they had similar tastes in quality and fashion after all. Besides, everything was new and exciting for the three of them.

They even managed to buy gifts for their parents besides some clothes and accessories for themselves.

Chloe was still annoying, but Marinette has managed to bring her down that high horse a bit. She had managed to apply some techniques she learned dealing with Damian and frankly, they were working nicely. It helped Chloe become more emphatic and collaborative in her search to be a worthy hero.

She could handle Chloe. She could handle Damian.

She was Marinette

She was Ladybug

She could handle anything!

Except for this dinner. She couldn’t handle this dinner and it was bound to be a disaster!

She was so not ready for this dinner but since she knows herself, she had planned this so she wouldn’t have time to second guess everything and just be shoved into it with no time to think.

She only left a few minutes to be able to shove her shopping bags into her room and she was again out of the hotel in time to be picked up to go to the Manor.

It was a mistake, a total mistake.

What if just now she has a wardrobe malfunction and she didn’t have time to go to her room and fix it?

What if they didn’t like her after all?

What if she embarrasses uncle Alfred and he never wants to invite her again?

What if Damian thought she was too different in real life and don’t want anything anymore with her?

What if he-

“Marinette, calm down!” Tikki’s voice reached her from her purse. Apparently, she has been ranting out loud without realizing it. “You have your emergency sewing kit here and there is nothing to worry about! Damian already told you that you are way past first impressions and they all really love you already! Alfred will be so happy to see you too!”

“But-!”

“It’s going to be alright, I swear! I can tell they adore you and will only like you more once they met you for real!” Tikki cheered sweetly and Marinette finally felt her confidence slowly returning.

“You are right, Tikki.” She sighed. “I’ve known them for years, I shouldn’t get so worked up.” She squared her shoulders. Letting her determination take the lead, she took her phone out and looked at the time.

This was it. It was time.

A black car parked in front of her. She felt her determination slipping away just a bit.

And the door opened.

🕊️

[Beginning]-[Previous]-[Next]

If anyone else wants to be added to the taglist, just let me know! We’ll go back to tagging starting the next chapter!

#maribat #daminette #maridami #i know you better than that #fanfic

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chickensarentcheap · 4 years

Text

Best Part of Me - Chapter 2

Warnings: very light smut

Tagging: @thunderintheshadows, @alievans007, @innerpaperexpertcloud, @c-a-v-a-l-r-y

It's shortly before midnight when she joins him outside; just beyond the back fence and gate that he and Ovi had built to keep the kids -or at least attempt to- contained when outside on their own. Their property is private and secluded; just the kind of quiet, and security they'd been craving. Fifteen acres with its own stretch of private beach, a vast area of woodlands to the left, just beyond the guest house that Ovi and Chloe share, and their closest neighbour two hundred yards away.

In Colorado their 'thing' had been to end the evening out on the porch swing; it was often their only chance to actually carry on a proper conversation without being constantly interrupted by the kids. When they could temporarily stop being parents and just be Tyler and Esme. The therapist had been adamant about it; that they both realize their roles in each others lives far extended raising a family together. That they needed to get back to staying connected beyond the realms of parenthood; important that the connection was not just physical, but emotional as well. At first Tyler had thought it was all a load shit; both what the therapist had said and needing to see one in the first place. That the change of pace and scenery would be more than enough to not only keep the connection between them and make it stronger. Not realizing until they had started sitting down to talk to someone just how fractured things actually were. He'd always thought that things were fine; that they'd gotten past the toughest and darkest spots and that they were nowhere near disintegrating and that if their problems ever got that bad, they'd be able to get through it on their own.

Once they actually started concentrating on things -the way they fought and the intensity in which they did, the horrible things that were said to one another- it became apparent that there was a lot repairing that needed to be done. It wouldn't been easy or a short fix, but at least it could be put back together.

The sand is soft beneath her feet; cool and refreshing as it slips between her toes. The beach itself is relatively unspoiled and remarkably preserved; the old owners never using it, preferring to just enjoy the views of the ocean and the remarkable sunsets. Their road itself hasn't seen children in in over thirty years, and shortly after they'd move in they would routinely find notes and small presents for the kids in their mailbox from residents further down. About how nice it was to them see them out on their bikes or chasing one another, how great it was to hear their shouts and their laughter.

Mac lays beside Tyler on a blanket on the beach, raising his head to watch her as she approaches; giving small whimpering noises -his happy sounds, as the vet calls them-, tail beginning to sway back and forth. He's grown like weed; not even full size yet but massive and strong. But despite the mail man's fear of him, he's surprisingly docile. Growing up with four kids that constantly love on you and never you leave you alone and always sneak you treats will do it. And he's loyal and fiercely intelligent; always sensing when one of his people may need a little bit extra attention. Tyler's arm rests along Mac's back, hand slowly stroking the shepherd's impossibly large ears and scratching the scruff of his neck.

“You need to move,” Esme says, and points to a spot on the sand. “You're in my spot you stinky, hairy beast.”

Her husband doesn't move his forearm from over his eyes. “Are you talking to me or the dog?”

“You're not that stinky,” she playfully retorts, and then once more points to the sand. “Mac, seriously. Move. I know he's your person, but he's my person too and you have to share him.”

All it takes from Tyler is a ruffle of the fur and a “Move, mate” and the dog obliges; sauntering over to his master's other side, the curling up in the sand, making sure that least one of his paws is in contact with Tyler's body.

“Worst behaved dog ever,” Esme grumbles, and sinks down onto the blanket, lying on her side and tucking herself under her husband's arm when he immediately wraps it around her. His hand coming to rest on her shoulder as she places hers on his stomach and rest her head on his chest. It's soothing. The sound and smell of the ocean, the warmth of his body and how solid it is against her, the scent that clings to him; mixture of cologne, laundry detergent, and sweat. It's familiar, but remarkably him.

“Kids asleep?” he asks, and she nods.

“Every last one,” she replies with a content sigh.

It doesn't happen often; the three older ones falling asleep fairly early and easily, while Declan and Addie spend hours alternating who needs the most attention.

Her hand continues to rub his stomach; she likes the extra weight he carries there now. His body thicker than it was before. Even more muscular and powerful. And she rests her chin on his shoulder and looks up at him, his forearm still over his eyes.

“Tired?” he asks, his palm slowly moving over her shoulder and down her arm, then travelling back up again.

“When am I not tired? Do you and Ovi work tomorrow?”

“Just a few odd jobs. I shouldn't be home too late.”

It had been an easy decision; getting back into doing home renos and general repairs. They don't particularly need the money, a large chunk of the five million left even after buying the house, all the furnishings, and doing repairs and upgrades. But he enjoys working with his hands; the finished results giving him a sense of accomplishment. It keeps him busy and his mind focused on the task at hand, and having Ovi with him meant he could let the kid handle any personal contact with clients and Tyler himself could avoid actually having to interact with people.

Her hand slips under the front of his shirt, finger lightly drawing a circle around his navel, and she feels him shudder against her when she runs a fingertip along the waist band of jeans.

He clears his throat noisily. “Do you mind?”

“No, actually I don't,” she grins, one finger dipping underneath the denim, then slowly moving along his skin.

“Well you should,” Tyler grabs a hold of her wrist, pulling her hand out of his pants and then entwining their fingers together. “Stop.”

“Like you're not enjoying it.”

“That's the problem. I am enjoying it.”

“It's been three months,” she laments.

Sighing, he nods.

“Three months, fifteen days and thirteen hours,” she clarifies, and he opens his eyes and looks down at her. “What?” she shrugs. “You're not keeping track?”

He grins. “I may or may not have it in my calendar on my phone.”

She laughs at that, then buries her face in his neck; lips pressing a series of soft, feathery kisses on his jaw line, just under his beard.

“Would you stop...” he uses the side of his head to push her away, and shifts uncomfortably against the sand. “....knock it off.”

“You don't miss it?” she refuses to be deterred, her free had coming up to comb through his hair as her lips find the side of his neck, the tip of her tongue trailing over the scar left behind from Dhaka.

“Of course I miss it. I miss it a fuck of a lot, but...stop...seriously...stop...”

“That's a first for you. I didn't think you knew that word.”

“You need to just calm yourself down and leave me alone,” he grumbles.

“My hormones are insane,” she pouts. “Like off the charts insane. And it's been three and a half months and I miss you.”

“How can you miss me? I'm right here. Every day.”

“No, I mean I miss you.”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “You mean in the biblical sense?”

She giggles. “Exactly. What you don't miss me?”

“Of course I do. We just...” the frustration finally gets the better of him and he shoves her over onto her side, then grabs a hold of both of her wrists in one hand before lying down behind her. “...it's too soon.”

“It's been two weeks since she was born.”

“Which is way too soon,” he insists, and pressing a kiss to the back of her head, groaning when she slides closer to him, so that her ass pressed right against his crotch. “Really? Are you serious right now?”

“I think I know my body.”

“Well so does the doctor and he says it's too soon. So...” he has to pull his hips back so no more contact can be made. “...fuck off, already.”

“You're grumpy.”

“I'm not grumpy. I'm horny. And sexually frustrated. And you know damn well what you're doing right now and you need to stop.”

“There's other things we can do,” she reminds him.

“Yeah and I won't be able to stop at just the other things. So please,” he tightens his hold on her wrists and presses a kiss to her shoulder. “Stop. Be nice to me.”

“I was going to be very nice to you, But fine...” she dramatically huffs. “...if you want to have to keep studying alone.”

“I think I can handle another two or three weeks of 'studying alone'. That's nothing compared to three fucking months. You going to be good?��

“If you insist.”

“I do,” he says, and kisses her cheek. “Unfortunately.”

He releases his hold on her wrists, lacing their fingers together once again pressing their joined hands against her; eyes closed, face buried in her hair.

****

“I heard you met the hot teacher today,” she comments.

“She's about twenty years older than me but if you think she's hot...”

“You damn well know that's not who I was talking about. I mean Millie's teacher. The little blond thing with big boobs.”

“I didn't even notice.”

“Oh please. You're a guy.”

“I'm a guy that's not interested in meeting other women. So...”

“Your daughter said she was all 'touchy feely' with daddy.”

“She was not all touchy feely. She tried to touch my arm. And give me her phone number.”

Esme scowls at him over her shoulder. “Excuse me, what?”

“To talk about your daughter,” Tyler clarifies. “Because your daughter has a mouth on her.”

“Maybe because she takes after you.”

He snorts.

“She is all you and you know it. I am not taking the blame for her mouth. She is all attitude. Your attitude. She even has the same facial expressions as you. So I am not being held responsible for her being a smart ass. You can deal with that. You can give her shit.”

“I already did. I told her not to be so much like her mother,” he laughs as she attempts to elbow him in the stomach, then lifts his head and kisses the corner of her mouth.

“Millie says the teacher likes you. And that she's going to ask you out on a date.”

“Yeah? Good for her. I like you. So she's shit out of luck.”

“Six years and we're still at the like stage?” she teases. “I thought we'd at least be at infatuation by now.”

He grins. “We are way past infatuation, baby.”

“Do you think she's cute?”

“Who?

She huffs dramatically. “Millie's teacher. Do you think she's cute?”

“I think you're cute.”

“That's not what I asked.”

“I dunno,” he shrugs. “I wasn't paying attention. I'm not looking to pick up so why would I?”

“You must have noticed if she was cute or not.”

“Baby...” he sighs. “...I'm not looking at other women. I'm perfectly happy with the one I have.”

“So you've never thought about it? Hooking up with someone else?”

“Have you?”

“We're not talking about me. I have no reason to want to find someone to hook up with. Maybe you do. It's been three months.”

“Three and half but who's keeping track?”

“And in that whole time you've never thought about it?”

“Esme, I don't want to fight. I just want to lie here and hold you and talk. Normal talk. Not the talking that leads to a fight. It's too late and I'm too tired. I have never, ever thought about that. Not once in the last six and a bit years. Cheat on my wife because she's pregnant and can't put out? I do know how to jerk off, you know.”

“You said a long time ago it wasn't the same,” she points out.

“It isn't. But that doesn't mean I want to fuck someone else. There's only you. There's only been you since we met. And it's only going to be you for the rest of my life. So stop...” he kisses her temple. “...don't turn this into a thing.”

“I swear if that teacher asks you out on a date...”

“No one is asking anyone out on a date. Your daughter is super paranoid. And she has a fucking mouth on her.”

“Then watch your fucking language around her,” Esme retorts, and they both laugh. After several minutes she rolls over to face him; forehead resting against his, a hand coming out to push through his hair. “You okay?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

“That was a big step for you today. Huge, actually. You haven't been able to anything like that in two months. Especially going into town with that many of the kids with you? At least not without an anxiety attack. Everything went okay?”

“Everything was fine.” He doesn't tell her about the hyper-vigilance being in overdrive; noticing every little sound, every little movement out of the corner of his eye. It hasn't been that bad in a couple of months. Whether he's learned how to control it or if it's actually getting better, he doesn't know. But being that alert and that agitated at the park had not been a good sign.

“I'm proud of you,” she says, and presses a kiss to the bridge of his nose. “I know how hard you're trying. I also know how hard it is for you to go out of your comfort zone like that. And that you it somehow makes you weak; that you have the issues you do.”

He nods in agreement.

“You are far from being a weak man, Tyler. You are anything but weak. Don't let your brain tell you otherwise, okay?”

“Okay,” he agrees, giving a small, unconvincing smile.

“You're brave whether you see yourself that way or not. You fight against your own mind every second of every day. And you win every time. If that's not brave, I don't know what it is.”

He lays a hand on the side of her face and kisses her; long and soft, closed mouth open closed mouth. Then chuckles when she attempts to push her lower body against his, his hand falling to her hip to prevent it from happening. “You told me you'd be good.”

“Then stop being so good at making me want to do bad things,” she responds, and he presses a kiss to her forehead. They're silent for several minutes; listening to the sound of the ocean, feeling each others warm breath against their faces. And he once more places his forehead against hers, a hand on the small of her back.

“What are you thinking about?” Esme asks. “And don't say nothing because your throat always gets tight and you get those creases in your forehead.”

“I dunno,” he shrugs. “Stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Stuff that you don't need to worry about.”

“I hate to break it to you, but your stuff became my stuff when you decided you wanted to get married. So it's technically our stuff now.”

“We're not supposed to talk about the kids when we're having 'us time' remember?”

“I don't think we're expected to totally stop talking about them. That's impossible. We have five of them. One is bound to come up in conversation. And I actually brought Millie up first when I mentioned the hot teacher, so that means you get to mention at least one kind now. It's only fair.”

He grins. “You have weird rules.”

“You expect anything less than weird? Buddy, are you new here? Our house is full of weird.”

He can't argue with that.

“It's about Tyler isn't it.” It's a statement, not a question, and he gives a nod of confirmation. “If we could just get in to see the doctor or find another taking new patients....”

“Maybe the one in Sydney isn't a bad idea,” he suggests.

“You're the one who said it was too far to go,” she reminds him. “And neither of us like the fact that she's pro school and pro pushing medication.”

“I do not want to drug my kid up. He's five.”

“But that's what they're suggesting,” she fidgets with the chain around his neck as she talks. “Or what this doctor told them we should do.”

“He's five,” Tyler stresses. “He's a little boy.:

“I know, but...”

“He's a little boy,” he firmly repeats. “And I'm not letting them turn him into a fucking zombie.”

“I don't know what more we can do without outside help,” she frets. “We've tried taking certain things out of his diet, we've given him supplements, we've given him punishments and choice rewards for good behaviour. So until we get to see who we want...”

“He is not going on medication. We already talked about this. You know how I feel. He's a little boy. My little boy. He's my son.”

“He's my son too,” she gently reminds him. “And you're not the only going through this, remember? We're supposed to be in this together. It's not supposed to divide us.”

“There has to be something else we can try. Even if it means taking him to that doctor in Sydney. Just to see what they say.”

“They're going to say put him on meds.”

Tyler sighs.

“I know you're mad, but...”

“I'm not mad. I'm frustrated. Millie and Tanner are doing fine. They're not having issues. They're doing better here than they were in Colorado.”

“Well, Tyler's different. He feels things differently. He always has. Tanner may be the sensitive one, but Tyler's the intense one. And he's been that way since he was a baby. A lot of emotions inside that little head and body of his. He just doesn't know how to deal with them. Who does that remind you of?”

He stares at her pointedly.

“Don't even try to pin this on me. Millie and Tyler are the ones that are exactly like you. Millie just isn't as intense as you two.”

“He told me today that he hates his brain,” emotions chokes at him as he speaks. It's heartbreaking; to her that your kid thinks they're broken and needs someone to fix them. “That he hates how it works. That is doesn't work right.”

She gives a small, sympathetic smile and lays a hand on the side of his face; thumb running across his lips, knuckles brushing against his beard.

“He asked me if I would fix it. Fix him. How the fuck am I supposed to do that when I can't even fix my myself.?”

“He's not broken, Tyler. And neither are you.”

“What he's like this because of me? What if I passed something along? Like some kind of fucked up gene?”

“That's not how it works. That's not how any of this worlds. You didn't start having issues until you were an adult and started doing the job. It's everything you've done and everything you've seen. It's because you almost died. You didn't pass something down to him.”

“I hate this. For him. That he's going through this and we have no goddamn clue how to help him.”

“It's not that we're not trying...”

“Maybe we're not trying hard enough. There has to be other things out there, yeah? Things we can up on and...”

“Tyler, we have four other kids,” Esme reminds him. “They need us too. And we have a baby. A brand new one. And she needs us...both of us...even more. We've done everything we can for now. And don't even suggest pulling him from school because I can deal with that. Not with Declan and a newborn. There is no way I cope with that. And I already know you won't be able to handle it, so get that thought out of your head.”

“We can hire someone.”

“To do what? We don't even know what's going on with him. We need to find someone that can figure all of that out. You know we can't take on anything else. You need be out there keeping yourself busy and I've got a toddler and a baby to look after.”

“So we call the people in Sydney and take him there. It's something at least. At least someone can look at him and tell us what the fuck is going on. Because this is bullshit. Not knowing how to help him. It's bullshit and it sucks. He's a little boy.”

“If that's what you want to do, we'll do it. If you think Sydney is the best option...”

“It's the only option. Right now at least. I don't want this dragging on and him ending up like me. Because I'm fucked up. I don't want that for him.”

“Okay...first of all...” she shoves him over onto his back, then straddles his waist. “...you are not fucked up. You have some issues, yes. But you're working on them. That's all that matters. Second, I love you. And I'm tired of you shit talking yourself all the time. You're brave and you're strong...”

Tyler rolls his eyes.

Scowling, she takes his face in her hands. “ You are brave and you're strong and so is your son. You're both going to be okay. And you can't convince me otherwise.”

Grinning, he lays his hands on her eyes. “And you call me stubborn?”

“You are honestly the most hard headed, insufferable pain in the ass I've ever met. But...” she runs her hands up and down his chest. It's been six years yet she still hasn't tired of the way he feels; all hard muscle and sheer power. “...you're my hard headed, insufferable pain in the ass. You're stuck with me. Sorry.”

“I can think of worse people to be stuck with.”

“I bet the hot blond teacher isn't one of those people,” she snidely remarks, and then shrieks when he abruptly sits up, wraps an arm around her waist and flips her over onto her back; a hand behind his head to avoid it striking the sand.

“Fuck the hot teacher.”

“That's exactly what she wants. I mean, I can't say I blame her. That's pretty much all I wanted when I first met you too, so...”

“So now the truth comes out,” he teases, as he kneels between her splayed thighs, and leans over her, hands on either side of her head, bearing his weight on outstretched arms. “Six years later.”

“Six years and two months, actually. But yes. Yes, it's the truth. I totally would have let you take advantage of me the same day we met. In that crappy little shack of yours. I no longer feel shame in admitting that.”

“You should have just told me then. I would have been game.”

“Oh right!” she laughs. “Hey strange Australian with the nice hair and even nicer eyes, let's fuck,”

“I see absolutely nothing wrong with that,” he grins.

“You would have thought I was a slut. And that would have made working together extremely awkward.”

“Why? We were fucking in Dhaka anyway. Wouldn't have made a difference if we fucked before that.”

“You might have decided you didn't want to do it again.”

“Yeah....right...” he chuckles. “...that totally would have happened. I would have definitely been able to stop at just one time.”

His words make her think of G; that last conversation they'd had in the forest while waiting for Tyler to reach the extraction point with Ovi. Shortly before everything had just turned to pure and utter shit. How he'd playfully teased her about knowing exactly what had been going on in that hotel room for five days; that any single, red blooded male would have jumped on a situation like that and taken advantage of it. And how'd he turned towards her; his face and his tone suddenly so serious.

“He's not going to be able to let you go, you know.”

She hadn't thought much about it at the time. Things were still so new and they still had a long road ahead of them when it came to actually getting to know each other outside of sex. No one know how awful things would go; they all thought they had so much time left. She and Tyler would travel together and see if there was the chance of something real developing; if there were feelings that extended past pure, animalistic lust. And G would return to his wife and they'd start the family they so desperately wanted.

And then everything changed. In the blink of an eye. G never made it out of that forest. At least not alive. And she'd end up spending the next few months practically living at the hospital; getting to know her future husband in the midst of all of the pain and the surgeries and the therapies. And maybe, in a way, things were better because of it. Because they'd started things off in the darkest and most worrisome of places. It couldn't get much worse than the immediate aftermath of Dhaka. Not by a long shot.

“What's a matter?” Tyler asks, when she squeezes her eyes shut.

“I was just thinking about something,” she opens her eyes and gives a reassuring smile. “About someone actually. G.”

He frowns.

“Not like that! Just something he said. When we were in the forest. I haven't thought about it in over six years.”

“What was it about?”

“You, actually.”

He arches an eyebrow.

“It was all good, I swear. He was actually talking you up. Putting in a good word for you. And it must have worked. Because here we are.”

“Yeah...” he grins. “...here we are.”

He leans down to kiss her. Longer this time. Deeper. Not pulling away when he feels her tongue slip between his lips and press against his teeth; allowing his mouth to open and meeting her tongue with his. It's the most intense kiss they've shared in three and a half months; complications in the last trimester making things complicated and worrisome and forcing all thoughts -and need- of sex right out the window. And he feels one of her hands in his hair, the other slipping up the back of his t-shirt, needy fingers exploring his muscles. “You shouldn't kiss me like that,” he's breathless when he pulls away, and shivers when her nails slowly travel down his spine. “Or do that.”

“You kissed me first,” she argues. “So this is your fault.”

“Yeah but you're the one feeling me up,” he points out, back stiffening, teeth biting down on his bottom lip when those nails drift along the small of his back, just under the waist of his jeans.

“I can't help it. I can't help if if sexy lumberjacks turn me on.”

He chuckles at that, then buries his face in her neck with a frustrated groan. “I don't think it's just sexy lumberjacks.”

“You're right. It's just you in general. And by the feel of things...” she lifts her hips, so her body comes in contact with his crotch. “...you're kind of turned on too.”

“Kinda? There's no kinda in this.”

“There are other things,” she reminds him, as her fingertips -still under the waist of his jeans- slide around to his stomach. “We just can't have actual sex.”

“I told you. I won't be able to stop at just other things.”

“Get it together, Tyler. You're almost forty one. You're more than capable of stopping at the other stuff. Please?” her mouth is against his ear; breath warm against it. And his entire body shudders when she traces the outer edge with the tip of her tongue. “I just really miss you. And I really...really...really need you get me off.”

“You can't do it yourself? I've had to do it myself. For three months.”

“I could. But I want you to do it. Because I miss you and you're so good at. So very, very, very good. Please?” her teeth scrape against his earlobe. “Pretty please?”

“Esme....you know this is a bad idea...”

“How can something that feels this good be a bad idea? We're not having sex. We're just making each other feel good. Wouldn't you rather me do it for a change? Instead of having to do it for yourself?”

“I would actually,” he admits.

“Then...” her lips are on his neck now; kissing, sucking, biting. “...what the hell's your issue?”

“No issue. I just...fuck...” he groans, when her tongue finds that scar on the side of his neck. “...maybe we should go inside.”

“Let's stay here. I can actually make noise out here.”

He grins, then reaches for the ties on the front of her pants. “Very good point.”

Her eyes close and she gives a long, content sigh when his palm comes in contact with her pussy, and he finds her hot and wet; her entire body shuddering when he presses the tip of his index fingers against her clit. She won't last long. He can hear it in her ragged breathing, feel it in the way her entire body tenses, and how her greedy, frantic fingers pop open the button on his jeans. And he groans against her neck at even the simplest of touch; painfully hard and leaking precum, hips jerking against her hand when her thumb brushes over the engorged tip.

It's like being a teenager again; frantically making out, hoping to get off before being caught, lasting just as long. Only a handful of minutes before she's demanding that he kiss her as the orgasm hits, all noise muffled by his mouth against hers. And when her hand tightens around him and picks up pace, he's coming as well, face buried in her neck as he issues a long drawn out “Fuck”.

Neither of them moves of speaks for what feels like hours, and eventually Tyler rolls over onto his back, a forearm over his eyes, his chest heaving. He'd missed it. Missed her. But it wasn't until now that he realized just how much.

She snuggles into him, an arm across his stomach, head on his chest. And he drops a kiss on the top of her head and softly strokes her back.

“Thank you,” she sighs, and then giggles, and he can't help but laugh.

“No. Thank you,” he says.

Another sigh, then raises her head long enough to place a kiss to his chin.

He pushes a hand through her hair, letting it fall to the space between her shoulders. “I love you.”

“So that's what it takes to get an 'I love you',” she teases.

The words come easily to him now, but the first eight months of marriage had been a struggle for him when it came to saying them. His first foray into being a husband hadn't ended well; he'd broken her with his decision to leave while their son was dying, but not before she'd broken him by cheating multiple times while he was stationed overseas. It had made falling in love difficult, but had made expressing it even more difficult. Now he says it all the time. Never missing the opportunity to tel her. And vice versa.

“I do you know,” he says. “Love you.”

“I know you do,” she rubs his stomach softly, smiled up at him. “I love you too.”

He kisses her temple, then tightens his hold on her. Wishing they could stay like that...lying on this beach...forever.

#tyler rake #tyler rake fan fic #tyler rake fan fiction #best part of me #extraction #Chris hemsworth character

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my-name-is-alice-ayers · 4 years

Text

Chaos Theory Pt 6

@topstory21

"Love, you have to wake up," Erik kissed at your temple as he softly shook you away. The plane had landed shortly and you guys needed to get with Charles for a plan.

You groaned stretching on the small bed as you grabbed your shoes heading for the bathroom to get ready. In a flash you were changed and ready to attempt to save the universe. When you emerged from the bathroom all the guys were standing at the front of the plane chatting.

"So what's the plan?" You asked zipping up your boots as everyone filed out of of the plane into a private car that had been waiting for you guys at the air strip.

"Hadn't gotten that far," Charles admitted reaching to hold the car door open for you as you slide in the front seat.

"This would be so much easier if you had your powers..." you muttered sliding in the center as Erik slid next to you. Hank went for the driver's seat and Charles and Logan filed in the back.

"I think kicking the door in makes the most sense," Hank interjected, "Erik and Chloe can use their powers to get us in the room, then hopefully from there we can just talk her out of it."

"That's a big if.." you shook your head, "what do we even say?"

Hank shrugged shaking his head, none of them had taken the news of Logan time traveling that well, maybe Erik but he had been happy just to out of that cell.

They neared the facility and immediately things happen so fast. Erik moved the security gate up to let the car pass as you waved your hands making the guards hit the walls. You slam them hard enough till they were unconscious as Erik slid another metal gate over their bodies to contain them. You all file out of the car in a hurry, Erik grabbing your hand to keep you close.

You spun your fingers casting an illusion on anyone you passed till you made it to the board room. Logan went to kick the door in but you stopped him.

"I got it," you stood in front of the door throwing your hands up and red energy burst the wooden door to shreds. It didn't take long to spot Raven. She was standing on the table in her lovely blue form pointing a gun right at Trask as everyone in the room was standing back in horror.

"Charles?" She looked at you sadly, "Chloe? I'm so sorry.." but in a flash a solider from behind her shot a taser at her chest.

You flinched as you watched her fall to the table and Erik came beside you quickly waving his hand to pull it off of Raven, throwing it at the guard who fell to the floor shaking from the electricity.

"Raven, We've all come for you, Erik, Chloe and I, together," he began brushing his hand across her face.

"I never thought I'd see you guys again...," she moaned in pain.

"I made you a promise to protect you..and I know I haven't kept to but..." Charles whispered to Raven softly. He meant to appeal to her humanity and maybe that was the right move.

Logan looked down at the solider on the ground. His eyes caught the name on the dog tag..Stryker. The man was convulsing from the taser shot. Chloe watched in a instant as Logan's face turned pale as he backed himself against the wall, his eyes rolling in his head.

"I'm going to keep you safe, I'm going to keep you out of their hands." Charles soothed.

"Wait, somethings wrong with Logan," you nudged past Erik as you crouched in the floor next to Logan who was groaning and whimpering. His claws were retracted as he swiped at the open air until you restrained him with your powers.

Erik stepped past you suddenly, waving his hand until the gun was in his hands. He looked over at you, watching you try your best to soothe Logan. He loved that about you, your good nature. That was what he had to protect, your heart. He took a deep breath before pointing it directly at Raven.

"Erik?" Raven cried as she stared down at the barrel of the gun. The panic in her voice got your attention as you looked up.

"Erik, what are you doing?" You asked confused, this wasn't part of any plan you had discussed.

"Securing our future. Forgive me, Mystique. As long as you're out there we'll never be safe," Erik's voice was so steady it made you sick.

Hank stepped towards him, "Come on Erik give me the gun." He reaches a hand out for it calmly, all of you kept looking at each other confused.

"That's not going to work," you replied, "Erik stop, you don't have to do this."

"Stop him Charles," Raven grasped Charles.

"I can't.." Charles replied softly, shame washing over his face.

"He can't," Erik stated. Everyone stood still for what felt like hours before Raven stood, bolting for window. You watched Hank throw himself at Erik, causing the gun to fall but Erik waved his hand causing it to fire. The bullet followed Raven out the window and hit her in the leg as she fell to the ground.

You hear screaming outside and scattered glass as everything in the room seems to be a blur. Erik fought past Hank punching him hard in the face as he moved to the window looking back at you for a moment before floating down like a God.

"Hank, Chloe..." Charles growled at you both. "We have to stop him!"

Logan looked around in confusion grabbing your hand, "Where am I?"

"You're in Paris.." you responded quickly.

"What? How did I get here?" Logan asked confusion apparent in his voice.

"I think he's slipping between the past and the future, whoever sent him here is losing there hold on him," you realized as you watched him practically in a panic.

"What are you talking about you came to us..." Charles answered now brushing his hair from his face.

"Who are you?" Logan asked again holding his head.

"I'm Charles." Logan pushes past you and grabs on to him, panic quickly turning to anger.

"Charles Xavier, this is Chloe...we're all friends here.."

"I don't know you," Logan stated shaking his head.

"Logan look at my eyes, you're safe.." you reached your hands out for him to take, "You can trust me, just relax. Listen to my voice...you're safe with us."

He calmed down for a moment and began to take a step towards you but Hank stood up behind you, now transformed into the Beast. He growled as he shook off the punch Erik had given him.

"What the hell is that?" Logan's claws come out almost cutting your hands. You jump backwards your hands casting big spheres of red energy to protect you.

Charles moved in front of you, "It's okay. I got this. Hank go stop Erik," he stated softly and you watch Hank jump out of the building. You can hear more screams from downstairs and your stomach is in knots.

"Charles, Erik isn't going to listen to Hank. I have to go out there," your voice cracked as you held your powers back trying to inch closer to the window.

"What's wrong with her hands? Who are you people?" Logan rambled.

"Chloe, I need you here with me for a moment. I promise Erik will be all right. Listen to my voice... You're Logan, this is Chloe, I'm Charles Xavier and that was Hank. You've spent the last couple of days with us," Charles began but when nothing seemed to jog his memory he responded frustrated,"You're on acid. Someone gave you really bad acid. Yeah?"

"You have to be joking," you groaned. You leaned out the window watching Erik rip the bullet from Ravens leg. He held his hand open as the small bit of metal was suspended in the air. You couldn't hear what they were saying but you watched Hank suddenly jump on Erik's back giving Raven a moment to run away.

Logan's eyes finally shifted back to black, "Professor? Chloe?" He called out to you both.

"What the hell was that?" You asked turning back to him.

"I just saw someone who's going to bring me a lot of pain one day..." he ran his hands through his hair.

You watched Erik in a struggle with Hank, who had managed to toss him in the fountain. Your stomach drops, "Charles, get Logan downstairs, I'm going to try and stop Erik," you shouted diving out the window before they could protest. You floated down quickly hearing both men call your name for you to stop.

Your feet crunched on glass as your shoes touched down softly. You could hear gasps of people as camera clicked in your direction. You could feel the magnetic field Erik had cast as every piece of metal nearby flew at the fountain trying to stop Hank who was dipping his head under the water repeatedly.

You swung your arms casting a small hexagon sphere tossing it towards Hank just close enough to get his attention, "Stop! You're going to kill him!"

Hank didn't even look at you as you watched him hold Erik down longer. Your heart was racing as you took a deep breath manipulating your energy as you pulled the metal from the fountain, bending in until it wrapped around Hanks limbs. It folded around him suspending him above the water. It gave Erik enough time to breathe as cars and metal dropped all around you. Erik coughed trying to sit up in the fountain.

You ran over to help him stand, blood was dripping from a cut on his forehead as he leaned on you till he was standing on the pavement. "What were you thinking??" You screamed at him.

"You have to let me go Chloe..." he choked out as he watched people look at you two screaming and scrambling away.

"What are you talking about?" You couldn't believe this, yes you understand why he tried to kill Raven, she could be the key to changing your future but this..was something else.

"I promised you from the beginning that I would keep you safe, so I'm asking you to trust me. Look into my eyes, I need to go.."he practically whispered reaching for you. He pressed a soft kiss to your lips and you felt your heart drop.

"Erik, you just promised me..in the plane.." you choked on your words. Was it all a lie?

"Chloe, I swear to you I want to give you all of that. Let me go secure our future and I will be back for US. I have to keep you safe, I can't let Trask get you," he explained hugging you tightly.

"Chloe!" You heard Charles yell from a distance behind you. Tears streamed down your face, as you clutched onto Erik afraid you two would never see each other again. He laced his fingers with yours and you could feel your heart pounding loudly in your chest. "Chloe, stop him!" He yelled again.

"Go.." you cried. You felt Erik lace his hands with yours, cool metal touching your palm. He grabbed your chin kissing you hard before he took off running down the sidewalk. In the rush of the crowd he was gone in an instant.

"Jesus Christ Chloe! What are you thinking!" Charles screamed at you as he finally jogged over.

"Charles, go easy on her," Logan warned watching the color drain from your face as you looked in the direction Erik had run off one more time, but he was long gone. Hank had managed to escape his hold, dropping in the water as he transformed back into himself.

You looked down at your palm, a long thin gold chain necklace with a diamond ring laced through it. Your fingers played with the cool metal as you felt tears stinging at your eyes.

"Hey, kid...it's okay," Logan spoke softly watching practically shaking.

"You just let him go?" Hank yelled at you shaking water from his clothes.

"Raven was long gone and you were killing him, what was that going to solve?" You snapped at Hank as you shoved the ring and necklace into your pocket.

"Chloe I understand, but we're meant to do this together. Where could he have gone?" Charles huffed looking around.

"I didn't know he was going to do that," you cried now, burying your face in your hands. Your face burned with embarrassment as you felt Logan wrap an arm around you.

"We need to get out of here, I've got her. You two can yell at her later," Logan pulled you close as he lead toward the car, with Charles and Hank following him.

#chaostheory #erik lehnsherr x you #erik lehnsherr imagine #erik lensherr x charles xavier #erik lehnsherr x reader #erik lehnsherr x chloe

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sirro85-blog · 5 years

Text

Humans are Space Orcs: Improvising

So as I have described humans are ingenious and curious and they have the ability to look at a piece of fruit that tingles while you eat it and see a weapon. It goes further than that though. Humans can even look at a mistake and see success in another guise.

Major Kovac looked at his fellow officers and gave a gesture I had never seen him make before he spread his hands slowly and then brought his shoulders up.

"I think, that when we sent the last order the message got scrambled," ventured Captain Gillespie.

"Well I fucking hope so because I don't see how a request for 'artillery ammunition, medical supplies, rifle munitions and fuel' became 'water bottles, uniforms, pens, pencils, notepads, paperweights!? 150 Nyrex, assorted foodstuffs; and fuel'..." Kovac trailed off, "add to that the only supplies we have to begin with are food and for some reason paint and plaster."

"Munitions supplies code: 83-C; recruits basics supplies: 8-DE...medical supplies code: 14-P office supplies: 40-B" Gillespie said in a monotone voice.

"Whoever was on the other end didn't think to question or ask for a repeat order, it's the new civillian company running logistics they don't speak phonetics so they relay it normally so our order "Eight-Three-Charlie" becomes "8DE" in a busy office and we end up with new water bottles, nyrex and uniforms." Captain Becca said, "the wonders of privatisation." she laughed.

"Alright Bex, no time for your socialist rants now, we're going to have to make do. Wolf, What do you think?" Kovac enquired

"Surrender," Wolf replied immediately, "No seriously sir, I say we surrender." He raised his voice as the other officers shouted him down, "these aren't a horde of barely trained fanatics we're facing down these are the cream of the crop, the zealots who have served these crackpots long enough to become battle hardened and true veterans." He gestured around himself a little wildly, "what do we have? a squad of combat engineers, one squadron of wet behind the ears infantry, Gilly's auxiliary troop, and the second half of our forces are fucking weekend warriors, the strategic planetary defence reserves, other than the 88th and Gilly we can't count on two thirds of our forces. The OC is so far past it even he has realised it and I don't trust Major Picklefarts as far as I can throw her."

Kovac clicked his fingers a few times and hummed the bars to "Catfish Blues" Captain Becca gave a soulful hum.

"Woke up this mornin'," growled Dorman in his best blues singer voice, "my dog was dead; no food in my fridge y'all; ate my dog instead."

"Got idiots above me; got morons below; if it gets much colder; it'll start to snow" finished Becca.

"Feel better?" Asked Kovac.

"How can it possibly snow here? It's 35°C in the shade! We're in a god damn furnace!" Wolf drew a calming breath.

"Now that we've made Wolf feel better let's clear up a few things," first...it's Major Portbury and I don't much like her either, second the other two squadrons will hold their line until they don't not much more we can ask of them. Third, Gilly hasn't just got a troop he's got Staff Sergeant Frank King and his units could bring Muddy Waters back from the dead to slap us all for ruining blues, and he's got Griffin Battery out there and we know what those boys can do with a connonade. So it's us, it's us the 88th, 3 Squadron Combat Engineers, Fighting Fit and Fucking Ugly, the real first in last out, the infantry may hold the front line but we fucking build it." Kovac pointed a finger at his map, "everything we know says the Xhost are going to try to capture the peninsula, they do that they gain the remote base within a week and they neuter the Fortress Moon, then they have a foothold in another system and who knows how long before the Galactic Council decide to take them seriously, they'll have another million "converts" by then. So we stop them here, we hold the Isthmus, we send them back to their ships or we send them to hell."

"With glass paperweights?" Wolf asked in a scathing tone, "Kovac I love you brother but without the supplies we're going to lose."

"Want me to show you what I can do with a paperweight?" Becca said with a growl.

"That gives me an idea," said Kovac, "Wolf, Becca, who's the nastiest soldier you've got?"

"Barbie," said Wolf.

"Knickers," said Becca.

"Dorman? What about you?"

"In a fist fight? Bickers is a nasty piece of work but for one of your ideas? Well Bickers again but you'll have to let him know just how nasty you want him to get."

"Alright have those three, Buckets, Footsteps and Corporal Chloe meet me in my office, Wolf you can join us too, just keep your eyes off the Panther's arse, Becca go see what you think of Portbury. Dorman go with Gilly and see what you would do to our defences if you had a wish list."

The meeting in the Major's office went on late into the night, unusually for human military Major Kovac was not just respected by his soldiers he was well liked. In the early hours of the morning as the soldiers left the office Kovac "high-fived" Knickers as the two achieved success in their experiments.

The following morning Kovac was found striding across the top of the fortifications gesticulating enthusiastically. "Here, and down there, it'll provide good cover for your men," he explained to the dazed looking infantry officer.

Around him infantry soldiers were carefully ripping paper from notepads and sliding them into each pocket in the nyrex they held.

"You see," Gillespie was explaining enthusiastically, "we use the left over plaster and water, and soak the new uniforms in them to create a sort of plaster cast...glacis, something to absorb damage and line the enemy up to expose them to your attacks, then we fortify it with these nyrex, filled with paper they have pretty impressive stopping power and the whole thing is made of leftovers and things wrongly delivered instead of medicine and other useful supplies. It's genius really." Major Portbury looked unimpressed but that didn't stop Gillespie, "Griffin Battery have taken the paint pots that was clever too, I think Footsteps deserves a raise Kovac ha ha, then Kovac has come up with some really nasty tricks with the water bottles and paperweights."

"Unfortunately we're out of fuel," cut in Kovac, so we'll be walking a lot," in his head he played back Becca's statement from earlier this morning, 'she resents being promoted to Major late and resents having to join a new regiment of raw recruits to do it, she resents the idea that she can't cut it and resents her men, also the girl can drink but... she may be a good officer one day, if she can ditch the chip on her shoulder.'

"Major I think it's probably best if you and your men hold the centre, we need infantry not engineers playing at infantry in our middle to steady our line, we'll put the SPDR on the far right flank where the attack should be weakest, my 88th will take the left flank, they'll hit that flank harder as they're coming from the South. Better us than the militia, sorry the SPDR, but with you a rock on one side and the water on the other we should be ok."

Portbury appeared to consider this and then nodded, without the Lietenant-Colonel there Kovac had seniority anyway.

"OK then, I'm going to send my engineers out to rig up some welcome wagons for the Xhost when they arrive" Kovac gave the Major a nod and walked away.

Kovac kept his men busy that day, he pushed them to work hard and they responded, the Major himself was tireless, he moved up and down the line talking with the men of the reserves on the right flank and then spending time with the infantrymen always talking positively about the situation, at midday he organised a competition, platoon against platoon and as the men ran up and down their line, stopping and firing at specific targets they realised how the improvised glacis exposed those before it to fire from a range of fields. Their confidence grew.

Late evening saw the first lines of Xhost troops pull into view, they had started to set up camp when Griffin Battery, buried further back behind enemy lines opened fire, explosions on their base caused chaos and when the dust had settled through omni-goggles Kovac could see the smoking ruins of three air support ships, the surprise of Griffin Battery had been lost but there was no air support for the Xhost tomorrow.

When the Xhost advanced in the pre-dawn gloom they did so in near silence, Griffin Battery stayed silent, they crept forward until the silent guns filled them with confidence and the advance sped up, they crept closer until in the middle of their lines explosions tore through the ranks.

Crouched and looking through the omni-goggles, Captain Becca called out ranges as more detonations shredded the advance. The Xhost fell back.

"Improvised nailbombs, water bottles with fuel and gunpowder salvaged from rifle rounds, strapped to two glass paperweights each." Kovac nodded to Becca, "That knickers is a nasty piece of work."

"They're advancing!" Yelled Becca from her vantage point, "two divisions on the left flank, one division in the centre, half a division moving to the right."

Again the Xhost advanced cautiously, and again the guns of Griffin Battery stayed silent, the few remaining paperweight bombs detonated but this time the Xhost were ready for them, and did not recoil in shock.

The advancing army looked vast in comparison to the thin like of troops dug in to oppose them, they drew nearer still nearly in rifle range when the guns of Griffin Battery sounded, amongst the shells shattering the Xhost lines were improvised shells which erupted on impact and appeared to contain liquid fire, Lance Corporal Bickers knowing that fuel and polystyrene - a packing product for the "useless" paperweights - could combine to create a highly flammable viscous liquid was the sort of information that earned him considerable "side eye" most of the time, but on occasion proved extremely useful. The fact he had known at least four other methods to make "napalm" was considered concerning.

The advance lines caught in the firestorm disappeared into the flames, the rest of the Xhost retreated.

"They're done for the day," said Kovac harshly, he looked out at the killing zone as if forcing himself to watch what he had done.

Kovac was correct in his assessment night fell and the Xhost made no movements to advance, the human forces bedded down and the sentries fought heavy lids as they watched the enemy lines.

Morning broke with a stiff breeze sweeping in from the northern shore bringing moisture and freshness to the air. The Xhost drew up and then stood watching the human defences, they stood and sang their hymns, Major Kovac ordered his men stood down but the infantry and SPDR stayed in their positions on guard while the engineers slept. The Xhost stood and sang all day, and late into the night and while Major Kovac had his men keep sentry and the others slept the less experienced troops stayed in position.

It appeared as though the Xhost might try to sing their way to victory, depriving the troops of the Galactic Council Defence Force of sleep until they were defeated but Kovac appeared to have a plan, as dawn broke the second day on the singing Xhost, the wind tugging at the ceremonial robes if their battle clerics rifle fire sounded and commanders of the Xhost began to fall, over a dozen shots sounded before the shocked Xhost rushed forwards. Half way between the two armies Hemmings and Richards the two finest shots in the engineers ranks broke cover and sprinted for the safety of their own lines.

While the two humans had a significant lead they were stiff and cold and amongst the massed ranks of the Xhost were species significantly faster than humans. As the massed ranks of the Xhost surged forward some shapes raced ahead, fastest of all were the unmistakable forms of Rhul converts, surging across the ground in their four legged posture.

Griffin Battery opened fire and still the two snipers ran with the Rhul closing the gap every stride. Hemmings was 30 yards ahead of his fellow sniper when he stopped, turned and fired three shots, the two Rhul yards from Richards dropped and Hemmings turned and sprinted for home.

The Xhost kept coming and for the first time reached rifle range, the Xhost drove on over their falling comrades as the defensive lines cracked with rifle fire. Flashes of colour appeared in the Xhost lines as Kovac's next trick was revealed. Artillery shells, robbed of half their munitions weight attached to left over paint tins rained down on the Xhost causing damage and spreading paint across vast swathes of Xhost numbers, coating rifle sights and eye stalks in blinding paint.

Still the Xhost pushed forwards until they were close enough that the faces of the myriad species of the Xhost converts could be seen. Kovac's last trick was played, empty paint tins and empty food tins, packed with the wrongly delivered pens and pencils and the munitions taken from the paint-shells were fired from the infantry's portable howitzers.

As the thin metal reached muzzle velocity of 180m/s it shredded spraying thin slivers of metal and wood out into the Xhost lines.

A shudder went through the fanatic troops as their advance slowed and they paused, no shot fired in return and over 3/4 of their own number laying in carnage.

Kovac stood up and walked to the lip of the human defences, "now, bullet bomb, bayonets!" He bellowed and the left flank suddenly hailed grenades followed by a volley of bullets and then the 88th 3 Squadron Combat Engineers launched forward in their own advance.

By days end the Xhost were defeated and driven from the planet.

I have multiple examples of humans turning errors into victories, vulcanised rubber, antibiotics and even the low resistance substance they coat their ships in but these are often seen as unique events, they aren't. Human achievements all across history have been accompanied by two phrases. "I have an idea" and "What if?"

I'm assured "hold my beer" is a crucial part of their success too.

#humans are weird #humans are space oddities #humans are space australians #humans are insane #humans are space orcs #earth is a deathworld #earth is weird #earth is awesome #space orcs #space australia #space faerie #this is why i call kovac daddy

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is-this-a-skam-account · 5 years

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Shelter Chapter 5 (part 2) by Shawnie1718 ao3

Lucas cursed in his head, how could he stay mad at someone who looks like a puppy being left in the rain. Lucas nodded, “sure. I’ll go with you. But only if you give me my helmet back.”

Eliott smiled “of course.”

Lucas was in the middle of excusing himself and about to leave when Eliott offered to walk him down. Lucas wasn’t sure what he wanted in that moment, so he just let Eliott follow.

They got halfway down the stairs before Eliott said, “I guess you went for the more casual look today, huh?”

Lucas looked at him confused for a second before Eliott motioned to what Lucas was wearing. Lucas gazed downwards and internally groaned. “Don’t even @ me, okay? My friend didn’t tell me we were going to a party for models or anything. I just wore what I felt comfortable in.”

They walked through the main lobby, the same women behind the main desk now raising an eyebrow. Except she wasn’t looking at Lucas, she was more checking out Eliott. Lucas’s jaw tightened and he had to fight the urge to wrap an arm around Eliott’s waist to prove a point of some kind. They paused a few feet from Lucas’s motorcycle, standing side by side.

Lucas nearly yelped when Eliott suddenly spun him a whole 450° around until he came crashing into Eliott’s front. Lucas gazed up at him, eyes blown wide. The Alpha smiled down at him with the most shit eating grin. “I think your outfit makes you look-”

Lucas rolled his eyes and pushed away, cutting Eliott off. “I know, I know. I look frumpy and out of place I get it.” Lucas said and walked over to his bike.

Eliott shrugged, following after him. “I was going to go for more dangerously attractive.” The grin that would put suns to shame found its way back on Eliott’s face, and Lucas had to look away in the fear of being blinded.

Lucas managed to roll his eyes as a blush crept its way onto his cheeks. “Wow, you are just…” Lucas said as he pursed his lips and put his helmet on.

Eliott took a step closer. “Just what?”

Lucas looked up, finding the willpower to hold the gaze. He shrugged and wrapped his hands on the handlebar, revving the engine once. “Guess you’ll have to hear the rest of the sentence when you give me my helmet back.”

Lucas didn’t stay to see the expression on Eliott’s face. He did a quick turn onto the street, whizzing between cars. It wasn’t until he got home that he realized he had completely abandoned Chloe at the party.

Saturday flew by with Lucas spending most of the time with Manon on the couch. She had showed up that morning, just as Lucas was crawling out of his bed, frozen in place by the front door and crying. “We don’t have to talk about it,” Lucas offered and guided them towards the kitchen to make some coffee and something from whatever they had in the fridge. Manon seemed thankful, so he didn’t pry too much on the topic.

Once they were finally on the couch, Lucas let Manon choose what they would watch. The show was really just background noise to his swirling thoughts. He couldn’t help but think about the night before. The last place he had expected to see Eliott was at that party. Lucas also wasn’t sure how to feel about the concept that Eliott has a fuck buddy, possibly more than one. Also, now Eliott knows about Chloe. Oh yeah...Chloe. Lucas really should just break it off with her before “it” actually became something. He knows he’s just using her as his beard. But she’s like a real-life version of his safety net. And it’s so hard to let that go.

Lucas briefly closed his eyes, letting his head roll back. Eliott appeared on the back of his eyelids, almost like a movie playing from the night before. Lucas could still see the strobe lights hitting Eliott’s face and the way his shoulders and head moved.

The meer concept of Eliott felt like jumping off a cliff and Lucas wasn’t sure if he wanted to take that jump, at least not without a safety net attached.

It was nearing dinner time when Lucas got a notification on his phone. He debates on whether to continue doing the dishes or check his phone. It was an easy fight. Lucas read the notification, @srodulv started a live!

Lucas unlocked his phone quickly, heart pounding in his chest. A few seconds later the image of Eliott appeared on his phone. Lucas couldn’t help but let a fond smile take over his face. He took in everything about the live. How Eliott was laughing and enjoying a smoke in his living room, just being super chill with the fans. Lucas also took note of the cute little harmonica motion Eliott does with his fingers between questions. Lucas couldn’t help but gaze at the steel rings which were placed on multiple fingers. They suited Eliott really well. Lucas bit his lip. Bet they would look pretty good trailing their way down.

No, Lucas, focus!

Lucas smiled again as he opened up the chat, quickly typing.

@lucallemant: strip ;)

“Ahhh! Lucas! Lucas’s in the chat! Salut!” Eliott said much more excitedly than expected. He scooped up his phone and brought it closer, more intimate than before. The chat was blowing up, some people just sending Lucas’s name over and over again, others trying to connect what was happening between these two. Lucas chuckled and brought his phone a little closer as well.

“Salut,” Lucas whispered into his screen.

Eliott paused, skimming the comments before looking back at the camera. “Lucas, say something else!”

Lucas laughed aloud, immediately hoping that Manon wouldn’t hear.

@lucallemant: what should I say?

@lucallemant: I still need my helmet back.

The chat was going crazy which made Lucas laugh harder. Eliott fell into a fit of laughter as he leaned back on his couch. Lucas wished he was there next to him. He wouldn’t even have to run his hand through his hair, or tuck his hands under Eliott’s shirt. While those are two things Lucas would very much like to do, it wouldn’t be necessary. Lucas would be content just sitting beside Eliott on the couch, doing a livestream together. Maybe Lucas would cook dinner later, something domestic. And then they would-

Lucas paused, why was he thinking like a housewife? Sure, Lucas had thought about the idea of becoming an Alpha’s Omega, but Lucas would still want to be Lucas. He would still want to continue his career, either in biology or music. He wouldn’t want to be owned per say. Though, perhaps he didn’t mind the idea of being able to come home and smell a scent so familiar that it’s practically your own. Or have a mating bite that links you to the other person in a way that’s undefinable…

“Oh, Putain! I have to go. Bye, Lulu!” And with that Eliott ended the live.

Sunday morning crept by. Eliott had said that he could pick Lucas up, but only if Lucas took his motorbike. Lucas had rolled his eyes and asked: do you only like me for my motorcycle? Eliott had just laughed. Lucas agreed, though, thankful that Manon had a job interview that morning so she was out early. And Mika was still passed out on his bed.

Lucas wasn’t entirely sure what to wear to a photo shoot, he didn’t own many nice clothes if he was being honest. He settled for one of his nicer (more blouse-y) shirts and rolled up jeans. It was the best he could do.

There was a knock at the door, just a little past eleven. Lucas composed himself as he went to answer it. A part of him prayed that it wasn’t Eliott, because he hadn’t finished mentally preparing himself. However, when he opened the door, there Eliott was. In all his tall glory. He has a hand in his pocket with the other tucking something underneath his elbow. Lucas guess it was the helmet, though he didn’t look at it long because holy shit that face. A smile grew on Eliott’s face when Lucas opened the door. His scent wafted out and around Eliott. Lucas felt like he could practically taste the smell with how sweet it was.

“Salut!” Eliott said happily.

Lucas nodded, “Salut.” He stepped out of the apartment, locking the door after him. He turned back to Eliott, motioning to his clothes. “I wasn’t exactly sure what to wear to a photo shoot, so I settled for this.”

Eliott smirked and took a step closer. “I think you look perfect, babe.”

Lucas felt his legs nearly give out. Babe, babe. Babe. Babe. Holy shit. Babe. Lucas had to take a few breaths and wet his lips before saying, “of course you would say that. Let’s just get this over with.” Lucas said in a playful tone. As he passed, he grabbed hold of Eliott’s wrist, pulling him down the hallway to the stairs. Lucas tried to ignore the fact that he could feel how fast Eliott’s heart was racing.

“Can I drive?!” Eliott asked excitedly once they reached the bike.

Lucas laughed, “yeah, right, in your dreams!”

Eliott frowned, reaching the bike before Lucas. He flung his leg around the bike and placed his hands on the handlebars, looking back at Lucas. “C’mon! Just a couple blocks!” When Lucas just crossed his arms Eliott gave him his best puppy dog eyes, “pleeease.”

Lucas sighed, “fine, you win.”

Eliott laughed giddily. “Yes! Hop on!”

Lucas rolled his eyes. He put his helmet on before mounting the back of the bike. He tentatively placed his arms around Eliott, and then proceeded to wait for a good five minutes before asking, “do you need help?”

Eliott turned to him, a whine just barely audible, “yes.”

Lucas laughed and leaned forward. He watched as his hands trailed down Eliott’s arms until they rested on the handlebars, resting just next to (and slightly on) Eliott’s hands. Lucas tried to immortalize the image of Eliott watching Lucas’s hands from just moments before.

“I’m guessing you know handlebars? And I hope you know what riding a bike is like, otherwise we are in a lot of trouble. The brake lever is just to our right, a little under the speedometer. Then the break peddles are somewhat where my feet will be resting. Then, to get going you just want to slightly pull on th-whoa!” Lucas yelled as Eliott gripped the gas pedal, shooting them forward. Eliott laughed into the wind and Lucas was frantically latching onto Eliott’s middle for some stability.

Lucas would never admit it to his face, but Eliott did rather well...considering. They had a couple close calls, but nothing too major that Lucas would need them to pull over for. When they got to the establishment, and Eliott went to sign in, he called Lucas his “plus one.” Lucas couldn’t help but smile cheekily at the lady working at the desk as they walked away. Eliott guided them to the correct room, and whoa...Lucas had never seen so many people look so frantic all at once. And for what? Photos? Like literally, there were people running around holding like fifteen cups of coffee, others searching frantically in large bags, a large section of the room was just devoted to hair and makeup, and Lucas would not be surprised if he saw someone crying in the corner.

“Lulu, hey,” Eliott said, waving a hand in Lucas’s face to grab his attention. “I have to go do hair and makeup, you can either come with me or if you want you can just chill over there,” he motioned towards a section of fold out chairs, where there was a girl on her phone. “They’ll give me a ten minute break once I get ready, so I’ll see you then?”

Lucas nodded and watched Eliott walk off. He took one last look around the room, it seemed like in the movies. Like the Devil Wears Prada or...well, that’s really the only one that came to mind. Lucas decided on wasting away the next hour or so in a chair on his phone, which is exactly what he would be doing at home, just with much more comfort and not with the pressure of every person in the room staring at him.

When Lucas sat down, he immediately pulled up Instagram. He decided to respond to some fans in his direct messages. He really enjoyed doing that, giving back to his fans. Lucas tried to ignore the ones asking if Eliott and him were in a relationship.

It was about seven minutes later (Lucas was now watching dog compilations on YouTube) when Lucas got a notification on his phone.

@srodulv: someone looks bored.

Lucas looked up to the area designated to hair to find Eliott grinning at him. Lucas rolled his eyes and exited out of the messages. He saw Eliott frown and turn back to his phone from his peripheral vision.

@srodulv: awe respond!

@srodulv: Lucaaaaaas

@srodulv: I’m going to keep sending you messages until you respond.

@srodulv: L

@srodulv: U

@srodulv: C

@srodulv: A

@srodulv: S

@srodulv: you look so feckin cute today mm

@srodulv: bb don’t be like that!

Lucas’s face lit up a bright pink.

@lucallemant: don’t call me cute.

Lucas could hear Eliott’s soft laugh from across the room.

@srodulv: but my mom told me I shouldn’t lie!

@srodulv: you don’t want me to lie do you?

Lucas pursed his lips at his phone, about to type a reply when, “hey! I haven’t seen you before.” Someone said, walking up to him. Lucas dragged his attention away from his phone, leaving it on his lap. He was met with the brightest smile Lucas thinks he has ever seen. The guy was obviously a model. Muscles super tones. Hair perfectly styled. Dimples only gods should have. “Sofiane.” The guy offered his hand and Lucas gladly took it.

It was then that Lucas got another notification which he knew was from Eliott. Lucas simply smiled flicking his eyes back to Eliott as he clicked his phone off. Eliott looked absolutely betrayed. “Lucas.” He said.

“Nice to meet you,” Sofiane said. “So, I’m guessing you aren’t a model?”

Lucas gaped at him playfully, “what am I that unattractive?”

Sofiane laughed, “no, no. I’m actually making sure you aren’t a model, because we are all supposed to be getting ready. Though you could easily be one, for sure.”

Lucas laughed, “if only.”

“No! No! I’m serious.” Lucas only rolled his eyes. “Anyways, what are you doing here?”

“I came here with a friend,” Lucas said and motioned to Eliott, who was too preoccupied sulking into the mirror. Is this even an adult male? He acts like a child.

“Oh, Eliott! I love Eliott. We are really close friends actually. We went to college together and then we both got into modeling around the same time.”

Lucas frowned, “Eliott went to college?”

Sofiane nodded, “yeah! He was majoring in the arts.”

“Oh, that’s awesome!”

“Yeah, you should ask him to show you a couple drawings some time.”

“Oh, you know he actually-“ Lucas was suddenly cut off when there was a hand placed on Sofiane’s shoulder. They both turned to the person the hand belonged to, to find Eliott standing there. Lucas couldn’t help but suck in a breath. He looked amazing, breathtaking, with his hair and makeup done. Dressed to the nines in a suit. A shiver coursed through Lucas’s body.

“Salut!” Eliott said.

They both greeted him as well. Sofiane opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off when someone yelled his name. He excused himself and ran off. Eliott replaced where Sofiane had just been standing. “What were you two talking about?”

Lucas shrugged, leaning back into his chair. “Just setting up a time to go make out in the copy room.”

Eliott gaped at him, which made Lucas burst into laughter. “No, mec, we were actually talking about you.”

Eliott...blushed? Is that a hint of a blush Lucas sees? “Oh.”

Lucas cocked an eyebrow. “Oh.”

“Okay I need everyone in places now. Now, people!” Someone yelled from the center of a room. They were wearing a headset and looked relatively important in Lucas’s eyes.

Eliott cursed under his breath. “It shouldn’t take us too long to get these shots. Then I’m all yours.”

Lucas smiled as he watched Eliott walk off. “Okay,”

It took around two hours to finish the shoot. Much longer than Lucas was expecting. Towards the end he was about to fall asleep, when Eliott suddenly appeared in front him dressed in his everyday clothes once again. “Ready?” He asked.

Lucas nodded and proceeded to follow Eliott out of the building. They decided to head out the back exit, which happened to be a large area reserved for storage. Such as props models may use when shooting. The closer they got to the exit the larger the props became. There were couches and other chairs stacked upon each other, which surrounded something hiding underneath a tarp. Lucas paused in front of it. He sent a questioning look to Eliott, who stopped just a couple feet from him. Lucas preceded to peel back the tarp, revealing a shining piano. He lifted up the cover and trailed his fingers over the keys. Memories of his piano lessons come flooding back to him. As well as memories of his fathers disdain when he learned his mother had signed him up. He felt Eliott close some of the space between them, almost close enough to feel the breath he exhaled.

“I had to use this in one of my shoots before,” Eliott offered, cutting the silence covering the long corridor.

Lucas looked up briefly as he sat on the stool, “you play?”

Eliott laughed, “no, God, no. Well, I guess I do have the best cover of hot crossed buns this side of Paris.”

Lucas smiled, turning back to the piano. He cracked his fingers before letting them trail the keys once more. Lucas pressed a couple keys, making sure he remembered where they were.

“You know they probably have a triangle around here too if you want?” Eliott offered.

Lucas looked back briefly and smiled, he hadn’t really catched the whole joke. His brain was wrapped up in the melody going on inside his head. He breathed in before letting his fingers press the keys. They began flowing together the longer he played. His right hand soon joined in. His hands were shaking a tad, though he hoped Eliott didn’t realize.

Lucas closed his eyes, trying to remember the next part. It had been so long since he last played this piece. When he opened his eyes again, he looked back at Eliott who had found a place to sit on the floor a couple feet away. He had a smile on his face and his eyes were twinkling despite the low light in the room. As the song came to a close, Lucas didn’t think his heart had ever beat that fast. He turned back to Eliott to say something. But was beaten to it when someone yelled “hey! You there! What do you think you’re doing!”

A torch hit both their faces, pulling a string of curses from Eliott’s mouth. He quickly grabbed Lucas’s hand, pulling them along to the exit. The security guard was yelling after them, but of course neither of them stopped. And they didn’t stop running until they were back at Lucas’s motorcycle. Both breathing heavily, hearts pumping. Eliott laughed as they put their helmets on and climbed in the motorcycle. Lucas could feel how fast Eliott’s heart was still beating as he pressed himself against Lucas’s back.

Lucas was getting ready to pull away and drive off the curb when Eliott leaned closer and whispered, so only he could hear, “you’re surprising Lucas. I love surprising people.”

Lucas wasn’t sure what else to do, other than quickly change the subject and turn his head away to hide his blush, “should we head to your place? Maybe have some beer?”

Lucas felt Eliott chuckle before he said “sure, mec."

#skam france #skamfr #elu

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not-playable-character · 3 years

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I swear to God im working on the next after story, so much has gotten in the way. Everytime I sit down to write something comes up and I won't be able to access my computer this weekend more than likely because I'll be flooded out of my house. So to make it up to you guys who have been patiently waiting (especially @ibest14 who requested this fix) im posting what I do have written as a lil preview (and so you guys can say yea or nay to the premise)