#who needs to get some sun after being stuck in The Bone House for six expacs and counting

[blackestnight]

for some reason this always happens when they go on double dates.

(with sincerest apologies to @nuclearanomaly for putting nini through this nonsense)

#final fantasy xiv #gpose #ffxiv #SORRY NINI. #oc: hanami hagane #ninira #aymeric de borel #estinien wyrmblood #s: a minor justice #also ft yayake the thm guild receptionist #who needs to get some sun after being stuck in The Bone House for six expacs and counting #screenshots - mine

[angloie]

Beach trips and I'm Falling in Love • 2.5/2

When Annabeth meets a strange boy on vacation, she doesn't expect for their relationship to grow much. He's... terribly sarcastic. Cocky. A not-so great match for her witty self. But after learning he visits the same beach every year she does, their strange friendship blooms into something more.

Their realtionship isn't the only thing that blooms over the yearsー that meaning a certain raven-haired boy.

genre ; childhood friends to lovers, fluff, strangers(?) to lovers, exchanging letters au, percabeth mortal au.

warnings ; swearing, suggestive(?) themes.

prev.

That night, Annabeth can't fall asleep.

(Percy can't either, because he can't stop thinking about Annabeth and how he thinks he saw her back there.)

What is Rachel to him?

Annabeth thinks. Her mind is something like a broken recordー stuck playing the question on repeat. 

Not that she could judge, however, if Percy enjoyed her company more than hers, then that would be... Fine. Just fine. Rachel was probably more close to him after all these years unlike the blonde; who has been away for six years.

When Annabeth turns on her side to look at the shell seated stop her bedside table, she grimaces.

"You better make sure to return it!"

"I'll be waiting!"

Why does that make her frown?

The morning comes slow, slower than Annabeth would like, when the birds start chirping and evening comes to dawn after her sleep-deprived thoughts. 

She knows that Percy's curled up inside his bed, (though certainly not the cabin he used to occupyー there's no one next door) snoring like he always does. She knows that Percy doesn't know that she's here, and Annabeth also knows that he'll be asleep until promptly one in the afternoon.

Annabeth thinks she'll meet him around sooner or later.

The lull of waves crashing across the shore gives her chills. Mornings, she now realizes, are the best part of the day.

The rose gold sun comes down in tiny slivers along the sand.

Percy is loyal. He's a great friend, much more than Annabeth deserves, witty and sarcastic.

Percy is not hers. He never was in the first place, really; him with his cocky smile and his big heart. That heart of his can only hold so much, can't it?

She starts to wonder if she's in there.

The shell in her pocket suddenly feels heavy when Annabeth reaches for it, the chipped and cracked coat somehow still intact. She'll give it to him when the time comes of course. Just not now. Annabeth couldn't even muster up the courage if she wanted to. 

So, sandaled feet dug into the sand, she scans her surroundings.

At first glance the beach is beach is deserted, aside from a few lingering beach-goers that occupy the waves on their surfboards and the sand with their umbrellas.

It's quite tranquil on her ownー  under the morning sun and all. She's been to beaches near her house back home,e but nothing can really beat this view.

Her eyes dart towards the ocean, where the surfers ride on the waves, laughing and cackling whenever one of their friends falls face-first into the cold waters. She laughs a bit, too, the scene reminds her of how she always used to fall when she was learning to surf.

Speaking of the surfers... They all look like they're having a blast. You know, Annabeth might start to think that the raven-haired guy looks like Percy, that he has the same smirk as him, but that's just illogical.

Right?

It's only until that they lock eyes is when Annabeth freezes.

Same sea green. Same sparkle.

Same Percy.

And it's only until he freezes, eyes widening and stopping to stare, is when she thinks Oh shit.

Then he's starting to come over, and her legs start moving on their own. 

Away from him.

This can't be happening. It can't be. Not when she's not ready, when she's too nervous to even muster a word, not when Annabeth can't even look at him without her heart racing like never before. 

She starts to walk faster. Not so fast that it looks suspicious, but fast as to escape his gaze and go back to her cabin.

Annabeth can hear him saying he needs to ‘do something' to his friends. Annabeth can also hear his surboard digging into the sand, as well as his footsteps getting closer and closer. So close, that she thinks it'll only be a few steps longer until he reaches her.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, Her thoughts get even more rapid, Can't the universe just wait for a second?

Annabeth completely shuts down when someone grabs her wrist.

"Annabeth?"

It takes so much to not year away, to not run, to not speak. It takes so much to turn her head and look at him, more, though, when his tone is the most heart melting thing she's heard in a long time. (good timing, really, and just when she's been trying to get all the feelings she holds for him.)

"Percy." She breathes out, eyes widening when she finally gets a good look of him.

He's... Grown. 

His shoulders are broader. His hair, once unruly and messy, is exactly like in the previous pictures he's sent: Perfectly perfect and endearing. Annabeth notices that he towers over her figure quite a bitー what happened to the scrawny little Percy? Back then, she could easily look over him; but now? It's quite the opposite.

There’s an air around him, too, one that makes Annabeth gulp and her thoughts race.

Holy fuck.

Before she can let out a single word, she's engulfed into a bone crushing hug.

Thats pretty much when it all hits her.

Sure, he's wet and damp and smelling like saltwater and sweat, but she can't really pay any mind to that. Percy's warm. His touch is soft, gentle, just as Annabeth remembers. 

Why was she avoiding him in the first place?

Just when she thinks that it's fineー that she will not tear up over something like thisー her body betrays her and she starts to sink further, further into the hug.

Is she tearing up right now?

"I missed you," Percy mumbles against her head in a way that makes her heart pound dangerously against her rib cage. “So much.”

So just like that, Annabeth nearly falls for him all over again.

"You dumbass!" She pushes him off, hands fumbling through her pockets. "I m-missed you more." Hands come to wipe at her fresh tears. 

“H-here!” Annabeth sniffs as she hands him the one thing her mind has been lingering on non-stop: the shell.

He, blurry eyed and open mouthed, looks taken aback. For a second she thinks that he might be angry. That is, until he smiles.

“You kept it?” Percy asks. It's almost like he can't really believe it, like he didn't really expect her to keep it. 

"Of course I did, seaweed brain,” She gives a lopsided toothy smile. It doesn't really match her flushed face, but who's paying attention to that? 

When he looks at it fondly in his hands, Percy smiles to himself. “Its been too long, wisegirl." He looks her up and down. “You’ve changed."

She raises a eyebrow. "Like in a bad way?"

“N-no!” He's quick to correct himself. His looks the other way, trying to discreetly hide his blush. "No. Like i-in a... uhm- fuck." Percy covers his face.

"You've changed too.” Annabeth grins. “In a good way."

They smile each other for a second before someone from the shore line calls out Percy's name. He whips around, scowl growing on his face.

"I'll be back soon!" Percy rolls his eyes. He then turns to her.

"We should catch up," he says frantically, thoughts running on overdrive, "Have you been downtown yet? I'm staying at a new cabin a while away from hereー I'll take you there soon. Oh! And have you been to our spot? We can visit there later if you want.”

Annabeth cringes when the words fall from his lips. Our spot. She chews on her bottom lip. She can't really blame him for taking someone up there. Not even if she wanted to.

The rest of the day, and the next day after that, is bittersweet.

"I-Id be happy to.”

The sweetness is seeing Sally again. It's eating her famous blue cookies with Percy wearing bright smiles and her sporting the new sweater Sally crocheted. It's surfing for hours on end, it's playing with their dogs and meeting Mrs. O'Leary.

The sweetness is being with Percy once again; even if she does cringe when they go to their spot again.

The bitter, on the other hand, is meeting her.

Rachel.

Don't get her wrong. Annabeth was never much of a possessive or jealous person; and she still is not. She's level-headed, logical, and observative. Rachel is... Fine. She's crafty, Annabeth can tell by her paint-stained clothing and wry smile. She's pretty cool too. Rachel doesn't seem to have much of a problem getting along with her, so why does she feel so off about her?

"I'm Rachel," Annabeth remembers her smile quite clearly: It didn't quite reach her eyes. Or maybe Annabeth was just over-analyzing things? "It's nice to meet you, Annabeth!"

"Likewise." Annabeth gave a small smile. “Percy’s told me a lot about you."

“Oh, has he?” She giggled, "Well, I hope it's all good things." Rachel gave a teasing look towards Percy. 

Now thinking about it, Annabeth might have been a teeny-bit judgy. 

Percy, munching on a blue cookie, looks at her from his spot in his room. He narrows his eyes at her.

"I couldn't help but notice," He starts, as if reading her mind. "That you were a little on edge about Rachel.”

"Was I now?” She lazily questions, head hanging off his bed. 

“I think so." Percy hums.

"I was not," Annabeth scoffs. “I was just... Cautious."

"What's there to be cautious about?” He asks, spinning three times on the chair near his desk. He pauses to let the dizziness swirl his vision before coming back to look at her. the dog beside him, Mrs. O'Leary wags her tail lazily.

She sighs. "Nothing, I guess? It's just... Y'know what? Nevermind.”

"Spit it out.”

"No!”

"Yes!”

“No!”

“I’ll make you a container of blue cookies for the next three days?"

"...Fine!" Annabeth breathes after a beat.

She stretchesh her arms high above above her head. “What... W-what is she to you?”

Percy freezes, and she instantly goes into a panicky state. “Actually- Ignore that. Thats a stupid question so you don't need to answer, I just really-”

“Aww, is my little Annie jealous?" He unironicaly coos, “Don’t worry about it. Rachel's great."

Annabeth notices that Percy says her name in a intimate way. She notices how heat instantly flushes her face. She also notices that how he never answers her question in a way she'll understand.

Now that she's left hanging, Annabeth really can't stop more questions from flowing in her mind. 

Annabeth thinks that she's really been underreacting about Percy and his air of coolness. or maybe likeability?

Her arms flop down, and Mrs. O'Leary woofs.

Popularity?

Whatever it is, anyone can tell that Percy's much more than the dorky lame kid that used to be.

The group of girls that giggle and twirl their hair as they stare at him from their spot under an umbrella can surely see that, too.

It's not even those girls (who for the fact are pretty, much prettier than Annabeth) that can see that. Her neighbours talk about the 'handsome and nice young man that helped me carry my groceries'. (Guilty as chargedー the one and only Percy) or the 'Attractive boy who surfs early in the morning'.

The grannies at downtown's farmers market even gossip behind his back and treat him like some sort of Greek god with a perfectly structured jawline with a fit build and coy smile.

Oh, and did she mention he's as hot as the fucking sun?

(Which he, Annabeth thinks, owns up to.)

(She's really whipped for him.)

But he's respected her boundaries so far, so she'll keep her M rated thoughts to herself. But it's so fucking hard to not stare when he, clad in nothing but loose swimming shorts, shows up to her room at the crack of dawn.

"Looks like you're the talk of the town," Annabeth says teasingly as they settle into the sand. The umbrella provides the cool shade desperately need, to which Annabeth relishes in. “Is seaweed brain..." She feigns a fake gasp. “Actually likeable now?”

Percy threatens to shove a handful of sand down her throat, and she shuts up.

"Whatever," He mutters under his breath, eyes looking away from hers. For some reason he's avoiding looking at her. Annabeth thinks he's just embarrassed, but the way Percy steals glances at her when she's not looking, says otherwise.

"So where's Rachel?” She absent-mindedly asks. Not that she genuinely cares, or whatever, but theres really nothing else that occupies her mind. 

“Around,” He replies. "She told me she's going shopping in the next town for some swimsuits. Or something.”

"Ah."

A seagull screeches from above.

“Wanna see who gets in the water first?"

Annabeth already jolts upwards into a sprint towards the shoreline. "Hey! No fair!”

So the next while is spent with nothing but firendly smiles and secretive glances from Percy, surfing and swimming and having the most fun they've had together in a while. Annabeth grabs his ankle from under the waves, and she thinks that that might be the loudest scream she's ever heard.

Percy, mind stuck with thoughts on revenge, tried to come up with a scare of his own, until his lame scare comes out as throwing a peice of seaweed on her forehead.

 “Lameass!" She laughs, popping her head above the water.

“Smartass!” He yells back, eye twitching and tone sarcastic.

It isn't until the sun sets and the crabs crawl back into their caves is when they both flop back into the sand. Tired. Exhausted. Muscles sore and skin sunburnt.

For a solid thirty minutes it's just comftorable silence as the waves set the soundtrack. Along with the occasisonal him of the ocean, or even the cries of the cicadas back where the beach grass is.

For a solid thirty minutes, Annabeth thinks that she couldn't be more happier.

For a solid thirty minutes, all is calm, all is well, and nothing could be more perfect.

She closes her eyes for a minute thinking that she can spare one nap. Thinking that Percy will just wake me up, so it's fine if I snooze off, right? 

Annabeth dozes off with thoughts of him.

When she wakes up, Pery isn't beside her.

Nor is he on the beach.

For a hot minute Annabeth freaks out, squinting through the darkness to search for his figure. The lantern her doesn't really provide much light, let alone three feet away from her.

But then she sees that his surfboard isn't wedged into the ground, and his things are still there.

So where is he?

Oh. Annabeth thinks lamely to herself when she spots the figure swaying with the waves atop his surfboard. There he is.

It's illogical, really, for her to go after him.

If you don't go, that Rachel girl's got him forever, her head prods, you'll lose him forever.

It's even more illogical when Annabeth grabs her surfboard with a determined look; sandy hair and all.

The waves are calm tonight. No huge crashing of the chilled water, no raging seas or bitterly cold air. The clouds enclose the pale moon, only tiny beams managing to escape. She thinks it casts a blue hue to everything.

Using her arm to paddle her way over, Annabeth catches a glimpse at the stars.

Gods, the stars.

They're brightー brighter than the city that isー and bigger, too. They shine in a way that leaves Annabeth breathless.

Percy hums when she closes in next to him. His limbs dangle off of the surfboard and into the cool waters, occasionally shifting to keep steady. She hums back in reply.

A small wave laps across the shore.

 “That's Perseus.” Annabeth says lazily. She lays down, too, hair splayed across the board. "The constellation, I mean.”

“Perseus, huh?" Percy follows where she points: diagonal from the pair. “Like my name?"

"Like the Greek hero Perseus.” She murmurs quietly.

“You've told me about him." He recalls, "He slayed Medusa and saved Andromeda, right?"

"Mhm," Annabeth nods. "He also had a happy ending. That is, for most Greek heroes.”

She smiles to herself, and Percy can't really think of anything more beautiful than her.

Believe it or not, Percy is good at hiding things. 

Like when he hides the secret stash of snacks under his bed from his mom, (for three years straight and running) or when he hid Mrs. O'Leary when she was just a pup in his closet.

He likes to think that he's good at hiding his feelings too.

Feelings about Annabeth, of course.

Not that he really has anything for herー it's just that whenever he sees her he gets a fluttery feeling in his stomach, his voice gets all awkward, his mind instantly goes to how fucking gorgeous she looks, and how she practically radiates coolness and calm.

Okay. So what if he's head over heels for her?

Percy thinks it started a while ago.

He thinks it started when Rachel first called him seaweed brain.

“-Seaweed brain,” it falls from her lips on a warm spring day, when they're sitting in his room while it rains. 

Percy freezes to look at her. "What?"

“I said It raining cats and dogs out there,” Rachel repeats, “Seaweed brain."

When she catches the slightly shocked look on his face, she frowns. “Something wrong?”

"No,” He murmurs, looking down. "Actually- kinda. that nickname just threw me off a bit, I guess.” Percy give a lopsided smile.

Annabeth only calls me that, he thinks. It feels weird when you say it.

“Oh." She deadpans. “Should I not call you that then? I saw that Annabeth girl call you that, like, a ton of times in one of her letters.” Her eyebrows raise, and Percy reels.

“You were reading my letters?" He frowns. “...Whatever. The nickname- its kind of a personal thing. You know, between me and, uh... her. It'd be cool if you didn't say it.”

“Oh. Okay.” Rachel huffs.

Somehow, Percy never labeled it as love.

Percy didn't label it as love when Annabeth became the ‘nothing!' that came out of his mouth when Sally asked why he was smiling so much. Not when he couldn't stop staring at her in her swecause fuck, she looks so good. Not when Percy was confused on why his love for her became something more.

But that night, that one single night, when Annabeth came to join him under the stars, is when he thought otherwise.

With sunkissed sunburnt skin, 

lips cracked and dry,

moonlight against her face,

The last day of Annabeth's vacation comes on a sunny humid day with the clouds nowhere to be seen. 

He did label it love.

There isn't an air of despair, however, Annabeth'll be back next year for a solid week in winter. College would be a pain, so she'll have one last vacation with her family before she starts her career.

For some reason Percy isn't sad when the news comes to him on her college. New Rome, a prestigious school in the middle of both their cities. All he gives is a coy grin; she can't wrap her mind around hit quite yet.

 "You got plans tonight?” Percy asks suddenly, his voice echoing through Annabeth's room. 

“No.” She tilts her head. “Why? Got something planned?"

“Yeah, actually.” He grins. “We're going to a party of a friend of mine.”

“What?" Annabeth nearly falls off her bed, eyes widened and mouth agape. A party? Tonight? 

“Yup! You better get ready, 'cuz we're leaving in...” Percy checks the clock on her bed side table. "Two hours. See ya!" Is all he says before he hopes out of her window. 

Annabeth nearly screams, but remembers that he's been climbing and jumping out of her window for years now. she lets out a ragged sigh of relief.

"Fuck you!” She yells out to his figure, already dashing away. He turns around, sly smirk on his face.

“Only if you watch!" 

And then he's gone, leaving Annabeth with a red hot face and a flustered mess.

Fuck.

.

.

The next two hours is- um, well...

Chaotic.

Just plain chaotic.

Her who closet is thrown into her bed in a contemplation what to wear. Light or dark? Whats the occasion? How much people are attending? What's the setting?

You're overthinking things again, Annabeth's mind jolts. Just throw something on!

Along with chaotic, she would also describe the scene as a fever dream. 

She opts to wear a black bodycon dress with stringy ties and a loose and light jacket. Annabeth can't really deceive the rest of her look- her mind is all gushy and mushy.

So here she is, standing in front of the booming house, (Percy didn't even bother to drive here there, the jerk) hands fidgeting like she can't stop.

(She can't.)

Annabeth takes a deep breath. She won't be here for a while, so whats she so afraid about? Sure, there's somone puking in a bush that she wants no part in, and there might be concerning sounds coming from inside the huge building, but who's paying attention to that?

Before she can back out, a voice calls out her name.

"Wisegirl!" Percy beams, “Hey!”

“Seaweed brain.” Annabeth crosses her arms as a her bottom lip juts out. "We're were you?"

“Lets not focus on that." He nervously laughs. “But c'mon inside. I want you to meet a few people.”

"Hm?”

The house is just as bad as she thought.

Red Solo cups everywhere, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes especially strong near the kitchen and couches. Bodies bump into her here and there like some sort of mosh pit. They don't even apologize, instead murmuring something with a tipsy tone.

"Grover!" Percy calls a guy over. "Don't you remember Annabeth?”

"Annabeth?" Grover, what she can assume is his friend, looks over to them. His eyes light up when he meets her gaze.

"It's been a while!" Annabeth smiles. Grover! It's been a minute since she's seen him, back when they were all kids. She fondly remembers beach trips with him back then, eating popsicles on her cabin stairs and all.

“It certainly has,” He sighs happily.

Percy then introduces her to many others: Hazel, a bright girl with a even brighter smile, Frank, a towering guy with a friendly touch, Jasonー a blonde guy with a oddly stapler shaped scar on his lip, Piper, a bubbly girl with a flirtatious smile. 

She'd go on about more of them, but at that point Annabeth would be rambling.

"Have you seen Percy around?" Annabeth asks to Grover when she loses him in the bustling crowd.

He nods his head no, and someone tugs on her arm.

“C'monnnn," A girl she met earlier drunkenly tugs harder, “We’re playing truth or dare downstairs!"

She wants do pull away, say no, but then Annabeth spots him in the crowd with people slung around him.

By the looks of it, they're flirting with him, words forming and lips ruling into flirtatious smiles. They touch him in ways that make her cringe. 

Annabeth hates herself for frowning and continuing to stare. The worst part, thinks, is that he's not trying to pull away. Nor is he denying their actions. In fact, he's indulging in it. 

Shit. She shouldn't be thinking this way. Percy's popular and nice. He's bound to attract a few people, and he's not hers.

Annabeth was never the jealous type, but for now she can let the horriblefeeling in her stomach slide just this once. 

She accepts the girl's prodding with a feignged smile.

#guess what I hate love triangles so guess what I did #I made a love triangle #(?) #not really #but kinda really #its confusing #why am i like this #maybe missuderstandings and miscommunications is a more fitting term? #idk tbh #percy jackson #pjo #hoo #percabeth #annabeth chase #heroes of olympus #camp jupiter #chb #percy pjo #percabeth fanfic #percy x annabeth #percy and annabeth #grover underwood #percy and grover

[shining-m00nlight]

17 feels like classic nedlyn so i will ask for that as well

17. “I’m cold.” 

Oh yeah a classic Nedlyn trope. Cat is cold and Ned warms her. So lets go. (And I only needed a mouth to write it.)

Catelyn didn't know what to do. She must have had run through the little cabin a hundred times but she still couldn't find anything that could help them. After having searched for what felt like forever she was getting really angry at whoever made the decision not to plan ahead for emergencies in this cabin.

She couldn't find anything to get in contact with anyone. She had looked for an emergency phone or a button or anything that would be helpful in informing people that they needed help. At this point she would have been glad to find some sort of fireworks, so there was at least a little chance someone would notice them up here. But naturally there weren't any.

Not for the first time today she wondered how exactly she had gotten into this mess.  And the answer was, Brandon!

 It had started about a week ago when they were at a family dinner and someone, she couldn't even remember who it was, had made a joking comment about them hopefully  getting married soon. When they had gotten back to Brandon's place a huge fight had broken out between them just because of a silly little comment. 

Brandon had accused her of telling people "this nonsense" about them getting married was true to get his family to put even more pressure on him to finally marry her. She hadn't even known there was pressure from his family. His words had of course infuriated Catelyn for two reasons. First how could he ever think of her as being this manipulative. And second that it was apparently such a terrible thought for him to be marrying her.

"That is not what I meant Cat. You know that right?! It is not about you.", Brandon had yelled at her. Then stopped for a second. "Wait...no...that's not what I meant."

"No, Brandon I understand. It's not about me. Nothing here ever truly is and this is the problem in this relationship. Everything has to be about you! Everything has to work out just the way you want it to. And you don't want to marry me because then you might actually have to grow up or god forbid you have to give up some part of your fun, carefree lifestyle... like your women." 

Brandon had looked shocked at what she had said. She wasn't sure if it was because he had thought she didn't know about his women or because he didn't think she would ever dare to bring it up. She hadn't bothered finding out which one it was. She stormed out and walked back to her own apartment. 

It hadn't been the smartest idea considering it had already been late and her apartment wasn't close to where Brandon lives. When she had finally arrived home it had been four a clock in the morning and she had been frozen through to the bone. Something that happened quite easily to her in contrast to Brandon. He had always told her that Stark didn't get cold. That if they ever did something was really wrong.

So Cat knew something was very wrong! 

After their fight there had been a silent between the couple for days. Cat had decided that she was not gonna call him. She had been tired of always being the one giving in and excusing Brandons shitty behavior towards her. She didn't quite know what she had expected but after four days he had actually called her and had asked if they could go away for the weekend so they would have time to talk without being disturbed or distracted.  

That's how she had gotten here in the first place. Brandon had invited her to the secluded little cabin up the mountains that was owned by his family. The cabin and its surroundings had been beautiful ever since she had seen it for the first time. The first time she had ever seen it was in the summer where the trees would be a wonderful green and the water in the little ponds that surrounded the cabin shimmered in the sun. While the summers were gorgeous the winters were pure magic. Everything was coated in a layer of snow. The only things that weren't white were the red leaves from the weirdwoods trees that shined the brightest this time a year.  

She had agreed to meeting him here. She had been suspicious when Brandon Stark of all people had made the suggestion to take time out of his life to have a mature adult conversation. It shouldn't have surprised her that he never showed up. Not for the first time her lack of surprise at the shitty things Brandon did to her made her wonder if she shouldn't have noticed before how much was wrong in their relationship.

They had planned to meet at the cabin at six pm and to then stay the weekend. It had been two days since they had talked on the phone. She had thought about what she would tell Brandon ever since their call ended. She knew their relationship couldn't go on like this any more. Brandon would have to promise and then show her that something will change otherwise there was no chance that their relationship could ever work again. It was important for them to finally have this talk, that much she knew.

That's why Catelyn had arrived at the exact right time. Brandon hadn't.

She got mad at herself for even thinking he might actually keep his promise, she should have known better. She had tried to call him but he hadn't picked up. After an hour had passed she had wanted to try again but to further her anger her phone had died. The plan had been to stay another hour and then leave but a loud knock had interrupted her thoughts.

When she had opened the door there were three things that surprised her. The first thing was the cold breeze and the snow that hit her in the face. The second thing was that Brandon's brother Eddard Stark was standing in front of her. And the third thing was that he was drenched in water that already started to freeze. He was shaking and tried to say something but before he could Cat had already pulled him into the cabin.

"Oh my god, what happened to you?" she had asked while moving him in front of the heater for him to sit down to then kneel next to him.

It seemed like he wanted to answer her but his teeth were chattering too much. She had stood up to turn up the heater. Suddenly there was a loud crash and everything went dark. She had jumped at the loud sound but it had only taken her a second to figure out what happened.

"What the?…shit", she had yelled: "The power is out!"

She had grabbed a blanket nearby and knelt back down next to the shivering body that was Eddard Stark. 

"Are you ok?" she had asked while trying to wrap the blanket around him.

He had still shivered but this time he could answer: "I got up he...ere to get you. An...nd I forgot about the little ponds. Bran..."

Cat didn't need more of an explanation. Brandon had abandoned her in this damp cabin and then sent his brother to fix his mess, as always. By the time Ned had arrived at the cabin the snowfall had picked up which led to the small ponds being hidden under it and easily overlooked.

"I…Br...randon..."

"It's ok. I understand, don't try to talk too much unnecessarily." she had stopped him. 

For a moment she had thought she could see him smile, just the tiniest bit. Then she had realized why. Properly no one had ever accused him of talking unnecessary or too much. 

Cat had tried to think of what they could do now. From the short view she had gotten from outside when she had opened the door for Eddard, there was no way for them to drive back down the mountain and she had known with the power out they couldn't stay here either.

"Eddard…..Ned? Do you have a phone with you? I could try calling someone. My phone doesn't have any battery left." Trying to talk to him had been a little bit awkward. Besides the fact that Ned was shaking like a leaf, they just didn't really know each other that well. 

It wasn't like they didn't like one another. She actually liked Ned a lot. He was kind and smart and it was easy to talk to him once you broke through his surface a bit but there was always some distance between them. She couldn't put her finger on why but she sometimes got the feeling Ned tried to avoid her until she seeks him out. 

The first of the few times Cat had met Eddard she thought she might have done something to offend him but Brandon told her it was just Ned's brooding and distant nature.

With his shaking hands Ned had pulled a phone out of his pocket. It was of course completely wet. Cat had taken the phone to check if there had been anything she could do but the phone had been completely dead. So then she had started running around the little house like a crazy person but still hadn't been able to find anything to help them.

They were stuck in this cabin, that was getting colder by the minute.

After not finding anything useful Cat returned to Ned, who was still sitting in front of the heater which had already started to Iost their heat, wrapped in the blanket that had become just as wet as Ned himself.

"I can't find anything to contact anyone! So I guess we have to wait out the storm. That also means we need to get you warm."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine. Your teeth are basically giving a concert. You need to get warm again and that quickly. First you need to get out of those clothes." Cat told him.

Ned looked at her so scandalized as if she had asked him to kill his dog.

"I can't take my clothes off in front of you"

"I promise I won't look but you need to get warm and without power that is not gonna work with you sitting here in your wet clothes. I'll go look for some more blankets. You should get into bed and try to warm up."

Ned stood up from the floor. He didn't look too convinced but walked towards the small bedroom. Cat actually found another blanket and some towels which she brought to Ned. 

She was faster then she had expected because when she walked into the bedroom the young Stark was still standing next to the bed. His shirt and pants were off and his back was turned to her. While he was leaner than Brandon his back was still quite muscular and when he moved it looked really nice on him. Suddenly Cat had the urge to touch him, to not just see but feel his muscle move.  

She must have made a sound because he turned around and she immediately felt how the blood rushed into her face. Apparently she wasn't the only one because Cat could have sworn she saw a little bit of color creep up Neds cheeks as well.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I found some towels for you." 

She walked to Ned and handed him the towles desperately trying to not stare at his chest. Which turned out to be very hard because she couldn't look him in the eyes either. So her eyes just switched around the room while she tried to control her blush. She handed Ned the towles and he began to wrap them around him. 

"Thank you Catelyn." 

Now that he was out of his wet clothes Neds teeth had stopped shattering but he was still visibly shaking and that worried her.

"You should really get into the bed now Ned. Or you will not get warm again."

 Ned listened and climbed into the bed but she heard him mumble something about "Starks" and "not cold".  After he covered himself with the blanket he looked back up to her. It felt a little bit weird just standing there over him not sure what to do next.

 "What should we do now?" Ned asked the question she was thinking.

"Now, you are going to sleep and hope that the storm stops so we can get home tomorrow without somebody to rescue us. If you need anything I will be on the couch in the next room." she answered.

He looked at her, nodded and after looking at her once more, he closed his eyes. 

"See you in the morning", she whispered while leaving the room. 

Catelyn went back to the couch. The living room was already colder than before. That's why she tried to snuggle into the couch as deep as possible while pulling the blanket close to her. Hopefully Ned was warmer in his bed.

She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. It took some time but after a while she finally fell into an uneasy sleep. Last thing she felt was a little breeze around her face and she hoped that that night in the cabin wouldn't become much colder.

 She jolted awake at the sound of the wind blowing against the wooden walls. It definitely had gotten colder since she fell asleep and no matter how close she pulled her blanket it couldn't keep her warm anymore. It wasn't a great feeling but she was going to live and just try to sleep through it at least that what she told herself. 

But when the wind stopped howling for a minute, she heard another sound. One she had heard earlier this night but hoped she wouldn't hear again. Neds shattering teeth. Her wish that Ned would be warmer in his bed than she was on the couch had obviously not come true. His unfortunate meeting with the water probably hadn't been helpful and now he was possibly freezing to death.

Determined she picked herself up from the couch and walked back into the small bedroom. She stood in front of the door for a minute before finding the courage to walk inside.

"Ned? Are you ok? I heard you from outside." she asked in a whispered tone to not scare him should he be sleeping.

"I'm cold. No matter what I do I can't get warm. I can't feel my toes anymore and my hands feel numb." he pressed out. 

"Why didn't you call me? I would have come to help you!"

"You can't do anything… there is no...power here"

In that moment Cat had an idea and made a distinction. She took the steps towards the bed and put the blanket that was skill around her shoulders on top of Ned.

"W...what are you d…doing? You n...eed your blanket."

"Yes! So do you and that's why we are gonna share it. We need to warm eachother with the body heat we have left before it leaves us completely" 

She started talking of her jacket and pulled her hoodie over her head. Even while shivering Ned still looked at her like she lost her mind. Normally it was really hard to read Eddard Stark but in that moment there was no doubt what he was thinking right now.

"It's ok Ned. We need to have skin to skin contact to warm up. I'm afraid you're gonna freeze to death otherwise and I can't explain that to your family. If I understand everything correctly it would be against nature for a Stark to die from the cold. That's why I'm gonna take my clothes off now and then I will get under the covers with you, so we can sleep until the next morning and not die of hypothermia. Are you ok with that?"

Neds stared at her for a few more seconds like he was trying to find something in her face and then nodded. Cat quickly took off her shirt, she had no desire to stand in the cold air any longer than necessary. It was a very awkward moment and she tried to not look at Ned while she peeled her skinny pants down her legs. Why did she have to wear those today? Getting out of them was a pain. 

She almost tripped and fell down which made her look up. Ned stared at the ceiling as if he had to study it to pass an important exam and concentrating on it made him feel bad. 

She debated whether or not she should take off her bra as well. The idea of sleeping in her bra wasn't very comfortable but she probably shouldn’t sleep next to her boyfriend's brother without it. The weird thing was the thought of laying naked next to Ned exited her more than anything else and gave her a funny stomach ache.

What is wrong with you Tully? This is not the appropriate time! Actually this thought is never appropriate, she thought to herself.

In the end she decided to leave her bra on. Ned already looked uncomfortable, she didn't want to add to that. She almost jumped under the covers so there was no heat lost and she had gotten cold too while standing around in the cold air. 

At her sudden appearance next to him, he winced. On instinct she put her hands on his chest to calm him down. 

"Oh my god, sorry Ned I didn't mean to scare you." 

"Everything is fine. You didn't do anything wrong. There is no need to apologize." 

He still seemed kind of tense but it was hard to tell considering he was still shaking like a leave. She stroked over his chest in an attempt to warm him up a bit and to get him to relax. It didn't seem to work. To her Ned still appeared just as tense as before. Maybe distracting him by talking would work better. 

"This will work, Ned. We'll get through this night." 

He actually smiled at that: "Of course we are, Catelyn. You are way more stubborn than this storm." 

Hearing him say that surprised her. She had never heard him making any kind of joke and it seemed hardly the time for them but at least it seemed to relax him.

"How would you know that? And I'm not stubborn, I'm just determined."

"Mmh" Ned mumbled and his lips formed a little smile but closed his eyes again.

"And it's Cat by the way. You don't need to call me Catelyn all the time."

"Cat" he repeated her name and now his smile became wider.

Seeing his smile made her feel good. It was a nice smile and she wished she could see it more often. His lips were quite nice too. She shook her head to get these thoughts out of her brain.

"We should go to sleep now. How should we do this? Maybe I could just...like lay kind of on top of you but still kind of next to you. I think that way we will warm each other best. Are you comfortable with that?" she asked him.

Ned didn't open his eyes and didn't say anything either but then nodded. Cat had the feeling that something was still making him feel uneasy. Maybe it was because of her, she thought. Maybe he hated having her so close to him.

"Are you sure?" she asked again she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. 

This time Ned nodded immediately.

Cat carefully moved closer to him. She slung her arm over him and placed her head on his chest and snuggled her body as close as possible to his. Ned's arms were placed awkwardly on the matrance unsure where they should go. Cat touched one of his hands and noticed it was cold as ice. 

She took both of his arms and slung them around her so they would warm up quicker. When his hands touched her back she shivered. He tried to pull them back but she held them in place.

"It's ok Ned, the cold will be gone quickly."

His arms relaxed a bit. She wished he would have said something but he kept quiet.

She twisted her head up to look at his face and whispered: "Sleep well" 

"You too Cat. I hope your sleep will be good." Ned whispered back.

For a second time this night she closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep. She eased a bit more into Neds arms around her. His heart beating next to her ear lulled her into a deep sleep pretty fast. Her last thoughts this time were wondering when was the last time that she felt this safe in Brandons arms?

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

Ups changed up the roles because why do things as expected?

Btw I know there is something weird is going on with the grammar. I hope that can be forgiven.

#game of thrones #asoiaf #catelyn stark #catelyn tully #ned stark #ned x catelyn #ned x cat #nedlyn #my fic #ao3 fanfic #eddard x catelyn #brandon x cat

[league-of-thots]

Cloudy Days and Summer Smiles - A BNHArem collab

Pairing: Aizawa x reader

Warnings: none (sfw), hurt and comfort, brief talking about abduction

Word Count: 4.6k

AN: I haven’t been able to do a collab in a while, but I was super excited to grab Aizawa for this one. If you want to see the other amazing works for the collab, click HERE. also a special thanks to @ikinabi​ for helping my dumbass with a banner, i love it so much red thank you <3. i hope you all enjoy this one

          Date nights weren’t really a part of Shouta’s and your relationship. With him constantly working his ass off, and you also having to work, there wasn’t a lot of time that the two of you could spend going out together. Not that you minded of course, snuggling up to your boyfriend and simply talking with him whenever the two of you had free time was probably your favourite thing in the world.

       You’d noticed though, that despite there being a summer break in school, that the pressure on Shouta to perform more in hero work had kept his stress levels and exertion really high. It hurt you to see your boyfriend constantly exhausted, yet he wouldn’t drop any of the extra hero shifts he’d been given recently.

       You knew why of course. You knew that he always wrapped up his self worth in his hero work and in passing on knowledge to students. Of course, that also made it more painful to see him work himself so hard, you know just how amazing he is, and yet he works himself to the bone trying to be better. So, you do your best to try to make things easier for him, going over to his apartment to tidy up sometimes, or making dinner there and leaving it on the stove for him to eat when he got home.

       You swear that one day you’re going to find where he hid his stupid stash of fruit pouches, that he swears are nutritional enough to be a meal. No matter how much you wheedle him, or show him facts, or just be plainly worried for him, he has an irrational attachment to them. He needed good food, and he needed a lot of it, because he worked a hell of a lot. Now if only you could get that through his head.

       So, it’s become another habit of yours to always bring over some healthy snacks, high in protein and salts to help him recover from tough work days and power through the next ones. You keep notice of things he likes or doesn’t like, and be sure to try and put some stashes of them in his cupboard so that he can see them before he goes to work. It’s made it a little better.

       He’s started doing a similar set of things for you, bringing you coffees if he was in the area where you worked. Another favourite were the fruit smoothies he’d make when you were feeling a bit down. Although he wants to be there for you more, you understand that he’s always stretched thin across two jobs, and you always make sure that he knows how much you love him despite that.

       You know that Shouta feels particularly upset when he has to cancel some of the few date nights the two of you have planned due to work. Of course, you don’t blame him, it’s a part of the man you fell in love with. You know you feel disappointed when it happens, but you always try to reassure him that it’s not because of him, its just the fact that you don’t get to see him. You hope it relieves some of the guilt he feels, because really, you’re proud of all his hard work, and love how steadfast he is all the time.

       Though you wish he really would take better care of himself.

       It was going to be a good weekend though, you were excited to spend it all with Shouta, who’d taken a weekend off for once. As soon as he’d gotten it confirmed, you’d started planning some little things the two of you could do together after not having seen each other for a few weeks. It had been tough, yes, but you’d made sure to call him every day or every other day two, and you’d made sure that you’d also dropped off some treats, putting them on his table so he’d actually notice them.

       He’d always send you the cutest cat videos to you, making sure to send a cute little message, his own way of telling you thanks. It makes you feel warm inside, the little gestures bringing you happiness that would brighten your day a bit.

       Anyways, to what you’d been planning. You knew that even on date nights that actually happened, Shouta always preferred lowkey events, something where the two of you could spend quality time with one another and just talk. You’d decided that you’d do your best to make a sweet little lunch for the two of you, and maybe even a dessert too. You’d looked up the weather and it was supposed to be sunny and partially cloudy, the perfect day for a picnic in the public gardens.

       You put on some nice clothes you always had for the hot summer air, and start packing up a basket you’d bought a while ago and never actually had the chance to use. You were practically giddy with excitement. The last six times you’d tried to see him, he’d had to cancel, and no matter how much you tried to push down the feeling of being unimportant, it stuck around.

       It wasn’t about you after all, it was about Shouta and the people he was helping. You can’t be so selfish about his time; you knew what his schedule was like before the two of you even started dating.

       Yet you couldn’t quiet that little voice in your head that said you were never going to be the most important thing in his life. That he’d give you up for the chance to do more to help as many people as he could.

       It burned shamefully within you, how could you distrust him, the one who showed his love for you in al his little gestures and acts of affection? But also, the times he’d snap, brush you off, act like it were a chore to actually be together… those things would keep you tossing and turning for long nights. You know that Shouta would reassure you and help you get over these feelings if you talked to him; you just couldn’t erase the fear that telling him would push him away.

       Which is why you were so excited to see him again, you know that seeing him and talking with him will wipe away those fears, like waves crashing onto a sandy beach. You know you can get over this yourself, there’s no need to drag your boyfriend into stupid insecurities. Especially over ones founded just off of coincidences.

       He has enough to worry about on his own, after all.

       You pack up the salmon sushi and the other little bites of food with the meal, put the pastries in a little tin and add it into your basket. Grabbing a soft blanket, you fold it, place it on top of the blanket and grab the sunhat Shouta had gotten you after you’d pointed it out on a walk you’d been on. Smiling at yourself in the mirror, you grab the basket and head out to go meet him.

        The gardens aren’t too far away from your house, and you enjoy a lazy walk, the sun warming you up. Near the gardens is a family park, and you hear children giggling and screaming in joy as they play with their parents. It softens your heart, and you feel you shoulders relax, not noticing them being tensed in the first place. Part of you imagines being one of those families with Shouta one day…

       You find a small hill within the gardens, the grass rather long and waving in the breeze, hundreds of flowers with multiple types surrounding you. Setting out the blanket, and the food, you take a picture of the area. You send it to your boyfriend, and you know that he’ll recognize the place you are from your many walks together. So, you lie out, relaxing your arms behind your head and gazing up at the sky, where clouds are slowly covering the baby blue with grey.

       Time passes, and you’re getting a little bit antsy. You’ve checked your phone, and you have no messages from Shouta, and it’s already been half an hour since the two of you were supposed to meet up. It wasn’t like him to not mention if he couldn’t make it. He always gave you a heads up in case something else had popped up. You sent him a quick text asking if he was alright, and if his plans were still the same.

       You got no response, and as you neared an hour of waiting you gave into the hunger in your stomach and ate the lunch you’d packed. You still saved the dessert though, the thought of eating any sweets poisoned by the sickening feeling that was settling within your stomach.

       You were worried, and called Shouta just to check in on him, but were greeted with a dial tone message. “Hey, Sho.” You start off a little quiet and you clear your throat. “I just wanted to check in on you, I haven’t heard from you all day, love. Just… let me know if you’re alright please. Love you.” You quickly hang up so he doesn’t hear your heavy sigh.

       What if he just didn’t want to deal with you anymore? You know it’s illogical and yet… its too coincidental a timing for your brain to let it go. Plus, he’d never skipped out on a meet up between the two of you without saying anything, and it was throwing your world off balance. You feel a wetness on your face, and you look up to see that clouds had completely covered the sky, and rain had started falling down from them.

       You laughed a little at the sight. Truly, this date was not supposed to happen, even the weather was showing you that. You leave one of the little plates of sushi out on the rock, not being able to bear taking it home on your own. You gather the now soaked blanket and the basket still full of treats you’d spent hours making.

       The cold rain patters down your back and you shiver as you begin your movements back in the direction of your home.

        You figure you’ll hear from Shouta soon. He might have completely neglected you on that day, but it was the first time anything like this had ever happened between the two of you. Maybe he’d just had a bad day, made a mistake. Maybe he’d forgotten to charge his phone, which had happened before. A few times you had answered your phone expecting to hear the loud voice of Hizashi, but receiving the soothing voice of your boyfriend.

       So you’re not very worried when the rest of the afternoon goes by and Shouta hasn’t made any contact with you. You text Hizashi to see if maybe Shouta had been with him, but no luck on that front. Hizashi had the week off from hero work, and hadn’t heard from Shouta today either.

       As more time went along, the more worried you got. All your insecurities started to bubble up, and all the mistakes you’d made in your relationship – even the small ones like forgetting he was lactose intolerant – started building up in your head. You’d probably driven him away with your constant affection, or maybe it had been the overbearing way you tried to help him. Maybe you weren’t pretty enough or good enough in bed for him, or maybe he just grew tired of you.

       By the time you usually went to bed, you were an anxious mess. There were so many possibilities, and your anxiety was telling you that none of them were good. Surely somewhere you’d fucked up.

       Knowing you have work tomorrow, you pop one of your sleeping aids and try desperately to get some semblance of rest. You know it’s going to be a rough night, but hopefully you can get enough rest that tomorrow will be bearable to you.

        Three days later, and Shouta still hadn’t reached out to you. You felt heartbroken that he hadn’t yet, and felt unfairly abandoned. Neither of his friends had heard from him either, and you doubt that they were covering up from him either, because you’d heard the worried undertones of their voice. It terrified you to think that the closest people in his life had no idea where he was or what he was doing.

       Unbidden images of your boyfriend bloody and broken in torn down places were constantly popping up into your brain. At this point, you just wanted to know if he was alive, because you’d gone to his apartment and there had been no sign of anyone having been there for a few days at least.

       You tried to keep your mind away from that dark place, and yet it would keep circling back, as if to say that the worst-case scenario was happening right at that very moment.

       It was driving you mad with worry, and you called the agency that Shouta was working for at the moment just in case they could tell you. Most of the time, you wouldn’t be allowed to know anything confidential. Even though you were the emergency contact for Shouta, you were still a civilian, and that meant that you were often left in the dark about certain conditions and events that your lover was a part of.

       “Hello, this is Sleep-stroke Agency, how may I direct your call.” The woman’s voice on the other side of the line was smooth and had a soft tone. It soothed your nerves enough to allow you to pull yourself together to find the words you needed.

       “Hi, um- this is Ms. Y/L/N. I’m the emergency contact for Aizawa Shouta, Eraserhead. He works for this agency at the moment.” You take another slow breath and let it out. “I’m calling because its been a few days since me, or his close hero friends had heard from him, and I was wondering if something had happened to him…” you taper off and you wait for the reply.

       You hear some quick typing in the background, a little mumbling that you can’t make out until she stops and clears her voice with a rather pointed cough. “Ah, I’m really sorry, but I cannot tell you, dear. That’s classified information.”

       “Can you at least tell me if he’s alive?” you plead with her, desperate. You should’ve known right away that something really major must’ve happened, how could you have ever doubted your Shouta?

       “The rules are clear, Ms. There was an unexpected circumstance that arose and needed Eraserhead’s presence. I cannot tell you any more detail than that.” Her voice drops the professional tone for a few seconds. “I know how hard this can be, hun. Please try to hold yourself together until you get some concrete news.”

       “Yes, of course. Thank you for your time.” You hang up and feel the energy drain from your body as you slump onto the couch.

       Guilt and worry and fear were all mixing into this toxic combination as you sat with all your thoughts, and you soaked in them, unable to gather the strength to pull yourself out. If something had happened to him, something serious, when you were worried about how good the desserts would taste, or if he were going to break up with you… Well, you wouldn’t be able to forgive yourself for a long time.

       In a daze you blindly call one of your friends, blearily noticing it’s the middle of the afternoon and she should be able to take your call. You needed some words of comfort right now, no matter who they’re from. You barely hear the hello she greets you with before you start sobbing into the phone uncontrollably.

        It’s been two weeks now, although you can’t tell from feeling it. It seems like no time has passed since you’d made that phone call to Shouta’s agency, your life had become a daze. Somehow you managed to go to work and make three meals a day for yourself, but you couldn’t really recall what you’d been doing. If someone were to ask you what you’d been doing, all you’d be able to reply with is nothing, because all you could do at home was blearily look at the walls, ceiling, window… Without any clear news, you were shrouded in this cloud of uncertainty, completely helpless on deciding what you should actually do in response to this nightmare.

       It was approaching your third anniversary, and you weren’t even sure if he was alive to celebrate it. That thought sobered you up, and you shakily made yourself some tea, to warm your hands which felt frozen at in your terror. You need something to ground you, something that will make everything feel real again, so you begin your breathing techniques. You listen to asmr, something that would often calm you.

       Eventually, with you working at it, you manage to calm yourself, despite the odds stacked against you. Needing a distraction, you turn on the TV as you curl up in a blanket near the fireplace on the side of your living room. Sleep had become your enemy during the few weeks, although you wanted nothing but the sweet embrace of numbness it would give you.

        You couldn’t sleep yet again, so you’d migrated to the couch to read a little bit and look over some of the news. Apparently, rompers were making a comeback, though you weren’t too surprised about that.

       It was all in the name of distraction anyways. The TV had gotten stale, and you felt yourself dripping into that scattered and anxious headspace, so you had to change it up, keep everything else at bay until you had an idea of what to do.

It’s one in the morning when you hear the weak knock at the door, and instantly, you’re on high alert, your nerves tingling. You quickly make your way up to it and use the peephole to catch a glimpse of whoever would be knocking on your door this late. You nearly burst into tears right then and there upon seeing your boyfriend’s face, bruised and scratched, but whole.

       You fumble with the locks in your haste to open it up, the desire to hold him, to make sure he was really there making your movements feel alien. “Shouta!” you cry as you finally fling it open, and you can see his eyes soften as he looks down at you.

       “Hi there, kitten. Can I come in?” his voice is hoarse and a little bit shaky, but his words are clear as a summer sky. You immediately throw your arms around him, squeezing him tight against you, and his head comes down onto your shoulder as he wraps his own around you as well.

       “Of course,” you say thickly, through new tears that threaten to spill from your eyes. “There’s always room in here for you, Sho.” You lead him into your living area, making him lie down on the couch while you sit on the floor by his head. You run your fingers through his hair, gently combing out the larger knots as you lay your head down onto his chest. His heart is thumping in a steady rhythm, and you start to relax as you realize that, no, this isn’t a dream. This is real, your boyfriend is alive and ok, though a little bit worse for wear.

       The two of you sit in silence for a little bit, his eyes closing and his breathing relaxing as he leans into the hand tangled in his hair. It brings a soft smile to your face, and you file away the memory to be able to look back on.

       “Shouta, I’m going to get you some tea if you’d like it.” You say softly, almost afraid to disturb the little bit of peace the two of you have made on your couch at 1 in the morning. His eyes open lazily and he nods his assent, and you go to get his favourite blend you have sitting in the top shelf with your other types.

       Once the kettles done its work, you bring two cups over to coffee table. Shouta has already sat up and accepts the tea with a small smile as you move to sit beside him. The two of you drink in silence for a little while, not afraid to disturb anything, but simply to preserve the moment before talks need to happen.

       As the two of you finish, he clears his throat. “I’m sorry for missing our picnic, love.” He says, rather gruffly, as if to hide the thick emotion knotting his words. “I- well I wasn’t expecting to have to go to another city.”

       “Why did you, they said it was some classified mission, even Hizashi and Nemuri had no idea. They were scared, and honestly… that was terrifying.” You tell him the truth, because that’s how the two of you are, valuing clarity in your relationship.

       He fiddles a little with the scarf that’s always present around his shoulders. “The whole thing was a setup. I got on the train early that morning and was knocked unconscious.” He starts in a monotone voice, factually, as if he were still processing it himself. “I didn’t even know how much time had passed until I’d woken up in the hospital two days ago. I was unconscious for most of my stay there, and they didn’t give me access to anything or anyone until they were sure I was clear.”

       “Oh my god…” Your eyes had widened as you looked at him with horror, it sounded so much worse than he was saying. You pulled him close to you. He was trembling just barely beneath your grasp, a sign of just how intense the past couple of weeks had been for him. You try your best to be a rock for him, comforting him and listening to him talk about what he could. He didn’t go into graphic detail, but just the bare bones had you fighting back anger and sadness. He shouldn’t have had to go through that.

       You help him get ready for sleep, bringing him some extra clothes and taking out the spare toothbrush you had for him. He thanks you with a swift kiss to your forehead, and you giggle before going back to the other room to clean up the dishes. You made the decision there, that you wouldn’t bring up your insecurities to him until he was back into the groove of daily life, and had time to recover.

       After cleaning yourself up, you drag Shouta to bed, and the two of you fall asleep wrapped in each others arms.

        About a month had passed since that night where Shouta had come to your doorstep early in the morning and wrecked. Since then things had begun their return to normalcy, something which both relieved you and at the same time made you a little nervous. You weren’t sure how to ever broach the topic you wanted to with him.

       Which was illogical, as he would say. You know he takes you seriously, and that he’d want to put your fears at rest. But, part of you feels so guilty for even thinking of doubting him, and you don’t want to hurt him like that. You trust him more than anyone, you just had a lack of faith in yourself that was hard to ignore sometimes.

       The opportunity came when he suggested the two of you tried to do the picnic once again, much to your delight. He’d asked softly if you would make the same meal again, he said it had looked delicious and he wanted to try it. You could only smile and agree, knowing how much he hated cooking himself, but loved yours heartily.

       You’d done much the same thing as last time, though now, with a little trepidation just due to the fact that last time you’d tried this, Shouta had gotten kidnapped. But there was nothing else to do other than to shake yourself out of it and move forwards. So that’s what you did.

       You made your way to the same area, heart pattering as you found the spot empty. He wasn’t there yet, that much was clear, but that was normal, he wasn’t a tardy man, but he also didn’t see the use of going to things earlier than he had planned.

       Ten, fifteen, thirty minutes go buy, and with each passing minute, you feel your heart grow heavier. Why did such shitty things happen to you on what were supposed to be events filled with happiness? There are still no clouds in the sky though, and you look up and stare into the never ending blue. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, and you’d just have to live with that.

       You don’t remember closing your eyes, but you do remember the soft laugh of your boyfriend waking you up. You open your eyes blearily to the beautiful sight of your boyfriend smiling happily and it brings a sleepy smile to your face.

       “Shouta! You came.” You exclaim happily. He looks a bit confused at that.

       “Of course I did, Y/N, why wouldn’t I?” Curse your still half-asleep brain. You didn’t want to bring it up like this.

       “It’s nothing,” you try to brush it off, knowing it likely won’t work.

       “Obviously not. Tell me what’s wrong.”

       “It’s really stupid looking back on it…”

       “I don’t care about that kitten, just be honest with me.”

       “It’s not a slight on you at all though, okay? Keep that in mind please, Shouta.”

       He looks confused for a second. “Of course.”

       You take a deep breath. “It’s just that, it was really hard to see you for a few weeks before you had your unplanned trip.” He nods his agreement. “I knew it wasn’t the case, but I got worried that maybe I wasn’t interesting enough, or I was holding you back from things. Then you didn’t show for our date and I panicked a bit, thought you might’ve found a way to just move on from me. I know you’re the most amazing thing that’s happened to me in my life, and I’m just terrified of losing that.” You can’t look in his eyes the shame pulling your gaze down.

       “Hey,” he says softly, pulling your head up gently, until you’re forced to look into his eyes. “I’m not going to fault you for having insecurities. Everyone has them.”

       “I know, Sho, but you’ve been nothing short of amazing to me, and here I am doubting you.”

       “Well, I don’t blame you. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in thoughts and start to spiral into overthinking. But here’s the truth. I am in love with you. You make my days better, and give me something to look forwards to on long days and nights.” You smile up at him, eyes a little misty.

       “Good thing I feel the same way then, huh?” you giggle, trying to pull a laugh out of him. You get a small smirk instead, which satisfies you.

       He leans into you and presses a soft kiss on your lips, light and fully of love. When you chase after him, he pulls away a bit laughing, so you tackle him to the ground and start to pepper his face with kisses.

       The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and its there you realize just how much you love him as he stares up at you like you’re the sun in the sky.

#jays writes #aizawa x reader #hurt and comfort #sfw

[eevee-eclair]

Don’t Look Me in the Eyes

Written by Eevee

Things to look out for: Blood, stitches, bandages, fighting, screaming, Ranboo goes feral, Unsympathetic!Dream (just incase), Dadza, Big Bro Techno, a long day, mention of L’manburg (RIP), mention of death/torture, spoilers for a book (Eragon), hunger, fever, (please tell me if I missed one)

Random side note: The small mini fic I planned for this to be was thrown out the window. Have at this, I guess. This is my first time writing for this fandom too, so if I get stuff wrong (more specifically the characters wrong) please forgive me. (More at the end)

Also consistency? Who’s that?

~~~

Ranboo walked outside, feeling weighed down by everything. It had been a long day. L’manburg was gone, he still didn’t know if Techno was gonna kill him or not—let alone trust him—, and even though he was living with Phil and Techno he didn’t have a house, just a small shed. Oh, and on top of it all, he promised one of the most powerful people on the server something he might not be able to provide.

Ranboo sat down in the snow and covered his face, trying not to scream or cry. He heard the soft crunch of snow under two pairs of feet coming closer.

“Ranboo?” He recognized the voice as Phil’s.

Someone crouched next to him. “Hey, you good, bro?” That was Techno.

He let out a pathetic sigh. “It’s just too much,” he mumbled.

Ranboo registered Phil putting his wings around him, trying to comfort him. If he was being honest, it was making him feel trapped.

“Yeah... We’re sorry about that,” Techno said, messing with his braid. “But it had to be done.”

He lifted his head, still not looking at them but he could feel their gaze. It made him feel uneasy, so he let out a small grunt—almost Enderman like. “Just because it was necessary doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,” he grumbled. There was a slight edge to his voice.

Phil sat down. “It’ll be okay. Healing takes time so you’ll be okay eventually!” He was trying to cheer him up but it was only making him feel worse.

Ranboo pulled at his hair, his eyes glowing a little. “I’m tired of waiting!” he wailed. “It hurts!”

Techno sighed. “We know, Ranboo. We’ve both been there,” he said, looking at Phil. “It takes time, but it’s worth it in the end.”

The hand he placed on his back was the final nail in the coffin. Ranboo stood up and let out a cry that sounded exactly like an angry Enderman. His eyes were bright and he looked almost in pain.

Phil jumped away and drew he sword while Techno drew his rocket launcher. “Ranboo, i-it’s okay!” Phil tried to reason. “Just-just calm down!”

Ranboo drew his sword and screamed again.

Techno put a rocket in. “Put the sword down,” he said, aiming for his chest. “Don’t make us do this, Ranboo.”

Phil was going to say something else when he made the mistake of looking at his eyes. Ranboo ran at him, almost as if he wasn’t controlling his actions. He blocked every swing he threw but was quickly tiring. He was just too fast. Techno fired the rocket and it hit Ranboo square in the back, trying to help Phil.

Ranboo screeched loudly, causing the other two to cover their ears. He ran at him, angrier than ever.

“Techno, log out!” Phil cried, following his own advice and leaving the game. Techno quickly copied, leaving Ranboo alone.

When they got back, Ranboo was face down in the snow. His sword was stuck in the ground next to him as red and green blood soaked the snow around him. They ran over, horribly worried.

“Oh god,” Techno muttered, crouching next to him. He noticed blood coming from his mouth as he flipped him over. “Shit, what did we do?”

Phil covered his mouth and fell next to him. “Ranboo, please wake up!” he begged, shaking him a little.

“He’ll be out for a while.”

They turned to see Dream standing over him. The sun hit his back, making him look more powerful than he was. The axe in his hand dripped with the blood that definitely belonged to Ranboo.

“What did you do?!” Phil cried, hugging the unconscious body of their friend.

“I saved you,” he said simply. “He would’ve killed us all if I hadn’t stepped in.”

Techno stood up. “We’re miles away from everyone and we had already logged off. Who the fuck were you trying to save?!” he spat.

Dream turned to him, that mask blocking all emotions. “Myself? Himself? Couldn’t you see how unstable he was?” he asked, shoving his axe into the ground.

“We had it under control,” Phil hissed. “Go away.”

Dream laughed a little before grabbing his axe and shrugging. “Alright. You’re welcome by the way,” he said over his shoulder as he walked away.

Phil and Techno watched him walk away before they turned their attention to Ranboo. They just realized the large cut that stretched from just below his collar bone to just above his hip.

Techno quickly ripped his cape to stop the blood that was oozing out. Thankfully, it wasn’t one of his good ones.

“It doesn’t look that deep so he might be fine,” he told Phil, looking up. “But I can’t promise anything.”

Phil nodded, running his fingers through Ranboo’s hair. He was being horribly reminded of Wilbur at the moment. “Okay,” he whispered. He wiped tears from his eyes. “J-just try, please...”

Techno stood up and tried to pick him up and pry him away from Phil. “Come on, I can’t help him if you don’t let go,” he said gently, keeping in mind how Phil must be feeling.

Phil reluctantly let him go, his wings drooping as he watched Techno carry him into the house. He looked away from the red and green trail that was left behind.

———

Techno quickly put some slabs down to lay Ranboo on. He dug around for bandages, water, and a healing potion before walking over. He peeled back the cloth that had stuck to the wound before he started to clean it.

Phil walked in and leaned against the wall, watching him work. He was silently crying and became more worried when Techno drew in a sharp breath.

“What is it?” he asked, running over.

Techno looked at him and frowned. “It’s gonna need stiches,” he told him, digging through his chests.

Phil started to bite his nail as he watched Techno pull out a needle and thread.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

Phil looked up. “What now?”

“I have nothing to numb the pain...”

“He’s unconscious, he won’t feel it,” he said, but he was still just as nervous.

Techno but his lip. “I don’t want him waking up in pain, though.”

Phil sighed. “Then splash him with regeneration after.”

Techno nodded and grabbed another. “Okay then...”

He threaded the needle before walking closer to Ranboo who was still out cold. He managed to get six stitches in before he let out a heavy sigh and stepped away.

“I can’t do it, Phil... I can’t risk hurting him,” he said, rubbing his eyes.

“And I can’t risk losing him!” Phil responded, picking up the needle and finishing what he had started. “I lost Wilbur and Tommy! I’m not losing another son!” he cried as he sewed.

Techno decided not to mention him calling Ranboo his ‘son’. He looked at the fire and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Phil tied the thread and started to wrap Ranboo in bandages. “Don’t be sorry. It’s okay, you did nothing wrong.”

He wanted to argue that all three times he lost a ‘son’ was his fault, but he decided that was a conversation for another day. Instead he walked over with the splash potion. He threw it at Ranboo and they watched his face that was previously screwed up in pain, melt into relief.

“No we just gotta wait for him to wake up,” Phil said. Then he turned to Techno. “Come on, let’s go find something to do while we wait.”

Techno followed him downstairs, both worried about whether or not Ranboo would live. They were praying he does.

———

Ranboo woke to a pounding headache and a horrible pain in his torso and back. He tried to sit up but immediately fell back down with a strangled cry as the pain in his chest flared up in protest.

Breathing heavily he looked down to see bandages wrapped around his whole chest. He shakily reached over and touched them. He hissed in pain and laid his head back down.

He looked around and came to the horrifying realization that he was back in Techno’s house. A million different senecios raced through his head at once.

Had Techno tired to kill him and Phil saved him? Did he do something stupid and since Techno needed him to get the axe back he saved him? Did he save him to do something worse to him later?

Ranboo was pulled from his spiraling when he someone snapped in front of his face. Looking over he came face to face with Phil with Techno right behind him.

“Ranboo, it’s okay. Calm down,” he soothed, sitting next to him.

“W-what happened?” he asked quietly, lifting his head. His voice felt raw and cracked horribly.

Techno looked at him in sympathy. “You don’t remember?”

He shook his head. “I-I remember you guys trying to h-help me with... something...” he mumbled, looking at the ceiling.

Phil bit his lip. “You kinda... Snapped. You tried to kill us, too,” he added hesitantly.

Ranboo’s eyes widened. “Phil I-I’m so so sorry!” He looked at Techno. “I-I didn’t mean to! Ple-please don’t kick me out,” he begged, trying to sit up.

Both Phil and Techno phushed him back down. “Hey, hey, hey, it’s okay!” Techno reassured, grabbing his shoulders. “I’m not gonna kick ya out, dude. Don’t stress yourself.”

He dug around in one of his chests and pulled out an empty bottle. He jumped down the ladder and filled it before climbing up and offering it to Ranboo. “Here, drink this,” he said, helping him sit.

Ranboo winced as he was sat up and leaned into Phil for support. He took it the bottle, almost afraid of it, before drinking. It was empty too soon but he felt better anyway—even if it burnt a little. “Thanks,” he muttered. “That’s a lot better...”

Techno took the empty bottle and Phil wrapped a wing around him. “How do you feel?”

Ranboo looked at him tiredly. “Not good... I’m sorry again, by the way. If you guys want to kick me out, I understand.”

Phil started to run his fingers through his hair, earning him a soft content hum. “It’s alright, we won’t make you move. Can I see how you’re healing?” he asked, changing the subject.

He nodded and laid back down. Phil got up and looked around for scissors. He couldn’t find any so he settled for a diamond axe and walked back, ready to cut the bandages off.

Ranboo took one look at the sharp object and a frightened Enderman-like croak came from him. He stopped moving and lowered the axe. “Ranboo..?”

“I-I’m sorry, the axe just makes me nervous...” he muttered. Again, there was a slight darkness in his voice.

Techno nodded. “Understandable. After what you just went through, I’m not surprised. Use a hoe, Phil,” he said, looking at him. “They’re still sharp.”

Phil quickly tossed the axe in a chest and dug for a hoe. He found a stone one, deemed it sharp enough, and walked over. This time, Ranboo stayed still but he still looked nervous.

“Tell me if I’m hurting you,” Phil said, slicing the bandages away. As he peeled them back he took a good look at the stitching.

Ranboo’s eyes widened and he went a little pale. “Wh-what happened?” he stammered, not taking his eyes off the thread holding him together.

“Well, after you started to attack us, Phil and I combat-logged to see if that would calm you down. I guess in that short time we were gone, Dream found you and almost sliced you in half with his axe. Which explains why you were nervous when Phil tried to use one,” he explained while Phil checked the wound.

A small ‘oh’ was all he could say. He looked shaken, in Techno’s opinion.

Phil stepped back. “I hate to interrupt, but it’s not looking the best. It needs cleaned so it has a less chance of being infected,” he said, looking for something to use.

Techno handed him the rest of his torn cape. “Just use this, it’s ruined anyway.”

He took it and went downstairs to wet it down. When he came back, Teachno looked panicked. He quickly ran over.

“What’s wrong?!” he asked. “Is he okay?!”

Techno stepped away. “I don’t know! He said he was tired so I grabbed a pillow to put under his head and when I went back I touched his cheek. He’s burning up!” he said.

Phil quickly ripped the soaked cloth in half and laid the smaller bit on Ranboo’s forehead and used the other to clean the wound.

Looking down, Ranboo had fallen back asleep despite the chaos. “Hand me a healing potion,” he said, looking at Techno.

He nodded and handed on to him. Phil popped the cork and poured it over the wound, hoping it would help. “Bandages,” he requested, holding out his hand. Techno handed him some and he wrapped them around Ranboo’s stitches before tying them off.

“That should work. When he wakes up again, he can eat.” He turned to go outside when Techno stopped him. He looked scared.

“Please don’t leave,” he mumbled after a moment.

Phil pulled him into a hug. “I won’t,” he said, putting his wings around him. “I won’t leave, but I have to get a bucket of water to keep him cool so the fever doesn’t get worse, okay?”

Techno nodded and let him go. When he returned with the bucket of water, he was sitting next to Ranboo and reading a book. Phil smiled and put a block down to sit on.

“Whatcha reading?” he asked as he took the cloth off his head and wet it back down.

Techno looked up, his reading glasses slipping down his nose a little. “Eragon.”

Phil nodded. “Care to read to me?”

He nodded and started to read out loud. That’s how they spent the next hour, Techno reading to Phil as he tried to keep Ranboo’s fever down. As he read, Techno started to forget about his worries and focused on Eragon and Saphira’s adventures.

———

“A dark liquid dripped from the tips of her fingers. Eragon knew it was blood,” Techno read. He yawned and closed his book. “I think it’s time for me to go to bed,” he muttered.

“But what happened to the woman in his dream?”

Both men jumped and turned to see that Ranboo was awake. He looked tired, but there was a small smile on his face.

“How long have you been listening?” Phil asked, taking the wet cloth away.

Ranboo shrugged. “Just that last bit.” He tried to sit up and winced.

Techno went to put his book away. “How do you feel?” he asked, taking the glasses off.

“Like shit,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. “I’ve got a headache, my throat burns, and my chest feels like it was ripped apart. Oh, and my back aches.”

Phil dipped the cloth back into the water and laid it on his head. “That’s to be expected. Would you like some water?” When Ranboo nodded he helped him sit up. “Okay, I’ll be back.”

Techno looked at Ranboo before digging through a chest and pulling out a baked potato. “Hungry?” he asked, offering it.

Ranboo nodded grabbed it, eating quickly. Phil returned and gently took the potato away, handing him the water. “Slow down, you’ll hurt yourself,” he said, smiling.

He started to drink and winced as it burned a little again, but kept drinking. When he was done he went back to eating the potato.

Techno and Phil pulled out their own food and started to eat with him. When they were all done, they sat back with Ranboo.

“Feeling better?” Phil asked. When Ranboo nodded he smiled. “Good. Can I change your bandages before you go back to sleep?”

He nodded again and laid down. Phil set to work with changing the bandages quickly. Afterwards, he saw that Ranboo was back asleep.

“We’ll have to remind him about this later,” Techno said after a while. “And I don’t think he’ll be happy about it.”

Phil sighed. “I know, but he might thank us later. At least he’s safe.”

Techno nodded and started to walk downstairs. “At least he’s safe...”

Phil watched him go before turning to the sleeping Ranboo. ‘He’ll be okay,’ he thought. Who the ‘he’, he didn’t know.

~~~

THIS GOT SO LONG IM SO SORRY!!

I hope you enjoyed, please forgive me if things are wrong! I hoped you liked it!!

#dream smp fic #dream smp #ranboo #c!ranboo #philza minecraft #c!philza #techno #technoblade #c!techno #dreamnotfound #c!dream #unsympathetic!dream #unsympathetic character #tw blood #tw stitches #tw wound #tw fighting #tw bandages #eevee writes #subscribe to technoblade #tw fever #tw hunger

[bnhayyy]

Growing Pains

Wordcount: 7.2k

Series Tag: Click

Ao3 Link: Click

Notes: Thank you to @celadongirl​ for the beta! This fic is the third in a series wherein Reiner is Marleyan on Karina’s side, but enough context is provided within that it could probably be read on its own with only a wee bit of confusion. If you enjoy it, please consider following me on twitter at Museflight or buying me a ko-fi!

Summary: Gabi Braun doesn't have a drop of Eldian blood in her. But her cousin does, and for that, the entire family is condemned. 

Or; Gabi is made to live in Liberio after Reiner's heritage is discovered. She tries to avoid the Eldians, only to find that she is not immune to loneliness and Falco Grice is nothing if not persistent. 

He was visiting; the devil that was her cousin. Gabi was careful not to look at him. She wasn't supposed to talk to the devils. Her parents had said that this one was an exception, but she didn't want to take that risk. 

Too bad the devil didn't seem to get the hint. Of course not. He was a devil. 

He cleared his throat. His voice was still dangerously like the one she remembered, the one that had belonged to a good person, back when everything was alright. "Gabi-" 

Gabi snapped her head up to give him her angriest glare - so angry she could feel it burning. "Don't talk to me, devil!" she yelled. 

The devil faltered, and Gabi quickly turned and ran away. By shouting at him, she had messed up and looked at him. And what she saw was absolutely horrible, worse than if she looked up and saw the tallest of titans sitting at her table. 

He still looked like Reiner. But he couldn't be, not anymore. The Reiner she remembered couldn't turn into a monster. The Reiner she remembered wouldn't have let his family get thrown in with the eldians.

But they had been- because of him- because he was-

Gabi raced into her room and collapsed on her bed in a sobbing heap. 

Her parents had told her that the thing that looked like Reiner was going to be sent to the devil island soon. Good. She didn't want him around to make things worse. She didn't want him to stick around and confuse her by acting like her Reiner. 

She wasn't supposed to talk to devils. 

*

It felt like Gabi had been stuck inside ever since they had been moved in with the Eldians. She knew that that wasn't technically true, but it might as well be. Her parents didn't take her out often, and when they did, she had to stay right by their side. She wasn't allowed to play outside without them there to watch her. When they were there to watch, they didn't let her go beyond the tiny yard surrounding their tiny house.

And of course, there was no one for her to play with.

She understood why. The only people around them were Eldian devils. They weren't safe for her to be around. It wasn't safe for her to talk to them, for more reasons than just their evilness.

Gabi knew that they weren't supposed to let the Eldians know that they weren't like them. She didn't really understand why, but she knew that it was their most important rule. She also knew that her parents were worried that she might break the rule if one of them spoke to her. It wasn't true; Gabi was smarter than that. While she didn't want to talk to the eldians, she didn't like that her parents didn't trust her. So she pushed and prodded and begged for more freedom so that she could have the chance to prove it to them.

And because she wanted to play outside.

It took a long time and a lot of swearing up and down that they could trust her, and eventually they started letting her go outside alone again. By the time she was six and a half, she was allowed to leave the yard, just as long as she stayed close enough to see the house.

That was how she met him.

*

Gabi was skipping. She wasn't skipping for any good reason. She just felt like it. It was a nice day, the sun was shining down, she could hear birds in the distance, beyond the bleary old buildings, and it was fun to skip. So she did.

She went further than she should have.

The sight of two devil boys down the street made her glance back at her house, to remind herself that she could be back and safe in a moment if she needed to be. Except the house wasn't there. She couldn't see it. Her eyes widened, a burst of fear exploded in her chest, and she stumbled.

Gabi let out an involuntary yelp as she fell. She caught herself, but it caused a burst of pain in her hands as they tore against the rough pavement, accompanied by an ache in one of her knees. A whimper escaped her throat, and she bit down on her lower lip to stop any more sound from escaping as she fought back tears.

"Hey!" someone called.

Gabi tensed up. Despite the pain, she forced herself to sit up on her knees so that she could see who was talking to her.

It was one of the boys - the smaller one. He was running toward her with what looked like worry on his face. She knew that it couldn't be. A devil wouldn't be worried about some girl he'd never met. He must have been too stupid to realize that though, because he ran right up to her and asked, "are you okay?"

She stared at him. The boy shuffled, uncomfortable, then held out a hand.

Gabi scooted back, eyes wide. The devil boy wanted to touch her.

"It's okay!" the boy said, even though it very much wasn't. "My name's Falco. Maybe we can be-"

No. No more of that.

"Don't talk to me!" Gabi shouted, jumping to her feet and running back the way she came.

*

It didn't take her long to find the house.

When her parents asked how she'd skinned her hands and knee, she told them that she'd tripped and fell. She didn't tell them that she'd gone too far or about the boy she'd met.

*

Her mother had to go to the market. 

Gabi knew that it might be dangerous, since it would be swarming with Eldians, but the change in scenery called to her in a way that she couldn’t ignore. Besides, just because it was dangerous didn't mean she was scared. She begged her mother to be allowed to go with her, and her mother reluctantly agreed. 

In the aftermath, she couldn't tell if going had been a mistake or not. It was definitely nice to get out of the house. She had to stick by her mother's side the entire time, but it was still more than she had gotten lately. 

But she also saw that boy again. ( Falco.)

He looked like he'd been running an errand with his brother when he spotted her. He waved cheerfully, and Gabi glared back, which had made him hesitate and take a step back. 

Falco didn't actually say anything or approach her or her mother. But when they got back home, Gabi found herself wondering how much this boy would bother her. 

She had a feeling that this wouldn't be the end of it. 

*

Gabi was almost seven when her parents finally decided that she could explore a little further by herself.

It was fun.

(It would be more fun if she wasn't alone.)

Sometimes it was fun. It was fun if she found something interesting to explore. Despite being in the devil's land, finding something interesting was actually pretty hard sometimes, seeing as she still wasn't supposed to wander too far from home. She got used to her expanded territory in just a few days. Still, she managed to come up with something to do most of the time. Even when it wasn't fun , it killed time. And when she couldn't come up with anything at all...

It was probably the best she could expect from this place. She didn't belong there and it didn't want her. That didn't matter though, because her parents said that they weren't going to be there forever.

She just hoped that they got out soon. Before things could start to get too boring.

*

Gabi was standing on a big, old, weathered rock next to a creaky, old, abandoned house that she’d already explored four times before when she heard footsteps. She paused, and looked down to see that it was that boy (Falco) again.

"Hi," he said. He sounded a little more shy than before, a little more slow. Maybe he would stop trying to talk to her if she pushed him away again.

(Then no one would talk to her at all.)

Gabi wasn't supposed to talk to the Eldians anyway, and this boy was an Eldian. Even if he was all small and non-threatening looking.

(But could he really do anything if she just said 'hi'?)

Always doing what she was supposed to was boring though, and she was already getting so bored.

"Hi," she said, making sure to frown down at the boy.

Her frown didn't matter. He perked up immediately, like a dog that had been thrown a bone. "Hi!" he chirped. "I was wondering, do you want to-"

"No." 

She'd already said 'hi' when she wasn't supposed to. That was enough. Gabi frowned at the boy again, harder this time, jumped off her stone, and started walking home.

(She definitely didn't wonder what he was going to ask her.)

*

A welcome surprise appeared during another visit to the market.

There was a Marleyan soldier wandering around.

Someone Gabi could talk to!

She was going to wait for her mother at first. But she was taking so long to haggle with the fruit vendor, and as the conversation drew on, Gabi's impatience grew. When she tugged at her mother's shirt sleeve, she was dismissed with a wave, which made a scowl sprout across her face. She didn't know why the soldier was there or how long he would be around. It wasn't fair for her to lose her opportunity to talk to him just because her mother was taking forever with the fruit guy.

Gabi cast a thoughtful glance around the area before allowing her gaze to drift back to the soldier. Her parents didn't like her going over to anyone without them around, but that was with the Eldians. This was a Marleyan soldier. That had to mean that it was okay!

Quietly but quickly, Gabi stepped away from her mother and started walking toward the soldier. She'd be back before she even realized she was gone.

"Hey," Gabi called once she was close enough for the soldier to hear her. "What's your-"

The soldier drew his rifle and pointed it at her. "Get back, devil!" he barked.

Gabi stepped back, heart beating far faster than it should be. It didn't make sense. He was a soldier of Marley. She should be safe around him. Sure, she couldn't tell him that she wasn't Eldian, but she wasn't . He should have been able to tell that she was different because of that. So why was he pointing his gun at her and looking at her like she was some sort of thing?

She swallowed down the lump in her throat and tried to speak out over the sudden clamor erupting around her. "I'm not-"

"Do not speak unless ordered!"

Gabi opened and closed her mouth. How was she supposed to tell the soldier that she wasn't doing anything bad if she couldn't speak?

"Gabi!" her mother shouted. She raced forward and shoved Gabi behind her, looking up at the soldier with wide, wild eyes.

Her mother looked scared.

As her mother drowned the soldier in apologies before quickly shuffling Gabi away, groceries forgotten, she felt tears prickle in her eyes. They should have been because of how stupid and irritating and unfair that whole thing was. But deep down, she knew the truth.

The tears were there because it had been scary.

*

It was weeks before she was allowed to wander alone again.

She couldn't speak with the Eldians, because they were Eldian, but apparently, she wasn't supposed to speak to Marleyans either. Because it wasn't safe. Because they couldn't know that she wasn't Eldian. Even though she wasn't.

When she asked why, they started saying something, but cut themselves off and said they'd explain when she was older.

When she asked when they would be let back into Marley, they gave some excuse about his mission, but didn't give her an actual answer.

When she asked if she was supposed to spend the rest of her life without talking to anyone, they didn't say anything at all.

*

"I haven't seen you in a while," the boy said.

Gabi was at the abandoned house with the big rock again. She wasn't standing on it or exploring anything this time. Instead, she was sitting on the edge with her feet dangling off the side, watching them as they swung back and forth.

She felt empty. Or at least, she felt empty until the boy came up to her. Then she felt...

She felt like doing something that she wasn't supposed to.

The boy took a step back and started stammering when Gabi looked up at him. He waved a hand around, like he was trying to say that he was innocent of some mystery crime. Like anyone would care if he was. "I can leave if you wa-"

"What's your name?" Gabi asked, even though she already knew what his name was. Better to let him think she'd forgotten than let him know she'd remembered.

The boy - Falco - brightened up immediately. Like a puppy. Or a happy bird hopping around with a stick it had found. He looked more like the puppy, but something about him felt like a bird. "I'm Falco!" he said.

Gabi nodded. "My name is Gabi," she said.

*

Falco wasn’t bad, for an Eldian.

Part of her kept expecting him to prove her wrong after she started letting him spend time with her. But he didn’t. He just kept being better than she expected.

And a lot better than being alone.

*

It happened only a few houses away from Gabi's, because some people just had too much audacity.

She knew Falco would be waiting for her when she set out for the day. Despite being friendly, he didn't really have any friends aside from the other kids in that weird program he was in, and he seemed to spend more time with Gabi than any of them. And Gabi... she wasn't going to risk spending time with any other Eldians. Falco was enough for her.

They had a pattern. There were a lot of variations to it, but they had a pattern. Falco was busy with his training in the morning, so she wouldn't bother leaving the house until the afternoon most of the time. When he was able to hang out earlier, he usually told her the night before so she could plan accordingly. Sometimes he would have to leave for more training after that. Sometimes they would meet up again in the night, when he wasn't too tired and her parents let her go without asking too many questions. Sometimes, on big training days, he would be away for most of the day and they'd only get to see each other for a little while at night. Those days were boring. She would go to the abandoned house and wander around for a little while, trying to stay entertained, but always seemed to end up sitting on the big rock and waiting for him to show up. It sucked, but the stupid puppy face Falco made when he saw her kept her waiting.

The point was, Gabi knew what to expect. She liked knowing what to expect when it came to Falco. Maybe she would accept a nice surprise, but that was all.

Showing up at their meeting spot to find two larger boys cornering Falco wasn't a nice surprise. Their body language was tense and aggressive, and Falco was all but cowering against the wall.

Gabi stared, brows furrowing when one of the larger boys said something loud and Falco tried to shuffle away. It didn't make sense. Falco had said that he was in that titan-wannabe program and learning how to fight. So why was he just standing there and letting them push him around?

One of the boys moved to punch him, and as a wave of white-hot anger washed over her, Gabi decided that the reasons didn't matter. She wouldn't call Falco her friend, but she wasn't going to stand around and let people treat him like that. 

(He was hers.)

Gabi rushed forward and jumped on the closest boy's back, wrapping one arm around his neck and smacking the top of his head with the other one. "You leave him alone!" she ordered, tightening her grasp when the boy began to flail and shout.

"Gabi!" Falco cried.

"Hey!" the second boy cried in the same instant. He moved to rush toward Gabi, which finally spurred Falco into action. He rushed forward and kicked the boy right between the legs, causing him to crumple in on himself like a dead spider.

Gabi started to laugh, only to be cut off when the boy she was still clinging to grabbed the arm wrapped around his neck and tried to flip her off him. She let out a tiny scream, tightened the arm around his neck to avoid being flung off, and fisted her free hand into the boy's hair. Once she was secure, wrenched that arm around his neck out of his grasp and plunged that hand into his hair too.

"Be careful!" Falco cried. He was stepping anxiously around them now, his eyes flicking between the boy Gabi was clinging to and the one still on the ground.

"Crazy bitch," the boy she was clinging to spat. His voice sounded garbled, like he was in pain. Good. "I was just-"

"I don't care!" Gabi shrieked. "Go away!" She briefly let go of his hair with one of her hands in order to bonk him again for good measure.

"I will!" the boy cried. "Just get off!"

Scowling, Gabi let go of the boy and let herself drop to the ground. Her victim skittered over to his fallen friend while Falco raced over to her. "Are you okay?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Gabi looked at Falco and scowled. There was a bruise welling up underneath his eye, and when she looked down, she noticed scratches covering his knees and the palm of his exposed hand. "Why are you asking that?" she demanded. "You're the one who's all beaten up!"

She turned to shoot a glare at the pair of scumbags. Now that she was closer and not on the one boy's back, she could see that they really were significantly bigger than her and Falco. Just not big enough to stand a chance against her. They weren't actual titans, after all. They weren't soldiers, either. They didn't have guns or any real means to beat her down. She wasn't going to let herself be scared by them, and if they tried anything, she could probably even take both of them at once.

---Falco was in a pretty sad state though, and the boys were shooting him as many glares as her as they tried to pull themselves together.

Gabi swallowed down a knot in her throat. She’d been able to pounce on one of the boys before, but now she’d lost the element of surprise. Could she take them on without it? Probably , but with Falco all scared and beaten up…

No. There was no time to think or plan or worry. She had to act now.

"Come on," Gabi said before grabbing Falco's wrist and starting off at a run.

"Where are we going?" Falco asked. He didn't try to pull away. In fact, he kept up with her easily. Good. This would be easier if she didn't need to drag him all the way home.

"My house. We're gonna get you patched up."

"Oh. You don't need to-"

"Shut up, Falco."

He shut up.

Upon reaching her house, Gabi shoved the front door open and dragged Falco into the kitchen. Her mother was standing by the sink washing dishes, but looked up in surprise at the sudden sound. "Gabi," she greeted. Her gaze traveled down her arm, over to Falco, where a hint of wariness entered her expression. "Who's this?" she asked.

"Falco," Gabi said. "He's hurt."

"I can see that," her mother slowly said.

Her eyes flickered over to meet Gabi's. Gabi stood firm. Finally, her mother sighed.

"Let's get him taken care of, then."

*

Her mother patched Falco up and sent him on his way. Gabi knew that she wouldn't be allowed to go back out for the rest of the day after that, so she just told him that she'd see him tomorrow. And for hours, that was that.

Until dinner rolled around and, with everyone gathered around the table, her mother mentioned the boy Gabi brought over.

"You aren't supposed to be making friends with Eldians," her aunt said, disapproving.

Her mother snorted. "You're one to talk," she muttered.

"Gabi, how long have you been hanging out with this boy?" her father asked, worry clear in his voice.

Gabi shrugged. "A while." A few months. It had been a few months since she'd told him her name and started meeting up with him. Her parents wouldn't be happy with her if she said that though.

Her father's frown deepened. "Gabi-"

"I was bored!" Gabi exclaimed. "I'm not supposed to talk to anyone, and it's boring and-" lonely. "- it sucks."

"I can understand that," her mother said, voice slow and careful. "But you know there's a reason you aren't supposed to talk to Eldians, right?"

"I know," Gabi said. "But Falco's..." she paused, struggling to find the words. After a moment, she turned to look at her aunt. "Aunt Karina, you said that some Eldians are different from the others. Better." That was what she'd tried to say about him anyway. Gabi didn't trust that her aunt had been right at all when she said that, didn't see how he had made anything but bad things happen, but Falco... "Falco's like that. He's special."

Maybe he was her friend after all.

No one said anything for a long time. Finally, her aunt said, "be that as it may, you're better off not getting attached. We'll be getting out of here when Reiner gets back."

Gabi's parents glanced at each other and exchanged some wordless message. She looked at them and frowned, but quickly turned her attention back to her aunt. "That could take ages though!" she protested. "You can't tell me that I'm supposed to be alone until then! Falco's a good Eldian - you should let me play with him."

The room went quiet again. Her mother eventually sighed and, with reluctance plain in her voice, said, "alright. You can continue to see this boy. Just... be careful, and don't let yourself get too attached. You are still Marleyan, Gabi. This can't last forever."

*

"You should meet the other warrior candidates sometime," Falco suggested.

Gabi wrinkled her nose. "Why?" she asked.

"Because I think you'd all get along?"

He was doing that thing again, the one where he tried to sound confident but ended up sounding more like he was asking a question than anything. It made Gabi raise an eyebrow at him. That, in turn, made him falter.

"And also... I think you could use more friends," he hesitantly admitted.

Gabi frowned. Why on earth would he say something like that?

(Was he getting sick of her?)

"I don't need more friends," she said.

It was true. She had managed without any friends for years. Now she was almost eight years old and stronger than ever. She was perfectly fine with it staying just her and Falco.

(Was he okay with that?)

"Maybe not, but you deserve more," Falco argued.

Gabi relaxed imperceptibly.

"I don't want to make friends with just anybody," she said warily. The closest she could come to saying the truth.

"I know," Falco said, even though he really, really didn't. "But I think you'll really like them! I'm actually kinda..." He trailed off, then looked away.

Gabi leaned forward to get a closer look at the blush trailing up his cheeks. "You're kinda what?"

He hitched his shoulders up and ducked his head down.

"Falco!" Gabi pressed. "What were you going to say?"

"I'm kinda surprised that you aren't in the warrior program," he squeaked out, still not looking up. "I think you'd be good at it."

"Oh." Gabi looked down at her feet and tapped her fingers against the bench they were sitting on. She definitely couldn't tell him the truth about that one. What could she tell him though? What would he believe? What could she say that didn't run the risk of him finding out that she was lying later?

(Would she be in the warrior program if she was an Eldian? They seemed to think it was a big honor to be chosen to turn into a monster.)

"I'm not in the warrior program because... there's no need," Gabi slowly said.

Falco perked up. The blush was gone. Now he just looked at her with curiosity glimmering in her eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Gabi struggled to hold his gaze and force her next words out, but somehow, she managed. "My cousin's the Armored Titan." A devil, even though she knew Falco wouldn't see it like that.

And he didn't.

Falco gasped. "He is! Why didn't you tell me!? Gabi, that's... hey." The curiosity shifted into worry as he reached out to touch her arm. "Is... is something wrong?"

Gabi blinked, which caused her to realize just how much her eyes stung. Oh. Oh no.

"I'm fine," she said, reaching an arm up to scrub at her eyes. "I just don't see what's so great about turning into a monster."

"The shifters aren't monsters," Falco said, a flicker of hurt flashing across his face.

Right . Falco was a warrior candidate. All of his training was in the hopes that one day he'd be chosen to turn into a monster. Just like her cousin. If he was chosen...

No, surely it wouldn't be the same. Falco was a good thing in her life. A good person. Her cousin had caused her family a whole lot of harm, and no matter what her aunt said, it didn't look like whatever he was doing on that island was doing anything to make it better. He and Falco weren't, wouldn't, and couldn't be the same.

Gabi wanted to tell Falco that it was okay, that he was an exception, but she couldn't risk him asking why. The best she could do was let the fire drain out of her voice as she said, "they turn into titans. Isn't that upsetting to you?"

"A little," Falco confessed. "But the shifters are really brave."

"Because they protect Marley?"

"Kinda, but also... I think they do a lot for their families."

Gabi blinked. When she didn't say anything, Falco nodded and continued. "You know how titan shifters get to be honorary Marleyans, right? And their families get some benefits because of that."

Gabi nodded, even though her family hadn't received much in the way of extra benefits other than not being executed. Her aunt said that would change once her cousin returned from Paradis, but she wasn't sure how much she trusted that, seeing as he was the reason they were in this situation in the first place.

"Sometimes, it's also a second chance." Falco paused then, eyes clouding over with sadness. "My... My uncle did something bad, a long time ago. He was sent to paradise, and now me and Colt are in the warrior program to prove that the whole family isn't evil."

Gabi reached out to squeeze Falco's hand. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

(Not about his uncle, obviously, but anyone who spent a little time with Falco should be able to tell that he wasn't evil regardless of who he was related to.)

Falco gave her a small smile. "Thanks. I think we'll... I hope we'll do well. But for us and the others... it's a way to prove ourselves, take care of our family, and show Marley that we aren't evil . It's the closest that we'll come to them seeing us as people. Turning into a titan doesn't feel like it matters much, compared to that."

Gabi didn't know what to say to that. Luckily, she didn't need to, because Falco kept on talking. "Udo and Zofia - the candidates I spend the most time with - are almost as hard-working as you. I think you'd get along."

The pair were silent for a moment. Then, finally, Gabi sighed. "Alright. You can introduce me to them."

They couldn't be her friends, not like Falco, but... maybe they would be decent company.

*

Udo and Zofia were alright. They weren't Falco, but… they were alright. 

*

A few months after she turned eight years old, Gabi woke up to the sound of shouting.

It cut off almost immediately after, but the damage was already done by then. How could she roll over and go back to bed when she knew that something was happening?

She crept out of bed as quietly as her feet could carry her. Once she was outside her room, she could hear her family's voices again. They were too quiet for her to make out what they were saying, but loud enough for her to follow the sound. It led her to the kitchen. There, she pressed herself up against the wall just outside the entryway and strained to listen.

"You're delusional, Karina!" her mother spat.

Her father sounded worried as he began, "Lyra-"

Her aunt cut him off. "I am not! When Reiner gets back-"

"- If gets back-"

"- Don't you dare-"

"- If he gets back, then he might be forgiven for existing. Do you really think that'll do anything to help our situation?"

Her aunt sniffed. "If Reiner does well-"

"Karina, that's a lot of 'if's," her father said, voice low.

"Well, excuse me for having faith in my son, George."

"You can have your faith," her mother cut in, voice cold. "It doesn't matter. Even if he does everything perfectly, the best we can hope for is to be treated like the families of the other Eldian warrior families."

For a moment, silence descended over the household, and all Gabi could hear was her own heart beating. It was broken by her aunt's voice, lower and more subdued, saying, "well, if he gets honorary Marleyan status, they might-"

Her mother laughed, harsh and unhappy. "Let us all back into Marley? You've been in this place for too long, Karina. Even if they let us out, it won't be until Reiner's-"

"Don't. Say it."

"...There's nothing Reiner can do to help us," her mother said after a long moment. "And I'm not saying it's his fault. I'm saying that it would be nice if you would take a little responsibility."

"Responsibility for what?"

"Are you kidding-"

"I've already been punished, haven't I? Me and Reiner. I know honorary Marleyan status isn't that great, but we are more than that. I know that this place is awful. But we will get out eventually. The deal was that our status as Marleyan citizens will be restored if we perform well. What are you worried about?"

"I'm worried about Gabi."

Gabi felt a lump lodge itself in her throat. She took in a deep breath and held it, since she wasn't sure if she'd be able to stay quiet otherwise.

"What about Gabi?" Her aunt asked. "She's been adjusting well."

"Yes, because she was thrown in here when she was three," her mother argued. "By the time Reiner dies, the Eldian Internment Zone will be all she's ever known. What if they aren't willing to take her back?"

It became hard to hear after that. Her family was still talking just as loudly as before, but the pounding of her heart and buzzing in her head made it hard for her to think.

Marley might not want her back? Just because she had grown up in Liberio? Where they had made her grow up? Why? What were they afraid she would do? It was ridiculous and weird and... unfair.

(They treated Falco unfairly, making him and his brother join the warrior program because of their uncle.)

Gabi raced back to her room and crawled into bed. She laid there, eyes squeezed shut, pretending that she was asleep. Between the racket in her head and heart, it felt like someone should have heard her. Like someone would come in and check on her in a moment. But no one did.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

Then she started to plan.

*

The facts were simple.

Gabi's family wanted to get out of Liberio. Aunt Karina thought that Reiner would get them out. Her mother didn't think that there was anything he could do to help, which made sense. Reiner was the reason they were in this situation in the first place. How could he possibly make anything better?

Her mother was also worried that Marley wouldn't take Gabi back because she had grown up in Liberio. It made sense when she stopped to think about it. How were Marley's important people supposed to know that Gabi was only hanging out with good Eldians like Falco and Udo and Zofia? They might have been worried that the bad Eldians had rubbed off on her. It wasn't fair, since they were the ones who made her grow up in Liberio in the first place, but...

Marley wasn't always fair. That was why Falco was in the warrior program because of something his uncle had done. He was a good Eldian, but he had to work himself to the bone to prove it. Because sometimes Marley struggled to see things that should have been obvious and pick the good Eldians out from all the bad. That was probably going to be the situation with her. She would need to make them see that it was still good.

Sometimes the warrior program served as a second chance. It was an opportunity to prove that you were good despite who you were related to - or grew up around.

Gabi didn't have a drop of Eldian blood in her. She wouldn't be accepted as a warrior candidate because she couldn't inherit a titan in the first place. However, there were also non-shifters who worked with the Eldian unit. Most of them were the Marleyans who kept them in line, but she'd heard that there were a few exceptions, lower-ranked soldiers who'd proven themselves exceptional. If she could become one of them, if she could make herself useful to Marley and prove herself in their eyes, show that she hadn't become too sympathetic toward the Eldians and only surrounded herself with the very best of them...

Reiner was working for Marley because he had no other choice. But not her. Surely that would mean something.

She would help her family where Reiner couldn't. She would become one of their very best warriors, and when the time came, her family would be allowed back into Marley. And Gabi would go with them.

(She would miss Falco.)

*

"What if I joined the military?" Gabi asked.

Falco choked on his own spit and almost fell off the rock. She grabbed onto his shoulder to steady him, even though they were tall enough now that it wouldn't be much of a drop even if he did fall.

"W-why would you do that?" he asked. "I thought- your cousin-"

"Have you considered that maybe I also want to be useful?" Gabi challenged, letting go of his arm and leaning forward.

Falco leaned back. "There are plenty of other ways to be useful. The military's - it's really dangerous."

Gabi crossed her arms and let out a huff. "I'm fine with dangerous. Besides, that's not all there is to it. The family can't depend entirely on Reiner, and I want to help."

"Are you sure?" Falco asked. "I mean, if there's anything you need, I c-" He looked away, cheeks slowly starting to dust pink. "There are other ways," he said.

"Yeah, but none of them would be as effective." Nothing else would get her in around the warrior program, which was what she needed to happen.

"I see." Falco bit his lower lip. "I mean, it would be nice to see you more often, I guess. If you'll be around the warriors."

"Of course," Gabi said, allowing a hint of haughtiness to slip into her voice. "I have a plan." It was a risky plan, but she was sure it would pay off.

"Are you- Are you trying to get in to the program?" he asked, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. Probably worried that she would outscore him if she got in. She probably would, too, if it wasn't impossible.

"No," Gabi said. "It's probably too late for me to get in. But I can do the next best thing and work with you."

Falco nodded. He didn't look entirely convinced, but that wasn't her problem. She knew that she wouldn't actually pose a threat to his standing. He had no reason to worry, and in time, hopefully he would see that.

It did make her want to change the subject though.

"Speaking of, Colt's doing well, isn't he?"

"Yeah," Falco said, perking up a little. "It looks like there's a real chance he'll be chosen as the beast titan's successor."

"That's great!" Gabi said. "Are you going to drop out if he's chosen?"

Falco hesitated. When he spoke, it was with a new flicker of resolve in his eyes. "No," he said. "I don't think I will."

*

Gabi had met Commander Magath several times since she started hanging out with Udo and Zofia. He was a strict man who generally seemed to view Eldians the same as all Marleyans. However, he didn't take it long for her to start to suspect that he cared about the warrior candidates more than he let on. She was also pretty sure that he liked her, even if he did sometimes look at her like he was seeing a ghost.

So much of her plan hinged on the hope that she was right about him liking her. It could mean so much trouble if she was wrong. But if she was right...

The potential benefits of her being right outweighed the risk of her being wrong.

Her opportunity arose on a bright warm day. Gabi was walking around town with Falco, Udo, and Zofia when she spotted Magath walking down the street with Zeke Jaeger and a handful of other officials. She didn't know who most of them were or what they were doing there. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that most of them were Marleyan and one of them looked like he outranked Magath.

Gabi turned to her friends and grinned. "I'll be right back," she whispered, taking a step back.

Udo and Zofia exchanged a confused look but didn't question her. Falco, however, stepped forward, worry shining bright on his face. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Gabi's grin grew. "I told you. I'm going to get into the military."

She didn't wait so much as another second before turning around and racing toward the officials. As she did, she coaxed her expression into one of gleaming admiration, the sort that even the soldier from that day in the marketplace would have had trouble lashing out against.

"Excuse me!" she cried. "Commander Magath, Mister Jaeger!" Gabi saluted smartly - perfectly - as she skidded to a stop in front of them. Then, as she looked at the Marleyans, she made sure to look at them like they were heroes, perfect and above her in every way. The way every Marleyan wanted Eldians to look at them. "Are these your superiors?"

All of the men looked caught off-guard. Magath, though, he looked wary.

That wariness might have caused a problem if Zeke didn't beat him to responding. "They are," he said.

"That's so cool!" Gabi exclaimed. Her voice was perfectly sincere. She didn't even need to fake it, considering what she was saying. Even if her own circumstances kind of sucked, she could still appreciate the good that all of these men did. "Thank you for everything you do. My mother was telling me about the devil island the other day, and I'm really glad that Marley's here to protect everyone. I know Liberio's full of Eldians, but I'm glad we don't have those devils with us."

She could practically feel Magath's gaze boring into her at this point. As the chief overseer of the warrior unit, he knew about her family, which meant that he probably knew she was up to something. And because he knew about her family, there was too big a risk that he would turn her down if she approached him and asked to be thrown into the military. That was why he wasn't the one that mattered here though. Gabi kept her gaze on the other Marleyans, noting the bemused expressions. One of them, the one who outranked Magath, gave a tiny nod.

It was working.

"I was actually thinking," Gabi continued, training a hint of humility and hope into her voice. "I want to help the warrior unit!"

In the corner of her eyes, she noticed Magath's expression shift into one of shock. There was something else under it though, something tired and guarded.

"You do, do you?" Zeke asked, amusement leaking into his voice.

"I do!" Gabi exclaimed. "I know I'm probably too old to become a warrior candidate, but there have to be other ways I can help, so let me prove myself to you! If you give me the chance, I'll train night and day to catch up!"

Magath frowned at that point. "Gabi..."

"Magath, you know this girl?" the commanding officer cut in.

"I do," Magath said. "She's the Armored Titan's cousin."

Zeke raised an eyebrow at that. The other Marleyans, however, looked thoughtful, but not suspicious or concerned. Good.

Gabi held her breath.

Finally, the higher ranking officer turned to Magath and said, "she should already be familiar with the program then, and we could always use another soldier."

"No point in turning down such an earnest offer to help," Zeke remarked, an odd twinkle in his eyes.

When Magath hesitated for a moment longer, the commanding officer pointed out, "I'm sure you can find some use for her."

Magath let out a deep breath. "Fine." As he turned to Gabi, eyes shadowed and grave, she was certain that he was seeing someone other than her. It didn't matter though, because he said, "come with Falco to training tomorrow."

Gabi took in a deep breath and smiled so widely that she thought it might pop off her face. "Thank you, Sir!"

Zeke chuckled. Magath, meanwhile, waved a hand and said, "you're dismissed."

Gabi saluted before sprinting back to her friends, and every step felt like she was walking on air.

She was going to save her family. They were going to get out of Liberio.

(Maybe, if they both did well, she could bring Falco with her.)

#Gabi Braun #Falco Grice #Falbi #Reiner Braun #SNK #SNK Fic #Attack on Titan #my fic #my writing #unchanging destinations

[collecting-stories]

The House Party - ep.03 - JJ Maybank

Summary: Things start to heat up as the week reaches its midway point and you make a decision that changes everything.

A/N: Mild smut at the very end of the chapter. 

The S’week Masterlist | Outer Banks Masterlist

///

You weren’t sure how many times you would have to brush your teeth to get the taste of last night out of your mouth but the three times you already had clearly weren’t enough. It wasn’t alcohol, in fact you’d woken up more sober than you expected to be, almost leaning off the edge of your bed, tucked into your blanket, with JJ laying on top of the bedding beside you. It was all very ‘one motel bed’ trope-ish but you’d both been so exhausted last night that you couldn’t even enjoy the implications of it. An ice cube tray of melted aloe vera sat on the night stand and you brought it down with you to the kitchen to refreeze when you decided coffee might help the taste that wouldn’t leave your mouth. 

To put it the only way you knew how, a way JJ would have definitely put it, you tasted kook trash every time you swallowed and it wasn’t going to go away anytime soon, at least not while Rafe was two houses down from you. 

“Morning,” Pope voice half startled you as you entered the kitchen to find him sitting at the island eating cereal. 

“How is it possible that you look so normal?” You asked, grabbing a bowl for some cereal yourself. Breakfast was a good distraction from your phone and the taste in your mouth. 

“You mean as opposed to John B and Sarah who decided to parent trap it on a floatie in the pool?” He asked, turning for emphasis to look outside where your best friend and her boyfriend were indeed asleep on a floatie in the pool. 

“Exactly.” 

“I’m not a big drinker.” He shrugged. “What about you?”

“Am I a big drinker?” You asked. 

“No, how did you end the night?” 

You nodded your head slowly, realising what he was getting at with his question. “JJ was sick, I figured it was better to come back here than make him stay at the party.” 

“Sure.” He agreed though it sounded empty, “did you hook up?” 

“What?” 

“Look, I know how JJ parties, he’s my best friend. And I know what his ‘senior week plans’ were before Sarah hijacked them to come down here. I wouldn’t put it past him to alter them. You know, have sex with as many girls as he can in the keys. Host included.”

“We didn’t have sex.” You replied. 

He stared at you for a full minute, not saying anything, as if the look on his face alone would crack you into admitting some misdeed. And it probably would have if any had occurred. 

“We didn’t have sex, I swear to god.” You reiterated. “It is what I said it is. JJ was throwing up in the bathroom and I brought him back here so he could rest. That’s all that happened.” 

“With JJ.” Pope scoffed. 

“Whoa, where’s the displaced animosity coming from...pretty sure you’re in my house.” 

“Yeah and JJ is my best friend. I don’t want you stringing him along for the week cause you’re bored and you wanna make your ex jealous or something.” Pope replied.

“You literally just got done telling me that JJ wanted to sleep his way around s’week but I’m the bad guy in your head because of some proposed plan I have to ‘make my ex jealous’?” You questioned. “That’s un-fucking-believable.”

“It would be if I hadn’t seen you in the hallway with your ex right before you left with JJ.” 

“You’re delusional. My ex who? Just cause I was talking to some guy-“

“You weren’t talking and it was Rafe.” 

You shut your mouth, lips pressed together in a line as you tried to think of something to say. Sure, it was common knowledge amongst your friend group that you and Rafe had been hooking up for the better part of two years but that was over and you really didn’t think it was the kind of thing that pogues talked about. And you trusted Sarah not to have blabbed about it to anyone else. 

“How’d you know-“ 

“How’d I know you and Rafe were a thing? Sarah’s not the only one here that knows you. I’ve seen him at your house before when I delivered groceries, not so hard to put two and two together.” 

“Well me and Rafe are over.” 

“You didn’t look over.” Pope challenged. 

“Oh well, thank you for interpreting two fucking minutes of my life and deciding how I feel about something.” You snapped, “I didn’t want him to kiss me okay, I told him to leave me alone. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that the word no isn’t exactly a part of his vocab.”

Before Pope could say anything back the sound of footsteps on the stairs caught your attention. Both of you looked toward the staircase in time to see JJ appear, shirtless with just a pair of swim shorts on. His shoulders and chest were red but not as burnt as his back, which you caught a glimpse of as he trudged passed you, not in the high spirits he had been yesterday morning. 

“Dude, your back looks painful.” Pope commented, staring at the expanse of angry red skin that looked more ready to blister than anything. 

“It feels painful too.” JJ grumbled. So far he was 0-3 with vacation. He was stuck in this kook house (which really wasn’t so bad but he enjoyed bitching about it), he was sunburnt to hell, and he’d wasted an entire night of partying throwing up from sun-poisoning (though that worked out in his favour too because he definitely enjoyed the part where he sat on your bed and you rubbed aloe ice cubes on his back and basically took care of him). 

“Guess the beach is out of the question?” Pope asked, getting up to put his bowl in the sink. 

“I can go to the beach.” 

“You definitely can’t.” You replied, coming around to look at JJ’s back. He was sitting on one of the stools, slumped over. “You shouldn’t get anymore direct sun on your back.” 

“Oh cool, I’m so glad I came all the way down to fucking Florida to sit in a house all day and do shit.” 

“Sorry man,” Pope said, though he made no offer to stay at the house. Yesterday had been great and he was looking forward to going to the beach again today with Kiara. John B and Sarah had mentioned tagging along but he knew they’d eventually go off to do their own thing. 

“We could go to the boardwalk?” You offered, ignoring the look that Pope sent your way. You knew he was just being a good friend, looking out for someone he cared about, and it made you wish that Sarah knew enough to do the same for you. 

“What will we do on the boardwalk?” JJ asked, curious enough that he wasn’t immediately rejecting the idea. 

“There’s a water park there and an arcade, plus you know, tons of food.” You shrugged, “I know you wanna go to the beach-“

“I can be persuaded.”

“I think you already have been.” Pope commented. 

The three of you turned your attention to the stairs as Kiara came down, already dressed for the beach. When she saw the three of you in various states of sleepwear she rolled her eyes, “hey Kie be ready early so we can all go to the beach together.” 

“Technically, Sarah said that and she’s passed out in the pool still.” Pope replied, pointing out the glass doors to where the floatie was still carrying John B and Sarah on the water. 

“Let’s wake ‘em up then.” JJ slipped passed you, winking, before he ran outside, jumping into the pool and landing directly on top of John B and Sarah. 

You, Pope, and Kiara rushed to the doors in time to see the floatie flip over, all three teens going under as Sarah shrieked and John B tried to grab any part of the inflatable raft. Sarah surfaced immediately after JJ, throwing her body on him and wrapping her arms around his neck as she tried to push him under. 

“You asshole!” She screamed when JJ ducked under the water, twisting in her arms and grabbing her waist so that he could throw her off him. 

You watched them for a minute longer, as John B finally got involved, before heading back into the house and going upstairs to change. You’d left your phone plugged in the bathroom outlet while you were sitting with JJ and you picked it up now to check your messages. Two from Rafe and one, unsurprisingly, from Topper. It’d been him at the end of the hall that called Rafe away from you. 

-You okay?- was all the text said and you quickly responded. 

-Nothing happened. Thx-

You deleted the messages from Rafe without looking at them. You could hear everyone come in the kitchen, footsteps on the stairs as John B, Sarah, and JJ came up to change. You pulled on a crop top and some shorts, pocketing your phone before hurrying downstairs. 

Kiara and Pope were back to hanging around the island, talking to each other about their plans as you entered. 

“Hey, do you guys wanna meet up later on the boardwalk?” Kiara asked, “we could do dinner or something?”

“Sounds good to me.” You replied, grabbing your backpack from the chair and making sure that you had everything you needed. “There’s a pizza place near the South street entrance that has incredible food, plus it’s super cheap.” 

“I do love cheap food.” 

-

You had locked your shorts and your backpack in the rented locker of the water park along with JJ’s backpack before the two of you headed for any of the rides. Both your phones locked away in your backpack, cutting you both off from the rest of the world for however long JJ felt like staying at the water park. 

“So? Where to first?” You asked as JJ stopped in front of a mounted map of the park. It wasn’t as big as Dorney or Six Flags but it was pretty expansive for being an extension of the boardwalk. 

“Shush, I’m consulting the map.” 

“Consult the bones,” you said and JJ laughed, casting you a glance before going back to the map. 

“Come on,” he grabbed your hand suddenly, having zeroed in on a ride titled the constrictor, 450 feet of enclosed water slide and the two of you were going down it. 

He weaved his way through the crowd of people, leading you closer and closer to the line for the slide. Most people were at the beach on the weekdays which meant a shorter wait line, something JJ was happy about. It was bad enough he was spending his day at some dumb water park with you, he didn’t want to have to wait in line too. Although, he hadn’t let your hand go yet. 

“Should I mention before or after we ascend these stairs that I have a mild fear of heights?” You asked, taking the raft that was offered to you by the water park employee. 

“It’s fine,” JJ assured you, “here go ahead of me.” 

“How does this help?” You asked as you stepped in front of him onto the first stair. 

JJ shifted his raft under his arm, pressing it against his body and holding onto the railing while he used his other hand to hold you, fingers brushing the skin above your bikini bottoms as he held your waist. “See.”

You bit your lip and took a deep breath, “yeah I see.” 

The rest of the way up the stairs JJ kept his hand on either your waist or your back. He wasn’t too thrilled with heights either though focusing on the peach bikinis bottoms you wore, little pineapples polkadotting them. He could imagine you totally smacking him in the face of you knew but he’d take his chances. 

As sly as he might’ve thought he was being you knew he was looking. When you turned around at the first platform before the stairs twisted you caught him looking down, eyes darting up quickly when he realized you were looking at him. You didn’t say anything, just turned back around so he wouldn’t see the satisfied smile on your face.  

“You ready for this?” JJ asked as you stepped onto the final platform, JJ stepping up behind you.

“I’ll see you at the bottom Maybank.” You replied, stepping over to your slide while JJ got set up at his.  

You liked waterparks for the lazy rivers and the wave pools and those crazy contraptions for kids that looked like towering pipes and dumped water on you. Even the log flume was fun. But giant enclosed slides that shot you through winding loops for endless feet until finally dumping you in a pool? Not your favorite. But as you looked over at JJ, who flashed you a thumbs up, you were having trouble thinking about the things you didn’t like.  

The slide was over before you knew it and you were climbing out of the pool, JJ standing on the side waiting for you. “How did you beat me?”  

“I’m like speed racer,” he said, making a wooshing sound as he glided one hand under the other like a wave.  

“Well, speedracer, what next?” You asked, taking off your soaked shirt and wringing it out as you followed JJ back to the map. “Are we consulting the map again?”

“What you think I memorized it?” He asked, looking back over his shoulder at you and grabbing your hand when a woman with a stroller tried to squeeze between the two of you.  

-

By the time you and JJ met up with Kiara and Pope and made it back to the house Sarah was already setting up for a party. John B had obviously been enlisted to help as he was trying to adhere light stripes at the top of the wall in the living room.  

“What’d you do rob a liqour store?” You asked, grabbing the leg of the ladder he was on when he leaned to far to the left.

“Feels like it.” John B replied, “Sarah filled a cart. We’re either having a party or she’s turning into everyone’s alcoholic grandmother.”  

“We’re having a party!” Sarah called, coming in from the pool area, “it’s exactly what we need.”

“Why do we need to host a party?” Kiara asked, looking back at JJ and Pope but they just shrugged, obviously not willing to get involved.

“Because morale is low here people.” Sarah replied, “and it’s senior week, duh.”

“Duh.” You repeated, raising your eyebrows and grinning at JJ who laughed. Sarah watched the interaction skeptically, as far as she knew John B’s best friend had complained of nothing but a bad time. Now he was joking with you like the two of you were friends.

“Can I talk to you,” she grabbed your arm to pull you out of the room, “Pope hold the ladder!”

“Oh cool the bathroom.” You muttered as she dragged you into the hall powder room, shutting the door behind her and trapping the two of you in the crammed space. “What’s up?”

“What’s up? What’s going on with you and JJ?”  

“Didn’t we do this literally yesterday?” You questioned, “I said then and I'll say now, JJ and I are barely friends.”

“Except when I texted Kie earlier cause I couldn’t get a hold of you she said you and JJ were on the boardwalk together.”

“Oh, oh my god Sarah, you’re right, something is clearly ‘going on’ because I went on the boardwalk with someone instead of just ignoring the people living in my house.” You rolled your eyes at her accusation that something was going on though you sincerely hoped something was.  

When she finally released you from the bathroom the two of you resumed getting ready before you changed into something more appropriate for the party. NC parties were slow going in the early hours until they finally picked up, mostly just crowds of people crammed in an empty rental or spread out on the beach. House parties in the Keys happened a little more erratically. People showed up while it was still light out, hanging around the pool drinking and shit talking until it got dark and they all migrated inside, drunk off their asses and louder than necessary.  

You had moved the table and chairs in the dining room and pushed all the furniture back in the living room for good reason because the minute the sun went down it felt like everyone was spilling back into the house for part 2. You were in the kitchen, ignoring most everyone there, watching JJ set up a shot for Kiara.  

“Is it lime and then salt or salt and then lime?” He asked, glancing at you.  

You were leaned against the counter beside him and Kiara was on the other side with Pope, who already said twice he wanted no part in this. “Lime first, how else does the salt stick right? I don’t remember...I know how to do a body shot.”

“Are you offering?” The grin on JJ’s face as he asked had you practically melting in your spot.

“Guys!” Kiara leaned across the island, snapping her fingers, “can we please just do the shot!”

“Right, sorry.” You apologized, grabbing the bottle of tequila to pour for them.  

While the three of you were talking Pope spun in his chair, observing the louder parts of the party that was raging on the first floor. There were a few people lingering in the kitchen with you, mostly to be closest to the alcohol, but otherwise everyone was contained to the living room, dining room, and pool. When he looked out the glass doors to the pool area he frowned, “hey guys, look who showed up.”

You looked out the door to see Topper on the patio chatting with some local. “I’ll be right back.”

“Can we just enjoy the party?” Pope called though you were already slipping out the door.

“Top,” you called not caring that you were interrupting him, “can I talk to you?”

He apologized to the girl before placing his hand on your back and leading you further away from the party, stopping once the two of you had stepped onto the sand path down to the beach. “Look, someone texted Rafe about the party alright.”

“Well I don’t want you guys here.” You replied, “you weren’t invited by me and it’s my house.”

“Hey come on, you know me alright, I’m not trying to start anything-”

“Doesn’t sound like the Topper I know.”  

“That wasn’t me alright, Sarah made me a little crazy, I'll admit. But I’m over that.” Topper replied. “I don’t understand why you and Rafe broke up and suddenly you can’t hang with any of us.”

“Are you still friends with Rafe?”  

“That’s not fair, we’ve been-”

“I don’t care. You know what happened. You want me to be friends with you Top? After what you and Kelce did. Look, thanks for last night but I don’t need your guilty conscience looking out for me. I need you to get your boys and get the fuck out my house.”

“Putting on the tough act for Topper?” Rafe’s voice came from behind you and you closed your eyes, jaw tensing at the sound.  

“It’s fine man, we’re just talking.” Topper replied, stepping closer to you.  

You opened your eyes and turned around to see Rafe and Kelce standing there, “actually I will tell you the same thing I told Top, get the fuck off my property.”  

“Damn,” Rafe whistled, “you start hanging with the pogues and suddenly you think you’re tough shit.”

“Hey man, let’s just forget it.” Topper said, getting between you and Rafe.

Rafe put his hand on Topper’s shoulder, guiding him out of the way, “you go ahead, I need to talk to my girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend.” You replied, “I said we were done and I meant it.”  

Pope had been watching you talk to Topper from the kitchen door and when he saw Rafe and Kelce join the two of you on the catwalk he’d broken up JJ and Kiara’s shot game to tell them something was going down and you were out there alone.

“Maybe she’s just talking to them.” Kiara shrugged, “I mean, she is a kook. Her and Rafe used to date too so...”

“She dated Rafe?” JJ asked, eyes wide at the implication.

“Oh yeah, she broke it off a couple times but they always got back together.  Sarah told me she thinks they might get back together again.”

Pope frowned, thinking of the way you had looked this morning when he accused you of doing just that, “I don’t think so. We should make sure she’s okay.”

“I’ll get John B.” Kiara replied, making her way to the living room to find John B and Sarah.  

JJ and Pope meanwhile, headed outside, coming up behind Kelce just as you told Rafe that you were never getting back together with him. You saw the two of them passed Kelce’s shoulder and your best at a subtle shake of the head, a silent ‘please go back inside’. But Topper saw them too and alerted Rafe to their presence.  

“Kelce wasn’t lying Maybank, you really have turned into a guard dog haven’t you.” Rafe said, turning his full attention on JJ. Topper pulled you to the other side of the path and pushed you behind him as Kiara, Sarah, and John B walked up.  

“Fuck off Rafe, you aren’t welcome here.” Kiara cut in before JJ could reply.  

“I didn’t know you owned the place.” Kelce challenged.

“I already fucking told you to go!” You said, “so go!”

Rafe only smiled, looking at JJ still, “what pair you guys make man. A bitch and her dog.”

Without warning JJ lunged forward, shoving Rafe back and swinging, trying to punch him. When Kelce tried to grab him John B intervened, getting Kelce in a choke hold. It took a second for all six of the boys to become involved in the fight as Kiara urged Sarah to call the cops. Rafe punched JJ, sending him back into the sand and getting on top of him, hitting him repeatedly while Topper held off Pope and John B and Kelce fought with each other.

“Stop it,” Kiara grabbed at Topper, trying to pull him off Pope and Sarah just stood there frozen.  

You went for Rafe, trying to push him off JJ. When you grabbed his arm he pulled away only to throw his elbow back, colliding with your stomach and sending you to the ground. It was all the momentum that JJ seemed to need to shove Rafe off him and get the upper hand, kicking him in the stomach a couple times.  

“Get the fuck out!” He shouted, spitting on your ex-boyfriend.  

Topper let go of Pope and grabbed Rafe’s arm, helping him up and pulling him away, Kelce breaking away from John B and following them back to theirs, away from the party. The six of you stood there in silence, trying to process what had just happened.

“Some party.” Pope finally said and Kiara glared at him.  

“Didn’t I say this week would be shit.” JJ said, looking over at you before turning and heading out toward the beach.  

“Let’s just go back inside.” Sarah pleaded.  

“Why were they even here?” Pope asked, casting a glance your way.

“Topper said someone texted Rafe about the party.” You said, “could have been anyone...he’s been down here with me before, he knows some of my Keys friends.”

“Whatever,” Kiara cut in, “we have three days left and I would love if we could just, not see them again for 72 hours. Is that possible?”

“I hope so.”

-

“I had a feeling you’d still be out here.” You said, walking up behind JJ on the beach. The light from the houses behind you did little to illuminate the night. The waves were lapping up the sand at JJ’s feet and he made no sign that he even knew you were there. You dropped the blanket you had around your shoulders and sat down, not bothering to straighten out the corners. “I know you’re pissed-“

“I’m not pissed.” He said, digging his heels in further. “I just...you and Rafe, seriously?” 

“It was different, at the beginning.”

“That’s just an excuse.”

“Maybe but...I was 14 when we first started dating and I really thought he liked me. But, he just liked that I was insecure and he tries to remind me of that every time he sees me.” You explained. “Rafe being down here doesn’t change what happened at the water park, I didn’t just kiss you because of him.” 

It’d happened during the lazy river ride that you had forced JJ to go on. He had spent most of the ride pushing your innertube with his foot and trying to tip you until it finally happened and you went over, sputtering to the surface and trying to grab at your inflatable tube as passersby tried to avoid the two of you. You’d pushed his innertube over in retaliation and he’d abandoned it to grab you and try to dunk you underwater.

Serendipitous maybe, as you twisted in his arms, turning to face him, he’d leaned down and kissed you.  

“He keeps showing up.”

“I didn’t invite him.” 

JJ looked back at you before rubbing the heel of his hand across his cheeks and sniffing to get rid of the literal waterworks he’d been two seconds away from. This wasn’t the vacation he had signed up for. And maybe there had been some good parts so far but the complicated bits were starting to outweigh everything else. Still, he shifted back so he could sit on the blanket with you; a step in the right direction you hoped. 

“What’s in the bag?” He asked, looking over at the backpack you’d carried all the way out here with you. 

“I didn’t think you would want to go back to the party so I brought the party with me.” You replied, unzipping the main compartment to reveal the alcohol you had swiped from the house. “I don’t know if you wanna party with me-“

“Shut up and pass me a beer.” 

You smiled, grabbing a beer from the bag and handing it to JJ. Without warning he grabbed your wrist and pulled you toward him, leaning back on his other elbow as he did. You caught yourself, pressing your hand into the blanket to hold yourself up and realizing you were hovering over him. 

“I, uh-“ you stammered, licking your lips briefly before JJ let go of your wrist and put his hand on the back of your neck, leading you into a kiss. You kissed back, ignoring the feeling of the beer bottle cap scratching your hand as you shifted to be closer to JJ, moving your knee between his legs so you were almost straddling him. 

“Are you sure?” You asked when you pulled away to move your hand from the beer bottle. You frowned when you glanced at it, holding it up so JJ could see the cut. He took your wrist, kissing over the small cut on your palm. “I’m not really good at casual things,” you admitted.  

“Is that what this is?”

You shook your head before leaning in to kiss him again. While you held yourself up with the hand that had been cut by the beer bottle your other hand moved to JJ’s stomach, fingers slipping beneath his shirt and dancing along the soft skin of his abdomen, just above his shorts. His grip on the back of your neck tightened ever so slightly as he held your face to his, pulling out of the kiss for the briefest of moments to look at you, “Are you sure?” He repeated your question though it had a different meaning.

“Yeah.” You nodded. It was dead on the beach this time of night and you were far enough down toward the water that no one could really see you from the houses though that didn’t stop this from being the most daring thing you’d ever done.  

JJ shifted so that he was laying back on the blanket, pushing the backpack away from his body as you straddled his waist. His hands went to your hips, running over your ass and settling on the backs of your thighs when you leaned all the way forward to kiss him, bodies practically pressed together. You kissed along his jaw and down his neck, sucking a bruise into his skin. JJ’s breathing picked up as your right hand moved between your bodies, fingers unbuttoning and unzipping his shorts before you slipped your hand beneath them, grasping him. JJ bit down on his lip as he moaned, the sound coming up from his chest.

You pulled away from him, cool air rushing between your bodies as you sat back on your heels. He watched you, heart pounding in his chest, as you put your hands on the waistband of his shorts, ready to pull them down, “God, why are you not in a swimsuit.”

“Excuse me for not knowing I was gonna get lucky on the beach.”

“I’m gonna leave you on the beach for saying that,” you teased.  

JJ’s hands held you in a vice grip, squeezing your hips, “not a chance.” He replied. He ran his hands up your sides to the hem of your bralette, fingers nudging the fabric up and you caught on to what he wanted, obliging him by lifting the top up over your head and tossing it to the side.  

Your original plan of action went to hell though you could be upset when JJ wrapped his arms around your back and sat himself up, knocking you back and laying you down so he could hover over you. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders as he kissed you.  

“That was a neat trick.” You managed as he mirrored the hickey you’d left on him on your own neck. He smiled against your skin as his right hand moved across your stomach, fingers brushing against the underside of your breast. His mouth travelled down from your neck, kissing between your breasts before moving to the left, tongue darting out to flick over your nipple. His fingers twisted your other nipple at the same time and you tensed, hips shooting up to try and create some friction with his own. He sucks another bruise into your skin, just below your left breast before moving back up to kiss you.  

The new position made it easier to get his shorts and briefs down and you manage to push them down to his thighs after you rid yourself of your own shorts. JJ leans his forehead against your collar, looking down at you with a sly smile. “No underwear?”

“I was in a hurry to get dressed.” You insisted, “now shut up.”

“I’m not the chatty one.”  

“I’m not - holy shit!” You cursed as he slipped his hand between your thighs, coating his fingers before rubbing your clit. His middle finger circled the bundle of nerves before slipping down inside of you, just barely offering anything before repeating the cycle. When he kissed you he slipped his tongue in your mouth and you bit down gently, not enough to hurt him but enough to getting him going.  

You tried to press yourself up into his hand but he pushed you down, slick fingers digging into your skin as he pressed you against the blanket. You whimpered when he pushed his hips into yours, his dick rubbing over your clit and you grip his hair as he tilts his head down to kiss and nip at your breasts again.  

“Please, Jay,” you begged, unashamed and completely oblivious to your surroundings as he lined himself up and thrust in to you. He stilled for a moment once he was completely in, savoring the feeling of you until you tugged his hair. “Move.”

“God, you’re so desperate for me.” He teased, kissing beneath your chin and along your neck.  

Finally he moves, thrusting into you. His pace quickens and you wrap your arms around him, digging your fingers into his back. He groans from the almost pain of the feeling, his hips hitting yours harder to give back as much as you’re giving him. You pulled him closer so that you could kiss him again. You’d be lying if you said that you had been on edge with JJ all day. That every touch and smile, the kiss in the lazy river, it all felt like foreplay as he thrust into you now, slipping his hand between your legs to rub your clit as he did, pushing you closer to the edge.  

“JJ,” you whimpered, muscles in your stomach clenching as you felt yourself approaching your high.  

JJ pressed his face into your neck, biting again at your collar, “I know,” was all he said, repeating it again when the rhythm he’d built up wavered slightly as he felt his own release approaching, “I know.”

One hand fisted the blanket beneath you as your release hit. You came, his name the only thing you could think of, and he came right after, the feeling of you tightening around him enough to pull an orgasm out of him. JJ held himself up on one arm, trembling above you, still connected as his hips still, his eyes on yours.  

You sucked in a breath as he kissed the tender skin of your collar, red from his teeth, “have you ever gone skinny dipping?” You asked.

“Not in the Keys.” He replied, letting his upper body fall against you as well, all of him pressing into you.  

“When I can move again...want to?”

-

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[crystalirises]

Of Spies and Electricity

The one-shot in which I proceed to have two breakdowns while writing.

I apologize to the prompter if this veered off to the darkside. I saw the words "spy" and "find out" and just had to make it about Fundy's spy arc.

TW: Abuse, Animal Abuse (sort of), Execution, Major Character Death, Electrical Shocks (Torture to Death, Violence, Villain Wilbur Soot (minor mention, and not the cause of the aforementioned trigger warnings), and Mentions of Blood

Ao3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28886223/chapters/79168267

He felt a hand scratch the top of his head, the fingertips sticky with alcohol and stained with smoke dust. He shivered, forcing himself to purr and lean further into the touch. Schlatt chuckled, patting him in between the ears before returning his attention to the pile of papers on his desk.

He let out a small yawn, feigning sleep before jumping down the man’s lap before skittering out the open door. Schlatt wouldn’t chase after him, the man was too drunk to probably even stand. He ran past the darkening hallway, the moonlight filtering through the tall glass windows that lined the wall. Quackity and Tubbo were both stuck in their respective offices, so there would be no one to stop him from leaving the White House. He ran around, looking for an open window or an open door to the outside. He finally found an escape route in the kitchen, an open window left open to let in some fresh air. He sniffed at the air, stomach  grumbling at the scent of bread.

He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had a decent meal. Schlatt only fed him old sweet berries, and would try to make him drink alcohol when he was too lazy to get him actual water.

He shook his head, breaking himself from the stray thought of sneaking back to grab a loaf of bread. He couldn’t waste time, or risk getting caught. He jumped out the window, landing on a small flower bush that no one would really miss. He waited for a few seconds, nose sniffing at the air before racing out of his hiding spot. There were a few people milling the streets, but no one tried to stop him or give him a momentary glance. Some even darted out of his way the moment he appeared within view. Nausea curled up in his gut at the reaction, knowing that they probably recognized him as Schlatt’s pet fox. It didn’t help that the man had placed a collar around his neck, gold and easily seen underneath the shine of the sun. He wanted to burn it.

It was the first on his list of stuff to-do once Schlatt was dead and buried six feet under the ground, alongside giving his dad a hug, of course. He hurriedly made his way to the flag, growling at the dark flag that hung overhead like a shadow. He missed Niki’s flag, the real flag of L’Manburg. He sniffled, wiping his snout with his paw before racing behind the pole. He looked around, golden-flecked brown eyes scanning the area before he began to dig down.

He hoped nobody had found his little bunker. The earth seemed untouched… 

With one last sniff at the air, he quickly dropped down into the small hole that he had dug into the earth. His soft paws landed against the concrete platform below, his eyes adjusting to the dark. There were only two sources of light that lit up his path, the small beam that came from his entrance way and the glowstone at the bottom of the stairs. He backed away from the entrance, taking a deep breath before shifting. He heard the snap of bones, felt the sharp pain in his chest while his body morphed into a human form. He bit back a groan, fearful in the case that someone might accidentally hear him. He bit the inside of his cheek, bitter metal blooming on his tongue.

After seconds of burning agony racing through his entire body, he collapsed in an exhausted heap against the floor, gasping into his jacket sleeve. His throat felt like it was on fire, and his bones felt like someone had taken an axe to them. Fundy crawled towards the small beam of light, reaching into his inventory for a single piece of dirt. He needed to cover up his tracks. He couldn’t afford to be caught. His hand gripped at the block, forcing himself to stand and reach up towards the hole. He blocked it up, praying that nobody had noticed. His ears stood on alert, straining to hear a single noise that could mean that his cover was blown. All was silent. He sighed, reaching up to grasp the collar that was still wrapped around his neck. His claws scratched at the surface, a low growl escaping his throat. He wanted to get it off of him so badly, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t risk forgetting about the collar. Schlatt would find that suspicious.

He shook his head, heading down the stairs towards the room where he’d left the diary. Schlatt seems weaker today, nearly collapsing at one point if Quackity hadn’t caught him by the arm.

Fundy reached the bottom of the steps, reaching towards the button on the wall. This far down, nobody would be able to hear the clank of metal. The scent of stale air hit him, his nose twitching for a moment before he took step into the room. His bed was unmade, the same way he had left it that morning. He headed towards the small chest in the corner, opening it to reach for the diary. He sighed in relief, his fingers grazing the leather surface. It was in the same place he’d left it. No one had discovered him. He leaned back against the wall, flipping the diary open.

A glass shard fell out from one of the pages.

He heard the distinct sound of footsteps at the top of the stairs.

Fundy tossed the diary into the chest.

He didn’t have the time to shift.

Schlatt met him at the bottom of the stairs. The man smiled. “So. You’re Wilbur’s son, huh?”

 ---

  He sniffled, wincing when he felt a hand wrap around his ear and pull. Tubbo was doing his speech at the front of the podium while Schlatt held him tightly - enough to bruise - in his arms.

His fur bristled when he felt Schlatt stand up, a round of applause ringing through the air the moment Tubbo finished with his speech. He knew what was coming. Quackity followed after Schlatt, tossing Fundy a side-eye smirk that made him want to bite the man. With him trapped in Schlatt’s arms, the man began to make his own announcement about the festival, lacing his words with sincerity despite the clearly mocking tone in his voice. He wanted to growl, to bite down on the man’s arm and run away. But Schlatt had tampered with the collar, made it worse. Schlatt tapped on the mic, chuckling when it let out a high-pitched static noise. It was painful against Fundy’s ears “Before the festivities begin, I would like to make a very important announcement. A few weeks ago, we discovered a spy. Well we can’t have that now, can we?”

Without warning, Schlatt dropped him.

He whimpered, his head smacking against the wooden floor. His paws unable to catch him on time. A few people within the crowd cried out, the loudest being Niki. Fundy shivered, curling into himself when he saw Schlatt pull out a familiar remote. A little warning of what would happen if he tried to make a break for it. His tail curled around himself, ears pressed to the back of his head while he tried to put some semblance of distance between him and Schlatt. The man didn’t like that. Electricity coursed through his whole body, agony blooming everywhere. He let out a scream, bloodcurdling and downright terrifying to anyone who’s never heard a fox scream before. He whined, collapsing back against the ground. Schlatt had stopped the electric shock.

“Schlatt, what are you doing?!” He wanted to cry. Niki’s voice soothed him despite the pain. He forced himself to stand back up, casting Schlatt a hateful glare, which only caused the man to chuckle. The moment he got back up on all four feet, he felt a sharp kick against his side. He shrieked, falling back against the ground. The man’s shoe was pressed against him, keeping him down and unable to move. Schlatt was playing with the remote, fingers hovering mockingly over the dial. He bit back the low growl in his throat. Schlatt wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him again. He looked down, tamed. “This… This is outrageous! You can’t do that Schlatt! You’re hurting it!”

“Him,” Schlatt corrected, a sly grin on his face. “This isn’t an ordinary fox, Ms. Niki.”

Another stream of agony ran throughout his body, the pain worse than before. Schlatt had turned up the dial. He whimpered. Schlatt didn’t need to tell him what to do. He took a deep breath, shallow and tired. He wasn’t sure if he could even shift. His body was in too much pain, and the shift would be unbearable. But he had no choice. He trembled, willing himself to return back to his human form. His bones cracked, the noise breaking through the silence. He could hear screaming, or maybe that was him. He focused past the pain, trying to focus on his human form.

He finished shifting. He didn’t need to look at the audience to see their shocked gazes.

“Fundy Soot. Son of the currently exiled former president, Wilbur Soot.” Was that Quackity or Schlatt talking, Fundy wasn’t sure. His head felt heavy, like it could barely balance itself on his neck. There was a loud ringing in his ears, his whole body spasming. He was coughing, he thinks, warm blood spilling past his lips while he tried to force himself to remain lucid. Everything hurts. “He’s a fox shapeshifter and was probably sent to be a spy by his own father.”

That wasn’t true at all. He wrapped an arm around his stomach, the other grasping the bottom of the collar. He wished he was strong enough to rip it away from him. The pain would stop once he got the collar away from him. His gaze snapped towards the crowd, feeling slightly ashamed for getting caught. He thought… He thought he could do it. That he could be a spy for his dad, help save L’Manburg from Schlatt’s iron grip. He knew the last time people had seen was during his dad and Tommy’s exile. He wondered what people thought about his sudden disappearance. Did they think he ran away? He hoped they did. He didn’t want to think that they’d assume he’d… Fundy shuddered. It really didn’t matter anymore. He’d been caught. He looked up at Schlatt, shivering once the man’s golden eyes caught his stare. His fingers were on the dial. Fundy looked at the options. There were three. He had no doubt that the last option would be fatal.

“Shame, you were a great pet to have, Furball.”

Gods, that stupid pet name…

He looked up towards the sky, catching a glimpse of a familiar face on top of a nearby building.

He felt the sharp burn of pain around his neck.

Then all he saw was white.

 ---

There was a wet cloth pressed against his neck, phantom pain spasming through his body while he tried to push against the hand that kept the cloth in place. He heard someone shush him, a hand running gently through his hair before patting his ears. He whined, ears pressing themselves against the top of his head. A part of him was scared, terrified that those fingers would turn cruel and yank at his ears. The hand withdrew, a muttered curse following soon after. He would have laughed if it weren’t for the agony in his throat. It felt impossibly dry and like someone had raked burning coals against  the skin. Someone was talking to him, their words muffled and incomprehensible. He tried to latch onto them, groaning in frustration when he couldn’t seem to understand. He wanted to hear - wanted to answer - but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

He was lying on a bed, that much he can tell. It was hard, not quite comfortable but he wasn’t sure if he was in any place to complain. Someone had placed a pillow below his head, or maybe they’d placed his head on the pillow he wasn’t sure. He clung to the cushion, feeling his claws dig into the cotton. He could only hope that his caretakers wouldn’t be angered by that action.

Someone was trying to move him up, propping the pillow so that his back was resting against it. His eyelids fluttered open, a part of him sighing contentedly at the lack of light. He wasn’t sure if his head could handle any bright lights. The person next to him was still trying to talk to him, but he could barely understand anything. There were a few words here and there that he managed to pick up, but not enough to understand the person’s full meaning. He tried to roll over on his side, wincing when a pinch of pain rose from his neck. He shuddered, nearly collapsing if it weren’t for the arms that caught him. They gently placed him back on the bed, shushing him even when all he could do was whimper. His neck hurt. He didn’t know why it hurt. The hand was back in his hair again, this time he leaned into it. The person hesitated, but they began to scratch behind his ear, soothing him into a sense of calm. He purred, letting himself fall back into kind slumber.

Wilbur sighed, honestly glad to see his son go back to sleep. Fundy had clung to the pillow, like he used to do when he was a kid and he’d misplaced his plushie somewhere. He still felt nauseous, a part of him seething with anger while the other part of him just wanted to puke. It had been an awful display, watching an execution unravel before one’s eyes. His son’s execution. He hadn’t seen Fundy in so long, and he had been so terrified of what had happened to him. He didn’t know his son was a fox shapeshifter. Fundy had always been a fox hybrid, ever since he was a little boy. Wilbur didn’t know. He’d seen Schlatt pet fox and he hadn’t known. He felt sick.

He glanced down at his bloody and scratched fingers. When Fundy had been… killed at the festival, all hell broke loose. A few people - a lot, actually - had instigated a fight, causing complete and utter mayhem. He hadn’t had the time to press the button, too busy trying to find where his son’s respawn point was. Techno had aided him, which was a surprise since he thought he would want to partake in the chaos. They managed to track him down to a hidden bunker underneath the flagpole, that damned golden collar still around his neck. Wilbur had lost it.

He had clawed at the collar, desperate to get it off Fundy. Techno had been the one to get it off, the man keeping a level-head even while Wilbur was having a breakdown. They managed to get out of Manburg after that. Wilbur raced to get Fundy to safety while Techno guarded them from anyone who might decide to chase after them. He sighed, shaking while he rested his face in his hands. He couldn’t believe that he had thought that his son had run away, when all this time…

Wilbur held onto his son’s hand, thumb gently caressing the knuckles. His manic gaze settled on his son’s neck, gritting his teeth at the clear burn marks that marred his son’s pale skin. Gods…

Fundy whimpered the whole way back to Pogtopia and during unconsciousness, sometimes he would even call out for Wilbur. Those moments were the worst in his opinion. He couldn’t stand the thought of his son being in so much pain. He should have known. He should have fucking known that his son was a shapeshifter then none of this would be fucking happening. Wilbur clawed at his hair, tugging until the pain forced him to stop. That shithole of a country needed to go. This didn’t change anything. His hands curled into tight fists, nails biting into the palms of his hands, drawing bits of blood. Schlatt needed to pay. L’Manburg, Manburg, whatever that nation was, it needed to pay. Wilbur sat up a little straighter in his seat. The whole place was still rigged with TNT. All he needed to do was go back and push that damned button. Then boom!

“Bye L’Manburg.” He sing-songed himself, tone nearly giddy. Wilbur kept himself from racing to the button. His son needed him. Wilbur shook his head, pulling the chair closer to the bed. His whole being burned at the sight of his son. One part was still screaming that Fundy had betrayed him by running against him in the first place… but now his son was injured because of him.

“D-dad…? Dad, help me… please help me… I’m scared… Dad…”

He quickly reaches for his son, wrapping an arm around his son’s shoulders.

He holds him close, whispering words of comfort and assurance.

He still had a nation to destroy. But for now, he needed to care for his son, his little champion.

“I’m here, Fundy. I’m right here.”

He holds his injured son close, and swears, “He won’t hurt you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

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

Clarification: So Fundy pretended to be a regular fox to get close to Schlatt and spy on him. So as far as people know, Fundy disappeared around the time of Schlatt's win of presidency. Some people assume he was jailed (like Niki) for being Wilbur's son, while others think he ran away. Wilbur thought of both scenarios, thinking that both are possible, but he honestly preferred that Fundy had run away cause then he'd at least be safe.

#fundy #schlatt #wilbur soot #dream smp #there is a lot of pain #and I am sorry

[translations-by-aiimee]

Dig a Grave to Dig Out a Ghost - Chapter 28

Original Title: 挖坟挖出鬼

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 28 - Immortal

In some remote mountainous areas in the south, Miao women used clay pots and menstrual blood to raise hundreds of insects. They sealed them, placed them in a damp place and cast curses on them. Once the day was done, the poisonous insects will have killed each other and the last one was embodied with Gu poison*. The curse made with Gu poison could make someone's love interest fall helplessly in love with them for the rest of his life, and it could also plague one's enemy with nightmares, madness, and even death. The women who concocted Gu poison were typically loners, often muttering to no one, avoided by the general public.

*(T/N: 蛊 - Gu poison was believed to be the combination of all the venoms from the insects that died and would be used for black magic in southern regions of China)

In Nanyang Black Magic, they would use the body of a baby that died recently, boiled out the toyol*, poured it on a puppet doused in human blood and placed it in the home. The imprisoned baby ghost would protect the house but the curse-caster will be punished. They would also carve birthdates into wood, causing the other to die.

*(T/N: 尸油 - literally 'corpse oil.' I'll spare you the graphic details but basically taking a dead body's chin and boiling it until oil drains out of it)

This black magic flourished in the Ming Dynasty. The Eastern Depot eunuchs* were in turmoil. Everyone was reporting each other, no one would speak to each other, eyes darting between each other daily. These curses were developed as a branch of Daoism to oppose political rivals. A-Yan said that the Daoist practices used to drive out ghosts and save people were declining, but this black magic has stuck around. It was one of the biggest spots in Daoist history.

*(T/N: 东厂 - a secret police & spy agency run by eunuchs meant to suppress political opposition towards the emperor)

Saturday morning was a beautiful day. The sun was shining but not to the point of being unbearably hot. The distant mountains stood silently under the blue sky. A black Audi passed quickly through the country’s tree-lined roads, raising a cloud of grit and dust. A white goose with its head held high on the roadside was startled by the car, flapping its wings and stretching its neck to hide behind a fence.

The car stopped at a small farmhouse in the northwest corner of the village.

In the courtyard, a tall Shuzi tree stretched out dense branches, looking extraordinarily vibrant. In contrast, the entire courtyard was strangely decrepit. A well was covered by a millstone and the stone-paced path was full of weeds. The doors of the three mud-brick houses were closed, with straw curtains covering the doors and windows covered with dust.

Everything was very different from a month ago. Lin Yan remembered that the last time he came here, there were hens and rabbits. The old lady in blue embroidered clothing was kneeling on the futon with her eyes closed. The small courtyard was filled with the mysterious atmosphere of the countryside. The current yard would give people the impression that the homeowner hadn't been home for years when, in fact, a fresh grave in the back of the mountain had only been built a month ago. Rural people were convinced that the houses inhabited by the living were blessed by the gods and sheltered from the elements for decades. Once the owner of the house dies, the gods will follow, so the empty house often collapsed and was destroyed in less than six months.

"When Second Immortal Gu was in the village, she would help children that fell sick with fever, and the adults that were dealing with evil spirits. Young men would ask her when they'd get married and, for the right price, she'd tell them." The village chief said with a cigarette in his mouth.

The village leader knew Yin Zhou’s mother well. He heard that Yin Zhou wanted to bring someone to pay tribute to Second Immortal Gu and waited at the entrance of the village to welcome them. It took ten minutes to drive from the village leader's house to Second Immortal Gu’s house. The village head smoked four cigarettes in a row. Yin Zhou squeezed his eyes shut while Lin Yan and the little Daoist priest twisted their heads out of the window every 30 seconds to gasp for a breath of fresh air. The village chief was the only one of them chatting in the smoky car. Lin Yan saw how the complaints of three people and a ghost just flew over his head.

If a ghost could complain.

Lin Yan found a roll of incense from the little Daoist's bag and lit it. He put the incense burner at the door of the mud-brick house and offered his respects.

"Last time, we left just before Second Immortal Gu had her accident. I should have come to offer some incense sooner, it's just things with school got busy and I haven't been able to make it until now." Lin Yan brushed the straw curtain and the accumulated dust fell on his face. "Cough, cough. Does - Does anyone take care of this place?"

"Of course not. You big city kids wouldn't know. Doing this line of work is only good for putting food on the table. Immortal Gu came out here in her twenties. In less than ten years, her husband and two sons had died and she was the only one left. She couldn't even save herself." The village leader stuffed his yellow striped shirt into his pants. "Don't feel bad. No immortal in this village could escape that fate."

"Come on, let's go, you guys are here to see her grave. We don't put up any gravestones here. We just build a stone platform, but the villagers will remember who it's for. I'll take you up there."

The sun was growing hotter. Several of them used broken branches to smack the grass in case of snakes while they hiked up the rugged mountain trail. A rural cemetery wasn't as neat as an urban cemetery. Each family claimed a spot, with every newly deceased buried next to the rest of their family. The grave was a prominent mound of dirt with a large stone on top. Some of the graves were too old to even make out the mound, the ground studded with small light blue flowers. A date palm tree grew wildly, and they needed to watch their step when walking so they wouldn't disturb the resting dead.

Second Immortal Gu's grave was off on its own. The mound was freshly dug. Other than a crooked wreath lying on it, it was indistinguishable from the older graves that had been abandoned for years.

The scene made Lin Yan feel incredibly guilty. He burned a large stack of paper dollars in front of the grave, playing with his branch while saying silently in his mind: Auntie, if you're still here, please come back and tell us who harmed you. We'll avenge your death.

The village chief took the cigarettes Lin Yan had bought him and squatted off in the distance to smoke. Lin Yan winked at the little Daoist priest and said softly, "Let's start?"

A-Yan nodded and took out a crumpled photo from his pocket that he had found in a frame in Immortal Gu's house. The immortal in the photo was still very young, wearing a floral cotton jacket and staring vacantly ahead.

"Now isn't a good time. The s-sun is too high. The mountains are filled with Yang energy, and the ghosts may not be able to be reached." A-Yan said. He jumped up and grabbed a twig from the date tree above his head. He hung a spirit summoning flag on it and patted the dust off his shoulders. "Here's a picture, here are the bones. Um, Lin Yan, I'm going to borrow your birthdate for this."

Before Lin Yan had time to ask, the little Daoist priest handed him a dagger. Unlike his usual mahogany sword, this one was actually made of metal. The handle seemed to be a few years old, and the tip of the blade gleaming a bright white in the sunlight.

"H-Hold this for a minute. You might feel a little uncomfortable, but don't let it go." A-Yan instructed: "I-I'll read one sentence and you read the next."

Yin Zhou chuckled but he felt that it probably wasn't the time to laugh so he quickly turned his laughter into a string of coughs.

Surprisingly, A-Yan never stuttered whenever he talked about Taoism and charms, Lin Yan muttered.

Time passed by and it was almost noon. The date trees in the mountains couldn't block the hot sun. After standing there for a long time, most of them were covered in a layer of sweat. The village leader couldn't bear the heat and left to join some nearby people to drink some tea. Lin Yan stood in front of the grave with the dagger in his hand. He rubbed the sweat on his cheeks off with his shoulder, hoping that this time it would be over quickly.

The little Daoist started reciting. His voice didn't sound like proper speech, but the slow rate of speech wasn't too difficult to follow. Lin Yan held the hilt of the dagger and along with the chant. Not even halfway through the incantation, Lin Yan already began to feel that something was wrong. The temperature around him began to drop, and the hot sweat condensed on his back. He kept shivering like he was suffering from heatstroke. A chill came from the handle of the dagger. First, the temperature seeped into his palm, and then his whole arm, up to his shoulders, through the bones in his spine to the back of his head in a numb wave. It was as if he wasn't holding a dagger but a frozen fish that had been left in the bottom tray of the freezer for a year.

The spirit summoning flag above his head began to move.

"It's cold." Lin Yan took a breath and scanned the silent mountains around him. "Have you reached the soul?"

"I t-think I found her." The little Daoist hesitated. "Huh. . . that's weird. . ."

After reciting two more incantations, the bone-chilling cold air had spread to his calves. Lin Yan's teeth chattered and he shivered out: "A-. . . A-Yan, are you sure this is okay. . . it's too. . . cold. . ."

The chanting continued, the little Daoist priest shot him a sideways glance, his eyes cold. Lin Yan can only brace himself to keep follow the mantra incantations, a heavy cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Hold on for a little longer. The soul is bound to something, I want to break it free." A-Yan gritted his teeth, and a piece of talisman paper was slapped against the blade. All of a sudden, the cold washed over him like a tsunami. Lin Yan's whole body felt like it was being stabbed by needles, veins popping on his forehead from the pain.

"A-Yan, what are you doing?!" Yin Zhou knew something wasn't right when he saw Lin Yan's lips turn blue. "If you can't do it now, someone's going to get hurt. Lin Yan, use the ghost that's following you!"

"Almost there. Don't let go!" The little Daoist was flushed a sickly pale colour and he rapidly chanted the mantra. The spirit summoning flag above his head was being whipped by the wind. There was a ripping sound and the whole piece of cloth was torn in half and fluttered down onto the old grave in the distance.

"I-It's okay. . . A-Yan, go faster. . ." Lin Yan was so cold that he could barely get his tongue to work. He tried to move the hand with the dagger to it but he found that his skin was stuck to the metal and he couldn't budge it. He was shivering from his arms all the way down to his legs. Lin Yan staggered back and stepped on the bag they'd brought, almost falling backwards.

A force of strength supported his back. Xiao Yu's voice sounded right when he needed him, but his low voice didn't let him retort: "Let go."

Xiao Yu's hand covered the back of Lin Yan's hand. Compared to the temperature of the dagger, his palm was actually warm. It was just right to block the cold air that kept pouring into Lin Yan's arm. A-Yan's expression changed in an instant and he shouted loudly: "Back off, beast!"

"I'll fucking finish this. . ." Lin Yan abruptly closed his eyes and pressed his palm to the blade. All at once, the bone-chilling cold air felt like ten thousand needles running through his palm up to his arm. At the same time, there was a cold that grew behind him. He quickly opened his eyes but Second Immortal Gu hadn't appeared. On the contrary, Xiao Yu snapped Lin Yan's wrist with completely overwhelming strength, forcing the sharp weapon out of his hand.

The moment the dagger was taken out of Lin Yan's hand, he felt like he was immediately torn out of an ice block and thrown into a fire. The ritual was broken, the hot sunlight licked his back, making his whole body numbly feel like it was going to dissolve. However, he couldn't care less about his body's reaction. What happened next made Lin Yan and Yin Zhou - who was freaking out off to the side - shocked. They saw Xiao Yu holding the dagger inching towards A-Yan, frigid eyes filled with killing intent. When the palm of his hand touched the hilt of the knife, it sounded like searing flesh. But he didn't care. He grabbed A-Yan's collar with one hand, and violently plunged the dagger toward his left eye with the other!

Lin Yan's mind kicked into action. He subconsciously rushed over to hold Xiao Yu's waist, using all his strength to drag him back. However, something was wrong with the little Daoist priest, too. His usual cowardice was gone and his eyes burned with rage. He rolled away and broke free, rapidly taking out a handful of cinnabar and tossing it towards Xiao Yu. His voice changed because of the trembling: "An evil beast is an evil beast. You can't stay!"

"What the fuck is going on!" Yin Zhou couldn't see Xiao Yu. He could only see the little Daoist tumbling on the ground alone trying to avoid a shimmering dagger. Lin Yan's nerves were fried. While dragging Xiao Yu back, he roared towards Yin Zhou: "How the hell should I know? You grab A-Yan!"

He had never seen Xiao Yu so angry. The midday sun was burning and blinding. The ghost's whole body was emitting a faint greenish-black aura. The knuckles of both hands snapped open, sharp claw-like nails grabbing the back of the Daoist priest's head. Lin Yan thought he was seeing things and closed his eyes, but the scene stayed the same. The place where the ghost stood glowed a greenish-black and the place where the human stood was a dancing orange fire, intertwining with each other, but the orangish-yellow flames were gradually dying out. . .

Later, he would learn that people have yang energy and ghosts have yin energy. When the energy was extremely concentrated, he could directly perceive the yin and yang without his eyes confusing it in his mind. This was the foundation of excellent Taoism. He had inadvertently opened a long-closed door to the mystical arts.

However, the current situation was extremely dangerous. Xiao Yu held A-Yan’s neck with one hand and the dagger cut inch by inch into the little Daoist priest's arm blocking it. The hand holding the knife was searing black from the contact with the blade of the evil spirit's. A Yan's face grew purple, his eyes bulging. Lin Yan didn't dare to hesitate for a moment and scrambled over to protect A-Yan from behind. There was a clanging sound and the dagger rolled to the ground.

The little Daoist broke free from the evil spirit's hands, clutching his bleeding wound and groaning intermittently: "Lin Yan. . . Immortal Gu. . . Immortal Gu's spirit is trapped. . . I couldn't get her. . ."

Lin Yan supported the little Daoist's shoulders. His eyes gleamed, and the soft deer-like eyes were different from those when he had when he cast the spell. "The curse. . . Be careful." A-Yan whispered. Lin Yan hadn't gotten the chance to ask what was going on before his thin body couldn't support his own weight. His eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Lin Yan and Yin Zhou looked at each other, shocked by the outcome, unable to utter a word.

#dig a grave to dig out a ghost #dig a grave to dig out a ghost translation #english translation #chinese bl #chinese novel #danmei novel #danmei #yaoi novel #yaoi #bl novel

[h-e-l-l-b-r-o-k-e]

Touch [B.H. x you]

Request:

Inspiration: Hands Across The Sea by Modern English

Words: 1828 Warnings: none.

Written Date: 3/16-31/2020 Posted Date: 4/4/2020

[MASTERLIST]

Scratched up skateboard wheels rolling across the pavement fluttered through the three-inch crack of the front door as Billy sat at the kitchen table. He’ll be met with a stern lecture from a mustached lip if a fly managed to wander into the home like a tourist upon their first breath of the A.C. at a hotel lobby, but Billy had much more important business to intend to. Report cards were just around the corner and with his sweet talking skills, Billy’d convinced the math teacher into giving him a passing grade if he turned in 200 solved problems by the end of the week.

He had seven days. Seven whole days to answer some textbook questions that they’ve gone over in class. It should have been easy, except it wasn’t. Billy was failing the class for a reason. Day five only had two hours left of sunshine, yet Billy’s currently stuck on problem forty-six. With each tick of the clock mounted behind him, his frustration grew.

One of his temples rested in the cup of his left palm as he beat the eraser head on the other before tossing the pencil at the book pages. Words were merging into numbers and numbers were blurring into letters.

Fuck it, he thought, I’ll just ask for a tutor. Yet he knew if he kept this mindset he’d fail, receive a smack across the back of his head, and still wouldn’t seek out a tutor.

He could hear the skateboard’s wheels beat relentlessly against the cracked concrete while Max explained the footwork behind the technique to you, who was sitting on the grass with your white cane last he check. Jealousy picked at the nerves in his forehead as frustration clenched his eyebrows together.

His mind began running off of the book pages and onto the blue sports car in his driveway. Would he have enough for the wash and the wax. Would there be enough leftover for a tip? Billy was an asshole to a lot of things, but he knew what it was liked to be stiffed.

Page 267 was beginning to give him more trouble than it was worth, and those pointers the geek with the lisp in his class gave weren’t helping at all. The rim of one of Susan’s good glasses touched the plush of his bottom lip, the cool water streaming down the well of his parched throat―

A gasp bordering along a yelp burst through the door, clawing its way into his ear. He nearly choked on his drink; some loose water dribbled down his chin.

Pushing out of his chair and the table he was leaning on, not caring if the polished hardwood caught a couple scratches, he was out the front door in five seconds.

Under the shade of his palm, which he planted against his eyebrows to fend off the sun’s brightness, he scanned the situation for clues.

His step-sister’s skateboard lied planted on the other side of the street. Upside down. Wheels spinning lazily under the shade.

The little redheaded runt’s wide eyes met his. Laced with alarm. Her bottom lip wobbled in search for words. Her hands held out below her…toward you, who was slowly lifting yourself by the skin of your elbows.

Raw. Blood beginning to clot around the loose gravel that clung to the wounds.

Billy marched through the grass, nearly tripping over your forgotten cane. “Max, what’d you do?!”

Max took a deep breath, crouching down to you. Her small fingers brushed your palm before helping you to your feet. “I’m sorry.”

As soon as you were back on the safety pads of your feet, Max turned to face her fuming step-brother.”I didn’t mean―”

His hand landed on her slender shoulder, shaking her like an earthquake rattles a brick foundation. “No, of course you didn’t mean to, you little twerp.”

A couple specks of spit landed across her freckled cheeks and nose, prompting her to screw up her face in mild disgust. “She wanted―”

“How many times do I have to tell you? You need to be careful with her, she’s―”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here, Billy.” You dusted off the debris from your stinging cuts. “I’m blind, not fragile. How many times do I have to tell you?”

You would have walked off in the direction of his house if only you knew wherever the hell it was. Trying to land that kickflip Max had spent the last half hour explaining to you really messed with your sense of direction, but you weren’t about to tell them that. Your mother didn’t call you a stubborn mule for nothing plus you were getting really sick of Billy thinking you were weak, so you turned around and started stalking off without the aid device your parents payed for.

“Y/n, where are you going?” Billy called after you. “You can’t just leave.”

“Watch me!” You called over your shoulder, continuing your trek into the unknown.

Billy watched you walking down the street, and for once he appreciated living down such a long road miles away from the populated center of town. If it wasn’t one of his neighbors pulling into their cracked driveways after a long 9-to-5 shift or pulling away for a hearty meal at Benny’s Diner, cars rarely ever raced down this street.

Turning to Max, his grip loosened on her shoulder. “Grab your board and get inside.”

Max didn’t argue. Out of the two of them, Max had a more leveled head. She knew she could just check out the damage on your elbows and apologize again once Billy convinced you to come back into their comfy abode. Yanking away from her older step-brother, she ran for her precious skateboard.

“Babe, come on,” Billy tried to reason with you as his long legs neared you. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. You just―”

His warm hand gently latched onto your arm, turning you to face him. “I just what, Billy? You know people here either pity me or they stand feet apart from me like I’m made of glass,”the pressure in the center of your forehead begins to make itself known in the form of a headache, “I just thought things…here…were different.”

“They are, babe.” His chin bounced with quick little nods to reassure you. Sometimes he forgot that you couldn’t see these small actions. “Okay? They are. Max was teaching you one of her stupid tricks, and I just freaked, okay?”

Memories flicker through your mind, sounds and touch alike. When one of the mean girls at school had purposely stuck her foot out in front of you for taking “her man” away, you had bashed your head against a locker and were knocked out cold. You had woken up moments later in Billy’s arms as he carried you to the nurse’s office. You hadn’t bent over and died when the concussion symptoms came at you in full force; you had just taken the standard amount of sick days at home. Not any less and, definitely, not any more.

Other memories came at you, but none were as extreme as the concussion. Yet, with each scrape or nick that life threw at you, Billy reacted like blood was seeping through your clothing at an alarming rate or your lungs were restricting from lack of oxygen. Whatever it was, Billy acted like it was the end of the world for you.

“I didn’t cry when I fell off a tree branch and broke my arm in fourth grade, “ you began the recited verse you’ve told almost every member of your family, “so, I’m not gonna cry because of some stupid scuff marks on my elbows. I’m fine.”

“But, when I was sitting at the kitchen table, loss in thought, I heard it.” His thumbs were stroking the bones of your cheeks. “I heard you fall, Y/n. How was I supposed to know it wasn’t anything worse? When my dad first introduced me to Susan, Max walked around in crutches after a bad skateboard landing snapped her shin bone.”

You sighed, allowing his outlook on the situation widen the scope of your mind. Maybe you were being a little too harsh on him. After all, you couldn’t pour salt to the sizzle off the worry that ate you up inside whenever Billy decided to hang out with one of his pals. It would steal the sleep from you knowing he’d be driving around drunk. Him cradling you to the nurse’s office and you phoning him to make sure he made it to his bedroom safe were two sides of the same coin.

“I’m surprised Susan still lets her ride around on that thing.” His fingers carded through your hair. “I was just scared the same thing might of happened to you, or worse.”

“I understand, Billy.” You spoke so softly, Billy wasn’t entirely sure if it was just one of your breaths. A shuddering gasp forced its way out of your throat as you fought off the burning sensation of tears from the corner of your eyes. “I just get so frustrated sometimes.”

Your face met the soft cotton of his shirt as he brought you into the protection of his arms. “I know, baby,” He kissed the crown of your head. “I’m sorry I overreact sometimes.”

You sniffled a couple times before pulling away from him, “It’s okay.”

His lips brushed against the center of your forehead first then dipped his head to land another on your plump lips, but your fingers caught him. “You still have to apologize to Max first before you can kiss me.”

He took a deep breath. “Deal.”

Your fingers fumbled for his before before successfully latching on. You sighed as your palms melded together like ironworks as Billy led the way to his house.

As you both grew closer a loose thought struck you. “Wait. Don’t you still have homework to do?”

A/N: I hope I did alright in characterizing a blind reader.

#Billy Hargrove #stranger things #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove x reader #billy x reader #billy hargrove x you #stranger things imagines #stranger things imagine #billy hargrove x y/n #st #stranger things fanfiction #st imagine #dacre montgomery imagine #dacre montgomery #reader insert #fanfiction #blind!reader

[katehuntington]

Title: In Bad Waters - part twelve Word count: ±2750 words Episode summary: Still in possession of the Winchesters’ belongings, Zoë meets up with the hunters on her next case. When it turns out to be a little more complicated than anticipated, she accepts their help in order to make an important deadline. Part twelve summary: The only way to find out the truth about Laura, is to start digging even deeper. Episode warnings: Dark! NSFW, 18+ only! Descriptions of domestic violence/child abuse. Drug use/addiction. Angst, gore, violence, character death. Description of blood, injury and medical procedures/resuscitation. Swearing, alcoholism. Supernatural creatures/entities, mentions of demon possession. Descriptions of torture and murder, drowning. Illegal/criminal practices. Mentions of nightmares and flashbacks. Author’s note: Beta’d by @winchest09​ and @deanwanddamons​​​​​​​​​. Thanks, girls! Gif credit: @demondetoxmanual​.

Supernatural: The Sullivan Series Masterlist

S1E02 “In Bad Waters” Masterlist

     “Dead as a dodo,” the oldest of the Winchester brothers states over the phone, as he exits Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Zoë by his side.      Before they drove to the hospital, the hunters dropped Sam off at the Shire residence, so that he could make sure the family wouldn’t get targeted. Laura has proven to be relentless, and they didn’t want to risk the family getting killed as well.

     “Laura attacked him while other people were around?” Sam, who is on the line with his brother, is clearly surprised.      “She didn’t. She waited until he went to the supply storage, alone,” Dean tells. “Same deal; beat up, broken neck.”      Sam cuts to the chase. “We have to figure this out fast. The only other people who may know something about Laura’s location is what’s left of the Shire family.”      “You got eyes?” Dean checks, knowing Sam is staking out the residence on Lake Front Lane.      “Yeah. So far so good.”      “Make sure he keeps them in sight at all costs. Use an excuse and get into the house if he has to,” Zoë suggests, only catching half of the conversation.

     Dean glances aside at the woman next to him. She has changed into a clean shirt, one that doesn’t have her own blood on it. Back at the Hampton Inn, she taped her right side, relieving some of the pressure from her aching ribs. After a quick touch up of her hair and make-up, one could barely tell she just got attacked by an angry spirit. Her walk is slightly stiff, but the bruising she suffered is sufficiently masked, her brown curls falling over the gash on her hairline, which she closed with butterfly stitches.

     With a groan she lowers herself in the front seat of the Impala, muttering ‘fuck’ under her breath when fractures send a sharp pain through her body.      Dean notices when he gets into the car as well, but doesn’t comment on it. Instead he puts his phone on speaker, now that the Impala provides them the safety to talk freely. “Zo says that when you lose sight of them, you better get inside. Tell them you’re insurance or somethin’.”

     “Will do. Did you guys manage to get Laura’s medical records?”      “We did. Let’s see what we have here.” The older Winchester pulls a folder from the inside of his leather coat. He opens it, about to leaf through the documents, when Zoë snatches it from his hands. “Hey!”      “Like you could make sense of what’s in here,” she scolds.

   She wets her finger and flips the page. A huff escapes her throat as she reads the file, shaking her head, disapproving. “1999, age four; skull fracture of the parietal, supposedly fell off her bike. 2001, age six; fracture of the left ulna. 2003, age eight, multiple fractures, right radius, she needed surgery for that. Same year, broken carpal bones, right wrist, this time it was the trampoline's fault. It goes on.”      “Fucking bastard…” Dean scoffs.      “And no one picked up on this?” Sam wonders.      “Perks of the dad being Chief of surgery.” Zoë holds an X-ray against the light. “Good news for us is that we should be able to determine now if it’s Laura in that grave or not. Especially her right arm, which was screwed back together.”

     “Only one way to find out. Looks like your gonna pay Linwood Cemetery another visit,” Dean says, turning the key in the ignition. The V8 engine comes to life with a roar, a song by The Kinks called ‘You Really Got Me’ playing on the local radio station.

     “You know you and Zo have to stick together, right?” Sam brings to mind.      “Say what?” Dean replies, puzzled, before he pulls away from the curb.      “He’s right.” Zoë backs up the younger Winchester’s statement, glancing at the driver next to her. “Laura kills everyone who stops her, but only if they are alone. We already know she’s after me, and now you shot her through the head, so I’m guessing you moved up her murder list.”      “Well that’s a comforting thought.” Dean breathes out, once realization sets in. “What about you, Sam?”      “I don’t think she’ll come after me. I never actually had contact with her, unlike you guys,” Sam explains.      “So basically, I’m stuck with her?” Dean nods his head at the young woman next to him, even though his brother can’t see it.      “Hey, still in the car,” Zoë snarls, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She then continues to correct herself, in her usual brazenness. “Excuse my French. I’m still in the ‘67 Chevrolet Impala.”

     Dean’s jaw clenches as he fights the urge to pull the gun from the glove compartment and shoot her. He’s getting pretty tired of her smartass comments.      “He has a point, though,” Sam intervenes. “Whatever happens, you two have to stick together, or it will be the end of you. The second one of you ends up alone…”      Sam leaves the rest of the words unsaid, because no one needs to hear them to understand. If Dean and Zoë get separated, they will die, and especially the huntress is not particularly happy about that matter.

     “Great. My lucky day,” Zoë mutters sarcastically, after which she looks away and watches the houses rush by.      “Do I have to remind you that I just saved your ass?” Dean recalls.      The huntress huffs, of course he has to bring that up. “I didn't need your--”      “Oh, come on! Don't start that bullshit with me,” the oldest Winchester counters, letting out a laugh. No way in hell she’s going to win this argument. “What were you planning to do exactly after Laura pinned you to the wall and was a second from snapping your neck, huh?”

     “Could you two stop bitching at each other for one fucking second?!”      Dean looks at the phone on the dashboard. For a moment there, he forgot Sam was still a part of this conversation. The younger Winchester clearly has had enough of their bickering and fighting, because it’s not often that the respectable sibling curses. The outburst helps, because both shut up instantly.

     “Thank you,” Sam sighs and continues on his theory. “Dean, you dig up that body, I’ll keep an eye on the Shires.”      The Impala comes to a stop before a traffic light, crossing cars not allowing Dean to run the stop sign. “What about Miss Congeniality over here?”      “She can’t dig. She broke her ribs.” Sam states, matter of factly.

     Zoë, who still had her arms crossed in front of her, now turns herself to watch the hunter’s reaction. The amusement that bubbles inside of her makes it impossible to suppress the wide smirk on her lips when she notices Dean translating the true meaning of Sam’s message. For once in her life, she is not going to disagree with Sam, because this is playing itself out beautifully.      “So, I’m gonna have to dig up a coffin while she stands there being pretty?!” he almost exclaims.      “Ah-uh.”      “I have no issues with that, whatsoever.” Zoë agrees, adding fuel to the fire.      “Of course you don’t, you--” Dean shuts himself up, biting his tongue before he says something he might regret. He’s only at an arm's length away from her, plus he’s driving his precious car. The huntress might be hurt, but she can still do some serious damage.      “Alright, Sammy. You stay put, and be careful, okay?” he presses. “Who knows what that mini poltergeist has up her sleeve.”      “I’ll be safe,” his younger brother promises. “You guys too, alright? See you in a bit.”

     The sun is about to sink behind the horizon and golden hour is upon them. The heavens are colored in a dark shade of blue, gradually turning lighter in the west, where apricot and merigold fire up the sky. It’s getting chilly, autumn bringing down the temperatures at dusk. Nocturnal animals come to life, a barn owl hooting in the distance. The cemetery’s gates closed an hour ago, offering the hunters the peace and quiet needed to stay undetected.

     This time it’s not the huntress who is shuffling dirt. In fact, she’s casually sitting on the tombstone next to Laura’s, her legs crossed like the lady that she is, watching Dean do all the hard work. While filing her nails, Zoë cannot help but admire the scenery, and it’s not the pretty sunset. The Winchester in her company is working his way into the ground, scooping dirt over his shoulder with steady amounts. He shed his jacket and his grey shirt is clinging to his clammy torso, perspiration shimmering on his exposed skin. Muscles roll beneath the fabric of the thin tee and his biceps flex with every motion, a glimpse of a tattoo peeking from under the right sleeve. The huntress might want to bite his head off most of the time, but even she has to admit; Dean’s is easy on the eyes.

     “Like what you see?” Dean grins mischievously, having noticed her appreciating looks.      Zoë isn’t at all thrown off balance by his remark, however. “Really? You objectify women all the fucking time, and you’re calling me out?”      “Touché,” he chuckles, not slowing down for a second. “Just sayin’, the last time someone looked at me like that, I got laid.”      Zoë scoffs, finding his assumption entertaining. “Keep on dreaming, Casanova. I’m more likely to die before ending up between the sheets with you.”

     “Well…” Dean swings more ground out of the hole, groaning at the increasing ache in his left shoulder. His eyes are still mischievous, and so is the smirk on his lips. “Let’s get that mini poltergeist off your tail, and we’ll talk again.”      Zoë rolls her eyes. This arrogant prick doesn’t know when to stop, does he?      “Like I said; keep on dreaming. Now what the hell is taking you so long?” she judges. “It’s only six feet and the ground is already loose.”      “Oh, I’m sorry. Maybe if you hadn't put a bullet in my shoulder two days ago, I’d dig a little faster!” Dean snaps, glaring at the person who has been giving him orders all day.      “Don’t be such a baby. It didn’t even hit the joint,” Zoë scoffs, blowing the dusty residue from her fingertips. “Now would you hurry it up? I have places to be.”

     Gritting his teeth, the hunter dumps another load of soil on the grass besides the grave. I swear to God, one of these days a spirit will be the last of her worries.      “Maybe if you had paid attention when you fucking lit the kid in the first place, you could’ve left town hours ago.”      “Maybe if your brother hadn’t distracted me, I would have. But you asshats tend to ruin other people's cases,” Zoë counters, rapidly.      “Hey, we are just trying to help! Do I have to remind you who’s doing the actual dirty work here?” Dean pauses his actions. “Why don’t you get off your throne of thorns, princess. I’m nearly there.”

     Zoë cocks back her head back; did he just call her ‘princess’? Her eyes shoot flames at the intolerable guy, her mouth opening to send back a remark, when the metal shovel collides with the wooden casket. The hollow sound catches Zoë’s attention and she gets up. “Fucking finally.”

     Dean hoists himself out of the hole, making room to lift up the lid and exposing the remains. He was going to offer the huntress a hand to get into the grave, but he can’t be bothered now; she can figure out how to lower herself if she’s being such a bitch. She doesn’t ask either, and sits down on the edge, sliding down with a grunt. The older Winchester watches her descent, the light of her flashlight shimmering on his features as she turns it on and places it on the corner of the coffin.

     “How are we supposed to tell if this is Laura or not? You already burned her bones to crisp,” Dean wonders, wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand.      “Because they aren’t burned to crisp. A salt and burn doesn’t actually destroy them like an oven would when cremated,” the huntress explains wisely, pulling on a pair of latex gloves from her pocket and putting them on as she crouches down.

     “So what’s the crime scene telling you, Horatio?” Dean wonders, shining his flashlight down on the skeleton.      Zoë doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, she clears the burned clothing and half deteriorated skin and muscle tissue from the right arm of the girl in the coffin. She rubs her thumb over the radius bone, swiping away the ash and grime. There are no signs of a healed break, nor has the arm ever been screwed and bolted back together.      “This isn’t Laura,” she knows.      “Well, shit,” Dean responds, staggered. “If this ain’t her, then where the hell is she?”      “Good question.” Zoë rises again, going over the clues they have gathered so far. “Let’s head to the Shire house, get back to Sam. We gotta figure this out, fast.”

     The two hunters pack up, Dean hauling the dirt back into the grave while Zoë gathers his jacket and the torches. It takes him less longer than digging the hole in the first place, even though he has to bite through the pain. Not wanting to let Zoë know and give him a reason to scold him again, he keeps his mouth shut.

     Thirty minutes later, the driver of the Chevrolet settles down on the front seat, closing the door behind him. “Where to?”      Zoë has already pulled her laptop out, studying the map of Paragould on the screen. “Highway 412 up west, right on Reynolds Road, and then take left on Reynolds Park Road.”      Dean guides the Chevrolet back onto the street, focused on traffic while the passenger takes in the moving world outside the window. The sinking sun sends an orange glow through the Impala, reflecting on the polished hood of the classic car. They are losing light, they are losing time.

     When the driver glances aside briefly, he detects the pondering frown knitted between Zoë’s eyebrows.      “Do you happen to see any bright ideas in that thousand mile stare?” he wonders.      “We can’t split up, so we have to find Laura’s body and figure out how she relocates with the information we already have,” she says, thinking out loud.      Dean brainstorms. “Maybe the way she relocates is a clue on itself.”

     Zoë lets the air fall from her lips while thinking about that, trying to make sense of it all. “She can jump houses, but stays in a certain area. The principal’s home, the hospital, the Dawlson’s house, they are not far from each other, but what connects them?”      “When you saw her, she was wet through, right? That has to mean something,” the older Winchester brother contemplates.      “Yeah, but doesn’t make any sense. We know she didn’t drown,” she ponders, glancing aside at the driver as he turns on Reynolds Park Road.      “What if it has something to do with the cover up of her cause of death and not with her death itself?” Dean brings to mind.

     Suddenly, it clicks. Her eyes grow wide as she straightens herself, her eyes now locked on what’s in front of her. The Reynolds Park Lake comes into view, the last of the evening light reflecting on the surface. It seems peaceful and quiet at this hour, but it becomes very clear to her that these waters hold a dark secret.      “The lake…” she huffs. “The park lake has a water purification system. It provides water to the town.”      Dean follows her gaze. It only takes a second before the penny drops. “So that’s how she travels.”

     It all makes sense now. Why Sam’s vision showed the sprinklers when he saw Taylor Dawlson get attacked. Why the faucets in Zoë’s hotel room opened right before she manifested. She’s not six feet in the ground, she’s six feet under water.      “Little Laura took a swim,” Zoë realizes.

     Stunned that they actually managed to crack the case, she glances aside at the green-eyed hunter, who shares a knowing look with her, a small smirk playing on his lips. They finally know what happened, before and after the girl’s death. All they have to do now is find the remains so they can put the spirit to rest, and who knows, maybe Zoë will make that deadline after all.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate every single one of you, but if you do want to give me some extra love, you are free to like or reblog my work, shoot me a message or buy me coffee (Link to Kofi in bio at the top of the page). 

Read chapter thirteen here

#Supernatural: the Sullivan Series #Supernatural OFC #Dean Winchester fanfiction #Sam Winchester fanfiction #Supernatural fanfiction #SPN #Supernatural #STSS #Dean Winchester #Sam Winchester #Zoë Sullivan #1x02 In Bad Waters #Kate Huntington

[gins-potter]

Shadow and Bone 1x01 First Watch Thoughts

Under the cut cause this got long

Yo I am actually so scared though - like it’s been so hyped what if it’s bad?

Only one way to find out I guess

Oh my god Netflix is stuck loading at ten percent what is life?

Okay slight (7 minute) delay where I had to turn netflix on and off a few times but here we go

Wow so they don’t really have a title sequence

Alina making a map will always be funny for me because I swear they mentioned like two times in the books

Okay so they really are addressing show!Alina’s Shu mother head on

Ohhhhhhh so Alina’s parents died in the Fold??

Ahhhhhh the special effects are so good

HER SMILE WHEN THEY MENTION MAL

I FUCKING LOVE IT

OHMY GOD YOUNG MAL HAS CURLY HAIR AMAZING

This.... is not what I pictured the Duke’s house to look like but alright

Ooooof the cinematography is so nice already

The cut from young Mal’s face and hands to older Mal’s face and hands, very nice

I don’t think Mal fought in the books but honestly this tracks

Ooooooh Mal vs a Grisha

Or not

Foreshadowing for season 2??

HER SMILE!! SO PRECIOUS!!

Zoya!!

I like how quickly they’re setting up the dynamics between Grisha and non-Grisha

“he talks about you all the time” excuse me while i scream

Jesper’s smile!

Oh my god the DeKappel

I looooove that they’re actually having Kaz use his cane, idk why I thought they wouldn’t but it’s good to see

The pan away from the gloves to his face, so good

Oooooof I love the composition of this scene, him looking to the window, Inej appearing behind him, “hello inej”

Inej’s voice is not how I imagined it but I love Amita so who cares?

Inej’s dialogue feels a little off but that’s not a big deal

Pekka mention

Investment (affectionate)

So is Per Haskell not in this at all?  I need confirmation.

Wow they are really not letting us forget that Alina is half Shu.  Idk if that’s a good thing or a little over the top.  At the very least I do think it adds to Alina’s feelings of not being able to belong which was a big theme in the first book particularly.

Is Mal stealing food for Alina??

Zoya (pt.2)!!

Mal stop flirting you lil hoe

Well that’s mighty forward of you Zoya - I love it

So he doesn’t hook up with her? Intresting.

God the vibes of this show are unreal.  I love it.

“I could shoot you in the foot” get you a bestie like that

I do like they somewhat establish how Alina and Mal’s parents died, because it’s kind of unclear in the books?

“I’ll find my way back to you” scream pt.2

he’ll write her a letter? excuse me that foreshadowing is cruel.

CROWS!

Her lil smirk at her knife, i’m in love

Wait wait wait, I just realised, they’re not crossing the fold to get Alina?  They’re crossing to get something else and Alina comes into play later?  Okay this makes a lot more sense for Inej particularly.  Jesper not so much, since why would he go to Ravka but honestly that never made that much sense to me either.

Well hello Pekka

Oooh I love his accent

Is the Orchid supposed so be the White Rose? Maybe not.

I always pictured Pekka a little craftier than that, less brute force, but okay

Malina are fucking killing me and it’s only ep1

Omfg Alexei she’s not interested

THE FLASHBACK I’M CRYING

I love this suspense they’re building with the Darkling

Alina, girl, what you doing?

Whyyyyyyy is she burning the maps??

Ohhhhh so they’ll have to send a cartographer?

Alina you crafty devil

But now you’re gonna get all the other cartographers killed

“I COULD SHOOT YOU IN THE FOOT”

“Get off this boat or I’ll carry you off” now there’s an image

I’m sorry I’m a shameless Malina stan

These Grisha hand movements are so extra I love it

This is like the worst haunted house ride ever

I fucking loooooooove this suspense they’re building with the Darkling

I feel like it’s just to kill the fangirls when they finally show his face

Fuck I know what’s gonna happen and I’m still getting nervous for them

I love how they’ve done the Fold

These looks between Malina are killing me

Well shit

Idk who this inferni chick is but I love her

Bro Alexei what?!?!

MAL!!!!

This is so dramatic

I love it.

“I’LL MEET YOU AT THE MEADOW” I’m crying

Idk how I feel about these little title cards

Holy crap Alexie ran all the way to West Ravka?  That’s shouldn’t be funny but it is.

Bro you were planning on meeting with Pekka Rollins, he ain’t exactly an upstanding citizen

You know what, Freddy Carter really sells this role

Omfg Jesper

I love seeing these little moments of comedy, they feel very Six of Crows

Oh wait this timeline is fucked

So they are going after Alina?

He’s going to want Alina so he can make crossings easier

I do like how they’re tying the Crows and Alina’s stories together

These effects are pretty good

Inej’s little gasp - I die

Yeah Alexei you are definitely not going free after this

Wow totally didn’t see that coming /s

Kinda harsh for a merch though

I feel like Inej is going to have a problem going after a Sun Summoner?

Final Thoughts:

This first episode had a lot to set up and I think it did a pretty good job of it

There was a little narration from Alina which is pretty cliche YA but on the whole managed to avoid big info dumps which I loved

The aesthetic and costuming are freaking excellent

The dialogue is really good, the only time it felt a little off was for Inej at times but in general I think the crows dynamic is hard to get exactly right and they did a really good job of it

Amita, Freddy, and Kit all do a really excellent job

I wasn’t expecting the crows to be in so much of it early on but I really like the way they’re tying the two stories together already - I know some people were really adamant that the two stay separate but I actually don’t mind them coming together

Malina are amazing already

Literally nothing else to say except they’re amazing and in love and I love them

We didn’t really get to see the Darkling much except for a few shots of him from behind, which is surprising but also I think a really good idea because it’s really building the suspense of his character for the non-reader audience which I think will be helpful to establish him later as a villain

I expected them to be a bit further in the plot at the end of this first episode, like I was expecting the Darkling and Alina to have already met but now, but I think they traded that in order to set up some of the dynamics (namely Malina, the crows, and Grisha vs non-Grisha) and tbh it might have been a smart thing to do

In short, I am very much in love already, and this definitely hasn’t disappointed (for me at least)

#sab spoilers #shadow and bone #shameless malina stanning #tgv

[harcourtholmesii]

Unintended Purpose (Part I)

Pairings: As Of Yet; Unknown

Warnings: - Swearing - Slavery (Whether Realised Or Not)

Words: 2923

Enjoy!

The first thing he felt was the tickle of fine, soft hairs against the ridge of his nose. He turned his head, scrunching his face in slight annoyance.

 Through his eyelids, the darkness was being slowly washed away with a golden shine. He could feel the absence of a blanket over his right leg, and the chill of the fan as his leg was exposed to the breeze.

 Hank’s eyes opened lazily, revealing oaken locks that spread about the sheets in an odd, dark halo. It was several of those strands that were tickling his face this morning, and his annoyance receded almost immediately.

 Hank propped himself up on one arm, leaning over to press a soft kiss to those locks. He glanced at the alarm clock on her side of the bed; they had slept in. He turned over in the sheets, and stood, stumbling for a moment in the wake of morning nausea. He cracked the bones in his back, muttering about his old bones and aching muscles, before stepping away and across the hall into the bathroom.

 He took a moment to just observe himself in the mirror. His tired eyes, crusted at the corners with tears, and his face framed by growing, silver hair. Renee had told him many times that the white hairs he was so self-conscious about made him appear the silver fox. Even now, Hank tried to shrug the thoughts of his age behind him, picking up the razor and contemplating for a moment.

 He could feel the itch as fine bristles of his beard had started growing in. Renee hated feeling them scratch her skin whenever they kissed. It made him look older, according to her. The hair appeared refined but the beard was too much. Hank never questioned her judgement, as his own thoughts on fashion or his appearance were lackluster at best. Comfort was his primary concern followed closely by how motivated he was to get a haircut or shave his face.

 He tossed the razor aside, beginning his morning routine. Brush teeth, use the can, and then have a shower. He picked up the pace this morning, if only because they were all due to be late to their appointment. He kicked a plastic, toy boat out of the tub as he turned the broiling water on. He needed to speak to Cole about leaving his toys about.

 Once he was as clean as he cared to be, Hank dressed himself in one of his cleaner shirts and pairs of pants for the day. The shirt was a bright blue with obnoxious, yellow lines painted vertically across it. His wife called it ‘ugly’. He called it ‘nostalgic’.

 Once he was dressed, he stepped around the bed and pressed another kiss to Renee’s head. One hand swatted at him sleepily, almost playfully. He just smiled, turning to leave the room and go wake up the little tyrant instead. She must have returned home late from the trip, if she was this exhausted. He’d let her sleep and attend the appointment with Cole.

 Across the hall, Hank opened the door to reveal his little boy. Soon to be turning six years old, Cole had received an early birthday present. He was certain he had told Cole to leave the puppy in the laundry overnight, but he had clearly been ignored.

 Sumo, as Cole had named him, raised his little head from Cole’s chest, and had begun wagging his tail when Hank entered the room. Hank tried his best to shush the little pup, but the tiny thing had started yapping and bounding over to him and leaping up at his knees. It was enough to wake Cole, who rubbed his eyes and beamed up at Hank. Soon, Hank was toppled over by both a bundle of fur and Cole’s combined weight.

 ‘Mornin’ Cole.’ He laughed, rubbing a hand roughly through his son’s hair. There was a giggle, something that warmed Hank’s chest.

 ‘Morning Dad!’

 ‘Sh-sh!’ Hank raised a finger to his lips, hoping to quiet them all down before they woke Renee. ‘Mom’s still sleepin’.’ He sat up, gently resting Cole awkwardly on his knee and trying to push the tiny St Bernard off. ‘Get dressed, and we’ll pick up some breakfast on the way.’

 Cole nodded, excitedly running to his closet and throwing his clothes hurriedly onto his bed. Hank retreated from the room and headed to the kitchen, looking about for the big bag of dried food. He found it beneath the kitchen sink, and filled the bowl up with one and then an extra cup of food. Sumo had buried his snout in before Hank had a chance to tell him to ‘sit’.

 A few minutes later, and he had Cole in his arms, tussling with him all the way to the car. He had picked him up in his arms, feeling the groan of his old bones, as he began to tickle and then chase Cole to the backseat of the car.

 The air outside was cold, an early Winter on the horizon. The sun shone rays of gold through the still red and yellow treetops. A bit of ice caught Hank, causing him to slip for a moment, and he was thankful not to hear a rip in his jeans. Cole just laughed as he pulled himself up and into the backseat.

 They peeled out of the driveway with an apologetic wave at Sumo; the puppy having climbed the couch to see out the lounge-room window. They would try and make it quick. Hank hated seeing those wide eyes. It made him feel like a fucking criminal.

 Cole peered out the window the whole drive, sometimes pointing out the occasional android on the street with their owners. He seemed so excited. Hank, whilst delighted Cole was as happy as Renee to get a new addition to the family, felt some bitterness growing in a pit in his stomach.

 He never much liked the concept of owning an android. Sure, they were made of plastic, synthetic skin and wiring, but they looked too close to humans for his comfort. Perhaps, if they looked more like robots then people, he would be less creeped out by them. To him, it felt like they were buying a slave, not a helpful instrument or device.

 Renee had insisted though.

 Since her job paid well, and both she and Hank were often faced with conflicting schedules, they didn’t wish to leave Cole alone through the day. Having someone clean the house and look after Cole gave both her and Hank more freedom to spend time together and work. But it frustrated Hank; wasn’t the point to spend more time with Cole and not have an android look after him 24/7?

 Hank and Renee didn’t often agree, but they made it work. He loved her, dearly, but sometimes, he felt her head was too focussed on her job rather than their son. He usually felt like a hypocrite after he had these thoughts. After all, as a police officer, Hank was constantly busy with reports and constant action out on the streets. Cole admired him for it, but Hank hated that he often had to work late.

 It was why he had taken the week off to buy the new android and spend that time with Cole before his birthday.

 He had hoped Renee would do the same.

 He nearly missed the turn into the shopping mall parking lot. He parked; his grey, busted car stuck out like a sore thumb between the newer and sleeker designs. He helped Cole out of the seatbelt and hurried after the boy as he tore excitedly across parking lot and into the mall entrance.

 Hank caught up to him, near chastising him for running off when Cole pulled him eagerly by the hand into the large CyberLife store. It reminded Hank of an Apple store before the company had all but become extinct. Sleek white walls, monitors filled with advertisements of the newest models and people milling about, asking what each model was capable of.

 He felt a shudder roll up his spine as he looked about the store. Androids of all types stood up high on pedestals, hands at their sides or behind their backs with their eyes forward. Along the back wall were glass cabinets filled with the odd components, and ones that were spare of shelves instead contained the newest models. The ones in the cabinets smiled and waved and posed, like they were modelling their likeness and functions to the world.

 Cole had rushed off to explore, taking a keen interest in the ones at the back; they smiled at him through their glass enclosures. He waved right back at them, his giddiness kept Hank from peeling back out of the store’s front door in discomfort. He hated these stores, hated anything really that had to do with technology, but he despised the ‘stock’, so to speak.

 ‘Can I help you today, sir?’ A chipper voice spoke to him, and Hank turned his head, swallowing thickly at the appearance of a female android. She smiled brightly up at him, her LED a bright blue and Hank couldn’t help but stare at it. He needed to remind himself that this was an android; not a person.

 ‘Uh, yeah… Cole!’ With that, his son was at his side in a moment, looking up at the android with wide eyes. She beamed down at him and tilted her head in an odd mimicry of human behaviour.

 ‘We’re here to get an android. We didn’t know where to start, so we had an appointment made. ‘Anderson’, and I think Renee put it under her name.’ The LED’s little ring turned a bright, neon yellow, and Hank watched as its eyes almost flickered. The LED returned to its usual blue.

 ‘Ah, of course, Mister Hank Anderson. If you would like to take a seat, we can discuss what model may be best suited to your needs.’ The android gestured to some plastic, rounded seats across the way with a desk between them and a computer. Hank was pretty sure it was more for aesthetic purposes or the owner’s use, rather than the android staff.

 Cole and he took a seat, Cole immediately taking a small, holographic picture book and beginning to drag his finger across its surface like a stylus. He watched as the android on the cover had its uniform change from white to red and then to orange as Cole decided what colours he liked best.

 ‘So, Mister Anderson, let us start with exactly what price you are looking for. What is your price range?’ Straight to business. Hank hummed a moment, glancing about the models in the store and at their prices. The prices of androids had gone down over the years as they became more and more commonplace, but that didn’t mean the number was one to scoff at.

 ‘At most… Uh… Four thousand, I guess.’ The LED switched to yellow and blinked almost immediately back to blue. The android hummed, once more a mimicry of human behaviour. Hank didn’t appreciate it much.

 ‘That does, indeed, narrow most options down, I am afraid. The cheapest model would be the AX400, but most of those have been handed down and not in the best condition. However…’ She retrieved a holographic magazine from beneath the desk and offered it to him. She skimmed the ‘pages’ with her finger until halting on one with a selection of different android types. There were no images on this page to accompany the prices, but she pointed to each one in turn.

 ‘The PL600’s price is on the decline recently. It has all the usual capabilities of most home assistant androids, including the ability to perform all home maintenance tasks, help with school work from Primary through to High school and speak up to 150 different languages, as needed.’

 Hank didn’t really know what to think.

 ‘Or, you have the MP500. Part of our newest stock, but they have further limitations to allow for a cheaper price. They start at $2999.’ Hank whistled, as if acting impressed. He wasn’t. Honestly, hearing this android advertise and sell off their own was giving him a headache.

 ‘Can you just show us what models you mean first? I’m not gonna pay for anything unless he agrees with it.’ Cole looked up from the colouring book and grinned, peering about the room. His eyes landed on the glass cabinets at the back once more and he pointed at them, tugging on Hank’s sleeve. The android smiled and followed behind the two of them as Hank was pulled out of his seat and to the back of the store.

 ‘What about that one?’ Cole pointed out one blonde, male-looking android, marked with the PL600 badge. Beneath the badge, the name ‘Simon’ was printed there. He showed his teeth through his smile, crouching down and pressing his hand to the glass. Cole pressed his hand right back and grinned.

 ‘Simon has already been reserved I am afraid.’ Cole pouted, and ‘Simon’ mirrored the action, returning to stand once more. ‘We have one of the same model, the PL600 as I mentioned, that is in the back? His name is Daniel, if you would like to meet him.’

 ‘What’s that one?’ Cole was once more moving across the room and to another android behind glass. Hank was thankful Cole was at least asking about the ones in their price range, even if the android assistant had given them the details on these models previously.

 The AX400 smiled down at him but didn’t stoop to talk with him. Cole looked up at the female android, and she rested her palm against the glass as well. She didn’t stoop down like Simon did, but her smile grew wider. Hank noticed Cole seemed a little disappointed, and Hank just hurried him along. He ignored the look of almost disappointment in the AX400’s eyes.

 Then, Cole stopped, and pointed to the corner of the store. It was a corner cabinet, a little more cramped then the others. Hank wasn’t sure what to think of this one. It seemed much like the other androids, but its appearance was off somehow. Unlike the others that moved in their cabinets and showed themselves off, this one stood almost at attention, like the many models on pedestals.

 When Cole approached it, brown eyes lowered to watch him. They flicked back up to Hank, back to Cole and then back to staring ahead. The assistant android looked over the cabinet, and, once more, took a second to process the inquiry, as silent as it was.

 ‘This android was not originally intended to be a model for public use. It failed its original test, and had the necessary programs downloaded for housework. Unlike other models, this RK800 was not designed to integrate with a family or a household setting.’ Cole had stepped up to the glass once more, and once again, his hand rested on the glass.

 Those brown eyes lowered and stared at him. The male android tilted its head in response, as though attempting to contemplate such a foreign concept. Cole tilted his head to mirror him and smiled. The android didn’t smile, but it tilted its head the other way. It reminded Hank of a puppy.

 ‘This RK800 is due to be taken off the market and terminated. It is currently sitting at $450, due to its previous failed tests. I would not recommend such a model, as it may be a bit unpredictable in how it behaves. It hasn’t had the necessary home assistant program installed since the start, so it may revert back to its previous function.’

 ‘And what function is that?’ Hank huffed, blowing some silver strands out of his face. He was not exactly impressed if such an unstable model was being sold to the general public, and had a moment of wondering about its legality before the assistant android spoke up.

 ‘Originally, the RK800 was built to be a police detective, and-’ Cole didn’t let her finish.

 ‘That one!’

 ‘Now Cole, I’m not sure mom would much like this choice. It is not exactly stable, and wasn’t even what we were after.’ Hank offered, crouching down to Cole’s level. He rested a hand on Cole’s shoulder, watching as those hazel eyes pleaded with him to reconsider.

 ‘But he’s like you, dad!’ Hank sighed. Of course that was what Cole had focussed on. ‘He was a police officer, like you are! I want him!’ Hank turned his gaze from Cole back up to the android. Beneath the model badge, was its name; ‘Connor’. Doe like eyes turned from Cole to Hank; his face was a soft one but it held a distant expression, unlike the other androids in the store. He turned his head, watching as one stepped off a pedestal and its features transitioned from distant to kind. He didn’t think it would be the same thing.

 He sighed.

 ‘Where do I sign for it?’

 Cole hugged him tightly, and the android assistant smiled. It seemed a little strained somehow. The android, ‘Connor’, didn’t move. Didn’t even blink when his payment went through. He stepped out of the cabinet as the glass slid away, took one step and spoke.

 ‘Hank and Cole Anderson. I’m the RK800 android as made by CyberLife. Intended purpose; a failure. New purpose; home assistance. May my work be satisfactory to you both.’

 Hank hated this already.

((I don’t know why, but I fell in love with the concept of Detroit: Become Human the moment I played its first sequence. I felt the need to write this out, but I swear, I am not trying to forget other stories I am in the process of writing! I intend to get back to them!))

#DBH #Detroit: Become Human #RK800 #RK800 Connor #Hank Anderson #Cole Anderson #Fanfic #Fanfiction #HarcourtHolmesII

[prettyboysdontlookatexplosions]

totally stealing @honeybabydichotomy‘s meme-adaptation concept re: i have a handful of things that could be described WIPs and nearly all of them i already can’t shut my mouth about, but here is a trip through the GOOGLE DOCS GRAVEYARD of abandoned fandoms past (mcu, trc, something too embarrassing to list above the cut so you’ll just have to CLICK and find out)

first up, the last fic i never actually wrote for, lmao, american idol season 8 RPF fandom, back in 2010... this was going to be a bigbang fic but in keeping with my terrible track record re: challenges etc. i did not finish it, although in my defense that had at least something to do with spilling coffee all over my laptop right around the time i started a very hours-intensive job with a huge commute. when i look at this now i’m like, this sure was me writing ten years ago, but i still love the emotional architecture of any story in which one deliberately shut-off and long-repressed individual is uncomfortably thawed by the miracle of someone else’s open-hearted joie de vivre; it’s the oldest story here but arguably the closest to an actual WIP in that the ghost of that idea is the seed for the divorced quentin AU i harbor hopes of one day writing; you can definitely see the Relevant Vibes in this exchange, i think, although i feel the need to clarify that adam lambert enjoying twilight is a thing he said on national television, i wouldn’t do that to someone on my own:

Veselka is crowded, but despite the bitter February cold, Kris doesn't mind waiting outside for twenty minutes, leaning against the glass display case of the expensive toy store next door, separated from Adam by little more than an inch. "So - okay, this is kind of terrible. Like, worse than the Twilight thing. But I feel like you should know who you're dealing with, so."

"It can't be that bad."

Adam just smiles knowingly. "Oh, can't it?"

"Hit me with your best shot," Kris says. Something twitches in his stomach as Adam raises his eyebrow to that.

Adam leans down to whisper in Kris's ear, sending inexplicable sparks down Kris's neck. "Sometimes, when I'm standing in the street or on the subway or something, I like to watch people go by and try to guess what they're like in bed."

Kris blushes. "Very mature," he says with a nervous laugh, embarrassed about his own embarrassment.

Adam holds up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "Hey. We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars," he intones. "Oscar Wilde."

"Do you think that's true?"

"I think it is. At least - " Adam tilts his chin up, a mischievous glint in his eyes " - I identify with it."

Kris searches for something to say that won't make him seem hopelessly square. "What's the view like from down there?"

Adam gazes at the night sky, where Manhattan's perpetual glow blots out all but the brightest lights. "I like it. You see more of them this way."

Kris thinks he's spent six years priding himself himself on keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding the pull of the horizon or the distraction of the sun. "So. Mr. Gutter." He points to a thirty-something man getting out of a parked Ford across the street. "What's he like?"

next up: an unpublished MCU snippet! this was a peggy character study set at howard’s funeral, also an excuse for me to have feelings about tony stark; idiotically, i actually have a complete draft of this, and got a really brilliant beta job from @nimmieamee, but then never went back and revised it and also could not bring myself to post it when despite being passable as done i could tell in my bones it was simply Not Working, even though parts of it i really liked:

Howard had not taken to aging with grace. It, too, offended him: the body betraying the dream of perfectibility. Dodging it had taken up an increasing percentage of his time. He took up jogging, early among the public, too late in his life: a few months in and a busted knee earned him doctor's orders to abandon that pursuit. His bones were already too brittle to benefit. Howard himself had become brittle long ago. You could blame the war; but that was what happened to people with no give to them. They were like the driest branches waiting for a storm, only unlike branches they recognized on some level the precariousness of their structure, and consequently dedicated themselves to forgetting it.

Howard was undeterred. (Being deterred also went against his every principle.) He had swimming pools installed, outdoors in Los Angeles, adorned with artificial rocks arranged just so to give the impression of a hot spring, and indoors in West Hampton, heated, lit underwater with a yellow-green glow throwing tendrils of light on smooth white walls. Fitness gurus and nutrition consultants were put on retainer, a bicoastal platoon to prevent malfunctions; physical therapists were brought in to recalibrate around malfunctions. They quit with increasing frequency, as his temper frayed along with his body. He gave up, in sequence, smoking, alcohol, red meat, all meat, alcohol, sugar, processed grains, alcohol, salt, and direct sunlight--although by the time of this last pronouncement, it produced little noticeable effect.

Lately he had become obsessed with the idea of cryogenic freezing: the fantasy of going to sleep and waking up in a time when his intellectual heirs had figured out how to repair and replace his rusted pieces. Skin firmed and thickened; knees stitched back to mint condition; a whole new heart, perhaps, grown in a jar or assembled from compounds yet to be constructed. "Wouldn't you take the chance, if you had it?" he had murmured, eyes going dreamy as they did when he talked of his latest missiles.

Peggy pictured Steve in the Arctic, his hyperactive cells stilled by the indifferent cold. She shivered, like a child hearing a ghost story, and said no, she wouldn't.

finally, two stories from a fandom i actually never published any stories with, or engaged with in any meaningful way: the fuckin raven cycle. the dumbest books on god’s green earth. the first was a ronan story where gansey actually dies and stays the fuck dead, and ronan handles it by being a huge asshole, and then, unlike in these hideous godforsaken books, actually decides on purpose to be a better person.... i’m realizing revisiting this now that some of the itch of this story i’ve finally gotten out of my system via damage control, but the GENIUS IDEA of ronan giving matthew an actual soul by giving up the dream power and thus becoming an actual human, sadly, does not really transfer, even though it’s the best concept i’ve ever thought of in my life. anyway, whatever, i have a type:

He opened the door. Adam and Blue were looking at him with expressions he couldn't decipher. Noah was looking at the floor.

"Are you—" Adam started. Ronan watched the word okay die of its own irrelevance in Adam's mouth.

"None of you were invited," Ronan said.

Blue started, "We just—"

"Sorry," he said, loud enough to drown her out. "But this is a very exclusive party. That means no rednecks"—he pointed at Adam—"no bitches"—Blue—"and no pussies"—Noah. "So I'm going to need you all to leave."

He focused his eyes on Blue. She looked like she wanted to slap him. This was familiar. He wanted to go back to the time when his only interactions with Blue Sergeant involved saying something and watching her look at him like she wanted to slap him. Things had gotten complicated after that. Then Gansey had died. Ronan couldn't articulate the connection, but he felt strongly that it was there.

"Maybe I wasn't clear," he said. "What I mean is: get the fuck out of my house."

and last but not least, another TRC story, motivated initially by dreaminess and then sporadically continued after TRK came out (seriously like ever 18 months i dig this one out and write another 500 words and give up again) out of spite - a story where, because fuck stief, adam parrish gets a cell phone, ronan lynch gets a job, and no one assumes that finally having sex means you’re basically married forever without even talking about if you’re boyfriends. this one is like, so close to being “done” in that it almost goes beginning to end and has a lot of individual lines i actually like, but has always been very difficult to pull together because of the reality that maggie stiefvater wrote a series such that ronan lynch acting like a decent boyfriend or experiencing character growth or talking about his emotions is literally out of character, which makes it hard to write a dreamy summer hook-up story; i was actually thinking earlier this year of picking it back up YET AGAIN, but then damage control ate my brain... one day, perhaps, for the satisfaction of having finished... or i might just listen to “cruel summer” by taylor swift while meditating on it for a couple million more hours:

“Did you call me over just to give me the fucking silent treatment in person?” Ronan said. It sounded less vicious than it should have. Like he had been aiming for a growl and somehow landed on a mumble.

I didn’t call you over, Adam wanted to say, but it wasn’t actually true. He had. That seemed wrong, though. Ronan Lynch wasn’t someone to be called over. He was too wild and spiteful for that. Even Gansey couldn’t manage it. The rest of Ronan’s world had given up trying long ago.

But when Adam had called, Ronan had come.

He felt like he might throw up.

“I’m not giving you the silent treatment,” he said instead. “I’m just—“ But he didn’t know what he was doing. So he switched tacks. “You just—“ But he didn’t know that, either. And asking Ronan what the fuck are you doing had never yielded helpful results.

So Adam stuck to the truest thing, what he had worked his whole life to make true. “I’m leaving in three months.”

“What the fuck does that have to do with anything,” Ronan spat. This time he was closer to the expected intensity, but there was still something strange under his voice. Maybe not. Maybe Adam was just having a nervous breakdown.

[chickensarentcheap]

Best Part of Me -Chapter 16

Warnings: Profanity, angst (sort of)

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

I had some of you call attention to another fic that was jacking pieces of my mine (including my OC) and I just want to thank you guys for having my back! You know who you are ;)   God that other site is a cesspool!

After their naps and lunch, Tyler takes the two littlest down to the water; settling down at the edge with a life jacket clad Declan next to him, the toddler crouching down to dig and play in the wet sand.  He holds Addie along his forearm, the back of her head resting in his palm, his other hand cupping water and allowing it to the drop through his fingers and onto her tiny body. Starting at the top of her feet and slowly moving all the way to the top of her head; her eyes widening and her toes curling at the texture and the temperature, yet never uttering even the smallest of cries. He remembers doing the same with Millie; taking her to the beach as often as possible, slowly and patiently working at getting her used to the water. It had been a big part of his life growing up; the happiest times of his often painful and traumatizing childhood had all happened near or in the water. Spending hours there with his mother. She’d been the one who had taught how to swim and had recruited a neighbor to give him surfing lessons.

It’s where he’s always felt grounded. Relaxed by the feel of the water against his body, the sound of the waves, the smell of salt that lingers in the air. And sharing it with his children is of dire importance; that they have good memories of their father.  Not ones of him leaving in the middle of the night and not returning for days and often weeks on end. Not of him coming back through the front door with stitches and bruises marring his face, broken bones set in casts, arms in slings.   They are all just babies still. Way too young to be burdened with memories of THAT life.    Once they’d moved, he’d decided to devote himself to being the best father he can possibly be; one that spends time with them, who doesn’t miss birthdays, who isn’t too hung over to get up and make breakfast for them in the morning.  All mistakes that he’s already made and will regret for the rest of his life.

Much like her big sister, Addie shows no fear of the water. There’s no flinching or grimacing or fussing; even when he cups a handful of it in his palms and lets it trickle down onto the top of her head. Millie had been the same. Fearless. And still is almost six years later. Always willing to try new things, spending her entire day in and out of the water if you’d let her. The twins had been apprehensive; living in Colorado all their lives, they’d never been exposed to the ocean, and it had been overwhelming and scary for both. But they’d battled through it; both decent, strong swimmers that now shared their father’s passion for surfing. Declan prefers to say on the sidelines; happy to just sit in the surf while watching his siblings.

The introduction to the new neighbor is still playing in his mind; the awkward yet rather amusing way she rambled when embarrassed, her blatant honesty, the way she hadn’t been the least bit shy when it came to checking him out and making comments about what she saw. He’s not sure if he finds her charming or annoying.  If he wouldn’t mind her coming by on a regular basis or if he’d try and avoid her as much as possible. Meeting new people isn’t easy for him; he’d spent decades constantly looking over his shoulder, viewing everyone around him as a potential threat.  His suspiciousness and leeriness of strangers became even more intense when became a father again, and then reaching its peak when Michael McMann had come alone and put his family in danger. It’s why living somewhere fairly remote had been so important; he’s able to control who comes around the people he loves. He doesn’t always have to be so guarded. He could let the kids out onto the beach to play –within eyesight- and not worry that someone was out there lurking around, waiting for a chance to grab one of them. He craves the privacy that comes hand in hand with where they’ve chosen to settle down; more relaxed with the sense of security being here has brought him.

Which is why he hadn’t been the exactly thrilled to hear that his wife had been so welcoming to the new neighbor. That she’d not only befriended her so quickly but had taken his two youngest over to the woman’s house. Had entrusted her –a stranger- with Declan’s care.  It had unnerved and angered him. That she’d be that careless with not only her own safety, but with the safety of his children as well. For someone that had been in the job herself, she is far too trusting. Always seeing the side of everyone without even considering their bad side. She’d called him paranoid; accuse of him being overprotective and making her feel as if he wanted to keep her a prisoner in her own home. It isn’t his intention.  Yes, he’s protective. He’s the first one to admit to that. But given some of the things that have happened to them –to her- in the past six and a half years, he feels he has a reason to be. He’d come close to losing her. Twice. Three times if he counted their six-month separation.  And there’s no way in hell he’s letting that happen again; no way he ever lets a stranger get close enough to hurt her.

Even now he’s on edge. Occasionally glancing each way down the beach. The bend around the woods in one direction, the expanse of near white sand in the other; near indiscernible outlines of other that live on the road enjoying their own private sections of beach.  Even looking over his shoulder towards the house; almost expecting to see someone watching him from the back patio or creeping up behind him. The latter fills him with panic; strong and choking.  And he briefly closes his eyes in an attempt to chase it away.  Logically he knows it’s unhealthy, living like this. But logic is a rarity these days.

He places his other forearm under Addie, one hand over the other as he slowly lowers her into the water; until it just reaches the outer edge of her ears. She’s calm. Content. Not a fear in the world. Those dark eyes rivetted on his blue ones; nothing but pure and utter trust and faith in him. It’s as if...even at that young of an age...she knows that nothing will ever happen to her if he’s around. That there’s nothing he won’t do to keep her safe.

Declan settles down beside him, tucking the little –yet remarkably solid- body tightly into his side, a sand covered thumb stuck in his mouth.  

“That’s just gross, mate,” he little nudges the toddler with his elbow. “I know us guys do some gross shit, but I have to draw the line somewhere.”

“Shit,” Declan echoes, and reluctantly removes the thumb from his mouth in favor of curling both arms around Tyler’s bicep.  

He’s always been the affectionate one; a constant need to be physically close to either his mother or father. It’s comforting to him; the feel of their skin or even their hair against him, giving him a sense of calm and security. Even when he was a baby he’d had ‘wandering hands’, constantly touching their face or holding a piece of their clothing while taking a bottle or being rocked to sleep.  Deeply sensitive and intuitive for someone so young. Much like Tanner; an old soul stuck in a tiny body. Their father’s looks but their mother’s personality.  

Tyler stretches both legs out in front of him; grimacing at the sharp, sudden pain that comes from both the right knee and hip.  The latter is new; most likely from falling asleep on it or pulling something while working out. And he lays Addie along his thighs; one hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun, the other coming to rest on to side of Declan’s head as he presses a kiss to his hair.

“Tired?”

“’ungry,” Declan replies.

“Hungry?” Tyler grins. “Again? You just ate.”

Declan shrugs. “’ungry,” he repeats.

“Me too. Wanna go home? Get something to eat?”

The toddler nods, then gives a loud yawn before scrambling to his feet. “Stanny!” he suddenly announces, and then points down the beach.

“Who’s Stanny?”

“Daddy...look...” Declan grabs a handful of Tyler’s hair. “Stanny!”

He glances towards whatever has captured his son’s attention; a tan and black pug running towards them, the frazzled neighbor in hot pursuit. And he grabs a hold of the back of Declan’s shorts before he can bolt, easily and effectively keeping the kind in place.

“You don’t do that,” he scolds his son, tone harsher than it needs to be. “You don’t run of off that like that. Ever.”  He’s agitated. Annoyed. Even pissed off. For six months he’s enjoyed the privacy their stretch of land has providing, liking the anonymity that relative seclusion has given him. Now twice in less than two hours someone has had the nerve to invade his ‘happy place’ as his wife calls it. And not just someone. The same someone.

“Is there a part of ‘private beach’ you don’t understand?” he inquires, as Salena finally reaches them, crouching down in the sand to allow Declan to climb all over her; hugging and kissing her before he settles down to play with the pug as it rolls around in the sand.

“Well maybe Mac is smart enough to read, but Stanny isn’t,” she retorts.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but they make these things called leashes. I could buy you one if you need me to.”

“Mac isn’t always on leash,” Salena points out.

“Mac doesn’t leave our property, so....”

“Are you always this grumpy?” she inquires. “Were you born this way or...”

“It’s a gift. You know, for six months I’ve haven’t seen anyone other than my own family. I kind of like it that way. Now I’ve seen you twice. In the same day.”

“You’re anti-social.”

“You can put it that way if you want. I like my privacy.”

“Esme told me you get this like this,” she says. “Intense.”

“Yeah? Well Esme needs to learn to keep her mouth shut. She’s a little too...”

“Talkative.”

He shakes his head. “Trusting.”

“And that’s a problem because....”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“Sounds like you’re the one with the problem. Not her.”

Tyler smirks. “If you lived the life I had, you wouldn't trust anyone either.”

She arches an eyebrow and cocks her head to the side. “What kind of life is that?”

“The kind that’s not of your business. Really?” he asks, sighing heavily and rolling his eyes when she sits down beside him. “Am I giving off some kind of vibe that says: ‘make yourself comfortable’? Do I seem like I’m interested in making friends?”

“No,” Salena admits. “But maybe you need one.”

“Unlike my wife, I don’t feel the need to have contact with people outside of my family.”

“That sounds unhealthy.”

“What’s unhealthy is the things I’m thinking towards you right now.”

She grins. “Dirty things?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Ragey things. Violent things. Has anyone ever told you they want to drown you before? Because that’s what I want to do to you right now.”

“You know what I’m most curious about when it comes to you? How someone like Esme ends up with someone like you. She’s so...I don’t know...her. And you’re so...you.”

“You were checking me out below the waist earlier. There's your answer. My secret when it comes to keeping her around.”

It’s Salena’s turn to smirk. “I think you can be pretty charming when you want to be. When you let yourself be. What kind of job did you have before? Is that what made you like this? So... I don’t know...bitchy.”

“People make me bitchy,” Tyler informs her. “People like you.”

“All the scars,” she comments, as her hand reaches out to rest on his shoulder; fingertips tracing the thin, slightly puckered line that runs from the base of his neck to the top of his right shoulder. “Whatever you did before must have been pretty hard core.”

He yanks his arm away, annoyed by her touch. “I was in the army. SASR.”

“Special Air Services Regiment. That’s impressive. You served overseas?”

“A handful of times.”

“What did you do after that? How’d you meet Esme?”

“Why are asking me all of this? Why is it so important to you?”

She shrugs. “Curiosity.”

“We worked together. The people we were both working for at the time put us together on a job.”

“Who were these people?”

“None of our business.”

“Why so secretive? Was it THAT bad? So awful that neither of you will talk about it?”

“We left that life behind. We don’t talk about it because it didn’t exactly end well. So we put it in the past and moved on. And that’s where we want it to stay. In the past.”

“Was it illegal?”

He scowls. “What did I just say?”

“I’ll get it out of you eventually.  Once we become friends too.”

Tyler snorts. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“You’re used to getting your own way, aren’t you,” she states.

“I’m used to people minding their own business and leaving me alone. There’s six people in this world I want around me. You’re not on the list.”

“Not yet,” she sing songs.

Tyler rolls his eyes.

“Opposites really do attract, I guess. You and Esme are just so different. She’s very cute and sweet and friendly and...”

“You don’t know her that well. You think you know everything there is to know about her in just a few days? There’s way more do her than that, trust me.”

“...and you’re so...you.  You must balance each other out in some way. I’m still trying to figure out how.”

“Well don’t strain yourself too hard.”

She smirks. “You CAN be a real dick.”

“It’s my specialty. Along with scaring people away.”

“You’re not THAT scary. Okay,” she laughs, when he stares at her pointedly. “Maybe you are. Although I think intimidating is a better word to describe you. You intimidate people.  You’ve got this intense way about you and you’re freakishly tall and you’ve got all the muscles and the tattoos and the scars and the huge arms. Can I touch them?”

He laughs. “What?”

“Your arms. Can I touch them? I’ve never seen arms like that.”

“Yeah...no....you can’t. That’s just weird as fuck.”

“What about your back? Can I touch that?”

He frowns. “What is wrong with you?”

“You’ve never had anyone to ask you to flex so they can touch your back or your arms?”

“I’m not in the habit of letting women touch me. Especially weird ones.”

“Because your wife wouldn’t like it? Because she’d get jealous?”

“Because I respect her. Why would I let other women touch me? I’m married. Happily.”

“So then why do you look like that? Why do you work so hard to get a body like that?”

“Because I can. Because I want to. And because my wife likes it. You know, the one woman who’s allowed to touch me. As much as she wants.”

Salena grins. “Intense AND loyal.”

“I’m faithful,” Tyler corrects her. “So if you’ve got something going on in that head of yours, you need to get it out of there. Because it’s never going to happen. I don’t cheat.”

“Ever?”

“Ever. And what the fuck is with all the weird questions?”

“You’re the one answering them,” Salena points out. “You haven’t told me to fuck off. Yet.”

“I’m getting there. Any minute now.”

“’ungry,” Declan announces, and plops down into the sand, a pout on his face.

“I gotta feed him before he goes into a Hulk rage,” Tyler says. “I’d say it was nice talking to you, but...”

“You’re warming up to me,” she says. “Admit it.”

“Yeah, no. Sorry,” he smirks, as he tucks Addie into his chest, hand supporting the back of her head as he stands up.

“You’re a tough nut to crack, Tyler Rake,” she calls after him.

“You get used to it,” he says, then takes Declan by the hand and leads him towards the house.

****

He’s in the kitchen when she arrives home; standing at the sink in just a pair of well-worn and tattered jeans that sit low on his hips, hair damp and messy, a slight sunburn noticeable across his shoulders and the back of his neck. Tending to the dirty dishes in the sink and making up a dozen baby bottles to store in the fridge. It’s a far cry from the man he used to be. The one who’d taken out nearly an entire apartment full of hostiles in Dhaka with his bare hands. Yet it’s phenomenally attractive; the domestic side of him. To see someone that big and that strong tending to the more simple and mundane things of everyday life. He enjoys the simplicity of it all because it is far removed from the life he used to live.

“Hey,” she greets, as she places her purse on one of the barstools in front of the island and two shopping ones –one brown paper- on top of the counter. “You’re busy, busy,” she says, as she lays a hand on the small of his back, standing on her tiptoes as he leans down to kiss her. “No rest for the weary, huh? Where’s Declan and the baby?”

“Both asleep. Second nap of the day.”

“Wow, you really do have some skills. Getting them to a second nap already? Normally he’s still fighting the first one when I’m home alone with him.”

“I use threats.”

“And by threats you mean you bribe him,” she grins, and carries the paper bag to the fridge. “The market was extra good today,” she says, as she begins unloading her purchases. “I bought all kinds of goodies.”

“That better not be kale. Because if you start feeding me that shit again...”

“It’s good for you,” she informs him.

“It tastes like grass clippings and the tears of baby animals.”

“Well lucky for you, I can’t stand the taste of either. It’s spinach. To make salads with. You wrote it on the list. For your smoothies. What’s this?” she pulls out an unfamiliar plastic container and peers under the lid. “Have you been experimenting in the kitchen again, or...”

“I dunno. Something the neighbor brought over. She’s really annoying by the way.”

“You think everyone is annoying. Including me sometimes. Mmm. Taco salad. We can have it with supper tonight. I thought maybe we could try and patch things up Ovi before you start busting his ass. Maybe you can come some stuff on the barbecue?”

“Whatever you want, baby. You’re the boss.”

“You’re finally admitting that after six and a half years?” she teases, and then pops open the lid on the plastic container and grabs a spoon from the silverware drawer. “You want to try some?”

Tyler frowns. “You’re actually going to eat that?”

“Well it’s not just to look at,” she laughs, then scoops up some of the salad. “By the way, the doctor sent something home for you.”

“Viagra?”

“Please. As if you need Viagra. You can get it up if there’s a stiff in the room. I made him write you a note. Saying that it’s perfectly okay for us to go back to regular activities.”

He grins. “Regular activities as in...”

“Yes, as in that. He says there’s no rule that says we have to wait that long. That a lot of couples go right back to having sex as soon as they feel comfortable. He just said that we have to be careful because there’s higher risk for things like uterine infections and all that. So you can erase that memo on your phone. The one that’s counting down the days until your dry spell is over.”

“I’m not doing anything until I see the note.”

“He even put it in an envelope with your name on it. Just like he did when you were the only one who wanted to know if Addie was going to be a boy or a girl,” she journeys over to where her purse sits, digging through it until she finds the item in question, then joins him at the sink and holds it out to him. “So there you go. No more solo studying for you.”

“I was kind of enjoying all the blowjobs,” Tyler grins.

“Well it doesn’t mean we have to stop those. Just that we can do other things now too. The things we enjoy the most. So...” she pops some of the salad on her spoon into her mouth. “Oh my God. So good. You have to try some.”

“I don’t want to try it,” he says, and tears into the envelope.

“You’ll like it. I’ve been feeding your ass for six and a half years. I think I know if you’ll like something. “

He frowns and looks down at the food being offered to him.

“When did you get so picky? You’re in a bulk and when you’re in a bulk, you eat everything. “

“I don’t know what’s in it.”

“Hamburger meat, cheese, onions, tomatoes, taco seasoning, pieces of crushed up Doritos. What’s not to like?”

“It’s not that I won’t like it. It’s that I don’t know what’s in it.”

“Tyler,” she sighs. “Our new neighbor is not trying to poison you. Get a grip. I just had some and I feel fine. Humor me, please.”

He finally relents, then nods in approval.

“You need to stop being so paranoid,” she points the spoon at him, then drops it into the sink and returns the container to the fridge. Why would she try to kill you? She’s harmless.”

“Jeffery Dahmer probably seemed harmless at first too.”

“I highly doubt she’s a cannibalistic serial killer. Not everyone is a threat, regardless of what you think. I thought you were getting better about that. Your fear of strangers.”

“First, it’s not a fear. I’m not afraid of anyone and you know that. Second, when did you become so trusting of them? You did the job too.  You know you can’t trust anyone. That you have to see everyone as a possible threat.”

“Well I’m not on the job anymore. And neither are you. It’s time to let that go. This thinking everyone is up to no good and out to get you. It’s not healthy and you know it.   Arre you taking your meds?”

“Yes!” he snaps. “Why is that your go to for everything? Why do you automatically get on my ass about taking my meds? I’m not a fucking child.”

“I never said you were a child. But I know what you’re like. How you go on and off of them all the damn time. And I know what you get like when you don’t take them. You don’t need to jump down my throat at the stupidest shit. If you can’t handle being alone with two of them at once...”

“That’s not fucking it. When have I ever had a hard time being alone with two at once? I’ve been alone with all five of them and never had any issues. I’m not a rookie that doesn’t know what they’re doing.”

“Okay, I don’t know what’s crawled up your ass, but what the hell Tyler? If you didn’t want me going out with my brother, why didn’t you just say something. If you wanted to be the one that went with me to the doctor, you didn’t you just tell me that and Kyle would have stayed with Declan and Addie.”

“I don’t give a shit about any of that,” he snarls.

“So then what the fuck? You were fine when I left the house. You were even fine when I walked in here ten minutes ago. Now you’re like this? What the hell?”

“How do you even know that Sabrina or Sally or whatever the fuck her name is?”

“Her name is Salena. She’s our neighbor. And she happens to be a very nice person.”

“So all of a sudden we’re making friends with the neighbors?”

“Yes, Tyler. Because that’s what people do. They make friends. At least that's what normal people do. We are not getting into this. We are not having this argument again.  We’ve had this argument at least once a month since we moved here. You don’t like me being friends with other moms at the school, you don’t like me hanging out with the girls I met in the toddler  playgroup, you didn’t like me going into town to meet with other moms at that mom’s social thing at the community center. Enough.”

“You don’t even know her,” he attempts to reason, as she snags a bottle of water from the fridge. “Yet you just go over there and hang like you’ve been friends with her forever?”

“How else do I get to know people? Or is that the problem? You don’t want me getting to know people. You just want me all to yourself for some goddamn reason. Like you think I’m going to meet people and suddenly forget I’m a wife and a mother and want me single again.”

“That’s not what I think.”

“People have friends Tyler. Maybe you don’t. And I don’t get on your ass about that. You like being alone. You like it when it’s just us and the kids. And I get why you’re like that and I respect it and understand it and I don’t pressure you to get out of your comfort zone. I get why you are the way you are. But I’m not like you. No matter how hard you try to make me like you.”

“I don’t try to make you like me. I don’t expect you to. But you’re taking my kids over there. My two littlest kids. My two most vulnerable. You even had her watch Declan. He was over there. Alone.”

“What do you think is going to happen to them? What do you think she was going to do to him? She’s just a nice person.”

“No one is that nice.”

“In your experience. I’ve met tons of really nice people. I met tons of them when I used to volunteer at the school and go on field trips and got to be around the other moms. But I wasn’t allowed to be around them for too long, was I. Because you didn’t want me to be alone with anyone, yet you didn’t want to tag along and hang around with the other dads either.”

“What the hell am I going to have in common with other dads?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Tyler. Maybe there’s another hired killer among them just waiting for you to come along.”

His eyes narrow. “That’s fucking low and you know it.”

“You’re right,” Esme admits. “That was. And I’m sorry. But I’m sick of this. I’m sick and tired of this same bullshit from you. Where you think it’s perfectly healthy and normal to keep me locked up like a goddamn prisoner in my own home.”

“That is not what I’m trying to do.”

“Look, I know you want to protect e. And I understand why you’re so hell bent on it. I know that everything with McMann has put you so on edge that even six months later you can’t let go of it. I get it. Especially considering what happened at his house and what he told you he would have done to me. I get that’s fucked you up. And I love you for wanting to keep me safe. But I’ve always felt safe with you. Always.”

“I just want to protect you.”

“But it’s an obsession with you. Can’t you see that? It’s not normal. It’s so far from normal. I’m not some package that you need to get safely to someone.”

“I know that.”

“Do you? Because it doesn’t seem that way. I’m not some fragile little thing that someone’s hired you to bring back to the. I’m your wife.”

“Yeah, you are. And you’re mother of my children. And it’s not fucking okay that you took my kids over to a stranger’s house and put them in danger.”

“In danger of what? What is going to happen to them? She’s harmless!”

“You don’t know that!” he snarls.

“I do know that. And if you sat down and thought about it logically instead of emotionally, your instincts would tell you the same thing.”

“I’m going to be emotional!” Tyler argues. “Those are my fucking kids!”

“They’re my kids too. Or do you conveniently forget that when you hear something you don’t like? You didn’t make those kids on your own and you sure as hell didn’t give birth to them.”

He sighs heavily, nostrils flaring. “You know what, don’t get fucking mouthy with me. You took my kids and you intentionally put them in danger and...”

“Oh no you don’t,” she furiously interjects. “You do not accuse me of being neglectful when it comes to OUR kids. That’s out of line and you know it. Because I would die for those kids in a heartbeat. No questions asked. And I’ve spent almost six years dedicating every waking moment to taking care of them. And I’ve given everything I have to you, too. And yet you have the fucking nerve to accuse me of intentionally putting OUR kids in harm's way?  Fuck you, Tyler. I wasn’t the one taking off all the time and leaving those kids. I’ve made some mistakes, but don’t you dare stand there acting like you’re the perfect fucking parent. Because you’ve fucked up. A lot.”

He nods in agreement. The truth hitting him hard. Her words stinging. And considerably knocking down the level and intensity of his anger. “You’re right,” he says, as leans back against the counter, arms crossed over chest. “I have.”

“I’m the one that cleaned your messes up when it comes to those kids,” tears stream down her face. Hot. Angry. Hurt. “Every time you were away, and you missed a birthday. Every time you were too hungover to even get out of bed in the morning and have breakfast with them. Or when we were separated, and you were too drunk to even remember you had visitation with them. I’m the one that had to answer their questions when they wondered if you left because they were bad and if you didn’t want to see them because you hated them. You don’t know what that was like. Hearing Millie and the twins asking those things. Seeing how heartbroken they were because all the wanted was for you to come home yet you couldn’t even bother to clean yourself up to spend time with them.”

Sighing once more, he crosses one ankle over the other; eyes riveted on the floor, chewing at the inside of his cheek as he struggles with his own emotions.  It’s not a shock to hear those things; he knows the things he’s done and the mistakes he’s made. But to hear that his kids had asked those questions...that they thought he wasn’t around because they’d done something or because he hated them...hurts like no other pain he’s ever experienced.

“How dare you come at me like that,” she continues, wiping frantically at the tears that stain her cheeks. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I made a friend. And I trusted her with Declan for a couple of hours. And if you trusted me at all...”

“I do trust you. You’re one of the few people I do trust.”

“...you wouldn’t accuse of doing something to hurt him. Because I would never hurt him. I would never hurt any of your kids. Because I love them, and I love you, and you guys are the best things that have ever happened to me.   No...” she shoves his hands away when he reaches for her. “...don’t...don’t touch me...”

He ignores her, wrapping both arms around her slender body and drawing her tightly against him. An arm circling her waist, a hand on the back of her head, holding it to his chest.

“I’m a human being, Tyler. And I need to feel like one. I need to be more than just a wife and a mother. Because I don’t even know who I am anymore outside of those things. And that can’t be all there is to be life. No matter how much I love you and our kids. I don’t want that to be all there is.”

“It’s okay,” he drops a kiss on the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay.”

“And I’m sorry. If the things I said hurt you.  But you hurt me, and I lashed out and...”

“I’m sorry, Esme. I didn’t mean to say the shit I did. I was just annoyed and pissed off and you’re always the one that has to pay the price. And I fucking hate that. That I do that to you.”

“I don’t want to this anymore. I don’t want to fight like this with you. We were doing so good and then this shit Ovi happened and Nik showed back up and it all just went to hell again. And I hate that. That we take all this shit on each other. Because it’s not fair. To either of us.”

“No,” he agrees. “It’s not.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. You’re the last person I want to fight with. We’re supposed to be in this together. Not letting shit come between us like this.  We need to work harder. At not letting things get between us. Or we won’t make it. And I want to.”

“So do I,” he says, and places both hands on the sides of her hands, thumbs clearing away her tears. “I love you. Even if I have a shitty way of showing it sometimes.”

“I love you too.”

He kisses her. Long and soft. Tasting the salt that lingers on her lips.

“I need to go lie down. You can come too if you want. But I understand if you want to be alone. That was a lot to hear and you probably hate me for some of it.”

“I could never hate you,” he assures her, and places his lips against her brow. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“Okay,” she gives a small smile before resting her forehead against his chest.  

He combs his fingers through her hair, allowing the soft tresses to slide between his fingers before she pulls away.  “I’ll change,” he says.  “I promise.”

She just gives a small nod, attempting another smile before stepping away and leaving the room.

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

[theonewiththefanfics]

Hawkins’ Charm (Part 2/?)

Synopsys: They had gotten out of Hawkins. After all the shit that had happened, all the heartache and pain, Billy and the Reader had gotten away from that hellhole, building their life in California as he had dreamed. But when Max’s graduation rolls around and they go to celebrate, it’s as if the Upside Down was just waiting for all of them to return. And it has a bone to pick.

Pairing: Billy Hargrove x f!Reader; platonic!Steve Harrington x f!Reader

Genre: angst, fluff

Warnings: mentions of abuse, swearing, I don’t think there’s anything else, but if you see something you think I’d need to add, send a message :)

Word count: 4692

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT CONDONE BILLY’S ACTIONS AND THE THINGS HE’S DONE! THIS IS BASICALLY AN AU, WHEN REALLY LOOKING AT IT! SPOILERS FOR S3! READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!

The tension could be tasted in the car as Billy sped down the highway towards Hawkins. He already missed his little munchkin even though they’d been on the road for less than three hours. Clara had him wrapped around her finger to the point of no return. And they had at least twenty-eight more hours to drive.        Billy looked to the side at Y/N. Her window was open, wind rushing through the Y/H/C locks he loved to weave his fingers through, eyes blocked by a pair of sunglasses. He traced her jawline with his gaze before reluctantly putting it back to the road.        “Don’t drive us off a cliff,” he heard his wife snicker and had to smile to himself.        “Can’t help it,” Billy entwined their hands, and Y/N squeezed his palm in comfort. “Hard to not look at such a pretty view.”        “You tell that to all the girls?”        “Just this one,” he pressed a quick kiss to her knuckles before gripping the wheel a bit tighter with his left hand. “She’s kinda special. Puts up with my bullshit and stuff. Gave me the chance to start a new life and the best gift ever in the form of a daughter.”        “Fuck, King of Hawkins is the biggest sap to walk planet Earth,” Y/N chuckled but her heart responded with an intense fluttering. “It’s gonna be alright, Demolition Man,” Y/N whispered. “I won’t let anything happen to you or me or us. You’re kinda stuck with me till the very end.”        Billy shrugged as if that statement was nothing to him, but his heart pumped faster in his chest. “Doesn’t sound too bad if I’m being honest.”        “Yeah, it better not,” Y/N grumbled, but he could hear the love laced in every single word.        She wasn’t really excited to be going back to Hawkins. Sure, Alex’s graduation, seeing her mom and the rest of the Party, grown-ups and teens alike, was something she had missed dearly while in California, but that town was filled with far too many memories that weren’t positive.        Everything starting from Will’s disappearance, then Barb’s death and the subsequent fight with the Demogorgon, had been bad enough. And when she returned for her final year, Y/N had hoped she could just bury everything in the depths of her mind, but obviously, things never went the way they were supposed to.        Y/N found the love of her life, but almost lost him a few months later to the Mind Flayer, and with Hopper having given his life to let Joyce close the Gate once and for all, there was just too much sorrow for a place with just 30 000 inhabitants.  

       “You okay there?” Billy’s voice was low and smooth as he looked at Y/N who had fallen deep in her thoughts.        She gave him a tightlipped smile. “Yeah. Just… I just want us to be happy while we’re there, you know. Not think about the shit that happened, and all of that horrible stuff. Just be happy that Max and Alex pulled through high school and are graduating. No Upside Down fuckery...”        He had been thinking about that a lot as well. The week leading up to them driving down to Hawkins was filled with nightmares about the Mind Flayer, and how he’d hurt the people that meant most to him. He would pull Y/N closer to him after waking up, her scent filling his nostrils, and when he deemed himself calm enough, Billy would creep out of the bed and to Clara’s room.        He’d stay for a few minutes, quietly double checking each and every window latch, the dark corners of the room, and then he’d leave her door ajar, just so he could hear if things went bump in the night.        “This week’s for us,” he mumbled kissing her hand again. “Us, Max and those losers there.”        “Yeah, well, I would’ve rather spent it in Bahamas or something,” came her reply.        “Well, maybe next year we can go there. Clara would love that.”        Y/N’s head lolled to the side, finally looking over at Billy. “She loves every moment that you’re around. And if a vacation is involved, where she can steal all your attention… she’s a daddy’s girl through and through.”        The smug smile on Billy’s face was something Y/N used to hate as he would walk down the school's halls. He had been getting better, but his reputation was something he loved to keep up, a new girl under his arm each day.        But slowly as they got to know one another, as he opened up about his issues and dreams, it had become one of the things Y/N adored the most. Especially when his lips pulled up at the mention of how much his daughter loved him, and that his wife seemed to be completely head over heels for him even after almost five years together.        “As is her mom.”        Of course, that was his answer.        Y/N gently shoved his face away from where he’d been looking at her. “Eyes on the road, dumbass. We still have to get to Hawkins in one piece.”        “Whatever you say, Mrs dumbass.”        With ‘dork’ uttered under her breath, she put her free hand outside the window and let the rushing winds weave through her fingers. Whatever awaited them at that godforsaken place they’d face together. They always had and always would.

***

       After a sixteen hour drive, Y/N switching with Billy at the eight hour mark, they settled down in a motel at the side of the road, and as much as the two wanted to fully go at it, to arrive in Hawkins with marks across their necks that signified who they belonged to, the second they exited the shower, both plopped down on the uncomfortable bed and were asleep.        Y/N woke up groaning as the sunlight streamed into the motel room, the flimsy faded green curtains doing absolutely nothing to keep the rays out.        “Fuck this shit,” she mumbled, her cheek pressed tightly against Billy’s chest. Slowly she peeled herself off, feeling the tender skin of her face and noting the red splotch where she’d been practically glued to his peck.        Stretching, Y/N’s joints popped, and she released a satisfied grunt at the feeling.        “Every day I wake up and ask myself if I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Billy’s raspy morning voice made her turn around and glance at him        “I have drool down my chin, my hair’s a mess and my eyes are so puffy I look like I’ve cried for three days straight,” she raised her eyebrow. “Is that really what you imagine heaven to be like?”        “Mine?” his rough palm slid under the shirt Billy had given her and up her spine. “Absolutely. Isn’t this yours?”        Y/N shook her head. “If this was heaven, I would so not be up at five in the morning.”        “Fuck, it’s only five?” that brought Billy out of the trance as he peeped at the cheap electric clock whose jade numbers blinked, confirming it was indeed 5:03 in the morning.        “Nah, screw that,” he grumbled. “Get back in bed.”        "I gotta get ready."        "Back. In. Bed. Now."        She was not about to further argue with the sound demand of her husband.        It was a rarity they got to sleep in. Clara was an angel when being put to bed, falling asleep almost instantly, but she also woke up way too early. Like six AM on a Saturday early.        They slept for another three hours before putting themselves back together and commencing on another sixteen-hour drive before arriving in Hawkins. The sun had dipped down already when they rolled up to Y/N’s mom’s house where they would be staying.            In the beginning, Y/M/N had been wary of Billy and didn’t open her arms as much as she opened her house to the boy. But slowly, as her daughter’s relationship with him progressed, and she saw just how happy Y/N'd become, how there seemed to be not even an echo of the same dry-heaving girl with hands in her hair on her floor in the middle of the night, Y/N’s mom accepted Billy as a part of their family.        “If you ever need a place to stay, you know you’re always welcome,” she’d muttered one morning after Billy had stayed with them one night after a particularly nasty fight with Neil. “This is now your home, as much as it’s mine.”        Billy had just nodded because he didn’t trust his voice to stay steady.        Y/N was practically bouncing on her feet as she knocked against the door, and Alex sprung it open.        “What’s up shitbag?” she yelled in his ear before engulfing her brother in a hug. He rolled his eyes, but still, she could feel his arms tighten around her waist. Just as he was about to groan something about her being way too affectionate, their mother's steps could be heard rushing down to greet them.        “Where’s my granddaughter?” Y/M/N pepped over Y/N's shoulders after helping them bring their suitcases inside looking at the Camaro as if they’d left Clara in there.        “She’s in San Diego,” Y/N replied, hating how she could see her mom’s face fall. “We just thought it’d be best considering… everything.” She had never explicitly told what Billy’s father and family life was like, but by the numerous bruises and the soft crying Y/M/N had heard during some nights, she had an inclination.        “Well then,” if only for show, she lifted her spirits and clapped her hands together, “I guess that means after this whole thing is over, we’re going on a road trip.”        Y/N really did regret leaving Clara now. Her mom didn’t get many chances to go all the way to San Diego with her job as a nurse, but when she looked to the side and saw Billy’s eyes full of guilt and regret, she reminded herself why they had left her in the safety of California.        “Come,” Y/M/N motioned towards the kitchen. “I bet you’re ravenous.”        And they’d been. A violent grumble from her stomach had erupted through the hallway, Billy’s guiding hand on her lower back pushing them towards where the smell of lasagna wafted through the air.        The conversations flowed easily and without a hitch, Y/N’s mom wanting to know how San Diego was treating them, what the weather was like there and if they were happy with their jobs before Y/M/N ushered them up to Y/N’s old bedroom        “Go, get some sleep, you two look like you could use some rest.”        “Wow, thanks mom, way to make us feel better,” Y/N snorted, but she was right. They needed sleep. A lot of it with what was coming the next day.        It’s like Billy could read her mind. He let out a huff, thinking about meeting up with his father. He wanted to skip it, but unfortunately, they kinda had to, seeing how Max lived with Neil and Susan.        “It’s gonna be alright,” Y/N whispered feeling him wrap his arms around her middle and relax his head against her back. They were alone in the safety of her bedroom, so he felt comfortable enough to let his guard down. “I won’t let him hurt you.”        “I know,” Billy’s voice was hushed by where he’d pressed his mouth to the nape of her neck. “But that’s part of Neil’s charm as much as it’s Hawkins’ – they both know how to screw things up.”        Y/N couldn’t argue with that so, she just carded her fingers through his hair as they watched the dark streets of Hawkins outside her window. A lamp flickered in the distance, but neither saw it.

***

       Billy’s palms were sweaty as he climbed out of the old Camaro, instinctually reaching for Y/N’s warm hand. She noted how the breath he let out was nothing short of shaky when he reached up to rap his knuckles against the door of the house he used to live in.        Y/N didn’t say home. Not even in her head. It had never been his home, it had never been his safe place. The number of times Billy had called her it, made her believe she was his, just like he was hers. California would’ve never truly been a place Y/N had been happy in, unless for him. He made it home.        Ten agonizing seconds passed, the thumps echoing through the garden, but nothing happened.            He knocked again.            Silence. Not even a footstep could be heard in the house.            Just as Billy was about to relax, realizing the place was empty and the meeting could be postponed until sometime during the week, maybe even till the Friday of the graduation, a car pulled up to the front of the garage, Susan’s surprised face looking the two of them.            Slowly, as if Neil wanted to torture his son even more than he already had, he opened his car door and stepped out, glaring at the people on his porch.            “What are you doing here?”           It was the same cold tone Billy had described his father always talked in, and Y/N instantly hated it.            “Came to see Max,” he curtly replied to the older man. “She’s graduating and stuff.”            “And you think she’d want you here because?”            A muscle in Billy’s jaw ticked. “Because she told me so herself.”            Neil let out a sarcastic snort and started to make his way to them. “Why would she want a piece of shit like you, someone who left her here alone, to come to her graduation? I’m sure she wants it to be a happy event and not have it ruined by you.”            The grip around Y/N’s hand tightened, and she squeezed back, trying to diffuse the anger rising in Billy. Then Neil’s attention turned to her.            “Don’t I know you?” he raised a finger to point at Y/N, and where Billy expected her to bristle because of everything he’d told her about his father, not even a single muscle moved in her face to show just how much she really didn’t want to be in his proximity.            “She was my girlfriend throughout pretty much the whole senior year and summer,” Billy answered not faltering with the way his dad smirked.            “Didn’t think you could keep it together enough to make something last.”            Y/N narrowed her eyes at her father-in-law. “Well, marriage and mutual respect kinda helps do that.”            Both his and Susan’s eyes widened as they dropped to where Y/N had her palm wrapped around Billy’s, and on her left ring finger sat a dainty silver band with a small diamond in it, a simple gold circlet resting above matching the one on Billy’s left ring finger.            “And when did that happen?” they could see Neil fuming underneath the mask of calm. “Thought your mother and father would get an invitation at least.”            “We didn’t wanna make you drive all the way out to San Diego,” Billy’s tone chilled even Y/N to her core. The remark wasn’t lost on Neil, as it reminded him of when his son had been in the hospital in a critical condition fighting for his life, and he hadn’t even bothered to drive the few miles to HMH to see if Billy was still breathing. And Y/N couldn’t help herself to jab the knife deeper.            “We just didn’t want to inconvenience you. After all, if a hospital is too far away, then how could we make you drive all the way to California?”            “Got yourself a mouthy one here,” Neil licked his bottom lip, and Y/N shivered in disgust. “They’re the hardest ones to keep in check, so gotta make sure you have a tight grip on ‘er,” he chuckled, levelling his gaze at Billy.            Contrary to how he expected Billy’s temper to rise, it was his son’s wife that shifted on her feet. His eyes flitted down to the side where Y/N was grasping at Billy’s shirt now, with a fist so tight, the clothing looked as if it might tear; unbridled rage in her eyes. And contrary to what Neil expected, it was Billy placing a calming hand on her knuckles where it used to be the other way around.            “We keep each other in check,” he responded with a stone-cold face, not giving in to Neil’s game. “And definitely not in the way you would.”            The sound of a skateboard rolling towards them from the other side of the sidewalk was enough of a distraction for everyone that it blocked whatever Neil was going to sneer in response.              “Billy!” Max shouted and rushed over to where the two twenty-year-olds stood before barreling into her brother’s chest. When Billy hugged Max with the same amount of affection, Y/N could see Neil seething.            His son was completely free. He had been hacking away at those chains little by little every day since they left for California. And the day when he’d found Y/N sobbing on their studio apartments bathroom tiles, he had broken them completely because she was pregnant, the white stick with a plus sign his confirmation.            His lips had engulfed hers in a passionate kiss before laughing through his own tears. He slid down to his stomach and pushed up Y/N’s shirt, peppering her tummy with kisses            “You’re not mad?” her voice trembled with confusion and relief.            “No,” he shook his head. “Surprised, unprepared yeah. Terrified beyond belief, but I’m gonna be the best dad ever. I promise. We’re gonna be alright…” After a pause, he added, “How far along do you think you are?”            Y/N had shaken her head and hid her face in the crook of his neck once he pulled her to his lap. “I dunno. I’ve missed like three periods, but I just thought it was because of the stress, you know. Uni and work on top of that... and I’ve had no symptoms like cravings or vomiting, so I dunno… are you really not angry at me?”            “Dollface, even I know it takes two to make a third,” he brushed a hand down her hair, helping Y/N steady her breathing, the smell of the cheap cologne he’d always buy at the local Hawkins department store had been replaced by the salty notes of seawater and fresh wind.  It had quickly become Y/N’s favourite scent of all time because it was Billy down to his core.            “We’ll figure it out,” he promised, bringing her face out from where she’d hidden it in his chest and pressing a love filled kiss to her forehead. “We’re gonna be okay.”            They truly were. When Y/N’s water had broken in the middle of the night, he was calm and collected despite freaking the fuck out on the inside, but his stress was something she didn’t need to deal with at that moment. And when Clara had wrapped her tiny little fist around his finger after nine hours of intense labour, there was nothing in this world that could stop him from loving the two humans that meant the most to him.            “He satisfy you?” Neil nudged his chin in Y/N’s direction making Billy’s face turn into a scowl. “Earn enough money? God knows he used to be good for nothing, maybe you’ve managed to straighten him out.”            Billy had taken a lot of shit from his dad throughout the years for a lot of things, half of them weren’t even his fault, but he wasn’t going to listen to Neil berate and put him down as a husband, when he knew he did the best he could and had Y/N remind him that every day.            He was just about to say at least he was a better father than Neil ever was when Y/N squeezed his side to let it go, not even dignifying the questions with an answer just a bitter cold stare.            “How long are you two staying?” Susan asked quietly and waited in tense silence as Billy huffed and glanced at his step-mother.            “Until the ceremony and then we gotta head home. Work and shit.”            “Watch your mouth, son,” Neil growled but Y/N smirked.            “Sorry,” she apologized with a fake smile. “Until the fucking ceremony. We got work and shit back home.”            Max’s grin was proud and annoyed at the same time. Proud cause neither of them were taking Neil’s berating, annoyed cause she’d have to hear him bitch about it for the rest of the week no doubt. Maybe even after Billy and Y/N left for San Diego and when she came back to Hawkins after her trip to their place.            Before retreating, Billy ruffled Max’s long red locks, and she gave him a tight hug.            “Careful Billy,” Y/N chuckled. “Show a bit more love and affection, and your dad might combust.”            “I guess its time to give Harrington a kiss then,” the smirk on his face was nothing short of mischievous. She rolled her eyes feeling the weight of his arm as he slung it around her shoulders and moved them towards the car again with a promise to Max that they’d meet for dinner that night.            Given how Y/N had called from her mom’s place to give Nancy and their friends a message as to around what time they’d be in Hawkins, Billy knew to drive to Benny’s as that was where they’d find them.            Sure enough, Nancy’s new Mustang was parked right in front of the joint, but another pair was there as well in the form of a smoking Tommy H and a bubblegum popping Carol.             It was like they were teenagers once again – the same bullshit socialite drama, Alpha male dick measuring contests and don’t-look-at-my-girl’s-ass stares as Y/N and Billy climbed out of the Camaro and went to walk inside where Nancy, Johnathan and Steve were all talking in a booth, but not before being intercepted by his old ‘friends’.            “Hargrove!” Tommy H shouted from where he stood next to a Mercedes convertible, Carol perched on the door with her legs inside the car on the seat. “The fuck, man? Why didn’t you call or something? Didn’t know you’d be coming back for the reunion!”            “ ‘M not here for that shit,” Billy snorted as if it was the most ridiculous thought in the world he’d bother to drive back to Hawkins to come to a class reunion. “I’m here cause my sister’s graduating. After that, you’ll never see my face again.”            “What the fuck happened to the King of Hawkins? He’d never turn down an opportunity to party,” Tommy scoffed mirroring Carol’s crossed arms as the two watched the pair move to enter Benny's. They couldn't believe Billy had straightened out, didn't want to.            “He finally cut out all the bullshit and found happiness.” By their expressions, it was better than a punch to the face. But Tommy was relentless. It’s like he had been waiting for the day Billy would arrive, like his life wasn’t fulfilled if the blond Californian didn’t sit by his side with a beer can in one hand and a cigarette between his teeth, girls practically grinding on their laps to be the chosen flavour of the week.            “Come on man, let’s smoke one. For old times’ sake.”            “I don’t do that anymore.”            “What?” Tommy laughed in disbelief.            “I quit,” Billy’s reply was curt. “Almost four years ago.” The same exact day he found out he’d be a dad, though that was not information he wished to indulge those two with.            “Next you’re gonna tell me you don’t drink anymore,” Carol snorted and shook her head.            Billy sighed and rolled his head to look at her. “Some things never change, do they?”            “Like what?”            “Like you being a bitch.”            Carol sneered at him but didn't get a chance to butt in as Steve with Nancy and Johnatan in tow exited the diner, having witnessed how they had been held up.            Swiftly turning their attention to the trio, Y/N engaged herself in a conversation with Nancy to block out the unwelcome distractions. But it was like they lived and breathed the attention people gave them and fed on everyone being annoyed.            “Didn’t think you two would still be together,” Carol slid up to where Y/N was talking with Nancy, and the two other girls rolled their eyes so hard, Billy was scared for a second, they’d stay stuck like that in their heads.            “Yeah, well, it wasn’t our intention to impress you,” Y/N answered, not taking her bait. Everyone could recall how Billy was with girls, them practically launching themselves at him, and him completely loving the attention.            Seeing how Y/N wouldn’t engage she tried a different tactic. “So, Tina’s throwing a party for everyone who’s come back.”            “Of course, she is,” Y/N mumbled but it wasn’t loud enough for Carol to hear, though Nancy did just fine, making her hold back a snort.            The old Hawkins high school students had decided to have a reunion the week the graduation was happening, but when Billy and Y/N had heard about that, neither had any harrowing need to see the people they left behind.            The ones they wished to keep in contact with they did, Nancy and Johnathan being frequent visitors of Y/N’s, and Billy even had a civil relationship with Steve, but other than that, the two had no wish to see everyone else.            “You two coming, or is Billy such a bore now because of you, that even he won’t show?” the remark was clearly addressed to Y/N.            “I dunno, why do you so desperately want to climb in my husband’s pants?”            Carol choked on the second to last word. “Husband?”            So, Y/N, with the smuggest smile she could muster up, allowed the girl to look at her left ring finger, the jewellery glinting in the sunlight. As the other woman kept her eyes onto the sparkling diamond, Billy’s hand slipped into the back pocket of Y/N’s jeans.            “Here, thought you might be thirsty,” he joined them having quickly gone into Benny's to get a drink and offered the open bottle of his soda. With a peck on his lips, she took the offered beverage, but not before lifting an eyebrow, gaze glued to Carol’s fuming face.            “Everything alright here?” Billy mumbled, not wanting to get involved in some girl drama.         “Yeah,” Y/N nodded. “Carol apparently just wanted to get you between her legs before she found out you’re in a committed relationship.”        “Sweet cheeks, we’ve been together since senior year,” even though the words were directed towards Carol, who just rolled her eyes, the meaning was for Y/N. We’ve been through hell and back, he'd meant. I’m just as much yours as you are mine.        “Besides, I’d rather abstain for the rest of my life than shove my dick in her hole,” Billy muttered in Y/N’s ears, and she chocked on the soda, so strongly that it shot up to her nose. As she coughed, his strong palm hitting on her back to help get the liquid out, everyone laughed at her reaction, apart from the two ex-friends that went to stand by their car.        “Probably has a side chick,” Tommy said to Carol. “There’s no way she’s enough, I mean it’s Y/N, for fuck’s sake.”        But Billy heard them, despite the two talking quietly and his wife’s coughing. “And you would know all about side chicks, wouldn’t you Tommy?” Billy threw back.        That just earned him a glare from Tommy and an eye-roll from Carol.        “Well, when you decide to stop being fucking drags, the party starts at ten.”        They hopped into the car, and the Mercedes roared to life, disrupting the conversation Billy had been having with Nancy and Johnathan about the details of their siblings’ graduation.        “Feels like old times, huh,” Steve muttered as Y/N leaned against his shoulder his eyes trailing after the car.        “But not too much,” she mumbled back. “I don’t ever want it to be like it used to.”        But they wouldn’t have any say in it. Deep in the woods of Hawkins, a shadow loomed between the trees, and an inhuman screech split the air apart. Things were just how they used to be, and it was not a good thing.

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