#{ girlie needs a hug BAD but is long past the point where a hug would fix her too. tragic all around } | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

goldensstateofgrace · 4 years ago

Text

Dream Of How You (Tasted) - Chapter One -

(So... my first Series!!! I’ll be working on this a lot, and i want you to know it’s not gonna be perfect because I’m not perfect and my writings definitely not perfect, so bare with me on this journey please!! Who’s ready for some Camgirl!y/n??)

A story about Y/N becoming a camgirl because she needs the money but also because she gets off on the praise she gets from total strangers. She enjoys helping other’s get off while doing so herself. When talk about a one on one session with a guy who always watches her streams becomes reality, what happens when she finds out it was her crush/best friend all along?

I hope you guys are excited!! bc I know I am!! Hope you enjoy, happy reading!!

(Also, i picture Harry as long haired harry, but you can picture him however you’d like!!!)

Word count: 1.7k (4 pages) (i promise the other chapters will be longer!)

Y/n didn’t know college could be so expensive, her job at the coffee shop on campus just wasn’t cutting it anymore. She needed to find something else to help pay for school and her rent.

She’s in her second year of uni, all the book costs and the rent for having an apartment so close to campus is outrageous. She tried to find a second job to help with the money problem she was currently having, but couldn't find anything that could work around her classes and coffee shop schedule.

Her best friend, Harry, tried to get her a job alongside him at his job, but again the schedule didn’t work for her and they couldn’t change it. So now, she's stuck trying to find something to do so close when she needs to pay her rent.

It was outrageous how much the rent was for a one bedroom apartment close to campus, it’s a thousand - some dollars a month just to be close to campus, but that’s including her light and water bill so she can’t complain too much.

Harry had offered to let her move in with him to cut down the cost, so she could save some money for school. But she declined because her boyfriend at the time didn’t feel comfortable with it, only to find out on their one year anniversary that he had been cheating on her for a while. Asshole.

Nothing has been said since, but she wished he would. Moving out of her apartment would help so much, but she didn’t want to ask.

Lost in her thoughts she didn’t even notice Harry walking beside her, as she walked across the courtyard to class.

“Why so glum” he nudged her in the side with his elbow, startling her out of her thoughts. She slaps in on the arm, chuckling, “Harry! Don’t do that!”

“You didn’t answer the question, What’s wrong? And don’t give me the ‘Nothing im fine!’ thing you do,” he says, mimicking a higher pitched girly voice, chuckling once he was done.

“Heyy! I don’t sound like that you twat!” you backhand his abdomen making him rub his stomach area as he grimaces in slight pain.

“But” she starts, “i’ve just been struggling again, i tried looking for a job but, just like last time the schedule didn’t line up with any of my classes or with when i was working at the coffee shop.” she says, huffing in annoyance.

Harry nods his head as she talks, listening to her, wishing he could help in some way. He tried before, but she turned him down, she didn’t even tell him why. He figured it had something to do with that cheating ex of hers.

“Y/n, if you need help, all you have to do is ask. I’ll always be her to help you in any way I can,” he tells her, his eyes flickering over her face, showing nothing but seriousness, a drastic change from his happy light hearted self he was just a few minutes ago.

She casts her eyes away from him, focusing her eyes on the pavement under her feet as she walks. She doesn’t say anything for a while, but eventually she looks up at him, tears filling her eyes.

“I know” she nods, “Thank you, Harry. You don’t have to, but thank you,” she says, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill down her cheek but they don’t get the chance as she wipes them away before they do.

Harry wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side and placing a kiss to her head, “I may not have to, but i want to.” he mumbles into the top of her head.

Her arm wraps around his middle as they continue to walk to their second class of that morning, “Thank you.”

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

“You know what you should do?” Harry's friend Niall says as y/n, Harry, Niall and y/n’s friend Amy sit around a table in the coffee shop having lunch. Y/n quirks her eyebrow up as she takes a bite of her turkey sandwich, motioning him to go on.

Y/n had just got finished telling them about how she was in search of another job, and about how she needed the money to pay rent soon.

“You should do only fans, or p*** h**, they make lots of money and that way you get something out of it other than stress and tiredness.” he says, making her almost choke on her sandwich.

“W-what!” y/n says just as Harry says “Dude! No!”

“What’s the big deal? Lots of people do it, and you don’t even have to show your face. You could even go by a different name!” Niall reasons.

Y/n was shocked by his suggestion, but she wouldn’t lie and say she was put off by the idea. Nobody would know it was her, and he did have a point about her not having to go by her own name.

She couldn’t believe she was actually considering this but, you have to do what you have to do.

“yeah uh” she clears her throat, “good suggestion Ni, but i think i’ll just stick with trying to find a job near campus” she says, chuckling as she takes another bite of her sandwich.

“eh, it was worth a shot,” he laughs, before the conversation steers to assignments everyone had to get done and ones they’ve already done.

After they all finish eating they sit around talking for a little bit before Y/n and Harry had to head for their last class of the day.

As they walk to class, Harry’s arm that’s thrown over y/n’s pulls her into his side, “You know Niall was coming from a good place, right. He didn’t mean to offend you or anything,” he says, making you look up at him with your brows furrowed in confusion.

“yeah , i know. I didn’t take any offence to it, but…” she trailed off, “What?” harry asks, motioning for her to continue as they walk past a group of people blocking the sidewalk.

“Would it be so bad? I mean he had a point about me not having to show my face or use my actual name” she said, her eyes flicking over his face for some kind of clue into what he thought of it all.

Harry doesn’t say anything for a while, it’s just as they were about to walk into their class that he pulled her to the side and let their other classmates go in first, “I don’t have a problem with it, it’s your body, you have the right to do whatever you want with it. If you decide that that’s what you want to do to make the money you need i’ll support you 100%, if not i’ll still support you, no matter what,” He tells her, looking into her eyes with nothing but seriousness splayed across his face.

Y/n nods, standing up on her tiptoes and reaching her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly, “Thank you, Harry. I honestly don’t know what i’d do without you!” she mumbles into his neck as his arms wrap around her waist pulling her impossibly closer to his chest.

“I don’t either honestly” he laughs, pulling away from her with a huge contagious smile across his face, only making her laugh and smile too.

“Come on, let's go to class,” he said, throwing his arm back around her shoulder and leading her through the classroom doors.

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

It was later that night, y/n couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts running wild with what could happen if she did decide to become a camgirl, or whatever it was called these days.

She was laying in bed, trying to find out more about what comes with being a camgirl, what she needed to do and what other people were looking to watch.

She had found a girl, her page consisting of videos showing off her curves and sexy lingerie, along with videos of her using toys on herself. All of the videos have over thousands of views, y/n decided that she would message the women who went by ‘daddiespet20’.

Rewrote her message so many times she lost count before she finally found what she wanted to ask and sent the message,“Hey! I’m y/n, i was wondering if you could maybe help me, i’ve been looking into getting into only fans. Could you maybe help me with some questions I have?”

She waited a while for a reply back, along with going down a tiktok rabbit hole, laughing at the stupid tiktoks Harry posted the other day. Her phone finally pinged with a notification, she quickly pulled the notification bar down to see it was a reply from the women she had messaged, “Daddiespet20: Hi! Yes ofc, ask away.”

She honestly wasn’t expecting to get a reply back, thinking the women must have thousands of people messaging her all day every day.

Y/n quickly wrote out a message of the main questions she wanted answered, “Thank you sm! It’s only a few questions, 1: does the amount you get paid rely on the amount of views you get on each of your videos?, 2: how did you gain your audience, and keep them interested in what you were putting out?, 3: Do you have any tips on where to start (seeing as I'm new to all of this)?”

The woman answers all of y/n’s questions with no problem, along with telling her some tips on how to get started and how to gain followers. The conversion ends after messaging back and forth for almost an hour, y/n’s walking away with all the information she was looking for plus more.

Talking to her really helped y/n come to the decision that this is what she was going to do, she was going to make videos of her showing off her body and pleasuring herself. Never in a million years did she think she would come to this just so she could keep a roof over her head and stay in school.

Now all she had to do was buy some sexy lingerie and some toys, well more toys. What? She’s not a prude!

It was getting late so she decided she would go to bed and figure everything out tomorrow, along with ordering her underwear and the toys online. She definitely didn’t need anyone from school seeing her by that stuff. God, she could just imagine the embarrassment she would feel if that happened.

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

Feed back is highly appreciated!! Hope you enjoyed 🥺🥰

#harry styles x y/n #harrystylessmut #harryfic #harrystylesfic #harry styles imagine #harrystyles #harry styles x reader #camgirl!y/n

153 notes · View notes

streetlight11 · 4 years ago

Text

Less of you

Summary: He lost the love of his life 4 years ago in a car accident. If he had stopped her from going to that party with her friend, maybe she would still be with him till this day. He tried hooking up with other girls but none of them could fill his void. All until he met you. A girl who worked at a café to pay for your school and house bills. You were completely the opposite of his late girlfriend but you look exactly like her. Who are you and would he have the courage to get to know you?

Theme: doppelganger au, strangers to lovers

Genre: fluff

Warning: death, accident (please don't drink and drive people!)

WC: 3.9k

Pairing: Bang Chan x Reader

a/n: I write when I’m bored so I may not be good. I hope you like it. I didn’t intend to copy anyone if this storyline has been written before! Also, the words in italics are a flashback! :)

“Hey babe, is it okay if I go to the party with Jiyeon?”

“I don’t know babe, I have a bad feeling about this.” Chan said.

“What? Why?”

“I… I’m not sure. I think you should stay home.”

“But babe, it’s Seori’s birthday party. I’m sure she would want me there.” She tried convincing him.

“Lucy-”

“I’ll just be there for a while, I promise I’ll text you when I’m heading home okay?” She smiled, cupping his cheek softly before disappearing down the hall to go to their shared bedroom.

Hours later, Chan was growing tensed and anxious. There was an unexplainable feeling of discomfort settling in the pit of his stomach which he doesn’t know why. He had already texted his close friends about this. All of them said the same thing. And that was to go fetch Lucy from the party. However, before he could leave the comforts of his shared apartment with his girlfriend, his cell phone began to ring obnoxiously on the kitchen island top.

It was from an unknown number but he decided to pick up the call anyway in hopes that he would hear Lucy’s voice. But what he heard next, wasn’t exactly something he thought he would hear.

“Hello? Is this Mr Bang Chan?” The female voice spoke up on the other line.

“Uhh, yes? Who is this?”

“This is Lee Haneul speaking. I’m calling from Seoul's National Police Station. Can I confirm with you if you are related to Miss Lucy Hale?”

“I’m her boyfriend.”

“I’m really sorry to inform you that your girlfriend was met in a fatal car crash. We are still investigating the accident to find out what’s the cause. But in the meantime, we will need you to come down to the hospital and identify if the victim is indeed Miss Lucy. Will that be okay?”

“Yes. Yes, absolutely.” Chan said, letting the woman give out the address of the hospital he needed to go before hanging up the call.

Right after he clicked the red button, he instantly collapsed to the ground unable to feel his legs. Chan could feel the tears streaming down his face as he hugged his frame tightly. He couldn’t believe he just received that call. He wanted it to be a prank so badly. He didn’t want all of that to be true.

Nevertheless, he went to the said hospital in search of the love of his life.

The nurse brought him to a female officer who was standing outside a closed hallway with a doctor, where Chan clarified himself to them. The three individuals soon entered the closed doors, letting the doctor lead them straight down to the basement where the mortuary was located.

Once inside, the doctor walked up to one of the silver units. After reading the name on the side of the unit, he opened the unit door only to pull out the metal stretcher that had a covered body in it. Chan had to close his eyes for a second, too afraid to look forward.

He carefully made his way to the doctor. The man proceeds to unzip the top part of the bag. The moment he pulled the bag apart, Chan immediately covered his mouth with one hand desperately as he gripped onto the metal stretcher. He broke down in a matter of seconds, enough proof to the officer that it was indeed who the victim was said to be. She carefully placed a hand on top of Chan’s shoulder while the doctor pressed his lips in a straight line.

“I’m so sorry Lucy… I’m so sorry I didn’t try harder to stop you from going… I’m so sorry…” Chan whispered as he stared at the pale, blood covered female body that he used to call his girlfriend.

With that being said, the doctor proceeded to zip the bag while the officer and Chan left the mortuary. She let out a silent sigh, knowing exactly how he felt at the moment.

“Thank you for being strong and seeing her for the last time. I hope you’ll feel better soon. She’s in a better place now.” She gave him words of comfort. Even though his mind wasn’t really there with him at the moment, he appreciated the officer’s kind words.

He went home that night feeling nothing but utter loss and grief. It took him at least 4 hours to accept the fact that she’s gone and that there was no way of seeing her again.

He broke the news to his close friends, all of which shock and sympathy was mixed together.

They went to her funeral but Chan felt empty.

He thought his life was going to be dull and miserable now that he lost her. He wasn’t sure if he could continue to live but his friends made it a point to let him go on his days without feeling at a loss. They were truly the friends anyone could ask for.

4 years went by where Chan still tends to miss her presence. But instead of grieving about it, he finally accepts the fact that she was no longer on this earth. Despite meeting new people, new potential partners in his life, none of them could seem to fill the void that has been eating him alive for the past few years.

There were some who he had genuine interest in. But somehow, that relationship never worked out and he wasn’t one to dwell on things for too long. For he just simply moves on with his life and goes about his daily routine.

It was a bright Saturday morning, Chan had already promised Changbin and Jisung to have a morning workout session together.

“So… Hyung, are you contacting anyone?” Jisung asked as he turned to Chan who was currently lifting weights.

“No. I haven’t contacted anyone in months…” Chan sighed. Dropping the barbell onto the ground.

“Why not?” Changbin asked out of curiosity.

“I don’t know. I just don’t feel like anyone’s of my interest.” Chan shrugged his shoulders. The two boys looked at each other only to exchange a knowing look which Chan couldn’t bother to even notice. After they were done with the workout session, the boys left the gym to make their way to a nearby café that they had been going to every time they ended their workout.

They had just entered the café, strong coffee bean aroma filling their nostrils as they walked up to the counter. Only for Chan to halt in his steps when he saw just who was standing behind the counter, taking orders. Both Changbin and Jisung also came to a stop when they saw who Chan was staring at.

“No way…” Chan whispered under his breath. Jisung desperately clinged onto Chan’s arms only to ask in a confused tone.

“Umm… Hyung, is that…?”

“No… It can’t be.” Chan said as they carefully made their way closer to the cashier. The three of them queued up behind the rest of the customers but their eyes couldn’t seem to leave her.

After the customer in front of them walked away, the person standing behind the counter finally locked eyes with all three of them before flashing them a warm smile.

“Good morning! What can I get for you today?” She said. Chan was too dumbfounded that he couldn’t even speak so Changbin did it first.

“Hi, can I get one Iced Americano.” She keyed in his order before turning back to the remaining two.

“Anything else?” She asked with a smile.

“Umm, can I get one Iced Tropical Passion Tea?” She nodded as she entered his order into the machine. Just then, the minute she looked up, Chan had the most prominent frown on his face and she wondered why.

“Is there anything I can get for you?” However, when she received no particular reply from him, she decided to joke around.

“You know, if your order is written on my face, I would so gladly take them down for you.” With that, Chan finally snapped out of his trance. He shook his head, letting his brown locks shift from side to side.

“Uhh… right. S-Sorry. I’ll just have a regular Iced Strawberry Lemonade Green Tea.” She smiled and proceeded to key in his order, only for Changbin to hold his card out. After he was done paying, she asked him for his name or initial. Telling him that she will call out to him once the drinks are made.

The guys went over to a table right next to the window but Chan’s eyes were glued on her. Watching as she made their drinks while she joked around with her co-worker.

“She might look like her but she’s definitely not like her.”

Changbin commented softly before Jisung hummed in agreement. But Chan still couldn’t seem to let this new information digest into his brain. This girl looked exactly like Lucy except maybe her style and her hair colour but her face was like a copy paste of Lucy.

Lucy was slightly girly and definitely more fashionable in terms of the things she wore. She always loved branded items. She wore mostly dresses or skirts everyday, with designer clothes. She normally wore heels and tends to look richer than she really was. However, Lucy can be very arrogant towards people she doesn’t like or doesn’t know. She would never openly smile to just anyone, nor would she talk to anyone aside from Chan and her close friends.

Unlike Lucy, this girl was nothing like Lucy and Chan could see the vast difference.

Lucy would never work at a café shop because to her, these kinds of jobs are for people who are not able to support themselves financially. This girl not only works as a barista at a café, her sense of fashion is definitely more laid back compared to Lucy.

She wore a plain white shirt with denim skinny jeans and a pair of Nikes with her café apron on. She had her hair in a low messy bun to keep her hair from falling into customer’s drinks while making them. Character wise, she was a lot more friendlier than Lucy. She had quite a bubbly side to her when she greeted new customers at the cashier.

Chan was just too absorbed in his thoughts that he didn’t even hear her calling out to Changbin. The latter went back to the collection point, not forgetting to get a glimpse of her name on her nametag.

“Thanks… (Y/N).” Changbin smiled, making her return the favour with a small nod.

Chan knew he shouldn’t do it but he wanted to. He wanted to get to know her a little better. Which is why he decided to come visit her again the following week. She was currently leaning against the counter top, facing the café entrance while her co-worker and close friend, Moonbin was fooling around with her since the café was sort of empty with only 6 tables max being occupied.

She had just punched his abdomen softly when he threw a balled tissue onto the top of her head.

Just then, the sound of doorbell chiming caught their attention. She turned towards the door, only to see Chan enter the café. She immediately smiled after remembering his face from last weekend.

Moonbin went to go hide behind the coffee machine, pretending to be busy.

“Hi, welcome to Daisies Café. What can I get for you today?” She greeted Chan with a smile, making him mimic her expression.

“Umm, hey. I think I’ll just have an Iced Berry Mint Tea.” She keyed in his order before asking him if there was anything else he wanted. When he said no, she nodded and proceeded to charge him for it. After she was done, she took the cup and asked him for his name or initial.

“Chan.” She let his name roll off her tongue quietly before smiling at him. She went over to Moonbin only to see the boy grinning like an idiot.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” She asked her same aged colleague.

“Nothing… He’s kinda your type, no?”

To that, she glanced over to Chan who was seated near the window. He had his laptop on the table with a headphone on his head. A smile graced onto her lips, ignoring Moonbin’s comment and instead, focusing on making Chan’s drink. She knew if she called his name, he wouldn’t be able to hear so she opted to bring his drink over to him instead.

She brought him his drink only for Chan to smile at her, his cute dimples coming to view.

“Oh! Sorry!”

He apologized before taking the glass from her, feeling her fingers brushing lightly over hers. She got visibly flustered as she pulled her hands back a little too quickly. Chan simply let out a soft chuckle when she excused herself to continue working when he gently gripped her wrist to stop her.

“Hey, umm, are you free later?” He asked.

“I… yeah. Why?”

“Do you… maybe wanna grab dinner with me?” She got quiet for a moment, making him feel bad.

“Uhh, you don’t have to agree! It’s okay.” He reassured her. But there was just something about him that made her smile, a warm feeling blossoming in the pit of her stomach.

“I finish at 5.” She said with a small smile on her face.

“Oh… uhh, great. I’ll come pick you up then.”

“Okay.” She giggled before leaving his table.

7 months was definitely longer than what he had in mind about being friends with her. All the girls that he has dated or contacted ever since Lucy passed wouldn’t last for more than a month. During the last few months, Chan got to know about her background a little better.

Although he does know that (Y/N) can never be Lucy, he slowly started to like (Y/N) for who she is and not just because she looked like Lucy.

In fact, he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but he actually likes (Y/N)’s personality slightly better.

It was a sunny Saturday evening and she was having a day off. She was just mopping her living room when her phone began to ring. She placed her mop on the bucket only to go to the desk right beside the hallway where her phone was sitting.

It was Chan’s caller ID.

“Hello?” She said.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

“Oh, I was just cleaning my apartment.”

“Do you need an extra hand?” She could hear him chuckle on the other side of the line.

“If you don’t mind getting down and dirty.” She laughed.

“Sure. Then afterwards, I was wondering if you’d wanna meet my friends and hang out with them?” Chan asked softly, making her pause.

For the past few months, (Y/N) had gotten closer to Chan when he kept coming back to the café only to become a regular customer there. However, she has never met Chan’s friends properly simply because she was shy and slightly nervous around a huge crowd.

Chan seemed to read her concerns through the silence. Hence, the reason why he was telling her that she didn’t have to agree to it if she didn’t want to. But she didn’t want to keep rejecting his kind offer of meeting his close friends. She wouldn’t want him to feel bad for asking her so she decided to go with it. About an hour later, Chan came to her place as promised before, only to help her with her spring cleaning.

They joked around with each other a few times, earning soft laughs from them both.

They were just moving their legs back and forth on the ground, dancing along to the music she played in the background when she accidentally slipped. She lost her balance and almost fell backwards but he caught her in time.

Chan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back up against him. A soft gasp left her lips as he asked her if she was okay. But all she did was laugh out loud from her clumsiness.

He smiled down at her, letting her press her forehead against his shoulder.

After her laughter had died down, she pulled away from him when she felt his arms still securely wrapped around her body. She glanced up, tilting her head to meet his. What she wasn’t ready for was the close proximity of their faces. She could feel his warm breath hit her lips.

Chan’s eyes naturally fell down to her lips, letting it linger there for a second too long. Before anyone could do anything, Chan’s phone rang in his back pocket. He pulled away not forgetting to apologize to her.

“Hey. Yeah. I’m at (Y/N)’s house. Yeah. Yeah sure, I’ll be there. Bye Minie.”

Chan hung up the call only for (Y/N) to ask who it was. He said it was Seungmin asking if he was coming to Hyunjin’s apartment later to hangout. She gave him a small smile. About 2 hours later, they were both making their way to Hyunjin’s apartment in Chan’s jeep. She changed into a slightly more casual outfit which was just a fitted shirt, a large flannel, denim skinny jeans and a pair of her favourite sneakers.

When they arrived at Hyunjin’s apartment, Chan walked with her beside him the whole time. They were talking about school projects when he stopped in front of the wooden door.

He gave it a few knocks only to turn to her with a slight frown.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” He asked again to make sure she was really okay. But when he received a nod and a smile, Chan’s shoulders relaxed for a bit before the door swung open to reveal a tall blonde boy whom she had never met before.

“Hey hyung!” Hyunjin’s eyes then met hers. She noticed the way his mouth hung open slightly as he took in her features.

“Woah.” He whispered under his breath before he quickly shook his head and welcomed them in. She saw the amount of shoes by the doorstep, making her feel slightly anxious and Chan seemed to notice this. Hyunjin had already re-joined his other friends in the living room when she felt Chan’s hand on her back.

“Hey, you okay?” He asked.

“H-Huh? Oh… Yeah, I’m okay. Sorry… I just… I tend to get anxious when there’s too many guys around me. I’m not used to it.” She said in a hushed whisper.

“We can go home if you want?”

“No! No, please. I’d love to meet your friends, I just need… a little time to get used to this.”

With that, Chan smiled as he cupped her face with one hand only to whisper a soft ‘okay’ before leading her into the living room. That’s when she finally met his friends in person properly. All 7 pairs of eyes were now staring at her with bright expressions but she seemed to feel small under their gazes.

Chan giggled when he felt her gently grip his forearm with both hands, making him speak up to his friends.

“Guys. This is (Y/N). (Y/N), these are my friends.” Chan introduced, only for her to smile to them shyly, partially hiding behind Chan’s larger frame. Some of them couldn’t help but chuckle. They found her quite adorable to say the least.

It took her about an hour or two to warm up to them but eventually, she did. This only made Chan even more proud of her. They were all gathered in Hyunjin’s living room, currently watching a Marvel movie. She was seated on the couch in between Chan and Jeongin, with Changbin right beside her feet on the floor.

They were watching the movie, Jisung and Felix occasionally making comments during the show. Minho was starting to drift off to Lalaland at the side. Hyunjin, Jeongin and Changbin were playing a game on their phones and Seungmin was busy reading an online book.

(Y/N) and Chan were watching the movie in silence but he did notice her getting closer to his side every time she shifts or adjusts herself on the couch. Not that he was complaining.

Just then, Jeongin suddenly flinched harshly beside her.

This was enough to make her jump. However, this caused her to accidentally lean against Chan who had his arm around her waist.

She blushed at this sudden contact. Jeongin apologized to her for scaring her but she simply laughed it off and told him it was fine. But the minute she turned back to Chan, she could feel her breath hitch in her throat with how close his face was to her.

Unfortunately, he was close enough to hear it but he didn’t mock her for it. In fact, he actually giggled thinking it was cute.

“You okay, love?” His soft voice sultry to her ears.

She hummed in response, only to look forward to the tv screen. Chan chuckled beside her but she ignored it, knowing he probably saw the pink tint on her cheeks. A few hours later, they finally called it a night where Chan sent her back home.

Once they were outside her apartment door, she turned to him to speak up.

“Thanks Chan, for bringing me to meet your friends. They’re really genuine people.”

“No worries. I knew you’d love them.” He chuckled. Suddenly, the air became hot as she struggled to find the right words.

“Chan…”

“Yeah?”

The room fell silent for a moment as they both just stared at each other. Trying to decipher what the other would do next. But she was one step faster than him when the next thing she did was literally what he planned on doing. In one swift movement, she leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to his soft full lips. Chan stood there completely bewildered, unable to take in the fact that that really just happened.

She wasn’t sure how long he would stay like that so she took this chance to hide from him. Wanting to avoid any awkward situations if he doesn’t feel the same way for her. Right when she was about to say goodbye to him and enter her apartment, Chan quickly caught her wrist. She turned around to him with a slightly baffled look. But Chan was cheeky. He used his other hand to pull her closer by her waist only to press his lips on hers again.

This time, letting his lips stay there slightly longer than before.

She melted into the kiss as soon as he kissed her, making him smile against her lips. She slid her hand up his chest, tangling her fingers in his soft brown locks.

Chan guides her gently back until she is pressed against the door, hugging her waist securely in his arms. She pulled away for air, feeling him press his forehead against hers softly. A few seconds later, Chan whispered softly just loud enough for her to hear.

“I’m really happy to have met you.”

She could feel the butterflies erupting in her stomach at his words. She smiled as he continued.

“I thought my life was over after losing who I thought would be with me forever. But I was wrong. And I realised it when I first saw you at the café that day. Thank you for being there (Y/N). I honestly don't know how my life would have turned out if I didn’t meet you that day.”

With that being said, she smiled. Cupping his face with both hands gently only to speak up.

“I’m glad I could be the source of happiness for you, Chan.”

Chan kissed her again sweetly before pulling back to say the 3 words he had been wanting to say to her. Only for her to return the favour.

“I love you, (Y/N).”

“I love you too Chan.”

#stray kids #stray kids scenario #stray kids imagines #bang chan scenario #bang chan imagine #bang chan #bang chan fluff #skz x reader #skz bang chan

127 notes · View notes

ladykatakuri · 3 years ago

Text

Layers

Pairing: Wrecker x Reader

Word Count: 2221

Warnings: Just fluffy and a kiss! Wrecker is not just the hug-a-bear we all love, he is more !

Song Lyrics: Faith of the Heart performed by : Russel Watson

Summary: People always judge you by your so-called defects, but Wreck…” Carefully you place a finger under his chin and lift it. “You are a man with so many layers to discover. Beside your sweet and gentle nature, your love of explosions and bets with Cross on who can destroy the most clankers and your deep affection for your family, there is so much more.

So a Wrecker one shot i made. I think there is far more to the man then has been shown until now and i hope that we will get to see more in depth about all of our sweet Batch in season 2 ( and yes I mean all of them when i say Batch! Crosshair included! )

The Havoc Marauder always seemed as a small home to you all. There was enough space to sit and relax, sleep after a mission or work while underway to whatever planet it was the lot of you would go to, to earn some credits. It was a home away from home, even though you also had a new home base on Ord Mantel. The Marauder was that bit more special because it was the last part of home that the guys had left after defecting from the Empire. Today it seemed to be a refuge for one of the guys and you were glad it was parked on Ord Mantel. Now at the very least, you could spend some time with him, without having to worry that one of the others would walk in on the two of you, without having to worry that he would shut you out again.

“Wrecker….” You walk up to the man currently sitting with his back against the wall of the Marauder. It took you a minute to realise he had taken refuge in the hull and you would not let him get away with withdrawing himself from you again.

“Wrecker, you know you can talk to me right? If not me, then you should find someone to talk to. Please Wreck, don't shut me out.” You slide down next to him on the floor and put a hand on his arm.

When he turns his head to you, you see his watery smile. As much as he is always the cheery and positive man around his family, he now seems to have withdrawn from it all to suffer alone. “I… I don't know where to even start Mini.”

Mini, the name he has given you when you first met and it never left. It became his sweet nickname for you, knowing that you never felt secure about yourself. You had always been well aware you were more weighty then most of the women crowding around the troopers at 79s and all the women flocking towards the men of the Bad Batch whenever they showed up in a bar. The clones who were the majority of the visitors to 79s never looked at you as someone different because of looks though and Wrecker and his brothers were very quick to point out how sweet they found you and how special you had become to them when you joined their little family. To Wrecker you were the most beautiful person in the galaxy as well. He named you Mini, because compared to him, almost everyone was small and you were no different in that. Softly patting his arm you tell him to start where he wants to start.

It's been a long road

Getting from there to here

It's been a long time

But my time is finally near

“I guess, I just wonder where it all will end, or when it all will end. Omega is still just a kid ya know? She is growing up fast, but she is supposed to be a kid. She should be playing with other kids and having fun, bringing home stray animals as pets and kiss a special someone…. Well not kiss, that would not be alright with me and the guys, but when she is older…. But she is learning how to fight and kill now and she is a fugitive with us. It ain't right.” He almost shouts out the words, as if it was blocking his every thought and had to be thrown out there. “I know it wouldn't be much of a life on Kamino for her and all, but still… Is this the right thing to do for her? To keep her with us where she is always in danger?”

You know it is a sentiment that all of the men have had at one point, but Wrecker who bonded strongly with the young girl, as the older brother, felt strongly protective of his little sibling and feared greatly for her safety. With what you hoped to be a reassuring smile you look at him. “Wreck, I know you worry. But this is also Omega`s choice. You all wanted to give her a chance at a more normal life with Cut and Suu. She chose to be with you and live her life with you. You are her family and family is all that matters to her and to you.”

For the first time he grins. “Yeah, she is stubborn ey? Guess she has that in common with us.” Reaching to his side, he grabs a bag of his favorite snack, most times shared with the young girl after a mission. “Want some Mantel Mix too? “ He offers you the bag and you grab a handful of the mix. Popping some in his mouth he chews while staring at the wall opposing you. “Remember how we first got to talk? It was in the hull of the Marauder as well.”

And I can feel the change in the wind right now

Nothings in my way

And they're not gonna hold me down no more

No they're not gonna hold me down

You had been travelling with the guys for a while now, getting used to the day to day business and to being somewhat of a sister figure to Omega. You were no warrior, no clone and no mechanic or medic. You were just the person who was easy in making connections with people when you decided to give it a real try and you knew how to prepare meals from whatever was lying around that was edible. And even more important, you befriended the Bad Batch and covered for them when it was first announced they had defected from the Empire. Knowing how close you had grown to the men, you were under investigation and the guys quickly decided to get you away from the Empire's clutches as fast as they could.

Each of the Batch had grown rather attached to you and Omega clung to you, especially when it came to doing the girly stuff. You enjoyed it immensely but it was Wrecker who surprised you the most. The man had always been considered a simple person that loved explosions and fighting and having his sweet snacks. He could party like the best of them and that was all there was to him. Boy, did he surprise you when you walked in on him one night.

You had been on the way to some remote planet in the Outer Rim. The possibility of finding an ally or foe was small and you needed supplies. Tech and Echo were in the cockpit as usual while Crosshair and Hunter were sound asleep. Omega shared her private sleeping space with you and after a long talk and reading a fantasy story she finally fell asleep. Lula was tucked snugly in with her after which you softly stepped down a ladder and moved to grab something to drink. You stumbled in on Wrecker, concentrated on something on a pad and not hearing you enter the hull. “What ya doing Wreck?” Carefully moving around a crate, you stand beside him and look down.

“Y/N ! You surprised me!.” He quickly puts the pad beside him and looks up to where you stand. I was, well… I was reading something.” He scratches his neck and a slight blush creeps up on his cheeks as he looks at you.

Tilting your head you slide down beside him. “What are you reading?”

For a moment he seems to be debating whether or not he should let you know. Then, he grabs the pad and hands it over to you. When you look at the text displayed you look up. “Wreck, I didn`t know you were interested in this.”

He shyly smiles at you as he takes the pad back. “I like to read about things… Do you know about this man? Asimov? He is really smart. I thought maybe… There is something we can use from what he writes when we face clankers and all.” The sincerity in his voice surprises you a bit.

“I won't say I understand everything this man writes, but it is very interesting. Honestly, I prefer reading different kinds of stories. Romantic novels, historic stories or thrillers and all that. Biographies can be very interesting too and sometimes it can still teach us still I guess.”

Wrecker nods at your every word and a smile beams at you. “You love reading too! Why didn't you tell me? We could share favorites and talk about them if you want? I mean, if that's something you'd like?”

From that moment on, the two of you would share time together whenever you could to talk about the latest story you discovered, about the things either of you did not understand and the other could explain or just reading the same book. More than once it happened that the others would walk in on the two of you, you with your head against him, him with his head in your lap or the other way around, just enjoying the stories you were reading or discussing the stories. Those moments were also the start of Wrecker opening up even more to you about the past and sometimes about his deepest feelings and fears.

Cause I've got faith of the heart

I'm going where my heart will take me

I've got faith to believe

I can do anything

I've got strength of the soul

And no one's gonna bend or break me

I can reach any star

I've got faith

Faith of the heart

Now right here in the present, you realise that the man you came to love for his love of life and his hidden, deeper layers of personality is severely struggling with everything that has happened up until now. And he needed to work through it, alone and with you. Carefully you lay your head against him. “What else is wrong Wreck? I know it is not only Omega you worry about. You always shut people out when things bother you and you retreat to wherever you can go to vent.”

Wrecker inhales deeply and shifts to wrap his arm around you. “You know Mini, there is so much that happened. Omega is young and a fugitive with us, my chip activated and I almost killed them! Crosshair…. well you know his chip also activated and we lost him for a little while. I`m just happy we got him back again, but he has a lot to work through and he still blames us sometimes. And you….. Mini, you are not safe with us either. They will hurt you if they ever get you. I don't want you to get hurt Mini. I mean, we all have been injured on jobs and stuff, but you and Omega? I would die if something happened to either of you!”

You can hear his heart race as he speaks and feel his body shudder at the thought of you and Omega getting hurt somehow. But, you let him vent every bit of emotion, every bit of anger and fear he has deep inside of himself. He finally decided to open up and let this out. He decided to let you be the one to hear every thought and every struggle he has been fighting with on his own. To so many people he appeared to be a simple man, but you knew better. You knew all too well how many layers there were to this gentle giant.

Pulling away from his body you sit up on your knees in front of him. “Wrecker. You are the most gentle man I have met. You care so deeply for your own and you would sacrifice all that you have and all that you are to ensure their safety. People always judge you by your so-called defects, but Wreck…” Carefully you place a finger under his chin and lift it. “You are a man with so many layers to discover. Beside your sweet and gentle nature, your love of explosions and bets with Cross on who can destroy the most clankers and your deep affection for your family, there is so much more. You are smart, Wrecker. You have an intelligence that defies the understanding of those who always considered you only by your CT number and purpose. And Wreck? You are also the only man I truly, deeply, love.” You place a gentle kiss on his lips as you look him in the eyes.

As you pull back from him, a grin forms around his lips. Without any warning he embraces you and then stands up and slings you over his shoulder. With a high pitched yelp from you, he walks out of the Marauder and into the streets of Ord Mantel. “Time to treat you to some proper dinner, my sweet Mini!”

Before he lowers you back to your feet, he kisses you with a smile.

Out in the back, a man grins and turns around. You only see a glimpse of a red bandana, as Wrecker walks off with his arm wrapped tightly around you. Your Wrecker, a man of deep devotion and many layers to him.

@loth-wolffe@hellothere-generalangsty@chaoticvampirejedi@nahoney22@reluctant-mandalore@kin-rokku@cyroku@m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s@catbustours@uponrightful

I have tagged people I think might like this, if you want to be tagged in future works or do not want to be tagged anymore, please let me know in a messege <3

#wrecker #Wrecker The Bad Batch #Layers #Wrecker x Reader #The Bad Batch #TBB

34 notes · View notes

babuis · 4 years ago

Text

Who Needs Memories? [Chilumi] - 1

Genre: Long Fic

Word Count: 2.2k

Synopsis: Lumine is not naive. Through her thousands of years living, she should know better. Should have learned better. She knew better then to trust someone who threw her insecurities into her face. So why was she here, standing in the room of the person who betrayed her while wanting to give him another chance?

Events from before the Golden House between Childe and Lumine to the unreleased future.

A/n: I’m deciding on whether I want to pursue this as a long fic in my google docs. Tbh I can really only write for Genshin when I’m in this strange, dreamy, longing mood where I wish to leave everything behind and enter the world of Genshin- it just feels so inviting and like home for some reason.

Pulled this out of my ass Bcs I’m in that mood rn. Sadness makes me poetic (but I’m not sad? Genshin gets me in a very dreamy mood)

So imma test it out by seeing how it’s received. Should I make this into a longer series?

Story starts before golden house.

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

Lumine couldn't go back to sleep.

This wasn't a new development. Since arriving in Teyvat, she had fallen victim to many sleepless nights or sleeps that were interrupted by night terrors she couldn't quite remember until much later when it was no longer important. Sometimes when she did sleep, her dreams would be filled with fragments of memories from the thousands of years she lived with her brother from world to world before all of this that refused to leave her mind.

Tonight she had dreamed about the time when they weren't in a particular world, but rather the period in between where they simply existed in the clouds.

Lumine and Aether sat on a large cloud, staring into the expanse before them. They sat with their knees hugged to their chest, feeling the last rays of the sun brush over them before nightfall.

"Hey Aether?'

"Hm?"

Lumine sighed as she lay lazily on her back. Her body sunk into the soft pillows of cloud ever so slightly and she stared up into the infinite abyss of the sky above their heads.

"Do you ever wonder what else is out there?' she questioned him, reaching her hand up, "We've been to so many worlds already. Will there be a point where we no longer learn new things?"

Aether scoffed lightly, turning his head to look at his twin, "We've been alive for thousands of years, have you yet to come to a world and not learn anything?"

"No," Lumine admitted, "But you said it yourself, we're so old already. What if one day..."

Aether sighed again, shifting to face his sister fully, "Don't worry about it. Worlds may be similar to each other. We may just arrive in them to fight a little, but there' always been subtle differences that make each special."

"Hmm," Lumine hummed, closing her eyes as a chill brushed over her body, "Do you think mom ever got bored?"

"Bored? She had twins."

Lumine chuckled lightly, "Yea, she did, didn't she?"

They didn't speak after that. Soon the vibrant colors of the sunset turned into the cool night sky and millions of stars twinkled around them, each representing a new world. Lumine shuddered slightly, wondering if her fears were silly. With so many worlds, surely there would be new things to see. A new purpose to have.

"We should go to that one next," Aether said, pointing to the brightest star to their left, "Burning up real bright."

Lumine nodded, shielding her eyes a bit from the light, "Sure is."

Aether lay down, settling beside her, "Go to sleep, Lumi," he said softly, "we got a new world ahead of that."

"Hmm," she hummed again, closing her eyes.

Soon, her brother's breathes turned steady as he fell asleep. She gave him one last peek before she too, succumbed to slumber.

Even if they explored all the worlds there were and learned everything there was to know, she would be okay just as long as she had Aether by her side to navigate her life with her.

And then he was gone.

Lumine shuddered as the wind blew towards her from the water. It seemed to be particularly cold in Liyue that night on the harbor. She sat on the wooden dock, letting her slender legs hang over the edge. The stars shined above her, much like they had in her dream.

Except this time she was sitting on the hard dock instead of the fluffy clouds and she was alone.

Her hair tickled her cheek as she dejectedly thought about Aether. They had come to this world, the brightest one to their left, together, only to be separated. They had never separated before and the anxious heaviness that took permanent hold of her chest became heavier as she remembered her dream.

I miss you Aether.

This world had been shockingly new from the rest of the ones she had visited. With it's divisions between the archons and people, it seemed like this world was made up of multiple ones with a complexity that she kept getting dragged into.

It was something her past self would have marveled excitedly at- there was just so much to learn. But without Aether, without her rock through it all, it almost seemed meaningless. Her only purpose now, was to find him.

Perhaps this is what she got for wishing for a new purpose in life. If she could go back and take it all back, she would.

"Hey girlie, it's dangerous for you to be so lost in thought this late at night. A bad man could come and sweep you away."

Ah, Childe.

Lumine turned her head to see the blue eyes ginger standing behind her, a mischievous glint in his eye as he looked down at her. She licked her lips, turning away from him.

"What do you want, Fatui?" she asked harshly, "If you push me in the water, I'll blast you all the way to the stone forest."

Childe raised his hands up in surrender, a throaty chuckle making its way out of his mouth, "No need to be so hostile, I thought we shared a more intimate relationship than that."

"I'm warning you," Lumine said again, pulling her knees up to her chest.

Childe took a seat beside her, looking into the distance where she was, "I would never, girlie. I'm a bad man but I wouldn't push an unsuspecting lady into the water."

"Sure you wouldn't, Fatui," Lumine said with disdain.

"I wouldn't," he repeated, "What are you looking at? Actually, what are you doing up so late? It's well past your bed time."

Lumine snorted, "You're not older than me."

"I'll have you know I'm a young adult," Childe protested.

Lumine gave him a wry smile, "As am I."

"You don't look a day older 18," Childe hmphed, "Pray tell, Ojou-chan, how old are you really?"

Lumine finally glanced at the ginger who was staring at her with curious eyes, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I would, actually," he said, not looking away.

'You wouldn't even be able to fathom it if you tried,' Lumine thought to herself, 'nor is it safe for me to tell you.'

Childe stared at Lumine some more, refusing to be the first to look away. Her golden eyes burned with something he couldn't quite place, but were at the same time quite hardened. Her lips were pressed into a thin line and her eyebrows were softly furrowed into a stern looking pout.

'How cute,' he mused to himself, 'too bad you're just a pawn in Tsaritsa's game.'

"You don't trust me," he settled on saying, his mouth quirking to the side.

Lumine finally looked away, making Childe celebrate internally, 'ha! I win!'

"Why should I?" she muttered.

"I get it, La Signora gave you a bad impression," Childe said, "But like I said, I don't particularly like her either. I'm the black sheep of the Harbingers you know, we're not all like her."

Lumine didn't say anything. If she learned anything from her extensive existence, it was to not trust a man like Childe.

"Fine, then answer this for me since you're unwilling to share," Childe caved, "What are you doing up so late?"

Lumine shrugged, "It's not late. If I'm correct, it's a new day."

"Fine smart ass," Childe sassed her, "What are you doing up so early?"

"I guess I'm an early bird then," Lumine said vaguely, not wanting to mention her lack of sleep.

"Great answer."

The two sat in silence again, the breeze blowing even harder. Lumine shivered again at the wind's caress which prompted Childe to shrug off his jacket to give to the blonde. Lumine noticed and put her hand up to stop him hurriedly, not wanting to create even more debt to the Harbinger.

"You're cold," Childe insisted, "Take it."

Lumine frowned, "No, you're cold. You take it."

"Ojou-chan," he said, exasperated, "I'm from Snezhnaya, a bit of wind isn't going to kill me."

Lumine raised an eyebrow, "I use Anemo powers, a little bit of wind isn't going to kill me either."

"But it'll make you sick."

"No it won't."

"Yes it will."

"No it won't."

"Yes it will."

"No it won't."

She knew it wouldn't. It had been a very long time since Lumine had gotten sick, the last time being in a world with giant man eating beings. The only reason for her sickness, of course, wasn't her health, but the disgusting stench of dead bodies.

Lumine stubbornly stood up and started walking down the dock back towards the center of the town where she was staying. She was done with this conversation- done with him. However, Childe seemed to have other plans as he followed the petite girl down the paved road.

"Stop following me," came Lumine's cutting words, not even bothering to look back.

'Charming,' Childe thought as he ignored her words, "It's dangerous for a pretty girl to roam around the town in the dark."

Lumine simply rolled her eyes, coming to a halt in front of a random building, "I'm not in danger of the Milleleth anymore, and I'm sure I could handle some petty thieves if I did a dragon."

"Ah, that's right. I'm talking to the Hero of Mondstadt here," Child said teasingly, 'and the biggest pain in the ass to Tsaritsa.'

Lumine gave him an unimpressed look, "I suppose that's right, so as you can see, I can handle myself."

'If anything, you're the biggest threat in this town,' she thought distastfully.

"Alright then, Ojou-chan, I'm off-"

Before he could finish his goodbye, he was cut off by a large growl emitting from Lumine's stomach. For the first time that night, Lumine lost her composure and blushed a bright red and her body burned hotter than the sun despite the chilly morning air. Childe paused, blinking twice, before busting out into laughter that caused the girl to further lose composure.

'Damn this near mortal body!' Lumine cursed, 'I never had to eat this often before!'

"Hahaha!" he laughed heartily, clutching his sides, "Did you perhaps eat the dragon to defeat it?" he teased her.

Lumine growled, "Shut up," she said hotly.

"Say, why don't I take you and Paimon to get some food then?" Childe suggested, "I'm sure you're hungry and you wouldn't turn down free food when you lack Mora."

Lumine grumbled quietly to herself, knowing he was right. She had very little Mora left thanks to Paimon spending so much on food and she was admittedly hungry. Hunger was a foreign concept to her body up until recently, and she detested the very idea of it.

"Don't be stubborn Ojou-chan," Childe persisted, "I did afterall, save you from the Millelith didn't I?"

Lumine begrudgingly nodded her head, "Fine," she said quietly, "Let me get Paimon first."

And so they walked side by side to her inn- that he helped he book- to fetch Paimon and go eat. They walked leisurely, as if they weren't two people that were on drastically different sides. They walked as if they were acquaintances- as if they were friends to the unknowing eye.

Lumine knew she shouldn't. She should have stopped all interaction after that one time he helped her out by clearing her name. Shouldn't have accepted the help nor the Mora from him- no matter how broke she was. She could have found a way or slept on the outskirts of the town. She shouldn't be accepting his invitation to eat.

What was wrong with her?

Teyvat had proved to be full of surprises, her behavior being one of them. It had been months since she woke up from her slumber. When was the last time she had stayed in one place for so long? Fought off monsters for other people rather than the thrill of the fight?

It didn't matter, Lumine supposed. What mattered was finding her brother and what happened after that would be a future Lumine problem. What else was there to do after finding her brother? What was the purpose of her world hopping?

Lumine no longer remembered.

As they neared the inn where she left Paimon, she could hear the floating girl's shrill and angry voice scolding her for leaving. Paimon's voice only turned more sour when she saw the Fatui next to her.

"Lumine!" the pixie exclaimed, "You can't leave to go rendezvous with the enemy!"

Lumine gave the little girl an unimpressed look, "I did no such thing, he's cashing in a favor."

"A favor?" Childe interrupted, "Considering I'm paying for your food, I'd say I'm doing a service and you know owe me a favor."

Paimon looked angry for a second, "Lumine! You can't just- wait, did Paimon just hear you say food?"

"Sure did little one," Childe grinned, "Come on, it's my treat."

And just like that, Paimon's anger disappeared at the promise of something warm to fill her stomach. Constellations materialized around her floating body as she followed the ginger to a restaurant he claimed that he knew 'they would just love.'

Lumine lingered at the steps of the inn, staring up into the sky that was now painted with the vibrant colors of the sunrise.

What was the purpose of her life?

Lumine basked in the warmth of the sun and found comfort in the lack of visible stars in the sky.

Lumine didn't remember.

Perhaps she never knew.

62 notes · View notes

whatareyousearchingfordean · 4 years ago

Text

Happiness Begins

Part 22

Chapter Summary: Jared and his little sister finally find their middle ground, just in time for her to head back home to Austin.

Warnings: Language, angst

Word Count: 1.9K+

Author’s Note: It’s looking like I’ve finally nailed down the number of parts for this bad boy. It’s looking like we will have 25 parts. That means this is almost done. I can’t believe that the finish line is finally in view. Thanks to everyone who has been on this wild ride with me. I appreciate you more than you know. xo Alex.

Catch up with the series masterlist and check out Alexandra’s Library for more works by yours truly.

The soft yet persistent pounding in her head pulled Y/n back into consciousness. It took a moment for her to get her bearings, but she was quick to realise that she was in fact in her bed in Jared’s apartment. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been last night, jetting off on her own and drinking her own weight in alcohol. Hell, she couldn’t even tell you how she had gotten home last night. She was still in the jeans and blouse she had left in, though her shoes were gone, and someone had tucked her under the blankets.

With a groan, she pulled away the warm comforter and sat up. There was a bottle of aspirin on her bedside table, along with a sports drink. Greedily, she dumped more pills than necessary into her palm and chugged as much of the drink as her stomach could handle. Once she was sure it wouldn’t all come back up, she stood from her bed and stripped herself of the clothing that smelled as though she had doused herself in whiskey, which wasn’t entirely inaccurate, before hopping into a scalding hot shower.

Y/n let the heat of the water burn away the night before, taking with it everything that had happened in the past few months and sending it down the drain. This would be where she starts over. Last night she drank and cried away the pain. Now, she took the next step forward, to new beginnings, to success she could only ever dream of. She was growing from this if it was the last thing she did.

When the water finally ran cold, she pulled herself from the shower, and wrapped her hair atop her head in a towel. Once she was dressed, she figured there was no more time she could waste. She had to face her brother.

Jared was sitting on the couch as she entered the living room. His legs were crossed and he had one arm slung over the back of the couch. He sat up straight when he saw her, his hands finding the remote to shut off the television in haste.

Y/n fidgeted with the hem of her shirt before finally just biting the bullet. “How did I get home last night?” She asked, her voice low.

“Jensen got a call from the bartender and since he was closer, he picked you up and brought you home.” Jared folded his hands in front of him as he leaned his elbows on his knees.

“Oh,”

“Yeah.” Jared nodded, not looking at his sister.

“So, um, I only have one week left until I head home.” Y/n folded the corner of her lips under her teeth as she tried to find the right words. “I’ve found an Airbnb that I’m gonna stay in until it’s time to go home.”

Jared’s head shot up at her confession, hurt crossing his features. “You don’t have to do that, you are always welcome to stay here.”

“I just… I need some space to breathe, time to think. So much has happened in such a short amount of time and everything is just so frazzled in my brain right now. I need to start over.” Y/n tried to explain to her brother why her moving out of his apartment was the best thing for her.

“Are you saying you can’t be near me right now?”

“I’m saying I can’t be near anybody right now. I’ve got to collect my thoughts and try to figure out how to pick up the broken pieces of my life.” Her voice rose and she had to take a breath to collect herself. Getting angry would serve no one.

“Okay,” Jared relented. “You know I never meant to hurt you, right? I was just trying to protect you.”

“I know. I just don’t understand why you thought you needed to protect me from Jensen.” Y/n pushed herself away from where she was leaning against the wall and moved to sit across from Jared on the coffee table.

“Well, he did hurt you, didn’t he?” Jared was serious, and his expression fanned that fire in her belly. She wanted to yell then, to tell Jared that it was his fault that Jensen hurt her, that if he just could have been happy for them, none of this would have happened. But she didn’t. It wouldn’t solve anything. Her brother and her were finally talking and she could tell they both wanted to patch things up. They both were beginning to recognize their mistakes in all of this. After all, that’s what Jensen wanted for her in the first place, to give her her brother back. There was no way she was going to let this hole in her chest or the numbness in her mind be for nothing. It was the last thing she would do for the man she loved.

“Yeah, I guess he did.”

“I love you, smalls. I am sorry.” Jared pulled her into a crushing hug, his arms comfortingly tight around her torso. Y/n nuzzled her face into his shoulder as she tried to hide the quiver in her voice.

“Me too, Jare.”

****

If she thought things on set were awkward before, it had nothing on her last week. At least before, she had someone else to lean on in the beginning. This time, she was on her own. The three of them were standing in their own corners of the ring. Sure, she and Jared had made up, for the most part, but it was going to take some time for things to go back to normal. Forgiveness isn’t a light switch that you can just flip on and off, it takes real work. Right now, she was just thankful that they had the chance to start.

Nothing could have prepared her for the pain of staring Jensen in the face everyday and acting like everything was fine. It was far from it. Not to mention, the memories from that night he brought her home are still pretty fuzzy, and not knowing the full story was embarrassing enough in of itself without the added tension.

On her last day, the crew had baked her favorite pie to bid her goodbye. There was a small celebration at lunch, and everyone was there. Everyone but Jensen. She wasn’t sure why she expected him to be there. Maybe a part of her was hoping that he would just be there to keep up the facade. After all, people were suspicious of his absence. Jared and his sister blew it off, giving the others a lame excuse. Neither of them even bothered to care if anyone believed it. Frankly, at this point it didn’t matter either way. She was too tired to hold up any more pretenses. She was too tired to pretend like everything was okay when it wasn’t.

****

Y/n stopped as she stepped off her plane, allowing the Texas sun to bathe her in a warmth she so desperately had missed. Normally this time of year, she would be in warmer clothes, but after Vancouver, there was nothing more that she wanted to feel than the Texas sun on her skin. Hell, she just wanted to feel in general. This was her chance to truly start over, to dedicate her life to something again. Starting with her company.

Y/n didn’t even bother wasting anytime, ordering her Uber to take her to the office. The work day was nearly over, but there was something pulling her back there. She couldn’t explain it, whether it was the work, or the people, or maybe just something familiar. It didn’t matter to her though, Et Cetera was her safe place.

“Y/n!” Abby jumped from her seat behind her desk as Y/n pushed open the doors to the offices. Y/n let go of her bags and opened her arm to hug the woman. “You are never allowed to leave again.”

“That won’t be a problem, girly.” Y/n squeezed her tight before letting her go. She wiped away a tear she hadn’t realised escaped her before composing herself. “Tell me, how is everybody?”

“Everybody is great, honestly. Things are not the same without you around. We’ve truly missed seeing your face everyday.”

“Good, that’s good.” The smile that graced her lips was weak. She felt guilty now, being back in her office. After putting her everything into this business, she couldn’t even remember why she had taken Jared’s offer in the first place. Maybe she would feel different if things hadn’t fallen apart, but she would never know. All that she could do was try her best to make it up to her coworkers. “I have some emails I need to respond to and a few other things to catch up on before Monday. You guys have a good weekend and I’ll catch up with you on Monday.”

“Sure, yeah.” Abby nodded her understanding. The women parted with one more hug, both heading to do their respective work.

Y/n smiled to herself, once again finding her office just as she left it, thriving plants and all. This time the sentiment tugged a little stronger on her heart. She had thought that stepping off that plane was grounding for her, but it was nothing compared to sitting behind her desk again. The sense of pride and accomplishment that came with knowing that this little business was something she created and nurtured into a nationally recognized company was incomprehensible.

It was also for this reason that what she did came easily to her. Even the business aspect, from the beginning was something that she never exactly struggled with. But she guessed when you have a passion for something, everything else just tends to fall into place. She had many blessings to count in her thirty odd years on earth, and this was just one more to add to the list.

It didn’t take her long to do what she had needed, but long enough for the rest of the office to clear out. Abby had informed her as the rest of them had walked out. That had been about half an hour ago. It was time she left for the evening as well. What wasn’t done could wait for the weekend.

She locked down her computer and grabbed some papers to take with her after she ordered an Uber to take her home. Flipping switches as she walked back out into the lobby, she froze as her office door swung shut behind her. The main door to the offices was sitting ajar, light from foyer that led to the elevator flooding into the now dark lobby.

Y/n had been sure she had heard the door close as they left, but now was questioning that memory. She was quick to shake off the uneasiness in her stomach, remembering that sometimes the door doesn’t latch properly and that was one of the reasons that they tended to just keep it propped open during the day. Whoever went out last must not have actually pulled it tight. It was an honest mistake and she figured she would just send out a reminder email to check it behind you when you leave at night.

With one last glance around the lobby, Y/n set the alarm and headed off to return to her home, a new glint of hope for the future in her eyes.

Part 23

Forevers: @spn-impala @22sarah08 @turtlepad @callmekda @chaldei @hobby27 @cowboysnwinchesters @tranquility-or-chaos @pikabootoyouchu @dawnie1988 @grease222 @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @polina-93 @clarinette07 @moonlight-babeh @suckerforfanfic @witandnargles @sleepylunarwolf @stiles-stilinski-24-dylan @geeksareunique @akshi8278 @superfanficnatural @malfoysqueen14 @deanwanddamons

Et Cetera: @jbbarnesgirl @hillface89 @arses21434 @thevelvetseries @sslater34 @mrsirishboru @smoothdogsgirl @spnfamily-j2 @encounterthepast @facadeformyrealblog @supernatural-bellawinchester @screechingartisancashbailiff @rebeccathefangirl @squirrelnotsam @heartinmyhead1 @1d-killed-me @samsgirl93 @deans-baby-momma @deanmonandnegansbitch @woodworthti666 @supraveng @onethirstyunicorn @heartsaved @know2grow @littlewhiterose @surprisinglysarah @stoneyggirl @carryon-doctor-lock @thebookisbtr @youaremyfiveever @kalesrebellion @lilulo-12 @winchester-fantasies @vicmc624 @supernatural3002 @winchester-writes @maralisa124 @therollingstoners @parinarain

198 notes · View notes

evening-starlight · 3 years ago

Text

Chances {Chapter Fourteen}

This chapter super heavy and long

Master List

T/W: mentions of grooming, domestic abuse, divorce, cursing, sex

Finally Light

Word Count: 2027

This chapter is fucking heavy, guys. There will be talks of grooming, sex, abuse, and overall bad vibes. Please be careful reading, and if it's too much, you can skip this chapter. I will never ever hold that over you if this could be triggering. Take care of yourself first.

I sit with my back to Tom's. We got home a few minutes ago and decided to do a trick Stevie had taught me when I was having trouble opening up. Back to back was supposed to help me feel like I was talking to myself about everything.

This is supposed to be the part where I spill my guts and everything that happened with Jared, but I can't. I know he won't judge. He's shown that over the last few months of us being together. Tom's taken it slow, and he's shown me multiple times I can trust him. But this might break us.

I take a deep breath and start from the very beginning. "I was introduced to Jared at fourteen. I was young and naive, and he was an older, wiser man. He told me the things I wanted to hear. But, as I've said before, it was all innocent for a few years. He'd introduce me to his girlfriends as his little sister for the longest time. He'd help me with my homework and would scare away the bullies.

"He had me sleepover at his house whenever my parents were fighting, which was a lot. It wasn't until sixteen that things started getting weird. I basically lived there from sixteen on. I showered, slept, ate, and hung out there with my friends. It became my home. It was more home than my parents' house.

"Again, it started innocently. I'd be in the shower, and Jared would need something from the bathroom. I used his a lot just because the water pressure was the best. But it was glass. He'd shield his eyes the first few times and then would walk in without bothering.

"Slowly, he'd just stay in there and have chats with me. We'd talk about innocent stuff like school or work. We'd talk about how the band was doing and if we found a record label yet. That's actually where he offered to get me a deal with his record label while I was in the shower. And he did. He made good on that promise. Virgin Records signed us the next month for four records. But I thought it was all normal things friends did for and with each other.

"Jared was a king at making me think I was crazy. He did it all the time that, at one point, I thought I was. He called me dramatic and a girly girl whenever I made a deal about wanting to do something he didn't want me to do. Like, go to prom. I missed out on every high school prom because he didn't want me to go with another boy. Hell, I missed out on graduation because we were on our honeymoon.

"We had a sleepover the night before my eighteenth. He said it was because he wanted to be the first person to wish me a happy birthday when I woke up, but looking back, he really just wanted to be there when I legally turned eighteen to do everything he's dreamt and said he wanted to do to me. He'd say things all the time like, 'the boy who gets to fuck you first is going to be so lucky.' or 'I'm surprised I don't have boys knocking down my door to come in and take you.' I thought that's just what you say to your friends.

"But that night, we went to bed in his bed, and I remember waking up to him going down on me. The clock read twelve o'five. He waited until exactly midnight to start, like those few seconds between the 23rd and 24th would mature my brain. At the time, I thought it was romantic. He waited four long years to do this." I feel the cool tears stream down my face as I remember that traumatic night. The rock in my stomach grows with every sentence I utter, slowly causing my voice to become tight. Like the rock was taking up my airways. "And then he started changing.

"He wasn't my best friend anymore. He was this controlling monster. He slowly drove a wedge between me and everyone I cared about, including Robbie. Granted, Robbie was still reaching out to me every day with stupid memes and horrible jokes. And I saw the band once a week in the studio, but only because Jared would be there with me. He wouldn't let me go in alone. I thought it was romantic.

"I almost broke up the band because they were always so mean to Jared. They would make mean faces and be short. They'd start arguments when I was in the booth and couldn't hear what they were saying. And they tried to kick him out of Robbie's parents' house when we went over to announce our engagement. At the time, it was awful. My friends weren't accepting of my love for Jared. They were the problem." I choke back a sob, replaying all the fights the band and I had about my engagement.

"Soon after our engagement," I continue. "Jared started controlling me even more. He sold my car without asking because 'I have him now' and our driver, why would I ever need to drive myself anywhere? He went through and blocked everyone's number that was a guy and the band except Naomi. She was the only person allowed to text me and strictly band things. I thought this was all normal. I thought this is what you do when you're in love.

"The band came to my wedding, only because I wouldn't talk to Jared until he agreed to have them there. Robbie was actually my bro of honor; he didn't want to be called a maid at the time but now relishes in the term. I wouldn't let up on that either. Jared had drilled it into my head that I was unloveable. That he would be the only man who has ever loved me and will ever love me until I die. Fuck, those were even his vows, 'I have proven I am the only man who can and will ever love you the way you deserve to be treated.'" I sob loudly. Tom reaches back and holds my hand tightly, grounding me slightly.

"That cemented it in my head. Deserve. Deserve to be treated. I deserved to be treated like he was treating me. I had done nothing wrong my entire life, but obviously, if he puts it into our eternal vows, it's true. I was eighteen. I didn't know any better.

"My parents were talking to me more, wanting to be a part of my life. But every time I spoke about something bothering me, I was told to suck it up; that's just what a wife does. Suck it up and suck him off.

"It wasn't until a studio day when Jared was away on a movie set, and Shannon was out of town, that things started coming to light. I was arguing with Robbie about this god-awful melody he came up with. Like to this day, I still think he did it on purpose to start a fight," I say with a light laugh. "And then Robbie slapped me. Like, hard. Red marks and everything. I gave him a fat lip in return, and the first thing out of his mouth was, 'so why do you fight back when I hit you, but you let Jared abuse you like that?'" Tom squeezes my hand as I choke again.

"I was with him another six months before he went from slapping to fists." I swallow harshly. I hate talking about this part. The traumatic events making my hands clammy and shake. "I was black and blue for weeks, and after one vicious fight, he wasn't discrete about where they were placed. So I avoided the public for three weeks, hiding in the house as the bruises and cuts went away.

"I realized I was alone. I was totally alone in this marriage. I didn't have a husband, I had an abuser, and my friends were right. So I called Naomi one day when Jared was gone and had them meet me at her apartment. We came up with the money and the plan to get me out of that relationship. So I moved in with Robbie and Naomi, where Jared couldn't find me, and had my lawyer serve him.

"And then my parents found me. I don't know how, but they showed up at the apartment door and started berating me about how a divorce will mess up my life and how I can't do that because what will it say about them? That their daughter is twenty and divorced like a slut.

"I couldn't believe it. Maybe I was supposed to be unloveable my whole life. Maybe my friends were just big dreamers, and I deserved every punch and awful name thrown at me. Jared flipped his tune on a dime after he was served and got ahold of me.

"He offered me my own place to live, that he'd pay for it as long as I stayed married to him. He'd find the perfect place for me, with a view and everything. He'd buy me a car and let me drive myself to the studio. I felt like I was falling in love again, but I wasn't. I was falling into a false sense of relief.

"His name is on the lease and continues to send gifts, trying to buy my love back.

"It was a messy divorce" I get back on track. "When I moved out of his place and into mine, it became clear what all I was missing. I was missing club nights with the gang, movies, and normal young adult things. I already missed out on my teenagehood. I wasn't going to let him ruin my twenties. So I threatened him that I would leak all the evidence and information I have about him if he doesn't sign the papers. They were in my lawyer's office the next day.

"He didn't let me read the prenup before I signed it. The entire divorce settlement went to my parents. They got to be filthy rich for the rest of their lives like they always wanted to be. Jared sends them thousands every month that should have been sent to me.

"He's threatened to take away my deal, my apartment, and ruin my name every day. Obviously, I still live there and have my deal, but he shows up everywhere all the time. He seeks me out and inserts himself into my life. I've tried everything, but even restraining orders can do so much. And I do fall back into that habit when things are hard. He's easy. I know what to expect from him. I know how to conduct myself to keep him happy. I know him." I pause, thinking over if I missed anything with Jared. "So, that's the sob story of my awful past." I finish. I hear Tom sniffling behind me. "Are you crying?" I ask.

Tom turns around and hugs me. "I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, Love. He's a terribly awful man who should be behind bars the rest of his life." I hold onto him tighter. I knew he cared, but enough to cry on my behalf? "If I ever do anything that reminds you of him, please just let me know. I never want you to go through that again. Especially with me." I let myself cry, releasing all the shame, guilt, and horror that's sat in my stomach my whole life.

I felt lighter after that night. Tom has this extraordinary power of making me feel like I was a feather and worthy of love. He's never lost it, and I hope I never do.

Tag List: @queenofallhobos

#tom hiddleston #tom hiddelston imagine #tom hiddleston fanfic #tom hiddleston fanfiction #i got 99 problems and tom hiddleston could fix everyone of them #jared leto #Jared Leto imagine #jared leto fanfic #jared leto fanfiction #love #romance #chances #fiction #fanfic #fanfiction #original character #og #oc #original content

2 notes · View notes

suffering-and-happy-about-it · 4 years ago

Text

Helplessly Hoping (Favored Ones, Part 19.)

Series description: Many things were surely fucked up in the year 2038, but no-one ever told anyone how all of it went down. What happened before a group of people left for Seattle to handle personal matters? Why did one girl refuse to leave all of it be? And why there were so many dead in the end?

Quote for the chapter: “And you consider yourself the saviour of the human race?” - Shawn James

Part summary: Just as Ellie demanded, there was the whole meeting about the fucking Baldwin cottage situation happening. And the results of it were more or less concerning.

A/N: I’ve tried to use as many in-game/trailer/promotional dialogue as I could, altering it to suit the story, and I’ve spent at least an hour alone on those dialogues (finding them in the first place, then re-writing it, altering it, etc.). Hope you’ll enjoy. (OPEN TAGS FOR FUNNY HAHA JOKE)

Warnings: Tommy is the purest of heart and the dumbest of ass, Jesse’s ass, and angry fucking Maria. Mentions of Abby, WLFs, torture and gore, anxiety. PROBABLY A LOAD OF TYPOS Y’ALL.

Word count: 7.3K

Tagging: @nemodoren @xxgoldenhour @missdictatorme @peakymarvels @davnwillcome @pickleriiick @jodiereedus22 @gladiosamicitias @tamkashi @eternallyvenus @avengerssstuff @fangirl-inthe-us @avery-miller @mikah-writes @mad-hatter-98 @sadiaafrin99 @flavorishy @mr-robot-x @

Series master list: H E R E

Joel Miller’s playlist for the bonfire occasions: H E R E

Youtube playlists: JACKSON DAYS | SEATTLE DAYS

Early spring of 2038, two days before departure to Seattle:

Learning how to walk on your legs again was kinda funny, especially when you had Joel and Ellie around most of the time. As suspected, Joel calmed down about the unnecessary fight rather quickly, focusing on more oppressing matters at that moment, inviting Ellie to look after you when he was gone and the other way around. You were still noticeably climbing, but soon, you could walk to downtown on your own and you didn't even have to beg Joel to stop for a sec to catch your breath.

Ellie, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, was still intrigued by the fact that you and Joel are now an official couple, but that didn't mean she had got the right to tell someone what to do. And she didn't even want to... It was just... Bothering her at some times. But as long as you were looking healthy and happy with the old man, she could still get over the whole situation somehow. The bad blood between you and Dina lasted for a few days until you played a card game for spending the evening with Ellie, which you one singlehandedly, yet you showed your character and told Dina she can keep your best friend for the night.

Life almost seemed to be going back to normal... Except it wasn't going anywhere. The only people who knew about it was you, Joel, Maria, and Tommy. You didn't want to tell Ellie and you hoped that your whole mental situation will be over before you and she have some girly plans. On many occasions, you've woken up in the middle of the night, straightaway paralyzed. A single muscle on your body couldn't move and all you saw was the woman looking down on you, asking the question over and over again - where is Joel Miller? Do you know him?

And anything you've tried wasn't helping you. Pills that should give you a sleepless night? You woke up in the middle of the night, panting and disoriented. Herbal teas? Made you sick. Joel hammering you to the bed before going to sleep? You've been staring at the ceiling as the man slept with his head on your naked chest. Joel and Ellie singing you a duet while you and Dina sat on the couch, watching these two arguing about every single detail? No, that didn't help either.

You didn't know if Abby wanted to trap you inside your head, but she accomplished the mission perfectly. You could work throughout the day, as long as the job didn't need a lot of walking around, you were still the same you. But as soon as no-one was looking at you, panic and anxiety got a hold on you. One time, you were even helping in the kitchen and you were joking around with the cooks - and suddenly, your gaze fell on one of the knives. Suddenly, you couldn't hear anything but cutting vegetables, and each of these sounds reminded you of the woman. The scar on your thigh started to burn as you suddenly sat in the corner, rocking yourself to keep calm.

There was still the old you inside of that head, but it wasn't quite the same person at all. You've been a former Firefly, yet you weren't on a single mission. You killed a human person before - just to protect the man you loved. What Abby has done to you was barbarism, brutality, and vileness. And that was bringing up the conflict inside of you around which you kinda could get your head wrapped around.

No-one knew what happened in the cottage yet, because you and Tommy wanted to think about the incident on your own first. And so you did - but it was tearing you up in halves. On one hand, you didn't care for that party of shitheads at all, you didn't want to see them again. You were just glad they had left, at least seemingly, and that they aren't a threat for you or Joel anymore.

On the other hand, you had the feeling that no matter who it was, they'll be back. They were searching after Joel and they didn't find the man the first time. Who was granting you that they won't come back for round two? This time killing you for good? Just slicing your throat for the fun of it? Another question was popping on your head rather frequently. Would Abby kill you straightaway if she'd figure out you're sleeping with Joel? Just for the fun of causing pain? Just to leave a message?

All you did was consider yourself lucky - if they wouldn't come when they did, you and Tommy would've laid there dead for hours, maybe days. But the luck was supposed to run out one day, right? It was just comforting you that it didn't run out on that March day. Normally, you weren't of these who would've sought revenge. You would just go on with your life, no matter how hard that would turn out to be. But Joel... When it came to Joel, the way you took the issues had changed. You wanted and needed to know he's safe. And until Abby and her friends were searching for the man, he wasn't safe.

I ain’t a good man at all, you know? You may be thinkin’ I am, but trust me, I ain’t. You could hear Joel repeating that sentence over and over again. I’ve done some terrible things and if you’d hear them, you’d most likely get up and never come back again. I was survivin’ for a damn long time. I’ve seen my friends end up dead. I’ve hurt many people. I’ve done stuff only the worst people do, you hear me? And Abby was just of the many people he’d done wrong or dirty in the past. The result of shit Joel had done.

But you hadn't got the feeling that Joel knew Abby personally. She was young, maybe at your age, just a few years older. Maybe exactly your age, it was hard to tell. But... If Abby had known Joel personally, she'd recognize Tommy. These men bared an undeniable likeness. So Joel wouldn't know who was she even if you'd ask him. The only thing you and Tommy took as a clue was the appliques on their jackets - WLF. Washington Liberation Front. They were soldiers just as you thought so. And came all the way from Seattle. To look for Joel. Which made you everything but calm. You asked Tommy about how Joel could've come to contact with such people... And Tommy didn't have a clue.

Which only put Joel's words in perspective. You didn't know a whole lot about your man and there wasn't any certainty that you'd ever get to know these things about him. What could Joel had possibly do tying up back to WLF? Smuggle guns, bomb, supplies? Kill someone for them..? Or one of them? Joel was a man of many faces and a harsh past, which you kinda knew ever since you got to know Ellie better. But it was things like these that put everything to context.

When you both agreed it's time to tell the rest, you've gathered only the closest people to discuss what to do now. Ellie and Dina's standpoints were set completely straight, they knew exactly what to do. Joel, Tommy, Jesse, and Maria were on the neutral to calm side of the spectrum. Diego was forbidden to come and you were somewhere between going after Abby and staying put. It was all to be settled down on that evening.

"So, we all know why were here." - You started, sitting at the head of the table next to Tommy. You two somehow got out of the situation WLFs put you in, but it was sure that you're not the same way you've been before - while you were only visibly limbing and some of the leg movements made you uneasy, you were fucked up mentally. Just as Tommy was perfectly healthy mentally, he told you he lived through worse things as a Firefly, his knee was poorly working as it should. Sure, he was walking, but there was no certainty that he can lead other patrols with his current physical state. - "And we decided that it will be better from my point of view because I heard a few things Tommy didn't." - You looked at the man, who nodded to assure you. - "Shall we?"

You've started since the very morning of the eighth of March - why did you even go to the patrol in the first place, how did the horde cleansing progress, up to the point where you first met her. When you mentioned her, tears appeared in your eyes again as you looked away from all the people to calm down. - "Give her a minute, it's just too much." - Tommy said to the rest as he walked to you with his cane in his hand, hugging your shoulder as he looked out of the window beside you. He shouldn't be walking at all, but because his knee wasn't drastically broken, he persuaded Bobby to give him just a brace and a cane. Either way, it was more than a month since the whole cottage thing, you both had got better. And sure, no-one was pressuring you to talk. You had the whole night if you needed to.

For you, it was a terrifying experience to go through all of this... Again. Mentally. It wasn't good for you to go back to the day in such details, but it needed to be done. Yet with every syllable, Abby's eyes got clearer and clearer inside of your head, watching you, judging you, laughing at you. The moment when she lifted you off the ground like a piece of shit, it was all there suddenly. Your throat clenched for a second while you re-lived through the memory, making your gasp for air and gently smooth the veins there. Tommy smoothed your shoulder carefully, looking at the profile of your face.

"Feelin' good now, kiddo?" - Tommy asked when you blinked twice to get yourself out of the moment. With a long sigh, you nodded and walked back to the table to continue with the story.

"There was a blizzard out there, you could barely see three feet in front of you. So the woman, named Abby, offered us to show us the way to a nearby cabin where she and her friends were taking refuge at the time. Naturally, we agreed to this offer because we would most likely get lost in the snow and freeze to death somewhere. Abby's friends saved us from a small portion of the horse, and they took us inside." - You looked directly at Joel for a minute, trying to find comfort inside his face, finding concern only. That wasn't a good sign. - "When I stepped inside, I immediately noticed that there's something wrong with the people. I've seen a lot of groups passing through Jackson to get some sleep, gather supplies, food, water... But these didn't look anything like it. The clothes, moves, each of them looked strong. There was this lady who approached me and asked me if I'm feeling okay. To which I replied, that I am feeling alright.

I tried to signal Tommy that I don't feel safe inside that house, but he was talking to this Hispanic man, I didn't quite catch his name. So I played along and followed Abby deeper into the house. There, I met... Oscar? Omar? Oliver...? Owen. This man was Owen. And he was furious and they started to argue. For a reason, everyone started to gather in the room to look at us, and I could tell straight away that something was going downhill. Tommy was chatting with them and suddenly, Abby turned to me and asked me this question. I can hear the voice asking it every fucking night, again, again, and again. It haunts me." - A shaky breath left your lips as you jolted in discomfort. Tommy already knew what was coming, so he just stared at his hands entwined on the table.

"Do you know a man named Joel Miller by any chance?" - You repeated, hearing Abby asking you the question, staring down on you. You've been feeling everything you felt when Abby was just one foot away from you. The nerves, dry mouth, and the desperate need to keep yourself under control. And this time, it even felt harder than before, because you knew what comes next.

"To which I replied that I don't know any man by that name. But I fucked up, it is how it is. And I swear to you that this... Woman... Put her arm around my neck, picked me off the ground, and choked me. And all she said was 'Hey, we don’t wanna kill you. But we will.' And she tried to do just that. Before you guys came in." - A shiver ran down your spine as the picture of the woman kneeling beside you popped up inside your head. Owen holding the chair as Abby had beaten you up, helping her with the nails. Your hands were looking disgusting. Sure, it was way better and most of the nails started to grow back, but the ones on your pinkies and ring finger were gone.

"What are we waiting for?" - Ellie asked suddenly, having every stare turned at her and Dina. She was visibly shaken - not only did they fucked you up like two dogs, but they were after Joel as well. - "Washington Liberation Front. We know where that is, don't we?" - The girl asked fiercely, but Maria pointed her palm at the girl, stopping her from hyping a super-dangerous plan which would only get everyone killed.

"Joel, when did you work for the WLF?" - Maria furrowed, looking at her brother-in-law. - "I thought you were smuggling for the Fireflies and other people back in Boston, but you never mentioned running the business in Seattle... Or in this area generally." - The woman asked silently, and each of you looked at Joel. But the man was out of his mind as well - it was his fault, just as he thought so. The past always found its way to him, didn't it?

"I've never worked in Seattle. I don't know any WLFs, never met 'em." - Joel answered shortly, looking down on his palms

"It doesn't matter. I don't care who the fuckers are, what did they want of what they need from the old man here. They've been trying to get one of us, what if they show up again?" - Ellie jumped straight to the chase again, this time standing up. - "They most likely know where we live, it doesn't take a genius to figure out the patrol trails, and they've been here once, what thing on Earth is holding them from getting into the area again? Huh? And what if they kill us all? What if they bring more people back? Huh?" - She looked at everyone with a hint of disgust in her face. This time, Tommy was the one to take a calm approach.

"Kiddo, sit down, will ya? We have no idea what we're walkin' into. You don't know anythin' about them. We don't know how large that group is, how armed they are," - "What are you doing?" - Ellie snapped back. The girl was walking on mighty thin ice, as Joel would say, but you got what she's after. These people were nothing but a threat to Jackson - and more importantly to Joel. You couldn't simply leave that be, hoping they won't come back. But you didn't say anything out loud, you just sat there and looked into the table desk, minding your own business.

"I don't care. Joel told me that this isn't my decision to make. Guess what, Tommy. It is from now on. These people tried to harm my family. I think you got the best idea about what kind of people they are. And I'm going no matter how you decide. You can't stop this. You can't stop me." - The girl walked out of the room, leaving you all there. Dina looked at Maria, who was already scheming a plan.

"This is suicide. No-one ain't is going after them. I don't care, I... I will put my men around her house to keep an eye on her..." - Maria was whispering frantically, trying to figure out what to do to keep the girl down. Joel exhaled loudly and took one look at you, closing his eyes in pain. He knew that empty look you were giving the piece of furniture. Whenever Ellie was about to take off, you will follow her for a few various reasons - you didn't want to get herself killed. And you didn't want to see Joel get hurt. And deep down inside, there was another reason which was the most understandable - you wanted to hurt back the people who hurt you. It could be barely seen that you're trembling, thinking about what you'll do. The world seemed to be so empty suddenly.

There was no other choice - you were going to Seattle.

"If she decides to go, Maria, no patrols are going to stop Ellie. The question is who will come with her." - Jesse told everyone quietly. With that, Joel had the last spark of home inside of him - maybe you won't be so stupid to agree with Ellie's short-fire plan. Yet when you closed your eyes, having a small wrinkle on your forehead, he knew that you're not the case.

Shortly after, everyone got home. And it felt off-putting to watch Joel's house, knowing you'll leave as soon as Ellie decides to go. You and Dina agreed about exchanging the intel the other day, once she and Ellie come up with some plan.

The house was looking way better than ever before. Up to that point, you never realized it has a perfect location in a good neighborhood. Especially, when Joel didn't have many neighbors. All you could see was the best ways to sneak to his door, and when you left that out, you only knew the inside of the house. And as the spring was slowly coming back, the flowers, bushes, and trees started to finally blossom after the long winter. Birds were singing the whole time you were walking to the porch, the warm wing was smoothing your skin and messing with your hair. How comes that you've never noticed the golden film of the sunlight? Or the innocent white of the evening clouds?

"You 'kay back there?" - Joel asked you from opening the door. You were leaning into the railing, watching the surroundings. After a small while of watching the man, you gave him a vulnerable smile and nodded. For a minute, Joel still stood there and waited for you to come in, but you didn't move an inch. You turned your head back to look at the neighborhood and the mountains in the landscape. That was when he walked next to you, leaning into the wood as well. - "What's goin' inside that head of yours, huh?" - He whispered, slowly pulling closer until your shoulders bumped into each other.

"Never noticed how beautiful Jackson can be - until now, cowboy." - An honest whisper left your lips. Joel didn't like your expression at all - there was this sadness and melancholy inside of it and Joel would bet everything that he knew exactly what was going on inside your head.

"Girl, if you're thinkin' about the Abby kiddo, stop it. For both my and yours sake. This kind of thoughts won't bring any good, you hear me?" - The man whispered and lowered his head enough to kiss the top of your shoulder. - "What happens at Baldwin, that stays at Baldwin. I don't want you to see you get near the stables, weaponry, you won't be sneakin' out at midnight, we clear?" - Joel asked, having you snickering at his statement and the whole topic. You knew you're about to pull that stunt. And he knew it as well. But it felt cute that he's putting so much care into this whole thing.

"I told you that I'm not thinking about the Baldwin cottage thing. I'm not. I'm just looking at nature, taking in the sights, you know?" - You smiled, trying to look at least a bit happy for Joel. The man looked into your eyes for a moment with an unnatural expression. But in the end, he nodded and looked away from you. Both of you knew that you're lying, but neither of you wanted to talk about the lie more closely. - "I was thinking about playing some gee-tar. What about you bringing me that instrument and making me a cup of coffee before we go to sleep, Joel?" - You asked after a moment, having the man realizing how vulnerable you were at the moment. He could just call you out about the bullshit. Yet he didn't. Joel just smoothed your back with his palm, pulling you a bit closer.

"You don't drink coffee. Didn't the coma messed with your brain, baby girl?" - The man asked but slowly walked to the door. You just sighed, reminding him of sugar. He brought everything anyway - both the guitars, both the mugs with the coffee and some fruits you could both snack on. The first songs you've played were shaky and off the rhythm, your voice wasn't the best either, which had you cringe a lot.

The man was calming you down, reminding you to have patience and not to jump into things too quickly. The best moment of the night was when you played A-Ha together, Joel playing the instrument while you curled up in the rocking chair, which he brought for you from the cabin in the woods, and sang. When the conversation you two had slowly faded away, you caught yourself falling asleep as Joel was playing with his guitar, playing parts of various songs you didn't even know. He had woken you up an hour or so after, making sure you won't be too bitten by mosquitos.

The following day, the signal you were waiting for came - Dina ran to you while you were helping in the kitchen and the diner. She told you, very hastily, that you will take off the following day, two hours after midnight, and that you'll have a meeting point at the south breach. Jesse, who was authorized to spy on both you and Dina, along with Ellie and Joel, had to see it because of course, he had. It was quite logical when you had a shift in the kitchen at the same time.

"What are you two whispering about, birdies?" - The boy leaned between your heads. If you had to be honest, he was looking good with the apron and a crooked smile on his lips as he held the bowl with the yeast dough. After a smile while of looking at him, you gave him your typical chuckle, getting back to the vegetables in front of you.

"About your ass." - You answered innocently. At that, Dina joined you, leaned her ass into the counted next to your workplace. Her eyes looked at her ex-boyfriend's ass shamelessly. After a moment, her agreeing hum sounded next to your ear as both you and Jesse snickered. - "I mean, Y/N's not wrong. Maybe you'll finally have your luck with Bobby now you're single?" - Dina asked, offering you a hand to do a high five. The boy looked at you with an offense in his grinning face, running his tongue along the line of his teeth.

"All I said is that the lady has a nice bottom. It was at the Christmas party, there was a lot of eggnogs and I was drunk. Don't ever bring that up again. Deal?" - Jesse pointed the wooden spoon at the two of you. Dina and you behaved childishly quite often, but it was never too inappropriate or annoying. You know where to put the stop to the whole playing-around thing.

"I certainly can't promise that, Jesse." - "Me neither" - You both shook your heads and you started to cut the tomatoes again. You already cleaned and cut more than one big bag of them and there was still a lot remaining. And trust me, you were a lot in the kitchen since you got back from the Baldwin place. It was occurring because of two main reasons - Maria wanted to have you under control and you still weren't sure about somehow getting through the whole patrol process.

"I would miss this... If you'd were going to Seattle." - Jesse whispered, looking into the dough in front of him. Dina flashed her eyes at you and licked her lips swiftly. Jesse had to know that you were up to something and he even had to know what was that something. - "Thank God you're not that dumb." - Jesse gave you a shining smile over the shoulder, leaning back to the dough.

"Yeah, exactly. Thank God we aren't." - You repeated and watched Dina leaving as she pointed two fingers up to signal you the time you, her, and Ellie will meet up. Neither of you planned on sleeping that night - you decided to sneak out, walk at least five miles from Jackson, find a cover and sleep there. So it was special for you when you and Joel were getting into bed. Neither of you felt like sex, so you just told each other about your days as you laid down, preparing for some sleep. Just like the first time, he'll wake up and he'll be alone. That was almost poetic.

It was a repeating cycle - but this time, Joel won't find you wandering around the city. Sure, the man got a little suspicious when you didn't want to cuddle closer and you just laid there facing each other. While the man was already drifting off, or so you suspected, you were just laying there and memorized every inch of his face. The gray, maybe-too-long but still maintained haircut and trimmed beard, a bit crooked nose with a small scar in the middle, deep wrinkles on his forehead and two leading down from his cheeks - these were visible especially when he spoke or smiled at you. Your hand was itching to feel the nicely-shaped lips, slowly caressing away down to his throat to feel the rough skin with fading suntan. But you just laid there with tears in your eyes, fighting an urge to cry.

He was beautiful. He was. And you were leaving him just to make sure he was safe. What a fucking irony.

To your surprise, you had fallen asleep. When you woke up, you've just opened up your eyes and looked around, Joel wasn't in the bed. First, you thought you're late and that he maybe knew what you were planning on doing, but you exhaled slowly when you heard the water in the bathtub moving around. He was probably taking one of his late-night baths. He had tendencies to do that when he was sleeping poorly or when he had woken up in the middle of the night. But it urged you to act quickly.

You pulled a backpack from under the bed, checking that there are your gun and the knife. Quickly, you threw some sweatshirt and a few t-shirts to change on your journey, put some warm clothes on and sneaked downstairs to put the boots on. You were moving around swiftly and quietly to make sure Joel won't be suspicious - he had to hear you walking around the place, but there wasn't a single word coming from the bathroom, so you supposed you're safe.

Slowly, you took in a long breath as you palmed the doorknob, closing your eyes. - "Lord, please grant me your mercy and take care of Joel when I'm gone. And make sure hell forgive me over the time, deal?" - You prayed. You never went to the church and you, neither Fireflies nor your parents weren't religious people. You didn't know how prayers worked, what to say, or how to concept it. But it felt good to say something to the entity up there. And if there wasn't anything, you just felt good about saying it out loud.

Shit almost hit your pants when the dining room lit up suddenly and Joel leaned his shoulder to the doorframe. He didn't even have to say a word and you already knew he's pissed. He was clothed, just after a bath and his furrow, dear Lord, that was some nightmare fuel.

"You goin' somewhere?" - The man asked quietly, crossing his forearms on his chest. Slowly, your hand let the doorknob go. A quick cuss left your lips when you smoothed your wet hands on your thighs, taking in a deep breath. Jesus, you never felt so bad. You were busted, like five-year-old stealing candy from the cookie box. - "Joel..." - You put one of your palms up, trying to calm him down before he'd let the thunder fell on you.

"I asked you 'bout lettin' the whole Baldwin thing go and you looked me in my damned eyes and said 'yea'. Did you think that you're so unobtrusive, actin' like you hadn't an idea that I know what's up? You think you're so clever, huh? Jesse told me 'bout the small date you and Dina had in the kitchen." - Joel walked to you slowly and you could tell that you're just fucked up. There was no other way to put it. Joel busted your ass and probably, he told Maria, so you weren't going anywhere.

"Don't try to stop me, Joel. If you stop me now, I'll just sneak out later. All it would do would be setting Dina and Ellie alone, and if there'd be just the two of them..." - You started to talk frantically, but Joel's palms on your shoulders made you stop. He was looking you in the face with a slight furrow. When you wanted to wiggle out, his palm caught your cheek and the man made you look up at him.

"I am not stoppin' you. I told you, baby girl, that if you'd like to go after 'em, we will go after 'em together. I am disappointed and we'll need to talk about that later, but I won't be stoppin' you, nor Dina, nor Ellie. I just don't wanna lose you, 'kay?" - The man breathed out as the oxygen in his throat hitched. You put both your palms on his chest, looking him in the face. Your tongue tried to tell all the words you wanted to tell him, all the syllables you had inside your head, but nothing came out of your mouth.

Was there any sense in trying to talk Joel down from coming with you? The man had his head and he was stubborn, so you wouldn't stop him for shit. This was dangerous for him. Joel wasn't the youngest, his reflexes weren't that good either, and... Anything could go wrong. He could die. He could die for real. Slowly, you licked your lips, hugging the man. Sure, it will weird Ellie out to have Joel coming with you on another adventure. But... More eyes see more, more brains know more and more hands could do more, right? Ellie will find her way around it, you were sure of that.

"Took my revolver and the ammo I've had hidden for it with me. You're taking your bow and quiver, right?" - He whispered to your ear. Oh. OH. The bow and arrows. You would've forgotten it at home if Joel didn't bring it up. Because of the pressure around.

With a smile, you walked to the cabinet you kept your toys in, taking them out. - "You're secretly hoarding ammo without telling Maria about it? Where are the days when your ass didn't take any ammo with it on patrols?" - A question rang throughout the silent house, having Joel chuckle in response. - "You're the most paranoid person I know, Miller. But I love for that, God knows I do." - You walked back, putting the weapon on the table as you wrapped your hands your the nape of his neck. - "I love..." - Joel answered, but he was interrupted by the noises coming from the outside.

The subtle romantic moment was ruined by something going on on the street. Quickly, you walked to the window to look out of it - and your eyes widened horrifiedly when you saw Maria stomping right to your door, leading Dina and Ellie behind her. Fuck, she must've caught them earlier. And she looked so pissed that you felt your stomach tighten.

"Did Jesse told Maria about this?" - You asked Joel, quickly hiding your and his backpack, putting the arrows and the bow down from the table. It was weird enough to find you both dressed up for a stroll at two a.m., but when Ellie and Dina were busted already, you were busted too.

"No, the boy didn't tell her. He just wanted me to know 'cause he was worried you're gonna get yourself killed, that's what he told me." - Joel shook his head, already watching his sister-in-law stomping on the porch, knocking on the door. Well... Maria didn't knock. She almost broke the door in halves.

For a moment, Joel looked at you to see if you're calm enough and then, he finally opened up, a crooked smile playing on his lips. Ellie's eyes shot wide open when she saw him all ready as well, but there wasn't space for her to speak, so she just sent you a nod. And Dina? She looked the worst, like a small kid who waited for a slap. - "Hey. Wouldn't expect you here so late, Maria, howdy," - Your man started charmingly, bit the blonde woman just pushed him out of the doorframe, walking straight to the dining table.

"What happened?" - You whispered to Ellie. Before the girl answered, she licked her lips and shook her head, giving you a clear idea. She didn't know. But before she opened up her mouth, Maria pointed her finger into the wooden desk of the table.

"Sit down, all four of you. And don't test my patience." - She ordered quietly, but her voice hinted on how infuriated she was. The situation was wickedly hilarious - Joel, a man in his early fifties, you, and two girls around their twenties were getting bitched down like a band of kindergartners. And by the looks of it, Maria wasn't slowing down.

"Maria, I've headed to Seattle, I wish I could let it all go, but I can't. I have to bring these people to justice." - She started to read from a piece of paper in her palm, looking at you and Ellie specifically. - "Ellie was right. I can't let them get away with the stuff they've done to the poor girl and with the stuff they planned on doing. I just can't. What if they'd come back, attacking at us in full force? What's holding them back?" - She read the question mockingly, but let you all know she doesn't want to get an answer on that one. She licked her lips to progress with the letter.

"I know that at least one of the three girls will come after me. Assign patrols checking on their houses in the night, make them busy, take their guns, lock the guns and horses up, maybe lock all of them up?" - Maria was getting more and more infuriated just by reading the text. So Jesse didn't tell on you. Tommy had set to Seattle on his own, holy motherfucking love of Jesus Christ. That was just a dumb idea which sure will get him killed.

"Buy me some time so I can end this on my own terms. Love you always, Tommy." - She finished and leaned her palms into the table. - "Do you realize what this letter means? Any of you? He's gonna get himself killed." - Maria bent the paper in halves, taking in a long breath.

Ellie rolled her eyes and you could see her inflating her cheeks with anger. Each of you was in a different stage of anger at that moment. And Ellie's was most probably the most hot-headed and childish, but she spoke first nonetheless. - "I told you that you can stop this, Maria. We need to finish this. He should've taken us with him. You should've given us a group to go after those fuckers right away!" - The girl whispered recklessly, looking into the desk with tongue running over her front teeth. The blonde woman sighed loudly, rolling her eyes.

At that, Maria laughed cold-heartedly, looking at the girl with anger burning inside her eyes. Whatever was going on inside Maria's head, it was a real fight. Dina turned her head at you when you breathed out, shook your head, and lowered it down. This was your fault. Your fucking fault. Tommy had the feeling that he has to do it for you. The man could barely work and his arm still wasn't good either. This mission wasn't only a suicidal one, it was pure madness. - "Wish I could." - The old woman looked Ellie in the eyes rather daringly, as if she was daring the girl to do something.

"So, now what, Maria? You wanna lock us up inside our houses? Take away our guns? Will you make us... Busy?" - Ellie opposed and finally looked at Maria. This situation was extremely uncomfortable for everyone - while Ellie had full-on one on one argument with Maria, while the three of you, you, Dina and Joel, sat there in dead silence, each of you lost in your thoughts. But you still listened to the topic of the conversation, in case of Maria would try directly verbal-assaulting anyone else. Sure, she was just mad, but if this fight would go off the rails... Some rather nasty things could've been said. Some of which couldn't be taken back.

"Well, when you're asking me so nicely, I'd prefer that you'd both stay," - Maria sighed and looked at you and Ellie sitting next to each other. You two were definitely where this suicidal idea to go to Seattle came from, she was sure of that. You most likely wanted to protect Joel, which as cavalierish as it was crazy, and Ellie wanted to revenge you. At that, Ellie spangled on her feet, having an offended expression in her face. When she pointed her finger at maria, the woman lowered her head. - "That's not gonna fucking happen," - " I'd prefer that you'd both stay, but I know you better." - With that, Ellie shut up in surprise as Maria walked to the other half of the table, now looking at Joel and Dina.

"Are you going with them?" - She rose her eyebrows. The man didn't answer, he just nodded, and Dina let out an offended 'yeah' as if it wasn't obvious.

"What did you planned on doing? Just sneaking outta here? On foot? Huh?" - Maria made herself snicker ironically after hearing another yeah, this time from Ellie. You, you were impossible. Sneaking on foot out of Jackson and traveling to Seattle? In the cold and stormy spring that was coming? Sometimes, you were dumber than Maria thought. Everyone was silent as you watched Maria looking out of the window into the night neighborhood, taking in another deep breath. When she was sure she won't kill any of you on the spot, she turned back to the table, leaning into it and staring into everyone's eyes.

"I told the stable to let you out with Sadie and Shimmer. Grab some ammo too. And some food and sleeping bags." - At that, each of you shut up. And Maria started tearing up, so she closed her eyes for a moment to calm down.

"Thank you, Maria." - Dina whispered with true respect in her voice, watching the lady calming down by walking around Joel's dining room. But then, she looked at you and Ellie with a saddened smile. - "Just, uh, do me a favor and bring my dumbass husband home in one piece, please. And... When you come back from there, we won't be ever talking about it again. No Abby, no WLFs, no golf clubs, no cottage in the mountains. We'll pretend that it never had happened." - Maria sighed. Ellie started nodding as the first one as she went to hug Maria tightly to calm the woman down. Then you went to share the hug with them, having Dina joining in as the last one. Joel sat there and watched you with a sad smile.

"All right then." - Maria stepped aside, looking at the three of you. You were always together when you did something good, something bad or something crazy. And this, to Maria's surprise, checked every box. - "Get going, you're... The way to Seattle is long, even on horseback and you need as much daylight as you can get. And to your information, Jesse didn't tell me you're planning on leaving. It was Diego who heard it." - And with that, Maria walked out of the house with the letter in her hand, shaking hands and teary eyes.

You stood there for a little longer, not knowing how to react. And as usual, Ellie was first to break the awkward silence. - "Holy motherfucking shit. I can't believe it worked out." - She sighed and sat down for a little longer as you and Joel get to preparing your gear again. Dina scoffed ironically, leaning into the back of the chair.

"Not to be the one who's breaking it to you, but everything had fucked up as much as it could and Tommy with his fucked up leg and arm is currently MIA." - Well, that was one way to look at the situation as well.

"Don't worry 'bout him for now. He's a capable guy, I saw a lot of things he has done while he was a Firefly. Trust me, if someone should be worried, it's the fuckers in Seattle." - Joel answered at that statement and zipped his jacket all the way under his chin, controlling the stuff he picked up once again. Your backpacks were full of personal stuff, but once you'd get to the horses, you'll do some space management and it'll be good. - "Since when you're going, old-timer? I don't see this happening." - Ellie licked her lips, watching Joel's face with one of her stubborn gazes.

"Then open up your eyes, kiddo. If she's comin', I'm comin'." - The man looked at you with a smile and you smiled back. Both the girls were uncomfortable for a while, watching the two of you, but after a small while, Ellie nodded and clapped. - "'kay. Fine. Alrite. Maria's right. The earlier we go, the further we get, the sooner we can catch some sleep."

37 notes · View notes

trashyswitch · 4 years ago

Text

The Imperfections of a Dragon Slayer

Roman is proud of all that he's accomplished. He's managed to convince the other sides that he's a strong dragon slayer with no weaknesses. Zero. None. The Dragon couldn't best him even if it tried! But Remus is ruining his plans, and trying to bring a specific weakness into the light of day... In front of all the sides...

I'm back from the Cottage, and I had an amazing time! Lots of family time and socializing, but it feels nice to be back in my comfy bed with the mixed smell of my dog and the Japanese Cherry Blossom aroma filling my bedroom.

I missed you all!

There have been multiple times where Remus has been evil to Roman. But not to the point of physically harming him. He knows that as a side, he can’t die or get severely injured. The worst he can experience is passing out from a head injury. And even THAT doesn’t last long. Instead, he would just annoy Roman. A lot.

Roman has used decades of his childhood to convince the sides that he is a strong, tough side with a bit of femininity and lots of experience. Being the dragon slayer meant training for his fights, practicing his sword fighting agility and being the ultimate savior when no one else can be.

But Remus on the other hand, has been spending time trying to prove to every side that Roman is also imperfect just like him. In the past, this would come up as being defeatable in combat, being to feminine (therefore sensitive) to be macho, and using annoying tactics to prove even annoying the dragon slayer can make him crumble. But one day, Remus had an epiphany: tickling can be used in his plans as well! Tickling is a harmless act that can weaken a person simply by a few touches on the ribs or armpits! The general idea that a man with a tough exterior can be taken down through a childish act, is usually a satisfying concept when done properly. Plus: Roman can’t possibly get mad at him if he’s laughing his head off. So, it’s a win-win situation!

Remus went through a long phase of using tickling against his brother in the most annoying moments. He tickled him while he hung onto the monkey bars, he tickled him while he practiced his sword fighting, and he even tickled him each and every time Roman quoted anything along the lines of ‘I am tough’ or ‘no one can defeat me’. This funny information was soon taken by the sides and ultimately used against Roman in his most annoying moments.

One day, Patton walked into Remus’s room with a new idea. “What if: everytime Roman tries to deny that he’s a weakling, we give him a raspberry?” Patton suggested.

Remus jumped up and threw his arms around Patton almost immediately. “You’re a GENIUS! AN ABSOLUTE GENIUS!” Remus shouted to him.

While the father was being hugged, Patton giggled and began explaining the plan…

[An hour later]

Roman had been walking around and showing off his big man muscles. “Look at these huge man guns! They’ll truly take every gay man’s breath away…” Roman declared before shoving his muscles into Logan’s face.

Logan, being completely unphased by the muscles, just kept on reading despite the smell of girly deodorant filling his nose. “Wow. You can flex your muscles. I’m astonished.” Logan said in the most monotone voice.

This sarcastic comment ended up making Roman angry. “How dare you! I bet I can beat you in an arm wrestle easily.” Roman declared.

Remus perked up at Roman’s challenge. Would this be their chance?

Logan sighed. “You’re right. You could beat me in an arm wrestle. But that’s only one type of challenge.” Logan explained.

Roman frowned. He wanted to challenge Logan. Remus frowned as well, but for a completely different reason altogether. He wanted to see Roman get tickled again.

“And even if we did do an arm wrestling challenge, I’m pretty sure someone in this group would start tickling you.” Logan added bluntly. Roman’s face morphed into anger, with some fear mixed in. Remus smirked. He’s tickled Roman so much, that people are teasing him about it now! Remus also mentally took a note that Logan was on his side.

“I-...W-well, Remus is ticklish too.” Roman mentioned, pointing at his twin brother.

Remus widened his eyes in surprise. Did...did Roman seriously try to pin this on him?! Thankfully, Remus was already perfectly confident with showing them his own imperfections. So, Remus smiled evilly.

“You’re right. I am. Especially on the feet and hips.” Remus outwardly said. Roman’s face grew so angry, it was almost laughable!

...Let me rephrase that: it WAS laughable. Patton ended up giggling out loud at the bickering.

“But why would you tickle Remus? He’s just gonna stink up the room with the smell of Limburger cheese.” Logan commented as if Remus wasn’t even there.

“But wouldn’t you want the room smelling like the world famous Belgium?” Remus asked in a mock dutch accent.

“It’s not that bad.” Roman admitted. Roman, being his twin, has had to get used to his brother’s overall smell. Therefore: he’s gone somewhat nose-blind to him.

Virgil snickered and muttered something.

Roman walked right up to Virgil’s face. “What did you just say?” Roman reacted, sensing an idea of what he might’ve said.

“I said ‘foot fetish’.” Virgil replied back with a smirk. Remus snickered at Virgil’s bluntness.

“I do not!” Roman argued.

“You basically just said ‘I would sacrifice Remus’s feet smell in order to expose how ticklish his feet are. Therefore: you have a foot fetish.” Virgil replied.

“Or nose-blindness.” Logan added.

“Or both.” Virgil added on top of that.

“True. There’s only so much you can blind your nose from, when a person’s smelly feet are involved.” Logan commented.

Remus got up and walked up behind Roman. “Besides: Why try and tickle me, when I could just tickle you right now?” Remus teased as he started poking his sides and tickling his ribs.

Roman started yelping and grunting in surprise, and attempted to wiggle himself out of Remus’s grip. In response, Remus lifted up an arm and started scratching in his exposed armpit.

“HEHEY! REMUSYOUEVIHIHIHIHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Roman yelled, falling into laughter almost right away.

“Let’s make a new challenge:” Remus suggested. “But first: I’m gonna need a volunteer to hold Roman’s arms up for me.” Remus explained as he stopped tickling.

“I’ll do it!” Patton declared. Patton summoned a foldable foot stool and unfolded it, before standing on top of the stool with Roman’s arms now in his hands.

Roman gulped at the vulnerable position, and attempted to tug on the grip. But he couldn’t get his hands out. He tried giving Patton a pleading face, but Patton had a confident, smug facial expression. “I...I’m scared. Why does Patton look like he’s going to tickle me to death?” Roman asked.

Patton looked at Remus and giggled at the thing in the mustached man’s hand: a feather. Remus walked slowly in front of Roman, and started spinning the feather in Roman’s face. Roman could feel a wobbly smile starting to form on his lips. Then, Remus started moving the feather around. Back and forth he flutters it to tease the man. Remus moved the feather closer and farther from the twin’s face, as to give him false stress as well as false safety.

“I can just tell this feather is making you veeeeery nervous. There’s drops of sweat practically drawing themselves onto your face.” Remus teased.

Finally, the feather touched down against Roman’s chin. Roman’s eyes widened in horror and slight excitement, as slight giggles started creeping up in his lungs. Then, Remus started gently fluttering the feather under his chin. This feathery lightness made Roman want to curl in and just give into the giggles. But he had to keep his composure better than that!

So, Roman held on as best as he could. “I sense your bravery. But can you resist the feeling of the feather moving around?” Remus asked with a smirk.

Roman could feel more tears of nervous sweat falling down his face. He can handle something like that. It’s just super light tickling. Not even laugh-worthy. It’s not the type of laughter that would take your breath away quickly. So, it should be possible, and even easy!

...Right?

Remus started moving the feather down the neck and slowly down the shoulder. The feather was dragged down the front of his shoulder at an insanely slow pace...and into his exposed armpit. Roman’s eyes widened to the size of donuts, when he felt the ticklish sensation of a feather tip in the deep middle of his armpit.

“R-Remus...Plehease dohon’t.” Roman begged. To that, Remus only smirked and started drawing little circles in his armpit. “Plehehehease! Ihihit’s sohoho slohohow!” Roman giggled helplessly.

“Slow, you say?” Remus teased in a low voice. Suddenly, the feather started moving towards the bottom of his armpit and started making circles again. Roman’s giggles started to hint to Remus that he was becoming a nervous wreck. This was worse than being tickled while dangling from the monkey bars. This was worse than being surprise attacked. This was pure suspense, unpredictability and little to no mercy. But the irony was: there was very little tickling actually happening! So how were these little bits of tickling already driving him up the wall?!

Remus started moving the feather down the side of his ribs. Slow scribbles of the feather tip could be felt as it climbed itself down towards Roman’s squishy side. Remus’s careful maneuvering made every touch feel as light as it possibly can be.

“Ihi-...Ihihihi...Remus, cohohome ohohon!” Roman begged.

“What’s wrong, Roman? A little too light for you to handle?” Patton asked in an innocent voice.

Roman whined. Every light touch made it almost impossible for Roman to keep his sane composure. Everything in him was screaming for him to laugh, but the super light touches weren’t allowing him to have a full giggle fit. But the longer he resisted, the more his instincts would kill him. Even if he let out giggles, the giggles would come out in super short spurts. There wasn’t enough ticklish touch for him to let out a satisfyingly long giggle, let alone a laugh. So the poor man HAD to resist!

The feather moved itself to Roman’s stomach, and started scribbling and drawing madly on his stomach. Finally, he could let out a proper giggle.

“Ohohohokahahahahay. Thisisehevil. Sohohoho ehehevihihil. You twohohoho ahare soho dehehehead ahahafteher thihihihis!” Roman warned.

In retaliation, Remus moved the feather to Roman’s belly button.

“eeeEEEK! NOHO! NOHOHO BEHEHELLY BUHUHUTTOHON!” Roman yelled half-heartedly.

“But why not? Truly it can’t be that bad. I’m barely touching you.” Remus teased slyly.

Roman shot Remus an angry look. “Yohohou ahahass...Ihihihi’m soho gohonna kihihihill yohohou ahafter thihihis.” Roman swore.

“Okay. That’s it.” Patton declared. The father waved away Remus’s feather before letting go, kneeling down, and blowing a HUMONGOUS raspberry on Roman’s belly!

“hehEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PAHAHAHATTYYYYYY! NOHOHOHO!” Roman screamed, not at all expecting that. The feeling of finally fully laughing felt good at first. But now, Roman was expecting the worst from the father figure.

Remus gasped. “Patton! You were supposed to hold him up! Not take over!” Remus yelled at him. His plan was utterly ruined now thanks to Patton.

“You’re being too slow and light on him. What this man needs...is to be dying of laughter!” Patton told him. Then, Patton blew a raspberry close to Roman’s hip.

“NAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Roman laughed hysterically.

“But...being incredibly slow WAS killing him!” Remus whined, before frowning and pointing his finger at Patton. “You just have no patience!” Remus accused.

“I do! I just chose not to take the super slow route. As a loving father to everyone in this room, I feel the need to take over the role as the lead tickle monster.” Patton declared as he squeezed Roman’s hips multiple times.

“BAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! TIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI!” Roman continued to laugh.

“Well, that’s not fair! I know my brother better than everyone here! I’m his twin brother! Therefore: I should be the lead tickle monster in this situation.” Remus argued as he tickled Roman’s lower back ribs.

Roman squeaked and leaned himself backwards, before covering his mouth with his hands and letting out squeals with his laughter.

“And yet: I raised you two! I held you two when you were teeny, tiny babies! Therefore: I am the ultimate tickle monster!” Patton declared as he moved his left hand up to Roman’s armpit.

"IHIHIHIHIHIHIHI'M DYHYHYHYHYHYIHIHIHIHIHING! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Roman screamed.

“If that’s the case, then maybe Thomas himself should be the lead tickle monster.” Remus suggested as he tickled Roman’s strong abs.

Roman doubled over and actually started snorting! It took everything in Logan not to laugh at him for that. So, Logan took a mental note to make fun of him for the snort a little later.

“But how does that work?! We ARE Thomas!” Patton reacted, scratching the upper ribs.

Suddenly, Roman’s physical body seemed to disappear. They no longer felt a physical being on their fingers and instead, felt the thin air that filled the house. Patton and Remus paused their tickle attack and looked at the empty space in between them. That space was just occupied 5 seconds ago! Did...Did Roman sink out?!

“Hahahaha...Hahahahehehehe...Ehehehehehevihil...ihihi cahahahahan’t breheheathe...aaahahaha…” Patton heard below him. Patton and Remus looked down at the ground, and found a bright-colored, giggly Roman all curled up on the floor.

Logan chuckled at Roman. “Tuckered out from all the tickling?” Logan asked. Roman, to everyone’s surprise, gave Logan the middle finger. Even Logan lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “Wow...that’s rather rude coming from a dragon slayer who just got bested from a few tickles.” Logan told him.

Roman groaned. Why must they make fun of his one and only weakness like this?!

“It would sure be a shame if I told the next dragon villain about your silly weakness…” Virgil added.

Roman gasped in horror and sprinted up to him. “Don’t. Don’t you even think about it.” Roman threatened.

“Or what? You’ll tickle me?” Virgil teased.

Roman smirked and moved his face closer to him. “Yes. Yes I will.” Roman replied confidently.

Virgil made a big smug look and gave Roman’s hips a couple squeezes.

“NaaAAH! NOOO.” Roman warned.

In reaction, Virgil just grabbed Roman’s waist and gave it a few squeezes before pushing him onto the couch. Roman came crashing into the couch cushions with an ‘oof’ and a long fit of giggles. Before he knew it, Roman was stuck in yet another tickle attack. But this time, it was by Virgil! The emo took a good while just destroying the man with his fingers alone, as well as raspberries when Roman was being too snappy.

By the time Virgil had stopped, Roman’s face was as red as his sash. And surprisingly, it wasn’t because of his tiredness. I mean...it partly was, but...it was also because of how flustered and embarrassed the poor slayer was. He was embarrassed that he was so ticklish. And the worst part? He might actually like it!

He wanted to hate it. He wanted to despise the weakness! But...the man just couldn’t. Being tickled is just too fun to be hated. Especially when it’s people who love you and who are willing to make you feel loved despite being a ticklish weakling. Roman’s eyes widened in surprise and...slowly turned into an evil, mischievous smirk when a theory clicked into his head.

“Ooooohohoho...I get it now. You guys were making me feel weak, because you. poor. muffins, couldn’t handle my manly buffness!” Roman declared. He kissed his bicep before looking at Virgil and winking. “Are you jealous?” Roman asked.

...It didn’t take long for Roman to learn that he was absolutely dead wrong in his theory…

Looks like Roman would make a terrible MatPat...

#ticklefic #lee!roman #ler!patton #ler!remus #ler!virgil #bystander logan

31 notes · View notes

tsarinastorm · 5 years ago

Text

Stare Blankly-Adam Sackler/Reader-Part 1, Chapter 5

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

The street was busy but it was a beautiful day: not too hot, but not too cold either. A perfect day to move into your new apartment. Marnie finished unloading her boxes and was starting to unpack. You were helping her unpack her things, because she had helped you with yours. As you folded her clothes, you decided that you should tell her about your past just so it’s out there, and if you’re going to live together honesty is the best policy.

“Marnie, can I tell you something, and do you promise to not be judgmental?” You ask her. She continues unpacking her makeup and answers, “Yeah of course, what’s up?”

“I used to be a sugar baby. There was never any sex involved or anything, but I would go out with older, wealthy men and they’d give me money. They were mostly just lonely and wanted attention.” You hear yourself spill all that out before you can stop. Marnie looks at you with a blank look on her face then says, “That’s your life. You did what you had to do, and as long as it wasn’t prostitution, good for you.”

“Thanks so much! You’re such a great friend….also that’s how I met Marc.” Marnie pulls away from your sudden hug and the disgust is clear on her face but then she laughs. You’re happy that conversation went well. She says, “Ew I’m going to pretend like I didn’t just hear that about my boss.”

As you and Marnie finish unpacking, you talk about your past relationships: the good ones and the bad ones. You’re shocked to hear about her marriage to Desi, and tell her that you’re proud of her for getting out of it. Then she talks about her thing with Ray, and how she though that he might be the one, then how it ended. You’re surprised that she met Ray through her ex, Charlie. You had never heard of Charlie before, but it was visibly a sore spot for her. You couldn’t believe that he just left her, then the story of how she met up with one night while she was married to Desi sounded like a book plot.

The hours passed by while you put the finishing touches on your room décor. You had reached a good stopping place and noticed that your dog, River, was waiting for a walk because he was standing at the door. You put him on his leash and headed off to explore your new neighborhood. He was smelling all around, as was usual for him, when you see a tall, dark, and handsome man walking your way. When the man gets closer, you can see that it’s Adam. Somehow you can’t escape that man. You can’t resist the opportunity to tease him, “What are you doing here? Stalking me now?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve lived here for months, so you’re clearly the one stalking me. Or as you lawyers say, ‘coming to the nuisance.’” He looks smug as he says that. You also can’t ignore that he looks really good: wearing a dark t-shirt that fits perfectly on his broad chest and arms, then dark jeans. Of course, his thick, dark hair looked as good as always, and didn’t have one hair out of place. Suddenly you remember that you’re wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt and your hair looks sloppy, so you decide to comment back before he gets a good look at you.

“Haven’t you lived in the same shitty place in Prospect Heights for a decade or something?”

“You’ve done your research. I did, then I got into the artist housing. You’re the one who lives next to the largest artist housing complex in the city. If you want to see me, next time, just call me.” He points back to his complex, and you realize that he’s right, it is a large artist complex. You really should have known but you won’t accept defeat that easily, especially not with Adam.

“Don’t flatter yourself. If anything, you want to see me.” You respond and raise your eyebrows and do your best to look incredulous.

“I’ve gotta go, so I won’t be able to walk you home to your dismay.” He looks around like he’s going to leave on that note. There’s no way he’s getting the last word here. You place a hand on his arm to keep him from going anywhere, and notice that his skin feels warm against your cold hand, and that he’s even more muscular than he looks. Then you pull your hand back as soon as you notice that your hand was touching him for longer than was acceptable.

“My dismay? More like my good fortune.” You recover to snap back at him.

“Oh no, if I’d ever walk you home, you’d want me to kiss you, but I wouldn’t yet, so I’d walk away and you’d call me back.” You make an exasperated noise back at him. You’re shocked that he actually said that, and annoyed at his arrogance. Clearly, he would want you to kiss him, not the other way around, but he was just trying to make you crazy. And he was doing a good job at it; he was getting under your skin like no one else could.

“I hope you’re seeing a good psychiatrist because you’re clearly detached from reality.” You finally quip back. He was delusional about what this was. You weren’t sure of your feelings towards him yet, but you kept that to yourself and wouldn’t allow him to know if you were interested. At least not yet.

“Keep on fighting it, sunshine. Cute dog, by the way.” He smiles, winks, and heads back on his way. All you can do is watch in shock. That was some kind of encounter, he was definitely flirting with you, and you definitely liked it. But you’d never admit that to him. You walk River back to your apartment and try to make some sense of your feelings, and wonder when you’ll see Adam again. Probably soon, you tell yourself, you do live close to each other.

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

Shoshana was talking at her normal pace which was disorienting but you were trying to keep up. The two of you had went to lunch everyday lately. She needed someone to talk to and you wanted a lunch buddy. She was nice, easy to talk to, and she liked the same girly things you did. Today, you had grabbed a quick lunch and were going to the nail salon to get pedicures.

“Y/N, be honest: do you think it is okay that I feel really distant from my other friends?”

“That’s completely normal, we outgrow people sometimes and sometimes friendships go through periods of distancing.” You try to comfort her. She shouldn’t feel guilty about focusing on what she wants, or what she values. It’s a part of growing up: some friendships make it, while others don’t, and it’s no one’s fault.

“Well good…because I just don’t feel like I have anything in common with them anymore, and they haven’t asked about the wedding once.”

“I’m sorry that that’s happened. I’m sure they’re doing the best they can. Life can get in way of things.”

“I want you to be a bridesmaid.” Shosh blurts out.

“Are you sure?” You ask, thinking that she’s just asking because she and the rest of them are going through a rough patch in their friendship right now. You’ve never been a bridesmaid, so a part of you is thrilled with the idea and the other half is nervous.

“Absolutely. Will you do it?”

“Of course. Thanks for asking me.” You give her a quick hug, which is awkward because you both have your feet in the tub soaking. You suppose you can bridesmaid to your repertoire too.

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

Adam heard his apartment buzz, and he knew it was Hannah. She had just called him and said that she needed to talk to him, then he told her his new address. He was curious to find out what she desperately needed to discuss with him, he thought that things between them had been closed in a clear way. But he and Hannah had history that refused to go away, so he decided to be there for her as a friend or whatever she needed. He opens his door and Hannah walks in carrying Grover in his car seat. She looks around his place and says, “This is a cool place. A new beginning or the end of an era. Do you know that Marnie and Y/N live really close to you, you can probably see their building from here?”

“Yeah, I actually ran into Y/N not too long ago. I finally got into artist housing after all those years.” He says as he throws his hands in the air to make his point.

“I can see that, I’m glad things are coming together for you.” She says and sits down on his gold couch, a leftover from his old apartment. He was ready to part ways with the space, but he couldn’t bring himself leave the couch or dump it, so he kept it for nostalgia purposes. Grover is content in his car seat and plays with his mobile. Adam finally breaks the silence by asking, “What’s up?”

“Adam, I need to know if there’s anything left in our relationship. I know the way we left things, but then I ran into Jessa the other day and she said you two were over. It made me think that I still feel something for you, and if it didn’t work out because where I was in my life.” Shit, Adam thinks. He thought things were definitely over between them, but obviously not to Hannah. He didn’t know how to let her down easy, as he thought of a way to express himself, she grabbed him and pulled him down to her. Her lips kissed his, and he couldn’t respond. To him, if there was any doubt that their relationship was over, that kiss killed it. He was kissed by Hannah and felt nothing, he really had moved on.

Hannah stops, looks at him, and laughs. He starts laughing along with her, praying that she felt nothing too. Hannah tells him, “Well that was the closure I needed. I think we’ve both really moved on this time.”

“I agree.” He tells her, and Hannah starts asking him about his life; wanting to know about his upcoming roles, auditions, and if there are any love interests. He shakes his head no to the last question, choosing not to tell Hannah that he likes Y/N. It’s too early for that, nothing may come of it. And if anything does come from it, he wants Hannah and Jessa to stay far away.

You’re getting ready to leave with your takeout order when you notice arguing between two people at a table near the window. It’s a woman and a man arguing over payment and the man pays for his then leaves, and you can hear the woman arguing with the waitress. The waitress is explaining that the man only covered his half of the bill, leaving the rest for the woman, and if she can’t pay she’ll have to do the dishes. You turn and see that it’s none other than Jessa the waitress is talking. Jessa is pleading saying that there has to be some way to work this out, and asking if the waitress saw what the guy did to her. You tell the waiter that’s handling your order to put her order on your card. The waiter says, “Oh no, you don’t have to do that. Something will work out.”

“Actually I know her so just let me cover it. It doesn’t have to be a big deal.” You say as you look over at Jessa who appears to be distressed and trying to call somebody on her phone. The waiter hands you back your card and you walk out with your food. You’re getting ready to cross the street when you hear someone clamoring behind you, and hear Jessa call out to you, “Y/N! Y/N”

“Thanks for doing that, you had no reason to, but thank you. I appreciate it.” Jessa says to you and she looks down like she’s ashamed, but you’re also sure that she never really feels shame. You covered for her, just to be nice, and didn’t expect any gratitude.

“It’s not a problem. I always think it’s better to pay it forward. I also think women should other women.” You tell her and hope that makes her feel less bad. She says to you, “Y/N you’re a good person. And I can see why Marnie, Shosh, and Hannah want to be your friend.”

You smile as you go your way and Jessa goes hers.

#adam sackler #adam sackler x reader #adam sackler fic #adam driver #hbo girls #girls hbo

21 notes · View notes

jinxthequeergirl · 5 years ago

Text

Teenage Rebellion's

Steve Harrington x Hopper! Reader

(Mainly a little more of a father daughter reader)

Requested by @melxoxo23 : " A story, where you're hoppers daughter and dating steve.with angst maybe?, but with a happy ending and include joyce too! Please and thank youuuu!"

Warning: swearing/ angst/ a small fight between pops and daughter

Hope you like it?!

~~~~~~~

You crawled through Steve's window instantly catching his attention. "What are you doing here?"

"What aren't you happy to see me, harrington?" you asked a but offended by his greeting as you shut the window.

"Yes I'm just...surprised." He got up from his spot on the bed and quickly moved to place his hands around your waist. "That was the point dumbass." you teased, wrapping your arms around his neck and leaning in to kiss him. He smiled and kissed back.

He lifted you up and spun you around earning a laugh from you before setting you on the bed.

"Your dad is going to kill you if he finds out your here...maybe he'll kill me first." He said from above you. you smirked knowingly at him, and took a glance at the time on his nightstand.

" silly boy you underestimate me!" you pushed him off top of you and sat up. "It's currently 11: 35 meaning Magnum p.I. just finished up an hour ago. I, knowing everything about my father, knew that he goes to bed at exactly ten on the dot! giving me about twenty minutes to make sure he feel asleep before slipping out my window and into yours!" you booped him upon saying the last word, and slung your legs over his lap with a smile. "And your sister?"

"Sleep over with max." you said with a grin. "Now are you complaining about this or would you rather come over tomorrow and deal with three inches?" with out another word he moved in and kissed you.

It wasn't a secret that something had been different with you for the past couple of weeks. You had been pushing to do things you never once wanted to do, you started planing things around your father. Steve started taking note of these things but didn't say anything thinking it would pass. He pulled away scraching the back of his neck.

"What's wrong?"

"I was actually going to ask you the same thing." You looked at him confused. "C'mon you've been acting... different this past week."

"I have not..." He gave an unconvinced look. "I..." you groaned and feel back onto his bed. You pat the space beside you and he laied next to you.

"In all honesty...I Have no idea, like I feel I should but I don't just everytime my dad tells me not to do something it just pisses me off so I go against it! And lately it's worse I just feel like he...well...you get the point for the most part."

"Just a little teenage rebellion never hurt anyone." You chuckled lightly and snuggled into him. "I guess..."

"It'll pass over."you hummed in response and shut your eyes. "Hey don't let me fall asleep, I need to get home..." you muttered already pretty drowsy.

"No..no..I Promise.." he mumbled resting his chin on top of your head eyes slowly shutting. Soon enough you where both asleep.

"I'm telling you it's that harrington kid! He's nothing but a bad influence on her now!" joyce looked at hopper as he paced back and forth in front of her. "Well I think Steve is a nice guy." she said simply looking back down at the cash register.

"That's what he wants you to think!"

Joyce scrunched her noise in conduction. "Why would Steve want you to THINK he's nice?"

Hopper threw his hands up before placing them on the edge of the counter. "I Don't know!"

"I think maybe it's another one of those issues where you just need to talk to her!" Hopper opened his mouth but shut it when Steve's car pulled up outside.

Both adults watched you hop out after giving him a kiss. "Morning joyce! Hey dad." You slid on your blue vest that matched the one Joyce wore. "Where the hell were you this morning!"

"I accidentally slept over at Steve's last night. Not a big deal!"

"Not a big deal? Y/n I didn't know where you went! I thought something happened! When did you even leave?"

"I told you last night."

"When!?"

"God why do you even care!? I'm here alive and breathing! Nothing happened last night either!"

"Listen I don't know what this little teen rebellion thing you have going on but I've had enough! Enough of the disrespect and the lying and just everything from you now!"

You rolled your eyes and started towards the back to start working, but hopper only followed you. "Hey! Do not walk away from me when I AM talking to you! You know I think this Harrington kid I proving to be-"

You whirled around angrily. "You leave Steve out of this! It's NOT his fault I'm acting like this! It's YOUR own!"

He stoped taken aback by this. "What did you say?"

"It's your own damn fault I'm acting like this you are just to...to..ugh dense to realise that! To dense or stupid!"

His eyes widened. "Really? Well if I can't realise that maybe I don't know you anymore! You might as well be a stranger! You might as well not live under the same roof!"

"What are you kicking me out now because of this!?"

"Well I mean you wanna sneak out stay away as long as you can maybe I am." it was your turn to state at him suprised.

"Hop..." neither of you had realised Joyce was following trying her best to cool the both of you off. "Good. Fine! It's not like you'll notice you act like you have one daughter anyways!" you stormed to the front of the store the last part of your scentence sinking in.

"Wait what does that mean!? Where are you going!?"

"Get my stuff from your place! You want me out so fucking bad!" He stopped as the door slammed shut.

"Goddamn it!" He fumbled around for his keys until Joyce came up beside him and took them. "Hopper no! You need to stay here, I will go talk her! You need to cool down...I'll be back."

She quickly pushed the door open and hurried down the street to you.

"Y/n! Y/n!"

"Yes?" you snapped turning to her.

"Are you ok? What's going on with you?"

You stopped and stared at her searching very deep down inside. After telling steve last night something else came to mind something you thought was stupid and selfish. Something you swore you would just ignore but the more and more It stuck in your brain the more It made you want to act out.

"Y/n?.." Joyce moved closer to you and rubbed away a tear that started to fall from your face.

"I'm going to sound like a five year old of I tell you."

"Thats ok..." You both sat down on the curb and you took a breath.

"Every Sunday...dad would make French toast since it was my favioret...we had this silly superstion that if he made the first on properly the rest would turn out bad."

You started to cry just thinking of it and joyce simply placed a hand over yours as she listened. "So he always burnt the first one, that's how I would know he was making breakfast, because I would be waken up by the smell of burning bread." You both chuckled as you paused to wipe away tears.

"And every Friday we would rent a movie every Friday no matter what...It didnt matter if he was tired he would come home and take me to family video and we would pick a movie, we never finished then because we would both fall asleep...but that changed when he adopted el." You sighed using your free hand to play with your shoe laces.

"I love el so much, there is nothing in this world that could make me think other wise. But I get the feeling that nothing I do is ever as good as anything she could do in my dads eyes, I feel like I come on second now! And I miss our stupid old traditons!"

"So you did this as a way to get his attention?..."

You looked at her. "I guess in a weird toddler way of acting out yea.."

"It's not weird...love can make us do crazy things...even make us rebell against the people we love..."

"Yea...I guess it does." you smiled softly.

"But I think maybe you should talk to him tell him You miss doing things like that and miss spending time with him..."

You where scilent. "We could even go back together and tell him?"

So the both of you walked back to the store hopper stood there anxiously before you two came back in.

You both started to speak at the same time. "Let me it's my fault so just hear me out? And if by the end this you can...well you can kick me out if you want?"

He pulled you into a hug. "I don't think that gonna happen kiddo."

~a week later~

"What are you wearing?"

You looked over to your dad with a smile as you stepped out of your room. "What? It's...how would you put it? Cutting edge!" You joked making him laugh.

Things where better, a lot better no more teenage rebellion from you now that things where explained and fixed. There was a knock at the door catching both your attention.

"I'll get it!" you hurried across the room And opened the door. "El there here!" you stepped aside letting steve, Mike and joyce enter. Steve greeted you with a warm hug and kiss.

"Evening Sir." Steve said nervously after shutting the door.

"Relax kid, you can call me hopper. What movie did you get?"

You lead Steve to the couch as he looked through the bag. "Well everyone had different suggestions so out choices are. The breakfast club, ghost busters, American werwolf in london, pretty in pink, and Nightmare on elm street."

"I vote pretty in pink!" joyce said taking a seat next to hopper.

"No girly movie! Nightmare on elm street!" Mike chilled in. "Are you two even old enough to see that?" steve asked. Soon enough everyone started arguing over the movie.

You smiled at hopper and he offered you the same one knowing what would happen no matter what they picked.

"Ok Ok put the werewolf one on! Mike where are the snacks!" Hopper said quickly shutting every one up. Mike handed him the bag full of candy and snack before passing them out.

You curled up onto the couch next to Steve as the movie began

#stranger things x reader #steve harrington x reader #hopper x reader

241 notes · View notes

trashinaglass-archive · 6 years ago

Text

A Good Day

Tom steps in for girls night when y/n’s friends bailed on her.

A/n: Just a sweet little Tom post for the road.

“I’m sorry I can’t go, y/n,” your friend told you over the phone. You were sat on your bed looking at your phone as you were talking to one of your best friends over speaker phone. You and two of your girlfriends had planned to have a girls night- nails and face masks, and a night full of girl stuff. It all came to an end before it even started. You got a text from one friend this morning saying she was sick, and now you’re on the phone with the other saying she has to entertain her mother-in-law that surprised her today.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” you told her, hanging up. You were so upset. It had been a long time since you’d had a girls night, and you had been so excited about it. You were sitting on the bed pouting when Tom and Tessa came walking into the bedroom. Tessa immediately jumping onto the bed and giving you kisses. You hugged her around her neck as you looked at Tom.

“What’s wrong, darling?” Tom asked you noticing the frown on your face.

“I was suppose to go out with the girls tonight, but they bailed on me,” you told him as you released Tessa. It wasn’t like they didn’t want to go- situations that they couldn’t control happened- but it still hurt your feelings.

“I’m sorry, love. What were you going to do? I can go with you,” he suggested. You looked at him as he leaned against the bathroom door.

“It’s not the same,” you told him. You totally appreciated that he was willing to fill in for them, but going out with your boyfriend and girlfriends were completely different scenarios.

“I know it is, but at least you won’t be stuck here pouting about it. We can go out and have fun and not think about them.”

You thought about it for a second. Part of you did want to lay around and mop about it, but what good is wasting a perfectly nice night that you can spend with your hot angel of a boyfriend- even if it isn’t your girls.

“Okay,” you told him.

“Okay?” He clarified making you nod your head. “What are we going to do?”

“We were going to go to the nail salon and get mania and pedis,” you started.

“I don’t know what that means, but okay,” Tom interjected.

“And then we were going to get dinner and then come back and do face masks and stuff,” you finished.

“Why don’t you get dressed, and we can head out and do that stuff,” Tom told you.

“We don’t have to do that stuff if you don’t want to, it’s pretty girly.”

“No, it’s what you want so it’s what you will get,” he said walking over to you, giving you a kiss. You smiled and hugged him, arms wrapping around his back.

“Thank you,” you whispered.

“Anything for you, Princess,” he told you, kissing the top of your head before you released him and walked to your closet to get dressed. You picked out a simple outfit, white shorts a ripped graphic tee, and headed out with Tom.

You told him how to get to the nail studio and walked in, signing it at the front desk. The woman told you she would be with you in a second, and you nodded going to pick your colors.

“What color should I get, babe?” Tom asked holding up a bright red and blue. You laughed softly at him before replying.

“You don’t have to get colors painted on, they can just do the clear,” you explained to him.

“No, I want to get colors done too,” he said adamantly. “Can I get both?” He said with a gasp. You shook your head at him with a smile.

“Yes, you can get both. You can even ask the nice lady if she can do spiderwebs, then they’ll be Spider-Man themed,” you suggested.

“I’m sold,” Tom said putting both bottles of nail polish in one hand. You reached and grabbed your go to color and you both sat in the chairs and waited to be called on. You were sitting for no longer than a few minutes before the woman got you. You both sat in a big chair and put your feet in a small tub of water, two women sitting in front of the two of you.

“You know I’ve never done this before right?” Tom asked you.

“Do you want me to hold your hand?” You asked him, holding your hand out. He lightly smacked it away.

“I’m a man, I don’t need to be babied,” he said before he saw the lady pull out all her tools. “Yeah, maybe for a second.” You laughed at him softly before you took your phone out and snapped a picture of him. You sent it to both of your moms.

“Girls night”

Mommy: How sweet

Nikki: What did you promise to get him to agree to that?!

You put your phone away and watched as the lady started working on Tom. You saw her pull out the wide, purple scrubber brush.

“So, that’s the worst part of the whole thing,” you warned him. He watched as she scrubbed the heel of his foot with a questioning expression.

“What do mean? It’s not th-,” he stopped as she moved to the bottom of his foot. “Oh, shit,” he he said as he involuntarily moved his foot away from her. The lady working on your feet looked at you with a grin on her face.

“First time?” She asked you pointing to Tom.

“Yes, ma’am,” you told her.

“Why doesn’t it bother you?” Tom asked as he continued to fight off tickles.

“Because I do this about twice a month, I’m fairly used to it,” you explained.

“That’s just not fair,” he said as the lady finally put the scrub brush away. They finished your toes, adding your color to your nails and clear polish to Tom’s. They then led you to sit at the table to get your finger nails done. You got were sat watching the woman do intricate work on your nails before you heard Tom.

“Babe, this is sick,” he exclaimed showing you his hand. He had done what you suggested and asked for spiderweb designs on his fresh red and blue finger nails.

“That looks dope,” you told him. They didn’t take long to finish your nails and you were ushered to sit at the table for them to dry. “So, first nail experience. How did you like it?” You asked Tom as he sat across from you.

“It wasn’t that bad, it was quite nice- like having a massage,” he told you.

“It is, it’s really relaxing.”

“No wonder you girls like it so much.”

One of the ladies checked on your nails and told you they were dry and you were good to pay and leave. Tom headed to the front desk and handed the lady his card.

“I could’ve paid for mine,” you whispered to him.

“It’s your pamper day,” he told you. “Why would you pay for your pamper day?”

After leaving the nail salon, Tom drove you to your favorite restaurant for you to eat dinner.

“You didn’t tell me where you planned to eat, but I figured this would be a good substitute,” he said as you both got out of the car.

Tom held his hand out for you, you holding his hand and hugging his arm to you. You walked into the restaurant and were seated by a hostess. You enjoyed a lovely dinner of all your favorites. After that, you headed home where you changed into your comfiest clothes and grabbed all your necessities to do your face masks.

You and Tom sat on the floor of your living room. You had thrown your hair into a messy ponytail and threw one of your fluffy makeup headbands on to keep your hair out of your face. You grabbed your spare one and gave it to Tom for him to wear too.

“What does this do exactly?” He asked as he watched you mix the stuff together.

“It makes your skin soft and gets rid of bad stuff.”

“Is that why your face is always clear?”

“Yep,” you told him. You’re face wasn’t always clear. You had your spots and problem areas but keeping a good skin routine always helped it out.

You held your mirror to your face as you applied the paste to your face first. Once it was to your liking, you put the mirror away and scooted closer to Tom. You started to brush the mask onto his face. You made sure it was even and nicely applied before telling him that it has to sit for about 10 minutes to wait for it to dry.

“So what do you do while you wait?” Tom asked you.

“I don’t know, sometimes I look through Netflix for a movie and by the time I’ve picked one, it’s usually dry.”

“Okay,” Tom said while he grabbed the remote and pulling up Netflix. You looked through the films on the home page. You settled on watching RV, one of your favorite comedies. Like you guessed, by the time you found it your masks where dry and ready to be wash off. You both rinsed your faces off and returned to the living room, sitting on the floor again. Tom was leaned against the couch as he pulled you to sit between his legs, back against his chest.

You started the movie and got comfortable against Tom. You held his upper arm as he wrapped his arms around you, his cheek resting against your head.

“Thank you for going with me today,” you began to say quietly. “I know it probably wasn’t too fun for you, but it really meant a lot to me.”

“Darling, as long as I’m with you, I’m having the time of my life- girly stuff or not.” Tom places a kiss on top of your head before placing his cheek back to its previous position. You sat in Tom’s arms as you watched the movie, eventually falling sleep.

I fell in love writing this. I really believe Tom would do something like this to make someone happy. I need a Tom in my life.

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland blurb #tom holland one shot #tom holland x reader

456 notes · View notes

woofools · 5 years ago

Text

This was supposed to be a Valentines fic, but life prevented me from working on it until the last minute, and as per usual I rambled too much and ended up writing more than I originally intended. Whoops.

This is set sometime mid-season one, in case I failed to make that clear within the work itself.

Love’em Day was probably the most boring holiday in creation as far as Yang was concerned. There wasn’t an opportunity to get cool presents like with Family Day – just flowers and jewelry and girl stuff. The chocolate was okay, but at this time of year it was all heart-shaped. Bleh. There wasn’t even anything fun you could do to get the chocolate; with Weenie Howl you at least got to dress up and do scary stuff. Love’em was a whole day dedicated to love and romance and oh someone please gag him with a fluffy pink heart already.

The fact that Lina was out of town at a farmer’s market with her family and Yang had no opportunity to give her the very expensive (eh, decently expensive, Master Yo still wasn’t giving them an allowance) box of chocolates he’d gotten her definitely had nothing to do with it.

So instead he was sat on the couch, videogame controller in hand, eyes glued to the tv, box of chocolates open next to him. (Look if Lina wasn’t going to be around to eat them, that really left him no choice but to eat them himself. They could go bad by the time she got back home sometime tomorrow. He couldn’t give the girl he liked bad chocolate. But he’d spent good money on it, so he couldn’t let it go to waste…)

He was in the process of repeatedly slamming a mini-boss into the floor when he caught movement in his peripheral. He didn’t bother looking up, he knew who it was.

“Hey, um, have you seen Master Yo?” Yin asked.

Yang shook his head, still not looking up from the screen. “Nah. I think he went down to the bank to hit on the teller again. Or the car dealership, or the real estate office, or anywhere else he could think of to pick up someone so he wouldn’t be alone on Love’em Day.”

“Aw, that’s kinda sad…”

“Yeah, and pathetic.” Yang shrugged as he mashed buttons. “As long as he doesn’t get so desperate he calls Carl’s mom or something, I really don’t care.”

He was half expecting some kind of lecture from Yin here, so he was a little surprised when all she did was murmur something noncommittally. Hm. Weird and very not-Yin-like. Taking first opportunity to pause his game, he looked over towards her.

“Where are you going?”

Yin froze in the doorway for a second, then spun to face him, smiling. She had a wicker basket dangling off her arm, which was positively overflowing with pinks and reds and hearts coming out the wazoo. Yang’s innate boy-ness felt queasy at the sight of it.

“I’m going to hand out Love’em Day cards!” she said cheerfully, holding up the basket slightly. “Wanna come?”

A shudder the likes of which could only be brought on by frilly, girly things crawled up his spine. “Pass,” he said returning to his game.

“Suit yourself.”

He heard the door close behind her as she left, and after a few more combo-moves he crammed a handful of chocolates into his mouth. A realization hit him mid-chew, and after reflexively swallowing a(n honestly, should’ve been chewed more) wad of chocolate, he blurted, “Aw, man!”

He’d meant to make some kind of crack about Coop to Yin today! What kind of brother was he if he didn’t take every possible opportunity to tease his sister?

He redoubled his efforts to crush the boss (his momentary distraction had cost him a fair chunk of his HP), pouting slightly. Oh well. He’d catch her when she got home.

*****

Love’em Day was probably Yin’s favorite holiday of all time. For starters, there was always lots of pink everywhere – always a major perk in her opinion – there was always lots of flowers, and there was always lots of chocolate. And it was centered all around showing people you cared about how much you loved them! It was the best!

And Yin had an especially good feeling about this Love’em Day.

She’d left Yang and Master Yo’s Love’em cards on their beds. She’d made them herself. She’d tried to make Yang’s as over-the-top and flowery and pretty as she could (what kind of sister would she be if she didn’t antagonize her brother with non-offensive things he’d hate?), but she did really hope Master Yo would like his. She felt kind of bad for him, being all alone on Love’em Day… with any luck her card would make him feel a little better.

She made her rounds to her friend’s houses, depositing Love’em cards in their mailboxes and slowly making her way towards the park. As she was closing Lina’s mailbox, she noticed movement down by her feet.

“Aww, hey there little guy!”

It was a cat. A kind of mangy one, granted, but it looked to be a stray. That was hardly its fault. Anyway it was still a kitty, so it was still cute. Plus it had really big, pretty amber eyes—

Wait…

“Yuck?” she asked dubiously, then glanced around. She’d probably said that a little too loud. Luckily, there didn’t seem to be anyone near enough to hear.

The cat tilted its head, offering her a grin too sharp to be from an actual cat.

An incredulous laugh bubbled out of her. “Ohmygosh, I literally didn’t recognize you at first! Transfoomate?”

The cat nodded. “Y’might wanna stop talking to a cat like you think it’s gonna talk back though,” it added in an undertone, lazy grin still in place. “People’ll think you’re nuts.”

“Oh, right,” she giggled. “Um— hey kitty-kitty! Wanna come to the park with me, you little fluffy bundle of cuteness? Yes you do!”

The cat looked suddenly displeased at the baby talk, but it offered no resistance when she picked it up and placed it in the now practically empty basket, before resuming her trek.

“You’re sitting on your card by the way, don’t crush it!”

The cat looked up at her curiously, then began shifting a bit, presumably with the intention of digging the card out from underneath it. Yin giggled again.

“Me talking to a cat will make people think I’m nuts, but a cat reading won’t be weird?” As the cat froze, she said, “Just wait to read it until we get to the park, we’re almost there!”

There was a bit more of a pause, then the cat huffed and settled back into the basked, sulking slightly.

Yin didn’t mind. This was going to be her first Love’em Day with an actual, real date. She was excited, and nothing could ruin it for her.

*****

The “Brett Incident” had been the catalyst, as uncomfortable as it was to think back to that. She told herself everything was fine afterward. So she’d been lied to and tricked and gotten her heart broken; it wasn’t like she was the first girl that had ever happened to. And it had resulted in her brother admitting he was wrong and being genuinely protective, neither of which were things he did often. That balanced out, right? Yeah, it kind of stung, but something good had come out of it, so there was no need to regret it or stay upset about it, right?

…her self-pep-talk didn’t exactly do much to cheer her up. But the thought of trying to talk about her feelings with Yang or Master Yo (both of whom she loved, she really did, but they had the respective sensitivity of malfunctioning chainsaws) made her feel stressed and overall kind of icky. So she slapped a grin on her face and bore through it, mentally chanting that it would stop bothering her eventually.

Weirdly, the part that felt like it was tearing a hole in her heart hadn’t been that she’d been tricked by one of their enemies. It hadn’t been that the mega-cute guy who’d been interested in her wasn’t actually a mega-cute guy or actually interested. It hadn’t been that she’d given up her first kiss when it didn’t count, or any of the things she felt should be what was bothering her.

It was that… she’d been having fun with Brett. She’d liked talking with him. She’d liked going out and doing things with him. She’d liked how it’d felt to hug him and have him hug back, even if it had left her kind of woozy afterwards. And even though she knew it had all been fake, she wanted that back.

After nth night of not being able to sleep after the fallout, she’d snuck out of the Dojo in the middle of the night and gone on a walk. It wasn’t something she realized was dumb in hindsight, she’d been fully aware even as she was doing it that what she was doing was a bad idea.

Point 1: This certainly wasn’t the first time she’d been out at night, but every other time before Yang had been with her. If anything/one were to attack her now, she’d be on her own.

Point 2: She hadn’t wanted to bother with the questions Yang or Master Yo would ask if she’d woken either of them up to say she was going out (or, likely in Master Yo’s case, the blunt no and go back to bed), so she just hadn’t. As such, if something did happen to her, no one would know.

Point 3: Even if nothing happened and she got back to the Dojo just fine, if Master Yo ever found out what she’d done she would be in so much trouble.

She ignored all three of those very good points, and went out anyway. She liked walking around at night. She always had. And if there was a chance something was going to make her feel better, by Foo she was going to take it.

It was going well, all things considered. It wasn’t making her feel better per se, but there was something pleasantly mind-clearing about being in familiar spaces while everything was quiet and peaceful and empty.

She heard something rustling in an alleyway as she moved through town. She hadn’t paid it much attention at first; probably a cat or raccoon or something. She walked past and didn’t investigate. But when she looped back later (because she wasn’t actually walking anywhere in particular, she was just walking, so she doubled back and forth as she saw fit), she could still hear the same rustling. She abruptly wondered if something had gotten caught in something else and was stuck. Her heart hurt a little bit picturing some poor, defenseless creature trapped and all alone, so she headed down the alley to see if she could help.

It wasn’t a poor, defenseless creature trapped and all alone, because why would anything ever be that clean cut or simple? It was probably the last person she wanted to see, rummaging through dumpsters trying to find something to eat.

She looked at Yuck. For a minute, he looked back at her. What looked to be a stale pizza crust dangled from his mouth. Then his face scrunched, brow furrowing, and opening his mouth a bit wider he dragged the crust in with his tongue. He chewed maybe twice before swallowing thickly.

“Whaddya you want?” he spat, Woo Foo flaring around his hands.

Yin glared back at him, her hands lighting up as well. She was honestly not in the mood for a fight right then, even if it would mean having a chance to kick the butt of the jerk who’d smashed her heart on the ground. But she didn’t think “I’m not feeling it right now, leave me alone,” would cut it with Yuck.

“I’m walking,” she spat back. “I don’t ‘want’ anything, especially from you.”

“Aw, what? You still sore about before?” he sneered. “Get over it! You started it!”

Hm, her desire for a fight was rising. “I’m sorry – what?! How’d you get there?”

“Uh, you and your dumb brother killed me? When you reabsorbed your bad traits?”

Ooh, well that was an uncomfortable way to hear that phrased…

“You were attacking us!” she countered. “And we needed our bad traits back! And you didn’t actually die, you’re right here?!”

“I didn’t have a body or a heartbeat, that’s pretty dead to me!”

She was about to come back with something (she wasn’t entirely sure what, but her honor and burning desire to not feel guilt over her actions against a complete jerk demanded she try anyway), when all of a sudden Yuck faltered. He wobbled where he stood, and the Woo Foo encompassing his hands flickered.

She raised an eyebrow, hands lowering a little. “Well you look like you’re doing good.”

“Still recovering from when you when you drained me,” he grunted, Woo Foo still sputtering. “I can still— still kick your butt, though—”

“I kinda doubt that,” she said, letting her hands drop fully and her own Woo Foo extinguish. Her already shaky will to fight had just died. She wasn’t particularly interested in getting retribution for what he did, she realized. She never had been. She mostly just wanted to stop feeling so crummy about it and not have to think about it anymore.

Yuck didn’t take kindly to this. “You don’t think I could beat you like this?! You think you’re enough to win in a fight against me all by yourself?! It took both you and your brother to beat me before, and even then it was just barely—”

“I’m gonna go play mini-golf,” she said suddenly, decisively. “If you wanna come and keep blowing up that’s fine. Just don’t get me caught.”

Yuck blinked and went quiet. When he did say anything more after a few seconds, Yin turned and walked away, not caring if he followed her or not. She was halfway to the mini-golf course when she heard a voice behind her say, “You know that place isn’t open right now, right?”

“Gee no duh,” she threw over her shoulder (though she was admittedly surprised he’d actually bothered to follow her). “It’s like one in the morning.”

“So… you’re gonna break in? Willingly? Doesn’t that kinda go against your whole… everything?”

She stopped, turned to face him, hands on her hips. “I’m not going in to do anything bad like vandalize the place or steal anything. I’m just gonna go play a few holes. There’s nothing wrong with that.” She turned back around and kept walking.

This wasn’t wholly true, and she knew it. She was about to break into somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be, and while she didn’t mean any harm it certainly wasn’t right. But the thing was, she found she really didn’t care. Her emotions had been in a total knot for a while now, and for whatever reason it made the notion of doing something completely reckless and just a little bad sound like the best thing in the world.

They got to the course, and since really the only thing keeping the public out was a locked fence, it was easy enough to get in. She just levitated over it (Yuck scurried up and over in a way that reminded her of a feral, potentially rabid squirrel). The golf clubs were a bit trickier to get to, given they were all locked in a locker, but it turns out she had the ability to Transfoomate something unlocked. She selected her club, grabbed a few golf balls, then headed out to the course, still mostly ignoring Yuck.

She wasn’t surprised when Yuck appeared next to her with his own club and ball, not exactly but it still hadn’t been what she’d been expecting him to do. Maybe it should have been, considering he’d compliantly followed her all the way here, but still.

They played back and forth in silence for a while. Yin was actually starting to fall into the trap of relaxing when Yuck asked, “There a reason you picked this mini-golf course?”

Yin’s face twisted, but she didn’t look up from her tee. This was where her and “Brett” had gone on their first date. She hadn’t forgotten; she’d been trying to ignore it.

“It’s the only mini-golf course in town?” she supplied, putting a little harder than she meant to. Darn. That’d cost her. “And it was close by when I decided I was sick of walking?”

“Why were you out walking?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Why were you out in a dumpster?”

“I was hungry.”

Yin huffed, crossing her arms. “And you have to go through the dumpster for that? Aren’t you with the Night Master now? Doesn’t he feed his minions?”

“I’m not like… ‘with’ him full-time. S’not like we have a contract or anything, I mean. I can do whatever I want.”

She tilted her head now. “He gave you a whole robotic suit to get a new body with, how did he not lock you is as ‘full-time’ for that?”

He shuffled his feet agitatedly. “I’m on call, technically, but like. I’m still a free agent. I didn’t go begging for a job as soon as he found me, I’m not making that mistake twice.”

Yin blinked. She’d meant more “why didn’t the master of evil demand your eternal soul for apparently bringing you back from the dead or whatever it was he’d done,” but Yuck had apparently taken it as “why didn’t you accept the job opportunity.” Combining it with the “not making that mistake twice” comment made his reaction… interesting.

Yuck teed up, but right as he was about to swing, he paused. He slowly lowered his club, staring off into the distance. Just as she was about to ask what the holdup was, he suddenly said, “I bet I can hit that purple thing from here.”

Yin followed his gaze. The “purple thing” in question was a statuette of a hippo further down the course. She turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. “The point of the game is to try to get the ball into the little hole? Not hit stuff.”

Yuck grunted, adjusting his stance to aim towards the hippo and squinting in concentration. “Yeah, well, I’m bored of hitting the dumb ball into the dumb hole. I wanna hit the purple thing.”

He swung hard, the ball making a high-pitched tok! as the club hit it. Yin watched it sail through the air into the distance, and shortly after there was indeed a secondary tok! as it hit the hippo.

“Bullseye!” Yuck cheered, pumping his fist.

Yin rolled her eyes. It was a little unnerving how strong she could see her and Yang’s traits in Yuck (presently it was just Yang, but still). As she was rolling them, though, she caught sight of the windmill at the far end of the course.

“That was an easy shot,” she said, drawing his (now indignant) attention. “Check this out.” She lined up her shot, called out a hearty “fore!” (no one was around, there wasn’t really a point in bothering to be too quiet), and swung her club as hard as she could. The ball was launched, and seconds later there was a distant sound of it hitting the windmill. She turned back to him smugly.

To her amusement, he looked to be somewhere between surprised and grudgingly impressed. “Not bad,” he mumbled. His gaze darted over her shoulder. “Okay, double or nothing: I bet I can get my next ball over the fence and across the street from here.”

A while later and their golf game had been mostly forgotten. They’d instead taken to selecting random targets and smacking balls in their direction. Yin succeeded in smacking her ball through the center of the ‘o’ in the ‘Mini-Golf’ sign, and gave a loud cheer.

“I wish Yang could’ve seen that!” she said, grinning. As Yuck gave her a strange look, she raised an eyebrow at him. “What?”

“Do you two even actually like each other?” he asked, which caught her off guard. “I mean… one second you’re trying to tear each other’s ears off the next you’re getting all defensive over each other. I mean… what gives?”

“Uh… we’re brother and sister? It’s kinda what we do?” She snorted. “‘Do we actually even—’ Of course I like my brother.” She paused. “I mean. Usually. Most of the time. I always love him, though.”

Yuck’s face was bizarrely neutral. “And he actually likes you?”

“Um, yeah? He’ll tell you he doesn’t of course, but I’ve got him on record saying he does, so there’s that.” She rolled her eyes. “Heck, you were there one of the times he admitted to it.”

“What’s that like?” he asked, sounding suddenly – almost childishly – grumpy.

She tilted her head. “What’s what like?”

“Being liked.”

She stared at him for a second. Something churned inside her.

“I did like you, y’know,” she finally said. Her voice sounded much harder than she’d meant it too, but she quickly decided she didn’t really care. “I’d had fun with you, even.” Then, before she could stop herself, and faster than she intended, “If you’d just been honest with me, I probably would’ve been okay with it. I probably would’ve helped.”

He seemed momentarily taken aback, but then his face fell back into muted, sullen anger. “No you wouldn’t of,” he said. “You didn’t like me. You liked Brett.”

“You were Brett,” Yin insisted, brow creasing, grip tightening around the club still in her hands. “You acted more – I dunno – cool? But everything else – how you joke, show off, how you walk – it’s the same. I’ve been noticing it all night. It— it really—”

Do not start crying in front of him. Do not cry. Do not let him know how much it still hurts.

“I liked you before that even,” she said, desperate to move away from the subject of Brett. “When you first showed up. I liked you plenty right up until you started attacking me and Yang.”

“Yeah, ‘cuz you had to,” he shot back. “‘No bad traits,’ you liked everything.”

“I was liking you now,” she said forcefully, challengingly. She realized her mistake a second too late.

Before she had time to ruminate or regret it too much, he snarled back, “I was liking you too!”

(Well, at least she wasn’t the only one oversharing tonight.)

His face fell. He didn’t look angry anymore; he looked horrified and lost and… and scared. His arms (hand also still gripping his club) fell limply to his sides, and for a moment he just looked at her.

“I—” he started, “I-I mean— I—”

Maybe it was just because Yin was up way past her bedtime and wasn’t thinking clearly. Maybe it was one of those sweeping, “heat of the moment” –emotional things she always read about. She wasn’t entirely sure. But before Yuck could attempt to explain what he’d purportedly meant, she leaned over and prevented him from doing so by covering his mouth with hers.

She kind of expected Yuck to push her away. He didn’t. He tensed, but that was about it.

She pulled back after a second or two. This was only her second kiss, so truthfully she wasn’t entirely sure how it was supposed to go. She suspected Yuck wasn’t supposed to still be looking so lost and scared though. Or starting to shake like he was.

Something was building in her chest, bubbling up her throat, and then suddenly she hiccupped. And her eyes started stinging. And then she was shaking too.

Everything still kind of hurt… was that normal? Shouldn’t she feel better now?

Yuck’s face crumpled, and his breathing got choppy. It was weird to realize, but she’d never actually categorized Yuck as someone her age in her head. Like, she knew he was, but he’d been classified as a villain before he’d been classified as a kid.

He looked like a kid now. He looked like a kid who was scared and hurt and confused and needed someone to give him a hug and tell him everything would be okay.

Yin hiccupped again, distantly aware that her face was now wet, and wrapped both arms around his neck. She wasn’t entirely surprised when his arms locked around her waist like he’d float off without her, or when his face went into her neck.

“Sorry,” he blurted, and both their shoulders were shaking at this point. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t’ve –l-lied to you or hurt you n’d I’m sorry.”

“M-m’sorry we killed you,” she half-wailed back.

She couldn’t have said whether the sound he made was a laugh or a sob if someone had held a gun to her head. “S’okay, I woulda too.”

They stayed like that for a while. By the time she made it back to the Dojo, she was utterly exhausted. But, she supposed, she’d also managed to fill up the hole that had been eating its way through her heart. So she supposed she’d do it all again, if given the choice.

(Particularly since she was in a relationship again. And it was a real one that counted this time, too. Yay!)

*****

There were a couple slight problems that came with dating Yuck. Their names were ‘Yang’ and ‘Master Yo.’ Yang could deny it all he wanted (and hoo baby would he try), but Yin knew that deep down he was kind of protective. Kind of violently protective. And the last time he’d seen Yuck, he’d stated in no uncertain terms that he would, quote, “break him into parts, whether he’s in a robot suit or not.” While Yin appreciated the sentiment, she was kind of firmly of the preference that Yuck stay in one piece now. And since Yang was Yang, the odds of convincing him that everything was okay now without forcibly beating it into him in were slim to none.

With Master Yo she foresaw as doing something similar, but honestly with him she was more worried about him just plain ordering her not to see Yuck anymore, either for her well-being or “the Woo Foo scrolls say to never date your enemy something-something blah blah blah.” And because he was in charge, it meant that she’d be constantly at risk of getting in trouble when she inevitably disobeyed him. If he didn’t know, he couldn’t stop her.

(There was also the fact that Yuck was formerly a villain, and she was a Woo Foo Knight trying to uphold good. As far as she knew, Yuck wasn’t particularly well known to the general public by the time they’d started dating, but regardless, word getting out about them wouldn’t do either of their reputations any good. Best to keep it under wraps for now.)

Sneaking around from date to date was by no means a permanent solution to this problem; she knew she’d have to find a way to break it too them at some point. But for the moment she couldn’t bring herself to deal with it. She was enjoying Yuck’s company too much to complicate things with other people’s opinions or interference.

The park was a pretty spot for a date in general, but the major draw for her and Yuck was the trail that led off to an almost completely ignored and forgotten bench, blocked from view of the rest of the park by a small grove of trees.

It wasn’t super secluded, all things considered; in fact they’d had people walk up on them during prior dates. But there was also enough nearby foliage where one or both of them could dive into the brush and out of sight if anyone got too close. The trick was keeping a constant ear out for people who might be approaching.

When they were far enough down the trail, Yuck transfoomated himself back to normal, at which point they linked hands. They continued walking to their spot, talking about nothing in particular, and then they got there. And then Yin’s mental thought process shut down.

There were people already at the bench.

Not that big of an issue, they seemed pretty distracted, there was still time to duck out of sight and go somewhere else.

They were pretty distracted because they were making out.

Awkward, but nothing too weird. Her and Yuck could probably turn it into a joke later.

One of the people making out was Master Yo.

Undeniably something that would haunt her dreams later, but she suspected with enough therapy she’d be able to move on with her life.

The other person—

The other person was—

[file failed to load] [yin.exe has stopped working]

Reboot, reset:

Master Yo – her mentor, her very, very old mentor – was sitting in the park, making out – theywereusingtheirtonguestheywereusingtheirtonguesabortabortABORT – with the Night. Master.

…and the award for most mind-meltingly horrible image she’d ever had the displeasure of getting seared across her brain goes to…!

Her basket slid from her now limp grip, making a soft noise as it hit the ground. The Night Master’s ear flicked, and he peeped an eye open to what the source of the sound had been. Seeing them, he made as strangled sound of alarm, both eyes flying open, and began frantically pushing Master Yo off of him.

Master Yo, startled, looked behind him to see what had caused the sudden panic. Yin and him locked gazes with each other. His eyes went immediately wide with horror, and he hastily retreated from the bat sitting next to him (who incidentally now seemed very resolute in studying the woodgrain of the bench).

Yin continued to stare, eyes wide and uncomprehending, before she took a deep, steadying breath inward.

“Yuck, catch me,” she said.

Yuck turned to her, confused. “Um… ‘catch y—‘? Holy—!”

Yin’s knees gave out from under her, and she only just narrowly avoided hitting the ground through Yuck’s frantic flailing.

“This isn’t real,” she said calmly from Yuck’s arms. “I’m having a vivid hallucination, and when I close my eyes and count backward from ten, it’ll be gone.”

“I admire your optimism,” the Night Master snarked, not looking up, “but you aren’t that lucky.”

Oh, she wished he hadn’t talked. Hearing him talk made the whole thing seem so unbearably real, and having to acknowledge it as real was making her fight-or-flight response kick in.

“What, exactly,” she asked as evenly as she could, fighting the instinct to either run off screaming or beat a bat’s face into soup, “is going on here?”

Master Yo’s eyes flicked to Yuck, then back to her. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could manage she heard herself blurt, “Since when do you like guys?”

The horror and humiliation previously branded across his face took a small recess, and then he just looked indignant. “Since when do you like—?” he grumbled and gestured agitatedly at Yuck.

(Yuck, for his part, looked increasingly awkward, and seemed to be avoiding eye-contact with the Night Master at all cost. Yin sympathized, but at least Yuck didn’t live with him.)

“Since we started talking,” Yin snapped defensively, pushing herself out of Yuck’s arms.

“Uh-huh. And how did you two start ‘talking,’ exactly?” Master Yo asked suspiciously.

“Wh—” An incredulous pause. “No. Absolutely not. You are not going to give me a lecture or ask me questions when you’re the one out here playing tonsil hockey with the stinkin’ Night Master!!”

Master Yo flinched. The Night Master sank into the bench, the red marks framing his eyes almost lost amongst his mortified flushing.

“How are you even out here?” Yin demanded, staring at him. “Aren’t you supposed to not be able to go out into the light?”

The Night Master glanced at her, then huffed. “I can manage if I take certain steps beforehand, keep to the shade,” he gestured at the trees at their backs, “and don’t stay out too long.” Looking away and sinking still further into the bench, he added miserably, “Since it’s a special occasion I decided to put in the effort.”

Special occ—? Oh. With all the trauma, Yin had actually forgotten the reason her and Yuck were out here themselves. But that meant…

“He’s your Love’em Day date?!” she balked at Master Yo.

Once more looking indignant, Master Yo gestured at Yuck again. “He’s yours?”

“Hey, you wanna go Gramps?” Yuck demanded, apparently managing to break out of his shell of awkwardness with a little help from Annoyance and Desire For Wanton Violence.

Master Yo looked less than impressed, but rather than respond, he took a deep breath.

“Look: let’s just take a minute here and acknowledge we’ve both crossed the same line—”

“You’re farther over it,” the Night Master pointed out sullenly.

Master Yo turned to him sharply. “Whose side are you on?”

The Night Master gave him an incredulous look before tapping his chin exaggeratedly in mock-thought. “Well huh, I’m essentially the avatar for all that’s evil in the world, and you’re duty-bound to disband all forms of it. So if I had to wager a guess I’d say: not yours.”

Master Yo rolled his eyes to stare up at the sky imploringly.

Yin put her head in her hands and tried to take calming breathes. “How did this happen?” she eventually managed to grind out.

Master Yo and the Night Master exchanged brief looks. “I technically asked you first,” Master Yo said.

Yuck looked ready to move to the defensive, but Yin softly touched his shoulder to stop him. “We met up by accident, argued a bit, ended up hanging out, apologized for what we did to each other, and now we’re dating,” she supplied, tone clipped.

“And the fact that you already dated once and he was using you to get a new body?” Master Yo asked, throwing a hard look at Yuck.

“He only needed a new body because me and Yang destroyed his first one, and we covered both those things when we apologized. Now you guys.”

Once again, the two masters shared a look before Master Yo looked back to them. “We— uh… ’texted’? the wrong number, started talking, accidentally liked each other. Now we’re…” he paused, glancing back to the Night Master questioningly. She didn’t know what kind of telepathic conversation they had, but when Master Yo looked back to them he finished, “now we’re together.”

“And the fact that he’s plotting to blot out the suns and kill all of us?”

“I’ve revised that plan, actually,” the Night Master interjected. “Not the ‘blotting out the suns’ bit, that still stands, but the ‘killing all of you’ part.”

Yin crossed her arms. “Revised it to what? Instead of killing all of us, you’ll just kill me and Yang?”

The Night Master made a face. “Are you kidding? I’d never hear the end of it. He’d probably break things off just to spite me.” (Master Yo was giving him the ‘you’d be lucky if that’s all I did’ –look he sometimes gave her and Yang; the Night Master ignored him, looking only mildly annoyed.) “Anyway, really all I have to do is keep you three captive until after I’ve blotted out the suns and established my armies in enough of the world where I’ll be able crush any rebellions that happen to crop up. After that there won’t be much you could do to stop me, so you’ll be free to go.”

“…that’s all, huh? You’ll just let us go? No paranoia that we’ll strike back at you at a later time or anything?”

“None at all,” the Night Master said confidently.

Yin noticed Master Yo shifting uncomfortably, so she turned her attention to him. “We, uh. Kinda made a deal.”

“You what.”

“If he manages to actually take over the world, we won’t take it back from him—”

“We WHAT.”

“And if you manage to defeat me when I finally make my move,” the Night Master continued calmly, “I won’t attempt to do so again.”

Yin paused. “You expect us to believe that?”

The Night Master shifted, sitting up slightly, and then to her complete surprise he leaned over to press into Master Yo. “He does.”

“…and… you’re okay with that? Not getting to try to take over the world anymore?”

He shrugged. “I don’t really intend to lose, so I don’t see why not.” Before Yin could respond, he turned to looked at Yuck, eyes narrowed. “And if you wouldn’t mind perhaps giving me some kind of definitive sign as to whose side you’re actually on, that would be great, thanks.”

Yin glared, moving to stand in front of Yuck instinctually. Unnecessary, maybe, considering it was Yuck, but she didn’t particularly care.

“…How come you didn’t tell me?”

Yin looked back to Master Yo, who was glancing between her and Yuck. He looked…

…huh. He looked a little sad, honestly.

“…how come you didn’t tell me or Yang?” she asked back.

Master Yo hesitated a second, then sighed. “Lots of reasons,” he admitted. “Mostly didn’t think you’d agree with it or understand.”

She glanced back at the Night Master. “…a fair concern.” She then looked down to her feet as she shuffled them. “Same here, I guess.”

Master Yo nodded. “…have you told Yang?”

Yin looked up. “Are you kidding? He’d freak.”

Master Yo looked like he might try to debate that point, then nodded again decisively. “Yeah. He’s pretty much gonna hit the roof when he finds out.”

“He’s gonna hit it harder for you. You’re dating the Night Master.”

“Uh, no, guess again. I’m just his grumpy old master. You’re his sister.”

“…aw pellets.”

Master Yo offered her a weak smile. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Yin considered this, then sighed. “Yeah, alright.”

Master Yo’s smile became a little stronger before vanishing completely as he gave Yuck a stern look.

“Don’t you dare hurt her again,” he said, and Yin was a little taken aback to hear an actual note of menace in his voice. It was… oddly sweet, in a way. He wasn’t usually this candidly protective. Granted she wasn’t entirely thrilled that he was indirectly threatening a person she really cared about and was dating, but she supposed she could appreciate the sentiment.

That said, if he was gonna threaten her date…

Snapping on her heel to face the Night Master, she fixed him with a glare that promised bloodshed. “If you do anything to hurt my master, or try to betray him or— or anything, so help me I will stuff a closet with every high-powered flashlight I can find, turn them all on max, lock you in there, and forget about you.”

(She was exhilarated to note the bat seemed decidedly apprehensive about her threat. And though she didn’t notice, Yuck now stared at her starry-eyed.)

Master Yo suddenly coughed. “So, uh… are we gonna have to fight you for this spot now, or…?”

As Yin shuddered, Yuck stepped forward and said essentially what she was thinking. “Yeah, no, we’ll go find somewhere else. This spot is tainted now.”

Master Yo pursed his lips. “What’s that supposed to—?”

“TAINTED,” Yin and Yuck both asserted in unison.

“Alright, fine, ‘tainted’!” Master Yo said, throwing up his hands. “You two gonna get outta here or what then?”

“Believe me, we’re gone,” Yin said, taking Yuck’s hand and pulling him back up the path (he swiped her basket off the ground as they went).

Pausing for a split second’s consideration, Yin threw a “Happy Love’em Day!” behind her as she moved.

“Keep your clothes on,” Yuck advised over his shoulder.

Yin shuddered again in complete revulsion, but also couldn’t hold back a laugh at the scandalized and embarrassed exclamations Master Yo and the Night Master threw at their backs.

*****

Yang heard the door open and close. He briefly checked over his shoulder to see who had come home, and his sister came skipping into view.

“Yeesh, that took a while,” he said. “How many cards did you have, anyway?”

“A lot,” she said happily. Hopping over the opposite armrest, she plopped down beside him on the couch, sighing contentedly. “I love Love’em Day…”

Yang rolled his eyes. “Speak for yourself.” Now back to focusing on his game, he nudged the now nearly-empty box of chocolates towards her with his foot. “There’s some coconut left in here if you want ‘em.”

“Don’t mind if I do!” she said cheerfully. Her attitude quickly dropped once she actually opened the box.

“Ewww, Yang! You bit into all of these!”

“Duh. How do you think I found out they were coconut?”

“There’s a guide on the lid of the box, you dope.”

“What?” Yang’s character stuttered to a stop in the game (he was just dungeon crawling right now, so his attention wasn’t life-or-death) as he turned to look at what his sister indicating. “Since when?”

“Uh, since forever.”

Yang stared at the printed guide that was indeed on the lid of the chocolate box before groaning. “Aw, pellets! Do you know how much time that woulda saved me??”

He heard Yin laugh, which threw him off guard. Honestly, he’d been expecting a snappy comeback.

(He should’ve known it was a trap.)

Yin’s arms were suddenly wrapped around his neck, and he refused to be held accountable for the noise of displeasure he made.

“Happy Love’em Day, Yang.”

He made an effort to dislodge himself. No such luck. “If I say it back, will you let go??”

“Mm-hm!”

“Ugh, fine: Happy Love’em Day, Yin.”

She released her grip, beaming at him. “Thank you!”

He grumbled something back, focus back on his game. Yin bounced out her seat and headed out of the room, off to do whatever—

Oh— wait—!

“Coop!” Yang blurted.

Yin jumped. “Where?!”

“No, I mean—! Have you seen him today?”

Yin relaxed. Aw pellets, he hadn’t meant it so sound like a legitimate question!

“No,” she said, then tilted her head to the side. “I’m honestly kinda surprised? Usually he would’ve bothered me at least once by now… I would’ve thought he’d have dialed that up to 90 considering what holiday it is.”

Yang sagged, his big opportunity blown. For a whole year, and wasn’t that just depressing?

“Maybe he’s outta town,” he offered disinterestedly.

Yin scoffed, moving towards the kitchen. “Yeah, well, ‘outta town’ can keep him.” As Yang snorted a little, she asked, “Was there any leftover spaghetti left?”

“Yeah, it was delicious.”

Yin groaned.

“Eh, Master Yo’s gotta call it a day and stop striking out with women eventually, right? Bug him to make us some dinner when he gets home.”

Yin suddenly offered a very strained, high-pitched laugh, babbling something to the effect of “yeah, striking out… all those women…”

Yang ignored her. He was coming up on his next boss. If she wanted to be weird, that was her call.

*****

“…listen to me, this is important. Where is he?!”

Flaviour huffed, spinning on his heel and turning his back to the mantle he’d been in the process of dusting. “I told you: I don’t knooow. One minute he’s here being all—” he made a sound that was both the approximation of a menacing growl and a haughty huff all at once, with a sweeping gesture to match, “—and then next thing I know he says he’s going out and – poof! – gone.”

“I thought the whole point of being in hiding was that he didn’t ‘go out’?!”

“You would think, wouldn’t you?” With another huff, Flaviour turned back to what he’d been doing. “He never tells me anything, you know, not unless it’s ‘Flaviour, go clean that,’ or, ‘Flaviour, go sew this,’ and does he ever say ‘thank you’?” He clicked his tongue. “You know, I don’t know anyone else who’d put up with what I do from him, where would he be without Flaviour? All alone, that’s where, with no one to talk to him, or listen to his silly plans, or put up with his drab taste in— eugh!!”

He’d been forcefully spun around, and was now being held off the ground by the front of his shirt.

“This is an original Louis Vitatooie!!” he squealed, clutching at the hands holding him aloft in a futile attempt to take his weight off the shirt. “You’re going to rip it!!”

“Listen. To. Me.”

Having a highly expensive and fashionable shirt on the line, Flaviour did.

“Someone who I’ve seen working with him is fraternizing with the enemy. No, not just fraternizing, he’s— h-he’s—” labored, furious breaths, “dating her!!”

Flaviour was abruptly dropped to the floor. His shirt was safe now, at least (though by this point it was hideously wrinkled).

“I need you to have him contact me immediately once he gets back. He’s got a traitor on his hands, and that traitor is – baaawww – that traitor is – baaww-buhkawww – moving in – buhkaw – on my Yin!!”

Flaviour watched, irritated, as Coop turned on his heel and stalked out of the lair. Once he heard the door slam, he took the opportunity to blow a raspberry in its direction before hefting himself back onto his feet. He observed the damage done to his shirt with poisonous disdain and a tragic sense of loss. He’d have to change, now, and he’d looked so good in this shirt…

He made a mental note to demand some form of workers compensation before mentioning the chicken’s ravings about an alleged “traitor.”

*****

[A/N:] So this fic is 100% dedicated to @yuckisalesbian and was based entirely off of this AU she came up with. I would’ve put the dedication at the beginning, but I didn’t want to spoil what was going to happen.

This was a lot of fun to write, though as usual I see flaws everywhere. I have lots more ideas with where to go with this, and if I get the chance I’d like to add more to it.

Anyway, happy (belated, by this point) Valentines Day!

#yin yang yo #yyy #I speak #did the show ever establish an equivalent for Valentines Day?#I couldn't remember so I just made one up

8 notes · View notes

kello-unknown · 4 years ago

Text

NEVER THOUGHT IT’D BE HER

Summary: Max lives an… entertaining life. She just got out of a relationship she thought would last forever. Meeting one person leads to more people in her life, and before she knows it, she’s falling in love with someone she never expected to fall in love with.

Words: 1,492

Warnings: like one flashback (but its a flashback of a flashback so), brief mention of alcohol consumption, flirty talk (kinda)

Author’s Note: dont forget if u wanna catch up on what happened in the last chapter, you can click down below and re-read and remember what happened to the gang lol :D

CHAPTER 1, CHAPTER 2, CHAPTER 3, CHAPTER 4, CHAPTER 5, CHAPTER 6, CHAPTER 7

MASTERLIST

~~~

CHAPTER 8

THE next few days begin the same for the most part. Alex starts to wake up a bit earlier every day now that she’s becoming used to waking up in Max’s bed. The two see each other before Max leaves for work and Alex starts to plan for her day. Alex had called her boss, who had, over the course of the years she has worked there, become a close friend, and told her a brief story of what happened. Her boss told her to take as much time as she needed to recover, and Alex intended on doing just that.

Throughout the first week of her being at the house, Alex spends most of her days taking walks down the street and visiting the town since she lived a few towns over before everything happened. She gets home around five o’clock usually, and Max comes home from work a little more than an hour later. The two would eat dinner together and share their day. They’d watch a silly movie or something stupid so that there would be background noise as they would just talk to each other and enjoy the time they have. After a while, one of them would say that it was late and that they should go to bed, the other would agree, and the cycle of activities would repeat the next day.

One day, as she’s taking her daily walk, Alex comes by what looks like, to her, a night club. She walks by and realizes it’s just a bar. She’s practically explored the whole town at this point, and this seems to be the only bar in this area. Then it hits her. She remembers what Max told her about the night she and Natalie broke up.

After what feels like hours of crying, Max gets up and walks to the fridge, looking for the one thing that’s always been there for her whenever she’s had a problem that no one else could help her with. Downing one bottle of beer, she goes to grab another one, along with her house keys, and goes for a walk. Ten minutes go by, and she arrives at her go-to bar, stumbling in….

This must be the bar Max went to drown all of her sorrows. And by the looks of Max, there must have been a lot of sorrows.

Alex pulls her phone out of her pocket and goes through her text messages and clicks on one name. She hasn’t told anyone about what happened between her and Devin, not even Casey, her best friend since God knows how long. She couldn’t imagine life without her. Casey was always there for her, no matter what.

“Hey girlie, you doing anything tn? I have a lot to tell you…” She sent the text and looked back up at the bar front. She hears a ding, brings her face back down towards her phone and sees that Casey already texted her back. “omg yes ofc. its been a while, im sure u do lmao. have anywhere in particular u wanna go?” Alex smiles.

“There’s this cute bar I just found. ‘The Black Lion.’ Idk if you’ve ever heard of it, but I’ll send you the addy and meet you there.. say 8ish tn?”

“i think ive been there once or twice if memory serves. ill be there bitch ;)”

Alex puts her phone into her pocket and continues on her walk.

After being out for almost four hours on her walk, Alex gets back to the house around the same time she usually does and notices Max’s car in the driveway. Curious as to why she’s home much earlier than usual, she heads inside to see what’s up. Walking in the front door, she sees Max sitting at the counter on her phone. Max looks up to see her roommate and greets her. Alex does the same as she walks over towards her and asks why she’s home so early in the evening. “My boss was convinced I was too tired to work even though I already finished my work for the day. So, she sent me home early since ‘It’s Friday,’ and I should go out with my ‘friends to celebrate the end of another week.’ Her words, not mine,” Max explains.

Alex giggles. “Well good for you then, I guess. Anyways, I was actually going out with one of my friends tonight since I haven’t seen anyone in a while.” Max’s eyes widen.

“That’s great! Where are you guys gonna go?” she inquires.

“That bar in town.. I think it’s called ‘The Black Lion’?” Max nods.

“Oh! I love the BL! That’s my go-to bar. It’s great.” Alex smiles at Max’s enthusiasm. “Listen if anyone - and I mean anyone - gives you a problem trying to get in, tell them you know me. I’m a regular there and if that doesn’t work, call me. I’ll come down and show off the guns.” She then rolls up her sleeves and flexes her bicep. Alex bursts out laughing, and Max does the same not too long after she starts. After they both finish laughing, Alex, wiping tears off her face, excuses herself and starts to go get ready for her night out with Casey while Max goes to her text messages.

“You doing anything tn? I got the house to myself if you wanna come over ;)??” She sets her phone down to walk to the fridge and grabs a drink. On her way back over to the couch, she picks up and checks her phone to see if she had gotten a message. Nothing yet. She tosses her phone onto the couch, grabs the remote and sits down. As soon as the tv is on, she hears a chime coming from her phone. She leaves whatever is playing on the tv and picks up her phone.

“im actually going out with one of my friends tn lol. maybe later on in the weekend if u can? its been a while ;).” Max sighs. She hasn’t seen Casey in a while since Alex has moved in. But she gets it. It’s a bros before hoes type thing.

“I get it lmao. I’ll have to check ahead to see if I have any work to do,” she knew she wouldn’t have any work, but she likes to play hard to get sometimes, “but I’d love to get together over the weekend. Have fun tn.” As if almost on cue, Alex emerges from the bedroom. She’s got on a pair of blue skinny jeans and a black – no, maybe dark grey – crop top on. She walks over to the couch with her black heels in her hand. “Well you look cute. Are you trying to get with this friend of yours tonight or are you just trying to make him drool?”

Alex rolls her eyes. “First, thank you for the compliment. I finally went back to the apartment to grab most of my clothes. Luckily, Devin wasn’t there so I didn’t have to deal with him.” Max nods. “Second, no I am not trying to get with my friend, and lastly this friend is a girl. So politely fuck off.” She sends a smirk to Max, who just chuckles and throws her hands up in surrender.

“Alright. You can still technically get with her, you know. My first statement still stands, though. You look hot.”

Alex raises an eyebrow. “I thought I looked just cute a few seconds ago. Now I’m hot? What made you change your mind?” she teases. “Is it the heels? It’s definitely the heels,” she says, as she now sends a wink to her roommate.

Max sits in her spot on the couch, laughing softly while shaking her head. Alex stands up and starts to gather what she needs for her escapades and heads for the front door. Before she leaves, she hears Max yell out, “If you need the bedroom tonight, make sure you text me at least 10 minutes before you get home!” Alex laughs, yelling out a quick “Okay!” as she closes the front door. She walks down the driveway, grabs her phone to text Casey to tell her she’s leaving now, and starts her walk to the bar.

When she’s just around the corner from the bar, Alex texts Casey to see if she’s close. As she walks up to the front of the bar, she sees her best friend coming from the other direction. She smiles, walks past the bar and up to Casey. They both hug each other tightly.

The two get in without a problem, the bouncer having recognized Casey from her coming to the bar so many times before tonight. The two sit down at one of the tables in the corner of the bar and their night begins.

tags: @maggie-elise13, @elizabethfictionwriting, @lesbian-deadpool, @the-very-tired-gay, @timelords-13, @tangled-up-in-bad-decisions, @natashaswhitesuit, @its-a-me-mario-hihi, @marvelfansince08love

#never thought itd be her #ntibh #short story #story #mine #kello-unknown

1 note · View note

powerfultenderness · 5 years ago

Text

Love's Philosophy/Secret

Title: Love’s Philosophy/Secret

Rating: T

Pairing: V/Reader

"Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In another's being mingle- Why not I with thine?" (Love’s Philosophy, Percy Shelley)

I told my love, I told my love, I told her all my heart, Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears. Ah! she did depart! (Love’s Secret, William Blake)

You inwardly sighed as your eyes tracked the lean dark haired poet. 'Devil hunter.' You had to remind yourself. This was no man to casually crush on.

Even if he were to notice you he'd simply assume that you were there on a job. You were a messenger, a courier, for Morrison. After the older man noticed how often the shop got attacked he decided it was best to send someone in his place. You weren't a fighter, but you were quick and needed money.

'Besides,' you thought, 'any chance to see him.'

He seemed to notice you staring and you quickly shot him a friendly smile as a greeting and went back to discussing their newest case with Nero.

“Sounds fun,” Nero grinned, cocky in his ability as a devil hunter.

You smiled and turned back to V, who had been standing next to Nero listening to the job proposal. “What about you, V? You in?”

You were always kind to him, making a point of keeping eye contact and smiling at him. He’d thought that was just the kind of person that you were, but now as he started watching your interaction with Nero he noticed the difference. You were kind to the other man sure, but you didn’t smile at Nero the same way you smiled at him. A part of him was warmed by this fact. You had a smile reserved just for him.

V gave you a slightly lopsided smirk and inclined his head, leaning against his cane. “And, when night comes, I’ll go To places fit for woe.”

“Great!” You said, you smile widening even more because that meant that you’d get another chance to see him when the job was done.

Wordlessly V left, presumably to get ready for the job, but what that entailed you didn’t know. You hadn’t noticed you’d been staring at V as he left with obvious longing in your eyes. That is until Nero, amused by your smitten state, whistled.

“You got it bad for him?”

“Am I into a man that waxes poetry like that? Hell yea. The guy is literally romantic.” You chuckled at your own joke, expecting to hear Nero’s laughter too.

Nero only shook his head slightly, eyebrows scrunched up a little, clearly not getting your joke.

“V’s favorite poet to spout is William Blake. William Blake, one of the most prominent poets of the Romantic era?”

He gave you a forced laugh, “Haha, hilarious.”

You rolled your eyes, “I bet he would have thought so.”

“Then why don’t you just tell him?” Nero asked, starting to get annoyed with the conversation, even though he started it.

“As Blake, and probably V, would put it: “Never seek to tell thy love.”

Nero scoffed, “What? Why?”

It always seemed so easy to those already in relationships. You’d bet your next paycheck though, that he wasn’t nearly as confident about his feelings before it was clear that Kyrie returned them. So you continued Blake’s depressing poem. “I told my love, I told my love, I told her all my heart, Trembling cold in ghastly fears. Ah! she did depart!”

“Tch. Doesn’t he also say something about desires and restraint?”

That actually snapped you out of your increasingly depressing thoughts. “Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained.” Then a wide grin spread across your face, “Look at you, Nero! Paying attention and shit! V’ll make a poet of you yet!”

“Shut up!”

“I bet Kyrie would love it, actually!”

He sighed, “Get out of here!”

Your laughter echoed slightly as you left, trying to think of a way to tell V how you felt the next time you saw him.

Nero was the only one around to collect the payment for the last job, much to your disappointment. So you didn’t get the chance to see V again for another two weeks. Luckily this gave you time to consider your feelings and how you would go about telling him (and what you were going to do if he rejected you!)

It wasn’t quite an ideal situation, however.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” You thought, pedaling as fast as you could.

Yep. You thought you were fast enough to be a delivery person for Devil May Cry when you only had a bicycle. Usually it was no big deal, Nero and V, and Trish and Lady, were very good at handling demons. But today the shop was empty of friends and surrounded by enemies.

Willing your legs to pump faster, though they were already pushing as hard as they could, you barely escaped a swipe from a claw. “Ha!” You were foolish enough to cheer. Only to collide with a demon that appeared in front of you as you looked back.

As your bike was stopped by the bulk of the demon, you went flying past it and its menacing claws and fangs. You managed to tuck in your arms and cover your face as momentum pushed you forward while gravity was determined to bring you back down. You let out a strangled choke as you were caught mid air by your shirt, just a few feet from meeting pavement.

“At least you’re lighter than Nero, girly.” A sardonic voice said as he huffed and set you down gently.

“Griffon!” Of course you were familiar with V’s, well, familiars.

“You’re welcome. Now stay back.” He didn’t stick around long enough for you to hug him, which you had been about to do, no matter how awkward it would have been to hug a big bird.

Griffon flew off towards V and Shadow, who were taking care of the demons with ease. With the addition of their avian ally, the rest of the demons fell and V finished them off with his cane.

With his enemies dead, V turned around to face you, no doubt about to quote some poetry or maybe even inquire about your health. But you didn’t quite let him. Quicker than he would have given you credit for, you lunged at him and wrapped your arms tightly around him. He was stunned, his words stuck in his throat as he realized that you were shaking.

“Was that your first demon encounter?” His wrapped his left arm around you, resting his hand in the middle of your back.

You shook your head against his chest, noticing that your face was met with both leather and skin, and started to relax now that you were in his arms. Safe.

“First encounter I’ve been alone though. Usually one of the others is around and everyone kills them so quickly I never had time to be scared of them.” Now you understood why Morrison started outsourcing this job to you.

With the way V was holding you, how everything was quiet and empty, it was the perfect time to confess. But you still couldn’t bring yourself to say three simple words. ‘I like you’.

He called your name again, using the handle of his cane to gently tilt your head up so that you were looking at him. The intimate action and the concern that laced over his lovely face, that you heard in his perfect voice, was enough to make you swallow your fears.

“And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea: What is all this sweet work worth,” you glanced around at the dead demons and the destruction the fight caused, “If thou kiss me not?”

His dark eyes stared into yours for a moment before they flickered down to your slightly parted lips. He considered your words, recognizing them as belonging to Percy Shelly, recognizing them as an admission of how you felt about him. And how he felt about you.

V dropped his right hand, holding his cane, and captured your lips with his own. That was all that was needed for pent up emotions to come forth. The kiss turned from nearly chaste to heated, a small nibble at your lower lip and his tongue meeting yours. You moved your hands from around his torso to grip the lapels of his jacket, clinging to him as you desperately closed what little space there was between you. His hands on your hips pulling you to him just the same.

He pulled away first, a deep hum vibrating close enough to your lips to melt your will. But his eyes flickered behind you and he straightened. “I’m afraid, your bike didn’t survive the attack.” He said as he lifted his cane and pointed at your mangled bike.

Oh shit! You turned around, even though his left arm was still holding your waist, and frowned. “Aww man! What am I gonna do now?”

He glanced around and pointed his cane at a payphone, “Help is always near.”

You frowned and mumbled. “Yea but she might charge me for the ride.”

V chuckled and led you to the payphone, not willing to relinquish contact just yet. “Worry not for the job isn’t done.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

He smiled at you as he called for Nico, luckily she wasn’t that far. “Those were Hell Cainas, which means a Judecca shouldn’t be far off.”

“Oh cool. Sooo, we were making out while we were still in danger.” Actually, that was kinda hot, but you weren’t going to admit that out loud.

He chuckled, “You were never in danger. I can assure you that.”

Though you wanted to kiss him again, it seemed like the right moment, Nico’s van sailed through the air and skidded to a halt just a few feet away from where you and V were standing.

“Hey there!” Nico called, hanging out of the window.

V walked you to the van and grasped your hand in his, bowing while leaving a soft kiss on your knuckles.

“Bid me farewell, and smile.”

You blushed from such a gesture, you really should have expected something like that from V, but smiled nonetheless. “See you later, V.”

As he followed Griffon, whose complaints had been ignored, towards the demon summoner, Nico laughed. “Wow! Ain’t he romantic!”

You gasped and turned to her, “That’s what I said!”

#devil may cry #dmc #v x reader #v (dmc) x reader

29 notes · View notes