#✦ — • thewholecrew • trinity •

[deathvisited]

trinity & haven: the underworld --- @thewholecrew

trinity had been here for a few months now and they'd spent much of that time together, exploring his lands and seeing them in a new light. she had seemed particularly fond of any of the flower fields, wether or not it was the poppy fields or the nodding daisys, both fields were of course traps, but trinity had seemed to see them for their beauty rather than their usefulness. today though she would be coming with him to court, something she had yet to do, which was surprising. she usually accompanied him in most places, minus tartarus --- he had figured out a way to sneak away every time he had to go and rule that beastly place.

still, as he dressed in the black clothes that were his normal wardrobe he found himself nervous. this was somewhat of a declaration that trinity had decided to make his realm and lands her home, which..... well her mother still didn't know she was here, and while he doubted any of his people would report her (not that they could, considering most of them were dead, although there were a few demi-gods that chose to live in elysium) he had no doubt what demeter had looking for her.

striding out of his suite of rooms he went to the front hall, standing idly by as he waited for her to join him, his hands tucking back into his pockets as he waited and doing his best not to fidget as he did so. selma had been having a field day over the fact that trinity had brought more smiles to his face than she'd seen since she'd joined his household but things were still very innocent between the two of them. he enjoyed her company, she made him laugh, look at and view things in a different way rather than the harsh black and white that their worlds seemed to trhive on. he had sunk into viewing things as grayer, which he'd always been but now it seemed most natural to view things that way.

[deathvisited]

@thewholecrew ---- lioness verse

he'd woken up in pain and confusion, fear and his fighting instinct in full force as he'd flailed and fought against the medical staff that were trying to help him. he'd been knocked out in the crash, apparently, and his first instinct was always to fight. they'd restrained him after he'd flung a doctor across the room before pumping him full of drugs to put him back to sleep while they assessed his injuries. broken ribs, fractured forearm, concussion, and more cuts and bruises than he could count. they hadn't let him off the drugs since he'd woken up because of the pain and every time he'd told them he didn't want them they'd ignored him. he'd asked after trinity when they were dosing him and they'd said she was fine and resting.

he was awake now and trying to fight against the drugs that always fucked with his head, they made him think of too many bad times in the hospital honestly. the time he'd been there when he'd been a kid and he'd ended up killing his dad after getting beaten against the wall by him, but at least his mom had survived. he'd been alone then too. the time he'd gotten hit by friendly fire when he'd been on a training exercise that turned to the real thing when he'd first joined up in the military. alone again then as well. there had been too many times over the years where he was alone in the hospital and stuck in place immobilized and unable to escape the clawing feeling that choked him.

the soft touch of a hand against his own, and her quiet voice had his eyes opening, a soft wonder filling his own eyes as he squeezed her hand gently. her beautiful face had cuts and scratches on it but she looked fine honestly. relief swept through him, he thought they'd been lying. she looked so scared and so he tried to smile, which was painful honestly. "m'okay," he whispered, because his throat was dry, his head was spinning and he was just so relieved to see her. he closed his eyes as tears gathered in them, feeling the dip of the bed as she climbed on beside him. it had been so long since he'd had anyone come visit him in the hospital, not even his team could usually come because it'd break his cover and for her to come here.....

he cuddled in against her, his arms wrapping around her waist as she hugged around his head, tears gathering in his lashes as he hid his face against her body. she still smelled like herself and it was reassuring and relieving to have a slice of normal when the entire world felt disjointed and off balance from the crash. it had all happened so fast and he could just remember shielding her as the car spun and then down was up and up was down.... "i'm so glad you're okay," he whispered the words against her, his throat choked as his arms tightened around her. tears trailed down from his eyes as he hugged her and shifted, trying to hide what was happening, it was just all so overwhelming. "please don't leave," he mumbled, arms tightening, he didn't want to be alone again.

he was always alone and with trinity he'd found someone he didn't have to be alone with... he didn't want to be alone again. his words didn't make the most amount of sense as he got her to promise not to leave, that she'd stay regardless of what happened. none of it was a fair request when he knew he was here under false pretenses but his mind wasn't working and all he felt was the despair and horror of being left again and again to his own devices when he was hurt and injured. "thank you, thank you," he was crying and if she'd asked him why he wouldn't have been able to explain it.

what he was doing was wrong, he was using her to get close to her father and she loved him, that was obvious, but he was crying because he didn't deserve for her to be here. if she knew the truth she'd have smacked him and spit on him, she'd have left him alone here in the hospital room, she'd have hoped he'd died in the crash and now.... he cried harder as he clung to her, all the grief he knew was coming and wouldn't allow himself to feel when the time came because he didn't ever let himself properly experience his emotions but with the drugs unlocking all his fears for the future and how fucking scared he'd been about her being hurt... it was a release and eventually his tears came to a slow halt and he was left cradled in her arms, his eyes red from crying, his heart aching, and the drugs buzzing through his system as he held her.

"i'm sorry," he mumbled the words quietly as he held onto her, his voice still rough. "i was just so worried about you, and everything that's gonna come from this....." less freedom, less trust, less ability for them to be alone and honestly he'd come to crave those times. the times of normality where they just were able to chill and watch tv and let their hands and minds wander wherever they chose. he loved those times with her and he knew he'd lose them sooner than later and that scared him. he didn't want to lose her. "i can't imagine losing you," he whispered, voice quiet and small because he knew it was inevitable at this point, it was just a matter of when.

@deathvisited said: whatever happens, you won't leave me, right? ---- seb and trinity B)

it had all happened so fast. one moment they had been speeding down the highway back to the beach house, wind whipping through her hair, them both wearing bright smiles and then---

someone had hit them, it was all she could remember and when she came to she was in the hospital. her wounds were miraculously minimal, some scratches and cuts from glass along with some bruising but nothing serious.

she'd come to asking for him, for sebastian, fear gripping her so tightly she could barely breathe. he had to be okay, if she wasn't injured he had to've made it. the thought of him dead had tears burning in her eyes and streaking her cheeks, frantically asking the nurse only for her to ease her anxiety somewhat. he was alive, but he was heavily sedated at the moment. broken ribs but he was lucky they didn't puncture anything important.

immediately she'd tried to see him, pushing off her blankets, wanting to leave but she was ordered to stay put until carlos made it here, he was already on the flight over. she couldn't wait until then and the moment the nurses were out of the room she yanked the iv from her hand and slid out of her bed. she had made sure to ask where he was before hand so as she exited casually from her room, hand behind her to keep her stupid hospital gown from showing her ass, headed towards said room.

surprisingly he looked alright on the outside, much like her his face was scratched up but she supposed most of the damage to his ribs was internal and hidden under the bed sheets. "sebastian..." she whimpered as she made it to his bedside, gently taking his hand as his eyes slowly opened to his name, hand turning palm up for her as she held it. 'm okay.. he reassured her though from the looks of it, his eyes looked just as teary as hers.

"i was so scared," she whispered to him, dark eyes darting to the door and back as she moved to carefully sit on the bed beside him. she sniffled, wiping tears from her face as she leaned forward to gently kiss his forehead, "i thought... i thought the worst..." her heart was still racing at the thought of what could have happened. "thank god you're okay," her arms lightly wrapped around his head as she very carefully nuzzled against his hair, practically cradling his head against her chest.

she had no idea what she would have done if he'd been taken from her. if he hadn't survived. he had always been there to protect her, she knew that, but she'd never thought.. after everything they'd been through, that there was any chance he could die. he was incredibly skilled and talented in his field but for such a freak accident to happen, for it not to have anything to do with skill..

she felt a wetness on her arm and looked down at him in shock, doe eyes growing wide to see his cheeks as teary. "s-sebastian...? wh-what's wrong? a-am i hurting you? do you need me to get a doctor?" she asked a little panicked, even as his head rocked every so slightly back and forth. whatever happens, you won't leave me, right? he asked, voice hoarse whether from the pain medication or pain itself and her eyes teared up once again, lip quivering as she hugged him gently once again. "never," she promised, gently petting his hair even as her heart thundered in her chest, squeezing so painfully with the love she felt for him.

"i'm not going anywhere, i promise sebastian..." she whispered against his skin before pressing a soft kiss to it.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: [ TRAINING ]: during a sparring match, sender ends up pinning the receiver against the wall & you've changed / grant & o

green hues rolled as she surveyed the gym—of course, on the night she needed a sparring partner to ease what n.a couldn't lately, the gym only had one other person beating a punching bag—her ex-boyfriend, of all people. if she called rev, they'd probably be down in a heartbeat, but that would mean pulling their attention away from alec, something neither of them was keen on to begin with. she could walk back out the door and hit another meeting but, the last two hadn't helped, what good would a third do?

with a huff, octavia moved further into the gym, dropping her bag by the mats before grabbing wraps for her hand. by now, she was sure he knew she was there, probably had known since she walked into the damn place, but finally, she addressed him, "you interested in getting your ass kicked tonight?" octavia lifted her brow beginning to wrap her hands in preparation like she's done a hundred times since he'd taken off with garrett, waiting for his response. though somehow, she knew he wouldn't refuse. not her.

although she didn't show it, octavia was thankful when he agreed to spar with her. ever since finding nick's stash, she felt a little like she was skating on thin ice. she's 326 days sober, so fucking close to the year mark, she's not about to screw that up now. but as he neared her, asking her how she was doing, her eyes narrowed. "we don't need to do this, though. i just need a fight, okay?"

with that, octavia dove in with her all. going at grant with her speedy, controlled moves rev's engrained in her, along with her aggression that's only grown stronger. it's like an intricate dance where they dodge each other's moves. back and forth until nearly all of her thoughts of using melt away in the heat of their movements, only able to focus on grant's next moves, trying to calculate what he'll do ahead of time. but she's perhaps a little too focused, still too in her head because he gains the upper hand without her realizing it. guiding and cornering her backwards until her back is pressed against the gym wall with his arm across her chest, pinning her there. dark hues focus on his as she pants, glaring a little because he's bested her. "you've changed."

her jaw clenched at his words. it's not untrue. not in the least bit because even she knows there's a clear difference between who she'd been before nick's torture and after. but to hear it come from him? her eyes fell, nodding silently as she licked her lower lip. suddenly, she felt much too close to him, suffocating like he could see into her again like he used to. yet now, he had no right. she had no desire to let him see her damaged self or her heart. hues scanned over him, taking note of his stance and where he appeared to be lowering his defence before she glanced back up at his eyes. "yeah, i have," she answered firmly, "guess i have you to thank for that." octavia scolded, finding a quick weakness in his stance as her fist drove into his side, creating space before she used rev's favourite leg sweep to knock his feet out from under him.

standing above, octavia lifted a brow his way. "i win," she muttered, about to turn away from grant as he took his chance, knocking her footing out from underneath her and causing her to tumble. her hands stretched out to catch herself, but she landed almost directly on top of him. eyes widened as they made contact, connecting as she rested above him. both their chests panted against each other, and for a fractional second, the longing she ached with for grant leaked into her gaze. her lips parted, "i..." but the jingle of the bell on the gym door caught her attention, silencing her as she glanced up to see trinity's surprised features quickly morph as she turned on her heels. "trinity! wait!" shit, she thought as octavia scrambled to get up off of grant.

[deathvisited]

@thewholecrew asked ----- innocent people will die . / seb & hunter

sebastian was getting close and with the wedding coming up where her father would be forced to make an appearance he knew that he'd have his chance. he was in turmoil, a mix of indecisiveness that didn't usually affect him. he'd gotten the weekend off since he'd be working the entire week as carlos wouldn't be travelling with her, and while that was usually a good time for him and for her, this time it just meant that it was coming to an end. he hadn't expected to come to care for her, and while he knew she loved him he'd managed to avoid acknowledging that, and he didn't feel the same, he did care, which was the problem. he wasn't supposed to give a fuck about her and her family, and while her family was still holding true he did care about her.

she was innocent in this, and now going over the plan and hunters words..... they struck through him, and he almost glared at the blonde man, his neck cracking as he rotated it. "innocent people die all the time, trinity will be safe though," safer after her father was gone too. no one would have a reason to target her anymore if he, her father, was removed from the equation. that was what he was telling himself to justify the pain he was about to cause her. he knew she loved her father, like any child would, and he also knew she was unaware of just how shitty a person he was. rising he pressed his hands flat to the table and looked around at his team meeting all of their eyes.

"regardless of what happens she's innocent and isn't going to be sacrificed for her father, understood?" it wasn't often he put his foot down when it came to ops, he was more than happy to go with the flow and while some people on the outside thought he was just a little bitch for being undercover his team knew differently. they'd seen the harsh training, the breaking down and conditioning they'd put him through to withstand being undercover for this long. slow nods came, reluctantly because they didn't know her. they didn't know how sweet she could, how happy she was when she was making things, or sewing new clothes, or the joy that lit up her entire face and being whenever she got to try something new and ended up loving it.

they didn't know her, but he did and he'd make damned sure nothing happened to her.

walking out of that room with their agreement he set his mind to his task. he had honestly been avoiding thinking about it because it was painful to think of hurting her. he had done so much with her in this past year that he had missed for so long... she'd reawakened who he'd been at one point in his life. someone that cared, and laughed, and was able to have fun without an end goal in sight and he was mourning losing that. he knew he'd lose her after he executed her father. and he couldn't blame her for that, but he could mourn what they'd had and what they could have grown into. either way he felt like he'd made a good impact in her life and he just hoped that his last action in her life didn't overshadow all he'd helped her discover about herself.

[deathvisited]

❛  is that how you say thank you?  ❜ / trin & haven --- @thewholecrew asked

He hadn’t expected the question, and honestly hadn’t thought he needed to say thank you when she’d offered to do it for him. Blue eyes rose from fastening his cuff links, his tie neat and tidy thanks to her ministrations, he’d murmured a quiet thanks regardless. He hadn’t needed help, he’d been tying his own ties for centuries, but letting her fuss over him had felt nice, now though he was regretting that decision. He didn’t know what Trinity was still doing here honestly, which wasn’t to say he didn’t enjoy her being here — he did — but he’d thought she’d get bored by now. Of course he had found her crying in a garden not that many months ago, and before that she’d run away with him for a day of exploring.

Her mother kept her completely isolated, or had rather, and now…. Well she was learning how to live and be herself, she had a milienia to do it and he gave her the freedom to do so. He didn’t restrict her in any way, and now there was that little comment to contend with. “Should i have said it in a different way?” he asked, lowering his hands and looking at her with an arched brow. There was a tension there between them that sang in the empty space, he hadn’t breached that distances other than polite walks, her holding his arm, the soft brushing of her hair behind her ear… it felt improper to break the distance and he would be lying if he said he didn’t believe she wanted him to. 

There were many things to consider when it came to breaking that distance and bringing her close, her mother being one. His own brothers displeasure with him if he did, the fact that he knew she was a maiden was another. He was not a boy scout, he had never been, but he enjoyed his solitude, or thought he had. He stepped towards her into that space that he kept between them, hand raising to cup her face, thumb brushing over the softness of her cheek as he looked down at her. “Thank you, i don’t believe i’ve had a tie done this well in a long time,” he said much more formally, blue eyes searching her large doe like ones. He loved her eyes, they were like a night sky at times when they shone with laughter, and now as he looked into them he could feel himself falling down into them, his heart rate ticking upwards as anticipation coiled hard in fast in his stomach. 

He tilted his head and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead before stepping back and offering her his arm, his crooked smile curling his lips as he looked down at her. “Now shall we go? I do believe we are expected at the court for my hanging by your mother,” he murmured, eyes shining as he looked at her even if such an innocent gesture had his heart rate picking up and speeding away. 

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: ❝ you don’t get it. i want the whole package with you. i don’t wanna be some fling you forget about in a few months. ❞ /trin&nick immortal

no, she doesn't get it!! she doesn't! she can't! alarm bells ring in his head, blaring loudly as he stares at her from the little kitchenette table in his motel room. his hands clench against the tops of his thighs, brows furrowing before he jumps up. his head shook ferociously, a pained expression filling his features because this life she wants, this package she wants with him— god, he'd do anything to have it. but he can't. they cannot. he crosses the space to her, taking her jaw roughly into his hands as he directs her gaze up to him. his fingers shake against her skin, teeth clenching before, "you don't, trinity. you don't, i—..." he's already come to her with blood on his hands. she might already suspect the worst in him.

"i'm a killer, okay, do you get that baby girl? you wanna know what i'm doing when nate and i take off? where i'm disappearing to for weeks? months? i go across the country walking towards things everybody is running away from." it all comes pouring out, fighting to be heard because she has to understand!! she has to know that the life she's asking for doesn't exist with him. hunters die. that's their life. his life. it doesn't have to be hers. it shouldn't be. after years of explaining his ways to those he's saved, he hates this next part. hates the look that'll overtake her big, beautiful eyes when she doesn't look at him the same way. when suddenly, he's just that much different.

nick crouches before her as she sits on the edge of his bed, taking her hands in his as he smoothes over them, lifting his dark hues to hers. "i'm what they call a hunter trinity, i hunt...ghosts and demons and those things everyone's afraid of that go bump in the night. it's all real, all of it and they're all dangerous...nate, me...my da," a heavy sigh shook free from him, his hands tightening against trinity's. "there is no life with me trinity...baby, there's just this road, and this fuckin' chaos and my line of work," he shrugged halfheartedly, resigned to his future, or lack thereof. "it only ends one way trin, baby, you don't want that. i don't want that for you." internally, his heart ached, cringing at the idea that she somehow believed he could ever forget about her. if he had any other life, he'd never let her go. she'd be his. always. but even now, he'll never forget her. not for a single second as long as he lived.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: you're still wearing it? after all this time? & you are far too good to love someone like me. you’ll find someone better. / grant & o

octavia had been sitting alone, feet tucked up on the park bench that overlooked the city, when grant came running by. her brow lifted seeing him. there were a hundred other places he could run, places better suited to his regimen, but here he was. whether truly in need of a break or not, octavia shrugged when he asked if could join her "it's a public place, isn't it?" she replied sarcastically. however, once he sat, instead of entertaining any small talk, octavia simply went back to looking out at the city as the sun was beginning to set. habitually, her fingers rose to her neck, gently brushing her finger back and forth against the necklace she'd gotten as a gift. by now, it was practically second nature to stroke the malachite butterfly that she rarely realized she was even doing it. "you're still wearing it? after all this time?" his simple question invaded her mind as a shyness crept up her spine, hues dropping to the necklace.

still tracing the butterfly, she tugged on her bottom lip before her hand fell away. slowly, octavia nodded. of course, she was still wearing it. of course after all this time, there had never been a moment where she could take it off. at times, she tried. a few times, she thought about swapping the piece with something new. without any attachments to grant and the love she thought they shared. but each time her fingers neared the clasp around her neck, octavia couldn't bring herself to undo it. her gaze lifted to his, "i really loved you." she quietly admitted.

with her thoughts whirling and emotions she thought were long gone stirring inside, octavia fell silent, her gaze shifting back to the city beneath them. that's when he finally spoke again. "you are far too good to love someone like me." octavia's brows furrowed at that, her forehead creasing as she drew her gaze back to him. it's not fair. even now, when she should agree with him after all he's done to her, she can't help how her immediate urge is to defend him. even against himself. it lights a match inside, anger surging through her as her hands tensed inside her jacket pockets. "you'll find someone better."

four words. offered softly, in an assuring way like she needed him to tell her others would love her better. "are you kidding me? are you being serious right now?" because she fucking knows that. has had the chance to experience such love over the last few months while trinity poured her heart, her soul, all of herself into her and...octavia could do nothing but leave her in the cold. leave her guessing. in a relationship doomed for failure because trinity loved her & even after all this time, octavia felt incapable of letting her love in. of allowing herself to love trinity. "thank you, thank you sooo much grant— i reeally needed you to tell me that." octavia scoffed, retreating from him as she stood from the bench, storming away to stand at the edge of the lookout, vibrating with fury. how dare he say that to her. how dare he!

hearing the crunch of the gravel beneath his shoes irritates her further as he closes in behind her, so much so that she whips around, aggressively stalking to him. her finger pointed at him accusingly, poking at his chest because how does he not fucking get it?! what more could she have said or done to make him realize all she had felt inside. it didn't matter how much she tried to deny it now, or how they could never have it again. it didn't matter in the end how much hurt he created inside of her because she had loved him! him. she had wanted him. was devoted to him, even now when he certainly didn't deserve it. "the thing that you can't seem to understand is i never asked for better, i never wanted—..." octavia shook her head with outrage as her hands lifted at her sides, "i only ever wanted you!" she shouted exasperatedly, her coiled fists thumping as she pushed against him.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: “they’re my family. we’re a package deal.” / kass abt grant & o to nick?

five years ago, if someone had said that they would have found nicklas and his partner, standing around a table drinking celebratory shots with a powerful vampire and two immortals? in a vampire den that easily doubles between a fancy club and feeding site no less? nick would've damn near shot them on the spot. would have sworn some shifter was out there with his skin. nothing could've been further from his mind than being here. yet now, whenever a hunt brings him within the surrounding area of the city, nick finds himself drawn back here. like there was an invisible tie to kassy beckoning him. so when nate had found a case that resembled a couple siren's his old man had come across right in the middle of kassy's city? well that's just good ol' fate. who could fault him for reaching out to the alluring vampire? & when she offered to join their hunt, he didn't hear nate saying no either.

with his arm resting along the back of the booth he sat at with kassy, nick watched his brother with grant and octavia. he can't hear what they're saying in the club space, but, by the looks of it, nate was enjoying some tale of octavia's. staring a little longer than he meant to, nick shook his head, turning his gaze back to kassy as her finger dancing along his shoulder garnished his attention. "so, when are you going to let me in on the secret?" he vaguely asked, turning in the booth toward kassy. with a subtle lift of his chin, nick asked, "what are they?" when he took notice of kassy's look, he scoffed lightly, "to you, what are they to you." he clarified.

nick has witnessed octavia at her side since the first time he'd ever met kassy, the vampire who's come to skew his entire world view. & grant, well, he'd crossed paths with him some time ago well before nick knew he had relations with kasandra, or octavia. what little he knows of them as individuals, he's come to admire, but since he's been spending more frequent trips here, studying the three of them together, he wonders about them more. there's a close, noticeable bond between kassy and octavia. but truthfully, he's never seen anything like it the way these two women interact with such a devotional love that empowers their energy whenever they're together. it's something he hasn't felt in years. not since trinity. he swore never again without trinity.

"they're my family," the way kassy sums them up in three simple words has the corner of his lip tick upward, crystal hues shifting over his shoulder a touch to gaze at grant and octavia. family, huh? nick could understand that sentiment. beyond his da, nate was the closest person to family he had, having lost the rest throughout his life. "we're a package deal." kassy continued, bringing nick's attention back to her as his hand rose off the back of the booth, fingers reaching to toy with the ends of kassy's hair. he's grown bolder in his recent visits, pushing back on his ideologies, on that medling voice in the back of his mind. every time he's with her, he wants to be as close with kassy as he can be. "a package deal, huh?" his crooked smirk grew as he offered a casual shrug. somehow from the moment he met kassy sat up on her throne with octavia at her side, he knew there was no separating the pair. "guess that means i'll have to work on playin' nice with that one, grant seems easier to win over."

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: ∗ 84: sender accidentally injures receiver during sparring & anything broken?/ rev & o

finally, rev was kind of speaking to her again. not that they had ever really stopped, but every word had a bitter undertone of rage since rev had come home. now, at least, they were willing to fight with her again, to spar and unleash the pent-up energy and emotions octavia assumed they both were holding inside. between what happened on that hellish vacation, grant's return, nick's surprising addiction, and how she'd blown up her relationship with trinity, octavia was itching for a good fight. & if she was beginning to understand anything about revenge— she wasn't so sure rev's outrage for alec's kidnapping had been eased by whatever they'd done when they left.

as the two of them exude their rage on the mats in the gym, octavia's aggression seems to grow, fighting ruthlessly. the more they spar, dodging and advancing on each other, the more octavia pours into her movements. fighting with absolutely everything she has left. but she rapidly moves between elegantly executing moves rev has taught her— some she's adapted on her own— and allowing her emotions to bleed into that same style, becoming slopping. it's always been her biggest weakness.

when rev advances on her, octavia moves to dodge again, but rev's expecting it and her wild movements. what octavia doesn't expect is the searing pain that explodes up her leg as it comes out underneath her. her back collides with the mat hard, the abrupt force paralyzing the muscles inside her as she feels the air empty from her lungs. her hand rose, reaching back at her head when she saw rev in her gaze, them peering down at her, speaking, saying something, but as she blinked at rev, octavia couldn't hear a single sound, couldn't even correctly gasp for breath.

after a moment, octavia gasped, sucking in a sharp breath, groaning as she did. "ow," she uttered in response to rev's concern. but still, she stayed lying on the mat, worried something in her body would prevent her from moving if she tried. "fuuuck rev," she complained, blinking again as she touched the back of her head before slowly beginning to sit up. with rev crouching beside her, they asked, "anything broken?" once octavia sat up with a hand in her hair, she shrugged. "no, i don't think so...but damn, fuck, remind me to stay on your good side. after that, i deserve to be in your good books again. come on, it really felt like you broke my leg there for a second."

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: sharing a kiss in a heavy downpour of rain . / trin & o

the morning looked promising despite a few rain clouds with octavia meeting trinity early at a local farmers market. now that summer was upon them, all of them were in full swing. trinity was always creating something new, always getting so excited over trinkets and other creations that came across her social media feeds so when octavia found a flyer for the market this weekend in a lounge at the college, she thought what could be better than a little day date?

the girls strolled down the rows of tables with knitted hats, baked goods, and paintings. one booth in particular caught octavia's attention, her eyes shining brightly as they stopped at the young man's photography booth. his different prints lined the table with some displayed behind him. while octavia chatted with him, asking how he found the photography scene around here, she smiled as trinity clung around her arm, keeping the two close.

"i wonder if i could sell some of my art at a market like this," octavia mused as the girls walked away. it would just be another place to gain exposure, like the magazine her photograph was featured in. when trinity enthusiastically encouraged her, octavia's cheeks dusted pink. it was one thing when her brother or best friend hyped up her photos, but when trinity did it? octavia leaned into trinity as they walked, nuzzling against her hair, "you're just saying that because you're my gorgeous muse." she teased, fending off the compliment with one of her own.

"anything else catch your eye?" octavia asked as her fingers tangled with trinity's, looking up and down the last aisle when the looming dark clouds above them finally poured down with rain. almost immediately, as the rain poured down, most people began to leave while vendors huddled underneath their tents. "damn, that's what i get for planning an outdoor date," octavia muttered as her nose crinkled. rain's kind of our thing, isn't it? trinity shyly asked with a small smile. instead of letting the weather dampen their date, octavia couldn't help but match her infectious smile, thinking about the times they'd danced together after a night out in the rain. maybe trinity was right.

"well, in that case," octavia tugged on trinity's hand, laughing in the downpour of rain as the two girls took off running. through the market until they reached the grassy edge of the exhibition grounds, where they could freely dance and spin in the rain. filling the morning air with their laughter. after a final spin, octavia brushed soaked strands of hair out of her face, grinning brightly as she watched trinity move in the rain. teeth tugged at her bottom lip before octavia reached out, capturing trinity's wrist as she pulled her closer. "i love when you look like this," octavia beamed, overwhelmed by her beauty and the lightness she felt in trinity's presence. her hand rose to tuck strands of trinity's hair behind her ear as her heart fluttered in her chest, awakening a closed part. "you're beautiful," she complimented as she leaned in, kissing trinity with a swell of adoration.

[headstrongblake]

∗ o4 sender offers receiver an earbud to share their music / trin & o / @thewholecrew

it's not perfect for the two best friends lately. octavia can still feel the tension whether kassy wants to admit it's there or not. whether she says she's forgiven her for leaving with nick after him. but kassy is the one consistent person octavia needs in her life, and so if her best friend can't stand her all the time, the least octavia could do is put herself in places her best friend would be. if kassy kept running into her, eventually, she'd run out of excuses to leave quickly, right? at least, that's what octavia told herself as she planted her butt at the cafe on campus. whenever her bestie requires a caffeine refill, she always finds it here.

between working on her portfolio, pondering the next semester and waiting for kassy to appear, octavia hardly noticed trinity in the cafe until it was almost too late. fingers ran through her hair as she lifted her eyes off her ipad to stretch, catching a small glimpse of trinity. emerald hues brightened a little seeing her turn with a drink in hand as she moved toward the exit, "trinity!" octavia called out over the busy cafe, smiling as she waved trinity over. as trinity wandered over, octavia quickly shifted around her books, piling them together to make room for trinity to join her. "hey, i haven't seen you around in awhile..." though, that's mostly octavia's fault. after the night that altered everything— it was too much. too many places required her attention as everyone around them drew inward. it left trinity a little out of the loop after the past few months together. "please sit, i'm hanging around to see if i can catch kassy, but i'd love your company."

as trinity appeared to hesitate a little, acting apprehensive like she had been when kassy had first introduced her to the group, octavia quickly added, "if you're not busy, i mean. it's totally cool if you are, no pressure i just thought—..." her rambling words trailed off as trinity offered her a smile before taking a seat on the bench next to her. cool, octavia thought as she tugged on her bottom lip. at least this was another relationship that appeared salvageable in the wake of garrett's destruction.

"what're you listening to?" octavia asked, chin nudging toward the cord from trinity's headphones before she went back to editing a photograph of hers on her ipad. instead of simply answering, trinity offered her the other earbud. though small, the gesture warmed octavia's heart as she reached forward to place the earbud in her ear. there was something about sharing art with someone else that felt intimate somehow. felt like they were offering a little window into their soul. "i like this," octavia hummed pleasantly, leaning in to gently touch her shoulder to trinity's.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew : why are you helping me? / alec & o

when alec had been roughly returned to his cell, thrown away like trash, octavia was waiting patiently by the little crack in their shared wall. “you’re back alec, it’s okay, you’re okay now,” she tried to encourage, dirty finger trailing along the crack— wishing she could comfort him somehow, wishing she’d found her cure well before this hellish place. but as she offered him soothing words, a guard banged on the outside of her cell, warning her to leave him be or she’d be taken next. dark tired hues glared back at the guard, only getting up from the floor to sit on the bed to placate the guard into leaving. silently, she waited. listened for the sound of the guards taking another prisoner much further down from them that they never saw.

after all went quiet once more, octavia shifted off her bed, uncaring of the cameras in the corner recording her as she went to sit by alec again. “think of something that makes you feel warm and safe alec, it’s not a cure but it helps.” octavia quietly encouraged once more. but as alec asked, “why are you helping me?” octavia’s words escaped her. hues stared forward at the other wall of her cell, pondering where this deep desire to help alec comes from. it’d be easier for her if she didn’t. there would be less times when she’s tormented a little extra because the guards have caught onto her protectiveness of him. perhaps despite how treacherous this place is…she could make it easier on herself.

octavia let out a deep sigh, tilting her head against the wall as her palm rested on the floor near the crack still. “because professor x would, he’s the headmaster at the school i lived at.” she answered truthfully. the professor had taught her a type of kindness octavia had never thought was possible. one she hadn’t experienced beyond her big brother who loved her more than life. despite all the wreckage she created, all the trials her powers went through as they developed and grew, the professor had never once made her feel anything but that she belonged. as octavia tucked her knees against her chest, an ache gnawed in her heart. she never should have left there. never should have encouraged trinity to leave with her because now— where was trinity? what’s happened to her since octavia’s been locked away? “why did you live there and not with your brother?” alec asked and her heart suddenly ached for a whole new reason. alec’s inquiry makes sense, she’s shared stories of her courageous big brother and called out his name in her sleep.

“the scientists and doctors here are studying my…abilities but they’re also studying my biology. see, i was born with my curse, this monster inside me and when my mom and brother realized…i had to hide away. i never went to school… never left the house. well, aside from when bellamy could sneak me out to a park or something. it was about protecting me, you know, keeping me safe but, it also protected everyone from me.” octavia explained as her thoughts lingered on her brother, on his face she could so clearly see in her mind as he helped her experience just a sliver of childhood by bringing her to parks at night. tears stung in her eyes, but to force it away, octavia lifted her palms to her knees rubbing them along the fabric of her bottoms. “as i was getting older, my abilities were getting stronger…more unstable. and well, monsters don’t usually get to live you know…so my mom tried to kill the monster in me and… instead, the monster killed her.” her jaw clenched at the memory, barely fifteen as tears streamed down her cheeks, huddled in her bed as bellamy inspected what she knew to be true. she had murdered her mother. “that’s why the school, that’s why professor xavier. i think my brother figured i’d be safer…” if only she’d listened.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: i never gave up hope that i'd see you again. / bellamy & o

dark emerald hues linger along the bulletin board covered in maps, locations, names, and surveillance footage—everything that outlines exactly what her brother and his group have been doing this past year while she was in that facility. by the looks of this room, they've quite literally scoured across the world in the past year. moving from place to place. coming up with dead ends until finally...there's a location on a map heavily circled in red. her jaw tightened, fingers hesitantly reaching to touch the centre of the location. the facility.

i never gave up hope that i'd see you again. lost in haunting memories, her brother's voice startled her as her hand recoiled from the map on the board. "i...i didn't know you were there..." she admitted, tearing her gaze away from the maps to see her brother at the doorway. he's seen everything then. we missed you by a couple days, less than a week. her head bobbed as she took in the information. it was better that way. that once again, he'd come up empty-handed instead of finding her in that place. this way, she reunites like this after she's had some time to adjust to life outside a cage. better her brother hadn't seen her like that. that trinity had avoided it.

as her brother entered the room, her muscles stiffened, watching him in complete silence. this is such a sharp contrast to her entire childhood, where the moment she was around bellamy, octavia couldn't be silenced. always curious. always talking. always doting on her older brother. now, she's unsure what to say. how to talk to him about her experiences in the facility. instead, she focuses on the aftermath. "i don't know what happened between him and that girl kassy, but grant freed alec and i, got us away from there..." but afterwards, there was still hydra. stryker. there were too many unknowns and people hunting them for her to immediately reach out for her brother. to shift her focus away from simply surviving. "i knew you'd come through..."

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: i didn't think you'd show / grant & o

after a while, kassy was right. the ghost of the man octavia had murdered stopped haunting her. the times when she thought about garrett and the torture he'd inflicted on her brother lessened throughout the summer. & while the deep wound in her heart from grant remained, throughout time with her friends and with trinity, it hurt less and less. but with grant's return, with his apologies and vague reasoning for leaving them behind, for hurting them as he had, all the damaging thoughts of garrett returned. gnawing at her even after that week they'd spent together where he might've told her anything to fix how fractured nick was inside.

as octavia entered the diner, her gaze skirted over the sea of people enjoying their meals until she found grant at the back, already waiting for her. their eyes met as she hesitated. for weeks, she hadn't cared for grant's reasons; none of them would turn back the clock. but the more of them he offered— i couldn't risk him knowing my plan and i—i couldn't just kill him, he's not just one man...if i had just killed him then it wouldn't have stopped, we would have never been free and i couldn't risk it. i couldn't risk you.— the bigger her desire to know grew. now, there was no turning back.

silently, octavia sat in the booth across from grant, sliding in as one of the friendly waitresses asked if she wanted coffee. with a small smile, "please," she nodded before slowly turning her attention to grant, feeling that same longing ache creep back in as she did. i didn't think you'd show. octavia folded her hands together on the table, offering a quiet nod of understanding— after all, she had asked him to meet her. to talk with her, really talk, for the first time without a need to fight, train, or with nick in between. "yeah, there was a couple of chatty newcomers, na meeting ran long." she explained, quickly thanking the waitress who brought her coffee.

for a few moments, the two sat quietly. emerald hues lowering as octavia poured sugar into her coffee, stirring it before adding another two packets. while she had texted grant to meet her here, o had no idea where to start or how. no clue what she even wanted to know, whether she'd believe him even if he tried to give her answers. but the space between them felt thick with tension, with emotion she wasn't willing to address quite yet. this between them is exhausting. there are so many things i...need to apologize for, so many things that i did that i will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for...i...i want to make it up to you. forcing out a shaky breath, octavia lifted her gaze to grant, "you've said a lot of things since you came back...things i haven't been ready to hear but," octavia raked her teeth against her lower lip, running her finger along the lip of the mug. "i don't owe you anything but, i might be ready to listen on two conditions. i'll ask whatever i want, and...if you lie to me, i'm leaving."

octavia let her offer to listen settle in with grant as her knee bounced beneath the table anxiously. god, how did he do this? still, cause this flutter and ache in her heart and stomach despite the brick wall she put in place between them. despite the hurt, and betrayal, the rage and all her heartbroken feelings. he was the man she loved once. perhaps...she bit the flesh on the back of her lip, forcing down the thought. she doesn't love him. not anymore. after taking a sip of her hot coffee, octavia tried bracing herself for whatever answer he might come up with, but before he could speak, she did once more. "this is me reaching out to you despite everything you’ve done, hoping for once you will get out of your own way, if not," octavia shrugged, gesturing at the space between them, "if you don't want to be honest with me about everything, we have no reason to sit here." she explained, studying his features before she turned slightly, readying herself to slip out of the booth.

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: ❝ if you’re gonna keep risking your life for me than you’re also gonna let me patch you up without a single complaint. ❞ / trin & nick hvh

standing against the metal table, nick examined the gash along his side, sucking in a sharp intake of breath as the wind, caused by trinity's delightful appearing act, prickled along his open wound. gritting his teeth together, crystal hues raised from his side to glare at the blonde before he rolled his eyes. "you've gotta stop doin' that in here," he muttered, letting the fabric of his shirt fall down as he turned toward the table, sifting through the med kit they had onboard.

after threading his stitching needle, nick took a long gulp of whiskey straight from the bottle before leaning against the table once more. he forced out a heavy exhale— while getting stitches was nothing new, even stitching someone up was practically second nature; nick had never quite managed to get past the queasy sensation in the pit of his stomach whenever he had to sew himself together. it must show in his features because before he can begin, once he slipped out of his shirt entirely, trinity was snatching the needle from him. "hey! the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked, brows furrowing as he put his palm out immediately. "if you’re gonna keep risking your life for me than you’re also gonna let me patch you up without a single complaint."

quickly, his brows lifted with surprise, softening his features a touch at her offer, covered in all trinity's usual attitude before a smirk rose on his lips. "yes ma'am." he poked playfully. if he thought back to the day's events, he had taken the knife to the side to keep trinity safe. just because she couldn't feel the damage...didn't mean her wounds had no chance of being life-threatening. "s'kinda my job to keep you alive you know, being the civilian and targets family and all, don't really need any thanks." he replied, his hands raising at his sides with innocent defeat before she could argue that that wasn't what she was doing. nick shook his head as he chuckled lightly, hopping up onto the metal table as trinity moved closer. "you sure you know what you're doing with that?" he asked in all seriousness, "there's no shame, i can do it, s'no big deal for me in my line of work."

[headstrongblake]

@thewholecrew: ❝ stay, please. ❞ / trin & nick

in hindsight, waiting outside trinity's apartment, lingering in the darkness of the shadows might not have been the best plan. nick has lost count of the number of people he’s had to glare off and the number of sirens that have made his blood run even colder. a white puff of air appears in front of his face each time he recognizes it as an ambulance and not a cruiser, showing his obvious relief. but he couldn't help it, however. not tonight. he's been on edge the entire day. given his life, that was really nothing new, but today was even worse. he's fucked up before. messed up jobs before. but letting a shifter get away after he'd called his damn old man for advice...he's so fucking screwed. he won't live that down. not with his family history. fuck, he's terrified in a way trinity's never seen, but he can't help but seek her out.

when she stepped out of the taxi, his heart clenched tightly, shoving his hands deep in his pockets to hide the blood that stained him. "trin, baby..." he called to her, stepping out of the darkest and into the light. trinity's always been the one to break down his stoic facade, and now it is no different. he isn’t sure how much light the parking lot lights give off, but he knows his eyes convey the shame and agony over being unable to stop what happened today. everything had gone wrong. now a kid and his family are dead, and the shifter...they're gone.

without thought, he reaches for her the second she's close enough. tugging her against his chest as he held her tightly. "christ, i needed to see you," he breathed, screwing his eyes shut as a hand lifted to her hair. feeling her warmth against him eased a bit of the tension, but as he sharply exhaled, opening his eyes, he couldn't help but catch sight of his hands. his jaw clenches at what he sees there, fingers doing the same where they have trailed down her hair to her neck. he leans his head forward against hers, just for a moment, just long enough to clench his eyes shut against the thoughts of tearing apart the next shifter or supernatural being that crosses his path.

"listen darlin', it might be a minute here before you see me again, this job i was working has taken a bit of a turn and...it's got me heading out before long." if he and nate don't catch up with shifter before his da finishes with his vampire nest...he'll be in for a world of hurt. please stay. his heart felt as if it shattered at her request. he feels...better with her around. feels a sense of humanity and normalcy trickling back into his world, even more so now that she's broken down the wall he carefully constructed to keep people like her out. "baby, i want to..." stained hands slip down her arms to gather her hands in his, bringing them up to his mouth as his lips brushed them. "i made a mistake tonight and if i don't fix it...a lot of innocent people are gonna die, that's on me trin, i have to go." he told her truthfully before kissing her fingers and knuckles. "i'm sorry, i thought we were gonna be here longer, but you'll trust i'll come back right?" he questioned, tilting his head as he pressed another kiss to her hand. "please darlin', tell me you trust me."