#'hey kids let me show you how to make monster teeth with chewing gum and peanuts'

[commiegoth]

One of my favorite kinds of videos that makes me feel like some kind of anthropologist or something is "instructional/informative VHS tape made for retail sale hosted by someone clearly very skilled/knowledgeable in their field but has no on-camera charisma whatsoever because that's never been their job before"

[kookie-doughs]

Y/N L/N AND THE HALFBLOODS

Percy Jackson X Reader

-Y/N L/N met Percy Jackson and everything was now ruined.

CHAPTER 16: Mini Elvis

The war god was waiting for us in the diner parking lot. "Well, well," he said. "You didn't get yourself killed." "You knew it was a trap," Percy hissed. Ares gave me a wicked grin. "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV." Taking the shield from Percy I shoved it at him. "You're a jerk." Annabeth and Grover caught their breath. Ares grabbed the shield and spun it in the air like pizza dough. It changed form, melting into a bulletproof vest. He slung it across his back. "See that truck over there?" He pointed to an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street from the diner. "That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas." The eighteen-wheeler had a sign on the back, which I could read only because it was reverse-printed white on black, a good combination for dyslexia: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS. Percy said, "You're kidding." Ares snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job." He slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to Percy. Inside were fresh clothes for all of us, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuff Oreos. Percy said, "I don't want your lousy—" "Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted, giving him his best red-alert warning look. "Thanks a lot." I could see Percy gritting his teeth. It was probably a deadly insult to refuse something from a god, but I also didn't want anything that Ares had touched. Reluctantly, he swung the bag over his shoulder. I looked back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who'd served us dinner was watching nervously out the window, like she was afraid Ares might hurt us. She dragged the fry cook out from the kitchen to see. She said something to him. He nodded, held up a little disposable camera and snapped a picture of us. Great, I thought. We'll make the papers again tomorrow.

I imagined the headline: TWELVE-YEAR-OLD OUTLAWS BEATS UP DEFENSELESS BIKER. "You owe us one more thing," Percy told Ares, trying to keep my voice level. "You promised me information about our parents." "You sure you can handle the news?" He kick-started his motorcycle. "They're not dead." The ground seemed to spin beneath me. "What do you mean?" "I mean Percy's mom was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept. As for yours, I saw them myself. Upstairs with the big guys. Why do you think you're causing one of the biggest uproar up there? They're refusing to tell who your parent is. No matter how much cut." He smirked. "What...?" Percy and the others must've seen something as they all held me back. "What are they doing to them?" I could feel the ground shake as Percy's grip on me tighten. We'll save them... calm down. Not the hero. Us. So calm down. "Calm down Y/N." Percy whispered. The ground stopped shaking and took a deep breath. "I will make you all kneel." I said. He looked at me confusedly. Then he shrug it off then laughed, "Oh yeah? can't wait, kid." Percy gripped my shoulder. "You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues." Behind his sunglasses, fire glowed. I felt a hot wind in my hair. "We'll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back." He revved his Harley, then roared off down Delancy Street. Annabeth said, "That was not smart, Percy." "I don't care." "You don't want a god as your enemy. Especially not that god." "Hey, guys," Grover said. "I hate to interrupt, but ..." He pointed toward the diner. At the register, the last two customers were paying their check, two men in identical black coveralls, with a white logo on their backs that matched the one on the KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL truck. "If we're taking the zoo express," Grover said, "we need to hurry." I didn't like it, but we had no better option. Besides, I'd seen enough of Denver. We ran across the street and climbed in the back of the big rig, closing the doors behind us. The first thing that hit me was the smell. It was like the world's biggest pan of kitty litter. The trailer was dark inside until Percy uncapped Riptide. The blade cast a faint bronze light over a very sad scene. Sitting in a row of filthy metal cages were three of the most pathetic zoo animals I'd ever beheld: a zebra, a male albino lion, and some weird antelope thing I didn't know the name for. Someone had thrown the lion a sack of turnips, which he obviously didn't want to eat. The zebra and the antelope had each gotten a Styrofoam tray of hamburger meat. The zebra's mane was matted with chewing gum, like somebody had been spitting on it in their spare time. The antelope had a stupid silver birthday balloon tied to one of his horns that read OVER THE HILL! Apparently, nobody had wanted to get close enough to the lion to mess with him, but the poor thing was pacing around on soiled blankets, in a space way too small for him, panting from the stuffy heat of the trailer. He had flies buzzing around his pink eyes and his ribs showed through his white fur. "This is kindness?" Grover yelled. "Humane zoo transport?" He probably would've gone right back outside to beat up the truckers with his reed pipes, and we would've helped him, but just then the trucks engine roared to life, the trailer started shaking, and we were forced to sit down or fall down. We huddled in the corner on some mildewed feed sacks, trying to ignore the smell and the heat and the flies. Grover talked to the animals in a series of goat bleats, but they just stared at him sadly. Annabeth was in favor of breaking the cages and freeing them on the spot, but I pointed out it wouldn't do much good until the truck stopped moving. Besides, I had a feeling we might look a lot better to the lion than those turnips. I found a water jug and refilled their bowls, then Percy used Riptide to drag the mismatched food out of their cages. He gave the meat to the lion and the turnips to the zebra and the antelope. Grover calmed the antelope down, while I used my knife to cut the balloon off his horn. Annabeth wanted to cut the gum out of the zebra's mane, too, but we decided that would be too risky with the truck bumping around. We told Grover to promise the animals we'd help them more in the morning, then we settled in for night. Grover curled up on a turnip sack; Annabeth opened our bag of Double Stuff Oreos and nibbled on one halfheartedly; I tried to cheer myself up by concentrating on the fact that we were halfway to Los Angeles. Halfway to our destination. It was only June fourteenth. The solstice wasn't until the twenty-first. We could make it in plenty of time. On the other hand, I had no idea what to expect next. The gods kept toying with me. At least Hephaestus had the decency to be honest about it—he'd put up cameras and advertised me as entertainment. But even when the cameras weren't rolling, I had a feeling my quest was being watched. I was a source of amusement for the gods. And it wasn't helping knowing they're hurting my parents. Here I was risking my life for them and what are they doing? "Hey," Percy cooed, "We'll save them. No matter what. I promised you that." "Okay." Percy pulled me closer until I was resting on him. Annabeth cleared her throat. "Hey, sorry I wasn't much help back at the park... I could've helped getting you guys out... It's just..." She shuddered. "Spiders." "Because of the Arachne story," I guessed. "She got turned into a spider for challenging your mom to a weaving contest, right?" She nodded. "Arachne's children have been taking revenge on the children of Athena ever since. If there's a spider within a mile of me, it'll find me. I hate the creepy little things." "We're a team, remember?" Percy said. "Besides, Grover did the fancy flying. All we did was grab the shield." I thought he was asleep, but he mumbled from the corner, "I was pretty amazing, wasn't I?" Annabeth, Percy and I laughed. She pulled apart an Oreo, handed me and Percy a half each. "In the Iris message... did Luke really say nothing?" I munched my cookie and thought about how to answer. The conversation via rainbow had bothered me all evening. "Luke said you and he go way back. He also said Grover wouldn't fail this time. Nobody would turn into a pine tree." Percy answered. In the dim bronze light of the sword blade, it was hard to read their expressions. Grover let out a mournful bray. "I should've told you the truth from the beginning." His voice trembled. "I thought if you knew what a failure I was, you wouldn't want me along." "You were the satyr who tried to rescue Thalia, the daughter of Zeus." He nodded glumly. "And the other two half-bloods Thalia befriended, the ones who got safely to camp..." Percy looked at Annabeth. "That was you and Luke, wasn't it?" She put down her Oreo, uneaten. "Like you said, Percy, a seven-year-old half-blood wouldn't have made it very far alone. Athena guided me toward help. Thalia was twelve. Luke was fourteen. They'd both run away from home, like me. They were happy to take me with them. They were... amazing monster-fighters, even without training. We traveled north from Virginia without any real plans, fending off monsters for about two weeks before Grover found us." "I was supposed to escort Thalia to camp," he said, sniffling. "Only Thalia. I had strict orders from Chiron: don't do anything that would slow down the rescue. We knew Hades was after her, see, but I couldn't just leave Luke and Annabeth by themselves. I thought... I thought I could lead all three of them to safety. It was my fault the Kindly Ones caught up with us. I froze. I got scared on the way back to camp and took some wrong turns. If I'd just been a little quicker..." "Stop it," Annabeth said. "No one blames you. Thalia didn't blame you either." "She sacrificed herself to save us," he said miserably, "Her death was my fault. The Council of Cloven Elders said so." "Because you wouldn't leave two other half-bloods behind?" Percy said. "That's not fair." "Percy's right," Annabeth said. "I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you, Grover. Neither would Luke. We don't care what the council says." Grover kept sniffling in the dark. "It's just my luck. I'm the lamest satyr ever, and I find the two most powerful half-bloods of the century, Thalia and Percy." "You're not lame," Annabeth insisted. "You've got more courage than any satyr I've ever met. Name one other who would dare go to the Underworld. I bet Percy is really glad you're here right now." She kicked me in the shin. "Yeah," I said, which I would've done even without the kick. "It's not luck that you found Thalia and Percy, Grover. You've got the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You're a natural searcher. That's why you'll be the one who finds Pan. I mean, you found me despite my scentlessness... is that a word?" Percy muffled a laugh. I heard a deep, satisfied sigh. I waited for Grover to say something, but his breathing only got heavier. When the sound turned to snoring, I realized he'd fallen sleep. "How does he do that?" I marveled. "I don't know," Annabeth said. "But that was really a nice thing you told him." "I meant it." We rode in silence for a few miles, bumping around on the feed sacks. The zebra munched a turnip. The lion licked the last of the hamburger meat off his lips and looked at me hopefully. Percy didn't take long to fall asleep. Annabeth rubbed her necklace like she was thinking deep, strategic thoughts. "That pine-tree bead," I said. "Is that from your first year?" She looked. She hadn't realized what she was doing. "Yeah," she said. "Every August, the counselors pick the most important event of the summer, and they paint it on that year's beads. I've got Thalia's pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress—now that was a weird summer...." "And the college ring is your father's?" "That's none of your—" She stopped herself. "Yeah. Yeah, it is." "You don't have to tell me." "No... it's okay." She took a shaky breath. "My dad sent it to me folded up in a letter, two summers ago. The ring was, like, his main keepsake from Athena. He wouldn't have gotten through his doctoral program at Harvard without her.... That's a long story. Anyway, he said he wanted me to have it. He apologized for being a jerk, said he loved me and missed me. He wanted me to come home and live with him." "That doesn't sound so bad." "Yeah, well... the problem was, I believed him. I tried to go home for that school year, but my stepmom was the same as ever. She didn't want her kids put in danger by living with a freak. Monsters attacked. We argued. Monsters attacked. We argued. I didn't even make it through winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to Camp Half-Blood." She wouldn't meet my eyes. "Please. I'm not into self-inflicted pain." "You shouldn't give up," I told her. "You should write him a letter or something." "Thanks for the advice," she said coldly, "but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with." We passed another few miles of silence. "Luke actually told me about you two coming to camp already." "Really?" She looked at me amazed. "You two must've gotten close fast." "Well, I don't know. I feel like I had to talk to Luke. Like I had to be there for him. The same with Percy." We have to be there for both "You're not wrong. I'm not sure how I'd be without your help." Percy yawned. "Yeah, I wouldn't have been able to handle him." Annabeth glared at him. I laughed, "I think you two are cute." Both of them blushed and said some excuse to disprove me. Which then turned into them showing off who's better than who. "If I'm dating anyone it'll be Y/N!" Both of them huffed and glared at each other. I shook my head and smiled. At least I've gotten new friends out of this. "So," Percy trailed off. "If the gods fight," he said, "will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Will it be Athena versus Poseidon?" Annabeth put her head against the backpack Ares had given us, and closed her eyes. "I don't know what my mom will do. I just know I'll fight next to you." "Why?" "Because Y/N will and whether I like it or not you're my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?" "That's all Mr. Peabody." "Shut up, Droopy." I felt her rest on my shoulder and she fell asleep. "Am I that comfortable?" "Yeah," Percy laughed as he rested on my lap. I had trouble following their example, with Grover snoring and an albino lion staring hungrily at me, but eventually I closed my eyes. ~~~ I woke with a start. I was second one awake. Grover was talking to the antelope. "Morning?" "Everyone had the Y/N privilege except me?" "You fell asleep first." I stroked both Annabeth and Percy's hair, which unfortunately woke up Annabeth. "Sorry about that." "It's fine." She yawned. She brought out some Oreo and handed me one. Until the truck stopped. "They're checking the animals aren't they?" Annabeth froze. I shook Percy's shoulder. "The truck's stopped," I said. "We think they're coming to check on the animals." "Hide!" Annabeth hissed. She had it easy. She just put on her magic cap and disappeared. Grover, Percy and I had to dive behind feed sacks and hope we looked like turnips. The trailer doors creaked open. Sunlight and heat poured in. "Man!" one of the truckers said, waving his hand in front of his ugly nose. "I wish I hauled appliances." He climbed inside and poured some water from a jug into the animals' dishes. "You hot, big boy?" he asked the lion, then splashed the rest of the bucket right in the lion's face. The lion roared in indignation. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," the man said. Next to me, under the turnip sacks, Grover tensed. For a peace-loving herbivore, he looked downright murderous. The trucker threw the antelope a squashed-looking Happy Meal bag. He smirked at the zebra. "How ya doin', Stripes? Least we'll be getting rid of you this stop. You like magic shows? You're gonna love this one. They're gonna saw you in half!" The zebra, wild-eyed with fear, looked straight at us. There was a loud knock, knock, knock on the side of the trailer. The trucker inside with us yelled, "What do you want, Eddie?" A voice outside—it must've been Eddie's—shouted back, "Maurice? What'd ya say?" "What are you banging for?" Knock, knock, knock. Outside, Eddie yelled, "What banging?" Our guy Maurice rolled his eyes and went back outside, cursing at Eddie for being an idiot. A second later, Annabeth appeared next to me. She must've done the banging to get Maurice out of the trailer. She said, "This transport business can't be legal." "No kidding," Grover said. He paused, as if listening. "The lion says these guys are animal smugglers!" "We've got to free them!" Grover said. He and Annabeth both looked at Percy, waiting for his say. "Percy, open the lock." I snapped at his face. Outside, Eddie and Maurice were still yelling at each other, but I knew they'd be coming inside to torment the animals again any minute. He grabbed Riptide and slashed the lock off the zebra's cage. The zebra burst out. It turned to Percy and bowed. Grover held up his hands and said something to the zebra in goat talk, like a blessing. Just as Maurice was poking his head back inside to check out the noise, the zebra leaped over him and into the street. There was yelling and screaming and cars honking. We rushed to the doors of the trailer in time to see the zebra galloping down a wide boulevard lined with hotels and casinos and neon signs. We'd just released a zebra in Las Vegas. Maurice and Eddie ran after it, with a few policemen running after them, shouting, "Hey! You need a permit for that!" "Now would be a good time to leave," Annabeth said. "The other animals first," Grover said. I cut the locks with my knife which wasn't as easy as what Percy had done. Grover raised his hands and spoke the same goat-blessing he'd used for the zebra. "Good luck," I told the animals. The antelope and the lion burst out of their cages and went off together into the streets. Some tourists screamed. Most just backed off and took pictures, probably thinking it was some kind of stunt by one of the casinos. "Will the animals be okay?" I asked Grover. "I mean, the desert and all—" "Don't worry," he said. "I placed a satyr's sanctuary on them." "Meaning?" "Meaning they'll reach the wild safely," he said. "They'll find water, food, shade, whatever they need until they find a safe place to live." "Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" I asked. "It only works on wild animals." "So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth reasoned. "Hey!" He protested. "Kidding," she said. "Come on. Let's get out of this filthy truck." We stumbled out into the desert afternoon. It was a hundred and ten degrees, easy, and we must've looked like deep-fried vagrants, but everybody was too interested in the wild animals to pay us much attention. We passed the Monte Carlo and the MGM. We passed pyramids, a pirate ship, and the Statue of Liberty, which was a pretty small replica, but still made me homesick. I wasn't sure what we were looking for. Maybe just a place to get out of the heat for a few minutes, find a sandwich and a glass of lemonade, make a new plan for getting west. We must have taken a wrong turn, because we found ourselves at a dead end, standing in front of the Lotus Hotel and Casino. The entrance was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled like flowers—lotus blossom, maybe. I'd never smelled one, so I wasn't sure. The doorman smiled at us. "Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?" I'd learned to be suspicious, the last week or so. I figured anybody might be a monster or a god. But my knife wasn't glowing so... I figured. Besides, I was so relieved to hear somebody who sounded sympathetic that I nodded and said we'd love to come in. Inside, we took one look around, and Grover said, "Whoa." The whole lobby was a giant game room. And I'm not talking about cheesy old Pac-Man games or slot machines. There was an indoor waterslide snaking around the glass elevator, which went straight up at least forty floors. There was a climbing wall on the side of one building, and an indoor bungee-jumping bridge. There were virtual-reality suits with working laser guns. And hundreds of video games, each one the size of a widescreen TV. Basically, you name it, this place had it. There were a few other kids playing, but not that many. No waiting for any of the games. There were waitresses and snack bars all around, serving every kind of food you can imagine. "Hey!" a bellhop said. At least I guessed he was a bellhop. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key." I stammered, "Um, but..." "No, no," he said, laughing. "The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go on up to the top floor, loom 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, or skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your Lotus Cash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides." He handed us each a green plastic credit card. I knew there must be some mistake. Obviously he thought we were some millionaire's kids. But I took the card and said, "How much is on here?" His eyebrows knit together. "What do you mean?" "I mean, when does it run out of cash?" He laughed. "Oh, you're making a joke. Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay." We took the elevator upstairs and checked out our room. It was a suite with three separate bedrooms and a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips. A hotline to room service. Fluffy towels and water beds with feather pillows. A big-screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet. The balcony had its own hot tub, and sure enough, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, so you could launch clay pigeons right out over the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun. I didn't see how that could be legal, but I thought it was pretty cool. The view over the Strip and the desert was amazing, though I doubted we'd ever find time to look at the view with a room like this. "Oh, goodness," Annabeth said. "This place is ..." "Sweet," Grover said. "Absolutely sweet." There were clothes in the closet, and they fit me. I frowned, thinking that this was a little strange. I took a shower, which felt awesome after a week of grimy travel. I changed clothes, ate a bag of chips, drank three Cokes, and came out feeling better than I had in a long time. Search and find them Huh? Look for them and warn them I came out of the bedroom and found that Annabeth, Percy and Grover had also showered and changed clothes. Grover was eating potato chips to his heart's content, Percy looked like he was having a headache, while Annabeth cranked up the National Geographic Channel. "Percy you okay?" "Yeah it's just.... All those stations," he told Annabeth, "and she turn on National Geographic." "It's interesting." "I feel good," Grover said. "I love this place." Without his even realizing it, the wings sprouted out of his shoes and lifted him a foot off the ground, then back down again. "So what now?" Annabeth asked. "Sleep?" Percy and I looked at each other and grinned. We both held up our green plastic Lotus Cash cards. "Play time," I said. I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun. I came from a relatively poor family. Our idea of a splurge was eating out at Burger King and renting a video. A five-star Vegas hotel? Forget it. I spent most of my time playing and... looking for someone I think. I bungee-jumped the lobby five or six times, snowboarded the artificial ski slope, and played virtual-reality laser tag and FBI sharpshooter. I saw Grover a few times, going from game to game. He really liked the reverse hunter thing—where the deer go out and shoot the rednecks. I saw Annabeth playing trivia games and other brainiac stuff. They had this huge 3-D sim game where you build your own city, and you could actually see the holographic buildings rise on the display board. I didn't think much of it, but Annabeth loved it. Percy was playing with Grover. I'm not sure when I first realized something was wrong. Probably, it was when I noticed the guy standing next to me at VR sharpshooters. He was about thirteen, I guess, but his clothes were weird. I thought he was some Elvis impersonator's son. He wore bell-bottom jeans and a red T-shirt with black piping, and his hair was permed and gelled like a New Jersey girl's on homecoming night. When he saw me he gave a smirk and invited me to play a game of sharpshooters together and he said, "Groovy, man. Been here two weeks, and the games keep getting better and better." Groovy? Later, while we were talking, I said something was "sick," and he looked at me kind of startled, as if he'd never heard the word used that way before. He said his name was Darrin, but as soon as I started asking him questions he got bored with me and started to go back to the computer screen. I said, "Hey, Darrin?" "What?" "What year is it?" He frowned at me. "In the game?" "No. In real life." He had to think about it. "1977." "No," I said, getting a little scared. "Really." "Hey, man. Bad vibes. I got a game happening." After that he totally ignored me. I started talking to people, and I found it wasn't easy. They were glued to the TV screen, or the video game, or their food, or whatever. I found a guy who told me it was 1985. Another guy told me it was 1993. They all claimed they hadn't been in here very long, a few days, a few weeks at most. They didn't really know and they didn't care. Then it occurred to me: how long had I been here? It seemed like only a couple of hours, but was it? I then tried to move, but I bumped into a girl. "I'm sorry!" She said. "Hey, no prob." "Oh... uhm... No prob?" "I--- No problem. Say Uh... I kinda lost track of date. What's the year again?" "Huh? It's 1930. Okay, I'm sorry I have to go. I'm looking for someone." Everyone is important in our story "Did you say something?" I go by Y/N L/N, you'll find the one you're looking for at the zombie shooting game. I left her alone and confused. I didn't know why. But I knew now this place is wrong. I tried to remember why we were here. We were going to Los Angeles. We were supposed to find the entrance to the Underworld. My parents... for a scary second, I had trouble remembering their names. I had to save them. I found Percy first. "There's something wrong." We said at the same time. "Years?" He asked. I nodded. We then looked for the others. We found Annabeth still building her city. "Come on," Percy told her. "We've got to get out of here." No response. I shook her. "Annabeth?" She looked up, annoyed. "What? "We need to leave." "Leave? What are you talking about? I've just got the towers—" "This place is a trap." She didn't respond until I shook her again. "What?" "Listen. The Underworld. Our quest!" "Oh, come on, Percy. Just a few more minutes." "Annabeth, there are people here from 1977. Kids who have never aged. You check in, and you stay forever." "So?" she asked. "Can you imagine a better place?" I grabbed her wrist and yanked her away from the game. "Hey!" She screamed and hit me, but nobody else even bothered looking at us. They were too busy. I made her look directly in my eyes. I said, "Spiders. Large, hairy spiders." That jarred her. Her vision cleared. "Oh my gods," she said. "How long have we—" "I don't know, but we've got to find Grover." We went searching, and found him still playing Virtual Deer Hunter. "Grover!" we both shouted. He said, "Die, human! Die, silly polluting nasty person!" "Grover!" He turned the plastic gun on me and started clicking, as if I were just another image from the screen. I looked at Percy, and together we took Grover by the arms and dragged him away. His flying shoes sprang to life and started tugging his legs in the other direction as he shouted, "No! I just got to a new level! No!" The Lotus bellhop hurried up to us. "Well, now, are you ready for your platinum cards?" "We're leaving," I told him. "Such a shame," he said, and I got the feeling that he really meant it, that we'd be breaking his heart if we went. "We just added an entire new floor full of games for platinum-card members." He held out the cards, and I wanted one. I knew that if I took one, I'd never leave. I'd stay here, happy forever, playing games forever, and soon I'd forget my parents, and our quest, and maybe even my own name. I'd be playing virtual rifleman with groovy Disco Darrin forever. Grover reached for the card, but Annabeth yanked back his arm and said, "No, thanks." We walked toward the door, and as we did, the smell of the food and the sounds of the games seemed to get more and more inviting. I thought about our room upstairs. We could just stay the night, sleep in a real bed for once.... Then we burst through the doors of the Lotus Casino and ran down the sidewalk. It felt like afternoon, about the same time of day we'd gone into the casino, but something was wrong. The weather had completely changed. It was stormy, with heat lightning flashing out in the desert. I ran to the nearest newspaper stand and read the year first. Thank the gods, it was the same year it had been when we went in. Then I noticed the date: June twentieth. We had been in the Lotus Casino for five days. We had only one day left until the summer solstice. One day to complete our quest.

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[bangtancentricsblog]

Eccentric Halloween Special

affiliated works here

listen up, so this is first and foremost for my amazing friend and bestest hype woman @boymeetsweevil but imma call her my wife from now on because she is my biggest supporter and i love and appreaciate her wholeheartedly! thank you for always being there for me and keeping me motivated to write even when i think my ideas are dumpster fires and not worth finishing.

Warnings: mentions of past emotional and verbal abuse, there is smut (but like ion if everyone will like it lol) sexual jokes in reference to halloween songs, alcohol consumption, mentions of drug use (its just weed nothing big) let me know if i missed anything!

there are easter eggs so if you find them/think you found one feel free to come chat my ask box is always open!

The music is loud, bass thumping through the floor and in your ears with what you know to be a kpop song by a boy group that’s pretty catchy and says something about being an underdog. This reminds you of college and even if that shit was terrible and you never finished this atmosphere was very college like. Taehyung had left you alone some time ago whispering a soft ‘make some friends’ into your temple with a kiss, you’d gawked at his back because who did he think you were? Last you checked you weren’t rainbow fucking bright and you’d been dragged to this party for a, as he called it a ‘surprise’. The living room floor was overflowing with girls all dressed as slutty bees and butterflies, slutty anything really and you rolled your eyes because yeah this was exactly like a college party. The jungle juice didn't help, it tasted like ass but it did the trick you guess. You’d caught a glimpse of Jungkook not too long ago his hair had grown out, now long enough that he’d tied it up into a messy bun. He’d been dragging a girl behind him, one you’d seen once or twice wrapped around his form on your late night munchies run to the convenience store. 

He’s a great guy so you’re happy for him, a little too wild but still a great guy. You’ve been here for the better part of an hour just people watching from your seat on a bar stool sitting at the kitchen island of whoevers house this is. It’s a decent spot you think as you catch glimpses of people you’ve met before and have come to call acquaintances, like Lisa who’s laughing with a group of girls in the far corner by the gaudy faux leather couch. Johnny’s here too, body molded to the back of some petite brunette dressed as what you’re pretty sure is an American Horror Story witch. Hoseok is here too swapping spit with his best friend turned girlfriend, and you consider tracking Jungkook down to see if he has any space sticks on him, or at least his pen because this party sucks and Taehyung left you by yourself and if you have to do this alone you might as well be high too. 

The idea is very appealing, you chew on your lower lip weighing your options because there’s a high chance that Jungkook is fucking his cute little girlfriend in the backyard or you could find Jackson and see if he has anything on him even if his weed is shit and makes you feel sick most of the time. You groan because both those options are crap and for some fucking reason Macarena has come on and the drunks on the dance floor have begun to whoop in excitement. You refill your cup taking a sip, the mix is bitter on your tongue and you want to gag a little bit because whoever mixed it was terrible at it. God you miss Taehyung, you really want to go home to fuck him because it’s halloween and your horny but mostly because he’s got a big dick and you like the way he manhandles you. A small whine slides past your lips catching movement to your right, you peek at the couple that's just come from the hallway that you're pretty sure leads to another bathroom and the laundry room. The girl is cute, cheeks soft looking and tinted a lovely shade of ‘my boyfriend just ate my pussy’ pink. The lucky bitch you think with an internal groan. Her hair is done up in pigtails in a style you recognize automatically since Harley Quinn’s been one of your women crushes the entirety of your life, along with Lucy Lui.

Her boyfriend is sporting what looks like mint hair and a smirk you think could rival Taehyung’s. He’s kinda hot if you look closely which you aren’t because his nose doesn’t have the elegant slope that Tae’s does and neither does he have the little beauty mark. It's the alcohol you reason for the way you're comparing this very committed stranger to your very loving missing boyfriend. You just want to go home, and get some dick is that too much to ask? Thriller has played for the third time tonight when you feel the tap on your shoulder cup at your lips. You’re brows furrow,  irritation sweeping over your body at being touched so casually by someone who isn’t your boyfriend or Jungkook. It's the mint haired guy you note quirking your head slightly to better hear him over the music. 

“Hey, you’re ____, right?” 

“Piss off fuck boy, find someone else’s leg to hump.” you say around the lip of your plastic cup. A snort comes from behind him, as Harley Quinn brings her hand up to cover her mouth. He scowls at her pinching her side and she laughs harder smiling up at him, before turning her attention to you instead.

“Sorry, we should’ve introduced ourselves first.” She smiles at you, eyes creasing in a way that rings familiar in your head but can’t pinpoint at the moment. You nod anyways since Taehyung did say to make friends. 

“I’m Sweetpea and this is Yoongi, we’re friends of Tae’s.” she says hand out and you take it shaking it and Yoongi’s before pulling yours back and discreetly wiping it on your skirt. 

“Nice to meet you, I’m ____, Taehyung’s girlfriend.” you say a little sheepish since he’s usually beside you when you meet more of his friends. 

“Is Tae not here?” Sweetpea asks her voice lilting in a way that you wish yours would. 

“He’s making his rounds, I’m just waiting til he’s done catching up with everyone.” you smile it feels forced but you’re really trying.

“Does he still do that, I'd thought he’d stopped by now.” Yoongi says wrapping an arm around Sweetpea’s waist and pulling her close. You don’t mean to be, but you're jealous of Sweetpea right now, her boyfriend holds her so tenderly and the affection in his eyes is evident. Monster Mash has been replayed a second time and you really wish your boyfriend’s monster cock was smashing the shit out of your pussy right about now. Tears prick at the back of your eyes because you just want to go home, and Taehyung has seemingly abandoned you for far too long. 

“What are you dressed as anyways?” Yoongi asks, snapping you out of your little tantrum, your eyes narrowing because is he serious right now? 

“Are you, like, serious?” you say with as much ditsy tv show white girl you can muster. 

“Yeah, don't get me wrong you’ve got a nice face but it’s halloween you didn't have to dress as a nun.” he laughs and Sweetpea gives him this look. 

“I’m not a nun.” 

“Y’look like a nun to me.” 

“But I’m not, I'm dressed as Sypha from Castlevania.” you say with as much annoyance as you feel, but realize that you shouldn't have to explain your costume to him. Your cheeks feel warm with embarrassment because how dare Taehyung leave you to fend for yourself against this douche. 

“I mean anyone with a brain could put that together,” you scoff looking him up and down “what are you supposed to be, bargain bin Joker? Couldn't have mustered enough fucks to at least try?” you spit mentally shriviling up because wow how did you manage to fuck this up? Sweetpea is looking between you and Yoongi and you don’t blame her, here you were a near perfect stranger attacking her boyfriend when they’d been nice enough to pull you out of your little bubble. To your surprise Yoongi laughs, teeth and gums on display. It's kind of cute, you think, his laugh that is not him. 

“Thats a good one, couples costumes are kinda pointless. Tae wasn’t kidding when he said you were kinda surly.” 

“M’not surly, people just get on my nerves.” you pout, reaching across the island to refill your cup. If your embarrassment doesn't kill you this jungle juice will, the cup is half full when you bring it back to your lips, moving to get off your seat. Fuck it, if you have to see Jungkook’s bare ass to have a decent smoke then so be it. 

“Hey, were you going?” Sweetpea asks eyes wide, god she's pretty and she kinda reminds you of Jimin but that can’t be right. 

“Smoke, this was fun and all but my quota for meeting new people has reached its limit. See you around or something.” you say heading into the crowd of people on the dance floor because it was simpler to go through it than around them. Johnny shoots you a wink as you pass while the girl from earlier glares at you. There’s a throb growing in your temple, as the base of a new song vibrates from the floor and through your body. Lisa see’s you waving enthusiastically as you hand her your drink because you’re sure it's the toxic concoction making your head hurt. She smiles gratefully as you finally make it out the back door and much to your surprise Jungkook is seated at a patio set with the girl from the convenience store in his lap. 

The heavy base of Freaks Come Out at Night drifts out the open doors and to your left somewhere you can hear breathy moans, a voice that sounds like Hoseok encouraging his girlfriend. You purse your lips because Hoseok came off as a bit of a prude but hey it's Halloween and at least someone’s having fun. It's much colder outside than it is in the house, but you’ll make due with the warmth of what you can make out is the stench of weed in the air. Jungkook is occupied whispering things into the girls ears as you plant your ass on the chair opposite him, he pulls away from her eyes glazed over and droopy. 

“Hey where you been, we’ve been waiting for ya. You remember Shrimp right?” he asks patting Peewee’s thigh. 

“Vaguely, nice to meet you.” you say and Shrimp smiles over at you, her smile is tight and you don’t want to think too much into it. 

“So what have you guys been up to, you didn't bring her out here in the cold to fuck did’ya?” 

“Course not, too many people inside and we didn't wanna share our chocolate.” he laughs pulling a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups from beside him.

“Kook, you said Tae told you to wait out here.” Shrimp says eyes narrowed and moving to stand from her seat in his lap. 

“Don’t move you’re keeping my dick warm.” he laughs as she smacks his shoulder playfully. You’ve perked up because this is the first time all night you’ve gotten any type of word that Taehyung hadn’t just ditched you at this party. 

“Look here twerp, where the hell is my shithead boyfriend?” you ask and both Jungkook and Shrimp look thoroughly chastised even though you were only talking to the former. He widens his eyes at you tilting his head to the side in a way he does when he wants to pretend he knows nothing. 

“I don’t know what you mean, he’s around here somewhere. I’m sure he is, maybe Hoseok might know?” he breathes eyes darting to Shrimp who sits pretty in his lap like some sort of doll. 

“Okay what the actual fuck? I just wanna go home to fuck my boyfriend and he’s playing some weird game of hide and seek.” you grunt exasperated because this was weird as fuck and Tae and his friends were getting on your last nerve. You don’t mean to cry, you really don’t, but you're frustrated and your period is just around the corner and all your friends are being weird and your boyfriend is being a shithead. 

“If that's all you wanted you could've said so, but that would’ve ruined the surprise.” Taehyung says in that tone he uses when you’re on the brink of tears or already crying. Your gaze shoots over to him in an instant, tears already spilling over your cheeks flushed red in anger. He looks sheepish, but it doesn’t make you feel better. 

“Go away, I don’t wanna see you.” you say planting your head on the table to hide your face. 

“C’mon you don’t mean that.” he says, slowly lifting your face to meet your gaze. He’s standing between your thighs cupping your cheeks before he slowly moves to straddle your lap, a giggle comes from the couple in the other chair. 

“Yes I do.” you sniff the chorus of Somebody's Watching Me ringing in your ears. He chuckles at you tilting your head up, nose nuzzling yours softly before he’s molding his lips to yours. It’s always the butterflies in your tummy that surprise you, because by now you’d hoped to be used to this feeling but you’re not. You’ve never loved someone like you do Taehyung, and it's weird because before him you were sure you just weren’t made to be loved. You’d long since opened up to him of your reasons for being so detached, cold even with anyone and everyone. It’d been hard to trust people after the various years of both verbal and emotional abuse, hell even at home it wasn’t all that great. When you’d moved to Taehyung’s peaceful little neighborhood you had made sure to keep people far away from you, that way they wouldn’t be able to hurt you. No backstabbing friends and no cheating boyfriends, just you all on your lonesome. And yet Taehyung had broken through your walls and made himself a cozy little home in your heart. 

It was because of him that you were able to make progress with your therapist who was no longer your therapist and more a friend. Namjoon was a nice guy and if he hadn’t been busy tonight you would’ve invited him to this party, but he had plans with his girlfriend Bubbles. Hell you’d been shocked to learn he’d gone to school with Taehyung, because by now you were sure he was friends with pretty much everyone in town. He pulls away from the kiss forehead pressed to yours and you whine softly eyes still closed because you were sure you were dreaming. Nothing this amazing ever happened, least of all to you. 

“Ready for your surprise?” he asks breath fanning over your lips and cheeks, your eyes open then curiosity swirling in their depths and it makes Taehyung smile. He pecks your lips a few times before sliding off your lap and helping you to your feet. Jungkook and Shrimp are no longer sitting in the chair, the music has stopped too and it unnerves you a little. 

“You’re not gonna scare me are you?” you murmur voice sounding small and unsure of yourself because you will cry if he scares you. 

“No, just relax, I wouldn’t do that to you.” he laughs, arms wrapping around your shoulders. You’re still hesitant though, he’s leading you to the house where you were sure a party was in full swing not too long ago. The lights are off inside and if this is the day you die then so be it, but you’d be damned if you don't go down fighting. You’re fists clench and unclench palms growing clammy as your nerves begin to get the better of you, your glance at him from the side maybe you can still make a run for it. Taehyung seems to read your mind because in the next moment he’s standing behind you gently pushing you forward through the door and into the dark of what’s the living room. Your heart is pounding against your ribs and you’re sure you're about to die because this is too scary. 

“Ready?” He asks and a strangled noise comes from your throat in an answer. Your breathing grows heavy, lungs not taking in enough air. The lights come on as a chorus of voices yell ‘Happy Birthday’ a scream comes from your mouth followed by a loud sob, because there in the middle of what used to be the dance floor is a giant sheet cake decorated in the colors of the holiday a giant happy birthday ____ in the middle made of fondant. You’re sobbing, tears rolling down your cheeks as your friends and the crowd of strangers coo at the scene. Taehyung pulls you into a hug swaying you softly as your hands clutch at his shirt, he’s placing kisses to the crown of your head, whispering loving words into your hair. 

“We got you, didn’t we.” Jungkook giggles with a present bag in hand, in fact your small group of friends all have colorfully wrapped gifts. Your sobs have turned into soft hiccups and you smile at Jungkook with a nod. 

“My birthday was two weeks ago, why would you?” 

“Because I promised you we would celebrate but we had work and you haven't had a party since you were five. I wanted you to have some new happy memories for your birthday.” Taehyung says with a smile. Your cheeks grow warm, heart swelling in your chest, and you think to yourself that maybe coming out to this party wasn’t so bad. The cake is cute and Taehyung had told you how it took him a whole week to plan this party. He’d gotten the cake from a pastry shop owned by his friend Jin, and when he’d mention the name you’d been shocked. Illusion had been all the rave since the pastries were delicious and affordable, the best part was that the owner was rumored to be extremely handsome. You chose not to open any of the gifts because you wanted to be able to fully enjoy them, the cake was cut and you’d enjoyed all the slices you’d eaten of the devils food cake. Yoongi and Sweetpea hugged you as they handed you your gift  apologizing for anything Yoongi might’ve said to offend you. You’d laughed it off, saying that it was okay and that he hadn’t.

“So what is Taehyung exactly?” Yoongi asks playfully, smirking at you and you roll your eyes god he needed to educate himself. 

The party ended early, well for you anyways after the cake you’d dance a few songs with Taehyung’s dick pressed to the small of your back, you’d made friends with Sweetpea and Yoongi. Jimin had stopped by as they were leaving and had hugged Sweetpea so tight (which you later learned was his sister), he’d brought along a ‘friend’ who was a medical examiner in the morgue of the police station he worked at. You’d nearly choked seeing her, she introduced herself as Dove who enjoyed scaring Jimin and worked with dead people she explained. She’d come as Strawberry Shortcake, her wig a bubblegum pink and her outfit intricate with lace and frills. She talked fast which normally would've been fine but the jungle juice had been too much. Jimin had steered her away from you as you looked sleepily to Taehyung, packing up as much cake as you thought you could eat. The night however hadn’t ended with the party. Taehyung had driven you to his house which he liked to think was closer than yours, and now here you were giggling up a storm as he did his best impression of Trevor Belmont from Castlevania. 

“What say you Speaker, do you think you could handle Taehyung Belmont’s thick length?” you snort.

“Length? Who even says that?” he’s laughing body molded to yours still dressed in his costume, and you feel the laugh more than hear it. You’d been lazily kissing on his bed not long ago, making up for all the time you hadn’t kissed him earlier when you’d asked him if you could have his Magic Stick. He’d pulled away from your lips an elegant brow raised in question, you’d giggled first encouraging him into an all out cringe war. 

“Okay, enough of that.” he says going back to your neck nipping gently before smoothing his tongue over the irritated skin. He's careful to pull your costume off, hands meeting the warmth of your skin after discarding each item. You shiver the cool air nipping at your heated skin, as Taehyung trails kisses down your neck to your chest. 

“Tae.” you whine as he kisses one of your tits then the other.

“S’okay baby, I got you.” he whispers, taking a nipple in his mouth. He’s careful with you today and for some reason it warms your insides. One of his hands has trailed down your body cupping your pussy, he runs his fingers over your lips testing your wetness. A moan slips from your mouth because it never takes long to work you up, he chuckles against your tit. He teases your entrance with the tip of his finger before dragging it to your clit and applying a little bit of pressure. You’re pussy clenches growing wetter with every circle off his fingers on your clit, he slides his fingers back down slowly slipping in a single digit. It feels good, the angle just barely manages to scrape against that spot only he’s ever found. 

“Oh god” you cry softly as he slowly slides another finger in, he shushes you with a kiss to your cheek.

“You’re doing so good baby, can you take another?” 

“Y-yes, please.” Taehyung sighs into your skin adding a third finger and thrusting a little faster into your pussy. There’s a soft squelching sound as more of your slick gushes from your entrance, coating his fingers as they continue to pump in and out of your pussy. You’ve started to shift your hips thrusting into his fingers to add to the grown friction, a coil pulling tanut in your belly. A warmth settles in the low of your belly growing as you swivel your hips to meet his pace, you’ve lost the ability to think as Taehyung pulls his finger from you rubbing at your clit with his slicked up fingers and groaning as your hips jolt off the bed. 

“Tell me what you want.” he says, pulling his fingers away from your clit making you whine at the loss. 

“Want your cock.” 

“Think you’re pretty pussy can take me baby?”

“Yes, please, please.” Your eyes are glazed as you watch him pull off his shirt tossing it to the side, then yanking down his pants boxers and all. He wraps a hand around his cock pumping a few times spreading the precum that's beaded at the tip. He’s reaching over to the nightstand, when you place a hand to his arm. His eyes meet yours in a question, one that makes your cheeks heat further.  

“I want to like this.” you say suddenly shy, eyes darting away from his. He smiles softly using his clean hand to bring your gaze back to his. 

“Are you sure?” he asks, you nod spreading your legs wider to better fit his hips. He kisses you soft, just the way you like as he slides his cock through your slick and lining himself to your entrance. He’s sliding in slowly filling your pussy inch by inch watching your expression and the way he disappears inside you. He starts off slow sliding in and out of you in a way that you know is his way of making you feel every inch of him. His cock hits deep like this, it’s your favorite position because you’re surrounded by him. His hair is hanging in his face, brows furrowed, as he thrust a little faster into your heat, your pussy clenches every time his cock hits that spongy bundle of nerves his finger barely managed to scrape.

“Yes, right there” you sigh letting your eyes slip closed as he pumps his hips faster into your pussy. The squelch grows louder as do your cries, taehyung grunts at the way your pussy tightens around his cock, your chest is flushed and your hands scramble to find something to hold on to. There’s tears at your lash line pooling at the corner of your eyes ready to fall but haven’t. He drops his weight wrapping his arms around your body and switching your positions. Your eyes have fluttered open with a gasp, his cock hitting that much deeper with you on top, you feel shy again as his gaze travels over your naked chest falling to where he’s inside you. 

“C’mon baby fuck me, fuck yourself on my cock.” he says taking hold of your hands intertwining your finger and bringing them to his lips. You lift your hips dropping them quickly, your breaths are shaky as the warmth grows, you swivel your hips grinding your clit against his pelvis. Your hands are rested on your hips still intertwined with his as he thrusts up to add to the friction. The tears finally fall, your cries increase as you cum, your pussy clamping down on Taehyung's cock as he pumps his hips to prolong your high and find his own, you’ve stopped moving thighs twitching as your walls pulse around him. Your head is buried in his chest and you manage to shift your hips slightly when his muttered curses finally make it into your ears. You’re sensitive, but you’ll be damned if he doesn’t cum in you the first time you go sans condom. 

“Fuck yeah, just like that.” he groans as a new warmth fills you, he’s panting hands settled on your hips while you lay limp against his chest. 

“I love you.” you mumble against his skin feeling him stiffen beneath you.

“W-what?” he asks, you shift sitting up and lovingly gazing down at him. 

“I love you.” you repeat as he gazes at you with love in his eyes and smiles.  It’s the first time you’ve said it and its not because of the sex, but because you’re finally ready to give your heart away again, this time though you know for sure its in good hands. 

[rora-s]

The Derivative Chapter 1: Sixteen

“Abbs come on time to leave” Janice called into the back room at the diner. 

“Coming” the teenager replied and grabbed her backpack from the floor. Waving bye to the diner chef she followed her mother out the door. 

Janice and Abby loaded into their small sedan. The vehicle was packed full of stuff from clothes to random bit and bobs. They practically lived out of their car for the last couple years until they settled down in the latest apartment and even then they had been hesitant to finally make the move. 

“Okay so I was thinking” Janice began as she pulled out of the parking lot. 

“Oh that’s dangerous” Abby murmured with a smirk as they drove. 

Janice shot her daughter a look. “Well in a few months you’ll be turning the beautiful age of sixteen. And I was wondering what you wanted to do to celebrate? Cause if you want something big I’ll have to start saving now. But of course if you would rather run your mouth-” 

“Hey hey hey I had to get this sarcasm somewhere” Abby pointed out.

“Yes your father” Janice replied. 

“Yes blame it on the non-existent father in my life” Abby scoffed. 

Janice sighed “alright anyway you want to have a celebration or what?” 

“I don’t know” Abby shrugged. “It’s not like I want a party or anything maybe us just hanging out?” 

“How about a picnic?” Janice suggested pulling up to a red light. Abby gave her a perplexed look. “Lay out a blanket on the floor in the apartment. Get some nice food it could be great” 

“Yeah that sounds great Mom” Abby agreed “you’re the best” 

“I try” Janice replied.

They both laughed as the light turned green. There was the sound of a blaring horn. The car filled with bright light Abby felt her mother’s hand collide with her chest. She heard the screech of brakes and the crunch of metal. 

“Mom!”

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

“Abby!” Bang! Bang! Bang! “Come on get up! Your alarms been going for the last ten minutes!” 

I groaned in exhausted annoyance and rolled over in my blankets swatting haphazardly at the alarm on my nightstand. There was another round of banging on my bedroom door “I’m up! I’m up!” I yawned sitting up in my bed.

“Listen I got to get to work and you have to get to school so start moving” the man on the other side of my door ordered. 

“I am moving” I responded around a second yawn. 

“Yeah you totally sound awake” I heard him mutter. 

“Hey I heard that” I called and got a scoff in response as he headed on down the hallway. 

With a deep breath I got up and started getting ready. My room was pretty plain with a dresser and bed and a couple knickknacks strewn about. I’d only been living in it for a little less than a month which was quite apparent. Though I didn’t have much stuff in the first place. I threw on a t-shirt, jeans, plaid button up, and my well loved and sharpied sneakers. 

I headed downstairs with my backpack over my shoulder tossing it on the couch. My biological father was pouring himself some coffee in the kitchen. “Morning” He muttered as I began fixing myself some cereal. 

“Morning Don” I replied. 

“Listen with this case I’m working I’m probably going to be home late” he started. 

“Am I staying at Grandpa’s then?” I inquired. 

“Maybe not staying but you’ll be going there after school today” the FBI agent explained. 

“Awesome” I responded sarcastically “maybe I’ll get some decent food then” 

“Ouch” Don joked as his phone rang. He answered it and went into business mode “Eppes… yeah?” his face fell as he listened to the person on the other line “when? Where?” he checked his watch and I knowingly started eating faster. “Yeah alright I’ll be there as soon as I can… yeah” he hung up and started moving faster grabbing his things. 

“Case?” I asked, finishing my cereal and sliding my bowl into the sink. 

“Yup come on I have to get you to school and then go to a crime scene” he explained. 

“But I haven’t brushed my hair or my teeth yet” I objected standing up as he walked past me to grab his jacket. 

“Chew some gum and I don’t know, wear a hat” he offered. 

“They don’t allow hats in school” I explained, not dropping the sarcastic edge from my voice.

Don seemed rather frazzled. “Well then I don’t know what to tell you. Now come on” I sighed and grabbed my backpack as we headed out the door. “Since when do you care about your hair anyway?” 

I rolled my eyes running my fingers through my short brown hair “you’re the worst parental guardian ever” 

_____________

3rd POV. 

“Silber’s at work right now at the hospital” Terry informed as her and Don loaded into the truck. 

“Alright let’s get heading that way then” the man muttered. Pulling out of the FBI car lot. 

They drove for only a couple seconds before Terry spoke up again. “So you were late to the crime scene this morning” it was a cross between a statement and a question. 

Don sighed “yeah Abby had a late start and I had to drop her at school” 

“Right being a dad’s not that easy huh?” the woman voiced. 

Don scoffed in response. “Well I don’t know if I even qualify as a dad yet.” he explained “she definitely doesn’t call me one. This morning I was dubbed the worst parental guardian ever”

“Well she called you her parent sorta” Terry offered.

Don chuckled lightly “yeah sorta” 

“Relax Don, she's a moody fifteen year old girl who just came to live with her birth father. She needs some time to adjust” the profiler explained as they turned onto the street with the hospital. 

“Sixteen this weekend actually” Don informed. 

“Really?” Terry looked to the man in surprise. “You guys doing anything? Party? Something?” 

Don shrugged “I got her a present. A ball cap.” Terry shot her partner a pointed look “what? I don’t know what teenage girls are into these days. And as for a party with what friends?” The two agents climbed out of the car in front of the large hospital. “She hates school, never really even talks to anybody.” 

“She’s gifted right? Like your brother the mathematician?” the woman inquired. 

“In a different way but yeah” Don nodded. “Took college algebra in fifth grade from what I understand and can remember anything she’s ever read. Actually she reads anything you put in her hand faster than the average person” 

“Well then it makes sense she would hate school. She’s not learning anything” Terry voiced. 

“Yeah well they won’t put her in an advanced program cuz she doesn’t have a solid school report history” Don explained “I don’t even think she was ever in the 1st or 2nd grade even” 

Terry nodded as they entered the hospital elevator “you know it might help if you actually talk to her about it.”

“Yeah” Don sighed as the doors closed. 

______________

Abby POV. 

I sat in yet another class bored out of my mind. I was two chapters ahead of my teacher and classmates in all of my classes and most of the topics they discussed I had learned about already. 

“Now the derivative is a way to show the rate of change. That is, the amount by which a function is changing at one given point. For functions that act on the real numbers, it is the slope of the tangent line at a point on a graph…” 

I tuned out my teacher and rested my head on my desk. I had positioned myself in the very back corner of the classroom as to attract the least attention from my teacher and peers. Reaching into my backpack I pulled out my blinders. My medical grade sunglasses like eye cover that I put on to block out all visual stimuli. They were given to me by a doctor that examined me for my memory while I was in the foster system. 

As I rested there isolating my mind from the world I began to dwell on the various things that rested in the back of my mind. However one topic I tended to shy away from. A topic that was getting harder to avoid. My birthday.

It was coming up and I wasn’t completely certain I wanted to do anything for it. Me and my mom had talked about how we were going to celebrate it. But she was gone now and Don. I doubted he even remembered it was coming. 

The bell rang pulling me from my thoughts. I slipped my blinders to the top of my head and grabbed my stuff. Heading for the door. “Abby” I turned to the teacher who was sitting at her desk. “Can I talk to you for a second?” 

I shifted in my path for the door and walked over to Mrs. Clive’s desk. “What do you need.” 

She gave me a look and picked up a book from her desk handing it to me. “I saw your birthday was this weekend. Got you this” 

I took the book from her and looked at it. The book was Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket. A book I had been after since its release earlier this year. “Thank you” I murmured. 

“Ms. Rampart from the library said that you had been pestering her about it since you joined us so I figured it must be something you’re interested in” Clive informed. 

“Yeah I got hooked on it and read up to current last year,” I explained. 

“You know with the monster stories you come in here with I wouldn’t have figured you for the series of unfortunate events” Clive voiced.

I scoffed “yeah and what would you figure I’d read?” 

Clive grinned back “war and peace” 

I shrugged “read that years ago” 

The woman nodded “well go on or you’ll miss your bus” 

“Thank you Mrs. Clive, for the book” I told her. 

“You’re welcome Abby and happy birthday” she smiled. 

“Thanks” I nodded heading out of her classroom. Mrs. Clive was probably my favorite teacher at this school though she was a little too observant on some things. She always took the time to ask me how I was and never got mad at me for not paying attention in class. Of course she did get annoyed when I didn’t turn in homework on time. She knew I could do it. 

I had to jog to get to my bus on time and as I was one of the last ones on I had to sit next to some kid who was half standing on the seat turned around talking to his friend. I was thankful that my stop was quick on the route. 

Hopping off I walked up to my grandfather’s house and let myself in the front door. “Abby! Is that you?” he called. 

“Yeah gramps” I called back. 

He appeared shortly after “ah hey how was your day?” 

“Fine” I shrugged, tossing my backpack on the couch. “Is uncle Charlie here?” 

“Uh yeah upstairs I think” he replied. “You want a snack?” 

“No I'm good” I settled onto the couch and opened the book Clive had gotten me. 

“The grim grotto” Alan read aloud. “Sounds interesting” 

“Yeah it’s from Lemony Snicket's series of Unfortunate Events” I explained. 

“Seems like a light read for you” the man commented sitting down in one of the chairs nearby and picking up the paper. 

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I exclaimed exasperatedly. 

“Because you read twice as fast as the average person and have an Advanced Eiaditic memory” Alan explained. 

“It’s Advanced Eidetic” I corrected “and just because I read faster doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a small book like this” 

“If you say so” Alan sighed seemingly annoyed with me “so what’s so fascinating about this book series anyway” 

“I don’t know” I replied honestly as I shifted on the couch pulling my feet up “I guess I can relate to being bounced around all the time from place to place under unfortunate circumstances” My grandfather made a humming noise and finally ended his questioning as I turned my attention back to my book. We both returned to our normal after school reading silence. 

____________________________

“Donnie!” I heard my father’s announced arrival from gramps before I saw the man himself  

“Brisket. Must be Friday.” Don murmured as I came wandering out of the kitchen to see him.

“What’s up?” Alan inquired of his eldest son.

“I didn’t have time to drive home. Can I catch a shower here, maybe borrow a clean shirt?” the man requested.

“Yeah, sure, be my guest.” Alan agreed easily.

“So much for 'not staying'” I commented knowingly. 

Don sighed, turning to look at me. “Yeah sorry kid. Case took a turn” 

“It’s fine” I muttered in reply. I knew Don’s work could be trying sometimes and keep him away from home for long periods of time. Which led to me spending half my time staying at my grandfather’s house. 

“Yeah well it’s nice having you around the house anyway” Alan told me as Don turned to head upstairs. “And tell your brother to come down for dinner” Gramps called after his eldest son. 

“If the food’s done he’s probably on his way already” I joked taking a seat at the table.

Alan scoffed and turned back to Don. “you want some there’s plenty” 

“No, I can’t.” The FBI agent objected, removing his tie and tossing it on the table “I got to get back to work.” 

As Don left to go upstairs Charlie appeared. “Abby? When did you get here?” 

I exchanged a look with Alan who was pouring water into everyone’s glasses. “A couple weeks ago Uncle C” I called in a sarcastic reply. Which earned me a look from my uncle. 

I saw the man’s attention shift to the maps my father had brought in with him. I got up to go look over his shoulder at them. “Hey you two that’s Don’s work. Probably be better if you not mess with it” 

“We’re just looking at the map gramps” I responded over my shoulder as I took in the information surrounding the thirteen little red dots on this map. My brain kicked into autopilot as it began various calculations. 

“Well then just the map then none of the files” Alan ordered “you hear me”

“Yeah dad we hear you” Charlie responded this time. However from his tone you could tell his mind was somewhere else. 

“You think there’s something here?” I asked.

“Maybe” Charlie breathed out as we both continued to analyze the data. “We could help” Charlie was talking lightly both our minds processing the information on the maps with mathematical precision. “Crime scenes”

“Tracking, rating, origin point” I muttered looking at the scattered red dots. Me and Charlie looked at each other both realizing the same thing at the same time.

“Charlie, Abby, what do you think you’re doing?” I turned as Don’s voice came from behind. He was done with his shower.

“Crime scenes” Charlie replied seemingly unaware of Don’s obvious annoyance “what kind of crimes?”

“Get away from here” Don snapped folding up the map quickly “these are confidential case files”

“I already saw the map it’s imprinted on my memory” I replied pointedly. “It doesn’t really matter whether you put it up now or not and we didn’t get in the files.”

“She’s telling the truth.” Alan called from where he was feeding his pet bird. “They just looked at the map. I made sure they didn’t go through anything else.”

“Good,” Don grumbled, grabbing his tie.

“Thirteen crime scenes spread over a contained region. You guys are analyzing the significance of those locations?” Charlie inquired of Don as the older brother tied his tie in the mirror on the wall. I stayed over by the table Charlie followed him.

“Yeah, it’s called predictive analysis.” Don explained “the FBI pioneered it. I trained in it at Quantico, and it doesn’t work on sado-serial crimes. There’s no way to predict the location of the next attack.”

“You know, I helped you out on that stock fraud mess,” Charlie began and I rolled my eyes at his obvious bid. “And the IRS extortion case.”

“Yeah. This is different.” Don objected finishing his tie and turning away from his brother “it’s not about numbers”

“Everything is numbers” Charlie stated and looked to me as Don grabbed his jacket. I shrugged beyond a couple theories there was nothing that I could see us being able to help with or at least not that I could with my limited knowledge. Uncle Charlie sighed and turned to the backyard something caught his eye and I watched as the gears turned in his head. “Don. Hey.” he turned quickly and went after his brother. “Um, can I show you something really quick?”

“No, Charlie I got to get-” Don attempted to argue but his rebellion was futile. As Charlie continued to pester and managed to draw him over to the window facing the backyard. I followed behind them curious to what the mathematician had come up with.

“Check this out.” Charlie gestured outside “you see the sprinkler, yeah?”

“Yeah I see the sprinkler” Don muttered clearly uninterested.

“You see the drops?”

“Yep. See the drops”

Then it clicked in my mind what he was thinking “Even using math there’s no practical way to predict where the next water drop will land” Charlie began his explanation and I walked closer. “There’s too many variables. However, say I couldn’t see the sprinkler. From the pattern of the drops, I could calculate its precise location.”

“The origin point” I voiced.

Charlie flashed me a proud grin then turned back to Don who seemed to slowly be getting the idea “it’s not about predicting the next site. It’s finding what the sites have in common. The point of origin” he nodded to me.

“Charlie, you’re saying you can tell us where the killer lives?” Don inquired.

“Yeah” the mathematician nodded.

“And I can help,” I added.

____________________________

“The movements of a serial perpetrator are defined by his needs. He watches potential victims. Avoiding detection, he’ll frequent public areas, parks, streets that don’t get a lot of traffic, waiting for moments of isolations.” Don explained pacing back and forth in the dining room. 

“Isolated areas, high probability of attacks.” Charlie murmured scribbling on the pad of paper in front of him. 

“Tv distracting you?” Alan inquired as he passed by the table from the kitchen. “I could turn it off” 

“No, it's fine, dad.” Don objected, he glanced over at me sitting in a chair in front of the tv and I quickly diverted my eyes as the brother’s continued to talk. 

Moments later Alan came over and sat down in the seat next to mine. I sighed and turned to my grandfather “This is so unfair I can help” 

“You’re a teenager Abby not an adult” Alan replied with his eyes on the tv. “Let them work” 

“I'm a teenager with a near genius IQ living with an overprotective jerk” I muttered. 

“I heard that” Don called from where he sat on the table. 

“Yeah well it’s a fact” I called over to him. 

“She is capable Don” Charlie agreed “and her help would be valuable”

“I said no I mean no. You’re just a kid. You don’t have clearance and I’m not letting you get involved in a criminal case” The agent put his foot down. “Now can you just listen to me for once?” 

“I listen I just don’t follow” I muttered scooting down in my chair. Alan shot me a look out of the corner of his eye. 

“I get the sense that this is about more than just you wanting to help on this case” the elder man inferred. I crossed my arms and tried to focus in on what Don and Charlie were saying. “This wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with your birthday being this weekend.” 

“It’s not about that” I objected in a tone that was probably more snap than I intended. Sitting up I saw Don looking at me. I sighed, getting up and heading out to the backyard I couldn’t deal with this today. 

__________________

3rd POV. 

Don left Charlie to do his equations and settled to watch the baseball game with his father. “You going to go talk to her?” Alan inquired after a moment.

Don sighed glancing over to the back door Abby had stormed out of. “No she needs to cool off” 

“Still” the grandfather muttered. 

“Still what? She’s a teenager, you really want me getting her involved in a criminal case?” Don voiced. 

“No, no that’s not what I’m saying Don” Alan sighed “listen it’s her sixteenth birthday this weekend” 

“Yeah” Don muttered “I know I got her a present” 

Alan let off an annoyed breath “Donnie it’s her first birthday without her mother. It’s her first birthday with a father.” Don sighed and looked to the ground. “Have you even talked to her about Janice at all?” 

Don shifted in his seat “I don’t know dad she doesn’t want to talk what am I supposed to do?” 

“Donnie there’s a difference between not wanting to talk and not knowing how to,” Alan explained, “and unfortunately it’s a trait she seemed to have inherited from you.” 

___________________________

“Let’s go” Don ordered the gathered group of agents. Heading for his desk as they dispersed to get everything done. 

“Another day” Terry voiced over his shoulder he glanced back at her before refocusing on his files. “That means the case cuts into Abby’s birthday this weekend doesn’t it?”

“Yeah well she’s staying with my dad” Don muttered, closing the file and tossing it aside. 

“Are you at least going to call her or something?” Terry inquired.

“It’s too late now I will in the morning” the man replied, rising from his desk and heading off. 

Terry sighed watching him walk away. “Yeah if you remember” 

________________

Abby POV. 

White light filled my view, tires screeched, horns honked, a hand slammed into my chest, the crunch of metal, a scream. “Mom!” 

I startled awake sitting up on the couch. Thunder crashed outside. I removed the blinders from my eyes. “Abby are you alright” I turned as Alan came into the living room. “I heard you yell.” 

“Uh yeah” I replied as my heart rate slowed back down. “It was just a dream” 

“Are you sure you’re alright?” the man inquired further. However just then the door opened and in came Charlie. He looked like a drowned rat. “Aw Charlie don’t tell me you went biking out in this weather” 

“I had to go by my office” the man replied as he settled down at the table pulling the FBI case files out of his bag. He was obviously shaken by something. 

The front door opened again and in came Don. “Hey guys, what's up?” he asked, seeming deflated. “Charlie you’re soaked” 

“Yes I’m aware” the younger man replied. 

Don removed his jacket and went for the coffee in the kitchen as I wandered over to the dining room. Which seemed to be the place everyone was congregating. Our reflections shown in the darkened rain streaked windows. Don reappeared shortly after with a mug of coffee. He placed it on the table and began pacing the room. 

“I can’t get my head around it.” Charlie voiced after a moment. 

“What are we missing?” Don ran along the same thought “where’s the problem? And how do we make it work? We need to make it work” he stated the last part more forcefully. 

It was weird watching him work. The gears turning in his head. “We need to retest it. We need another run.” Charlie declared standing and going up to Don who was still pacing. 

“Well that’s not going to happen” the agent objected, turning to his younger brother. 

“Well, look I know that it’s gonna be hard for you to talk your boss into doing it again,” the mathematician tried “but we can’t stop after one attempt-” 

“Charlie” Don tried to interrupt however the professor continued to truck on. 

“New methods require repeated trials-” 

“Charlie, I’m not on the case anymore.” Don explained finally. “Okay?” 

“Why?” Charlie inquired. 

I sighed and watched the look exchanged between Alan and Don. “because my supervisor wanted fresh eyes on it.” I could tell he was lying. 

“Well, maybe the math is not the problem” Alan suggested suddenly. 

“What do you mean?” Charlie questioned. 

“Well, you just said that there was something you couldn’t get your head around,” Alan elaborated further “and I know for a fact that it can’t be the math.” 

“What else is there?” Charlie sighed. Then it clicked like it was obvious.

“The people” I voiced causing all of them to look at me like they had just realized my existence. “The math can only predict what people will do acting within certain parameters what if this guy acts outside of your preconceived notions of human behavior?” I offered. 

“Hey, maybe they’re right” Don nodded walking past me back to the window to point at the water spraying outside. “I mean, this sprinkler. That totally made sense. That you could track back from the location and find out where the guy lives. Right? Totally made sense.” he turned from his father and brother to look at me. “Maybe we’re thinking about this guy in too narrow a focus.” 

“Are you saying I need to consider more than his criminal activities?” Charlie seemed confused. 

“No not exactly” Don explained “I’m saying we maybe need to consider more than just where he lives. Like Abby said. You know look at me. If you designed an equation to find my origin, you wouldn’t get my apartment ‘cause I’m almost never there. My base would be my office.” 

I looked to Charlie as he meandered over toward the window the gears in his head spinning. The math forming in his mind. “Which means we use his home and his work as points of origin.” 

“Exactly” Don agreed. 

“I can design an equation to identify two hot zones.” Charlie muttered eyes still transfixed on the window. “Why didn’t I think of that?” he questioned, turning back to us. “Don… Dad… Abby.” he looked to us each individually. “That’s brilliant” 

It wasn’t long before the boys were packing it up and heading back to Don’s office. Both invigorated by the discovery. Once they were gone Alan turned to me. “You should get to bed, it’s late and tomorrow is a rather important day.”

I nodded slightly as he turned to head to the kitchen “Do you think he knows?” I voiced almost not meaning to. “Do you think Don remembers that it’s my birthday tomorrow?” 

Alan sighed looking back at me. “Abby, Don can get wrapped up in his work but uh, he’s never been one to forget what’s important.” I bit my lip and looked to the floor thinking. “Alright now up to bed” 

“Goodnight gramps” 

“Goodnight Abby” the man smiled at me as I headed for the stairs. 

I reached the room that had at one point been Don’s and collapsed on the bed. My world had been a lot smaller when it was just me and my mom. A lot scarier and a whole lot less normal but definitely smaller and less complicated. 

_________________________

I was startled awake again from the same dream, the same memory. I slowed my breaths and got up from the bed. Dawn had barely set in and light wasn’t very prevalent outside. I paced back and forth in the room. Thinking over everything before finally making a decision. 

I threw on some clothes, grabbed my backpack and headed out of the room. I crept through the house quietly as not to wake Gramps snoring down the hall. As I reached the front door I paused looking back at the house before ducking out and running. 

____________________

3rd POV.

Don sighed as he packed away the last couple files on his desk. The case was finally closed and he was exhausted. He glanced over and saw a small stack of books on his desk wrapped in a bow. He pulled it closer to him and looked at the card on them. To: Abby From: Terry. 

“Figured you could give it to her for me” the female agent spoke up causing Don to turn to her. 

“Yeah sure” he agreed. 

Terry gave him a smile. “Go home Don and celebrate your daughter’s birthday” she instructed him. 

Don nodded as she left. He sat there for a moment thinking about everything today meant. Sixteen years ago today he had become a father and he hadn’t even known it. Then a couple weeks ago he had been told and expected to start acting like a Dad. Don sure didn’t feel like a father. Anytime he talked to Abby it felt weird like he couldn’t find the words or she would just give him sarcasm. It was easier just not to talk at all. He had no idea what he was doing and she certainly didn’t seem to want him around. 

Don let off a breath and rose from his seat gathering up his things. Then his phone rang glancing at his caller ID he was surprised to see it was his father “hey dad what’s-”

“Abby’s missing” Alan interrupted. 

Don immediately felt like he couldn’t breath. His heart rate picked up and his lungs felt empty. “What?” 

“She’s missing. Gone.” Alan repeated he sounded scared himself “I went to wake her up this morning and she just wasn’t there” 

Every worse case scenario started shooting through Don’s mind. Where could she be? Could she be hurt? Kidnapped? Lost somewhere? Scared? He couldn’t think straight as fear coursed through his veins. 

“Alright call the cops put out an Amber alert” Don suggested “see- see if she’s with Charlie or something. I’ll try her cell and go look at- ah the library, the apartment. Places she might go” 

He was talking extremely fast he realized as the cop side of him battled with a side of him he’d never felt before. A kind of pure terror and concern that he couldn’t even begin to quantify as he grabbed his coat and bolted for the elevator hanging up on his father and speed dialing his daughter’s number. She didn’t answer. He tried again and again as he reached his car. This couldn’t be happening. Where was she?

___________________________

Don was driving away from the library as his phone rang. He answered it without even glancing at the caller ID hoping to hear his daughter’s voice on the other line. He was disappointed. 

“Don”

“Charlie I can’t talk right now. Abby is-” 

“I know Dad told me” Charlie informed “He also said she was upset-” 

“She’s always moody Charlie what are you saying?” Don snapped probably a little more harshly than he meant to. 

“I think I know where she is” Charlie spoke quickly as not to be cut off by his frantic older brother. 

________________

Don cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. After all his worrying and frantic searching why hadn’t he looked here first? As he pulled to a stop and got out of his truck he felt himself slow as relief washed over him. 

Sitting in the grass not too far off was Abby. She was staring at one of the various stones of the cemetery. Don sighed and walked over to her somberly. 

Nothing was said as he sat down next to her. He didn’t need to read the name of the stone to guess whose it was. Janice Calvin. His ex-girlfriend and Abby’s mother. 

“You know you scared everyone half to death” he finally stated after a moment. 

“Sorry” the girl replied, looking to her feet. “I should have left a note or something. I just wanted to be alone here for awhile.” 

“Yeah” Don let off a breath just relieved she was okay.

“It’s my sixteenth birthday” Abby muttered, turning back to the stone but still not looking at him. 

“I know I got you a present,” Don replied softly. 

“Mom and me had been planning my sweet sixteen before..” Abby trailed looking to the ground. “It was just going to be the two of us. We were going to cook and have a picnic in our apartment. We couldn't do much because you know we didn’t have a lot of money. But we were going to have each other.” 

“I’m so sorry Abby” Don told her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders hesitantly. “Your mother loved you” 

“I know she did I just- I just miss her” Abby sniffed and for the first time. Don saw his daughter cry. He felt a part of him inside falter. Like something had broken or shifted. 

“I miss her too.” Don explained. “Your mother was an incredible person. And my biggest regret was letting her go” 

“Do you think if she would have stayed- if she would have told you,” Abby questioned. “That things would have been different? That we would have..” The girl trailed but her question was clear. 

“I don’t know Abbs but” Don sighed and finally he understood what his own father had been trying to tell him all this time. “Abby I have no idea what I’m doing here. I’ve missed so much of your life to the point I- I didn’t even know what to get you for your birthday. I just-” he paused biting his lip. “I just feel like we’ve both been living with each other these last few weeks and not actually trying to have a relationship because it’s scary and complicated but Abby.” he sighed “today when dad called and told me you were missing.. I’ve never been more scared in my entire life.” Abby looked up at him as tears streaked down her face. “Now I know your mom loved you and Abby so do I alright?” 

“Alright” she managed but in the next second Abby wrapped her arms around Don’s middle as she broke into sobs. Don just held her in his arms holding back his own tears. 

__________________

Abby POV. 

It was late. After the cemetery Don had called and told everyone that I was safe. I felt bad putting them through all of that. I just hadn’t realized how many people would freak out had I gone missing. I was sitting at my desk in my own room reading one of the books Terry had gotten me quietly. 

There was a knock on my door. I paused in my reading and rose from my chair. Opening it I wasn’t exactly surprised to see my father standing outside. “What?” I inquired with minor annoyance at being disturbed. Though after everything that happened today I didn’t have much energy left to be annoyed. 

“Come on I’ve got a surprise for you” Don replied ignoring my sarcasm. 

“What?” I repeated exasperatedly curious for what this surprise could be. 

“Come on” Don scoffed, ushering me out of my room and toward the living room. I dragged my feet and had to practically be shoved out by my determined father. 

My irritated rebellion ended however as we exited the stairs. The coffee table had been moved and various colorful lights were hanging all around. In the center was a blanket laid out with something like a picnic setting. “Now I know it’s probably not exactly what you and your mom planned but..” Don sighed stepping around to look me in the face as I stared around in awe “Happy Birthday Abby” 

“Thanks D- Don” I replied. Stumbling on the name as the word Dad nearly slipped from my mouth. He smiled and we settled down on the blanket to eat. Talking and laughing and joking. It was a fun night and after all of it I was really happy to have my dad in my life. 

Chapter 2->

[thep0rnfairy]

No Room at the Inn - pt 2 Magic Carpet Ride - Day 2

Yay! Part 2 is finally here and thankfully I think the wrap up for this using one of Day 3’s prompts will be even shorter so I should hopefully have it to you soon. Enjoy! :)

It took Dean’s brain a moment to register Sam’s words, his husky plea to stay when he should be running away and finding the nearest bar to drink away the memory of how it felt to kiss his baby brother. He licked at his lips nervously, still tasting the lingering flavor of mint from the gum Sam had been chewing in the car on the tender flesh. He blinked and fought the urge to pinch himself, his mind insisting this had to be a dream or something, that his brother hadn’t really just allowed him to step over that line that’d been drawn between them all these years. His jaw worked restlessly before he just clamped his mouth shut, unsure what to say or how to respond to Sam’s invitation to stay with him.

“No…no, I can’t, we can’t…” he gasped out finally.

Dean Winchester wasn’t the kind of guy who usually ran away from anything. He would race headlong into a wendigo’s lair without a second thought, would risk his own life and limb to save others. But dealing with the emotions he’d kept so tightly wrapped up in the depths of his heart and mind since Sam had been old enough to get the birds and the bees speech was more terrifying than any monster he’d ever encountered. Adrenaline spiked through his body and despite the hurt he saw in Sam’s eyes, he yanked his arm out of his brother’s grip and staggered back from the bed. The bed, that damn bed that had dredged up memories best forgotten of a frosty cold night and the brutal next morning when he’d fled to an equally cold shower to cope with the fact that Sam wasn’t the only one turned on by snuggling together.

“Dean, Dean, wait…stop,” protested Sam.

Dean shook his head and continued backpedaling away from the bed and from Sam, trying to remember where he’d left his clothes. His eyes searched the room for where he’d dropped his pants then lunged for them. He thought he was home free until he realized just how badly he’d telegraphed his movements and wound up in a tug of war over his jeans.

“Sam, let go!”

“No!”

“Sam, dammit, we can’t do this,” he argued.

“Why?”

“Uh, Dad, for starters,” huffed Dean.

He hauled back on the denim stretched between them, praying that his jeans wouldn’t rip right down the seams.

“He doesn’t have to know.”

“He’ll know, he knew back then too, it’s why he started splitting us up.”

Dean grunted as Sam suddenly let go of his side of the jeans, falling back onto the floor with a thud that’d probably been audible to the room below them. He watched Sam’s face crumple just like it used to when Dad would show up unexpectedly to yank them away from yet another little podunk town. He swallowed hard at the way he could already see the beginnings of tears dampening the corners of Sam’s eyes before his little brother hurriedly brushed them away.

“You’re a real asshole then, y'know that,” spat Sam. “How many times have you pulled that? How many times have you waited till I was asleep to…?”

“Once, only once.”

His chest hurt just thinking about it, the last time he’d taken the chance to let his feelings for Sam show. They’d just gotten to the cabin after the hunt in New York and Sam had still been unconscious. Their Dad had been outside and he’d been looking after Sam, waiting for him to wake back up. He wasn’t sure why he’d done it but he could clearly remember the look on John’s face when he’d come back inside. Their Dad had never outright said it but he had a feeling that the demon wasn’t the only reason that he’d allowed Sam to run away to Stanford.

“When?” demanded Sam.

“Before you left.”

Dean watched the lines of Sam’s brow deepen beneath the fringe of his bangs and for a brief moment he wondered how much if anything Sam remembered before he’d awakened. He tried not to be disappointed when Sam shook his head and instead focused on the mess of denim in his hands. He started to pull on his jeans only to have them yanked back off his ankles before he could pull them up.

“Hey!”

“Shut up!”

Dean gawked at his brother as Sam threw the jeans aside then moved to kneel down on the floor. Fear had his heart thudding in his chest, fear of their Dad finding out; fear of what crossing the already blurring line between them might do to both of them. His body remained frozen on the floor until Sam lowered to his hands and knees and began crawling toward him with a look in his eyes that was downright mutinous. He’d seen that look far too many times over the last ten years when Sam had gone from being a kid to a young man and had started mulishly digging his feet in especially with their Dad. He scrabbled backward like a crab on the beach scuttling away from a bird attempting to eat it and he sucked in a breath at the way the carpet abraded against his feet and palms.

“Sam…Sam, no…we can’t, we just can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t,” huffed Sam. “You’re the one that kissed me, Dean.”

“And it was wrong,” he protested.

“And if I tell you that I’ve wanted you to kiss me for years does that still make it wrong?”

Longing twisted Dean’s guts and he flopped to the floor, staring his brother down as Sam’s words sank into his heart.

“Sammy…”

He knew he was doomed once Sam finally reached him, his body that’d somehow grown taller and maybe even a little broader in the years they’d been apart bracketing his own and pinning him to the floor. Any further protest died on his lips when Sam’s head ducked down, his lips brushing almost feather light against his own like Sam was testing to see if he would give in or continue to flee.

“Tell me you don’t want me, don’t want this,” rasped Sam. “And I’ll stop, I swear I will.”

Dean swallowed hard and stared up into his brother’s eyes which shifted hue depending on the way the firelight hit them. He could just about see himself reflected in the wide, dark pupils and judging by the reflection he was far from being unaffected by the way Sam had ensnared him. His eyes slipped shut and his head lolled back when his brother���s weight settled more against his own, the press of Sam’s length against his own making it difficult to deny what either of them wanted.

“Sam,” he breathed.

“Dean…”

Dean groaned into his brother’s mouth as Sam’s lips slanted against his own more fully and he lifted his arms to wrap around Sam, fingers burrowing into the softness of his hair. He swallowed Sam’s soft, wanton moans in return, kneading at his brother’s scalp then allowing his hands to slide down to Sam’s back as their kisses turned from slow and tender to something more hungry. He sucked in a breath when their lips parted and he smoothed his hands over the well worn t-shirt Sam was wearing before sneaking one underneath.

“Fuck, this is crazy,” he murmured, tracing the sweat damp line of Sam’s spine.

“Since when is anything we do not crazy,” retorted Sam.

Dean grunted softly in response and opted to distract himself from the nagging reminder of Dad’s disapproval in the back of his mind by kissing his brother senseless even as his hands worked to tug Sam’s shirt up.

’If I’m going to hell, might as well do it right,’ he thought.

It wasn’t easy to keep kissing and work the shirt up over Sam’s head but somehow they both managed to dodge around the twist and turn of heads and limbs.

“Wow…”

“What?” huffed Sam.

Dean licked his lips and allowed his gaze to rove over the planes of muscles that’d deepened and just gotten more defined in the time since he’d last seen his brother. He smoothed his hands up and down Sam’s back then brought one back over his brother’s shoulder to caress Sam’s chest and soak in how his brother had changed.

“You grew up,” he rasped.

He couldn’t help the soft almost smirk that curved his lips as he admired Sam’s physique and relished the blush that colored his brother’s cheeks.

“M'still me,” deflected Sam.

“I know. God, I know,” chuckled Dean.

He brought his roaming hand up to cradle Sam’s cheek and smiled at the way his brother leaned into his touch, almost nuzzling against his palm. A soft groan broke from his lips as nuzzling turned to kissing and sucking little love bites down to where the pulse point in his wrist throbbed in time with his pounding heart. He tried to pull his hand away only for Sam to catch it and bring his fingers to his lips.

“Fuck, Sam,” he groaned, watching his little brother draw two fingers between his lips.

His cock throbbed painfully in the confines of his boxers and his hips shifted against the floor seeking some kind of friction for his dick. He forced himself to keep watching Sam suckle his fingers despite the way his eyes were trying to flutter closed. He wanted more, needed more, even though he wasn’t a hundred percent sure of how to get more than what Sam was already giving him.

“Keep that up…fuck…and m'gonna be creamin’ in m'boxers,” he panted.

The soft pop of Sam pulling his lips off Dean’s fingers was just barely audible above the crackle of the fireplace and Dean wasn’t sure whether to be thankful or concerned over the sudden change in tactics.

“Do you want…do you want me to?” rasped Sam.

Dean followed the way Sam’s gaze trailed downward to where their tented boxers abraded against one another, the threadbare fabric doing little to contain either of their dicks. He felt the sticky blurt of precome slick and warm against the head as his mind filled in what his brother was offering him. He squeezed his eyes shut as the images of what he wanted to do to Sam and wanted Sam to do to him in return bombarded him.

“Not…not tonight,” he murmured. “Don’t know if I could last.”

“Got it that bad, huh?” snorted Sam.

Dean could only nod in response and pull his brother down into another heated kiss, his tongue plunging past Sam’s lips and teeth to tangle with his brother’s the way he’d longed to when they’d been in bed. He grunted and moaned as he felt Sam’s hips grind down against his own, tacky fabric and warm flesh slipping and sliding along one another. He couldn’t help the low, desirous growl that broke from his throat when he felt Sam’s hands finally begin to explore and opted to roll them over toward the fireplace in order to sit up and shed his own shirt.

“God, Dean,” breathed Sam.

“Shut up,” muttered Dean.

He sealed his mouth to Sam’s again for emphasis and groaned against his brother’s lips as Sam’s long, deft fingers burrowed into his hair, guiding him as they continued to make out on the floor and rut against each other. He allowed his lips to wander, tracing the baby smooth skin of Sam’s jaw and down along his throat when his brother tipped his head back. He glanced up and felt his cock throb at the sight of Sam’s lips, slick with spit and glistening in the firelight which seemed to turn them an even deeper rose red than they already were. He pressed his lips against Sam’s pulse and lingered there, feeling the soft thudding thump just beneath the skin against his own kiss swollen flesh before moving on. He dragged a trail of hot, open mouthed kisses down along Sam’s chest and savored the high, whining moan he managed to pull from his brother’s throat when he allowed his mouth to latch onto his nipple. He worked his tongue over the sensitive flesh, tugging at it lightly with his teeth and grinning at the way the pitch of Sam’s moans rose with every tug.

“Sensitive as fuck,” he muttered against his brother’s skin, kissing his way back to Sam’s mouth.

He felt like he could almost drown kissing Sam, just letting the slick slide of lips and tongues against one another take him under until he couldn’t be sure where he ended and Sam began. He moaned into Sam’s mouth as he felt his brother’s hands move to explore though he tensed briefly when Sam’s hands slipped beneath the waistband of his boxers.

“Shhhh,” soothed Sam between kisses. “Wanna feel you…touch you.”

Dean swallowed hard and nodded, trying to relax back into the slow grind he and Sam had going even as his brother palmed his ass. He couldn’t help the thick groan that escaped when Sam squeezed his ass then patted it lightly, too lightly to be a spanking but just hard enough that it sent little jolts of awareness through his body.

“Fuck,” he breathed, “More, Sammy…”

He buried his face against Sam’s throat when he felt his brother nudge his boxers down further, enough that he could feel the warmth of the fire on his bare ass. He grunted softly and fought the urge to bite and suck at Sam’s throat hard enough to leave a mark as he felt Sam’s palm smack against his ass again and again making him jolt and grind down harder against his brother. He sighed when Sam traded out smacks for gently squeezing and caressing him again and lifted his head to gaze down into his brother’s eyes. He pulled back when Sam raised his head to try and kiss him, making his brother chase his lips and chuckling at the low, frustrated growl that broke from Sam.

“If you want it, take it,” he teased.

“You sure?” rasped Sam.

Dean nodded and wound up letting out a soft grunt as the room spun and he found himself on his back again beneath six feet plus of very horny little brother. He groaned thickly and allowed his eyes to slide shut as he felt Sam grind down against him, his bare ass and back sliding along the carpet with each press of his brother’s body. His head tipped back baring his throat to Sam’s mouth as his brother’s teeth and lips scraped against his stubbled jaw. He yelped and his hips jerked upward when Sam latched down on his throat though, his hands scrambling to get a grip on Sam’s hair to tug his mouth away.

“Sammy…can’t…oh fuck…”

“Fuck ‘im,” muttered Sam, nipping at the flesh. “Tell him it was a waitress an’ he won’t care.”

Dean sighed and leaned his head against Sam’s, knowing his little brother was right and resenting the fact that while Dad would likely let the marks on his throat slide the same wouldn’t be true in reverse. He moaned against Sam’s lips when his brother recaptured his mouth in a slow, soothing kiss that distracted him from thoughts of what their Dad would think if he ever found out. His soft, low moans turned to choked groans when Sam’s hand found its way between them and palmed his leaking cock through the thin fabric. He rocked his hips up, thrusting wantonly against Sam’s palm as much as the thick length of his brother’s cock.

“Take it out, Sammy,” he panted.

“Fuck, Dean…”

Dean groaned into Sam’s mouth, his brother’s lips muffling his desperation as he felt Sam peel his boxers down just enough to free his cock and take it in hand. Sweat trickled down from his temples as he rocked his hips up, thrusting into Sam’s hand which was almost buttery smooth from years of turning book pages rather than digging up graves. He could feel the press of Sam’s cock along his crotch as his brother rolled his hips down, grinding up against his sweat slick body as they both chased after the heat that was building between them. Kisses became sloppy, uncoordinated brushes of lips as breathing became more important as the tingling, twisting feeling low and heavy in his guts grew harder to ignore.

“C'mon, Sammy,” he rasped.

He burrowed his fingers into Sam’s shaggy locks and clung to his little brother as he felt heat and want and need coiling tightly until it snapped like an overwound spring. His hips jerked upward in hiccupy thrusts as he felt his cock jerk in Sam’s fingers, his release slicking the slowing slide of his brother’s palm against his sensitive flesh. He whimpered at the way Sam continued to stroke him even once his orgasm was starting to ease leaving him oversensitive but he soon understood why when Sam bit down on his shoulder. He stroked Sam’s back gently as he felt his brother’s hips jerking out of sync as his boxers turned downright soggy, slick where they pressed against Dean’s crotch. He grunted softly when Sam collapsed down onto him, a sweaty come soaked mess that seemed barely conscious.

“Sam?” he murmured. “Sammy?”

“Mmmm, Dean,” mumbled Sam.

Dean exhaled a slow sigh of relief when he got a response out of Sam then felt his blood run cold at the next words out of his brother’s mouth.

“Love you…”

Fear quickly rushed in to replace the afterglow that’d followed their little dry hump session on the floor and had Dean eager to get out from under Sam once he knew his little brother had passed out. His chest ached as he gently rolled his unconscious brother off of him and he tried to snuff out the longing, the craving he felt rush through him to be close to Sam, to hold him and give him the love that he knew his brother needed. He knew it wouldn’t work though, even without the threat of Dad finding out looming over his head he knew that he and Sam couldn’t be together, that the world wouldn’t accept them. Tears stung at his eyes as he brushed Sam’s bangs back from where they’d been flattened against his brow and traced the soft bow of his lips that were still puffy from how they’d been kissing. He wasn’t sure how he could go back to loving Sam in secret after what they’d just done; all he knew was that he had to for both their sakes.

He tugged his boxers back up, wincing at the carpet burns that’d likely make driving tomorrow a bitch and got to his knees before scooping his brother up in his arms. It wasn’t easy considering Sam was much bigger than the last time he remembered carrying him but somehow he managed to stagger over to the bed without waking Sam up. He tucked his brother in then waited to make sure Sam didn’t stir or try to stop him from walking away before bending down and pressing a soft, tender kiss against his temple despite the way his heart ached. He circled around to the other side of the bed and grabbed a pillow then opened the wardrobe to find an extra blanket before heading into the bathroom. It wasn’t easy getting comfortable in the tub despite how large it was. But then after what he’d done, Dean wasn’t so sure that he really deserved a comfortable night’s rest especially when the only thing he could think about was Sam and the feel of their bodies pressed against each other.

To be continued…

Oh, nonnie!!! I love EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS! Thank you so much for this delicious helping of smut, and the lovely helping of angst as well. This hit so many buttons for me, and I LOVE it!