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spaceskam · 4 years ago

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prompt #5: hallmark-esque returning to hometown after years [ao3]

Jenna Cameron had no intention of seeing Liz Ortecho again.

They’d met in a college town in 2010‒Jenna was on leave and Liz was stressed over finals and they were both looking for a distraction. They’d talked for too many hours in a bar that didn’t say anything about their underaged patrons and had stumbled out a little drunk and a little handsy. They hooked up in Liz’s dorm and Jenna stayed the night. They ate breakfast together, talked, laughed, spoke vaguely about staying in touch, hooked up one more time before Jenna had to get ready. She had a plane to catch.

They didn’t stay in touch. There were too many reasons that they couldn’t, too many life things. Jenna was focused on taking care of her sister and hating the men she was surrounded by. When she finally got out of the military, she bounced around for a while to find somewhere that felt right and she ended up landing in a small town called Roswell, New Mexico.

Her coworkers were nice and the townspeople weren’t bad if you ignored most of them. It was fine, for now. She could have fun hooking up with the broad shouldered deputy and she had the time to teach herself how to knit half a sock that was too big for any living human and she finished a book for the first time in nearly a decade. It was fine for now. It was like she was waiting for the reason she felt this was a good stopping point, waiting for something to happen that would make it make sense.

And then she saw Liz Ortecho.

“License and registration?”

“Oh, this is bullshit. It’s the middle of the night and there is no reason for this unless you’re searching for a goddamn murderer that might be running, so, tell me, are you? Do you think I have a murderer in my car, hidden under a blanket in the backseat? Are you going to search? Or do you just see someone who isn’t white as a sheet and think‒”

“Liz?” Jenna asked. Liz froze as she blinked with the light in her eyes, so Jenna turned the flashlight to face the ground.

She didn’t actually expect Liz to remember her. Hell, she hadn’t expected to remember Liz. There was no reason for her to remember a one night stand, regardless of how charming she was. Jenna thought of her more often than she should when she knew she would never see her again. But here she was, somehow in the same small town eight years after they’d met.

“Jenna?” Liz asked, her eyes widening as recognition set in. Something twisted in her gut at the fact that Liz remembered her. Liz was memorable, sure, but Jenna? She’d never felt memorable a day in her life.

And yet…

“What are you doing here?” Jenna asked at the same time Liz said, “Why the hell are you a cop?”

“I’m, I’m visiting my dad. I grew up here,” Liz said. Jenna almost laughed. Of all the places to feel like a temporary stopping place, of course it would be the hometown of a girl she hadn’t been able to forget even after all these years. “Your turn, since when the hell were you planning to become a cop? I thought you hated the whole military environment, why would you go to the next closest thing?”

And all Jenna could think was she remembered something I didn’t like.

“Life, I guess,” Jenna offered in lieu of childish awe, “It was easy. Something I can do for now.”

“For now,” Liz repeated. It wasn’t a question. Just… for now. Not forever. “So, uh, are-are you gonna search my car or whatever?”

“No, no, you go. Go see your dad,” Jenna said. She couldn’t actually remember if she checked her license and registration. It didn’t matter.

“Yeah, okay, uh, was nice seeing you again,” Liz said, giving a small smile and a nod.

“You too.”

Liz looked forward and put her car back in drive, but she barely moved a centimeter before she slammed on her breaks again and looked over to Jenna with that familiar look in her eye. God, it was familiar. How could something she hadn’t seen in eight years feel so familiar?

“My dad owns the Crashdown,” she stated. Jenna’s eyebrows raised a little.

“That’s where I get breakfast,” she admitted. Liz smiled.

“Then maybe I’ll see you around.”

“You will.”

Liz drove off for real that time and it left Jenna frozen in her place. And it seems, just like it was for the last eight years, her thoughts were consumed with Liz Ortecho. Just, now, it was something within reach.

Because Liz Ortecho had come home and Jenna was, for some reason, already waiting.

Jenna Cameron had never been known for her restraint.

Quite the opposite, actually. She was impulsive and, while she never quite considered herself to have vices, she also never deprived herself. She was never irresponsible or stupid, but she understood humans had only so much time before they died and it was over. Why not chase after things that were good and do risky things that were always worth it?

It was how she ended up at nearly midnight, walking past the Crashdown.

There was no reason for Liz to still be awake and there was no reason for Jenna to be strolling past, but Liz was and Jenna was. She looked through the window and Liz was just dancing, enjoying herself, because what else did pretty girls do if not dance like no one was watching? Wasn’t that a saying for a reason?

It was stupid and entirely built on some memory of kissing soft thighs while Liz giggled through her explanation of chemical compounds, but Jenna found herself knocking on the door with the confidence of a man who had never been told ‘no’ in his life. Liz jumped and turned her head, clearly startled. Jenna just gave her kindest smile. She had no idea what she was going to say to her. ‘How have you been’ sounded too hollow, while ‘I’ve been thinking about you every day for eight years’ felt too full.

“Hi,” Liz said, a soft smile replacing her shock as she unlocked the door, “Funny meeting you here.”

“I felt like we got off on the wrong foot,” Jenna said, “Wasn’t exactly the best way to see you again after all this time.”

“Yeah, officer,” Liz laughed, “Maybe you shouldn’t have checkpoints.”

“They’re routine.”

“They’re pointless,” Liz corrected, still giving her that smile that told Jenna everything she thought about it. Jenna just nodded. She couldn’t disagree.

“But I wouldn’t have known you were back in town, so maybe they aren’t completely pointless,” Jenna said. Liz gave a playful glare up at her.

“We get it, Jenna, you’re charming. This isn’t news,” she said. Jenna laughed, looking around. It looked different at night. Picturesque, almost. Perfect place to be standing across from a girl she’d missed for no reason. “So, can I get you anything?”

“Aren’t you already closed?”

“I can make an exception for you,” Liz offered. Jenna smiled easily, biting the inside of her cheek slightly as she looked at her. She’d somehow, miraculously, gotten more gorgeous since the first time they’d met. She didn’t know that was possible. “I’ll make you a shake, give me a few minutes.”

Liz hopped around to the other side of the counter, stealing glances over at Jenna as if she thought she was going to disappear. She had no intention to as she sat down on a barstool and leaned forward against the counter.

“What have you been up to?” Jenna asked, eager to keep the conversation going. Liz looked up at her a little wistfully.

“I was working on a study, boring biomedical research. It was for regenerative medicine so I could eventually start targeting more chronic illnesses and making them at the very least bearable, but our funding got pulled and I guess it just seemed like a good time to come home,” Liz said, shrugging.

“It’s not boring,” Jenna insisted. Liz smiled just a little. “I may not understand it, but it’s not boring. Besides, my sister does something like that. But I’m sorry your funding got pulled.”

“It’s fine,” Liz said, shrugging her shoulder, “Life happens. Just gotta roll with the punches.”

“Doesn’t make it suck less.”

“That’s true,” Liz laughed, bobbing her head to a song that was playing faintly from the jukebox, “I didn’t know your sister was into science.”

“She’s a genetic engineer,” Jenna filled in. She left out the part where she got in trouble for whistleblowing. That seemed a little too heavy for a second meeting. Still, Liz’s face lit up.

“Seriously? Does she live around here?”

“No, she’s still in the military,” Jenna said. It wasn’t a complete lie.

“Well, if she’s ever in town, let me know. I love hearing new perspectives,” she said. Jenna nodded. She didn’t actually know how she’d handle her sister and Liz talking about smart things she didn’t quite understand past a very, very basic level. It might cause too much fondness for her to handle.

“Sounds like you intend to actually stay in touch this time,” Jenna teased. Liz whipped around and pointed a spoon at her, a playful glare on her face.

“You didn’t keep in touch either.”

“I was in the military.”

“All the more reason for you to tell me where to send letters too. I could’ve written really long, obnoxious love letters and sent, like, boudoir pictures to make everyone you worked with jealous,” Liz said. Jenna laughed and leaned into the counter more.

“You could do that now, though I don’t know how that’d fair in a police station.”

“Fuck police stations,” Liz said simply. Jenna rolled her eyes and huffed a laugh. When Liz turned to her again, she gave her a very exaggerated smile as she batted her eyelashes. “Sorry, Officer, forgive me?”

“You’re forgiven,” Jenna said easily. Liz dissolved into laughter as she finished up the shake and placed it on the counter. “You’re something else.”

“Something good, I hope,” she said. Jenna nodded as she watched Liz push a straw into the drink and push it Jenna’s way.

“Very good.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Liz teased. Jenna took a sip of the shake and nodded her approval. Liz’s smile widened. “I still got it.”

She hopped up a little more and leaned over, her lips closing over the straw that Jenna’s had just been on. Then she looked up through her eyelashes and… She knew exactly what she was doing. Jenna shook her head just a little.

“Yeah,” Liz said, falling back to her feet, “I still got it.”

They stared for a long time. It felt like they were 20 again, back in that shitty college bar and drinking when they shouldn’t. Jenna’s heart picked up speed as if preparing to be tugged upstairs to prove that she’d gotten better in the eight years between them.

“I still can’t believe you’re a cop,” Liz said softly, “Didn’t you want to do something better? I feel like you said you wanted to do something better.”

Jenna shrugged. “I’m 28 and I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.”

“That’s fair,” Liz said, “Not many people do.”

“You do.”

“I got lucky.”

They fell into silence again, just staring. The jukebox shifted songs again and a song she couldn’t quite remember the name of started playing. It was nostalgic in a way where the exact memory didn’t come to her, but it just made her feel young.

“I haven’t heard this song in forever,” Jenna said. Liz smiled, but it wasn’t that big, bright one she’d been giving all night. This one was just a bit more bittersweet.

“It was one of my sister’s favorites,” Liz said, tapping the counter, “I pretty much liked anything she liked, so I sort of have this one memorized.”

“I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“She, uh,” Liz said, eyes drifting around a bit before meeting Jenna’s again, “She died when she was 19. Driving while drunk. Or high, or whatever.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Jenna said, empathy pulsing through her. She was already struggling as it was and her sister wasn’t even gone forever. She was just in jail for something fucking stupid. She couldn’t imagine losing her like that.

But Liz just shook her head and smiled. “It’s alright. I’ve had a decade to mourn.”

“Yeah, but grief doesn’t go away,” Jenna said. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to say in the moment and it sure as hell wasn’t going to get her laid, but it was honest. She’d lost people and grief never really faded. It just got a little bit easier to manage, a little bit easier to work it into your day to day life.

Liz seemed to know that very well.

She licked her lips, fingertips grazing the counter as she walked back around to the other side. Jenna smiled softly as she hopped into the barstool beside her. Liz nudged her shoulder into hers.

“I used to wonder what would happen if I ever saw you again,” Liz admitted, “I didn’t expect it to be here.”

“Me too,” Jenna agreed, “To both.”

Liz tapped against the counter and then leaned closer against. Jenna took a sip of the shake before turning the straw to Liz. She took a sip and looked up to Jenna, staring for a minute. Jenna was pretty sure she could enjoy Liz staring at her for the rest of her life.

The first time they met, they had been exactly what the other needed. Something light, something new, something fun. Tonight, Jenna was beginning to wonder if they’d met again at the right time to be what the other needed‒a new start when they felt a little lost.

Liz leaned a bit closer and Jenna tilted her head down to match.

“If I kiss you now, am I moving too fast?” Liz asked.

“Technically you’ve been stringing me along for eight years,” Jenna responded. Liz smiled wide and then moved up for a kiss.

And they kissed.

And then there were gunshots.

#camecho #camecho fic #liz ortecho #jenna cameron #roswell new mexico #rnm fic #my fic #my prompts for lesser ships

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hutchhitched · 5 years ago

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Too Familiar (Part 8)

Hey, all y’all! After way too long, the next installment of this story is here. Thanks to all of you who are following this story on here or AO3. For those of you reading it on tumblr, the rest of the story can be found here. I love hearing from you, so feel free to send me your thoughts. Part 9 will be out after the end of the @everlarkficexchange on April 12.

Trigger warning: mature themes (including infidelity).

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Katniss gulped, and her vision darkened. Peeta’s ex-wife. Peeta’s ex-wife was standing in her doorway, and Katniss reflexively hid her left hand behind her back. She didn’t have a ring, but somehow her bare finger felt like a betrayal to both her and Peeta. All the peace she’d gained from talking to her sister evaporated quickly. She was such a fucking cliché.

Madge Mellark…

Katniss gaped at the woman in the hall—blonde, gorgeous, and remarkably composed for someone confronting her ex-husband’s mistress. What the fuck was she doing here? Did Peeta give her the address? Panic spiked in her chest, and she blinked rapidly as she tried to figure out whether to slam the door or run. Both were equally terrible options that sounded infinitely better than talking to the woman whose husband she’d stolen.

“I can see you’re overjoyed to see me,” Madge said dryly, and Katniss attempted to close her mouth and stop looking like a psychotic fish.

“I’m… Uh, I don’t— What are you doing here?” Katniss gasped, unable to make her voice more than a ragged mess.

“I came to talk,” she answered. There was an edge to her voice, but it wasn’t rude. Somehow, that made Katniss feel worse.

“C-come in. I guess.”

“How gracious.”

Katniss winced at the sarcasm in the other woman’s voice, but she couldn’t really blame her. Chagrined, she stepped aside and motioned for Madge to enter her apartment.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Water?” Katniss could barely speak, and she wanted to down about a fifth of vodka herself. There was no way in hell this was normal. How was she supposed to handle this?

“I’m fine. I won’t be here long.”

“Oh.”

Katniss perched on the chair, ready to spring from it at any second. Madge settled primly on the edge of the couch, seemingly unsure if she wanted to touch anything at all. If Katniss hadn’t been so shocked, she might have been pissed. This woman acted like everything around her was filthy and diseased. The metaphor wasn’t terribly funny.

“I know this is irregular. I didn’t want to have to come here today. In fact, I didn’t ever want to have to see you again at all, but that’s simply not practical anymore.”

“Not…practical,” Katniss said slowly, the words dripping off her tongue like molasses.

“You’re engaged to my ex-husband.”

“Yes. I am,” she confirmed. That seemed like something steady she could cling to in the midst of this bizarre experience.

“As you can imagine, I’m not thrilled with how you two— With how—” Madge paused, her striking blue eyes glazing over for the briefest moment. “I’m not here to judge you. I will never understand how you could do what you did, how he could do what he did, but that’s not why I’m here.”

Katniss studied the woman carefully for a few minutes. Madge was shaking slightly, out of anger or something else, Katniss wasn’t sure. Underneath the composed façade, Peeta’s ex-wife was clearly and understandably upset. She was remarkably beautiful, and Katniss wondered briefly why her fiancé would willingly give up someone so lovely for her who was quiet, introverted, insecure, and detached.

“Why are you here?”

Madge sucked in a deep breath and held it for several seconds. She seemed to be warring with herself, and Katniss waited, unwillingly to spark an angry outburst or something worse, like tears. She twisted her fingers and toyed with her left ring finger. There was a thin line that was lighter than the rest of her skin.

“I just stopped wearing it a few weeks ago,” Madge admitted brokenly. “I thought he’d come back. I really did.”

Katniss offered awkwardly, “I’m sorry.”

“I wish I believed that.”

“I wish you did, too.”

“How could you?” she whispered. “How could you do what you did?”

Katniss shrank back. This was too much. This was her own home, and that question was wildly inappropriate, regardless of what had happened between Peeta and her.

“Don’t answer that. I didn’t come here to ask you that.” A few moments passed during which Madge fought for composure. “You’re going to marry my husband.”

“Ex-husband,” Katniss snapped, her patience disintegrating quickly.

“Ex-husband, yes,” Madge corrected quickly. “I’m not saying any of this right. I’m trying so hard not to be angry, but I think you understand the problem.”

Katniss stood and headed for the door. “I understand, but this is really not okay.”

“You’re going to be my son’s step-mother!” Katniss stopped and swiveled to face the other woman. Stricken, Madge twisted her hands in her lap. “I love my son. I needed to see you again. To make sure. To know he’ll be in good hands. We met such a long time ago, and it was under very different circumstances.”

“I remember,” Katniss said quietly.

“Do you?”

She did. It was right after she’d been hired at her job, and there was a company picnic for employees and their families. She’d been alone, and Peeta had invited her to join him and his wife. Madge had been friendly enough but just a little bit aloof, and Katniss had known the two wouldn’t ever really be close friends. Peeta’s divided attention between the two women had obviously grated on his wife’s nerves, even though she’d tried to hide it from her husband. Katniss had written it off at the time—after all, she hadn’t been interested in Peeta back then, hadn’t seen him as anything other than a close friend. If she’d only known then what she knew now, she would never have agreed to sit with them that day. Somehow, having met his wife before the affair started made it so much worse.

She nodded and stared miserably at her hands. “I do.”

“I knew then that there was something between you. Peeta had never been so obsessed with a co-worker, and you were awkward and unsure. He loves saving people.”

“He really does,” Katniss agreed softly.

“He needs to take care of his son.”

Katniss stared at the woman on the couch and felt ill. As awkward and terrible as Madge’s visit was, the confrontation made sense. At least in some twisted, fractured, insane way, Peeta’s ex-wife was doing her best to protect her family.

“Well, you’ve seen me again. Met me officially, I guess.”

Madge swallowed and nodded. “I have.”

Katniss crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the ceiling. She hesitated, talked herself out of speaking, and then decided she had to say something—even if it was wrong.

“Look. I know you have no reason to believe me. No reason to think I’m trustworthy or anything other than a terrible person, but I’m going to marry Peeta. I love him. I won’t do anything to hurt him.”

They stared at each other, gazes locked, appraising and evaluating.

“So.”

“So,” Katniss agreed. The implication hung between them.

I won’t hurt Peeta, and Peeta loves his child. Your son is safe and loved.

“I think it’s time for you to go.”

Katniss was impressed with herself for saying it and for not everything else. A few weeks ago, she would have crumbled in this situation. Madge could have flogged her and berated her, and she would have taken it. She would have thought she wasn’t worth Peeta’s love; that she deserved to be tortured for her decisions and indiscretions. Still, those nagging thoughts haunted her. She woke to them every day and fought them in her dreams every night.

And.

She loved Peeta. He loved her. They had made their individual and combined commitments to be together, to bring a child into the world, to marry and forge a new family. Maybe she didn’t deserve it, but she was going to take it.

Madge rose and held her head high as she strode to the door. She paused in the hallway, surveyed Katniss for several seconds, and then turned and walked away. Katniss watched her back until she rounded the corner and then closed the door. The instant it shut, she sank to the floor and tucked her head between her legs. Emotions welled inside her, and Katniss fought through a panic attack, breathing in and out and concentrating on slowing her heart rate.

When she’d calmed enough that she didn’t feel like she was going to vomit at any second, she placed her palms on her stomach and held them there. She was going to have a baby, and she already loved the child so much it made her insides quiver. Madge’s visit was absolutely absurd, but…Katniss understood the fierce need to protect her child.

Eventually, she moved to the couch and lay down on the cushions. She stared into space and considered her situation. Peeta had asked her to marry him. They were going to be husband and wife. He’d clearly shared that information with his ex-wife. There was no other logical explanation for why the woman had shown up on Katniss’ doorstep this morning.

She wanted to text him or call him or something, but she also needed time alone to think, to plan, and to heal. She needed to go to the doctor. They needed a marriage license. Decisions about where they’d live. Meeting their respective families. The afternoon slid by as she plotted and planned. By the time the room darkened in the late afternoon, she was in control.

“Katniss?”

She blinked and her head spun as she sat upright. “Hey,” she offered with a weak smile when he entered the room. He leaned down to kiss her, and she grabbed his neck and tugged him down next to her.

“We need to talk.”

He kissed her temple and smiled down at her. “Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.”

“Have a good day? Anything exciting happen?”

She cuddled into his side and shook her head. “I told Prim.”

“How’d she take that?”

“Better than I expected.”

“I told Madge,” he admitted. “Figured she should know sooner rather than later.”

“Ah,” she hummed into his skin. There was no way in fuck she was going to tell him what had happened earlier. “How’d she take it?”

“Not great. Lots of yelling.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“It wasn’t the best.”

“Any regrets?”

“None,” he chuckled, “and don’t you think the time’s past for that? We’ve been divorced for months.”

“Hey, Peeta.”

“Yeah?”

“I really love you.”

“I really love you too.”

They fell into each other, and it felt like coming home.

“Are you okay? Feeling alright?” he murmured against her neck. “I missed you today.”

“Missed you too, hon. Made some decisions. I really need your cock inside me now.”

“Why does that always seem to be the best thing you can say to me?”

“Because you’re a horny man who loves to dick me up.”

Peeta groaned enthusiastically and got to work. He stripped her from the waist down and spread her open. She moaned as his fingers stroked her, dipping into her and drawing moisture from her and painting her inner thighs.

“I thought you said we needed to talk.”

“After,” she insisted. “I need you first.”

“Come home with me for Thanksgiving? Meet my parents and brothers?”

“I love your dirty talk.”

“I’ll give you multiple orgasms if you say yes.”

“Yes.”

“Fuck. No hesitation at all. Sexy as hell,” he grunted and unbuttoned his jeans. “Put your leg over the top of the couch.”

She lost track of everything at that point. He sank into her with praise on his lips, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming. She was still a little unsteady after the encounter with Madge, but she knew she couldn’t tell Peeta. It was too much for him to take, and the last thing she wanted to do was give his ex-wife any other reason to hate her or threaten another look at visitation rights. She didn’t want a custody battle on her hands. It would break her fiancé. No, the best idea was to let Madge tell him herself if she wanted. Katniss didn’t have to say anything at all.

It took her several minutes to realize Peeta’s movements were erratic, that he was nearing the brink, and she’d barely paid attention at all. Her leg was bent over his shoulder, and he was rutting into her hard. His eyelashes were tangled in the light, and she raised her hand to trace his cheekbone, so prominent when he was aroused.

“Peeta,” she breathed.

His frantic pace stopped. He gained control and opened his eyes to look at her. The blue there melted into pools of adoration from flints of determination.

“Katniss,” he whispered in return. It took a few awkward seconds, but he pulled her upright and settled her onto his lap. “You are so beautiful.”

“Enjoy it while it lasts,” she teased and kissed him softly. “I’m gonna be all big and awkward soon enough.”

He cupped her face and ran his lips across her eyebrows, temple, cheek, jawline, neck, and eventually, slowly, her collarbone, where he sucked a slow, lazy, searing kiss.

“Your breasts are already fuller,” he murmured while reverent hands traced her body, “and your stomach. So smooth with just a little tiny hint of a bump. That’s our baby, sweetheart.”

Tears clogged her throat, and she nodded, unable to speak, scared to say anything that would break the spell of them together. She fitted her forehead against his and breathed deeply. She rolled her hips, and he met them with his own. Slowly, reverentially, passionately, they brought each other to completion. They took their time, stretching and reveling in each second, each touch, each blissful moment when it was just the two of them expressing their mutual adoration.

“I’ll never get over how lucky I am to have met you,” he mumbled into her hair when she slumped against him with ragged breathing.

She snorted and quickly apologized. “I’m not sure lucky’s the word, babe. We’ve fought hard for this. We made terrible, painful decisions to be together.”

“And I’d choose them every time to be with you.”

She smiled gently and pushed back to survey him. Hair wrecked, t-shirt rucked up, and a satiated look on this face made him look like he was about 15 years younger than he was. If they’d met then instead, back when he was still single, before he’d married Madge, Katniss wondered how differently their relationship would have developed. Would they have been best friends first? Would he have asked her out right away?

Her stomach growled, and she smiled at his bemused expression. “I kind of forgot to eat today,” she admitted, and he scrambled into action.

“Get dressed. Do you have anything to cook, or do I need to run out for something? You’re pregnant, Kat. You can’t just not eat.” He looked so earnest and just a tiny bit scared that she wanted to wrap herself in him and stay safely ensconced in his arms forever.

“Can we get Chinese food?”

He nodded and grabbed his phone. “Cashew chicken? Pork fried rice?”

“Yeah, and eggrolls. Oh, and get some pot stickers, too.”

“Fried or boiled?”

“Oh hell, can we get both? I’m starving.”

He looked at her fiercely and pointed to the bedroom. “Go change into something comfortable. Something warm, please. You’re cold. I see goosebumps. Then we’re having that conversation you wanted before you decided to seduce me.”

“Seduce you?” she protested. “I was just saying hello to my fiancé after a long day apart.”

“Seduction,” he argued and twirled his finger at her. “That was all you. Warm clothes. Now.”

She arched her back and stretched, just to show him she’d take her time, thank you very much—and maybe a little bit to make her breasts more prominent and to display the moisture in the curls between her legs from their earlier activities. He glared at her and shook his head.

“Don’t even try that with me,” he insisted. “Now, go. I’m ordering food.”

She pretended to grumble as she slunk down the hallway, but she was grinning too hard to make it believable. Despite the shock of Madge’s morning visit, Katniss felt more in control of her life than she had in a very long time. They would eat soon, and they would talk about the things they’d avoided for far too long.

After a quick rinse in the shower and a few minutes taking care of business, she went back to the living room and tucked into her corner of the couch. He turned sideways to face her and nodded, indicating he was ready to listen.

“I had a lot of time to think today,” she began. “I think I needed that. Can I ask you a really honest question?”

“Of course.”

“What makes me worth this to you?” He started to protest, and she cut him off before he could. “This is not an insecurity thing, Peeta. Just please answer.”

He inhaled deeply and held it a while. Then, he answered carefully, “I knew from the second I met you that you’d be my Achilles heel. There’s something so genuinely special about you that I knew the instant I saw you. You’re kind and thoughtful. You care about other people. You’re fierce when you need to be but would rather take a backseat and let someone else’s potential shine. You worry about being good and doing the right thing, and that means a lot to me. You fought for me by staying away, but you also saved me by letting me have you.”

His fingers linked with hers, and she watched his throat bob and constrict. “Go on,” she urged.

“You were so lonely. I could see it in a way no one else seemed to want to acknowledge, and it broke my heart. So many things haven’t worked out for you, but you didn’t complain. You just kept going and kept caring for everyone else and accepting that you didn’t need or deserve all the love and care and attention you shower on others. And you not knowing how I felt about you, how much you changed my life, was evidence that everything I’m saying is true. You didn’t expect anything, and that’s why I couldn’t help but want to give you the whole world.”

“I remember the first time we really talked,” she laughed. “Remember that? At that first work party?”

“Yeah. We used to have a lot of parties,” he said, a fond smile gracing his lips. “That was just a few weeks before the picnic where…”

She ignored his insinuation and kept talking. She wanted to get this out while she could still talk coherently.

“You were the most gorgeous creature I’d ever seen, with those deep blue eyes and ashy blonde curls and wide shoulders and lean waist. I didn’t think you were real, and I had this desperation inside me when you looked at me. You weren’t wearing a wedding ring, and I hoped for a few minutes… I hoped that meant you were available.”

“I can’t remember why I didn’t have it on that day.”

“Doesn’t matter, really, I guess, but we talked for a few minutes and you mentioned your wife. I was heartbroken, but I put you away into the friend category then and never intended to take you out of it.”

“I was trying to set up boundaries,” he explained. “I knew I was in trouble from that first conversation, and I thought telling you about Madge would stop anything from happening. You’re the strong one, and I thought I’d be okay if I put the onus on you to keep it platonic. I should have been the one to take the burden.”

“Maybe,” she acknowledged, “but I think we both dealt with it in the best way we knew how.”

“So, poorly, you mean.”

She chuckled and twisted her hand to caress his palm. “I need to go to the doctor, start taking care of this baby the way I should be.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“And I want to marry you soon,” she insisted. “I don’t want a wedding or a big party or a fuss. I’ve never needed anything but you, so please don’t fight me. We need to tell Haymitch at work, and I’m hoping we can take a day off work together next week and go down to the courthouse and make this official.”

“Katniss—”

“That’s what I want, Peeta.”

A war played out on his face before he finally relented. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

“I think we should get a different place. Not your studio and not this apartment. Too many memories of us sneaking around together here. Someplace that’s ours, not a place to come play with your mistress.”

“Okay.”

“And this is the last time I’m going to apologize, but I am sorry, Peeta. I love you, and I love this baby we’ve made together. I cannot tell you enough how much I want to be your wife, to be Mrs. Peeta Mellark, to share the rest of my life with you and make a home and raise a family together. I want all of those things with you and a billion more.”

“I want that, too.”

“And— This is important. And I’m sorry for hurting you and not fighting for you earlier and not staying away and letting your marriage work. I’m sorry for making things difficult and being insecure and doubting you. I’m sorry for what’s going to come when we get backlash for what we did. I will face it with you, and I’m not going to apologize any more. Not for this. Not for finding my soulmate and accepting that we belong together.”

Tears tracked down his cheeks, and she realized hers were wet, too. He tried to speak several times and couldn’t, and she waited patiently while he put himself back together.

“I love you so much, baby,” he sobbed. “I’m so sorry you didn’t get the fairytale. You deserve to have something easy and wonderful. I’m sorry you’ve been burned.”

“I chose you. I’m choosing you again right now.”

“Playing with fire. We’ve been playing with fire the entire time.”

She forced his eyes to hers and stated resolutely, “I’d rather get burned than freeze to death without you.”

He hiccupped, and his shoulders shook with wry laughter. “That sounds about right. Like I said, you’re the strong one. All the fire, and I’m…”

“You are a good, good man, Peeta. You are. You tried, and you screwed up. You messed up a million times, but you’ve beaten yourself up for it enough. I know the guilt eats you up inside, but I’m marrying you, and I need you to forgive yourself. And I need you to forgive me. Otherwise, our marriage is doomed. If you had to hurt your wife and child for us to have this chance, then don’t hurt the second ones because you feel guilty about the first.”

Silence fell between them as they faced each other, fingers together, lives intertwined. She observed the way his shoulders fell and then straightened, the resolute clench in his jaw, the surety in his eyes when he finally spoke.

“I’ve always wanted to get married on a Thursday.”

“Well, buckle up because I have nothing planned that day.”

He grinned and pulled out his phone. “Let me just put that in my calendar. Hmm… Thursday, November 21. Sounds like a good day to take a wife.”

The food arrived a few minutes after they solidified their plans, and then life shifted into frantic mode for the next few days. They asked her sister for an OBGYN reference and made an appointment, at which the doctor confirmed they were approximately ten weeks pregnant. They met with Haymitch at work on Monday and explained the situation, asking for time off on Thursday to get married and dealt with PR issues in the office. She asked Annie to be her witness, and Finnick agreed to be Peeta’s best man. She found a dress at a second-hand store and bought a ring to put on her fiancé’s finger.

Thursday arrived with another bout of morning sickness and nerves. Katniss put mascara remover on her forehead instead of her eyes and washed her hair with conditioner twice before realizing it wasn’t clean at all. She finally managed to get dressed, brush her teeth for the third time after being sick twice, and find her phone before it was time to meet Peeta at the courthouse.

The marriage ceremony was uneventful. It took all of five minutes, and Annie and Finnick were the only two people there who knew them. Katniss had made a calculated decision not to tell Prim until after it was done, and Peeta couldn’t exactly ask Madge to bring their son. Katniss still hadn’t told Peeta about his ex-wife’s visit, and she hoped Madge would keep it quiet too. She didn’t want to have to explain why she’d been less than forthcoming.

The newly married couple spent their wedding night at Peeta’s studio, which he’d packed except for the bed. He planned to stay at her place until they found a home that was theirs, but they needed time for that. Since Katniss had agreed to go home with him for Thanksgiving, she figured they’d look once they got back from Virginia and she met the rest of the Mellarks.

They made love and talked and dozed throughout the night, too wound up to do much beyond catching sleep in intermittent bursts. At eleven weeks, her breasts were larger and much more tender than normal, and she was constantly exhausted in a way she hadn’t been since she’d contracted mononucleosis in undergrad. She didn’t have enough energy for really innovative sex, but Peeta didn’t seem to mind. Instead, he spent most of the night pleasuring her until she was a melted puddle of want, clinging to him and begging him to make her come.

“Thank you for seeing the real me and still wanting me,” she breathed after he’d brought her to orgasm for the millionth time in a very short time period.

His mouth found hers, and she groaned at the taste of her on his lips. His tongue, which had been burrowed inside her only moments before, plundered her mouth and stroked and massaged her lips until she lost the ability to speak.

“You’re worth everything I’ve been through, Katniss. Thank you for marrying me. For becoming my wife.”

“Wife…” she whispered, unbelieving that he was actually—legally—hers after the sordid affair, hiding how they felt, and sneaking around for so long. She clung to him until she finally managed, “And you’re my husband.”

His eyes sparkled with emotion, and he nodded. “Forever.”

Are you ever going to be able to trust him? echoed in her brain, but she pushed it aside. She’d made her choice, and she was done apologizing.

Returning to work on Monday was harder than she imagined. She was exhausted still, and she didn’t want to be there for the shortened work week when it was so close to the holiday and meeting Peeta’s family for the first time. She was so far beyond nervous she assumed what she was feeling was something akin to petrified, and the morning sickness hadn’t let up at all. The last thing she wanted was for Johanna to say something that would set her off, but there was no way her new golden band wouldn’t be a topic of conversation as soon as she walked into the office.

Johanna didn’t disappoint. She wolf-whistled as Katniss sat at her desk and rolled her chair closer to get a look at the ring.

“No diamond? I thought Peeta’d want to decorate you right away,” her co-worker snarked.

Katniss didn’t respond; instead, she booted up her computer and opened files she needed to be able to help the children who deserved protection from the cruelties of the world. She opened a package of saltines and placed them on the desk next to her and put a straw in her ginger ale.

“Jo,” Annie’s quiet voice said, “leave her alone. She’s been through enough.”

“I bet Madge doesn’t think so.”

Katniss saw red and glared at her co-worker. “Madge isn’t his wife anymore. I am. I know the way it happened doesn’t meet with your approval, but it’s really none of your fucking business. Now, shut up, or I’m asking Haymitch to move my desk away from your bitchy attitude. I have work to do.”

The rest of the morning passed in blessed silence. Johanna clearly didn’t want their boss to reprimand her, so she kept her disapproval of Katniss to herself. Annie sank into her own world, and Katniss worked steadily through the folders until Peeta popped by to see if she wanted to go to lunch. It wasn’t until she was back in the office at the tail end of the lunch hour that she realized she and Johanna were alone together.

“I had an affair,” Johanna said softly, and Katniss snapped her eyes up. “I was in love with someone. He was married. He said he’d leave his wife. He didn’t.”

Katniss doesn’t know what to say, so she only offers, “Oh.”

“His name was Brutus. I should have known better than to believe him, but I fell hard. We got outed by one of his wife’s friends who caught us together, and it was ugly,” she explained. “I guess I’m a little jealous your situation worked out when mine didn’t. That Peeta was worth it when Brutus wasn’t. I wasn’t his only other distraction, you see. He was cheating on his wife with a hell of a lot more people than me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Katniss blurted, unable to bear the pain in her co-worker’s voice, “but you can’t possibly believe that our relationship—mine and Peeta’s—has been smooth sailing.”

“Maybe not, but the end result is the same. You married the man you love. I found out mine was a jackass who never cared about me at all.” Johanna surveyed her quietly for a while before ordering, “Don’t screw it up, or all you’ve done is break up two families.”

Katniss flushed and tugged at the bottom of her sweater. She didn’t want to know if Johanna suspected her pregnancy, but it wouldn’t surprise her if she did. She was wan and drawn in a way she’d never been before, and the rushed wedding must have pricked some suspicions in a few people. It was with great relief when Johanna said goodbye to Annie at the end of the day with the pronouncement that she wouldn’t be back until after the holiday. Katniss looked forward to using the peace and quiet the next day before they flew out to Peeta’s hometown for Thanksgiving.

“I think maybe we should consider seeing your family over the holiday, too,” Peeta announced as they tried to pack in between rounds of sex. Every time Katniss pushed him away, he reminded her with sweet kisses and insistent hands that they were newlyweds of only a few days. Her new husband was disgustingly persistent, and she only pretended to mind when he managed to get her naked and on her knees on the bed surrounded by a partially packed suitcase and neatly folded stacks of clothes.

“You can’t spring that on me, and then make me forget you said it,” she groaned after she collapsed into the piles of clothes that were no longer clean, let alone folded. He kissed the nape of her neck and ran his fingers through the moisture between her legs. She shivered when he trailed his wet fingers up her torso and circled her nipples until they glistened.

“I can if we do actually spend the entire holiday with my family and then yours,” he mumbled while sucking hard on the hollow behind her ear.

“Why’s that?”

“Because we probably won’t be having a lot of hot sex if we stay with them.”

“Oh god,” she gasped. “I’ve changed my mind. We should stay here and in bed the entire time.”

“Sweetheart,” he said firmly, “it’s time. Do you really want to wait until Christmas to do this? Because I thought maybe we’d spend that holiday by ourselves.”

“We can always go at Easter.”

“Not really. Third trimester.”

“Shit. Fine. Yeah, we can drive over and see my family, then. Now, get the hell off me. I need to repack everything.”

“You do not,” he insisted and licked her nipples clean. “If fact, what I really think you need to do is sit on my face.”

“Well, if you insist.”

She was exhausted and sick in the morning again, but Peeta held her hair and rubbed her back until she felt better. He made her toast and carried their suitcases as they went to work. At the end of the day, she’d be on a plane to Virginia to meet Peeta’s mother, who had loved Madge and screamed at Peeta when he told her they were getting divorced. The hours both dragged and sped by, and she met Peeta by the elevator so they could leave for the airport.

“Mrs. Mellark, I am so ready to spend our first holiday together.”

“My mother will be happy to hear that,” Katniss teased and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Because that’s the only Mrs. Mellark I know.”

“Sweetheart, Mrs. Mellark is my mother, not yours.”

She laughed when she realized he was right. She was so tired, and she wondered briefly if his arms around her were the only reason she hadn’t stumbled and fallen.

“So chivalrous,” she mumbled against his cheek. “The Everdeen women love that.”

“So, what you’re saying is that I’ll charm your mom?” Peeta murmured and ducked his head to glance his lips across her neck.

Katniss closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax in his arms. She felt an insatiable stab of lust as he pressed his body against hers. “You could charm anyone, hon. Those lips of yours. That silver tongue. Good god, you turn me on so much…”

“Yeah? Mmmm.”

She turned in his arms and sought his mouth with hers. His tongue traced her bottom lip when they suddenly came to a jarring halt.

“What was that?” she gasped and winced at the sound of grinding gears. “Why’d we stop?”

“I’m not sure.”

Peeta grasped her hand quickly before moving to the controls and punching the button for the building’s lobby. Nothing happened, and he glanced at her with a worried look etched on his handsome face.

“Are we stuck?” She fought the first vestiges of panic and peered around his shoulder. “Is there a call button?”

“I don’t know, sweetie. Hold on a second.”

She took a few breaths, but she couldn’t get any air in her lungs. The walls seemed to be closing in on them, and she gripped the railing in a desperate attempt to stay calm. She hadn’t told him about her struggles with claustrophobia. Somehow it hadn’t come up in the context of all the other problems they faced.

“We can’t be stuck. We have a flight to catch. Thanksgiving with our families. This is the first time I’m meeting your mother. You’re meeting mine. Peeta, we can’t be stuck!”

She shook as she screeched the last few words. This couldn’t be happening. Not when their relationship was just starting to feel like a real one instead of a horrific series of bad choices and mistakes. Not when she was finally able to start building the life she’d yearned to have for years.

“Hey,” he said gently. “I’m right here. Talk to me. What’s going on?”

Tears pricked her eyes, and her chest heaved a few times before she was able to speak. His look of concern only made her feel worse. How could she explain how much hope she’d pinned to their last-minute holiday plans? How could she admit she dreamed of a warm reception from his parents so she could finally feel like she’s a legitimate partner in her husband’s life? They were married and expecting a baby, and none of their family even knew.

“I’m fine,” she insisted with a shake of her shoulders. “Where’s the call button?”

“It’s right here. It’s right here, Katniss,” he soothed and gripped her shoulders and rubbed them.

“Call it,” she yelped. “Call it!”

Peeta stared at her as she spiraled. She’d freaked out around him before, but usually the cause for her panic was him and their relationship. She didn’t like feeling out of control. She didn’t like that she couldn’t get out of this box. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t—

The elevator shuddered and started moving again, and she sucked in a deep breath. She moaned and swallowed so hard her throat hurt. Wide-eyed, she watched the numbers tick down to one and staggered out the open doors as soon as the ding sounded.

“Katniss?” Peeta’s voice came from behind her, and she frantically scrubbed the tears from her face and worked to slow her breathing.

“I’m claustrophobic,” she finally huffed. His hands squeezed her shoulders, and his eyes searched her face. “I— It hadn’t come up yet.”

He held her close for several seconds and kissed her forehead. Reluctantly, he asked, “Are you okay? Because we really need to go. Traffic’s going to be terrible, and our flight—”

She nodded, shaky and unsteady, but she knew he was right. Making the flight was going to be tight even without the elevator issue. She could get it together in the cab and on the plane. Never mind that she was heading into two family situations that scared her as much or more than anything else she’d faced in her life.

She trembled all the way to the airport, and they rushed through security and to the gate just in time to make it on board. She waited impatiently until the “fasten seatbelts” light clicked off, and then she made a beeline for the bathroom. She wasn’t that far along yet, but the baby had already made very good friends with her bladder. She needed to go really badly. When she returned to her seat, Peeta took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers.

“You okay?” he asked, his face a mask of concern. She nodded and tucked her head into his shoulder. “You ready to talk about it yet?”

Shaking her head, she rubbed her thumb back and forth across the back of his hand. Mercifully, he didn’t push. Instead, he settled his head and hers and hummed softly to her. The music worked its way through her, relaxing her bit by bit. Eventually, she joined him, her mezzo voice blending with his until sleep overtook her.

She jerked awake when the plane landed. The peace she’d found while in the air evaporated as they walked hand in hand down the jetway and to the baggage carousel.

“We shouldn’t have checked anything. Carryon only from now on,” she said with a smile as they watched the conveyor belt turn without bringing any bags to the passengers.

“Or we could always go naked wherever we go.”

“That sounds like such a better plan,” she sighed. “And you had to bring that up now that we’re here and won’t have privacy for almost a week. I’ll shrivel up and die without you.”

He grinned at her and hugged her to his side. “You will not.”

“Uh huh.”

He leaned down to kiss her, and she opened her mouth under his. His mouth was filthy on hers, and she felt his want down to her toes. She was just getting ready to suggest they find somewhere for a quickie when he broke away and tensed.

“What’s wrong?” He glanced down at her quickly and then past her to something she couldn’t see.

“Hi, Mom,” he said tentatively.

Katniss whirled to meet his mother. She plastered a smile on her face but froze when she saw the glacier cold look in the woman’s eyes.

“Hello, Peeta. My divorced son, and his mistress. How lovely. Bringing the homewrecker with you to the family gathering. I have so much to be thankful for this holiday.”

“What did you say?” Peeta asked. His ashen face registered shock and fury.

“I said that I’m so glad you brought your lover home with you. Nothing like an extra-marital affair to make the holidays cheery.”

“Peeta!”

A huge voice boomed around them, and Peeta relaxed an infinitesimal amount. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, son. And who do we have here?” Mr. Mellark asked as he looked at Katniss.

“His mistress.”

“No,” Peeta said firmly, “not my mistress. My wife.”

#too familiar #everlark #everlark fanfiction #peeta mellark #katniss everdeen

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tfw-no-tennis · 4 years ago

Text

huntoxhunto

we watched 2 whole more eps but we’re abt to vacay so i better recap this biz now before i forget

ok so we finished the zoldyck arc and uhhhh gotta say we werent expecting like any of that to happen lol

ok ill back up so we start w/killuas mom (i dont think we ever heard her name) confronting gon & co....and canary (i lov her) is not dead which i assumed but thank goodness.

zoldyck mom was totally using nen. also she is off her rocker gotta say. tho that visor is super cool, albeit confusing - is it connected to a bunch of security cameras or something? how does she see all that shit?

granpa is wild. his tunic thing that says ‘one kill a day’ or w/e is kinda hilarious, it reminds me of the ‘apple a day keeps the dr away’ saying...a murder a day keeps the....idk away????

i love that killua makes it abundantly clear that he couldve like escaped at any time lol. also tho why didnt he just escape....baby boy just leave

killua getting all serious and threatening milluki if he messes with gon....my boys got it BAD

this family has so many communication issues hvbjadkfbjaskdfj nobody is on the same page at all

the butler guy continued to remind me of kuro one piece this whole time...i was waiting for him to bust out the ridiculous cat claws

oh my GOD wait the flashbacks of EVEN BABIER KILLUA were so precious ;_; he was soooo tiny and cute oh my god. so precious. and canary was also so tiny and cute

baby killua really just wanted a friend :(((( and canary wanted to be friends w/him but knew that mom zoldyck would kill her if she overstepped like that :( thats so tragic mannnn

also canary is so cool man. her beating up all those guys was epic

ok that whole scene with killua and his dad was like, such a rollercoaster lmao

like....it was all over the place for me...first of all the ambiance was wack, the room lighting was weird and im p sure killuas seat was an electric chair??? and the dad was in a coffin thing..???? like....interesting aesthetic choices all over the place here

also i see now where killua got his hair and also his catboy tendencies. the zoldyck catboy genes seem to trace back to zoldyck dad, who has kinda scary cat eyes

also im guessing that the dad is the blood zoldyck and the mom is the one who married in. they sure seem to put a lot of emphasis on like, family legacy or w/e, but the two parents certainty go abt it in different ways

the whole convo b/w killua and his dad was wild, it totally didnt go where i was expecting it to. his dad was weirdly chill while also being super intense?

killua happily telling stories abt gon was so sweet....baby boy baby

and his dad telling him ‘never betray your friends’ was rlly interesting...i wonder what his reasons were for saying that

cause then he tells killua he can leave, and killua does, but then dad zoldyck tells mom zoldyck (i rlly need to find out their names) that he thinks killua will come back on his own time....inch resting

i wonder if dad zoldyck made killua promise that bc he was trying to set killua up for failure - as in, he tells killua to never betray his friends, thinking that killua inevitably will & be distraught abt it, and then turn back to the zoldyck family when this happens. idk

also its interesting to me that zoldyck dad wants killua to lead the family someday. like, illumi is right there, hes the oldest and clearly dedicated to being an evil assassin, and he seems p good at it...i wonder why killua is the favorite....the grandpa (i think) did say that killua is Special(tm) which...yes he is a special baby boy i love him. i wanna see more zoldyck family flashbacks/interactions so we can see what led them to this point

oh lord that reminds me of illumi briefly appearing in the killua flashback and hes just like, suddenly there, wearing some gay ass sweater....like ok dude did you just come back from the Evil Assassin Library or st?????

that reminds me too, ruth tells me that apparently in the manga illumi and hisoka got married or something???? to which i say, thats fucking wild, but also it makes sense, those two are both horrible and disgusting and they absolutely deserve each other hbvajvhsdfjbak peak evil nasty gay rep, i love it. i cant wait to see whatever the fuck the context to that is bc, thats fucking wild

ok back to the plot so like its so wild to me how smoothly everything went hvubsjduhfbjsh like....killuas dad was rlly like ok u can leave and killua just went to the butler house and then canary woke up and was like ok gon & crew lets go to the butler house to see killua, fuck the rules, (and she didnt even get killed for ‘disobedience’ or w/e, or more likely - in most big shounen, she wouldve been attacked by the other evil butlers and gon wouldve had to fight them)

killua Rlly was like fuck this place im leaving my boyfriend and his parents are here to pick me up [puts on gayest outfit he owns and skateboards away] hvbhsjdfbjdkf

i love killuas weird gay preteen fashion so far and i cant wait to see more

killua telling the butler guy to let him know as SOON as gon gets there cause he wants to see him AS SOON AS HE CAN ;_; bro they r....in love

of course the butler is trickey tho lmao, any other shounen this wouldve turned into an 8 ep long fight scene sequence where gon has to fight the butlers in order to see killua

and the of course gon is the same way, gon is like i need to see killua RIGHT NOW take me to him!!! ohhh my god babies

the whole coin game was wild, it was funny when the other butlers got involved too lmao

when gon was like ‘hey leorio can i see your knife’ i was like OH NO I DONT LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING. and i was right bc OWWWWW baby boy oh my god!!!! but that seems to have solved it even tho thats NOT how swelling works at ALL-

anyways gon is a cute smart good boy and i also find it funny how killua eventually gets impatient and just busts in on this whole dramatic situation (and the tension immediately deescalates as a result lmao)

tangent but god its so funny seeing all these butler guys deferring to killua, an actual 12 yr old....i wanna see the hilarious and hijink-filled results of killua being raised as a rich spoiled assassin prince. thats a lethal combo thats gotta result in some wildly skewed perceptions on how things work, especially paired with gon ‘probably eats dirt for fun and sleeps in trees’ freecess

godddd gon and killuas lil reunion is SOOO cute they were so happy to see each other ;_; bro they are SO cuteeeee augh. two tiny babies

killua being like oh hi also uh kurapika andddd [looks at smudged writing on hand] lorpo

hvhhbajfbs dont do my man leorio like that killua hes a hardworking father

the fact that they just like. LEAVE...thats so wild. i cant believe how little fighting this arc had. this all wrapped up SO much faster than i could have ever anticipated lmao

where the heck was alluka!? i assumed she’d show up here but uhhhh guess not......in the silhouette shot of all the zoldycks she and killua were holding hands ;_; my fucking uwus bro

we also didnt see the grandma or great grandpa so im guessing theyll appear later

gon being like fuck it im not using my hunters license til i punch hisoka in the fucking face hvbhahsfbjsk thats hilarious

also a convenient way to let him have his hunters license but not utilize it til later in the story...its so early for him to have achieved that big chunk of his goal, which just shows that hxh is Not your typical shounen and isnt gonna just be centered around gons quest to become a hunter

so we finally found out what hisoka said to kurapika....just as i thought, it was st to do w/the phantom troupe. so theres a handy setup for the yorknew city arc later. bam

hisoka just being like ‘hey meet me in this (presumably) very large city on this date. no i will not tell you where in the city to meet me. bye seeya there’

tbf hisoka is very hard to miss

god when they arrive and kurapika is just like ok well we got killua so im out lol bye everyone....bro hvbjkhgbfjhdksfhjk that felt so abrupt

and then leorio was like oh yeah same i gotta go study time to take the fantasy MCAT or w/e

AND THEY BOTH LEFT....now gon and killua r chilling but im like oh my god no leorio kurapika come back, we need some (questionable) adult supervision over here

and like immediately killua is like ok gon do you have money. and of Course gon doesnt have money. so killua is like well you need money and you need to train so you can deck hisoka, so lets go to a fantasy version of an underground fighting ring! this is why kurapika and leorio needed to stay

tho they probably wouldve just gone along with it

they did all promise to meet in yorknew city, but thats apparently like 6 months away. are gon and killua rlly gonna spend 6 months at heavens arena

the part where killua draws the diagram demonstrating how much of a n00b gon is....hvbajdkhfbhajskf

AND THEN when he drew himself into the diagram and was like :3c wow im so modest HBJHSKHDFHBJS that was so funny

it was like that post thats like ‘you can tell when a cats pupils change and they just shift into Silly Mode’ thats what killua looked like...catboy

so thats basically it i think, gon and killua are heading to heavens arena to join fight club or whatever. tournament arc time!

PREDICTION CORNER:

i doubt this is the last weve seen of the zoldyck family. i mean we havent even met 3 of them, and we barely saw the ones we did meet...idk when theyll come back but i suspect theyll be making some big money moves later on and fucking shit up somehow

i think maybe illumi or someone will like, spy on killua sometimes to keep track of him. or theyll track him by other means

ill use the prediction corner to reflect on incorrect predictions so heres a few. i rlly thot killua was gonna be more edgy than he is but hes rlly just a good boy huh. like hes a gay baby assassin catboy but hes so cute and good too. he just wants to live his life and hang out with his tiny bf like... omg :’)

also i thot hisoka held a totally different narrative role lbvahkfjhjjaksfl i thot he was like main villain guy....hes more like an annoying creepy clown dude who (probably) shows up a lot to bother the main cast. we’ll see, but thats what i think of him now

like i thought hisoka would be like p1 dio, where hed be/quickly become a powerful antagonist who would amass a bunch of followers/minions (when actually the only person he seems to hang out w/is illumi, and theyre more like equals than an evil guy/minion dynamic)...or like i thought hisoka would be very well known as a scary evil guy but nope he was just another participant in the hunter exam, albeit a weird freaky one whose rancid vibes everyone seemed to pick up on

anyways actual predictions, i think hisoka is gonna be at heavens arena, which would be super funny. gon is like im gonna train to beat hisoka and he shows up to do that and hisokas just there like >;) hey

i think if i had to guess, the zoldycks will show up again (in a plot important way) at the end of the yorknew arc/before the greed island arc. i know basically nothing abt any of the arcs but i do know the order they go in so theres that

i do think illumi will show up earlier than the other zoldycks tho, since he seems to be out doing his own thing more than the rest. also we still really havent resolved the whole mind control thing that im still convinced of

i think nen will finally be introduced/alluded to heavily in this arc...or like, characters will use nen and gon will be like whoa whats that

i think killua knows what nen is...maybe? it would make sense since im sure all the zoldycks can use it (at least, we saw mom zoldyck use it, probably)

can killua use nen already? that would be pretty funny. i dont think so tho. maybe u learn nen at a certain age. i have no idea what nen is

also isnt gons nen power the power to like, turn into a really buff version of himself or something. how the fuck does that work

ok enough nonsense its bedtime zzzzz

#the rambling continues....#lj watches hxh #hxh

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allforthecourtt · 6 years ago

Text

rereading aftg with my dumbass opinions pt. 2 (tfc chapters 6-10)

pt. 1 | pt. 2 | pt. 3

look guys! its the highly unanticipated continuation of my reread of aftg!

chapter 6 (aka. meet this MESS of a team)

“My mother's family is French." It was a lie that probably had his British mother rolling over in her sandy grave.”

neil really never misses an opportunity to remind readers that he fucking buried his mom on the beach huh?

“A liar who practices occasional honesty. Clever. Keeps people guessing. Very effective. I would know. I do it myself, you see. Come on, then. After you.”

have i mentioned how entertaining high andrew is? because he’s funny as hell

also rereading these are fun because Nora is incredible at foreshadowing just sayin

“Neil automatically reached for his seatbelt, but one of the brothers was sitting on it.”

how neil would be in the back of the cousins’ car if they let him:

“You?" Neil said. "You can't." Andrew's smile curved wider. "Ohhh, that sounds like a challenge. Mother may I?" "Your mother's dead. I don't think she cares what you do.”

HO HO HOLY SHIT NEIL

“Starting a fight was too out of character for who he portrayed "Neil” to be, though.”

“Consider this your official invite, you suicidal wretch. I'm bringing you to Columbia with us this Friday.”

awe suicidal wretch... glad they’re starting those pet names early

“I don't drink or dance," Neil said.

andrew: i kno u can

“Kevin doesn't dance anymore”

anymore? ANYMORE??? release the cursed events that led to him not dancing anymore Nora im begging you

“Are you bleeding anywhere?" Matt asked. "Nowhere vital," Neil said.

gskjgnsak god i stan this little asshole so much

“She said it gently, with the hint of a smile on her face, but Neil still felt the rebuke. It was subtler but somehow deadlier”

have i mentioned how gay i am for renee? because im very gay for renee

“Allison looked ready for a photo shoot with perfect platinum curls, spiked heels, and a skintight dress.”

im also gay for allison ngl

“I can move if you want to sit here," Neil said. "No, this is fine." She smiled, but it had a smug edge to it, probably because Seth was glaring at them like he could kill them with willpower alone. ”

lol remember how neil doesn’t think he’s attractive and yet in 0.1 seconds after meeting him allison is like “yes this idiot is hot enough to piss off the other idiot im dating”

“Personal favorite was when someone told the police we were running a meth lab out of the dorm," Dan said sourly. "Police raids are awesome.”

no offence dan but that’s fucking hilarious omg

that’s kind of like the time my residence floor had to get evacuated bc some kids hotboxed their dorm room

god i love uni

“The death threats were creative, though," Nicky said. "Maybe this time they'll follow through and actually kill one of us. Let's vote. I nominate Seth.”

pfffffttttt i love Nicky omg

also hahahahahah foreshadowing!

“It'll be fine," Andrew said. "I promised, didn't I? Don't you believe me?" It took a while, but at last Kevin visibly relaxed. ”

again this is why i thought they were fucking for like the better part of the first two books

“The dead look Kevin turned on Andrew today was the same look Neil saw in his reflection. When Neil stopped acting, when he stopped worrying about who was watching, when he let go of the lies that kept him alive, that was the only expression he could make.”

it’s fine i didnt need a heart anyways

this kid is 18 hes A BABY

the first time i read this i was 18 too and like jfc i was a BABY at 18 and so i neil

“One of us has to make it, Mom." It wasn't going to be Neil. It was obvious he was too stupid to survive without his mother if he let himself get into messes like this. But maybe Kevin could do it.”

sorry let me just wipe my TEARS off my fucking laptop neil honey what the fuck

“He felt distant as he watched them walk in. Maybe he was already dying, his stupid soul fading from his short body in preparation for a brutal end.”

neil we get it you have depression (me too bitch u aint special)

“Fuck running," Seth said.

now that’s a whole ass mood

“he didn't know how Renee could smile so warmly when she was speaking to Andrew.”

haha bitch just wait

“when he slept, he dreamed of his father waiting for him on the Foxhole Court.”

remember how at the end of the series his father is waiting on the court but neil wins??? god we love good storytelling

this is such a fucking wild chapter

could you imagine? coming back from the summer and your first introduction to this amateur from arizona is this neil josten level of sass? because i’d probably kill him

first years are bad enough but first years who dont care about other people’s opinions? the fucking worst

chapter 7 (aka. neil does NOT have a fun night out)

“It seemed Allison and Seth didn't believe in middle ground: either they were slinging vile insults at each other or they were making out in the locker room regardless of whoever might be around.”

that’s just how the straights are

“It reminded Neil a little of Allison and Seth, except without the desperate sexual undertones.”

i’ll just leave this gem of a line here

“His teammates held so little regard for him he didn't even have the dubious honor of being dead last.”

neil shading himself is actually hilarious how relatable

“Neil watched him do it, trying to remember the last time someone gave him a gift and coming up blank. That his first one should be from Andrew was unsettling.”

i actually love the fact that andrew bought him clothes so early on like andrew your gay is showing

“Neil debated how much damage the thick heels of his new boots would do against Andrew's face and liked what his mind came up with.”

i thank god everyday that these books are neil’s pov

“Andrew gave Neil another slow once-over and let go. "We're going.”

^andrew seeing neil w/o contacts (aka. the ‘i can’t think straight’ vine)

“Most of the men wore leather, half the women had corsets, and a good number of both genders were covered in buckles and chains.”

this... is a... gay bar

“Andrew saluted the bouncers on his way by and led the way into the club, bypassing the line entirely.”

i always forget the drinking age in the us is 21 but like this bar really dont care about their liquor license AT ALL lmao

“You think Kevin would risk his future over a night out at the club?" "What future?" Neil asked.”

WOW NEIL WAY TO BE A BITCH

“Neil hadn't seen Aaron get up, but he was waiting behind Neil when Andrew let go. Neil reached for Andrew with lethal intent, but Aaron grabbed the back of his chair and pulled hard enough to topple it over.”

why are the twins literally this gif:

real talk nicky kissing neil like that is horrible and really reflects poorly on nicky as a character

andrew for this entire chapter:

chapter 8 (aka. a hitchhiker’s guide to lying about your identity)

“I don't know how your conversation with Andrew went, but it didn't end well. Rumor has it you paid a busboy a hundred bucks to knock you out. Way to cut our night short.”

this is probably my favourite thing neil does in the entire series ngl

“Wymack grabbed his elbow and hauled him inside. He slowed just long enough to slam the door behind Neil. "Are you stupid or just crazy? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you between here and there? What were you thinking?”

Why does Wymack literally sound like my father?

foxes: daddy?

wymack: DO I LOOK LIKE

follow up:

kevin: daddy?

wymack: uh yeah

“I don't know what the beef is between you two, but it ends here and now.”

Wymack @ neil: tell your boyfriend, if he says he’s got beef that your a vegetarian and your not fucking scared of him

“Then correct me." "Give me a reason." "Besides the obvious?" Andrew said. "If I can't get an answer from you, I'll get it wherever I can.”

andrew:

“I'm—" Neil didn't want to say it, but the word was already there, broken and pathetic between them, "—nothing. I'll always have and be nothing.”

“He wondered for a moment if Andrew could handle the entire truth so calmly, but that was too dangerous and stupid to consider.”

“Hope was a dangerous, disquieting thing, but he thought perhaps he liked it.”

this is such a good fucking line like i am shooketh

chapter 9 (aka. neil is, like, really horny for exy)

“Are you stupid?" Seth asked. "Yeah," Neil said.”

what a fuckin MOOD

“Neil had almost forgotten why he liked Exy so much. He did his best at practices but these days he worked mostly to keep his teammates off his back. As Neil surveyed Kevin's damage, he finally felt inspired again. On its heels was a hungry, desperate rush.”

“Seth made as if to throw his beer at Neil. "His life is not more important than mine just because he's more talented.”

sometimes i really wish seth was actually given a chance to have some character development

“ "Maybe you're not as stupid as I thought." "Maybe I am," Neil said”

another big fucking MOOD

chapter 10 (aka. shocking: university is hard :/ )

“It's fun telling Kevin no," Andrew said with a wicked grin.”

why is andrew like this omg

betsy probably was like just looking for a chill job and was like “oh cool uni students? ill have to deal with like a lot of anxiety, sexual tension, depression and like confusion about the future, not to bad” but NOPE welcome to the fucking MAFIA WARS

“That wasn't so bad, was it? Andrew was convinced it would be a disaster. He put money on you hating Betsy." "Did you bet against him?" "Yes," Renee said. "It was a private bet between the two of us.”

“I hope you didn't lose much," Neil said.”

god why is he such an asshole at every opportunity i love him

“I can take care of myself," Neil said. "Watch me beam with pride.”

wymack is the best father in the world and you cant convince me otherwise

“There was one for every fall team with schedules printed on each. Neil kept the Exy one, tossed the rest into the trash, and buried his magnet deep in his pocket where he didn't have to look at the dates.”

neil “i only care about exy” josten strikes again with his great school spirit

“Palmetto State was facing Edgar Allan on Friday, October 13th”

that’s such a cliche and i love it

“He detoured around students toward one of Palmetto State's three dining halls. Two were for the general student body. The third was for athletes only”

lmao my school literally has one dining hall and it couldnt give less of a fuck what type of student they’re selling food too as long as they’ll pay $15 for chicken fingers

what kind of money does palmetto state fuckin have

like i get us tuition is a lot but jesus so’s mine and my school couldn’t be less fucked

“It was only the first day of school and he already had three assignments: a short paper, a fifty-page chapter to read, and a page of questions about said chapter. Neil debated for a minute as to which one sounded least painful. Five minutes later he was still uninspired, so he put his head down on his desk.”

1. MOOD

2. first years are so cute thinking that’s a lot of assignments i remember in first year being like “i have to read 40 pages thats so unfair :(” and now i’m like “ah sick only 200 pgs of readings this week? im gonna have so much free time!”

upper year history sucks ngl

“I'm fine," Neil said.”

neil knows exactly two (2) words and those are it

“You say that an awful lot," Matt said. "I'm starting to think you don't know what it means.”

overall thoughts:

the plot is pickinnnng upppp

i kind of forget how much world building happens in the first book but like its good

also i love neil literally hating everyone its so funny bc like bby these going to be your best friends just wait

anyways that’s all for now

part 3 will be the rest of tfc and then we’ll move onto trk if you guys still want more of this? let me know

love u all bye

#rereading aftg

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