#((I KEEP SCREAMING ABOUT FOUND FAMILY FOR VERONICA BUT. HOLY SHIT JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT)) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dammitadolfnomorecake · 5 years ago

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Caramel Skin Under A Purple Rain prt 38 took an abrupt turn that I still don’t know if I want to keep

Life was over as he knew it. Four quintants in the infirmary wasn’t without its dramas. Two seizures due to not being able to take his medication that Daehra had formulated, then finding out that what had been left had been destroyed in case it’d been tainted, followed by two certain annoying visitors left Lance cranky. Keith had been kicked out. Kosmo evicted. His back and hips hurt from constantly sitting up, his stomach felt uncomfortable, his skin itchy from trailing his suspected allergens on him, and Veronica was still a bitch. Throw in a nightmare from Keith where his husband had given him a black eye sending in him into the holy mother of panic attacks, because his messed up mind couldn’t comprehend that it’d been his actual husband who’d punched him and not someone trying to kill him, and Keith’s guilt over it... Lance wasn’t sure he was in better condition than when he arrived there. Veronica had binged all things baby and pregnancy, getting on his case over his weight and lack of eating... which wasn’t his fault. He was on a bland and basic diet while they conducted their allergy tests... from which he learned he’d developed an allergy to the “Solanaceae” family. Whatever that was. On the plus side, he wasn’t allergic to everything, on the not so plus side, he was allergic to everything that made his Mami’s cooking amazing. No more chillies, capsicums, or anything that actually gave good flavour. He had a slight allergy to wheat, the rest were all slight allergies too but to his over dramatic arse, it sucked intergalactic testicles and his life was ruined. The real issue was his newly found allergy to aloe vera. He wasn’t allergic enough to cause anaphylaxis, no, simply allergic enough to cause blotchy red welty hives that drove him crazy. It also explained the reaction he’d had to Krolia’s suggested bubble bath, the main ingredient being aloe vera. Everything else on his list just made him nauseous and, or, vomit, though could worsen and could also be a permanent thing, so he needed to be constantly careful. Krolia had someone working on some kind of scanner for him. Lance strongly felt that that would be Pidge too, yet his mother-in-law didn’t say as much. Keith was worried stupid, yet again, another reason why his husband was evicted. He was taking things badly after hitting him. They’d talked a little over the test results, which preceded Veronica talking all things baby and all the risks that came with having a baby. Somewhere around the talk of signs of symptoms he needed to be paying close attention to, he’d lost his head and started screaming at her. He didn’t need all her facts and figures. That’d started his first seizure. Veronica gone when he woke, while he felt like an arse for yelling at her when she was trying her hardest to understand and to make sure he was educated over things that were “wrong”. Drowsy from his seizure, he’d fallen asleep in Keith’s arms. Keith had them had his nightmare, no doubt thanks to all the shit the doctors and Veronica had put in his head, then mid-panic attack, he’d ended up having his second seizure. He had no memory of the panic attack or seizure, only the lasting pain from his contracting muscles. Keith was on edge from having been constantly left to support him through all the freakin’ tests they’d had to do. Sending him away was the kindest thing Lance could do. If his husband apologised one more time, he was tempted to throw him out the nearest open window. They’d both hit each other before, coming out of attacks or nightmares, so they had a silent “agreement” that though it might feel quiznak, they understood that after all they’d been through, things like this might happen and the best way to get through it was to talk. Keith hadn’t wanted to talk about his nightmare, yet slowly and surely Lance had coaxed it from his husband’s lips, if he had open up about all his messed up dreams and feelings there was no way that Keith wasn’t. He’d been in labour, but instead of pushing out one of their twins, it’d been some octopus thing, which he’d promptly punched in the face. Laughing had been the wrong answer. Keith getting huffy. It was bad enough that his husband seemed scared to cuddle him, afraid he might fall asleep and punch another octopus in his sleep. So his eviction was for his own good... Before his allergy test on the morning of the second day imprisoned, Zethrid and Ezor had come to visit. The pair of them were painfully loud and annoying, though they did bring him the Galra equivalent of a “get well soon” balloon bouquet, buying themselves some good will and favour as the balloons were unexpected and broke the monotony of grey walls. Chatting away with him about the up coming tour, Ezor was merciless as she teased Keith over being “the prince of Daibazaal”. She also teased him over his lack of training, and getting slow and fat because of it. Unable to currently take the joke, Ezor pushed Keith into a “half-shift” where his eyes went yellow and his fingernails began to extend. Until then, Lance had kind of enjoyed the conversation. Not the loudness of it. Ezor and Zethrid both seemed to be speaking as if they thought him deaf, no. It was more the fact that they hadn’t apologised for what happened. They didn’t make a fuss other than the balloons. Nor did they repeatedly ask if he was feeling ok. It was as if they’d simply shrugged their shoulders at the whole matter as it didn’t involve their personal lives. He loved them for it. The pair frog jumping Acxa and Veronica in his mental list. Acxa had wanted to come but understood that he might not want too many visitors so had sent a card... A card he didn’t get until after it’d landed in the hands of Ezor and Zethrid. Ezor had gotten her gum between the fold, and Zethrid had let it be scrunched in her pocket. He couldn’t really be mad about either thing. His siblings had done far worse as they were growing up. The annoying bit came from Ezor’s screechy laugh of Keith’s partial transformation. His anger on behalf of his husband who was dealing with enough as it was. After they’d been politely evicted with a little showmanship, he’d gagged as clamped a hand to his mouth like he was going to vomit causing Ezor to wrinkle her face in disgust and drag her girlfriend away, Keith had brooded in the corner until Krolia came with Shiro at lunch. Noticing how Keith was, Lance had whisper begged Shiro to drag Keith off for a brotherly chat. Keith refused to go, his husband climbing back into bed next to him as if he was having a sit in protest. Shiro had whispered that he’d check in with Keith later that night, to which Lance had asked him to take him back to his room for some rest. After Shiro had left Veronica had visited, in time for the results and it’d all taken a sharp left hand turn into a pile of quiznakking quiznak. The allergy skin testing started. The results came back... and well, everything else happened. Finally escaping, Lance was forced to allow himself to be wheeled back to Keith’s quarters. Keith felt he shouldn’t be walking, while Lance felt that he should keep his mouth shut lest he be returned to the same stupid hospital bed. Having slept in his own bed, Keith seemed refreshed. His skin and hair weren’t as oily as they had been, nor did apologise. There was a spring in his step that Lance was envious of, seeing all his body wanted was for him to go back to sleep. Having come for the walk, Kosmo was on his best behaviour, walking beside the wheelchair so Lance could keep one hand on his back to act as his grounding. The whole time Keith wheeled him, he focused on his breathing rather than the people they passed. His anxieties were trying to get the better of him, as he knew they all must think him a weak failure. Reaching Keith’s quarters, Lance wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or not to find no one waiting. He was finally free, but he had no one to celebrate his freedom with. He wanted to go for a job or even a run. Sparring practice sounded divine, yet his body was too exhausted to do much of anything. It was demanding he slept, despite the sedatives they’d given him so could sleep without tossing and turning. Wheeling him right over to the edge of the bed, Keith put the brakes on. Stubbornly wanting to do things himself, he climbed from the chair then flopped down on Keith’s bed, nuzzling into the blankets that smelt so much of his husband. “Pidge and Hunk suggested a party, but Curtis overruled them. I know it’s not much, but I’m happy you’re back here” Jumping at Keith’s voice, Kosmo yipped as if he’d noticed the action. Teleporting onto the bed the space wolf curled up behind, resting his muzzle on Lance’s hip “Mmm. Me too. It’s fine, honestly. I’m so drowsy I think I’m about to fall back to sleep” “I have to go out for about a varga, will you be ok on your own?” Keith was going out? He was free and now his husband was running away? What was the point of having Keith there if all he was going to do was sleep. It was better Keith was keeping busy and not watching over him... He didn’t especially want to be alone, but having Keith do something that wasn’t related to him was super appealing “Babe, I’m fine. You take as long as you need” “I know you just got out...” “And you know how much I appreciate a good bed. Say “hi” to Mumma K for me. Tell her I want that thing too. She’ll know what it is” Keith gave a hum, then there was a long paused, followed by his husband clicking off the brakes on the wheelchair and the balloon bouquet being evicted to beside the bed “Ok. I’ll try and be back soon” “No n-ne-ed to rush. Love you” “You too” Without so much as a kiss or fussing of the blankets, Keith left him. Yawning again, as he’d done mid-reply, Lance wriggled back against Kosmo, trying not to let Keith leaving bother him. He wasn’t about to admit how touch starved he felt, nor how horny his body decided he needed to be. He needed something to work off this excess energy, but wasn’t sure where to even begin. After a good varga of trying to sleep, Lance gave up. His mind was too sleepy to comprehend words or full sentences, yet he did his best to message both Daehra and Marco and let them know that he and the twins were alright. Words were hard enough when he wasn’t sure what words to use in the first place. Comms and typing didn’t work well, not when he dropped his comms on his face mid-sentence. With his plan for a nap abandoned, he climbed out of bed carefully, Kosmo cautiously following as he shuffled to the bathroom to start running the bath. Jumping up over the side, Kosmo decided he wanted a bath on his own accord, tail wagging as his tongue lolled from his mouth. An exceptionally pleased look on his fur sons face as he stared at him. Without anything else to do, washing Kosmo seemed as good if a plan as any... until Kosmo decided he didn’t actually want a bath. Half soaped up, Kosmo made his escape. Teleporting out the bath, he shook himself off, proceeding to cover everything with water and wrecking the bathroom as he teleported away from Lance who first forced to gingerly find his feet, then hold onto the bathroom counter so he wouldn’t slip in the mess. Not liking being scolded and ordered back in the bath, his only companion gave a yip than deserted him. Unable to rush after him, he opened the door to Keith’s room to find Kosmo rolling about in the middle of the bed. Tired and feeling somewhat hormonal and abandoned, he was soon crying as yelled at Kosmo for making a mess. Not used to being yelled at, Kosmo teleported out the room, leaving Lance to deal with the mess his son had made of everything. Unable to stop himself from “catastrophying” the situation, he wasn’t able to laugh of what had happened like he would have been able to if Keith was there. If his husband had been there, Keith would chased after Kosmo while Lance laughed at the pair of them. Stripping the wet mess of blankets off, he found the sheet had escaped the drenching. Both their pillows were wet from where Kosmo had presumably wiped his nose against them, trying to get the bubbles out from where he’d attempted to eat them. Cold and wet, Lance curled up into himself on the stripped remains of the bed, determined not to call anyone for help. Keith would most likely scold him for trying to wash Kosmo without when, after promising to nap. * Keith felt like an arsehole deserting Lance almost the tick he came out of the infirmary, but it was for his husband’s own good. Lance trusted Daehra with his health, and other than the times he’d been able to voice his own opinions, he’d been stuck taking Galra based medication that hadn’t included anything for his seizures. The two he’d had scared the quiznak out of him. His husband passing two doboshes on both instances. As much as he’d wanted to, and argued for, Keith wasn’t able to bring Daehra to Daibazaal, instead he was overseeing two medical technicians and Daehra instructed them on how to prepare Lance’s morning shakes, as well as the preparation of an injection should Lance go into premature labour again. This was all supposed to have been done before Lance was released, only when Shiro noticed the time he shooed him out. Returning to stand by his adopted brother, Shiro tilted his head slightly as he looked to him “I thought you were picking Lance up?” “He wanted to nap. He’s with Kosmo. Kosmo’s not going to let anything happen to him” “You left him there alone?” “Right now, this more important. He can’t keep having seizures that severe” “He handled his seizures well before. What changed?” “They’ve been worse since he got clean... I think they’ve even gotten worse since he fell pregnant, then again, it might be stress too. Before this... the only time I’d seen him seize before was due to too many drugs in his system. He can’t take pills, it makes him gag. Injections he’s not too fond of either” “I’d say that would be for the best. Have you thought about the baby shower?” Keith didn’t want a baby shower. He didn’t want to have one. Not on Daibazaal. Not on the Atlas. He didn’t want to force the whole thing on Lance. Sure, he wanted to show Lance how loved and supported he was, but Lance didn’t love parties anymore. He was no longer “Lancey-Lance” or “Loverboy Lance”. He was Lance who would rather be working or running a mission than socialising. Besides, all he’d done was come inside his husband, Lance was doing all the hard work of carrying their twins. What would he be doing at the party other than being reminded that he was a “horn dog”? Maybe should he pop a banner up saying “we forgot the contraceptives because we left it to each other, and now we’re having twins, only we don’t know how we’re actually going to deliver them, or if Lance can carry to full term”. It seemed a bit long for a banner. Lance would probably be pissed at him if he did. “I don’t think Lance would want a baby shower” Shiro frowned deeply “Are you sure? With everything happening, I think it’d be a nice gesture” “I’m not even sure he’s coping with being pregnant, let alone up for making a fuss over it” “Then this could be what he needs. To see that no one thinks and less of him” “Other than Hunk...” Things with Hunk were so awkward that Keith wanted to grab both he and his husband and smack their heads together “This shower may be for Lance, but I’m thinking of Hunk too. You haven’t been on the Atlas, he’s been baking” Crossing his arms and squaring his shoulders, Keith tried to ignore the pull of sympathy tugging on his heart “Hunk’s always baking” “He’s been baking enough for there to be left overs, despite the size of the crew. The tick he heard about Lance’s allergies, he’s started baking a whole new range of allergy friendly things, then works himself up thinking Lance will reject him if he tried to talk to him. He doesn’t understand how they drifted so far apart, and he also misses him” “Then he shouldn’t have thrown his friendship with him away. You know how hard it’s been to get Lance to let you all back in” “He seems alright with Pidge” A dry huff of laughter escaped Keith’s lips “Then you don’t know him very well. He’s trying to do the right thing by everyone but himself. He gets paranoid when he’s talking to her, thinks he’s going to say the wrong thing or that Pidge is only looking for information over how he managed to fall pregnant. He’s only here because of me, but he’s made it abundantly clear that if I fuck up again, he’s gone” “I doubt he’d actually leave. He adores you” “And what have I done for him? I gave him a black eye. Made him feel like a slut over being raped and accused him of cheating on me with you. I don’t know why, but when we’re with everyone, it all seems to fall apart. I’m exhausted. He’s exhausted. He’s only doing this tour for me. He’s doing all of this for me” “Then you should let us do this for him. I know Coran would love to be there. He’s been calling for daily updates since the attack. He wanted to come but you were having enough trouble with your Galra side” “It’s not like I wanted to be like that. I couldn’t calm down with him hurt. I’m sick to death of seeing him hurt. I’m sick to death of him holding his tongue and letting himself be hurt further. I don’t think a baby shower is a good idea. He wouldn’t want the fuss” “He might not want it, but I think he’d cherish the memories when he’s not feeling so depressed. He wants nothing more than to want this. He wants his twins. He wants to know that it’s ok for him to want this, and that there’s nothing wrong with him for wanting it. I saw him on Erathus. I saw the way his hand went to his stomach each time he saw a child or something in a passing store that he thought would be perfect for your children. He’s not comfortable in his own skin, and he won’t be until he accepts that we all still care about him” Keith was struck dumb. Lance was around 16 movements... or weeks... he’d have to do the math again after their stay at the outpost. His husband wasn’t comfortable. He knew that. He knew that his changing body left Lance frustrated and confused. His husband always wanted a family and now his anxieties were hampering his happiness. These were their twins. With their tiny hands and noses... the way they seemed to be sucking on their thumbs in the scan... God. He’s pay good GAC to see Lance happy over them again. “I want him to be happy” “I know you do” “If I say yes, can we give it a few quintants? He’s still shaken by the attack” “We have about a movement before we’ll make another formal announcement over the tour. Then it should start within a couple of quintants. Is there anything in particular you guys want or need?” Keith closed his eyes, racking his brain before opening his eyes at the memory “A chest of drawers. For the outpost. We’ve got blankets, clothes and soft toys, but the wardrobe wasn’t quite right” “I think I can manage that. Have you got a change mat?” “I don’t think so?” Keith’s tone was one of questioning confusion. He’d neglected the baby book with everything that had happened. He didn’t understand why people needed change tables and all the fancy things if it was literally a place for changing poopy nappies “I’ll talk to Curtis, and to Hunk. Shay’s worried over both of them. She doesn’t want Lance to feel awkward over helping her with Earth wedding things” For all his awkwardness with words, Keith was certain that all of this could have been sorted sooner if Hunk or Shay had come to them to talk about things. Lance wouldn’t be miserable and Hunk wouldn’t be baking Shiro out of the Atlas “I’m sure he’d be happy to have something to do. He can’t sit still. It’ll distract him from the tour” “Plus, he’ll be ready for when Curtis asks him to be part of his wedding party” Taking half a step back, Keith gaped at his adoptive brother. Laughing at his reaction, Shiro clamped his robotic hand down on Keith’s left shoulder “I haven’t asked him yet. We have talked about it though. Two more years, then retirement. Two years is more realistic than hoping to retire by this time next year, plus, it’ll give us time to make sure Veronica is adequately trained to accept the position” Recovering, Keith nodded. Everyone was growing and moving on. The ugly feeling of abandonment reared its unwanted head. There was a time when everyone moved on, their relationship wasn’t through blood... But if anyone deserved the “happily ever after” it was Shiro... Veronica stepping up as commander barely registered “That’s great, man” Shiro let his shock slide, knowing him his brother already knew where his mind had gone “Maybe it’ll help if you two marry again, and... you know have an actual ceremony with your friends. So we can watch, and laugh...” “We might not have known we were married, but I wouldn’t change that night” Lance was so happy. The wine had been awful, and Annla had tricked them both, but Lance had been so happy with their union “Think about the rest of us. You would have been a nervous wreck if you’d known what was going on” “I’m not sure I know what’s going on, even now” “You should have more faith” “Keith? Are you paying attention? Of course you’re not. I am trying to talk to you” On the screen at the end of the lab, Daehra was glaring at both he and Shiro. Daehra’s “Mum” look was enough to make him shift his weight in guilt. He’d insisted on overseeing Lance’s medication being created, yet let himself be distracted by his brother. He should have just had Shiro take the Atlas out to the outpost and picked up personally. It’d all have been faster and simpler than this “Sorry, Daehra” “As you should be. I have been trying to tell you Lance just sent me a message. I’m afraid it doesn’t make much sense” Keith cleared his throat “He was pretty tired. He was going for a nap” Glancing down, Daehra’s lips moved as she silently reread the message “That’s makes sense now. Please tell him to sleep, then to reread his message. I’m not completely sure, but I do believe that “Keith estupido” translates to stupid Keith . I really do wish he’d teach me at least a little Spanish. His full message reads “Keith, ese estúpido esposo mío no está aquí, estoy tan cansado. Te llamaré después de haber tomado una siesta”. I’m sure he’s going to have a laugh at that one... whatever that means” Daehra butchered the Spanish so spectacularly that Keith couldn’t find it in him to be mad. He might not be all that great at Spanish, yet he knew enough to know “siesta” was a “sleep”? or a “nap”? “He said he’s tired and going to take a nap before he calls you. And that Keith isn’t with him” Daehra huffed out a sigh at Shiro. Keith felt annoyed at his own shortcomings with the language of his family “He should have said that then. Marco is busy with Lucteal. They’ve gone to visit with Yule... You’re both terrible at keeping us in the loop. Marco found out that Lance had been attacked while watching the live stream. Miriam’s call was another three vargas later, and that was because Krolia had called her. Wherever he is, he’s always finding trouble” “I’m sorry, Dae. Things here have been hectic. You’re right though. I promise to have Lance call you” “Good. Three movements with very little news over both of you is not good for ones nerves. Marco has the same flare for dramatics as his brother” “I don’t know about that...” “Then try living with him. Now, the compound is nearly complete. Make sure he resumes the same daily routine as before. The injection requires another varga until it’s completion. There is enough for three doses, all to be injected preferably into his thigh. I am entrusting the injections to you, and I want a copy of his latest medical reports for my files” “I’ll ask Krolia how to go about sending them through. If Marco’s being too annoying, we can always transfer him out here with us” Despite Acxa basically being his sister, Keith would trade Marco for Veronica happily. Veronica’s love caused continual head butting, whereas once Marco had cooled his heels, he and Lance had gone back to being tight “He has his moments. He’s not as natural around here as Lance was, nor is he that adept working trade, yet things are running smoothly... mostly. We’ve taken on the two staff Lance authorised for me, there is a more detailed report on his comms, in accompaniment with his movement report. I know there’s no use, but please tell him not to worry. The outpost is still functioning, which is the main thing” “Good. I guess we’ll see you... maybe during the tour? Of after...” “We’re all looking forward to seeing you and he on screen. You never look comfortable in front of the camera. It is quite entertaining” “Remind me again, why exactly have I missed you?” Daehra shrugged her shoulders “It’s not my fault you left with Lance. Please make sure he rests before you call” Doing his best impression of Lance, Keith put his his hands on hips as over exaggerated the sass in his simple reply “Yes, Dae. I wouldn’t dream of letting my husband rest. I’m so relieved you gave me this vital suggestion” Nudging him, Shiro shot him a scowl “Ignore him, Daehra. He’s been in a mood since the attack. Thank you for this, we’re all worried over Lance’s seizures. I’m sure you must have work to do, so we’ll let you get back to it. Thanks again, right, Keith?” Daehra looked amused. They’d moved past politeness into a comfortable banter like relationship “Yeah. Right. Thanks, Dae. I’ll talk to you later” “Bye, Keith. Thank you, Shiro. I’m happy our idiots have someone with a brain cell looking after them” Daehra cut the call as Shiro turned to him “Would it hurt you to be polite to your friends?” “You have no idea what you’ve just done. She’s never going to let me live this down” “What did I do? Unlike you, I was polite” Keith sighed “That’s just it. Daehra and I are past the polite stage. She’s nearly as sassy as Lance. Did you see how happy she was that you were scolding me? She’s a monster” Shiro rolled his eyes at him “I’m sure you’re imagining all of this. She’s a perfectly nice young lady” “Riiight. This coming from “Silver Fox”. Of course you can do no wrong. She doesn’t know you like I do” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “You’re too polite for my good. I’m going to stay, but you can go ahead if you want. I doubt Lance will take anything that I took my eyes off” “Do you mind if stop in to check on Lance. If he’s sleeping I’ll leave him sleeping” It’d kind of been a douche move to leave Lance the moment he got out of the infirmary... He’d wanted a nap, and Keith didn’t want to interfere with his husband resting. Unconsciously his top lip curled up slightly so he was baring his teeth at his brother “No waking him up if he’s sleeping and no complaining if Kosmo bites you” Shiro held his hands up in surrender “I’m simply going to make sure he’s not upset that you’re not there. I’m not going to bring the baby shower up... or the attack” “Make sure you don’t. He hasn’t taken his medication. I want him resting as much as possible before the tour begins. The last thing we need is him having a public seizure. He’d feel too guilty to carry on in public if he thought he’d insulted our hosts” “I really hope you didn’t say it to him like that. You know he can’t control his seizures” “Like what? You know he anxious he gets over things” “Saying it like that sounds pretty accusatory. Think about it, it’ll come to you. I’m going to head off now. I’ll see you later” Keith was stuck brooding on his wording. Lance would be crippled emotionally if he thought he’d insulted the people they were visiting or scared them with a seizure... What was wrong with his wording? He was worried for his husband, so he didn’t want him having a seizure and being upset... So why had Shiro told him to think about his words? He simply didn’t understand how it could be accusatory. He wasn’t accusing Lance of intentionally having a seizure... Deciding he was getting nowhere, Keith kept himself in a self hug as he watched Lance’s injections being synthesised. * Cold and annoyed, Lance wasn’t impressed with his fur son at all. After huffing off, the Cuban had thought he wouldn’t be seeing the cause of his current troubles so soon. Either sulky because he’d been sent back to the human who’d growled at him, or miserable because his fur was soapy, Keith’s wolf had teleported back half a varga or so after he’d given up on life and proceeded to sulk on the stripped bed. With Kosmo’s cold body against his, Lance was left shivering, not game to venture back into the wet bathroom, nor was interested in playing games with Kosmo over bath time. Disturbed by a soft knock on his door, Kosmo’s lazy arse didn’t move as Lance failed to reply. If it wasn’t Keith, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see them, or for anyone to see how badly he’d messed up immediately upon release. With a soft “swoosh” the bedroom door opened, with the figure at the doorway clearing their throat “Lance? Are you awake? Something seems to have happened to your room” Shiro’s voice was soft and level, Lance hating how happy it made him to have someone come check on him, despite the fact it wasn’t Keith. Up until the moment had spoken he’d wanted to be alone in his misery, now he couldn’t be more grateful to Shiro for being there. Slowly pushing himself up, Lance blinked his eyes clear before sighing softly to himself. His clothes were damp, smelling like wet dog... said wet “dog” wore an expression of shame, though Lance wasn’t ready to forgive him quite so readily “Hey, Shiro... yeah, I’m awake. Sorry the room’s a mess... things... things went to quiznak” Moving his hands to his stomach, Lance drew his legs up to cross them. Shiro moving across the room to sit on the edge of the bed, taking the unsaid invitation in his stride “Want to tell me what happened?” “Kosmo hijacked my bath, then decided halfway through he didn’t want a bath” Receiving no love from Lance, Kosmo dragged himself up with exaggerated patheticness as he settled with his head next to Shiro’s leg “Ah. That explains a few things. Keith said you were going to nap?” “One of the joys of pregnancy I’ve learned that sometimes, no matter how quiznakking tired you are, sleep refuses to come. Plus... I’ve already messed everything up” With a soft smile, Shiro shook his head “Not everything. I’ve got some time if you want some help? Maybe we can get everything sorted before Keith comes back? I can hold him while you wash him” For an instant Lance’s mind went to “Shiro holding Keith while Lance bathed him like a dog”, before his thoughts kindly reminded him that Shiro meant Kosmo “The bathroom’s too wet... Keith would kill me if I ended up back in the infirmary so soon” With a laugh, Shiro held an arm out. Lance completely uncoordinated as he climbed from his spot to hug his brother-in-law. It wasn’t as good as a Keith hug, but fuck if he didn’t need a hug. Hiding his face against Shiro’s shoulder, he let out a shaky breath “Thank you... Keith left so soon... and I think he’s mad at me” “Nah. He’s not mad at you. He was in the middle of something, and thought you’d be napping while he took care of it. Nothing bad. When he’s done he’s coming straight back” “Are you sure?” “I promise you he’s not mad. I’ll take Kosmo for his bath. Are you up for helping?” “I don’t want him to see how I fucked up so fast” “You didn’t “fuck up”. Kosmo’s the one who’s in trouble here. Bathing him may not have been the best idea, but you did say he stole your bath. How about I get you fresh clothes to begin with? I’ll washing him while you get changed then we’ll sort your bed out together. Keith’s not going to be back for another varga. That’s plenty of time to get things straightened out” A varga seemed like a lifetime. He didn’t trust his body not to decide to betray him. All the wanted now was to cuddle with his husband. He’d wanted to clean, but it’d been too much effort alone, leaving him mentally dreading a confrontation or scolding when he wanted Keith so badly. Hugging Shiro had killed his libido the moment his arms had wrapped around the older man. His instincts said Shiro wasn’t “safe”, not like Keith, though it wasn’t like he’d been planning on sleeping with Shiro as it was “Thank you. I didn’t mean to cause all this chaos” “Lance, trust me, if you’d seen the state of mine and Curtis’s room, you’d know this is nothing. I’ve left it worse... and learned my lesson for it... though it might have taken a while” Lance wrinkled his face, pushing Shiro away as he did “I don’t need to know about your kinks. Gross. You’re my Space Dad” “There was nothing kinky about waking to find each of my dirty socks collected and left by my face. The point I was trying to make is that Keith is less scary than Curtis over mess” “Curtis is domesticated. He’s too good for the three of us” “That he is. I’m happy you like him so much” “He’s kind of easy. I mean... he knew and he accepted things. He didn’t pry or try to pry... and when I talked, he actually listened. It meant a lot to me” “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have a crush” Lance rolled his eyes “Nope. Moment over. He’s all yours. I leave the demon mutt to you. I’ve got clothes in the bedside drawers here... I think. I’ve at least got underwear in there and that’s a start” Reaching out, Shiro ruffled his hair “That it is. Call me if you need help? I really don’t...” Brushing Shiro off, he reminded himself that he had to do better than he had been. He was being too clingy, needing too much attention. Shiro would be in the next room and he wasn’t so much of an invalid that he needed everything done for him “I’ll manage. I’d rather Kosmo be washed off properly. I don’t want him making more of a mess with his sulking back to our bed” Shiro flexed his robotic arm “I’ve got this” Shiro did not “have this”. Kosmo simply teleported around the bathroom with Shiro’s robotic hand still firmly holding onto Kosmo collar. Their precious varga passed with Shiro attempting to corral Kosmo, while Lance was sitting on the toilet lid enjoying the show. He didn’t enjoy Kosmo further messing up the bathroom, but he did enjoy knowing he wasn’t the only one Kosmo was misbehaving for. Lance harboured no doubts that if Shiro had wanted, he easily could have brought Kosmo back under control. Yet, Shiro let the silly scene play out, Kosmo thinking it all a game teleported to his side then teleported them both into the bath where Shiro promptly lost his footing causing him to fall into the bubbles. Coming up, he looked unimpressed, leading to Lance laughing so hard he was wheezing. Licking at his face, Kosmo settled himself down in Shiro’s lap triumphantly “Lance, this isn’t funny. He’s a menace” With his face burning hot, Lance could only shake his head. A tick or two passing before Shiro started laughing too. The pair of them laughing like idiots over the shenanigans that’d crippled Lance with anxiety earlier. Not that he’d gone swimming with Kosmo, nor had his robotic arm gone for a ride on Kosmo’s collar. Laughing until his stomach hurt and he’d slightly wet himself, Lance couldn’t glance Shiro’s way as each time he did fresh laughter bubbled up. That was how Keith found them. Opening the bathroom door, Keith stepped into chaos. In the bath Shiro was recovering better than him, deciding that if he was going to be soaked, he might as well be soaked and washing Kosmo as he did. Raising an eyebrow, his husband crossed his arms “What the quiznak is going on here?” Lance sucked in his bottom lip, his body shaking slightly from the repressed laughter “Hey, Keith. The thing is... we were going to bath Kosmo... but I think I’m the one who ended up having the bath instead” A squeak escaped, Keith’s eyes flashing from Shiro to him “Babe? I thought you wanted to take a nap. Why’s the bed wet and why are you sitting on the toilet?” “I’m... Kosmo decided that he wanted a bath and didn’t at the same time. You should have seen it... he had Shiro’s arm...” Doubling over in laughter, his stomach cramped painfully, he wanted to stop laughing but couldn’t get the image of Shiro’s arm out of his head “What he means is, Kosmo attempted to steal my arm mid bath. He messed up the bed trying to escape, so we got him back into the bathroom then this happened” Keith sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes and shook his head for a tick, before fixing his gaze almost coldly on his brother “I thought I told you to let him sleep. Not get him all worked up” A chill ran down Lance’s spine as his laughter came to an abrupt halt. Why was Keith so mad when the situation was clearly hilarious “Lance was awake when I got here. He couldn’t sleep, and Kosmo hijacked the bath he was going to have. That’s why we tried to give him a bath” “Babe, you know you need to be resting. I trusted that you wanted to nap” “I did, but I had too much energy. Shiro didn’t do anything wrong. He was trying to get the shampoo out of Kosmo‘s fur when Kosmo turned it into a game. I’ve been sitting over here” “And what if you’d had a seizure while they were messing about?” Lance’s heart gave an uncomfortable beat. He hadn’t really thought about having a seizure while sitting. He’d thought himself kind of safe because he was simply watching and not overexerting himself. Keith should know better than to think he was looking to hurt himself or the twins. He was doing his best and trying his hardest to ignore all his past impulses, not wanting to cause his husband any unnecessary pain or worry “Kosmo’s good at warning me, and I’m already sitting. The real question is why are you so mad? No one got hurt... the bed and the bathroom got a little wet, and Shiro was arm-napped, but I wasn’t hurt” “But you could have been. I made sure everything was perfect for you, and now I come back to our room destroyed and you... you don’t laugh like that when I’m around. I had this planned in my head and this wasn’t the plan... you... I spent the morning synthesising your medication with Daehra on call... and I come back to you having fun with my brother” Lance’s hurt swayed to anger, then to bitterly hurt anger with tears. How many times did he have to tell Keith nothing was going on? “Newsflash, you dumped me here and left. You didn’t explain where you were going, only that you had to go out again. I wanted to come back here and cuddle my husband who started neglecting himself because he was too caught up in looking after me. And I wanted to hold you and make sure you were ok. That you were feeling better and make sure you understood I only did it because I was worried about your stupid mulleted arse. I’m sorry I’m such a goddamn burden to you and I’m sorry that I was happy when Shiro came to see me because I was fucking lonely. I’m sorry I can’t even wash your wolf properly. That I let him teleport out to your bed where he rolled around. I’m sorry I didn’t clean up your precious bathroom because I didn’t want to fucking slip and cost you your kids. I’m sorry that I can’t do anything fucking right... all I want is to be good for you, but I’m fucking useless” Clutching his stomach, Lance was well aware that he was ugly crying over his baby bump. Why was he in trouble? If Keith had been here for all the shenanigans Kosmo had put Shiro through, he would have been laughing just as hard as that “Babe... that not what I was saying. I was worried about you. You haven’t had your medication in days...” “So because I’m fucked up you don’t want to k-know m-me if I’m not drugged?” “I’m not saying that. Please, you need to calm down...” “Fuck you! Fuck you and your dick! You knocked me up! I’m doing everything I can for your kids... maybe they should have just killed the three of us...” His words were a bitter poison that choked his throat and stung at his tongue. He didn’t want to be saying these things. Keith swayed on the spot, a hand going to the door frame as Shiro stood up in the bath tub “Don’t... you don’t... you don’t mean that. You don’t mean that, Lance. We’re supposed to be starting a family” “Some fucking family when your husband’s a whore! Go fuck Krystaal! He’s in love with you and you’ve obvious got a crush on him! Go be happy with him! He doesn’t burden you like I do!” “I don’t have a crush on Krystaal! This is why I didn’t tell you he was a guy! Because I knew you’d be like this!” “What? Jealous that he’s everything I’m not!?” “No, because you get it in your head that you’re worthless then tell me to go him! What am I supposed to do, Lance? All I want is you to be happy!” Lance let out a raspy sob, his hands moving from his stomach to wipe at his face “That’s what I want too. I’m sick of us fighting! I’m sick of it! I want my husband back! The man who knew I trusted him, and that he was the only person I want to be with! I just want my husband back... I want to be happy with you again... not ruining your life all the time...” Taking the few steps across the space, Keith went to take his hand, Lance snatching it back before he could “Babe... I don’t want to fight either. I’m worried about you” Dios. Why did he have to worry? Everything had been fine until he’d left him. He’d been bad. He didn’t deserve Keith’s love “Don’t touch me. I don’t want you to touch me” If Keith touched him, he’d cave. He’d throw himself into the embrace and cry it all out on Keith’s shoulder “I love you. I’m sorry. I’m scared you’re going to have another seizure and you’re going to end up hurt” “It was fine until you came back. I’m sorry you I couldn’t fall asleep. I’ll... I’ll organise something. Somewhere to stay until the tour... I was feeling so lonely without you, but now it hurts so bad I don’t know if I can look at you” “I’m sorry...” “You don’t have to apologise to something like me. Shiro, can I stay on the Atlas... actually, never mind. I’ll ask Krolia to let me go to Altea. I’m sorry...” With great pain, Lance rose to his feet, ignoring avoiding Keith as he tried to help. They’d been so on top of each other since they’d gotten back together that they’d been smothering each other without knowing. Or at least Lance knew he was smothering Keith by needing his constant love and support. All he’d done was continually stuff up. “Babe... please. You haven’t done anything wrong. I’m the one who did. I didn’t listen about the photos. I didn’t listen about the photos with Klearo. I told you I trust your gut then chose the easy way out because I was scared of the truth. I’m fucking terrified of you leaving me. I get so scared that I get angry... and jealous... because... because you’re my husband. You’re my husband and I can’t make everything better for you. I hate it. I hate you not being you. Everyone fucking shattered you, and you still put us all first. You... you were my friend... and I didn’t even care about your feelings when I came back. I noticed things were different and I ran from it because I didn’t know what to say because I loved you... and I was so cruel to you. You’ve been working so hard and I’ve done nothing. I’m not a better leader. I’m not a good husband. I still hate public and formal events and I’m happy to dump the royal duties on my unborn sibling. I don’t know how to be... me. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to spend every morning waking up with you. I want to hold you. I want to see new things out there in space with you. I want to see the way your face lights up... I... I love you... I’ve loved you for so long...” “The person you fell in love with no longer exists. Everything that happened to me, I deserved... everyone simply noticed how unworthy I was before you. Now you’re seeing it, but you don’t know how to leave...” Their was an air of indifference in Lance’s tone. His heart was breaking at his husband’s words. He knew Keith had his issues. He knew Keith was terrified but this clinging thing... it... it was held together with duct tape and paper clips. Keith was working his hardest, but it seemed lately all it took was a few misspoken words and the same fight would flare into life. The Atlas would have been preferable to Daibazaal purely because it would have been easier to lift a ship under Shiro’s nose rather than the whole Galra empire. Krolia understood what Keith was going through... his step mother would stress and want them to talk it out. He’d used all his spare time while recovering sleeping, rewatching the attack, and worrying over Keith’s state of mind, and the way he’d given up and neglected himself. That wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted Keith to be able to do his own thing. To chase after his dreams “... I’m going to find Mumma K. Shiro, can you please not tell Veronica about any of this. Mami has enough to worry about. And take care of Keith. He really needs a friend” Shuffling out the bathroom, Lance left everything where it was. He vaguely remembered how to get to Krolia’s quarters, and if he got lost, he was sure to find someone who could direct him to her. Besides, he may get lucky and be assassinated before he could ruin things for Keith further.

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taliatremblay · 5 years ago

Photo

meanwhile the world goes on. meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination. x

SECTION 01. APPEARANCE.

A T T R A C T I V E N E S S

Talia doesn’t think of herself as unattractive, but she doesn’t think of herself as attractive either. In her eyes, she’s pretty average. She felt a bit self-conscious about her appearance in high school, of course, as puberty and post-puberty are always a tough time, but it wasn’t ever something that truly affected her life. Really, Talia sees herself as the girl-next-door. She doesn’t think she’ll ever grab someone’s attention through her looks, whether that be positively or negatively. Basically, she doesn’t think that her looks affect her life all that much. Personally, I think Molly Gordon (Talia’s faceclaim) is gorgeous, but of course, the way Talia feels about herself has nothing to do with the way I feel about her faceclaim.

H E I G H T

Talia’s 5′5″, which is just a tiny bit more than the average. Growing up, she was actually one of the tall ones, even being taller than most masculine presenting people at some points, but she stopped growing around her second year of secondary school, whereas other people her own age kept on growing taller. She’s pretty happy with her height, because although she tends to be more attracted to people who are taller than her, she doesn’t necessarily adore feeling like she’s being towered over, so yeah! Not that that’d stop her from being attracted to someone, but it’s just? Not her go to, I guess?

T A T T O O S & P I E R C I N G S

Talia’s a bit of a stick in the mud, and terrified of pain, and has therefore never even considered getting tattoos or piercings outside of the one (1) piercing she has per year that she got as a four year old. She cried and screamed super loudly then, and would probably act in a similar way now, to be honest. LOVES them on other people, though. She finds piercings and tattoos way too attractive for her own good, to be honest. She’s not going to like, be less attracted to someone who has none, but tattoos and piercings just do something for her. Maybe it’s the whole good girl being corrupted by the bad boy/girl/enby trope and what not, but yes!

G R O W I N G U P

I kind of covered this in the last few questions, so I’m honestly not really sure what to add? OH! She was legit ADORABLE as a toddler. Like, ridiculously so. And Leo, her two years old son, inherited that, to be honest.

SECTION 02. RELATIONSHIPS.

CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR ( COWORKERS )

Charlotte and Talia are both secretaries at the Maison des Marguerites, Ellingham’s nursing home, and they get along pretty well! Talia tends to like most people, and I can easily picture her enjoying Charlotte’s company! Also, she DEF was like “holy shit” the first time she saw Charlotte. Because, like, YEAH.

DAKOTA HEFNER ( FRIENDS )

The two of them met at the Maison des Marguerites, where Talia works as a secretary and where one of Dakota’s family members resides. Talia and Dakota ended up becoming friendly, and basically, Talia’s son (Leo) adores Dakota; Dakota is after all a voice actor and can do voices that simply awe tiny lil Leo.

ELIJAH WINTERS + 4 MORE ( GROUP OF FRIENDS )

They’ve been friends since high school, and are still a tight-knit group of friends to this day. With elijah, Talia’s a bit more of the mom friend™, but with the others, that’ll depend on who plays the other characters! I’ll probably make a group chat once all of them are taken to make things easier!

MIA FISHER ( FOUND FAMILY )

They’re both bookworms, and Talia always went to Mia’s bookstore a lot, but after Leo was born, she started asking for recommendations for picture books, and the two started getting closer. Nowadays, they often hang out together in the store and chat whilst Leo plays behind the counter. It’s like, the cutest thing.

NOAH ANDERSON ( REGULAR HOOKUP )

This connection is pretty much exactly as is advertised, to be honest! The two regularly hook-up, because, although Talia may have a child, she does still want fun and what not, so yes! They keep it on the down-low, though, because Noah doesn’t want his parents to find out, and Talia is generally quite a secretive person.

VERONICA “RONNY” JACOBSON ( FRIENDS )

Currently plotting this out with Amanda! Will therefore be updated sometimes soon!

???????? ???????? ( BIG SISTER FIGURE )

I REMEMBER plotting this out with someone, but I don’t remember who it is because I have the memory of a goldfish cracker, so if it was you, please please please message me to let me know because I feel super bad and am seriously sorry, and would love to plot more with you!

SECTION 03. PERSONALITY TYPES.

49 ARCHETYPES: The Authentic (Approachable, Dependable, Trustworthy).

ALIGNMENT: Neutral Good.

ENNEAGRAM: Type 9, The Peacemaker.

MBTI: INFP, The Mediator.

SOUL TYPE: Helper.

INTELLIGENCE TYPE: Interpersonal.

BIG FIVE: Agreeableness.

TEMPERAMENT: The Phlegmatic.

ZODIAC: Pisces Sun, Cancer Moon & Sagittarius Rising.

#ellingham:task01 #( task. )#( character development. )

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keijiwrites · 6 years ago

Text

some things are meant to be

this is a birthday present for @nblance happy birthday my dude 💙

Pairing: klance

Word count: 2242

Rating: general

It was officially the big day. The day they were to marry. Nerves and anticipation filled the room and Lance was ready to burst. It was - finally - the day he and Keith were going to marry. Lance felt a flutter of nerves in his stomach as he looked at himself in the mirror, fixing his ceremonial uniform from the Garrison, showing off the medals he’d earned throughout the years. He toyed with his hair a little, hands shaking.

“Lance.”

He jumped at the voice of his mother. “Hey, ma.”

“Ready?” She asked kindly, warm smile on her face for her youngest son. She walked closer and brushed his shoulder with her hands. “Mijo, I’m so happy for you.” She grinned, eyes already watery.

Lance grinned and hugged her tightly. “Thanks, ma.” He murmured and squeezed a little harder before letting her go.

“You ready?”

He nodded, exhaling deeply. “Yeah.”

Laura led him downstairs, the ceremony and reception being held in the same place where Keith and Lance were staying for the night. Lance saw Veronica talking with Rachel, both in short dresses because of course Lance would want his wedding to be held in the great outdoors and of course Keith was one to concede to whatever Lance wanted.

He and Laura walked towards them, butterflies in his stomach. The fact that he was to marry Keith was sinking in and fast. The nerves were cranked up and he seriously wanted to drown the butterflies in his stomach.

His irrational thoughts were surfacing and he wanted to step on them as hard as he could.

“Hey, little bro” Rachel grinned, throwing her arms around Lance for a quick hug. “You ready?”

Lance nodded, swallowing thickly.

What if they were rushing? What if Keith didn’t want to get married so early on? What if-

He shook his head a little to get rid of those nasty thoughts. They weren’t rushing anything. They had been dating for six years for fucks sake. Twenty-eight was a good age to get married.

Rachel and Veronica guided Lance to his place, while his mother took a seat next to his father at the front row where his most important people sat. He could see everyone from there, Pidge and Romelle were sitting together, along with Matt and his girlfriend. Krolia was next to Laura, looking stoic in her ceremonial Blade suit. Everyone tried to get her to wear a dress, but they all agreed she looked awkward in them. And she confessed she wasn’t comfortable in dresses.

Lance felt a rush of relief when he saw Hunk and Allura approaching. “Five more minutes for the guests to get comfortable and we start.” Allura announced.

“Is it normal to feel so nervous?” Lance asked to no one in particular. He could feel the nervous sweat rolling down his back and hands shaking as he tightened his fists.

Hunk grinned at him sympathetically. “Definitely. But don’t be nervous, man. Keith is as cool as a cucumber.”

Earlier

“Holy, shit, Shiro.” Keith breathed as he paced in front of his brother and Adam. “What if he doesn’t want to marry me? What if-”

“Christ, Keith. Calm down.” Adam chuckled. “I’m sure Lance does want to marry you. He was pining after your ass for like a solid two years. Now, calm down. You’re going to mess up your hair,” He huffed and fixed the stray hair that had fallen from Keith’s bun. He patted Keith’s shoulders, flattening the wrinkles on his ceremonial uniform.

Keith took a deep breath, calming down his nerves. “I’m fine. I’m cool. It’s all good.”

“Your face is drenched in sweat.”

“Fuck!”

Lance was impatiently waiting at the end of the isle for Keith. He was supposed to arrive five minutes ago and the black paladin was nowhere to be found. He was nervous, he felt like his heart was in his throat and every second that passed he felt like his stomach would drop out of his feet.

“Lance!”

Lance turned at the sound of Keith’s voice. His breath hitched when he saw Keith in his ceremonial uniform, his own badges on display. Lance noticed Keith’s hair was tied up in a bun at the crown of his head instead of his usual ponytail.

“Hi.” He breathed out, unsubtle raking his eyes over Keith.

“Hey.” Keith stared at him for a solid five seconds before giggling.

Lance blinked at him because that was knew. Keith had never giggled before. And Lance knew all about Keith’s laughing fits but this was a new sound.

“You look amazing, babe.” Keith took Lance’s hands in his own, smiling softly.

Lance returned the smile and just as he was about to say the same to Keith, Rachel interrupted them.

“Just because you’re defenders of the universe, doesn’t mean you can be late.” She scowled at Keith without any heat. “You ready?”

The paladins looked at each other before nodding at her. She was gone in the blink of an eye and not even a minute later, the music started to play. Keith let go of one of Lance’s hand and smiled at his soon to be husband. Lance had butterflies in his stomach because in a matter of minutes they would officially be husbands.

Not even halfway down the aisle Lance already had tears in his eyes and Keith was a giggling mess next to Lance. Once they arrived at the podium Coran initiated the wedding, talking about how he remembered when he would officiate weddings at the castle and making a joke here and there. Lance knew he was only doing that to calm their nerves and Lance was grateful for him.

Once they hand exchanged their vows and had their rings on their fingers, Coran announced they could kiss. Lance didn’t spare a second, grabbing Keith by the cheeks and kissing the living daylights out of him. Laughter bubbled out of both of their mouths, gleeful they were finally husbands.

Their families were the first people to hug them tightly and pepper kisses on their faces.

They made it to the reception area that wasn't so far from the ceremony. Lance had asked Kinkade to be their photographer and the pilot had promise they would get the best pictures. After a small photographic session and everyone was inside the reception area, the couple took a few minutes to themselves.

“You look amazing, Keith.” Lance murmured, thumb rubbing Keith's cheek softly.

“You don’t looks so bad yourself.” Keith was blushing as he fiddled with one of the badges on Lance’s uniform, silver ring glinting under the lights.

Lance took Keith’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles followed by the ring, the matal cold against his lips. “I’m so happy, you have no idea.”

Keith smiled at him, features soft before he leaned forward and pressed their lips together in a soft kiss. “You ready?”

Lance let out a breathy chuckle. “Why do you sound nervous? Not even half of the Garrison is here, dude.”

“You’re seriously calling me dude?”

“Would you prefer dude or mullet? Maybe even man.”

“Oh, my god. Shut up and let’s go.”

Lance was chuckling as they entered, Hunk, being the mic man, announcing them as they entered. Everyone was cheering for them as they did. They made it to the dance floor and Can’t Help Falling In Love started to play. They stood closer, forehead pressed together and arms around each other.

“Your song choice was corny as hell, babe.” Lance snorted, but it wasn’t malicious. The soft look on his face screamed he was touched by the sentiment of the song.

Lance shut his eyes, smile ghosting his lips. Keith did the same, getting lost in Lance’s presence and blocking out everyone else. It was their day, finally, after so many tries of making the wedding possible, they finally did.

The song ended, but they didn’t move away from each other, instead Keith wrapped his arms tighter around Lance, wanting to enjoy the moment a little more.

“Okay, you two, move it. We have speeches to give.” Pidge said into the mic, Hunk being heard protesting faintly in the background.

Lance and Keith chuckled but turned their attention to them. Keith snorted at their two friends fighting over the mic. Finally, it was Allura who snatched the mic.

“I’m not sure how these speeches really work but I just wanted to say that I’m very happy for you two. You finally get to officiate your love for one another. Keith, I know we started out a little rough but I’m very glad you finally came out of your shell and, what was it that Pidge said? ‘Grew the balls to ask out Lance?’” She looked back at Pidge who gave Allura a thumbs up while everyone else laughed. “Lance, you’re an amazing friend and I’m sure you’ll be an even better husband. To Lance and Keith.”

“To Lance and Keith!”

Shiro was up and when he took the mic from Allura, he not so subtly wiped his eyes with a tissue. “Hi everyone.” He smiled sort of sheepishly.

“Seven years as a commanding officer and he still gets nervous talking in front of crowds. Wimp.” Keith murmured, making Lance snort behind the champagne glass Adam had handed them.

“It’ll be quick, I promise. These two had been pining for each other for too long, let’s start with that.” Shiro started, making the newlyweds groan. “But I think it was worth it. The love you two have for one another is amazing and I know many would do anything to have what you do. It’s amazing how far you two have come and I hope it doesn’t stop now.” He was starting to tear up, clearing his throat every few words. “I’m proud of both you and happy to see this day finally happen. Keep doing great, boys. To Lance and Keith.”

“To Lance and Keith!”

Pidge and Hunk were next, but instead of speaking, a video began to play on the wall behind the two engineers. Lance started to tear up at the pictures and videos that began to show up. There were pictures of their Garrison days, to videos of when they were training together in the castle. Lance wanted to die when an audio feed that he wanted to erase from his memory was brought up.

“We had a bonding moment. I cradled you in my arms!”

The words “Lance, in fact, does remember” popped up on the screen.

“You remembered?!” Keith asked incredulously.

“I was having a bi crisis, okay?!”

Keith huffed out a laugh, turning back to the screen. Silly pictures of them as a group and a couple came up in chronological order. The video of the proposal came up.

Lance had asked Keith to marry him in a rather inconvenient situation.

They were in the middle of infiltrating a Galra base when Lance had turned to Keith and asked, “When all of this is over, will you marry me?”

Keith had frozen in his tracks and turned to Lance. “Are you shitting me? We’re in the middle of a mission, Lance!”

“Okay, but is that a yes or a no?”

Keith glared at him before pressing a bruising kiss on Lance’s mouth. “Of course, dumbass. But if you try to ask me another important question like that I swear I’ll maim you.”

“Roger that, team leader.”

No one could see the look on Lance’s face as the feed was coming from his helmet cam but everyone knew there was a smirk in his face.

Other pictures and videos of them on Earth showed up. Dates, hang outs and pictures of how they came to be being most of them. Lance thought the video was corny, but it was the sentiment that counted. Besides, he loved corny things even if he wouldn’t admit it.

Once the slideshow finished Lance rushed to his friends and hugged them tightly, thanking them for it. “It was amazing. How did you get so many vids from the castle.”

“We had a little help.” Hunk grinned and looked at Coran.

Lance owed that man his life.

A few minutes later, the party was in full swing. Almost everyone was dancing and having a good time. Lance stood a little to the side, drink in hand and taking it all in. He felt like his heart would burst out of his chest by how happy he was. Keith looked stunning dancing with Lance’s niece and nephew, cheeks flushed and laughing loudly. As if sensing him, Keith looked at him and locked eyes. He watched as Keith bent down and whispered something to them. The two kids turned to Lance and hurried towards him.

“Tío! Come dance with us!” Victoria took his free hand and started to tug on it. “Pretty please!”

Lance chuckled at their puppy eyes and set his drink down. “Alright, I’ll dance with you.”

He let them tug him along to the dance floor where he was immediately swallowed in by his family. There was laughter and jokes going around about their dance moves going around. Keith was laughing just as loud as everyone else, and Lance really felt like his heart was going to burst any second.

He didn’t regret his things happened between them. He thought if they were any different, they wouldn’t be where they are right now and that was something Lance would never change.

#klance #klance wedding #klance fic #vld #voltron #keith x lance #lance x keith #lance mcclain #keith kogane

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justjessame · 4 years ago

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Babysitting Butcher Chapter 50

Picking up Terror from my parents’ house was a lot like picking up a regular child from their grandparents’ house, at least I guess it was, I didn’t actually have any experience to go on. Billy and I shared a look before we walked up the path, a silent promise to NOT burst out laughing on sight if Mom was locked and loaded with horror stories about our little angel’s sexual deviancies.

“We act completely surprised,” I muttered, as Billy smirked beside me. “If she mentions the humping, you maintain a stance of complete and utter bafflement, do you hear me, Butcher?”

“Absolutely, Veronica,” he mumbled. “Terror’s never once gotten randy with anything, stuffed or not.”

The door opened as soon as we were within touching distance and my dad was looking fit to burst. Either laughter or screaming I couldn’t tell, but he gestured for us to come inside and I shot Billy a side eye that warned him once again to keep his shit together and we crossed the threshold. Once inside, my eyes went wide and I nearly cracked a fucking rib. Mom had turned the family room into Terror’s own private orgy of debauchery, stuffy-wise anyway. He had a veritable zoo, farm, and fucking science-fiction fantasy gangbang of stuffed animals to choose from along with enough treats, a bed that had his name embroidered on it, his own porcelain water and food bowl, and a new leash and collar set that put what Billy and I had brought him with to shame. Dear fucking -

“Mother -” I breathed, as she came into sight with a huge smile on her face.

“Doesn’t he look so happy?” She was beaming and I wondered if maybe hearing that I was, for all intents and purposes barren, and the fact that Billy wasn’t really interested in becoming a father, had somehow broken her? “Since he hasn’t been,” she leaned closer to Billy and I and lowered her voice to just a hint above a breath, as though Terror might hear and understand the word, “neutered. I thought I’d make sure he had ample ‘fun toys’.” Jesus fucking Christ. “I called a vet and they said that this was perfectly normal and fine, as long as he doesn’t get any chaffing.” Please for the love of all that is good and holy, don’t let my mother have actually checked to see if Terror has any chaffing on his little doggy boy parts. “If he does, he’ll start excessively licking himself. The vet sent over some salve and a cone, I have them in the pantry. I didn’t want to scare him with them before they’re necessary.” Fuck me running with a fucking pitchfork.

“Thank you, Margaret,” Billy sounded so sincere that I wasn’t sure I could look at him on the off chance I’d bust from the complete fucking absurdity of this entire fucking situation. “You’ve taken amazing care of my boy. OUR boy,” he corrected. “We’ll drop him by tomorrow at the same time.” Then he called for Terror and we were in the car again.

“Did that just happen?” I asked, once we were about halfway to our house and my brain reengaged. “Did my mother actually turn the family room of the house I was raised in into a fucking dog den of masturbation?”

Billy let go, the laughter he must have held in from the moment he saw the fucking UNICORN she bought for Terror to mount released and with that I started to giggle too. The insanity of it, my mom, a country club matron, had called a veterinarian to make sure her grandpet was normal for humping the stuffies and then went overboard with it. Jesus.

“The salve, the cone,” he was shaking his head as he pulled up our driveway, “that bit nearly did me in, Ronnie.” You, I thought? It nearly fucking undid me to the point of mad cackling.

“I thought she was going to tell me she checked,” I chuckled, watching him get Terror out and walk him around the yard, Terror jumping at the fireflies while I moved toward the house. “What do we feel like for dinner?” I called back.

“Something easy,” was my answer, and I was in full agreement as I walked into the house, thinking that we’d be discussing more than just Terror’s day at grandma’s over Netflix and food.

We were on the hanging bed, sipping drinks and laughing at Terror’s snoring - clearly worn out from his exercise at Mom’s, when we finally got around to discussing everything that we worked through during our workday.

“Stormfront had to have chipped him,” I said, shaking my head even as I snuggled deeper into his arms. “I swear that - I have to get at least two of the chips turned off, Billy, jammed or something.” He hummed his agreement. “I’ll discuss it with Frenchie and one of the techie geeks I have on staff, I won’t tell the geek the specifics.”

“Speakin’ of Frenchie,” Billy took my glass from me and put it on the table beside the bed. “We looked over the plans and we think a couple of those mini drones that are all the rage now, that kids use?” I nodded my understanding and he went on, “We think we can use those to do a little intel gathering. See who else moves around the neighborhood. See what these tutors look like, and when they come and go. If we can get the right drone, might even be able to see what they’re teaching Ryan.”

“Do you think they’re trying to teach him a curriculum more like what his Daddy had than what a regular little boy gets taught?” It had crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to give it substance, not yet.

“Got to think that there’s a reason this shit doesn’t meet the sniff test, Ronnie.” I sighed. “I want to run the recon before we go in on Sunday.”

That meant he’d be out of the office at least during part of the week, we really were back to work. “Back to the swing of things, are we Mr. Butcher?” I smiled into the darkness and he chuckled.

“Getting there, Doc.” He kissed my temple. “Hearing you sound like the head of the office, throwing your weight around, got my pants feeling a bit tighter than usual, Ronnie.” I bit my lip, and he went on. “You sounded like you were about to rip someone’s head off, love.”

“You liked that, did you?” Tilting my head, I was rewarded with his nose sliding down my cheek so his lips could find my neck. “I think my patience is waning. You might end up hearing that a LOT more.�� He growled and turned me to face him.

“That’s not a bad thing, Ronnie.” And he showed me just how little of a bad thing he found it.

Billy and I dropped Terror off at Grandma’s, as she insisted on being called, the next morning and I was considering having her checked out by a fellow therapist. All the trauma from my near death experiences must have rattled some shit loose in my mom’s makeup, because she was baby talking the wrinkly dog as we left and I could SWEAR she was promising him a trip to the toy store to add to his menagerie. For fuck’s sake, I was going to get a call from FAO Schwarz because my mother let Terror try out his new sex toys before buying, wasn’t I?

Onto the office, where Billy met up with Frenchie and Kimiko, grinning like a little boy on Christmas morning with the drones they’d gotten their hands on with what I had to imagine was Joseph’s paper pushing magic. They had copies of the plans I’d printed of Ryan’s neighborhood and were discussing the best places for them to start from while I sat down and fired up the next round of my own research.

“I’m going to check in with MM and Mallory,” I informed my partner, and got an agreeable grunt. “I want to see where we are on the search for other satellite locations for Vought off the books experiments, and I want to speak to Grace about Ryan’s situation.”

“I’ll check in once we have a better idea of what’s going on during the day,” Billy offered, closer than I’d expected. I looked up to find him beside me, close enough to touch. “I want to see just what they’ve got going on over there, too.” He breathed deeply, but not getting the calmness he was searching for he reached for me and I gladly stood up and wrapped myself up in his arms. His face buried in my hair and I knew we both needed this, the strength we got from one another to face what we had to look into during our work day. “I love you,” his voice was almost reverent and I rubbed my face against his jacket and shirt covered chest, loving how his scent was distinctly him.

“And I love you, Billy Butcher,” I reminded him, as he pulled away to look down into my eyes. “We’ll figure this out, just like we figure out every other fucking thing they throw at us.”

He nodded, kissing me senseless for luck, and then off he went with his part of the team while I sat down in our far to quiet office and got started on my piece of the puzzle. How the hell keeping Ryan Butcher had gotten so far off track?

#billy butcher x ofc #the boys #mention of smut #alternate universe

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drowninginflora · 7 years ago

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Okay. Here’s a live blog of Votron s5 cause I can

Its the whole season btw

Episode 1

Hunk. Really?

Ice won’t hold it for long.

What did I tell you?

Lotor is untrustworthy I don’t give a damn. I hate the white haired fucker.

THATS LITTLE ROBOT IS SO CUTE

Rolo looks like such a stoner.

THE ROBOT SAVES MATT

Nyma is the cutest.

I just want Matt and Pidge to have their dad back.

Why didn’t Sam say anything?

Also he is super grey.

He and Shiro can start a club

Episode 2:

I like how Lotor is like “trust me Allura.” And everyone is like “No”

Lance is the best character I’m sorry he is.

Haggar only just remembered her son

That’s sad Jesus

But why now?

Also Lotor has been grown the curl since he was an infant

Also how old is he?

The way Lotor looked at Sam is odd.

Pidge can’t you calm down just a bit.

I knew something was up. But that was one good hologram.

Also Lotor, why didn’t you say anything.

Save Sam.

Battle between Zarkon and Lotor is a little odd but why does Lotor have the black bayard?

THE FACES SAM AND KATIE MAKE ARE GOLD

Vodka aunt Coran to the rescue.

Why won’t Sam acknowledge his son. Like what.

LIKE HE ONLY SEES KATIE AND JUST IGNORES MATT LIKE WHAT THE FUCK DUDE

Did Zarkon just break the bayard

HELLO NINE ONE ONE I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A MURDER

The bayard is fine

He dead

Episode 3:

OK first of all the episode is titled postmortem what the hell

Sam is looking better

@Coran WHAT THE FUCK

THAT FUCKING CLONE ASS BITCH NEEDS TO STEP THE FUCK UP IF HE WANTS TO TALK TO MY LANCE LIKE THAT I’M GOING TO MURDER THAT FUCKING CLONE

Assassins: staby staby

Haggar: ✌🏼✌🏼

Honestly Haggar just wanting her son back is great. She just wants to keep him safe and be a mother to him. I like it.

Also she murders it’s awesome

Is that galra about to destroy that planet

Galra vs nature

So your bayard be anything and change, but it is first what suits you best.

Cool

Kick his ass Allura

Evil plants

We are Groot

Why was there a delay with Shiro

They just all scream

HE JUST PUNCHED ITS FUCKING MOUTH

Episode 4:

Keith I missed you

I hate clone Shiro

Sam “that’s how your mother and I met”

Pidge and Hunk: (-_-)

This clone is getting on my last nerve

Wait. Allura has tracking devices on them. What?

LOTOR STILL HAS THE BLACK BAYARD

Are they even now?

Emperor Lotor

Episode 5:

Hunk needs to knock it off. Obviously it would be for Lance’s family.

Marco, Luis, Veronica. Lance has three siblings.

LANE IS CRYING. I AM CRYING

Sam: Matt be safe. Pidge. Watch Matt

Coran….

IS THAT KEITH’S MOM

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I am scared for the Sentry

Hunk. Sweetie. You need raft helmet

A Wilhelm scream

✨Team Puck✨

IS THAT FUCKING DIAL UP

I THINK HE IS LOOKING FOR FIRECRACKERS

KIETH

Haggar has a lair. Spooky

Why does Lotor not know that Haggar is his mother?

They are taking polaroids

Lance, Pidge, and Hunk with the Sentry are great

Where’s Matt in this episode?

RAZZLE DAZZLE

Lance, Blue Palidan of Voltron, found dead in Miami

Ohhhhhhh…. So he knows but is in denial

I love it when they just throw the blade

KEITH’S MOM IS THE GLARA WOMAN. I AM BAD WITH NAMES BUT ITS CANON

Tears fuel alchemy apparently

I love the Sentry’s monotone WOOOOO

Sentry “I’ve always wanted to see the stars”

Lance “Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd now you will” *presses button*

“later Palidudes WEEEEEE”

Hunk and the galra guard are crying

holy shit….

Episode 6:

So Lotor is centuries old and Haggar just found out she is his mother.

I’m sorry but Allura trusts Lotor too much.

Can you tell I hate Lotor?

Okay. I get it. They were going to form Voltron but that was very sudden.

Big kitty dislikes robot man.

IF LOTOR IS THE WHITE PALADIN I WILL RIOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Lance is so concerned it’s sweet.

Lotor’s former bodyguards (once again super bad at names) throw things at the crew.

IF ALLURA AND THIS PURPLE GRIMACE FUCKER BECOME A COUPLE I WILL KILL EVERYONE THAT WORKS FOR THIS SHOW!!!!

Big stone women project land.

Watching Lotor get his ass kicked by a shiny lion is the best.

HE CANT GO THROUGH! HAHAHAHA!

I thought the white lion would show up.

I want the next season now. And for Lotor to leave, Allura to pilot the white lion, Lance to go back to Blue and Keith to come back to Red

#voltron #vld #vld s5 #takashi shirogane #Shiro #lotor #princess allura #prince lotor #Allura #lance #lance mcclain #kieth #pidge #hunk

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aresaphrodites · 7 years ago

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Wicked Games Chapter Twelve

(this is my third time trying to upload this because my laptop sucks holy shit)

but anyway!

so sorry for what you guys are about to read.

thank you to my girl, @itstenafterfour, for always fixing my trash and making it better. i adore you.

Betty spends five hours in the police department. She’s questioned by several different detectives, because now she’s front and center in the murder investigation of Veronica Lodge.

She’s asked, right up front, if she had any motive to kill Veronica after their very public fight. At first it had been a complete insult to her and she had yelled and cried as they accused her of killing her best friend in cold blood. Then, when she calmed down, she began to answer their questions in a cold, calculated voice. She told them the entire truth, about her stalker and everything, and now they were one step closer to finding the killer. At least that’s what they said. She knew they were full of shit. They weren’t going to find Veronica’s killer. They hadn’t been able to find Betty’s stalker this entire time and it was the same person after all. She wonders if they ever even took her case serious or if it only now phased them because there was a death.

The detectives look at her throughout the interviews with gazes like they don’t know whether they should feel bad for her or not. Betty doesn’t want them to feel sorry for her; not anymore. This is all her fault. Veronica is dead because of her. If she hadn’t walked away from her, or if she had followed her into the cab, or called her a little earlier, or gone over to check on her when she didn’t answer any of Betty’s calls; if she had done any of that then maybe Veronica would still be alive, but she didn’t. She didn’t do anything and now Veronica’s blood was on her hands.

“Are you ready to go home?”

She’s only half startled by Jughead’s steady voice and the hand he places on her shoulder. She’s currently seated on a chair outside of Officer Ruiz’s office, a pudgy man with a beard that reminds her of a grizzly bear.

“They’re releasing you,” Jughead tells her, taking in her questioning look. “They’ll call you if they need anything else from you, but they don’t have any reason to hold you anymore.”

Betty nods and stands up. Jughead immediately wraps his jacket around her shoulders as he leads her out of the station’s lobby. He keeps a protective hold on her, like he dares anyone to come up to her and Betty is thankful for it.

“There’s a crowd outside,” he warns her. “There wasn’t anything we could do about it. Just ignore them.” It’s not a comforting sentence and she almost wishes she could stay inside of the police department all night. She’s not ready to face the world. She doesn’t know if she ever will be again.

“Betty!” She whirls around at her name being called and sees Office Chris Matthews walking towards her, a card in his hand. “This is my personal number,” he tells her as he gives her the card. “I want you to call me if you ever feel like you’re not safe or if you feel like you’re around someone you can’t trust. Send me a text, call, whatever. I don’t care what time it is.”

He’s so kind to her. He’s always been so kind to her and it makes her almost want to cry. She needs someone to yell at her right now, to tell her all the things that she’s currently thinking about herself.

“Thanks,” is all she says. He takes a step towards her and holds his hand out like he wants to touch her, but Jughead yanks her back and away from his grip. Officer Matthews looks at him in shock but Betty doesn’t even question it at this point.

“I’m here for you whenever you need me,” he tells her but his eyes are hard and he’s looking at Jughead instead of Betty. “Be careful who you trust.” He stares at Jughead for a beat longer before giving her a nod and leaving. She looks down at his card in her hand and flips it over before tucking it into the back of her pocket.

“You’re really going to keep that?” Jughead asks. His voice is strained, like he wants to say something else but he’s holding back.

She just shrugs. “It can’t hurt.”

Jughead doesn’t say anything back. He just leads her to the front entrance of the building. She can already see everyone with their cameras and recorders and her stomach clenches at the sight. Jughead must see the way her face completely changes because he holds her closer to him.

“Just ignore them,” he tells her again. “I’m right here with you.” The words should make her feel a sense of protection or ease, but they don’t. They’re just words.

As soon as they step outside, the cameras flash at her and the questions begin.

“Betty, how long have you had a stalker?”

“Is it an ex boyfriend?”

“Is this all an elaborate PR stunt gone wrong?”

“Did you kill Veronica Lodge?”

The last one startles her and she stops in her tracks before Jughead tugs her along and urges her to sit in the back of the car. The words echo back in her head. This is what people will think of her from now on until the real killer is found. They’re going to think that Betty killed Veronica all because of a stupid fight they had outside of a Whole Foods Market. It doesn’t matter that statements have already been released saying otherwise. People need someone to blame and right now Betty is all they have.

Cheryl’s in the car and Jughead goes to sit up front next to James. James just sends her a pitiful look through the mirror and Betty looks away. She doesn’t want anyone’s pity anymore.

“I’m sorry,” is all Cheryl says.

“You hated Veronica,” Betty tells her, voice monotone as she stares out of the window at all the reporters. “You’re not sorry.”

“I might not have liked her, but that didn’t mean I wanted her to die,” Cheryl says and she sounds insulted that Betty would even suggest something like that. “I’m sorry that you have to go through this. No one should have to go through this, but especially not you.”

“Is there a reason you’re here?” She sighs out, finally looking over at Cheryl. The redhead looks upset at her question and Betty almost feels bad. She doesn’t want to be mean to Cheryl, the last friend she really has, but she doesn’t feel like faking her feelings right now. And truth be told, when she looks at Cheryl all she can think of is how her agent had told her that she was glad Veronica was finally out of her life. It’s like she knew what was going to happen. Betty shakes the thought away as soon as it enters her head. She can’t think that way about Cheryl. Cheryl hasn’t done anything wrong. She just wants someone to blame. Right?

Cheryl pulls out a box from the bottom of the car floor and hands it over to Betty. “They were for the Golden Globes next month but you don’t have to go anymore. No one is expecting you to.”

Betty pulls the top off of the box and looks inside of it. The pair of Ralph and Russo shoes she’d been pining after for months are staring right back at her. She reaches out and touches the rose gold leaves on the pumps, enamored by the beauty of them.

“I got them for you as a present,” Cheryl says a bit shyly. “You’d been saying how much you wanted them and well, you really deserve them. You’ve been through a lot, and I know a pair of shoes can’t fix your problems but retail therapy helps sometimes. You can just save them for whenever you decide to step back out again.”

The Golden Globes are a little over a month away. Do people really expect her to be hiding out even then? Probably so. Everyone’s probably expecting sensitive Betty Cooper to completely give up and shut down after everything she’s been through, but she’s thinking the exact opposite.

If the cops won’t do anything about it then she’s going to find out who this person is on her own. She’s tired of letting everyone else deal with her problems. She’ll find whoever’s doing this and she’ll kill them herself. Not for her, but for Veronica.

There’s a funeral, close family and friends only. Really it’s only Veronica’s parents, Betty, and Archie plus a few other family members. Veronica’s mother is sobbing so loudly that Betty has to scream in her head just to drown out the noises. Mr. Lodge stays stoic and completely still. Veronica had been his baby girl, his entire world. Veronica was such a daddy’s girl, it makes perfect sense for this to hit him harder than anyone, but Betty doesn’t think he’s truly processed it yet.

And Archie.

Archie looks so lost, so broken, and so alone. Halfway during the funeral, he starts crying silently, and Betty walks over to him and intertwines their fingers together as she holds his hand. He doesn’t look at her, he doesn’t even acknowledge any of it until finally he squeezes her hand back tightly.

She gives her condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Lodge who both thank her for being a good friend to Veronica. It’s almost as though they’re unaware of the fight, as though they don’t know. She wonders if telling them is the right thing to do. She wants to tell them not to thank her, she doesn’t deserve it. Because of her Veronica is dead. Veronica is six feet in the ground all because she didn’t follow her after their fight. She didn’t take care of Veronica the way a friend should.

She sits in front of the newly dug grave for a long time after that. There are things she wants to say, but she can’t find the words.

“No one blames you,” a voice says gently from behind her. She turns around and sees Archie standing with his hands in his coat. He looks so small for someone who had always seemed a bit larger than life. “This isn’t your fault.”

“I didn’t follow her,” Betty whispers as she touches the ground beneath her. It’s a lump of dirt. This is all Veronica is now; a lump of cold dirt. “The last things we said to each other…”

“She loved you,” Archie says. “She loved you so much. She was worried about you and you know how she got when she worried.” He laughs softly, but Betty can’t laugh because he’s saying everything in the past tense and she doesn’t know how to handle any of that. “I talked to her that night. I guess it must have been before… everything, but she told me she was worried you were going to hate her for all the things she said. I told her she just needed to call you and apologize and you’d understand. She said she’d call you in the morning.”

Betty closes her eyes tightly as a lone tear falls from them. If she had just gone to Veronica’s house when she didn’t answer the phone then she might still be alive right now. Betty could have prevented all of this and she didn’t. Veronica’s blood was on her hands and nothing anyone said could change that. She didn’t do the killing but indirectly she had a hand in it, and Betty couldn’t fathom how she’d live with that.

“We’ll find out who’s doing all this,” Archie promises as he places a hand on Betty’s shoulder. “Take care of yourself.” And then he’s gone and Betty’s all alone.

“I’m sorry,” she finally whispers to the grave, tears making their way down her cheeks and falling onto the cold dirt. “I’m so sorry.”

She doesn’t know why she apologizes. It doesn’t change a damn thing.

She’s sitting with Jughead on their couch, watching a game show, when she gets a call.

“Hello?”

“May I speak with Elizabeth Cooper?”

“Speaking.” Jughead gives her a questioning glance, but she just stands up and walks over to the kitchen. “How may I help you?”

“Hello, Miss Cooper. This is Detective Reyes.” She remembers him. He had been a bit of a hardass while grilling her with questions, but she could respect that. “We usually don’t do this, but since this case connects to you as well, I’ve been given the okay to fill you in.”

Her heart begins to slam against her chest as she thinks about what he could possibly have to tell her.

“A piece of hair was left at the crime scene and it doesn’t match Miss Lodge’s DNA. We ran it through the system and came up with a match for a kid who was arrested whenever he was seventeen, some street fighter, gang banger nonsense. We can’t release his name to you due to him being a minor at the time, but he’s our first stop.”

“What color was it?” She asks, needing to know. It doesn’t matter that they might have the killer in their database, she still needs to know.

“A dark brown, Miss Cooper. It was curled too so we’re looking at someone with dark, nearly black curly hair now. That’s really all I can tell you at this moment.”

It’s a start. After months and months of chasing absolutely no one, they now have a lead. It’s more than she could have ever dreamt of. The idea that they might have the killer locked up soon is too much for her to imagine. It’s also a little too easy.

“Thank you, Detective Reyes.”

“We’ll let you know when we bring him in,” he says before hanging up.

She pulls the phone away from her ear and stares down at it for a good while. It’s a big city they all live in. There are four million people in Los Angeles alone and she knows that over half of those people fit the description that she now has. She wonders who the person in their database is and why he’s doing all of this.

“Betty?” Jughead calls out. She turns around and looks at him. “What happened?” He pulls on the dark curl that’s always falling into his eyes. Betty tilts her head at him, studying his movements, before answering.

“They found a piece of hair at the crime scene,” she tells him. “A piece of black, curly hair.”

“Do they know who it belongs to?” He asks, as he stands up from the couch and walks over to her.

“Yes,” she says, not believing the words that are coming out of her mouth. “They think they do, but even if it’s a mix up… it’s all I need.”

“All you need?” He scoffs. “Betty, you can’t go after this person. You’re already in enough danger. We know this stalker is capable of murder, which means you could be next! You need to leave this to the professionals.”

“Yeah?” She asks, sarcastically. “Because they’ve been doing such a good job, right? If I leave it to the professionals then someone else ends up dead. Me, you, Cheryl, the next person who looks at me ugly; it doesn’t matter. I won’t have another person’s blood on my hands.”

“So what? You’re just going to go out and find this person for yourself and kill them?”

“If I have to,” she says as she turns away from him. She doesn’t know where she’s going, but she can’t look at him and his condescending face right now.

“Betty, come on,” he reaches out and grabs her forearm. “You’re being irrational. You’re hurt and you don’t know how to handle it. You can talk to someone, you can talk to me. We can go back to Riverdale like you wanted. Cheryl will let you.”

“I don’t want to go back to Riverdale!” She yells at him. “I don’t want to talk to anyone. I talked to all of you in the past and where did that get me? Nowhere. Talking to people doesn’t help. I’m not running away from this person anymore. If they want me then they can come and get me.”

He looks at her, torn but Betty doesn’t care. She means everything she is saying right now.

“You can go,” she tells him. She watches as his eyes widen in shock and then narrow in confusion. She didn’t mean for it to come out so harshly, but it’s something she’s been thinking ever since Veronica was killed. She can’t have anyone else in her life get hurt and that includes Jughead.

“What?”

“I’m firing you,” she says with absolutely no emotion in her voice. “I don’t need you anymore.”

“Fuck that!” He yells at her, eyes ablaze. “You need me now more than ever!” She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t move. Jughead grows angier. “You can’t fire me. Even if you wanted to, I’m your boyfriend, Betty! I’m not going anywhere.”

“I don’t need you anymore,” she says, repeating the words again. They hurt more than anything she’s ever said before. This hurts more than when Jughead had turned her down the first time. Her heart is breaking inside of her chest, it’s the first real emotion she feels since finding about Veronica and it sucks, but it has to happen. She’s an omen of the worst kind.

She forces herself to stay calm and stoic as she looks at the way Jughead’s face falls as he begins to let go of his anger.

“What are you saying right now?” He asks, voice losing the fire it had held just seconds before.

“You need to leave.”

“Don’t do this,” he begs her, eyes watering. She hates herself for doing this to him, but she has to. She needs to. “I’m here for you, let me be here for you, Betty.” He tries to grab ahold of her hand, but she tears it away from him.

“You can’t fire me,” he tells her, but he doesn’t sound so sure anymore. “Cheryl’s the only one who can do that.”

“I know,” Betty says. “She just did.” She had talked it over with Cheryl earlier and while the redhead hadn’t understood Betty’s reasoning, she agreed. Betty knew she only agreed because she wasn’t about to tell her no after everything she had been through lately, but it didn’t matter. She’d take what she could get.

“Betty,” he tries once more, voice just as broken.

“I’m not trying to break up with you,” Betty tells him. “I don’t want this to be the end for us, but I need you to understand where I’m coming from right now. I need to do this by myself. I don’t want you putting yourself on the line for me, not anymore.”

“If something were to happen to you and I didn’t do anything to stop it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!”

“I need you to trust me,” she says as she puts a hand on his cheek. He closes his eyes and leans into her touch. A part of her realizes that this is the most vulnerable he’s ever been with her and she wishes that it could be under different circumstances.

“So what,” Jughead says with an uneasy laugh, “we’re on a break or something?”

Betty smiles. “I need you to be my boyfriend, not my bodyguard. If you want to help, be the kind of person I need right now.”

She knows it’s a lot to ask from him. She can see it in the way he looks at her, completely torn. Does he even know how to not be her bodyguard? She doesn’t know, but they can work at it together.

“I never cared about the paycheck,” Jughead says randomly. “You know that, right? It was never about the money for me.” The conversation with Veronica comes running back to her. “It’s always been about you.”

“Then let me do this by myself.”

Jughead seems to be thinking it over before he finally nods.

It shouldn’t feel like she’s finally free, but for some reason it does. She doesn’t have anyone holding her back anymore and with that in mind, she turns away from Jughead and walks out of the apartment; one destination in her mind.

She turns off her phone as soon as she leaves. She doesn’t need anyone trying to get ahold of her right now. She’s finally in the mindspace she needs to be in and she can’t risk anything pulling her out of it.

She’s dropped off in front of the building and takes a deep breath, feeling nervous for some reason. She knows what she’s doing could definitely be marked as stupid, but she doesn’t care. She needs to do this. Jughead had refused to teach her how to do this, so she has to go to someone who will help her out.

Out of the corner of her eye she sees someone take a picture of her and she has to refrain from smiling. It’s just what she had wanted.

She enters the building and walks up to the front desk. The man standing behind the counter widens his eyes at her and she can tell that he recognizes her.

“I need something small but powerful,” she tells him. “And I need you to teach me how to shoot it.”

She leaves the shooting range with a brand new Desert Eagle and a sense of power. She knows she’ll have to hide the gun from Jughead; he won’t be okay with any of this. She needs to prove that she can take care of herself and that she doesn’t need to rely on others, so she’ll keep it from him until she knows he won’t freak out over it.

When she gets back to the apartment, Jughead’s locked up in his room and she doesn’t feel like bothering him so she puts the gun away in her bedroom and then goes to the kitchen to find something to eat. She settles on making herself a bowl of fruit and is in the middle of cutting up a pineapple, whenever there’s a knock on her door.

She answers it and is surprised to see Officer Ruiz and another cop standing in front of her.

“Good evening, Miss Cooper,” Officer Ruiz nods to her. “Is Forsythe Jones in the vicinity?”

Betty looks at him in confusion, not understanding what he needs with Jughead, but she nods either way. At that exact moment, Jughead comes out of his room, hair bushy and eyes lidded. He must have been asleep.

He pauses as he takes in the sight before him and gives Betty a confused look.

“Officers,” he greets, uneasy, “how can we help you?”

Before she even knows what’s going on, Officer Ruiz nods to the younger cop by his side and the man walks over to Jughead and clasps his hand around his arm.

“Forsythe Jones, you’re under arrest for the murder of Veronica Lodge.”

“What?” Jughead yells out as the cop reads him his rights. He looks at Betty, eyes crazed, and Betty just stares back at him dumbfounded. “I didn’t murder her! I didn’t do that!” He tries to tear his arm out of the cop’s grip, but it’s no use.

Betty turns to Officer Ruiz in disbelief and he gives her a pitiful look.

“He was matched to the hair we found at the crime scene,” he tells her regretfully.

She shakes her head slowly. There’s no way. There’s no fucking way. That doesn’t even make sense. No… She looks over to Jughead who is still yelling at the cop. She looks at his hair; the lone curl of his falling into his eye as he thrashes around.

“Betty,” he yells out, breaking her out of her trance. “Betty, I didn’t do this! You know I wouldn’t do this. You know me!”

She locks eyes with him, but doesn’t say anything. He’s pleading with her, practically begging her to listen to him and she can’t.

“Why was he arrested before?” She asks Officer Ruiz even as she stares at Jughead. He gives her a broken look and shakes his head, begging her not to press the issue, but she has to know. If it was for theft or breaking and entering, then it doesn’t matter. Jughead wouldn’t do this. He couldn’t have done this.

“Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.”

All of her breath leaves her and she watches in horror as Jughead’s dragged from the apartment and this time when he tries to talk to her, she turns around and shuts the door in his face.

#bughead fanfiction #Wicked Games Fic

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 5 years ago

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CSUAPR - such struggle to pick an ending for 38

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 5 years ago

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CSUAPR prt 38 start

Keith was worried stupid, yet again, another reason why his husband was evicted. He was taking things badly after hitting him. They’d talked a little over the test results, which preceded Veronica talking all things baby and all the risks that came with having a baby. Somewhere around the talk of signs of symptoms he needed to be paying close attention to, he’d lost his head and started screaming at her. He didn’t need all her facts and figures. That’d started his first seizure. Veronica gone when he woke, while he felt like an arse for yelling at her when she was trying her hardest to understand and to make sure he was educated over things that were “wrong”. Drowsy from his seizure, he’d fallen asleep in Keith’s arms. Keith had them had his nightmare, no doubt thanks to all the shit the doctors and Veronica had put in his head, then mid-panic attack, he’d ended up having his second seizure. He had no memory of the panic attack or seizure, only the lasting pain from his contracting muscles. Keith was on edge from having been constantly left to support him through all the freakin’ tests they’d had to do. Sending him away was the kindest thing Lance could do. If his husband apologised one more time, he was tempted to throw him out the nearest open window. They’d both hit each other before, coming out of attacks or nightmares, so they had a silent “agreement” that though it might feel quiznak, they understood that after all they’d been through, things like this might happen and the best way to get through it was to talk. Keith hadn’t wanted to talk about his nightmare, yet slowly and surely Lance had coaxed it from his husband’s lips, if he had open up about all his messed up dreams and feelings there was no way that Keith wasn’t. He’d been in labour, but instead of pushing out one of their twins, it’d been some octopus thing, which he’d promptly punched in the face. Laughing had been the wrong answer. Keith getting huffy. It was bad enough that his husband seemed scared to cuddle him, afraid he might fall asleep and punch another octopus in his sleep. So his eviction was for his own good...

Before his allergy test on the morning of the second day imprisoned, Zethrid and Ezor had come to visit. The pair of them were painfully loud and annoying, though they did bring him the Galra equivalent of a “get well soon” balloon bouquet, buying themselves some good will and favour as the balloons were unexpected and broke the monotony of grey walls. Chatting away with him about the up coming tour, Ezor was merciless as she teased Keith over being “the prince of Daibazaal”. She also teased him over his lack of training, and getting slow and fat because of it. Unable to currently take the joke, Ezor pushed Keith into a “half-shift” where his eyes went yellow and his fingernails began to extend. Until then, Lance had kind of enjoyed the conversation. Not the loudness of it. Ezor and Zethrid both seemed to be speaking as if they thought him deaf, no. It was more the fact that they hadn’t apologised for what happened. They didn’t make a fuss other than the balloons. Nor did they repeatedly ask if he was feeling ok. It was as if they’d simply shrugged their shoulders at the whole matter as it didn’t involve their personal lives. He loved them for it. The pair frog jumping Acxa and Veronica in his mental list. Acxa had wanted to come but understood that he might not want too many visitors so had sent a card... A card he didn’t get until after it’d landed in the hands of Ezor and Zethrid. Ezor had gotten her gum between the fold, and Zethrid had let it be scrunched in her pocket. He couldn’t really be mad about either thing. His siblings had done far worse as they were growing up. The annoying bit came from Ezor’s screechy laugh of Keith’s partial transformation. His anger on behalf of his husband who was dealing with enough as it was. After they’d been politely evicted with a little showmanship, he’d gagged as clamped a hand to his mouth like he was going to vomit causing Ezor to wrinkle her face in disgust and drag her girlfriend away, Keith had brooded in the corner until Krolia came with Shiro at lunch. Noticing how Keith was, Lance had whisper begged Shiro to drag Keith off for a brotherly chat. Keith refused to go, his husband climbing back into bed next to him as if he was having a sit in protest. Shiro had whispered that he’d check in with Keith later that night, to which Lance had asked him to take him back to his room for some rest. After Shiro had left Veronica had visited, in time for the results and it’d all taken a sharp left hand turn into a pile of quiznakking quiznak. The allergy skin testing started. The results came back... and well, everything else happened.

Finally escaping, Lance was forced to allow himself to be wheeled back to Keith’s quarters. Keith felt he shouldn’t be walking, while Lance felt that he should keep his mouth shut lest he be returned to the same stupid hospital bed. Having slept in his own bed, Keith seemed refreshed. His skin and hair weren’t as oily as they had been, nor did apologise. There was a spring in his step that Lance was envious of, seeing all his body wanted was for him to go back to sleep. Having come for the walk, Kosmo was on his best behaviour, walking beside the wheelchair so Lance could keep one hand on his back to act as his grounding. The whole time Keith wheeled him, he focused on his breathing rather than the people they passed. His anxieties were trying to get the better of him, as he knew they all must think him a weak failure.

Reaching Keith’s quarters, Lance wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or not to find no one waiting. He was finally free, but he had no one to celebrate his freedom with. He wanted to go for a job or even a run. Sparring practice sounded divine, yet his body was too exhausted to do much of anything. It was demanding he slept, despite the sedatives they’d given him so could sleep without tossing and turning. Wheeling him right over to the edge of the bed, Keith put the brakes on. Stubbornly wanting to do things himself, he climbed from the chair then flopped down on Keith’s bed, nuzzling into the blankets that smelt so much of his husband.

“Pidge and Hunk suggested a party, but Curtis overruled them. I know it’s not much, but I’m happy you’re back here”

Jumping at Keith’s voice, Kosmo yipped as if he’d noticed the action. Teleporting onto the bed the space wolf curled up behind, resting his muzzle on Lance’s hip

“Mmm. Me too. It’s fine, honestly. I’m so drowsy I think I’m about to fall back to sleep”

“I have to go out for about a varga, will you be ok on your own?”

Keith was going out? He was free and now his husband was running away? What was the point of having Keith there if all he was going to do was sleep. It was better Keith was keeping busy and not watching over him... He didn’t especially want to be alone, but having Keith do something that wasn’t related to him was super appealing

“Babe, I’m fine. You take as long as you need”

“I know you just got out...”

“And you know how much I appreciate a good bed. Say “hi” to Mumma K for me. Tell her I want that thing too. She’ll know what it is”

Keith gave a hum, then there was a long paused, followed by his husband clicking off the brakes on the wheelchair and the balloon bouquet being evicted to beside the bed

“Ok. I’ll try and be back soon”

“No n-ne-ed to rush. Love you”

“You too”

Without so much as a kiss or fussing of the blankets, Keith left him. Yawning again, as he’d done mid-reply, Lance wriggled back against Kosmo, trying not to let Keith leaving bother him. He wasn’t about to admit how touch starved he felt, nor how horny his body decided he needed to be. He

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