#(i see the typo in the last tag just ignore it i can’t easily edit tags on mobile lol)

[prettybbychim]

i see a lot of quote unquote good takes about certain characters on here and like i agree or whatever but the way ur presenting it man… that attitude is not for me ngl ur kinda exhausting doesn’t matter how good ur analysis is,, into the blocklist u go

[greekowl87]

Fic: The Ins and Outs of a Relationship

A/N: This started as a prompt that @minuete-blog submitted to me back in December for which I wrote a 200 word drabble. Then this beast was born and it’s rather long. I’m still not entirely content with it but at this point...hopefully it’s okay and you all enjoy. A massive thanks to @peacenik0 helping me out in the beginning with the inital feedback.

Sorry for the typos. Editing is always a weakness of mine. Hopefully I caught everything.

Tagging @today-in-fic

"You can't ignore me forever." "Watch me, Mulder." "Want do you want me to do?" He pleaded. Mulder used his height to block her into the back part of the office. "What should I do, Scully? I know I messed up?" "Messed up? Try big time up, Mulder." Ever since Diana, Gibson, and Cassandra Spencer’s disappearance, that is what had started. After she had nearly died from Ritter’s bullet in New York, a temporary truce had been called as he helped her with incredibly fast recovery. But that peace was short lived and with them back in the basement again, it seemed old tension flared up again.  Sure, she managed to keep a professional decorum while they were at work but in those rare moments when it was just the two of them, she let her ire burn furiously. Ever since they reclaimed their basement office, she continued to let her anger be known. "I get that, Scully. I get that. Trust me." "Trust you?" The irony was laced like acid in her voice. "Trust you? Just like you trusted me?" Come on, Scully, Mulder thought miserably.  

"We can't afford to be doing this. Not as husband and wife." "What the hell are you talking about?" She raised her eyebrow quizzically and her patience was clearly thinned.

Her silence was enough for him as Mulder produced the fake ring from his suit pocket. "Marry me, Scully." "Mulder." She grimaced pinching the bridge of her nose. “What is this? Some sort of sick joke?” "We have an undercover case. Arcadia. Sunny San Diego. Something about missing neighbors. It'll be fun, Scully. We get to play house." He cleared his throat. “A married couple went missing and are presumed dead. The locals asked for our help and Skinner thought the best approach would be if we went undercover as a married couple.” She yanked the false ring from hand and pushed her way forwards. Scully began to gather her stuff for the day. "The folder is on the desk. Our flight leaves at 10. Should I pick you up at eight?" She glared at me and he couldn't help but smile. She slammed the door behind her. "Eight it is then," he murmured, eyeing the empty spot where the file had been.

. . . . .

Scully slept fitfully throughout the night and woke up two hours before her five o’clock alarm was supposed to go off. She had not fallen asleep the previously evening easily either so she reviewed the case. She shook her head in disgust as she reflected what Mulder had told her previously.

We get to play house, Scully. That shit eating grin on his face. She twirled the fake wedding ring against the grain of her wooden kitchen table as she sipped her bitter coffee and the bitter liquid churned in her acidic stomach brought on by nerves. She stared at that ring and only could think about Diana.

Diana and Mulder. Mulder and Diana. The Gunmen had not implicitly said it outright but she was a good investigator, she could make the connections. They had been married but did Mulder know that she knew?

Marry me, Scully.

Mulder had asked her that one other time when she was in Maine. Even though she knew he had been joking, it reminded her that she had once considered and played with the idea of taking their relationship to the next level at one time. Her cancer remission had brought a new lease on life and reinvigorated their relationship. Even what had happened over the summer had given her some hope. But then Fowley’s game was strong and she was luring Mulder even more.

Trust me on this, Scully. Diana wouldn’t steer us wrong. You should trust Diana because I trust Diana.

What a huge pile of horse shit, she thought. Looking at the clock, Scully got up to pour out the rest of the coffee and prepare for her shower. As she was about to start her shower, she heard her front door open and close soundly behind her.

“Hey, Scully!”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. She closed her eyes and called out, “You’re early.”

“I know. I thought I would get a jump on things since it’s our first case back,” he said. She could hear him rattling around in the kitchen. “Are you out of creamer?”

“Yes. You know I take my coffee black,” she called back.

That was his thing. Her space was their space. What she wouldn’t give for some sense of personal identity or freedom. He could wait. She showered prolonging each minute. Scully was angry and hurt. She was frustrated she could not understand Mulder and his lack of guilt or empathy. As she finished her shower, Scully resolved to keep communication between them only a necessity for the rest of the case, even if they were supposed to be married.

. . . . . .

Silence oversaw their car ride to the airport, their flight across the country, their landing in San Diego, and as he stood at the rental car place. Mulder had tried to get some reaction from Scully. Anything would be better than her stony silence. He scribbled his signature onto the last form and asked, “Hey, Scully, what’s today’s date?”

“February 23rd,” she replied quietly.

He paused in thought. That date should have been important but he could not remember. Instead, he scribbled the date and pushed the forms back to the car attendant to finish the rental process. Mulder gazed at his partner staring out the window watching other people from the airport.

“Scully.”

“I’m fine, Mulder,” she replied robotically.

“Talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to say,” she continued. “Let’s just hurry up to the branch office, sign the paperwork, and go to our hotel. Okay? I really don’t want this to take any longer than necessary.”

“Fine, whatever you say, Scully.”

She could hear the hurt in his voice, and despite her affection for him, she was glad. Maybe he deserved a little taste of his own medicine. Hadn't he done enough to cause her pain and betray her trust over the last few months? Even still, Scully felt guilty for causing him pain. Mulder had forgotten her birthday again, and at this point, she shouldn’t even be surprised. The only time he had remembered her birthday was when she was dying with cancer because he only had one more chance to do it. Now they had all the time in the world and he had chosen to spend it with someone else. Diana, whom he trusted more than me, she reminded herself bitterly.

“Let’s just go then,” she told him.

The rest of the afternoon was no better. After the agents concluded their business at the field office, Mulder drove them to their hotel for the night before doing their big move in the morning. Scully disappeared without even saying good night into the elevator. Mulder sighed and pocketed his room key.

Mulder had been undercover a handful of times. The idea of no longer being Fox Mulder had been appealing fantasy growing up on the Vineyard after Samantha’s disappearance. He opened the new wallet to inspect the further. Robert Andrew Petrie born February 23, 1964...married to Laura Ann Petrie on September 4, 1995...the dates swirled around his head. Shit. He winced and closed the wallet and remembered why the date was important.

Scully’s birthday. He had forgotten again.

After her cancer remission, Mulder promised himself to do better by her. He thought he had been on the right path, especially with the impulsive events that had happened in the hallway. Something had sparked in his brain but then the bee, and then Diana. And now look at where they were. They finally had their work back and his quest but had things really changed for him.

He could still do something tonight for her. Maybe she might forgive him a bit. Without a second thought, Mulder carried his luggage back out the car and rushed to the nearest shopping center with a plan forming in his mind.

. . . . . .

Scully sighed as she finished buttoning the new silken pajamas that her mother had bought her the previous weekend. She should enjoy what was left of her birthday. Maybe she could find Breakfast at Tiffany’s on the television and go to bed early. She was about to pull back the covers when she heard Mulder’s familiar two-note knock.

“I’m asleep,” she called.

“Two minutes, Scully. Please?”

“Not tonight, Mulder.”

“We need to talk, Scully. Please. I brought you an olive branch.”

Scully sighed and relented. She always relented and did what he asked. She opened the room door slightly and saw Mulder in a t-shirt and jeans. He held up a small bottle of rum and two cokes produced from the vending machine down the hall.

“Happy birthday, Scully.”

“What do you want, Mulder?”

“Why does it necessarily mean I want something? Come on, Scully.”

She sighed and opened the door wider as Mulder started to fix them two drinks. He pushed the drink into her hand and Mulder clinked his own plastic cup against hers. “Happy birthday.”

“And you remembered?”

“Well, my birthday is now yours too...well Rob’s is at least. I know I forgot again but I, um…” Mulder sipped his drink uneasily. “Scully, why are you angry with me? Isn’t it enough that I know I messed up?”

“Mulder,” she took a deep breath. But he was looking at her again in that way and she sighed. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“What? Is it Diana again?”

“It’s more than that!” Scully shouted angrily. “You dismissed me as if what I had to say meant nothing. You don’t trust me.”

“What are you talking about? I trust you. I do! Scully, you are working yourself up over nothing!”

“Stop dismissing me as if I am nothing! You came in to rub it in my face?”

“No,” Mulder answered. His shoulders dropped. “I just wanted to give you these. I saw Scully wearing them more than Laura. Happy birthday by the way.” She watched Mulder drown his drink and place a small box with a bow on the dresser. “I’ll see you downstairs at nine. The moving van will be meeting us here.”

He dropped the used plastic cup in the trash and left without looking her in eye. The door shut behind him and Scully looked down at her full drink and then to the small black box with the bow. She set the drink aside and wondered cynically what it could be. Did he see her or Diana as his partner on the x-files? What about this case?  She was supposed to role play his wife. She cast aside the bow and opened the box expecting to see something stupid. Instead, she saw a small folded piece of paper and two dazzling pearl-gold earrings. Her breath was caught in her chest as she uncrumpled the small note.

Scully - I can’t think of anything clever to write, but I wanted you to know that there is no one else I’d rather have be my partner more than you. Happy birthday - Mulder.

She inspected the earrings and Mulder’s words came back to her. Catholic guilt was insufferable.

. . . . . .

The next morning, Mulder had not slept at all after he had left Scully’s room. The elevator dinged and his breath hitch as Scully appeared carrying her bags. She was wearing the earring that he had gotten her the previous night and it matched perfectly with her golden cross. He still saw his Scully but he also saw what he imagined Dana being like in another life. Scully joined him in the lobby and frowned in response to his blank expression.

“Close your mouth, Mulder.” Her small hands automatically began to fix the sweater he had tried to fix on his shoulders. “You look ridiculous.”

“You look...nice.” She paused and raised her eyes to meet his. Something had changed in her Mulder had sensed. Color flashed her in cheeks as she fixed her eyes on trying his sweater. “Scully, I mean it.”

“Thanks, Mulder.”

Mulder watched her hands and noticed that her ring finger was bare. He caught her hands within his. “Where’s your ring?”

“Um, I was going to put it on later.”

“Let me,” he whispered. “Please, Scully?”

Scully looked away and was clearly uncomfortable. “Mulder…”

“Please?”

“Pocket.”

Scully closed her eyes as she felt his fingertips graze her abdomen as he fished out the ring from her sweater’s pocket. The cool gold metal was smooth against his own fingertips and her own soft hands were like grazing heaven. They both stared at their joined hands as Mulder delicately slipped the ring onto her wedding finger. “I know it’s not done properly, the proposal,” he whispered. His eyes lit up at some joke she did not know.  “But I’d imagine Rob and Laura’s marriage proposal being something kitsch and romantic. Rob wanted to impress Laura because he never felt good for her.”

“Laura likes Rob for who he is. It’s fine, Mulder. Really it is.”  Their hands fell to each other’s side. “I guess we better get going.”

“Yeah,” he murmured.

. . . . . .

“Stepford homes with identical lawns to a sixteenth of an inch in San Diego,” Scully mused. “It must be a crime.”

Over a dinner of burritos and locally made salsa, camped out on the floor with paper plates, the partners decided their next move.  Mulder was still pouting well into the evening that his basketball hoop had no place among CC&Rs and a Twilight Zone suburbia as his oversized steak burrito with a fork.

“Doesn’t this place just creep you, Scully?”

“How so? Or are you just mad about your basketball hoop?”

“Both,” he replied before taking a bite.

She hummed in agreement. He quietly took in the changed Scully in contrast to what he had seen the previous evening. She seemed a bit more open and forgiving. Maybe he was navigating the minefield of their relationship. Even then throughout the day, he could not resist touching her with simple gestures like an arm around her shoulder or just holding her close.

“My first apartment in Baltimore was like this when I started med school,” Scully chuckled at the random memory.

“What? A huge house with no furniture?”

“A shoe box studio with only a bed and a lawn chair,” she corrected. “I used my medical texts for tables.”

Mulder smiled with her. “I bet you have some stories.”

“Hmm…” She continued in thought. “Even though I still don’t know how my dad it paying for med school, I was determined to be independent so shady studio apartments were a must.”

“Well, we got a couch at least. And a nice bed upstairs,” Mulder listed, “and a television with a premium cable package for all our needs.”

“Well, I’d imagine you have particular tastes that are such a rarity to find.”

Mulder broke out into laughter and moved closer on the rug to Scully.

“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” She shrugged. “Return the china to Big Mike and see if we can’t get your basketball hoop problem sorted out with the owner of the homeowners association...Gogolak and we can take it from there.”

He nodded and got up from the ground and collected the remains of their dinner for the fridge. “At least we have leftovers for breakfast.” He offered his hand to Scully and he pulled her up from the ground. “Do you need any help with the bed?”

“I got it,” she said softly. “Thank you for taking the couch. Do you need me to bring you any pillows or anything?”

“I got all I need right here,” he replied gesturing to the television. He licked his lips as the air became heavy. “Good night, Scully.”

“Night, Mulder.”

She could feel his eyes on her back as she walked quietly upstairs.

As the hours trickled through the night and into the early morning, Scully found herself unable to sleep in the large foreign bed. The wind outside blew and she could hear the trees in the backyard and the billowing against the windows. She turned onto her side and drew the blankets around her shoulder but the uneasiness only grew worse. She tried to close her eyes to think about something else, do random math equations, trying to recite the periodic table, anything to sleep. But her mind drifted to Mulder and how in 72 hours things had changed yet again between them.

Why can’t I think of anything else?

She rolled out of bed, gathered her robe, and went downstairs for a glass of water. Mulder wide awake staring listlessly at the blue glow of the television lost in thought.

“Can’t sleep?” Scully asked from the top of the stairs.

Mulder looked up in surprise.

“Can you?”

“No.”

“Want to join me for a bit, Scully? Misery loves company.”

She sighed and wrapped the robe around herself tightly.

“I just came down for a glass of water.”

He patted the couch invitingly. “Come on, Scully. I won’t bite.”

After a moment of brief hesitation, she joined him on the couch. Mulder offered the blanket that he had been using and she shook her head slightly before his insistence won out. She tried to get comfortable as if this was the first time they had sat next to each other.

“Why is it so cold down here?”

“I haven’t quite mastered the settings of the air unit. I can go change it if you want. Try and figure it out.”

“No,” she whispered. She stalled him by catching his hand. “I’m fine. This is good. I mean, it’s no green leather couch but it’ll do.”

“I miss my couch too.” He smiled at her off-handed comment. “I thought this would be more of your style, Scully.”

“Suburbia and perfect little homes? Not by a long shot. Chasing monsters with a crackpot partner is more my style.” She yawned and covered her mouth. “Excuse me.”

“Maybe watching a little tv will help you fall asleep.”

Scully knew she should say no and go back upstairs to maintain any level of professionalism while they were undercover. They weren’t husband and wife, they were only pretending. But a part of her wanted to indulge. She remembered the small gestures like an arm around her shoulders or something small. It was nice to pretend and things would go back to normal when they were in Washington. She let the last of her anger and resentment go momentarily and just let herself indulge in the moment with him.

To Mulder’s surprise, she unfolded the blanket and lounged next to him. He extended the full length of his body so that Scully was comfortably cushioned between him and the couch. Scully sighed contently and rested her head on his shoulder under his chin. “It’s nice to pretend sometimes,” Mulder whispered.

“Is that what we do?”

“What do you mean?”

“We pretend everything is okay when it isn’t,” she whispered. His arm came around her waist protectively. This was the most she had talked about her emotions in months. “Do you trust me?”

“What kind of question is that? Of course.”

“Because lately it doesn’t seem like it. We pretend.” In the darkness, she felt like she could be open because she could hide in the shadows without giving too much away.

“Are we pretending right now?”

“I don’t know.”

Mulder could not find an answer so he simply settled for holding her. Scully took the silence neither as a good or bad thing given their current physical prolixity. Scully moved to get up but Mulder’s arm squeezed around her gently. Encouraged by this, she relaxed and instead focused on the late night infomercial playing on the television and tried to memorize the sensations of being held by Mulder. Sometimes, they communicated best when things went unspoken. He pressed a gentle kiss to her hair. “I hope not,” he murmured right before sleep overtook her.

. . . . . . .

Scully blinked herself awake momentarily unaware as the morning light peaked through the windows. She smelled Mulder’s musk and she thought she had fallen asleep in the early morning during a stakeout. Her leg brushed against something hard...oh shit! Scully blinked herself wake, clenched her thighs, and rolled out of place on the couch. Mulder groaned something incomprehensible, not fully awake but aware of the sudden absence. Everything came back to her in a flash and she winced wondering how she could have let things get this far.

“Scully,” he mumbled. “Shit, what time is it?” He opened his eyes to see her cheeks a bright red and her staring fixedly at his legs. He followed her gaze to see…”Shit!” The blanket was a vain attempt at modesty. “Sorry…”

“We had a moment, Mulder. That’s all. I understand and it’s a typical physiological response.” She had her arms wrapped around herself. “I’m going to get a shower.”

“Scully,” he called again. He daughter her left hand as she tried to walk past. “About last night…”

“It was a moment, Mulder. Nothing. We have a job to do today, okay?” There it was. The walls were back up and she had closed off to him again. “I’ll start the coffee for you before I go back upstairs.”

He wanted to say more but his voice escaped him. He settled into old habits and settled with squeezing her hand. “Thanks, Scully.”

Mulder expected her to pull away in silence but she returned the squeeze gently before heading into the kitchen. It was some progress and he would take it, even at the expensive of his body’s betrayal.

. . . . . . .

He told her the thrill was gone. It was meant as a joke but it hurt deeper. She grabbed his hand to prevent him from going downstairs and back to the couch for the rest of the night. She was upset with him for a lot of things: Diana, the mock story of their meeting, the toothpaste, and the toilet seat but she still cared for him. She was also very much confused.  More that but she would never openly admit that. She had also surprised him with her demonstrative behavior.

“Stay here tonight,” she told him. “We both know how uncomfortable the couch is.”

Mulder clutched the overstuffed pillow before sitting it on the edge of the bed. “What do you want me to do? I see you are mad at me but then there are moments like last night. Then you pretend as if nothing has happened. I see your uneasiness with me pretending to be your husband.”

He watched her bit her lip as she failed to come up with the right word. “That's not us, Mulder,” she replied.

“We aren’t supposed to be us on this case.” He nodded to her. “Green facial masks make me wonder if you’ve become an alien hybrid.” She gifted him with a small chuckle. “Go finish your beauty routine..”

“Are we going to talk?”

“We can try.”

She disappeared into the bathroom to wash off the facial mask satisfied with the answer. Mulder tossed the pillow back on the bed and stared thoughtfully at the 600 count Egyptian sheets and firm new mattress. He adjusted the right side of the bed knowing that is where she would likely sleep for the night.

“I was thinking of what I could do tomorrow,” he called to her. “I have a pink flamingo which is scientifically proven to piss off the neighbors, just like the scientific nature of the whammy.”

“The jury is still out on that one, Mulder,” she answered from the bathroom.

“Well, don’t worry about me tomorrow while you run down to San Diego. It’s all under control.”

“I do worry when you say it’s all under control. That usually means I have to save your ass.” Back and forth, verbal sparring, thrust, and parry. Let’s hide our emotions some more and everything is fine then.  “What on Earth inspired you to come up with that UFO convention bullshit at dinner?”

“I hate this entire suburbia thing, Scully.” She emerged from the bathroom with her face bright red from the green facial. “I was bored although you looked ready to murder me.”

“I was but yet you’re still here. Don’t forget I know how to do it properly if I wanted to. And not get caught” She took off her robe and cast it aside on the chair with Mulder’s sweatshirt. “What about that kiss?” Scully may not have liked talking about her emotions but she was skilled in trying to give him a heart attack without trying. “That seemed…”

“What?”

“I don’t know. We don’t talk about that much either, do we, Mulder?”

Mulder sat on the edge of the bed unsure of the next move. Scully sat across from him. “Do you want to know what bothered me the most about this assignment initially, Mulder?” She took his silence as an affirmative. She took a deep breath and decided that maybe talking about her emotions was the way to start. Maybe it was the close quarters they shared or maybe she was just tired of it. “I couldn’t help see Diana in the role instead of me. I can’t help but wonder...call me jealous but it’s more than you trusting her over me...I felt like there was something in the past that she was trying to reclaim. Everything that we had...have...I don’t know where we stand anymore, Mulder.”

He blinked and was shell shocked. For Scully to even admit this level of openness of emotion or how she truly felt was mind-blowing for Mulder. “You’re jealous?”

“And hurt. What happened after Cassandra Spender and at the Gunmen’s felt like a slap in the face. I know she was,” Scully paused to consider her words, “with you when you unearthed the x-files.”

“She was never officially on them in any capacity,” Mulder took a deep breath weighing the truth. “It was more personal in nature.”

“You two were involved,” Scully surmised.

Mulder looked away and gave a weak nod.

“Yes. For a whirlwind nine months.” He watched her expression stay neutral but he saw hurt in her blue eyes. “I thought I had finally found someone to listen to me, someone who actually cared. But I was wrong. Maybe I was too obsessed with the work or something, but she left one day...no notice or anything. Just a note. I can still see. Fox - It was never going to work.”

“That was it?” Scully felt her blood boil not because of jealousy but because of anger. Mulder deserved more. “She just left you?”

“I’m used to it, Scully.” He shrugged. “My parents were no good, Phoebe left me, and it was only natural Diana followed. I sometimes think these days you are bound to do the same thing.”

“Neither one of us is perfect, Mulder but you can’t get rid of me.”

“I almost did.”

Scully sighed and took his hands. “I don’t like how she uses you.” They looked down their joined hands again and felt the electricity in the air. “I know she means something to you, Mulder but…”

“Enough talking about it, Scully. Please? She’s not here now, is she? It’s us. We have our office and work back..” His thumb caressed the webbing of her hand. “Granted this a lot lackluster than I wanted.”

She took a deep breath. “This isn’t what I expected either. This isn’t us, is it?”

“No,” he laughed. “Scully, are we okay?”

“I think we’re going to be,” she whispered. A small smile was on her lips. “Honeybunch.”

“Poopyhead? Really.”

Both smiled and she looked down at their hands. “I wonder how, if it wasn’t for the bee, things would have turned out between us.”

Mulder caught the innuendo. “What if, Scully.”

She took a deep breath. “We can’t, Mulder...we’re on a case.”

“But...you want to…” Say yes, Scully. Please say yes. “Scully?” Scully nodded slightly as her eyes closed. His hands were becoming more insistent playing with the inside of her wrists. She felt herself clench like she did that morning. “Let me,” he whispered, “I promise I can be discrete.”

Shit, she thought, they shouldn’t be doing this. “Mulder...I don’t want…” Scully gulped the moment she felt him invade her personal space and ignite the tension with a searing kiss on the crook of her neck. It was like she had been electrified alive and leave her body liquified. “Mulder…”

“What? Is there something wrong?”

She stared at his hazel eyes, dilated with arousal. “I don’t want this...I don’t want to hurt you...I don’t want to be hurt.”

“You won’t,” he said. His large hands framed her face. “You’ve never left me.”

She shook her head. “Mulder, this isn’t right,” she replied stopping him. “We both know it. This is neither the time nor the place.” She saw something in him break. “Mulder, it’s not you, it’s…”

“No. No, Scully, I get it.”

“Mulder, that’s not it…”

“No, I get it. Maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought I did,” he said.

No, no, no! He’s pulling away again.

“Mulder, stop! Mulder!”

“Why do you want me to say, Scully? This is probably what would’ve happened in the hallway,” he snapped. Scully drew away from him as if she had been burned. “You know, ever since you recovered from your cancer, I wanted to show you how much you mean to me. That I could be something to you.”

This was spiraling out of control. “Mulder, let me finish,” she begged.

“No, Scully. I get it. I’ve gotten a glimpse at your perfect life if you’d never met me.”

She needed to fix this and get his dumb mouth to shut up somehow. He was getting anxious, talking himself down. “Mulder! Shut up, for one minute!” But he kept talking about how she would have been so much better without him. “Mulder!” At wit’s end, she grabbed his hand and forced him to stare at her. He stilled and lowered his gaze like he was ashamed to see her. “Look at me. At the very least look at me in the eye as I talk to you.”

“What’s the point?”

“I don’t want to screw this up, Mulder...whatever we have between us, I don’t want to screw this up. We’re healing, we need to heal before we do anything else, before we do anything else.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean, Scully?”

“You idiot,” she murmured affectionately. Her hand gently caressed his cheek. “This is probably the most communicative and open we’ve been with each other for a while. Do you realize that? We haven’t been this open about us in...God, I can’t remember.”

Mulder stared at her with the intensity he reserved for an x-files and her. “We have, haven’t we?”

“Oxford education my ass, Mulder.”

He nodded in acceptance. “I’ll leave you some space then tonight.”

“I didn’t say you had to leave,” she said. “We can still talk, Mulder.”

Mulder nodded in acceptance. “What else do you want to know?”

“Nothing,” Scully said. “We don’t have to talk either.”

She suddenly grew self-conscious. Maybe she was making a mistake and misreading this entire thing.   welled up in her chest as she pulled down the quilt of the bed and Mulder watched her before helping. “I don’t know which one is more awkward, Scully, this or playing house.”

“Shut up, Mulder and come to bed.”

Soon, they were under the covers and the lights were out. In the darkness, they could be open again. As they lay side by side, Scully on her side and Mulder on his back, they let the silence eschew them. What was there to say when it still felt there an ocean dividing them? Mulder watched her back and breathing patterns. She was still awake. “I’m going to go downstairs, Scully,” he announced. His whispered voice rippled through the stillness. “This isn’t working.”

“Mulder,” she countered. She twisted to face him. “Why?”

“It just isn’t, Scully. I’m going downstairs to sleep, okay? I’ll see you in the morning.”

He rolled out of bed and disappeared downstairs into the night leaving Scully confused and wondering just what exactly had happened.

. . . . . . .

Scully left for San Diego and the field office first thing in the morning before he woke up off the couch. She left him no note or anything which he probably deserved. As he drank his orange juice and surveilled the pink flamingo, Mulder had time to think as his photographic memory replayed the conversation over on repeat. In his mind, he had overreacted and clearly done something that Scully had been repulsed by.  What the hell were you thinking when you kissed Scully, he berated himself?

. . . . . .

That evening, after a close call with Scully almost bludgeoned fire poker, both sat down in the living and shared a pizza. In front of them laid the evidence Scully had brought back from San Diego. He took a large bit from the pizza and asked, “So aside from you almost decking me tonight with a fire poker, my basketball hoop was also mysteriously returned to the garage as well.”

“So, the mysterious forces are returning basketball hoops and fixing our mailbox. Are you sure it wasn’t the neighborhood watch?”

“Very funny, Scully.”

“But seriously, you think there is a creature traveling from yard to yard? What inspired such a theory?”

“A trash monster if you will.”

“How original.”

“I can’t explain it yet, Scully but we need to dig out there without blowing our cover. I’ve already called for a digger tomorrow morning to start on it.”

“And how are you going to disguise that?”

“A reflection pool.” He tapped the side of his temple. “There’s nothing in those damn CC&Rs about a reflection pool.”

“Clever. So tomorrow, we watch you tear up the yard while I will be the good little housewife?”

“Unless there’s something else…”

“No. No, there isn’t.” As they continued to eat their pizza in silence and both felt the tension from the previous evening return. “I was thinking, Scully about last night.”

“What about last night?”

She watched him wearily and was clearly caught off guard. She had not expected anything to happen or any other discussion to occur. “Maybe we should spend the night together,” he started. He averted his eyes as he picked to bring up the awkward topic. “After what happened today. I don’t have an explanation for the mailbox or the flamingo or the basketball hoop. I know I saw something out there tonight I can’t explain and I just have a bad feeling about the trash monster.”

“Back each other up?” Scully asked as she kept her eyes focused on the pizza in front of her. “Have a defensible position?”

“Yeah. A defensible position. I was thinking that the bedroom would be better. You know, better than the living room.”

“Basic military defense 101 right, Scully?” He flashed her a warm smile which did nothing to alleviate her uneasiness. “You still wearing those earrings, huh?”

“What?”

He motioned at towards her ear lobe. “The earrings I got you for your birthday,”

“Oh yeah. I love them,” she told him. “That was incredibly thoughtful of you, Mulder.”

“I’m glad.”

“Why did you pull away last night, Mulder?”

Scully decided to lay it on the line. She was tired of them running around in circles, talking in code, and pretending. The Petries were overly sweet and adorable and so, so fake. Like Mulder and Scully, there was confusion and deception and broken trust. “What are you talking about?” Mulder deflected.

He started to gather the paper plate and the rest of the pizza to put it away in the fridge. “What am I talking about? Mulder, last night was just something or a spat. Who are you trying to protect? You or her?

“This isn’t about her, Scully. Can you please just drop it?”

“Then who is this about, Mulder? If you expect this to work between us again, us having the x-files back...I don’t want to go through it again.”  

“What?”

She recalled three years ago when they had been on a case in Maryland with mind control and televisions. She remembered the hallucination of seeing Mulder in the car with the Smoking Man and the shattering heartbreak in their still young partnership. Her worst fears coming true except this time it was real. “Mulder, tell what it is that I did! Do you not trust me? Would you rather have her?”

“Scully,” he groaned, setting everything on the counter. “Why are you doing this? Why now? We have more important things to focus on.”

“If not now, when, Mulder?”

“This isn’t about our partnership.”

“I am tired of dancing around this subject. This is about us, Mulder, you and me. You can’t keep running.”

“I’m not running.”

“Then what was last night, Mulder?”

“I overstepped the line,” he answered.

“Overstepped,” she repeated.

“I tried last night thinking we’d be able to recapture what we had but obviously I was wrong,” he told her.

Where is this coming from?

“What are you talking about, Mulder?”

“Last night,” he continued, ignoring the incredulous looks she was giving him. “Obviously there is nothing between us like that.”

Nothing between them? “What the hell are you talking about?” Was what happened in the hallway last summer nothing too? “Maybe I shouldn't have gone to your apartment that night. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to come back onto the x-files, Mulder. You and your ex-wife would have the rule of the roost again without me.”

“What did you say?” he hissed angrily.

“What?”

“About my ex-wife,” he pressed. There was a fire in his eyes that had only seen a handful of times.

“Diana,” she said. Scully drew herself up to her full five foot two stature when she suddenly wished she had her heeled boots on. “The Gunmen told me.”

“They shouldn’t have,” he said. “And you shouldn’t go sticking your nose in business where it doesn’t belong.”

“Is that something you didn’t think to tell me last night after you admitted your nine-month relationship? How long were you all married?”

“What does that have to do with anything, Scully and you know it!”

“Why didn’t you think it was important enough to tell me? And why are you still bringing it up?” 7For that, he could not formulate an answer. He looked down at the kitchen countertop. Scully sighed and shook her head. As much as she wanted to say something else, she knew no words to fix the wounds they had opened tonight. “We’re never going to get better are we, Mulder? Maybe we were okay at one point but I feel like now, why are we even trying, Mulder?” She hunched her shoulders in defeat. “I’m going to take a shower, Mulder. I still think we should not be alone, just in case something does happen. But I understand if you don’t…”

She left in silence and climbed the stairs. She unbuttoned her blouse and threw it onto the chair in the corner of the bedroom, not caring anymore. Scully couldn't place the emotions that she was feeling...hurt and disappointment, surely. She did not want to hurt anymore. She shut and locked the bathroom door behind her and turned on the hot water. She stepped in and tried to forget everything else.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Mulder continued to clean up the kitchen and put the remains of the pizza into the fridge next to their forgotten burritos from their first night. He did not want to go back upstairs and face Scully. He did not know what bothered him more, the fact the truth was out or Scully’s reaction. What was she reacting to, he thought.

After the rest of the kitchen was cleaned and the living room was picked up, Mulder stood at the foot of the stairs as an emotional war raged within him as that god awful song by The Clash played in his head. “Should I stay or should I go now?” he murmured to himself.

The words were mocking him and he suddenly found himself time traveling back to years ago to the moment when Diana had returned the wedding ring and the note to him. He stood transfixed at his desk in the basement, frozen in time unable to do anything. What had resulted was years worth of loneliness and self-loathing. Was he willing to let that happen all over again? They had the x-files again together but what were the odds she would still end up leaving him just like Diana did? Did he mess up again that much?

Taking a deep breath, there was only one way to find out. Mulder climbed the stairs trying not to make too much noise. He heard her in the shower and he shivered at the thought. Holding her as she slept the first night on the couch was a memory that he would hold onto the rest of his days. She emerged from the shower dressed in the same cotton pajamas she had been wearing the past few nights. She was not surprised to see him in the bedroom.

“Come to berate me some more?” She arched her eyebrow in challenge. “Or did you have something else in mind.”

“No,” he answered. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Mulder couldn’t endure their small, painful spats anymore. “I came to apologize.” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “I mean it, Scully. Do you want to know what happened? She left me, that much is the truth. She left that note, the wedding band, and my heart smashed in pieces. You know what I did. I fell off the face of the Earth. I threw those rings into the Potomac to never be seen again and thereby proceeded onto a three-day drinking binge where I probably should have died of alcohol poisoning. Frohike found me literally laying in the gutter where a three-day suit with throw up all over it. So yeah, I took it kind of hard.”

Scully’s face remained impassive but he could see the emotional turmoil in her blue eyes. “I still deserved to know.”

“Why? For your pity? Your spite?” He bit his lip to curb his sharp tongue. “Sorry, Scully.”

She watched him patiently. “Mulder, I’m your partner but over the past month or so, it doesn’t always feel like it. I don’t like her because I don’t trust her but it also feels like you don’t trust me either. You’d rather run off chasing monsters with her than me.”

“I don’t want to see anything happen to you! You mean so much more to me than she ever did. She’s expendable. You aren’t!”

Scully was stunned by his admissions. “What is that supposed to mean, Mulder? You aren’t responsible for me.” Her voice softened. “I told you that long ago, remember? I am here because I want to be. I’m not running, Mulder.”

Another long moment passed and ticking of a clock could be heard somewhere. “Well, this is awkward.”

They both chuckled slightly and the tension eased. “I don’t want you to lie to me, Mulder. Not anymore. Not because you are trying to protect me from some hurt feelings. We’re partners, agreed?”

“Of course.” Why would she ask such a question? “Scully, I know I screwed up last month. But I am tired of fighting and I suspect you are as well.”

“What gave it away?” Mulder could not tell if she was being sarcastic or not. She gave him a small smile. “I’m tired to walking around in circles with this, Mulder. Let’s just move on for the sake of moving on, huh?”

Mulder recognized the olive branch when he saw it but something stirred deeper within him. “Yeah.”

After a moment, she nodded and licked her lips. “Mulder, stay here tonight. I want to try anything if that is not you are worried about…”

It’s not, he thought miserably.

“I just rather be safe than sorry.”

“Of course.”

“Bathroom’s free.”

Mulder nodded and proceeded to get ready for bed as his heart pounded in his chest. Everything screamed in his chest that this wrong or a trap, but he finished getting ready for bed to find Scully already underneath the covers reviewing the file from earlier. “Put that way, Scully. We both need to sleep.”

“I will.”

Mulder sighed and crawled into the opposite side of the bed and leaned against the headboard. He tugged at the file and took it out of her hands. “Scully.”

“Fine, fine.”

The file was cast aside and they turned out the lights. Mulder heard Scully trying to get comfortable in the bed next to him. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

She flopped onto her stomach and Mulder rolled to his side. Still unable to get comfortable, Scully grabbed the pillow to change it up. Without think, Mulder traced his hand down her spine and felt her freeze. “Trust me.”

Mulder only wanted to comfort Scully. That is all he wanted to do. She had already suffered so much for the sake of his quest and he owed her a lot. Scully relaxed as she felt the pressure from his fingertips start at the base of her neck, linger around where the chip was before slightly massaging the neck around the collar of her pajamas. He felt her shudder and relax. “Okay?”

Scully nodded into the pillow. “It’s just...no ones…” She bit her lip and silenced herself.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Mulder let it go for the time being as he moved into much more dangerous waters. “You don’t have to hide from me, Scully. My secrets out and yet you’re still here; you didn’t run.”

“I told you it takes a lot to scare me,” she whispered into the pillow. “If anything, I feel like the air has cleared.”

“Has it, Scully?”

“Let’s say it has,” she answered hypothetically. Her breath hitched as she felt his touch dip lower down his back. “Maybe things can change between us.”

“How so?”

“We see where things take us? We don’t rush. We don’t do anything to hurt each other.”

She turned her head to face him and he bent his head forward closer. “What does that leave us?”

“The unknown variable.” She studied his face trying to discern any clue to what he was thinking. “We don’t have to do anything. I just miss the trust that we had, Mulder.”

“Have,” he corrected. “We have trust, Scully.”

“Do we?”

He inched closer to her and she held her breath as he brushed his lips against hers. He felt her exhale reverently. “We do.”

“We can’t do anything, Mulder. Not while we’re on a case.” Her blood was screaming for more. “As much as I…we need to remain professional.”

“I know.”

He took her hand gently and kissed her open palm. “You want to talk, we can talk.”

Then there was another kiss on the inside of her neck. “You’re being distracting.”

“I’m proving a point, Scully.” He voice lowered and he grasped her hand. “Aside from teasing you, it’s you...it’s always been you. I may be a little lost…”

“Easily distracted.”

“Easily distracted but I’m back. We’re back, Scully and I know what’s important.” She knew better than to push her luck and what was happening was world’s away from where they had been. She nodded. “We still need to watch each other’s back. You ready for bed?”

Scully took his hand and lead him upstairs to the bedroom and Mulder, feeling emboldened wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and pulled her against him. “Not helping, Mulder.” She did not try to pull away either. He chuckled softly and kissed her shoulder. “Mulder.”

“I know, I know. You aren’t exactly saying no though,” he noted. “I’m going to get ready for bed. Do you want the bathroom?”

Reluctantly, she pulled away. “I’ll only be a minute.”

Scully went to the bathroom to prepare for bed while Mulder changed into a tee shirt and sleeping pants. It only took minutes before Scully emerged from the bathroom dressed in her cotton pajamas. Without even asking he pulled down the blankets and went to the left side of the bed. “I won’t do anything to ruin your chastity.”

“I’m hardly a virgin, Mulder.”

“You know what I mean, Scully.”

They both slid beneath the covers and Scully checked the nightstand for her service weapon before shutting it soundly. He watched her amused. “Do you need anything else?”

“I’m fine, Mulder.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.” Darkness once again welcomed them as the lights were turned out on either side of the bed. Scully turned onto her side with her back to him. “Do you think the trash monster will come,” she teased in the darkness.

“I don’t know,” he said, “but I think we’ll be okay.” She felt a hesitant hand rest on the curve of her hip and she tensed slightly. “I’m not going to try anything crazy. Just give me a chance, Scully.”

Mulder continued to test the waters between them. “What are you doing?”

“You let me kiss you earlier. I want to see what else you will let me try.”

“Mulder…”

“I’m still going to behave, Scully.” Mulder grew bolder and wrapped an arm around her waist. She felt him press himself against her back and she shivered at the sensation of being held by him. “Relax, relax...I’m not going to bite or turn into a trash monster.” She gave a light chuckle. “Is this okay?”

“I’m not a china doll,” she admonished.

Scully weaved her fingers with his and pulled his arm tighter. Mulder kissed the nape of her neck and was astonished how small she was and how well they fit together. Feeling Mulder’s ghostly touch through her clothes sparked fantasies that she had long suppressed. The impulse to do more than this also resurfaced. “Mulder, do you consider us to be just partners?”

She picked the vaguest and purposely professional word she could think of trying to test him. His hand disengaged from hers and for another odd second, her heart stopped due to her presumptive boldness. His hand dipped lower into the valley of her thigh and she clenched. “Was that kiss nothing? Yes were partners, but you are also my best friend who gets away with shooting me from time to time and saving my ass.” He kissed her again as his hand explored. “But I want us, like you said, to go about this later. We still need to talk and I don’t want to screw this up again. But like you said, we still have a job to do an there can be time for that later.”

“I can’t believe you’re being the voice of reason.” She reclaimed his hand and brought it to her chest.  “We’re okay, right, Mulder?”

Their closeness was welcoming and she could already feel a change between them. He nodded into her shoulder. “We’re good. Let’s try and get some sleep,  Scully. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

. . . . . .

Chasing monsters, reflection pools, false scares, trash monsters, and a ruined suburban paradise. Mulder surveyed Gogolak’s dead body handcuffed in front of the mailbox and then looked back to the doorway to see Scully standing there as if in a daze. “Big Mike’s body is upstairs,” she said softly.

He looked down at his ruined jeans and then back to his partner. She looked worse for her with her hair askew. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she answered. She walked down the porch steps and took his hands momentarily and began to examine him for injury. “Are you okay, Mulder? No scrapes, bruises, or cuts?”

“I have trash in my shoes, but I’m okay other than that.” He watched the blinds snap shut over at the Schroder house. “I’ll call it in, Scully.”

. . . . . . . .

After almost a week, the case was finally closed. Scully found herself back in the same hotel where they had been at the beginning of the week. In her hotel, she eyed the adjoining door as Mulder strolled through without knocking carrying a bag of Chinese takeout and official looking FBI folders. She sat on her bed wearing jeans and a sweatshirt finally free from the vestiges of Laura Petrie. “Mulder, I told you no reports over dinner.”

“I just thought you would want to see what the lab boys found.”

“No reports. You promised, remember?”

“Fine, fine.” He cast the files on the hotel desk before joining her on the bed. “So, one order of beef and broccoli with fried rice for you, General Tso’s chicken for me, and two diet cokes.”

“Wonderful.” Scully helped spread the small feast across the bedspread. “And for the movie, The Exorcist.”

“A classic, Scully. We’ve only dealt with what, one possession?”

“Something like that. The first time I watched it was with Missy. We sneaked into the theatre together. I was nine. It scared me for months before I was able to sleep without my nightlight again.”

“Oh poor little Dana was scared of the dark,” Mulder teased.

“I was a good little Catholic, Mulder and it was the worst fears. Come on. Are you going to tease me for the rest of the night or are we watching the movie?”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Well let's get this movie started.”

Something must have changed over the past few days. There was less bickering and tension. The Chinese takeout was forgotten and put away into the mini fridge within the first 30 minutes. Mulder quickly reclaimed his spot to her on the hotel bed. Scully had scooted backward towards the pillows. He had somehow missed that she had taken the pillows from the extra queen bed and piled it onto the bed that they had been sitting on.

“Pillow fort, Scully?”

“It's turning into a sleepover, Mulder. Come back here.”

Mulder did not need to be told twice. He grabbed an extra blanket off the bed and pulled to where they were sitting. “Blanket fort helps too, Scully. A pillow can’t be structurally sound without a blanket fort.”

Scully watched him mirthfully and formed her lips into a silent Oh. Doing something he was forbidden to do a week ago, he lounged back into the mountain of pillows and Scully watched him amused. “Is this the new norm?”

“It could be.”

Mulder patted the right side of the bed invitingly as she chuckled. “Pillow and bed forts. Whoever thought the golden boy of the FBI was ever capable.”

“I am an agent of many talents which you’ll soon discover.” Scully joined him on the bed. “So I heard a medical doctor order a sleepover for the night.”

“You heard correctly.”

This was nice, this new thing between them. She settled back against the pillows with his arms framed around her. The hotel quilt was pulled up around them and she snuggled closer. “Maybe marriage did us good.”

“However brief but I always preferred being the good old boy.”

“You’re anything but good.”

Mulder pressed a heated kiss into the curve her shoulder and she shivered. “You have no idea.” His hand dipped lower. “Not during the movie?”

“You can soothe the nightmares away later, and the trash monsters.” She snuggled up next to him. “I want to watch this and be properly afraid.”

“What’s that mean, Scully?”

“I didn’t have anyone to hide with during the scary scenes.” She kissed him. “When we’re back home...maybe a few dates, maybe some other stuff.”

“The Yankees’ spring training is coming up…”

“Looks like you better plan a vacation or a conveniently placed case.”

He chuckled and hugged her closer. “I’ll settle for movie nights to begin with.”

[t-lostinworlds]

Crush (Ethan Dolan) [3]

A/N: I am very aware that I am so slow at updating, and I am so sorry. ANYHOW! Part 3 is finally here!

Summary: What would happen if the one and only Ethan Dolan found himself crushing on a simple but closed off girl like you? Would he work hard to try and break your walls? Or would everything be too much for him? (loosely based on the song Crush by David Archuleta)

Warnings: None, maybe typos haha.

Word Count: 6,136

Masterlist in Bio

P.S. I’ll leave the tags at the bottom, so if you want to be tagged when I post an update to this series just comment/message me and let me know 💖😊 (or if you want to get tagged when I post a new fic just let me know haha)

-:-:-:-:-

Part 3

Your usual routine every time you have a day off is just being a couch potato the whole day, eating junk food while watching some random movie on Netflix. You don’t usually go out unless it’s certainly needed to. So when you stood in front of an unfamiliar building in downtown L.A., you just knew today was going to be very different than most days off.

After that night at the restaurant, you’ve received a text from James almost immediately as you got home, saying that he really does want to film a video with you, but he didn’t say what it was about yet. The both of you only talked about your schedule and when you would be free. Few days later, here you are, standing in front of James’ apartment door.

You knocked a couple of times before you heard a faint shuffling on the other side of the door. Next thing you knew, you were greeted by a glammed up James, smile wide with a hint of mischief in them. Your eyebrows met for a couple of seconds but were soon gone when he engulf you in a hug.

“You came! I’m so excited for this video oh my god!” He exclaimed, letting go of you in order for him to step aside, gesturing you to come in. You fiddled with your fingers as you looked around the place. It was nothing too extravagant but it was still aesthetically pleasing with the red brick walls, frames with motivational quotes in them and a few plants here and there. You nodded to yourself, impressed; it definitely was better looking than your tiny apartment.

“James! Why the fuck does your Wi-Fi have to be so slow!” You jumped, startled by the abrupt voice coming from behind you. You turned around to face the living room, and that’s when you saw him. To say that your heart skipped a beat would make it too cliché, but is still true to say the least.

It has only been a few days since the last time you saw him in person but he seemed to have grown even more handsome with that light scruff covering his jaw.

You hated to admit it but you have been thinking about him none stop, and not because you’re a fan of him, but because of this odd feeling that erupts inside of you whenever he crosses your thoughts. And when you watch their videos over, you found yourself staring at him longer than you should be, getting a little too distracted when he laughs or just stares at the camera too intensely as if he was looking straight at you.

You tried plenty of times to ignore this little “crush” you have on him, because you didn’t want to get hurt again, not after what happened just a year ago, but it seems to get only harder as the time goes by.

You looked at him with wide eyes, clearly surprised because James failed to mention that he was going to be here too. He was just laid flat on the couch, his phone directly on top of his face as he scrolled through it, completely oblivious to your presence.

“Don’t be rude Ethan, especially when I have a guest over.” James said from behind you but you can’t seem to take your eyes off of Ethan. You flinched a little bit when you felt a hand on your shoulder, turning around expecting James but you saw Grayson smiling down at you before turning his attention to Ethan when he spoke.

“What guest? I know it’s Grayson who just walked in so don’t use that excuse on me.” Ethan grumbled, his eyes still glued on his phone. You bit your lip to suppress a smile, looking up at Grayson who was chuckling at his stupid brother.

“Don’t say anything just yet until I give you a signal okay?” He whispered, but before you could respond, his voice already boomed around the apartment.

“(Y/N)! It’s nice to see you again.” Grayson exclaimed, giving you a quick hug. You hugged him back, still a little bit confused as to what’s happening, but you kept your mouth shut just as he said.

“Ha – ha very funny Gray, stop playing with me.” Ethan rolled his eyes, but still didn’t tear his eyes off his phone. You covered your mouth as you giggled, looking up at Grayson, him giving you a wink and a quick nod.

“What’s funny?” As soon as those words left your mouth Ethan’s head snapped in your direction, mouth hanging open and eyes as wide as saucers as he saw you standing there. He dropped his phone on his face and cursed, stumbling as he tried to stand up as quick as he can.

“(Y/N)! Hi.” He squeaked when he finally stood on both feet, swallowing the lump in his throat, his hand scratching the back of his neck while his face turned extremely red.  

“Hi Ethan.” You waved at him shyly, giggling at his reaction, feeling a little bit flattered thinking that maybe, just maybe you weren’t the only one feeling these feelings towards a certain someone.

You quickly shook your head to get rid of your thoughts, mentally slapping yourself as you realized that you are already dancing around dangerous territory.

You know Ethan is a great guy but still, you can’t be that naïve girl again. As much as you like him, you need to protect your heart as much as you can, even if that means denying your feelings for him. Maybe if he can prove himself, then you’ll try your best and open up a little.

Grayson laughed beside you; hand on his stomach as he turned around to James who was holding his phone up. “Did you get that?” He said in fits of laughter. James giggled with a nod, “Sure did sister.”

You laughed, looking back at Ethan who was rubbing his face with a groan, evidently annoyed at all of you. Well, maybe not so much at you because he can’t be annoyed at how adorable you looked today in your simple ripped jeans, black Vans, and a black rolling stones t-shirt.

Ethan hasn’t stopped thinking about you ever since the two of you met at the restaurant. Even Grayson got annoyed at how he kept talking and asking about you, pestering James at times to just give him your number already, but James is stubborn as hell, he kept saying that he should just wait.

He sometimes even tried to eat at the restaurant again but Grayson advised him to be patient, and not to be desperate.

Ethan tried to deny his attraction towards you but he just knew that what he’s feeling is not a one-time or a playful thing. He has never liked a girl this hard before, and that’s saying something because he doesn’t catch feelings for girls that easily.

“Hi.” You said with a soft smile, Ethan blinking twice before realizing that he unconsciously walked towards you. “Hi.” He responded, blushing profusely knowing how weird he must have been just standing in front of you for who knows how long.

The way you had Ethan captivated is scaring the living daylights out of him. You already had him hypnotized without doing anything at all. Your simplicity is so beautiful that he just can’t seem to get enough of it.

You stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, your smiles slowly disappearing, both your eyes speaking for themselves.

“(Y/N)! We’re ready for you!” James sing-songed, breaking the gaze between you two as you looked away, cheeks flushing. “Uh, I have to –” You started, not being able to finish your sentence as you pointed both of your hands towards James. Ethan nodded as you slowly walked towards James, getting inside a room that looks like his studio.

“Okay kitty girl, you sit here and we’ll film the intro.” James instructed after he introduced you to his editor, placing a stool behind the white table. You sat down, eyes adjusting to the bright lights. “Okay we’re filming.” James sat down beside you and smiled, clasping his hands together in an excited manner.

He took a deep breath before saying, “Hey sisters! James Charles here and welcome back to my YouTube channel! Today I am joined by a very unfamiliar face to you guys. Say hello to my friend (Y/N)!”

“Hi guys!” You said shyly, waving both of your hands. “So sister (Y/N), how about you tell us something about yourself and your taste in make-up and in fashion.” James looked at you expectantly. “Yeah, my name is (Y/N) and I’m just a simple girl who works as a server in a restaurant, nothing too special really. Make up and fashion wise, well…” You trailed off, not really sure on what to say.

“It’s okay, just take your time. It’ll look fine after editing I promise.” James reassured. “You’re doing great (Y/N)!” You heard Ethan yell from somewhere, making you blush and fumble with your words even further. James looked at you, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

“I – uh, I don’t really wear that much make up as you can see but I really love watching your videos even if I know nothing about make up you are just so fun to watch. And I just wear the usual jeans and shirt every day.” You laughed, thinking about how boring you actually are. “Aww, thanks sweetie.” James gave you a side hug before turning back to the camera.

“Yes, Sister (Y/N) here is just a shy simple girl, but we are going to changed that today by giving her a makeover!” He squealed excitedly, clapping his hands a few times. You stared at him, in utter surprise, clearly not expecting this at all.

“She didn’t know about this anyway that’s why she’s sister surprise at the moment.” James spoke to the camera nonchalantly. “Wait what? A makeover?” You asked, eyebrows knitting together.

“Yup, I thought I’d treat you with a makeover since you were so kind to us when we ate at the restaurant, and trust me guys, she is the sweetest ever. I can also see that you are very hard working so I’d really love to buy you new clothes!” James exclaimed. “Oh my god! Thank you!” You exclaimed, giving him a huge hug.

You aren’t exactly poor but you can’t really spoil yourself either since you are still saving up so that you can open your own restaurant soon, plus paying the bills doesn’t come in cheap. It makes you really happy that James is kind enough to treat you on buying an outfit.

“Don’t mention it sweetie!” He hugged you back. “And we’re going to be picking three outfits today so we better get going and you wouldn’t be able to see them until the big reveal.” He added after you guys pulled back. “Three outfits?!” you asked, your eyes bugging out of your head.

“Yes sister, we are going all out today. So chip chop, let’s go sister shopping! Ew that was so bad.” And with that both of you stood up and went outside of his studio.

“James, three is too much, you really don’t have to.” You said, still overwhelmed by his sudden generosity. You don’t really know each other that well yet, the only thing you have is what you see in their videos.

“No it really is fine. And I have a big feeling that we will be seeing you more often so three outfits is no biggie.” He brushed you off, leaving you there even more confused.

What does he mean by seeing you more often? Is James Charles planning something here? Is this more than just a simple video?

“Twins!” James yelled, catching both boys’ attention who were just sitting on the couch, on their phones. “You drove here separately right?”

“Oddly enough, yes, we did.” Ethan answered, giving suspicious looks at James. There’s something about today that makes Ethan feel a bit uncomfortable, like James and his brother a plotting his death or something. This morning, James just randomly texted him to come by at his place for something really important and when he got out of the house, Grayson’s car was nowhere to be found.

So he drove here in his Jeep, sending Grayson a quick text to where he was going. Weirdly enough Grayson responded a few minutes later saying he was on his way to James’ place too, he just needed to pick up a few things that’s why he went out earlier than expected.

“Perfect! Let’s go people!” James shouted, clapping his hands in an authoritative way, ushering everyone off of their seats and outside the door.

“So I guess were taking the Jeep since that’s the only way we all fit?” Ethan said when all of you reached the spot where the boys parked their cars.

“No way, I’m not leaving my car here. I don’t trust this neighborhood.” Grayson shook his head, holding both of his hands up as he walked over towards the driver’s seat, getting inside without another word.

“Ooh true, okay, Kelly and I will go with Grayson and (Y/N) would you mind accompanying Ethan? No? Okay let’s go! Ethan I’ll text you the address!” James grabbed Kelly’s hand and went inside Grayson’s car before you could even utter a single word. Next thing you know, they already drove off, leaving you standing there with Ethan dumbfounded.

“Un-fucking-believable.” You heard Ethan grumble behind you. “What was that about?” You asked with a small laugh, turning around just in time to see him rake his fingers through his hair with his other hand in his pocket, his biceps flexing in the process, the white shirt he was wearing leaving so little to the imagination.

No one can disagree with you when you say that Ethan Dolan is hot. Yes you’ve seen him shirtless from photos since there are quite a lot, but seeing it in the flesh is a whole different level, and he isn’t even shirtless now.

You bit your lip unconsciously and Ethan caught this immediately as he was already looking at you, a smirk playing across his face, feeling his ego shoot to the roof. Maybe he doesn’t have to worry too much about making you like him.

“Trust me, I have no idea.” He chuckled as he answered your question, making you snap back to reality, and judging by his smug expression, you definitely got caught checking him out. “What?” You asked, giving him an innocent smile, but your cheeks still turned red anyway.

“I don’t know, maybe I just caught you eyeing me or something.” He raised one eyebrow at you as he ran his tongue over his teeth, making him look even hotter, feeling even more confident this time when he saw you blush.

“Oh don’t be so full of yourself Ethan.” You rolled your eyes, the flush on your cheeks just growing even more. He laughed, turning around and opening the car door for you. “After you mi lady.” He curtsied with a grin, super pleased with himself, knowing that he has somewhat of an effect on you judging by your red cheeks.

You cocked your head to the side, looking at him cautiously as you walked forward and stood in front of him for a second. “I heard you like a gentlemen?” He gave you a quick wink and smirked, making you scoff as you got in the car, the shy and awkward Ethan from moments ago was long gone.

He jogged his way to the driver’s seat, a grin now plastered on his face. He can sense that you are trying to hide something from him. Not many people know this but Ethan is very good at reading people, whether it’s form body language or just how your eyes look.

Just as Ethan started the engine of his Jeep, his phone beeped. “Is he fucking serious?” He muttered as he read the text over and over. “What is it?” You asked with your eyebrows drawn together.

“James just texted me, but he didn’t give any address at all. He just said that I should keep you busy while he picks out the outfits, saying it should be a surprise. Then he added, ‘have fun you two.’” He answered, scratching the back of his neck, finally putting the pieces bit by bit on what James is planning all this time.

“Okay, that’s a bit weird. Are you sure he didn’t say something to you about this? Because I feel like this is more than just a video.” You giggled, thinking about how slick James can be when planning things.

“I kind of have a hunch, but I’m not entirely sure. And no, whatever he is planning, I have no idea.” Ethan narrowed his eyes at the road, scrunching up his nose as if he was deep in thought, which was very cute.

“So I guess you’re stuck with me then.” You shrugged as you gestured your hand from the top of your head to your feet, Ethan’s eyes following attentively, almost sizing you up.

“I wouldn’t mind that. I wouldn’t mind that at all. I’d quite like that actually.” He smiled at you cheekily, giving you another wink as his chin rested on his hand.

“Oh for fucks sake, stop doing that will you?” You groaned, burying your face in both your hands to hide you red face. Remember that time when you said if you’d had a dollar every time you blushed? Well, you’d be filthy rich by now, especially when you’re with Ethan.

“Stop doing what (Y/N)? Making you blush? Is little old me making you blush again?” He teased, giving you a soft poke on your side making you flinch a little bit. God this man just knows how to make you feel all tingly and soft inside doesn’t he? The way he has an effect on you is frightening.

“Just drive idiot you’re wasting gas.” You avoided answering his question as you are too embarrassed to admit so. “Fine, where to?” He chuckled, finally driving off, silently thanking James just a little bit for giving him a chance to spend more time with this amazing girl.

“Pizza?”

 ***

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Grayson trudged behind James lazily, getting more and more confused as to why he has dragged him into this “plan” of his.

“James, what am I even doing here? I clearly no nothing about girls’ fashion.” Grayson groaned when James dragged him into a Gucci store.

“Well, you clearly know Ethan and I want you to judge if Ethan would like the outfit or not.” James brushed him off, picking out a nice belt for you. Grayson furrowed his eyebrows, “You do know Ethan won’t care what (Y/N) wears right?”

“Oh no, I know that. I just want to see him all shock and everything, like completely blown away.” James said, settling with a cute and simple reversible black leather with a double G buckle that would go very well with the first outfit he has chosen.

“Can you at least explain to me bit by bit what you really are planning here? Because you only texted me and said that I should leave the house before Ethan wakes up since you have a surprise for him. And I know some of this isn’t part of the video.” Grayson crossed his arms in front of his chest as leaned over the counter, waiting for James to explain everything to him.

“It really is plain and simple Grayson. First, I wanted the two of you to drive separately so that we can just leave Ethan and (Y/N) with each other. Second, I have set up something for the two of them later on and just let this relationship blossom. You saw how they looked at each other, there is something there, and I really love being a sister cupid for once.” James grabbed the bag and started to walk out of the store, Grayson quick to catch up with him.

“Wait, you aren’t including this in the video right?” Grayson asked as he saw Kelly about to turn the camera back on.

“No silly. As much as I would like to put ‘Setting Up Best Friend with His Crush’ on the title, I want this to be private, you know how some of your fans are, I wouldn’t do that to (Y/N) and to Ethan. Besides, we still don’t know where this is going to end up. I’m just giving them a starting point, and the rest is up to them.” He gave Grayson an honest smile, in which Grayson nodded approvingly.

Of course Grayson loves their fans so much, but some of them can be a bit too much when it comes to them dating or just being with a girl for that matter. And James is right, they still didn’t know if this is going to work or not, plus it’s their choice if they want to go public.

“I feel like I’m just your private driver or something.” Grayson complained as they got back inside the car. “Oh sush, you’re helping more than you think you are sweetie.” James gave a dismissive wave of his hand, handing some bags to Kelly in the back.

“Where to next?” Grayson asked. James gave him the address to their next destination, heaving a huge sigh, Grayson slowly drove off.

 ***

“Uh, I’ll get a pineapple pizza, and…” Ethan looked up from the menu and at you. “I’ll get the same.” You smiled at the waitress. She gave you both a nod and walked away. You looked back at Ethan to see him smile at you in complete adoration.

“Do you really like pineapple pizza or are you just trying to impress me?” He wriggled his eyebrows at you, leaning back on his seat as the corner of his mouth quirked up. You scoffed, “Please, I’ve been eating pineapple pizza long before I knew your obsession about them.”

This just keeps getting better and better. He thought to himself, leaning forward to rest his elbow on the table and stared right into your eyes. “Where have you been all my life?” He muttered, his crush for you building up more and more as he got to know you better.

“You’re so cheesy aren’t you?” You shook your head with a laugh, the redness starting to tint you cheeks once again. He listed his shoulders up in a half shrug. “At least I try and I know you find it cute because you’re blushing again.” He pressed, tilting his head to the side with a proud smile, making your eyes roll.

“Shut up.” You grumbled looking everywhere but him. He held his hands up in surrender as he laughed, the beautiful sound echoing around the restaurant.

“Why are you even wearing a hoodie? It’s hot out.” You changed the topic to try and divert the attention to something else. “Well, I’m clumsy as fuck and I don’t want to stain my white shirt.” He answered, eyes lighting up as the waitress came back with two huge slices of pizza.

“Oh wow this is huge.” He rubbed his hands together as he licked his lips, so excited to take a bite already. “Let me take a picture.” You suggested, him agreeing as he gave you his phone. He lifted the pizza up, doing silly faces and a few serious ones.

“I’m starving.” You sighed, lifting your own pizza to take a huge bite, hearing a click a few seconds after. You looked up to see Ethan holding his phone up with a chuckle. “Cute.”

“Delete that Ethan.” You glared at him, your mouth still full, but being the stubborn person that he is, he just kept snapping pictures of you as you tried your best to hide your face.

“Please stop.” You laughed as he started to make faces as if he was a professional photographer. After a few more clicks he finally stopped, giving you a wide smile, showing his gums and all. “You’re such a dork.” You can’t help but feel your heart swell at this adorable person in front of you. How can someone be adorable and hot at the same time?

The two of you continued to eat your pizza, just talking about anything and everything as you got to know each other more, finding out that the more you guys talked, the more you have in common.

Ethan found himself liking you more and more as he found out the things you are passionate about and the things that makes you, you. Ethan likes it when you talk about the things that make you who you are because it just makes you glow in such a way that has him captivated.

That’s why he silently cursed when James texted that it was time for the two of you to go back to his apartment, indicating that your alone time together is ending.

You frowned as you received the same text as well, not wanting this time with Ethan to end, but you had a video to finish so you guys paid your meal and stood up, slowly walking back to the car, the conversation between the two of you not pausing even for a second.

Ethan opened the door for you again, being the gentleman that he is. When he got to the driver’s seat, he stared at you for a moment, deep in thought.

Ethan doesn’t like to say it out loud but he does in fact get shy around girls, but something about you just wants him to be bold and daring for once, so that’s what he did.

You felt your breath get caught up in your throat when Ethan reached over you, left palm flat on the window on your side as he came face to face with you. He stared you down, your faces just inches away from each other, to the point where you can smell a hint of mint coming from his breath due to the gum he just chewed a few seconds ago.

His eyes glanced down your lips for a moment, not even trying to be discrete at all. You gulped, your hands fisting on your thighs, feeling your heart rate escalate. He looked back at your eyes with a lopsided grin as you felt his hand brush pass your shoulder, his nose now almost brushing yours.

“Seatbelt.” He whispered, before pulling away with the strap of your seatbelt in his hands.

You took a glimpse at him as he locked in your seatbelt while he watched you intently through his lashes, with you still frozen in your spot, your brain still processing how close you were just seconds ago.

You let out a deep breath that you didn’t realize you were holding as he sat back on his seat, wanting nothing more than to punch that stupid grin off of his face.

“What? Safety first.” He shrugged as you eyed him questionably, putting on his own seatbelt.

Funny how quick the tables have turned don’t you think? Earlier he was the one all awkward and fumbling when you were around then all of the sudden he’s got this huge confidence out of nowhere, making you feel so shy and intimidate by him.

“If I hadn’t known better, I’d say your hitting on me Dolan.” You teased to try and hide your embarrassment.

“What if I am? What if I like you? Would that be a problem?” He said bluntly, staring at you with a proud, genuine yet very nervous smile with both hands on the wheel just as he started the car. He knew it might have been too early for him to say that, but the short amount of time that you spent together had him so sure that he in fact likes you a lot.

That caught you off-guard by a lot, blinking a few times with your mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, not sure on how to respond.

What a way to tell you that he does in fact like you in a way right? I mean it really that much a big of a deal, maybe he just likes you like a friend or something but the way he has been acting by only a few meetings are saying a lot.

He chuckled at your reaction and took his eyes off of you as he drove off, biting hid bottom lip to try and hide the fact that his cheeks are getting red as well. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel anxiously since he pretty much admitted himself that he does in fact like you.

To come and think about saying that to a girl you hardly know and had just met twice is a completely and utter madness. For all he knows, you would’ve think he was delusional or crazy or something.

Even admitting to himself that he likes you more than he normally should makes him think that’s he has finally lost his brain, but something inside him is urging him to continue, that this isn’t wrong.

Why would it be wrong though? After all, you don’t get to choose who you catch feelings for, it just happens and there’s nothing you can do about it, whether it’s at first sight or a couple dates after.

He stole a few glances over you as you stayed silent making sure to still focus on the road, but his foot was bouncing out of nervousness for what you would say to him.

Ethan was never the one to be bold and brave towards a girl, especially in person. I mean when you do it on text, it is so much easier since you don’t have the pressure of getting embarrassed or the fear of rejection. Plus rejection over text hurts less than getting rejected straight up front.

He was overthinking your answer a lot, would you reject him and tell him he’s weird or would you take it differently?

You still stared at him like an idiot, words getting caught up in your throat. You two haven’t really known each other that much yet, so should you say you are keen on the idea – which you very are even if you’ve only met him twice – or should you deny and hide everything to just save yourself from getting hurt in the near future?

You cleared your throat when you’ve finally composed yourself, settling with the best answer you could come up with.

“Well, if that’s the case, just so you know, I am not an easy girl Ethan. I’m pretty guarded as I may say.” You spoke with truth, settling with giving him a little warning that you are not sure about getting into something that involves dating just yet but not full out rejecting him too since you do like him, as weird as that sounds.

“I know and I am going to work hard to break your walls and prove myself, I promise. You might be weirded out by this but I really do like you (Y/N), and I’d like to see where this connection is going to take us.” He said and you can see how he truly meant it just by looking at his eyes.

“Me too Ethan.” You whispered, not really being specific on what you mean by that, if you liked him too or you’d liked to see where this is going too, or maybe it’s just both.

“Okay.” Ethan nodded and smiled, slowly driving off. At least you didn’t say no and that you didn’t like him right? Plus your answer pretty much meant you agreed with everything he said, and there was nothing negative about what he said.

The two of you continued to get to know each other during the drive back to James’ place, sometimes jamming out to the song on the radio when it was familiar to you both, just enjoying each other’s company all in all, laughing and just smiling from ear to ear.

A few minutes later, Ethan pulled up in front of Grayson’s car with a sigh, the smile still glued on his face as you guys laughed about something stupid he did when he was young. He turned the ignition off and unclasped his seatbelt, about to open the door when he heard you sigh in annoyance.

“You okay?” He turned to face you, seeing you struggle with the clip of your seatbelt. “Need help?” He added with a chuckle as you blew out air from your cheeks. “Please?” You gave him a pout as you inclined your head, Ethan’s heart stopping for a moment at how adorable you looked. God he wanted to kiss those lips so bad right now.

You stopped fumbling with your seatbelt as he reached for it, getting closer with you again. He struggled a bit, questioning why it suddenly was so hard to undo it.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know wh–“ Ethan started as he looked back up, stopping himself when he came face to face with you again. You didn’t realize how close you were until you looked down and saw his lips just there, a few inches away.

He mirrored your actions; the only difference is that his eyes lingered on your lips a little longer. He forced his eyes to look away from your mouth, his urge to just press his lips on them getting harder and harder to hold. You licked your lips unconsciously, looking down at his pink lips then back again to his eyes.

Both of you heard a click as Ethan finally undid your seatbelt, but none of you backed away. You stayed frozen on your spots, him getting so lost in your eyes, you feeling the same.

You felt a hand cup your cheek, Ethan slowly pulling you even closer until the tips of your noses touched, eyes still boring into yours, looking for any sign of doubt and found none. You felt your hands rest on his broad shoulders, your body just taking over at the moment as his lips ghosted over yours.

Ethan was about to close the space between you two, to finally taste those plump lips of yours, until you heard a loud and obnoxious knock on the car window, forcing the both of you to jump away from each other.

You turned around and saw James smiling widely as he waved his hand. You sighed giving Ethan a glance over your shoulder to see him glare at James, obviously annoyed at him for interrupting what was about to happen.

You held back a giggle, opening the door as you got out of the car, cheeks flushed as you greeted James. “I can’t wait to see you try out the outfits I bought you!” He squealed, wrapping an arm over your shoulder as he pulled you inside the building, not giving you the chance to wait for Ethan.

He on the other got out of the car with an annoyed look on his face, slamming the door harder than he should have. “Dude you okay?” Grayson asked as he saw his brother’s expression. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” He growled lowly, staring at James with his arm around you as the two you disappeared inside the building.

Grayson traced his brother’s gaze and looked back at him. “Why? What’d he do this time?” He asked, placing a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, slowly nudging him to start walking.

“I was about to fucking kiss her bro, it was so close then James decided to fucking bang on the window.” Ethan ran through his hair in complete frustration. Grayson looked at his brother shocked and amused by one, being able to get so close to a girl to a point where they’re about to kiss and two, getting completely infuriated by just an interrupted kiss. Maybe Ethan really wanted to kiss you that bad.

“Shut the fuck up Grayson. I’m not that bad at girls.” Ethan snarled, swatting his hand away as he saw the look Grayson was giving him, knowing exactly what’s in his mind. Grayson threw his head back and cackled, slinging his arm over Ethan’s shoulder, pushing him inside the building.

“Bro, relax. You’ve got plenty of chances, the day isn’t over yet. Don’t worry; you’ll get that kiss.” Grayson patted Ethan’s back. Ethan shook his head with a deep exhale. Maybe he was overreacting a little bit, but he really wanted to kiss you so bad and he was so close, James interrupting it just annoyed him so much.

Guess he’ll have to try again later then.

===

Tags: @sspidermanss @castiel-savvy18 

(this is based on the comments of the last one. I’m sorry if you didn’t want to get tagged anymore since I take so long to update just lemme know and I’ll stop tagging you 😭😅 and again if you want to get tagged just comment/hit me up 💕)

Part 4 coming soon

[ilikebigbooks-and-icannotlie]

Fast Firsts and Sloppy Seconds (Part 3)

A Rowaelin/Manorian AU

It’s still 10:23 PM Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (HST), holla!!! This part’s pretty short, because I really struggled with it :( So, part 3.5 will be coming in a day or two, probably, and then I will make an immediate push for part 4 (Becca and Cas please become really annoying and fight me if I don’t) so 3.5 should be done by like Thursday night/Friday morning, and 4 will be ready by Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Also, if anyone wants to teach me a thing or two about photo editing, I have a pinterest board of 487 pins which is part of why this chapter’s kind of a disaster sshhh that I would love to turn into edits for you guys :) I’m feeling like an instagram or snapchat vibe? Idk, hmu if you know anything on the subject. Lol it’s 4:23 EST and I’m low key deceased but like it’s fine why do I keep doing this to myself so apologies if there are any typos - I tried my best. Tagging @highlady-casandra​ because this is the reason I haven’t edited for you yet and I’m sorry, I love you!!! Also @miladyaelin​ who is asleep, lol - thanks for trying pal :) 3.5 will probably be posted at a more reasonable time so you can actually look at it first before I make a fool of myself post it … but i say that every time so who knows Also tagging @fictionalcharactersaremyreality​, @rowanismybae​, @the-north-star​, @throneofstars​, @fortunatelycleverpaper​, @snaps7​, @thegirlwith-that-smile​, the anon who sent me that ask earlier today, and so so so many more, thank you for caring about my story and wanting more of it, I love you guys! HUGE thank you to everyone for the kind words and reblogs and notes, I appreciate every single one <3  

Happy reading!

Part 1  Part 2      Part 3.5

The second Dorian saw that look in Aelin’s eyes, he knew the dance was over. He easily stepped out of the way, a small smirk on his lips as he glanced behind him, catching the slightly scared and entirely determined look in the barkeep’s eyes as Aelin stepped directly into his arms.

The barkeep almost immediately stepped back, attempting to keep Aelin at a comfortable arm’s length away. Dorian couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness, as though Aelin would actually let him keep her at a distance. In any case, he didn’t really have time to spend watching the soon-to-be happy couple. His eyes quickly scanned the pub, once again falling onto Manon. He took in the satisfied smirk on her lips as she watched Aelin dance with Rowan. If you could call it dancing, that is. Rowan was awkwardly waddling from side to side, stiff as a board, as Aelin moved around him like a force of nature – absolutely breathtaking.

She was the one he’d dragged to ballroom dance lessons when his mother had forced him into them the summer after his freshman year of college. He didn’t need to be stuck partnered with any of the other pretentious bitches at the country club. And as much as Aelin pretended to complain, he knew she enjoyed it. No one could make Aelin do anything she didn’t want to do.

Their dancing had been comfortable, as it always was, as they learned to be. But this, this was a tragedy. However, even in the face of tragedy, Aelin looked like a princess.

And while he was the one dancing, Dorian was damn sure he looked like a prince. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought about Manon angrily glaring at Aelin while they fell back into old patterns, easily moving around the floor. He definitely hadn’t quite gained the upper hand, but he felt like he was at least just below a tie at that point. After looking Manon over once again, he decided it was time for another drink. Another incredibly muscled, incredibly tall man appeared to have taken over for the white-haired barkeep. What were they putting in the water here? He had dark shoulder-length hair, a nose that looked like it had definitely been broken at least a few times, and overall looked generally pissed off at the world.

However, Dorian was absolutely determined to get more Guinness. The pub had emptied out significantly since they arrived, as the night carried on well into the next morning. He grabbed a seat at the bar, and tried his best not to be offended when the bartender grumbled about “typical Americans” after he’d ordered the beer. It took every ounce of determination in his body not to turn around, to look for those heart-stopping golden eyes, but then all attempts proved futile as she settled into the seat beside him.

“Looks like you’ve been replaced, twinkle toes,” she smirked, unable to keep the satisfaction out of her voice. “Jealous?”

He glanced over at her then, eyeing her casually crossed arms, her tired eyes, and her undoubtedly pleased smile. He couldn’t help the small smile that grew on his own face as he looked at what was likely the most earnest side of her he’d seen all night. He guessed she was probably too tired to put on her own mask in that moment.

“Manon,” the bartender grumbled, sliding the pint over to Dorian. “Don’t you have tables to serve?”

“Don’t you have glass to clean, Lorcan? Or better yet, business to mind?” She snapped at him. Her cold glare would have stopped Dorian in his tracks, but the bartender – Lorcan – merely rolled his eyes and walked over to the other end of the bar. He was clearly trying to pretend he was checking on another patron, but it was pretty clear to both Manon and Dorian  that he honestly just didn’t seem to want to deal with her shit.

Dorian cleared his throat, sliding his hands around his beer and taking a sip. Manon’s golden eyes were focused on him as  he forced himself to spit out the words he’d been desperate to ask since he first saw her looking like she was plotting a hundred different ways to kill Aelin. “So, were you? Jealous, that is?” He avoided her eyes, taking one of his hands off of the death grip on his beer to run it through his hair.

“Yeah,” her voice was even, almost aloof. “I was.” His eyes snapped to hers - confusion, and fear, and something more swimming through them, all at once. She rolled her eyes at his response, twirling her braid between her fingers. “Well don’t look too excited,” she scoffed, pulling on the white strands.

“So does that mean you want to dance?” Their eyes met, and for the first time, Dorian didn’t look away. He couldn’t look away, even if he tried. There was something there, tying him to her. Paralyzing him.

Her low laugh cut through him, inflating his lungs, and finally letting him breathe. She reached for his beer, taking her own sip before offering him a small smile. Her golden eyes had become molten, a warm amber. “Well played, princeling. Well played.”

“Come on,” he goaded, lightly bumping her shoulder with his. “You can’t be nearly as bad as that guy!” He gestured towards Rowan with his chin, and Manon laughed even harder then, an honest laugh, as she watched Rowan awkwardly fumble next to Aelin. “If you think my brother’s bad, you wouldn’t even be able to handle seeing me.”

Brother. He hesitated at the words, then suddenly saw the similarities, glancing back and forth between the apparent siblings. The hair was of course a blatant giveaway. But also, their strong chins, the high cheekbones. Dorian wasn’t sure how he’d missed it before. And then suddenly something in Manon’s face changed.

Confusion, shock, and then – something along the lines of disgust? Dorian followed her gaze to find Aelin and Manon’s brother all but dry-humping as they danced. He let out a sharp laugh at the sight. There was no way to know exactly what Aelin had done, but whatever it was, it worked. Two became one as they fit together perfectly, moving in time to a rhythm Dorian would’ve sworn the hulking bartender had absolutely no sense of rhythm only seconds before. But he supposed Aelin had enough rhythm for both of them, as the white-haired giant helplessly followed along, drowning deeper into Aelin. A smile spread across Dorian’s face as  he watched his friend let herself feel pure joy for the first time in a long time.

He turned back around to find Manon watching him instead, a skeptical eyebrow perfectly raised at his pleased expression. “Shouldn’t you be angry? Off to defend your girl or something?”

Dorian barked out a laugh at the thought, shaking his head at the ridiculousness. “Aelin isn’t anyone’s anything. And the last time she was – well,” he hesitated, “let’s just say it didn’t end well.” The thought of his other best friend brought a tightness in his chest that he would rather have ignored just then, as he brought his beer to his lips once again. He couldn’t exactly say he would have enjoyed being stuck in Dublin with both Aelin and Chaol, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel bad for both of his friends.

When he refocused his attention to Manon, he was surprised to find her still watching the dancing couple. Although – when he looked closer – he got the distinct feeling she wasn’t watching anything. Manon appeared to be lost in a world all of her own, drowning in memories she was either afraid to lose – or desperately wanted to forget.

“Hey,” Dorian prodded, bumping his knee against hers – and leaving it there – terrified of the contact, yet desperate for more. “You okay?”

The second she turned to him, he knew he’d made a mistake. Her mask was back in place just as quickly, as she leaned into him, running a long nail down his chest. Her hot breath sent a chill down his spine as her lips lightly grazed his ear. “Let’s play a game, princeling, and I’ll show you exactly how okay I am.” As she leaned back against the bar, a savage smile graced her lips that should have made him afraid. But instead just made him want her more. Clearly, that was because he was a self-loathing idiot, because there could be no other explanation for his need – his impossible desire.

That, or she was clearly a witch. Seducing him somehow, with her charms. In that moment, he realized that his hand was somehow – suddenly in her hair? He was entirely unsure how it had happened? But somehow, in some way, his hand had ended up pushing one of the white strands behind her ear, as if he had no other option. He simply couldn’t help it – it was instinct, an impulse he couldn’t stop, and didn’t even realize was happening. Like breathing.

“Witchling,” he whispered. His sapphire blue eyes were locked on her golden ones, and in that moment, he could feel it. A part of him shifted and he knew – he knew – that whatever they had, it was precious. His hand had a mind of its own, moving to cup her cheek, and he didn’t think she could help herself either, as she closed her eyes and leaned into him. A hint of a small smile appeared on her lips as her mask began to crack again. They breathed as one. Inhale. Exhale. And then her eyes shot open. A fear was in them – uncertainty – and then an unbreakable hardness. Dorian suppressed a growl – and then let out a gasp.

Suddenly, her lips were against his. Her tongue immediately took advantage of the gasp, moving in, and invading his senses. She was all he could feel, the only thing he ever wanted to touch, as the taste of her burned into his memory. He needed her. All of her. His hands traced her hips, her waist, her breasts, pulling her against him, and onto his lap.

He took control of the kiss, a new savagery taking over him that it  seemed – it seemed she liked, even responded to. She opened herself up to him, fully straddling him as he turned her back towards the bar. A low moan slipped past her lips against his mouth, as his hands climbed up her shirt, tracing slow lazy circles against her soft skin. He was determined to take his time. To claim her. By the end of the night, he was going to have all of her. And she will have been begging for it. He barely pulled away, breathing heavily as their lips lightly brushed against each other. She was entirely still in his arms, waiting for him. Her golden eyes poured into him as they met his, a shiver running down her spine at the words that left his lips. “I want to taste every inch of you.”

Manon let go of all pretense of reason as her princeling closed his eyes and claimed her mouth once again. She opened for him, melting against him even as a deep chill set deep within her bones.

His fingers slid to her jaw, tipping her face to thoroughly take her mouth, every movement of his jaw a sensuous promise that had her arching into him. Had her meeting him stroke for stroke as he explored and teased until she could hardly think straight.

This wasn’t the plan – he wasn’t supposed to taste this good, this right. He wasn’t supposed to make her feel this way, she wasn’t supposed to feel. She’d had enough feeling for a lifetime. But as every part of her burst with need, with an impossible heat, with an icy thrill, she felt everything. And she just kept falling, deeper and deeper, his touch on her body, his hands everywhere, stroking, tracing. She melted into the hardness of him, aching for all of him, as his dick strained against his jeans, pushing against where she needed him most, but not giving her nearly enough.

And then it just – stopped. And in that moment, Manon was entirely certain she could have murdered Lorcan. “For Christ’s sake, Manon,” he growled, his hand still clinging onto the back of Manon’s shirt where he’d pulled her away. “If you’re gonna fuck ‘im, fuck ‘im somewhere else.” He roughly let her go, walking away again and grumbling to himself once again about chaperoning. Manon cleared here throat as she awkwardly slid out of Dorian’s lap, pushing more pieces of her white hair back as she attempted to collect herself.

Dorian, however, was the calmest he’d been all night. Because finally – finally – he knew exactly what he wanted. And he knew they weren’t done. And he knew he was going to get it. And as Manon struggled to breathe – she knew she had never been more desperate before in her life.

A distraction.

She needed a distraction.

“Darts!” She blurted out, after scanning the room, looking for something – anything – to drag her out of this fiery, hot, hell. She flashed a grin at him, trying her hardest to keep it together. “Fancy a game?”

And as she floundered, and her chest rose and fell, and her face flushed, he smiled. An absolutely, irrevocably, rakish, panty-dropping type of smile. The kind that showed a little too much teeth – and reminded her of what it felt like when they bit her lip. The kind that made her helplessly think about all of the other things she wanted him to do to her with that mouth – those teeth. And at that look in her eyes – that glazed over, lost look – as she bit her lip, and focused on his, he finally let out a calm breath. Because for the first time that night, he was truly in control. And he liked it.

So because he could, his grin turned almost feral, and his voice was a sensual caress, sending chills down her spine. “I could think of a significantly better game to play involving sticking things in a target, and far more interesting things to do with my hands, but your wish is my command, witchling.” His voice was a velvety purr by the end of it, and she was left questioning how in the hell their roles had changed so quickly.

Boys never left her like this. She didn’t allow it. Manon was always in charge, and never got attached. They were two very simple rules. Yet this stupid boy, with his stupidly soft lips, and irritatingly delicious tongue, and new dumb confidence, and infuriating smirk was suddenly causing her to reconsider everything. And she wanted to hate him for it. Except there she was, ready to beg for more. What the actual fuck?

She said absolutely nothing as she spun around, her braid whipping around her shoulders. A large gulp of his beer and a few large steps later, he was right beside her. The burning hand he placed at her lower back only caused her to walk faster. She wanted nothing more than to have that hand in places that ached for his touch. So she sped up instead, desperate to run away – to forget.

Never forget, but never remember.

And then they were there, across the room. She grasped for the mask she needed to pull on to survive as she pulled the darts out of the board. But the action was more or less futile. The game had already begun. And she was losing.