#*mike leads the way through a series of doors before checking to make sure the coast is clear one last time*

[chirpsythismorning]

When Blue Meets Yellow In the West: A Series Long Theory - Part 3

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

[defrosted69]

My Laker Star P.3 (Kang Haerin)

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Hey everyone. Here's a finale of this series. After a long sleep in this platform, I have returned briefly. I hope you all enjoy this one. And one last tip from me, I suggest you listen to the song "First Love" by Hikaru Utada throught out the story, especially at the end of this one. I promise you, you wont regret it.

(7.3k words total)

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With everyone looking asleep, her light footstep led her through each room of the hostel, and she had to double-check to make sure everyone was still groggy from yesterday's schedule. She didn't have to open the third door any farther since her Unnie's heavy snoring was audible.

"Welp, at least I know she's knocked out."

She thought to herself before once again tip toeing her way to the living room. With a swift motion, she turned their TV on, sat on the couch, covered herself with her blanket and switched the program to...

The NBA channel.

"Welcome everyone to a chilly night here in downtown LA as we are in for a treat for an exciting match up between the home team, Los Angeles Lakers and hot winning team in the east, The Indiana Pacers. Tonight we'll get to see a match up of Point Guards between Y/N McDaniels and Tyrese Haliburton. "

"That's right Mike, tonight we'll get to see the NBA best passers duking it out to see who's the best passer in the NBA and lead their team tonight to victory. Will the Pacers extend their winning streak to 5 games or will they fall to the 10th seed Lakers?"

"Y/N with the ball. Bringing the ball half court. A screen from Wood and he's bursting to the lane and throws it down right at Myles Turner! Wow!"

"Oohhhh. Right at the face of Myles Turner Mike! That's all elevation. Wow! This kid is incredible man"

Haerin's eyes had never been so wide with joy as she watched you play your heart out on the court. Every shot you fired, she'd hop up and down, leaving her seat, but she'd understand she shouldn't make too much noise. Her smile never left her face while the game went on. But perhaps this was also her weakness since while she's engaged on the game, she frequently, if not always, forgets about her surroundings.

"With 12 seconds left, the lakers trail by 1 and we all know where the ball is going. Y/N is doubled team. Here we go, Austin looking, Looking, passes it to Y/N. Doubled team, crossed to the left shoot-OHHHH!! Fouled and-1, 4 point play by Y/N! How did he do that?!"

"Hehe, Your so good Y/N!"

"Oh he's cute."

Haerin flinched hearing another voice next to her. Her head has never turned so fast in her entire life and so did her member who chuckled seeing her reaction.

"U-Unnie?"

"Hmm? Why are you looking scared? Did you lose your parley?"

"My what?"

"Nothing. But why are you watching basketball? I never knew you liked that sport."

Danielle yawned slightly as she sat comfortable on their couch. She awoke inadvertently by sliding out of bed while dreaming she was leaping out of a plane. Haerin's cheering was the first thing she heard, which jolted her awake. Because Haerin seldom celebrates or cheers.

"Uhhh ummm... Uhhh.."

Haerin used her normal mental lag to make it appear as if she doesn't know, while also buying time so Danielle lost interest in the issue. Knowing that she has a short attention span, Haerin used this to her advantage, making her believe she had no knowledge.

And somehow it works.

Danielle was weary of watching Haerin say nothing and stare at her like a cat. So she did what the majority of her members do, and by that she meant herself. She pounced for Haerin, cuddling her like a gigantic teddy bear, and Haerin simply accepted her faith. In her opinion, this was the ideal circumstance for getting Danielle to stop pestering her about the channel and why she would rather watch and experience the excitement and delight of basketball alone. Even if she has members who adore her like she is their own sister, Haerin was still holding back her excitement for athletics.

As Haerin glanced at the television, she spotted you being interviewed, and her normal poker face changed into a smile as she saw the team win and you being named the game's best player. Of course, given that you are the team's top player, it is unavoidable, but your accomplishments always strike a chord with her.

Because she has followed your path as well as her own, she knows the difficulties and sacrifices you have made to become who you are. In a way, she believes that whatever you achieve in the league, she achieves as well.

She felt such a strong connection to you. It was a rare occasion in which you could relate to someone. She doesn't look up to this idol, but she can connect to their experience. You can't help but support someone no matter how different you are. Haerin was in the Kpop sector, while you were in the professional sports world. Two different worlds, yet she idolized and looked up to you because she admired your narrative and couldn't help but compare it to hers.

Many others may label her clinging, insane, or too committed to a fake link that does not exist, but Haerin thought it was genuine. The instant she saw you dribble down the court in the house Kobe constructed, she knew you were the guy she would look up to.

Despite her claims that you are her idol, as a Kpop idol, she is repeatedly asked in interviews who her idol is, but she can't speak your name without recalling a sad experience. That trauma prevents her from properly revealing who she looks up to. There were several opportunities to utter your name, but when she opened her mouth, there was only stillness and heated air.

"Hmm? Basketball? You two liked watching basketball?"

A smaller girl asked them as Hanni woke up from her deep slumber. She was ready to face whatever they had today and what she didn't expect to see first thing in the morning is their TV on and set on the NBA channel.

Of course, it's not as if they don't watch sports; it's just that they don't watch them all the time. The majority of them understood what basketball was and how it was played, but none of them were big fans of the sport in general. If Hanni classified them as fans, they'd fall within the casual group. Only heard about it and saw excerpts on Twitter or Instagram.

"Hmm? Oh no It was just there when we opened the TV. Probably Manager Oppa was watching NBA replays last night before he left."

Danielle spoke on Haerin's behalf as a cover, and she smiled slightly, grateful for Danielle's reasons. It may have been a falsehood, but Haerin appreciated her efforts to cover for her.

"Ah I see. Well I'm going back to bed. Don't tell Minji thought."

And with those words stated, Hanni returned to her room to continue her nice sleep. The group did not appear to have any planned activities for the day, therefore it was a rare occurrence when they had a day off. With their notoriety, they seldom had days off, but they used them to rest. Danielle released go of Haerin's grasp and gazed at the girl before speaking.

"Okay you gotta tell me now why you like Basketball and why are you hiding it."

Haerin's eyes expand slightly, despite her customary blank expression. She didn't expect Danielle to be that tenacious about something because she typically loses interest quickly. But this time it was the opposite: Danielle wanted to know the truth behind Haerin's passion of basketball. Her curiosity couldn't be contained, and she'd do anything to find out why.

"Because I'm simply a fan of it Unnie. There's nothing too deep to talk about it so stop whatever your thinking Unnie."

Haerin's response took Danielle by suprise litterally and figuratively for 2 reasons.

 One, When Haerin said those words, Danielle noted how her brow wrinkled downwards, as if she was furious at her for asking such a question. She felt as if she had insulted her in some manner she didn't understand. All she did was ask an innocent inquiry.

Secondly, This was the first time Haerin had spoken to her in such a chilly and menacing manner. The group has been together for three years, and they recognize each other even when they close their eyes. They can readily identify who is who when given a description. Despite this, Haerin was never as frigid in her responses to any of them. Haerin's statements conveyed a hostile tone, which both scared and worried Danielle.

This was nothing the Haerin she knew about that's why she was left speechless and stunned to say anything back at her. She couldn't formulate any thoughts on how she could reply back towards her. Seeing the shocked and stunned face of Danielle, Haerin sighed a long one before standing up saying

"Sorry, I'll go somewhere for now. I'll be back before dinner Unnie."

As she rose up from her seat, she went to her room to change into a shirt and joggers, covered by a Nike jacket. She then grabbed her basketball, which was on her floor. All Danielle could do was watch Haerin depart their dorm, astonished and perplexed as to what had gotten her so defensive about the subject.

"Did I touch a sensitive topic for her? But why?"

Danielle pondered that concept as she lay flat on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling, seeking to connect the dots. And trying to find what she was seeking for.

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"Well that's the end of our season. What's your plan Y/N?"

As the squad finished their final game of the season, everyone in the locker room had different reactions to how their season ended. Some believed they did well, while others felt they could have done more to strive for a postseason seed berth, but the odds were not against them because health was the clear asterisk for this squad. Many of their major players went on to miss over half of the season combined. You and Austin Reaves were the only two players on the club who never missed a game during the season, but it wasn't enough.

Add in dubious coaching throughout the season, and the entire roster wondered if their coach ever trusted them. Players who were doing admirably were suddenly forced to take DNPs due to an experimental roster that had never played together before. It felt like they were competing against each other because no one knew what sort of play style they all had. Everything was just a mix of terrible luck and dubious coaching that led to this team's season-ending ouster.

"I don't know. After the exit interview later, I'll either sleep or sleep."

"I get you man but how's you and that Korean chic?"

Austin's inquiry simply made matters worse for you, as the thought of the season ending tonight left a bad taste in your mouth. And now AR had to bring up the subject with you and Yunjin. Heck, the entire Lesserafim was something you had to consider.

Relationships are something you're not sure you're ready for. Although you are dating Yunjin, there are serious uncertainties about whether you actually loved her or were simply swept up in the moment. Obviously, everyone in Lesserafim was lovely and attractive in their own right, but there was something lacking. When you think back on your time with Yunjin, you notice something is lacking.

You don't know what it is but you wanted to know more about it.

"Still dating. I'm planning to head to Korea later on actually. Take a break or something. I need to clear my mind after all this Laker stress man."

AR could only laugh at you, knowing it was the wisest thing to do after this disastrous season. Your body needs to recuperate after working so hard for the team. It was sad that you accomplished so much to keep the Lakers afloat in the standings, but it wasn't enough. Your amazing comeback against Milwaukee, your 57 points against the Bulls, your clutch three-pointer against the Celtics, resulting in their sole loss of the season, and lastly, your 1,000 assists, making you the youngest to accomplish this achievement.

All of that effort went for naught, as the Lakers couldn't even get a whiff of the eighth spot beginning in February. Since then, the Lakers have fluctuated between the 10th and 12th seeds in the last week of the regular season. Obviously, the media was criticizing you for not being able to lead the club to victory, given that LeBron is retiring, AD's contract expires this offseason, which means he's gone, and this will now be your team.

But having 2 hall of famers on your roster, yet you can't win?

Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless will surely have a field day with your name tomorrow morning. But you just let the so called analytics talk whatever they want because that's what makes them relevant. All you can do is accept the criticism and be better for the next season.

As you ended your farewell interview, you informed the reporters that you attempted to accept responsibility for your mistakes this season and improve for the next. Although several individuals attempted to hint to the coaching problem, you just responded that some plays were supposed to work and others did not. Shading individuals is not something you do while you are still relatively new to the league. You are practically sealing your legacy at this time.

However, with the exit interview behind you, the disappointment lingers as you drive. Your mind was continually reminding you that you could have done better, but that is how it is. The season ended unexpectedly due to a variety of factors. Aside from the fact that the season ended earlier than intended, you may have also considered AR. Did you truly adore Yunjin? You didn't want to be disrespectful to Yunjin or anyone in Lesserafim since we were discussing sentiments. One false action and all may be ruined in an instant.

Checking your phone, the image of you and Yunjin glowed under the screen and somehow, the smile you used to have begin to disappear. Surely this was a normal feeling right? After all it's just a wallpaper.

"I need to see her"

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With each stride Haerin took, the court got closer to her. Nobody in the firm, including her members, knew about this location behind their company, which was often utilized for rubbish disposal. But Haerin spotted a court with a sturdy hoop. The green patch was visible in the little gaps under the concrete floor, yet it did not upset Haerin at all.

She dribbled the ball one time before releasing a pure mid-range from 15 feet away from the basket.

Only for it to brick the basket, Haerin laughed as she missed her first shot. She waddled to catch the ball and fired it from the board for her second shot. Haerin was dressed comfortably, similar to her rehearsal attire.

As the ball swished through the net, Haerin's smile seems to get bigger and bigger at every shot she made. She was making easy shot such as Jumpers and running layup but as time goes forward, Haerin decided to intensify her shots.

As she dribbled the ball away from the basket near the 3-point line. She took one deep breath before dribbling the ball forward with her body in a propelling angle. As the ball bounces off the hard concrete ground, she crossed the ball towards her left hand and started to sprint while dribbling the ball. With the net nearing her sight, she stopped her dribble before turning her back against the net. She half shifted to the right before fully rotating to the left for a hook shot that swished through the net.

As the ball bounced off the ground she giggled as she finally done perfected one of your move. She wasn't just loving the game of basketball but she also loves the iconic moves of the NBA legends and all-star.

But despite her love of the game, she couldn't forget the painful memory that comes at the cost of enjoying basketball.

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She was introduced to the sport at a young age by her uncle who's a crazy fan of basketball. She recalls the times she was invited to watch her uncle play the sport in some local gym. The joy and smile he had while playing the sport was what got her hooked. But as she picked up a ball, everyone suddenly started telling her that the sport isn't for her.

"Kid, you should play with barbie dolls and houses. This game isn't for you."

Those words from her uncle's teammate still haunts her to this day as they labeled her sport by her gender. As young as Haerin was, that was first true heartbreak for her because she felt helpless and devastated to hear those. And she would have just brushed those thoughts aside if it wad kids around her age but no, it was adults who told her to stop dreaming about playing basketball.

Her uncle of course defend Haerin to the point, everyone almost got into a scuffle only for the GYM owners to separate them apart. But despite the fight not continuing, the damage had already been done to her as all she can do was look down as her uncle walked her home.

"Say Haerin. Wanna shoot some mini hoops?"

"No need uncle, I'm not born to play that sport.."

Her uncle sighed as he regretted having Haerin watch her game. He didn't expect those dudes to call out a child like that who just wants to have fun. He ruffled her hair as Haerin pouted at that action. She had always hated it when her hair gets shuffled unexpectedly and this was no different.

"Uncle-"

"Tell me Haerin. Did you enjoy watching me play basketball?"

"Of course!"

"Do you want to play the sport?"

"But I'm not allowed to.."

Her uncle chuckled seeing her cute niece look down in shame. Life have always been a suprise to many and right now, Haerin thinking that Basketball is only played by one gender is false.

"Haerin-ah, Nobody should stop you from enjoying what you want. If it makes you happy, you should chase it and never look back."

"But Uncle-"

"Haerin-ah, Don't follow the crowd, my dear child. Instead, listen to your heart and create your own path. True happiness comes from within and when you stay true to yourself."

The smile that her uncle had that day showed her a bigger picture. Despite people wanting to pull you down, there will always be someone that will support you through and through. Haerin believed in the words of her uncle and stayed true to herself.

Basketball became her sport as she grew older, and her parents were very supportive of her. Despite her peers playing and growing up with gentle games, Haerin likes to dribble and shoot like Curry in their garden, envisioning her shots as game winners.

But as Middle school comes around, she was once again faced with adversity that had her scarred for life.

It was during their Physics Education period and their teacher wanted them to play sport games. Some groan some were smiling and Haerin had her poker face on, but internally, she was smiling ear to ear. As they all went to the school GYM. Haerin immediately picked up the basketball and what happened next was something she didn't expect to happen.

"Eh? Why are you picking up a basketball Haerin? Don't tell me your... Into that stuff."

As one of her classmate said that, everyone else followed to stare at her and at that exact moment, her heart began to act differently. Their eyes suddenly became so big and their shadows tower over her making her feel like she's surrounded by giants.

Her heart starts racing, beating erratically against her chest like a trapped bird desperately seeking escape. The air around her seems thick and suffocating, making every breath feel labored and shallow.

Her mind spirals into a vortex of irrational fears and negative thoughts, amplifying each sound and sensation until they become overwhelming.

A distant murmur transforms into a deafening roar in her ears, while the touch of fabric against her skin feels like prickly needles. Panic takes hold, gripping her tightly in its invisible claws, leaving her helpless and vulnerable.

Every attempt to regain control only fuels the anxiety further, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of fear and distress. It's as if her body is betraying her, turning against itself in this unexpected battle for sanity.

She couldn't handle it anymore as she dashed through the crowd, holding and closing ears from the murmurs that echoed through the area. Her heart beating so loud telling her to keep running and never look back. Tears falls off her cheeks as her eyes had uncontrollably started shedding her tears without her command.

But unlike before, She had nobody to run into.

Her uncle had died, leaving pleasant memories of Haerin to keep her sane in the harsh world they were living in. But her passing meant she'd lost her primary source of support and idol. Haerin was left alone to confront the world of misery and agony, and she was currently submitting to it all.

She couldn't handle everything on her own.

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Haerin groaned and gazed at the ball for a few seconds before continuing to dribble away from the hoop. Since then, Haerin has kept her passion of basketball to herself, never sharing her excitement for the sport with anyone. Her parents were surprised that she wasn't sweating every day shooting hoops in the backyard, but instead watching YouTube videos in her room.

She had closed the door of enjoying the sport with others and decided that this sport is only for her to enjoy and nobody else.

It didn't matter if she would harshly push anyone who tries play basketball with her, it didn't matter if it was her own members who wanted to play with her. She would immediately decline and ignore their invitation.

dribbling the ball, Haerin shoot a long 3 pointer that sinks right into the net effortlessly. And her shot wouldn't go unnoticed.

"Nice form"

A sudden voice alerted Haerin as she flinched and froze on the spot. As the ball rolled further away from her, it stopped once it reached your foot. You kneeled down to pick up the ball and gently gave Haerin a chest pass to which she managed to barely catch. She was star struck to see you face to face with her.

"Ummm...I'm sorry to ask this but are you.. Y/N McDaniels?"

Haerin shyly asked as you laughed and nodded your head at her. Your arrival in Korea was unexpectedly faster than what you thought. The private Jet that the Lakers provided you not only drived so fast but it felt like a 10 minute ride. Technology sure is scary.

"That I am. You shooting hoops?"

"Ah yes!"

Haerin suddenly pulled her smile back immediately despite seeing you in person. But she also felt like her demeanor of playing alone changed when you arrived. It felt like she was still playing by herself and alone. She shook her head off that thought and shoot her shot, but it bricked the rim as you jumped in and grabbed the ball.

Knowing the rules, Haerin went under the basket ready for a rebound as you took the ball out and shot a wide open 3 pointer, only for it to brick as Haerin chased it down and grab it. This process continued for quite sometime with the only words exchanged between you two were "Nice one" and "My ball". Some would argue this was awkward to be in but Haerin didn't feel like it. She felt so naturally free whenever she's on the court but with someone sharing the court with her? She never thought about it until you came.

As the two of you sat down to catch your breaths, You offered Haerin an extra water bottle you had in your bag to which Haerin shyly accepted. With the two of you sitting quietly, you decided to break the ice and speak first.

"So, what's your name?"

"Vanessa Kang..or you can call me Haerin.. Sir."

You laughed at her formality with you but dismiss it since it didn't bother you one bit.

"No need to be formal Haerin. It's just us two hoopers here anyway."

"Umm...Its just your my idol and It's not easy for me to drop the honorifics."

Haerin fidgeted her fingers as she looked down. She didn't know how to act in front of her idol because, most of the time, she is the one who draws attention due to the large number of her supporters. But, right now, she's a fan and you're the idol, so the positions are reversed.

"It's fine Haerin. I'm not that old yet anyway."

"Yeah 3 years apart.."

"What?"

You blinked a couple times before staring at Haerin who's face was completely red. She just dropped an important information about you and now her identity was fully blown. Haerin gulped before turning her head to look at you with a complete red face.

"I'm guessing your a fan of mine?"

"Ummm......yes.."

Haerin soften her voice on the last part as she wasn't confident on being your fan but your sharp ears managed to hear it. You laughed full heartedly at her as she looked at you confused. Was her approach wrong that you got the wrong idea or she had something on her face?

"Sorry, Sorry I just find it cute how your being shy admitting being a fan of basketball."

"Ummm...I just don't want people to see me differently.."

Your smile slowly disappeared after hearing the words that Haerin spoke. What she said raised your curiosity as you didn't understand what she meant by it.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I just... Went through a tough time of people accepting that I like basketball more unlike other sports.."

Although you haven't heard much about her tale, her voice was enough to tell you that she went through hardship while trying to play the sport that she loved.

"Haerin, Happiness doesn't come from the words of others, it comes from the voices of your heart."

Haerin widen her eyes as your words reminded her of the words spoken by her own uncle. She looked at you as you gave her a warm smile.

"Don't let others dictate your happiness, Make it your own Haerin."

She felt her uncle's nostalgia in your words. Even if the words were altered, the message remained the same. To be joyful regardless of what others say. That was what her uncle had told her about life in general, not just hoops. She aspired to be an Idol because she enjoyed dancing to music. She wanted their music to be heard and enjoyed by their listeners.

Your comments triggered a deep memory for Haerin, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Not long later, she lost control of her tears and began weeping. You worried when you saw her break down because you didn't know what to do. You chose to softly touch her back while Haerin sobs slowly. You weren't very good at emotional scenarios like this one, and you thought it would calm her down. You didn't have your handkerchief when you really needed it.

As Haerin calmed down, she wiped the remaining tears on her eyes away before looking at you with a soft stare.

"Thanks and.. Sorry for crying out of nowhere."

"It's fine. That's okay. Maybe we can shoot hoops again to clear your mind?"

Haerin laughed at your idea, but she nodded, knowing that it would undoubtedly help her clear her mind. As the two of you proceeded to play hoops, Haerin's cat curiosity took over, and she questioned why you were here in the first place.

"Y/N, can I ask why your here in Korea?"

She said after passing you the ball in a perfect bounce pass. You chuckled at her question before releasing the shot for a 13 feet jumper.

"I'm just here to confirm something is all."

"Really? What's it about?"

"My own feelings"

Haerin widened her eyes slightly before handing the ball back to you, since this surprised her. Someone in the country seemed to have taken interest in the guy she adored. She isn't sure whether she would be joyful or sad. She may be thrilled since a celebrity like you like someone from her nation is something she should be proud of. Sadly, that wasn't her.

Haerin quickly flushed scarlet as she thought about it, because it came out of nowhere and was so strange for her to think about. Her cheeks were flaming, and her heart was beating faster as she watched you dribble the ball up to the rim. She swallowed nervously, as that unexpected notion had forever altered her perception of you.

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Haerin had seen you around the corporate building for weeks, but as the days passed, the grin on your face faded, which bothered her. She wanted to ask you about this, but all she could do was shoot hoops with you to alleviate your concerns. But the more she learned about your position, the more she questioned if she was even suited to be around you. Your statements showing your perplexity and irritation with Yunjin make her feel like she's nothing more than a pillar of strength for you.

She doesn't mind it, but she wished she was in Yujin's position.

Even if she is your wall of support, she hoped that a small part of herself is what you are seeking for instead. Since the prospect of you entering her life, her attitude toward you has drastically altered. She found herself doing something she didn't often do, which surprised her members. When she shoots hoops with you, she wears everything from light makeup to red lipstick and blush. Minji observed this recently, and as the group's leader, she had to ask her why their beloved cat has been acting strangely lately.

"Haerin? Can we talk?"

"Oh, sure Unnie."

As Minji enters her room, she looked around her room to see nothing out of the usual. So she took her seat on the edge of her bed.

"I was just wondering, What are you doing outside? You seem to be going outside lately. Is there somewhere your visiting?"

Minji's questions didn't have any vile intentions in them but rather a voice, of a worried and curious leader. Haerin wanted to shake her head to deny her claims but your words rang through her head. She wanted to find that happiness and she knows she can't fully enjoy that happiness alone. She needed to take a step forward away from her comfort zone and see what lies beyond.

"Yeah, I have been playing basketball again."

"Really? That's so cool!"

Haerin couldn't believe it. Someone aside from her said that the sport she's doing is something amazing. She was expecting the usual reaction from her previous encounters of this confession yet this time, it was the opposite.

"Unnie, you don't find that... Weird?"

"Of course not! Why would I find you playing basketball weird. In fact I want to see you play. Oh, Maybe we can all play basketball sometimes! I can set up a date-"

Minji couldn't continue her statement because Haerin cut her off with a warm, tight embrace. For the first time in her life, Haerin felt relieved that she no longer needed to close the door. She felt less alone than she had in a long time. For the first time in a long time, she met someone who understood her.

"Unnie.."

"What’s wrong Haerin? Do you want to invite the members too? I'm sure they would love to play with you."

"No Unnie, I'm happy. I'm just happy and thank you."

Minji couldn't understand where Haerin was coming from, but with her appreciation, she could only see it as a positive thing. As Haerin continued to hug Minji, she realized she might need some help with the preadicament she was facing.

"Unnie, Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What is it Haerin-ah?"

"Umm.. Is it okay.. For a girl to like a guy.. Who's like trying to like fix their relationship that don't seem to work and, she's acting as the guy's support, but he doesn't know that the girl has developed feelings for him. Or is that wrong?"

Minji pondered on this thought as this was something she wasn't familiar with. But with her expertise in watching K-Drama on the television, she has one answer for that one.

"If that's the case, I suggest the girl to stop being the guy's support because as I see it. She's becoming a rebound for the guy. Well unintentionally that is."

When Haerin heard those words, she stopped her breath for a moment as a little pain struck her heart. Being labeled a rebound is the last thing she wanted to be termed. But when she thinks back on her time with you, she was your rock, and every tale she hears about Yunjin tears her heart apart.

That wasn't happiness for her.

Perhaps it was time to listen to her Leader's advice and be the person that she has always been. A girl who loves performing in front of her fans and enjoy playing basketball.

"Yeah, Your right Unnie. Anyway I'll be at the court now."

"Okay, Alright. Be back before dinner okay? And stay safe."

Haerin chuckled hearing the words of their eldest and leader as she identically sounded like her own mother with her tone and delivery.

"I will."

With a clear understanding of what she needed to do, she made her way to the court where she had become accustomed to meeting you. With every step seeming to be loaded with the few memories you two shared, it felt bittersweet that she was willing to let go of everything in such a short period of time. During that period, she became aware of numerous things she had previously avoided.

Being able to enjoy basketball without being bothered by others, finding satisfaction in the company of others, and generally enjoying life. Despite the brief time together, she has become connected to you, which is the terrible part. She's terrified of facing you now. She is unsure how she will deal with you after this, or if it is best to simply withdraw from your life for ever.

What Hurts more is she's letting go of her idol.

The person she looks up too.

The person she admire so much.

The person she fell in love with.

And

The person that will break her heart.

Just thinking about the night hoops you played and the late-night food tour across Seoul makes her melancholy. Haerin had become a tourist during the day and a wall of support at night. Haerin was eager to be at your side, and she couldn't remember how many times she ran to the court only to be your ear and shoulder to depend on.

As this idea occurred to her, it became more difficult for her to continue her trek towards the court since her eyes were already filled with tears for you. She had never thought that loving someone could be so difficult. She never considered the possibility of love since she never took such things seriously. She couldn't understand why her Unnies were so obsessed with romantic dramas and other aspects of love.

But now she realized, what love is.

And she got the bitter part of it.

Taking a deep breath, she continued on with her walk as she spotted you sitting on the bench watching the passing cars go by. Your presence alone makes her heart flutter and make her knees go weak. As you wave and smile at her, the heat crept it's way up her cheeks as she continued her descend on the stairs towards the court. But her eyes never left you and as soon as she took one misstep, her foot slipped and was stumbling to-

"Gotcha. You alright Haerin?"

Your buffed arms managed to catch her fragile small body as she directly stared at you with admiration and with love. Her heart raced faster than it was earlier and this was a scene straight out of the romance movies. After catching herself, she immediately pushed you away standing up by herself as her action caught you by suprise

"Haerin? Is everythin-"

"Please... Let's stop seeing each other."

As hard as it is to hear someone say that to you, Haerin is the one who is most saddened. By confessing those words, she is letting go of all the memories she has with you. But, more crucially, she is willing to let you go.

"Y/N, The last few weeks has been nothing but a blast I had with you and nothing can replace those moments with anyone. You thought me what it means to be happy once again but more importantly, you helped me realize how to enjoy basketball once again."

"Haerin.."

"I became your wall of support and ear whenever you visit Yunjin and I understand that. You and Yunjin are meant for each other and probably trying to fix the relationship you two had. I don't want to be a nuisance to both of you once you two figured it out.."

As her emotions have caught up to her words, she tried to suppress the tears that was slowly falling down her cheeks as she immediately Wipes them off. With every second passing by, her heart was being torned apart.

"You know Y/N, because of you, I enjoyed things that I usually don't do. Like applying lipsticks, using the eye liner, using lip tint, applying blush on, and wearing cute clothes. Before I'm only doing those because I'm a Kpop Idol but with you, I enjoy doing them because of you. "

"Haerin.."

"I want to say goodbye, but that would be too sad and I don't want this to be the end of us meeting. So Y/N.."

A soft breeze passed you two by as her hair danced with the air showing a long haired beautiful angel crying.

"I hope to see you again."

With those last words spoken by her, her heart has completely shattered into thousand pieces. She couldn't look you in the face or else she might breakdown completely. So turning her back around, she was ready to let you go and move forward in her life.

"Preety Kang, who said this is the end?"

You smirked as Haerin stopped on her tracks. Your voice still had a huge effect on her as you took steps closer to her. Panic began to rise all over body as she didn't know what will happen next.

"You said you were a nuisance? I called you a ball of sunshine."

"Stop it..."

"You said I showed you happiness? How can you be so sure when YOU'RE my happiness."

"Please.. Stop.."

"All my life, I have watched opportunities slip by my hands. And Days I spent with you were the opportunities I didn't slip by. Because of you, I learned who I am."

"Y/N..."

"Kang Haerin. I'm not letting you go anymore. My heart beats for you and only you. If your not ready now, I'll wait and I'll keep waiting until our paths cross again. Because if Love didn't happen, I wouldn't have met you."

"......"

"Kang Haerin, The girl I love is you."

Haerin had never twirled so fast her life as she spinned back towards you and jumping into your body as you catches her. Her tears couldn't be controlled anymore as she cried her heart out not out of sadness this time. But in happiness.

"Y/N!!"

"I'm here Haerin. I'm here."

As you stroked her hair, Haerin buried her face in your chest, weeping gently as she heard your heart's lovely rhythm. She couldn't believe her modest wish had come true. For you, the decision was not simple. The way you went to korea hoping to connect with Yunjin failed. You tried your best to make your heart beat for her but despite the efforts, Haerin was the one chiming your heart.

Every time you go closer to Yunjin, your mind only sees one cat, which was unjust to Yunjin. You had to tell her the truth, but Yunjin was the first person to say farewell to you. She knew the minute you first dated her, your heart couldn't hold her. No matter how hard she tried, she could see straight through you, and when she saw you smiling genuienly, she knew someone had already stolen your heart.

And she didn't want your friendship to be broken due to one-sided passion. As terrible as it is for her, she genuinely loved you and chose your happiness above her own. She understood that love needs sacrifices, and she was prepared to make the biggest sacrifice of her own love for your love story.

You shed your own share of tears as Yunjin said her farewell to you because despite not fully loving her, a part of your heart truly did loved her genuienly and honestly. It felt heart breaking despite not truly loving her. It confuses you but with one door closes, another one opens.

As you looked at your lock screen, the picture of you and Yunjin was difficult to remove. But, knowing that you and Yunjin had failed, you pinned all of your hopes on one girl. The girl who has been with you since your arrival and is the only one who has remained in your head and heart.

Haerin, your constant companion and supporter during your time in Korea. Her temperament and beauty are too appealing not to notice her. Not only that, but she keeps you smiling and understands how to connect with you. She was everything you didn't realize you needed. You still recall the day your heart sang for her. When you were rushing away from a paparazzi at night, her warm little hands entwined around yours, and her charming grin brightened the darkness. At that same moment, you knew your heart was pounding for Kang Haerin rather than Huh Yunjin.

You were so stupid because you figured it out too late and today was suppose to be day you told her everything but it seems Haerin was the first one to beat you too it.

"Do you mean it?"

Haerin gazed up to meet your gaze, her cat-like eyes looking more lovely than ever. You nodded, stroked her hair, and returned to burying her face on your chest. Her behaviors made you laugh because they were so charming.

"I love you Y/N.."

She backed away, sneaking a quick kiss on your cheeks before whispering gently. Thinking you hadn't heard her, you bent down to kiss her forehead, making her blush even more.

"I love you too, My Laker Star Haerin. Hehe~"

You smiled wholeheartedly at her, just like Haerin did, despite her cheeks going red. Both of you were experiencing the joys of love as fate brought your hearts together.

As Yunjin looked down at the building's glass windows, she watched the guy she genuinely loved embracing a girl he deserved. Her heart ached to see you with someone else, but she knew you were the one known as "Right Person, Wrong Time." She smiled sadly as she shed one final tear staring at you.

"I hope you treat him right Haerin. Because he was once My Laker Star too."

.

.

.

[gh0stfacesho3]

Transfer of Words

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Gender Non-Specific Reader

Word Count: +3.5k 

Warning: Fluff, mild angst. Professor x Student (College Au, all characters are +18), language, mention of abuse, mention of alcohol. 

Summary: As a Professor in the states, you were used to transfer students. You weren’t exactly ready for this new transfer student who is the son of the owner of Mike Sneakers (we don’t do free sponsors here ) 

   You were especially used to transfer students because you had a doctorate in linguistics. Being this, you knew a plethora of languages, from English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Latin, and a few native languages. You were always fascinated by languages and how people came up with these mixes of characters and words to make beautiful phrases. Since you were a kid you started to learn other languages. You had a French neighbor in your old hometown which is where you picked it up at age 7. Then, when you were 10, your family took a trip to Mexico which is when you became interested by Spanish. You fully understood the language by age 11 due to your prior knowledge of French. Then this process just continued where you would just learn languages mainly for fun. This lead to you being a linguistics professor who also taught second languages and would take in quite a few transfer kids. This lead to the journey of Jeon Jungkook and it was definitely a wild one. 

   You walked into your office at about 9:00 and placed your laptop onto the desk. You straighten up your outfit before settling in and getting to work. As you looked through your emails, you noticed an email that was about another transfer student. You kind of glanced over it, but didn’t pay too much mind to it, assuming it was just another kid from out of country. As 10:00 started to roll around, your students walked in. Some smiled, others chugged some unhealthy energy drink, some even chatted with you before finding their seats. As everyone found their seats, you looked out to see a new student. 

“You, new kid, come up front and do that cringe introduction.” You chuckle, emitting a chuckle from a few kids. He tilts his head in confusion, probably because he doesn’t speak English. Due to your gesture though, he assumes you want him to introduce himself. 

“You don’t already know who I am?” He whispered loud enough for you to hear in his first language. 

“Actually, no, I don’t.” You responded quickly as you clasped your hands before beckoning him to the front again. He was a little shocked that you spoke Korean so well, being he had no prior information on you. You were used to kids who thought they were all that but something about this kid who was ‘dressed to impress’ rubbed you the wrong way. He walks down to the front and rolls his eyes at you. 

“I’m Jeon Jungkook...23. Korean” He said in English the best he could. You smiled and introduced yourself. 

“I’m Professor Y/L/N, find your seat now.” You responded before turning to the large chalk board and continuing your lesson. After the two hour lecture, you dismissed class. Jungkook was asleep in the back, which made you walk up to him and nudge him. 

“Its lunch time, go eat.” You say as he wakes up. He shrugged off your hand before collecting his things. 

“Filthy commoner.” He mumbled as he shoved past you. You would’ve been insulted if it were true, but it wasn’t. You collect your things and head out to your favorite cafe. Being it was a Tuesday, that class was the only one you had for the day so you treated yourself to some coffee. You notice a bit of commotion outside, but you try to ignore it and sneak inside. 

“Y/N Y/L/N!! IS IT TRUE YOU’RE TEACHING JEON JUNGKOOK?!” 

“Y/N?!?!”

“DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT JUNGKOOK?” 

You were confused by all the bombarding questions so you ran into the café and shut the door along with someone else. You turned to see the brat himself, Jeon Jungkook. 

“What mess have you fuckin brought me into?” You huffed as your back pressed against the door. 

“I didn’t do anything! I just went for a walk and got lost!” He huffed back at you. 

“Why are you so popular?” You asked as you held your hand on your forehead. 

“Ugh, you’re a horrible teacher if you can’t read a simple email. I’m the son of the owner of Mike tennis shoe company.” He responded. You rolled your eyes as stood up and walked in line, happy to see police shows up to wrangle up paparazzi. 

“What? Don’t care about my father’s company?” He mumbled. You go to order your drink and the barista looks confused. You realized you just ordered in Korean. You apologized before trying again. After you pay, Jungkook walks up and tried to get a drink. 

“C-coffee?” He basically asked, leaving the barista to ask a series of question. Jungkook looks over to you for help, making you chuckle. 

“Why should I help? You called me a shitty teacher.” You faked being offended which made Jungkook embarrassed. 

“I’ll pay for you.” He said, making you more than willing to help him. Being you already bought your drink, he just handed you a 20 like it was nothing. 

“That's way to much money Jungkook.” You said as you grabbed your coffee and went to hand him the money back. 

“It’s nothing to me and my father always says to help the less fortunate.” He said before drinking his coffee, which intern made you laugh. 

“You’re a brat but you’re a cool kid.” You say as you sit down and he follows. You quirk an eyebrow at him and he does the same back. 

“Who said you could sit with me?” Making him tilt his head. 

“Who said you got here first?” Jungkook barked back at you. You held your hands up in defense. 

“You’re going to have to get used to me being I will probably be your living translator...also whos your host family?” You waited for his response as you took a sip of your coffee. 

“I-...I’m not sure.”

“You didn’t check your email?” You teased like he did you which seemed to piss him off. 

“I can’t fuckin read English!” Which made you shocked. How could a school send this kid an email in a language he doesn’t know. You hold your hand out for his phone which he reluctantly gives to you. You mumble out the email before getting to the important part. 

“Your father has entrusted Professor Y/N with your care being they have the most experience with transfer students.” You were used to hosting kids but you thought someone of such class would be with, well you didn’t know, maybe someone the kid knew? 

“With you?” He almost sounded disgusted. You were actually upset that you didn’t read that email but you had a rough weekend. 

You sighed, “Look kid-”

“I’m not a kid!” He fussed. He was right. He said he was 23 and so were you. (Seems young for being a professor right, you’re just pretty smart and graduated early) 

“Okay, sorry. But look, you either live with me for the what, 3 months you’re gonna be here? Or ask your daddy for money to live in a hotel for 3 months.” You teased, making him sigh. 

“I’m not talking to him...that's why he sent me here.” Jungkook looked down at his now empty iced coffee. 

You stood up and patted his shoulder. “Then suck it up buttercup. Lets go get your shit and move you in.” 

“Want me to call an Uver?” The boy asked. (again, no free sponsors in this house).

“Nope. My car isn’t too far from here.” You smiled as you walked closer to the college campus. You turned before getting to campus and walked up to the car park. 

He pointed to an abandoned car that has been there for years, “Is that yours?” he teased. 

You smiled as you pulled out your key fob, clicking the unlock button to see a black lambo unlock. Jungkook stopped in his tracks and stared in awe. 

“Come on pretty boy, not scared are you?” You smiled as you hopped in. He scurried into the car with a wide smile. 

“Here I was thinking you were some poor teacher.” 

“I’m a professor first of all, second” you start the engine with a loud purr, “I have my perks.”  You smirked. 

Its been about a month since Jungkook has been moved in. One day y’all were sitting at the table, awkwardly eating dinner like you guys did every night when he got a phone call. You have never seen him smile since the first time he got in the car and besides that, he’s been a pain in your ass more than anything. Good thing is, he’s actually learned quite a bit of English and can order his food in public. 

You were snapped out of your thoughts when you heard him fussing. 

“No Dad! Please you can’t make me stay here! I am studying and doing my work! This isn’t fair!” He argued, pacing back in forth before heading to his room which was a guest room. “YOU CAN’T JUST KEEP ME IN AMERICA BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ME. MY PROFESSOR ISN’T MY BABY SITTER, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LIFE WHICH IS BETTER WITHOUT ME!....you were only right about one thing dad... I’m a bother to everyone around me.” Jungkook finished before in went quiet. You didn’t know what to say. He knew he was being difficult because he wanted to be. He wants you to be upset and kick him out so he can go home. He wants to be out of you hair. You walked to his room and knocked, and saw something you never saw you see. Tears. 

“W-what?!” He sniffled as he turned around and rubbed his eyes. You just walked up to him and turned him around, pulling him into a hug. He was reluctant at first before he finally gave in. 

“You’re a brat yes, but you’re not a bother. And if you’d stop distancing yourself, we might be able to make this extended time more enjoyable.” Was the only thing you could say. 

“I’m sorry I’m so mean to you...I just thought if maybe,”

“Maybe if I got annoyed enough I’d kick you out so you could go home?” He nodded to your question. 

“Welp, I’m a tough cookie to crack.” You smiled as you pulled away. 

“God we are the same age but you talk like a 80 year old.” He laughed as he wiped his face again. 

The two of you then go and talk about him and his life back at home. He explains how his grades are slipping and that is why he is forced to stay here longer. How he doesn’t like going to college because it’s not what he wants to do in life. Jungkook explained that he wanted to be a singer and even showed you a few songs he has covered and composed. They were really good in actuality. You agreed with him if he can get English down pat and pick his grades up, you’d help him peruse his career. 

-

It’s now been 3 months and Jungkook is basically speaking fluent English. He is also passing all your classes and is starting to open up to you a lot more. It was Spring break so you decided to go out with a few friends to get a drink. You invited Jungkook but he said he wanted to finish a paper he got an extension on so you just went out on your own. You and all your friends were dancing in the club and downing drinks like fish. You may have gotten a little too drunk being it was your first night out by yourself. Jungkook recently started to get more friends so you had some free time, but you haven’t gone out since he got here which is why you let yourself get as drunk as you did. It was towards the end of the night and the bouncer would not let you out with your keys due to how drunk you were. 

“Move you b-big bo-ouf...” You stumbled as you tried to squeeze past him. He grabbed your arm and pushed you back. You huffed before pulling out your phone and smashing keys in and calling whoever popped up. 

“Professor? Are you okay?” Jungkook asked, concerned as to why you called him after not responding to his text asking when you’d be home. 

“I-im dr-drunk and this fuckin cunt won’t let me out.” You whined as you still tried to squeeze past him. “Don’t-...Don’t fuckin touch me.”

“Look, I’ll get an Uver and come pick you up.” Jungkook said as he got his things and hung up on you. 

You looked at your silent phone with an angry expression,”...bitch” 

Jungkook came walking in and saw you sitting on the floor poking the bouncers leg. 

“Can you get this parasite off of me?” The large man asked looking down at me. 

Jungkook stoops down and helps you up. You stumble toward him before you turned to look at the bouncer and stick your tongue out. You also flipped him off before Jungkook grabbed your hand and brought you to the Uver. You sat by the window and he did the same. You two finally got to your house and he helped bring you up. You tore your arm away from him as you stumbled up the stairs. 

“I’m not a fuckin baby.” You grumbled as you immediately fell on the stairs. The male huffed as he helped you up. 

“Get OFF of ME Jackson!” You pushed him away as tears filled your eyes. “I’m not your fuckin victim anymore!” 

“Y/n?” Jungkook put his hands up and came to you slowly, “Its just me...Jungkook.” You finally started to calm down as you slowly tried to climb the stairs to your home. Jungkook helped you up and brought you to the couch. Jungkook grabbed a wet cloth and wiped the palms of your hand that were scrapped up. He then wiped your eyes and petted your head. 

After Jungkook helped you that night, there was this awkward air again. He felt like walking on eggshells around you. Who was Jackson and why did you say you weren’t his victim. Jungkook asked his classmates around campus and even a few teachers as best he could. He finally found a teacher who was willing to give him a small amount of information. 

“Now, I’m not going to say a lot because it isn’t my story to tell, but Jackson is Y/n’s ex....and let’s say he won’t be getting boyfriend of the year award.” Dr. Nick explained. Jungkook had enough information to make a firm decision. He was going to show you what a man should treat others like. He wasn’t your boyfriend or even considered you that much of a friend, but he felt guilty for living with you almost rent free (even though the school payed for his stay). 

Jungkook went to the store after he was done with classes and picked up a lot of food to make you dinner as payment for all the times you made him dinner. He bought you your favorite candy, or so he assumed because he’d always find the wrappers in the trash. He even bought you a gift card to the coffee shop you love and headed home. Being it was a Friday, he knew you would be home a little later. The more Jungkook thought about it, the more he realized he knew a lot more about you than he thought. Jungkook started to think about all the little things you did for him. How certain foods would pop up more after he mentioned them. How you would cook different meals just for his liking and make sure he had a decent environment to study in. How you would stay up late and call of work a few times just to help him study. Jungkook smiled as he started to mentally prepare himself for cooking. He also hoped he wouldn’t burn your house down because he had very little cooking experience. 

Jungkook starts cooking a dish he often enjoyed back at home: Spicy Ramen with rice cakes and kimbap. The button down shirt he wore to school was now slightly disheveled and stained. He rolled his sleeve up as he looked at the time-- 5 more minutes. Or so he thought when he heard your keys jingle at the door. He mildly panicked before setting up the food at the table and cleaning up quickly. He ran to the door as you finally started to open it and he stopped you.

“Huh?” You asked looking at his slightly sweaty face. “Jungkook if you’re having sex-” 

“AH No no no!! But I have to ask for you to stand out here for 5 more minutes...trust me.” You don’t know why but you did trust him, and so you stood there for 5 whole minutes. You thought about all the possibilities you could walk into: A girl or a guy running out half naked, your house destroyed, drugs...etc.  Jungkook came back looking a lot more put together and opened the door. You were hit with a mix of smells and were shocked. 

“J-jungkook, did you ? You didn’t- no you can’t cook can you?” You asked as you walked in and admired the kitchen. 

“I noticed you’ve been working more and I felt bad for staying here, even longer than expected... So I wanted to show you that I can be a proper man and treat another human being with respect.” 

“I don’t care the reason as long as it taste good...and it looks amazing Jeon.” You quickly wash your hands and sit down ready to eat. Jungkook sat closer to you which you didn’t think much about being the ramen was in a big shared pot. You start digging in but you try to avoid the kimbap. You didn’t know if it had seafood and you didn’t want to take a chance. Jungkook picked up a piece and brought it up to your mouth. 

“Made without seafood.” He smiled before you opened your mouth and took a bite. You smiled as you continued to eat. Jungkook ate as well before making the perfect bite. You even noticed it and tried to follow what he did, but before you could, he offered it to you. You were about to take in the food before you paused. 

“Where is all this coming from?” You asked before taking the bite You smiled and almost forgot you asked a question until he cleared his throat. 

“Well, like I said I felt bad for staying here and being a brat...I also wanted to give you a taste of my culture since you’ve welcomed me into yours.” He explained with a small blush and a smile. 

“Yeah I get that, but what's with that stuff?” You asked pointing to the flower bouquet lined with your favorite candies and snacks. 

“Oh...well the same reason.” He smiled. You were suspicious but you decided to finish eating. You heart was really warmed but he wasn’t that much of a brat. Yeah it was inconvenient on occasion, but he’s helped you a lot. He helps with chores and keeps his area clean, he is good company since you’re always alone, and well...he’s a pretty boy to keep around. Not to mention he saved you from that club when you were piss ass drunk. The two of y’all were cleaning up and things were going good...until Jungkook said the forbidden name. 

“Y/n...who is Jackson?” You almost drop the plate you were cleaning. 

“I fuckin knew you were up to something...Did you go through my room?! My fucking personal life?!” You started to fuss but by the look on his face, he didn’t. 

“When you were drunk, you called me Jackson and said ‘I’m not your victim anymore’...” He paused, looking down before looking back at you, “he hurt you didn’t he?” 

You stared at the wall, looking for the right words to say. “Yeah...he did. And I’m sorry I did that that night...but I’m not a baby. I don’t need your sympathy or your fuckin pandering.” You huffed as you started to leave the kitchen but he grabbed your wrist. 

“I’m not doing this to make up for him,...Nothing I can do can heal those scars. But I’m doing it to make up for me and my actions. And its my way of showing-....” Jungkook trailed off. 

“Showing what?” You said looking down at his hand holding your wrist. 

“It’s how I show affection to people I care about.” Jungkook said the words without really thinking. You were taken aback and pulled away from him. 

“Jungkook...I-” You started before he cut you off. 

“I know what you’re going to say. I’m not the first kid to say this am I? And you tell them all the same thing. ‘We can’t be together because I risk losing my job’ and all that...I know.” He said looking down at his feet. You were shocked he even had feelings for you. He was completely wrong because since Jackson, you kept these walls up and didn’t let anyone like you. You normally noticed when people would catch feelings and immediately turn them away...but this was different. You hadn’t realized he liked you because you were to busy pushing yourself away from him. You noticed you liked his presence more which is why you stayed later at work, to push yourself away. 

“Jungkook, that’s not it. I actually really care about you too. But there is the case with work that I don’t know if I can get passed...but I do appreciate this. And I appreciate you so much, but after Jackson...” You trailed off. 

“You don’t know if you’re ready and I understand that...but out of all the people I’ve met, your the one person I wouldn’t mind waiting for.” Jungkook admitted. He didn’t realize how strong he felt about you until he was in this moment. You also didn’t realize how strong you felt until you realized you moved closer to him. You always had your guard up around people, but you realized you were more venerable with Jungkook than with anyone else. You peered up at him to see his eyes were red from holding back his tears. 

You chuckled softly, “You’re such a baby.” You teased making him laugh before nudging you. 

“Yeah well this baby just cooked your dinner so whose baby now?” He retorted. 

“There’s that smile...”You mumbled, smiling as you two just stood there looking at each other. Jungkook’s eyes darted down to your lips before saying fuck it. He leaned in and held your cheeks in his hand. You felt this weird tension finally dissipate. You leaned in closer and placed your hands on top of his. 

“If you think about it, I graduate this year in a few months...so if we wait it out, you won’t have to worry about your job.” Jungkook reasoned as he pulled away. 

“That is true...even if you weren’t, I can always find another job.” You smiled, kissing him again. 

A/n: Sorry if this is a little rough, but I have been on a hiatus for about a year now. Writing is something I love doing but I’ve been so busy with school and have had so little motivation. I really wrote this whole thing within 2 days and I’m proud of myself. If you really liked it, hit that like and share button! If this gets enough love, I might open request again. 

[modecaisnow]

The Immobile Man

**18 Years or Older: The following includes themes of: immobility, XSSBHM, unrealistic situations, and homoerotic self-pleasure. REMEMBER: The relationship portrayed in this story is an unrealistic caretaker-client relationship – it is okay to read and enjoy these works of fiction, but what is essentially a “boss-worker” relationship should not take place in the real world. ENJOY!!**

Sam is a new Home-Care nurse. He is excited and anxious about meeting his first ever client! However, he quickly realized he may have bitten off more than he could chew...

It was my first day as a home-care nurse. I was excited to get out in the world and help people, but I didn’t know what was in store for me. My professors and Clinical Instructors always said that “your first patient will be one you never forget.” The thought of that was just as exciting as it was worrying. This must be the place, I thought to myself as I stood outside of a single-floor home. The outside of the house was not well-kept. The yard was a mess, and the siding was covered in green moss. I double-checked the address on my patient files and then triple-checked just to be sure. After a deep breath, I approached the house and walked up the two, small cement steps. On the door, was a sign saying: “All packages: Please go around to side window and drop it in window. Thanks.” I didn’t think much of it – in fact, things like this were expected for clients like this one. According to the file, the patient was Mr. Mike Jacobs. He had “limited mobility” and required a “high level of assistance with all activities of daily living” and “activity monitoring.” I was not told much more than that – I was only told the information I needed to know. How he got hurt, or whatever rendered him with limited mobility, was not part of the information I needed. I knocked on the door. -Silence- I knocked a second time. -Silence- I knocked a third time. “Yeah… who’s there?” Called a thick, deep voice from inside. I slowly opened the door, after the baritone voice called from deep within the house. “My name is Sam, and I’m a Home Health Nurse. I’m here to help Mr. Jacobs…” “That’s…me!” The man coughed. “Come in! I’m in… the bedroom here!” I slowly opened the front door. Immediately, I was met with a musky, damp smell. I covered my nose at first, but then stopped as I felt it was unprofessional. After regaining my composure, I slowly walked through the house and toward the bedroom. The carpet itself was torn and stained, small wheel treads were indented into the carpet, all leading from the couch to the kitchen. The entire house looked like it was on the TV Show “Hoarders.” Old boxes and bags cluttered the rooms in large heaps. The furniture was snapped and broken. Everything was covered in dust – even the appliances in the kitchen. The heaps of trash managed to pile almost as tall as me, but at 5’6” (167cm) I was not terribly tall anyway. Inside the kitchen, was a broken-down mobility scooter. The wheels had all burst, and the seat was crushed and flattened like a pancake. “I’m in here… come in, boy!” The man wheezed. I slowly opened the door and my jaw dropped. In the middle of the room were two, full-sized beds resting side-by-side, connected by a plank of wood in the front that was nailed into the bed frames. The legs of the bed frames were reinforced and wooden blocks, as well as books, were shoved up under the sagging frame to help add extra support. The mattresses on the frames were both flattened until they were no thicker than a pillow, both overwhelmed by the mound of blob-like lard on the bed. Next to the blob was a rolling cart with one pizza box on top – a plethora of empty boxes was scattered along the floor. “I’m Mr. Jacobs… you can call me… by that… or by ‘Sir’… either is fine.” The man was immense. I was surprised he even managed to muster the energy to speak between mouthfuls. This man was not human – his size was not physically possible. In fact, I had to rub my eyes just to be sure, and I looked around for hidden cameras to see if I was on a prank show or if this were a test. This man was easily over 1000 pounds, or maybe even 1400 or more pounds. Either way, it was a sight to see – he must have been the fattest man around, or even alive. Wobbling dangerously close to the end of the bed was the blob’s belly. Flabby, doughy piles of flesh spilled outward and sagged down from his front. The looming mass of blubber covered most of the mattresses beneath the tub of lard. At the front of Mr. Jacobs’ belly was a deep belly button, which must have been out of his reach for a long time. The cavernous belly button marked the division between two vast, distended folds of pure fat that sat atop each other. The bottom fold, which forced the mattress to sink downward, spilled all around the fat man’s frame, where it rounded his sides and became a series of substantial love-handles that oozed over his gelatinous, mammoth thighs. I could not distinguish the different segments of the obese glutton’s legs. It was just a series of rolls and folds piled against each other. Every roll sagged down towards his fat feet, where the lard oozed around his long-lost ankles. The fat from his thighs blended in with his massive rear, which spilled out far behind him. Two gigantic globes of ass fat smothered multiple pillows that were placed at the head of the bed. Even while standing in front of the blob, I could make out his wide load of a rear. My eyes were drawn back to his belly button. It looked deep and was starting to become hidden away by the looming roll of flesh that swelled over it. At the crest of the blob’s belly, were two massive moobs. These moobs splayed off to the sides of the man’s belly with two nipples that were easily the circumference of my hands. The bottom half of his fattened areolas had started to become hidden as his own expanding chest fat forced them to point downward. Neck, shoulder, and upper arm fat all blended into what seemed like one massive, sagging mound of dough. The only distinction was the pillow-sized forearms that emerged from his flab-engulfed upper arm. Due to the daunting magnitude of the fat mounds that sagged off of his side, Mr. Jacobs’ arms were stuck almost parallel to the ground. However, it just seemed to make it easier for him to eat since he only needed to grab another slice of pizza and bend his elbow. Everything about this man was fat. Similarly to how he did not have a discernable neck or ankle, this man’s wrist was also engulfed in lard by his own gluttony. The seemingly most mobile part of him was his fingers. The cheeks on both sides of his face were swollen to the point where they started to impinge on his field of view. “I-I-I’m…um…” I stuttered as I continued to ogle the blob. “Surprised?” The man interjected as he swallowed the last slice. “You’re surprised to see me… ain’t ya?” He grabbed the empty pizza box and shoved it off the rolling cart. It fell to the ground with the rest of the empty garbage that fell victim to his ravenous feeding. “Um.. no… well… I meant to say, I’m Sam. I’m your new nurse.” “Fuckin’ finally!” The man wheezed and panted. His massive moobs heaved up and down with each labored breath. “I have a ton... of shit for… you to do… I’m too big to… do things on my own…” “Yes, sir! That’s why I’m here.” Mr. Jacobs quickly got me to work. He rattled off a long list of things, but before I could do anything though, I had to take a baseline of his vitals. When I took out the blood pressure cuff, Mr. Jacobs laughed at me. He pointed to his arm and laughed some more. There was no way that the cuff could fit around his arm. I then approached him and asked for his wrist, so I could measure his pulse. That did not work either. The gluttonous blob relaxed, and the immense heaviness of his arm alone was too heavy for me to hold. I tried to dig my fingers into the fat that engulfed his wrist, but I could not find a pulse. As I dove my fingers deeper and deeper into his fat arm, I was met with only more lard. I then attempted to maneuver to his neck, but I couldn’t find it. I leaned against the side of his belly, and slid my fingers between his chins and tried to find a pulse in his neck, but like his wrist – there was way too much blubber. “So… what are…my vitals, boy?” “I-I- um…” The fat man laughed, “Couldn’t do it… could ya? Don’t worry… it ain't the first time... The other nurses… failed too… You’re lucky ya cute… I gave… other nurses a harder time… How bout you… get to doing… what I ask ya?” Mr. Jacobs had me running around the entire house doing work for hours. I first needed to remove all the garbage from his room. I picked up dozens and dozens of empty pizza boxes, heaps of fast food bags, and even threw away old, torn clothing that fit him a few hundred pounds ago. Afterward, I did the same through the rest of the house. Once finished, he then asked me to add some extra support to his bedframes. I grabbed bricks from outside of the house and piled them beneath the buckling frame. I even grabbed extra wooden planks and hammered them into the sides of the bed frame, which was starting to crack and snap. Once a few more boards of plywood were added to the sides, as well as underneath, the frame seemed a lot sturdier. Mr. Jacobs scoffed at my work without even saying a thank you. He then asked for me to rub his belly for him – he was far too full and tired. Besides, the lack of mobility combined with his impinged range of motion stopped the obese man from even being able to reach his belly button. The man had eaten until he was beached under all his lard and stuck on his own bed in a reclined position. “Sir, I’m not sure if that’s part of my job-“ “-I don’t… give a fuck… I’ll pay extra… just rub me, boy!” I pulled over a chair, one of the few that were not broken, and set it down near his side. I leaned over his fat thigh and started to caress his weighty love-handle. Despite being in a haze from his belly-bursting fullness, Mr. Jacobs reached lazily under his moob and took out his phone. He quickly started typing away, with his mouth hung open as he moaned from my rubbing him. I rubbed in clockwise circles – this was the best way to help with digesting food. The immobile, beached whale of a blob continued to type and type on his phone. He then reached back under his doughy moob and pulled out his wallet. His fat fingers lazily fumbled for his credit card, which he eventually managed to pull out. He rested his credit card on top of his chest as if it were a desk. “What are you doing, Sir?” “What... do you think? I’m buying… more food… It’s almost dinner time… you want… anything from… Chan’s, boy?” “Sir, I don’t think you should be eating. I’m here to get you active again. You should be ordering something light, with low calories-“ “I’mma stop you there,” The looming mountain range of lard lazily reached his fat hand down and grabbed the collar of my shirt. He pulled me in close, nearly forcing me onto my feet and pulling me in against his love handles. My face was centimeters from his fat nipple. “You are here… to feed me… to do as I say… to rub me… You ain’t changing… anything about me… Those other nurses… tried and failed… I’m meant to be like this… I’m a real fuckin’ man… Back in the day… weight was a sign… of power and wealth… Hate to break it to ya, boy… but you’ll never stop me… from eating…” With each lethargic wheeze and every baritone murmur, the sea of lard that I was being pulled up to rippled and wobbled. The bed groaned and popped loudly. I could hear some of the wooden planks start to splinter as I was now leaning against the already weakening bed frame. I just looked up at the swollen fat face that glared down at me. Mr. Jacobs let go of my shirt, and I peeled away from his gelatinous flesh. After the incident, I decided to just keep rubbing his belly. Mr. Jacobs huffed and puffed angrily as he completed his order. He commented that I would only be able to eat the left-over scraps if I behaved. I did not want him to contact my supervisor – this was my first real client and something was interesting about him – this huge, mountainous tub of lard. Under my fingers and palms was a sea of soft lard. The blubber only seemed to wobble and slosh as my hands gently caressed its canvas. My eyes gazed across the landscape of fleshy tones in front of me. The size. The vastness. The weight of it all. It started to feel…hot. I could feel my mouth water as I continued to gawk at the obese glutton – the man who ate himself into immobility. The man who beached himself on his bed after years of stuffing himself until his belly was about to burst. -DING-DONG- The ringing doorbell knocked me from my euphoria. I looked up at Mr. Jacobs and he took his fat hand and shoved me away. He wheezed and demanded I answer the door, and I did as he asked. At the door were three delivery boys, each carrying about 5 bags of Chinese food in each hand. I had them put the bags on the ground, and I brought them in for Mr. Jacobs. He had me empty the bags and place the cartons and boxes of food on the rolling cart next to him. There was more than enough food to feed over 20 adults. I pulled out dozens of boxes of white rice, several trays of lo mein, a large container packed with sauce packets, and over a dozen containers of sauce drenched General Tsao’s Chicken. This was only from the first few bags. As fast as I was pulling them out, Mr. Jacobs was ripping into them. He tossed the silverware and chopsticks aside. All he did was bring the containers up to his face and dump the contents into his fat mouth. I watched in awe as the gluttonous beast ate and ate. It was as if he had never eaten before in his life. “Jack me off… while I eat…” The obese glutton commanded. “What? I really don’t think I can-“ “-You’re job boy… is to…mmmfff… help me… with my… needs, right?” “…yes, sir…” “Don’t keep… me waiting!” He immediately returned to stuffing himself. I walked over to the front of his vast belly. Bits of rice and chicken fell down from his mouth and rolled down the large sloping gut. I started to slide my hand under the front of his stomach, reaching deeper and deeper inside. The warmth of his soft, ravenous belly smothered my hand under its vast weight. Next, my wrist slid underneath. Then my forearm. Then my elbow. Finally, my upper arm slipped under his gut, and still, I did not feel any signs of a fat pad nor dick. Mr. Jacobs leaned forward. The weight of his belly felt increasingly heavy and pinned my arm against the bed. Mounds of looming belly fat rolled forward, spilling against the side of my head as I was stuck in place. He looked down at me from atop his mountain range of blubber and scoffed. With a mouth filled with fattening, greasy slop, he commented, “Ya never… jacked off… a man like me have ya?” I shook my head. “Well… ya can’t… reach it… like that… gotta go in… from the side… less fat in… the way…” He leaned back and panted heavily. I felt his heavy gut ease off of my arm. I slid it out and walked back over to his side. I leaned over his fat, immobile leg. My tight torso sinking into his blubbery thigh. I reached my hand deep underneath his love handle. This time, I was able to trace my fingers along the mounds of fat of his thigh right up to where it met his fat pad. My boney fingers felt the hairs on his fupa. I walked my fingers down, feeling a crevasse form in the supple, warm sack of lard. I slid my hand inside the cleft. My entire arm was submerged under the landscape of pure blubber. Mr. Jacobs moaned softly and continued to stuff his face. The hole was not tight by any means, but it was warm and soft. My fingers alone caused tiny ripples throughout the fat pad. Once I was wrist-deep in his fupa, my hands felt something hard and wet. I wrapped my fingers around it and started to gently play with it. I looked up at the obese glutton and he laughed. That was not his dick. I pulled my arm out, and inside my hand was a small vibrator. It was covered in partially dried cum and covered in hairs. Mr. Jacobs chuckled and mentioned that right before he got too fat to touch himself, he stuffed a vibrator in his fat pad. That way he could wirelessly turn it on to use it, but it had run out of batteries. He finished by saying he completely forgot it was there, a few hundred pounds later. I left the device aside and reached back in. My head was pressing into his love handle as I was shoulder deep under his fat. The heavy lard sloshed and rippled against me. I could feel his fat churning and his fupa trembling as his cock and balls prepared for my fingers. As my fingers snaked into the warm, hairy cave, whose walls were drenched in some viscous cream, I felt the tip of a fat-engulfed cock. Mr. Jacobs trembled and moaned loudly with a mouthful of food. His tip nearly surged with life as I touched and played with it. I clutched onto whatever I could. The mounds of fat consumed my hand as I adjusted inside the cavernous fat pad. Mr. Jacobs continued to eat and grunt loudly. I could hear the slurping and squelching of the moist fupa as I started to jack off the obese glutton. -SCHLURP-SCHLURP-SCHLURP-SCHLURP- The moans came out louder and louder as I continued to play with the fat man’s dick. Mr. Jacobs even stopped stuffing his face to tilt his head back and moan with pleasure. The bed began to groan, and the legs started to snap as the immobile ocean of fat started to use all of his energy to hump my closed fist. I held my hand still, with my fingers tightly holding his dick, and let him rock his hips back and forth as much as he physically could. Beads of sweat started to trickle down his love handles and land on the back of my head. His tiny, fat-engulfed dick slid in and out of my fingers as I continued to clench tightly. With one last, powerful thrust, I felt his entire body surge and the tip of his meat twitch. A final smack from the side of his immense landscape of fat hit the back of my head. -SNAP-SNAP-TTTHHHUUUDDDD- The bedframe snapped to pieces. We collapsed to the ground. The back of my head was struck by a tsunami of lard and blubber. Mr. Jacobs just moaned loudly as his balls emptied into his fupa, lubricating my fingers. I slowly pulled out my fingers and they were covered in seed. I walked into the bathroom to clean off my hand, then returned with a towel to begin cleaning him off. Mr. Jacobs started to eat again, stuffing his face with more and more Chinese food. He dumped containers of rice and tilted platters of chicken towards his open mouth. I barely even noticed him chewing – as if he just swallowed it all whole. The obese man, immobilized by an ocean of flab, spent the rest of the night either eating food or commanding me to cook for him. Before it was time for me to leave, I did one last clean up around his house and dragged the broken-down mobility chair into his room. “Would you like me to try and get you a new chair, Sir?” He lazily looked up from stuffing himself, “Hmm… no… don’t bother… Too puny… I’m too heavy…” “I can try to find a larger one…” “No… better off… putting wheels on… a bed, boy…” I shrugged my shoulders and turned around. Before I could take a step, I heard an ominous creak from the floorboards and Mr. Jacob grunting loudly. Soon after, I felt a fat hand cup my rear-end and squeeze firmly. The obese glutton moaned softly and licked his lips. He leaned over as much as he could as if trying to whisper in my ear. My crotch lept in my pants. “Don’t go… too far… boy… Daddy’s gonna… need ya… again…” He huffed between breaths. I smiled. He was quickly starting to grow on me – something about his confidence. Over the next few days, I continued to assist him in all his daily activities. He would just eat away all day and watch me work, and I would periodically try to get him moving. I managed to set up a pulley system above his bed which he could grab and hoist himself up if he laid down, and it doubled as a way to lift his belly. I would hook a tarp up to the pulley and slide it under his gut. The device would lift up his belly, and I would be able to clean underneath it, among other things. At the end of my first week with him, Mr. Jacobs asked me to move in permanently. He would pay for my living expenses and continue to pay me for my services. I didn’t even need to think – I already knew I wanted to. Thus, began a truly great first-client experience.

[hauntedelation]

Modulation

Description: Halloween has come, but it’s not going to be the same as that night those years ago. Mike has to be reminded of that.

Pairing: Walter Marshall x Mike (Hellraiser)

A/N: This one was very interesting to write. There is definitely a shift in their relationship, and it’s a big one. But, all I want to make sure of is that I truly show Mike’s pain in this installment. He’s still healing, but he isn’t alone this time. Second to last part in this series, let me know what you guys think!

Word Count: 4.3k

Warnings: angst, leading up to smut?, emotional hurt, and comfort, shit, Mike is having memories, feelings are spilled in this one folks.

Please enjoy guys! Proofread, sorry for errors. <3

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"Trick or treat!"

There had been a consistent wave of young children skipping up to the grand church doors. A few members lower in the clergy, and several volunteers took up the privilege of handing out candy to the eager trick-or-treaters.

Nothing else was planned for this day, at least, nothing that rendered a full service inside the church.

It was a tradition, in a way. The town was close-knit and being that St. Peter's Cathedral was heavily known for its service to the people in the community, handing out sweets to the children was a more joyous time and separate from the current holiday.

Many of the volunteers had taken over, it was the same few that were always involved in the church. The same few that Mike came to be acquainted with pleasantly. There were two large containers of chocolates and other taffies. 

The bins sat close by the opened front doors, and both were gradually dwindling as the day went on. 

Michael stood relatively close by, adorned in his normal black clothing. His hands rested in his front trouser pockets and his back leaned against one of the immense marble columns in the cathedral. 

The eager knocking started in the late afternoon, probably right around the time the local elementary schools let out. He remembered hearing the faint rhapsodic sounds from his bedroom.

Through his window he saw them, the specks of young ones scampering about on the sidewalks, all marching in their favored outfits and holding their empty bags. 

The sun was struggling behind various dark clouds. Today was slightly gloomy, so he was not expecting to feel that warmth that would always come when he sat at his window. But, there wasn’t much thought when he slid open the glass paneling. 

Despite the imminent chill that would come, the bite that nicked at his face relaxed the tension in his body, somewhat.

He inhaled a shaky breath, leaning his head back against the beam behind him. Why didn't I stay in my room? He mused to himself. Guilt spilled into his lungs, a thousand-pound iron anchor. It had been smothering.

You can't stay in there forever.

Everyone was expecting to interact with him, to see his kind face. And he knew, Mike knew that the refuge of that small room could not be enjoyed for long. For the passing weeks, it was far more likely that he would be residing there than any other place.

Was it that obvious? 

That room reminded him of his one at home. He made it into a similar cocoon, with decorations and memories staining the paint on the walls. 

But, in every way, this present one was lighter. He never had to trip over empty glass bottles or lay his body over spilled ash on his sheets, never found the occasional white tablet hiding under a discarded article of clothing. 

More recently he spent his nights thinking back to that time. The hours filled with dreams that had his eyes wide open. The seasons were shifting and the leaves’ grasp on the trees grew weaker. 

It was impending. Again, Mike knew. He thought that he would be prepared—ready for it all. He had been doing so well.

Come on, don’t mess it all up.

All of that progress that he made here, he wasn’t going to ruin it. But, that didn’t mean that his brain wouldn’t have those visions. Those memories of numbing himself with the faceless friends he made at a party, laying back in utter bliss for a few short hours. That was it. He missed some of it, unfortunately.

Michael found himself missing the way that his lips would burn from the cigarettes. Sometimes his fingertips would feel that singe too. It was always the little things, it had to be. Those minute details were what his battered self took in every single day.

That was all foreign now, despite how haunted he was. The old Mike wasn’t who he recognized anymore, and if he ever was face to face with him, looking that stranger in the eyes, he knew what he would say.

‘You’ve gotta snap out of it before you end up like Adam.’

He kept his hands in his pockets. Because with the front door open, and even with that rewarding bite, he still shivered. He could feel the goosebumps begin to prick on his arms and his neck. 

Michael proceeded to watch. Those sapphire orbs melted past the shapes of the people. Locked in a gaze that stretched far past in the distance of no particular object in mind.

Tonight was going to be a long night for him.

Little did the younger man know, he was under the watchful eye of an external presence, partially the culprit of his hair standing on end.

Walter uncrossed his thick arms, stepping down from his spot by the pews several paces away, careful not to disturb the curate. He took a look at his watch, lifting his left wrist to peer down at the hour and minute hands. He listened to it tick: 6:23. The sun was going to set in under an hour. 

Walt returned his attention back to the man whom he originally couldn’t take it off of.

Darling Michael.

It wasn't hard for him to see those demons prodding at the young man, at least not for Father Marshall. All day, all week—all month Walter sensed a drastic change in him, and this placed the older priest in deep apprehension.

His footsteps stopped, swiftly making sure that no wandering eyes were looking at him and the curate. A large group of children stepped up the front stairs, each giggling excitedly and holding their opened bags out. 

Father Marshall laid a reticent hand on Michael’s shoulder, lips dipping close to his left ear, and whispering inaudibly. 

Walter knew that he had to do something.

So he turned away, casting one last look to the festivities by the foyer, and weaved around the dozens of pews. Walt made a straight line toward a side hallway. Mike remained standing by the column, still unmoved from his previous position.

He wet his lips and let his eyes fall down to the sliver of sunlight that made its way through the clouds. The golden ray shot through the opened door and partially highlighted the old church floors.

There it was. 

Each time the sunlight came, a wave of tranquility followed. It never comes long enough but that moment, any second of being in it’s presence incited Mike to chase it more.

After he observed that sliver of light shrink away by the clouds, he pushed off of the old column and followed the same path that Walter previously took. Mike kept his head low, disappearing into that very side hallway.

Inadvertently to anyone around, from his perch on the second floor, the withered elder narrowed his piercing jade-green eyes as he caught the shadow of the young man.

He surveyed the curate following after his guide out of the main chapel.

➽─────────────❥

“Come on, let’s go somewhere quiet.”

“Where are you taking me?”

Walter simply gave Mike a soft smile, leading him by a grasp of his hand further into the never-ending cathedral halls.

What led to the hidden room was concealed by the stone design on the walls. One small notch about mid-way revealed a door. It creaked at a shrill pitch and it echoed into the darkened hallway. 

Walter peered behind Michael’s head, far down the hall to double check for any one who may be around. He gently ushered him into the room, shutting the door quietly behind the both of them.

With arms crossed over his chest, he watched Mike wander around the room, taking in the dark oak and the books that littered the space. There were about as many specks of dust as there were documents resting on the surfaces of the room. 

It wasn't too large, but it looked as if it was a small library. 

An old desk sat on the far side to the right of them with several shelves surrounding the perimeter of it. Each shelf had either a book or an old trinket filling the space.

“This used to be an old office—an old study room for one of the bishops. The man is long gone, and, as you can see no one comes into this room very often, if at all.”

A window to the left of the men showed the last bits of daylight before giving away, it was clouded from old age, and a curtain concealed much of the view.

Walter set the latch on the door and made sure that it was secure. Due to the room's lack of electricity, the man sought various candles around the room, and lit them to provide some light.

In the front of the room, there was a very spacious fireplace. Sitting on the top of the hearth, a lip jutted out. This little shelf housed different pictures. Mike could not get a close look from his distance, but they seemed slightly dated. All around the dark walls had some sort of portrait or painting. 

“I like to come in here because of the peace it brings, it’s a place where I get away and have more privacy.”

Next to the hearth sat two couches over a large ornate rug, one was leather and the other made of red cloth. Michael took a seat on the scarlet-colored one and smoothed his hands over the top of his pants. 

After lighting the last candle, Walter made his way to the fireplace. He rolled up the sleeves of his black clerical shirt and crouched down. 

He took his time preparing the fire bed, and ultimately got the wood logs to set aflame. Walt took a fire iron and began to prod at the flames, stirring more amber light and warmth into the room.

Mike watched with interest sparking in his eyes, but it never remained. His mind swarmed with murky thoughts, and it casted him far away from Walt.

Though, the young man could feel his body subconsciously lean more into the heat wafting into the room. 

Walter sat up and wiped his palms together, dismissively scraping them along his black pants. He brushed passed the couch that Mike was sitting in, and made his way to a pitcher full of water. 

This was one that he found himself bringing down whenever he made his periodical visits. The pitcher on the counter was new as of this afternoon. He had come down shortly before dinner to reflect.

The water was poured and filled the glass almost full. Walter stepped to the couch that Mike was resting in, the front of his body not facing the man. 

And he noticed his uncharacteristic silence.

Walter inhaled and brought a large palm to caress the back of Michael’s head, his skin brushing against the young man’s combed-back curls. 

This was something he knew the Mike adored. He might not admit it himself, but he tended to lean into the pressure, the weight of fingers brushing through his hair.

At least, Mike did whenever Walter was the one touching him.

For a second he could feel Mike start to relax, almost chasing his presence. With a force pulling at his body, Walt carefully made his way around the barrier of the couch, sinking down next to him.

For the first time since they last were together, Walter took a long look at Mike. The light of the fire illuminated parts of Michael’s face that made his heart twist inside his chest, leaving the beating muscle sore.

The young man’s eyes sunk into his face, all puffy and violet from the veins showing through his pale skin. His shoulders, once straight and at attention fell forward, the caving in his chest inward. 

Walter handed Mike the glass and, even while he watched him take a sip, the older man couldn’t help the void rapidly expanding inside of him.

He must have not slept well since before autumn, for this behavior had its warning signs all the way back then. With the knowledge in Walter's mind, plastered there, he readied himself.

And maybe he didn’t do enough, maybe he was too heedful with Mike, and left him feeling neglected. Maybe the visits were far too short or the notes he wrote didn't hold enough words of gratitude. 

Remorse was a nasty bug, and it crawled its way inside of Walter as he stared at Mike’s blank face.

I’ll always want to be here. Walter couldn't think of anything else he'd rather be doing.

There was no telling what was in the curate’s mind, especially in a moment such as this. Michael swallowed down the water and placed the glass on the side table, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. 

He hadn’t said anything since they both entered this room, and Walter wasn’t about to make him. If the man wanted to sit there without saying a word, just to sit there for the rest of the night, Walter would abide. 

The older priest let his eyes drift over that fatigued face, and traced the way his dimmed blues looked far away at the flickering flames.

“Halloween used to be my favorite holiday.”

Walt leaned closer to the muted voice. Mike let him take his hand in his, warming the chilled digits in his palms. For a long while, the two sat like that, soaking in the presence of one another and forgetting everything else in existence.

That night that seemed to never end...the night where he couldn't leave. Where the smell of Earth and blood filled his nose. No matter whatever he did. 

Mike could recall the way that the leaves fell that day, and how if he looked outside that old window behind Walter, it would appear just the same.

“You already know about that though...about me—about right now.”

Walter didn’t say anything and Michael smiled dolefully. He drifted his attention over the fireplace and up toward the paintings above the blaze.

“You've always seemed to do that. To know everything about me. Kinda like there wasn't any effort behind it.”

Mike turned his head toward Walter, the orbs glazing over and shimmering in the amber light. He watched the man clench his jaw and how the tension shifted under his full beard. 

Walter remained silent.

“I don’t know how to explain, I feel outside of myself. Like I am out of my body and locked in my head...I don’t know how..to get out.”

The older man swallowed hard as he listened. He hung onto every word that slipped passed Mike's lips. With the outcome of each sentence, Walt knew exactly what the curate was struggling to speak about. 

He could feel Michael’s hand faintly tighten its hold around his, beginning a tremor. Mike’s cheeks grew damp, and his eyes burned red, the blinding salt falling down his face. In the low light, the trails shone the brightest and reflected the orange flames back to Walter.

“It’s terrifying to think about, and I can’t help it most nights. I thought I was done but...I can still remember everything.”

The fingers of Michael’s free hand found their way to rub at his hair, messing up the parted style that he had it in and pulling it by his forehead. 

And he waited, breathing shakily for several moments. As he turned his eyes downward, away from Walter’s attentive face, he mumbled out,

“I-I really needed a moment away…Thank you, you always make me feel so safe, Walter.”

The older priest slid his hand from Mike’s grasp and scooted closer, nudging his chin up with his hand. The curate’s tears dripped down and began to wet Walt’s fingers. He guided his face upward to look deep into his swollen eyes, closing the distance between them.

Michael slid them shut, however, and took his lower lip between his teeth, nibbling it until it was irritated. 

“Oh, sweetheart—hey, come here,” Walter softly spoke to him. 

His hand cupped the nape of Mike’s neck and his other thumbed away the liquid falling down his cheekbones, but it all remained flowing and coated more of his skin. He pulled Mike into his broad chest, wrapping his arms securely around his shoulders. 

Michael pushed his face to the crook of Walter’s jaw and fisted the shirt at the older priest’s back. The moisture streaming down his cheeks.

“You make me feel...I dunno...”

He thought about it.

“Loved. I never thought I would experience anything like this.”

Walter did not hear it for the first time, but he pressed his cheek to Mike’s head and hugged him, feeling the bones in his spine, his ribs, sinking into his arms. Walt then began to rub his palms along his back...soothing, whatever it took. 

He held Michael for as long as he could. His heart thumped through his shirt and it was racing, tapping against the left side of Walter’s chest. You would have thought the curate had been on a run.

Walt found himself bringing his lips to Michael's ear, whispering an endless number of words coated in devotion. He wasn’t sure if they reached his lover, yet he pressed onward with each syllable.

Soon enough the curate pulled away, nose brushing against Walter’s and his palms sliding to cradle the sides of his face. Walter stilled and observed Mike closely, drifting his eyes over his pitiful guise. 

Michael's hands remained trembling. Walt could feel it in the way that the young man’s skin laid on his beard. Without taking his attention from the curate, his hand inched up and he wrapped his fingers around one of Mike's hands. 

He took his palm and placed a chaste kiss to the center. 

A long gaze was shared between the two men. With a brief pause for Mike to inhale, he slanted his lips with Walt's.

He should have been surprised but Walter never thought of hesitation. He brought Mike closer to him, securing his thighs around his wide hips. Michael, was feverish—needful, seemingly so. His mouth drank in each hushed breath between them, pawing at Walter’s broad body. 

The second before he licked into the older priest’s mouth, no other thoughts in his weary mind, he murmured a quiet phrase against his lips.

“I love you.”

Walter’s breath hitched, dark brows lifting in astonishment. In the wake of Michael’s raring touch and the words uttered past his lips, he was stunned.

Had he heard that right?

His breaths came out heavy and long after the moment, the two pulled away. Mike’s fingers hurriedly went between them, tugging Walt’s shirt free from the confines of his pants and unbuttoning the fabric.

This wasn't exactly what Walter brought him here for, but—

All the man could do was watch him...let him. 

Mike returned his mouth to Walter’s skin, biting and latching on the scratchy hair of his throat. Walter shivered and aided him with his messy disrobing. 

With another swift movement, the young male pulled Walter down on top of him, sucking back noises while he kissed along his jaw. His long fingers tangled into Walt’s hair, pushing the unruly strands from his face and left the man clenching his teeth from each tug to the strands.

The priest’s lips kissed down his throat, following the veins speedily pumping his blood and down over his clavicle. 

When he was met with the knotted skin that sat in the cavity of Michael’s chest, he paused. Panting, his warm breath flowing over Mike's exposed skin and leaving bumps in its wake. 

Walter slid his eyes shut, wrapping his large palms over his ribs, and laid a weighted kiss over the entirety of the scar.  

Mike watched through his lashes, chest heaving, and a strange emotion searing his insides. He wanted to reach up and push his head away, but couldn't bring himself to do so at each press of Walter's lips on his skin.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips and he met Walter’s darkened eyes.

“You’re so beautiful, do you know that, Michael?” He murmured against him.

Michael huffed out a gentle laugh and a timid smile grew on his lips. There was a tinge of crimson finding its way up his neck and straight to his cheeks. Yeah, right. He couldn't fathom it. 

But the way that man's eyes bored into him, the way he caressed his body left Michael with uncertainty on that idea. 

All the young man could do was stare into Walter. To observe him cherish and mumble prayers into his pale skin, words that kicked up the pacing of his heart and sent all that blood down to his groin.

The curate sucked in a breath after viewing him, mesmerized, he could feel the pressure inside building up to an immense degree.

“Please, Walt,” he said.

Walter brought his head up, eyes locking with Michael’s and fingers slipping down to his stomach, tickling the small patch of hair there. His brow lifted again, and a tilt was applied to his head.

“Michael...I-are you sure?”

The younger man had a particular way about him, a certain manner in which he called to Walter. Whether it was with the whimpers spilling out of his mouth, or, a quick look from across the room. Please. It was wept up at him and so muted he could barely hear over the fire crackling. 

If he's asking for—

Mike nodded his head and his fingers went down to unbutton and pull at Walter’s tightening pants. Walt gingerly followed suit, caging the young man under him, blue eyes staring down at him.

“Please, just—I’m ready. I need this.”

Walter was without words as they were brought bare before each other, skin glowing under the light and the warmth blanketing over each of their bodies. 

The man sighed, head falling back when he felt Michael begin to paw at his groin, stroking the pulsing length and once again, pulling him closer. Walter laid himself between Michael’s legs, wrapping his palms around his thighs and pushing his knees up and apart from each other. 

And, Walter tilted his jaw up, Mike not halting his slow massaging on Walter's erection.

"I don't want to hurt you, I need you to be sure." he husked out, peering down at him with half-lidded eyes.

Mikey gaped up at his bushy face. Leaning up to brush his mouth against his, "It's alright."

He slipped his grasp from around Walter and laced them with his thick fingers, directing the man between his thighs. Michael went down to that sensitive spot, where a smooth, cool surface met their fingertips.

“I’ve had you with me this whole time.”

➽─────────────❥

The moon hung in the black sky, sending it's blue glow through the partially obscured window. 

Walter laid with his head against a plush pillow, his body displayed over the red couch. His chest rose slowly, his heart rate returning back to the original calm pace. Mike's head lain along the man's chest, both his cheek and his ear positioned directly over Walter's beating heart. 

An old blanket draped around the curate’s back, and was pulled over the rest of his body and parts of Walt's.

Michael was dosing away, and barely had registered the touch of Walt's fingers in his dampened hair. He stroked a thumb over his temple, and wiped away any stray droplets of sweat. 

The younger man's eyes fluttered on the fire, now burning at a low crackle. The pop of the wood, and the thump under his ear, lulling. Walter laid back as he watched his exhausted lover slip under, how the warm light graced his face and the way that he began to slacken against him. 

He let his eyes fall away, continuing to stroke Michael's skin and followed the shadows dance on the ceiling, a myriad of thoughts materializing in his mind. 

Walter could not gather them and understand where they came from, but he knew the weight behind each one. He had a feeling that they would be accompanying him all throughout tonight. 

'I love you,' Mike said to him.

These three words had awakened a strange feeling inside Walter. Thinking of how Mike's voice formed around those words had alone sent his mind into a whirlwind.

He was inaudible the first time, unsure of how to reply back—or if he should reply back.

What is it you're feeling inside? He asked himself. 

When he returned his eyes down to the man in his arms, the young—angel of sorts. Like those old paintings he sees in the halls of the cathedral, with his mess hair on his head and a bright smile always hidden behind his rosy lips, the older priest was violently struck.

Walter laid a thick bicep over Mike's back and rubbed his palm down the expanse of it, lips pressing to his temple and repeating into the young man's skin those very three words.

➽─────────────❥

Somewhere deep within the cathedral, a Bishop stood, back hunched over in the dark of a young curate’s room. 

Under the pale moonlight he snarled, eyes peering down at the small slip of paper in his wrinkled hand. He recognized the handwriting and at the curl of the 'W' and the 'M' signing off the note, it was confirmed. 

He crumpled it in his fist and shoved his hand in his robed pocket, breathing hard as he leered around the room. He had found nothing else, and in his seething anger he stomped out of the bedroom, leaving the door ajar.

For a second the old man thought he heard weeping, yet the ghastly, disembodied wail drowned away under the Bishop's profound repugnance.

➽─────────────❥

Taglist:  @beck07990 @magdelen69 @rn7rocks  @inthenameofcavill @gearhead66 @oddsnendsfanfics @cavillhavoc @pterodactylterrace @killjoy-assbutt-1112 @mary-ann84 @fuckoffbard @its–fandom–darling @kmuir1 @thelastsock @henryobsessed @eldarwen333 @definitelydenisse @inlovewithhisblueeyes @shy-violet-soul @seriouslygoodlookinggents @coffeebreathy @hope-to-hell @summersong69 @faithiee @madbaddic7ed @artandotherdelights @emyearns @cavillryarchive @bellening @agniavateira @maizyistrash @wiccanmetallicrose @the-soot-sprite @geralt-of-baevia @harrysthiccthighss @luclittlepond @brandycranby @buns-of-steel @worshipping-skarsgard​ @littlefreya​ @zealoushound​ @luna-aestas​ @feralrunaway​​

(@tinylittlebluebird @critfailroll @biblioworm) <- These tags hadn’t worked for me!

➽─────────────❥

[flipomatic]

Internship Chapter 33: Day 26 - Amity

First Chapter Previous Chapter

_______________________________________________________________

After school ended for the day, Amity went to the library with Luz. They hadn’t spent time just hanging out in a while, since they’d been visiting covens for the last month. There was still one coven left, the healing coven, but Amity felt different about this one. It felt like things would change when they went, like this time spent with Luz might come to an end.

That was silly; Luz wasn’t only hanging out with her because they visited covens. Still though, the thought hovered in the back of Amity’s mind. The nagging fear of being left behind.

Today though, she tried not to think about that. This trip to the library was dedicated to the Azura book series.

Luz had brought all of her books to school in preparation, so she would have them for the discussion. She showed them to Amity while they walked, going into detail about how she acquired each one. They all had different origin stories, which Luz told with gusto. Amity always enjoyed listening to her tales, to the way her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

At the library, they went to Amity’s secret room. She had acquired another chair for it, so she and Luz could sit in there together. Once the two settled down, they dove into conversation about the books.

Amity was enjoying the peace and quiet, but of course that couldn’t last.

She was flipping through the pages of Azura 3, looking for a specific passage, when a magic bird fluttered through the wall. It was small enough to fit in one hand, with bright blue feathers that glowed in the low light.

It fluttered around the room for a moment, drawing the attention of both teens, before settling on the table. Now that it had landed, Amity could see that there was a note tied to one of its legs. The magic bird lifted that leg and chirped.

“Are you expecting a message?” Luz asked, eyes locked on the small creature.

“I’m not.” Amity shook her head, a bad feeling settling into her gut. She stood from her chair to approach the bird, and carefully untied the note from its leg.

Once the note was loose, the bird chirped again and flew away, vanishing back out through the wall.

Amity slowly unrolled the paper, which had to then be unfolded. This was what it said:

Hi Mittens,

Em and I are at the clinic near the market. They won’t let us leave. Please help. Do not tell parents.

-Edric

Amity wasn’t quite sure how to react to that, her first impulse was irritation at the nickname but it was quily followed by worry. Hopefully they weren’t injured too badly.

Ed had mentioned that morning that they had big plans, but she hadn’t thought that included getting injured. For both of them to be hurt, it couldn’t be related to the internship. Or could it, Amity wasn’t sure what to make of this.

Regardless, she hoped they were safe. It was usually Em who took the lead, so for the note to come from Ed meant that she was hurt worse than him. That only increased Amity’s worry.

The clinic by the market wasn’t too far from the library, so if she left now she could be there within fifteen minutes.

Wait, the clinic was part of the healing coven. That was the last one, the only one she hadn’t visited with Luz yet. Regardless of her reservations, it was time to go.

Amity turned back to look at Luz, who had been watching her read the note. “What’s it say?” Luz asked as their eyes met.

“Ed and Em need help. They’re at the healing clinic.” Amity frowned as she looked back down at the note, reading the words again to search for hidden meaning.

Luz closed her book and stood. “Let’s go then.” She said without hesitation. She put her books back into her bag, mouth set in concern as she did. Amity followed suit, stowing her books on the shelf.

Within a minute, they were heading out.

“Have you ever been to the healing coven?” Amity asked as they walked down the sidewalk, side by side. She had never succeeded at casting healing magic. Besides, it wasn’t one of the Blight family approved tracks.

Luz shook her head. “Nope, not yet.” Considering all of the antics Luz got up to, she was lucky to have avoided any serious injuries.

“That’s probably a good thing.” Amity chuckled, remembering her most recent visit. It hadn’t been that long ago, after she fractured her ankle while playing grudgby.

“I’m still excited to see it.” Luz picked up the conversation, kicking at a rock on the sidewalk. “Even though the circumstances aren’t ideal.” That was an understatement.

Amity took the note out of her pocket again. The writing was straight at least, so Ed couldn’t be that badly hurt. That’s what she told herself as they neared the clinic.

It was a single story building, with no fancy decorations on the outside. There was a set of doors at the front, with the word Clinic written above them on a large sign.

The two teens entered, looking around the lobby. Straight ahead of the doors, a witch sat behind a counter. There were a couple doors along the left wall. To the right, in a larger space, there were a few rows of chairs. That must’ve been the waiting room. Amity went straight to the counter.

“How can I help you?” The witch behind the counter asked, glancing between Amity and Luz.

“I’m here to see Edric and Emira Blight.” Amity figured she should ask where they were instead of just trying to search for them.

“Ah yes, they’re expecting you.” The witch glanced down at a binder, eyes skimming over an open page. “Through the door on the left, just down the hall in room 5.”

“Thank you.” Amity stepped away from the counter and walked to the designated door. She pulled it open and entered, with Luz close behind. The hallway ahead was lined with closed doors, each with a number on them.

They only had to walk about ten feet to reach door 5. Amity knocked, to be polite, and was surprised when the door was pulled open.

A witch dressed in the Emperor’s Coven uniform was on the other side. Amity didn’t know this witch; he wasn’t the witch Ed had introduced to her when she visited the coven.

“Your sister’s here.” He turned back into the room, saying that to those present inside.

“See, I told you she’d come.” Ed replied, sounding the same as he usually did.

The coven member stepped away from the door, allowing Amity and Luz to enter. The room was small, just big enough for two beds with a couple chairs between them. The coven member immediately sat in one of those chairs.

Em and Ed were each on one of the beds, both awake and wearing bandages. Ed had his leg and arm wrapped, but otherwise looked unharmed. Em, on the other hand, was wearing a loose shirt and had large bandages wrapped around her waist. Her face was paler than usual, and she was hooked up to an iv. The iv bag was almost empty.

“What happened?” Amity crossed her arms as she looked between them, settling her glare on Ed. He seemed much better equipped to respond.

Ed smirked, an expression that did not calm Amity’s ire. “Just internship things.” He said, drawing a scoff from the Emperor’s Coven member. Amity just raised an eyebrow at Ed, prompting him to continue. He looked over at Em, prompting for her to jump in.

“We got in a fight.” Em said, though that still didn’t help much. “With an Emperor’s Coven member. It’s complicated.” That didn’t make any sense.

Amity must’ve been making the strangest face, since Ed quickly tried to explain. “It was to help Frederick, and we won.” He said that like it justified getting hurt like this.

“That’s so cool.” Luz stepped over to the open chair, taking a seat. “What kind of magic did they use?” She leaned excitedly towards Ed.

“Fire magic.” Ed made an exploding motion with his hands, to represent the fire. “Which, believe it or not, hurts when you touch it.”

Amity lifted one hand to her forehead, trying to gather her thoughts. She stepped over to Em’s bed, leaving Ed and Luz to discuss the magic. “Are you okay?” Amity asked, trying to put aside her confusion for the time being. She sat down at the foot of it, taking a good look at her older sister.

Em seemed to be making a real effort to smile, though she looked even paler up close. Her bandages were white, with no sign of blood seeping through. “I’ll be fine. It’s just a burn.” She gestured at her bandaged side, wincing as she moved.

Amity wondered, if she knew healing magic, would she be able to help her? She wanted to, even if she couldn’t.

“Do you need to stay overnight?”

“I don’t think so, only if Mike detains us.” Em replied, tilting her head slightly towards the Emperor’s Coven member.

Amity’s confusion came right back. “Why would he detain you?” She felt a headache coming on.

“They picked a fight with a well-respected member of the coven.” The coven member, whose name must’ve been Mike, responded dryly. “All of the information has been sent to Kikimora, including the video they took, but until I hear back they are both detained.” That explained why he’d been sitting in the room.

“He was sabotaging Frederick.” Ed cut in, likely having heard what Mike said. “I couldn’t just let things end like that.”

“Yeah, yeah, you already told me.” Mike sounded annoyed, though it was hard to tell how he really felt through the mask.

A knock came at the door, which was then opened by a healing witch. She was carrying a clipboard, and looked surprised when she entered the room.

“I see you have visitors.” The healing witch commented, eyes flicking from Luz to Amity.

Ed nodded, now smirking smugly. “I told you someone would come pick us up.”

The healing witch stepped around the side of Emira’s bed, where the iv was set up, and checked the bag. “You were right.” She said, focused on her work. “Would all visitors mind stepping out for a minute?”

Luz practically jumped out of her chair. “Of course.”

Amity stood as well, following Luz towards the door. The healing witch directed her gaze to Mike, who sighed.

“Fine.” He said, rising to his feet. He was the last out of the room, so he shut the door. He leaned against the wall next to it, arms crossed. Amity figured this hadn’t been the first time he was kicked out of the room.

Luz was looking around the hallway with wide eyes, taking it in now that they weren’t trying to go somewhere. “This place is so impressive; I wish I knew a healing spell.” She said, fingers tapping over the pocket where she kept her glyph paper.

“It is very useful.” Amity thought about her attempts to heal in the past, and how badly those ventures had gone. She moved a couple steps away, and then settled against a different portion of wall. “I’ve never done one either.” She admitted, drawing Luz’s bright brown eyes back to her.

“We can practice together!” Luz practically hopped over to her, clearly excited at the prospect.

Amity couldn’t help but smile at her. “I’d like that.” To keep doing things together with Luz, like she had been for the last month, was a much better prospect than any of the covens they visited. Healing magic could be the route, or at least the starting point, that kept them together. “Thanks for coming with me today, I know this wasn’t how you planned to spend the afternoon.”

Luz reached forward and took one of Amity’s hands in her own, drawing a flush of hot red to Amity’s cheeks. “I wanted to.” She said, gently and softly, eyes locked on Amity’s. Amity thought her heart would beat out of her chest as she fought to keep her hand from shaking.

A beeping sound distracted her from the conversation, which was coming from Mike. Luz let go of her hand to look over as well. He took a small object out of his pocket, flipping it open and holding it up in front of his face. “Ma’am.” He said to the device.

A familiar voice came out of it, just loud enough for Amity to understand. “We have finished interrogating Nick. Starting tomorrow a full investigation will be done into his conduct.” That was Kikimora’s voice; Amity was certain. “You may release the Blight twins.”

“Yes Ma’am.” Mike said briskly, before closing the device.

This was good news; it looked like Amity might actually get to take the twins home. They still needed to be cleared by the healing witch, but at least they wouldn’t be detained.

“Ed told me they fought an abomination too.” Luz picked the conversation back up as if nothing had changed. “It was huge, but they tricked him into hitting it.”

“They always were good at that.” Amity said with a small shake of her head.

The two talked a bit longer, about the battle and the story Ed told, until the door to the room opened once again.

“When they’re ready, bring them up to the front to sign out.” The healing witch said as she walked out, directing the comment at all three of them.

“Thank you.” Amity was the first to step back into the room. Ed was on his feet, though he looked slightly unstable. Em had fresh bandages on her wounds, with more color to her cheeks than before. She was still sitting on the bed, though with her legs over the side and feet on the ground.

Mike was just a step behind Amity. “You’re being released.” He said, drawing a fist pump from Ed. “Try not to cause any more trouble.” With those words he turned to leave, brushing past Luz and down the hallway.

“Can you handle that Ed?” Em asked in a lilting tone, rising slowly to her feet.

“Might have to break it a few times, just to make sure.” Ed laughed, though Amity didn’t find it nearly as funny.

“Let’s go you two.” She gestured at the door. Both of her siblings moved slower than usual, but they made it out to the front. The witch at the counter gave them both tubes of cream, to be applied on the burns for the next couple weeks.

They then signed out, and the whole crew went outside.

Luz parted ways with them in front of the clinic. “Let’s meet up tomorrow to finish book club, see you back at the library at noon!” She had said, which Amity agreed to do, before walking away.

As Amity turned her back on the healing coven, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to join it. Right now though, there were more pressing matters.

Now Amity had to walk the twins home, and also figure out just how they intended to hide this whole incident from their parents. It wasn’t going to be possible, of that she was sure.

Next Chapter

[fizzyxcustard]

Something Borrowed (1)

Fandom: North and South (modern AU)

Summary: Requested by the wonderful @dabisburntnut Your eldest sister is getting married and you have been invited. However, your family are quite pushy about hooking you up with someone, so you ask your boss (and friend), John Thornton to go with you. 

Pairings: Modern!John Thornton x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Silliness, insecurity, drunkenness, very slight anxiety mention, slight overweight!reader mention. 

Word count: 1544

Comments/Notes: My newest tag list is still under construction, so by all means send me an ask or message if you want to be added for all fics, a particular series or fandom. I’m using Lucas North as my modern!John Thornton. Come on, it’s RA anyway. ;) 

Music listened to while writing this piece: ASMR video by FredsVoice ASMR on YouTube.

Masterlist of fan fiction here

It was your lunch break. You plopped down in the seat opposite John, your boss and owner of the factory where you worked as his receptionist. “Can I borrow you for the weekend?” you asked, grinning.

John looked up from the stack of papers on his desk and gave a tired smile.

“You bloody well need it by the looks of it,” you said, seeing the dark circles beneath your friend’s eyes. Had John been sleeping at work again? A couple of times you’d come in at half seven, only to find him asleep in his chair, arms and head on the desk.

“Isn’t your sister getting married?” John asked, stretching back in his seat.

“She is, and my mum is pushing at me to take a guest with me, preferably a man,” you sighed.

“Ahh, a means to an end?” John chuckled wryly.

“No. I didn’t say that,” you replied. “I was thinking of asking you before, but you’ve been so snowed under with all these orders and signing them off, and opening up the new factory, I didn’t think you’d want to go. Or have time to. I’m comfortable with you, John. I don’t feel that with many people.”

John couldn’t help but smile shyly at you. “Well, I’m glad you feel like that.”

“The wedding is at some large country townhouse. Most of what my sister tells me just goes in one ear and out the other, so I don’t really know. All I know is that I’m getting a lift up with my auntie and uncle. We don’t want to take too many cars, so we’re all piling in as few as we can.”

John leaned forward in his chair and watched you, your arms moving this way and that as you explained everything to him. He loved watching you gesticulate; you were so passionate and every word you spoke always sounded so heartfelt. You did nothing by half measure. So if he had been invited to such a close family member’s wedding, then you must have really thought a lot of him.

When you left the office, John sighed to himself and leaned back in his chair, looking out the window behind him. His heart was finally beginning to settle back down to its normal rhythm. You always had this effect on him, but he enjoyed every second of it. The only thing he didn’t enjoy was pondering constantly if you actually felt something for him as he did you. Each lunch break you shared with him; you text each other regularly out of work and, a few times, John had even given you a lift to and from work when your car was being repaired.

***

For the next three days, you began searching for your dress. Of course, like you normally did, you left things to the last minute if they were things you didn’t want to do. Seeing your sister get married was not something that particularly bothered you; she had always seemed to dislike you, constantly taking the opposite stance to you in debates, and she made it clear that her life was more complete because she now had a man she was about to marry and had three children from a previous relationship. Her husband to be wasn’t much better either. Most of the time he ignored you, only passing pleasantries because he felt obliged. The saving grace in all of this was John. He would be your comfort and your familiarity. None of your family made sense to you. Your parents were middle-aged, fairly well off, and found more interest in their twice yearly holidays in Spain and Italy. Your two sisters had their own lives to lead now, and you rarely saw them.

It hadn’t come as a surprise that your sister hadn’t chosen you to be a bridesmaid or her maid of honour. Those titles went to your sister’s best friends, more people who looked down on you like you were a piece of excrement they had just trod in.

By the time you chose your dress, it was almost closing time, two days before the big day. You had settled on a lilac strap dress. It was quite modest, simple and wouldn’t (hopefully) bring too much attention to your thicker curves.

***

On the morning of your travel to the wedding venue, you got up and began your normal routine of shower, breakfast and podcasts on your phone. John would be arriving at ten and then your aunt and uncle at eleven to pick you both up. Your uncle was nearing eighty now so you had asked John if he would possibly take over driving half way as the town house was about a two-hour drive away in the middle of nowhere.

Your small suitcase was ready for the two-night stay away. The voice of a kind man spoke into your ears as he discussed ways of combating anxiety and making the most of your life. Listening to podcasts in a morning and journaling always encouraged you to meet the day with a brave face, and today you would desperately need that brave face. The thought of all your judgemental family in one place didn’t particularly please you. If only the earth could open up and you could disappear somewhere for a couple of days.

John arrived at ten promptly. You let him in and closed your eyes, basking in his wonderful aroma as he wafted past you. “Do you want any breakfast?” you asked.

“I already ate before I came out,” he replied. John placed his weekender bag down in the hallway next to your wheelie suitcase.

***

The drive to the venue was quite uneventful. Your uncle Mike drove slowly and you couldn’t help but keep looking across at John from your seat, ready to laugh at the speed. In the middle of you was your five-year-old niece, Lily. She kept looking up at John, grinning.

“Is this your boyfriend?” Lily asked you.

“No, he’s my friend,” you replied, blushing hard.

“Come on now, dear. You’d make a lovely couple,” your aunt Janet chuckled.

John folded his arms and looked out of the car window. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for him; his long legs made him look incredibly uncomfortable, as though he had been folded over many times to fit in the car.

“You should be looking for a nice husband, you know?” uncle Mike said, looking at you through the review mirror. “Mr. Thornton here seems like a good match.”

“Can we just change topic, please?” you insisted. “I think you’re embarrassing him.”

“We didn’t mean anything by it,” aunt Janet replied, sounding sad for upsetting you both.

Once you had arrived at the large house, the grounds covered in acres of trees, plantations and fountains, you all grabbed your belongings from the car and began a steady walk to the hotel which was situated just behind.

Lily held your hand, and for the first time you wondered why she had been forced to come with you. Why hadn’t she gone with your mum and dad? Not that you minded your niece coming along, but it seemed quite harsh breaking her up from her siblings. At least she was with family.

“Auntie (y/n)?” Lily asked politely.

“Yes, sweets?”

She beckoned you down with her small hand so she could whisper in your ear. Her high pitched, melodic voice became low in your ear. “Can you ask Mr. Thornton to dance with me?”

“I’m sure he won’t mind,” you replied, looking over at John.

“Pardon?” John asked, still looking a little uncomfortable and out of place.

“Lily was asking if you’d dance with her at the reception.”

John bent down to the little blonde haired girl and smiled. “You’ll be first on my list,” he said.

The sight of John interacting with your niece made you feel something warm in your chest and it spread outward through you.

“Come on, darlings,” aunt Janet called.

The hotel behind the main venue was a lot more modern, having television screens in the reception and plenty of coffee machines. “Hello,” a well set, dark-haired man said, offering you all a smile. He was dressed in a black suit and you noticed the name Peter on his name badge. “You must be part of the group for the wedding planned for this weekend?”

“We are,” aunt Janet said.

You still kept hold of Lily’s hand and watched John avert his gaze towards the door, as though he wanted to disappear and never be seen again.

“You’ve all been booked into rooms. Can I take all of your names, please?” Peter asked.

Of course you knew that Lily would have to check in properly with her mum and dad, who were strangely absent. Considering that your uncle drove so slow, you seemed to be the first group who had arrived.

Peter then turned to you and John. “I see we just have a ‘plus one’ for you, Sir,” he told John. “But can we take a name.”

“John Thornton.”

“That has all been checked for you. A king-size room is now available for you both.”

You blanched. “Is that one bed or two?” you asked.

“It’s one large bed.”

Oh, shit!

Main tag list: @shikin83​ @deepestfirefun​ @emrfangirl​ @dabisburntnut​ @aspookybunny​ @karlthecat15722​ @tigereyesf​ @swoopswishsward​ @sunnysidesidra @la-meneur-louve​ @moony-artnstuff​ @mama-tole-me-not-2-come​ @wolfavatar17​ @morganofthecoves1​ @narnvaeron​ @hobbitoferebor​ @meganlpie​ @thequeenoferebor​ @mynameisnoneya1991​ @jumpingmanatee​ @xxbyimm​ @annewoods91 @nowiloveandwilllove​ @inhabitant-of-the-void​ @thorinthehottotty​ @rachel1959​ @reinabell​ @paracosmfantasy​ @blankdblank​ @sherala007​ @creativelyquestioninglife​ @c-s-stars​ @phyreblue​ @middleearthmama​ @luna-xial​ 

[scribeofmorpheus]

Chasing Tornadoes {2/6}

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Reader

Series Warnings: poorly written medical procedural, mild delving into spirituality, language, overbearing egos, graphic descriptions of medical procedures. more warnings to be added. 18+ Generally, like my blog.

A/N: mention of/scenario depicting an anti-vaxxer situation.

Series Masterlist | Masterlist | AO3

Taglist is open -comment or send an ask!

<< Previously ○ Next >>

~

“Read ‘em and weep,” Marcy smacked her winning cards on the food tray for you to see. “Go fish!”

“Again?” you scrunched your nose as you gathered the cards on the tray and placed them onto the deck. “You sure you aren’t cheating?”

Marcy flashed her pearly whites at you through steady breaths. She was certainly enjoying the win, “Years of practice.”

She looked better today, less pasty, just as pale, but better. It was comforting to see her smile.

“One more game?” She asked with keen interest. You could tell she hoped you’d say yes.

“I already broke the rules smuggling this contraband for you,” you shook the cards then sighed, disappointed in the fact you had to let her down, “Besides, you have to rest, little missy.” You put the deck of cards in its box and then sealed it inside a ziplock bag.

“Rest is boring,” she huffed. “It’s all I do anyway.”

After stashing the cards in your lab coat, you tucked the blanket around her, “Well you need to keep up your strength for the transplant.”

An announcement sounded off from the PA speakers outside the room: “Mike Weschler to Observation Three. Mike Weschler to Observation Three.”

As if summoned by the devil, Mike knocked on the door to Marcy’s room. He nudged his head for you to go out, undoubtedly in too much of a rush to go through decontamination.

You held up a finger and mouthed: “One minute.”

Mike tapped his wrist like his watch was on.

You turned your attention back to Marcy, “I’ve gotta get back out there, but if you need anything...”

Marcy breathed shallow, turning on her side to stare at the wall, “I know.”

Quietly, you walked away, feeling there was nothing more you could say. You tapped the sanitiser dispenser and worked the clear gel all over your hands once you left the sealed room.

Mike shoved his hands in his white coat, “You got a sec?”

“Hey to you too,” you folded your arms. “What is it?”

“Kids,” Mike’s eyes went large as if he’d seen a ghost, a comical shudder followed suit.

You rolled your eyes, “Lead the way.”

 The hospital was calmer the day after the tornado struck. Still buzzing with adrenaline-fuelled fellows and tired residents, only now there were more white coats around. More senior staff relieved the stressful work load. Their presence had helped ease the minds of the younger staff members, allowing them more moments to sneak up to the roof for a smoke or time to themselves.

Even though the rooms were as full as the day the tornado struck, the brunt of the more serious cases were moved to the hospital in the town over.

Mike’s hair was dishevelled, a sign of poor sleep.

“Here we are,” he opened the door to Observation Three and waited for you to enter first before grabbing a clipboard.

There was a family of four all huddled together. Of the two children, the oldest –a teenager by the looks of it– was hunching over the edge of the examination bed. The mother was busying herself by wiping down every surface with disinfectant wipes. The father was less on edge.

“Hello, I’m Dr Mike Weschler, this here is my colleague,” Mike droned with no emotion in his voice. He flipped through the clipboard quickly before clearing his throat, not bothering to look up. “Persistent headache,” he mumbled to himself. Then he grabbed his pen and started filling in the form, “Any other symptoms?”

The father leaned closer, as if his voice would take less time to reach Mike if he closed in their distance. “He’s had a fever, and yesterday he threw up twice.”

“Did you try Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for the fever?” Mike said.

The mother eyed him coldly, “We gave him cold medicine, didn’t work. That’s why we’re here.”

Mike scratched his nose, picking up on the mother’s condescending tone. The nib of his pen pressing into the paper harder. The scratching noise of his writing more pronounced.

“What’s our patient’s name?” You interjected as you looked over the teenager’s features and instantly noticed the redness around his eyes, pale skin and shiny forehead. Though that last observation could simply be a dermatological issue like oily skin.

The teenager stayed silent, waiting for one of his parent’s to answer.

“His name’s Noah,” the mother said, a seriousness to her demeanour. From her attire, you assumed she’d be an academic or a teacher.

“Hello, Noah. I’m Dr Y/N. Do you mind if I take a look?”

He shook his head.

An introvert, you thought. You could relate.

You felt under his jaw for any swelling. Then you tilted his head side to side. He winced.

“Stiff?” You asked.

“Mmm-hmm,” He answered.

“Anyone you know exhibiting similar symptoms –maybe from school or around–?” Mike asked the room.

“Not that we know of,” the mother replied.

Mike inhaled, “Go anywhere outside your usual routine?”

The mother spoke more sharply, “No.”

You fished out your otoscope and looked into his ears. You sighed in thought. “We’re going to have to run bloodwork, check for cultures.”

The father stammered, “Y-you don’t think it’s…meningitis do you?”

Mike answered matter-of-factly, “Fever, headache and neck stiffness. It is a possibility.”

You put on your soft, calming voice, “But, it could also be a common cold. We’ll know more once the tests come back.”

The mother shuffled on her feet, nose high in the air, “And how long do we have to wait?” She wasn’t comfortable in the hospital.

Mike held the clipboard behind his back and plastered on a straight-lined smile, “I’ll get right on it.”

“Excuse us,” you dragged Mike out of the room by his lanyard, discretely. When you were both out of earshot you gave him a tongue lashing. “Show a bit more empathy, Mike. Those parents are probably worried sick.”

“It’s always the parents,” Mike scoffed. “Ironically, when I told my dad I was going into medicine, he suggested paediatrics,” He worked his jaw till it turned red.

Suddenly, Stephen appeared from behind a corner, hands in his pockets, seemingly with nothing to do. He picked up his pace when he saw you.

The clipboard was snatched out of Mike’s hands. Stephen read over the notes and asked: “Have you ordered a blood workup?”

Mike sighed, “It’s on my to-do list.”

“Must be a long list,” Stephen condescended.

“Longer than yours, by the looks of it,” Mike send behind clenched teeth.

Stephen rose a brow and tilted his head to the side. He handed the clipboard back.

The air between then was as prickly as the first time they’d met. Mike was trying his hardest to keep things civil between them. Stephen liked pushing that particular envelope. You imagined it gave him something to occupy his time. Being referee was going to grow old very quick. You could feel it.

Thankfully, Arlene jogged up to just in time to shift the mood. She handed you a tablet, “Hey…Uh, Dr Weisz put me in charge of doing the drive roster. I need at least two senior medical staff to supervise. I asked Dr Sanje and Dr Cho, but they’re swamped.”

 Mike groaned, “Nope, I’ve had enough of kids for today.” He walked away.

“Mike, where are you going?” You called after him

He raised the clipboard in the air, “To exercise my empathetic muscles.”

“Drive?” Stephen looked over at Arlene, his height and hooded gaze made her wring her wrists anxiously.

Her voice went several octaves softer, “F-flu sh-shots. The hospital sends out a van to the school district each season.”

“Wow, you really do that?” Stephen sounded surprised. “And you guys sign up for this?”

You signed two names on the roster, “You’re not at Met Gen anymore, Stephen. We do things differently here.”

Arlene accepted the tablet with a nod and hurried on her way. You turned to Stephen and asked: “Do you have any patients?”

“Not many in need of brain surgery here,” he sounded almost wistful.

“Good,” you smirked. A mischievous twinkle in your eye. “How are you with kids?”

You started heading down the hallway.

“Terrible,” Stephen followed, looking particularly perplexed by the question. “Why?”

You held back your need to laugh.

 “So this is why you asked,” Stephen folded his hands over his chest, looking down at you as though you were the devil himself. He wasn’t at all thrilled about the fact you had dragged him away from the hospital to give out flu shots at a school.

“The alternative would’ve been babysitting,” you poked fun at him. “And my Spike has a tendency to bite strange men.”

“You have a kid?” Stephen was taken aback.

You bit back a laugh, letting Stephen do a little mental gymnastics as you walked away.

He was ridged and out of his element around the kids. It was the first time his larger than life personality seemed grounded, awkward. You loved every moment of it.

“This is a seasonal occurrence?” Stephen asked with a hint of exasperation in his tone.

The two of you were seated on a bench in the cafeteria while you waited for the other Fellows and Interns to clear up the equipment. A small juice box was held between Stephen’s palms. His long fingers appeared cartoonishly large holding the small juice box.

“What Met Gen never ask you to give out shots?” you asked rhetorically.

His brow had been furrowed the entire time, “How do you do it?”

“Do what?” You popped the lid off your yoghurt drink.

“Work here. Live here,” He shook his head, confounded by it all. “All those years of medical training to wind up here? In a town that’s so…predictable?”

You let out a slow breath, feeling somewhat insulted. “I used to work in the city. I was raised in the city, actually.”

“And you left, willingly?” Stephen guffawed.

“When I first got here, Dr Weisz said that this wasn’t a place for those who wanted to make a name for themselves –to spread their wings. She told me this is where we perch,” you took a long gulp of your drink.

Stephen ruffled his professionally styled hair, “And what’s that supposed to mean? That this is where your career comes to die?”

“That this isn’t a place that puts ambition before practice. Not everyone in this field is in it for the fame.” Your words came off accusatory.  

Stephen picked up on the fact he had offended you. You closed the lid on your drink a little too tight. The ridges of the cap burning your palm. Stephen didn’t apologise, he just looked elsewhere as if pondering life’s mysteries. That annoyed you even further.

What did Christine see in him? You wondered.

“Help!” A teacher burst into the cafeteria in a panic, arm pointing behind her. “Earl–one of our staff members–he just collapsed!”

You and Stephen shot up, taking an emergency kit with you.

 The man, Earl, was lying on the ground, unresponsive.

“Any medical history we should be aware of?” you asked the woman who led you to Earl.

“I- N-n… I don’t…” She shook.

Stephen got to him before you did. He checked his respiratory rate and pulse like it was second nature, counting the beats with the ticking of the second’s hand on his expensive watch.

“Unresponsive,” Stephen said. “Get the tube, I’ll begin chest compressions.”

You looked over at the unresponsive man, methodically weighing the options. The amount of time it would take you to unpack the tube, get it into his airways, attach the pump and begin to force air into his airways… You didn’t linger on it, it was best to get him breathing now.

Without warning, you leaned over, pinched the man’s nose and began mouth to mouth.

Stephen lost his cool, “What are you--?”

“Begin chest compressions,” you ordered, ignoring Stephen’s glare.

The two of you worked together, no need for extra words. In tandem, you were like a muscle unit. When you contracted he relaxed. And vice versa.

Finally, after more compressions than you would’ve liked to wait through, Earl coughed and groaned to consciousness.

“Wha- happ’n’d?” Earl slurred his words.

“Welcome back,” you flopped back onto the floor, wiping sweat from your brow. “Come on, buddy. You’re coming with us to get a check-up.”

The grey haired man gave no fuss, he got up on wobbly feet, aided by Stephen and said: “Yes, ma’am.”

 A beeping sound went off as you helped Earl into the back of an ambulance. Stephen had been uncharacteristically quiet since the whole thing went down. You chalked it up to wounded pride.

The car ride had been uncomfortable. Neither of you said a word to one another. Even if it was wounded pride, he was blowing things way out of proportion.

You wheeled Earl into the hospital with the help of the paramedics, “Sixty-five-year-old male, collapsed from unknown reasons. Slurred speech and incoherence. Had to perform CPR on sight.”

“Earl?” Jan recognised the man.

You walked over to her desk, “Know him?”

“Yeah, my son’s history teacher. Think he has a heart problem,” Jan said.

“Possible heart failure!” You shouted after the residents. One of them nodded in response.

“Why’s he so sour?” Jan looked over at Stephen.

“That’s what I wanna know,” you huffed. 

You pulled Stephen aside.

“What’s the matter with you?” you whispered.

He flexed his jaw muscles, eyes growing smaller and he leaned down to speak in a careful tone, “I specifically told you to use the tube.”

“It would have taken too long,” you protested.

“Do you know why I specifically asked you to use the tube?”

You bit your lip, “No, why?”

“Because of Mike’s patient. He’s a teenage kid exhibiting symptoms of either bacterial or viral infection, possibly contagious. There’s a high chance he goes to that school. You could have exposed yourself to a contagion,” he made sure to stress his words so they fell like bricks rather than cards. “But then again, what do I know, since I’m just in it for the fame. Right?”

He was right. Damn him, but he was right. You had thought only of the patient, not the environment.

You couldn’t find anything else to say. Stephen pinched his nose bridge and strode away. The temple on his forehead was throbbing.

And then the second wave hit as soon as you walked into the main wing.

“Do you know how irresponsible this is? It’s not just your kids that are put at risk by this,” Mike held his hands on his hips, stance wide. He was in a heated conversation with the parents from earlier. Noah’s parents.

Stephen caught wind of the commotion and butted in, “What’s the issue?–Observation Three, isn’t it?–I’m guessing you got the tests back?”

“Sure did,” Mike sucked in air through his teeth and handed the chart to Stephen.

“Type B…” Stephen sounded worried. “Why wasn’t he immunised?”

“They chose not to,” Mike waved his hand at the parents.

You were about to play referee again, only this time it seemed Stephen and Mike were both on the same offensive team while the parents held their defensive position.

Stephen straightened his back and somehow he appeared taller, intimidating. His professional face was on, and he instantly began barking orders, “Mike, there’s a patient we just brought in, elderly man, mid 60’s, possible heart condition. Make sure they run a blood screen on him too in case this isn’t an isolated incident. Has the CDC been informed?”

“Dr Weisz is making that call now,” Mike sounded defeated.

“Make sure the kid gets a chest x-ray and do cultures for the parents and younger sibling too. Oh, and inform the school,” Stephen grabbed your elbow and led you away from the crowd. “You’re coming with me.”

“Where?”

“An isolation unite. Noah tested positive for Influenza B.”

You swallowed.

 The testing took a few hours and four Sudoku games before your results came back. Stephen walked into your isolated unit without taking the necessary precautions.

It was good news then.

You sighed in relief.

Stephen hadn’t cooled off yet.

“Lab work came back negative,” Stephen kept both hands in his pockets. “Turns out Earl had a pacemaker installed a year ago. It’s been giving him some trouble for a while. He didn’t come in due to insurance issues.”

“And Noah?” you asked.

“Antibiotics seem to be working. Caught it early enough. He’ll be fine. School only had one other case to report.”¨

There was a beat of silence. Then you decided to bite the bullet, guilt gnawing at your gut.

“Listen, Strange, I wanted to app—”

“You should get some rest,” Stephen cut you short.

You weren’t going to leave until you said your piece. Otherwise you’d toss and turn all night, “But first let me—”

He was avoiding your gaze, “I should go and check on Earl.”

“Stephen!”

He stopped.

You realised, just then, that that was the first time you’d called him by his first name. It felt…personal. No longer simply professional.

He turned to look at you, slowly.

“I—I’m sorr—”

“I was wrong,” he said suddenly. “This town. It’s not as predictable as I thought. It appears there are still some things that can surprise me.”

Did Strange –Stephen! – Just admit he was wrong?

You were stunned, pleasantly so.

Before you could think to say something else, he was gone.

 To be continued...

[cocastyle]

Panic

Pairing - Eddie Kaspbrak x reader

Word Count - 3,773

A/N - this request will be a lot like my In-Between series (go check it out if you haven’t already!) in the way that the reader moved to Derry and met the Losers and the Party is now in Derry trying time stop the Upside Down and Pennywise. there will be a few similar things to that story, but this will have it’s own storyline with a totally different character so I hope you all enjoy! I love Eddie so much and would love to write more for him in the future so if anyone ever has a request, go ahead and send it in!

Request - Eddie x reader where while the Losers Club and the party is fighting about who the reader likes more as friends after they save Mike, a demogorgon's claw grabs the reader's ankle, cutting it and drags her back into the portal to the upside down and Eddie tries to grab her hand, but she is yanked back into the upside down and the portal shuts fast, leaving the two groups shocked and guilty about arguing that they didn't notice the claw coming through the portal. same thing with them rescuing the reader and they think that she died when they get out with her. then the reader wakes up and everyone gives her a big hug. and Eddie does the CPR and kiss like what Bill did @artlovingbre

Panic. That was all Y/N could feel as she ran through the decaying world, Eddie Kapsbrak's hand in hers as he huffed and puffed by her side. Sheer and utter panic.

"Come on!" Mike Wheeler yelled back at the group of kids, the Party and the Losers Club both picking up speed at those words. Growls behind them only made them run faster and Y/N's breath hitched in her throat at the sight of ten or more demogorgons running after them.

"Shit," she muttered as she yanked Eddie forward. "Come on, Eddie! We need to go!"

"I'm running as fast as I can!" Eddie cried out as the two ran at the rear of the group.

The familiar Neibolt house that held the portal to get back to their own world finally came into view and Y/N couldn't help but sigh in relief as her and the others all dashed towards the door. It didn't take long for them to get down to the basement and Eddie lunged through the portal, pulling Y/N along with him until the two landed on the floor of their world, the Upside Down now far behind them.

It was in that moment when Eleven was trying to close the portal and the relief of finally being safe had hit her that Y/N's leg suddenly flared up in pain. "Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit," Y/N muttered as she looked down at her leg that had a huge gash down the back of it, something she must've not noticed when the adrenaline was still coursing through her body.

"Fuck," Eddie whispered as his eyes caught sight of Y/N's leg. "Uh, guys! We kind of need help over here!"

Everyone's eyes flickered over to the girl and Y/N quickly waved them off, "I'm fine. Check on Mike. He's the one that's been trapped in the Upside Down for forty eight hours."

"No, I'm fine," Mike insisted. "You are clearly not fine."

"And whose fault is that?" Wheeler muttered under his breath causing Y/N to roll her eyes and put her face into her hands, already knowing what was about to happen.

"Woah. Woah. Woah. What's that supposed to mean?" Mike asked, his eyebrows raised as he looked over at the boy who looked identical to his best friend.

"I mean if we didn't have to come save your ass because you got a little too curious about things you don't understand then she wouldn't be hurt now would she?" Wheeler asked.

"This isn't Mike's fault," Beverly insisted as she went over to her friend and put a hand on his shoulder.

"If anything it's yours because you guys didn't bother making sure the gate was actually closed," Richie shrugged.

"Don't put the blame on us, asshole!" Lucas exclaimed as he walked closer to Richie.

"Guys," Eddie sighed as he pulled himself up onto his feet. "We've got bigger things to worry about." He then gestured towards Y/N, his face pale as he looked at her in concern, but no one bothered looking their way.

"Guys, let's not start this back up, okay?" Steve told them as he gently pushed Lucas and Richie away from each other.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Richie exclaimed as he shoved Steve away. "Besides, we already know who would win."

"Us," Dustin muttered as if it were obvious.

Richie laughed out loud at that. "Yeah, okay, Curly Fry. We would be the ones that win. Even Y/N would agree," Richie told them.

"Yeah, right. Y/N would agree with us. She likes us more anyways," Wheeler argued.

"Cause that's why she left you guys, right? Because she likes you all so much," Richie mocked.

"Guys," Eleven muttered, barely being able to pay attention to the gate because of all of the arguing.

"Better watch your mouth, Trashmouth, before you say something you regret," Wheeler practically growled.

Richie let out a laugh before muttering, "Fuck you."

Wheeler smiled at that and it wasn't a genuine smile but one of his pissed off ones. Before any of them knew what was happening, Wheeler went to lunge at Richie and this sent the whole group into a frenzy.

Eleven's eyes widened and she turned her attention away from the gate to yell at her boyfriend while the others all hurried to pull the two boys away from each other while they shouted insults at the other group.

Y/N shook her head, tears filling her eyes at the sight of all of her friends frighting. She tried to move to stop them, but she fell down to the ground with a hiss, her whole leg throbbing from the intense pain.

"Guys!" Eddie yelled as he moved towards the groups and away from Y/N, not noticing the small shadow that had seemed to grow by the portal or the small claw that had begun to peak out.

Y/N bit her lip to hold back a scream of pain as she pushed herself up onto her feet. She knew she would have to be the one to break it up, but the moment she went to take a step forward, she went falling to the ground with a loud thud that had everyone turning to look at her, their eyes widening at the sight of a clawed hand gripping onto their friend's ankle.

Before any of them knew what was happening, Y/N was suddenly being dragged across the floor. A scream escaped her lips as she clawed at the floor yelling, "Help!"

The others quickly burst into action and Eddie was the first to reach the girl. "Eddie!" Y/N cried out as she desperately tried to reach for him. Eddie could feel a bubble of panic rising in his chest but he pushed it aside as he shot his arm forward, his hand grabbing onto hers only for it to slip from his hold as she was suddenly pulled back with so much force that her whole body went flying back into the portal which had finally finished closing as soon as she was through.

Eddie slipped and landed face first on the ground, but he didn't bother trying to get up. His whole body was shaking as he weakly lifted his head, his eyes locked on the portal in front of him that Y/N had just been pulled back through.

Eddie didn't know what to think as he sat there, the silence in the room being enough to make his ears ring while everyone stood there in shock. It wasn't until a whimper filled the air that they all blinked away their shock, tears filling their eyes and looks of guilt crossing their faces as they looked to the boy on the floor who had been the one to let out the whimper.

"She's. . ." Eddie couldn't even finish his sentence before a sob escaped his lips, his whole body shaking violently from the force as the realization that the girl he had a crush on had just been taken by a demogorgon into the one place he knew she feared the most hit him.

Eddie managed to pull himself up onto his knees before he looked down at his hands, the same hands which had had a hold on the girl but had let her slip away. His cries grew a little louder at that and he found himself putting his face into his hands while he cried out, his whole body aching from a pain that started in his chest right where his heart was.

It took a minute, but the boy eventually felt a hand on his shoulder and Eddie weakly turned to see Richie kneeling beside him with tears of his own streaming down his face.

"She's gone, Rich," Eddie croaked out. "She's gone."

In a very unRichie like action, Richie reached out and let his arms wrap around the boy, Eddie sobbing slightly as he turned and hugged onto his best friend like he was his only lifeline at the moment.

The group all watched silently as Richie hugged the boy a little tighter before they hung their heads as they realized Y/N truly was gone.

"She's not gone, Eddie," Richie whispered as he comforted the boy causing everyone to look to him, including Eddie. "We're going to get her back, okay? We're going to save her."

Eddie stared silently at Richie before nodding his head. "She's not gone," he whispered in agreement before he turned to the group, giving them all pointed looks that told them that they were going to help him fix this.

"We're going to get her back."

- - -

To everyone's surprise, Eddie was the first one to enter the portal once they had all the things they needed to go save Y/N. He didn't even flinch as the decay and goo touched him, only took in a deep breath before continuing into the Upside Down while the others just watched him in silence.

Then again, they really shouldn't have been surprised. This was Y/N they were talking about and the feelings the boy had for her were obvious.

Eleven was by Eddie's side in no time and she gave the boy a small nod before pointing in the direction she felt they needed to go. "This way," she whispered before Eddie nodded, the two then leading the group further into the Upside Down until they came upon what had to be the Upside Down version of Y/N's house.

"She's in there," Eleven whispered, her face pale. "I can feel it."

Eddie nodded and took a hit off of his inhaler before looking to the house and beginning to walk in, the others all following behind. He was doing this for Y/N, Eddie kept reminding himself. Everything he did was for Y/N.

Swallowing his fear and panic, the boy pushed the front door of the house open before slowly walking inside. Steve clicked on his flashlight and went to stand by the boy as they slowly began to look around.

"Let's split up and look around. Holler if you find anything and be careful," Steve told the kids. They all nodded before splitting up, Eddie and Richie going with Steve while the others broke up into groups of three as well.

The trio decided to take the upstairs and Eddie followed behind Steve who began to make his way into what Eddie knew to be the guest room. Eddie watched Steve go for a moment before turning his head and looking towards Y/N's room, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach suddenly washing over him.

Eddie didn't tell the two that he was leaving and just walked over to Y/N's room. It felt like he was being tugged by an invisible string, his body preforming actions before his brain could even think of them. But as soon as Eddie pushed the door open, he knew why he had been walking towards the door.

"Y/N?" Eddie cried out, his face going pale as he stared at the dead looking girl who was held up against the wall by decay. She seemed to have something covering her mouth and Eddie felt like he was going to puke.

Pushing past his nausea, the boy yelled, "I found her!" It didn't take long for him to hear the scrambling of footsteps before everyone was filing into the room behind him.

"What the fuck?" Richie cried as he looked at his friend with wide eyes.

"Holy shit," Dustin breathed out.

Everyone was looking at Y/N in disbelief and disgust while Will just looked as white as a sheet of paper. Will was the one to snap them out of their thoughts as he whispered, "We need to help her."

He knew what was happening and if they didn't get that thing out of her quick, there would be no Y/N to save.

Everyone glanced at him and Will just looked at them with wide eyes. "Fucking move!" Will yelled instantly making the group jump at his sudden outburst before they rushed over to the girl.

It took all hands on deck for them to pull away the decay that was holding her back. Finally they were left with whatever it was that was attached to her mouth and Eddie grimaced before slowly going to grab it. A hand gently pushed his away before Steve was whistling, "It's okay, kid. I got it."

Eddie gave Steve a thankful look before watching as the older boy grabbed ahold of the thing in Y/N's mouth. He began to pull and Eddie resisted the urge to gag as he watched Steve pull whatever worm thing it was out of Y/N's mouth.

"F-F-Fuck," Bill muttered in disgust while him and Mike held the girl up in place so that Steve could finish getting the thing out of her.

It took a moment longer and Eddie felt as if he were going to pass out when he saw just how long that worm thing was. Finally, Steve gave one more yank before the thing finally came out. Steve tossed it aside almost instantly and Eleven was quick to use her powers to toss the thing out the window of the room.

They then turned to Y/N who was limp in Bill and Mike's arms. "Is she-?" Max whispered, but Steve quickly shook his head as he felt for a pulse.

"She's still breathing, but we need to get her out of here," Steve told them.

The group all nodded in agreement before Eddie went over to help Mike and Bill carry the girl. "Let's go," Eddie told the group before they all began to move out.

They had barely made it out the front door before a sound similar to howling filled the air. "Shit," Stan muttered as he glanced at Ben and Beverly who stood beside him.

"We need to move! Like now!" Wheeler exclaimed before everyone broke out into a run, Eleven making sure to stay behind the group seeing as she could use her powers to keep the demogorgons back.

Eddie was met with the same feeling of panic he had felt the last time they ran through the Upside Down, only this time Y/N was unconscious by his side instead of running alongside him.

It took a while but they eventually reached the house and all began to pile inside while Eleven let out a scream and used her powers to throw all of the demogorgons back. Wheeler was quick to grab her arm and the two brought up the rear of the group as they ran to the basement and through the portal that was in the Neibolt House.

As soon as the last person had gotten through, Eleven turned to the portal and begin to use her powers to close it. "You got this, El!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Come on!" Ben yelled.

Yells of encouragement from both groups were thrown towards El who let out a scream before finally forcing the portal closed. Everyone let out sighs of relief, but it was short lived by Eddie who let out a scream.

The group was quick to turn to the boy with wide eyes, their eyes landing on where he sat on the floor with Y/N in his arms. "She's not. . .She's not breathing!" Eddie squeaked out, sheer panic washing over his body as he looked down at the girl and began to shake her.

"Y/N?" Eddie cried out as he shook her. "Come on. Wake up!"

Tears were filling his eyes and a few had even started to fall as he began to breath heavily, his airways starting to close up as panic course through his body.

"Fuck! I don't know. . .I don't know what to do. Fuck!" Eddie yelled out as he laid the girl on the ground before putting his hands to her chest and beginning to preform CPR. The group all watched with tears in their eyes as Eddie tried to revive the girl, his mouth connecting with hers as he breathed air into her lungs before he pulled away and continued the rest of the procedure.

He was hyperventilating at this point, his asthma getting so bad that the lack of air was making the world spin around him. But Eddie didn't care. He didn't even bother reaching for his inhaler because Y/N was more important at the moment.

"Eddie," Richie sighed as he began to move towards the boy, knowing that the others wouldn't be able to stop him and that Eddie wouldn't give up even if there was nothing else he could do.

"I can't lose her, Richie. I can't lose her!" Eddie cried out as he continued the CPR, his wheezing only getting worse as his face grew red.

"Eddie, you need your fucking inhaler, man," Richie said as he went to grab the boy and pull him away, but Eddie slapped him away with tears streaming down her face.

"She needs help! Y/N. . .needs help!" Eddie puffed out, his movements getting slower due to the lack of oxygen he was getting.

Richie, finally having enough, grabbed ahold of the boy and began to pull him away, ignoring the shouts of protests that were coming from Eddie as the boy thrashed around in his hold.

"Let. . .me. . .go, Richie! Fucking. . .let me. . .go!" Eddie huffed before Richie was suddenly pinning him to the ground. Beverly appeared by his side in an instant and quickly got the boy's inhaler before holding it up to Eddie's mouth.

The young boy reluctantly took the medicine, letting out a small sigh of relief as the fire that seemed to be burning in his lungs lessened. It took a moment of him just taking some deep breaths before Eddie was able to open his eyes again, his asthma now under control.

It was only then that Richie let the boy sit back up and Eddie slowly moved into a sitting position before letting his eyes flicker over to Y/N who was now lying lifelessly in Eleven and Will's arms.

Eddie's eyes locked with theirs and Will was quick to look back down as he just hugged his friend close to his body. Eleven just gave Eddie a sad look and the boy couldn't help but let out a small sob at that, his body leaning back against Richie and Beverly who were quick to hug the boy in comfort.

Eddie let his eyes fall shut as he let out heartbroken cries. His cries were the only thing that could've heard beside the sniffling coming from the others.

That was until a gasp filled the air followed by the sound of someone having a coughing fit.

Eddie froze before slowly allowing his eyes to flicker up, a feeling of euphoria washing through his body at the sight of Y/N coughing while Eleven and Will smiled from her side.

Y/N didn’t even have time to think before she was being attacked by hugs, Will being the first to hold her tight in between sobs before Eleven joined in. She was passed around between her friends, each of them getting a chance to hug the girl that they thought they had lost before Y/N was suddenly standing face to face with Eddie.

Y/N blinked in surprise, watching silently as Eddie just stared at her with a quivering lip. His quivering lip quickly turned into a shaky smile as tears of relief began to fall from his face. He was pulling her in for a hug within a second, his hand going to the back of her head as he held her close.

Y/N felt herself instantly relax in the boy’s hold, her hands curling into fists around Eddie’s shirt as she shook in his hold. The memories of what had happened flashed through her head, but with Eddie holding her, they were quickly pushed away.

“I thought I lost you,” Eddie whispered as he dug his face into the girl’s neck. Y/N blushed slightly having never seen so much affection from the boy but loving it so much that her heart was roaring with butterflies.

“I’m sorry. I’m here. I should’ve been paying attention to that stupid portal,” Y/N sighed while Eddie pulled away slightly to look at her. The girl looked down before muttering, “Then maybe I would’ve noticed the demogorgon and-“

Y/N began to ramble and all Eddie could do was just smile and shake his head at the girl in disbelief. His smile disappeared for a second as he hit his lip nervously, his eyes flickering over the girl’s face as he argued back and forth with himself.

Finally, Eddie just sighed and muttered, “Fuck it.” Y/N glanced up at him at that, but didn’t have time to question him before he had put both hands on either side of the girl’s face and pulled her forward, instantly connecting their lips into a searing kiss that made Y/N’s face then beet red.

She couldn’t believe what was happening. Eddie Kaspbrak was kissing her. The boy she had been crushing on since she moved to Derry was kissing her! And how unlike him that was. But Y/N couldn’t deny that she liked this uncharacteristic like boldness coming from the boy.

The two teens would’ve continued kissing if it hadn’t been that they were suddenly reminded of the audience they had as soon as whoops and hollers filled the air and Richie yelled out, “Get some, Eddie!”

That made the two instantly pull away, blushes dusting their faces as they shyly look at their friends before looking back at each other. Y/N swore she had never been looked at someone the way that Eddie looked at her in that moment and it only got better when the boy whispered softly to her, “I love you, Y/N.”

Y/N couldn’t help but smile at that and she quickly leaned into kiss the boy once again, pulling away to reveal a dazed and red faced Eddie. “I love you too, Eddie,” she whispered, the utter shock and look of happiness on Eddie’s face making her heart swell.

Eddie was just about to lean into kiss her again when someone in the room cleared their throat, the noise causing the two to freeze when they were only inches apart.

“Okay, so now that you two are in a relationship, I think we need to establish some ground rules and-"

“Steve!"

* * *

Permanent Tag List

@marvelismylifffe

@roboturtle16

@purplelittlepup

@amberkay284

@blogforhoes

[fangirlfiction]

Born to Run

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Summary: Part 3 of the Born To series. The FBI catches up with you, with the help from some old friends. Loyalties are revealed, along with some shocking news.

Warnings: Some fighting, mentions of death and destruction.

A/N: There’s a lot going on in this chapter and a lot of things get revealed! We’re nearing the end of this mini series, because the last part is going up next week! I’m still accepting taglist requests if you are interested (just send me an ask), and as always, I’d love to hear what you think! i love you :)

last part here // series masterlist

As you stare at Bucky in shock, reinforcements arrive. FBI agents are quick to knock you to your knees, before they aggressively cuff you, both hands and feet. You don’t react as the cuffs are pulled too tight, because your eyes never leave Bucky, and his don’t leave yours until someone approaches from behind you. His eyes lift to meet theirs, as their voice asks, “Got her?”

Bucky nods, and your brows furrow at the sound of the familiar voice, trying to search through your head for who it could be. They make it easy on you by stepping around you to stand at Bucky’s side, facing you, and you fight the urge to let your jaw drop. Natasha Romanoff stands in front of you, pretty red hair pulled back into a braid, expression on her face completely neutral. She gives you a single nod, and addresses you. “Red Widow.”

You are pulled to your feet and half led, half dragged to a reinforced SWAT truck. The agents lead you inside and start handcuffing you to a reinforced seat in the back of the van. You finally start to recover from your shock of seeing the pair, causing you to fight against the chains. “All of this for a measly break in? Seems excessive.”

The agent to your left freezes and his expression grows angry. “Break in? Guess we can add that to your growing list of crimes.”

You freeze again. “Growing list of-” You cut yourself off and look at the man, “What are you talking about?”

You can hear the anger in his voice when he bites back at you, “Looks like you’re going to pretend you didn’t set the bomb that killed your boyfriend and dozens of others.” His voice grows angrier, “Including children.”

He squeezes the cuffs tighter as he continues to chain you up. “I didn’t set that bomb! Someone is trying to set me up!”

The man stands and smacks you across the face, “Not another word.”

His partner stands and steps between you and the angry agent. “Mike, stop.”

“I’m not gonna sit here and listen to this when we know what she’s done and what she’s capable of.” 

“I didn’t-”

Mike lunges at you and you cut yourself off. The other agent holds him back, and pushes him closer to the door. “Man, you’re too close to this. You gotta go.”

They exit the van and you hear the agent say, “Keep an eye on her for a second? I gotta find someone else to sit in there with me.”

A second later, Natasha steps into the van. “Guess you got Mike pretty riled up.”

You shrug.

“Why did you do it?”

Anger flashes across your face. “Do you really think I would? Don’t you know me better than that?”

“I did, past tense. And I know what you’re capable of.”

You roll your eyes. “You can tell yourself whatever you want, but I didn’t do it.”

Before she can answer, the kind agent from before and a new guy enter the van, followed by two other agents. The kind agent turns to Mike’s replacement, “Sanders, will you double check her restraints? I wanna make sure we locked her up tight.”

Sanders eyes you warily, and makes no move towards you. Just as the agent is about to repeat himself, Natasha speaks up. “I’ll do it.”

Sanders looks relieved, and the agent nods in thanks as she enters into the separated area that you’re chained up in. She lifts the chains and checks the strength and security of the restraints around your sides, before moving behind you to check your hands that are cuffed at your back. As she tugs on the handcuffs around your wrists, you feel her press something into your palm. As she stands, you roll it across your palm and slip it between your fingers, quickly realizing that it’s a bobby pin. You hide your surprise and keep your expression neutral as you watch her leave your separated room, and take a set near the door, across from two agents. Sanders and the kind agent step into your area, and lock the door behind them, and the agents on the other side slide a secondary lock into place. You suppress a smirk at the challenge, as the two agents take a seat, one on either side of you. 

Someone appears at the entrance to the back of the van, and peeks inside. “Ready?”

“All secure.”

He nods and closes the door, latching it in place. Moments later, the van lurches and begins moving. You sit motionless in the chair, save for the miniscule movements of you picking the lock on your handcuffs. You only need one hand and one leg free to take out the two guards beside you, so you work on freeing your right arm and leg. As soon as your hand is free, you grab the cuff in your left hand to keep it from clattering against the chains. Then you shift slightly, and grab the lock of the chain that is wrapped around your right leg. When Natasha was checking your chains, she shifted the lock closer to you, making your escape much easier. You quickly pick the lock and slide it free of the chain, being careful to not make any noise. When you finish, you look up at Natasha, who gives a small nod. You return it with a nearly imperceptible nod of your own.

Using her cue, you turn to the kind agent, knowing he’s the bigger threat. “Any way you could shift the chain near my ribs? Feels like it’s cutting into me.”

“I can’t.”

“Please? Your friend Mike got a little aggressive with the restraints and it’s killing me.”

The mention of Mike does the trick, and he sighs. “No funny business.”

You give him your most innocent smile. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He stands and moves closer, before stopping right in front of you. He leans down and reaches for the chains near your ribs, and you mutter out a quiet. “I’m sorry about this.”

Before he can react, you slam your head into his, knocking him unconscious. He slides to the floor, and Sanders lets out a yelp beside you. It takes him a second, but he seems to remember his training, and he lunges for you. Fear has made him slow, and you slide out a foot and trip him as he draws closer. As he falls, you pull out your now free arm, and catch him, wrapping it around his neck and knocking him out. When his eyes flutter closed and he goes limp, you push him off you before quickly freeing your other arm and leg. You then use the chains and handcuffs to secure the two agents together, and then you secure them to the chair. You reach into the agent’s pocket and pull out the key, and as you near the door, you see Natasha waiting for you, two agents at her feet. As you unlock the door, she smirks. “Took you long enough.”

“Hey, I had a lot more obstacles than you.”

You both stand there looking at each other, before she abruptly pulls you into a hug. You freeze at first, not used to the affection from the former assassin, before you melt into her arms and hug her back. After a moment, you both pull away, and she nods. “You’re not out of the woods yet.”

She turns and sticks something to the back door of the van, before turning and motioning for you to get back. “Fire in the hole.”

She presses a button and the device on the door beeps before exploding, and the back door to the van blows open. You both step to the now open doors, and look out. It is nearing dusk, and the sky is beginning to darken, bit by bit. You are shocked to find that the trees are passing much slower than you expected. You turn to Natasha with a confused look on your face, and she seems to pick up on your silent question instantly. 

“The bomb took out a pretty major street, so all the traffic has been redirected to the highway. It’s a mess. They were worried about stopping and going, and it was much easier for them to clear a direct path to headquarters using neighborhoods and side streets.” You nod, and she gives you a sly smile. “But that makes this next part that much easier for us.”

She looks down at a screen that is attached around her wrist, before looking back at you. “There’s a turn up ahead. When they slow, we jump. We’re gonna run west for about half a mile, and that’ll bring us to a watershed drain. Then we’ll go from there.”

You say nothing, and you both wait for a moment, before the van starts to slow. Natasha looks at you, “Ready?”

“Always.”

And then she leaps from the van, with you right behind her. You roll as you hit the ground, right across the short stretch of road and into a grassy ditch. You stand and immediately take off running, hot on Natasha’s heels. You spare a glance behind you at the convoy of FBI vehicles, but none of them have seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. You turn back and keep running, silently, until you finally reach the drain. You both move the drain lid to the side before climbing down inside, and returning the lid to its place. When you are safely inside, Natasha turns to you. “Okay, it’s safe to talk for a while. We’re just gonna follow this to the harbor, and then we’ll take a boat to a safehouse.”

“Why didn’t they notice use escaping? There were at least 4 other cars behind that van.”

Natasha replies as if it’s obvious, “Widows. And Bucky, of course.”

Complete bewilderment crosses your face. “Widows? Why would widows be here?”

She turns back to look at you, her confusion now matching your own. “Do you really not know?”

“Know what?”

She stops and turns to face you fully. “We’re being hunted.”

“By who? Why?”

She practically spits the name, “Gynacon.” You shake your head, still confused, and she launches into an explanation. “The owners of the Red Room, and the Black Widow program, acted independently for a while. But when they heard about Bucky and the super soldiers that Hydra was keen on creating, they decided to enter a partnership. We all have the serum, whether we remember it or not. Hydra provided the serum, and the Red Room provided Hydra with Widows.”

“I remember.”

She continues, “When Hydra fell, and you and Bucky escaped, you two weren’t the only former assassins to gain your freedom. Most of the other Widows made it out, too, while a few others remained in the Red Room’s care. Eventually, they terminated the Widow program, and started looking for someone to clean up their mess. Hydra was getting a lot of heat for their hand in history, but our involvement in history remained unknown to the world. That’s when Gynacon entered the picture. They bought out the Red Room and the remains of the Widows, and then they started a witch hunt. They’ve been hunting us down for years, picking us off one by one.”

You press your hand to your mouth, feeling sick, and with a quiet voice, ask, “Who’s left?”

“Us, and the three widows that were in that convoy. Anya, Sasha, and Katerina.” You sink to the ground, shocked. Hundreds of Widows, reduced down to five. “We all went our separate ways after freedom, rarely kept in touch. The distance kept us from realizing we were being picked off until it was too late.”

Realization strikes you suddenly. “The bomb.”

She nods, “It was on the bike. You’re lucky Bucky found out in time.”

Your brows furrow as you look up at her. “Bucky? What are you talking about?”

“You didn’t think we lost sight of you, did you? As soon as you left, we looked for you. Luckily, you made it pretty easy on us with your rise to fame in the dirtbike world. But we always kept up with you after that.”

“After I quit, you mean?”

“Yes. We heard about the shooting. It was almost impossible to keep Bucky away when he found out. But then he found out about Danny, and he was hurt. Threw himself into finding the men that attacked you. Took care of them. It was only later that we realized they were part of Gynacon. We kept them off your tail for years, always tossing them fake leads and such, but they eventually caught up with you. I think that’s why they opted for such a...gruesome attack on you. You were the one that got away.”

“But what does Bucky have to do with this?”

She gives you a small smile, “We decided to gather and warn whatever Widows were left. Bucky didn’t want you to have to sacrifice your new life, the one you spent so much time building, so he insisted that we leave you be. Instead, he swore to keep a close eye on you, and intervene when possible. It was Bucky who discovered the guy in the suit was Gynacon. He heard about the race, and started to worry. Tracked down your storage unit, and inspected the bike up and down, but couldn’t find anything wrong. Still, he worried. So, he pretended to be one of your coworkers and called Danny, got him to bring the bike to you in the race. He thought you were safe, until that guy pulled a gun.”

“Wait, Bucky was at the race?”

“Yes, and he was seconds away from sniping the guy when you escaped. We didn’t know Danny was going to take the new bike though. We would have stopped you had we known that. When we realized, we took off after you. We saw the explosion, saw your trailer fly into the sky. We thought…” She swallows a lump in her throat and keeps going, “Bucky found you first. He tried to wake you up, but then other people starting showing up and we knew we had to go. We were only gone for a few minutes when we got the call from the FBI about the bomb and the suspect. We nearly choked when we heard it was you. But that’s when we called the other Widows, and decided to assist the FBI with the investigation.”

You stand silently, taking everything in, before you and Natasha start walking again. “What about Bucky?” Seconds later, you clumsily add, “And the others?”

She turns to look at you, giving you a small grin, before turning back to the front. “They’ll meet us at the safehouse. Bucky thinks he has a lead on the location of Gynacon, so we can put a stop to this once and for all.”

You nod in response, and the rest of the trip is spent in comfortable silence. After the boat ride, Natasha leads you to a safe house, and you crash the moment she declares it safe, exhaustion taking over your body.

-

part 4 here!

[kaspbrak-tozier-reddie]

#5 & #13 stanbrough?:)

5. “You’re safe, that’s all that matters”

13. “You wanna hug? You look like you need one.”

Masterlist + Prompt List + Asks

Pairing: Stenbrough

Warnings: swearing, death, blood

Summary: At a reunion, Pennywise (an escaped murderer) comes back to Derry to kill the Losers like he had planned to 27 years prior. [Pennywise! Human AU]. Stan freaks out when he starts having Deja Vu and thinks he’s a coward but Bill proves otherwise. 

———————————————-

Walking through the school doors for the first time in years, it was a little overwhelming for Stanley. When he got the notification saying that there was a high school reunion, he wasn’t sure if he would go. Especially with the hell that happened 27 years prior.

When the losers were mere middle schoolers, there was a serial killer on the loose, he dressed up as a clown to lure the kids away. The Losers Club had stuck together and ended up catching the man that was killing young children. Stan, however, was the only one who was attacked badly, to the extent of a total of 30 stitches in his arm and face.

He had never recovered from the trauma and was the first of the losers to leave Derry, in their junior year. Sure he kept in contact for a year or so but he sacrificed his friendships for his mental health. Losing any trace of anything that could remind him of Derry.

“Stan the Man? No way!” Stan cringed and turned to face none-other-than Richard Tozier, the bane of his existence. 

“Beep Beep Richie,” Stan grumbled.

“Ah, music to my ears.” Richie slung an arm around Stan’s shoulder and leads him to where the Losers had their table. “Look who I found.”

“Hey babe, didn’t think you would come,” Bill said with the shrug of his shoulders, a signal directed at the others.

“Yeah, had a change of mind, sorry that I missed the dinner last night with just the seven of us,” Stan replied moving to sit on Bill’s lap. “I didn’t want to regret anything.

The 5 others gathered around the table and looked questioningly at the brunette couple. Nobody would’ve guessed, they weren’t obvious as Richie and Eddie, or Ben and Bev. It made them wonder when they both started liking each other or if they even liked each other, like that, back when they were kids.

“When did this happen?” Mike asked.

“Three years ago. I was in Florida and met up with Stan.” Bill replied and Stan smiled softly to himself.

*

Stan had met up with Bill a couple of years ago when he was doing a press tour for his recent book. Stan had offered his spare bedroom for his old friend, even though they hadn’t spoken in several years or so, Bill took it.

Over dinner and drinks, the pair had caught up and Stan had stupidly and drunkenly admitted his feelings to Bill. Stan had followed Bill and Richie’s careers as they both grew. He was proud of both of them, even prouder when Richie came out and did so with Eddie by his side. But Bill, there was something that still lingered there, whenever he listened to the interviews or read his stories. Stan couldn’t remember much about his childhood or what his friends were like back in middle school and the first year of high school. 

As soon as Bill and Stan caught up that night, Stan knew. He knew what that lingering feeling was and yet he let himself drunkenly say it. 

****

A few hours later, the Losers found themselves up at Mike’s place, above the library. Mike had a collection of things from the fateful summer along with their friendship after Stan had left Derry. As he walked passed a memory wall, Stan had seen what he had missed out on. 

Graduation, prom, a series of football and basketball games. He got to one final photo and saw all the losers gathered around Richie in his valedictorian gown. “No fucking way! Rich, you made valedictorian?” Stan exclaimed.

“Yeah, there was half a point between me and Eds, I was just better at Biology than he was.” Richie boasted. “And yet, he’s a surgeon!”

“Beep beep Richie, and don’t call me Eds!” Eddie growled.

There was suddenly a loud bang from downstairs, causing all of them to jump, nobody moved. On his way over, he heard that Pennywise had escaped a high-security prison but he was too close to Derry to turn back. It was a high possibility that the man that goes by the stage name of Pennywise, was now in the building and ready to kill them. 

Stanley was the first to move, pulling a knife from the wooden knife holder. He knew that whoever was down there, wasn’t there for books of for Mike, otherwise they would’ve called out for the librarian but alas, that didn’t happen. The losers followed Stan down the spiral staircase. “Are we really just going to follow Stan, the boy who left because of PTSD, down the stairs?” Richie whispered.

Stan rolled his eyes and continued down. “Hey dipshit, I know you’re here,” Stan growled, hoping it was loud enough for the man to hear.

As they neared the back entrance to the desk, the man came into view. He was perched on top of the library’s desk, dressed in a shitty store-bought clown costume, swinging his legs like an energetic child who was told to stay seated.

“Ah! The Losers Club. What a lovely surprise.” Pennywise greets pushing himself off the desk. “Stanley, I didn’t think you’d make it. Last I heard you were still in Florida.”

Stan lost all of his confidence. How did Pennywise know that? How the hell did he know where he lived?

“How do you know that?” Stan whimpered.

“My kind accomplice, Henry Bowers, I’m sure you all remember him. He’s been helping me with my escape.” 

Stan shied away. This couldn’t be happening, he knew it was a mistake coming back. He knew that he would be yelled at by everyone if they lived through this but he couldn’t do it. Eddie noticed that Stan had walked back to hide behind everyone.

“Hey, you good?” Eddie whispered.

“No. I can’t - I can’t do this Eddie.” Stan whispered back. “I should’ve turned back when I heard it on the radio.” 

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. You were almost killed that Summer, you have every right to be more afraid than any of us.”

Stan looked down to meet the eyes of Edward Kaspbrak. “I know.”

 Stan felt Eddie embrace him. “You’ll be okay. Trust me. We won’t let that bastard get away.”

Mike was on the phone and Bill and Bev had started to attack the clown when out of literally nowhere, Bowers jumped out stabbing Eddie in the cheek with his pocket knife. 

****

It turned to chaos from there. Stan didn’t know what to do. He kinda just slowly backed away into the shadows watching as Eddie and Ben fought off Bowers before stumbling over to Mike. Bowers was trying his best to protect Pennywise from the clutches of the losers. Richie had ended up grabbing an axe to fend Bowers off Mike, landing the axe right into Bowers’ head.

Stan started to further shrink away, hiding in the storage room. 

“Stannie, I know you’re down there.” Pennywise teased, the sound of slow but determined footsteps echoed down the hall towards the stairs of the storage room. 

Stan could hear the distant screams of his friends as the footsteps got louder and louder. Fuck, what the hell happened to my friends? He huddled in a corner, away from the door and hidden by at most 8 rows of bookshelves. 

“Yippee Kiyay Motherfu-” Richie screamed but stopped mid-sentence when he was pushed heavily into the wall, hitting his head on impact. Eddie took the opportunity to throw a book at Pennywise’s head to distract him from Stan. But that almost led to Eddie getting a knife to the stomach.

*

Stan came out from his hiding place as soon as he heard Eddie’s scream. Pennywise was to busy trying to lunge at Eddie, Richie was down and everyone was trying to pry Eddie away from the clown man’s grip. 

Stan needed to do something, he decided to yell, “Why don’t you stop traumatising my friends and come at me, asshole!” Pennywise turned around just in time to see a shelf coming down on him, the end result of a domino effect started by Stan shoving one of the end bookshelves.

Just as the shelf collapsed onto Pennywise, an officer waltzed in. “We need paramedics in here asap.” The officer announced into his walkie-talkie. “Anyone want to explain why there’s a dead man out there?”

“Self defence, the guy was trying to attack my friend and he was the one that put that hole in my husbands face,” Richie said pointing to both Mike and Eddie.

“Okay.” The officer said. The paramedics come in and lift the shelf off the man in the clown costume, putting him on the stretcher and locking his hands and feet into restraints.

****

The losers all make their way up to the ambulances to get checked out. Richie had a minor concussion and needed to take things slow for the next few days, so he and Eddie couldn’t fly back to New York for another few days. Eddie had his cheek patched up and cleaned. Bill and Mike had a few stitches, Stan, Bev and Ben were the only ones to come out unscathed but had been scarred mentally. They all had. 

As soon as Eddie was cleared he was straight on the phone with Maggie, letting her know that he and Richie wouldn’t be back for a few more days. So she and Wentworth would need to look after Caleb, Stan guessed that the two adopted a child, for a few more days than planned.

Bill jumped off the seat, as soon as he was cleared, and headed straight to Stan. “I’m sorry Bill, I am a real coward.” Stan whimpered to Bill.

“No, you aren’t baby. You have every right to be afraid.” Bill said, “You wanna hug? You look like you need one.” Stan nodded and hugged his boyfriend.

“Yes, yes I am Bill. I am a coward. I run away at every sign of trouble. That makes me a fucking coward.”

Bev is the first to join in the hugging of Stanley Uris. Soon everyone joins in, making sure that he feels the support of the 6 other members of their club. All his worries seemed to wash away.

“Let’s go to the Quarry,” Richie announced. 

****

Bev, Ben, Mike, Eddie and Richie basically made a run for it, to get to one of their many old hangout spots. Bill hung behind to walk with Stan, who was still shaking from the whole experience.

“If any of us were in your position, we would be feeling the exact way,” Bill said.

“Really? You’re all stronger than me, mentally.” Stan replied.

“Not true.” Stan gave him a look. “You swore during your bar mitzvah, you can watch horror films without any nightmares, you’re incredibly smart. You’re getting your PhD in a month! You’re stronger than you think, we all may be smart but you’re the smartest. 

“Don’t let this one thing get in the way of that. You aren’t a coward, a coward wouldn’t jump off the Quarry’s cliff. A coward certainly wouldn’t voice his opinion, the number of times that you stood up against all of us? A coward wouldn’t do that.”

“I never thought of it like that,” Stan whispered.

“And a coward wouldn’t admit that he’s a coward or do anything to help themselves. And finally, a coward wouldn’t scream at an escaped murderer to come and get him so that they’d stop attacking his friends. Nor would they push the shelves down.” 

Stan remembered the therapy he took as a child and the fact that he had been taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills since then and doing everything he could to forget that Summer in ‘89.

He thought back to only moments ago as his impulsivity and adrenaline were through the roof. The thought of anyone hurting any of his friends was enough for him to become enraged. His body was still pumping out adrenaline, he was vibrating like he usually does after 4 cups of coffee. But he only had two today and didn’t have his customary caffeine shakes.

“You’re safe now, and that’s all that matters,” Bill said softly. “In the wise words of Richie Tozier, ‘you’re braver than you think’.”

“Richie said that?” Stan giggled, Bill smiled, he loved hearing his boyfriend giggle, it was cute.

“Yeah. To Eddie.”

“Oh my God, we’re the less over the top version of Richie and Eddie.” 

Bill and Stan continued to laugh as they made their way to the Quarry to catch up with the losers.

[lovemychoices]

Playing with Fire - RoD AU [Colt x MC] - Ch.2 2/2

Book: Ride or Die

Once upon a time, an angel fell for a devil and they called it true love. -J.P.D

Kaela Matsuo didn’t think she would fall in love with someone during her senior year of highschool it was the last thing on her mind but then she met Colt while hanging out with Logan and everything changed. After taking down Jason and saying their heartbreaking goodbyes will Kaela and Colt ever find a way back to each other again? And if they do are they ready to face new obstacles together?

Characters except my OCs belong to Pixelberry, I am just borrowing them.

Word count : 5000+++

Chapter Summary: Kaela tries to forget Colt the only way she knows how.

A/N : Sorry it’s been months since this series has been updated and to be honest IDK when the next chapter will be up. Sorry for any grammatical error I didn’t have the time to do edits.

Warning/Triggers : Alcohol and Drug abuse. [Make sure you’re 18 years old and above if you read this]

catch up with the series here

Song Inspiration: Signals in Smoke - Coming up for air

How long can you wait

To breathe deep

How long can you stay

Underneath

It's hard to believe

But I know your heart still beats

Rise on up baby

Don't need eyes to see

Later that night, Kaela followed the direction of the address that Riya texted her which lead to a gated mansion somewhere in the hills but she couldn’t hear or see any signs of a party.

Confused she double checks the address on her GPS System. “This should be the right place?” She murmured to herself. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

A loud knock on her window causes her to jolt in her seat. She looks the drivers window and sees a man with strong build body wearing a crisp black suit. She cautiously rolls down her window a little.

“You lost or something miss?” The man asked eyeing her curiously.

“Um.. I’m here for a party at Mike’s place?” She answered showing the digital invite on her phone. The man takes a look at the screen taking his own phone from his pocket and started scanning the barcode on Kaela’s invite.

INVITE VALID

He gives her an approving nod and the gates in front of her open. She lets out a sigh of relief then nods back at him and quickly puts her gear into drive.

As she drives through the estate she sees a few dimly lit lamp posts and perfectly trimmed hedges. A little while after she could hear the faint sound of music playing in the background. In the driveway a bunch of expensive sports cars parked next to a two storey modern mansion.

Wow! This is where Mike lives? She checks herself in the rear-view mirror then heaves a sigh. You can do this it’s just one night out. Kaela felt like she needed something to calm her nerves so she reaches out to open her dashboard taking out an orange prescription bottle labeled Xanax on it which she had bought from one of her classmates a month ago. “Fuck! I’m all out.” She muttered throwing her head back on the headrest then glance towards mansion.

Maybe they’ll have something in there. Rich people always have the best prescription pills.

As she approaches the top step, a housekeeper opens the front door. Loud party noise and music blasted out as she enters, she felt like she was in some sort of fraternity party. People were dancing around consumed by the music around them, to the right a group of people cheering on a few guys doing a keg stand challenged.

I need to find the master bath, it must be somewhere upstairs.

“Kaela! Kaela over here!” Riya calls out with her hands waved in the air, quickly walking over to where Kaela was standing. “Omg, I’m so glad you decide to come!” She beamed excitedly giving Kaela a hug. “Come on, let's head outside by the pool, I have a few friends I want to introduce you to.”

Before Kaela can protest Riya takes her hand and guides her along the crowd to the middle of the living area and through the back door where a large swimming pool was located next to the house.

“Everyone, Kaela. Kaela, everyone.” Riya introduces her to a few people sitting by the pool.

“Hey Kaela!” Everyone greets in unison. “Hi…” Kaela smiles giving a sheepish wave. One of the girls stood up and hugged her excitedly taking Kaela by surprise. She pulls back a few moments later. “So nice to finally meet you, we always wondered when we were going to meet this mysterious Kaela, Riya’s always talking about. I’m Jane by the way.”

“Really Riya talks about me a lot?” She asked cocking and eyebrow at Riya.

Riya chuckles. “Only the good stuff I promise!” Kaela shakes her head and grabs a beer from the chiller next to her and twisting the cap open and has a sip before taking a seat next to Riya

“So does Mike have these parties all the time? Where is he anyway? I didn’t see him on the way in.”

Will snorts. “Probably inside entertaining the ladies, lucky bastard.”

The DJ starts to play a song Riya excitedly jump from her seat. “Oh I love this song!” She exclaims taking Kaela’s hand. “Common Kaela time to let loose and dance all your troubles away.”

Riya and the others danced moving their body as the music plays not missing a beat. Kaela watches stiff at first, she can’t remember the last time she danced like that. “Kaela don’t just stand there!” Riya said as she swayed from side to side.

“I’m gonna need more alcohol if I’m going to get through this.” She mutterd under her breath.

She quickly grabs a few glasses of neon shots from people nearby downing them in one go. Soon enough the alcohol starts to kick in, her body loosens, she starts swaying her hips to the sound of the music. For that brief moment she felt all her pain and sorrow being suppressed. She continues to dance letting the hours pass by, not stopping until suddenly the DJ plays a familiar song.

***

Flash back here…

Kaela takes in the electric colours, blacklight illuminated the ravers neon clothing. Drinks glow blue, pink and purple against the darkness. It was her first time going to a rave and it wasn’t like she had expected. She glanced down to see the colours on her clothes she borrowed from Mona how they brilliantly under the luminous lighting. Her eyes go wide opened and beamed. “Wow it’s like I’m radioactive!”

“You’re welcome.” Mona gave her a playful wink.

The group stood at the back as they watched other people dance around. “So what do we do?” Kaela asked.

“What do we do? We dance!” Mona answered with a smirk.

“Yeah. But like… how?”

Ximena chuckles. “However you want Hun. do what feels good, don’t overthink it.”

Mona sways sensually to the music, Toby jumps up and down. Salazar moves to an open spot at the dance floor and breaks into an energetically sequence of sliding and foot pumping. “And that’s called the Melbourne shuffle.” He beamed. The crew applauds and laugh. Even Logan shakes his head for smiles. He can feel his phone vibrate and excuses himself for a bit leaving Kaela and Colt alone while the others were off busy dancing.

Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while

Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies

Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever

We don't have the power, but we never say never

Sitting in a sandpit, life is a short trip

The music's for the sad man

“Oh! I love this song!” She beamed excitedly. “Come on, Colt!”

Colt hesitated looking at the rest of the crew doing their thing. “I.. don’t really dance.”

Kaela chuckles. “Me neither. Now come on!” She quickly took Colt’s hand before he could protest. Lacing their fingers together she leads him away out of sight from the rest of the crew.

Colt pulled her body close to his and tilted her chin face up to look at him, his lips curled up into a grin. “I would be lying if I said I haven’t been waiting to get you to myself today. Just follow my lead.” He turned her around so her back is facing his then lightly touches her waist, they both swayed effortlessly to the beat. In time with the pulsating beat he pushes her away then pulled her back closer this time with her face inches away from his. “Is Logan watching?”

“Why do you care if he does?” She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Is it bad that a part of me wants him to?” He grinned.

“I’m not some possession for you two to fight over, Colt. I’m an actual person.”

“You’re not.. you’re more than that Kaela. At least to me you are.”

“What am I to you Colt?” Colt paused for a moment, they both stopped for a moment in the middle of the crowd of people dancing. He tucks a strand of Kaela’s loose hair to the back of her ear, she can see passion in his eyes as he looks at her. Colt leans in until his lips are just a breath away from hers, “You’re my driver forever, Kaela.”

She pushed her hands through Colt’s hair, bringing his mouth to hers.In that moment they both forget about everything and everyone in the room, even the loud music starts to fade into the background as they drown in each others kiss.

***

Present day..

Can you imagine when this race is won?

Turn our golden the faces into the sun

Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune

The music's played by the, the madman.

Forever young

I want to be forever young

Do you really want to live forever?

Forever, and ever.

That song, it was the song that she and Colt danced to at Hyrieus a year ago. Kaela could feel her heart beating fast and loudly as all the memories of that night with Colt replayed in her head. Suddenly the pain and sorrow comes crashing back at her, she felt like she was suffocating. “I need to get out of here.” Kaela pants and quickly pushed her way through the crowd walking up a flight of stairs leading to the first floor corridor.

She tries to open every door she comes across but each one she found was always locked until eventually one opens. She enters to what seems like the master bedroom and without a second thought saunters directly towards the bathroom.

Kaela stands in front of the mirror, hands pressed on the sink leaning with her head down. She closes her eyes and began reciting the same words repeatedly in her head. Breathe in one two three, breathe out three two one. ”Fuck this isn’t working.” She muttered under her breath, her eyes moves towards the Medicine cabinet in front of her.

Maybe there’s something in here that will.

She opens it and starts rummaging through. Lets see few dental flosses, vitamins, health supplements. Urgh where’s the good stuff?

She finally got her hands an orange prescription bottle, she took a look at the description labeled OXYCODONE one time daily or when needed. BINGO! Without even hesitating she popped the bottle open taking one pill and quickly putting it in her mouth swallowing it, later filling up a glass of water and drinking it all in one go. Kaela that the perception bottle from the sink counter top and shoves it in her purse, adjusting her messy hair before heading out.

She slowly closes the door behind her, failing to notice someone standing right outside she bumps right into them.

“Woah, careful!” Someone said catching her by the arm as she stammers back surprised, she looks up and sees a familiar face. “Mike, when did you get here?”

“Um.. I live here, it’s my party remember? What are you doing all the way up here?” He answers cocking an eyebrow.

“I um… needed to find the bathroom but got lost. Big house you got here.” She replied nervously. “But you know I succeeded in finding one so all good.”

“Good to know.” He chuckles then folds his arms scanning Kaela head to toe. “Listen, I’m heading up to the rooftop garden to get some air. You could join me if you want?”

“You have a rooftop garden?” Kaela thought for a moment before giving a half shrug.“Sure why not? I need to get some air anyway.”

Mike took her up another flight of stairs, he opened the door which lead to a beautiful rooftop garden.It had a miniature garden with pebble stones lining the pathway on one side and on the other side an outside bar with a hot tub overlooking the view of the neighborhood. Kaela’s eyes go wide open. “Wow! This is your rooftop? It’s amazing!”q

“You can thank my interior designer for that it was her vision. So have a seat anywhere you want.”

Kaela climbs on top edge of the roof and takes a seat at the edge, her legs dangling from above. She could see the pool right below her and the view of the landscape in front of her.

“This view is amazing. No offense but how’d you end up with a place like this? I thought you only owned a gym.”

Mike runs his hands through his hair. “Well not just a gym, I have few others all over California. Most of my clients big shot politics and A list celebrities. Plus my family is rich.”

Kaela snorts. “No kidding.”

“I’m serious..My last name is actually West.”

Kaela chokes a little when she hears the name. “As in West industries? They’re like multimillionaires?” Mike silently nods then looks away. “So... Why run a gym instead of being some big hot shot CEO?”

Mike shrugged at her question. “I didn’t really want to go into the family business. I’ve spent my whole life having my father tell me what I’m supposed to be and I’ve always felt so suffocated, you know? It wasn’t until I lost everything I ever cared about that I decided enough is enough.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice. I definitely know what it’s like to have a parent expect you to be someone you’re not.”

“Strike one of something we have in common.” He smirked. “I’m keeping score to see how compatible we are. You know for future reference.” He explains and gives a playful wink.

Kaela chuckles. “That’s a really interesting way of keeping score. Does it always work?”

“Most of the time.”

There was an awkward silence between them for a few seconds. Shit is he thinking of kissing me? Please don’t You’re going to ruin the moment. Mike starts to lean in, trying to close the gap between them, he was obviously going to kiss her. Kaela tilts her head down a look of regret written on her face. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this. You’re a really nice guy Mike, but I just got out of a serious relationship and I’m just not ready.”

Mike leans back, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry, I didn’t know. How long have the two of you been broken up?”

“We didn’t Break up. He—. He—.” She fumbled trying to form the words. Take deep breaths and exhale slowly Kaela. ”He was involved in an accident about 3 months, he didn’t make it.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that, believe me I know what it’s like losing someone you love. To have them suddenly ripped from you.” He seethes, Kaela noticed his jaw clenched and his hands ball into a fist.

“Who was she?” She asked, Mike turns to look at her, his expression a mixture between sad and confused. “When you said you lost everything you cared about earlier. I’m assuming it has to do with someone you cared about.”

“She was.. Someone I met in college sophomore year. She was the most kind and beautiful person I have ever met. We started dating a few months after knowing each other then it went from that to being in a relationship for the next 5 years.” Mike paused for a moment he fidget with a silver ring on his finger. Kaela could barely make out the words engraved on the ring but it has the initials M&K.

“You know the night of the accident we were supposed to spend the weekend at one of my family's estates in the mountains. I had this whole plan to propose to her.” He paused again with regret written on his face. “But I got held back at work, so I told her I’d have someone pick her up she could head up there first and I would catch up later. A few hours later I got a call from the police…..”

As Mike told Kaela about the night his girlfriend got into a car accident, voices of that night she got the call from Ximena regarding Colt’s accident starts replaying in her head.

“Kaela honey, I wish I was calling you under different circumstances and I’m sorry to be the one telling you this but—.”

“But what X? You need to tell me.”

“It’s about Colt. He’s.. He’s been in an accident and he didn’t make it.”

“Kaela. Hey Kaela you alright?”

She is slowly pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of Mike’s voice.

“Are you alright?”

“I uh… yeah. I’m fine.” She mentions, tucking strand of loose hair to the back of her ear.

“Anyway the trick is to focus on something that will make you forget. For me it was martial arts, I got to channel all my anger into someplace else. Who knows, it might be for you too. Whenever you ready just give me a call.”

He handed her his business card and she takes it, giving him a weak smile.

“We should probably head back to the party. Riya might be worried and looking for you.”

Mike slowly got up and steps away from the edge, he stretched out his hand to Kaela.

“You coming?”

“Uh… Yeah. Hey you go ahead I’ll be right behind you.”

When Mike wasn’t looking she quickly popped another piece of pill into her mouth, closing her eyes and taking deeps breaths she could feel the pill start to kick in.

Maybe this is just what I need.

*****

In the weeks to come Kaela’s night were filled with parties endless drinking and getting high, anything to make her forget. She was sick of feeling miserable, she was sick of crying herself to sleep at night. This felt like the easiest way out to her. She did a pretty good job at hiding it from her friends and family though. Since she only hung out with Riya a few times a month and visit her dad once a month, nobody took notice in her sudden change of lifestyle choices. Everyone just assumed she had finally accepted what happened to Colt and moved on.

“No.. We are not watching that Ri.”

“Please K?” Riya pouts her lips.

“Omg… We are not going to watch TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE for the 5th time.”

“But.. But.. Peter Kavinsky.” She pouted again throwing her puppy dog eyes at Kaela.

Kaela rolled her eyes at Riya. “Okay find, but I’m picking the next one.”

“Deal!” Riya grinned and hit the play button on the remote.

“I need to use the bathroom for a bit, the pizza delivery guy will be here soon. Take care of it will you?”

A few seconds later there is a buzz on the door, Riya opens and is greeted by the delivery guy. “That will be twenty four fifty.” He says hold the pizza box out.

Riya takes it and shuffles through her purse for cash but is a little short. “Um.. I’m a little short on cash. Could you hand on a sec?” She hurries to the island and grabs Kaela’s purse to get some cash but she ends up finding more. Oxycodone? She quickly stuffs the bottle in her jeans and pays the pizza guy. “Here you go, keep the change.”

A few minutes later Kaela came out of the bathroom and saunters over to the living area, Riya was seated on the couch glaring at her. “Is something wrong?”

“Mind telling me what’s this?” Riya asked holding up an orange pill bottle. “What do you even need Oxycodone for?”

“Omg.. Did you just go through my stuff without my permission?!” She retorted, her hands balling into a fist. “You have no right to do that Riya.”

“I was short on cash and looked through you purse to borrow some. Maybe it’s a good thing I did or who knows how long your drug addiction was going to continue.” She gives Kaela a pointed look. “Is that why you’ve been so chill the past few months? Because you’ve been using? What else have you been using? Heroin? Cocaine?”

“I’m not a drug addict if that’s what you’re implying, I only use them when I go to parties or when I’m feeling stressed out.” She folds her arms her with her eyes downcast. “And for the record I don’t do heroin or cocaine. I’m mostly on prescription pill and occasionally Molly.”

“Kaela how could you be so stupid?! Grieving is one thing but this?!”

“Don’t talk to me like you know what it’s like to feel grief. I tried to grieve him, Riya. Trust me I've got grieving down to a science at this point. But every time I let it sink in that I'm never gonna see you again, I feel like I'm gonna die.” She whimpered. “I— I want to die!

“You can’t say things like that Kaela.”

“And why not? It’s the truth! I can’t do this anymore.. I’m sorry.. I need to go somewhere.” She said taking her purse from the counter and storms out of the apartment, Riya chasing her shortly after into the parking lot “Kaela where are you going, you can’t do this you need help. Just talk to me please!” She pleaded reaching to take her hand but Kaela

“Omg! Riya can you like not!” She belts swatting Riya’s hand away as she tries to take her. “Just leave me alone!” She quickly gets into her car and drives away while Riya watches her from behind.

*****

Kaela drives aimlessly through the streets of LA, she didn’t know where she was going, she just needed to get away from Riya. She needed to get away from everything, to clear her head and a long drive usually does the trick.

Soon she found herself off the highway and on to the freeway which soon lead to a winding road. She could feel her heart pounding as she picks up speed, tears starting to fog her eyes. I can’t do this anymore.. I just can’t. Her phone starts ringing and she looks down at the passenger seat where it was lying, it was Riya calling. She hits the reject button and turns back to the road when she did suddenly out of no where a stray dog was standing in the middle of the winding road and only a few meters from her car, she turned the steering wheel to avoid hitting the pup but at the speed she was going in it made her quickly loose control. Her car swivels on the winding road and rammed onto a divider before flipping over.

Kaela remained strapped to her seat hanging upside down.. The smell of something burning nearby, blood was dripping from her forehead to the ground and her vision was starting to get blurry, she could barely make out what looks like a figure, maybe a passerby who saw the accident dashing over to where she was. “Help me...” She murmurs in a weak voice but before the person manages to get her out she passes out and everything turns to black.

*************************************************

@liamzigmichael4ever @client-327 @brightpinkpeppercorn @lovehugsandcandy @lilyofchoices @justdani14 @zaffrenotes @queenkaneko @mskaneko @pintsizedelle @flowerpowell @desiree-0816 @emceesynonymroll @kinkykingliam @jlpplays1 @annekebbphotography @thecordoniandiaries @cora-nova @rainbowsinthestorm @princess-geek @leelee10898 @emichelle @pixelberrytrash

[svucarisiaddict]

Once bitten, twice shy- Part of the Foolish Pride Series

“I can’t believe I’m doing this. It’s wrong,” you said to yourself. The decision to call Mike had been a tough one. Now here you sat in a coffee shop waiting for him. You couldn’t count how many hours you spent waiting on him in the past. There was always a 50/50 chance that he would show. Until that became 70/30 he wouldn’t show which turned to not even bothering to make plans that involved Mike because you knew he wasn’t going to make it.

It boggled your mind that you were just as drawn to him as you were before. But that was never the problem. The draw, the attraction, the need for one another never faded. You never stopped loving Mike but you did want different things in life than he did, well at least that’s what you thought until you ran into Mike a couple of days ago.

Leaning forward you braced your head with your hands and took a deep breath. When you looked up Mike was sitting across from you. “Mike. Hi.” Not only was he on time he was actually early.

He grinned. “Hi.” Mike cleared his throat. “I’m happy you called. I was going to call you but didn’t want to seem pushy.”

“I am too.”

“Can I get you a coffee? Maybe a scone?” Mike asked as if he even knew what a scone was.

“Just a coffee with-”

“With two cream, two sugars and a shot of vanilla,” he stated. “I remember.” He stood and went to wait in line.

Your phone started buzzing in your bag. When you checked it there was a text from Peter. He wanted to come to visit you next weekend. It had been almost a month since you last saw Peter. He lived in Chicago but would come to New York periodically to visit family. What you had with him started as casual and fun. It was a great escape from the early days when you and Mike had split. He wanted more but that was something you weren’t sure you were ready for it. It scared you to open your heart up like that again. You typed out a quick response then put the phone back in your bag as Mike returned with the coffees.

“I will never understand how you can drink black coffee,” you said shaking your head.

“Puts hair on your chest. You should try it sometime,” he joked.

“I am not trying to grow hair on my chest! You laughed. “And from what I remember you don’t have any on yours.”

“Still true,” he admitted. “Why don’t we go for a walk. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Sure.” Picking up your coffee and bag you walked to the exit. Mike put his hand at the small of your back like he did in the past and you didn’t object. He offered his arm and you slipped your arm through it. Everything felt so right being here with him. Like it was the first few years you were together.

Before you knew it you and Mike had been talking a strolling through Central Park for over an hour. “The sky is getting darker, looks like rain. Should probably get back,” you announced.

Mike turned his eyes to the heavens. “You’re right.” He gave you a small smile as the two of you walked back to the coffee shop. A couple minutes the skies opened up. The cold downpour made you and Mike find shelter. He pulled you under an awning. The two of you were soaked, cold but laughing none-the-less. Mike brushed a wet strand of hair out of your face. Leaning down he pressed his lips to yours.

At first, you melted into his kiss. But something in the back of your mind made you pull away. “I-I can’t do this. I’m sorry Mike.”

The next week flew by and before you knew it, Friday had arrived. Peter was taking a late flight in from Chicago. You offered to meet him at the airport but he said he didn’t want to inconvenience you since he wouldn’t land until after 9pm. Peter was one of the sweetest people you knew. Considerate, caring, thoughtful and passionate; Peter was the whole package. And you did care for him very much. So what was your problem? Mike was the problem. And the feelings you still harbored for him. Especially after seeing him last week then having coffee last weekend. Not to mention getting caught in the rain and the kiss that you could still feel on your lips.

The next morning you woke up with a smile on your face and snuggled closer to Peter’s chest.

Peter caressed your bare shoulder with his thumb making small circles on your skin. “Good morning, darling. Sleep well?”

“Morning,” you croaked. “ Of course I did. I woke up next to you.”

Peter kissed the top of your head. “Want to eat breakfast in or go out?”

“Eat in. I like to watch you cook. What time is it?”

“Almost 9,” he replied.

You stretched beside him. “Hmmm...you’re usually up by now.”

“It’s been too long since I’ve been able to hold you and feel your soft skin that I wanted to relish it,” he said.

Turning over onto your belly you pushed to your elbows looking up at Peter. “I’m happy you’re here.” And you were happy. Peter was beginning to break down the wall you put up after Mike. It was scary as hell.

Peter pushed a strand of hair from your face. “I wish I could wake up to you every morning.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” you whispered. Inching yourself closer to Peter you were just about to kiss him when the doorbell rang.

“Hold that thought, kitten,” Peter said giving you a chaste kiss on the cheek. He got out of bed and pulled on his boxer briefs giving you a fantastic view of his ass. Peter smirked when he turned around to look at you.

Deciding to go to the kitchen to get the coffee started you rolled out of bed. Peter’s shirt was slung over the footboard so you grabbed it pulling it around you. As you were buttoning it up you made your way to the kitchen. Peter’s voice was evident. You wondered who he was talking to when you heard Mike speak.

“I’m sorry. I must have the wrong apartment. I was looking for Y/N,” he said.

“And you are?” Peter asked.

Padding to the door you came to stand beside Peter. “Mike. What are you doing here?”

Peter’s jaw clenched at the mention of Mike’s name. He knew everything about your relationship with Mike and that being one of the reasons you were so reluctant to open up to him completely.

Mike took in your appearance along with Peter’s putting two and two together. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” He cleared his throat. “I’ll just go now.” He pushed the tray of coffees into Peter’s hand then walked away.

Peter shut the door then placed the coffee on the counter. “What was that about?” Peter asked.

“I ran into him about a week ago. I had Max in the park. He started talking to me, thought Max was his,” you scoffed. You explained the events, including the coffee shop, going for a walk and the kiss.

“Did you kiss him back?” Peter looked over at you. His face was tight and you could see him swallow hard as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

You bite your lip and wringing your hands. “At first but I pushed him away and left. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you but-”

“He started it and you ended it?” Peter asked.

“Yes. I didn’t want you to get mad or upset about something that meant nothing to me,” you explained. Well, part of it was true. The last thing you wanted was to hurt Peter.

Peter ran his hand through his hair. “I’m not mad, not at you anyway. But if I see him again…” He crossed the floor to you. “Thank you for being honest with me.” Peter cupped your face with his hands then kissed your forehead. He lead you into the kitchen with an arm around your shoulders. “Now pancakes or French toast?”

“Pancakes. Blueberry,” you replied. “I’ll make coffee.” You felt like gum on the bottom of a shoe for lying to Peter. That kiss, that kiss set your soul on fire. And you knew someone would get burnt before was all said and done.

[scribeofmorpheus]

Chasing Tornadoes Prologue

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Reader

Series Warnings: poorly written medical procedural , mild delving into spirituality, language, overbearing egos, graphic descriptions, more to be added.

*Set before Doctor Strange

Series Masterlist | Masterlist | AO3

Taglist is open -comment or send an ask!

The hairs on your arms stood erect, prickling with new vivacity. Wind blew in from the east: Euros was stirring. Dust lifted off the ground as the howling winds agitate the tarp materials of the parasol overhead. You grabbed a serviette from the box next to the condiments and wiped the cucumber and mint tzatziki sauce off your lip. 

Something was coming.

You could feel it in the heat of the air and the rise in humidity. 

Deemng it past time that you got back, you pulled out a twenty from your purse and secured it under a salt shaker after you took one last bite of your lamb burger before binning the food wrapper and slinging your wicker bag over your shoulder. Your wide-brim hat protected your complexion from the harsh summer rays. 

Beyond the city line, a green sky began to crawl outwards. Random debris started rolling down the tarred road. At first, it was only small objects. Weightless objects like cans and newspapers and runaway articles of clothing. Then it escalated to furniture grinding against the cobbled streets, reluctantly being pushed backwards. 

You riffled through your bag, digging for your keys when the wind suddenly died down unexpectedly. A flash of light struck down in your peripheral and then you heard a roar that sounded like a runaway freight train.

Something was definitely coming.

The TV was relaying the latest weather report on mute. The freak weather had prompted the meteorologists to do a deep dive on the direction of air currents and possible escalations.

You set your kettle on, hand gripping your crystal necklace as you stood by your open window. Wind chimes clanking in a dissonant manner. The grey sky had blocked out the sun and a funnel began to form at the centre of a thunderstorm just beyond the horizon. The thundering shook the photo frames hanging up on the walls.

Your iguana, Spike, startled you by dropping several spice containers from your spice rack. His reptilian growl communicating his discomfort as you picked him up and cradled him against your shoulder. 

"It's okay Spikey boy, it's just thunder," you observed the funnel descend further down from the sky. Chunks of debris mixing into the circulating air. "Just a thunderstorm." 

You weren’t sure who you were trying to console, the fat lizard straining against your arms, or yourself.

The tornado had razed through half the neighbouring farming town to the south. Your pager beeped incessantly as soon as the weather had died down. Without needing to check why, you grabbed your medical badge and called an Uber.

The hospital was abuzz, filled by the smell of antiseptic and bleach. The waiting room was packed and the PA system blared out one announcement after the other with little breathing room between sentences. Swift feet rushed from one corner to the other. The few interns and fellows you could spot inside this chaos looked worse for wear, the stress and humidity making them resemble pruned vegetables.

You walked over to reception, tapping your arm on the counter when you noticed Janice was on duty. "Hey Jan, what's the 411?"

Jan covered her headset with one hand, "Tornado crashed through. Doctor on call is stuck on the other side of a collapsed bridge. Metro General is flying in some doctor to help with the relief efforts." 

Could it be Christine? You wondered.

You frowned, tying your untamed hair back and stowing away your bangles and necklaces. "Who's heading triage?" 

Right then, two paramedics burst through the swinging doors. Janice waved her arms to keep them from stopping, “Don’t bother waiting,” she said. “Just head on through.”

The police officers manning the entrance kept it open for another set of paramedics.

Things were escalating quickly and about to get a whole lot worse.

One of the fellows –Mike- half jogged to oversee the second patient on the gurney. The wheels squeaked, grinding from poor maintenance as he hovered over the gurney. Mike nodded at you as he shot Janice a pleading look. A smudge of soot on his cheek.

“Jan, you gotta get Doctor Weisz back on the phone, stat. We can’t take anymore as it is. We were understaffed to begin with.” He said with a tired lull to his voice.

“Sorry kid, unless you can magically mend bridges, we’re gonna have to make do.”

Mike wiped the sweat off his brow with his blue scrubs as he listened to the paramedics fill him in on the patient’s condition. He applied pressure to the patient’s stomach and asked a series of stand of the mill questions as they disappeared behind another set of doors.

Janice took another call and you waited on jittery legs until she was done, "Mike and a few other interns are the one’s handling triage. You best get in there, they could use you."

Next to go were your earrings as you started inching towards the second set of doors, clocking in your shift card. "Who's senior medical on staff?" 

Janice clacked away at her computer, bringing up the roll sheet, "According to my logs, now that you're here, it's you." 

You swallowed uncomfortably, handing Janice your bag so she could shove it under her desk. The distant fire-truck sirens were barely audible from inside of this noisy beast’s belly. A new ambulance screeched to a halt at the entrance.

Great…

   “You’re sending me where?” Strange demanded as he stared at Christine with large eyes and pulled eyebrows.

Christine scoffed as she made her rounds, “I’m not sending you anywhere, the board is.”

The skin around his nose curled upwards as he refrained from rolling his eyes, “Oh, screw the board.”

“Don’t start with that, you know why they’re keeping a close eye on you, it’s not like they don’t have good reason to either,” she ticked off a chart next to a patient’s room after thoroughly reading the attending physician’s notes.

Strange peered over her shoulder, “You should probably prescribe some probiotics,” he offered his advice freely even though she hadn’t asked.

She gave him a look that told him to back off and he did. Christine placed the chart back in its slot and made her way to another room. He massaged his jaw in frustration as he chased after her, nowhere near done with his rant. “I saved that patients life, Christine and now the board is punishing me for it. it’s bloody ridiculous is what it is! They’re all just bitter because I’m smarter than everybody on that circus show and they know it.”

She spun around to face him, her pen nearly touching his chin, “Yes, you saved that patients life, but you did so with no regard for this hospital’s code of ethics. You acted impulsively and without a seconds thought about the rules you were breaking or the potential backlash we could have faced had the media caught wind of it. That is why they chose you.”

He flicked her pen away with his index and middle finger, unwavering confidence twinkling in his eye, “I did what I had to do to save that man’s life.”

“Our jobs aren’t just about saving lives, that’s the harsh reality of it Stephen!” Christine’s voice turned stern, “You could have been fired for your recklessness… and if anything had gone even the slightest bit wrong, the patient’s family would have been liable to sue!”

He shot her a dastardly smirk, head cocked to the side, “But that didn’t happen, did it?” He could see it in the way her face muscles twitched, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with his tantrum.

She grunted in exasperation as she continued down the hallway. He was so sure of himself it made Christine want to pull her hair out at times. “Listen, they’re sending you to aid the relief efforts after that Tornado struck and that’s the end of it. If you want to look at this as some form of punishment to appease your ego then that’s fine by me, but either way, you’re getting on that chopper.”

“For Christ’s sake, Christine. I’m a bloody neurosurgeon! Not some goffer the board can pawn off to some second rate hospital in the middle of nowhere!” His temple was throbbing, that vein of his pulsing to the rhythm of his accelerated heart rate. He was beginning to lose his temper.

“Yes, you’re a brilliant neurosurgeon, no one disputes that,” she patted his chest, feeling his lungs force his ribs up and down in quick movements. She smiled sweetly. “But you were also a gifted doctor before you specialised. Time to get back on that bicycle superstar.”

The sound of plastic gloves stretching off his slender fingers sent smacking noises through the air. Strange wasn’t happy about his new assignment. He was one of the leading neurosurgeons in his field and they were sending him to some small town in the ass-end of nowhere to aid in relief efforts?

“Utterly ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath as he strode to the locker rooms.

Christine watched him storm away with a cheeky smile hiding under her perfectly professional demeanour. Maybe this trip might do him some good after all. She had been right to suggest him for the job. He could do with a little humility. And if she knew her old friend Y/N, he was in for a bit of a painful awakening.

 To be continued...

Tags:

Permatags: @gruffle1 @thechickvic @notawarriorjustyet @savethehoneeybees 

[sweet-pea-channie]

Wind in my hair - Dylan O’Brien Series (Part 2)

Part 2: Talks, laughs and fun times 

Author: @flirtstiles

Summary: Dylan and Y/N meet for the first time and get to know each other a little bit better at the Los Liones Trial

Warnings: non?

a/n: ugh, took me so long to update but I had so much stuff to do at home and at work. Working at a 8-5 pace is so exhausting but yeah here it is the second part to my first series. Also, I gave the brother a name because I don’t want to deal with you/brothers/name and all the stuff like that so yea, enjoy!

Want to be tagged? Send me a message :)

Part 1 - Part 3 - Series Overview - Masterlist

28th April, 2018

It’s been two days since you met Dylan and it’s been a few minutes since you stared at your phone.

“Hey Y/N it’s Dylan. I wanted to wait a little longer to text you but I couldn’t ahaha. So I was wondering if you’re free today or not? Text me or call me”

You couldn’t believe that he’d really text you. You, out of all people.  You never really had any luck with guys. Once they knew how frail you were, they’d leave you in a second. Your last boyfriend was back in college, sophomore year, when he left you for another chick. He was actually the kindest boyfriend you ever had. Well, you only had two but that doesn’t matter right now. He cared for you when your parent’s died while your brother was on the other side of the planet. He took you in on weekends or the holidays so you wouldn’t have to stay alone in your crappy small room.

Your fingers brushed over the touchscreen and the keyboard appeared. You slowly typed in a message for Dylan, your heart bumping so fast, your fingers couldn’t hit the right buttons.

“Hey there”, you typed and sent it unwillingly.

“Oh god” you mumbled and typed another paragraph quickly. “I am free today.”

No, you don’t seem to be intrusive at all, Y/N, you thought. But just as quick as you sent your message, Dylan replied back. “Wonderful. Umm, can I pick you up in around an hour?”

“Yeah, that’s okay” you replied and sent the address of your apartment.

“Great, see you soon” Dylan texted a few seconds back.

You ran down the hall, sprinting to your bedroom like a teenage girl who was going to her first dance. Excitement was written all over your face. Your smile was so wide that the small dimple on your check appeared.  You nearly tripped on your way to the wardrobe, catching yourself on the armchair that stood right next to it. The smile on your face reflected on the mirror and you smiled even more when you caught a glimpse of yourself.

You combined dark blue jeans and a white loose blouse with lace at the bottom of it. Soft y/h/c locks fell down your shoulders and stopped right under your shoulder blades. You applied some mascara on your lashes and a little bit of rouge on your cheeks.

You couldn’t wait for Dylan to pick you up. The excitement was too much for you so you slipped into your converse and walked down the stairs to get out of the building and waited outside on the bench for Dylan to arrive. 

Your phone beeped, a message from Dylan appeared on your lock screen saying that he was on his way. You put your phone away and stared at the small park in front of you. 

Mrs. Robbins from the building next to yours crossed your way and smiled at you. “Hey Y/N. How are you doing?” the old lady asked as she stopped in front of you. 

“I’m doing fine, thanks for asking. How’s your little dog? I’ve heard that he went through surgery the other day. Poor little guy.”

“Yes, poor little Tucker. He broke his leg and they had to implant to plates. But he’s doing better every day” she replied as she let go of her small trolley that she pulled behind her. “You should come over some time and have a drink with me. Tucker would be so happy to see you again.”

“That’d be nice” you smiled and turned your head when you heard a honk. Mrs. Robbins turned around as well and saw Dylan leaning out of the car’s window. 

“Oh, is he your boyfriend? He’s gorgeous.”

You laughed as you stood up. “No, he’s not. I just met him the other day. But yes, he’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”

“Go catch him, Y/N. I’ll see you around.”

You laughed at the older woman as she walked away and got up from the bench to walk to Dylan’s black Audi. He unlatched the doors for you to hop in and put the gear back to drive as you closed the passenger’s door.

“Hey Y/N” Dylan greeted you with a soft and warm smile. 

“Hi, thanks for texting me by the way” you replied and put the seat belt on. Dylan hummed and turned the next one left. “It was really nice talking to you on Tuesday, so I guess meeting you again was no other option for me” he laughed and rubbed the back of his head where his black baseball cap didn’t cover his head. You stared at him a little longer. The black shirt was loose on his corpse but tight enough to show the soft muscles on his arms. His hands were veiny, just like you remembered from all the pictures on the internet. His scruff was slowly growing to a 5-o’clock shadow, covering the moles on his cheeks.

“So you’re a Mets fan?” you asked the dark haired boy.

“Absolutely! Always have been and I’m never going to turn my back to them. What about you?”

“Los Angeles Angels” you replied simply.

“What? Come on!”

“I grew up here. It’s in my blood to be an Angels fan” you laughed as Dylan shook his head.

“I think I might regret my decision to meet with you again” he groaned and looked at you. He grabbed his sunglasses and pulled them down on his nose so you could see his eyes and blinked at you. “Just kidding.”

“I know you are. Well, I hope.”

“So… where are we going to anyway?” you questioned him after a few minutes in silence. Dylan stopped at a red light and turned down the radio before he answered, “I thought we could take a walk along the Los Liones Trial, if that’s okay for you. We could grab some food on our way?”

“I love Los Liones. My grandfather took me to the trial when I was younger. We always sat on this one particular bench and ate grandma’s sandwiches. Ugh, those were the best, I swear!”

“So I guess food sound nice then?”

“Definitely.”

“Mike Deli #1 for you and Italian Submariner for me” Dylan said as he hopped back in the car. He passed the bag with the sandwiched from Mike’s Deli to you and started the car. You sniffed at the bag and closed your eyes as the smell of fresh sandwiches filled your nose. “This smells so delicious! Can’t we eat them now?”

“No, Y/N.”

You rolled your eyes and sank down in your seat, feeling too comfortable around him already. He never made you feel uncomfortable or unwanted. He always kept the conversations going and he was easy to talk to. It felt like you two knew each other longer than just a few days with him making jokes and using sarcasm all the time.

“I’ll warn you! If you don’t drive faster, I’ll eat the sandwiches before we arrive. Mine and yours!”

“Don’t you dare!” Dylan muttered and squirmed his eyes together, trying to look serious but burst out in laughter as he saw your face. You joined him and held your stomach due to the high amount of laughter.

“God, my stomach hurts” you giggled with the bag full of sandwiches pressed to your tummy. “You better hurry, for real. I’m getting hungry.”

You and Dylan made it to Los Liones in a matter of time. Dylan parked the car at the Topanga State Park on the right side of the cul-de-sac at the end of Los Liones Drive. A big sign leading to the entrance. You two jumped out of the car, Dylan grabbing the bag from you, while you closed the passenger door behind you.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” you asked Dylan as you took in the beauty of nature.

You always loved the nature. There’s a rare placidity. Nothing glaring or provocative. Heaven and earth are like a transparent spider web and everything seems to feel good. The landscape is delightful like a lullaby that always soothes you.

“It truly is,” Dylan snapped you out of your trance.  

You lowered your peaceful rump onto the cushion of grass. No one would raise an objection even if you choose to stay sitting there for the next five or six days. That is the wonderful thing about the natural world; while on the one hand it has neither pity nor remorse, on the other, it is neither fickle nor arbitrary in its dealing with people – it treats all differently alike.

Dylan dropped down next to you, placed the sandwiches on his lap and opened the bag to take out the delicious sandwiches. Thanking him, you grabbed yours and waited for him until you unwrapped your Mike Deli #1.

“So tell me something about yourself, Y/N. I’m pretty sure you know more about me than I know about you” Dylan  requested after a few minutes, the two of you enjoying your lunch in silence.

“There’s not much to tell you. My full name is Y/N Y/L/N. I went to UCLA to do my master in architecture, I got my degree two years ago but I haven’t been working since then. I had a part time job here and there until I got diagnosed. So there’s nothing special about me.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s more about you, but if you don’t feel comfortable enough to tell me yet, I can wait” Dylan smiled. “But may I ask how old you are?”

“I just turned 26 a few days back” you revealed.

“So it was your birthday then? When? I’d be glad to celebrate your birthday with you today.”

“24st April, last Tuesday. I spent the day together with my grandma and two of my closest friends. My grandma baked my favorite pie, a coconut custard pie and being the awkward grandma she is always, she put 26 candles on it” you groaned and rolled your eyes as you remembered the wax running down the candles because Amelia, one of your best friends forced you to make a wish but the only wish that came to your mind was that cancer wouldn’t exist, so you just pretended like you wished for something real and blew the candles.

“I already like your granny.”

“She’s like my second mother, she’s always there for me and she’s not that old so we actually go shopping together most of the time. She’s turning 69 in a few months… you know, my grandma always teases me for not having any kids yet. I know, I’m still young but my grandma got my mom when she was 22 and well, I was born when my mom just turned 20. My dad was her high school crush all along and somehow she ended being pregnant when she was 17 and that’s when my ass brother was born. They moved together a married shortly after.”

“See, there is plenty of information for me to take in. And we have something in common, being the younger sibling” he laughed as he laid back, propped on his elbows. “Everyone says that being the younger twin would bring you so many benefits but that’s wrong. Julia was always the sweet little angel. She blamed everything on me, her stupid little brother but I still loved her then and I still do.”

You mimicked his movements and laid yourself back on you elbows as well after you finished your sandwich, Dylan being way faster than you since you talked so much. “That’s true. I always got compared to Andrew and all of my teachers associated me with my brother. And let me tell you, he wasn’t the well-behaved one.” 

“God” he groaned and dropped on his back completely, “I totally get what you say. But it was the complete opposite for me. My sister was the nerdy one in school and I was the rebel. So you can guess what my teachers saw in me.”

“Pretty sure it wasn’t love” you smiled and stood back up, holding your hand out for Dylan to grab and helping him up. “Let’s go or we won’t be back until the sun sets.”

_______________

Part 3 is right here!

[moresvuheadcanons]

A Powder Keg in a Prison Cell

As much as it pains @carisiismyhomeboy and I to say this, we’re entering the home stretch of this series. Because this chapter is told from the perspectives of Mike and Liv’s Sister, this is a LONG one. We like to think it’s worth it, though.

The phone buzzing on the nightstand woke him in the middle of the night. A check of his work phone showed no notifications, meaning that it was his burner phone. Only one person had access to that number. A sense of dread filled him. Carisi wouldn’t call at this hour without a good reason.

Before he even had a chance to say hello, Carisi started speaking. He told Mike that Amanda had gone over there for a girls’ night, and accidentally left her phone at the end of the evening. By the time she realized it and had gone back, she found the door ajar and the house completely empty.

“Look, Sarge, I don’t have a lot of time before they notice I disappeared, but I thought you should know: she’s gone missing. We’re searching the house for clues now, but Liv honestly has no idea who would do this or why. Given what I know, I thought you might be able to do more. I gotta go, see if I can help”

After hanging up the call, Mike punched the wall above his bed, and immediately regretted it. Although he didn’t hurt himself, he very easily could have. She needed him right now, and breaking his hand wasn’t going to help her. He’d known better than to go to his own gravesite. He knew better than to meet up with Carisi. At the time, it had been worth it to hear about her, to hold on to whatever connection to her he had left. He was going to fix this. He had to fix this. He quickly pulled out the case files his coworkers had left him, hoping that there was something new they could tell him.

He’d been searching for several hours, without any new leads when he got a text message on the phone he’d been using in his cover.

You never told us she was so pretty. Come alone and she might leave completely unscathed.

The message fried his last nerve, and he flipped his table in frustration. Taking a moment, to collect himself, Mike started to make a plan. He saved the address and started to make his way. Knowing he couldn’t tell his bosses, because at the very least, that meant a raging lecture, at most, full strike team, he made a quick call to Carisi. He needed someone he could trust, and someone that she trusted as well. If things went sideways, he could count on Carisi to get her out of there safely.

“Please tell me you’ve got somethin’. Liv’s driving herself crazy trying to figure out why anyone would take her, and it’s driving me crazy to not be able to say anything to her” Carisi said.

“They’ve got her. They just sent me the address and I need your help to get her out.” Mike responded.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can”

The two men met outside the house as Mike explained the dynamics of the group. There were only three besides himself that made the move from Iowa. Rick, the ringleader, and his trusted friends Aron and Caleb. The plan was to eventually destroy a series of mosques through a combination of well-crafted arsons and homemade bombs. The change in M.O. would make it harder to pin it to one organization. They were very tight knit, and closed their ranks at even the smallest hint of disloyalty. A quick survey of the house showed a back entrance for Carisi to sneak into as Mike went to the front door.

You woke, feeling a bit out of focus as you opened your eyes. Your head was still a bit sore from the hit it took the night before, though the dry feeling in your mouth led you to suspect that you’d also been drugged. Liv hadn’t mentioned any particularly dangerous perps as of late, so you were at a loss as to why you’d been targeted.

“Ah, so she is still alive” one of the men said.

“Please, just let me go, I promise I won’t say anything” you pleaded.

“No, we have to keep the bait on the hook” he responded.

Then, there was a knock on the door.

“Our guest is finally here” the man said with an overly enthusiastic smile. He looked to one of his cohorts.

“Aron, why don’t you go and check the area, make sure our guest is playing by the rules.” The man with the buzz cut nodded and quickly exited through the back.

As the ringleader opened the door, you heard a muttered conversation. You heard your captor talking, and another voice saying that you had nothing to do with this, that he should let you go. The other voice sounded familiar, but you weren’t sure you could place it.

“And why the hell would I do that?” your captor asked.

“Because I love her” the voice answered. You recognized that voice, but it was impossible. Surely, it was the drugs causing some sort of auditory hallucination. Still, you had to try.

“Mike?” you called out, fighting your restraints. That got the attention of one of your captors, who promptly put a gag in your mouth. Not long after, you saw Carisi enter through the back door and deliver a quick blow to the back of his head, incapacitating him. Carisi put his finger to his lips, asking you to keep quiet.

“Mike?” she called from the kitchen. He could hear the fear in her voice. He tried to rush over to her, let her know that this wasn’t a dream. Rick pushed back, brandishing a gun.

“Woah woah woah there, buddy. Not so fast, have a seat” he said, using his gun to point Mike towards a chair. Mike sat reluctantly, but figured that the longer he could keep Rick talking, the more time Carisi had to help free her. Swallowing his anger, he spoke.

“Why?” he asked.

“We learned a while ago we had a mole, but it was hard to figure out who, since several people joined our little group around the same time. It seemed like a coincidence at first, but before long, our brothers were getting raided. And always when they were about kill some of those terrorists infiltrating our country. And it always seemed to happen when the plans made it to us. So, we decided to relocate. Figured there were more targets in New York anyway, so it seemed like a good move. I only took the ones I could truly trust. Even so, I made sure to keep an eye on everyone. The only one that didn’t add up was you. You never left your apartment unless you were with us. Not for the first few weeks, anyway.”

“How did you know that?”

“I followed you. For a while, I wasn’t getting anything interesting. And then you went to the cemetery. I thought it was a little strange that you didn’t talk to the girl, so I did some digging. And you know what I found? A dead man. You wanna explain to me how you rose from the dead to join us?”

Mike felt all the blood drain from his face.

“And now that I’ve got you here, I can get rid of the rat that’s been plaguing my house”

As Rick started to wrap his finger around the trigger, they heard a muffled thud come from the kitchen. The sound created just enough of a distraction that Mike was able to tackle his target. The gun went off in the struggle, putting a bullet hole in the ceiling before it fell out of Rick’s hand. A couple of squarely landed punches to the face incapacitated him.

He ran to the kitchen, finding her bound to the chair. She was disheveled, and a little bruised, but she was alive, and she was okay.  He rushed to cut the ties as Carisi bound the wrists of the perps. After he finally got her freed and the gag had been removed, she spoke.

“You’ve been gone a long time” she said, her voice shaking. Even when she’d kidnapped and her whole world had been turned upside down, she couldn’t resist teasing him. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. Through tears of relief, he gave a chuckle and pulled her face to his, kissing her on the forehead.

He was back, and she was safe. Everything else would be okay.