#Another i was laying in bed and heard a plane screeching by my house and came to terms with the fact i was going to die. Then i frew up

[tiercel]

Edibles are so scary cause every single time ive taken one its either done literally nothing or its made me so high i got sick and or had a religious experience

[justhockeythings-blog1]

With You

A/N: So Two in one week huh? I wrote this a lot faster than I thought I would! Also I decided to make my own collage to go with this one! I really really like this one, so I hope you guys do! Feedback is always appreciated!

Request: “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” with Andrei Svechnikov

This was not the end to the season that anyone wanted. You felt your shoulders drop, along with your stomach. Your heart on the other hand had shattered into a million pieces, seeing Andrei’s heartbroken and frustrated face blasted across the television. You sat alone, in your shared apartment, wearing the same Svechnikov jersey that he had cheesily gifted you on your first birthday together. You made it a tradition to wear it every game you watched at home, making sure to send Andrei a picture. It had become as much a part of his pre-game ritual as having Martinook scream in his face. You hadn’t expected this game to be the last time you got to engage in your self made ritual,

You could feel the tears brimming your eyes, if not from the fact that you had so much hope for the boys to move on, for the sad faces of all your friends and your boyfriend as they shook hands with Tampa Bay. You waited until the very last second where the Canes players could no longer be seen before you shut off your TV, sitting in silence. You didn’t bother holding the tears in as you let a few slip, this was your time to be sad about it because the second that Andrei called you, you had to pull it together. You needed to be strong for him.

You knew your boyfriend well, you had seen him at the highs of the wins and the lows of the losses. He was going to take this personal, he had been battling himself all year. Saying how he hadn’t been having a good season, how he needed to improve, staying late after games to put in the extra time. You constantly had to remind him to take time for himself, to not be so hard on himself. There were countless times that you would have to force him to relax, letting his body rest, knowing that he would return to a hard training regime at the next practice. This wasn’t just any old loss though, this was a Stanley Cup elimination game loss. You were going to have to pull out all the stops to make this one feel better and you had a limited amount of time. You assumed that Andrei would be going back home at some point in the off season, neither of you had really talked about it recently. Then again, neither of you had planned on a playoff elimination.

You wiped the last few tears off your cheeks and stood up, collecting the snacks you had laid out, setting them in the kitchen before you went to change. After you came back out, you decided you needed to do something to pass the time until Andrei called, and you began busying yourself with cleaning. It was a habit that you had when you were nervous, you picked something to do and you fixated on it, usually until Andrei stepped in to stop you. It would be no different tonight, the shrill ring of your phone pulling you out of your trance. You glanced around you, seeing the kitchen of the apartment spotless before you rushed to the living room to snatch your phone off the coffee table where you left it.

“Hey.” You breathed out, hearing a slight chuckle from the other end.

“Were you running?” He asked, knowing that it was far too late for that. You, on the other hand, knew that he was avoiding the inevitable but you could hear the sadness in his voice.

“From the kitchen, didn’t want to miss your call.” You explained, brushing a strand of hair out of your face. This was the first sign that he wasn’t going to let on how upset he was in the moment, he had called you rather than facetime you. “How are you doing?”

You knew it was a stupid question but you had to ask. If you didn’t make the first move then odds were he wouldn’t bring it up and judging by the sigh that came from the other end, he was hoping that you wouldn’t.

“You gotta talk about it Andrei…” You encouraged gently, settling back on the couch and tugging a blanket over your legs. “Before you get on the plane.”

“It’s hard.” He began and you hummed, another gentle encouragement that you were listening. “We really thought we could do it. You know? We had them, we outplayed them every game and it wasn’t enough.”

The frustration was clear in his voice. You had seen the statistics and on paper, the Canes had come out on top, but unfortunately that didn’t translate to the ice.

“I wanted us to go all the way, these guys are my family and nobody deserves the cup more than them, and I couldn’t get them there.” You could hear the defeat in his voice and it was like someone took your heart and threw it on the ground.

“Andrei… You cannot put that pressure on yourself. Hockey is a team sport, you all left it all out there on the ice. You did you best and the weight of this loss does not fall entirely on your shoulders. Please.” You practically pleaded with him before you heard voices in the background.

“I have to go.. We are getting ready to board, I love you. I’ll be home late so don’t stay up okay?”

He hung up after you returned his goodbyes, leaving you once again sitting in the silence of your apartment. This time though, the exhaustion of everything set in and you pulled yourself to go to bed. You left a light on in the hallway so that Andrei didn’t have to stumble around in the darkness, slipping into your bed and quickly falling asleep.

~

When Andrei got home, well past three AM, he knew that the house would be quiet but it didn’t make it any less suffocating. It felt like silence was the only thing he had heard since the boys departed the locker room, each one caught up in their own heads. A few of the older guys, who had spent a good number of years in the league, did their best to offer some kind of comfort to the younger men on the team but it was clear that in the moment it was half hearted. Everyone had wanted to beat Tampa, everyone had wanted to make it to the end and hoist that cup. It was their year and they had done everything right only to lose to a team who had a goalie like a brick wall.

He set his bag down by the couch quietly, having mastered the technique of coming home quietly after waking you up one too many times. He carefully made his way down the hallway to the bedroom, smiling a little to himself as he saw you curled up in bed, tucked into one of his shirts. The season may not have ended the way he wanted but at least he still had you to come home to.

Slipping into the bed, he was careful not to wake you as he wrapped one arm around you and quickly fell asleep himself, his mind shutting off for the first time since this morning.

~

When you woke up the next morning it was to the weight of an arm carefully laying across your waist and the sound of gentle breathing beside you. A setting you were very familiar with, but today you couldn’t enjoy it. You had a plan that you needed to get started on before Andrei woke up, which is why you were secretly praying that the late return home would play in your favor.

You glanced back at him, smiling at the peaceful look on his face before you skillfully wiggled your way out of his grasp, pausing on the edge of your bed to make sure he remained asleep. After a few minutes you stood up and grabbed his bag, sneaking out of your room.

First things first was to get his laundry started so you made a beeline to the washer and dryer you guys had, setting the bag down and carefully emptying the clothes, checking all of his pockets to make sure they were empty. There had been a mishap one time of airpods in the washer and you both had quickly learned your lesson.

You felt a small box tucked into one of his pockets, pulling it out and setting it into a small basket with other things you found. You didn’t pay any mind to it as you started the washer, carrying the basket and setting it on the dining room table where he could collect it when he woke up.

Part two of your plan involved slight rearrangement of your living room, a number of blankets and pillows, and a fully charged laptop. After nearly twenty minutes, including a quick peak into the bedroom to make sure that he was indeed still sleeping, you had a blanket fort all made up and ready. Which was the easiest part of the plan, the real trick would be getting Andrei into it.

You moved back to the kitchen, pulling out all of the things you needed to make a real breakfast. Not the coffee and yogurt that you scarfed down on work days. You started the coffee pot, humming to yourself as you carefully dialed Evgeny’s number. It was times like these you were thankful that Andrei had introduced you to his brother and you two had a good standing relationship. You cut Evgeny’s greeting off gently, explaining that you didn’t have much time before Andrei woke up but you needed to know how to make his favorite breakfast.

At some point during your phone call with Evgeny, who thankfully walked you step by step through a homemade breakfast that he and Andrei had grown up on, Andrei made an appearance from the bedroom. He stood back and watched as you worked, hearing his brother’s voice over the speaker.

He smiled to himself, it was no secret to anyone that Evgeny was an important person in his life. When he had first introduced the two of you, he had been a little nervous that Evgeny and you wouldn’t get along. Which would have left him in a very awkward predicament. Seeing you in the kitchen though, clearly taking instructions from his brother over the phone, stirred something inside of him. Whatever he was feeling though quickly screeched to a halt, a small jolt of panic ran through him as he saw the small box on the table, quickly grabbing it and stuffing it into the pocket of his shorts just as you turned around.

“Oh hey! Evgeny, he’s up, I gotta go. Thank you so so so much for all your help! I owe you one!” You hung up with his brother and smiled sheepishly, holding up the plate with your finished work. “Surprise?”

You clearly hadn’t seen the glimpse of panic that crossed his face, quickly replaced by a smile and a look of awe when it registered in his mind what was on the plate. Sure you cooked often, but it now made sense to him why you had called his brother.

“If it’s bad you can blame your brother, but I just… I wanted to do something nice for you, especially since I didn’t stay up for you last night.” You explained, pulling him over to sit at the dining room table and setting the plate down in front of him.

Andrei was speechless, which you had learned was a hard feat to accomplish, as he watched you fill two mugs of coffee, making it the way both of you liked it before coming to sit down beside him. You hadn’t brought up the game yet and he wasn’t sure if you would but in the moment he didn’t care, he couldn’t stop staring at you.

“So is this really all it’s cracked up to be?” You asked, watching as he took the first bite. You had spent twenty minutes listening to his brother rave about it.

“Yes, I mean maybe not to other people but Evgeny and I ate it every weekend growing up. Is this why you called him?” He asked as he ate, reminiscing with every bite. His heart growing with love for you when you nodded behind your coffee mug sheepishly.

“I didn’t know how to make it but I remembered you mentioning it. I figured waking your brother up and dealing with his wrath would be worth it.” You teased, Evgeny had never been anything but nice to you and he probably appreciated this gesture as much as Andrei did.

“Also, I hope you didn’t have plans for the day or at least part of it. I wasn’t sure if you had to do something for the team or not.” You trailed off as he finished eating, grabbing the plate from him when he was done and carried it to the sink.

“I uh, I’m not sure. I think they’ll text me if I need to be there but I don’t think I need to today. Why?” He asked, though you didn’t answer him. You just grabbed his hand and pulled him to the living room, smiling as you looked at him.

He froze, seeing the elaborate blanket fort laid out in the living room, snacks and water already inside of it with your laptop. Part of him wondered if you had done thing last night and he had missed it in his tired state or if you had managed to do all of this, on top of breakfast, this morning. Before he could ask though you were tugging him to crawl into it, forcing him to drop to his knees to follow after you.

“What is all of this?” He asked after you settled in the pillow fort, laying on your back as you smiled up at him.

“This is me forcing you to relax and take a minute to yourself. I know last night did not go how you wanted, how any of you wanted, and maybe there’s nothing I can say right now that will make the thoughts in your head go away. Which I hate by the way, you’re way too hard on yourself but I just wanted you to take a day and not think about the game or about hockey or about what you could have done differently. I just, I know it’s not a lot but-”

Your rambling was cut off, as it so often was, by a quick kiss to your lips. You felt your shoulders drop as his hands cupped your cheeks, melting a little into the kiss before he pulled away and rested his forehead on yours.

“Thank you.”

It was a simple two words, but it was enough. It meant that he was accepting this, your plan to relax and just spend time together. Maybe it worked and maybe it didn’t, but all that mattered was he was willing to give it a chance.

~

The two of you spent most of the day in the fort watching movies, leaving only if you needed to use the bathroom or you needed more snacks. At some point the sun was beginning to sit lower in the sky and you both knew you would need to leave to make dinner, especially considering lunch had been nothing but snacks yet neither of you wanted to make that move.

You rolled onto your side, tucking your body even closer to his when you felt a bump against your thigh.

“That better just be your phone.” You teased and he looked at you confused before he realized that the small box that he had gotten well before the roadtrip was now pressed up against you. He sat up quickly, reaching into his pocket to pull it out, though you still couldn’t see it.

“Hey, I was just teasing.” You pouted, reaching for him as he chuckled and shifted to look at you. It was then you caught a glimpse of a familiar sized box and you found yourself sitting quickly to look at him.

“Andrei…” You began softly, it wasn’t that you didn’t want to marry him but you two were both fairly young and had never discussed the prospect of marriage before.

“No! No, I mean. It’s not what you’re thinking, not yet.” He rushed to explain, his accent forcing the words to run together. It was something you had picked up, whenever he was angry or excited, his accent made it hard to differentiate what he was saying.

Instead of continuing his explanation, he opened the box to show you the very thin band, with three tiny diamonds in it. You could feel the breath leave your throat as you stared at it. It was beautiful, there was no doubt in your mind about that and it was your style. Simple, understated, something that you could wear with anything and it would never look out of place.

“So if not… that, then what is this?” You asked confused, looking up at him again with nervous eyes.

“It’s a promise and you don’t have to think of it as anything more than that. No other strings okay? I just. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know we haven’t talked about it before, but I wanted to make you the promise that one day, it’ll be a different ring and I had hoped to do it after a winning game, but this… I think this is much better.” He explained quietly, keeping his eyes on the ring, watching as you carefully pulled it out of the box.

This was not at all how he had planned on doing this, in his mind it was much smoother. It was after a winning game, probably not in your living room, and he also wouldn’t be stumbling over his words and half tempted to switch back to Russian. Despite all that though, he didn’t want to wait any longer and there was no taking it back now that it was out there.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you too.” You smiled, carefully slipping it on your right ring finger for now and smiling up at him. “ Don’t want to give people too many ideas now do we?”

You heard him chuckle before leaning down to kiss you again. The game may not have gone how you two wanted, the season may have ended early, but one thing was certain for the both of you.

You had each other, now and for the rest of your lives.

[cherryeol04]

Ghost House

Genre: Horror, Romance, Fluff Pairing: MarkBeom Word Count: 1.8K Summary: Mark and Jaebeom learn the hard way that you should always pay your respects.

Opening the door to the hotel room, Mark didn’t even bother to marvel at the lavish expanse before him. He took no note of the decent-sized kitchen off to the left, the large living quarters before him with the balcony that overlooked the city of Bangkok or the spacious bathroom that was decorated with rose petals. All of it would have amazed Mark if he hadn’t been so damn tired. The flight to get to Bangkok from Los Angeles had been a long one and not just because of the time difference. They had experienced such delays with their plane getting ready and taking off on time. And during the entire ordeal, all Mark could do was tell himself it would be worth it. It was worth it.

And it was. It was very much worth it as he made his way into the bedroom, dropping two of his bags near the edge of the bed and flopping himself down onto his stomach on the bed. The bed was firm, but not too firm that it would be too hard to sleep on. There was just the right amount of softness that had Mark’s entire body screaming in happiness as he relaxed and buried his face into one of the many pillows. The sound of feet shuffling behind him caught his attention, but it wasn’t enough for him to even bother to move at that point. He just wanted to go to sleep and pretend the hell they just went through didn’t happen.

The bed shifted around him, dipping in specific areas as a weight was pressed down on him. He groaned, head shaking slightly as he was trapped underneath a larger body. “No.” he muttered.

“But we just got here.” Jaebum chuckled as he lowered his head and pressed a light kiss to Mark’s head. “Come on baby, don’t you want to head out and see this beautiful city?” he asked.

“No,” Mark said almost instantly. “All I want to do is see sweet dreams.” he muttered, voice obstructed from the pillow. Jaebum’s laughter only grew as the other wrapped his arms around Mark’s waist, slipping under the other’s body. He pulled lightly, rolling the two of them over on the bed. Mark pressed back against him, a disgruntled groan leaving him as he was pulled from his comfy spot. “Jaebum.” he whined out.

Jaebum lifted his hand to take Mark’s left one, thumb running over the gold band that rested on his ring finger. A small smile played against his lips as he was reminded of the ceremony that took place nearly 24 hours prior. An amazing ceremony filled with love, laughter, and happiness. It turned out to be even more amazing than he could have ever imagined and only made better by the fact he was now married to his best friend and the love of his life. “Mr. Im.” he whispered. “We need to do some cute, newlywed things.”

“Mr. Im.” Mark started and looked back at the other with a laugh. “I am completely tired and I want to sleep. Must we do something today?” he asked, brows furrowing together in light concentration as he tried to force himself to stay awake. It would be so easy for him to simply close his eyes and go to sleep. It didn’t help that Jaebum was so warm and smelt so good. He smelt like home. Safety.

“But Markkie~”

Mark hated when Jaebum whined and the other didn’t whine often. It was something he only did if he really wanted to do something and someone was denying him the pleasure of doing that activity. Mark never wanted to deny Jaebum something he wanted, but he was extremely tired and he was afraid this was going to be the one time he was going to have to say no. “Bummie, no.” he said and he could see Jaebum’s face falling. “I’m sorry baby. I love you, and I want to do things with you, but I want to sleep. Please? Let me sleep for a few hours?” He tried his best to give off a soft expression to the other. An apologetic look to make up for the denial. It seemed to work.

“Okay, okay.” A heavy sigh fell from Jaebum’s lips as he removed himself from Mark, tenderly laying the other down on the bed with a small smile. “Then sleep well for me okay babe?” He pressed a gentle kiss to Mark’s head and stroked his cheek lovingly. “I love you.” he whispered.

“I love you more.” Mark responded with a smile, his eyes already lidded and fluttering as he struggled to stay awake. “See you later.”

“Sleep well, baby.”

~*~

Mark woke up with a jump, looking around the room he felt his skin grow chills.  He didn’t know what had woken him up but his heart was beating fast and he felt a deep pit of worry in his stomach.

“Jaebum?”  He called out gently, feet dangling over the edge of the bed as he moved to stand. The thought of the other being in bed with him was cast out of his mind because he was sure he heard noises coming from out in the living space. While he enjoyed the fact this was a large, honeymoon suite, he hated that it was also so big. The large spacious area, covered in darkness reminded him so much of every horror movie he had ever seen before. And like every horror movie he had seen before, Mark knew that what he thought he heard most likely wasn’t Jaebum.

So he turned, looking to the bed, and sure enough, Jaebum was sleeping peacefully beside him. His eyes focused past his husband and on the red numbers of the alarm clock on the nightstand.

3:03 am

A glass-shattering had Mark jerking back towards the bedroom door, breath caught in his throat as he waited. There was definitely someone out there and he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to go out there and find out who it was. Only idiots did that and they were usually the first to die.

Rushing back to the edge of the bed Mark shook Jaebum’s body harshly until the other opened his eyes with a groan.

“There is someone in our room.” He whispered aggressively to his husband.

“What- Mark..”  Jaebum whispered, shaking the sleep out his head and sitting up. “Honey you’ve seen too many movies, it’s okay. It’s just us.” Jaebum said calmly. Not seconds after the words left his lips another glass shattered in the other room.  Mark jerked at the noise, body tensing as he turned and glared at the other.

“That isn’t a movie!”  He complained, tugging the other out of bed and hastily pushing him to the door.

“Check it out.”  He whined. Jaebum threw him a confused look, to which Mark responded with another whine. “You always say you’re the man in the relationship. So go be a man.” He huffed and pushed him towards the door again. Jaebum stumbled forward slightly, body turning to stare at Mark, mouth agape at the response he just gave.

“You want to send me to my death?!” He whispered heatedly.

���You won’t die!”

“You don’t know that!”

“Oh, now look at who is scared. ‘Oh Mark, you’re so silly. It’s just us.’ Bullshit. Go out there!”

“Excuse me! I thought it was all in your head. You’re always hearing things. This is real, I can actually die!”

“Oh please, don’t be a baby!”

“Don’t be a ba- Then you go out there!”

They locked eyes, narrowed and heated. Arguments like this were normal between them; an everyday aspect of their lives. It’s what helped build their relationship and keep it working. The bickering was something that they loved between each other and it was during a small bickering fest that Jaebum actually proposed to Mark. It was just their life. And Mark honestly didn’t want Jaebum to get hurt in any capacity. But he also didn’t want to risk his life and be killed either. It was a lose-lose situation they were in and he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

But before they could even try to work this out and figure out who was going to go out there, the bedroom door slowly began to open, the creaking of the hinges gave away what was happening. They both visibly tensed, Mark’s eyes trained on the door over Jaebum’s shoulder as the older male turned slowly around. The door stopped halfway and left the two standing in silence. Neither one dared to move, or even breath, afraid they would break whatever spell was cast over them currently.

Seconds ticked by and nothing happened. There was nothing in the darkness outside the door; pure, black darkness.

Sighing, Jaebum turned back around and raised a brow. “See, there’s nothing there.” He spoke with true conviction. Yet Mark wasn’t convinced because who opened the door? He was getting ready to point out this flaw in Jaebum’s logic when the other suddenly went flying through the partially open door. It happened so fast that Mark’s brain wasn’t even able to process the fact that Jaebum was sent flying. Just that one-minute Jaebum was there and the next he was gone. His screams echoing out in the living room.

“JAEBUM!” Mark’s legs carried him towards the door, running as fast as he could, but the door slammed shut in his face before he could reach it. His hand reached out, grabbing the knob and turning it but it was locked. “Jaebum!!” he shouted again, putting all his weight against the door as he tried to get it to open, but to no avail.

It was stuck.

Mark backed away from the door slowly, mind racing with thoughts of what to do. His husband was on the other side of the door, possibly dead and he couldn’t get out. He ran his fingers through his hair frantically as he tried to formulate some sort of plan to escape. But everything came to a screeching halt as he heard a soft giggle from behind him. Instinct was telling him to turn around and see who was in the room with him. It was also telling him to run, even though he knew there was no place for him to hide. In the end, he just stood there, frozen in fear as he felt a hot breath on the back of his neck and a ghastly voice whispering in his ear.

“Pay your respects.”

~*~

On your next vacation to Thailand, take note of the ghost houses on every property. The size, color, and pillars all matter. You may think they are just decoration or just some superstitious toy building. But take heed in knowing that while you may not believe in the ghosts housed within them, they believe in you. And always pay your respects.

Tags: @cuddly-bangchan​ @lordseochangbin​ @channiesmixtape​​ @starryseung​​ @felixsanxchatbot​​ @jisungsjheekies​​

[wutheringheightstillpendalhill]

When old things are new (1/?)

A bump in the night

Thirteenth!Doctor x Regenerated!Jenny

“Lying little Rat!”

“Liar! Sir! Sir! She’s a liar!”

A young brunette almost raven haired teenager was being held onto by a group of older looking boys.

“What is it know, Codsworth?” The elderly teacher enquired upon seeing the students standing in front of his desk. “Genevieve’s been lying in class sir, spreading nasty rumours about people haven’t you rat” the oldest of the boys spat digging his fingers into her arm where he had a hold of her, she hissed before trying to defend herself. “No sir, please I wasn’t lying I swear I wasn’t, Mars used to have oceans and rivers everything earth has on it before the Shalka came to our universe and tried to turn the planet into a black hole” the raven haired girl exclaimed reciting the tale as if it were only yesterday to her.

“Now see here Miss Smith.. just because you come from that home were many delinquents such as yourself are abandoned, does not mean that you have the right to be making up tall tales that go against the laws of both nature and science itself” the man sneered whilst pointing an accusing finger at her, “now all of you out before I give you all an after school” he dismissed them as the boys let the girl go before she disappeared out the school the moment the bell went for the end of the day.

“I wasn’t abandoned.. I’m just lost...” Genevieve murmured as the fresh autumn breeze blew through her hair as she stumbled through the leaves that littered the floor. “Just a couple more years, Jenny just a couple more years and then it’s back to searching for dad....” she sighed heavy heartedly remembering the first few things that she could remember of her first regeneration.

“Two hearts... just like a time lord” she’d been told so many times by people whom she had come across in her 500 or so years alive.

She spent the first few hundred years exploring the galaxy helping where she was needed, until a hundred or so years ago when she finally decided to go and search for the man who had thought she was dead. “Where are you space man?” She’d often ask whilst staring out of her bedroom window up at the stars waiting for a sign her father would appear.

As she approached the orphanage where she had spent most of this regeneration, she shivered at the chillingly horrifying building that stood out against the surrounding woods that the small village backed onto.

“Jenny! Jenny..Jenny your back! Your back!” Three crying voices echoed in the quite air as several small bodies collided into her own. Catching her self before being thrown completely off balance she belt down taking the children into her arms. “What happened?” She hushed them as they cried into her coat, “it was in the cupboard... Jamie wanted to play with the plane that Sister Brenda put in the cupboard...” the eldest of the children in her arms, a small boy called Louis whimpered as the other two nodded.

“Jenny! It happened again!” An older voice shouted as thundering foot steps approached them. Two older children stood in front of the time lord and the three young children, “they were playing and then we heard them scream and a loud crashing sound... the windows were wide open and the vases had been knocked over” the oldest of the pair, Carter explained as the girl standing beside him nodded along with what he’d been saying. “Where’s everyone else?” Jenny questioned still holding onto the three young children, “Fiona, Eric and Mollie are inside trying to clear up the mess before Sister Brenda, Sister Diana, Sister Evangelina and Sister Kathrine get back from their two day silence pledge” Alice answered before Carter butted in “and Alexander, Marcus and Spencer are still at school, their practising their music for the Christmas production remember”.

With everyone accounted for at whatever location they were at, Jenny then lead the way with the three smallest behind her whilst Carter and Alice flanked her as they cautiously entered the building heading towards the room in question. Stopping in the corridor they were soon joined by the three children who’d finished clearing away the broken glass.

“Jenny what do we do?” Eric questioned soon hoisting one of the youngest on to his hip. “I’m not sure but I do know one thing I’m gonna need my tools..” she replied as Fiona and Louise disappeared up the near by set of stairs before reappearing with a tin box, “here Jenny, here” Louis exclaimed eyes lighting up as she watched the oldest of all the children open up the box pulling out an old looking trinket.

“But I thought you didn’t use it unless..” Mollie began to question before being shushed, “I’m not meant to besides it’s been so long I don’t even know whether it’ll still work” Jenny chuckled unsurly holding the sonic in her hand, flashes of her father using it crossed her mind as she set to work leaving the other children in the corridor entering the room allowing the sonic to take readings. After waiting a few moments for the information to register on the sonic, she flicked it up before checking what it was saying. “Well whatever was in there was not human, I’m not even sure it’s an animal” she muttered under her breath doing a sweep of the entire building until she was satisfied that whatever has been plaguing them for the last few weeks was gone.

“It’s safe,” she told them picking up Johnny the youngest boy who was clutching onto his toy rabbit, “whatever was here’s gone,” she explained before they all heard the voices of the last three children of the orphanage arrived back. “We’re back!” Spencer shouted from the doorway as the other two cane storming up the stairs, “what’s wrong.... you all look like you’ve seen a ghost” Alexander joked while his twin Alice moved to hit him on the head. “Ouch what was that for!” He hissed rubbing his head, “there was an incident, it scared the little ones” she growled glaring at him as Spencer and Marcus shrugged “well... get Jenny to do her weird make believe science she’s always yapping about”.

“Now watch it, Jennys the smartest girl I’ve met lay off her okay, since whilst you’ve all been galavanting off doing who knows what, she’s been trying to keep this place together do ya’ here me ay’” Carter defended her, stepping up in front of her protectively “besides things were serious... the youngesters could’ve been seriously hurt” he exclaimed staring down the 14 and 16 year olds.

Shaking their heads they all shared a look of amusement, “your all just a bunch of wining pathetic little babies, no wonder nobody wants you all” Spencer scoffed directing the other two back up to their rooms leaving everyone on the own once again. Anxious from all the silence Jenny quickly broke the silence best way she could trying to take all the attention off of what had happened, “Well how bout some supper” she smiled as the little ones became excited by the thought as they all tumbled down into the kitchen to begin helping the elder girl in making food for them all.

“Jenny will the thing come back?” Jamie asked as he sat on the side sturing the bowl of egg yolks the best he could.

“Probably? Who knows..” she replied giving him a small smile of reassurance, “but you’ll stop them right?” He asked naively eyes full of hope the same hope that had slowly began to fade from Jenny’s own eyes. “Of course I’ll always protect you lot” she grinned pinching his cheek endearingly.

Jenny’s POV:

I’d been struck by the cane six times by the time I’d gotten up to bed, two by my head teacher for talking out of tone and four from Sister Brenda for think unholy thoughts. All I was doing was telling the little ones about the Ood and what they were like when I met them all those years ago.

It had been two weeks since whatever had been scaring everyone was last seen. My ancient sonic screwdriver couldn’t get a reading on it and since my vortex manipulator was busted I could even go anywhere to get stuff to try and work out what it was. I was stratcging at my wall making another mark to signify another day passing by, another day since seeing my father, another day since the day I died. Everything on Earth moved slowly compared to how I had used to live, it was dull and uneventful nothing that happened to be powerful enough to get the Doctors attention from where ever he was in the universe.

Moving quickly to my spot by the window I say there counting the stars naming as many known constellation I could waiting out the hours for dawn to appear. After crossing off all the constellations I lived on to the known planets and all the moons trying to find something stimulate my brain.

Utter silence was deafening, I wanted for something to happen desperately and yet dread what could appear if my prayers where ever heard.

“Jenny”

“Jenny”

Tumbling to the floor as the voices got louder the same to that haunted me daily. The Doctor and Donna’s voices screaming in my head as begged and pleaded for it all to just stop. A dark sinister mass formed above me as if triumphant for defeating one of the last time lords.

Poor lost child. A time lord abandoned by her own kind. Nothing but loneliness. Nothing but fear and pain. You will always be alone Time Lord. ALWAYS. ALWAYS.

With tear soddened eyes, I wobbily stumbled to my feet glaring down the alien that was in my presence. Raising the sonic that I grasped tightly onto I hissed at the creature in front of me, “this planet.. these people... they are under my protection, whatever you are? Where ever you come from, leave now or else there will be consequences” I seethed turning the sonic on startling the creature as it bowled and screeched in spin before disappearing who knows where.

With my head spinning I crumpled to the floor the world around me being absorbed by darkness as the echoes of everyone inside the house crying and calling for help echoed in my mind as my final thought before passing out completely flashed by.

“Doctor please help me”

[aryathesuper]

This Is Our Song

Okay, so @177-8 asked for this like -- Jesus, dude, this was ages ago -- and somehow I’m only just now getting around to posting it? It’s gonna be a lot longer than I thought, though, so here’s at least your first piece. 

~~~~~~~~~~

“Jinx!”

Beca clamped her mouth shut on instinct, glaring at Cynthia Rose while Chloe looked on like a delighted child. Within moments, Stacie poked her head around the corner, grinning from ear to ear.

“Did you get one?” She looked around the room at everyone's expressions. “Beca? Yes!”

“Who'd she get?” Ashley called from somewhere upstairs, and Stacie scampered off before Beca could raise her middle finger.

“Are you guys playing that goddamn game?” Aubrey called from the kitchen, making everyone laugh. “Are we five?”

“Close!” Chloe called back, and Beca sat back in her chair, looking disgruntled but amused. She gave Chloe a pointed look, one that clearly said free me, but Chloe just shook her head and gave her a sweet grin that made her stomach flutter.

It was weird, but kind of awesome, to have the Bellas under one roof again. Somewhere between “I hit big shot status” and “That's a lot of zeroes on my paycheck,” Beca had thought, again, of the girls who had become her family. She had emailed them all on a whim, and, surprisingly, each one had replied. And so, working with the ever-efficient Aubrey Posen, and the always-excitable Chloe Beale, Beca had worked to pull the Bellas from all corners of the States, and, in Amy's case, Australia.

That was a conversation not to be forgotten.

“Are there gonna be male dancers?”

Beca rolled her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as Chloe tried to stifle a laugh behind her. “Amy, I'm renting a lake house, not a strip club.”

Amy's disappointed sigh crackled through the phone. “The big BM can't rent a strip club?”

“Not for a whole week, Amy!”

“What about for a night?”

Beca sighed and Chloe's laughter burst free. Aubrey slapped a hand to her face and shook her head. “I'll think about it — Chloe, you are not helping.”

Amy gasped. “Ginger's there? Help me out here, Chloe!”

“Oh my god. I'll think about it, Amy.”

“Then I'm in!”

“Of course you are. I'll send a ticket.”

The lake house itself was huge, and although Beca had not told the girls how much exactly she was spending to pull them together for a week, it did make a sizable dent in what was a fairly sizable bank account. Aubrey was the only person she had told, and that in itself was an accident; she had mentioned it in passing as they were discussing plane tickets and when the girls were landing. The blonde had frowned at her, but remained quiet nonetheless, knowing that Beca had wanted to do it.

And now here they were, barely a few hours in, playing this ridiculous game. It was, Beca supposed, a bit of a Bella tradition, trying to get each other, so she tolerated it, but that didn't mean she couldn't come prepared. Beca got to her feet without a word, moved to the kitchen to retrieve a can from the fridge, winked at Aubrey on the way back out, and then returned to Cynthia Rose, tossing the can into her lap. Only then did she speak. “I already bought Coke. Your jinx is null and void.”

“That's cheating!”

“No, that is a loophole.”

CR looked semi-impressed. Chloe looked slightly disappointed, but amused all the same. Lilly said something indistinguishable from her corner that Beca was not sure she wanted to hear. She took in each of their expressions and could do nothing more than laugh, feeling something warm slot into place.

Yep. This was what she had been missing in L.A.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Beale, damn you, give them back!”

Chloe laughed, bouncing on her mattress to maintain her balance, holding Beca's headphones out of her reach while they roughhoused in the room Beca had chosen for the duration of their stay. Chloe bounced again as Beca clambered up onto the bed, laughing as Beca took a swipe and missed. “C'mon, shortstack, come get 'em!”

“You are two inches taller, you have no right to — oof!”

Beca lost her footing and tumbled into Chloe, knocking them both into the mattress. Beca's headphones went flying, but neither woman paid attention; Beca landed on Chloe's chest, their lips a half-inch apart, and for a moment, they just gazed at each other.

“Hi,” Chloe said, grinning and breathless.

“Hi yourself,” Beca returned, smiling. Chloe wrapped an arm around her middle and stroked lightly up and down her back.

“You know, for a while, I thought maybe you'd forgotten. About the Bellas, about me.”

“Not in a million years. Bellas for life, dude. And how can I forget you, when I skype you at least once a day?”

Chloe chuckled, and it warmed Beca all the way through, like hot chocolate after being out in the snow. Before she knew it, more words were pouring out of her mouth.

“I miss you, dude, like, all the time.”

Chloe's eyes brightened. “You do?”

“Yeah, I ….” Beca faltered, trying to find the words to describe the crushing loneliness she had been feeling, especially in the mornings, waking up with no redhead to greet her good morning, no Stacie to steal her favorite cereal. All was quiet now when she padded softly through her house, and the quiet was almost more than she could handle.

Before she could express this, Amy's voice startled them both. “C'mon, Bhloe, bonfire!”

“Yeah, let's go, aca-bitches!”

Beca hesitated, looking toward the door, and Chloe's fingers stopped tracing lines up her spine. She looked back at Chloe, conflicted. “I don't—”

But Chloe smiled fondly at Beca, and the brunette lost her train of thought. “Later,” she said softly. “I'll come by later. Let's go hang out with the girls for a bit.”

There was a crash, and they heard Amy cry, “S'mores!”

“Better tame Amy too,” Beca said with a reluctant sigh, “before she smashes any furniture.”

Chloe chuckled and pulled them both up. Taking Beca's hand, she led her from the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The fire was warm against Beca's face.

Around her, the Bellas talked and laughed under the stars. Behind them, the lake gleamed and winked at them as the moonlight reflected off of the water. Beca was sitting cross-legged on the ground, listening to the sounds of the night and the Bellas' collective chatter. Chloe was laying with her head in Beca's lap; the small brunette found herself idly stroking back locks of fiery curls as the night wore on. Chloe was humming contentedly to herself; Beca didn't recognize the tune, but Chloe's voice soothed her nonetheless.

Eventually, softly, Beca said, “This is nice. Just having the time to do this.” Chloe hummed her agreement. “I miss the noise, sometimes. And all the improvised singing.”

Chloe chuckled. “We were pretty good at that, weren't we?”

Beca nodded. “It's one of those things I never knew I'd miss till it was gone.”

“I miss it every day,” Chloe said softly. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Chlo.” Beca grinned and poked her nose with the tip of her finger, causing Chloe to wrinkle her nose and swat at Beca's hand. “Even if you did invade my space more often than not.”

“You loved it,” Chloe teased. A beat, then, “This is okay? I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?”

Beca shook her head. “You're fine. I actually really like this.” She twisted a strand of Chloe's hair between her fingers, watching the firelight change and twist its colors. “I miss this, too. Being able to be your best friend up close.” It was more than that, but she wasn't sure how to properly voice it. It made Chloe smile, though, so she tried. “Like, I miss all the things we used to do. Sharing blankets on the couch. Studying together. You staying the night in my room when Amy was gone. Late night coffee runs.  Even just … talking. I never expected to miss it like I do.”

Chloe just smiled. “I miss that stuff too, Bec. It's not the same through a computer screen.”

“It's not.” Beca sighed and glanced up at the sky. “I wish there was a way we could be closer.”

Chloe hummed. “Well, we've got this week.”

Beca smiled at that. “Yeah, we do.” Chloe smiled and laced her slim fingers through hers, so Beca idly stroked the back of her hand with her thumb.

“Oooooh, Bhloe's getting cozy,” Amy called over the fire. A few of the girls snickered, and Beca rolled her eyes at their antics. Ever since their time at Aubrey's retreat, almost all of them referred to Chloe and Beca by Amy's ridiculous pet name, but neither of them minded. Chloe thought it was cute, actually; Beca thought they were all ridiculous. But these were her girls, so she went with it.

And it wasn't so bad that she had something, small though it was, that connected her and Chloe, just the two of them. She found that it was something she liked a lot, probably more than she should.

But that was a thought for another time, because suddenly she was being tossed over Amy's shoulder and the Australian was charging for the lake. A shriek behind them told her that Chloe had been unexpectedly picked up too.

“Amy!” she screeched, pounding on the other woman's back as her feet hit the dock and she heard the wood creak and knock together.

“I think you two need to cool down!” Amy said with glee, and without further ado, launched the brunette into the lake.

The cool water startled Beca's body after the warmth of the fire, and she came up sputtering in shock and surprise. Beside her, Chloe came up in a halo of fire and water, coughing but otherwise looking okay. The duo looked at each other, then burst out laughing. Up on the docks, the rest of the girls did too.

And so the night wore on.

~~~~~~~~~~~

So, that’s that. Any requests or prompts from you guys? I wanna get back into writing again! And a part 2 may come soon!

[justanartsysideblog]

“We live in adjacent apartments and our bedrooms are on opposite sides of a very thin wall and one night I heard you crying and talked to you through the wall” AU

Oh my, look who finally finished an ask that was sent probably half a year ago? The writer’s block is strong, but I managed something, and that’s the important thing right?

TW for mentions of abuse.

Kassaran and Qal belong to @scurvgirl.

---

It begins as a small, soft whimper.

Melarue pauses, but goes back to their book a few moments later as the silence stretches. It’s the first night in their new apartment; laying low, after having to leave their last home and identity behind when an overzealous Templar mage-hunt had been set off, and Deceit had decided it was too close for comfort.

It has been a long while since they have had to leave so quickly—pack up and go and burn their trail and disappear. This city isn’t one they’d originally pick for a new beginning, but it’s a good interim home while they weave a new identity and decide their next move, moving money between bank accounts and making certain they’ve severed all past ties that anyone could try and follow.

They’ll be out of this place and on a plane to their new home in a month, two at the most.

Maybe I’ll go back to teaching, this time, they think as they turn another page. I enjoyed that job.

Another whimper cuts through the silence. This one is louder and followed by another soon after.

The walls are thin it seems. They glance at the fading wallpaper and frown. Deceit leaves them with the impression of a body pressed against the other side of the wall, curled in on itself, face pressed into a pillow as they shake.

It is…it is not their business, they know.

They listen for a few more minutes, but there is no other sound. They read for an hour more and then go to bed themselves, and think nothing more of it.

---

Three days later the crying starts again, not as muffled as the time before. The only light in their room comes from the glow of their laptop screen, as they look over the houses near Val Chevin that had piqued their interest.

They place their wine glass on the bedside table and lean closer toward the wall. They can hear shuffling, and the tail end of a sob.

They know the cause this time. They’d heard the raised voices, a male barking in qunlat, and the words had not been kind. They snuggle themselves into the corner and reach for their wine glass again, and lean their forehead against the wall.

“…are you alright?” They ask into the silence.

There’s a sharp intake of breath, and some sniffling.

They wonder if perhaps the other person does not understand the trade tongue, and repeat their words in qunlat. “Are you alright?”

The silence stretches uncomfortably, and Melarue sighs. If the person does not wish to talk there is no reason to continue. It had been a whim, really, to do this much. They glance back down at their laptop screen.

“…are you talking to me?” a whisper, but Melarue hears it clearly. Low and hoarse, but with a lovely lilt that has them tilting their head to hear better. They smile to themselves, “Of course,” they reply, “A pleasure to meet you.”

---

Her name is Kassaran. She enjoys reading celebrity tabloids, and sci fi books. She likes gardening, and has an aloe plant on her windowsill. She can’t afford anything else at the moment, but she talks of all the yellow chrysanthemums she wants to plant in her yard, if she were to have one.

And she’s pregnant. 

A worried mother, unsure if she is going to do well, and marveling in the feel of a life growing inside of her.

Parenthood has always seemed such a distant and obscure topic to Melarue. And yet they find themselves oddly fascinated with the stories Kassaran tells them, as they lean against the faded wallpaper and listen to the soft cadence of Kass’ voice.

They love the way she says their name, the stress she places on the a, and the sharp and hard r. The confusion at first, “What kind of name is that?” “It’s elvhen.” “You speak Qunlat so well!”

They are lonely, they know that very well. Deceit is a poor conversationalist and feels more like an aspect of themselves than a separate entity. They have kept themselves from simply having a friend for…they can’t remember how long it’s been.

They can’t remember a time when they’ve ever had a friend, to be quite honest.

So it isn’t difficult to imagine, a lonely soul reaching out to another, as if the wall between them both is some kind of protection against getting too attached. As if somehow that will keep them from liking her as more than just a pleasant diversion while they wait for their new passport photo to arrive.

Deceit even believes it, for about a week.

---

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Melarue pauses, and closes the book they were reading, and leans closer to the wall with a smile. “Good evening, Kassaran.”

“Hello Melarue.” Kassaran greets, and Melarue can hear the springs of her bed creaking as she shifts closer to the wall. “It’s late. Why are you still up?”

I sleep only when I must is the truth of course. Instead they glance at the time on their phone—3:02am—and then back at the fading wallpaper. “I was finishing the book you recommended. It is very good.” Also not a lie, they have quiet enjoyed it.

“See? Not everything written after the Dragon Age is garbage,” Kassaran teases. “Just because something is a classic doesn’t mean it’s good. You need to read more modern pieces.”

They think about the trashy beach novels they often pick up at airports before a long flight and shake their head. But they know she has a point. Kassaran’s suggestion was a wonderful distraction in between job applications. Perhaps they should give more modern books a chance.

“Most of the classics written by men, I agree. Humans tended to write with a singular direction back then. I cannot claim they’ve all veered from that path yet.” Melarue replies, “I would like to suggest, however, that you find a copy of Solaros’ Rebels of Silver. That is the title in the common tongue, I believe. It has been translated from elven, and is a wonderful epoch about several Dalish followers of The Cunning One. It was not a popular text, for obvious reasons. It was banned by the Chantry for a very long while. But it is still in circulation.”

“Is it difficult to find?”

“Most libraries have a copy,” Melarue answers, “And if not there are alternatives. Solaros also wrote several codexes on the life of Tyrdda Bright-Axe that are nuanced, informative, and relatively easy to follow. Historical codexes can oftentimes be quite dry, but he manages somehow.”

Kassaran laughs softly. “You sound like a teacher.”

“I do enjoy hearing the sound of my own voice,” Melarue quips. They can’t quite describe the warmth in their chest, or the smile still tugging at their lips.

There’s a pause then. Long, drawn out, and then a whisper so soft Melarue wonders if they are supposed to have heard it. “I like your voice.”

The warmth in their chest flares a bit, straight down to their toes.

Their new identity was finished days ago.

---

Melarue hears the horrible things that Kassaran’s husband says to her. They hear what he promises, and what he doesn’t, and they hear the soft tremor in Kassaran’s own voice when she replies.

Mostly they hear the tears, as Kassaran cries herself to sleep, and Melarue tries to ease her suffering by talking about everything and nothing at all. They paint pictures of far off countries that Kass has never visited, spinning tails of color and beauty that they don’t believe in themselves. They recite some of their favorite books from memory, old tomes that no longer exist save for faded pages behind museum glass.

They’ve seen how cruel and callous the world truly is, and yet…somehow, when they describe the good things to Kass, they can almost believe them.

“I’m leaving in three weeks,” Melarue whispers against the wallpaper. There is no answer, and they knew there wouldn’t be one, as they give a soft sigh, and close their eyes.

“…would you like to come with me?”

---

They do not ask Kassaran again, as Deceit whispers in the back of their skull. Do not get attached. It will cause us pain in the end. You can’t change anything. The only person you can protect is yourself.

Sometimes they wonder what the use of living so long and having so many gifts is, if not to protect the ones they love. If they had someone they loved, they would surely keep them safe. But it’s harder to stay safe when one is worrying about others. The more people they care for, the more emotional they will be.

Emotional abominations die quick, and painfully.

Melarue is, if nothing else, a coward. The uncertainty of death has always frightened them and kept them from ending their eternity themselves. And there has to be something more, something worth living for, worth the sacrifice they made.

They’re still searching…but sometimes in the soft silence, with the taste of wine in their mouth and Kass’ soft voice curling around them like a warm blanket, they think they may have found a start.

---

He’s yelling.

Obscene things, hateful things and Kassaran is pregnant.

They hear the screeching of the bed being pulled across the floor, and Kass’ plea, and they move before they know what they’re doing, the wall disintegrating beneath their hand, black flame tearing through wallpaper and wood and insulation until they can step through into Kassaran’s bedroom.

Deceit flings him across the room and away from the prone figure on the ground, and Kassaran collapses with a gasp as Melarue rounds on him. They wrap long fingers around his neck and lift him up easily with one hand, ignoring his flailing arms and guttural gasps.

Their nails grow longer, and sharper, and cut into skin. Hot, slick blood slides down their arm as they watch him through narrowed eyes. “You will never touch her or anyone else again.”

“…Melarue…?”

She’s cradling the rounded swell of her stomach, eyes wide in shock and fear. Melarue hopes the fear is not directed at them.

They look back at the monster who has caused Kassaran so much pain…and know that if they kill him here and now, Kassaran might never forgive them. So they release him and watch him fall to the ground gasping, and when he looks up to meet their eyes they lick the blood off one of their fingers and smile.

His blood is thick, and sour, and disgusting.

“I know what you taste like now. Now I will always know if you come near her or myself. And I am going to leave you with another parting gift,” They crouch down, and he flinches, tries to move away as they place a hand on his chest and let the blood stain the stitched-in pocket.

“I am going to curse you. Any time you hurt another person you will feel it as if the pain is your own. Never again will you have the opportunity to lay a hand on another person. Remember that, the next time you try.”

“…sa…sarabaas…”

“Something along those lines,” Melarue agrees, and wipes the rest of the blood off on his sleeve in a mocking, friendly pat on the arm.

Kassaran is standing now—of course she is, because even if Melarue hadn’t been there she would have saved her own child from this creature, because she is strong. Melarue did not need to do this at all.

They’ve only ruined things, made them worse, as they are want to do.

Deceit hisses at them. It is time to leave, time to get away. Their own bags are packed already near the door for tomorrow’s flight. Kassaran is still watching them, blue eyes shining in the dimly lit room. Her eyes never leave their face, even as her husband continues to whimper at Melarue’s feet.

Melarue swallows.

“If you…if you would like to come with me, I would make certain you are safe. If not, I can supply you with the means to leave and thrive on your own. You need not feel indebted to me for this.” It is not the most eloquent of lines, Melarue knows, but they need Kassaran to know she is no longer in danger…and that she no longer needs to remain with him.

FOOL, Deceit rages. We need to leave now. Kill him and be done with this.

No, if they kill Kassaran’s husband she will think them more a monster than she already does. Melarue can see it in her eyes. She’s afraid, and confused, and Melarue can almost hear her thoughts as she tries to put everything together, tries to decide what will be safest for her unborn child…tries to decide if the voice she heard on the other side of the wall and the elf standing in front of her are one and the same and if they can be trusted.

Melarue isn’t certain how long they stand there, as the last bits of black fire flicker to nothingness, and Kassaran’s husband starts crawling toward the door, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Melarue hopes he chokes on it, though they know they didn’t cut him deep enough.

“…ok,” Kassaran finally says, but her voice wavers a bit as she glances over at her husband. Then her eyes flit back to Melarue’s, and their heart skips. “Ok,” a little firmer now, as she steps toward them.

Melarue smiles, as that odd warm swells in their chest, and Deceit’s warnings fade, “Grab what you need.”

[sinsiriuslyemo]

Hey guys!! Sorry about the hold up!! Warning, mention of some violence and attempted assault in the episode!! Also, Roxie gets pissed! But over what? Find out now!

EPISODE 4

You weren't supposed to call, but you had no choice at this point. You dialed Nevada's number. He answered after two rings.

“Que paso?” he asked immediately.

“There's someone trying to break in,” you whispered, he could hear the terror in your voice as tears ran down your cheeks. “He's circled the house three times trying every lock, Delia went to go check in on Jasper and I'm alone.” You heard a window shatter in the front room. “He's coming inside.”

“Voy para alla, escónda! Hide! Now!” he said, running out of the club. “You got your gun?” he asked as he got into his SUV and started it.

“Yes,” you whispered as you got under the bed. Opening one of the windows to make it look like you jumped out and ran. “I'm under the bed and-” you heard footsteps, covering your mouth to quiet your breathing as you struggled to stay silent.

Nevada listened intently as he tore down the street, towards the safehouse. He could hear faint footsteps, otherwise, silence.

You heard footsteps move towards the bed. “Nah, she isn't here.” A gruff voice said. “I know, she was supposed to be here alone but I think she went with the other wife.”

You shut your eyes tight and tried to keep your breathing quiet.

“Wait, I heard something,” the man said, moving towards the window. “Looks like she saw me coming and bolted. Smart girl. But not too smart.”

There was a long pause of silence, you kept your eyes closed and suddenly you were shrieking as the man had grabbed your feet, dragging you out from under the bed. The only sounds Nevada could hear were your screams, begs and pleas before the sound of a gunshot, then dead silence.

He screeched to a halt in front of the building, not even bothering to shut off the ignition before he ran into the building, gun drawn. Going into the brownstone, he climbed the stairs, gun held out in front of him. When he got to the top, he made his way towards your room, pointing the gun to the first movement his eyes caught. It was you.

“Dama,” he whispered.

You were trembling still, standing above the man's body, adrenaline pumping. The second he walked in, you pointed the gun at him, a natural reflex.

“Dama,” he said again, lowering his gun and pushing yours out of the way as he cupped your face with the other hand. “Are you okay?” he asked a little too loudly.

You were shaking like a leaf, hands still clutched tight to the gun for a moment, you didn't really respond to him immediately. He lightly smacked your cheek, looking for your eyes to focus on him.

“Baby, it’s me,” he said softly. “Is there anybody else in the house?”

You slowly shook your head, pressing your face to his neck as you started to cry. “I was so scared!” you whispered and sobbed against him.

“I know, mami,” he whispered, hugging you close as he looked down at the dead body, noticing the phone that had fallen next to him. Letting you go for a moment, he picked it up and brought it to his ear. “You fucked up, pendejo. Now your little errand boy is dead, and you’re fucking next, me entiendes? You’re gonna wish you’d never fuckin met me,” he growled.

“One day, thirteen hours and five minutes,” the voice said in a low chuckle before hanging up.

Scowling at the phone, he put it in his pocket to give to Chibby and Sawyer later and put his focus back on you.

“Hey, where are the kids?” he asked in a whisper.

“We moved them, to the safehouse by mami, this morning,” you mumbled, staring at the body.

“Okay...vamos, let’s get you over there too,” he mumbled, pulling you towards the door as he pulled out his phone and dialed OJ. “Oye, I need a clean up crew at Jasper’s safehouse,” he said.

“I’m on it, Jefe,” OJ answered.

Nevada hung up, and called Jasper to let him know what happened as he drove you to other safehouse, taking care to make sure no one was following.

“You wanna talk about it?” he asked softly.

“I shot him in the head,” you whispered. “He tried to pull off my skirt...so I shot him in the head. I wish I hadn't…”

“He tried to what?!”

You closed your eyes. “I wish I'd done it slower. It was too good for him. He died too soon.”

“It’s over now baby,” he whispered.

“I don't think he was there to kill me.”

“Don’t worry about him, these fuckers are gonna pay. Chibby and Sawyer are close to finding where these pendejos are held up. I’ll make sure they get a special package,” he growled.

You looked out the window, not speaking.

Instead of driving you to the safehouse, he drove to your apartment, where you hadn’t been in almost three weeks. He couldn’t let the kids see you like this. Getting you inside, he made some coffee and offered you a cup.

“Nobody’s gonna hurt you, me entiendes? Nobody,” he whispered.

You sipped the coffee, closing your eyes and nodding.

“Baby, talk to me…”

You didn't, instead you scooted your chair closer and curled up against him. “Safehouse?” you whispered softly to him, asking him why you'd gone here instead. But you felt good at home.

“In a little bit,” he said softly. “The kid’s shouldn’t see you like this, and I figured you might need a break,” he added, stroking your hair.

“Okay,” you mumbled and nuzzled him. “You came for me, thank you.” You whispered as you kissed his lips, it was barely a kiss. You lazily brushed your lips against his.

“I’ll always come for you,” he answered. “Always.”

“Can we lay down for a bit? Just a few minutes,” you asked softly.

“Yeah,” he whispered, picking you up and carrying you upstairs, your coffees long forgotten.

“You’re kidding me,” Rafael said in a chuckle, eating some more off his plate. “So what did Roxie do?” he asked, looking playfully at his fiance.

Roxie looked embarrassed but didn't stop her sister.

“Oh she decided to pierce it anyway. Grabbed a safety pin and some rubbing alcohol,” Isla made a face. “It was horrific, she tried to pierce it herself and passed out.”

“I was sixteen,” Roxie complained.

“Oh my god, you should see these photos, they are unbelievable!”

His foot gently nudged Roxie’s under the table as he looked at the picture Isla showed him on her phone.

Roxie's hair was cut short and dyed blonde. She had a lip piercing that she had done herself and she was flipping off the camera.

“Oh my goodness,” he said, laughing softly.

“Why do you have that on your phone?” Roxie grabbed the phone and deleted the picture.

“I have more,” Isla beamed as she took another bite of her meal. “Until she was eighteen, she dressed like a vampire! It was hilarious!”

“Well...I can’t really talk, I had my fair share of horrible fashion choices when I was a teenager,” Rafael replied, winking at Roxie. “So Isla, tell me, what are you studying?” he asked, trying to change the topic.

“I'm getting my Bachelors in mechanical engineering,” she said softly with a smile.

“That’s impressive. What made you want to go into that?”

“I just find it fascinating! I was originally getting a degree in aeronautical engineering but I changed it. Although I would have loved to design planes.”

“What made you change your mind?” he asked curiously, taking hers and Roxie’s empty plates with his to the sink, and setting them inside before he started some coffee. He came back and sat down to listen to Isla’s response.

“I like the idea of working a little more with my hands. Planes would be nice but I want to create something new.”

“That’s great. You must be very bright,” he replied.

“She’s brilliant,” Roxie added with a proud smile. “She’s going to design and manufacture some of the most amazing machines this world will ever see.”

“I don't doubt it, her older sister’s pretty brilliant, too,” he mused kissing her knuckles.

“Well, I think I’m going to go to bed. Thank you for letting me stay here,” Isla said.

“Of course, you’re welcomed here any time. Are you sure you don’t want any coffee or dessert?” he asked.

“No, really. Thank you, but I’ve never traveled that long before,” Isla replied, saying goodnight to both of them before she moves into the guest bedroom.

“She’s a sweet kid,” he said to Roxie after Isla had shut the door. “You did a great job raising her.”

Roxie smiled, “I think so.”

“So...now that we’re alone…” he said softly, pulling her chair closer to his as he bit his lip around a smirk. “Wanna go to bed?” he asked suggestively.

“Yeah, I'm exhausted!”

“Oh…” He look slightly disappointed, but smiled at her anyway. “Okay, come on. Let’s get you to bed.”

Moving to the coffee machine, he shut it off and wound his arm around her waist as he walked with her to their room.

“Sorry love, but I'm jet lagged.”

“You don’t have to apologize, I understand,” he replied softly, scooping her into his arms and laying her down on the bed. “Hey, did you get the proof for the article today?” he asked, stripping to his boxer briefs and climbing into bed beside her.

“Not yet, I should be getting it by tomorrow,” she hummed and hugged him close. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too,” he replied softly, kissing her nose sweetly.

The next morning, Roxie woke up and rolled over to find Rafael’s side of the bed empty. Furrowing her brows she got up and pulled on her robe, looking around for Rafael as she made her way towards Isla’s room. When she opened the door, the bed was made, but no Isla. She panicked, moving to the phone to dial the police when the front door opened and her sister’s laugh reverberated off the walls and Roxie sighed in relief.

“Well, I’ll go see if she’s-- Oh, there she is! Good morning, mi amor,” Rafael said, seeing her and setting the takeout bag on the table before he went up to kiss her softly.

“Morning, love,” she yawned and kissed him before kissing her sister's hair.

“Didn't sleep, Tox?”

“You can tell?”

“Just by looking at you,” she grinned.

“We went down the street and got us some breakfast, but I can leave yours in the microwave to stay warm if you wanted to try and sleep a little longer,” Rafael said softly.

“I'm alright, I'm trying not to cock up my sleep schedule, plus, I have to go on conference right now with London to see the finished design for the cover,” she smiled and yawned before heading to her laptop.

“Okay. Isla, why don’t you set the table while I put our food on plates?” he suggested, looking back at her younger sister, who nodded and began to grab utensils from the drawer he pointed out.

As he fixed Roxie’s plate, his phone rang and he pulled out of his pocket, using his shoulder to hold it against his ear while he continued to put food on his fiance’s plate.

“Hello?” he answered. “Yes, Madam District Attorney...oh...o-okay. Yes, tomorrow...that would be fine, thank you. See you then.” He hung up and looked over at Roxie. “That was DA Donnelly, she set up a meeting with a campaign manager for me tomorrow at noon,” he said, noting her crinkled brows, and the look in her eyes as she looked at her laptop screen. He knew that look.

“That's wonderful, darling,” she said, still staring at the screen in disbelief.

“What is it, honey?”

Isla moved to look over her shoulder and gasped. “No way! Roxie, you look so hot! London's Sexiest Business Star!”

Rafael arched a brow, letting out a breath as he watched Roxie. From the sound of it, it appeared the magazine had focused more on her appearance than her work, he knew that wouldn’t sit well with her. Moving to stand behind her, he looked to Isla.

“Isla, could you grab the OJ out of the fridge, please?” he asked softly, squatting beside his fiance. “You okay?” he asked.

“Why wouldn't I be? I'm the sexiest business woman in bloody fucking London!” She threw her arms up angrily. “Unbelievable! I look like an idiot!” She grabbed her phone. “I'm going to kill them. Actually kill them.”

“Okay, calm down, mi amor. Maybe the cover is just a hook and the article focuses on the bakery,” he offered, looking at the photo of her on the cover. She did look beautiful, but he sensed that was the last thing she wanted to hear right now. “Did you read the article?” he asked softly.

“No, you read it, if I get any angrier, I'm going to fly back to London with a shotgun,” she growled.

“Okay, okay,” he replied softly, moving to turn the laptop and read the article.

“Well?” she asked softly.

“Well, it’s not so bad,” he replied. “It’s not...great, but it does talk about the bakery. There’s a section on how you started it…” he offered, looking up at her and pressing his lips together.

“And?” She quirked an expectant eyebrow.

“And...it talks about your...relationship with Jacob...how he discovered you, and gave you your start. There’s a quote from him.”

“What's the quote?” she whispered..

“Um...just something about how the two of you are close, and how...um…”

“What?”

“Maybe you should talk to him,” he offered softly.

“What does it say, Rafael?”

He bit his bottom lip and sighed audibly, looking away from her and back to the article.

“That he ‘knew from the beginning that the two of you were soulmates,’ but that could mean anything. It doesn’t necessarily mean what it sounds like…”

He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself, but she’d insisted that they were just friends, and even Jacob had told him that there was nothing between them. His jealousy, warranted or not, was irrelevant.

She stood and grabbed her phone, stomping out of the apartment without another word.

“That can’t be good,” he mused to Isla, who was stuffing her face with pancakes. “I’ll be right back,” he said softly, moving to follow Roxie out into the hall.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, biting his bottom lip as she waited for someone to answer her call, presumably Jacob.

“Where the hell do you get off saying all of that in the article?” She whispered on the phone. “No, no, you fucking listen, I don't know who you think you are, but this is not okay. You didn't make me who I am, I made me. I'm Roxanne Hume, and I'm the owner of one of the biggest bakeries in London, that has now gone multinational and they want to talk about who I'm making googly eyes at?” She looked hurt more than anything. “I thought you were my friend,” she whispered.

There was a long pause and he could hear Jacob’s voice on the other line.

“No, you don't get to explain yourself. You don't get to make apologies or excuses. You have thirty days to sell your share of the business, or I will make your life a living hell,” she growled through gritted teeth, before hanging up the phone and sliding down against the wall, finally feeling herself calm.

Rafael frowned softly, moving to sit beside her and taking her hand in his.

“What did he say?” he asked softly.

“He tried to explain. I don't want to hear it,” she whispered through tears. “I am so fucking angry.”

“I know...look, maybe there is an explanation. I may not particularly like the guy, but he’s never struck me as someone who would intentionally hurt you,” he offered, putting an arm around her and pulling her close. “I’m sorry, I know how the media can...distort things to sell magazines and newspapers but...it’s one magazine, mi amor. One, out of hundreds of thousands in the world.”

She shook her head, “It's not that. It's just…I don't want to be the pretty pastry chef. I want my work to speak louder than my looks. Sometimes it feels like if I didn't look good, I wouldn't have succeeded.”

“You know that’s not true,” he whispered. “You’re successful because you’ve worked your ass off. You tried to work with pneumonia, for Christ’s sake,” he added in a chuckle. “You are the reason that bakery has been so successful, and it has nothing to do with the way you look.”

She didn’t look convinced and he kissed her forehead.

“Do you know what the customers said about you when I went that time you were in the hospital? They said they loved the bakery so much because you made each and every one of them feel like family, from the moment they walked in till minute they left. They said eating your scones and muffins were like having a taste of home, because they could feel the love you put into your baking. Don’t let one article take that away from you.”

She sniffled and leaned over pressing a long kiss to his lips. “I love you,” she whispered gently. “More than I will ever be able to express.”

“I love you too,” he replied. “Don’t worry, this’ll blow over. These days, stories come all the time, headlines overcast headlines, soon people will be focused on some other scoop,” he said, rubbing her shoulder in comfort. “What matters most is that people love your bakery, and you...you, not your looks.” Kissing her again, he waited a moment to add, “I have to admit, it is a nice picture of you...though I agree, the wet hair was a little odd.”

“It doesn't make any sense!” she shouted, angry all over again.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” he replied, holding his hands up in defeat. “Why don’t you come inside and have some breakfast, give yourself a chance to cool off?” he suggested.

“I'm so angry,” she whispered. “I just…” she kissed him hard, tugging at his belt. “Let's go somewhere and just…”

“Just what? Your sisters inside,” he reminded her.

She gave him a hungry kiss, moving to trail kissed down his neck. “And?”

“And we can’t exactly...do that in the middle of the hallway,” he said in a chuckle, putting his hands on her waist.

She moved a hand to his pants, rubbing him and giving him another long kiss, sliding her tongue into his mouth. His hand closed over her wrist, moving it away as he looked down at her.

“Roxie, we can’t here...come on, your sister is leaving in a few hours, don’t you want to spend that time with her?” he asked.

She looked annoyed but nodded.

“Let's go back inside,” she sighed.

[slapshotsandoneshots]

Player: Antoine Roussel

Prompt:

Thank you so much! Im glad you enjoy my writing! 💕

Mentions: None.

Warnings: Anxiety & Birth Issues

Preview: Antoine chuckled at your statement but you were already overthinking about it. Your usually overactive little French fry was being quite still today. You hoped it was just because you had yet to eat something. Maybe after you ate he would perk up, you thought.

Characters:. 2060 words.

Masterlist is right here.

You felt as if you were the size of a small whale. You were almost 30 weeks pregnant with your first child. You and Antoine were ecstatic when you found out. The Frenchman couldn’t wait to be a father and he boasted it about it whenever someone was in earshot.

You, on the other hand, were a wreck. You couldn’t be happier but your never-ending worries were at an all-time high. You were currently standing in the mirror trying to pull one of Antoine’s shirt over your bump. You were still struggling when you heard a chuckle behind you.

“Is that my shirt?” he questioned coming up behind you and wrapping his arms as far as he could reach. That didn’t help the situation.

“It’s the only thing that fits.” You snapped with a huff. You sat down on the bed to try and somehow figure out how to put on your shoes. Antoine chuckled once more watching you try to maneuver your legs at such an angle so you could tie your sneakers.

He leaned down and began to tie your shoes as you pouted. “It’s hard to tie your shoes when you can’t really see your feet you know.” You tried to defend.

“You can’t see your feet because our little French fry is growing to be big and strong like his papa.”

You just shook your head at his statement. “Well if he keeps up beating me up in there, he’s going straight into the sin bin when he’s born, just like his papa.”

Antoine chuckled at your statement but you were already overthinking about it. Your usually overactive little French fry was being quite still today. You hoped it was just because you had yet to eat something. Maybe after you ate he would perk up, you thought.

“Breakfast awaits my charite,” Antoine says pulling you up off the bed and out of your thoughts.

Antoine had the day off and you both decided to walk to a small crepe café a few blocks down. Antoine loved to steal away to the café whenever he could. It was a genuine little French bakery and he liked to think of it as a little piece of home here in Dallas.

You both walked down the street hand in hand, Antoine going back and forth between speaking to you and your belly. You reached the café slower than usual due to your waddling. Antoine gave you a look with a smirk. You dared him to make the mistake of quacking at you, he once made with Tyler and Jamie. The couch wasn’t a comfortable place to sleep.

You sat down outside and the waitress didn’t even ask your order before bringing you your normal drinks.

You waited for your food and kept up with Antoine’s small talk. You were still consumed with your thoughts. You were mentally pleading with your unborn child to just give you some type of movement.

Antoine realized you were lost in thought and grabbed your hand. “Y/N, everything okay?”

“Something’s wrong.” You finally blurted out.

“What? Babe, I’m sure it’s all fine.” He responded grabbing your hand tighter.

“I haven’t felt him move since last night.”

“Y/N, the doctor said…”

“I don’t care what the damn doctor said. He’s in my stomach, and I think something is wrong. I want to go to the hospital.” You snap and Antoine is taken aback. He stands slowly and goes to pay.

You wait with your arm crossed, you felt bad for snapping at Antoine. But you were worried and that triumphed your husband at the moment. Antoine called for a cab and you were off to the hospital.

The ride was silent, Antoine rubbing your back to try and reassure you that everything would be fine.

Once you reached the hospital, you were whisked away connected to wires and IVs. Antoine never left your side. He was used to your worries now. It wasn’t that he wasn’t worried himself, he was. He was so frightened to become a father but he wanted to be your rock. He knew you need someone to hold your hand as you go off on tangents about some crazy rare genetic issue or rant about the hard corners of your coffee table.

The doctor came into the room. Antoine looked up from his running mind as you grasped his hand a little tighter.

The doctor offered you a reassuring smile. “Everything is looking good Mrs. Roussel. Baby is doing fine. We are a little concerned about his heart rate, it’s a little low but we aren’t worried just yet.”

“What does that mean?” you questioned.

“It means that I am having you be put on bedrest. No more working, No more traveling, and trying to stay calm during your husband’s hockey games.” He chuckled gesturing towards Antoine.

He smiles as he finishes the paperwork and discharges you.

You steal a quick smile to your husband as he helps you up from the bed.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier.” You look at him guiltily 

“There is no worries love, I find your protective mama bear side quite sexy.” He wiggles his eyebrows at you.

“Bedrest Roussel” you remind him 

“My thoughts involve bed but not rest” he chuckles as you take a cab home.

 A few days later you sigh as you watch Antoine packing his bags for another Dallas road trip.

“You sure you’re okay? I could call Coach and tell him I can’t come.” He asks worriedly.

“And keep you here to annoy me? I’m supposed to be relaxing babe.” You laugh as he throws a pillow at you gently. 

“I will keep the little French fry in here cooking, I promise.” You smile resting your hands on your large belly.

“You better!” he quips putting the last of his things in his duffle.

“Don’t you trust me?”

He placed a kiss to your temple as he hoisted the bag on his shoulder.

“Je t'aime”

“Je t'aime aussi 

“I’ll call you when we land, call me after your doctor’s appointment.” He quips, waving as he walks out the bedroom door.

 Katie swung by your house to pick you up for your doctor’s appointment. She promised Antoine that she would keep an eye on you.

You smiled as you got into the car. 

“How’s my favorite baby mama?” she asked pulling out of your driveway.

“I’m feeling good” you smile nodding.

You reach the doctor’s appointment and are called in quickly. For once you are sitting on the familiar examine table without a worry. The last few days have felt good. That feeling was short-lived. The nurse taking you and the babies vitals turned white, ignoring your questions as she set off to find the doctor.

Katie could see your frown growing and quickly grabs your hand rubbing your arm.

The doctor filed in quickly looking over your charts. “Mrs. Roussel, I want to admit you into the hospital.”

 “What” you choke out your world suddenly crashing.

“The baby’s heart rate is rather low and so is your blood pressure. I’m not saying you are going into labor but I want to monitor you and the baby’s levels.”

“Oh…okay.” You nod trying to process what has been said to you. 

Soon you are being led upstairs, Katie following close behind. Everything is a blur, your worries consuming you.

You are laying in the hospital bed watching as a nurse places an IV in when you hear Katie groan. 

“What’s wrong?” you ask quietly.

She looks at you apologetically. “It’s just… that I can’t get a hold of anyone.” 

“You what?” you ask, the tears already forming in your eyes. 

Katie rushes to your side. “Hey, Hey. Remember what the doctor said, this doesn’t mean you’re going into labor. It is just a precaution”

You just nod as she plays with your hair to relax you.

“Now I am going to run to your house quickly and get you some comfy clothes because as much as I love you, this hospital gown is not cute.”

You chuckle wiping away the stray tears.

“And while I am doing that, I am going to track down the entire Dallas Stars Association and figure out who I have to murder.” She rubs your hair one last time and then turns to leave.

You sigh and hope to just get some rest, closing your eyes for a moment. You don’t know how long you sat there until you hear a loud screech of beeping. You open your eyes to see your room filling with doctors and nurses. You keep asking what’s going and it’s like they can’t hear you, causing your fear to grow. 

Finally, the doctor turns to you. “Y/N, the baby’s heart rate has fallen to low, we need to go in and do an emergency C-section.”

“But it’s too early, I haven’t come to term. I thought this was just a precaution.” You plead. 

“It started off that way but looking at your levels, this is you and your child’s best chance. Not only is the baby in distress but so is your blood pressure. It is important…” 

You knew you should be listening but you were being suffocated by thoughts of your own. What were you going you do? Had Katie gotten in contact with Antoine? All you wanted in this moment was Antoine telling you it was somehow going to be okay. You hadn’t even picked out a name. The nursery wasn’t ready...

“Y/N? Mrs. Roussel?” The doctor pulled you from your thoughts

“We need your consent, Mrs. Roussel.”

“Fine. Yes. Okay.”

You were suddenly being frantically prepped and pushed towards another room. All you could do was the stare at the bright light shining down on you. You focused on the light until suddenly your world went black.

 You were still staring into the darkness when your hearing returned. You were unsure and disoriented. You heard an uneven breathing and then a steady beeping. You opened your eyes to see Antoine sitting in a chair next to your bed his head in his hands. You could hear him talking to himself in French

“Antoine?” you try, your mouth dry and your voice coming out raspy.

Antoine’s head jerks up and he rushes to your side.

“Y/N. Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried. The plane ride here was torture.” He states peppering kisses to your face.  

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the NICU, he’s so beautiful my love. He is so little, but he’s doing good. We can go see him if you feel up to it.”

You simply nod and Antoine goes to get a nurse. They both help you into a wheelchair. The pain is strong but not seeing your son for a moment longer is unbearable.

The silence radiates as Antoine pushes you through the sterile hallways.

“I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise.” You say softly.

“Promise?”

“I promised that I would keep the little French fry cooking and I didn’t.”

“Love, you are excused from promises you are unable to keep.” He places a kiss to your temple and turns a corner.

No one has to tell you which baby is yours, you know the moment you enter the room. The small baby in the incubator takes your breath away. Antoine helps you stand. You stagger a bit from the pain but he steadies you.

“We make handsome babies Roussel.”

“We make strong babies Roussel.” He answers.

You nod leaning into the crook of his neck.

“He needs a name.”

“I like Olivier” Antoine pipes in quickly.

“I like the ring of that, Olivier Roussel.”

Antoine smiles down and you both just take in the marvel that is your newborn. You knew you had a long road ahead of you and many more years of worries but one look at Olivier and it was all worth it. How did Antoine choose you? How did you wind up so lucky?

[ohlovelyvampires]

Force and Faith

Hello everyone. I’m sorry I disappeared for so long, but to be honest I didn’t have the time or the motivation to write anything. Things have been tough in my country, and it’s taken an emotional toll from me, you have no idea. My eyes are filling up just by writing this. For those of you who don’t know, I live in Venezuela. If you have no idea what’s been happening over here, I suggest you do some research about it.

Last Sunday (July 9th, 2017) was our 100 day mark in continuous rebellion against Nicolas Maduro’s regimen. I will offer you more information below the cut at the end.

Writing this was especially hard, so I hope you enjoy it.

I don’t own The Hunger Games, but all mistakes belong to me.

Peeta Mellark was a political leader in the troublesome country of Panem –which had been ruled by the tyrant Coriolanus Snow for the past 19 years–. Peeta had earned several degrees in Sociology and Economic sciences, and years later, he received a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University, and then an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.

He’d also been in prison for the past three and a half years.

Katniss woke up with a start, unaware of her surroundings. She looked around, eyes wide, until she recognized her bedroom, then tensed up again when she felt someone’s arm heavy on her chest. Instantly, the figure pulled her closer and gave a pleased sigh on her shoulder. Yesterday’s events came back to her.

Peeta was home.

She burrowed deeper into his chest and tried to keep the tears away as the memories of the past three years overwhelmed her, almost crushing her. She was so, so tired, but she felt that if she closed her eyes he’d disappear. Earlier, she had been unwilling to go to sleep, but after hours of making love with Peeta, and noticing the deep, purple bags under his eyes, she wouldn’t deny him taking a nap with his wife for the first time in three years.

His breaths were steady, and they kept her at ease. They made her realize that it was real. He was here with her. She had never been so thankful for his snoring in her life.

She tried not to move, so he wouldn’t wake, but the moment she shifted in his arms he went stiff and instantly sat up, looking around nervously until his eyes focused on her. Her heart broke. He’d always been a deep sleeper, but now, every little movement would wake him. It outraged her, knowing that due to all the tortures he received in that place he felt he needed to be alert even in his sleep.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” she spoke silently in the dark.

He rubbed his eyes, “It’s okay. Why were you up?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep,” he didn’t have to ask her why. He knew why.

Instead he lay back on the bed and opened his arms to welcome her in. She didn’t need to be told twice.

She crawled back into her safe place, but instead of settling on his chest she reached up until she found his lips, devouring him. Peeta groaned and shifted, pulling her on top of him as his hands caressed her nude back.

He moaned, “Katniss,”

She didn’t answer, only moved his hands from her back to her breasts as she explored his mouth confidently, both their bodies already naked from their previous activities in the early afternoon. He gripped and squeezed and kissed every part of her he could reach, while she moaned to encourage him on.

She could feel his urge straining against her belly. His face was barely visible to her, her eyes still adjusting to the dark, but she didn’t need to see him, feeling how right his form fit against hers was enough.

She reached between them and stroked him, their mouths still fused together. She wasted no time in sliding him inside her, and she pulled back to keen loudly, Peeta now nipping the pulse point on her neck.

When they –unfairly– took him and threw him in jail she vowed she wouldn’t break. She needed to be strong. She had to move and influence the masses and do her best to get him out. She swore she would get him out.

She knew that if she let herself fall, she’d never get back on her feet. So she travelled and reached to the international community. She directed political movements. She did everything she could, but it still wasn’t enough. They didn’t get him out because of what she did, but because the most important political figures of the world were breathing down Snow’s neck about the past 100 days of violence in the country.

Peeta was still a prisoner, though. They gave him house arrest for the next eleven years (that if they didn’t change their minds and threw him back in that fucking prison), but this was a step closer, a brim of hope. Hope that the end was close.

She didn’t care why or whom they did it for, all she cared about was him, being right where he belonged: with her.

So now, with him moving inside her and breathing her name in her ear, she let her body fall over the cliff.

…

The next morning when she woke she found the bed empty next to her, the sheets cool.

She panicked. “Peeta?”

Then she screeched: “Peeta?!”

She ran from the bed and took her robe from the closet where she’d left it the day before –not noticing Peeta’s clothes thrown haphazardly across the room– hastily tying it and running down the stairs…  Only to collide with her husband, making him fall with her on top of him.

He groaned, then looked up at her alarmingly, “Are you okay?” he ran his hands over her, checking for injuries.

She didn’t answer, only stayed on top of him, hugging him closer.

“Katniss?”  

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I just…” she sighed. “I thought everything had been a dream. You weren’t there when I woke up, so I thought…”

He felt her shiver. “I’m here. I swear I’m here.”

They stayed there for a few more minutes. Not talking, just lying on the floor, holding each other.

He broke the silence, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up. I woke up a few hours ago and couldn’t go back to sleep, and you looked so peaceful I didn’t have the heart to wake you up for another round,” he smirked.

It’d been a while since she’d seen him looking so amused.

She snorted, “You know I’m never too tired for that,” she joked, rejoicing in the sound of his humorous laughter.

“I’ll keep that in mind,”

She pulled herself up, then tended her hand to help him stand. As soon as he was up she tugged him closer and joined their lips together. They kept kissing for minutes (hours?) until her stomach rumbled loudly, and they broke apart. He laughed against her lips and then pecked her forehead lovingly.

“C’mon,” he took her hand in his and led her into the kitchen. Katniss couldn’t help but notice the ease with which he moved in their home.  

They’d been married two years and living in a small and stuffy apartment before buying and moving into this house. He’d barely spent a year in their new home by the moment he was imprisoned.

He pulled her into the kitchen, and she noticed the dough rising in the counter. She knew he liked to bake when he was stressed. She made a mental note to call Haymitch and ask him to move some contacts so she could buy Peeta a few bags of all-purpose flour so he could bake all he wanted, although that might be difficult, and expensive. The severe shortage of food increased every day, as did the number of people eating from garbage cans on the street.

After making breakfast and eating together, Katniss decided to take a look at her phone. She’d forgotten the damn thing since yesterday morning after she was informed they were bringing Peeta home. The phone was almost dead, and it was exploding with notifications. She noticed a big number of missed calls were from Finnick.

She’d call him back. Someday.

She knew she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t shut the country out. She knew just because her husband was home that didn’t mean the war was over, far from it. They still had to fight for his full liberation, and for the liberation of the 2000 people imprisoned unfairly. They had to make it right, for the 95 people who lost their lives, fighting for the freedom they deserved. For the mothers who lost their children. Because that’s what they were: children. Most of the dead had been kids between 17 and 22 years old. They didn’t get to know any government other than the scumbags that had been ruling the country for the past 19 years.

Her traitorous mind whispered in her ear, saying it wasn’t Katniss or Peeta’s responsibility to take the rails in the war. Katniss was ashamed to admit that if Peeta had been fully released she would have already bought their plane tickets to leave that inferno behind.

They were kids when they got married, fresh out of college and with a head full of dreams. Before he proposed, Peeta told (warned?) Katniss how much he loved their country, how he would always fight to make justice, how he’d never leave, and he’d help recover it from the hands of those who sucked the life out of their mother land.

It’s okay, she’d said, because she loved their country as much as he did, and she’d vowed to fight alongside him. But now, years later, how could she feel the same after so much had been taken from them?

Her train of thought broke as she heard voices outside. Curious, she got up from the table and walked to the curtain-covered window. She smiled when she looked at the crowd outside.

Peeta was released from prison before dawn the day before, and by 7 in the morning the big news had spread like wildfire. By 10 in the morning their front porch was crowded with at least 500 people, everyone wanting to get a look of the newly released Peeta Mellark after being held captive for the past three and a half years. Katniss was afraid of him going out; she was scared that there would be some Snow-sympathizer that would hurt Peeta as soon as they had him in clear sight.

But Peeta, being the leader he is, couldn’t ignore the calls from his people.

He’d climbed to the roof of their house where everyone could see him, a Panem flag tied around his neck like a cape. The crowd went wild as soon as they saw him. They instantly started taking pictures and intonating the national anthem. She even saw many of them crying, and she started crying herself. Peeta was on the roof, waving the flag around and singing with the crowd. As soon as the song was over he gave a short speech, encouraging everyone to keep protesting. We’re close, he’d said, and everyone cheered.

“I didn’t negotiate my way out. I don’t mind going back to jail if that means freedom for my people and my country. I’ll do whatever it takes,” he promised.

He was a sign of hope for the citizens.

And today, again, there was another crowd in front of their house as large as yesterday’s. Maybe even larger.

She didn’t notice Peeta was next to her until he spoke: “So they’re here again,”

“Yup,” she confirmed. “Are you going outside?”

“They came to see me, it’s the least I can do,” he went upstairs to change.

A few minutes later, still looking on from the window, she heard the crowd roar and saw them look up. She Peeta was back on the roof. Once again they sang the anthem and took many pictures. He stayed up for about twenty minutes, and then she heard his heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. She quickly drew the curtains back.

“They love you,” she pointed out.

And they should, they really should. Peeta turned himself in on February, 2014, during a set of violent protests, so the streets would rebel even more. He thought once everyone saw their political leader turned himself in for the wellbeing of his people all hell would break loose. But he was wrong.

A month later everything went back to normal. People died. People went to jail. And still everyone went back to their old lives as if nothing had ever happened. People would complain all the time, but no one did anything whatsoever. Peeta went to prison so the government would reconsider. He offered himself in exchange for the country’s freedom, but they kept him and the country, too.

Katniss begged him many times not to do it. She knew it wouldn’t be worth it, but he wouldn’t listen. Once Peeta had something stuck in his mind no one could rid him of it, so she had to watch from the sidelines as the guards took her husband away, as if he was a criminal, in the middle of a concentration of people, in front of millions watching. She saw when they threw him in the worst prison of the state, alongside murderers and rapists and serial killers. She saw when they isolated him, kept him a room so small and secluded he couldn’t even tell whether it was day or night.

They kept him in jail for a whole year without a trial, and when he finally had a trial he was charged for terrorism and committing vandalism, then decreed guilty and sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in prison.

Once everything was over, she’d kill the bastards who incarcerated him with her own bare hands.

Rapid successions of knocks were heard through the house, coming from the front door. She went to answer quickly before Peeta could, in case it was the press. Instead, when she opened the door she found Finnick Odair’s distraught face looking back at her. She feigned innocence.

“Hey, Finnick, uh, come on in.” he did. “Would you like some water?”

“Katniss!” he almost whined. “Damn it, it looks like all Panem is in your front yard.”

He shrugged his coat off, “Anyway, I’ve been calling you for hours. What do you have a phone for if you don’t answer the damn thing?”

Peeta came to her rescue. “It was my fault. We were busy,” he smiled innocently at Finnick.

Finnick smiled widely at him and crushed him in hug so fierce Katniss could see Peeta turning a little purple.

“It’s okay, man, you saw me yesterday, remember? Don’t choke me to death,” Peeta patted Finn’s back.

Finnick Odair was the vice president of the National Parliament, and alongside Katniss, he’d been the one to run most of the political actions in the past few years, especially in the past few months, ever since Peeta went to prison. Also, he’d been Peeta’s best friend since they were in high school. They both got involved in politics at the same time.

“Sorry,” Finnick sniffed. “I just… can’t believe you’re here,” he said in awe.

During Peeta’s incarceration, no one was allowed to see him; sometimes they wouldn’t even let her in. They only allowed immediate family and spouses, so Finnick hadn’t seen Peeta in the three years since he’d been gone. She’d always give him Peeta’s regards but it wasn’t the same, obviously.

“Well, I’m here, but I’m not free yet,” Peeta lifted his jean so the electronic cuff around his ankle was visible. The bright, read light flickered annoyingly back at her, as if taunting her.

“And neither is Panem.” He rolled his jean back down.

“Better than being in that shithole,” Finnick took him by the shoulders, “This is a step closer, my friend. Can’t you feel it? We’re so close I can smell it. Snow is totally shitting his pants right now. He’s more scared than a baby. The whole country is in rebellion, and has been for 100 days. Even his own minions are turning against him after he announced that constituent assembly bullshit,”

Ah, the cherry on top.

Initially, the protests began 3 months ago because Snow overran a decision of the Parliament, and the country rebelled, calling it a coup. Then, about one month later, he announced he was changing the Constitution. He was going to eliminate voting, and private property would no longer be private, it would belong to the State, the government would decide what kind of education kids would get, and every worker –workers of any kind, no matter their specific area of work, would now earn a minimum wage, which wasn’t enough to support economically a single person, let alone a family.

After his announcement people went crazy, and the protests intensified. The installment of the new Assembly would take place two weeks from now, and Snow was still in charge. Everyone seemed to believe they were in the final stages, and Katniss hoped so. She wasn’t sure how much longer the citizens would resist. It was now or never.

“I said the same thing three years ago,” Peeta claimed silently.

Finnick ignored him and sat in the dining room. “Anyway, as much as I love you, Peet, I’m not here to see your charming face.” Katniss and Peeta sat down too. “I’m here to talk to your lovely wife because someone isn’t answering her phone,”

His face softened. “I’m sorry to bother you two, as I’m sure you want to be alone, but we’re at war here, Katniss, and you’re a leader. People look up to you. You haven’t even made a statement on social networks about your husband being back home. Everyone’s on their toes waiting for you to say literally anything,”

She felt guilt running through her body like liquid fire. Finnick was right. She couldn’t expect the war would stop for a few days just so she and Peeta could go on their back-from-jail-honeymoon.

“I’m sorry,” she looked down ashamedly. “You’re right. We need to do this now while we still can,” she shot up from her seat and quickly grabbed her iPad, since her phone was dead, and published a statement on every one of her social networks, saying, yes, Peeta’s home, he’s physically okay, she’s relieved he’s home, but they’re still at war, there are many more out there who’re still unjustly imprisoned. They need to keep fighting.

“So, you two made up for lost time yet?” She looked up from the screen and saw Finnick wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her outfit. She’d forgotten she was still in her silk robe, bare underneath. She groaned and flipped him off, sprinting up the stairs to change while Finn cackled behind her. Peeta was silent, but she’d seen the mischief reflected on his face.

When she walked down the stairs after changing into a more appropriate outfit she heard the two men talking quietly from the staircase.

“… Told her yet?” Finn asked.

“Told her what, exactly?” Peeta mumbled.

“I don’t know, what they did to you in that hell hole, maybe,”

She heard a loud sigh. “I just got here yesterday, besides, Katniss’s not completely in the dark about what they did,”

Yes, she knew: Torture.

A few weeks ago she’d gone to visit Peeta with his two brothers, but the guards wouldn’t let any of them in. She’d refused to leave until someone explained why they wouldn’t let her in, and, of course, no one would offer any credible excuse, so they stayed there for hours, trying to get in. At one point, she became so desperate she started yelling for Peeta as loud as her lungs would give, and his brothers joined her. They had no idea whether Peeta could hear them or not, but they still tried.

It’d been over a month since she’d last seen him. 35 days to be exact. 35 days since no one knew anything about him, not her, not his lawyers, no one. They kept him isolated and wouldn’t let him receive any visitors. She was going crazy with worry.

After minutes of consistent shouting, they’d heard someone yelling back. At first she couldn’t make sure whether it was his voice or not, but when she recognized it, she heaved a deep sigh of relief. He was alive.

The relief lasted a few seconds, until she understood what he’d been yelling back. His brothers quickly pulled out their phones and started recording his screams. They could make out exactly what he was saying: Katniss!! They’re torturing me!! Help me, they’re torturing me!! Katniss!!

After that, the guards quickly sent them packing and forced them to leave. She didn’t remember much after that. One of Peeta’s brothers had to help her into the car, as she went practically into catatonic state. They quickly launched the video, and it went viral, making sure the whole world knew what they were doing to their brother. She remembered breaking down so badly they had to take her to the hospital and give her some tranquilizers, because she wouldn’t stop screaming bloody murder.

Her skin went up in goose bumps just thinking about it and her eyes filled up. She still heard his screams in her nightmares.

When they brought him in yesterday she quickly shed him of his clothes and looked him up and down, studying him closely, looking for any new scars he may had. He had lost a considerable amount of weight, and his skin was paler, the bags under his eyes almost black, and she noticed some bruises already vanishing. She also noticed how he suddenly favored his right leg.

Katniss had been dying to ask him what exactly they did to him, so she could complain to the international community, but she knew right now wasn’t the time. He’d just gotten back home. It wasn’t fair to corner him, asking for the details of his traumatic experiences. She knew he’d talk when he was ready.

“Katniss already has been through enough. I don’t want to burden her or overwhelm her,” Peeta continued.

“And haven’t you been through enough?” Finnick insisted.

“It’s different, I chose this. It’s my own fault,” Peeta protested and she swallowed back a sob.

“Katniss is a big girl, Peeta, and she’s you wife. She might be giving you time to adjust now, but eventually she’ll ask. She’ll want to know. She won’t want you to carry that burden on your shoulders by yourself for the rest of your life,”

She could imagine Peeta running his hands wildly through his hair. “I know,” he admitted, and Finnick let the subject drop.

She quickly composed herself and walked loudly down the stairs to make her presence known.

“So,” she said casually. “What’s our next move?”

…

During the meeting, Peeta remained quiet. His eyes flickered from Finnick to Katniss, then down to the documents spread across the table.  

As Finnick talked, he spoke confidently, but looked at Peeta as if for confirmation, but Peeta didn’t acknowledge his gaze, just kept studying everything in silence. They encouraged him to participate several times, but he declined. After their planning was done Finnick left under her oath to answer her phone.

“Are you okay?” she asked Peeta once they were alone.

“I guess,” he began, “I just feel like I’ve missed so much,”

“You’ve been… away for three years. A lot of things have changed. The situation gets more critical every day. The shortage of food and medicine is worse than you can imagine. We closed in last year with an inflation of 700%, and currently the inflation is over 1000%, barely 7 months into the year. The guards keep getting more violent with every day that passes. They want a bloodbath.” she recited, “It’s a nightmare.”

Peeta cursed, “I can’t believe Snow’s still ruling, even after all that shit,”

She curled her arms around him. “I know, but you heard Finnick: we’re close. I know we are. We just need a little more faith, and we need to get more resilient on the streets, which is exactly what we’re going to do for the next 14 days,”

He looked down to her big eyes, glimmering with hope. He melted.

He kissed her temple, “You’re right. I know the end is close. Do you have to go the Parliament today?”

“Finnick, Boggs, Messalla and the whole crew will be transmitting live in a few hours to tell the country about this week’s actions, but they said I didn’t have to be there if I didn’t want to,”

“You should go,”

She frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t want to leave you alone,”

“Katniss, I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself. And you heard Finnick: the people need to see you. You’re their leader.” Peeta insisted.

I’m not their leader; you are, she thought. “Fine,” she scowled.

Peeta grinned from ear to ear, “You don’t know how much I’ve missed that scowl,”

A couple of hours later she was getting ready to leave. Since she was a diplomatic figure she had a driver –Chaff– that would take her everywhere. At first she wasn’t comfortable, but then she’d grown used to it.

She hesitated, her hand on the door knob. Peeta hugged her.

“I’ll be fine. Go on and do your duty. I’ll be waiting for you naked when you get back,” he joked, trying to lighten her mood.

She laughed. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” she kissed him deeply for a couple minutes until her phone started ringing.

“Goddamn Finnick, I’ll block him,” she mumbled. She gave him one last look and a small smile before going out the door.

He became bored pretty soon. The live broadcast wouldn’t begin for at least another hour, but Katniss had to get there earlier to talk with the crew and rehearse what they were going to announce.

When they bought their house they converted the small basement in a training area and gym, so that’s where he headed to.

He trained for 45 minutes until his watch beeped loudly to remind him of the press conference his wife would be leading.

Still sticky with sweat he went to the living room and quickly fired up Katniss’s laptop. He searched in YouTube and typed up Panem’s Informative, clicking on the live streaming broadcast.

The camera showed a large rectangular table full of empty seats, and a small podium by the right end of the table. They hadn’t begun yet.

To get official and real information the citizens of Panem had to reach out to the public social networks such as YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. This because Snow had gotten off air all the news channels that transmitted the reality of what was happening in their country: hunger, deaths, negligence and violence. He’d only left on air two “news” channels that favored the government and made everything look like they lived in a magic land, where absolutely nothing was going on.

But the international community knew better than to believe that.

About ten minutes later the empty seats at the table were being occupied by most of his old partners. He recognized Plutarch Heavensbee, Boggs, Cressida, Messalla, Castor, Pollux and of course, Finnick. Katniss wasn’t occupying a seat on the table; instead she was standing behind the small wooden podium. The room clapped when everyone took their respective seats, and after the claps died down Katniss started speaking.

“I thank everyone for being present. As you all know, my husband, Peeta Mellark, was given house arrest yesterday before dawn. He’s physically getting better, but his moral and hope remain as strong as ever,” the room went up in cheers. His friends stood up and cheered with everyone. After a few minutes, Plutarch –President of the Parliament– stood and motioned for everyone to sit back down.

Katniss spoke again: “I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re relieved Peeta is back home where he belongs, but let’s not forget that he’s not free yet. He’s still a prisoner. Let’s not forget there are other 1500 civilians unjustly detained, along with other 500 political prisoners, over 2000 imprisoned in total, all of them enduring different tortures for pursuing their civil right to protest pacifically on the streets. So I make this call to everyone out there who’s listening: we must not abandon the streets!

“We must remain in rebellion until Snow is overruled. We have only 14 days left until Panem’s future is sealed with the establishment of a new Constitution. We must continue fighting, stronger than we’ve ever been before. The following couple of weeks will be tiresome and tough, but we must not lose hope. We must not forget what we are so close to achieving: freedom. Now, stronger than ever, we stand and fight together against tyranny,” she announced.

“Tomorrow is our hundred day mark. One-hundred days fighting for the cause. Tomorrow morning, all over the country we’ll reunite on the main square in each district, and then we will block all the streets for 12 continuous hours as is our customary action of protest. When protesting, please be safe. Remember this is not a game. Lives are at stake. Tomorrow on our hundred day mark we will take over the streets of Panem once again,” she concluded.

She retreated from the podium and moved to sit down just as Finnick stood up to give out more details about tomorrow’s actions.

Peeta knew the crowds would be pleased. Katniss mentioned the citizens had been asking for riskier measures for days now. Everyone was either exhausted or hungry or sick. They wanted to take bigger actions to bring Snow down once and for all. Peeta couldn’t blame them.

The conference ended as soon as Finn finished giving out the details, and the camera stopped transmitting in there and moved to a live concentration on the street. He could see the green-uniformed men throwing tear gas bombs at the people present. He felt pride wash over him once he noticed some kids picking up said bombs and throwing them right back at the guards, detonating them and expelling the gas. Peeta smirked.

He pulled up Google and searched as much information as he could of the past few months. Katniss informed him what little she could during her visits in prison, but he was still in the dark about many things. He opened link after link, the information overwhelming him. Pretty soon he got to the list of the people who were murdered while protesting. 95 people dead, either shot or blown up.

He rubbed his eyes and shut the device off after almost two hours of gathering information. Katniss would be home soon, and he was still sweaty from exercising. He went to their bedroom and took a shower. After dressing up he went downstairs to get started on dinner, just as Katniss walked through the front door, her phone glued to her ear and her arms full of folders and papers.

“No, no, Plutarch, I know, but what choice did I have? Finnick asked me to come forward and I did. I don’t have something to regret, do I? Cressida has been showing me the citizens’ responses, and everyone seems to agree with tomorrow’s schedule,” she walked further into the house, dropping her belongings on the dining table. She still hadn’t noticed him following her.

She pulled her phone from her ear and stared at the screen, “Listen, Plutarch, I’ve gotta run. I have the head of edition of the World’s on the line. See you tomorrow on the main square,” she hung up without another word and quickly put the phone back on her ear. “Rue! Hi, thank you for waiting for me, oh, yes; I’ve got the file you sent me right here.”

She ran through the mess of papers and pulled a sheet up. “Yes, I did check it and it was mainly fine. I made some corrections though. I’m faxing the document forward to you right this second,” she ran off into the studio. Peeta followed silently behind.

“Yes, thank you so much for your help. Okay, bye,”

He put his arms around her and she jumped. “Shit! You scared me,”

He kissed behind her ear, “Sorry. What was that all about?”

She sighed, “Plutarch nagging me, as usual. The World’s newspaper is going to launch a reportage about your ‘release’ tomorrow morning, and since the head of edition is a friend of mine she wanted me to check it beforehand,”

He frowned. “Reportage?”

“You’re the most famous political prisoner in Panem. When they brought you here the new went viral in minutes. Everyone wants coverage,” her phone started ringing again and she groaned.

“See why I hate this thing?” she took a look at the screen and let it go to voicemail.

“It’d better not be Finnick, otherwise he’ll be here in minutes knocking our door down, bickering about you not answering your phone,” he claimed.

“It’s not,” she assured and gave him a kiss. “I’m sorry I took so long to get back. Things have been crazy. Another kid was killed this afternoon,” she went quiet. “16 years old.”

He pulled her close, “I’ll run you a bath,” she shook her head against his chest.

“I just want you,” she proposed. Of course he agreed.

…

Hours later, they lay in the same spot, naked as newborns, until their rumbling stomachs forced them up.

They made sandwiches with the bread he’d baked that morning. Katniss had work to do, so after dinner they sat together and he helped her. He noticed how tired she’d become. He had visibly lost weight while he was in prison, but Katniss had too. She still had a toned and lithe body, but her bones were becoming more visible to the eye, her skin sun-kissed from spending so many hours protesting under the sun.

“I think we both need some sugar to brighten up,” he brought up. “I’ll bake you a cake,”

Katniss arched a brow. “Um, sure, but you have to make sure you have all the ingredients first. Flour and sugar have been disappeared from the supermarkets’ shelves for years now, and eggs have become a luxury,”

He kissed her forehead, “Don’t worry, I’ll manage,”

He hadn’t baked in more than three years, but it still came naturally to him. He decided to bake Katniss’s favorite dessert: carrot cake. Thankfully, he found all the ingredients necessary, although he ran low on sugar. He pondered the thought of asking some to his neighbors, but he knew no one in their right mind would hand out sugar for free. Sugar was scarce, and when you did find it, it was ridiculously expensive.

The same happened with flour, bread, oil, butter, salt, powdered and liquid milk, and many more. If you didn’t buy the products for exorbitant prices you’d have to hunt for a bag of whatever exclusively in the supermarket closest to your living place, with a special permission, nowhere else, once a week, and endure extremely long lines.

He took the cream cheese from the fridge for the frosting and cringed at the price embedded on the carton. Three years ago he could buy groceries for a month for that same price.

He sighed deeply. This would be over soon. He was sure of that.

…

Next morning he roused from sleep due to the lack of warmth next to him. He rubbed the crust from his eyes until they focused on Katniss in front of the closet. She was fastening a pair of jeans on her hips. The mattress squeaked under him when he moved to sit up, the sheet barely covering his morning erection. Katniss turned back to look at him and blushed.

“Good morning,”

He stood up and went to her in all his naked glory. He nuzzled her neck and placed soft kisses there.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?” it was barely 7:00 am.

She joined their lips. “Hundred days, remember? I have to go to the main square of the city,”

“Oh, right.”

They stayed up late last night, but she still woke up early, prepared to do her duty. She wasn’t wearing a shirt, only a black bra. He reached behind her to caress her back and playfully tugged the hooks, getting them undone. Katniss groaned.

“Peeta… I have to go,” she complained quietly as he leaned down and took one breast in one hand and a nipple in his mouth. Katniss moaned and his tongue circled harder around her nipple. When his other hand moved to unzip her jeans she quickly stopped him.

“As much as I want to do this, I have no time,” she brushed her lips against his. “But, I can do one thing before I go.” She sank to her knees and put him in her mouth.

After he came, she finished getting dressed and planted a sweet kiss on his mouth, her wedding rings burning a mark on his cheek as she held his face.

“I love you,” she vowed.

“I love you more,” he promised.

Once again he had to watch her leave while he stayed behind.

His feet itched. He wasn’t used to letting everyone else go in the front line while he did nothing. He was itching to get out of the house and go fight next to his wife and his people.

He decided to check in YouTube and Instagram to see what was going on, at least to make some time until Katniss got back.

There were an incredible amount of videos, not only from the Capitol but from the districts, too. He saw the sea of people who had gathered to demonstrate, once again, that most of the population wanted a change. He clicked on a video of the Capitol, and saw Finnick giving out a speech, Katniss by his side. As was customary, he encouraged everyone to remain strong. He finished his speech with a pointed look that said “You know what to do,” directed to the masses.

And just like that, the whole country was on lockdown.

After a few minutes, pictures of all around the country started popping up in the computer. The Capitol was on lockdown from head to toe, every main street barricaded.

Many people chose the opportunity to deliver some food, as a thank you, to the kids of the Resistance, since most of the members of the movement had serious financial problems.

The Resistance was a group of people –mostly young men and women– that fought directly on the streets. They were the ones that stood up to the guard when they were attacked during pacific movements.

Katniss had given him a phone yesterday so he’d call her if he needed anything. Said phone was now ringing obnoxiously in their bedroom. He ran up the stairs and took the call before it went to voice mail.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” Katniss’s voice said through the line. “What are you up to?” it was hard focusing on what she said since there was so much background noise.

“Uh, not much, just watching the news,”

“Oh, well, I just called to let you know that I won’t be home for a few hours. Finnick and I are going to support the lockdown. We’re going downtown for a few hours, and then North. We might be swinging back and forth, just going where they may need us,” she announced.

He smiled. He was so proud of her. “Go on, then,”

He looked through the living room’s windows and noticed his own neighbors barricading the street.

He could feel her hesitating on the other side, “Will you be okay?”

She’d been treating him like a baby since he got home. He knew she didn’t mean to do it, but it still annoyed him a little bit. She treated him like he was a glass figurine. Like if she made a wrong move or said the wrong thing he might break.

“Yes, Katniss,” he said stiffly.

“Well, okay, um, I’ll be home in a few hours.”

“Please be safe. I love you,”

“I love you too,”

They hung up. He knew they’d have to talk once she got back. So far they’d been pretending everything was okay, making up for lost time and having sex every chance they got, but they needed to talk about how uncomfortable he felt with her babying him.

…

After a couple hours he felt like he was suffocating.

The same four walls were closing in on him, and he was going crazy just by looking at the news of the districts. The guard had already started to dissipate the people gathered in different zones, throwing them tear gas and raining them in bird shots.

He hadn’t talked to Katniss in over two hours, and he was about ready to crawl up the walls. The repression that day had been especially brutal. By midday there were several wounded and asphyxiated by the gas. He even saw a photo of a pregnant woman being aided by members of the Red Cross because she’d been affected by the gas. He felt like throwing up.

Videos and pictures kept coming throughout the whole afternoon. Several videos of kids who blew up military tanks with homemade bombs, pictures of people hurt and people getting detained. It was devastating.

By 4 in the afternoon he still hadn’t heard a word from Katniss. He knew she’d be busy going all around the city, but he was going crazy. He’d tried to call several times, but the phone would go straight to voice mail. Finnick wouldn’t pick up either.

Faintly, he could make out the sounds of bombs going off in the distance, followed by a round of shots. The whole country was a warzone.

As if a voice had whispered it in his ear, he decided to check Twitter again, only to be greeted by dozens of pictures of Katniss and Finnick from earlier that day.

“The wife of the political leader Peeta Mellark, Katniss Mellark, resulted hurt in the afternoon of the 100 day mark during the city’s 12-hour lockdown in upstate Capitol, –”

His. World. Stopped.

He viciously continued reading faster.

“…Along with the vice president of the Parliament, Finnick Odair. The witnesses of the scene claimed that both political figures were attacked by members of Panem’s National Guard. A video taken with Cressida Miller’s –deputy of the Parliament– phone shows clearly how a member of the Guard walked directly to Mellark (wife) and Odair and sprayed pepper gas on both the diplomats’ faces, giving them no chance to recover as the attacker’s companions threw tear gas bombs in their direction, followed by shooting. The video quickly went viral. Thankfully, paramedics arrived at the scene quickly and transferred Mellark and Odair to the closest Health Center…”

He jumped from his seat and reached for his phone. He dialed everyone he knew: Plutarch, Cressida, Boggs, Castor… but no one picked up. After his 20th call finally Cressida picked up.

“Cressida!” he stammered. “Where are you? Do you know where Katniss is? I read she and Finnick were attacked. Are you with them? D-do you know anything?” he sputtered.

“Peeta, slow down! Yes, I’m with Katniss, and Plutarch’s with Finnick. We’re at Panem General.” Her voice faltered. “Katniss is with the doctor right now, and I’m not supposed to go in, otherwise I’d put her on the phone,”

“Are they okay?!”

“Well, they gave them what little they had to ease the irritation in their faces caused by the pepper gas. Thankfully they didn’t swallow much tear gas, although they received some nasty bird shots,”

“Motherfuckers,” he roared.

“Indeed.” Cressida agreed. “Listen, I’ll call you back as soon as I can get Katniss to talk to you; my phone is exploding with calls.”

He mumbled a half-hearted agree and called Plutarch several times until the bastard picked up, but it was Finnick’s voice that answered.

“Ahoy mate,” Finn said.

“Thank God. Are you okay?”

“Eh, I’ve had it worse,” and he truly had.

Earlier that week, 3 days before Peeta’d been released, the Parliament was attacked during a session. An armed group of government sympathizers barged in and started attacking the deputies. They pushed some of them to the floor and started kicking them, Finnick included. They even bashed one’s head so hard they cut it open.

Thankfully everything was recorded and photographed for the whole world to see.

That wasn’t the first time it had happened. That had just been one time of many throughout the years. The event even made it to the front page of The Wall Street Journal.

“I’m glad you’re okay, buddy,”

“You know me, man; you’ll need more than those fucking pussies with their tear gas to bring me down,” Finn assured him.  “Have you talked to Katniss yet?”

He sighed deeply. “Not yet. I’m going crazy with worry. Cressida told me she was with the doctors. She promised to call me back soon,”

“Well, I’ll let you go then. See you soon, Peet,” they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Soon after, Haymitch, Katniss’s uncle and their lawyer, started calling him.

“I assume you already know about Sweetheart?” Haymitch greeted.

“Not about her condition, I only know she’s in the hospital.”

“Well shit.”

“You don’t know anything either?”

“Not a thing, kid,”

“Haymitch,” he swallowed. “I need to see her. I need to know about her condition. I’m going crazy! I need to go to the hospital,”

Haymitch’s tone darkened, “You better wait until she calls you or until she gets home. You are not leaving that house,”

“But–”

“No buts!” his lawyer fumed. “Sweetheart will kick your ass if she finds out you left the house to go to her. If you leave the house it’s Game Over, kid, they’ll put you back in a cell so small you won’t be able to spread your arms,”

Hadn’t they already? he thought.

Haymitch must’ve read his mind. He sighed, “I’m sorry, boy. That’s just how it is. Don’t give Snow any more reasons to throw you back in jail,”

“I won’t,” Peeta conceded.

He heard Haymitch mumble. “Fucking paparazzi they’ll blow my phone up. As soon as you know something about my niece ring me up,” he ended the call.

Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long.

“Peeta?”

He nearly sobbed. “Oh God, Katniss, I’m so happy to hear your voice. Hi, love. Are you okay?”

“As okay as I can be, I guess,” she sniffed. “They’re keeping me here for another hour, until they’re sure it’ll be safe for me to go home. I’m sorry I couldn’t call you. I must have dropped my phone sometime during the riot,”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. I’m just insanely happy to hear you’re okay,”

“It could’ve been worse,” she assured. “Finnick was with me though. Cressida told me he’s doing fine too,”

“Yeah, I talked to him a few minutes ago. He’s okay,”

He heard voices in the background. “Peeta, I’ve gotta go. Cressida’s phone is dying and the nurse is here for a final checkup before my release. I’ll be home soon,”

“I’ll be waiting,”

He quickly texted Haymitch to let him know Katniss would be coming home soon.

He waited another hour until he heard movement coming from the porch. He watched through the windows and saw Katniss getting off a motorcycle, while a guy he didn’t know helped her off, her body stiff and her face still red and splotchy. He ran to the front door and sprinted outside to meet her halfway.

She looked up at him alarmingly. “Peeta, you can’t–!”

He picked her up and held her against him, breathing her scent. She was sweaty and smelled like gas, but she still had that characteristic Katniss smell. He didn’t realize how hard he was hugging her until she grunted, “Ouch.”

“Shit. Sorry, baby. Did I hurt you?” she shook her head and looked around, eyes wide.

“Let’s go in.” she nearly dragged him inside the house, waving Chaff goodbye.

Once inside, she pounced.

“Peeta! Do you know what they could do to you if they saw you outside, even on our porch? I called Haymitch. Don’t think he didn’t tell me about your brilliant idea of going to the hospital. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you leave this house under the threat of going back to–”

He pounced back, shutting her up with his lips. Katniss didn’t falter. She kissed him back right away, her fingers curling in his hair. He was due for a haircut.

He pulled away. “I don’t want to fight. You were attacked today. I’m just thrilled you’re home,”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just… god, I don’t want them to have it easy against you,”

“Let’s not talk about those scumbags now. How hurt are you?” his eyes scanned her body thoroughly.

“I was lucky. I got a few bird shots in my leg, nothing too bad. Worst thing was the pepper gas. I thought I would go blind,” she trembled. He instantly led her to the living room and sat her in front of the hearth with his arm around her. “Finn took many in the back. Thank God he’s okay,”

“Thank God you’re both okay,” he corrected. “Everyone’s going crazy about your condition. You’ll need to make an announcement soon,”

“Haymitch told me he’ll take care of it for now. I’ll show my face later tonight or tomorrow morning. Right now I just want to take a bath,” she rested her forehead against his temple.

He carried her bridal style up the stairs and sat her in the vanity while he got the water running. He took off her clothes and once she was naked threw his own clothes away. He tried not to stare too long at the forming bruises and red splotches covering her thigh and belly. His body tensed. She tilted his head up by the chin and ran her hands over his own –vanishing– bruises.

She smiled tightly and got in the shower, Peeta following obediently behind.

He washed and rinsed her hair while Katniss lathered her body with soap. There was nothing sexual about the action, just him taking care of her. He was surprised when she turned around and started washing his hair the same as he had done to her. She rubbed his scalp and pulled him down in a gentle kiss.

After they were both clean, he toweled her dry and led her to their room.

“Coming back here was difficult; almost every street in the city is barricaded, so I couldn’t get back in a car. One of the protestants that had been in the scene during the attack and later transported me and Finnick to the hospital offered to give me a ride home after I was free to go. The people made way for us to pass through the streets like we were Moses in the Red Sea,” she explained.

He ignored the tinge of jealousy. It should’ve been him there instead of some stranger.

Peeta eyed her wounds quietly. “What did the doctor recommend for that?”

“He suggested some kind of antibacterial ointment for the bruises and eye drops to prevent eye irritation. We went to several drugstores that, shockingly, were open.”

She scoffed. “Even on days like these some people won’t close their businesses for a few hours to support the cause. Anyway, surprise surprise, nowhere we went to did they have what the doctor prescribed, or anything alike,” Katniss explained calmly. This was a regular thing.

He bit back a curse.

Besides food shortage, there was also medicine shortage. Medicines of any kind were difficult to acquire in the country. Medicines for chemo, radiation, anticonvulsants, diabetes, blood pressure, even the most common things such as eye drops or cough syrup. Whatever it was, you name it; they didn’t have it, no matter how many drugstores you went to. People died every day due to the lack of medicines. Newborn babies couldn’t be vaccinated because there were no vaccines of any kind.

Regular products for personal hygiene had also disappeared years ago. Basic products like shampoo, soap, razors, deodorant, condoms, tampons, birth control pills and toothpaste. Since they were so difficult to get, people were starting to neglect their own hygiene, which caused the regeneration of diseases that had been eradicated years ago, like scabies and malaria.

It was hell.

He cleaned and later redressed her wounds with gauze while she brushed her hair. They lay back on the bed under the sheets, still naked. Her eyes closed almost instantly, but she didn’t fall asleep.

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not hungry. I want you to stay here with me,”

He knew they had to talk about her worry for him, but that wasn’t the night.

Instead, he did as she asked and stayed with her. She succumbed to sleep not long after. He held her close.

Next morning the bags under his eyes had taken again a purple-bluish color. He hadn’t slept a wink. Every time he closed his eyes he only saw images of Katniss being taken away by the guard, getting beaten and tortured in unimaginable ways. He woke up several times with a scream stuck in his throat. He only relaxed when he made sure she was sleeping by his side.

Thankfully he didn’t wake her up. She slept like a log last night. He hoped it was because his arms made her feel safe.

They stayed in bed until 7 am until Katniss had to get up to take several calls of their fellow politicians to discuss their planning. He heard her talking anxiously to Heavensbee. She was biting her lip and her eyes drifted around nervously.

“Do you think they’re ready, Plutarch? What if it’s too soon?” she paused. “Yes, I know people keep asking for more but what if–” she saw Peeta looking at her from the doorway and put the phone on speaker.

“Katniss listen,” Plutarch said, “after yesterday, everyone is flipping out. The whole country has you on a golden pedestal. Imagine the horror and rage when they saw their brave warrior woman get assaulted by the uniformed forces, and then the darling of the Capitol, Finnick, too! Your bloody faces are on the front pages of the most important newspapers of the world.” He praised.

Peeta knew the entire country loved and looked up to his wife. Before he’d gone to jail she had just been Katniss, Peeta Mellark’s trophy wife, just another pretty face. But once he was incarcerated everyone saw her for what she really was: a fighter. She did everything in her power, and more, to demonstrate he was innocent. Before everything, she’d been an athlete.

“I’m not a politician; Peeta is. I’m just a human-rights activist,” She’d said years ago. Now, she fought daily in the streets alongside their people. She’d earned their respect.

“They’re angry as hell. We need to use that to our advantage. Focus that fire somewhere useful and make sure this’ll actually change something. We can’t fight forever. It’s time,” Plutarch stated.

“It’s time for what?” Peeta questioned.

“Hour Zero.” She responded, “Indefinite civic strike. They’ll decree it tonight,”

He gulped. The day Finnick had been in their house he’d briefly whispered about discussing the date of the strike. Apparently, the high command of the Rebellion was sure it needed to be soon, but no one wanted to say when. During these past hundred days they’d been preparing the citizens for this very moment, but they were still scared. This was their last move. If this didn’t work, things would surely die down.

But now it seemed Plutarch had taken the wheel and made the decision himself. No one dared to oppose. They knew it had to be done.

“I’ll see you later this afternoon for the official announcement, Katniss. People will want to see you and make sure you approve of this decision,” Plutarch spoke calmly but with authority.

They all knew that if Katniss admitted to the citizens she wasn’t following the strike because she believed they weren’t ready, many would support her decision and back down, and that for sure wouldn’t work. They needed the whole country to be on board if they wanted success. They needed Katniss to convince them.

She talked to Plutarch but looked at Peeta, “I’ll be there.”

She and Plutarch quickly hung up, and she burrowed in Peeta’s arms. He nuzzled the top of her head and placed soft kisses.

“Do you not agree with their decision?”

“No, I do!” she quickly retorted. “I’m aware this is something we absolutely have to do, and we all have to stick together. We need to sum up our forces, not subtract. I’m just…” she went quiet.

“It’s okay to admit you’re scared, you know. I know everyone sees you as this indestructible person and you want to live up those expectations, but you’re human too, Katniss. You don’t have to be brave all the time,”

Her gaze never weakened. “I know. But I will be. I will not be the woman who stays home crying instead of going out and fighting,”

“You’re so much more than that, and we both know it. Everyone out there knows it,” he gestured to the street.

“I’m not scared of going out to fight. I thrive in it. I’m worried about what will happen if it doesn’t work,” she admitted. “I’m scared Snow’ll think it was your idea and he’ll throw you back in jail as a punishment. I don’t want to fear him, but he has so much leverage on us,”

“Not as much as you think.” he looked at her deeply. Gray met blue. “I told you: I’ll go back to prison if I have to, but I won’t fear him. He’s nothing but a murderer,”  

“How can you say that?!” she growled and pushed him away roughly. “He already kept you away for three years. I won’t let him take you back there even for one more day! You’ve got to stop playing hero!”

“I’m not!” he sputtered indignantly.

“Yes, you are!” Katniss argued. “You already did your part. Now, don’t think about opening your mouth and let someone else take charge!”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been doing?”

“No! With your show up there,” she pointed to the roof. “Practically begging Snow to put you back in your cell! Like you want to be tortured again,” she cried.

“Katniss–”

“Don’t think I didn’t talk to Haymitch. Psychological and physical torture? You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you offer yourself as bait,”

“Fuck! Would you let me talk?” he roared. “What do you want me to say, Katniss? Yes, they toyed with my fucking mind, okay? They isolated me in a 8-square cell with no windows whatsoever, so I’d lose track of time. Sometimes I wouldn’t see daylight for days! When I was so tired I would pass out the little bastards would turn all the lights on and make all kinds of noise so I couldn’t sleep.

“One time they even…”

“What?”

“I was a fool to believe them, but it’d been so long since the last time you’d visited me, so…” he faltered.

“They told me you were dead, Katniss. They showed me a picture of you spread out on the floor, blood on your face and I just–” his voice broke.

She remembered that day. It’d been almost two months ago. She was hit on the face from behind with a helmet, and it caused blood to flow like a torrent down her nose. The shock knocked her down to the floor. Someone must have taken a picture and it got to his captors. That must have been the picture he saw.

“That’s when I lost weight. I stopped eating.” He confided.

“Imagine the look on my face when some time after they told me my wife was there to see me. It must have been fucking funny because they wouldn’t stop laughing all the way down from my cell.

“So, yes, it was devastating, but I’d probably do it again if I had to, and even though I know you do it because you love me, I don’t like it when you treat me like a porcelain doll. You don’t even say ‘jail’ around me, as if just by listening to the word I’m going to crumble. I’m not going to break, Katniss. They could only break me through one thing: you.”

She looked down ashamedly, her eyes watering.

“I’m sorry, Peeta, I didn’t realize my worrying affected you that way.

“But why would you decide to go through all that again for the people who abandoned you and left you to rot for three years?” she lamented.

“They’re my people.” he stated simply.

“They don’t deserve you, and neither do I,”

“That’s not true. Shut up now,” he ordered and slanted his mouth over hers. He explored every part of her oral cavity his tongue could reach. It didn’t take long for his dick to get rock hard. Katniss thrust her center against him and pulled away from his mouth to moan out loud.

“Fuck me, Peeta,” she implored.

They started taking the other’s clothes off until both were completely naked. He instantly picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his hips.

He didn’t think they could make it to the bedroom, so he supported her against the wall and thrust his fingers inside her. “You’re so wet,”

“Only for you,” she promised.

He altered from fingering her to rubbing her clit until he felt her walls constricting around his fingers and she gave out breathless moans. While she was still coming he entered her swiftly.

“Fuck,” he grunted while Katniss whimpered.

He fucked her roughly against the wall until he felt her walls tightening around his cock and her head thumped back against the flat surface. She let out a string of curses and moans, which triggered his orgasm. He kept thrusting inside her until she milked him completely. Afterwards, they slumped to the cold floor with Katniss on top of him. Suddenly he remembered her wounds from yesterday.

“Shit. Was I too rough? Are you okay?”

He only felt the movement of her head. “It was perfect.” she caressed his chest.

They lay in silence for minutes, until she asked: “What do you think?”

“You’re always amazing,”

She snorted and flicked at his chest. “Not about sex, Peeta. About the strike,”

“Does it matter what I think?”

“Of course it does! You’re their leader,”

“Nah, I’m not. You said so yourself,”

She shifted uncomfortably on his chest and he held her down to him.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know. I also know what you meant. I’m not sure I can tell you whether they’re ready or not for this step since I’ve missed everything.” When he was in jail he wasn’t even aware the protests had begun.

“What I can tell you is that we need to do anything that’ll help us get Snow off our backs, so let’s do it,”

She smiled.

…

Hours later he had a sense of déjà vu as he, through the computed of course, watched Katniss and the rest of the diplomats announce to the country their latest decision, only this time it was Plutarch who spoke while Katniss and the rest remained dutifully by his side.

“Starting tomorrow, we encourage the entire country to join us in an indefinite civic strike until Snow and his whole bunch leave Panem for good. Otherwise, we, the citizens and real owners of this land, will come for you,” he threatened.

Peeta was sure the end would come soon.

…

After Katniss got home they watched quietly in the computer screen as the whole country rose and started preparing for the strike.

Supermarkets and drugstores were crowded, people desperately buying what little they could find and pay for. They saw extremely long lines of people trying to pay for their products.

“It seems they’ll really go through with it,” Katniss commented.

“Of course they will.” Peeta assured.

She took his face in her hands. “No matter what happens after tomorrow, will you stay with me?”

“Always,” he promised.

This was inspired by Leopoldo Lopez’s “liberation” on Saturday, July 8th, 2017. He was incarcerated in 2014 and sentenced to thirteen years in prison. On Saturday he was given house arrest, and you can’t imagine how much hope and joy this brings my people. Unfortunately, he’s still a prisoner, and my mother land is too. Peeta’s character is Leopoldo, and Katniss’s is Leo’s wife: Lilian Tintori.

All big events, every one as exactly described in the fic (except the private scenes and Katniss and Finnick’s attack) were inspired by real events in my beloved Venezuela that have happened in these past few months. I basically just changed the names and wrote the story, but everything you read up there has happened and is happening in real life.

We really have been in continuous protest for over a hundred days. There really are 95 people dead, mostly between ages 16 and 23. There really are over 2000 people imprisoned for literally no reason, receiving inhuman tortures. We really are being forced to a new constitution without the citizens’ consent. We really do have an inflation of over 1000%. We don’t have food or medicines. There’s no money. There’s no security. We’re dying.

If you want to know a little more about the subject, drop by my Tumblr post explaining the situation a little bit more specified by clicking on this link.

PLEASE RESEARCH MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN VENEZUELA AND SPREAD THE WORD. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON AND HOW OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING STEPPED AND SPIT ON. Thank you for reading.

Find it also on FFN and AO3

[topimagines]

Surprises...(Part one)- Josh Dun

Sorry that this probably sucks, but I’m going somewhere with it. Be patient... anyways enjoy!!!

“Mommy when is daddy gonna come home?” your 3 year old son asked you as you set his breakfast down in front of him. It broke your heart to see how much he was missing Josh.

“Yeah I wanna see daddy. Where is he today?” your 5 year old daughter asked.

“Well daddy is in a place called Allentown Pennsylvania today. He and Uncle Tyler have a show tonight there. I know you guys miss him, I do too. We’ll see him sooner than you think.” you said cheerfully in hopes to make your kids happy.

Your kids didn’t know this but you and Josh had made arrangements for you and your kids to fly out tonight to meet up with them. Then you were gonna stay on tour with them for the following 3 weeks. You were planning on not telling them until you put them to bed. It was a pretty late flight and you would be getting there around 7 in the morning.

At about 2:30 you had put a movie on in the living room and had them lay down and try to nap.

“I wanna talk to daddy, please can we.” your daughter, Lauren requested.

“Please mommy?” your son Jackson whinned.

“Okay I’ll facetime him and see if he can talk for a minute. Then you guys need to take a nap, we have a busy night.” you said pulling your phone out and calling Josh.

You sat on the couch with both children cuddling up to you while the phone rang.

“Hey guys, what’s up? I miss you.” Josh said lighting up the phone screen.

“We wanted to talk to you before they took a little rest time. Is this an okay time?” you asked.

“Of course, Tyler is just soundchecking and they don’t need me for another 10 minutes or so.”

“DADDY, HI DAD!” screamed Jackson, Lauren taking the phone out of your hands and taking control.

“Hey kids. I love you guys so much. I miss you and can’t wait to see you next.” Josh continued talking to them about stuff that little kids find funny and entertaining as you got up and went to start packing a few things.

About 10 minutes later your daughter walked in with your phone handing it to you.

“Daddy had to go play the drums, what is there a suitcase out for? Are you and daddy mad at eachother?” she asked and it sort of put you off.

“No. No Lauren, me and daddy love each other lots, I was just cleaning out the closet.” you lied not wanting to ruin the surprise. You knew it sometimes bothered your kids that Josh was gone for long periods of time sometimes. Your sister had gotten divorced last year and Lauren now thinks you and Josh were fighting when he was gone. You tried explaining that it was his job and he would be gone for a little but he would be back and the family would be together again. The concept to a 5 year old was hard but she would learn to understand.

“I know you miss him, but like I said we’ll all be back together before you know it. Now go lay down with your brother.” you said and she ran back to the living room.

After packing all your things you went out to see your kids asleep and the movie credits rolling on the screen.

You pulled out your phone and posted a few pictures of them on you instagram with the caption, @joshuadun we made some pretty adorable kids. Can’t wait to see their faces when I tell them what we’ve been planning. We love you <3.

You made your way to your son’s room and began packing his things when your phone rang.

“Hey baby, are you alone?” Josh asked.

“Yeah, they’re still passed out on the couch.”

“Good, so how are you going to tell them? God I can’t wait to see you guys.”

“Well our flight isn’t until midnight, so I was going to put them to bed like any ordinary night then wake them up when we have to leave and tell them in the car.”

“Sounds great. I love you.”

“I love you too Josh. Go enjoy tonight’s concert.” you wrapped up the conversation as you finished with your son’s packing.

You made your way back to where your kids were, now awake and playing together.

When it came to bedtime you let them stay up an extra hour and a half in hopes that would tire them out so they would sleep on the plane.

Later that night...

Once putting the last of your daughter's things in the car with all the other bags you had to go wake them up.

“Is it morning already?” your confused and tired son asked.

“No baby we have to go somewhere.” you said barely being able to hold in all your excitement.

“Where are we going?” your daughter asked as you pulled up to the airport.

“We’re going to Albany, New York to see daddy.” you said parking the car and getting out to grab the bags.

Both your kids let out a huge scream of excitement.

After boarding the plane you could finally relax a bit knowing that you were on your way to see the love of your life.

The flight went great. You all slept the whole time, which you were grateful for. Being a mom of two young children and alone in your big house, you didn’t get all that much sleep. You often laid in bed at night wishing Josh was there to hold you. Instead your kids made up for it by joining you throughout the night in your big bed.

“Mommy what color is daddy’s hair right now?” Lauren asked and you couldn’t help but chuckle. Both your kids have seen Josh’s hair a whole bunch of colors since they were born.

“It’s yellow like a highlighter. Won’t be to hard to miss.” you said as you guided your two kids toward baggage claim where you planned to meet Josh.

Your daughter was the first to see him from across the room. He was facing the other way and turned when he heard his two kids screeching with excitement as they ran towards him. He knelt down and they both flew into his arms smiling like crazy. Once you reached them Josh stood with Jackson in his arm and Lauren on his leg. He pulled you into his side and you kissed him.

“Ewww.” said Lauren “Boys have cooties mommy, now your gonna get them.” you pulled away from Josh who was laughing at his daughter’s statement.

“You’re right. You don’t kiss boys until you’re married Lauren or you’ll get cooties. That’s why mom doesn’t have them when we kiss.” Josh said as he picked up Lauren in his other arm.

“I’m so happy to have my family back together. I missed you guys.” Josh said.

After getting your bags you made it back to the bus where Josh had surprised the kids with a few new toys they could play with while on the bus.

“You’re the best Josh. I didn’t even think about toys for them, what was I thinking 3 weeks with a 3 and 5 year old on a bus with nothing to play with. I can be such a bad mother sometimes.” you said finally having a moment alone with Josh. You sat next to him on the couch as you both watched your kids play with their new toys on the ground.

“Y/N you’re an amazing mom. You take care of two kids on your own for weeks at a time. So what you forgot a few things.” he said pulling you closer to him. You stayed like that until you arrived at the arena they were playing that night. It was about a half hour drive there and you really enjoyed being next to Josh the whole time. You felt at home even though you were over 2,000 miles across the country. These 3 people were your world and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[rrapmonstur-blog]

JUST A PRE WARNING THIS WILL CONTAIN SMUT I DON’T FEEL LIKE WARNING LATER INTO THE LITTLE FAN FIC. SO JUST STOP IF YOU’RE A MINOR – LET’S DO THIS THING–

It’s been 2 weeks since you had walked in on your boyfriend Mark fucking another girl. You are a wreck you haven’t done your hair your face is a mess. You’ve barely eaten a thing. You haven’t left your house since then You looked like literal death. You’re 7 favorite boys have all tried their hardest to get you to come out and have some even come over to try and get you out of your funk. Namjoon and Jin come over and watch cheesy B-Rated horror flicks with you making fun of the graphics and acting trying to get you to even break out a small laugh. Suga comes over with food for you saying stuff like “Heres some suger from your swert Suga.” Using cheesy puns because he knows they always manage to make you smile. Jimin coming over just sitting in silence with you knowing that you didn’t want to talk but not wanting to be alone. They all tried there hardest but nothing worked. They’d always leave with a sad smile. None of the boys ever making you laugh as hard as Jhope would. But he’s been busy lately thinking of an idea for making a mixtape. Just another day week of being miserable you think to yourself as you fall asleep sad and broken once again.

You awoke to the sound of banging on your door and someone screeching like a howler monkey. You drag yourself out of bed to see who would be making such a racket having only one person in mind. You open the door to see Hoseok standing there with a wickedly big smile on his face. “IT is I! JHOPE THE BRINGER OF JOY TRYNA BRING A SMILE TO THAT FAVE. I sure *sound the J* j-hope this works. He says jokingly striking dumb poses in your doorway. "Come in before you make a fool of yourself” your voice full of sadness. He coming charging at you wrapping you up in his arms running all the way to your room. “GET dressed y/n doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Hurry up or I will dress you mysel” You sigh at his words and close the door pulling out a pair of black ripped jeans, your favorite old converse, and a white sweater with rips all throughout the sweater. You pull your hair up into a messy bun. Walking out with a toothbrush in your mouth mumbling with a mouth full of toothpaste to him “why d’ I haf to do fis?” He laughs and winks at you. “It’s a surprise for my fave girl” he says with a big smile. You finish and walk over to his car to see him walking down the street. You run after him confused as to where you are going. He wraps his arm around your shoulder “Y/N you are going to love this” he says approaching a animal shelter that’s just down the street from when you live. Your eyes get wide and you look at the shelter and run forward quickly with Hoseok close behind. “You know I’ll end up wanting one but I don’t have the money to buy one” you say to him sadly. “I know but it doesn’t hurt to give them a bit of love” you guys play with all the animals for what seems like hours. You favored a small little fuzzy dog while Jhope played with all the animals getting covered in fur. You feel so much better you look at Hoseok “Thank you so much” you smile at him getting up “cmon let’s go before I steal one of these” he laughs a precious laugh. You guys then soon go to his car and he drives around taking you to all your favorite places. He steps away for a monent to make a phone call and when he comes back he takes you to your favorite desert store and buys you a cupcake. You take a bite the chocolate frosting sticking to your cheek. JHope leans forward to lick the frosting off your cheek teasing you. You hear someone clear their throat from behind you, you both turn around to see your ex Mark standing before you arms crossed looking pissed. “What the fuck is this y/n? We haven’t even been broken up for a month and you got a new guy. Wow you’re kinda a slut aren’t you?” You feel Hoseok tense up next to you he wraps his arm defensively around your waste. You open your mouth to speak when Hoseok speaks up before you had a moment to stammer a word out “So what. You cheated on her didn’t you? You have no right to speak to y/n like that. I suggest you turn around and walk away because she has not once missed you. She was happy you cheated on her because she didn’t have the heart to leave you. But since you beat her to the punch she had the chance to get with who she really wanted. Me” he lies smoothly. Your stomach fills with a swarm of butterflies seeing him lie just to not see you sad and so you don’t got to try to spill out broken words. Marks face twists in disgust at he turns around not before spitting at Hoseok face. You clench your fist and walk up to the neanderthal walking away from you “Hey Mark!” He turns around to feel you plant a hard slap across his face “ DO NOT SPEAK TO MY BOYFRIEND LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT. YOU FUCKED UP AND DECIDED TO SKREWED A SKANK. HE HAS TREATED ME GOOD. HE PUTS ME FIRST UNLIKE YOU WHO ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT ME AS SOON AS IT DIDN’T WORK IN YOUR FAVOR. And you know what they say. Good guys finish last. Oh wait you always finished first didn’t you? After about 5 minutes of unsatisfying pumps that felt like you where having a seizure.” You say to him with a sickenly sweet smile spread across your face. You see his face turn 7 diffrent shades of red before storming off. You hear Jhope burst out into a parade of laughter. “You called me your boyfriend and hinted at us you know… fucking. Even though none of that was true. Just so you know it took every bone in my body not to nail him but seeing as how I’m a nice guy” he ends with a wink. You smile and grab his hand whisper suggestivly into ear “Ya know some of that can change to the truth if you’d like. His eyes open wide and he practical drags you to his card. The whole way home his eyes keep trailing up and down your body his hand squeezing yours.

-kinda smutty ending with it being interrupted so stop if minor reading bc still smutty- AS you reach your house you feel Hoseok pick you up wrapping your slender legs around his waste. He hungrily places kisses along your jaw as he makes his way to your room. He places you gentally on the bed before laying over you kissing all the spots in your clothes that had holes. Spending special attention to the rips on your thighs and lower stomach. You feel a wet spot starting to form on your pants. You blush embarrassed by the newly forming spot hoping he doesn’t notice. But to your despair his does looking up at you with his eyes dark with a new side of him you know you are soon to experience. He crawls back up your body swiftly removing your shirt and his following yours. You feel his hard member pressing against your stomach. You flip yourselfs around and lay on top of him. Pressing kisses along his jaw down his throat sucking softly on the skin surely to form a little bruise. He tucks his head back letting out a deep groan. You keep kissing down his body until you reach his waist. You look up at him seeing his head back and mouth open in bliss over feeling you kiss him all over. You tug gently at his pants his head snapping up seeing you smile innocently at him. He takes a in a sharp breath and you pull down his pants to expose his painfully hard member peeking up through the stop of his low waisted underwear. You lick the precum beading on the tip. Sending your name out of his mouth in a voice you’ve never heard from him. You take his member in your mouth bobbing your head taking it all and making sure to always go as deep as you could wanting him to feel as good as you can. You feel him start to twitch in your mouth when you get pulled away by a ravenous Hoseok when lays you on your back kissing all the way down before removing your pants and underwear planing a small soft kiss on your warmth. He licks gentally up the slit all the way to suck gentally on your sensitive spot. You open your legs more to give more of yourmself to him he sticks his tongue in making sure to lap up all your juices you feel his name escape your mouth being taken over by a feeling not even Mark made you feel. "Y/N you taste amazing” You feel him speaking sending vibrations through your body causing your legs to clench around his head. He sticks to fingers in curling them and pumping at a perfectly slow pace making sure to drag out this feeling wanting you just to stay as happy for as long as you can hold you. He grips your thigh with his free hand squeezing sure to leave a bruised form of his fingers. You start riding his fingers feeling your end coming close. He continues to suck and pump his fingers as you ride them at a pace tha he could only imagine how it feels. He moans sending a shock through your body cause you to spill out all over his fingers and mouth. He pulls out his fingers licking the juices off of them before lapping up all your wetness from your center. He crawls up your body to look at you he smiles shyly with his chin still glistening “Y/N seeing as how nice guys finish last I think it’s only fair if you would be my girlfriend for real. Also I’m… I’m sorry I didn’t mean for that to happen I got carried away.” You smile at him bringing him in for a kiss tasting yourself on his lips “Of course I’d love it. Who else would be such a good guy. ” You here snickers from th3 doorway too see Namjoon and Jin holding the small brown puppy. Jin leans into Namjoon speaking in a high pitch feminine voice “oh dear. Our little boy is finally becoming a man.” Namjoon laughs making his voice even deeper “He’s not our little boy anymore he’s out little man.” Your eyes widen as you see the puppy reaching for Hoseok shirt not caring about underwear because his shirt is huge on you. You hear Hoseok clear his throat “I forgot I asked them to buy it for you since you seemed to really like it. So yea I got you a puppy” You reach for the puppy closing the door in Namjoons and Jins face hearing them complain from the other side. You crawl over softly with the puppy in your arms kissing his cheek “Thank you he’s perfect” You say planting a kiss on Jhope cheek. “Y/N I love you.” He stated firmly. You hide your face in the puppy’s neck “I love you too.”

[10khoursoffantasy-blog]

[Untitled NaNo Project] Shame

“Tell me, does your mother still wake screaming for her child? ‘Kazem, my boy!’” her voice became shrill and mocking. “’My boy, come home. Please, please. Come back to me.’ How does it feel to know her grief lays at your feet, foolish fox?”

“I was six,” Al’thea answered coldly. She remembered the screaming. The incessant grief. She lost her mother as well as her brother, Kazem, that night in the desert.

 “What is she talking about, Al’thea?” Toby asked, taking a cautious step back from the Fae woman.

“Oh, he doesn’t know? Do you keep the company of fools, too?” She stepped closer to Al’thea, covering more ground than her strides should have allowed, gliding on the cool sand. Placing a fingertip on Al’thea’s chest, she pushed into her and asked, “Or are you so ashamed of your past that you’ve never told another soul?”

Al’thea drew in a slow breath, calming her anger. “Remove your hand from me, or Shay will remove it for you.”

On command, Shay exited the tent, large and snarling. His dark set eyes caught the burning embers of the fire and glowed red. He growled, circling behind Toby and Al’thea, prepared to pounce on the woman. But as he neared, his confidence wavered. Shaken, he refused to step closer. He hid behind Toby, whimpering.

“I see your little fennec fox remembers me.” She held out her hand toward the creature, her long and spindly fingers reaching for his scruff. “Come to me, boy. Goodness, I sound like your mother.”

“Don’t touch him,” Toby demanded, raising his hand to the hilt of his rapier. “I’ll gut you where you stand.”

Al’thea jumped between the two and turned her back on the woman. “Stop!” she demanded, her voice crackling like the fire. “You can’t hurt her. Please, please I’m begging you, Toby. She knows where Kazem is, she’s the only one.”

“That’s right,” she smiled as she spoke, her crooked grin revealing the jagged, pointed rows of teeth within. A Fae form revealed only in the dark of the earthen plane. “I know where your brother is,” she taunted. “It’s been, what? Two decades now? Surely you remember what your debt to me was after just one night. Imagine his.”

Al’thea turned and glared at her, starlight burning in her amber eyes. “We don’t have time for your trickery. What do I have to do to make you leave us?”

The Fae woman grinned wider and wider, cruel and sadistic. “Tell him.”

Taken aback, Al’thea faltered. “No. Absolutely not.”

“You can return your fox to me – the fox who ate my food and slept in my bed, who never truly repaid his debts. The fox I was kind enough to release into your care when you paid yours. Or you may tell your friend here what you did. Tell him all your shame, Al’thea. Perhaps he’ll think less of you. Perhaps you deserve that, too.”

I will never abandon you, she thought, looking to Shay’s fearful, cowering body. Her brow furrowed and she demanded shortly: “Promise.”

“Promise what, my foolish fox friend?”

“Promise you will leave us if I do this. If I tell him.”

She tilted her head in morbid curiosity. “Ah, so you remember that I am bound to keep my word. When did you finally realize the fairytales were true?” Extending her thin, smooth arm to Al’thea, she held out her open hand and said, “I promise I will leave you alone if you tell him your greatest guilt.”

Al’thea started to reach for her hand and paused. “Promise you will leave all of us alone. Say it.”

The Fae woman cackled joyfully. “Clever girl,” she mused. “Fine. I will leave you, your fox, and your friend alone in exchange for your full tale.”

Satisfied, Al’thea placed her hand in the Fae’s and shook it twice. She turned to Toby, forcing the words from her lips.  “I sacrificed –”

“No!” She screeched in delight. “You don’t get to break your promise so easily when I am bound by mine. I said, ‘full tale’ and you agreed. Start at the beginning. Share every detail of your folly.”

Al’thea folded her arms tightly in front of her shaking frame, chilled by the desert night. By her past. “I was only six,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

“You don’t have to do this,” Toby said quietly. He reached out to her and placed a hand on her arm, squeezing gently. “Whatever it is, you don’t –“

“Yes, she does, she does!” The Fae hissed. “She’s bound to her promise, she has another debt to pay. Share your tale – your full tale – or I’m taking Shay. That’s what we agreed to.”

“She’s right, Toby.” Al’thea brushed his hand from her arm and started again. “I was only six,” she repeated, casting her eyes down. “When I was little, I liked to play games with Shay. We’d run into the desert and explore. Play chase, hide-and-seek.”

Shay stepped toward his master, shrinking and contorting into his small fennec form. He stood before her and nuzzled her legs, trying to comfort her. I know your sacrifice, my friend.

“One afternoon, we ran into the desert. Our caravan had just settled in a new place. I wanted to explore. It was a stupid idea,” she admitted quietly. “I didn’t know the area yet. We ran far from the caravan. So far. After a few hours, we found a towering rock with cave after cave. We went inside and pretended we were dwarves.” She smiled sadly recounting the memory.

“But we got lost. I couldn’t find the way out. We walked for hours. Shay was tired; I carried him on my shoulders. When we did find an exit, it wasn’t the one we’d entered. I couldn’t see the caravan. And the sun would set soon.”

“Tell him how I found you,” the Fae whispered.

“I started to cry. Another stupid mistake,” Al’thea said softly. “That’s why she found me; she heard me. I was at the entrance of the cave, trying to shelter from the cold winds coming just before the night. Twilight was falling, and I didn’t know how to start a fire.”

“And what did I say to you? Tell him, tell him.”

“She said, ‘What ever is wrong, my child? There’s no reason to cry.’ I remember how struck by her beauty I was. I trusted her immediately.”

“Stupid, stupid girl.”

Al’thea pursed her lips and met the Fae’s dark eyes. “She told me she would help me get back to my family, but that it was too late and dangerous to go out before daybreak. She said, ‘You don’t know what danger lies in the desert, my child.’ She was speaking of herself.

“I took her hand and she lead me deeper into the cave. It felt like hours and hours passed. I started to get hungry. So did Shay. As we walked through the cave, it became… different,” she sighed softly. “The dull rocks became shiny, colorful. Blues and greens and purples so vibrant. They seemed to glow, to light the way. I was awe-struck.

“The tunnel finally gave way to an enormous room, so large it shouldn’t have fit into the towering rock. There was a circle of tall, smooth stones around the edge of the room, and in the center was a caravan like my own. But the tents were giant. They circled a table laid out with enough food to feed all of my people, and I assumed all of theirs.”

“How did I trick you?” The Fae teased gleefully. “How did you become indebted to me?”

“She told me to eat and find a place to rest. Said we’d find my family in the morning. I was so hungry, Toby. I ate and ate, Shay did too.”

“You ate a Fae’s food?” Toby exclaimed, surprise and horror crossing his face.

“I didn’t know!” Al’thea yelled, her voice shattering the silent night. “I was too young for fairytales, and do you really think I would’ve heeded them anyway? I didn’t know what she was. I didn’t know she was a monster.”

“That’s cruel,” she scolded. Her jagged teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “If one of us is a monster, I believe it is you.”

Al’thea frowned, her gaze becoming distant. “When we’d had our fill, we explored a couple of tents. They were massive, bigger than any person would ever need. Every person – every Fae – we saw within them looked so happy to see us. I felt welcomed. Felt like I was safe.

“We found an empty tent and sleep came quickly. I had the most fantastic dreams. I dreamt that Shay and I lived there. We played and played, never had to do chores like I did at my caravan. We chased each other through the caves, drew on the beautiful bright stone. What else would a child want?”

“It was so easy to guess what would make you happy. You were a simple girl then, you’re simple now.”

“When I woke, I felt like I was in a fog. I couldn’t remember much about the night before, my life before. I remembered my family and Azima, but I couldn’t recall anyone else from my caravan. Then I noticed Shay wasn’t with me. But I heard him crying.” Her voice broke again, guilt welling up from her belly and choking her from the inside out. “I ran out of the tent, and the Fae were all gathered around him. His body was… Was…”

“Breaking!” The Fae laughed manically. “Bones snapping, teeth gnashing and cutting his bloodied gums. Skin stretching and tearing as he grew and grew. The Fae realm is not kind to mortals.”

Al’thea knelt and scooped the tiny fox into her arms. Holding him tightly against her chest, she continued: “That’s why he’s lived for so long, why he’s more than a desert fox. Her magic changed him, broke him. Gave him a war fox – a Fae fox – form. That’s why the tents were so large; they housed other animals from our realm that were never set free.

“I ran to him, tried to hold him. Hold him together in one piece.”

“You cried and cried, ‘Let him go, please, please!’ You begged us and choked on your tears. Tell him what you said next.”

“I said, ‘Please, I’ll do anything if you let him go.’”

“Foolish girl, foolish girl!”

“They tied him down then, dragging him out of sight. But I could still hear him, yelping and screaming. Have you ever heard a fox scream, Toby?”

He shook his head, stunned to silence.

“She said, ‘If you bring me someone you love, I’ll give him back to you. One love for another seems fair, doesn’t it?’ I could still hear him screaming, crying. I agreed to bring her someone from my caravan.”

“You didn’t,” Toby whispered, hopeful.

“Oh, but she did!”

Tears welled in Al’thea’s eyes as she continued dutifully. “We started walking out of the room, back into the tunnels. After just a few moments, we were outside. I expected to see the morning sun, but it was still twilight. No time had passed. I was so confused by her magic, her trickery. She pointed me in the direction of my caravan and I started walking.

“When I rejoined the caravan, I saw Azima. She asked what was wrong, but I couldn’t tell her. And I couldn’t take her. I didn’t love her. She wouldn’t pay my debt.” She brushed a tear from her cheek and continued. “Then I saw my brother playing nearby. I knew it had to be him. I loved Kazem. I still love him.”

At a loss, Toby stared uncomfortably into the dwindling fire.

“I told him,” she took a breath, crying softly. “I told him, ‘Mom said it’s time for dinner. But I want to show you something first.’ And he trusted me. He said, ‘Okay!’” Her voice became high and joyful, childlike. “’But is it far? We have to go fast so mom won’t be mad.’

“I took his hand and lead him into the desert. It was getting darker, but I felt pulled in the right direction. We found the caves again, and a fox sat at the entrance – another trick. Kazem let go of my hand and ran after it. I tried so hard to hold on to him,” she sobbed. “That was the last I saw of him, running into the Fae realm.”

“But all is not lost, even in your folly. Tell him the promise I made you that night.”

“You promised I would see him again. You promised me!” Al’thea screamed and in her rage, shoved the Fae to the ground. Towering over her, she shook but stood her ground. Breathing heavily, she stepped back from the woman and distanced herself from Toby. Regaining her composure, she said, “You promised that he would stay with you for one night. It’s been twenty years and you haven’t fulfilled your promise. You’re a liar.”

The Fae rose gracefully, dusting sand from her silken robes. “I am no liar, silly fox. You forget exactly what I said. Our agreement was, ‘If he wishes to return, he will come back to you after one night.’ So my promise isn’t broken.”

“What do you mean ‘if he wishes?’” Toby asked. “What child wouldn’t want to return to his family?”

Taking a few steps backward into the darkness of the night, leaving the chaos she created, the Fae snickered. “Just like you forgot your caravan, Al’thea, he forgot his family. He forgot you. Maybe he did wish to return, but he couldn’t tell me exactly where he wished to return to. What a shame.”

Toby took a threatening step toward the woman. “She fulfilled her promise, Fae. Keep yours.”

Turning on her heel, the woman looked back and locked eyes with Al’thea as she said: “I’ll tell Kazem you said ‘hello.’”

Al’thea’s eyes lit up and she ran toward the Fae, trying to catch her. But she was gone into the night, untraceable in the darkness, in her magic.

“No, no-no-no!” She stammered, looking frantically for the woman. Her breath caught in her chest. “Kazem!” she cried. “He has to be close, Toby. Kazem, where are you?”

Her voice echoed in the night, a lonely answer to her call.

“He’s not here, Al’thea. Come,” Toby whispered against her screams. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her toward the tent, he said, “I promise I will help you find him someday. But that day is not now. We need to rest before we reach the airship. Please.”

“Okay,” she stated shortly. Emotionally spent and haggard, she stumbled toward their shared tent and collapsed onto her bedroll inside.

Toby crawled in after her, tying the canvas flaps shut against the cool night air. Feeling around on the floor, he pulled Al’thea’s blanket over her shivering body and laid next to her.

“I don’t think less of you,” he whispered into the darkness.

“I do,” she replied quietly, begging sleep to relieve her.

It never came.